Rejoice?

Rejoice?  Well this is a word that one normally encounters during the holidays and the expectant season of Advent.  I've already noticed the red Starbucks coffee cups with the words joy, celebrate and magic written in white letters popping up in my classrooms, the gym and other places about town.

My morning routine is pretty boring.  Stare at the clock in shock that it's time to arise for another day's work, catch the early morning news headlines, tell God thank you for another day, coffee, shower and if I'm lucky, I can squeeze in some before work prayer, scripture and meditation time.  I guess today, I was lucky.  I read through today's devotion of Forward Day by Day.  The reflection reading came from Nehemiah 12:43 "They offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy."  The opening sentence of the meditation was "God calls us to rejoice, even in the toughest of times."  That immediately resonated very profoundly with me.

You know, sometimes life will deal you a bad hand and you don't feel as though you have much to rejoice about.  It could be a medical diagnosis, the loss of employment, the loss of a loved one through divorce, death or estrangement.  I admit that at times like these, I don't have much joy and certainly am not inclined to praise my God in a high spirited dance of gladness.  Today in chapel at Saint Mary's, my advisee and current student Caroline delivered her junior speech.  In her speech, she talked about the gift of joy and rejoicing even in the midst of personal loss and grief.  I could only imagine what it would be like to grieve the death of a parent at the age of 14, but that has been Caroline's reality for nearly two years.  Although there have been joyous moments and overwhelming grief, she took time to share with her school community how she manages to find joy and understanding even in this life altering loss that she and her family have struggled to cope with and accept.

In our darkest moments, we are called to be a light of joy and shine out so that others among us might find their way, even though we are stumbling along with them in the dark.  The opening lines of James' epistle read "My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect , so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing" (1:2-4).  Rejoicing may seem like a long ways off for you.  But it is important to remember that we are people of hope and resiliency held together with the glue of love and faith.  I often tell people that even in the midst of our mess, God produces the best.  Rejoice!

Peace,
Karr

Well, the dead has arisen!

Most people that know me really well, know that “The Color Purple” is one of my favorite movies.  One of my favorite lines from the movie is when Old Man Mister says to Sophia at the Easter dinner table “Well, the dead has arisen.”  If we look at the seasonal life cycle, we have the spring of infancy, the summer of youthfulness and early adulthood, the autumnal joys of middle adulthood and finely having adopted a bit more common sense and wisdom, followed by the sometimes bleak winter of late life and maybe even loneliness.

My absolute favorite season is fall.  I love it so much, I have a Pinterest board “Autumn, the new Spring.”  That sounds so oxymoronic.  How can the season which precedes the season of barren trees, lengthy cold nights and extremely limited day light hours be the new spring?  Albert Camus reminds us that “Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.”   Even in the midst of this climate and life change, we are called to enjoy the beauty of entering a new season of life, a new adventure and new possibilities with God.  For every fall, there is a winter.  Just as there is a morning after every night.  We are reminded in the Psalms that "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy will come in the morning the morning light."  

Autumn sets the stage for seasons of gratitude, love and charity.  As we enter this autumnal journey of 2013, think about the beautiful things that you have to be thankful for.   Think about those things that may have latched on to you during the spring and summer, and let them go.  Let go and let God move through you as his abundant graces harvested within you spring forth into a new dimension.  You may think that you are on the brink of death, or that you have no hope.  Beloved “the dead has arisen.”  Rise, there is work to do.  We have risen into a new level of glory and transformation for such a time as this.

Peace,                                                            
Karr

What have you done for Him lately?

In Raleigh, today is Moral Monday.  Moral Monday is a day in which NAACP leaders, community activists and religious leaders protest and take a stance of justice for all outside the Legislative offices in our capital city.  Since the flush of spring, there have been hundreds of arrests made.  But why cause such a ruckus?  Let's just leave things the way they are.  The NAACP leaders and community activists are shouting out against laws that affect the poor and marginalized in our state.  They are speaking for those who are unable to speak and articulate for themselves.

In the bible we often read of accounts of the marginalized, especially women.  There are two examples that I want to focus on, one coming from the Old Testament and the other from the Gospel of Luke.  In 1 Kings, we are told the story of the widow of Zarephath, who was gathering sticks for a fire to use the remainder of her meal and oil to make a bread cake for her and her son and then, they would die.  Obviously, this lady was in dire straights.  Along comes Elijah, prophet of the Lord, who in his hunger and possibly a test of the widow's obedience begged her to make the bread cake for him instead of her son, and promised her that that her meal and oil would never run out.  The widow did as Elijah asked, and it came to pass, that the widow's only son died.  Elijah took the widow's dead son up to his chamber and prayed to the Lord, and the widow's son was resurrected.  Pretty miraculous, huh?

In the Gospel according to Luke, Jesus was headed to the town Nain, and rolled up on a funeral procession.  Here we have another widow who was mourning the death of her only son.  Jesus was moved with compassion, and told her do not weap.  He touched the bier, which could be likened to a coffin in modern terms, Jesus said to the young man "Arise" and the man sat up and began to talk.  Fear fell upon the people and they began to praise God.  As is the case with most if not all of Jesus' miracles, word quickly got out about this prophet that had arisen among the people.

What are these two stories telling us in the twenty first century?  The widow of Zarephath, was faithful to God.  In her lack, she blessed the man of God and received not only a material blessing of meal and oil, but the miracle of a resurrected son, as was the case with the widow of Nain, whose son, Jesus resurrected. My grandmother Annie, used to tell me. "Only what you do for Christ will last."  No matter how great or small, only what you do for Christ will last.  Janet Jackson had a single on her "Control" Album.  The song's title posed a simple question, "What have you done for me lately?"  In response to the widow of Zarepath's actions.  I want to lift this question to you.  What have you done for Him lately?  Him who?  The him that has raised to you to another day of blessings and opportunities.  The him who loves you.  The him who redeems and sanctifies you.  The him whose love enables you to see beyond the fault of others and be moved with compassion.  What have you done for Him lately, on behalf of someone who could not do for themselves?

Peace,
Karr

He got up! So now what?

Alleluia! Christ is Risen! -- The Lord is risen indeed, Alleluia!

On Good Friday, we remembered the agony, shame and sufferings of Christ's terrestrial existence.  After he died, he was buried and left in the tomb for the completion of the burial rite after the Sabbath.   I'll be the first to admit, Christianity requires a lot of buy-in.  The Christian faith tells us that the divine loved humanity so much, that he sent his only son, to live as one of us, to shake up the first century world, and to be murdered.  Then -- it gets better.  Jesus was murdered and has been resurrected and got out of a grave?  No wonder people tend to look at Christians as if we're a little off our rocker.  That's some hard stuff for anyone to take in.  My Christianity is as much a part of my identity as my nationality, race and last name.  The Christian story of love and redemption is a difficult one to grasp, which leaves, even its most seasoned and learned adherents frequently questioning at length.  My favorite resurrection account comes from the Gospel of Luke.

"But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body.While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” Then they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened."  Luke 24:1-12

The first time I recall hearing this gospel preached, was by my former pastor, The Reverend Kimberly Lucas.  I want to pose the same question to you that Jesus posed to the women, as well as Rev. Kim to the parishioners of St. Ambrose Episcopal Church.  "Why do you look for the living among the dead?"  Each day we awaken into the glory of God.  We are blessed with another opportunity to make a difference, to be a blessing to someone, to walk and talk with a stranger or friend.  At the same time, we are in a quandary of life and death.  We are walking into the new life that God through Christ has given us, but simultaneously trying to resuscitate the dead things that the Holy Spirit has liberated us from.  Why are we chasing the dead things that have us bound?  The failed relationship?  The lost job or home?  The hurts from the past, mingled with anger, bitterness and resentfulness?  Why are we looking for new life in this valley of death and dry bones?  

Beloved, the resurrection of Christ sealed the deal on an eternal kinship and adoption made centuries before our existence.  We are the beloved of God.  Because Jesus got up, we can too.  Our despair can arise into joy, our strife can be turned into unity, our bitterness and hatred into love and reconciliation.  Why do you look for the living among the dead?  As the old song reminds us, because Jesus lives, we can face tomorrow, all fear is gone and we know who holds the future.  Life is worth the living because HE lives in and through each of us.  Alleluia! Christ is Risen within YOU!

Faithfully,
Karr

It is finished - Stations 13 & 14

One of Jesus' saying from the cross, or "Seven last words" was "It is finished!"  At this point, the crowd and the onlookers had gone home to prepare for the Sabbath.  The Roman execution officers had clocked out.  The disciples had probably gone into hiding, fearing for their lives.  Everyone in Jerusalem was probably talking about the crucifixion and the strange events that surrounded it that day.  To human understanding, this was the end of a very sad story.

In Station 13, Jesus' body is taken down from the cross, presumably given to his mother.  I could imagine Mary still in shock, horror and grief as she receives the mutilated corpse of her son.  She is now charged with burying him.  In Station 14, Jesus is buried in a borrowed tomb.  Joseph of Aremithea, was instrumental in all the logistics of Jesus' burial.  The women wrapped Jesus' body in linen and he was laid in a tomb, with the rest of the burial ritual to continue after the Sabbath.

Sometimes in life, we have to face some dead end situations in which it is obvious that it's over, done, and on to the next.  Sometimes in those seemingly dead situations, we realize that it is not finished, but rather the door to a new opportunity has been opened.  Often times pain, loss and rejection steer us in another direction.  A direction of hope, promise and potential.  Look at the seemingly finished situations in your life today and speak life into them.  We know that it is not finished.  Keep the faith!  TO BE CONTINUED!

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus crucified, help me to realize that the story is not over.  Your perfect work is not complete in me.  Help me to be patient with myself and others, as we come to realization that it is not finished, but just beginning.  Amen.

Faithfully,
Karr

Love is the reason - Station 12

Then Jesus cried out with a loud voice and said, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit."  And having said this, he breathed his last and died.

There were many puzzling events that happened around the time of Jesus' death.  At about noon, darkness covered the land, after Jesus' death there was an earthquake and the curtain of the temple was torn from top to bottom.  Could you imagine being an eyewitness to this single event that would change the trajectory of human history?  Could you imagine being there the previous Sunday shouting "Hosanna" and then in less than a week be a part of the bewitched mob that were yelling crucify him?   

All these events, regardless of how gruesome and anti-human were a part of God's master plan to reconcile humanity to the creator and each other.  Could there have been an easier plan B?  Probably.  When I have conversations with inquirers and new converts, they almost always ask "Why did Jesus have to die on the cross?" The answer is a simple one syllable, four-letter word.  LOVE.  I am reminded of a gospel song recorded by the Sidney A. Locks Mass Choir of Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Church, "Love is the reason."  

"Love is the reason I'm here today.

For God so loved the world that he gave his only son.

And the son gave his life for you and for me.

When he suffered, bled and died on Calvary.

Love is the reason, the reason I live this life."

Prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus crucified, love is the reason we live this life.  Make us ever mindful and ever grateful of your love for us.  Make us agents and instruments of that same love.  It is through your holy crucifixion and resurrection that we move, live and have our being.  Amen.

Faithfully,

Karr

Nailed - Station 11

On the first Good Friday, I bet Jesus did not belt out at the top of his lungs "Thank God it's Friday!" I'm sure that if Jesus had a twitter account, he wouldn't have hashtagged #TGIF on this dreadful morning.  In Station 10, Jesus is nailed to the cross.  After his last supper and evening with friends, prayer, arrest, denial by Peter, trial and condemnation to capital punishment by means of crucifixion, and a dusty walk outside of Jerusalem on the Via Dolorosa, Jesus is nailed to the cross.  I can only imagine his pain and anguish, as he was nailed to that cross.  They say that a picture is worth a thousand words.  Look at the images below and think on them this blessed Good Friday.

        

 

"Were you there when they crucified my Lord?  Were you there when they crucified my Lord?  oh, Oh, OH!  Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.  Were you there when they crucified my Lord?  Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?  Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?  oh, Oh, OH! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.  Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?"

Prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus crucified for us.  Have mercy on us.  Amen.

Faithfully,

Karsten

Naked and not ashamed - Station 10

I'm not quite sure how I would react if my clothes were unwelcomingly ripped off my body.  I like my clothes a lot, I would not have bought them if that were not the case.  Regardless of whose label is on the garment, Ralph Lauren (my preferred), Vera Wang, Oscar de la Renta, Faded Glory or Merona, our clothes on some level represent our status in society.  They cover parts of the body, that are deemed not appropriate for public exposure.

Here we are, Station 10.  Jesus is getting stripped of his garments.  Just as Adam and Eve realized that they were naked in the Garden of Eden and had to face consequences for disobedience, Jesus at this moment is preparing for what might be potential abandonment from God, not for anything that he had done, but rather for us.  In the midst of his semi nude state, Jesus was still moved with compassion enough to forgive one of the malefactors crucified with him and welcome him into paradise.

In order to bathe or take a shower, one must be naked.  We have been cleansed and washed anew into life eternal through Jesus' nakedness, shame and humiliation.  Our sins have been separated as far as the east is from the west in Jesus' nakedness.  Nakedness reveals vulnerability.  As you go to that vulnerable place, remember that Jesus is there with you.  He's already walked the road ahead of you and he is willing to walk with you the rest of the way.  In the midst of your nakedness, remember that you are not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus crucified, who took on our sins in the midst of humiliation and vulnerability, strengthen us that when our weaknesses are exposed, we will rest in your grace and mercy.  Amen.

Faithfully,
Karr

Down again - Station 9

One of my favorite commercials as a teenager was for LifeCall.  In this commercial, Mrs. Fletcher, an elderly lady falls in her home and can't get up.  The memorable line from this commercial is "Help, I've fallen and I can't get up!"  The journey to Calvary continues.  Jesus is in a state of mental anguish, extreme fatigue, and hunger as he has been abused, cursed at, spat upon and condemned.  There were some people that helped him out along the way, Mary, his mother, Simon, Veronica and women of Jerusalem.

In the mid-day heat, Jesus falls yet again for the third time.  In the LifeCall commercial, Mrs. Fletcher could not get up.  Jesus however, had no choice but to get up.  He could have easily laid on the dusty ground, and just given up.  He could have easily called for a legion of angels to come wipe out the city of Jerusalem and all the spectators.  Jesus arose from his final fall knowing what  needed to be done.  Instead of doing what would be easy for himself, he became the ultimate sacrifice and model of selfless love.  Because Jesus got up, we too can get up and walk into new mercies, each and every morning.  We can walk with love and charity in our hearts.  When we fall, let us be ever mindful that we have to get back up, although it may be easier to lie in our dust of self-loathing, bitterness, contrariness and melancholy.  Jesus got up, so that you could get up and face your cross at this very hour.

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus crucified, help us to remember that when the weights of life become too burdensome for us to bear, help us to remember that you are always there.  Make us ever mindful that because you got up, we too may get up and arise in your glory.  Equip us to help those around us that may have fallen and feel as if they have no hope.  Amen.

Faithfully,
Karr

Don't cry for me - Station 8

A lot of times we tend to focus so much on the relationship that Jesus had with his disciples, that we forget about the fact that Jesus had a major fan base of women.  If Facebook were around in the first century, it may be safe to assume that the majority of people that would "like" or follow Jesus would have been women.  Women often ministered to and with Jesus.  Jesus openly spoke about theology to women, and even entertained a woman at the well, who had five previous husbands and was living with a man to whom she was not married.  To take it a little further, he asked the same woman at the well, who was a both a Samarian and ceremonially uncleaned for a drink of water.  Women were the apostles to the apostles, they were the first to see the resurrected Jesus. 

In the first century, women, especially the widows and poor were deeply marginalized.  They had no one to care for them nor claim to anyone's inheritance for survival.  Through Jesus' interactions with women, we see a man who is bold enough to counteract the societal norms of his times, while embracing radical feminism.  So then, it is no wonder that on the road to Golgatha, the women would be weeping and wailing without consolation.  If we were to take a roll call of the women who were there, I wonder who would be present and accounted for.  Would we see Mary and Martha?  How about the Syrophoenician woman?  What about the Samarian woman at the well and Mary Magdalene?  What about the Jairus' daughter, whom Jesus resurrected and the unnamed woman with the issue of blood who touched Jesus' garment and was healed?

I imagine that all the women following Jesus' execution procession had been touched by him in some meaningful way.  Some of these women had been cast out and cut off from society, banished from public worship and narrowly escaped being stoned.  It is no wonder that these women would be weeping for a man who looked beyond their status as women, but regarded them as equal children of God.  With pain in his eyes, Jesus told the daughters of Jerusalem, "Don't weep for me, but weep for yourselves and your children."  At this point, Jesus did not want pity or sympathy, he simply wanted redemption for all and the fulfillment of God's will.

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus crucified, help us to be moved beyond tears with compassion to minister to those who, in the eyes of society have no hope.  Help us to be bold in our witness, as you ministered to the women, and all those deemed in the eyes of society as the least of these.  Amen.

Faithfully,
Karr

And again, he falls - Station 7

 

In station 7, Jesus falls for the second time.  Even with the help of Simon and possibly a few grouchy Roman soldiers, and a quick dab on the face from Veronica, in great anguish and fatigue, Jesus falls again. 

Have you ever had all the help in the world, or at least your world and still felt as if you were falling apart or coming short?  We've all probably have been there and if not, keep living.  Your turn will come soon enough.

 

Even in the midst of falling and stumbling, Jesus is the man of the hour.  His falls are not a symbol of weakness, but rather representative of the numerous falls that we in our humanity will take even as we strive to be more like Jesus.  This particular station reminds me of the spiritual "Jesus walked this lonesome valley."  The first verse is as follows. 

Jesus walked this lonesome valley.
He had to walk it by Himself;
O, nobody else could walk it for Him,
He had to walk it by Himself.

There are times when we, like Jesus will have to walk our own lonesome valley.  No one else can walk it for us, and we may even stumble and fall along the way.  The good news in all this, is that the presence of God is ever with us.  

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus crucified, as we daily take up our cross and walk the lonesome valleys of our lives, help us to remember that when we fall your grace will enable us to get up and face the rising sun of each new day, crowned in new mercies.  Amen. 

Faithfully,
Karr 

Veronica Who? - Station 6

As we continue down the Via Dolorosa, we are introduced to a figure who somehow was not mentioned in the gospel accounts of the crucifixion.  Her name, Veronica, referred to as St. Veronica by some.  Whether or not if Veronica was passed down to us through oral tradition, or remained out of sight from the gospel writers, there is a lesson that we can learn from her. 

I'm sure you've had moments when your friends and family members were going through a major life changing event that only they could go through.  Even in your best efforts, you felt helpless, because there was nothing that you could do.  Even though there is very minimal that we can do in our minds to help, often times that is just what is needed at that time.  I imagine that Veronica felt the same way. 

 

Here we are with Jesus, on a dusty road, in late morning Middle Eastern heat, falling and stumbling along the way, and in some non-verbal way, encouraging our mother Mary, that everything would be okay.  We are grateful for the help of Simon of Cyrene.  Our vision is blurred by shouts of crucify him coming from the crowd and intermingled with looks of sheer hatred.  For a brief moment in time, Veronica interrupts our staggered agony and offers what she could.  Veronica wipes the face of our Lord, which is bloodied and covered with spit from scoffers.  Offering what little she had, Veronica provided a brief respite.  Her random act of kindness enabled her to share in Christs suffering.  His cross became her cross. 

At this point, Jesus is pretty beat up.  It would even be appropriate to call him a "hot mess."  The prophet Isaiah spoke of the appearance of Jesus during his final hours. "He had no beauty or majesty to atttract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.  He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.  Like one from whom people hide their faces, he was despised, and we held him in low self esteem."  Isaiah 53:2-3.  The lesson in this is that even in Jesus' most gruesome moment, Veronica still managed to seek the face of God and comfort and console him as best she could.  Have you ever been able to stare at horrific events and still manage to see the face of God?

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus crucified, we tend to be attracted to things in which there is beauty, charm and desire.  Help us to be able to seek your face even in the ugliest of trials and situations.  Grant us the ability to use what we have to comfort the afflicted, as your servant Veronica did.  Amen.

Faithfully,
Karr

Wrong place, wrong time - Station 5

 

If you're like me, there have been several instances in which you were at the wrong place at the wrong time.  In most cases you're frustrated, angry and regretting the choices that led you to that particular moment.  I remember when my brother Kelvin and I were in London, traveling with the family.  Kelvin and I were simply minding our business, being nice American tourists, but trying not to look too American.  My brother and I were on a bus.  I cannot recall where we were going, but we were running loose in the British capital.  While on the bus, a verbal argument between the bus driver and an irate patron began.  Shouts were tossed back and forth between the two men.  Our fellow bus traveler was trying to get me and Kelvin to side with him on his argument.  Kelvin and I just sat on the bus wondering what was going on? Why were we being dragged into this?  As verbal altercation was taking place, I realized that the bus was still moving.  After riding for about four blocks of non-stop bickering, the rowdy bus patron was kicked off the bus, with a huff of profanity.  My brother and I still laugh about this story very frequently.

I imagine that Simon of Cyrene felt the same way that Kelvin and I did.  Here was this man from North Africa in Jerusalem, observing Passover and just minding his own business and got caught up in the public spectacle of Jesus' execution.  Simon just popped up on the scene.  At this point on the Via Dolorosa, Jesus had already fallen under the weight of his cross.  In circumstances like this, the Roman executioners could order that someone else carry the cross beam for the condemned.  Simon unfortunately was the closet able bodied man and was forced to carry Jesus' cross.  I would imagine that Simon was confused as to what was going on and why he was being dragged into this.  He simply wanted to go to the temple and witness the Passover sacrifice.  I imagine that Simon was angry at himself for deciding to travel to the temple the route that he had chosen.  I personally don't think that Simon carried Jesus' cross out of the goodness of his heart, but coersion.  This does not make Simon a bad person, but rather a person that was inconvenienced in order to help a brother out. 

I often think that Jesus' disciples didn't get key messages the first time around and had to be reminded by Jesus several times.  Jesus told his disciples "Whoever wants to follow me must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me."  Whether voluntarily or by force, Simon was a visual representation of what Jesus had told his disciples about taking up their cross and following him.  When they reached the place of crucifixion, nothing more is mentioned about Simon at Calvary's hill.  I wonder if he hung around and witnessed what would happen later.  Did Simon scamper off back into the city?  Did he retreat into hiding and grab a bite to eat?  What is the lesson to be learned from this?  Many times when we think that we're in the wrong place at the wrong time, we are exactly where God wants us to be, so that he might be glorified through our lives.

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus crucified, as we travel this journey of life with you at our side, there will be times that we feel as if we are in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Give us your all sufficient grace to realize that we are right where God has called us to be.  Amen.

Faithfully,
Karr

Mama - Station 4

I think that one of the most profound and life teaching pains is the pain that a parent, especially a mother experiences when a child dies either expectantly or unexpectedly.  Not to discredit any pain or anguish that fathers may experience, I think that this tragedy is particularly harder on women.  The societal norm is that children will bury their parents.  It seems so unnatural for a parent to grieve and mourn a life full of promise and potential, for reasons that are outside of our control.

So, here we are at Station 4.  Jesus meets his mother.  I'm sure that Mary, like my own Ma' Bevs was an extreme worrier.  Here we see a glimpse of an aged Mary who has been widowed and probably at her wits end.  Back in those days, Jesus, Peter and John couldn't shoot Mary a text to inform her of Jesus' trial and sentence.  They had no way of tweeting, facebooking or instagramming that which would soon ensue.  Nothing is mentioned in the gospels about where Mary was when she found out about what was happening to Jesus.  We do however know that she showed up, ready to support and console her child, as any mother would.  I could only imagine what Mary felt in her heart when some friend, relative or neighbor awakened her in the late hours of Passover saying, "Mary, Mary, They got Jesus!  Let's go find him!"

At this point, mother and son meet.  I'm sure that Mary is reluctantly recalling the words that she told to the angel Gabriel "Be it unto me according to your word."  But was this really what Mary envisioned as her baby was on his way to the cross?  In a fit of bitterness, Mary probably remembered the words of the prophets concerning the Messiah.  "A sword will pierce through your soul."  He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he not opened his mouth."  "He was like a lamb led to the slaughter."  Mary had compassion on her son.  The word compassion means shared suffering.  In essence, Jesus' pain and humiliation became hers, Jesus' cross became her cross.

Beloved, two things that I wish you to ponder are.  How and where do you see God in the midst of loss and anguish?  How do you partake in the shared sufferings of others as they bear their cross to Calvary?  I'm a teacher.  Remember that in the midst of your tests, the teacher is always present in the room, they just can't tell you the answers to get you through the test.

Prayer:
Holy Mother Mary, our sister in the faith, mother of our Lord Jesus crucified, grant us your grace that in the midst of our losses, anguish and trials we might be able to accept the will of God for us in our lives, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Faithfully,
Karr

Stumbling: Station 3

I have to admit that at times, I am a walking disaster.  Tripping over this, stumbling over that, stumping my toe on my bedpost, which is immediately followed by words that if my grandmother were to hear, would cause her grab her chest and clutch her pearls.  Oh, then there's my favorite, falling while traveling up a flight of stairs.  My immediate response to falling regardless of when or where the incident takes place, is to immediately look around and hope that no one witnessed my temporary lapse of dignity and balance.  If I'm not in any major pain, I'll quickly get up, dust myself off and keep it moving. Sometimes, I'm okay, but there are times when hours later my body would be reminded that I indeed fell and I can't bounce back as easily as I did in my younger years. 

In Station # 3, Jesus falls for the first time with his cross.  Remember that Roman crucifixion was a public spectacle.  Jesus had a live studio audience.  There were no take twos, no do overs, this was it.  I would imagine that Jesus, hadn't eaten since he broke bread with his disciples the evening before.  It is now mid morning; he's hungry.  I'm quite sure that the sanhedrin council did not offer him a continental breakfast with fig juice.  What they did offer was the most inhuman treatment that anyone could endure, and through it all, Jesus maintained majestic dignity.  By this time, the weight of the crown of thorns is causing his temples to throb, he's kicking rocks along the way, he's famished, thirsty, far beyond fatigued, and in deep agony.  The only nourishment that he would have is the dust of the air.  Suddenly the weight of the cross becomes too much for him and he falls.  Depending on the nature of his fall he might have suffered abrasions or gotten splinters from his cross.  After his fall, Jesus did what we all do when we fall, he got up. 

Grammy award winning gospel artist Donnie McClurkin produced the award winning song "We fall down" in 2000.  The words to the song are simple. 
         "We fall down but we get up.  For a saint is just a sinner who fell down and got up."
Beloved as Jesus got up from his fall, let us be mindful that because he got up, so can we.  Each and every day we will fall in some capacity.  It's okay to fall down, but at some point you've got to get up.

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus crucified, you fell so that we might get up renewed in your grace and glory.  As we fall along our life journey, keep us ever mindful that we will get back up again.  Help us to keep our eyes on the hills from where our help is to come.  Amen.

Faithfully,
Karr

Take up your cross and follow me - Station 2

The cross is the universal symbol of Christianity.  Whether tatooed on someone's body, dangling from the ears or adorned on a necklace, it is a visible expression of their faith, and for others it's nothing more than a blinged out accessory at the end of rosary beads that are worn, but rarely prayed. 

                             

In the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, Jesus says to his disciples "Take up your cross and follow me."  We often think of our modern day crosses as thankless jobs without any fulfillment or promise of elevation, physical infirmities, or some type of broken relationship.  However, to people living in the first century and ancient world, the cross represented death in the most horrific and painful way. 

In Roman execution, the condemned was often made to carry their cross.  In Station # 2, Jesus is given his cross to bear for crimes and accusations that were unfounded.  Imagine if you would, carrying 75 -125 pounds of wood on your shoulders in the heat of the day on a dusty road leading to Golgatha, after a night of being tried unfairly, beaten and mocked.  I think it strange that the very same people who were shouting "Hosanna" on Sunday were looking on in horror, fear and disbelief on Friday. 

Centuries later, the cross represents forgiveness, grace and love.  However the cross for us in the twenty-first century does not represent death.  What does it mean for a post-modern world Christian to take up their cross and follow Jesus?  Simply put, when we take up our cross and follow Jesus, we factor ourselves out of the equation.  We sometimes come to the realization that our hopes and dreams for ourselves, may not necessarily match what God is calling us to do.  Sometimes you may find that you have to speak out against an injustice when it would be much more convenient to remain silence in indifference.  The good news is that we don't have to bear our crosses alone.  The Holy Spirit along with our families and communities of faith are there to cheer us along, even though the road may be weary and long.

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus crucified, help us to look beyond ourselves in this moment and time and take up our cross to follow you.  Give us the grace to do it with love, hope and joy for the journey.  Amen.

Faithfully,
Karr

Guilty of Love - Station 1

I cannot believe that we are at the Lenten-midpoint.  Hang in there, saints.  I've been busily entrenched with work and Lent Madness 2013, that my BLOG has been screaming for attention.  What I want to do for the duration of Lent via Say on is to walk with Jesus and his seven last words from the cross.  In essence, we will walk with Jesus through the Via Dolorosa and his execution by means of the Stations of the Cross.

Have you ever stopped to think that in the eyes of the interpreters and scribes of Jewish law that Jesus was a criminal?  I know it's hard to imagine that our savior, redeemer and liberator had a falsified rap sheet that could give Bonnie and Clyde, Frank Lucas, Al Capone and Don Corleone a run for their money.

Whenever someone takes a stand for righteousness and challenge authority, they become hated by the group of oppressors.  At the time of Jesus' arrest, the Romans ruled the day.  You know they say "When in Rome or Jerusalem, do as the Romans do."  Although Jesus was Jewish, the Jews did not have the authority to execute him.  They could try them in the Jewish court system, but they would have to get permission from Pilate to carry out the execution.

After what I'm sure was an exhausting evening of going from court to trial, bounced back and forth from Romans to Jews, Jesus was sentenced to death.  As Jesus stood before the legal authorities, he kept it classy.  He maintained majestic dignity, even though he was in the right.  Often when we are falsely accused, we want to immediately right the wrong, become defensive and even combative.  At times when we're putting others in their place, we become as culpable as our accusers.  My mom used to always tell me that "Two wrongs don't make a right."  

His crime was simply, LOVE.  Jesus came to show humanity how to love, and ultimately draw humanity together.  As Jesus walked the green mile to Calvary, his eminent death would open the door to salvation that might come to all who believe.  There was a popular song in the 90s by Kenneth Baby Face Edmonds entitled "It's no crime."  The hook of the song is simple it just says "If I'm guilty of love, then let me do my time."  I imagine that as Jesus stood at the cusp of mockery and death, that he stared in eternity past and present, saw us and our ancestors and simply wanted to "do his time" and fulfill God's mission.  Have you recently been charged with loving someone to life?

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus crucified, as you stared at death and your accusers, help us to maintain majestic dignity in our lives and not be quick to react to life, but let your ultimate truth arise and our enemies be scattered.  Thank you for your gift of peace and love.  Amen.

Faithfully,
Karr

Lent #5

 

Happy Ash Wednesday!  Oh, wait.   Lent is not a happy season, but rather a penitent season.  Oops, my bad.  Holy Lent!   I don’t have anything of significant insight to share today.  Even though I’m penitent, in the midst of that penitence, there is joy unspeakable, so yes, I am happy.  I have two very close friends who love lent.  I mean really love lent.  Although I’m more of an Advent/Christmas and Ordinary Times fellow, their love and appreciation for lent has actually rubbed off on me.  Thank you, Hershey and Elizabeth.

Lent # 5?  You may think that to be a strange title for today’s blog post.  Sounds like it could be some new fragrance waiting to be pimped out by the church.  It’s like this, if someone asks me what I want to get from #Lent2K13.  There are five things that immediately come to mind (as well as others).

1.      Revival: 

Revive the dormant talents and gifts that lie within you.

2.      Reconciliation: 

Reconcile yourself to God and others.

3.      Rest: 

Rest and recharge your battery during this time of reflection.

4.      Reclaim: 

Reclaim that which has been taken away from you.

5.      Reciprocate: 

Reciprocate the blessings and love of God in your life.

Those of you who are giving up or taking on additional practices as a part of your Lenten discipline, I wish you much dedication and joy for the journey.  If you have a slip-up, don’t beat yourself up, just brush off the dust and keep it moving.  Even in this penitent season of reflection, remember that you are blessed to be a blessing to others.  Wishing you a Holy Lent!

Peace,
Karsten

Who are you?

Who are you?  That’s a question that we’re not asked very often, because one would assume that we know who we are.  I am Karsten.  But who is Karsten?  I was listening to a podcast which featured Iyanla Vanzant, a very prominent spiritual guide.  In this podcast she stated “When we don’t know who we are, we don’t know what we want.” 

Everything that we desire and hope for can be traced back to us.  What is it that makes you uniquely you?  After everything is said and done, who are you?  Who is the person staring at you in the mirror?  What do you want from life?  Who are you?  When the dust settles, and we remove all the superficial and material things, jobs and profession, housing, clothing, significant or insignificant others, the cares of life: What’s left?  Who are you?

It’s hard not to know who you are, if you don’t realize whose you are.  But in case you’ve forgotten, let me remind you whose you are and to whom you belong.  You are a child of the light, made and fashioned in the image of the Almighty, you were born to live at this moment and in this time.  You are the salt of the earth, you are what gives your immediate environment its savor.  You are an instrument of peace, although you may be marred and broken hearted.  Beloved, you are you and only you can be the best YOU that you can be.  Embrace you, celebrate you, love you.   Who are you?

Peace,
Karsten