Worship has always been among the most satisfying and inspiring aspects of ministry for me. The sense of being in God's presence with others praying, preaching or singing has reliably sustained me through the years. The latest inspiring moment came at the end of the Ash Wednesday service at Rockford United Methodist Church this week. We all had oil-and-ash crosses on our hands or foreheads, placed there with the blessing, "Remember, you are a child of God and to God you shall return." I was facing the congregation to give the closing blessing.
I had preached about "Living Out From the Inside" using Jesus' Sermon on the Mount warnings in Matthew 6 about doing good deeds, praying and fasting for public admiration; and storing up treasures on earth. Jesus clearly contrasts public, visible expressions of these worthy actions with the greater reward of basing them on our secret, inner life with God; and storing treasures in heaven. Jesus criticizes the "stage actors" (the meaning of the Greek word for hypocrites) or mask wearers for seeking only the reward of public admiration. He warns against the earthly decay that comes from neglecting eternal life with God by ending our desire with material possessions.
I used the image of an iceberg to illustrate the vast difference between what is above and below the water, what is visible and invisible (or secret) in our lives. The potential lesson is that most of who we are is not visible, therefore only attending to what is above ground or showing above the surface, then making judgments, determining value or seeking recognition based only on that is misleading, inaccurate and dangerous.
It is helpful to think of Jesus' teaching about the public outer and secret inner life with God this way. Jesus wants us to take care of most of who we are and to live out from the inside of a strong foundation in God's love.
Standing before the congregation I gave a closing blessing that felt inspired, and upon further reflection I would say it this way now, "What we bear is a mark to identify us, not a mask to hide who we are. Similar to the waters of baptism, the oil-and-ash cross symbolizes the union of our life with Christ. (Pointing to the iceberg picture) This mark covers the big part of us and the small part too, our whole life. On this Lenten journey of discovery, when we may very well find anguish, anxiety and astonishment, be assured that God has got it covered in Christ. And now may the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord smile upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord look upon you with favor and grant you peace, both now and forevermore. And together all God's people say, Amen."
Peace, Pastor Jeff
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