March 28, 2004
Isaiah 43:16-21; Philippians 3:4b-14; John 12:1-8
Among the things which creates excitement in a theology of process is the fact that, while it never ceases to appreciate the good things of the past, it is never stays the same. There is always gradual change which builds upon the past. Isaiah realized this truth as part of his own religious philosophy. He has God saying "Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? Isaiah knew that his people were aware of better days in the past and he recognized part of his task as being that of nurturing hope. Look about you he was saying. Can't you smell Spring in the air? Change is about to occur. Get yourself ready for it! It is sad when people live in the negatives of the past to the extent that they are unable to see any light at the end of the tunnel. Discouragement and depression can blot out vision and paralyze one into helplessness. When good things are about to happen it is important for persons to be in a frame of mind to recognize goodness and thus find joy in it. Isaiah was preparing his people for something better.
Paul, in writing to the church at Philippi, used his experience as an example of encouragement for those to whom he wrote. Paul spoke of his past experience and how hard he tried but with minimal success. Paul testified that he finally found a way in Christ that enabled him to build on the past, have hope for the future, and find deep satisfaction in whatever accomplishments he realized in the present. He acknowledge that he was not perfect but that he had come a long way. "... but one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." The process of spiritual faith holds a vision before us of what a perfect human existence would be like. Even though common sense tells us we will never attain perfection, it should always be the goal toward which we strive. Imperfect though we are, better we become as we strive towards perfection!
The Gospel of John relays a balancing message. Jesus stopped by to visit his friends, Mary and Martha. They prepared him a meal. Martha served. Mary was happy for Martha to do the serving because she was more engrossed in nurturing the relationship which she felt with Jesus. Mary took a pound of costly ointment and anointed the feet of Jesus with it. She then wiped his feet with her hair; "and the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment." Judas, being one at the table, criticized Mary for what she had done. Jesus rebuked Judas and reminded all who were there that this was an interpersonal relationship which would not always be possible and that Mary had done a good thing by capturing the most value in the moment. True, we should not forget the past! It is also true that we should not dwell on the past to the extent that our best energy and expectation is not directed toward the future. True, we should not be so engrossed with the present that we forget the emergence of the future and nurture it to be the best future possible! It is also true that we should not neglect the value of the moment. If we live only in the past or in the future we neglect appreciation for the present, and it is the present which is really a "slip" of eternity. Appreciate and learn from the past! Build on it! Have hope for the future and work toward it! Acknowledge the value and potential joy in the present in order that the memories of it linger and boost our faith and hope as we work toward the future. The process of life is filled with ample resources to make it an experience filled with meaning and fulfillment!