Transformation Involves Risk

Devotionals Transformation Involves Risk 2/12/2024 - by: Jan Christine Gregory-Charpentier - Starting With Scripture Share Rev. Jan Gregory-Charpentier serves as Pastor at Kingston Congregational Church, Kingston, RI. Scripture: Mark 9:9-15 (NRSV) In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’ And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness for forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him. Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.’ Reflection: Transformation Involves Risk Three children watching caterpillars in awe and wonder as they await their transfiguration from larva into butterflies. Mark’s narration of Jesus’ life is so fast paced, so breathless, you’d almost miss his telling the story of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness if you weren’t looking for it. Mark relates the story with an economy of words in only two verses. But he has given us a big clue as to how to hear this story of Jesus’ forty days in the wilderness. Forty is one of those important numbers in the Bible: Noah on the Ark; Moses on top of Mt. Sinai; the Exodus community’s forty years wandering the desert, Elijah’s flight from Jezebel for 40 days and nights. When we hear the number forty, it gives us a clue that something important, holy, and transformational is going on: a new humanity, a new covenant, a new holy people, a new identity. Forty always signifies transformation. The word “transformation” has kind of a nice ring to it. Everyone needs a little change now and again. But let’s check in with the text. Mark says right after his baptism, “The Spirit immediately drove [Jesus] out into the wilderness.” Only Mark uses this word drove. Matthew and Luke say Jesus was led by the Spirit. As William Willimon once wrote, in Mark the baptismal dove has become a thing with talons. And only Mark adds wild beasts to this story. Mark is making sure we know this path of transformation is no gentle shift in perspective or warmly welcomed change. Forty days or forty years, transformation, new beginnings, journeys that lead you (or drive you) from one way of being in the world to another involve risk and discomfort. When we peek over and look into the gospels of Matthew and Luke we get a clue as to the risk and discomfort Jesus faced. Satan tempted Jesus to be both more and less than his true self, the true self that God had just drenched, blessed and declared beloved on the banks of the Jordan River. With sly and enticing offers of wealth, power and influence, the Adversary tempted Jesus away from his real identity in God. And that’s our temptation, too. Every day-not just in Lent-we are going to be tempted to not be ourselves with one another, to not show up in our real skin, to be falsely good, or overly agreeable, or facile in our faith. In other words, to keep church comfortable. But we have another choice. We can take some wilderness with us on our Lenten journey together. That’s what Barbara Brown Taylor said Jesus did. She says Jesus carried the experience of wilderness with him and frequently sought it out again, slipping off or staying behind as he often did to pray “in a lonely place” or “up a mountain.” I wonder if this Lent we can let some wilderness in the church’s front door, let church be a place where we are more real, more vulnerable, more unguarded and, therefore, more open to the Spirit of God; returning us to our real identity-drenched, blessed, and beloved — refusing the sly and subtle offers to be either more or less than we truly are. That’s not an easy way to be in the world. Mark is quite clear: it is a risky business, full of peril as well as promise. It exposes us to whatever is out there, be it beasts or angels. But it is, it seems, if you read Bible and all those stories of forty, the only way to be transformed. PRAYER Wild Spirit of love and transformation, move us with Jesus into places of honesty and truth — open, vulnerable, and fully yours. Amen. New Prayer Requests: We ask churches and church leaders to join us in the following prayers either by sharing them during worship, printing them in bulletins, or sharing them in some other way. To make a prayer request, please contact Marlene Gasdia-Cochrane at cochranem@sneucc.org. Prayers of Intercession: For the people of Ukraine and the Middle East whose lives continue to be shattered by war, as well as the many landscapes that are currently embroiled in conflicts . For those grieving or suffering due to the ~4,300 gun violence deaths that happened in the US since the start of the year. For those facing ministry completion. Prayers of Joy and Thanksgiving: For leaders who inspire and influence others to make an impact in the world. For those seeking to be W.I.S.E. (Welcoming, Inclusive, Supportive and Engaged) For transformations. For opportunities to regroup, including praying together. (You are invited to participate in Pause for Prayer, Wednesdays @ 12:30, Live on Facebook. Add your prayers through the chat feature, and recordings can be found on the SNEUCC Facebook page or our webpage.) This Week in History: February 18, 1885 (139 years ago): Mark Twain publishes his famous novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn — which becomes controversial because it touches on slavery. [History] “Study the past if you would define the future.” — Confucius Rev. Jan Gregory-Charpentier Jan Christine Gregory-Charpentier Jan Gregory-Charpentier is the pastor of Kingston Congregational Church in Kingston, RI.