Weekly Blog

Tips, Tricks, Skills, Spirituality and Wisdom

Teresa McBean 12/22/17 Teresa McBean 12/22/17

Dog Town

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I grew up in Dog Town, a euphemism for a less than highly respected part of our town. I don’t have any clue why it was called that but I was clear that it wasn’t a compliment. It turns out that Nazareth, the hometown of Mary and Joseph didn’t have such a great reputation as a community either. I wonder if the symbolism of a poor teenage unwed mother engaged to a well-meaning young man without many resources rings the chimes of your heart as it does mine? Isn’t that a beautiful picture and so typical of how we have seen God work over the course of the biblical narrative?

It means something to me, a gal who grew up in Dog Town, who was encouraged NOT to attend college because of the cost and the prevailing attitude that “A girl doesn’t need a college degree if she marries well.” In the mid-70’s my experience taught me that females were not particularly valued. Loved? Absolutely, at least in my case that is true. But our culture didn’t value females and it was easy for families to love but not know how to value their girl children.

Which is why I do not find it hard to understand why women wait 40 years to report sexual abuse. As much as we can critique our current time of life, I promise. We have made progress. Not enough to get all uppity about it. But some progress has been made and enough safety is being established in a few places that some people are able to speak about what it was like to experience devaluation – whether it was because of gender, religious or racial bias.

Aware of this in my own life, I have an especially tender heart for Mary and Joseph, their trials and travails as well as their blessings. I am also inspired by their courage, obedience, and fortitude. They could have resisted this call like Gideon or Moses. They could have believed the cultural bias against two young punks from the wrong side of the tracks. Instead, they trusted God and listened when his angels came calling.

In my life at crucial moments various “angels” have shown up to encourage me in my own walk. I think that this may be a frequent occurrence – encouragers placed in our path at just the right time and place. But we must be willing to listen. I challenge us today. Expect heavenly encounters. Look for validation that we may come from Dog Town and we no doubt have various limitations (self or other imposed) but that’s not all we have. We have a God who knows us and often chooses extremely unlikely people to do his good will. Today, may we all participate in the doing of his good will.

Teresa McBean 12/21/17 Teresa McBean 12/21/17

Mary Finds Favor With God

I am continually struck by the verse in scriptures where Gabriel recounts God’s opinion of Mary. “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” (For details, read Luke 1:26-38)

Sit with that. Mary has found favor with God; He KNOWS her; he can pick her out of a crowd. By her community’s standards Mary was nothing special. Ordinary really. Engaged to a carpenter from a community of hardworking families of humble means.

More unusual than the message is Mary’s response. “Cool!” (My translation.)

This is downright unheard of. Moses and Gideon, to name just two, protested God’s call. Isaiah and Jeremiah certainly didn’t fist pump with delight at their calling. Saul broke under the pressure; David’s performance was a mixed bag. And who can forget Solomon? The guy who asks only for wisdom and discernment finds early “success” only to end up with a killer sexual addiction.

Mary responded with humble gratitude. She was willing to be part of God’s plan for dispensing justice and mercy as she walked with God.

It wasn’t all good news. Mary’s virgin birth must have caused quite a stir in her village; poor Joseph was in an extremely awkward position. Mary and Joseph had to live as refugees for a while and, as Simeon so accurately predicted, this news would eventually be like a sword piercing the very soul of Mary.

Read Luke 1:46-55 for a detailed rendering of Mary’s heart song.

What do we make of this favored one of God who receives the honor of birthing Jesus but often lives in fear and consternation as a result of her calling? We call her experience human. Dramatic to be sure, but I think most people who follow God find the path difficult – a message that doesn’t fit our modern day Jesus marketing materials. I guess that’s why I struggle with sermons that tell us if we just love Jesus, every day will be sweeter than the day before. I prefer Mary’s model – she followed God’s call because she knew she could trust God not because it was going to provide her a great salary package and an awesome retirement plan. As we evaluate our spirituality, I’d encourage us to not get too discouraged if we find ourselves in challenging circumstances because of our inspired way of seeing and efforts to love God, others and self. That sounds about right.

Teresa McBean 12/20/17 Teresa McBean 12/20/17

Before Jesus, John

So it came to pass that the angel Gabriel came to faithful Zechariah, comforting him and telling him both to fear not and that his cry had been heard. As a priest I am sure Zechariah had cried out many times to God. Which cry?

Gabriel does not leave him guessing: Elizabeth, Zechariah’s old barren wife is going to get prego and give birth to a son who Zechariah is instructed to name John. Could Zechariah go back in his memory banks and pull up the remembrance of Abraham and Sarah? Maybe, but he also wanted proof. This did not come in the form of an ultrasound and evidently was not pleasing to God. Zechariah entered an enforced state of muteness for the entire pregnancy. Wow.

This allowed Zechariah time to remember and repent of his own doubt. Proof of his belief came at the baby naming ceremony. In obedience to Gabriel, they named him John – an unusual choice that caused quite the stir.

The floodgates opened and Zechariah began to speak. His focus? Not the miraculous pregnancy or amazing visit from Gabriel. Zechariah returned to the central truth: the salvation of the Lord.

In whatever speck of the historical timeline we land on – this is the thing. This God has come so that we might be saved for the purpose of blessing. We exist to love justice, do mercy and walk humbly. I hope we’ve been reminded this month of how easy it should be to do the humble walking part. My goodness, aren’t we humans a mess?!?

I pray that we find our humble, in spite of it being so hard to do so. We keep returning to the power play. God continues to remind us that this is not the game we were created to participate in. In humility, knowing our proclivities, we strive to love justice and do mercy. Remembering these two clarion calls, I think we can make progress against our own prejudices and tone-deaf ways.

We can.

Teresa McBean 12/19/17 Teresa McBean 12/19/17

Over and Over Again

History tends to repeat itself. Back when Julius Caesar was in charge of Rome his son-in-law tried to wrest control from him. Caesar quelled Pompey’s attack but both he and his leadership were nervous. They saw the civil war as a sign of vulnerability. In 46 BC, the Senate voted to make Julius Caesar a dictator, turning Rome from a republic of the people into an empire. For whatever reason, these folks believed that an ambitious and powerful dictator would keep them safe.

It seems that when we feel vulnerable we tend to double down on a quest for power. But power is usually a corrosive agent. Caesar was no exception. He began large building programs and inflicted higher taxes to pay for his grand visions. His governors took the brunt of the people’s unrest and eventually the very people who said they wanted a powerful dictator took matters into their own hand, literally, and stabbed him to death. (Who can forget, “Et tu, Brute?”) Offed by his bff.

This didn’t result in a return to a republic. The ringleader Cassius took charge. Not one to learn from the past, Cassius demanded a steep payment to prove loyalty (evidently he did learn that loyalty is elusive – better to the reward for it up front). Herod was one of those guys who used his skills and instincts as a leader to survive the regime change. Herod was a paranoid guy and he mercilessly got rid of anyone that posed even an imagined threat to his kingdom.

This is where we are when we enter into the New Testament. Herod is ruling Galilee with cunning and ruthless intent. Herod, coming from the Edomites south of Judea was part Israelite – a heritage he took seriously. He was a man of two worlds – one religious and the other political, both were at odds with the other. When push came to shove, Herod learned toward Rome and eventually he was named King of Judea, which by degree made him “king of the Jews”. The Israelites are recovering from a period of exile and the community is wondering – is this all there is? Will we always be ruled by Rome? Are God’s promises true? Still, a remnant of faith remained.

Today, people talk about the dying church. Religious leaders take a “census” and the results are not to their liking. And yet a remnant remains. Recently someone scoffed and said to me, “Teresa, come on, no one goes to church anymore. Your faith community is unsustainable.” Ok. I hear you. But this I remember too: really powerful people with a massive amount of resources believed that God had abandoned his promises way back when and look what happened THEN – in walks Jesus. I believe I will take my chances with my particular band of remnant faithful.

You?

Teresa McBean 12/18/17 Teresa McBean 12/18/17

God Stays On Message

Malachi was another one of God’s prophets. His message? “I have loved you,” said the Lord.” Malachi 1:2

His people couldn’t understand it, and certainly clarity hasn’t gotten any easier over the decades. He also had another message for his people, maybe one we can spend some time reflecting on as we approach the birthday of Jesus.

“Behold,” he says, “I am making all things new.” Rev. 21:5

I join you in prayer that he will take our weary, worn ways and make all things new. Redeem us Lord, we pray. Let our eyes see the light of your love in our world.

Amen.