Seek Those Who Fan Your Flames
“Theme of Connection”
April 6, 2025
This morning as purveyors of awe we consider the theme of ‘Connection’. I’ve lived in my current house for almost fifteen years now, the longest I’ve ever lived in one place. Almost every morning I walk my dog. And over the years I’ve seen neighbours come and go, their children grow and head to university, some pass away, or others relocated because of work or a desire to be closer to family or downsizing. As I make my way down to the river, I pass the music teachers house where students arrive as early as 7am for their lessons. I know which houses that have friendly or unfriendly dogs. I pass by John & Sue’s house, sometimes John is walking home from his early morning workout at the gym. I see Brian shifting vehicles in his driveway. He’s a local contractor and working on a few different projects in our neighbourhood. Then I see Sylvia, often gardening, a retired teacher, an avid reader and social activist. We’ll often have a little chat about some recent CBC interview or share recommendations for books or music. Then I continue along by the house where a senior from Scotland used to live for over fifty years. She had a stroke and had to move to B.C. to live with her daughter. I still remember the morning I walked by her with pruning shears in her hand trimming the low hanging branches on the corner property, not hers, that blocked the sidewalk! I could go on. I say a little prayer along the way.
And then there’s all the fellow dog walkers, the owners of Scruffy & Zappa, Nala & Hershey. There’s a gentleman, that my Gracie can spot a half kilometer away. He doesn’t have a dog, but he always has a pocket full of dog treats he’s ready to hand out. I love my neighbourhood, because I feel connected. And in our fast-paced world of internet and social media, our young people commit suicide if the number of like’s on their instagram or ‘x’ is low, or predators who present as “friends” prey on people’s loneliness on line. You can literally have thousands of followers but not a single true friend among them. When I walk, I notice that barely any young people ever make eye contact with me though we’re walking on the same sidewalk and practically brush shoulders to pass by. They usually have ear buds or headphones on and don’t lift their gaze up from the sidewalk whereas someone my age will wave from the other side of the street as we pass by. The restrictions of Covid protocols has been known to have had a significant impact on young people’s ability to socialize because they missed those early childhood opportunities to develop those skills while being isolated from school for so long. So, I keep smiling or waving or offering a cheery “hello” and sometimes I do get a response; bright smile or shy acknowledgement. And that makes me smile even more.
They say one of the greatest pandemics of our time is loneliness not to mention the greatest health risk. Our connections can help or hinder our ability to manage life, health crisis, grief, anxiety, celebrations or triumphs. One of the greatest gifts our church offers is community in a world so desperate for it.
In our gospel reading from John, we continue our journey with Jesus toward Jerusalem. Next week is Palm Sunday when Jesus makes his grand entrance but in today’s reading, he is in the company of friends. Or so we believe. Future events will suggest that there were “enemies” or at least friends who would disappoint his trust in them within his inner circle.
Jesus is in the home of his closest friends and supporters, Mary, Martha & Lazarus. And Mary once again is in the spotlight. She has been anointing Jesus’ feet with perfume; an extravagant act since its’ value was probably the equivalent of a year’s wage for some. Yet she anoints him, which we are told is symbolic of burial rituals that Jesus will undertake in the near future. Judas speaks out against her saying “the money for the perfume could have gone to the poor”. But Jesus says, “the poor will always be among us whereas I will not.” This response of Jesus’ has been misused to diminish our responsibility of caring for the poor among us or as justification to ignore their needs. The quote is actually from Deuteronomy 15:11 which says: There will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore, I command you, “You shall open wide your hand to your brother to the needy and to the poor, in your land.” In this passage I see this interaction in terms of what it says about Jesus’ relationships and the significance of the connections Jesus made not only with the poor, with the powerful, but with family, with friend, with the world and context in which he lived. He was acknowledging the generous gift of hospitality and friendship offered in Mary’s action that meant so much to him when he knew he was facing an uncertain future.
Jesus has been increasingly talking about his death, the end that is to come, and so the time he spends both alone and among friends is important. Any of us would act similarly. I know some with devastating news about cancer who tend to retreat and close themselves off and withdraw whereas others might reach out to those around them, seeking support and comfort. We’re all different. Jesus seems to do a bit of both. In this passage he’s with friends and he defends Mary’s actions that comfort him which suggest she is aware of Jesus reality. He is facing probable death and so she does her best to offer him comfort.
How often do we hear of loved ones who gather at the bedside of the one who is dying, hold hands, pray as a family or circle of faith, sing hymns, read scripture or share stories that bring both laughter and tears. In some situations, words shared can be harsh and full of anger as loved ones wrestle with the pain of their grief or hurt of broken relationships. Our connections in both life and death are important and sometimes it takes death to bring the truths of those relationships to the surface. And an opportunity to make peace if needed.
Those who accompany Jesus on his journey to Jerusalem include both those who are faithful and those who are not. And that ultimately reflects the significance of the cross and the inclusive nature of God’s grace and connection with all. George W. Stroupe writes “the grace of Jesus Christ includes both Mary and Judas, both the faithful and unfaithful, both are included within the bright transforming light the cross casts in a dark world”.
Like the story of the prodigal son, we can feel resentful toward those who are seemingly undeserving of the extravagance of God’s welcome and grace if we feel we are more deserving. But that is the nature of grace, it is not earned, it is given.
In our contemporary reading this morning from Rumi we heard the directive to “seek those who fan your flames’. It suggests that it is better if we surround ourselves with people who are supportive, people who inspire and encourage us rather than those who dim our passion.
This passage highlights the importance of connections, the relationships in our lives: with God, with each other, and with creation. This month we focus on our environment and all the ways we can be more respectful and caring for it. Our New Creed asks us as a people of faith to “live with respect in creation”. Sister Margot Richer writes “so much is conspiring to awaken us to a new relationship with earth…a new relationship with each other. May this love lead us to be persistent and practical and offer prophetic hope in our world”. Our sense of connection is not just our own circles of family and friends, but so much broader as it encompasses all of humanity and the whole of creation itself. Our Indigenous peoples understood this.
Rev. Susan Johnson writes “the creation is our neighbour, just like every human person is our neighbour.” Both of these quotes come from members of an organization called “For the Love of Creation” made up of a coalition of 35 Canadian churches and faith-based organizations from across Canada. Their hope during the Environmental month is to “spark” education and action for climate justice. Kind of like fanning the flames of like-minded folk who wish to protect our planet and all its inhabitants. In his book “Values: Building a Better World for All” Prime Minister Mark Carney writes that “in the Covid Pandemic Canadians acted
“not as independent individuals but as an interdependent community, living values of solidarity, fairness, responsibility and compassion. Just as civic virtue and public spirit atrophy with disuse, they grow like muscles with regular exercise. And so the rebalancing of these values during the pandemic has been contagious. How we address climate change will be a critical test of these values.” (p.xi)
From the moment of our creation, out of dust and spit, or from the rib of Adam to Eve, we are created out of connection. Like the painting on the ceiling of the Sistine chapel by Michelangelo God reaches out to humanity and touches all of creation. We are all connected. And must work to always improve those connections. Jesus is our model of the one who reached out to all, took time away but intentionally took time to be with others. Let us be the ones to Fan the Flames for another, to love inclusively, act compassionately, and reach out to others in need.
Stay connected. For we are not alone, we live in God’s world. We must live in respect of all creation. And we are indeed stronger together. Amen.