Guest Preacher
“Beloved in Being You”
Isaiah 51: 1-8, Romans 12:1-8
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This summer I took three courses so it was a toss-up between sharing a Zombies end of the world story or something related to the apostle Paul or spirituality and mysticism .. In the mysticism course we really unpacked how our mind operates both physically but also in spaces that we do not fully understand in the unconscious world, in a more divine and loving energy space ..although we are not able necessarily to grasp it as we see though our eyes and lenses of understanding,
This part of the year is the longest portion of the Christian calendar that is that is termed as time after Pentecost and yes that was quite a few weeks ago, Ordinary time as this season is called is the longest almost half the year until we arrive at Creation time in September. … I might have preferred to be able to push ahead to the season of creation.. the fall seems all that easier to discuss filled with earth related nurturing.
But better planning as it also happens as this time is known for “spiritual growth”, which seems to be fit with our scripture messages that Paul and other prophets were carrying on being filled with belovedness as children of God in turbulent times.. So let us think about three things that connect our spirit across time.. Isaiah; Paul and a bit of spiritual formation of Henri Nouwen ..
But let me offer an interesting and related vignette from this week.. on the radio I heard that we as individuals are becoming more emotionally de-skilled .. I short of listened harder not a word I was familiar with.. It has to do the offering and receiving of bad news… how we might feel about that.. and we able to struggle through … We are starting to be in a time where we can now get AI to do tasks for us (even likely write sermons or analysis texts) to remove inconvenience so we apparently can focus on doing more productive or perhaps enjoyable recreation? Breaking up with your girlfriend no need to worry about the words to use AI can do it for you.. passing on bad news of an illness perhaps it is possible- the commentator called this.. an era of emotional recession.. so that we can have frictionless lives .. interesting and valid reason on the surface to relieve burdens.. but worth more thought ..
So, the question might be to observers of what we just heard .. some of these times did not feel very spiritually enlightened and perhaps full of friction.
Isaiah who is a respected wise man, but also accepted by the rulers .. _ we could think of him sort of like a David Sukuzi, he is speaking to Judean people whose ancestors witnessed or lived through the (first) destruction of their temple and most had to abandon their home city of Jerusalem. How many people now feel a parallel to hearing these words of comfort .. residents fleeing Kyiv, Citizens of Gazan towns forced out not only of town but country. Palestinians whose homes are in the settlement paths of soldiers and bulldozers – as they remove grandmothers and take away the keys to your home ..
Isaiah resorts to setting people with their history and themes that they know, and he uses effective Hebrew poetry …there are clues here.. .. first to connect them as beloved people … he connects to the foundations of their ancestors to Moses and Abraham and Sarah .. writers use repetition .. this is often used in Hebrew writing and in the Psalms, In an Old Testament wisdom course we studied the particular meter, the repeating patterns, which all reminded me of a course taken at Mt Seymour some 15 years ago called Writing the Sacred with Ray McGinnis.. so I actually used his book to get reacquainted with Hebrew poetry.
And you’ll notice as we read through this text just a minute ago, each section of the passage starts the same way. Look at verse one. “Listen to me”, you who pursue righteousness. Look at verse four. “Give attention to me, my people.” Verse seven, “listen to me” you who know righteousness. Interesting.. You can see that there. This passage kind of has like a repeating idea which is going to help give us the shape of our message today. You see a command from God through the servant to listen. Then you get a description of the people he’s talking to… all Hebrew poetry as Isiah speaks in dualities or opposites .. light and dark, .. worms and moths ; embedded code.. also not very subtle .. a sort of tattoo, in terms of a direct message.
Isaiah is talking .. to the Jewish temple leaders ..to groups gathered perhaps who were despairing being pulled away from love .. who are you going to trust? They may not have had the media channels of present and YouTube and Instagram .. but they were multiple tribal leaders.. vying for people’s hearts and support, perhaps offering means that Isaiah was not happy about.. offering choices .. unethical outside of the 10 commandments that Moses had passed down .. (last week talked about Jewish laws and how Jesus wanted us to focus on doing what was ethical vs “being seen” but actually doing justice .. and living fully with the vulnerable.)
Perhaps people they were unhappy due to their conditions and obviously wishing to return home to Judea .. perhaps it is sort of like us, we are grumbly about something .. (is what it might be called in our house), something has not gone the way you want it to …we are told ‘to hold tight.’
Also there is wording so called “fear the Lord” (not really fear .. but to worship) and trust the Lord… Isaiah like Moses had pretty unenviable tasks.. people who had lost things, change was under way .. and it was hot out as they were exiled in Babylon; around in the desert .. visions kept telling them that there was a Messiah who was coming to in what their minds .. as a ruler… vanquish the oppressors. (It sort of feels like yesterday waking up to find that businesses will be hit with significant tariffs, people loss jobs.)
So, he says .. listen … Listen to me, my people; hear me, my nation: Instruction will go out from me; (Jesus ).. my justice will become a light to the nations. (notable as they tend to be a past focussed people i.e. back toward Moses, but here God is asking us to be forward focussed .. which is always harder..)
My righteousness; (pause) (Jen Beth always has an issue with this word as many of us do..) (rather we can see it meaning right relationship, compassion ) draws near speedily, my salvation (peace-my blessing) is on the way, and my arm will bring justice to the nations.
God recognizes lots of imperfection in the world ..but..
By the end of this passage …But my salvation – peace .. will last forever, my righteousness .. faith in you – my embrace that will uphold you… will never fail….. nothing will severe the bond in the beloveds family, the bonds with their God.
Earlier in in verse 49 we hear the belovedness that we are reflected as .. Can a woman forget her nursing child or show no compassion for the child of her womb?
Even these might forget, yet I will not forget you. (says the Creator) So in effect Isaiah is holding out God’s covenant .. the word in French meaning convenir .. coming together .. with God and with community support if inclusive .. convenir du Dieu …
[omitted: Last week it was the Cannonite women who was causing a problem… to whom Jesus was compassionate … this follows then that Isiah is showing that same compassion as the root of God’s world, and Creation’s justice, and re-creativeness.]
The imperfection in people or in creation is well on display ..
[Omitted: Nature has lots of imperfection ..the forest fires which are raging .. yet always will leave room for new green to emerge … creation energy remains … we see landslides like occurred in the Chilcotin River .. 2 years ago .. that was nature replying to a heated summer by sliding into the river and actually blocking the entire river.. for man this was a disaster and it was … the entire river was blocked, it was doubly problematic as one run an early salmon had started through their perilous journey while others had not made it to the slide slight and were blocked .. it was a changed year very imperfect though it was it did not end up as a complete disaster .. nature restored itself to some degree with about 50% of the second stock actually getting through albeit on a delayed basis..]
These words from Isaiah – This promise – serves as a foundational hope for the exiles, illustrating again God’s power to bring life out of destruction and maintain beloved relationships.
I think Paul faced similar societal constructs where people sought to control and oppress, to outsource nastiness as the Governors would, and how families might by casting off children into the street. Inconveniences.
This fledgling sect he was supporting was introducing this radical idea of looking after the poor and vulnerable and re-orienting significantly social norms.. rejecting the prostitution and advantage taking,…. he was going against the grain.
This reading follows from previous chapter which are argument to Romans, or some more practical observations about life.
But here Paul digs deep what is means to be beloved of God .. and provides ethical exhortations .. in a society that was highly bound to honour and shame constructs, and family structures. Patronage the offering and return of favours was a large part of society which emerged from the Hellenistic periods’ fixation on Gods of various kinds.
So, if someone did something.. you would expect a return that .. but God’s gifts according to Paul were not given on this basis … everyone could be part of this offering of faith.
Yet here speaking to new followers mostly gentiles (ie not entirely Jewish) citizens in Rome. … Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect.
Here he desperately wishes for his listeners to share in that belovedness that he had received .. insight of belovedness that he has after that vision of Jesus .. that overwhelming epiphany – perhaps even a stroke.. where he has almost died .. yet saw divine creation.. and the wonders.. whether he can recall it or not he knows that something more than this exists. “That which I have seen …”
God’s will—his good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me .. “How can I possibly explain ?” He wonders.
One of the ways that Henri Nouwen the pastor I mentioned believes that we can seek to access this quiet grace is through contemplation of being closer to inner ourselves .. so for us to practice his art of visio divina .. as opposed to lecto divina (which is reading over multiple times) but we look at an image in this case art by Mark Najwain of Ontario, First Nation.,
Where do we see ourselves? in this image called arising … from an indigenous legend … or beautiful stones being thrown into the air and turning into butter flies which are just beyond the grasp of the two new human twins the first humans.
(image and explanation below)
Much like Isaiah he was preaching to people in the midst of oppression ..
Henry Nouwen in his book on spiritual formation[1].. that is sort of what Paul is speaking of really – has a vignette:
Boy watching a man .. the boy simply views him as chipping away at a rock each day, he is diligent and the boy watches him.. comes back day after day; then one day as the final pieces are stripped away. Finally, a beautiful sculpture emerges .. and the girl or boy exclaims “Hey Mister how did you know it there was a lion instead the rock?” Indeed – how do any of us know what is hidden beneath and we are capable off?
But Paul pulls in another direction … these are gifts of the holy spirit … a new way of conduct … That faith .. that he has been talking about to Corinthians and Galatians .. “faith that God has distributed to each of you” .. radical message this would be in a mixed ethnic mixed artisan meetings or hospitality …and more to the genius of Paul’s message … now look I know you are all different .. don’t have to be like me or Cephas or Jesus .. you can just use your gifts that you have.
This new conduct can be done in everyday practice .. and you do not need to be cowed and conform to forces around .. interesting the parallel in these two readings that the same problems forces exist or are pulling for people to move in alternative ways.. “do not be conformed to this age”. … that is difficult.
To say again we have Paul’s intention .. In Christ .. “we form one body” .. i.e. we can all sit around this table and be embraced by God’s love.
Nouwen …wrote prolifically on Spiritual formation who is a leading practitioner .. knows imperfection and suffering in a wounded world .. but knows of this faith offered.. calls us Beloved … he assured his listeners time and again and over his life of faith he has always know deep in his being that we were beloved of God … that we in on our imperfect ways, our struggles and stumbling were beloved.
When people reflect on their lives I am not sure they want entire uneventful lives or frictionless … or that it is even good for us in the long run not to have our emotions washed out of us..at one time or another … in order to rebound and equally grasp great beloved ness .. Henri Nouwen writes that one of his first movements in a spiritual formation is to go from grief to joy. He recognizes like we find in some of the scriptures that people will be weeping and thus what can we do but be accompaniers as Jesus was on the path with vulnerable. We unlike Jesus are not even there to resolve matters of wounded hearts .. but Jesus did not shy away from these occasions nor should we … but them how to keep ourselves resilient from the onslaught of every day and greater griefs.
It is perhaps arming oneself with the entire deep and unconscious knowing of the loving embrace of a divine love or a divine creator, many mystics might call it a cool cloud, where there is an amazing awareness and sudden and searing clarity of the earth and the interconnectedness of living beings and feeling of love radiating (these are perhaps some of the more apparent possibilities) .. but they are so unique, unique as our own unconscious mind with is connected to energy beyond ourselves.
In reading about transformational experiences as well as things like healing touch .. there can be only limited aspects taken because each one is so intimately wrapped with our unconsciousness. The parts of us that only are reached in the deepest of slumbers or mediations, or even near death experiences.
As we ponder the friction in our lives let us be open to that never ending well of belovedness that is found .. in our relationship with the Divine and may we find peace in our mysterious search..
Also let us find peace in our belovedness of the God as sculptor and ourselves as clay to be moulded in the potter’s hands.. using those gifts that the Creator know exist in us.
Closing Prayer
As we go from here … let us go with your embrace of the Hoy Spirit, knowing our belovedness
Let us be carried by your wind at our back,
Let us see with clarity, and hear with Jesus’s compassion
Let us be opened to your wonder for the arising that comes with your enduring love
For all of that we pray amen .
Romans 12; 1-8
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
Handout
Arise Mark V Nadjiwan
In the long-ago time, the first humans to come to the world were a set of infant twins. All the creatures of Mother Earth resolved to take very good care of this precious gift; each creature providing according to their own particular skills as caregivers. Wolf hunted, otter fished, deer collected plants, bear fetched berries, and the birds gathered materials to keep the twins warm and sang them lullabies. In time, the animals realized that the twins were not yet walking. There was no need for them to do so since they were so well cared for. So, the animals summoned Nanabozho and explained their dilemma. He promised to travel to the distant lands of the west to petition the Great Spirit to find out what could be done. Upon arriving there and explaining the predicament, Nanabozho then went to sit next to a clear blue stream to await an answer. Looking into the water, he noticed the most brilliantly coloured stones.
He began to throw handfuls of them up into the sunlight and was amazed by how they sparkled. Then, on his seventh toss, the stones did not fall back to earth. Instead, he saw that they had turned into many beautiful and delicate winged creatures that seemed to dance just beyond his reach – the first butterflies!, or “memengwaa” to the Anishinaabek. He set about capturing as many as he could and returned to the east where the animals awaited. Setting the butterflies free just above the twins, they were dazzled and instinctively started to grasp for them. But failing to catch them, they started to sit upright. Still not high enough, the twins then began to stand, and then walk, and eventually run!
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More than just a tale about the first butterflies, this story, with its culmination in the act of raising oneself up, can offer a far more compelling teaching about the urgency of our being upright in our conduct, and of elevating our intellectual, moral and spiritual faculties. Only by awakening to our higher and nobler natures can we effectively guard against those pernicious elements threatening our very existence. These would include the currently pervasive blights of rampant disinformation, a distrust of science (especially health and climate sciences), and conspiratorial thinking – jeopardizing not only our democratic achievements and aspirations, but our very humanity. So let us reach for the brilliance of the dancing butterflies, though it may seem to be just beyond our reach, and remember that ultimately, their brilliance is our own.
Indeed, let us Arise! https://www.threetreesart.com/ Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON), in Treaty 72,
[1] Henri J. Nouwen, Michael J. Christensen, and Rebecca Laird, Spiritual Formation: Following the Movements of the Spirit (HarperOne, 2010).
