{"id":1256,"date":"2011-04-26T15:44:56","date_gmt":"2011-04-26T15:44:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/?p=715"},"modified":"2017-08-26T15:26:29","modified_gmt":"2017-08-26T19:26:29","slug":"the-surprising-importance-of-negative-space-marilyn-zehr-april-24-2011","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tumc.ca\/?p=1256","title":{"rendered":"The Surprising Importance of Negative Space – Marilyn Zehr – April 24 2011"},"content":{"rendered":"

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View Archived Sermons \u00a0\u00a0<\/font><\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

New!! Listen to this Sermon<\/font><\/strong><\/a><\/u><\/p>\n

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TUMC Easter Sermon 2011\u00a0<\/font><\/strong><\/div>\n

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The surprising importance of Negative Space<\/font><\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n

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John 20:1-18<\/font><\/strong><\/div>\n


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I begin with the line of a hymn –\u00a0<\/font><\/p>\n

Christ the Lord is Risen Today \u2013 Alleluia<\/font><\/p>\n


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Our Easter hymns record the witness of the first apostles as well as the witness of many others who have encountered the Risen Christ in one way or another throughout the ages.<\/font><\/p>\n


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In keeping with our recent practice of sharing the Gospel story of the day by heart, I will share with you now the story of one of the first encounters with the Risen Christ.<\/font><\/p>\n


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From John 20:1-18,\u00a0<\/font><\/p>\n

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb….<\/font><\/p>\n

…. And Mary Magdalene ran and proclaimed to the disciples, I have seen the Lord and she told them all the things that he said to her.<\/font><\/p>\n


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If we start at the beginning of this Easter story, we must recall at least briefly the events of Good Friday so powerfully portrayed for us at our Good Friday services.<\/font><\/p>\n


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If I were to understate the magnitude and impact of the events of that first Holy Week that culminated with Jesus\u2019 crucifixion, I would say that things did not turn out as the disciples had prayed they would. \u00a0The supper was less than celebratory when Jesus told them someone from among them would betray him. \u00a0The agony of Jesus\u2019 prayer in the Garden was beyond their comprehension and physical stamina \u2013 they could not even stay awake. Then as things began to unravel with the arrest and trial of Jesus, the male disciples flee and the women disciples stay, but all see nothing but the relentless victory of death. \u00a0Neither the men nor women are special here. \u00a0No one is able to stop the forces of darkness that prevail on that day. \u00a0An innocent man dies a tortured death at the fear-filled and outraged hands of religious and political authorities and a compliant mob. \u00a0The world could not bear the power of Jesus\u2019 goodness.<\/font><\/p>\n


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And so early on the first day of the week, in the dark because she probably hasn\u2019t slept anyway, Mary goes to the tomb \u2013 to be near her beloved and he\u2019s gone. \u00a0There is now not even a body \u2013 only darkness and negative space where the body had once been.<\/font><\/p>\n


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As you may know, \u201cnegative space\u201d is an important artistic term. \u00a0I read the following definition this week:<\/font><\/p>\n

Negative space isn’t the place your mind retreats to when a painting isn’t going well. Negative space is the space between objects or parts of an object, or around it. Studying this can have a surprisingly positive effect on a painting The classic example of negative space or shapes is the brain-teaser where depending on how you look you see either a vase or two faces \u2026. It becomes very evident when the image is reversed <\/em>i<\/sup><\/font><\/p>\n

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In story as in art \u2013 various interpretations are possible for negative space.<\/font><\/p>\n


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In this story \u2013 the first thing to fill the negative space created by the absence of Jesus\u2019 body \u2013 for Mary anyway \u2013 is a deepening of her despair. \u00a0Her mind and heart are so clouded by her grief and despair that no other interpretation is possible.<\/font><\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ve taken away his body and we don\u2019t know where they\u2019ve laid it,\u201d is her anguished cry no less than three times in this passage.<\/font><\/p>\n

For Peter and the other disciple \u2013 the absence of the body creates wonder, but apparently also confusion \u2013 for they did not yet understand the scripture that said he must be raised.<\/font><\/p>\n


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This examination of empty space where the body is no longer has caused me to wonder \u2026<\/font><\/p>\n

What about the empty spaces in our own lives created by the unexpected places we find ourselves. Sometimes these empty spaces are created by losses too profound to name or nearly unutterable. These are the spaces created by things beyond our control – like illness, death and natural disasters.<\/font><\/p>\n

But what about the spaces in our lives created by the things over which we have some control.<\/font><\/p>\n

Sometimes these spaces are the places where we recognize that we are also complicit in the death of our Lord. \u00a0We realize that we are also complicit in Jesus\u2019 death when we identify with the characters in the gospel story. \u00a0When we face the cross on Good Friday through the experience of the first disciples, our own humanity like theirs is revealed for what it is:<\/font><\/p>\n

sometimes petty; \u201cthen wash my hands and face also,\u201d says Peter,\u00a0<\/font><\/p>\n

sometimes violent; when one of the disciples cuts off the slave\u2019s ear in an attempt to prevent Jesus\u2019 arrest,<\/font><\/p>\n

sometimes cowardly; \u00a0 \u201cI never knew this man,\u201d Peter says, just before the cock crows,<\/font><\/p>\n

sometimes overcome by the powers of evil and darkness; as was Judas when he betrayed Jesus with a kiss,<\/font><\/p>\n

sometimes simply blinded by grief and despair, as was Mary at the empty tomb.<\/font><\/p>\n

We canno
\nt escape knowing somewhere deep within that we might have been capable of any of these actions.<\/font><\/p>\n


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I came across a picture in the Toronto Star this weekend that exemplified for me that space between humanity and the cross.<\/font><\/p>\n

For me it\u2019s a disturbing picture of three people posing for a picture after a passion procession through the stages of the cross. \u00a0Rob Ford happens to be in the middle of this picture (but it could have been anyone) with a huge smile on his face with his arms around two actors; a bleeding Christ on his left and a Roman soldier on his right. \u00a0Together John and I considered what was so disturbing about this picture. \u00a0It is tragic-comic in a way. \u00a0There\u2019s a profound sense in which each person in this picture doesn\u2019t really understand the nature of the story that is being portrayed. \u00a0The apparent levity shown by all three as they pose for the picture sort of gives away that at the moment they are without understanding. \u00a0And before we become too judgmental let\u2019s be aware that there are lots of moments when none of us truly understands the depths of the meaning of the cross. As we looked at the picture John and I tried to imagine what the real Christ would say to these three. First, we imagined, \u201cFather forgive them for they know not what they do,\u201d and second we imagined Jesus saying to them, \u201cbut follow me and be my disciples.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

I think what was maybe most disturbing of all is that in some small way this picture could also represent any one of us.<\/font><\/p>\n


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The space between God and humanity at the foot of the cross is a space that has been blown wide-open by the reality of who God is on the one hand and who we often are on the other, persons with unclean hands and unknowing hearts in need of forgiveness.<\/font><\/p>\n

Granted we are persons created good in the very image of God, but there is not one of us with entirely clean hands \u2013 who does not need the forgiveness of God.<\/font><\/p>\n

The Light of who Jesus was and is revealed the dark shadow of the worst of which humanity is capable when the power of darkness as it acts through humanity puts him to death.<\/font><\/p>\n

It takes courage to face the empty space created by this thought. \u00a0As with facing our own mortality, facing that empty space in our lives and in the world is not for the faint of heart.\u00a0<\/font><\/p>\n

In our gospel text for today, Mary demonstrated that courage. Mary stayed at the empty tomb weeping. With courage she looked again at the place where Jesus\u2019 body had lain.<\/font><\/p>\n

And this time the absence of the body became the place for hidden hope. \u00a0Two messengers of God encourage her with a question, \u201cwhy are you weeping?\u201d \u00a0<\/font><\/p>\n

In the space created by absence other things now have room to suggest themselves. \u00a0Potential is born.<\/font><\/p>\n

And after one more protest, Mary turns and sees Jesus standing there, but she doesn\u2019t know that it\u2019s Jesus until he says her name.<\/font><\/p>\n

And she responds Rabbonai (teacher). \u00a0<\/font><\/p>\n


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In that moment of encounter with the Risen and Living Christ,<\/font><\/p>\n

The potential in the space has become<\/font><\/p>\n

despair turned to hope,<\/font><\/p>\n

tears of sadness turned into tears of joy<\/font><\/p>\n

and doubt turned into \u00a0belief.<\/font><\/p>\n


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This is Easter Sunday morning \u2013 the moment when we realize that the space between God and humanity has been filled by the power of God that raised Jesus to life and assures us that even our complicity with the powers that put him to death in the first place can be forgiven.<\/font><\/p>\n

As one author puts it,\u00a0<\/font><\/p>\n

\u201cThe places that we knew were empty of hope are filled with divine presence, and the world as a whole has been remade new. \u00a0[Like Mary] we go to the garden looking only to be near our lost beloved, and find ourselves embraced by Love itself.\u201dii<\/sup>\u00a0<\/font><\/p>\n


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And as I prepared this sermon this week, I asked myself what is it that I long to share with you, the congregation of God\u2019s people, this morning. \u00a0The answer? \u00a0I long for each of you to have regular encounters with the Living One who fills the empty or negative spaces of despair, or grief or guilt or skepticism with Divine presence.<\/font><\/p>\n

In the words of the same author above, \u201cLove in its incredible tenacity and mysterious appearances walks with us in our grief and skepticism. \u00a0Only in [the] light [of this Love] from birth to death do we begin to understand the ranges of existence seen and unseen.\u201d<\/font><\/p>\n

Let me repeat. \u00a0\u201cLove in its incredible tenacity and mysterious appearances walks with us in our grief and skepticism. \u00a0Only in the light of this Love from birth to death do we begin to understand the ranges of existence seen and unseen.\u201d<\/font><\/p>\n


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Think for a moment of where tenacious love has made a mysterious appearance in your life \u2013 particularly during a moment where you least expected it.<\/font><\/p>\n


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This appearance of mysterious love is an Easter moment. \u00a0As you were embraced by this Love were you able to respond as Mary did with an embrace and the word Teacher? \u00a0May it be so!<\/font><\/p>\n


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But also like Mary, we are not allowed to cling to these moments. Jesus sent Mary to his brothers to proclaim that she had seen the Lord and so God also commissions us to take these moments of Easter Joy and Peace and fulfillment and share them with others proclaiming that we too have seen the Lord.<\/font><\/p>\n

I wish to conclude my sermon this morning by inviting you to sing #278 in our Hymnal a Worship Book \u00a0\u2013 Christ is alive.\u00a0<\/font><\/p>\n

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\u00a0i<\/sup> Internet definition of negative space<\/p>\n

\u00a0ii <\/sup>featured essay for April 17th \u201cOurs the Cross the Grave the Skies\u201d by Rebecca Lyman\u00a0\u00a0http:\/\/www.journeywithjesus.net\/Essays\/index.shtml \u00a0\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0 View Archived Sermons \u00a0\u00a0 New!! Listen to this Sermon \u00a0 TUMC Easter Sermon 2011\u00a0 The surprising importance of Negative Space John 20:1-18 I begin with the line of a hymn –\u00a0 Christ the Lord is Risen Today \u2013 Alleluia Our Easter hymns record the witness of the first apostles as well as the witness of many others who have encountered the Risen Christ in one way or another throughout the ages. In keeping with our recent practice of sharing…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1256","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermons-a-worship-audio"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tumc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1256","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tumc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tumc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tumc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tumc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1256"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.tumc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1256\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3972,"href":"https:\/\/www.tumc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1256\/revisions\/3972"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tumc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1256"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tumc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1256"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tumc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1256"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}