Into the Wilderness - Mark 1 - Lent 1B

Into the Wilderness

Tony E Dillon-Hansen

Sermon based upon Mark 1: 9-1, Psalm 25, Genesis 9: 8-17

Opening prayer 

“And immediately the Spirit drove him out into the Wilderness.” (Mark 1:12) 

We read this passage routinely, and this time, I am drawn to this particular verse because it reminds us aspects of the Spirit. 

The spirit does funny things. We usually think of the spirit as a guide and as someone who lifts us when we need lifting. Yes as much as the Spirit does great things; in those great things, there is also something more intentional and direct.

Yet here, just after baptism, Jesus is shoved into the wilderness. God shoves Jesus into the wilderness.

What a baptism reception? “You are my Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” 

Bam! Out into the wilderness you go! 

Jesus is shown proverbial doors, but is it? 

God isn’t always just the happy-go-lucky presence. We know this from the story of Noah, and how God set a great flood to wash the earth of wickedness. Then, God bestows a covenant, a blessing. God has many dimensions!

Why God does this? 

Is it punishment? I don’t recall Jesus doing anything devious or mischievous. Then again, “judgement is for God alone” as we read previously, and so maybe, we don’t have all the facts here. No.

Is it haphazardly twist? God seems to have a sense of humor, but I don’t think God pats Jesus on the back with handshake saying “good luck!” And “off you go!” Probably not.

I don’t think there is anything twisted happening here to see if Jesus can figure out magical spells or some ancient Survivor reality show.

Of that, is it a test? We have to ask what kind of test would that be? 

When people feel hardship or loss, people say God is “testing.” 

If we remember that story of Jacob, there are plenty of reasons why God wrestles with Jacob in the middle of the night. Yet, not everyone is Jacob whom God personally wrestles and not every test is a wrestling match. (Although in our minds, we might as well call it that.) Still God bestows a blessing in the wake of the morning.

There are other kinds of tests: Tests of knowledge, of skill, of want, of power, of privilege, and more.

For example, two days after the Super Bowl win, I suffer a foot sprain and a day later, the parade is marred by senseless shooting. Some might claim these are tests. Are events like these tests and for what? (One might consider Luke 13)

Or perhaps, there is something else.

Jesus was just baptized. In baptism, people are asked to “renounce the powers of evil” and “to resist oppression… to gain new life with Christ.” With baptism, the tests, or trials, are not just before we make the step but during and after also. 

*Same thing can be said about wedding vows. We don’t just say the words once and all is done. There is work and effort to make the marriage succeed.

So yes during baptism / confirmation, we ask people if they want “to be Christ’s disciple, to follow the way of Jesus, to resist oppression and evil, to show love and justice, and to witness the work and word of Jesus… grow in your faith?” That is, will you become followers of Jesus and to teach Jesus’s presence? (We respond, “I do.”)  

The answer is your bond. Yet, to teach and to witness is not as simple as yes or no. 

The life of Christ’s followers requires of us something more than mere words or good intentions. That life needs practice.

We know following Jesus can be easier some days than others. One must be willing to endure temptations, and we have to be willing to see beyond ego, hate, mistrust, and broken society attitudes. 

When we see injustice, we must move, guided by our faith in God. We have to see with Jesus’s eyes, push away demons, and let God’s love guide us to witness by action and words. Our effort needs practice.

Back to the wilderness, Luke and Matthew tell about specific temptations where Mark suggests temptations happen - perhaps not just 3.

Fitting for our season of Lent. This season of fasting is an opportunity for us to remember our covenant, to practice being a disciple and to remember to turn towards God. 

Repent: turn away from the broken world. Renounce evil where it exists. Have faith in God’s forgiveness and share that justice in your part of the world.

When the world seems tougher and more violent, we reach into our faith; we reach for the Spirit and find strength.

So this wilderness is something more than tests, more than temptations, more than wrestling, but in our wilderness, we discover ways God is teaching. 

In our daily wilderness, we are learning how in our struggles, in our questions, in our suffering, and in our celebrations, we can learn how Jesus reaches each of us and and brings life into this world. We learn how God gives us so much more than the false promises of broken temptations.

Thus, then we can truly give thanks for our daily bread, the bread from God. That thanks is real and full of faith because we find the “time is fulfilled” within us. 

We look back onto the struggle. See that God has been and always be there teaching.

Perhaps, that is how God answers the question, “make me to know your ways…” There, in the wilderness - in the mystery - through faith.

So how much is that temptation worth to you, the anger, the hate or the disrespect? Ask God and be ready for the wilderness.

From ash, we were made, and to ash, our bodies will go. That is our mortality. When we ask the Lord, “teach me your ways…” 

Above all of the temptations and wilderness, God is there. Turn and reach.

Life in Christ is given, and yes, the struggle is real. Still, Jesus asks so much of you in order to give you so much. 

Why? Because the cross was worth you!

You, Beloved, are worth it! And that is…

Thanks Be to God 

Mountains of Faith - Mark 9 - Transfiguration - Year B

Mountains of Faith

Tony E Dillon Hansen

Transfiguration Sunday (Year B)

Reflection based upon Mark 9: 2-9, Psalm 50, 

Opening prayer

I could tell you about the first time I was in the Rocky Mountains. The first time seeing snow caps in the distance, and once when we got to the mountains, how Montana revealed sheer sizes where giant trees on the mountain sides would look puny from high up.

I could tell you about how one could reach up and touch the clouds in “Big Sky Country.”

I could tell you about the time I drove out to Colorado Springs and how I witnessed the city, at the base of Pike’s Peak, was dwarfed by the massive wall of rock.

I could tell you about the beautiful vistas around Albuquerque and central New Mexico.

Beloved, there is something majestic, for sure, about seeing mountains and being around them. There is something sacred.

I could also tell you about seeing mountain sides that were made bare from mining. What was once beautiful and majestic, now bears the stain of industry.

I could tell you any one of these, and I wouldn’t do proper justice because one should truly witness these instead of hearing my little words about them.  In these, however the witness of these tells you about how God shows up in the sacred masterpieces - even the mined areas.

That must be what happened to the disciples here. They witnessed something majestic, awe -inspiring, and simply magical.

Thing is that we don’t need to travel to mountains to witness something majestic, awe -inspiring, and simply magical. They witnessed something similar to what John the Baptist witnessed at the Jordan.

God reveals. God shows up and says “this is my Beloved.”

While mountains can help to set a stage, we have opportunities every time we witness a baptism. In fact, we have opportunities here and now. That is every moment of our lives, we have opportunities.

I was talking with a fellow bicycle rider, and we came to an agreement that on the trails, we get to see so much of nature. We get to see bald eagles spread their wings. We get to see riders help each other with a flat tire. We get to see things that when we are driving, we cannot see or, instead, simply ignore. 

That is one of the reasons why Urban Bicycle Food Ministry (UBFM) works so well . We can take our bicycles into areas that cars cannot go. We can reach the tent areas, the makeshift cardboard homes, and the many places where people have been forgotten and ignored. And you know what, with the homeless, we will find God. We call them “God moments.”

God happens in majestic places, in baptism, in the Eucharist and also in dirty places, next to dumpsters and among the forgotten. So if you are wondering where God is in your life, take a moment and breathe.  Chances are God wants to reveal something to you.

God happens right near you. In fact, I submit that God is around you and with you. 

Recall the opening words of Jesus’ ministry, “the [realm] of God is near” to remind us that God is always “near” us. We can reach out with our arms, or if you like better, we can reach out with our hopes, our faith. We can reach out and discover God.

Beloved, when you take time, when you open your heart, open your mind, open your ears, open your eyes, reach out with your faith and let God. You too can find God is with you, revealing to you, and listening to you.

Reach out with your compassion to those who are struggling, the homeless, the disabled, the rejected, the excluded, the prisoner, the cast out for being queer, the black, the indigenous, or the migrant seeking a better life. Reach out with your heart to the mom, the child that needs additional mentoring, the health worker who just worked a long 12 hour shift, the teacher helping youth learn, and the police officer trying to do the right thing. Yes, help them discover God is near too. 

Remember they too are God’s children like you. They too were made in the image of God.

When you do, you will understand why we call these “God moments” as well.

So yes, I could tell you about those Wonderfull places of majesty, but I would like for us to witness God right here. Witness God with you this day and this hour. Walk with faith and let God reveal to you .

Let the “heavens declare God’s righteousness” to you. Witness the “perfection of beauty” that shines forth.

Put the complaints aside. Put away the angers, the fears, the accusations, and the torments for God alone is the judge. Let your faith work. Let your faith grow into mountains. Let your love grow! Let your hope reach to God and to reach out to your neighbors.

That Beloved is… 

Thanks be to God.

Taken By the Hand and Lifted - Mark 1 - Epiphany 5B

Taken by the Hand and Lifted

Tony E Dillon Hansen

Sermon based upon Mark 1:29-39 ; Psalm 147; Isaiah 40: 21-31

Opening Prayer

Jesus “took her by the hand and lifted her up.” I want us to think of this for a moment.

When my mother was in the hospital, it was a day with a blizzard on the way. My son and I went to see her.  We went in the room and she was happily surprised. Tyler hugged her and asked how she was doing. I walked up the side of the bed then and hugged her as well. She began talking and I took by the hand. 

As we were talking I noticed that her strength was rising. She was holding on tighter and tighter. Not that she was squeezing, but that strength was returning and you could see her whole body show a sort of relief. Moments later, the doctor came into the room to tell her she can go home.

Similarly, when I serve food to the homeless, I try to introduce myself, “Hi my name is Tony, what’s your name? Have you had supper tonight?” I will reach out with a handshake. It seems many times that the people are bit astounded that someone is willing to even talk to them without cursing them and then to reach to shake hands is way unexpected.

For this one fellow named John, who had issues with his eyes, but he could see me in my bright pullover. I reached out to shake hands and to hand him the food. He just opened up to me - like dark clouds around him were lifted. He told me his story. - how he was having trouble with his eyes, and but that he was starting work. He was telling me he thinks he can make it now. He had hope. I was celebrating this little moment with him.

I am no Jesus, but I think there is significant value in seeing people and especially in touch. 

Now, some peoples’ traumas warrant caution with touch. Yet, when we feel alone or lost, if someone offers a sincere touch, we notice that. Almost more than words, it is like a lifeline thrown out for us to catch. If we are willing to receive it, we can find strength and we can find celebration.

It is worth noting that is wholly different from needing help and refusing the offer. And don’t we need it?  God is there to help, calling to you and listening to you.

I think that is bit of what is happening here in Mark’s story.

Jesus comes in with divine presence to help and lifts the woman both physically and spiritually. She may not know anything about Jesus.

Let’s read in-between the lines some here. Jesus comes in this room and goes to her. We don’t know what they said to each other. Much like John not knowing me and just opening up, it seems that if a person meets Jesus, one might have a conversation. 

She must be questioning a few things, but somehow amazed. I can almost see her eyes and her expression that someone was paying attention to her in her misery of fever - that someone even sees her.

Jesus does the unexpected and reaches out to her. We can almost feel the joy in that someone was willing to touch and to be with her. 

The fever breaks and her spirit rises. She is healed this day, and thanks be to Jesus.  

For this scene reminds us of the power of not only the touch, but love, compassion, seeing people, reaching out and simply being with people.

Who around us need someone to just be there?

Commentators suggest we meet Jesus in private moments like this private moment with this woman. Isn’t that really the truth?

I can say all of the things I want to say about Jesus or God, but one has to experience divine grace. That is: I have to be willing to experience divine grace - the lifeline thrown out to me. Set aside ego, pain and question. 

It is right there for me and for you.

Recognize it, Grab onto it, hold it and let God lift me. “The time is fulfilled”, and realm of God is near!

Yes, God is reaching out to you with grace, love and peace - no judgement - no stipulations. God is present and reaches to lift you. 

Let God take you to new life and new heights. Let God open your heart and heal you (from whatever troubles you in your journey). Let God be with you this day 

We return… mother celebrates the experience by serving.

For those in our lesson, evening comes, Sabbath is done, and the whole town comes to witness. As the mother serves, one commentator suggests, she serves like an angel serving Jesus in the wilderness.

Jesus meets us in private and in public. God reaches out to us privately and invites us to heal and to see. Then God turns us into angels. God wants us to share the Good News - to serve the community.

** segway here: Jesus does all of this, and in the morning, Jesus gets up to pray alone. I can relate to this because I pray and write better when I can collect my thoughts in peace. Even Jesus takes time for the self - to meditate, to collect oneself and to talk with God. 

Thus Beloved, recognize the power that is around you today. Recognize Jesus reaching for you. 

Grab on, hold on and be lifted. Feel God touching your heart, feel the grace of someone seeing you in your place, in your vulnerability, in you being you.

Meet Jesus in private spaces, talk with him. Let Jesus know what is on your mind, what åß you, what scares you and what tickles you. Then, let Jesus lift you.

When you do, you will be like angels serving with the grace of God by your side. When you do, you will understand why crowds come to visit.

That Beloved is…

Thanks Be to God