Epiphany 6 A Sermon: ‘Liable for Judgement’

Matthew 5:21–37
21 “You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire. 23 So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.
25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell.
31 “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.’ 34 But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.
37 Let your word be ‘Yes, Yes’ or ‘No, No’; anything more than this comes from the evil one.

Conversation: Conditional “IF and THEN”

• When playing sports I find myself using if and then statements. If I would have hit three broom then…if the broom was in the right place then…if I would have shot the right weight then…
• What happens if the IF is wrong (Miss the shot)
• Parents use if and then statements with their children… some are negative… some are positive… Tell me some IF and Then.
• When happens if the children don’t do the IF
• God uses if and then statement like sports players. Have you ever heard any?
• What are the consequences of being on the wrong side of if in sports? (Losing the game.)
• What are the consequences in family situation? (Tougher rules)
• What are the consequences with God? (Punishment)
• Why IF and Then?

Sermon: ‘Liable for Judgement’

1. We love playing the IF and THEN game. When in positions of authority we use it to increase the performance of the people below. IF and THEN can be used in positive ways for encouraging positive responses. For instance; “IF you work hard for the company we will give you a raise.” But IF and THEN can be used in threatening or harsh ways also; “IF you don’t sell this much product you will be fired.”

In family situations IF and THEN is used very often…more than we think. Parents use it for; encouraging, sometimes for warning, and sometime for a threat. Children use it for trying to manipulate; IF I do my chore then can we… for questioning their parents; IF you were not going to take us then you should not have promised…

When we think carefully about it “IF and THEN” is used often… it is used for excuses… It is used for encouragement … We all use it and for many reasons.

Using IF and THEN is a condition statement. If you do this then I will do that… sort of statement. It is used for positive or good promises… But it is also used for negative or promises of bad outcomes.

2. Sometimes we may not know but IF and THEN is also used frequently in the Bible. In today’s lesson from Isaiah God gives Israel two choices. They can choose life and prosperity… or they can choose death and adversity. IF they choose to obey God and follow God’s command…then they will prosper and be blessed. But IF they turn away from God THEN they will not live long in the land and will perish.

Jesus also uses IF and THEN when he is teaching today. He uses IF and THEN to help teach about two of the Ten Commandments … You shall not murder and You shall not commit adultery. Now most of us can say with confidence that we have not killed anyone. And many of us can say that we have not committed adultery. But for both commandments Jesus challenges us; “IF we think that we have kept these commandments THEN maybe we should think again.” He asks us; “IF you are angry with a sibling or neighbor… or if we insult them…or if we hold something against them…then are we not also liable to be judged guilty?”

Similarly Jesus teaches about adultery asking; “IF you lust, if you divorce your husband or wife…then are you not liable to be judged guilty?” Jesus, by his IF and THEN, teaching tells us about the commandments which are not so much about specific acts… Instead the commandments are about attitude…toward other people.

The general commandment is; ‘Love your neighbor.’ And if we do or think anything other than love for family, friends, or neighbors then we are judged guilty by God.

3. We don’t much like Jesus’ teaching on these two commandments. We don’t like being judged guilty IF we are just thinking but not doing. If that is what God expects then there is no way that we could ever keep these two commandments. When we consider this truthfully there is no IF about it at all… Rather because we know that we are unable to control our anger and the angry thoughts we think about other people…rather than IF the word is WHEN. WHEN our thoughts are angry and mean… WHEN we insult each other… When we speak unkind words… When we lust after people… WHEN we do anything that degrades or humiliates anyone…it is as if we murdered them or committed adultery…and are therefore liable for judgement. This means that all of us are guilty and liable for judgement.
IF everyone is liable for judgement … what can we do able it? The whole point of Jesus’ teaching for today…is just that…we are all judged guilt…and we cannot do anything to change that judgement. IF we cannot change our judgement…then our situation seems hopeless.

4. Once again this is the whole point for Jesus’ teaching. Jesus knows that we could never keep even the least of God’s laws. He knows as we know…deep in our hearts…we are unable to love God or our neighbor with our whole heart. Believe it or not this is good news.

The good news is that we don’t have to keep every little law… because God’s love for us is everything ours is not. God loves us when we are loving… but in addition God continues loving us when we are spiteful and insulting to our neighbors. God loves us when we hurt the one to whom we have promised to be faithful. God even loves us when we don’t love God in return. God’s love for us is amazing and complete

5. God shows this amazing and complete love…by what God does for us. God sends his son Jesus…who lives among teaching us about true love. Jesus shows us that true complete love is a sacrificing love. This sacrificing love is shown when he willing without hesitation goes to the cross and dies for us. Lovingly Jesus gives his life…taking our guilt and our judgement away. His sacrificing love means that we are judged innocent of all our sins both great and small. Yes, God’s love is all of ours… plus it is much more that we could ever imagine love could be.

Jesus shows us how limited our love is…but by his loving sacrifice also shows us how much more it could be. Jesus calls us to see… He calls on us to respond and be thankful…for being judged innocent. He calls on us to live differently. He challenges us to live the ‘positive’ IF and THEN. IF our love is true love… THEN we will be changed. IF our love for each other is genuine …THEN people will see it. IF we love with a sacrificing love… THEN we will be blessed.
Let us thankful and live for God’s Blessing. Thanks be to God. Amen.

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Epiphany 5 A Sermon: Salt and Light

Matthew 5:13-20
13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lamp-stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Conversation
• Does anyone become irritable when they are hungry?
• Has anyone gone through a day or more fasting?
• If you did why?
• Has anyone here, done a religious fast?
• What are the purposes of doing a religious fast? (piety, to meditate on God, to loose the bonds of injustice,
Sermon: “A city built on a hill cannot be hid.”

1. When I was a kid similar to this winter…there were large piles of snow. Sometime we slid down them, but at other times we played King of the Castle. The point of the game was for an individual to climb one of the piles of snow and proclaim himself/herself -King of the Castle. This person’s job was to prevent opponents for making it to the top of the snow hill. The one who succeeded in holding the hill at the end of recess was the King…and received the glory.

This week the youth of the world has gathered in Sochi Russia to once again win a place on the podium. Also the young ladies of Canada have been playing their hearts out to trying to win the Tournament of Hearts. As they compete and especially if they should be fortunate enough to win they will receive loads of attention.

Sport casters love interviewing winners. They have an opportunity through their time with winners to rub up against and share in the glory of winning. They love asking what it means to be at the top of the world in their sport. Many and varied answers are given…for how they feel… On occasion some winners give the glory to God… Often winners give credit to all the people who helped achieve their medal. But sometimes the winners just want to take all the credit for themselves…wanting all the recognition for themselves.

2. Today Jesus could be compared to a sports caster talking to his disciples. Like sports casters do…he begins with words of praise…telling them; “You are the light of the world”…which should shine where everyone can see it. Light has a purpose to light up a house…and hiding it makes no sense. He also says they are a city on a hill, where everyone can see it. Like a sports caster, Jesus could ask the disciples; “How does it feel to be called a city on a hill or how does it feel to be called the light of the world?”

Like sports stars disciples could give various answers. Similar to the winner who takes all the credit for winning…disciples could also credit themselves. They could say they are on top because they fought their way there on their own. They could believe that God saw how good they were and how holy they are…and so God chose them to be the light of the world or the salt of the earth.

3. Today Isaiah the prophet talks to the chosen people of Israel …who have assumed that they are the chosen people because of their holiness. They have learned the art of practicing humility and piety. They bow their heads at the right time…they kneel and pray the appropriate number of times each day… They say all the right words about wanting to learn God’s ways…they wear sack cloth and ashes to sow proper humility…and they choose special days for fasting. For the people of Israel fasting is a requirement of showing real reverence for God. They are not afraid to show their piety to the world.

Like the people of Israel…we Christians also like piety. In days gone by…pietistic Lutherans had list of behaviors which were allowed and behaviors which were prohibited. Good Lutherans could sing as long as they sang hymns preferably in harmony. And for sure they were forbidden from using music for dancing or from playing cards.

Within the church building piety is often especially practiced. Many people act much differently in the sanctuary of the church than they do in other place they go to.
In the last issue of the Canadian Lutheran an older lady wrote about what for her is proper church behavior. In her opinion… everyone who enters the church should enter reverently remembering that it is God’s house. They ought to speak with hushed voices…and insist everyone do the same…and they certainly would never consider laughing heartily in the church especially during the service. She worries that young parents are not preparing their children to come to church… frowning when children make noise or don’t sit quietly during the service. This lady has already left one congregation because of this…and is becoming frustrated because true piety is now slipping in her present congregation.

Piety as a show of how good and reverent we are…piety as a show for God…piety to attract God’s attention…is piety for the wrong reasons.

4. Both the prophet Isaiah and Jesus take issue with piety and holiness. The prophet questions fasting…and the bowed heads and humble faces they present when fasting. It is apparent that often when many people fast they become irritable…and quarrel with each other. Fasting also has not changed people behaviour …in how their society is structured… Fasting has not stopped them from having slaves in their houses…and has not stopped them from oppressing people… nor has it changed their hearts so that they share their food with hungry neighbors.

In a similar fashion Jesus suggests that keeping the law…is not about being holy or pious. It is not about us find favor with our God for our own glory…and being called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. Salt by itself in the shaker does nothing to change the way food tastes. A light hidden under a bushel basket cannot light up a room. A city built on a hill cannot be a benefit to the surrounding country if it locks its gates and does not allow people to move back and forth.

5. Jesus chooses the disciples and he chooses us to be light and salt for the world. As lights light up a room…Jesus want us to be light that allow us to see injustice… He also wants us to use that light to show how the world could transformed into a righteous world… And as when sprinkled salt… enhances the flavor of food Jesus wants us also to add flavor to the world.

So let us be salt and light… working to change the world in which we live…to a righteous world… that God dreams of. Amen

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Epi 4 A Sermon Rejoice and be Glad

Matthew 5:1-12
1 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Conversation
Describe these words and their opposite meaning.
• Poor or poor in spirit
• Mourner
• The meek
• The righteousness
• The merciful
• The pure in heart
• The peace-makers
• Those who are persecuted for righteousness’
• Which are we more like?

Sermon: “Rejoice and be glad”
Today Jesus speaks in the imperative. Today it is rejoice and be glad. And attached to his imperatives are references to heaven. Today the connection is worded; for your reward is great in heaven.

1. The news in our world has been about revolution against the government. We have been anxiously watching the violence hoping that peace will prevail… In Syria civil War is destroying the country…it is also destroying the lives of the citizens of Syria… Innocent citizens have died…or have been plunged into poverty…they have lost their jobs…their homes…and their lives…as the conflict rages around them. Many people… whose spirits have been broken and crushed… and who have mourned for friends and family imprisoned or killed…are seeking safety in neighboring countries… The host countries…Jordan and Lebanon are struggling to care for the huge number the refugees who are fleeing the conflict and searching a safe place to live. The cost of giving them refuge is affecting the welfare of their own citizens.

In the lead up to the Olympics…much of the focus has been on security… The Games are meant to unite the world and as a show case of the world’s youth and their athletic skills … But people dissatisfied with the Russian government are using the games as opportunity to express their frustration and hatred. They are promising to disrupt the Games with using any means possible… And they are even threatening acts of terrorism against athletes and spectators.

2. From the safety of our homes we watch with the interest… that distance allows us. Some of us who believe in strict law and order…insist that governments should control their citizens… Some of us believe that all terrorist organizations ought to be rooted out and punished severely.

On the other hand others believe that in the face of political corruption and governmental persecution…citizens should have the right to demonstrate their displeasure…with as much passion as necessary to make their positions known.

Sometimes…depending on what we believe about the governing people…we believe certain rebels have the right to take action… Sometimes depending what we believe about the rebels… we believe the government has the right to crack down on rebellion. And sometimes there is so much chaos that we have no idea about who is right or wrong… and we wish that people could just quit fighting.

3. Considering what is happening in these countries… We want to know how the meek will inherit the earth…or how those mourning the loss of their son or friend will comfort… We wonder… how will the promise of receiving the kingdom of heaven… satisfy those whose spirits are crushed and those who are impoverished by those who hold power? What good are the pure of heart, the peace maker, or the merciful…when everyone who has the power to make changes… is corrupt, an evil persecutor, and refuses to change? It almost seems that in today’s world the blessings of Jesus just will not apply … In today’s world ruthless evil dictator governments seem to outnumber good government leadership.

When we carefully recall our history lessons…bad government is not new to our present time. In the homeland of Jesus…Jewish Palestine was controlled by Roman governors…and kings who persecuted their citizens and squashed any dissent. They rule by instilling fear among they people… When a new king is foretold by the wise men with the star of the east…King Herod ruthlessly kills all the boys under four years of age in Bethlehem… Ultimately Jesus is executed as a revolutionary …because he is called a king by his followers. So even in his time the blessings of the beatitudes are likely as confusing as they are for us today.

4. It is tempting for us to concentrate on only portions of Jesus’ beatitude blessing. Because the job of making things better for citizens in countries with oppressive regimes…or in countries where the poverty and disease rates are very high…it is appealing for us to hear and separate the beatitudes into different categories of concern. We lump the poor, meek, mourners, and persecuted into one category…who are thought of as victims. In another we want to allocated those who are merciful, the pure of heart and who hunger and thirst for righteousness. In yet another we put the peacemakers.

We assign people to each group. We know about the poor… and persecuted…they are always with us. We are overwhelmed by their sheer numbers … We wring our hands wondering how we could do anything to significantly change their lives.

In the second group we see chaplains and missionaries…the Mother Theresas of the world…who through compassion and mercy…minister to the poor and persecuted. Often these people live and work among the poor and persecuted as one of them. We rarely see mercy coming from people from the rich and powerful class as one who always have mercy.

In the peace-maker group we see people like Nelson Mandela or Gandhi who do a lot to help poor and persecuted people. But even though they caused change… poor and persecuted people remained under their governments.

The uncomfortable question for us wonders which group are we in? We are not poor and persecuted…and don’t wish to become poor to receive God’s blessing. In our minds we believe in mercy and have some resources which could ease suffering for the poor… but we also are concerned about not falling into that group. We also have limited power… and have little influence on those who possess power. The very real problem for us becomes; “How can we be blessed…if we are not poor or persecuted…if we have limited resource to show mercy…and if we do not possess the power to be true peace makers?”

5. Into the chaos of the world Jesus speaks the words of today’s gospel. In them he announces God’s blessings. His words are spoken both to the powers of his world…and to those who have been crushed by the powerful. He announces that God blesses the people with poor and broken spirits… God blesses mourners. God blesses the meek and those hunger and thirst for righteousness. God blesses those who are persecuted. This list of blessings is meant for those who have been crushed by power…and seems to be automatic.

Then Jesus turns to the ones who have more resources and more power… He announces God’s blessing for those who have an opportunity to show mercy and do it. God blesses those with pure hearts and those who seek peace.

Jesus announces that God’s blessings are available for all people… They are unconditionally for people who are poor and persecuted. And Jesus also gives the powerful people an opportunity to receive God’s blessing…when they are merciful and seek peace.

6. God give us opportunities to give and to receive God’s blessings. As God’s children we can become involved in passing God’s blessings on to other people…by showing mercy where we can. We can become involved by seeking peace in place and situations that are presented to us. We can become the merciful and the peace makers. It means we need to change our thoughts and open hearts…to new possibilities.

7. Let us open our thoughts and hearts to new ways of thinking and believing. Let us see to poor and persecuted through merciful and peaceful eyes… Let us take opportunities to be involved of God’s blessing for others. Let us thank our God for every blessing. Amen

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