Cross the bridge with Jesus

June 6, 2020

Cross the bridge with Jesus

Beloved I charge you.

And no reading of Miranda Rights necessary.

In the presence of God of Christ Jesus

This really does keep reminding me of Perry Mason, or maybe Atticus Finch, black-and-white courtroom scene, something bad about to happen you can just feel it, closed prison doors just a short station wagon ride from the Tallahatchee County Courthouse. And what will happen in the dry bone blackness after midnight? Who will come for me, which grim reaper, the human or the divine? Who can I trust after all in this dark room? Jesus cried out to lazy entitled Jews. Peter, Paul and Mary sang out to lazy entitled Americans. But the cries are easily muffled, just by a little pillow over the head.

As happens so often … I digress.

Paul calls Timothy beloved, and he means it. He touches Timothy with his human blessing, and passes his hand over him with the divine,  reminding Timothy from prison of their right to live and then live forever, without fear.

There are verbs for how Timothy must spend his life and time and energy. Proclaim the word in all kinds of weather and, I love this, whether it is convenient or inconvenient. Keep on your watch. And maybe best of all, in season and out of season. This is not just a turkey shoot or a lion hunt. Your license is for all day all days, and it cannot be revoked by human hand.

Convince, reprimand, encourage. Challenge, warn, urge your people. Just keep it simple, sweetheart. Let God do the talking, you just Keep calm, and Open Your Mouth.

I confess that I have “accumulated teachers,” and so I’ve eaten what Eugene Peterson’s Message describes as “spiritual junk food, as I chase a mirage of catchy opinions that tickle my fancy.” Paul tells Timothy to block my way. Stand up there and speak truth. Do not manipulate. Use your biblical credentials to right the sinking ship.

Paul cannot do more than this; he feels his lifeblood pouring out. In his Roman cell, with visits each day from Luke, he remembers his life. There is only one race worth running, and I have finished it. All that’s left now is the shouting. I hear God urging me on, holding his laurel crown of righteousness, now for me, then for you. YOU CAN MAKE IT!  When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be!

Do not cast me aside in my old age

My mouth is full of praise

As my strength fails

I drank the living water, and

I will always hope in you

Remember your mighty works

Tell of your singular justice

 

I was young, and you taught me

Now I am old and you teach me still

Where’s my harp!

I want to sing and play for you, O God

 

Ever ask yourself, who is the Saint of the Day today? Well … today we have two, St. Norbert and St. Claude. Both were born as nobles, both thrown to the ground by God, both left their comforts and entitlements, and both eventually became bishops, although both were “most unwilling to accept the dignity.” In between they were reformers and monks. Great stories about the “wonderworks” of Claudius while he was alive keep your eyes wide open. And then his body was found five hundred years later uncorrupted. Listen to this man!

Norbert, like Nicodemus and Paul, struggled against the hypocrisy of the leaders of the Church. This is the body of Christ, stop it! Get down on your knees. Listen, Repent, Engage, Repeat. This is holy ground we’re standing on. Pray to God like you mean it. Keep those foreclosures in your pocket and pay them yourself once in awhile. Stop “devouring the houses of widows and then reciting lengthy prayers. The longer your prayers, the worse they get.” Ugly!

Jesus walks on to the offering box and watches the givers. A poor widow with her mites came in and put in two small coins.

Jesus took a deep satisfied breath. At last, someone who loves God with all her might and all her strength. “This poor widow put in more than anyone else. She in her poverty has given all she had, everything she had to live on.” Wow!

(2nd Timothy 4, Psalm 71, Matthew 5, Mark 12)

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