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Live Wisely

8/24/2021

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1 Kings 3:3-14, Ephesians 5:15-20
 
Once at a college faculty meeting, all the staff gathered and there in the midst an angel appears.  The angel turns to the dean and says that in return for his unselfish and exemplary behavior, God is going to give him a choice between infinite wealth, wisdom or beauty. Without hesitating, the dean selects wisdom.

“Done!” The angel says and disappears in a cloud of smoke and a bolt of lightning. The room goes silent as all heads turn toward the dean, who sits surrounded by a faint halo of light. After a while, one of his colleagues whispers, “Say something.” (As in, “Say something wise.”)

The dean looks at them and says quietly, “I should have taken the money.”
Wisdom. Is it really just for the few lucky souls who have the good fortune of insight and good judgment that transcends knowledge into this desirable virtue we call wisdom?  What about the rest of us?

The Bible has a whole section that we call “wisdom literature”:  Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Songs. Interspersed throughout the bible are wisdom sayings, like our passage from Ephesians, where Paul says: Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise.  Wisdom is virtue for all.

Paul certainly considers wisdom an essential trait of a mature Christian. So, we would do well to understand what the Bible means when it speaks of wisdom.

Our OT lesson for today lifts up King Solomon, universally characterized as the wisest kings of Israel.  Remember King Solomon’s most famous wise judgment:  two women who come to him, each claiming the same infant as her own. His answer to the dilemma: cut the child in half! Give each woman half a child. Sounds harsh, the real but it raises up the real mother, who comes forward and says, “No, give the child to the other woman,” while the fraudulent mother says, “go ahead, cut the child in half.” So, in the end, King Solomon makes sure that the real mother gets her baby.

In our passage today we find Solomon at the beginning of his kingship. God asks Solomon what he desires that God give to him.  Solomon responds that he wants the ability to govern the people well and to know right from wrong. He knows that people will come to him with problems. Judgments will need to be rendered and decisions will need to be made. He needs to be able to think clearly and well and choose wisely.  The answer pleases God, and God grants Solomon a wise and discerning mind, along with riches and honor. 

However, King Solomon not only had goodly wisdom, it appears he was wise in the ways of the world. At the beginning of 1Kings 2, we hear King David give Solomon parting instructions to begin his kingship. Twice David refers to Solomon as wise, as David suggests how Solomon should eliminate certain people, now enemies of David. It’s clear David wants Solomon to finish his dirty business and knows Solomon, in his wisdom will find the best way to axe these men. In fact, Solomon does kills four people, his brother, the former general and soldiers and banishes a priest. Then, it is said, his kingdom was secured.

Another way we see Solomon wise in worldly ways is in how he makes a marriage alliance with the Pharaoh and took the Egyptian princess as his wife, breaking the rule about intermarriage in Deuteronomy 7. Kings ignored this edict and intermarried to form alliances all the time. Solomon, however, with 700 wives from all around the world and 300 concubines, would end up influenced by his foreign beauties and this would ultimately lead to a rupture in the kingdom after his death.  But that’s the way of worldly wisdom for you.

       What the Bible means by wisdom is not high intellect or flowery prose or scholarly conversation.  It’s not a subject reserved for academics or geniuses or gurus on mountaintops. In the Bible, wisdom is pretty much synonymous with common sense.   Here are some wise quotes from Proverbs, the Bible’s primer on wisdom: “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (15:1). Even many of Jesus’ teachings were influenced by the wisdom tradition of scripture: “Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day's own trouble be sufficient for the day.”(Matt. 6:25)

Be careful then, how you live, Paul tells us, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil.

Wisdom is not just for the big decisions. We need wisdom for the seemingly mundane decisions, about eating and drinking, about spending money and spending time. About relationships and work and play. About every part of our day-to-day life. Do we cancel worship in the face of a storm.  In describing this wisdom, Paul uses a very interesting word in the phrase “making the most of the time.” Some other translations say, “redeeming the time.” The actual meaning of the Greek word is something like “buying wisely in the marketplace.” The point is to make resourceful and good decisions about how we spend our life, not just our money. And that’s why the translators call it “making the most of the time.”

         In an average lifetime, the average American spends16 years working, 13 years watching TV, makes 1,811 trips to McDonalds, eats 35,138 cookies and 1,483 pounds of candy, catches 304 colds, is involved in 6 motor vehicle accidents,  and spends 24 years sleeping. Can you guess how much time this same chart listed the average American spends doing religious activities? Only half a year, or 0.7% of their entire life! In other words, the average American spends more time dressing him/herself than they do taking care of their spiritual well-being. We are far from being a wise people.    It is  what Paul addresses in his instructions to the Ephesian Christians, and to us: summed up with two words: Live Wisely.

Time is one of the greatest gifts God gives to us. You and I and every other person born into this world has a limited amount of time in this life, and no matter how many years you live it goes by very fast.   All of us get the same number of hours to use each day, the same number of moments to make the most of. Once they are gone we can never get them back.  So, the beginning of wisdom is to recognize the preciousness of time. It is finite.  We have only today.  How will we choose to live the rest of this day? Wisdom comes in recognizing that in every hour comes disguised and not so disguised opportunities to love well, to be kind, forgiving and caring.   Wisdom then, is seeking to live each day like Jesus, serving our neighbors.

        You and I have approximately 14/13 hours left today.  How will we choose to live?   Who will we see, or not see?  What will we say, or not say?  What opportunity to help will we seize or ignore? May we live wisely, living like Jesus -- who, filled with the spirit, loved those who crossed his path, brought  healing, hope  and good news.  Let us remember that living wisely can change lives, beginning with us – and change those we meet. Be wise.  Today and always.
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Amen.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(paraphrased from Betsy Devine and Joel E. Cohen, Absolute Zero Gravity)
(per C. Wilton, Preaching Workbook, Series VIII cycle B, 206)

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Don't Go To Sleep Angry

8/24/2021

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2 Samuel 18: 5-33; Eph. 4:25-3:2

     There is a story about a little boy who got into a fight with his older brother. Somewhat outmatched, he took quite a beating.  The whole experience left him feeling mad and bitter. In fact, he refused to talk to his brother all day.

      Bedtime came, and their mother, very much wanting to see the two make up, said to the younger, “Don’t you think you should forgive your brother before you go to sleep? Remember, the Bible says, ‘Do not let the sun go down on your wrath.’”
The youngster looked perplexed. He thought for a few moments and then blurted out, “But, Mommy, how can I keep the sun from going down?”

For some of us, it is easier to fight the sun from going down then to resolve the conflict eating at our hearts.

According to many different polls, Americans are a very angry people.
A whopping 84 percent of Americans are dissatisfied "with the way this country’s political system is working".

         The country erupted into the worst civil unrest in decades after the death of George Floyd. At the same time, we’re dealing with anger provoked by the coronavirus pandemic: anger at public officials because they’ve shut down parts of society, or anger because they aren’t doing enough to curb the virus. Anger about being required to wear a mask, or anger toward people who refuse to wear a mask. Anger at anyone who doesn’t see things the “right” way. In many cases anger spilled over in actual physical attacks.

“We’re living, in effect, in a big anger incubator,” said Raymond Novaco, a psychology professor.      According to psychiatrist Joshua Morganstein, the country is now dealing with “three disasters superimposed on top of one another”: the pandemic, the economic fallout and civil unrest. That’s a lot of anger being stirred up.

Anger is not an easy emotion to understand or to deal with. Most people raised in the Western reformed tradition are taught that expressing anger is unseemly, unspiritual.  Compounding the problem are the conflicting biblical images of God and anger.   On one hand God has no problem wiping out creation with a flood, who issues all sorts of murderous threats through the prophets and sends devastating plagues when hid degrees aren’t’ followed.  On the other hand, we have images of God who never forgets us even if our own mother did. Who is loving and compassionate. We have a God who has collected every tear you have shed in a bottle. We have a God who calls us to be peacemakers, to turn the other cheek, to forgive, not seven times, but seventy times seven.

      How do we reconcile these conflicting images of a loving God and a wrathful deity? How do we integrate the love and anger residing in our hearts?

        There is nothing wrong about anger.  Live long enough, there is bound to be a mistake, a misunderstanding, or conflict with someone else. It is inevitable.  Anger is a signal to us that something has gone wrong, off-balance, and needs correcting. Anger is not the problem, really. It’s how we respond to it that creates the mess and can cause us to sin.

        Aristotle observed: “It is easy to be angry.  What is not easy, it to be angry at the right person, in the right way, at the right time.”

        Some of us may have been fortunate to have been raised in families or churches where expressing anger to the right person, in the right way, in the right time, was modeled. Gospel order was followed – gossip was avoided. People didn’t attack as they expressed their anger and upset. There was trust to give voice to the hurt, anger or sadness in a open and non-defensive way.

        Not all of us have been so lucky.  In many of our homes anger was avoided or disowned. Passive-aggressiveness encouraged.  Anger was drowned in alcohol or other drugs and medications – even food.  Anger was expressed by either being stuffed and hidden away or by blowing up.  Gossip was the main form of communication, creating bitterness and malice in its aftermath.

        Our Hebrew Scriptures lesson today from 2nd Samuel, tells us of the tragedy of anger gone wrong in the death of Absalom, the son of David.  We need some of the background story to understand not only David’s sorrow, but the calamity that results from anger that goes unaddressed and becomes anger that results in sin.
        Absalom was David’s third oldest son out of 17 children named in the bible.  Absalom was David’s heir apparent. But Absalom also was the son who killed David’s first-born, Ammon.  Absalom lied and deceived David. Absalom incited a rebellion against David that ultimately led to Absalom's death.

        The first time we heard from Absalom is when his sister Tamar, was raped by Ammon, and then cruelly disregarded. This is right after the incident when David himself takes Bathsheba, and has her husband, Uriah, killed.  When David found out about Tamar, he did nothing to secure justice or help for her. Tamar was sent to live in seclusion in Absalom's house.  The scriptures say Absalom hated his half-brother Ammon for what he did to Tamar. In a traditional society, such a rape would have been an affront on Absalom as well. 

        Absalom's anger was not addressed, Tamar’s anger and hurt was never acknowledged.  Injustice was met with silence for years. David let the incident be swept under the rug.  This put Absalom on a path of violence, deceit, and bloodshed.  Through treachery he finally had Ammon murdered. He mistreats those helped him.  He rapes his father’s concubines. Eventually he plots to gain the favor of the people, and begins a insurrection against David.  All these years, from the time Ammon raped Tamar to when Absalom led the rebellion against David, David failed to address the Absalom's rage and growing distain and contempt.  Absalom's anger, as it became twisted away from justice to blind ambition, grew to sin.

        All these scriptural images and stories of anger need to be seen through the lens of Jesus, who shows us how to be angry, in the right way.  When Jesus got angry he didn’t mince words. He told parables about very angry people.  He got angry at religious leaders who did not want people healed on the Sabbath.  He addressed Peter as Satan and groaned in frustration at the lack of faith of his disciples. “how much longer must I put up with you?” He overturned the money lender tables in the Temple, spilled the money on the ground and set their animals free. What made Jesus angry?  Seeing people use their power to harm others, and blocking access to God’s mercy, justice and love.

        What is even more striking to see is when Jesus does not get angry.  When he is betrayed. Deserted. Denied.  When he is stripped and flogged and spat upon.  When made an object of ridicule by Pilate and Herod.  When crucified, jeered and taunted by thieves, soldiers and bystanders.  When you and I would be full of hate and rage,
cursing God, Jesus did not get angry. In his crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus restores our anger to its original function, to serve the purposes of love and trust.

        There’s a story about an American named Terry Dobson who went to Tokyo to study Aikido, a martial art that teaches reconciliation in its training.  On day on the train, a belligerent drunk laborer got on. Screaming, he nearly hit a woman with a baby.  People moved away.  Terry, feeling disgusted, thought he could put his practice into training.  He threw the drunk an insolent kiss.  “A foreigner!” he roared.  “You need a lesson in Japanese manners.” Before the drunk could make a move, a beaming old man waved the drunk over. “Come here and talk with me!”  The drunk cursed, “Why should I talk with you?”  but the drunk sat down.  “Whatcha drinking,” the old man said?  “I’m drinking sake, and it’s none of your business!” shouted the drunk.  Not missing a beat, the old man said, “Oh that’s wonderful! I like sake too!” The old man became to talk calmly to the drunk – while Terry was waiting for his moment to pulverize this guy.  Suddenly the laborer burst into sobs.  “My wife died. I don’t got a home.  I don’t have a job. I’m so ashamed of myself!” When Terry got off the train, the drunk man had his head in the lap of the old man, sobbing, and the old man was stroking his filthy hair, encouraging him to talk.  Terry felt convicted – of the unrighteous anger he was harboring, now dissolved by the old man’s peaceful, caring words.  How quickly we jump to anger instead of trying to understand a situation and respond accordingly.
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        If only David had taken the time to talk to Absalom and to Tamar.  With the grace of God, perhaps we can help each other out of anger. Not to stuff it. Not to blow up. Not to run away.  Not to give in to sin. But to listen and make room for kindness. Forbearance. Mercy. Right action.  If we can do this, perhaps then together in Christ, we can watch God’s sun go down on our peace. Amen.
 
 
 
 
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/anger-control-protests-masks-coronavirus/2020/06/29/a1e882d0-b279-11ea-8758-bfd1d045525a_story.html

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Speaking the Truth in Love

8/24/2021

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2 Samuel 11:26-12:13a; Ephesians 4:1-16

 
      In a small town, there were two brothers who, over the course of many years, cheated, swindled, robbed and generally stole from everyone that they ever did business with. The entire town and surrounding community reviled and despised these two brothers as everyone was aware of just how disreputable and dishonest they were.  One day, one of the brothers mysteriously died.

      Although they had never attended church, the one remaining brother went to the local pastor and offered vast sums of money if he would come to the funeral and say the appropriate words, AND, a large bonus, but ONLY if he would - during the course of the eulogy -refer to his brother as "a Saint."
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       The pastor was troubled by the request, however, it was a very poor church and the church desperately needed repairs. The parishioners had heard about the pastor's dilemma and were curious as to what he would do.  The funeral began, the church was packed, and the pastor started with the usual prayers and followed the rites and traditions as required by the church’s teachings. In closing, after referring to the man in the casket, he paused and turned to face the remaining brother.

      He began, "As you all know, the departed was an awful individual who robbed, cheated, swindled and stole from everyone he ever did business with. However, compared to his brother, he was a saint!"

        Most of us would not go to such lengths to cover up an untruth.  Unfortunately, elaborate cover-ups, like the one Nathan the prophet exposes in our Hebrew Scriptures lesson from 2 Samuel, are all too common in our politics, business practices, even in our day-to-day relationships. 

        If you recall from our meditation from last week, King David had reached the pinnacle of success. He had risen from being a young village sheep herder to an able and daring soldier, to a court musician and then confidante to the inner royal circle, to finally, king himself.  He solidified Israel’s borders. He built a powerful court.  He had wealth, wives, servants and children.  What more could he want?   Yet he wanted more.  We heard from last week’s reading that he lusted after his neighbor’s wife, who was a loyal soldier named Uriah.  He called for this woman, named Bathsheba, while Uriah is away fighting in one of David’s battles and slept with her.  Bathsheba became pregnant.  When David’s maneuvers to cover up his adultery failed, he had Uriah killed on the front lines and took Bathsheba as his wife. Case closed. Everyone looks the other way.
Everyone, that is, except God, and the prophet Nathan whom God sends to confront David.  Nathan cleverly engages David by telling him a story of a rich man with abundant flocks who steals the beloved ewe lamb of a poor man.  David, outraged, pronounces judgment: “As the Lord lives, the man deserves to die, he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing and because he had no pity.”

David clearly knows the Law, because in Exodus 22 it states that anyone who steals or kills the sheep of another person must make 4-fold restitution.  Yet despite knowing the Law, David, privileged, reached a dangerous place in his life where he thought the Law didn’t apply to himself.

According to researchers, just about everyone over the age of three engages in some form of lying or another.   Granted most of our lies are in the innocuous category of “of course that dress looks great on you!” “I was just going to call you!”  “I swear, I only had one beer,” “I’m sorry I have another appointment to get to right now.”  “The check is in the mail as we speak.”

        The truth about lying is that it is estimated that over 10,000.000 taxpayers “ fudge their tax forms.” Human resource statistics claim that “80% of all resumes are misleading. “A high percentage of doctors pad their bills to health insurance providers.   Close to one-half million lawyers who were polled said they mostly “work to benefit their clients, not to arrive at the truth.”    20-30% of middle managers surveyed admitted to writing fraudulent internal reports. 

But that does let the ordinary Joe and Jane worker off the hook.  Studies have shown nearly half of workers engaging in unethical or illegal actions at some point in their career.   They cut corners on quality control. Covered up incidents.  Abused or lied about sick days.  Lied to or deceived customers. False claims for workers’ compensation are so widespread that private investigators in San Francesco spent 75 percent of their time investigating suspected cases.

    Who knows what the real statistics are and the reasons behind all this lying and stretching the truth?   Who is to blame?  The individuals who know right from wrong, or the legal-economic-social system devised to reward lying or makes survival almost dependable on lying?

The apostle Paul in our Ephesians lesson says that our culture of lying, and deceitfulness can only be transformed when it is engaged by a culture of speaking the truth in love.   We are called not to be children, easily pulled to and fro by deceitful scheming. Paul says that the sign of spiritual maturity is that as a community, we learn to discern what is false from what is true and we are connected one to the other promoting healthy spiritual growth in the entire body.

The only way to avoid being taken in by trickery, to stop the lying, to avoid the sneakiness, as a body we practice speaking the truth in love with one another. Not to hurt. Not stroke our own egos.  But to build up the body of Christ, in love so we can follow Jesus who is the Way, the Truth, the Life.

        This the work that Nathan the prophet did for David.  Where the court failed David, Nathan told David the truth about his conduct.  He helped David to see the destruction he did by acting out of greed.   Yet Nathan didn’t burst in on David and condemn him.  Nathan didn’t engage in political, theological or military rhetoric.  He didn’t quote the Law. He didn’t start by making David feel bad about himself. Nathan came to David, as Paul advises, with humility and gentleness, patience, bearing with him in his errors. Nathan began by telling David a story, a story that David with roots as a shepherd boy would understand intimately.  He brought David back to the core of his being, filled with images David could relate to.  Nathan created an opening so that David could, with the prophet’s help, see himself in the story. Nathan’s speaks of flocks, shepherds, little ewe lambs, images deep from David’s past.  David reacts with indignation and anger to the story, and Nathan helps David see himself in the story.  David immediately responds, I have sinned. David wrote that beautiful penitential psalm 51 which we read as our prayer of confession as a result of Nathan speaking truth in love to him.

        Nathan knew David well and was invested in helping him repent and heal.  He confronted David directly, and reminded him of his blessings, his responsibilities, and consequences of his actions.  The story reminds us of the saying: “every saint has a past, every sinner has a future.”  We help each other find that future by our loving insights, corrections, support that we give one another.

We are called to be like Nathan for each other, and for the world.  It is a hard role, to confront the powerful and privileged. But let’s put it a different way.  We are called to speak the truth of those who can’t speak out, that ewe lamb that was stolen, the poor person with no standing, the true stories that the world would rather not hear.  On a day to day basis, we help double check each other, we speak lovingly but directly with each other, We challenge each other when necessary, so truth remains the guiding principle of our lives. 

As we approach our Lord’s Table, we are called to examine our conscience: what lies or falsehoods do we cling to?  What half-truths control our actions?  What right doing do we avoid in order to get ahead?  Can we be like Nathan for each other, and speak truth in love as we call out the best in each other.  As we bear with each other in love, humility gentleness and patience, the lies, trickery and scheming will fall away.   In its place we will be one body, united by one Spirit, equipped not to cover up, but build up this world in Love.  Amen.
   

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Rooted and  Grounded in Love

8/24/2021

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​2Sam 11:1-15; Eph. 3:14-21

        Recently I spoke with someone who expressed concern about the tone of negativity in some of our recent lectionary readings.  For example, the beheading of John the Baptist a few weeks back. Powerful men ogling a dancing teenage girl. Trampling the poor and needy, widow and orphans. Retribution and judgment. What kind of uplifting message can we get from this?  Don’t we see enough violence on TV, in ads and in entertainment that we have to come on Sunday and hear even more? 
        I understand this point of view and can sympathize with it. But over the years I have also come to understand that the bible does not sugarcoat reality.  The Bible is like a mirror revealing the worst and the best of us. More important, the Bible is the story of salvation history– the fall of humankind through sin and rebellion. Further, despite this, of a God who never forsakes us, whether we are at our worst or best.  A God working through our wrongdoing, calling us to repent, to engage our better selves, offering us redemption through Jesus Christ.  I mention this because today we again have two polar opposite readings:  our Hebrew lesson exposing the dark, sinful nature of humanity and our uplifting epistle lesson proclaiming the power of the indwelling of Christ in our hearts to embrace the depth, breadth, length and height of the fullness of the love of God in our lives together.
With all this in mind, we start today with perhaps the most well-known case of infidelity in the Bible, King David’s fling with Bathsheba. We engage this difficult story because it is a reminder to us of the slippery slope of sin that we all face at some time or another in our lives.
David’s slide into sin begins before he even sets eyes on Bathsheba.
Our text informs us that it is spring, the time when kings go to war (11:1). Kings in David’s time were the top warriors of the people. They earned their crowns by defeating neighbors and enemies and protecting borders.  That was their main job.  David earned the kingship through a series of successful battles.  At this point in the story, Israel is still at war with a neighboring people called the Ammonites. The army assembles, under the command of General Joab and his officers. For the first time, King David makes the mistake of staying in Jerusalem rather than leading his army and fighting it out like a proper king. He does not stay home to meditate on the Law of Moses or to write psalm or two; he passes the time lounging around on his couch. Recall it was Benjamin Franklin who reminds us that “idle hands are the devil’s playthings.”
King David has grown accustomed to having the finest of everything. His palace is the finest. His furnishings, his food, his help, are all the finest. Now, from the viewpoint of his roof, he looks and sees a woman whom he regards as “fine.” And this king intends to have her.
In ancient times, the King was not only a renowned warrior, but he was also the absolute authority. If Bathsheba was summoned to the King’s palace, then she came to the palace or risked execution for defying the King. She had no choice in the matter. 
David didn’t set out to commit an insidious sin. People seldom do. He should have been on the battlefield but he ignores his duty. Next his eyes wanders. He inquiries about this woman instead of just having a look and moving on. By the time he learned that she was married, David had already let desire get its nasty little hooks into his heart, and his desires outweighed his good sense and integrity.
David, it seems just wanted a one-night sexual romp. But sin has its consequences:  Bathsheba gets pregnant. Oops.  David hadn’t planned on that possibility. Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband, was a faithful warrior out on the battlefield — where David should have been. How was David going to cover this up?  
David called Uriah in from the battle, and instructs Uriah to go down to his house, assuming of course that Uriah would have marital relations with Bathsheba while he was home, which would allow him to think that the baby was his -- effectively covering up the incident.
However, David did not consider Uriah’s sense of honor and loyalty, in contrast to David’s lack of honor and loyalty. Warriors, in active combat, did not engage in marital relations. So Uriah slept outside in the doorway. Uriah would not go and enjoy the pleasures of home when his fellow-soldiers were camping in the battlefield. David even tried getting him drunk, but Uriah’s sense of duty and honor was strong enough to overcome all of David’s tactics.  Uriah is the symbol of a man of integrity while David falls further down that slippery slope into degradation.
David gets desperate. He does something devious. David sent word back to General Joab to put Uriah in a place where he was sure to be killed. Cover-ups are often like that — innocent people become expedient and get hurt when we try to hide the truth.
What makes the story so poignant, is before David became king, and was a fugitive in the wilderness being hunted down by Saul -- a group of friends voluntarily defended him and risked their lives to save David’s life -- and one of them was Uriah the Hittite. David owes his life to Uriah. And now he covets Uriah’s wife, he commits adultery with her, he has Uriah murdered, and then he lies to cover it up. Nearly half the Ten commandments…broken in one awful enterprise.
        David would pay dearly for his sin.  The baby born of this tryst dies. We will learn later that the sword of contention would never leave his house – the kingdom he worked so hard to maintain would be divided soon after the end  of his son Solomon’s reign – a family dynasty lasting only two generations. A slippery slope going down deeper, and deeper into sin. 
     On the contrary, in our epistle lesson Paul, writing from prison to the church at Ephesus, calls us out of our depths to new heights, to rise to greater heights, by being rooted and grounded in love. Unlike David, we are called to be loyal and true to our calling.  We are called to act selflessly, not selfishly like David. We are reminded that being rooted and grounded in love is to be grafted into the body of Jesus Christ which makes us care for each other, instead of just caring for ourselves, like David did.  God fills us with the love and power of Christ so we upbuild each other. We go out of our way to help each other, instead of indulging our own desires like David did.
       David’s problem was that he grew so powerful and successful, he thought he did think he was accountable to anyone. He thought he was above the law. He didn’t have to fulfill his duties of being king, he could assign others to do his dirty work.   He didn’t seem to care about the impact of his actions on others.
God, however, calls us to live differently. If we want to know the fullness of God’s love – and of human love -- our lives must be rooted and grounded in Christ. The apostle Paul wrote about the depth and breadth and length and height of Jesus’ love – a love which brings the fullness of God’s grace in our hearts and in our living with each other. And that’s what we are called to. If we want to be truly successful, we must always remember our connectedness to each other. We must share our lives with each other. We must be accountable to each other. We make a difference in each other lives. Imagine how much grief David would have shared those around him had he only remembered the moral compass of God’s love and mercy—if only he remembered his accountability to his friend, Uriah, the Hittite.
       It is said that Cyrus, the founder of the Persian Empire, once had captured a prince and his family. When they came before him, the monarch asked the prisoner, "What will you give me if I release you?" "The half of my wealth," was his reply. "And if I release your children?" "Everything I possess." "And if I release your wife?" "Your Majesty, I will give myself." Cyrus was so moved by his devotion that he freed them all. As they returned home, the prince said to his wife, "Wasn’t Cyrus a handsome man!" With a look of deep love for her husband, she said to him, "I didn’t notice. I could only keep my eyes on you--the one who was willing to give himself for me."
        This is what Christ has done for us. He calls us out of the snares of sin to find our best selves. He gives himself for us.  That’s the good news the Bible wants to impress on us.    His eyes are on us – he has given himself for us. And this is how we are to live – sacrificially for each other.  Is anyone hurt?  Let us tend to their needs.  Is anyone worried or anxious? Let us be reassuring.  Is anyone sad?  Let us offer comfort?  Let us stay connected – to God and to each other do something good for someone else, a kindness, an act of loyalty and honor– and let accomplish great things together, inspired by our better selves, bound by love. Amen. 
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He Had Compassion

8/24/2021

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Eph 2:11-22; Mark 6:30-44
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Who here has battled the COVID 15?  COVID 15 are the extra pounds many of us have gained due to about 15 months of lockdown. If you are anything like our family, comfort food like mac and cheese, fried chicken, every pasta dish under the sun, Chinese takeout, not to mention all the popcorn, rocky road ice cream or chocolate chip cookies, were the order of the day – as we binge-watched shows like the Mandalorian with Baby Yoda taking the top spot. Our grubhub and uber eats drivers become our new best buddies, next to the amazon guy who delivered the disinfectant wipes and masks regularly. 

Because meals have such a social and spiritual benefit, it’s not a surprise that meals are front and center in Jesus’ ministry. Jesus performed his first miracle at a wedding feast, spent his last night on earth at a Passover meal with his disciples, and ate and drank with tax collectors and sinners, and even Pharisees.  It’s not surprising that meals are included in his teachings and parables, like the King’s wedding banquet for his son or the feast served up for the prodigal son. It is no wonder that the only miracle that is found in all four gospels is the feeding of the 5000, the story in our gospel lesson today.  There are even separate stories of the feedings of four thousand people. Theses miracles are a powerful demonstration of God satisfying a fundadmental need for food and water, the need to be together around the dining room table and take delight in each other’s company.

Our text begins with Jesus and his disciples going away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.  They were on their way to get some much-needed rest and relaxation, but that would soon be interrupted, because many who saw them leaving recognized Jesus, the word got out, and so they ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them.  The disciples are probably groaning. As your boat pulls away from the shore, you hear a shout, “Hey, they’re leaving, hurry up everyone let’s follow their boat!”  And the crowd just gets bigger and bigger, and they’re so eager that they’re even starting to get ahead of you to meet you on the other side!  Probably for many of us, we’d be a little annoyed.  These people seem inconsiderate, rude and disrespectful towards you because they don’t seem to care if you’re tired and hungry too. That’s the human in all of us.

        Jesus’s response was different. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. The religious leaders and teachers of Israel were supposed to be the Shepherds.  But what were they doing?  They were taking money from the poor.  They were selling merchandise at the temple.  They were burdening people with unnecessary laws. 

Jesus the true Shepherd, knew the effort the crowds made to catch up to him.  He knew they were filled with spiritual hunger. So, he began to teach them.   While the disciples were hungry for food, Jesus was hungry to love.  Jesus’s God is a God of compassion, and he looks upon us through the lens of love.

The text tells us that Jesus continued to teach until it was late in the day.  His disciples, mindful of the clock and their stomachs, remind Jesus ‘This is a remote place, and it’s already very late.  Send the people away so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat. Late in the day might mean around noon.  The Jewish day started in the evening, so by noon the day itself was almost over. The disciples respond to Jesus’ comment that you give them something to eat, with an answer that was realistic and practical: Jesus, that would take more than half a year’s wages – and even if they had enough money where could they go to buy the amount of food it would take to feed all those people? Jesus had placed on them an impossible task.

Jesus wasn’t the only one who had compassion. From a little boy in the crowd comes forward with five loaves and two fish.” Somehow this little boy was touched by Jesus, moved to action despite the odds.  The miracle really starts with a little boy, touched by Jesus’s words, Jesus’s presence. He sees the need, he sees the enormity of the situation, but still he is willing to offer what he has.

What a reminder this little boy is to us.  We are surrounded by insurmountable needs.  People in our community need work.  We have bills to pay, many which piled up during COVID. Some of us have illnesses that plague our bodies. Perhaps we’ve gotten cynical, or our hearts have grown hardened given all the social, political and economic shenanigans around us. Look at our church. In this day and age of secularism, how will we survive? We feel defeated before we even begin.

The insurmountable need is there. Our resources are few.  But the text tells us of the amazing miracle took place despite the paucity of resources.  Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, Jesus gave thanks and broke the loaves.  Jesus blesses the few resources that are there. God makes a way out of no way.

Jesus himself multiplied the loaves and the fish with his own hands.  Jesus enabled the disciples to participate in this miracle as they continued to distribute the food.  He didn’t cause the loaves and fish to fall from the sky, like manna from heaven. The food didn’t suddenly appear in everyone’s hands. Jesus gave the loaves and fish to his disciples, so that they could feed the people also. 

The text tells us They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish.  The number of men who had eaten was five thousand.  That doesn’t include the women and children, so bump this number up to 20-30,000.  There were even enough leftovers to fill 12 baskets – a doggie bag for each of the disciples to take on the go!  This is an illustration of God’s compassion, God’s grace, God’s blessing our meagre resources and satisfying the need.  It is a reminder of the difference one person can do, who comes to Jesus and puts what he or she has in the Lord’s hands.

A recent e-mail I received asked readers to reflect on the following questions: 1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world; 2. Name the last five heisman trophy winners; 3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest; 4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize; 5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress; 6. Name the last 10 World Series winners?

As you reflect on these six questions you quickly realize that very few people would know the answer to even one of them. The e-mail follows with another set of questions: 1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school; 2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time; 3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile; 4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special; 5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with; 6. Name six heroes whose stories have inspired you?

The point of the e-mail is this: “The people who have made a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money or the most awards. They are the ones that care.” The ones with compassion. They are the ones who have been involved in your life.
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It just took one compassionate child offering up his meal, for  our compassionate Lord to bless and multiply the gift for everyone.   So imagine what Jesus can do with your resources, your gifts, your dream, your offering, if face of the need around us.  You can make a difference. Act on compassion.  Bring your gift and put it in the Shepherd’s hands.  Blessed by God, the need can be met.  People can be fed, clothed, loved. Dreams can be realized.  Lives can be changed. A revival can happen, All it takes is that one.  Be the one. Come forward.  Offer what you have to Jesus, and he will do the rest. Amen.
        
 
 
 
 
 
https://www.google.com/search?q=Mark+6%3A30-44+feeding+of+the+five+thousand+sermons&rlz=1C1AVFC_enUS864US864&oq=Mark+6%3A30-44+feeding+of+the+five+thousand+sermons&aqs=chrome..69i57.25995j0j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
 
https://www.lifebpc.com/resources/treasury-of-sermons/75-1-2-3-john-jude/637-1-john-3-17-18-compassion-like-christ
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Our Plumb Line

8/24/2021

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Amos 7: 7-17, Mark 6: 14-29

 
Three years ago, a consultant sounded the siren about major structural damage to the building of Champlain Towers South, in Surfside Florida. There was cracking and crumbling of columns, beams and walls of the parking garage, possible problems with the supporting columns, possible corrosion of reinforcing steel under the building.  Engineers have suggested a foundation-related matter led to the deadliest accidental building collapse in American history on June 24.  The death toll stands at 86, with 43 still unaccounted for.
It is sobering to think how a possible error, mistake, a problem in the lowest level of the complex would instigate what is described as a “pancake collapse,” where the failure at the bottoms causes the top floors to collapse, on top of the lower floor just below, then the next lower one, until the bottom is reached.  Such a building collapse tragically results in fewer survivors, as we are seeing unfolding at the accident site.
 
     When it comes to construction, there is very little room for making a mistake. Minute attention needs to be paid to selecting quality materials, to pouring a solid foundation as well as reinforcing joints.  We have to be careful that surfaces are level - walls are straight - or plumb. The tiniest deviation can throw an edifice off – make it unstable, weak, unsightly, prone to collapse with any stress.
The illustration of building straight, true, or plumb, is a powerful image used in the Bible.  You can construct a house, and as far as you can tell, the walls appear absolutely straight. Yet, if you take a long string with a lead weight tied to the end of it and hang it beside one of the walls, you may discover that the whole structure is crooked. Before you use the plumb line, it doesn't look lopsided, because, relative to itself, it isn't. All of the walls may be parallel to one another. But when an objective measure is used to determine whether the structure is really straight, reality breaks in. A plumbline is one of the oldest, simplest and most reliable of tools in the building profession.
That's how it is with us. On the outside, our lives appear to us to be straight, on target, perfect. We think we are doing what God wants. Without even realizing it, we may all be crooked, our foundation unstable, erosion is quietly taking place in the eyes of God. We desperately need a plumb line, or an outside standard outside of ourselves, by which we can see whether we really measure up.  That’s what our readings tell us today.
     The people of Israel were not at all pleased when the prophet Amos came along to tell them how crooked they had become. For one thing, Amos was from the kingdom of Judah – to them an outsider.  King Jeroboam, the king of Israel, had surrounded himself with opportunists, with those who were only too happy to give him two thumbs up any time he asked how things were going. But Amos, a part-time shepherd and pruner of fig trees, this outsider, was sent by God to tell Jeroboam and his priest Amaziah that they were way out of whack.
     Amos hears from God, “I am setting a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel.” This analogy of the plumb line is a call of judgment, to spiritual measurement – how true, how close to God and God’s covenant of justice and right relationship we really are. The plumb line in Amos’ vision is intended to measure the depth of commitment to God. And Amos didn’t mince words in telling King Jeroboam and Amaziah, how far they missed the mark.
     Amos called the leading ladies of Israel cows, and accused the elite of oppressing the poor and crushing the needy. He spoke harshly to the religious leaders telling them that God despised their festivals and took no delight in their solemn assemblies. He chastised the prominent merchants accusing them of having faulty scales and defrauding their customers. God used Amos to place a plumb line in Israel to show them how far off the mark they were, and to call them to repentance.
        Mark also gives us the testimony of how John the Baptizer acted as a plumb line as well.   Our chapter begins with people believing Jesus is John, back from the dead. Mark goes on to give us a detailed account of how John loses his head. It is a story drenched with political intrigue, scandal and backstabbing violence, evidence of life out of plumb.
     John did what needed to be done: he spoke Truth to Power. John reminds Herod, according to the religious law, it is not lawful for Herod to marry his own brother’s wife. And yet, we are told that this particular Herod, for reasons unexplained, somehow enjoyed listening to John. He liked having him around. On the other hand, Herodias -- his current wife-- formerly his brother’s wife--is tired of listening to John’s pronouncements against her and employs her own daughter to bring John down. 
      The rest is history.  In front of a crowd of dignitaries, Herod is caught up by his stepdaughter’s dancing and promises her anything – to which, at her mother’s urging, she requests the head of John the Baptizer.  
     Amos and John are plumb lines – showing us where we’ve gone wrong, showing us the way back to plumb standards found in scripture.  They are not afraid to speak even when they are persecuted for the truth. Mark tells us John’s purpose, as: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, make ready the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” (Mark 1:13)   John is a plumb line that directs us to Jesus, who is God’s ultimate plumb line – Jesus is our standard, who, like Amos and John, lived a plumb life through his words and works of power.
       God is described as a conscientious builder in Isaiah 28: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation” (Isaiah 28:16). God makes clear for us what constitutes the divine tools for a well-constructed society, a solid life:  “I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line” (Isaiah 28:17). There will be no crookedness or sin in the kingdom of Christ.
         Today, just as in the days of the prophet Amos, God sets a plumb line in our midst. Our plumb line – the life and teachings of Jesus – the witness of scripture -- measures our faithfulness -- our righteousness – our works – against that of the One who is perfect and true to God.
      But we struggle to stay or return plumb, don’t we?  It’s easy to go out of joint, without realizing it. So, we ask ourselves today: Is our foundation buckling because we mix some lies or deceit in the concrete of truth? Are our windowsills sloped because we refuse to see and care for the hurting and needy around us?  Are the columns cracked because we turn our backs to prayer and righteous action? Is our foundation buckling because we ignore the word of God in Christ?  Have we weakened the supporting steel columns with worldly values that corrode the spirit? Are we facing imminent collapse without knowing it? 
The architects’ report is in.  Our lives and society around us are out of plumb.  We need to check ourselves, our communities against  the plumbline of Jesus and the scriptures to recognize and repair the worsening cracks.  Like the managers of the South Champlain Towers, who meant well, it is easy to waste precious time, to delay until it is too late. To become complacent, give into denial, or end up blind to the problems and thus delay taking action. To become overwhelmed by the cost in dollars to repair, only to pay the highest price in the lost of many lives, the irreparable damage done to families and the community of Surfside.  As we weep alongside the survivors, let it be a reminder to us to recommit ourselves to Jesus, our plumbline. Today let us advocate like Amos and John did, to uphold righteous standards, plumbline standards, creating a fair and just society built on the God’s love as the standard. To live our lives on the foundation of love, mercy, forgiveness – in doing so healing those cracks in us and around us before it gets too late. Amen
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
https://www.google.com/search?q=sermons+on+god%27s+plumbline&rlz=1C1AVFC_enUS864US864&oq=sermons+on+plum&aqs=chrome.2.69i57j0i22i30l2j69i60l2.7317j0j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/27/us/miami-building-investigation-clues.html
http://www.christchurchnh.org/sermon/2018/7/15/remember-the-plumbline
 
 
 
 

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Nothing for the Journey

8/24/2021

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2 Corinth. 12:2-10; Mark 6: 1-13
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     Happy Independence Day!  Across this land families are firing up the grill, hitting the beach, perhaps indoor picnics because of weather, watching parades and preparing for fireworks tonight to celebrate our nation’s 245th birthday. For many it is a day of travel with the hopes to renew ties with family and friends, and hopefully find time for renewal of spirit after months of isolation spent because of COVID-19. More people than ever have taken to the road this weekend since before COVID struck.
     Jesus is also a man on the go – but for a different purpose – a purpose to spread the freedom found in the kingdom of God throughout the land.  Jesus crisscrosses the Sea of Galilee, and people are responding – amazed, filled with great awe and wonder, as Jesus preaches and teaches with authority, and performs deeds of power.  As Mark leads us up to today’s passage, we have witnessed some of Jesus' most amazing miracles - the stilling of the storm on the Sea of Galilee, the healing of the demon-possessed man, and the restoration of Jairus' little daughter to life – and healing the woman with the hemorrhage.  Now, seeking some rest, Jesus journeys back to his own hometown of Nazareth for a mini-break – downtime – maybe even a short vacation, as far as Jesus takes vacation.
     Nazareth is not even named in this story by Mark – an ominous sign.  Jesus took the time to teach in his home synagogue – but the astonishment he receives is not of the receptive kind he is used to – its astonishment rooted in doubt and hesitation.  These are the people who saw Jesus grow up.  How did he get to be so learned – so smart – so talented -- They wonder.  They call him “the carpenter” – his identity of the past – he’s “the son of Mary” – a derisive remark since people were identified through their father’s name. Was this an indication of lingering doubts about Jesus’ birth?  Isn’t he the brother of James, Joses, Judah, and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?' they inquire.  So, they were offended at him -- they became angry and hostile. How dare he act better than the rest of them!  After this, it was Jesus’ turn to be amazed – at the hardness of their hearts. Going to Nazareth was a great failure.
     This is actually the third time that Jesus had tasted a glimpse of failure in his ministry – and all related to struggles with his family.  In Mark 3, his own family labeled him crazy and tried to restrain him. Next his mother and brothers and sisters try again to remove him from his teaching ministry.  Now here in his hometown -- his own people - he meets with rejection -- prompting him to say, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and among his own relatives, and in his own house."
    The disciples got to see for the first-time ordinary people who were against Jesus.  But what was there to do?  Stop the work?  Go back to where it was safe – and remain there?  No, Jesus decides to use this failure as an opportunity to expand. It was time to spread out even farther. This time he sent the disciples out --- to conduct ministry without him – on their own. 
      So, Jesus sent the disciples two by two, and gave them authority to cast out unclean spirits and preach the message of repentance. They were to take nothing for their journey, except a walking stick.   No money, no bag, no bread – they were left entirely dependent on the good will of those whom they would serve.  It was a mutually beneficial relationship, each side caring for each other’s needs.  Sent in twos, Jesus stresses companionship and mutual support and accountability would be the foundation of his kingdom ministry. Jesus’ vision stresses we are interdependent – no lone rangers here.
            So, Jesus sends out his disciples after the huge failure of Nazareth is fresh in their minds.  Jesus’ acknowledgement of failure does not mean that he is sending the disciples out to fail. Rather, he is showing them how to carry on in the face of failure.  Nobody likes to hear they are going to have to face failure in life. Jesus provides us with a way to see failure as part of the journey and move on can empower all of us to carry on when we fail.
      Failure is a reality in the journey of life We make mistakes.  We sometimes fail in profound ways – with the people who should be nearest and dearest to us.  We yearn for family, we seek after connection, and sometimes our love for our family – or the hurts caused by our family -- keeps us constrained – homebound -- unable to follow with freedom the call Jesus places in our hearts.  Home - Nazareth -- is always calling us to deter, to come back, to resume the old safe roles we once had.
     To help us, Jesus teaches us to travel light because our journey become our home.  Our fellow sojourners become our family of faith -- until we reach our true home with him in Paradise.  So, we travel light – so we learn to depend on God and each other.  We travel light so we can rebound easier when failure strikes, and we can shake our feet and move on. We travel light to not have our baggage get in the way of the new encounters and opportunities God is leading us to.  
.  In the face of rejection or failure, shake the dust off your feet and keep going!
        Think of the sacrifices made by the signers of the Declaration of Independence.  Five signers were captured by the British as traitors and tortured before they died. Twelve signers had their homes ransacked and burned.  Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army, another had two sons captured.  Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.
        Think of the failures in our own lives.  Mistakes we can’t take back. Wrong choices that put us on a different path from what we had hoped or dreamed. Yet we learn from defeat and move forward with greater wisdom. It can be a launchpad to greater things.  Think of how Paul understands the thorn in his flesh that he prayed to God to remove.  God said no.  My strength is made perfect in weakness God says.  And so, we too persevere, despite the odds.
    One of the most famous of basketball players of all time, Michael Jordan, is upfront about his journey of failure.  He’s famous for being cut from his high school basketball team.  He said, “I have missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take the game winning shot, and I missed. I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”  Shake the dust off your feet and keep going!
    When we listen to the exalting music of Handel's Messiah, we usually assume it was surely written by a man at the pinnacle of his success, but that is not the case.  In fact, it was written after he had suffered a stroke.  It was written while Handel lived in poverty amid bleak surroundings.  He had suffered through a particularly deep night of gloom and despair over his failure as a musician, and the next morning he unleashed his creative genius in a musical score that continues to thrill and inspire us generations later.
 Shake the dust off your feet and keep going!
        On this Independence Day we are reminded that failures and mistakes, challenges and risks, in the hands of God, lead us to wholeness and freedom. That’s what Jesus did. Though for sure his heart broke, he kept going – preaching, teaching, healing and proclaiming good news.  So today we celebrate freedom, and we celebrate Jesus, who in the face of our challenges calls us on the journey, to lay down our burdens and travel light, knowing wherever God leads us we have a true home. A home where we are freed from the confines of the past, open to the opportunities of the present, and assured an eternal home. Amen
 
Allison Pataki is the New York Times bestselling author of “The Traitor’s Wife, The Accidental Empress”, “Sisi: Empress on Her Own” and her latest novel “Where the Light Falls”. Allison’s novels have been translated into more than a dozen languages.
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"Get Up!"

6/24/2021

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2 Cor. 8: 1-15; Mark 5: 21-43
 
 
13-year-old Long, a Cambodian girl, was kidnapped and sold into a brothel. When she rebelled, the brothel owner gouged out her eye with a metal rod.

Sunita, a young Indian bride, was held down on a cot by her father-in-law and brother-in-law, while her husband doused her with kerosene and set her on fire.  She later died in the hospital of her wounds. The reason?  Her in-laws were demanding a bigger dowry from her parents. Sunita was murdered over a refrigerator.

     A 12-year-old girl was killed in an acid attack in Southern Afghanistan, because she befriended a 15-year-old boy (who was also killed).

    A 12-year-old Yemeni girl died three days after her wedding night from acute bleeding.

    12 year old Anisha was promised her in marriage to a Taliban fighter to pay a debt. She was handed over to his family who abused her and forced her to sleep in the stable with the animals. When she attempted to flee, she was caught and her nose and ears were hacked off by her husband as punishment.

      These young girls are a reminder that, despite all the advances we have achieved, there are still in many parts of the world where girls and women still face extreme danger and prejudice.  Violence and discrimination are still practiced and long standing. 

   Greek philosopher Aristotle 4th century BCE, following his ancient tradition, considered women ‘defective’ human beings. Christian writer, Tertullian, addressed women in the 2nd century: “You are the Devil's gateway; you are the unsealer of that tree; you are the first forsaker of the divine law; you are the one who persuaded him whom the Devil was not brave enough to approach!"  Martin Luther wrote in the 16th century: “If they (women) become tired or even die, that does not matter. Let them die in childbirth. That is what they are there for.”

          How different is today’s account of Jesus’ words and deeds toward women from these news reports, philosophers and church writers. Today’s story finds Jesus mobbed by a crowd.  Pushing his way through to get to Jesus is the ruler of the synagogue, Jairus. Leaders of synagogues were not generally hospitable to Jesus.   The leaders of Jesus’ home synagogue in Nazareth tried to push him off a cliff when he first preached there.  At another synagogue in Galilee, (Luke 13:14), the leaders publicly rebuke Jesus for healing on the Sabbath a woman crippled for 18 years.  We know from the gospel accounts that these rulers took an active role in having Jesus condemned to death.   

But this ruler, Jairus, is unlike the rest -- his actions speak to us of a different possibility. Jairus is one of the few people who are named in Mark’s gospel who come to Jesus for help.  His little girl, just 12 years old, on the cusp of adulthood, is dying.  Should he go and publicly plead for a miracle from this man who associates with people he wouldn’t let in the doors of the synagogue?   Should he put his reputation aside in a desperate effort to keep his little girl from dying?  Jairus throws caution to the wind.  He falls to Jesus’ feet – an act of submission -- he begs repeatedly to go to his home and lay his hands upon her.  Jairus loves his daughter. He is willing to do anything for her.  His actions on behalf of his little girl are heart-warming – even ahead of its time -- in a time when daughters were not valued as much as sons – a sign for sure of Jairus’ enlightenment.

          Jesus goes with Jairus.  But along the way Jesus is detained – by a woman with a flow of blood. She has been bleeding 12 years – since the time Jairus’ daughter was born, in fact.  Unlike Jairus, she is unnamed.  Jairus is well-to-do and influential, the woman with the hemorrhage is now impoverished – having spent all her money over the years seeking a cure. She is a social outcast – her flow of blood makes her ritually unclean, unable to touch anyone, or anything.  The law stated clearly: “If a woman has a discharge of blood …she shall be unclean…. everything on which she sits shall be unclean. And whoever touches these things shall be unclean.” (Lev. 15:25).  She has been deprived of human contact for 12 long years. Nearly half a lifetime, for a woman in Jesus’ day.

  Then that fateful day happened: Jesus was walking to Jairus’ house, surrounded by a multitude. The bleeding woman faced a choice -- Should she risk exposing herself to ridicule and public condemnation for touching a man?  Should she risk making Jesus ritually unclean?

          This unclean woman is desperate and so she touches Jesus’ clothes, and at once is made well. And Jesus knows.  Jesus stops -- demanding to know who touched his clothes.  Why does he do this? Does he want to embarrass this poor woman?  And the woman does come forward, in fear and trembling, and she too throws herself at Jesus’ feet.  Jesus does not upbraid her. He doesn’t point out that she broke the law.   Instead, Jesus praises her in front of everyone: he calls her daughter. Most people thought no doubt she was sick because of her sinfulness; Jesus praises her faith. Jesus sends her forth in peace healed of her disease.

          All this time Jairus must have been in anguish. As this woman is healed, his daughter succumbs to her illness.  Here was a woman, Jairus, who could never have come near the synagogue.  Jairus, you were personally responsible to keep her out.  And while Jesus is restoring her to life, your daughter loses hers. What a bitter experience. But Jesus addresses you, Jairus, his only words to you:  “Do not fear, only believe.”  Jairus, it’s time. Wake up.   

          Jesus perseveres and goes to Jairus’ house. Amid the wailing, and commotion and even the derisive laughing at Jesus, Jesus goes into the dead girl’s room, and takes her hand and says,  Talitha cum -- Little girl, get up.  This is one of the few phrases which remain in Jesus’ native tongue of Aramaic -- one of the few times the gospel writers records Jesus’ actual words.  And the little girl gets up and began walking about. 
          In both stories, the little girl and bleeding woman are called daughters. They are loved.   Both females are ritually unclean according to the law – which means cut off from human touch and community. But they weren’t cut off from Jesus. They weren’t cut off from a law of love. Jesus brings healing to a prominent man’s family.  Jesus brings healing to an unknown isolated woman.  There are no boundaries with love, not even death.

          The Apostle Paul reminds us in his letter to the Galatians: ' There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave nor free, there is no longer male nor female: for all of you - all of you - are one in Christ Jesus.'  Only the practice of a love that restores wholeness to community, a love that restores us to life, matters. We all are equal in God's eyes, all equally loved by him, and all are welcome.

     Today, Jesus tells us --  get up! How many little girls (and little boys) long to get up – from under what oppresses or hurts them? 

As we follow Christ, we too say, Get up – to all the Longs sold into slavery and to brothels.

--Get Up-to all the Sunitas who die in dowry burnings.

-- we say Get Up to those young girls who are married before their time, and die from childbirth or from bleeding to death.

-- Get Up - to all the Anishas of the world—disfigured and cut off from education, and a dignified life.

-- Get Up to all the girls bullied, abused, trapped by unhealthy body images and poor self esteem,

– Get Up – Get Up -- to all of us –  to be awakened to the power and mercy of God to transcend whatever walls we put up – to be awakened to the life God has in store for you, the peace of Christ  within our grasp --  if we but dare to grab hold of the hand of Jesus, who will not let  go.  Amen


 
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"The Other Side"

6/24/2021

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Mark 4:35-41; 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49
Yesterday we celebrated Juneteenth, June 19th, which commemorates the end of slavery in the United States.  This happened when enslaved peoples in Texas learned from Union troops on June 19, 1865, 2 ½ years after the Emancipation Proclamation, that they were a free people.  This past week congress passed a motion signed into law by the President to make Juneteenth a federal holiday.  Since 1865, Juneteenth has been celebrated primarily in African American communities with prayer and religious services, festivals of food, music and dancing, community picnics with speeches and educational events.  While it is a holiday that celebrates the official end of slavery, it also points to the ongoing work that remains to be done to bring about racial justice and harmony in our land.  The challenge remains despite the celebrations.

We live in challenging, stormy times. All this produces enormous anxiety, fear in us. Where will the next mass shooting take place? Violent crimes are spiking. Prices and taxes are going up. Will our children be able to afford college or to take out a mortgage?   Will we be able to retire?  What will happen if we get sick?  How will we pay the bills?
Our readings today speak of battle, overwhelming challenge, nightmarish storms.  In our reading from 1 Samuel, David, a shepherd boy, encounters a valley to be crossed, a valley separating two armies poised for battle.  On one side of this valley stands the army of the Philistines and their top warrior, Goliath of Gath.  A giant of a man, all decked out in the latest technologically advanced and seemingly impenetrable bronze armor.  He is the ultimate fighting machine, the heavy weight champion of the Philistines, ready to make mince meat of the hapless Israelites.

         On the other side of the valley stands the Israelite army. Upon seeing Goliath, the soldiers are quaking in their boots.  But there on the sidelines, is a young man named David, a boy, a teen-ager, eighth son of his father, the youngest, not yet old enough for his driver's license.  David’s skills so far include tending and defending sheep, playing musical instruments and writing poetry.  When this kid hears Goliath shouting his insults, he goes to King Saul and says, “I’ll go fight this Philistine.”  So, David crosses into enemy territory with nothing more than those stones and his shepherd’s staff and sling.  Goliath is insulted that his enemies could not come up with a more worthy opponent. When Goliath came forward, David reached into his shepherd's bag, took out a stone, and slings it, striking the Philistine in his one vulnerable place – his forehead. Goliath, the mighty giant, is taken day by a mere stone.

        What enabled David to win? What kept fear, trauma and anxiety away?   David’s words have become a rallying cry for us in our times of trial – “The battle is the Lord’s.”  David stayed centered in this belief. David declares “The Lord who saved me from the paw of the lion and the bear will save me from the hand of this Philistine!”  David may be young, but he is mighty in faith. He has been delivered before. He holds onto this knowledge as he prepares to confront another adversary.  David’s words and deeds reminds us we have been in battle before, we have crossed the valley many times in the past.  With God’s help, we have made it through.

        Our gospel story from Mark finds Jesus and his disciples crossing the sea in the midst of a storm. Jesus had been teaching the crowds much of the day.  When evening had come, Jesus said to the disciples, “Let us go across to the other side.” Jesus was bone-tired from ministering and teaching the crowds all day.  They were leaving the Capernaum area on the Northwest side of the lake and traveling about 4-5 miles across to the eastern side of Lake Galilee.

            As they traveled, in the dark, a ferocious storm hits them. Waves were coming in over the sides of the boat.  Although seasoned fishermen, used to terrible storms, they are terrified at the viciousness of the current storm they find themselves in.  The boat was on the verge of sinking, and Jesus was asleep, through it all. Teacher, they finally cry out, at the point of desperation, “do you not care that we are perishing?”  Unlike David, the disciples are talking from a place of fear, not belief. We’ve been there too.

        Sometimes, at very important times in our lives, when we are in the dark and buffeted by the storms of life -- it feels that as though God has forgotten us.  That Jesus doesn’t care. That Jesus has fallen asleep while we are fighting for our lives.  We feel alone.  Fear replaces faith. The boat is taking on water. The winds are whipping, we’re losing our balance. We shout out, “do you not care, God?”  Do you not care God, that my loved one is on the verge of death?  Do you not care God, that my bank account is almost empty?  Do you not care God at how alone I feel, how helpless I feel, how much darkness and despair I am in?

        When the disciples finally awaken him, Jesus immediately rebukes the wind and says to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And when everything has calmed down Jesus in a similar fashion rebukes the disciples, “Why are you afraid?  Have you still no faith?” This word here is actually more like, “why are you cowardly?”  Jesus was with them.  He would not let them drown.  In some ways, Jesus was teaching them the kind of faith they would need to minister among different peoples, in challenging times like today-- a faith we need to withstand the hardship that comes from daring to get to the other side to righteousness, justice and peace and faith.

Both stories, the one about David and Goliath and this one about the storm on the lake, are about facing almost insurmountable challenges.  What giant looms large in our lives? What storms threaten our safety? How do we overcome this fear-mongering, greedy, materialistic culture and stay rooted in faith? What has enabled all oppressed people, hurting people to endure and stand up for healing, wholeness, peace and justice?  That’s why holidays like Juneteenth, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, are so important to celebrate.  They remind us of the words and deeds of people of faith who have gone before us.. How are parents sacrificed for us. How to survive and thrive in adversity in the storms of life.  They did it, we can too.

Consider this. A young boy, at the age of seven, he had to go to work to help support his family. At nine, his mother died. At twenty-two, he lost his job as a store clerk. At twenty-three, he went into debt and became a partner in a small store. At twenty-six, his partner died leaving him a huge debt. By the age of thirty-five, he had been defeated twice when running for a seat in Congress. At the age of thirty-seven, he won the election. At thirty-nine, he lost his reelection bid. At forty- one, his four-year-old son died. At forty-two, he was rejected for a land officer role. At forty-five, he ran for the Senate and lost. At forty-seven, he was defeated for the nomination for Vice President. At forty-nine, he ran for Senate again and lost again. At the age of fifty-one, he was elected President of the United States. During his second term of office, he was assassinated. But his name lives on among the greats in U.S. history--Abraham Lincoln.  Who issued the Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862.

Think of the sprinter Allyson Felix who has won more medals in track and field than any other woman in America.  An Olympic hopeful for the Tokyo Olympics, she recalls her loss in Beijing through the lens of faith.  “Sometimes God puts you through something in order for you to accomplish something bigger in your life… There is a bigger picture. A lot of times with faith, you don’t get it in the moment. Then later you see why that happened.” (New York Times Magazine, June 20, 2021)
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Like the first celebrants of Juneteenth, we claim what was already theirs – freedom. Hope. Faith. A better future.  Remember, the battle is the Lord’s.  Others who need our help are waiting. There is a bigger picture, that faith leads us to see. The Battle is the Lords. So today we face the storms within us, around us. Through faith we face the giants along the way, with the true knowledge that with the Grace of God, we will cross that valley, we will get to the other side, victorious.  Amen.
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"Be the Seed!"

6/24/2021

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Mark 4:26-34; 1 Samuel 15:34-16:13; June 13, 2021
      I invite you to pull out your bulletin for a moment.  Let your eyes fall on any sentence and follow it to the end.  Eventually you will find a sentence that ends in a period.  Look at that period.  A small dot with the power to stop your reading. At least if we follow the rules of grammar.  But that isn’t the only amazing thing about that dot.

      Look at that dot.  There was once a time when you were no bigger thank this dot. In those cells no bigger than this dot, was contained all the genetic instructions necessary to direct the development of organs and tissues, bones and nerves, glands and blood, limbs and hair.  When you were still this tiny, it was already determined whether you’d be male or female and what the color of your eyes, hair and skin would be.  Can you imagine you were once this small?  Think of this: at some point, we were all small enough that taken together the population of the world could easily fit inside this sanctuary!

       I am not a biologist, I don’t know the exceptions to the rule, but from what little I know, we are not unique in this way.  All living things and creatures begin their lives as a seed – one dot of a cell.  We could draw a parallel with non-living creation:  great masterpieces of literature, art, architecture, music inventions, the ways of thinking that direct our lives – all begin as an idea, a thought carefully worked upon, edited and redone many times before achieving their final form.  So much comes from a speck, a thought, a dot a small seed.

Jesus asked, what shall we compare the kingdom of God?  What did his listeners think?  What were the popular answers in his day?  Is it like the Temple in Jerusalem?   Is it like a Roman fortress?  The Davidic dynasty?  Is it the restoration of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah?  

  No, it is like a mustard seed, Jesus said.  Just like the period at the end of a sentence. How is this little seed a sign of God’s sovereignty?  Why would God settle for that?         But why did God settle for David, the youngest of the sons of Jesse, ignoring seven older, wiser, more seemingly capable brothers as we heard read from 1 Samuel this morning?  Why in salvation history, did God choose the younger over the eldest:  the offering of Abel over Cain, Isaac over Ishmael, Jacob over Esau, Rachel over Leah, Joseph over his ten older brothers?   

          Jesus’ teachings are filled with images and reminders of what is small, little, frail and young.  Did not Jesus say “let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.? Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” (Mark 10:14)   Jesus also said:  “For the least among all of you is the greatest.”  (Luke 9:47-48) and “The last shall be first.” 

     It’s an interesting theme that runs throughout the Bible -- this emphasis on the smallest, youngest, the weakest amidst all the pomp and glory.  It’s what the Lord declared to Samuel: “we look on the outward appearance – the Lord looks upon the heart.”  So the seed is an important reminder.  The parable of the mustard seed, one of the shortest parables in the gospels, has one of the biggest messages of faith.

There is nothing more important than the mustard seed. The mustard seed is not only small, it can grow in just about any soil, and just about anywhere in the world.  Once it gets started it is persistent, it grows and grows.  So, to have a mustard seed faith means seeing as God sees. Believing in the potential and vision.  It means to have that ability to look past all that on the outside and look upon the heart. To see within the seed the dominion of God – where the ordinary, small acts we do can be powerful and significant.

When a friend of mine, Chris, was a teenager, he was once in an accident.  He had been hit by a car, thrown out of his shoes. His parents did not know where he was, because Chris had talked a friend into deceiving their parents so they could go to the movies.  They missed their bus home and had to walk.  Then the car hit him. Chris was bleeding profusely, and he was in shock.  He thought he was going to die.    As a crowd of strangers gathered. Then one woman, brought a blanket and covered him. She held him and talked to him, not knowing if he were going to die in her arms. Chris was taken to the hospital and recovered completely.  But he never could find that woman again to thank her. He never learned her name.  But Chris will always remember her. Chris credits this woman with leaving an indelible mark of grace on his soul -- with shaping the course of his life, toward faith and toward service, especially with homeless addicts.   She planted a seed in Chris’ life.

Now, you may wonder, like me, this act wasn’t so small.  It was significant.  Or you may think, “I’ve never been called to save or change someone’s life like that.”   But, how do you know?   How do you know? We don’t usually see the long-term results of our acts toward others.  Every act of goodness, every act of mercy matters to God, and God in turn uses for kingdom growth.

Hilde Back was a schoolteacher in Sweden, when she decided to sponsor one child’s education in Kenya. Hilde’s sponsorship of Chris Mburu cost about $15 per month. Thanks to Hilde’s generosity, Chris wound up graduating high school, going to University of Nairobi and then attending Harvard Law School. He became a U.N. Human Rights Advocate, and he started a charity. He petitioned the Swedish embassy to find the name of his anonymous sponsor. Then he named his nonprofit the Hilde Back Education Fund after the benefactor he never met.

The Fund pays tuition for deserving poor students in Kenya. Since the charity’s start, 847 children have been supported. That doesn’t even include the impact on their families. And who knows how many of these students will be inspired, as Chris was, to give back?

       It’s interesting that the only reason Hilde Back was even alive to support Chris was because of a stranger’s kindness. Hilde was a Jewish child living in Germany during the Nazis’ reign. Both of her parents were killed in concentration camps, but a stranger helped her escape to Sweden. Hilde said that as a Jew, she wasn’t allowed to go to school in Germany. It seemed natural for her to sponsor schooling for someone who couldn’t otherwise attend. And so see pasted the seed on.

Little acts, that we take for granted, can and do have a significant, life- changing impact on people. An encouraging word. A hug. A favor done without reward.  Getting involved. In the hands of God, they become powerful.  What if Samuel had not listened, had chosen Jesse’s eldest, Eliab, instead of David?  Imagine how different salvation history would have turned out. That woman with the blanket never knew how she changed the course of one life.  How were those bystanders changed?   How many lives here have been touched by Chris, thus indirectly by this woman?   And what small acts of kindness shaped THAT woman that put her on the path  through Chris, who by the way is now the Executive Director of Homestretch Inc.  an award-winning program in Virginia that helps homeless families back on their feet. Over 2000 to date. Think of the ripple effect that those families and children have gone on to help.

Is a tiny, mustard seed significant?  Do the little things we do have any impact?   Does our life have importance in the large scheme of things?   To our God who is all powerful, omnipotent, and omnipresent, who knows the number of hairs on our hand and the grains of sand on the beach, every tear we have shed, every seed of love planted, tended, watered, pruned, is a branch in the realm of God.

Be the seed.   Remember what is important. Remember from where you came. A little seed. And countless seeds, sown by countless, unknown people, over countless years. Over centuries.  Only God could orchestrate such a living tree, with roots and branches that stretch out over millennium, scattering seeds in every new generation.   
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One seed, one act at a time, over time. You are that seed God casts in this world.  Cast yourself into the world, every day sharing the love of God in every way imaginable. You are that that seed, sown everyday.  Tended everyday. Until the grain is ripe. The harvest is ready.  Until the dominion of God is realized in our midst.   Amen
 

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