We’ve traveled the distance across the history of our faith and blessings this morning: from Abram’s accepting a call to set out, to Jesus’ encounter with a cautious Nicodemus, and finally intimations of his own crucifixion.
Relating John’s image of Jesus – on the cross, lifted up, – to that of Moses with the bronze serpent staff – raised to protect the Israelites from death by snake bite- theologian John Shea* wrote:
“Humans are bitten by death. Jesus, Son of man, becomes death on the cross; If you see him lifted up, you can believe and receive eternal life… Divine life has entered into human life precisely at that point where human life is failing, sustaining the human person through the loss of temporal life. This is the truth at the center… In one form death brings a loss of life, in another form-the crucifixion of the Son of man- brings fullness of life .” (
We, too, are journeying through changes, challenges and griefs; yesterday commending Sue Larson to the Cloud of Witnesses, as Lynn invoked them. So it is good for us to sit together for a few minutes in reflection. To look at those around us, our precious companions on the Way.
The thread or anchor for me in today’s 4 scriptures comes from Psalm 121. I used to lead our family in this ‘traveler’s’ prayer as we set out for a long drive.
Written as call and response, it opens by raising our eyesto the hill before us, literally grounding us in awareness: “Where is our help to come from?” – From the Creator of it all, who is beneath and above the crust on the earth on which we walk.
It is earth that sustains us with all we should need for our journey: water, shade, edible plants and animals, and they all are imbued with the presence of the Holy. We will be alright; for we are accompanied on our way, day and night.
Abram knew it, that the Holy One who sent him out was Trustworthy, or he never would have gone.
We need to look up and ahead, seeking the face of the One who calls us out, for the Holy One is sure and dependable, the true bedrock of our hope.
Neither this beautiful, if suffering, planet, nor we, are ever outside the care of the Creator. It is incumbent upon communities of faith to constantly remind one another of this!
“Our guardian does not doze or sleep”, reads the psalm. “We are guarded in our setting out and coming back.”
Even should struggle, harm, or death befall us, we are Kept, and never alone.
It is with the trust shown by Abram, Moses and believers to this day, that we must read John’s gospel.
Nicodemus in this story is a type of the children of Abraham, a leader in the synagogue who follows the letter of the law, and teaches it in his community. He is drawn like a moth at night, to meet the man whose wondrous signs attract him like “spiritual fireworks”. Maybe he seeks some supernatural divine activity to bolster his own faith. Alas, he can’t – or won’t – make the internal shift required to grasp Jesus’s message. He backs off from the “letting go” that a spiritual rebirth would require, and begs confusion.
The writer of John describes all encounters with Jesus as moments of grace, lived in God’s Home. There is no more spectacular “there” to find. And Jesus speaks clearly of the light and path that opens to a new way of seeing and living.
But Nicodemus can’t break out of his prescribed role, can’t walk away from the familiar. Don’t many of us struggle with that too, at times? We might dance between daring boldness, and the familial and social risks of crossing the line from private faith, to public witness. John teaches that faith is always a verb, and not for the faint of heart nor to be kept to ourselves.
Like the character of Nicodemus, the early Johannine communities also struggled. The shift from a life structured around synagogue and its daily rituals, to diverse communities witnessing the Gospel and sharing Spirit-led prayer, did not come easily.
Like them, our communities need tohelp us push out of a faith too small for those who desire to live in the Home of God. Together may we shape a faith steeped in awe, gratitude, and the keeping of all creation, to the Glory of the Holy One.
For this monastery, assembly and all communities of faith: may we grow in love, mercy, and witness, let us pray..
For all who live in fear, hunger, danger or illness, and all who mourn their beloved dead, let us pray..
Please pause to name those for whom you would like to pray…………for all of these and those named in our Book of Intentions, let us pray..
Let us ask God to shield the joyous: that every child be blessed with laughter, each parent and expectant parent be gifted with more joy than anxiety, that people of every age, identity and ability know love – and that hope be reborn across this earth! We pray….
Holy and Trustworthy One, you know our needs and desires before we form the words. Hear the prayers we raise, confident that your mercy precedes us. Help us to be just and merciful for those in need.
This we ask in the name of our Creator, Jesus, Word made flesh, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Let us now share the Peace of Christ with one another, as is comfortable for them.
*(From John Shea, On Earth as it is in Heaven, Matthew Year A, (2004)