Monthly Archives: February 2013

Relentless Relenting of the Divine

Posted on by
Reply

“… the vineyard owner said to the gardener, ‘See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?’ The gardener replied, ‘Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it.'” —Luke 13:6-7

oldtreeThe appointed passage for this week (Luke 13:1-9).  Impending doom. I want to believe that I can organize life to shield me and those I love from disaster. Loving living. Wise investments. Exercise. Diet. Plenty of rest. I assume that the people of Galilee thought the same—with whatever the first century equivalent of organizing life was. Then Pilate fell on them, with the same deadly consequences as the tower of Siloam’s fall. I find it hard to come to grips with life’s absurd unpredictability. Managing outcomes is not entirely illusory– but it is largely so. Jesus suggests that some benefit may come from repenting. But would repentance have prevented Pilate from slaughtering worshipers or kept a tower from collapsing?

Like the vineyard owner, I would seize the notion of control. Cut down the unproductive tree and turn the soil to wiser use. Is not three seasons enough?

At 60, I have had more than three seasons. Some more fruitful than others.  Continue reading →

Old Hens in the Fox’s Jaw

Posted on by
Reply

“He said to them, ‘Go and tell that fox for me, “Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work.”‘” — from Luke 13:31-37

spiky stone cairnOh, the impetuous abandon of youth. Early thirties is hardly enough living to have gained the fullest measure of rational realism. One sermon in the home town (that didn’t go all that well) and he takes the show on the road. I can’t deny the magnetic quality of his unstoppable zeal. How can a petty king get in the way of this compelling business of casting out demons and performing cures.

But what can a thirty year old know? I know that, given life expectancies at the time, Jesus was well into the latter part of life for a man of Galilee or Judea. But is that not the problem? Think of a society of people so young. Run by people so young!  Continue reading →

Temptation

Posted on by
Reply

“Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness” – Luke 4:1

Walk in the desertWhen I was feverishly in love with God, full of vision, I ,too, sought the desert. I fasted, observed the hours, and even toyed (in my head) with taking vows.  I probably would have if Mennonites had Benedictine communities.  But our conceit was that all disciples are fervently faithful–we are, after all, a priesthood of all believers.

Infatuated, even the silliest visitations of Presence stimulated a rise in spirit.  Every word in a verse fed my lust for the One I ached to ravish me.  I might be hungry, but who had time to turn stones to bread, while He filled me with mysterious manna?  The wealth and power of nations paled in the brilliance of my Lover’s gaze.  Continue reading →

Lent for a Queer Religious Radical

Posted on by
Reply

two gateway stonesWhat leads me to contemplate Lenten disciplines?  My religious heritage is Anabaptism—the radical left wing of the reformation about as far from high church as possible.  I didn’t grow up with it—indeed, my culture was suspicious of anything remotely Catholic.

My queer proclivities lean away from S&M—not that a cute guy in leather will turn me off.  It’s just that I’d prefer to take the leather off him and cuddle on the way to sensuous mutual play.

But my seminary training and syncretistic incursions of the liturgical year into my Mennonite tradition of late make me very aware that this is the time for ashes and spiritual discipline.  Continue reading →