There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi“
What kind of conversations do you have when other people aren’t listening? Who are you afraid to talk to in public, but enjoy talking to or would like to talk to, in private? Who would you seek out under cover of night, like Nicodemus sought out Jesus, to learn the truth from?
And who do you so dislike? Hold in such low esteem? That would never. EVER want to know what they thought about anything?
Nicodemus goes to Jesus under cover of night because he desperately wants to understand Jesus’ story - but he is afraid that by reaching out to this ‘other’ he will sacrifice his position, his power, his prestige. He is worried he will lose his friends and maybe even his family because of it.
Are there conversations you are afraid to have because you are afraid of breaking relationships? Are there people you can’t talk to because you’re afraid what there’s might say?
This Lenten Season at Memorial we are going to focus on Conversation and Contempt. Jesus was a master throughout his ministry of having difficult conversations and building relationships with people across cavernous boundaries; whether it is Nicodemus the Pharisee, The Samaritan woman at the well, Lepers, Centurions, the sick and those in prison, Jesus sought them out for conversation to be in relationship, and taught all of us how to live a life without contempt.
Sadly, there is far too much mistrust, contempt and de-humanization of the other in this world. And too little opportunity to listen, to hear, and to engage across boundaries of difference - be they about skin color, wealth, language, ability, identity, or politics.
Even within the Church unity seems to be in ever shorter supply. Some have given up entirely on the prospect.
This Lent I would like to invite you to explore how we can have real authentic in person conversation. Our Sunday Worship and formation will be centered around helping us to hear, see and know each other. To recognize how different each of us are, and how it is that uniqueness that makes us the same and helps to make us the body of Christ. We will also explore ways to listen to those we disagree with. Those who see the world differently than we do, and those who live in a different world than we do.
Why Now? Why Lent?
Let’s face it. Most of us hold someone or some group of people in contempt. We can’t imagine why they would vote that way. Act that way. Be that way.
It is our hope that this lent you can move from contempt to conversation. To see the humanity in the other and find ways to engage hopefully and honestly across boundaries of difference - physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.
Each Sunday will have a slightly different feel as we listen to the voices in the Gospel (Satan’s temptations in the desert, the Samaritan woman at the well, the man born blind, Nicodemus, and Lazarus and his stubborn family) and how they represent different opportunities for us to listen, to communicate, and to develop new and deeper relationships with each other and with Jesus as well.