Surrounded by Grace

Bass Harbor, ME

"I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you;

I will praise your name, Lord, for it is good.

You have delivered me from all my troubles,

and my eyes have looked in triumph on my foes."

Psalm 54:6-7

Harry is a sternman on a lobster boat. His job is baiting traps, measuring each catch and throwing back undersized lobsters. Like all sternmen, he wears oil coveralls, oil jacket, and muck boots. To get to the boat he's working on, he rows his dingy out and climbs aboard.

One Spring morning, he slipped from the dingy into the icy, bitter water. His boots and oiled overalls filling quickly so he was facing death by drowning or hyperthermia. As a very heavy man rescue is a difficult task

Try as he might, pulling himself into the boat became impossible and he began sinking.

It's not hard to imagine the fear he's experiencing in the icy Spring Atlantic waters. 

Several other captains and sternmen see his situation and rescue him by dragging him through the water to the shore.

Harry was, by the Grace of God according to Psalm 54: "delivered from all his troubles".

I listened to the telling of Harry's story and began reflecting on God's Grace surrounding us.

I am aware of Wesley's teachings about Prevenient, Justifying, and Sanctifying Grace defining God working to free us to live lovingly for others even in our imperfect lives.

I reflected on Harry being surrounded by Grace and considered God's Grace living in the hearts of his rescuers prompting them to act.

It seems to me that just as God's Grace surrounded Harry, so it surrounds each of us.

Therefore, with confidence that God's Grace surrounds each of us, even if we are unaware of it, prompts me to realize our need to act according to Psalms 54:6

"I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you;

I will praise your name, Lord, for it is good."

Self-denial, Cross-bearing & Jesus

Cocoa Farmers

“Whoever wants to be my disciple

must deny themselves

and take up their cross

and follow me."

Mark 8:34

Chocolate. Really, really good chocolate is one of my weaknesses. I'm talking about Godiva, Lunt, and from the Equal Exchange Co-op. I'm also talking about Snowflake Chocolates, Jericho, VT, and Ben and Jerry's Chocolate Ice Cream. 

When I announced to my congregations I was giving up chocolate for Lent, it seemed like a significant sacrifice. 

However, Jesus never meant denying something as trivial as chocolate. 

Deny Yourself

Jesus is laying out what's needed to fully grasp ones identity as a disciple.

Jesus says denying ourselves is separation from what defines us and embracing a new understanding of our identity. 

For example, when  the disciples followed Jesus they became a community defined by association with Jesus. Self-denial means you have completely redefined your identity.

Take up your cross.

Taking up your cross implies rejection. In Jesus day, if you carried a cross it indicated you were rejected by society and its leaders. Jesus was, after all, living a life that was a threat to the world's corruption and misguided values.

Follow Me

Just knowing Jesus’ identity is a useless concept. Jesus calls his followers to an action-journey with him in a specific direction ending up at crucifixion and resurrection.

Want to learn who Jesus really is? Follow him. Do as Jesus did.

I know, following Jesus with its self-denial and cross-bearing, is a difficult, risky way of living, but it is how the rest of the world gets to know The Kingdom of God.

That's worth it in the end.

No, I don't still give up chocolate for Lent. 

I have taken on a new identity based on my baptism vows to resist evil, injustice, and oppression. There are two scripture verses that are the core of that identity: Micah 6:8 and Amos 5:24. 

Lifting the Cup of Salvation

What shall I return to the Lord

 for all his bounty to me?

I will lift up the cup of salvation

 and call on the name of the Lord.

PS 116: 12-13

Lifting the Cup of Salvation during Holy Communion is, for me, a way of giving thanks to the Lord. It is a sign to me of the Lord's saving activity both in the Exodus story and the cross-resurrection story. 

 

When I hear the "Great Thanksgiving" in holy communion, I am reminded of the Lord's saving activity, not just for me, but for all humanity. 

Read the story of the psalmist's story of salvation which gives the reason for lifting the Cup of Salvation.

In  my 30 years of pastoring, I have had many people ask for prayers for friends, family, or neighbors during the Joys and Concerns in worship. I don't recall anyone saying, “Let me tell you all how my prayers were answered."

Prayer Changes Things. Don't give up on  prayer. It seems to me the poet is telling folks to not give up on prayer. Or as Paul says, "pray with out ceasing." 

Prayer Changes Things. Don't give up on  prayer, even though we all know of times when we’ve prayed alone or with others at a sickbed, and the one for whom we are praying is not healed. We know of situations or conditions we would like the Lord to change such as hunger, homelessness, or disasters, yet everything seems unchanged.

Prayer Changes Things. Don't give up on prayer. The Lord is reminding us that finally prayer is a mystery and we need to live with the of reality seemingly unanswered prayers.

When I see the Cup of Salvation lifted and the Great Thanksgiving spoken, it is not only a sign of unceasing prayer, but also of answered prayers beyond my awareness. 

The lifted cup is assurance that prayer changes things.