Holy Hummingbird!

 

A tiny hummingbird threatened to destroy me this morning. 

Our eyes met briefly before the marvelous creature rose like a drone and darted elsewhere. 

When Jesus says, the kingdom of heaven has come near, I believe him with every fiber of my being.

I’ve seen things—miraculous things, too precious for words. Momentary glimpses of the numinous in beautiful and terrible moments.

Mere thank yous feel entirely inadequate. Praise sounds so churchy. 

Relax into delight. “Something like scales” fall away. 

Medicine I never knew I needed.

What prepares us for love such as this?

Perhaps small doses are still all we can manage.

Dreaming of Ram Dass

Ram Dass was in a headstand

I was happy to see it. 

His last years were spent in a wheelchair, after all.

In the dream, I was in a hurry.

This seemed to bother him.

But he did not falter.

He stayed. Upside down.

Sirsasana, King of all asanas. 

Stimulating the lymphatic system,

Enhancing mental focus.

Building strength, concentration, balance!

In my haste, 

I might have missed his message.

Now.

Here.

Be. 

 

Whassup?

 What’s up? Whassup! Seriously, Whassup?

Remember the iconic Budweiser commercial? It was silly, but quickly became a cultural phenomenon after airing during Monday Night Football back in 1999. It was a humorous, endearing expression of the comfortable friendship among several men enjoying a football game. The spot was an unlikely hit as it wasn’t created by a large ad agency with a huge budget. Rather, it was a small, independent filmmaker, Charles Stone III, who developed the campaign based on his award-winning short film, True. Stone has since gone on to direct numerous notable film and television productions. 

For this commercial, Stone hired some of his friends, including Scott Martin Brooks, whom I first met years ago on a film shoot in Philadelphia. In the commercial, Scott plays a character named Dookie who sits in front of a now-ancient-looking desktop computer as he and his friends exchange the famous, oft-parodied, ridiculously hilarious greeting “Whassup!” On the set of our shoot, Scott shared that he never thought he would ever be an actor, let alone become famous for a Budweiser commercial. But he did.

God is always up to new things. All too often, we just cannot see or fathom what is happening while it’s happening. I imagine the disciples felt that way too—a lot.

Can we talk about Peter’s vision? It’s strange, right? A sheet coming down from heaven with all those animals on it. Peter sees it as a new vision for the church, one that is more inclusive, a lot less judgmental, and way more open to change.

And then there’s the reading from Revelation; yet another vision - a new heaven and new earth.

Finally, Jesus gives the disciples a new commandment. “Love one another as I have loved you.”

There seems to be a whole lot of new this week. Something we’re getting used to here at St. Mark’s.

Jesus begins his farewell discourse during the Last Supper in this 13^th chapter of John by commanding his disciples to love one another as brothers and sisters, using the Greek word for divine love, the highest form of love, agape. It’s a command, not a suggestion. Jesus knows things are going to get more difficult before they get better. Judas has just walked out because of this. Later, Peter, too, will cave to pressure. Discipleship is not easy. 

Jesus addresses his disciples as little children: 

“Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.”

How did Jesus love his disciples? Here are some of the ways I can think of. You may come up with more: 

With kindness, like when Jesus washes the disciples’ feet.

With patience, as he shows his wounds to a doubting Thomas.

With tenacity. He even comes back from the dead to love them!

With acceptance, meeting each of them exactly where they were.

With reminders like bread and wine. “Do this in remembrance of me.”

With boundaries. Jesus takes frequent time-outs.

With creativity, by sharing illuminating stories about God’s love. 

With radical unselfishness. He commends his mother to the care of John even as he is dying on the cross.

In truth, we might be wise to acknowledge that loving one another like Jesus can be remarkably hard, especially during troubling times.

But God is always doing a new thing, always encouraging us to find creative new ways to be in community, ways to find unity in diversity. 

We can do this because God is with us in this. 

“It’s all love,” my friend Scott explained to a reporter when asked about the reason for the seismic popularity of the Whassup commercial. 

It’s all love. 

Easy to say when things are going our way. When there’s lots of money in the bank, when the weather’s sunny, when the traffic’s light, it can certainly feel like it’s "all love." But throw in an unexpected setback or two, well, that’s when the rubber tends to meet the road. Even the strongest, most solid relationships can falter under the strain. 

Friends, may we remember that God is doing a new thing when we receive the bread of life and the wine of the new covenant. May we be reminded that we are commanded, not merely asked, to love one another. And may we be inspired to ever more expansive new expressions of that love in community. May our communion also remind us that it’s not entirely on us. God is in all our new things.

Whassup? Worshipping in a community of love where all are welcome is whassup. Small churches making a big impact is whassup. 

Agape is whassup. It's love that gets noticed, love that calls us to action. We might want to ask ourselves, what is love asking of us right now? 

Here's link to the video.

The Flower Full Moon

On this day of the Flower Full Moon, which also happens to fall the day following Mother’s Day in the US, we may feel called to reflect on the fullness of the love of Mother; Mother God, our earthly mothers - our original source of nurturance - Mother Earth, who supports our descent into this realm at birth, sustains us throughout our lives, and welcomes us back into her womb at our deaths. The Full Flower Moon invites us to imagine with faith the growth that comes when we can fully comprehend that very often the light shines brightest when things appear darkest.

Can we draw from the love that is offered this day, and in the week ahead? Can we release past hurts and traumas? Can we offer forgiveness and grace where necessary, staying open to new growth and transformation?

The yoga shape suggested for today is supported fish. It is a heart-opening shape that invites expansion and growth while encouraging us to accept the support of props.

Supported fish is a shape that can help us practice receiving love while resting, allowing our nervous system to return, as much as possible, to its original factory setting. 

Today is a lovely day to relax in a supported fish for ten minutes or so. Breathe here. Notice the effect on the body, the mind, and the spirit. 

Today might also be a good day to plant a Summer garden, create something new,  make vacation plans, reach out to someone who would appreciate hearing your voice, mend a relationship, to pray or to dream.

Welcome to the Donohue Show!

A Sermon for Easter 3 

Lectionary Readings Here

(With apologies to the real Phil Donohue of blessed memory...)

Donohue: Phil Donohue, who passed away last year, was a television pioneer. The Donohue Show’s 29-year run on television began in 1967 and ended in 1996.

Oprah has publicly admitted that if not for Donohue, there would have been no Oprah Winfrey Show. Donohue tackled some of the most controversial topics of the day, bringing to light many of America’s most divisive struggles. His innovative approach to TV talk came about when Donohue realized that, during commercials, some audience members asked better questions than he did.

Stage Manager: And we’re live in 3-2-1…

Donohue: Ladies and Gentlemen, Welcome to the new (slightly disorganized) Phil Donohue Show

SM: (Theme music up)

Today, we’re discussing two prominent male leaders in the early Christian church, their struggles, and their triumphs. We’ve invited a distinguished panel of experts, some first-century women with firsthand perspectives on the Apostles Peter and Paul. 

(SM: Applause sign)

Since we are talking about Peter and Paul, you know, naturally, we need a Mary. Please welcome to the show, Mary Magdalene, Apostle to the Apostles, here today to weigh in on Simon Peter, later Apostle Peter. Also with us today is Dorcas, the only named female disciple in the Bible. And, last but in no way least, we have the amazing Thecla, a saint in her own right, and a lesser-known follower of Paul. Thank you all for shedding some light on these two important but complicated men.

Mary let’s start with you. What can you tell us about Peter, as written about in the Gospel of John? 

Mary (takes mic from SM): Well, first Philomena, let me just say, thanks for having me.

Donohue: Please call me Phil.

Mary: Let’s just say Peter has not always been my biggest fan. I can forgive him for that. You should know that Chapter 21 of the Gospel of John was probably added later. Things were getting divisive toward the end of the first century. This passage may have been added to unite the Johannine church, reminding them that Jesus lived and breathed before his death and then showed up in his resurrection body afterward, to do things like cook fish on the beach. And to highlight Peter’s critical role in building up the church. Personally, I am glad for this story. I like how Peter was given a chance to redeem himself. Jesus had a way of meeting people exactly where they were. People like me - like Peter. Peter could be a hothead, very impulsive. But he took Jesus’ death really hard. He must have been so excited to see Jesus on the beach that day that he put on his cloak and jumped into the lake to swim to Jesus! Most people would have done the opposite. That’s our Peter. 

I am not surprised that he dragged the other guys out on the boat that day. It was so like him to shut down his feelings. I don’t think he was in his right mind. Grief will do that to a person. We were all so stunned, after the crucifixion, you know? But the Risen Jesus got us all right back on track. 

Donohue: Jesus asked Peter if he loved him three times; first using the Greek word for divine love, agape. The following two times, he used philia, Greek for human affection. Is that significant?  Do you think Jesus was holding up a mirror to Peter’s three denials? 

Mary: Yes, yes, yes! Peter was devoted to Jesus, but like so many of us, he got caught up in the moment. Jesus always meets us where we are. Peter needed to know he was forgiven and that he still had an important role to play. 

Donohue: Audience? Questions?

Audience Member 1 (raises hand, takes mic): Mary, John’s Gospel says this was the third time Jesus appeared to the apostles after being raised from the dead. I’m counting four. There is this one, two times in the upper rooms, but what about you and Jesus outside the tomb?

Mary. Great question. There may have been lots more visits by Jesus that weren’t written down. The number three does seem important though.

Audience member 2 (raises hand, takes mic): What about the number 153? Is there any special meaning to the number of fish the disciples catch in John’s Gospel?

Mary (takes mic): Personally, I like the theory that 153 divided by three is 51. Psalm 51 is a psalm of repentance and redemption. Kind of fits with everything Peter’s been going through.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God,
    and put a new and right spirit within me.
 Do not cast me away from your presence,
    and do not take your holy spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
    and sustain in me a willing spirit.”

Also, that is a boatload of fish! The giant catch might point to growth in the church. Or something entirely different. 

Donohue: Before we go to commercial, Dorcas, can you tell us a little about yourself and how you came to know the Apostle Peter? 

Dorcas (takes mic from Mary): Sure! Dorcas is my Greek name, but some call me by my Hebrew name, Tabitha. I’ll answer to either. Basically, Phil, I died, and Peter brought me back to life. He was so kind. Gave me something to eat and drink. Soon, I was back to work sewing clothes for the community. You know, hearing what Mary had to say about Peter’s faith journey, I admire him. After Jesus died, Peter could have hidden away, gone back to his old way of life, but he committed to The Way, to preaching, teaching, healing... In such a scary political climate, that takes real courage. My story, probably written by the same anonymous author of the Gospel of Luke, follows Paul’s conversion in the book of Acts.

Donohue: And…we’ll be back, to talk about Paul after a message from our sponsors. 

Stage Manager (takes mic from Dorcas): And we’re out. Phil, we have a caller.

Donohue: OK, cue it up…

Stage Manager: We go in 3-2-1…

Donohue: We’re back with Thecla, who has some insight into the fascinating conversion of Saul of Tarsus to the Apostle Paul. But first, we have a caller. Go ahead, caller. Do you have a question?

Caller (SM play): Phil, I’m a first-time caller from Baltimore. Love your show, hon. Why do you have these three women up there talking about men's experiences?

Thecla (Takes mic from SM): I can take that one, Phil. A lot of people might not know about me. I was written about in the Apocrypha. You can Google me. T-H-E-C-L-A. I guess you could say I am a person of privilege. I first heard Paul preach near my home in Turkey. I immediately wanted to be baptized. I wanted to help Paul grow the church. This, as you can imagine, was difficult for a woman, so sometimes I would dress as a man. I got away with it, more often than not. That was fun.

(Addressing caller): 

The reason we’re up here, Steve, is because persecution was a real threat for both men and women of The Way. And women were leaders of the movement, too. Before his conversion, Paul was one of the worst oppressors. 

Donohue: What can you tell us about Paul’s dramatic conversion? 

Thecla: Like I said, he was not always a friend to Christians. Then one day, on the road to Damascus, he had an encounter with Christ as a blinding light. Saul lost his sight for three days. It was restored by a Christ follower named Ananias. The rest is history; Saul became Paul, and after that, he was on fire for Christ! Started a bunch of churches. He got things moving. 

Donohue: Thank you all so much. Let’s give these three brave women a hand.

SM: (Applause sign)

Donohue: What questions are you left with? Paul was a known Pharisee, well-educated, and a prolific letter writer. Peter, a fisherman, was likely not as learned as Paul, yet both were critical to the remarkable spread of the early church. These guys were innovators with excellent leadership skills. Their styles may have differed, but they knew how to get things done. Based on what we’ve heard today, what leadership qualities did Jesus see in Peter and Paul?

What leadership skills and styles are necessary for advancing Jesus’ Way of Love in today’s church and the world? 

If Jesus were to offer direction about where next to cast our nets, what would his instruction be? Would Jesus feel the need to question us as he did Peter? Do you love me? Do you love me? Do you love me?

Are we prepared to follow Jesus, no matter the cost?

Until next time… 

SM: (Theme Music up)

Here's a link to the sermon.