It is weird to use the term Good for an execution, and I understand many will lean into the substition theory for what happens today in our journey. We see the betrayal, the denials (loss of connection, community abandonment): https://www.bible.com/bible/3633/JHN.18.FNVNT
Creator Sets Free, dared to challenge the Empire, the controlling powers that of political and religious might and oppression and control. Pontius Pilate and the false installed leaders…hmmm… any analogy to Alberta or America in this set up possibly?
Think it through to this moment though. Hundreds of crucified were hung on the roads into Jerusalem to remind the non-people the wage of speaking out of their caste, (do we not jail or ticket the poor in our own cities instead of solving the issue, UBI anyone?)? What is the rising death toll of drug poisonings but not road side crucifixions because we refuse to live as created? What is the rising use of MAiD for loneliness and poverty but us creating other caste’s of non-persons? We have our own road of crucified this week in Alberta and are ignoring, just as those aligned with Empire easily could walk in and tsk tsk those that risked, those that sought to only be person (think of the co-morbidity myth that was used for deaths during covid? Because of Wings and Beer my peeps).
A trial, where many fallacies flowed, where Empire deflected their responsibility, and let the appeal to emotion (that being fear and anger)– if this humble labour, that we know isn’t his father’s son, and the one who was betrothed was so unholy he did not stone his betrothed to death for her infidelity or cast her outside to be trafficked (oh my, seeing an arguement from analogy here for how religious families are supposed to treat their 2SLGBTQ+ children, and the constant gossip and attack when they do not cast out?).
The populist rage against the churning change, that which Jesus so radically pushed against in his non-violent protest and actions. Showing radical belonging, created interdendence of the Imageo Dei, and true egalitarian equity.
True Healing
The great sin that had to be silenced for if the masses caught hold, and realized they had been played and rose up against the overstretched minority oppressors—
And so the mock trial.
The playing on fear of being on the crosses.
The populist fuse of hatred lit.
And the mass murderer released to ensure the silencing of Creator Sets Free (imagine being so powerful in simply the use of Hope, that the greatest Empire in the history of the Western World, had to play a political game to execute you?).
The mocking, beating and dehumanizing found in John 1 9as linked above and here to remind:
Processes of torture and humiliation, used to break not necessarily Creator Sets Free spirit, but to ensure his followers would understand it was over and time to go away. How often do we see this happen with movements? Leveraging legalities to ensure compliance and silence (hmmm… Alberta government’s new Trans policies anyone? The anti-human right breaking of encampments? Non-investment in affordable housing? Allowing coal mining which will poison our water? Not understanding or refusing to acknowledge we have damaged creation, that is dominionism is a fallacy, like colonialism, and a sin to be told the truth of and reconciliation work to be done while we still have air to breath and food to eat)…but how often are these tactics used? Reinvigorated in our gamification of war and playing with terms of genocide, yet not holding to account powers in the world and allies for acts of terror and genocide?
Yet this humiliation was meant to do what it did (and the Easter Sunday story shows who was courageous…but we do not know that yet so know reading ahead in this mystery).
And before Creator Sets Free breathed his last, he speaks, most likely gasping, blood burbling in his lungs with water as he was drowning, struggling through pain, dehydrated, most likely soiled himself several times over. Twisted and broken.
And yet, his final plea to the Beloved Disciple:
the much-loved follower of Creator Sets Free (Jesus), was also there with them.
When Creator Sets Free (Jesus) looked down and saw them, he said to his mother, “Honored woman, look to your son.” 27Then he said to his follower, “Look to your mother.”
From that time the follower took Bitter Tears (Mary) into his family and cared for her.
On this Friday, what does this request and calling mean to you?
I had intentions this Holy Week to do a daily post contemplating and exploring, but with the nature of a short academic week, but not a change in teaching/marking/prep schedules with not wanting to put in overtime as I do enjoy time with family…that did not happen.
On this Good Friday morning though, I do want to take a moment, to pause and remember Maundy Thursday (a new translation to read: https://www.bible.com/bible/3633/JHN.13.FNVNT). It is the moment in time when Jesus gathers in the upper room, that tradition teaches was owned by John Mark’s parents’. John Mark being the Mark of the Gospel of Mark, most likely the scribe of St. Peter’s remembrances. Within the stories of the last night, I tend to lean into the story from the Gospel of John (the gospel that gives us the spiritual formation device of the unnamed beloved disciple that the hearer/reader is to see as us. It changes the dynamic of the liturgical practice of church, the idea of interpretation of entering into the text and what it means for us today.
This is my struggle with Passion Sunday, we truncate the story to two events, that doesn’t need to happen with technology, video or audio messages can be shared daily for the community to journey the week through even if not gathering. Most within the Last Supper will highlight two key things:
Jesus’ acknowledgement of Judas’ betrayal- a wonderful sermon on Judas was an upside this past Sunday by Rev. Mannix, who Judas was and even within the scope of a villain what I was reminded of as a story teller, they see themselves as the hero. Here is Judas, someone who had lost so much to follow with Jesus, and the pressures mounted…
Communion/Eucharist instituted. I know Jesus uses the language of body and blood. Allergoric or metaphorical depending on one’s philosophical leaning and story telling style. Some will see these aspects as nothing more than elements or symbolism, some hear and experience literal mystical transfiguration in the moment. I prefer the Via Media approach, that is I do not know what happens in the mystery of the meal, just as Jesus’ friends did not know, but something happens beyond simple bread and juice (I hold to a more universal table and glutten free, and juice creates that) though my metaphoric language for the mystery sacred, is what I first heard when I returned to church as an adult from Rev. Linda Hunter, cup of promise and bread of life. Regardless of the communal prayer words, when I take the elements these words are in my heart.
But those two pieces are not front and centre in the Gospel of John. The Johannine community, was egalatarian and interdependent (sorry patriarchal misogynists, those that became bishops and elders in the letters were across the gender spectrum, remember the beloved disciple from the cross was asked to care for his Mumma, and that is all of us). In most protestant circles there are 2 sacraments (baptism and communion), Anglicans have a 2+5 model, and Roman Catholics hold to 7 sacraments for the Western Church. Some say this is like a bonus sacrament demonstrated and illustrated beautifully in this stand alone gospel story (found not in the other 3).
But I do not see it as a bonus, as I read, and contemplate and have since Dr. Fox’s Johannine lit course in seminary, it has been the sacrament that flows through and actualizes the others (whether 2, 2+5 or 7). Let the words flow, and see if you can notice what the sacrament is?
FOOT-WASHING CEREMONY
4Knowing all of this, during the meal Creator Sets Free (Jesus) got up from the table, took off his outer garments, and wrapped a cloth around himself like a sash. 5He poured water into a vessel and, one by one, he began to wash the feet of his followers and dry them with the cloth.
This was a task reserved for only the lowest servant of the household.
6He came to Stands on the Rock (Peter), who said to him, “Wisdomkeeper, are you going to wash my feet?”
7“You do not understand now what I am doing, but later you will,” he answered.
8“No!” Stands on the Rock (Peter) lifted his voice, “This can never be!”
Creator Sets Free (Jesus) looked deep into his eyes and said, “If you refuse this, then you have no part in who I am.”
9“Wisdomkeeper,” he answered back, “if this is so, then wash my hands and head also!”
10Creator Sets Free (Jesus) replied, “If you have already had a bath, only your feet need washing, and then you will be clean all over. Now, you are all clean. Except for one.”
11He said this because he knew who would betray him.
After he had finished washing all their feet, 12he put his outer garment back on and sat down again at the table.
“Do you see what I have done?” he said to them. 13“You are right to call me Wisdomkeeper and Chief—because I am. 14If I, your Wisdomkeeper and Chief, have washed your feet, then you should wash each other’s feet. 15So follow my footsteps and do for each other what I have done for you.
16“I speak from my heart. The one who serves is not greater than the one who is served. A message bearer is not greater than the one who sent him. 17If you walk in this way of blessing, you will do well, and it will return to you—full circle.
It flows through so seamlessly, and ties into the love commandments that summarized all the ancient teachings, laws and prophets when Creator Sets Free was challenged about what the greatest was, he spoke the love commandments that are not a hierarcy, but an infinite circle of Love of God, self and neighbour for we are all intertwined.
The sacrament that connects all, and builds the interdependnet healthy community, is simply, the gift of Maundy Thursday–
Oki, Âba wathtech, Danit’ada, Tansi, Hello and welcome to worship at Centennial. I would like to acknowledge we gather as first peoples and settlers on the traditional territories of the Treaty 7 peoples that include the Stoney Nakoda First Nations including Chiniki, Bearspaw and Good Stoney First Nations, the Blackfoot Confederacy that includes the Siksika, the Piikani and Kainai First Nations, and Tsuut’ina First Nations, and the Metis Nation Region 3. With the living love of Creator, we commit to the hard calling of truth and reconciliation together here on Turtle Island.
We are in the season of Epiphany, a time to embrace the mystery of faith, and listen deeply to the still quiet voice calling us. As well, as the voice of affirmation of unity, as the Christian Week for Prayer for Unity as well. Please join me in our call to worship.
Call to Worship
God our rock and our salvation.
We will not be shaken!
Trust in God at all times, O people.
We will pour out our hearts to God, our refuge.
Today, let us turn to God and accept the good news.
We will listen for Christ’s call and follow him.
Time of Praise:
1) SN 215 Have Thine Own Way Lord
2) BP 634 Will you Come and Follow Me
Prayers:
Lord Jesus Christ,
you have called us together as your people,
and invited us to follow you.
Your church has grown from scattered homes in ancient times –
to a worldwide community,
embracing men and women, young and old, from many nations and cultures.
We marvel at the miracle of your church,
and praise you for our place among your people.
Your love keeps drawing us to you and to each other,
and so we offer you our wonder and praise
with millions of those who also gather in your name this day,
our Saviour and our Lord.
God of mercy and mystery,
we confess your mercy can disturb us.
We sit in judgment on what we hear,
and cannot imagine offering forgiveness for dreadful actions.
We prefer to think that your judgment matches ours.
Forgive us for presuming we see as you see,
and understand all that you understand.
Have mercy upon us, O God,
when we give up on the power of mercy.
Lord’s Prayer
(Version 4 from the New Zealand Prayer Book)
Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver, Source of all that is and that shall be, Father and Mother of us all, Loving God, in whom is heaven:
The hallowing of your name echo through the universe! The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world! Your heavenly will be done by all created beings! Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth.
With the bread we need for today, feed us. In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us. In times of temptation and test, strengthen us. From trials too great to endure, spare us. From the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and for ever. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
God of new life, your Word can change lives with mercy and purpose.
Send your Holy Spirit to help us hear your Word
with its potential to change our lives
as we follow Jesus Christ, your Living Word. Amen.
Announcements – Elders
Church Family Celebrations- Elders
Children’s Time:
Today’s story in Mark is about two brothers who were asked to come follow Jesus, and they dropped their nets and went. This story is about you. What are things that you do that are kind to others? That show love? See those simple things, show Jesus.
The congregation will sing a prayer for you, as you grow in this community, and like each of us, will be asked at different times to show and live Jesus.
Here is what I am saying to you who are members of the sacred family: There is not much time left before these troubled times come. So those who are married should now prepare themselves to live as if they were not. It is not the time to wallow in tears and self-pity, or for glad hearts and festivals, and it is not the time to gather many possessions. Those who depend on the world as it is must be ready to let go of it, for the world as we know it will soon pass away.
Mark 1:14-20 (First Nation’s Version)
Then later, after Gift of Goodwill (John) was arrested, Creator Sets Free (Jesus) traveled to the territory of Circle of Nations (Galilee) to tell the good story.
“The time has now come!” he said to the people. “Creator’s good road is right in front of you. It is time to return to the right ways of thinking and doing! Put your trust in this good story I am bringing to you.”
As he walked along the shore of the Lake of Circle of Nations (Sea of Galilee), he saw two men, One Who Hears (Simon) and Stands with Courage (Andrew), throwing their nets into the lake, for they were fishermen.
“Come! Walk the road with me,” he called out to them, an I will teach you how to net two-leggeds instead of fish!”
Right then and there they dropped their nets and began to walk the road with him.
He walked a little farther down the shore and saw two more men, the brothers He Takes Over (James) and He Shows Goodwill (John), the two sons of the Gift of Creator (Zebedee). They were sitting in their canoe and mending their nets. Right away he called out for them to walk the road with him. They dropped their nets, left their father behind with the hired help, and also became followers of Create Sets Free (Jesus).
This is the word of the Lord,
Thanks be to God.
Sermon
What nets have to be let go?
What a beautiful image, that appears so simple in its rendering within this story. A call, and a response, much like a liturgical prayer ala our Call to Worship. But do we think James and John responded so quickly and simply? The Gospel of Mark is written for a Roman audience—those that liked action and fast pace, one with shorter attention spans, and is theorized to be the first gospel of Canon writing that Luke and Matthew drew upon with other sources, hence why their renditions are a tad longer.
But here we are on the sea of Galilee, from all historic reports a rather robust fishing hole, the type of place that if fishing was your business, is definitely where you would want to let your nets down. So, a rather successful trade, and what else do we hear in the story that they needed to consider? Their Dad. See those simple lines where there is more at play for finances, for family business, for family.
Are we to hear in this then that Jesus was anti-family?
I do not think so. I see a beautiful metaphor as a life coach and spiritual director in the letting down of the nets, the letting go. The stepping out of that which holds us back, and as we can see how the stories progress there are many times that our minds and heart’s role when something new, or even engaging in the usual. See, we have internal soundtracks within ourselves, that have been shaped by our life experiences, by those around us, by our own responses to events. Those are what create our own nets, or in the wording of life coaching, the inner saboteur, or as I prefer to work with them in many workshops and one-to-one work with staff and students, gremlins.
And yes you may think of the cuddly mogwai that if it gets wet or is fed after darks turns into a terror from the movie of the same name, or even the circa World War II posters featuring the goblin like creatures that create havoc in mechanical devices that cannot be figured out, again for Whovians, the Church of Ruby Road show this past Christmas had a great visual even if they called them goblins.
For I think James and John had some gremlins in their hearts and mind even though the story moved rapidly, how do I know they wrestled with them? Because we all do. Even if we have “done” the work to silence or remove them, in our moments of anxiousness or busyness or feeling overwhelmed or… presented with something new that excites us but raises the what ifs in our minds. See gremlins aren’t just destructive creatures in our lives, they do provide a function to protect us, and to be quite honest they have gotten us to this point in our lives whether we wanted them to or not.
These were the interior voices James and John were wrestling with.
For these are what we wrestle with, and I do think in that moment even if they did not know they walked through a process, one I would like to share with you, for your own New Year’s gremlin freeing, or as the story says, to let go of the nets. It is a workshop I was also blessed a few years back to share with the Calgary and Macleod’s Presbytery’s Cyclical, the ministry that aids in equipping and growing/renewing ministries. For leaders and initiators, it was a way to remove barriers within to live out that which they were being called into.
So, if you notice a gremlin in your own life, or someone else’s what can be done?
It’s not arduous, it is recognized by familiar catch phrases like uhm, ah, maybe later, or it can be seen in spending far too much time seeking out “all the information” which keeps us stuck, or too expensive or don’t have the time or even simply, not thinking it’s possible due to x, y or z highly plausible and logical reasons. Did you catch some of that with the Brothers Zebedee, also known as the brothers of Thunder? Successful fishing business set to inherit, their workers, their boats, their own families possibly, their Dad and Mum (the Mum we meet later in the journey). If they knew it was from God, do you think it could also be a why me? I can’t? There’s someone better…all things I personally have felt in my own journey a few years back, where things were aligning in another role in a Presbyterian church to begin the journey of ordered ministry, but the gremlin arose with the what ifs, there’s no time, you can’t afford it… And the effect was disengaging from the process. Which is the realization of the gremlin as I worked through this passage from where I stand today, in a pulpit, in ministry, my own gremlin looks like a blob with hands I call Bob, and I have exorcised them several times and the emotions and voices get less, but like I mentioned earlier in those less than ideal circumstances when there’s anxiousness either from fear, not knowing, or even joy of succeeding, the voice is there. The voice, in communities and organizations we know as the eternal “we’ve always done it that way”, that’s the voice of a gremlin, a net not yet released. When I was with the cyclical missionaries’/ministers, I took them from the individual to the collective to explore the community gremlins holding them back, it is a useful time, with this always have been gremlin voice I just challenge to go deeper to understand the why, so we don’t wind up like the old family parable of the ham that always had two inches cut off each end, and went through the generations cooking like that until Great Grandma admitted it was how much smaller her roaster was.
But I digress, and back to the brothers and what is happening internally and can be a dialogue with someone to work out the gremlin or as the story puts it to let the net go. But I like ritual, I mean, it’s one of the things that aids us in connecting with God, and one another.
If you know there’s a gremlin there, take time to understand them. Centre yourself in breathing in a place you feel safe, your sanctuary if you will. Have pencils and paper close, maybe crayons too. Scribble out all the emotions and phrases the gremlin uses on you, the questions, things that hold you back or on the track you’re on even though there may be a call to do something else. For aid with the emotions, you may want to do an internet search for the image of an emotions wheel.
Once part one is done, leave the centre of your page open, then give form to these words, remember doesn’t have to be artistic as I pointed out Bob is like a blob with stick person hands. Give it shape something you can see and is tangible. Then the final step is a name.
Now do I think this was done in the story today. No, but something was done, as Jesus called, they paused, they were holding their fishing nets, a symbol of who they are and what anchors them in the now. As was shown, many different emotions phrases and words running through.
Much like this symbolism shown in the ancient and now text, so is the gremlin work.
That gremlin is the net you are holding.
Now looking at it, you have a choice, like James and John did.
You may choose to hold onto the gremlin or let go.
Either choice is okay, and good for who you are today. See, we tend to beat ourselves up for our historic decisions looking back on who we are now. It’s an impossibility, you were not who you are now, then, even the then when you came through the sanctuary doors and joined neighbours in worship. We are constantly changing and growing, and as such, so is our understanding, our experience, and our wisdom, so know, the choices you make now are the best you can make with who you are now. Just like the choices you made an hour ago, a day ago, a week, a month, a year or five years ago. Self-forgiveness is that blessed release of understanding and stepping into the now to continue the journey on the new path.
That is the dialogue with the net the brothers were having. That is the dialogue with the gremlin you have now named, you will have. It is your time to thank the gremlin for being there, up to this point in your journey. Then you have a choice. Continue to move forward in a new way with the gremlin until you are ready to release, or to say goodbye to the gremlin, knowing they may return but now they are known they are not as powerful over you, and you can send them out once more. I like destruction rituals for the sending away, so burning or shredding the paper.
And regardless of the decision you make if you choose to enter into the internal dialogue, know that you are making the best decision for you in the now.
Just as James and John were standing there, looking at who they were in the now. With an unknown labourer, the teacher calling out to them to come and join him on, well even now when we hear that still small voice calling, do we truly know what is out there.
Don’t let the gremlin hold you back, like I have in different times.
As you stand there in the story, hear the words of Jesus, with the net in your hands.
“Come! Walk the road with me,” Creator Sets Free (Jesus) calls out to you.
And now, are you going to hold the net or release it into 2024?
Offering
Dedication of the Offering
BP 663 God of Love, Hear our Prayer
(Tune: Edelweiss)
Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession
God of fishers and farmers and factory workers,
God of those who work in health care, hospitality and at home,
God of our offices and businesses, our stores and our streets,
our schools and rec centres, of emergency services and entertainers,
we thank you for the many ways we can serve your purposes.
And we thank you for all the ways others offer us goodness
to sustain our lives and support our community.
Remind us to offer our thanks to them, not only to you.
God of purpose and promise,
Jesus called his first followers to change their livelihoods
and so they did.
Today we pray for those whose work has changed without their choice:
those who have lost their jobs,
those whose businesses are in jeopardy,
and those who face increased demands at work with less support.
Give them courage and perseverance as the future unfolds.
God, in your hope,
God of all churches who bear your Son’s name,
whatever tradition or perspective that shapes us,
we thank you for the fellowship we share
and the gifts of the Spirit we receive.
We pray that the differences between us will not blunt our witness
to Jesus and the love he proclaims.
Teach us to value diversity in discipleship
and honour what unites us more than what divides us,
so that the world may see Jesus reflected in all our lives.
God, in your hope,
God of our cities and towns, our villages and reserves,
God of all cultures and clans that shape our identities,
you created us for community.
We thank you for the enjoyment and support
that we find by coming together.
We pray for all those who suffer
because others judge something key to their identities,
language or religion, orientation or status.
Help us learn from each other through our differences,
and recognize the face of Christ in those who challenge our assumptions.
God, in your hope,
God of all times and situations,
We bear on our hearts concerns for many around us
whose challenges seem overwhelming.
Hear us in this time of silence as we name them before you:
Silence for a count of 30.
Send your Spirit of healing and hope to embrace those who need you.
We dare to ask all this because we trust in the name of Jesus, your Son,
Paul Vargis
Ty
A Monk's Musings 