Second Sunday of Easter

Acts 2:14a, 22-32
1 Peter 1:3-9
John 20:19-31
The great high celebration of Easter is for the most part a fading thought as the week has passed and we are now looking forward to the things of summer. But in the heart of the Church we are still deep within Easter. The proclamation of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ was the shout of the day; the amazing and hard to believe miracle of the power of God’s love that would not let the hatred and cruelty of humanity carry the day. Yet for all the good news of Jesus’ resurrection the haunting thought that lingers… what does this have to do with me, what does this have to do with you or for that matter for the world?
It was most likely a thought upon the minds of Jesus’ disciples as they tried to make sense of the news of the resurrection. Our gospel lesson finds them hidden behind locked doors fearful of the world. Jesus was risen, but what about them? The ones who had crucified Jesus were upset, for the body of the one they had killed was missing and no doubt those in power would in all likelihood come looking for the disciples… fearful the disciples must have wondered… are we next?
Into the midst of their fear Jesus comes among them. “Peace be with you” he says to this fearful lot. His words do not change the circumstances of a world gone mad yet for them something is about to change. John’s gospel does not wait for an ascension, there is no mighty wind or tongues of fire in this encounter, in a most intimate way the Risen Lord breathes upon them and declares, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” It is at this moment that Jesus commissions these disciples; “as the Father has sent me so I send you. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them, if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” The gospel of John brings with it a sense of urgency to go and tell and to be agents of the work of Jesus Christ to all the world. This indeed is the mission of the Church and indeed we take a lot of time here in the life of Grace to bring expression to the great work to which our Lord has called us to do.
Yet in the midst of the Easter message there is a question, that is desirous of an answer. What does Jesus’ resurrection mean for me? This is not a question of mission or ministry in fact some will argue it is a selfish question, but one that haunts us. Very frankly I worry that if we misunderstand the purpose of Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection in regard to our personal lives, than all the good we may be called to do will in fact become twisted and distorted.
Our accompanying lessons from Acts 2, Psalm 16 and 1st Peter in fact help us to better understand what the work of Jesus means for us. The lesson from Acts is a portion of the story of the Pentecost, but since we will be focusing on Luke’s version of the coming of the Holy Spirit on June 8, I would like to examine a portion of Peter’s speech in which he reflects on verses of Psalm 16 because here we find a sense of what resurrection can mean for us. Now this gets a bit convoluted for it is Luke writing about Peter who is quoting a Psalm from David, who has written a poem of lament that is concluding with a message of hope. We are hearing ancient words that now bear meaning in light of the good news of Jesus’ resurrection…

Giving up Cancer for Lent

Prelude:
In November of this past year I was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer. Early in December I began hormone suppression therapy which essential starves the invasive cancer cells. So for December through early March my body has been a parched and barren land void of much of the life-giving hormones with which my particular cancer thrives. In March I began Radiation therapy.

Story:
Lent and Radiation therapy pretty much started at the sametime. Early in Lent one of the Doctors in the practice was conducting an follow up examine. She knew I was a pastor and asked if I made it a spiritual practice of giving things up for Lent. Off the top of my head I said “Yes, I’m giving up cancer for Lent!” At first the Doctor was a bit stunned and then she began to laugh and thought that was a good thing to give up for Lent.

In the days since that comment I have thought a lot about my flip answer and decided that there is a lot more to that comment than just merely trusting in the therapy being used to kill my cancer cells. In Lent I have chosen to not let a disease define my life or who I am; Not always an easy thing to do when many people seem to see me through “Cancer Colored Glasses.” Yet this malady is not the sum total of my life. In fact at present it is more of an inconvenience to my schedule. And my life is filled with so much more than cancer. My life, my faith, my friends and the joyful interaction of life are much more fulfilling.

As with most things in life I am learning that if we do not give over our lives to the bad things of life we are far more capable of living and in fact learning from the pilgrimage of such events. I have learned to trust my life to others depending upon the gifted doctors, technicians, nurses and staff who are truly agents of God bringing healing to my life. I am humbled and delight by my daily engagements with all of them. I have come to trust the good medical arts that are being applied and marvel at what we are capable of doing today in the field of medicine.

I am not yet at the point of being called a cancer survivor but I look forward to the day of being able to say with so many others those cherished words, “I survived cancer.” In the mean time I am on a journey while doing all the other things of life. While I don’t mind answering questions about what is going on in my life I sure hope people see me for more than the Cancer that I am giving up for Lent.

Well I have to close for it is time to go for Treatment!
Theme Song for starting each trip… Disco Inferno! And my favorite phrase in the song “Burn baby Burn!” I like putting those pesky cells on notice that they doomed!

Saint Eddie

Yesterday I shared in the sacred celebration of the life and death of a Saint by the name of Eddie. By worldly standards Eddie was not a man of standing; poor and uneducated he lived on the edge of life. But those of us who gathered to remember his life we celebrated a man of standing and courage. This is what I learned yesterday about Eddie. At the age of four or five he was a member of a very large family. Because he had special needs his family convinced themselves that they could not care of Eddie. So at the age of four or five his father walked Eddie to the edge of the family property and told this little boy to wait then he walked back to the house. Eventually a sheriff came and took Eddie away and that was the last he ever saw of his family.

I was stuck down by this story. In my mind I saw little Eddie with a small bag at his feet in confusion and sorrow abandoned by the side of the road. The years that followed would be ones of abandonment and constant movement. Most of his adult life would be living in conditions near to slavery and always poverty. Yet in the midst of this tribulation would arise a man of humble integrity and vast kindness. The world could only see a small man but closer inspection revealed one who deserves the title of saint.

Over the years Eddie had a close friend Charlie who sadly was killed in an accident while walking down the road, like Eddie, Charlie was poor and uneducated. Yet when he died his loyal friend Eddie worked tirelessly to ensure that his friend had a funeral and place to be buried. Eddie worked out the means to secure a cemetery plot for his friend and a plot for himself beside his friend and worked out a plan to pay for his own eventual funeral. Eddie wanted to pay his own way in life and with the help of others worked hard to make this happen.

The years passed and Eddie secured the respect and admiration of the street people of Westminster but also others have to know his character. One businessman found in Eddie counsel, wisdom and perspective borne from hardship and suffering and when feeling overwhelmed would seek Eddie to share a meal and sit with a man of humble honor. He attested that he was always better for such time with this humble man.

I only knew Eddie in the latter years of his life, but I was always taken with his gentle and loving ways. Confined to an electric cart because of failing health Eddie was a constant presence around town traveling from place to place. Yet he continued to enjoy the simple things of life.

I know Eddie never knew how great a shadow he cast in life. He was incredibly too humble to every assume such a thing. Yet here is the truth of Eddie… The world was cruel and hard for this man. Illness brought him low and tragedy took from him family and friend. Most people would have been destroyed by such afflictions but Eddie lived instead with humble and simple dignity. He cared for others and loved God.

Official Saints are recognized by formal Church actions. No doubt Eddie will never receive such formal Church action. But I have got to know Eddie and many others have gotten to know him better than me. There is no doubt that we have been privileged to walk beside a Saint. If a title could be given I suspect that it would be Saint Eddie, Patron saint of the poor and neglected of Carroll County.

God bless you Eddie,,, Rest beside your friend Charlie and rest in the love of God.

The Conclusion of a Trip

Sixteen days have come and gone. Normal life schedules are slowly reemerging come out of the mists of jetlag. The flight from Amman, Jordan to Dulles was a reminder of what it means to be packed in like sardines. Turkish Airlines knows how to pack a plane! The eleven hours from Istanbul to Dulles was agonizingly long. There was time to reflect upon the last two weeks and consider what I experienced and learned in the many days of travel.

Culturally and politically it became clear that there are no easy answers to the long term struggles of the region. All sides have long memories concerning the treacheries and evils of the past. Each side seems to consider that their personal needs are mutually exclusive and that the only solution is to overcome the otherside. I was most interested in the Jewish Settlements on the West Bank that seemed designed to change the majority of the population of the region from Palestinian to Jewish. The wall that cuts through the region has brought an end to much of the violence within Israel, but has caused social and economic devastation to the Palestinian people. In Bethlehem, a Palestinian community, the wall separates the population from their Olive Tree orchards and cuts through the town in such a fashion as to shutdown the Main Street and kill many of the businesses. It leaves people to think that while the wall was meant to stop terrorists it has also become a tool for retribution and adds one more wound to fuel the long memories of distrust and anger. A sad consequence has been the mass migration of Arab Christians who are caught in the middle and find that the only solution seems to leave. In Samaria only one Christian family remains to care for the ruins of the Chapel of St. John, a site once believed to house the head of John the Baptist. The problems of the region remind me that when groups of people insist on speaking from extreme positions solutions mutually beneficial solutions will never be reached and the innocent will be the ones who suffer.

Historically this trip has brought focus to the genius of human beings from the beginning of time. Giant cities built with architecture that leaves one stunned by its beauty and scale, even two, three and four thousand years later. I look at our modern cities in America that are often thrown together without much thought to scale or visual appeal and am saddened. We are such a young people that we don’t seem to appreciate the opportunities before us. I have wandered avenues built in the time of Herod the Great, seen the walls built by Kings David and Solomon and the lost city of Petra built by the Nabataens. In perspective our communities look one step above a Bedouin campsite. I am humbled by the scale and wonder of what had been done by the great civilizations of the past.

Religiously I have learned that religion too often is kidnapped by politics and the consequence is devastating. Yet faith can trump the foolishness of both politics and religion when the people attend to the will of God revealed in in the the words and deeds of God’s people. I am humble by my brothers and sisters (Arab Christians) who seek to share the love of God and bring moderation to the extremes often presented by others. Too often their (Arab Christians) sacrifice and commitment are lost in the extreme rhetoric of the region. My prayers will be for them to courageously endure and to consider how we who live outside their conditions might be of greatest support and assistance.

Today is but a moment in time as I consider what has been gained from this trip. There are a thousand pictures and a hundred thousand experiences to be processed from the 16 past days. No doubt the days and months ahead will reveal much more of what has been learned.
Shalom
Kevin

Living Stones

Since the first day of this journey we have heard the words ‘Living Stones’ a description of the people of this region. Not sure I really grasped it until today when at the Mount of Olives. Our group had just gotten off the bus when we were approached by an man dressed in traditional Arab garb who also had a donkey. He was selling photo ops. Yet he was also a man of great compassion who so moved me that I went had my picture taken with him so as to never forget. (Details are being reserved for sermon…. Sorry). Later in the day as we entered the old city there were at least three Bar-Mitzvahs and a wedding happening in the same area with songs loud music and dancing. Then add to the joyful confusion a call to prayer and the scene was overwhelming. Then in a matter of moments we climb to the Temple Mount and the courtyard of the Dome of the Rock and some young adults choosing to pray in the open Rather than in the Mosque. And all around were the spires of Churches. Faithful people from all around the world gathering, celebrating, praying and worshipping…The Living Stones of God’s People… Today I understand what it means

The Holy Lands

In recent days I have been on a trip of a lifetime to the Holy Lands. My goal had been to write everyday but internet has not been easy especially in Bethlehem, on the West Bank. It is nearly impossible to express all in one writing… It may take a lifetime. St Jerome said that a pilgrimage to the Holy Land is like a fifth Gospel I now understand what he means by such a statement. Scope of the landscape has really surprised me. On a single trail I walked down the Mount of the Beatitudes and into Capernaum. There they found what is believed to the home of Peter and not far…. A minute away is the synagogue. I have looked into the Chapel called “Peter’s Primacy where Jesus as Peter ‘do you love?’ 3 times and commissioned him to ‘feed my sheep’. I have taken a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Been to the ruined chapel of St. John where the head of John the Baptist was once entombed and met the lone Christian in the village who cares for these ruins. I walked to the top of Masada by the way of the Snake Trail and walked down by the way of the Roman Rampart. I have looked down upon the most ancient walls of Jericho that were built thousands of years before Joshua and the People of God came a-knocking. I have seen the Valley where David killed Goliath. Today I touched the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem and walked a tunnel beside the wall learning the history and tragedy/triumph that shaped this Holy City. This is only a portion of what I have experienced.

Together Pastor Martha and I have walked more trails and descended into more tunnels, cisterns and caves. Through it all we have come to admire the ingenuity of an ancient people and their journey of faith and faithlessness.

Sea of Galilee

Today we traveled on and around the Sea of Galilee. I have seen the Mount of the Beatitudes and waled the trail to Capernaum. Today we saw a place that was supposed to be the home where Peter lived at Capernaum and saw a synagogue that was literally a stones throw away. I stood at the place where the resurrected Jesus cooked a breakfast for his disciples and called Peter to feed his sheep. We took a boat ride on the Galilee.

Day One

Caesarea Maritime – Mount Carmel – Nazareth – Sea of Galilee
How can one put into words all that has transpired today. I have stood on the Mount where Elijah confronted the priest of Baal, stood on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea where the thriving port of Caesarea, built by Herod the Great where Paul and Peter spent time. I have seen the Site where the Angel spoke to Mary and discovered the ancient Bathhouse of Nazareth where it could be assume that young Jesus went to get clean after the hard chores of carpentry. Our guide, Andre brought us to a chapel built by crusaders from the 11th century. The stories of the Bible have taken on great meaning and it is easy to imagine the great stories of the Bible unfolding. What truly impressed me was the vibrant Christian community of Nazareth.

Arrived!

A long day of being packed tight in tiny seats; a very cozy experience. Discovered another couple of Clementsons on tour and they are relatives! My first view of Israel? A packed bus. Our tour guide is Andre who is an Arab, Palestinian, Christian who lives in Bethlehem. Tomorrow we are on our way to Caesarea (read Act 10 about Cornelius and Peter) then to Mount Carmel 1 King 18 where Elijah dukes it out with the priest of Baal. if we have time we will stop by the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth. We end at Galilee in the city of Tiberius. Hopefully some interesting pictures tomorrow.

Packed!

Okay! Martha and I over organized and find ourselves taking pictures of our luggage! Good heavens. Coverage of the trip will hopefully be more interesting than this bored reflection… I hope…