Do Pause to See

In the early days of the American invasion of Iraq, there was a group of soldiers whose mission it was connect with a town cleric for organize and distribution of relief supplies.  However, the time was tense, and atmosphere was challenging.  A mob had gathered, fearing that the solders had come to arrest the spiritual leader, destroy their mosque, or desecrate their shrine.  Much distrust had built up.

Hundreds of local Muslims gathered screaming and shooting pressing in on the platoon.  The commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Hughes thought fast.   He told his solider to take a knee.  Then point then rifles at the ground.  Then, Smile.  The crowd morphed.  Some still yelled.  But many smiled in return.  Some even patted then soldiers on the backs.  The crowd soon dispersed.  Realizing that their leader, their mosque, and their shrine were not under threat.  In fact, they were soon to receive aid. [1]

When we pause to see where God might already be moving that we can see, most fully who God is.  Throughout this season of Lent as we have been pausing with Jesus.  For those of us who keep ourselves busy or find ourselves busy, this can be a challenge.  Pausing is not something we do instinctively or even easily, but it is something that we must do.

We have also been reading through the Gospel of Mark together this year.  Jesus and the disciples have been on the whirlwind tour.  We know, because we have been keeping pace with them, Sunday after Sunday.  We have been following them, like groupies or roadies.  We have been watching where they have been heading around the hillside throughout the gospel of Mark.  It has been immediately here and then there.  And now, we find that they are in the grainfields and on the Sabbath.  Like in a bad movie, I can not help, but feel like are in a set up where we know something is not going to go exactly right.

In the midst of the drive of teaching and healing, our stories zoom in on Jesus and the disciples in that grainfield on the Sabbath with religious leaders following close behind.  Jesus was never one to screen out his critics.  Last week, Jesus was teaching the crowds about why new wine skins were necessary as well as why guests did not fast when the bridegroom was still present.  The critics hang around.  The Pharisees were teachers of the Jewish tradition and educated in the law.  They were unsure of what Jesus was doing and skeptical of his intents.  So, they trail him and ask questions.  Some scholars believe that Jesus as situated within the pharisaical tradition.[2]  Jesus was clearly comfortably engaged with that model of teaching.

And as the free flow of questions came, it is not surprising that at some point, being hungry and being in a grainfield, leads to the next question.  While the disciples begin to nibble and talk among themselves, the Pharisees clearly think they have caught they disciples in something here.  This is an issue of Sabbath.

Sabbath is about us seeing God.  Sabbath is a pause we need to see where God is.  I take Sabbath each week.  Let me say most accurately.  I endeavor to keep Sabbath each week.  I take mine on Friday.  It is not a working day for, traditionally.  Sabbath is a day in which we notice where God is moving and how God has not left us and will not leave us.  Sabbath is a day to slow down, in some noticeable way.  For most of us, that means not working in the same way as the rest of the days of the week.  We need a change from the rest of the week.  For me, I need to read, to write, to rest, to be with my family, eat slower than the rest of the week, and do something filled with joy. That the wisdom that Jesus speaks when he says – the Sabbath is made for humanity, not humanity for the Sabbath.  We need for the change in rhythm to see God in the daily grind.  God does not need it for us.

We pause to see where God is.   If you have every had the delight of sitting with a spiritual director; If you have ever had the privilege of sitting with a counselor;  If you have ever had the honor of sitting with a mentor;  I hope they have asked you at one point or another – where have you seen God in that?  Meaning:  Where have you seen God in the great joys of your day?    Where have you seen God in the great trials of your life?  Where are you seeing God in the hum drum, ordinary moments?

This being aware of God in our every day is a part of pausing.  Some of you might have seen the cover article in the March newsletter.  I wrote about the practice of daily examen.  This is a spiritual practice pausing to see and be aware of God each day in your own life.  It derives from a rich spiritual tradition.  This tradition comes from the regular practice of daily practice pausing and noticing God in one’s daily life.  Pick up a newsletter and read about this practice on the cover page.  Prayerfully consider if this might match you.

For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake.”  The Gospel of Mark and the letters to the Corinth were written about the same time in the 50s, less than two decades after the death of Jesus.  As the Gospel writer, Mark situated with us Jesus walking with the disciples next the Pharisees in discussion pausing on the Sabbath to God’s truth and power even around us.  We proclaim Christ, even when we feel beat down.

In Paul’s correspondence with the church Corinth, the biblical narrative has the first letter. And today, our passage came from the second letter.  But we do not have the letter or letters that came between.  Ostensibly, the church at Corinth wrote to Paul of trouble and woes telling him of just how hard it has been to be a follower of Jesus in their fair city of Corinth and asking for his advice and good word of Jesus to urge them.  This is what the second letter of Corinthians contains.  Our passage this morning, particularly addresses particularly woes to them and us as it encourages:

“But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies. For while we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh. So, death is at work in us, but life in you.”[3]

When we pause to see, we find God in the most unusual, unexpected places.  We, who look for God always in places of power and privilege, will be surprising to sometimes find God, who humbles God’s self in humbling and subservient ways.  It is not that our God is not capable of power and privilege; it is rather that our God has a preference for those who do not have power and privilege in this world.  It is easy for us, in the busy and frenzied pace to conflate the two.

When we pause, we can find God in face of everyone we meet.  I was asked just this week:  Did you see God?  I could answer with truth and honesty, earnestness and tenderness, in every face.  I am not sure, with all honesty that I always can.  In fact, I know that I cannot.  How about you?  Have you seen the face of God, this week?  And perhaps, just as important, did you go looking for God this week?  Or were you content living without God for a while?

This week, pause to look for God.  Look for God’s truth and God’s power, it is all around us – both in awe-inspiring, breath-taking, and beautiful ways as well as quiet, simple, silent ways.

This is the Gospel, the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ, thanks be to God. Amen.

[1] The Emotional Intelligence of Jesus: Relational Smarts for Religious Leaders by Roy Oswald and Arland Jacobson, 2015.

[2] http://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,1048374,00.html

[3] 2 Corinthians 4: 7-12

New Testament Lesson:  2 Corinthians 4:5-12

For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.  But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies. For while we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.

Gospel Lesson:  Mark 2:23-28

One sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?” And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need of food? He entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and he gave some to his companions.” Then he said to them, “The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath; so the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.”

Meditations For Your Week

Sunday, March 11 ~ Saturday, March 17

Sunday: “For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:5-6 Pause to look for the light of Jesus in others.  Give thanks to God when you see God’s light in others.

Monday:  “But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies.” 2 Corinthians 4:7-10 Where is it that the life of Jesus is being shown through you?

Tuesday: “For while we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.” 2 Corinthians 4:11-12How are you being called to live for Jesus?  Where are you being called to know death for Christ?

Wednesday: “One sabbath he was going through the grainfields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?” Mark 2:23-24Pause today to pray for those who are seeking to listen to Jesus through acts of civil and ecclesiastical disobedience.

Thursday: “And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need of food? He entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and he gave some to his companions.” Mark 2:25-26Following Jesus is a risky business.  Where you are being called to follow at all costs?

Friday: “Then he said to them, “The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath; Mark 2:27 Jesus turns all expectations upside down.  Ask God what assumptions you need to re-examine to follow Jesus.

Saturday: “so the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.” Mark 2:28 Find time today for silence.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[1] The Emotional Intelligence of Jesus: Relational Smarts for Religious Leaders by Roy Oswald and Arland Jacobson, 2015.

[2] http://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,1048374,00.html

[3] 2 Corinthians 4: 7-12