Lent 1 B Sermon: God is Near

Mark 1:9-15

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.”

12 And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13 He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.

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

Sermon

“In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.”

        If the gospel for today sounds familiar…it should.  We have already heard parts of it…twice since the beginning of January.  We remember hearing the words from heaven as Jesus emerges from the waters of baptism.  And last week…the on the top of the mountain we were reminded again when we heard the voice from heaven…speaking similar words to the disciples.

        The picture of Jesus emerging from the water, seeing the dove, and hearing the words from heaven, is one of the best pictures in the Whole Bible.  As baptizing people… we never tire hearing this story over and over.  It is a story… which we just cannot get enough of.  In our mind we can see water sheeting off his body, droplets clinging to his brow, and his hair flatten to his head.  And the words float down from Heaven saying; “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” 

Not only do we love the Bible story, but we also love seeing baptism happening in our church.  We especially love when babies are brought for baptism.  We smile from ear to ear. We make efforts to make baptism special…we build chests…we embroider butterfly towels…we candles and baby’s first Bibles…and we have special meals to celebrate At Baptism we make promises to support families to teach their children about our God.

 But because we are a small congregation…time between sometime can be quite long… In the statistical report for 2011, we baptized 5 people on three occasions.  When we consider the number being baptized with the number of people who have left our congregation…because of age or health or just moving away…it would seem that we are in a dry spell…a drought…even a wilderness.

The wilderness is a place…is a place of sparseness…with few plants and animals.  The plants are stunted and withered …with tough skins and spines to keep grazing animals away.  Desert animals learn to survive on less… They also adapt to the scarcity by sleeping during the day and hunting at night.  In the wilderness…the predominant picture is of scarcity. 

In the wilderness… hunger and thirst is an ever-present concern.  Fear of being the food for wildlife or disturbing venomous animals is worry.  In the wilderness…seeing and chasing after illusive mirages…saps our energy.  The scarcity of the wilderness consumes us…tempting us to hoard…so we have enough.  In the wilderness it is tempting to give up hope and the will to live.  The scarcity of the wilderness changes us into worrying, hoarding, and hopeless people.

Jesus knows all about the wilderness.  After the high point of his baptism…Jesus is sent for forty days into the wilderness with the wild beasts, and without much to eat…and is tested.  Even with voice still echoing in his ears…sounding so much like a proud father…the wilderness is not far off.  In the wilderness the temptations are great… It is tempting for the beloved to complain that he is too important and too special to his Father…and should not be driven out into the wilderness.  It is tempting to use his miraculous powers to leave or to make bread for him self.  In his vulnerable state it is tempting to give into all of Satan’s suggestions. 

But even though Jesus is in the wilderness and is tempted by Satan…he is not there on his own with no help.  God does not leave him there facing temptations all alone. At this difficult moment when temptations are the strongest …God’s angels are with him…waiting on him…and looking out for him.  They give him the strength to resist Satan and his temptations.

After his time of temptation…Jesus returns from the wilderness… He returns only to discover…a new wilderness…his Baptizer has been arrested… He learns that it is not easy to be God’s voice in a world unwilling to hear it…and surely it is tempted walk away…rather than following the way of John the Baptizer.  But his time in the wilderness has strengthened Jesus a renewed vigor.  He has learned that even in the most desperate wilderness moments that God is with him… With the renewed strength and assurance that he receives in the wilderness…Jesus comes to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near.” His wilderness experience has strengthened him… with that strength he continues God’s mission for the world.

We have all had wilderness moments in our lives… During wilderness moments we are tempted by Satan… who questions us about everything even asking; “Where is your God now?”  In the wilderness we are tempted to see only scarcity… and worry about obtaining enough for ourselves.  In the wilderness, we are tempted to push others aside until we satisfy our own news first.  In the wilderness, we are tempted to ignore or even blame the ones who have even less than us.

As Jesus hears the wonderful news of God’s loved for him… and as God is present for him out in the wilderness… we can also be assured that our God loves us and will care for us during our wilderness moments.

 In the village through wilderness and scarcity…we have experienced the good news of God.  During the wilderness years when scarcity was common to the churches of Shell Lake…God never abandoned them… But God was always near and gave our members the ability to imagine.  Through wilderness and scarcity…Partners in Worship came into being… Wilderness and scarcity, shows us God’s desire for unity.  Wilderness and scarcity demonstrates how God helps us through temptations which makes us stronger.  Through scarcity and God’s presence… this community has been able to realize an abundance never previously thought possible.

Later today our congregation will be reviewing our ministry for the past year.  We will also be planning our ministry for the present year.  We plan for success knowing it is never far from the wilderness.  Let us remember that even Jesus has spent time in the wilderness… Let us remember that the mission of the church is not our mission but that it is God’s mission for the world.  Let us remember that our God calls us to be the church: to celebrate and proclaim God’s presence, to preach Jesus, crucified and risen, live in hope.  Let us do all these things with thankful hearts.  Amen

Transfiguration B Sermon

Mark 9:2-9

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. 4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. 5 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6 He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7 Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” 8 Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus. 9 As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

Conversation

What is a usual day like? Happy? Sad? Glad? Mad?

What was the best day of your life like?

What was the worst like?

Which have you had the most of?

Sermon

“Rabbi it is good for us to be here.”

        Most of us will probably be able to say that our live have been fine lives…we would also have to admits to ourselves that we have only had a few moments that have been outstanding.  On only a few occasions have we felt so good that we are ready to burst.  The moments are quite rare in our lives when we can say with heart; “It is good to be here.”

This week we have heard about some; good to be here moments…in the lives of celebrities.  The first story is a music story connected to the Grammy Awards.  Receiving a Grammy is one of the highest honors that a musical artist can receive.  It is a proud moment for winners who receive awards at the ceremony.  They have big smiles… they hug the one seated close to them…and they thank their families, friends and the people who have contributed to their success.  In their thank you speeches they often say that this is the high point of their careers.  Whitney Houston has received more than her share of musical awards… including her Grammy awards.  She was a true diva…and her songs and style influenced many singers…who have followed after her.  She certainly knew what it meant to be at the top where it is good to be.

        The second story is a sports story, which is close to my heart.  As a young athlete I loved playing ball.  My first passion was baseball, but later fastball became the game that I played and loved the most.  As a teenaged fan…I began following the first professional Canadian baseball team…the Montreal Expos.  When I first became their fan… the team stunk out the ball park and were always in the basement of the league.  But about the time I thought of abandoning them…they acquired three good players…Andre Dawson, Tim Raines, and Gary Carter.  Suddenly things started looking up.  These players became the nucleus for success.  The team even made the playoffs one year.  But for Gary Carter the ultimate success of winning came later as a member of the New York Mets.  Gary Carter certainly knew what it meant to be at the top where it is good to be.

        While it is good to be a musical or athletic winner… experience teaches us that it is impossible to capture such moments for very long periods of time.  This is true for these two people from this week’s news.  Life soon becomes anti-climatic after reaching the top.  Whitney Houston was very young when she began her climb to the top of the music world.  By the time she was in her mid twenties her voice and singing style had taken her right to the top of the music world.  But even while she was having enormous success her world was falling apart…  Her struggle with…smoking, alcohol, and drugs took their toll on her personal life and on her singing voice.  And last week in the prime of life she died.

Gary Carter played at the highest level for his sport for quite a few years, but his stay at the top as the winner of the World Series was also short.  During his career he was always the picture of health to his fans…but good health is a fleeting moment for some people.  He too died far too young.

While it is good to be at the top it is difficult to stay there.  And even if we desire it…it is virtually impossible to maintain the euphoric and joyful emotions experienced at the top.  Still we want to hold onto those moments not wanting to let go.  So it is with Peter… Just six days earlier he and the other disciple were shocked… Jesus has been healing and teaching with a new found authority.  But just six days earlier…Jesus begins talking about his own mortality.  He says that he is on the way toJerusalem where he will die…news that the disciples do not want to hear.

With the memory of Jesus’ shocking new still ringing in their ears…Peter, James, and John climb the mountain… where Moses and Elijah appear.  And Jesus’ appearance changes into dazzling white.  Glorious words are heard from heaven saying; “This is my son, the beloved”…  With these two contrasting images…death and glory… blazed into his mind…Peter can hardly be blamed for his suggestion to remain here in this place of glory.

But Jesus, the beloved son of God, is here in the world for a much different purpose.  He does not want to be caught lingering in this moment of glory.  He is here in this world proclaiming the good news of God…and walking the way of the cross.  The way of the cross is down off this mountain… It is not about glory…for Jesus or for God.  The way of the cross is about what God does for people who are far from on top… It is God walking through the valley of the shadow of death along side or carrying everyone who enters that dread valley.  The way of the cross is Jesus’ destination… Jesus walks the difficult steps walked by every one.  His difficult walk teaches us about our God’s love for us…about our God…who has willingly experienced suffering and death as we do.

During his life and ministry Jesus has never sought the lime light… he even avoids it… but he does experience moments of glory.  When he came out of the waters of his Baptism… the heavens were torn apart…the Spirit appeared and a voice from heaven was heard; “You are my Son, the beloved, with you I am well pleased.” Today we heard a similar voice from heaven; “This is my Son, the beloved.”  The first was spoken to Jesus…while the second was spoken to Peter and the others.  In both time the glory is for only that moment… After his baptism he immediately goes to the wilderness… and there he is tempted by the devil.  After today’s glorious moment…Jesus is on his way toJerusalem and his destiny with death.

Under close examination these two glorious moments… are not very much about glory for Jesus.  Rather they are moments of assurance for Jesus… During these moments… Jesus receives the support and promise of God his Father who will be with him in his temptation and wilderness moments and his suffering and dying moments.  Jesus climbs this mountain not for glory… but for strength…for returning to the valley…  He climbs the mountain to be assured that his Father will help him walk the way of the cross.  Finally he leads his disciples up the mountain… so they may also receive strength…which will enable them to walk with Jesus on his way.

God knows that most of our moments will not be at the mountain top… God knows that during much of our life we will be in the wilderness…where we encounter life’s difficulties.  Through the gift of this story God gives us strength…and we are assured that whatever we face God will be with us.  God will be with us when we face temptation … and ultimately God will when we face our death.

In our moments of glory…let us remember and be strengthened by the promises of our God.  In our wilderness moments let us…see the company of our God.  And let us accompany any who are living in the wilderness or walking the way of suffering or death.   Thanks be to God.

Epiphany 6 B Sermon: A Tale of Two Lepers

2 Kings 5:1-14

1 Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man and in high favor with his master, because by him the Lord had given victory to Aram. The man, though a mighty warrior, suffered from leprosy. 2 Now the Arameans on one of their raids had taken a young girl captive from the land of Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “If only my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” 4 So Naaman went in and told his lord just what the girl from the land of Israel had said. 5 And the king of Aram said, “Go then, and I will send along a letter to the king of Israel.” He went, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten sets of garments. 6 He brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read, “When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you my servant Naaman, that you may cure him of his leprosy.” 7 When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to give death or life, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Just look and see how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me.” 8 But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come to me, that he may learn that there is a prophet in Israel.” 9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariots, and halted at the entrance of Elisha’s house. 10 Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go, wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored and you shall be clean.” 11 But Naaman became angry and went away, saying, “I thought that for me he would surely come out, and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and would wave his hand over the spot, and cure the leprosy! 12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them, and be clean?” He turned and went away in a rage. 13 But his servants approached and said to him, “Father, if the prophet had commanded you to do something difficult, would you not have done it? How much more, when all he said to you was, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” 14 So he went down and immersed himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; his flesh was restored like the flesh of a young boy, and he was clean.

Psalm 30

Mark 1:40-45

40 A leper came to him begging him, and kneeling he said to him, “If you choose, you can make me clean.” 41 Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, “I do choose. Be made clean!” 42 Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. 43 After sternly warning him he sent him away at once, 44 saying to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” 45 But he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the word, so that Jesus could no longer go into a town openly, but stayed out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter.

Conversation

According to the Story of Naaman, how did the people ofAramget along with the people ofIsrael?

In a Modern map of the Middle East where would you find Aram?

What do you know aboutSyria?

How do they get along with people fromIsrael?

From the point of view, as a citizen ofIsrael, how would you feel about Naaman’s healing?

Biblically, tell me about clean and unclean.

 

Sermon: A Tale of Two Lepers

The man, though a mighty warrior, suffered from leprosy.  A leper came to him begging him, and kneeling.

Today we have two very different stories, which revolve around the dreaded skin disease of leprosy.  One leper, Naaman, is mighty and powerful and we could add how he is full of his own importance.  As a great general fromSyria…who is not a nice man.  In ancient days and even today…relations betweenSyriaandIsraelhave never been good… In one way or another…his country has always been at war withIsrael.  And Naaman in particular has won battles againstIsrael… and in one of his raids…even has taken a young girl captive …who now serves his wife.  Upon hearing about the possibility of a cure for his condition he spares nothing to get what he wants.  He goes to his king who writes a letter on his behalf…to the enemy king ofIsrael.  He also takes a fortune of silver, gold, and clothing as payment for being cured.  Because he is held in high favor in his home country Naaman expects similar honor inIsrael.  He expects personal service…and is angered when the prophet merely sends a servant with a remedy.  Because of his feeling of entitlement…Naaman comes with big expectations and thinking that his prominence…will attract attention and the healing will be done with a flourish. 

On the other hand…the second leper…is poor like the ones… we see on those heart breaking television pleas for our help….  In our modern era…leprosy is curable…costing only a dollar a day.  But for people earning ten dollars per week… the cure is just as unattainable.  Regardless of the age whether ancient or modern the stigma against this disease and for people who have it has not changed.  Severe deformities mean that victims don’t want anyone to see.  They are ashamed to go out into the public.  And after the presence of the disease is confirmed…victims are thrown out of their homes.  Besides these humiliations…in the Bible…there is an additional label attached to the disease… Victims are labeled unclean and sinful… and their condition result from some sin the person has committed.

Filled with shame…and expecting nothing… the second leper approaches Jesus…knees bent…and head bowed…not wanting Jesus to see his disfigured face… begging and kneeling saying; “If you choose, you can make me clean.”

When we hear these two stories…side by side…we have much more pity and compassion for the second leper than the first.  We believe that he exhibit proper humility… He asks without expectation.  So we believe that he deserves to be healed.  We like humility of the poor… but dislike the arrogance of the rich and powerful.  We are frustrated when professional hockey players, rich executives, or powerful politicians… jump to the front of the line and get their immediate MRI… and knee or heart surgery… while ordinary people get bumped further back on the wait list. 

When we consider both healings we are confused.  It is hard for us to draw any instructional clues about how to approach God for healing.  One comes to God thinking that he is so important… And the other comes filled with shame not even able to lift his eyes to look into those of his healer.  The one is angry for not receiving special consideration… shouting his indignation.  And the other has the voice of a beggar… “If you choose…”  One comes promising rich payments if he is healed.  And the other has nothing to offer.  These two could not be more different… Yet both are healed… the powerful and arrogant…and also the poor and worthless…  In Sunday School and in church we have been taught that there are acceptable ways to ask for God’s healing.  Why does God not have a consistent formula for healing?  Why is God not predictable?

Before we can make any conclusions about who and why God heals…we must look at the whole situation with a completely different set of eyes.  We have been looking at the ones who were healed and what they have done for our clues.  We have concluded that their attitude and worthiness seems unimportant to God…we have also determined that God heals both rich or poor…powerful or powerless.  We have been concentrating on the individuals healed…and our focus on the healer been concentrating on why God would heal this or that person.  Instead we forget to ask; “Why does God heal period?” 

The answer lies in God’s love…and is best understood by understanding our own love.  As parents and grandparents …we love our children.   Even though our children know we have sometimes sternly taught our children about dangers and consequences… when they engage in dangerous activities.  But even when they ignore our wisdom and as a result are injured…our love for them…moves our hearts.  We rush for the bandages…we rush to the hospital.  We hold them close and comfort them.  We love even our little dare-devils who are always living on the edge. In the same way God our Heavenly Father loves each and everyone… whether we are arrogant…or filled with shame.  God’s love is bigger and more generous than anything that we could hope to understand.

A second question which we also forget… simply asks; “What is healing?”  Very often for us healing is limited to physical condition.  True healing is far greater though. 

This is not recorded in today’s reading Old Testament reading… but after Naaman is healed he returns to Elisha wanting to pay him for being healed.  When Elisha declines payment… Naaman asks for forgiveness and two mule loads of earth… so that he can kneel on it while he prays his thanksgiving prayers to God back in his home country ofSyria.

  After showing himself to the priest and proving that he has been healed… the poor beggar’s healing has also been more than physical… and he experiences a complete change of attitude.  From one who is filled with shame and cannot even look Jesus in the eye… this healed man begins proclaiming freely effectively spreading the good news… about Jesus.  His effectiveness is such …that Jesus is no longer able enter any town without being mobbed, but has to stay in the country, and people still come to him from every quarter.

        Their healing has been in both body and mind… physical and spiritual.  The psalmist expresses it best; “You have restored my life from going down to the Pit.  You have turned my mourning into dancing; and clothed me in joy, so that my soul may praise you and not be silent.”

        May we all know from where our life and our health comes.  May we all sing praises to the LORD our God.  And may we all freely proclaim the love of our God.  Thanks be to God.  Amen

Epiphany 5 B Sermon: Wait on the LORD

Isaiah 40:21-31                                                                                                                    Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. 30 Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; 31 but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Mark 1:29-39                                                                                                                      29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. 31 He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them. 32 That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. 33 And the whole city was gathered around the door. 34 And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.                                                                                                                                  35 In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. 36 And Simon and his companions hunted for him. 37 When they found him, they said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.” 38 He answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.” 39 And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.

Conversation with the children

Who has a grandma and grandpa?

When you go to their place do they do different things?  What do they do differently?

Who gets out juice and cookies or cake?  Why?

Who makes coffee or supper?

What does grandpa do?

 Sermon

He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and she began to serve them.

        In recent times our world has been changing and to us it seems odd that Simon’s mother-in-law on rising from her sick bed immediately begins serving the guests he brings home.  We know that even after recovering from a fever it takes time for a person to regain their strength.  To us it seems strange that the people of this story especially Jesus never questioned their culture.  Even he does not protest and with the other men he also waits for her to serve.

        When we think of our modern culture…we have not drastically changed the roles of men and women… Almost wherever we go…and where people are served food… most often women are doing it.  After church later we will have lunch…and we all know that women have made it.  They will serve it and likely they will clean up after lunch is complete.  On a rare occasion the man of the house will help his wife make sandwiches…and may carry them into the church… However, his wife decides what to bring… gathers the groceries …and gets everything ready so her husband can help if he wants to.  But during lunch…the women stand at the counter making sure there is enough…they pass sandwiches, cake and cookies… they bring coffee to top off the first cup.  Sometimes men sweep the floor.  But even when men contribute…men are usually under the supervision of their spouse. 

 Now we are less than a week from the “Taste of the World Feast”.  Again the women are leading the way… During the last two years…the men have assisted with this fund raiser… serving food and clearing plates… This year the women have been working feverously…and have come up with a new plan.  Rather than their usual roast beef meal that we all enjoy…this year they have planned a feast which will have foods representing the diverse culture found in our community.  There will be food from various nations …Ukrainian, Scandinavian, German, English, and even some Oriental foods.  As is usual the church men are waiting for their instructions…maybe hoping that none will come… To this moment the women have been so busy developing the new plan… that they have not yet identified a definite role for us…  Even though gender roles are changing… important meals are still usually planned and served by women.

Knowing what we know…today I can imagine how Simon’s mother-in-law must have felt… when her son brought the friends… home after the Sabbath service at the synagogue.  She has heard about the marvelous things Jesus doing…casting out demons, and his teaching.  She may have even thought that it would be good to have him visit….but not today when she is feeling so poorly.  I can hear her saying to Simon; “You should not have brought him today.  I am sick and have not made any fresh bread I cannot even get out of bed to prepare any tea for him.  What will he think of me?” 

As he did before and as he will continue…Jesus breaks the rules of the Sabbath.  He heals a second person on that Sabbath day.  However, in this story we see something different about Jesus than we have to this point.  Until now all of his healings have been public affairs, performed before crowds.  But this healing has happens in the privacy of Simon’s home.  We witness a compassionate Jesus; who neither wants, nor needs an audience to perform his healing.  He actually prefers to be an anonymous healer.  His concern is for the person… rather that his own glory… or whether he breaks rules.  Jesus cares about those who need his healing… not whether we deserve healing… He does not consider whether we have done good or bad.  He freely heals without questions about whether we are worthy.

After she gets off her sick bed…we can see Simon’s mother-in-law returning to her good old self.  I can imagine her scurrying around making biscuits and brewing tea… all the while apologizing to Jesus about not having anything ready for him…when he first arrived.

After this eventful day people, Jesus’ fame grows… and because of it people, who are sick begin to crowd around Jesus.  They come seeking his healing touch.  They press in on him… giving him no peace until he has seen and touched them. 

The people of the Bible are not unlike us.  Similar to our healers… the effectiveness of their healers is varied… And similar to us they are also in constant search for: “Who is the best doctor?”  And when cures seem impossible… when their ailments becomes so advanced and their physicians no longer are able to help… like us… they are quick to chase down another medical cure. 

If the medical profession has exhausted all it avenues for healing…as a last resort, we turn crowding into Jesus’ doorway wanting a miracle cure.  Expectantly, we gather for our own purpose… for what we want…and need.  We gather in anticipation of Jesus doing just this one thing for us… We worry that if we ask for too much of God… So we limit our request saying; “I just ask for…or… If you just do this one thing…or…I will not ask after this”, hoping that our request is not too big. 

While we worry that our request is too large for God…in truth our requests are all too often far too small.  In today’s passage from Isaiah we are asked; “Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood? The Creator of the ends of the earth does not faint nor grow weary.”  It is possible though that our God only becomes weary waiting for us to pray… or …when we do by our tiny expectations.  While God knows and understands all that we need…and is ready to give it…we continue struggling on our own…relying on our own strength.  But on our own… even the young and strong grow weary. 

To us whose expectations are small…and to us who rely on our own strength… God calls on us to listen to the good news.  The good news for us is; “God gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless.”  “Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”

After healing late into the night…Jesus knows how to renew his strength.  In the morning, while it is still very dark, he goes out to a deserted place, and there he prays.  He does not worry whether his prayers are too much for God he does not worry that he will tire God.  He freely prays and his strength and purpose is renewed… he is ready for a new day of proclaiming good news to the neighboring towns.

As Jesus waits on God… let us wait on our God for everything.  Let us pray for renewed strength.  Let us rise up as eagles and not grow faint.  And let us proclaim the good news that God sends us out to do.  Amen

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