LENT 5

                         March 21, 2010

the Rev. Ken Kroohs

Isaiah 43:16-21; Ps. 126; Philippians 3:4b-14; John 12:1-8)

NOT SPENDING TIME WITH JESUS

St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, High Point, NC

MAY THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH ... AND THE MEDITATIONS OF ALL OUR HEARTS ... BE ALWAYS ACCEPTABLE TO YOU --- OUR STRENGTH AND OUR REDEEMER AMEN

    This is one time I kinda agree with Judas. I find it difficult to argue with his reasoning ... even if his true motives we different. And I find Jesus’ explanation difficult to reconcile with all Jesus teaches about caring for the poor.

    It somewhat helps me to notice the comment about “keeping it for the day of my burial” ... that helps somewhat but not much. Why would Jesus support using expensive oil on His body?

    ... You waiting for a good answer? I don’t have one! This is on my rather long list of scripture passages I intend to ask about when my time comes.

    And I especially concerned because this passage is quoted frequently to justify the fanciest churches. I am not necessarily focusing on the medieval cathedrals because sometimes those were supportive of the community.

    And I am not raising objections to nice, aesthetically pleasing churches. I think a reasonable statement can be made that our churches reflect God and should not be an embarrassment. Even then however, we need to understand the decorations are for our benefit, not God’s. God is not impressed by stained glass windows, and statues although they can affect our attitude toward God. If these bring human beings closer to God that’s great but we need to remember they are for the benefit of human beings and not to impress God.

    One church I know, not around here, did something interesting. They set aside a tithe of their building fund for community outreach. So they had to raise 110% of their target before starting. Always impossible to know for sure but some of the people believe they raised more by keeping the focus on ministry.

    Anyway, another part of this that bothers me, and is frequently mis-understood, is Jesus’ comment “you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.” I do not for a minute believe, as I have heard argued, that this means “don’t bother to help the poor, they will always be around anyway.” That is completely inconsistent with Jesus’ teachings throughout His life.

    So what is meant by all this? ... I’m not sure but I asked myself why we have this reading during Lent. Obviously the connection with Judas leading up to his betrayal of Jesus makes sense. It sets the ground work so we later better understand what happens.

    And that may have been the entire reasoning for the people who scheduled our readings. BUT, as I read over it I found myself focusing on the phrase “you will not always have me”.

    Obviously again, that means in a physical sense. Obviously Jesus is still with us in the very real, spiritual sense.

    BUT – what I heard, not exactly what is written, but what I heard is that we need to spend time with Jesus. We need to stop worrying about everything else in the world – even, for a moment, the poor. Jesus frequently went away to spend time wit His Father. And I suspect this is some of what is meant by the entire passage. That we spend too little time with God. Which is a good Lenten reflection all by itself!

    We spend too little time with God. Not necessarily working for God – we may spend a lot or a little working .... not necessarily learning about God - we may do that a lot or a little .... but being with God. .... I suspect that people who do spend significant time learning about and working for God are more likely to spend time with God if they are truly learning about and working for God out a relationship with God. If those efforts are more intended to earn credits with God, that is another matter.

    We spend too little time with God. .... yeah BUT, look at all I have to do day in and day out!! .... THAT is one excuse, one possible excuse for not spending more time with God that I understand, identify with, and mis-use at least as much as, and probably more than, anyone in this room!!

    Being too busy to spend time with God is my excuse – and a lousy one. .... Every second of our lives is available to us to use as we wish. True, many of those seconds would be difficult to change. We COULD quit our jobs but that is probably not a good decision! But we do have that choice.

    Most importantly we have the choice how we live those seconds. Even if our physical location or activity is heavily influenced by others ... we can choose how we live those seconds.

    And there are lots of seconds which are not under the control of other people. We act as if they are ... but they are not. And for any second of our life the truth is we have the choice on how it is spent .... and we make those choices based on our priorities. .... OK?

    Everyone of us does what is our top priority for that moment. Most of the time we do so without consciously even considering any options. We don’t consider not going to work every morning – we just do it. OK – but what about the choice between reading the paper or a novel, or the Bible? Or the choice between playing a video game or praying?

    Notice, it is not about eliminating reading or playing in our lives. It is about having a balance. About including God, not about excluding other things.

    But think about this ... assume you found a day. Somehow there is an eighth day in the week ... a day without anything assigned to it. A free day. What would you do? ... Assume you could be paid for the extra time if you worked that day. How would you spend the day?

    Is money so important you would work that day? And sometimes, especially in this economy, that is not a bad decision. Or maybe your family is so important. For me that day would be spent at least partially playing with my grand kids! That would be near the top of my priorities. What would you do?

    Now imagine that instead of a day there is a full month available to you ... a month between April and May. A month when there is nothing scheduled, nothing required. A month during which you clearly, obviously have the ability to choose your actions. What would you do?

    The answers might include family, or work, or golf, or the beach, or sleep, or working around the house ---- what would you do with a free month? Those are your highest priorities in life.

    You know this question was coming. Honestly and sincerely, where did God fit into those priorities? And specifically where did being WITH God as differentiated from doing for God fit into your list?

    Possibly you are wondering what I mean by “being with God”. One way to explain that is to ask you to think about or remember or imagine someone you love very much. You want to be with that person. The activity is not all that important – just being with them.

    During pre-marriage counseling I usually mention a couple who used to go here. When asked to serve on the Vestry she said she would but only if the Vestry did not meet on Tuesday nights. She explained that she and her husband had made a commitment they would have a date night, they would be together every Tuesday night for the health of their relationship. It did not matter what they did ... sometimes a long walk or coffee at McDonalds ... just being together for the health of their relationship.

    THAT’s what I mean by being “with God”. To be with God in a way which strengthens that relationship. It can happen in lots of ways. Certainly it can happen in church and I hope it does, at least some of the time! But I believe its best to set aside a special time on other occasions.

    You could go away on a retreat. Possibly a personal retreat. Possibly a group retreat. St. Francis Prayer Center in Stoneville is a beautiful and amazingly peaceful place where a person can go just to be with God, or request a guided retreat.

    Some people find prayer walks helpful. Not power walks to burn calories but quiet, peaceful walks to be with God.

    Some people find sitting in a peaceful place, alone or with other people, and just relaxing works best.

    Here is an illustration I use a lot — imagine God sitting in a VERY large rocking chair. It so large you are like a 3 year old child next to it. Now imagine you climb up onto God’s lap and God just holds you and rocks. No talking. Maybe a little humming or even quiet singing but no discussion — just being.

.............

    Sometimes we need the other kind of time with God. The more focused and planned time. I suspect we go to that rather than the quiet time too easily, but we need both. For example, the upcoming Cursillo weekend which is described in your bulletin is anything BUT a quiet, restful, meditative weekend! But, because it is such a wonderful time in a Christian community, it is a special time with God — just another style.

    The style is important, and also does not matter. It is important that we involve ourselves in a variety of styles so we can grow more deeply with God. But which comes first does not matter.

    What matters is that we remember we have the choice to spend time with God or not. Think again about that free month ... I promise you the little jobs around the house will always be with you, the mission work you can do will always be with you, the job demands will always be with you .... but passing up on the opportunity to be with God is something that does disappear. .... What are your priorities?

               AMEN

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