Logos; the Embodiment of God
SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 52:7-10, Hebrews 1:1-4 & John 1:1-14
FOR ANYONE WHO IS CLOSE TO THE HEARTBEAT OF THE NAURAUSHAUN COMMUNITY, YOU WILL KNOW THAT WE HAVE HAD A TRUE ADVENT EXPERIENCE THIS YEAR; SOMETHING WAY ABOVE AND BEYOND HEARING THE WORDS AND SLIDING OUR WAY THROUGH TO THE CELEBRATION OF A NEWBORN BABE.
YOU SEE, BECAUSE OF THE CAPRICIOUS NATURE OF THE WEATHER DURING DECEMBER THIS YEAR, WE HAVE BEEN GIVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW ACCUSTOMED TO EXPECTING THE UNEXPECTED. OUR WELL-PLANNED-FOR WORSHIP EXPERIENCE OF PRAISING GOD THROUGH THE ARTS WAS INTERRUPTED, NOT ONCE, BUT TWICE BECAUSE OF ICY, SNOWY ROADS. THEN TORRENTIAL RAINS ON CHRISTMAS EVE LEFT ME FEELING MORE LIKE BUILDING AN ARK THAN APPROACHING THE MANGER. BUT AREN'T WE ALL DELIGHTED ABOUT THE MONEY WE JUST SPENT TO FIX THE ROOF? AT LEAST THE FLOOD WAS OUTSIDE, IN THE NAURAUSHAUN BROOK, RATHER THAN INSIDE THE SANCTUARY THIS TIME!
YES, IF WE WERE REALLY PAYING ATTENTION WE RECEIVED A GOOD LESSON IN HOW TO EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED. WE LEARNED THAT THE IMPORTANT PART OF LIFE HAPPENS IN THE PRESENT MOMENT. THERE IS NOTHING TO BE GAINED BY BROODING OVER THE PAST OR ANXIOUSLY LOOKING TOWARDS THE FUTURE. LITURGICAL DANCERS AREN'T ALWAYS THE LAST WORD WHEN IT COMES TO WORSHIP. ORGANISTS/CHOIR DIRECTORS MAY COME AND GO, BUT THE MINISTRY OF NAURAUSHAUN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH CONTINUES! AND NOTHING BRINGS US CLOSER TO GOD'S INTENTION FOR HUMAN LIVING THAN GOING WITH THE FLOW AND LEANING INTO WHATEVER LIFE PRESENTS US. MY FRIENDS, LIVING THROUGH THE EXISTENTIAL TRUTH OF THIS IS THE ULTIMATE ADVENT EXPERIENCE AND WE HAVE MADE IT TO THE OTHER SIDE!
NOW I'M NOT SURE THE HEBREW PEOPLE EVER GOT THE POINT OF AN ADVENT EXPERIENCE. THEY EXPECTED THE MESSIAH TO BE ANOTHER KING LIKE DAVID, AND WHAT GOD SENT WAS A TINY LITTLE, VULNERABLE NEWBORN BABY. A LOT OF THEM EXPECTED THE EXPECTED, AND THE MESSIANIC MOMENT PASSED THEM BY. ACTUALLY, IT SEEMS TO ME TO BE A SMALL WONDER THAT SOME PEOPLE MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW THE MESSIAH. EVEN TODAY WE EXPECT THE BIRTH OF CHRIST TO MEAN SOMETHING OTHER THAN WHAT IT REALLY MEANS. WE CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF THE PRINCE OF PEACE, EVEN AS WE WILDLY CELEBRATE THE CAPTURE OF SADDAM HUSSEIN AND TRY NOT TO HEAR AS THE DEATH-LIST FROM IRAQ INCREASES ON A DAILY BASIS.
NOW THE OTHER REALLY GOOD ADVENT EXPERIENCE WE HAD HERE AT NAURAUSHAUN WAS A LESSON IN WAITING. WE WAITED FOR THE BIRTH OF LITTLE STEPHANIE JOSEPHINE VIEITEZ. FROM DECEMBER 14TH ON, WE WAITED - EVERY DAY - TO HEAR THE GOOD NEWS OF THE BABY'S SAFE ARRIVAL. AND FINALLY SHE CAME.
STEPHANIE WAS BORN ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2003 AT 4:07 PM IN THE AFTERNOON. SHE WEIGHED IN AT 9 LBS. AND MEASURED OUT TO BE 22 INCHES LONG. AND I VISITED IN THE HOSPITAL THE VERY NEXT DAY! AS I TOOK THAT BABY IN MY ARMS AND BEHELD HER IN ALL OF HER PERFECT BEAUTY, I KNEW THAT SHE HAD BEEN WELL WORTH WAITING FOR. AND IT WAS THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING WITH HER WHEN SHE WAS LESS THAN 24 HOURS OLD THAT BROUGHT IT ALL HOME FOR ME. AS I HELD THAT TINY LITTLE PIECE OF ETERNITY IN MY ARMS AND THOUGHT ABOUT MARY, IN A STABLE, TWO THOUSAND YEARS AGO, HOLDING THE NEWBORN BABY JESUS, I UNDERSTOOD THE TREMENDOUS GIFT OF GOD ALLOWING GODSELF TO BE EMBODIED IN A MINISCULE, VULNERABLE HUMAN BEING.
THIS CHRISTMAS HAS BEEN VERY SPECIAL FOR ME. I CAN CLAIM A NEW AND DEEPENED APPRECIATION FOR THE WONDER OF THE MIRACLE, CAN YOU? "THE WORD BECAME FLESH AND LIVED AMONG US…FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH." THE MESSIAH IS BORN, HISTORICALLY AND ETERNALLY.
AND IT IS THE MYSTERY OF THIS TRUTH THAT MAKES CHRISTMAS SUCH A SPECIAL MOMENT WHEN, FOR A CHRISTIAN PERSON, THE ENTIRE WORLD SEEMS TO CATCH ITS BREATH IN ORDER TO BREATHE IN THE VERY SPIRIT OF GOD, IF ONLY FOR ONE MOMENT.
I LOVE THE FIRST CHAPTER OF JOHN'S GOSPEL. I DON'T TOTALLY UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING THE EVANGELIST IS SAYING. AND, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I THINK THIS IS THE GREATEST REASON WHY I LOVE THESE VERSES SO MUCH. JOHN HAS DONE A FABULOUS JOB OF PUTTING THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST INTO WORDS THAT DO NOT COMPROMISE THE WONDER AND THE AWE ONE LITTLE BIT.
"IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD, AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD AND THE WORD WAS GOD." THERE IS A COMPLETE UNFOLDING OF THE MYSTERY OF THE LOGOS IN JUST THIS ONE SIMPLE SENTENCE. THE EXISTENCE OF THE WORD IS RECOGNIZED - "IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD." THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE WORD AND GOD IS DESCRIBED - "AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD." AND THE FINAL TRUTH IS THAT THE WORD AND GOD ARE ONE - "AND THE WORD WAS GOD."
HAVE YOU EVER STOPPED TO THINK ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT LOGOS IS TO OUR UNDERSTANDING OF GOD? LOGOS, THE GREEK WORD FOR "THE WORD" IS BASIC TO OUR UNDERSTANDING OF GOD. THINK ABOUT HOW ALL OF CREATION WAS CALLED INTO BEING THROUGH THE WORD OF GOD.
THINK ABOUT THE LAW BEING GIVEN TO MOSES THROUGH THE WORD OF GOD. THINK OF THE PROPHETS SPEAKING THE WORD OF GOD TO TRY TO GET OUR ATTENTION. THINK ABOUT THE WORD BEING BORN INTO OUR HUMAN EXISTENCE IN JESUS THE CHRIST. LOGOS MOVED CLOSER AND CLOSER TO US UNTIL IT LIVED AMONG US FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH. AND TO A CERTAIN EXTENT WE NEVER UNDERSTAND THE FULLNESS OF THIS CLOSENESS, EVEN AS WE SEEK TO EMBRACE IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
I AM ALWAYS FASCINATED BY THE CONSTANT INTERACTION BETWEEN ETERNAL TIME AND HISTORICAL TIME IN THIS PASSAGE. THERE IS A WONDERFUL MARRIAGE OF CHRONOS (CHRONOLOGICAL TIME) AND KAIROS (GOD'S TIME) AS WE READ THROUGH THESE 14 VERSES AT THE BEGINNING OF THE GOSPEL OF JOHN. "IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD" HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH THE ETERNAL NATURE OF LOGOS AND THIS IS WHERE THE PERICOPE BEGINS. LIKE GOD, THE WORD WAS, IT IS AND IT SHALL BE. SOME PEOPLE EVEN BELIEVE LOGOS, A MASCULINE NOUN IS A REPLACEMENT FOR SOPHIA, A FEMININE NOUN USED THROUGHOUT THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES TO NAME THE ETERNAL EMBODIMENT OF THE DIVINE WITHIN CREATION. FOR INSTANCE, IN PROVERBS 8:22-31 WISDOM IS SPEAKING AND SHE SAYS, "THE LORD CREATED ME AT THE BEGINNING OF HIS WORK, THE FIRST OF HIS ACTS OF LONG AGO." AS WE READ THE VERSES FOLLOWING WE BECOME CLEAR THAT WISDOM HAS BEEN GOD'S COMPANION BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF THE EARTH.
IN THE BEGINNING WAS SOPHIA…
IN THE BEGINNING WAS LOGOS…
LOGOS ALLOWS FOR THE MASCULINE EMBODIMENT OF GOD IN THE SAME WAY THAT SOPHIA ALLOWED THE HEBREW PEOPLE TO ENVISION WISDOM AS "A WOMAN STANDING BESIDE GOD, OVER AGAINST BUT NOT UNCONCERNED WITH THE CREATED PHYSICAL WORLD" (NIB). LOGOS ALLOWS FOR THE INCARNATION IN A LITTLE BABY BOY, AND SO WE SEE A SHIFT IN TERMINOLOGY.
AT THE END OF THIS PERICOPE WE HEAR, "THE WORD BECAME FLESH AND LIVED AMONG US." WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AN HISTORICAL MOMENT HERE. THIS IS WHERE THE TEMPORAL AND THE ETERNAL HAPPEN TOGETHER; THE CHRONOS AND THE KAIROS ARE ONE, AND IT IS COMPLETELY A MYSTERY TO ME HOW THAT HAPPENS, BUT I LOVE THE MYSTERY! I KIND OF ENJOY THE MENTAL SWIRL THAT BETRAYS MY LOGICAL THOUGHT PROCESS AS I TRY TO MAKE SENSE OUT OF AN IDEA, EVEN AS IT REFUSES TO BE MADE SENSE OUT OF. THERE REALLY AND TRULY IS A GOD WHO REFUSES TO BE BOUND BY THE LIMITATIONS OF THE HUMAN MIND! ALLELUIA! AMEN! AND THEREIN LAYS THE BEST UNDERSTANDING OF THE INCARNATION THERE CAN BE.
FLANNERY O'CONNOR CALLS THE INCARNATION EMOTIONALLY UNSATISFYING TO THOSE OF US BROUGHT UP IN A SOCIETY OF LOGICAL AND SCIENTIFIC THINKING. BUT SHE GOES ON TO SAY, "THE TRUTH DOES NOT CHANGE ACCORDING TO OUR ABILITY TO STOMACH IT EMOTIONALLY.
A HIGHER PARADOX CONFOUNDS EMOTION AS WELL AS REASON AND THERE ARE LONG PERIODS IN THE LIVES OF ALL OF US, AND OF THE SAINTS, WHEN THE TRUTH AS REVEALED BY FAITH IS HIDEOUS, EMOTIONALLY DISTURBING, DOWNRIGHT REPULSIVE." (Seeing Christ as God and Human ALIVE NOW - Nov/Dec 2003)
IN OTHER WORDS, FAITH DOES NOT ALWAYS MAKE SENSE - NOR SHOULD IT. FAITH IS A LEAP INTO THE UNKNOWN AND THE INDEFINABLE.
FAITH CAN GIVE US A STOMACH ACHE OF ANXIETY IF WE WORK AT IT TOO HARD! SO MUCH FOR PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE ALL OF THE PROBLEMS OF LIFE WILL FADE AWAY WITH A COMMITMENT TO GOD THROUGH JESUS THE CHRIST!
IN THE SAME ARTICLE FLANNERY O'CONNOR SAYS, "TO SEE CHRIST AS GOD AND MAN IS PROBABLY NO MORE DIFFICULT TODAY THAN IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN, EVEN IF TODAY THERE SEEM TO BE MORE REASONS TO DOUBT. FOR YOU IT MAY BE A MATTER OF NOT BEING ABLE TO ACCEPT WHAT YOU CALL A SUSPENSION OF THE LAWS OF THE FLESH AND THE PHYSICAL, BUT FOR MY PART I THINK THAT WHEN I KNOW WHAT THE LAWS OF THE FLESH AND THE PHYSICAL REALLY ARE, THEN I WILL KNOW WHAT GOD IS. WE KNOW THEM AS WE SEE THEM, NOT AS GOD SEES THEM. FOR ME, IT IS THE VIRGIN BIRTH, THE INCARNATION, THE RESURRECTION WHICH ARE THE TRUE LAWS OF THE FLESH AND THE PHYSICAL." (Same article as mentioned before.)
NOW I CANNOT TALK ABOUT THE PROLOGUE TO THE GOSPEL OF JOHN WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT HOPE, AS WELL AS FAITH. OF COURSE THERE IS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF LOVE THAT COMES THROUGH THESE WORDS, AS WELL, BUT THIS YEAR THE OUTSTANDING WORD FOR ME IS "HOPE." OUR WORLD IS IN DESPERATE NEED OF HOPE, AND NOTHING BRINGS MORE WONDROUS HOPE THAN BELIEVING THAT GOD HAS A WISDOM AND A WORD THAT FAR EXCEEDS OUR HUMAN MENTAL CAPABILITIES.
THE REV. DR. JOHN CLAYPOOL HAS A NEW BOOK OUT, ENTIRELY DEVOTED TO THE ISSUE OF FINDING HOPE IN THESE DARK AND TURBULENT TIMES. AND IT IS STRIKING TO ME THAT HE HAS GIVEN AN ENTIRE CHAPTER OVER TO THE IDEA OF WHAT WE CAN EXPECT FROM GOD.
CLAYPOOL SAYS THERE ARE THREE THINGS WE CAN EXPECT FROM GOD THAT WILL LEAD US TO A PLACE OF HOPE. HE SAYS WE CAN EXPECT MIRACLES, COLLABORATION, AND ENDURANCE, BUT WE NEVER KNOW EXACTLY WHEN GOD WILL GIVE US WHICH. IN HIS EXACT WORDS CLAYPOOL SAYS, "THERE ARE TIMES WHEN, FOR INSCRUTABLE REASONS, GOD CHOOSES TO SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS FOR US. THERE ARE OTHER OCCASIONS WHEN THE HOLY ONE OFFERS TO SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS WITH US, AND THEN THERE ARE THOSE TIMES WHEN GOD SEEMS TO BE SAYING, 'THERE WILL BE NO SOLVING OF THE PROBLEM, BUT I WILL GIVE YOU THE STRENGTH TO ENDURE THE UNCHANGEABLE AND TO EXPERIENCE REAL GROWTH IN THE PROCESS.'" (THE HOPEFUL HEART PG. 53)
MY FRIENDS, THE MYSTERY OF CHRISTMAS THAT IS SO VERY ENGAGING TO THE ENTIRE WORLD IS THAT IT IS ONE HISTORICAL MOMENT IN WHICH GOD HAS CHOSEN TO SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS FOR US. AND THIS CHRISTMAS SEEMS TO ME TO BE ABOUT THE BIRTH OF HOPE, AS WELL AS THE MYSTERIOUS PRESENCE OF HOPE MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE. DON'T TRY TO UNDERSTAND IT, JUST EXPERIENCE IT!
IN CLOSING I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THE POETRY OF ANN WEEMS ONE MORE TIME. THIS POEM IS ENTITLED IT IS NOT OVER.
IT IS NOT OVER,
THIS BIRTHING.
THERE ARE ALWAYS NEWER SKIES
INTO WHICH
GOD CAN THROW STARS.
WHEN WE BEGIN TO THINK
THAT WE CAN PREDICT THE ADVENT OF GOD,
THAT WE CAN BOX THE CHRIST
IN A STABLE IN BETHLEHEM,
THAT'S JUST THE TIME
THAT GOD WILL BE BORN
IN A PLACE WE CAN'T IMAGINE AND WON'T BELIEVE.
THOSE WHO WAIT FOR GOD
WATCH WITH THEIR HEARTS AND NOT THEIR EYES,
LISTENING
ALWAYS LISTENING
FOR ANGEL WORDS.
ALLELUIA! AMEN!
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 ½ 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!
SCRIPTURE: Hebrews 4:12-16 & Mark 10:17-31
THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION IN THE TITLE OF THIS SERMON, "WHAT WILL IT TAKE" IS SIMPLE; EVERYTHING AND NOTHING. ACTUALLY, THE WORDS ARE SIMPLE, BUT LIVING WITH THE TENSION BETWEEN THE TWO IS NOT SIMPLE AT ALL. AND TODAY'S SCRIPTURE PASSAGE EXHIBITS THIS TENSION IN MANY PROFOUND WAYS, IF WE HAVE EARS TO HEAR.
NOW ONE OF THE BEST PARTS OF GOING TO THURSDAY MORNING PRAYER GROUP IS GOING OUT FOR BREAKFAST AFTERWARDS. WE WORSHIP BEFORE BREAKFAST, BUT THE SERMON FOR THE DAY SOMETIMES HAPPENS AROUND THE BREAKFAST TABLE, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED THIS PAST THURSDAY.
THE SCRIPTURE WE READ DURING THE LITURGY ON THURSDAY MORNING WAS OUR SCRIPTURE PASSAGE FOR TODAY. AND THE CONVERSATION AROUND THE BREAKFAST TABLE HAD TO DO WITH THINGS LIKE; WHO IS FIRST AND WHO IS LAST AND HOW VERY UNCOMFORTABLE THIS SCRIPTURE MAKES US FEEL. SOME OF US THOUGHT THE LIKES OF BILL GATES WERE THE FIRST WHO WOULD BE LAST, BUT SOME THOUGHT THAT THE FIRST PEOPLE IN OUR SOCIETY ARE PEOPLE LIKE SAINT TERESA. AND NOT ONE OF US WANTED TO GIVE UP ALL THAT WE POSSESS TO FOLLOW JESUS, EVEN THOUGH THE TABLE WAS FILLED WITH WOMEN WHO LOVE JESUS.
AS I LEFT THIS VERY STIMULATING CONVERSATION TO GO TO AN APPOINTMENT I SAID, "WHEN YOU GET THIS ISSUE SETTLED, LET ME KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER," TO WHICH EVERYONE LAUGHED. WE ALL KNOW, ON SOME LEVEL, THAT THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTIONS ABOUT MONEY AND FAITH CAN ONLY BE FOUND BIT BY BIT AS WE MOVE ALONG THE JOURNEY OF LIFE, TRYING TO FOLLOW AFTER JESUS IN THE SAME HAPLESS WAY AS THE FIRST DISCIPLES.
SO TO INFORM OUR OWN JOURNEY, LET'S CONSIDER THE ACTUAL STORY. IT BEGINS AS A MAN THROWS HIMSELF AT JESUS' FEET, WANTING TO KNOW HOW TO INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE. THIS STATEMENT, IN AND OF ITSELF, IS PRETTY OUTRAGEOUS WHEN WE THINK ABOUT IT. IF ONE OF MY CHILDREN EVER ASKED ME WHAT HE/SHE HAD TO DO TO INHERIT MY FINEST THINGS I WOULD PROMPTLY SAY, "NOT A THING." MY INHERITANCE TO MY CHILDREN IS A GIVEN, A FREE GIFT. AND THE SAME IS TRUE FOR ALL OF US AS THE CHILDREN OF GOD. ETERNAL LIFE IS A GIFT OF GRACE. THERE IS NOT ONE THING WE CAN DO TO EARN IT. AND SO THE DISCUSSION ABOUT MONEY BEGINS WITH AN UNDERSTANDING OF GOD'S GRACIOUSNESS AND GOODNESS. JESUS SAYS, "NO ONE IS GOOD BUT GOD ALONE." THE FOUNDATION OF EVERY DISCUSSION OR ACTION IS ALWAYS THE GRACE OF GOD.
BUT THE MAN OBVIOUSLY NEEDED AND WANTED TO HAVE SOME KIND OF INSTRUCTION FROM JESUS, SO JESUS REMINDS HIM OF A FEW OF THE COMMANDMENTS, AND THE MAN CONFIRMS THE FACT THAT HE HAS KEPT THESE COMMANDMENTS THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE. NOW THE QUESTION THAT COMES TO MY MIND IS THAT IF THIS MAN HAS LIVED A LIFE OF FAITH, THEN WHERE IS THE JOY FOR HIM?
WHY THE FEAR ABOUT INHERITING ETERNAL LIFE? WHAT WAS THE MAN MISSING IN HIS OWN LIFE, EVEN AFTER LIVING A GOOD LIFE WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS? AND I THINK JESUS HAD THE SAME THOUGHT, BECAUSE JESUS LOOKED AT HIM AND LOVED HIM. JESUS SAW THE MAN THROUGH THE EYES OF GOD AND KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS MISSING. THERE WAS A SPIRITUAL EMPTINESS FOR THIS MAN THAT JESUS WANTED TO FILL, AND SO JESUS SAID, "GO, SELL WHAT YOU OWN, AND GIVE THE MONEY TO THE POOR." AND THE MAN GOES AWAY GRIEVING, FOR HE HAS MANY POSSESSIONS.
NOW I HAD AN "AHA" MOMENT WHILE STUDYING THIS SCRIPTURE. I HAVE ALWAYS HEARD THIS STORY TELLING ME TO SELL EVERYTHING I HAVE AND GIVE ALL OF IT TO THE POOR. AND MY RESPONSE TO THAT THOUGHT IS PROBABLY VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT YOUR RESPONSE MIGHT BE.
I PANIC!
I DON'T WANT TO BE POOR.
I LOVE THE NICARAGUAN PEOPLE, BUT I DON'T WANT TO LIVE LIKE THEY DO.
I'M ALWAYS VERY HAPPY TO COME HOME TO MY AIR-CONDITIONED HOUSE AND COMFY BED.
BUT THIS TIME, AS I READ THIS STORY I COULD SEE WHERE I WAS WRONG. JESUS TELLS THE MAN TO SELL WHAT HE OWNS - HIS POSSESSIONS, AND TO GIVE THAT MONEY TO THE POOR. FOR THE FIRST TIME I HEARD JESUS TALKING ABOUT THE OBSESSES OF OUR DAILY LIVING RATHER THAN THE COMPLETE ABANDONMENT OF ALL WEALTH. I THINK MY AMERICAN ANXIETY MADE ME UNABLE TO HEAR WHAT WAS REALLY BEING SAID, BECAUSE NO ONE UNDERSTANDS OBSESSIVE LIVING BETTER THAN WE AMERICANS. WHEN SOMEONE ASKS US TO GIVE UP OUR EXCESSES WE HEAR THEM ASKING US TO GIVE UP EVERYTHING. JESUS ISN'T SAYING "GIVE UP EVERYTHING." JESUS IS SAYING "GIVE UP SOME OF IT." JESUS IS SAYING "GIVE UP THAT WHICH HAS BECOME ANOTHER GOD FOR YOU," BECAUSE THE ONLY WAY TO TRULY FOLLOW JESUS IS TO KNOW THAT GOD ALONE IS GOOD, AND NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN GOD.
FRIENDS, POSSESSIONS AND WEALTH ARE NOT EVIL - NOT UNTIL THEY BECOME OUR GOD AND WE THINK WE CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT THEM. IF OUR WEALTH HAS BECOME SO IMPORTANT TO US THAT WE HEAR THIS STORY AND THINK WE WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH DISCIPLESHIP, THEN WE, TOO, WILL FIND OURSELVES SHOCKED AND GRIEVING AND WALKING AWAY. BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO WALK AWAY! WE CAN BE LIKE THE DISCIPLES, STAYING WITH JESUS EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T ALWAYS GET IT.
YOU SEE, JESUS KNEW THE DISCIPLES DIDN'T UNDERSTAND SO HE GAVE THEM A MINI LECTURE ON THE REALITIES OF DISCIPLESHIP. JESUS SAID, "HOW HARD IT WILL BE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE WEALTH TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD." AND THE DISCIPLES DON'T GET IT, JUST LIKE WE DON'T GET IT. WE DEFENSIVELY WANT TO RESPOND TO THIS STORY BY SAYING, "BUT I'M NOT EVIL AND I DON'T THINK MONEY IS EVIL." ANOTHER GOOD RESPONSE IS, "I MAY BE WEALTHY BUT I HAVE WORKED HARD FOR EVERY PENNY I EARNED."
FRIENDS, JESUS ISN'T TALKING ABOUT THE EVILS OF MONEY. HE'S TALKING ABOUT HOW MONEY, AND WHAT IT CAN BUY, GETS IN THE WAY OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, SOMETHING AMERICANS DON'T WANT TO HEAR. HE'S TALKING ABOUT POSSESSIONS BECOMING BLINDERS TO HOW GOD WANTS THE WORLD TO BE.
NOW THIS NEXT IMAGE OF A CAMEL GOING THROUGH THE EYE OF A NEEDLE HAS BEEN SUBJECTED TO A BIT OF DISTORTION OVER THE YEARS, AS WE PREACHERS HAVE SOUGHT TO EXPLAIN IT TO OUR WEALTHY CONGREGATIONS AND OUR WEALTHY SELVES WITHOUT OFFENDING ANYONE. AT FIRST IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A ONE LETTER MISTAKE IN EARLY TRANSCRIPTIONS THAT WOULD CHANGE THE GREEK WORD FOR "CAMEL" INTO THE GREEK WORD FOR "ROPE." A ROPE GOING THROUGH THE EYE OF A NEEDLE IS A LITTLE MORE PROBABLE, SO THAT WAS A BIT EASIER TO TAKE. THERE WAS WIGGLE ROOM IN THE IMAGE OF A ROPE AND THE EYE OF A NEEDLE.
BUT THEN THE INTERPRETATION I WAS TAUGHT 20 YEARS AGO WAS THAT THERE WAS A SPECIAL LATE NIGHT GATE BESIDE THE OFFICIAL GATE TO THE CITY OF JERUSALEM. IT WAS REPORTED THAT THIS GATE, CALLED THE NEEDLE'S EYE, WAS USED FOR PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO GET INTO THE CITY AFTER THE OFFICIAL CLOSING OF THE GATES. IT WAS SAID THAT THIS WAS A SMALL GATE, AND A CAMEL WOULD HAVE A VERY DIFFICULT TIME GETTING THROUGH, BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE. WITH THIS IMAGE THERE WAS EVEN MORE WIGGLE ROOM. BUT, RECENT STUDIES SHOW THAT THERE WAS NO SUCH THING AS AN EXTRA GATE CALLED THE NEEDLE'S EYE, AND IF YOU ARRIVED AFTER THE GATES OF JERUSALEM WERE CLOSED YOU WEREN'T ALLOWED INTO THE CITY UNTIL MORNING.
THE ONLY TRUE INTERPRETATION OF THIS IMAGE OF A CAMEL AND THE EYE OF A NEEDLE IS TO SAY THAT IT IS JUST AS DIFFICULT FOR A WEALTHY PERSON TO GET INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD AS IT IS FOR THE LARGEST KNOWN ANIMAL OF THAT TIME TO GET THROUGH THE SMALLEST KNOWN OPENING OF THE SAME TIME. WEALTH AND ENTRANCE INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS AS DIFFICULT AS TRYING TO GET A CAMEL TO GO THROUGH THE EYE OF A NEEDLE. GETTING INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NOT GOING TO BE HUMANLY POSSIBLE FOR A WEALTHY PERSON. WE CANNOT BUY OUR WAY INTO THE GOOD GRACES OF GOD OR INTO GOD'S WAY OF LIVING, NOT EVEN WITH A MILLION OR A BILLION OR A TRILLION DOLLARS.
SO THE DISCIPLES THROW UP THEIR HANDS AND SAY, "WELL, IF THE CREAM OF THE CROP CAN'T HAVE SALVATION, THEN WHO CAN BE SAVED?" AND JESUS MAKES HIS POINT BEAUTIFULLY BY SAYING, "ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD." THIS, MY FRIENDS, IS THE VERY CRUX OF THE MATTER FOR US. THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO REMEMBER, MAYBE MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE FROM THIS MORNING. NO MATTER HOW WEALTHY WE ARE… NO MATTER WHAT CHOICES WE MAKE ABOUT HOW TO USE OUR WEALTH… NO MATTER HOW WE TRY AND FAIL TO GET INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD… ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD! WE DON'T EVEN NEED WIGGLE ROOM!
AND THEREIN LAYS THE TENSION OF WHAT WE LIVE. WE WANT THE KINGDOM OF GOD, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO GIVE UP OUR WEALTH.
AND OUR DESIRE TO HANG ONTO WEALTH IS WHAT KEEPS US FROM RECEIVING THE FREE GIFT OF GRACE AND SALVATION.
AS LONG AS WE THINK TRUE HAPPINESS IS FOUND IN THE POSSESSIONS WE OWN, WE WILL NEVER BE TRULY HAPPY. AND WE WILL NEVER BE TRULY HAPPY BECAUSE WE WILL FIND WE LOSE TIME AND JOY BY WORKING TOO HARD AND SPENDING TOO MUCH TIME RELATING TO OUR POSSESSIONS. THIS IS ANOTHER WAY OF SAYING WHAT WALTER BRUEGGEMAN SAYS, "PEOPLE WHO THINK THEIR LIVES CONSIST OF STRUGGLING TO GET MORE AND MORE CAN NEVER SLOW DOWN BECAUSE THEY WON'T EVER HAVE ENOUGH."
AND FREDERICK BUECHNER SAYS IT YET ANOTHER WAY, "THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO USE UP THEIR ENTIRE LIVES MAKING MONEY SO THEY CAN ENJOY THE LIVES THEY HAVE ENTIRELY USED UP."
NOW PETER'S RESPONSE TO JESUS' AWESOME STATEMENT ABOUT ALL THINGS BEING POSSIBLE FOR GOD, WAS TO BECOME DEFENSIVE. HOW VERY HUMAN OF PETER. HE DOESN'T GET IT. PETER BEGINS TO LIST ALL OF THE THINGS HE AND THE OTHER DISCIPLES HAVE GIVEN UP IN ORDER TO FOLLOW JESUS, AS IF HE STILL BELIEVES SALVATION CAN BE EARNED. AND JESUS LISTS THOSE VERY THINGS THEY HAVE GIVEN UP AS THE BENEFITS THEY WILL GAIN FOR THE LETTING GO OF THEM. BUT THE ONE HITCH IN THE LIST OF BENEFITS IS THE WORD "PERSECUTIONS." THAT THROWS ME EVERY TIME I READ IT. "WHO WILL NOT RECEIVE A HUNDREDFOLD NOW IN THIS AGE-HOUSES, BROTHERS AND SISTERS, MOTHERS AND CHILDREN, AND FIELDS WITH PERSECUTIONS [?]"
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS THE MOST IS THAT HE ALWAYS RECOGNIZES HOW DIFFICULT RESPONSIBLE LIVING IS, AND HE NEVER TRIES TO PULL THE WOOL OVER OUR EYES. IF WE FOLLOW JESUS IT WILL MAKE OUR LIVES MORE DIFFICULT, BECAUSE FOLLOWING JESUS MEANS NOT FITTING INTO THE DOMINANT CULTURE OF OUR COUNTRY. FOLLOWING JESUS MEANS LIVING AND BREATHING THE REALITY OF OUR SITUATION, WHICH IS A RICH AND WEALTHY REALITY. YES, YOU AND I, EVERY ONE OF US IN THIS SANCTUARY, ARE SOME OF THE WEALTHIEST PEOPLE IN THE ENTIRE WORLD. THE WORLD BANK DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH GROUP HAS DEVELOPED A GLOBAL RICH LIST CALCULATION. IF YOU INPUT A YEARLY SALARY OF $30,000 (US) YOU ARE IN THE TOP 3.11% RICHEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD. THERE ARE 5,813,259,052 POORER THAN YOU. IF YOUR INCOME IS $34,000 (US) YOU ARE IN THE TOP .995% RICHEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD. THERE ARE 5,940,298,435 PEOPLE POORER THAN YOU. I DIDN'T HAVE THE HEART TO TRY INPUTTING $96,000, WHICH IS THE AVERAGE INCOME FOR PEARL RIVER, NEW YORK.
ON THE OTHER HAND, FOLLOWING JESUS ALSO MEANS REALLY LIVING THIS LIFE. IT MEANS BEING IN FULL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND THE REST OF THE UNIVERSE. IT MEANS EXPERIENCING WEALTH RATHER THAN OWNING WEALTH. IT MEANS HOLDING A JOY THAT NO ONE CAN TAKE AWAY; A JOY THAT DEFINES OUR EVERY MOVE.
TO QUOTE FREDERICK BUECHNER AGAIN, "JESUS SAYS THAT IT'S EASIER FOR A CAMEL TO GO THROUGH THE EYE OF A NEEDLE THAN FOR A RICH MAN TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD. MAYBE THE REASON IS NOT THAT THE RICH ARE SO WICKED THEY'RE KEPT OUT OF THE PLACE BUT THAT THEY'RE SO OUT OF TOUCH WITH REALITY THEY CAN'T SEE IT'S A PLACE WORTH GETTING INTO." (PG. 81 OF WISHFUL THINKING.)
SO THE SIMPLE ANSWER TO THE DIFFICULT QUESTION ABOUT WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS EVERYTHING AND NOTHING. WE MUST TRY TO DO EVERYTHING TO LIVE LIFE THE WAY GOD INTENDS IT TO BE. WE MUST SELL ALL OUR OBSESSIONS AND GIVE THE MONEY TO THE POOR. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE CAN LIVE INTO THE TRUTH THAT THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WE CAN DO TO EARN OUR INHERITANCE OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
ALLELUIA! AMEN!
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 26 & Mark 10:2-16
I PREACHED MY VERY FIRST SERMON IN THE SUMMER OF 1981. THAT WAS OVER 22 YEARS AGO.
NOW MOST OF YOU KNOW THAT I TRY TO PREACH ACCORDING TO THE LECTIONARY PASSAGES. THAT IS, I TRY TO HOLD FAST TO THE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE OF PREACHING FROM A THREE YEAR CYCLE OF UNIVERSALLY CHOSEN PASSAGES MEANT TO OPEN US UP TO THE ENTIRE MESSAGE OF THE BIBLE. BUT I HAVE TO CONFESS TO YOU TODAY THAT OUT OF MY 22 YEARS OF PREACHING I HAVE NEVER ONCE PREACHED ON THIS PASSAGE FROM MARK.
WHENEVER THE PASSAGES ABOUT DIVORCE HAVE SURFACED IN THE LECTIONARY CYCLE, I ALWAYS TOLD MYSELF, "NOT THIS SUNDAY, MAYBE LATER." BUT SINCE I BELIEVE DEEPLY IN THE WHOLENESS OF THE BIBLICAL MESSAGE, LATER SEEMS TO HAVE FINALLY COME! THERE IS NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT TO TAKE ON THE DIFFICULT ISSUES, SO HERE WE GO!
WHEN STEWART AND I HAD BEEN MARRIED ONLY A LITTLE OVER A YEAR, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM MY OLDER SISTER TELLING ME SHE AND HER HUSBAND WERE GETTING A DIVORCE. I WAS DEVASTATED. I HAD JUST ENTERED THE JOURNEY CALLED "MARRIAGE" THINKING IT WAS FOREVER, AND SOMEONE VERY CLOSE TO ME HAD UNKNOWINGLY TAKEN A CHUNK OUT OF THE ROCK SOLID FOUNDATION UPON WHICH I WAS STANDING. I REMEMBER HANGING UP THE PHONE, AFTER THIS SOBERING CONVERSATION, AND RUNNING TO STEWART WITH TEARS OF DEEP SORROW STREAMING DOWN MY FACE. "PROMISE YOU WILL NEVER LEAVE ME," I SAID TO HIM.A TRUST HAD BEEN BROKEN AND I NEEDED HIM TO HELP ME PICK UP THE PIECES.
DIVORCE IS A VERY DIFFICULT AND PAINFUL ISSUE, WHICH TOUCHES SO MANY LIVES IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. AND THIS PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE CERTAINLY DOESN'T MAKE ANYBODY FEEL ANY BETTER ABOUT IT. I FIND VERSES 11 AND 12 TO BE ESPECIALLY DAMNING - "WHOEVER DIVORCES HIS WIFE AND MARRIES ANOTHER COMMITS ADULTERY AGAINST HER; AND IF SHE DIVORCES HER HUSBAND AND MARRIES ANOTHER, SHE COMMITS ADULTERY."
I DON'T THINK ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE DIVORCED AND REMARRIED AS COMMITTING ADULTERY, ESPECIALLY PEOPLE LIKE MY SISTER WHO WAS BEING PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY ABUSED BY HER FIRST HUSBAND. THERE HAS TO BE MORE TO THIS PASSAGE THAN MEETS THE EYE. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING WE CAN SKIP OVER LIGHTLY, SHRUGGING OUR SHOULDERS AND SAYING, "OH WELL."
FIRST OF ALL, WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE GREAT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MARRIAGE IN THE FIRST CENTURY AND MARRIAGE IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY. IN BIBLICAL TIMES MARRIAGES WERE ARRANGED BY TWO FAMILIES, NOT TWO INDIVIDUALS PROFESSING LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER. AND MARRIAGES WERE ARRANGED FOR ONE PURPOSE - THE PROCREATION OF MALE CHILDREN SO THAT THE MAN'S FAMILY WILL HAVE HEIRS TO CARRY ON THE FAMILY NAME AND INHERIT THE FAMILY PROPERTY. WOMEN WERE NOT CONSIDERED ANYTHING OTHER THAN A MEANS TO THE END OF MAKING A FAMILY FOR THE MAN. AND IF A WOMAN COULD NOT BEAR A CHILD, FOR WHATEVER REASON, IT WAS EXPECTED THAT THE MAN WOULD TAKE A SECOND WIFE OR EVEN THE SLAVE OF HIS WIFE; ANYTHING TO ASSURE HIM AN HEIR.
SO IN THE ANCIENT TRADITION OF ARRANGING MARRIAGES THERE WERE TWO ENTIRE FAMILIES INVOLVED IN A TRUST RELATIONSHIP. MARRIAGE WAS NOT AN INTIMATE ACT; IT WAS A COMMUNAL ACT. AND BECAUSE OF THIS, I HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT JESUS WAS SPEAKING MORE BROADLY THAN THE PHARISEES WERE THINKING WHEN THEY ASKED HIM ABOUT DIVORCE.
NOTICE THAT JESUS RESPONDED TO THEIR QUESTION BY ASKING HIS OWN QUESTION, "WHAT DID MOSES COMMAND YOU?" AND THE PHARISEES COUNTERED WITH A SPECIFIC DEUTERONOMIC TEACHING THAT CAME ABOUT BECAUSE MEN WERE TREATING THEIR WIVES IN SUCH A CAVALIER WAY. IN THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY, TO WHICH THE PHARISEES WERE REFERRING, MOSES EXPANDS UPON THE TEN COMMANDMENTS IN ORDER TO MAKE THEM RELEVANT TO THE EVERYDAY LIVING SITUATION OF THE ISRAELITES. THIS BOOK IS LIKE ONE LONG SERMON ON THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, AND THEIR SPECIFIC REFERENCE TO THE TWENTY-FOURTH CHAPTER OF DEUTERONOMY HAS TO DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A MAN FINDS HIS WIFE "OBJECTIONABLE."
MOSES HAD GIVEN THE MEN PERMISSION TO WRITE A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE AND SEND THE UNWANTED WOMAN AWAY. BUT JESUS COULD SEE THAT THE LAW CAME INTO BEING BECAUSE OF THE HARDNESS OF THE HUMAN HEART. YOU SEE, I THINK JESUS WAS LOOKING FOR A MUCH BROADER ANSWER ABOUT LOVING THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL OF YOUR HEART, SOUL AND MIGHT. JESUS WAS TALKING WAY UP HERE, AND THE PHARISEES WERE TALKING WAY DOWN HERE; TWO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT WAVELENGTHS!
WHILE JESUS WAS TALKING ABOUT THE JOY OF A COMMITTED RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TWO LOVING ENTITIES - GOD AND GOD'S CREATION - THE PHARISEES WERE TALKING ABOUT THE RIGHTS OF A MAN AND WHAT HE COULD DO WITH HIS PROPERTY. WHILE JESUS WAS TALKING ABOUT SPIRITUALLY BECOMING ONE, THE PHARISEES WERE TALKING ABOUT THE HUMAN FIXATION ON ONE BEING POWERFUL OVER AND AGAINST ANOTHER. WHILE JESUS WAS TALKING ABOUT WHAT GOD JOINS TOGETHER, THE PHARISEES WERE TALKING ABOUT THE HARDNESS OF THE HUMAN HEART THAT CAN TEAR APART THE TOGETHERNESS OF GOD. AND I HAVE TO BELIEVE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS IN GENERAL MORE THAN OUR CONTEMPORARY UNDERSTANDING OF MARRIAGE BETWEEN ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN. JESUS ALWAYS SAW THE BROADER PICTURE AND HE CALLS US TO THAT SAME VISION, YESTERDAY, TODAY AND ALWAYS.
NOW, WITH ALL OF THIS IN MIND I HAVE TO ADMIT THAT I BECOME A BIT CONFUSED ABOUT VERSES 11 AND 12, AND ESPECIALLY VERSE 12. IF A WOMAN IS PROPERTY AND NOT ALLOWED TO WRITE A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE, THEN HOW CAN SHE BE GUILTY OF ADULTERY? AND WHAT DOES REMARRIAGE AND ADULTERY HAVE TO DO WITH THE BROADER SENSE OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIP. AFTER ALL, INTIMACY IS NOT ONLY ABOUT SEX!
WELL, THE EASY ANSWER IS THAT JESUS WAS SPEAKING IN TERMS OF THE GRECO-ROMAN LAW WHEN HE SPOKE IN PRIVATE WITH HIS DISCIPLES. IN THE SECULAR WORLD, SEPARATE FROM THE HEBREW PEOPLE, A WOMAN WAS ALLOWED TO DIVORCE HER HUSBAND. AND WHAT JESUS IS SPEAKING AGAINST, HERE, IS NOT DIVORCE AS MUCH AS IT IS ADULTERY.
BUT IN THOSE DAYS, ADULTERY HAD MORE TO DO WITH HONOR THAN SEX. IF A WOMAN HAD A SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH ANYONE OTHER THAN HER HUSBAND, WHATEVER THE CIRCUMSTANCES, THE MAN WAS DISHONORED. AND THE TRANSGRESSION WAS ABOUT HONOR RATHER THAN SEX. AT THE SAME TIME, IF A MAN HAD A SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH SOMEONE OTHER THAN HIS WIFE, THAT WAS OK - UNLESS, OF COURSE, THE WOMAN WAS MARRIED. IF THIS HAPPENED, THE OTHER WOMAN'S HUSBAND WAS DISHONORED, BUT NOT THE WIFE OF THE OVERLY ACTIVE MAN!
I HAVE TO BELIEVE JESUS WAS NOT TALKING ABOUT SEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS HERE. I HAVE TO BELIEVE JESUS WAS TALKING ABOUT TRUST HERE, AND REALLY UPPING THE ANTE, SO TO SPEAK, FOR ALL RELATIONSHIPS. IN THAT DAY AND AGE, FAMILY FEUDS WERE STARTED WHEN THE HONOR OF ONE FAMILY WAS TAINTED BY THE ACTION OF ANOTHER FAMILY. JESUS WAS TRYING TO TEACH PEOPLE HOW TO MAINTAIN INTEGRITY IN ALL RELATIONSHIPS. JESUS KNEW THAT TRUST IS AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT PART OF ALL RELATIONSHIPS, BOTH HUMAN AND DIVINE. AND THIS IS POIGNANTLY HIGHLIGHTED BY THE FACT THAT THE DISCOURSE ABOUT DIVORCE IS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY A STORY OF JESUS AND THE CHILDREN.
IN THIS SAME LECTIONARY PASSAGE, JESUS SAYS THAT WE MUST RECEIVE THE KINGDOM OF GOD AS IF WE ARE LITTLE CHILDREN. IF WE DON'T WE WILL NEVER HAVE A TASTE OF IT. YOU SEE, I BELIEVE THE KINGDOM OF GOD HAS AS MUCH TO DO WITH THE HERE AND NOW AS IT HAS TO DO WITH THE EVER-AFTER. AND NOTHING MAKES THE KINGDOM OF GOD MORE CLEAR AND PALPABLE THAN TRUST.
IF WE TRUST IN GOD THE SAME WAY A LITTLE NURSING BABY TRUSTS HER MOTHER… IF WE TRUST ONE ANOTHER WITH THE SAME TRUST OF A COUPLE STANDING BEFORE GOD AND NEIGHBOR AND PROMISING TO LOVE, HONOR AND CHERISH ONE ANOTHER TO THE DAY THEY DIE… IF WE SEEK TO BE AS TRUSTWORTHY AS OUR OWN LORD AND SAVIOR, THEN THE KINGDOM OF GOD WILL HAPPEN THROUGH US AND OUR RELATIONSHIPS, RIGHT HERE AND NOW.
SO WHEN I LOOK AT THIS PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE ON A DEEPER LEVEL, I DON'T SEE JUDGMENT AND GUILT ABOUT CONTEMPORARY DIVORCE. WHAT I SEE IS JESUS DESPERATELY TRYING TO GET A MESSAGE ACROSS TO THE HARD-HEARTED HUMAN CREATURE.
I SEE AND HEAR JESUS SUGGESTING THAT TRUST IS A PRECIOUS GIFT AND NOT TO BE DISPOSED OF LIGHTLY. AND WHETHER THE RELATIONSHIP IS AN ANCIENT CONTRACT OF HONOR BETWEEN THE MEN OF TWO FAMILIES OR A CONTEMPORARY COVENANT OF LOVE OR THE ETERNAL RELATIONSHIP OF GOD AND GOD'S CHILDREN, THE GIFT OF TRUST IS MEANT TO BE HELD ONTO AT ALL COST.
TRUST IS A PRECIOUS COMMODITY IN THIS DAY AND AGE OF TERRORIST ATTACKS AND SLANDEROUS POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS AND A 50% DIVORCE RATE. BUT THE THING THAT IS MOST IMPORTANT FOR CONTEMPORARY PEOPLE OF FAITH TO REMEMBER IS THAT TRUST, IF BROKEN, CAN BE REBUILT.
WHILE I WAS IN SEMINARY ONE OF MY PROFESSORS WENT THROUGH A DIVORCE. HE WAS AN ORDAINED METHODIST MINISTER AND A PASTORAL COUNSELOR. HE WAS HELD IN VERY HIGH REGARD IN THE COMMUNITY. HE WAS KIND AND GENTLE, THE HUSBAND OF AN ATTRACTIVE WIFE AND FOUR GREAT CHILDREN. HE HAD BEEN MARRIED OVER 25 YEARS, AND EVEN THOUGH HE TRIED TO KEEP THE DIVORCE PRIVATE, IT SOON BECAME THE TALK OF THE TOWN. I REMEMBER FEELING AS IF HE HAD ALMOST BROKEN A TRUST WITH ME, EVEN THOUGH I WAS NOT A PART OF THE FAMILY. IT WAS KIND OF LIKE TAKING ANOTHER CHUNK OUT OF THE SOLID ROCK OF THE INSTITUTION OF MARRIAGE.
EVENTUALLY THIS MAN BEGAN TO SPEAK MORE OPENLY ABOUT HIS DIVORCE AND IT'S AFFECT ON HIS LIFE AND THE LIFE OF HIS CHILDREN. ON SOME LEVEL I KNEW HE UNDERSTOOD THAT A TRUST HAD BEEN BROKEN BETWEEN HIMSELF AND HIS CHILDREN, AS WELL AS THE DREW COMMUNITY. BUT, INSTEAD OF FALLING INTO THE ABYSS OF GUILT AND SHAME, THIS MAN COMMITTED HIMSELF TO REBUILDING THE TRUST WITH THE PEOPLE HE LOVED. HE NEVER DIVORCED HIMSELF FROM HIS CHILDREN. HE NEVER ABANDONED THEM IN THEIR ANGER. HE NEVER CHANGED HIS ROLE AT DREW, WHICH WAS TO BE A WARM AND PASTORAL PRESENCE FOR ALL OF THE STRUGGLING SEMINARIANS.
IN OTHER WORDS, THIS MAN SPENT HOURS AND DAYS AND YEARS REBUILDING THE TRUST OF FAMILY AND COMMUNITY, AND TODAY HE HAS A WONDERFUL RELATIONSHIP WITH A NEW WIFE AND PLENTY OF GRANDCHILDREN FROM ALL OF HIS CHILDREN WHO CONTINUE TO LIVE CLOSE BY. HE RECEIVED A WONDERFUL RETIREMENT PARTY FROM THE DREW FACULTY A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, AND HE IS, AGAIN, A WELL RESPECTED MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY. AND I KNOW, IN MY HEART OF HEARTS, THAT I WAS WATCHING THE KINGDOM OF GOD HAPPEN AS I SAW HIM TRUST IN GOD'S LOVE ENOUGH TO BREAK FREE FROM A LONG TERM PAINFUL RELATIONSHIP AND THEN SEEK TO REGAIN THE TRUST OF THOSE FROM WHOM IT HAD BEEN LOST.
DIVORCE HAPPENS ALL OVER THE PLACE, WHEREVER A TRUST IS BROKEN IN A COMMITTED RELATIONSHIP. AND WITH THIS DEFINITION IN MIND, WE CAN UNDERSTAND THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS WITHOUT PRONOUNCING A CRIPPLING INDICTMENT UPON HALF THE POPULATION OF THE CIVILIZED WORLD. DIVORCE IS PAINFUL AND DIFFICULT, BUT THE THING WE NEED TO REMEMBER MORE THAN ANYTHING IS THAT WE ARE CALLED TO TRUST IN GOD AND GOD'S LOVE AS IF WE ARE CHILDREN. IN THIS WAY THE KINGDOM OF GOD CAN BE SEEN THROUGH US, AND THE WOUNDS OF THE WORLD CAN BE HEALED THROUGH US.
ALLELUIA! AMEN!
SCRIPTURE: James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a & Mark 9:30-37
IN A FEW MINUTES WE ARE GOING TO BAPTIZE LITTLE VICTORIA LEIGH BROADBENT. AND I WANT US ALL TO REMEMBER WHAT AN IMPORTANT EVENT IT IS FOR THE COMMUNITY OF FAITH TO GATHER AROUND THIS LITTLE CHILD.
ON THE SURFACE WE LOVE A BAPTISM BECAUSE BABIES ARE SO CUTE AND THEY MAKE US FEEL SO WARM AND FUZZY. BABIES MAKE US FEEL AS IF LIFE WILL GO ON AND THAT THERE IS HOPE FOR THE WORLD, AS WELL AS FOR THE CHURCH. THE BAPTISM OF A BABY IS A WONDERFUL TIME OF CELEBRATION FOR OUR COMMUNITY, AND I KNOW WE COME TO THIS BAPTISM WITH GREAT JOY.
BUT I NEED TO REMIND US THAT OUR JOY IS NOT THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF OUR GATHERING TODAY. FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE WEATHERED AND WORN FROM OUR CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP, TODAY IS A DAY TO BECOME AWARE OF WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM THE CHILDREN WHEN WE DRAW THEM INTO THE CENTER OF OUR GATHERING.
IN TODAY’S SCRIPTURE THE DISCIPLES HAD BEEN ARGUING ABOUT WHO WOULD BE THE GREATEST AMONG THEM AT JUST THE MOMENT WHEN JESUS WAS TRYING TO EXPLAIN THE SERIOUS NATURE OF HIS MINISTRY.
JESUS WAS TEACHING THE DISCIPLES ABOUT THE UPCOMING BETRAYAL AND DEATH, AS WELL AS THE RESURRECTION. JESUS WAS TRYING TO TELL THE DISCIPLES HOW VERY DIFFICULT IT WOULD BE TO FOLLOW HIM.
THIS WAS NOT A JOY RIDE, THIS WAS SERIOUS BUSINESS.
BUT THE DISCIPLES EITHER COULDN’T OR WOULDN’T UNDERSTAND HIM, AND THEY BUSIED THEMSELVES BY TRYING TO DECIDE A “PECKING ORDER,” IF YOU WILL, AMONG THEMSELVES. SO JESUS DREW A CHILD RIGHT INTO THE CENTER OF THE GATHERING OF DIM-WITTED DISCIPLES TO TRY TO MAKE HIS POINT. TRUE GREATNESS CAN ONLY BE FOUND IN THE SMALLEST OF ACTIONS.
IF YOU WANT TO BE THE VERY BEST YOU CAN BE, THINK SMALL INSTEAD OF LARGE; GO TO THE BACK OF THE LINE AND LET OTHERS BE AHEAD OF YOU.
IN WELCOMING THE LIKES OF A LITTLE CHILD WE ARE WELCOMING GOD INTO OUR MIDST. FOLLOWING JESUS DOESN’T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH BECOMING GREAT; IT HAS TO DO WITH BEING SMALL AND VULNERABLE; IT HAS TO DO WITH BEING LAST IN LINE.
WHENEVER I COME ACROSS THIS STORY IN THE SCRIPTURES I’M REMINDED OF STEWART HOLMES AND HOWARD MILKMAN AT POTLUCK SUPPERS.
HOWARD MILKMAN WAS THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN MINISTER THAT STEWART EVER WORKED FOR AND THIS STORY TAKES PLACE IN THE 1970’S BACK IN NORTH PLAINFIELD, NJ. BACK IN THE 1970’S POTLUCK SUPPERS WERE STILL QUITE POPULAR AND WATCHUNG AVE. CHURCH HAD A POTLUCK SUPPER EVERY MONTH, TO WHICH EVERYONE CAME. AND NOT ONLY DID EVERYONE COME, BUT EVERYONE BROUGHT THEIR ABSOLUTE BEST RECIPE AND PLENTY OF IT, SO THE BANQUET WAS AN ABUNDANT ONE. WE WOULD ALL GATHER AROUND THE HEAVY LADEN TABLES WHILE HOWARD SAID A PRAYER, AND THEN PEOPLE WOULD LINE UP TO FILL THEIR PLATES.
WELL STEWART AND HOWARD ALWAYS LET EVERYONE ELSE GO AHEAD OF THEM. THEY WERE THE NORMAN ROCKWELL PICTURE OF HUMILITY.
“NO, YOU GO FIRST, I’LL WAIT.”
“NO, REALLY, I’LL GO LAST.”
AND ALL THE PEOPLE THOUGHT THEY WERE SO KIND AND GENEROUS.
WHAT THE REST OF THE CROWD NEVER FIGURED OUT, BUT WHAT HOWARD’S WIFE AND I KNEW FOR A FACT, WAS THAT HOWARD AND STEWART LIKED GOING LAST BECAUSE THEY COULD TAKE ALL THE FOOD THEY WANTED TO AND NO ONE WOULD BE WATCHING!
THIS STORY ALWAYS REMINDS ME THAT THE IMAGE OF BEING LAST CARRIES A SPIRITUAL DIMENSION AS WELL AS A VISUAL PICTURE. THE DESIRE TO BE LAST MUST COME WITH A SENSE OF SERVING OTHERS OR THE POINT IS LOST. HUMAN BEINGS ARE NOT NATURALLY HUMBLE, NO MATTER WHOM WE ARE. AND THE BAPTISM OF A BABY REMINDS US OF OUR CALL TO HUMILITY.
JESUS DREW THE CHILD INTO THE CENTER OF THE DISCIPLES BECAUSE CHILDREN HAD ABSOLUTELY NO STATUS IN THAT ANCIENT SOCIETY.
I THINK THIS IS DIFFICULT FOR US TO IMAGINE IN TODAY’S WORLD BECAUSE AMERICAN CHILDREN ARE GENERALLY HELD IN VERY HIGH REGARD, BUT IN JESUS’ DAY A CHILD WAS LITTLE MORE THAN ANOTHER PIECE OF PROPERTY, MUCH LIKE A WOMAN. BY USING A CHILD AS AN EXAMPLE JESUS WAS USING ONE OF THE LOWEST IN SOCIETY TO SHOW THE DISCIPLES WHAT THE LINE-UP WOULD LOOK LIKE.
NOW LAST SUNDAY I TOLD YOU THE WORSHIP MINISTRY HAD DECIDED TO FOCUS ON SPEAKING OUR FAITH FOR ONE SUNDAY EVERY MONTH.
BUT THAT’S NOT THE ONLY THING WE DECIDED. WE ALSO DECIDED TO LIFT UP THE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE OF STEWARDSHIP ON ONE SUNDAY A MONTH. WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE COMMUNION ON ONE SUNDAY OF THE MONTH, AND ON A FOURTH SUNDAY WE HOPE TO FOCUS ON SOME PIECE OF GOOD NEWS FROM THE WORLD AROUND US.
TODAY IS A DAY WHEN WE ARE TO TAKE A LOOK AT STEWARDSHIP.
SO, YOU MIGHT THINK, WHAT DOES BAPTISM AND HUMILITY HAVE TO DO WITH STEWARDSHIP? WELL, IN CASE YOU HAVE NEVER THOUGHT OF THIS BEFORE, I’M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT BAPTISM IS THE VERY BEGINNING OF BEING A GOOD CHRISTIAN STEWARD.
A STEWARD IS A PERSON WHO IS GIVEN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF TAKING CARE OF SOMETHING. BE IT A LARGE HOUSEHOLD OR ESTATE, OR AN AIRPLANE FULL OF PEOPLE, OR THE WHOLE OF GOD’S CREATION, A STEWARD IS A CARETAKER. STEWARDSHIP IS NOT JUST ABOUT MONEY.
CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP HAS TO DO WITH BEING THE CARETAKER OF THE GIFT OF ALL OF LIFE. AND OUR FIRST INITIATION INTO THAT RESPONSIBLE POSITION COMES AT THE MOMENT OF BAPTISM. BAPTISM IS OUR SPIRITUAL BIRTH INTO A PARTICULAR COMMUNITY OF FAITH. AND THE MOMENT A PERSON IS BAPTIZED IN OUR MIDST, WE BECOME MUTUAL CARETAKERS FOR ONE ANOTHER AS WELL AS FOR ALL OF THE GIFTS GOD GIVES TO US.
NOW I HOPE YOU ARE ALL AWARE OF THE GREAT CONTRADICTION BEING STATED HERE. WHEN A HUMAN BABY IS PHYSICALLY BORN INTO THIS WORLD WE CAN ONLY HOPE THAT THE EMOTIONAL MESSAGE OF THAT BIRTH IS “YOU ARE NUMBER ONE.” WE ALL WANT OUR CHILDREN TO HAVE A HEALTHY SENSE OF SELF-ESTEEM. AND WE ALL GO ABOUT TRYING TO TEACH CHILDREN SELF-ESTEEM BY TELLING THEM THEY ARE SPECIAL AND BEAUTIFUL AND BRIGHT.
LET’S FACE IT, FROM THE MOMENT A CHILD EMERGES FROM THE WOMB HE/SHE IS VERY LIKELY TO BE TREATED LIKE ROYALTY, WHICH IS, UNFORTUNATELY, NOT GOOD GROUNDING FOR RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP.
BUT AT A BAPTISM, WHICH IS A SPIRITUAL BIRTH, THE EMOTIONAL MESSAGE IS TO BE LAST, TO BE A SERVANT, TO BE HUMBLE. THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF GOOD STEWARDSHIP, BECAUSE CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP CAN ONLY BE CORRECTLY UNDERSTOOD FROM THE PERSPECTIVE THAT EVERYTHING WE OWN AND EVERYTHING WE ARE IS A GIFT FROM GOD. AND OUR PHYSICAL BIRTH DOES NOT GIVE US THIS INFORMATION. IT IS ONLY AT OUR SPIRITUAL BIRTH THAT WE COME FACE TO FACE WITH THE REALITY THAT WE ARE NOT THE GIFT TO LIFE, BUT RATHER LIFE IS THE GIFT TO US.
THIS IS THE IMPORTANCE OF A VIEW FROM THE END OF THE LINE. IT ALL HAS TO DO WITH ONE’S PERSPECTIVE. HOW DO WE SEE LIFE? DOES THE WORLD OWE US EVERYTHING? DO WE BELIEVE THAT WE WORK HARD; THEREFORE WE DESERVE TO HAVE A NICE HOME AND TWO CARS AND A NEST-EGG OF MONEY IN THE BANK? OR DO WE SEE LIFE THROUGH THE EYES OF CHRIST?
DO WE UNDERSTAND THAT A LOT OF THE PEOPLES OF THIS WORLD WORK JUST AS HARD AS WE DO AND HAVE NOTHING? DO WE KNOW THAT THEY ARE JUST AS DESERVING AS WE? ARE WE HUMBLE ENOUGH TO THINK THAT WE ARE CALLED, THROUGH OUR BAPTISM, TO BE STEWARDS OF THE GIFTS GOD HAS GIVEN US? AND THIS MIGHT MEAN HAVING A LITTLE LESS TIME TO WATCH TV OR JUST HANG OUT SO THAT WE CAN SERVE ON A COMMITTEE AT CHURCH OR ATTEND A WORSHIP SERVICE. DO WE STOP TO THINK THAT TIME IS A GIFT FROM GOD? BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF ALL THE GIFTS OF GOD MIGHT MEAN THAT WE SING IN THE CHURCH CHOIR WITHOUT BEING PAID, OR WE TEACH A SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS WITHOUT BEING COMPENSATED OR WE OFFER OUR COMPUTER SKILLS FOR FREE, OR WE USE OUR VACATION TIME TO BUILD HOMES IN NICARAGUA, BECAUSE OUR TALENTS AND OUR TIME ARE REALLY AND TRULY A GIFT FROM GOD.
NOW THE MOST DIFFICULT PART OF STEWARDSHIP TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT OUR MONEY IS A GIFT AS WELL. WE DON’T DESERVE THE MONEY WE MAKE, EVEN THOUGH WE THINK WE DO. ONE TRIP TO NICARAGUA TAUGHT ME THAT.
THE FARMER WHO WAS PLOWING HIS FIELD BY WALKING BEHIND TWO OXEN AND A HAND-HELD PLOW WAS CERTAINLY WORKING AS HARD AS MY BROTHER WHO DRIVES A BIG FANCY TRACTOR. SO WHY DOES MY BROTHER DESERVE MORE MONEY THAN THE CENTRAL AMERICAN FARMER? THE ONLY LOGICAL ANSWER IS THAT HE DOESN’T. EVEN OUR MONEY IS A GIFT FROM GOD.
ONE OF THE MOST WONDERFUL CHRISTIAN STEWARDS I KNOW IS A WOMAN NAMED BONNIE GORDON. BONNIE’S HUSBAND, JIM WILL BE PREACHING HERE NEXT SUNDAY. BONNIE AND JIM ARE THE BRIDGES TO COMMUNITY LEADERS THAT MAKE OUR TRIPS TO NICARAGUA SO MEANINGFUL AND FUN.
ANYWAY, BONNIE IS THE ONLY PERSON I KNOW WHO NEVER MISSES A CHANCE TO GIVE SOMETHING AWAY. OVER THE YEARS I HAVE SEEN BONNIE GIVE AWAY EVERY THING FROM THE LEFTOVERS OF HER MEAL AT A RESTAURANT TO THE HUNGRY CHILDREN WATCHING US, TO STOPPING THE BUS ALONG THE ROAD BETWEEN MANAGUA AND MASAYA TO GIVE A TIP TO THE BOYS WHO VOLUNTEERED TO FILL THE POT HOLES IN THE ROAD WITH GRAVEL. BONNIE WILL BUY JEWELRY FROM THE LOCAL ARTISANS, WHETHER SHE NEEDS IT OR NOT…AND SHE ALWAYS WEARS IT. SHE HAS AN ENTIRE ROOM FULL OF USED SHOES IN HER HOME. THE SHOES ARE ALL LINED UP, LEFT OVER FROM THE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO MAKE TRIPS TO NICARAGUA, READY TO BE GIVEN TO WHOEVER MIGHT NEED THEM. WHEN WE COME BACK TO OUR CAMP FOR A NOON TIME BREAK FROM THE WORKSITE, BONNIE WILL SPEND THE TIME PLAYING WITH THE KIDS AND DOING EVERYTHING FROM MAKING EYE GLASSES AND CROWNS OUT OF PIPE CLEANERS TO READING THEM CHILDREN’S BOOKS IN SPANISH TO TEACHING THEM THE FINE ART OF SITTING ON A WHOOPEE CUSHION AND LAUGHING OVER THE NONSENSE OF IT ALL.
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BONNIE MANAGES TO KEEP THE SHIRT ON HER OWN BACK, BUT THAT’S ABOUT IT. SHE GIVES AWAY TIME AND MONEY AND TALENT WITHOUT EVEN BATTING AN EYELASH. AND BONNIE IS ONE OF THE WEALTHIEST PEOPLE I KNOW. BONNIE HAS RICHES BEYOND OUR WILDEST IMAGININGS.
BONNIE UNDERSTANDS THE DEPTH OF THE MEANING OF BAPTISM, WHICH IS A WHOLE NEW TAKE ON WHO IS IN THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE.
BONNIE IS A PERSON WITH TRUE PERSPECTIVE. AND SHE HAS A GREAT VIEW FROM THE END OF THE LINE. I GIVE THANKS TO GOD FOR THE GIFTS OF LIFE, FOR THE CHILDREN IN OUR MIDST AND FOR THE BONNIES WHO VIEW LIFE FROM THE END OF THE LINE.
ALLELUIA! AMEN!
SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 1:20-33, James 3:1-12 & Mark 8:27-38
THIS SUMMER THE WORSHIP MINISTRY AND FRIENDS GATHERED FOR A SUNDAY AFTERNOON RETREAT, AT WHICH WE PLANNED THE WORSHIP FOR A FULL YEAR. WE HAD A GREAT DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT MAKES WORSHIP MEANINGFUL TO US AND TO GOD. AND ONE OF THE IDEAS WE CAME UP WITH WAS TO EMPHASIS THE SPEAKING OF OUR FAITH DURING THIS PROGRAMMATIC YEAR. SO FOR THE 2003-2004 WORSHIP SEASON WE WILL HAVE ONE SUNDAY A MONTH DEDICATED TO THE PEOPLE OF NAURAUSHAUN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH SPEAKING OUR FAITH. AND TODAY IS DAY ONE!
NOW ONE THING I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT IS THAT WE ARE NOT LOOKING AT “SHARING OUR FAITH” OR “SHOWING OUR FAITH.”
NAURAUSHAUN PEOPLE ARE ALREADY SPLENDID ABOUT LIVING OUT WHAT WE BELIEVE THROUGH OUR ACTIONS. WE REACH OUT TO THE HURTING PEOPLES AND PLACES OF THE WORLD IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. WE WORK HARD AT LOVING ONE ANOTHER IN OUR COMMUNITY OF FAITH. WE ACT OUT FOR JUSTICE IN MANY WAYS, WHETHER IT IS AN ISSUE OF INCLUSIVITY OR PEACEMAKING OR THE RISE IN THE DEGREES OF SEPARATION BETWEEN THE “HAVES” AND THE “HAVE-NOTS.” AND I AM GOING TO GUESS THAT ANY ONE OF US WOULD SAY WE DO THIS ALL IN THE NAME OF CHRIST – IF WE WERE REALLY PUSHED ON THE ISSUE. BUT I CAN SEE THAT MOST OF US WOULD BE HARD PRESSED TO SPEAK THE ACTUAL WORDS THAT CONNECT OUR ACTIONS TO OUR LORD AND SAVIOR.
CONTEMPORARY LIBERAL CHRISTIANS DON’T KNOW HOW TO SPEAK OUR FAITH, AND IT IS DEFINITELY TIME FOR US TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE TIME IS RUNNING OUT. HOW THE WORLD PERCEIVES OUR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST HAS BEEN SEVERELY DAMAGED BY INAPPROPRIATE MEDIA DEFINITIONS, BY UNCALLED FOR ACTIONS IN THE NAME OF CHRIST, BY GREEDY TELEVANGELIST AND JUST THE COMMON EVERYDAY MISUNDERSTANDING OF WHO JESUS REALLY WAS AND IS.
ON OUR WAY TO NICARAGUA WE ALWAYS WEAR MATCHING T-SHIRTS WITH SOME KIND OF PRINTED EMBLEM TO DISTINGUISH US; TO TELL PEOPLE WHO AND WHOSE WE ARE. THIS YEAR THE SHIRTS WERE BRIGHT BLUE AND THE EMBLEM SAID, “WHERE CHARITY AND LOVE ARE, GOD IS THERE; NAURAUSHAUN IN NICARAGUA.” AND THEN WE LISTED THE PLACES WE HAVE WORKED AND THE YEARS WE HAVE WORKED THERE.
NOW ONE THING WE HAVE LEARNED ABOUT AIRPORTS, ON THE WAY TO AND FROM NICARAGUA, IS THAT THEY ARE FILLED WITH OTHER GROUPS LIKE OURS. AND AS WE ARRIVED AT OUR DEPARTURE GATE IN MIAMI WE DISCOVERED A SEA OF YELLOW T-SHIRTS, WAITING TO BOARD OUR SAME FLIGHT TO MANAGUA. THEY OUT-NUMBERED OUR GROUP BY ABOUT 35 PEOPLE.
THEY WERE HUGE. AND THE EMBLEM ON THEIR SHIRT WAS SPLASHED ALL ACROSS THE BACK. IT WAS A LARGE PAIR OF HANDS WITH A LITTLE VILLAGE SPILLING OUT OF THE CUPPED FINGERS AND OPEN PALMS, THE WORDS UNDERNEATH SAYING, “SERVING HIS POOR.” ON THE FRONT THERE WAS THE SIGN OF THE FISH AND THE WORDS, “AMIGOS FOR CHRIST.”
BOTH GROUPS WERE SPEAKING OUR FAITH BY THE WORDS WE WERE WEARING. BUT EACH OF US WAS SPEAKING ABOUT A DIFFERENT KIND OF JESUS. ONE GROUP WAS SPEAKING ABOUT A SAVIOR WHO CAME FOR THE WHOLE WORLD WHERE NO ONE PERSON OR GROUP OF PEOPLE IS ANY BETTER THAN THE OTHER. THE OTHER WAS SPEAKING ABOUT A SAVIOR WHO BLESSES AND STAYS WITH THE RICH, SENDING THEM OUT TO “SERVE HIS POOR.” WITHIN THE WORDS “SERVING HIS POOR,” THERE SEEMS TO BE NO ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE NOTION THAT HUMAN SIN JUST MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT NICARAGUA IS SUCH AN IMPOVERISHED NATION.
OUR GROUP, AS WE THOUGHT MORE CAREFULLY ABOUT THE WORDING ON THOSE YELLOW T-SHIRTS, BECAME MORE AND MORE INCENSED ABOUT THIS DIMINUTIVE WAY OF SPEAKING ABOUT THE PEOPLE WE HAVE BEFRIENDED AND COME TO LOVE OVER THE YEARS. AND OUR INDIGNATION ONLY INCREASED WHEN WE FOUND OUT THAT DAVID, A NATIVE OF NICARAGUA, HATED THOSE T-SHIRTS AS WELL. HE READ THOSE WORDS AS AN INSULT TO HIS PEOPLE. IT MADE HIM FEEL AS IF HE AND HIS PEOPLE WERE LESS THAN THE WEALTHY AMERICANS COMING TO GIVE A HANDOUT TO THE POOR.
DURING OUR WEEK IN NICARAGUA WE BEGAN TALKING ABOUT YELLOW SHIRT AND BLUE SHIRT CHRISTIANS. AND EVEN THOUGH WE LAUGHED ABOUT IT, I BELIEVE IT IS A SERIOUS ISSUE. HOW WE SPEAK ABOUT JESUS AND THAT WE SPEAK ABOUT JESUS HAS BECOME AN URGENT ISSUE IN TODAY’S WORLD.
THE NPC MESSAGE OF LOVING ACCEPTANCE WAS MADE IN TINY LITTLE PRINT ON THE LEFT FRONT BREAST POCKET POSITION WHERE FEW PEOPLE COULD EVEN READ IT. THE WORDS THAT WIDEN THE SCHISM BETWEEN THE RICH AND THE POOR WERE SO LARGE AND BRIGHT THAT YOU COULDN’T MISS THEM.
THIS IS A GRAPHIC METAPHOR THAT EXPLAINS THE NEED FOR NPC TO SPEAK OUR FAITH MORE OFTEN AND MORE CLEARLY. WE CANNOT RISK THE LOSS OF THE IMPORTANT MESSAGE ABOUT THE OPENNESS OF JESUS’ LOVE.
YOU KNOW, ALL OF TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READINGS HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY TO US ABOUT HOW WE SPEAK OUR FAITH AND HOW WE SPEAK ABOUT JESUS.
THE AUTHOR OF PROVERBS WRITES ABOUT THE DIVINE WISDOM OF KNOWING GOD. AND THE VOICE OF WISDOM CRIES OUT TO BE HEARD AND UNDERSTOOD AMID THE BUSYNESS OF LIFE. BUT WISDOM, WHEN NOT RECEIVED; WHEN NOT LISTENED TO, IMAGINES AN EMPTY AND UNLEARNED EXISTENCE, WHERE PEOPLE DO NOT STAND IN AWE OF THE GREAT GRACIOUSNESS OF OUR CREATOR. IN PROVERBS WE LEARN THAT WITHOUT LISTENING AND LEARNING WE CANNOT KNOW GOD FULLY. BEFORE WE BEGIN TO SPEAK OUR FAITH WE MUST LEARN WHAT WE ARE SPEAKING ABOUT. WE MUST LISTEN, CAREFULLY, TO THE SCRIPTURES AND LEARN FROM THE GREAT SPIRITUAL LEADERS OF HISTORY AND THE PRESENT TIME. PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT LISTENED CAREFULLY AND LEARNED CORRECTLY HAVE DONE MUCH TO RUIN THE MESSAGE OF JESUS.
AND WHEN I MAKE A STATEMENT LIKE THIS I AM THINKING MOSTLY ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH WITH THE SPANISH INQUISITION AND THE CHRISTIAN CRUSADES IN WHICH PEOPLE WERE TORTURED AND KILLED IF THEY DID NOT PROFESS A FAITH IN JESUS THE CHRIST. I KNOW THAT THIS KIND OF FORCED AND BRUTAL SHOWING OF ONE’S FAITH WAS DEEMED FAITHFULNESS IN THAT MOMENT. BUT NOTHING COULD BE A WORSE INTERPRETATION OF THE MESSAGE OF JESUS, AND EVERY MODERN DAY CHRISTIAN CARRIES THE STAIN OF THOSE MORBID AND ANCIENT DAYS OF CHRISTIANITY UPON OUR WORDS. WE HAVE A LOT OF TALKING TO DO IN ORDER TO OVERCOME THE ROTTEN STENCH OF THAT PORTION OF OUR HISTORY.
IN THE LETTER FROM JAMES, HE TELLS US OF THE DECEPTIVENESS OF THE TONGUE. AS WE LEARN TO SPEAK WE MUST REMEMBER HOW TRICKY IT IS TO SPEAK OF SOMETHING SO VERY TRUE AND SO VERY IMPORTANT.
TO SPEAK OUR FAITH IS TO SPEAK OF THE GRACE OF GOD AND THE LOVE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. JAMES TELLS US THAT WE MUST REMEMBER HOW WE USE THE SAME TONGUE TO SPEAK BOTH BLESSING AND CURSE.
AND HE TELLS US THE TONGUE IS A SMALL, YET POWERFUL, PART OF THE HUMAN BODY. WE HAVE THE POWER TO SPEAK AWAY THE YEARS OF CARELESS TONGUE WAGGING DONE IN THE NAME OF CHRIST, SO WE MUST USE OUR TONGUES TO SPEAK WELL OF WHAT JESUS WAS AND IS ALL ABOUT.
AND THEN, IN THE GOSPEL OF MARK, WE ARE GIVEN HINTS OF WHAT JESUS IS REALLY AND TRULY ABOUT. PETER CALLS JESUS THE MESSIAH, THE ANOINTED ONE, THE ONE SPECIALLY BLESSED BY GOD. THIS IS THE FIRST HUMAN CONFESSION OF FAITH IN THE GOSPEL, AND PETER IS STERNLY ORDERED BY JESUS TO NOT SPEAK THESE WORDS AGAIN. A STRANGE THING TO BE HEARING ON A DAY WHEN WE ARE THINKING TOGETHER ABOUT SPEAKING OUR FAITH, WOULDN’T YOU SAY? ARE WE SUPPOSED TO SPEAK ABOUT JESUS OR BE SILENT?
WELL, IN ALL ACTUALITY, JESUS KNEW THAT PETER DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE FULLNESS OF WHAT HE WAS SAYING WHEN HE PROFESSED JESUS AS THE MESSIAH. PETER MADE HIS STATEMENT OF FAITH BEFORE HE KNEW THAT BEING THE MESSIAH MEANT, FOR JESUS, A WHOLE LOT OF SUFFERING. JESUS WANTED THE DISCIPLES TO UNDERSTAND THE MESSAGE VERY CLEARLY BEFORE THEY WENT AROUND TALKING ABOUT IT. HE WANTED THE DISCIPLES TO KNOW, IN THEIR HEART OF HEARTS, THAT PROFESSING FAITH IN THE MESSIAH IS A RISKY BUSINESS. AND TO TRULY BELIEVE IN JESUS, AND TALK ABOUT THAT BELIEF, MEANS TO BE READY, AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT, TO LIVE A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT LIFE.
DURING THIS YEAR, THOSE OF YOU WHO FEEL SO CALLED, WILL BE ASKED TO SPEAK YOUR FAITH DURING ONE OF OUR TIMES OF WORSHIP TOGETHER.
I PUT THAT THOUGHT OUT THERE, INTO THIS COMMUNITY OF FAITH, SO THAT PEOPLE CAN BE NUDGED BY THE IDEA AND INSPIRED TO THINK ABOUT THE POSSIBILITIES. AND AS YOU THINK ABOUT IT, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO REMEMBER THESE THREE THINGS. REMEMBER TO LISTEN TO WISDOM.
REMEMBER TO RESPECT THE POWER OF THE TONGUE. AND REMEMBER TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THE TRUTH OF WHO JESUS IS BEFORE YOU RISK THE SPEAKING.
BECAUSE, IF YOU TAKE THE RISK, YOUR LIFE JUST MIGHT BE CHANGED!
NOW, I KNOW ONE PERSON WHOSE LIFE WAS TRULY CHANGED BY AN ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS. LET’S HEAR WHAT HE HAS TO SAY TO US. (Gil as Nicodemus)
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 84, Revelation 12:7-9 & Ephesians 6:10-20
AT VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL LAST WEEK, THE FAVORITE SONG WAS ALL ABOUT THE CHILDREN "SHINING WITH GOD'S LOVE." THEY WOULD SING, SHINING WITH GOD'S LOVE - LA LA LA LA - SHINING WITH GOD'S LOVE - LA LA LA LA - SHINING WITH GOD'S LOVE - LA LA LA LA!
TIMES CERTAINLY HAVE CHANGED SINCE I WAS IN VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL. IN THE MID 1950'S THE FAVORITE SONG WAS ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS. EVERY MORNING FOR TWO WEEKS WE WOULD PROCESS INTO THE SANCTUARY BEHIND THE BANNERS OF THE AMERICAN FLAG AND THE CHRISTIAN FLAG, BELTING OUT EVERY VERSE OF ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS UNTIL EACH CHILD WAS SEATED IN A PEW. AS A SEVEN OR EIGHT YEAR OLD I LOVED TO SING ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS. THERE WAS A FEELING OF GREAT POWER FOR A POWERLESS LITTLE GIRL IN THOSE WORDS AND THAT MELODY.
IN HIS LETTER TO THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS, PAUL SAYS TO PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD. THEN HE TALKS ABOUT SHIELDS AND BREASTPLATES AND HELMETS.
I CAN'T READ THIS PIECE OF SCRIPTURE WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT THE VERY HYMN WE JUST FINISHED SINGING. ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS, MARCHING AS TO WAR…PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD!
BARBARA LUNDBLAD, ANOTHER PREACHER WHO GREW UP IN THE MIDWEST, TELLS OF MAKING THE ARMOR OF GOD IN HER VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL DAYS. SHE TELLS OF LIKING THE HELMET OF SALVATION BEST. IT WAS MADE FROM A CLOROX BOTTLE; THE BOTTOM AND ONE SIDE CUT OUT TO FIT DOWN SNUGLY OVER YOUR EARS WITH SOME FEATHERS GLUED INTO THE POURING SPOUT ON TOP. THE WHOLE THING WAS PAINTED GOLD, SHE SAID, AND HAD A FAINT WHIFF OF BLEACH. CAN'T YOU JUST PICTURE 61 KIDS WITH DECORATED CLOROX BOTTLES ON THEIR HEADS? THE VISUALS ARE TO DIE FOR! AND THE IRONY OF CHRISTIANS MARCHING OFF TO WAR WITH A BUNCH OF CLOROX BOTTLES ON THEIR HEADS SPEAKS VOLUMES, DON'T YOU THINK?
I THINK IT ALL SEEMED PRETTY CLEAR IN OUR CHILDISH MINDS BACK THEN. WHATEVER THE WAR OF THE MOMENT WAS, WE HAD THE ARMOR OF GOD ON, AND WE WERE GOING TO WIN. WE WERE GOING TO WAR WITH THE CROSS OF JESUS BEFORE US AND WE WOULD DOMINATE THE ENEMY!
THIS WAS BEFORE I HAD LEARNED TO REALLY READ THE BIBLE. IT WAS BEFORE I LEARNED THE TRUTH; THAT JESUS WOULD NEVER, EVER, LEAD ANYONE INTO WAR - NOT EVEN GOD'S CHOSEN PEOPLE WHO EXPECTED IT OF HIM. IT WAS BEFORE I UNDERSTOOD THAT THE CROSS OF JESUS WAS ABOUT ANYTHING BUT DOMINATION. IT WAS BEFORE I KNEW THE BATTLE IMAGES OF EPHESIANS 6 TO BE A MOCKERY OF WAR AND THE WORDS OF ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS TO A GROSS MISREPRESENTATION OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR. SO I UNDERSTAND, ON SOME LEVEL, WHY ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS WAS LEFT OUT OF THE 1990 PRESBYTERIAN HYMNAL. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 HAS CEMENTED IN OUR MINDS THAT THERE IS VERY REAL EVIL IN THIS WORLD, AND THERE IS A BATTLE GOING ON BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL, AND THAT PAUL'S IMAGE OF ARMOR IS AN IMPORTANT ONE, BUT IMPORTANT IN WAYS THAT THE COMPOSER OF ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS DOESN'T UNDERSTAND.
IN THINKING ABOUT THIS SCRIPTURE, HAVE YOU NOTICED THAT THE ARMOR OF GOD IS NOT DEFENSIVE ARMOR? THE ONLY WEAPON MENTIONED IN THIS PASSAGE THAT MIGHT BE DEFINED AS DESTRUCTIVE IS A SWORD. BUT THIS SWORD IS THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD. AND THE WORD OF GOD THAT COMES TO US THROUGH THE TRUE JESUS IS A WORD OF LOVE AND COMPASSION. TAKE THE "R" OUT OF ARMOR AND YOU HAVE "AMOR," THE LATIN WORD FOR "LOVE."
OVER THE YEARS HUMAN BEINGS HAVE PUT ON THE ARMOR OF GOD IN SUCH A WAY THAT WE HAVE PUT OUR OWN KIND OF DEFENSIVE ARMOR ONTO GOD. WE HAVE MADE GOD INTO A MILITARISTIC CONQUERING HERO, EVEN AFTER JESUS CHANGED THAT IMAGE FOREVER. ALL OVER THE WORLD PEOPLE ARE FIGHTING WARS IN THE NAME OF GOD AND BARBARA LUNDBLAD SAYS IT IS TIME TO TAKE THE ARMOR OFF OF GOD.
I AGREE WITH BARBARA.
WE EITHER NEED TO TAKE THE ARMOR OFF OF GOD OR WE NEED TO REDEFINE GOD'S ARMOR IN DIVINE TERMS SO THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE VULNERABILITY OF BEING PROTECTED BY GOD'S KIND OF ARMOR. THAT'S RIGHT - THE VULNERABILITY OF BEING PROTECTED. THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO MOVE THE BATTLEFIELD AWAY FROM THE HOPELESS AND HELPLESS PEOPLES OF THE WORLD AND PUT IT BACK WHERE IT STARTED; IN THE REALM OF THE SPIRITS WITHIN THE HUMAN SOUL.
YOU SEE, THE VERY REAL BATTLE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL DOES NOT TAKE PLACE IN THE PHYSICAL WORLD AS MUCH AS IT TAKES PLACE IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM. SEE THE REVELATION OF JOHN TO KNOW WHAT I'M SPEAKING OF. THE PASSAGE THAT RUTH READ TODAY IS ABOUT A SPIRITUAL BATTLE THAT IS CAST OUT OF HEAVEN AND ONTO THE EARTH. THE DRAGON, NAMED "DEVIL" AND "SATAN," THE DECEIVER OF THE WORLD, LOSES THE BATTLE AGAINST MICHAEL, THE PROTECTIVE ANGEL OF GOD'S PEOPLE. BUT EVEN IN LOSING THE BATTLE TO MICHAEL, SATAN TAKES THE SPIRIT OF DECEITFULNESS INTO THE HUMAN CREATION, AND SO THE BATTLE CONTINUES FROM THE GARDEN OF EDEN TO THE REVELATION OF JOHN TO PEARL RIVER, NEW YORK.
YOU SEE, THE EVIL OF WAR IS NOT SO MUCH GROUNDED IN THE PHYSICAL FIGHTING AS IT IS IN THE FEAR AND HATRED THAT CAUSES THE FIGHTING. OUR FEARS AND HATREDS ARE COMPLETELY OPPOSITE TO THE WAY GOD CREATED US TO BE.
AND THE ONLY WAY TO TRULY STRUGGLE WITH THIS DARKNESS IS TO PROTECT ONE'S SPIRIT WITH THE TRUTH, WITH RIGHTEOUSNESS, WITH FAITH, WITH SALVATION, WITH THE GOSPEL OF PEACE AND UNDERSTANDING.
NOW THE SCARIEST PART OF WHAT I JUST SAID IS THAT WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR SPIRITS WITH THE TRUTH. THERE IS A TERRIBLE AMOUNT OF CONFUSION IN TODAY'S WORLD ABOUT JUST EXACTLY WHAT TRUTH IS. TOO MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT TRUTH CAN BE CLEARLY DEFINED.
AND THE TRUTH ABOUT TRUTH IS THAT HER VERY NATURE IS TO BE ILLUSIVE.
SOMETIMES I BELIEVE TRUTH IS MORE OF A PROCESS THAN ANYTHING ELSE. TRUTH IS SOMETHING WE COME TO, PIECE BY PIECE, AND ONLY AFTER A LOT OF STRUGGLE. TRUTH IS NEVER SIMPLE OR EASY.
BUT FOR ME, PERSONALLY, THE MOST STRIKING VERSE OUT THE EPHESIANS PASSAGE IS VERSE 19. PAUL IS ASKING THE PEOPLE OF THE CHURCH IN EPHESUS TO PRAY FOR HIM SO THAT HE CAN SPEAK BOLDLY ABOUT THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL. I HAVE THE SAME PRAYER ALL THE TIME. DO I SPEAK BOLDLY ENOUGH ABOUT THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL?
IN A WORLD THAT IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE FUNDAMENTALIST - MORE AND MORE RIGID ABOUT DEFINING TRUTH - I FEAR THE LOSS OF MYSTERY. I'M AFRAID THAT WE WANT EVERYTHING SO CAREFULLY DEFINED AND CLEARLY HELD WITHIN A CERTAIN PRETTY PACKAGE THAT WE ARE LOSING OUR TOLERANCE FOR AMBIGUITY. AND IN LOSING OUR TOLERANCE FOR AMBIGUITY WE ARE MOVING FURTHER AND FURTHER AWAY FROM THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL SO THAT AS WE MOVE AWAY FROM THIS HOLY MYSTERY WE LOSE GROUND IN THE BATTLE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL.
WE CAN ONLY FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT IN THIS ONGOING COMPETITION WHEN WE DON'T SET OUR SITES ON WINNING, BUT RATHER SET OUR SITES ON PERSEVERING. TO TAKE THE ARMOR OFF OF GOD IS TO KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT A WIN/LOSE PROPOSITION. THE STRUGGLE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL HAPPENS IN THE HEART AND SOUL OF EACH INDIVIDUAL MORE THAN IN THE AGGRESSION BETWEEN NATIONS. WE CANNOT DEPEND ON OUR WORLD LEADERS TO DEFINE GOOD AND EVIL FOR US. WE CAN ONLY DO THAT WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF OUR OWN PERSONAL STRUGGLE TO KNOW THE TRUTH THROUGH THE MYSTERY OF OUR EVER-GROWING KNOWLEDGE OF THE GOSPEL.
A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, SARAH CHAUNCEY RECOMMENDED THE MOVIE SEABISQUIT AS A QUALITY CHOICE FOR MOVIE-GOERS THIS SUMMER.
I COULDN'T AGREE MORE. WHAT A GREAT MOVIE TO SEE IN GENERAL, BUT WHAT A WONDERFUL REMINDER OF THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL.
SEABISQUIT IS THE NAME OF A HORSE NOBODY EXPECTS TO WIN ANY RACES, WHO IS BOUGHT BY A MAN WHO HAS BEEN CAST ASIDE BY HIS FIRST WIFE.
THE TRAINER FOR THE HORSE IS AN OLD MAN NO ONE WANTS TO HIRE ANY LONGER, AND THE JOCKEY IS A BOY, ABANDONED BY HIS FAMILY, WHO IS LARGER THAN THE REST OF THE JOCKEYS AND PERPETUALLY ANGRY. THIS LOOKS LIKE A LOSING TEAM TO THOSE WHO ONLY SEE ON THE SURFACE, BUT AGAINST ALL ODDS, THE TEAM OF REJECTS WINS THE RACE THEY NEED TO WIN. IT LOOKS AS IF THE SKY IS THE LIMIT FOR OUR TEAM OF SUPPOSED LOSERS. BUT WHAT FOLLOWS THE FIRST WIN IS AN INCREDIBLE STORY OF THE HORSE BREAKING HIS LEG AND BEING EASED BACK INTO RACING, AS WELL AS THE JOCKEY MANGLING HIS LEG AND BEING NURSED BACK TO HEALTH. FOR BOTH SEABISQUIT AND HIS JOCKEY, THE STRUGGLE FOR WHOLENESS IS SLOW AND TEDIOUS WITH PLENTY OF DISCOURAGING MOMENTS. BUT IN THE END, SEABISQUIT WINS THE BIGGEST RACE OF ALL. AND HIS OWN JOCKEY IS RIDING HIM, AGAINST THE ADVICE OF ALL DOCTORS AND FRIENDS.
THE END IS A GLORIOUS MOMENT OF TRIUMPH AFTER LONG DAYS OF PERSEVERANCE-THE LIGHT SHINING AT THE END OF A DARK TUNNEL.
NOW THIS COULD BE SEEN AS A MOVIE ABOUT THE GRACE OF GOD, EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT GOD'S GRACE WOULD BE BETTER DEPICTED IF THE HORSE HAD NOT WON. YOU SEE, THE GRACE OF GOD IS A GIFT FOR EVERYONE, BUT IT IS ONLY THE LOSERS WHO REALLY KNOW THE GIFT AS COMING FROM GOD. PEOPLE WHO WORK HARD TO WIN TEND TO BELIEVE THEY WIN BY THEIR OWN POWER. IT TAKES A LOSER TO TRULY UNDERSTAND THE GRACE OF GOD.
MY FRIENDS, TAKING THE ARMOR OFF OF GOD MEANS THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE POWER OF GRACE RATHER THAN THE POWER OF WINNING.
IT MEANS TEACHING LITTLE CHILDREN TO SHINE WITH GOD'S LOVE RATHER THAN TEACHING THEM TO MARCH LIKE LITTLE SOLDIERS.
IT MEANS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE STRUGGLE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL IS RIGHT HERE, INSIDE OF YOU AND ME, JUST AS MUCH AS IT IS OUT THERE, IN ISRAEL OR IRAQ OR NORTH KOREA OR LIBERIA OR EVEN THE STREETS OF NEW YORK CITY. TAKING THE ARMOR OFF OF GOD MEANS BOLDLY SPEAKING THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL.
ALLELUIA! AMEN!
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 111 & Luke 10:25-37
ON OUR FINAL NIGHT IN NICARAGUA OUR GROUP PARTICIPATED IN A VERY MEANINGFUL COMMUNION WORSHIP SERVICE WHERE WE HEARD ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL INTERPRETATIONS OF THE PARABLE OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN THAT I HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED. JIM GORDON, ONE OF OUR LEADERS FROM BRIDGES TO COMMUNITY RETOLD THE STORY IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE THREE MEN WHO CAME ACROSS THE BEATEN AND DIEING MAN EACH ASKED HIMSELF A QUESTION.
THE FIRST MAN, WHOM JIM SAID WAS SOMEONE LIKE A PRESBYTERIAN MINISTER, ASKED HIMSELF THE QUESTION, "WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO ME IF I HELP THIS MAN?" THAT MAN DECIDED HIS CAREER WOULD BE RUINED AND HE WOULD NO LONGER BE ABLE TO SUPPORT HIS FAMILY IF HE HELPED THIS PERSON, SO HE WALKED BY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD.
THE SECOND MAN WALKING BY, WHOM JIM SAID WAS A LAY LEADER IN THE COMMUNITY, LIKE AN ELDER OR THE CLERK OF SESSION, ASKED HIMSELF THE SAME QUESTION, "WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO ME IF I HELP THIS MAN?" AND AGAIN, THE ANSWER IS THAT THE MAN'S LIFE WOULD BE SERIOUSLY INTERRUPTED AND POSSIBLY EVEN RUINED IF HE STOPPED, SO HE, TOO, HURRIED BY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD.
AND THEN JIM SAID THE THIRD MAN, A REAL NOBODY IN SOCIETY - JUST A COMMON PERSON CONNECTED TO NO SPECIAL GROUP, CAME WALKING BY AND ASKED A DIFFERENT QUESTION.
AT THIS POINT JIM HAD A DIFFICULT TIME CONTINUING WITH THE STORY BECAUSE HE WAS TRYING TO CONTROL THE TEARS THAT WERE COMING TO HIS EYES AND THE LUMP THAT WAS FORMING IN HIS THROAT. BUT FINALLY HE WAS ABLE TO TELL US THAT THE THIRD MAN ASKED HIMSELF A DIFFERENT QUESTION. THIS MAN ASKED HIMSELF, "WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THIS BEATEN UP MAN IF I DON'T STOP TO HELP HIM?" AND THE THIRD MAN REACHED OUT IN COMPASSION TO BIND THE MAN'S WOUNDS AND CARRY HIM SAFELY TO A NICE HOTEL AND PAY ALL OF HIS BILLS AHEAD OF TIME WITH HIS OWN PERSONAL CREDIT CARD.
WITH THE TEARS GENTLY STREAMING DOWN HIS FACE, JIM LOOKED AROUND AT US AND TOLD US WE WERE LIKE THE MAN WHO ASKED THE QUESTION, "WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THIS MAN IF I DON'T STOP TO HELP?"
I HAVE NEVER PROFESSIONALLY RECEIVED A FINER COMPLIMENT IN MY ENTIRE MINISTRY. AND THE COMPLIMENT WAS ONLY EXPANDED BY SEEING TEARS ON THE FACE OF THIS MAN WHO TEASES AND TALKS IN POETIC RIDDLES AND QUIPS ON A STEADY BASIS. I HAVE KNOWN JIM GORDON FOR EIGHT YEARS AND IT NEVER CROSSED MY MIND THAT HE WAS EVEN CAPABLE OF TEARS. I WILL HOLD THAT PRECIOUS MOMENT IN MY HEART FOREVER AND ALWAYS.
AND SO THIS PARABLE HAS BECOME SOMETHING COMPLETELY NEW FOR ME. IT HAS BECOME THE PARABLE OF THE QUESTION. IT HAS BECOME THE PARABLE OF TRUE COMMUNITY. IT HAS BECOME THE PARABLE OF THE BEATEN AND DIEING MAN, FOR THE FOCAL POINT MUST ALWAYS BE UPON THE PERSON IN NEED AND NEVER ON THE ONE WHO RESPONDS. INSTEAD OF SEEING THIS STORY AS A JUDGMENT UPON ALL WHO DO NOT STOP, IT BECOMES A STORY OF ALL THE BEATEN AND BRUISED PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD WHO NEED A HAND TO HELP THEM UP AND THEY NEED THAT HAND FROM YOU AND FROM ME; COMMON, ORDINARY PEOPLE..
AS I LOOK AROUND ME TODAY I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT I AM SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE WHO ASK THE QUESTION, "WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO HIM/HER IF I DIDN'T STOP TO HELP?" OUR STATEMENT OF FAITH AND VISION ASKS THIS QUESTION. OUR MORE LIGHT POSITION ASKS THIS QUESTION. EVERY ONE OF OUR MISSION PROJECTS ASKS THIS QUESTION, RIGHT FROM BIRTHDAY PEOPLE, TO COLLECTING FRUIT FOR THE SALVATION ARMY, TO SPONSORING THE AIDS PICNIC, TO GIVING BLOOD, TO WORKING WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY. THIS PARABLE IS OUR CALLING AS A COMMUNITY AND WE SEEM TO BE ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS IN ORDER TO KEEP OURSELVES CLOSE TO THE MISSION OF JESUS CHRIST. BUT ARE YOU SURPRISED TO HEAR ME SAY THIS IS OUR CALLING AS A COMMUNITY?
I ALWAYS COME HOME FROM NICARAGUA THINKING MORE CAREFULLY ABOUT THE CHRISTIAN CONCEPT OF LIVING IN COMMUNITY. YOU SEE, LIVING IN COMMUNITY IS MORE REAL FOR THE RURAL NICARAGUANS THAN IT IS FOR US. THEIR CATHOLIC AND EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANITY CALLS THEM TO LIVE IN COMMUNITY AND THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES DEMAND THAT THEY LIVE IN COMMUNITY. JUST BY THE VERY CONFINES OF THEIR CULTURE THEY LIVE OUT THE RICHNESS OF THE GIFT JESUS OFFERS TO THE WORLD; THAT IS, LIVING IN HONEST, OPEN PROXIMITY TO ONE ANOTHER.
WHEN A WOMAN IS BEING ABUSED BY HER HUSBAND EVERYONE KNOWS, BUT THROUGH THE LOVE OF CHRIST THE SITUATION IS REDEEMABLE BY THE VERY CLOSENESS OF THE COMMUNITY. WHEN A HOUSE IS BEING BUILT FOR ONE FAMILY AND NOT OTHERS, EVERYONE KNOWS, BUT THE JEALOUSIES MELT AWAY AS THE LOVE OF CHRIST HELPS TO BUILD A RELATIONSHIP OF TRUST, AND PEOPLE BEGIN TO KNOW THAT THE NEXT HOUSE WILL BE BUILT FOR THEM. THEY CANNOT HIDE FROM ONE ANOTHER IN THESE RURAL NICARAGUAN COMMUNITIES AND SO THE CHRISTIAN MESSAGE IS VERY REAL AND VITAL FOR THEM, DAY AFTER DAY. AND WE HAVE A HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING THE GIFT OF IT. WE ARE MORE LIKELY TO WANT TO GET AWAY FROM THAT KIND OF CLOSENESS.
YOU SEE, OUR CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT AND EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANITY CALLS US TO LIVE IN COMMUNITY, BUT WE ONLY HEAR THE CALL AS A WHISPER, BECAUSE AS AMERICANS WE ARE RAISED TO BE RUGGED INDIVIDUALISTS, AND OUR AMERICAN CAPITALISTIC NARCISSISM IS SHOUTED AT US, DAY AFTER DAY AFTER DAY, DROWNING OUT THE GIFT OF COMMUNITY. YOU KNOW, AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING IN NICARAGUA IS BEING WITH ONE ANOTHER AND BEING DEPENDENT UPON ONE ANOTHER FOR AN ENTIRE WEEK. THERE IS NO WAY FOR US AMERICANS TO GET AWAY FROM EACH OTHER, AND IT IS ONE OF THE DEEPEST EXPERIENCES OF TRUE COMMUNITY WE WILL EVER EXPERIENCE, EVEN THOUGH IT IS EXCEEDINGLY BRIEF IN COMPARISON TO WHAT JESUS IS SUGGESTING. WE ARE ALL RATHER AMBIVALENT ABOUT TRUE COMMUNITY. AND WE ACT OUT OUR AMBIVALENCE ABOUT THE CALL TO CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY BY WEARING MATCHING T-SHIRTS TRAVELING TO NICARAGUA AND NOT EVEN WANTING TO SEE THOSE T-SHIRTS AS WE TRAVEL HOME. AFTER A WEEK WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH TOGETHERNESS, AND WE HURRY HOME TO OUR INDIVIDUALITY AND COMFORTABLE DISTANCE.
FOR ANY TRUE AMERICAN, LIVING IN COMMUNITY IS NOT EASY BECAUSE LIVING IN COMMUNITY IS ABOUT REALITY RATHER THAN DREAMS; IT'S ABOUT CONSTANT PRESENCE WITH NO ESCAPE. IN COMMUNITY WE ARE CONFRONTED WITH THE HARSH REALITY OF THE HUMAN CONDITION ON A DAILY BASIS. WE SAY AND DO THINGS THAT HURT OR OFFEND, AND THERE IS NO WHERE TO RUN, NO WHERE TO HIDE. IN TRUE COMMUNITY WE CANNOT HAVE ALL THE WATER WE WANT, NOR HAVE THE LIGHTS TURNED OUT EXACTLY WHEN WE NEED THEM TO BE. WHEN WE EAT A MEAL WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF ALL THE PEOPLE EATING, LEST THERE NOT BE ENOUGH FOR EVERYONE. BUT THE GIFT OF THIS ONE WEEK OF THE REALITY OF COMMUNITY IS THAT WE LEARN DEEPER LEVELS BY WHICH TO ASK THE QUESTION, "WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO HIM/HER IF…?" AND WE BEGIN TO ASK THAT QUESTION OUTSIDE OF THE NICARAGUAN VILLAGE.
IT'S ALL ABOUT LIVING IN THE REAL WORLD RATHER THAN A DREAM WORLD. YOU SEE, IT IS A DREAM TO BELIEVE THAT WE CAN TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES FIRST AND FOREMOST ALL THE TIME. IT IS THE AMERICAN DREAM BUT IT IS NOT A UNIVERSAL REALITY. IN THIS PARABLE, JESUS IS DEMONSTRATING THE DIRE CONSEQUENCES OF THINKING ABOUT OURSELVES BEFORE WE THINK ABOUT OUR NEIGHBOR. IT IS A COMPLETE FLIP-FLOP TO WHAT WE AMERICANS LIVE IN OUR DAILY LIVES, AND IT IS A POWERFUL EXPERIENCE.
OUR CHRIST-GIVEN WISDOM CAN NO LONGER STAND TO BE A WHISPER IN OUR LIVES. WE MUST HEAR THIS CALLING AS A GREAT ROAR OF UNIVERSAL DEMAND, BECAUSE THERE IS A DEFINITE REALITY TO THE ATROCITIES THAT HAPPEN IN OUR WORLD WHEN WE DO NOT REMEMBER THE CALL TO LIVE IN TRUE COMMUNITY.
DIETRICH BONHOEFFER WAS A GERMAN PROTESTANT PASTOR IN NAZI OCCUPIED GERMANY WHO PARTICIPATED IN A PLOT TO ASSASSINATE HITLER AND OVERTHROW THE NAZI GOVERNMENT. HE WAS CAPTURED NAZIS IN 1943 AND KILLED BY THE GESTAPO IN 1945, BUT HIS WRITING ABOUT CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY LIVE ON IN HIS BOOK ENTITLED LIFE TOGETHER. AS BONHOEFFER LIVED WITH OTHER DISSENTING GERMANS IN A COVERT AND UNDERGROUND MOVEMENT, HE WAS ABLE TO WRITE ABOUT THE PROFUNDITY OF CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT HAS TO MEAN SOMETHING TO AMERICAN CHRISTIANS IN TODAY'S WORLD AS WE EXPERIENCE THE RISE OF HATRED AND THE ONGOING STRUGGLE FOR THE POWER OF LOVE TO OVERCOME ALL FORMS OF HATE. THE PROFUNDITY IF CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY IS ALL ABOUT STAYING TOGETHER THROUGH THE GOOD AND THE BAD; IT'S ABOUT HANGING IN THROUGH THE DIFFICULT TIMES AND JOYFULLY CELEBRATING THE REALLY GOOD TIMES.
BONHOEFFER WRITES, "BY SHEER GRACE, GOD WILL NOT PERMIT US TO LIVE EVEN FOR A BRIEF PERIOD IN A DREAM WORLD. HE DOES NOT ABANDON US TO THOSE RAPTUROUS EXPERIENCES AND LOFTY MOODS THAT COME OVER US LIKE A DREAM. GOD IN NOT A GOD OF THE EMOTIONS BUT THE GOD OF TRUTH. ONLY THAT FELLOWSHIP WHICH FACES SUCH DISILLUSIONMENT, WITH ALL ITS UNHAPPY AND UGLY ASPECTS, BEGINS TO BE WHAT IT SHOULD BE IN GOD'S SIGHT, BEGINS TO GRASP IN FAITH THE PROMISE THAT IS GIVEN TO IT." (PG. 87 OF LIFE TOGETHER)
AND SO IT IS IN THE HEAT AND BUGGY HUMIDITY OF THE NICARAGUAN COUNTRYSIDE THAT WE LEARN THE GIFT OF COMMUNITY, EVEN AS WE RESPOND TO THE QUESTION, "WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I DIDN'T HELP?" MR. ROGERS KIND OF SUMMED THE WHOLE THING UP NICELY WHEN HE SAID, "WE LIVE IN A WORLD IN WHICH WE NEED TO SHARE RESPONSIBILITY. IT'S EASY TO SAY, 'IT'S NOT MY CHILD, NOT MY COMMUNITY, NOT MY WORLD, NOT MY PROBLEM.' THEN THERE ARE THOSE WHO SEE THE NEED AND RESPOND. I CONSIDER THOSE PEOPLE MY HEROES."
FRIENDS, I'LL BE A HERO FOR MISTER ROGERS ANY DAY, HOW ABOUT YOU?
SCRIPTURE: II Samuel 17:1-14a, Mark 6:30-34, 55-56 & Ephesians 2:11-22
THERE IS MORE THAN ONE WAY TO BUILD A HOUSE. AN OLD FRIEND OF STEWART'S JUST BOUGHT A PARCEL OF LAND RIGHT ON ECHO LAKE WHERE WE'VE BEEN STAYING THESE LAST TWO WEEKS UP IN MAINE. THE FIRST WEEK WE WERE UP THERE WE GOT A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THEIR PROPERTY AND THE CABIN THAT HAD BEEN BUILT ON IT SOME 70 YEARS AGO. THE CABIN WAS LITERALLY FALLING IN ON ITSELF.
THERE WAS NO FOUNDATION TO SPEAK OF, NO INSIDE WALLS, OTHER THAN PANELING NAILED TO THE SUPPORTING WALL STUDS, NO INDOOR PLUMBING - IT WAS A RISK TO EVEN WALK UP THE STAIRS TO THE PORCH OF THE HOUSE BECAUSE THE WOOD WAS ROTTING AWAY.
AS WE VISITED THEIR NEW ACQUISITION, DOUG AND KELLY WERE IN THE PROCESS OF DECIDING HOW THEY WOULD BUILD A NEW HOUSE, FOR THEY HAD ALREADY DECIDED TO TEAR DOWN THE OLD ONE. THE NEW HOUSE WOULD BE BUILT A BIT FURTHER BACK FROM THE LAKE, WITH A COUPLE OF BASEMENT ROOMS ON A SOLID FOUNDATION, INDOOR PLUMBING, BASEBOARD HEAT AND INSULATED WALLS. DOUG AND KELLY WERE BUILDING THEIR HOUSE WITH THE IDEA OF RETIRING UP THERE AND MAYBE LIVING IN IT YEAR ROUND. WHERE THE FIRST HOUSE HAD BEEN ONLY A FISHING CABIN, THE SECOND HOUSE WAS GOING TO BE FAR MORE SUBSTANTIAL. IT WILL BE MADE TO GIVE PLENTY OF PROTECTION, EVEN THROUGH THE TOUGH MAINE WINTERS.
NOW FOR ANYONE WHO MIGHT BE PAYING ATTENTION WE ARE LEARNING A LOT ABOUT BUILDINGS THESE DAYS, RIGHT HERE AT NAURAUSHAUN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. IT IS NEARLY 40 YEARS SINCE THIS SANCTUARY WAS FIRST BUILT AND WE ARE DEEP INTO MAINTENANCE ISSUES.
A NEW ROOF IS GOING ON THIS SUMMER. THE ORGAN IS BEING RENOVATED LITTLE BY LITTLE. IT'S TIME TO PAINT THE FLOOR AGAIN, AND THIS CARPETING IN THE CHANCEL AREA IS LOOKING RATHER SHABBY. OUR PHYSICAL BUILDING TAKES A LOT OF CARE AND WE DO A LOT OF TALKING ABOUT HOW TO TAKE CARE OF IT. THE WAY IT WAS BUILT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH HOW WE ARE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF IT.
BUT, FRIENDS, THERE IS A MUCH MORE IMPORTANT BUILDING HERE AT NAURAUSHAUN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH THAN THIS PHYSICAL BUILDING WE WORSHIP IN. BE IT A CHURCH, A YEAR 'ROUND HOME OR A FISHING CABIN, A PHYSICAL BUILDING CAN NEVER REPLACE THE HOUSE THAT GOD BUILDS.
NOW ALL THREE OF OUR SCRIPTURE PASSAGES FOR TODAY SPEAK TO THE ISSUE OF BUILDING THE KIND OF HOUSE GOD BUILDS. YOU SEE, GOD WOULD HAVE US BUILD A HOUSE THAT IS NOT IMMOVABLE, NOT IMPREGNABLE, NOT NECESSARILY PLEASING TO THE EYE, BUT RATHER A DWELLING PLACE FOR GOD THAT CAN EASILY BE MOVED AND SHARED, EVEN AS IT IS INVISIBLE TO THE HUMAN EYE. THE HOUSE THAT GOD BUILDS IS A SPIRITUAL HOUSE. AND THERE IS MORE THAN ONE WAY TO BUILD A SPIRITUAL HOUSE AS WELL.
IN SECOND SAMUEL, DAVID, WHO IS LIVING IN A CEDAR PALACE, IS ALL TOO AWARE THAT THE ARK OF THE COVENANT - THOSE AMAZING STONES INSCRIBED WITH THE WORD OF GOD, BY GOD - IS DWELLING IN AN OLD CANVAS TENT, EVEN AS DAVID ENJOYS THE COMFORT AND SPLENDOR OF HIS NEW PALACE. DAVID WONDERS IF HE IS THE ONE WHO WILL BUILD A HOUSE FOR GOD. AND GOD SAYS THAT ONE OF DAVID'S FAMILY WILL BUILD THAT HOUSE. YOU CAN PROBABLY GUESS THAT THE PHYSICAL HOUSE BEING SPOKEN OF HERE IS WHAT WILL BECOME THE SPLENDID TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM BUILT BY DAVID'S SON, SOLOMON. BUT THE HOUSE THAT GOD BUILDS WITH DAVID IS A HOUSE OF LINEAGE AND HOPE AND PROMISE, AS WELL AS GOD'S ABIDING PRESENCE. IT IS A WORK OF ART THAT GOD AND DAVID BUILD TOGETHER. AND AS GOD AND DAVID WORK TOGETHER IT BECOMES CLEAR THAT THE PROMISE AND THE PRESENCE OF GOD IS SOMETHING FAR MORE IMPORTANT THAN BUILDING FOUR WALLS AND PUTTING A ROOF UPON IT. THE FIRST THING WE LEARN ABOUT BUILDING THE KIND OF HOUSE GOD BUILDS IS THAT GOD WANTS TO BE IN DIALOGUE WITH US ABOUT THAT HOUSE. GOD WANTS TO BE CONTACTED AND CONSULTED. GOD WANTS TO BE PRESENT. THE FOUNDATION OF THE HOUSE THAT GOD BUILDS IS OUR CLOSE COMMUNICATION WITH OUR DIVINE CONTRACTOR.
NOW I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT COMMUNICATING WITH GOD IS SOMETHING I CARRY WITH ME NO MATTER WHERE I GO OR WHAT I DO.
I HUMBLY CONFESS MY ONGOING CONVERSATION WITH GOD. SOME PEOPLE MIGHT SAY I'M JUST TALKING TO MYSELF, BUT IDEALLY, I DON'T READ A BOOK OR SHOP IN FREEPORT OR ENJOY A GLASS OF WINE AT SUNSET BY THE LAKE WITHOUT HEARING GOD'S LOVE IN MY MIND, WITHOUT LOOKING FOR GOD'S GUIDANCE AND GOD'S WORD.
SURE, THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I WILLFULLY TRY TO SHUT OUT GOD'S WORDS, BUT MOSTLY I HEAR AND FEEL THE DIVINE PRESENCE IN ALL OF MY THOUGHTS, NEITHER JUDGING NOR CONDEMNING, BUT HOLDING AND GUIDING. AND I WOULD DARE SAY THAT MOST OF HUMANITY DOES THE SAME THING IN SOME WAY, SHAPE OR FORM. WE ALL HAVE SOME KIND OF HIGHER THOUGHT PROCESS THAT CALLS US TO DO THE RIGHT THING AT THE RIGHT TIME. IT'S JUST A MATTER OF HOW MUCH WE LISTEN TO THOSE THOUGHTS, OR HOW MUCH WE TRUST THEM TO BE DIVINE GUIDANCE. NO MATTER HOW YOU NAME IT, THE FOUNDATION OF THE HOUSE THAT GOD BUILDS IS THINKING TOGETHER WITH GOD; LISTENING TO GOD AND GETTING THE BLUEPRINTS FROM THE GREATEST MIND EVER.
NOW IN THE GOSPEL OF MARK WE HAVE THAT WONDERFUL PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE ABOUT JESUS TRYING TO TAKE THE DISCIPLES AND HIMSELF AWAY FROM THE CRUSHING CROWDS. THE NEEDINESS OF THE WORLD IS REAL AND DISTRACTING, YES DISTRACTING. THE HOUSE THAT GOD BUILDS IS A HOUSE WHERE THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE ARE TAKEN CARE OF. OVER AND OVER AGAIN, JESUS HEALED THE SICK, OPENED THE EYES OF THE BLIND AND CHASED THE EVIL SPIRITS AWAY. AND JESUS ALWAYS DID THIS FROM THE FOUNDATION OF GOD'S LOVE. BUT SOMETIMES THE NEEDS OF THE WORLD CAN DISTRACT A PERSON FROM THE FOUNDATION OF KNOWING GOD'S PRESENCE. THIS IS WHERE I WOULD SAY THAT THE HOUSE GOD BUILDS IS A HOUSE OF YIN AND YANG.
WE HAD DANA ON VACATION WITH US, AND SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT YIN AND YANG, THE TWO OPPOSITE SIDES OF ANY GIVEN ISSUE THAT NEED EACH OTHER FOR WHOLENESS. I THINK MARK'S JESUS IS TRYING TO TEACH THE YIN AND YANG OF MINISTRY TO HIS DISCIPLES IN THIS PASSAGE. IN THE HOUSE THAT GOD BUILDS WE NEED BOTH ACTIVITY AND REST; BOTH COMPASSION AND RESTORATION. THE WALLS OF OUR SPIRITUAL HOUSE NEED TO BE BUILT WITH A SENSE OF THE DARK SIDE OF THE HUMAN CONDITION; THE PAIN, THE SORROW, THE EMPTINESS. AND WE NEED TO BE PRESENT IN THIS DARKNESS. BUT THE ROOF THAT PROTECTS US IN OUR REACHING OUT IS THE ABILITY TO WITHDRAW FROM THE NEEDINESS OF SOCIETY AND CARE FOR OUR OWN NEEDS. JESUS WAS NOT TOTALLY SUCCESSFUL IN HIS GETAWAY, BUT HE AND HIS DISCIPLES DID HAVE THAT SHORT TIME AT SEA TO RENEW AND REFRESH THEMSELVES. MAY WE ALWAYS BE AWARE OF THE WALLS AND THE ROOF, THE YIN AND THE YANG, THE COMPASSION AND THE SELF CARE THAT ARE ALL A PART OF THE HOUSE THAT GOD BUILDS.
BUT AS WELL AS BUILDING THE WALLS AND PLANNING FOR THE ROOF, WE ALSO NEED TO REMEMBER THE WINDOWS AND DOORS. AND WINDOWS AND DOORS ARE EXACTLY WHAT PAUL IS TALKING ABOUT IN HIS LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS.
THE CHURCH IN EPHESUS WAS HAVING TROUBLE STAYING FOCUSED. THEY WERE SO BUSY DISAGREEING WITH EACH OTHER, AND TRYING TO GET THEIR OWN POINT ACROSS, THAT THERE WERE NO PLANS TO BUILD WINDOWS AND DOORS IN THE HOUSE THAT GOD WAS BUILDING THROUGH THEM. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE WALLS OF COMPASSION THAT SHOULD HAVE GONE UP QUICKLY WERE HARDLY STARTED BECAUSE OF THE TINY PORTION OF COMPASSION THESE EARLY CHRISTIANS WERE ABLE TO SHOW TO ONE ANOTHER. PAUL WAS BASICALLY SAYING, "CIRCUMCISED? UNCIRCUMCISED? WHO CARES? WE ARE ALL ONE IN CHRIST." USING THE LOVE OF JESUS TO BRING PEACE BETWEEN WARRING PEOPLES IS THE ONLY CORNERSTONE TO USE WHEN BUILDING A HOUSE LIKE GOD BUILDS. AND WITH THE LOVE OF JESUS COMES A WONDERFUL OPENNESS TO NEW THINGS AND OLD THINGS; TO TRYING SOMETHING NEW ALONG WITH DOING THINGS THE WAY THEY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN DONE. TO BOTH THE CIRCUMCISED AND THE UNCIRCUMCISED, KEEPING THIER EYES ON JESUS AND NOT WAVERING IN THAT VISION WAS THE ONLY THING THAT WOULD KEEP THEIR BUILDING OPEN AND LOVING. OPEN WINDOWS AND OPEN DOORS MEAN THAT ALL ARE LOVED IN THE EYES OF GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST. IT'S NOT UP TO US TO JUDGE; IT IS UP TO US TO LOVE IN THE WAY JESUS TAUGHT US TO LOVE.
NOW I HAVE TO SAY THAT NOTHING HAS PERSONALLY BROUGHT ME CLOSER TO THE HOUSE THAT GOD BUILDS THAN GOING TO NICARAGUA AND BUILDING A CINDERBLOCK HOUSE, BLOCK BY BLOCK. IT IS AN ACTIVITY THAT, FOR ME, CARRIES EVERY QUALITY OF BUILDING A SPIRITUAL HOME WITH GOD IN THE SAME WAY THAT I AM SPEAKING OF TODAY. GOD'S CALL TO ME TO GO TO NICARAGUA TO HELP THE PEOPLE THERE IS ONE OF THE MOST CLEAR CONVERSATIONS GOD AND I HAVE EVER HAD. GOD WANTED ME TO GO AND I WAS READY. I WAS READY TO HAVE A NEW EXPERIENCE OF BUILDING WALLS OF COMPASSION AND I KNEW THAT JESUS WAS THE CORNERSTONE OF THE BUILDING.
THERE ARE TWELVE OF US GOING TO NICARAGUA THIS YEAR. AND AS WE HAVE READIED OURSELVES FOR THE TRIP WE WILL BE LEAVING ON THIS COMING SATURDAY, I KNOW THAT WE GO TO NICARAGUA TO BE THE PRESENCE OF JESUS, AS BEST WE CAN BE. WE ARE NOT PERFECT ABOUT IT, BY ANY MEANS. BUT I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT THE CROSS WE WEAR ON OUR T-SHIRTS CONVEYS A MESSAGE MORE TRUE TO THE LOVE OF CHRIST THAN IT MIGHT IN OTHER TIMES AND OTHER PLACES. JESUS WAS AND IS ABOUT LOVE AND COMPASSION AND WE ARE BUILDING SPIRITUAL HOUSES OF LOVE AND COMPASSION, AS WELL AS PHYSICAL HOUSES OF CINDERBLOCK AND CEMENT.
AT THE SAME TIME, MARY LEE ALWAYS REMINDS US OF THE YIN AND YANG OF WHY WE GO TO BUILD IN THIS FOREIGN COUNTRY. YOU SEE, MARY LEE IS VERY LIKELY TO TELL YOU SHE GOES TO NICARAGUA BECAUSE OF THE PEACEFULNESS OF THE NICARAGUAN VILLAGES AND THE SLOWER PACE OF NICARAGUAN LIFE. THERE IS A STILLNESS ABOUT THE NICARAGUAN COUNTRYSIDE THAT CAN CALM THE SOUL IN A WAY NOTHING ELSE CAN. WHEN WE SIT OUTSIDE OF OUR ROOMS AT NIGHT AND FEEL THE GENTLE BREEZE THAT IS LIKELY TO COME UP WHILE THE STARS ARE FILLING UP THE SKY IN A WAY WE CAN NEVER SEE HERE IN NEW YORK, I AM ALWAYS REMINDED OF THE WONDERFUL WORDS OF ONE OF THE 11TH OR 12TH CENTURY MYSTICS WHO CLAIMED THAT OUR SOULS ARE RESTLESS UNTIL THEY REST IN GOD. ON A CLEAR NICARAGUAN NIGHT, AFTER A LONG DAY OF HARD WORK AND A REFRESHING SPLASH OF COOL WATER, OUR SOULS VERY LIKELY FIND REST IN GOD.
THE ROOF IS THERE FOR THE WALLS OF COMPASSION.
AND OF COURSE OUR WALLS ALWAYS HAVE WINDOWS AND AT LEAST ONE DOOR, IF NOT TWO. ON OUR MISSION TRIPS TO NICARAGUA WE HAVE QUITE A MIXTURE OF LIKES AND DIFFERENCES. WE ARE YOUNG AND OLD, STRONG AND WEAK, ANGLO AND HISPANIC, CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT, MALE AND FEMALE, RICH AND POOR, BUT WE ARE ONE IN CHRIST AND WE ARE FOCUSING ON CHRIST, EVEN IF HIS NAME IS NEVER SPOKEN. OUR DIFFERENCES MELT AWAY AS THE WEEK PROGRESSES AND TRUE COMMUNITY IS BUILT AMONG US. WE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME TOGETHER TO DO THE WORK OF CHRIST AND HE IS IN THE MIDST OF US. WE ARE HUMAN BEINGS, WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE COMMON GOAL OF BRINGING SHELTER TO ANOTHER DESERVING FAMILY. IT IS, AFTER ALL, THE HOUSE THAT GOD BUILDS, BOTH PHYSICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY. IT IS A RICH AND DEEP SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE FOR WHICH I HAVE GROWN EXCEEDINGLY GRATEFUL.
IN CLOSING, I WOULD LIKE INVITE THOSE OF US WHO ARE GOING TO NICARAGUA TO COME FORWARD FOR A BLESSING AND A COMMISSIONING.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE ELDER LIZ CHAUVOT TO COME FORWARD TO LEAD THE CONGREGATION IN THE COMMISSIONING.
THE PEOPLE GOING TO NICARAGUA ARE:
ALYSSA ANDREWS
ANDY ANDREWS
HOLLY BEYAR
BOBBIE HART
DON HART
JEAN HOLMES
RUSSELL HOLMES
STEWART HOLMES
CHRIS GENSON
AMANDA LA VALLE
JULI SCHAEFER
MARY LEE WAINWRIGHT
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!
SCRIPTURE: I John 4:7-21 & John 15:1-8
IN WEBSTER’S NEW WORLD DICTIONARY THE WORD “ORGANIC” IS DEFINED AS HAVING TO DO WITH A BODILY ORGAN OR “INVOLVING THE BASIC MAKEUP OF A THING.”
SOME SYNONYMS ARE LISTED SUCH AS “INHERENT, INBORN, AND CONSTITUTIONAL.”
FOR THE PAST YEAR I HAVE BEEN SEEING A PERSON WHO CALLS HERSELF A HOLISTIC HEALTH GUARDIAN.
SHE IS SOMEWHAT LIKE A SPIRITUAL NUTRITIONIST WHO BELIEVES DEEPLY IN THE POWERFUL CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE HUMAN BODY, SOUL, AND SPIRIT.
SHE TALKS TO ME A LOT ABOUT FOOD, TWO KINDS OF FOOD.
THERE IS PRIMARY FOOD AND SECONDARY FOOD.
PRIMARY FOOD IS THE KIND YOU DON’T GET ON A PLATE.
PRIMARY FOOD INCLUDES THINGS LIKE LOVE, HUGS, TOUCH, KISSES, WARMTH, MASSAGE, MEDITATION, FUN, FREEDOM; I THINK YOU GET THE PICTURE.
SECONDARY FOOD IS THE KIND YOU PUT ON YOUR PLATE, STARTING WITH THE LARGEST PORTIONS BEING OF THE VEGETABLE FAMILY AND THE SMALLEST PORTIONS BEING OF THE FAT CATEGORY.
NOW IF I WERE TO PUT LARAINE’S PHILOSOPHY INTO A NUTSHELL I WOULD USE TWO WORDS, LOVE AND ORGANIC.
YOU CANNOT COME AWAY FROM A SESSION WITH LARAINE WITHOUT USING THESE TWO WORDS…AT LEAST FIVE TIMES EACH.
AND AS I STUDIED THE SCRIPTURES FOR THIS WEEK I BEGAN TO REALIZE JUST HOW CLOSE LARAINE’S PHILOSOPHY AND THEOLOGY IS TO THE PHILOSOPHY AND THEOLOGY OF JOHN IN USING THIS IMAGE OF A VINE AND BRANCHES AND PRUNING TO SPEAK OF OUR PERSONAL AND COMMUNAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.
JOHN’S GOSPEL IS FILLED WITH IMAGES, ESPECIALLY IMAGES OF JESUS.
THEY MOST OFTEN SHOW UP AS “I AM” STATEMENTS.
JESUS SAID, “I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE.”
HE SAID, “I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD,” WHICH WE TALKED ABOUT LAST WEEK.
AND NOW “I AM THE VINE” IN TODAY’S PASSAGE.
THE FIRST FEELING I GET WHEN I READ THIS SCRIPTURE IS A FEELING OF LOVING INTIMACY WITH JESUS.
I THINK OF MYSELF AS ONE OF THE BRANCHES AND MY LIFE’S BLOOD IS CONNECTED TO THE ROOTED VINE.
I FEEL IT AS A PERSONAL KIND OF GROUNDING OR HEARTBEAT IF YOU WILL.
JESUS IS WHERE I GET MY LIFE FROM.
AND WHEN I AM NOT CONNECTED TO JESUS I AM NOT WORTH A WHOLE LOT.
THIS YEAR HAS BEEN A DIFFICULT ONE FOR ME.
I HAVE NEVER BEFORE NEEDED TO DEAL WITH A CHRONIC ILLNESS.
I AM QUITE USED TO THE IDEA OF PRAYING FOR HEALING AND THE HEALING HAPPENS.
I HAVE NOT KNOWN WHAT TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT I HAVE PRAYED, AND PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD HAVE PRAYED, FOR MY HEALING AND THE HEALING DOESN’T HAPPEN.
MY RESPONSE TO UNANSWERED PRAYER HAS BEEN ANGER.
AND IN MY ANGER I KEEP TRYING TO RIP MYSELF AWAY FROM THE VINE.
“OK, YOU WON’T HEAL ME, THEN THE HECK WITH YOU!” I FIND MYSELF THINKING IN THE MIDST OF MY PAIN AND AGONY.
I CAN’T THINK STRAIGHT, I CAN’T SLEEP, I EAT ALL THE WRONG THINGS, I CAN’T GIVE LOVE TO MYSELF OR ANYONE ELSE, IN SHORT; APART FROM JESUS I CAN DO NOTHING.
JESUS SAID, “I AM THE VINE. YOU ARE THE BRANCHES. APART FROM ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING.”
NOW FOR YEARS I HAVE THOUGHT OF THIS SCRIPTURE AS AN INDIVIDUALISTIC EXPRESSION OF HOW I NEED TO STAY CLOSE TO MY JESUS.
UNTIL LAST WEEK WHEN EVERY EFFORT I MADE ON MY OWN COULD NOT BRING ME CLOSER TO THE SOURCE OF LIFE I NEED SO BADLY IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO LIVE AND BREATH AND HAVE TRUE MEANING.
I WAS SO ANGRY AT GOD FOR NOT ANSWERING MY PRAYERS THAT I COULDN’T FIND MY WAY BACK TO JESUS.
I COULD DO NOTHING!
WHAT BROUGHT ME BACK TO JESUS WERE TINY LITTLE HUMAN CONTACTS WITH THE COMMUNITY OF FAITH.
FIRST THERE WAS A BEAUTIFUL LITTLE BOOK IN THE MAIL FROM A MINISTER FRIEND OF MINE.
THEN THERE WAS A TRULY HEALING NOTE FROM MY SISTER WHO LIVES IN ILLINOIS AND IS A REGISTERED NURSE AS WELL AS A PERSON OF DEEP FAITH.
THERE WAS A VIBRANT AND ENGAGING CONVERSATION WITH MY WEEKLY BIBLE STUDY GROUP.
THERE WERE THE HUGS AND KISSES OF THIS FAITH COMMUNITY ON SUNDAY MORNING.
AND I GUESS I REALLY FELT TOTALLY ALIVE AGAIN WHEN I RECEIVED A NOTE FROM THE WIFE OF A PAST PASTOR OF NAURAUSHAUN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
THIS IS FROM MRS. VERGENE WIEMAN, WIFE OF THE LATE REV. ROBERT WIEMAN AND SHE WRITES, “TO THE PASTOR OF NAURAUSHAUN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH,
IT WAS WITH GREAT DELIGHT THAT I READ IN MORE LIGHT PRESBYTERIANS THAT THE NAURAUSHAUN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH HAS JOINED MLP.
MY HUSBAND WAS THE FIRST ORDAINED AND INSTALLED PASTOR AT THE NAURAUSHAUN CHURCH IN DECEMBER OF 1951.
I HAVE FOND MEMORIES OF THE CHURCH.
HE WOULD HAVE BEEN SO PLEASE TO HEAR OF THE ACTION OF YOUR CHURCH.
WE BOTH HAVE BEEN ACTIVE IN THE GAY COMMUNITY ADVOCATING FOR AND WITH THEM.
BOB WAS KILLED SUDDENLY ON NOVEMBER 22 WHEN HIS CAR WAS STRUCK BROADSIDE BY A PICK-UP TRUCK.
HE WOULD HAVE BEEN THRILLED TO KNOW OF YOUR ACTION.”
I AM THE VINE, YOU ARE THE BRANCHES…
ALL OF A SUDDEN I BEGAN TO SEE HOW MANY BRANCHES ARE CONNECTED TO THE VINE AND THAT THIS “I AM” STATEMENT OF JESUS WAS AS MUCH ABOUT COMMUNITY AS IT WAS ABOUT INDIVIDUAL PIETY.
IN LOOKING BACK I BEGAN TO UNDERSTAND THAT I CANNOT WORK TO GET MYSELF CONNECTED TO JESUS.
I’M EITHER CONNECTED OR NOT CONNECTED.
AND IT IS WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE COMMUNITY OF FAITH THAT I AM REMINDED OF THAT CONNECTION.
IT IS IN THE MIDST OF THE COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS THAT MY CONNECTION IS STRENGTHENED AND SECURED.
AND THAT IN ALL ACTUALITY THIS SCRIPTURE IS LESS ABOUT INDIVIDUALISTIC INTIMACY AND MORE ABOUT A COMMUNITY WHERE WE ALL SHARE AN ORGANIC INTIMACY WITH JESUS.
JESUS IS THE ORGAN INVOLVING THE BASIC MAKEUP OF THE CHURCH.
JESUS IS THE INBORN AND INHERENT VINE OF THE RESURRECTED BODY OF CHRIST.
THERE IS ONE VINE AND MANY BRANCHES.
AND WE ARE CLOSE TO JESUS WHEN WE GATHER TOGETHER IN HIS TRUTH BECAUSE HIS LOVE IS ORGANIC IN ANY CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY.
I WOULD EVEN DARE TO SAY THAT WE ARE CLOSER TO JESUS IN THE CONTEXT OF COMMUNITY BECAUSE THE LOVE GROWS AND MULTIPLES IN OUR COMING TOGETHER.
NOW IN LOOKING AT THIS PASSAGE IN THE ORIGINAL GREEK I DISCOVERED THAT ALL OF THE SECOND PERSONAL PRONOUNS IN THIS PASSAGE ARE PLURAL PRONOUNS.
THEY ARE A PLURAL “YOU.”
ONE COMMENTATOR EVEN SAYS WE SHOULD BE SAYING YOU-ALL INSTEAD OF YOU WHEN WE READ THIS PASSAGE.
PUT A LITTLE SOUTHERN ACCENT TO IT AND WE HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS:
IF Y’ALL ABIDE IN ME, AND MY WORDS ABIDE IN Y’ALL, ASK FOR WHATEVER Y’ALL WISH, AND IT WILL BE DONE FOR Y’ALL.
MY FATHER IS GLORIFIED BY THIS, THAT Y’ALL BEAR MUCH FRUIT AND BECOME MY DISCIPLES.”
YOU SEE, JESUS IS MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE FRUIT THAN ANYTHING ELSE.
AND THE FRUIT THAT JESUS AND GOD ARE LOOKING FOR IS LOVE.
IF A COMMUNITY BEARS THE FRUIT OF LOVE, THEN WE ARE CONNECTED TO THE VINE, AND WE DO ABIDE IN JESUS.
NOW LET’S TALK FOR A MOMENT ABOUT THE VINEGROWER, THE ONE WHO DOES THE PLANTING AND THE PRUNING.
ANYONE WHO HAS DONE ANY AMOUNT OF GARDENING KNOWS THAT PRUNING IS AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT PART OF THE GROWTH PROCESS.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THE PRUNING NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO THE BRANCHES THAT GET TOO LONG AND TOO LEGGY, THE ONES THAT GET TOO FAR AWAY FROM THE SOURCE OR THE BODY OF THE PLANT.
THE PRUNING ALSO NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO THE BRANCHES THAT ARE NO LONGER ALIVE, THE ONES THAT NO LONGER ARE SUSTAINED BY THE VITALITY OF THE PLANT.
AS SOON AS THESE BRANCHES ARE PRUNED AWAY, THE PLANT BECOMES HEALTHIER AND MORE VITAL.
AND LET’S ALSO THINK ABOUT THIS AS IT RELATES TO THE BODY OF CHRIST, TO THE COMMUNITY OF FAITH.
JESUS IS THE VINE, WE ARE THE BRANCHES AND GOD IS THE VINE GROWER, THE ONE WHO HAS PLANTED THE VINE AND THE ONE WHO PRUNES THE BRANCHES.
WHAT I HEAR FROM THIS IS THAT THE SIZE AND SHAPE OF ANY COMMUNITY IS UP TO GOD.
WE, THE BRANCHES, JUST NEED TO SWAY IN THE BREEZE, GO WITH THE FLOW AND ALWAYS FEED ON THE LOVE OF JESUS.
THIS IS WHEN WE BEAR THE GOOD FRUIT THAT JESUS AND GOD BOTH WANT TO SEE, THE FRUIT OF LOVE.
I HAD AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION WITH MY FRIEND SUSAN THIS WEEK.
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE LOVE OF JESUS AND HOW “UN-PRETTY” IT IS.
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW THE LOVE OF JESUS ISN’T LIKE A CANDLELIGHT DINNER WITH ROSES AND SOFT MUSIC.
SUSAN SAID TO ME AS I WAS BEMOANING THE CHRONIC EAR CONDITION, “I’M SORRY JEAN, BUT THE LOVE OF JESUS IS BLOODY AND BRUISED AND HANGING ON THE CROSS.”
I COULDN’T GET THAT IMAGE OUT OF MY MIND.
IT IS EXACTLY IN THE VERY DEPTH OF OUR HUMANNESS THAT JESUS’ LOVE IS MOST REAL.
AND THINK ABOUT WHERE GOD PLANTED THE VINE NAMED JESUS.
THE VINE OF THE LOVE OF JESUS THAT CONNECTS THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY OF FAITH IS PLANTED WITH THE MOST IMPERFECT PEOPLES OF THE WORLD.
ALLELUIA! AMEN!
WE DON’T NEED TO WORK ON BEING PERFECT BECAUSE WE ALREADY ARE PERFECT, JUST THE WAY WE ARE AT THIS VERY MOMENT!
WHEN WE BEGIN WORKING, AS A CHURCH, TO FIT INTO SOME KIND OF PRECONCEIVED NOTION OF WHAT A FAITH COMMUNITY SHOULD BE WE NEED SOME PRUNING.
BUT THAT ISN’T OUR WORK.
OUR WORK IS TO PRODUCE LOVE.
AND WE CANNOT PRODUCE THE KIND OF LOVE JESUS IS ABOUT IF WE DON’T KNOW WHO THE REAL JESUS IS.
I GUESS I’M THINKING ABOUT ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO SAY THEY DON’T NEED TO BE IN CHURCH ON SUNDAY MORNING TO BE A GOOD CHRISTIAN.
IN SOME WAYS I CAN SEE THEIR POINT, BUT TODAY’S SCRIPTURE REALLY REFUTES THAT CONCEPT.
IN VERSE FOUR WE HEAR, “ABIDE IN ME AS I ABIDE IN YOU. JUST AS THE BRANCH CANNOT BEAR FRUIT BY ITSELF UNLESS IT ABIDES IN THE VINE, NEITHER CAN YOU UNLESS YOU ABIDE IN ME.”
I HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE DON’T PARTICIPATE IN A CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY WHEN THEY DON’T KNOW THE REAL JESUS.
THEY KNOW A JESUS WHO HAS BEEN WATERED DOWN BY YEARS OF MISINTERPRETATION AND THE RETELLING OF AN ALREADY SECOND AND THIRD HAND VERSION OF THE STORY.
CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY IS MESSY, BUT THE LOVE OF JESUS IS MESSY AS WELL.
AND INTIMACY IS MESSY AND VINES CAN GET MESSY IF THEY GROW OUT OF CONTROL.
FRIENDS, LIVING WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF A CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY IS NOT THE LITTLE DREAM WORLD THAT SECULAR SOCIETY WOULD BELIEVE WE LIVE.
BUT CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY, WHEN LIVED OUT WITH THE ORGANIC INTIMACY OF THE IMAGE OF THE VINE AND BRANCHES IS THE BEST THERE IS.
MY HOLISTIC HEALTH GUARDIAN WOULD SAY THIS IS WHEN WE AS THE BODY ARE THE HEALTHIEST.
JUST AS IT TAKES THE VINE, THE BRANCHES AND THE VINE GROWER TO PRODUCE SWEET GRAPES, IT ALSO TAKES JESUS, THE COMMUNITY AND GOD TO PRODUCE SWEET LOVE.
THE BEST LOVE IS PRODUCED WHEN ALL THREE WORK TOGETHER.
SO MAY WE AT NAURAUSHAUN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH LIVE INTO THIS FAITHFUL ORGANIC INTIMACY.
AND MAY THE FRUIT OF OUR COMMUNITY ALWAYS BE SWEET, JUICY LOVE!
ALLELUIA! AMEN!
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 121 and John 15:12-13
I THINK I NEED TO STOP SAYING "YES" TO DAVID FISHER! 8 A.M. PREACHING IS NOT MY FORTE'. AND LAST FRIDAY I FOUND MYSELF WONDERING, JUST WHAT DOES SOMEONE LIKE ME HAVE TO SAY TO A SANCTUARY FILLED WITH FIREFIGHTERS? I STAND IN SUCH AWE OF AND HAVE SO MUCH RESPECT FOR WHAT ALL OF YOU DO ON A VOLUNTEER BASIS, I HARDLY KNOW WHAT TO SAY TO YOU. THANK-YOU DOESN'T SEEM QUITE RIGHT, BUT IT IS THE BEST I CAN COME UP WITH FOR RIGHT NOW, SO THANK-YOU FOR WHOM YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU DO SO FREELY AND FAITHFULLY.
YOU KNOW, I WAS RAISED IN A LITTLE FARMING COMMUNITY IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS. AND MY FATHER WAS A FARMER AND A VOLUNTEER FIREMAN IN KANEVILLE. IT WAS OK TO CALL HIM A FIREMAN IN THOSE DAYS, BECAUSE WOMEN HAD NOT EVEN BEGUN TO DREAM ABOUT HAVING ANY PART IN THE ACTUAL FIRE FIGHTING. IN KANEVILLE, ILLINOIS DURING THE 1950'S AND 60'S THE WOMEN MADE FOOD FOR THE MEN AND HOVERED AROUND THE FAMILY WHO WAS SUFFERING WHATEVER DAMAGE AND LOSS. TIMES HAVE CHANGED HAVEN'T THEY? AND CHANGE IS A GOOD THING. EVEN BACK THEN THE MEN MANAGED TO DO SOME COOKING ONCE A YEAR. THEY HAD THE BEST SAUSAGE AND PANCAKE BREAKFAST THIS SIDE OF THE MISSISSIPPI. IT'S ALMOST WORTH FLYING HOME FOR, EVEN NOW.
YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER HOW PROUD I WAS OF MY DAD AND THE OTHER FARMERS, WHO WOULD HEAR THE FIRE ALARM FROM MILES AWAY, DROP WHATEVER THEY WERE DOING, AND RUN TO BE THERE FOR WHATEVER TRAGIC OR COMIC SITUATION THAT MIGHT BE UNFOLDING.
THIS WAS A SMALL COMMUNITY, AND THE FARMS WERE PRETTY FAR SPREAD, SO THE CALLS DIDN'T COME OFTEN. BUT WHEN THEY DID, THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY PULLED TOGETHER IN TRUST AND CONCERN, WITH THE FIREMEN LEADING THE WAY.
FIREFIGHTERS REALLY SEEM TO KNOW A LOT ABOUT TRUST AND COMMUNITY. AND I ONLY BEGAN TO REALIZE WHAT A ROLE-MODEL OF TRUE COMMUNITY FIREFIGHTERS ARE FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD AROUND THE TIME OF SEPTEMBER 11TH. I KNOW HOW DIFFICULT IT WAS FOR MANY OF YOU TO NOT BE ALLOWED TO GO INTO THE CITY TO HELP AT GROUND ZERO.FIREFIGHTERS WANT TO BE THERE FOR ONE ANOTHER. THE AGONY OF THE FIREFIGHTERS I KNOW FROM THIS COMMUNITY WAS ALMOST PALPABLE AT THAT TIME. AND I ALSO KNOW HOW A COUPLE OF VERY YOUNG FIREFIGHTERS FROM MY LITTLE ILLINOIS HOME COMMUNITY CHIPPED AWAY AT THE TRUST IN THEIR OWN COMPANY BY IGNORING THEIR CHIEF AND DRIVING ACROSS COUNTRY TO BE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CHAOS.
AS I HOSTED THESE TWO YOUNG BRATS, I WAS EVEN MORE THANKFUL FOR THE MATURITY AND WISDOM I HAVE ALWAYS SEEN COMING FROM THE PEARL RIVER FIRE DEPARTMENTS. AND I ALSO KNOW THAT YOUR VERY LIVES DEPEND UPON YOU BEING ABLE TO TRUST ONE ANOTHER, WHICH IS WHAT TRUE COMMUNITY IS ABOUT. WOULD THAT EVERY COMMUNITY OF FAITH COULD LEARN FROM YOUR EXAMPLE. OUR LIVES, TOO, DEPEND UPON OUR ABILITY TO TRUST ONE ANOTHER.THANK-YOU FOR SETTING A GOOD EXAMPLE. NOW I WAS ASKED TO CHOOSE A SCRIPTURE READING FOR TODAY'S SERVICE.
AND OF COURSE I THOUGHT OF PASSAGES LIKE MOSES AND THE BURNING BUSH OR THE STORY ABOUT SHADRACH, MESHACH AND ABEDNEGO WHO ALL SURVIVED BEING THROWN INTO A FIERY FURNACE BECAUSE THEY REFUSED TO WORSHIP THE GOLDEN IDOL OF KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR. THERE ARE LOTS OF GOOD FIRE STORIES IN THE BIBLE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THERE ARE NO FIREFIGHTERS TO GO ALONG WITH THESE FIRE STORIES.SO IT JUST DIDN'T WORK.
I DID LOOK AT A PORTION OF CHRISTIAN SCRIPTURE THAT I CHOSE NOT TO USE DIRECTLY BECAUSE OF MY DESIRE TO INCLUDE OUR JEWISH BROTHERS AND SISTERS INTO THIS WORSHIP.
BUT IF I COULD ASK FOR JUST A MOMENT OF FORBEARANCE, I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE A FEW WORDS THAT JESUS SPOKE TO HIS DISCIPLES, REMEMBERING THAT JESUS WAS JEWISH AND WORSHIPED IN THE TEMPLE AT JERUSALEM.I WANT YOU TO HEAR THESE WORDS BECAUSE THEY SEEM TO HAVE A LOT TO SAY TO ALL OF YOU GATHERED IN THIS SANCTUARY THIS MORNING.JESUS SAID, "THIS IS MY COMMANDMENT, THAT YOU LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU. NO ONE HAS GREATER LOVE THAN THIS, TO LAY DOWN ONE'S LIFE FOR ONE'S FRIENDS." THIS JUST SEEMS TO BE EXACTLY THE RIGHT WORDS TO SAY TO A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO VOLUNTARILY PUT YOURSELVES INTO DANGEROUS SITUATIONS FOR LOVE OF NEIGHBOR AND FRIEND. AGAIN, THERE IS NO OTHER WORD I CAN SAY BUT, THANK-YOU, THANK-YOU FOR YOUR LOVING SERVICE.
ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 MY SISTER JANET WAS ARRIVING AT HER WORKPLACE IN NEW YORK CITY RIGHT AFTER THE FIRST PLANE HAD HIT THE TRADE TOWERS. JANET WORKS AT NUMBER ONE LIBERTY PLAZA, A BUILDING RIGHT NEXT TO WHAT USED TO BE THE TRADE TOWERS. BETWEEN THE TWO HITS I RECEIVED THE MESSAGE THAT SHE WAS AT WORK AND SHE WAS OK. AFTER THE SECOND HIT IT WAS HOURS BEFORE I KNEW ANYTHING. FOR ALL I KNEW, SHE COULD HAVE BEEN RIGHT THERE ON THE STREETS WHEN THE FIRST TOWER FELL. I THANK GOD THAT MY SISTER'S SAFETY IS ONE OF THE MANY BLESSINGS THAT CAME OUT OF THAT HORRIFIC DAY.
ON THE SUNDAY EVENING AFTER SEPTEMBER 11TH MY HUSBAND AND I WENT INTO NEW YORK CITY TO WORSHIP WITH JANET AND HER HUSBAND AT A SPECIAL SERVICE BEING HELD AT ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S CHURCH. NOW ST. BART'S IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER FROM ONE OF THE NEW YORK CITY FIRE DEPARTMENTS, A FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT HAD LOST SOMETHING LIKE EIGHT PEOPLE THE TUESDAY BEFORE. AT THE END OF OUR COMMUNION WORSHIP THAT EVENING WE ALL PROCESSED OUT OF THE CHURCH AND ONTO THE STREET CARRYING LIT CANDLES. WE WALKED AROUND THE BLOCK AND ENDED OUR SOLEMN ASSEMBLY AT THE DOOR OF THE 51ST STREET FIRE COMPANY, WHERE THE SURVIVING FIREFIGHTERS OF THAT COMPANY WERE STANDING AT THE DOOR WAITING FOR OUR BLESSING.
WE SANG TO THEM AND PRAYED WITH THEM. AND AS THE CROWD BEGAN TO DISPERSE MY SISTER MADE A BEELINE FOR THE MEN STANDING IN THE DOORWAY. SHE WENT TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM, SHOOK THEIR HAND AND SAID, "THANK-YOU."
AND I TELL YOU THIS STORY TODAY BECAUSE THAT MOMENT SEEMED TO ME TO BE A UNIVERSAL MOMENT OF THANKS THAT GOES ON FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION. THANK-YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. THANK-YOU FOR WHO YOU ARE. THANK-YOU FOR BEING AVAILABLE TO ME AND EVERYONE ELSE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
NOW THE SCRIPTURE I DID CHOOSE TO USE FOR TODAY IS PSALM 121, A SONG THAT TELLS OF GOD'S STEADFAST PROTECTION FOR THOSE WHO DEPEND ON HIM. I CHOSE THIS PSALM BECAUSE OF HOW MUCH I WISH FOR GOD'S STEADFAST PROTECTION AND LOVING CARE TO BE WITH ALL OF YOU IN THE YEAR AHEAD. AND SO MY PRAYER FOR ALL OF YOU, AS YOU CONTINUE TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY DURING THIS COMING YEAR IS INSPIRED BY PSALM 121.
MY PRAYER FOR YOU IS THIS: MAY THE LORD KEEP YOU FROM ALL EVIL. MAY THE LORD KEEP YOUR LIFE. MAY THE LORD KEEP YOUR GOING OUT AND YOUR COMING IN, FROM THIS TIME ON AND FOREVERMORE.
ALLELUIA! AMEN!
SCRIPTURE: Acts 4:32-35 & John 20:10-31
LAST WEEK I HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION WITH MY 17 YEAR OLD NEPHEW RUSSELL.
YES, HE HOLDS THE SAME NAME AS MY SON. IT SEEMS WE HAVE LITTLE IMAGINATION IN THE FLANDERS FAMILY WHEN IT COMES TO NAMING BABIES. AMONG FOURTEEN GRANDCHILDREN BORN TO MY FATHER, RUSSELL, THERE ARE AT LEAST THREE VARIATIONS ON THE THEME "RUSSELL." AT ANY RATE, I CONSIDER MY NEPHEW RUSSELL TO BE ONE OF MY FAVORITE ILLINOIS THEOLOGIANS. YOU SEE, RUSSELL AND I HAVE BEGUN TO CARVE OUT TIME FOR OURSELVES IN WHICH WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE BIBLE AND THE CHURCH AND KIND OF A GENERAL PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE, IF YOU WILL. AND UNLIKE SOME 17 YEAR OLDS WHO BELIEVE THEY HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS, RUSSELL CARRIES A CERTAIN WISDOM ABOUT THE AMBIGUITIES OF LIFE. RUSSELL SEEMS TO KNOW THAT HE DOESN'T KNOW EVERYTHING, AND HE SEEMS TO WANT TO LEARN ABOUT ALMOST ANYTHING.
SO LAST WEEK, AS RUSSELL WAS SHOWING ME HIS 1995 MUSTANG, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HIS FRIENDS WHO ALL SEEM TO BE PHILOSOPHICALLY "OUT THERE" KIND OF GUYS.
MUCH TO THE CHAGRIN OF HIS MOM AND DAD, RUSSELL HANGS OUT WITH A BUNCH OF ATHEISTS AND COMMUNISTS. I ACTUALLY FIND IT QUITE IMPRESSIVE THAT THESE YOUNG MEN EVEN THINK ABOUT SUCH THINGS, MUCH LESS TALK ABOUT THEM. BUT WHAT I FIND EVEN MORE IMPRESSIVE IS HOW RUSSELL DEALS WITH HIS OWN FAITH WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THEIR OPEN DISCUSSIONS.
YOU SEE, RUSSELL THINKS CAREFULLY ABOUT WHAT HE BELIEVES. HE IS NOT THE KIND TO SIT IN CHURCH AND TAKE IN EVERY WORD THE PREACHER SAYS AS GOSPEL TRUTH. RUSSELL READS THE BIBLE FOR HIMSELF. AND HE READS THE BIBLE CLOSELY ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT HIS OWN CHURCH NEVER MENTIONED PILATE WASHING HIS HANDS OF JESUS DURING THEIR MAUNDY THURSDAY PASSION DRAMA. RUSSELL KNOWS THAT PILATE'S HAND-WASHING IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE STORY AND SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT. HE IS THOUGHTFUL ABOUT WHAT HE LEARNS.
NOW THE OTHER SIDE OF RUSSELL'S THOUGHTFULNESS IS THAT ALONG WITH READING THE BIBLE, RUSSELL READS THE BOOKS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO HIS FRIENDS AS WELL.
RUSSELL HAS READ MEIN KAMPF BY ADOLPH HITLER AS WELL AS THE COMMUNIST MANIFESTO BY KARL MARX. I SUPPOSE THIS IS WHAT MAKES HIS PARENTS A BIT NERVOUS, BUT RUSSELL KNOWS THAT HE NEEDS TO THINK CAREFULLY ABOUT THE OTHER SIDE OF WHAT HE BELIEVES IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO MAKE ANY SENSE WHEN IN A CONVERSATION WITH THOSE HE DISAGREES WITH. RUSSELL IS THE 2003 MODEL OF THOMAS IN TODAY'S BIBLE STORY.
YOU SEE, INSTEAD OF THINKING OF THOMAS AS A LOSER FOR BEING THE ONE WHO NEEDS TO ACTUALLY TOUCH JESUS' WOUNDS IN ORDER TO BELIEVE, I THINK OF THOMAS AS A TRULY THOUGHTFUL BELIEVER. I HAVE COME TO THINK OF THOMAS AS A ROLE MODEL OF FAITHFULNESS. AND I'M PRETTY SURE THAT I MIGHT HAVE BEEN RIGHT THERE WITH THOMAS, WANTING TO RESEARCH THE TRUTH OF THE SITUATION, HAD I BEEN A FIRST CENTURY DISCIPLE.
I HAVE COME TO BELIEVE THE WORDS OF ALFRED LLOYD TENNYSON, "THERE LIVES MORE FAITH IN HONEST DOUBT, BELIEVE ME, THAN IN HALF THE CREEDS."
YOU SEE, QUESTIONING IS NOT A BAD THING UNLESS IT LEADS A PERSON INTO TOTAL DESPAIR.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, I BELIEVE IN MY HEART OF HEARTS THAT JESUS BLESSED THE HUMAN NEED TO COME TO FAITH THROUGH A BIT OF DOUBT BY DEALING WITH THOMAS IN THE WAY HE DID. JESUS OFFERED HIS WOUNDED AND RESURRECTED SELF TO THOMAS FOR RESEARCH.
JESUS LOVINGLY SAID, "PEACE BE WITH YOU. DO NOT DOUBT, BUT BELIEVE." AND THOMAS CAME TO BELIEVE WITHOUT TOUCHING THE HANDS AND SIDE OF HIS LORD AND SAVIOR. IT WAS THE CONFRONTATION OF DOUBT THAT BROUGHT THOMAS TO FAITH.
IF JESUS HAD NOT MADE THE OFFER FOR THOMAS TO TOUCH HIM, IF THOMAS HAD NOT MADE THE EFFORT TO SEE JESUS, THEN FAITH WOULD HAVE NEVER COME TO THOMAS. HE WOULD HAVE MOST LIKELY WAFTED OFF INTO HISTORY WITHOUT EVEN BEING NAMED. AND EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THAN BEING NAMED, HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN LOST TO TOTAL DESPAIR, AS WAS JUDAS.
YOU SEE, JUDAS DOUBTED THE TRUTH OF JESUS BEYOND THE POINT OF NO RETURN, WHILE THOMAS DOUBTED JUST ENOUGH TO DEEPEN WHAT HE KNEW THE TRUTH TO BE. I LIKE THOMAS AND I LIKE THE ROLE HE PLAYS FOR THOSE OF US WHO SEEK TO COME TO FAITH SO MANY YEARS AFTER THE LIFE OF THE ONE IN WHOM WE BELIEVE.
IN THE TITLE OF THIS SERMON I HAVE ASKED THE QUESTION "IS THERE ROOM FOR DOUBT?"
I MUST SAY THAT MY ANSWER TO MY OWN QUESTION IS A RESOUNDING "YES!" AND NOT ONLY DO I BELIEVE THERE IS ROOM FOR DOUBT, BUT I ALSO BELIEVE OUR DOUBTS ARE IMPORTANT TOOLS FOR OUR CONTEMPORARY FAITH EDUCATION, A FAITH EDUCATION MORE NEEDED THAN EVER BEFORE. OUR WORLD IS IN GRAVE DANGER OF ANNIHILATION IF WE DO NOT EMBRACE OUR DOUBTS AND RESEARCH THE FACTS. WE SIMPLY MUST GET OVER THE IDEA THAT WE ARE BEING UNTRUE TO JESUS IF WE READ ABOUT OR THINK ABOUT OTHER FAITHS. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I BELIEVE JESUS BLESSES US IN MUCH THE SAME WAY HE DID THOMAS WHEN WE SEEK TO UNDERSTAND OUR OWN FAITH MORE CLEARLY IN THE CONTEXT OF A DIVERSE WORLD THAT ONLY GROWS IN DIVERSITY.
IN MY MIND THE MOST PROFOUND GIFT OF OUR MORE LIGHT PROCESS HAS BEEN A RESURGENCE OF INTEREST IN THE BIBLE HERE AT NAURAUSHAUN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. WHEN TALKING ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY AND THE BIBLE, A LOT OF PEOPLE SEEM TO DOUBT THE INTERPRETERS AND WANT TO KNOW FOR THEMSELVES AND BELIEVE FOR THEMSELVES. THIS IS A GOOD THING.
AND I CANNOT THINK OF A FINER OUTCOME OF OUR PROCESS THAN TO HAVE PEOPLE CURIOUS ABOUT THEIR OWN TRUTH AND FAITH. THE SPIRIT OF GOD IS ALIVE AND WELL IN OUR CURIOSITY.
ALLELUIA! AMEN!
ON THE OTHER HAND, FUNDAMENTALISM IS THE GREAT ENEMY OF OUR WORLD.FUNDAMENTALISM OF ANY SORT DOES NOT WANT TO CONFRONT DOUBT, BECAUSE IF DOUBT IS CONFRONTED - LIKE JESUS AND THOMAS - THEN SOMETHING IS LIKELY TO CHANGE. QUESTIONING IS NOT A PART OF TRUE FAITH IN THE CONSERVATIVE EXPRESSIONS OF ANY OF TODAY'S WORLD RELIGIONS.
IF WE QUESTION SOMETHING WE MIGHT NEED TO THINK ABOUT IT TOO MUCH.
QUESTIONING AND DOUBT ARE NOT ALLOWED BECAUSE, IN MY MIND, THE LEADERS OF FUNDAMENTALIST FAITH DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH FAITH THEMSELVES. TO HAVE FAITH IN GOD MEANS TO GIVE UP OUR OWN NEED TO CONTROL EVERY HUMAN ACTION AS WELL AS ALL DIVINE ACTION. LEADERS LIKE SADDAM HUSSEIN AND OSAMA BIN LADEN, WHO CLAIM TO BE RELIGIOUS LEADERS, NEVER SEEM TO QUESTION WHAT THEY BELIEVE. THEY NEVER DOUBT GOD'S PRESENCE IN THEIR WAY OF DOING THINGS. THEY ARE ALWAYS IN CONTROL. AND THEY WANT COMPLETE CONTROL OF WHAT INFORMATION IS CAREFULLY DOLED OUT TO THE PEOPLE.
IN RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALISM THERE IS NO ROOM FOR DOUBT, OR EVEN CURIOSITY.
AND BECAUSE OF THIS, GOD SEEMS TO BE MISSING IN THE EXPRESSION OF THEIR FAITH.
GOD SEEMS TO BE MISSING BECAUSE THE RULES AND REGULATIONS ARE JUST AS DISGUSTINGLY STALE AS THE FETID POOL OF WATER IN A MAN-MADE POND. THERE IS A LOT OF POOLS OF WATER LIKE THIS IN THE FARMLANDS OF ILLINOIS. NOTHING MOVES, NOTHING CHANGES, THE WATER JUST SITS AND STINKS.
WHERE GOD IS, THERE MUST BE MOVEMENT. TRANSFORMATION IS THE MOST BASIC GIFT OF THE RESURRECTION. AND JUST AS THERE IS LIFE IN THE RUSHING WATERS OF A MOUNTAIN STREAM OR THE POUNDING OF THE WAVES UPON THE OCEAN SHORE, THE PRESENCE OF GOD CAN MORE READILY BE FELT IN A SITUATION WHERE THINGS ARE GROWING AND CHANGING. OUR QUESTIONS KEEP US MOVING. THEY ARE A GOOD THING. DOUBT IS NOT ONLY A REAL PART OF FAITH, BUT A NECESSARY PART OF FAITH.
NOW THE OTHER PIECE OF THE EQUATION FROM TODAY'S BIBLE STORY IS THE BREATH OF JESUS THAT BRINGS THE HOLY SPIRIT TO THE DISCIPLES. SOME COMMENTARIES LIKE TO CALL THIS JOHN'S PENTECOST STORY, BUT I LIKE TO THINK OF IT AS A STORY ABOUT ONE OF THE FIRST GIFTS OF CHRISTIAN FAITH. WHEN WE ALLOW OURSELVES TO GET CLOSE ENOUGH TO JESUS TO BREATHE IN HIS VERY BREATH, THEN THE HOLY SPIRIT CAN WORK IN US TO BRING THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS TO THE ENTIRE WORLD. AND WHAT COULD BE MORE IMPORTANT THAN BRINGING A SPIRIT OF FORGIVENESS INTO EVERY SITUATION OF MISUNDERSTANDING?
MY FRIENDS, AS FOCUSED AS I WAS ON PREVENTING THE WAR WITH IRAQ, I AM NOW DOUBLY FOCUSED ON BRINGING RESTORATION TO THE PEOPLE OF IRAQ. THIS IS WHERE I FEEL THE SPIRIT OF FORGIVENESS IS MOST NEEDED IN TODAY'S WORLD. THIS IS THE FIRST OF ALL GIFTS GIVEN TO US BY OUR RISEN LORD. HE BREATHES HIS BREATH UPON US EVEN NOW, SO THAT THE SINS OF THE MIDDLE EAST MIGHT BE FORGIVEN AND A NEW WAY OF LIVING MIGHT BEGIN. AND WHAT, YOU MIGHT ASK, ARE THE SINS OF THE MIDDLE EAST? I BELIEVE IT IS THE SIN OF PUTTING OURSELVES BEFORE GOD, WHETHER WE ARE AMERICAN OR BRITISH OR IRAQI OR MUSLIM OR CHRISTIAN OR ATHEIST. I BELIEVE OUR SIN HAS BEEN THE SIN OF GREED AND WILLFUL POWER RATHER THAN THE FAITHFUL PRESENCE OF LEARNING AND UNDERSTANDING. AND THE SIN OF THE MIDDLE EAST IS A CORPORATE SIN THAT MANIFESTS ITSELF IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS AND IN MANY DIFFERENT PLACES. THERE IS NO ONE CULPRIT, WE ARE ALL GUILTY. BUT THE END OF THE WAR IS AN IMPORTANT POINT OF TRANSFORMATION FOR THE WORLD. WILL WE USE OUR FAITH TO INFORM OUR ACTIONS? WILL WE ALLOW OUR QUESTIONS AND OUR DOUBTS TO LEAD US TO A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF GOD'S WILL? WILL THE BREATH OF JESUS BRING THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT INTO THIS COLLECTIVE WISDOM?
IN EUGENE PETERSON'S TRANSLATION OF THE BIBLE CALLED THE MESSAGE, HE TRANSLATES JOHN 20 VERSE 23 LIKE THIS. "IF YOU FORGIVE SOMEONE'S SINS, THEY'RE GONE FOR GOOD.
IF YOU DON'T FORGIVE SINS, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH THEM?"
AS I THOUGHT ABOUT PETERSON'S SCRIPTURAL QUESTION I BEGAN TO REALIZE THIS AS A WONDERFUL WAY FOR US TO LEAVE THIS SERVICE TODAY. IN LIGHT OF OUR WORLD SITUATION AND IN LIGHT OF EACH AND EVERY ONE OF OUR PERSONAL DAILY SITUATIONS, LET US MAKE ROOM FOR FAITH BY ASKING THE QUESTION, "IF I DON'T FORGIVE SINS, WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WITH THEM?" YOU SEE, IN EMBRACING THIS QUESTION WE ALSO ANSWER THE QUESTION "IS THERE ROOM FOR DOUBT?" THERE IS ROOM FOR DOUBT AND CURIOSITY, FOR RESEARCH AND LEARNING. FOR WITHOUT THESE FREEDOMS THERE IS NO MOVEMENT, NO SPIRIT, NO LIFE; THERE IS NO REALITY IN PROCLAIMING JESUS CHRIST AS OUR LORD AND SAVIOR.
YES, THERE IS ROOM FOR DOUBT.
ALLELUIA! AMEN!
SCRIPTURE: Acts 10:34-43 & Mark 16:1-8
RECENTLY, I HEARD ABOUT A CHURCH COMMUNITY THAT WAS SURPRISED ON EASTER SUNDAY MORNING. AS THEY WALKED INTO THE SANCTUARY THEY DISCOVERED A LARGE, RED, CAPITAL M ON ONE SIDE OF THE CROSS AND A LARGE, RED, CAPITAL T ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CROSS. AS THEY PONDERED THIS UNUSUAL SIGHT, SOME OF THE ADULTS BEGAN TO REALIZE THAT THE M - T STOOD FOR "EMPTY" AS IN THE EMPTY TOMB. IT SEEMED THE PASTOR WAS GOING TO USE THIS VISUAL AID FOR THE CHILDREN'S SERMON. SO WHEN THE BEAUTIFULLY DRESSED, EXCITED YOUNG CHILDREN GATHERED IN THE FRONT OF THE CHURCH, EVERYONE THOUGHT THEY KNEW WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO HEAR. THE PASTOR SAT IN THE MIDST OF THE CHILDREN AND ASKED, "WHAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT THE SANCTUARY THIS MORNING?" AFTER A RATHER PREGNANT PAUSE, THE DAUGHTER OF THE PASTOR THROWS UP HER LITTLE HAND AND PROCLAIMS, "IT'S FULL, DADDY!"
SO MUCH FOR THE EMPTY TOMB!
FRIENDS, TODAY IS THE MOST JOYFUL DAY IN THE ENTIRE CHRISTIAN CALENDAR, AND THE CHURCH IS, INDEED FULL. TODAY IS THE DAY WE CELEBRATE AND REMEMBER THE GROUNDING OF OUR FAITH AS WE CALL OURSELVES CHRISTIAN. CHRIST IS RISEN. HE IS RISEN INDEED. AND THE TONE OF OUR FAITH IS SET BY HOW WE RESPOND TO THIS GREAT GOOD NEWS. NOW THE WOMEN IN MARK'S GOSPEL RESPOND WITH FEAR AND SILENCE. THEY LEAVE THE GARDEN AND TELL NO ONE WHAT THEY HAVE NOT SEEN. I UNDERSTAND THEIR FEAR. AS THE ONES WHO HAD FOLLOWED JESUS, THROUGH HIS SHORT MINISTRY AND INTO THE TRIALS OF JERUSALEM, THEY HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO BE AFRAID. THEIR TEACHER AND LEADER - THEIR BELOVED JESUS IS DEAD AND GONE. AND NOW THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE A BODY TO MOURN OVER. THEIR LIFE, IN THAT ONE GARDEN MOMENT, MUST HAVE SEEMED NOTHING MORE THAN A DARK AND DREADFUL ABYSS. THE WOMEN FELL INTO NOTHINGNESS IN THE MOMENT, BUT THE SAME IN NOT TRUE FOR US.
WE LIVE AND RESPOND TO THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST WITH A LITTLE LESS THAN 2000 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE ON OUR SIDE.
WE KNOW THE EMPTY TOMB IS GOOD NEWS. AND WHETHER WE ARE COGNIZANT OF THIS GOOD NEWS OR NOT, THE EMPTY TOMB IS THE FIRST REASON WE ARE HERE TODAY. SO WE DO WELL TO RESPOND TO THIS GOOD NEWS. AND, OH, BY THE WAY, OUR RESPONSE IS THE SECOND REASON WE ARE HERE TODAY. THIS IS WHY WORSHIP IS FILLED TO THE BRIM WITH THE SACRAMENTS OF THE CHURCH CREATED BY 2000 YEARS OF RESPONDING TO THE RESURRECTION.
FOR PRESBYTERIANS THERE ARE TWO SACRAMENTS, BAPTISM AND COMMUNION. MARTIN LUTHER SAYS A SACRAMENT IS AN OUTWARD SIGN OF AN INWARD GRACE. PUTTING THAT IDEA INTO A MORE MODERN CONCEPT, THE SACRAMENTS ARE AN ACTIVE RESPONSE OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD TO THE GIFT OF THE EMPTY TOMB.
IN BAPTISM WE RENOUNCE EVIL AND PROCLAIM JESUS CHRIST AS OUR LORD AND SAVIOR. WE RESPOND TO THE GOOD NEWS OF THE RESURRECTION BY JOINING THE MINISTRY OF THE RISEN BODY OF CHRIST, THE CHURCH. AND THE MOST IMPORTANT MISSION OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST IS TO RECOGNIZE WHAT IS EVIL IN THIS WORLD AND SEEK TO BANISH IT FROM OUR LIVES. WE MAY NOT UNDERSTAND THIS WHEN BAPTIZED AS A CHILD, BUT OUR UNDERSTANDING GROWS WITH EVERY BAPTISM WE PARTICIPATE IN, WITH EVERY TIME WE REMEMBER OUR OWN BAPTISM WITH JOY. BAPTISM IS ABOUT WASHING AWAY THE FEAR OF THE DARK ABYSS AND TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ONGOING MINISTRY OF JESUS IN THE CHURCH.
IN COMMUNION WE REMEMBER THE LAST SUPPER JESUS SHARED WITH HIS DISCIPLES, WE EAT BREAD AND DRINK WINE, AND WE SUSTAIN OURSELVES FOR THE WORK OF THE CHURCH. BUT WE DO EVEN MORE THAN THAT. WE RESPOND TO THE RESURRECTION BY COMING TO THIS TABLE WITH AN OPEN HEART, READY TO RECEIVE THE FORGIVENESS OF GOD. THE GOOD NEWS OF THE EMPTY TOMB IS THAT GOD'S COVENANT OF LOVE AND PRESENCE IS MORE REAL THAN IT EVER HAS BEEN.
WHEN YOU GET RIGHT DOWN TO IT, OUR RESPONSE TO THE RESURRECTION, AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, HAS A CERTAIN DANCING QUALITY TO IT. WE COME TO BE BAPTIZED. WE RENOUNCE EVIL. WE PROCLAIM OUR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST. WE GO OUT TO GROW IN GRACE.
WE COME TO THE COMMUNION TABLE. WE EAT THE BREAD. WE DRINK THE WINE. WE RECEIVE THE FORGIVENESS OF THE WORLD. WE GO OUT TO LIVE IN GRACE. WE COME, WE RECEIVE, WE GO IN GRACE. WE COME, WE RECEIVE, WE GO IN GRACE. IT'S A WONDERFUL WALTZ THAT WE DANCE WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. IT IS OUR LOVE AFFAIR WITH THE LORD, OUR GOD. IT IS OUR RESPONSE TO THE RESURRECTION.
ALLELUIA! AMEN!
SCRIPTURE: John 20:12-33 & Jeremiah 31:31-34
COVENANT.
I FIND THIS TO BE A WORD WE USE EVER SO LIGHTLY WITHOUT TOTALLY EMBRACING THE DEPTH OF ITS MEANING.
WE SPEAK OF THE MARRIAGE COVENANT, KNOWING FULL WELL THAT THERE ARE DIVORCE LAWYERS AND DIVORCE COURTS READY AND ABLE TO BREAK THAT COVENANT FOR US AT ANY GIVEN TIME.
WE HAVE A “COVENANT” WITH THE KOREAN SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH, KNOWING FULL WELL THAT THEY WILL LEAVE US AS SOON AS THEIR NEW BUILDING IS FINISHED.
WE NAME CHURCHES “COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH” BUT THE MEMBERS COME AND GO AS EASILY AS ANY OTHER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
IT SEEMS TO ME WE USE THE WORD “COVENANT” IN TOO MANY PLACES WHERE WE SHOULD USE THE WORD “CONTRACT.”
A CONTRACT IS CREATED WITH THE IDEA THAT IT CAN BE BROKEN, A COVENANT IS NOT, AND ESPECIALLY THE COVENANT GOD HAS CREATED OVER AND OVER AGAIN WITH THE HUMAN CREATURE.
THE DEEPER MEANING OF THE COVENANT GOD MAKES WITH US IS THAT GOD DOES NOT DESIRE TO BREAK THE COVENANT.
GOD KEEPS GOD’S PROMISES!
AND IT ALL STARTED WITH THE RAINBOW.
THROUGHOUT THIS LENTEN SEASON WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENT WAYS GOD MADE COVENANT WITH HUMANKIND.
GOD’S FIRST COVENANT WITH US WAS TO PROMISE NEVER AGAIN TO DESTROY ALL OF CREATION.
WHEN READING THE STORY OF NOAH, WE HEARD THE COVENANT AS A PROMISE TO NEVER AGAIN FLOOD THE WORLD TO THE POINT OF UTTER DESTRUCTION.
AND LOOKING BACK FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF SEVERAL THOUSAND YEARS, WE CAN SEE THE PERMANENCE OF GOD’S PROMISE.
OUR WORLD HAS SUFFERED MANY A FLOOD OVER THE CENTURIES, BUT NOT ONE FLOOD HAS TOTALLY DESTROYED CREATION.
THE COVENANT WITH NOAH WAS A UNILATERAL, UNIVERSAL PROMISE THAT HAS NEVER BEEN BROKEN BY GOD.
AND THE SIGN OF THAT COVENANT WAS AND IS A RAINBOW.
WHEN GOD EXPANDED ON THE COVENANTAL RELATIONSHIP THROUGH ABRAHAM, GOD PROMISED HIM AND SARAH THEY WOULD BE THE PARENTS OF A MULTITUDE OF NATIONS.
GOD PROMISED OFFSPRING TO THE AGING COUPLE AND ALL GOD REQUIRED OF THE CHOSEN PEOPLE WAS LOYALTY IN THE SIGN OF CIRCUMCISION.
AGAIN, IN RETROSPECT, WE CAN SEE HOW TRUE GOD HAS BEEN TO THIS COVENANT.
THE OFFSPRING OF ABRAHAM AND SARAH CONTINUE, TO THIS DAY, TO DOMINATE THE POPULATION OF THIS WORLD THROUGH THE RELIGIONS OF JUDAISM, CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM.
LATER, AFTER THE GREAT MULTITUDES OF ISRAELITES WERE FREED FROM THE BONDAGE OF SLAVERY IN EGYPT, GOD SAW THAT THE LOYALTY HE DESIRED FROM HIS PEOPLE COULD BE BEST EXPRESSED THROUGH A CERTAIN KIND OF LIVING.
FOR THE CHOSEN PEOPLE, THE LIVING OUT OF GOD’S COVENANTAL RELATIONSHIP WOULD LOOK LIKE A LIFE THAT IS HELD TRUE BY THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.
THESE COMMANDMENTS WERE GIVEN WITH GREAT POWER AND LOVE THROUGH MOSES ON MT. SINAI.
AND THE MOST INCREDIBLE THING ABOUT THE TEN COMMANDMENTS THAT WE OFTEN FORGET - OR EVEN DON’T TRUST - IS THIS; IF THE COMMANDMENTS ARE BROKEN THE RELATIONSHIP IS NOT DESTROYED.
THE COMMANDMENTS ARE A GIFT TO US, SO THAT WE FEEL THE DEPTH OF THE COVENANT IN A VERY REAL WAY.
BUT OUR INABILITY TO UPHOLD THE COMMANDMENTS TO PERFECTION IS NOT HELD WITH THE SAME REGARD AS GOD’S ABILITY TO MAINTAIN THE COVENANTAL RELATIONSHIP.
EVEN WHEN WE FAIL, GOD DOES NOT.
AND THIS IS ILLUSTRATED QUITE WELL IN THE STORY OF THE BRONZE SNAKE BEING LIFTED UP IN THE DESERT.
NO MATTER HOW MUCH THE PEOPLE OF GOD COMPLAIN ABOUT OUR CIRCUMSTANCES, GOD IS ALWAYS THERE WITH AN ANSWER TO OUR PRAYERS.
GOD’S ANSWER MIGHT NOT BE WHAT WE EXPECT, OR EVEN WANT.
BUT GOD IS THERE; READY TO HELP THE HUMAN CREATURE MANAGE AND SURVIVE THE CRUELTIES OF EARTHLY LIVING.
SO FAR, THROUGHOUT OUR LENTEN READINGS, PRETTY MUCH EVERY SIGN AND SYMBOL OF GOD’S COVENANT HAS BEEN EXTERNAL, A SIGN THAT REQUIRES A HUMAN RESPONSE IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
THERE’S THE RAINBOW AND CIRCUMCISION.
THEN THERE ARE THE TEN COMMANDMENTS WRITTEN ON THE STONE TABLETS AND A BRONZE SERPENT LIFTED UP ON A POLE.
BUT THE LAST OF THE OLD TESTAMENT COVENANTS WE WILL TALK ABOUT THIS LENT IS WHAT SCRIPTURE CALLS A “NEW” COVENANT.
NOW FROM MY PERSPECTIVE THERE IS NOTHING TOO “NEW” ABOUT THIS COVENANT.
GOD SAYS, “I WILL BE YOUR GOD AND YOU WILL BE MY PEOPLE,” AN IDEA GOD HAS BEEN TRUE TO FOR MANY GENERATIONS.
BUT WHAT IS DIFFERENT IS THAT GOD WILL WRITE GOD’S LAW UPON OUR HEARTS.
AND GOD WILL FORGIVE OUR INIQUITY AND REMEMBER OUR SIN NO MORE.
FROM THIS POINT ON, GOD WILL INTERNALIZE THE REALITY OF THE COVENANT INTO OUR HUMAN BEING, SO THAT THE VERY FIRST THOUGHT WE HAVE IN THIS LIFE IS TO BE LOYAL TO GOD.
THERE IS NO LONGER A CHOICE CONCERNING OBEDIENCE.
BEFORE A HUMAN BEING EVEN KNOWS HOW TO BREATHE WE KNOW THAT GOD IS OURS AND WE BELONG TO GOD.
OBEDIENCE TO GOD’S COVENANT IS SIMPLY A PART OF WHO WE ARE.
AND HOW DO WE KNOW THIS?
WE KNOW THIS BECAUSE GOD HAS WRITTEN IT ONTO OUR HEARTS.
THE COVENANT OF GOD’S LOVE IS NOW A PART OF US.
ALLELUIA! AMEN!
IN POPULAR PSYCHOLOGICAL THEORY, INTERNALIZING ANY REALITY IS ONE OF THE MORE DIFFICULT TASKS A HUMAN BEING HAS TO ACCOMPLISH.
IT IS WELL KNOWN THAT THE LONGEST DISTANCE IS BETWEEN THE HEAD AND THE HEART.
A PERSON CAN KNOW SOMETHING IN HER HEAD, BUT GETTING IT TO BECOME A PART OF HER BEING BY TRAVELING THE DISTANCE TO THE HEART IS ANOTHER STORY.
WELL, IT SEEMS THAT LONG BEFORE FREUD OR JUNG CAME UP WITH THEIR SOPHISTICATED KNOWLEDGE OF THE HUMAN PSYCHE, GOD HAD THE WHOLE THING COVERED.
GOD’S LOVE FOR US IS WRITTEN ON OUR HEARTS AND OUR CONNECTEDNESS TO THE DIVINE COVENANT WILL EMANATE FROM THE VERY CORE OF OUR BEING.
SO WHY DOES THIS SOUND SO IMPOSSIBLE, EVEN AS I WRITE IT?
I THINK WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CONTRACT AND A COVENANT.
HUMAN BEINGS SIMPLY DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE DEPTH OF GOD’S COVENANT WITH US.
GOD’S PROMISE IS NOT A CONTRACT, READY TO BE BROKEN BY A WHIM ON THE PART OF EITHER PARTY.
GOD’S PROMISE IS A COVENANT THAT HAS NOT AND WILL NOT BE BROKEN.
UNDERSTANDING AND ACCEPTING THE TENACITY OF GOD’S LOVE FOR US IS THE REALITY BEHIND THE FIRST COMMANDMENT.
“YOU SHALL NOT HAVE ANY OTHER GODS BEFORE YOU” IS NOT ABOUT A NARCISSISTIC GOD WHO NEEDS US TO BE OBEDIENT.
RATHER THIS FIRST COMMANDMENT IS ABOUT A GOD WHO WISELY UNDERSTANDS THAT THE OTHER GODS WE MIGHT CHOOSE TO WORSHIP WILL NOT AND CANNOT LOVE US WITH THE SAME DEPTH OF THE COVENANTAL GOD OF ALL CREATION.
OH! AND P.S., BY THE WAY, WITH GOD WRITING HIS LOVE FOR US UPON OUR HEARTS THE REALITY OF THIS TRUTH IS ALREADY INTERNALIZED FOR US, WITHOUT HAVING TO TRAVEL THAT LONG, LONG DISTANCE FROM THE HEAD TO THE HEART.
GOD’S LOVE IS SOMETHING WE DON’T HAVE TO WORK FOR, WE SIMPLY SEARCH OUR HEARTS AND BASK IN THE GOODNESS WE FIND THERE.
THIS IS THE NEWNESS OF JEREMIAH’S COVENANT AND SURPRISINGLY ENOUGH, IT CONTINUES TO FEEL NEW EVERY TIME WE READ IT.
THIS IS THE ONLY TIME WE HEAR TALK OF A NEW COVENANT IN THE OLD TESTAMENT.
AND I HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT IT IS THIS VERY COVENANT TO WHICH JESUS REFERS WHEN, IN THE UPPER ROOM, AT HIS LAST MEAL WITH HIS DISCIPLES, JESUS SAYS “THIS CUP IS THE NEW COVENANT IN MY BLOOD. DO THIS, AS OFTEN AS YOU DRINK IT, IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.”
JESUS GIVES US A GIFT OF SACRAMENTAL RITUAL BY WHICH WE CAN REMEMBER THIS ALL-IMPORTANT COVENANT.
JESUS WAS THE LIVING REALITY OF A COVENANT PROMISE GOD WILL NEVER GIVE UP ON.
WE SPEAK OF THE COMMUNION CUP AS THE BLOOD OF CHRIST, EVEN WHEN WE KNOW WHAT WE ARE DRINKING IS SIMPLE GRAPE JUICE.
BUT THE IMAGERY IS NOT LOST ON US.
BY INGESTING THE BLOOD OF CHRIST INTO OUR BODY, WE KNOW THAT HIS BLOOD WILL ULTIMATELY REACH THE HUMAN HEART IN SUCH A WAY AS TO TOUCH THE INSCRIPTION CARVED THERE FROM THE BEGINNING.
I BELIEVE THIS IS WHY THE NEWNESS NEVER SEEMS TO WEAR OFF.
THIS IS WHY THE NEW COVENANT COMES AS A SURPRISE EVERY TIME WE HEAR IT.
AND I BELIEVE THE NEWNESS OF IT IS A GOOD THING.
THE FACT THAT WE DON’T LIVE PERFECTLY WITHIN THE EMBRACE OF THE NEW COVENANT IS MERELY HUMAN NATURE AND NOT TO BE BE-LABORED.
THE JOY COMES IN FEELING THE NEWNESS EACH AND EVERY TIME.
GOD IS, INDEED GOOD!
AND SO, MY FRIENDS, THE DEPTH OF THE WORD “COVENANT” REALLY MEANS THERE IS NOTHING TOO MUCH FOR US TO DO WHEN IT COMES TO BEING IN RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
BECAUSE GOD HAS ALREADY DONE THE WORK BY ESTABLISHING THE UN-BREAKABLE, NEVER-ENDING COVENANT WITH US AND WITH GOD’S PEOPLE OF EVERY AGE.
NOW I WANT YOU TO FIND YOUR OWN HEARTBEAT BY PLACING YOUR FIRST TWO FINGERS OF YOUR RIGHT HAND UNTO THE LEFT SIDE OF YOUR LEFT WRIST.
MOVE YOUR FINGERS AROUND A BIT UNTIL YOU CAN ACTUALLY FEEL THE PULSE OF THE BLOOD PUMPING THROUGH YOUR VEIN.
A PERSON’S HEARTBEAT IS VERY MUCH LIKE GOD’S COVENANT WITH US.
IT IS ALWAYS THERE AND ALWAYS WORKING, EVEN WHEN WE AREN’T AWARE OF IT.
AND OUR BEATING HEART NEVER STOPS WORKING UNTIL WE ARE READY TO BE TAKEN INTO THE TOTAL EMBRACE OF GOD’S LOVE IN HEAVEN.
FRIENDS, THE GIFT OF GOD’S COVENANT IS AS REAL AS THE BEATING OF YOUR HEART.
RECEIVE IT AS EASILY AS YOU DO THE GIFT OF LIFE, FOR GOD’S LOVE IS THE BEST OF ALL INTERNALIZED REALITIES.
ALLELUIA! AMEN!
SCRIPTURE: John 3:14-21, Ephesians 2:1-10 & Numbers 21:4-9
THIS IS THE KIND OF SCRIPTURE THAT MAKES PEOPLE WANT TO STOP READING THE BIBLE.
THE ISRAELITES ARE WHINING – AGAIN. GOD IS HURT AND ANGRY – AGAIN. THE PEOPLE, AFTER DIEING FROM THE BITES OF POISONOUS SNAKES, ARE BEGGING FOR MERCY – AGAIN.
AND THE SAME GOD THAT GAVE THE COMMANDMENT ABOUT NOT HAVING ANY GRAVEN IMAGES HAS TOLD MOSES TO MAKE A GRAVEN IMAGE OF A SNAKE USING BRONZE AS THE MEDIUM TO BE GRAVEN. SO WHAT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE AN IDOL IS TO BE LIFTED UP ON A POLE IN ORDER THAT ALL SNAKE-BITTEN ISRAELITES MIGHT LOOK TO THE FIERY BRONZE IMAGE AND BE HEALED.
GO FIGURE!
I THINK I’M GETTING TIRED OF STUDYING THE GOD OF THE HEBREWS. HE DOESN’T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE TO ME. DON’T YOU THINK THE WORLD MIGHT BE A MUCH BETTER PLACE IF GOD HAD JUST BANISHED THE SNAKES AND MADE NICE WITH HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE?
NOW I HAVE TO CONFESS THAT WHENEVER I START TO THINK THIS WAY I KNOW I’M IN TROUBLE.
SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH ME AND MY INTERPRETATION. IT REMINDS ME OF A PEANUTS COMIC STRIP.
LUCY SAYS TO CHARLIE BROWN, “DISCOURAGED AGAIN, EH, CHARLIE BROWN?”
“YOU KNOW WHAT THE WHOLE TROUBLE WITH YOU IS?
THE WHOLE TROUBLE WITH YOU IS THAT YOU’RE YOU!”
TO WHICH CHARLIE BROWN RESPONDS, “WELL, WHAT IN THE WORLD CAN I DO ABOUT THAT?”
LUCY ANSWERS, “I DON’T PRETEND TO BE ABLE TO GIVE ADVICE…I MERELY POINT OUT THE TROUBLE!”
THE TROUBLE IN THE NUMBERS STORY IS NOT GOD. THE TROUBLE IS THE PEOPLE AND THE PROBLEM IS THE POISONOUS SNAKES. SO WHAT IS THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM?
IF SNAKES ON THE GROUND ARE THE PROBLEM, THEN IT SEEMS THAT LIFTING UP A SNAKE ON A POLE IS THE SOLUTION. AND WHETHER OR NOT WE THINK IT IS A GOOD SOLUTION, GOD IS IN CONTROL. GOD IS GOING TO DO WHATEVER GOD CAN TO STEER THE ISRAELITES AWAY FROM FOCUSING ON THEIR OWN PETTY LITTLE PROBLEMS. TIRED OF YOUR DAILY BREAD? THEN LOOK UP, O WANDERING ISRAELITES AND REMEMBER WHO IS GOD.
AND EVEN AS WE REMEMBER THAT GOD IS IN CONTROL, LET US NOT FORGET, THE INCARNATION TAUGHT US THAT GOD IS ALWAYS GOOD AND GRACIOUS. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE NUMBERS SCRIPTURE HAS TO DO WITH HEALING MORE THAN SNAKES. ONE MORE TIME, GOD DID NOT ABANDON THE ISRAELITES. ONE MORE TIME GOD IS THERE FOR GOD’S PEOPLE. ONE MORE TIME, THE PEOPLE ARE TO TURN THEIR EYES UPON GOD. IF WE COULD ONLY REMEMBER TO DO THIS BEFORE THE SNAKES COME ALONG AND BITE US, WHAT A DIFFERENCE IT WOULD MAKE!
DID YOU NOTICE THAT THE GOSPEL LESSON FOR TODAY BEGAN WITH A REFERENCE TO THE NUMBERS STORY? JESUS SAYS, “AND JUST AS MOSES LIFTED UP THE SERPENT IN THE WILDERNESS, SO MUST THE SON OF MAN BE LIFTED UP.” THIS MAKES ME THINK THERE MUST BE SOME SIMILAR KIND OF PROBLEM HERE. THE PROBLEM IN THE STORY OF THE ISRAELITES WAS SNAKES ON THE GROUND. WHAT COULD THE PROBLEM FOR THE EARLY CHRISTIANS BE?
IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN THE CHRISTIANS ARE IN THEIR OWN KIND OF EXODUS AND WILDERNESS WANDERINGS. NEARLY TWO GENERATIONS AFTER JESUS WAS ALIVE, HIS FOLLOWERS FIND THEMSELVES THE TARGET OF HATRED AND VIOLENT VENTING. CHRISTIANS WERE MAKING VERY GOOD “LION FOOD” FOR THE ROMAN EMPIRE IN THOSE DAYS. IT SEEMS THAT THE SNAKES ON THE GROUND HAD BECOME HUMAN BEINGS, READY TO BITE AND KILL. GOD, IN JESUS CHRIST, DID NOT SEEM AS NEAR TO THEM AS THEY EXPECTED, AND THE CHRISTIANS WERE AFRAID.
SO THIS TIME THE PROBLEM IS NOT SNAKES ON THE GROUND. THIS TIME THE PROBLEM IS HUMAN BEINGS ON THE GROUND. AND IN WHAT BRIAN STOFFREGEN CALLS A “POLE-ISH” THEOLOGY, WE SEE THE PROBLEM OF HUMAN BEINGS SOLVED AS JESUS, THE DIVINE HUMAN BEING, IS LIFTED UP ON A POLE SO THAT ALL OF HUMANITY CAN TURN TO HIM AND BE HEALED. THE ULTIMATE HEALING OF THE HUMAN CONDITION COMES WHEN WE LOOK UP TO THE CRUCIFIED CHRIST.
THIS REMINDS ME OF ANOTHER PEANUTS COMIC STRIP. IN THIS ONE LUCY IS FIRST TO SPEAK AGAIN, “YOU KNOW WHAT THE WHOLE TROUBLE WITH YOU IS, CHARLIE BROWN?” CHARLIE ANSWERS, “NO, AND I DON’T WANT TO KNOW! LEAVE ME ALONE!” HE WALKS AWAY.
LUCY SHOUTS AFTER HIM, “THE WHOLE TROUBLE WITH YOU IS YOU WON’T LISTEN TO WHAT THE WHOLE TROUBLE WITH YOU IS!”
MY FRIENDS, THE WHOLE TROUBLE WITH US IS WE WON’T LISTEN TO WHAT THE WHOLE TROUBLE WITH US IS. AND I WOULD DARE TO SAY THE WHOLE TROUBLE WITH US IS THAT WHEN WE ARE BITTEN WITH ANY KIND OF POISON, BE IT HUMAN OR REPTILIAN, WE THINK WE ARE IN CONTROL AND WE CAN FIX IT ON OUR OWN. WE THINK WE CAN HEAL OURSELVES UNTIL THE POISON BEGINS TO WORK. WE PRAY TO GOD WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT GOD WILL HEED OUR EVERY WORD.
BUT THE FACT IS WE CANNOT HEAL OURSELVES OF THE POISONOUS BITE BECAUSE GOD IS IN CONTROL. THEREFORE, WE NEED TO LIFT OUR EYES TO GOD IN JESUS CHRIST.
A MINOR EXAMPLE OF THIS MIGHT BE MY PROBLEM WITH MY EAR. I TRY NOT TO TALK ABOUT IT A LOT, BUT THE NOISE IN MY EAR IS NO BETTER. THERE IS STILL THIS INCESSANT ROARING THAT GOES ON DAY IN AND DAY OUT. I HAVE PRAYED AND PRAYED FOR GOD TO TAKE THE NOISE AWAY. I HAVE EXPECTED THAT GOD WILL ANSWER MY PRAYERS BY DOING EXACTLY WHAT I ASK.
IT SEEMS GOD HAS SOMETHING DIFFERENT IN MIND. AND INSTEAD OF ACCEPTING THE FACT THAT THE ROARING WILL NOT GO AWAY ANY TIME SOON, I FIND MYSELF WHINING AT GOD. I DON’T LIKE THE MANNA GOD IS SERVING UP TO ME THESE DAYS. IT IS MISERABLE FOOD AND I AM FEELING AS IF GOD HAS ABANDONED ME!
BUT WHEN I MULL OVER SCRIPTURE LIKE WE HEARD TODAY, I CAN SEE THAT THE PROBLEM IS REALLY ME AND NOT GOD, BECAUSE I AM MORE FOCUSED ON MY PROBLEM RATHER THAN ON MY GOD. I EXPECT THE ANSWER TO MY PRAYERS TO BE MY ANSWER AND NOT GOD’S ANSWER.
I AM NOT IN CONTROL HERE. AND THE ONLY TIME I FEEL ANY KIND OF HEALING IS WHEN I LET GO, AND LET GOD BE IN CHARGE OF MY LIFE.
NOW ON A MUCH GRANDER SCALE, WE SEEM TO BE FEELING THE SAME KIND OF AGONY ABOUT THE WAR IN IRAQ. WE PRAY FOR PEACE, EVEN AS OUR COUNTRY GOES TO WAR. WE PRAY FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR ARMED FORCES EVEN AS WE LISTEN TO THE DEATH COUNT INCREASE ON A DAILY BASIS. WHERE IS GOD IN THE MIDST OF ALL THIS? IS GOD EVEN LISTENING? HAS GOD FINALLY AND FOREVER GIVEN UP ON THE HUMAN CREATURE?
FRIENDS, I AM SURE GOD HAS NOT GIVEN UP ON US, BECAUSE I CAN SEE THAT WE ARE CLEARLY THE PROBLEM HERE. JESUS CHRIST WAS SENT BY GOD, NOT TO CONDEMN THE WORLD BUT TO SAVE THE WORLD. WE NEED TO KEEP OUR EYES ON THE “HUMAN BEING ON THE POLE” SO TO SPEAK. JESUS CHRIST, THE ONE WHO WAS LIFTED HIGH ON A CROSS, CAME AS THE PRINCE OF PEACE. AND WE NEED TO STRUGGLE TOWARDS PEACE EVEN AS WE ARE A NATION AT WAR.
NOW I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT I AM DISTURBED BY THE PEACE RALLIES GOING ON AT THIS TIME.
AND I DIDN’T EVEN REALLY KNOW WHY I WAS DISTURBED UNTIL I READ THIS STATEMENT FROM DEEPAK CHOPRA. IN HIS ARTICLE ON 10 WAYS TO AVOID WAR CHOPRA SAYS, “EVEN ANTI-WAR PROTESTS CAN INFLAME THE WAR MENTALITY BY INCITING MORE STUBBORNNESS AND RESOLVE ON THE OTHER SIDE. TO BE BELLIGERENT IN THE NAME OF PEACE IS A FORM OF WAR.”
TO ME THIS IS THE SAME MENTALITY AS A “PRO-LIFE” DEMONSTRATOR TAKING THE LIFE OF AN ABORTION DOCTOR. I WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.
CHOPRA GOES ON TO TALK ABOUT HIS CONCEPT OF A WAR MENTALITY. HE SAYS, “THE WAR MENTALITY IS BLINDED BY FEAR, WHICH FUELS AGGRESSION AND VIOLENCE TO MAKE THE FEAR GO AWAY. THAT IS WAR IN A NUTSHELL. THE OTHER RATIONALES ARE POINTLESS, AND WHEN WE OBSESS OVER THEM, ARGUING WHETHER THE U.S. IS ACTING AS SAVIOR, AGGRESSOR, IMPERIALIST, PEACEKEEPER, WORLD POLICEMAN, OR CYNICAL OIL POWER, THE NET EFFECT IS TO FORGET THAT WAR IS ABOUT FEAR AND USING VIOLENCE TO ‘SOLVE’ IT.”
EARLIER THIS WEEK I RECEIVED A MOST UNUSUAL EMAIL THAT ADDRESSES THE FEAR OF NOT DEFENDING ONESELF. IN THIS EMAIL SOMEONE SEEMED TO BE MAKING A CASE ABOUT THE NEED FOR AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR BETWEEN HUMAN BEINGS. HE WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW TO DEAL WITH ANTI-WAR PROTESTORS. HIS SUGGESTION WAS TO KNOCK THEM FLAT WITH THE BLOW OF A FIST AND THEN HELP THEM UP WHILE REMINDING THEM OF THEIR OWN NON-VIOLENT APPROACH TO SUCH SITUATIONS. HE SAID THAT YOU WOULD NEED TO DO THIS SEVERAL TIMES UNTIL YOU “KNOCKED SOME SENSE” INTO THE ANTI-VIOLENCE PERSON.
THE WAR MENTALITY OF WHOEVER CREATED THAT EMAIL IS CLEAR. VIOLENCE BEGETS VIOLENCE, WHETHER YOU ARE DEFENDING WAR OR PEACE. WE FEAR THE PERSON WITH AN OPINION DIFFERENT THAN OUR OWN. AND IN OUR FEAR WE TRY TO CONTROL THE SITUATION BY AGGRESSIVELY GETTING OUR POINT ACROSS. WE ARE THE POISONOUS SNAKES ON THE GROUND OF THE WILDERNESS.
THE PROBLEM IS US. IN OUR FEAR, WE THINK WE ARE IN CHARGE. WE THINK WE OWN GOD WHEN WE PRAY TO GOD, AND WE DON’T FRIENDS, GOD WILL ANSWER THE PLEAS OF THE PEOPLE IN WHATEVER WAY GOD FINDS FAITHFUL. AND GOD’S FAITHFULNESS TO US GOES WAY BEYOND ANYTHING WE CAN EVEN BEGIN TO IMAGINE.
AFTER THE ASH WEDNESDAY WORSHIP SERVICE THIS YEAR, MY GOOD FRIEND RUTH TOLD ME SHE HAD BEEN OVERCOME BY A VERY REAL SENSE THAT GOD IS IN CHARGE.
AND THAT THOUGHT HAS BROUGHT ME A LOT OF COMFORT EVER SINCE SHE TOLD ME.
AS WE LOOK AT THE DAYS AND WEEKS AHEAD OF US, WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT GOD IS IN CHARGE, WHETHER OUR ANXIETIES ARE VERY PERSONAL OR RELATED TO THE WORLD SITUATION. WE NEED TO “LET GO AND LET GOD” AS THEY SAY IN THE TWELVE STEP PROGRAM.
JUST AS NICODEMUS CAME TO JESUS IN THE DARKNESS OF NIGHT IN ORDER TO FIND THE LIGHT OF REBIRTH, WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT DURING THIS TIME OF DARKNESS AND UNCERTAINLY WE CAN ONLY FIND THE LIGHT BY LOOKING UP TO JESUS AND WAITING FOR GOD’S PRESENCE TO BE MADE KNOWN TO US IN GOD’S OWN TIME.
MY FRIENDS, LET GO AND LET GOD!
ALLELUIA! AMEN!
SCRIPTURE: John 2:13-22, I Corinthians 1:18-25 & Exodus 20:1-17
INTO HIS PLAY CORIOLANUS WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE WRITES AN INTERESTING STATEMENT ABOUT WAR. HE SAYS: "LET ME HAVE A WAR, SAY I: IT EXCEEDS PEACE AS FAR AS DAY DOES NIGHT; IT'S SPRITELY, WAKING, AUDIBLE, FULL OF VENT, PEACE IS A VERY APOPLEXY, LETHARGY, MULL'D, DEAF, SLEEPY, INSENSIBLE; A GETTER OF MORE BASTARD CHILDREN THAN WAR IS A DESTROYER OF MEN." (ACT IV, SCENE V)
SHAKESPEARE WAS ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT AT EXPRESSING THE VERY DARKEST PARTS OF HUMAN NATURE, DON'T YOU THINK?
AND SO WE FIND OURSELVES AT WAR THIS WEEK. IT IS A DARK TIME FOR OUR COUNTRY. DON'T BE SURPRISED IF YOU FIND YOURSELF A BIT DEPRESSED OR ON EDGE. BECAUSE THOSE OF US GATHERED IN THIS SANCTUARY ARE MOST LIKELY DEALING WITH A CERTAIN KIND OF RENDING OF OUR SOULS. THE REALITY OF THE TENSION BETWEEN BEING A LOYAL CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICAN AND BEING A DEEPLY FAITHFUL CHRISTIAN IS ALL AROUND US, CREEPING INTO OUR COMPLACENCY IN WAYS WE CAN NO LONGER IGNORE.
OUR SOULS ARE TORN BY THIS QUESTION. HOW DOES A CHRISTIAN LIVE OUT HIS/HER FAITH WHEN WE LIVE IN, AND LOVE A COUNTRY THAT IS RAINING DESTRUCTION UPON INNOCENT CITIZENS IN ANOTHER PART OF THE WORLD? BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT MODERN WAR REALLY IS. IT IS VIOLENCE DIRECTED AGAINST CIVILIANS. AND I TAKE THIS FACT FROM CHRIS HEDGES' BOOK ENTITLED WAR IS THE FORCE THAT GIVES US MEANING.
HEDGES HAS BEEN A FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT FOR FIFTEEN YEARS AND IS CURRENTLY EMPLOYED BY THE NEW YORK TIMES. READING HIS CAREFUL STUDY OF THE REALITY OF WAR HAS CAUSED A PROFOUND AWAKENING IN ME. I AM READING ABOUT THINGS I HAVE INTUITIVELY KNOWN ALMOST ALL MY LIFE, BUT HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO GIVE WORDS TO. NOW THAT I SEE THIS TRUTH IN PRINT, IT TERRIFIES ME TO COME FACE TO FACE WITH THE DARKEST SIDE OF HUMAN NATURE.
HEDGES IS RIGHT. "MODERN WAR IS DIRECTED PRIMARILY AGAINST CIVILIANS." (PG. 28) THIS IS WHAT THE SEPTEMBER 11TH ATTACK WAS. THIS IS WHAT IS HAPPENING IN BAGHDAD, AS WE SPEAK. THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 AND MARCH 20, 2003 IS THAT WE WILL NEVER HEAR THE NAMES, SEE THE FACES, KNOW THE INDIVIDUAL STORIES OF THE INNOCENT PEOPLE WHO DIED THIS PAST WEEK IN BAGHDAD, EVEN THOUGH WE KNOW IN THE DEEPER RECESSES OF OUR MINDS THAT THEY DID DIE.
YES, OUR SOULS ARE TORN. THEY ARE TORN IN MANY DIRECTIONS.OUR SOULS ARE TORN BETWEEN DEEP PRIDE FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVE IN THE MILITARY AND TOTAL AMBIVALENCE ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE CALLED TO DO. WE HAVE OUR OWN GINNY YEATON SERVING IN THE AIR FORCE. AND ANDRE' STEWART IS NOW BEING TRAINED AS A SOLDIER IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY. DOUG VERBLAAUW IS AT THE NAVAL ACADEMY TRAINING TO BE AN OFFICER. AND I WAS TALKING TO DAVID FISHER OF WYMAN-FISHER FUNERAL HOME LAST THURSDAY. HIS SON ANDREW IS A MARINE WHO IS STATIONED IN KUWAIT AND HAS BEEN THERE FOR A MONTH NOW. DAVID ASKED FOR MY PRAYERS FOR ANDREW. I TOLD HIM I COULD DO BETTER THAN THAT. ANDREW NEEDS THE PRAYERS OF OUR ENTIRE CONGREGATION. ANDREW IS A WONDERFUL YOUNG MAN AND I PRAY FOR HIS SAFE RETURN, EVEN AS I TAKE PRIDE IN HIS COURAGE AND COMMITMENT.
YOU SEE, I AM VERY CLEAR THAT WE CAN NEVER LET ANOTHER VIETNAM SITUATION HAPPEN IN OUR COUNTRY. WE CAN NEVER AGAIN VENT OUR FRUSTRATIONS ABOUT ANY GIVEN WAR ON THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO FIGHT THE WAR FOR US. EVEN IF WE DON'T WANT THEM TO BE THERE, THEY ARE STILL FIGHTING FOR US. I CAN TELL OUR CHILDREN THAT WE WILL BE SAFE HERE IN THE UNITED STATES BECAUSE OF OUR MILITARY, AND BECAUSE OF AN ARMY AND AN AIR FORCE AND A NAVY AND THE MARINES WHO TRUST THE LEADERS OF OUR COUNTRY AND DO AS THEY ARE TOLD, EVEN IN TERRIFYING SITUATIONS.
YES, THESE ARE DIFFICULT TIMES. BUT LIKE ANY DIFFICULT SITUATION THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING TO BE LEARNED, A SPIRITUAL CONNECTION LONGING TO BE DEEPENED, A GOD OF GRACE AND LOVE PREVAILING OVER ALL THE DARKNESS.
MY FRIENDS, AS WE FIND OURSELVES IN THE MIDST OF THESE DIFFICULT TIMES, WE DO WELL TO TURN TO THE GOD OF COVENANT; THE GOD WHO PROMISED TO NEVER AGAIN DESTROY CREATION AND THE GOD WHO PROMISED MANY GENERATIONS TO A PEOPLE WHO COMMITTED THEMSELVES IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH A GRACIOUS CREATOR. THIS LENT WE HAVE BEEN TURNING BACK TO THIS COVENANTAL DEITY. AND TODAY WE LOOK AT ANOTHER PIECE OF HOW OUR COVENANT WITH GOD IS STRUCTURED. TODAY WE FOCUS ON THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, AND HOPEFULLY LEAVE THIS PLACE WITH A RENEWED SENSE OF HOW THESE ANCIENT LAWS, THAT CREATED THE BACKBONE OF THE LEGAL SYSTEM FOR ALL OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION, ARE TRULY GUIDELINES FOR COVENANTAL LIVING AND FINDING SOME PEACE WITHIN THE MIDST OF WAR.
A FEW YEARS AGO JULI SCHAEFER GAVE ME THIS CHRISTMAS PRESENT OF A SLATE PLAQUE THAT SAYS, "THE TEN COMMANDMENTS ARE NOT MULTIPLE CHOICE" AND IT IS SIGNED FROM GOD. THIS IS A GREAT THOUGHT FOR US AS WE LOOK AT THE TEN COMMANDMENTS IN LIGHT OF THE UNITED STATES WAGING WAR. FOR INSTANCE, WHAT DOES A PERSON OF FAITH DO WITH THE COMMANDMENT "YOU SHALL NOT MURDER" EVEN AS WE WATCH MILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF OUR TAX DOLLARS BEING SPENT ON - BOTTOM LINE - THAT WHICH KILLS?
WELL, WE COULD TALK ABOUT THE CONCEPT OF A "JUST WAR." ST. AUGUSTINE OF THE ANCIENT CATHOLIC CHURCH WAS THE FIRST TO VERBALIZE THIS PHILOSOPHY. HE BASICALLY SAID THERE MAY ULTIMATELY BE A TIME AND A PLACE IN WHICH A NATION NEEDS TO DEFEND ITSELF. THAT DOES TAKE A BIT OF THE EDGE OFF THE WORD "MURDER" FOR SOME. BUT THEN OUR PAST PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER MADE A VERY CONVINCING ARGUMENT AS TO WHY THIS WAR IS NOT A JUST WAR IN HIS OPINION EDITORIAL IN THE NEW YORK TIMES ON SUNDAY MARCH 9TH.
PERSONALLY SPEAKING, THE CONCEPT OF "JUST WAR" DOESN'T GIVE ME ANY PEACE OF MIND. READING CHRIS HEDGES DOESN'T ALLOW ME THE ILLUSIONS OF WAR THAT SOOTHE THE RAW DESTRUCTION INTO A FOGGY KIND OF JUSTICE.
SO, AND I LIKE THIS IDEA EVEN BETTER, WE CAN ALWAYS GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE AND CUSTOMS OF THE DAY TO SEE IF THERE WAS A SPECIFIC AND HIDDEN MEANING BEHIND THE HEBREW WORD THAT WE TRANSLATE INTO "MURDER/KILL." MAYBE GOD MEANT DON'T KILL ANYONE ACCEPT YOUR ENEMIES! WHICH, BY THE WAY, IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU WILL FIND WHEN YOU TURN TO THE HEBREW. THIS COMMANDMENT WAS MEANT TO DEAL WITH KILLING THAT WAS OUTSIDE OF WHAT IS AUTHORIZED KILLING FOR THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL. WAR AND CAPITAL PUNISHMENT WERE AUTHORIZED KILLINGS, SO THERE YOU HAVE IT. IF YOU ARE AN OLD TESTAMENT SCHOLAR THEN YOU PROBABLY HAVE NO ANGST OR RENDING OF YOUR SOUL REGARDING THIS WAR OUR COUNTRY'S LEADERS HAVE INVOLVED US IN. SADDAM HUSSEIN IS THE ENEMY. BECAUSE OF THIS IT IS OK TO KILL HIM AND ANYONE AROUND HIM.
BUT I'M GOING TO DARE TO SAY THAT I DON'T HAVE TOO MANY OLD TESTAMENT SCHOLARS SITTING HERE TODAY. I THINK MOST OF US ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE AFFECTED BY THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS. AND IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN WE SEE THAT JESUS IS ANGRY WHEN WHAT WAS MEANT TO BE HOLY IS USED FOR HUMAN COMFORT AND EASE.
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS ARE HOLY LAWS THAT ARE MEANT TO BE SEEN AS ONE WHOLE PIECE. JESUS SAW THE COMMANDMENTS IN A HOLISTIC WAY. HE GAVE US A KIND OF "CLIFF NOTES" RENDITION OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS WHEN HE CONDENSED THE TEN INTO TWO.
JESUS SAID, FIRST, "YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND." AND SECOND, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." BUT WE ALSO NEED TO REMEMBER THAT JESUS DIDN'T NEGATE THE TEN COMMANDMENTS IN THEIR ORIGINAL FORM. JESUS WAS SIMPLY TRYING TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPLICATIONS. EVEN JESUS DIDN'T MAKE THE TEN COMMANDMENTS MULTIPLE CHOICE! AND I HAVE TO BELIEVE JESUS WOULD ALSO BE ANGRY IF THESE HOLY LAWS WERE USED IN A LESS THAN HOLY WAY. WHEN WE GET RIGHT DOWN TO IT, THE TEN COMMANDMENTS ARE ABOUT TRUTH, HONESTY AND HONOR.
THERE IS ONE GOD, WORSHIP HIM. WORSHIP IS OUR GIFT TO GOD, BUT IT ALSO GIVES US GREAT JOY WHEN WE ENTER INTO WORSHIP WITH AN OPEN HEART.
DON'T WORSHIP IDOLS. IDOLS, BE THEY SPIRITUAL, EMOTIONAL OR MATERIAL, ONLY BECOME ADDICTIONS THAT DRAIN US OF LIFE'S GREAT JOY.
DON'T USE GOD'S NAME IN SUCH A WAY THAT WE LOSE THE NECESSARY AWE INVOLVED IN THE SPEAKING OF IT. JUST SPEAKING THE WORD "GOD" SHOULD BRING US INTO A WARM EMBRACE.
REMEMBER THE SABBATH DAY. GOD IS OUR MOST FAITHFUL LOVER. WE NEED TO PLAN OUR DATE WITH GOD IN SUCH A WAY THAT GOD AND WE ARE DRAWN CLOSER TO ONE ANOTHER.
HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER. THE GREATEST JOY OF MATURITY IS REACHING THE POINT WHERE WE CAN FORGIVE OUR PARENTS THEIR HUMAN FRAILTY AND ACCEPT THEM AS COLLEGIALLY AS WE WOULD ANY OTHER HUMAN BEING. WHEN WE LEARN TO NEITHER FEAR NOR WORSHIP OUR PARENTS, THEN GOD IS OUR GOD AND OUR PARENTS ARE OUR FRIENDS.
DON'T MURDER. THAT IS, DON'T FOCUS ON DEATH AND FEAR, BUT RATHER FOCUS ON LIFE AND LIVING.
DON'T COMMIT ADULTERY. BE HONEST WITH OURSELVES ABOUT OUR SEXUAL NEEDS. TREAT THE GIFT OF SEXUALITY WITH RESPECT AND FIND DELIGHT IN ONE OF THE GREATEST GIFTS OF CREATION!
DON'T STEAL. WE WON'T TRULY ENJOY WHAT DOESN'T BELONG TO US ANYWAY.
DON'T TELL LIES. THE TRUTH IS THE BEST SPIRITUAL FOOD THERE IS. LIVING ON ANYTHING OTHER THAN TRUTH IS POISON TO OUR SOUL.
DON'T FOCUS ON WHAT THE OTHER PERSON HAS. WE NEED TO FOCUS ON WHAT WE HAVE AND MAYBE EVEN ON WHAT THE OTHER PERSON DOESN'T HAVE, LIKE GOOD FOOD OR CLOTHING OR SHELTER. THIS IS WHERE WE FIND TRUE JOY AND MEANING, WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR OWN LIVES AND SAY "THIS LIFE IS MY PERSONAL GIFT FROM GOD AND I WILL LIVE IT TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY."
SO IT SEEMS TO ME THAT WE FIND A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF COMFORT, OR MAYBE CLARITY, FOR THE MUDDY RAWNESS OF OUR FEELINGS ABOUT THIS WAR BY FOCUSING ON THE WHOLENESS OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS RATHER THAN JUST "YOU SHALL NOT MURDER."
THE WHOLE OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS REMIND US THAT IN DIFFICULT TIMES IT IS WISE AND IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE WORLD COMMUNITY TO MOVE EVER CLOSER TO GOD AND TO SEEK THE TRUTH ON WHATEVER LEVEL WE CAN.
CHRIS HEDGES SAYS THAT WAR IS ADDICTIVE, THAT THE EXCITEMENT OF IT MAKES US FEEL AS IF WE ARE ALIVE AND WE HAVE A PURPOSE. AND HE SAYS WAR IS PERPETUATED BY SEVERAL GREAT UNIVERSAL LIES, ONE OF THEM BEING THE IDEA THAT AS SOON AS WE GO TO WAR THAT OTHER COUNTRY IS NO LONGER INHABITED WITH REAL HUMAN BEINGS. IN A WAR THE ENEMY LOSES THE TRUTH OF THEIR HUMANITY EVEN AS WE LOSE THE TRUTH OF OUR OWN SINFULNESS. AS FAITHFUL CHRISTIAN PEOPLE WE CAN NOT AFFORD TO LOSE EITHER ONE OF THESE TRUTHS. IF WE DO, WE ARE NOT KEEPING OUR PART OF THE PROMISE WITHIN THE DIVINE COVENANT.
GOD IS ALWAYS THERE FOR US. CAN WE BE THERE FOR GOD IN THIS DIFFICULT TIME? CAN WE HELP MOVE OUR SOCIETY ONE STEP CLOSER TO THE WAY GOD WOULD HAVE IT BE? YOU SEE, THE TEN COMMANDMENTS ARE NOTHING MORE AND NOTHING LESS THAN THE WAY LIFE SHOULD BE. WHETHER OUR COUNTRY IS FIGHTING A WAR OR LIVING IN RELATIVE PEACE, WE ARE CALLED TO LIVE WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.
SO LET'S NOT GET ADDICTED TO WAR. I ENCOURAGE ALL OF US TO TURN OFF THE TV. WE DON'T HAVE TO WATCH THE WAR! PUT THE NEWSPAPER INTO THE RECYCLING BIN AFTER YOU'VE READ IT. DON'T LEAVE THE DESTRUCTIVE IMAGES SITTING AROUND WHERE WE CAN DWELL ON THEM. DON'T GET HOOKED INTO THE GREAT UNIVERSAL LIES THAT PERPETUATE WAR. EVEN THOUGH THE STOCK MARKET SEEMS TO BE ON ITS WAY UP, THIS IS NOT A FAITHFUL VIBRANCY WE ARE SEEING. THIS IS NOT THE WAY GOD WANTS LIFE TO BE. SO LET'S ALL FIND A WAY TO SEE LIFE IN OUR WORLD AND TO GIVE LIFE AND SAVE LIFE WHEREVER POSSIBLE.
I HAVE JUST RECENTLY BECOME AWARE OF A PRIVATELY FUNDED ORGANIZATION CALLED "OXFAM." THEY ARE AN INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN AND DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION FOUNDED TO BRING RELIEF AND PROGRESS TO PEOPLE IN CRISIS. I FOUND THIS STATEMENT ON THEIR WEBSITE. "OXFAM, A WORLD LEADER IN EMERGENCY WATER AND SANITATION SYSTEMS, HAS ALREADY CREATED EMERGENCY FACILITIES FOR REFUGEES ALONG THE IRAQI BORDER AND IS POISED TO PROVIDE LIFE-SAVING SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE REGION AS THESE FAST-EVOLVING CONDITIONS PERMIT. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING IMMEDIATE RELIEF, OXFAM IS COMMITTED TO HELPING THE IRAQI PEOPLE REBUILD THEIR LIVES AND LIVELIHOODS OVER THE LONG TERM."
SO INSTEAD OF BEING DEPRESSED OR ANGRY OR CONFUSED ABOUT THIS WAR, I AM GOING TO THINK IN TERMS OF GIVING AND BRINGING LIFE. I'M GOING TO LOOK INTO OXFAM, AND CONSIDER JOINING THEM IN THEIR EFFORTS. I'M GOING TO WRITE A COUPLE OF LETTERS TO OUR SOLDIERS, ENCOURAGING THEM AND OFFERING PRAYERS FOR THEM.
I AM GOING TO CONTINUE TO WRAP MY MIND AROUND THE TRUTH OF WAR, THE TRUTH OF OUR CORPORATE SINFULNESS, AND THE TRUTH OF GOD'S ABIDING COVENANTAL LOVE THAT DOES NOT LET US GO. AND I'M GOING TO DO THESE THINGS BECAUSE I BELIEVE WHAT HENRI NOUWEN BELIEVES. "JOY IS THE EXPERIENCE OF KNOWING THAT YOU ARE UNCONDITIONALLY LOVED AND THAT NOTHING-SICKNESS, FAILURE, EMOTIONAL DISTRESS, OPPRESSION, WAR, OR EVEN DEATH-CAN TAKE THAT LOVE WAY. BELIEVE IT MY FRIENDS!
ALLELUIA! AMEN!
SCRIPTURE: Mark 8:31-38, Romans 4:13-25 & Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16
THE WORD "COVENANT" HAS SUCH A COMFORTABLE FEEL TO IT, DON'T YOU THINK? WE CALL OURSELVES COVENANT PEOPLE AND I GET A SENSE OF GOD'S PRESENCE ON THE JOURNEY. WE TALK ABOUT A MARRIAGE COVENANT AND I THINK OF THE ONGOING PROMISE OF A LOVING RELATIONSHIP. WHEN TWO ANGRY COUNTRIES MOVE TOWARDS A COVENANT OF AGREEMENT THE WORD "COVENANT" CARRIES THE HOPE OF PEACE, SIMPLY WITHIN THE SPEAKING OF IT. COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH CARRIES IMAGES OF A WARM AND WELCOMING CONGREGATION IN MY MIND.
LAST WEEK WE LEARNED ABOUT GOD'S UNIVERSAL AND UNILATERAL COVENANT WITH ALL OF CREATION, THE RAINBOW. NO MATTER WHERE WE SEE A RAINBOW, THE FEELING LEVEL IS DEFINITELY FOUND SOMEWHERE AROUND WARM AND FUZZY. SO I HESITATE TO MOVE US OUT OF THE WARM AND FUZZY EMBRACE INTO THE SHARP EDGE OF RESPONSIBILITY, BUT TODAY'S STORY OF COVENANT DEMANDS THAT I DO SO. IN THE COVENANT OF THE RAINBOW GOD INITIATES ONLY THE PROMISE, BUT NOT SO TODAY.
TODAY WE HEAR THE STORY OF GOD SETTING UP ANOTHER COVENANT, BUT ONE A BIT DIFFERENT FROM AND A BIT SIMILAR TO THE LAST. UNLIKE THE COVENANT OF THE RAINBOW, THE COVENANT INVOLVING MANY DESCENDENTS TO AN AGING COUPLE IS A COVENANT DIRECTED ONLY TO ABRAHAM AND SARAH. THESE TWO PEOPLE WILL BE THE PATRIARCH AND MATRIARCH OF "A MULTITUDE OF NATIONS." IF ABRAHAM AND SARAH CAN SEE TODAY'S WORLD FROM HEAVEN THEY MUST BE INCREDIBLY AMAZED AT JUST HOW LARGE THE MULTITUDE IS, BECAUSE OUT OF THE SEEDS OF ABRAHAM AND SARAH HAVE SPRUNG THE NATIONS OF JUDAISM, CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM. WHAT BEGAN AS A NARROWLY FOCUSED COVENANT BETWEEN GOD AND TWO PEOPLE UNFOLDED, FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION, TO ULTIMATELY BECOME A COVENANT OF NAMING TO "AN EXCEEDINGLY NUMEROUS" PEOPLES. NAMES ARE VERY IMPORTANT IN THIS COVENANT.
IF WE WERE READING THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES IN HEBREW, THE NAME FOR GOD IN THIS PASSAGE WOULD BE "EL SHADDAI," SOMETHING GOD HAS NOT YET BEEN CALLED IN THESE FIRST CHAPTERS OF THE BIBLE. EL SHADDAI TRANSLATES LOOSELY INTO ENGLISH AS "GOD ALMIGHTY." GOD HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN KNOWN AS THE CREATOR OF THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH, AS WELL AS EL ELYON, "GOD MOST HIGH." BUT WITH ABRAHAM AND SARAH, IN THE TELLING OF THIS COVENANT STORY, GOD BECOMES EL SHADDAI, MEANING LITERALLY "GOD, THE ONE OF THE MOUNTAINS."
IN THIS NAMING PROCESS I SEE GOD MOVING CLOSER TO THE HUMAN CREATURE. IN THE GARDEN OF CREATION GOD WAS A VOICE AMONG THE TREES. IN THE STORY OF NOAH GOD WAS THE LORD, ANGRY AND IMPATIENT UNTIL AFTER THE FLOOD. AFTER THE FLOOD GOD WAS THE MOST HIGH ARTIST, PAINTING BRIGHT COLORS AGAINST THE SKY AND MAKING PROMISES OF CONSTANT PRESENCE. BUT HERE, IN THE STORY OF THE COVENANT WITH ABRAHAM AND SARAH, GOD BECOMES, FOR THE FIRST TIME, EL SHADDAI. GOD IS WILLING TO GET AS CLOSE AS THE MOUNTAINS THIS TIME, WITH ONE OF MY COMMENTARIES ACTUALLY SUGGESTING THAT THE REFERENCE TO MOUNTAINS MIGHT JUST BE A REFERENCE TO BREASTS AND THE GROWING SENSE OF GOD AS NURTURING AND NOURISHING IN RELATIONSHIP TO HUMAN BEINGS. BUT WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT FOR US TO GLEAN FROM THIS SCRIPTURE IS THAT GOD GIVES GOD'S SELF A NEW NAME TO BRING ATTENTION TO THE CLOSER RELATIONSHIP THAT IS BEGINNING IN THIS NEW COVENANT.
BUT GOD IS NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH A NEW NAME. A NEW NAME IS GIVEN TO ABRAHAM AND SARAH AS WELL. THEY ARE NO LONGER TO BE CALLED ABRAM AND SARAI. NOW THEY WILL BE KNOWN AS ABRAHAM, MEANING "ANCESTOR OR FATHER OF A MULTITUDE" AND SARAH, MEANING OF ALL THINGS, "PRINCESS." BUT "PRINCESS" FITS WITH THE ROYAL NATION THAT WILL RISE UP OUT OF GOD'S MANY BLESSINGS ON SARAH. SHE WILL GIVE BIRTH TO KINGS OF NATIONS - TO ISRAEL!
NOW A NEW NAME DOESN'T MEAN A NEW PERSON IN THE BIBLE. A NEW NAME MEANS A NEW MISSION. ABRAM, WHICH MEANS SOMETHING CLOSE TO "EXALTED FATHER", IS GIVEN A NEW MISSION THROUGH HIS NEW NAME. THE NAME "EXALTED FATHER" GIVES REFERENCE TO INWARD THINKING. ABRAM IS FOCUSED INWARDLY, UPON HIMSELF. BUT THE FATHER OF A MULTITUDE NO LONGER FOCUSES UPON HIMSELF. THE FATHER OF A MULTITUDE IS REACHING OUTWARD, GIVING LIFE TO A NEW NATION, FOCUSING ON THE LIVES OF OTHERS.
ABRAHAM IS A MAN WITH A MISSION TO OTHERS.
SO LET ME STOP AND REVIEW FOR A MOMENT. TODAY'S COVENANT IS DIFFERENT THAN LAST WEEK'S COVENANT BECAUSE IT IS A COVENANT GIVEN TO TWO PEOPLE RATHER THAN TO ALL OF CREATION. BUT TODAY'S COVENANT IS THE SAME AS LAST WEEK'S COVENANT BECAUSE IT REPRESENTS A CHANGE IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GOD AND HUMAN BEINGS. WHAT WE HAVE NOT YET CONSIDERED IS THE SECOND DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE TWO COVENANTS. AND THIS IS THE SHARP EDGE OF RESPONSIBILITY THAT DEEPENS THE MEANING OF A DIVINE COVENANT.
IN THE COVENANT WITH ABRAHAM AND SARAH GOD PROMISES THEM A SON. BUT IN RESPONSE GOD WANTS GOD'S PEOPLE TO CARRY THE MARK OF THE COVENANT. AND THAT MARK WOULD BE THE MARK OF CIRCUMCISION. NOW I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT THIS WAS A RATHER UNUSUAL SYMBOL OF COVENANT. IT IS A SYMBOL THAT CAN ONLY BE MADE UPON A MAN. IT IS A PAINFUL PROCEDURE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE AN OLD MAN, NEARLY ONE-HUNDRED YEARS! AND IT IS A MARK THAT HOPEFULLY NO ONE CAN SEE! BUT WHEN WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT WORD HERE IS "KEEP" RATHER THAN "CUT" IT HELPS US TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THE MEANING.
CIRCUMCISION IS A SIGN OF HAVING FAITH IN GOD. WHEN WE KEEP THE COVENANT WE KEEP THE FAITH, SO TO SPEAK. SO IT IS THE SOLIDARITY OF FAITH THAT GOD IS CONCERNED WITH MORE THAN THE ACTUAL MARK.
KEEPING THE FAITH IS NOT ALWAYS AN EASY THING. IT CAN BE HIDDEN AND PAINFUL, BUT IT IS CERTAINLY NOT A "MALE ONLY" PHENOMENON. AND EVEN IF WOMEN ARE NOT CIRCUMCISED KEEPING THE FAITH IS, INDEED, THE HUMAN SIDE OF THE COVENANT. GOD OBVIOUSLY CREATED, THROUGH ABRAHAM AND SARAH, THE MULTITUDE OF NATIONS. BUT DO WE KEEP OUR SIDE OF THE COVENANT? DO WE KEEP THE FAITH IN GOD? I'M SURE THERE'S PLENTY OF CIRCUMCISED MEN RUNNING AROUND, BUT DO THE PEOPLE OF GOD KEEP THE FAITH?
HERE AT NAURAUSHAUN CHURCH I BELIEVE WE DO. AND MOST RECENTLY WE HAVE EVEN RECEIVED A NEW NAME THAT WILL GIVE RECOGNITION TO OUR NEW MISSION. LIKE THE COVENANT GOD MADE WITH ABRAHAM AND SARAH, WE REMAIN THE SAME COMMUNITY.
WE SIMPLY HAVE A NEW MISSION. WE ARE NOW A "MORE LIGHT" CONGREGATION. MAYBE YOU NOTICED THE TOP OF THE BULLETIN TODAY WHERE WE HAVE ADDED THIS TO OUR NAME. GOD IS DEEPENING GOD'S COVENANT WITH THE WORLD THROUGH US. AND OUR PART OF THE COVENANT IS TO REMAIN FAITHFUL TO GOD'S CALL.
YOU SEE; EVEN THOUGH THE COVENANT BETWEEN GOD AND ABRAHAM AND SARAH SEEMS RATHER PERSONAL, PLEASE REMEMBER THAT IT ULTIMATELY BECAME A COVENANT WITH THE COMMUNITY. GOD WILL GIVE LIFE AND BREATH AND NUMBERS TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND THE COMMUNITY WILL STAY FAITHFUL TO GOD. MAY GOD GIVE LIFE AND BREATH AND NUMBERS TO THE NAURAUSHAUN COMMUNITY. AND MAY THIS COMMUNITY ALWAYS REMAIN FAITHFUL TO GOD!
IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT THE TODAY'S PASSAGE FROM THE BOOK OF ROMANS IS ACTUALLY PAUL'S EXEGESIS OF THE GENESIS STORY WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT. IF WE WERE TO USE ROMANS 4:13-25 AS A COMMENTARY ON THE COVENANT OF GENESIS 17 WHAT WOULD WE LEARN?
FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE WOULD LEARN THAT THE PROMISE TO ABRAHAM CAME TO HIM, NOT THROUGH THE LAW BUT THROUGH THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF FAITH. PAUL LIFTS UP THIS WONDERFUL TENSION BETWEEN LAW AND GRACE. AND HE SEES THE COVENANT OF CIRCUMCISION AS A COVENANT OF GRACE THAT SUPERCEDES THE LAWS YET TO BE ESTABLISHED. REMEMBER THIS FOR NEXT WEEK WHEN WE LOOK AT THE TEN COMMANDMENTS!
BUT THE OTHER VERY IMPRESSIVE COMMENT PAUL MAKES ABOUT THE GENESIS STORY IS ABOUT ABRAHAM'S FAITHFULNESS. PAUL SAYS, "NO DISTRUST MADE [ABRAHAM] WAVER CONCERNING THE PROMISE OF GOD, BUT HE GREW STRONG IN HIS FAITH AS HE GAVE GLORY TO GOD, BEING FULLY CONVINCED THAT GOD WAS ABLE TO DO WHAT HE HAD PROMISED." ARE WE FULLY CONVINCED OF GOD'S PROMISE? DO WE LIVE OUR LIVES WITH THE KIND OF FREEDOM THAT ALLOWS US TO FOCUS ONLY ON THE GOD OF THE COVENANT?
THE GOSPEL OF MARK WAS OUR THIRD READING FOR TODAY. AND THIS IS WHERE THE RUBBER REALLY MEETS THE ROAD FOR A CHRISTIAN. ARE WE WILLING TO DENY A PART OF OUR HUMAN NATURE IN ORDER TO BECOME MORE LIKE CHRIST IN OUR JOURNEY OF FAITH?
I CAN ONLY BELIEVE THAT ABRAHAM'S FAITH WAS INCREDIBLY STRONG BECAUSE OF THE MYSTERY OF GOD'S PRESENCE TO HIM. GOD WAS NOT INCARNATED WHEN COMING TO ABRAHAM. THE PROGRESSION OF GOD'S MOVEMENT TO BE CLOSE TO HUMANKIND HAD NOT BEEN COMPLETED. THE HOLY PRESENCE WAS AS CLOSE AS THE MOUNTAINTOPS, BUT NOT THE SAME AS WALKING RIGHT BESIDE US. MY FRIENDS, WE CHRISTIANS HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OF SHOULDER TO SHOULDER CONTACT WITH GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST. SHOULDN'T OUR FAITH BE STRONGER?
MAYBE NOT. MAYBE SEEING THE LOVE OF GOD EMBODIED IN JESUS IS WHAT SCARES US OFF. THERE IS NO MISTAKING THE KIND OF LIFE WE ARE MEANT TO LIVE WHEN WE KNOW OUR LORD, JESUS CHRIST. AND THIS IS THE NAME THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING FOR US.
AT THE END OF LAST WEEK I ATTENDED AN OVERNIGHT PRESBYTERY MEETING OUT IN WARWICK, NY. IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST PRESBYTERY MEETINGS I HAVE EVER BEEN TO. THERE SEEMS TO BE THIS GROWING SENSE OF COMMUNITY I HAVE NEVER FELT BEFORE.
AND ON FRIDAY NIGHT, AFTER A LENGTHY STRUGGLE WITH FINANCIAL ISSUES AND AN OVERTURE ABOUT THE CHRISTIAN UNDERSTANDING OF WAR, WE GATHERED TOGETHER FOR A SERVICE OF HEALING AND WHOLENESS. WE PRAYED TOGETHER. WE SANG TOGETHER. LEADERS OF THE PRESBYTERY OFFERED PRAYERS OF HEALING TO ALL WHO WANTED TO BE PRAYED FOR. WE SHARED THE LORD'S SUPPER AND THEN WE SANG. AND WHAT WE SANG WAS "GIVE ME JESUS." I WANT TO SHARE THE WORDS WITH YOU, BUT FIRST I WANT TO SAY THAT JESUS IS THE MYSTICAL AND PROFOUNDLY REAL PRESENCE OF GOD IN OUR LIVES THAT BRINGS ALL OF THE COVENANTS AND THE LAWS AND THE WORDS OF THE PROPHETS INTO A PERFECT FOCUS CALLED GRACE. SO IN THE END, THE NAME OF JESUS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT NAME FOR THOSE OF US GATHERED IN THIS SANCTUARY. AND JESUS EXPERIENCED A NAME CHANGE IN HIS MINISTRY AS WELL.
AT THE RESURRECTION THE MAN "JESUS" BECAME THE SAVIOR "JESUS CHRIST." ON THE DAY OF RESURRECTION THE MISSION OF JESUS MOVED BEYOND TEACHER AND HEALER AND PREACHER TO CHRIST - MESSIAH - THE ONE WHO HAD EMBODIED THE GIFT OF GRACE THAT AFFORDS US THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE FAITH LIKE, AND MAYBE EVEN GREATER THAN THAT OF ABRAHAM AND SARAH. SO LISTEN TO THESE WORDS AND KNOW THE DEPTH OF WHAT IS IN A NAME. BECAUSE ABOVE ALL OTHER NAMES, GIVE ME JESUS!
IN THE MORNING WHEN I RISE, DARK MIDNIGHT WAS MY CRY, JUST ABOUT THE BREAK OF DAY, OH, WHEN I COME TO DIE, AND WHEN I WANT TO SING, GIVE ME JESUS. GIVE ME JESUS, GIVE ME JESUS,YOU MAY HAVE ALL THE REST, GIVE ME JESUS.
ALLELUIA! AMEN!
SCRIPTURE: Mark 1:9-15, I Peter 3:18-22 & Genesis 9:8-17
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, IT RAINED THE FIRST WEEK I WAS IN MAUI. IT RAINED AND THE TEMPERATURE HOVERED AROUND SIXTY DEGREES FOR TWO OR THREE DAYS. I WAS COLD IN HAWAII! SOMETHING I NEVER THOUGHT WOULD HAPPEN.
I HAVE COME TO REALIZE, WHEN IT COMES TO VACATION SPOTS, I HAVE AN UNREALISTIC EXPECTATION OF WHAT THE WEATHER WILL DO. LOGIC WOULD TELL ONE THAT THE LUSH FOLIAGE ON THE ISLAND OF MAUI DEMANDS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MOISTURE FROM SOMEWHERE. DUH! BUT I THINK I HAVE THIS MENTAL BLOCK BECAUSE THE TRAVEL BROCHURES NEVER SHOW A PICTURE OF PEOPLE HUDDLED AROUND A TABLE, JUST AT THE EDGE OF THE AWNING TO AN OUTDOOR RESTAURANT, AS THE RAIN POURS DOWN RIGHT NEXT TO THEM. THE SOGGY PICTURE I HAVE JUST DESCRIBED TELLS YOU HOW I SPENT MY VALENTINE'S DAY DINNER IN THE HULA GRILL AT KAANAPALI BEACH. SOMEHOW I DON'T THINK YOU ARE FEELING TOO SORRY FOR ME.
ANYWAY, THE DAY AFTER THE RAIN THE CLOUDS BEGAN TO BREAK UP OVER THE OCEAN WHILE HANGING ON OVER THE MOUNTAINS FURTHER INLAND. THE RESULT OF THE CLEARING WAS THE MOST GORGEOUS FULL RAINBOW I THINK I HAVE EVER SEEN. WE COULD ALMOST SEE IT FROM END TO END. IT WAS LARGER AND MORE TENACIOUS THAN ANY RAINBOW I CAN REMEMBER. AND WE COULD VIEW THAT SPLENDID SIGHT FROM OUR BALCONY FOR NEARLY A FULL HOUR THAT MORNING. THAT RAINBOW MADE THE DAMP DARKNESS OF THE DAYS BEFORE A DIM MEMORY AS MY MIND WANDERED, ONE MORE TIME, TO THE PROMISE GOD MADE TO GOD'S PEOPLE WHEN HE FIRST SET UP A COVENANTAL RELATIONSHIP WITH ALL CREATION.
AND GOD SAID TO NOAH, "THIS [RAINBOW] IS THE SIGN OF THE COVENANT THAT I HAVE ESTABLISHED BETWEEN ME AND ALL FLESH THAT IS ON THE EARTH.
NOW WE ALL KNOW THAT THIS STORY COMES TO US FROM THE ANCIENT PAST. BUT WHAT WE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT THE ANCIENT PAST IS THAT IT WAS A TIME WHEN NATURE AND THE ELEMENTS WERE OFTEN SEEN AS THE TOYS OR THE TOOLS OF ALL THE GODS.
WHEN DROUGHT OR FLOOD THREATENED SURVIVAL IT WAS NOT DIFFICULT TO IMAGINE THAT FOR SOME REASON THE GODS WERE ANGRY, OR MAYBE EVEN JUST BEING CAPRICIOUS. SO INTO THIS WORLD VIEW COMES TODAY'S EXTRAORDINARY STORY. NOT ONLY IS THERE ONE GOD, A RATHER SHOCKING IDEA TO BEGIN WITH, BUT THIS ONE GOD IS NOT GOING TO USE THE NATURAL ELEMENTS TO MANIPULATE HUMANITY.
INSTEAD OF PLAYING GAMES WITH THE HUMAN CREATURES, GOD SPEAKS. GOD DOES NOT MAKE A PRONOUNCEMENT TO THE AIR, LIKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT OVER A PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM AT A TRAIN STATION, TO ANYONE WHO MIGHT HAPPEN TO BE LISTENING. GOD ADDRESSES IDENTIFIED INDIVIDUALS; NOAH AND HIS FAMILY. GOD ACKNOWLEDGES AND COMMUNICATES WITH HUMANITY IN A PERSONAL AND INTIMATE WAY.
AND NOT ONLY DOES GOD SPEAK, BUT GOD EXPLAINS. THIS GOD IS RADICALLY DIFFERENT FROM A GOD WHO IS ALOOF FROM THE WORLD AND WHO SENDS LIGHTNING AND RAIN AND WIND FOR REASONS THAT MERE MORTALS CAN ONLY GUESS. GOD GIVES HUMANITY AND ALL OF CREATION A REASON FOR THE DEVASTATION OF THE FLOOD. HUMAN BEINGS HAD MOVED SO FAR AWAY FROM GOD'S ORIGINAL VISION OF CREATIVITY THAT GOD NEEDED TO START OVER AGAIN. THIS ONE GOD ACTS, NOT ON A CAPRICIOUS WHIM, BUT FOR IDENTIFIABLE AND COMMUNICATED REASONS.
THIS ONE GOD ALSO COMMITS. GOD, WHO IS THE CREATOR OF ALL THAT IS, COMMITS TO BEING IN RELATION TO AND IN RELATIONSHIPS WITH ALL OF GOD'S CREATION. GOD BIND'S GOD'S SELF TO AN EVERLASTING RELATIONSHIP OF CARE FOR THE EARTH AND ALL OF ITS INHABITANTS. HOWEVER UNPREDICTABLE LIFE REMAINS, BENEATH IT ALL IS THE PROMISE THAT GOD HAS BROUGHT CONSTANCY AND CERTAINTY TO LIFE. IN THE PREVIOUS CHAPTER, CHAPTER EIGHT OF GENESIS, GOD SAYS, "AS LONG AS THE EARTH ENDURES, SEEDTIME AND HARVEST, COLD AND HEAT. SUMMER AND WINTER, DAY AND NIGHT SHALL NOT CEASE." "NEVER AGAIN," SAYS GOD.
I GET THE FEELING THAT GOD TRIED A TEMPORARY SEPARATION AND DIDN'T LIKE THE WAY IT FELT. NOW GOD IS WILLING TO DEEPEN THE COMMITMENT AND HAS PROMISED TO STAY FOREVER.
YOU KNOW, MOST COVENANTS AN EQUAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN TWO PARTIES. THERE IS USUALLY A CLEAR AMOUNT OF "I'LL DO THIS FOR YOU IF YOU DO THAT FOR ME." BUT THE COVENANT WE HAVE BEFORE US TODAY IS A BIT DIFFERENT.
FIRST OF ALL, THIS COVENANT IS UNIVERSAL. THE COVENANT OF THE RAINBOW IS FOR ALL OF CREATION FOR ALL OF TIME. AND THE SECOND WONDROUS DETAIL OF THIS COVENANT IS THAT IT IS UNILATERAL. THIS COVENANT IS AN ACT OF FAITH ON THE PART OF GOD. THERE IS ONLY THE GREAT PROMISE OF GOD'S FAITHFULNESS WITHOUT ANY RECIPROCAL ACTION NEEDED ON THE PART OF ALL CREATION.
I WONDER IF WE TRULY UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS FIRST COVENANTAL AGREEMENT GOD SETS UP WITH THE WHOLE OF THE UNIVERSE.
IN THIS COVENANT CAUSE AND EFFECT HAVE BEEN FOREVER DISASSOCIATED. GOD IS MAKING THE PROMISE INDEPENDENT OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR. DO WE GET IT? THE PROMISE OF THE RAINBOW WILL STAND WHETHER OR NOT CREATION IS OBEDIENT.
I FIND THIS A VERY COMFORTING THOUGHT AS WE STAND ON THE BRINK OF WAR, WHILE THE POSSIBILITY OF TERRORIST ATTACK LURKS AROUND EVERY CORNER. A BENEVOLENT GOD HAS BEEN IN CHARGE RIGHT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. THE SAME GOD THAT CREATED THIS EARTH PROMISED TO NEVER AGAIN DESTROY IT. AND THE PROMISE HOLDS TRUE TODAY.
DURING THIS LENTEN SEASON WE WILL BE LOOKING AT THE MANY COVENANT AGREEMENTS GOD MADE WITH GOD'S PEOPLE. WE WILL LOOK AT GOD'S COVENANT WITH ABRAHAM AND SARAH. WE WILL REMEMBER THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. WE WILL EXPLORE THAT AMAZING STORY OF THE BRONZE SERPENT MADE AND LIFTED UP BY MOSES TO SAVE THE ISRAELITES FROM DIEING IN THE WILDERNESS. AND THEN WE WILL REMEMBER THE COVENANT TAUGHT BY JEREMIAH, THE ONE WHERE GOD PROMISES TO WRITE HIS LOVE UPON OUR HEARTS. EVERY OTHER COVENANT CARRIES A RESPONSIBILITY FOR US AS WELL AS A PROMISE FROM GOD. BUT EACH OF THESE COVENANTS IS DEEPLY GROUNDED IN THE UNILATERAL PROMISE OF GOD TO NEVER DESTROY THE EARTH AGAIN. MY FRIENDS, I BELIEVE WE NEED TO GROUND OURSELVES IN THIS BLESSED UNILATERAL PROMISE ONE MORE TIME, ESPECIALLY AT THIS MOMENT IN OUR COUNTRY'S HISTORY.
LET ME EXPLAIN BY TELLING YOU THE STORY OF A SMALL SEQUESTERED FRENCH MOUNTAIN VILLAGE. THE NAME OF THE COMMUNITY IS LE CHAMBON. THE TIME FRAME OF THE STORY IS A FOUR YEAR PERIOD FROM 1940 TO 1944 WHEN FRANCE WAS BEING OCCUPIED BY NAZI GERMANY. DURING THE FOUR YEARS OF THE GERMAN OCCUPATION OF FRANCE, THE VILLAGE OF LE CHAMBON, WITH A POPULATION OF ABOUT THREE THOUSAND IMPOVERISHED PEOPLE, SAVED THE LIVES OF ABOUT FIVE THOUSAND REFUGEES, MOST OF THEM BEING CHILDREN. IN LE CHAMBON THE VILLAGERS LIVED FAITHFULLY WITHIN AN INDIVIDUAL AND CORPORATE ETHIC OF LIFE AND DEATH, THE VILLAGERS ALWAYS CHOOSING ON THE SIDE OF LIFE. VERY SIMPLY PUT, THE INDIVIDUALS OF THIS LITTLE VILLAGE WERE DEDICATED TO PROTECTING HUMAN LIVES INSTEAD OF DESTROYING THEM IN WHATEVER WAY THEY COULD MAKE IT HAPPEN. THEY WERE A TINY LITTLE LIGHT OF DECENCY WITHIN A DARK AND EVIL STORM DETERMINED TO DESTROY LIFE AT ALL COSTS. AND THE MIRACLE OF LE CHAMBON IS THAT THE GESTAPO KNEW ABOUT THIS PROTESTANT RESISTANCE TO THE DARK EVIL OF THE HOLOCAUST, BUT NOTHING WAS EVER DONE TO THE VILLAGERS OR THEIR REFUGEES, SAVE ONE MINOR INVASION IN 1943 THAT PUT TWO PASTORS AND A SCHOOL TEACHER INTO A CONCENTRATION CAMP FOR A YEAR.
THE AUTHOR OF THE BOOK WRITTEN ABOUT THIS VILLAGE, CALLED LEST INNOCENT BLOOD BE SHED HAS A THEORY ABOUT WHY THIS VILLAGE WAS LEFT VIRTUALLY UNSCATHED IN THOSE CRITICAL YEARS, PHILIP HALLIE, AN AMERICAN JEWISH MAN WHO SERVED AS A COMBAT ARTILLERYMAN IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF WORLD WAR II CAME ACROSS THE STORY OF LE CHAMBON, A COUPLE OF DECADES AFTER THE WAR, WHILE DOING RESEARCH AS AN ETHICS PROFESSOR AT A CONNECTICUT COLLEGE. HALLIE WAS STUDYING CRUELTY FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF ETHICS. HE HAD IMMERSED HIMSELF IN THE HORROR OF THE STRONG TORTURING THE WEAK FOR WHATEVER REASON, WHEN HE FIRST READ ABOUT THE MIRACLE OF LE CHAMBON. WITHIN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MR. HALLIE AND THE STORY OF LE CHAMBON, WHICH BEGAN TO GROW THAT VERY MOMENT, HALLIE WAS LIFTED OUT OF HIS SELF-CONSTRUCTED HELL THAT CAME FROM STUDYING EVIL, INTO THE LIGHT OF SHEAR GOODNESS. HE HARDLY KNEW WHAT TO MAKE OF IT ALL UNTIL ONE DAY, WELL AFTER THE WRITING OF HIS BOOK; HE MET UP WITH A WOMAN IN MINNEAPOLIS. HALLIE WAS THE SPEAKER AT A DINNER AND THE WOMAN ULTIMATELY RECOGNIZED THE VILLAGE HE WAS SPEAKING ABOUT AS THE PLACE WHERE HER THREE DAUGHTERS HAD BEEN PROTECTED AND CARED FOR DURING THE GERMAN OCCUPATION OF FRANCE. THE WOMAN STOOD BEFORE THE GATHERING THAT EVENING AND SAID,
"THE HOLOCAUST WAS STORM, LIGHTNING, THUNDER, WIND, RAIN, YES. AND LE CHAMBON WAS THE RAINBOW."
AS HALLIE WRITES ABOUT THE POWER OF HIS OWN UNDERSTANDING THAT NIGHT HE SAYS, "…THE RAINBOW IS ONE OF THE RICHEST IMAGES IN THE BIBLE. THE RAINBOW IS THE SIGN GOD PUT UP IN THE HEAVEN AFTER THE GREAT FLOOD. THE SIGN MEANT: '…NEVER AGAIN SHALL ALL FLESH BE CUT OFF.' IN HIS EXPLANATION OF THE RAINBOW, GOD REPEATED THE PHRASE 'NEVER AGAIN,' AND EVER SINCE THE HOLOCAUST, JEWS HAVE BEEN REPEATING THAT PHRASE." HALLIE GOES ON TO SAY, "THE RAINBOW REMINDS GOD AND MAN THAT LIFE IS PRECIOUS TO GOD, THAT GOD OFFERS NOT ONLY SENTIMENTAL HOPE, BUT A PROMISE THAT LIVING WILL HAVE THE LAST WORD, NOT KILLING. THE RAINBOW MEANS REALISTIC HOPE." (PG. XVII OF LEST INNOCENT BLOOD BE SHED)
FRIENDS, IT IS EXCEPTIONALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RAINBOW IN OUR LIVES RIGHT HERE AND NOW. WE MAY, AS A NATION, BE GOING TO WAR. SOME OF US BELIEVE THE WAR IS JUSTIFIED, SOME OF US BELIEVE IT IS NOT. BUT AT THE CORE OF OUR JUDEO-CHRISTIAN FAITH IS THE UNDERSTANDING THAT PRESERVING LIFE IS BETTER THAN TAKING IT AWAY. ALONG WITH THIS CORE FAITH COMES THE UNDERSTANDING THAT IT IS BETTER TO HELP THAN TO HURT. HOW CAN WE BE THE RAINBOW IN THE MIDST OF THE STORM? HOW CAN WE MAINTAIN A MINDSET THAT WOULD KEEP US HELPFUL INSTEAD OF HURTFUL IN THESE DESPERATE TIMES?
THE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS WILL BE INDIVIDUAL BECAUSE WE ARE, INDEED, INDIVIDUAL PERSONS WITH OUR OWN PECULIARITIES. AT THE SAME TIME, THE RAINBOW IS A UNIVERSAL AND UNILATERAL PROMISE THAT LIFE WILL ALWAYS WIN, ALWAYS GO FORWARD. IN THE ETHIC OF LIFE AND DEATH, WHICH HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHETHER OR NOT A WAR IS JUSTIFIED, WILL WE CHOOSE TO PRESERVE LIFE IN WHATEVER WAY WE CAN? OR WILL WE CHOOSE TO DESTROY IT? IN THE DAYS AHEAD MAY WE ALL REMEMBER THE WORDS OF MAHATMA GANDHI WHO SAID, "WHEN IN DESPAIR, I REMEMBER THAT ALL THROUGH HISTORY THE WAY OF TRUTH AND LOVE HAS ALWAYS WON; THERE HAVE BEEN TYRANTS AND MURDERERS, AND FOR A TIME THEY CAN SEEM INVINCIBLE, BUT IN THE END THEY ALWAYS FALL."
ALLELUIA! AMEN!
SCRIPTURE: II Corinthians 4:3-6 & Mark 9:2-9
ON THURSDAY OF THIS PAST WEEK THE REVEREND FRED McNEELY ROGERS DIED AT THE AGE OF 74 OF STOMACH CANCER. REV. ROGERS WAS THE CREATOR AND SUSTAINER OF THE FAMOUS CHILDREN'S SHOW, MISTER ROGER'S NEIGHBORHOOD. I SHALL ALWAYS CARRY WARM MEMORIES OF WATCHING MISTER ROGERS WITH DANA AND RUSSELL WHEN THEY WERE SMALL CHILDREN.
ALL THREE OF US WOULD SIT THERE MESMERIZED BY THIS KIND AND GENTLE MAN WHOSE VERY PRESENCE COULD SOOTH A SAVAGE SOUL.
MANY OF MY FRIENDS AT THE TIME COULD NOT STAND TO WATCH MISTER ROGER'S NEIGHBORHOOD. THEY CLAIMED HE WAS FAR TOO SLOW AND BORING AND REPETITIVE.
I'M NOT SURE THEY EVEN ENCOURAGED THEIR CHILDREN TO WATCH HIS SHOW.
BUT I AM CONVINCED, EVEN MORE NOW THAN I WAS THEN, THAT MISTER ROGERS WAS A CERTAIN PERSONIFICATION OF THE LOVE OF CHRIST IN THE TWENTIETH AND TWENTY-FIRST CENTURIES.
REV. ROGERS FOLLOWED IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF CHRIST WITH A DEPTH OF INTEGRITY THAT FEW OF US CAN KNOW. HE WAS A WONDERFUL DISCIPLE.
ALLELUIA! AMEN!
NOW IN LOOKING AT THE GOSPEL OF MARK TODAY, WE NEED TO KNOW THAT THE ENTIRE GOSPEL HAS TO DO WITH REVEALING WHO JESUS IS, TO HIS DISCIPLES AS WELL AS TO THE REST OF THE WORLD. AND THE TRANSFIGURATION STORY IS A SIGNIFICANT HIGH POINT IN THIS PROCESS OF REVELATION.
IN MARK THE PROCESS OF REVELATION BEGINS WITH THE BAPTISM OF JESUS. THE VOICE OF GOD COMES FROM THE HEAVENS TELLING JESUS THAT HE IS BORN OF GOD AS A BLESSING. GOD SAYS DIRECTLY TO JESUS, "YOU ARE MY SON, THE BELOVED; WITH YOU I AM WELL PLEASED." IT IS NOT CLEAR THAT ANYONE BUT JESUS HEARS THIS STATEMENT.
I GUESS YOU COULD SAY THAT JESUS IS REVEALED TO HIMSELF.
AND FROM THAT INTRODUCTION JESUS GOES OUT TO TEACH AND HEAL, TO PREACH AND CAST OUT EVIL SPIRITS, TO CALL OTHERS TO FOLLOW HIM, EVEN AS HE CALLS ATTENTION TO THE BASTARDIZATION OF THE LAWS OF GOD. BY THE TIME WE GET TO THE TRANSFIGURATION WE HAVE SEEN JESUS RAISE A LITTLE GIRL FROM THE DEAD AND FEED FIVE THOUSAND MEN WITH ONLY FIVE LOAVES OF BREAD AND TWO FISHES.
WE HAVE SEEN JESUS WALK ON WATER AND STILL THE STORMY WINDS EVEN AS HE TAKES ON THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES. AND AFTER SEEING ALL OF THESE THINGS, THE DISCIPLES THEMSELVES DO NOT KNOW FOR SURE WHO JESUS IS. ALONG WITH THAT THOUGHT I GUESS I HAVE TO ASK, DO WE KNOW WHO JESUS IS? SOME THINK HE IS JOHN THE BAPTIST, OTHERS BELIEVE HE IS ELIJAH. PETER CALLS JESUS THE MESSIAH, BUT ARGUES WITH HIM WHEN JESUS SPEAKS OF THE SUFFERING THAT LIES AHEAD OF HIM. THE DISCIPLES HAVE NOT YET MADE A CONNECTION TO THE DEPTH OF THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST. AND THE TRANSFIGURATION EXPRESSES THAT DEPTH IN A WONDROUS AND MYSTERIOUS WAY.
DO WE GET THE POINT?
JESUS TAKES THE INNER CIRCLE OF DISCIPLES WITH HIM TO THE TOP OF A MOUNTAIN. PETER AND JAMES AND JOHN ARE WITH HIM WHEN JESUS' APPEARANCE IS TRANSFORMED INTO A DAZZLING WHITE - A BRIGHTNESS BRIGHTER THAN ANY BLEACH COULD ACCOMPLISH. AND THEN HE IS STANDING THERE WITH ELIJAH AND MOSES. AND AGAIN, THE VOICE OF GOD COMES FROM THE HEAVENS, WITH A CLEARER REVELATION OF WHO JESUS IS, AND THIS TIME THE VOICE OF GOD IS HEARD BY MORE THAT JUST JESUS. THIS TIME PETER AND JAMES AND JOHN ALSO HEAR THE VOICE SAYING, "THIS IS MY SON, THE BELOVED, LISTEN TO HIM!"
LISTEN TO THE NEW LIFE AND THE NEW LOVE HE BRINGS.
THERE SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING THE DISCIPLES ARE NOT HEARING IN JESUS. THERE IS SOMETHING GOD WANTS TO BE REVEALED TO THEM AND THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND.
EVEN AFTER THE TRANSFIGURATION THE DISCIPLES DON'T TRULY UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE LOVE OF GOD THAT IS EXPRESSED IN JESUS. THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT JESUS IS BRIGHTER THAN BOTH THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS. THEY DON'T FULLY REALIZE THAT THE LAW AND THE PROPHECIES ARE ALL REVEALED IN JESUS AND HUMAN LIFE ON EARTH IS NOT MEANT TO EVER BE THE SAME.
PETER'S DESIRE TO BUILD THREE DWELLINGS MOST PROBABLY SPEAKS TO OUR HUMAN NEED TO MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO. WHICH ONE OF US WOULD NOT WANT TO HANG ONTO WHAT IS FAMILIAR IN LIGHT OF SOMETHING AS SPECTACULARLY FRIGHTENING AS THE TRANSFIGURATION?
PETER DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THE MYSTERY, AND SO HE WANTS TO CONTAIN THE MYSTERY IN A PERMANENT DWELLING PLACE.
ACTUALLY, JESUS SEEMS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE DISCIPLES CAN'T UNDERSTAND ON THE "PRE" SIDE OF THE RESURRECTION. JESUS TELLS THE DISCIPLES TO TELL NO ONE WHAT THEY HAVE SEEN UNTIL AFTER THE RESURRECTION OF THE SON OF MAN. THE DISCIPLES ARE MEANT TO LISTEN TO JESUS AND WATCH HIM AS HE HEADS FOR JERUSALEM. THEY ARE TO HOLD ALL OF THE MEMORIES IN THEIR HEARTS SO THAT THE ULTIMATE PURPOSE OF CHRIST CAN BE REVEALED FOLLOWING THE RESURRECTION. THEY ARE TO EMBRACE THE MYSTERY OF JESUS AND LIVE WITH IT FOREVER AND ALWAYS.
I BELIEVE FRED ROGERS WAS A MAN WHO LIVED THE MYSTERY OF THE LOVE OF CHRIST BETTER THAN MOST. HE UNDERSTOOD THE REVELATION OF JESUS THAT BEGAN WITH THE BAPTISM AND PEAKED WITH THE TRANSFIGURATION, ONLY TO BE TOTALLY FULFILLED WITH THE RESURRECTION.
JESUS BROUGHT A RADICAL NEW WAY OF LIVING AND LOVING INTO THE WORLD, AND IT IS A PRECIOUS FEW PEOPLE WHO TRULY UNDERSTAND THAT.
I CANNOT HELP BUT TO THINK ABOUT THE QUALITY OF DISCIPLESHIP I EXPERIENCE IN FRED ROGERS AS APPOSED TO THE DISCIPLESHIP I SEE IN GEORGE W. BUSH. REV. ROGERS UNDERSTOOD THAT THE MOST PROFOUND AND ONGOING MESSAGE OF THE SON OF GOD WAS THAT WE NEED TO CONSTANTLY WORK AT CHANGING OUR HUMAN WAYS. HE UNDERSTOOD THAT WE NEED TO LISTEN TO THE LOVE OF CHRIST UNTIL WE TRULY HEAR IT. TEACHING CHILDREN TO LISTEN CAREFULLY AND TALK OPENLY WITH ONE ANOTHER WAS ONE OF THE MOST OUTSTANDING QUALITIES OF MISTER ROGER'S TV MINISTRY. HE WAS A PEACEMAKER THROUGH AND THROUGH.
HE LIVED HIS LIFE AS AN UNDENIABLE PEACEKEEPER AND HE TAUGHT THOSE AROUND HIM, BOTH YOUNG AND OLD, TO BE PEACEMAKERS AND PEACEKEEPERS AS WELL. HE UNDERSTOOD THE DEPTH AND BREADTH OF GOD'S LOVE THAT WAS GIVEN TO US THROUGH JESUS.
I AM AFRAID OUR PRESIDENT DOES NOT UNDERSTAND THIS KIND OF CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP.
OR MAYBE IT JUST SEEMS TOO DIFFICULT TO HIM AND THE PEOPLE WHO ADVISE HIM.
THOSE OF US WHO ARE ASKING FOR OUR COUNTRY TO NOT GO TO WAR RIGHT NOW ARE ASKING FOR A TREMENDOUS TRANSFORMATION OF HUMAN NATURE.
FOR US TO NOT GO TO WAR AND NOT MAINTAIN OUR POSITION AS THE WORLD'S GREATEST POWER FORCE WOULD BE AKIN TO THE MENTAL DISGRACE OF WALKING SLOWLY INTO THE ROOM, REMOVING A SPORT COAT TO DON A CARDIGAN SWEATER AND SITTING DOWN IN A ROCKING CHAIR TO REPLACE THE UNCOMFORTABLE SHOES WITH SNEAKERS. AND THE WHOLE TIME THIS IS BEING DONE, OF COURSE ONE HAS TO SING:
"IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD,
A BEAUTIFUL DAY FOR A NEIGHBOR.
WOULD YOU BE MINE?
COULD YOU BE MINE?"
I HOPE THIS CORRELATION HELPS US ALL TO UNDERSTAND JUST HOW DIFFICULT THE TASK OF TRULY FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF CHRIST IS FOR US IN THIS DAY AND AGE.
IT IS NOT COOL TO BE A CHRISTIAN. IT IS NOT EASY TO DO THE RIGHT THING, AND THE TRANSFORMATION WE ARE CALLING FOR LOOKS IMPOSSIBLE TO ANYONE WHO DOES NOT BELIEVE IN THE DEEPEST PART OF HIS/HER HEART OF HEARTS THAT ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WHEN GOD IS IN CHARGE.
FRIENDS, WE HOLD THE FUTURE OF THE WORLD IN OUR HANDS. WE ARE THE ONES WHO NEED TO CONTINUE TO HOPE FOR A LOVING HUMANITY WHERE THE WORLD CAN BE NEIGHBOR, ONE TO ANOTHER. WE KNOW THAT THE TRANSFIGURATION WAS A PART OF THE REVELATION OF WHO JESUS IS. WE KNOW WE NEED TO LISTEN TO HIM AND ALLOW OUR LIVES TO BE TRANSFORMED.
AND WHO JESUS IS, IS THE SON OF GOD WHO LOVED THE HUMAN CREATURE SO VERY MUCH THAT HE WAS WILLING TO GO TO HIS DEATH ON A CROSS TO SHOW US THE REALITY OF THAT LOVE.
THE MOST REVEREND ROWAN WILLIAMS WAS ENTHRONED AS THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY THIS WEEK AT CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL IN GREAT BRITAIN. YOU MIGHT RECOGNIZE SOME OF HIS 103 PREDECESSORS. THEY INCLUDE ST. AUGUSTINE OF THE SIXTH CENTURY AND THOMAS A' BECKET OF THE TWELFTH CENTURY. DR. WILLIAMS IS A BIT OF A CONTROVERSIAL FIGURE TO BE IN THIS POSITION, WHICH IS WHY I LIKE THE MAN WITHOUT EVEN MEETING HIM. HE FAVORS THE ORDINATION OF HOMOSEXUALS AND BELIEVES IT TO BE NECESSARY TO WORK TOWARDS THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE IN GREAT BRITAIN. DR. WILLIAMS HAS PUBLICLY CHALLENGED TONY BLAIR'S ASSERTION OF MORAL LEGITIMACY FOR WAR IN IRAQ AND CALLED THE AMERICAN-LED BOMBING OF AFGHANISTAN "MORALLY TAINTED." IN HIS SERMON ON THE DAY OF HIS ENTHRONEMENT (AN UNFORTUNATE TERM) DR. WILLIAMS SAID THAT CHRISTIANS SHOULD "GRIEVE AND PROTEST OVER" SUCH THINGS AS WAR, POVERTY, PREJUDICE, ABUSE OF CHILDREN, NEGLECT OF THE ELDERLY, WORKPLACE HUMILIATION AND SEXUAL GREED.
AND THEN THIS ONE QUOTE FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES, WHICH, I THINK, SAYS IT ALL.
HE SAID, "THIS IS WHY THE CHRISTIANS WILL ENGAGE WITH PASSION IN THE WORLD OF OUR SOCIETY AND POLITICS, AND-IT MUST BE SAID-OUT OF A REAL GRIEF AND FEAR OF WHAT THE HUMAN FUTURE WILL BE IF THIS DOES NOT COME TO LIGHT."
THESE ARE DARK TIMES IN THE HISTORY OF OUR WORLD. THE LIGHT OF THE TRANSFIGURATION HAS SHINED ON US AS WE LIVE IN THIS POST-RESURRECTION WORLD. AND I DO FEAR WHAT THE HUMAN FUTURE WILL BE IF THE LOVE OF CHRIST DOES NOT COME TO LIGHT. GIVE ME MISTER ROGER'S NEIGHBORHOOD ANY DAY. IT MAY NOT BE AS EXCITING AS GOING TO WAR, BUT IT IS THE WAY OF THE LOVE OF CHRIST. IT IS THE WAY OF TRUE DISCIPLESHIP. AND IT IS THE MYSTERY OF WHO CHRIST IS REVEALED TO BE.
ALLELUIA! AMEN
SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 40:21-31 & Mark 1:29-39
SOME PEOPLE WOULD SUGGEST THAT THIS WEEK’S LECTIONARY STORY IS TRULY A CONTINUATION OF LAST’S WEEK STORY, AND I WOULD HAVE TO AGREE.
IN MARK’S FAST MOVING GOSPEL, WHERE ALL OF THE ACTION TAKES PLACE IMMEDIATELY, IF NOT FASTER, TODAY’S PERICOPE BEGINS WITH AS SOON AS THEY LEFT THE SYNOGOGUE.
SO LET’S BEGIN BY REMINDING OURSELVES WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK.
AS HIS FIRST ACT OF MINISTRY IN PROCLAIMING THAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD HAS COME NEAR, JESUS CALLS MEN TO FOLLOW HIM AND BE HIS DISCIPLES.
SIMON, ANDREW, JAMES AND JOHN LITERALLY DROP EVERYTHING TO FOLLOW JESUS.
AND AS THE SABBATH DRAWS NEAR, THEIR LITTLE ENTOURAGE ENTERS THE TOWN OF CAPERNAUM WHERE JESUS TEACHES IN AN ASTONISHING WAY.
JESUS TEACHES WITH A NEW KIND OF AUTHORITY, SOMETHING THAT HAS NEVER BEEN HEARD BEFORE.
YOU SEE, IN THE POWER STRUCTURE OF THE 1ST CENTURY, THE MOST HIGH GOD HAD POWER OVER THE ARCHANGELS AND OTHER GODS, WHO HAD POWER OVER THE ANGELS AND UNCLEAN OR EVIL SPIRITS, WHO HAD POWER OVER HUMAN BEINGS, WHO HAD POWER OVER ALL OF THE CREATURES OF THE EARTH.
THIS WAS A VERY REAL SYSTEM FOR THE PEOPLE OF THAT DAY.
AND JESUS, IN HAVING POWER OVER THE UNCLEAN SPIRIT BY VIRTUE OF HIS OWN WORDS, IS REALLY CLAIMING HIS AUTHORITY TO BE ON THE SAME LEVEL AS THE MOST HIGH GOD, HERETOFORE UNHEARD OF.
FOLLOWING HIS TEACHING IN THE SYAGOGUE, JESUS EXERTS THE POWER HE HAS BEEN TEACHING ABOUT WHEN HE HAS A LITTLE RUN-IN WITH AN UNCLEAN SPIRIT AND CASTS THE EVIL SPIRIT OUT OF THE POOR MAN.
WE ALL KNOW THAT ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS, SO THE POINT IS MADE IN A BIG WAY.
AND SO, JESUS’ FAME BEGINS TO SPREAD WITH THE NEWS THAT “HE COMMANDS EVEN THE UNCLEAN SPIRITS, AND THEY OBEY HIM.”
AS THE STORY CONTINUES TODAY, WE HEAR…[MARK 1:29-39].
WHEN WE READ THIS PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE LAST THURSDAY MORNING AT PRAYER GROUP, THERE WAS A VERY PREGNANT MOMENT OF SILENCE AFTER BILLIE READ ABOUT THE WOMAN BEING HEALED OF A FEVER AND IMMEDIATELY GETTING UP TO SERVE JESUS AND HIS DISCIPLES A MEAL.
GEORGE LOOKED AT STEWART AND SAID, “DON’T EVEN TOUCH IT!”
I’M AFRAID WOMEN’S LIBERATION HAS LEFT US A BIT INCAPABLE OF UNDERSTANDING THE TRUE MEANING OF THIS PART OF THE STORY.
IN TODAY’S WORLD WE HAVE BENEFITTED FROM THE GOOD NEWS IN WAYS THAT OUR ANCESTRIAL BROTHERS AND SISTERS HAD NOT.
BECAUSE WE LIVE IN A WORLD THAT UNDERSTANDS, TO A CERTAIN DEGREE, THE LIBERATING AFFECT OF JESUS’ MINISTRY WE MISS THE POINT OF THIS STORY AND WHAT A RADICAL MOVE THIS WAS ON THE PART OF JESUS AND THE WOMAN.
JESUS CROSSES BOUNDARIES, NO MATTER HOW MANY BARRIERS HUMAN BEINGS CONTINUE TO CONSTRUCT.
JESUS CROSSED THE BOUNDARY OF HEALING ON THE SABBATH IN THIS STORY.
JESUS CROSSED THE BOUNDARY OF TOUCHING A WOMAN TO WHOM HE WAS NOT RELATED IN THIS STORY.
JESUS CROSSED THE BOUNDARY OF TOUCHING AN UNCLEAN WOMAN, A WOMAN WITH A FEVER, IN THIS STORY.
JESUS LIFTED HER UP – HE HEALED HER – HE MADE HER WHOLE AGAIN.
THE GOOD NEWS WAS THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO SERVE THE MEN IN THE WAY IN WHICH SHE WAS ACCUSTOMED TO.
AND EVEN THOUGH HEALING AND WHOLENESS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY WOMAN MAY MEAN NOT GETTING UP AND SERVING A MEAL, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT HEALING AND WHOLENESS FOR THIS 1ST CENTURY UNNAMED WOMAN WAS BEING WELL ENOUGH TO SERVE AGAIN.
ALLELUIA! AMEN!
NOW WORD GETS AROUND QUICKLY IN A SMALL COMMUNITY.
IN MUCH THE SAME WAY THAT WE LEARNED MARTHA HAD A NEW GREAT GRANDSON AND JENNY IS STILL IN TROUBLE WITH HER LIVER, THE COMMUNITY AT CAPERNAUM LEARNED ABOUT THE SPECIAL HEALING POWERS OF THIS MAN NAMED JESUS WHO IS STAYING OVER AT THE WOMAN’S HOUSE.
NEWS GETS AROUND WHEN YOU CARE ABOUT ONE ANOTHER.
AND NEWS HAD GOTTEN AROUND CAPERNAUM TO BRING “WHATEVER AILS YOU” TO JESUS.
THE CROWD ARRIVES AROUND SUNDOWN AND JESUS WORKS INTO THE NIGHT, HEALING AILMENTS AND CASTING OUT DEMONS.
SCRIPTURE SAYS, “HE WOULD NOT PERMIT THE DEMONS TO SPEAK.”
IT OCCURS TO ME – DID IT OCCUR TO YOU? – THAT SILENCING THE DEMONS MUST BE EXHAUSTING WORK?
STANDING UP TO THE EVIL SPIRITS AND TELLING THEM TO SETTLE DOWN AND GET OUT OF THERE…
BREAKING THE BOUNDARY BETWEEN WHAT IS CLEAN AND WHAT IS UNCLEAN…
WORKING ON THE SABBATH TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND THE CONSTERNATION OF THE PHARISEES…
THIS ALL WAS VERY DRAINING WORK FOR OUR LORD AND SAVIOR.
HE NEEDED A REST.
AND SO WE THINK OF HIM, TAKING A QUIET WALK IN THE EARLIEST PART OF THE DAY, WHEN ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING SEEMS POSSIBLE.
WE THINK OF HIM QUIET AND MEDITATING AND COMMUNICATING WITH GOD.
BUT REMEMBER, THIS IS JESUS AND NOT US.
I THINK HE WAS TIRED, BUT NOT FROM THE HEALING AS MUCH AS THE ADORATION OF THE PEOPLE AROUND HIM.
I THINK HE WAS TIRED FROM THE TEMPTATION OF FAME AND GLORY.
I THINK JESUS WALKED AWAY FROM THE PEOPLE TO REACCLAMATE HIMSELF TO HIS MISSION AND MINISTRY.
JESUS WAS NOT BORN TO BE COMFORTABLE AND ADORED.
THERE WAS NOT A COMPLACENT BONE IN HIS BODY.
JESUS WAS BORN TO TELL THE PEOPLE THE GOOD NEWS – THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NEAR.
AND THE MOST DIFFICULT PART OF HIS MESSAGE IS THAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS IN HIM.
HOW EMBARRASING IS THAT?
BUT IT’S THE TRUTH!
AND WHEN THE DISCIPLES FIND HIM AND ENTICE HIM TO COME BACK TO CAPERNAUM IN ORDER TO BASK IN THE GLORY OF HIS MINISTRY THERE, JESUS SAYS, “NO.”
FROM CAPERNAUM JESUS GOES THROUGHOUT GALILEE, PROCLAIMING THE MESSAGE, THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NEAR.
AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NEAR IN JESUS.
A QUESTION THAT IS RAISED FOR ME IN THE READING OF THIS SCRIPTURE IS THIS: ARE WE MEANT TO WORSHIP JESUS?
I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD ANSWER “YES” TO THAT QUESTION.
BUT THINK ABOUT HOW JESUS DEALS WITH HIS OWN FAME AND GLORY.
HE DOES NOT ALLOW THE CROWDS AROUND HIM TO WORSHIP HIM.
HE HEALS, HE SILENCES DEMONS, HE TEACHES, HE PROCLAIMS THE GOOD NEWS, HE PRAYS TO GOD, BUT HE NEVER GLORIFIES HIS OWN NAME.
AND THERE ARE ONE MILLION LESSONS FOR THE CHURCH TO LEARN FROM THIS STORY AS WE SEEK TO BE THE BODY OF CHRIST IN TODAY’S WORLD.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE DO NOT WORSHIP JESUS AS MUCH AS WE CELEBRATE JESUS AS OUR WAY TO KNOW GOD.
JESUS POINTS THE WAY, AND WE WORSHIP GOD.
THEN WE NEED TO ASK OURSELVES, WHAT ARE THE UNCLEAN SPIRITS WE ARE CONFRONTED WITH?
WHO ARE THE FEVERISH WOMEN WE ARE CALLED TO TAKE BY THE HAND?
WHAT IS THE COMMUNITY KNOCKING ON OUR DOOR, NEEDING AND WANTING TO BE HEALED AND WHOLE?
WHERE DO WE ESCAPE TO A DESERTED PLACE IN ORDER TO BE REMINDED OF OUR TRUE CALLING?
WHAT IS THE NEXT MINISTRY WE ARE BEING CALLED TO?
THESE QUESTIONS, LIFTED UP TO THE COMMUNITY OF NAURAUSHAUN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, COME AS A REAL CHALLENGE TO ME.
I BELIEVE WE TRY, ON A DAILY BASIS, TO DEAL WITH THE EVIL SPIRITS OF RACISM, HOMOPHOBIA, PREJUDICE OF ANY KIND, AND HATRED OF ALL KINDS.
WE DON’T DO IT PERFECTLY, BUT THEN WHO DOES?
I BELIEVE A LOT OF WHAT WE ALREADY DO IS PROCLAIMING THE GOOD NEWS OF THE NEARNESS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
AND I BELIEVE THAT WE TRY, TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITIES, TO BE THE LIVING BODY OF CHRIST BY BEING THE NEARNESS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
OUR CHOICE TO BE A MORE LIGHT CONGREGATION IS A CHOICE TO BE THE NEARNESS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
OUR CHOICE TO CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH IS A CHOICE TO BE THE NEARNESS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
OUR CHOICE TO WORK WITH THE SALVATION ARMY IS A CHOICE TO BE THE NEARNESS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
OUR CHOICE TO TRAVEL TO NICARAGUA IS A CHOICE TO BE THE NEARNESS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
SO WHAT IS NEXT FOR US?
IF THIS IS OUR CAPERNAUM, THEN WHERE IS OUR GALILEE?
WHAT WILL OUR NEXT STEPS BE?
WELL, I HAVE TO SAY THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF TODAY’S STORY FOR US, IN THIS TIME AND PLACE, IS THE PART ABOUT JESUS GETTING UP IN THE EARLY HOURS OF THE MORNING AND GOING TO A DESERTED PLACE TO PRAY.
WE HAVE JUST COME OFF A TIME OF STRUGGLING WITH THE EVIL SPIRITS OF FEAR AND DOUBT.
WE HAVE DISAGREED WITH ONE ANOTHER – SOMETIMES PRETTY INTENSELY – AND WE HAVE SOMETIMES FORGOTTEN THE LOVE THAT BINDS US TOGETHER.
I SEE THIS AS A TIME IN THE LIFE OF NAURAUSHAUN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH FOR US TO LEAVE THE INTENSITY OF CONFRONTATION AND GATHER TOGETHER IN OUR OWN DESERTED PLACE OF PRAYER.
IT’S TIME TO REFOCUS AND REGROUP.
IT’S TIME TO REMIND OURSELVES THAT GOD IS ALWAYS WITH US, NO MATTER WHAT, AND THAT GOD EXPECTS US TO SLOW OUR PACE FOR A WHILE BEFORE GOING ON WITH THE RACE.
THIS IS WHY I LOVE THE WORDS OF ISAIAH SO MUCH.
EVEN WHEN IT SEEMS AS IF WE HAVE EXHAUSTED OURSELVES DOING THE WORK OF GOD IN SEEKING TO BE THE BODY OF CHRIST, WE CAN ALWAYS COUNT ON GOD RENEWING OUR STRENGTH.
IT IS IN THE QUIET OF THE DESERTED PLACE THAT GOD CAN LIFT US UP AND CARRY US AS ON EAGLE’S WINGS.
IT IS IN THE CALM FOLLOWING THE STORM THAT GOD CAN REMIND US OF OUR REASON FOR BEING.
AND SO I WOULD SAY THAT THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A MORE IMPORTANT TIME FOR THE NAURAUSHAUN CHURCH COMMUNITY TO BE IN PRAYER TOGETHER AND IN WORSHIP TOGETHER.
NOW THAT OUR TRUE IDENTITY IS RIGHT OUT THERE FOR EVERYONE TO SEE AND EXPERIENCE, WE NEED TO HEAR GOD TELLING US WHAT THE NEXT STEPS WILL BE.
AND SO I WOULD CALL US ALL TO TAKE A BREATH, FIND A DESERTED PLACE, A PLACE WITHOUT ALL OF THE DISTRACTIONS OF FAME AND GLORY – WITHOUT ALL OF THE NEEDY VOICES.
LET US REMEMBER THAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS MORE ABOUT JUSTICE THAN IT IS ABOUT US.
WE ARE TO CARRY THE MESSAGE, BUT THE FINAL OUTCOME IS THAT THE GLORY OF GOD IS LIFTED IN US.
MAY IT ALWAYS BE TRUE. ALLELUIA! AMEN!
SCRIPTURE: Deuteronomy 18:15-22 & Mark 1:21-28
WELL, I HATE TO WHINE, BUT IT REALLY STINKS WHEN THE CURRENT ISSUES OF THE DAY SEEM TO HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE LECTIONARY PASSAGES FOR SUNDAY WORSHIP.
AND AS I LOOK AT THE EVENTS OF THIS WEEK; THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS FROM THE PRESIDENT AND THE TOTALLY UNEXPECTED DEMISE OF THE SPACE SHUTTLE COLUMBIA, WHEN I LOOK AT THESE TWO CURRENT EVENTS AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF PROPHETIC AUTHORITY AND THE EXORCISM OF AN EVIL SPIRIT, I HAVE TO ADMIT I AM STUMPED.
SOMETIMES THE ANCIENT AND THE CONTEMPORARY HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME MEETING IN THE MIDDLE, AND TODAY SEEMS TO BE ONE OF THOSE DAYS.
SO MAYBE WE CAN LOOK AT THIS TOGETHER AND SEE WHAT WE COME UP WITH.
IN THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY WE FIND A STORY FROM THE END OF MOSES’ LIFE.
MOSES ASSURES THE PEOPLE THAT AFTER HIS DEATH GOD WILL RISE UP NEW PROPHETS WHO WILL SPEAK WITH GOD’S AUTHORITY JUST AS HE HAS.
THE PEOPLE WILL RECOGNIZE THE TRUTH OF THE WORDS OF THE NEW PROPHETS BECAUSE WHAT THEY SAY WILL COME TRUE.
NOW SOME PEOPLE MIGHT SUGGEST THAT IN THIS DESCRIPTION OF THE ONE WHO WILL COME WITH THE AUTHORITY OF GOD, MOSES WAS MAKING A DIRECT PREDICTION OF THE COMING OF JESUS.
BUT IT SEEMS MORE FAITHFUL TO HISTORY TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE MANY PROPHETS WHO HAVE BROUGHT AN AUTHORITATIVE WORD FROM GOD TO THE WORLD.
I IMMEDIATELY THINK OF PEOPLE LIKE MOTHER THERESA, MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., GANDHI, AND MAYBE EVEN ARCHBISHOP OSCAR ROMERO.
AND EVEN EARLIER THAN JESUS WE HAVE ELIJAH, ISAIAH, MICAH AND DEBORAH.
THESE PEOPLE ARE CLEARLY SAINTS OF GOD IF NOT PROPHETS TO THE PEOPLE OF GOD.
I WONDER WHAT A PROPHET OF GOD WOULD SAY IN RESPONSE TO THE PRESIDENT’S STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS.
I’M NOT A PROPHET, SO I DON’T HAVE A CLUE.
BUT I WONDER - IS GOD SPEAKING THROUGH MR. BUSH?
WILL THE ACTIONS THAT FOLLOW HIS WORDS GIVE INTEGRITY TO HIS AUTHORITY?
OR WILL WE FIND OURSELVES WORSHIPPING FALSE GODS IF WE FOLLOW THE PROPHECY OF A PREEMPTIVE STRIKE AGAINST IRAN?
I HAD A DAYDREAM YESTERDAY.
WHAT IF WE TOOK ALL OF THE MONEY WE SPEND ON WEAPONS, ALL OF THE PERSONNEL IN OUR ARMED FORCES AND ALL OF THE ENERGY WE EXPEND IN HATING THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT AND ITS LEADERS AND USED THESE RESOURCES FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT IS BEING SUGGESTED?
WHAT IF WE BOUGHT BOOKS AND FOOD AND HOUSING AND CLOTHING WITH THE FUNDS WE USE FOR WEAPONS?
WHAT IF WE TRAINED OUR ARMED FORCES TO LOVE INSTEAD OF TO FIGHT?
WHAT IF THE ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE AND MARINES WERE ALL TRAINED TO TEACH THE CHILDREN AND SPEAK THE LANGUAGE OF THE IRANIAN PEOPLE?
WHAT IF IT WAS A UNIVERSAL REQUIREMENT FOR ALL SOLDIERS TO KNOW HOW TO RELATE TO PEOPLE WHO ARE A PRODUCT OF AN EXTREMELY DIFFERENT SOCIETY THAN THE ONE WE KNOW?
WHAT IF THE OUTCOME OF SERVING IN THE ARMED FORCES WAS MATURITY AND SOCIAL INTERACTION RATHER THAN BUILDING MUSCLES AND SHOOTING A GUN?
WHAT IF THE UNITED STATES’ PRESENCE AS A SUPER POWER MEANT THAT WE BRING HEALING AND WHOLENESS TO IMPOVERISHED COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD?
WHAT IF WE MADE SADDAM HUSSEIN AND OSAMA BIN LADEN LOOK LIKE FOOLS BY SHOWING OUR COMPASSION AND WISDOM RATHER THAN OUR STRONG ARM OF DEFENSE?
IS THIS DREAM PROPHETIC OR JUST A PIPEDREAM?
WOULD GOD CHOOSE TO ACT UPON A PROPHETIC WORD LIKE THIS?
WOULD WE ACTUALLY EXPERIENCE THE WORLD PEACE WE ALL PRAY FOR?
I DON’T KNOW.
AND UNFORTUNATELY I DON’T THINK WE WILL EVER KNOW.
BUT STOP AND THINK, WHAT WAS THE LAST WORD WE EVER HEARD FROM A PROPHET?
I THINK IT WAS THE REV. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
IN 1957 DR. KING SAID, “NONVIOLENCE IS ABSOLUTE COMMITMENT TO THE WAY OF LOVE.
LOVE IS NOT EMOTIONAL BASH; IT IS NOT EMPTY SENTIMENTALISM.
IT IS THE ACTIVE OUTPOURING OF ONE’S WHOLE BEING INTO THE BEING OF ANOTHER.”
DR. KING WAS A PROPHET AND WE EXPERIENCE THE TRUTH OF HIS WORDS IN OUR PERSONAL LIVES, OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
WE KNOW THAT HIS WORDS COULD COME TRUE ON A UNIVERSAL LEVEL IF WE WOULD RISK.
BUT WE DON’T RISK.
AND THE PROPHECY IS NOT FULFILLED.
THE JESUS OF MARK’S GOSPEL CONFRONTS THE UNCLEAN SPIRIT, THE EVIL SPIRIT THAT TAKES ON HUMAN FORM IN OUR PERSONAL FEARS.
THE WORLD BEFORE JESUS WAS AFRAID OF WHAT WAS UNCLEAN.
THEY BELIEVED THAT OUR OWN PURITY WAS DAMAGED IF WE CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE IMPURITY OF OTHERS.
JESUS SHOWED A DIFFERENT WAY OF DEALING WITH LIFE.
JESUS TOOK ON THE UNCLEAN SPIRIT.
JESUS WAS WILLING TO SAY THAT HIS OWN PURITY COULD CONFRONT THE EVIL, RATHER THAN EXPECTING THAT HIS GOODNESS WOULD BE COMPROMISED BY THE EVIL SPIRIT.
JESUS STOOD UP TO THE EVIL OF FEAR, AND BANISHED IT FROM THE HUMAN CREATURE.
TO THE PEOPLE SURROUNDING JESUS THIS WAS A NEW WAY OF DEALING WITH EVIL SPIRITS.
THIS WAS JESUS SHOWING THE WORLD THAT HE HAD POWER AND AUTHORITY OVER THAT WHICH COULD DESTROY.
WE HAVE SEEN OUR SHARE OF DESTRUCTION.
WE KNOW WHAT DESTRUCTION LOOKS LIKE.
AS I WATCHED THE STORY OF THE SPACE SHUTTLE COLUMBIA UNFOLD ON TELEVISION YESTERDAY MORNING I WAS TAKEN BACK TO A DAY IN 1986.
THE DAY WAS JANUARY 28TH.
I WAS IN THE STUDENT COMMONS AT DREW UNIVERSITY.
I WAS WATCHING THE TAKEOFF OF THE SPACE SHUTTLE CHALLENGER.
I HAD SEEN CHRISTIE McAULIFFE BEING INTERVIEWED EARLIER ON ONE OF THE MORNING NEWS PROGRAMS.
I WAS SO PROUD OF HER.
“AMERICA’S TEACHER IN SPACE” SHE WAS CALLED.
MY HUSBAND IS A TEACHER.
THERE WAS A CONNECTION, TENUOUS THOUGH IT WAS.
AND I WAS ABSOLUTELY HORROR STRUCK AS I WATCHED HER SPACE SHUTTLE DISINTEGRATE RIGHT BEFORE MY VERY EYES.
I REMEMBER THE SHOCK AND DISBELIEF ON HER PARENT’S FACES AS THEY WATCHED THEIR DAUGHTER’S FINAL MOMENTS, WITHOUT REALLY KNOWING EXACTLY WHAT WAS GOING ON.
SEVEN PEOPLE DIED YESTERDAY MORNING; SEVEN EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE.
ON BOARD THE COLUMBIA THERE WERE TWO WOMEN, FIVE MEN; ONE INDIAN EMIGRANT WHO IS AN AEROSPACE ENGINEER, AN AFRICAN AMERICAN MAN SERVING AS A LIEUTENANT COLONEL IN THE AIR FORCE, TWO UNITED STATES NAVAL COMMANDERS, ONE FEMALE AND ONE MALE, A NAVAL CAPTAIN, AN AIR FORCE COLONEL, AND A COLONEL IN THE ISRAELI AIR FORCE, THE FIRST ISRAELI EVER TO FLY INTO SPACE.
AND I TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS LOSS MEANS TO US AS CHRISTIANS AND CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
AS CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES, THIS ONLY ADDS TO THE FEAR WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH SINCE SEPTEMBER 11, 2001.
THIS LOSS ONLY ADDS TO THE FEAR OF AN UNSTABLE STOCK MARKET AND THE UNREST ABOUT AN IMPENDING WAR WITH IRAN.
IT MAKES US WONDER IF THINGS WILL EVER FEEL SAFE AND SOLID AGAIN, IN THIS, OUR NATIVE LAND.
BUT WHEN VIEWING CURRENT EVENTS AS CHRISTIANS, THE LOSS OF THE SPACE SHUTTLE COLUMBIA RAISES DEEPER ISSUES OF THE FRAILTY OF OUR HUMAN CONDITION AND HOW WE GO ABOUT DEALING WITH THAT.
OUR LIVING LIFE TO THE FULLEST MEANS TAKING RISKS, LIKE FLYING OFF INTO SPACE IN A SPACE SHUTTLE.
THE KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM TO BE GAINED BY THIS TYPE OF ADVENTURE GOES FAR BEYOND OUR WILDEST DREAMS.
I HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT THE SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE WE HAVE GAINED FROM OUR MANY TRIPS INTO SPACE HAS OUT WEIGHED THE BURDEN OF LOSS WE EXPERIENCE WHEN WE LOSE AN ENTIRE CREW LIKE YESTERDAY, OR LIKE 17 YEARS AGO WHEN THE CHALLENGER DIDN’T EVEN MAKE IT INTO SPACE.
IN 1986, FOLLOWING THE LOSS OF CHALLENGER, PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN HAD THESE WORDS TO SAY TO THE NATION.
“WE’VE GROWN USED TO THE IDEA OF SPACE, AND PERHAPS WE FORGET THAT WE’VE ONLY JUST BEGUN.
I KNOW IT’S HARD TO UNDERSTAND, BUT SOMETIMES PAINFUL THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPEN.
IT’S ALL PART OF TAKING A CHANCE AND EXPANDING [HUMANITY’S] HORIZONS.
THE FUTURE DOESN’T BELONG TO THE FAINT-HEARTED.
IT BELONGS TO THE BRAVE.”
IN REAGAN’S WORDS TO THE NATION 17 YEARS AGO, I FIND A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE FOR DOING A BRAVE NEW THING.
THE NEW FRONTIER OF OUR DAY AND AGE IS TO GO WHERE WE HAVE NEVER GONE BEFORE.
MAYBE THIS MEANS TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT WITH OUR POWER STATUS IN THE WORLD.
THE FUTURE BELONGS TO THE BRAVE.
CAN YOU IMAGINE THE COURAGE IT WOULD TAKE TO WALK RIGHT INTO IRAN WITH A DESIRE FOR PEACE – SHALOM, SALAAM – WHOLENESS, RATHER THAN ATTACKING IRAN WITH DEATH AND DESTRUCTION AND WAR?
PEOPLE IN THE ANCIENT WORLD BELIEVED IN THE PRESENCE OF DEMONS, EVIL POWERS AND VARIOUS TYPES OF COSMIC BEINGS.
BY HEALING A MAN WITH AN UNCLEAN SPIRIT, JESUS IS DEMONSTRATING THAT HE HAS AUTHORITY OVER THESE OTHER FORCES IN THE WORLD.
MARK ESTABLISHES JESUS AS A SYMBOL OF GOD’S POWERFUL PRESENCE.
SO MAYBE THIS IS WHERE THE LECTIONARY PASSAGES CONVERGE WITH THE CURRENT ISSUES OF THIS WEEK.
NO MATTER HOW DISCONCERTING THE EVENTS OF OUR TIMES MAY BE, GOD HAS POWER OVER THE FINAL OUTCOME.
THIS WE HAVE BEEN TAUGHT THROUGH THE SCRIPTURES OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
GOD IS THE GREATER POWER AND EVERYTHING WE HUMAN BEINGS HAVE CONTROL OVER IS LESSER THAN THE REALM OF GOD.
JESUS LOOKED EVIL RIGHT IN THE FACE.
JESUS RECOGNIZED IT AND NAMED IT AND BANISHED IT WITH A COURAGEOUS LOVE FOR THE LARGER PICTURE.
AND THIS IS SACRED SPEECH, MY FRIENDS.
WHEN WE CAN SEE WHAT IS EVIL AND SHOUT IT DOWN RATHER THAN SHOOT IT DEAD.
WE HAVE SO MUCH KNOWLEDGE AND SO MUCH WISDOM IN LIGHT OF THE ENTIRE PICTURE OF OUR WORLD.
PLEASE, GOD, LET US GAIN OUR AUTHORITY FROM YOU.
LET US TEACH AND HEAL IN THIS WORLD FILLED WITH PAIN.
LET US KNOW EVIL WHEN WE SEE IT.
AND LET US ACT WITH THE COURAGE OF CHRIST.
AMEN.
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