More Scriptures to Make Our Heads Spin

I both love and hate the New Common Lectionary, the selections of scripture readings for each Sunday ofthe year, set up on a three year cycle.  I love it because it forces me to think about and pray about and preach about topics and issues with which I would rather not deal.  I hate it because it forces me to think about and pray about and preach about topics and Issues with which I would rather not deal. 

The scriptures for today, John 10:11-18,  Acts 4:5-12 and 1 John 3:16-24, when taken together just make my head spin.  In the first we hear Jesus say, “I am the good shepherd, and the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” Then Jesus goes on to say, “I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock and one shepherd.” 

One Shepherd and one flock, sounds great until Luke chimes in through the book Acts: “there is salvation in no one else (but Jesus), for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.” Certainly many Christian Denominations believe and teach that there is only one way to God and that that is Jesus.  Other religions also have factions that teach similar beliefs that their way is the only way.  Any time a religion says something along the lines of “God so love the world, BUT…Look out! I certainly believe that Jesus came to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to invite all nations and peoples into that Kingdom.  I also believe that God is big enough and creative enough to provide pathways for all of God’s people to find their way into the Kingdom. 

Here enters the writer of First John (thanks be to God): “We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.” 

The writer of First John provides us the key to a living and loving faith: that love appears not just in words and maybe even not primarily in words and speech, “but in truth and action.” It is the Spirit God has given us, that abides in us, that leads us into truth and action.  This truth and action says more about our faith, about our relationship to God and to other people than our judging who is in or out of God’s Kingdom could ever say. 

As the Old song proclaims: “they will know we are Christians by our love, by our love, yes they will know we are Christians by our love.”  Not by our judgment, or our ability to correct others, or by our need to have our own way. . .but by our love!  Jesus never commanded us to agree with one another. He commanded us to love. Yes, they will know we are Christians by our love!

 

 

Three Holy Days That Changed the World

For Many Christians, the last three days of Holy Week, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Day, are like time out of time.  We continue to live our daily lives, working and caring for family and doing all those day to day tasks that hold body and soul together. We also live into a parallel dimension in which we walk with Jesus Christ in his passion, through his death, to his resurrection. These days are referred to as the Sacred Triduum in Latin, the Holiest Three Days in English.  Worship on these days appears to be three services but is, in fact, only one. Worship begins on Maundy Thursday with the prayer:  

Almighty Father, whose dear Son, on the night before he suffered, instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood: Mercifully grant that we may receive it thankfully in remembrance of Jesus Christ our Lord, who in these Holy Mysteries gives us a pledge of eternal life. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, page 274) 

There is no dismissal until the end of the Easter worship service when we proclaim, “let us go forth in the Name of Christ, Alleluia, Alleluia!” 

These three days are truly the center of the Christian year.  On Maundy Thursday we share in the Last Supper with Jesus and his disciples as he gives them, and us, a new commandment which he demonstrates by washing their feet.  

Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord. . . So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example that you also should do as I have done to you. (John 13:1ff) 

This is my Commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. (John 15:12) 

After this meal Jesus is betrayed, then tried by the Chief priests and later by the Roman Governor Pilate. We end our worship on this evening by striping the altar area of all adornments, symbolizing that the light of Christ is leaving the world.  And then we leave the church in silence and sadness. 

On Good Friday we continue our worship with the following words: 

Almighty God, we pray you graciously to behold this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed, and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the cross. (Book of Common Prayer, p. 276) 

The Passion Gospel of Jesus is then read, leading is on the journey to the Garden of Gethsemane, his betrayal, and his death and burial.  We remember the passion of Jesus by participating in his journey.  Prayers for all of God’s people follow, ending with prayers for forgiveness and silent communion from previously consecrated bread and wine. This day is not a time for celebration. The following prayer closes part two of our three day journey: 

"Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, we pray you to set your passion, cross, an death between your judgment and our souls, now and in the hour of our death.  Give mercy and grace to the living; pardon and rest to the dead; to your holy Church peace and concord; and to us sinners everlasting life and glory. Amen."(Book of Common Prayer, page 282) 

On the Third Day we proclaim, “Alleluia. Christ is Risen. The Lord is Risen indeed. Alleluia.” The three days end and the rest of our life in Christ Begins!