Mark 1:9-15
The beginning of Jesus ministry seemed to begin with a bang. First, Jesus is baptized by John in the Jordan river. The spirit appears, descends upon the newly baptized Jesus, and God's voice is heard from heaven. "This is my Son." claims the heavens. "With him I am well pleased." The good news of the gospel is near. Jesus is set to begin his ministry. With a start like that, what could possibly go wrong?
"And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and the angels waited on him." Mark 1:12.
Like I said: with a start like that, what could possibly go wrong? Apparently three things. Wilderness, temptation, and Satan.
I find it interesting that as Jesus was beginning, at least according to Mark's gospel, that he first spent time in the wilderness. This seems to be an intense time of preparation for the journey ahead.
This text is traditionally read on the first Sunday of Lent because of the 40 days connection. The season of Lent is 40 days long and is known as a time of introspection and penitence; a time to reflect on Christ's journey to the cross and how we journey with him. I take comfort in these words from Mark at the beginning of Lent because they remind me that Jesus has been tempted; Jesus has been in the wilderness; Jesus has been alone and waiting. This experience gives me comfort because I like knowing this about Jesus when I experience wilderness or temptation or alone-ness. I like knowing that Jesus has been there before me and that my faith in him gives hope.
I was reminded in studying this text that Jesus was not alone in the wilderness. Not only was he in the presence of wild beasts, but Mark's gospel claims that angels waited on him. I helps me recognize that I am never as alone as I think I might be; rather God's angels wait on me.
And if I push myself to reflect on what this means, given my personal ambiguity about real-life halo wearing, harp carrying angels, I realize that the angels who wait with me during times of struggle or other good and faithful people that God has seen fit to surround me with. The angels in my life are my friends and family.
And if I push myself further, I realize that there is a call in this story to be angels to one another. Part of journeying together, during Lent or any season of life, is to be present with others; to share in the ups and downs. But especially to bear the light and love of Christ to others who are sitting alone in the wilderness.
As you journey through Lent, may angels wait with you during dark times. And may you be an angel to another traveler who finds themselves alone in the wilderness.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
An Eercise in Thanksgiving
The lectionary texts for Sunday, February 12, 2012 were: Mark 1:40-45 (Jesus heals a leper), 2 Kings 5:1-14 (Naaman is healed from leprosy), and Psalm 30 (A Psalm of Thanksgiving for Recovery from Grave Illness).
There is a common theme that unites these three texts - one of thanksgiving. In fact, the un-named leper in Jesus' healing story is sternly ordered to not tell the story about who healed him or how he was healed. But good news cannot be kept silent. The leper is so excited to be made whole and healed that he tells the story about what Jesus had done for him. The news spreads (like good news always does) so much that Jesus is forced to retreat and travel in the countryside, away from the crowds.
I was glad (even thankful!) that Psalm 30 was included with these miraculous stories because it is one of my favorite. The author of this Psalm has clearly experienced something tragic and difficult, spent time feeling alone and abandoned in the midst of that tragedy, and then felt the grace of God bring him to the other side. The darkness of night has been turned into joy in the morning. This Psalm is a tribute to the goodness and power of God through the adversities of the human experience.
Lets face it; life is messy. Life is complicated and hard. Life is difficult and often unfair. We all have experienced long nights of the soul in which God seemed far away. But we have hope because we know that God does not abandon us and leave us alone in our suffering. God enters into our messy humanity, bears with us through our darkest experiences, and shines light on the new days ahead. Our God turns mourning into dancing and clothes us with joy.
There have been times when I have tried to write my own Psalm of Thanksgiving when I have come through something and found myself delighting in God's mercy and goodness. I encourage you to do the same. There is something powerful about putting into your own words the power of God to see you through.
Although I've done this exercise many times, I still find myself going back to the words - the hopeful words - of Psalm 30. (In fact, Psalm 30 is going to be one of the Psalms I memorize in 2012!). Here they are. May they give you hope as you struggle, and reassure you as you live joyfully into God's presence.
Psalm 30
I will extol you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up, and did not let my foes rejoice over me. O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. O LORD, you brought up my soul from Sheol, restored me to life from among those gone down to the Pit.
Sing praises to the LORD, O you his faithful ones, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger is but for a moment; his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.
As for me, I said in my prosperity, "I shall never be moved." By your favor, O LORD, you had established me as a strong mountain; you hid your face; I was dismayed.
To you, O LORD, I cried, and to the LORD I made supplication; "What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the Pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it tell of your faithfulness? Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me! O LORD, be my helper!"
You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed my with joy, so that my soul may praise you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever.
Thanks for reading!
Pastor John
There is a common theme that unites these three texts - one of thanksgiving. In fact, the un-named leper in Jesus' healing story is sternly ordered to not tell the story about who healed him or how he was healed. But good news cannot be kept silent. The leper is so excited to be made whole and healed that he tells the story about what Jesus had done for him. The news spreads (like good news always does) so much that Jesus is forced to retreat and travel in the countryside, away from the crowds.
I was glad (even thankful!) that Psalm 30 was included with these miraculous stories because it is one of my favorite. The author of this Psalm has clearly experienced something tragic and difficult, spent time feeling alone and abandoned in the midst of that tragedy, and then felt the grace of God bring him to the other side. The darkness of night has been turned into joy in the morning. This Psalm is a tribute to the goodness and power of God through the adversities of the human experience.
Lets face it; life is messy. Life is complicated and hard. Life is difficult and often unfair. We all have experienced long nights of the soul in which God seemed far away. But we have hope because we know that God does not abandon us and leave us alone in our suffering. God enters into our messy humanity, bears with us through our darkest experiences, and shines light on the new days ahead. Our God turns mourning into dancing and clothes us with joy.
There have been times when I have tried to write my own Psalm of Thanksgiving when I have come through something and found myself delighting in God's mercy and goodness. I encourage you to do the same. There is something powerful about putting into your own words the power of God to see you through.
Although I've done this exercise many times, I still find myself going back to the words - the hopeful words - of Psalm 30. (In fact, Psalm 30 is going to be one of the Psalms I memorize in 2012!). Here they are. May they give you hope as you struggle, and reassure you as you live joyfully into God's presence.
Psalm 30
I will extol you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up, and did not let my foes rejoice over me. O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. O LORD, you brought up my soul from Sheol, restored me to life from among those gone down to the Pit.
Sing praises to the LORD, O you his faithful ones, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger is but for a moment; his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.
As for me, I said in my prosperity, "I shall never be moved." By your favor, O LORD, you had established me as a strong mountain; you hid your face; I was dismayed.
To you, O LORD, I cried, and to the LORD I made supplication; "What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the Pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it tell of your faithfulness? Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me! O LORD, be my helper!"
You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed my with joy, so that my soul may praise you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever.
Thanks for reading!
Pastor John
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