Links:

• Introduction
• Contents

A Contemporary Story: Maria’s Response

It was Sunday morning. Maria rushed to church her mind preoccupied with the tasks she usually did before worship began. She followed her usual routines, checked that the Bible readings for the day were book marked, made sure there was a glass of water by the lectern, and with 5 minutes to spare she slipped into her usual place.

As the service began Maria became aware of a woman, wrapped in a shawl, cowering next to her.  She seemed agitated.  She kept looking over her shoulder to the entrance to the church. As the congregation rose to sing the woman got more agitated. She pushed past Maria and ran out of the side door. Maria didn’t hesitate. She followed the woman into a courtyard. Turning round she saw a man follow them.  He was obviously angry and looked threatening.  Maria wrapped her arms around the woman and placed herself between the woman and the man. The man stopped when someone from the congregation stepped out with a mobile phone. Hearing another voice Maria called out “Call the cops!”. The angry man ran into the church and exited into the street.

The woman was sobbing and continued to shake with fear.  She kept whispering “I am sorry”  “I am so sorry. Please forgive me”. Maria assured her that there was nothing to forgive.  She was safe. Finally Maria returned to the service and led the woman in with her.  The service of worship had continued.

It was the next day that Maria got a text from one the leaders in her church.  He wanted to meet her in the evening at the church.  With no idea as to why he wished to speak to her, Maria arrived at the church.  With no friendly greeting he confronted her angrily about her actions with a stranger during Sunday’s worship. He accused her of disturbing a service of worship, of being inconsiderate as people prayed and finally ended “Why didn’t you let the woman go out alone?”

Finally Maria found her voice. “I will not apologise for my actions yesterday. There was a stranger in God’s house who was in trouble. I doubt that God would place the liturgy and the worship above the protection of a woman who was obviously terrified. I know that God will forgive me if my actions were wrong.  But I know that God’s love reaches out to everyone.”  She paused, took a deep breath and walked out of the church.

Pray:

God of compassion and open arms, show me those who need my loving acceptance this week, even if others may disapprove.

A Memorial To Love
The Anointing by Mary of Bethany

Links:

• Introduction
• Contents

Texts: 

Matthew 26: 6 –13; Mark 14: 3-9; Luke 7: 36-50; John 12: 1- 8 

The Setting: 

The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John record the anointing of Jesus. There are some differences in the manner in which each writer records the event. Matthew and Mark don’t give the woman a name. Luke identifies her as a sinful woman. John identifies her as Mary of Bethany. All four writers record the anointing of Jesus as taking place in Bethany.

Retelling the story: 

What follows is a retelling based on the Biblical narrative. It is a composite rendering based on the accounts in all four Gospels and is an imagined creative reflection.

Mary Reflects:  

There was much chatter in Bethany about our friend Jesus. In recent Weeks we became aware of rumours that the leaders in the Temple were planning to arrest him. It was six days before our Passover when I heard that Jesus was visiting in the home of Simon the Pharisee. Something prompted me to act. I bought a very expensive alabaster jar filled with fragrant oil and ran to Simon’s house. Without a thought I rushed in and stood behind Jesus. With no hesitation I broke open the alabaster jar and poured the oil on Jesus’ head. Then I knelt at his feet and let my tears wash over his feet. I had no towel to dry his feet so I used my long hair to dry them. All I could think of was that I wanted to anoint him before he was arrested and maybe killed. 

As I rose there was a stunned silence in the room. Then I was accused of being extravagant and thoughtless in wasting such expensive oil. Someone said angrily that it would have been better for me to have sold the alabaster jar and given the money to the poor. Another said I was a sinful woman and had no right to use my hair to wipe Jesus’ feet. Only prostitutes carried out such acts on men. I looked into Jesus’ eyes. There was no anger or condemnation in them. Instead he spoke to the men at the table. He told them a story about 2 debtors who could not pay their debts. But the creditor cancelled their debt. Jesus asked the question “Which of them will like him more?.” Simon replied that it would have been the man who had the greater debt cancelled. Jesus said “You always have the poor with you, but you wont always have me.”

Jesus then looked at me and said to Simon: “Have you noticed this woman? When I came into your home you didn’t give me any water so I could wash my feet.  But she has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You didn’t greet me with a kiss but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. You didn’t even pour oil on my head but she has poured expensive perfume on my feet. So I tell you that all her sins are forgiven and that is why she has shown great love.”  Jesus then said to me “Your sins are forgiven.” The men started questioning Jesus’ words. But Jesus turned to them and said: “ You may be sure that wherever the good news is told all over the world, people will remember what she has done. And they will tell others.” 

I needed to get home. As I hurried away I wondered what Jesus meant when he said that what I had done would be remembered in memory of me. 

Ponder:

How would this story be recalled or understood today? 

• An economist may write an article about sharing resources and the distribution of wealth.
• Social media may sensationalise the event as a gender issue.   
• Once a year at Lent her story may be read in a church.

Do you remember Mary of Bethany?

Links:

• Introduction
• Contents

A Contemporary Story: Sarah’s Silence

It is at night that I feel fear the most.  David is asleep and the house is still.  I wonder if death is like this – still and quiet.  Many times I’ve said that I am not fearful of the cancer that is spreading through my body.  I got over the shock when I heard my GP say that I am in the early stages of lung cancer.  That was two years ago. Blood tests, chemotherapy, radiation became words that seemed to define my identity.  Talking about my fears and my feelings became easier as time went by.  The love and care of David and my two adult daughters took a while for me to get used to.  I tried to understand my mother’s anger and her frustration that there were no more treatments for the kind of cancer I had.  I am always grateful for my caring friends with whom I can laugh, have cups of tea and talk about the ordinary things of life.

Tonight I remember the words of a friend who reminded me that each step I take is ‘Journey’ and every breath is ’Life’  These words have given me strength to face the different mileposts in this journey. Two months ago, I decided that I would terminate the regular chemo and radiation.  My body had had enough. What I didn’t expect was the reactions of my daughters and David.  Their anger that I dared to make this decision without talking to them first was hurtful. They made me feel as though I was being selfish, that I didn’t value their feelings. It led to moments that made me wonder if I had made the right decision.  Should I have had more faith in my medical team? Could I have had a longer period of remission on the new drug I had started?  

It was David who asked gently if I had given sufficient thought to recent medical research that was discovering cures for lung cancer.  He sounded as if he believed that a cure would be found soon.  That I wouldn’t die soon. I didn’t have the courage to tell him that I had been considering assisted dying and sometimes even euthanasia. I am glad I didn’t tell him this. He would have been dreadfully hurt. None of my family would have forgiven me. 

 Tonight as I sit in silence a word comes to mind.  “Faith”.  It is a word I had accepted without any questions. Now I wonder if there is a difference between my faith as a Christian and David’s faith in Science that is leading to new miracles.  I don’t always find the answers I need in my Bible, or in the worship as a regular member of my church.  I wonder what answers I am hoping for as I realise that my life is coming to an end?  A miracle cure? Is there life after death? That my faith in God will remain unshaken and will sustain me as I wait to die?

The pain killers begin to take effect.  Sarah slips into a deep sleep.  Her body is pain free. Her mind is still until she wakes to the dawn of a new day. 

Pray:

God of death and life, be with me in this confusing fog of not-knowing. In my journey, stay close, even when I can’t see ahead. 

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• Contents

JOURNEYING TO THE CROSS AND BEYOND

The Christian Community refers to the forty days before Easter as the period of Lent. It begins with the Transfiguration of Jesus and his time alone in the wilderness where he faces and overcomes temptations. This year’s reflections focus on the week that led to the crucifixion of Jesus, which is known as Holy Week or Passion Week.  The Reflections take the reader on a journey through these events climaxing with Mary Magdalene meeting Jesus outside the empty tomb.

Using a pattern of storytelling, stories from events in Holy Week are retold. Each of these stories is followed by a contemporary story created for readers to Ponder on the relevance of the stories for today. Texts from the Gospels will take the reader from The Death of Lazarus, Mary of Bethany anointing Jesus, The Cleansing of the Temple, The Passover Meal, Gethsemane, The Trial and Crucifixion of Jesus and the Resurrection of Jesus.  No one Gospel tells the full story of the events that occurred. However the differences in the texts do not in any way affect the validity of the events. The different insights present the same story from different viewpoints.

The Contemporary English Version of the Bible is used as the text.  The creative style for retelling episodes read into the silences that surround the people and the events that occur. I am indebted to a hermeneutic created by the Biblical Scholar Dr. Elizabeth Schussler Fiorenza which invites readers to go beyond the written text, to ask questions, and most importantly to let God speak through the words and the silences. 

Two stories focus on one event each week with a few points to Ponder and a brief prayer.  The retelling from the Biblical Narrative is suggested for reading each Sunday.  The contemporary story is suggested for each Wednesday.  The points to Ponder may stay with the reader through each week. Readers are invited to take time to pause, to Ponder and ask their own questions.  

May the journey through the events that led Jesus to death by crucifixion, to Mary Magdalene’s words “He is risen!” and to the presence of Christ who journeys with us today, be with you. Peace!

Ranjini Wickramaratne-Rebera.

The Worship Team at Gungahlin Uniting Church is very grateful that Ranjini Rebera has shared her gifts in writing and reflections on the Scripture with us once again.  We hope that, as we journey through the period of Lent and Easter, the reflections will help us focus our minds and hearts on the events that occurred.  Let us allow ourselves to risk asking some of the large questions of life, and listen to what God is saying to us today.

Margaret Reeson
Chair Worship Team Gungahlin Uniting Church and Community Centre

What images come to mind when you read the stories of Jesus in the Gospels? What are the key stories for you, the ones that really stick in your mind, that really have a hold on you?

In this collection of reflections Ranjini has retold some of the stories which have a hold on her, linking them with stories that she has written.  As Ranjini weaves these stories together she invites us to reflect on scripture with different ears. 

This is an invitation to explore our own stories and how they may intersect with scripture.  I wonder, can you take inspiration from Ranjini and write your own re-imaginings of scripture, can you tell stories that help yourself and others engage with the gospel in different ways?

It may be helpful to give you a trigger warning, these stories aren’t always easy to read.  They are stories of conflict, loss, grief, illness and hope. It might be good to read the creative reflections with a friend, partner or spouse.

Thank you again Ranjini for offering your gifts to help others reflect on their own faith story this Lent.

Darren Wright
Gungahlin Uniting Church