Echoes and Threads

Gate Pa – Year C 5^th 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.