A Different Kind of Lent

“…for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.”  Luke 1:48a

This year most of our gospel readings come from the gospel of Luke.  And one of the themes of Luke is about who Jesus ‘sees.’  Who does Jesus regard?  Who does Jesus favor?  In the verse above, from the Magnificat, Mary the mother of Jesus is proclaiming her praise for God and celebrating being ‘favored’ by God.  She certainly does not see herself as anyone who is deserving of God’s favor.  She is a poor, young girl born into the underclass and culturally destined to stay there.  Yet God favors her, and it changes her life.

It’s a big deal to be ‘seen, regarded and favored’ by God…especially when you don’t think you deserve it.  It gives a sense of worth.  Being ‘seen’ satisfies one of the deepest human longings.    

And one of the most significant things God does for us is ‘see’ us.  God regards us and looks upon us with favor.

Jesus ‘sees’ us, with all our faults and brokenness…and he regards us as having worth…and through him, we receive God’s favor…just as we are.  We do not become worthy of God’s favor because of anything we do…and we are not unworthy because of anything we have done or failed to do.  We are worthy because God loves us.  In and through Jesus Christ, God makes us worthy. 

And once we realize that we are ‘seen’ by God as worthy, the season of Lent actually becomes less about ‘giving up’ something and more about embracing what we have received from God.  Lent becomes not so much about ‘self-denial,’ but about embodying the worthiness that comes from being a person favored by God...a person loved just as you are.  It’s not about us and what we do as much as it is about God and what God has done for us. 

So rather than spend Lent focusing on ‘giving up’ something, I’m proposing that we try a different kind of Lent.  I’m inviting you to ponder what it means that you are ‘seen’ by God and ‘favored.’ And I encourage you to consider what your life would be like if you, like Mary, celebrated being ‘favored’ by God.  How might your life change if you truly embraced this gift and lived as a person whom God has ‘looked upon with favor?’

“for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.” Luke 1:49  

Blessings,

revroy+

The Miracle of Multiplication

When he looked up and saw a large crowd following him, Jesus said, “Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?” Philip answered, “Six months wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.”  Andrew said, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish.  But what are they among so many people?”

And so begins the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000, with five loaves of bread and two fish.  But the disciples, the leaders of Jesus’ little church, didn’t think they could possibly do it.  They just didn’t have the money or the supplies to pull it off.

Although much has changed in the church over the centuries, this issue remains…church leaders still struggle with how to do ministry and mission with limited resources.  It almost always seems that we just don’t have enough money or resources to do God’s work where God is calling us.  But Jesus doesn’t have the same worries as his disciples.

Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.  So they sat down, about 5,000 in all.”  Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted.” 

Jesus takes the small gift from the boy and miraculously multiplies it so that all 5,000 people have plenty to eat.  Jesus could have performed this miracle in many different ways, but he chose to have it start with a small gift from a boy.  Not that it was a small thing from the boy’s perspective…it may well have been his family’s food for the day…yet he gave generously, trusting that Jesus would provide. 

And God still chooses to use our gifts that we think are too small to make a difference on their own…and God multiplies them to feed the hungry, quench the thirsty, and provide for the little, the lost and the lonely.  Just like Jesus uses the boy’s gift in this story, doing God’s work in the world begins with our gifts… which God miraculously multiples into abundant blessings for many. 

So trust God and give!  And then expect to see God do amazing things. 

When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.”   So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets.    

All from a small gift by a little boy.  Amazing!

RevRoy+

Any Questions?

We all have questions about God, our faith and how it relates to our lives.  Questions like, Can it be proven that God exists?  Was Jesus of Nazareth God? If Jesus was God, why did he have to die? Is believing in Jesus really the only way to get to heaven? Why should I follow Jesus; can’t I just say I believe in him?  And the ever popular, Can’t I be a Christian without going to church?
 
And it’s OK to have questions.  God doesn’t mind! 

Remember how in the Easter story not one of Jesus’ followers believed that he had actually risen from the dead until they saw him with their own eyes.  Not the Mary’s at the tomb, not Peter or John, not any of the others either.  Remember the story of doubting Thomas, who refused to believe Jesus rose from the dead until he saw him with his own eyes?  

All of Jesus’ first disciples had fundamental questions about what they were to believe.   But Jesus didn’t condemn them for having questions!  And Jesus isn’t going to condemn any of us for our questions either.   

Having questions actually serves an important purpose in our journey of faith.  As odd as it sounds, asking questions actually helps us stay connected with God.  When we go back to God with our why’s and what if’s, with our ‘how does that work…how can that be,’ we keep the lines of communication open and keep our relationship with God from becoming stale or something we take for granted.  When we talk to God about our questions, God helps as we ponder what faith and belief mean for us today.  Through our questions, God leads us to a new life in a new relationship with God.

Having questions is an ordinary and important part of everyone’s faith journey.    Because it’s through our questions, and listening for God’s responses, that we grow in faith.

Pondering the big questions,

revroy+     

On the way to Easter, Go to the Cross

…these things are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.’ John 20:31

During Lent and Holy Week a number of years ago, my pastor illustrated his sermons with images from Renaissance art, paintings which graphically depict Jesus’ suffering, humiliation and horrifying death. 

I was deeply moved during those Lenten services, as I came to appreciate the enormity of the sacrifice Jesus made for us—for the whole world—and for me.  I was overwhelmed.  Why would anyone, let alone the Son of God, make such a huge sacrifice for me.  I surely hadn’t done anything to deserve it.  But God did it anyway.  Jesus died for me/us, so that I/we could be forgiven of my/our sins and given a fresh start in a new relationship with God.

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.  John 3:16

Having had this experience, I really think it helps one grow in faith to take time to observe Lent and Holy Week.  Even though it may be much more appealing to rush to Easter and bask in the joy of the resurrection, pausing and paying attention to the cross, can be very meaningful in one’s faith journey. 

Because in order to get to Easter, Jesus had to first go to the cross.  And in order to follow him, so do we.  Because without the cross—as horrible as it is—there is no resurrection.  Without the cross, we don’t receive the gift of new life, eternal life, in the kingdom of God.  Without the cross, there is no ‘saved by grace, through faith, in Jesus Christ.’  Without the cross there is no Easter. 

The Good News is that because of what Jesus did, everyone who believes in him is forgiven and receives the gift of eternal life in the kingdom of God!  What a blessing  it is to be loved by God!  And what a blessing it is to be a blessing to others by sharing God’s love!  That is our purpose as a congregation of believers in Jesus Christ—that is why we are here—that is our mission. 

So filled with the joy and thanksgiving of Easter, please think about the amazing and abundant ways in which God has blessed you, and then pray about how you can share God’s love and be a blessing to others. 

 … As the Father has sent me, so I send you. John 20:21

Blessed to be a blessing,

RevRoy+

God's Blessing for You

And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."  Mark 1:11 

Some faith traditions baptize infants…some don’t.  All baptize older children and adults.  Some fully immerse…some sprinkle.  Regardless of where you were baptized, how old you were, whether you were fully immersed or just sprinkled…

You received what Jesus received when he was baptized…God’s blessing…

‘YOU ARE MY CHILD, MY BELOVED, I AM PLEASED WITH YOU.’ 

Did you know this?  And do you know that as a baptized and blessed child of God, you continue to receive God’s blessing every day?  Take a minute to think about that. 

Now… how are you going to live your life now that you have been reminded that you are blessed by God everyday?  Does your baptism make a difference?  Should it?   

Remember that baptism is not as an end in itself.  It is an entry point to a transformed life.  Baptism is a beginning…a milestone or marker…in a person’s journey of faith.  The fulfillment of your baptism is where the journey takes you...to a transformed life. But whether you take the journey that leads to a transformed life is your choice.    

Are you open to taking the journey.  Are you willing to be filled with, and guided by, the Spirit of God?  How would your life be different if you lived everyday remembering that you have received (and still receive) God’s blessing, ‘YOU ARE MY CHILD, MY BELOVED.  I AM PLEASED WITH YOU.’ 

Blessings,

revroy+

Is God Still Active in the World?

As I look ahead into the New Year, I am excited about the possibilities!  Because I believe that God is active in the world, working through people to make the world a better place.   

And that gives rise to a question.  I believe your answer will be a big factor in how excited you are about the possibilities for the New Year: ‘Do you believe that God is still active in the world?’  Day in and day out, do you notice God being active in your life?  Or does it seem more to you like God is hanging out in the background, passively watching and waiting…from a distance.

Well, if there’s one thing the Christmas story teaches, it’s that God is involved, actively involved, in the world through things great and small.  God came down and took on human flesh in an event that changed the world, the birth of Jesus, the Son of God.  God was active big-time in the lives of Mary, Joseph, the shepherds and the wisemen.  God interrupted their lives and worked through them to help make the world a better place. 

So the question is, do you believe that God still does this…do you believe that God is still active in people’s lives…that God still interrupts lives and works through people to change the world?  Do you believe that God still can (and will) do this in your life?

 Maybe not?  Try this and see!  Look around for where God is working in your life and in the world around you.  Ask God how you can help (or just follow your heart and help as you feel moved).  And then watch for how God is actively working in your life, and in the lives of the people around you.

As we begin this New Year, I invite you to imagine one place where you can make a difference.  And then I encourage you to respond faithfully by going and doing what God invites you to do.  And then experience the joy of seeing that God is, indeed, active in your life…working through you to help change the world.

Blessings,

RevRoy+     

Loving Christmas

I love Christmas!  The birth of Jesus.  Special worship and music.  Trees and wreaths.  Lights and decorations.  Carols and cookies.  Classic movies.  Excited children. Time with friends and family.  Wonderful memories.  Peace on Earth and goodwill to all.  (Sigh) ….Christmas.

But then there’s the chaotic malls.  Acres of no parking spots.  Traffic jams.  Crowds.  Obligatory gifts.  Big charge card bills.  Depleted savings.  All the rush, rush rush …  spend, spend spend. And then the hassle of returning the gifts we don’t want.  Every year!  Whatever happened to the peaceful, white Christmas I’m dreaming of?  Come to think of it … maybe it is just a dream.

Sadly, in our western culture, Christmas has become ‘The Holidays.’  Another ‘Hallmark’ holiday of consumerism and excess.  And every year those of us who celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on this sacred day find ourselves competing with the chaos, and excess caused by consumerism.  It seems as if the message of Christ’s birth has taken a back seat to all the ‘Holiday’ glitz and glitter. 

So how do we, the Christian church, push back against all the spending and rushing around…all the madness that has become so much a part of Christmas?

Well, perhaps it’s time to reclaim the Story of the birth of Jesus Christ for ourselves by focusing on the things that truly matter rather than plunging into the madness of ‘the Holidays’ with everyone else.  I’m not suggesting that we stop enjoying Christmas and having fun…just that we do it differently…and in a way that’s much more meaningful and fulfilling.  We’re starting by joining the Advent Conspiracy.  The Advent Conspiracy is based on four basic principles; ‘Worship Fully,’ ‘Spend Less,’ Give More,’ and ‘Love All.’ 

To ‘Worship Fully’ is to start and end with Jesus, to put down our burdens and lift up a joyous song to God.  It’s about a season where love wins, peace reigns and our Savior is celebrated with every breath.  It means taking time to worship Jesus to the fullest.

To ‘Spend Less’ does NOT mean going all Scrooge!  Everyone likes giving and receiving presents!  What I’m suggesting is choosing not to buy the obligatory (meaningless?) gifts…maybe even buying just one less gift…and spending more time looking forward to celebrating the birth of Christ instead.

To ‘Give More’ is not just another pitch for you to give more money to the church!  I’m encouraging you to give more of yourself to others, including the people who really matter to you by giving them the gift of time…time with you!  Time together helping stock shelves at a food pantry, reading a book to children, serving a meal or dropping off old clothing at a shelter…   Spending time in meaningful ways with the people you love can’t be found at the mall...(baking cookies, sledding, ice-skating, chatting) and it’s way better than giving a gift their likely to return anyway.

To ‘Love All,’ is to take some of the money and time we saved by ‘spending less’ and use it to share the love of God with people who are often overlooked or forgotten.  God came down to us in the person of Jesus Christ…and taught us the importance of caring for the sick, the hungry, the homeless, the overlooked and forgotten.  And we can do this through our charitable work and our giving.  God loves all.  And by loving all, we move beyond just having faith to actually living our faith.

This Christmas, let's reclaim the Christmas we truly love by refocusing on God’s gift…the gift of Jesus Christ.  And then let's live as though that still matters to us and to the world.

Loving Christmas,

Pastor Roy+