|
First
Reading
|
Psalm |
Epistle |
Gospel |
| Isaiah 43:16–21 |
Psalm 126 |
Philippians 3:4b–14
|
John 12:1–8 |
As I have suggested in our Lenten Bible study, the main story in the Book of Genesis is not the creation sagas, but the call of Abraham and Sarah to become the human instruments of God’s plan of reconciliation and gift of blessing to all the people of earth. The realization of God’s intention was something that happened only gradually. Abraham and Sarah were sometimes distracted and sometimes went astray. Nonetheless, Abraham and Sarah were the great ancestors of faith in God’s promises, and through them and their descendents, God’s plan was set in motion and enlarged. It became clear that God’s people were not simply to adhere to outward ritual or external customs, but that God expected a people of blessing to have a new heart. The prophets understood that God had intended for a sense of universal justice to prevail, not just the observance of individual devotion that makes us feel good. As the prophet Isaiah said, “Is not the fast that God chooses to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke. Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked to cover them and not hide yourself from your kin?” (cf. Is. 58:1-12).
The over arching theme of Genesis involves how we ourselves have been included and how we have been called to get involved in God’s plan to bring blessing and light to all nations. Heated arguments about evolution or how the earth was actually created usually quickly degenerate into dangerous distractions. They miss the point of what the book of Genesis is really about.
In our newsletter “The Eagle” that you will receive early next week, there are two articles about the situation in New Orleans. They are about profound hope, and of a small community of faithful people determined to be an instrument of blessing. One of them also describes public housing being still closed and people’s possessions being thrown out on the street by city authorities, of municipal services not functioning, and of deserted blocks where thousands of people lived. It looks as if Hurricane Katrina happened a few weeks ago. There are still many roadblocks that intentionally discourage and frustrate people to rebuild and move back and rebuild their neighborhoods.
Now trivial issues as opposed to the hard truths so easily distract our society. Sexual issues, especially the bizarre antics of dysfunctional celebrities, and heated arguments about tradition and biblical principles seem to crowd out all the space in our brains. Therefore, I suppose, it would be so easy to rail against the excesses of celebration that happens in the French Quarter. Yet that is not what God is so concerned about. As the ancient biblical prophets would remind us, God is more offended by the injustice of what is happening to thousands of people who used to live in the 7th and 9th wards than with the revelers in the few blocks of the French Quarter. What is not happening in the 7 and 9 wards is so much more important than the latest report on Brittany Spears, yet the secular world seems to have missed the point entirely.
Throughout Jesus’ ministry, the house of Mary, Martha, and their brother Lazarus in Bethany served as a safe place for Jesus and the disciples, where they could rest and relax. Bethany was a few miles from Jerusalem, so they could come and go into the city with relative ease. The supper mentioned in today’s lesson occurred a few days after Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead. This sign had caused the authorities to perceive a definite threat in Jesus and to plan to take definite action. A few days after this supper Jesus would enter Jerusalem, being acclaimed by pilgrims who were carrying palms for the Passover festival. Jesus himself knew that his ministry was coming to a climax. Mary realized things were getting tense and that Jesus was troubled by many things. While she didn’t realize how close Jesus was to dying, she knew that he really needed a friend. In his time of need, when his spirits had to be very low, Mary provided an act of extraordinary kindness. That’s the point of this story. Judas tried to become the great distracter, and to minimize the seriousness of what Holy Week held and to obscure Jesus’ pain. But Mary’s gift of love was so genuine and strong, that this was likely the one time that all the disciples, save Judas, instantly understood why Jesus was so moved, and would remember and retell the act of Mary’s kindness for all time. What a wonderful story to remember the week before Holy Week and a poignant reminder not to be distracted by the noise and junk of the world and miss the important point of larger and deeper living.
And I offer this to you in the name of the Living God, Amen.
