Isaiah 43:16-21
Phillipians 3:8-14
Luke 20:9-19
Psalm 126
I ‘ve always enjoyed flying. I seldom have had the opportunity to do so but am always excited and maybe a little nervous when I get the chance to . I especially like takeoffs and landings. The transition between ground and sky. Takeoffs are really cool because the power of the aircraft pushes you back in the seat like a massive hand which won't let go until you're reached a certain altitude and level off. It's smooth sailing after that. Until it's time to come down.
Landing! Falling out of the sky. Changing from that smooth ride to a bumpy one on the way down. Going from being in the clouds, being able to see what seems to be all of God's creation from ahigh to being back in the thick of it, fun time is over. Glad to be back on solid ground but at the same time missing the solitude, the chance to look at things from a different perspective. To marvel in the awesomeness of it. Touching down on solid ground. Getting on with business of life.
The process of landing kind of goes like this. For quite a while, the pilot has been sneaking the plane lower and lower in anticipation of landing. Then all of a sudden the plane banks hard to the side to line up with the runway, the landing gear comes down with a thump and a shudder and you get a little sinking feeling in your stomach as the plane drops down to the runway, swaying and dipping in the in the wind currents. Then the bump and thump of the plane touching down on solid ground and the loud whine of the engines trying to slow the plane down to a safe speed and then it taxis you to your destination where you can get off..
Well my friends, we are on approach right now. Two weeks to Easter. One week to Palm Sunday. The flight is almost over. We have only to get through the bumps and discomfort of the next couple of weeks and we will be back on solid ground. Our destination is the cross. The joy and happiness and relief of Easter. It's good to be back on solid ground.
The season of Lent for me has been a lot like flying. I took off with Christmas, climbed with Epiphany and leveled off with Lent with the opportunity to sit back in that comfortable seat and think and meditate and pray. To commune with God during a slower time. To reflect on where I've been and where I'm going. To discover what I am and what I will do. A peaceful time. I know I will have to endure the discomfort at the landing but the joy of arriving at Easter is just at the end of the runway with Christ waiting with open arms to welcome me home again. I still have a little time to prayerfully prepare myself for what's coming. Lent is a quiet time. We try to purposefully turn a little bit inward. We pray and we wait and we ask for forgiveness.
As a child, Lent was fish on Fridays. I remember as a child in school, they always served fish in the school cafeteria. Why always fish? I hated fish. We never ate fish at home on Fridays. Well sometimes, my mom would slip in a meal of fishsticks and fries, but that was it. My catholic buddies at work still eat fish on Fridays. I asked Thomas why the other day, he said because. He also added that it would mean a little more time in purgatory f he didn't. Which is a topic for another time.
During Lent this year, we preachers on the Spirit of the Heartland Total Ministry Team have embarked on a mission to reflect on the Baptismal covenant. There are five "will you" questions that each of us has been preaching on.
As baptized Christians, we are called to share in Jesus's priesthood of all believers. To use the God given gift we each have in God's service. When we are baptized as infants, our parents and god-parents agree to see that we are raised in the Christian faith. To pray and witness for us. To show us the right path. To protect us. To be and to do. When we are confirmed in the faith as adults, we agree to carry on and to godparent others in the faith.
To be and to do. As a part of the SOH, I will be a member of the order of Priests. I will be a Priest. I will do the Sacramental parts and I will preach. Doris, is a member of the lay order and she will do pastoral care. Cynthia Ann is a member of the lay order and will do intercessory prayer. Johanna will be a member of the order of deacon and will do for the marginalized. It is the same for all of us. We as baptized Christians are all be a part of an order - lay, deacon, priest or bishop and we are called through that baptism to be and to do what our God given gift enables us to do. And we are all responsible to be godparent to others. All equal. Spokes on a wheel.
You will see your name on the sheets at the back of the room. You are all members of the TEAM. Find your name and list your gift -whatever it is- and be and do. The will you questions ask us to do just this. To be and to do.
Johanna asks us to prepare ourselves. She believes that continuing in the Apostles' teaching and fellowship, the breaking of bread and in the prayers means maybe not giving up chocolate or a favorite TV show for Lent. It sounds like we're supposed to look to the scriptures and the traditions of worship in order to strengthen ourselves in the company of our sisters and brothers in Christ - so that on Easter morning, we will be ready to declare our intent to continue in the ministry of all the baptized. To be and to do.
Rob challenges us to action." Now is the time to gather the chicks and show our love to the world as a mother hen does to her babies." To re-commit ourselves to the ministries we have been doing all the time, some without even knowing we're doing them.
Pat told us the good news may be that no one ever needs to suffer alone. We can always turn to God and find God there with us in the suffering. And those times when it feels as if God is absent, and the words are hollow, we, who call ourselves Christians, can still proclaim the good news by example: by simply being with the person who is suffering, embodying Christ's presence in our own presence and prayer; or, when the hurting person needs solitude, by waiting nearby and praying.
And that we are all called to become more godly. Not to be God, but to reflect God's image in our lives, to be Christ like. And not only that, but to see the image of the Christ, the Father's Son, in our neighbors. It's about that baptismal promise "to seek and serve Christ in all persons" in the wild, prodigal children and in the dutiful, resentful children.
And finally, will you strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being. We have only to look at the paper or watch the news to know that we have not done a good job here. The world is full of wars and fighting and killing and injustices. And the marginalized are still treated as badly as they always have . Is there no hope? Is there no answer? Is the "I will" a hollow promise? We know the answer to this too, don't we. The correct answer is "I will with God's help" This is the only answer.
God has given us the tools to get this done. God has given us the gifts. God expects us to be and to do. Speak out against injustices, discrimination and racism in our communities. Share in the priesthood of all believers, be what you are called to be and do as you are blessed. And when the opportunities arise, when the questions are asked. you will answer I WILL WITH GOD'S HELP.