Seven Pages a Day: Chock Full O'Wisdom

Hello, faithful readers! Well, here we are a mere week and a few from Palm Sunday. Where did this Lent fly? I’ve managed to read nine more letters, on which I’ve reported below.

This will probably be my last blog for at least a week. This Sunday my husband John and I will be traveling to South Dakota to visit my cousin Lucero and her family. She is living and teaching on the Rosebud Reservation as a volunteer for Teach for America. I’m so proud of her!

We’re very excited about the trip, but I am a little worried about how well I’ll be able to keep up with my Lenten commitment to read the entire New Testament by Holy Thursday. Fortunately, I only have three books left: Acts, Revelations and the Gospel of John. I’m having a hard time deciding which one to read next. Maybe I’ll flip a coin. Wait, I’d need a three-headed coin for that. Well, I’ll figure it out.

Meanwhile...

1^stTimothy: This is one of three letters grouped together as the Pastoral Epistles, along with 2^nd Timothy and Titus. They are so called because they are addressed to Timothy and Titus, two young men ordained as pastors to the early churches. I may have been more charmed if one of the pastors was a woman.  Reading any one of these letters will work just as well as Ambien.

Philemon: This is a brief but touching letter in which Paul pleads on the behalf of Philemon’s runaway slave, Onesimus, turned Paul’s spiritual son. It is very tender, and has much to say about the power of forgiveness.

Hebrews: This book starts out like the notes from that really boring Christian Theology 101 class you took in Freshman year of College from the 1000 year old professor whose unruly nose hair both fascinated and repulsed you. But then you hit Chapter 11 and you are wowed. Here the author describes with ecstatic eloquence the heroes (uh, more heroines, please!) of faith we are called to emulate. Chapter 11 helps to make more sense out of Chapter 12—if our forebears suffered for the gift of faith, then who do we think we are to escape a similar fate? But then it’s back to more advice on the daily grind. Ho hum.

James: This letter bounces around a bit, discussing a number of issues germane to living a deeply spiritual life. James writes well, borrowing from nature to create lively metaphors and similes. Its wholesome air is summed up in one of my all-time favorite verses: “Every good gift and every perfect present comes from heaven; it comes down from God, the Creator of the heavenly lights, who does not change or cause darkness by turning” (Jas. 1:17)

1^stPeter, 2^nd Peter, Jude: These three letters are worth reading together as they seem to dovetail each other. The first dovetails the second in name (but not necessarily in authorship); the second dovetails the third in its concern regarding false teachers. Jude has quite the jaundiced eye regarding false teachers.

In summary what can I say about these nine letters?  Well, they are chock full of wisdom, faith and good advice.  Nonetheless, a part of me is tempted to sing along with Peggy Lee “Is That All There Is?”   There is so much more I want to know.  These brief letters and gospels just whet the appetite.  Guess I'll have to wait for heaven, where we can all sit around the campfire and hear the rest.

Seven Pages a Day: Good News! Paul Chills

If you're new to this blog, for Lent I've decided to read the entire New Testament in 40 days. That means I have to read seven pages a day, which is not as easy a task as it seems. It's a little like eating a 2 lb box of Godiva chocolates every half hour. Not an idea to which I'm wholly opposed, but you can imagine the gastric challenges that might follow.

Well, it's the same with reading big chunks of the Bible quickly.  It's a lot to digest.  It could give you spiritual cramps.

Since last I wrote, I've read seven more letters by Paul. Here are seven brief “book reports” based on them. I bet Jesus gave himself an ulcer worrying about some of the things Paul wrote in his earlier letters. But I have to say, in the end God manages to pull a rabbit out of his hat. Paul finally chills.

Paul had his blind spots, especially regarding homosexuality and the role of women. Unfortunately, his ideas have been taken out of context and used to hurt a great many people. Someday this will change. Until then, we can still appreciate Paul for being an example of the Good News. We are transformed by the people with whom we associate. Paul was transformed by his long, close relationship with God in Christ.

Second Corinthians: “Who’s Your Daddy?” If First Corinthians was about breaking up, this letter is about making up. The Corinthians kicked him to the curb for some glitzy, high-priced evangelists, and now they’re sorry. Paul’s got a thing or two to say about the Joel Osteens of his day. Most of all, he wants to be remembered for who he really is—their father in the faith. You may not like Paul, but if you ever thought he was a wuss, read 2Cor.11: 16-33. Wow! This letter leaves you longing for a sequel.

Galatians: “One Life to Live.” Okay, don’t tell on me, but I used to believe in reincarnation. Well, not really believed in it, but toyed with the possibility. I have a remarkably vivid imagination, so it’s not hard to do. I finally abandoned it, and when I read Galatians, I’m reminded why. When it comes down to it, Paul says, you have to choose. Are you going to cultivate your deification by your own efforts (over one or many lifetimes) or receive it through grace?

Ephesians: “What Happened to Paul?” This letter is filled with advice regarding relationships. Don’t be angry with each other. Care for each other. Serve each other. Obey your parents. Be tender towards your children. It’s a welcome change in tone from the earlier letters to the Romans and Corinthians. You get the sense something rigid in Paul has finally softened. We don’t know what caused the change, but a clue seems to be hidden in the gorgeous words of Ephesians 3:14-20.

Philippians: “The Radiant Letter.” This letter practically glows with all that is “true, noble, right, pure, lovely and honorable”(Phil 4: 8). Although he claims he hasn’t reached the finish line, it’s clear to see Christ has made his home in Paul, and he’s not the same man who started out full of fanatic zeal years before. This letter is by far my favorite. Just reading it will fill your heart with joy and peace.

Colossians: “It's Always Something.” This time it’s a teaching that you have to worship certain spiritual rulers and authorities to get into heaven. So Paul is back to defending the purity of faith from contamination by stuff that makes you go, “Huh?” It may seem picky, picky, picky. But if you read between the lines, it has a lot to say about the difference between faith and superstition, and the dangers of seeking spiritual highs.

First & Second Thessalonians: “He’s Coming Back” & “No, Really. He’s Coming Back.” Apart from some brief comments on Christian conduct and the like, Paul is mainly concerned with correcting the readers’notions regarding the Second Coming of Christ. He reassures them it’s going to happen, and not to worry—they haven’t missed it. Seriously, do you really think you could miss the Second Coming? I mean, aren't the fireworks supposed to be, like, awesome?  Well, apparently the Thessalonians thought they had. These letters are a tad boring, and they'll tempt you to waste all kinds of time trying to figure out the identity of the Wicked One.

As for the Wicked One, your choices are numerous.  After all, it’s the election season.   

Day One of the Dust of Rabbi Jesus

I am reading the explanatory part of the book right now. The author suggests that it may be our western culture that least understands the Bible, biblical references and has the most to learn about its origins and original meaning.

I think she's onto something.

For example, as explained in the first book, Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus, calling Jesus a rabbi has a meaning that is not exactly what we would understand it to be. Calling him rabbi does not mean he was an innovative teacher or leader in a Jewish temple. His message was not intended as a marketing plan for the Kingdom of God. Nor do we understand the shock value of his announcement that he was God's promised Messiah among his peers (his human peers, that is) in 1st century Judea. The rabbi label correctly identifies his mission to teach his people, God's chosen people, the Jews, how God wanted them to live.

The title of this book is also explained. Jesus taught by example. He invited each of his disciples to accompany him, observe him as he lived and interacted and listen as he followed up with explanations about God's Kingdom. It was, according to this author, out of this unusual teaching method that a well-known saying arose: You should learn from a rabbi by "covering yourself in his dust." Literally. If you walked closely enough behind someone else, you would be covered by the billowing sand raised by his footsteps.

And more than that, the Hebrew word halakh, walk, encompases more; it refers to your lifestyle and how you conduct yourself morally. Jesus meant both -- literal and metaphorical. And the word for road or path -- or "way," which is how the body of Jesus' teachings were labeled -- literally meant the track left behind that we refer to as footsteps.

If you doubt that cultural context matters, consider how some future sociologists might ponder some of what we say and do today. For example, how would they interpret random references to, say, "9/11"? Would they scratch their heads and wonder why those numbers are so significant? What about our road signs, which contain no words, but only iconic images? Long after our roadways have vanished from view, what might an archaeologist think if he uncovered a road sign with a squiggly arrow pointing upward?

Get the picture? Context lends deeper meaning. that's why I 'm so excited to have found this book just in time for Lent. I am looking forward to unpacking some deeper meaning in what we read, in what we pray and what we do in liturgy.