Meditation – Rooted Seaford 5-13-18, Mother’s Day John 17:6-19 6”I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; 8for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 9I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. 10All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. 11And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. 12While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled. 13But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. 14I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 15I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. 16They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 17Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth. Psalm 1 1Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers; 2but their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night. 3They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper. 4The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. 5Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; 6for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. the word of the Lord
Trees planted If you have been to Trap Pond (used to Church picnic … better, closer) and gotten on the boat ride or a canoe (Sarah and me…pretty funny to watch) You can navigate through the cypress trees And you might notice, that these trees that like to grow on riversides, in swamps, and right in the middle of the pond. The bald cypress trees have, what are known as knees Cypress knees – little protrusions of gnarly wood all around the base – above the roots It is not known for certain what is the function of the knees One – my favorite theories – they are buttresses to keep the tree balanced in the soft swampy mud They are support – we all need support to stand – some of us more than others
I invite you to - Stand as able – or stay seated – but try to still imagine - In yoga we have a pose call Mountain Pose. It is not just standing straight it is feeling all four corners of both feet spread out and balanced on the earth (remove shoes, but, ok – just imagine) if seated feel feet flat on floor – outside/inside – all flat Feet - rooted And then it is checking in with every part of the body Legs – knees not locked Back not arched, abdominal muscles engaged Shoulders DOWN (Hard) Arms straight – not rigid, relaxed, at side back of top of head – crown - as if pulled by a strong to heaven and breathe – all the way down – all the way up through body This is the pose we must master before trying to do TREE pose which lifts one foot… stand a minute Check in w how it feels to be solid – rooted – planted you may Sit
We sometimes forget, in worship, in church, that we are physical as well as spiritual beings taking care of our physical selves can be as much worship as time in prayer or reading the Bible the Greek and hb word for spirit – same as breath taking in breath – aware of that breath – can be an act of deep prayer
Did you have a mother who reminded you “don’t slouch” – stand up straight? Some of our mothers had a way of reminding us of lots of things (I have a pad of paper, titled : I am not nag… I am a motivator) they wanted – or want – as we want for our children – for us to be planted well like a tree that is planted The roots go deep and get water and nourishment
Did you have a mother who made you clean your plate at meal? Or… slow down when you eat Or…if you don’t eat… you don’t get dessert… Bob and Irene – taught my kids – food side, dessert side THAT, amazingly, the kids picked up first time heard it
Our families are where we are rooted – and nourished Or – where we realize we were not so nourished – and have had to learn a different way Jesus wanted those who came after him to know how to stand in mountain pose He prays – I have given them everything you, God, gave to me not unlike a prayer many of our parents have most likely prayed I pray the children – the disciples – the followers – those who come after me and will hopefully outlive me I pray – they know the depth of love that they need to be firmly rooted – and growing and flourishing bearing fruit how do we – how do you – stand sure and rooted – being nourished – let us ask God to help us be aware the psalmist says - Blessed – happy – content – in good shape – are those whose DELIGHT is in the law of the Lord the psalmist is telling the people of God immerse yourself in the things that will teach you of God of God’s nature
Jesus says – sanctify them in the truth – your word is truth again – immerse them in the things that will teach us/them of god of God’s nature
And part of God’s nature – is just like a mother (good mother) nature who would do anything and everything possible to make sure her children know love and acceptance and get along with each other and know the way of peace not – the way of the world as much as they way of the new heaven and new earth the way of love Jesus ends this part of his prayer with “sanctify them in the truth” To sanctify is to set apart – to consecrate – as we do with the common bread and common juice – setting them apart for sacred purposes Jesus is praying that we – you and me – will be set apart – How? By god’s truth And you do not need me to tell you that searching for truth is hard in today’s world Jesus says – we will be in the world but will not be part of the world meditating on God’s nature – God’s word – worshiping with God’s people being open to God’s spirit these things will lead us into truth
and truth is rough “the truth will set you free… first miserable” I have been hit in the face lately with very uncomfortable truth I preach – as you know – a lot about love and acceptance and about 3 times in the last 2 weeks I have been shown the people I have trouble loving and accepting hard – uncomfortable – humbling Sanctification is the PROCESS of being set apart apart from the lies and deception and rationalization apart from the judgements and criticisms apart from reacting in anger or easily putting someone else down apart from bullying and name-calling Set apart – by facing truth no worries – God does this fine! Too fine sometimes. Prayer - sustain us o god – at the table, and as we go from this place