3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Jan. 23, 2011)
In both the first and gospel readings we return to 'the land of Naphtali and Zebulun' which seems to be of great importance to Matthew. These were sons 2 and 6 of Jacob, 2 of the 12 tribes of Israel. Russell Rathbun in his blog, the hardest question, states the significance this way: they were the Thaddeus and Bartholomew of the disciples. Just as with his birth, it is not in the limelight but in obscurity that the Kingdom of God will be announced and, some 7 centuries later, will come to fruition.

Out of obscurity Jesus calls four of the best-known disciples: Andrew, Simon Peter, James and John. For all the excitement of personal transformation and entering into the adventure of a hundred lifetimes, what strikes me is the one who remains in obscurity: James and John's father, Zebedee.

I have this image in my mind ... a father in his boat, still holding one end of the net full of the day's catch, watching his strong sons, the apples of his eye, walk off into the sunrise of a new day, leaving him behind. (Yes, sunrise -- they fished at night on the Kinneret as has been the custom throughout the Mediterranean world.) When has a beloved child or friend's 'call' led them on a path away from you? Or a call laid upon you led you away from them? 

Sunset at Indian River Outlet, Delaware    July, 2007

 father and son checking their crab  pots

a dragonfly along the pathn

 

Baptism of the Lord (January 9, 2011)
Laurel Dykstra wrote for Sojourners in 2008 that what connects this week's texts is voice.  As I consider Jesus' baptism in the Jordan, and as I consider what signifies 'voice' for me in creation, what embodies the gentle suffering servant of Isaiah and our Lord, I think of that lush area of rocks and trees where one of the three headwaters of the Jordan bubbles up to the surface at Dan in the Galilee. One felt totally cloaked in by the trees, watching the river rock carefully not to turn an ankle. And the water --- the trickling water calling us to: COME! be washed and claimed and be part of the fulfilling of all righteousness.  

Not far from home is a wonderful state park, Ohiopyle, with lovely falls in the Youghiogheny River as a major focal point. My black Labrador retriever loves to walk along the river down to the thundering falls that sound more like God's voice to the psalmist, and then swim after sticks we find. But less popular, and not very hospitable to doggie paws, is the small Cucumber Falls. Having run my battery out on my 'real' camera, I clicked a few photos with my old Razor cell phone. It reminds me a lot of that walk up to the Dan headwaters. And the voice is still calling.

The falls at Ohiopyle, PA on the Youghiogheny River

Keira launching after a stick above the falls

Cucumber Falls at Ohiopyle, PA