SCRIPTURE: II Samuel 23:1-7, Psalm 132:1-12, John 18:33-37 & Revelation 1:4b-8
THE CYCLE OF THE CHRISTIAN YEAR REMINDS US OF A CIRCLE THAT BEGINS WITH EXPECTATION AND ENDS IN FULFILLMENT.
WE BEGIN THE YEAR WITH ADVENT, A TIME OF EXPECTATION AND WAITING FOR THE BIRTH OF THE CHRIST CHILD. WE CELEBRATE THE BIRTH WITH GREAT JOY AND FESTIVITY. AND AFTER THE EXCITEMENT OF THE BIRTH IS OVER, THE WORK BEGINS.
IN JANUARY JESUS IS BAPTIZED AND TAKES ON THE DIFFICULT TASK OF FINDING AND TEACHING DISCIPLES TO FOLLOW HIM AND TO GROW IN THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF HIS MINISTRY. BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND EASTER, EVERY YEAR, WE HAVE THE CHANCE TO GAIN NEW INSIGHT INTO WHAT JESUS IS ALL ABOUT. WE HEAR THE STORIES JESUS TOLD AND COME TO KNOW, ONCE AGAIN, THE PEOPLE JESUS HEALED. AND ALONG WITH GETTING TO KNOW JESUS, WE BEGIN TO EXPERIENCE THE CONFRONTATIONS JESUS HAD WITH THE ESTABLISHED RELIGION INTO WHICH HE WAS BORN. THE DISAGREEMENTS BETWEEN JESUS AND THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS INTENSIFY AS WE MOVE INTO THE SEASON OF LENT WITH ITS DARK AND HOLY WEEK AT THE END.
THEN, ALL OF THE CONFLICT AND ANGUISH COMES TO A TERRIBLE CLIMAX WHEN JESUS DIES ON THE CROSS, EVERY YEAR. AND EVERY YEAR, THE GREAT JOY OF THE RESURRECTION OVERPOWERS THE DARKNESS AND WE KNOW, FOR SURE, THAT GOD IS ALWAYS WITH US AND WILL NEVER LEAVE US. WE RECOMMIT OURSELVES, ONCE AGAIN, TO BE DISCIPLES OF JESUS WHO MORE FULLY UNDERSTAND HIS MISSION. WE ARE RESURRECTION PEOPLE WORKING TO HONOR THE NEW LIFE THAT IS AVAILABLE IN JESUS THE CHRIST.
FIFTY DAYS LATER, THE CHURCH IS BORN AT PENTECOST, AND THIS IS WHERE THE FULFILLMENT BEGINS TO UNFOLD. IT IS ONLY AFTER THE RESURRECTION THAT THE DISCIPLES UNDERSTAND THE REALITY OF WHOM AND WHAT THEY HAD BEEN FOLLOWING. PENTECOST IS ANOTHER CELEBRATED BIRTH, WHICH IS FOLLOWED BY SOME MORE HARD WORK, BUT THIS TIME THE WORK IS OURS AND THE BIRTH IS OF A COMMUNITY, RATHER THAN AN INDIVIDUAL. WE MOVE FROM MAY TO NOVEMBER, HEARING ABOUT THE GROWTH OF THE CHURCH AND ADDING ONTO OUR KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT JESUS TAUGHT. WE ARE LIKE THE UNKNOWING DISCIPLES THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER AND THE FALL, MOST OF THE TIME WE ARE CLUELESS, BUT WE CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK TO WHICH WE HAVE BEEN CALLED.
AND THEN WE COME TO THE END OF THE CHRISTIAN CALENDAR YEAR, WHERE WE ARE GIVEN EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO DIE TO AN OLD UNDERSTANDING OF LIFE AND BE RESURRECTED INTO A TOTALLY NEW REALM.THE REIGN OF CHRIST SUNDAY IS WHERE WE FINALLY GET OUR ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS ABOUT JESUS. THE REIGN OF CHRIST SUNDAY IS WHERE WE LEARN THAT THE HARD WORK OF JESUS IS ULTIMATELY ABOUT JUSTICE. AND THE REIGN OF CHRIST CONTINUES IN US EVERY TIME WE SEE THROUGH THE EYES OF CHRIST AND ACT UPON HIS ROYAL THEOLOGY.
SO TODAY IS THE END OF THE CYCLE; THE COMPLETION OF THE CIRCLE; THE FULFILLMENT, IF YOU WILL. IN OUR WORSHIP, WE HAVE WALKED THE CIRCLE OF THE CHRISTIAN YEAR, BEGINNING LAST DECEMBER WITH EXPECTATION AND WALKING CONFIDENTLY INTO THE MIDST OF FULFILLMENT TODAY. TODAY IS THE DAY WHEN WE CELEBRATE ALL OF THE MANY TIMES, BOTH GREAT AND SMALL, THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE JUSTICE JESUS WAS AFTER, AND WE COMMIT OURSELVES TO FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR.
I KNOW I HAVE HAD A GROWING UNDERSTANDING OF JUSTICE ALMOST ALL MY LIFE, BUT THERE WAS ONE DEFINING MOMENT THAT SHINES BRIGHTER THAN ALL THE REST. THIS WAS A "REIGN OF CHRIST" EXPERIENCE FOR ME, IF YOU WILL, AND IT HAPPENED THE SUMMER AFTER I STARTED MY MINISTRY HERE AT NAURAUSHAUN.
I WAS CHOSEN BY THE PRESBYTERY OF HUDSON RIVER, ALONG WITH TWO ACTIVE ELDERS FROM NAURAUSHAUN CHURCH, TO ATTEND A 10 DAY CONFERENCE AT STONY POINT CENTER. THE TITLE OF THE CONFERENCE WAS SPIRITUAL RENEWAL IN THE CONGREGATION AND ROS, LYNN AND I WERE THERE REPRESENTING NPC. WE WERE THERE TO LEARN HOW TO IGNITE THE FLAME OF THE SPIRIT FOR OUR COMMUNITY, AND BRING THE GLOW BACK WITH US. (AS AN ASIDE, ONE OF THE MANY THINGS THAT CAME ABOUT BECAUSE OF OUR GROWTH AT THAT SEMINAR WAS OUR THURSDAY MORNING PRAYER GROUP.)
NOW I HAVE TO SAY THAT THE ENTIRE TEN DAYS WAS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL EXPERIENCES ONE MY OWN SPIRITUAL JOURNEY, MOSTLY BECAUSE WE LEARNED ABOUT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN OUR DEEP NEED FOR WORSHIP AND HOW THE FILLING OF THAT NEED CALLS US INTO THE WORLD TO DO JUSTICE. ACTUALLY, WE DIDN'T JUST LEARN ABOUT IT, WE EXPERIENCED IT. WE WENT FROM WARM FELLOWSHIP AND INSPIRING WORSHIP OUT INTO THE WORLD TO DO THE WORK OF JESUS. AND IT WAS AT THIS CONFERENCE THAT I ENDED UP GOING ON MY VERY FIRST MIDNIGHT RUN.
IT WAS IN THE CHAPEL OF THE SOUTH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN DOBBS FERRY THAT I FIRST MET THE REV. JOSEPH GILMORE. AND IT WAS THROUGH JOE GILMORE THAT I BEGAN TO UNDERSTAND THE TRUE DEPTH OF THE MEANING OF JUSTICE.
WE WERE GATHERED IN A CIRCLE, IT WAS LATE AT NIGHT BECAUSE MIDNIGHT RUN IS JUST THAT-A RUN THROUGH MANHATTAN AT MIDNIGHT WHEN WE ENTER INTO COMMUNITY WITH THE STREET PEOPLE OF NEW YORK. WE HAD ALREADY BEEN IN THE KITCHEN MAKING SANDWICHES AND PACKING THE VAN WITH CLOTHES AND COFFEE. I WAS A LITTLE ANXIOUS, BUT MOSTLY EXCITED. I WANTED TO SEE HOW THE FACE OF CHRIST WOULD REVEAL ITSELF TO ME IN THE HOURS AHEAD. AND THEN JOE BEGAN TO TALK ABOUT JUSTICE IN WAYS I HAD NEVER HEARD BEFORE.
THIS WAS OVER TEN YEARS AGO, AND I DON'T REMEMBER HALF OF WHAT HE ACTUALLY SAID. BUT I DO REMEMBER HIM HOLDING UP A WRAPPED SANDWICH AND SAYING, "THIS SANDWICH IS NOT A GIFT. THIS SANDWICH IS JUSTICE." AND THAT COMMENT STAYS WITH ME TO THIS VERY DAY.
BY QUIETLY DRIVING THROUGH THE CITY AT NIGHT AND SHARING FOOD AND CLOTHING, WE WEREN'T DOING GREAT BENEVOLENT ACTS BECAUSE GOD HAD BLESSED US OVER THE STREET PEOPLE OF NEW YORK CITY. WE WERE DOING THE HARD WORK OF JESUS; BRINGING JUSTICE WHERE THERE HAD BEEN NONE. WE WERE MEETING EYE TO EYE WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE LOVED BY GOD IN EXACTLY THE SAME WAY WE ARE. WE WERE DOING JUSTICE. AND I KNOW I HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO LOOK AT A HOMELESS MAN OR WOMAN ANYWHERE SINCE THAT NIGHT WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT WHAT I MIGHT DO TO LEVEL OUT THE PLAYING FIELD FOR ALL OF US.
YOU SEE, LEVELING OUT THE PLAYING FIELD, IN WHATEVER WAY WE CAN, BECOMES THE FULFILLMENT OF OUR EXPECTATIONS ABOUT THE COMING OF THE CHRIST CHILD INTO THIS WORLD. AND HOPEFULLY, BY THE TIME THE REIGN OF CHRIST SUNDAY ROLLS AROUND, WE JUST MIGHT HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT WE ARE RESPONSIBLE TO CARRY ON THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE THAT WAS GOD'S INTENTION ALL THE WAY BACK TO KING DAVID. AND THIS REALIZATION IS THE CYCLE OF THE CHRISTIAN YEAR. THIS REALIZATION IS WHEN WE COME FULL CIRCLE IN OUR CHRISTIAN FAITH.
WHEN WE FINALLY HAVE A CLEAR PICTURE OF WHAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE, AND TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN-THEN WE HAVE TRULY COME FULL CIRCLE! AND EVERY ONE OF THE LECTIONARY PASSAGES FOR TODAY POINT TO THIS REALITY, WITH JUSTICE BEING THE KEY WORD.
OUR ANTHEM TODAY WAS THE MUSICAL SETTING OF THE LAST WORDS OF DAVID AS FOUND IN THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL IN THE TWENTY-THIRD CHAPTER. THESE ARE NOT DAVID'S FINAL WORDS IN LIFE. THEY ARE, INSTEAD, THE FINAL WORDS OF HIS CAREER AS A HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL KING OVER ISRAEL. BUT, UNLIKE MOST RETIREMENT SPEECHES, THIS IS NOT A RECAP OF DAVID'S ROYAL ACHIEVEMENTS, FOR DAVID'S KINGSHIP ENDED UP BEING WROUGHT WITH ABUSIVE POWER. INSTEAD, THIS IS A REMINDER OF GOD'S UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT A ROYAL THEOLOGY SHOULD BE. USING DAVID AS A MOUTHPIECE, GOD TELLS US THAT KINGS WHO ARE GUIDED BY GOD, RULE WITH A JUSTICE THAT SHINES LIKE THE SUN RISING ON A CLOUDLESS MORNING, GLEAMING ON THE RAIN-DRENCHED GRASS.
IN THE MUSIC OF RANDALL THOMPSON WE CAN HEAR HOW POWER USED TO BRING GOD'S JUSTICE INTO THE WORLD IS A GLORIOUS AND BEAUTIFUL THING! AND EVEN THOUGH KING DAVID DID NOT END HIS REIGN FROM A PLACE OF GOD'S JUSTICE, GOD HOLDS ONTO THE VISION THAT GOD CAN ANOINT A LEADER IN THIS WORLD WHO WILL BRING JUSTICE.
PSALM 132 REMEMBERS THE FAITHFULNESS OF KING DAVID IN THE BEGINNING. IT REMEMBERS THE WAY DAVID FOUND A SANCTUARY FOR GOD IN THE ARK OF THE COVENANT. AND IT REMEMBERS GOD'S PROMISE OF FAITHFULNESS, TO THE COVENANT-TO JUSTICE.
IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN WE HEARD THE VERY FAMILIAR TRIAL OF JESUS ON THE NIGHT BEFORE HIS DEATH. PILATE WANTED TO KNOW FROM JESUS, HIMSELF, IF HE IS KING OF THE JEWS. JESUS USED THAT MADDENING STRATEGY OF ANSWERING A QUESTION WITH A QUESTION AND WE ALMOST FEEL AS IF THERE IS NO ANSWER. BUT IF WE COULD CONDENSE THIS SCENE INTO ONE THOUGHT, I THINK WE CAN SAY PRETTY FAITHFULLY SAY THAT JESUS IS KING, BUT HIS KINGDOM IS DIFFERENT THAN ANY KINGDOM PILATE, OR THE REST OF THE WORLD HAS EVER KNOWN. THE TRUTH ABOUT THE REIGN OF KING JESUS IS THAT HE USES HIS POWER IN A MUCH DIFFERENT WAY THAN KING DAVID DID.
GOD'S TRUTH IS ABOUT JUSTICE. AND KING JESUS IS THE REALIZATION OF GOD'S ROYAL THEOLOGY BEGUN WITH DAVID.
FINALLY, IN THE REVELATION OF JOHN WE HEAR THAT JESUS IS THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA; THE BEGINNING AND THE END OF THE WAY GOD WANTS LIFE ON EARTH TO BE. AND JESUS HAS MADE US INTO A KINGDOM OF PRIESTS WITH CHRIST AS THE REIGNING ROYALTY.
COVENANT, TRUTH, JUSTICE-THIS IS THE FULL CIRCLE OF ROYAL THEOLOGY, AND NOW IS THE TIME TO LIVE INTO THIS REALITY.
ONE OF MY FAVORITE REIGN OF CHRIST EXPERIENCES IS THE BUILDING OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THE PEOPLES OF THE WORLD.
FROM UPPER STATE NEW YORK, TO NICARAGUA, TO SPRING VALLEY, THERE IS NOTHING MORE SATISFYING TO MY REIGN OF CHRIST FULFILLMENT THAN TO SEE TO IT THAT ONE MORE PERSON HAS A SOLID ROOF OVER HIS/HER HEAD! MY "INJUSTICE" BUTTON GETS HIT EVERY TIME I SEE A NEW HUGE HOUSE BEING BUILT HERE IN ROCKLAND COUNTY. THE TWO HOUSES ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE OF SICKLETOWN ROAD, RIGHT BEFORE YOU GET TO THE SINGLE LAND TUNNEL, IS CASE IN POINT. I HAVE A HARD TIME SEEING THE REALM OF GOD IN THESE HOUSES, ESPECIALLY WHEN I KNOW ENTIRE FAMILIES LIVING IN ONE AND TWO ROOM HOUSE OVER IN SPRING VALLEY-TINY LITTLE SHACKS THAT CAN HARDLY KEEP THE RAIN OUT.
NOW I'M SURE EACH OF YOU HAS AN INJUSTICE BUTTON THAT GETS HIT FROM TIME TO TIME. WHAT'S YOUR BUTTON? WHERE IS CHRIST CALLING YOU TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD?
AND I'M GOING TO LEAVE US WITH ONE MORE REIGN OF CHRIST THOUGHT. WHAT CAN WE DO, THIS WEEK-OR ANY WEEK, TO BE A REAL PART OF THE ROYAL THEOLOGY? HOW CAN WE CELEBRATE OUR COMING FULL CIRCLE?
AMEN
SCRIPTURE: I Samuel 2:1-10, Hebrews 10:11-25 & Mark 13:1-8
HAVE YOU EVER VISITED THE STONE YARD AT THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF ST. JOHN THE DIVINE IN NEW YORK CITY? ACTUALLY, HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO THE MAJESTIC EDIFICE ITSELF? SOME TWENTY YEARS AGO STEWART AND I MADE A VISIT TO SEE THE STRANGE AND WONDERFUL PHENOMENON OF HARLEM'S UNEMPLOYED BEING TRAINED BY ENGLISH STONE CUTTERS TO CHISEL THE STONES THAT WOULD CONTINUE TO BUILD AN AMERICAN CATHEDRAL BEGUN IN 1892. THE STONE YARD IS NO LONGER ACTIVE SINCE THE BUILDING PROCESS CAME TO A HALT IN 1997. BUT THE MEMORY OF BEING THERE AND WATCHING THE MEN WORK ON THE INDIVIDUAL STONES IS STILL VERY CLEAR. AND WHAT I REMEMBER MOST CLEARLY IS THAT THE STONES WERE HUGE, MUCH LARGER THAN ONE WOULD IMAGINE. SO I THINK I HAVE A SENSE OF THE AWE WITH WHICH THE DISCIPLES WERE VIEWING THE MASSIVE TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM. IT WOULD BE SOMEWHAT LIKE WALKING INTO THE NAVE OF THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF ST. JOHN THE DIVINE, ALMOST LIKE WALKING RIGHT INTO THE MIDST OF A GREAT POWER.
NOW A FOOTNOTE IN MY BIBLE SAYS THE STONES OF THE TEMPLE WERE 37 ˝ FEET LONG, 18 FEET WIDE AND 12 FEET THICK. THE SIZE IS SO LARGE IT IS DIFFICULT TO IMAGINE, AND I AM SURE THE DISCIPLES WERE SHOCKED TO HEAR HOW JESUS SAID ALL THE STONES WOULD BE THROWN DOWN.THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN SHOCKED, NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF THE STONES, BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF THE IDEA THAT THE TEMPLE WOULD COME DOWN STONE BY STONE. WHAT COULD JESUS BE TALKING ABOUT?
THE DISCIPLES DON'T ASK JESUS ABOUT HIS SHOCKING STATEMENT UNTIL THEY ARE AWAY FROM THE CROWDS AT THE TEMPLE AND LOOKING BACK AT IT. FROM THE PRIVACY OF THE MOUNT OF OLIVES, OPPOSITE THE TEMPLE, PETER, JAMES, JOHN, AND ANDREW WANT TO KNOW MORE. HOW CAN THOSE MASSIVE STONES COME TOPPLING DOWN? AND WHY WOULD THEY COME DOWN? AND WHEN IS THIS GOING TO HAPPEN?
BASICALLY, WHAT JESUS TELLS THE DISCIPLES IS THAT HE IS USING THE IMAGE OF THE TEMPLE TO TALK ABOUT GREATER THINGS. JESUS IS ON HIS WAY TO JERUSALEM AND THE CROSS AT THIS POINT IN THE GOSPEL OF MARK, AND HE WANTS TO TEACH THE DISCIPLES AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE ABOUT THE CONTINUATION OF HIS MINISTRY AND MISSION. JESUS IS USING THE IMAGE OF THE TEMPLE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT DISCIPLESHIP WILL BE LIKE AFTER HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION. AND THE IMAGE IS MADE EVEN MORE POIGNANT IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THE BUILDING TRULY WAS DESTROYED, FOR THE FINAL TIME, NOT TOO LONG AFTER THIS GOSPEL WAS WRITTEN. THERE ARE OBVIOUS IMAGES OF POWER HERE, AND I FIND IT QUITE STRIKING THAT WHAT GOD HAS TO SAY ABOUT POWER THROUGH JESUS IS SO VERY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT HUMAN BEINGS NATURALLY THINK POWER TO BE. IT SEEMS TO ME WE ARE AT CONSTANT ODDS WITH OUR CREATOR WHEN IT COMES TO ISSUES OF POWER. AND JESUS IS SAYING THE STEADY DISCIPLINE OF DISCIPLESHIP MAY WELL BE CONSTANTLY COMING BACK TO GOD'S WAY OF THINKING.
NOW AS I THINK OF THE DISCIPLES STANDING IN AWE OF THE GRAND TEMPLE AND JESUS' STRANGE ANSWER ABOUT WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS, I AM REMINDED OF KEN FOLLET'S POWERFUL BOOK, PILLARS OF THE EARTH. UNLIKE FOLLET'S OTHER STORIES, THIS ONE TAKES PLACE IN THE 12TH CENTURY, IN GREAT BRITAIN, AT A FICTIONAL TOWN NAMED KINGSBRIDGE. AND THE WHOLE STORY IS DEVELOPED AROUND THE BUILDING OF A GRAND CATHEDRAL. THE PLOT DEVELOPS OVER A 40 YEAR PERIOD AS WE HEAR THE STORIES OF THREE INDIVIDUALS LIVES UNFOLD, ALONGSIDE A DETAILED DEPICTION OF THE BUILDING OF THE CATHEDRAL AT KINGSBRIDGE.
THERE IS A LOT OF POWER IN THIS STORY, AND PART OF THE POWER HAS TO DO WITH THE INTRIGUE AND THE PASSION THAT SURROUNDS A BUILDING OF SUCH ENORMOUS MAGNITUDE.
IF YOU HAVE EVER BEEN TO THE UNITED KINGDOM, YOU KNOW THAT A CATHEDRAL WILL DOMINATE THE SKYLINE AS YOU APPROACH THE VILLAGE OR TOWN FROM THE COUNTRYSIDE.
WHAT I LEARNED FROM FOLLET'S BOOK IS THAT THE VILLAGES WOULD ACTUALLY BUILD UP AROUND THE BUILDING OF THE CATHEDRAL, SO THE VISION OF THE PEOPLE WHO GATHERED WAS THAT OF A MAJESTIC EDIFICE FIRST AND THE COMMUNITY OF THE PEOPLE SECOND.
NOW IT SEEMS TO ME THIS IS THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF WHAT GOD HAS INTENDED FOR HUMAN EXISTENCE. YOU SEE, HUMAN BEINGS BUILD HUGE MONUMENTS IN HONOR OF GOD, WHEN GOD WANTS HUMAN BEINGS TO BUILD LOVING COMMUNITIES INSTEAD. AND THIS IS THE VERY CRUX OF THE MESSAGE JESUS IS TRYING TO CEMENT INTO THE MINDS OF THE DISCIPLES. THE TEMPLE MAY BE SPECTACULAR, BUT AFTER THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS THE CHRIST, THE TEMPLE WILL MEAN VERY LITTLE ANY MORE.
THE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS ARE MEANT TO BUILD A COMMUNITY THAT IS NOT RESTRICTED BY OR CONTAINED WITHIN FOUR WALLS.
NOW EVEN AS I SAY THIS I AM AWARE OF THE FACT THAT GOD TOLD SOLOMON TO BUILD THE TEMPLE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
I'VE ALWAYS WONDERED ABOUT THAT. WHEN WE TAKE THE ANCIENT STORY OF THE TOWER OF BABEL, WHERE GOD THWARTS THE HUMAN ATTEMPT TO BUILD A TOWER UP TO HEAVENS, AND TODAY'S TALK ABOUT THE DESTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLE AND PLACE THEM ON EITHER SIDE OF THE STORY OF SOLOMON FOLLOWING GOD'S EXACT INSTRUCTIONS FOR BUILDING A TEMPLE, WHAT DO WE HAVE?
WELL, I, MYSELF, THINK WE HAVE A THEOLOGICAL MYSTERY. AND IT IS A MYSTERY THAT MAY NEVER BE DEFINITIVELY SOLVED, BUT A MYSTERY THAT SAYS SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT TO US. DID GOD CHANGE OVER THE YEARS, WANTING A GRAND TEMPLE AS A HOLY HOME AT ONE POINT IN HISTORY AND THEN PREDICTING ITS DESTRUCTION LATER ON? OR DID HUMAN BEINGS GET THE WRONG MESSAGE AND HEAD IN THE WRONG DIRECTION OVER AND OVER AGAIN?
WELL, I PREFER TO THINK THE ANSWER TO THE MYSTERY IS THE LATTER OF THE TWO OPTIONS. WE HUMAN BEINGS MISINTERPRET GOD ALL THE TIME AND I BELIEVE JESUS WAS THE ULTIMATE INTERPRETATION. GOD SEES POWER IN RELATIONSHIP, NOT FINITE MATERIALISM. AND JESUS CAME SO CLOSE IT SHOULD BE DIFFICULT TO MISS THE MESSAGE-BUT WE STILL DO. THE ORIGINAL STORY OF THE TOWER OF BABEL IS CLOSER TO THE TRUTH OF HOW GOD WANTS TO RELATE TO US, AND US TO OTHERS, RATHER THAN PAYING ATTENTION TO EVERY MINUTE DETAIL OF SOLOMON BUILDING THE TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM. GOD HAS THE POWER OF WISDOM AND HUMAN BEINGS DO WELL TO FOLLOW GOD'S LEAD RATHER THAN BUILDING MONUMENTS. IN JESUS CHRIST IT BECOMES CRYSTAL CLEAR THAT THERE IS FINER POWER IN LOVING RELATIONSHIPS THAN ANY OTHER KIND.
NOT ONE STONE WILL BE LEFT HERE UPON ANOTHER; ALL WILL BE THROWN DOWN. THE POWER OF GOD CANNOT BE CONTAINED IN A FINITE STRUCTURE. GOD'S LOVE AND HOPE ARE CONSTANTLY BREAKING OUT IN THIS WORLD, AND IT IS UP TO THE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS TO POINT TO THESE IN BREAKING MOMENTS EVERY TIME WE CAN.
WE ARE PEOPLE OF HOPE. AND THE POWER OF GOD IS A POWER OF HOPE RATHER THAN GRANDIOSITY. WE LOOK AT THE FALSE LEADERS AND THE WARS AND THE EARTHQUAKES AND FAMINES WITHOUT DESPAIR! JESUS TELLS HIS DISCIPLES TO NOT BE LED ASTRAY. THIS IS NOT THE END, SAYS JESUS, THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING. THESE DARK TIMES ARE THE BEGINNING OF A NEW BIRTH.
AND, OH, HOW THIS THOUGHT FINDS US AND FILLS US IN OUR CONTEMPORARY SITUATION. IN LIGHT OF ALL THE CONTROVERSY IN THE CHURCH AND THE WARS IN OUR WORLD AND THE NATURAL DESTRUCTION WE MUST BEAR, HEAR THESE WORDS AS IF YOU ARE SITTING NEXT TO JESUS, ON THE MOUNT OF OLIVES, LOOKING AT THAT AWESOME AND MAJESTIC TEMPLE BEING REBUILT IN THE CENTER OF YOUR WORLD.
JESUS SAYS TO YOU "BEWARE THAT NO ONE LEADS YOU ASTRAY. MANY WILL COME IN MY NAME AND SAY, 'I AM HE!' AND THEY WILL LEAD MANY ASTRAY. WHEN YOU HEAR OF WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS, DO NOT BE ALARMED; THIS MUST TAKE PLACE, BUT THE END IS STILL TO COME. FOR NATION WILL RISE AGAINST NATION, AND KINGDOM AGAINST KINGDOM; THERE WILL BE EARTHQUAKES IN VARIOUS PLACES; THERE WILL BE FAMINES. THIS IS BUT THE BEGINNING OF THE BIRTH PANGS!"
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I TEND TO LOOK AT THE FIRES IN CALIFORNIA, AND THE DEBATES OVER WHETHER OR NOT THE 10 COMMANDMENTS CAN BE PUBLICLY DISPLAYED, AND THE WARS IN ISRAEL AND IRAQ AS SIGNS THAT GOD MIGHT BE GIVING UP AND THE END IS CLOSE AT HAND. BUT JESUS SAYS, NO, THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF THE BIRTH PANGS. SOMETHING NEW IS BEING BORN. THERE IS HOPE FOR THIS WORLD. AND THE HOPE COMES WRAPPED IN OUR DELIBERATE SHIFT OF UNDERSTANDING POWER IN THE SAME WAY GOD DOES. GOD'S POWER IS NOT SOMETHING THAT MAKES US THROW OUR HEAD BACK AND GAZE UPON SOMETHING WITH AWE. GOD'S POWER IS SUCH THAT WE THROW OUR ARMS OUT AND TOUCH THE PEOPLE NEXT TO US AND MEET THE GAZE OF THEIR EYES AT THE SAME LEVEL AS OUR EYES.
IN THE WORDS OF KEN MEDEMA, "WE NEED NO TOWERS RISING SKYWARD, NO HOUSE OF WOOD OR GLASS OR STONE. COME BUILD A CHURCH WITH HUMAN FRAILTY, COME BUILD A CHURCH OF FLESH AND BONE. JESUS SHALL BE ITS SURE FOUNDATION; IT WILL BE BUILT BY THE HAND OF GOD."
COVENTRY CATHEDRAL IN ENGLAND IS THE HOME OF A CONGREGATION THAT STARTED IN 1043. ON THE NIGHT OF NOVEMBER 14, 1940, THE CITY OF COVENTRY WAS DEVASTATED BY ONE OF THE MANY BOMBINGS THAT ENGLAND ENDURED DURING WORLD WAR II. THE CATHEDRAL BUILDING WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE. THE DECISION TO REBUILD THE CATHEDRAL WAS MADE THE MORNING AFTER ITS DESTRUCTION. THE PROVOST AT THE TIME, DICK HOWARD, CONSIDERED THE PROCESS OF REBUILDING NOT AS AN ACT OF DEFIANCE, BUT RATHER A SIGN OF FAITH, TRUST, AND HOPE FOR THE FUTURE. IT WAS HOWARD'S WAY OF HEARING JESUS SAY, "THIS IS BUT THE BEGINNING OF THE BIRTH PANGS." HOWARD'S VISION LED THE PEOPLE OF COVENTRY AWAY FROM BITTERNESS AND HATRED AND TOWARDS GROWING THE CATHEDRAL'S MINISTRY OF PEACE AND RECONCILIATION, WHICH HAS PROVIDED AND CONTINUES TO PROVIDE SPIRITUAL AND PRACTICAL SUPPORT IN AREAS OF CONFLICT THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
I'VE BEEN TO COVENTRY CATHEDRAL TWICE NOW, AND EACH TIME I GO I FIND MYSELF MOVED TO TEARS. YOU SEE, A BRAND NEW BUILDING WAS BUILT ADJACENT TO THE BURNED OUT RUINS OF THE ANCIENT BUILDING. THE BACK WALL OF THE NEW BUILDING IS ENTIRELY MADE OF CLEAR GLASS SO THAT THE JUXTAPOSITION OF DESPAIR AND HOPE CAN NOT BE MISSED.
THE OTHER SIGN OF HOPE THAT NEVER PASSES ME BY IS THE FACT THAT DONATIONS CAME FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD FOR THE REBUILDING OF THE CATHEDRAL, MOST NOTABLY FROM SEVERAL COMMUNITIES IN GERMANY, AS WELL AS THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT. IN THE VERY MOST BASIC PLACE OF OUR HUMANITY WE LONG FOR HOPE, WE LONG FOR RECONCILIATION, WE LONG FOR GOD'S KINGDOM-GOD'S WAY OF LIVING, TO BE REAL EACH AND EVERY DAY. AND WE MUST NEVER LOSE OUR ABILITY TO HOPE. THIS IS WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A TRUE DISCIPLE. WE CONSTANTLY FIND HOPE WHERE THERE SEEMS TO BE NONE.
ON THE WEBSITE FOR COVENTRY CATHEDRAL, THE CURRENT DEAN, JOHN IRVINE WELCOMES VISITORS WITH THESE WORDS, "TO WALK FROM THE RUINS OF THE OLD CATHEDRAL INTO THE SPLENDOR OF THE NEW IS TO WALK FROM GOOD FRIDAY TO EASTER, FROM THE RAVAGES OF HUMAN SELF-DESTRUCTION TO THE GLORIOUS HOPE OF RESURRECTION…THANKS TO GOD'S MERCY, RECONCILIATION IS POSSIBLE."
ALLELUIA! AMEN
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 127, Hebrews 9:24-28 & Mark 12:38-44
IN ONE OF HIS LAKE WOBEGONE STORIES, GARRISON KEILLOR TELLS ABOUT A SUNDAY MORNING IN LAKE WOBEGONE LUTHERAN CHURCH. THE SERMON HAS BEEN DRONING ON FAR TOO LONG, AND CLARENCE BUNSEN HAS CHECKED OUT EARLY. HE REALIZES IT'S ALMOST TIME FOR THE OFFERING, SO HE QUIETLY REACHES FOR HIS WALLET. UPON OPENING HIS WALLET, CLARENCE DISCOVERS HE HAS NO CASH. HE TAKES OUT HIS PEN AND HIDES THE CHECKBOOK IN THE MIDDLE OF HIS BIBLE, NEXT TO ONE OF THE PSALMS. HE BEGINS TO SCRATCH OUT A CHECK FOR THIRTY DOLLARS, BECAUSE HE ALMOST HAD A HEART ATTACK THAT WEEK, AND BECAUSE SOMEBODY IN THE CHURCH WILL COUNT THE OFFERING AND HE WANTS THEM TO SEE HE GAVE THIRTY DOLLARS.
HE TRIES NOT TO BE OBVIOUS, BUT A LADY TO HIS RIGHT SEES HIM. CLARENCE CAN TELL SHE THINKS HE'S WRITING IN THE PEW BIBLE, SO HE DOESN'T LOOK AT WHAT HE'S DOING. SHE GIVES HIM A FUNNY STARE, AND TURNS BACK TO THE SERMON.
CLARENCE TRIES TO QUIETLY RIP THE CHECK OUT OF THE CHECKBOOK, WITH LIMITED SUCCESS, STILL NOT LOOKING AT WHAT HE'S DOING SO THE LADY IN THE PEW WON'T KNOW HE HAS WRITTEN OUT A CHECK IN CHURCH. THE OFFERING PLATE COMES BY, AND CLARENCE PROUDLY PUTS IN THE CHECK, ONLY TO REALIZE A MOMENT TOO LATE THAT HE HAS JUST WRITTEN A CHECK FOR THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS. HE ACCIDENTALLY WROTE THREE-ZERO-ZERO ON TWO DIFFERENT LINES WHEN HE WASN'T LOOKING.
WHAT COULD HE DO? ON THE ONE HAND, HE COULDN'T GO DOWNSTAIRS AFTER CHURCH AND FIND THE DEACONS COUNTING THE COLLECTION AND SAY, "FELLOWS, THERE'S BEEN A MISTAKE. I GAVE MORE THAN I REALLY WANTED TO." ON THE OTHER HAND, HE GAVE ALL HE HAD IN THE CHECKING ACCOUNT AND A LITTLE MORE. PERHAPS HE AND HIS FAMILY WILL HAVE TO EAT BEANS AND OATMEAL FOR THE REST OF THE MONTH, CLARENCE THOUGHT, EVEN THOUGH THE CONTRIBUTION WAS GOING TO A GOOD PLACE.
ONE THING WAS FOR SURE, NOTES KEILLOR. IN THAT MOMENT, CLARENCE FELT FULLY ALIVE FOR THE FIRST TIME ALL DAY!
THIS WEEK ABOUT A THIRD OF OUR CONGREGATION RECEIVED LETTERS ASKING THEM TO BE A PART OF A STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN IN WHICH WE VISIT THE OTHER TWO-THIRDS OF THE CONGREGATION. THIS LETTER INVITED THEM TO A TRAINING SESSION TO BE HELD TODAY IN THE PARLOR, FOLLOWING WORSHIP. MY HUSBAND, STEWART HOLMES WAS ASKED TO BE ONE OF THE VISITORS. AND AS SOON AS HE RECEIVED THE INVITATION HE SAID, "I DON'T WANT TO DO IT." NOW I HAVE NEVER HEARD MY HUSBAND COMPLAIN ABOUT A CHANCE TO GO OUT AND BE SOCIABLE, SO I ADMIT TO BEING SURPRISED BY HIS RELUCTANCE. I SAID, "WHY DON'T YOU WANT TO DO IT, I THOUGHT YOU WOULD ENJOY SOMETHING LIKE THIS?" TO WHICH STEWART RESPONDED, "I HATE ASKING PEOPLE FOR MONEY. THAT'S WHY I LEFT THE REAL ESTATE BUSINESS, REMEMBER?" I SAID, "WOULD IT HELP IF YOU KNEW YOU WON'T BE ASKING ANYBODY FOR MONEY?" AND A MOMENT OF TRUE REVELATION HAPPENED FOR ME WHEN STEWART SAID, "HOW CAN IT BE A STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN IF WE DON'T ASK FOR MONEY?"
I BELIEVE STEWARDSHIP IS ONE OF THE MOST MISUNDERSTOOD AND MISUSED WORDS IN THE LANGUAGE OF THE CHURCH. YES, AS THE CHURCH WE NEED TO ASK FOR MONEY EVERY YEAR. AND YES, WE USUALLY CALL THE PROCESS OF ASKING "THE STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN." BUT TRUE STEWARDSHIP IS ABOUT SO MUCH MORE THAN MONEY. TRUE STEWARDSHIP HAS MUCH MORE TO DO WITH OUR HEART OF HEARTS THAN IT DOES OUR POCKETBOOK.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, STEWARDSHIP IS BELIEVING THAT ALL OF LIFE IS A WONDROUS GIFT FROM GOD. THE WAY WE TAKE A BREATH AND THE WAY OUR HEART BEATS IS A GIFT FROM GOD IN JUST THE SAME WAY THAT OUR HOME AND OUR CAR AND OUR BANK ACCOUNT ARE ALL GIFTS FROM GOD. OUR CHILDREN ARE A GIFT FROM GOD. OUR COMMUNITY IS A GIFT FROM GOD. OUR JOB IS A GIFT FROM GOD. AND STEWARDSHIP IS ALL ABOUT HOW WE USE OUR GIFTS.
TO BE A STEWARD IS TO BE A CAREGIVER. A WINE STEWARD IS SOMEONE WHO CARES FOR THE WINE AND DISTRIBUTES IT WITH WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE. A STEWARD OF GOD'S GIFT OF LIFE IS SOMEONE WHO CARES FOR ALL OF LIFE AND LIVES IT WITH WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE. AND MONEY HAS VERY LITTLE TO DO WITH REALLY LIVING LIFE WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT CAREFULLY ENOUGH. LIFE CAN BE LIVED VERY FULLY WITHOUT HAVING A LOT OF MONEY, BECAUSE LIFE IS NOT ABOUT WHAT WE OWN OR WHAT WE DO.
REALLY LIVING LIFE IS ABOUT COMMUNITY AND RELATIONSHIPS. IT'S ABOUT RELATING TO GOD, AND IT'S ABOUT RELATING TO THE REST OF GOD'S CREATION.
NOW, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, TODAY'S GOSPEL LESSON HAS LITTLE TO DO WITH MONEY AS WELL, EVEN THOUGH THE STORY OF THE WIDOW'S MITE, MORE TIMES THAN NOT, HAS BEEN USED AS AN INDICTMENT ON THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE GIVE TO THE CHURCH. I'M GOING TO TELL YOU, RIGHT UP FRONT, I DON'T BELIEVE FOR ONE MINUTE JESUS IS ASKING THE DISCIPLES, OR US-OR ANYONE ELSE FOR THAT MATTER-TO GIVE EVERY PENNY TO THE CHURCH AND THEN LIVE A LIFE OF DESTITUTION. IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'VE BEEN TAUGHT, THEN UNLEARN IT! BECAUSE GIVING OUR LAST PENNY TO THE CHURCH WILL LEAVE US STARVING AND LIVING ON THE STREETS. AND THE LAST THING OUR WORLD, OR OUR CHURCH FOR THAT MATTER, NEEDS IS MORE STARVING PEOPLE!
TODAY'S GOSPEL STORY REALLY HAS TO DO WITH GOSPEL ECONOMICS AND JUSTICE. IT HAS TO DO WITH LIVING IN A ONE WORLD COMMUNITY AND SEEKING JUSTICE FOR ALL THE PEOPLE IN OUR WORLD COMMUNITY. THE STORY IS ABOUT MORE THAN A WIDOW GIVING TWO SMALL COINS AT THE TEMPLE. IT IS ALSO ABOUT JESUS' OPINION OF SOME SCRIBES. AND THESE TWO THOUGHTS DON'T SEEM TO CONNECT AT FIRST GLANCE.
THE SCRIBES ARE DANGEROUS BECAUSE THEY LOVE THE TRAPPINGS OF THEIR POSITION SO MUCH. THEY LOVE TO WALK AROUND IN LONG ROBES AND BE GREETED AS "REVEREND" IN THE MARKETPLACE. THEY LOVE TO BE THE GUEST OF HONOR AT BANQUETS AND SEATED IN THE BEST SEAT AT THE SYNAGOGUE.
SO WHAT YOU SEE ON THE SURFACE IS PRETTY SPLENDID, BUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN THEIR HEARTS IS ABSOLUTELY REPREHENSIBLE.
SCRIPTURE TELLS US THAT THE SCRIBES DEVOUR WIDOW'S HOUSES. YOU SEE, THE SCRIBES USED THEIR POSITION OF POWER AND RESPECT FOR THEIR OWN PERSONAL GAIN.
IN THE ANCIENT WORLD, WOMEN WERE NOT ALLOWED TO MANAGE THEIR HUSBAND'S ESTATES, EVEN AFTER THE HUSBAND'S DEATH, SO SCRIBES, BECAUSE OF THEIR SEEMING PIETY, WERE OFTEN ASSIGNED AS ESTATE ADMINISTRATORS. AND IN THESE TWO THOUGHTS ABOUT SCRIBES AND WIDOWS, JESUS WAS POINTING OUT THE REALITY OF EMBEZZLEMENT AND ABUSE. THE SCRIBES WERE "[DEVOURING] WIDOW'S HOUSES AND FOR THE SAKE OF APPEARANCE [SAYING] LONG PRAYERS." THE VIEWING OF THE WIDOW'S OFFERING AND JESUS' WARNING AGAINST THE SCRIBES CONNECT AT ONE POINT. AND THAT POINT IS JUSTICE.
JESUS DIDN'T LIKE WHAT WAS IN THE HEARTS OF THE SCRIBES. HE DIDN'T TRUST THEM AND HE WAS DETERMINED TO WARN THE DISCIPLES ABOUT THEM AS WELL, NOT BECAUSE THE SCRIBES MIGHT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE DISCIPLES, BUT RATHER BECAUSE THE SCRIBES WERE TAKING AWAY FROM A JUST SOCIETY. THE SCRIBES WERE HARMING THE WORLD COMMUNITY.
DURING HIS MINISTRY, WHAT JESUS WANTED MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE WAS TO USHER IN A TIME AND A PLACE WHERE WIDOWS AND ORPHANS, THE POOREST OF THE POOR, WERE TAKEN CARE OF BY A JUST SOCIETY. THIS WAS AND IS GOSPEL ECONOMICS. THIS WAS AND IS GOOD STEWARDSHIP.
SO WHEN JESUS TURNED TO WATCH THE PEOPLE PUTTING MONEY INTO THE TREASURY, HE WAS NOT THINKING ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY. JESUS WAS THINKING ABOUT AN ILLUSTRATION TO COUNTER-BALANCE WHAT HE HAD JUST SAID ABOUT THE SCRIBES. JESUS WAS LOOKING FOR AN EXAMPLE OF SOMEONE WITH THE RIGHT KIND OF HEART, AND THE WIDOW'S HEART WAS JUST WHAT HE IS LOOKING FOR. IT WAS NOT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THE WIDOW GAVE; IT WAS THE ATTITUDE WITH WHICH SHE GAVE IT. SHE GAVE WITH A SENSE OF DOING WHAT IS GOOD FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY. AND IF THE TEMPLE WAS CARING FOR THE COMMUNITY IN SUCH A WAY THAT PLEASED GOD, THEN THE WOMAN WOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF THROUGH THE ACTIONS OF THE TEMPLE.
AN IBO PROVERB FROM NIGERIA SAYS, "IT IS THE HEART THAT GIVES; THE FINGERS JUST LET GO." THIS IS WHAT TRUE STEWARDSHIP IS ABOUT. IT IS ABOUT THE HEART GIVING AND THE FINGERS LETTING GO OF EVERYTHING. NO THING IS SO PRECIOUS THAT WE SHOULD LET IT GET IN THE WAY OF TRUE STEWARDSHIP.
NOW THE STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN AT NAURAUSHAUN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH THIS YEAR IS ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR FAITH.
WE ARE TRAINING PEOPLE TO MAKE VISITS ON THE PREMISE THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS A GIFT FROM GOD AND WE ARE STEWARDS OF THIS COMMUNITY. WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR MONEY. INSTEAD WE ARE ASKING QUESTIONS FOR THE COMMUNITY.
HOW CAN WE BE CARING OF OUR COMMUNITY? HOW CAN OUR COMMUNITY BE CARING OF US? WHAT TIME ARE WE WILLING TO PLEDGE IN ORDER TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY A FAITHFUL ONE? WHAT TALENTS WILL WE SHARE SO THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS WHOLE AND HEALTHY?
THE QUESTION ABOUT MONEY WILL BE PRINTED ON THE PLEDGE SHEETS, BUT THAT QUESTION WILL BE LAST, AND IT WILL BE UP TO EACH AND EVERY INDIVIDUAL TO DECIDE WHAT KIND OF MONETARY PLEDGE WILL COME FROM HIS/HER HEART. THE FAR MORE PRESSING STEWARDSHIP QUESTION FOR OUR PRESENT SITUATION IS, HOW MUCH DOES THIS COMMUNITY MEAN TO US?
YOU SEE, THE NAURAUSHAUN COMMUNITY MAY BE HEADED FOR SOME DIFFICULT TIMES AS WE LOOK AT ISSUES OF MONEY IN THE YEARS AHEAD. BUT THE MONEY IS NOT WHAT WILL HOLD US TOGETHER. THE MONEY CANNOT BUY A COMMUNITY OF FAITH. ONLY OUR FAITH IN GOD AND OUR COMMITMENT TO THE VALUE OF THIS PARTICULAR COMMUNITY IS WHAT WILL GUIDE US. OUR CHURCH IS NOT THIS BUILDING OR THESE GROUNDS OR THE STAFF OR THIS PASTOR. OUR CHURCH IS THIS COMMUNITY AND THIS GATHERING OF PEOPLE, WHICH HAPPENS BY THE GRACE OF GOD AND NOTHING ELSE.
SO, AS WE PREPARE TO MAKE OUR VISITS, MAY WE PREPARE OUR HEARTS. AND MAY OUR HEARTS BE FILLED WITH THE GOODNESS OF WHAT OUR COMMUNITY IS IN THIS TIME AND PLACE. AND AS YOU RECEIVE A CALL, REQUESTING TIME FOR A VISIT, MAY YOU OPEN YOUR HEART AND YOUR DOOR. LET'S ALL GIVE OURSELVES A CHANCE TO MAKE STEWARDSHIP ABOUT SOMETHING WAY MORE THAN MONEY.
ALLELUIA! AMEN!