PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

That truth has been inscribed into our heart and into the heart of every human being, there to be read and reverenced, thanks be to you, O God.

That there are ways of seeing and sensitivities of knowing hidden deep in the palace of the soul, waiting to be discovered, ready to be set free, thanks be to you.

Open our senses to wisdom’s inner promptings that we may give voice to what we hear in our soul and be changed for the healing of the world, that we may listen for truth in every living soul and be changed for the well-being of the world.

–       JP Newell, “Sounds of the Eternal:  A Celtic Psalter”

Luke 9:51-62

A Samaritan Village Refuses to Receive Jesus

51 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; 53 but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem.54 When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” 55 But he turned and rebuked them. 56 Then they went on to another village.

Would-Be Followers of Jesus

57 As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 59 To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 60 But Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”61 Another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” 62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Our gospel lesson in Luke this week finds Jesus at a turning point, he is setting his eyes

towards the journey to Jerusalem. As we’ve discussed in the past, Jerusalem is the

center of Jewish religious life, it has the rebuilt temple, it is the focal point of Jewish life,

it is where God dwells on earth symbolically. Jesus has been teaching, preaching, and

loving folks from all different walks of life. He has been healing and restoring to

community those on the margins of society. He has also challenged the religious-political

structures of that time to be model better the type of community that God intended:

inclusive, loving, restorative, and built upon the notion of God’s dwelling being made

with all of humanity. Jesus modeled this by being a rabbi, someone on the “in” of Jewish

culture, going out to those on the outside, building genuine, authentic friendships with no

strings attached, but loving them towards restoration and bringing folks back “in” to

community with others.

In the Luke narrative, the late theologian Gordon Fee says that Jesus is “the coming of

salvation in all of its fullness to all people.” No one is left out, humanity, as the Jesuit

theologian Pierre Teilhard de Chardin says is the body of Christ that Jesus came to restore

in the 2nd “big bang” of history…and in that 2nd big bang, we have a deepening of awareness that we cannot continue to scapegoat our issues on to others, but to have agency and to let God emerge within and around us.  That starts with intention and “setting the course” towards a growth.  

So, Jesus is now “set” to move towards the center of Jewish thought at Jerusalem, putting

into another phase of God’s purposes of planting the seed that changes everything. This

is the Christ Project, working all of humanity towards wholistic restoration of

relationships with ourselves, others, and God.

And, Jesus is determined to get to Jerusalem. He sets out in a direct route that takes him

towards Jerusalem. In takes him through Samaria. This is an area that is populated by

folks who have have a mix of Jewish and Gentile (non-Jewish) lineage both religiously

and literally as they have intermarried. Because they are considered impure to devout

Jews that considered Jerusalem their center, and because Samaritans had a different view

of where God dwelt, they had built temples on the borders of Samaria suggesting that God dwelt throughout the land, they were looked down upon by devout Jews and Samaritans didn’t want to have to do with Jerusalem,

because of their being rejected.

So, when Jesus sends messengers to prepare the way for his journey through Samaria, his

messengers are rejected and the Samaritans, folks who Jesus actually was trying to

befriend, reject Jesus because his “face was set for Jerusalem”…in other words, they

weren’t rejecting Jesus personally, but his intent to go to Jerusalem. Yet, the disciples

were upset, James and John especially, and asked if they could ask for “fire to come

down from Heaven” and destroy Samaria.

It seems as if James and John had not quite received the message that Jesus was sharing

yet, actually, they didn’t until after Jesus’ death and resurrection, it’s certainly safe to say

that they were working in an old paradigm of viewing Samaritans, looking down upon

them rather then opening up to them, and they also didn’t like rejection. They still had some small “e” ego.  There were drawn to the aspect of power and glory that Jesus presented, they liked the notoriety of the flash of Jesus’ message, the hearings, the miracles, but they were missing the power of rejection and of humility.

We all face rejection, but how we deal it is important. If we are set on something bigger

than our small “s” selves, then rejection can simply be a moment of growth for us, and for those doing the rejecting. If we take rejection in stride and move forward, we grow. If we reject others out of pride or contempt or a lack of self and others awareness, it can lead us towards bitterness, discontent, and we miss out on relationships and God’s blessings. God’s flow, God’s Spirit will always find a way to move towards growing something within us and in the communities that we find our being in our capital “s” Self. When we are faced with obstacles, instead of reacting to them with power plays or with pride, if we let love flow in and through us, we can see that rejection or barriers will simply add some narrative or contour to a greater story and will not stop us on our journey.

That’s what happens in this story about Jesus. Jesus rebukes the disciples, in some

ancient manuscripts, there is even an extra line in verse 56 that says this: “You do not

know what spirit you are of, 56 for the Son of Man has not come to destroy the lives of

human beings but to save them.” Jesus is for us, Jesus is for humanity, and Jesus is set on

his journey to Jerusalem to change the course of history towards a trajectory of love that

always wins out. And, Jesus wants us to live in his spirit and do the same.

It’s also important to note that even though the Samaritans didn’t get it, had pride and

couldn’t see beyond their contempt for the Jews, that there are stories in the bible that

show Jesus’ love and commitment towards the Samaritans, even befriended them. The

same thing with the disciples, they didn’t get it, even put up roadblocks and made Jesus’

life and message a bit difficult. Yet, Jesus chose them and they chose Jesus to be on the

journey together in ministry and literally towards Jerusalem.6

I have been reminded these past weeks at how important it is to be on a journey together

with folks…folks that sometimes are there for you, and sometimes not, yet the intent is to

be together and to be set towards a goal. A few years ago, I climbed Mt. Whitney with

some friends from seminary…friends from the UK, Latvia, Alaska, and even Indiana!

When we climbed Mt. Whitney, Andy was there for me in many ways…all of us would

encourage each other as we climbed. That bond continues on in many ways. I’ve had

other journey companions who’ve trained for marathons, friends who have conspired to

get some good things going in our neighborhoods and churches.  And, others who have co-created with me so many good things.

I can point to others who have been there for me…not perfect folks, actually, all of us a

mess at times….there have been difficult moments in those friendships… But, still, there

has been a flow, a bond, some would even say a covenant or a promise of friendship.

These journey companions have caused me to be set on certain goals that are all about

seeing God’s Presence within me and all around me as we have “set a course” together.  And, I’ve found that the best journey partner that I can have is the divine within me and all around me…or my True Self which allows me to see my other journey partners truly as friends.  

Jesus calls all of us into these types of relationships, as we journey together, we realize

that we are dependent on each other in this new community that Jesus is calling us

towards. It takes priority over all sorts of other tasks. We can’t be bogged down by how

we’ve always done things or even understood things, there are too many people in this

world that need the system changed in a way that Jesus lived out. Jesus says to follow

him and his way, to let the dead bury their own dead, to not make excuses of why we

can’t follow, to not delay, to not try to build up some idea of power or some sort of

kingdom that is not for the common good, but to not look back and to look forward towards building the new reality of God’s Presence that builds us up, builds bridges between us, and tears down walls that have been built up both literally and figuratively. May we live lives that set the course for the journey God’s called us on.

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

“We cannot live in a world interpreted for us by others. An interpreted world is not a hope. Part of the terror is to take back our listening, to use our own voice, to see our own light.”

“Glance at the sun. See the moon and the stars. Gaze at the beauty of the Earth’s greenings. Now, think.”

Illuminate our hearts and our minds and liberate our voices.  Amen.

― Taken from quotes by Hildegard von Bingen

Luke 8:26-39

Jesus restores a demon-possessed man

²⁶ They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee. ²⁷ When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. ²⁸ When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, ‘What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!’ ²⁹ For Jesus had commanded the impure spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places.

³⁰ Jesus asked him, ‘What is your name?’

‘Legion,’ he replied, because many demons had gone into him. ³¹ And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss.

³² A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and he gave them permission.³³ When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.

³⁴ When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, ³⁵ and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. ³⁶ Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured. ³⁷ Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left.

³⁸ The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, ³⁹ ‘Return home and tell how much God has done for you.’ So the man went away and told all over the town how much Jesus had done for him.

When I was a cross country coach, I often tell runners that they have voices that they can listen to when they run.  

When the race or practice gets hard, or it’s snowing and cold, or hot and humid, they may hear voices in their head that say you can’t do this, you aren’t tough enough, you could quit, or go home, sit on the coach in air conditioning, or play video games.   Or, they can learn to listen to the voice that tell them that they can do this, that it is worth the work and even the pain at times, that it is producing character, that they can overcome.  We call this the “moment of truth”, when you listen to the good voice that will push you through and don’t give in to the voices that leave you in a state that keeps you in a place and not growing.  

Jesus encounters a man who’s been inflicted with thousands of voices that have actually taken control of his life. 

He had so many voices, or personal demons, that when Jesus asked him his name, he said that his name was “legion” meaning “many”, even thousands.  I’m not sure how one gets into this state, but it’s safe to say that this man was affected to the point of madness, so much so that his community shunned him and even chained him up.  

Yet, Jesus goes up to him, has compassion on him.  It’s also interesting to note that this man was not part of Jesus’ faith or lifestyle.  The region where Jesus found this man was a Gentile region and Gentiles were non-believers.  That’s actually what the word “gentile” means, non-believer…as opposed to being a Jew, which meant “believer”.  It was a foreign land, yet Jesus and his disciples felt compelled to travel there, outside of their comfort zone.  

When Jesus confronts the man, the man has lost his mind, his sense of identity so much, that he doesn’t personally answer, but the demons give voice to Jesus…they know that Jesus is the Son of God…when darkness is confronted, it knows it can’t hide from the light, and it knows that it cannot overcome light.  I believe that Jesus was so acutely aware of being human…as made in the image of God, so aware of himself as God’s son, as the representation of God to humanity and humanity to God, that the darkness was revealed in this possessed man so openly that it could not help but to retreat.

It’s also important to realize that this man wanted to be healed.  As conflicted as he was, as possessed as he was, he knew that he needed to change.  It seems like Jesus’ power was best on display when others found within themselves a sense of agency.  In other words, Jesus was a co-healer.  

The demons plead with Jesus to be sent into a herd of pigs.  Which, is another indicator that Jesus is in a foreign country as pigs were considered unclean by Jewish custom.  So, Jesus sends them into the pigs and the pigs go mad and drive themselves off of a cliff.

This man regains his sense of self, his dignity and senses, and is restored into community.  But, the townsfolk are afraid of Jesus, they don’t know how to respond to this amazing act of love and power over the darkness of the possessed man’s life.  Or, maybe they are afraid that this Jesus and his presence will cost them more economically, as the herd of pigs was an economic loss.  Faced with fear, economic instability, and the presence of a change agent like Jesus, they plead for Jesus to leave.  Which, Jesus does.  As he’s leaving, the formerly possessed man asks to go with Jesus, yet Jesus tells him to stay, to find his voice more clearly now that all of the other voices are gone, and to love his neighbors and proclaim to them what God has done.

We don’t know this man’s name, it’s not in this passage, and we don’t know what happens.  But, my bet is that this region saw and experienced this Jesus and continued to see evidence of this man’s growth and release from what enslaved him.  

The power of a changed life can change the world!

I know that’s true in my life, your life, and our lives together.  What voices are we listening to?  What fears do we have that prevent us from living in awareness of the presence of Christ in our lives or keeps us away from walking with our friend Jesus?  How often do we ask God to leave us alone when faced with change in our lives, even if we know we need it or we see others’ lives changed through their awareness of God, self, and others through Jesus?  

What would it take for us to let go of the voices that keep us enslaved to the way we’ve always done things or lived…voices that are keeping us from living the way that we’ve always wanted to live and growing in new ways as humans made in God’s image, infused with God’s dynamic spirit that moves us towards the kind of lives that bring adventure, meaning, purpose, and growth?

A few years ago, I met over coffee with my good friend Peter Block as I have often done over the years, but I remember this conversation.   

Peter is a voice that I love to listen to…he speaks into my life and allows me to speak into his.  We are in community together, we practice “church” if you will in many ways.  As we were talking, he began to encourage me, as he does so often.  One of the things that he spoke into my life over that coffee was reminding me that I have a powerful voice and finding that voice consistently is good work…it’s good work for all of us.  Not only finding our particular voice, but how it fits into community and being in a community that can find its collective voice.  That voice can shape mountains, experience and share love.  

Voice is powerful when there is no agenda other than seeing relationships and community restored or created.  

Think about this phrase, this powerful voice, throughout the two creation narratives in  Genesis 1 and 2:  “And God said…”

God’s voice, God’s word, brought forth creation.  

God’s voice or God’s word, became flesh and gave us Jesus.

God’s voice, God’s word, is carried to us through the flow of God’s spirit all around us, in us, through us, to us.  

Your homework this week, take inventory daily.  Listen to yourself, others, and the messages being sent to you through social media, news media, or whatever.  What voices are you hearing or listening to.  Write them down.  Then ask yourself, where are you hearing God’s voice.  

Are we willing to listen to God’s voice as it pushes through all of the other voices in our lives, leading us to freedom and reminding us that we have a powerful voice, that we are loved, that we are made for each other and to be a part of a community together proclaiming to each other God’s love?  Not petty issues or pride or insecurities that keep us away from each other, but living together listening to God’s voice emerge within us and through us together?  May it be so!