Title:
Passionate
Presence
Date:
Texts:
Psalm
72.1-19
John
20.1-18
Series:
Body
Theology
Dr.
William
M.
Smutz
All
Lent
long,
since
early
February,
we’ve
been
looking
at
the
connections
between
our
bodies,
and
the
God
in
whose
image
we
are
created…..
For
the
ancient
Celtic
Christians
of
Scotland
and
In
recent
weeks
we’ve
looked
at
the
connections
between
the
crown
of
our
heads
and
the
mystery
of
God;
between
our
foreheads
and
the
wisdom
of
God;
between
our
arms
and
the
strength
of
God;
between
our
genitals
and
the
creativity
of
God;
between
our
legs
and
the
glory
of
God…..And
today
we’ll
conclude
this
body-journey
by
exploring
the
connections
between
our
feet,
and
the
presence
of
God…..Which
I
think
is
just
perfect
for
Easter
Sunday…..For
Easter
is
all
about
the
presence
of
God;
isn’t
it?!
For
in
lifting
Jesus
out
of
the
tomb,
and
transforming
death
into
life,
God
is
present
to
creation,
and
humankind,
and
you
and
me,
in
a
completely
new
way.
Through
the
gift
of
resurrection,
God
forever
changes
the
way
the
world
operates…..God
changes
forever
the
way
you
and
I
relate
to
God,
and
to
life
and
death,
and
to
each
other…
In
the
Old
Testament
book
of
Ezekiel,
(chapter
43.7)
the
prophet
describes
God’s
presence
is
what
sets
things
right
in
the
world.
God’s
presence
restores
harmony
to
countries,
and
situations,
and
people
and
families,
In
the
Gospel
of
Matthew,
Mary
Magdalene
‘grasps
Jesus’
feet
and
worships
him’.
In
the
Gospel
of
John,
Mary
of
Bethany
uses
a
pound
of
‘costly
perfume
of
pure
nard,
to
anoint
Jesus’
feet,
which
she
also
wipes
with
her
hair.
Also
in
the
Gospel
of
John,
Jesus
takes
on
the
role
of
a
servant,
and
washes
his
disciple’s
feet,
before
they
share
the
last
supper.
In
the
Gospel
of
Luke,
a
woman
who
is
labeled
a
sinner,
washes
Jesus’
feet
with
her
tears,
and
dries
them
with
her
hair,
as
a
way
of
seeking
forgiveness.
Each
of
these
Gospel
stories
dealing
with
feet,
point
to
God
coming
into
the
midst
of
humankind
‘to
clear
away
what
is
wrong’
in
the
world.
Jesus’
coming
into
people’s
lives
helps
to
clear
away
what
is
hurting
and
broken
and
wrong
with
them…..with
us.
And
when
he
clears
away
all
that
is
wrong
with
us,
Jesus
makes
room
in
our
lives
for
the
presence
of
love.
For
love
is
The
gift
of
God’s
presence
with
us
and
within
us,
which
we
celebrate
this
Easter
day
is,
I
believe,
an
invitation
for
each
one
of
us
to
be
present
with
and
for
others…each
other
and
all
others!
For
the
great
love
which
we
know
from
God
in
the
new
life
of
the
resurrection,
in
Jesus’
life
beyond
the
grave,
Through
the
Easter
explosion
of
God’s
love,
we
are
invited
to
let
go
of
all
that
is
hurting
and
wrong
and
broken
in
our
lives……And
live,
perhaps
for
the
first
time
in
a
long
time,
as
people
with
hope
and
joy;
as
people
with
new
opportunities
made
possible
by
love.
And
we
can’t
keep
such
a
great
gift
to
ourselves.
It
must
be
shared!!!
When
I
was
a
football
player
in
high
school
a
million
years
ago,
I
was
an
offensive
lineman…..playing
as
a
guard
or
tackle,
depending
on
the
need
he
wanted
to…..
Each
and
every
day
the
world
tries
to
push
us
in
any
direction
it
can….And
this
reality
can
cause
us
to
lose
hope
and
be
overwhelmed
by
pain
and
brokenness
–
we
each
know
what
this
looks
like
in
our
own
life.
But
on
this
Easter
day
we
celebrate
God’s
presence
with
us…..We
celebrate
God’s
love
that
burst
out
of
the
tomb
in
Jesus’
new
life……And
we
celebrate
the
opportunity
to
share
that
love
and
new
life
with
all
people,
everywhere.
Our
invitation
this
day
my
friends,
is
to
keep
our
feet
moving…..To
keep
our
feet
moving,
so
that
we
don’t
get
knocked
over
by
all
that
is
wrong
and
broken
and
out
of
balance
in
the
world
and
in
their
lives…..To
keep
our
feet
moving,
so
that
we
can
remember
and
embrace
and
celebrate
and
share
God’s
amazing
presence
with
us
in
Jesus
Christ.
Who
in
your
life
needs
to
know
about
God’s
presence?
Who
in
your
life
Quoted
material
from:
Echo
of
the
Soul:
The
Sacredness
of
the
Human
Body
by
J.
Philip
Newell