One wise sage reminded me the other day that weekends seem to be coming at us faster and faster. So it is that this week's installment in the archive of reflections has been prepared. It might seem strange that while there is snow on the ground, and we are experiencing temps that would make blood stand still, I choose to reflect on trees, but there is wisdom to be found there too. Check it out ... oh, and remember that you can always listen to this reflection, if you so fancy:
Lessons from trees
Nestled on the hillside, just outside the walled city of Jerusalem is the Mount of Olives, and if my memory is still good, there's a part of the Mount of Olives that is known as the Garden of Gethsemane. Israel is world famous for its olive trees, but none are as old as those that still grow in this biblically famous garden. In fact, the Garden of Gethsemane is now a well-manicured area, fenced off from its surroundings and complete with walkways that guide the wandering tourist through the majestic olive trees. Ah, the olive trees! Some of the ones in this particular garden are said to be from the time of Jesus himself. Botanists and horticulturalists would be much better suited to verify their authenticity, but if that's true then I wonder what stories these trees could recount, if they had voices to speak ... but then again, trees do have voices, of sorts. Like most other trees, if we were to check the growth rings in their trunks, we could verify their ages, but in the case of olive trees, maybe it's enough just to see the knarled trunks, to believe that these specimens were not planted yesterday.
When Jesus walked in the Garden of Gethsemane, perhaps these trees were present. Most certainly the thickness of the trunks from some of them speak of the centuries they have stood, the ravages they have endured, the years of drought, the good times and the not so good times. These particular trees are venerated, set apart, admired for their age and wisdom. As I stood admiring them, I couldn't help wondering whether Jesus himself had come to this spot to speak with his Father, to puzzle out the truths that he would later explain to his listeners, in the sermon on the Mount and at other moments during his public life. We all need a place to inspire us, to allow us to listen to the inner voice of God that guides and sustains us, don't we?
In many ways, our modern society has lost the art of venerating that which is marked by the winds of time, but there are still some cultures who put great store in the wisdom that is to be shared by those who have stood on this earth for longer periods than we. Often, the sources of such lessons appear withered and drawn, wrinkled and haggard, and if we take the time to listen, to truly listen, there is great wisdom in their words, but listening takes patience, listening takes intentionality, listening is hard work, and some in our world are much too busy to be bothered. What a pity! If only they could understand the treasure that awaits, perhaps they would slow down, just a bit, and recognize the treasure that is just before their eyes.
Jesus' words, spoken in the Beatitudes, may have seemed strange to some of his listeners, but then again life is a matter of priorities and if our priorities are elsewhere, none of what Jesus says will make much sense. If however, we have discovered the futility of putting our energies into achieving treasures that will pass away, perhaps we will listen to the Beatitudes in a different way, perhaps they will indeed begin to make sense. You see, the Beatitudes provide the secrets to life. This was Jesus' state-of-the-union speech, and these are the building blocks upon which a life in faith is built. It is by no coincidence that the scripture writers recount these be-attitudes early on in Jesus' public ministry. In fact, scripture scholars parallel them with the criteria for the final judgement spoken of in Jesus account of the sheep and goats.
So what must we do to inherit the kingdom? It's laid out today for us in black and white:
Lessons from trees
Nestled on the hillside, just outside the walled city of Jerusalem is the Mount of Olives, and if my memory is still good, there's a part of the Mount of Olives that is known as the Garden of Gethsemane. Israel is world famous for its olive trees, but none are as old as those that still grow in this biblically famous garden. In fact, the Garden of Gethsemane is now a well-manicured area, fenced off from its surroundings and complete with walkways that guide the wandering tourist through the majestic olive trees. Ah, the olive trees! Some of the ones in this particular garden are said to be from the time of Jesus himself. Botanists and horticulturalists would be much better suited to verify their authenticity, but if that's true then I wonder what stories these trees could recount, if they had voices to speak ... but then again, trees do have voices, of sorts. Like most other trees, if we were to check the growth rings in their trunks, we could verify their ages, but in the case of olive trees, maybe it's enough just to see the knarled trunks, to believe that these specimens were not planted yesterday.
When Jesus walked in the Garden of Gethsemane, perhaps these trees were present. Most certainly the thickness of the trunks from some of them speak of the centuries they have stood, the ravages they have endured, the years of drought, the good times and the not so good times. These particular trees are venerated, set apart, admired for their age and wisdom. As I stood admiring them, I couldn't help wondering whether Jesus himself had come to this spot to speak with his Father, to puzzle out the truths that he would later explain to his listeners, in the sermon on the Mount and at other moments during his public life. We all need a place to inspire us, to allow us to listen to the inner voice of God that guides and sustains us, don't we?
In many ways, our modern society has lost the art of venerating that which is marked by the winds of time, but there are still some cultures who put great store in the wisdom that is to be shared by those who have stood on this earth for longer periods than we. Often, the sources of such lessons appear withered and drawn, wrinkled and haggard, and if we take the time to listen, to truly listen, there is great wisdom in their words, but listening takes patience, listening takes intentionality, listening is hard work, and some in our world are much too busy to be bothered. What a pity! If only they could understand the treasure that awaits, perhaps they would slow down, just a bit, and recognize the treasure that is just before their eyes.
Jesus' words, spoken in the Beatitudes, may have seemed strange to some of his listeners, but then again life is a matter of priorities and if our priorities are elsewhere, none of what Jesus says will make much sense. If however, we have discovered the futility of putting our energies into achieving treasures that will pass away, perhaps we will listen to the Beatitudes in a different way, perhaps they will indeed begin to make sense. You see, the Beatitudes provide the secrets to life. This was Jesus' state-of-the-union speech, and these are the building blocks upon which a life in faith is built. It is by no coincidence that the scripture writers recount these be-attitudes early on in Jesus' public ministry. In fact, scripture scholars parallel them with the criteria for the final judgement spoken of in Jesus account of the sheep and goats.
So what must we do to inherit the kingdom? It's laid out today for us in black and white:
- strive to be poor in spirit. In other words, don't try to be God; recognize instead that there is only one God, and give thanks that he's the one who has everything under control;
- take time to mourn, to give thanks for the blessings we have known in the people we have loved, and pay close attention to the ways we can learn from the lessons they have taught;
- a competitive world doesn't have much time for the meek, for their gentleness, patience, docility or submissiveness, yet these attitudes are key when it comes to learning God's wisdom;
- recognize injustice in the world, and be the first to speak out when it is discovered. Pride doesn't like to be challenged, but pride based on injustice is weak and crumbles in the face of truth;
- people in authority are powerful indeed, but power too can be strengthened by mercy shown to those who are in need;
- be honest about life and life will be honest in dealing with you; that's the secret to purity of heart;
- persecution can often detract even the most well-intentioned, but persecution for the sake of truth is worth it, no matter the price; and
- we should always be happy to count ourselves among those who are accused of being true disciples, because the task of a disciple is to comfort the disturbed and to disturb the comfortable.
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