SCRIPTURE: Daniel 4:20-22, I Corinthians 3:5-9 & Mark 4:30-32
WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL WE ALWAYS HAD A GARDEN BEHIND THE OLD FARMHOUSE. MY DAD WOULD TURN OVER THE RICH BLACK SOIL AND THEN IT WAS UP TO MY MOM AND US GIRLS TO WORK THE GROUND AND MAKE IT READY FOR THE SEEDS. WE WOULD HOE IT AND RAKE IT, BREAKING UP ALL THE LARGE CLUMPS OF SOIL. WE’D SMOOTH IT OUT AND MARK THE ROWS, AND ONLY THEN WAS IT READY TO RECEIVE THE SEEDS OR THE SEEDLING PLANTS THAT WE ALWAYS PLANTED.
I REMEMBER PLANTING TOMATO PLANTS AND A FEW VARIETIES OF FLOWER PLANTS, BUT MOSTLY WE PLANTED SEEDS. AND IT NEVER CEASED TO AMAZE ME HOW TINY SOME OF THOSE SEEDS WERE AND WHAT AN ACT OF FAITH IT WAS TO THROW THOSE ITTY BITTY LITTLE SEEDS INTO THE GROUND AND COVER THEM UP WITH A BIT OF SOIL. A PERSON MIGHT THINK THE SEEDS WERE GONE FOREVER, AND AS A LITTLE GIRL THAT WAS MY BIGGEST FEAR.
BUT THERE WAS GREAT JOY AND DELIGHT ON THE DAY I WOULD CHECK THE GARDEN AND DISCOVER LITTLE GREEN PLANTS GROWING WHERE I HAD ENTRUSTED THE GROUND WITH RADISH AND CARROT AND GREEN BEAN SEEDS.
IT WAS, AND STILL IS A MIRACLE EVERY TIME I EXPERIENCE IT. VERY LITTLE CAN BRING ME AS CLOSE TO GOD AS THE EXPERIENCE OF WATCHING A SEED GROW INTO A PLANT, WHICH ULTIMATELY GROWS INTO A BEAUTIFUL FLOWER OR A TASTY VEGETABLE.
AND SO IT NEVER SURPRISES ME WHEN JESUS USES THIS PARTICULAR IMAGE OF EARTHLY THINGS TO TALK ABOUT A HOLY REALITY. THE MUSTARD SEED, THE SMALLEST OF ALL SEEDS THEY KNEW OF IN ANCIENT ISRAEL, WHEN PLANTED IN THE SOIL, GREW INTO THE LARGEST OF ALL SCRUBS.
AND THIS, SAYS JESUS, IS WHAT THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE.
YOU PLANT A TINY SEED AND IT WILL BECOME THE LARGEST OF ALL BUSHES.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT IS MOST FASCINATING TO ME ABOUT THIS PARABLE?
THE MUSTARD PLANT IS A WEED. IT GROWS ANYWHERE AND EVERYWHERE.
YOU DON’T HAVE TO CULTIVATE IT; IT JUST DEVELOPS WHEREVER IT FALLS.
SO JESUS IS SAYING THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS LIKE AN ACCIDENT.
ONE LITTLE SEED OF LOVE CAN FALL ANYWHERE AND IT WILL GROW INTO A LARGE LOVEABLE WEED.
YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WEEDS CAN BE LOVELIER THAN A CULTIVATED FLOWER. DURING THE SUMMER IN MAINE, THE DAISIES AND BLACK-EYED SUSANS THAT ADORN THE DITCHES BESIDE THE ROAD ARE BREATH-TAKING.
AND I ALWAYS LOVED THE SPRINGTIME IN ILLINOIS. THE DITCHES ALONG THE COUNTRY ROADS WERE FILLED WITH LITTLE YELLOW FLOWERS THAT MADE THE WHOLE COUNTRYSIDE LOOK LIKE A BRIDAL BOUQUET. IT WAS GORGEOUS AND UNASSUMING. THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS LIKE A WEED IN THE DITCH BESIDE THE ROAD—GORGEOUS AND UNASSUMING.
NOW I SPECIFICALLY CHOSE THE SCRIPTURE FROM DANIEL FOR US TO LAY BESIDE THE PARABLE OF THE MUSTARD SEED TODAY. IN THE FOURTH CHAPTER OF DANIEL, HE IS INTERPRETING A DREAM OF THE MIGHTY KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR, THE MIGHTIEST POWER TO EVER FIGHT AGAINST GOD’S ISRAEL.
IN A DREAM THE KING SEES A MIGHTY TREE THAT GROWS STRONG AND REACHES ALL THE WAY TO THE HEAVENS. AND IN THAT SAME DREAM, A HOLY WATCHER COMES FROM HEAVEN AND ORDERS THE TREE TO BE CUT DOWN AND TOTALLY DESTROYED. IN THE PERICOPE OF SCRIPTURE WE HEARD TODAY, DANIEL IS TELLING THE KING THAT THE TREE IS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE KING AND THE KINGDOM HE HAS BROUGHT AGAINST THE ISRAELITES.
THE TREE IS MIGHTY AND STRONG, BUT IN THE FACE OF THE HOLY WATCHER – THE CHOSEN PEOPLE – IT WILL BE CHOPPED DOWN AND DESTROYED AND RENDERED QUITE HARMLESS. SO THE MIGHTY KINGDOM OF KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR IS NOTHING IN THE FACE OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
THE CAREFULLY PLANTED AND CULTIVATED TREE; THE FINE-TUNED AND POWERFUL KINGDOM OF BABYLON IS WIELDED TOTALLY HELPLESS IN THE FACE OF THE TINY MUSTARD SEED THAT GROWS, WHEREVER IT LANDS, INTO A LARGE WEED! THE KINGDOM OF MAN AS APPOSED TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
THERE IS QUITE A DIFFERENCE, DON’T YOU THINK?
NOW TURNING TO PAUL’S SECOND LETTER TO THE CHURCH AT CORINTH, WE HEAR SOME MORE TALK ABOUT PLANTING AND NURTURING AND GROWING A PLANT. BUT THIS TIME THE PLANT IS THE CHURCH AS APPOSED TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD. WE NEED TO ALWAYS BE CAREFUL ABOUT UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCE.
I ALWAYS HOPE AND PRAY THAT THE CHURCH IS A PART OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD, BUT THE KINGDOM OF GOD, LIKE ANY GOOD WEED, GROWS WHEREVER IT WISHES AND IN SOME OF THE MOST UNLIKELY PLACES. SO IN ORDER TO KEEP THE CHURCH CLOSER TO BEING THE KINGDOM OF GOD THAN BEING A KINGDOM OF HUMAN POWER, PAUL REMINDS THE CORINTHIANS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE COME TOGETHER TO WORK FOR THE GLORY OF GOD, BUT ULTIMATELY THE GROWTH—THE TRUE PLANT BELONGS TO GOD AND COMES FROM GOD.
THE KINGDOM OF GOD WAS NEVER MEANT TO BE STAMPED WITH A SEAL THAT SAYS, “MADE BY HUMAN BEINGS,” EVEN THOUGH WE WOULD LOVE TO CARRY OFF THE MISPERCEPTION. THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS ALWAYS AND FOREVER STAMPED WITH THE SEAL, “CREATED AND GROWN BY GOD.
ONLY THEN IS IT TRULY AUTHENTIC.
THE FIRST DAY WE WERE IN VENICE WE WERE ENCOURAGED BY THE DESK CLERK AT THE HOTEL TO TAKE A TOUR TO MURANO, AN ISLAND CLOSE TO VENICE THAT IS KNOWN FOR THE GLASSWARE THEY PRODUCE. MAYBE YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH MURANO VENETIAN GLASS. ANYWAY, WE DECIDED TO TAKE THE TRIP, EVEN THOUGH THE WEATHER WAS COLD AND RAINY.
THE TRIP WAS FREE AND THE BOAT TAKING US TO THE ISLAND WAS COVERED TO PROTECT US FROM THE WEATHER, SO IT SEEMED LIKE A REASONABLE THING TO DO WHEN WE WOULDN’T BE LIKELY TO WALK AROUND THE CITY.
WELL, OUR LITTLE EXCURSION TO MURANO TURNED OUT TO BE A MIGHTY BIG HOAX. THEY JUST WANTED TO GET US INTO THEIR WAREHOUSE SO THAT WE MIGHT BUY SOME OF THEIR GLASS. WE EVEN STARTED TO BE AFRAID THEY WOULDN’T TAKE US BACK TO VENICE UNTIL WE BOUGHT SOMETHING!
THAT LITTLE SIDE TRIP BECAME A WONDERFUL SOURCE OF JOY FOR OUR GROUP AS WE CONTINUED TO MAKE UP HYPOTHETICAL SITUATIONS THAT WOULD LINK THE DESK CLARK OF THE HOTEL TO THE OWNER OF THE GLASS FACTORY, BUT THE POINT OF THE STORY IS HOW DIFFICULT IT SOMETIMES IS TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE REAL THING AND A KNOCK-OFF.
AS WE SHOPPED AT THE OPEN-AIR MARKETS THROUGHOUT VENICE, WE FOUND GLASS THAT WAS MUCH CHEAPER THAN WHAT WE HAD SEEN IN THE FACTORY ON MURANO. BUT WE ALSO DISCOVERED THAT A LOT OF THE GLASS SOLD ON THE STREETS WAS REALLY MADE IN CHINA AND LABELED MURANO GLASS.
THE KINGDOM OF GOD NEEDS TO HAVE GOD’S LABEL ON IT IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE AUTHENTIC. THERE ARE A LOT OF KNOCK OFFS OUT THERE.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PLACES CLAIMING TO BE THE KINGDOM OF GOD THAT, BOTTOM LINE, HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE AMAZING LOVE OF GOD.
AND HOW DO WE KNOW THE DIFFERENCE? EDUCATION IS THE ONLY ANSWER.
WHEN WE KNOW OUR PRODUCT WELL ENOUGH WE ARE LESS LIKELY TO BE FOOLED. REAL GOLD IS ALWAYS STAMPED WITH AN IMPRINT OF 14K.
A REAL DIAMOND WILL SCRATCH GLASS. AND THE REAL KINGDOM OF GOD WILL EXUDE THE LOVE WE KNOW THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.
BUT WE HAVE TO KNOW JESUS REAL WELL TO KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR.
SO I HIGHLY RECOMMEND GETTING TO KNOW JESUS THROUGH THE GOSPELS.
GO STRAIGHT TO THE SOURCE AND LET THE MUSTARD SEED BE PLANTED IN YOU. FOR IT IS ONLY THROUGH KNOWING JESUS THAT WE ALL BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THE MARKINGS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
NOW FOLLOWING THE SERVICE TODAY, THE DEACONS AND THE WORSHIP MINISTRY WILL BE HANDING OUT CUTTINGS FROM DIFFERENT PLANTS.
THIS IS OUR WAY OF OFFERING YOU A FORM OF A MUSTARD SEED TO GUIDE YOU THROUGH YOUR LENTEN JOURNEY. PUT YOUR CLIPPING IN WATER AND WATCH AND WAIT TO SEE WHAT WILL HAPPEN. WITH ANY LUCK ROOTS WILL APPEAR IN THE WATER. AND WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE PLANT IS READY TO BE EMBEDDED IN SOME SOIL SO THAT IT CAN GROW AND FLOURISH. THE KINGDOM OF GOD COMES SLOWLY AND QUIETLY, JUST LIKE THE SLOW QUIET GROWTH OF A PLANT.
MAY WE USE THIS VISUAL AND PHYSICAL IMAGE TO MEDITATE UPON DURING OUR LENTEN JOURNEYS. AND IF YOU WISH, IF THERE IS SOMEONE YOU WOULD LIKE TO INVITE INTO THIS CORNER OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD, YOU MIGHT WANT TO USE YOUR LENTEN PLANT AS A GIFT TO INVITE A FRIEND TO WORSHIP WITH US ON THE DAY WE CELEBRATE THE RESURRECTION—ON EASTER SUNDAY.
NOW IN CLOSING I WANT TO TELL YOU THE STORY OF THIS PLANT. YOU MIGHT HAVE ALREADY SEEN IT BEFORE IN THE PARLOR. IT’S BEEN THERE FOR MAYBE FOUR OR FIVE YEARS.
AT A FALL SESSION RETREAT A FEW YEARS AGO I HAD ALL OF THE ELDERS BRING SOME DIRT FROM THEIR OWN BACKYARDS. WE PUT OUR DIRT TOGETHER AND PLANTED THREE DIFFERENT IVY PLANTS IN THE SAME POTS.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE PLANTS BEING THE MINISTRY OF NPC, AND THE DIRT BEING THE LOVING CARE OF THE ELDERS THAT THE MINISTRY IS ROOTED AND GROUNDED IN, ALONG WITH GOD.
NOW EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE I USE THIS PLANT TO REMIND THE ELDERS OF OUR COMMITMENT AND POINT OUT THAT A PLANT CANNOT BE IGNORED AND STILL LIVE. WE ALL NEED TO CARE FOR THE MINISTRY HERE AT NPC IN ORDER FOR IT TO LIVE AND BREATHE AND HAVE MEANING IN TODAY’S WORLD.
BUT THE THING I HAVE NOT TALKED TO THE SESSION ABOUT IS HOW MANY TIMES I HAVE TAKEN CLIPPINGS FROM THIS PLANT TO ROOT AND SET INTO A NEW POT WITH FRESH DIRT IN ORDER TO GET A WHOLE NEW PLANT.
THERE ARE ACTUALLY FOUR OR FIVE NEW PLANTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF NEW YORK BECAUSE OF THIS ONE MOTHER PLANT. AND IT IS THIS KIND OF EXPANSION OF SPIRIT WE HOPE YOU WILL TAKE HOME WITH YOU TODAY.
THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS LIKE A TINY MUSTARD SEED THAT GROWS INTO A LARGE BUSH. MAY IT HAPPEN, BY THE POWER AND GRACE OF GOD, THROUGH YOU AND THROUGH ME.
AMEN.
SCRIPTURE: Exodus 34:29-35, II Corinthians 3:12-4:2 & Luke 9:28-43a
WHILE ON SABBATICAL LEAVE A FEW YEARS AGO I WAS PRIVILEGED TO ATTEND A PREACHING CONFERENCE AT MONTREAT CONFERENCE CENTER IN MONTREAT, NORTH CAROLINA.
ONE OF THE MANY PREACHERS AT THAT CONFERENCE WAS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PREACHERS OF ALL TIMES, BARBARA BROWN TAYLOR. HEARING HER PREACH WAS ALL I HOPED IT MIGHT BE. AND FOLLOWING THE OPENING WORSHIP SERVICE, IT WAS A SPLENDID MOMENT TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO HER IN PERSON. I TOLD HER ABOUT BEING ON SABBATICAL LEAVE SHE SAID, “I THOUGHT I SAW A SHINE ON YOUR FACE.”
A SHINE ON MY FACE! HUM…
LATER DURING THE WEEK, WHEN ALL OF THE PREACHERS WERE SIGNING COPIES OF THEIR BOOKS, BARBARA SIGNED MINE WITH THESE WORDS, “TO JEAN, WHOSE FACE SHINES, WITH MY BEST—BARBARA BROWN TAYLOR.”
SHE LEFT ME WITH AN IMAGE AND A THOUGHT THAT WON’T LEAVE ME.
SINCE MY SABBATICAL LEAVE WAS ALL ABOUT GROWING CLOSER TO GOD, I BEGAN TO CONNECT DIVINE PRESENCE WITH A FEELING OF GLOWING WARMTH THAT CAN ACTUALLY BE SEEN AND RECOGNIZED.I BELIEVE THERE IS A DEEPLY ROOTED AND PROFOUNDLY VISIBLE SIGN WE ALL CARRY FROM HAVING HAD A DELIBERATE CONFRONTATION WITH THE HOLY. AND WHETHER THE DIVINE PRESENCE COMES TO US AFTER A DELIBERATE TIME AWAY, OR SURPRISES US IN THE MIDST OF OUR BUSY ROUTINES, SOMETHING IN US CHANGES EVERY TIME IT HAPPENS.
ACTUALLY, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, IN THE STORY OF THE TRANSFIGURATION, JESUS HAS STEPPED AWAY FROM HIS MISSION FOR A MOMENT. HE HAS TAKEN A SABBATICAL BREAK, IF YOU WILL, WITH PETER AND JOHN AND JAMES. THEY GO UP ON A MOUNTAIN TO PRAY. THEY STEP OUT OF THE REGULAR ROUTINE OF PREACHING AND TEACHING AND HEALING TO FIND TIME TO BE VERY CLOSE TO GOD. AND THE TRANSFORMATION BEGINS TO TAKE PLACE. BUT WITH JESUS THE SHINE ENVELOPES HIM. NOT ONLY HIS FACE, BUT HIS BODY AND HIS GARMENTS ARE INCLUDED. JESUS SHINES ALL OVER! HIS ENTIRE BEING AND EVERYTHING ABOUT HIM SHOWED HOW CLOSE HE WAS TO GOD, BECAUSE JESUS WAS GOD.
NOW THE OTHER TWO PASSAGES OF SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY TALK ABOUT TWO MORE BIBLICAL CHARACTERS WHO HAVE A SHINING MOMENT WITH GOD.
FIRST WE HAVE MOSES. MOSES HAS SPENT FORTY DAYS AND FORTY NIGHTS WITH GOD, FASTING AND CARVING THE TEN COMMANDMENTS ONTO A STONE TABLET. MOSES ALSO HAD A SHINING FACE. HE STEPPED AWAY FROM THE “STIFF-NECKED” ISRAELITES TO COMMUNE WITH GOD, AND HIS FACE SHONE SO MUCH IT FRIGHTENED THE ONES WHO COULD NOT UNDERSTAND THIS CLOSENESS WITH GOD. SO MOSES HID HIS HOLY CONNECTION BEHIND A VEIL, BUT ONLY IN FRONT OF HIS OWN PEOPLE. WHENEVER MOSES WAS IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD, THE GLORY SHONE ALL AROUND, SO TO SPEAK.
MOSES DID NOT HIDE HIS GLORY FROM GOD AND HIS LIFE WAS TRANSFORMED BY THE HOLY RELATIONSHIP.
OUR THIRD SCRIPTURAL STORY HAS TO DO WITH PAUL. IN HIS SECOND LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS PAUL GIVES A CRITIQUE OF MOSES WITH THE SHINING FACE. PAUL SAYS THE VEIL MOSES WAS FORCED TO WEAR WAS ONLY A SIGN THAT THE ISRAELITES NEVER UNDERSTOOD THE DEPTH OF GOD’S LOVE FOR THEM. PAUL SAYS THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THAT THE VEIL HAS BEEN PERMANENTLY REMOVED IN THE LIFE, DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST. AND ANYONE WHO TURNS TO JESUS HAS THE FREEDOM TO SHINE WITHOUT FEAR. THE VEIL IS NO LONGER THERE.
AND, PAUL SAYS, THE GLORY OF GOD CAN BE SEEN IN THE FACES OF THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN THE CHRIST. IN CHRIST WE ARE DRAWN CLOSER TO GOD THAN EVER BEFORE.
NOW OUT OF ALL OUR SHINING CHARACTERS THIS MORNING, PAUL IS THE ONE WHO DID NOT DELIBERATELY SET ASIDE TIME TO BE WITH GOD.
PAUL WAS SO VEHEMENT IN HIS CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST THAT GOD HAD TO KNOCK HIM OVER THE HEAD WITH A TWO BY FOUR! PAUL’S MOMENT OF PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION HAPPENED THROUGH A VISIT FROM THE RESSURECTED MESSIAH. BUT ONCE PAUL ACTUALLY MET THE LORD, HIS LIFE WAS CHANGED FOREVER. AS WE READ THE SECOND LETTER TO THE CHURCH AT CORINTH WE FEEL THE SHINE ON PAUL’S FACE SO BRIGHTLY WE CAN ALMOST SEE IT THROUGH HIS WORDS. AND PAUL SAYS THAT SAME KIND OF SHINE IS IN EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US AS WELL.
BOTTOM LINE, FOLKES, MEETING UP WITH GOD IS A TRANSFORMING AND TRANSFIGURING EXPERIENCE. ONCE WE HAVE DRAWN CLOSE TO GOD, OUR LIVES WILL NEVER BE THE SAME. MOSES BECAME A GREAT LEADER OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD. BY HIS FAITH, MOSES GUIDED THE CHOSEN PEOPLE TO THE PROMISED LAND. AND HIS FACE WAS STILL SHINING, EVEN AS HE DIED BEFORE BEING ABLE TO ENTER THE LAND HIMSELF. JESUS CAME DOWN FROM THE MOUNTAINTOP OF THE TRANSFIGURATION AND HEADED FOR JERUSALEM TO BECOME OUR SAVIOR. PAUL TRAVELED AS FAR AS HE COULD GO, OUT INTO THE WORLD, TO PREACH THE GOOD NEWS OF THE LIFE, DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS THE CHRIST.
PAUL NEVER WENT HOME AGAIN, PARTLY BECAUSE THE SHINING FACE HAD TAKEN OVER HIS ENTIRE LIFE, AND THE SHINE COULD NEVER BE WASHED AWAY, EVEN IN THE DARKEST PRISON OR THE STORMIEST NIGHT. FROM THE MOMENT HE MET JESUS PAUL WAS ON FIRE WITH A MESSAGE HE WAS COMPELLED TO TELL TO THE NATIONS.
AS WE STAND ON THE BRINK OF THE LENTEN SEASON TODAY’S SCRIPTURE CALLS US TO SEEK A DELIBERATE AUDIENCE WITH GOD. IT CALLS US TO LOOK FOR SABBATICAL MOMENTS WHEN WE CAN PUT ASIDE THE REGULAR ROUTINE AND CONNECT OURSELVES TO GOD THROUGH PRAYER. IT CALLS US TO BE KNOCKED OFF OUR FEET WITH SOME HOLY PRESENCE EVERY NOW AND AGAIN. IT GATHERS US INTO THE EXCLUSIVE GROUP OF SHINING FACES – PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN WITH GOD, UP FRONT AND PERSONAL. AND IT’S A CALL THAT JUST MIGHT ACTUALLY SAVE OUR LIVES!
A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, BARBARA GAVE ME AN EMAIL THAT SAYS IT ALL.
THIS INTERNET WISDOM EXPLAINS HOW TO STAY SAFE IN THE WORLD TODAY.
NUMBER ONE – AVOID RIDING IN AUTOMOBILES BECAUSE THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR 20% OF ALL FATAL ACCIDENTS. NUMBER TWO – DO NOT STAY HOME BECAUSE 17% OF ALL ACCIDENTS OCCUR IN THE HOME.
NUMBER THREE – AVOID WALKING ON STREETS OR SIDEWALKS BECAUSE 14% OF ALL ACCIDENTS OCCUR TO PEDESTRIANS. NUMBER FOUR – AVOID TRAVELING BY AIR, RAIL, OR WATER BECAUSE 16% OF ALL ACCIDENTS INVOLVE THESE FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION. NUMBER FIVE – OF THE REMAINING 33%, 32% OF ALL DEATHS OCCUR IN HOSPITALS. ABOVE ALL ELSE, AVOID HOSPITALS!
BUT – YOU WILL BE PLEASED TO LEARN THAT ONLY .001% OF ALL DEATHS OCCUR IN WORSHIP SERVICES IN CHURCH, AND THESE ARE USUALLY RELATED TO PREVIOUS PHYSICAL DISORDERS. THEREFORE, LOGIC TELLS US THAT THE SAFEST PLACE FOR US TO BE AT ANY GIVEN POINT IN TIME IS AT CHURCH!
YOU KNOW, BIBLE STUDY IS ACTUALLY SAFE, TOO. THE PERCENTAGE OF DEATHS DURING BIBLE STUDY IS EVEN LESS. SO, FOR SAFETY’S SAKE—ATTEND CHURCH AND STUDY YOUR BIBLE. IT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE!
IT COULD EVEN MAKE YOUR FACE SHINE.
NOW I CAN’T LEAVE YOU TODAY WITHOUT TELLING YOU OF THE HOLIEST MOMENT ON MY TRIP TO ITALY. IT HAPPENED IN ROME, NO SURPRISE!
WE HAD BEEN TOURING HARD THE ENTIRE DAY. IT WAS THE ONE DAY WE HIRED A TOUR GUIDE TO SHOW US AROUND. HER NAME IS LUDOVICCA AND SHE PROVED TO BE A MOST ENGAGING PERSON. SHE HAD A CLEAR AGENDA IN MIND AS SHE SHOWED US THE SIGHTS OF ROME, BEGINNING WITH THE CEILING IN THE SISTINE CHAPEL.
FROM A SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE, LUDOVICCA WANTED US TO SEE ROME AS THE CONNECTIONAL POINT FOR ALL OF HISTORY IN THE WESTERN WORLD.
WE STOOD LOOKING OVER THE FORUM AS SHE POINTED OUT THE FIRST SENATE BUILDING THAT HAD BEEN STANDING, IN TACT, SINCE THE YEAR SIXTH CENTURY BC. SHE TOLD US THAT ROME WAS THE HISTORY AND WE ARE ALL ROOTED IN ROME AS OTHER COUNTRIES BRANCH OUT AND BECOME THE FUTURE WITH OUR TECHNOLOGICAL AND SCIENTIFIC ADVANCEMENTS.
\BUT THE OTHER PIECE OF HER AGENDA LAST MONDAY WAS TO TRY TO SHAKE UP OUR THEOLOGICAL THINKING A BIT. HER INTERPRETATION OF THE VOID BETWEEN GOD’S FINGER AND ADAMS FINGER, AS IT WAS PAINTED HIGH IN THE VAULT OF THE SISTINE CHAPEL BY MICHELANGELO, IS DRAMATIC AND POWERFUL, AND I AM STILL TRYING TO WRAP MY MIND AROUND JUST EXACTLY THE POINT SHE WAS TRYING TO MAKE. BUT THE HOLIEST MOMENT OF THAT DAY, AND OF THE ENTIRE TRIP FOR THAT MATTER, CAME LATER AS WE ENTERED ST. PETER’S BASILICA.
WE WALKED INTO THIS IMMENSE AND ORNATE SPACE JUST AS A CHILDREN’S CHOIR WAS SINGING THE FAMOUS PANUS ANGELICUS. MY BREATH WAS NEARLY TAKEN AWAY WITH THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN THAT MOMENT.
I WAS DRAWN TO MOVE TOWARD THE ALTAR AND THE PEOPLE GATHERED THERE TO WORSHIP. AND AS I WALKED SLOWLY THROUGH THAT MARBLED AND GUILDED SANCTUARY I WAS COMPLETELY EMBRACED BY THE POWER OF THE MESSAGE OF JESUS CHRIST, IN THAT HE INSPIRED SUCH A GRANDIOSE WORK OF ART. THE CHILDREN’S CHOIR BEGAN TO SING A PIECE BY JOHN RUTTER THAT I RECOGNIZED.
THEIR CRYSTAL CLEAR VOICES WERE SPLENDID, BUT SO SMALL THAT THE CHOIR NEEDED TO BE AMPLIFIED IN ORDER TO NOT LOSE THE SOUND IN THE CAVERNOUS SPACE. AS STEWART AND I STOOD THERE, ARM IN ARM, THE PRESIDING CARDINALS WERE PROCESSING OUT OF THE BUILDING AND WE CAUGHT A GLIMPSE OF THE MAN MOST FAVORED TO BECOME THE NEXT POPE; ONE CARDINAL MARTINI FROM MILAN. WE WERE THE LAST PEOPLE OUT OF THE BASILICA THAT DAY.
WE STOOD AT THE BACK OF THE SANCTUARY AND LOOKED BACK TOWARD THE ALTAR WITHOUT ONE HUMAN BEING INTERRUPTING THE FULL GLORY OF IT, AND I JUST KNOW MY FACE WAS SHINING, BECAUSE I COULD FEEL IT.
IT WAS A TIME SET APART. IT WAS A HOLY MOMENT.
ALLELUIA! AMEN!
SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah 1:4-10 & I Corinthians 13:1-13
YOU WOULD THINK LOVE WOULD BE ONE OF THE EASIER THINGS TO PREACH ABOUT, WOULDN'T YOU? LIKE THE BEATLES USED TO SING, ALL WE NEED IS LOVE, RIGHT? WELL, IF I WERE WRITING THE VERSE FOR A VALENTINE CARD, THIS WOULD BE TRUE. BUT TRYING TO EXPRESS THE KIND OF LOVE THAT GOD IS ALL ABOUT IS SOMETHING QUITE DIFFERENT AND NOT NEARLY AS EASY.
THIS PASSAGE FROM PAUL'S LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS IS ARGUABLY THE MOST FAMOUS OF ALL CHRISTIAN SCRIPTURE. THE MORE WEDDINGS WE GO TO, THE MORE WE HEAR IT READ. AND IF THE PREACHER IS ANY GOOD AT ALL, WE KNOW THAT PAUL'S LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH A FLUFFY WHITE DRESS, BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS AND DANCING TO YOUR FAVORITE TUNE WITH YOUR ONE AND ONLY.
THE HISTORIC CRITICAL CONTEXT IN WHICH THIS LETTER WAS WRITTEN WAS FAR MORE DISTURBING THAN A PERSON'S WEDDING DAY.
THE PEOPLE OF THE CHURCH AT CORINTH WERE HAVING REAL TROUBLE GETTING ALONG WITH EACH OTHER. THEY HAD ABOUT AS MANY DIFFERENT IDEAS ABOUT THE WAY THINGS SHOULD BE DONE AS THEY HAD DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
EACH ONE, IT SEEMS, HAD A DIFFERENT GIFT FOR EXPRESSING FAITH. SOME OF THEM SPOKE IN TONGUES, THAT ECSTATIC LANGUAGE WHICH IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO UNDERSTAND. SOME WERE MORE PROPHETIC IN THEIR SPEECH; THEIR WORDS WERE CAREFULLY CRAFTED AND WISELY PUT TOGETHER IN SUCH A WAY THAT EVERYONE COULD UNDERSTAND. SOME NEVER SPOKE A WORD, BUT HAD THE KIND OF FAITH THAT COULD BRING HEALING AND MIRACLES RIGHT INTO THE MIDST OF THE HUMAN CONDITION. AND SOME DIDN'T SPEAK OR KEEP SILENT-THEY WORKED, THEY SOLD ALL THEY HAD AND GAVE IT TO THE POOR.
NOW IT SEEMS THAT SOCIAL CLICKS HAD FORMED AROUND THESE DIFFERENT EXPRESSIONS OF FAITH, AND THE DIVISIONS IN THE BODY WERE KILLING THE MISSION AND MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH, WHICH JUST SOUNDS ALL TOO FAMILIAR TO TODAY'S SITUATION, BOTH IN THE WORLD AND IN THE BODY OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. HUMAN BEINGS DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO EMBRACE DIFFERENCES THEN, AND WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO EMBRACE DIFFERENCES NOW. SO EVEN IF WE THINK WE HAVE HEARD THIS SCRIPTURE 1000 TIMES AND WE GET THE POINT, THE FACTS BEAR REPEATING.
IN A NUTSHELL, NO EXPRESSION OF FAITH IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN LOVE. AND ALL EXPRESSIONS OF FAITH WITHOUT LOVE ARE NOT FAITH.
LOVE IS SUPERIOR TO ALL EXPRESSIONS OF FAITH BECAUSE…
LOVE IS PATIENT AND KIND.
LOVE REJOICES IN TRUTH.
LOVE BEARS ALL THINGS.
LOVE BELIEVES ALL THINGS.
LOVE HOPES ALL THINGS.
LOVE ENDURES ALL THINGS.
LOVE NEVER ENDS, EVEN AS ALL EXPRESSIONS OF FAITH WILL COME TO AN END IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
LOVE IS THE GLUE THAT HOLDS US TOGETHER AS THE PEOPLE OF GOD AND THE HUMAN RACE.
AND THE STICKINESS OF THAT GLUE BECOMES VERY CLEAR AS WE HEAR JUST EXACTLY WHAT LOVE IS NOT!
LOVE IS NOT ENVIOUS, BOASTFUL, ARROGANT OR RUDE.
LOVE DOES NOT INSIST ON HAVING ITS OWN WAY.
LOVE IS NOT IRRITABLE OR RESENTFUL.
LOVE DOES NOT REJOICE IN WRONGDOING.
LOVE IS NOT FOR THE SHY IN WISDOM AND THE SLOW IN MATURITY.
LOVE IS SOMETHING THAT CAN ONLY BE CARRIED OUT BY A PERSON CLEAR OF MIND AND PURE OF HEART.
AND LIFE IS ONE LONG PROCESS OF GROWING UP TOWARDS THAT GOAL.
IN OTHER WORDS, LOVE TAKES A LOT OF WORK ON OUR PART TO TRANSCEND OUR NATURAL CARNAL TENDENCIES, BUT THE WORK IS WELL WORTH IT!
THE GREAT PHILOSOPHER AND THEOLOGIAN OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY, C. S. LEWIS, WROTE A BOOK CALLED THE FOUR LOVES. IN THIS BOOK HE DOES A MARVELOUS JOB OF EXPRESSING THE COMPLEXITY OF ALL THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF LOVE THAT ARE A PART OF OUR HUMAN EXPERIENCE. HE IDENTIFIES THE FOUR DIFFERENT LOVES AS AFFECTION, FRIENDSHIP, EROS (OR EROTIC LOVE), AND CHARITY. AND AFTER IDENTIFYING THE LOVES HE GIVES A WONDERFUL DEFENSE FOR EACH, GATHERING ALL THE PARTS TOGETHER TO SPEAK OF LOVE, WITH A CAPTIAL "L". AND AS HE WOVE THESE THEMES TOGETHER HE DID A MARVELOUS JOB OF GROUNDING EVERY HUMAN BEHAVIOR IN "NEED-LOVE" AND "GIVE-LOVE."
NEED-LOVE IS THE KIND OF LOVE THAT SENDS A FRIGHTENED CHILD INTO THE ARMS OF HER MOTHER. AND GIFT-LOVE IS WHAT CAUSES A MAN TO WORK HARD AND PLAN FOR THE FUTURE GENERATIONS OF A FAMILY HE WILL NEVER KNOW. NEED-LOVE IS FOCUSSED INWARD.
GIFT-LOVE LOVE IS FOCUSSED OUT, UPON SOMEONE ELSE.
IN HIS INTRODUCTION, LEWIS TELLS OF HOW HE THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO BE WRITING A BOOK THAT WAS DISPARAGING OF NEED-LOVE AND AT THE SAME TIME GIVING HIGH PRAISE TO GIFT-LOVE. HE SAID HE WAS GOING TO WRITE THIS UNTIL HE REALIZED HOW VERY MUCH HUMAN BEINGS NEED GOD'S LOVE AND WHAT A GOOD THING IT IS FOR US TO FEEL THIS LOVE AND REACH OUT TO OUR CREATOR TO FIND IT. HE SAYS, "[THE HUMAN] APPROACHES GOD MOST NEARLY WHEN HE [OR SHE] IS IN ONE SENSE LEAST LIKE GOD." (PG. 4 OF THE FOUR LOVES) SO WHEN WE ARE OUR NEEDIEST IS WHEN WE ARE MOST LIKELY TO TURN TO GOD FOR THE LOVE WE NEED. THIS IS WHEN WE CAN DRAW THE NEAREST TO GOD, AND THIS IF A VERY GOOD THING.
JUST THE OPPOSITE IS TRUE OF GIFT-LOVE. WHEN WE ARE NOT SO NEEDY, WE ARE MOST LIKE GOD IN OUR ABILITY TO GIVE-LOVE.
BUT, AT THE SAME TIME, WE RUN THE RISK OF GETTING HUNG UP ON OUR OWN GRANDIOSITY, AND THE GIVE-LOVE IN US CAN BECOME A MONSTER.
LEWIS SAYS IT THIS WAY, "I MUST EXPLAIN WHY I HAVE FOUND THIS DISTINCTION NECESSARY TO ANY TREATMENT OF OUR LOVES.
ST. JOHN'S SAYING THAT GOD IS LOVE HAS LONG BEEN BALANCED IN MY MIND AGAINST THE REMARK OF A MODERN AUTHOR (M. DENIS de ROUGEMONT) THAT 'LOVE CEASES TO BE A DEMON ONLY WHEN HE CEASES TO BE A GOD'; WHICH OF COURSE CAN BE RE-STATED IN THE FORM 'BEGINS TO BE A DEMON THE MOMENT HE BEGINS TO BE A GOD.' THIS BALANCE SEEMS TO ME AN INDISPENSIBLE SAFEGUARD. IF WE IGNORE IT THE TRUTH THAT GOD IS LOVE MAY SLYLY COME TO MEAN FOR US THE CONVERSE, THAT LOVE IS GOD." (PP 6 & 7 OF THE FOUR LOVES)
I THINK THIS STATEMENT IS A PROFOUND EXPRESSION OF WHY LOVE IS SO DIFFICULT TO PREACH ABOUT. IN OUR CULTURE WE TOO QUICKLY COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT LOVE IS GOD RATHER THAN GOD IS LOVE. WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT ALL LOVE BEGINS AND ENDS WITH GOD, AND WE ARE JUST A CIRCULAR EXTENSION OF THAT ETERNITY. IT IS NOT OUR ABILITY TO GIVE-LOVE OR NEED-LOVE THAT IS MOST IMPORTANT IN THIS WORLD. YES, WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF WHAT LOVE IS AND THE TIMES WHEN WE GIVE-LOVE AND THE TIMES WHEN WE NEED-LOVE. WE NEED TO BOTH GIVE AND RECEIVE LOVE IN ALL THE DIFFERENT FORMS LOVE CAN TAKE, BUT WHAT IS ULTIMATELY MOST IMPORTANT IS THAT LOVE IS MORE POWERFUL AND PRESENT THAN ANYTHING ELSE. AND GOD IS LOVE. IT'S A CIRCLE THAT NEVER ENDS. GOD-LOVE IS ETERNITY, AND THAT'S JUST THE THING TO REMEMBER WHEN WE FEEL AS IF THERE IS NO HOPE FOR THIS WORLD AND DISPARE SEEMS TO BE ALL AROUND US. GOD-LOVE-THE-LOVE-IS WHERE IT ALL BEGINS AND ENDS.
ELIE WIESEL, JEWISH THEOLOGIAN, PROLIFIC AUTHOR AND HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR HAS WRITTEN HIS LIFE'S MEMOIRS IN A BOOK ENTITLED ALL RIVERS RUN TO THE SEA. MR. WIESEL HAS THE MOST INCREDIBLE UNDERSTANDING ABOUT GOD-LOVE OF ANY HUMAN BEING I KNOW OF. IN ONE PORTION OF HIS MEMOIRS WIESEL TELLS OF HIS FAMILY LIVING IN HUNGARY DURING THE DESPARTE TIMES OF WORLD WAR II. THE NAZIS WERE ALL AROUND THEM, AND HIS FAMILY WAS JUST WAITING FOR THEIR TIME TO COME.
DURING THIS DARK PERIOD, THE WIESEL FAMILY HAD A VERY GOOD FRIEND IN A CHRISTIAN PEASANT WOMAN NAMED MARIA, WHO HAD BECOME ALMOST LIKE A MEMBER OF THEIR FAMILY. IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE WAR SHE NEVER STOPPED VISITING HER FRIENDS. AND LATER, WHEN THE JEWS WERE HELD IN GHETTOS AND SHE WAS NO LONGER ALLOWED ENTRANCE INTO WHERE HER GOOD FRIENDS LIVED, SHE FOUND A WAY TO SNEAK IN ANYWAY. CRAWLING THROUGH THE BARBED WIRE, SHE WOULD BRING THEM FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AND CHEESES FOR NOURISHMENT.
ONE DAY MARIA SHOWED UP ON THE WIESEL'S DOORSTEP WITH A PLAN. THERE WAS A CABIN SHE OWNED, UP IN THE HILLS. SHE WANTED TO TAKE THE CHILDREN, OF WHICH ELI WAS ONE, AND HIDE THEM THERE BEFORE THE SS CAME TO TAKE THEM AWAY. THEY DECIDED AFTER MUCH DEBATE TO STAY TOGETHER AS A FAMILY, ALTHOUGH THEY WERE DEEPLY MOVED AT THIS GESTURE. IN WIESEL'S OWN WORDS HE SAYS, "DEAR MARIA. IF OTHER CHRISTIANS HAD ACTED LIKE HER, THE TRAINS ROLLING TOWARD THE UNKNOWN WOULD HAVE BEEN LESS CROWDED. IF PRIESTS AND PASTORS HAD RAISED THEIR VOICES, IF THE VATICAN HAD BROKEN ITS SILENCE, THE ENEMY'S HAND WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SO FREE. BUT MOST THOUGHT ONLY OF THEMSELVES. A JEWISH HOME WAS BARELY EMPTIED OF ITS INHABITANTS BEFORE THEY DESCENDED LIKE VULTURES."
HE GOES ON TO SAY, "I THINK OF MARIA OFTEN, WITH AFFECTION AND GRATITUDE, AND WITH WONDER AS WELL. THIS SIMPLE, UNEDUCATED WOMAN STOOD TALLER THAN THE CITY'S INTELLECTUALS, DIGNITARIES AND CLERGY. MY FATHER HAD MANY ACQUAINTANCES AND EVEN FRIENDS IN THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY, NOT ONE OF THEM SHOWED THE STRENGTH OF CHARACTER OF THIS PEASANT WOMAN.
OF WHAT VALUE WAS THEIR FAITH, THEIR EDUCATION, THEIR SOCIAL POSITION, IF IT DID NOT AROUSE THEIR LOVE? IT WAS A SIMPLE AND DEVOUT CHRISTIAN WOMAN WHO SAVED THE TOWN'S HONOR." (PG. ?)
"IF I SPEAK IN THE TONGUES OF MORTALS AND OF ANGELS, BUT DO NOT HAVE LOVE, I AM A NOISY GONG OR A CLANGING CYMBAL.
AND IF I HAVE PROPHETIC POWERS, AND UNDERSTAND ALL MYSTERIES AND ALL KNOWLEDGE, AND IF I HAVE ALL FAITH, SO AS TO REMOVE MOUNTAINS, BUT DO NOT HAVE LOVE, I AM NOTHING. IF I GIVE AWAY ALL MY POSSESSIONS, AND IF I HAND OVER MY BODY SO THAT I MAY BOAST, BUT DO NOT HAVE LOVE, I GAIN NOTHING."
MY FRIENDS, AS WE GATHER AROUND THIS TABLE OF LOVE TODAY, I WOULD LEAVE US ALL WITH ONE QUESTION, A QUESTION THAT I HOPE AND PRAY WILL FORM IN OUR HEARTS AND MINDS OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
OF WHAT VALUE IS OUR FAITH, OUR EDUCATION, OUR SOCIAL POSITION, IF IT DOES NOT AROUSE OUR LOVE?
MAY WE ALWAYS AND FOREVER FEEL OUR CONNECTION WITHIN THE CIRCLE OF GOD'S ETERNAL LOVE. MAY WE SEEK TO GIVE-LOVE AND NEED-LOVE KNOWING FULL WELL THAT GOD IS LOVE. AND MAY WE DRAW OURSELVES AND OTHERS CLOSE TO THE LOVE AT ALL TIMES AND IN ALL PLACES.
ALLELUIA! AMEN!