The Massacre of the Innocents

There is an unfortunate tendency to see Christmas Day as the end of the celebration of Christ's birth, rather than the beginning of a twelve-day season of Christmas, leading to the Day of Epiphany. So we are largely ignorant, or at least vague about the other aspects of the two infancy narratives, one in Luke and the other in Matthew. One of those stories is usually called the Massacre of the Innocents. According to Matthew the Magi have a meeting with Herod, who encourages them to return with news of the birth of the Messiah. the Christ, if this has in fact occurred. The Magi ignore this entreaty, and the Holy Family makes for Egypt. Herod chooses to kill all the infants in Bethlehem, just to be safe.

This is a curious and grisly story to be sure. We do know that Herod was a paranoid and vicious ruler who had members of his immediate family assassinated when he grew suspicious of their aspirations. But there is no other corroborating account of this pogrom against Jewish children. Some scholars dismiss it altogether.

I feel that it is an important reminder that the Christmas incarnation is more than God's choice to be with us as a vulnerable baby, born in a stable. The consequences of birth can be extraordinarily dangerous. We see and hear this every day, with news that children are the victims of unspeakable violence in Syria, the undemocratic Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan. In some instances despotic leaders are ordering the massacre of  innocent children with impunity. Children are surely suffering in the Philippines, and Haiti, even as our eyes turn away to other crises. Jesus and his parents became refugees as they escaped the violence. I found it heart-breaking to see Syrian children playing in the snow of the freak weather event that descended on their tent cities.

Our encouragement, always, is to connect scripture with the realities of our time rather than turn the stories into sweet "snow globe" tales without much relevance for our day. They can move us to justice and compassion in our choices as comfortable Canadians.

Any observations folks?

Regrets, I Have a Few

Regrets, I've had a few
But then again, too few to mention
I did what I had to do , I saw it through without exemption
I planned each charted course, each careful step along the highway
And more, much more than this, I did it my way
This is the time when many people make resolutions for the New Year, with everything from modest goals to wild ambitions on the table. what about the "looking back" aspect, the self-assessment of choices? Is it healthy for us to have our regrets over the "spilt milk" of the pathways we have chosen.

I heard Sook Yin Lee of CBC radio's DNTO interview some school kids, nine and ten-year-olds, who were asked about their regrets. I was surprised that they were quite aware of what regret is, and spoke rather articulately about the things they had done that they wish they could take back. At  this early stage of life they understand right and wrong, the consequences of actions --they have a moral conscience. Obviously these weren't major trespasses, but they understood what they had done and regretted it.

What is the healthiest way of addressing our regrets? If we wallow in remorse and self-loathing we become emotionally stunted. If we take the Rob Ford approach of  "sincerely, sincerely, sincerely" apologizing without seeming to accept responsibility for actions then it all seems hollow.

Our Christian faith invites us to acknowledge those times when we having fallen short of the mark, breaking trust and relationships with others and with God. In Christ we can be forgiven, reconciled, start again. It sounds rather glib in a couple of lines, but it is both complex and profound.

I have my own persistent regrets in life, and I regularly speak with people who struggle with the pain of  the past. Doing it "my way" has just not worked for them.

What are your thoughts about regret? Do you know people who are caught in the cycle of perpetual regret? Do you know those who don't take responsibility for their actions? Do you trust that you are loved and forgiven in Christ?

Touch Hands

Yes, I did use a reading some of you know as Touch Hands in our Christmas Eve services last night. My father, a United Church minister, used it before me, and I began using it while he was still in ministry and while he was retired. Our son Isaac, also a United Church minister, has begun using it as well. He is the one who discovered its origin, the final paragraph of a 19th century story which is about reconciliation.

The story focuses around a Christmas dinner, a vagabond, and the choice to forgive and forget. Over the years many people have asked for copies of these few lines which aren't  religious, at least not overtly and are rather 19th century in their sentimentality. They do speak to how transitory life is, and the importance of letting go that which might seem important but really isn't.

I hope that you reach out and touch the necessary hands today, physically and metaphorically. I pray that there will be opportunities to dispel ghosts and make amends and find forgiveness in your hearts. These are reflections of our faith in God incarnate, Jesus the infant and the man and the Risen Christ.

Celebrate the day folks, and invite Christ the vagabond to your table. Merry Christmas, and thanks for your faithful reading!

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The Full Power of Christmas

Okay, I am willingly dating myself by making reference to chief engineer Scotty on the Starship Enterprise. While James Doohan was Canadian, as Scotty he would tell Captain Kirk in an urgent Scottish brogue that the problems with the dilithium crystals meant that he couldn't get maximum power out of the warp drives.

There are lots of congregations in Ontario, Quebec, Atlantic Canada of different denominations whose pastors and priests, female and male, are Scotty today, trying to figure out what to do under difficult circumstances because of the weekend ice storm. They are engineering make-shift worship services, combining with other congregations which are back to full power, changing times for worship. The celebration of Christ's birth, God who entered our human existence will happen, just not the way folk had anticipated.

We might pray for them, and the Christians of the Philippines whose church buildings were destroyed, although not their spirit. And for the Christians of Syria and Pakistan and Somalia and so many places where the followers of Christ are persecuted and displaces.

As we celebrate family services with lots of focus on kids, we can remember the kids of war-torn countries and refugee camps. Somehow God, enter in to their circumstances to give them hope.

Yes, there is a lot to do today, and we will be weary by midnight, but so many of us are blessed beyond measure.

Will you be worshipping somewhere this evening? Are you taking part in a service in some way? Will you pray for those in need? Christ be with you!

Small But Mighty Worship

So much of the news we are receiving in the aftermath of the weekend ice storm is out of Toronto, and justifiably so. The city has been hit hard and hundreds of thousands are without power. That said, a great many communities were affected, including Belleville. It meant that many churches closed in those communities, some as a precautionary measure, others because there was no heat nor light. It's not what congregations wanted on what is often one of the busiest Sundays of the year, but we live in a northern clime.

City churches are often in more of a quandary as to whether to open on a stormy Sunday. We hope that our folk will be sensible and stay home if necessary. Yet we are often able to be a worshipping community despite the weather because crews have been at work through the night.

Yesterday I was up before six with every expectation of cancelling our service. After I shoveled our driveway I decided that I might as well try to get out of our cul de sac and brave the major roads. They proved to be in decent shape and when I arrived at Bridge St. Church a member was hard at work shoveling the steps and walkways. I joined him in the effort and then the ploughing service arrived to clear the drive. Our music director Terry showed up early as well, and we agreed that we would move worship to the chapel for whosoever showed up.

In the end there were forty of us, hardly a mighty throng, but the choir sang, a family lighted the Advent wreath, a member led us in the prayers of the people. We contracted everything so worship was only forty minutes in length, but we sang carols and heard scripture and, yes, I preached a message on the love of Christ. Afterward nearly everyone stayed and visited and ate.

This could have gone very differently if circumstances had been slightly more severe, but in the end I was so glad we came together. There was a special spirit (Spirit?) to our worship and I went home content. One of the upsides is that there were a number of visitors in that small band of worshippers and we could show hospitality on a blustery morning. And several of our folk had never been in the chapel and appreciated the intimacy of that setting.

What do you think of the "small but mighty" approach to continuing with worship during inclement weather? What have been your experiences? Were you with us Sunday?

Living the Love of Christ

Tis the season for people to be generous. For some reason we are invited into a frenzy of giving at this time of year. In my usual contrary way I get a little queasy about all this. Our heart-strings are tugged, people give mountains of toys, as though this is the answer to our existence, and then the feeling goes away.

It really does go away. The evidence in out there that Canadians are becoming less generous, giving about one percent of income to charitable causes. Guess what? Religious people tend to be the most generous, but our numbers are decreasing in this secular society, and we're dying off.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/what-canadians-give-how-charity-depends-on-where-you-live/article16065426/?click=tglobe

This can't be good. There are so many important organizations and causes that need our support in a civil and compassionate society. But the motivation to do so seems to be waning. I am convinced that coming together regularly to be encouraged to respond to the needs of others is part of the reason religious types are givers. Recently the United Church appealed to its members to support relief efforts in post-typhoon Philippines. So far around 6,200 UCC gifts have realized more than a million dollars. This is remarkable and I know there is more to come. I have been impressed in every congregation I've served that people have hearts of compassion through their congregations and the service clubs to which they belong and the other charities they support. Of course there are plenty of non-religious givers in our society but the evidence is in that faith matters.

This is the Love Sunday of Advent, as Christmas approaches, the reminder that God's love is present with us in Jesus, the Christ. That love stirs us to express love in practical, meaningful ways.

What are your observations about generosity? Does your faith motivate you? Does the nudge of being part of a faith community help set you free to give?

A Canadian and Gospel Heart

 

God's mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. Luke 1

All Canadian senators are greedy lay-abouts who are immersed in the public trough, right? Well, have you listened to Hugh Segal, a conservative senator who has a passion for this country and the conviction that all Canadians deserve a decent life. I have heard him interviewed several times  recently, twice speaking about the concept of a guaranteed annual income for all Canadians. He points out that he remains a fiscal conservative but is convinced that a GAI would benefit the Canadian economy, lower health care costs, and reduce crime. In those interviews he pointed out that a great many Canadians who need assistance from food banks and other social services are actually working, but they don't have a living wage.  He offers reasons for his somewhat surprising outlook and points out that he is not a neo-conservative. He describes neo-cons as driven by self-interest without regard for the greater good.

I wondered about his clarification in the interview that followed Industry Minister James Moore's comments that “Is it my job to feed my neighbour’s child? I don’t think so" and “is that always the government’s job to be there to serve people their breakfast?”  I emailed Moore almost immediately suggesting that the Three Ghosts of Christmas and Tiny Tim wanted to set up a meeting with him.


To be fair to Moore he also said “Of course nobody wants kids to go to school hungry… We want to make sure that kids go to school full-bellied… Empowering families with more power and resources so that they can feed their own children is, I think, a good thing.” and he eventually apologized, first claiming that the reporter was a liar.  

Did Segal want to distance himself from Moore? Sure we want to empower families so they can feed their own children, but we hear report after report about the growing gap between rich and poor in this country and the disturbing number of Canadians using food banks. Something just isn't working here.

After I listened to Segal I thought that I would like him to be Prime Minister and --full disclosure here-- I have never voted Progressive Conservative or Conservative. He has insight and a heart that is truly Canadian and truly gospel from my perspective.

Oh yes, Segal is leaving the Senate to become master of Massey College at the University of Toronto. Our loss.

Does it surprise you to hear about a guaranteed annual income? Does the idea make you suspicious or does it make sense? Do you know about Hugh Segal?

I'm Dreaming of a White Jesus

In the Rob Ford era Canadians can no longer smirk insufferably about the weird antics of American politicians. Or at least we have been chastened just a little.

Thankfully there is still plenty of fodder for passive aggressive superiority, and the Christmas season gives us some of our best material. Some of the meanest commentators and political wannabes such Bill O'Reilly and Sarah Palin are suddenly Jesus' best pal, doing their utmost to protect him. They are fighting the good fight against the supposed "War on Christmas." Palin has used the over-the-top language of "aborting" Jesus, obviously meant to win points with conservatives on a couple of fronts. 

The CBC's Washington correspondent Neil MacDonald offered what I think was a very worthwhile perspective in which he notes that no one is prohibited from saying Merry Christmas, or worshipping as they choose in the United States. It is the vaunted separation of church and state which is the real issue. http://www.cbc.ca/m/touch/news/story/1.2468105

Add to this the absolutely nonsensical blather about the fictional Santa Claus and the middle eastern Jesus being white. If folk want Santa to be a person of colour, who cares? And no, Jesus was not and is not the Caucasian guy in Sunday School papers from another era.  Do apparently intelligent people voluntarily undergo lobotomies that allow them to make these claims? It says a lot that with all this, Mayor Ford still doesn't look good.

Does anyone else find this bizarre? What colour is your Santa? Are you okay with Jesus being a brown-skinned, first century peasant?

No Empty Chairs at Christmas

Through the years we have been both guests and hosts at a Christmas table. Of course we have welcomed our own family members into our home, but we have also made a place for others, as we have for occasions such as Thanksgiving. I spent Christmas in Great Britain when I was nineteen and shared Christmas dinner with a large group at the Salvation Army corps of my relatives there. At the beginning of my ministry in Newfoundland we were invited to dinner both on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. By the clock we had two Christmas dinners the same day because the meal on the eve extended into the early hours of the 25th.

Christmas is a festival, which is a feast-ival, the opportunity to celebrate with a degree of extravagance an joyous occasion such as the birth of Christ our Saviour. Extending hospitality is such an important aspect of our life in faith, it makes sense that Christmas is a time to do so. I'm interested to see that IKEA in Switzterland has set up a site for both hosts and guests to connect for Christmas:

The idea behind "No Empty Chairs At Christmas": At IKEA, we believe that no one should be lonely over Christmas if they don't want to be. So, whether your family is abroad, you are a single mum or dad, grandma or grandad or you are simply single, somewhere there is a place for you and people who would love to celebrate with you. We have created this platform so that you can find one another. On your own and looking for a place to celebrate? Or perhaps you have seats you can offer on your celebration day?Then take part in "No Empty Chairs at Christmas" and become part of a unique Christmas celebration that you will certainly remember for years to come.

What do you think of the IKEA initative? Have you even been in either situation, as host or guest, other than with your own family?

Prayers in the Darkness

The GO train commute back and forth to work in Toronto is a necessary evil for daughter Jocelyn, who lives in Oshawa. Last week her one-hour trip homeward became three and a half hours of standing in a sardine can when the train came to a stop between stations. They were told rather cryptically that it was due to an intruder on the tracks, a description of a suicide-by-train. Joc realized immediately what had transpired and text-messaged me. She was thinking of a family we care about a great deal who went through the loss of a son several years ago in a similar way, at almost the same location,  and close to Christmas. I was touched that rather focus on the inconvenience she was aware of the loss.

I have been thinking about this incident ever since, and about the family we know as well. At the time of their loss I was deeply moved by their dignity in the midst of tremendous suffering. They had supported their loved one in every way imaginable but it wasn't enough to stave off the darkness of mental illness and his choice to end the pain. I don't know how they found their way forward, although they credit the support of their community, including their congregation, for strength.

I could say a lot about the provision or lack of provision of mental health services in this province, the stigma which discourages many to seek help, the consequences of what seems like a simple way out for so many. I hadn't set out to write successive blog entries on mental health issues, but it is important to name this reality in our culture.

Today I would rather encourage you to pray for those who are living with depression and mental illness in a time of the year which many consider hopeful and joyful.  Pray for families who will be changed forever by the death of a loved one at his or her own hand, and that healing will happen in their spirits. Pray that every in every congregation, every community of Christ, those who are struggling will know they are loved.

Christ & Joy to the World

The choir concert at Bridge St. on Sunday evening was lovely and the sanctuary was beautiful. This shot was taken from the top of the balcony.

While the choir sang and the bells rang and the violinist played a strange drama was unfolding elsewhere in the building. A young woman who began with us in the sanctuary was soon wandering here and there, through the rest of the building. Two of our patient ushers followed her as she meandered. They did their best to engage her in conversation but to no avail. She commented randomly on plaques and photos and even removed a light bulb from a socket. One of them eventually found me and I became aware that she was in some altered state of consciousness, perhaps because of mental health or drug issues, or both. She was too confused to tell us her name and claimed she didn't live in Belleville, nor did she have a place to stay. It became obvious that she was hearing voices and she mumbled about her parents not knowing where she is.  We were obviously concerned about her safety, especially since it was a frigid night and she didn't have a hat to cover her close-cropped head.

Eventually I called the police who dispatched two officers with, well, dispatch, and they kindly and gently asked her questions for which she didn't have answers. They convinced her to accompany them, and they were gone into the night just before the concert concluded. I had been reluctant to phone but it was the right decision on a cold December night.

The two hundred people in attendance were oblivious to what had unfolded. How many circumstances similar to this occur in the downtown of this city? We get a taste of the lost and the suffering through our doors during the week, as well as the tough realities for many who avail themselves of our meal programs.

What happened reminds us that Advent and Christmas joy do not make the pain of our world go away. We are called to compassion and awareness in a special way at this time of the year. I'm glad that today's noon concert raises money for the Gleaner's Food Program, because the need is great. And we can serve up Christ's compassion twelve months of the year.

Thoughts?

Go Tell it On The Mountain...Maybe

Go, tell it on the mountain,
 over the hills and everywhere.
 Go, tell it on the mountain
 that Jesus Christ is born.

What a great gospel carol, one we'll sing with gusto next Sunday morning. What does that mean though in our everyday lives? Most mainline/old line church members, including United Church folk, are incredibly reluctant to talk about their Christian faith in anything other than the most cryptic terms. We are churchgoers, or maybe Christians, but that's about as far as we get with speaking about Jesus, even in our own households. The notion that Christ makes a difference in our lives, and to come out and say he might to someone else, has sadly become foreign to us. So we sing about it once a year, but we will keep it to a whisper the rest of the time.

Martha Grace Reese says that most mainliners would rather have gall bladder surgery than think about evangelism, sharing the Good News of Christ.

Recently, through Twitter, I was reminded by colleagues of the Unbinding the Gospel Project which is headed up by Martha Grace Reese. It is a six-week training program to get good, God-loving, Christ-following people to speak their faith out loud and pray that others will find their way into a life-changing community where that faith is nurtured.

Um, isn't this what we want? So many United Church congregations are teetering toward extinction, so why can't we be passionate about our story? At this time of year many Christians grouse about societal changes which have moved Christian symbolism and language out of the public square, but how often do we let others know that our lives would be incomplete without Christ?

I am going to attempt a group based on Unbinding the Gospel during Lent. It's now or never folks. Or maybe you don't agree.

Are you comfortable speaking about your faith? Or do you say things such as "I'd rather live it than say it?" Is it time we became small-e evangelists?

Las Posadas & 59 Cents

Las Posadas is a nine-day celebration with origins in Spain in the 16th century, now celebrated chiefly in Mexico, Guatemala and parts of the Southwestern United States, beginning December 16 and ending December 24, during evenings

The tradition has a procession moving from home to home in the community with a ceremonial search for a place where the pregnant Mary can find accommodation, reflecting the story we tell at Christmas which leads us to the birth of Jesus in a stable. "Innkeepers" at the various homes invite them in, an act of hospitality.

In one of my congregations the music director organized a Las Posadas service for White Gift Sunday. It was quite dramatic with Mary and Joseph being rejected for various reasons by prospective hosts, but accepted elsewhere. It was very well done.

I thought about this festival when I heard news that six of ten provinces, most recently Ontario, have reinstated health care coverage for refugee claimants. http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2013/12/09/ontario_reinstates_basic_health_care_for_refugees.htmlThe benefits were pulled by the feds in what was a colossally mean-spirited effort to save money. How much money? Fifty nine cents for each Canadian. Fifty nine cents! How much did it cost each of us for the boondoggle of the G-8 Summit in Toronto, pegged at about a billion dollars?


Doctors and advocacy groups protested at the time and have continued to make noise. So did some churches. I appealed to our folk at St. Paul's, my previous congregation, to send 59 cents to the federal government as a symbolic gesture to protest what was happening. http://www.wondercafe.ca/discussion/politics/59-cents-refugee-healthcare

Jesus' family was at "no fixed address" when he was born. Then they were on the run, persecuted refugees fleeing a tyrant, ending up in a distant land. Somehow we must "connect the dots" between our biblical stories and our compassion for those who, like the Holy Family, need our hospitality.

Have you heard of Las Posadas? What about the 59 Cent Campaign? Are you glad that the health benefits have been restored? If so, send your Provincial Health Minister a note or email of thanks.

Slow Advent

Recently I received an email from Orion magazine, an excellent publication which began this way:

"I believe that slowness is an act of resistance, not because slowness is a good in itself but because of all it makes room for, the things that don't get measured and can't be bought."
Rebecca Solnit Finding Time Orion Magazine

You’ve heard of Slow Food and Slow Money; there are also movements for Slow Gardening, Slow Cities, and Slow Parenting. Orion is Slow Reading—thoughtful, deep, imaginative, carefully researched, and concerned with the more complex ideas and problems and joys of our time. 

It made me wonder if I am honest about Advent in my practice, despite what I say from the pulpit and in print. Advent is meant to be a time of meaningful reflection on Jesus' first coming and the prospect of the "time between" which the season represents. I find that I am physically slowing down from my "able to leap tall buildings in a single bound" early years of ministry. Ordained at age 25, in an earlier phase of ministry,  I was here, there and everywhere in the weeks leading up to Christmas. I just can't do what I once did, nor do I really want to, although I'm not immune to guilt about it. I find myself awake in the early hours yearning for the experience of Jesus in my spirit, not more Jesus talk. 

I don't want to be heretical, but I would be pleased if Advent was a time for less churchy stuff rather than more, and that we chose to live expressively and faithfully through all the seasons of the Christian year. Or at least that there were more contemplative moments. I suppose I'm saying that somehow choosing"Slow Advent" would be spiritually and physically beneficial.

Are there ways you choose to opt out of the break-neck speed of the season or are you "all in?"  Is this just me, or do others of you feel that Slow Advent isn't a bad idea? Could it be an act of faithful resistance?

Person of the Year?

First of all, I like it when a particular human being is the Time Person of the Year. Remember when "You" was awarded the designation in 2006? What was that about? And even The Protestor in 2011 didn't turn my crank. Just too broad.

Then again there have been far too many presidents. The war criminals including Hitler, Stalin, Kissinger (oops, did I write that?) may have been tremendously influential but I don't think they should get the recognition. There have been precious few women and Wallis Simpson was a dubious choice.

No doubt the same will be said for Pope Francis. He is the spiritual leader for a communion which is responsible for covering up sexual abuse harming countless thousands. The exclusion of women from leadership is a stubborn, non-biblical tragedy. I could go on.

But Francis is a good choice in my estimation. I believe that his compassion for the poor and marginalized is real. His commitment to the gospel imperative of simplicity is far greater than mine and I am chastened by his example. His surprising phone calls to those who have written him with problems is touching, I appreciate the way renegade RC theologian Hans Kung describes him:

It is astonishing how, from the first minute of his election, Pope Francis chose a new style: unlike his predecessor, no miter with gold and jewels, no ermine-trimmed cape, no made-to-measure red shoes and headwear, no magnificent throne.  Astonishing, too, that the new pope deliberately abstains from solemn gestures and high-flown rhetoric and speaks in the language of the people.

And finally it is astonishing how the new pope emphasizes his humanity: He asked for the prayers of the people before he gave them his blessing; settled his own hotel bill like anybody else; showed his friendliness to the cardinals in the coach, in their shared residence, at the official goodbye; washed the feet of young prisoners, including those of a young Muslim woman. A pope who demonstrates that he is a man with his feet on the ground.


Francis still says things that unsettle me as a liberal, Protestant Christian. But I suppose if I didn't protest pronouncements by a pope, I wouldn't be Protestant. He is a breath of fresh air who might become a full-blown gale in terms of change.

What do you think about this Time cover choice? What do you think about Pope Francis?

Illuminating Christmas to Easter

There are nine houses on our court and all of them have Christmas lights. It's great to turn onto the cul de sac and be surrounded by cheerful colour. None of the displays are "over the top," it appears that all of them are on timers for ten o'clock, and I'm hoping that they are all energy efficient. A few blocks over there is house and yard which probably couldn't hold any more lights, some of them flashing wildly. What's it like to be a neighbour?

Probably the most bizarre display anywhere has been "outed" by the folks at Ship of Fools, who last year named this Blue Springs, Missouri display their 12 Days Of Kitchmas winner.

It wouldn’t be Christmas unless we blissfully burned up limited reserves of non-renewable energy. After all, the shepherds had angelic hosts, the wise men had a star – so bring on those flashing, rooftop Santas. At least in Blue Springs, Missouri, they’ve gone beyond the usual fare. Passing motorists are invited to rubberneck the blood-soaked scourging of Christ – a Mel Gibson-inspired Bible belting of truly epic proportions. Like it or loathe it, it’s a discussion starter and earns this year’s top award.

 

I shook my head when I first saw this, then I thought about the frustration I've felt at times about Christmas becoming some vague, kitchy buy-fest. And how Santa has become the holiday god for many, without even a passing reference to the Christian compassion of St. Nicholas. And how easily we forget that even for Christians Christmas wouldn't be celebrated without Easter, And yes, that we have to make the journey through Holy Week to become Easter people. Actually, I checked it out and the folk in Missouri tell the Jesus story through to the empty tomb.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bendystraw/sets/1521083/show/
 

Relax, you won't find the crucifixion in LED colour on my front lawn now or ever. This is still a weird choice for the cheery lights of Christmas. But it is important that we all make the Christmas to Easter connection if any of this is going to make sense.

 

What do you think? Are you on your way to CT or HD to pick up the lights for your new Via Dolorosa creation? Is it important to be mindful of the entire symphony of the Incarnation, not just the opening strains?

 

Forgiveness and Philomena

I read enough reviews that the film Philomena couldn't surprise me, but it did touch me. It is the based-on-actual experience story of Philomena Lee, who as a teen gave birth to a baby boy. She ended up like many young Irish women in similar circumstances, doing "hard labour" for Roman Catholic sisters who provided dubious shelter for both mothers and children. Philomena's son was taken from the convent when he was three, essentially sold to a wealthy American couple. This was commonplace for the children of the "fallen women" known as Magdalene girls, after the tradition of Mary Magdalene in the gospels. No matter that Jesus treated Mary with respect, these unfortunate women were punished for their sexual sins.


The film follows Philomena and journalist Martin Sixsmith as they search for the boy after Philomena's desire to find him is sparked by the realization that he has turned fifty. Both Judy Dench and Steve Coogan are great in this picture, and the story doesn't get bogged down along the way. Judy Dench can act in anything, but it was a pleasant change for Coogan who is usually in comedies. I found it emotional but not maudlin, and Philomena's choice to forgive the nuns because of her Christian faith is quite powerful.

There has been an interesting twist since Philomena's release. A New York Post review called the movie hateful toward the Roman Catholic church and dismissed the relationship between the two key figures as unrealistic. Lee responded saying:

"Just as I forgave the church for what happened with my son, I forgive you for not taking the time to understand my story. I do hope though that the families heading to the movie theatre to see the film decide for themselves – and disagree with you."

I certainly disagree with the review and I'm glad I saw the film. How about you? Have you seen it? Will you see it? Are there enough films out there already with forgiveness themes?

Captives Will Be Released

The Spirit of the LORD is upon me,
for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released,
that the blind will see,
that the oppressed will be set free... Jesus of Nazareth

The first person of colour to serve as the president of the United States was at his oratorical best this morning, speaking in stirring fashion before the crowd of 100,000 in a stadium in Soweto. As he paid tribute to Nelson Mandela he reminded this crowd and millions around the world about the possibilities which are born out of what appears to be hopelessness.



In the audience was former Canadian Prime Minister who I didn't like much when he was in office, but was a lion when it came to seeking Mandela's release from prison, standing up to the bullying of British PM Margaret Thatcher and leading the Commonwealth in this cause. It's unfortunate that he wasn't given the opportunity to speak.

At the conclusion another heroic figure, former archbishop Desmond Tutu, called the people of South
Africa to responsibility for a better future and the country's highest good.

This was fitting on the International Day for Human Rights, don't you think? Of course it is wonderful to speak in glowing terms about Mandela as a freedom fighter, even though many regimes represented at the gathering today regarded him as a terrorist for decades and wanted him to remain in prison.

History shows that too often religious groups side with the powerful rather than the oppressed and even become the oppressor. I am grateful that part of my memory of life in the United Church is of my parents explaining to me as a child the grave sin of apartheid. I know it has shaped my perceptions of justice as an aspect of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Here is a portion of a prayer for Mandela and for justice posted on the United Church website:  

For us, in our actions, Mandela is here.

So as we journey with our siblings imprisoned by poverty, slavery,

and all forms of created suffering,
we will remember Mandela’s belief that we are all imprisoned until we are all free.

 As we encounter forces of resistance that feel overwhelmingly insurmountable,

we will remember the integrity and grace with which Mandela held to his convictions while he was imprisoned for 27 years.

 And as we give thanks to our Creator for the life of Mandela,

we will continue to pray for your comfort to surround the family, friends, and nation that mourn the loss of Madiba;
we will celebrate a life that perpetually worked for the good of all;
and we will affirm that his legacy will continue
in our memories and actions.

 As we entrust him into your loving care,

may we commend him to our hearts.      

Amen.                  Alydia Smith

What are your thoughts today?

Whatsoever You Do

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Two weekends ago a statue entitled Whatsoever You Do by Timothy Schmalz was stolen from outside a Toronto church. Fortunately is has reappeared just as mysteriously. “We are very happy,” Rev. Maggie Helwig said. “I’m glad that whoever took it did the right thing in the end and it’s wonderful that he’s back.” The "he" is Jesus in the guise of a street person with hand outstretched Two women noticed the returned statue at the back of the church and informed one of the parishioners. The parishioner found a note alongside the statue, which would have been returned sometime over night“It rained last night so it is a bit hard to make out but it looks like it says ‘I’m sorry, it seemed like a good idea at the time,’ ” Helwig said.

The title comes from the passage in Matthew 25:

“Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?” ⁴⁵Then he will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.”

As offensive as it may seem that this sculpture was stolen, perhaps it is more of an offense that so many live on the margins in our society. We have a street person who is regularly pan-handling downtown and makes regular visits to Bridge St Church, sometimes to use a bathroom and often to ask for help. When she is seated on the street she looks a lot like this sculpture. We do assist her with money, although not always. Sometimes she's grateful, and sometimes not. I'm not sure that I have ever thought of her as Jesus to be honest.

What are your thoughts about seeing Jesus in the poor and marginalized? Honestly, is that the first thing that comes to mind? Do you ever help out?

 

 

Knock and the Door Shall Be Opened?

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you."
                                                                 Matthew 7:7

Can you fathom actually creating a door for the purpose of being knocked on by a cleric, opened for a year, and then sealed? That door with Mary on one side and Jesus on the other will be opened today as part of a special ceremony in Quebec City.

In an ages-old ritual, the Catholic archbishop of Quebec will rap three times on a bronze Holy Door — the first in the Americas — and wait for it to be opened so that he can pass through. The opening of the door Sunday is a powerful moment in a ceremony that dates back to Rome in the 1400s, but has never, until now, taken place outside Europe. Beyond the symbolism of the open door, church leaders hope that pilgrimages and other celebrations around next year’s 350th anniversary of the basilica of Notre-Dame de Québec, may be a turning point in the province’s decades-long slide into secularism. “I believe this is a wonderful opportunity and a concrete way of inviting all to come to Notre-Dame de Québec during the Jubilee year to experience a renewal in their faith,” says Archbishop Gérald Lacroix.    Toronto Star

I don't want to be disparaging, but I don't think a symbolic door opening will cut it for any of the mainline/old-line denominations, including and particularly the Roman Catholic church. We have been struggling to connect with a different demographic in ways that communicate the gospel of Jesus Christ for the time in which we live. I'm not convinced that the entertainment style worship in some churches is faithful, but we don't have a lot to brag about in the way we have responded to a changing world. We continue to choose 19th century practices for the 21st century and while tradition has its place, it can be an anchor that holds up back from what Christ wants us to be. Instead of casting Jesus in bronze, let him breathe and live in our midst.

I  would actually like to be there today to see this ritual, but find refreshing and innovative ways of opening the door.

What do you think?

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2013/12/06/holy_door_opens_in_quebec_the_first_outside_of_europe.html#

Saying Grace and Walking to Church

Norman Rockwell's paintings are often described as sentimental because they portray a small-town America that probably never was. They were used as cover art for the Saturday Evening Post, but now they are sold at auction for large sums. A trio of those paintings sold at Sotheby’s American Art auction on Wednesday morning for a total of more than $57 million. Apparently sentimentality pays!

 

Rockwell's "Saying Grace" appeared on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post on Nov. 24, 1951 and the final price for this work, considered Rockwell’s masterpiece, was $46 million, after nine and a half minutes of spirited bidding. The artist was paid $3,500 for the painting — about $30,500 when adjusted for inflation.    

You may know the painting. It depicts a crowded restaurant with a boy and an old woman bowing their heads in prayer. Judging from the expressions of the curious onlookers even in the fifties saying grace in a public place was unusual behavior.

 

Another favourite, “The Gossips,” (below) a montage that includes Rockwell’s friends, neighbours and even the artist himself, painted in 1948, sold for $8.45 million. Apparently when the  Post cover ran on March 6, 1948, the magazine was flooded with inquiries from readers wanting to know what the heads were gossiping about.      

 

The third major painting in the sale, “Walking to Church,” which appeared on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post in 1953, brought just over three million.

I'm sure that both saying a blessing over a meal and seeking out a place of worship on Sunday mornings are considered anachronisms by the majority of North Americans today. How our culture has changed in a little more than half a century. Of course gossip is enduring, which might be the major indictment of the way we live.

What are your thoughts about these paintings? Do you still say a blessing over a meal? Would you do so in a public place? Do any of you walk to church? How about gossip?

Mandela & the Legacy of Peace

Early on Nelson Mandela was an insurrectionist, a revolutionary who advocated violence as an option for liberation from an oppressive regime. It is not hard to argue that his convictions during the late 1950's and 1960's were justified, given the evil of apartheid in South Africa.
This was systemic subjugation of a significant portion of the population, only a step away from slavery. We know that in other countries the violent overthrow of rulers was the outcome of oppression. The upcoming cover of the New Yorker magazine portrays Mandela as that fiery leader of an earlier time.

That was not the story for South Africa, nor for Nelson Mandela as its first black leader. Twenty seven years in prison did not break Mandela's spirit, but he emerged in 1990 a changed man. He remained steadfast to the cause of freedom during his incarceration but when he was released he did not advocate retribution.

Cell 4664 of Robben Island might have been the place where he went mad, or plotted revenge. Instead the crucible of the prison cell prepared him to be one of the great statespersons of the 20th century. After his election Mandela partnered with the equally remarkable Archbishop Desmond Tutu to promote reconciliation and a peaceful transition. Wise commentators offer that this was calculated, that the country needed the white civil servants and business leaders and farmers to ensure that the country didn't collapse. If there had been am ouster or massacre of the white population the international community would have quickly turned against a government which had no experience governing. This is probably true, but creating peace can be calculating. Waging peace is, at times, as calculated as waging war.

As we approach Peace Sunday in Advent we can be mindful that choosing to be peacemakers is not fanciful or unrealistic. It is demanding and requires a fierce sense of purpose. In the end we admire those who have the moral fortitude to carry out their goals for peace. The world is a better place for Nelson Mandela and those like him.

Thoughts?

Surprising Invitations of Advent

 

Three sisters-in-law have come and gone from our home in the past week, two of them seen, one of them "stealth." I ended up in conversation about silence and solitude with the sister-in-law who is actively addressing her loneliness with intentional silence and solitude. I mentioned this following my recent blog about the difference between loneliness and solitude. The sudden death of her husband has meant reassessing life's meaning and goals, along with how to relate to God in the silence which can be thunderous.

 

I love the title of the book Silence and Other Surprising Invitations of Advent because Xmas becomes so noisy. I don't mean the joyous sounds of Christmas morning. Our daughter Emily works in retail and she advises me that the incessant Christmas buy-more music in her workplace would drive me bonkers. I won't disagree.

 

I have not read Okoro's book but I understand it reflects on the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth, which is found in Luke's gospel. You might recall that Zechariah sees a vision which leaves him speechless and then Elizabeth goes into seclusion. I came upon this quote from Silence:

 

Theirs is a story of accustomed longing and unmet desire, sustained prayer, occasional doubt, and seasons of silent retreat and seclusion. We can learn much about the tensions of a genuine faith journey from the trials and surprises that Zechariah and Elizabeth encountered in their attempts to live before God. And we can learn about the mercy and faithfulness of a God who acts in God's own timing and for God's wider purposes.

 

I admit that I long for God to push the mute button for our raucous Christmas-lite culture. At times it feels as though church is part of the problem rather than part of the solution. We ramp up the volume when we may need more opportunities to reflect on the extraordinary power of the vulnerable, powerless incarnation. I suppose I'll content myself with creating occasions of silence and solitude through Advent and trust that God will speak --or not. `

 

Thoughts?

 

 

Two by Two

I was pleased to see that Canadian artist Barbara Reid won a 2013 Writers' Trust award for children's literature, aka kid lit. Actually that title is rather demeaning in a way. Yes, her work is directed toward children but all of us should admire her skill with modeling clay, which she shapes for the illustrations in her books. When you think back to our rather clumsy efforts with the stuff, her work exhibits brilliance. And you have to love a writer who has a website tab entitled About Plasticine.

http://www.barbarareid.ca/biography.html

 

Reid has a remarkable ability to evoke the natural world in her work. I mean, the scenes below are so splendidly Canadian.

 

 

I am curious about her faith connection. Her book Two by Two tells the story of Noah and the ark and where I first encountered her story-telling. Fox Walked Alone is another which explores this story from Genesis. Perhaps she just loves the story because it is filled with critters.

Do any of you know Reid's books? Are you tempted to search them out, regardless of whether you have kids or grandkids?

 

The Drunken Samaritan

 

The Good Samaritan Vincent Van Gogh

 

I think drinking and driving is one of the most selfish and reprehensible acts possible. Every time I hear of someone crashing into an innocent victim because he or she is drunk my blood boils. I confess I'm not much better when it comes to smokers, particularly when they feel they have a right to inflict second-hand smoke on others.

So along comes a story like this one, the lesser-known parable of the Drunken Samaritan:

A Nova Scotia man has beat a drunk driving charge using the defence of necessity after he argued he had no choice but to drive an injured friend to the hospital last year. According to an Amherst provincial court decision released on Tuesday, Roger Pleau and friend Eldon Deegan were drinking beer at Deegan's apartment in Upper Nappan on Oct. 4, 2012, while their wives went to bingo in Amherst.They weren't allowed to smoke in the apartment, so Pleau and Deegan went outside for a cigarette. The apartment was on the second floor of a complex and Deegan stumbled down the stairs, gashing his scalp on an iron rail and sustaining a concussion. The men were locked out of the apartment building and both keys for the building — the main and the spare — were with their wives. Neither man had a cellphone. Deegan was incoherent and having difficulty breathing. Pleau, 54, from Maccan, panicked and drove his friend to the local hospital, according to court documents. At the hospital, the nurse noticed Pleau appeared drunk so she called police. Pleau was found to have blood alcohol readings of 110 and 100 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood.

Amazingly, the judge let the drunk driver off, even though he scolded the accused for smoking and told him that the decision was not condoning DUI. I find this intriguing. The judge decided there was a higher good which permitted this violation of the law.

We hear about other instances where bus drivers are punished and for going off a route to help someone, or a Walmart worker who is fired for rescuing a dog locked in a car on a hot day. It makes us indignant and often the reports appeal to Jesus' story of the Good Samaritan, a parable found only in Luke. Then there are states in the US which have Good Samaritan laws which have made it illegal not to respond to those in distress.

Is it okay to break the rules or even the law in order to do "the right thing?" What are the limits to that spirit? Do you agree with the judge's ruling?

Women Out of the Shadows

During Advent and Christmas we allow a woman, Mary, the mother of Jesus, to step out of the biblical shadows and into a prominent liturgical role. But God help us --literally -- if we allow women to be too "uppity" in other aspects of our tradition.

You may have heard that the Vatican has released a virtual tour of an area of the underground burial sites called the catacombs and it has created a stir because some are insisting that some of the paintings depict women priests.

The frescoes in the Catacombs of Priscilla were recently restored, so the Google Street View images reveal paintings that look fresh and richly colored, even though they date back to the first few centuries. Moving virtually through the Catacombs of Priscilla's winding passageways, one can find not only the oldest known depiction of the Madonna and child, but also biblical scenes, including Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead and paintings of Saints Peter and Paul.
Now that anyone can tour the catacombs and see these frescoes via Google, members of the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests say they have let the media know they have written about and believe that two frescoes in the Catacombs of Priscilla provide evidence of an ancient tradition of women deacons, priests and even bishops.



Will it surprise any of you to hear that these claims were immediately discounted? The implication would be that the early church was egalitarian but became patriarchal with the passage of time. Obviously this would affect the ongoing discussion about women in the priesthood of the Roman Catholic Church. While Pope Francis has said that women should be allowed a more prominent role in the church, we haven't heard him saying that he has planned the first service of ordination for any of them.

In our United Church of Canada we have ordained women since the 1930's. Both my predecessor and successor from my last pastoral charge, St. Paul's, are women, as well as the ordained minister who worked with me during my time there and others on staff. Rev.Vicki is a staff member at Bridge St. and did an excellent job during the year of transition.

Have you heard about these catacomb paintings? Do we tend to trot out Mary as the sweet example of faithfulness every year and then tuck her away with the Nativity scenes? Are we where we want to be with equality in the United Church or is there still a way to go?