Gospeling Your Life Matthew's Ending and Luke's Beginning

 

Yesterday, in addition to reading and playing and praying with one of the parables in chapter 25, you also read chapter 26 where Jesus is anointed with perfume (think of walking through the cosmetic department in Dillard’s were my sense of smell goes into overdrive!).  Then, Jesus, perhaps still with the faint smell of the perfume, celebrates the Last Supper.  One question to ponder, is Judas part of the meal?  Is there a chair at the Last Supper for the one who will betray Jesus?  Note that whatever conclusion I come to says more about me than the text.  Chapters 26-27 wrap up and wind down Matthew’s Gospel (you are halfway done ~ insert confetti being thrown here!)  In Chapter 27, there is a public trial of Jesus.  There is little evidence that Rome would ever release someone like Barabas who was charged with political uprising.  I find it fascinating that Pilate washes his hands in verse 24.  How many of our leaders often sidestep accountability and responsibility?  How many of our leaders say, “Welp, there is nothing I can do.”  The whole “Buck Stops Here” plaque on Truman’s desk has been put out for the rummage sale today.  Make no mistake that crucifixion was a Roman punishment and a message/method of fear to keep people in line ~ remind people who was in charge.  Pilate, the Roman official, can no more wash his hands after signing the execution certificate than the guard who was ordered to nail Jesus to the cross.  In the military complex machinery, it can be easy to discount or disconnect the part any of us play (active or passive).  So often there is violence that is done on our behalf of which we will never know.  I confess my tax dollars go to supply weapons that kill innocent children.  My tax dollars go for incentives for business that hurt/harm the earth.  My tax dollars (giving to Caesar what is Caesar’s) perpetuates racism, sexism, homophobia, and violence.  This breaks my heart, and I can no more wash my hands than Pilate.  As you read Matthew’s take on Jesus’ death and resurrection ~ where do you hear echoes of Mark?  What is the same?  What is the difference?  To be sure the Easter Sunday stories are each unique (Mark 16 to Matthew 28).  You may want to flip back to Mark 15 and 16 to remind yourself as you read Matthew 27 and 28.  Let the details of this holiest part of the Holy Week narrative find ways that interrupt you, surprise you, disrupt or even disturb you.  May you sense the truth that death and new life are always in a dance around us and within us.  The Holy Week narrative is repeated (not just before Easter Sunday), but in the unfolding story of our life, even in later part of September 2024.  May this truth stir in your soul today.  Amen.

 

Wednesday, September 25

We enter our third Gospel of Luke today.  Luke asks the question of how do we mature/live/practice service amid our humanness?  How do we reach out when we are suffering, changing, mixing heartbreak and hope, joy and moments of pain?  One quick note on verses 1-4 in chapter 1.  You will see the name Theophilus (vs. 3).  This name means “God-lover”.  Some scholars suggest that Theophilus might have commissioned Luke to write this Gospel/Good news.  Others suggest that Theophilus is each of us, it is the name of all faithful who seek to live into, it is our fullest expression and embodiment of our baptismal name of “Beloved.”  How might I live the name, “God-lover” today?  Luke then seeks to tell us how Zechariah and Elizabeth (who echo Abraham and Sarah’s story from Genesis) love God.  How Mary bravely and boldly becomes the God-bearer, accepting the social stigma and risking her life to bring God’s love in the flesh to earth in Jesus.  How do you think Zechariah loves God?  How do you think Elizabeth loves God?  How does Mary?  I invite you to pay attention to Mary’s song of praise in chapter 1:46-55.  Slowly savor these words.  Let each syllable and sentence and sentiment settle.  How might your soul/life magnify God?  In some ways, being a God-lover or practicing service amid our humanness looks like Zechariah, Elizabeth, and Mary.

 

As you turn to the familiar Christmas Eve reading of chapter 2, notice and note how these words sound on September 25 ~ a full three months before we will read these same words in church.  By the way, I did not plan for this to happen this way!!  For me, this is a wonderful God moment of holiness that we read the Christmas story.  You may even want to blast and blare your favorite Christmas Carol for your radio as you read the passage ~ OR ~ sing the words out!  Take time today, make some notes about what is evoked and provoked in you, then tuck these away in a place where you can go back and revisit your insights, ideas, questions, and holy thoughts on December 25^th.  May you be wrapped in wonder, love, and mystery of the silent, holy night when angels from the realms of glory call all ye faithful to come to see God’s love incarnate laying away in a manger.  Amen.