A new twist?- SS

One of the reasons I have slacked (see last post) is that I am working on a sermon for this monday. I thought through it and realized that while not identical to our goal, reflecting on -line on "other" readings would be in the spirit of our activity together. So, providing I don't cause a riot in my small community (Steve, John, and sometimes Peter), I will be reflecting on readings to prepare a sermon for next monday this week. I have listed the readings under the readings page as Special Sermon.

Slacker (ie negligent)

I love the web for being able to cut and paste. The two definitions below basically describe the efforts of spiritual practice this week. I have slacked whose meaning is akin to Negligent.


Main Entry: 1slack Pronunciation: 'slakFunction: adjectiveEtymology: Middle English slak, from Old English sleac; akin to Old High German slah slack, Latin laxus slack, loose, languEre to languish, Greek lagnos lustful and perhaps to Greek lEgein to stop1 : not using due diligence, care, or dispatch : NEGLIGENT2 a : characterized by slowness, sluggishness, or lack of energy b : moderate in some quality; especially : moderately warm c : blowing or flowing at low speed 3 a : not tight or taut b : lacking in usual or normal firmness and steadiness : WEAK 4 : wanting in activity : DULL 5 : lacking in completeness, finish, or perfection synonym see NEGLIGENT- slack·ly adverb- slack·ness noun


Main Entry: neg·li·gent Pronunciation: -j&ntFunction: adjectiveEtymology: Middle English, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, from Latin neglegent-, neglegens, present participle of neglegere1 : marked by or given to neglect especially habitually or culpably : not taking prudent care2 : marked by a carelessly easy manner- neg·li·gent·ly adverbsynonyms NEGLIGENT, NEGLECTFUL, LAX, SLACK, REMISS mean culpably careless or indicative of such carelessness. NEGLIGENT implies inattention to one's duty or business . NEGLECTFUL adds a more disapproving implication of laziness or deliberate inattention . LAX implies a blameworthy lack of strictness, severity, or precision . SLACK implies want of due or necessary diligence or care . REMISS implies blameworthy carelessness shown in slackness, forgetfulness, or neglect .

My Burnt Offering (BCP)

Had you desired it, I would have offered sacrifice, *
but you take no delight in burnt-offerings...
The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit; *
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise...
Then you will be pleased with the appointed sacrifices,
with burnt-offerings and oblations; *...

I preached a few weeks ago on God's coveant with Noah and found something quite interesting. Between the J and the E texts God makes his covenant with Noah, but across both texts God recalls the sweet smell of Noah's first burnt offering upon dry ground. It got me thinking, as did the Psalm about what my "burnt offerings" are this season of Lent. I guess blogging is one. Maybe getting back to regular chapel attendance will be another. Loving the roommate in spite of her inane nature should be one.

Yet what is my motivation for all of these? Are they offerings in which God takes no delight? Are they from a troubled spirit, a broken and contrite heart? Will God be please with these offerings? I think God will take delight in some of them, so long as their are pure motivations in my heart (read not just to get a big mansion in heaven). Yet, God doesn't need any of these. God has lifted up the once for all offering in Jesus Christ on the cross.

God may or may not delight in my offering, but in Jesus Christ, God will once again open my lips so that I might again proclaim His praise.

A Sinner Redeemed (BCP)

Every high priest chosen from among mortals is put in charge of things pertaining to God on their behalf, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is subject to weakness; and because of this he must offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people.

I'm sure Peter can clear this up for me, but I seem to recall somewhere reading Karl Barth saying preachers are in a unique position of being a Sinner Redeemed talking to a group of redeemed sinners. Studying to be a priest, this sounds good to me. As Paul points to Jesus as the High Priest for all time in the order of Melchizedek (a priest even before Levi) he points also to me. No, I am not Jesus, but I am studying to be a priest. I am getting ready to put on a mantle that is thousands of years old, and for as long as it has been around, fallen, just like those who hold the position.

As I lead my congregation in the Confession, I too ask for forgiveness. As I (God willing) offer absolution, I too feel the power of God fill me. As I (God willing) offering thanksgiving in the Eucharistic Prayer, I too seek to find my strength in Jesus Christ, the high priest forever. In all these things I lead as a sinner redeemed a group of redeemed sinners. Hopefully I do so not presuming the honor, but called by God, just as Aaron was.

Now if I could just work on that part about dealing gently with the ignorant. DANG!

Does Jesus draw ALL people? (BCP)

And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.

Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on
the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within
the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit
that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those
who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for
the honor of your Name. Amen (BCP 101)

Scott emailed me about this collect a couple of days ago. He mentioned that he knew I liked this collect, and I'm not sure if he was being sarcastic or not. It made me think for a while as to whether I do actually like this collect. I think I do.

As I read through the readings today it struck me how apt this collect is (even if it isn't used on 5 Lent). We go from a universalist statement by God in Jeremiah to Jesus drawing all people to himself as he is lifted up from the earth. Its hard to read this as an orthodox Christian in light of Jesus claiming to be "the way and the truth and the life." (Jn 14.6).

But then I come back to this collect. Jesus did bring all to himself on the cross, but there are still those who still do not know. We are charged by God to bring those who don't know what it is they see on the cross to a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. We do this so that God might be glorified as once again this Lent we recall Jesus being lifted up from the earth at once defiled and at the same time glorified. Even Christ the Lord.

Shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life! (BCP)

Create in me a clean heart, O God, *and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence * and take not your holy Spirit from me (NRSV)

We just looked at Psalm 51 in OT2 two weeks ago, much to everyone's displeasure. Psalm 51 is not an easy psalm to handle. Attributed to David following the Oracle of Nathanel (2 Sam 12). What really struck me was how trite "Create in me a clean heart..." has become for me. This really hit home when I read Eugene Peterson's translation

10God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.
11Don't throw me out with the trash, or fail to breathe holiness in me. (Ps 51 - The Message)

Looking at depth of sin in David's life brought me to my own. Sin so deep that it requires God to take another 6 days to refashion it. Sin and chaos that requires a Genesis week to fix. Yuck. But God doesn't throw me in the trash. God does not fail to breath holiness in me. Sure holiness hurts, but God's love feels so good.

Create in me a clean heart, O God. And renew a right spirit within me.