Do You Hear God - Acts 10 - Baptism of the Lord - Year A

Do You Hear God?

Tony E Hansen

Reflection for Acts 10: 34-48, Matthew 3: 13-17, Isaiah 42:1-9, Psalm 29

Opening prayer

Happy Epiphany !  God reveals through the Spirit and Jesus to you and me.

For John, this is a baptism of repentance (not a Christian baptism). Why does Jesus want this? 

Repentance is to turn or a conversion. A conversation from what was to what one can be or is called to be. 

We know that Jesus and John have a connection.  Perhaps John has helped form Jesus’s ministry as a teacher. We all think that Jesus just showed up one day with wisdom and God, but Jesus had friends, mentors, and parents with whom he trusted and gained knowledge and lessons.

This was a moment that Jesus asks John to baptize him - to convert into something that he is called to do. It is Jesus accepting what he is called to do - on a road that is going to be brutal and painful. Yet Jesus accepts this call and has faith in the Spirit to guide and teach even more.

What happens here is obvious. We witness God and hear God here.  Did you hear God? What did God sound like?

When you go about your day, we may say we believe in God but here, God makes a proclamation to all, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”

This is a revelation and manifestation.

The voice of the God, according to the Psalm, is powerful, upon the waters, flashing flames and breaking cedars. God’s voice could be quiet or like thunder.  Nevertheless, God is present and made known. 

The experience of baptism, whether a young child or grown adult, can bring tears of joy to those who witness and to those baptized. When I held a child for baptism, I would rays of light upon the sanctuary. The experience doesn’t need thunder, but it does bring the heart of the Spirit into our lives. It brings us to new life; a new way of living.

The Spirit brings peace and forgiveness. Isaiah tells us the Spirit calls upon us to be servants; to “bring forth justice to the nations.” 

In an anxious time we live today, that is so eagerly needed with rising violence, government chaos, and shaking of the world order. Nothing is familiar and everything is questioned - even actual revealed truth.

Thus Epiphany reminds us that God reveals to us and manifests for us to see and to witness as actual revealed truth. 

Yet, there are; there will be doubts and questions:  What is being revealed and why?

Peter summarizes the ministry of Jesus and tells us in Acts that Jesus preaches peace and shows no partiality.

Jesus, with the Holy Spirit, “went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed… for God was with him.”

Peter reminds us that judgement belongs to God rather than broken worldly systems. Forgiveness is brought forth in his name and freely given so that we might heal from the damage done by broken worldly systems.

Yes, Isaiah reminds us we are called to be servants for this forgiveness, for justice and of the Spirit. Through covenant we are given a light and powerful abilities to help people who doubt, who do not see or witness for themselves to witness and to see. Because God lives in us and that Holy  Spirit guides us.

The Spirit pours out to all for “can anyone withhold the water for baptizing ..who have received the Holy Spirit…?”

Why do we think differently or find ways to exclude? They grew up on the other side of the tracks. They don’t speak our language. They don’t wear our fashions. They disagree with our beliefs.

Excuses, excuses…

We are so busy coming up with excuses we forget to love. We forget that love comes to us abundantly - not for us to hoard but to reveal and to share with others just as God does for us.

That is Epiphany in our lives, in our hearts, and in our attitudes. Let the love of God reveal to you and be with you! Reveal God’s love through you. No partiality.

Do good, let go of judgment, seek justice for all, be with the oppressed and let God be with you.

Hear God say to you,

Beloved, you are children of God, with whom God is well pleased. 

For that we say, 

Thanks Be to God

Another January 6 - Commentary

Venezuela and Jan 6

Tony E Hansen

The invasion of Venezuela and talks about the invasion of Greenland on the anniversary of Jan 6th does enough damage that we have only begun to witness. These are an attempt to distract from memories. 

People remember the visions, the anxiety and the horror of watching riots attack the US Capitol building. It was traumatizing for us to watch and deadly for some to be there.

How could people do this? Why? Is the frustration with this government that we are willing to storm the icon of our republic and democracy?

There is an effort to wash the memory of that day that many of us simply cannot.

Venezuela, a sovereign country, was duly attacked without provocation and without authorization. 

While I don’t like Maduro, I do believe this act to be illegal in the eyes of international law and unconstitutional in terms of US Constitution. Yet no one in the US is stepping up to say stop. 

This attack is intended to distract memories of Jan 6th, but also to shake the fabric of a stable world order (whether we like it or not). Especially when that government looks at attacking an ally.

Alliances are meant to be broken by this action. The UN itself is targeted like the League Of Nations before them. 

Why?

Because an ego and power are stifling reason. Now countries and terrorists have open targets without retribution. This isn’t America First this; this is America Only. Secure the resources before others can.

The problem is that this world has products moving around the world and if America continues this path, No longer will we have Taiwan chips, Korean phones, Japanese or German cars. Economies will be shaken and some destroyed.

America has thrived on building multinational corporations that have tremendous wealth with most of management living and working stateside. The shaking of economies will disrupt the corporations and the supply lines more than tariffs could. This will, by itself, destroy American imperialism and their markets and manufacturing as well as agriculture. 

That is part of the goals of Project 2025, Putin and groups like the Heritage Foundation: To break up alliances and interdependencies. Even though, all those alliances have been the ones that have helped us build and have a Golden Age as well as global markets that have made America rich.

That golden age has stopped thanks to tariffs that have risen costs and challenged friendships between good countries and between people. It has not raised the living standards for America but instead lowered them.

Who are we willing to goto war? Denmark is part of the alliance and that is going to incite anger from Europe as a whole. Mexico, Colombia? Who will stop this nonsense? 

A bully, America has become. I personally am not a fan of bullies.

Why Europe does not help Ukraine now, except, they are not sure if there is another front? Why listen to America that does not follow rules? Why continue to allow American troops in Europe, especially if there is an attack on Greenland? Who knows if they might be used in Europe too.

If I were leadership in any country, I would be seriously considering options as to what next. Any reputable and intelligent person ought to consider who is next. This has definitely shaken faith in how the world thinks of the United States. 

If I were leadership in corporate governance, I would be looking at global presence with a strong critical eye. What happens if NATO or the UN collapses? What-if scenarios suddenly become quite possible. 

What if North Korea attacks South Korea ? China to Taiwan ? Russia to the Baltic states? That is just the start and never mind regime change efforts that mirror Venezuela? The “what-ifs” used to be unthinkable or wishful. Not anymore.

The United States used to be the policeman and guard for freedom although quite flawed in execution. That position assumed an America with ethics and values. That position was less than enjoyed by many conservatives and independents. It is part of the military industrial complex that enjoys favorable budget slices compared to other needful items. Nevertheless, Americans know how to build weapons.

Besides that, who guards the guards or punishes them when they don’t behave? We well know that execution of power is not always dignified or fair. We know as parents that sometimes we sometimes don’t do the correct action in response to a child’s actions we don’t like. There is nothing different here and we have the receipts of history to prove it. We know that American-sponsored regime change has defied the ideals and articles of the UN when America didn’t go to the UN for approvals.

I guess sovereignty is only important to the powerful. To have permanent security council members in the UN establishes who is powerful (also reinforcing a sense of imperialism) and who can get away with mischief. Maybe that council ought be more rotational. Why can’t Brazil or Poland or South Africa have a say any less than Russia, China or the US? 

Now, the government of the United States is the example of dictators and military unrestrained. It is more than Nazi Germany because it has the power to crush the world or to rescue it; to acknowledge that we exist in a family of nations as a family of races too. Hitler tried to do the unrestrained despot, but lacked the weapons to do the real damage that the US, China or Russia can do. The US sending unwanted people to El Salvador and other countries where there is no such thing as cruel and unusual punishment restrictions. At the same time, the government is attacking boats and sovereign nations (Iran and Venezuela) without authorization or a coalition consensus at least.

These random strikes by US government are intended test what response, if any, happens. I think that is mostly because most countries leave well enough alone. Not excluding a Christian ethic, most people leave well enough alone. Think about it, when it doesn’t knock on my door, why should I care? With this attack and threats of more, that changes how much rope the world is going to give the United States. That changes the nature of friendships because the implied understanding is no longer relevant or actual. 

A Christian thinking, if followed, however would mean that I do care when people are being kidnapped, killed or given injustice. A follower of Christ is supposed to be empathic , compassionate, forgiving, and graceful.  None of that is evidenced in the actions of this government. 

Or if Putin has his way, just give the US enough rope to hang itself. That is quite possible. 

With government agents acting in offensive mode at home, killing American citizens for no good reason, and an unrestrained military lead by an autocrat is going to leave a lasting legacy that we cannot comprehend. Who here can stop that? Who in the world can?

January 6 is supposed to be a feast day for Christians as Epiphany, but in the future, I sense we will see more exaggerated use of military action leading up to and during the day to continue this distraction. Epiphany is revelation of God living in this world. The Magi visit Jesus to see this miracle and leave without reporting back to Herod. How is that attack a great way to celebrate Epiphany? 

Military has always been the way presidents resolve popularity issues. People rally around the flag even if not exactly approving the reason. 

As well, per the Project goals, we will witness the broken alliances and global depression (far worse than the 1930s) as we continue this ridiculous path of America only. 

That will have consequences way beyond what the Project envisions. Again, if I can’t trust you with your power, why do I want to do business with you?  If you won’t respect sovereignty of your neighbors, will you respect mine when there is history that says otherwise. 

May we see the grace of God through the Epiphany. May we live out the way of Christ in our lives. May God protect and help the United States and may we come to our senses before it is too late. 

Spiral of Christmas - John 1 - Christmas 2A

Spiral of Christmas

Tony E Hansen

Reflection for John 1:1-18, Psalm 147

Opening prayer

Happy Second Sunday of Christmas!

We read part of John’s prologue for Christmas, and today, we get to read more of that.

After seeing troops deployed to South America this weekend, don’t we need something to soothe anxiety?

There is plenty of poetic work here that establishes a mystical nature of God and Jesus. Something a little more than what we saw in Stranger Things.

I often read this part of the Gospel and see someone doing some circular motion with their hands. Or even seeing someone drawing in the sand a spiral, for as Barbara Brown Taylor tells us there is an altar in the world and it does not need walls.

You can witness parts of the Nicene Creed here. God from God, Light from Light. True God from true God, begotten not made.

Indeed the creed is based upon the Gospels.

Yet there is so much in here. 

We witness a light that shines. 

We witness testimony to the light and truth. 

We witness Word becoming flesh.

We witness someone full of grace and truth.

We witness God bursting into our world as God and Christ.

So the spiral grows and grows to encompass and include.

The spiral in the Word brings fulness and grace.

It brings the law through Moses and the opportunity to see and witness God through Jesus.

The spiral does not distinguish or limit who can. “The true light, which enlightens everyone… “

Yet there were and are people who will not know him. People would reject.

Yet when we receive him into our hearts, we are granted so much.

The Psalmist tells God guards us, blesses us and grants peace with plenty to eat.

God sends out the word and that word became flesh. 

So this spiral does not trap us as an elaborate labyrinth or keep us too busy to reach out. It does not isolate us from people or the world but instead, extends our being, our senses, in unique ways.

In fact, it encourages us to reach out and reach up. Through the Word, we are encouraged to live a life that honors God in our world, in our midst, in our very being as children of God “who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.”

“We have all received grace upon grace” and truth.

The cosmos is around us and full of grace!

Jesus came to us to reveal who we truly are and what we can become when we let God shine through us, through our words, through our actions.

Grace didn’t just show up and leave. Truth didn’t one day just disappear.

God is here. God is working now and working in you. 

Are you willing to witness this and let God work through you?

I suppose we could look at watches and calendars, well I can fit God in at 2:00 on Friday. Oh wait that is when the plumber is showing up!  How about Saturday or sometime next week… really?

Like Rusty in Christmas Vacation after Clark asks if they checked all the lights “look at the time, gotta get to bed, …brush my teeth, feed the hog, homework to do, bills to pay and wash the car…” 

We make many excuses for why: time, money, health, “feeding the hog” or plenty of other distractions, but God is still here. Our lives are full of these and more. 

Some boast that they have all they need and flaunt all they have amassed. Never give thanks. Never give an ounce of recognition for those around them that have helped them get where they are. Never recognize that all that we have is a gift from God and can go away in an instant. We might read this Gospel and say that this is not for me.

Some of us turn inward, withdraw and isolate. Being an introvert, it can feel easier to do this. How comforting that personal bubble must feel. Those walls feel safe. We might even read this and see ourselves in the swirl getting dizzy.

Whether we are introverts or not, both are avoiding truths. We are creating distractions to numb senses and to “calm” anxiety. 

Yet, we are missing opportunities. Ultimately, we are missing the point.

That God is breathing life into this world and into you. God has a mission for you, and it isn’t for swagger nor to hide ourselves.

We have a mission to live with God in our hearts, to provide and to share God’s grace. We have a vision for us that is beyond our comprehension and our meager materials or physical bodies.  

God breaks forth into this world for us -> for us to let go of that material and those distractions. Word became flesh, and through you, God can do wonders!

Perhaps if we let go of those excuses, we might see more of what God has for us. 

I may be a dot in the universe, and I am not sure where I am in the swirl of all things, but I am here. 

Nevertheless, let go and feel that God is here. 

Through my connection to the world through God, there is so much more. Through our connection to God and thus to each other, there is something mystical, reassuring, loving and calming beyond anything we can describe.

Through me and you, we are the work of Christ, we embody the Word that says to love without judgment, to forgive without distinction, to provide grace to those in need.

That Beloved is why the Word became flesh, to reveal God’s presence and God’s grace for you and for me.

That spiral of Christmas is part of the promise of Christmas!

May God be with our troops and with the people caught in the crosshairs.

For that we say

Thanks Be to God.