Tuesday, March 31: The Rev. Steve Best

John 12:24. [Jesus said], “Very truly, I tell you unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain.”

It was a cold November several years ago when a couple hundred grieving friends and family crammed into the undercroft of St. Barnabas Episcopal Church on Bainbridge Island. We were there to honor Marilyn Brandenburg a beloved deacon in our diocese, jazz musician, former first grade teacher, lay Franciscan, and dear friend. I remember seeing her ashes on top of the make-shift altar. The canister of her remains was covered by a very unusual pall: a bright rainbow colored wig that she had worn after losing most of her hair. Even in her dying Marilyn had a great sense of joy and poked fun at death itself. But the part of her story I cherish the most is that of her being foolish for thinking she could make a difference in the world. Frequently we find ourselves soaked in pessimism and discouragement as we age; youthful idealism often turning to hopelessness about making a real difference in world. I have often wondered how the original disciples felt as Jesus walked the road to the Cross, seeing all of their hopes and dreams evaporate before their very eyes. After receiving a diagnosis of cancer Marilyn kept on doing what she loved but with even more intensity. I will never forget witnessing the fruits of Marilyn’s ministry to the incarcerated women at Purdy whose lives were often hard and joyless. One day we Franciscans joined her inside the prison walls, along with our bishop, to witness Crystal’s confirmation and entrance into the Episcopal Church. Who would have thought that a grain of wheat could have grown in such harsh conditions and become so much more? I can hear Marilyn’s winsome voice in my ear “What are you saving yourself for, my dear, a diagnosis?”

 —The Rev. Steve Best

Monday, March 30: Rev. Kathryn Ballinger, Deacon

Isaiah 42:1. “Here is my servant, whom I uphold.”

From an early age, I knew or rather felt called to live a useful, and hopefully, altruistic life. I could have chosen to become an airline stewardess and satisfy my desire for adventure and travel and to see the world. I could have chosen to be an interior designer to express my creative sense and love of all things beautiful in architecture, color and design. But I wanted my life to have meaning and I wanted to serve others. Thus I chose nursing as my vocation with every intent of joining the Peace Corps and going to Africa. Then later that lead into counseling and spiritual direction. This is how I identify with this passage of scripture.

The prophet Deutero-Isaiah speaks to the exiles still recovering from the trauma of the Babylonian invasion. So how does a prophet speak to a people who feel God has deserted them? Not an easy task. The prophet uses some very creative imagery to help the people live in the midst of their terrible chaos. He speaks of God as a mighty warrior who will deliver them as well as a shepherd who carries the little lambs on his bosom.

In Isaiah, we first encounter the image of the suffering servant of God. One who is described as a bruised reed and a dimly burning wick. Because God’s spirit works through him, the servant will not be broken or quenched.

The servant is an example of power in vulnerability. It is power that does not scream or shout or use brutal force. It is life-giving power that is far reaching and bears much fruit. Much later the Gospel writers point to these passages and to Jesus as their fulfillment.

The world today still finds itself in chaos and despair, no more than bruised reeds and dimly burning wicks. All seems fractured and cracked, but that is where the light of God comes in. His grace and power works where we are most broken, weak and fragile. This extraordinary power belongs to God alone and is not from us. When we open to this power in our own vulnerability, we find we can make a difference in the lives of those around us. This power grows out of compassion and concern for the needs of others. Through God’s power of compassion and mercy we can make a difference and God himself will uphold us.                       

— The Rev. Kathryn Ballinger, Deacon

Sunday, March 29 - Palm Sunday: Brian Gregory

Mark 14:36. [Jesus said], “Not what I want, but what you want.”

There are times when I forget just how human Jesus was. All of our talk of miracles, resurrection, his deep and intimate relationship with God the Father…I can make Jesus out in my head to be something he surely was not. Certainly Jesus was not any ordinary human being—he was Emmanuel, God with us; the eternal Word made flesh; God’s only begotten Son—but we cannot forget that his humanity led to all the grief, hurt, sorrows, anxieties, and the joys that we experience.

Disconnected from the verses that come immediately before, the verse for today can lead us to seeing the soon to be crucified Jesus as a stoic and eager participant in his death. What we miss in this one verse is the agony, heartbreak, and fear that led Jesus to tell his disciples, “I am deeply grieved, even to death…” (14:34). And we miss Jesus’ plea, “Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me…” The surrender to God’s will, the openness to what will come, letting go…these come after the agony and the honesty of “I don’t want to do this.” But it is only in surrender, only in opening up to God’s will, that we find the hope of resurrection.

The resurrection that comes in a few days is only possible because Jesus let go. Loss, grief, even death always precede resurrection. As I think about my own life, there are certainly things that I hold to with a tight grip—unwilling to let go and surrender to God’s will. I want what comes at the end of the story, I want resurrection and new life, but without the agony of saying, “Not what I want, but what you want.” May God give us all the grace and courage to let go so that we may experience something new.                                                                        

 —Brian Gregory

Saturday, March 28: Jannie Best

Psalm 137:1. By the waters of Babylon we sat down and wept, when we remembered you, O Zion.”

The captives sought the river side,

            water flowed in sympathy with their tears.

Sitting down to rest and to find solace in their sorrow,

            tears mingled with their memories.

The ground upon which they sat was foreign soil,

            made them weep even more.

For they remembered bitter banishment from Jerusalem,

            the palace of their king and the temple of their God.

Feelings of helplessness under a cruel enemy,

            unbearable for all.

In time, the memory of their oppression,

            dried their tears and calmed their anger.

Helping them to remember,

            Jerusalem was forever written on their hearts.                      

—Jannie Best

Friday, March 27: Mitchell Eggenberger

John 12:7. [Jesus said], “Leave her alone.”

In this passage Jesus is in the home of Lazarus eating dinner with some of his disciples, as well as with Mary. As Mary anoints Jesus with perfume, the disciple who is about to betray Jesus asks Mary why the perfume is not sold. Jesus knows that the disciple, Judas Iscariot, is doing this out of interest not for the community as he stated and for his own monetary interests. Jesus said ‘Leave her alone’

In this moment Jesus recognizes that Judas is being dishonest and prevents Judas from harassing Mary. At the time the others at the table and Mary had no clue that Judas was in fact being dishonest and was stealing. However Jesus knew of Judas’ deeds and prevented the further spread. Jesus in this passage defended Mary, while at the same time condemning the criminal. Jesus demonstrates that he will always be our “safety net” when we are put in harm’s way. Jesus will always be there for all of us in protecting us from future harm. With this knowledge I always know that the decisions I am making will be for the good of myself, others and the greater community. God reminds us through Jesus he is the guardian of the faithful.

This passage can be interpreted quite literally as Jesus simply preventing crime and defending the innocent as stated above, yet Jesus’ words can be applied to a multitude of situations. Jesus knows what is right for us and will steer us back onto course if we stray from the path, even if we cannot comprehend or understand the reason at the time, just as the unknowing Mary and disciples during this dinner.

This passage reaffirms my belief that Jesus is the protector of society from all things evil and that he will always be there to right our spiritual ship.                                                                        

—Mitchell Eggenberger

Thursday, March 26: Aileen Loranger

John 10:25. [Jesus said], “I have told you, and you do not believe.”

In the 1950’s, my father was an up-and-coming chemical engineer with Esso Research and Development, having survived the Great Depression during his childhood in Brooklyn, NY. My brother and I were very fortunate to be children of privilege in the suburbs of northern New Jersey. “If I told you once, I’ve told you a thousand times…” My father’s voice echoes in my memory. I can still hear his irritated frustration, “Turn off the lights! Close the door or you’ll let out all the heat! Don’t let the screen door slam!” While he may have thought I wasn’t listening (a child eager to run out and play), to this day I unconsciously turn off the lights out of a habit that started with paying attention to my dad’s voice. More importantly, he set the example, reinforcing his convictions about energy conservation and frugality. I can still see him in my mind’s eye, going from room to room, shutting off the lights behind us.

I imagine that same tone in Jesus’ voice. I hear his mounting disdain with the Jews in the Temple. Jesus is cagey with these inquisitors as they implore him to tell them once and for all that he is indeed the Messiah. “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me.” Jesus seems to be saying, ‘if you’d only pay attention, you’d know who I am. My followers believe because they have been listening, paying close attention and recognizing that my actions speak louder than words to reveal who I am.’ Jesus concludes with, “The Father and I are one.”

Jesus reveals who he is through his ministry of preaching and teaching, healing and performing miracles such as the feeding of the 5,000 and changing the water into wine. Jesus’s actions are not to prove his credentials, but to reveal the fulfillment of God’s redeeming love for the world.

Lent offers us an opportunity to deepen our commitment to a way of life, as followers of Jesus Christ. Lent provides us another chance to listen more carefully and focus our attention, reflect upon our patterns, intentionally re-turn to God, respond to those in need and put God’s love into action. What is the Good Shepherd calling you to?        

—Aileen Loranger

Wednesday, March 25: Zonnie Breckinridge

Luke 1:38. Then the angel departed from her.

This verse marks the end of the passage that is very familiar to most, if not all, of us, the Annunciation to the Virgin Mary by the Angel Gabriel that she would conceive and become the mother of Jesus. I am (and perhaps many of you are) when hearing or reading this passage, typically drawn to the calling out of Mary as God’s “favored one” and Mary’s ultimate acceptance in humility of this frightening and awesome condition.

This time, when I read the passage as I was preparing my Lenten reflection, I was struck, for the first time, by the role of the Angel Gabriel. What came to me almost immediately is how much I rely on God’s angels to guide and comfort me and to help in answering my prayers. I pray to the angels quite often, particularly when I or those close to me need to make an important decision or when we find ourselves in difficult circumstances. I’m not sure why this has become my practice, certainly in part due to my Roman Catholic upbringing and childish sense that I am not worthy enough to ask God directly. But, also and more importantly, because I truly believe that there are angels who are messengers of God, and they are here to be with us, holding us and helping us to discern how God is calling us to respond to life’s challenges, just as did the Angel Gabriel in the Bible passage above. I believe the angel was not simply God’s emissary, but was a divine light, guiding Mary as she contemplated the mighty circumstance put before her. Like Mary, we too can count on the angels to be with us, to hold and to guide us as we endeavor to discern God’s will for us in our life’s journey.

“Angel of God, my Guardian dear, to whom His love commits me here, ever this day be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.” (The Guardian Angel Prayer) 

—Zonnie Breckinridge