Synergy of Love

Body-mind connection, another kind of “syn”ergy, is critical in creation. We have certain biological imperatives, but our evolution, which is God-given, has brought us to a place where mature life (I mean grown-up, not “old”) is meant to be a perfect synergy of mind and body. Sometimes theologians refer to this as “spirit” and “flesh,” to achieve the right balance is the key. In fact, this synergy is presented all through scripture as variously dichotomy, challenge, and gift.

It is a gift, that our minds control our bodies and our bodies control our minds.

To live in connection, without “sin,” means that we must manage the balance constantly. Yet, we must have faith that it is managed, and not expend spiritual energy on “control,” because that disrupts the synergy.

See, I’ve been telling you, it’s complicated. I know I’ve written more than once here that there was a day in seminary, not too far into the first term, when I sat straight up in my little desk and said to myself “there is just no way to explain this ever.”

Still, I was ordained and sent out to keep trying. So, still I try. Because God’s kingdom requires us to grasp the truth about this simple but complex balance.

In today’s scripture you will encounter the “Ten Commandments” [Exodus 20:1-17]. They are given at a critical time in the story of how God was revealed to God’s people. They are moral rules, they are all in some way the same rule over and over, which is, to love your neighbor as yourself, which is, to love your own self, and then to extend your love outward. Always.

Psalm 19 [7-14] says God’s law is perfect and revives the soul and rejoices the heart, our love of God, indeed the love God has given us, endures forever. Indeed, God’s love for us is true, more desired than gold, sweeter than honey in the comb. We pray to be kept from secret faults, from presumptuous disconnection, from the outcome of letting the synergy of body and mind, of flesh and spirit, get out of balance, even in our innermost thoughts.

In 1 Corinthians [1:18-25] Paul reminds us that we, indeed, are those who are the called. God has created us, specifically to call us, to show humanity how to live a life of love.

The inexorable march of Lent moves us ever closer to the truths of what theologians call “the Christ event”—the crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Jesus the Christ. John’s Goespel [2:13-22] is one of the accounts of Jesus storming the temple in Jerusalem. We read the story as though it is an act of anger, vengeance, retribution. But, if we look deeper we see that Jesus took dramatic action which no doubt was unwelcome by those in the temple precinct.

But, did he ravage and kill?

No.

He drove out the cattle and sheep and released the doves. Do you know why the cattle and sheep and doves were there? To be sacrificed; the sellers were there to make money providing the animals for sacrifice.

Jesus saved the lives of the animals and ended the financial exploitation of the people. He brought love back into a space where love had long since ceased to prevail.

And that is the essential story of Christ, that Jesus of Nazareth, who is anointed the Messiah, the Christ, brought love into the foreground in space where love had receded in the face of habit and custom and the imbalance of body over mind, of flesh over spirit. Jesus reminded people of the joy of walking in love. Jesus loved so we too, might learn to love.

God creates us to live in synergy and calls us in that very act of creation, in God’s own image, to live fully into our LGBTQ+ lives, as Paul reminds us, as Jesus shows us, to be witnesses of the synergy of love.

3 Lent Year B 2024 RCL (Exodus 20:1-17; Psalm 19 Caeli enarrant; 1 Corinthians 1:18-25; John 2:13-22)

©2024 The Rev. Dr. Richard P. Smiraglia. All rights reserved.

Synergy Glory

It is cool and raining in Oregon, although today is dry and sunny. There has been enough rain now to give us the chance to relax a bit about wildfire danger. We’re even allowed to use our fireplaces again, which is nice now that cool evenings are more commonplace. Relief has always been my favorite form of mercy. Relief—just the knowledge that I can relax a little bit—is a reflection of the synergy of creation, which of course is the synergy of the love that is God. Mercy, after all, is that quality of forgiveness that makes life possible because it allows us to keep going.

Still, life comes and goes. God is not a puppeteer. Rather we are gifted with the opportunity to walk in love in harmony with creation. When we manage that even our mistakes are greeted with mercy. When we fail to walk in love in harmony with creation then we encounter challenging times. In those times it does no good to decry love. Rather, we must love even more in those times. We must always remember that love builds up.

We can build love in simple ways, by singing with joy, by worshipping love by whipping up love. These are the ways we can encounter glory—the sustained abundance of the present manifestation of love. We must always at least try to live a life of love. As long as we try, we are grounded in the presence of God.

We do not see love subjectively. Rather we see love embodied in Jesus who taught us the ways of walking in love, simple ways: washing each other’s feet, eating together, feeding the oppressed, healing the outcast by welcoming them in. These are the ways of building up the love of God in synergy with community and creation. These are the ways of grounding the presence of God. These are the ways of seeking glory, which is the armor of love.

Hardness of heart is imperviousness to love. If you cannot walk in love it is easy enough to give one’s self over to rules: no chocolate, no dessert. Then, it is easy enough to make other rules: no outsiders, no one who is different. Hardness of heart builds up too. No love remains then, only obeisance.

The antidote always is love, always is the realization that these are the “last days” in our hearts. In every moment we have the opportunity to build love to energize the community to synergize creation. All we have to do is start. All we have to do is try.

The echoes of life for LGBTQ people are like trajectories all through this midrash. Relief comes when we can relax into our daily lives, when we can think about dinner and the garden instead of worrying about survival. We have our ups and downs. We have many opportunities to sing and share the joy in our hearts. We are called to share food and drink, to welcome each other, to build community. We are called forth from our love as children created by God in God’s own image of love. We are called forth to shine like a beacon in the synergy of these last days of building up love. We are called to embrace and nurture glory.

Proper 22 Year B 2012 RCL (Job 1:1; 2:1-10; Psalm 26; Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12; Mark 10:2-16)

©The Rev. Dr. Richard P. Smiraglia. All rights reserved.