Reflections for Sunday, Feb. 18, 2018 – “Justice”
 
1st Scripture Reading:  Genesis 9:8-17 & Psalm 25
 
Reflection:
          “Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, As for me, I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you, and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the domestic animals, and every living creature that is with you…never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.”
          This quotation is a pretty good example of a covenant.  A covenant is a contractual agreement between two parties describing how things shall be between them going forward in time.
          The relationship between the Divine and Creation plays out in the ongoing manifestation of the Kingdom of God. Our overarching theme during this season of Lent and Easter will be the establishment and demonstration of God’s kingdom here on earth.  The covenantal relationship established in the first book of the Bible, Genesis, is the very foundation of that relationship.  We do not need to be afraid.  God will not destroy what God loves.
          And there is a seal on this agreement.  Whenever a rainbow appears in the sky, we are reminded of this covenant, and God is reminded also!
          But every contract between two parties expects something of each party. What does God expect of the people of Israel?  In Genesis 9:v5 we read, “I will require a reckoning for human life. Whoever sheds the blood of a human, by a human shall that person’s blood be shed: for in his own image God made humankind.”  And then we read the prophet Micah’s words: “He has told you, O Mortal, what is good, and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God.”
          So the Israelites had a contract with our God, which we have inherited, to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with our God.
          Let’s look a little harder at “to do justice”.  We can already see that there is a legal, contractual context to how we live out this part of the relationship. The contract explicitly forbids murder, and indicates a penalty for doing so.
          Unfortunately this interpretation has often led to application of the contract in ways that have not been kind, and in fact have usurped the sovereignty of God to be the final judge.
          In other words justice is not the same as judgment.  We humans are to “do justice” and judgment must at least be guided by Divine inspiration.
          So in God’s kingdom, under the covenant we have with God, justice is a very important feature.  What does it mean to do justice?  There are huge ethical considerations here, but there are probably a few things we can agree are not just.  Clearly the genocide of a people such as happened in Rwanda would not constitute justice. The mass expulsion of the Rohingya people from Myanmar and the subsequent burning of their villages, and the murder of their menfolk and the rape of their women could not be seen as justice. 
          The making of war to enlarge one’s territory or to establish control over valuable resources which belong to another people – would that be smiled upon in God’s peaceable kingdom?  How about the persecution and murder of people whose sexual  orientation is variant to the dominant culture?
          On another tack, what do we think about the over-harvesting of whole species of animals, fish or birds to the point of extinction?  Is that right under our present covenant?  How about logging of timber to the point that it is unsustainable?  Does God care about these other beings with whom we share this planet?
 
          God’s kingdom, in my view, is not some other place.  It is right here among us, and we are charged to create it according to our covenantal relationship with our God.  God’s kingdom is where God’s righteousness applies – and we are the instruments of God’s will.
 
Hymn #356 VU “Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God”
 
2nd Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 3:18-22 & Mark 1:9-15
 
Reflection:
          But it’s hard, isn’t it, people of God, to implement the righteousness God requires.  We try.  We fail.  We try again, and fail yet again.  So what is a good and loving God to do?  We aren’t getting it, we need a teacher.
          God sends us a spiritual message in the form of Jesus of Nazareth – a spiritual child of God. As we move into the Easter story we begin in Mark with the Baptism of Jesus, and his temptation in the wilderness.  The mission he has agreed to take on is huge, and he must be strong enough to persevere, to endure, and to get through it.
          Baptism – a rite of purification, as offered by John in the Jordan river, became a symbol for new life, for commitment to a mission or a new direction as a follower of Jesus.  The temptation assured that he was strong enough to withstand the powers of darkness and evil that beset us all, and to establish the pathway for each of us to walk into the Light of God’s goodness, God’s kingdom.  Jesus knew we had lost sight of God’s covenant with us.  He knew we were not strong enough to find our way out of the darkness of violence and hatred, vengeance and punishment that we were trapped in.  We needed a light in the darkness, we needed a guide we could trust, we needed to remember God’s love and God’s promise to never destroy us.
          We needed to remember that  God’s kingdom was at hand – closer than we knew – and that justice and kindness were just as important under this renewed covenant with God thru Jesus as they had been before.  We needed to learn about repentance and forgiveness – that none of us should be lost to sin and evil who was willing to turn to God and follow the Way of Jesus.
 
          The living God demonstrates to us daily that we are loveable, forgiveable and renewable people.  We are needed, like Jesus was, to take on our share of manifesting God’s kingdom of justice and kindness here on earth right now and as we move into our future.
 
 
Hymn #87 MV “Water Flowing from the Mountains”
​

Reflections for Sunday, Feb. 18, 2018 – “Justice”
 
1st Scripture Reading:  Genesis 9:8-17 & Psalm 25
 
Reflection:
          “Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, As for me, I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you, and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the domestic animals, and every living creature that is with you…never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.”
          This quotation is a pretty good example of a covenant.  A covenant is a contractual agreement between two parties describing how things shall be between them going forward in time.
          The relationship between the Divine and Creation plays out in the ongoing manifestation of the Kingdom of God. Our overarching theme during this season of Lent and Easter will be the establishment and demonstration of God’s kingdom here on earth.  The covenantal relationship established in the first book of the Bible, Genesis, is the very foundation of that relationship.  We do not need to be afraid.  God will not destroy what God loves.
          And there is a seal on this agreement.  Whenever a rainbow appears in the sky, we are reminded of this covenant, and God is reminded also!
          But every contract between two parties expects something of each party. What does God expect of the people of Israel?  In Genesis 9:v5 we read, “I will require a reckoning for human life. Whoever sheds the blood of a human, by a human shall that person’s blood be shed: for in his own image God made humankind.”  And then we read the prophet Micah’s words: “He has told you, O Mortal, what is good, and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God.”
          So the Israelites had a contract with our God, which we have inherited, to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with our God.
          Let’s look a little harder at “to do justice”.  We can already see that there is a legal, contractual context to how we live out this part of the relationship. The contract explicitly forbids murder, and indicates a penalty for doing so.
          Unfortunately this interpretation has often led to application of the contract in ways that have not been kind, and in fact have usurped the sovereignty of God to be the final judge.
          In other words justice is not the same as judgment.  We humans are to “do justice” and judgment must at least be guided by Divine inspiration.
          So in God’s kingdom, under the covenant we have with God, justice is a very important feature.  What does it mean to do justice?  There are huge ethical considerations here, but there are probably a few things we can agree are not just.  Clearly the genocide of a people such as happened in Rwanda would not constitute justice. The mass expulsion of the Rohingya people from Myanmar and the subsequent burning of their villages, and the murder of their menfolk and the rape of their women could not be seen as justice. 
          The making of war to enlarge one’s territory or to establish control over valuable resources which belong to another people – would that be smiled upon in God’s peaceable kingdom?  How about the persecution and murder of people whose sexual  orientation is variant to the dominant culture?
          On another tack, what do we think about the over-harvesting of whole species of animals, fish or birds to the point of extinction?  Is that right under our present covenant?  How about logging of timber to the point that it is unsustainable?  Does God care about these other beings with whom we share this planet?
 
          God’s kingdom, in my view, is not some other place.  It is right here among us, and we are charged to create it according to our covenantal relationship with our God.  God’s kingdom is where God’s righteousness applies – and we are the instruments of God’s will.
 
Hymn #356 VU “Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God”
 
2nd Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 3:18-22 & Mark 1:9-15
 
Reflection:
          But it’s hard, isn’t it, people of God, to implement the righteousness God requires.  We try.  We fail.  We try again, and fail yet again.  So what is a good and loving God to do?  We aren’t getting it, we need a teacher.
          God sends us a spiritual message in the form of Jesus of Nazareth – a spiritual child of God. As we move into the Easter story we begin in Mark with the Baptism of Jesus, and his temptation in the wilderness.  The mission he has agreed to take on is huge, and he must be strong enough to persevere, to endure, and to get through it.
          Baptism – a rite of purification, as offered by John in the Jordan river, became a symbol for new life, for commitment to a mission or a new direction as a follower of Jesus.  The temptation assured that he was strong enough to withstand the powers of darkness and evil that beset us all, and to establish the pathway for each of us to walk into the Light of God’s goodness, God’s kingdom.  Jesus knew we had lost sight of God’s covenant with us.  He knew we were not strong enough to find our way out of the darkness of violence and hatred, vengeance and punishment that we were trapped in.  We needed a light in the darkness, we needed a guide we could trust, we needed to remember God’s love and God’s promise to never destroy us.
          We needed to remember that  God’s kingdom was at hand – closer than we knew – and that justice and kindness were just as important under this renewed covenant with God thru Jesus as they had been before.  We needed to learn about repentance and forgiveness – that none of us should be lost to sin and evil who was willing to turn to God and follow the Way of Jesus.
 
          The living God demonstrates to us daily that we are loveable, forgiveable and renewable people.  We are needed, like Jesus was, to take on our share of manifesting God’s kingdom of justice and kindness here on earth right now and as we move into our future.
 
 
Hymn #87 MV “Water Flowing from the Mountains”
​

Reflections for Sunday, Feb. 11, 2018 – The Transfiguration of Jesus
1st Scripture Reading:  2 Kings 2: 1-12 & Psalm 50 (v.1-6)
Reflection:
          We start out this morning, Transfiguration Sunday, with a reading from the second book of Kings:  the story of the ascension of Elijah. So we have two very interesting accounts to discuss today:  the ascension of Elijah and the Transfiguration of Jesus.
          In this Old Testament reading, we get a peek into the spiritual traditions of another age.  First of all, we note that Elijah was a spiritual teacher – a master in his own right.  Elisha was his student, devoted and faithful, who refused to leave his master’s side, even when specifically ordered to do so.
          We might also have noticed that wherever Elijah was heading, several stops along the way, there were prophets – other spiritual leaders who clearly knew and respected the Master Elijah.
          Seems to me that alongside the legalistic, formal traditions of Judaism there also existed a mystical, deeply spiritual tradition that too often perhaps we lose sight of.
          Following along the story, Elijah orders Elisha three times to stay back while he goes forward to his ascension – his date with his destiny. While acknowledging that he understands that his Master will be leaving him, Elisha steadfastly refuses to be left behind.
          This reminds me of the story of Ruth and Naomi – a story of steadfast love that refuses to abandon the loved one.  Out of that story came only good things, and we see in the story of Elisha’s faithful love that good things also happen.
          So the Master crosses the Jordan, with his student, using the power invested in his rolled up mantle to part the waters of this mighty river.  He then asks Elisha what he would like the Master to do for him before he leaves.  Elisha asks for a huge thing:  he asks for a double portion of the Spirit of Elijah.  Wow!  What an audacious thing to ask for from your Teacher!  Elijah says as much, and then tells Elisha that if he sees the ascension, if he sees Elijah being taken up, then the request will be granted him.  If he does not see it, then it will not – he will show himself as worthy of Elijah’s mantle if he sees it, and as unworthy or not ready if he does not see it.    
          The emphasis on seeing is deliberate.  There is a lot of emphasis on seeing in the teachings of Jesus too. “Let those who have eyes to see…”  In other words, if Elisha has achieved a level of spiritual awareness that allows him to see certain things clearly, then he has earned the right to succeed his Teacher.
          Now Elijah is lifted up, and Elisha watches until he disappears, crying out in his grief and distress.  But let me read you a little bit more of this reading. (2 Kings 2:13-15)  Elisha picks up the mantle of the Master, and uses it to cross back over the Jordan, where he is acknowledged as the successor to Elijah by the prophets assembled there.  I have an artist’s rendering of what Elisha might have seen that I found on Google.  You can see many many images there if that interests you.
 
Hymn/Spiritual:  “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot”
 
2nd Scripture Reading:  2 Corinthians 4:3-6 & Mark 9:2-9
 
Reflection:
          So after the ascension of Elijah, Elisha assumed his teaching mantle and went on to teach and perform miracles of his own.  But what happened to Elijah?  Where did he go?  And how is it that in the account of the Transfiguration of Jesus he appears with Moses, talking with Jesus on the mountain?
          But what did Jesus say shortly before his own ascension?  “In my Father’s house are many mansions.  I go to prepare a place for you.”  The idea of mansions evokes images in my mind of great houses on a beautiful, tree-lined street.  But I know that no such place has ever been proven to exist.  Jesus used a lot of images to convey ideas and concepts that are difficult to describe to people who have never been exposed to such thoughts.
          What we do know from recent scientific discoveries, is that there are probably more worlds out there that might be habitable than we used to think.  And that’s just on the physical, astronomical plane of our present level of understanding.  We are also learning that there may be something called parallel universes, or alternate realities or dimensions – both presently beyond our ability to measure or even visualize.  The Creator is not limited by our very limited ability to see or understand.
          Which is why the image of what we can see is such an important spiritual concept.  As we saw in the story of Elijah’s ascension, if Elisha’s spiritual sight had not been sufficiently developed, so that he could see the Ascension of Elijah, he would not have been permitted to carry his mantle and become his successor.
          So Jesus took Peter, James and John with him to the mountain top where they saw him transfigured – made radiant with white light – and heard  a voice say, “This is my Son, the Beloved…listen to him.” Peter, James and John were part of Jesus’ inner circle – students who had been with him for some time.  They were spiritually developed enough to witness this amazing event, and to even see that Moses and Elijah were there and talking to Jesus.
          Moses and Elijah are described often as “Ascended Masters” – great teachers, prophets and voices for God.  They had been gone a very long time by the moment of Jesus’ transfiguration. One has to wonder, where do ascended masters hang out?  And why do they seem to be accessible to those “who have eyes to see”?  If it was important to Jesus that there be witnesses to this amazing event, to tell of it but not until after his own ascension, then why?  What are we meant to learn from this?
          Perhaps the apostle Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians can shed a little light onto this great mystery. He says that the truth is “veiled” from those who are perishing – those who are not learning to see that truth. He points to Jesus as the great Master who has come to shine the Light of God onto all of us, and to show us the way out of the darkness and into the Light of forgiveness and love.
          And we are coming to know that this Light is something real – it is the framework on which our physical reality is formed. Our great artists thru the ages have shown us that they see this light around great spiritual beings and depict it in the shape of halos and auras – particularly around events of great spiritual significance like ascensions and transfigurations.
          We are talking here of great spiritual teachers and prophets of many traditions, as we remind ourselves that the One God is creator of all that is.
          But what does this have to do with us?  Paul goes on in this letter to say this:  “So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away: see, everything has become new!”
          One of the most important spiritual teachers the world has ever seen is our “ascended master” Jesus the Christ. When we spiritually invite his being to shape and transform us, then we too are transfigured – and we hold a lot more spiritual light!
 
Hymn # 115 MV “Behold, Behold, I Make All Things New”

Reflections for Sunday, February 4, 2018
1st Scripture Reading: Isaiah 40:21-31 & Psalm 147
Reflection:
          This time of year can be kind of depressing, can’t it?  Everything is wet – soggy with rain.  Last year’s green has turned to brown and black, rotting back into the earth. Mud squishes up around our boots where we walk in the trails or in our gardens.
          But I am grateful – grateful for the abundance of water that enriches our landscape – the water that is recharging our lakes and aquifers – water that is life itself. From the tiniest amoeba to the giant cedar trees, all life on this planet is completely dependent on water.
          So water is an appropriate metaphor for the flowing energy that charges our spiritual lives. We call it “living water” the omnipresence of the Divine in which we live and move and have our being.  Just as the fish that swims in the ocean probably knows little about this fluid environment in which it lives, we humans pay little attention to the invisible energy that is as critical to our existence as water is to all life.
          Both the prophet Isaiah and the psalmist remind us that we are not in charge – we owe reverence and awe to the Creator, the Power that permeates all our reality and gifts us with this life on earth.
          So, drink deep the source of life, drink deep and know, that living water sings, and living water brings, the love that makes our spirits grow.
 
Hymn #87 MV “Water Flowing from the Mountains”
 
2nd Scripture Reading:  1 Corinthians 9:16-23 & Mark 1:29-39
Reflection:
          Paul says he has become all things to all people for the gospel’s sake.  I don’t think he meant that he was a phony, or that he spread “fake news”!  I think he meant that he could meet people on their own ground, without judgment, and without a lot of proselitizing. When we act like we know it all, and the person we have just met has it all wrong – then, guess what?  They don’t usually want to listen to us.
          But there is heart-centered place where we can all meet.  There is a place where love is alive and well in every one of us – for we are all children of the same God – the God of Love.  To be accepted the evangelist must first find that place – he or she must speak the language of Divine Love.
          Even the demons that Jesus so famously cast out, even they knew about that place.  They knew they couldn’t win against God’s great Love embodied in Jesus. The demonstration of the healing power of Love was a huge part of Jesus’ ministry. But he didn’t want all the attention focussed on his healing power.  That power comes from God, and there have been and still are other healers who know how to tap into that energy.
Jesus didn’t want to become a cult healer – a star performer, if you like, who had no time to do anything else.  And so he had to move around – take his ministry to many different places, healing yes, casting out demons, yes, but always pointing the finger past himself to the God of his understanding, the power from which his own power came. Always proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God – the dimension in which God’s will is obeyed and peace and justice thrive under the primacy of the Law of Love - Jesus moved from town to town spreading the gospel and using his healing work to establish his authority to do that.
I don’t believe that Jesus of Nazareth ever wanted to be worshipped.  Rather he wanted  to be emulated – copied if you like. He brought to humanity a paradigm shift away from the rule that might is right, to a new rule, a rule of non-violence, non-retaliation, and acknowledgement of the oneness of all creation – an acknowledgment that can only result in understanding that we are all children of a loving God, and must learn to love one another as  we are loved. Thus will God’s kingdom be established here on Earth, based on the new pattern brought to us in Jesus. After all, did he not tell us that we are all branches of the true vine?
As he embodied the Law of Love, so we are to attempt to the best of our ability, to also embody that great Law.  “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.”  “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, strength and understanding, and love your neighbour as yourself.” “Love one another as I have loved you.”  As followers of Jesus we are called to live into this paradigm shift – in spite of ridicule and persecution and disbelief.  But we must accomplish this mission without losing sight of the goal, and without falling into old patterns of violence, hatred, and revenge.  We will find strength in our communities of faith, in our scriptures, and in sharing our stories of success and of failure, as we support one another in the common purpose we share to realize God’s kingdom here on earth, right now, in real time.
 
Hymn # 154 MV “Deep in Our Hearts”
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