Archive for November, 2009

Advent 2009

About Advent

• Old Testament reflection: Malachi 3:1-4
• New Testament reflection: Luke 1:46-55

1. Fasting. During the holiday season between Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, our cultural norm is self-indulgence. One way to refocus your life around “waiting” is to fast from certain foods or certain things. For instance, fasting from meat allows us to think first before we eat, or fasting from sweets allows us to wait for the day of celebration when Christ is born–when he is born, eat cake!
2. Decorations. In anticipation of Christ’s birth, consider decorating your house for this glorious day of celebration on Christmas Eve. Wait to celebrate. For Advent, consider decorating your kitchen table with purple, pink, and/or blue.
3. Raid your closet and give stuff away. We get so many new things on Christmas Day. In anticipation of that day of celebration, let’s raid our closets and give some stuff (still in great condition) to the poor. Give stuff that away that you haven’t used for 6 months. Give blankets and warm clothes to the homeless.
4. Advent Calendar. Buy an Advent calendar and fill it with treats, Scripture passages, and small gifts. Each day open a door and enjoy what’s inside.
5. Advent Wreath. By far, one of the most common traditions. One night a week, follow the Advent readings and light a candle on the wreath. The Scriptures remind us of our waiting. If you have children, have them assist you. Each week one more candle is lit until you reach the wonderful day of Christ’s birth.

Two Fridays ago, I was asked by Mary Jane Hazell “on her death bed” (so to speak) to preside over her funeral. I was honored to do so on Friday, November 13. Below is what I shared at the funeral. My desire was to provide hope for the family but also to anyone else who listens.

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We are here today to celebrate the life of Mary Jane Hazell, beloved friend, mother, wife, and grandmother; dedicated to the Somerton community, the importance of education, and her family; and, for many of us, the most selfless person with whom we’ve ever engaged.

Mary Jane Hazell was born June 16, 1933, as the youngest of 17 children. Her husband, Richard, of almost 44 years and she raised two lovely daughters, Deborah Ann and Jayne Marie; and eight wonderful grandchildren have followed. She passed on Sunday, November 8, 2009.

Mary Jane and I had multiple interactions over the last few years of her life. She was a beautiful person. I always enjoyed her enthusiasm for the Phillies and the Eagles. I, too, enjoy cheering for those teams. Interestingly, the Friday before she passed, my family and I came over to her daughter Jayne’s house, and we prayed with Mary Jane. I shared a passage of Scripture from Isaiah that speaks of the weak–about the Lord giving them strength and raising them up on “eagles wings.” After I finished, Mary Jane turned to me and spoke in almost a whisper, “I like how you slipped my Eagles in there.” A little perplexed, I listened on. “And they’re going to beat those stinkin’ Cowboys on Sunday!” I couldn’t help myself but to laugh. Here’s Mary Jane, very close to death, yet all she wants is for the Eagles to “beat those stinkin’ Cowboys.” For me, I just sat there and said to myself, “That’s Mrs. Hazell. That’s her, and that ‘fighter’s spirit’ is why we all love her.”

Death

Death is a reality. The Scriptures explain that death was brought into this world as a result of the rebellion of humanity against God. Death is an ever-present force that permeates our existence. We see it all over. We see death physically, but we also see it metaphorically. Death comes into our relationships. It seeps into the ground of our environment. Whether it is when a child goes hungry or someone lies to us, death is always there. And it brings great anguish deep into our being. Thus, we must not ignore or deny death. We must not ignore or deny suffering and pain. It is a reality, and we must deal with it. A great woman has passed away, and we are greatly saddened. The verse Colleen read reminds us of the limits of our humanity, “For now we see in a mirror, dimly…” (1 Cor. 13:12a NRSV).We may not understand, but we must deal with it.

Resurrection

However, the Scriptures also give us hope, do they not? According to the Scriptures, upon death, one goes to be with the Lord, but that is only a temporary stop on the journey to a glorious day, when Jesus will return to earth; and God will make all things right. We will be resurrected from the dead, and our physical bodies will be transformed; and we reign on earth with Jesus Christ forever. That same verse continues, “…but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.” (1 Cor. 13:12b). There is a “now,” but there will be a “then,” a time when all will finally make sense. Now, we do not understand. Then, at resurrection, we will fully see things as they are.

Our hope is found in Jesus. The writer of 1 John states, “The Son of God was revealed for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil” (3:8b NRSV). The works of the devil are the constraints of Death, and the Son of God is Jesus Christ; and, by his own death and resurrection (his coming back to life), he has destroyed death and has victory over it. There is great hope in this work–not only in Christ’s own resurrection but the resurrection of all people. An early follower of Jesus named Paul has so much hope in this that he speaks again in 1 Corinthians about the sudden resurrection of God’s people, and, when that happens, he says, “…the saying that is written will be fulfilled:

Here, Paul taunts death. He taunts its victory and its sting. He challenges Death’s claim to be an all-encompassing power. Paul says, “No, death does not have the last word. It does not have the final say. The world is not about ‘business as usual.’ Something is different because of the work of Jesus–one day death will be ’swallowed up in victory.’ We will be changed. This is resurrection.” Jesus Christ has done something of cosmic proportions that the belief about the world running on the same ol’ track is simply not true. Death is being swallowed up!

Through Jesus, God has stepped into the world and confronted Death. So, where Death is, God is there. God is here amongst us today. He is here in our pain. Paul finishes this great statement on resurrection by saying, “Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labour is not in vain.” As we wait the glorious day of resurrection of all, we must be immovable, steadfast, and excelling in the work of the Lord. When we do these things, we experience the future resurrection in the present. Resurrection can be figurative, as well as literal. And this is where I believe Mary Jane Hazell always was. She was continually doing the work of the Lord wherever she went–in local schools, the community, and her family–and, in these places, and because of her, we experienced resurrection in the present. When she told us a story, resurrection. When she made us laugh, resurrection. When she gave of herself time and time again for her family, resurrection. Mary Jane showed us the power of resurrection in everyday life. Death is being swallowed up!

We look forward to the day when God will wipe out Death in all its areas. All those who have died will be resurrected, and the followers of Jesus will reign on a renewed earth with him forever. In this moment, Death will be no more. As John envisions,

God will renew all creation. He will put the world back to rights. It will be as he intended. No more sorrow, no more pain, no more death. Now, we wipe tears from our faces, but, then, there will be no more crying, no more tears. And where these things are no more, we will share life with Mary Jane again. We will walk the shores with our grandmother. We will sing songs with our sister. We will share stories with our mother. We will parade and march in-step with our friend through the renewed streets of Somerton. We will be with her again, and she with us. There will be no more saying, “Good-bye.” For we will see our loved ones in the morning.

Jayne and Debby told me that their mother would never let them go to bed without saying one particular thing. Before bed, they must always say, “Goodnight. God bless. I love you.” Even, if they were angry and stormed off to bed, they had to come right back down and say, “Goodnight. God bless. I love you.” In those days after resurrection, all things will be renewed, we will live on a renewed earth, and we will never say, “Good-bye,” as we do here today. We will simply say, “Goodnight. God bless. I love you.” And we will see Mary Jane–our friend, mother, sister, grandmother–again in the morning.

The English author J. R. R. Tolkien speaks of resurrection and days like this in the last of his books in The Lord of the Rings series. The enemy is storming the gates of the city. The magician Gandalf and the hobbit Pippin sit side-by-side, awaiting what seems to be inevitable doom.

Mother Teresa

On the wall at Mother Teresa’s home for children in Calcutta:

“People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.  Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.  Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.  Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.  Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.  Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.  Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten.  Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.  Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God.  It was never between you and them anyway.”

-Mother Teresa

This video has me cracking up: