Hardest Work There Is

Hardest Work There Is  

Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile.” MT 5:38-40        

"Who really does this? ," we have to ask, if we are honest.  The whole “turn the other cheek thing”, for example, resulted from real things that actually happened to Jesus People quite often, in fact. Jesus followers who heard this teaching had to shake their heads and think it was crazy talk. 

Back then,  a “cultural superior” would slap someone of a lower caste with the back of the hand. (A Roman Citizen would never hit a lower class person with the flat of their hand— too messy!) By “turning the other cheek”, victims of this kind of every day violence communicated to their perpetrators, “Hit me again if you will, but it will be as an equal, because I am a human being.” Turning the other cheek was and act defiance and assertion of  equality. By reminding the doer of violence that their victims were human beings  they could transform  violence and victimhood and perhaps even remind someone caught up in the intoxicating power of rage that they were hurting a fellow human being. 

Or how about this one-

A Roman citizen, by law,  could ask any subjected person to carry their stuff for one mile (and no more). Jesus says to his followers— “Don’t just carry their stuff a mile— carry it all the way home (the second mile).” I don’t want to carry my adversaries stuff a foot, much less a mile. Jesus is saying that we not only have to love our enemies in the abstract sense, but seek to do them good when offered the opportunity. 

When we put these teachings in perspective, we realize that they are still hard for people like us to do. 

Sometimes it seems as if the human story is just about one group of people gathering together in a tribe and working to suppress or destroy another group through violence. The end of these kinds of actions does bring about peace (for a while) but it never deals with the root causes of violence. So, Jesus is not just telling individuals how to act, but is laying  out none other than his vision for building peace in a violent world. He is also getting humanity to tell a new story. 

Loving our enemies and praying for our persecutors opens up our imaginations to the possibility of how we might serve them and love them. Seeking ways to insist upon our humanity to our victimizers is the most potent kind of resistance against evil.  Turning the other cheek ministers to our oppressors because they become more human when they see fellow children of God on the other side of whatever conflict that exists and not just people worthy of "the back of their hand."

As the walls between the haves and have nots and those who are in and out  are being made more pronounced in our national life, we might even find ourselves with new “enemies” - even as we feel even more victimized. So, living these teachings is hard work, takes the greatest kind of imagination and must be centered in our living lives of prayer in our beloved community called the Church. Let’s put our energies towards imagining how we will be called to turn the other cheek and what the second mile might look like. We can start with one another. 

This is the hardest kind of spiritual work, yet in it lies the keys to none other than God’s kingdom among us and with us. 

St. Stephen Monford

Stephen served here for about 10 years, I think, and I am going to miss him.Stephen Monford was a Sexton here at All Saints', was our friend, co-worker, and member of our church family. Sextons keep things running so smoothly and are the reason this place stays beautiful. Whenever you come to an event that is nicely put together, in a clean, lovely place, it is because of them. Stephen cared deeply about his place, and about all of you, too. Being a Sexton was not just his job, but his calling- his ministry to others.

Stephen died last Sunday after a short battle with cancer. The last year or so, he suffered physically yet he would be here many Sundays, always eager to help and make sure things were perfect for us all. Whenever I would call him and ask him for help with something, no matter how busy he was, he would happily say, "I got you, Tim." I not only felt as if the task at hand was going to get done (and it always did) but I also felt cared for- loved- seen and heard.

Friday, in Rome Georgia (his home town), I am going to be preaching at his funeral because his family's church in Rome felt as if we were the ones who really knew him. In spite of the fact that he was an employee here, he was family to us, and we to him. I have been talking to people who knew him well and hearing stories about him. Everyone smiles before saying a word about him. One of my co-workers here described Stephen as having a "contagious joy." So good.

He took great joy in living life together with all of us. In Episcopal funerals, we say the word "alleluia" a lot, which is kind of weird, but also rather fitting. In doing so, we acknowledge that when people die, it is not the end because the love that God has infused into all creation (and into the relationships we had with them) can never die. Hard for even me to believe sometimes (especially as I write this and face the loss of someone I liked as much as Stephen Monford), but it is true, just the same. Death sucks, but it is a part of living, and many times it happens to people we love.

The beautiful thing about grief is that it helps become real human beings. We suffer the loss of the physical presence of a person, and we have to deal with the fact that our relationship has changed and not ended. The new change is hard to face-- even sometimes frustrating-- because it means they are not here with us. Yet, every time I have grieved, there comes a day when I feel, and know the presence and love of the one I have lost in its new form. I have felt it on a breeze, heard it on the radio, and even experienced it in a conversation or dream. I learn to look for them when I feel loved and in God's presence.

Yet, I will admit now, that I am very sad, and will miss this dear, sweet soul who loved wastefully and lived his life with courage and integrity. As you walk across the courtyard, take a moment to miss him and pray a prayer of thanksgiving for his life and work. Perhaps in honor of St. Stephen Monford, we can take on the practice of just responding to the need of others with an "I got you" and a smile.

Tim

Saltiness in Abundance from the Saints

Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. Mt 5:13

You are a salty bunch. You are. So many people with genuine fires in their bellies about what they are doing in the world. You are funny- engaging- and often quick of wit. I can say this about every single one of you reading this-- you are never boring. You are always coming and

going- to the soccer tournament- debate camp- student council retreat. I finally have realized, (after a few years with you), that a part of what makes you you is the fact that you are so engaged and out and about in the world living full, beautiful lives- and that is one aspect of your saltiness.

Jesus wants salty followers: people with opinions-passions-points of view. Think about what salt has done for humanity as a mineral. We need it for our bodies to work properly. Salt preserves  food so it has enabled human beings to weather famines, long winters and arduous journeys. Salt makes good things even better (I always liked it on watermelon).

There are so many varieties of salt at the market- black salt, pink salt, mineral salt, sea salt, Celtic sea salt- and ordinary table salt. All of them have a shared, molecular composition beneath their unique, outward qualities. God values your molecular makeup and the uniqueness that surrounds it. God depends upon your salt for creation to live into its ultimate potential.

Jesus says that salt, if it has no flavor, is just sand, really. Sand is nice, but plentiful, tasteless, and kind of boring.

So, bring your saltiness to God- bring it to All Saints’. Let loose with your opinions and passions- and listen and help others bring theirs to the table, too. We need each kind of “salt” to survive, to strengthen us on our journey, to help us weather the dry places and make things even better.

Tim

Jesus, What World Were You Living In?

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are

those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:1-12 NRSV

 “If you aren’t angry, you aren’t paying attention" I saw on a faded number sticker recently. At any given moment there are plenty of things happening that ought to make us angry- (if we are paying attention, that is). All is never perfect, and seldom is it well.

Jesus’ words- really a poem- from Matthew 5: 1-12- (aka “The Beatitudes) ought to be frustrating and perhaps make us a little angry. The world he describes just does not exist.

Richard Rohr, a Franciscan monk and writer who is important to me, calls the Beatitudes a “counter-intuitive spirituality.”  In usual JC style, his poetry runs current to what we see, but has deep Truth.  What happens for us  if we read The Beatitudes not as a an ideal or a list of what it looks like to be righteous , but rather, an outline for hope? 

When we love others fully, even when they hate us - we will be blessed and a blessing. 

When we are gentle in spirit, we will have the blessing of “inheriting the earth” or being in tune with what we were created to be. 

When we allow our hearts to break for others (mourn) we are outward reminders of God’s compassion for us all, joining with the “comfort” to be found in sharing the heart that God has for all people. 

When we are down- depressed- poor in spirit- in our lowest places- we learn to reach out to others, receive love from them, and join in God’s kingdom on earth. 

When we see others as who they really are - children of God- we see God in them. 

Our anger about The State of The World is not wrong- but if we just hold on to that (without keeping our eyes on the “reality” Jesus offers us in his verse) we just might turn to cynicism, hate and despair. We can do better, with God's help. 

This Jesus kind of love is hard. This Jesus kind of  love might even hurt or mean being unpopular, or reviled, or persecuted or even (God forbid) admitting we are wrong sometimes. God's Church, right now,  can be a “school for love” where we “practice” reaching across differences and embody Jesus crazy poetry. We can share our difficulty in loving the other, whoever he is. We can rise up, when the time comes, (as we have done in the past) to push back against injustice. We can find the reviled and persecuted, the lied about and forgotten and be a blessing to them.  We can find our reward, not in the hereafter, but in the heaven on earth we will be a part of creating. 

So be blessed— and a blessing. Beatitude living promises us that  we will see and find none other than God herself in the struggle. 

Drop Your Nets!

As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish

for people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him. Mt 4:20-22

I grew up in a large church where I spent most of my time as a child and teenager. I remember, as an 8 year-old, newly baptized Christian, hearing a missionary from China preach about his work there.  As a 9 year old boy, a tiny voice spoke up from my  gut that said, “You should do that.” Random strangers I met, even, in the course of growing up going to church camps and other churches even conspired to say to me, “I think you are called to ministry.” Weird.   

Well, it’s along story, but you all know I was called to be with you here after a few years of education, more discernment, and work.

All of us are called to “drop our nets” and follow Jesus to wherever he leads us. Perhaps the place we are being lead means ordained ministry. More importantly, though, more of us are called to ministry right now in the lives we lead. When I have conversations with some of you about ordained ministry, my question is always, “What is stopping you from doing ministry right now? What ministry can you do right now?” Ordained folks are indeed called, but we are called to pretty specific work. Lay folk like you have the freedom to do so much more.

If we keep a tight grip our nets, though, and just stay where we are, we cannot fully realize our identity. “Dropping their nets” meant turning their back on the lives they knew and going somewhere else with Jesus.  If you think about it, though,  they more than likely  still fished some to pay the bills and feed themselves!  When we listen to our calling, God can take our multitude of gifts and use them for good we never could have imagined!

What does it mean to be a Jesus-follower who plays lacrosse, or gets in IB diploma, or performs in musicals or even runs the Spanish club? You can take who you are, right now, and use your gifts to follow Jesus to wherever he leads! How can you walk and work as a “priest” out in the world, helping people to hear God speaking and working amongst them?

Drop your nets- and find out!

Tim

Let's Get Missional!!

                 Let's Get Missional!

Christians are really good at making up words. Missional is an adjectival form of "mission ." I have never heard of anyone saying they were “missioning” but I guess we could do that, too. What does it mean?

We can reclaim our stance as "missionary people." I grew up hearing sermons from men and women whose mission was converting unbelievers help them avoid going to hell. I am not so sure that is what Jesus means, though, when he says, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father, son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to do everything that I have commanded you.” We are to baptize, teach, and help folks to follow, but he does not say anything about saving them from hell here.

So mission for us can be doing good and “healing the world” and something about an invitation to being a disciple- follower- of Jesus. Jesus’ version of  mission is  about  inviting others to life abundant instead of saving them from damnation eternal. Writer Morgan Schmidt says mission is helping “others to seek out and find God at work in the world around us. ...interpreting-- pointing out-- finding-- suggesting--convincing ourselves and other people that God moves in this broken world.. “  Let’s do that!

God is always saving us and healing us and bowling us over with her love  for us, and that’s pretty much the greatest thing ever, don’t you think!?

 If that is missional, then let’s get missional.

Shalom

We are Sons and Daughters with whom God is Well Pleased!

“And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water,

suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” Matt 3:16-17

Before I came to All Saints’, I was Priest-in-Charge out at Church of the Incarnation out on the west side of Atlanta. I found out that one of our parishioners had a son she had adopted who was not baptized. The Baptism was on!

\When the time came to baptize the not-so-little boy, I still held him like they taught me, “football style” with his head over the font. He was being a good sport. Right at the moment when I poured water on his sweet head he moved and I poured water up his nose. He gagged,  squirmed and screamed in horror and  I quickly sat him up and handed him to his Mom. When I tried to anoint him with  oil on his forehead, he even screamed and grabbed my arm and said “NO!”

Everyone laughed, thank goodness.

I think about him  every time we perform a baptism.  “Messier” baptisms like his are closer to the truth for what life after baptism is like.  We are baptized into a messy world. We are baptized to go out and “love and serve the Lord,” even when it is not easy or pretty.

All of us, in the journey towards friendship with God, have to acknowledge and love ourselves and others -because -and not in spite of -the fact that we are messy folk. Baptism truly is a moment when heaven and earth meet. As we douse a person’s head with water, we welcome them into God’s family- not as potentially perfect people but as people who spend their lives becoming who they already are- forgiven, loved unconditionally, and blessed.

We are welcomed as sons and daughters, with whom God is “well pleased.”

On Sunday we will baptize some babies at the 1115 service. Come join in and reflect upon your baptism into the messy ‘household of God.”