This week's author is the Rev. Eric S. Anderson, Minister of Communications and Technology for the Connecticut Conference, UCC.
Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah" -- not knowing what he said. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, "This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!" When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen
On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. Just then a man from the crowd shouted, "Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child. Suddenly a spirit seizes him, and all at once he shrieks. It convulses him until he foams at the mouth; it mauls him and will scarcely leave him. I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not." Jesus answered, "You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here." While he was coming, the demon dashed him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. And all were astounded at the greatness of God.
The ninth chapter of Luke is crowded with significant events in the life of Jesus. In it Jesus assigns his disciples to leave his company and spread his work more broadly. He shares five loaves and two fish with five thousand people. He asks his disciples who they believe he is; he hears Peter's affirmation "You are the Messiah of God." He foretells his execution and resurrection; he declares God's extravagant welcome to a little child. As the chapter closes, he has set his course toward Jerusalem.
I'll grant you that the disciples at the foot of the mountain had missed out. They'd literally had no mountaintop experience. No dazzling glory, no legendary figures from the past, no frightening cloud, no holy Voice. Jesus' vexation with them seems unnecessarily harsh -- "You faithless and perverse generation" -- and his healing of the boy almost perfunctory. As Luke presents it, I've sometimes felt that those crestfallen down-the-mountain disciples were getting a raw deal.
That's when I remember that we're in chapter nine. These down-the mountain disciples have returned from their own "mission trip," one marked by "bringing the good news and curing diseases everywhere." [Luke 9:6] They've worked away from Jesus; they've sought God's healing and had success. No wonder Jesus gets frustrated. These are the pupils who ace the test and fail the follow-up quiz; these are the children who carefully turn off the lights to save energy and leave the outside door wide open; these are the people everywhere that look blank for a moment and then say, "Oh, yeah."
This is me. Do you recognize yourself, too?
I'd love to merrily explain the disciples' failure -- "They needed more faith." "They lost their self-confidence." "They expected Jesus back at any time, so they weren't completely engaged." -- but the truth is, I hardly understand my own failures. Sometimes I approach things with a sense of inadequacy that past experience demonstrates isn't so, and sometimes I come to a task with a confidence I've got no evidence to support. In both instances, success or failure can't be entirely predicted from my emotional state, or even from similar endeavors in the past.
What is all-too-often true is that, when my failure is apparent, there is always a moment of recognition. "Oh. I knew that." "Oh. I've skipped that step before." "Oh. This is another time that I've charged blithely into a place where angels fear to tread." I have no doubt that my recognition pales compared to the divine head-shaking of my Maker: "So. He's done it -- and seen it -- again.
"Sigh."
In our failures, in yours and mine, the mercy of God remains tangible and gracious. Jesus' frustration does not prevent him from restoring a healed son to a desperate, loving father. The Spirit of God is not limited by the fragile vessels which seek so imperfectly to bear it. And the faulty messengers are not turned away, not abandoned as useless or unavailing. They're sent out once more, to try again, and this time to do it better.
What happens at the beginning of chapter 10? "After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town." And what did they do?
"The seventy returned with joy, saying, 'Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!'"
They did it. You can do it. So can I.
Holy One, let us to transcend ourselves on your behalf. Help us be helpers. Heal us to be healers. Strengthen us to bring strength. Empower us so the powerless may raise themselves. Enliven us to be bearers of life.
As we approach the Lenten season of reflection and repentance, re-make us as your ministers of grace, love, and peace. In the name of the one whose glory still shakes us, Amen.
Please remember:
the families and friends of those who died in the Kleen Energy plant explosion in Middletown yesterday, those who have been injured, and those still awaiting word of a loved one;
the people of Haiti amidst the devastation of the earthquake, the people who seek to aid them, and the families and friends anxiously awaiting news or grieving for their losses;
Elizabeth Naylor, daughter-in-law of the Rev. Robert Naylor, pastor of the Second Congregational Church UCC in Greenwich, who is being treated for lymphoma;
the Rev. Donald H. Ketcham, pastor emeritus of the West Avon Congregational Church UCC, as he recovers from surgery;
the Rev. Nancy A. Milton, retired minister in this conference, facing back surgery;
the Rev. Dr. Jennifer S. Cook, pastor of the Congregational Church of Thompson UCC, who is restricted in her mobility while recovering from a broken ankle;
our Conference Minister the Rev. Dr. Davida Foy Crabtree and her spouse, David, and their daughter Elizabeth, who suffered a stroke on December 12 and is hospitalized undergoing rehabilitation;
the Rev. Nancy Allen, associate minister of Immanuel Congregational Church UCC in Hartford, as she undergoes cancer treatment;
the Rev. M. J. Hinchliff, pastor of First Church of Christ, Congregational, UCC of East Haddam, who is being treated for breast cancer;
this nation, that it may continue its difficult work to end the practices of racism;
the Conference's partners working for peace in Colombia amidst violence;
the leaders of this nation, that they may meet the challenges of the day with insight, wisdom, and compassion;
those suffering due to the ongoing financial woes of the nation, be they struggling to meet an unaffordable mortgage, confronting the loss of a job, or working to find just resolutions to the crisis; and
those serving or living in war or conflict zones around the world, or where terrorists have struck, particularly in Afghanistan, Iraq, Colombia, and the Sudan.
To be added to the prayer list, please send an email to Rev. Eric Anderson at: webmaster@ctucc.org.
New Fairfield
Cong'l Ch of New Fairfield, Inc.
P The Rev. Patricia A. Nicholas
MM Mr. Carl Anderson
CE Ms. Elizabeth Jean Yoho
New Hartford
North Cong'l Church
P The Rev. Margret Hofmeister
CE Ms. Elayna N. Parsell
MM Ms. Harriet Peterson
New Haven
Shalom UCC
P The Rev. Alice deV. Perry
New Haven
Church of The Redeemer
P The Rev. Dr. Rochelle Stackhouse
New Haven
Dixwell Avenue United Church of Christ
P The Rev. John H. Scott III
MM Mr. Ron Pollard
CE Mr. William Harper
To read previous editions of the Spirit Calendar, visit:
http://www.ctucc.org/fido/spiritcalendar/
To learn more about or subscribe to the Spirit Calendar, visit:
http://www.ctucc.org/fido/
The Spirit Calendar: February 08, 2010 by Rev. Eric S. Anderson, Minister of Communications and Technology
