listenwiththeearofyourheart

This is the written copy of my 2026 Palm Sunday homily … if you want to hear what I really said go to GoW’s YouTube channel and watch here … I start sharing @46:45.  It’s very different from the present text … and rather than transcribe that I said on YouTube I’m giving you something I wrote as I meditated and thought about the Palm Sunday story. The book I read and quote here is a compilation, proof texting, from Psalm 22 in Opening to You: Zen-inspired translations of the Psalms, Norman Fischer, Viking Compass, 2002. In my spoken homily, I mentioned Brian D. McLaren’s, We Make the Road by Walking, a year-long quest for spiritual formation, reorientation, and activation, Jericho Books, 2014 – great Lent and Easter reflections. I found Malcom Guite’s The Word in the Wilderness: a poem a day for Lent and Easter , Canterbury Press, 2014, on my bookshelf almost by accident. And Steve Bell has a great selection of songs for this time of year. At Grain of Wheat we use Wilda C. Gafney’s A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church.

Homily at Grain of Wheat Church-Community
Palm Sunday – March 29,’26

Scriptures for the Liturgy of the Palms: Matthew 21:1-11; Psalm 118:19-29
Scriptures for the Liturgy of the Word: Isaiah 49:5-16; Galatians 3:23-4:7; Mark 14:32-15:47; Psalm 22:1-11

I began my prep this week with the question – why is this story so important? It’s in all gospels, even John … Mark and John don’t even have a birth story … so it’s important to the story of Jesus. And the 4 versions are fairly similar. The version of the story we’re using this morning is in Matthew and for once he’s pretty close to the others.

As I meditated on this story the word that came to me, early Thursday morning was JESUS IS ON THE ROAD.

JESUS IS ON THE ROAD – let me share some of my thoughts about that.

Jesus is on the road – “Look, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey” Matthew is quoting Zechariah 9:9 – chapters that speak of the restoration of Judah and Israel and strong condemnation of leaders. Folk on the road obviously wanted Jesus to free them from Roman oppression. Jesus wanted everyone to be free from political, religious, cultural oppression. He wants us to be free to love ourselves, neighbour’s and enemies … cause that’s what God does. And as Jesus’s time in the temple reveals … he gets angry when anything getting in the way of anyone experiencing the love of God. “My temple will be a house of prayer but you have turned it into a den of robbers.” Mark being the servant gospel – adds “a house of prayer for the people of all nations” quoting Isaiah 56:7 – justice for all. Paul says something similar in the Galatians passage – “for in Christ we are all children of God…no longer Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female.” In Christ we are all one. No division. No blocking those that don’t do it right, believe it right…our way. No blocking of those with different sexual orientation, of those of different economic status – rich or poor, or religious affiliation – denominational or other world religion. Jesus welcomes and will walk with anyone on their road.

As I’ve mentioned, Jesus was anger at anything that blocked people from experiencing God … especially in prayer – their efforts to connect with that Love. That is why he drove out the merchants and animals from the Gentile courtyard, where ordinary people could pray. Jesus didn’t lose his temper, he used his anger; for justice and truth and that’s what got him killed. I believe that Jesus wasn’t horribly executed because God is a child killing sadist, who demands blood as payment for every thing we do wrong. No, that’s fear not love. Jesus spend his life trying to teach us that God is love and wants us to be whole. Jesus healed, he didn’t condemn folk for not having enough faith. He was angry at those who got in the way of people experiencing that love and healing, hence the temple incident…he didn’t lose his temper, he used it. And he continued to teach that God loves everyone, in the very place where the religious elite bullied and kept people down with bad theology. He taught that in how he lived, how he walked his road, even to the cross. Jesus road wasn’t a safe road and he didn’t make it any easier by continuing to challenge the religious authorities, who were supported by the Roman occupation. Power doesn’t like challenge … it kills it. It blows it up. It blocks it in whatever weird and cruel ways that work … sort of.

The road that Jesus walked from Bethany – the present day al-Eizariya, to Jerusalem isn’t easy to do nowadays, especially if your Palestinian. There’s a 30 foot concrete wall between al-Eizariya and Jerusalem – sort of a half circle around one of the largest Palestinian cities in the West Bank. It blocks residents of al-Eizariya and other Palestinians in the West Bank from better employment, health care and often from each other. A 30 foot wall – limiting, intimidating, crushing the spirit and souls of Palestinians. I read it used to be a 10 minute bike ride to visit Jerusalem – like us going to the Forks from Wolesley and now that road is blocked by fear and greed. And Jesus is on that road with the churches – we prayed with this Lent and Palestinian Christians in the West Bank and Gaza. Jesus is on that road with the mosques and Muslims in al-Eizariya and all Israel. Jesus is on the road of the lives of the children, women and men who suffer daily because of apartheid and genocide – wherever that is happening in the world. Jesus is on the road – – with them.

And Jesus is on that road with us. Jesus is on the road with Grain of Wheat. Jesus is on the road with each of us. Jesus is on our road. Jesus is on your road. Your life journey, no matter where you have been or where you seem to be going, intentionally or just wandering around, like I did for many years. Jesus was on my road with me, even if I didn’t want anything to do with him or the religion he represented. He kept hanging around, keeping me safe when I was drunk and / or stoned. While driving or in jail or just goofing off. Jesus was on my road with me and now I’m so grateful. He’s always around when I need some help getting rid of things in my life that get in the way of Love … like he did in the temple event. He’s there when I need advice. He’s on my road when I don’t want any talking and simply need a loving supportive presence … Him and Linda.

What is the road you are on? Sometimes the road is smooth and easy going. It helps if you make good choices and have a good pension. Linda and myself are very grateful that our retirement road is pretty smooth. Our kids are doing great … the Easterners are graduated and granddaughters are healthy and growing rapidly. Our road is pretty good and Jesus is with us. And Jesus is with us when the road takes a turn for the worse, when we get broken into and our siblings don’t agree with our theology or politics … not a big deal but it can cause stress and bumpiness. Helping my Mom live until she dies is stressful. The world we live it is stressful – wars – what can we do? Climate instability – driving a Prius is a small thing, probably drive too much … glad summer biking is around the corner. Reconciliation is a wonderful idea and we hope being nice to our indigenous neighbors counts for something. We participate in marches to protest the war in Gaza … doesn’t seem like much when people’s homes, lives and families lie in ruin. AND Jesus is with us on our road – the good and the bad. I know I feel loved and encouraged to keep trying to make the world a better place. I’m here this morning … showing up can be hard for me. Thanks for giving me a way to give back. You are important people on my road. Which one of you is Jesus? We are Jesus to each other. To our neighbors. To our planet. Jesus on the road with a bunch of Jesus’s…

So … What road are you on? Family issues? Financial issues? Concerns about world issues? Jesus is on that road with you.

Jesus celebrates with us – at the table we’re all welcomed to. The table where the whole Church could be united around and Jesus suffers with us – which is pretty obvious this time in the church calendar. We are reminded that the Creator, God, the Father and Mother of us all, suffers with us … is on the road with us. Jesus taught, lived and died proving that.

Let me close with this… Jesus being on the road with us, suffering with us … seems to be in contrast with the psalm in the announcements – Psalm 22 which begins “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Sometimes it sure feels that way. Those watching Jesus die felt that way.

And I need to make sure that everyone here and on line hears that I don’t think for a moment that God abandons anyone, including Jesus on the cross. Sometimes it feels like God abandons us. It makes good substitutionary atonement sense to have a holy righteous God turn away from sin. But we know that Jesus whole life and teaching was to show that the Creator of the Universe loves us, doesn’t turn away. Jesus doesn’t abandon us on the road of our lives, no matter how bad we screw up, miss the mark, sin. No one can tell God what to do, who to forgive, how to forgive. True Love forgives and accepts and doesn’t turn away, doesn’t abandon us … and believe it or not that what Psalm 22 reassures us … when you read the whole thing.

That’s where Matthew was going when he put those words in Jesus mouth on the cross … the same ones that Mark used. In a culture that didn’t have a lot of books, folk would have memorized many Psalms and so the readers of Mark and Matthew knew when they read those first words “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me” – it was sort of the title to Psalm 22. And they knew the whole Psalm Matthew and Mark were pointing their readers too… Let me read from an wonderful paraphrase by Norman Fischer, a Zen priest and poet who spent time with the Trappist monks in Gethsemani Abbey, Merton’s home … Gaffney didn’t take us far enough…

My God, my God why have you forsaken me?
Why so far from my delivery
So empty in the anguish of my words?
I called you in the daytime but you don’t answer
And all night long I plead restlessly, uselessly

That is the beginning of Psalm 22 AND is continues, which the first reader would have known…the first lines being the title opening the rest of the Psalm. It often feels like God abandons us and the psalmist continues.

You have not scorned the poor and despised
Nor recoiled disgusted from their faces
From them your spark is never been hidden
And when they cried out in their misery
You heard and answered and ennobled them
And it is the astonishment of this that I will praise in the Great Assembly
Making deep vows in the presence of those who know your heart
Know that in you the meek eat and are satisfied
And all who seek and struggle find the tongue to praise

Your flame kindles all that lives and breathes

For none can keep alive by their own power — you alone light the soul

Those people not yet born
Will sing of your uprightness, you’re evenness, your brightness

That is how you are.

That is how God, our Mother and Father is … She does not scorn the poor and despised nor recoil disgusted from their faces.

That is how Jesus is and he taught, lived and died that reality. That was his road.

Jesus is still on the road … Jesus is on our road with us … the road of celebration and the road of suffering, the road of disappointments, frustrations, difficulties and the road of successes and achievements, the road of death and new birth – like the grains of wheat that will soon be planted. Whatever you are going through … please be encouraged with the reality that Jesus is walking with you on your road, on our road, on the road of our planet and all that’s on it. Thanks be to Love.

Purpose and Beauty & Discipleship and Lament

Scriptures for Sunday, Sept. 21/25: 2 Samuel 1:17-27; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; John 16:16-22; Ezekiel 19:1-3, 10-146

For readers of this blog – This was an interesting homily to prepare and give. The teaching team of Grain of Wheat Church-Community wanted us to reflect on some the 13 Commitments which folk agree to, as part of becoming a member of GoW. That document is on our webpage – http://www.grainofwheat.ca/ under About Us tab. In September ‘25, they were wanting to focus specifically on the 4 commitments under the heading – We are disciples of Jesus and strive to live Christ-like lives by:

1. Welcoming and caring for the stranger, the newcomer, the poor, the sick, the prisoner

2. Sharing the Good News, our resources in our gifts with the community and the world

3. Living a Life of Enough by resisting consumerism of conserving resources

4. Working for reconciliation in all things (relationships, structures, creation)

SO the teaching team were wanting to emphasize #3 this Sunday and the worship leader had picked the theme of lament from the scripture readings and I had something I’d heard that I wanted to share so my homily was like weaving 3 ideas together…interesting and a bit overwhelming, to say the least. I’m grateful for how it worked out. Not really surprised because that’s what Spirit does. The text after these initial comments is what I wrote out Sunday morning so I would have something on paper to present. I chose to give myself permission to deviate from the text on a number of occasions as thoughts came to mind – not something I usually do but went with it that morning. Of course that probably doubled the words and time I spoke. I was pleasantly surprised to find I was up front under 15 mins – a bit more than the expected 8-10 mins for usual homily. Suffice it to say much of what I said that morning isn’t written in the following text. Here is the link to the YouTube service –   I start speaking around 43:30 and there was a moving prayer for Gaza and a visit by Socky, so you may want to watch the whole thing. As I say, if you have any questions or comments please give me a call. Enough preamble…here’s my homily for Sunday, 21sep25 GoWC-C worship.

_____________

Good morning Paul has done his usual good job of putting together a meaningful worship service using the theme from one group of 13 commitments that the teaching team wanted us to look at about being disciples of Christ. He focussed on the one about economics which we used to call simple lifestyle – not being distracted by all the stuff going on out there – bigger house, bigger car, better job. I suppose if that’s what you’re doing then you would do a lot of complaining about things. Lamenting even. Lament is much more than complaining about our own situation rather … what Paul said.

What I want to briefly, hopefully, talk about this morning is something I believe I heard from the Creator about why she likes to create and hopefully relate that to the themes Paul led us in today.

The other day Roger Jane and I were talking about art – painting and stained glass and drinking scotch. I left their place with a question “Why the creator gets so much joy out of creating?”

Does anybody here have an answer to that off the top of your head?

(There were 3-4 responses from the congregation including one that suggested the Creator had lots of time. After acknowledging their comments, I continued with something like…)

On the way home I kept asking that question – meditating on it if you will and what I heard was that Creator likes to put things together for a purpose. Sounded a bit heady and utilitarian something I’d say. And I guess that’s what happened at creation. There was chaos in the deep and I guess she created atoms and put them together to create light and did the same to create a dome to separate the water above and the water below. The next day she had to make water too, H2O. Then she started putting together plants and animals and people. Putting stuff together for a purpose… Art is like that painting, stained glass, sounds, words.

It was a wonderful thot. I also got the thot that she creates just because … just because she likes beauty. Not really rational. She just makes beautiful things and we all know the millions of flowers that have no purpose really other than to be beautiful. Maybe it does help the bees and mostly it’s beauty for beauty sake – sunsets, flowers, birds, autumn leaves. … James can I have that C chord.

(Our music leader strummed a C chord on his guitar and for the first time I sang during a homily. I sang the following verse from Jim Croegaert’s Why Do We Hunger for BeautyLink is to Steve Bell’s lovely version

Moon hanging lonely
Up there in the sky
Looking so holy
Like a host held up high
And off in the distance
There’s a train going by
Why does it move us
And cause us to sigh
Why do we hunger for beauty?

(And the Congregation sang a response “Why do we hunger for beauty?” – special moment for me. I have to add that James K is a wonderful music leader. I continued to say something like…)

Why do we hunger for beauty? I think it’s because we share the Creators love for beauty. That’s what being created in the image means to me… my soul and the Creator are connected.

I want to go back to that idea that Creator puts things together for a purpose. You ever wondered what your purpose is? Your reason for existence? I’m going to suggest a few things you can take with a grain of salt and I’m open to talk more about it. Give me a call. Breakfast is OK too.

Long ago. I heard a good Pentecostal preacher say that we were created so that God could love us. He said we weren’t created primarily to worship or serve or care for creation – we were created to be loved – to receive love – to be open to love. Love is like a circle. God loves us – God is love – can’t really do anything except out of love…while we were yet sinners … and then we respond to that love. If for some reason – fear, anger, pride – we have trouble receiving, it’s hard to respond with right attitude. We can be demanding or proud or worried about getting it right. We’re not very good disciples.

So how do we respond to God’s love? How do we love God? It’s something I’ve been thinking about and trying to do for years. One thing that has helped is knowing what my purpose is. Yes, my first purpose is to be open to receive God’s love. Then MY purpose, the way I respond, I’ve discovered is “to listen so others have an experience of Love”. That’s my way of participating, my particular purpose in helping Love love the world.

Jesus is a good example of how to respond to Divine love. Following Jesus example is what being a disciple is. When we respond to God’s love we READ FROM 13 COMMITMENTS

(I read the ones I included in the preamble)

Finding ways to listen is my work, my purpose. Jesus was a great listener that’s why I’m his disciple / follower and I need to be part of a faith community … I need people to listen to.

If I was busy making money so I could buy fancy clothes, cars, food, houses I’d miss out on God‘s purpose for me and be miserable most of the time. Even being retired – I’d still be following that way of consumerism rather than Jesus way. AND I’d make others miserable as well. I’d complain and judge and demand others be like me. If we do what we’re meant to do we can suffer, lament and bear the pain of the world with courage and sometimes joy. That’s what Jesus showed us. That’s what we remember when we gather together to lament and remind ourselves of the hope we have in Love – at the table, at Eucharist we share each Sunday.

I’m going to stop talking now… and ask James to lead us in a pretty optimistic song… “Oh Lord Your Love is Changing the world” day by day we are renewed – that’s the hope we have. Love is more than just a feeling, it involves actions. Sometimes small and sometimes big like those 10 or so nations, including Canada that have acknowledged the state of Palestine – voicing our opposition to the violence and terror – we’re trying to push back the darkness. God help us everyone.

Addendum – I realise as I edited these words I hadn’t written down any of the stories I told when I was standing up front. I’ll include a couple of the important ones here with permission of Linda and Olaf.

Story 1: At the beginning of my homily, after the gospel passage was read by a mom who teared up as she read. I asked her if that was because of her kids made her so happy or … it was an attempt at humor. Then I acknowledged I had no real right to talk about giving birth however Linda (my partner/wife for 37 years and counting) had told me that being pregnant wasn’t that bad but the birth of our eldest was very physically hard on her – forceps, suction and all that. AND on the night after his birth, despite all her discomfort, she had hobbled down the hall of the hospital to the nursery so she could hold her brand new little boy that she loved so much for so long. Her love and joy to be with him overcoming the pain. Pain, Lament, Joy

(FYI – present day mom and man are doing well. Joel just completed his PhD – his 7 year birthing journey. Not something we anticipated that day, 36 years ago.)

I admire his vulnerability, in letting me share his story including when the shadow of insecurity or whatever, grows too big he has coped with alcohol and marijuana, often numbing those dark feelings for days at a time. He told me how that numbing also robs him of being a musician, composing, playing and relating to others. When he realizes how his “coping” is interfering with his purpose, colleagues and friends, he finds a way back to being himself again – assisted by his loving partner / wife and friends. He’s been dry for years now and still has dark moments, numbing in other ways and finding his way back. One way he found to return to fulfilling his purpose is using The 30 Day Sobriety Solution program. After hearing about it from Olaf, I’ve used that program a couple times to help adjust my relationship with alcohol.

Olaf ‘s friendship, modelling and vulnerability has been a gift to me in many ways over the past 20 some years – as well as introducing me to many wonderful board games. His courage and desire to live into his purpose for all these years, despite the challenges life brings, is inspirational. I’m grateful he let me share his story here.

this is a bit late but it’s still good…

Not sure why this quote from the Irish missionary Columbanus from my morning meditation guide (see foot note) was significant enough for me to blog what I heard.. Maybe because it’s important to Love for me to blog … emphasis on the importance for me to share what I hear from life. Anyway enough introspection. Maybe it caught my attention because he’s an IRISH missionary.I don’t really like traditional missionary work … but being a Murphy my soul perks up when I read the word ‘Irish’. Let’s hear it for Celtic spirituality.

Columbanus wrote: “Seek then the highest wisdom, not by arguments in words but by the perfection of your life; not by speech but by the faith that comes from simplicity of heart.”

His use of the word perfection causes me to “hear” the verse from the end of Matthew 5 – vs48 “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” KJV, the version I memorized and internalized those damaging, at least to me, words of Jesus. Hearing them as a child, while living under the threat of eternal damnation if I made any mistakes, was devastating to my soul and psyche. No wonder I rejected the idea of having to be perfect and the source of those words for a few years. As I grew wiser and less dualistic in my thinking I tried to listen with the ears of my heart. So instead of rejecting these words and their source, I’ve come to understand the word translated “perfect” can also mean “complete / whole”. That learning has given me a new perspective, that of a process – which gives me hope, not for perfection but to grow in my ability to love as I am loved.

For this blog, I’m going to include some of my usual morning devotional / listening process, which often includes some word Bible study, distinct from Lectio Divina. LD invites me to listen more to my heart, while study has me listening more to my head. During Lectio, when a word or phrase speaks to me I often check out what the word means in the original language. I’ve noticed how doing that moves my “listening” from my heart to my head and with a bit of effort and grace I can often bring my thoughts / head back into my heart for a concluding time of contemplation / Centering Prayer…on good days. (The cycle of Lectio Divina is Lectio – reading, art, music, life; Meditato – thinking about what stood out for me in Lectio and applying it to my life: Oratorio – talking to Love about what I mediated on; concluding with Contemplatio – where I often use Centering Prayer to sit in silence with all the above.) I’m still moving towards a more whole way of being love and Matthew 5:48 now gives me hope that it’s possible to move closer to loving as I am loved – oh I wrote that already… and I’m leaving it in for that is my hope.

Anyway – my “go to” website, for getting started on understanding what the original author probably meant – in the “original” Greek or Hebrew is Blue Letter Bible https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g5046/kjv/tr/0-1/ It includes my old standby for word meanings – Strongs concordance. This morning I was reminded that the word “perfection” is the Greek word τέλειος téleios, tel’-i-os; from the root word G5056 τέλος télos, tel’-os; from a primary τέλλω téllō (to set out for a definite point or goal); properly, the point aimed at as a limit. Strong points out that Teleios broadens that meaning to include – complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc.); neuter (as noun, with G3588) completeness:—of full age, man, perfect.

These Greek words seem to imply … now I’m going more Meditatio … that Jesus wants me to aim at being as loving as God is. His final thoughts recorded in Matthew 5, the Sermon on the Mount chapter were – “Love your enemies.”

To get back to the source of this blog – Columbanus wrote: “Seek then the highest wisdom, not by arguments in words but by the perfection of your life; not by speech but by the faith that comes from simplicity of heart.”

More meditatio – for some reason, as I begin my 71st year (my birthday is July 9/55. No presents please, just invites for breakfast) I’m not as concerned as I once was that I’ll never be perfect in word or deed – caring for Mom, self, creation and others – God. It seems wiser and less stressful to aim to make the effort to be loving like Love demonstrates, and have the serenity to accept things I can’t change, and try to change, in me and around me, the things I can and seek wisdom to know the difference. If I have love and respect guiding my actions, according to Columbanus that may be more important than making sure I say the right and perfect thing. I get tired of hearing so many words, maybe others do to? Not sure what simplicity of heart means but for me it probably means to just have faith / trust that Spirit is willing to help me simply be a kind, loving person and if necessary, give me words of blessing. Linda often uses the WAIT acronym – Why Am I Talking.

Footnote: this morning meditation was in Common Prayer: a liturgy for ordinary radicals, edited by Shane Claiborne, Jonathan Wilson-Hargrove, Enuma Okora, Zondervan 2010. A wonderful book of prayers, quotes and scripture readings for morning (every day) evening (7 prayers) and midday with songs, prayers, helpful suggestions on how to faithfully and joyfully follow the Jesus way by folk who are committed to the monastic and communal tradition of Christianity…which for them and myself seeks to be ecumenical and inclusive – Christlike.

sent from Stephen’s iPad

As usual this blog is the final script I prepared for today … which I barely looked at when I spoke. I rambled more than usual and people seemed to get the gist of what I had heard. I started by mentioning a story Larry told me, before worship started, about his 2 year old grandson who takes off up the path without paying his grandfathers any attention “…sort of like us and God” Larry said. In my preamble, I also mentioned that the opening song, My Hope is Built – “on Christ the solid rock I stand…”, is a great metaphor for how Jesus is part of our lives. I also mentioned how the next song More Love sounded like the Psalm for the day… ” There is more love* somewhere. / There is more love somewhere. / I’m gonna keep on ‘til I find it. / There is more love somewhere. *Additional verses: hope, peace, joy.” I commented that with the Holy Spirit pouring love into our hearts, like Paul told the Romans, maybe we need to look inward for “more” love, joy, peace and hope – which could be signs that Yahweh is standing by our side. Anyway despite my rambling I feel it was an OK homily. I gave folk a chance to share a God moment which isn’t part of the script here. Lloyd came up and shared that he’d seen Bruce Cockburn at the Winnipeg Folk Festival the day before and how Bruce’s spirituality came through in his songs … a God moment for Lloyd. After my homily Owen, the worship leader, gave a time for sharing and others spoke of some God moments in their lives – primarily how family and community helped them with health issues.

Scriptures for the day: 1 Samuel 4:2, 5-11,19-22; Psalm 77:1-12,19-22; Romans 5:1-5; John 14:25-31

The song I requested and we sang before my homily was one of those sort of cheesy – early ’70s, especially the pic on the video – AND like many hymns there is truth buried in the chorus. I included a link if you want to hear it all.  You are Near – Dan Shutte https://youtu.be/_Uge74xLmg0?si=W_sPLy3k9p_GgGMB

Chorus:

Yahweh I know you are there standing always by my side.

You guard me from the foe and lead me in ways everlasting.

This is the script I had written out:

What stood out for me as I read the scriptures Wilda Gafney chose for today, was the ways that God showed up for folk in the stories we read. And the song Yahweh I know you are there, standing always by my side…came to mind. So that’s what I’m going to share around this morning. How does God show up in your life? How do you know, when do you become aware of Yahweh standing always by your side? Standing always by your side…whether you know it or want it. How do you experience living and moving and having your being in Love? Big questions and if something comes to mind, a story about a place or person or spiritual practise that seems to help you know – not just your head but your heart and body…helps you know that Yahweh is by your side…make a note of it…physically or mentally and if you want there will be time during my homily to share your symbol, story, ritual or whatever helps you know that Y is standing always by your side…you’re not alone. We’re not alone.

What is your story. I got the impression as I meditated on these reading that at one level they are simply stories about people experiencing Yahweh standing by and there were things, symbols that helped them know or hope Yahweh would be there – cause Yahweh had showed up in their story before.

Obviously for the early Israelites the ark of the covenant was main symbol of Yahweh’s presence. Even the Philistines knew the story of how the Israelites gods smote the Egyptians …notice the plural. You speak of what you know and the Philistines had many gods so why wouldn’t the Israelites – what did the Philistines know about Hebrew theology. Anyway the Ark was a major part of the Israelites story and when they wanted Yahweh to be with them they brought out the ark and unfortunately in this story Yahweh didn’t guard them from the foe. Not sure what to say about that other than the story doesn’t end here. You should read how the ark eventually got back to Israel, almost like it had a life of it’s own…which I’m sure was the intent of the editors of these books in the Hebrew Bible … they wanted folk to know that Yahweh is bigger than our enemies and will punish us and them if we don’t do what Yahweh wants. I’m not comfortable with that theology and am glad Jesus showed us that Love is bigger than judgement and punishment. Suffering happens and Yahweh I know you are there, standing always by my side…I’m not alone. We’re not alone. Psalm 23 all over again. And that comforts and encourages me…especially as this body doesn’t work perfectly anymore…aging has it’s challenges and I’m glad that my story continues. Enough of me.

This story reminds the Jewish people of Yahweh being with them through symbols and there’s always a story that go with symbols. That’s what Ps. 77 reminds us of. It seems like the psalmist had a problem believing Yahweh was by his side…until he started remembering his history, his story and recalled Yahweh’s faithfulness in the verses Gafney left out of the reading.

What god is so great as our God?

You are the God who works wonders;

you have displayed your might among the peoples.

With your strong arm you redeemed your people,

the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.

The Passover and freedom from Egypt is a great story and are good reminders of Yahweh presence and it’s ritualized every year in Jewish homes. I like the idea that our Bible is a library of stories Hebrew and Christian and rituals, prayers, ceremonies that keep the stories alive.

The last verses of psalm 77 are – “in the sea was your way, and your paths in the many waters, yet your footsteps were not seen…” It can be hard to know that Yahweh is near AND the psalmist concludes with a positive statement – “you lead, your people like a flock, by the hand of Miriam, Aaron and Moses” Another way that you can know that Yahweh is standing near is through people. Leaders, authors – like Wilda Gafney, like Thomas Merton (I pointed to a book of Merton’s I had put at the front) I’m sure you have a list of folk living and dead that remind you that Yahweh is standing by you.

People tell stories and ritualize stories to help us remember that Yahweh is standing by. That’s basically what communion is, a ritualized story about Jesus … given to us by Jesus and recorded and re-enacted millions of times around the world especially today, daily in some communities.

Perhaps you have other rituals that you do that help remind you that Yahweh is always by your side. Every religion in the world has stories, people, rituals that remind them that Creator, Yahweh, Allah, Brahman, Love is as close as the breath we breath.

And that’s what the Christian story we heard earlier in Romans and John reminds us of – Ruach, the wind, the fire, the mysterious Holy Spirit that Jesus promised would help us know that we are not alone. Jesus also promises us peace. So there’s an emotion that can remind us that Yahweh is always standing by.

SO … Anyone experienced Yahweh standing by this week. Have you had an experience a sense of Jesus peace in contrast to the world peace. Recently or from the past… Are there stories that bring you peace? Are there symbols that bring you peace. Places that help you connect with the peace that passes understanding. Are there people, alive or alive in books or memory that remind you that Yahweh is always standing by. Anyone. Here or Online? We have a few minutes if anyone wants to share a Yahweh standing by story.

(Lloyd shared and I continued) Here’s my latest Yahweh standing by – being in the presence of Love story…

As you may know I had my 70th birthday party last Friday – and interesting ritual. Sorry I couldn’t invite all of you but our house is too small…it was full…full of love and that spoke to me of Yahweh standing by me in many shapes and sizes. That night I felt surrounded by love, hopefully others felt that way. I will remember that night for the rest of my life – it’s part of my story now. I’ll forget the haichus folk wrote but that sense of being loved will never leave me. Many brought symbols – cards and haichus – which have covered our piano for that past week. Whenever I looked at them I sensed Love standing by. I’ve felt calmer, grounded in the Love that sustains the universe and this world and my life, no matter what’s happening … Symbols, words, stories, even after I clean them up, Love won’t go away … I’ll still move and live and have my being in Love and those cards and smiles of friends just added to that reality. I wrote a haichu after that night –

Hugs smiles cards haikus

Live move have being in love

Got to party more

Never thot I’d say that…it’s a birthday miracle…

Let me conclude by saying as confidently as I can that I believe each one of us can experience the peace of Jesus, the peace of Christ – especially when we tell the Jesus story and remember it when we share the symbols of bread and wine. I believe Yahweh is standing by as we worship together, sing and pray. Yahweh is standing by when we share announcements and sometimes food. These are all ways I believe we can experience Yahweh standing by…comforting, encouraging, giving us peace… letting us know we are not alone, in symbols, stories, people and by the Spirit’s power, no matter what’s happening in Gaza, Ukraine, south of the border, in our province or homes. Yahweh is by our side as a community and by your side no matter what your going through. Thanks be to Love. AMEN

Friday

visiting with friends
sharing pain of selfish love
not abandonment

Saturday

in between the dark
of forgive and the new light,
rest; because—love wins.

Sunday

lovely sunny day
no need to people please, freedom
rest, recuperate

GOD WOULD KNEEL DOWN

I think God might be a little prejudiced. For once He asked me to join him on a walk
through this world, 

and we gazed into every heart on this earth, 
and I noticed He lingered a bit longer
before any face that was weeping,

and before any eyes that were
laughing. 

And sometimes when we passed
a soul in worship

God too would kneel
down. 

I’ve come to learn: God
adores His 
creation.

The second poet Ladinsky puts in his book, Love Poems from God is Francis Bernardone (1182-1226) “This saint achieved the highest state of consciousness possible to man, a divine union with God.” (29) Despite Ladinsky’s use of male pronouns he includes some great legends in his material on St. Francis.

THE SACRAMENTS 

I once spoke to my friend, an old squirrel, about the sacraments— 
he got so excited 

and ran into a hollow in his tree, and came
back holding some acorns, an owl feather,
and a ribbon he had found. 

And I just smiled and said, “Yes, dear, 
you understand: 

everything imparts 
His grace.”

St. Francis’s story of how he stripped down, giving up all his personal privilege to trust God and identify with the poor, has made him my favourite saint. The unorthodox orthodoxy of the Franciscans, best described in Richard Rohr OFM writings, continue to inspire and challenge me.

Steve Bell does a great job with one of the poems…I’m thinking that’s how I learned of this book. It’s a good way to end this blog.https://youtu.be/eQuFcsTomxI?si=_R1ZxCEdK1txATbO

“Rabia of Basra (c.717-801) is without doubt the most popular and influential of female Islamic saints and a central figure in the Sufi tradition. She was born nearly 500 years before Rumi, and, although it’s rarely said, she, perhaps, more than any other poet, influenced his writings.” (Daniel Ladinsky, Love Poems from God: Twelve Sacred Voices from the Rast and West, Penguin Compass, 2002, p.1)

At the end of last year I was invited to read her poems and was caught by a line from the 7th poem by Rabia which Ladinsky includes in her section of his wonderful book.

THE SKY GAVE ME ITS HEART

The sky gave me its heart

because it knew mine was not large enough to care

for the earth the way

it did.

Why is it we think of God so much? 

Why is there so much talk about love?

When an animal is wounded

no one has to tell it “You need to heal” so naturally it will nurse

itself the best it can.

My eye kept telling me, “Something is missing from

all I see.” So it went in search of the cure.

The cure for me was His Beauty the remedy—

for me was to

love.

“The sky gave me its heart / because it knew mine was not large enough to care / for the earth the way / it did”. I stopped at the first stanza because of the grace I recognized I needed in those words. Most Sunday worships at my faith community Grain of Wheat Church-Community we have a moment to reflect on caring for creation. While I appreciate those reminders I have wondered if we need to hear so much about it. My heart needs to be enlarged…in a good way. I remember asking “Oh Love give me your heart” that morning. My journal entry included “Sure could use some of that contented happiness right now, today, and being unsettled, in desolation gives a focus – intentionally turning to light…sacred heart of Jesus is burning in me and I need it’s warmth and light…Love gave me her heart… prone to leave the God I love…take my heart and seal it…” “Love gave me her heart” is quite a bold statement and somehow it’s true. It wasn’t / isn’t a grand change in emotion or action but I sense the potential to care better is now present in me and that’s encouraging, to say the least. And the grace to ask and to believe my prayer was answered is a gift from Love. I’m at peace (see Word of 2025 blog, when it’s up) and ready to act when needed – that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

As I think more about “Love giving me her heart” I suppose that being loved by Love has somehow already imbued me with her heart. We live and move and have our being in the heart of Love. And there’s something about the asking that makes it even more real. An incarnational worldview suggests “Matter and Spirit reveal and manifest each other.” https://cac.org/daily-meditations/an-incarnational-worldview-unites-matter-and-spirit/ The older I get the less I enjoy those mind experiments that kept me intrigued for hours. I believe that ideals can become real. Wooden boys want to be real boys. Hopes and dreams can to be more than just inspiration. (sadly MLKjr.’s dream is taking a long, long time; many steps forward, and some steps back) And dreams endure, bring hope and healing … and now I’m wandering, not lost just wandering. Thanks Love, for your loving heart to do what I can and keep looking and asking for healing, which Love is more than willing to give, her way.

Thanks Rabia for encouraging me to dare to believe that Love can give me her heart so I can be a loving, healing presence in this wonderfully wild world. When I read / listen to Rabias poemsI often smiled and sometimes was shocked at her familiarity with God. I learned things and was challenged. My soul’s longing or connection with her experience of Love often welled up as tears. I found myself drawn into their mystical love relationship…thanks Rabia. I’ve found another companion to listen to on my pilgrimage.

– I edited to moderate some of the casual talking points but left it pretty much what I wrote and spoke on Sunday 5jan25. The off script, spontaneous things I said obviously aren’t included. If you want to watch the service on YouTube contact GoWC-C  (http://www.grainofwheat.ca/).  I added bracketed, italic comments for clarity…I hope.

I feel honoured to be the first homilist in 2025. Today is when the church celebrates Sunday revelation of Jesus incarnate love to Gentiles – Epiphany Sunday – According to Merriam-Webster dictionary – January 6 is observed as a church festival in commemoration of the coming of the Magi as the first manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles; an epiphany is an appearance or manifestation especially of a divine being: a usually sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something: an intuitive grasp of reality through something (such as an event) usually simple and striking: an illuminating discovery, realization, or disclosure.

In the first chapters of Matthew, he introduces Jesus and who he was to a primarily Jewish audience. I like to think Matthew introduces us to Incarnate Love – God enfleshed – among us.

We really don’t understand the radical idea of what we heard from Rachel last Sunday about the how genealogy of Jesus includes women, foreign sex workers and a woman who used seduction to get married into the family and becomes King David’s great great great grandma. All relations of Jesus. His family tree.

Today Matthews continues his introduction to Jesus, Incarnate love by saying even male foreigners… from a different religion – they were probably Zoroastrian priests – all these folk are part of Jesus story.

As I reflected on the story this week in preparation for this homily, I was listening to some songs for inspiration and decided to share with you what I heard in those songs. I’ll start with Bruce Cockburn’s – Cry Of A Tiny Babe – from his – Nothing but a Burning Light album. (I’ve put links to songs and lyrics – from no particular site – at bottom of this blog)

Part of what Bruce sings is: “The child is born in the fullness of time / Three wise astrologers take note of the signs / Come to pay their respects to the fragile little king / Get pretty close to wrecking everything / ‘Cause the governing body of the whole [Holy] land / Is that of Herod, a paranoid man.”

(I think I made some comment about present day leaders of Holy Land and other places being paranoid and killing or putting children in cages … if I didn’t I know I had it in another version.)

“There are others who know about this miracle birth / The humblest of people catch a glimpse of their worth / For it isn’t to the palace that the Christ child comes / But to shepherds and street people, hookers and bums / And the message is clear if you’ve got ears to hear / That forgiveness is given for your guilt and your fear / It’s a Christmas gift you don’t have to buy / There’s a future shining in a baby’s eyes.”

I believe Matthew was making the same point for his Jewish readers – that the revelation of incarnate love was for everyone. Matthew wanted those first readers to know that Jesus was teaching and living a new way of understanding how God / Yahweh is working in the world …everyone is part of that story – no matter who you are.

In a few minutes we’re going to come to the table of Christ and as you’ve heard every Sunday – all are welcome whatever stage of faith you are or whatever your sexual orientation AND … dare I say, it doesn’t matter what religion you identify with. All are welcome at the table of Incarnate Love.

I also heard in Steve Bell and Jamie Howison’s lyrics in Old Sage / Home Again – from Steve’s Feast of Seasons album: “It was something ‘bout that boy in Bethlehem / I will never be the same.”

This spoke to me that the encounter with Jesus as Divine Incarnate Love – as a boy – changed something for these wise men. Something about the experience of being in the presence of Incarnate Love was an epiphany for them – an intuitive grasp of a reality that they didn’t know before. Something they hadn’t thought of, despite all their study.

Those words reassured me that Jesus the Christ, Incarnate Love, somehow brings hope to hopeless situations, they don’t remain the same. Matthew says the Story of Jesus tells us that there can be redemption / hope that even paranoid rulers can’t destroy. In my life it’s hope despite depression. Maybe for you it’s hope despite war and killing of children. Hope despite all the murdered and missing women. Maybe hope despite the environmental disaster we’re in. Hope for family tensions. Whatever you’re dealing with – an encounter / experience of Divine Love – changes how you deal with it. Rather than raging against the darkness you have the courage, wisdom and strength to go into the darkness with Incarnate Love by your side, supporting and encouraging you and that somehow changes the darkness. A Christmas miracle that you don’t have to buy.

I really wanted you to hear Anais Mitchell’s Song of the Magi – and Larry graciously agreed to learn it. The Good Lovelies do a wonderful cover version of this, please listen today. Thanks Larry for your version. (Larry did a wonderful version of this song that was very moving, accomplishing what I had hoped – sometimes taking a risk – including a song in the homily – works out … thanks be to Love. I had more written words to say after Larry sang but it was so moving that I ended with only these ones – after a good moment of silence. When I listened to it again to check the link, tears still came to my eyes.)

And she so loved the world. Every one, everything is loved. And that love softens the darkness. There was something ‘bout that boy in Bethlehem – that encounter with Divine Incarnate love – you’ll never be the same. There’s a future SHINING in a baby’s eyes. It’s a Christmas present that you don’t have to buy. Thanks be to LOVE. AMEN.

___________________

Bruce Cockburn singing – Cry Of A Tiny Babe – from album – Nothing but a Burning Light https://youtu.be/mRZxrr4P9FE?si=GS8zrMAMNCfJNd4M

Lyrics – https://cockburnproject.net/songs&music/coatb.html

Steve Bell singing Old Sage / Home Again – from album Feast of Seasons – https://youtu.be/9g5A-Jp_lao?si=qLsJ1GVjCb8DTYHT

Lyrics – https://www.broadjam.com/songs/stevebell/home-again-old-sage?srsltid=AfmBOooIeg0TDOzH19Cf11V7keogJj919fyoKuHer4tCFsFkHf5ljD7u

Good Lovelies singing Anais Mitchell’s – Song of the Magi – from their album – Evergreen: https://youtu.be/L4nrMkdarvE?si=qr6LudtJaDJCWD1B

Lyrics – https://genius.com/Anais-mitchell-song-of-the-magi-lyrics