The tragic Superpower of Empathy

 Lent 5 (March 17, 2024)

Jesus was the most empathetic human who has ever lived.

But for Jesus, like for all humans, empathy exposes him to the pain and suffering of others.  In the cross, this empathy is taken to another level, a wholly divine level, whereby Jesus fully empathizes and fully takes on our suffering, shame and sin.  This brings him to cry out “My God, My God, Why Have you Forsaken Me!”  (Mark 15:34)

The good news of the Empty Tomb is that one day, we will get to proclaim to our sin, suffering and shame: “It — namely you — are finished.”   But for seasons of our lives, we live bearing a cross that prevents us from such confident and joyful proclamation.  In those days, we know that Jesus prays with us, even our deepest laments…slowly tilling the soil in our suffering to raise up a harvest of empathy in our own hearts, enabling us to carry the cross for another.

The art of Simon carrying Jesus cross comes from a Roman Catholic devotional website.

Letting Go and Letting God: Into your hands I commend my Spirit

 Lent 4 (March 10, 2024)

“Into your hands, I commend my Spirit”, Jesus from the cross, praying Psalm 31:5

In life, we will hear the phrase “Let go and Let God!”  What does this look like?  Jesus here seems to be embodying this letting Go and letting God, resigning himself, surrendering control and putting his life in God’s hands.  This certainly is Letting Go and Letting God.

But does it always look like this?  A deeper dive in Luke 23 suggests that Letting Go and Letting God – Commending ourselves – also means letting go of our things (generosity ) and letting go of our fears (courage).

This is quite a summons then.  What empowers this?  The answer lies in the second half of the Psalm: “For you have redeemed me, O faithful God!”

The Congregation of the Cross: Woman, behold your son; Behold your mother

 

Lent 3 (March 3, 2023)

“Woman, behold your son; behold your mother.”

Jesus today creates a new family – an authentic community out of people who have experienced trauma and heartache. 

As we go through life, we often encounter the need for new relationships and for authentic community.  Today’s reflection is about how we often look for it in various places…but finding it remains allusive.

The authentic community, the community we seek:  One in which the other is a gift to us and we are free to be ourselves, this is the congregation of the cross.  This is the community that Jesus inaugurates with these words and the community into which we are invited.

This beautiful woodcut is found on an online slide show but if you know the piece of art, let us know!

Today you will be with me in Paradise

 Lent 2 (February 25, 2024)

“Today you will be with me in Paradise”; Jesus, Luke 23:43

We long for paradise, a world in which mercy has the last word and God’s peace reigns.  But so much evidence mounts in our lives that the opposite is true: armed violence writes the story of judgement and retribution.

In this story, we hear of Jesus extending beautiful mercy to a man who has been justly condemned.   In this case, mercy has the last word!  What about in our lives?  What gives us the audacity to hope for mercy?  A reflection on the cross, mercy and…heat packs.

The artwork was drawn by a 1st grader who was listening to the sermon.

I Thirst: Truly Human

 First Sunday of Lent (February 18, 2024)

Word of the Cross:  I thirst (John 19:28)

Jesus’s cry of “I thirst” reminds us, even reveals to us, that he is human.  

The ancient church confessed that Jesus is “truly human.”  Pastor Rob explores what it means for Jesus, not just to be human, but to be “truly human”:

• Faith in the face of human death
• Compassion in the face of human boundaries
• Servanthood in the face of human need

A reflection too, on how Jesus death and resurrection make it possible for us, not just to be human, but “truly human.”

Making Sense of Life

Transfiguration Sunday (February 11, 2024)

After the super bowl tonight, reporters will ask the players “How does it feel to win the Super Bowl?”  Chances are, none of them will say anything remotely coherent.  The event is too overwhelming for them.

Today, we remember the Transfiguration of our Lord (Mark 9:2-10), certainly an overwhelming event for the disciples.  They don’t know what to say; they are in awe of the goodness but also terrified of its implications.

In life, how to we make sense of these events in life that we know are good, but also cause us to tremble, because we don’t quite know what they mean for our life?

The picture is from the best Super Bowl ever, in which the Philadelphia Eagles won.

Saying "No" to Say "Yes"

Sunday, February 4 (Epiphany 5)

Often in life we must say “no” to something in order to say “yes” to something else.

In today’s Gospel (Mark 1:29-39), Jesus says “no” to stay in the town where he was.  He says “no” to the expectations of the disciples and he says “no” to healing people there.  He does this so he can say “yes” to God’s purpose in his life.

Pastor Rob challenges you to consider what Jesus is calling you to say “no” to in your life; and what Jesus is calling you to say “yes” to in your life.

It turns out, this wrestling with “no” and “yes” is not an easy thing and must be in prayer.  And in prayer we are promised to meet the one has who already said “no” to sin and death in our lives as well as said “yes” to God’s resurrection and love in our lives.