Palm to Passion Reading

Liturgy of the Palms:  Luke 19:28-40 (NRSV)

He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.'” 32 So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 They said, “The Lord needs it.” 35 Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36 As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. 37 As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, 38 saying,
“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!”
39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.”

Liturgy of Passion:  Luke 22:14-Luke 23:56

14 When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. 15 He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 16 for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; 18 for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood

VU 458 Christ, Let Us Come with You verse 1

²¹But see, the one who betrays me is with me, and his hand is on the table. ²²For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!” ²³Then they began to ask one another, which one of them it could be who would do this. ²⁴A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. ²⁵But he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. ²⁶But not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves. ²⁷For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. ²⁸“You are those who have stood by me in my trials; ²⁹and I confer on you, just as my Father has conferred on me, a kingdom, ³⁰so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. ³¹“Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, ³²but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” ³³And he said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death!” ³⁴Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you have denied three times that you know me.”

³⁹He came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed him. ⁴⁰When he reached the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not come into the time of trial.” ⁴¹Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, ⁴²“Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done.” ⁴³Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength. ⁴⁴In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground. ⁴⁵When he got up from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping because of grief, ⁴⁶and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not come into the time of trial.”

VU 133 Go to Dark Gethsemane verse 1

⁴⁷While he was still speaking, suddenly a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him; ⁴⁸but Jesus said to him, “Judas, is it with a kiss that you are betraying the Son of Man?” ⁴⁹When those who were around him saw what was coming, they asked, “Lord, should we strike with the sword?” ⁵⁰Then one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. ⁵¹But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him. ⁵²Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple police, and the elders who had come for him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a bandit? ⁵³When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness!”

⁵⁴Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house. But Peter was following at a distance. ⁵⁵When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. ⁵⁶Then a servant-girl, seeing him in the firelight, stared at him and said, “This man also was with him.” ⁵⁷But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” ⁵⁸A little later someone else, on seeing him, said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” ⁵⁹Then about an hour later still another kept insisting, “Surely this man also was with him; for he is a Galilean.” ⁶⁰But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about!” At that moment, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. ⁶¹The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.” ⁶²And he went out and wept bitterly.

VU 132 Bitter was the Night, verse 1&2

⁶³Now the men who were holding Jesus began to mock him and beat him; ⁶⁴they also blindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” ⁶⁵They kept heaping many other insults on him. ⁶⁶When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, gathered together, and they brought him to their council. ⁶⁷They said, “If you are the Messiah, tell us.” He replied, “If I tell you, you will not believe; ⁶⁸and if I question you, you will not answer. ⁶⁹But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” ⁷⁰All of them asked, “Are you, then, the Son of God?” He said to them, “You say that I am.” ⁷¹Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips!”

23Then the assembly rose as a body and brought Jesus before Pilate. ²They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man perverting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to the emperor, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.” ³Then Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He answered, “You say so.” ⁴Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for an accusation against this man.” ⁵But they were insistent and said, “He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place.” ⁶When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. ⁷And when he learned that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. ⁸When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some sign. ⁹He questioned him at some length, but Jesus gave him no answer. ¹⁰The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. ¹¹Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then he put an elegant robe on him, and sent him back to Pilate. ¹²That same day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other; before this they had been enemies.

¹³Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people, ¹⁴and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was perverting the people; and here I have examined him in your presence and have not found this man guilty of any of your charges against him. ¹⁵Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death. ¹⁶I will therefore have him flogged and release him.” ¹⁸Then they all shouted out together, “Away with this fellow! Release Barabbas for us!” ¹⁹(This was a man who had been put in prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for murder.) ²⁰Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again; ²¹but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” ²²A third time he said to them, “Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him.” ²³But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices prevailed. ²⁴So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted. ²⁵He released the man they asked for, the one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over as they wished.

VU 133 Go to Dark Gethsemane verse 2

²⁶As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus. ²⁷A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. ²⁸But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. ²⁹For the days are surely coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’ ³⁰Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us’; and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ ³¹For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

³²Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. ³³When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. ³⁴Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots to divide his clothing. ³⁵And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!” ³⁶The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, ³⁷and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” ³⁸There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” ³⁹One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” ⁴⁰But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? ⁴¹And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” ⁴²Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” ⁴³He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

VU 136 Come and Mourn with Me (verse 2)

⁴⁴It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, ⁴⁵while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. ⁴⁶Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last. ⁴⁷When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent.” ⁴⁸And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts. ⁴⁹But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

VU 133 Go to Dark Gethsemane verse 3

⁵⁰Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph, who, though a member of the council, ⁵¹had not agreed to their plan and action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea, and he was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God. ⁵²This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. ⁵³Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb where no one had ever been laid. ⁵⁴It was the day of Preparation, and the sabbath was beginning. ⁵⁵The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid. ⁵⁶Then they returned, and prepared spices and ointments. On the sabbath they rested according to the commandment.                                                       VU 135 Beneath the Cross of Jesus verses 1&2

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Lent 5 C sermon on John 12:1-8 Mary and the Perfume

Conversation Time: Celebration…Why do we celebrate?  How should we?  What for?  What is not enough?  What is too excessive?

 Sermon

 Celebration…we all enjoy celebrating.  We love getting together to celebrate with each other.  For some of us the celebration can be very simple and inexpensive.  We value time spent with those who are important to us.  For others or us…it is not a celebration…unless it is noticeable…and it must appear that we have put something into…or have made some sort of sacrifice…to have a true celebration.

Last Sunday we accompanied thankful father who spared little when celebrating the return of his lost and wayward son…a son…who according to the father… figuratively speaking had been dead but now is alive.  Today we continue with a similar celebration…only in this case Lazarus…the brother of Mary and Martha… actually died…and was raised from the grave by Jesus.  To honor and thank Jesus, Lazarus and his two sisters invite him to a thanksgiving party.

During the celebration…each of the three has their own way of expressing their appreciation for what Jesus has done for them.  Lazarus provides his home for the celebration.  He sits at the table with Jesus.  Martha…true to her calling…does the cooking and the serving.  And Mary…the deep thinker…the one who deeply values the words of Jesus…at great sacrifice…Mary also has prepared for this occasion by purchasing some very expensive perfume… Then she pours it on the feet of Jesus.  In the matter of moments the wonderful fragrance of this perfume which cost her…the equivalent of a year’s salary…will have disappeared and have been lost to the air.

For us who worry about ways to properly balance celebration…with our responsibility to the poor…the contributions of Lazarus and Martha are quite acceptable…Lazarus supplies a table to eat from…and Martha provides and serves food.  These are normal things…we need food and we need a place to eat it…So these gifts of thanksgiving are just fine with us.

On the other hand, Mary’s extravagant pouring of expensive perfume…seems a bit over the top.  Surely, she could have used less…a lot less…Surely, she didn’t have to spend so much money.  It would be much easier for us to explain her gift of thanksgiving …if…instead of being so excessive…it had been a little more restrained.

It is sometimes easy for us to condemn those who spend lavishly and wastefully on celebrations…so it is hard to understand Jesus in today’s gospel.  He    stands up for Mary telling Judas to leave her alone. Then it almost seems like he discounts the poor… making them unimportant.  He almost sounds…dare we say it…a bit…dare we say it…a bit selfish, when saying, “You will always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”  Where does that leave us then?  How are we to understand this statement?  Isn’t the whole gospel about loving and caring for our neighbor, and doesn’t our neighbor include the poor?  This is one of those times when we have a hard time understanding Jesus.

But Jesus doesn’t leave us with nothing to grasp.  He leaves us with a wisdom we have found ourselves saying.  That is…no one lives forever…and Jesus will not be with the disciples forever.  Mary could have saved her expensive gift for anointing Jesus until after he died… She could have used it to anoint his body for burial… Instead she anoints him while he is still with them…while he is able to appreciate the fragrance of the gift.  We have observed how people, spend lavishly on funeral arrangements or monuments after death…but they never lavishly spent time before death…like Mary has. 

How many times have we regretted that we allowed ourselves to be so busy…that we forgot…or didn’t get around to visiting with our aging parents?  How often do we tell or show loved ones how much we appreciate them.  Jesus praises Mary…not because she has spent so much on him…but because she has honored him before the time he has to leave them.

During the season of Lent…Jesus calls on us to          follow the example of Mary.  She has experienced a huge reversal in her life.  Her brother who was dead has been raised.  She knows that this reversal is due to the power of God working through Jesus.  This power enters her heart, and she responds in love… So full of thankfulness and joy…she comes to him with a thankful and generous heart.  She honors her Savior immediately, not at some far distant time when he may no longer be near her.

As Jesus has brings life to Lazarus, Jesus also brings life to all of us.  Jesus brings salvation to the world…giving us the opportunity to turn around and accept the new life offered.  Jesus gives us each a gift equal to the gift he has given to Lazarus…to Martha … and to Mary.  They have each in their own way offered thankful praises for the new life received.

So as Mary comes…let us come to Jesus with truly thankful hearts. From the depth of our hearts let us thank Jesus for coming to live and to die among us.  From the depths of our hearts…let us thank Jesus for offering new life to us through his resurrection from the dead.  From the depths of our hearts…let us thank our God who is ever present with us.  Thanks be to God.  Amen

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Lent 4 C Sermon

Sermon on Luke 15:11-32 (The Prodigals)

“Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.”

In our lives we spend a significant amount of energy thinking and commenting on the parenting skills of other people.  We think certain parents are over protective and too strict… never allowing their children to experience their lives… They continually monitor and often interfere in everything their children do…  They expect the best manners from their children … expecting model children.  When they give their children anything… the gifts always comes with strings attached.  If it is a cookie, it must be eaten at the table… If it is candy, only so much can be eaten at a time… If it is money, it must be spent on useful things…or it must be put in the bank and saved for something useful… If it is new clothes, they can only be worn on special occasions…and so on and so on.  And it doesn’t change…when their children become older… They continue restricting their choices… about their friends… about their mates… about their careers… and so on and so on. 

We…as onlookers… can’t help commenting.  We wonder how such a child will ever be able to make any decision and stand on their own two feet.  We expect that they will only be able to take so much before they rebel and run away.

On the other extreme… there are the parents… where anything goes.  They don’t say “no” and don’t have any rules for their children.  They give them everything they ask for… without having any conditions.  They allow their children to do whatever they want… and have no expectations about their behavior … never questioning them about their life style or choice of friends…   And when the parents receive the call from the child… who was caught while driving over the legal limit… they just pay the fine.

 We…as onlookers…again can’t help ourselves from commenting saying, “No wonder that has happened, without discipline what can you expect?”

We have seen the extremes for ourselves.  We have seen the overbearing and over protective parents who smother and restrict their children.  We have seen the easy going parents… who without questions allow their children to act and do whatever they like.  As parents, most of us like to think that we fall somewhere between the two extremes…  We have expectations of our children…but we also want them to grow up able to be independent and make their own decisions.

Today Jesus receives a complaint from people just like us.  They are good people just like us.  They regularly attend the synagogue and regularly read the Bible maybe even more than we do.  Some of them, the scribes, have made it their life’s work to study and interpret what God wants from people.  Others, the Pharisees, have tried very hard to live according to God’s laws.  In many ways they are just like us.  Their complaint is; “Jesus welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

So in response Jesus tells a true to life story of the “Ideal Father”.  This ideal father gives his younger son, his inheritance even before he dies… He doesn’t put any conditions on the gift… He allows his son to take the gift and use it in whatever way he wishes… probably having a very good idea of what would happen.  Can you hear his neighbors? …  What can you expect…what a father… he gave him everything?

Even though, he gave him everything and he let the son go away… this father did not totally release him from the family.  Knowing the bad life choices that he must be making…the father continued thinking about maybe even grieving for his son…and continued loving him.  He worried and looked for him to return.  And when he returns…ragged and humiliated…the ideal father is overjoyed… Even though this wayward son has rejected the family… without any conditions or any expectations… Jesus’ ideal father fully reinstates him complete with the family ring and a new suit of clothes… and now is ready for a feast complete with music and dancing.

But all is still not well in the family.  Not everyone is happy that the wayward one has returned.  The son who had fulfilled his family duties… who worked all this time… who had secretly wanted freedom too… is angry… He rejects the family joy and celebration… He believes that his father is too easy on his brother.  His heart is hardened and he does not want his father to be so joyful.   

On hearing about the older son’s anger the father searches him out.  He invites even pleads with him to come into the celebration.  But as his younger brother abandoned his father this older son rejects the father also… refusing to join the rejoicing and celebrating. 

Selfishly and bitterly he cries, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends.  But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’

This is not one of those happy ever after tales that we often read.  Everything is not neatly tied up in a complete package.  The father continues pleading and telling his older son why he is so happy.  But the story ends there.  We don’t know if the older son ever changes and accepts the younger son back into the family.  Similarly we don’t really know whether the younger son ever feels truly worthy to be called a son again.  

In the two sons we see ourselves.  Sometimes we take all the gifts that God has given us and use them wastefully. Sometimes we are angered to hear that God loves people who have rejected God’s love.  Yes we are the two brothers. 

But we do know what Jesus’ ideal father looks like.  Jesus’ ideal father is generous far more generous than we could ever imagine.  Jesus’ ideal father gives us choices…we can choose to stay with God or we can choose to leave.  But Jesus’ ideal father is heart broken when we choose to leave… and continuously waits for us to return.  And when we return Jesus’ ideal father welcomes us back and celebrates our return.  And finally Jesus’ ideal father searches us out and pleads with us to be happy when the wayward return.

There is another parable based on the story of this father and sons.  In heaven, with sadness and grief, God and son Jesus look down on these two earthly sons.  One son rejected his home and is too shamed to return.  The second son rejected his brother and refuses to be persuaded otherwise.  Son Jesus offers to go to earth and persuade them to come home to God.  The prodigal son in the distant country replies, “God?… There is no God and you are certainly not my brother.”  God’s son found the other son kneeling in church.  He replies demanding, “Why were you out seeking… that wayward so and so?  You are no brother of mine.”  Both prodigal brothers see Jesus dying on the cross and they each hear him praying for them in person.  They each reflect to themselves that their rejection has been one of the nails in his hands and feet.  To the surprise of the brothers… Jesus is raised on the third day… and they both knew that he has done this all for them.  What they do then who can say?  You and I must choose that answer.

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Lent 3 C Sermon on Luke 13:1-9 Time for Young Minds on Isaiah 42:1-9

“Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners?  Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them—do you think that they were worse offenders?

In our Sunday school classes we have learned that God is everywhere in all places at all times.  We also learned that God is all powerful able to do anything.  And in addition we learned that God is all-loving… and wants the best for everyone.

But when the earth quakes and buildings fall down crushing innocent families especially children…or when criminal warlords steal children from their parents and force them into fighting child soldiers or child prostitution… or when peaceful protestors or innocent bystanders are brutalized by oppressive police state régimes… or when a close family member has a heart attack…or stroke… or discovers they have cancer…or, or, or.  We could continue this list… It is endless.

When catastrophic events such as these happen we begin making assumptions…  We may assume that the people who are suffering have sinned and deserve everything that is happening to them…  This assumption is not very comforting for us though… because we know that we are all sinners.  So the corollary to this assumption becomes even more worrisome for us.  If we are sinners we wonder; what level of sin is too much?  How many sins are too many?  Are we liable for punishment if we commit 1000 sins, 100 sins, 10 sins, or just one sin?  Or which specific sin will tip the balance…bringing on the punishment?  We worry about being punished even if our sins are minor… and if for the most part we are good hard working people?  Assumptions and worries such as these are indeed very real.

To our concerns about whether those who are suffering because of their sins Jesus has an answer.  It is an emphatic; “NO.”  None if the people who were killed by Pilate were any worse sinners than anyone else in the community.  None of the people… who were standing beside the tower of Siloam…when it collapsed… were any worse offenders… than any other people living in Jerusalem.  If people’s suffering was about people’s sins then all of us would deserve to suffer equally.

But Jesus has one cautionary piece of advice for us.  He says that if we choose to walk away and break our relationship with God… if we refuse God’s love and God’s grace… our lives will be lived separated from God.  And because we choose to separate ourselves from God’s love… when we face suffering we will be facing it alone…without feeling God’s genuine love…which is readily available for everyone.

A second assumption about why people suffer…is concerned with the very nature of God…about what God is really like…  According to assumptions…God’s nature may be angry and vengeful…who punishes… when people do wrong things.  This assumption believes that God requires punishment for sins which are committed.  It is assumed a price must be paid and suffering must happen… that God’s vengeance must be satisfied.  So when devastating earthquakes and giant tsunamis strike certain lands… or when people are starving… or thrown into jail and tortured…or when diseases strike… when people suffer in any way we assume that God is punishing for some reason even we can’t explain it.

Another assumption about God’s nature is that God is too busy or just doesn’t care about unimportant people who suffer.  It is assumed that God could never have enough time to be concerned with so many things.  Therefore, in life some people just fall by the wayside.  When we make such assumptions about God’s nature… our forlorn question is; “Why does God allow people especially good people to suffer?”

For those of us who assume that God a vengeful punisher or is uncaring…Jesus also has another answer.  He paints a very different picture of God… Jesus compares God to a gardener who loves each plant in his garden.  When a fig tree does not earn its keep and produce fruit… and the man who owns the garden… gives instructions to the gardener to cut it down… God the Gardener stands between the one who would destroy the tree… suggesting patience… and that the tree be given more time.  In the mean time the Gardener offers to work harder doing the things required to help the tree to produce fruit.  The Gardener will till around the tree so grasses and weeds don’t take the moisture and nutrients needed by the tree to produce fruit.  The Gardener will also put manure around it to give it more fertility.  The Gardener will do everything possible to coax the tree to produce some fruit.

Our God is a gentle Gardener who stands between the destroyer and us even though we are not producing fruit.  And even if we are worthless producing nothing… God stand beside us… Not only does God stand with us… but God is actively at work in us coaxing out changes which will allow us to bear fruit.  Our God gives us every opportunity to change our ways… from separating ourselves and walking away…to turning around and returning… so we will live in loving relationship with God.  In the picture of the Gardener, God does not punish and destroy… And God does not live the fig tree to it own resources to make the changes needed to produce fruit.  Instead God becomes active in preventing the tree’s destruction.  God the Gardener cares not only for those who are bearing fruit…but God also cares and stands with those who are not yet bearing fruit.

Today let us remember that our God does not keep a tally of our sins.  God does not rank any sinners worse than others sinners.  And let us remember that it is not God’s desire to punish or destroy sinners.  Most importantly let us remember that God is a Gardener who cares about every plant in the garden even the one that are not producing fruit.  God cares so much that God will do everything possible to prevent our destruction.  In fact even more than this Gardener… in the life and death of Jesus… God put his life on the line.  Jesus stands between us and the destroyer.  God cares so much about each person that God does everything possible to prevent our destruction.  This is most certainly true… Thanks be to God.  Amen

Time for Young Minds:  Stone Soup

A Beggar Man had not had anything to eat for days… and he was getting very hungry.  He heard that there was an old woman who lived down the road…who had a big garden and always had lots of had lots of food in her cellar.  He told his friends that he was going there to see if she would share some of her extra food.

They all told him that he was wasting his time.  Because she was so stingy and never gave anything away even to someone who had not eaten for weeks… in all the years before she had never given as much as a shriveled tomato or dried out onion to anyone.  In fact they said she didn’t even eat much herself always worrying that she might run out of food.

But the beggar said that he was not concerned.  He picked up his nap sack which contained an old empty battered pot and nothing else and headed of to her house.  On his way he stopped in a field and picked up a smooth pinkish stone…and put it in his battered pot.

When the man got to her house he walk up and boldly knocked on the door.  It opened just a crack.  And a voice said, “Go away.  I don’t want anything that you are selling…I don’t have any to spare for you.”

The beggar said, “I don’t want anything except some water for my pot so that I can make some of my delicious stone soup.”  “Stone soup,” she said, “You can’t make soup out of a stone, can you?”  “Oh yes, I do it all the time.”  And he showed her the round smooth stone and the pot.  “All I need is some water and a fire to cook the soup.  If I could just please get a little water, I will be able to make some delicious stone soup.  And you can taste for yourself.”

The woman was sure that cooking a stone in boiling water would never become soup… but without giving the beggar some water she would never know for sure.  So she opened the door just wide enough so he could pass to pot through…and she brought it back almost full of water.

Soon the man had a fire going in the front yard…and the pot was boiling.  Through the crack in the door the woman watched.  She saw him stirring and then he tasted… As he tasted the soup he smacked his lips and loudly said, “Mm, mm, mm, mm, mm.”

Soon the woman was beside him looking over his shoulder into the pot.  He looked over saying, “It is very good but it needs a bit of salt.”  She said, “I have some in the house.”  Off she went to bring it.  He shook some into the bubbling water…and tasted again.  “Wow that is a real improvement…but, he said, it’s too bad that I don’t have an onion…Stone soup is always better with an onion.”  “I have some in my pantry…I’ll bring one.”  Again he tasted saying; “An onion is sure what stone soup needs…and garlic makes it even better.”  In moments a whole clove was in there.  Within minutes tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, and even some meat were added to the Stone Soup until it was thick and it wonderful aroma filled the whole yard.  By now the man was sitting comfortably on the chair the woman had thoughtfully brought… He was tasting and sniffing the aromas coming from the pot.

With a satisfied smile he looked over saying, “This smells and tastes like the best stone soup that I have ever made.  There is only one more thing that will make it the best ever.  It has to be eaten with a friend.  Would you like to share some of my Stone Soup?” he asked her.

Within minutes they were at the table laughing and talking like old friends.  They shared a most tasty meal…of stone soup…and she found some bread…and even a jar of preserves for dessert.

And when soup was gone and the beggar got up to leave…he reach into the pot pick out the stone and asked his host if she would like it to make her own Stone Soup…  Her eyes lit up as she accepted it.  “Now remember Stone Soup is better if it has a little salt.  Maybe an onion…and some garlic….of course it is better with potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, and maybe even a bit of meat.  But most important the best Stone Soup should be eaten with a friend.”  She said, “I will remember.”  She held the warm stone in one hand vigorously waving the other…as he disappeared out of sight.

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Lent 2 C Sermon: A Prophet Cannot Die Outside Jerusalem

Luke 13:31-35

31 At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” 32 He said to them, “Go and tell that fox for me, ‘Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. 33 Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.’ 34 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 35 See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.'” Luke 13:31-35 (NRSV)

Sermon

‘I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.’

Those of us… who study Old Testament stories… love to read and hear stories about prophets.  Their lives seem to be so interesting and so full of adventure… Prophets come from many different sorts of conditions and circumstances.  Moses begins as a Hebrew slave-child, who is raised in the pharaoh’s house.  But after killing one of the pharaoh’s servants has to flee for his life…and becomes a shepherd living in the desert… before God calls him.  Jeremiah and John the Baptist were both called to be prophet before they were born.  Elijah just seemed to appear from nowhere and began his life as a prophet…telling the king to change his ways or there would be no rain.  Because of his technical measurements and detailed description it is assumed that that Ezekiel must have been an ancient engineer or builder.  And then there was Amos…who was a herdsman, and tree-pruner…before being called.

Prophets quite often had real conversations with God.  And usually their first conversation was about being called.  Moses had his first conversation at the burning bush.  Jeremiah talked to God when he was just a boy.  Ezekiel first talked to God in Babylon while in exile from his home-country.  Jeremiah had his first conversation with God when he was only a boy. 

Most of God’s prophets very reluctantly accepted their prophetic call.  And there is good reason for their reluctance.  The instructions and demonstrations, which God gives to the prophets are sometimes very bazaar.  God told Moses to throw his shepherd’s staff on the ground and it turned into a snake.  Ezekiel was told to go to the center of the city and lie on his left side for three 390 days and then to turn over onto his right side for 40 days.  Hosea was told to marry a prostitute… to show the king of Israel that he had been unfaithful to God.  He was also told to name his children with strange names like “No Pity”, and “Not My People”. 

Not only did the prophets have to do these weird things… but most often… the words from God… which they were called to declare or speak to the people were harsh and unpopular.  Saying; “Thus says the LORD,” they repeat what God told them to say. 

God seemed to be most critical of wealthy political and religious leaders…who live in the capital city close to the king.  So prophets proclaimed God’s displeasure because they led the nation away from God.  They compared them to unfaithful spouses who divorced themselves from their marriage to God.  9 Hear this, you rulers of the house of Jacob and chiefs of the house of Israel, who abhor justice and pervert all equity, 10 who build Zion with blood and Jerusalem with wrong! 11 and give judgment for a bribe Micah 3:9-11 (NRSV)

They spoke too about God’s anger over how the rich continued to enrich themselves while the poor continued to get poorer. 

They devise wickedness and evil deeds on their beds! When the morning dawns, they perform it, because it is in their power. 2 They covet fields, and seize them; houses, and take them away; they oppress householder and house, people and their inheritance. Micah 2:1-2 (NRSV)

11 Can I tolerate wicked scales and a bag of dishonest weights? 12 Your wealthy are full of violence; Micah 6:11-12 (NRSV)

You trample on the poor and take from them levies of grain, I know how many are your transgressions, and how great are your sins— you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe, and push aside the needy in the gate. Amos 5:11-12 (NRSV)

And for the religious leaders they are also called to speak God’s anger because they use their position for their own gain and do not worship from the heart. 

To them they say; 21 I hate, I despise your festivals, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. 22 Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals I will not look upon. 23 Take away from me the noise of your songs; I will not listen to the melody of your harps. Amos 5:21-23 (NRSV)

Today Jesus identifies himself with the prophets from former times.  Like the prophets of old…his proclamations are intended to be heard by the king, the rich minority, and the privileged priests… all who just happen to live in the capital city of Jerusalem.   He would also deliver his message from God in the city…and if there is any negative reaction…it will happen there too.  So Jesus says truthfully; ‘It is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.’  In Jerusalem lives the Roman governor Pilate. In Jerusalem lives the Sanhedrin and the chief priests and the high priest Caiaphas.  There in Jerusalem are the people with the power to kill prophets for speak the words of God’s displeasure. 

Jesus has prophetic words for the leader… King Herod.  He is going to Jerusalem… as a prophet.  He is going to be God’s voice to the leaders of the empire.  He is going to speak about the system of injustice and inequity which allows some to become wealthy while oppressing and imprisoning others.  He is going to speak God disappointment and anger to the religious leaders for placing heavy burdens on people…and for casting out and shunning some members of society.  And until his prophetic voice has been heard…Herod’s planning and plotting will just have to wait.

 Jesus… the prophet… calls Herod a fox…and he calls himself a hen gathering her brood under her wings.  When we picture this farm yard scene in our minds…we have a pretty good illustration of what is about to happen …when Jesus get to his destination.  In Jerusalem, at least for a time, the fox will succeed…as the Pharisees have warned… Jesus the hen… with wings spread wide…will suffer the fate of a hen meeting a fox in the farm yard.  In an ultimate demonstration of love … to protect the little members of the brood…Jesus the hen spreads wings… and offers his life to save theirs. 

But there is a difference… from the picture we imagine about this farm yard battle…  We… the brood…are saved by our hen Jesus.  And after three days the hen returns to the brood…and promises to stay with them until the end of time.  What a wonderful picture of God’s love for us.  Let us always be thankful for our brood hen.  And let us with thankful hearts hear and proclaim the prophetic words of our God.  Thanks be to God.  Amen

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