The Mainline Minister

Let's Stay Put! Today we begin the Advent season.  And while the old standard tells us that it's "the most wonderful time of the year," the reality is sometimes closer to the most hectic, the most busy, the most stressful time of the year.  In all of our doing and coming and froing, we can lose sight of the gift of this season of the church year: an invitation,  no, a call, to be still, be silent, to wait and watch. Advent's here -- so rather than rush off, let's stay put!  You never know what might come your way - grace, respite, peace.

Praise God for all he's done.   Hallelujah! Praise God with joy.  Hallelujah! Praise God with abandon.  Hallelujah! Praise God wherever you are, with whomever you find yourself.  Hallelujah! Praise God who does amazing things. Hallelujah! Praise God who gives new life, who loves his people, who is recreating the universe. Hallelujah! Praise God this Easter Day! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Praise God in the holy temple; * give praise in the firmament of heaven. Praise God who is mighty in deed; * give praise for God’s excellent greatness. Praise God with the blast of the ram’s-horn; * give praise with lyre and harp. Praise God with timbrel and dance; * give praise with strings and pipe. Praise God with resounding cymbals; * give praise with loud-clanging cymbals. Let everything that has breath * praise the LORD. Hallelujah!

"Do you work wonders for the dead?" asks the psalmist in verse 11.  Today, in the aftermath of the crucifixion, the seemingly obvious answer would be no.  But our God is a mighty God, full of wonders, power, and love.  So we wait and we anticipate.  We join the author of Psalm 88 and ask the question hoping, praying, believing that the answer will be yes.  We do so, knowing that our God can do anything. On this day of waiting, we reflect, we prepare.  We consider all the cruelty and hate the world can offer and we ask if is there is another way.  We do so looking to the promise of Scripture, the commitment of our Lord, the hope of the Resurrection.  We do so knowing the answer, God's answer, will be yes, there is another Way. 1      O LORD, my God, my Savior, * by day and night I cry to you. 2      Let my prayer enter into your presence; * incline your ear to my lamentation. 3  ...

Attentive readers of these reflections know that thanks to the vagaries of the Daily Office and one or two idiosyncratic choices, we have visited a psalm more than once during our Lenten journey.  Psalm 22 is among this cohort.  And as we stand before the cross this day, it is right that we return to this text, especially to its first, anguished verses. Jesus, we recall, cried out plaintively "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"  With the gift of time, we can engage in deep and valuable.  theological reflection.  We can look back upon that moment and try to discern its meaning.  But that, I would suggest, can wait.  At this hour, let us be present with Jesus.  As he holds us, as he nurtures us, let us do the same for him.  Let us be to him what he is to us: a reflection of God's steadfast presence.  Let us stand with him, knowing that even though God has not forsaken him, even as God never forsakes us, we can still...

The psalmist harbors no doubt.  God is surely listening to his prayers. It's easy to make this assertion when all is going well. But what about during times of trouble?  What about now, Maundy Thursday, when Jesus will meet with is disciples, one of whom will betray him?  What about now, the eve of Jesus' crucifixion?  Was God listening to Jesus?  Will he listen to us? Yes. Yes. Yes. God is listening.  Though it may not be obvious, God is listening as if nothing else in the world matters, as if there is nothing else in the world to hear.  God hears his people.  To God, each person is precious. Remember this.  Respond to this.  And yes, as odd as this word may seem today, rejoice in this. 116:1 I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my supplications. 116:2 Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live. 116:12 What shall I return to the LORD for all his bounty to me? 116:13 I will...

In verses 7 - 9, the psalmist writes of fleeing his troubles, of wishing he could take flight like a dove.  This expression of hope, of an escape from one's woes and travails, is lyrical and moving.  When troubles seem insurmountable, the desire to take flight, to run away, can be very appealing. The words "running away" don't always have the most positive connotation.  They can suggest cowardice and avoidance.  Of an evasion of responsibility.  But under the right circumstances, running away can be prudent, wise, and, yes, even brave.  Think about running away from a bear.  Or a fire.  Or, all those things that tempt us to stray from God. Then there's the question of where one is heading when one runs.  Is it into further trouble, deeper into the woods?  Or is it towards our rock and our salvation, to the God who sustains and nurtures us? At some time, each of us will run away.  In these final days of Lent, we ar...

It can be hard to repent.  As we reflect on our actions, our choices, our priorities, we can lose heart.  Sometimes, it's possible to lose any sense of self worth.  And when that happens, when we can't forgive ourselves, we wonder how anybody else, including God, could.  Here, the psalmist calls us back to the truth with honesty and pathos.  As far as we've fallen, as grievously as we've erred, as blatantly as we've sinned if we are willing to turn back to God with open and willing hearts, if we're willing to own to what we've done and not done to separate ourselves from God and God's people, we can be sure that we will be accepted by the One who has made, who loves us, and who will heal us. 1  LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger; * do not punish me in your wrath. 2  Have pity on me, LORD, for I am weak; * heal me, LORD, for my bones are racked. 3  My spirit shakes with terror; * how long, O LORD, how long? 4  Turn, O LORD, ...