In Faith There Are No Losers

REFLECTIONS
May 24, 2009

Chapter seventeen of John’s gospel contains the high priestly prayer of Jesus. It is an important chapter because it precedes the two chapters dealing with his arrest, trial, crucifixion, and burial. In verses 1-5, Jesus prays for God’s guidance. In verses 6-19 the prayer shifts to the disciples and the work of Christ carried on by them. In verses 20-26, the focus is on the Church universal, the world at large and the need for God’s saving love to be present in word and truth.

Some of us have been raised committing prayers to memory. It might be a table grace, a bedtime prayer or the Lord’s Prayer, but there it is, and by rote we say the words often without a real sense of what is happening when we pray. The Lord’s Prayer, also recorded in the gospels, is considered by many to be the most perfect prayer recorded in scripture. In the awkward twenty six verses recorded by John, we see the passion, power, and purposefulness which Christ modeled throughout his ministry.

The passion of Jesus was doing the will of God, even at the cost of his own life. In personal and intimate phrasing he addresses God, counting on the care and comfort from a loving parent. Jesus knew the only real power we have comes from God, so he prayed for the strength and nurture of his disciples. He closes the prayer with purpose namely that the Church might come to know fully the love of God and live to that end.

In this prayer we are shown not how we hurt, but how we hope. That remaining as we are is not our task, but rather being lead to where God would have us. That we exist not for our needs as much as for each other, that God’s way and work and wonder might be known.

Dr. Joey K. McDonald
First United Methodist Church
4832 Tujunga Avenue, North Hollywood, CA 91601

Not a Burden, But a Blessing

REFLECTIONS
May 17, 2009

Psalm 98 is an invitation for believers to respond in faith through music. Though less demonstrative than Psalm 150, the instructions are clear. Persons of faith are to use music as an integral part of worship.

Of course, we as modern people have the full benefit of musical developments over the centuries. The Church has a rich history of great music composed for worship settings. Inspired composers have written great pieces for the seasons of Advent, Lent, Easter and Pentecost. Others have written for the settings of worship, be it Morning, Evening, Communion, Baptism, Wedding or Funeral services. These great pieces of music were given to the church not merely to admire, but to inspire others to compose new music which in turn would be passed on.

We know throughout history, in sacred and secular settings, music has been a powerful influence. William Congreve, the 18th century playwright wrote, “Music has charms to soothe a savage beast, to soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak.” Another William (Shakespeare) frequently used music references or terms to make a point in his plays. In TWELFTH NIGHT he penned, “If music be the food of love, play on; give me excess of it...” In THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, he writes, “...here we sit, and let the sounds of music creep in our ears: soft stillness and the night becomes the touches of sweet harmony.” Then, later in the play he writes, “The man that hath no music in himself, nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds, is fit for treasons, stratagems and spoils; the motions of his spirit are dull as night, and his affections as Erebus; let no such man be trusted.”

The Psalmist implores us to sing a new song, or shout for joy because of what God has done. The playwright encourages us to use music as a tool of measure for those things we value in life.

Music is used to sell us everything from produce to politicians. It floods our senses in markets, waiting rooms and elevators. How easy it is to forget that it is a gift from God. The music we make has holy implications. As Saint Francis wrote, “Lord make me an instrument of your peace...” As the music plays, may we be open to the Creator, composing new music within us.

Dr. Joey K. McDonald
First United Methodist Church
4832 Tujunga Avenue, North Hollywood, CA 91601

When Love Is Lord of Heaven and Earth

Reflections
May 10, 2009

Some years ago Tina Turner had a hit song with the words, "What's love got to do with it? What's love but a second hand emotion." We know from her biography and interviews that this song was for entertainment purposes, and that in fact Ms. Turner has serious thoughts about how important love is as a source of hope and healing. If we look at the writing of Paul, we could easily say love has everything to do with it. For the apostle, even through bold and sometimes harsh exhortations to those his letters are addressed, opens and closes his epistles with words of loving care and encouragement. He dedicates the entire 13th chapter of his first leter to the people of Corinth to the concept of what it means to live a love-centered life, closing with the phrase, "So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love."

The late theologian, C.S. Lewis, spent thousands of words on hundreds of pages describing the concept in a book titled the Four Loves. He suggested the first love is Eros the love of attraction. This is the science of hormones where through biology and circumstance we become drawn to to one another. He says the second love is Philial, a Greek term for love of another, as if they were brother or sister. Many of us in childhood experience a bond with a friend which becomes lifelong, and though no relation, these folks become family. The third word he uses is Storge, usually pronounced store jay, a Greek word for familial love. The family of origin, nuclear family, dysfunctional or otherwise they are our own. The character Sir Toby in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night expresses this when in frustration he fumes, "Am I not consanguineous? Am I not of her blood?" Illustrating the adage that while we may not choose them as friends; we are related by blood, they are family. Dr Lewis spends a great deal of time with the fourth love which he calls Agape, the Greek word of Holy love, that transcendent gift we experience in the person and presence of Jesus. According to Lewis, it can never fully be ours because the power of God's love is meant to be shared.

Still, talk of love is difficult for the simple notion that we are people who say we believe the Bible is the truth and the love of God, yet we feel free to use it as a tool to judge and often hate people who are different than ourselves. The Gospels record that a scribe, in an attempt to trick Jesus, asked what the greatest commandment was. Jesus in response issued two new commandments as the summation of all Mosaic law. "To love the Lord your God with all your heart and mind and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself." The word on love, be it from Matthew, or Paul to the Corinthians, or in the voice of C.S. Lewis remains the same. It is all encompassing and its etymology can be traced to the heart of God.

Dr. Joey K. McDonald

First United Methodist Church
4832 Tujunga Avenue, North Hollywood, CA 91601

The Familiar and Strange Sound of Love

Reflections
May 3, 2009

John 10:1-42 is part of what some scholars call "the sayings tradition" related to the teachings of Jesus. From the prophets, Isaiah and Jeremiah, to the Psalms and on into the Gospels of the Christian Testament, the "Good Shepherd" has been a symbol of Holy leading. While most of us have little, if any, experience with sheep or shepherding, we probably have some knowledge of the love and care which can occur between humans and animals. When we lived in Riverside, Sue drove a diesel powered automobile, when I was outside I could hear her coming. More interesting was the scene of watching our cat, Tigger, come racing down the street to meet her as she pulled in the driveway. Not the sound of her voice, but the sound of her car let him know she was home and life was good. In other circumstances, I have watched with a certain amount of wonder as people talked with their dogs, cats, birds and even horses. While I have been told that animals cannot understand human speech, I seemed to experience otherwise.

John, in this chapter, is making a point of sharing the difference between Jesus and the "hireling." For the hireling is simply watching and has no depth of care for the flock as witnessed by the quick exit when trouble comes in the form of a wolf.

If you would talk to a rancher, he or she would tell you that sheep are difficult animals to watch. They are easily distracted, vulnerable to prey and liable to wander off at a moment's notice. Which is why shepherds use staffs to catch the sheep, pulling them back into the fold, or throw rocks to keep the sheep headed in the right direction. Shepherds call to their flocks and if necessary go out and carry them back. Sheep don't mean to get lost, move in harm's way, or be out of range of the shepherd's voice, yet after all they're just sheep. Sheep will always need a Good Shepherd. Even in the twenty-first century, it is a metaphor that holds.

Dr. Joey K. McDonald
First United Methodist Church
4832 Tujunga Avenue, North Hollywood, CA 91601