One of us

Matthew 13:54-58

The Rejection of Jesus at Nazareth

He came to his hometown and began to teach the people in their synagogue, so that they were astounded and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these deeds of power? Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all this?” And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “Prophets are not without honor except in their own country and in their own house.” And he did not do many deeds of power there, because of their unbelief.

Rejected

as one of their own

Written off

because "They kent his faither"

Restricted

Overlooked

Seen as an irritant

An offence

An upstart

Disempowered

by assumptions

and lack of expectation

Not so different today

and all the ways

we manage

intentionally

or unintentionally

to play down

to write off

to dishonour

and disempower

the Son of God

born among us.

Step by step

Exodus 17:1

From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink.

Journeying by stages

Learning along the way

all the lessons

they did not even know

they needed.

Resisting at every turn

Longing for the safe and the familiar

- even the slavery and oppression

preferable over a changed landscape.

The effort of changing mindsets

of adapting to a new culture

deemed too difficult

too demanding

requiring more energy

than they were prepared to expend.

And so the wilderness stretched on

for generations

until there was the will

to embrace the Unknown

and to follow

the way of God

and God's faithfulness 

for every generation.

What it takes...

Luke 13:6-9

The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the gardener, ‘See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?’ He replied, ‘Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’ ”

A lot of manure

That's what it takes

Hard work 

And a lot of manure 

The willingness to graft

to do what we can

to provide the best possible conditions

to encourage growth and fruitfulness

And then patience and acceptance...

Patience to wait

on forces beyond our control

to play their part

to enhance and bless...

and acceptance of the outcome

whatever it will be

when another judges our effort.

Hard work

and a lot of manure.

That's what it takes.

Under construction

Matthew 21:42-43

Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the scriptures:

‘The stone that the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone;

this was the Lord’s doing,

and it is amazing in our eyes’?

Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom.

Faith is not ours to keep

not ours by right

or default

or heritage

Faith

that elusive

enigmatic

mysterious

bundle of becoming

is a gift

to embrace for a time

(for it doesn't remain static)

a way to live into

a hope to which to aspire.

a series of teachings

and truths

and beliefs

which gather

unassembled

and which,

just when it seems to make sense

just when it seems to have some coherence

or cohesion

falls apart

and the pieces

don't fit together neatly

ever again

but in their place

is a new set of building blocks

from which to put together

another semblance

another portrayal of belief

with which we can live for a time

until that, too must be given up

as more is revealed 

and as the kingdom of God

emerges

in the lived out

grappling with faith

that defies boundaries

but is evident

in changed lives

In changed communities

and in holding loosely

even giving away

what we imagine is ours

but belongs to God

and returns to God

when we surrender

our constructs

to the will

and purpose

of God.

Soak up life

Jeremiah 17:7-8

Blessed are those who trust in the Lord,

whose trust is the Lord.

They shall be like a tree planted by water,

sending out its roots by the stream.

It shall not fear when heat comes,

and its leaves shall stay green;

in the year of drought it is not anxious,

and it does not cease to bear fruit.

Soaking up the cool water 

of learning

Of affirmation

Of nourishment

The trickle of energy

that penetrates

that feeds

and sustains

Soaking up the cool water 

that calms

and reassures

that goes deep

and keeps on feeding

Soaking up the blessing

of trust

in one

who continues

to provide

feeding

and nourishment

and sustenance

just when we need it most.

Trust

Blessed.

Difficult words...difficult way

John 6:60-68

The Words of Eternal Life

When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?” But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, “Does this offend you? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But among you there are some who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.”

Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. So Jesus asked the twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life.

Jesus didn't exclude those who didn't believe

He involved them too

giving them opportunity

to keep on hearing the message

to keep on absorbing his example

to keep on being part of his life

Always holding out hope

The way of Jeaus wasn't, isn't easy

There are those who will turn back

Our role

is to keep on offering

those words of life

the hope of eternal life

lived out in the everyday

Spirit and life

for those who believe

Together

Psalm 133

The Blessedness of Unity

A Song of Ascents.

How very good and pleasant it is

when kindred live together in unity!

It is like the precious oil on the head,

running down upon the beard,

on the beard of Aaron,

running down over the collar of his robes.

It is like the dew of Hermon,

which falls on the mountains of Zion.

For there the Lord ordained his blessing,

life forevermore.

Abundant

Overflowing

Excessive

Running over

Extravagant

Anointing

Quenching

Restoring

Life giving

Outrageous

The sheer joy

of living together

in harmony with God

and with one another.

Blessing upon blessing.