Lenten Meditation

Luke 13

By The Rev. William E. Exner+

 

Jesus looked over the great city of Jerusalem – the center of the world – the heart of his nation – the place whose name Jeru-salem means “the home of peace.”  And, instead of seeing a model city – A place of joy or safety and human progress, welcome, beauty, or strength, Jesus saw division and fear, danger, threats, and many conflicted souls wondering aloud “who was worthy of God’s saving grace.  LORD WHO CAN BE SAVED? 

 

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem,” Jesus sighed, “God has invited all the children of the world to you for welcome, joy, comfort and life AND you obsess over who can get in and who you should keep out while you kill off the prophets and messengers God sends to help you live into your promise and purpose”. (my paraphrase)

 

Yes Jesus’ journey took him to the holy city and what he saw was a far cry from the city of God that our Creator has asked humankind to build up wherever we live on earth.  Indeed, Jesus looked upon Jerusalem and it was not living up to its great purpose and promise.

 

Now, am I inferring that God has a vision for human society and for the community of the souls in this world?  You bet I am.  And do I have strong faith in God’s purpose for us in helping this sacred vision come about?  You bet I do and Lent is the right time to ask yourself that question too.

 

In fact one thing the Judeo, Christian and Islamic traditions AT THEIR BEST are clear about, and in agreement on is that God gave us all life and gave us each purpose.  And the purpose of our lives, both individually and collectively, is to build up souls and societies which honor and affirm one another while striving for the common good of all. [It is not every man for himself – God’s purpose is for all.]

 

Indeed from the early Hebrew Patriarchs 3000 years before Christ, to the day Jesus approached Jeru-salem ONE GREAT GUIDING VISION, ONE SACRED PHRASE drove all souls toward God’s purposeful enterprise.  These are the words to live by that I often tell people seeking Confirmation or Reception to write on their hearts – the words come from the lips of Moses and Christ himself.  “You shall love the Lord your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength And you shall love your neighbor as yourself – there is no other commandment than this”, (Jesus declared): “On this depends all the law and the prophets”.  Your own real abiding faith in this guide, the Great Commandment, makes God’s purpose possible in this life, in this world.

 

Now, I saw this past week that the Methodist Church in England held a contest to see who could come up with the whittiest 11th commandment.  Results ranged from, “Thou shalt not wage a ‘pre-emptive’ war based on intelligence gathering that turns out not so intelligent”, to “Thou shalt not read, shave, apply lipstick or talk on the cell phone while driving.”  Now it’s a cute idea for Lent to ask people to come up with another commandment, but for me, as I look at our communities and into our hearts, for me until we live more fully into the 1st and Great Commandment to love God with everything we’ve got and to love our neighbor (others) as we want to be loved, until we personify the 1st and Great Commandment I DON’T THINK WE NEED ADD ANY MORE!

 

God has in mind a great purpose for us, an era of wholeness and fulfillment for the human race.  God has a purpose where all have daily bread and safe affordable homes and educated minds and loving spirits.  God has in mind a plan where we all practice non-violence and respect for ourselves and hospitality toward others.  Yes in God’s holy city, town and heart the strong will help and not dominate the weak, the elderly are protected, the environment is renewed.  And yes in God’s plan for us men and women will act with integrity and inner strength – the young are given opportunity – and there is appreciation of the diversity of God’s creation, our colors, cultures, and religious expressions.  Indeed, nurturing body, soul and mind is the name of the game for all God’s children and God yearns to bring us all together (as the Gospel said today) as a hen lives to gather her chicks under the safe, warm embrace of her wings.  Friends, this is God’s purpose – it is about the day when our hearts, homes, and communities reflect the law of loving kindness, the 1st Great Commandment.  And when the Lord returns just one look will say it all, “Well done good and faithful servants”.

 

Have faith in this vision.  Do what you must do to live into this noble purposeful life no matter the cost.  This is the glorious “way and witness” of Christ.  His faith led his witness.  Yours can Too!  It’s like God to Abraham, “Do not be afraid, I am your shield – your reward will be great”.  It’s like St. Paul told the early seekers, “do not live as if an enemy of the cross of Christ, rather stand firm in the Lord in these ways beloved.”  You are called be-loved.  It is the season of Lent dear people of faith.  The Savior looks over our communities but he is also looking deep into your heart.  And far from judging you, or seeing only what is wrong, or deficient or broken inside, God is inviting you to come close, to be gathered under warm, loving wings and be strengthened for service and be healed for life.

 

Indeed our help is in the name of the Lord – Let our mouths be filled with Gods praise and our lives strengthened by God’s purpose. May our hearts and home and nation one day be rightly called Jeru-salem – The place of peace too…Amen.