February 28, 2010
Second Sunday in Lent


On the Hill


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Some people lead a charmed life - it seems.  They seem healthy and successful.  They have economic means.  That have healthy and successful families and family relationships.  They have a solid career path.  (They have nice hair too!)

And some people seem to be stuck in the vortex for just about everything bad that can happen... one after another... without end.  I remember people talking about having a "bad year" with illness, accident, death and tragedy... and hoping for a better year next year.

There does not seem to be a logical explanation for these different experiences.  Life just is not fair.  And karma doesn't work.

In the book of Job, the lengthy discussion between Job and his friends explores cause and effect, purpose and punishment.  Job's argument is consistent.  "I did not do anything to deserve all this suffering and pain.  I still trust that God is God.  I will stand firm and not cave into the pressure... either giving up on God or on faith."

Job's friends did not relent either.  They insisted that Job own up to his sin.  They blamed the victim of all the suffering for causing it in some way.  And responsible for changing it, too.

In our Gospel for today, Jesus is warned by some Pharisees (law guys) not to go to Jerusalem " because Herod wants to kill you."  (The fact is that the Pharisees who threatened Jesus wanted to get rid of him, too.)

But Jesus stood firm.  He did not give in to the threats.  He did not do this out of a sense of pride or denial (nothing bad will happen to me... I will not give up because I am not a quitter.)  He said this because he understood his purpose and his destiny.  (His purpose is LOVE... the BIG LOVE OF GOD... and his destiny is bringing all creation - all the fragmented, disillusioned, disenfranchised, discouraged, defeated and despairing together with Him in God... and all of creation (in heaven and on earth) as Paul declares in Ephesians 1.  Everyone together with God.

Jesus did not give in to the threats... but... he did go to Jerusalem to give it all up SO THAT WE MIGHT GET IT ALL.

Then, Jesus lamented... he cried over Jerusalem... as a mother cries over a child that just won't make good choices... a child that chooses bitterness over acceptance... a child that chooses one form of death or darkness over life and light... a child that rejects instead of loves the family.

"Jerusalem, Jerusalem. The city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it!  How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!"

And still --- Jesus goes to Jerusalem. In the face of death threats and certain sorrow, Jesus chooses the PURPOSE of God to give it all up (his very life blood) so that we - Jerusalem's children and the whole world - might get it all... get the destiny of grace and eternity with God.

That is good news.

That is the gospel for the world and for each of us.

And that good news invites us to join in "gospel living."  That Gospel invites us to enter into the way of God, which is: generosity, forgiveness, truth and love... even if it is not accepted by others... even if is means suffering... even if it feels like we are going to the cross.

In his going to Jerusalem knowing that the culture would crucify him, Jesus was standing firm in the culture of heaven, namely:  "love, love, love.... generosity, faith and forgiveness."  With the knowledge of the resurrection victory beyond the cross and grave, which Jesus accomplished for us and gives to us, we can CHOOSE to stand firm against the cultural influences that would have us give up on God, give up on love, give up on one another, give in to death.... give in to self-gratification, give in to selfish living.

In this Lenten season when some choose to give something up for Lent like sugar or chocolate, meat, etc.... INSTEAD join Jesus in "giving it up" for love... giving more love... always giving love in the form of blessing, understanding, grace, forgiveness, service, support, prayers.  (Pick your focus... center on it... and then do it as a Lenten discipline... or simply a way of faithful living.)