Preacher: Julia Baker

Scripture John 5: 1-9 & Acts 16:9-15

There is a type of essay called a braided essay. 

Where you weave three or more strands of story or reflection together — 

each strand might seem unrelated, or only loosely tied — but there is trust that 

through the weaving they will shimmer off each other 

illuminating interconnection. 

I often think of the chosen lectionary passages in this way.

The Hebrew Scriptures, Psalm, Epistle, and Gospel passages

carefully selected as a braided whole. Each separate piece when 

next to each other allow new glints of light to be seen.

I think this is especially exquisitely done for this week’s readings. 

I will talk briefly about 3 of the passages “or strands” offering a poem, a song and a story, and then guide us in a time of guided meditation and prayer on the braided whole.

—

Let’s with the strand of the story of Lydia — hear these words from 

Acts 16: 13-15 about the journey of Paul, Silas, and Timothy as they shared the Good News of Jesus in the Roman city of Philippi – 

On the Sabbath day, we went outside the city walls to the nearby river, assuming that some Jewish people might be gathering for prayer. We found a group of women there, so we sat down and spoke to them. One of them, Lydia, was a business woman originally from Thyatira. She made a living buying and selling fine purple fabric. She was a true worshiper of God and listened to Paul with special interest. The Lord opened her heart to take in the message with enthusiasm. She and her whole household were ceremonially washed through baptism. Lydia said,: If you believe I’m truly faithful to the Lord, please, you must come and stay at my home.

We couldn’t turn down her invitation.

—-

This is almost all we are given in Scripture about Lydia. And from these small glimpses we know a few things — she was a Gentile business owner in a time this was rare for women and the purple cloth was a luxury item so she was a person of influence in her community. She is the first noted convert to Christianity by Paul’s teachings. And we learn later in Acts that she hosted the first Church in Philippi in her home; scholars believe she was one of the leaders of the Church there in Philippi.

I wonder as I read these verses about who Lydia was as a woman of courage, heart, and strength. What she heard as she listened to Paul as God opened her heart… 

Receive this poem about Lydia, and her Yes to Paul’s words, her Yes to God. 

One thing to note as you listen to the poem it mentions a shell, this is the shell from which the purple dye for the cloth was found…

LYDIA

Within the shells center cave —

blushed, smooth, quiet,

the place where you listen —

purple lives.

Alchemy of reverent awe,

indigo of longing, deep crimson love,

transforms 

this one curl of shell.

Just enough

for the trim of a robe.

She invites more, 

she listens more, 

her heart opens

even more,

till the whole cloth 

is a lavish Yes. 

—

Hold on to Lydia’s Yes as we spend time with the next strand, a passage from John 14: 25:29 – 

These words from Jesus, which I will read in a moment, fall right after/during The Last Supper with his followers, the Passover meal. Where he has just broken bread and held the wine inviting them to do this in remembrance of him, as he foretells of his betrayal death, and gives them the new commandment to love one another just had he loved them.

To the disciples obvious anxiety and concern Jesus speaks these words:

25 “I have said these things to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Advocate,[k] the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I am coming to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me, 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us be on our way.

—

Hear this song, and join in with me as I repeat it, written by Rachel Weasely. How do these words of such good news, shimmer next to Lydia’s Yes : 

“I do not give as the world gives, alleluia, alleluia, I do not give as the world gives my receive my peace.” 

—

Our final strand is another story from earlier in John chapter 5: 

I invite you to pause this video and follow the YouTube link below and take in the short clip provided from an episode of the TV show ‘The Chosen” depicting Jesus’s healing of the man at the Pool of Bethsaida.

What a stunning depiction of this moment. 

I invite you to bring what it stirred in you into a time of guided reflection and prayer. As we braid together Lydia’s YES, Jesus’s giving of the Advocate – the Holy Spirit, and this story of healing.

Take a moment to get just a bit more comfortable in your chair, maybe you even lie down if that is the way you can most quiet your body and mind. Close your eyes or soften your gaze. Become aware of your breathing and any places in your body that might be holding tension and sensation. Bring your breath and curiosity there. 

—

Which parts of you have been lying by the pool for the waters to swirl.

Places within that hold such longing for healing — 

maybe for an addictive behavior, or a worn-out story you are telling yourself about your worth, or patterns of relating to people and the world you know are coming from wound not health. 

Maybe you also have spent so much effort and energy, 

scraped raw across the mirage of what will provide relief

trying to be free. By what never will

Feel the weight of this in your body, 

the ways this pain keeps you paralyzed, waiting,

while also working very hard.

May you place a hand on your heart as you 

And then you look up and see the most gentle eyes

of compassion towards all you are holding, eyes that know it

all, each layer and pain, each longing 

and you love exactly where you are,

and you hear Jesus’s words 

Look at me. 

Do you want to be healed? 

SING: I do not give as the world gives….

All you need is me.

What if the wound that has informed 

each muscle grip, and lie

does need the force of tidal effort,

but could be shifted easy 

like purple dye seeping a clear Yes into cloth,

like the Spirit’s accompanying wind-breath, 

like a gentle/strong voice

speaking — 

stand, take your mat and walk.

What is your equivalent of standing today? 

How is Jesus inviting you? 

What are you being called to let go of 

or maybe the call is to take something it is to take up?

Where is the clear yes in your life?

Where do you hear the Spirit singing —

I do not give as the world gives, alleluia, alleluia, I do not give as the world gives

receive my peace.

Amen.