SCRIPTURE: Luke 14:16-24 & Ephesians 3:1-12
I HAVE A CONFESSION TO MAKE.
I COME TO THIS SERMON AND THIS SCRIPTURE A BIT WEARY.
I CONFESS THAT I FEEL A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF EXHAUSTION FROM THE EXPENDITURE OF ENERGY IT TAKES TO LIVE THE TRUTH OF THE MYSTERY OF JESUS CHRIST.
I AM PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY DRAINED FROM THE STRAIN AND STRESS OF ACTING OUT THE TRUTH OF VERSE SIX IN THE THIRD CHAPTER OF PAUL’S LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS.
IN THIS VERSE PAUL SAYS, “GENTILES HAVE BECOME FELLOW HEIRS, MEMBERS OF THE SAME BODY, AND SHARERS IN THE PROMISE IN CHRIST JESUS THROUGH THE GOSPEL.”
THIS IS THE VERY HEART OF THE ENTIRE DISCUSSION IN PAUL’S LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS.
AND THIS IS THE CORE OF THE GOOD NEWS OF THE ENTIRE GOSPEL.
IN JESUS CHRIST THERE IS NO LONGER JEW AND GENTILE.
WE ARE NOW ALL MEMBERS OF THE SAME BODY – THE BODY CALLED HUMANITY.
THE BODY CREATED BY A LOVING GOD…
THE BODY WHOM GOD SEEKS, OVER AND OVER AGAIN, TO BE IN A LOVING RELATIONSHIP WITH…
THE BODY WHO TURNED AWAY FROM GOD, DENYING OUR PART OF THE COVENANT CONTRACT AND THE DEPTH OF THE PROMISE…
THE BODY WHO TRULY SAT UP AND PAID ATTENTION WHEN GOD CAME TO US PHYSICALLY, IN THE PERSONHOOD OF HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST.
AFTER GENERATIONS OF STRUGGLING WITH THE CHOSEN PEOPLE TO GET THEM TO ALLOW THEMSELVES TO BE TRULY CHOSEN, GOD TELLS US – THROUGH JESUS – WE ARE ALL CHOSEN.
THE LOVE IS FOR EVERYONE!
THERE IS NO LONGER A “WE” AND A “THEY.”
IT IS A MYSTERY, SAYS PAUL, WHICH GOD FINALLY DECIDED TO MAKE CRYSTAL CLEAR.
DON’T FIGHT IT, MY FRIENDS.
SIMPLY BELIEVE IT.
WHAT WAS ONCE A CLOSED SYSTEM IS NOW AN OPEN DOOR!
I WONDER, CAN WE EVEN BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND JUST HOW SHOCKING THIS MESSAGE WAS AND IS?
THINK ABOUT IT, IT WAS SO VERY SHOCKING THAT IT TORE THROUGH JUDAISM WITH A SCHISM THAT HAS YET TO BE HEALED.
EVEN THOUGH JESUS WAS A JEW, THERE WAS A LARGE GROUP WITHIN JUDAISM WHO WERE ENTIRELY TOO SHOCKED TO EVEN CONSIDER THE CONCEPT OF GOD’S TOTAL INCLUSIVITY.
THERE WERE MANY WHO COULD NOT AND WOULD NOT ACCEPT THE INVITATION TO THE PARTY GOD IS THROWING IN THE MINISTRY OF JESUS CHRIST.
AND WE UNDERSTAND THE SHOCK WAVE MOVING THROUGHOUT THE JEWISH COMMUNITY BEST WHEN WE REMEMBER THE SHOCK OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, OR THE SHOCK OF WOMEN WANTING AND DEMANDING AN EQUAL PLACE IN SOCIETY, OR THE SHOCK OF HOMOSEXUALS NEEDING TO FREELY NAME WHO THEY ARE AND NOT BE HATED FOR IT.
PAUL WAS AND IS CALLING THE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS TO OPEN OUR MINDS ENOUGH TO EXPERIENCE THE SHOCK AND THEN MOVE BEYOND IT.
PAUL SAYS THERE IS NO PLACE IN DISCIPLESHIP FOR A CLOSED MIND.
AND IT WAS ONLY THE PEOPLE WHO COULD HEAR THE SHOCKING STATEMENT TO TAKE IT IN AS A HOLY MYSTERY, WHO COULD THEN USE IT TO CREATE SOMETHING NEW AND FRESH.
THE “SOMETHING NEW” BACK THEN WAS THE CREATION OF A NEW WORLD ORDER.
THE “SOMETHING NEW” NOW CONTINUES TO BE THE CREATION OF A NEW WORLD ORDER.
THE EVIL OF HATRED WILL ALWAYS SEEK TO STEAL THE LOVE OUT OF THE RELATEDNESS OF OUR WORLD, AND IT IS UP TO US, THE DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST, TO ALWAYS LIVE IN THE LOVE AND TO FIGHT OFF THE HATRED.
IT IS EXHAUSTING WORK TO KEEP ONE’S MIND OPEN ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO JOIN GOD’S PARTY OF LOVE THAT INCLUDES EVERYONE.
BUT IN MY OWN EXPERIENCE THE WEARINESS FADS AWAY INTO A DEEPENED FAITHFULNESS.
THE WORK IS WORTH IT.
ONE OF MY FAVORITE SPIRITUAL AUTHORS IS A WOMAN NAMED JOYCE RUPP.
IN HER BOOK THE COSMIC DANCE; AN INVITATION TO EXPERIENCE OUR ONENESS RUPP WRITES THIS POEM ENTITLED DIFFERENT FROM ME.
SHE SAYS,
THOUSANDS OF THEM, DIFFERENT FROM ME,
HOLDING HANDS, KISSING,
ARMS AROUND EACH OTHER,
STRETCHING ME BEYOND MY OWN
SAFE WORLD OF HETEROSEXUALITY,
A GATHERING OF LESBIANS CHALLENGING ME
TO ENTER A WORLD I NEVER VISIT.
BEING OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE
TAKES ME BEYOND MY PERCEPTION
OF WHAT IS GOOD, REAL, AND TRUE,
TO THE PLACE WHERE I CAN WELCOME
DIFFERENT WAYS OF LIVING AND THINKING,
EVEN IF I DO NOT UNDERSTAND THEM.
I NEED TO KEEP MOVING INTO
WORLDS UNKNOWN TO ME,
KEEP STRETCHING, CHALLENGING
MY JUDGMENTAL MIND, CLEANSING
MY SMUDGED VIEW OF REALITY.
I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS LIKE
TO BE ANOTHER RACE, COLOR, NATIONALITY,
BUT I CAN TURN MY HEART
TOWARD AWARENESS OF OUR ONENESS,
AND ACCEPT THE BEAUTY
OF DIVERSITY.
RUPP DOES A WONDERFUL JOB OF DESCRIBING THE WORK THAT IS WORTH IT.
NOW PAUL SPEAKS ABOUT THE CORE OF THE GOSPEL MESSAGE AS A MYSTERY.
BUT JESUS TALKS ABOUT THE CORE OF HIS OWN MESSAGE IN TERMS OF THROWING A PARTY.
IN LUKE’S GOSPEL THE “GREAT DINNER” GIVEN BY “SOMEONE” IS JESUS’ WAY OF TALKING ABOUT GOD’S LOVE AND GRACE.
THE LIFE WE ARE GIVEN BY GOD IS MEANT TO BE A MAGNIFICENT BANQUET IN WHICH ALL OF OUR DEEPEST HUNGERS ARE FED.
AND EVERYONE IS INVITED TO THE FEAST.
SADLY, THE REALITY JESUS SEES, AS HE LIVES AMONG THE HUMAN CREATURES, IS THAT SOME REFUSE THE INVITATION.
IN LUKE’S PARABLE THE REASONS FOR REFUSING THE INVITATION ARE INNOCENT ENOUGH, AND ALL LEGITIMATE.
ONE MAN IS GOING TO CHECK ON HIS NEW PROPERTY.
ANOTHER MAN NEEDS TO DO THE EQUIVALENT OF MODERN DAY TEST-DRIVING THE NEW CAR – HE NEEDS TO TRY OUT THE NEW OXEN.
AND A THIRD MAN IS NEWLY MARRIED AND DOESN’T WANT TO LEAVE HIS HONEYMOON – I CAN’T FIND FAULT IN HIM FOR THAT.
THESE PEOPLE ARE PERFECTLY HAPPY WITH THEIR LIVES THE WAY THEY ARE.
AND SO WHEN AN INVITATION TO A SUMPTUOUS DINNER COMES THEIR WAY, THEY DON’T EVEN RECOGNIZE THE MAGNITUDE OF THE INVITATION.
THEY ARE SO TAKEN WITH THEIR EVERYDAY LIVES THAT THEY MISS THE CHANCE OF A LIFETIME, THE CHANCE TO BE A PART OF GOD’S GREAT PARTY!
SO EVEN AS I COME TO THIS SCRIPTURE AND THIS SERMON A BIT TIRED, I AM SUBSEQUENTLY ENERGIZED BY SEEING THE SAME ISSUE THROUGH THE EYES OF JESUS.
WHAT PAUL CALLS A MYSTERY, JESUS CALLS A PARTY.
WE CAN GET AWFULLY TIRED TRYING TO ADMINISTER THE MYSTERY OF INCLUSIVITY.
BUT ALLOWING OURSELVES TO BE DRAWN INTO THE CELEBRATION OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE AND ACCEPTANCE SOOTHES US LIKE A WARM FIRE ON A COLD WINTER NIGHT.
WHEN WE JUST JOIN THE PARTY, WITHOUT TRYING TOO HARD TO WORK AT THE MYSTERY, WE AND EVERYONE AROUND US WINS!
SAYING “YES” TO GOD’S INVITATION OF INCLUSIVITY AND GRACE AND LOVE IS A “WIN - WIN” SITUATION FOR EVERYONE.
NOW AS I SPEAK ABOUT THE BANQUET OF GOD’S LOVE I AM REMINDED OF THE MOVIE CHOCOLAT’.
VIANNE AND HER DAUGHTER ANOUK ARE STRANGERS COMING TO THE LITTLE FRENCH VILLAGE HALFWAY BETWEEN TOULOUSE AND BORDEAUX.
FROM A DISTANCE, THE LITTLE VILLAGE IS DOMINATED BY THE TALL STEEPLE OF THE CHURCH IN THE CENTER OF THE TOWN.
FROM WITHIN THE VILLAGE, THE PEOPLE, AND THE CHURCH, INCLUDING THE NEW YOUNG PRIEST, ARE DOMINATED BY THE MAYOR.
THE MAYOR IS A RIGID MAN, CONFIDENT AND DEMANDING, INSISTING THAT THE ENTIRE VILLAGE PRACTICE THE CHRISTIAN LENTEN ABSTINENCE FROM ANYTHING SWEET OR INDULGENT DURING THE SEASON OF LENT.
YOU SEE, VIANNE ARRIVES IN THE VILLAGE, JUST AS THE SEASON OF LENT BEGINS.
AND WHEN ASKED BY THE MAYOR WHY SHE WAS NOT IN CHURCH ON THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER HER ARRIVAL, HER REPLY DID NOT PLEASE HIM AT ALL.
VIANNE TOLD THE MAYOR THAT SHE AND ANOUK DO NOT ATTEND ANY CHURCH.
THE MAYOR IS CLEARLY SHOCKED AND APPALLED.
THERE IS NO ROOM FOR A “SINNER” IN HIS VILLAGE.
THERE WERE CERTAIN RULES AND REGULATIONS TO BE FOLLOWED IF ONE WAS TO LIVE IN LANSQUENET-SOUS-TANNES!
AND SO THE STRUGGLE BEGINS.
VIANNE CREATES A GODLY PARTY, BY OPENING UP A SCRUMPTIOUS CHOCOLATE SHOPPE IN THE MIDST OF THE SUBDUED AND SUPPRESSED VILLAGE.
THE MAYOR BECOMES MORE AND MORE FRUSTRATED AS THE PEOPLE OF THE VILLAGE ARE DRAWN INTO VIANNE’S OPEN HOSPITALITY.
THE VILLAGERS ACCEPT THE INVITATION.
THE MAYOR IS TOO BUSY HOLDING ONTO THE STATUS QUO.
THE MAYOR PRAYS TO GOD’S FOR ADVICE.
HOW CAN HE SAVE HIS FLOUNDERING FLOCK FROM THE SIN OF THE CHOCOLATERIE?
HE CONTROLS THE PREACHING OF THE PRIEST, ADVISING THE INSECURE AND INNOCENT YOUNG MAN TO SPEAK TO THE PEOPLE ABOUT THE EVILS OF CHOCOLATE AND PARTIES WHEN THEY SHOULD BE ABSTAINING FROM ANYTHING EVEN MILDLY RELATED TO JOY!
THE TOPICS OF THE LENTEN WORSHIP ARE SIN AND DEGRADATION AS THE PEOPLE ARE DULY CHASTISED.
AS THE SEASON OF LENT PROGRESSES, THE ANTAGONISM BETWEEN VIANNE AND THE MAYOR GROWS.
VIANNE AND HER CHOCOLATERIE BECOME A PLACE OF RECONCILIATION BETWEEN A GRANDMOTHER ALIENATED FROM HER GRANDSON.
IT BECOMES A SHELTER FOR AN ABUSED WOMAN AND AN APHRODISIAC FOR A STAGNANT COUPLE.
IT LURES PEOPLE INTO THE MYSTERY OF JOYFUL ACCEPTABILITY.
VIANNE BRINGS LOVE TO EVERYONE WHO ACCEPTS THE INVITATION.
THE MAYOR BINDS PEOPLE TO STRICT RULES AND REGULATIONS.
THERE ARE GOOD PEOPLE AND BAD PEOPLE IN THE MAYOR’S WORLD ORDER.
AND THE “GOOD” ARE INCLUDED WHILE THE “BAD” ARE CLEARLY EXCLUDED.
IN THE EYES OF THE MAYOR THERE IS A DEEP SEPARATION BETWEEN THE JEW AND THE GENTILE AND NO BRIDGES IS BROAD ENOUGH OR STRONG ENOUGH THE GAP THE BREECH – UNTIL HE TAKES AN UNEXPECTED STEP INTO THE BANQUET HALL.
AND AS A REACTION TO THE TUTORING OF THE MAYOR, JOSEPHINE’S HUSBAND SETS FIRE, IN A HATEFUL WAY, TO THE GYPSY CARAVAN THAT HAS MOMENTARILY LANDED IN LANSQUENET-SOUS-TANNES.
THE MAYOR, IN REALIZING HOW HE HAS HELPED TO BRING ABOUT THIS HATEFUL DEVASTATION, BREAKS INTO THE STORE FRONT OF THE CHOCOLATERIE AND INDULGES HIMSELF IN AN ECSTATIC BINGE OF CHOCOLATE – ON, OF ALL NIGHTS, THE EVE OF EASTER!
AS HE LIES AMONGST THE CHOCOLATES ON EASTER SUNDAY MORNING, WITH A TERRIBLE SUGAR HANGOVER POUNDING UPON HIS SKULL, VIANNE GENTLY HELPS HIM OUT OF THE STORE WINDOW, OFFERS HIM A BROMIDE TO EASE THE PAIN, AND PROMISES TO NEVER TELL A SOUL OF HIS HONOR’S FALL FROM GRACE.
THE MAYOR HAS FINALLY ACCEPTED THE INVITATION TO THE PARTY!
THE YOUNG PRIEST JOINS THE PARTY BY PREACHING ONE OF THE FINEST EASTER SERMONS I HAVE EVER HEARD, AND THE TOWN CELEBRATES EASTER BY HOLDING A CARNIVAL OF SWEETS RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE CHURCH.
THE MORAL OF THE STORY?
WHEN WE TRY TO ADMINISTER THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST THROUGH RULES AND REGULATIONS, THROUGH BOUNDARIES DEFINING WHO IS IN AND WHO IS OUT, THEN WE HAVE MADE THE MYSTERY A BURDEN RATHER THAN A JOY.
BUT WHEN WE SEE THE GRACE OF GOD AS A PARTY TO WHICH THE ENTIRE HUMAN RACE IS INVITED, THEN THE JOY COMES UPON US, AND OUR NEIGHBOR, ONE-HUNDREDFOLD.
TO ADMINISTER THE MYSTERY OF JESUS CHRIST IS TO BE OPEN MINDED IN EVERY WAY.
THIS MIGHT EXPRESS ITSELF IN DIFFERENT ISSUES FOR DIFFERENT GENERATIONS, BUT THE CORE MESSAGE IS THE SAME.
GENTILES HAVE BECOME FELLOW HEIRS…
ANYONE WHO ACCEPTS THE INVITATION SHARES IN THE PROMISE OF CHRIST JESUS THROUGH THE GOSPEL
ALLELUIA! AMEN!
SCRIPTURE: I Samuel 3:1-10 and Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18
THE MESSAGE THAT GOD SEEKS US OUT IS THE CORE MESSAGE OF THE BIBLE. AND NOTHING SPEAKS THIS MESSAGE MORE ELOQUENTLY THAN PSALM 139. GOD SEEKS US OUT AND KNOWS US IN EVER SO INTIMATE WAYS. GOD LOVES US INTO THE WORLD RIGHT FROM OUR MOTHER'S WOMB. GOD KNOWS US SO WELL THAT GOD CAN EVEN COMPLETE OUR SENTENCES FOR US. AND THE WONDER OF THIS SEEKING AND SEARCHING GOD IS SO AWESOME WE HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME WRAPPING OUR MINDS AROUND IT. WE TRY TO UNDERSTAND THE MIND OF GOD, AND IT IS ABOUT AS EASY AS COUNTING THE GRAINS OF SAND ON A BEACH.
GOD'S WAYS ARE BEYOND US. AND I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I FIND THIS THOUGHT BOTH COMFORTING AND DISTURBING. I'M NOT SURE I WANT GOD TO KNOW MY EVERY THOUGHT. SOME OF MY THOUGHTS AND ACTIONS I WOULD RATHER KEEP HIDDEN FROM MY WONDROUS CREATOR, THANK-YOU VERY MUCH!
BEING SOUGHT OUT BY THE HOLY ONE CAN BE A FRIGHTENING AND TERRIFYING PROPOSITION. FRIGHTENING SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE, ONCE WE ALLOW OURSELVES TO BE SOUGHT AND FOUND, THERE IS NO TURNING BACK. ONCE WE HAVE BEEN CAUGHT UP BY THE WILL OF GOD WE TRULY BELONG TO GOD AND THEN OUR HUMAN WILLFULNESS HAS TO TAKE A BACK SEAT. SO LET'S BE HONEST, SOME TIMES WE WANT TO BE FOUND AND SOMETIMES WE DON'T WANT TO BE FOUND!
TAKE, FOR INSTANCE, THE STORY OF LITTLE SAMUEL AND ELI. SAMUEL'S MOTHER, HANNAH, HAD PLEADED WITH GOD TO GIVE HER THE GIFT OF A BABY BOY. HANNAH WAS ELKANAH'S BARREN WIFE, AND THE PAIN OF WATCHING ELKANAH'S OTHER WIFE GIVE BIRTH WAS ALMOST MORE THAN HANNAH COULD TAKE. EVERY YEAR HANNAH TRAVELED TO THE TEMPLE WITH ELKANAH, WHERE SHE WOULD PRESENT HERSELF AND HER CASE BEFORE GOD. "O LORD OF HOSTS," SHE PRAYED, "IF ONLY YOU WILL LOOK ON THE MISERY OF YOUR SERVANT, AND REMEMBER ME, AND NOT FORGET YOUR SERVANT, BUT WILL GIVE TO YOUR SERVANT A MALE CHILD, THEN I WILL SET HIM BEFORE YOU AS A NAZIRITE UNTIL THE DAY OF HIS DEATH." HANNAH WANTED A BABY BOY SO BADLY SHE PROMISED TO CONSECRATE HER SON - YET TO BE CONCEIVED - TO GOD'S SERVICE IF ONLY GOD WOULD GRANT THE FULFILLMENT OF HER PRAYER.
WELL, HANNAH'S PRAYERS WERE ANSWERED AND SHE GAVE BIRTH TO A SON AND NAMED HIM SAMUEL. AND WHEN SAMUEL WAS WEANED FROM HIS MOTHER'S BREAST, THE CHILD WAS TAKEN TO THE TEMPLE AND GIVEN TO GOD'S SERVICE AS HAD BEEN PROMISED. THE VERY YOUNG SAMUEL WAS GIVEN TO THE PRIEST ELI WHO CONTINUED TO RAISE HIM TO KNOW THE WAYS OF GOD AND THE PRIESTHOOD.
TODAY'S STORY BEGINS WHEN SAMUEL IS ABOUT 12 YEARS OLD. ELI HAS BEEN A GOOD FATHER-FIGURE TO SAMUEL, AND SAMUEL HAS GROWN INTO A FINE YOUNG MAN. AT THE SAME TIME, ELI'S OWN TWO SONS HAVE PROVEN THEMSELVES TO BE NOTHING MORE THAN SCOUNDRELS, ROBBING THE SACRIFICIAL MEAT TO FILL THEIR OWN BELLIES, EVEN LYING TO THE PEOPLE AND TELLING THEM THAT GOD WOULD RATHER HAVE RAW MEAT THAN A BURNT OFFERING. THIS WAY THEY COULD COOK THE MEAT TO THEIR OWN PERSONAL TASTE. (IT SEEMS CORRUPTION IN THE MINISTRY HAS BEEN WITH US FOR A LONG TIME!)
ANYWAY, SAMUEL, WHO IS SLEEPING NEAR THE LAMP OF GOD IN THE TEMPLE, HEARS A VOICE SPEAKING TO HIM IN THE HOURS JUST BEFORE DAWN. THINKING THE VOICE TO BE THAT OF ELI, SAMUEL GOES TO THE OLD MAN IN HIS DARKENED BEDROOM AND WAKENS HIM SAYING, "HERE I AM!" OF COURSE ELI, HAVING SAID NOTHING, TELLS SAMUEL, "I DID NOT CALL; LIE DOWN." AND SAMUEL RETURNS TO HIS BED BESIDE THE LAMP OF GOD.
THIS LITTLE DRAMA OF SAMUEL GOING TO ELI, THINKING ELI HAS BEEN CALLING FOR HIM, HAPPENS THREE TIMES BEFORE ELI REALIZES THAT GOD IS SPEAKING TO SAMUEL. THE THIRD TIME THE BOY COMES TO HIM IN THE DARKNESS, ELI TELLS SAMUEL TO ANSWER THE VOICE, "SPEAK, LORD, FOR YOUR SERVANT IS LISTENING." ELI KNOWS THAT SAMUEL IS BEING SOUGHT BY GOD. BUT ELI DOES NOT YET KNOW WHAT THE MESSAGE WILL BE, (ALTHOUGH I WONDER IF, IN HIS HEART OF HEARTS HE KNEW) FOR THE MESSAGE WILL BE OF SUCH A NATURE THAT HAIRS WILL STAND ON END AND EARS WILL TINGLE WITH THE IMPACT OF IT. GOD'S CALL TO THE YOUNG MAN SAMUEL PROCLAIMS A MESSAGE THAT NO TWELVE YEAR OLD WANTS TO BRING TO ANY ONE, MUCH LESS THE ONE WHO HAS BEEN LIKE A FATHER TO HIM.
IT SEEMS THAT GOD WILL PUNISH THE HOUSE OF ELI. IF ELI CANNOT STOP HIS SONS FROM THEIR BLASPHEMY, THEN GOD WILL. BUT ELI ACCEPTS HIS PLIGHT WITHOUT COMPLAINING. "IT IS THE LORD," SAYS ELI, "LET HIM DO WHAT SEEMS GOOD TO HIM."
GOD KNEW SAMUEL EVEN AS HE WAS BEING KNIT TOGETHER IN HIS MOTHER'S WOMB. GOD KNEW EXACTLY WHERE TO SEARCH HIM OUT.
BUT IN THIS CASE, THE CALL OF GOD WAS NOT SOMETHING TO BE LONGED FOR. THE MESSAGE WAS NOT A PLEASANT ONE. AS SAMUEL GREW IN GOD'S GRACE, THE BURDEN OF THE MESSAGE HE CARRIED MUST HAVE BEEN EXCEEDINGLY HEAVY. TO BE IN GOD'S PRESENCE IS A WONDERFUL AND TERRIFYING RESPONSIBILITY. FOR SAMUEL IT MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE WAITING FOR THE OTHER SHOE TO DROP. YOU SEE, EVENTUALLY THE SONS OF ELI, HOPHNI AND PHINEAHS, WERE KILLED IN BATTLE BY PHILISTINIAN WARRIORS, AND THE ARK OF THE COVENANT WAS CAPTURED AND BORNE AWAY INTO THE CAMP OF THE PHILISTINES. UPON HEARING THIS AWFUL NEWS, ELI FELL OVER BACKWARD AND DIED IMMEDIATELY, HAVING BROKEN HIS NECK. AND SAMUEL KNEW IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN ALL ALONG.
TOMORROW WE CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF THE REV. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. HERE WAS A MAN, CALLED BY GOD IN A WONDERFUL AND TERRIFYING WAY HERE WAS A MAN WITH A DREAM AND A VISION OF FAITHFUL LIVING THAT WOULD NOT LET HIM REST. HERE WAS A MAN WITH A SENSE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND TRUTH SO VERY POWERFUL THAT HIS MESSAGE LIVES ON AND ON AND ON. HERE WAS A MAN WHO CONSISTENTLY ALLOWED HIMSELF TO BE FOUND BY THE INESCAPABLE GOD WHO KNOWS EVERY MOMENT OF OUR LIVES. GOD KNOWS WHEN WE SIT DOWN AND WHEN WE STAND UP. GOD KNOWS HOW WE BRUSH OUR TEETH AND COMB OUR HAIR. GOD KNOWS WHEN WE SPEAK THE TRUTH IN LOVE AND WHEN WE ARE TELLING A LIE, JUST TO SAVE OURSELVES FROM THE AGONY OF TELLING THE TRUTH.
YOU KNOW, THE PROBLEM WITH SETTING APART A SPECIAL DAY TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF ONE MAN IS THAT OUR MEMORY GROWS CLOUDED AS THE YEARS PASS BY. THIRTY-FIVE YEARS AFTER HIS DEATH, WE ARE LIKELY TO REMEMBER MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. BY THE BEAUTIFUL SOUND BITES OF HIS MOST SPARKLING MOMENTS. I HAVE A DREAM… I HAVE BEEN TO THE MOUNTAINTOP… I HAVE SEEN THE PROMISED LAND…
WE TEND TO FORGET THE AGONY OF HIS CALLING, AND WE ALSO FORGET THE RISK OF HIS MESSAGE.
VINCENT HARDING SAYS, "BROTHER MARTIN SPENT A FAIR AMOUNT OF TIME IN JAIL, BUT HIS WORST IMPRISONMENT MAY BE HOW HIS OWN NATION HAS FROZEN HIM IN [ONE] MOMENT." THE MOMENT HARDING IS SPEAKING OF IS THE MOMENT WHEN, IN 1963, A BLACK BAPTIST PREACHER ANNOUNCED, ON THE PROMENADE OF WASHINGTON DC, TO THE NATION AND TO THE WORLD, IN UNPARALLELED ORATORY, "I HAVE A DREAM!" HARDING GOES ON TO SAY, "OUR NATIONAL MEMORY WANTS THAT TRIUMPHANT, SUN-DRENCHED HERO TO STAY RIGHT THERE, STATIC, BOUND TO THE PODIUM BEFORE THE ADORING CROWDS. WE WANT TO BE LULLED INTO CONTENTMENT BY HIS BEAUTIFUL WORDS, HIS FAMILIAR CADENCES. WE WANT TO KEEP HIM SAFELY, UNTHREATENINGLY, ON A PEDESTAL." (PG. 12 OF THE OTHER SIDE JANUARY & FEBRUARY 2003)
BUT IF ANYONE HAS READ MORE ABOUT THE LIFE AND TIMES OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., WE KNOW THAT GOD CALLED DR. KING TO A VISION WAY BEYOND BLACK AND WHITE CHILDREN HOLDING HANDS AND WALKING INTO SCHOOL TOGETHER. DR. KING HAD A VISION OF AN AMERICA WHERE TRUE CHRIST-LIKE JUSTICE WAS A REALITY FOR ALL. HIS DREAM WAS NOT BOUND BY THE ISSUES OF RACISM. DR. KING'S DREAMS WERE PROFOUNDLY CHRISTIAN, IN THE BROADEST SENSE OF THE WORD, AND HIS SPEECHES CONSISTENTLY CALLED FOR A NATION WHERE THE GOODS OF THE EARTH AND THE RICHES OF THE PEOPLE WERE EQUALLY DISTRIBUTED INTO JOBS AND EMPLOYMENT FOR EVERYONE. DR. KING WAS OUT TO SAVE THE SOUL OF AMERICA, AND I BELIEVE HE WAS FAR MORE AGREEABLE AND CONTAINABLE WHEN HIS FOCUS WAS THE INTEGRATION OF SCHOOLS AND BLACK AMERICANS GAINING THE RIGHT TO VOTE. HE WAS ONLY GUNNED DOWN WHEN HIS VISION BROADENED INTO A NEW JERUSALEM - A NEW AMERICA - THAT LIFTED UP THE POOR AND BROUGHT THE RICH DOWN TO A LEVEL ALL COULD SEE.
HE ONLY BECAME A REAL THREAT WHEN HIS DREAM OF NONVIOLENT REVOLUTION CREPT TOO CLOSE TO THE IVORY TOWERS OF THE WEALTHY ELITE.
IN REMEMBERING DR. KING TOMORROW I BELIEVE WE ARE ALL BEING CALLED BY GOD. WE ARE LIKE SAMUEL, SLEEPING IN THE DARKEST HOURS BEFORE DAWN BESIDE THE LAMP OF GOD IN THE TEMPLE. AND DR. KING IS OUR ELI, DIRECTING US TO FOLLOW GOD'S VOICE, EVEN WHEN THE MESSAGE IS NOT EASY TO HEAR.
AS WE WATCH THE SOUND BITES TOMORROW, MAY WE REMEMBER THE FULL BRIGHTNESS OF DR. KING'S MINISTRY. AND MAY WE SAY TO THE VOICE OF GOD, WHICH IS INDELIBLY IMPRINTED UPON THE WORDS OF A PROPHET, "SPEAK, LORD, FOR I AM LISTENING." FOR BEYOND THE FEW AND FAMOUS WORDS WE WILL HEAR TOMORROW, DR. KING SPOKE MANY MORE POWERFUL WORDS. KING WAS A TRUE AND LOYAL STUDENT OF GANDHI AND THE MESSAGE OF NONVIOLENT REVOLUTION. KING ONCE SAID, "MY STUDY OF GANDHI CONVINCED ME THAT TRUE PACIFISM IN NOT NONRESISTANCE TO EVIL, BUT NONVIOLENT RESISTANCE TO EVIL. BETWEEN THE TWO POSITIONS, THERE IS A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE…." (PP 98 - 99 OF STRIDE TOWARD FREEDOM) DR. KING ALSO SAID, "INJUSTICE ANYWHERE IS A THREAT TO JUSTICE EVERYWHERE. WE ARE CAUGHT IN AN INESCAPABLE NETWORK OF MUTUALITY, TIED IN A SINGLE GARMENT OF DESTINY. WHATEVER AFFECTS ONE DIRECTLY, AFFECTS ALL INDIRECTLY" (LETTER FROM A BIRMINGHAM JAIL 1963) AND IN HIS FINAL SPEECH BEFORE HIS DEATH, DR. KING CHALLENGED ONE AND ALL - YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW - "LET US MOVE ON IN THESE POWERFUL DAYS, THESE DAYS OF CHALLENGE TO MAKE AMERICA WHAT IT OUGHT TO BE. WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE AMERICA A BETTER NATION." I CANNOT HELP BUT TO WONDER WHAT DR. KING MIGHT BE SAYING TODAY AND TO OUR CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY. WHAT IS GOD SAYING TO US THROUGH HIS MEMORY? HOW MIGHT WE FIGHT THE POWER OF EVIL AND INJUSTICE THROUGH NONVIOLENT RESISTANCE?
IN CLOSING I WILL SHARE WITH YOU THE WORDS OF ONE POET, CARL WENDELL HIMES, JR., CONCERNING THE REV. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
NOW THAT HE IS SAFELY DEAD
LET US PRAISE HIM
BUILD MONUMENTS TO HIS GLORY
SING HOSANNAS TO HIS NAME.
DEAD MEN MAKE
SUCH CONVENIENT HEROES: THEY CANNOT RISE
TO CHALLENGE THE IMAGES
WE WOULD FASHION FROM THEIR LIVES.
AND BESIDES,
IT IS EASIER TO BUILD MONUMENTS
THAN TO MAKE A BETTER WORLD.
MY FRIENDS, GOD IS FOREVER CALLING US TO MAKE A BETTER WORLD. WILL WE HEED THE CALL OF THE INESCAPABLE GOD?
SCRIPTURE: Genesis 1:1-5 & Mark 1:4-11
LAST WEEK WAS ONE OF THOSE WEEKS WHEN WHAT I WAS READING IN THE NEWS AND WHAT I WAS READING IN THE BIBLE DIDN'T SEEM TO HAVE ANY CONNECTION, WHATSOEVER. AND I AM SPEAKING MOST SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE HORRIBLE CASE OF CHILD ABUSE AND MURDER COMING FROM THE BOWELS NEWARK, NEW JERSEY. THREE BEAUTIFUL LITTLE BOYS TREATED NO BETTER THAN CAGED ANIMALS.
THREE BEAUTIFUL LITTLE BOYS. NO, I'VE NEVER MET THEM OR EVEN SEEN A PICTURE OF THEM. BUT I KNOW THEY ARE (OR WERE) BEAUTIFUL, BECAUSE THEY ARE CREATED BY GOD EXACTLY THE SAME AS YOU AND ME.
WE READ HOW, IN THE BEGINNING, GOD'S LOVING SPIRIT HOVERED OVER THE FORMLESS VOID AND THE DEEP DARKNESS TO BRING LIGHT. GOD SAW HOW VERY GOOD THE LIGHT WAS AND CONTINUED TO MAKE ORDER OUT OF THE DARK VOID BY SEPARATING THE DARKNESS AND THE LIGHT INTO DAY AND NIGHT. AND FROM THAT POINT ON, WITH EVERY STEP OF CREATION GOD LOOKED AND SAW THAT IT WAS GOOD. THE STORY OF THE WILLIAMS FAMILY FEELS AS IF WE ARE LIVING IN A TIME OF FORMLESS VOID AND DEEP DARKNESS RATHER THAN A TIME ORDERED BY THE BLESSING OF GOD. NONE OF GOD'S CREATION SHOULD BE MISTREATED THE WAY THOSE BOYS HAVE BEEN. WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR WORLD? HAVE WE FORGOTTEN HOW WE WERE CREATED AND FOR WHAT PURPOSE?
NOW I THINK WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE TRAGEDY OF THE WILLIAMS FAMILY IS NOT JUST ANOTHER STORY OUT THERE, SOMETHING WE CAN POINT TO BUT NEVER HAVE TO BE CLOSE TO. THEIR STORY IS OUR STORY, SIMPLY BECAUSE WE LIVE IN AND BREATH IN AND CREATE THE SOCIETY IN WHICH CHILDREN ARE GIVEN SUCH A TINY PLACE OF IMPORTANCE WHEN LOOKING AT THE LARGER PICTURE. YOU SEE, I DON'T BLAME THE DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES IN NEW JERSEY, ALTHOUGH I KNOW THEY NEED HELP. I DON'T BLAME THE CASEWORKER, ALTHOUGH THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN SOMETHING DIFFERENT SHE COULD HAVE DONE. I DON'T BLAME THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, AND I THINK THE GOVERNOR'S CRITICAL WORDS AT THIS POINT IN TIME ARE JUST PLAIN EMPTY. LITTLE FAHEEM WILLIAMS IS DEAD. AND HIS TWIN BROTHER RAHEEM, AS WELL AS A YOUNGER BROTHER TYRONE, ARE, FOR SURE, SCARRED FOR LIFE BECAUSE AT THE VERY CORE OF OUR SOCIETY WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE BLESSING LIFE IS MEANT TO BE.
GOD CREATED EACH PART OF THE UNIVERSE AND SAID, "IT IS GOOD." WHY CAN WE NOT DO THE SAME? THE WORLD WE LIVE IN IS A BLESSING. THE AIR WE BREATH IS A BLESSING. THE SUN IN THE SKY IS A BLESSING. THE WATER WE DRINK IS A BLESSING. THE CHILDREN THE WORLD GIVES BIRTH TO ARE ALL A BLESSING, UNTIL THEY BECOME ANNOYING TO US. AND THEN THEY BECOME A PART OF THE DESTRUCTION THAT HUMANITY IS SO CAPABLE OF DOING.
WE RUIN THE WORLD WITH HATRED AND GREED. WE DESTROY THE OZONE LAYER FOR OUR OWN SELFISH NEEDS. WE PLAY GAMES WITH THE WATER SUPPLY, NEVER THINKING INTO THE FUTURE. WE HOARD RESOURCES TO THE DETRIMENT OF THE ENTIRE PLANET. AND WE FAIL TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS NO TIME LIKE THE VERY FIRST YEARS OF LIFE TO TEACH A CHILD TO BE A BLESSING, EVEN AS HE OR SHE HAS BEEN CREATED AS A BLESSING.
SO WHAT ABOUT THE BAPTISM OF JESUS? WHAT COULD WE POSSIBLY LEARN FROM THIS ANCIENT STORY THAT WOULD HELP US TO WRAP OUR MINDS AROUND, AND POSSIBLY DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE TRAGEDY IN NEWARK, NEW JERSEY?
THE CLASSIC SEMINARY UNDERSTANDING OF THE BAPTISM OF JESUS IS THAT THIS ACTION MARKS THE BEGINNING OF HIS MINISTRY EVEN AS THE RESURRECTION MARKS THE END. BUT I BELIEVE THERE IS MORE TO IT THAN THAT.
FIRST OF ALL, THE BAPTISM OF JESUS MUST BE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR IT TO BE A PART OF THE STORYLINE IN ALL FOUR GOSPELS. IT MUST BE EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE BIRTH, BECAUSE THE BIRTH NARRATIVE IS FOUND IN ONLY TWO OF THE GOSPELS. BUT THERE IS ALSO A KIND OF IRONY THAT MUST BE DEALT WITH HERE. JOHN'S BAPTISM WAS A BAPTISM OF REPENTANCE FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SIN. BUT JESUS WAS WITHOUT SIN. SO WHY WOULD JESUS NEED TO BE BAPTIZED? AND, IN OUR UNDERSTANDING OF BAPTISM WE ALSO TALK ABOUT THE COMING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. BUT SINCE WE CONFESS THAT JESUS WAS CONCEIVED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, THEN WHY WOULD HE NEED TO BE GIVEN A GIFT THAT HE WAS BORN WITH?
YOU SEE, I BELIEVE THE BAPTISM OF JESUS, AS TOLD BY THE GOSPEL WRITER MARK, SERVES TWO SPECIAL PURPOSES. FIRST OF ALL, I BELIEVE JESUS WAS BAPTIZED HERE SO THAT ALL GENERATIONS COULD LEARN SOMETHING BY LOOKING IN ON HIS RITUAL. AND SECOND, I BELIEVE THE BAPTISM OF JESUS EXPANDED THE MEANING OF JOHN'S BAPTISM, MAKING BAPTISM IN GENERAL SOMETHING NEW AND DIFFERENT.
TO BEGIN WITH MY SECOND POINT, JOHN'S BAPTISM AND CHRISTIAN BAPTISM ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. CHRISTIAN BAPTISM IS NOT JUST A WASHING AWAY OF SIN AS JOHN'S BAPTISM WAS. CHRISTIAN BAPTISM BRINGS THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND A VERY CLOSE INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. JOHN'S BAPTISM BEGINS WITH THE PREMISE, "YOU ARE SINFUL." CHRISTIAN BAPTISM BEGINS WITH THE PREMISE, "YOU ARE A BLESSING." THE VOICE OF GOD CAME TO JESUS AND SAID, "YOU ARE MY SON, THE BELOVED; WITH YOU I AM WELL PLEASED." I HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT THE IMPORTANCE OF GOD SPEAKING WHAT IS ALREADY TRUE, AFFIRMS JESUS AND ASSURES HIM OF HIS CALLING. I ALSO HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT THE WORDS, "YOU ARE MY BELOVED; WITH YOU I AM WELL PLEASED" ARE WORDS MEANT FOR EVERY ONE OF GOD'S PEOPLE TO HEAR OVER AND OVER AGAIN. THIS IS MEANT TO BE THE GROUNDING OF OUR LIVES AND OUR MINISTRY IN THIS WORLD, AS WELL AS AN AFFIRMATION FOR JESUS.
MY FRIENDS, I HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT IF EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US TRULY LIVED OUR LIVES FROM THE STARTING POINT OF "I AM GOD'S BELOVED" THEN FAHEEM WILLIAMS WOULD NOT BE DEAD; AND HIS MOTHER AND AUNT WOULD NOT BE DRUG ADDICTS; AND THE CASEWORKER FOR DYFUS WOULD NOT BE OVER WORKED AND UNDERPAID AND UNDER QUALIFIED FOR THE JOB; AND GOVERNOR MCGREEVY WOULD UNDERSTAND THAT THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN IS IMPORTANT LONG BEFORE A LITTLE BOY DIES A TORTUROUS DEATH. BUT EVEN AS I SAY IT, IT SOUNDS SO IMPOSSIBLE, DOES IT NOT?
WELL, IF YOU THINK THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE THEN I WANT TO INTRODUCE YOU TO THE GREEK WORD SCHIZOMAI. IN OUR PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE SCHIZOMAI IS TRANSLATED TORN. I THINK A BETTER WAY TO TRANSLATE THIS WORD IS TO SAY BEING RIPPED APART. THERE IS ALMOST A VIOLENCE TO THE WAY GOD BREAKS THE BARRIER BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH. IT TAKES A LOT OF POWER (HOLD UP AND RIP A PIECE OF FABRIC) FOR GOD TO INTERVENE.
NOW THE ONLY OTHER PLACE THIS WORD IS USED IS WHEN THE CURTAIN IN THE TEMPLE WAS BEING RIPPED APART AT THE TIME OF JESUS' DEATH ON THE CROSS. THE CURTAIN THAT WAS DESTROYED WAS THE CURTAIN THAT SEPARATED THE PLACE IN THE TEMPLE CALLED "THE HOLY OF HOLIES" FROM THE SPACE FOR ORDINARY WORSHIPERS. WITH THE RIPPING OF THE HEAVENS AND THE RIPPING OF THE CURTAIN IN THE TEMPLE, GOD IS NO LONGER CONFINED TO SACRED SPACES, BUT THE POWER OF GOD BURSTS INTO THE WORLD WE LIVE IN. GOD RIPS APART OUR EVERYDAY UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD ORDER AND MAKES OUR EVERY MOMENT A HOLY AND SACRED MOMENT. IN THE WORDS OF BRIAN STOFFREGEN, "GOD IS ON THE LOOSE IN OUR OWN REALM."
NOW JUST ONE MORE COMMENT I HAVE ABOUT BAPTISM AND THEN WE ARE GOING TO TRY SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT. THE SYMBOL OF WATER AND BAPTISM IS AN EXTREMELY POWERFUL SYMBOL FOR US, BUT I WONDER IF WE HAVE ALLOWED IT TO BE A BIT TOO POWERFUL. I WONDER IF, IN THINKING ABOUT THE WATER SO MUCH WE ALSO THINK ABOUT SIN JUST A BIT TOO MUCH? LET ME REMIND US THAT WATER CAN BE A DANGEROUS THING. WATER IS WONDERFUL AND REFRESHING AND CLEANSING, UNLESS WE ARE IMMERSED IN IT TOO LONG. BEING TOTALLY IMMERSED IN WATER CAN BRING US DEATH, IT CAN TAKE OUR BREATH COMPLETELY AWAY.
BUT BEING IMMERSED IN THE BLESSING OF GOD, THE "YOU ARE MY BELOVED AND WITH YOU I AM WELL PLEASED" ONLY GIVES US MORE AND MORE BREATH TO LIVE ON. LIKE WHAT I SAID TO THE CHILDREN EARLIER, I WOULD CHALLENGE ALL OF US TO MAKE A REAL EFFORT TO REMEMBER THE BLESSING, TO BE IMMERSED IN THE BLESSING, TO LET OUR VERY LIVES BE THE BLESSING GOD INTENDED IT TO BE. SO LET US TRY AN EXERCISE THAT THE LATE HENRI NOUWEN USED TO DO WITH HIS MANY AND VARIED AUDIENCES.
SAY, "I AM GOD'S BELOVED." NOW SAY IT LIKE YOU MEAN IT!
ALLELUIA! AMEN!
SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah 31:15-17, Ephesians 3:1-12 & Matthew 2:13-18
"THEY WERE EDUCATED, SPOKE ARABIC AND KNEW THE DANGERS.INDEED, ONE WAS HELD FOR DAYS BY MUSLIM KIDNAPPERS FOUR YEARS AGO. BUT ALL HELD A DEEP AFFECTION FOR THE YEMENI PEOPLE, LOVED ONES SAID, AND ACCEPTED THE RISKS AS PART OF THE LIFE THEY HAD CHOSEN: TO WORK AMONG THE POOR, PROVIDING FREE MEDICAL CARE, RELIEF IN TIMES OF FAMINE AND, WHEN APPROPRIATE, WORDS OF FAITH TO THE OPPRESSED." (On pg. A11 of 12/31/02 New York Times.) SO REPORTS THE NEW YORK TIMES ABOUT SOUTHERN BAPTIST MISSIONARIES BILL KOEHN, MARTHA MYERS AND KATHLEEN GARIETY WHO WERE KILLED THIS PAST TUESDAY BY A MAN WHO SEEMED TO BE ACTING OUT OF A DEEP HATRED FOR WESTERNERS AND WHAT WE REPRESENT.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION CALLS THESE THREE PEOPLE "MARTYRS" WHO WERE "KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY." BUT MOST OF THEIR CLOSE FRIENDS SEEM TO THINK THAT THEIR MISSION TO YEMEN WAS MORE ABOUT A LOVE OF THE YEMENI PEOPLE.
ONE MORE TIME, THE DARKNESS OF HATE SEEKS TO PUT OUT THE LIGHT OF LOVE, AND I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR OUR ONGOING STORY OF FAITH IN WHICH RACHEL REFUSES TO BE COMFORTED OR CONSOLED.
THE WAILING AND LOUD LAMENTATIONS OF THE RACHELS IN THIS WORLD ARE WHAT KEEP US FOCUSED ON THE NEED TO LOVE, EVEN WHEN LOVE SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE TO GIVE.
THE PROPHET JEREMIAH WROTE A LETTER TO THE CHILDREN OF GOD WHO WERE EXILED TO BABYLON. HE TOLD THEM, "[THIS EXILE] WILL BE A LONG TIME; BUILD HOUSES AND LIVE IN THEM, AND PLANT GARDENS AND EAT WHAT THEY PRODUCE." (Jeremiah 29:28) JEREMIAH TOLD THEM THAT GOD WANTED THEM TO LIVE AND PROSPER IN BABYLON WITHOUT LOSING SIGHT OF WHO THEY WERE AND WHO THEY BELONGED TO. GOD WANTED THE ISRAELITES TO MAKE THE BEST OF A TOUGH SITUATION WHILE REMEMBERING TO WORSHIP GOD WITH EVERY BREATH THEY TOOK.
AND AFTER THE LETTERS COME THE BOOK OF CONSOLATION. FOR TWO CHAPTERS IN THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH WE HEAR A PLETHORA OF WORDS ABOUT COMFORT AND CONSOLATION. GOD HEARS THE VOICE OF RACHEL WEEPING FOR HER DEAD CHILDREN. GOD KNOWS THE SUFFERING OF INCONSOLABLE GRIEF. IN OTHER WORDS, GOD HEARS THE SADNESS AND THE SORROW OF A PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND THE MISTAKES THEY HAVE MADE AND WANT TO DO IT BETTER NEXT TIME. GOD UNDERSTANDS AND HONORS THE SORROW. GOD ENCOURAGES THE HOPE THAT GLIMPSES A NEW LIFE. "…THERE IS HOPE FOR YOUR FUTURE, SAYS THE LORD: YOUR CHILDREN SHALL COME BACK TO THEIR OWN COUNTRY." THE EXILE WILL COME TO AN END AND THE CHAINS OF SLAVERY WILL GIVE WAY TO A NEW FREEDOM.
IN LUKE'S GOSPEL, MARY THE MOTHER-TO-BE, SINGS A SONG OF PRAISE TO GOD IN WHICH THE FREEDOM OF JEREMIAH BECOMES A FREEDOM FOR ALL OF GOD'S CREATION. MARY'S JOY ABOUT HER UNBORN BABE SOUNDS A BIT LIKE THE BOOK OF CONSOLATION FROM JEREMIAH.
MARY SAYS, "GOD HAS SCATTERED THE PROUD IN THE THOUGHTS OF THEIR HEARTS. GOD HAS BROUGHT DOWN THE POWERFUL FROM THEIR THRONES, AND LIFTED UP THE LOWLY; GOD HAS FILLED THE HUNGRY WITH GOOD THINGS, AND SENT THE RICH AWAY EMPTY." IT'S ALMOST AS IF MARY HOPES THAT, THROUGH THE BIRTH OF THIS BABY SHE IS CARRYING, THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER EXILE. THROUGH THE BIRTH OF JESUS, GOD HAS COME SO VERY CLOSE THAT ONE'S PHYSICAL LOCATION OR POSITION OF POWER HAS LITTLE CONSEQUENCE IN RELATION TO ONE'S SPIRITUAL WELL-BEING.
WHAT MARY SEEMS TO CELEBRATE IS A TIME OF TRUE AND EVERLASTING LIBERATION, A TIME OF LOVE FREELY AVAILABLE TO ALL PEOPLES.
AND THEN WE READ THE PORTION OF THE CHRISTMAS STORY FROM MATTHEW THAT WE ARE ALL MOST LIKELY TO AVOID. WE READ OF THE SELF-IMPOSED EXILE OF JOSEPH AND MARY AND JESUS INTO EGYPT AND THE BRUTAL MURDER OF ALL HEBREW BABY BOYS UNDER THE AGE OF 2.
THE SLAUGHTER OF THE INNOCENTS IT IS OFTEN CALLED. WHY DID THIS HAVE TO HAPPEN? AFTER ALL OF THE BEAUTY OF CELEBRATING THIS WONDROUS BIRTH - GOD TAKING ON HUMAN FORM AND DEVELOPMENT IN ORDER TO BE INTIMATE WITH HIS CREATION - WHY THE EXILE AND SEPARATION? WHY THE DEATH THAT IS ANYTHING BUT BEAUTIFUL OR INTIMATE?
IN 1997 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE PCUSA ESTABLISHED THE SUNDAY BEFORE EPIPHANY AS A SPECIAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR THOSE PERSECUTED FOR THEIR FAITH. THE WORSHIP WE ARE LIFTING UP TO GOD TODAY IS FASHIONED AFTER A RESOURCE FROM OUR NATIONAL CHURCH. THE FOCUS OF THIS RESOURCE IS TO BE A WITNESS TO THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST IN THE LIVES OF THOSE WHO HAVE SUFFERED FOR THEIR FAITH. I ALWAYS BELIEVE IT IS A GOOD THING TO WITNESS TO THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST IN THE LIFE OF ANYONE, BUT THIS YEAR I FOUND MYSELF ASKING THE QUESTION "WHY?" WHY DO PEOPLE EVEN NEED TO SUFFER WHEN IT COMES TO ISSUES OF FAITH? SHOULDN'T FAITH BE ONLY ABOUT INTIMACY WITH GOD? SHOULDN'T RELIGION BE A VEHICLE TO THAT INTIMACY? SHOULDN'T THE ACTIONS WE TAKE BECAUSE OF OUR LOVE FOR GOD BRING TO THE WORLD GOODNESS AND LIGHT RATHER THAN DEATH AND SUFFERING?
FRIENDS, FAITH IS ABOUT INTIMACY WITH GOD. RELIGION IS A VEHICLE FOR OUR RELATIONSHIP. AND THE ACTIONS THAT GROW OUT OF OUR RELIGIOUS PRACTICES SHOULD BRING MORE LIGHT AND LOVE INTO THE WORLD.
THE PROBLEMS ONLY SEEM TO ARISE WHEN WHAT WE BELIEVE IN BECOMES A POLITICAL ISSUE. THE BIRTH OF THE BABY JESUS ONLY TURNED UGLY THROUGH THE POLITICS OF KING HEROD. LIKE MOST PEOPLE IN POWER, HEROD DID NOT WANT TO LOSE HIS. THE EXILE OF GOD'S PEOPLE TO BABYLON ONLY HAPPENED WHEN THEY BECAME MORE FOCUSED ON POWER AND WEALTH THAN THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE THREAD RUNNING THROUGH ALL OF THE STORIES OF FAITH, AND RIGHT INTO OUR OWN STORIES IS THE REALITY OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE PUT ANYTHING OTHER THAN GOD FIRST IN OUR LIVES.
GOD'S POWER IS THE POWER OF PURE LOVE. AND WHEN WE FORGET ABOUT THAT LOVE, OR EVEN WHEN WE CANNOT MANAGE TO FOSTER THAT LOVE IN OUR HEARTS, THEN RACHEL WEEPS ONCE AGAIN IN RAMAH, AND WE ARE REMINDED OF WHAT WE ARE CREATED TO BE. RACHEL REFUSES TO BE CONSOLED, AND RIGHTFULLY SO.
THREE MISSIONARIES IN YEMEN DIE AND RACHEL WEEPS. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. IS SHOT IN THE HEAD AND RACHEL WEEPS. ARCHBISHOP OSCAR A. ROMERO MEETS HIS DEATH OVER THE COMMUNION TABLE AND RACHEL WEEPS. MARTIN BURNHAM IS KILLED BY MUSLIM FUNDAMENTALISTS IN THE PHILIPPINES AND RACHEL WEEPS. CAPTAIN FREDERICK ILL, JR. LOSES HIS LIFE IN A TERRORIST ATTACK ON NEW YORK CITY AND RACHEL WEEPS. DOZENS OF BABY BOYS LIVING AROUND THE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM, 2000 YEARS AGO, LOSE THEIR LIVES AND RACHEL WEEPS. MAY RACHEL CONTINUE TO WEEP AND REFUSE TO BE CONSOLED UNTIL THE HUMAN CREATURE FINALLY GETS THE POINT.
GOD CREATED US FOR INTIMACY WITH THE DIVINE SELF. GOD CREATED US AND GAVE US FREEDOM OF CHOICE. WHEN OUR FAITH IN THE GOD OF LOVE IS POLITICIZED, WE SEEM TO GIVE OVER OUR FREEDOM OF CHOICE WITHOUT A THOUGHT. WE LET THE PEOPLE IN POWER MAKE THE DECISIONS FOR US AND WE GIVE UP THE RESPONSIBILITY OF FAITHFUL LIVING. AND WHAT IS EVEN WORSE THAN THAT, WE BECOME MORE DISTANT FROM THE LOVE OF GOD. THE INTIMACY GOD DESIRES BECOMES BARELY TOUCHABLE. AND WE LOSE OUT MORE THAN GOD DOES. WE ARE THE ONES NEEDING TO BE CONSOLED.
FRIENDS, THE INCONSOLABLE WEEPING OF RACHEL IS, IN SOME WAYS, GOOD NEWS. IT REMINDS US OF THE LOVE WE ARE CALLED TO GIVE. IT REMINDS US OF THE HOPE WE ARE CALLED TO SEE. IT REMINDS US OF THE FREEDOM THAT IS OURS, WHETHER WE ARE IN EXILE OR NOT.
WE ARE ALWAYS, ALWAYS FREE TO LOVE. WE ARE ALWAYS, ALWAYS FREE TO HAVE AND SHOW HOPE.
DO YOU REMEMBER THE TINSEL WE USED TO HANG ON OUR CHRISTMAS TREES? I HAVEN'T HAD TINSEL ON MY CHRISTMAS TREE FOR MORE YEARS THAN I CAN COUNT. BUT ON CHRISTMAS EVE I WAS PRIVILEGED TO BE IN A HOME WHERE THERE WAS SILVER TINSEL ON THE CHRISTMAS TREE. DID YOU KNOW THAT TINSEL IS SUPPOSED TO BE A REMINDER OF HOPE? WHEN JESUS AND HIS FAMILY WERE FLEEING TO EGYPT, AT THE TIME WHEN KIND HEROD WENT INTO A RAGE FOLLOWING THE VISIT OF THE WISE MEN, A LEGEND SAYS THAT ONE NIGHT THE HOLY FAMILY STOPPED IN A CAVE TO GET SHELTER AND WARMTH. IN THIS PARTICULAR CAVE THERE APPENED TO BE A SPIDER THAT WANTED TO DO SOMETHING FOR THE SAVIOR. SO THE SPIDER SPUN A WEB ACROSS THE MOUTH OF THE CAVE TO HELP STOP THE WIND FROM BLOWING IN. SEVERAL HOURS LATER, SOME OF KING HEROD'S TROOPS PASSED BY, SEARCHING FOR JESUS AND HIS PARENTS. THEY WERE READY TO ENTER THE CAVE WHEN THEIR CAPTAIN STOPPED THEM. "THERE'S NO ONE IN THAT CAVE," HE SAID. "SEE THAT WEB COVERED WITH FROST? IF SOMEONE HAD ENTERED THE CAVE, THEY WOULD HAVE BROKEN THE WEB. THERE'S NO ONE IN THERE, SO DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME."
THEREFORE, ACCORDING TO THAT LEGEND, TINSEL IS SUPPOSED TO REMIND US OF WHAT THAT SPIDER DID-HOW THAT SPIDER BROUGHT SAFETY TO JESUS AND HIS FAMILY, AND HOW, AS A RESULT, THAT SPIDER BROUGHT HOPE TO THEM AT A TIME WHEN ALL HOPE SEEMED TO BE LOST.
I PRAY THAT WE, AS THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST, MAY ALWAYS SEEK TO BE A SPIDER'S WEB ON THE OPENING OF THE CAVE.
THAT SPIDER GAVE HOPE TO THE HOLY FAMILY. BUT THE SPIDER ALSO PROTECTED THE MESSAGE OF LOVE, THAT WAS AND IS INTENDED AS A LIFESAVER FOR THE HUMAN CREATURE. WHEREVER WE ARE AND WHATEVER WE ARE DOING, MAY OUR FAITH BE GROUNDED IN THE LOVE OF GOD.
MAY WE NOT BE TAINTED BY THE POWER OF POLITICAL GAIN. MAY WE HEAR THE INCONSOLABLE SOBS OF RACHEL AND BE REMINDED THAT IT IS UP TO US TO BRING THE LOVE OF CHRIST INTO THE WORLD TODAY.
ALLELUIA! AMEN