Fallen Christ, from the Isle of Iona
sculptor Ronald Rae
his shoulders ache with the weariness of others,
his brow lacerated with their twisted expectations
Take a moment to
centre yourself in prayer:
Lift up my heart, O God of grace.
Lift away every burden that makes my soul
heavy with regret.
Help me to see all things in
perspective:
My own faults, the faults of those
around me,
the faults that threaten to swallow me
in the darkness of the earth.
Lift up my heart, O God of grace.
And fill me with new hope, Amen
READ Joshua 5:9-12
9The Lord said
to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away from you the disgrace of Egypt.” And so
that place is called Gilgal to this day.
10While
the Israelites were camped in Gilgal they kept the passover in the evening on
the fourteenth day of the month in the plains of Jericho.11On
the day after the passover, on that very day, they ate the produce of the land,
unleavened cakes and parched grain. 12The manna
ceased on the day they ate the produce of the land, and the Israelites no
longer had manna; they ate the crops of the land of Canaan that year.
The book of Joshua is both
ancient story-telling and teaching tool.
There are many parallels between Moses and Joshua – crossing the river
is one of them. There are also the
“deuteronomist” and the “priestly” editors at work on older stories, to the
original storyline there is added meaning or message. The concern with
circumcision and Passover in this passage suggests it is “priestly” in the
post-exilic time after re-building of temple – like them, this was a time of
return, of rolling away the “disgrace” of their past history. In verse 9 – “rolled away” is a phrase that gives us the
sense of a momentous thing being removed “Gilgal”, it is not lightly lifted with no effort.
The Passover could only be celebrated by the circumcised, so the young men endured circumcision as adults, to identify themselves with their forebears. Then they ate the crops of
the land, because the dependence on God for daily bread manna (meaning: what is it?) ceased.
What was the message to the people
of “priestly” time (300 BCE)? Get on with it, stop waiting for God to do it for you! they were also returned from the Babylonian exile - expected life to be easy, but it was hard work being responsible for themselves again!
Then there is the theology of the land that is introduced here –
whose crops are they eating?? A history of displacement, conflict.
"And so it is with us on our journey through Lent. We are called
and commissioned by YHWH as YHWH's special people, bid to obey the word that
YHWH offers us through Jesus Christ, and to take responsibility for ourselves
and for one another in a community of service bound together in the covenant
offered so graciously by the God who has called. We are not to wait for the
miracles of God to show us what to do; we covenant with one another to create a
community that God has called us to be."
Question for Reflection: When have you been “spoon fed” your faith,
like the Israelites living on manna?
When did you start answering your own questions, like eating the produce
of the land?
READ 2 Corinthians
5:16-21
16From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point
of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know
him no longer in that way. 17So if anyone is in
Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see,
everything has become new! 18All this is from God,
who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of
reconciliation; 19that is, in Christ God
was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against
them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. 20So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is
making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled
to God. 21For our sake he made him
to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of
God.
It is unfortunate that most English
translations render the Greek phrase kata sarka, literally
“according to flesh,” as “from a human point of view.” For Paul, “flesh” (sarx)
is not simply a “human point of view.”
It was common in Greek philosophy to set them in opposition, body versus spirit, base desires were less important than the ambitions of the soul.
Rather, Paul speaks of the “flesh” as a
power that is diametrically opposed to God’s Holy Spirit. According to Romans
8:1-17, to live according to the flesh is to have a mind that is hostile to God
and a life that displeases God. Living according to the flesh leads to death
(Romans 8:6, 13). It is literally following desires born out of our own basic
needs and not taking others’ needs into account, or being able to see from
another perspective.
For Paul, the desires of the flesh are in no way
congruent with the fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:16-24). In Galatians 5-6,
the fruit of the spirit is the very sign of God’s act of new creation -- God’s
act of transforming and redeeming and calling all people into newness of life.
In 2 Corinthians 5:16, when Paul says that he no
longer knows anyone “according to the flesh,” Paul is again acknowledging his
life in Christ and the Holy Spirit’s work within him. God is the one who has granted Paul this new
perspective (5:18). God has rescued him from the power of the flesh and enabled
him to walk according to the Spirit.
This a new
opportunity for life in God that was not available prior to Jesus. It is once and
for all reconciliation with God. It will require corporate effort
– God + Jesus + us working together.
The word "righteousness" has the connotation of arrogance or self-righteousness, so I often use right relationship instead.
Question for Reflection: How has your faith allowed you to leave some things behind so that you can live in "right relationship" with God and others?
READ Luke 15:1-32
Now all the tax collectors
and sinners were coming near to listen to him. 2And
the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes
sinners and eats with them.” 3So he
told them this parable: 4“Which
one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the
ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds
it? 5When
he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. 6And
when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to
them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7Just
so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents
than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. 8“Or
what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a
lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9When
she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying,
‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ 10Just
so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one
sinner who repents.”
In the latest
analysis, it is thought Luke was written after 100 AD, as late as 115, when the early church was more developed in its new priorities, leadership.
Entrenched conflicts between: followers of Peter and Mary Magdalene
Jewish
Christians and Gentile Christians
Rich
and poor
Authorities
and outsiders
A true Christian can expect to be
rejected! Luke reminds us. We are like the hidden treasure, of little value on the
exterior, but more faithful within.
11Then
Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12The
younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property
that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. 13A few
days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant
country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. 14When he
had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and
he began to be in need. 15So he
went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him
to his fields to feed the pigs. 16He
would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and
no one gave him anything.17But when he came to
himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to
spare, but here I am dying of hunger!18I
will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned
against heaven and before you; 19I am
no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired
hands.”’ 20So he
set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw
him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and
kissed him. 21Then
the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am
no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22But
the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put
it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23And
get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate;24for
this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And
they began to celebrate.
Law/logic favours elder brother, but so often the Hebrew tradition
favours the younger or unexpected recipient of God's mission (Jacob over Esau, Joseph over the other eleven, Rachel over Leah) – love is capricious, but there is plenty for everyone.
The young son is disrespectful of father’s dignity,
life’s work, morals. But father does not challenge him, allows him to make his own
choices.
After disaster strikes, he comes to himself – his true self emerges, he is making adult
choices.
But while he was still far off… the father runs to him, we do not need to be perfect to approach God.
Ring, robe, sandals, fatted calf - possibly kept ready for the elder son's wedding celebrations.
25“Now
his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he
heard music and dancing. 26He
called one of the slaves and asked what was going on.27He
replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf,
because he has got him back safe and sound.’ 28Then
he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead
with him. 29But
he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a
slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never
given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. 30But
when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with
prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ 31Then
the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is
yours. 32But
we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has
come to life; he was lost and has been found.’”
In verse 25, it seems like the elder son was not even invited
to the party! He is angry, comparing himself to his brother: verse 29 – you have never given me
a young goat to celebrate with my friends…
It is not his father’s love he wants, it’s the physical symbol.
Count
yourself lucky, how happy you must be—
you get a fresh start,
your slate’s wiped clean.
you get a fresh start,
your slate’s wiped clean.
2 Count yourself lucky—
God holds nothing against you
and you’re holding nothing back from him.
God holds nothing against you
and you’re holding nothing back from him.
3 When I kept it all
inside,
my bones turned to powder,
my words became daylong groans.
my bones turned to powder,
my words became daylong groans.
4 The pressure never let
up;
all the juices of my life dried up.
all the juices of my life dried up.
5 Then I let it all out;
I said, “I’ll make a clean breast of my failures to God.”
I said, “I’ll make a clean breast of my failures to God.”
Suddenly
the pressure was gone—
my guilt dissolved,
my sin disappeared.
my guilt dissolved,
my sin disappeared.
6 These things add up.
Every one of us needs to pray;
when all hell breaks loose and the dam bursts
we’ll be on high ground, untouched.
when all hell breaks loose and the dam bursts
we’ll be on high ground, untouched.
7 God’s my
island hideaway,
keeps danger far from the shore,
throws garlands of hosannas around my neck.
keeps danger far from the shore,
throws garlands of hosannas around my neck.
8 Let me give you some
good advice;
I’m looking you in the eye
and giving it to you straight:
I’m looking you in the eye
and giving it to you straight:
9 “Don’t be ornery like a
horse or mule
that needs bit and bridle
to stay on track.”
that needs bit and bridle
to stay on track.”
10 God-defiers are always
in trouble;
God-affirmers find themselves loved
every time they turn around.
God-affirmers find themselves loved
every time they turn around.
11 Celebrate God.
Sing together—everyone!
All you honest hearts, raise the roof!
Sing together—everyone!
All you honest hearts, raise the roof!
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