Spirit Stirrer

This has been an exciting week for the people of Louisiana. The state gathered in front of our televisions Sunday night to watch one of the most exciting things that has happened in the state in a long time. There was a “buzz” all day as commentators spoke time and time again of this unlikely team that had never won much who now found itself  in such a large stage.

Images of four years ago lit the screen. Water everywhere, people on rooftops, the Superdome in shambles. All seemed hopeless . . .

Little by little a team, a city, and a whole state began to rebuild. Now the team had the opportunity to prove how far from the wreckage it had come.

And they won!!!!

Even casual fans, such as myself, could not help but be proud for what this team had accomplished. The last four years have been years of rebuilding not just a team, but a city and a state. The site of people on rooftops fleeing the rising waters now became the site of celebration and joy.

Newspapers all around the state carried headlines of “answered prayers,” “hallelujah,” and “believe dat.” All carried stories of the way that this team provided hope, healing, and inspiration. The headlines spoke in Christian terms and the stories described Christian action. The team had provided much needed good news to the people that they served! They had invested in the city: lived there, set up foundations, helped schools, and became ambassadors for the rebuilding effort. Their “faith” in what their team could do and what each of them could do was put into action.

In the midst of all the celebration and the pride I wondered about the church, had we failed to provide what the city needed most? What the state needed most?

This is not a tirade against a football team. As an adopted son of this state I am proud of this important accomplishment. I was there with all other Louisianians cheering for our team, wearing black and gold, wanting them to win. I believe that sports are important ways of entertainment and competition. They also provide much needed economic impact in the communities they serve.

I guess my real tirade is against the church. We have failed time and time again to inspire, to capture the imagination, to lift up a city and a state from the rubble of destruction and chaos. We have not taken chances: on leadership with passion, on communities of service, on important adjustments at “half time.” In other words we continue to play it safe!

In the meantime people continue to gather. They gather to celebrate a victory, their victory. They also gather to feast and as they feast the hope for the future continues to build, the possibilities seem endless, the embarrassments of the past are put aside. Many were saying that they “believed again.”

I also believe again . . . I believe that the church can live again, serve again, be present again! I believe that we can come out of our apathy, self-centeredness, and lukewarmness to become the people who provide hope, healing, and inspiration to the communities that we serve. People want to believe, they want to be inspired, they want to be part of something that makes a difference. Maybe if we live in such passionate ways, the good news of Jesus that we proclaim will move people who hear it, to “believe again!”

Belief and action opens up the floodgates of renewal, rebuilding, and hope. This is what the church came to proclaim to a broken world. Let the feasting begin!

Tonight countless children in Latin American countries will eagerly await the arrival of “los Reyes,” the wise men. They will go outside and collect grass for the camels, place it next to their bed and will wake up to presents left by these mysterious visitors from long ago. I am reminded of my own childhood: the anticipation, the preparation, the excitement of gifts laying next to my bed. This is an exciting time!

While in most American homes the “holiday” has come and gone we have continued counting the days, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the wise men. The story of Jesus’ birth has been told time and time again. We have read Matthew, Luke, and even the Gospel of John. The children have reminded us each day what day of Christmas it is, Epiphany is coming!

I look forward to Epiphany every year. It has become a way to continue telling the story of Jesus’ birth as others have moved on. It has also become a way to pass on my cultural heritage to our children. There is something about marking our time in this way that helps me stay grounded as a follower of Jesus. In a real incarnate way the celebration is the continual manifestation of God’s work in us and in the world.

As I ponder this Epiphany there is also something else. These strangers were out there looking at the sky and recognized a star that promised a savior. Creation itself letting the world know that God had heard its plea. The ones that were not chosen were now part of God’s vision of salvation for the world. They came with gifts for royalty, came bowing down paying homage, and “were overwhelmed with joy.” This is a perfect story for the many who are looking for a sign – that things will get better, that someone cares, that they are not alone.

We need Epiphany, a story that reminds us of God’s universal plan of salvation, redemption, and renewal. Strangers looking at the stars who go on a journey to welcome a savior in the world. Foreigners who recognize what the powerful and the learned do not. They bring the best that they have and leave it at the feet of Jesus. Sensitive to God’s voice, they go another way so that the child and his family have time to flee.

On a recent exchange on Facebook a person took issue with the continuation of Christmas beyond December 25, “the Holidays are over, move on” this person said. It reminded me that by the time that the wise men came, the manger, the shepherds, the angels, were distant memories. The “everyday” had set in and the reality of this child could have been forgotten. Then come these exotic visitors who followed a star. They come and their visit brings about a scary and dangerous period in the story of Jesus. The powers of the day would not accept another way. In similar ways our celebration should remind us that the proclaiming and living of this gospel is truly dangerous, it changes things, it pushes the boundaries, its universality is a threat to those in power and control.

Tonight I’ll gather our children, tell the story, and continue the tradition. We will go outside, gather some grass, and look at the sky knowing that we are now the star that guides people to the savior. The gift giving is secondary to the story of a God that calls us to such universal, life giving work in the world. We too are called to become the signs of God’s presence in the world. We too bring the best we have and offer it at the feet of Jesus. The promise is to us also, the promise is to the whole world!

Feliz Dia de los Reyes!

During a recent stop at a coffee shop I decided to reflect on the passing year and the year to come. There were some important milestones this year, our oldest entering kindergarten, our third child being born, surviving the first year in a solo pastorate. There were also some difficult times, our oldest entering kindergarten, our third child being born, entering the second year in a solo pastorate . . . I’m sure by now you get my drift, many of the things we could celebrate can also be looked at as difficult and challenging circumstances.

This is the time of the year when many people make new year “resolutions.” These are ways in which one is determined to change something, do something, or take on something that was neglected in the previous year. Getting out of debt, loosing weight, & spending more time with family are some of the most common resolutions for the new year.

The problem with resolutions is that they are easily forgotten. Most people could probably not name what their “resolutions” where by the end of January. Others try really hard but quickly get discouraged when the debt does not go down, the weight is not taken off, or the demands of work continually interfere with family.

I believe that the reason why most of us are not successful in keeping these “resolutions” is that we have not properly reflected on why we have not been successful at these important things in the past. In other words, we have not learned from past mistakes, we have not become good students of our own story.

In the Christian tradition we have a name for this process of reflection that leads to real change, it’s called repentance. In repentance we acknowledge our own wrong doing, the ways that we have ignored the way, while promising to turn around and begin to walk towards God once more. This new beginning is essential to our Christian faith and is one that we return to time and time again. The catalyst of repentance is the awareness of God’s presence in our lives, this awareness needs to be fostered by practices that open our souls to God’s gracious action.

There is a practice in Ignatian spirituality called the daily examen. The examen is a tool for self reflection at the end of the day. This practice forces us to pay attention to God’s presence in our day and awakens our spirit to our actions throughout the day. The examen helps us to let go, find forgiveness, and look towards a new day, and a new way.

I’ve decided that this year, before making any “resolutions,” I would make a yearly examen. I’ll take inventory of God’s presence in me throughout the year and the ways in which I lived out of that presence. I will also take note of the times when I did not live out of God’s presence, choosing instead my own way.

As I began writing in my journal about these things I realized how many times I called out for God in this closing year. I could name them, one by one, I could go back in my journal and see the prayers and sense my own need once again. I could also remember the many times that I did not even think about, worry about, or call on God.

In the end, the practice of a yearly examen opened the door to God’s invitation in my life for the new year. The invitation, become a more faithful disciple, was simple – the living it out extremely difficult! This is not just another resolution but a commitment to more faithfully align all of my life to God’s vision of justice, peace, & love for all of creation.

Have a Blessed New Year!

The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
on them light has shined.
³You have multiplied the nation,
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as people exult when dividing plunder.
⁴For the yoke of their burden,
and the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
⁵For all the boots of the tramping warriors
and all the garments rolled in blood
shall be burned as fuel for the fire.
⁶For a child has been born for us,
a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders;
and he is named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
⁷His authority shall grow continually,
and there shall be endless peace
for the throne of David and his kingdom.
He will establish and uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time onwards and for evermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Isaiah 9:2-7

Alleluia, Alleluia,  Alleluia!

Today salvation has come to the world!

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Soon many of our churches will be filled. People will gather from different places and find time to sing Silent Night and light candles. Some there are family members that are visiting for the holiday, but most are “members” of your congregation that you only see at Christmas and Easter.

Last night in a conversation with a colleague this topic came up. We were discussing the difficulties of preaching on a night like Christmas Eve. Both of us felt committed to the important theological message of the incarnation, yet were aware that most who gather on that day have no compass point that helps them understand this message and many do not even care. Should the preacher take this into consideration?

I am aware that during this time of the year the people that gather are in different places. Some come rejoicing, others grieving; some come willingly, others unwillingly; some come to hear the great story, others to sing the traditional songs; some come with high expectations others with no expectations.

So in the end my task is to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ! Trusting the Spirit’s work in the community of faith, trusting that those who are willing will experience Christ’s birth in their lives once more.

This year I’ll be thankful that these Christmas Christians have gathered. God has called them once more and they have responded (even if they do not know it; prevenient grace) Maybe this will be the year, maybe this will be the new beginning they need. I’ll resist the urge to make a point, to take a count, to try to convince. Instead I will provide hospitality, tell the great story of salvation, and gather the community around table.

They might come just to accompany grandma, appease the spouse, to do their Christian duty, or just to hear the songs. We know that God has called us to gather and as we do this will be our prayer:

Hail the heav’nly Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Ris’n with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die.
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.

Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”