Does Practice make Perfect?

Considerable conflict existed among “Jewish Christians” when John wrote his gospel (John 3:14-21). Jewish followers of Christ had to deal with the pain of being ejected from their synagogues as well as ostracized by their families and friends. The very foundation and center of their lives were gone. In a time when family and community were virtually the sole basis for identity, we can understand how difficult it was to be a follower of Jesus.

Extreme rejection from family, friends and the community at large often results in a pattern of negative thinking and a mindset that characterizes everyone as being either for or against us. Although Jesus' teachings may have helped followers to cultivate a new sense of identity, they were still banished from the elements of society that was “home.” 

Fast forwarding to our day and time, March 4, 2024 it's apparent that this duality of either for or against, prevails in virtually every aspect of our lives: family, religion and politics. Look how polarized our world is: Palestine/Israel; Ukraine; Immigration; Biden/Trump; Democrat/Republican. Just pick an area of contention and  we're hard pressed  to find any reasonable common ground; it's always either or.

When Jesus professes Gods’ unconditional love for the whole world, not either or, He affirms Nicodemus whoa as a faithful Jew and a Pharisee, has accepted Christ’s teachings, . 

It reminds us about the kind of courage that love requires from us. In John’s Gospel, faith is more than stating a set of beliefs or worshiping in the "right place." Faith, like becoming a musical virtuoso, requires ongoing practice. Faith is enriched over time with steadfast practice and with each “performance,” always moving toward perfection... but never quite attaining it.

I speak from experience when I say playing a musical instrument well is not like riding a bike; you just don’t sit down and play well because you once did before. Being committed and faithful leads to constant growth and development. We continually advance because we continue to practice out of love with no expectation or reward. It’s living in the moment and in the journey and not for an arbitrary outcome that may never be attained because perfection is not in ours. Success is the progressive realization of a worthy goal; we are enriched along the way. Likewise. when we live our faith, we become our faith.

Addendum:
The last time we read Nicodemus in 2018 I wrote in the following in the Blog:

 I’ve been practicing my religion almost as long as I’ve practiced the piano. My piano is coming back slowly but not without effort. As for my faith, I’m still continually learning what it means to love God along the way. I’m still learning how to be open to myself so that the love of God can flow through me. I’m still learning to relate to the people around me with compassion, understanding, and kindness. And I hope that I never stop practicing Piano.

Well life has a way of intervening but today, six years later, the piano sits idle. However, I’m still learning and am grateful for the ability to reflect on the then and now in these pages. It’s not like riding a bike, is it? 

 And the river bank talks of the waters of March; It's the promise of life, it's the joy in your heart;

And the river bank talks of the waters of March;It's the end of all strain, it's the joy in your heart

Bidden or Not Bidden, God is Present

 

In Matthew, Mark, and Luke the temple scene occurs following Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem; however, in John’s Gospel (John 2:13-25)  the episode is                 placed immediately following Jesus’ first “sign” (miracle) in his ministry, the wedding at Cana. 

 

The temple skirmish functions in the Synoptic Gospels as the final public act whereby the authorities make the decision to arrest and kill Jesus. We know that the raising of Lazarus serves as the final act that leads to his arrest. Restoring someone to life after having been dead frightens and challenges the Chief priests and Roman authorities and requires that he be removed in order that they stop Jesus movement and silence his followers.   

 

The incarnation of God in the world in Jesus underscores our shared intimacy with Jesus’ death, resurrection and our salvation. So what does this have to do with Jesus’ visceral reaction to the traffickers in the temple? We know from our readings of John that his overall mission is to reinforce our shared divinity with God through Christ and His and our resurrections. The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14. So, the commercial desecration of the temple while an important event in itself is for John, a metaphorical reference to the real Temple God. 

 
For Christians, the idea of God becoming accessible through the resurrected Jesus is empowering.  God's presence is pervasive and public. A hallowed temple is unnecessary to see him, know him or feel his presence. God's promises and our hopes aren't located in a specific site. Jesus, who now dwells among his people (and beyond), makes God accessible and extends God's presence into all aspects of our lives. Everything therefore has potential to be "sacred;" every dimension of daily living may become a place for encountering God. 

 

A Church or temple is a mere touch point that enables communities to congregate and share His Word and God’s presence with each other. It’s a place to “commune” in God. When Peter suggested that tabernacles be erected to memorialize the event of the transfiguration, a voice from the heavens, interrupted him and said…just Listen to Him. 

Listen to Him

I wonder how many of us know when we have heard and responded to God's voice. While reference to "a calling" is commonly associated with clergy, we don’t often consider that we’re “called” to a career or a secular vocation or even volunteering. But, why not? I pose this question because the story of the Transfiguration (Mark) reminds us to listen to and look for God’s will for us in all we do. And just as the spectacular events of the transfiguration blinded Peter, James and John, we too can easily be distracted by the “noise.”

The scene as all things in Mark, moves very quickly as Peter in his excitement is eager to memorialize and do something to capture this transformative event… even before he even knows what he has seen or has transpired. We feel like saying to Peter "Please be quiet and just listen before you do anything!"  While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” 

Maybe everything started to become clear and make sense to Peter when he listened and heard the word of God, but as we know too well, it didn't last very long.  How many times did Jesus remind Peter of his destiny? Peter may hear but is he really listening?   

Peter's transformation comes about when he repeatedly fails, falls, and is lifted up again. We too try our best and sometimes succeed and sometimes fail. We, too, have moments of insight and moments of denial. We too, fall down in fear and are raised up again and move ahead in confidence. This is a pattern that shapes all our lives on this spiritual journey. We all must face the wilderness that ultimately leads to transformation and growth. This story is as much about Peter and Jesus as it is about us as we are asked to listen and to hear his voice and know God’s will for us. 

 In these past weeks Mark has called our attention to Jesus’ humanity in which we share a common bond. In this gospel Jesus divinity is revealed in no uncertain terms: “This is my beloved…listen to Him.”. And as we share in Jesus’ humanity, we also share in his divinity. We must listen as we are called if we are to be transformed and become disciples of Jesus and the people of God. 

“There have been quite a few times when I have felt the winds of God’s grace in the sails of my small boat. 

Our Time in the Desert

 

Lent is an important part of our journey. Like Jesus, our spiritual journey begins in the desert and leads to the cross, to a tomb and “ends” with Easter, where our journey to God begins again. 

In the Gospel for the first Sunday in Lent, Mark1:12-15, we are told that “Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil.”

I have been fortunate to have been able to travel fairly extensively in my life, for business and pleasure. Admittedly travelling was one of my passions, although  I now know that I must be more selective about travel and carefully assess my reasons and need before heading out. Over the years I have observed that there are two types of "journeymen". I would categorize these as being either tourists or travelers. The tourist travels throughout his journey in comfort, ensuring that his experiences are familiar and safe. He makes sure that he takes “his stuff” from back home with him. There are many vendors along the way who, for a price, would be willing to accommodate the tourist’s expectations and satisfy his needs, most of which are likely superficial and soon forgotten when he returns home... armed with photos, souvenirs, and pleasant memories.

On the other hand, a traveler is one whose goal is to regard the journey itself as part of a total experience in which the destination is just a part of a continuum. The traveller stops along the way to look, inquire and be open to new sights, sounds and sensations and perhaps delve into the unknown in the hope that something new will stimulate or be revealed. The difference between the traveler and the tourist is that the traveler becomes a part of and involved in the experience while the tourist rides on the outside and looks in.

A few years ago, we took a trip to the Galapagos Islands. It had long been a desired destination for me. Our primary goal was to be immersed in the experience which as an expedition required our total involvement as our circumstances would permit. There were no cell phones, internet or TV and although our accommodations were relatively sparse, they were more than satisfactory. While this hardly could be called a luxurious vacation, it was one of the most exhilarating trips I’ve ever taken as we were living in the experience, absorbed by the journey. As an expedition,  we were completely focused and unencumbered by distractions. The trip was one of personal transformation in which new perspectives on life and interests were born. These still linger today, not just as memories but as building blocks for what might lie ahead.

Jesus’ time in the desert somehow relates to our journey as travelers, not just tourists. He leaves his comfort zone to prepare himself for what was to come, resisting anything that would get in the way of his quest. So, as we prepare for Lent we are reminded that the purpose of our 40 days is to walk with Jesus on his journey and live in his experience and know the presence of God in our lives.There is an unconscious seed of desire in each of us, a fundamental motivation, a basic longing for the fulfillment of that purpose.

“Augustine tells us that ‘Thou has made us for thyself and our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee.’ Accordingly, we are not only born with God at our center, but we are born with a heart filled with desire for God. This yearning is our fundamental motivational force; it is the human spirit. It is the energy behind everything we seek and aspire to. And if indeed we are in intimate union with God in the center, then the soul’s desire is God’s desire. The soul’s love for God is God’s love for the soul.” (Gerald May, Dark Night of the Soul)

Lord, I know you can make me clean

If you were asked to describe characteristics of Jesus using only four words, which words would you select? When we read the passage from Mark (Mark 1:40-45) assigned for this Sunday we not only find the message of his Gospel as well as Mark's four words.

Compassion: Mark doesn't often reference Jesus' psychological state, but he does in this Gospel. When Jesus sees this man approach him in need, he is moved immediately to compassion, not judgment.He doesn't ask "What have you done to cause this to happen?" No, he's moved with compassion and a desire to act. This is Jesus, the Word made flesh, the embodiment of God  who is not judgmental, or demanding. He's compassionate.

Touch: There is an intimacy to touch that we frequently take for granted. We rarely think of the basic need human beings have to express their connectedness in a tactile way. Have you ever visited someone who is ill or infirmed? People in a vulnerable state feel separated from the world and often reveal  a need to return, be restored and be part of the community. There are few gestures as powerful as touch and the physical connection between humans. Jesus could easily have healed with a word, a gesture, or a command, but instead he reaches out to touch the leper. The very incarnation of God who takes on our form and endures every aspect of our humanity in all its manifestations, reminds us how much God seeks an intimate relationship with us. 

Willing: Jesus does more than simply respond to the man's plea; he affirms his deepest hopes that is to be seen as having value, dignity and worth, despite his leprosy. And he is, after all, a child of God. Nothing can ever change that. There is nothing we can do to lose God's love. It's not possible. This Gospel provides another example of his everlasting mercy and grace.

Lonely: Make no mistake. These acts of mercy, while perhaps free, take their toll on Jesus. There is, an emotional exchange going on in this reading. Although the leper is now healed, and restored to his community, Jesus can no longer safely travel  anymore. Love always costs something. Perhaps this is why Jesus asked the man to be silent; maybe it’s the "Messianic secret"  or  maybe it was because he knew this would make it difficult for him to freely continue with his ministry? Whatever the reason, and despite the risk, he continues oblivious of the personal risk. He trades places with this man  by sacrificing his freedom in order that the leper finds his. I know many parents, grandparents, lovers and friends can relate. 

So maybe one way to get at this text this week would be to think about the images we have of God. These images were often formed when we were in our formative years; they can be powerful, comforting or troubling and often exist at an unconscious level. So, what four words do we personally think best describe Jesus and God now and then?  

  Love takes what you have and gives it back more beautiful than before.

 (adapted from  Dear Working Preacher, David Lose Feb, 2012.)

This is who God wants me to be

 

I mean no disrespect but reading this story about Peter’s mother-in-law, I am reminded of a scene in the classic 1987 movie, Moonstruck in which Loretta’s (Cher) fiancé, Johnny travelled to Sicily to be with his dying mother. Johnny, played by Danny Aiello, telephones Loretta in tears as he and the wailing women keep vigil; “it’s just a matter of time,” he says. Then suddenly, out of the blue, Johnny’s mother is miraculously cured and jumps out of the bed and begins to prepare an elaborate dinner for a multitude of people including the future mourners. It’s a miracle Johnny proclaims; it’s a sign and being superstitious, he tells Loretta he cannot marry her. To me, like Simon’s mother-in-law, the real miracle is that the old woman begins to cook and serves everyone. 

The healing of Simon’s mother-in-law is a classic healing story (Mark1: 29-39).  But there is something a little disturbing about this story that doesn’t seem to have anything to do with healing. “Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.” Doesn’t that strike us as a little strange? Can you see why I was reminded of Moonstruck? Virtually everyone I know has had the flu every now and then. Now I’m not talking about Covid,  I’m referring to the typical flu whose season usually begins in the fall and exits in  April. The idea of popping out of bed and doing anything at all much less serving guests dinner, is inconceivable. If it were me I would have thanked them all for their support and, especially Jesus, then tactfully usher them out of my room, asking them to help themselves to tea and left over Christmas fruit cake…really hoping that they would leave my home so that I could rest some more. 

I realize that in that time and in a time not so long ago, the matriarch’s role as keeper of the house, was to serve her family and guests. If you are brought back from the edge of death, or from the brink of whatever, shouldn't there be something else for you to pursue? Perhaps, a new vocation or career or a new identity? And yet Peter's mother-in-law went back to the kitchen and whipped up dinner and served the guests. Was that what she was expected to do?  

But, what if the healing of Simon’s mother-in-law gave her a new lease on life and a new purpose, beyond her traditional role as mother and housekeeper? And what if in being brought back to who she was, she became a disciple, called to minister, to serve. Have you ever felt like God has brought you back from the brink ... to yourself? That you were called back from a place that was not fully you, to be the “real” you?

Jesus lifted her up. What if resurrection is being raised up to be who we always were and always meant to be? Not that of a successful rock star, athlete or business tycoon but as the incredible feeling of being the real us. Being raised up is not just some sort of spiritual future but is our present reality, in the here and now, to live as the real you…your mind, spirit, body, everything together, everything that you were always meant to be. The story of Simon’s mother-in-law reminds us that God does not call us to be something we are not, but is in the business of restoring us to who we really are. 

 God called Jesus to be who he was. That’s what the incarnation is all about. Jesus didn’t go around pretending to be something that he wasn't. Didn't he petition his father  to“ let this cup pass" Being human is to what God committed God’s self and therefore, being who we are is what God wants us to be. God brings us back from the brinks of our lives, from despair, from disease, from desperation, to live. Because then, maybe, we will actually know, feel, and get that which we are a part, that God needs us to be a part, of what’s at stake for God when God decided to become one of us.

 (Adapted from Karoline Lewis, Dear Working Preacher, February 1, 2015)

 

I know who you are, the Holy One of God

 

How in our place and time can we relate to what’s going on in this Gospel?    Talking about evil or demons either is a little out of our experience much less comfort zone. Mark’s account of the exorcism in the temple on the Sabbath in Capernaum (Mark 1:21-28 ), makes us a little uncomfortable and maybe our need to explain what cannot be explained is troubling.  

Yet there is something about this reading that compels us beyond the narrative. We get a sense of immediacy and a bias for action that characterizes Jesus’ behavior. He is in control and taking charge of business. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Did Jesus purposefully wait for the Sabbath to enter the synagogue to teach? If so, this act alone established his authority. And isn’t it ironic that the one who knows who Jesus is, is the man with the unclean spirit: .Christmas and the Feast of the Epiphany are behind us and the Lenten season is in two weeks, followed by an “early” Easter.  Ordinary time as the Lectionary calls it, is anything but “ordinary” and not just a place-holder for Lent and the Easter season. Jesus wasn’t just waiting and checking off the boxes as he went about his ministry. Jesus, we are told, "is on fire" and came as scripture reminds us “to set the world on fire.” He is taking on the evil of the world that of all places resides in the synagogue, a place of worship. He is shaking up a religion based on rules and proclaiming a faith based on love…he preaches on the Sabbath and heals a man possessed… all of which will “purposely”(?) incite the temple authorities who exploit religion and will eventually call for his arrest. No, ordinary time is a time of an awakening, a transformation into a new realm of living and faith.  

In many ways, this past year was one of self-imposed seclusion for me. 2023 was a time of waiting for what I hoped would be an all-clear signal sounding a return to some semblance of "normalcy.” In many ways it was a transformative period during which waiting yielded to acceptance. The calendar pages turned and the seasons passed, oblivious to the goings on in the world. Yet at ground level, just as in the time of Jesus, the days, weeks and months were turbulent and far from “ordinary.”  2023 was hardly a place-holder for 2024 and based on world current events, January is unimpressed by its new “address,” making us realize how little the calendar has to do with the passage of time in eternity. And what does time have to do with "eternity." So no time is ordinary and what we call as normal is merely part of our journey. In a few weeks we will be focusing on the end of Jesus' earthly ministry, culminating in his passion, crucifixion and resurrection. We would all agree that Jesus' time on earth was anything but ordinary but like 2023, it was certainly transformed the world forever.  

Now back to exorcisms and evil and how this relates to us today in the here and now. Our epiphany calls us to see something in a way we never saw before. It sets the stage for personal transformation, in which our eyes are opened to a new understanding. In Gerald May’s Dark Night of the Soul, he talks about "Mystery and Freedom." We become comfortable with things we can’t explain when we are comfortable in the knowledge that we don’t have to explain them and we allow the words to speak to us for what they mean and what they say. Sometimes transformation requires that we enter a dark period, outside our comfort zones before we are able to see things "in a new way." We must be rid of those demons that disrupt our journey. We must open our hearts and actively listen. Yes, demons and evil exist and we must wait to hear "Be silent, and come out of him!"