Future, Love, Paradise

Start the video at 2:25 because for some reason it restarts from there. Thanks.

Matthew 5:3-12 (NRSV)

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

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But if only you could see them
You would know from their faces
There were kings and queens
Followed by princes and princesses
There were future power people
Throwin love to the loveless
Shining a light 'cause they wanted it seen

Well, there were cries of why
Followed by cries of why not
Can I reach out for you
if that feels good to me?

And the riders will not stop us
'Cause the only love they'll find is paradise
No, the riders will not stop us
'Cause the only love they'll find is paradise (paradise, yeah)

Future, Love, Paradise, by Seal, from Seal (1991)

The image of the grand procession is one of the greatest glory in the Kingdom of Heaven. Imagine the Kings and Queens followed by Princes and Princesses, who (and this is so wonderful) shine the light because they wanted it seen.

These good Kings and Queens don't shine the light for their own glory, they shine the light for the benefit of their subjects. They shined the light to throw love to the loveless. What a wonderfully glorious image-love to the loveless. This is what the Lord wants us to do with the light given in Jesus Christ-to share it with others, others in need. God wants us to share love with the loveless.

This call is given for one simple reason, those who face adversity receive blessings in accord with what they faced. The poor in spirit will receive the kingdom. The mourners comforted. The meek will inherit the earth. Those starved for righteousness will be fed--and filled. The merciful will receive mercy. The pure will see God. The peacemakers will be God's children. Those persecuted for righteousness’ sake will receive the kingdom of heaven.

The light shines--because the Lord wants it seen. And when the light is seen, those who have held it in the name of God's righteousness will bask in the glow of God for all to see. They will bask not so that those who oppress and abuse others may be condemned by it, but so that they too may see it, and know to follow.

This is how God's grace spreads throughout creation, one light at a time being shared with someone who needs to see the light.

Get You a Woman

Genesis 2:18-22

Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner.” So out of the ground the LORD God formed every animal of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every animal of the field; but for the man there was not found a helper as his partner. So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then he took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man.

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Leroy, boy, you're my friend
You say how and I'll say when
Come and meet me down the street
Take a seat, it's my treat
You may not ever get this chance again
That empty feeling's just about to end.

We gotta get you a woman,
It's like nothin' else to make you feel sure you're alive.
We gotta get you a woman,
We better get walkin', we're wastin' time talkin' now.

Todd Rundgren, We Gotta Get You a Woman

There's a lot of hay that can be made about the sexist imagery in both the scripture and the song. I'm going to acknowledge that there is hay to be made and leave it in the field because there is something far more important said in both of these. It's as simple as this, we humans are not meant to be alone.

God knew that, Adam knew that too when he started naming stuff. There were a lot of good things in creation, shoot, all of creation was good. Still there wasn't a partner to be had in all of creation. So the Lord God made it so.

It is still not good for any of us today to be alone. We are called to live in community. That means the church. That means family. That doesn't mean that there are not times when we need a sabbath from one another. But there must still be a place where that person can be at home for support and love.

Just one more note about the language. The Hebrew word for "helper" is used in scripture several times. Usually it is used for kings and rulers meeting other kings and rulers. These helpers are peers and they are powerful. Where one is powerful, two together can meet the world come what may. In Genesis, the man's powerful peer helper is the woman. Together they are more than they are separately. This is the partner the Lord God intends us to have and the partner the Lord God intends us to be.

How badly do we all need that sort of partner, as Todd sings, And when we're through with you, we'll get me one too.

Hospitality--Care for the Angels

Hebrews 13:2

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.

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You've got to fly (Fly high)
Fly to the angels
Heaven awaits your heart
And flowers bloom in your name
You've got to fly (Fly high)
Fly to the angels
All the stars in the night
Shine in your name

"Fly to the Angels" by Slaughter

In this world, lives intersect and then they go their separate ways. This truth is so simple it's almost meaningless. It happens everyday. Is it the parking lot at the store? Is it in some line somewhere, whether it be Micky D's or the DMV? Is it someone who comes to where you work because they need what you can provide? Or is it vice-versa, you go to their office because you need something?

There are a million answers to this quandary, that's why it's almost meaningless. Maybe meaningless is the wrong word, random is much, much better. But there are other times when that person you meet in the fleeting moment is not so random, and the moment is not so fleeting.

The basic 90's power ballad, I love those over-produced, over-emotional, over-wrought songs; I really do. This is a great one. It's about that moment when lives that once were intersected are now separated, and there's regret. There's remorse. Let's face it, he's mourning. Did they break up? Was it something more permanent? The song really doesn't say, but there is inconsolable grief in Mark Slaughter's words and voice.

There is one thing he does seem to know though, he knows he has been with an angel. In this one shining moment of his life he was with an angel. At one time they were strangers, but now he knows that he was with an angel. He may not have known she was an angel at the time, but he does now.

There is only one way in this life that we can avoid remorse, and that's to live every moment to the fullest. Only by showing love and care-hospitality if you will-can we avoid remorse and regret. Separation should always cause grief and mourning. If we did not love we would not feel those emotions. But regret only comes when we fail to do as we ought.

Only in showing love and hospitality to strangers do we affirm that we show love and hospitality to those we see everyday. Only by living fully in the moment can we experience the touch of angels in our lives. Be aware, be alert, and always respond in love and care-in hospitality. Then the angels will bless you too.