SCRIPTURE: II Corinthians 8:7-15, Psalm 130 & Mark 5:21-43
ONE OF THE COURSES I TOOK IN SEMINARY WAS CALLED PREACHING AND THE ARTS. IT WAS A CLASS IN WHICH WE TALKED ABOUT FINDING THE HOLY IN DIFFERENT ART FORMS. NOT ONLY DID WE TALK ABOUT FINDING THE DIVINE IN SEVERAL ARTISTIC RENDERINGS, WE ALSO EXPERIENCED THIS INTUITIVE KIND OF RELATING WITH GOD. WE READ LITERATURE, SAW A PLAY IN NEW YORK CITY, VISITED THE VAN GOGH EXHIBIT AT THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART, IT WAS A WONDERFUL CLASS. ONE WEEK WE EVEN VISITED SOME ARCHITECTURAL ARTWORK BY GOING TO A TRULY SPLENDID BUILDING THAT HOUSED THE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY OF FAITH IN MENDHAM, NJ. I REMEMBER IT AS A CATHEDRAL-LIKE BUILDING NESTLED INTO A LOVELY WOODED AREA. THERE WAS A LOT OF WINDOWS SO THAT NATURE, IN ALL OF HER CHANGING GLORY, COULD BE THE DECORATOR OF THE SANCTUARY.
NOW I WAS THE ONLY WOMAN IN THE CLASS, AND AS WE WERE GUIDED IN OUR TOUR BY ONE OF THE PRIESTS, IT BECAME QUITE EVIDENT THAT THE PRIEST DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH A WOMAN WHO WAS CLEARLY TRAINING TO BE A MINISTER AND A PREACHER. HE AVOIDED TALKING TO ME OR LOOKING AT ME OR EVEN MAKING A REFERENCE TO THE FACT THAT I WAS, INDEED, A LIVING, BREATHING MEMBER OF THAT GROUP.
SO, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A LOVELY BUILDING AND I WAS LEARNING A LOT ABOUT HOW IT HAD BEEN THEOLOGICALLY DESIGNED, THE MOST POWERFUL EXPERIENCE OF THAT DAY WAS WHAT HAPPENED AROUND THE RESENTATION OF A GORGEOUS ORNATE CHALICE THAT HAD BEEN A PART OF THAT FAITH COMMUNITY FOR GENERATIONS. THE BUILDING WAS QUITE NEW AND MODERN, BUT THE CHALICE WAS NOT. THE PRIEST HELD THE HISTORICAL CHALICE CAREFULLY IN HIS HANDS AS OUR SMALL CLASS GATHERED IN A CIRCLE AROUND HIS HOLY PRESENTATION. A COUPLE OF THE MEN REACHED OUT TO TOUCH THE BEAUTY OF THE CUP AND THE PRIEST LEANED INTO THEIR TOUCH, ENCOURAGING IT. BUT WHEN I REACHED OUT TO TOUCH THE CUP, THE PRIEST LIBERATELY MOVED THE CHALICE OUT OF MY REACH.IT WASN'T AN ANGRY MOVE, IT WAS VERY SUBTLE, NO WORDS WERE EXCHANGED, BUT THE WOUND TO MY OWN HEART AND SOUL WAS VERY REAL.I CAN STILL FEEL THE PAIN OF IT, ALTHOUGH IT DOESN'T REALLY WOUND ME ANY MORE. ACTUALLY, OVER THE YEARS, I HAVE COME TO THINK OF THAT SLIGHTING AS A GIFT BECAUSE IT GAVE ME SOME INSIGHT INTO WHAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE TO BE AN UNTOUCHABLE PERSON IN ANCIENT TIMES.
NOW TODAY'S GOSPEL LESSON IS A STORY ABOUT TWO UNTOUCHABLE PEOPLE, A WOMAN AND A LITTLE GIRL. THE FIRST UNTOUCHABLE ONE WAS THE WOMAN WITH A FLOW OF BLOOD. SHE HAD BEEN HEMORRHAGING FOR TWELVE YEARS. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE CAUSE OF HER CONDITION WAS OR WHY IT BEGAN, BUT WE DO KNOW THAT SHE HAD SOUGHT HEALING FROM EVERY SOURCE SHE COULD THINK OF. "SHE HAD ENDURED MUCH UNDER MANY PHYSICIANS, AND HAD SPENT ALL THAT SHE HAD…" (VS. 26)
THE STRENGTH OF THE UNNAMED WOMAN IN THIS BIBLE STORY NEVER CEASES TO AMAZE ME. AFTER TWELVE YEARS OF SEEKING TO BE HEALED, AND SPENDING EVERY LAST DROP OF MONEY ON CHARLATANS I MIGHT EXPECT TO FIND HER DESPERATE AND BITTER RATHER THAN DETERMINED AND WILLING TO TAKE A RISK. BUT THIS WOMAN INCHES TOWARDS JESUS, THROUGH THE CROWDS OF PEOPLE, TO TAKE ANOTHER RISK WITH ANOTHER HEALER AND THIS TIME SHE HITS THE JACKPOT! THIS TIME SHE REACHES OUT TO TOUCH THE HEM OF THE ROBE OF THIS MAN NAMED JESUS. THIS TIME SHE PUTS HER FAITH IN EXACTLY THE RIGHT PERSON. AND THIS TIME SHE IS HEALED IMMEDIATELY. AND NOT ONLY IS SHE HEALED, BUT SHE IS LIFTED UP BY JESUS AS A PERSON OF EXTRAORDINARY FAITH. THIS WOMAN IS THE PERFECT EXAMPLE OF HEALING AND WHOLENESS. SHE IS HEALED OF HER PHYSICAL MALADY AND SHE IS MADE SPIRITUALLY WHOLE BY THE LOVE OF CHRIST.
NOW THE SECOND UNTOUCHABLE PERSON IN THIS STORY IS THE LITTLE GIRL, THE DAUGHTER OF JAIRUS. JAIRUS WAS A LEADER OF THE SYNAGOGUE, AND OUR STORY BEGINS WITH JESUS RESPONDING TO THE PLEA OF JAIRUS, TO COME TO HIS LITTLE DAUGHTER AND HEAL HER SO THAT SHE MIGHT LIVE. ACTUALLY, THE ACTIONS OF THE HEMORRHAGING WOMAN WERE A BIT OF A DETOUR AWAY FROM THE MAIN PLOT OF THIS STORY. REMEMBER THAT DURING THE TIME IT TOOK FOR THE HEMORRHAGING WOMAN TO BE BROUGHT TO HEALING AND WHOLENESS, THE LITTLE DAUGHTER OF JAIRUS DIES. SO THE LITTLE GIRL BECOMES UNTOUCHABLE BECAUSE, ONCE JESUS FINALLY REACHES HER, SHE IS DEAD. AND IN BIBLICAL TIMES A DEAD BODY WAS JUST AS UNCLEAN AS A WOMAN WITH A FLOW OF BLOOD. SO WE HAVE A STORY WITHIN A STORY ABOUT TWO UNTOUCHABLE FEMALE PERSONS, AND IT IS GOOD TO UNDERSTAND THAT BEING UNTOUCHABLE IS ANOTHER WAY TO SPEAK ABOUT BEING AN OUTCAST. IN TODAY'S WORLD WE DO NOT HAVE A LOT OF RULES ABOUT NOT TOUCHING AND UNCLEANNESS. BUT IN TODAY'S WORLD WE DO HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE OUTCASTS FROM SOCIETY.
WE DO HAVE PEOPLE WHO FEEL THE NEED TO BE HEALED BOTH SPIRITUALLY AND PHYSICALLY.
SO THE POINT I MOST WANT TO LIFT UP IN TODAY'S STORY IS THE POINT ABOUT THE REACHING AND THE RISKING THAT IS INVOLVED IN OUR FAITH RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THROUGH JESUS, BECAUSE THIS IS THE ONE THING WE CAN ALL DO TOWARDS OUR OWN HEALING OF THE WORLD'S INCONSISTENCIES. WHETHER WE ARE THE OUTCAST OR THE ONE DOING THE CASTING OUT, WE ARE ALL IN NEED OF HEALING.
THE LITTLE DAUGHTER IS MADE TO LIVE, IN PART, BECAUSE HER FATHER TOOK A HUGE RISK BY GOING TO JESUS AND REACHING OUT IN FAITH. REMEMBER THAT THE PRIESTS IN THE SYNAGOGUES DID NOT BELIEVE IN JESUS. THEY THOUGHT HE WAS AN IMPOSTER AND A PRETENDER, BUT JAIRUS - A PRIEST IN THE SYNAGOGUE - CAME TO JESUS AND REACHED OUT IN FAITH. AND OUT OF HIS RISKING AND HIS REACHING, HIS LITTLE DAUGHTER WAS GIVEN BACK THE GIFT OF LIFE.
THE SAME IS TRUE WITH THE HEMORRHAGING WOMAN. SHE REACHED OUT TO TOUCH THE HEM OF JESUS' GARMENT AND SHE RISKED BEING DISCOVERED. BUT HER RISKING AND HER REACHING WERE A NATURAL OUTGROWTH OF HER FAITH. SHE HAD FAITH SHE WAS GOING TO BE MADE WHOLE AND SHE WAS MADE WHOLE.
NOW I WANT TO TALK FOR A MOMENT ABOUT FAITH. I HAD AN "AHA" MOMENT THIS WEEK AS I WAS PREPARING FOR THIS SERMON. YOU SEE, I'VE BEGUN TO REALIZE THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF FAITH WE ALL DEAL WITH AT DIFFERENT MOMENTS IN OUR LIVES.
FIRST, THERE IS BLIND FAITH WHICH LEAVES A LOT TO BE DESIRED. BLIND FAITH, TO ME, IS THOUGHTLESS FAITH. TELL ME WHAT TO BELIEVE AND I WILL BELIEVE IT. THIS IS THE WORST PART OF ANYONE'S FAITH, EVEN THOUGH JESUS SAID TO HAVE FAITH LIKE A CHILD. BLIND FAITH IS EASY TO FALL INTO AND JUST AS EASY TO FALL OUT OF!
YOU SEE, WHEN JESUS TALKED ABOUT HAVING THE FAITH OF A CHILD, HE WAS REALLY TALKING ABOUT TOTAL FAITH, WHICH VERY FEW OF US HAVE ON A CONSISTENT BASIS. CHILD-LIKE FAITH IS BELIEVING WITHOUT CONSTRAINTS. TOTAL FAITH IS FREE AND FUN. ACTUALLY, THERE CAN BE A LOT OF THOUGHT THAT GOES INTO TOTAL FAITH, LIKE WE'VE CHECKED OUT ALL THE OPTIONS AND THE ONLY ANSWER IS GOD. SO WE BELIEVE WITH TOTAL ABANDON, LIKE FALLING FROM AN AIRPLANE AND TRUSTING THAT THE PARACHUTE WILL OPEN UP JUST IN TIME. IN TOTAL FAITH THERE ARE NO QUALIFIERS, JUST FREEDOM.
NOW QUALITATIVE FAITH REALLY ISN'T FAITH, AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, ALTHOUGH A LOT OF PEOPLE CALL IT FAITH. THIS IS WHEN WE SAY, "GOD, SAVE ME FROM THIS HORRIBLE MESS AND I WILL BE TRUE TO YOU FOREVER!" THIS IS LIKE TRYING TO HAVE FAITH IN GOD AND CONTROL GOD, ALL AT THE SAME TIME. THIS IS FAITH WITH NO RISKS, AND FAITH JUST DOESN'T COME THAT WAY!
YOU SEE, ULTIMATELY, FAITH IS BELIEVING IN GOD WITHOUT TRYING TO CONTROL GOD. FAITH IS HAVING NO EXPECTATIONS OF GOD AND AT THE SAME TIME EXPECTING EVERYTHING FROM GOD. IT'S WHEN WE TRY TO MAKE FAITH INTO SOMETHING VERY VERY DIFFICULT THAT WE HAVE THE LEAST FAITH. AND WHEN WE LET GO AND LET GOD BE IN CHARGE - WHEN WE WORK AT IT THE LEAST - THIS IS WHEN WE ARE STRONGEST IN OUR FAITHFULNESS. SO I WOULD DARE TO SAY THAT WE MOVE IN AND OUT OF THESE DIFFERENT KINDS OF FAITH WHILE GOING THROUGH THE UPS AND DOWNS OF HUMAN LIVING, AND THE HEMORRHAGING WOMAN, AS WELL AS JAIRUS, ARE LIVING, BREATHING EXAMPLES OF TOTAL FAITH. THEIR STORIES ARE ALL ABOUT PEOPLE REACHING OUT FROM A PLACE OF DARKEST DESPAIR, HARDLY KNOWING WHAT THEY ARE REACHING FOR, AND CONNECTING WITH THE HAND OF THE ALMIGHTY GOD.
I AM REMINDED OF THE CEILING IN THE SISTINE CHAPEL. REMEMBER HOW ADAM REACHES OUT HIS HAND ACROSS THE SKY TO MOVE TOWARDS GOD'S OUTSTRETCHED HAND? IF ADAM REPRESENTS ALL OF THE DEEPEST WOUNDS OF THIS HUMAN EXISTENCE, AND I BELIEVE HE AND EVE DO REPRESENT THAT, THEN IN THE PAINTING ON THE CEILING OF THE SISTINE CHAPEL, ADAM IS SHOWING US THAT FROM THE DARKEST MOMENTS OF OUR HUMAN DESPAIR WE CAN REACH OUT TO FEEL GOD'S TOUCH, WHICH IS ALWAYS AND FOREVER REACHING OUT TO CONNECT WITH US.
ACTUALLY, THE VERY LIFE OF JESUS WAS THE ULTIMATE IN REACHING OUT ON THE PART OF GOD. THERE IS NO GREATER GIFT OUR GOD COULD HAVE GIVEN US THAN TO GIVE UP HEAVEN IN ORDER TO WALK A LIFETIME IN OUR HUMAN SHOES. AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT GOD DID IN JESUS, WHO WAS PREACHER AND TEACHER AND HEALER OF ALL WOUNDS.
HAVE YOU EVER NEEDED TO REACH OUT FOR ANY KIND OF HEALING? HAVE YOU NEEDED PHYSICAL HEALING OR EMOTIONAL WHOLENESS?
DID YOU ACTUALLY RISK REACHING OUT TO SOMEONE AND FIND THE LOVE OF GOD IN THE ACT OF TOUCHING?
I WANT TO TELL YOU THE GREAT ENDING OF THE STORY ABOUT MY REACHING FOR THE CHALICE IN THAT DIVINELY BEAUTIFUL SETTING.
I WAS WOUNDED BY THE INCIDENT, BUT AFRAID TO TALK TO ANYONE ABOUT IT FOR A LONG TIME. I WAS AFRAID OF BEING CALLED AN OVERLY SENSITIVE WOMAN. BUT FINALLY I RISKED TELLING THE STORY TO A TRULY SPIRITUAL MAN, WHO ACCEPTED MY WOUNDEDNESS AND BECAME A CHANNEL FOR GOD'S HEALING POWER TO TOUCH THAT WOUND IN ME AND HEAL IT. THROUGH HIM I CAME TO HEALING AND WHOLENESS.
AND ON THE DAY I GRADUATED FROM DREW THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, THE SAME MAN GIFTED ME WITH THIS TREASURED CHALICE. WE USE IT HERE ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS. YOU WILL ALWAYS SEE ME LIFTING UP THIS VERY SPECIAL CHALICE AT CELEBRATIONS LIKE CHRISTMAS AND EASTER. YOU HAVE SEEN AND WILL SEE ME TOUCHING THIS CUP TO MY HEART'S CONTENT. THIS IS THE CUP OF FAITH AND HEALING THAT I SHARE WITH ALL WHO WILL PARTAKE, AND I SHARE IT WITH GREAT JOB, MOSTLY BECAUSE I BELIEVE WHAT HENRI NOUWEN WROTE. HE SAID, "TO LIVE THIS SHORT TIME IN THE SPIRIT OF JESUS CHRIST, MEANS TO REACH OUT FROM THE MIDST OF OUR PAINS AND TO LET THEM BE TURNED INTO JOY BY THE LOVE OF HIM WHO CAME WITHIN OUR REACH." (REACHING OUT PG. 116)
ALLELUIA! AMEN!
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 9:9-20, Mark 4:35-41 & I Samuel 17:32-49
WHEN I LEFT FOR MY MEETING ON TUESDAY MORNING THEY WERE STILL THERE. WHEN I RETURNED TO THE CHURCH IN THE AFTERNOON THEY WERE GONE. ALL THREE OF THE CEDARS OF LEBANON TREES WERE DOWN AND THE MEN WERE JUST LOADING THE LAST OF THE REMAINS ONTO A FLATBED TRUCK. I STOOD THERE AND WATCHED WITH A GREAT SADNESS, KNOWING FULL WELL THAT THEY HAD TO COME DOWN IN ORDER TO PRESERVE THE BUILDING. IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, TO TAKE DOWN THOSE LOVELY TREES, BUT I WAS STILL SAD. AND THE FAMOUS POEM WRITTEN BY JOYCE KILMER CAME TO MIND.
HE WROTE:
I THINK THAT I SHALL NEVER SEE A POEM AS LOVELY AS A TREE.
A TREE WHOSE HUNGRY MOUTH IS PREST
AGAINST THE EARTH'S SWEET FLOWING BREAST;
A TREE THAT LOOKS AT GOD ALL DAY,
AND LIFTS HER LEAFY ARMS TO PRAY;
A TREE THAT MAY IN SUMMER WEAR
A NEST OF ROBINS IN HER HAIR;
UPON WHOSE BOSOM SNOW HAS LAIN;
WHO INTIMATELY LIVES WITH RAIN.
POEMS ARE MADE BY FOOLS LIKE ME,
BUT ONLY GOD CAN MAKE A TREE.
THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT TREES THAT ALWAYS MAKES ME THINK ABOUT GOD'S POWER. TREES LIKE THOSE CEDARS OF LEBANON ARE MAJESTIC AND AUTHORITATIVE.THEY DOMINATE MORE THAN THE SPACE THEY OCCUPY. WHEN THEY ARE NOT THERE YOU NOTICE IT RIGHT AWAY. THEIR LOSS IS AS MUCH A SUBSTANTIAL ABSENCE AS THEIR PRESENCE IS A DOMINATION.
AT THE SAME TIME, THERE IS A LOVELINESS AND A GENTLENESS ABOUT THE POWER OF THESE TREES. AND THAT IS THE NATURE TO WHICH KILMER SPEAKS IN HIS POETRY. JUST AS A GROUP OF TREES CAN STAND WITH AUTHORITY WHILE AT THE SAME TIME INVITING US INTO THE COOL STILLNESS OF THEIR SHADE, GOD CAN PRESIDE OVER ALL OF CREATION WHILE SOFTLY CALLING EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US BY NAME. IT IS THE PERFECT NATURE OF GOD'S POTENT ENERGY BY WHICH A PEOPLE CAN BE DOMINATED AND LOVED, ALL AT THE SAME TIME. WITHIN THE POWER OF GOD WE ARE KICKED IN THE BUTT AND CRADLED AT THE BREAST. AND IT IS TOWARD THIS WONDROUS POWER THAT OUR SCRIPTURE PASSAGES FOR TODAY ALSO GIVE DIRECTION.
FIRST, PSALM 9 IS A SONG OF PRAISE CELEBRATING THE PUISSANT PRESENCE OF GOD AND GOD'S LOVING DESIRE TO BRING JUSTICE TO THE NEEDY AND THE POOR. WE HEAR THOUGHTS OF AVENGING BLOOD AND SNARING THE WICKED AT THE SAME TIME THAT WE HEAR ABOUT GOD'S GRACIOUSNESS AND DELIVERANCE. THE DUALITY OF A GENTLE POWER IS CLEARLY EXPRESSED.
THEN, IN THE GOSPEL OF MARK JESUS SEEMS TO UNDERSTAND THE GRACIOUS AND GENEROUS NATURE OF GOD'S STRENGTH THAT IS PRESENT IN A STORM. JESUS WAS SO VERY UNCONCERNED DURING THE UNREST THAT HE SLEPT WHILE THE DISCIPLES WORRIED. (I CONSIDER THIS A TREMENDOUS MESSAGE TO PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF, WHO TEND TO WORRY MORE THAN NECESSARY.) GOD IS IN CHARGE AND GOD'S ULTIMATE PURPOSE WILL BE ATTAINED. BECAUSE JESUS HAS SUCH GREAT FAITH IN THE BENEVOLENCE OF GOD'S INTENTIONS FOR THE WHOLE OF CREATION, HE CAN STAND BEFORE THE WIND AND THE WAVES AND REBUKE THEM.PEACE! BE STILL! AND THERE CAME A DEAD CALM OVER THE SEA. GENTLE, SLEEPY JESUS SHOUTING, "PEACE!" TO THE RAGING STORM IS AN EXCELLENT WAY TO KNOW THE SHOUT AND THE WHISPER OF GOD'S GENTLE POWER.
AND FINALLY WE HAVE THE STORY OF DAVID AND GOLIATH. THIS IS SUCH A FAMILIAR STORY, SUCH A WONDERFUL DIRECTIVE FOR HOW TO DEAL WITH DESTRUCTIVE POWER IN A FAITHFUL WAY, SUCH A PERFECT PARABLE OF THE WAY LIFE COULD BE IF WE ONLY HAD ENOUGH UNDERSTANDING OF HOW GENTLENESS AND POWER WORK TOGETHER IN GOD'S PRESENCE.
NOW OF COURSE THE GREATEST DIFFICULTY FOR 21ST CENTURY AMERICANS, IN UNDERSTANDING AND INTERPRETING THIS PARABLE, IS THAT WE ARE THE GOLIATH AND WE DON'T SEE OURSELVES AS SUCH. WE DON'T LIKE TO THINK OF OURSELVES AS A TEN FOOT TALL GIANT PHILISTINE ADORNED IN ALL SORTS OF PROTECTIVE GEAR. BUT THE REALITY IS THAT AS A WHOLE WE PRESENT OURSELVES IN THIS WAY TO THE REST OF THE WORLD. AS A NATION WE TEND TO USE OUR STRENGTH IN A PHYSICAL AND DESTRUCTIVE WAY, WITHOUT INCORPORATING THE SOFTNESS OF GOD'S PERSPECTIVE INTO OUR DEFINITION OF POWER. WE KNOW HOW TO GO TO WAR WITH PROTECTIVE GEAR AND PLENTY OF MUSCLE TO LEAD THE WAY, BUT WE RARELY SEEM TO SHOW OUR VULNERABLE UNDERBELLY OF CONCERN FOR WHAT MIGHT BE RIGHT AND GOOD FOR THE WHOLE OF CREATION.
FRIENDS, IF WE ACCEPT THE FACT THAT OUR AMERICAN IDENTITY RENDERS US A GOLIATH, WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT, THEN I THINK WE WILL BE MORE LIKELY TO DRAW NEAR TO A DAVID IDENTITY AS PEOPLE OF FAITH. PEOPLE OF FAITH TEND TO SEEK A BALANCE. AND AMERICAN PEOPLE OF FAITH NEED TO BRING THE DAVID AND THE GOLIATH OF OURSELVES INTO BALANCE. ACTUALLY, PEOPLE OF GOD, ALL OVER THE WORLD, NO MATTER WHAT EXPRESSION OUR FAITH TAKES, NEED TO HOLD TIGHT TO THE GENTLE POWER OF THE GOD WE LOVE TO HAVE LOVING US.
YOU KNOW, I WOULD GIVE ALMOST ANYTHING FOR ALL THE PEOPLES OF FAITH IN THIS WORLD TO IDENTIFY OURSELVES MORE AND MORE WITH THE LIKES OF DAVID IN THIS STORY. DAVID IS COURAGEOUS AND WISE AND CLEVER AT THIS STAGE IN HIS LIFE. HE HAS ENERGY AND INSIGHT, BUT GREATER THAN ANYTHING ELSE HE HAS MORE FAITH IN GOD THAN IN HIMSELF. DAVID TURNED DOWN THE ARMOR AND WEAPONS OF THE POWERS THAT BE, (SAUL'S METHODS OF DEFENSE WERE SO UNWIELDY AS TO KEEP DAVID FROM BEING ABLE TO WALK A STRAIGHT LINE!) INSTEAD, DAVID TOOK THE GENTLE POWER OF GOD AS HIS ONLY DEFENSE AND DAVID PREVAILED. IT WAS DAVID'S FAITH THAT SAVED THE HEBREW PEOPLE, AND DAVID'S FAITH HAD A GENTLE POWER TO IT.
SO WE CANNOT LOOK AT THESE PASSAGES OF SCRIPTURE WITHOUT SEEING THE UNDENIABLE LINK BETWEEN FAITH AND POWER. BUT SEEING AND DOING ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. I WISH IT WAS SO EASY AS TO SAY THAT OUR FAITH WILL ALWAYS LEAD US TO THE GENTLE POWER OF GOD. WE WANT TO BELIEVE THAT IF WE HAVE FAITH WE WILL DO THE RIGHT THING, BY THE POWER OF GOD. BUT WE ALL KNOW THIS JUST ISN'T ALWAYS TRUE.
IN TODAY'S WORLD, WERE FAITH IS USED AS A CATALYST TO LAUNCH DESTRUCTIVE CAMPAIGNS OF ALL KINDS AGAINST ALL SORTS OF PEOPLE, WE CANNOT MAKE SUCH A SIMPLE STATEMENT. IN TODAY'S WORLD THERE IS A CORRECT UNDERSTANDING OF THE NATURE OF GOD AND AN INCORRECT UNDERSTANDING, AND THE VERY FUTURE OF THIS EARTH DEPENDS UPON HOLDING A CORRECT UNDERSTANDING. IN TODAY'S WORLD WE CANNOT THINK OF GOD IN TERMS OF ANYTHING BUT THE GENTLE, CREATIVE, GENERATIVE POWER WE SEE IN JESUS OR IN DAVID FROM TODAY'S SCRIPTURE PASSAGES. WE CANNOT ALLOW AN ONGOING FUNDAMENTALIST INTERPRETATION OF GOD AS HARSH JUDGE AND ANGRY JURY TO FOG OUR VISION AND MUDDY THE WATERS WHEN IT COMES TO REALLY KNOWING WHOM AND WHAT GOD IS.
YOU KNOW, THE STORY OF DAVID CONTINUES IN CHAPTER 17. I CHOSE NOT TO READ VERSE 51 WHERE DAVID GOES TO STAND OVER THE SLAIN PHILISTINE TO STAB HIM AND KILL HIM AND CUT HIS HEAD OFF. I HAVEN'T A CLUE WHETHER OR NOT THAT PART OF THE STORY IS NOT HISTORICALLY CORRECT, NOR DO I NEED TO KNOW, BECAUSE IT ISN'T RELEVANT TO HOW WE LIVE OUR LIVES TODAY. MAYBE IT REALLY HAPPENED AND MAYBE IT DIDN'T, BUT FOR OUR PRESENT DAY SITUATION THIS GRAPHIC DOMINATION DOES NOT GIVE US ANY INSIGHT INTO OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SAME GOD WHO CREATED HUMAN BEINGS FOR THE PURPOSE OF BEING IN RELATIONSHIPS WITH GOD AND ONE ANOTHER. SPEAKING ABOUT THE POWER TO DESTROY IN THE SAME BREATH IN WHICH WE SPEAK ABOUT OUR FAITH IN GOD IS SIMPLY WRONG. AND I DON'T CARE IF YOU ARE THE TALIBAN OR AN ISLAMIC TERRORIST OR AN ISRAEL SOLDIER OR THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, IF YOU CLAIM TO HAVE FAITH THEN YOU MUST BELIEVE THAT GOD'S POWER IS CREATIVE AND NOT DESTRUCTIVE. GOD'S POWER SAVES LIFE, IT DOES NOT TAKE LIFE AWAY. AND OUR FAITH IS CLOSEST TO BEING TRUE FAITH WHEN WE ARE DEEPLY CONNECTED TO THE GENTLENESS OF GOD'S OMNIPOTENT POWER.
IF WE HAD LEFT THOSE CEDARS OF LEBANON TREES TO TOWER OVER OUR SANCTUARY THEIR PRESENCE WOULD HAVE BEEN A DESTRUCTIVE ONE.
BUT THEIR DESTRUCTIVE NATURE ONLY CAME ABOUT BECAUSE SOMEONE PLANTED THEM TOO CLOSE TO THE BUILDING. EVIDENTLY THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH CARE AND THOUGHT PUT INTO THE PROXIMITY OF THE BUILDING AND THE TREES RIGHT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. IT WAS A MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE POWER OF THOSE TREES. AND I WOULD DARE TO SAY THE SAME IS TRUE WHEN IT COMES TO GOD AND FAITH AND THE USE OF POWER IN TODAY'S WORLD. WE DON'T STAND IN AWE OF GENTLE POWER THESE DAYS, OR AT LEAST SOME OF US DON'T WHEN I TOLD STEWART HOW SAD I WAS ABOUT THE FELLING OF THOSE TREES, HE GENTLY SAID, "I'M SORRY YOU'RE SAD…………BUT GET A LIFE!"
OUR FAITH IS MISPLACED AND WRONGLY PLANTED IN THE IDEA THAT GOD WILL DESTROY THAT WHICH WE DON'T LIKE OR DON'T APPROVE OF. GOD DOES NOT, WILLY NILLY, CUT PEOPLE DOWN AT THE KNEES! INSTEAD, OUR FAITH NEEDS TO BE ROOTED AND GROUNDED IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD, HOVERING POWERFULLY AND STEADFASTLY OVER THE CHAOS OF THE WORLD, SEEKING TO BRING LIFE AND LOVE TOGETHER. THIS IS THE GOD TO WHOM ALL PEOPLES AND ALL RELIGIONS CAN TRULY PLEDGE THEIR FAITH. THIS IS THE GOD OF WHOM IT IS WRITTEN, "POEMS ARE MADE BY FOOLS LIKE ME, BUT ONLY GOD CAN MAKE A TREE."
ALLELUIA! AMEN!
SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 6:1-8, Psalm 29, Romans 8:12-17 & John 3:1-17
THE HEBREW PEOPLE CHOOSE TO GIVE OBEISANCE TO THE AWESOMENESS OF GOD BY RENDERING THE HOLY NAME UNSPEAKABLE. IF YOU HAVE EVER SEEN YHWH PRINTED YOU KNOW THIS IS THE NAME FOR GOD, BUT IT IS UNPRONOUNCEABLE BECAUSE THERE ARE NO VOWELS IN THE WORD. A MORE CONTEMPORARY WAY OF EXPRESSING THIS JEWISH RECOGNITION OF AWE IS FOR THE WORD “GOD” TO BE PRINTED G_D, ANOTHER VOWEL-LESS WORD IF YOU WILL, THEREFORE IT CANNOT BE PRONOUNCED. FOR THE JEWS TO NOT SPEAK THE WORD IS TO THOROUGHLY RECOGNIZE THE MYSTERY OF THE HOLY, TO STAND IN AWE OF THE DIVINE OTHER.
NOW CHRISTIANS, ON THE OTHER HAND, HAVE WORKED VERY HARD TO TRY TO PUT WORDS TO THE AWESOMENESS OF OUR CREATOR. I HAVE READ THEOLOGIANS WHO GO ON FOR PAGES ABOUT THE TRANSCENDENCE OF GOD, TRYING TO NAIL DOWN THE INEXPRESSIBLE. AND ONE OF THE MOST BRILLIANT EFFORTS AT SEEKING A CONCRETE DEFINITION FOR AN ILLUSIVE IDEA IS THE TRINITY; FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT, THE DIVINE THREE IN ONE.
WHEN A FRIEND OF MINE WROTE HER STATEMENT OF FAITH TO BE PRESENTED TO HER PRESBYTERY FOR ORDINATION SHE SPOKE OF THE HOLY TRINITY AS A DIVINE DANCE IN WHICH CREATOR, SUSTAINER AND REDEEMER JOINED HANDS AND BECAME ONE GRACEFUL MOTION. I LOVE THAT IMAGE. IT IS ONE THAT I ALMOST FEEL RATHER THAN SEE, A FINE WAY TO THINK ABOUT HOLY AWESOMENESS AND MYSTERY.
NOW EVERY ONE OF TODAY’S LECTIONARY PASSAGES ALMOST PAINTS A PICTURE IN HONOR OF THE MYSTERY OF THE HOLY TRINITY. THINK ABOUT IT. ISAIAH PAINTS GOD AS HIGH AND MIGHTY, SITTING UPON A LOFTY THRONE, ROBED IN GRAND FASHION WITH SIX-WINGED ANGELS GIVING RAPT ATTENTION. AND THE ANGLES SING TO THE GLORY OF GOD AS WE DID WHEN WE BEGAN TO WORSHIP TODAY. “HOLY, HOLY, HOLY IS THE LORD OF HOST; THE WHOLE EARTH IS FULL OF HIS GLORY.” THIS IS ALL ABOUT GOD THE FATHER, AND THEN PSALM 29 RE-EMPHASIZES THE DAZZLING NATURE OF THIS IMAGE USING PHRASES SUCH AS “HOLY SPLENDOR” AND “FULL OF MAJESTY.”
IN PSALM 29 THE VOICE OF GOD IS LIKENED TO A VIOLENT STORM. THERE IS NO ROOM TO DOUBT GOD’S POWER AND MIGHT IN THE WORDS OF THIS PSALM.
IN HIS LETTER TO THE ROMANS PAUL IS TRYING TO PUT WORDS TO THE SPIRITUAL NATURE OF LIVING A LIFE CONNECTED TO GOD. PAUL IS FOREVER TRYING TO GET THE POINT ACROSS THAT BELIEVING GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST MEANS MOVING AWAY FROM WHAT IS PHYSICAL AND MOVING ALWAYS CLOSER TO WHAT IS SPIRITUAL. THE PICTURE PAUL PAINTS IS ONE OF A LOVING FAMILY. THROUGH JESUS, WE ARE ADOPTED BY THIS WONDERFUL DADDY, ABBA, WHO GATHERS US INTO HIS ARMS AND MAKES US INTO ONE BIG FAMILY. THIS PICTURE IS ALL ABOUT JESUS, BOTH THE MAN AND THE BODY. THIS PICTURE IS ABOUT THE SPIRIT JESUS CARRIED IN HIS OWN PERSONHOOD DURING HIS LIFE ON EARTH AND THE SPIRIT THAT LIVES ON IN OUR COMMUNITY, THE BODY OF CHRIST, AFTER HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION.
AND THEN IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN WE HAVE A DARK PAINTING, WITH MYSTERIOUS NUANCES HIDDEN IN EVERY CORNER. IT IS LATE AT NIGHT AND JESUS IS HOLED UP WITH HIS DISCIPLES. A JEWISH PHARISEE, NICODEMUS, COMES TO JESUS IN THE COVER OF DARKNESS BECAUSE HE SEES SOMETHING HIS FELLOW PHARISEES ARE AFRAID TO SEE. NICODEMUS SEES GOD IN JESUS, BUT IT IS A MYSTERY TO HIM HOW THIS HAPPENS. AND THE MYSTERY ONLY DEEPENS AS JESUS SPEAKS ABOUT BEING BORN ANEW, BORN FROM ABOVE. JESUS SPEAKS A LANGUAGE OF HOLY SPIRIT TO A MAN WHO KNOWS ONLY THE CERTAINTY OF THE LAW. IN THIS PICTURE JESUS IS SPEAKING GRAY TO A MAN WHO ONLY SEES IN BLACK AND WHITE. AND ACROSS THE GRAY OF THIS MYSTERIOUS PICTURE JESUS SPLASHES THE BRIGHT YELLOW LIGHT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT SAYING, “FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY SON, SO THAT EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM MAY NOT PERISH BUT MAY HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.”
THIS PICTURE LEAVES US WONDERING, BUT HOPING, ABOUT WHETHER NICODEMUS SEES THE COLORFUL MESSAGE OR NOT. THIS PICTURE IS THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WORKING IN OUR EVERYDAY LIVES. AND EVERY DAY THERE ARE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE, WHO COME UNDER COVER OF DARKNESS TO BE EXPOSED TO THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE SPIRIT, BUT WE ARE LEFT WONDERING WHETHER OR NOT THEY CAN EXPERIENCE THE HOLY WITHIN THE MYSTERY OF THE TRINITY. IT IS THE QUESTION THAT LIVES FOREVER AS WE SEEK TO EXPERIENCE THE HOLY.
DID YOU SEE IT?
DO YOU FEEL IT?
DO YOU KNOW IT?
MY HOLIEST MOMENT AT GENERAL ASSEMBLY LAST MONTH HAPPENED WHILE WALKING THE LABYRINTH AT ST. JOHN’S EPISCOPAL CATHEDRAL IN DOWNTOWN DENVER, COLORADO. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON’T KNOW, A LABYRINTH IS AN ANCIENT TOOL USED FOR PRAYING AND MEDITATION.
THE FIRST LABYRINTH WAS FOUND AS A PATTERN EMBEDDED INTO THE FLOOR OF THE CHARTRES CATHEDRAL AROUND 1220 AD. THE LABYRINTH I WALKED AT ST. JOHN’S WAS ON A LARGE CANVAS LAID OUT IN AN EMPTY ROOM.
PRINTED ON THE CANVAS WAS A SINGLE PATH THAT WINDS AROUND AND AROUND TO THE CENTER AND THEN BACK OUT AGAIN ON THE SAME PATH. THERE ARE NO TRICKS TO IT AND NO DEAD ENDS. A LABYRINTH IS NOT LIKE A MAZE, CREATED TO CONFOUND AND CONFUSE. AND WHERE A MAZE IS SOMETHING IN WHICH PEOPLE OFTEN FIND THEMSELVES LOST, A LABYRINTH IS SOMETHING THAT HELPS PEOPLE TO BECOME SPIRITUALLY FOUND. SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT A LABYRINTH IS A WINDING PATH, WHICH BECOMES A METAPHOR FOR OUR SPIRITUAL JOURNEY WHEN WE PRAYERFULLY WALK IT.
NOW LET ME SET THE STAGE A BIT BY SAYING THAT GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS FILLED WITH VOICES AND OPINIONS, ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT OPINIONS. IT IS QUITE EASY TO STRAY FROM THE VOICE OF GOD IN THAT STIMULATING SITUATION. ALL OF THE OTHER VOICES SEEM SO LOUD AND SO DISTRACTING. SO I WENT TO THE LABYRINTH TO BE ABLE TO LISTEN FOR GOD’S VOICE AMONG ALL OF THE OTHERS AND TO BE ABLE TO REALLY HEAR WHAT GOD IS SAYING TO ME.
AS I APPROACHED THE LABYRINTH I WALKED INTO A DARKENED ROOM WITH CANDLES LIT AT CERTAIN PLACES AND A GREGORIAN CHANT BEING PLAYED ON A CD PLAYER. I TOOK MY SHOES OFF AND WENT RIGHT TO THE STARTING PLACE. I STOOD THERE FOR A MOMENT, KNOWING I DID NOT WANT TO BE DISTRACTED BY THE OTHER PEOPLE WALKING THE LABYRINTH AT THE SAME TIME. SO AS I BEGAN TO WALK I KEPT MY FOCUS RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY FEET ON MY OWN LITTLE PATH, AND JUST STAYED VERY FOCUSED. I HAD A FEW ISSUES WITH MY BALANCE BECAUSE THE TURNS ON A LABYRINTH ARE WHAT WE WOULD CALL A HAIRPIN TURN IF WE WERE DRIVING ALONG MOUNTAINOUS ROAD. YOU MUST MAKE ALMOST A 360 DEGREE TURNAROUND IN ORDER TO STAY ON THE PATH. BUT AFTER A WHILE I BECAME MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THE NARROW PATH AND THE SHARP TURNS, BUT I STILL STAYED FOCUSED RIGHT ON MY OWN LITTLE PIECE OF THE PATH.
WHEN YOU REACH THE CENTER OF A LABYRINTH YOU CAN STAY THERE AS LONG AS YOU LIKE. THE CENTER IS SHAPED ALMOST LIKE A ROSETTE, A CIRCLE WITH SIX LITTLE PETALS BLOOMING OFF THE CIRCLE. WHEN I FOUND MYSELF IN THE CENTER I IMMEDIATELY WENT TO ONE OF THOSE PETALS AND FELL TO MY KNEES SO THAT I COULD STAY AND PRAY FOR A WHILE, BUT AS I GOT TO MY KNEES I LOOKED UP AND SAW JESUS. THERE, AHEAD OF ME, AT THE EDGE OF THE LABYRINTH, AN ALTAR WAS SET UP WITH THE VERY FAMILIAR ICON OF JESUS, SOME CANDLES, A ROUGH CLOTH AND MAYBE A PIECE OF DRY WOOD, I KIND OF FORGET. BUT WHAT I DO REMEMBER IS HOW IT TOOK MY BREATH AWAY TO LOOK UP AT THE CENTER OF MY SPIRITUAL JOURNEY AND UNEXPECTEDLY SEE JESUS. I HADN’T EVEN REALIZED HE WAS THERE, SO TO SPEAK, AND THE JOY OF FINDING HIM BROUGHT TEARS TO MY EYES. I JUST SAT THERE AND WEPT. IT WAS A HOLY EXPERIENCE. IT WAS A HOLY MOMENT.
BUT IT WAS ALSO A TRINITARIAN EXPERIENCE IN WHICH THE MOMENT WAS WARMLY WRAPPED IN THE VISUAL PRESENCE OF JESUS AND THE DEEPLY SPIRITUAL PRESENCE OF GOD AND THE WONDERFULLY ETHEREAL POWER AND PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT THAT BROUGHT THE WHOLE THING RIGHT INTO MY HEART.
YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES I THINK WE FORGET HOW TO EXPERIENCE THAT KIND OF AWE WHEN IT COMES TO OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. AND THIS IS WHY WE SEEK OUT DIFFERENT WAYS TO BE LED INTO MOMENTS WHEN WE CAN EXPERIENCE THE HOLY.
SO I HOPE AND PRAY THAT TODAY IS ONE OF THOSE EXPERIENCES FOR YOU.
NOW MUSIC IS SURE TO HELP BRING ON A HOLY EXPERIENCE. WHETHER YOU ARE LISTENING OR PERFORMING, MUSIC IS THE LANGUAGE OF HOLINESS. WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF MUSIC WE HEAR AND FEEL ALL THE POWER OF THE FATHER, AND ALL THE LOVE AND INTEGRITY OF THE SON ALONG WITH THE MYSTERY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT THREADING IT ALL TOGETHER. BLESSED BE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE HOLY AND THOSE PRECIOUS MOMENTS IN WHICH WE TRULY EXPERIENCE THE HOLY IN OUR LIVES.
ALLELUIA! AMEN!