John 14:8-17
Pentecost - Year C
“Show us!”
The universal cry of freshmen trying to delay a test.
“Just show your work.”
The universal instruction of teachers of freshmen.
“No, you’re the teacher. Show us again and you’ll improve your required test scores.”
“Nope. Keep at it, you’ll get it.”
“Wait! Wha...?”
“Be not troubled”, said Jesus with a wink at all the meanings therein and to come.
[end scene]
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2013/05/john-148-17-25-27.html
Advocate -> Helper -> Friend -> Interpreter ->
As we move from 40 -> 50 in days, years, or whatever, there is a maturing process that goes on and we begin to from simply having come through to a time of going-on, a time of "Wait ... there's more!"
This marks a shift from self to community. We move-on from simply having a mechanism whereby we can remember and apply Jesus' life to our own. This simply draws us nearer to Jesus' "mission" from last week -- revealing the who and how of G*D.
The going-on connects us to that which is not ourself, whose image we do not claim -- to our neighbor. We are able to apply what we now know or are assured of G*D. This runs far deeper than excusing them because we understand them to the wonder of advocating, helping, befriending, and interpreting their life, in their words, using their paradigms.
This is a long way around to a peace we couldn't get at any other way -- being closer drawn to G*D and Neighbor. What a surprise to us to receive a gift only to find it to be a gift that grows. This is a gift unlike other gifts that spin down and finally, only lie there.
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2004/may2004.html
A commandment to participate in the More of life, the doing of greater things comes to us in this sort of way from the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary:
"Command" Etymology: Middle English comanden , from Middle French comander , from (assumed) Vulgar Latin commandare , alteration of Latin commendare to commit to one's charge -- more at COMMEND
"Commend" Etymology: Middle English, from Latin commendare , from com - + mandare to entrust -- more at MANDATE
"Mandate" Etymology: Middle French & Latin; Middle French mandat , from Latin mandatum , from neuter of mandatus , past participle of mandare to entrust, enjoin, probably irregular from manus hand + - dere to put -- more at MANUAL, DO
"Manual" Etymology: Middle English manuel, from Middle French, from Latin manualis , from manus hand; akin to Old English mund hand and perhaps to Greek marē hand
"Do" Etymology: Middle English don , from Old English dōn ; akin to Old High German tuon to do, Latin - dere to put, facere to make, do, Greek tithenai to place, set
Given a question from my beloved, "Why does my word always require my flesh?", what is your connecting line of language that excuses and separates your belief from your doing?
This is pretty clear language that we keep slipping away from. Are we who believe actually expanding and building on what we have been given or simply huddling together and reinforcing what has happened? Our believing without our doing is no different than having faith without works.
Come Holy Spirit, connect our insides and our outsides.
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2004/may2004.html
In prayer and in fear we ask for assurance. Just show us G*D and we'll be satisfied! Of course we would like to do Moses one better and see more than G*D's hindquarters. How about a glimpse of G*D's hand, that would satisfy us for a while. Then, perhaps, a glimpse of a strong right arm....
We ask the same things of Peace, Justice, and some Patriotic Way. Just show us -- for our dualistic thoughts keep compartmentalizing life in such a way we are blinded to what is already present. To see G*D in another is not a lesser seeing than face-to-face beyond dim mirrors.
Pentecost stories continue in a transformation of fear and separation into honor expanded to all and satisfaction in who we are. In this presentness we move forward into ways and works deemed impossible just a bit ago.
= = = = = = =
A Satisfied Mind
Nortons - 3 minutes
A Satisfied Mind [MISSING URL]
Ben Harper & Blind Boys of Alabama - 9 minutes
Written by J. H. "Red" Hayes & Jack Rhodes
How many times have you heard someone say,
"If I had his money, I could do things my way."
But little they know that it's so hard to find
One rich man in Ten with a satisfied mind.
Once I was winning in fortune and fame;
Everything that I dreamed of to get a start in life's game.
But suddenly it happened, I lost every dime,
But I'm richer by far with a satisfied mind.
Money can't buy back your youth when you're old
Or a friend when you're lonesome or a love that's grown cold;
The wealthiest person is a pauper at times
Compared to the man with a satisfied mind.
When life is over, my time has run out,
My friends and my loved ones I'll leave, there's no doubt.
But one thing for certain, when it comes my time,
I'll leave this old world with a satisfied mind.
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2007_05_01_archive.html
Pentecost is a revelation of what is - illusions reduced and creation renewed.
Pentecost is knowing one another beyond simply spending time with one another.
Pentecost is active (not simply a 50 day marker) - those who participate in Pentecost will do greater work than those who have gone before. Please do spend some time this week defining what you think Jesus' work was. Only then will you have a sense of the activity to which you are called. It is not that there is one work for all of us to be strengthening, but that each of our unique gifts will call forth differing arenas of generativity.
Pentecost is transition from past to future, from fear to freedom. Even as you consider Jesus' work, ponder his teaching. What did he teach? Only then will you have a sense of the spirit of enlightening to which you are called.
Pentecost is a joy of wholeness beyond the brokenness so often trapping us in our separatenesses. Peace is not stillness, but wellness, health, wholeness, growth.
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2010/05/john-148-17-25-27.html