"Musical Roads"

Continuing with last Sunday’s sermon, today’s “rumble strips” are friendlier and they are, perhaps, what we need to listen even when we would like to hear something different.

“Rumble strips” are intended to be a no so friendly way to have drivers slow down.  What often happens is that even is drivers slow down for the strips, they nevertheless speed up right on.

To get people to slow down, and stay driving at the new posted speed, transportation departments and cities from all over the world, including here in America, are trying a friendlier approach – “Musical Roads.”

How do these “Musical Roads” work?  By milling the surface at precisely defined intervals, at the desired speed, the milled surface will shake cars in what will sound like a melody.  Some roads are milled to sound like “Jingle Bells”, the opening bars of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, or even like in New Mexico, “America the Beautiful”.

So, those are friendly “rumble strips” to help us stay focused on safe driving – and to keep driving safely. 

Today’s lessons are such a kind of “Friendlier Rumble Strips” to help us keep focused on God, when the upsets, letdowns, or the uphill battles of dealing with family issues from all quarters try to snatch us away from God’s good will and love.

Perhaps, let me suggest, a good tune for us to hear would be, “Fix your eyes upon Jesus.”  For in Jesus, we will find the strength and inner peace not only to barely survive but even, if eventually, thrive.

The first “rumble strip” – The first lesson is part of Jeremiah’s tirade against the religious and political leaders of Israel.  Much to the chagrin of the leaders, Jeremiah asserted that Israel’s God was not an absentee landlord, who while the money trickled in, he could care less about what was going own down in the valley.

Jeremiah disabused them of such way of thinking, and for that and for speaking truth to power, he was chased away and even sent into prison.  So, in way our first lesson is an historic piece of information and should still be considered a hard “rumble strip” for those who still act today as the ancient religious and political leaders did.

But it is also a friendlier musical rumble strip for us, to remind us that God cares about his people, for you and for me.  God is concerned about our welfare, both as individuals but also as God’s flock here on earth.  God cares for our welfare as if each one of us were alone in the universe.  So, cheer up!

The second “rumble strip” – Psalm 46 is one of the most beloved Psalms in scripture for the melody of its words will lead us into the realization that whenever we are in trouble God will not make himself scarce.

In the original language the word that is translated “refuge” also describes the footholds that mountain goats use in high, steep, and rocky slopes.  So, when the circumstances pile up on us, like in a very foggy morning and we cannot see what lies ahead of us, God himself offers to be a safe foothold.

Psalm 46 urges us to remember that God is our ever-present help, steadfast even when the world feels uncertain or out of control.  The psalmist’s images of mountains trembling and waters roaring illustrates the overwhelming challenges we sometimes face, yet through it all, God remains a constant source of strength and security.

The third “rumble strip” — is meant to awaken us to the reality that through Baptism and faith we are place in a different place.  Think of an embassy.  An embassy is just any ordinary building.  It could be very fancy or just an office building.  But once you enter through their doors you are in a different country than the one you just left one step behind.

In the words of St Paul, this is what happened to us – God has already taken us out of the domain of doom and gloom and placed us into our Lord’s domain where righteousness, peace, and joy are foundational.  If we look around, nothing has changed, the challenges remain or the pain may not abate.  Yet now it is a totally different game.  And we are on the winning team.

And so as the hymn tell us, when the storms of life are raging, when you are tossed about by circumstances well beyond your control, in the midst of faults and failures, claim as yours the strength and power not only to endure, but to praise God.

The fourth “rumble strip” — Is the gospel story about two men who they represent ways to deal with catastrophic or never-ending events.  Both were at Calvary, hanged at each side of Jesus.  One of then asks Jesus to be taken out of his predicament, right then and there.  And when he realizes that his prayer is not going to be answered to his like, he slams God out of his life.

The other just asks to be remembered by Jesus.  Now Jesus was going through the same ordeal.  He could have said, “The practice is now closed”, or he could have said, “Press one and leave a message”.  In the midst of the torment and suffering, Jesus has time to respond, “Tomorrow you will be with me.”  No questions asked.  No loops to jump.  No changes to the present circumstances but the hope and peace of a different ending.

Let me suggest that this “rumble strip” is meant to awaken us to the reality of a God who cares, who is never too busy, or is one who has time only for certain people.

These "rumble strips" in our spiritual journey are not meant to frighten us, but rather to alert us to the presence and activity of God in our daily lives.  They are meant to help us recognize that even in moments of desperation or doubt, God's grace is available to everyone who seeks it. 

In other words, they are gentle and friendly reminders that God's love is not conditional on our circumstances or our past but is freely offered to all who turn to Him with sincerity and hope. 

Conclusion – In the next couple of days, you will be going through the whirlwind of Thanksgiving.  For some will be a time of peace and pure joy.  For others it will be a time to realize the painful absence of those who not long ago seated at the table.  And then for others will be trial by the fire of demands and expectations, ours or those of others but squarely placed on us.

May these “Friendlier rumble strips” help you to consider the ways in which past challenges and triumphs have revealed deeper truths about God’s presence in your life.  Let gratitude for these moments guide you, not just during Thanksgiving, but throughout the seasons ahead.

May the melody of God’s unchanging faithfulness, his steadfast love, and his ever-welcoming embrace may lead you and follow you all the days of your life. 

Fr. Gustavo