Lent begins and, with it, an emphasis on spiritual disciplines. The big ones: fasting, meditation, silence. And storytelling.
Because reading stories is a spiritual discipline, too. We don’t label it like that at bedtime, but it is.
You need to quiet yourself to hear a story. You need to be settled.
You also need to give up control. I might want the characters to behave a certain way, but it is out of my hands. I need to let go and let the story happen.
And also the details matter in stories. We live in the story when we inhabit the details.
That concentration centres our spirit. It makes us receptive. Disciplined.
And with that in mind, Lent begins. And we begin with Matthew.
Each week, as we progress through this Lenten Matthew Read-Along, I will post the readings here each Monday, along with a couple of thoughts and something else to consider – a poem, an image, a video – something that a Messy Table reader has sent that connects to the readings. And then we’ll use the comments section to keep the conversation going. Thanks for joining in with this Lenten project.
Here are the readings for this week along with Leith Fisher’s chapter headings:
- Beginnings and Birth – Ch.1
- Interruption – a clash of kings – Ch.2
- Baptism – Ch. 3
- Preparation – Ch. 4
- Strange Blessings – Ch.5:1-16
- “But I Say to You” – Ch. 5:17-48
This week’s reading begins with the geneology of Jesus – a long and complicated list. And subversive, too. Leith Fisher draws our attention to the women of the list – outsiders all and more than a little suspect. These are prostitutes and progressive women, those who take their futures in their own hands as they try to live in righteousness despite any circumstances working against them. Fisher writes: “Through them, we are invited to scan a wider horizon, to look and find God at work on the margins, beyond the familiar, the known, the acceptable, the tribe.”
A good place to start Lent. We will be reading familiar words as we work through Matthew. Sometimes so familiar that it is difficult to pay attention. But it is worth paying attention, because God is at work in the margins. God shows up in surprising places and radical contradictions that, when we take the time to sit with them, can shine with strange, life-giving illumination.
Christiana Peterson , a city-born poet experimenting with farm-dwelling and raising children, shares with us a poem that layers these contradictions: Christ as eternal, Christ as born, “Witness to the birth of stars/ and even himself the source.” I liked how she nods to the St John of Chrysostom Homily, connecting the dove of Jesus’ baptism with Noah’s dove. Here’s her poem – for Matthew chapter 3.
The Son is named Christiana Peterson
The humble baptizer
cloaked with the scent of hump-backed beast and wild honey
The baptizer wades in the water
waiting for the Son of man
Sandals on holy toes
immersed to the ankles, knees, then waist
Moving through the river toward the humble man
His fingertips walking
upon the surface
as one does when she
enters the sea for the first time to feel
the weight of new water
as his own feet would walk
on a night of mistaken apparitions
and the sinking eager faith of a friend
The mystery of river and heavenly bird
Water and Spirit
Spirit and flame
Son of man and Son of God,
faithful both
This man of the universe
Son of creator
Witness to the birth of stars
and even himself the source
Does he know the white descending bird
like an old friend
or brother?
The dove that watched out over older waters as they rose
over an ark
to kill and cleanse the earth
Who returned with a branch that
heralded the end of the destruction
and new life
Maybe the Son greets them with sadness
longing for His ancient always home
when the winnowing fork
the axe at the root
the sword and spear
Will be buried blade first in the earth
Perhaps he knows that the loving Father and ancient friend
And his own whole glory
Will expect from him the lash and the crown.
But here in the Jordan
The man of glory
The long-expected Son, now named
is prepared for his ever kingdom
of losers and lasts.
