Echoes and Threads


Gate Pa – Year C 5th Sunday in Lent,

Readings:
Psalm                          Psalm: 126                                                                             
First Reading              Isaiah 43:16-21                                  
Second Reading         Phil 3:4-14      
Gospel                         John 12:1-8      

What I want to say:
Explore some of the threads and echoes in this important story
-          in every gospel in some form so tells something of “way”
-          relationship with Luke 15 – scandalous love
-          fragrance of death vs fragrance of life?
-          echoes of Cana – giving Jesus courage to do what needs to be done
-          poor are with us always – Deuteronomy 15

What I want to happen:


The Sermon

      1.     Introduction: - Father and his 2 Sons

last week spent time on unfinished story of Father and his 2 sons
story scandalous love
story told because Pharisees and scribes getting antsy about how Jesus seemed to be accepting and honouring tax collectors and sinners by eating with them.
In past used Brian McLaren's idea that we all see world through one of number of lenses or world views
·        rivalry
·        compliance
·        meaningless mechanism
both sons     
more importantly people listening to story
all see world and God
            rivalry and compliance
let you decide which
both sons in story felt entitled
neither understood who they truly were
both are beloved sons
            despite all that both of them did
            beloved sons

      2.     Beloved Sons

sonship not something to be attained
            something to be lived
everyone who listened to story also struggles with this
Pharisee and scribes thought they sons because obedience to law
they too thought entitled because of obedience
that made them better than anyone else
get really cheesed when groups people shown no inclination to follow law as they do
being treated with honour and blessing by Jesus
told that they are beloved children of God
Scribes + Pharisees clear - those groups are not entitled to that honour
so Jesus tells this story
sadly we usually miss this point.
we think sonship is earned through repentance - compliance
tell the story in light of that
            say younger son repented and asked his father’s forgiveness
doesn't
comes up cunning plan return as servant - no repentance in that plan
Father sees him far off
runs to him
embraces him
at that moment he was found
            found by father's love
            he realised who truly was – beloved son
realises not worthy
not entitled
not better than anyone
simply loved
            then repents of all that stopped him knowing that or living that out
We left other son still locked into seeing self as entitled because of his service
            still thinking he had done enough to earn his place as son
            unwilling to see anyone else as beloved son
                        not even his brother
so too Pharisees and scribes
feel entitled through obedience
unwilling to see anyone else as beloved
do we see ourselves as beloved sons and daughters?
if not what need to let go of
if so how respond?

       3.     Mary

hear this evocative story
important story
in every gospel in some version
woman who found in Jesus
she is beloved daughter
not earned this
not better than others
simply is beloved daughter
responds with this scandalous and evocative gift of love
in this house with stench death lingering all just out of reach
death stench Lazarus so recently dead and now alive
threat death enfolding Jesus
she gives him gift of care and love that will carry him into days ahead
one commentary compares this story with wedding Cana
Mary Mother Jesus meets him in his deep need
sparks Jesus into action
out of which comes beautiful and fragrant wine
here another Mary meets Jesus in depths of his pain
in John the walk to crucifixion begins as soon as Jesus returns
knowing Lazarus has died
Thomas says “we will go to Jerusalem and die with you”
in this meal he stands at edge precipice
facing unthinkable death
she responds with this scandalous act
taking place slave – as Jesus will do in a few days’ time
massaging the feet of a male not her husband
shamefully exposing her hair in public to wipe his feet
using oils not water – is this left over from Lazarus’ anointing
offering burial anointing that any crucified body never receives
-         they are left for the birds
-         and thrown into the rubbish
It is what he will need
as he leaves here to ride a donkey into Jerusalem
that fragrance will stay with him through all that lies ahead
betrayal
abandonment
trial
death
this is her response to love
her response to being a beloved daughter
outrageous, scandalous, unthinkable
life the father last week.

       4.     “You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me,”

One last thread want to explore
Jesus comment to Judas
“You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me,”
or
Have the poor with you always. Or Keep the poor among you always.2
echoes here of Deuteronomy 15:11
“Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth…. I therefore command you, ‘Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbour in your land.’”
Marys action wasn’t and either or
Jesus in gospels always on side of poor
one things gets him into so much trouble
Marys response to Jesus didn’t preclude and equally scandalous response to the poor and her beloved brothers and sisters
Maybe it even invites it.

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