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"Sow Bountifully"

11/27/2019

2 Cor. 9:6-15, Luke 17: 11-19

        When my daughter began working, she had to settle for a seasonal job at a large retailer. She texted me her very first schedule. On Black Friday she had to be at her minimum wage job (which was a 1 ½ hr., two bus rides away) – 4am until 4pm.   Saturday, she had to be at the store at 6am. The next day she had to work to1am (which was extended to 3am). Did I mention that the bus line didn’t run that late or early so guess who got to drive her to the mall and wait for her to finish those early hours?

        Don’t get me wrong. We were all for Hannah developing a strong work ethic. We were glad she wanted to work and has continued to work steadily in her chosen field. It was just another sign that what used to be Thanksgiving weekend, spent with family, has nearly vanished.

       It wasn’t too long ago that Thanksgiving and the following weekend, was down time. Watching the Macy’s parade with the smell of Turkey and fixings wafting through the house. There was mandatory time spent in a post-turkey coma snoozing. Then eating more turkey. In my home in Cleveland, Ohio, binge watching football, snowball fights, all the while catching up with family and friends. Eventually we got around to the dishes. It was a time to experience simple gratitude and give thanks.

        Giving thanks is the hallmark of our spiritual life. Giving thanks doesn’t develop in us overnight. How many times do we have to remind our children to say, “please,” “thank you” or remind them to help out? The instincts to do good are there, but they must be encouraged, trained, even as we learn the piano, to cook, to garden, to learn a trade or profession by repetition and over time. We put in hours, over months and years, to learn something well. Is not the spiritual life, rooted in gratitude and grace, worth as much?

        We are in a time of profound shifts in the church. We don’t know where we’ll end up or what new alternatives we’ll reach. One thing is sure: renewal by the Holy Spirit can only be achieved through the experience of love and the expression of gratitude and generosity. Renewal in forged as we deepen our personal connection to Jesus and make the habit of giving thanks to God our focus. We will find our way to renewal as we carve out the time to care and to enjoy each other’s company. We know this because our souls are created for love, giving and gratitude. We are healed, our church is healed and reborn in the acts of love sowing bountifully.

        Our Scriptures bring us clarification. Paul’s second letter to Corinth is basically a benefit drive to help the poor in Jerusalem. For Paul, it was important for Gentile Christians, for Christians outside of Judea, to help Jewish Christians in the mother church. Paul wrote appeals at least three other times to the Corinthians and to other churches he established Thessalonica, Philippi and Galatia – on behalf of the poor Christians in Jerusalem.

While we don’t know the specifics of the struggles of the believers in Jerusalem ---although we know there was political and spiritual instability as well as a general economic depression. Some say Christian Jews were being ostracized from already scarce jobs. They were suffering for the faith. As a result, Paul made a big deal about giving. Giving, Paul reminds the Corinthians, not only glorifies God, it proclaims the gospel and brings good news.

Paul describes a spiritual cause-and-effect principal: we reap what we sow. If we give to help others in need we are blessed – blessed in many ways.   Sometimes we are also financially or materially blessed. Sometimes our blessings are profoundly spiritual – we gain peace, joy and a sense of connection and belonging through giving.

Then there is the flip side of giving that we see in the gospel lesson of Jesus’ healing of the ten lepers. Jesus is in the region between Jewish and Gentile and heretics. Normally there’s not much generosity and giving going on there. Yet in illness the ten lepers of mixed backgrounds, united in their misery, approach Jesus and cry out to him for mercy. Jesus heal without judging the background of the needy who come to him. It is a generosity of heart Jesus wants us to have, that we too will give without regard to race, creed, nationality or any other of the differences that define us or divide us.

Jesus sends the lepers on their way to be declared ritually clean by the priest, as is proper according to scriptural law.

In the aftermath of Jesus’ kindness, only one cured leper comes back and thanks Jesus. This leper doesn’t go to the priest. This leper returns as soon as he realizes he is healed. Saying thank you was more important than getting his social pass. Only one leper turns around, praises God publicly, throws himself at Jesus’ feet, and said Thank you Jesus. One person – a Samaritan – the so-called heretic. This one person said Thank you. We too learn to say thank you from our places of brokenness, in the context of adversity, or because of the adversity. Like the Samaritan leper we find healing in our relationship to Jesus.

        What do we learn from the Leper, from Paul, as a church at a pivotal, transitional point in its life cycle? A healthy church needs grateful people. A generous people. A people who know their need of healing, and through healing, praising and giving thanks to Jesus for his indiscriminate unconditional love.   It needs people like my Hannah, willing to sacrifice, willing to put in the ungodly hours, willing to pay the dues to succeed. This Church needs you. It needs us to bountifully sow our investment of time, money and talent to thrive.

        We Thank God for the privilege of giving; we thank God for the gift of faith we have received in Jesus. We thank God for healing, for receiving in our need and giving in our abundance. We give because we believe in giving. It makes us better people.
Bottom line is that we need to take back Thanksgiving Day. Not gorging ourselves into oblivion on food and football, then the mall at midnight. Let’s take back Thanksgiving the way today’s scriptures show us. Giving generously to our brothers and sisters in need. Identifying and receiving the healing from Jesus, responding on our kneels, a heartfelt Thank You Jesus. For if we have the opportunity to say please or thank you, to give help, well then we are deeply blessed.

        Today we also celebrate Christ the King, the last day of the church year, to remind us that Jesus as King overall, not money not consumerism, not politics. Christ the King says don’t give up on family time – whether your family is your church, a pet, nature, or a three-generations from all around the world, or the human family. Christ the King says welcome Advent next week, as we prepare our hearts to be cradles for the Christ Child. So, this thanksgiving, this Advent season, instead of giving in mindlessly to consumerism, let us give thoughtfully, prayerfully to bring healing and joy to others and our church. Give yourself wholeheartedly to the mission and future of our Church. Let us give ourselves the opportunity to know Jesus, to the one who can make us whole -make ourselves bountiful sower of blessing, full of promise, capable of making a difference. And for this, let us give thanks. Amen.

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"A New Heavens and a New Earth"

11/19/2019

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Isaiah 65: 17-25; Luke 21:5-19

A priest in imperial Russia was walking along minding his own business when a royal guard stopped him at gun point. The guard demanded to know: Who are you? Why are you here? Where are you going? The priest gazed quizzically at the soldier and then asked “How much do they pay you to do this work?” The soldier, somewhat taken aback, replied, “Why, three kopeks a month.” To which the priest responded, “I’ll pay you 30 kopeks a month if you will stop me every week and ask me these same questions.” Who are you? Why are you here? Where are you going?

        Who are you? Why are you here? Where are you going? Key questions. Fundamental questions. Questions that have the power to open our eyes, transform our heart, to turn our lives around. Who are we? Why are we here? Where are we going?

Our two readings today give us visions that address these critical questions. Isaiah is addressing a people who are rebuilding their temple, reestablishing their life after 50 years in exile. The disciples on the other hand, are admiring this rebuilt temple, and Jesus, in his last week of life, is bluntly telling them what will happen to the temple. The disciples thought they knew who they were – why there were here, where they were going. Luke explains: “One day people were standing around talking about the Temple, remarking how beautiful it was, the splendor of its stonework and gifts dedicated to God.” Standing in the shadow of the Temple, the disciples were full of pride. They were Jews, the chosen people. Their magnificent temple in Jerusalem was rebuilt and enlarged by Herod the Great-- proof of God’s presence with the Jewish people, God’s chosen people. The disciples were awed at the beauty and majesty of the restored temple -- one of the great wonders of the first century. Didn’t it confirm their place in the world? Didn’t it give them a compass to point them in the direction God was revealing – their God, their Sovereign would throw off the shackles of foreign oppressio – a messiah would come to lead them to independence, power, and put Israel back on the map as a shining example that they were, indeed a chosen people?

        Jesus questions this identity and purpose. “You see these stones?” Jesus said. All will be thrown down. Stones that weighted between 2-5 tons. There will be wars and insurrection. Great earthquakes, famines and plagues, dreadful portents and signs from heaven. Jesus goes further. His disciples will be arrested and persecuted. Betrayed by loved ones. Hated. Some put to death.

        Jesus is speaking about the persecution of the Christians, as well as the destruction of the second temple, in 70 AD, described by the historian Jewish Josepheus:      “While the holy house (The Temple) was on fire, everything was plundered that came to hand, and ten thousand of those that were caught were slain; nor was there a commiseration of any age...but children and old men...and priests, were all slain in the same manner... The flame was also carried a long way, and made an echo, together with the groans of those who were slain... one would have thought the whole city would have been on fire. Nor can one imagine anything greater and more terrible than this noise. (2)”

The evangelist Luke is writing at a time when his congregation knows that the second Temple has been destroyed. And Luke is talking to Christians who are already undergoing the kind of persecution Jesus describes. Jesus’ vision of this terrible conflict, given days before his own death, is a wakeup call. Jesus promises to give wisdom in the midst of terror – all is under God’s care – even down to the hairs on their heads. Focus on endurance, Jesus recommends. How does one endure calamity? By continually reminding oneself: who am I? Why am I here? Where am I going? The priorities we set, the decisions we make, the witness we give, is rooted in these questions.   Who am I? Why am I here? Where am I going?

Jesus gave a vision to remind his disciples who they were. A painfully honest vision that sought to correct the idolatry over the temple – an idolatry that held them bound to a building, and the functions and trapping of running a building -- not the living, all mighty, all loving God. The life of faith requires us to sacrifice and calls us to steadfastness – it requires us to reflect on our priorities: Where is this all leading? Where am I in the midst of all this change?

        Jesus gave a vision to correct temple idolatry and prepare his disciples for the trials to come – when the synagogue would expel them and the Romans persecute them. Often experienced as “end time” prophecy, nearly every age has looked around and seen wars and insurrections -- earthquakes, famines and plagues. We look around and we see dreadful persecutions and suffering. We seem to be hurling toward economic and ecological disaster. Who are we –really?

The vision in Isaiah 65 also gives a purpose. It is a vision given to a people returning from exile and defeat. What God wanted them to know about themselves, and to where God was calling them. God’s vision for the people is a complete renewal of everything—there is nothing that is not covered in that phrase, “new heavens and new earth.” Instead of framing end times in descriptions of destruction, Isaiah speaks of God’s powerful acts of creation. The end times is a new times – a new times marked by:
Forever rejoicing, because Jerusalem will be a joy, and people a delight. God takes joy in his people. Did you know that you were a delight to God? God takes pleasure in you? God inclines God’s self toward us? This is who God is? So, where is God? God is with us. And the future God wants to lead us to is contained in the rest of chapter 65: Where God wants us to go, according to God:

To a time where there is no more weeping or cries of distress. No longer pain and sorrow do to human injustice. No more an infant dying after a few days because of illness, or lack or food or water– all people will live long productive lives. That’s God’s vision of who we are.

        Isaiah says houses will be built and justly inhabited. Vineyards planted and the fruit justly consumed. There’s no more stealing, bribing, greed. Everyone will enjoy the long work of their hands. That’s God’s vision of where we are – in a just society – where all needs are met, no one goes hungry, homeless, or labors in vain.

Isaiah gives us God’s response to where we are going: The wolf and lamb shall feed together. Lions eating straw, like the ox. Who has heard of such a thing? No more hurt, no destruction on God’s holy mountain. That’s where God is point us to.

        Two powerful visions that point to who we are. Why we are here. Where we are going. One vision of calamity. The other vision of God’s long-view for wholeness for his people.   Both are important and informative. Both a part of the unfolding message we need to hear. Jesus points his disciples—and us-- away from temple idolatry; to enduring painful transformation, to see where God is: in a new heavens and new earth. We are children of delight, blessed by the Lord, called toward God’s Holy Mountain – where no longer are people hurt or destroyed. Between Jesus’ vision and Isaiah’s vision, it becomes clear we are God’s delight – God’s children – in the midst of transformation -- led to achieve the justice portrayed in the New Heavens and New Earth.

        Tony Campolo, an evangelist and professor of sociology, challenges us -- on our identity as Christians and the decisions we make as a result. In his research, Campolo cites that the US-- long considered a Christian nation-- is last out of 22 industrialized nations in giving to the poor. We are 5 percent of the world’s population, consuming 43 percent of the world’s resources, and yet we give away less than 4/10s of one percent of our national budget to help the poor of the world. For every dollar we give, Norway gives 70. Dr. Campolo challenges us: Who have we become? Slaves to a consumerist, materialistic society? Are we here just to consume, or to make life better for all God’s creation? Are we heading toward a new heavens and earth, concerned with infant mortality and food security, or are we promoting a human-designed Armageddon—that profits from war, disaster and from creating gross inequality in income between the well-to-do and the poor?

        Who are we? Our Thanks-Living project-- where you have been given seed money from the church to invest in the community -- and -- our food drive for the poor and hungry -- are just a drop in the bucket. They are projects designed to awaken the truth of who we are—as followers of Jesus, we are a delight to God, and we give pleasure to God when we are givers of love, of hope, -- sharing in the vision of a new heavens and a earth. That’s where we are – that’s where we are – that’s where we are headed.     Imagine. No baby dying from starvation, dirty water, or disease. Imagine. Everyone having a home, and sufficient food. Imagine – everyone experiencing joy. Imagine:
Those who watch Glenn Beck dining with those who watch “Democracy Now.” Hamas and Zionists breaking bread. Al-Qaeda and families of 9/11 victims sharing a meal. Like Julia Grant, the widow of Union General Ulyssess S. Grant, and Varina Davis, the widow of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, who lived near one another and became best friends.

All the wolves and all the lambs of our great world gathered to share a meal: everyone listening. No more devouring each other, but sharing together in the abundance of the world. No more fear. No more distress. Delight and joy. That’s the future God calls us to – and calls us built.

        That is who we are, why we are here, where we are headed. We are God’s delight. We are transforming our world – to a new heaven, a new earth, beyond anything we have experienced. It is worth all the kopeks, all the money in the world, to know that -- and to go head there – with the grace of Jesus. Amen.
http://www.aish.com/jl/h/cc/48944036.html
http://www.questia.com/library/1P3-1623301081/tony-campolo-on-fighting-poverty-and-welcoming-immigrants

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Filled with Splendor

11/13/2019

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Haggai 1:15-2-9

Erasmus, the famous Renaissance scholar, was watching with the pope as wagonloads of wealth were brought through the gates of the Vatican. Turning to Erasmus, the pope observed. "No longer can the church say with Peter, 'Silver or gold have I none.'" (The pope was referring to the text of Acts 3:6, when the apostle Peter says to a paralyzed man who was begging: "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”) Erasmus replied to the Pope, "True. And neither can the church say now to the lame man, 'Take up your bed and walk.'" Erasmus pointed out that the church had exchanged one wealth – the gift of healing the poor – for the gift of wealth and prestige.
        The world contains many kinds of silver and gold. Silver and gold represent the best of the best. Only the wealthiest, the powerful, the most influential could use it in architecture, in clothing, in currency exchange. King David engaged in building fundraising for the first temple: exhorts his people that he himself was pledging three thousand talents of gold (one talent of gold would be worth over a million dollars today); and seven thousand talents of silver. The leaders of the people responded to David’s appeal: giving five thousand talents of gold, an additional ten thousand darics of gold, ten thousand talents of silver, but huge amounts of bronze, and iron and precious stones. (1Chron 29). It was a glorious day as all these donations poured in. Tens of thousands of men were needed to perform the many tasks required for the gigantic undertaking. It took King Solomon, David’s son, seven years to finish the work of the temple. It was a work of splendor. Even the floor was covered with gold, not to mention much of the furnishings (1 Kings 6:22-35). However, the glory of the gold was negligible compared to the glory of the Lord in a cloud that filled the temple. So great was that glory that the priests could not work (1 Kings 8:10,11).
        It was not to last. Babylon destroyed and conquered Israel. They looted anything of value. Gone went the gold. Gone went the silver. Gone went the bronze and the precious stones. Gone was the linens, the fine woodwork. Anything of value was gone. The rest destroyed. Thousands of people were murdered.   People lost everything. Anyone of rank sent into exile.
        Our reading today from the book of the Prophet Haggai – one of the shortest books in the Bible – who picks up after all the destruction. The remnant of people were finally permitted to return, but to a town, a temple in rubble.   They tried to rebuild but lost the motivation and drive to do so. How could they ever recover? How could they presume to restore the temple to its former beauty? So, no progress had been made for 16 years. Sixteen years the people were paralyzed. Sixty-eight years after being destroyed – and the temple, the heart of the people, their jewel, still lay in ruins. Through Haggai God speaks to the people. God says take courage, God says, not once but three times. Take courage I am with you, God said.   I am the same God who promised to go with you when you came out of Egypt. My spirit abides among you, God said. Do no fear. God will shake the heavens and earth – all the nations – the silver and gold are mine, God says, and the best days are yet to come. This place will be filled with a greater splendor – it will be filled with prosperity.
The people were being reminded of the kind of God they had. God isn’t wasting time lamenting that incredible work of art. God isn’t boo-hooing over the lost gold floors, the richly embroidered linens. God is pointing forward. All the silver and gold are mine, God says. It will come – because I am going to build it, as I am going to rebuild you, my people. Eventually the people rebounded and the temple was rebuilt.
King Herod, in Jesus’ day, made the temple bigger, more splendid than ever. It took 10,000 men ten years just to build the retaining walls around the Temple Mount. The Holy of Holies was covered in gold; the walls and columns of the other buildings were of white marble; the floors were of marble, its blue tinge giving the impression of a moving sea of water; the curtains were tapestries of blue, white, scarlet and purple thread. Work on the temple went on for 82 years – one of the most amazing building projects of the first century.   Sadly, seven years after completion it was destroyed and ransacked by Roman forces. However, a Temple still exists – a temple that cannot be destroyed.
Through Jesus, the cornerstone, we are living stones precious in the sight of God -- and are built up as a spiritual house (1 Pet. 2:4-8). We are living stones, that come together to be a living, breathing temple – in whom the full splendor of God dwells -- where our daily acts of worship, service and love go to build an edifice, greater than any earthly temple, any taj majhal or St. Peter’s basilica. Proverbs reminds us that our wisdom and knowledge are likened to silver and gold (Prov. 3:13-14).   Our deeds of goodness and caring are the silver and gold God uses to mold an edifice greater than anything imaginable on earth. Likewise we are children of the resurrection, children of the Lord of the Living, who gives us a body in life and death that is worth more than silver and gold, a spiritual masterpiece.

  God is building God’s temple – not in Jerusalem, or Washington DC. Or Stonehenge, or Moscow, or Seoul, but in every living heart. Yours and mine. Right here in this church. Do not fear God reminds us – for I am with you – I abide with you. If our hearts have been crushed, it isn’t over. If our lives have been conquered by sin or evil, we are picked up to begin again. The troubles we face can be overcome by the power of the spirit. God says to us: Be strong and courageous – our hearts, our minds, our lives are made of something precious and irreplaceable. Living silver. Living Gold. Together we build a spiritual edifice that can never be overcome.
You are the treasure, the gold and silver, that God will use to forge new lives, new journeys of faith, a resurrection of new life. To be full of splendor. It is a critical reminder: the treasure God steers us to seek is building the spiritual temple of Jesus, found in helping the lame to walk, feeding the poor. Remember what we are a part of, a living, breathing temple, full of splendor, Splendor in every can we give, every dollar we donate, in every service we offer, every kind work we speak, every frightened hand we hold, every act of sharing to build someone up, every courageous step we take, every fear we conquer, yes that is splendor -- and God’s spirit abides with us. A resurrection of the living. And that is worth more than all the silver and gold in the world. Amen.

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"Sow Bountifully"

"A New Heavens and a New Earth"

Filled with Splendor

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