Epiphany 4 B Sermon: He Teaches with Authority

Mark 1:21-28

21 They went to Capernaum; and when the Sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. 22 They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 23 Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, 24 and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” 28 At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

Conversation

What is authority?  Who has it? (an example)  How did they get it?  Who gives authority?  For what purpose is it given?

Sermon: “They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority.”     

During this past year our world has been questioning existing authority.  It began just a year ago when a man in Tunisia lit himself on fire protesting government corruption… and brutal dictatorship.  His death has sparked and world fire storm of protests against governmental authorities…which the media has called the Arab Spring.  In country after country ordinary citizens have gather in the city centers calling on their leaders who have abused their authority… to leave office.  In a few countries such as Tunisia this has happened with little bloodshed.  As the protests gathered steam and their authority was being questioned…more leaders…began reacting in oppressive ways.  First they tried their old methods of intimidation… picking up dissidents… beating and torturing them.  When the size of the crowds continued growing… they tried other oppressive methods which had always worked.  They sent in the army with tear gas and rubber bullets…with batons and water trucks trying to drive the people back into their homes. 

Leaders made speeches…which they hoped would convince the world that they had the right to exercise their authority…and that that it is their right to use force… They accused peaceful protestors calling them… thugs or members of terrorist groups.  For leaders…who desperately try to continue… it has become evident… to both their citizens and to the world… the authority to govern…which they have enjoyed in the past has completely eroded and evaporated.

While the Arab Spring has question authority leaders to govern in foreign countries…where leaders are often not elected… the issue of authority to govern and where it comes from… is also an issue in democratic governments like our own.  Immediately after any election in Canada… media questions the new government’s authority to govern based on the percent of actual vote it receives.  If it is substantially less than 50%…their authority is questioned.

Authority is also not limited to governments…it also ranks high in academics and experience.  Education and experience in certain fields of expertise gives graduates the authority to speak and teach in their field.   Authority is even important in the church…  People seeking to become pastors must receive authorization from many levels.  They must be recommended by their congregation…and by a committee of the wider church which examines them…  They must past the educational requirements of the seminary.  And after they graduate and are ordained pastors are given authority.  They are authorized and ordained to the work of word and sacrament.  Authority regardless of whether it is in government, academics, experience, or church leadership must be granted in some way.

We have a love hate relationship with authority.  When we get a chance to exercise authority we like to.  We like to be in control…and authority helps getting things done…the way we want them done.  On the other hand… sometimes when things are not working out so well… we would prefer not to be the ones who have authority.  We would much rather be a by-stander…analyzing how someone else’s authority has been good or how it has fallen short.  In this way we don’t have to be accountable for what happens. 

Today the people visiting the synagogue are witnesses to two very different authorities.  On the one hand…the scribes are the Biblical lawyers.  They have studied the scriptures carefully gleaning it for every law…and have laws for every possibility.  They are sticklers requiring strict adherence to every law…in minute detail.  Because of their detailed studies scribes have the authority to teach… in the synagogue… Their teachings focus primarily on the law… and how people must conform to them…to please God.  For them keeping all laws is required with no exceptions.

On the other hand while the scribes receive their authority from learning and memorizing the details of each law.  Jesus receives his authority in a very different way.  He receives it as he is coming up out of the water and hears a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”  With word of praise from heaven still fresh in his memory…Jesus is teaching.  His teaching is rooted in these words of loves… Jesus comes to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God saying, “The kingdom of God has come near.”  Jesus teaches about God’s love…which comes first and is most important.  He teaches that God’s love is the true source of God’s laws.  The laws which God gives are rooted God’s love…and go like this; “God first loved each of us…therefore we will love God and we will love as God loves.”  In God “Law of Love” love always super cedes or surpasses any specifics of the law. 

Jesus is not satisfied though in just saying words…  On queue a possessed man appears in the synagogue… and Jesus is confronted by a very real situation…which tests his teaching and his knowledge about the law.  He knows the Sabbath Day laws… which are meant for honoring God…  He knows the Commandment given on the mountain; Remember the Sabbath Day, and keep it holy.  He knows that the scribes have made many more laws in support of the Sabbath Day law, which prohibit working on the Sabbath.  His response to the situation originates from his understanding of the “Law of Love”.  Love and compassion moves Jesus to act.  He breaks the Sabbath Day laws to help the possessed man.  As God first loves us, Jesus’ love super cedes the Sabbath Day laws.  He loves the man first.  And even though the man voice cries out against him… Jesus does not with hold his love.  He still heals the man.  Jesus’ actions are consistent with his teachings.  Everything for Jesus begins with love.

As Jesus teaches the visitors to the synagogue with authority…he also teaches us.  He teaches us about how God has loved us first.  In response he calls us and teaches us… to love God and to also love everything and everyone God loves.  By his actions we are called to live according to the “Law of Love”.  We are called to proclaim the Good News of God.  We are called to encourage our world about how God’s nearness… is something we can be happy and contented about… because our God loves us and is pleased with us. 

Let us all live and love as God love.  Thanks be to God.  Amen

Epiphany 3 B Sermon: The Kingdom of God is Near

Jonah 3:1-10

1 The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying, 2 ”Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.” 3 So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days’ walk across. 4 Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s walk. And he cried out, “Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” 5 And the people ofNineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth.

10 When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it.

 Mark 1:14-20

14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and thekingdom ofGod has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”

16 As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19 As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.

Conversation

• This morning we want to think about two readings chosen for today. 
• We have heard two very different stories about very different people being called to do God’s work.
• In the Gospel which I read the writer uses the word “immediately” to describe what the Peter, Andrew, James, and John do.  What is that?
• What immediately happens when Jonah is called by God?  What is Jonah called to do?  What do you think about his running instead of do what God wants?
• Why does he run away? (Ninevehis the capital of Assyria…and is located in modern dayIran) (As it was then Assyria continues to be a sworn enemy of Israel)

 Sermon

Cities exist mainly because many people like living there.  There are lots of reasons for them wanting to live in the city.  Job opportunities for various vocations are numerous in the city.  Education opportunities in schools, technical colleges, and universities abound in the city.  And as anyone know who needs health-care specialists… they are located there.  Of course with the Coscos, Super-stores, and all the other big box stores shopping choices are so much more numerous.  We have just barely made a dent in the advantages of city living. 

 But one advantage we…who live in villages…often don’t consider is invisibility.  The best way to become invisible is to go away to a large city…where it is quite possible to hide in plain sight.  In the city even neighbors who live close to each other…often don’t know each other.  And frequently…don’t try to get to know them… Even when neighbors have a desire to implement positive changes in their community… they are most often ignored.

 On the other hand people in small communities such as ours it is virtually impossible to become invisible.  We know lots of things…about our neighbors near and far.  We know what their children are doing and where they are living.  We know their vehicles…and wave to them on the road or the street.  We meet at the post office, the coffee shop, or the store.  We are genuinely interested in their lives. 

 Of course much of our knowledge about our neighbors does not come directly from them.  Frequently we learn it from other neighbors… at the coffee shop…at the store… or in casual conversation on the street.  We learn when someone is sick or has fallen and have a chance to express our concern… We learn when their children have graduated… or have been married…or have become parents… In these encounter we learn good things…and we also things that the subject of the conversation would prefer we didn’t learn… We know their foolish or hasty decisions.  In small communities…knowing our neighbors means we know them warts and all…

 Today we have two distinct Biblical stories…  One is located in a small fishing village… Jesus is calling his first disciples as he walks along the shores ofGalilee. It seems that he only has to invite them to follow and they do. 

 Immediately they left their nets and followed.  Immediately he called them and they left their father Zebedee and followed him.

According to everything we know about small communities… it is safe to assume that the coffee shop would have been buzzing discussing the decision of Andrew and Simon and the sons of Zebedee…because they abandoned their fishing occupations and follow a stranger.

 We know the story of Jonah and his response when God calls him to do a difficult job.  His job in the big wicked city ofNineveh…is not to become invisible…although it would be preferable.  Rather he is being called to proclaim God’s anger…over their wickedness.  He is called to stand out in this foreign city…whose king is bent on destroying his own country.  Jonah thought he could become invisible to the people ofNinevehand to God by running away.  I think that most of us know the rest of the story about the storm …his three days in the belly of a big fish.  After being spit out of the fish …God comes to him a second time…and this time Jonah proclaims the message God gives him… and then sits back and waits for God’s destruction to rain down on the city.

 To Jonah’s dismay… When God saw what the citizens ofNinevehdid, how they turned from their evil ways, God’s mind is changed…the calamity and destruction does not fall on the city.  Of course Jonah is not pleased…he wants to witness the annihilation of the enemy.

 In Sunday School when we heard the story of Jonah…we were taught to shake our heads and wag our fingers.  We were taught that he was bad because he doesn’t do what God wants…and immediately we took God’s side… We snickered when he is tossed overboard into the mouth of the big fish.  And when he becomes angry with God we judged him and shook our heads.

 When considering these old Bible stories we rarely consider how we would respond given similar situations.  If Jesus came in person into our village and invited us to leave everything and follow as he invited the disciples… If God came in person to us and told us to proclaim God’s word in the capital city of modern dayIran… I wonder how we would respond. Most often when we consider such stories we focus on the people being called and how they react.  We immediately think their response…is a statement about the strength of their faith…or lack of it.  

 However, when we focus on the ones being called… we usually forget to reflect on God and the purpose behind the call… God’s purpose is best described in the words of the Gospel according to Mark… Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God saying, “The kingdom of God has come near.”  Jesus comes bringing good news… and he calls disciple for the purpose of spreading it. 

 When examining Jonah’s story considering God’s purpose of bringing good news… the whole story suddenly changes.  It is no longer very much about Jonah at all.  Rather it is about the people of Nineveh.  They believed God; proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth… Even the powerful king showed his remorse.  When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it.  Both the people of the city and Jonah learned a very important lesson about God.  They learned that God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and ready to relent from punishing.  

Similar to Jonah and similar to the disciples…we are also called.  Similar to them we are called to spread the good news.  We are called to proclaim the nearness of our God.  Finally we are called to proclaim our God who is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, ever-ready to forgive.  Let us say; “Yes.” And let us follow wherever our God calls us.  Thanks be to God.

Epiphany 2 B Sermon: “Come and see.”

1 Samuel 3:1-10

Psalm 139

I Corinthians 6:1-6, 13-18

John 1 43-51

 43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47 When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael asked him, “Where did you get to know me?” Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.” 49 Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

Conversation

How many consider yourselves to be good listeners?

How many have heard God speaking directly to you?

Were God’s first words scary or comforting?

How many recognized God’s voice immediately?

How many did not recognize God’s voice until some time later?

Sermon: “The word of the Lord was rare in those days;”

The story of Samuel hearing God’s voice has always intrigued me.  I wonder what we might think if suddenly our name was spoken without any one else being present… I wonder if since God rarely speaks out loud whether we would jump to the conclusion that it might be God speaking our name. I have wondered how we could recognize God?

When I here the Story of Samuel…I am reminded of the Legend on how theQu’appellevalley was named.  The legend tells of a young Indian brave canoeing home from a hunting trip one evening when he thought he heard someone calling his name. “Who calls?”, he asked aloud. There was no reply. “Qu’appelle?” he tried again, this time in French. Then came a reply from the hills on the other side of the placid, moonlit lake: “Qu’appelle?” It was his echo.

On his return home the following night he discovered the young maiden he was to marry died suddenly the previous evening. With her dying breath, she called out his name.                                                        

“Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”

This past summer Sylvia, our children and grandchildren and I attended the family reunion for my the Mann family…the father and mother of my mother.  All of mom’s siblings and parts of their families were present for the reunion.  Grandpa and grandma faithfully attended church…and their children have generally also been faithful.  So since the reunion was on the weekend…Sunday worship was expected.  My gifted sister Carla asked me to do parts of the service.  For the message she wrote a puppet theatre play on the book of Genesis and the families in the Bible.  It was my job to sum up the production and talk about how God’s grace continues even when they have sinned.  I also did the prayers of the people and we shared the Peace of Christ. 

        In thinking back…I remember seeing my uncles watching me very closely…  None of them have had the occasion to see me lead service or to preach.  They had taught me in Sunday School through the difficult middle years…grades 6 through 8.  Our Sunday School was in the church basement…and the classes separated by blue curtains…were not very sound proof.  My uncles were embarrassed by the behavior of our class when the Kindergarten teacher…Mrs. Hanson…came over to scold us for being so noisy…and disrupting all the other classes.  Now here was their first opportunity to observe their noisy rambunctious nephew in action.  I could see the measured way they watched wondering whether anything good could come out of me.

        Similar to Samuel’s time…the word of the LORD is rare in our time…and visions are not widespread…these days.  Also similar to the time of Jesus like Nathanael…we are skeptical…about the good God intends.  In fact we are even more skeptical…  We need more proof about God’s intentions and God’s presence than Nathanael needs.  In his encounter with Nathanael…Jesus doesn’t do any great feats which astonish.  He doesn’t feed five thousand…or walk on water.  He doesn’t change water into wine…or raise anyone from the dead.  Jesus just seems genuinely pleased to see and talk with him.  Jesus does something very familiar to what he heard when coming up out of the water…and the heaven were torn open.  But instead of hearing encouraging words about being the loved son of God…Nathanael hears other words which praise his character… “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” 

        Instead of doing obvious powerful deeds… for revealing himself as God’s son… Jesus looks into Nathanael’s eyes and enters into conversation.  And in the conversation Jesus builds a relationship…which tells him that Jesus knows and appreciates him. Nathanael’s skepticism about Jesus lasts only for a moment…and he needs only for Jesus to see him… as a person of value for it to be melted away.  In this very short encounter with Jesus…Nathanael’s disbelief is changed.  He believes and becomes a faithful follower of Jesus…

        Come and see.

        There is another part of Nathanael’s encounter with Jesus…which we have yet to consider.  In other disciple calling stories…Jesus did all the work himself.  On the shoreof Galileeas Jesus passed Simon and Andrew he said; “Follow me.” And they followed immediately.  The same happened for the brothers James and John…and they left their father’s boat and followed.  Even in today’s Gospel Jesus finds and invites Philip saying; “Follow me.”  But Jesus does not directly invite Nathanael.  Rather it is Philip who tells Nathanael… Imagine his excitement as he tells; “We have found him about whom the prophets wrote…Jesus of Nazareth.”  And when Nathanael is doubtful…wondering how anything good could come from a nearby village…Philip does not argue or try to prove anything.  He does not shame him because he does not believe…  Rather Philip puts out an invitation; “Come and see.” …nothing more.

        We are living at a time… when it seems that the word of the LORD is rare.  We wish that God would speak directly to us and especially to those who need God’s instruction clearly… We are also living in an age…when we are doubtful about whether there is any good.   We wish that Jesus would speak to us directly helping our belief. 

But when we consider the stories of Samuel and Nathanael…they are also our stories.  Even though God was clearly speaking…neither Samuel the boy in the temple…nor Eli the man of God…are able to recognize God’s voice.  Neither ever thought that God would speak out loud to anyone much less to them.  Similarly, few of us have heard God speaking in a clear voice to us…  And like Nathanael we are often skeptical… not willing to believe that God be present in our small community or in our unimportant lives. 

But the most important way in which these stories are ours…are the two guides.  After it finally dawns on him…Eli guides young Samuel how to listen for God’s voice.  And to the skeptical question from Nathanael…Philip gently invites; “Come and see.  We are called to be like Eli… encouraging each other to listen for God’s voice.  We are also called to be like Philip…gently inviting doubters and skeptics; “Come and see.”

So today let us listen for God’s voice speaking directly to us.  Let us hear God words of love for both us and for all the people God has created.  Let us be Philip proclaiming; “We have found him about whom it is written.”  And let us invite; “Come and see.”  Thanks be to God.

Baptism of Our Lord B Sermon: With Pleasure My Beloved Son

Mark 1:4-11

4 John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8 I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

Sermon: 

The voice of the Lord is powerful; full of majesty.  Psalms 29:4 (NRSV)

 We know that God is not human…and are pretty sure that God is above having human emotions…which we have all been cautioned about…specifically pride…which could lead to arrogance.  We have also been cautioned about spoiling our children…or about making them become too self-centered.  So while we want to raise good children and good citizens…we try not openly showing our pride in them…especially in their presence.   We don’t want it going to their heads and puffing them up too much. 

 In the church we are especially mindful about the sinfulness which comes from pride.  The Biblical writers continuously caution us about the effects of pride.  Listen to what some say about pride.  We will begin with some quotes from the writer of Proverbs;

• When pride comes, then comes disgrace; Prov 11:2 (NRSV)
• Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Prov 16:18 (NRSV)
• A person’s pride will bring humiliation, but one who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor. Prov 29:23 (NRSV)
• 11 The haughty eyes of people shall be brought low, and the pride of everyone shall be humbled; and the Lord alone will be exalted on that day. 12 For the Lord of hosts has a day against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up and high; 17 The haughtiness of people shall be humbled, and the pride of everyone shall be brought low; Isaiah 2:11-17 (NRSV)
• “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6 (NRSV)

It seems that in God’s eyes… pride is an evil emotion to be avoided. 

As Christian people we have taken to heart the cautions against showing pride…  We are especially careful when it comes to our children… We don’t want their pride leading to the results predicted in the passages from the Bible.  So very often we faithfully follow the Biblical instruction.

 Garrison Kiellor is an American humorist writer who writes tales from the Lutheran community ofLakeWobegon.  One of his stories seems to illustrate this sentiment very well.  The story is set during the time when the “Promise Keepers” movement for men was telling men to tell their family members that they love them.

 A small group of men fromLakeWobegonwent to the convention… It was a wonderful experience.  On leaving for home each person was instructed that before they go to sleep that night they should tell someone in their family that they love him or her.  When John got home from the convention his euphoria had waned somewhat…so he was relieved to find everyone in his house asleep.  Not wanting to wake anyone just to tell them that he loved them…John decided to phone his brother Michael who he rarely talked to because Michael had moved away from home a number of years ago.

Michael was surprised by the phone call…and his brother’s unsolicited declaration of love.  It caused him to think back about his family.  He thought about his high school years.  He was a better than average athlete.  On graduating college scouts came offering a football scholarship.  After college Michael did not return but took a job in the big city…working for an Italian contractor… who was the father of a dark eyed beauty.  The emotions in Michael’s new family were always on a virtual roller coast of extremes.  Family suppers at the in-laws were noisy rambunctious affairs…  Everyone was talking and yelling at the same time…agreeing and disagreeing with each other…  At one moment they voiced their love for each other…but only seconds later they were in an argument telling the other that hear another word ever would be too soon.  But by the end of the night…when Michael, his wife, and children were leaving…everyone hugged and squeezed each other saying once again; “I love you.”

Now as Michael recalled the phone call from his brother… Michael could help comparing his new family with his Lutheran family back atLakeWobegon.  In contrast to his Italian family… his conservative Lutheran family frowned on even moderately emotional out-breaks…  The meal table was at time to be thankful for the food we are about to receive and for strengthening our bodies…not for rowdy conversation…and certainly not for arguments.  Thinking back about his hard working father…he tried remembering receiving direct words of praise…from his mouth.  He did remember one time… when he had quietly walked into the house to hear his parents talking between themselves.  His mother was proudly showing dad Michael’s final report card…  It was a good report card with mostly A’s and only a few B’s.  This dad looked closely at the report card.  He looked up paused and then uttered the only words of pride that Michael had ever heard escape his father’s lip; “I guess he’s a good boy.”

We Christians have been taught well… God opposes the proud…pride leads to destruction…pride brings humiliation …and with pride comes disgrace.  We know that pride is an emotion which causes evil.  And we know that God would prefer us having none.

Therefore we are sometimes surprised when we hear the words of God’s in today’s gospel.  As Jesus comes up out of the water…we can almost hear the pride in the voice which comes from heaven… And the voice is not boastful like the voice of someone in the coffee shop…proudly telling other parents about the achievements of his son.  The voice is spoken …not to those passing by… or those in the crowds who have gathered at the Jordan… listening to John the Baptist.  It is not a voice spoken quietly without the intention of being heard.  Rather the voice from heaven speaks directly to Jesus.  It is filled with power and emotion; “You are my son, the beloved; with you I am well pleased.” 

 Our God is far from emotionless.  As God speaks to Jesus at the time of his baptism…God also speaks to each of us… At our baptism…God tells us the same things.  God promises that we will never be forgotten.  As Jesus heard we also hear the proud voice of God.   We hear the words that every child wishes to hear from their father and mother from their God; “You are my daughter, you are my son, Beloved by God, and with you I am well pleased.”  Yes our God is pleased to be our God…our God loves us…and we are sons and daughters of our God… And yes our God is proud that we are.

 Therefore since we are proud loved sons and daughters of God…let us thankfully hear God voice.  And then let us share the words of God’s voice with those who need to hear them.  Thanks be to God. Amen

Avent 4 A Sermon: Greetings Favored One

Luke 1:26-38, 46-55

²⁶ In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, ²⁷ to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸ And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”^{b 29} But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. ³⁰ The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. ³¹ And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. ³² He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. ³³ He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”³⁴ Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”^{c 35} The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born^d will be holy; he will be called Son of God. ³⁶ And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. ³⁷ For nothing will be impossible with God.”³⁸ Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.                                                                                         

Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50 His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. 52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
56 And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.

Conversation

There is a book titled “Five Women of the Bible”

Can any one name the five women? (Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba-the wife of Uriah, Joseph’s wife Mary)

Does anyone know what they have in common? (genealogy, women who were talked about in less than flattering ways)

Sermon

“Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”

        This year as in every year…we hear these words and they comfort us.  Again this year in many places… the Christmas Pageant will once again be acted out.  At the beginning of it the Angel will appear with the announcement that Mary will have a baby…who will be called the Son of God.

        We like Mary and we like reading this story of how the Angel Gabriel appears to her saying; “Greetings favored one.”  In our mind we see a beautiful picture of the holy young girl looking up with worshipful eyes listening with intent.  We see her in complete agreement and completely happy with what she is being told…and with what will happen.  And we think to our selves; “What a wonderful announcement she has just received.  Isn’t she fortunate?” 

        We are so caught up in the wonder and beauty of the picture that we don’t see any pitfalls or difficulties that this announcement means for her.  To think about her story more deeply…it must be brought closer to home…than it is in our minds.  It is more accurate to think of it in the terms of any young single daughter coming to her parents with Mary’s news… or to think about her explaining her condition to the curious eyes of her neighborhood who all know that she is not yet married.  After all she comes from the small town ofNazarethwhere everyone knows everyone else’s business.

        During the last few weeks we have been following the shocking developments of the Shafia trial in… which four female members of the family were supposedly murdered by the male members of the family.  The murders have been described as honor killings.  The daughters apparently brought dishonor and shame to the family.  They wanted to pursue their own interests and had different tastes in clothing.  They went out with boys their father did not approve of.   For this family men’s honor is more important their feelings of love for their children or their sisters… In their family to preserve their honor the father and brothers severely punish to the point of killing.  It is hard for us to imagine how a father could think of anything so horrific.

        However, while we quickly judge these crimes and the perpetrators harshly…we also know how we react to the rumor-mill of similar stories… We also know the part of Mary’s story… when she leaves her home for three or four month because of her condition.  We have been the prying eyes and the loose lips which have taken notice and have passed the stories along.  We have argued with our own children over sometimes important issues and sometime trivial matters.  Most importantly… we remember having to explain to our parents or to those watching…about the things we have done or appear to have done.  Based on how our teachers or parent reacted…we have a good idea about how well our excuses work…when all the evidence contradicts our explanations. 

        Today Mary is caught in a similar perplexing predicament because of finding favor with God.  It is hard not to be afraid when the evidence will certainly contradict her explanation about how her pregnancy became a reality.  A young maiden’s story about Gabriel, the Holy Spirit, and the power of the Most High overshadowing her can only seem like a wild imaginary tale.  Gabriel seems oblivious of her pondering and perplexing concerns.  To Mary’s question; “How can this be, since I am still a virgin?” …Gabriel just explains that her baby will come from the Holy Spirit.  He gives her no strategies for answering the inevitable questions from the neighbors, her parents, or from her betrothed.  He just tells her that she has found favor with God…she will have a baby…because nothing is impossible with God.  And all the explanations for her family…Mary will have to handle herself.  And she handles it in the age old way.  She leavesNazareth and goes to visit her relativeElizabeth.

When Mary has a few moments to reflect on her situation…her spirit rejoices and her soul magnifies the Lord.  Mary is filled with wonder because God has chosen her…a young maiden who has done nothing to earn the Lord’s favor…  In singing about God’s mercy and blessings she sees herself…a lowly and unimportant person.  She sings; God brings the powerful down and lifts up the lowly.  God sends the rich away empty and feeds the hungry.  In her song it seems that God finds favor and blesses the ones which don’t expect it… And to those who believe that they are important and powerful…and who assume that because of their importance automatically causes God’s blessings… are instead sent away empty. 

In the words of her short song…lowly Mary describes our God more clearly than the most educated and gifted theologians have ever been able.  Her description of God’s world…appears completely upside down from what we expect.  What our world expects…is that the important and the powerful will find favor and will be blessed by God.  What we expect is that the poor will be criticized for not working hard enough and contributing their share…who are tossed aside by the rich.  What we expect is that the powerful will demand respect and obedience and will have many servants who serve them… This past year we have seen how the powerful…leader after leader…consider themselves as important and blessed… They have expected to be served by the masses…by the army…even by the rest of the world.

But God’ world is very different.  In God’s world… everything begins with God’s mercy and favor…and it does not need to be earned.  It is unconditional and it lasts from generation to generation.  In God’s world the ones who are poor and least important are most important.  God lifts them up…. In God’s world the savior come to save the lowest and the least.  Ultimately in God’s world God becomes the servant serving the lowly… Jesus the Son of God comes not to be served but to serve.  Jesus the Son of God goes to the cross to save to lowest… the ones who have nothing to give…the ones who cannot earn salvation.

As God does great things for Mary…God also does great things for us… God makes promises to us in our baptism that we will always be important regardless of our estate.  Through Jesus…God is our salvation … God has shown us mercy from generation to generation…making us part of God’s family. 

Therefore let us remember God’s promises which are from generation to generation… Because we have found favor with God…let us rejoice and magnify God’s name.  Let us see God’s mercy and blessings and always be thankful for them.  Let always remember the great things that God does for us.  Then as blessed children of God let us go out to proclaiming good news about God’s favor and blessing which is for all people who hunger for it.  Let us go into the community showing in our words and in our actions all that we know of and are truly thankful for God’s blessings. Thanks be to God.  Amen

Advent 3 B Sermon: I Am Not, But I Am

John 1:6-8, 19-28

 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.

19 This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” 22 Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said,
“I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’” as the prophet Isaiah said.
24 Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. 25 They asked him, “Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, 27 the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.” 28 This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.

Conversation:

How many have gone for a job interview?

What does the employer ask?

How would it work out if the applicant spent most of his/her time saying what they are not? (I am not a welder, I don’t do well with people, I don’t like cattle etc.) 

Sermon: “I am not, but I am.”

“The Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”           

When we are asked… who we are… most of us like to wax eloquent describing our selves.  We describe our vocations in great detail.  Pastors describe our selves as Lutheran orUnitedChurch pastors… as rural or urban pastors…as pastors working in shared ministry of a specific community.  Agricultural producers describe themselves as grain, mixed, or livestock.  They may be even more specific defining a particular type of produce like cattle rancher or pure breeder. 

We also describe ourselves as male or female… according to our marital status… and whether we are parents or grandparents…which lead us into much more detail about ourselves. 

We describe ourselves according to what is important to us…and what interests us.  We gush about our hobbies… whether gardening, sewing, or fishing.  We describe the radio stations we listen to… the type of music which interests us…whether we do or don’t like sports.  In short we have a lot to say when we are asked to describe ourselves. 

        If we are asked we can do a decent job of describing John.  In our picture of him…he wears rough clothing and his hair is mussed up.  He eats foods found in the wild.  He stands on the bank of the river preaching… sometimes chastising a crowd of people or is standing in the water… baptizing.  He seems to have a following of people who are gathered around agreeing with him.  His wild appearance and wild talk is found in other Biblical books such as Mark and Matthew.  We would have no concrete description of John if we relied only on today’s reading.

In the gospel for today, when John is asked to say something about himself… we are struck by how John describes himself.  He is not very good at describing his credentials…it seems that he has no great achievements to crow over… Rather he spends a great deal of time giving unsatisfactory answers… about who he is not.  He is not the Messiah.  He is not Elijah.  He is not Moses.  He is not worthy to tie the thongs of the one who is coming after him.  If he was giving these answers while sitting across the desk from a potential employer…we could assume the result…and it would not be good.  The priests and Levites have nothing to take back to those who have sent them.

        Even the narrator does not help us develop a very clear picture of John…by also using descriptions of what he is not … saying he is not the light.  In this gospel even when Jesus shows up in the same place as John…he is not baptized by John.

        In frustration those who have been sent ask; “If you are not who we are looking and waiting for why are you here and why are you baptizing?” “Why?”  That is our question too…why has John the Baptist such a place of honor during this time of Advent.  While Baptism is such an important sacrament in the Christian Church…most church bodies have emphasized that John’s baptism was not as complete or as relevant as Christian Baptism.  So our question remains; “Why?”

        Thankfully there is an answer… And it begins with the difference between John and God… As a mere human John cannot do what God does… he cannot be the light…he cannot save the world and he cannot be the Messiah.  While John cannot be God…he has a vital role.  While he is not the Messiah nor a prophet …while he is not the light… John’s job is as a witness who testifies.  John’s job is simple…but very important… While it is important…its emphasis has very little to do with him.  In fact according to his own words John is unworthy for his job.  He is God’s messenger…whose sole purpose is to focus people’s attention to where is ought to be centered.  Rather than seeking attention for himself…John directs our eyes toward God…encouraging us to look very closely at what God is doing.  God is sending the son…the Messiah… God’s light into the world.  As witnesses testify in court are sworn to tell the truth…John’s testimony is about the true Son of God… which helps us see God’s love…and through our own eyes… we may come to believe.  John is an evangelist who directs and opens our eyes to God.

        We also have a role in God’s plan for the world.  And our role is very similar to John’s.  Similar to John we are not…nor can we be the Messiah… we are not…nor can we be the light.  Similar to John we are unworthy for the job God gives us… But though we are unworthy… as people who have witnessed his testimony for us…we are also called to be witnesses.  We called to direct people’s attention to God and what God does.  We are called to proclaim God’s love in what we say and in what we do.  We are called to help the world to believe that the Messiah is sent into the lives of everyone needing it. 

        So let us be like John…preparing the way of the Lord.  During this Christmas season let us see God’s presence in our lives.  Let us be witnesses who testify and cry out God’s Good News which is for all people.  Let us be messengers speaking God’s love for this world.  Thanks be to God.  Amen

Advent 2 B Sermon: A Voice Crying in the Wilderness

Mark 1:1-8

 1 The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,
“See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; 3 the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’”
4 John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8 I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Sermon

People from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

        We are restless people.  We are not contented satisfied people.  We continually desire something better.  Whether we are rich or poor…whether we are controlled by others or are completely free… whether we are at war or not at war…we find it very difficult to feel true peace.  So we struggle all of our lives looking for that ever elusive peace and contentment.

        During the last year people in Arab countries have been expressing their discontent with their leaders…and their desire for a new peace.  Citizens from country after country have gathered in their parks and squares to express their disapproval with their leaders.  Then in the summer more people from European countries ofGreece,Portugal,Spain, andItalyalso started expressing their discontent.  Even inBritain, theUnited States,France, and at home here inCanadadiscontent is also becoming very real.

Through all the demonstrations…it seems evident that people are all unhappy and dissatisfied with the way things are.  In some countries they have thrown out one leader only to discover that things are not better and may becoming worse.  Their people are still being imprisoned …tortured …and dying.  In some countries the struggle seems to be escalating with no sign of and ending.  In our country protestors have been evicted from parks and squares.  While people are expressing discontent it also seems evident that the protestors have no real vision or single united idea.  Unsure of what it will be…protestors just want change… They talk about democracy… but in democratic countries discussion centers around how democracy is not working for the 99%.

In today’s gospel there is also a gathering of people… Not in city square …but they are gathering on the banks of theJordan… because they have heard about a new dynamic voice crying out in the wilderness.  They are leaving the city.  They are coming out into the wilderness, away from the comforts of home….to place where food, expensive clothing, and shelter are out of place… and where only wild foods are available. 

        They come to hear a charismatic wild man, John, who is preaching about God.  This wild man’s message and reputation has raised their expectations.  In the manner of the Old Testament Hebrew prophets…John calls on the people, to repent, to turn away from their sinful ways…and change the old systems that oppress.  John attracts so many people to make the pilgrimage out to the wilderness to hear him.

They are convinced that John is special and has been chosen by God.   When they see him and hear this man speak… They believe that he is a prophet or the long awaited Messiah… are moved to repent… and then to be baptized or ritually washed in the River Jordan.  When they confess their sin, and are baptized…they believe God will bring them freedom and peace which they yearn for.

        We have modern politicians…who see themselves as modern Messiahs…  They promise prosperity, peace, and contentment in our land… They promise that our country will set the example for human rights in the world.  But regardless of who it is and who they represent…no political leader is able to deliver on their promises.

        Today, in the wilderness the people are gathering ready to follow a new voice… They would anoint John a new leader even though he makes no promises.  They enthusiastically want to follow him… and would anoint him the Messiah. But John-a humble man- protests… because he is not the Messiah.  John emphasizes, “I am only the messenger sent ahead.  I am only a voice crying in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight.’” 

Even though the people are ready to follow him… John points them in the direction of the true Messiah.  Even though he has the power to attract a large following…John says the one who is following will have much more power; so much so that he will not even be worthy to be his servant.  John’s vocation is to prepare the way… so when God’s anointed one comes the people will be ready… to see and accept the real Messiah.  His message prepares people’s hearts to look for the promised Messiah….It prepares the seed bed, so when the seed is sown that it will take root and grow.  It widens, levels, and straightens the road of the Lord…. John comes proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sin and to point the way to God’s chosen anointed Son. 

This baptism of repentance sounds very much like our weekly act of confession…in which we confess that again for another week…we have sinned against God in thought word and deed…we have not loved God with our whole heart, and we have not loved our neighbors…we have once again have failed to do God’s will…and we ask for God’s forgiveness.  Without fail… because of God’s faithfulness and steadfast love… we receive the entire forgiveness for all our sins.  God does not hold back on any sins…in God’s eyes all sins are forgiven without reserve.

 Very often this act of confession and forgiveness is placed at the very beginning of our church service.  As completely forgiven people…we are able to respond to God’s faithful and steadfast love… Our eyes are opened…Our ears are opened…And our hearts are opened…to accept and embrace God’s love and desire for us.  We see God’s love differently…We hear God’s story differently…And we are able to open our hearts more completely to God’s love for us. 

As Christians we have similar roles… to John’s in God’s advent story.  We are called to show people God’s road… straight and wide …  As Christians we are called to help them to examine themselves… giving them the opportunity to change from walking away from God…to instead turn around and walk toward God.  To those who do make that walk to God…we are called to announce God’s entire forgiveness for all people…

This role is difficult… because we are sinners… and find it hard to forgive, as God forgives… We also find it difficult to assure them about God’s forgiveness.  Fortunately God understands… how our human nature.  And God sends the anointed one…God’s very own Son…as the undeniable proof of God’s faithful and steadfast love for us.  Jesus the Son of God is the ONE…the One who saves us.  We are not worthy to untie the thongs of his sandals, because he is the Son of God.  We are unworthy and unfit to do the duty of a simple servant… to care for the feet of our Lord and Savior.

But the strangest thing about the Messiah…and God’s Good News is that we are not his servants…and are not expected to be… Instead Jesus, Son of God, becomes our servant…who cares for us and about us… He takes our sins from us and carries it to the cross… where he drops them off… forgiving us and giving us new life. 

In return for our forgiveness and new life, let us be like John the Baptist pointing the way to Jesus the Messiah.  Let us level the road way to Jesus…and to God where they may find also salvation…and be baptized by the Holy Spirit.  And let us all live in peace.  Thanks be to our God.  Amen

Advent 1 B Sermon: Then the Son of Man will be Near

Isaiah 64:1-9

1 O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence— 2 ” as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil— to make your name known to your adversaries, so that the nations might tremble at your presence!

Mark 13:24-37 

24 ”But in those days, after that suffering,
the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
26 Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory. 27 Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.                              28 ”From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 30 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.                                                                                                                            32 ”But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. 35 Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, 36 or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”

Sermon

“O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, to make your name known”

        Today the prophet Isaiah voices similar concerns that we often have.  His world seems to be crumbling around him.  It seems that everyone he knows has forgotten God.  He says; “All have sinned and there is no one who calls on you or attempts to take hold of you any more.”  It seems that times are good for the people and they no longer feel the need to rely on God as they used to.  Isaiah sees how God has become so irrelevant to the people… They are not interested in what God might think or do.  They just don’t care.  But Isaiah is one of the few who actually thinks about God…and he too wants God to be more active and more visible.  He wishes that God would do awesome deeds of the past and make the mountains quake.  He wishes that God presence would be so startling…like a brush fire… so everyone and especially his adversaries would know…this comes from God. 

Similar to Isaiah’s musings and wishes… we sometimes have asked or we have heard other people musing or wishing that God’s presence would be more obvious.  When a loved one or we become sick we wish that God would become more present…we wish that God would do those miracles that we hear happen for people in the Bible…and even people from our times who have been healed.

        We wish that God would that God’s presence would become more obvious and more shocking to the people of the world.  We wish that God would tear open the heaven and water the parched places inAfricawhere hunger seems to have become a constant companion.  In our country we wish that God would show proper displeasure to criminals who organize gangs, deal in drugs and prostitution.  We wish that God would intervene in countries where human rights are being ignored…where they are being imprisoned, tortured, or killed because they are asking for good government and fair treatment.   We wish that God would stand and speak directly to perpetrators and leaders who abuse and whose citizens live in daily fear…. We wish that God would stand and speak clearly…showing them that they have been seen, and God is not pleased.  If only God would become more obvious and more active in the affairs of the world and in our lives…wouldn’t it be better.

        While we often are eager for God to tear open the heavens and come hoping for personal healing…or for rain or that criminals and dictators will get a stern message about God’s displeasure …when it comes to our own activities we aren’t always so anxious.  Sometimes we would be caught doing something which is hard to explain.  We may be caught sinning at the moment God appears…and all of a sudden our good and righteous deeds will seem like filthy rags.  Sometimes, are not ready for God to come.  We still have very important things to do… and have no time for God or to be elected and gathered from the four winds.  When we too busy or are doing things… which we know are displeasing to God…the sudden appearance of the Son of Man coming with great power and glory is probably more than a little discomforting for us.  We hope that when the Son of Man comes in cosmic glory we will be ready.

Like many we look for signs about when that might  happen… Earth quakes, hurricanes, floods, and wars cause us to worry that our world is crumbling and coming to an end… and Jesus is coming to gather his elect and save them from the destruction.  As we look back in history and learn more about the science all of the natural events like earthquakes, hurricanes, draughts, and floods have constantly occurred.  And wars have happened since God created humans…

Rather than these very literal understandings of today’s gospel…Jesus is more likely describing what happens to us in similar times.  He is talking about our personal world and how it can be shaken to the core…by events beyond our control.  Sometimes events can be cosmic as described and we are caught up in them…and sometimes the events are more personal like disease or family wars… Regardless of the origin…whether everyone around us is also experiencing it…or whether it is personal and goes unnoticed by other people… it is frightening…and may even cause despair.

At these moments when everything seems darkest when in our world the sun and moon refuse to shine…that is the time to look for the Son of Man coming.  When the stars fall from the sky…and everything in our life appears completely hopeless…Jesus is on his way and gathers us in to God’s loving arms.  When everything is out of control… and nothing is left… Jesus comes in the clouds and gives us hope.  His assurance is this; Even though heaven and earth should pass away for us his words will never pass away.  He will be with us every step of our journey.

Last week, while I was at the rural ministries’ conference I heard an almost unbelievable story…in which best describes Jesus assurances.  It is the personal story of one of the people there.  At age 28, this man was diagnosed with stage four cancer… which means it was very advanced and untreatable.  He was moved to palliative care, with only days or weeks to live.  In the palliative ward his needs were provided for by a team of caring professionals.  At this moment when all should have been hopeless…a deep unexplainable peace came over him.  Never before or after has he experienced the hope and contentment of that time.  He is now close to 60 and it looking very healthy.  The experience has changed his life and he will never be the same. 

Jesus encourages us and gives us hope…to look for the signs of his nearness.  The signs of his nearness are like the every day signs we see in nature.  For instance like in the spring when the trees begin budding …the grass changes from brown to green…and when the gardens and crops begin to sprout…we know that the long days of summer will soon come.   Similarly, we can look for the signs of Jesus coming near… When our whole world is darkest, crumbling around us, and appears hopeless …Jesus is very near…gathering us in…and loving us.  Finally Jesus encourages us not to forget this message… When we keep awake and watch closely we will know when Jesus will be near.     

Today let us be people of hope trusting in Christ our Lord… Let us open our eyes to see the signs which show us when Jesus is near us.  Let us listen to his loving words of hope and assurance.  And finally let us open our hearts with the knowledge that the Son of Man comes to gather everyone from the four winds, from the ends of the earth, and from the ends of heaven…to himself.  And finally let us take the hope Jesus wishes for us…out into our daily lives… to the people we meet…that they may also know the hope which is so near.  Thanks be to God.  Amen

Christ the King A Sermon: I am the least of these

Ezekiel 34:11-24

Psalm 95

Ephesians 1:15-23

Matthew 25:31-46 

31 ”When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33 and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. 34 Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38 And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39 And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ 40 And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’ 41 Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Conversation

As you listened to the Gospel for today…what were the important issues? (waiting, treatment of others, judgment)   

Jesus tells three stories in chapter 25 and one before them in chapter 24. (the slave in charge, the bride’s maids, the talents, and now the sheep and goats) 

Are they similar? (waiting, what they do while they wait,

Do they contradict each other?

What do they seem to say about waiting?

Are they similar in how people are treated…while waiting?

Tell me about judgment.

 Sermon

        Today is the last Sunday of the church year…and it has a special name and focus.  It is Christ the King Sunday in which we the kingly nature of Christ.  In the four lectionary readings chosen for this day…the kingship of God is quite variable.  In the Psalm God is powerful creator and owner of all things… and people are compared to sheep of God’s pasture.  In Ezekiel people are still sheep but we are lost sheep…thirsty, hungry, injured, and weak.  God is the shepherd who find and cares for all the lost sheep…binding our wounds…feeding and quenching our thirst.  In the reading from Ephesians the picture of Christ appears to be more regal and more kingly.  He is seated above all…in glory, with all authority, having immeasurable greatness and power.  Finally today’s gospel begins with Jesus again coming and sitting on the throne of glory.  However, within the story he is also compared to a shepherd and becomes a judge. 

        As we mentioned in our earlier conversation…the stories from the gospels of past weeks have included waiting.  Waiting for little children carries with it great anticipation.  Waiting for Grandpa and Baba to travel for a visit is hard…but waiting to arrive is even worse.  Waiting for Christmas or birthdays seem to last forever.  For children there is generally a positive yearning for the future. 

But there are times, even for them, when the future is not so desired… Waiting to see if a misdeed is discovered …is not so anticipated.  Rather it is worrisome wondering about the punishment which may accompany the discovery.  As we age our enthusiasm about future birthdays…and our worries about what the future hold for us is often less than enthusiastic.  We don’t look forward to becoming weak, losing our independence, or losing our ability for remembering. 

In the waiting parts of Jesus’ stories he usually looking to the future… the future never seems clear… It carries with it definite surprises and at times carries apprehension.  For the slave left in charge…the surprising return of master may find him mistreating the others.  The young maidens are expected to be ready for the surprising appearance of the delayed bridegroom… And last week the while the rich man is away… his slaves are expected to work hard to make him richer…knowing that he will eventually return home and requiring an accounting for what they have done.  And finally today it is about waiting for Jesus to return in glory as king.  And he will also require an accounting…on how we love our neighbor…and not just any neighbor…  In this accounting we are expected to tell him about how we have treated those who are thirsty, hungry, naked, sick, and those who are in prison.

We are pretty good about doing some maybe even most of the things on Jesus’ list.  When people ask we gladly give them water.  We give to Food Banks especially during the Christmas season.  When there is a fire we quickly go to our closets and collect clothing we no longer wear.  And when someone is sick we pray and visit them in the hospital … and our gifts to the wider church even assure that strangers to us are visited by hospital chaplains.  Where most of us fail is in our visits to those in prison… I personally have not visited in jails or prison…and do not know of many if any among us who do.  So in ticking off the list it seems that we are close to what is expected by Jesus.

But there is a bigger surprise than Jesus’ observations about how we treat our neighbor.  It is not about his glorious kingly appearance, sitting on a throne…nor his holding a shepherd’s crook, separating the sheep from goats…nor about him in judge’s robes behind a large imposing deck with a gavel.  The biggest surprise is the self description of Christ the King…  Jesus says; “I am thirsty, I am hungry, I am a stranger, I am naked, I am sick, I am in prison…”  Jesus says to us; “I am the least…the most insignificant person you have not noticed.  I am the least one who you consider unworthy of care and concern.”  That is the most surprising picture of Christ the King.  Jesus, Christ the King, is the face of the poor, the ones who we feel for because they live in a poor part of the world…and also the one who lives in near us… where there is no reason to be poor.  Christ the King, is the one who is sick whether their sickness comes while living normally or whether it comes from risky behaviors…whether it is cancer, lung disease, heart disease, or HIV / AIDS.  Christ the King, is the stranger…the foreigner whether they looks like us and come from a similar culture…or they look different and are raised with completely different customs.  Christ the King, is the prisoner falsely convicted… or the one entirely responsible for their sentence.  Christ the King, is in his own words is the least of all of these… And when he comes he knows what we already know in our hearts.  We have not cared about the least of these…and are therefore completely deserving of God judgment.

While we are only deserving of God’s judgment there is good news for us.  Even those none of us are truly worthy of being called citizen of God’s Kingdom… Christ the King makes us worthy.  Christ the King becomes the least in the kingdom…born a baby having to sleep his first nights in a stable with the livestock.  He is rejected by all the leaders… whether religious or political.  He is labeled a subversive and convicted a traitor and criminal… And finally Jesus is executed.  But while Christ the King is treated as one of the least… God raises him and seated him at the right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority.  Christ the King calls us, enlightens us, and makes us inheritors among the saints.

So as we wait for the coming of Christ the King to come in glory…let us remember the total picture of Christ the King.  Let us remember that Christ is already present in the least of these.  And let us quench the thirsty, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, welcome the stranger, visit and care for the sick and the prisoner.  And let our surprise be that we are completely ready…to greet our savior.  Thanks be to God.  Amen

Pentecost 22 A Sermon: We Want You to be Informed

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died. 15 For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. 16 For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Matthew 25:1-13

1 ”Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. 11 Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12 But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ 13 Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.  

Conversation

• I am wondering if there are any list makers.
• What do you make lists for?
• How do you use them?
• Have you ever lost it or forgotten to list something?
• How did forgetting make you feel? (foolish?)

Sermon

“Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.”

Jesus’ parable of the Ten Bridesmaids is quite disturbing.  It is bothersome on a number of levels.  The first thing that bothers me is the labeling…wise and foolish.  Even both groups gathered to meet the bridegroom…and both seem equally eager to meet him… One group is wise planning way more ahead than expected… while the other foolishly plans for what is expected.  I feel badly for the five virgins who do not think ahead and take extra oil for their lamps. 

        Now you have seen me in action…I am hardly ever fully prepared for anything.  And even if I feel well prepared… I still misplace things that I need to do my work well.  Almost weekly the bulletin finds new and interesting ways to lose itself.  I have forgotten important things that I need to do for myself like; taking insulin before eating, taking snacks when I am going away from home, or a pen for making meeting notes.  I forget things that affect other people like; doctor’s appointments, dates of meetings, or notes for presentations.  Being ready is not easy for me. Saying nothing about taking extra oil, someone like me probably would forget… even to take a lamp…

I have never been very good at preparing in advance for any event.  I am even worse at preparing for an event which could happen at any moment or could be delayed for a long time.  I lose lists or forget to look at them.  I almost always feel unprepared.  So when I hear this story about the Ten Maidens…I almost always identify most closely… with the unprepared foolish ones. 

I also am concerned about how the two labels…wise and foolish… cause tension between the two groups waiting for the bridegroom.  The wise ones act exactly opposite to the way we teach our children and grandchildren how to act.  When the foolish ones ask if the wise will share some of their extra oil…they refuse.  The wise become unimaginative and selfish…they don’t share the extra oil or the light that their lamps provide.  Rather, they suggest that the foolish ones should have thought ahead saying; “No there will not be enough for you and us.”  Because of the comparative labeling…interpretation of this parable may encourage the prepared ones to be intolerant of the unprepared.  As the prepared maidens refuse help to those needing oil… prepared ones among us might refuse help to ones they judge as foolish.

The last question of concern about this parable is about timing and about fairness.  According to the story the bridegroom is allowed to delay and be late…but the young maidens are not given the same consideration…prompting us to ask; “When is it too late?” or “Is there a time when our God will not recognize us?”  These are hard questions.  They cause us to worry about our God…about whether there is a limit to God’s forgiveness…or whether God is just waiting to appear when we are least ready and unprepared.

There are other stories … in which God loses patience.  God loses patience with the rich man who daily walks by and ignores a dying sick man at his gate…or the rich man who uses his wealth for his own personal enjoyment.  God loses patience with religious leaders who put heavy loads on the shoulders of others while refusing to lift a finger to help them. 

But there are other stories about our God… which show us God who waits patiently always ready to forgive…and God who never forgets who we are.  In the story about the son who returns home after wasting his father’s fortune …his father happily forgives him and celebrates with a party.  And when the bandit on the cross asks Jesus to remember him…Jesus replies; “Today you will be in paradise with me.”  Or when the people ofIsraelworry that God has forgotten them…God answers; “Even if a mother should forget her baby…I will never forget you.”  According to these stories God never forgets us.  God continues to love us…and is always ready to forgive…and accept us. 

The Thessalonians are some of the early converts to Christianity.  Paul has taught them all about God’s love and how Jesus died for their sins.  He also taught them that Jesus would return soon to gather all of his faithful followers to join him in heaven.  As the waiting maidens have been waiting for the bridegroom, the people of Thessalonica are also waiting for Jesus’ return.  But some of those who are waiting have already died… So they are worried about them… afraid that because they are not present they may be kept from entering heaven.  In the portion of the letter we heard earlier …Paul writes to reassure them saying; “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died.”  In his word of reassurance he tells them that God never forgets anyone…and God continues to love them even after death.

  Paul tells us to leave the care of the ones we love in the hands of our loving God.  God has already done a great deal for us… God has created and love each person from the very beginning and for all eternity.  God shows this love in many ways…loving us when we are like saints… but continuing to love us when we sin.  God shows this love through the life and death of Jesus.  Through Jesus’ life… our experiences become God’s experience…when we are joyful God is joyful …when we are sad God is saddened… and when we die God is there with us… loving us.  And as Jesus Christ is raised from death…we will also rise to be with him.  This is our belief and our hope.

Therefore since God is our hope…let us live in hope.  Let us put our lives into the hands of God…trusting that God will raise us and receive us…into God’s everlasting home.  And most importantly let us encourage one another with these words.  Thanks be to God.  Amen