May 29, 2011
Acts 17:22-31
John 14:15-21
Reverance to an Unknown God
Sixth Sunday of Easter
Year A
Introductory story - a children’s story of love
"I love chocolate," mumbled Paul as he stuffed the last fragment of Mars bar into his mouth.
Matthew grinned. "I love bubble gum," he announced.
Carolyn refused to be outdone. "I love - whatever group is number one!"
All the children looked at Sam. But his face clouded and he shook his head. "I don't love anyone or anything," he said and pushed his hand into his pockets and hunched his shoulders.
There was a pause. After a while Carolyn said, "You must love your mum and dad. Everyone loves their parents. You have to."
"Huh!" exclaimed Sam. "I haven't got a dad, and my mum's got a new boyfriend and I hate him. And I hate her too, because she doesn't love me any more, she only loves him."
Nobody knew what to say, for they all suspected Sam was right. He'd never really known his father except for occasional visits, and his mother had lived with a succession of boyfriends. Some of them had been quite kind to Sam, but none of them had lasted. Just when he cautiously began to like and trust one of them, that one would disappear only to be replaced by someone new. Sam was growing up into something of a loner; it was safer that way, you didn't get hurt.
What is true love for Christians?
Sam is a lot like a lot of children in our world – like a lot of people in our world today. Who are asking themselves what is love is, what is true love. A love that gives us meaning, a sense of peace, a sense of security, a sense of confidence.
Many of us here know, that the only true love that we have is the love of God. It is God’s love that underlies all of history. God’s love bought Jesus to our world, God’s love is the point of the resurrection. God’s love s what bought us here today, and God’s love is what brings meaning to our lives. If you don’t know God, you don’t know love.
We all know that God is the most important thing in our lives, and yet we too are a part of this story.
We freely talk about how we love ice cream, we love candy, we love the latest movie star. Sam asks each of us is that really love? Or is it somethings else, affection, affinity, a strong like, a bad habit? Even as Sam looks at his own life, at those who should love him, and he continues to ask the question of God really in that relationship? Is it really love? Is love a feeling an attraction. In the gospel lesson, John 14 – Jesus makes it clear that true love is obedience. If we really love God, then we obey his commandements. We do what God says, we live according to what the bible says, we have a relationship with God, we believe whole heartedly in Jesus Christ.
Commentary of John 14
John 14:17 says This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him, nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, he will be with you.
If you don’t know god, you don’t know love. We live in a world where the love of god is present, yet us unknown.
And yet we live in a world where people don’t know love, and yet they continue to talk about how much they love ice cream, candy and Justin bieber. There are plenty of substitutions available for the love of God.
Commentary on Acts 17
That is the world that Paul is talking to when he goes to mars hill in Athens, Greece and he sees a monument to an unknown god. I have been to the park that is now on mars hill. And seen the monument to an unknown God – just a small low level square stone.
Representing the hopes and dreams of the people. Showing the world that they were open to the religious. That they wanted to believe in something more, that their hearts were open to a change, but they like Sam, like a lot of people, had to admit that they did not really know love, because they did not know God.
What are our present monuments to an unknown God?
When you walk around the city, our city today – I think we still can see lots of monuments to the things that we love. How many liquor stores, fast food restaurants, ice cream stores, shopping malls are there- where people are flocking to trying to feel better. They have no idea of what love is, so they don’t know where to look for it.
Are churches monuments to an unkown God?
But something else to think about – how many churches do we have in our neighborhood, but do the people in them really know God enough to know God’s love. Jesus says that the only the only way to love god is to ……obey god. Keep God’s commandments in everything that we do.
To continue our story….
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Continuation of story of children’s story of love
"Anyway," continued Sam, "I don't know what love feels like. But I do know you can't love chocolate or bubble gum or pop stars. You can like them really, really much, but you can't actually love them."
"Well, I know what love feels like," exclaimed Carolyn. "Maybe I don't actually love any pop stars, maybe I just adore them and like them loads and - and almost worship them and want to listen to them all the time over and over again. And maybe that's not real love. But it's a bit like love."
"No, it isn't," argued Paul. "I love my parents and even my little sister, but I don't want to be with them all the time. I don't adore them, and I certainly don't want to listen to them over and over again! But I do love them, and I'd be really sad if they weren't around. I guess I kind of rely on them. Perhaps that's love."
Matthew was frowning. "This is boring," he said. "All that love stuff is boring. You should see my big sister. She's 15 and she's always mooning around some boyfriend or other. They're always kissing and cuddling, it's disgusting."
"You don't need love," declared Sam. "I get on OK without it. Nobody loves me and I'm never going to love anyone else ever again. Love's awful. I used to love my mum, and look what happened to me. I just got hurt. If you don't love anyone, you don't get hurt."
They all heard what Sam said, but it didn't feel right. Deep down inside they all felt really sorry for Sam. Somehow they knew he was missing out on something important, even though they weren't sure exactly what it was. But they were all aware that Sam was becoming a lonely and solitary figure, that most people kept away from Sam because he was somehow prickly, and that they were the only friends he had. They also had the feeling that they were very important to Sam because he had no other friends. And they vaguely suspected that had something to do with a mild kind of love.
Carolyn lay on her back, gazing up into the sky. "I know who I really love," she suddenly announced. "I love God. It's easy to love God because he somehow lives inside each human being, and if he lives inside me it's like he's part of me and knows me really well. God loves every human being more than anything in the whole world. And you don't have to trail round after him, or think about him all the time, he's just there. Always around when you need him, but never interfering or making a nuisance of himself. You could love God, Sam. God would never let you down, and he'd always be there if you felt hurt. God is great."
Not a part of the sermon
Sam stared at her, a small frown between his eyes. But he looked thoughtful, and for the first time there was a hint of hope in his eyes. Then he shrugged. "Come on," he said, "let's play football." And the children jumped to their feet and ran outside.
John 14 is Jesus final advice to us. He reminds of to love him, to love god , to obey God, the believe in God. He knows the world that we live in, and the challenges that we face. He knows that there are lot of Sams out there –looking for love with no idea of where to look. He knows that even we have questions about true love, how do we know that we are in relationship with God. What happens when we get lost?
Story of Jim Reed, his wife whispering in his ear
Many of you probably have stashed away in a drawer somewhere around your home the old 45 rpm records. If you have some from the 50s and early 60s you will have Elvis' grinding out "Hound Dog," Buddy Holly and the Crickets' hiccupping "Peggy Sue," Chuck Berry's joyful hot licks in "Maybellene," the Coasters' slapstick tour de force "Charlie Brown," the mournful "Tears On My Pillow" by Little Anthony and the Imperials, the impenetrable and probably scandalous "Louie, Louie" by the Kingsmen, and the teenaged gropings of the Paris Sisters' "I Love How You Love Me."
Here and there in these dusty stacks, one can find an occasional recording by the great blues master Jimmy Reed. A share-cropper's son, Reed brought the throbbing harmonica-and-guitar-driven black rhythm-and-blues of the Mississippi Delta into the popular rock-and-roll mainstream. Many of us, when we were in high school, fancied ourselves a budding rock band. My friends and I did. We would play and replay our 45s attempting in vain to capture the sound. But how do you imitate someone like Reed. The pain-soaked cries of his mahogany voice could not be imitated by our too-tight, too-white, suburban throats.
There's an interesting story behind the Jimmy Reed records. In placing the phonograph needle again and again in the grooves of Jimmy Reed's records, you began to notice something curious. If one listened very carefully, there could sometimes be heard, ever so faintly in the background, a soft woman's voice murmuring in advance the next verse of the song. The story that grew up around this -- and perhaps it is true -- was that Jimmy Reed was so absorbed in the bluesy beat and the throbbing guitar riffs of his music that he simply could not remember the words of his own songs. He needed help with the lyrics, and the woman's voice was none other than that of his wife, devotedly coaching her husband through the recording session by whispering the upcoming stanzas into his ear as he sang.
Whether or not this story is accurate, Christians will surely recognize a parallel experience. Jesus tells his followers that the role of the Holy Spirit is, in effect, to whisper the lyrics of the gospel song in the ears of the faithful. When Jesus was present, he was the one who instilled in them the right words, coached them through the proper verses, taught them the joyful commandments. But now that Jesus approaches his death, now that he draws near to his time of departure, now that the disciples will be on their own without him, that task is to be handed over to the Holy Spirit:
"If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth ..." (John 14:15-17).
The Holy Spirit does the same thing for us
primary task, then, of the Holy Spirit is reminding the faithful of the truth, jogging the memories of the followers of Jesus about all of his commandments so that they can keep them in love, whispering the lyrics of the never-ending hymn of faithful obedience in their ears. It may surprise us to think of the Holy Spirit in this way, as a quiet, whispering teacher of the commandments of Jesus. Often the Spirit is advertised in flashier terms: The Spirit gives ecstasy; the Spirit evokes speaking in unknown tongues; the Spirit prompts dramatic and miraculous healings. Indeed, the Holy Spirit of God does perform such deeds, but these are all derivative of the one, primary activity of the Spirit -- reminding the children of God about everything that Jesus taught and commanded (John 14:26), whispering the gospel lyrics into the ears of the forgetful faithful.
Conclusion
All of us are looking for loves, all of us have some monument in our lives to that search.
But only those who love God enough to follow his commendments have the presence of the holy spirit – in our lives, in our ears guiding us, leading us, revealing to us to love of God.
God with us, Jesus with us, the Holy Spirit with us – the promise of power, comfort and guidance.
Let us pray….
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Monday, May 02, 2011
The Love of a Woman
Easter Sunday
April 24, 2011
Acts 10:34-43
John 20:1-18
Year A
What I want to know if what was she doing up that early? Why would she need to come to his tomb by herself? What was going on that she didn’t want anyone to know about? Who did she think she was? What was her relationship with him anyway? That she felt that it was her responsibility to put spices on his body.
These are the questions that many of us are asking; after all, we all know that Mary Magdalene has a reputation. Magdala means evil city. We know that Jesus cast out 7 demons from her; she is the woman we love to hate. She was the sinner of sinners of all of the things that she did wrong.
And yet God chose her for a special purpose. God chose her to be a special witness.
Mary was witness to two separate events – one the empty tomb and the resurrection.
Mary represents all of us – faithful, devoted, looking for answers, trying to make it right.
We are here to witness the risen Christ.
We are here on Easter, like Mary hoping someone will roll away the stone. We just want to get a glimpse of his body. Proof that he was here, proof that he loves us as much as he claimed.
We go to the tombs of our lives, looking for a new life, but secretly hoping we will find a body, or can make things the way the way they used to be. Not really ready for anything different.
Story of the stone
There was an eighth grade teacher in a catholic school who decided that she wanted to put on a passion play – the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection. She started to assign the parts – and one by one, students took the part of Mary, of Jesus, of the soldiers, of the angels, of Pontius Pilate, of the disciples, one student even volunteered to be Judas. Johnny was still left to be assigned a part. When she asked what part he wanted to play – he volunteered to be the stone. I want to be there to let Jesus out of the tomb – he said.
The teacher explained that the stone was not rolled away to let Jesus out – he was already out – the stone had been rolled away to let Mary see in. To let Mary see that a miracle happened – and that no Sunday morning would ever be the same.
If that stone was not there, we could see the body – we would know what was going on.
When Mary got there, the work has already been done for her. The stone was rolled away.
Jesus was standing in front of her, she didn’t even recognize him.
Resurrection is not jut resuscitation of the same old thing, it is total and complete transformation. He was changed to something different.
If God can do it for Jesus, he can do it for us.
Something in his voice helped Mary to recognize him.
He called Mary, she responded – teacher.
He helped her to understand – to understand clearly who Jesus Christ is...
How do we get from the empty tomb to believing in Christ?
Jesus chose to reveal the gift of life to a faithful Mary. She told her friends, they came and saw and went home unsure of what to make of it all.
But Mary testified to the truth _ I have seen the Lord.
Have you seen the Lord today?
Do you know that he has been resurrected? And gives you the power to be transformed?
Who was she? She was a faithful servant looking for salvation. What wondrous love is this? Is not just the love of Jesus for his people, it is our love for him. The love that drives us to come out.
Easter is about liberation – the freedom to come out of the tombs.
I want to share these 8 ways to keep the resurrection alive
1. Know that God is God
God raised Jesus, Jesus did not raise himself. So that God may be glorified God is good all of the time. See the goodness of God in your life.
2. Whatever it is turn it over to God
And leave it there
3. Cast our fear
Mary was not afraid to seek God because she loved him
4. Testify to what God has done
Jesus told Mary to go to her brothers and tell what she has seen.
5. Stay humble
God is teacher – you are the student
6. Walk to Emmaus
Servant found God in places that they did not expect along the way.
7. Pray always and everywhere
8. Recognize the God in all thin
Who was she? A woman of faith and love. Someone that we can all learn from. The lesson that Mary teaches is that Jesus is right on front of us.
The same Jesus who fed 500, who walked on water, who opened the eyes of the blind, who raised Lazarus, healed Mary.
The same Jesus who was not in the tomb them is here now present in a new way.
Same Jesus does not leave us too our own devices, but resurrects us to new life.
God raised Jesus, God cleared Mary of her confusion, and will God do any less for us?
April 24, 2011
Acts 10:34-43
John 20:1-18
Year A
What I want to know if what was she doing up that early? Why would she need to come to his tomb by herself? What was going on that she didn’t want anyone to know about? Who did she think she was? What was her relationship with him anyway? That she felt that it was her responsibility to put spices on his body.
These are the questions that many of us are asking; after all, we all know that Mary Magdalene has a reputation. Magdala means evil city. We know that Jesus cast out 7 demons from her; she is the woman we love to hate. She was the sinner of sinners of all of the things that she did wrong.
And yet God chose her for a special purpose. God chose her to be a special witness.
Mary was witness to two separate events – one the empty tomb and the resurrection.
Mary represents all of us – faithful, devoted, looking for answers, trying to make it right.
We are here to witness the risen Christ.
We are here on Easter, like Mary hoping someone will roll away the stone. We just want to get a glimpse of his body. Proof that he was here, proof that he loves us as much as he claimed.
We go to the tombs of our lives, looking for a new life, but secretly hoping we will find a body, or can make things the way the way they used to be. Not really ready for anything different.
Story of the stone
There was an eighth grade teacher in a catholic school who decided that she wanted to put on a passion play – the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection. She started to assign the parts – and one by one, students took the part of Mary, of Jesus, of the soldiers, of the angels, of Pontius Pilate, of the disciples, one student even volunteered to be Judas. Johnny was still left to be assigned a part. When she asked what part he wanted to play – he volunteered to be the stone. I want to be there to let Jesus out of the tomb – he said.
The teacher explained that the stone was not rolled away to let Jesus out – he was already out – the stone had been rolled away to let Mary see in. To let Mary see that a miracle happened – and that no Sunday morning would ever be the same.
If that stone was not there, we could see the body – we would know what was going on.
When Mary got there, the work has already been done for her. The stone was rolled away.
Jesus was standing in front of her, she didn’t even recognize him.
Resurrection is not jut resuscitation of the same old thing, it is total and complete transformation. He was changed to something different.
If God can do it for Jesus, he can do it for us.
Something in his voice helped Mary to recognize him.
He called Mary, she responded – teacher.
He helped her to understand – to understand clearly who Jesus Christ is...
How do we get from the empty tomb to believing in Christ?
Jesus chose to reveal the gift of life to a faithful Mary. She told her friends, they came and saw and went home unsure of what to make of it all.
But Mary testified to the truth _ I have seen the Lord.
Have you seen the Lord today?
Do you know that he has been resurrected? And gives you the power to be transformed?
Who was she? She was a faithful servant looking for salvation. What wondrous love is this? Is not just the love of Jesus for his people, it is our love for him. The love that drives us to come out.
Easter is about liberation – the freedom to come out of the tombs.
I want to share these 8 ways to keep the resurrection alive
1. Know that God is God
God raised Jesus, Jesus did not raise himself. So that God may be glorified God is good all of the time. See the goodness of God in your life.
2. Whatever it is turn it over to God
And leave it there
3. Cast our fear
Mary was not afraid to seek God because she loved him
4. Testify to what God has done
Jesus told Mary to go to her brothers and tell what she has seen.
5. Stay humble
God is teacher – you are the student
6. Walk to Emmaus
Servant found God in places that they did not expect along the way.
7. Pray always and everywhere
8. Recognize the God in all thin
Who was she? A woman of faith and love. Someone that we can all learn from. The lesson that Mary teaches is that Jesus is right on front of us.
The same Jesus who fed 500, who walked on water, who opened the eyes of the blind, who raised Lazarus, healed Mary.
The same Jesus who was not in the tomb them is here now present in a new way.
Same Jesus does not leave us too our own devices, but resurrects us to new life.
God raised Jesus, God cleared Mary of her confusion, and will God do any less for us?
My God, My God why Have you Forsaken Me - Good Friday - 7 last words
Good Friday service
7 Last Words
Mark 15:33-34
My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?
Fourth Word
April 22, 2011
Eloi, Eloi, Lama Sabachthani – translated My God, My God why have you forsaken me.
That’s actually the title of a short story about a man who developed an explosive that can create darkness. He was also fascinated by the passion story. He considered himself a devout Christian.
Mr. Baumoff was also a scientist, when he saw the explosives of war, he was fascinated. He couldn’t wait to tell his friends about his new invention. But none of them seemed to be interested.
Mr. Baumoff wanted to impress his best friend so he actually drank the invention to demonstrate it’s effectiveness. His friend really did not want to watch to see what would happen, but Mr. Baumoff told him the he should be priveledged to watch, and should document all that he saw.
Mr Baumoff started to sweat and to turn red. His friend became scared. Then Mr. Baumoff felt that he needed to reenact the crucifixion. He started to out nails in his hands and feet, he tied himself to the chair. All of a sudden there was a loud boom and everything dark. The friend fainted. When he woke up, he found Mr Baumoff dead. When they did an autopsy, they found that he died from heart failure, not from the cruxifixion. But the friend remembered that the last thing that he said before he died was “Eli, Eli, Lama Sabachthani.
The story is intended to remind us of cruxifion – the darkness – the last words, the torn curtain, the anguish of Christ.
Baumoff is not intended to be a hero- he is sort of like a suicide bomber. He had a confused and contorted theology of pain and suffering. He was also confused about why Jesus died on a cross. Confused about the darkness surrounding the day and the events of the cross
God’s response of darkness is not about his disappointment of Jesus. But disappointment with others, with us: our need to blame, to not take responsibility for our actions, to disregard for how our actions affect others, disappointment basically in our sin.
The darkness surrounding the cross, darkness surrounding our lives. Our world today.
Arthur Blessit got a call from God to carry the cross across the country in 1968. In 1969 he was called to carry the cross across Ireland. 42 years later, he has taken the cross to 315 countries, and travelled over 39,000 miles. Wherever there is calamity, he brings the cross. One day a reporter asked him if its heavy – he reported that it is not nearly as heavy as the burden of listening to peoples stories –stories of pain, war, loss hunger, and untold suffering.
The New York times says that the mood of the nation is worse then it have ever been. That is the darkness of the day – the suffering of Christ.
The suffering of Christ was not about his physical pain, but about his spiritual and emotional pain. The pain of bearing our suffering and sin.
Eloi, Eloi, Lama Sabachthani – My God, My God, whi have you forsaken me.
We know from these words that Jesus spoke Aramaic. Hebrew, araimaic and Arabic are very similar but not the same. But aramaiic is a beautiful language, because words can carry double meanings at the same time.
Eli – means My God
Not the God of the situation, that the God that I have always heard about, Not the God that I read about, but My God.
The God of my soul, the God of my life, who knows me and understands my situation and feels my pain, My God.
Lama – means why
I am asking you a question God – why?
Why is this happening , why does it hurt so bad, why is the darkness so deep?
It’s the question that God never answers, not for me of for Jesus. But Jesus has to ask anyway
Why god, Why?
Not a day goes by in my life that I don’t ask that same question.
Why God, why?
Jesus was speaking in Aramaic…
In hebew the word is azabathani, in greek it is transliterated sabachthani. But it cant be properly translated in Aramaic.
It is a grief that is too deep for words. A sorrow that cannot be explained.
It is the pain of being abandoned by God. jesus is literally saying that the spirit of God inside of him has left – after he cried a second time he gave up the ghost.
But it also means totally and completely separated from God. beig abandonded by God.
Why would god abandon his son on the cross?
Habbukuk 1:13 says that God cannot look upon sin and approve it. God cant ignore that it happens, god cant pretend it is okay, God cant participate in it, not even for his Son.
The consequences of sin is death.
The darkness cant be dispelled, but dark and light cannot exist in the same place.
My God, My God why have you forsaken me? Those are the first words of palm 22. This is a cry of aganoy – a request for relief and victory over the darkness
But it is also a psalm that speaks of the cruxifision of Christ. Verse 17-18 says I can count all m bones, they stare and glote over me. The divide my clothes amongst themselves and for my clothing they cast lots.
In times of despair – I believe Jesus us leading me to this psalm. The first 21 verses speak of suffering of the world, of people of the results of sin. The last 10 verses are the hope of God.
Verses 23-23 says that he has not despised me or afflicted me. Thse who seek him shall not be disappointed. Praise the Lord in your hearts forever!
The work of Christ on the cross – to give hope to overcome all despair, no darkness, cant be overcome by light.
No pain that can be sung in a song
There is no time in my life that God will ever leave me. There is no death that will not someday find new life. All because Christ’s work on the cross.
There are times when I might abandon God, times when I may think God has left me.
Those are the times when I need to remember the cross, Christ unspoken love for me, and know that I am never alone.
Amen.
7 Last Words
Mark 15:33-34
My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?
Fourth Word
April 22, 2011
Eloi, Eloi, Lama Sabachthani – translated My God, My God why have you forsaken me.
That’s actually the title of a short story about a man who developed an explosive that can create darkness. He was also fascinated by the passion story. He considered himself a devout Christian.
Mr. Baumoff was also a scientist, when he saw the explosives of war, he was fascinated. He couldn’t wait to tell his friends about his new invention. But none of them seemed to be interested.
Mr. Baumoff wanted to impress his best friend so he actually drank the invention to demonstrate it’s effectiveness. His friend really did not want to watch to see what would happen, but Mr. Baumoff told him the he should be priveledged to watch, and should document all that he saw.
Mr Baumoff started to sweat and to turn red. His friend became scared. Then Mr. Baumoff felt that he needed to reenact the crucifixion. He started to out nails in his hands and feet, he tied himself to the chair. All of a sudden there was a loud boom and everything dark. The friend fainted. When he woke up, he found Mr Baumoff dead. When they did an autopsy, they found that he died from heart failure, not from the cruxifixion. But the friend remembered that the last thing that he said before he died was “Eli, Eli, Lama Sabachthani.
The story is intended to remind us of cruxifion – the darkness – the last words, the torn curtain, the anguish of Christ.
Baumoff is not intended to be a hero- he is sort of like a suicide bomber. He had a confused and contorted theology of pain and suffering. He was also confused about why Jesus died on a cross. Confused about the darkness surrounding the day and the events of the cross
God’s response of darkness is not about his disappointment of Jesus. But disappointment with others, with us: our need to blame, to not take responsibility for our actions, to disregard for how our actions affect others, disappointment basically in our sin.
The darkness surrounding the cross, darkness surrounding our lives. Our world today.
Arthur Blessit got a call from God to carry the cross across the country in 1968. In 1969 he was called to carry the cross across Ireland. 42 years later, he has taken the cross to 315 countries, and travelled over 39,000 miles. Wherever there is calamity, he brings the cross. One day a reporter asked him if its heavy – he reported that it is not nearly as heavy as the burden of listening to peoples stories –stories of pain, war, loss hunger, and untold suffering.
The New York times says that the mood of the nation is worse then it have ever been. That is the darkness of the day – the suffering of Christ.
The suffering of Christ was not about his physical pain, but about his spiritual and emotional pain. The pain of bearing our suffering and sin.
Eloi, Eloi, Lama Sabachthani – My God, My God, whi have you forsaken me.
We know from these words that Jesus spoke Aramaic. Hebrew, araimaic and Arabic are very similar but not the same. But aramaiic is a beautiful language, because words can carry double meanings at the same time.
Eli – means My God
Not the God of the situation, that the God that I have always heard about, Not the God that I read about, but My God.
The God of my soul, the God of my life, who knows me and understands my situation and feels my pain, My God.
Lama – means why
I am asking you a question God – why?
Why is this happening , why does it hurt so bad, why is the darkness so deep?
It’s the question that God never answers, not for me of for Jesus. But Jesus has to ask anyway
Why god, Why?
Not a day goes by in my life that I don’t ask that same question.
Why God, why?
Jesus was speaking in Aramaic…
In hebew the word is azabathani, in greek it is transliterated sabachthani. But it cant be properly translated in Aramaic.
It is a grief that is too deep for words. A sorrow that cannot be explained.
It is the pain of being abandoned by God. jesus is literally saying that the spirit of God inside of him has left – after he cried a second time he gave up the ghost.
But it also means totally and completely separated from God. beig abandonded by God.
Why would god abandon his son on the cross?
Habbukuk 1:13 says that God cannot look upon sin and approve it. God cant ignore that it happens, god cant pretend it is okay, God cant participate in it, not even for his Son.
The consequences of sin is death.
The darkness cant be dispelled, but dark and light cannot exist in the same place.
My God, My God why have you forsaken me? Those are the first words of palm 22. This is a cry of aganoy – a request for relief and victory over the darkness
But it is also a psalm that speaks of the cruxifision of Christ. Verse 17-18 says I can count all m bones, they stare and glote over me. The divide my clothes amongst themselves and for my clothing they cast lots.
In times of despair – I believe Jesus us leading me to this psalm. The first 21 verses speak of suffering of the world, of people of the results of sin. The last 10 verses are the hope of God.
Verses 23-23 says that he has not despised me or afflicted me. Thse who seek him shall not be disappointed. Praise the Lord in your hearts forever!
The work of Christ on the cross – to give hope to overcome all despair, no darkness, cant be overcome by light.
No pain that can be sung in a song
There is no time in my life that God will ever leave me. There is no death that will not someday find new life. All because Christ’s work on the cross.
There are times when I might abandon God, times when I may think God has left me.
Those are the times when I need to remember the cross, Christ unspoken love for me, and know that I am never alone.
Amen.
Lost and Found
September 12, 2010
Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28
Luke 15:1-10
Lost and Found
Year C
16th Sunday after Pentecost
A man walks out of the hospital, prepared to go to his car. But he cant find his car, frustrated that his car has been stolen, he calls security. They look around for his car and sure enough it is no where to be found. Until the man realizes that the door he just came out of is not the door that he walked into. And this is not the parking lot where he parked his car. In the midst of his frustration and pain, he has somehow lost his way…
A colleague of mine tells a story of being in seminary in new York, and being invited to a professor’s house for a gathering. She was given instructions on how to get there on the subway system. But once she gets on the subway, discovers that it is an express train, which takes her a few steps past where she is supposed to go, into a section of town that she is not familiar with. She panics as she gets out of the train, and it is obvious to others that she is lost – because one woman walks up to her and tells her to be careful, this is a dangerous neighborhood, the last time she was in this neighborhood someone set her hair on fire, so she has better be careful. This frightens her that much more, and she runs out of the subway station to see if there is another way to travel. The cab never shows up, and the bus seems to take forever.
She remembers her fear and resentment while sitting at the bus stop. Everyone was suspect – anyone around her could be the person who was going to set her hair on fire. She is white, and the neighborhood that she is lost in is black. Which only adds to her sense of uneasiness, and her mistrust of everyone around her.
We have all gotten lost in our lives somewhere. I think we have all been stuck somewhere where we are unfamiliar, but we have heard the stories of the people there. And as ludicrus as it may sound – we have been in that situation , where everyone we don’t know is a potential enemy to protect ourselves against.
The man who lost his car eventually realized that he had come out of wrong door, and that his car was even in that particular parking lot. He had been in such pain and frustration when he left the hospital, he was not paying attention.
The seminary student was finally put at ease in waiting for the bus when a group of ladies, all in their hats and dressed – came out of the building next to her, singing and celebrating at what a wonderful workshop they had just been too. They were all from the same church- and helped her to see the humanity in that neighborhood, before her bus finally came and she went on to her destination.
Being lost is not so much about the neighborhood we are in, or the people we are around, or even whether we know where we are going or not. Being lost is a feeling in the soul – it can a place of fear and uncertaintly, it can be a place of mistrust of others just because you don’t know them. I think at some point in our lives we all know that sense of fear we experience in making sure that no one sets out hair on fire.
I think that goes on in our world on a global scale. The anniversary of September 11th reminds us of that. Nine years later there is still a lot that we don’t understand about others. And that it is easier for us to condemn them then it is to understand them.
We have all seen the story of Pastor Terry Jones as it unfolds on the news. His instistance to burn the Koran on September 11th. And the reactions of so many all around the world – that would only make matters worse not better. It is a perfect excuse for retaliation in a situation that has been simmering for more than nine years.
I see the arrogance
I see the fear of being lost
I see insensitivity to danger.
But what does the bible say about how to treat others? The bible is full of paradox – opposites. It says that Jesus is the way – but also says to love unconditionally. The way to bring people to Christ is love – not punishment and condemnation.
Jerimaiah is full of despair. There is no hope for people. Things are so bad there is only destruction of created order. An yet even he says that not God’s final word.
The end of our world is not the end of the world. God has more in story for us.
Know what it is to lose – now what it is to be lost. Wants us all to know what it means to be found.
God is in the business of finding the lost. Giving us a home – making us useful. Jesus tells the story of sheep. 99 found, but one lost.
Kneel for prayer
Symbolism is that God is waiting for you in this place – now you are found. You are the 100 candle.
Wishing more people could be in that place. Being found not visiting the Vatican. Being lost about where you are – is a feeling in your heart.
99 candles surrounding your life now. God giving you a place to call home. To be found, love and accepted.
Give up fear – turn on the trust.
Turn from your old ways – accept the new
Rejoice – so that God is our there to find everyone. Rejoice when they come to church, when they come home.
Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28
Luke 15:1-10
Lost and Found
Year C
16th Sunday after Pentecost
A man walks out of the hospital, prepared to go to his car. But he cant find his car, frustrated that his car has been stolen, he calls security. They look around for his car and sure enough it is no where to be found. Until the man realizes that the door he just came out of is not the door that he walked into. And this is not the parking lot where he parked his car. In the midst of his frustration and pain, he has somehow lost his way…
A colleague of mine tells a story of being in seminary in new York, and being invited to a professor’s house for a gathering. She was given instructions on how to get there on the subway system. But once she gets on the subway, discovers that it is an express train, which takes her a few steps past where she is supposed to go, into a section of town that she is not familiar with. She panics as she gets out of the train, and it is obvious to others that she is lost – because one woman walks up to her and tells her to be careful, this is a dangerous neighborhood, the last time she was in this neighborhood someone set her hair on fire, so she has better be careful. This frightens her that much more, and she runs out of the subway station to see if there is another way to travel. The cab never shows up, and the bus seems to take forever.
She remembers her fear and resentment while sitting at the bus stop. Everyone was suspect – anyone around her could be the person who was going to set her hair on fire. She is white, and the neighborhood that she is lost in is black. Which only adds to her sense of uneasiness, and her mistrust of everyone around her.
We have all gotten lost in our lives somewhere. I think we have all been stuck somewhere where we are unfamiliar, but we have heard the stories of the people there. And as ludicrus as it may sound – we have been in that situation , where everyone we don’t know is a potential enemy to protect ourselves against.
The man who lost his car eventually realized that he had come out of wrong door, and that his car was even in that particular parking lot. He had been in such pain and frustration when he left the hospital, he was not paying attention.
The seminary student was finally put at ease in waiting for the bus when a group of ladies, all in their hats and dressed – came out of the building next to her, singing and celebrating at what a wonderful workshop they had just been too. They were all from the same church- and helped her to see the humanity in that neighborhood, before her bus finally came and she went on to her destination.
Being lost is not so much about the neighborhood we are in, or the people we are around, or even whether we know where we are going or not. Being lost is a feeling in the soul – it can a place of fear and uncertaintly, it can be a place of mistrust of others just because you don’t know them. I think at some point in our lives we all know that sense of fear we experience in making sure that no one sets out hair on fire.
I think that goes on in our world on a global scale. The anniversary of September 11th reminds us of that. Nine years later there is still a lot that we don’t understand about others. And that it is easier for us to condemn them then it is to understand them.
We have all seen the story of Pastor Terry Jones as it unfolds on the news. His instistance to burn the Koran on September 11th. And the reactions of so many all around the world – that would only make matters worse not better. It is a perfect excuse for retaliation in a situation that has been simmering for more than nine years.
I see the arrogance
I see the fear of being lost
I see insensitivity to danger.
But what does the bible say about how to treat others? The bible is full of paradox – opposites. It says that Jesus is the way – but also says to love unconditionally. The way to bring people to Christ is love – not punishment and condemnation.
Jerimaiah is full of despair. There is no hope for people. Things are so bad there is only destruction of created order. An yet even he says that not God’s final word.
The end of our world is not the end of the world. God has more in story for us.
Know what it is to lose – now what it is to be lost. Wants us all to know what it means to be found.
God is in the business of finding the lost. Giving us a home – making us useful. Jesus tells the story of sheep. 99 found, but one lost.
Kneel for prayer
Symbolism is that God is waiting for you in this place – now you are found. You are the 100 candle.
Wishing more people could be in that place. Being found not visiting the Vatican. Being lost about where you are – is a feeling in your heart.
99 candles surrounding your life now. God giving you a place to call home. To be found, love and accepted.
Give up fear – turn on the trust.
Turn from your old ways – accept the new
Rejoice – so that God is our there to find everyone. Rejoice when they come to church, when they come home.
Does Easter still matter?
Easter Sunday
March 23, 2008
Year A
Does Easter Still Matter?
Matthew 28:1-10
Acts 10:34-43
Introduction (Easter is a hard holiday to relate to)
I was in a very crowded Whole Foods yesterday. I thought that it was interesting that even in the midst of the long lines, one worker comments to another that unlike Christmas, this was not their busy season. People don’t make such a bog deal over Easter as they do Christmas. Ad I guess it is like that here at church also. Coming to church at Christmastime is a tradition, coming to church at Easter is a chore. Just a part of the family visit. It is easy to relation to babies, and shepherds and wise men. Those are all things that we can relate to. But what do we do with torture, and death and empty tombs? We can relate to God coming to be with us here on Earth. But what do we do with God raising someone from the dead bringing him back to life? Easter is the true test of our devotion and our faith.
What are you relating to?
The most popular version of the story of this day comes from the book of John. John 20 – where Mary spots the tomb and she runs back to tell the disciples, who come to see for themselves that leader that they buried just days earlier is no where to be found. When they see him, they don’t recognize him – and he tells them not to hold onto him, because he must still be raised into heaven. This morning we heard a slightly different version of the story – found in Matthew 28. In this version there is an earthquake when Mary appears at the tomb. Everyone is trembling until an angel tells them not to be afraid. Whenever an angel appears in the bible, they always tell us not to be afraid of the unnatural. The angel does not explain what has happened overnight – the angel just explains that Jesus is not here. The angel tells Mary to go to Galilee to tell the others. And as Mary is walking Jesus appears. He too tell her not to be afraid. But continue on her journey and sheill will see Jesus later.
Mary’s Story
I will meet you in Galilee
Experience with those who have passed on
As I have been a pastor, and as I have had more experience with death, I have found that not to be an experience that is out of the ordinary. I have heard many people who have said that their loved ones appeared to them after death to tell them things would be okay. That she was moving on, and that I should not mourn for too long and to move on too.
Just last year a member passed away. She was in the hospital for some time before she died. And whenever I would visit her, she would always ask me to take her home. I did her funeral, and a few weeks afterward, I seemed to feel her presence while walking into a Walgreens. I thought to myself about how much I missed her. As soon as I walked into the story and spoke to an employee – the only thing the woman said to me was that she wanted to go home. I had to laugh , because I knew that was Kay speaking to me in a language that only she and I would understand.
So we are not getting into strange territory yet, for Jesus to appear to his disciples and to tell them to meet him in Galilee.
Where are the other places that Jesus says that you will see him?
Where we do get into strange territory is the places where we meet Jesus in our lives today – 2000 years later. Jesus speaks of ways in which he would appear to us in the bible. He says that he is in the presence of those who are hungry, in need of clothing, or imprisoned. He says that he is the morning and evening star. He says that there is no place on earth or heaven that we can go that he is not there, he says they he prays in heaven on behalf of us, he says that anything that we ask God for in his name will be given to us.
Who is Jesus for today?
But in order for us to believe that in life? We have to have an experience of Jesus in our own lives. Jesus comes to us in the midst of our sorrow, in the midst of our despair, in the midst of our questions, in the midst of our doubts. Even in the midst of our unwillingness or our ability to believe that he has appeared to us.
Story of the stone
There was an eighth grade teacher in a catholic school who decided that she wanted to put on a passion play – the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection. She started to assign the parts – and one by one, students took the part of Mary, of Jesus, of the soldiers, of the angels, of Pontius pilate, of the disciples, one student even volunteered to be Judas. Johnny was still left to be assigned a part. When she asked what part he wanted to play – he volunteered to be the stone. I want to be there to let Jesus out of the tomb – he said.
The teacher explained that the stone was not rolled away to let Jesus out – he was already out – the stone had been rolled away to let Mary see in. To let Mary see that a miracle happened – and that no Sunday morning would ever be the same.
God is till in the business of rolling away the stones in our lives. The stones are things that stand in the way of us seeing Jesus in our lives. The stone is the attitude to which we look ahead to the future. Are we looking for Jesus or are we looking for failure?
If you have ever seen something in your life that you have given up on, come back to life, of you have ever seen something that you doubted turn our perfectly, if you have ever been afraid and able to do something anyway. Then you have seen Jesus. If you have seen hope, joy, celebration, life, vibrancy, or even the newness of Spring, then you are a witness to the Risen Christ.
What burden can Christ take away from you, so that you can see life more clearly?
The power of the Resurrection of Christ is not to fact that Jesus is no longer present in an empty tomb. The power of the resurrection is the fact that death has been totally transformed into life. Jesus didn’t tell the disciples to remember me on the cross – but to look for me on your way to Galilee. What stone can Jesus roll away in your life that will help you see life more clearly? What lies ahead is a surprise – that you will only see if you are looking for Jesus. Easter is a celebration of God’s wonderful surprise for our life.
When you go forward on your journey of life, may you see Jesus in each moment of hope, of peace, of love and of grace that you experience in life. Amen.
March 23, 2008
Year A
Does Easter Still Matter?
Matthew 28:1-10
Acts 10:34-43
Introduction (Easter is a hard holiday to relate to)
I was in a very crowded Whole Foods yesterday. I thought that it was interesting that even in the midst of the long lines, one worker comments to another that unlike Christmas, this was not their busy season. People don’t make such a bog deal over Easter as they do Christmas. Ad I guess it is like that here at church also. Coming to church at Christmastime is a tradition, coming to church at Easter is a chore. Just a part of the family visit. It is easy to relation to babies, and shepherds and wise men. Those are all things that we can relate to. But what do we do with torture, and death and empty tombs? We can relate to God coming to be with us here on Earth. But what do we do with God raising someone from the dead bringing him back to life? Easter is the true test of our devotion and our faith.
What are you relating to?
The most popular version of the story of this day comes from the book of John. John 20 – where Mary spots the tomb and she runs back to tell the disciples, who come to see for themselves that leader that they buried just days earlier is no where to be found. When they see him, they don’t recognize him – and he tells them not to hold onto him, because he must still be raised into heaven. This morning we heard a slightly different version of the story – found in Matthew 28. In this version there is an earthquake when Mary appears at the tomb. Everyone is trembling until an angel tells them not to be afraid. Whenever an angel appears in the bible, they always tell us not to be afraid of the unnatural. The angel does not explain what has happened overnight – the angel just explains that Jesus is not here. The angel tells Mary to go to Galilee to tell the others. And as Mary is walking Jesus appears. He too tell her not to be afraid. But continue on her journey and sheill will see Jesus later.
Mary’s Story
I will meet you in Galilee
Experience with those who have passed on
As I have been a pastor, and as I have had more experience with death, I have found that not to be an experience that is out of the ordinary. I have heard many people who have said that their loved ones appeared to them after death to tell them things would be okay. That she was moving on, and that I should not mourn for too long and to move on too.
Just last year a member passed away. She was in the hospital for some time before she died. And whenever I would visit her, she would always ask me to take her home. I did her funeral, and a few weeks afterward, I seemed to feel her presence while walking into a Walgreens. I thought to myself about how much I missed her. As soon as I walked into the story and spoke to an employee – the only thing the woman said to me was that she wanted to go home. I had to laugh , because I knew that was Kay speaking to me in a language that only she and I would understand.
So we are not getting into strange territory yet, for Jesus to appear to his disciples and to tell them to meet him in Galilee.
Where are the other places that Jesus says that you will see him?
Where we do get into strange territory is the places where we meet Jesus in our lives today – 2000 years later. Jesus speaks of ways in which he would appear to us in the bible. He says that he is in the presence of those who are hungry, in need of clothing, or imprisoned. He says that he is the morning and evening star. He says that there is no place on earth or heaven that we can go that he is not there, he says they he prays in heaven on behalf of us, he says that anything that we ask God for in his name will be given to us.
Who is Jesus for today?
But in order for us to believe that in life? We have to have an experience of Jesus in our own lives. Jesus comes to us in the midst of our sorrow, in the midst of our despair, in the midst of our questions, in the midst of our doubts. Even in the midst of our unwillingness or our ability to believe that he has appeared to us.
Story of the stone
There was an eighth grade teacher in a catholic school who decided that she wanted to put on a passion play – the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection. She started to assign the parts – and one by one, students took the part of Mary, of Jesus, of the soldiers, of the angels, of Pontius pilate, of the disciples, one student even volunteered to be Judas. Johnny was still left to be assigned a part. When she asked what part he wanted to play – he volunteered to be the stone. I want to be there to let Jesus out of the tomb – he said.
The teacher explained that the stone was not rolled away to let Jesus out – he was already out – the stone had been rolled away to let Mary see in. To let Mary see that a miracle happened – and that no Sunday morning would ever be the same.
God is till in the business of rolling away the stones in our lives. The stones are things that stand in the way of us seeing Jesus in our lives. The stone is the attitude to which we look ahead to the future. Are we looking for Jesus or are we looking for failure?
If you have ever seen something in your life that you have given up on, come back to life, of you have ever seen something that you doubted turn our perfectly, if you have ever been afraid and able to do something anyway. Then you have seen Jesus. If you have seen hope, joy, celebration, life, vibrancy, or even the newness of Spring, then you are a witness to the Risen Christ.
What burden can Christ take away from you, so that you can see life more clearly?
The power of the Resurrection of Christ is not to fact that Jesus is no longer present in an empty tomb. The power of the resurrection is the fact that death has been totally transformed into life. Jesus didn’t tell the disciples to remember me on the cross – but to look for me on your way to Galilee. What stone can Jesus roll away in your life that will help you see life more clearly? What lies ahead is a surprise – that you will only see if you are looking for Jesus. Easter is a celebration of God’s wonderful surprise for our life.
When you go forward on your journey of life, may you see Jesus in each moment of hope, of peace, of love and of grace that you experience in life. Amen.
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