Unity Through Jesus

Sometimes we look at our world, we listen to the news and there seems to be so much division and conflict. Jesus’ statement that “The Father and I are one,” stands out in stark contrast. Because you see, Unity is the primary hallmark of God, the Trinity, the relationship between Father, Son and Spirit. Disunity seems to be the hallmark of our own human relationships. It seems every time we read look around, there is division, hatred, conflict, gossip and hostility.

Nation against nation, race against race, culture against culture, individual against individual, husband against wife, brothers against sisters, parents against children, and even Christian against Christian. In the midst of this hatred and conflict, Jesus declares that Unity and Oneness must define our relationship with God, and with each other.

From the very beginning Jesus offered the world a chance to unite as one, bringing “every nation, from all tribes and peoples and tongues” into one united body of love. People who previously would have had little or nothing to do with one another are made ONE in Christ. And Jesus did not do this by making the Gentile, Jewish, nor by forcing the Jew to become like the Gentile. Rather, he brought this unity by making of the two, one new being. When you put your faith in Christ, you become citizens of a New Kingdom, if you allow God’s love to truly transform you.

You see, Jesus’ distinguishing characteristic of unity offers hope of peace to a world of fractured relationships, conflicts and disagreement. But, the world can only learn of this reality of unity, by observing the unity that exists within his body. Unfortunately, too often the way Christians relate to one another is often more of a scandal than a testimony of this hope.

I believe that the roots of this disunity are planted in fear, nourished by pride and self-righteousness, gossip and rumor. In disunity our gaze is focused primarily on the differences of others and upon the supposed perfection of our own position. However, the roots of unity are planted by the Holy Spirit and nourished by the Father’s love, and Jesus’ passion for all.

My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. The Father and I are one.

Are we listening? Do you take the time out to listen to the voice of Jesus in prayer and liturgy? Can you hear the voice of Jesus coming through others, instruments of his love and concern, especially those closest to us, even though they may be different?

Will we follow the Good Shepherd together, or perish in our conflicts and divisions?

It Was Twenty Years Ago Today

Approximately 7,300 days ago Nancy came to Tecolote.

Here are some of the Other Highlights of 1990...............

In 1990 the cost of a first class stamp was 25 cents.

The Wizard of Oz Stamp
In 1990 the United States Postal Service honored The Wizard of Oz by including it in a set of four classic films commemorative stamps honoring the fiftieth anniversaries of four Academy Award-nominated motion pictures from 1939. Resembling a miniature movie poster, the stamp was designed by Thomas Blackshear and was issued on March 24,1990


The movies we watched in 1990 included Pretty Woman and Dances With Wolves.

It was the year that 90210 and The Fresh Prince of Bel Aire debuted on TV but the show that was perhaps the most memorable was a Ken Burns documentary on PBS.

Authors with top selling books that year included Stephen King, Sidney Sheldon, Robert Ludlum and Anne Rice.

1990 World Figure Skating Champions included Men's singles: Kurt Browning
Pair skating: Ekaterina Gordeeva & Sergei Grinkov





Emma Watson , Hermione in the Harry Potter movies was born on April 15th, 1990...how time flies!

The Gift of Peace and Forgiveness

It’s most likely that the disciples continued to meet in the upper room where the last supper had been held. But, they must have been filled with fear and terror. They knew the bitterness and the anger of the Jews who demanded the death of Jesus, and they were afraid that they would be next. They must have been listening to every sound, every footstep, every voice and whisper. As they sat there, fearful, hopeless, giving up—suddenly Jesus was with them!

And in the midst of their worry, their concerns, their problems and their difficulties, Jesus gives to his disciples, and he gives to us, this incredible gift of peace. Be very clear, He does not necessarily take away the pain, the questions and the fear, but He stays with them, and gives them strength and he gives them peace, in the midst of the storm of their fear and questions. And then Jesus gives the disciples the commission that the church must never forget.

“As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”

The Good News of Jesus, his love, and his promise of New Life could never be taken to all men and women, unless his disciples, the community of the church, take on this missionary task. The church must be the mouth and words and example of Jesus. And we, each one of us, is “the Church.” To be missionary, to spread the news of Jesus, means that our lives our rooted in his life. Our love must be rooted in his love.

And then Jesus breathed on them and gave them the Holy Spirit. You see Resurrection and Pentecost are theologically linked, but liturgically a bit separated. There is no doubt that when St. John wrote these words, he was thinking back to the story of creation, “the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.”

And finally, Jesus proclaims what must be central to our lives. For all of his life, he talked of love, but perhaps Jesus understood best that the heart of love means forgiving, and forgiving, and forgiving, and when you no longer think you can forgive, forgive again and then equally as important allowing yourself to be forgiven, again and again.

I’m always amazed that in all the accounts of the resurrection, Jesus never refers back to the betrayal, abandonment and denial he experience from his closest friends and disciples. He only offers his endless gift of peace and forgiveness.

Just in case you don’t understand what this forgiveness really means, Jesus gives us an example. It the gospel today, we have the familiar story about “Doubting Thomas.” Poor Thomas certainly has had a bad reputation for almost 2000 years. However, if we really consider the situation, he probably doesn’t deserve all of the criticism he has received.

You see, Thomas wasn’t alone. Judas doubted. Peter doubted. Thomas doubted. And if I am honest with you, there are times in my own life that I too, doubt. I am overwhelmed, frightened, discouraged, angry, and like Thomas, I want to run, to shut the doors, and hide, and I doubt and question whether God is really with me.

But today the good news of the Gospel reminds me, and you, that even in our doubts, even in our fear and questions, Jesus comes into all of the ‘closed doors’ of our lives, and offers the gift of peace and forgiveness, he offers to be with us.

Jesus needs you. We certainly need Jesus. And to continue our discipleship, we must throw open the closed doors of our lives: forgive, be forgiven…and spread the news.

GOOD FRIDAY PART 2

“And God said: “It is good.” When we begin with book of Genesis, the beginning of creation, there was a formless void, emptiness. There was darkness, and then there was water. The writer of Genesis then gives us the first words of God. “And God said: “It is good.”



Now we look at the scene St. John has put before us. Just like Genesis, it is chaotic and formless. The darkness is always competing with the light. The water is there—from six stone water jars in Cana to a well in Samaria, from Pilot’s washbasin to a lance-opened wound in the side of Christ. And God looked at it all and spoke again: “It is good.” But how???

What is good about a dead innocent man betrayed by friends, abandoned by those closest to him, rejected by those who should have known better? What is good about a brutal torture and execution? What is good about ambition, jealousy, and revenge? What is good about choosing a murderer, over a healer? Nothing at all.



These are not the things that make this day Good. If we only look at the evil this day, then we should call this “Guilty Friday” or “Death Friday.” It would better be called “Bad Friday” or “Shame Friday.” But this day is not about us. This day is not about what we can do to one another, to the innocent, and to good people. This day is about God. It is God who makes this day Good. The best we can do is to bow in humble reverence and acceptance at what God has done this day.



This day is even more than holy. It is Good because God looks at the mess we have made, and God continues acting and moving in our lives. The same Spirit that moved over the waters of chaos at the beginning, moves over us and our sinfulness. The same Spirit that moved over the formless void in Genesis, moves over the void of our failures, over the darkness of our shame, and once again there is creation and re-creation.



Once again God looks and says, “It is good.” It is not good that we kill, not good that the innocent suffer, not good that we betray the prophets among us, not good that power is abused, but it is good, because out of all this, God can create again what God promised from the beginning.



When we look at the Passion of Christ, we must see more than destruction and death. We must see what power there is in Love: the Love shared between Father and Son, the love freely given by God to a sinful creation.

You see, we are the objects of that Love. This day is not about us, it is about God. This day is about our God sharing love that is steadfast, everlasting, unimaginable, and all embracing. No matter what chaos we make of God’s creation or no matter how much death we bring and suffering we cause, God’s powerful Love looks on us all, and continues loving us into Goodness.

It is good to be here.

It is good to be children of God.
It is good to hear the Gospel.

It is good to be forgiven and forgiving.
It is good to be redeemed.
It is good to be holy, washed, anointed.

It is good to remember, to give thanks, to be touched by
God and to touch the cross.

It is a good day.
It is Good Friday.

GOOD FRIDAY PART 1

John 18:1--19:42

Imagine this scene: A judge raps sharply on the heavy wooden desk in front of him to bring the buzzing crowd to attention. The people in the courtroom eagerly and intently search the faces of the jury looking for some clue as to what the decision might be. But the 12 men and women on the jury file back into the courtroom with almost expressionless faces. By looking at them, there is no way to predict the outcome.

The judge speaks: What is your verdict? The foreman of the jury clears his throat. The people shift uneasily, nervously. All the weeks of evidence, the charges and counter charges, the experts called in by both sides, all of the testimony on behalf of the prosecution and the defense, all that is over. It comes to this moment.

The foreman unfolds the printed verdict and without looking up, reads clearly and loudly: Your honor, on all charges in this case, we the jury find the defendant to be........

Now, how that statement ends, depends who's on trial. The long gospel is familiar. We know from years of having heard the story, who's on trial and what the verdict is. We may protest the unfairness of the trial. We may claim that a guilty verdict was railroaded through, that JESUS is innocent. Regardless, the guilty verdict stands.

For a moment now, let's imagine another trial, another courtroom scene. The crowd in this courtroom listens even more intently than usual. They are on the very edge of their seats as the foreman reads the verdict, for they are the defendants. It's the courtroom audience that's on trial.

The crowd includes all of us. We are on trial. We are the accused. The charges are many. God is the judge and we stand accused of having broken our relationship with God.

The prosecuting attorney is Satan himself, and the devil is in fine form, calling witness after witness against us. When the guilty verdict that he's so sure of, is announced, he will take charge of all the defendants, we'll belong to him.

The devil has recorded confessions from everyone in the courtroom. "We have sinned through our own fault, in what we have said, in what we have done, and in what we have failed to do." The evidence is undeniable. Scripture is clear. "All have sinned and fallen short of God." "We, like sheep, have gone astray."

We are defenseless. And yet, there is one foolish enough to try and defend us. The defense attorney is JESUS. But there is little he can do against such overwhelming evidence. He calls to the stand psychologists who try to defend us by saying, "Well, they may be sinners, but it's not their fault. They are victims of social pressures, products of their environment. They learned it from their parents. They were born that way. They didn't know what they were doing."

But, as JESUS, the defense attorney rests his case, it's clear what the verdict will be, what it must be. The facts are there. In his final instructions to the jury, the judge reminds them of more scripture passages. "The soul that sins, shall die, the wages of sin is death."

The jury is out for a long time. We get very restless. Our lives are at stake. The defence attorney, JESUS, is somber and thoughtful. Finally the jury returns and the whole scene with which we began is repeated.

The foreman clears his throat, unfolds the printed verdict and reads: Your honor, on all charges in this case, we the jury, find the defendants to be......NOT GUILTY.

The crowd buzzes in disbelief. The prosecuting attorney falls back in shock. The defense attorney is...gone.....not there. He must have stepped out for a moment, just before the jury returned.

And so the crowd rises to leave, still wondering at the verdict, laughing now, and beginning to celebrate. As we turn to go out the door, we walk past a window and the laughter turns to silence.

We see through the clouded glass, in the distance, a shadow, an outline, a figure of a person. We see JESUS, the defense attorney....hanging on a cross.....dead. We the guilty are declared innocent, because the Innocent One is declared guilty in our place.

IT WAS THUS, THAT HE HUMBLED HIMSELF, OBEDIENTLY ACCEPTING DEATH, DEATH ON A CROSS.

HOLY THURSDAY

John 13, 1-15

I always wonder if this conversation between Jesus and Peter really just about washing feet? Because you see, I not so sure. I think what happened on this first Holy Thursday was about relationship, about intimacy, about bringing his disciples close. Peter wanted to make it only about washing, at least at first. Then, slow to catch on, as usual, he got it, he understands. His feet were not dirty. It was not about washing. It was about the two of them—Peter and Jesus: their love, their relationship. The whole action was not about dirty feet. It was an invitation to intimacy.



This night, the towel and the basin were not carried by the usual servant providing this typical sign of hospitality: a servant who probably never would have looked at them, never would have taken time to see who it was. Tonight it was the host who washes the feet of the guests. Something different is going on here.



In asking them to expose their feet to him, Jesus asks the disciples to be vulnerable, like intimate, close friends. Jesus asks them to let him kneel before them, and touch them, perhaps in a way they have never been touched before. The disciples are being invited into intimacy with the One who loved them so much he would soon lay down his life for them.

But you see, it is not only those apostles who are invited into this intimacy. “You also are to wash each another’s feet.” He would have us look at each other, notice each other, touch each other deeply, emotionally, spiritually, be united with each other perhaps in a way never known before. This is something new, and perhaps slightly uncomfortable. Like Peter, we might at first object because we are afraid and sometimes want to keep our secrets, hide our shame, and avoid the needs of another.



But, the invitation is before you. We are asked to become a people who love and care for each other. We are asked to become vulnerable to each other; to be willing to wash each other’s feet, to risk pride, position, power, everything, to be able to serve one another. 

Jesus took a towel and a basin. He calls us to do the same. He also calls us to take bread and bless it and break it and eat it together. He calls us to take the cup of wine, give thanks for it and drink it. Yet, we all know it is not only about bread and wine, just as the washing of the feet was not only about washing up. It is about remembering that he died for us, so that we might live for him. It is about sharing in his life, as he shares in our life, all of it, even the worst of it.


To kneel before another and wash that person's feet can be difficult. But letting someone wash your own feet may be even more difficult. Our confusion as church is revealed in this ritual. Once, Christians stood in prayer before God as brothers and sisters of Christ, and knelt before others in loving ministry. Then a kind of misunderstanding crept in. We began kneeling before God as though we were only evil sinners, and to stand before the world, “the poor,” dispensing “charity.”

Tonight, on Holy Thursday, we relearn our proper positions. Again we kneel before others, and suffer to have others kneel before us. We see once again that recognizing ourselves as members of the Body of Christ is knowing that Jesus has made us worthy to stand before God.

Maybe you are like Peter, unwilling to have Jesus wash our feet, unwilling to approach the Eucharistic meal because of a sense of unworthiness. Maybe like Peter, you will try to deny, to run, to hide, to argue.

But tonight the wonder of God is revealed. We allow Jesus to wash our feet, we allow Jesus to feed us, we in turn, must wash and feed others.

Tonight we remember the covenant of friendship and love. Tonight we remember the covenant, and commitment, of service.

WEDNSDAY OF HOLY WEEK

Gospel: Mark 12, 28-34

If the rabbis of Jerusalem had one central conversation and discussion at the corner coffee shop near the temple, it was this—of the 613 commandments of the Law, which of them are the more important ones? How could all of these rules and laws and regulations be applied to everyday situations? How should they be interpreted?

Even in our day, the debate continues. What is most important to be a Christian? What doctrine or bible passage is key to our salvation? Is it being born again? Is it scripture or tradition? Today, in our discipleship, what is most important, most essential, to be a Christian?

The scribe in the gospel does not ask Jesus to prioritize the commandments, their application, or show how they can be interpreted. The scribe asked Jesus simply, of all 613 laws, what is most important? The answer must have been as startling and shocking as it was profound.

Jesus quotes from the Shema—the most sacred ethical precept in Judaism. The Lord is our God, the Lord alone! (Deut 6:4) And the next verse continues: Therefore, you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength (Deut 6:5). What is meant here is that love of God must be a total response without distraction or competition. When Jesus said this, every Jew would have nodded their head, everyone would agree.

Then, Jesus goes on, You shall love your neighbour as yourself. Again, Jesus takes a quotation from the Old Testament, the book of Leviticus. But, Jesus did one more thing. In its original context, “neighbour” only meant fellow Jews. It did not include the Gentiles, whom it was quite possible to hate. “Neighbour” now, had no qualifications and no limits.

You can say all you want how much you “love God,” but the only way to demonstrate love for God is by showing love for others…all others…no exceptions, no exclusions…no fine print at the bottom of the page.

These two commandments cannot be separated. Jesus is telling us, if you see a brother or sister in need, and refuse action and compassion, how can you even think that you love God? And, you cannot “pick” and “choose” who your neighbour is. There are no limits, no exclusions.

How do you love God? Do you love God by praying or meditating? Do you love God by kneeling for a long time? Do you love God by appreciating a sunset or the beauty of a Namibian landscape? Do you love God by burning incense and chanting psalms and nice candles? Do you love God by reading the bible? Do you love God by suffering though a long homily? I suspect that the love of God could be found in any one of these actions. But, Jesus is so clear today, that the most immediate way to love God is to love one another. Ok, how?

How do you love your neighbour? It could be sharing your food with the hungry, providing clothing to those without, visiting the lonely or someone in prison, surprising someone with a visit, reading a story to a child, welcoming new neighbours, comforting someone sick or dying, helping someone cope with loss or tragedy. I would suspect that most of us here today would agree with these, and many do these things. But, as always, Jesus asks more. “Neighbour” has no limitations.

Will you forgive and love the spouse who intentionally hurt you, or cheated on you? Will you love the colleague who embarrassed or humiliated you in front of others? Will you visit the thief in prison who robbed your home? Will you comfort the terrorist who killed your family? Will you clothe the soldier who raped your daughter? “Neighbor”, you see, has no exceptions.

Do you really love God? Then we must love one another.

Until we fully understand and embrace this truth, this teaching of Jesus, we cannot understand the events of the next few days.

TUESDAY OF HOLY DAY

Reading: Mark 11, 27-33

In the ancient Temple, there were two famous cloisters, one on the east and one on the south side of the Court of the Gentiles that we talked a bit about last night. It was common for Rabbis and teachers to stroll in these areas and teach as they walked.

The chief priest, the scribes, the elders come up to Jesus and asked a most natural question. For a private individual to clear the Court of the Gentiles was almost unbelievable!

They cannot believe the audacity of Jesus. They’re thinking, "Who is this preacher who thinks he can come in here and cause a scene in the temple?" So that's what they ask Him: "Who do you think you are? We are the authorities here; if anything is wrong in the temple, we'll take care of it. Who gave you the right to come in here and do this?" Now, understand that they've really already answered the question in their own minds: No one gave Jesus this right. In their minds, He's a nobody, stepping on their turf and power.

Do the chief priests and elders and scribes really have a right to ask Jesus this question? Perhaps not in these demeaning words, and probably not in the tone of voice they used, but surely the religious authorities do have a right to ask about Jesus' authority. They just can't let anyone enter the sacred Temple and turn over tables.

So why does Jesus avoid answering their question? Why doesn't he simply say, "My authority is from God?”

Jesus doesn't answer them directly, because he knows that they are not interested in the truth. And Jesus exposes their lack of interest through the question He asks. "You ask me about my authority; let me ask you about John. Was his authority from God or from man?"

We need to remember verses 31 and 32. Are they concerned at all with the truth? In their discussions, does the true source of John's baptism arise at all? No. Their entire discussion is framed in terms of the response of the crowds. They don’t want or care about the truth. They are only concerned with their own popularity and prestige in front of the crowds.

So Jesus' answer to them is this: "You don't care for the truth, so why should I answer you? But if you care, remember: The source of my authority is the same as the source of John's -- as John himself stated."

You see brothers and sisters, the Christian must speak and live the truth, regardless of an expected response. We cannot be like the politicians of ancient times (the chief priest, scribes, and Pharisees), nor some of the politicians of modern times, scripting our remarks to play to whatever audience is in front of us.

If we are to bear fruit that lasts, if we are to take on the character of Jesus, we must be willing to speak the truth of the gospel, whether it is popular or not, whether we are in the midst of a great Cathedral, or facing humiliation and persecution, whether it will lead to our being honored or our being put to death.

Through his word, Jesus is speaking to each of us this evening. Jesus never claims authority for himself.

The question for us is: In your life, how much authority will you give to him?