This blog will be used to dialogue with, wrestle with, and discuss the lectionary and preaching texts for West Grove Presbyterian Church. It will be used in concert with our Tuesday morning Bible study where we dig into the nuances of the text for the coming Sunday. I hope to be able to add some additional thoughts and questions in this format and perhaps invite others into the discussion.
This has been percolating for a while with me, but being a student of the Theory of Constraints, I realize how constrained I am with time in front of the keyboard. Even though I am an accomplished typist, I get frustrated trying to dump my ideas onto a screen through fingers on a keyboard.
My text for Easter Sunday, March 31, 2013 is Luke 24:1-12. Mary Magdalene, the one from whom Jesus cast seven demons, leads the charge or is with the other women who go to the tomb early on Sunday morning. It's always the women who are the first to witness the resurrection.
They are frightened by two men in brilliantly white clothing. Not frightened enough to run away, but to hit the ground, prostrate themselves and worship whatever this is. They are asked why they are seeking the living among the dead. What a great starting question! What a great volley to get their attention! What? I can hear them thinking, "We're just trying to honor this great man and do our duty" But, isn't it just like God to wack us up along side the head and change our attention?
In my thinking, most of us need to stop searching for life in dead places. For instance, why do we search for meaning and good feelings in money, power, sex, drugs, alcohol, etc? These are things that are lies and tricks. They distract us from loving, caring, compassionate relationships. They distract us from being real, vulnerable, authentic and transparent.
The other thing I love about this text is the reminder that the brilliant boys give to the girls. They say, "Remember how he told you...." Then they remembered! Oh, yea, we did hear him say that! All of us need constant reminders of love. Too often we go through life in cold calculating callous ways and forget to do the little things that remind others of our feelings and our affections. It's the simple touch, the hugs, the kisses, the "I love yous," that make all the difference in the world.
Holy One, thanks for reminding me how much you love me! Thanks for reminding me that you took on my guilt, my sins, my brokenness. Thanks for reminding me that you took it to the cross, to the grave and through the grave that I might have a path for eternal life. Thanks, too, for making me realize that I need weekly reminders of this love and monthly reminders in the form of communion with the risen Christ!
