As preached by Sister Cecelia
Holy Wisdom Chapel
April 02, 2023
At this time of year in
our area, sugar maples are being tapped for their sap. For many of us, the best
thing that happens to a stack of pancakes or French toast begins with a
crystal-clear sap that thaws in the warmth of spring. Heating the sap removes only
water until the sap is concentrated into maple syrup.
Like so many other
parables, the maple syrup symbolizes a parable that shows us what it means to
allow ourselves to change, to be recreated in the love of God. In letting our self-centeredness be boiled
away, by growing in consciousness, we can transform our lives in the grace and
peace of God.
The capacity for
consciousness may be what was lacking in the rich man regarding Lazarus. The
rich man did not become aware of Lazarus enough to help him in his lifetime,
but he was aware enough to recognize him in Abraham’s embrace after he died. We
don’t know what level of consciousness the rich man had, but we know enough to perceive
that he had not paid any attention to his Hebrew scriptures, nor had his
brothers. It would take something spectacular to wake them up. Abraham
acknowledges that the rich man belongs to his people, but that does not change
his condition and with compassion and regret explains why he ended up in hell.
In Deuteronomy chapter 15 and Isaiah chapter 58, as well as many other places, the
Hebrews were commanded to help the poor, the needy, and the naked.
Being wealthy, being rich
was not the rich man’s problem. Besides his lack of consciousness, it was his
lack of faith in God and God’s message that caused his inaction, his failure to
do good with all that he had been given.
Lent is nearly over. Are we
content with how we have spent our days? We can make this a season of
healing and hope for ourselves and those we love by doing everything we do with
more awareness of our God within. Have
faith to let God move us to go beyond anger, beyond any disappointments in our
efforts to please God, beyond our fears and skepticism. Be mindful that our
life choices take many forms and rely on gifts that each of us has in differing
ways and at different times. If our role is one of making critical decisions, we
will be wise to ensure not only that a decision is reached, with all its
information and consequences, but also that our disposition in that moment of
deciding is one of balance and moderation.
We can also broaden our understanding of the priestly character of all
God’s people—the priesthood of all believers, both Gentile and Jew alike, as
described in 1 Peter chapter 2. Without denying the importance of the ordained
priesthood, life becomes so much richer when each of us is able to lift up
every aspect of life for a blessing, offering it back to God, who has given it
to us in the first place. This elevates life to its true purpose: a gift of
love from God.
As St Augustine is quoted:
To live well is nothing other than to love God with all one’s heart, with all
one’s soul, and with all one’s efforts.
Like
the spring maple tree, may we be willing to give of ourselves for the sake of
others as Christ gave himself up for us, allowing ourselves to be transformed
in the life and love of the Paschal Christ.
