February 24, 2013, 2nd Sunday in Lent

February 24, 2013

2nd Sunday in Lent Year C

Luke 13:31-35

Rev. Jo Miller

          Are you a little confused by today’s reading coming from chapter 13? I would not be surprised if you are. Two weeks ago we read of the Transfiguration found in Luke Chapter 9. Last week we had the scene from Luke 4 with the Temptations in the desert. Today our reading has Jesus well on his way to Jerusalem. Our church calendar may offer a rhythm to the church year but offers little rhythm to the readings of the Gospels. They can seem to jump around a bit. We have had the birth story, the Epiphany, the baptism but not in clear order.

          David Barr in his study book on the New Testament writes that Luke uses geography as his literary device but is not about the geography of the area. He says that the geography tells us about the incredible journey Jesus took to Jerusalem. He writes that the story of the journey is punctuated by prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit.

          We missed the baptism in Luke 3:21 that says; “Now when all the people had been baptized and when Jesus too had been baptized as he was praying, the heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit in bodily form like a dove came down upon him.

          In the readings from the 3rd Sunday after Epiphany in Luke 4:14 we read: Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee. Then last week we went to the first part of Luke 4 where we had the Temptation and heard again that Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit and was led into the wilderness. Jesus was on a Spiritual journey. It is not linear. Sometimes Jesus is going north, than he is going south, and sometimes there does not seem to be any progress north, south, east, or west. He runs into difficult people and helpful people and those who are just looking for an encouraging word of hope. Sometimes Jesus is happy and eating, having a good time and sometimes he gets a little upset with his disciples. Today we hear him grieving for Jerusalem. “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! This section sounds as though God is speaking clearly through Jesus.

          What does a spiritual journey look like? Read the Gospels. I would say that almost every one of my books on Christianity or Buddhism is someone relaying their spiritual journey. Jesus’ spiritual journey was his life journey. Our spiritual journey is our life journey. Most of the time we walk through our life unconscious of this fact. Sometimes it hits us that there is something more, something deeper than work, family and play. There is. We are mind, body, and soul. Whether we know it or not, whether we believe it or not life is our journey and it is a spiritual one. Sometimes we are going full tilt ahead and other times slipping backwards or just on idle. Nevertheless we are still on our journey.

          Jesus had spiritual practices. He prayed often. We will read where he went away to a quiet place. When he left in the early morning to be alone. He went regularly to the synagogues for worship. He was with a close knit group of people whom he taught. He did not practice his faith in isolation. He was open to the movement and direction of the Holy Spirit. His disciples on the other hand, a lot like us. They did not know what it was all about for long time. But, they kept on working at it. Peter, I love Peter. Oh, how many times have Peter and I had our foot in our mouth. Jesus loved Peter anyway.  

          I’m not what you would call a doctrinally orthodox kind of person. I am more semi-Pelagian with a large dose of Celtic spirituality running through my veins. Just know that Augustine wouldn’t approve. Of course he wouldn’t approve of me being ordained either. In the 1980’s and 1990’s (a really long time ago) I was on a tough, going nowhere spiritual journey. In 1987 the band U2 (you know Bono’s band) came out with a song with the lyrics “I still haven’t found what I’m looking for.” That nailed it for me. I hadn’t found it until I returned to the Episcopal church with all its ancient creeds and prayers that reach back to the beginning centuries of the church and before. I don’t have to believe every word of the Creed to say it for I am joining my voice with all the voices of all the saints throughout the last two thousand years. Some of our prayers have been said nonstop for centuries. There is something very holy about the incense of prayers.  What does your journey smell like? How does it sound in your heart and mind and soul?  Who is on the journey with you? I suspect Jesus had a deep love for his Jewish faith. I suspect that their ancient prayers in the synagogues were very important to him. I strongly suspect that his love for his people was even stronger for what he was willing to do for them.  The spirit of the risen Christ, the Ground of our being, God of the Universe loves all the people. Loves us even when we are not aware. We are his people.

          Here we stand at the beginning of the second week of Lent and we are also looking toward Jerusalem. What do we take away with us today with this Gospel reading? I suggest the last line, listen: “And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, ‘blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.’” Where else do we hear a portion of that line? We hear it every Sunday in our Eucharistic Prayer:  “Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest?

          Let me put a little twist on this. We are now the ones who come in the name

 of the Lord. You are blessed. You leave here blessed people. Blessed are the teachers, of whom we have many. Blessed are the doctors and nurses and caregivers when they leave here to do the work they are been given to do. Who else can we add to the list of Blessed people? Blessed are the cookie makers, the piece makers, the holy bread makers. Blessed are the singers, the musicians, the mothers and fathers, babies and children. When we leave here we are blessed and we go forth in the name of the Lord. This is an important part of our life journey our spiritual journey. We were never promised an easy journey only a blessed one.