Today's readings are:

Genesis 9:8-17
Psalm 25:1-10
1 Peter 3:18-22
Mark 1:9-15

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the gospel reading for today is a scene setter... the Baptism of Jesus and his subsequent sojourn in the wilderness, all recorded in Mark's zap-pow minimalist fashion... no stones to bread, no bow down to me, no jump off the Temple, just wild beasts and angels.  Had we only ever had this one gospel, our view of the wilderness temptations would have been less narrow, we would not have assumed that in forty days only three ideas popped unbidden into Jesus' mind.  We would be more open the diversity that being 'tempted in every way as we are but without sin' might mean.

The Psalm I've already commented on, and the Genesis passage takes us to the covenant with Noah after the flood (ding ding another 'forty days' or'very long time') but it is the 1 Peter that draws my attention:

For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water.  And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you -not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him. (1 Peter 3: 18 - 22 NRSV)

This passage ought to shock us.  it seems that the writer tells us that after the death of Jesus, Christ went and proclaimed to the 'spirits in prison' by which we presumably mean 'hell', those who in the former times (viz, life) had not obeyed God.   So what did Christ proclaim?  "Ha, ha, see now you burn for all eternity?"  No.  I think not.  Paul Fiddes in his writing on atonement theology speaks of the Good Shepherd who seeks the lost sheep, and asks something along the lines of, is there any crevasse too deep into which the shepherd will not descend to rescue his lost sheep?  The traditional doctrine (?) of the 'harrowing of hell' seems to follow a broadly similar logic... that the three days between the crucifixion and the resurrection symbolise Christ's descent into hell to rescue whoever was there.  Now, any or all of these might be good or bad theology, none the less, we are told, it seems, that it is not good enough to say that those who have not professed faith in Christ at the time of their death will burn for eternity, or simply be annihilated, depending on what stance you prefer.  Nor does it allow us to adopt a simplistic universalism that says there is no hell, no potential of separation from God, even fleetingly.  A good friend of mine expresses a conviction that as we pass through the gate between life and death, as we come face to face with God, we will be so overwhelmed with the love of God that we will be incapable of wanting any other.  I like that idea.  Some people conclude there is no hell... I wouldn't go that far, since I need a 'dumping ground' for evil... the essence thereof, not those somehow imprisoned by its thrall.

So there you go, all very complicated for a Sunday morning brain dump, and not very 'spiritual' at all.  Hidden in this passage is , however, a lovely little phrase..."God waited patiently..." and prompts me to prayer.

Patient God,

Not rushing us to instant decisions

Not demanding we say yes' or 'no'

Without careful, even prayerful, consideration

You wait

For us

With us

Never ever giving up on us

(Not that 'ever' or 'never' are categories that mean anything to you)

Scripture tell us it is your will that none be lost

Scripture tells us Christ proclaimed to those in chains...

A suggestion of a second chance

Even after our theologising says it might be too late

Lord, teach me this patience

Patience that does not seek immediate responses

Patience that does not confuse long-term with eternal

Patience that waits with you

For your will...

that none be lost...

that the captives be freed...

that the hungry are fed...

that the blind see and the lame dance...

that the Kingdom of Shalom come on earth as in heaven...

To be done.

Psalm 25 (again!)

Psalm 32

Matthew 9:2 - 13

Unsurprisingly, sin, confession and forgiveness continue to be the themes threading through today's readings. 

Psalm 32 takes me back to another 1980s worship song :

This is a song that has, at various points meant a lot to me... most recently I recall singing it to myself in the wee small hours when St Eroid induced insomnia fuelled my anxieties... and it links a teeny bit with where tomorrow's sermon goes (though I'm not telling you how!).

But for all I love the (re-)assurance of the psalms/song it is the gospel reading that strikes me most profoundly, not least because of where the lectionary compilers have chosen to start/end it:

And just then some people were carrying a paralyzed man lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven."
Then some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man is blaspheming."
But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts?   For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Stand up and walk'?  But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"- he then said to the paralytic -"Stand up, take your bed and go to your home."
And he stood up and went to his home.

When the crowds saw it, they were filled with awe, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to human beings.  As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him.  And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples.  When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"  But when he heard this, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners." Matthew 9; 2 - 13 NRSV

This ought to be a pretty shocking reading... a northern rabbi claiming divine power to forgive sin, a tax-gatherer abandoning his career to go with him and the two of them (plus others) heading off to eat dinner with people who sinned.  It is the last sentence, the sting in the tale, that strikes me... go and learn what it means that mercy is more important than sacrifice... a right heart trumps right religious practices.  That's all... just mercy over judgement.  Just the recognition of our own need of God's mercy leading us to be merciful to others. 

This week I have seen/heard some strong judgements being passed and have felt uncomfortable because on the one hand I am called to be merciful and on the other I want to challenge what is said.  This week I have recognised again within myself imperfection and partiality... how much easier to be merciful and gracious to people who are gracious and merciful.  This week I have pondered afresh how sometimes it is kinder to be tough than gentle.  "Go and learn what this means..." that feels like a life-time challenge.

Go and learn what this means...

'I desire mercy not scarfice'

What is this mercy Lord?

What does it mean?

It can't mean that I never challenge what seems to be wrong in the world...

But perhaps it means I recognise my own propensity to sin

Perhaps it means I recognise the partiality of my own heart

Perhaps it means I recognise my complicity in corporate sin

Of the church

Of my nation

Of all humankind

What is this mercy Lord?

What does it mean?

How do I remove the log from my own eye

Rather than spotting the speck of dust in another's?

How do I overcome the temptation to throw stones

Forgetting I live in house of glass?

How do I discover the complex interplay of

Naming

Confessing

Forgiving

Merciful responding?

Not sacrifice

Not the offering of money or time

Not the shedding of blood

Not the perfection of religious ritual

Mercy

Be merciful because God is merciful

In the place where I live..

In the place where I work...

In the land I call home...

In the world of which I am part...

Lord, show me the way of mercy

Show me the way of grace

And lead me onwards, with you

Amen

Apparently today is the day when, on average, we complete our unpaid overtime hours for the year and start getting paid for what we do!  I'm never quite sure what it means in relation to ministers who have no fixed hours to work, can always do something else useful and have some of the least flexible deadlines possible (imagine turning up on Sunday and saying, sorry no sermon I didn't get it done this week...).  My 'job' is immensely privileged in ways that money cannot buy, but I could also work 24/7/365 if I wasn't careful.

If you follow this link you can do a little fun quiz to discover your own approach.  Evidently my predominant result is:

As my mother would say... "and the band played 'believe it if you like'"  (Also some signs of 'work den' and 'chaos engine room')

Today's readings:

Psalm 25

Daniel 9:15-25a

2 Timothy 4:1 - 5

If the version of the RCL I have downloaded is correct, we 'dwell' with a Psalm for several days at a time, we are forced to slow down and focus on words we have heard already and wonder what else we may deduce from them.  As I re-read it this morning, I found a song from yesteryear rising up from my memory:

Unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul,

Unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.

O my God, I trust in Thee,

Let me not be ashamed,

Let not mine enemies triumph over me.

 Yea, let none that wait on Thee be ashamed,

 Yea, let none that wait on Thee be ashamed.

 Show me Thy ways, Thy ways, O Lord,

 Teach me Thy paths, Thy paths, O Lord.

 Remember not the sins of my youth,

 Remember not the sins of my youth.

 The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him,

 The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him.

 Unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul,

Unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul

Charles F Moore (c) Maranatha Music 1971

I doubt anyone sings it anymore, it is somewhat dated in feel, but it is pretty faithful top the psalm.  Remember not the sins of my youth... what failings or faults do I call to mind? Has my view of 'sin' changed since I was a 'youth'? What sins of mature years might I want to confess too?

The passage from 2 Timothy is, as many established readers know, very precious to me, since it is this that I locate my own call to ordained ministry.  It is one of the signposts I go back periodically and discover that "oh yes, that's there too".  It is a passage that can be glibly and unhelpfully, confusing 'sound doctrine' with 'what I believe to be right' and 'ear-tickling' with someone else hearing what they want to hear, not me, oh no, never me...

When Christ Jesus comes as king, he will be the judge of everyone, whether they are living or dead. So with God and Christ as witnesses, I command you to preach God's message. Do it willingly, even if it isn't the popular thing to do. You must correct people and point out their sins. But also cheer them up, and when you instruct them, always be patient.  The time is coming when people won't listen to good teaching. Instead, they will look for teachers who will please them by telling them only what they are itching to hear.  They will turn from the truth and eagerly listen to senseless stories.  But you must stay calm and be willing to suffer. You must work hard to tell the good news and to do your job well. (2 Tim 4:1 - 5 CEV)

I wonder what words or phrases leap out for you today?  I wonder what hallmarks of 'soundness' we employ? 

Am I a true or a false preacher?  I suspect a bit of both... the human desire to be liked and, my own 'people-pleasing' tendencies, can lead me to evade or avoid telling it as I understand it.  How do I speak prophetically into lives or situations that are complex?  How do I avoid mere collusion with those I want to please?  Where do I find the courage to confess 'I once thought A now I think B'?  I'm not going to say which words from the passage were my touchstones today, but I wonder which, if any, are touchstones for you?

Remember not the sins of my youth

The arrogance that believed it knew all there was to know

The legalism that allowed me to perceive myself as better than others

And to pass judgement on their understandings

The times I said 'ah but...' with a proof text

(out of context)

The desire to belong in the Christian bubble that dispaced my inate sense of your desires

Remember not the sins of my maturity

The fear of rejection if I say the wrong thing

The evasion of prophetic responsibility

The intellectualisation of spirituality

The times I say "ah but...' about a proof text

(over-stressing the context?)

The desire to please others that sometimes still displaces my inate sense of your desires

Forgive me, and grant to me

Patience with those who seem to me slow to engage or unwilling to progress

Gentleness with those who wound or insult me

Courage to speak truth, as I know it, in love and humilty

Not seeking my own popularity, nor yet to please those who employ me, but fulfilling your call on my life

And in all things

May your love be expressed through me,

To the honour of your name

Amen

I decided that during Lent I would use the main services to explore some aspects of Christian doctrine... it'll be fine, I thought, I can do this, it won't take long to read up enough to make a coherent reflection.  How daft was that... how many hours did I spend in doctrine classes and philosophy of religion classes... and now I try to condense stuff into twenty minutes!  I'm enjoying the reading, and reminding myself of things I had long forgotten.  I am enjoying (I think) the challenge of finding hymns that do what I want them to do.  But it does feel like it was a particualrly ridiculous idea when I realise that even with the basic texts I'm re-reading I have to skim through several hundred pages on , for sake of argument, the doctrine of God.  Just hope that people find it of some vague interest and usefulness as part fo their lenten reflections.

Your challenges, should you wish to accept...

• Find four/five hymns/songs that refer ONLY to the first person of the Trinity and do not exclusively use the name Father.  These must include at least ten different descriptors for God.
• From one hymn/songbook only, find five hymns that form a coherent set, including one for pre-communion use, that use the phrase 'Jesus Christ' rather than 'Jesus' or 'Christ'

I've done both, so it's possible, but it's quite a good challenge.