Well Joan has had her way again. She has orchestrated a gathering of her huge family of beloved ones. A good Grandmother has gathered the children for one more feast, one more time to laugh and tell stories. And on this day we also weep in each others arms. Joan has orchestrated this gathering in a particular way. Her gift to us this day is to be in this place, gathered around God’s table, bathed in music of our faith tradition. Joan’s gift to us in this experience of many hearts and voices praying together is extraordinary, as it was in days gone by, and it fills our hearts with joy to have been wooed onto holy ground by Joan Simpson. In this sacred moment we stand with her on the border place between Heaven and Earth. On this Ash Wednesday we stand next to the empty tomb of Easter.
It seems like a good time to speak of Heaven, of Resurrection, of the Reign of God that is and that shall be. In Christian tradition we struggle to live the words we pray that the rules of this world, and the rulers of this world, are not in charge. In the Christian family we struggle to live up to our baptismal promises that Jesus and Jesus alone is our way life. Faithful people pray ‘thy kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven.’ We want to be in heaven, to experience heaven. Here and now, and in the age to come. We struggle to understand how, to find the way. The earliest Christians had trouble with this too.
Thomas heard the words of Jesus – do not let your hearts be troubled. I am going to prepare a place for you so that where I am you may be also. Blessed Thomas asks what they are all thinking Where? How? They have walked with him, eaten with him, witnessed healing and seen him affirming the place of women, role of women as equal partners. They have delighted in seeing him jousting with Scribes and Pharisees and always winning the battle. They paid attention to his teaching, and yet they don’t understand where he is going, and how they are to go with him.
Jesus reminds them of what they already know, deep in their hearts I am the Way. I am the Truth. I am the Life. Jesus himself is the road, the journey, the path. Jesus is the signpost to God, the one pointing the direction to heaven. When we practice binding up wounds, and broken hearts and shattered relationships we are walking the way of Jesus. When we let our grief show and weep with our friends, we are walking the way of Jesus. He loved those who betrayed him. He walked the road of forgiveness to the very end. Jesus is the Truth with a big T. All our truths are the small, imperfect and incomplete kind. When we hold our own truths lightly, we can receive more from each other, and together we will see more clearly, more completely the big Truth.
Jesus says I am the Life. The way of heaven is a way of life. And life always requires giving away that which is precious, not just a token of thanks, not just the cost of a ticket to the show.
Life requires pouring our lifeblood, our hearts and our time and our bodies and our treasure into the things that matter. Life requires pouring out what we have for the good of others. The way of heaven invests in hospitals so that they have the capacity to care for the indigent lepers of this world. The way of heaven doesn’t get rattled about which way healing is funded, so long as the lepers can knock on the door, and receive what they need, a tender touch of a nurse whose beautiful face is full of love. The way of heaven is a life dedicated to driving people to chemotherapy. The way of heaven is a person who gets up before the sun and makes scrambled eggs for hungry boys. Day after day after day. The way of heaven is a life dedicated to encouraging new mothers who desperately want to make a good start for their babies.
The way of heaven invests in institutions that can lift our spirits and inspire us. The way of heaven requires an orchestra, a stage, and great beautiful spaces whose red doors swing open welcoming all. The way of heaven invests in the infrastructure needed to make this happen. Art and artists and churches require patrons. And the way of heaven demands singing. The way of heaven insists on Mozart and Bach and Dave Brubeck. The way of heaven, the way of life here and now and in the age to come are intertwined. We who are on the on this side of the road are entreated to walk the way of Jesus make heaven bloom here. We are invited to grow Madonna lilies from the ashes.
So this day I imagine the Heavenly Banquet table is set, and the music is playing. I imagine that at table Joan, much to her delighted astonishment, sits between Florence Nightingale and Angela Davis, and across from her is her beloved Robert deep in conversation with Thelonius Monk. I imagine that down the table a friendly argument is breaking out between Ronald Reagan and Eleanor Roosevelt. I imagine they are all rejoicing that they did their parts as good and faithful servants. I imagine that they wish they had been a little more generous and had laughed a little more. I imagine that they are waiting. Waiting for us to dry our tears, to get on with the work we have been given to do in this world. Joan, we thank you for inviting this day to pay attention to the important things: love, generous love, and life freely given.
It seems like a good time to speak of Heaven, of Resurrection, of the Reign of God that is and that shall be. In Christian tradition we struggle to live the words we pray that the rules of this world, and the rulers of this world, are not in charge. In the Christian family we struggle to live up to our baptismal promises that Jesus and Jesus alone is our way life. Faithful people pray ‘thy kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven.’ We want to be in heaven, to experience heaven. Here and now, and in the age to come. We struggle to understand how, to find the way. The earliest Christians had trouble with this too.
Thomas heard the words of Jesus – do not let your hearts be troubled. I am going to prepare a place for you so that where I am you may be also. Blessed Thomas asks what they are all thinking Where? How? They have walked with him, eaten with him, witnessed healing and seen him affirming the place of women, role of women as equal partners. They have delighted in seeing him jousting with Scribes and Pharisees and always winning the battle. They paid attention to his teaching, and yet they don’t understand where he is going, and how they are to go with him.
Jesus reminds them of what they already know, deep in their hearts I am the Way. I am the Truth. I am the Life. Jesus himself is the road, the journey, the path. Jesus is the signpost to God, the one pointing the direction to heaven. When we practice binding up wounds, and broken hearts and shattered relationships we are walking the way of Jesus. When we let our grief show and weep with our friends, we are walking the way of Jesus. He loved those who betrayed him. He walked the road of forgiveness to the very end. Jesus is the Truth with a big T. All our truths are the small, imperfect and incomplete kind. When we hold our own truths lightly, we can receive more from each other, and together we will see more clearly, more completely the big Truth.
Jesus says I am the Life. The way of heaven is a way of life. And life always requires giving away that which is precious, not just a token of thanks, not just the cost of a ticket to the show.
Life requires pouring our lifeblood, our hearts and our time and our bodies and our treasure into the things that matter. Life requires pouring out what we have for the good of others. The way of heaven invests in hospitals so that they have the capacity to care for the indigent lepers of this world. The way of heaven doesn’t get rattled about which way healing is funded, so long as the lepers can knock on the door, and receive what they need, a tender touch of a nurse whose beautiful face is full of love. The way of heaven is a life dedicated to driving people to chemotherapy. The way of heaven is a person who gets up before the sun and makes scrambled eggs for hungry boys. Day after day after day. The way of heaven is a life dedicated to encouraging new mothers who desperately want to make a good start for their babies.
The way of heaven invests in institutions that can lift our spirits and inspire us. The way of heaven requires an orchestra, a stage, and great beautiful spaces whose red doors swing open welcoming all. The way of heaven invests in the infrastructure needed to make this happen. Art and artists and churches require patrons. And the way of heaven demands singing. The way of heaven insists on Mozart and Bach and Dave Brubeck. The way of heaven, the way of life here and now and in the age to come are intertwined. We who are on the on this side of the road are entreated to walk the way of Jesus make heaven bloom here. We are invited to grow Madonna lilies from the ashes.
So this day I imagine the Heavenly Banquet table is set, and the music is playing. I imagine that at table Joan, much to her delighted astonishment, sits between Florence Nightingale and Angela Davis, and across from her is her beloved Robert deep in conversation with Thelonius Monk. I imagine that down the table a friendly argument is breaking out between Ronald Reagan and Eleanor Roosevelt. I imagine they are all rejoicing that they did their parts as good and faithful servants. I imagine that they wish they had been a little more generous and had laughed a little more. I imagine that they are waiting. Waiting for us to dry our tears, to get on with the work we have been given to do in this world. Joan, we thank you for inviting this day to pay attention to the important things: love, generous love, and life freely given.
Alleluia Alleluia Alleluia
No comments:
Post a Comment