Fifth Sunday of Lent

(continued)
From Fear

to Love

Lenten Reflections on the

Parable of the Prodigal Son

by Henri J.M. Nouwen
(1932-1996)

http://books.google.com/books?id=V_CxcdUw1uMC&pg=PA2&dq=lenten+reflections+on+the+parable+of+the+prodigal+son&hl=en&sa=X&ei=I1ZFT-y6H-aBsgKYno3DDw&ved=0CD4Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=lenten%20reflections%20on%20the%20parable%20of%20the%20prodigal%20son&f=false

 

(For Lent this year, a season of reflection and renewal, I am forgoing the usual quotes and using only snippets from Henri Nouwen found at the site above in his “Reflections on the Parable of the Prodigal Son.”)

The parable tells of a wealthy landowner’s son who leaves home and squanders his inheritance. When he returns destitute but contrite, the father joyfully welcomes him, causing resentment in the dutiful brother. The father explains that a celebration is warranted for “your brother was dead, and is alive again.” We learn that God, like a loving parent, is merciful and forgiving, that reconciliation with Him is a gift. That we should not judge others, but rejoice when a sinner returns to His fold.

 

Obedience and Gratitude



So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed by the one who said to him, "You are my Son, today I have begotten you"; as he says also in another place, "You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek." In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.
Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 5:5-10

prodigal_son_He_Qi-1.jpg

Prodigal Son

He Qi

China

http://www.biblical-art.com/artwork.asp?id_artwork=39198&showmode=Full

 

 

 

As I focus more on my inner life I sometimes perceive a big wall of stone within that I have carefully built over the years to protect myself.  Now, though, it seems as if the Spirit living in me is removing some of the stones from my wall.  This is very scary and hurtful for me, but I keep trying to let it happen.  As I am emptied out, I feel grateful that I can receive more people into my inner space.  There seems to be a sort of cave inside that is gradually opening out into a safe dwelling place with God and with many others.

 

 

Instead of saying, “These stones belong to me and I do not want you

to remove them,” you are being invited to say,

“I am very afraid to let go, but because you are my Father,

I trust you and with your help I will cooperate with you.”

 

 

Meanwhile, God is saying,

“Let me remove your stones and blockages

and learn to be grateful because it will

provide more space in your life.”

 

 

Gratitude is believing that when stones are taken out of your wall,

God is building a cave where you can receive others and

really experience true family and true community.

 

 

A grateful life is when you give thanks because

what is happening to you politically or socially,

or in your family or in your personal journey,

is the molding hand of a loving Father, transforming your heart by love.

 

 

 

Homeowners’ Social Gathering

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Sid and Tim (Evergreen HS graduates) recently returned to Evergreen and have collected old photos

of Evergreen’s development over the years. They shared them with a group of our homeowners at Tuscany Tavern.

 

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Nalini (means “Lotus Flower” in Sanskrit)

with her parents, Dr. and Linda Patel, who are visiting from their home in Indiana.

I had not met Nalini before.

 

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Joanie, Jan, and Carolyn at Bunco Tuesday evening.

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At Wednesday Breakfast, Danna showed us one of the three pieces of material she had printed with some of David’s paintings he did of places in England.  She will use them to make three quilts: one for themselves and one for each of David’s daughters in England.

 

 

Meet the Authors

Saturday, March 24, 2012

9:30-3:00

Mount Vernon Country Club

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Evergreen’s very own Barbara Sternberg discussed her historical biography,

The Things That Last When Gold is Gone.

 

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Erin Blakemore, from Boulder, wrote The Heroine’s Bookshelf,

winner of the 2011 Colorado Book Award for Non-Fiction.

A very bright young woman with a unique outlook.

 

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Dr. Dave Hnida talked about Paradise General, his account

of his times in Iraq and Afghanistan as a medical doctor.

 

 

 

 

Your return from resentment involves the willingness to let go

of the resentful distance between you and the other …

to become an equal (again) and to return to intimacy.

 

 

Listen again to the elder son … do you hear the resentment?

… “Never once have I disobeyed.” 

It’s angry virtue!

 

 

This same thing happens in me all the time. 

I feel jealous and angry because the elder son in me

believes he has to earn his father’s friendship. 

“I’ve done this, I’ve done that, I’ve done such, I’ve done so,

and you have not given me anything in return.”

 

The elder son in us sees the relationship to our father

as that of boss over slave, or boss over worker. 

Think about how often you do that and how unnecessary it is!

 

 

 

 

March 25, 2012      Fifth Sunday in Lent

 

Previous OPQs may be found at:
      http://www.dotjack.com/opq.htm

 

 

All quotes are from Henri Nouwen.

 

 



The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt — a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, says the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord
: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, "Know the Lord," for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.

Jeremiah 31:31-34

Agnus Day, by James Wetzstein

Jeremiah31v31to34_2012.jpg

Agnus Day appears with the permission of www.agnusday.org

 



Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.

"Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say — 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again." The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, "An angel has spoken to him." Jesus answered, "This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die.

 

John 12:20-33

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Fallen in the Earth

LINDEGAARD, Henri

http://www.biblical-art.com/artwork.asp?id_artwork=24110&showmode=Full

 

 

psalm51_12.jpg

http://www.heartlight.org/gallery/834.html

 

 

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Jer. 31:31–34

Ps. 51:1–12 or Ps. 119:9–16

Heb. 5:5–10

John 12:20–33