Word Of Life Church Podcast

"Hope builds a bridge across the abyss into which reason cannot look. It can hear an undertone to which reason is deaf. To the hopeful, the world appears in a different light. Hope gives the world a special radiance; it brightens the world."–Byung-Chul Han, The Spirit of Hope

Shepherds, though now romanticized in Nativity scenes, were at the bottom of society. These were not landowners but hired hands who watched over the sheep by night; sleeping, if they did, on the cold hard ground. That these simple shepherds and not the high and mighty were the first to know the greatest news of all was entirely in keeping with Mary’s prophetic song:He has shown the strength of his arm,He has scattered the proud in their conceit.He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,And has lifted up the lowly.

In our contemporary context we need a Christianity formed by the Magnificat. In the American superpower we are typically inclined toward ideologies of success and anthems of strength. But the grace of God does not run uphill toward the pinnacles of success and strength, it rolls downhill toward the low places of humility and trust.

Mary as the Mother of God is both a holy and unique mystery, and an enduring archetype.

John the Baptist drinks no wine, because he’s not the one who brings the party, he only prepares the way. The party begins when Jesus turns the water to wine at the wedding feast of Cana. John is Advent; Jesus is Christmas.

Jesus of Nazareth being interrogated and ultimately condemned by Pontius Pilate is one of the most dramatic moments in the gospel story, and one of the most strangely fascinating moments in human history. Jesus on trial before the Roman governor of Judea establishes a historical context for the crucifixion. Indeed, it creeps into the Creed: “He suffered under Pontius Pilate.” If we enter into the theological depths of this historical moment, we discover that though on the surface Jesus is on trial before a Roman governor, in reality the world was on trial before the King of Kings.

In his Olivet Discourse Jesus predicted that the Temple would be destroyed, saying “all will be thrown down.” This came to pass a generation later when the Roman legions destroyed Jerusalem. But if Jesus’ words are words that “will not pass away,” what do these words say to us today, these words that—“all will be thrown down”?

Psalm 130 invites us to wait for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning. Our souls wait for the Lord because there are no quick and easy paths on the road to spiritual formation. Waiting is inevitable. Waiting is baked into this ancient Christian faith we have received. Instead of a hurried dash through a department story, the Christian life is more like a slow walk down a wooded trail. The Christian life is a slow walk interrupted by moments of grandeur. Most of our days are spent waiting patiently on God. But we don't wait alone. God the Holy Spirit gives us faith, hope, and love to empower us in our waiting.

Let nothing disturb youLet nothing frighten youAll things are passing awayGod never changesPatience obtains all thingsWhoever has God lacks nothingGod alone suffices–Teresa of Ávila

In Mark's Gospel bar-Timaeus (son of Timaeus) is the only person Jesus healed who is given a name. The blind beggar bar-Timaeus is also the first person in Mark's Gospel to identify Jesus as the Son of David. So who is Timaeus and why does it matter?

The problem that James and John and the rest of disciples had, was that they thought Jesus could be contained in their own ambitions and agendas; that Jesus could be contained in the systems and political structures of the world they already knew. But they were wrong. They were wrong because Jesus is the uncontainable Christ.

The faith of Abraham is a pilgrim faith that confesses the kingdoms of this world are all transitory and passing away, and that the only eternal kingdom is the kingdom of the heavens, where Jesus Christ reigns at the right hand of God.

Philip the Evangelist rode in a chariot with the Ethiopian Eunuch on the Gaza Road two thousand years ago. Brian Zahnd road on a train with Yu in Paris on the day Derrida died. The two stories are not entirely different.

No matter what cripples us, no matter what issues we have, no matter how many dark spirits afflict us, Jesus is the one who recalls us to life.

In The Chronicles of Narnia, Puddleglum tells the underworld witch, "I'm on Aslan's side even if there is no Aslan. I'm going to live like a Narnian even if there isn't any Narnia." In this story C.S. Lewis is doing more than telling a children's fantasy, he is portraying what it means to "walk by faith."

Bread on the table is ordinary, but bread in the hands of Jesus becomes extraordinary. Bread in Jesus' hands during the Passover meal became an extension of Jesus’ very flesh. During Jesus' teaching ministry, bread became a feast for 5,000 people. During a meal with two disciples in Emmaus, bread became a revelation of Jesus in their midst. And we are like bread. Jesus takes us, blesses us, breaks us, and gives us to the world making our lives extraordinary.

This sermon explores the transformative work of Christ to give us beauty for ashes and bring healing to our woundedness. As Henry Nouwen states: "Nobody escapes being wounded. We are all wounded people, whether physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually. The main question is not 'How can we hide our wounds?' so we don't have to be embarrassed but 'How can we put our woundedness in the service of others?' When our wounds cease to be a source of shame and become a source of healing, we have become wounded healers."

Haven't seen you in quite a whileI was down the hold just passing timeLast time we met was a low-lit roomWe were as close together as a bride and groomWe ate the food, we drank the wineEverybody having a good timeExcept youYou were talking about the end of the worldI took the moneyI spiked your drinkYou miss too much these days if you stop to thinkYou led me on with those innocent eyesYou know I love the element of surpriseIn the garden I was playing the tartI kissed your lips and broke your heartYouYou were acting like it was the end of the worldIn my dream I was drowning my sorrowsBut my sorrows, they learned to swimSurrounding me, going down on meSpilling over the brimWaves of regret and waves of joyI reached out for the one I tried to destroyYou, you said you'd wait'Til the end of the world

Oh life is biggerIt's bigger than youAnd you are not meThe lengths that I will go toThe distance in your eyesOh no I've said too muchI set it upThat's me in the cornerThat's me in the spotlightLosing my religionTrying to keep up with youAnd I don't know if I can do itOh no I've said too muchI haven't said enoughI thought that I heard you laughingI thought that I heard you singI think I thought I saw you tryEvery whisper, of every waking hourI'm choosing my confessionsTrying to keep an eye on youLike a hurt, lost and blinded fool, foolOh no I've said too muchI set it upConsider thisConsider this the hint of the centuryConsider this the slipThat brought me to my knees, failedWhat if all these fantasies comeFlailing aroundNow I've said too muchI thought that I heard you laughingI thought that I heard you singI think I thought I saw you tryThat was just a dreamThat was just a dreamThat's me in the cornerThat's me in the spotlightLosing my religionTrying to keep up with youAnd I don't know if I can do itOh no I've

Come as you are, as you wereAs I want you to beAs a friend, as a friendAs an old enemyTake your time, hurry upChoice is yours, don't be lateTake a rest as a friendAs an oldMemoriaCome doused in mud, soaked in bleachAs I want you to beAs a trend, as a friendAs an oldMemoriaAnd I swear that I don't have a gunNo I don't have a gunNo I don't have a gunMemoria