Were you there?

Being Present to Suffering

“Were you there when they crucified my Lord?” asks the hymn. As we enter into John’s gospel for Good Friday, this is a good question. How are we “there”? How are we present to Jesus’ suffering and death—in our hearts and minds, our communities, and our world? What is the meaning of his suffering and death for us? Good Friday worship invites us into such questions and through them forms our faith and guides our lives toward compassion. Traditions such as the Way of the Cross enable people to imagine themselves present with Jesus in his last hours before death.

In Good Friday worship, we accompany Jesus to the cross with other witnesses who show various ways of being present—or not. A fearful Peter denies Jesus. A group of women keep watch and weep for Jesus on the cross. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus take care of his lifeless body. Watching, weeping, caring, and even denying are all common human responses to suffering. Becoming aware of our own witness and responses, we can be present more compassionately to Christ crucified, wherever and whenever we encounter him in suffering and injustice.

Even as we consider how to “be there” in the face of suffering, we know that, as always, Jesus has gone first. The reading from Isaiah reminds us how Jesus, through his death, is present with us in our suffering. We can trust that wherever we go and whatever we go through, Jesus is “there”; he can “sympathize with our weaknesses” (Heb. 4:15). We know that we are not alone in our own suffering and death, and we consider what to do now with that knowledge. Good Friday draws us into a community that wonders together: how can we be “there” with Christ crucified in our world and share the hope of resurrection in such places?

From Sundays and Seasons

In our midst

Mark 11:1–11

“Those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!" (Mark 11:9). Notice how this verse describes the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. It says that some are ahead of him while others are following behind. In other words, Jesus is in the midst of them. I find it easy to forget that Jesus is not only behind or ahead of us. He is not simply a figure from 2,000 years ago or a savior who will meet us in the moment of death and bring us to new life. Our verse reminds us that Jesus is here now in our midst. He comes to us today with a Word of forgiveness and freedom. He meets us whenever and wherever we meet a neighbour—in our homes, workplaces, schools, and community.

Lord Jesus, we thank you for your presence in our midst. May we and those we meet be enclosed in your gracious Word of love. Amen.

From Awesome Mystery, a Lent devotion

Look in the dirt...

In the gospel reading for the 5th Sunday of Lent, John 12:20-26,

Jesus plants the image of the (dead) seed coming to life and bearing fruit, as a metaphor for his own crucifixion and being “lifted up” on our behalf. The Greeks ask to see Jesus. We might paraphrase Jesus’ oblique response this way: “If you want to see me, first look down into the dirt; then look up to the cross.”

From Sundays and Seasons

So many times Jesus tells us to look around us.  He and God are here in the dirt of the earth, the muck of the world.  And from this, good can come for all.

What better time to look down at the dirt than spring?  To see the signs of new growth.  From death to life.  From the cross to resurrection.  From despair to hope.  From empty to full.

May this time of Lenten reflection show you the hope and love of God for you and all people.

Lenten Litany: Isaiah 58

After the water

In the news lately we have heard of the devastation in Texas from climate change:  unusual extreme temperatures.  Cold.  Water freezing.  Pipes bursting and flooding.  A power system not prepared for this event, both in the long and short term.

But... after the cold and freezing came caring.  After the ice... a community helped in recovery.  People caring.

And so to, after the water of baptism, Jesus showed us that our baptism requires us to care. To strive for justice and peace.  

Immediately after Jesus is baptized, the Holy Spirit drives Jesus into the wilderness, where he is tempted by Satan. Mark does not give us much detail, but even the outline is significant. Baptism does not make Jesus’ life easier. Baptism does not fix things for Jesus. Just the opposite, baptism complicates life, for Jesus and for us. Baptism compels God’s people to strive for justice and peace in all the earth. There are plenty of philosophies which argue for similar action, but none are backed up by the Holy Spirit forcing the action. What are some choices your baptismal calling led you to? What are some faithful decisions your congregation made counter to conventional wisdom?

 -from the worship resource Sundays and Seasons