Salt and Light

This coming Sunday’s Gospel lesson contains two very basic elements of human existence: salt and light. I do not have to go too far in my train of thought about these two substances to recognize that I would not be here without them. Salt serves to preserve food, to liven up meals, to clean cast iron (along with some water), to make water boil quicker, and probably much more that I am not thinking of at this very moment. Light is so important to human existence that we quite often associate its absence with non-existence! So we can quickly understand why Jesus would think it critical for salt to maintain its flavor and for light to remain visible, but what does it really mean?

 

Salt does not easily lose its flavor. In fact, some scientists maintain that NaCl (sodium-chloride or salt) will taste the same until it reacts chemically with another substance. Light is such a strong force that darkness has no ability to endarken it. That is light shines into the darkness and the darkness will not overcome it. So why worry about salt becoming un-salty? Why fret over light being hidden? Well, because salt does interact with other compounds. Light does get snuffed out. And, Jesus saw that even the beautiful, salty, light-filled cores of his followers could and would be tainted by other elements of this world.

At our cores we are salt and light. Within all of us the element of Christ flickers; however, we can so easily get caught up in out-flavoring or out-shining others. We can fall into the most human instinct of thinking that it is us who makes our light shine or our lives taste good. We mistake our place for God’s own. 

God through our ancestors gave to us laws that were so helpful to live in community, so that we could taste and see that life is good! While Jesus came to amplify God’s love to its loudest levels, this teacher from Nazareth was not doing something wholly different from his prophetic forbearers. He came to fulfill not to destroy what already was. God came to earth in Jesus to preserve and make more abundantly known what was, not to tear it down to do something different. Jesus took the themes of forgiveness, love, acceptance, hospitality, healing, righteousness, integrity, grace, and more and he brought them into his own age. These themes were present in the law of his people. Then, he fulfilled those laws, so that we might experience not the letter of those laws, but the grace of God within them.

We have the same opportunity today. We are called to be salt and light, like Jesus’ first disciples. Jesus asks us to co-create with him. The law has not faded away and while Jesus fulfills the law that action is one that started long ago and comes even into the present. We are called to fulfill with Christ the eternal law, which are those themes that lead to wholeness and oneness with God, neighbor, and creation. This sounds lovely, but the trouble comes when we believe that our way is the only way. We must maintain our saltiness and our light, but not at the expense of trampling on others or snuffing them out. Do not lose your saltiness, nor hide yourself now, but let us together find ways to bring our spices together and let us shine all the brighter as a constellation of lights. You are salt and you are light, let us taste and see that the Lord made us good.

Florence Li Tim-Oi: An Icon of Vulnerability

Pep-talks and halftime speeches stand out as a fascinating and sometimes unpredictable variable in the sporting world. Science cannot measure the impact that words have upon the emotions, outlook, and performance of athletes. When I was growing up playing sports and running I found that the most powerful words of-ten calmed me down and focused me rather than exciting me or getting me pumped up to perform. How about the words that Jesus spoke in today’s Gospel lesson? What kind of pep-talk was he giving to his disciples?

When Jesus sent out the seventy he said to them, “See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves” (Luke 10:3). WOW! Even when teams know that they are going to get destroyed on the playing field the coach will find some words to try and motivate her squad. Instead of sugar-coating the impending reality Jesus points to the truth of their forthcoming ministry: you do not have a chance on your own! Remarkably this is fantastically good news! Bear with me for a moment.

In the words Jesus spoke to the pairs of missionaries sent out into the world Jesus bid them to take no provisions, no food, no extra clothes, no smart phone, no maps, no safety net, NOTHING! In this way the Divine coach, so to speak, was preparing his team to practice the sacred sport of vulnerability. Jesus was not only challenging those seventy a couple thousand years ago. No, he speaks through time also to us. We too are called to lay down that which provides us safety and security, so that we may rely instead on the provision of God! What does this look like in modern times? I am so happy you asked!

Today we celebrate the ordination of Florence Li Tim-Oi, the first female priest within the Anglican Communion. She modeled reliance upon God in her persever-ance, her faithfulness, and her humility. If there was ever someone who was sent out like a sheep amidst wolves it was her, but throughout her life Florence found ways to continually bring peace to those whom she met, just like those disciples did long ago.

Li Tim-Oi, which means “beloved daughter” grew up in Hong Kong in the early 20th Century. When she received the Sacrament of Baptism at school she chose another name to be called. As she loved the life and work of Florence Nightingale she decided upon that name. Florence went to Union Theological College in Can-ton, and was later made a deaconess in 1941. 

World events got in the way of her ministry as Japanese invaders occupied Hong Kong. Priests were unable to travel to where she lived as a result of the occupation, but the Bishop of Hong Kong the Rt. Rev. Ronald Hall decided that “God’s work would reap better results if [Florence] had the proper title” of being priest (Holy Women, Holy Men, 186). On January 25, 1944 in the midst of World War II as dan-ger lurked around Florence, she was made the first female priest in the Anglican Communion. 

After war ceased her ordination drew much criticism. As she discerned what to do Florence humbly suppressed her own calling by not acting as a priest until the whole Anglican Communion recognized her order. She continued ministering in that time nonetheless. When communists came to power in 1949 Florence went to Beijing to further her own education and moved afterward to the Cathedral of Our Savior in Guangzhou. For sixteen years starting in the late 1950s all churches were closed as a Cultural Revolution swept through China. Florence had to work on farms and in factories during that time, but she never ceased her discipleship as she continued to minister to all whom she met through peace-bearing action.

In 1979 the churches reopened and Florence began again her public ministry. Then, two years later she traveled to Canada to visit her family. Then and there the Church finally fully licensed her as a priest in the Anglican Communion. After be-ing suppressed from practicing her rightful ministry for nearly forty years she was finally able to fully express her call! After craftily navigating many wolves this sheep of God finally was able to be who she was made to be!

Florence Li Tim-Oi exemplified for us how to live vulnerably in this world; howev-er, we may look at her life as something too monumental for us to emulate. God calls each of us through the words of Jesus to be sheep among wolves—meaning we must lay down our sense of comfort, convenience, and even security so that we may rely fully on God. This rarely happens all at once, but instead we would do well to practice a spiritual experiment. Take a look at your life, see if there is some-thing that you feel takes you away from loving God and loving your neighbor. Try cutting it out for a day, a week, or a month. Lent is right around the corner, which is the perfect time for becoming more sheep-like. 

God calls us to be sheep in the midst of wolves. How will you be like Florence Li Tim-Oi? What will you jettison that keeps you from relying upon God? Where in your life can you become more vulnerable? 

Simon Peter: The Listening-Rock

On Monday I had the passing thought that typically arises when I think of the life of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., as well as someone like Helen Keller or Abraham Lincoln. This idea coalesces around my belief that I am not much like these giants of history. Yes, we breathe the same air, occupy the same earth, and are of the same species, but it is hard for me to believe that the comparisons go too much further. However, the life of Simon the son of John, brother of Andrew, and follower of Jesus gives me some hope.

Simon whom Jesus gave the name Peter often gets a bad rap. He has become somewhat of a punching bag, at least within the church world. Throughout his life he would proverbially take two steps forward, then run and hide behind a rock somewhere. This is somewhat ironic given that his nickname Peter means the Rock. He was to be the one on whom God built up the Church, but quite often he appeared anything but stable. If one takes a closer look several examples of Simon-Peter’s hot-and-cold nature emerge from within Holy Scripture and Tradition.

In today’s Gospel lesson from Matthew we hear that Simon-Peter confessed Jesus was the Christ. In fact, this confession is the occasion we celebrate today. In Mark’s telling of this same story right after Simon-Peter made this affirmation Jesus explained what it meant to be the Messiah. Instead of listening to, agreeing with, and supporting Jesus Simon-Peter took his teacher aside to say that he could never undergo suffering. Jesus responded with the infamous words, “Get behind me Satan” (Mark 8:33). Simon-Peter did not only vacillate here, but throughout the New Testament.

Soon after making his confession that Jesus was the Christ Simon-Peter, James, and John were swept away to the top of a mountain to witness the Transfiguration of Jesus. In that holiest of moments, Simon-Peter could not let God be God. Instead, Simon-Peter tried his best to box in God into some small booths. Simon-Peter wanted to hold onto the moment and also God.

Perhaps the piece de resistance came when Simon-Peter boldly claimed that he would never cross his Lord. Jesus understanding his follower better than Simon-Peter knew himself told the follower that he would deny him three times before the cock crowed. We all know that Jesus was right in this instance. John’s Gospel account paints the beautiful picture of Jesus restoring Simon-Peter as the disciple affirmed his love of Jesus three times on a beach one morning after the Resurrection. And yet, even after this beloved moment Simon-Peter still ebbed and waned in his following of Jesus.

Peter boldly risked his life after Pentecost to share the Gospel to those in Rome. Although at first he believed Gentiles ought not to be part of the Church later he realized his mistake and baptized Cornelius the Roman Centurion. Al-so, he was so convinced that purity laws around meat should be followed until one day he had a vision from God that he ought to eat following Gentile ways when with them. Finally, when Emperor Nero persecuted Christians Peter at first fled from Rome, but encountered a vision of Jesus walking back to the city. When Simon-Peter asked where his Lord was going Jesus replied, “I am coming to be crucified again” (Holy Women, Holy Men, 174). At this Peter re-turned to the city and was crucified upside-down unwilling to die in the same manner as Jesus.

In this inconsistent manner Simon-Peter gives us an example of what true discipleship looks like. The legendary figures of ancient and recent past come off too often as untouchable stalwarts with whom we cannot relate. Simon-Peter’s double name makes perfect sense. Of course, we know that Peter means rock, which appeared almost laughable at times. Simon though means “listen”. When Simon-Peter actually listened to God he actually lived into his calling as the Rock of the Church! He could not make himself a crag or a foundation, in-stead he had to rely upon Jesus.

We can all learn from Simon-Peter. We can grow to listen to God. We can dis-cover that even when we make mistakes God still has a calling for us. We can ascertain that even when we deny God the love of Christ will still be strong enough to restore us. We can find out that even when we run away Jesus will show up to walk with us back to where we are called. We are all called to listen like Simon, so that God can make us strong like Peter.

Pure Gold

“King Jesus Is All” is one of my favorite songs from the camp where I grew up spending my summers (Camp Winnataska). The male staff members would “sing” it, or rather scream it on Saturday mornings right before the campers were sent home. While serving on staff I loved the song because it was so energizing, but now I love the lyrics for another reason.

“King Jesus is all (King Jesus is all)!

My all in all (My all in all)!

I know he’ll answer (I know he’ll answer)!

Me when I call (Me when I call)

Walking by my side (Walking by my side)!

I’m satis-fiiii-ied (I’m satisfied)!

King Jesus is all (King Jesus is all)!

My all in all (My all in all)!”

 “Weeellllllllll!

“I went out to meet the Lord (Oh yeah)!

I got down on my knees (Oh yeah)!

I prayed my best prayer,

And the Holy Ghost met me there!

I stepped on the Rock,

The Rock was sound,

And the Love of Lord Jesus came tumbling down

The reason I know

HE SAVED MY SOUL

I dug down deep and I found pure gold

And He’s all

King Jesus is all…”

Repeat

(Music and lyrics unverified in public domain)

These words describe enthusiastically a moment of conversion. Of course, not all times when our beings shift look like this, or happen like this. We might not even want to call it conversion, we might call it when we remember meeting God for the first time or the time when we really meant what we prayed. Still we do not all meet Jesus when we break down and fall on our knees—yes, that is a great place to find him. We might happen upon God when we are out in Creation, when we hear a tear-wrenching song, after we struggle through a period of faithlessness, or a million other moments that change the course of our lives. And yet, I think the best line in this song about conversion is one of its last. “I dug down deep and I found pure gold.” But, we’ll come back to that line in a moment. For now, let’s look at the moment of conversion in our Gospel lesson.

In today’s Gospel lesson we hear John the Baptist describing the Baptism of Jesus—an affirming moment of conviction for John—but, then the story goes on to depict Andrew and another one of John’s disciples being curious about who this Jesus person was. When Jesus noticed these men following him he asked them, “What are you looking for?” The first word out of their mouths gave away their deep desire, as they said, “Rabbi,” which of course, means teacher. They were looking for someone to awaken them, to help them learn about God, and maybe even to help them know that God knows them and loves them fully.

Strangely enough they followed up their acknowledgment that Jesus was a teacher with an odd question. “Where are you staying?” they asked. I find this question puzzling. Maybe it would be better if it were translated more existentially, “Teacher, where are you being?” as in show us how to be like you. While that is probably what they meant Jesus responded in the most gracious way imaginable, “Come and see!” How perfect! Jesus’ first disciples were received not by confessing a lengthy creed, not by adhering to a list of dogmas, nor by being asked to complete any sort of cultic rituals. Rather, the Word made flesh called his first disciples by an invitation to be curious!

Jesus modeled for us the way to draw in others into the life of Christ in this simple phrase. Evangelism used to be a scary word in the Episcopal Church. For some, it still is. However, now that we have a Presiding Bishop in Michael Curry who yearns for us to take hold of our identity as a distinct part of the Jesus Movement the E-word is no longer a dirty one. Still we are getting our bearings as to how we do this, like baby deer taking their first awkward steps we are learning our way. The head of our movement, that is Christ Jesus, made evangelism simple: “Come and see!”

Come and see what is going on in Jesus’ ministry in this part of the world. Come and see what God has in store for us. Come and see that God’s work is being done here and now. When people are skeptical about what we do as Episcopalians and members of St. John’s, we can very easily say, “Come and see!” This can be what we share with others when they want to know more about life in Christ. Come and see! Come and see what is happening in my life. Come and see what God is doing in this ministry that I love. Come and see the Church living, breathing, and thriving at the Burning of the Greens! Come and see the great work of the Outreach Grants Committee! Come and see a church that is growing in number, in generosity, in faith, and in action!

And yet, this invitation from Jesus is not just one about the external works that we do here at St. John’s or in the Church Universal. To return to that song lyric, “The reason I know that he saved my soul/Is I dug down deep and I found pure gold,” the journey to which Jesus invites us is not simply about building onto our beautiful church. Yes, that is very much part of it, but it’s more than that. Throughout our Capital Campaign we challenged each other to see this as an opportunity to grow spiritually. And if we did not grow in this way the campaign would be a failure. We may be shifting into a different phase post-campaign, but the invitation remains.

Today, tomorrow, and always Jesus invites us to come and see. Come and see the pure gold shining within your own soul. Spend some time dwelling inside yourself digging deep down to reveal the relationship with Christ that already is! We have difficulty in our culture doing any sort of interior work. We would rather be active, going, and doing, but part of our journey with Jesus calls us to meet God within our own souls. Sabbath, Centering Prayer, Lectio Divina, the Daily Office, Solitude, Retreats, Walking/Hiking/Running, and so many others are vehicles to help us find that inner gold. There is no one-size-fits-all spirituality, but there are countless ways to meet Jesus within. This is the place where we may very well be converted into a more mature disciple.

Jesus says, “Come and see.” We are invited not just to be evangelists who call others to come and see what we are doing here, but we are also called to plumb the depths within ourselves. How will you dig down deep and find the pure gold that already exists within you? How will you heed Jesus’ call to come and see even within your own heart? Dig down deep and find pure gold, because he’s all, King Jesus is all, our all in all and he invites each of us to come and see!

Something Worth Finding

About once a week I forget my cell phone in the car when I get home from work. I don’t like riding with it in my pocket, so I take it out. Then, once I am safely inside and usually in my pajamas and I want to play some music or look something up or call someone (I mean that is the primary use of a phone, right?) I remember I left my cell all the way out in the car. So, I proceed out to the car, grab the phone, and unless it’s raining I don’t even complain about my forgetfulness. Sometimes though it is not in the car.

I don’t know the last time you lost your phone for longer than just a few seconds, but it certainly is worrisome. So much of my life and my ministry is done using a telephone: Morning Prayer, reminders, to-do lists, parishioner phone calls, mapping my way to someone’s home for a visit, meditation timer, texting with friends, and so much more. Perhaps, your job is the same way. And, when my phone is not in my car when I go out to look for it, I typically freak out! Approximately four minutes later (at the most) I realize the phone is still in my jacket pocket and all sanity is restored. However, those four minutes are frantic!

There are certainly priests who lived out their call to serve with God and God’s people without cell phones (there is even at least one I know who still does), but as so much happens on it when I lose my phone I feel so compelled to drop everything and look for it. Maybe it is not a phone, perhaps it is your keys, your pet, or heaven forbid your child, but when have you been so desperate to find something you are missing that you dropped everything else? (Think about it for a second, when did you last lose something of great value?) What about your connection with God, your spouse, your best friend, your child, your fellow neighbor, and the universe at large? How do you find those hugely important things when you feel as though they have been lost or at least disconnected?

In this coming Sunday's Gospel lesson, Andrew is so convinced that he has found the one for whom he, his brother, and perhaps the entire world has been looking. Upon meeting Jesus, Andrew was asked, “What are you looking for?” to which he replied, “Teacher, where are you staying?” While it is a bit of an odd response to Jesus’ question, the way that Jesus continues the conversation gives Andrew a sense that he has stumbled upon the one he has waited to see his entire life. Jesus says to Andrew and to us, “Come and see.”

When Andrew heard these words he went to tell his brother Simon, “We have found the Messiah.” Immediately Andrew knew something, he felt completely different, enough to make a gigantic proclamation to his brother. He had found the One anointed by God to restore the world, the One who would show the world the way back home, the One who came to lead us through disconnection and into ultimate connection. After a lifetime of wandering and wondering Andrew would never be the same for he had not only found the Messiah, but also he had been found fully by God.

Perhaps you have your phone (you may be reading this on that very phone right now… WHOA TRIPPY!), and your keys, and that child who sometimes is lost (not a loser, that child is not a loser). Maybe you have not lost anything lately, but the more important questions are have you found the Messiah and have you been found by the Messiah? If not or even if you think you have, Jesus invites you to come and see! Come and see what God is still doing in this world. Come and see the wondrous ministries happening in the Episcopal Church. Come and see what God is doing at St. John’s Church. Dig deeper within yourself and come and see what God is doing within your very soul! Come and see!