Sermon 01.31.10
“Unsportsmanlike conduct”
Two friends, Bill and Tom, were drinking at a all night café. The got into a discussion about the difference between irritation, anger and rage. At about 1 AM, “Bill said, “Look, Tom, I’ll show you and example of irritation. He pulled out his cell phone and dialed a number at random. The phone rang, and rang, and rang. Finally, when a sleepy voice answered on the other end, Bill said, “I’d like to speak to Jones.”
“There’s no one here named Jones, “ the disgruntled man replied as he hung up.
“That”, Bill said to Tom, “is a man who is irritated.
An hour later, at 2 AM, Bill did the same thing, saying to Tom, “Now I will show you what anger is.” He dialed the same number and let it ring. Eventually, the same sleepy voice answered the phone. Bill asked, “May I speak with Jones>’
“There’s no one here named Jones, came the angry reply, this time louder than before. The man slammed down the receiver.
An hour later, at 3 AM, Bill said, “Now I will show you an example of rage.” He pulled out his phone and dialed the same number for the third time and once more it rang, and rang, and rang. When the same sleepy man answered, Bill said, “Hi, this is Jones. Have their been any calls for me?” (David Holdaway)
Such would seem to be the case in today’s text from Luke, which is a continuation from last week, but has a dramatic ending.. After Jesus says, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing,” the gospel tells us that the all the people in the synagogue spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. Then, in the space of 4 verses, all of this atta boy stuff turns ugly and Jesus is grabbed by both ears and dragged out of town to be thrown over a high cliff. It is the epitome of unsportsman-like conduct.
What on earth did he say to elicit such a dramatic response? Essentially he tells them what they do not want to hear. He has spoken the words of Isaiah the prophet, then told the priests and educated men that he is the fulfillment of the reading. And the people wrongfully assume, Wow – we finally have our own prophet here in Galilee. They are thinking – this is what we really need. The stories that we heard about you in Capernaum were smashing and we’re just so glad that we have you here now and that you’ll minister to us. There are lots of warm fuzzies going around when people think they have an exclusive – something that they have acquired and can claim as their own, do miracles just for them, cater to whatever spiritual condition was needed.
Jesus responds by recounting the stories other prophets, trying to explain that his ministry was not to be controlled and would not be centered in one small area and to one small group of people. He speaks of Elijah, who could not minister but to one widow, when many others in Israel were dying of thirst when there was no rain for 3 and a half years. Similarly, he tells them that the prophet Elisha only cleansed one leper when Israel was full of people in the same condition. Jesus has not come to be their personal prophet gopher to the people of Nazareth, but to all. He reminds them that prophets are never received with honor in their hometown.
What a crushing disappointment, an inconvenient confession, a turn of the tables. Jesus will be calling the shots and will take his ministry to places of his own choosing. His anointing by the Holy Spirit cannot be contained within certain borders. This is nothing but the truth. His reading from Isaiah mentions no specific boundaries and instead, clearly does not include a privileged class. He will be sent to the poor, the captives, the blind. Jesus has told the synagogue nothing but the truth and this has left them irritated, angry and enraged.
When the radical inclusiveness of Jesus’ message becomes clear to those gathered in the synagogue at Nazareth, their commitment to their own community boundaries took precedence over their joy that God had sent a prophet among them. In the end, because they were not able to be open to the prospects of others’ sharing in the bounty of God’s deliverance, they themselves were unable to receive it. It is a sad and bitter moment.
Their reaction is over the top, and in the space of an instant, mob rule takes over and the crowd, whose feelings have been dearly hurt, react in violence. I have seen this happen at youth soccer games, which is unbelievable. Parents who cheer for their children suddenly are upset by a referree’s call and end up rushing onto the field. Unsportsman-like conduct is an understatement. But for Jesus this is just a foreshadowing of what is to come.
This episode will be repeated on Palm Sunday when Jesus enters Jerusalem in triumph amid a grand procession and is dead on the cross 5 days later.
Anger and violence are the last defense of those who have been made to face the truth of their own traditions, which they have long defended and embraced. Learning what we already know is often painfully difficult.
All of us know what it is to be at war with ourselves, sometimes making casualties of those who are guilty of nothing but speaking the truth in love. As Christians, even we are offended that God’s grace would be extended to all. It’s especially hard when it is to people of whom we do not approve. We like to claim Jesus as our own, and speak in terms of personal salvation, rather than view Jesus as the savior of the world. One of my old pastors used to say that the most frequently used word in heaven will be “OH”. Many of us will be surprised and shocked to see who shows up. There may be the poor, the lepers, the marginalized peoples, the drug addicts, the prostitutes, and even those who profess to call themselves “Christians”.
Sometimes, (imagine this), Christians judge other Christians. Many times when I am out in public looking very pastorly with a big cross around my neck, I will find myself engaged in conversation with a person who usually asks, “Are you a Christian?’ Somehow in the course of discussion, I mention that my church is open and affirming to those in the GLBT community, that it includes those who are educated and those who did not finish high school, that it allows strangers to sit in the front pews and embraces all peoples, just as Jesus did, I find out that I am not quite the type of Christian that this person had in mind. They have their own rules about Jesus and religion, and if you don’t want to play, you are ostracized. Unsportsmanlike conduct pops up again. Some of you may have experience as well. This is the mindset of the folks in the synagogue at Nazareth, who expected to have a savior to serve only them, as they saw fit and whom they could control.
Perhaps this is the good news that we are to take from the text this morning. Church arguments will never go away and people will be continued to let their emotions rule over any rationality at times. Congregational divisions will occur and split the church with some degree of regularity, and we will travel the road together from irritation to anger to rage. We will have the truth preached to us by others and sometimes we will listen eagerly, and just as many times, we will be ready to bite off heads and throw the minister off the cliff (but hopefully not in the near future.)
We don’t own Jesus anymore than the people of the synagogue. He did not exclusively come to St. Mark’s UCC, or to all white people of the upper class or to African American pentecostalists who preach in tongures. Christ has come freely to all peoples at all times and in all places. As it says later in Mark’s gospel: For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many." For many. This is the good news, that we have a Savior who is gracious to all and came to bring all into the kingdom. Praise God for this freedom. Amen.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
"Fear of Great Expectations"
Sermon 01.24.10
“Fear of Great Expectations”
One day in July, a farmer sat in front of his shack, smoking his corncob pipe. Along came a stranger who asked, “How’s your cotton coming?”
“Ain’t got none” was the answer. “Didn’t plant none. Afraid of the boll weevile.
Well, how’s your corn,” the stranger asked.
“Didn’t plant none,” the farmer replied. “Afraid of the drought.”
“How about your potatoes?”
“Ain’t got none of those either”. “Scared of ‘tater bugs,” came the reply.
The stranger finally asked, “Well, what did you plant?”
“Nothin’” the farmer answered. “I decided to play it safe.”
What we have here is a fear of failure.
Now, every time a preacher begins a sermon in a pulpit there is a certain amount of apprehension and fear. Even if you are as accomplished as Billy Graham or Joel Olsteen, each message is for a different audience and in many cases you are trying to put a new spin or generate novel thoughts on subjects that have been spoken on by experts over many, many years.
The only person who seems to be cool as a cucumber in doing this is Jesus, when he speaks in the synagogue in Galilee from Luke’s text this morning. Maybe it is because he has being doing this for several years. Some of you may recall that our lectionary a few weeks ago was about Jesus remaining in Jerusalem after the Passover and his parents’ finding him in the synogogue. He is accustomed to reading and teaching there, and you can just imagine that when he accepts the scroll from the attendant and unrolls it, there’s no fumbling, dropping or losing one’s place.
Calmly, Jesus selects a text from the prophet Isaiah and begins to read at exactly the right spot, a spot that he may very well have chosen himself. He says the spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he had anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
Just as neatly, he rerolls the scroll and handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. The text tells us that all eyes were on him, waiting for him to give a lesson on Isaiah. And then he blows them away by saying “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
I can imagine the buzz in the synagogue after that statement because it certainly isn’t modest or demurring. Jesus has just admitted to the learned men and scholarly priests that he is the chosen one, he is Harry Potter, so to speak. And he plans to do everything that he just read, through the power of the Holy Spirit. There are great expectations laid out in the scripture from Isaiah, but Jesus has no fear of failure.
No doubt there was mixed reaction to his statement. It would be like me reading the gospel of John and saying that I was the Word made flesh. I think most of you would be skeptical of that admission. Or like when Miss American says she wants to work for world peace. Another pipe dream that rarely holds water. Or most claims by politicians to lower taxes made by them at rallies before they are elected.
Some folks thought that there was a lot of hot air rising in the synagogue that morning. After all, this was a carpenter’s son, not born into a priestly family, and up to this point in Luke’s gospel no miracles have been performed. Jesus just seems to have the knack for public speaking. I’ll bet that there was a lot of eye-rolling and bulletin shuffling during the service at this point, and perhaps some disgusted people got up and left. The nerve of this unknown peasant, they clucked. How dare he claim to be the Messiah?!
Yet for others, the message was welcome. The people of Israel had clung to the passage in Isaiah, awaiting a savior who would proclaim good news and miraculous works to the marginalized peoples. Perhaps their response was “Oh My God – it’s him” with their jaws flapping in the wind. One thing is reasonably certain – when Jesus sat down and gave his pronouncement, no one’s reaction was neutral.
And indeed, when you continue with not just Luke’s gospel, but all the others, Jesus makes good on Isaiah’s words. He tells the people, “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” He releases people from their demons, cures those who are blind, and gives freedom to those who are in bondage due to their status or physical conditions.
The question I would propose for our consideration this morning is “How are we continuing this work now and how should we continue it in the future? Christ Jesus lays out great expectations, and I dearly want this congregation to pick up its dreams and move forward according to the gospel message. Isaiah has depicted a situation that is still with us today, over three thousand years later. We are the body of Christ, the saints anointed for ministry, and disciples committed to following Jesus’ lead.
How do we address the same concerns in a modern world, where there are people held captive by their addictions, there is poverty of material goods and spirit in the community, and there are those who need to be released from abusive situations? How are we, St. Mark’s United Church of Christ, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor? I would suggest to you that our fears and doubts are not about failure, but fear of great expectations. There are a ton of crops to be planted.
But there is another example of faith that I would like to share with you – a story about attitudes, which speaks to St. Mark’s current condition, about where we are as a congregation.
There’s a well-worn story about a man who approached a laborer who was laying bricks and asked him, “What are you doing?” The laborer said, in an annoying manner, “Can’t you see that I’m laying bricks.
The man then walked over to another bricklayer and asked, “What are you doing?” And the workman answered with pride, “I’m building a cathedral.”
One man had a job, there other had a vision. One man was just working on a building, while the other was dreaming of the finished project. They both had the same number of bricks to work with.
St Mark’s has done it’s share of walking the talk, as the saying goes. But we are not done yet, we are just beginning, starting over, getting our second wind. Jesus has great expectations for us, not simple tasks. And we need not fear them because we might fail. With God all things are possible. The needs are great in this neighborhood, and at times it may seem daunting to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. But we have an example to follow, and the Spirit of the Lord is indeed among us, and has anointed us for this purpose as well.
How shall St. Mark’s meet its challenges to thrive in a changing environment, to continue its tradition of extravagant hospitality, to be a beacon of light and hope in this community? As the new Council Members are installed later in the worship service, let us commit with them to not shy away from Christ’s great expectations, but find new ways of tending to the poor, the oppressed, and the captives. Unlike the farmer in my first illustration, let us plant all the crops that we can, expecting the harvest to be bountiful. The love of God and neighbor has permeated this sanctuary and these buildings over the years. Through grace and the direction of the Holy Spirit, may our efforts be worthy, true, faithful and fruitful. Amen.
“Fear of Great Expectations”
One day in July, a farmer sat in front of his shack, smoking his corncob pipe. Along came a stranger who asked, “How’s your cotton coming?”
“Ain’t got none” was the answer. “Didn’t plant none. Afraid of the boll weevile.
Well, how’s your corn,” the stranger asked.
“Didn’t plant none,” the farmer replied. “Afraid of the drought.”
“How about your potatoes?”
“Ain’t got none of those either”. “Scared of ‘tater bugs,” came the reply.
The stranger finally asked, “Well, what did you plant?”
“Nothin’” the farmer answered. “I decided to play it safe.”
What we have here is a fear of failure.
Now, every time a preacher begins a sermon in a pulpit there is a certain amount of apprehension and fear. Even if you are as accomplished as Billy Graham or Joel Olsteen, each message is for a different audience and in many cases you are trying to put a new spin or generate novel thoughts on subjects that have been spoken on by experts over many, many years.
The only person who seems to be cool as a cucumber in doing this is Jesus, when he speaks in the synagogue in Galilee from Luke’s text this morning. Maybe it is because he has being doing this for several years. Some of you may recall that our lectionary a few weeks ago was about Jesus remaining in Jerusalem after the Passover and his parents’ finding him in the synogogue. He is accustomed to reading and teaching there, and you can just imagine that when he accepts the scroll from the attendant and unrolls it, there’s no fumbling, dropping or losing one’s place.
Calmly, Jesus selects a text from the prophet Isaiah and begins to read at exactly the right spot, a spot that he may very well have chosen himself. He says the spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he had anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
Just as neatly, he rerolls the scroll and handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. The text tells us that all eyes were on him, waiting for him to give a lesson on Isaiah. And then he blows them away by saying “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
I can imagine the buzz in the synagogue after that statement because it certainly isn’t modest or demurring. Jesus has just admitted to the learned men and scholarly priests that he is the chosen one, he is Harry Potter, so to speak. And he plans to do everything that he just read, through the power of the Holy Spirit. There are great expectations laid out in the scripture from Isaiah, but Jesus has no fear of failure.
No doubt there was mixed reaction to his statement. It would be like me reading the gospel of John and saying that I was the Word made flesh. I think most of you would be skeptical of that admission. Or like when Miss American says she wants to work for world peace. Another pipe dream that rarely holds water. Or most claims by politicians to lower taxes made by them at rallies before they are elected.
Some folks thought that there was a lot of hot air rising in the synagogue that morning. After all, this was a carpenter’s son, not born into a priestly family, and up to this point in Luke’s gospel no miracles have been performed. Jesus just seems to have the knack for public speaking. I’ll bet that there was a lot of eye-rolling and bulletin shuffling during the service at this point, and perhaps some disgusted people got up and left. The nerve of this unknown peasant, they clucked. How dare he claim to be the Messiah?!
Yet for others, the message was welcome. The people of Israel had clung to the passage in Isaiah, awaiting a savior who would proclaim good news and miraculous works to the marginalized peoples. Perhaps their response was “Oh My God – it’s him” with their jaws flapping in the wind. One thing is reasonably certain – when Jesus sat down and gave his pronouncement, no one’s reaction was neutral.
And indeed, when you continue with not just Luke’s gospel, but all the others, Jesus makes good on Isaiah’s words. He tells the people, “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” He releases people from their demons, cures those who are blind, and gives freedom to those who are in bondage due to their status or physical conditions.
The question I would propose for our consideration this morning is “How are we continuing this work now and how should we continue it in the future? Christ Jesus lays out great expectations, and I dearly want this congregation to pick up its dreams and move forward according to the gospel message. Isaiah has depicted a situation that is still with us today, over three thousand years later. We are the body of Christ, the saints anointed for ministry, and disciples committed to following Jesus’ lead.
How do we address the same concerns in a modern world, where there are people held captive by their addictions, there is poverty of material goods and spirit in the community, and there are those who need to be released from abusive situations? How are we, St. Mark’s United Church of Christ, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor? I would suggest to you that our fears and doubts are not about failure, but fear of great expectations. There are a ton of crops to be planted.
But there is another example of faith that I would like to share with you – a story about attitudes, which speaks to St. Mark’s current condition, about where we are as a congregation.
There’s a well-worn story about a man who approached a laborer who was laying bricks and asked him, “What are you doing?” The laborer said, in an annoying manner, “Can’t you see that I’m laying bricks.
The man then walked over to another bricklayer and asked, “What are you doing?” And the workman answered with pride, “I’m building a cathedral.”
One man had a job, there other had a vision. One man was just working on a building, while the other was dreaming of the finished project. They both had the same number of bricks to work with.
St Mark’s has done it’s share of walking the talk, as the saying goes. But we are not done yet, we are just beginning, starting over, getting our second wind. Jesus has great expectations for us, not simple tasks. And we need not fear them because we might fail. With God all things are possible. The needs are great in this neighborhood, and at times it may seem daunting to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. But we have an example to follow, and the Spirit of the Lord is indeed among us, and has anointed us for this purpose as well.
How shall St. Mark’s meet its challenges to thrive in a changing environment, to continue its tradition of extravagant hospitality, to be a beacon of light and hope in this community? As the new Council Members are installed later in the worship service, let us commit with them to not shy away from Christ’s great expectations, but find new ways of tending to the poor, the oppressed, and the captives. Unlike the farmer in my first illustration, let us plant all the crops that we can, expecting the harvest to be bountiful. The love of God and neighbor has permeated this sanctuary and these buildings over the years. Through grace and the direction of the Holy Spirit, may our efforts be worthy, true, faithful and fruitful. Amen.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
"Beloved is your Name"
Sermon 01.1010
“Beloved is your Name”
Before we get into the meat of the sermon, I want to ask the mothers –both old and young - in the congregation. Once you found out that you were pregnant, be in two years ago or 40 years ago, what did you do after you relayed the news to your spouse?
My guess is that you almost immediately began to think about what to name the baby. Some of you knew that your son would be a junior, and others knew that a favorite family name that would be used. But I’m willing to suggest that many of you bought books about baby names, had arguments with your husband about who wanted what, and in some cases, went home from the hospital with a blank birth certificate until you had just the perfect name for your beloved child.
Today’s passages from both the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament talk about names. And their importance.
Isaiah’s text from the Hebrew Scriptures reports that God said, “I have redeemed you, I have called you by name, you are mine.
I have called you by name. Names have changed a great deal since the time of Isaiah and there’s a part of us that many wonder just how many names God can keep up with. In the year 1950, the most popular names were as follows:
1950 2009
James Mary Ethan Isabella
Michael Linda Jacob Emma
Robert Patricia Noah Olivia
John Susan Aiden Ava
David Deborah Logan Sophia
William Barbara Jackson Madison
Richard Debra Jack Chloe
Thomas Karen Ryan Abigail
Mark Nancy Jayden Addison
Charles Donna Matthew Emily
If you go to a baby name listing, it may begin with Aadi and end with Zan, and I challenge you to tell me if these are boys or girls named. There are all the names in between, like Virginia, and Nathan and Leroy and Katherine. God knows all of them. All of them. To give you just another taste of how many names are out there in the world, I put my own name into a google search and within .42 seconds I found that there were over 3,000,000 hits for Karen Lovelace, and that’s the regular spelling of Karen. Not Karin or Karyn. But God has no problem in remembering any of them.
Many of you can testify that names are particularly important when you are in trouble. What happens when you don’t clean your room or take out the trash or dry the dishes? (wait for response) Yes, one of your parents or guardians would use your entire name. “Timothy Peter Lovelace” I would call out, “You are going to miss the school bus if you don’t hurry. And if you have multiple children, I’ll also bet that you have run through all of them at one time or another before finally reaching the right name. Today our work is simple: the only name we have to remember is Beloved.
The passage from Isaiah speaks of God’s claim on the Israelite people, but it as powerful to us today. I have created you, I have formed you, God says. It doesn’t get more intimate than that. The God who made the asteroids, the sparrow, the earthworm and the glaciers also has fashioned us – mere mortals. And the next 4 verses are that of such a loving parent that I can’t imagine any better description that we could employ. “Do not fear, I have redeemed you, I have called you by name. You are mine.”
“You are mine.” The divine has told us that we belong, that we are held, that there is someone who loves us even when no one else does. How incredible to hear these words coming from a sacred being!! We are God’s beloved creation. My first image is always a mother or a father holding a child and whispering these words. But those of us who are no longer children still need reassurance from time to time and this is the passage to pull out. God knows your name, whether it is Elmer or Melissa or George and God cares equally for you as well as all the others. As the saying goes, if God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. I’m not sure if Sears makes a model big enough to hold them all.
But hear again, the promise of the God who has claimed Shirley and Anna and Lois, Frank and Harry and Terry:
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned and the flame will not consume you.
Not only are we God’s beloved, we are protected, guarded, shielded from harm. The God who has formed us and created us does not leave us helpless, but declares that we will not endure trials by ourselves. Named, claimed, and saved. No one in your life – not your spouse, your parents, your children or your partners can even come close to the grip that God has on our lives.
The same scene is repeated in Luke’s text concerning the Baptism of Jesus. In the first century, baptism was not originally a naming event, but a purification washing ritual, and interestingly, even in the UCC book of worship, there is no phrase that asks the name of the child.
But God turns the washing of Jesus into a naming occasion. The Holy Spirit appears in the form of a dove, and the voice of God comes from heaven, saying, “You are my Son, the Beloved, with you I am well pleased. The claim on the life of Christ Jesus is that he is the Son of the living God and his name is Beloved. Just as God loved Jesus, Jesus loves us. Beloved. There are many names in baby books that mean beloved, but curiously, the actual name of Beloved does not appear.
The Greek word for Beloved is agapetos. We get our word, agape from it, which means the greatest love that anyone can have. It is selfless love, unconditional love, the kind of love that protects from the storm and the fire. This is the love that God has given us through the gift of his Son, Jesus the Christ, name above all names. The Beloved.
The good news from today’s readings is that there is someone called the Beloved who calls each of us beloved as well, even if our given name is Gail or Judy or Steve or Danny. That person has claimed each of us, whether we are Millie or Amy or Frank or Rudy. We serve a God who has redeemed us, and given to us a Son who loves us enough to accompany us through troubles, misery and pain. Jesus will take the time to walk with every one of us - Sandy and Sheila, Loretta and Leonel, in times of peril and danger and will ensure that his children emerge unscathed and whole.
God says in verse 4: “I am with you because you are precious and my sight and honored and I love you. Do not fear, for I am with you. When was the last time we said something like that to a beloved person in our lifes?
This passage assures us that no matter what situation is in your life right now, no matter what is happening with work, friends, neighbors or relatives, you have a lifelong companion who is Jesus and you are beloved to him. We are God’s beloved people, even as Jesus is God’s beloved Son because we are heirs through Christ.
No matter how fashionable name changes are through the years, there is no need to worry about a certain one making the top ten list. The name of the Beloved, the Son, Jesus our Savior, has not changed in over 2000 years, nor will it ever. We can stand on that promise.
God has redeemed all, claimed all, and has not forgotten all of our names. For this we give thanks and praise, that we are beloved in the eyes of the Almighty. Amen.
“Beloved is your Name”
Before we get into the meat of the sermon, I want to ask the mothers –both old and young - in the congregation. Once you found out that you were pregnant, be in two years ago or 40 years ago, what did you do after you relayed the news to your spouse?
My guess is that you almost immediately began to think about what to name the baby. Some of you knew that your son would be a junior, and others knew that a favorite family name that would be used. But I’m willing to suggest that many of you bought books about baby names, had arguments with your husband about who wanted what, and in some cases, went home from the hospital with a blank birth certificate until you had just the perfect name for your beloved child.
Today’s passages from both the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament talk about names. And their importance.
Isaiah’s text from the Hebrew Scriptures reports that God said, “I have redeemed you, I have called you by name, you are mine.
I have called you by name. Names have changed a great deal since the time of Isaiah and there’s a part of us that many wonder just how many names God can keep up with. In the year 1950, the most popular names were as follows:
1950 2009
James Mary Ethan Isabella
Michael Linda Jacob Emma
Robert Patricia Noah Olivia
John Susan Aiden Ava
David Deborah Logan Sophia
William Barbara Jackson Madison
Richard Debra Jack Chloe
Thomas Karen Ryan Abigail
Mark Nancy Jayden Addison
Charles Donna Matthew Emily
If you go to a baby name listing, it may begin with Aadi and end with Zan, and I challenge you to tell me if these are boys or girls named. There are all the names in between, like Virginia, and Nathan and Leroy and Katherine. God knows all of them. All of them. To give you just another taste of how many names are out there in the world, I put my own name into a google search and within .42 seconds I found that there were over 3,000,000 hits for Karen Lovelace, and that’s the regular spelling of Karen. Not Karin or Karyn. But God has no problem in remembering any of them.
Many of you can testify that names are particularly important when you are in trouble. What happens when you don’t clean your room or take out the trash or dry the dishes? (wait for response) Yes, one of your parents or guardians would use your entire name. “Timothy Peter Lovelace” I would call out, “You are going to miss the school bus if you don’t hurry. And if you have multiple children, I’ll also bet that you have run through all of them at one time or another before finally reaching the right name. Today our work is simple: the only name we have to remember is Beloved.
The passage from Isaiah speaks of God’s claim on the Israelite people, but it as powerful to us today. I have created you, I have formed you, God says. It doesn’t get more intimate than that. The God who made the asteroids, the sparrow, the earthworm and the glaciers also has fashioned us – mere mortals. And the next 4 verses are that of such a loving parent that I can’t imagine any better description that we could employ. “Do not fear, I have redeemed you, I have called you by name. You are mine.”
“You are mine.” The divine has told us that we belong, that we are held, that there is someone who loves us even when no one else does. How incredible to hear these words coming from a sacred being!! We are God’s beloved creation. My first image is always a mother or a father holding a child and whispering these words. But those of us who are no longer children still need reassurance from time to time and this is the passage to pull out. God knows your name, whether it is Elmer or Melissa or George and God cares equally for you as well as all the others. As the saying goes, if God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. I’m not sure if Sears makes a model big enough to hold them all.
But hear again, the promise of the God who has claimed Shirley and Anna and Lois, Frank and Harry and Terry:
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned and the flame will not consume you.
Not only are we God’s beloved, we are protected, guarded, shielded from harm. The God who has formed us and created us does not leave us helpless, but declares that we will not endure trials by ourselves. Named, claimed, and saved. No one in your life – not your spouse, your parents, your children or your partners can even come close to the grip that God has on our lives.
The same scene is repeated in Luke’s text concerning the Baptism of Jesus. In the first century, baptism was not originally a naming event, but a purification washing ritual, and interestingly, even in the UCC book of worship, there is no phrase that asks the name of the child.
But God turns the washing of Jesus into a naming occasion. The Holy Spirit appears in the form of a dove, and the voice of God comes from heaven, saying, “You are my Son, the Beloved, with you I am well pleased. The claim on the life of Christ Jesus is that he is the Son of the living God and his name is Beloved. Just as God loved Jesus, Jesus loves us. Beloved. There are many names in baby books that mean beloved, but curiously, the actual name of Beloved does not appear.
The Greek word for Beloved is agapetos. We get our word, agape from it, which means the greatest love that anyone can have. It is selfless love, unconditional love, the kind of love that protects from the storm and the fire. This is the love that God has given us through the gift of his Son, Jesus the Christ, name above all names. The Beloved.
The good news from today’s readings is that there is someone called the Beloved who calls each of us beloved as well, even if our given name is Gail or Judy or Steve or Danny. That person has claimed each of us, whether we are Millie or Amy or Frank or Rudy. We serve a God who has redeemed us, and given to us a Son who loves us enough to accompany us through troubles, misery and pain. Jesus will take the time to walk with every one of us - Sandy and Sheila, Loretta and Leonel, in times of peril and danger and will ensure that his children emerge unscathed and whole.
God says in verse 4: “I am with you because you are precious and my sight and honored and I love you. Do not fear, for I am with you. When was the last time we said something like that to a beloved person in our lifes?
This passage assures us that no matter what situation is in your life right now, no matter what is happening with work, friends, neighbors or relatives, you have a lifelong companion who is Jesus and you are beloved to him. We are God’s beloved people, even as Jesus is God’s beloved Son because we are heirs through Christ.
No matter how fashionable name changes are through the years, there is no need to worry about a certain one making the top ten list. The name of the Beloved, the Son, Jesus our Savior, has not changed in over 2000 years, nor will it ever. We can stand on that promise.
God has redeemed all, claimed all, and has not forgotten all of our names. For this we give thanks and praise, that we are beloved in the eyes of the Almighty. Amen.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
"One Holy Mess"
Sermon 12.20.09
One Holy Mess
An elderly woman named Elizabeth who had tried for many years to become pregnant finds herself suddenly with child. Her husband, Zechariah, is now mute, having been struck dumb by the angel Gabriel when he did not believe this possible. Mary, a poor teenager, who is Elizabeth’s cousin, has been told by the same angel that she will bear the Son of God and has conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit even though she is a virgin. Her fiancée, Joseph, is confused and upset and ready to call off the engagement. It may sound like a daytime soap opera or a nighttime reality tv show. Maybe it was Gabrial’s night out for mischief. What I call it is one holy mess.
And now these two women have come together in today’s gospel text to compare their obstetrical conditions. One would expect that there would be great amounts of anxiety and worry. Elizabeth had every right to be concerned about motherhood at such an advanced age. What 50 or 60 year old woman wants to deal with the terrible two’s after years of peaceful quietude? Who wants to be washing out diapers during one’s golden years? What unwed teenage mother hasn’t wrung her hands at her fate? How many have had to explain the situation to boyfriends who then dumped them and ran in the other directions.
Yet, curiously, in the midst of all of this fretfulness and apprehension, there is a calmness. There’s not pity party, no complaining, commiserating or even mild whining. The attitude of these woman is “the pull up your big girl panties and deal with it” practical thinking. And it’s even more.
Instead, there is the sense of joyful anticipation, rather than dread of the circumstances. Mary and Elizabeth have dared to call themselves blessed, rejoicing in the miracles that have taken place. Their worlds are about to be turned upside down, the unthinkable is happening to them, they are in utterly unstable places in their lives, It’s one holy mess and you’d think that eventually one of them would realize this fact.
But they get it in a different way, and at first they are so happy that you have to wonder which of the two is crazier. Even the baby in Elizabeth’s womb is rejoicing. They are looking at the good portions of their lives and praising God for their good fortunes. Mary’s song, called the Magnificat, is bursting with energy and passion. She was an average girl with an average life, who has come from lowliness and elevated to the status as the mother of our Savior. Elizabeth cries out, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” And how wonderful it is that you, the mother of my Lord, has come to see me.”
Both Mary and Elizabeth have opened themselves up to the unexpected presence of the divine in their lives. The pattern of their lives has been interrupted with the unfolding of a miracle. God has come in, scrambled up everything, and turned their worlds on end, and Mary says, “The Mighty One has done great things for me.. Wow – talk about positivity in the face of calamity. We have so much to learn from their example.
Lots of us have holy messes as part of our lives. Right now there’s a great deal of Christmas chaos going on, with only four full shopping days left. For many folks, Christmas is not merry and bright. People worry about getting the right gift, folks fret over not sending cards to people because it’s gotten so expensive. Some family dread the forced-togetherness of the holidays because cousins Sue and Bob can’t be seated next to each other at the dinner table. There will be too many parties with too much fattening food or the parties won’t be as festive because of a separation, a divorce, a death. Unemployment takes the fun out of falalalala.
And yet God continues to draw near. There is no place in our lives that is so messy that God can’t seek us out and find us. There is no situation in our lives that does not contain a blessing or a reason for rejoicing. That is the good news that we need to hear this morning. As they say in the African American churches, “God is good all the time. All the time, God is good.”
But our human tendency is such that when the problems of our lives get too difficult, too overwhelming, too big, we get the sense that God has abandoned us. We shake our fist at heaven and ask, “God, where are you when I’m in such a mess?”
When our lives seem especially frantic…and this is the perfect week to be in this spot, Jesus will still find a way to speak out to us and remind us of his grace and his glory. Even in our busy-ness and even in our Christmas clutter, the Spirit will hover over wrapping paper and arguments with in-laws. In a season of chaos, God is still in control, and you can run, but you can’t hide. Your mess will still contain an element of holiness. God draws near to you, even if you can’t draw near to God. For that alone, we give thanks and praise to the Almighty.
Mary and Elizabeth were bright enough to understand that their predicaments still had profound possibilities. They were willing to look past the negatives and be receptive to God’s plans for their lives. They rejoiced and exalted and magnified the Lord. They did not shake their fists, but talked of promises fulfilled, mercy restored from one generation to another, and being looked upon with favor. Both, at the same time, however, realize their limitations as human mothers.
Rearing kids is like holding a wet bar of soap. Too firm a grasp and it shoots from your hand. Too loose a grasp and it slides away. A gentle but firm grasp keeps it in your control.
Kahil Gibran, in The Prophet, expresses well the hard task of a mother to love completely and deeply and yet always with the task of letting go. You may give them your love, but not your thoughts, for they have their own thoughts. You may house their bodies, but not their souls, for their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow; which you cannot visit. You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you, for life does not go backward nor tarries with yesterday. You are the books from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.
May we find time this season, as we consider our holy messes, to give way to rejoicing, for we know that God is at work in our lives somewhere and somehow. May we be open to finding the blessedness rather than the wretchedness. May we allow the spirit of God to lift us up when we are lowly and fill us with good things when we are hungry. May we see the riches of the our lives against the pain. The Spanish have a proverb that says that an ounce of mother is worth a pound of clergy, so think hard on the blessings of Elizabeth and Mary.
Let us rejoice and be glad and allow the spirit of God to do great things for us, so that we, too, may magnify the Lord. Amen.
One Holy Mess
An elderly woman named Elizabeth who had tried for many years to become pregnant finds herself suddenly with child. Her husband, Zechariah, is now mute, having been struck dumb by the angel Gabriel when he did not believe this possible. Mary, a poor teenager, who is Elizabeth’s cousin, has been told by the same angel that she will bear the Son of God and has conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit even though she is a virgin. Her fiancée, Joseph, is confused and upset and ready to call off the engagement. It may sound like a daytime soap opera or a nighttime reality tv show. Maybe it was Gabrial’s night out for mischief. What I call it is one holy mess.
And now these two women have come together in today’s gospel text to compare their obstetrical conditions. One would expect that there would be great amounts of anxiety and worry. Elizabeth had every right to be concerned about motherhood at such an advanced age. What 50 or 60 year old woman wants to deal with the terrible two’s after years of peaceful quietude? Who wants to be washing out diapers during one’s golden years? What unwed teenage mother hasn’t wrung her hands at her fate? How many have had to explain the situation to boyfriends who then dumped them and ran in the other directions.
Yet, curiously, in the midst of all of this fretfulness and apprehension, there is a calmness. There’s not pity party, no complaining, commiserating or even mild whining. The attitude of these woman is “the pull up your big girl panties and deal with it” practical thinking. And it’s even more.
Instead, there is the sense of joyful anticipation, rather than dread of the circumstances. Mary and Elizabeth have dared to call themselves blessed, rejoicing in the miracles that have taken place. Their worlds are about to be turned upside down, the unthinkable is happening to them, they are in utterly unstable places in their lives, It’s one holy mess and you’d think that eventually one of them would realize this fact.
But they get it in a different way, and at first they are so happy that you have to wonder which of the two is crazier. Even the baby in Elizabeth’s womb is rejoicing. They are looking at the good portions of their lives and praising God for their good fortunes. Mary’s song, called the Magnificat, is bursting with energy and passion. She was an average girl with an average life, who has come from lowliness and elevated to the status as the mother of our Savior. Elizabeth cries out, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” And how wonderful it is that you, the mother of my Lord, has come to see me.”
Both Mary and Elizabeth have opened themselves up to the unexpected presence of the divine in their lives. The pattern of their lives has been interrupted with the unfolding of a miracle. God has come in, scrambled up everything, and turned their worlds on end, and Mary says, “The Mighty One has done great things for me.. Wow – talk about positivity in the face of calamity. We have so much to learn from their example.
Lots of us have holy messes as part of our lives. Right now there’s a great deal of Christmas chaos going on, with only four full shopping days left. For many folks, Christmas is not merry and bright. People worry about getting the right gift, folks fret over not sending cards to people because it’s gotten so expensive. Some family dread the forced-togetherness of the holidays because cousins Sue and Bob can’t be seated next to each other at the dinner table. There will be too many parties with too much fattening food or the parties won’t be as festive because of a separation, a divorce, a death. Unemployment takes the fun out of falalalala.
And yet God continues to draw near. There is no place in our lives that is so messy that God can’t seek us out and find us. There is no situation in our lives that does not contain a blessing or a reason for rejoicing. That is the good news that we need to hear this morning. As they say in the African American churches, “God is good all the time. All the time, God is good.”
But our human tendency is such that when the problems of our lives get too difficult, too overwhelming, too big, we get the sense that God has abandoned us. We shake our fist at heaven and ask, “God, where are you when I’m in such a mess?”
When our lives seem especially frantic…and this is the perfect week to be in this spot, Jesus will still find a way to speak out to us and remind us of his grace and his glory. Even in our busy-ness and even in our Christmas clutter, the Spirit will hover over wrapping paper and arguments with in-laws. In a season of chaos, God is still in control, and you can run, but you can’t hide. Your mess will still contain an element of holiness. God draws near to you, even if you can’t draw near to God. For that alone, we give thanks and praise to the Almighty.
Mary and Elizabeth were bright enough to understand that their predicaments still had profound possibilities. They were willing to look past the negatives and be receptive to God’s plans for their lives. They rejoiced and exalted and magnified the Lord. They did not shake their fists, but talked of promises fulfilled, mercy restored from one generation to another, and being looked upon with favor. Both, at the same time, however, realize their limitations as human mothers.
Rearing kids is like holding a wet bar of soap. Too firm a grasp and it shoots from your hand. Too loose a grasp and it slides away. A gentle but firm grasp keeps it in your control.
Kahil Gibran, in The Prophet, expresses well the hard task of a mother to love completely and deeply and yet always with the task of letting go. You may give them your love, but not your thoughts, for they have their own thoughts. You may house their bodies, but not their souls, for their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow; which you cannot visit. You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you, for life does not go backward nor tarries with yesterday. You are the books from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.
May we find time this season, as we consider our holy messes, to give way to rejoicing, for we know that God is at work in our lives somewhere and somehow. May we be open to finding the blessedness rather than the wretchedness. May we allow the spirit of God to lift us up when we are lowly and fill us with good things when we are hungry. May we see the riches of the our lives against the pain. The Spanish have a proverb that says that an ounce of mother is worth a pound of clergy, so think hard on the blessings of Elizabeth and Mary.
Let us rejoice and be glad and allow the spirit of God to do great things for us, so that we, too, may magnify the Lord. Amen.
"Now Entering God's Construction Zone"
Sermon 12.06.09
Now Entering God’s Construction Zone
If you were to be sitting in a doctor’s office in the year 30 AD and paging through a copy of People Magazine, it is highly likely that you would find news about the people mentioned in today’s gospel text from Luke. One page might contain a picture of Emperor Tiberius on his way to an official royal event, another might show Herod chasing a new girlfriend. There would be photos taken at a party attended by Pontius Pilate and Lysanias, plus new book reviews of texts written by Caiphas and Annas. The only person not to be found in the pages of People magazine would be John the Baptist. John is the single most important individual in this passage, and apparently, he’s missing all the action.
John the Baptist is in the margins of the Advent season as well. Most of us love the pictures of Mary and Joseph with the babe in a manger. Some of you will send out cards depicting angels singing Glory to God in the highest. Even the Wise Men are a featured staple. But John the Baptist is not. I dare you to go into a Hallmark store this week and ask them where they have their John the Baptist greeting cards. You can get a card saying you’re sorry that a neighbor’s dog has heartburn, but there is no section for New Testament Prophets at the drugstore.
The problem is both the message AND the messenger. John is rude, crude and has a socially embarrassing attitude. The other gospel texts reveal that he lived alone in the desert eating locusts and honey and wearing a rough woolen garment. It’s certainly not an image that says “Holiday greetings”. He goes from town to town preaching a baptism of repentence. He’s a big pain in the butt for the religious authorities.
The message that he brings does not sound cheerful, upbeat, or jolly. “Get your act together” is what he tells the people. We really want to hear “Happy Holidays” or “Merry Christmas” or “Seasons Greetings” and here is a man who has the audacity to dash all of our jovial spirits.
The image that his uses is that of road construction, a hugely important task in the Roman empire: “Prepare the way of the Lord.” He tells the people that the path needs to be smooth. Mountains and hills need to be leveled, valleys are to be filled in. Anything that’s rough or crooked should be fixed.
We can all identify with these images. Our streets are continually being repaved, bridges are being rebuilt to meet safety standards, highway directional signals are repainted regularly and the traffic cone may as well be the state symbol.
But the roads that John talks about are the roads to our hearts, which need to be made straight to Jesus. All of us could use a little construction work at this time of the year.
Some of our paths are full of ruts from doing the same selfish deeds over and over again. Some of our lanes are constantly backed up due to our own pig-headedness in thinking that we own the road. Some of our driveways are too steep when we think that we are the most important people living on the top of the hill.
Some of us need to do repair work on the potholes that we have made in our relationships with co-workers, friends or neighbors. Occasionally, we’ve got to block the street to take care of a water main break or a sinkhole that has completely shut off the path when we have distanced ourselves from a loved one.
The bottom line is that John calls for everyone to put on a yellow hard hat and get to work on whatever it is that needs fixing because the Lord is coming, and it shouldn’t be a rough ride. He preaches a baptism of repentance in a season where the last thing on our minds is spiritual reconstruction. It’s no wonder that he wasn’t in that issue of People magazine.
How do we fix our roads and prepare our paths? How do we make the route ready for the coming King? The apostle Paul mentions one way in his message to the Philippians: He says, “And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.”
An increase of love might be the blacktop that is needed. A heart that is pure and blameless might be a fresh coat of macadam. The harvest of righteousness might be a small backhoe to attack our apathy, our prejudices, our willingness to look the other way when justice is not being carried out.
Road work is not easy. It takes pure strength and concentration to the task at hand. It takes place in all kinds of weather, there is always the potential to be hurt by an accident with the equipment, or even when a car careens by above the posted speed limit. It means that when there’s a blizzard and everyone is inside relaxing with their hot cocoa, you need to go out in the snow and pave the way.
Making our hearts ready to pave the way for the infant King and Lord of Lords is John’s message, whether we like to hear it or not. To be honest, most of us already have enough to do at this time of year, and would prefer to sub-contract all this road work out to somebody else. Christmas is a time of great preparation, and Lord knows, we don’t want to add sweaty, soul-searching to our already overloaded calendar.
But if we don’t repair the road, our spirits will suffer. You can only ride on ruts for so long before the shock absorbers will give out on the car. The time is coming, John the Baptist says in verse 6, “for all flesh to see the salvation of God.” Do we really want to welcome the Christ Child with a road full of detours and lane closures.
The good news from this morning’s gospel is that we will always have road work with us. It’s not seasonal, it never ends, and there are enough worksites for everyone to be busy.
Make yourselves ready this season by doing the necessary work to spiritually reconnect the path between your heart and the true reason for the season. Make a commitment to get out there and take care of whatever construction is necessary to clear the road and make it level and even. The coming of the Savior draws near; pick up your tools, punch in at the time clock and get on the Lord’s payroll. Put in some overtime if you need to. But get the roadwork done. Amen
Now Entering God’s Construction Zone
If you were to be sitting in a doctor’s office in the year 30 AD and paging through a copy of People Magazine, it is highly likely that you would find news about the people mentioned in today’s gospel text from Luke. One page might contain a picture of Emperor Tiberius on his way to an official royal event, another might show Herod chasing a new girlfriend. There would be photos taken at a party attended by Pontius Pilate and Lysanias, plus new book reviews of texts written by Caiphas and Annas. The only person not to be found in the pages of People magazine would be John the Baptist. John is the single most important individual in this passage, and apparently, he’s missing all the action.
John the Baptist is in the margins of the Advent season as well. Most of us love the pictures of Mary and Joseph with the babe in a manger. Some of you will send out cards depicting angels singing Glory to God in the highest. Even the Wise Men are a featured staple. But John the Baptist is not. I dare you to go into a Hallmark store this week and ask them where they have their John the Baptist greeting cards. You can get a card saying you’re sorry that a neighbor’s dog has heartburn, but there is no section for New Testament Prophets at the drugstore.
The problem is both the message AND the messenger. John is rude, crude and has a socially embarrassing attitude. The other gospel texts reveal that he lived alone in the desert eating locusts and honey and wearing a rough woolen garment. It’s certainly not an image that says “Holiday greetings”. He goes from town to town preaching a baptism of repentence. He’s a big pain in the butt for the religious authorities.
The message that he brings does not sound cheerful, upbeat, or jolly. “Get your act together” is what he tells the people. We really want to hear “Happy Holidays” or “Merry Christmas” or “Seasons Greetings” and here is a man who has the audacity to dash all of our jovial spirits.
The image that his uses is that of road construction, a hugely important task in the Roman empire: “Prepare the way of the Lord.” He tells the people that the path needs to be smooth. Mountains and hills need to be leveled, valleys are to be filled in. Anything that’s rough or crooked should be fixed.
We can all identify with these images. Our streets are continually being repaved, bridges are being rebuilt to meet safety standards, highway directional signals are repainted regularly and the traffic cone may as well be the state symbol.
But the roads that John talks about are the roads to our hearts, which need to be made straight to Jesus. All of us could use a little construction work at this time of the year.
Some of our paths are full of ruts from doing the same selfish deeds over and over again. Some of our lanes are constantly backed up due to our own pig-headedness in thinking that we own the road. Some of our driveways are too steep when we think that we are the most important people living on the top of the hill.
Some of us need to do repair work on the potholes that we have made in our relationships with co-workers, friends or neighbors. Occasionally, we’ve got to block the street to take care of a water main break or a sinkhole that has completely shut off the path when we have distanced ourselves from a loved one.
The bottom line is that John calls for everyone to put on a yellow hard hat and get to work on whatever it is that needs fixing because the Lord is coming, and it shouldn’t be a rough ride. He preaches a baptism of repentance in a season where the last thing on our minds is spiritual reconstruction. It’s no wonder that he wasn’t in that issue of People magazine.
How do we fix our roads and prepare our paths? How do we make the route ready for the coming King? The apostle Paul mentions one way in his message to the Philippians: He says, “And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.”
An increase of love might be the blacktop that is needed. A heart that is pure and blameless might be a fresh coat of macadam. The harvest of righteousness might be a small backhoe to attack our apathy, our prejudices, our willingness to look the other way when justice is not being carried out.
Road work is not easy. It takes pure strength and concentration to the task at hand. It takes place in all kinds of weather, there is always the potential to be hurt by an accident with the equipment, or even when a car careens by above the posted speed limit. It means that when there’s a blizzard and everyone is inside relaxing with their hot cocoa, you need to go out in the snow and pave the way.
Making our hearts ready to pave the way for the infant King and Lord of Lords is John’s message, whether we like to hear it or not. To be honest, most of us already have enough to do at this time of year, and would prefer to sub-contract all this road work out to somebody else. Christmas is a time of great preparation, and Lord knows, we don’t want to add sweaty, soul-searching to our already overloaded calendar.
But if we don’t repair the road, our spirits will suffer. You can only ride on ruts for so long before the shock absorbers will give out on the car. The time is coming, John the Baptist says in verse 6, “for all flesh to see the salvation of God.” Do we really want to welcome the Christ Child with a road full of detours and lane closures.
The good news from this morning’s gospel is that we will always have road work with us. It’s not seasonal, it never ends, and there are enough worksites for everyone to be busy.
Make yourselves ready this season by doing the necessary work to spiritually reconnect the path between your heart and the true reason for the season. Make a commitment to get out there and take care of whatever construction is necessary to clear the road and make it level and even. The coming of the Savior draws near; pick up your tools, punch in at the time clock and get on the Lord’s payroll. Put in some overtime if you need to. But get the roadwork done. Amen
"Resolving to do God's Business"
Sermon 12.27.09
Resolving to do God’s business
It’s the Sunday after Christmas, a rather forlorn time of the year as the holiday season winds down, but we still have the festivities of New Year’s Day and those darn resolutions that we still have yet to make. It’s that time of year when we review our lives and decide where we need to make adjustments, changes, decisions that may impact our well-being. You can’t make a resolution without thinking and mulling over what you have done.
In a Peanuts comic strip, there is a conversation between Lucy and Charlie Brown. Lucy said that life is like a deck chair. Some place it so they can see where they are going; some place it so they can see where they have been, and some place it so they can see where they are at present. Charlie Brown’s reply: “I can’t even get mine unfolded.”
So what does this have to do with the gospel lesson today? Jesus is keeping a resolution that has been made. He’s not lost in this text, he’s not the original poster boy for the Home Alone movies, and he’s not been misplaced by his parents. He is not disobedient. He is just being about his Father’s business, a resolution that begins in the manger as God’s gift to us, the Word made flesh.
We have very little information about the childhood of Jesus. There are a few gospels that were written about these years but never included in our Bibles for a lot of reasons: some depict him as a spoiled brat, others show him wielding his power over playmates. None are from reputable sources and rightfully have no place in the Holy Scriptures. So we are left wondering what happened from the time of Christ’s birth until he formally begins his ministry at the approximate age of 30.
Today’s text is a rare view, then: an appearance by the teenage Jesus, headed to Jerusalem with his family for the feast of the Passover. The fact that he is going at all shows him to be a religious, obedient youth. This passage is only recorded by Luke; none of the other gospel writers include it, which makes it stand out all the more.
After the festival, Mary and Joseph are anxious to return to Nazareth. There is carpentry waiting to be done and household duties. Anyone who has taken a vacation understands that you work twice as hard before you leave and three times as hard when you return.
In those days, folks – entire families – traveled together in caravans. It would not be unusual for Jesus to have been walking with his cousins or friends, and like the Home Alone movie, he is not noticed to be missing until a few days had passed. Mary and Joseph probably turned to each other and said, “But I thought you were watching him.”
Parental panic sets in and where do they find him? Not like a usual teenager, who would probably be hanging out at the mall. He is, instead, at the equivalent of the library. No lost teenager ends up at the synagogue. It’s like running away from home to go to school.
The worry and concern of Mary and Joseph is totally justified. Jerusalem was a big city with all sorts of inherent problems, and no parents wants his or her child to be in a dangerous situation. Plus, the feast of the Passover was over and it was time to end the festivities and go back to a normal routine.
++
But the young Jesus refuses to let his relationship with God be regulated according to some prearranged, culturally imposed schedule. Instead of going along on the return-to-business-as-usual attitude, Jesus answered the most important call of all – to be in his Father’s house, to be about his Father’s business.
What would it mean if we were to act in a similar fashion? What would it mean to live, not according to human expectations or cultural patterns, but according to what God required of us? What does it mean to be about God’s business, rather than other people’s business, or even other people’s definition of God’s business?
Jesus discovered that at this early age that answering God’s expectations can get you in trouble – even with your own family. In fact, focusing on God’s business may put an unexpected crimp in the family business. Business-as-usual may not be the way God does business. And the world and the church find that unsettling.
The ultimate New Year’s resolution does not challenge us to cut fat grams or quit smoking or start working out in an aerobics class twice a week. The ultimate resolution a Christian can make is to live in the light of divine intentions, not human norms and expectations. The New Year’s resolution to end all resolutions is to live under the umbrella of God’s kingdom here on earth and to make it our business to be partners in God’s business.
What is God’s business? It’s transformation. We’ve been given the Light of the world so that we can shine brightly, like a city upon a hill. We are to take the light and shine it down to others. We are to make ourselves over, but not on things like counting calories or pushups. We are to be a beacon of hope to others, a bright star that reaches out to neighbors and friends.
Jesus may have been doing God’s business at the synagogue that day, but he returned with his parents and went out into the world to do his ministry. Our resolutions for the new year should not all be self-centered, but might focus for a change on the bigger picture. Perhaps this is the time for a resolution to be part of a prayer chain ministry, or to take a volunteer position at a homeless shelter, or to tutor children who need help in math.
Instead of vowing to walk a mile each day, how about walking a mile each day and picking up trash along the way that is spoiling God’s beautiful creation? Instead of just cutting down on calories, how about donating the money that you didn’t spend on Twinkies to the local food pantry? Instead of just vowing to spend more time with your children, how about additionally including other children by volunteering with a boy or girl scout troop that needs new role models. Make all the New Year’s resolutions that you want, but make them bigger than yourself. Make them big enough to include others, your brothers and sisters in Christ.
Like Charlie Brown, it’s time to figure out how to unfold the deck chair as a starting point for reviewing your life and making changes. But then it’s time to take it down to the community center, the supermarket, the church and the office, where you can envision yourself doing more than just fulfilling personal resolutions.. Your life, your commitment to the ultimate resolution, can help the love of God through Christ to transform the world. The year is full of spiritual opportunities. May we each find a way to fulfill our commitment to resolving to do God’s business in the year 2010. Amen.
Resolving to do God’s business
It’s the Sunday after Christmas, a rather forlorn time of the year as the holiday season winds down, but we still have the festivities of New Year’s Day and those darn resolutions that we still have yet to make. It’s that time of year when we review our lives and decide where we need to make adjustments, changes, decisions that may impact our well-being. You can’t make a resolution without thinking and mulling over what you have done.
In a Peanuts comic strip, there is a conversation between Lucy and Charlie Brown. Lucy said that life is like a deck chair. Some place it so they can see where they are going; some place it so they can see where they have been, and some place it so they can see where they are at present. Charlie Brown’s reply: “I can’t even get mine unfolded.”
So what does this have to do with the gospel lesson today? Jesus is keeping a resolution that has been made. He’s not lost in this text, he’s not the original poster boy for the Home Alone movies, and he’s not been misplaced by his parents. He is not disobedient. He is just being about his Father’s business, a resolution that begins in the manger as God’s gift to us, the Word made flesh.
We have very little information about the childhood of Jesus. There are a few gospels that were written about these years but never included in our Bibles for a lot of reasons: some depict him as a spoiled brat, others show him wielding his power over playmates. None are from reputable sources and rightfully have no place in the Holy Scriptures. So we are left wondering what happened from the time of Christ’s birth until he formally begins his ministry at the approximate age of 30.
Today’s text is a rare view, then: an appearance by the teenage Jesus, headed to Jerusalem with his family for the feast of the Passover. The fact that he is going at all shows him to be a religious, obedient youth. This passage is only recorded by Luke; none of the other gospel writers include it, which makes it stand out all the more.
After the festival, Mary and Joseph are anxious to return to Nazareth. There is carpentry waiting to be done and household duties. Anyone who has taken a vacation understands that you work twice as hard before you leave and three times as hard when you return.
In those days, folks – entire families – traveled together in caravans. It would not be unusual for Jesus to have been walking with his cousins or friends, and like the Home Alone movie, he is not noticed to be missing until a few days had passed. Mary and Joseph probably turned to each other and said, “But I thought you were watching him.”
Parental panic sets in and where do they find him? Not like a usual teenager, who would probably be hanging out at the mall. He is, instead, at the equivalent of the library. No lost teenager ends up at the synagogue. It’s like running away from home to go to school.
The worry and concern of Mary and Joseph is totally justified. Jerusalem was a big city with all sorts of inherent problems, and no parents wants his or her child to be in a dangerous situation. Plus, the feast of the Passover was over and it was time to end the festivities and go back to a normal routine.
++
But the young Jesus refuses to let his relationship with God be regulated according to some prearranged, culturally imposed schedule. Instead of going along on the return-to-business-as-usual attitude, Jesus answered the most important call of all – to be in his Father’s house, to be about his Father’s business.
What would it mean if we were to act in a similar fashion? What would it mean to live, not according to human expectations or cultural patterns, but according to what God required of us? What does it mean to be about God’s business, rather than other people’s business, or even other people’s definition of God’s business?
Jesus discovered that at this early age that answering God’s expectations can get you in trouble – even with your own family. In fact, focusing on God’s business may put an unexpected crimp in the family business. Business-as-usual may not be the way God does business. And the world and the church find that unsettling.
The ultimate New Year’s resolution does not challenge us to cut fat grams or quit smoking or start working out in an aerobics class twice a week. The ultimate resolution a Christian can make is to live in the light of divine intentions, not human norms and expectations. The New Year’s resolution to end all resolutions is to live under the umbrella of God’s kingdom here on earth and to make it our business to be partners in God’s business.
What is God’s business? It’s transformation. We’ve been given the Light of the world so that we can shine brightly, like a city upon a hill. We are to take the light and shine it down to others. We are to make ourselves over, but not on things like counting calories or pushups. We are to be a beacon of hope to others, a bright star that reaches out to neighbors and friends.
Jesus may have been doing God’s business at the synagogue that day, but he returned with his parents and went out into the world to do his ministry. Our resolutions for the new year should not all be self-centered, but might focus for a change on the bigger picture. Perhaps this is the time for a resolution to be part of a prayer chain ministry, or to take a volunteer position at a homeless shelter, or to tutor children who need help in math.
Instead of vowing to walk a mile each day, how about walking a mile each day and picking up trash along the way that is spoiling God’s beautiful creation? Instead of just cutting down on calories, how about donating the money that you didn’t spend on Twinkies to the local food pantry? Instead of just vowing to spend more time with your children, how about additionally including other children by volunteering with a boy or girl scout troop that needs new role models. Make all the New Year’s resolutions that you want, but make them bigger than yourself. Make them big enough to include others, your brothers and sisters in Christ.
Like Charlie Brown, it’s time to figure out how to unfold the deck chair as a starting point for reviewing your life and making changes. But then it’s time to take it down to the community center, the supermarket, the church and the office, where you can envision yourself doing more than just fulfilling personal resolutions.. Your life, your commitment to the ultimate resolution, can help the love of God through Christ to transform the world. The year is full of spiritual opportunities. May we each find a way to fulfill our commitment to resolving to do God’s business in the year 2010. Amen.
"The Will-Power of Looking Forward
Sermon 12.13.09
“The Will-Power of Looking Forward”
Well, this morning we have to deal again, with John the Baptist, being his usual cranky self. Despite the fact that it appears to be standing room only at the Jordan River, he’s not happy about his ministry. Let me read you the Bible translation from Eugene Peterson’s book called the Message:
When crowds of people came out for baptism because it was the popular thing to do, John exploded. “Brood of snakes! What do you think you’re doing slithering down here to the river? Do you think a little water on your snakeskins is going to deflect God’s judgement? It your life that must change, not your skin. And don’t think you can pull rank by claiming Abraham as father. Being a child of Abraham is neither here nor there – children of Abraham are a dime a dozen. God can make children from stones if he wants. What counts is your life. Is it green and blossoming? Because if it’s deadwood, it goes on the fire.
No doubt, some smart-aleck in the back row mumble, “Tell us how you really feel about us, John.”
What John is telling the people is that it’s not who you know, but what you do. The stories of Scripture are still relevant today, aren’t they? And in this case, John tells us that you will not receive a certificate of participation just by showing up and flashing your family coat of arms. He is telling the people that they must change their lives. Not an easy task, but one requiring will power. He has the nerve, once again, to call this the good news, after he has blasted half of the neighborhood of Galilee.
There are a number of different folks that are on the banks of the river listening. Rather than reacting with dismay at his rantings, they are ready to take the next step, to see what will power is needed. Each of them asks “what should we do?” Should is a future looking verb, a verb that defines an action that will be done in a later period of time. Those that respond to John’s message know that they must repent and make adjustments in order to get right with God; they can’t just get along because their parents were a “legacy”. They need to adopt the life-style of covenant people. And when they ask John for instructions, he is more than happy to tell them their assignments to move forward. Share what you have with others. Be honest in dealing with neighbors. Don’t accuse people of things that they didn’t do. And here’s a hard one: Be content with your pay.
These are not great acts of self-sacrifice, or assignments that can only be done by those who are holier than thou. Mother Teresa says that we may not all be able to do great things, but can do small things with great love.
While John’s gospel text emphasizes the “should and ought to do’s”, the text from the prophet Zephaniah relies on the words of “I will”, which are just as powerful. This is the work that God will do in the future, if we take the time NOW to repent and share John’s baptism. Listen again to the promises of the Lord…
I will rejoice over you with gladness
I will renew you in love
I will exult over you
I will remove disaster from you
I will save the lame and gather the outcast
I will bring you home
I will make you renowned and praised
I will restore your fortunes
Pretty strong statements from the God who has no problems with will-power. All of these promises are good and true for the future. All look forward to a time when the Lord shall reign over people who have been through a baptism of repentance and a baptism of the Holy Spirit. There is a wonderful vision of strategic planning on God’s part, and a reminder of the spiritual accompaniment that happens when you’re walking in the ways of the Lord.
Lastly, the Apostle Paul in his letter to the church at Philippi also provides the people with direct instructions on what they should do to benefit the whole community: rejoice, be gentle, don’t worry, keep praying. There is nothing complicated about these charges. Just use a little will-power. Paul also indicates that these undertakings must be done for the future, because in verse 5, he says the Lord is near.
Will Willimon, the great Methodist preacher, says all of these objectives are within our reach. “To all of you that live in some ordinary place, who lead ordinary lives, engaged in rather ordinary everyday things, besieged by all sorts of injustices and cares and concerns, there is good news. The Messiah is coming and he is coming to you. He calls you to follow him wherever you are , and in the process, to be whomever you can be.
The gospel text tells us this: what is important is your life. How you live it is what matters. Ask yourself the same question that the crowd asked: “what then should we do?” What can we change in our behavior in the future to be a better person. John the Baptist understood that each of us must answer that question as an individual before we can take on society’s problems. He talks about a personal ethical reform, rather than revolution. You can’t change the world unless you make the effort to change your own life first.
There is a story about a man in Jacksonville, Florida who was spending the day on the beach there. The undertow was unusually strong that day, and more than once, lifeguards jumped down from their towers to rescue swimmers from the treacherous surf. Finally, the man went to the lifeguard station to express his appreciation for the dedication of these men. When he walked inside, he noticed a sign on the wall in large red letters: "If in doubt, go!" And the man said, "Those same words should be on the walls of every church and on the wall of every person's soul." --
If in doubt, go. The time of the miracle of Christmas is coming near. Look toward the future, at the manger. Let us all respond with will-power to whatever it is that we should do. If in doubt, go and do the tasks that have been spelled out for you in today’s readings.
Look around. Look ahead. Look forward. God is near and will help us along the journey.
“The Will-Power of Looking Forward”
Well, this morning we have to deal again, with John the Baptist, being his usual cranky self. Despite the fact that it appears to be standing room only at the Jordan River, he’s not happy about his ministry. Let me read you the Bible translation from Eugene Peterson’s book called the Message:
When crowds of people came out for baptism because it was the popular thing to do, John exploded. “Brood of snakes! What do you think you’re doing slithering down here to the river? Do you think a little water on your snakeskins is going to deflect God’s judgement? It your life that must change, not your skin. And don’t think you can pull rank by claiming Abraham as father. Being a child of Abraham is neither here nor there – children of Abraham are a dime a dozen. God can make children from stones if he wants. What counts is your life. Is it green and blossoming? Because if it’s deadwood, it goes on the fire.
No doubt, some smart-aleck in the back row mumble, “Tell us how you really feel about us, John.”
What John is telling the people is that it’s not who you know, but what you do. The stories of Scripture are still relevant today, aren’t they? And in this case, John tells us that you will not receive a certificate of participation just by showing up and flashing your family coat of arms. He is telling the people that they must change their lives. Not an easy task, but one requiring will power. He has the nerve, once again, to call this the good news, after he has blasted half of the neighborhood of Galilee.
There are a number of different folks that are on the banks of the river listening. Rather than reacting with dismay at his rantings, they are ready to take the next step, to see what will power is needed. Each of them asks “what should we do?” Should is a future looking verb, a verb that defines an action that will be done in a later period of time. Those that respond to John’s message know that they must repent and make adjustments in order to get right with God; they can’t just get along because their parents were a “legacy”. They need to adopt the life-style of covenant people. And when they ask John for instructions, he is more than happy to tell them their assignments to move forward. Share what you have with others. Be honest in dealing with neighbors. Don’t accuse people of things that they didn’t do. And here’s a hard one: Be content with your pay.
These are not great acts of self-sacrifice, or assignments that can only be done by those who are holier than thou. Mother Teresa says that we may not all be able to do great things, but can do small things with great love.
While John’s gospel text emphasizes the “should and ought to do’s”, the text from the prophet Zephaniah relies on the words of “I will”, which are just as powerful. This is the work that God will do in the future, if we take the time NOW to repent and share John’s baptism. Listen again to the promises of the Lord…
I will rejoice over you with gladness
I will renew you in love
I will exult over you
I will remove disaster from you
I will save the lame and gather the outcast
I will bring you home
I will make you renowned and praised
I will restore your fortunes
Pretty strong statements from the God who has no problems with will-power. All of these promises are good and true for the future. All look forward to a time when the Lord shall reign over people who have been through a baptism of repentance and a baptism of the Holy Spirit. There is a wonderful vision of strategic planning on God’s part, and a reminder of the spiritual accompaniment that happens when you’re walking in the ways of the Lord.
Lastly, the Apostle Paul in his letter to the church at Philippi also provides the people with direct instructions on what they should do to benefit the whole community: rejoice, be gentle, don’t worry, keep praying. There is nothing complicated about these charges. Just use a little will-power. Paul also indicates that these undertakings must be done for the future, because in verse 5, he says the Lord is near.
Will Willimon, the great Methodist preacher, says all of these objectives are within our reach. “To all of you that live in some ordinary place, who lead ordinary lives, engaged in rather ordinary everyday things, besieged by all sorts of injustices and cares and concerns, there is good news. The Messiah is coming and he is coming to you. He calls you to follow him wherever you are , and in the process, to be whomever you can be.
The gospel text tells us this: what is important is your life. How you live it is what matters. Ask yourself the same question that the crowd asked: “what then should we do?” What can we change in our behavior in the future to be a better person. John the Baptist understood that each of us must answer that question as an individual before we can take on society’s problems. He talks about a personal ethical reform, rather than revolution. You can’t change the world unless you make the effort to change your own life first.
There is a story about a man in Jacksonville, Florida who was spending the day on the beach there. The undertow was unusually strong that day, and more than once, lifeguards jumped down from their towers to rescue swimmers from the treacherous surf. Finally, the man went to the lifeguard station to express his appreciation for the dedication of these men. When he walked inside, he noticed a sign on the wall in large red letters: "If in doubt, go!" And the man said, "Those same words should be on the walls of every church and on the wall of every person's soul." --
If in doubt, go. The time of the miracle of Christmas is coming near. Look toward the future, at the manger. Let us all respond with will-power to whatever it is that we should do. If in doubt, go and do the tasks that have been spelled out for you in today’s readings.
Look around. Look ahead. Look forward. God is near and will help us along the journey.
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