787
Commentary
Object:
J. Philip Wogaman, a professor of ethics and the former dean of Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington DC, began the first day of my class with this question: "What is the central theme of the Bible?" He heard from the students the expected responses of love, forgiveness, and salvation. I am sure you could name the continuing list of replies. The one answer he did not receive was the word "hope." The professor then lectured that hope is the central message of the scriptures. Hope is the message of the Resurrection. It is the message that there is always a new day in the morning. It is the message that no matter how tragic life may be there is the possibility for a new beginning. This does not lessen the sorrow or suffering of the befallen tragedy. It does not discount the severity of the present agony. What it does mean is that in the midst of these horrible circumstances there is the possibility for a new beginning.
Hope is the central message of our three lectionary readings today. Each reading relates to us the possibility of a new life lived in Christ if we only allow for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit; if we only allow the breath of God to renew us; if we only allow the promises of God to prevail amidst our despair.
You could not see it in the sky, but if you were an air traffic controller it was very visible on their radar screen. It was the outline of the number 787 and the logo for Boeing stretching from Washington state to Iowa. Boeing decided to place this design in the sky to commemorate the recently launched 787 Dreamliner. The jet required an 18-hour extended operations flight in order to be certified. So as long as the plane was going to be in the air, the Boeing executives decided to advertise their new aircraft and company at the same time. The design took nineteen hours to create and covered over 9,000 nautical miles.
In times of despair and disillusionment it may seem as if God is a distant God, even an absent God, but like that unseen 787 stretching across our continent, God is always very much present.
Lent is a journey of suffering. It is a journey to the cross where we recall the passion of Christ and the many sorrows and indignities he had to suffer. Yet we know at the end of the journey there is the Resurrection. There is new life. This is our hope. This is our 787.
Ezekiel 37:1-14
Ezekiel looked upon the dried-up bones of the defeated soldiers of Israel, slaughtered by the Chaldeans. As he wandered through the valley he wondered and worried if the nation of Israel could ever again be restored. He contemplated if there would ever again be a renewal for a fallen and disobedient people. He questioned if he was looking upon the final act of justice by God; the final statement of God for a wayward people. Were the chosen people finally and indefinitely cast aside?
Then Ezekiel heard a voice. It was the voice of God. It came as a question, but it was really more of a statement: "Can these bones live?" They can live. They once again can be restored if they hear the prophetic word of the Lord. So Ezekiel spoke in God's name, and the bones came together. Then with the breath of the prophetic word, just like the moment of creation, the bones came alive.
But let us remember the bones came alive and Israel was restored only because Ezekiel acted as an intermediary on God's behalf.
Romans 8:6-11
If we are to live, we are to live for the Lord. If we set our minds on the flesh we shall die, not physically, but spiritually. Our lives, though seemingly playful and joyful as we indulge in the inequities of decadent behavior, will be lifeless.
It is only when we set forth to live in the Spirit of God that we have true joy as we are focused on the true meaning of creation, which is to love God and live in harmony with others.
We will be able to get off of the merry-go-round of life, escaping the anxiety of trying to grab the brass ring of wanting more. Instead, we will be able to take a ride on the pony, fenced in, having a handler, moving at a slow and steady gentle pace.
John 11:1-45
Lazarus was Jesus' best friend. So it is little wonder that Jesus wept upon learning of Lazarus' death. Sorrow, heartbreak, and tribulation did not even escape our Lord. Jesus traveled the same path through life as you and I do. It was a life of both ecstasy and sadness.
Yet at the gravesite, with the rolling away of the stone and with the call for Lazarus to come out, Jesus gave us the promise of new life. It was the promise of resurrection. It was the declaration of a life restored. So even though Jesus wept, he still lived in the promise of a new creation.
Application
The natural calamities of life, unpreventable disasters, and illness can all place us in the valley of despair, as spoken to by Ezekiel. Our own illicit behavior can cause us unforeseen problems, as presented by Paul. Sadness may follow us like a dark shadow, as seen when Jesus wept for his friend.
But as each lectionary reading demonstrates there can be and will be new life, if we can keep our focus upon the promises of God.
An Alternative Application
Amidst the sufferings and uncertainties of life, you and I are an intricate ingredient in the ministry of God. It was only when Ezekiel spoke that the bones came alive. It was only when Paul taught that the people received a message of a new life. It was only when Martha came to Jesus that Lazarus was able to come forth from his grave. We are an indispensable part of the ministry of our Lord.
Hope is the central message of our three lectionary readings today. Each reading relates to us the possibility of a new life lived in Christ if we only allow for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit; if we only allow the breath of God to renew us; if we only allow the promises of God to prevail amidst our despair.
You could not see it in the sky, but if you were an air traffic controller it was very visible on their radar screen. It was the outline of the number 787 and the logo for Boeing stretching from Washington state to Iowa. Boeing decided to place this design in the sky to commemorate the recently launched 787 Dreamliner. The jet required an 18-hour extended operations flight in order to be certified. So as long as the plane was going to be in the air, the Boeing executives decided to advertise their new aircraft and company at the same time. The design took nineteen hours to create and covered over 9,000 nautical miles.
In times of despair and disillusionment it may seem as if God is a distant God, even an absent God, but like that unseen 787 stretching across our continent, God is always very much present.
Lent is a journey of suffering. It is a journey to the cross where we recall the passion of Christ and the many sorrows and indignities he had to suffer. Yet we know at the end of the journey there is the Resurrection. There is new life. This is our hope. This is our 787.
Ezekiel 37:1-14
Ezekiel looked upon the dried-up bones of the defeated soldiers of Israel, slaughtered by the Chaldeans. As he wandered through the valley he wondered and worried if the nation of Israel could ever again be restored. He contemplated if there would ever again be a renewal for a fallen and disobedient people. He questioned if he was looking upon the final act of justice by God; the final statement of God for a wayward people. Were the chosen people finally and indefinitely cast aside?
Then Ezekiel heard a voice. It was the voice of God. It came as a question, but it was really more of a statement: "Can these bones live?" They can live. They once again can be restored if they hear the prophetic word of the Lord. So Ezekiel spoke in God's name, and the bones came together. Then with the breath of the prophetic word, just like the moment of creation, the bones came alive.
But let us remember the bones came alive and Israel was restored only because Ezekiel acted as an intermediary on God's behalf.
Romans 8:6-11
If we are to live, we are to live for the Lord. If we set our minds on the flesh we shall die, not physically, but spiritually. Our lives, though seemingly playful and joyful as we indulge in the inequities of decadent behavior, will be lifeless.
It is only when we set forth to live in the Spirit of God that we have true joy as we are focused on the true meaning of creation, which is to love God and live in harmony with others.
We will be able to get off of the merry-go-round of life, escaping the anxiety of trying to grab the brass ring of wanting more. Instead, we will be able to take a ride on the pony, fenced in, having a handler, moving at a slow and steady gentle pace.
John 11:1-45
Lazarus was Jesus' best friend. So it is little wonder that Jesus wept upon learning of Lazarus' death. Sorrow, heartbreak, and tribulation did not even escape our Lord. Jesus traveled the same path through life as you and I do. It was a life of both ecstasy and sadness.
Yet at the gravesite, with the rolling away of the stone and with the call for Lazarus to come out, Jesus gave us the promise of new life. It was the promise of resurrection. It was the declaration of a life restored. So even though Jesus wept, he still lived in the promise of a new creation.
Application
The natural calamities of life, unpreventable disasters, and illness can all place us in the valley of despair, as spoken to by Ezekiel. Our own illicit behavior can cause us unforeseen problems, as presented by Paul. Sadness may follow us like a dark shadow, as seen when Jesus wept for his friend.
But as each lectionary reading demonstrates there can be and will be new life, if we can keep our focus upon the promises of God.
An Alternative Application
Amidst the sufferings and uncertainties of life, you and I are an intricate ingredient in the ministry of God. It was only when Ezekiel spoke that the bones came alive. It was only when Paul taught that the people received a message of a new life. It was only when Martha came to Jesus that Lazarus was able to come forth from his grave. We are an indispensable part of the ministry of our Lord.
