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

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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.

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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

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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

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