Living out faith

The Glass Across the Way…

As I looked at the stained glass window across the hall, at first I took in its pattern and the colors in it. Then, it was interesting to notice the way the light came through it, and the way the different sections of glass distorted or hid what was on the other side. It was only at the base of the window that one could see pretty clearly, what was outside; and, I imagine, one who was outside could see in, too.

Oftentimes, situations, relationships, and interactions can be like looking through glass. They can range from those where the glass may seem impenetrable to those where the glass is transparent, with nothing to hide. Yet, even in those cases where the glass is very dark, light is still able to shine through it.

Look at Pilate, Herod, one of the criminals alongside Jesus, and the centurion (Luke 23:1-49). In the midst of all that was happening through the trial and crucifixion of Jesus, light was shed and truth was revealed to them. What did they do with it? What do we do with it?

This is what the Passion of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is all about. In all moments, even in the moments when life seems darkest or situations seem impossible, there is still light with and within us, and where there is light, there is always a way… the Way.

The more we can allow ourselves to be transparent in our relationship with God, the more we shine, and the more we shine, the better we are able to see, and live, the Way.    

EPWindow

The elders of the people, chief priests and scribes,
arose and brought Jesus before Pilate.
They brought charges against him, saying,
“We found this man misleading our people;
he opposes the payment of taxes to Caesar
and maintains that he is the Christ, a king.”
Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
He said to him in reply, “You say so.”
Pilate then addressed the chief priests and the crowds,
“I find this man not guilty.”
But they were adamant and said,
“He is inciting the people with his teaching throughout all Judea,
from Galilee where he began even to here.”

On hearing this Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean;
and upon learning that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction,
he sent him to Herod who was in Jerusalem at that time.
Herod was very glad to see Jesus;
he had been wanting to see him for a long time,
for he had heard about him
and had been hoping to see him perform some sign.
He questioned him at length,
but he gave him no answer.
The chief priests and scribes, meanwhile,
stood by accusing him harshly.
Herod and his soldiers treated him contemptuously and mocked him,
and after clothing him in resplendent garb,
he sent him back to Pilate.
Herod and Pilate became friends that very day,
even though they had been enemies formerly.
Pilate then summoned the chief priests, the rulers, and the people
and said to them, “You brought this man to me
and accused him of inciting the people to revolt.
I have conducted my investigation in your presence
and have not found this man guilty
of the charges you have brought against him,
nor did Herod, for he sent him back to us.
So no capital crime has been committed by him.
Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him.”

But all together they shouted out,
“Away with this man!
Release Barabbas to us.”
— Now Barabbas had been imprisoned for a rebellion
that had taken place in the city and for murder. —
Again Pilate addressed them, still wishing to release Jesus,
but they continued their shouting,
“Crucify him!  Crucify him!”
Pilate addressed them a third time,
“What evil has this man done?
I found him guilty of no capital crime.
Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him.”
With loud shouts, however,
they persisted in calling for his crucifixion,
and their voices prevailed.
The verdict of Pilate was that their demand should be granted.
So he released the man who had been imprisoned
for rebellion and murder, for whom they asked,
and he handed Jesus over to them to deal with as they wished.

As they led him away
they took hold of a certain Simon, a Cyrenian,
who was coming in from the country;
and after laying the cross on him,
they made him carry it behind Jesus.
A large crowd of people followed Jesus,
including many women who mourned and lamented him.
Jesus turned to them and said,
“Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me;
weep instead for yourselves and for your children
for indeed, the days are coming when people will say,
‘Blessed are the barren,
the wombs that never bore
and the breasts that never nursed.’
At that time people will say to the mountains,
‘Fall upon us!’
and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’
for if these things are done when the wood is green
what will happen when it is dry?”
Now two others, both criminals,
were led away with him to be executed.

When they came to the place called the Skull,
they crucified him and the criminals there,
one on his right, the other on his left.
Then Jesus said,
“Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.”
They divided his garments by casting lots.
The people stood by and watched;
the rulers, meanwhile, sneered at him and said,
“He saved others, let him save himself
if he is the chosen one, the Christ of God.”
Even the soldiers jeered at him.
As they approached to offer him wine they called out,
“If you are King of the Jews, save yourself.”
Above him there was an inscription that read,
“This is the King of the Jews.”

Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying,
“Are you not the Christ?
Save yourself and us.”
The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply,
“Have you no fear of God,
for you are subject to the same condemnation?
And indeed, we have been condemned justly,
for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes,
but this man has done nothing criminal.”
Then he said,
“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
He replied to him,
“Amen, I say to you,
today you will be with me in Paradise.”

It was now about noon and darkness came over the whole land
until three in the afternoon
because of an eclipse of the sun.
Then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle.
Jesus cried out in a loud voice,
“Father, into your hands I commend my spirit”;
and when he had said this he breathed his last.

The centurion who witnessed what had happened glorified God and said,
“This man was innocent beyond doubt.”
When all the people who had gathered for this spectacle
saw what had happened,
they returned home beating their breasts;
but all his acquaintances stood at a distance,
including the women who had followed him from Galilee
and saw these events. – Luke 23:1-49

On the Other Side…

Waiting and thinking, I looked around and then straight ahead. Just beyond the sidewalk there was a chain looped through poles in the ground, creating an understanding to refrain from treading across the grass. Then, beyond that, there was a robin. It was also on pause and taking in things. Although both planted on ground… on earth, from the pavement, the robin was on the other side.

So many situations in life can involve, or evolve into, being on one side or the other. Yet faith calls us to strive to show compassion, mercy, and understanding to all. Faith calls us to unity despite any differences we may have.  Yet, so often, the human experience creeps toward unrest and disharmony rather than one of recognizing, appreciating, or celebrating the many different faces through which our Oneness remains.

Jesus said to the Pharisees and scribes, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” We are reminded as we read or listen to this passage about the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11), it is not for us to judge and condemn others. We are shown Jesus correcting the leaders of that time who are abusing their authority. Alongside this, we also see Jesus’ mercy in how he responds to the woman.

As we proceed through life, none of us get it “right” all the time. We trip… we fall… we stumble at times. That is what humans do. It is not what is important though. What matters is whether we are open to the invitation, and able to consider the possibility that in some situations we may not be so different from what is on the other side. In doing so, we can see common ground, and through the grace of God, it leads to mercy, compassion, and understanding.

When looking to the other side, what do you see? How do you see the other side in yourself, and yourself in the other side?

Robin

Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area,
and all the people started coming to him,
and he sat down and taught them.
Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman
who had been caught in adultery
and made her stand in the middle.
They said to him,
“Teacher, this woman was caught
in the very act of committing adultery.
Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women.
So what do you say?”
They said this to test him,
so that they could have some charge to bring against him.
Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger.
But when they continued asking him,
he straightened up and said to them,
“Let the one among you who is without sin
be the first to throw a stone at her.”
Again he bent down and wrote on the ground.
And in response, they went away one by one,
beginning with the elders.
So he was left alone with the woman before him.
Then Jesus straightened up and said to her,
“Woman, where are they?
Has no one condemned you?”
She replied, “No one, sir.”
Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you.
Go, and from now on do not sin any more.” – John 8:1-11

A Good Recipe…

There is a cooking show that I watch from time to time in which chefs compete against each other until one chef is left standing. Throughout each round of the show, there is commentary from the chefs providing an inside view on their thoughts as they compete. Now, it could be that more than one chef states something like this to the camera, but oftentimes, there will be one chef who is absolutely certain that his or her dish is the best and cannot be beat. Without fail, that chef is beat.

Therefore, whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall. – St. Paul

In the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians (chapter 10, verse 12), St. Paul is trying to call awareness to the age old danger of allowing oneself to be lifted too high. He is cautioning the people against falling into the trap of seeing themselves, or living, as though above the need for self-examination. He is pointing to the example of the past and saying, learn from it! Do not let history repeat itself.

St. Paul goes on to state that there will be trials, but that they will not be bigger than God, who will provide for, protect, and faithfully guide the faithful through them.

No trial has come to you but what is human. God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength; but with the trial he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to bear it. – 1 Corinthians 10:13   

It is a great time of year to take, or make, the opportunity to reflect upon faithfulness. Not loyalty to any human person, organization, or structure, but God’s faithfulness to us and ours to God. To examine what it means to oneself as an individual, as part of a family or group, as part of a community, etc. and to invite God for insight on how to better live by it.

TheWoundToJesusChest

Awaken to the Light…

A few nights ago I had fallen asleep while other household members were still up and about. Suddenly though, I was awake again. Someone had turned on the hallway light, which extended its reach into the room where I was sleeping. And while the light was rather intrusive that night, more often than not, the light is exactly what we need.

According to the Gospel of Luke, Peter, John, and James accompanied Jesus up the mountain to pray, but at some point, the three disciples were “overcome by sleep” (Luke 9:32). During their sleep, Jesus is not only joined by the prophets Moses and Elijah, engaging in discussion with them, but also becomes transfigured, his appearance changing and his clothing giving off great light.

Peter, John and James, awoken seemingly by the intense light, witness Jesus’ transfiguration and the presence of the prophets alongside him. This is shortly followed by a cloud that envelops them, creating both darkness and fear. Yet it was in this cloud and undoubtedly their confusion about what was going on, that God speaks to them, shedding light by revealing the truth as well as providing instruction—“This is my chosen Son; listen to him” (Luke 9:35).   

While the disciples cannot account for what happened while they were sleeping, now that they are awake they do have a responsibility with regards to what they had witnessed. At the time appointed by Jesus (Matthew 17:9; Mark 9:9), they will give voice to what they saw and experienced that day on the mountain.

As we go through life, we all have moments where we experience or witness the glory of God. We also have moments where we witness the opposite of that. Whichever it may be, we are always called to testify and give witness to the truth.

The Light always wakes us up, but it is up to us how we respond.

ThePath_Akiane
In order to choose the right path we do not have to figure out the wrong one— we just need to follow the light. – The Path by Akiane Kramarik

Jesus took Peter, John, and James
and went up the mountain to pray.
While he was praying his face changed in appearance
and his clothing became dazzling white.
And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah,
who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus
that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.
Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep,
but becoming fully awake,
they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.
As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus,
“Master, it is good that we are here;
let us make three tents,
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
But he did not know what he was saying.
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 chosen Son; listen to him.”
After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone.
They fell silent and did not at that time
tell anyone what they had seen.  – Luke 9:28B-36

Continuing Education…

“I have been a seeker and I still am, but I stopped asking the books and the stars. I started listening to the teaching of my soul.” –Rumi

Recently I attended a show where one of the scenes had a song about parents and teachers who were not listening to the voices of the children. It was as if in trying to teach and steer their children, they had become closed off to the fact that maybe there were things that they needed to learn too. The show and that scene were striking, calling to mind this Rumi quote and making me think about teaching, learning, and the role of prayer.

After having retreated to spend the night on the mountain, praying to God (Luke 6:12), Jesus returned. It was then, and only then, after prayer, that Jesus took action. Perhaps the most appealing qualities of Jesus are that his words and actions match, and that he teaches with a motivation that comes from wisdom and nourishment received through prayer.

While his disciples and countless others seek to listen to his words, to see what he is all about, and to receive healing from him, Jesus, in his ministry, never seeks to elevate, separate, or cut himself off from others, outside of retreating to pray. In the Sermon on the Plain (Luke 6:20-26), Jesus stands on level ground as he teaches… as he ministers.

Throughout Scripture, and throughout the ages, Jesus is always in the midst of those who seek him. As we strive, struggle, and overcome, Jesus is one with us. And we are to be one with each other.

However, just as in Scripture, in order for this to occur, we must be honest, having within our hearts and minds an openness to healing, a resistance to complacency, and a desire to keep learning and to grow closer to God each and every day. Doing so allows for a life that is not only just and honorable, but also faithful.

And he came down with them
and stood on a stretch of level ground.
A great crowd of his disciples
and a large number of the people
from all Judea and Jerusalem
and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon
came to hear him
and to be healed of their diseases;
and even those who were tormented by unclean spirits were cured.
Everyone in the crowd sought to touch him
because power came forth from him and healed them all.

And raising his eyes toward his disciples he said:

“Blessed are you who are poor,
for the kingdom of God is yours.

Blessed are you who are now hungry,
for you will be satisfied.

Blessed are you who are now weeping,
for you will laugh.

Blessed are you when people hate you,
and when they exclude and insult you,
and denounce your name as evil
on account of the Son of Man.

Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven. For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way.

But woe to you who are rich,
for you have received your consolation.

But woe to you who are filled now,
for you will be hungry.

Woe to you who laugh now,
for you will grieve and weep.

Woe to you when all speak well of you,
for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way.

– Luke 6:17-26

Go Bold…

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, and you, and all. That is what it means to be alive and to be created in the image of God. From creation, we are chosen, and as such anointed and blessed by God, and nothing, absolutely nothing, can diminish who we are created to be. There is still more, that same Love with which each of us is created seeks to lead the way, sanctifying each step along our path, and providing all that we might need, if only we take heed.

The Spirit of the Lord is a most miraculous Spirit! One which, when welcomed, embraced, and celebrated, makes the world, or at least pockets of it, a much better place for all. Perhaps even more remarkable, is the fact that whether or not one honors that Spirit, lives from it, disengages from it, or loses sight of it altogether, it remains at the ready, always wanting and wishing the best for and from each of us.

How do we receive this magnificent gift? How do we live out of it?

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, and you, and all, throughout each day for as long as we live, and more.

Dare to declare who you are. It is not far from the shores of silence to the boundaries of speech. The path is not long, but the way is deep. You must not only walk there, you must be prepared to leap. – Hildegard Von Bingen

moon

The Spirit of…

Throughout the year, all around the world, people of all backgrounds prepare for various holidays, Holy days, and the festivities associated with them. There are many cultural as well as familial traditions. Among the countless possibilities, the fact remains that most people have their own ideas and preferences for what a holiday “should” be. Whether inherited and passed along as they were from their beginnings—with no change, put into practice with some variation of what came before, or created in an entirely new and different way, oftentimes we establish routines and even deadlines for the tasks that have become part of our preparation for a special day.

Yet, plan as we may, preparing the way can end up looking very different from what one may have set out to do, may have pictured, or expected from the image of years passed. Frequently though the places where there seems to be missteps, no time, no room, or where we may least expect something good, are exactly the places where we are apt encounter the gift of God’s grace. That is often the beauty and the blessing of holidays, Holy days, and the events that surround them. In our attempts to make them special and meaningful in our own ways, we often look up and around a little more, changing our ordinary routines just enough that we also, perhaps unknowingly, open ourselves and our environment up to more of the Extraordinary—the Divine.

When it is all said and done, it is not so much what we do that makes these days special, but rather what is behind our words and actions and the ways in which we are inspired to say and do them. As the holidays, Holy days, and festivities continue to arrive, embrace the “the splendor of glory from God” (Baruch 5:1). Live from it, allowing it to flow through you into the moments of each and every day, spreading peace, love, and joy wherever you may go; providing comfort, strength, restoration and healing wherever it is needed; and building and bridging relationships all around. In this Spirit, may we receive whomever and whatever may come as we are, that is blessed with the splendor of God’s glory.

Dove

Doing my best…

While at times perfection may seem to be beyond my senses or out of reach that is just illusion. Sometimes I need to remind myself, I am not perfect, nor can I be. The perfection my soul truly seeks, is already present, oftentimes existing quietly and unassumingly all around me, and even within me, despite my efforts.

Perfection… the beauty of the word of God—Love—from intention through fruition abundantly bestowing grace in every place it touches, that is everywhere, all the time.

The word of God is living and effective,
sharper than any two-edged sword,
penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow,
and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.
No creature is concealed from him,
but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him
to whom we must render an account. – Hebrews 4:12-13

Perfection… when we strive to be our best… as each of us were created to be, rather than when we strive to be the best.

DoingMyBest

Prayer and comfortable living are incompatible. – Teresa of Avila, The Way of Perfection

Before (and with) the Lord…

A good amount of each day is spent traveling from one spot to another. Sometimes the distance is short—a few steps here or there—and sometimes it is longer. For sure, there is a lot of physical movement by each of us as well as around us throughout any given day. Add to this the movements that occur within that are not “physical,” such as a change of heart, a new or different perspective, and so on.

In Psalm 116, the psalmist writes, “I shall walk before the LORD in the land of the living” (verse 9). Notice how the psalmist does not write, “I shall run before the Lord,” “I shall stand before the Lord,” or “I shall sit before the Lord.” The psalmist uses the word, “walk.”

“I shall walk before the Lord.” It is intentional, measured, and purposeful, as if to say, “As I go about my way in this life, I will move with meaning, ever mindful of the Lord’s presence.” A tall order, yes, but not impossible one step… one moment at a time.

The journey is meant to be something that is striven for, without succumbing to a notion or drive toward perfection. Mistakes and mishaps, trials and tribulations are par for the course, and the more one can acknowledge and look to learn from them, the less distraction they will cause while walking through them. More than anything, it is about a heart that is open and willing, filled with desire for constant contact and union with the Lord, while in the land of the “living.”

In the Gospel of Mark, chapter 8, verses 27-35, Jesus asks his disciples about who they believe him to be. Peter immediately answers, “You are the Messiah.” Peter knows and believes in Jesus as the Savior, but he, like the others, does not know what that really means. When Jesus then tells them that he will be beaten and killed, and about his resurrection, Peter responds just as fervently as he did when professing Jesus as the Messiah. However, where Peter says to the Lord, “Yes!” loud and clear, now when Jesus tells him something that is unexpected, unpleasant, and most likely the exact opposite of what he has envisioned or hoped for, Peter says to the Lord, “No!” loud and clear. While his passion may be the same, in that moment, he loses sight of the Lord and with that, his response moves away from being intentional, measured, and purposeful. Jesus recognizes this immediately and responds, “Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”

As Peter continues striving to walk with the Lord both before and after the death and resurrection of Jesus, he learns as he moves and grows in trust, wisdom, and understanding. We, also disciples, are called to move in the same way… and we can, too.

How do I walk not only before the Lord, but also with and in the Lord as I go about each day… each moment?

We must not mind insulting men, if by respecting them we offend God. – Saint John Chrysostom

BiddefordPoolSunset

Jesus and his disciples set out
for the villages of Caesarea Philippi.
Along the way he asked his disciples,
“Who do people say that I am?”
They said in reply,
“John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others one of the prophets.”
And he asked them,
“But who do you say that I am?”
Peter said to him in reply,
“You are the Christ.”
Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him.

He began to teach them
that the Son of Man must suffer greatly
and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed, and rise after three days.
He spoke this openly.
Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples,
rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan.
You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”

He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them,
“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake
and that of the gospel will save it.” – Mark 8:27-35

Bigger than the Shadows…

Observing the valley and the mountain across the way from the top of a ridgeline, the magnificence of the landscape, despite shadows cast by some of the clouds, was undeniable. We found ourselves in awe of the vastness and beauty all around us. It was so much so, that neither the clouds nor the fog that rolled in or the passing rain shower could dull our spirits or lessen the sense of appreciation and joy in our hearts. Recalling the experience, if I had to name it or add a caption, it would simply be, “The Glory of God: Always Bigger than the Shadows.” How true.

In the Gospel of Mark, the Pharisees and scribes ask Jesus, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands” (Mark 7:5)? Jesus sees the shadows for what they are and responds by shedding light and guiding people to Truth.

As Jesus replies to the Pharisees and scribes, he tells them, “You nullify the word of God in favor of your tradition that you have handed on. And you do many such things” (Mark 7:13). Then he turns his attention back to the people. It is written, “He summoned the crowd again and said to them, ‘Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.’”

While the shadows may attempt to obscure or distort the view, the truth is always revealed to those whose hearts honestly desire and work to see and live within Truth, as they make their way.

“God of might, giver of every good gift, put into our hearts the love of your name, so that, by deepening our sense of reverence, you may nurture in us what is good, and by your watchful care, keep safe what you have nurtured.” (Collect for September 2, 2018)

Shadow

Now when the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him, they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands.

(For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders. And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves. And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles [and beds].)

So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?”

He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written:

‘This people honors me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me;
In vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines human precepts.’

You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.”

He went on to say, “How well you have set aside the commandment of God in order to uphold your tradition!

For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and ‘Whoever curses father or mother shall die.’

Yet you say, ‘If a person says to father or mother, “Any support you might have had from me is qorban”’ (meaning, dedicated to God), you allow him to do nothing more for his father or mother.

You nullify the word of God in favor of your tradition that you have handed on. And you do many such things.”

He summoned the crowd again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.”

When he got home away from the crowd his disciples questioned him about the parable.

He said to them, “Are even you likewise without understanding? Do you not realize that everything that goes into a person from outside cannot defile, since it enters not the heart but the stomach and passes out into the latrine?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.)

“But what comes out of a person, that is what defiles. From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile.” – Mark 7:1-23