Scripture Lesson for the 10th Sunday after Pentecost, August 1, 1010
Luke 12:13-21
SCI: When we strive after “more” our motives are:
1. Protect ourselves
2. Protect our families
3. Have a measure of comfort
But, true happiness consists in relationships
With God, family, and others. These are “rock”
Solid.
Chris Madison
“I Want….More”
10th Sunday After Pentecost
Luke 12:13-21
August 1, 2010
Ad Gloriam Dei
Its amazing how we pick up our own personal values, needs, and wants as we grow up…………………..
And as we mature………..and I mean truly mature…………..some of the things that we thought we just had to have………….when we were younger……………..often fall by the wayside…………….for more important things…………….And they’re usually not things………………….
Having said that…………………..I do have some packrat in me…………….Like many of you I have saved important things from my childhood………………Photographs……………tools which were my father’s………..toys, given to me when I was very small……………..I have the electric train which my parents gave me at age 3 for Christmas………………And it still runs………………
And most of all…………….I have my great grandfather’s violin………………My great grandfather was named Rheinhard Rudolf………………….He was just a bit German…………….and brought the instrument over from Germany……………..And while it is not an expensive instrument………………It has a beautiful tone……………..and it means a lot to me…………I’m the 4th generation to play it………………
I remember when we sold our home in Hammond………….My mother’s health had taken a turn for the worse……………..and we needed to move her to Fort Wayne. That was in 1987………………eight years after my father’s death…………………..
And Ginny and I were in the house in Birch Street………………………in Hammond…………and I climbed up into the attic……………….like I had done so many times as a boy……………….And I found marbles…………..my electric train………….an Uncle Sam suit which my mother had sewed for a 4th of July parade when I was oh………..maybe 6 years old……………….I found toy soldiers…………..my roller skates…………………
And I brought them down out of the attic and I wept…………………..I was losing the home where I grew up…………………..The home where we lived when my father became ill and died…………just scant months short of my elders’ ordination in the United Methodist Church…………………
I looked at the blue spruce which my parents had planted when I was 5 years old……………..And it towered well over 20 feet high………………………..
I remembered moving from our house on 169th street to the house on Birch Avenue………….I remembered climbing so high in that maple tree in our front yard……………going as high as I could…………….to the point where the branches wouldn’t bear my weight any longer…………….
And I did all of that in 1963………….just to see the new high school I would soon attend……………………
I remembered the Cub Scout Den my mother led in our home………………..
I remembered practicing chip shots over and over and over in the back yard with my father………………………
I remembered our dogs, Tanya…………and Natasha………………..
And playing tag, baseball, football, basketball and ducking when the little brown bats flew so erratically over us as they were chasing insects……………and we were playing flashlight tag……………
In short………………..I knew that my childhood had come to an end………………..
And I wish I still had my comic books………….and my baseball cards…………..That Mickey Mantle card would be worth an awful lot, now…………….And so many of my D.C. comic books and Marvel Comic books would fetch an amazing price……………………
Oh well……………………………..It was one of those “The House That Built Me” moments.
I wept……………………..And the hardest point was when we had removed everything from the home that was moveable……………….and we locked the door………………and got into our car……………and drove to Fort Wayne…………………..
And, that was really the first time………………when I began to come to grips with Jesus teaching found in our lesson from Luke today………….but also found in the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew chapter 6, verses 19-21
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Mattthew 6:19-21 RSV.
And now…………………23 years later………………………after so many changes in our lives…………………after losses……………………after exciting new developments like children…………….and soon our son, Michael’s wedding in Canon Beach, Oregon……………and our daughter Erin, finishing a college degree this coming year……………….and with my retirement from full time, intinerant parish ministry just a month ago………………………….at this point in my life………………………..I understand where my treasure lies……………………..
Our story this morning about the farmer who had a spectacular harvest and wanted to do the logical thing…………..building more storage space for his crop……………..is another one of those somewhat irritating stories which Jesus told………………….
Its akin to the story of the workers in the vineyard who were all paid the same wages, no matter how long they worked…………….Every time most of us read that story we say, “That’s not fair!”
And if we look at heaven as a place where we strive to be good enough in order to enter…………..or think that the quality of our good works gain us entry to God’s courts………………the gospel has some disappointing surprises for us………………..And it also has a word of grace………………which comforts us…………………And its that grace which gives us entry into heaven………our grace and our faith in Christ………not our works………………We understand that on an intellectual level……………..But for many, deep down in our guts…………………we know it’s the hard working who gain entrance to heaven!!!! After all………..”there is no such thing as a free lunch,”…………………And most of us would look with distrust at someone who offered us something priceless…………………that was simply a gift! Almost everyone will say, “What’s the catch?”
There is no catch! Christ died for you! You are loved! Period.
But, our industrious farmer wanted to build bigger barns…………in order to enjoy his wealth…………And then the parable says that God called him a “fool” and said that that very night he would die………………..And where would his riches lie?
His family would inherit them……………..And he would lose everything…………….except the most important thing of all………………..his relationship with God…………………..And, assuming he had family…………………….that was where his treasure was…………………
When we were growing up we were all told the parable of the grasshopper and the ant…………
We were told how the ant worked so industriously to save……………….and the grasshopper foolishly spent everything…………and focused on having good times, now…………………
And you and I are products of the Protestant work ethic…………………
We are taught to work hard from the time we are little……………….We paint rail fences…………do yard work……………wash and wax cars………………..carry out trash…………..vacuum our homes………………….wash our clothing……………..dust………………..wash the windows……………………and many of us…………know if something is just a little out of place on our dressers…………..Sounds kind of Obsessive, doesn’t it?
“Cleanliness is next to Godliness.” How many of us grew up with that????? I did.
And in the midst of all of that……………we acquire……………….We plan……………We buy insurance………………..We have 401 k’s……………….We have pensions………………..bank accounts…………..investments……………………All of that is………prudent.
We know that we must prepare for the future…………………because hard days may come…………….and no one wants to lack for the basics……………..
But, our parable spoke of “greed”…………………I remember watching the movie “Wall Street” which came out in 1987…………It starred Michael Douglass……………..And the character he played, a Wall Street broker said these words……………..
“Greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right. Greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures, the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed, in all of its forms; greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge, has marked the upward surge of mankind and greed, you mark my words, will not only save Teldar Paper, but that other malfunctioning corporation called the U.S.A.
And here we are, after Bernie Madoff’s ponzie scheme………………..Here we are after the Freddie
Mac and Fannie Mae investment fiascos…………………….And we are trying to climb out of the deepest financial hole which our nation has been in since the Great Depression…………………..And I believe our faith has been shaken…………………Not just faith in the dollar…………….Not just faith in our nation……………or our government……………….But, we as Americans…………………want so desperately to believe that our nation is favored in God’s eyes…………………….Our nation has been called “A Shining City on A Hill…………..” And that’s what we want it to be………………
I was graced to know a former parishioner in Fort Wayne named Mary Brandt……………And when we got to “crunch time” at Calvary…………..when the St. Mary’s over ran its banks………….when our finances were short……………….When there were people who were unhappy for one reason or another……………..Mary would say, “Where is our faith?” And Mary lived in a small house………..with a little dog named Lady………….in a “bad” neighborhood…………….And every time I asked her on Sunday mornings, “Mary, how are you?” She would look up at me with bright eyes……………in a frail, frail body, and say, “Not, bad, for an old lady.” And she had known her share of hardship and loss……………..and did not drive an expensive car, or wear expensive clothes…………….but was one of the greatest givers in that church.
And when Mary passed on and left us……………….the greatest legacy she left…………..was her faith………………and her positive attitude……………….Not her acquisitive attitude………..but her faithful, positive, caring attitude.
And, if our lesson from Luke says anything to me today…………….it says that Gordon Gekko wasn’t right……………..Bernie Madoff wasn’t right………………
Mary Brandt was right…………………..And Jesus was and is right…………………And if we follow Mary and Jesus’ path………….we will be that shining city on a hill.
Amen.
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Gospel Lesson: Luke 10:38-42
The 8th Sunday after Pentecost
SCI: In order to remain healthy, we need to Chris Madison
Take care of ourselves, body, mind, If I Were Martha—I’d Be Miffed
And spirit. 8th Sunday After Pentecost
Luke 10:38-42
July 18, 2010
Ad Gloriam Dei
Americans pride themselves on being busy people……………………..We fill out calendars to overflowing……………….We make sure our children are kept just as busy as possible…………………
We cram our church calendars with all kinds of meetings…………….
And………somewhere…………in the middle of all of this………….if we listen carefully……………we will hear our spirit say…………………”I’m tired and frustrated of all of this……………………I’m sick and tired of going to meetings……………………I just want to rest………………….”
And we wonder why the Church, and I’m using a capital “C” here…………….not referring to any particular congregation……………….isn’t renewed………………or why its zest for following Jesus……………isn’t very energized………………
Its my hope this morning………………..as we take a look at our lesson……………..that we will discover what it will take for us to be refreshed in spirit………………and for the Church, again big C, to find joy not just in what it does…………………….but to find joy because it sits at the feet of Jesus……………………..
Let us pray:
Thank you, God, for those who have chosen to come here to worship You this Lord’s Day. There were many other things which they could have done. They could have stayed home. They could have taken a long drive to visit relatives. They could have taken a long weekend in Chicago, eaten some good pizza, shopped til they dropped………..visited the museums………….and taken the tour of the lake front…………….
But, everyone here this morning has chosen to come here………….And in our hearts………….we don’t want this worship time to be just another church meeting……………We really want to sit at your feet, Jesus…………………………and to leave refreshed………………..I pray that this can happen………………….Amen.
Any time we get ready to entertain guests in our homes…………….we want things to be neat and tidy…………….for the food to be excellent………………for the service to sparkle…………….and most of all…………….for our guests to feel that the time in our homes was special……………….
Some of us dust, vacuum, use Febreeze, make sure that every part of the house is neat as a pin……………and we make sure that the china and silverware shine……………………
In short…………..we offer our very best to our guests…………………….especially if they are really important to us…………………..We want them to feel welcome!!!
And if we burn the apple pie………….some of us who are hosts…………..are really upset…………….But, more often than not………….our guests will say something like………………..”Don’t worry about it…………….I came to see you………………..I appreciate the apple pie…………….It doesn’t matter if the crust is a little black………..I came here to see you…………………You’re the reason I came here……………I didn’t come for the food………………I came because we are friends……………..”
And, truth be told…………….the most important thing we can offer when we offer hospitality……………….is to give our guests our undivided attention………………………..
But, we live in a world where many of us have earphones stuffed in our ears…………..listening to ipods……………..or we play electronic games……………….even in the middle of family get togethers or in the car…………………….
If any generation multitasks…………..this one does…………………….
But…………….when we listen to someone……………..really listen……………….we can’t multitask………………..We need to give our undivided attention………………
And we struggle with this, don’t we? I can’t tell you how many times my daughter has said, “Did you hear what I just said?” And, if I’m honest, I will say, “I’m sorry………..I was working on this………………..Would you please say it again?” And generally she is kind and repeats what she just said………………because her father multitasks too much…………………….instead of remaining in the moment………………and putting aside whatever might be on his mind…………….in order to listen to someone he loves……………..
Maybe that’s a good litmus test for hospitality in a world which multitasks to beat the band………………..To put down what we are doing…………..and just listen!
The story we have this morning if a pretty familiar one…………….Mary, Martha and Lazarus lived in Bethany………………about 6 miles from Jerusalem……………..
And they were really close to Jesus……………They were among his best friends…………..
And Mary and Martha knew he was coming to visit them………………And Martha was baking a cake……………..and really putting on the ritz for Jesus……………..
She was working her fingers to the bones to get ready for him……………so that she might honor him through her cooking…………………..
So, she was hard at it……………………And her sister……………well……………..we don’t know what Mary was doing during before Jesus got there……………….But, after he arrived…………….she just sat at is feet……………….
Can you feel the tension??????
One sister is working her finger to the bones to make Jesus feel welcome through her food…………..And the other is just sitting there…………………….
Martha is feeling frantic……………because “the Lord” is in her home…………………..And her sister is just…………..sitting there…………………
And at some point…………….she might have opened her moth and said………….”Aaaaaah.”
And Martha finally did speak and asked Jesus to put her sister to work……………………….
It’s like when a pastor visits in a home and someone says…………..”Would you tell my brother to………………….” You can finish the sentence………………..
It doesn’t feel good for those of us who are pastors to be put in the middle like that………….
But, let’s notice how Jesus handled this……………He didn’t scold Mary because she hadn’t worked herself into a panic attack……………….
He didn’t take Martha’s side………….either……………….He was concerned for Martha………….because she was so full of worry……………………….just so worried…………….
And we get an important insight from this story…………..
It isn’t that Martha was wrong to prepare the meal or help get the house ready…………….This lesson doesn’t say…………..”Don’t be a Martha!”………….If we didn’t have Martha’s nothing would get done……………………
Martha was a doer………………….maybe a workaholic……………….
Mary…………………was a person……………….who just basked in the Presence of Christ…………….We might call her a contemplative…………………And it isn’t that Mary was better than Martha……………………If we think that…………….we are missing the point of the story………………….
Actually, the story has a couple of points………………
We can work ourselves into a frenzy to try and mask our worry or anxiety…………But, it will only lessen it…………..while we’re busy………………..When we have sat down…………or when we are alone again…………..the anxiety will still be there………………
But, if we sit at Jesus’ feet……………..things look different………………….Many of us know the old hymn “Turn your eyes upon Jesus……………….Look full in his wonderful face…………and the things of earth will grow faintly dim………..in the light of his glory and grace…………..”
There are things which happen to us……………..that can just plain knock us off our horses……………….And, at first we might panic…………..or we might obsess about why we didn’t handle things better………………..And we can work so much……………..that we think that our work will make all of our problems go away………………But, they don’t……….
The biggest problem we have…………..is the way that we approach solving problems………….
Sometimes it might make more sense to sit at Jesus’ feet for a while…………..before we rush into solving a problem………………..Sitting at Jesus’ feet……….might help us to see things better………………..
And when we sit at Jesus’ feet…………….and just drink in the Presence of God or Christ…………..our souls are filled with peace and joy………………….
And if you’ve ever been in the middle of a really difficult problem…………..its always better not to make decisions until and unless our spirits are calm…………………….because if we make them when we are angry or anxious…………….it will only make things worse………….
Have you ever written an angry letter and mailed it?????? Or have you ever sent out an email…………..only to think “I should never have hit that send button!”
I’ve done those things………………Not very often………………….But, I’ve done them……………….And, I can tell you from experience………..that most people don’t like to receive angry letters or emails…………….And sending them to them doesn’t get us any points………………
I was listening to someone the other day……………..talking about a news item…………..It had to do with students taking their lives at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York………..There had been a wave of suicides…………………
In fact three students took their lives……………….And naturally the university was really concerned……………..And, in the discussion we were having among us in Crawfordsville……………one of the people present…………who’s a very smart guy………..with a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins said, “There’s just so much pressure in some of these schools……………Cornell’s like the Ivy League schools…………….”
The students are probably worn out…………and anxious……………..because all of those kids are achievers………………..And the environment of their school…………….is all about achievement…………….
But, sometimes we lose perspective and forget what’s really important………………If someone gets a B or a C or even a D or an F……………..it doesn’t mean that that student isn’t important……………And it doesn’t mean that that student is a failure……………..It means that that student might have handled that class differently…………….or learned something new about studying……………….
And, like a good friend of mine said a few months ago……………”What we have to do is “Fail Up!”
A failure is really an opportunity to learn…………………..So………………if Martha’s apple pie was burned……………………….so what?
And if we fail at a subject or a job………………….We can always pick ourselves up again……………sit in the Presence of Jesus……………….remember that He loves us……………….and forgives us…………………..and then………………go on……………..
Maybe what we have to learn is not to spread ourselves too thin……………………Have you ever done that?
Americans are so good at that! It’s a national pastime……………
So……………how can we head off the anxiety that comes from too much pressure…………….on the inside of us, by the way………..on the inside of us……………Martha’s pressure wasn’t coming from Mary……………It was coming from Martha!
Well……………..we can listen to our bodies……………If we’re not sleeping well…………….or if we have too many headaches or too much backpain…………….our body is trying to tell us something……………..If we just can’t concentrate……………..our mind might be trying to tell us something…………….Maybe we have been drawn in too many directions………………….
That can happen, too……………Been there……………Done that………………Got the tee shirts………………
Or……………and this is something that many Christians don’t want to talk about…………….If we find ourselves growing in anger……………….that anger is a warning sign………………..And instead of blowing up…………………….we need to step back……………..seek a pastor or a counselor…………………and talk with him or her………….about what’s going on in our lives…………………………
Maybe we need to go on vacation…………………..not to ride rides………………..Not to go to a thrill park…………………..but just to listen to the dragonflies buzz by…………..or watch the lightning bugs………………….or to listen to fish jump………………..or to walk through one of our state parks…………………..
Jesus went to gardens to pray…………….There were reasons for that………………We only have a few stories of him being angry…………………
But, we have a lot of stories about how he handled really difficult life situations……………….And he handled them well……………….because he spent a lot of time…………….in prayer and meditation with his Father………………..
We need to remember that Jesus was human and divine……………….And in his humanity……………he needed time not only to work…………………but time to rest……….to play…………….and most of all to worship……………..
Just to sit in the Presence of God………………
So…………….I don’t know if you’ve brought any back pain or headaches here today…………..or if your stomach is upset………………or if you’re not sleeping well………………or if you’re angry………like Martha was…………….And Martha was miffed……………..But, I would encourage you…………….when you get home today……………look at your calendar…………………and see if you’re overprogrammed………….And if you are……………..carve out space for yourself to rest in God’s Presence and Glory………………
Do that for a week……………….And then see how you feel afterwards.
God bless you today and always. Amen.
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Lectionary for Easter Day
Acts 10:34-43
Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24
1 Corinthians 15:19-26
John 20:1-18 or Luke 24:1-12
Today is Easter Sunday, the Day when the entire Church celebrates the fact that Jesus was raised from the dead by God the Father. Our journey to the Cross began in Advent and later on Christmas Day when the Christ child was born. We have embraced a journey from cradle to grave, quite literally. But, today, we have gone beyond death itself, which the human race for all generations has treated as a mystery and a fact. How many times have we heard the saying, “Only two things in life are sure, death and taxes?” But, our witness today from either gospel lesson points to a witness held, now, for two thousand years and more. If one were to look for “physical” proof of Jesus’ resurrection, its not to be found. Yes, we always hear about the Shroud of Turin. But, there are hotly contested viewpoints on that artifact. The New Testament, which was written by Jesus’ followers, believed that Christ was raised from the dead. The witness is uniform. It is a witness, which came out of an experience. Paul bears witness to it as well in his writings. There are those who discount it because the laws of physics just don’t account for a resurrection. Nor do the laws of physics account for other miracles in the pages of scripture, such as a burning bush, with a disembodied voice, speaking to a shepherd, and later that same shepherd parting waters as an army bears down on a beleaguered people whom God brought out of slavery in Egypt. But, as Shakespeare said in Hamlet: “There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”
And, one might add, that even though reason might say, “Resurrection? No way!” the witness is still there. What do we do with it? There are those who say that the Bible is only to be taken metaphorically or allegorically. The historicity of biblical texts in some corners has been dismissed. The Bible is a book of faith, though. It is not “history” as we view history today. The characters in its pages are real. The witness from Genesis through Revelation comes out of two communities “of faith,” first Israel, then the Church. To be sure, there is metaphor in the Bible’s pages. And every passage has a “kernel of truth” in it, which we, today, can integrate into our lives in order to become better human beings. And sometimes truth runs far deeper than the mere literal. Truth becomes truth when it impacts us, though we live thousands of years later than the biblical writings.
The idea of a resurrection was not a New Testament idea. It is also found in the book of Daniel. There was a belief that God would raise the dead, some to punishment, some to eternal bliss in heaven. Daniel’s vision of the last days includes this witness:
1“At that time Michael, the great prince, the protector of your people, shall arise. There shall be a time of anguish, such as has never occurred since nations first came into existence. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book. 2 Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. 4 But you, Daniel, keep the words secret and the book sealed until the time of the end. Many shall be running back and forth, and evil shall increase.” Daniel 12:1-4 NRSV
Easter Sunday is not about Spring. It is about resurrection. We’re all grateful for Spring, because in Indiana, things can get kind of gloomy over the Winter. But, Easter Sunday is about a Promise, the promise that death is not the end for the faithful. And when I am with family members as a pastor of the Church when a loved one takes their last breath, there is no way that I believe that the story of Easter is simply metaphorical. For me, its real. Its real for me because I trust the witness of the Church of the Ages found in the New Testament.
And now, dear reader, I will simply ask, “Do you believe the witness?” Happy Easter to you. Christ is Risen.
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Lectionary Texts for Palm/Passion Sunday
March 28, 2010
Liturgy of the Palms
Luke 19:28-40
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29
Liturgy of the Passion
Isaiah 50:4-9a
Psalm 31:9-16
Philippians 2:5-11
Luke 22:14-23:56 or Luke 23:1-49
On this day, the preacher, or lay person, has the option of looking at the day through the lenses of prophetic fulfillment (Liturgy of the Palms, but also found in Luke 22:14-23:56). The Church of the Ages, in all of its expressions, Roman Catholic, Orthodox and the Protestant Churches has found itself drawn to “the triumphal entry” of Jesus into Jerusalem, knowing full well, because we are post Easter Christians, that later in the week, the triumphal entry will become darkness, torture, and the sheep will be scattered because their Shepherd has been taken from them to die “on a tree” and thus become a cursed man.
There are so many rich choices in the texts today, that it is difficult to choose where to dig in. Do we focus on fulfillment of prophecy? Do we focus on the suffering of the Servant (Isaiah 50:4-9a) and also Psalm 31:9-16? Or do we focus on how the eternal Christ, Second person of the Trinity, chose “emptiness” and not to grasp at God the Father’s power, but rather to endure humiliation, in order to help us understand that God’s Kingdom or Reign was never to be about the misuse of power and the subjugation of “the poor,” or “the least of these” but was rather to be a realm based on true justice, mercy, righteousness and love. These qualities were not those found in cruel Ancient Near Eastern rulers or in many of the Caesars, though there were exceptions. But, this “King” whom we call Jesus Christ came to earth to stand “with us,” (the Incarnation or Christmas) and to demonstrate in word and deed what God is really like.
This certain knowledge is so important in a world where persons are so disconnected from one another, whether family, neighbors, other nations, enemies, and most of all disconnected from God’s grace. Today will begin a cruel week, which will end with bitterness and gall, brokenness, and the apparent triumph of evil.
A concern which I would raise: For so many years the Christian church, especially in the middle ages, labeled Jews as “Christ killers.” Because Christianity rode in the same cart as the Roman Empire and later was the dominant religion in Europe, we demonized Jesus’ own people. This has continued until fairly recently. Jewish-Christian dialogue has taken place between Roman Catholicism and Judaism, at least with the Reform tradition. It seems to me we have forgotten that Jesus was a Jew, and so were the disciples. And the fear experienced by the Jewish Sanhedrin because false messiahs had come before, and would come later, drove decisions to be made by fear. The chasm between church and synagogue has been a bitter one, which can be traced as far back as to the apostle Paul’s ministry. As we remember Jesus’ suffering and death this week, we need to remember it was the Romans who killed Jesus, in order to preserve “order.” In my experience, as Christians, we are often very ignorant about Judaism and its beliefs. (The same can be said for Islam). There is a lot of hurt, anger, and vengeance deep in the souls of persons today. Orthodox Christianity, those churches which believe in the New Testament witness about whom Jesus was and is, and who embrace the major creeds, apostles’ and Nicene, must do so in a way which does not surrender our beliefs, but which does not brutalize others who do not believe as we do. We need to keep this in mind as we watch Lenten movies this week. The movie, “The Passion of the Christ,” produced and directed by Mel Gibson, is a very stark portrayal of the events of this week, seen through the gospels, but also through Mr. Gibson’s viewpoint. The vehemence expressed by some of the Sanhedrin (the ruling Jewish council in Jerusalem) is found in the gospels. But, we need to remember that there were those who did not attack Jesus and his followers. Among them were Gamaliel, Joseph of Arimathea, and Nicodemus. Because we believe the New Testament witness about Jesus we believe in a God-man who said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,” (Luke 23:34 RSV) perhaps, now, in a time when the world seems to be so fragmented, it would be a time to remember that we do worship a God whose true nature is love and to work for dialogue and understanding, rather than perpetuate a hatred born of fear.
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Lectionary Lessons for Sunday, March 21, the 5th Sunday in Lent
Hebrew Bible Isaiah 43:16-21
Psalter Psalm 126
Epistle Philippians 3:4b-14
Gospel Lesson John 12:1-8
The season of Lent (which means “springtime”) is the oldest of the Christian seasons of worship. In the apostolic church’s proclamation of faith, the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, whom we call Christ, was tied to the suffering of Israel, and to the new things which God was going to bring about in the life of that faith community, and did bring about in that faith community. In the Babylonian exile, when the people of Israel were at their bitterest (see Psalm 137) sitting along the banks of the Chebar River (canal) and their enemies taunted them about how their God had let them down, God did a new thing. With the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem in 586 B.C.E. the old sacrificial system of worship could no longer take place. Instead, while broken and traumatized, God created something new: the synagogue. And, the worship service conducted in the synagogue did not focus on sacrifice, but was instead focused on praise, confession, the word of God, the preached message, and response. This follows the form of Isaiah’s call vision in Isaiah 6. Virtually everything which was meaningful to the people of the southern kingdom of Judah died between 597 and 586 B.C.E. the years of war’s devastation in Judah. But, God wasn’t done with God’s faithful people yet. There were more chapters to come in Israel’s history and faith journey.
Isaiah spoke of a servant who would do the will of God and whose spirit would be one of reconciliation and service. The church of the ages believes that that servant was and is Jesus. Our lesson from Isaiah 43 speaks of restoration after calamity. It uses images that desert dwellers would grasp:
18 Do not remember the former things,
or consider the things of old.
19 I am about to do a new thing;
now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert.
20 The wild animals will honor me,
the jackals and the ostriches;
for I give water in the wilderness,
rivers in the desert,
to give drink to my chosen people,
21 the people whom I formed for myself
so that they might declare my praise. Isaiah 43:18-21 NRSV.
Psalm 126 also speaks of restoration and the community of faith shouting with Joy after severe calamity.
Paul, in a boastful mood, reminds his readers of his lineage in Judaism and his credentials. They are impressive. But more impressive is this statement:
7 “Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. 8 More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith. 10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, 11 if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.” Ephesians 4:7-11 NRSV
That word rubbish, by the way in Greek is: skubalon, which really means dung. Substitute whatever word you might want to use. You get the picture. But, Paul, rich in his credentials, rich in his heritage, counted everything as loss, so that he might follow Christ, and be a worthy witness for him. This is an immense attitude change from the Saul who held the coats when Stephen was being stoned to death!
And the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead? Recently Bishop Mike Coyner wrote an e-pistle about transforming worship. Check in out. Its quite good. And, if the people for whom we have been given the honor to serve and lead can sense in any way in us, that God has transformed us and we have been raised from the dead, it will be a marvel! Hey! I’ve been dead. And if if wasn’t for Christ, the community of faith, good friends, counselors, doctors, spiritual directors and coaches, I shudder to think what my spirit would have been like following September, 2007.
The real power is found in the lives of people in the pew whose lives have been transformed. Their witness is contagious. The humility of dying to self is a bitter pill. But, I thank God for the medicine called Christ our Lord and the Cross. So, I sing for joy!
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Lectionary Lessons for the 4th Sunday in Lent, March 14, 2010
Hebrew Bible: Joshua 5:9-12
Psalter: Psalm 32
Epistle Lesson: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21
Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
All of our lessons this week are about reconciliation. God acts in order to forgive our sin(s) and takes the initiative to bring us back to Him. When we look at the sweep of biblical history, time and time again, we witness a God whose love for us is so great, that in spite of the heartbreak we bring God, God continues to love us and even welcomes us home, when we’ve really fouled up our lives. The story of the “lost” son, and the loving “Father,” from Luke is one of the most moving stories in the entire Bible. It reminds us, that like “the hound of heaven” God searches for us until the hardened shell of our sin and fear are pierced by God’s love, and we become transformed. This is Paul’s witness in 2nd Corinthians. Paul goes so far as to say, “21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 RSV.
Years ago, the psychiatrist, Karl Menninger wrote a book entitled “Whatever Became of Sin?” In western society we don’t grasp the concept any longer. We think of “sins” such as lying, murder, theft, adultery, gluttony, drunkenness, and broken promises. Those we understand. But, to understand that we are alienated from God by Original Sin, and that our “natural” condition is a fallen one, is almost totally foreign to our culture. Again, we won’t engage in higher biblical criticism here. This is a sermon starter/devotional piece. But the story of our first parents’ disobedience and the subsequent curses which came upon not only the human race, but the fracturing of creation itself, has been replaced with an ethical system which does not recognize the biblical witness, but instead points to “bad teaching,” or being “unenlightened.” Having said that, those things are true. There is bad teaching. And yes, a whole bunch of us live unenlightened lives. (Buddhism isn’t off the mark here). But the chasm which exists between God and the human race is real. And the separation which exists between and among the human race is real. The pain is all around us and in us. But…….God sent Jesus as a Chief Bridge Builder to bring fallen humanity back to God. Some might label this thinking as “fundamental.” And, in a way it is. Everything has “basics.,” basketball, baseball, swimming, karate, golf, basket weaving, playing musical instruments, painting works of art, etc. Christianity has “basics,” too. I would choose, rather, to describe the framework of “sin and redemption” as orthodox. This description sounds academic. For those who want a description which is musical, I would point to the praise song: “How Deep the Father’s Love For Us” by Stuart Townend. And when we finally understand what God has done in Christ to bring us home again, we’ll sing that song with a whole new meaning, which isn’t as much academic, but instead filled with gratitude and tears of joy.
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From the Common Lectionary:
Ash Wednesday
Joel 2:1-2, 12-17
Psalm 51:1-17 (UMH 785)
2 Corinthians 5:20b–6:10
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
Our lessons for today center around the theme of repentance (which in Greek is the word metanoia, a change of mind or heart.) Anyone who has ever struggled with a pernicious debilitating disease or addiction or sin knows that transformation cannot usually take place over night. We are all people who want what we want not just right now, but instead “yesterday.” And, God doesn’t work under our time tables. This calls for patience in us and perseverance, good friends to help us on our way and to guide us and correct us when we need it. And, we need to understand how sinful we are, and yet how much God really does love us. The symbol of our faith is a Cross! How paradoxical! In order to find eternal life, we need to die. And, the last time I checked (this morning, by the way) “the old man” as Paul calls our natural self, doesn’t die easily.
The emotionality of religious conversion experiences, such as Wesley’s at Aldersgate Street has been lifted up as a model for us. Wesley’s journal goes on to say that after Aldersgate he was always conqueror. But, if one reads the rest of his journal and journey, we know that that isn’t true. He bungled a lot of relationships, with the women to whom he related, with his brother Charles, and a good many others. He had a quick temper. He was barred from preaching in England’s Churches because of his critical nature, which was fueled by his idealism–wanting desperately to see the Church be what it was called to be. It took decades before John Wesley was permitted to preach in the pulpits of the Church of England. His preaching angered that many people in power. And power, has a way of stepping on folks who rock the boat.
So, here we are at Ash Wednesday, at the beginning of the oldest season of Christian worship, and at the very center of it, the suffering, death, and eventually resurrection of Jesus Christ. Joel’s lesson is about repentance after a locust swarm. Who wouldn’t fall on one’s knees and beg for God’s mercy after such devastation? Psalm 51 is about David’s fiasco with Bathsheba. There’s a lot of this in the news right now: Elliot Spitzer, John Edwards, Tiger Woods, David Letterman, etc., etc. Why is it when some of us are at the height of our “game,” we allow power or fame to corrupt us. And our hearts become insenstive and in the case of some men, we think with a minor part of our anatomy and not our hearts? David offered a broken spirit and contrite heart, but he still counseled Solomon to destroy all of his political enemies. And some believe that that is what led to the house of David’s downfall. Lord, have mercy! Paul speaks of Christ becoming sin for us so that we might become righteousness. The old man dies hard! And the gospel lesson reminds us that genuine piety is not for show. It is what lives in our hearts. It is about how we consistently live out what we believe, and its about how we live and act when no one is watching, not even the tabloids!
And, yet, none of us is 100% consistent. And each of us has integrity problems (if we’re honest). And honesty is hard to come by today. (Ever feel like Diogenes walking through Athens’ streets with that lantern looking for honesty? Maybe we need to let that light shine inside of us as a starting place.)
As we begin this journey into Lent and toward the Cross, how can we let the “waters of baptism” drown the old man, and permit the Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist draw us toward God’s grace?
The journey isn’t easy. And Jesus said the way was narrow. He was right. Lord, have mercy.
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Lectionary Texts for Sunday, February 7, 2010
The 5th Sunday after the Epiphany
Hebrew Bible: Isaiah 6:1-8
Psalter: Psalm 138
Epistle Lesson: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Gospel Lesson: Luke 5:1-11
Almost all of us can remember times when in a brief instant, due to circumstances which seized us, we found ourselves entering brand new territory, sometimes with fear, sometimes with excitement, and usually nothing less than awestruck.
All of our lessons today have those elements in them. Each of the lessons relates to God’s/Christ’s “call” which has changed our lives forever. Isaiah’s call in chapter 6 is a classic, with a classic response: Isaiah stands before the altar of God in heaven and God speaks: “Whom shall I send and who will go for us?” Whether the “us” is used in the royal sense, or in a collective sense, The Lord and all the host of heaven, doesn’t matter. God’s call to Isaiah was urgent. His response was brave and faithful. “Here am I. Send me.”
The plaintive request of King David in Psalm 138 carries a strong sense that God is with David in his calling as King. And furthermore, God will see David’s calling through. David knows that The Lord will “fulfill his purpose for him (me).” Psalm 138:8a. This tells us that we are not alone in our callings, but that if God has called us, God will see things through with us. There is a saying, “If God brings you to it, God will bring you through it!”
The lesson from 1 Corinthians 15 speaks of a faith which has been handed down by the witness of the living community of faith: 3″For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, 4and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, 5and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. 7Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.” Paul relates a piece of his calling, and the sense that he is “least of the apostles.” He had not walked with Jesus “in the flesh.” But, he knew the Lord and met him on the Damascus road.
Lastly, Luke’s gospel tells a very familiar story: the calling of the fishermen. Many of us have sat in church buildings in Sunday School, Bible School, or at church camp and sung the song: “I will make you fishers of men if you follow me,” complete with hand motions. One thing is certain, when Christ enters our lives, things are going to change! Peter, Andrew, James and John left their boats and nets. And their fishing business was lucrative. What caused them to make such a life changing decision? An encounter with Jesus drew them out of their life situations, and Jesus “shepherded” them into new lives as witnesses of the Resurrection and God’s love and power.
Would that we could see such life changing power in worship every Sunday! That kind of life changing power and witness is among us. We just have to connect people to those whose lives have been transformed, and then help those who are hearing God’s call to them in Christ respond with faith.
This is more than all of the church bazaars, barbecues, fish fries, softball games, and Superbowl Sundays in our churches. These things may help us build relationships with new folks and do help. But, someone must speak a word of witness. And when the witness comes out of a congregation, it is powerful. One call from God can and does change everything!
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Lectionary Texts For January 31, 2010
The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
Hebrew Bible: Jeremiah 1:4-10
Psalter: Psalm 71:1-6
Epistle Lesson: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Gospel Lesson: Luke 4:21-30
Oh my. Our gospel lesson from last week featured Jesus reading from the scroll of Isaiah and everyone thought well of him. But, this week, look out! Jesus steps into the prophetic role and it isn’t pretty. When most people think of prophets, they think of someone who can forcast the future. But, that is not what the word nabi in Hebrew means. A nabi is someone who speaks on behalf of God, and has a message to deliver. Yes, it may have future ramifications. But, the primary job of a prophet is to speak the word of God to a situation which is:
1. Idolatrous
2. Unhealthy
3. Destructive
4. Unloving
5. Not righteous
The lesson from Jeremiah reminds us that God called him to speak the truth and that God had put his words in Jeremiah’s mouth, and for him not to be afraid. Those who know Jeremiah well, know that after being battered in his ministry (literally, by Pashur the priest, having been put in stocks, and finally in a dry cistern) he spoke these words to God in the 20th chapter: “You have deceived me, and I was deceived.” (verse 7). The Hebrew really comes across as “seduced.” Jeremiah was not the only prophet who suffered violence because he carried out God’s commands. Micah did. And, in Luke 4 today, so does Jesus. His offense was to remind the folks of his hometown, Nazareth, that God’s love for the human race was greater than a love given simply to Israel. That literally set everyone’s teeth on edge, enraged them, and put them in the mind of throwing Jesus off a cliff. So much for the hometown boy who made good.
Then, as we look at Paul’s famous “love” chapter, it becomes pretty obvious that our “love” falls incredibly short of what it needs to be. And Paul, too, suffered for his witness for Christ. So, “Who wants to be a prophet?” There are those who believe that true prophets no longer exist. Based on the 4th chapter of Ephesians, it would appear that that position is erroneous. But, who in the world would want that role? It leads to death. It leads to a Cross. And most pastors know that if they speak the truth too boldly, it will cause descension, even if their words need to open wounds, correct, encourage, guide, and teach. Its just not easy. Maybe that’s why so few want to enter ministry. Its a tough calling. And though we love our people, even when we don’t always agree, we will take our lumps. But, if we do it for Jesus, and the Kingdom grows, it might just be worth it.
My own personal list of prophets includes:
Men
1. Francis of Assisi
2. Martin Luther
3. John Wesley
4. William Wilberforce
5. Desmond Tutu
6. Peter Storey
7. Martin Luther King, Jr.
8. Bishop Woodie White
9. Lech Walesa
10. Pope John Paul II
Women
1. Mary, the mother of Jesus
2. Clare of Assisi
3. Rosa Parks
4. Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie
5. Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Obviously, this list isn’t complete. All of us could add a whole lot more names. If you have someone whom you consider to be prophet, please post a blog response.
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Lectionary Texts for the 3rd Sunday After the Epiphany, January 24.
Hebrew Bible: Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10
Psalter: Psalm 19
Epistle Lesson: 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
Gospel Lesson: Luke 4:14-21
In our lessons today three share a common theme: hearing the Word. Nehemiah speaks of this, as does Psalm 19 as it bears witness to God’s voice in creation, with creation “speaking” loudly and persistently of God’s presence. Jesus’ reading of Isaiah demonstrates something which happens in congregations every Sunday: the reading and hearing of God’s Word. The epistle lesson, from Paul in 1st Corinthians 12 is part of a larger segment, addressing the issue of gifts given in every body of believers to be used for the glory of God and for building one another up in order to carry out ministry together, together being the operant word. Paul, then in 12:31 says, “But earnesly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.” And this transitional verse leads us into Paul’s great teaching on sacrificial love.
Why is it that we have such a hard time hearing? What attitudes, “lenses,” life experiences, biases, or just plain old fashioned “sins,” cause us not to hear? Sometimes we just don’t “wanna” listen to God. God’s ways are not always convenient, and are often costly. (And I am not thinking of money, here. But, hey! No congregation can operate long without money, time, energy, commitment and people working together). Perhaps it would be wise for us to ask on this 3rd Sunday after the Epiphany, “What did it take for me to hear God’s Word?” And, it might be wise to ask, “Am I open to hearing that Word, now, and putting it into practice?” If we are open to hearing, and putting our faith into practice, then Christ will be revealed to us all the more. And won’t that be an epiphany?
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