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Some may have heard about the death of 16 year old Kelmy Tanon. Kelmy’s adoptive mother and father are former members of Lakewood Church. Last week, we went to Tampa for the visitation for Kelmy to convey our sympathy to his bereft father. His mother, Zuly, was still in the hospital.

Kelmy was killed in a car accident. He was in a car being driven by his mother that was hit by another car. They were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Apparently right after the accident, the father, Shane, who is no longer married to the mother, went to the hospital to tell her that he does not in any way hold her responsible. He does not blame her. It was not her fault.

Then, last Thursday in the newspaper, there was a letter from Shane to the driver of the car that caused the accident, expressing forgiveness.

This is what the letter said:

Dear Mr. Tanner,

We haven’t met, but you caused the car crash that took my son’s life. His name was Kelmy. He was 16. He wasn’t perfect but he was amazing. He loved music and comic books and girls. He was ridiculous and loud, protective of his siblings and good at anything he tried. His room was always a disaster and he hated doing dishes. I think you get the picture.

I can’t imagine your pain right now and that’s why I’m writing – to let you know that I forgive you. I realize that people make mistakes and sometimes those mistakes cause others pain. I know that you deeply regret what has happened. I know that this situation could have happened to anyone, and I think that at this point you would probably gladly trade places with my son if you could. But you can’t, and so both of our lives have been irrevocably changed by a cruel twist of fate.

I don’t know what the future holds for you, but I sincerely hope that you will not be punished by the state. If there is anything I can do to help prevent that, please let me know. Also if there is anything I can do to help ease the pain of your regret, please contact me.

We are all just staggering around on this planet trying to figure out how to make ourselves , and hopefully others, happy. I hope this letter helps you and I hope that it helps you make a difference to the people in your life.

Sincerely,
Shane Tiernan, aka Kelmy’s dad, St. Petersburg

As I read this letter, I thought of the story of Jesus on the cross, forgiving those who were responsible for his crucifixion. Shane, in the throes of his heart breaking loss, thinks about the torment of another and offers his help. God bless him.

There is more than enough pain to go around in this life. Withholding forgiveness just adds to the suffering. We can alleviate some of the pain and suffering in this world by forgiving. Ourselves. And others.

Lectionary readings for today:

Lamentations 3:1-9, 19-24
Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16
1 Peter 4:1-8
Matthew 27:57-66

Prayer: May we embody the forgiving spirit of Jesus. Amen.

Good Friday

Bystanders. When have you been a bystander? Maybe watching an altercation of some kind. Or a car accident. Or the dogs in the dog park. There are many occasions when we may be bystanders. Sometimes innocent bystanders.

We can well imagine that there were bystanders at the crucifixion. That was the whole idea, anyway. For people to see the gruesome deaths, be intimidated, and keep in line. We can wonder if Jesus’ friends and followers were bystanders? Or had they all fled and deserted him? Which may be worse. Could one be an innocent bystander to the crucifixion?

I think Jesus was crucified because he wasn’t a bystander. He didn’t just stand by as people were treated unfairly. He didn’t stand by as religion trampled people. He didn’t casually stand by in the face of blatant hypocrisy. He didn’t stand by as people suffered at the hands of others. He didn’t stand by when people were hungry, for food, or for hope, or for community, or for forgiveness. I don’t think Jesus was a bystander.

People are being crucified today. People are being oppressed today. People are being trampled today. People are hungry today. People are abused today. We may be bystanders, but not innocent bystanders.

Lectionary readings for today:

Isaiah 52:13-53:12
Psalm 22
Hebrews 4:14-16
John 18:1-19:42

Prayer: May we have the courage of our convictions and trust God even when the risk is great; especially when the risk is great. Amen.

“A” and “the.” They are little words. Filler between more impressive words. Multisyllabic words. Words with long and distinguished etymologies. What are the little words “a” and “the”? Yet they can be important words. Is Jesus “a” teacher? One among many. Taking his place alongside others of different times and cultures? Or is Jesus “the” teacher with a singularly authoritative word for all times and all cultures? Is Jesus “the” source with no other commensurate spiritual teachers in the past or to come?

For me, Jesus is “the” teacher. For me, he is in a different category than other spiritual teachers of the Christian tradition and of other religious paths. For me, Jesus has more power and authority. His teachings are “the” teachings for me. Others have important, illuminating insights to share and are worthy of respect, but Jesus bears more weight for me.

Looking at the world as a whole, with its vast history and amazing diversity, the world which Jesus loved, and for which he lived and died, I can see how Jesus is “a” teacher. “A” voice. “A” path. Maybe others hear the message of Jesus, his voice, through different teachers and traditions. God can use everyone and anyone. I believe God speaks through Jesus, and because of that, I believe God can speak through others. I do not want to limit God.

But I hear God most clearly and directly through Jesus. For me, Jesus is “the” one. For God and for the world, he may be “a” voice.

There are many ways to hear God. Many ways to get the message. Whatever the source, may the essence come through, “Love one another as I have loved you.”

Lectionary readings for today:

Exodus 12:1-14
Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
John 13:1-17, 31b-35

In the document, The Acts of John, from the second century, we are told that on the night before his death, Jesus had his disciples hold hands and dance in a circle while he sang and they responded, “Amen.” This is a translation of the hymn:

Glory to You, Father, Amen.
Glory to You, Mother, Amen.
Glory to You, Word, Amen.
Glory to You, Wisdom, Amen.
Glory to You, Spirit, Amen.
Glory to You, Holy One, Amen.
Glory to Your Glory, Amen.

Praise to You, Father, Amen.
Praise to You, Mother, Amen.
Praise to You, Eternal Spirit, Amen.

I will be saved, and I will save, Amen.
I will be loosed, and I will loose, Amen.
I will be wounded, and I will wound, Amen.
I will be born, and I will bear, Amen.
I will eat, and I will be eaten, Amen.
I will hear, and I will be heard, Amen.
I will be understood, and I am understanding, Amen.
I will be washed, and I will wash, Amen.
I will pipe, dance, all of you, Amen.
I will mourn, beat all your breasts, Amen.
The Holy Eight sing in choir with us, Amen.
The twelfth Number dances on high, Amen.
The entire universe belongs to the Dancer, Amen.
If you do not dance, you don’t know what is happening, Amen.
I will flee, and I will remain, Amen.
I will adorn, and I will be adorned, Amen.
I will be united, and I will unite, Amen.

I have no house, and I have houses, Amen.
I have no place, and I have places, Amen.
I have no temple, and I have temples, Amen.
I am a lamp to you who see me, Amen.
I am a mirror to you who know me, Amen.
I am a door to you who knock on me, Amen.
I am a Way to you who travel with me, Amen.

[Acts of John 94, Seer version, in Son of Man by Andrew Harvey, pp. 260-261]

The Christian life involves believing and following. Sometimes we put the emphasis on one or the other. To some, what is most important is what is believed about Jesus. That is the heart of the Christian faith for some. Then in light of those beliefs one chooses to follow the ethical values in the teachings of Jesus. Others choose to put the emphasis on following Jesus. The core of Christian faith is following the values, teachings, and ethics of Jesus. With the following comes trust in the way of Jesus and the love of God. Believing and following go together, but we often put the stress on one or the other.

As we remember the events of the last days of Jesus’ earthly life as they are given to us in the traditions of the gospels, the friends of Jesus seem to fall short on the following side. The stories we have talk of betrayal, desertion, and denial. One exception is the woman who anoints Jesus with oil.

So we wonder. Jesus’ friends say they believe in him, then they desert him, betray him, and deny him. They scatter in fear. They are not very loyal or devoted. Would the better way be to stay true to your friend, to be there, to be loyal and present regardless of what you believe about Jesus? Maybe you don’t believe certain things about Jesus, but you can still follow him and not betray, desert, or deny him. Believing and following. Where is the emphasis for you?

Lectionary readings for today:

Isaiah 50: 4-9a
Psalm 70
Hebrews 12:1-3
John 13: 21-32

Prayer: We pray to be true to our intentions and loyal in our commitments. Amen.

As we consider the legacy of Judas, there is the traditional image of Judas as a traitor, a betrayer. This version of the story of Judas gives us a Judas motivated perhaps by disillusionment or greed and getting paid by the religious leaders to hand Jesus over. This Judas would have known that this would make him an enemy of Jesus’ friends and followers and would cut him off from his primary community of support. He may have anticipated the personal anguish and guilt associated with betrayal. Judas would have suspected that he would be killed for this betrayal.

If we consider the story of Judas as the one who hands Jesus over at Jesus’ request, this version of the Judas story also leads to negative consequences for Judas. He would have known that this course of action would probably cost him his life as well as the life of his beloved teacher and friend.

Either way, the outcome is not in Judas’ favor. Obey or betray, it still costs Judas his life. There’s a lesson here about obedience to God. It may have very difficult consequences for us. Yes, Judas would know that he did God’s will, but it costs him his life and the life of his beloved friend. Obedience, too, has a cost. The story of Judas, and of Holy Week, invites us to consider what price we are paying for our obedience to God. What is it costing us to follow in the way of Jesus? It the cost is too small, maybe we are not being obedient enough.

Lectionary readings for today:

Isaiah 49:1-7
Psalm 71:1-14
1 Corinthians 1:18-31
John 12:20-36

Prayer: May we have the courage and fortitude to obey God whatever the cost. Amen.