Exceptional!

One of the privileges of parish ministry is sharing in worship; in our community the Wednesday Noon Eucharist is a delightfully calm and casual time together (followed by a delightful bring-your-own lunch, with much sharing and laughing)

This past week, our Gospel for the day was from the beginning of Mark 6, where Jesus is rejected in his hometown. verses 4-5 read: Then Jesus said to them, ‘Prophets are not without honour, except in their home town, and among their own kin, and in their own house.’ And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them.

It can be easy to focus on the relative weakness in the context; and how from this pericope Jesus and his disciples leave and bestows authority on them to engage in their shared ministry.

Except….

Except that the perception of weakness isn’t accurate.

Jesus is not weak! God is not diminished by a few folks who aren’t able to wrap their minds around what the person they thought they knew really is.

To suggest that the Christ was without power is more, to me, an indication that the people in his hometown were unwilling to receive the gifts of power that Jesus was offering.

For if Jesus was truly powerless, he would have done no healings there. But instead we are told “EXCEPT” that he performed miraculous healings before traveling on their way.

This is not a small or insignificant “except” – and I encouraged our Wednesday group to lean in to the “except” when they see it. For sometimes the “except” is actually “exceptional”, to those who are willing and able to receive it.

What a privilege to have the faith to live in the “except” moments that God gives us – the tiny moments of beauty, the life-changing moments of grace, the life-long expressions of love.

May we have eyes to see and ears to hear the exceptional Good News that God is proclaiming to us!

Happy Groundhog Day!

Screengrab from Episcopal Church Memes

Happy Groundhog Day!
Rodent-alia? Feast of the Earth-Pig?

With roots in the Germanic lore, the Pennsylvania Dutch brought the idea to North America – that animals could predict the forthcoming weather, depending on their appearance and/or if they see their shadow.

It’s become a fun tradition, be it with a badger (Germany), bear (Hungary), or groundhog (North America); hinting at winter’s duration lasting a potential four or six more week – regardless of location or clime! Sitting right between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, we know winter is going to continue - and can choose to embrace it or not.

Since the early 1990’s, the concept of Groundhog Day has been more strongly connected not to the Imbolc or Candlemas traditions, but to the film starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell – in which one character gets caught in a time-loop, reliving February 2 (almost) interminably.

While the philosophy of the film tends to be secondary to the comedic aspects, it’s a fascinating concept to see how the individual reacts and responds to his circumstance; from taking advantage of no long-term consequences, to depression at no advancement, to desperation, to finally recognising he could use his situation to try and better the world for others around him. It’s only when he allows himself to be open to love that the time loop ceases, and he awakes to February 3rd.

So this Groundhog Day – we can choose how we want to live. We can be intentional with the choices that we make – they can reflect the person that we want to be; they can demonstrate the power of goodness and love to the world. They can be whimsical (like searching for a rodents’ shadow) or serious (like helping the vulnerable in our community).

Whether we look for a shadow or for light; whether we consider the film an amusement or a philosophical consideration – it is Groundhog Day. Why not make the most of it – whatever *it* may be – and do our best to loe freely - and make the world a better place.