Sowing the Seeds of Kindness
Rev. Estelle Margarones
Isaiah 55:10-11 Matthew 13:1-9 & 18-23
There are some among us who are getting ready to make the annual trek to the garden nursery or the big box store to pick up annuals for planting in flower beds, window boxes and decorative patio pots. There may even be some among us who are already tending little seedlings near a sunny window.
The first time I planted something, I was about four years old, using a tiny little index finger to push a seed into the soil inside of a paper cup. Just far enough down, but not too far! Then, there was the waiting and the watering and the waiting. Weeks later, I was rewarded with golden marigolds.
We spoke last week about consciously considering our bodies as temples to God. That is, intentionally using our thoughts, speech, and action to glorify God. How you think, speak, and act matters. As you sow, so shall you reap.
In 1990, I lived just outside of Brighton. It wasn't far from Coolidge Corner in Brookline, so that's where I went one Saturday morning, for an eye appointment. I went to an eye glass store that had opticians on staff.
While I was waiting for my appointment, I observed an elderly man come in and ask for help. He'd lost his glasses and he wanted to replace them. He lived across the street and he was sure that he'd purchased his glasses at this store. I heard him give his name and address, but they couldn't find his record.
I heard the representative say that without his file, they couldn't help. What I observed is that they wouldn't help him.
After my appointment, I went home and burst into tears. I remember telling a friend, “I wish there was something I could have done.” My friend said, “You still can. Call him.” My friend and I decided that we would take that elderly gentleman to get his glasses replaced and that we'd pay for them if need be.
I found a place that would take the appointment later that same day and then I called the man from the store. I introduced myself as someone who had been in the store that day and offered to help him.
I guess my sincerity and his very real need prompted him to accept my offer to pick him up and take him to another eye doctor.
I remember that the eye doctor asked about “the program”. I didn't understand. He clarified that he wanted to know “what organization makes arrangements like this?” (What group has an investment in eye care?) When I told him that I just happened to witness an unmet need, he looked at me strangely. That look spoke volumes. (Who just gets involved in another's struggle? What would possess you to call a stranger and offer to help? Why would he trust us enough to get in the car with us? And how could we possibly consider paying for this man's visit and glasses?)
In the parable Jesus told, the sower goes out to sow. Heis being intentional about what he is doing. He has a plan to scatter seeds, broadly, in order to grow more of what he has.
He begins on a path and though he doesn't intentionally sow seeds on that path, some fall there. Might this mean that our actions, as unintentional as they may be, could have ramifications? Others do observe our behavior.
The seeds he drops along the path don't grow. They are useful to feed the birds. Could it be that the “established path” is not fertile ground for what this sower is sowing?
Jesus explains this as hearing the word and not understanding it, thus not being able to apply it.
There were also seeds that fell on rocky ground. It's not that they didn't grow, but because their roots weren't deep, they got burned by the sun. Is this rocky ground our culture today? We send quick emails and texts rather than make calls and have personal conversations. Is our communication all shallow or are our relationships strong and rooted?
Jesus explains this as hearing the word of God and understanding it and living a spiritual life...for a while...until it becomes hard to do. Maybe someone you know gave up something for Lent...and then it got hard to live without the coffee or credit card or that person was having a bad day and “needed” that candy bar.
Implicit in sowing the seeds that bear fruit in our lives is that seeds have potential, but they need attention. You need to deliberately cultivate what you want. A spiritual life requires attention. You take care of your body by exercising...and you need to keep your spiritual body in shape by staying connected to God so make time for spiritual practices everyday. If your body is a temple to God, that connection to God resides within.
If the plant had deep roots in good soil, it would have endured even though it was burned by the sun. When we occasionally get burned by something or someone in life, our sense of connection with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit helps us to survive and rebound. The more grounded we are, the faster we recover.
In the parable, there were also seeds that grew amid the thorns. It's not that they didn't grow, but that other things grew in that garden, too. Ideas are seeds and we plant them everyday, but when our thoughts are scattered and our focus is fleeting, we are cultivating a lot of things in that garden...and not all of it is beneficial to us. When we turn our attention to things like money, status, and power; we can crowd out or choke the tender shoots of a spiritual nature.
Jesus describes the seeds with the thorns in this way: it's like a person hearing the word of God, but that same person gets so caught up in worldly concerns that energy is diverted from the plant and it fails to grow.
Fortunately, we have the seeds that fell in good soil. They're the ones that brought forth grain. The crops were all different sizes, but all far more than the seed itself. These seeds (or ideas) came to fruition and produced something. The potential for growth was present in all the seeds, but only the ones planted in good soil yielded something that was beneficial to the sower and to others.
Jesus says that the seed that fell in good soil is the person who hears the word of God, understands it, and applies it to the realization of a large gain.
And so it is that as you sow, so shall you reap.
Ten years ago, I moved to California. My brother-in-law made the cross-country drive with me. He's a truck driver and he's used to driving all day. He's also very handy, so I felt that we got into any trouble along the way, he'd be able to get us back on our way. We drove about 14 hours a day. (Well, truth be told, he drove about 10 hours, I drove about 4.)
A couple of days into the trip, after a long day of driving, we stopped for dinner. Ben was showing me his special glasses. They were some sort of flexible metal, he explained, and when you twisted the sides, they didn't break. He bent the frames to illustrate his point...only instead of retaining their shape, they snapped. Right in half--over the bridge of the nose. He duct taped them together as best as he could.
The next day was Sunday and we went to several mall eye places, none of which could help us. Early Monday morning, we found an eye doctor and explained the situation. Rather than try to sell us frames; he went to a donation box, found a similar shaped frame, popped Ben's lenses in and sent us on our way...all at no charge. That optician's kindness helped us continue on our three thousand mile journey, safely, with peace of mind, and without an excessive unexpected expense.
Until I was moved to write this sermon, I never considered the possibility that I had reaped the benefit of the seeds of compassion and the seeds of kindness that were planted some 20 odd years ago in Brookline.
Now, imagine with me, that instead of a four year old planting seeds in paper cups, Jesus is the sower, planting the seeds of his ministry.
There were those on the established path who heard him, but didn't understand. There were those very influenced by the culture. They heard Jesus and understood his message. They wore their crosses for a little while and then they stopped. Instead of being deeply rooted in Christianity, they were rooted in current culture and they simply went on to follow fads.
People of God, we can be the good soil. When we are grounded in God, when our faith has deep roots, and when we hear, understand, and apply the word of God; our lives will bear a fruitful harvest of more compassion, kindness, peace, and love.
Finally, let us remember that Jesus said he would rise up and gather all people to him. Jesus, the Sower, will reap the final harvest. Blessed be and Amen.
Back to Basics: Living Our Faith
Rev. Estelle Margarones
Exodus 20:1-17 John 2:13-22
The calendar tells us that it is still winter, but just a few days ago it was 63 degrees and we felt the promise of spring. Our liturgical calendar tells us we are only a few weeks into Lent, yet with every day that passes, we feel the promise of Easter. In the scripture this morning, we heard foreshadowing of the Resurrection. Jesus said that the Temple could be destroyed and He would raise it up in three days. We know the Easter story and we know He rose on the third day.
If you take just two things away today, I hope they are these: an appreciation for the Ten Commandments (in their time and in our time) and an awareness of how you can live in such a way as to be a temple to God.
So let us get back to basics and talk about how to live our faith. Commandment number one is “You shall have no other Gods before Me.” Exodus was written in a time of traveling tribes and people of different backgrounds were being assimilated into the culture. In addition to leaving behind any other gods (small 'g') they may have had, the first commandment essentially says 'no kings shall come before me and no emperors shall come before me'. Today, this means, nothing comes before God. Not money. Not cars. Not jobs. Not status. God comes first, period.
The Second Commandment is “You shall not make for yourself an idol.” This notion of worshipping God without some sort of clay or stone or wooden figure of a person or an animal set Israel apart from other neighboring religions. In fact, while Moses was up on the mountain getting the Ten Commandments, didn't Aaron make a golden calf for the people to worship? God was not happy about that! We are to worship God, not a statue. Pay attention to what you can tend to idolize....a job...hobby...celebrity...then remember the commandment not to idolize things.
Commandment Number 3 is “You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God”. In Biblical times, people believed that using God's name actually invoked God's presence and caused something to happen. This commandment reminds us to keep God's name pure and holy and to use it only with intentions that are pure of heart, otherwise we are taking the Lord's name in vain.
The 4th commandment is “Remember your Sabbath day and keep it holy”. We’re supposed to devote a day to God. Not a hour on a Sunday morning, but a day. How do you keep the Sabbath holy? Do you find time in the day for meditation or prayer or reading scripture? Do you devote time to family and friends, rather than television or the Internet?
This commandment also reminds us that we need to rest. God made the world in 6 days and then He rested on the 7th. Whether we’re working at a professional occupation, or donating our time in public service, or cooking meals every day; we need time to rest and regroup.
God gave us these commandments out of love. These are for our best interests. When we keep a hectic pace, we’re not doing ourselves a service—we’re worn out, worried, always trying to get somewhere else, and trying to do 5 things at once.
In the New Testament reading this morning Jesus referred to his body as a Temple. No doubt His was! And as disciples, we can attempt to make ours Temples, too, reflective of doing God's holy work here on earth. So honor yourself enough to give yourself a rest every now and then.
Commandment number five is to “honor your father and your mother”. The message is to respect those who brought you into this world; those who nourished you; those who took care of you, and those who have taught you. Certainly this includes our physical parents…and may include family members…and school teachers…and friends…and even our ‘mistakes’. Honor that from which you’ve learned. Honor those things that have shaped you into the person you are.
The Sixth Commandment is “You shall not murder”. In the literal sense, this meant don’t purposefully take another’s life. I would suggest that this commandment also has other implications. Unless there is real danger involved, don’t tell someone that what they’re doing is wrong, just because you don't believe in it. When I lived in California, I had an assistant at work. She spent $300 to buy a ‘starter kit’ for some vitamin supplement that she was trying to sell. She was very enthusiastic about the potential sales of this product.
Others in the office put down her efforts because they did not believe in the product. In doing so, they were also putting her down. Do not kill their hopes and dreams. Tell people things that will make them feel positive. Do what you can to keep people’s vitality up.
The seventh commandment is “You shall not commit adultery.” Its literal meaning is that you should be faithful to your spouse and honor your covenantal relationship. I think it can also mean more than what meets the eye. An adulterous relationship implies broken covenant, deception, and disrespect. In a marriage today, both partners start out as equals. When another party is brought in, it becomes two against one. In addition to the literal meaning of this commandment, I believe it also suggests ‘balanced relationships’. Anytime something becomes more important that the spouse, the relationship is out of whack.
Commandment number eight is “You shall not steal.” In Biblical times, this meant everything from stealing property to stealing people. Today, stealing is taking anything that does not belong to us. It is wrong. I think that this commandment also has other meaning. It is about more than just taking a physical object that does not belong.
The commandment about stealing applies to everything: things, time, and credit. If you and a partner work on a project together, but your partner is not there when it has recognized, don’t forget to give credit where credit’s due. Don’t steal another’s time—if your daughter is home from college and you know that your daughter wants to visit her friends in town, don’t ‘guilt’ her into spending all of her time with you. (Not that anyone here would do that…but I know someone who has been known to!)
The Ninth Commandment is “You shall not bear false witness against a neighbor.” It literally meant that, if questioned, you were supposed to tell the truth about people’s character. If you said something that was not true, you bore ‘false’ witness. Today, we say do not lie.
If you are tempted to tell a lie, perhaps you should examine the motivation for why you want to say something that is not true. Did you tell the phone company that ‘the check is in the mail’ when, in reality, it wasn't even written? Why? Is the issue behind the lie that you did not have the money? Is the issue that you weren’t a good steward of your time and just didn’t get to it?
Often, when we are tempted to lie, it is because there is something that we did not do. I would say to look at the possible lie and examine the circumstances that made you want to tell that tall tale. Then make a correction in the circumstances.
We have arrived at the last of the Ten Commandments: “You shall not covet...anything that belongs to your neighbor.” You are not supposed to want something that’s not yours. Why is this so important?
From the literal perspective, envying something that belongs to another could lead to bearing false witness, stealing, killing, the breakdown of relationships, disrespect, and not having priorities in order, just to name a few of the possible negative impacts.
In addition, our thoughts lead us to action so if we’re obsessing about wanting something that doesn’t belong to us we’re setting ourselves up for failure. Coveting puts the focus on what you don't have and points to specific lack, whereas considering what you want puts energy behind creativity.
We just explored the Ten Commandments. Those commandments were given to the children of Israel while they were making their way to the Promised Land. No doubt the faithful knew of these commandments. On that fateful day when Jesus went and overturned the tables in the Temple courtyard, perhaps the faithful were inside the Temple, much like we're in church today, considering the Ten Commandments.
In the New Testament passage, the faithful have come from all over to the Temple. Because many traveled from far away, it would have been difficult to bring their sacrificial animals along. Because many came from distant places, they had currencies from other lands. For these reasons, there were booths selling sacrificial animals and there were tables where currency was exchanged.
I expect that thousands of sermons have been preached about greed, but I want to focus on something else in the passage; something quite profound as we approach Easter.
Jesus said, “destroy this temple and I will raise it up in three days”. He knew the Temple took almost fifty years to build. The temple of which he spoke was his own body. Everything Jesus said and did—all of his teachings and all of his actions were to the glory of God. He didn't say, “destroy me and I will overcome death.” No, the focus was on his father: our God.
Jesus rightly saw the Temple as God's house. He then spoke of his body as a Temple. In this season of Lent, we contemplate our lives and our relationship with our triune God.
How we think, what we say and how we act are important. Are we living in accordance with the Ten Commandments? Things like our speech, the direction in which we walk, and whether we're extending our hands in helpfulness all matter. Each of us can be a living temple to God.
This morning, I have illustrated several examples of living our faith as God commanded us to do. In the days and weeks ahead, as we journey through Lent, how might you follow Christ's example of doing everything for the glory of God?
How might you live your faith? How might you, through thought and speech and action be a Temple to God? Blessed be and Amen.
New & Improved, According to the Label
Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 Mark 8:31-38
Rev. Estelle Margarones
While walking through Shaw's at the Pearl Plaza the other day, several labels caught my eye. “New and improved” seemed to jump off of boxes and jars and bottles. Many of the labels had bold typeface, often punctuated by exclamation points. These little words were enclosed a circle with jagged edges. So many things were “new and improved”, according to the labels!
What I find interesting about this is that if it's new, how can it be improved? Doesn't the fact that it's “improved” lead you to believe the product has had a previous incarnation?
What's new? Is it the product? The package? The placement? Is it a different size or shape? Does it have a different color, texture, or taste?
Ove the years, I bet we've all tried our share of “new and improved” things.
If you liked the BBQ sauce before, you'll love it now with it's 'richer, bolder taste'. And those paper towels in your kitchen are now 'even stronger'. The tissues are 'softer' so you won't get a red nose to go along with the cold. Your kids will love that there is 'more fruit flavor' in the juice drink you serve.
When it's “new and improved”, something is different about the product. It may be that it's more visually appealing. Perhaps it's tastier. Maybe it's more eco-friendly. It could be a better value. It could simply more useful.
In general, when you read a label for an “improved” product, the manufacturer assumes that you are familiar with the product.
The company assumes that they have a relationship with you, upon which they are making improvement. They believe that by branding their product in such a manner, that you will purchase it and become a repeat consumer. Thus, the assumed ongoing relationship is exponentially expanded.
I want to talk about labels for a minute. Labels differentiate one product from another. They entice you with pictures of the contents as in these 'serving suggestions'. They make you feel like a kid with the characters they use as you see on this this box of M&Ms. Labels give you slogans like “the number one choice of choosy moms”. They may tout the benefits of the product. Who knew that you could get as much calcium as an 8 oz glass of milk in one packet of cocoa mix! Labels may describe the product. This product isn't hand soap. It's actually a “silkening beauty bar”.
You and I wear many lables. We are children, parents, grandparents, working professionals, retirees, volunteers, chief cook and bottlewashers. We are Christians. But, by far, the biggest label each of us wears on a daily basis is our name.
Our name is what differentiates us from others. It's how our mothers called us in for dinner. It's how our teachers called us for attendance. It's how we sign our legal documents.
Relationship is implicit when we consider names. We have no need to call ourselves by our own name. Names are used in relation to others. Even the fact that we have a birth name denotes relationship because as infants, we couldn't speak or choose our own name.
It's very significant that in Scripture we heard this morning, God chose to give Abram and Sarai (pronounced Suh-rye) new names.
In fact, God even has a new name in this passage. For the first time in the Bible, we are introduced to God Almighty (El Shaddai, God of the Mountains). Abram becomes Abraham which means “father of a multitude”. Formerly barren Sarai becomes “Sarah”, a woman who will give birth to nations.
The name change is part of the process in which God affirmed his relationship and established a covenant with Abraham and Sarah.
Today we still change our names when we have events of of ceremonial—and covenental—importance.
In the marriage ceremony, many couples publicly declare their covenental agreement to love, honor, and respect each other in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, in poverty and in plenty, for as long as they both shall live.
Many women take their husband's last name when they get married.
Some women, and some men, chose to hypenate both names. I know of one man whose new wife was the last person in her family. Had she changed her last name to that of her husband, her family name would have disappeared. In order to keep the family name alive, her husband changed his last name to hers.
Christian baptism is another event of ceremonial and covenental imporance. Oftentimes, a new name is given to the baptized. In this ritual, a person becomes part of the universal church. Baptism involves shared promises, including God’s faithfulness, and the promises of your parents, godparents, or even the church community.
Last week, we talked about following in Jesus footsteps during this Lenten season. Ours is a long walk. We don't go from Ash Wednesday to Easter overnight. Change comes over time. Perhaps that's one reason why Abraham and Sarah are ages 99 and 90, respectively, in the Scripture.
Maybe we catch up with Abraham and Sarah in a time when they're moving at a more leisurely pace. In this time in their lives, they're not running around trying to manage two jobs and little league, and the PTA, and the book club. They're at a reflective period in their lives.
Over the course of their lifetime, they've made mistakes along the way. Yet, still, God Almighty engages them in a covenant. Perhaps this is to show us that you don't have to be “Superman” or “Superwoman” to be showered with God's attention.
Perhaps this show us that change can happen anytime, it's never too late. For what does God Almighty say to them, but something to the effect of, 'I am establishing a covenent with you. You (formerly barren) Sarai are now Sarah, who will bring forth nations.' God may as well have said, your past is over. You have a new future with me. With me, you are 'new & improved!'
You see, new hope is born of this covenant. New hope comes from a relationship with the Divine. We can certainly do things with God that we cannot do alone.
We can be made new in God. We can be improved through our relationship with God. This will mean different things to different people.
For a homeless person, this might mean having a place to live.
For an addict, being made new may mean sobriety.
For the heartbroken, it could mean new love.
For the lonely, it can mean friendship.
For the grieving, it's possible that it means peace.
For the unemployed, it's likely that it means a new job, or new skills, or time to devote elsewhere.
For the hard-hearted skeptics, 'new and improved' might mean a willingness to be open and trusting.
We heard in the Scripture this morning that it's not about worldly things. It's about Godly things. When you see worldly things in the supermarket, may you remember that my words were about God and our relationship with God.
My friends, it's not only supermarket items that can have a “new and improved” label. God made a covenant with us. He will be our God IF we will be his people. Every time we remember and rededicate ourselves to our covenental relationship with God, we, too have the promise of becoming “new and improved”. Blessed be and Amen.
A Lenten Journey In His Steps
Genesis 9:8-17, 1 Peter 2:21-23
Rev. Estelle Margarones
Last week we talked about listening to God and intentionally making changes. The journey of the Exodus is one account of a person—Moses--listening to God and moving forward in faith. Another Biblical account of change is easily found in Genesis, in the story of Noah and the Ark. Noah had only a short time to prepare for the flood, but he trusted God and did what God asked. Today's Scripture tells us that now the flood has passed and God has made a covenant with Noah and all living things on the earth.
A covenant is a sacred bond, a pact, a deal, a holy agreement, signifying an ongoing relationship.
God made a perpetual covenant. That means that God bound Godself to all of humanity forever. The good news is that we're covered by this holy contract.
Are we, like Noah, keeping up our end of the bargain? Are we being good stewards of the earth? Taking care of the animals? Taking care of each other? Are we being grateful for what we have instead of griping about what's been taken away? Are we praising God for new beginnings instead of complaining about things being different than they once were?
The Lenten Journey is one of reflection, where we look at our relationship with God. Christ came here to walk among us to lead by example and show us how to live.
How do you walk in His steps?
Last year, I was visiting friends in Putnam Connecticut. We went to a little antique shop and I picked up a few items including this book. It has a picture of Jesus on the cover and it's called “In His Steps” by Henry Altemus. It was published in 1899 and I'd like to share a little bit of it now.
It was Friday morning and the Rev. Henry Maxwell was trying to finish his Sunday mornings sermon. He had been interrupted several times and was growing nervous as the morning wore away, and the sermon grew very slowly toward a satisfactory finish. “Mary”, he called to his wife, as he went upstairs after the last interruption, “if anyone comes after this I wish you would say I am very busy and cannot come down unless it is something very important. Yes, Henry. But I am going out and you will have the house all to yourself.”
The minister went up into his study and shut the door. In a few minutes he heard his wife go out and then everything was quiet. He settled himself at his desk...and began to write. His text was from First Peter, chapter two, verse 21, “For hereunto were you called; because Christ also suffered for you., leaving you an example that you should follow his steps”
Reverend Maxwell was interrupted by a knocking at the door. He tried to ignore it, but the person persisted. With some annoyance, he finally opened the door to see a scruffy stranger there. The man explained that he was out of work and asked the minister for help. The minister explained that he had no job and when the young man asked about a referral, he simply said that he couldn't help. (pp. 5-7)
On Sunday morning, people arrived for church in their Sunday best. They listened attentively and sang the hymns wholeheartedly. Reverend Maxwell preached his sermon and the people enjoyed what he had to say about Following Jesus. But suddenly, a man's voice came from the back of the church. He walked to the front to face the congregation.
It was the same man who had come to the minister's house. He told the people that he'd been out of work for ten months. His wife had died four months previously and his little girl was living with a former co-worker until this man was able to find a job.
He asked, “What do you Christians mean by following in the steps of Jesus? I tramped through this city for three days trying to find a job. I supposed it's because of the way I look that you've lost your interest. I'm not blaming anybody, just stating facts. ” (p. 14)
Now, I'm sure it hasn't escaped you that of particular interest, is that the minister in this story is happy to speak of religion, but not necessarily live it.
Now I want to share a story of a person living his religion. It is also reason #398 that I love my auto mechanic!
My mechanic is honest, trustworthy, fair, and he cares about his customers as much as he cares for their cars. He once gave me five dollars off an oil change because he had a coupon in a mailer that week. (I didn't have the coupon...and, in fact, I didn't even know about it, but still, he gave me that break.) This is the same man who left his garage at 7am to come to my house to put air in my completely flat tire so that I could drive it to his garage to have a new tire put on. The wind chill was below zero that day and he had no gloves. You see, he doesn't usually leave his heated garage. He could have waited until some of his crew came in and sent them down to help me, but he gave of his own time and talent. When he looked at the tire, he assured me that there was no need to buy one—he could repair it...and save me close to $100.
A week ago Friday, my check engine light came on. I called the garage and asked their advice. Could I drive to Maine this weekend with the 'check engine' light on? One of the crew told me that I'd probably be fine, unless the light was blinking. Then he said he'd check with the boss.
A minute later, he was back on the line to say that they would make time for me. The shop owner would hook it up to the computer to see how serious an issue it was. He was able to determine that I could make the drive to and from Maine so, after church last Sunday, I went to visit my mom, my sister, brother in law, 2 nephews, several cousins, and my 89 and 93 and a half year old aunts.
I wasn't charged for the time, the diagnostic, or resetting my car's computer. The gift my mechanic gave me was much more than monetary. The peace of mind was priceless.
I asked my mechanic's permission to share this story and I invited him to church. That's when he said rather sheepishly, that his kids go to religious education classes, but he doesn't always go to church.
So I hold up two stories today, one fiction about the minister talking the talk. And one true story about the mechanic walking the walk.
I submit to you that my mechanic was keeping the covenantal relationship. A check engine light often points to emissions problems. By correcting the issue (as he did this past Thursday), he was being a good steward of the earth. By making sure that I didn't have a code that signaled imminent danger, John took care of me and those around me by making sure we were safe.
What does it mean to you to follow in Jesus steps? And how are you living it? How are you actively seeking God and reflecting God's light back into the world?
During this Lenten season, we're very aware that when we follow Jesus, the walk will lead us to the Cross. Ultimately, we will rejoice because we know that the Cross isn't the End, but in fact the Beginning!
But still, the walk isn't always easy. In fact, sometimes it's downright difficult.
Will you follow in His steps? It may mean giving of your time and talent without compensation (as in the case of the diagnostic I had done a week ago Friday). It might mean having a difficult conversation. Sometimes it means speaking the truth in love, knowing that what you say may not be what the other wants to hear (as in the case of the $254 repair I had done last week). And it may mean graciously putting up with the way things are, even as you seek to change things (as in the case of driving an older car that does occasionally need repairs until I can buy a new one).
First Peter says, “Jesus suffered for you, leaving you an example” and we're told that we should follow in His steps. Jesus led by example. Are you willing to push yourself past your comfort zone to follow?
During this Lenten Journey, we remember that Jesus walked to that Cross. We will share in the joy and promise of the Resurrection, when we follow in his steps! Blessed be and Amen.
*In His Steps, Charles Sheldon, published in 1899 by Henry Altemus (Philadelphia)
“Listen To Him and Move Forward In Faith”
Rev. Estelle Margarones
Exodus 13:17-18 and 13:20-22 and Mark 9:2-9
This Wednesday is Ash Wednseday, a day marking the beginning of Lent, the 40 days leading up to Easter. The question will likely be asked of you this week, “What are you giving up for Lent?” Will it be coffee, chocolate, or your credit card?
As Christians, we are given the opportunity this week to make changes in our lives. Change involves trust, faith, sacrifice and perserverence. The Bible is full of stories of change. One that comes quickly to mind is the story of Moses and the Exodus.
This is a story of listening to God and moving forward in faith. God spoke and Moses listened. The Israelites were living as slaves in Egypt. God instructed Moses to go to Pharoah to have them set free. Moses actually had a moment of doubt when said “Who am I that I should go to Pharoah?” He is then assured of God's presence in his life and God's role in this undertaking. At that time, Moses acted upon what he heard. Moses asked Pharoah to let the people, repeatedly. Pharoh refused repeatedly...until the plagues came and and Pharoah called Moses in the middle of the night and said, “Go!” Change can involve a lengthy process. Moses kept going back to Pharoah asking that the Israelites be set free. And when he finally got the go-ahead, it's not because he was asking Pharoah again, but because he'd already set the stage--more than once.
The Israelites left behind all they knew and moved forward in faith. The people started out excited and happy about their trip. Then they got to the Red Sea, didn't think they could cross it and said it would have been better to have stayed in Egypt. So they hit an obstacle and immediately they were sorry they started out. Change involves trust, faith, sacrifice and perserverence. Moses had faith. He perservered. He trusted God. Moses knew that even though he may encounter a troubled tribe and the loss of relationships with all that at one time was very familiar, he knew that they had to move forward and they did so, not alone, but with God.
On this Transfiguration Sunday, our Scripture tells us that Jesus revealed his true nature in front of three of his disciples. When he was up on the mountain, his clothes became a dazzling white and prophets from ancient times—including Moses--appeared with him and they engaged in dialogue. God's voice came from above, telling the disciples to listen to Jesus...and then, quick as a flash, everything is back to 'normal'. Or is it?
The disciples have been changed by this experience. You, too, can be 'changed' by experiencing a relationship with Jesus. God said, “Listen to Him”. What a gift we've been given in the collection of the life and times and lessons of Jesus in what we call the New Testament! In the Scripture, Peter offered to build Jesus a dwelling place fit for God, high on a mountain. But Jesus didn't stay up on the mountain, he came back down and walked with us. I believe that symbolic walk to go back to regular life teaches us that if we will listen to Jesus, we can change, we can continue Christ's work, thereby changing the world.
We have the Gospels as records of what Jesus said. Among many lessons he taught us, he encouraged us to feed the hungry, clothe the poor, visit the sick, and to invite the stranger in. We can act upon these and any number of instructions Jesus gave us. God said, "Listen to Him".
After seeing homeless women disguising themselves as men in order to get meals at a male-only shelter, on Easter Sunday, 1974, Kip Tiernan opened the first women's only-shelter in the nation, just twenty minutes away in Boston. Started primarily as a center to hand out coffee and used clothes and to give a few needy women a place to sleep; Rosie’s Place, a sanctuary for poor and homeless women, now offers emergency and long-term assistance to women who have nowhere else to turn.
Rosie’s Place has 20 beds and provides an array of services, including a food pantry, a literacy program, and drug and alcohol counseling. You may think that starting and growing a women's shelter is an amazing legacy (and it is), but Kip didn't stop there. In 1979, she began distributing food out of the back of a station wagon. In 1981, The Boston Food Bank was incorporated and in 1990, they distributed 5 million pounds of food. In 2009, the Greater Boston Food Bank distributed 31.5 million pounds of food and grocery products.
No doubt that starting a women's shelter and food bank involved a time of change; a time that involved trust, faith, sacrifice, and perserverence. Kip Tiernan passed away last summer at the age of 85. You can read all about her work on the Rosie's Place website at RosiesPlace.org. Please take note, in the photo on the “About our Founder” page, Kip is wearing a cross.
When Jesus went to the mountain, he showed his true nature. God said to humanity, represented by the disciples, “Listen to Him”. These 40 days leading to Lent are the time to do just that. During Lent, we are invited to draw closer, to listen for that Divine presence, and to walk with Jesus. This week, we are given the opportunity to embark on a journey of 40 days that will lead us to Easter and to the ressurected Christ. On Ash Wednesday, people will gather in churches around the country and around the world to show their faith in Jesus. Celebrating Ash Wednesday is a sign to ourselves that we take that commitment seriously.
For Christians, Lent is a time of trust, faith, sacrifice and perserverence. It's a time of personal reflection, confession, repentenance and hope. And when I say 'confession', I don't mean that you have to come see me to tell me the things you've done of which you're less than proud, I mean opening your heart to Jesus and being made new in him. If you've done some things you're not happy with, or you have some habits that aren't healthy for you or others, this is a perfect time to make changes. This week, Christians all over the world will be consciously making changes.
Some people will be giving things up and others will be taking new things on, all in an effort to become closer to Jesus. But what on earth does giving up chewing gum, chocolate, or coffee have to do with Jesus anyway? It could be that the change you make, your personal sacrifice is a reminder of sacrifice that Jesus made for us. It could be reminiscent of the old tradition of fasting which could have been a method of purifying oneself in honor of Jesus or as a way of getting closer to God. It could simply be that when we don't do something like eating meat or going to the movies, we think of why we're not doing it and thus bring God to mind.
I encourage you to look beyond yourself and see how your sacrifice can have an impact on the greater good. Might you give up taking paper or plastic at the supermarket and instead bring your own re-usable bag? You'd be saving trees and cutting down on the pollution that is a side effect of the production of grocery bags. Might you even give up driving to the grocery store and instead take on walking, which could be healthier for you, could help you save money, and could cut down our dependence on foreign oil? Maybe this Lenten season, your sacrifice is of your time and talent. What can you share with others? Can you donate time at a shelter or food pantry or offer a ride to someone in need?
As followers, we're called to follow the examples Jesus set. Maybe this Lenten season, the change you make is in your attitude or mind-set. Could you give up road rage, annoyance with customer service reps, aggrevation with your boss? Maybe this year, you give up judgement. Change involves trust, faith, sacrifice and perserverence. Sometimes, like Moses, we wonder if we can do it. Sometimes we doubt our own ability. When you're doing something for God, you're doing something with God. Be assured of God's presence in your life! Do you listen for God's voice in your life? Do you follow even when you can't imagine how you'll be able to achieve the goal? Will you move forward in faith? Do you have the courage to start anew? Do you trust that God has it all under control and that all is in Divine Right Order even when you're far from where you want to be? When you walk with Jesus, you are not alone. You can draw on his strength, power, and love to sustain you.
This Wednesday is Ash Wednseday, a day marking the beginning of Lent, the 40 days leading up to Easter. What are you giving up for Lent? Blessed Be and Amen.
Chocolates, Conversation, Compromise: A Love Story
Rev. Estelle Margarones
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 Gospel of Luke 10:25-29
Here we are, February 12th. I look forward to this week all year long. We've got a very special day coming up this week. Long stemmed red roses will be delivered, restaurants will be full, and cards will be exchanged. Tuesday is Valentine's Day.
But that special day that I love so much isn't Tuesday, the 14th...it's actually Wednesday, the 15th! Because that's when those big red, heart shaped boxes of chocolates will be 50% off!
Tuesday is Valentine's Day. A day set aside for love. So today we talk about love, but not about loving one other...instead, we talk about loving each other.
In the Hebrew Bible, or Old Testament, in Deuteronomy Chapter 6, verse 5 we learn that we should love God with all our hearts, minds, souls, and strength. In the New Testament, the Gospel according to Luke, chapter 10, Jesus changes it up a bit. First he says you should love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind and all your strength. Then he adds “and love your neighbor as yourself”.
Before Jesus, and even during his time, a neighbor was regarded as someone who lived nearby, but more, had the same ethnicity, the same language, the same culture, the same religion. Back then, people from different places had different customs. They wore different types of clothing. They spoke different languages...and they were often at odds with each other.
Jesus was asked “who is my neighbor?” and it was rather radical of him to give the example of the Good Samaritan.
You know this story, right? A Jewish man is mugged—he's robbed and beaten and he's left in a ditch. A Jewish rabbi comes by sees him and walks by, a Levite —also a Jewish man— walks by, sees him and turns the other way. A Samaritan comes upon the scene, is moved by what he sees, puts the man on his donkey, bandages his wounds, takes him to an inn and gives the innkeeper money to care for him. He also promises to pay whatever extra it takes to keep the man safe and on the mend.
What makes this so radical is that at that time, the Jewish people and the Samaritans had been enemies for years!
To Jesus, a neighbor was anyone with whom you came in contact. This is a great life lesson for us today. A reminder, as the day we celebrate love approaches, to love your neighbor as yourself.
Love is a way of being in relationship. It's a way of approaching the world
Our neighbors today are those who live near us, but they're also the people shopping alongside us at Shaw's, and dropping off their dry cleaning at Dependable Cleaners, and having dinner at the next booth at the Cheesecake Factory over at the Plaza. In 6 hours, you can be in Europe. And with the world wide web, you can shop at stores in Asia. Our neighbors also people across the globe.
Our neighbors are Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, and Humanist. Our neigbors speak English and Spanish and Mandarin. Some share your customs; others don't. Some of our neighbors have been here forever and some have just become citizens. Our neighbors are Republicans and Democrats and those who prefer the “unenrolled” designation.
The directive isn't to think like your neighbor. The charge isn't to act like your neighbor. It isn't to agree with everything they think or say or do. And it isn't to judge your neighbor. It's to LOVE your neighbor.
When you love, you care. Caring means that you recognize that we have more in common than we don't. And it sometimes means standing up for what's right even if there is some personal sacrifice or risk.
Martin Niemoller, a German pastor and concentration camp survivor, wrote the poem, “First They Came”.
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out -- Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out --Because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out -- Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me -- and there was no one left to speak for me.
We don't always have things in common with our neighbors. Witness, “the Good Samaritan”.
Love is a way of being in relationship. It's a way of approaching the world
Meet Ben. He lives on a farm in rural Maine. His family has owned acres of land for 300 years. Ben is an oil truck driver and his wife is a social worker. They have two little boys. For the past several years, Ben has had a side-business cutting firewood. About a year ago, the house next door was sold. Ben's new neighbor recently came over, angry. He'd been riding his horse when the horse was spooked by the noise of the wood chopper. He threw Ben's new neighbor to the ground.
Jesus said to love your neighbor as yourself. So...do you love your neighbor when he comes to your home and yells at you?
You could exchange angry words and tell him that since you pay your taxes, you have a right to do whatever you want.
You might ask that he pick a weekend time when he can ride and during which time you'll refrain from cutting wood? If you have a conversation and come to a compromise, you may even find that he teaches your kids to ride.... and he buys firewood from you!
As humans, we are hardwired with the capacity for compassion.
A couple of weeks ago on the news, you may have seen a bungee jumping accident on the news. A girl jumped off a cliff and a few seconds and several hundred feet into the fall, the bungee cord snapped and the girl hit the water, hard, and was carrried down in the current. Watching that, I felt my heart skip a beat. And I prayed for her. Have you ever had that kind of a reaction? Even though you don't know personally know the person, and even though you will never go bungee jumping, you have compassion for the one who had the accident.
Maybe that's what it was like for the Good Samaritan.
Love is a way of being in relationship. It's a way of approaching the world.
Love God and love your neighbor as yourself. Start with a prayer. And a conversation. You will be strengthened when the fabric of your life is open to others.
When you love another, there is compromise. Do you communicate with others? Are you willing to see beyond yourself and to make changes to benefit others? (Will you also ask for what you need?)
When you love another, it's easy to see the good. Do you see the good in others? When you consider your life, do you see the good in yourself?
When you love another, you offer encouragement. Do you support others? (And do you see the possibilities in your own life?)
When you love another, it's easy to do things for that person. Do you care for others? (And do you take care of yourself?)
My friends in faith, when you love God, you live a full, rich, life.
When you love your neighbor you are compassionate, helpful, open to communication and willing to compromise.
When you love yourself, you are peaceful and hopeful, and you reflect God's light right back into the world. So love God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. And love your neighbor as yourself. Blessed Be and Amen.
Super Scout Sunday
February 5, 2012
Rev. Estelle Margarones
Isaiah 40:21-31, 1 Corinthians 9:16-23
Today is Super Sunday...because it's Scout Sunday. (And I also hear that there's a football game on later today!)
In the Scripture we just heard, we learned that God is everywhere, all the time, and God gives us strength. That is physical strength, mental strength, and moral strength. It's the courage to try new things and it's the patience to try and try again. Those are all things we use in scouting and in life.
We also learned that Paul talked to different people in different ways, basically taking to them in language they could understand and relate to. For example, if I said “wicked”, some would hear that and think that it was very bad. Others, particularly those here in New England, hear “wicked” and think of it as a very good thing as in “that was a wicked fun ride”.
Today, I'm going to speak to you in a language that I hope you can all relate to...on this Super Sunday.
I see similarities between stadium games, scouting and spirituality. Yes, football, scouting, and Christianity do actually appear to have sevearl things in common.
1. First, there are the uniforms.
Football players have uniforms. And, actually, the fans do too, in a sense.
I bet that already today, you saw people wearing their Patriots gear. Maybe the runners you saw this morning had on Pats baseball caps or the supermarket bagger was wearing a Patriots jersey. Maybe as soon as you leave here, in your car with the Patriots license plate, you'll be putting on jeans and your Patriots sweatshirt.
Scouts have uniforms. And Christians have the opportunity to wear a uniform, too, and to visibly show others our faith. (We'll come back to that in a little bit.)
2. We also all work for the greater good.
In football, each player does his part to help the team win, but it's about more than just the game. Teams have outreach to their communities. The Patriots have a charitable foundation and this year, they've had a season-long campaign called “Celebrate Volunteerism” which, according to their website, honors Myra Kraft's lifetime commitment to philanthropy and charitable service.
The Scout Slogan is “Do a good turn daily”. Scouting is about so much more than doing something to get a merit badge or going on a campout. It's about living the slogan
In Christianity, we want to help others. Jesus modeled that behavior. He talked about feeding the hungry, clothing those who had little, visiting the sick, and more. Today, we support food pantries and social service organizations. We hold hands with people that need our strength and offer prayerful support for people, situations, and the world at large.
3. Another thing we have in common is practice.
Players don't get to an NFL team without years of practice. A team doesn't get to the Superbowl without months of practice.
Scouts learn and practice new skills. A badge or a palm isn't given 'just because--they involve the mastery of a skill...and that only comes with practice.
As Christians, we're given the opportunity to practice our faith everyday. To walk, as Jesus did, here on this earth and to face situations similar to what he must surely have faced. To deal with trying people and unpleasant situations and to be present in a way that shows grace, and love, and hope, and peace.
4. Football, Scouting and Christianity all have rules.
There are rules of the football game, there're laws in scouting; and there are the Ten Commandments and the rules that Jesus gave us. We all play by the same rules.
5. Teamwork is essential.
Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski , and each player has his role, but every person on the team is equally important. They work together to execute plays and win games.
In scouting, teamwork is a fundamental element. Principles and respect are two fundamentals of teamwork.
In Christianity, we're told to Love our Neighbor as Ourselves. We should consider everyone our neighbor. Jesus could have done it all alone, but he didn't. He had a team of twelve disciples. Even when a church takes a collection, when each person puts in what he or she can, that combined effort goes further and makes a greater impact than the funding of one or two alone.
6. We all also have leadership.
In football, there's a coach to lead teams to the Big Game.
In scouting, there are Scoutmasters who help lead youth to adulthood.
In Christianity, Jesus was referred to as a shepherd...one who lead sheep from place to place and kept them safe along the journey.
This is Super Scout Sunday!
May I have a show of hands....(play along if you're willing)...may I have a show of hands of people who either are scouts or were scouts at some point?
Thank you. I, too was a scout. I wonder if your experience was a bit like mine.
I remember the sense of belonging I felt in that uniform. I remember the sense of challenge I felt when attempting something new in order to get a patch and the sense of accomplishment I felt when I'd mastered a new skill and obtained it. I remember the sense of community I felt when we marched together in a parade. And the sense of helpfulness I felt when did good deeds in the community.
Looking back through the lens of one who is older and wiser, I see a lot of parallels between my experiences as a Scout and my experiences as a Christian.
As Christians, don't feel a sense of belonging to a larger community? Isn't there something beautiful and mysterious, yet somehow familiar about every church?
As to that sense of challenge and accomplishment...the gospel of Matthew tells us that With God, All Things Are Possible. As Christians, we know we're never 'going it alone'....God is always with us. And our communities are there for us.
Don't we want follow Jesus and help others?
This is what it means to be Christian. To be part of something that transcends your own personal relationship with God...it's means s we are part of one church and we make up the Body of Christ.
When I went out to sell cookies, I wore my uniform. Today, the scouts are wearing theirs. Earlier, I mentioned that as Christians, we have the opportunity to wear a uniform (and I don't mean a robe or a cross).
How do people know that you're a Christian?
What actions are you showing? What words are you speaking?
How are you both actively seeking God, and reflecting God's light back into the world?
Let's just say there were a Christian 'uniform' we could put on...and it came with a sash. What might be on it? A cross? (Of course). Your church name where the troop number would be? (Sure.)
What else? What would those badges look like? How about praying hands to show relationship with God? Clasped hands...for a show of solidarity? Extended hands to show a sense of helpfulness?
Would you tell others about your badges with a sense of pride? (Do you speak of your Christian experience?)
One critical component of church is relationship. I dare say that one critical component of scouting is also relationship. Earlier today, we heard the Boy Scout Oath. I'm going to read it to you again.
Please listen closely and see if it sounds vaguely familiar:
“On my honor, I will do my best To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.”
Could it be that you heard a similar message here?
From the Gospel of Mark, "you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.”....(and) “You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
As to that Christian uniform, .the gospel of John says this, “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Could it be that simple? That the uniform Christians can put on each day is “love”? “By this all mean will know that you are my disciples. If you love one another.”
Blessed Be and Amen.
January 29, 2012
Scipture: Deut. 18:15-20and Mark 1:21-28
The Authority of Our Experience
Rev. Leanne S. Walt preaching
The tracing of our faith begins with a prophetic voice and unclean spirits. The tracing of our faith begins in the synagogues and on the hillsides of Capernaum, from the Sea of Galilee to the River Jordan, teaching and healing, water and soil, the space and voice of the sacred and the profane. From this vantage point we learn, question, and discern the authority of our faith.
The roots of our faith grow out of our willingness to accept the authority of Moses’ prophetic voice in the 18th chapter of Deuteronomy, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you shall heed such a prophet” (18:15). The roots of our faith grow out of our willingness to accept the authority of Jesus’ healing of the unclean spirit in Mark’s Gospel. The roots of our faith are based on our willingness to accept the authority of this history and to claim it as our own.
It is not an easy thing to know which voice, pronouncement, promise, teaching, or healing to trust. It is not an easy thing to discern authority in our lives and in the world. In this election year, we know this to be especially true.
“Tan, Rested, and Ready to Win” in reference to Mitt Romney was one of the leading headlines on Time Magazine’s blog post the day after Wednesday’s Republican Presidential debate in Florida. I caught a bit of this debate and I have to say, though Romney was sporting a nice tan, I don’t know that I would be so quick to declare him the ready winner. As is the case with most political debates, it seemed that authority was bouncing around the panel like a fast moving Ping-Pong ball. A battle of quick-witted words; a duel of syntax and semantics. We are left following the empty he-said/she-said below-the-belt trail of the ball.
At one point Romney denied responsibility for an ad that had aired in Florida the previous week, which portrayed Gingrich as calling “Spanish the language of the ghetto.” Moderator Wolf Blitzer was quick to point out that the tagline of the commercial was, “I am Mitt Romney and I approve this message,” leaving Romney fumbling for words.
These debates always leave a bitter taste in my mouth. After all attacks have been aggressively and artistically launched, I walk away overwhelmed by the flood of inflammatory remarks and find myself longing for truth, clarity, and authenticity. I find myself searching for the humanity, for the common thread that binds us all together. I wonder where is the wisdom, the vision, the kindness, and integrity that can lead us onward into our promised land? I wonder where is the leader who acts with conviction, who lives for the sake of the people rather than the ego, who remains politically limber in order to best support the common good?
And I wonder where we derive authority from in our own lives, in our political systems, in our faith, and why?
We often associate authority with power and there are various ways that this power comes about. There is authority that comes from a job or title. There is authority that is the result of a particular skill set or acquired knowledge. In a sense, these kinds of authority are derived from a source external to the individual; they are bestowed upon an individual through social, political, or religious systems. And this authority is not free from corruption, we know, we have seen our leaders preach family values and yet get caught in adulterous lies, those who preach compassion for the poor while lining their own pockets.
In Jesus’ day, authority was viewed and obtained in much the same way. The scribes are the central authority figures in this morning’s gospel lesson from Mark. Their authority comes from status and title, from their knowledge of scripture and verse, of Jewish ritual and tradition.
But when Jesus, a poor, uneducated carpenter from Nazareth, enters the synagogue where these scribes hold power he asserts an entirely different kind of authority. He does not acquire his authority through any sort of social, political, or religious system or institution, and those there in the synagogue when he arrives see and understand this, for the gospel tells us, “he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes” (Mk 1:22). The people recognize in Jesus a new kind of authority, a refreshing truth, a grace-filled power. For, he invokes an authority that is derived from action rather than the fleeting breath of words alone, an authority that comes from within rather than outside of himself, an authority of character, integrity, and wisdom. Jesus enters this sacred space of teaching and faith and he sees a man tormented by internal demons. Jesus reaches out to this broken, unclean, and tortured man and he sets him free from the wicked spirits swirling within; he lifts his burdens and heals his pain.
And at once the people have seen ~ not only heard in quick-witted rhetoric, fancy rhyme and verse ~ the truth and depth, compassion, and integrity of Jesus’ authority. An authority that in Mark’s gospel does not mean power, which is a different Greek word all together, but rather the word the gospel writer uses is exousia, which is a willingness or right that has everything to do with justice served.[1] Such authority is found at the very roots of our faith. Such authority is what compels us still today, in our own lives.
In his work on spiritual formation, Henri Nouwen writes at great length about movement of the Spirit ~ from the mind to the heart, from illusion to prayer, from sorrow to joy, from resentment to gratitude, from fear to love, from exclusion to inclusion.[2] The authority that Jesus reigns into the world is one that provokes movement of the Spirit, one that indeed has the power to move us from word to action, from the unclean to the clean, from rhetoric to the truth, from the profane to the sacred, from self-interest to compassion, from dominance to justice ~ in our homes, in our political landscape, in our communities, and in our churches.
In late January, as we find ourselves nearly halfway in between the manger and the cross, we recognize that this new kind of authority that Jesus bears into this world is what leads him to the depth of despair in Gethsemane and is what nails him to the cross. This conflict of authority, the world’s inability to move with Jesus into the realm of authority found within our hearts rather than that which is derived from the institution or system is what leads to his death. The world kills Jesus because they fear the power of justice and benevolence, character and grace, wisdom and compassion. They fear his authority that comes from within. “It is too much to speak with such authority!” They say as they hear his Sermon on the Mount, when Jesus reinterprets the scripture “of old”:
You have heard it said of old, you shall not kill.
But I say to you, everyone angry with his brother is liable for judgment.
You have heard it said of old, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile.
You have heard it said of old, you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
~Matthew 5
As the authorities of old tried to silence Jesus, so too today, do the authorities of this world try to silence pathways to justice and the roads that lead to the kingdom of God on earth. But we have the power to give voice and authority to Christ ~ an authority that is based on our own experience of a lived faith ~ of loving our neighbors and enemies alike, of doing justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly with our God. May we teach as Christ, with our actions always in keeping with our teachings, our faith inseparable from our conduct and values, holding to the integrity of our character and proclaiming with authority the truth of the Good News.
[1] Feasting on the Word, year B, vol. 1, ed. by David L. Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor (London: Westminster John Knox Press, 2008) 313
[2] Nouwen, Henri, Spiritual Formation: Following the Movements of the Spirit (New York, NY: Harper Collins, 2010)
January 15, 2012Scripture: 1 Samuel 3:1-20 Here I Am Rev. Leanne S. Walt preaching
“Where are you?” is one of the very first communications from God to humans. In the book of Genesis, as they are wandering around in the Garden of Eden after their encounter with the serpent and eating from the tree, God asks Adam and Eve, “Where are you?” Strange, you might think, considering the question is coming from the all-knowing, all-powerful God who created Adam and Eve not long before and placed them in the garden.
Strange, perhaps, but I’m willing to bet that if there is one question that each one of us has ever heard God asking us personally, it is “Where are you?” Or, “Who are you?” But if you truly know where you are, if you know what spiritual, emotional, and geographic place you occupy, then you know who you are.[1] In many ways, the journey of our faith is a daily answering of this very question, “Where are you?” The scary part is that once we have told God where we are, we will have given ourselves up – we will have been found - we will have been discovered, and we will have to answer God’s call and allow God to use us in this world.
* * * *
As he explained it to me, Joe was the one always doing the asking. From the time he was a small child, he never took anything at face value and he had a lot of questions. He was a “Why?” kid – every adults’ nightmare – the kind of kid who never let a simple answer go at that. We have all known these delightful children:
“Why do we need air to breathe?”
“Because we need oxygen.”
“Why?”
“Well, little Joey, because we need energy.”
“Why?”
“Because we need to think and talk and move.”
“Why?”
“Because that’s how God made us.”
“Why?”
“Because God wanted us to be able to think and talk and move.”
“Why?”
“Because God wanted us to interact with other people and the world.”
“Why?”
“Because that’s what God wants.”
“Why?”
“Because I said so.”
“Why?”
“Because.”
He was no different when it came to his faith. He had a lot of questions. He had a lot of questions for the Church and for God. Though he was raised Lutheran, he kept his distance from the Church in his adult life, remaining skeptical of its purpose, value, and most of all, of its truth. Joe believed that there was a God and he held deep faith in a higher power. But, he struggled with the idea that this guy came along 2,000 years ago, walked the earth, and claimed to be God. More than that, he had a huge problem with Christianity claiming that this guy, this Jesus character, is the only way to God.
But then, something monumentally life changing, earthshaking, utterly astonishing happened to Joe…he had children. He and his wife had children and something happened inside of him which inclined him to feel that it was important to expose his son and his daughter to a community of faith in God.
So Joe and his family began attending the congregational church in town and he continued to surprise himself on this new spiritual adventure because for some reason he found that as time went on, he was becoming more and more involved in this community. Joe had volunteered to be a youth group leader, thinking that this would be a good way for him to participate in the life of the church and for him to be around teenagers, the dreaded age that his kids would someday soon reach.
On this particular Sunday, youth group was coming to a close and Joe had volunteered to stay with the kids until their rides came so that they other adults could head home. Eventually, all of the teenagers had gone home with their parents but there was just one girl, Kathleen, still waiting for her ride. Being so new to the church, Joe didn’t know much about Kathleen. She was quiet and seemed somewhat mysterious. She looked like she was about 14 or 15 years old. He asked her some questions to make small talk while they waited and after a while, she said to Joe. “You know, no one’s coming for me.”
He asked, “Is there someone we can call?”
“No,” she said.
Joe offered to drive her home and on the car ride home, the young girl explained that she lived with her aunt and uncle. Even though he was curious about her situation, Joe tried not to ask too many questions. But in the comfort of their silence, she began to share a bit of her story. She told Joe that her mom had a drug problem and was living on the streets, so her mom’s sister had taken her in. Kathleen said that she was scared of her uncle and that she wasn’t allowed to leave the house except to go to school and to church. Joe began to wonder how much of what this girl was telling him was actually true.
Then she asked him a question, “Do you ever think about what it would be like to be dead?”
And there it was, the question striking like a lightening bolt to his chest, as if descending from God himself, asking, “Joe, where are you?”
After dropping this young woman off, Joe called the minister of the church and explained what had happened on the car ride. Joe asked if any of this could be true. Was this girl’s situation really as bad as she made it out to be? The minister confirmed that her life at home was not good.
Twelve years later, I was hearing this story in a cafe over coffee and bagels. After a sermon I had preached on call at my home church, Joe felt compelled to share with me the story of how he and his wife were called - not only called to the church - but called to Jesus. As Joe describes it, the day he met Kathleen was the day that he became a Christian. That was the day that he welcomed Jesus into his heart; like an old friend who had been there all along, waiting patiently on the doorstep for that door to ease open. How many times God had knocked on the door and called out to this man, “Where are you, Joe? I need you,” he can’t be certain. But on this particular occasion, Joe decided to respond, “Here I am.”
Joe’s response to God resulted in he and his wife asked this young woman to live with them and their two children; they invited her into their home and after a four year long court battle with her aunt and uncle, Joe and his wife were granted full custody of Kathleen. Because of their hospitality and open hearts, this young woman attended college and is now living on her own.
* * * *
Like Joe, God did not call the young Samuel just once. God did not call Samuel two times. God did not call Samuel three times, but it was the fourth time that God calls out in the middle of the night while this twelve-year-old boy was asleep on the cold temple floor, “Samuel! Samuel!” when Samuel finally answers, “Here I am!” and just as his trusted elder mentor Eli had instructed him, Samuel tells God, “Speak for your servant is listening.”
Time stands still as Samuel eagerly awaits the specifics of God’s call for him – a great and prominent moment in the life of our Scripture – but the task Samuel receives causes him to question whether or not he should have given himself away to God in the first place. God, it turns out, wants Samuel to speak out against the house of Eli, his beloved teacher and friend, and name the fact that Eli’s sons have been using their status as priests to satisfy their own desires, eating the meat of animal sacrifices and sleeping with women who come into the temple to worship.
And yet, this is how we can say we know it’s God’s call because it’s not one full of lollipops and candy, sweet rewards or immediate bliss. This is how we can discern God’s call from our own willful desires. From God’s call to the reluctant Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt to Jonah’s call to proclaim judgment to the people of Ninevah to Jesus’ call for us to feed the hungry, clothe the poor, visit the prisoner, to love our neighbor, to pray for our enemies and those who persecute us – God’s calls are never small tasks, easily achieved and crossed off a neat list. For when God calls us, it is for the purpose of bringing about the good news on earth and this will always be a tall order. This will always be a challenge.
Always, but especially on this holiday weekend, we would be remiss to note Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in any conversation about Christian call and vocation. One, who indeed stands in our great line of prophets, offered a bold “Here I am!” in response to God’s call, “Where are you, Martin?”
“Here I am! Here I am! Here I am!”
And God said to this young black man from Atlanta, “Martin, go, go cast my dream, no matter what the cost.”
You might say that for most of us, we claim no special place in history; that we assume no place in the line of great saints or prophets. We do our jobs, raise our families, care for our homes, go to school, come to church. We get through the day or the week or the month or the year as best we are able and we try to be good people along the way. And yet, who will speak the truth to power, if not each one of us sitting here? Who dares to stand and give voice to God’s proclamation of good news on this earth, if not each one of us sitting here? Who will lift up the last and least among us, if not each one of us sitting here? Who will greet the stranger if not each one of us here? Who will lead the lost if not each one of us here? Who will cast a dream for the oppressed if not each one of us here?
When we stop our questioning, when we relinquish our excuses, that dreaded, wondrous, petrifying and glorious question will come to us, “Where are you?” And when it does, whether in the depth of the night or in the blinding light of the sun or on an impromptu car ride with a stranger, we will wake up to accept the truth of God’s call. We will wake up to the challenge of our faith, the reality of our task to bring about the good news on this earth. We will give ourselves away to God, shouting “Here I am! Here I am! Here I am!”
In response, we will hear that sweet assurance that we have been searching for all along from the God who walked alongside Adam and Eve in the garden telling us, “Beloved, here I am. Here I am. Here I am."
[1] Duprè, Judith, Full of Grace: Encountering Mary in Faith, Art, and Life (New York, NY: Random House, 2010) 297
January 8, 2012
Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12
Arise, Shine!
Rev. Leanne Walt
Bill and I recently spent some time with a good friend who has two young daughters. Apparently his oldest, who is now 2 ½ is going through the “Mine!” stage. She regularly declares sole and primary ownership over all toys, cupcakes, and even refrigerator magnets in the house and she has taken to hiding some of these items, which she declares to be, “Mine!” in her crib. Even this year’s Christmas card from her grandmother was not safe from the jurisdiction of her “Mine!” Though intended for the entire family, the card was addressed to her and so she took this as a clear indication that this was HER Christmas card - so began her collection of Christmas cards in the far corner of her crib.
My 1 ½ year old nephew is also in the throes of the “Mine!” phase. He is inclined to yell, “Mine!” quite loudly at anyone who picks up his favorite toy football or stuffed Elmo doll, reminding them that he is the rightful, private owner of these playtime enrichments.
The “Mine!” phase is nothing unusual. If you have kids, they probably went through a similar stage, and if they are now grown, hopefully it did prove just to be a passing phase and they no longer take Christmas cards or ornaments to bed with them.
In fact this behavior is so common in children that there is a famous scene in the children’s movie Finding Nemo that is known for its “Mine!”s. In this scene Nemo’s father, a small and beloved clownfish finds himself stranded on a dry dock in the hot sun after being mistakenly swallowed by a pelican. Fortunately, the pelican is quite friendly and tries to help him search for his missing son, Nemo. The bad news is that there on the dock are hundreds of seagulls hovering around wanting to eat this little clownfish. All at once, the seagulls begin swarming him, each one declaring, “Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine!” The fish barely escapes by jumping into the mouth of the friendly pelican and this ends up being one of the funniest scenes in the movie.
I recently watched a documentary film entitled I Am, by Hollywood movie director Tom Shadyac that explores the phenomenon of the “Mine!”s. Yet, in the film the subject is not approached as an amusing childhood phase, but as a more pervasive and deeply troubling social reality in the U.S.
After making millions directing and producing hit Hollywood films like Ace Ventura, The Nutty Professor, Liar, Liar, and Patch Adams, Tom Shadyac had a terrible bike accident that caused him to seriously reevaluate not only his life, but society more generally. As he faced the possible end of his life, he began to ask himself, “If I am indeed going to die, what do I want to say before I go?” And he began to think about The Inconvenient Truth of the environment, the war in Iraq, poverty, and all of the other ills that plague our country. And he began to wonder if these aren’t the real problems after all, but rather causes of a poison lurking underneath the surface of American society.
So he began a journey around the world with a small film crew to interview religious leaders, historians, and academics asking the questions, “What’s wrong with our world?” and “What can we do about it?”
What he found was that our society functions in a certain way based on the understanding and acceptance of scientific claims, namely Darwin’s emphasis on competition as a means to human survival and the idea that we occupy a reliable and well-behaved universe where separate objects operate separately in time and space. The picture that has emerged from science is that human beings are made out of material stuff and that we work in mechanistic ways. Believing in the laws of competition and scarcity, we operate as self-interested and singular individuals, needing to be significant at someone else’s expense. We establish layers of separation between ourselves and others - the more stuff we have the better, the more layers to protect the stuff we have the better. The more wealth we have the happier we are.
Yet, through his conversations with philosophical, spiritual, and scientific leaders, all evidence began to paint this reality as a lie and instead pointed to an entirely different truth: that our basic nature is not to dominate, but to cooperate; that we actually function better in a state of empathy, compassion, and love, than we do in a state of dominance and competition. As it turns out, when Darwin wrote The Descent of Man, he used the phrase “Survival of the Fittest” only two times and the word “love,” 95 times.
In the documentary, Tom goes to see his father who was one of the founders of St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, an organization that provides free cancer treatment for children and families, even for those without health insurance. St. Jude’s is truly an exercise in loving both your neighbor and your enemy, as patients receive treatment regardless of religion, ethnicity, political views, and socio-economic class. So, Tom approaches his father as someone who understands and has lived humanity’s greater call to compassion and service and he sits with him and asks him if he believes that it’s possible for society to live and operate in cooperation with rather than competition with one another.
His father answers by telling him, “There is a church out here that I go to every Sunday and I cry because there is so much love in that church for an hour and a half. Then, people go outside and get into their cars and they drive away. There are blacks, Hispanics, and white people in that church and they give each other the kiss of peace inside, but would they do that in the supermarket, on the street corner? Probably not,” he concludes. Because there is this pervasive perception that, ultimately, we are all separate from one another.
Yet, Tom and others he interviews continue to work to undermine this misperception throughout the rest of the film by suggesting that maybe we can look at achieving a profitability in our lives other than that measured by the financial economy and our place in it. And that maybe we can do this by changing the fundamental question that we ask from, “What do I get out of this?” to, “How am I adding value to my community?”
This film got me thinking about how difficult it is for us as Christians to live out the gospel in a culture that preaches separation and competition, in a culture that teaches us from the time we are toddlers to declare ownership over those things that threaten to be shared by others.
But, it also made me think about how much power we hold as Christians to break down the barriers of separation between members of God’s creation.
In our Wednesday evening Prayer Study, we have been talking quite a bit about how a prayer calls us to action, about how a Christian meditative, contemplative life is not a passive endeavor, but it is one that invites action. And, what’s more, that this action ought to be directed to serving the needs of others, working toward healing and fostering greater love, forgiveness, and peace, in this world because we believe that God is manifest in this world – working within, among, and between us.
When recently asked what is the most important meditation that we can do right now, the Dali Lama responded, “Critical thinking followed by action.” Discern how your gifts might benefit the world and you will discover deep contentment.
The magi saw the same power to herald in a new world and social order through epiphany – or the manifestation of God-in-Christ in the world – and they heard the call to perceive and participate in the glorious work of God. In response to the birth of the Christ child the three wise men ask, “What gifts can I bring?” They did not journey to Bethlehem and approach the manger proclaiming, “Mine! Mine! Mine!” They did not come to lay claim to the Messiah or to steal him away in the dark of the night. They came bearing gifts.
Whether it’s our time, money, or talent, you could say that giving is the beginning of an adventure. It involves a lowering of the guard to let the power of relationship have its way.[1]
The magi respond to God’s initiative of grace by giving – a bold and countercultural gesture as much in their day as it is in ours. For the magi, this surely marked the beginning of an adventure. After they offer their gifts to the Christ child, the magi return home by another road. Perhaps it was a combination of meeting the Christ child and offering their gifts that directed them to change their direction or perhaps they were simply scared of the world’s Herod’s breathing down their back if they were to return home by the same road. Either way, the Christ child, epiphany – the manifestation of God in the world – caused these three wise men to change their direction.
The scene with the flock of seagulls preying on the small, helpless fish in Finding Nemo is so funny because it is so true. But maybe we ought to view it as more disturbing than humorous as we begin to see a little bit of the seagull in ourselves - not behavior that we naturally possess, but constructed and fostered by society - our need to declare ownership over what’s ours and our tendency to separate ourselves from others through individual achievements and private property.
But the truth is, the most important gift we can receive does not belong to you or to me or to my neighbor with the fancy car or to the Hollywood socialites living in the Hills of Beverly. The most important gift we can receive is epiphany – the manifestation of God in the world. And Christ does not belong just to you or to me or to the haves or to the have-nots, but Christ belongs to each one of us. Epiphany – the manifestation of God in the world – is not for us to claim as our own but to share with the world through bearing our gifts for the good and sake of others.
God’s manifest presence in the world calls us to think critically about the world and how we might best share our gifts. The economy of Jesus’ gospel calls us to ask, “How can we add value to our community?” Through talking to our enemies, loving our neighbor, inspiring our youth, eliminating poverty, trying peace, including everyone. Praying. So that we can be a people who herald in the new Jerusalem, who boldly receive Isaiah’s proclamation to, “Arise, shine; for our light has come” long after we leave this place for on Sunday mornings (Isaiah 60:1).
[1]Feasting on the Word, Year B, Volume 1, ed. by David L. Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2008) 199
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