Visiting

Luke 1:39-41

39 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, 40where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit...

In the daily lectionary of the Catholic monastery in which I am staying, today is the day we remember Mary's visit to Elizabeth.

I am first struck by Mary's willingness to go; even her excitement to go, as it says she went "with haste." She certainly could have stayed home to care for her own body as she carried the Christ child, and not taken the chances that a long journey would have represented. But she goes.

When she arrives, the infant John the Baptist, as he grows within Elizabeth's womb, leaps for joy.

I am struck as well by the thought that Mary might be an example for us here; to recognize that Christ grows in us, and by our presence, we bring his presence. It matters where we put our bodies, as being physically present with someone is a sign of support that no phone call can make. In fact, this is the heart of the incarnation. God shows up.

Were will you be showing up today? Or this week? Might the presence of Christ growing in you bring joy to others? Even if it is not somewhere you particularly want to go? 

I am going to rest in that thought today; that the Christ in me calls me to places I need to go, so that by his presence (not mine), joy might be found.

The Light Shines in the Darkness

John 1:1-5
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

Light is a strange thing, scientifically speaking.

Sometimes it acts like a wave; the same as a radio wave, or a sound wave, or an ocean wave.

Sometimes it acts like a particle; a little packet of energy called a "photon."

Light is also the visual expression of energy. Simply put, light IS energy transmitted through space.

The interesting thing about light is that these three explanations of it are all true, but not able to be held at the same time. If you are talking about light as a wave, the rules of particle physics don't work well. If you are talking about light as a particle, the rules of waves don't work well. It seems to have a perfectly dual nature...it transmits energy in wave-ways and in particle-ways.

Yesterday's sermon was about the Trinity; an often-confusing teaching of the church that God is manifest in the world in three ways...

1. God is the source and ground of all being and life; the Creator; the one Jesus calls "Father."

2. God is this radical, forgiving, rule-breaking Jewish rabbi...the one we call "Jesus."

3. God is the Spirit of life; the breath; the wind of creation.

It is striking to me that John 1 describes God's presence through Jesus as the Light of all people. How true. God is the wave that undergirds all of creation; God is the discrete "packet" of holiness that showed up in Christ; God is the Spirit, the energy of love that flows between the Father and the Son.

So, today this theological nerd is just delighted by the thought that our best scientific understanding points us to Light as a three-fold reality.

May you rest in the Light tonight!

Peace,
Pr. Matt

A piece...

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
(1 Corinthians 12:4-7)

Do you ever have those moments when you are overwhelmed with a feeling of gratitude?

That was yesterday for me.

I find myself grateful for YOU...for those reading this entry; for those who take their God-given gifts and allow themselves to be "used" by God through the ministries of our congregation; for those give a lot of time, and for those who give a little; for those who give gifts of music, or passion, or behind-the-scenes work, or visitation, or prayer, or love, or worship, or finances, or any of the other thousands of ways God involves people in the work of the kingdom.

The healthiest communities of faith are filled with people who know what their piece of the puzzle is; they don't attempt to do the things that fit others' gifts better than theirs; they have a quiet sense of confidence in knowing "this is me...this is my passion...this is what I have to offer."

I have often said my part of our puzzle is that I am called to be the air-traffic controller; making sure all your gifts are pointed in a common direction (the direction God calls us) and that no one is crashing into each other. That's my piece. That's what I love.

What do you love? And how can God add your talent, your passion, your ideas to the puzzle of kingdom work at St. Luke?

Thank you for being part of a puzzle that is truly making a difference in individual lives every day.

Garden Hoses and Grace

I forgot to put away the garden hose last year. Big surprise...the guy who grew up in Arizona didn't think about the fact that garden hoses don't weather the winter well.

Hoses have one job...just to take what they receive from one end and put it out the other end. This hose won't be able to do that now, because it is cracked and weathered.

"I will save you that you may become a blessing." Zechariah 8:13 (NASB)

Paul wrote: "Not that we are competent of ourselves to claim anything as coming from us; our competence is from God." 2 Corinthians 3:5

The scriptures today have me thinking about how God uses us...just like I use the garden hose. God's grace, mercy, love, peace, forgiveness, and joy are given to me. My job? To let those things flow through me to others. Not possible if I'm cracked and weathered.

So today, a challenge for me and for you from the Scriptures...in what way do you need to do a better job at self-care? Do you need more time in the scriptures, so God's healing, saving grace can keep you pliable and strong? Do you need reminders of the ways God saves you, so you may be a blessing to others? Do you need to connect with the community of faith in worship more often so you are refreshed by healing waters and support from friends? Do you need more rest, less junk food, or more time to be still?

May we all recognize today that ignoring these needs isn't just hurting us...but God's ability to water the world with his gifts. May God grant you the peace, strength and hope you need today to BE the blessing you were created to be.