John 12:20-36
"Holy Week" Tuesday - Years A, B, C
Here at the end of "The Book of Signs" we come back to the beginning of light.
What is the difference between "To all who received him, he gave the power to become children of GOD" and " While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light." Presumably the journey from chapter 1 to chapter 12 has found progress being made.
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2005/march2005.html
Two days ago we were so close to being in like Flynn. There was this parade happening the next street over, but we were just settling in to the Inn. We missed it.
Now we're trying to get a belated autograph and have a lead through a Mr. Philip who apparently knows someone who knows someone.
And just a quickly there is no response, our contact didn't show up. We're left behind.
So, from the other side - Jesus says, "We're full up. Disciples, stick closer than ever, no more taking bribes so someone can get their picture taken. Everyone, huddle up. The game's going to depend on this next play."
Well, believe it or not, this is a different time and place from these ancient stories. What is our criteria for helping someone come close to Jesus? What litmus test do they have to pass? What is the minimum ante? Will we take the time to introduce someone to the value source of our life ourselves or wait to see if someone else will blackball the idea? Is there still time available to slowly transform interest into involvement or must we expect instant conversion?
Is the game plan still to huddle up? Does looking back on this story from postEaster make a difference for how we are going to act in this, our next preEaster, season?
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2007_04_01_archive.html
Ya gotta love this strange Jesus.
Philip and Andrew (in excited unison): Hey, Jesus there's some folks looking for to join up!
Jesus: So? I'm about to die, here. Tell 'em to consider their own death, that's the short course. Invest your life in death, and alakazam, ipso facto, and zoomazoozi here is eternal life in the midst of what was thought only regular ol' life.
Once started, like an easily distractible professor (or one who works by providing all manner of strands until folks can begin weaving some of them together), Jesus mutters on about what a troubled soul he has (oy vey, such trouble has my soul seen!), how he'd just as soon, if it wouldn't be too much trouble, avoid such trouble.
After a moment of high humor and thundering angels where Jesus gets brought up short when asking for a revelation of glory with a revelation that glory was already present (remember that death–eternal-life thing) so get on with living.
Of as much interest as these little gems is the assumption that a Messiah must last forever and keep us in that forever. Such a boring assumption when faced with the excitement of a death–eternal-life connection. No wonder Jesus went and hid away.
What did you think you were signing up for? Forever? Nah. Ain't exciting enough. Try the short course instead, it'll take you much further – right into a paradise of now.
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2009_03_01_archive.html
Don't try to diagram this passage. Everything, plus the kitchen sink, has been tossed in.
Of all the various ways of coming at this passage begun with inquisitive Greeks/Gentiles, I'll look at the back and forth between Jesus and whatever he meant by Father.
To the disciples/crowd/Greeks/Gentiles, Jesus asks, "What should I say about this moment? Father, beam me up?"
To this Father, Jesus says, "Glorify your name."
To Jesus, this Father responds, "I have glorified it and I'll glorify it some more."
To the disciples/crowd/Greeks/Gentiles, Jesus says, "Whether you simply heard thunder or a finer Angel, glory is going to become glory squared."
Return with us now to the days of yesteryear when thunder was heard to say, "Beloved" instead of "Glory". We are moving into another time of temptation. If you are a Nikos Kazantzakis fan you will know he called it a Last Temptation. Instead of 40 days there are but 4 - Today, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.
Hold on to your belovedness, it will be all that is left to aid you to continue sending blessings in the midst of those so sure of their ability and right to throw both a first and next stone.
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2011/04/john-1220-36.html
What sign would tell you that you have come into your prime? Is it an internal sign that would look responsive to an external event? Is is dependent upon some criterion being met that would give permission to play your end game?
Attend to the voice that has come for your sake and yet is not interpretable by you. Some said it thunder and some said it was for Jesus. None saw it relating directly to themself.
It doesn’t help that Jesus continues to talk past people. They ask and Jesus goes off on a tangent. Jesus claims and then hides his claim away.
If you think you get what this is about it is probably time to take a 40 day retreat. Consider again what an absent Messiah might mean. Isn’t there an implication that this particular Messiah is Emmanuel, G*D with us, and now is no where to be found? How are we to trust absent light?
Over time we have adjusted to this question and done a lot of contortions to make sense of Jesus’ hiding from us. This is a most important question early on and remains such if we are willing to give it a try.
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2014/04/john-1220-36-tuesday.html