to love, and to be changed....

Today is transfiguration sunday- transfiguration means ‘change in appearance’. We most often talk about the ‘transfiguration of Jesus’ spoken of in the gospels- but I have instead decided to preach on the lectionary text from Exodus- which is the less known- transfiguration of Moses--

This text comes to us late in the book of Exodus, - and to catch you up- in case you haven’t read the book of Exodus lately- Exodus tells the story of Moses.... Moses has brought the people of Israel out of slavery in Egypt. This is not a pleasant story- but one full of plagues and violence, hunger and lots of whining, and finally the rebellion of the people of Israel who have grown impatient and decide to make their own God- a golden calf. 

After this God flies off the handle and Moses steps in to save the people of Israel again- this time from God’s anger. Moses has gone up the mountain Sinai to plea for God’s mercy-- which God delivers wholeheartedly. In fact God sings a song of mercy to Moses: God sings: I am a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. 

This is when we arrive to todays text...

Exodus 34:29-35

29Moses came down from Mount Sinai. As he came down from the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant in his hand, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. 30When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, the skin of his face was shining, and they were afraid to come near him. 31But Moses called to them; and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses spoke with them. 32Afterward all the Israelites came near, and he gave them in commandment all that the Lord had spoken with him on Mount Sinai. 33When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face; 34but whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him, he would take the veil off, until he came out; and when he came out, and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, 35the Israelites would see the face of Moses, that the skin of his face was shining; and Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with him.

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This week, while with my Beatitudes Fellowship, I had the opportunity to see the shining face of a modern day Moses.

Her name is Becca Stevens, and she is a woman who helps liberate women from prostitution, trafficking, and addiction in Nashville to help them find healing and life.

Becca came to us on Monday night, a little weary and incredibly passionate. As we sat around the circle with the eight of us young leaders in ministry --she shared her story in a raw, authentic tennessee accent-. She shared her story in a way that was vulnerable, funny, and real.

Becca was sexually abused as a child by someone in her church... despite this pain, she went on to become an episcopal priest. She says she loved the gospel when she was growing up because she just had to believe it was true. She longed for the truth that love can overcome all pain. From early on she felt a call to create space for healing for women.

As a chaplain at Vanderbilt University in her first call out of seminary, she had this clear vision that she should build a house- a nice house- and invite 4 to 6 women to live for two years, rent free, and to support them as they got clean, learned job skills, received therapy, and as they found healing. She raised a million dollars that year- and her dream became a reality.

That was nearly 20 years ago. Today there are six homes in the Nashville area housing 30 women that are served through the organization ‘Magdalene’.. Women come to Magdalene from prison, and from the streets from around the country. Most women were sexually abused as children, began using alcohol and drugs by the age of 13, and have been arrested on average 100 times. 

Beyond housing, healing, and support, Becca realized that the women, many of whom had nothing to put on a resume or job application, needed a way to support themselves- so she began an enterprise where the women make and sell bodycare products. The business is called “Thistle Farms”- the women take thistle- a plant that is regarded as a useless weed, also has healing properties-- they make lotions, and soaps, and candles using the oil of thistle- and sell the products to support the ministry. 

Becca has seen it all. She tells stories of success and stories of failure. While 72% of the women who join Magdalene are clean and sober 2 1/2 years later- that means 28 % cannot make it. She has been to funerals, of women who have been raped and murdered. Everyday she has to turn women away who long for healing because they don’t have space for another person.

When asked if this gets her down - she says bluntly and flatly, “No. It is what it is. The world is a difficult place.” She says when she hears of a woman who is murdered- “At least, for that moment that we got to know her - and she was loved- at least we heard her story.”

Becca fights for the liberation of these women like Moses fought for the liberation of the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt. Like the Israelites, the women Becca fights for struggle to live healthy, whole lives. Sometimes they mess up.

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In our Text today-- after a painful process of liberation from Egypt-- after journeying through the desert-- After the people fall short and create their own god--Moses heads up the mountain to again seek reconciliation for the people of Israel who have messed up pretty badly.

Moses confronts God’s and pleas for God’s mercy. In response- God speaks the profound message of love and mercy that undergirds all of the Bible- Old and New... 

The Lord, the Lord, is
a God merciful and gracious,
slow to anger,
and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,
keeping steadfast love for the thousandth generation,*
forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin,

This love does not negate consequences- but loves even while consequences are playing out. 

God’s love and mercy are strong- God’s love and mercy are stronger than all of the pain- all of the betrayal.

 God’s love heals and God’s love transforms lives and faces.

God re-commits to covenant with Moses and the people of Israel. New tablets are made, and Moses is sent back to share this good news with the people.

---

This message that Moses received from God is the same central message Becca brings to the women of Magdalene- and the message that is imprinted on each label of bodycare products sold by thistle farms....

Love heals... in the end, love is more powerful than all the forces that drive women to the streets. Love is more powerful than our own search for idols to fill our empty spaces.

This is the love that makes Moses’s face glow.

----

When Moses comes down the mountain to share his message of God’s mercy- his face is glowing...

It’s funny- in my minds eye this glow looks less like an angelic glowing white light- and more like a sun-kissed orange sunburn-- weathered and battered- exhausted and invigorated at the same time. I imagine the face of one who has been working hard-- the glow of the face of a gardener after a long day in the beating sun doing something they love...

The glow of internal joy mixed with pure will....

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Rather than rejoicing at the site of Moses and his glowing face- his brother Aaron and the Israelites are fearful- they don’t want to get close to this glowing faced man...

Is this glow contagious-- whatever made him glow like that? If we get too close- will we get burned? Will we too be changed?

--

I have to admit that hearing the story of Becca Stevens and Magdalene and the Thistle farms on Monday night- I felt a little fearful...

I felt overwhelmed by the grandness of her work. I felt overwhelmed by all of the great needs in our world. Where are we to start? How can I- how can we- possibly change the world like that?

It seems like an unachievable destination. 

---

This is when Becca- glowing face and all- said something that calmed my nerves and allowed me to step closer....

“None of us are called to change the world. 

**None of us are called to change the world.** 

We are called to love the world... 

and to be willing to be changed in the process.”

----

One person at a time- in our own little corner of the planet- we are called to love. To love with mercy and grace- in spite of all that hurts and betrays. To love the unlovable among us.

We are called to be open to being changed-- to be willing to let go of what we know-- to step out and take risks on new ways of thinking and being... to let our own hearts soften- to accept God’s grace and to extend God’s grace....

And when we do- when we engage in the hard work of truly loving... when we let ourselves be changed in the process....

We may find ourselves coming down from the mountain, or sitting in the circle- face aglow-

sharing the story of God’s healing and transformative love.

http://www.thistlefarms.org/

Encountering God

Encountering God- Sermon from 1/6/13: Matthew 2:1-12

Today is the 12th day of Christmas- the day we mark ‘Epiphany’- or the manifestation of Christ to the world. 

In the West, Epiphany is typically marked through celebrating the visitation of the kings or the Magi, to the baby Jesus, Joseph and Mary. 

The text that this story is pulled from comes from the gospel of Matthew... We have been spending most of our time this Advent season in the book of Luke.... Listen closely to hear the distinct differences in Matthew’s telling of Jesus’ birth- as compared to Luke’s telling.

A reading of the gospel from Matthew Chapter 2 versus 1-12:

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: 

‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.’” 

Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.”

When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 

On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 

And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, 

they left for their own country by another road.

------

Gone is the pageantry of Luke’s narrative full of poetry and song and vivid descriptions. In Matthew’s gospel there are no shepherds or inn keepers- no manger or swaddling cloth. Mary is less of a central figure, and more of a side note- Jesus is linked to the Jewish lineage of Joseph- The gospel moves straight from Joseph’s dream of reassurance that his wife will bare God’s son- to our text today and a visit from the Magi.

In Matthew’s gospel- From the moment of his birth- Jesus is a threat to the dominant powers. Connected to the line of Jewish ancestry, Jesus comes to fulfill God’s purposes, and to bring God’s justice. 

Now while we may see this as a great gift- a welcome message- that was not the case for Herod- or for all of Jerusalem. Matthew emphasizes from the start that Jesus was born into conflict- for some a messiah- one who comes to save and bring justice- but for most a threat. 

Matthew tells us:Under the time of King Herod- Jesus was born in Bethlehem.

Under the time of King Herod - Read amid threats of power, domination, corruption, violence...  A baby was born on the outskirts of town to a lowly young woman and her confused husband. 

The heros in this story are not the typical ones with strength- but those on the outside of power centers- 

Those on the outside welcome God’s initiative- while Herod and the Roman Empire try to squelch it. 

first Joseph and Mary- 

and then the gentile Magi- or wise men- the Magi are not actually kings- as we sing of so beautifully- but priestly figures from the East -not jewish- but gentile- and they have access to the centers of power- because of the predictions they make...

these Magi would make predictions- often based on signs in the stars- these predictions were valued by some and dismissed by others--

This time their prediction drew attention because it was especially threatening to Herod and those in power... 

The Magi ask: “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? 

Jerusalem’s elite are threatened when they hear that there is a new king coming to town. They will do all they can to retain the power they hold- be it manipulating the magi, sending them as spies to glean information about this new ‘king’ -

Or killing all babies under 2 to preemptively prevent the possibility that one of these babies is the one who has been prophesied king. 

Herod’s murderous violence is the standard response to a perceived threat. This is no sweet story of mangers and shepherds. 

This is a dangerous tale of power, espionage, and murder. Herod isn’t messing around.

It is in this context that the Magi head on their way, following the great light than guides them. Bowing to the power of the King’s demands, while at the same time- following their instincts that this star must lead to something important- The Magi follow.

When the star stops the Magi don’t just feel joy- they are overwhelmed with joy-- perhaps they are just exhausted- or perhaps they have that feeling- you know that feeling- when you just know this is a really important moment...

They expectantly and silently walk into the house and look up to see the ‘king of the jews’...

Was this what they were expecting? 

A young girl in plain clothes- a little baby- 

not apparent royalty- but a simple baby.

Whatever they saw that night- it changed them. Humbled and breathless- they drop to their knees- they open their chest and give those gifts we all know so well- Gold, frankincense, myrrh. The gifts full of symbolic and spiritual meaning.

After spending time with the baby and his parents, they are invited to rest their heads for the night before they begin the long journey back home.

As they lay that night reflecting back on the day they sit in awe. Everything has changed. In a dream their feeling is affirmed.” Do not go back the way you came”. No more do the powers of Herod guide their path. They will follow a new path.

Their world has been altered. The light of the star changed their vision. Something they saw that night - the sight of the baby- ‘the king of the jews’ has forever changed them. They cannot return to the oppression and tyranny under Herod’s rule. They must go a different way. 

The next day they awake and take a different path home.

----------

This is the kind of thing that happens when you encounter the living God.  Encounters with God change our perception of the world- our perception of ourselves- our understanding of what it means to love others - and hopefully- the way we live our lives....

Maybe it happens in a flash, But I believe most often it happens over years of struggle.

We have no story of the Magi’s journey back. Did they all agree that they should ignore Herod’s demands to return to him? Did they waiver in their decision? Did Herod try to find them or threaten them?  

I think we sometimes we hear stories of great transformation that sound ‘easy’ or fast and dramatic... As if a lightning bolt hits and someone is changed-- or a voice from God comes down in a bellowing deep sound and directs the way and we never go back. These stories can leave us disheartened when we don’t receive clear messages in dreams from angels, or hear God shouting to us when we are awake.

I think most often- these encounters with God that change us are more like a subtle nudging- a tugging inside that tells us to go a different way- take a different path. New sight comes slowly as we begin to notice the person on the side of the street and we wonder what has led them to that place. Our vision becomes less clouded when we begin to ask why there is so much violence- and what can we do to stop it... 

Some of you know that I am working to start some small groups called Table Groups. The hope for these groups is that they will be spaces where we may gather with people- some from here at South Broadway, and some from outside the church- especially people who may be less comfortable with traditional church... We are just getting started- so you’ll be hearing more soon.

In one of our first gatherings we discussed our experience of God and church and religion. My friend Marni, who is a part of the group, said in our first gathering that she has always been envious of those people who felt they heard God talking to them. She felt like she was missing something because she didn’t have these clear signs from God- or overwhelming feelings of God... longing for the ‘guiding star’ or the ‘angel in a dream’- she felt she had been passed over.

Two weeks later- Marni shared about an experience on a road trip she and her family had taken to Arizona. On their way home, somewhere in a one-gas-station town in New Mexico, there was a man on the side of the road with a sign. For some reason Marni’s heart broke in that moment with feelings of sadness and helplessness for the way things are. While there wasn’t much she could do in that moment- this connection sat with her and stirred in her. Her perspective shifted a bit in that moment.

The next week brought the shooting in Connecticut and her heartbreak and longing to do something more grew even deeper.

The next weekend we gathered as a group to do a small thing- to make lunches with the ‘Give a Jam’ ministry, to put together hygiene kits for New Genesis halfway house, and to spend time playing uno and tossing the football at Civic Center Park with some folks living in homelessness.

Quite honestly- I know that this is a small response to the vast systemic and social issues of violence, poverty, and disconnection--

But for her- and for me- and for us-- in that moment this was a resistance to the violence, poverty and disconnection of our world. This was a different path from the easy path of assimilation to our cultural values of greed, consumption and individualism.

Encounters with the living God change our perception and change our path. 

Whether these encounters come in a dream, from a star in the sky, from a sweet baby, or from a man on the corner with a sign- we are slowly changed.

Sometimes choosing to take the different path home is clear choice in a rock-bottom moment - no alternative kind of time...

And other times choosing to take a different path takes years of nudging, prodding, and struggle.

Either way- once you begin to taste the sweet life, grace and freedom of this path- you will never be the same.

Each day - May we open our eyes to the light of the star. 

Each day- May we open our hearts to the grace of the baby.

Each day- May we resist the pull of the violent and oppressive ways that surround us-

And take a different path home.

Amen.

I use to tie Peace and Quiet together. 

This lead me to a a forever search for that perfect space of peace. A place I imagined as  a silent spot near a stream, with tall evergreens, yellow aspens- and maybe a deer or two stopping to see their reflection in the still water...

Soon after having children I learned that if this was my definition of peace- I may never experience peace again.

This is when I came across what has become one of my favorite sayings:

“Peace does not mean to be free of noise, trouble or hard work; but to be in the midst of all of those things and still be calm in your heart.”

Peace is not a place- but a way of being. A way of being that is as accessible as the air we breath or the ground we stand on. Through a deep breath, a prayer, a centering thought, a knowing glance- peace can fill our lungs and sink deep into our bones. 

This is the peace I wish for us this morning. The peace that fills us in the midst of all of the chaos, all of the activity of the season, all of the struggle and pain. This is the peace that sustains and invites us to our center in God’s love.

May peace fill each of us. 

May peace fill our neighborhoods and communities, 

our city, and our beautiful, snow-covered state. 

May peace fill all people in all places. 

May peace be the force that surpasses boundaries and borders-

May peace overwhelm us and move us close to God and closer to one another.

First Things

Mark 12: 28-34

One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” 29Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; 30you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ 31The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32Then the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that ‘he is one, and besides him there is no other’; 33and ‘to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength,’ and ‘to love one’s neighbor as oneself,’ —this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After then no one dared to ask him any question.

About six or seven years ago I spent a few months helping my parents- who were living in Arizona at the time. My aunt and grandfather passed away suddenly and there was a lot of family business to take care of- so the kids and I went down and helped as needed. During this time I found a local Disciples church in Tempe to attend. 

One sunday while I was there I went to a sunday school class where they were discussing the light topic of ‘sin’. The question of the day was ‘Is divorce a sin?’... Now this was before I had any formal theological education- but still... the question brought me some discomfort. As a child of divorce- I sat back and listened to the varied responses. Some people wanted to name divorce as a ‘sin’ and condemn those who had gone through divorce-- and others in the room wanted wash away the ‘old law’ against divorce as no longer relevant.....

For me at the time-- the whole question seemed to miss the point. Being the fearless questioner that I am-- and perhaps ignoring the appropriate etiquette of simply listening as a guest in someone else’s home- I asked “Well- it seems that the bigger question is- what do you mean by ‘sin’-- because if you see ‘sin’ as a means to judge and condemn others - or to perpetuate guilt-, or to move someone to stay in a broken marriage .... then I guess I would challenge that.

However-  if ‘sin’ is understood as brokenness, disconnection, and pain... then yes. Divorce does bring hurt and pain all around. As a child of divorce-- even a ‘healthy’ divorce where all were cared for and loved in the best way possible- Divorce is by definition a broken relationship. This is not to say the process is hopeless- or irreconcilable, or without possibility healing-- but it is to name the reality of the pain- and to avoid brushing it under the rug.

----

Have you ever been a part of- or even overheard these kind of conversations? 

We often seek to understand the ‘law’ and what it means to break the law- what we often call sin- .... or to rank ‘laws’ in order of importance- We constantly try to work our way through what is right or wrong- to try to determine what the Bible says about any particular topic. 

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In the chapters proceeding todays text- Jesus is being challenged with questions about how the law plays out in people’s lives. 

First century Jewish scribes and rabbis had identified 613 commands in the Law. Yes- that’s right- 613 -  248 of these were viewed as being positive in nature, while 365 were viewed as negative. This is a lot of commands! Far more than the 10 we memorize in sunday school.

These commands were then subdivided into two groups: heavy and light. Jewish scribes of the time loved to debate the Law and to determine which laws were more or less binding.. 

Most often this process of examining the laws was for the purpose of exclusion. To deem who was ‘clean’ and who was ‘unclean’. Who was allowed in the temple, and who was not allowed in the temple. ‘Choose your own adventure’ style arguments went on for hours regarding how to follow or not follow particular laws.

Religious leaders were constantly trying to figure out which commandment- out of all 613 was the most important.-- and in this process it seems that quite often they missed the point.

-----

In our text today- as Jesus enters Jerusalem- the religious leaders try to rope him into this conversation.

Pharisees and Herodians are sent to him to challenge him- to trap him with questions about the law, taxes, and teachings about scriptures. 

A scribe, who overhears Jesus’s answers to all of the questions being tossed at him- is impressed and curious. So he comes to Jesus and asks this question: “Which commandment is the first of all?”

And Jesus responds clearly and boldly: “ The first is, ‘Hear O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 

Now this is not a new idea.... this is an answer that would be familiar to the scribe since Jesus is building on his own Jewish tradition- repeating what is known as the Shema-  a reading from the book of Deuteronomy-- as a follower of the Jewish tradition- the scribe would have repeated this verse daily upon rising in the morning, through each of his daily prayers, and finally as he laid down for the night. 

Jewish people today have this scripture written on a small scroll and placed in a little box called a mezuzuh which is placed in door ways. Prayers are practiced with this scripture on a scroll placed in a box and wrapped around the forehead and the arm- this is called Tefillin. 

This is a central Jewish prayer to this day. 

Jesus combines this text from Deuteronomy with Leviticus 19:18 :You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Forever linking the love of God, with the love of neighbor. 

So- this was not radically new information-- these were primary texts- just as they are today. However-  Despite the fact that this was a verse and teaching that people recited regularly-- religious leaders were still continuously caught up in picking apart the laws and commandments to name who’s in and who’s out. Still involved in in-fighting over the details of how to execute the laws.

To divide people into holy and unholy- to exclude, condemn, and marginalize. 

Despite the centrality of these teachings- they still missed the point. 

Does this sound familiar?

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This week a woman I know was asked to leave her church because she decided to leave her broken marriage.

A man was told by his father that he was ‘dead in his eyes’ because ‘a gay son was no son to him’.

A woman can’t lift her head and walk to take communion at the park by the capital - where communion is served daily at noon- because she sees herself as ‘unworthy’ to come to the table. Too disgraced to speak to God in prayer.

I believe that too often we use the law as a means to condemn, to exclude and to judge, rather than to connect us to God and to our neighbors.... To this day we rank laws, and pull some out to condemn, while completely ignoring some.

Further we internalize this understanding of the law to heap guilt on ourselves. 

To think that we are not ‘good enough’ to be a part of society, to be a part of church-- because our sins are so many.  We judge ourselves as unworthy of God’s love- and disconnect from a relationship with God...

----

Jesus tells us that this is missing the point. This is not the intent of ‘the law’.

Jesus answers the scribe: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.

There is no other commandment greater than these.

After Jesus responds to the question of the Scribe all stand speechless. The questions stop. What more is there to say?

This is the first, the last, and the always of the commands. This is the law that grounds all others- this is the lens by which we are called to interpret our understanding of the law. 

The underlying role of all laws is to bring us into relationship--  A relationship which by the way- includes constant grace and healing. This is not a list of do’s and don’ts but a constant process of seeking, learning, failing, and trying again.

The purpose of the law is to remind us that we are God’s- which means we are loved- always. The law is meant to point us to God- to help us let go of notions that we are the center of the world, and to point toward our creator. To draw us into relationship with the One who created us- who loves us, who longs for us to experience life fully.

Just as important, all the law reminds us that we are called to Love our Neighbor. We are called first and foremost to care for one another- to love one another- not judge one another. This includes the challenge of loving our ‘neighbor’ even when they seem ‘unlovable’-- especially when they seem ‘unlovable’!

As quite often happens with the lectionary- It seems to me that this is a message that is especially timely this week as we go into a political election of choosing our leaders who set, discern, and enforce our civic law-- a process which too often serves to divide and disconnect us from each other- 

In the heat of political adds, and half-truths we can easily get wrapped up in the black and white nature of naming which laws are most important- which leader is ‘in’ and which leader is ‘unlovable’. In my own neighborhood rival signs for or Obama or Romney pit one neighbor against another ...

Through it all we can miss the point. We can get caught up in the heat of it and forget our central identity as creatures of the one God. All are created in the image of God, and all are loved. Even Democrats. Even Republicans. All are created to love and give love.

Our laws matter- the laws of God, and the laws of our country certainly guide and impact our lives - so make sure you vote- however you vote - vote-- 

But as you vote, and after you vote remember that no other law matters more than the first-- to Love God with all you are - and to love each other just as you love yourself.

-------

This week, may we let go of divisive bickering about which laws matter most, about who’s in and who’s out.

May we remember the grounding principle of all -- 

May we feel deeply our connection to all people. 

May we feel deeply our connection to God. 

May we look to God, 

may we love God- 

and may we love each other. 

To See and Be Seen

Mark 10:46-52

 “They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Jesus stood still and said, ‘Call him here.’ And they called the blind man, saying to him, ‘Take heart; get up, he is calling you.’ So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ The blind man said to him, ‘My teacher, let me see again.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your faith has made you well.’ Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way. “

Over the past weeks and months we have been moving through the gospel of Mark-- as we have learned- Mark is a fast paced, multi-layered text full of powerful story and deep meaning. These last chapters have been tracking Jesus and his followers as the travel along the way to Jerusalem. This path has led to many encounters, healings, and teachings.

A couple weeks ago Pastor Mark preached about the story of the righteous and rich man- who wants to know the path to heaven- he is instructed to ‘give’. Give all he had and join in the way.

Last week we heard of the disciples, James and John, who were jockeying for positions at the right and left of Jesus- they are instructed that following this way means letting go of their inklings of power and privilege, and embracing a way of service. This is how they are instructed to follow the way.

---

And now we come to todays text.  Jesus and his band of followers are on their way to Jerusalem - walking through Jericho- when they pass by Bartimaeus- - a blind man- who is huddled on the ground, surrounded by a crowd of people on the side of the dirt road...... As Jesus and his followers walk by Bartimaeus calls out. 

Jesus, son of David! Have mercy on me! 

Those around him hush him- embarrassed by his outburst they shout at him to be quiet! He should accept his lot - to stay on the sidelines- as an extra in the play of life. They tell him to know his place and accept it with humility.

But- ill content with his own blindness- longing to see again- to be a part of the living- 

he has a moment of deeper sight- he sees the identity of this man passing through- he knows that this is one who gives him hope. He sees beyond the do’s and don’ts of his place in life as a blind beggar- and he sees Jesus- and he names him! Jesus! Son of David! Have mercy on me! He sees Jesus - and he cries out so that he too may be ‘seen’.

Despite the efforts of the crowd to silence him, despite all that muddles the path between he and Jesus- Jesus hears his plea- he ‘sees him’ and asks him to get up- to come to him- he hears his voice and asks him to speak. Jesus encourages this one who is cast aside, relegated to the edge of the road-- off the path of ‘the way’... to speak up and ask for what he needs in order to be to be healed- to experience life fully.

As Bartimaeus stands up and works his way through the crowd- he surprises even himself when his voice becomes strong, his spirit becomes brave and he asks for what he needs-- My teacher, let me see again. He needs to see and be seen.

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Isn’t this what we all need in a way? 

When was the last time you were ‘seen’? I mean really seen? Seen for who you are- at your center-- not for a resume of accomplishments-- or a list of failures and shortcomings-- not for who everyone expects you to be.... 

But seen for who you are.

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This week I had the privilege to spend a day with Reverend Yvette Flunder, an African American woman pastor who has been inspirational to me for years. Reverend Flunder shared a story of her childhood. 

She tells of herself as a 6 year old little girl- she says she was a round little thing- looked like a 0. She said that when she was growing up in the 60’s - Chatty Cathy dolls were all the rage- all the kids had one- so everyone assumed she’d want one too. She speaks of receiving this hard little plastic, lifeless doll that talked a lot and didn’t do much else. Not only did she get a white doll, but some thoughtful person gave her a black one too. Either way she wasn’t really interested. So they both sat useless in her closet.

Her mother - being the wise and perceptive woman she was- saw in Yvette that these dolls didn’t quite fit- so she bent down, looked in her eyes and asker her- what is it you really want.

In this moment, feeling empowered- Yvette spoke up. I want a briefcase. Not a purse, or a backpack or a bag-- but a briefcase. A hard-case-business-man briefcase.

So her Mom went out and got her a bright red- hard-shell briefcase and filled it full of pencils and paper, tape and scissors. Upon receipt, a glowing, 6-year old, little-round Yvette picked up that briefcase- bending her elbow to keep it from dragging the ground, went out the the curb in front of her house- sat down, opened up that briefcase- and went to work.

This was the first great gift of life Yvette received. She had been seen. Seen for who she was.

This is the beginning of the story because it didn’t stop there. Being seen for who she was, allowed Yvette to see. 

And through her life that has been a consistent theme.

Today she ‘sees’ all who are cast aside- those invisible, huddled on the side of the road- at her home in San Francisco- and now in the churches and communities of faith around the world which she has inspired. She seeks to call those who are broken out of the silence  - tells them they are loved by God- they are seen for who they truly are- and invites onto the path- the way.

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It is in being seen, that we are able to see. It is in receiving, that we are able to give- 

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In our earlier Marcan texts - we have seen instruction that called on people to give, to serve.... And in this text Bartemaeus is called to ask for healing, to use his voice to name his need and to receive with grace.

At times we can divide these two realities and get stuck in either/or thinking or either we are called to give-- or-- we are called to receive.....

We can hear only: give all you have, and serve. We can become self- righteous as a 'giver'-- we can begin to think that we are someone who is 'above need' --- 

I remember after I had an accident and spent time in the hospital- I learned a painful lesson in how to receive. As someone who was use to being able to take care of myself - I felt frustrated and ashamed when I couldn't get myself out of bed and into the shower. Calling a friend to ask for help with making dinner and to take a shift with our kids was humbling. 

When we are always in the position of 'giving' we can miss the reality that we all broken and in need of healing. We all need grace -  we all need to receive- we all need to be seen. 

On the other hand- we can hear only:  name what you need - ask and you shall receive! 

We can get caught up in only seeing our own lack.... Saturday Night Live recently did a skit about the complaints about the new Apple iphone 5. 

The skit contrasts a panel of iphone users who complain that the phone is too thin and light, the map doesn’t work as well as they want... with a spoof of chinese factory workers who express mock pitty that the poor iphone users have to go to duncan donuts rather than starbucks because their map doesn’t work-- which isn’t a problem for them since they sleep where they work.

We can get so caught up in our own head, in our perception of our problems- that we loose sight of the needs of others.

We all need to see. 

Giving and receiving, Seeing and being Seen- are not contrasting ways of being, but rather both necessary aspects of stepping onto the path- of following the way.

There are times we must call out to be seen. We must name our need and ask for healing. And there are times we must see others. We must give of all we have and be of service to others.

All of us long to be seen.... And all of us long to give- to share of our gifts.

When was the last time you were ‘seen’? How did this shape your life?

When was the last time you ‘saw’ another- and gave of yourself?