Friday, February 27, 2015

Friday, February 27, 2015 (George Herbert, 1633)  

John 11:55-12:8

What would you offer from your Life's Journey to God?

A year ago I was asked to reflect on George Herbert, and I prepared the following thoughts for Renew, which I revisted and after some thought, submit again for this year's commemoration. 

Today's scripture passage  is about a visit of Jesus to the home of his friends: Mary , Martha and Lazurus, sisters and brother. This took  place in Bethany, a small village just outside the walls of Jerusalem, in the immediate time just before his arrest, that  we now know as Holy Week. There,  in that safe home provided by Lazurus, Jesus was received for dinner. Martha was in the kitchen doing that thing which she knew best, preparing the meal. And then there was Mary, who being a gracious host, tended to the washing the dust and grime off Jesus' feet, and then as a finishing touch, used some expensive perfume to "anoint his feet". All this did not go unnoticed by Judas, who then  proceeded to question Jesus. Jesus in return  replied that her gift might well be considered as a gift,  foretelling what she might well be doing... at Jesus burial. For Jesus appreciated whatever those around him had to offer.

On this 27th day of February, The Anglican Calendar for the Church Year encourages us to give thanks for the life of George Herbert, an English priest of the early 17th Century.  He was assigned to the small rural parish of Bemerton England. In that setting  George faithfully served his people. He also was given to writing poems. After his death a collection of  them were published as The Temple: several of these poems were later set to music and now two of them have  became very popular as hymns: "Let all the world in every corner sing", and "Come, my Way, my Truth, my Life."

We note that this promising ministry of George in the service of His Lord had been cut short, for like many of that period he contracted TB and after a couple years as parish priest, he died  just short of his 40th birthday in early 1633, .

And here's what I think is the point  of this commemoration: 

No matter who we are, ( we've heard about Mary,  Martha, and  Lazarus, and also now about George,  a poet as well as a pastor), no matter who we are, each of us can take some time to pause, to reflect and to discover that in fact within our own lives, there is always something special that each of us  can seize, and offer to God. It might well be it our time, or perhaps a talent or even perhaps some activity. For you see, Jesus really appreciates each one of us, who we are and what we have to draw upon, and to offer and to share. Just think, what  we do now, this very day, may not only affect our time right now, but also may well playout against the backdrop of Eternity in new ways!  

  - Archdeacon Ken Cardwell