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"…he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace, was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed." Isaiah 53:5
Here we are heading into the second week of Lent. Soon we will be hearing, once again, about the events in the final week of Jesus' life. Soon we will, again, follow Christ to the cross. Soon, if we let it, the impact of this primary reality of the Christian life will lead us to our own crosses and - ultimately - to redemption. The Gospel will tell the story of the Transfiguration, the temptations, the terror, the trial, the betrayal, the torture, and the death of Jesus. In those pages, we will have the opportunity to walk the road to Jerusalem again, entering victoriously into the Holy City with Jesus, only to stand by helplessly as he is nailed to a tree. All of this lies ahead, Holy Week beckons us. Until then, make an extra effort to think and feel each day, really feel the day as a gift from God. Read Holy Scripture, a pamphlet, a reflection, the entire Bible! The call of Lent is to read the Word of God. Listen to the Sunday Gospel and find yourself in the story. Which one are you? Reflect on your heart and spirit and the pain your mind tries to mediate. How have you been tempted? How have you been betrayed by friends, loved ones? Have you forgiven them? How are you living now in response to the ministry (life) you have been given by God? Where is God, where is Jesus, included in the regular work, rest, and play of your day? With Jesus' Crucifixion fast approaching, collect your things, THOSE things, and allow Jesus to accept them, nailed to Cross along with Him. Jesus is taking that deliberate and difficult walk to Jerusalem and to Golgotha, specifically to take your burdens on himself. Will you walk with him? Will you give Him that which He commanded you to give? Your pain? Your fears? Your regrets? Your secrets? "…he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace, was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed." Isaiah 53:5 Giving as commanded, Fr. Bill+
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“Unto ashes…”
Ash Wednesday is upon us, as is the command for reflection and the gift of grace. Most of us know the words by heart, Thou art dust O mortal, and unto dust thou shalt return, and in them resides the sobering reality of finitude and the divine opportunity of new life. The ashes are more than just the liturgical mark reflecting the beginning of our Lenten journey. There is another dimension prepared for us. There is something mysterious and mystical about the ashes we receive on Ash Wednesday. That dark smudge on our foreheads connects us to something deep within us and beyond us. We are reminded that we are dust, but not just any dust. The dust of our human-ness is blessed by the holiness of our Maker. The ashes we receive are like a divine magnet drawing us toward the earth from which we’re made and to the eternal to which we long. Counter the doom-and-gloom often associated with Ash Wednesday and Lent, we must remember that when Jesus preached repentance, it was because the Kingdom of Heaven had come near. The indwelling person of the Holy Spirit has made that an intimate reality of our lives. God has come close to us. The ashes are an invitation to joyfully and intentionally adjust our lives to God’s indwelling presence. The act of receiving the ashes is the mark of a heart and spirit inclining to God in the prayerful hope of living a life more fully marked by God. When God created all things, life happened because God breathed the divine will into dust, and the convergence of dust and divinity became you and me. When God became flesh and dwelt among us, the Word was wrapped in human flesh—dust—and completed the circle: as we are, God is. Dust and divinity are wrapped together; Spirit and dust collide in us. Ash Wednesday draws us inside to the divine center, the place of the Holy Spirit in us. We burn through our lives, and the Palms burn to ash. Have the ashes of our lives settled on our souls? Do we carry within us ashes of loss or regret? As water washes away the ashes imposed on Wednesday night, so the Water of Life washes away the ashes that dull and distort the Holy Spirit. Ash Wednesday is the first step on the journey to resurrection and new life. While it is true that “you are dust and to dust you shall return,” it is also true that God’s final word is resurrection. Ash Wednesday points us not to a despairing of death, but to the death of despair. We are not celebrating the Easter Resurrection yet, but are given the opportunity to receive resurrection from the burdens that bear us down to the dust. The ashes are more than ashes; we are more than dust. We seek to be washed clean, that our life hereafter may be pure and holy, so that at the last we may come to his eternal joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP 269 ) From the ashes, Fr. Bill+ “How do I talk with people I don’t agree with?”
It’s not easy, but the answer is love. I say it’s not easy because when we hear the word “love,” we associate it with how we love or know love. In truth, even loving as we know love isn’t easy. How much more difficult in times of disagreement. Let's make it simple: Someone you love and care about makes a statement you disagree with. The anger bubbles in your chest (and sometimes on your keyboard, as you frantically craft the perfect counterstatement), and your next reaction is to cringe or hide. Was there a better option? How do we do it? Is there a formula for responding to others (especially those we “love”) in times of conflict, with love? … the Lᴏʀᴅ has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8) Not an expected reference, is it? You see, you don’t need to depend upon your love or your idea of your love to respond with love. God says you need to Love mercy, and the mercy of love for God can be had at any time, even in a conflict. Do what is right Not what’s easy. Not what’s popular. This may vary depending on the situation, but you can always pause, take a breath, and ask the Holy Spirit what your right next move is. Doing what’s right may mean you actually have an honest, empathetic conversation with someone you disagree with—not to change his or her mind, but to hear a different perspective. It may mean postponing the conversation to a later date, or adjourning to a less public place. It means sticking up for your principles, but never at the expense of hurting people. Doing what is right may mean seeking justice, responding to God’s call to Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy. (Proverbs 31:8-9) This is never easy, but if it is right, God will direct your heart. You can show and know love even in this case, because it is given from God. Love mercy To love mercy is to love the God of mercy. Jesus calls those who love mercy blessed (that’s Bless-id). These are those who try to live beyond personal affront and seek the will of God in every moment. In action, this is extending grace to someone else, even if you don’t think they deserve it. It’s giving someone the benefit of the doubt, assuming that they didn’t mean to be hurtful with their comments or opinions, and recognizing their humanity even in the midst of disagreement. It’s showing real empathy and compassion and overlooking any offenses for the sake of restoration in your relationship. Walk humbly Humility may not always fix your problems, but it makes sure you’re not the problem. When we assume we don’t have all the answers, we have a much better chance of learning something new and keeping our relationships. Jesus often used questions during His ministry, because being curious invites conversation, whereas bringing all of the answers tends to shut it down. We are curious creatures. God made us this way; allowing someone else to express his or herself is honoring that trait in the self. Walking humbly with God is an exercise in perspective. I am certainly not God’s equal, and all my great ideas are as a child’s hopeful aspirations to God. Knowing this and accepting that this is okay brings the humble acknowledgement that I must honor others who are created even as I am. As St. Paul tells us, “… while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church." We are going to disagree, that’s okay. It is also okay to advocate for your perspective, and as long as your perspective is based on and in line with God’s, then sharing our knowledge and conversing with love isn’t just possible, it is guaranteed. Let us pray. Gracious God, when divisive conversations come up, give me Your attitude. Help me to love like You in every situation. Help me seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with You. Show me how to express my love more than my opinion, and give me the right words to love people and recognize their right to exist in every conversation today. In Jesus’ name, amen. I agree. Fr. Bill+ A “Deep Dive”
or “How do I move beyond my self-concern in order to reach out towards others in lovingkindness and compassion as exemplified by Jesus?” Often referred to as “Christ consciousness," the ability to act outwardly with the mind of Christ begins with the inward search for self. It is often referred to as “Christian mysticism,” the practice of discerning God in the innermost places of the self, but that designation can be unhelpful. Many people shy away from anything incorporating the word “mystic” out of fear, misunderstanding, or disbelief. Mysticism smacks of horror movies and palm readers, those things (and the like) that many of us avoid. Sadly, in this case, the baby goes with the bathwater. It is the goal of every Christian to draw closer to Jesus, and people who have taken that on as a life’s work or life goal are often referred to as mystics. The term is meant to describe a person inwardly searching for a deeper awareness and understanding of God. In reality, the process to know Christ better is not an option, but an obligation and necessity. Early Christians called it theosis, drawing closer in union to God. Alongside the usual Christian activities such as worship, prayer, study, social action, and others, the Christian uses methods of introspection to further the relationship with Jesus. The deepening of understanding produces a change in perspective and behavior, in the same way when, learning that the dog running towards us is friendly, there is a change not only in our outer action, but in our inward feeling. Drawing closer in union to God (theosis) is an active process–a decided-upon endeavor, which requires some effort. Over the centuries, Christians have catalogued methods and suggested practices to help everyone draw closer to God. No need to reinvent the wheel, right? Contemplative prayer and meditation are used to calm the mind and better apprehend/experience the divine presence of Christ. These practices not only make God more available, but also make sharing the reality of God easier. Christian contemplative practices typically fall into an easily accessible framework. You may proceed through these as stages or attend to them as the Spirit moves you. 1. Discursive meditation: Reflecting on an idea or thought or concept. It might just be something you want to explore, or align yourself with, or even something you are struggling with. It could be scripture or another reading, a song, an image, or an experience. Discursive meditation is primarily mental, essentially focused self-reflection, inviting the companionship of Christ. 2. Affective meditation: When thinking stops and spirit ascends. This is a practice well assisted by the use of implements such as rosaries, prayer ropes, or prayer beads. The use of these sacred tools is accompanied by short prayers such as the Jesus Prayer, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me. The practice is one of repetition where you are not thinking about things, but set free from active thought. 3. Contemplation: This is the deepest state of meditation and contemplative prayer, when you allow yourself to just be with God in silence and stillness to experience the divine presence. During contemplation, the primary focus is on the soul/being, and while it is an immensely peaceful, beautiful, and restorative state on its own, it's also when you are most open to the sublime presence of Christ. This is the state of which many have written, having experiences of religious ecstasy (feeling the close presence of God), visions (seeing through the Holy Spirit), and hearing the voice of God. However, these kinds of powerful experiences are not an action you produce, but rather the response to your action by God. So there you have it. As you respond to the call of Christ to grow in the depth of your relationship and understanding, avail yourself of these methods. They bear the test of time. Reflectively in Christ Jesus, Fr. Bill+ |
AuthorFather Bill Burk† Archives
March 2026
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