Living Water

"Everyone who drinks of this wqater will thirst again." John Chapter 4

Cool, cool water on a hot day. Our human Lord is weary. Resting at Jacob's well, he begins his divine revelation by asking the lone woman drawing to give him a drink. She denies him and misunderstands him but keeps talking to him (Clearly he is harmless and she knows how to take care of herself.) Woman has no social position to keep up and so has left behind the necessary hyposcrisies. Perhaps having broken the social taboo against living in sin with a man she can more easily cross the boundary against conversing with a Jew.

Of course Jesus didn't save his Messiah-ship for outcasts only. His friend Martha whom he loved snd who fulfilled every duty of the home would confess him as the Christ (chapter 11). Today, though, at the well, this Samaritan woman received a spirit so powerful from the one who revealed himself to her ("the one who is standing before you, I am he") that she ignited the spirit of an entire town. "Come and see 'a man who told me all that I ever did; could this be the Christ?"

For yes, the Samaritans expected the Christ. Samaritans broke off from the Jews in--what?--the 7th or 8th century BCE and stayed with the 5 books of Torah. But prophets did arise among them, we have learned, called Ta'ebs, who prepared theirSamaritan hearts for Christ. One day our Bible group studied this passage by role playing, and I got to play her, the woman at the well. As the people came out and the disciples re-gathered, I rested quietly on the wall of the well and felt how my heart had been ploughed and softened to receive the Messiah.

And likewise the town! Their hearts were prepared by their prophets, and so they believed her, this outcast woman, enough to troup out to see for themselves. What what did they encounter?

............................. (we will have to see for ourselves..... until we also say): 

"We no longer believe because of your word but have seen for ourselves he is the Savior of the World."

So the beloved community begins--the community that produced this incredible Gospel from the spring of water they received from the Christ, the living water of the Spirit that is welling up to eternal life.

The Consolations of the Reign of God

Life is difficult and from time to time dark. Bad things happen. Stress builds up within, without. The four horsemen gallop it seems wherever they want to. I am so happy to have the gift of faith for it brings beauty in the midst of suffering, and the light of Christ shatters the darkness.

God reaches us by whatever means available. Thursday night I felt pressured by all the happenings in a big family and walked out after dark for a breath of fresh air. Walking up the hill towards the church, I remembered prayer. You know what I mean, I'm sure: turning and returning to God's love. As I praised the beauty of sparkling stars on a crisp winter afternoon, I hear children singing "Once in Royal David's City"-- as if I heard God nodding in response.

As I walked past the church, I looked in the windows. The children's choir stood in a small spot of light rehearsing, with music teachers hard at their blessed work on the dark afternoon. Receiving this gift, I turned back towards my own work, refreshed.

To me such moments come directly from God's loving providence.  These touches also symbolize that God is working God's purpose out; that despite the darkness, despite the horsemen, that as Dame Julian says, "all will be well and all will be well and all manner of things shall be well."

Thanks be to God for sending the Son and bringing us to this blessed season.

II Advent - Turning of Destiny

As the exiles languished in Babylon for 50 years in the 6^th century B.C.E., we also during these darkening days of 2011, may “pine in lonely exile” for the Advent of our Lord. 

For Judah, after fifty years spent longing for home, return from exile came as a shock. Instead of the paradise promised by the prophet Isaiah, the people found ruin and desolation. They celebrate their homecoming, they give thanks, they give thanks--but wow, things have really gone to hell! In Psalm 85, in the midst of thanksgiving, the community implores God's help again; and again they receive the promises.

The psalm has been called one of “turning of destiny.” A variation of the root “return” (shuv) occurs several times, beginning in v. 1 with, “turned our fortune back to the good” (shavta sh'vit). In v. 3, God has “turned back from” (heshivotha) anger and is immediately prayed to “restore us” (shuveinu, v. 4). In v. 6, the people pray to be “returned to life”(thashuv tchayyeinu), and v. 8 speaks of the people's “returning” (yashuvu) their confidence. We may see turnings implicit in the gracious embracings prophesied in the closing verses: truth, mercy, peace and justice, are all reconciled.

The conclusion gives a clue as to how these promises can come true: “Righteousness shall go before him” [v. 13].  As our own community turns to God, we'll see our destiny turn around. Through the efforts of faith restored, God's Kingdom will unfold.

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"Turn thou us, O Good Lord, and so shall we be turned.”" (1928 Book of Common Prayer, p. 62)

Isaiah 40:1-11; 2 Peter 3:8-15a; Mark 1:1-8

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Psalm 85 – Questions to Ponder

1.     Pray this psalm as part of the people returning home after exile. What were your hopes and dreams on the way to here? Among young and old, what are various feelings when confronting the reality of rebuilding this place that is supposedly "home"?

2.     How can mercy and truth, justice and peace, meet? Allow yourself to feel the tension in examples from your experience.

3.     Have you ever felt the Lord’s anger? What events made you aware of the consequences of your own sin? Has such a time been a turning point for you?

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Save Us, O Lord!

I Advent - Psalm Meditation 

Psalm 80——We Shall Be Saved

In this community lament, Israel appeals to God as ““Shepherd”” (roeh ), a name that recalls God's saving deeds of the Exodus (See Ps 77:20, Is 63:11). These verses follow the lament pattern: appeal for renewal; remembering what God first did to bring us into covenant; turning again from present darkness.

From our darkness we pray to be reconverted, beginning with an appeal for grace: ““God, lead us back and shine your face(s) and we shall be saved”” (elohim hashiveinu v'ha'er paneka'ka v’’ni vvashiah, v. 3). We accept our lostness and admit we cannot return by our own power.

From our darkness we pray to regain dignity [v. 6]. In failure and misfortune we have been tormented with feelings of humiliation: ““and our enemies mock us”” (v'oy’’veinu yilagu-lanu, v. 6). God's blessing will banish shame [v. 15].

From our darkness we pray together. We appeal in community lament. Our spiritual journey is more than just a private thing between the individual and God. We are led ““like a flock”” [v. 1].

We do not return alone.

©1997, Patricia Caplan Andrews; limited license to reproduce for use in licensed congregation only. Published by LeaderResources.

Anointed Lectio: There's Hope

Today's reading is Mark 16, the Day of the Resurrection, when the women found the stone rolled away and the tomb empty! I had almost forgotten the Vacation Bible School class where we teachers acted this out for the children and when Jesus was found alive they all cheered!

The vital reaction to the Good News is still with us! Christ is still alive with the teachers and kids in our parish.

I am thanking God that the Holy Spirit, who guides us into all truth (John 16:13) brought this into my remembrance. The Spirit will teach me everything and remind me of everything Jesus has shown and said to me. In this I will find the remedy for my frustration.

You know my frustration, Reader, surrounding the lukewarmness of preaching I have heard this summer. Today the scales fall from my eyes as I remember this frustration has been ongoing for 30 years of my own life--and since the earliest times in the life of the Church. I find the message to Laodicaea,  "since you are lukewarm I spit you out of my mouth!" (Rev 3:16) comforting in a way. Tepidity  has not stifled the Word. There have been beautiful Christians to fellowship with throughout.

Furthermore, Revelation continues: "I stand at the door knocking" (Rv 16:20). There is still hope the tepid and uncertain may open the door and invite the Lord to come in and eat together. Jesus may still be welcomed. The Good News may yet be preached and yet be cheered in the "big church."  Hallelujah!

Anointed Listener: The Apostolic Faith

There is a church that proclaims itself "a house of prayer for all people on the rock of the Apostolic faith." Whatever does that mean?

The "house of prayer for all people" excludes no one who is willing to "hold fast (the Lord's) covenant." (Isaiah 56:6). It does not mean "Come on in, whatever floats your boat!" It means, "Welcome, find rest for your soul," and uh-oh, wait for it: "Welcome, and hear the Good News of Christ!"

That last, less you miss it, is the Apostolic part.  Standing on the solid rock of Christ, Apostolic faith preaches the Good News.

The Apostolic faith has seen reality as our normal eyes don't see. Standing on this Rock, I have seen Love revealed, the Love that is stronger than death. I have seen phrases of Scripture glow with new Life, virtually leaping out of the text! I have seen Christ in fellow Christians, gathered as the People of God, the Church founded on the rock of the Apostolic faith.  Through the power of the Gospel I have seen the Lord Jesus; I have felt and handled this Mystery. I guess like all Christians, I must be called to be a disciple and apostle.

Our forebears, the early Apostles, you know the ones who got crucified upside down so that I could hear the Good News? They put together the Creeds, which are "guardians of the mystery" (Flannery O'Connor) that originated in Baptismal vows. The Apostolic faith in "one Lord, one faith, one Baptism" came through hundreds of generations to that community, those hands, who baptized me and marked me as "Christ's own forever!" I came into New Life mewling and puking, and the mature community took me up. The Church brought me and taught me until finally I could see. 

As a botanist can look at grass and see cells; and an astronomer look at the blue sky and see the planets and stars; the Apostolic faith by grace discerns the Holy Spirit brooding over a bent world "with ah! bright wings" (Hopkins). Oh, to be able to see it more clearly; oh to be a better Apostle!  Sometimes I'm half-blinded by the bentness of it all, but woe to me if I preach not the Gospel (Paul).

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Anointed Listener: In light of the Resurrection

I visited the Presbyterian church this a.m.; what a surprise to see the whole thing is still going on. I also felt surprised how deep a place within me responded. It was Youth Sunday, and I might have been one of those young worship leaders. The dressed-up women and men might have been my parents' friends, except for lack of ladies' white gloves!

The sermon text was Matthew 14:22-23: While Jesus was out by himself praying, the disciples started rowing in a boat and got caught in a bad storm. Jesus walked to them on the water calling, "It is I." After Peter gets out and doubts (Mt 14:30), Jesus chides the lack of faith. When he gets into the boat, the storm quiets down.

"There is tumult in this life," was the Reverend's message, "that's what is eternally true," and she centered her word around a lengthy plea for Somalia. "Maybe if we all put our mustard seeds of faith together we can help the tumult in Somalia." Perhaps hearing about this miracle will open faithful hearts to share.

But are miracles alone going to open our hearts? In Mark's version of this story the disciples' hearts were  hardened, even after Jesus climbed into the boat! "They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened (Mk 6:51-52)."  They didn't know who Jesus was. Elsewhere they had asked, "Who is he, that even the winds and the waves obey him?" (Mk 4:41; Cf, Lk 8:21, Mt 8:27)

"Understanding about the loaves" means realizing Who Jesus is. When Jesus took,  blessed, broke, and gave the loaves, he revealed he was the Anointed One, the long-prophesied Messiah.  When Jesus called to the disciples from the waves he said, "Ego eimi," "It is I" also meaning "I AM"--the name of God. As John's Gospel says, "I AM the Resurrection and the Life. I AM the Way, the Truth and the Life. "I AM HE, the one who is speaking to you now."

We know that now; and the disciples knew it by the time they were preaching the Gospels. After the Resurrection, after the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, they understood. Whether the doubting of Peter (Mt 14:30-31) or the hardening of the disciples' hearts (Mark 6:52), their storm story reflects back on misunderstandings later illuminated by the light of Jesus' rising from the grave!

We have to understand the miracles, indeed all the Gospel stories, in the light of the Resurrection, in the light of knowing Who Jesus is, in order for faith to grow in our hearts, the faith that will open our hearts to those suffering in the tumult of this life.