July 24, 2011
Romans 8:26-39
Year A
6th Sunday after Pentecost
Repreach of “Have You Seen Joan?”
Romans: grace, predestination, the love of God
It was something in the book of Romans that converted the heart of John Wesley. He had been a Christian all of his life, his parents were Christians. His father, an Anglican priest. His grandfathers on both sides were Christians. He was a priest himself, he was a teacher an organizer. He was devoted to his faith, until he went out into the world and realized that no everyone had the same faith he did. In the weakest moment of his life, he went to a bible study and heard the words of romans. And as he puts it, his heart was strangely warmed. He realized that his Christian faith was not about how many of his relatives where Christian, or about how many times he had read the bible, or even about how many times he had failed in his Christian task. Salvation was in Christ alone. Salvation was not about what he did, but about what Jesus did for him. He realized that the only way to experience the love of God, is to experience Christ for yourself.
Romans 8:29 says: for those whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son. Verse 30 says and those whom he predestined, he also called, and those whom he called, he also justified, and those whom he justified, he also glorified.
When the love of God is present in our lives, everything that happens good or bad is for the glory of God. and there is nothing, but our own unawareness, that can separate us from the love of God.
Interestingly enough – the word predestined is a big debate within the church. A large part of the church believes that this verse means that our destiny has already been decided since before we were born. And ironically John Wesley is intentionally on the other side of that debate. He believed very strongly that there is nothing about our destiny that is ever final. There is always space in our lives for change and transformation.
No matter how long we have been going to church – or not, not matter how much we give to the church or not, no matter how far down the road to sin we may be, there is always a chance that Christ is going to intercede in our lives and give us a change to turn back around.
And it is not about us- it is the grace of god. we didn’t earn it, or pay for it, it is a free gift from God.
John Wesley did not believe in predestination, because he believed that grace could change the course of our lives at any time.
How I ended up in the shelter
That moment of grace came for me about 21 years ago now. I was a senior at Northwestern University. I had started out in the journalism program, one of the best in the country. Yet it seemed that school was not fulfilling for me. When I looked at my grades, I knew that I could do much better than I was doing. I was at a period of questioning in my life, I was searching for meaning. This had been a very busy time in my life, a lot was going on. In my search for answers, I had even changed my major to religion. But things were still not right, I was still not happy.
I had one quarter left before I would graduate. And looking into the darkness of the future, I had no idea of what I was going to do next. More importantly, I did not have the energy to find out. I was tired of working to pay my tuition, tired of having papers to write, and frankly, just plain tired of dealing with the red tape of life. So, on the day that I had to move out of my rented room for the summer, instead of registering for my last quarter of school, I put my things in storage and checked into a homeless shelter.
The Shelter Experience
The shelter at First Baptist church in Evanston had room for 30 people. 25 men and 5 women. This was a shelter for adults, so most women would have to go somewhere else with their children. So usually, not all of the women’s beds were filled. We called the shelter, Hilda’s place, because Hilda was the director. We were allowed to stay for three months as long as we followed the rules. We had to check into the shelter every night by 10:30 pm. There was no drinking, smoking or fighting with the other guest. And you had to be ready to leave the shelter by 7 in the morning. We called the shelter, Hilda’s place after the director.
I must have been there about a month and a half, when Joan moved in. She was from Milwaukee. She was 34 years old, with 2 children. As I got to know her, I learned that she had some mental issues, as well as being addicted to cocaine and alcohol
When you checked into the shelter at night, the first thing we would do is have a meal and get to know one another, the first question that you would be asked, was so what is your sad story. Everybody here got a sad story – what’s yours. There was always some sad reason that we were there. Joan was a journalist, very intelligent and very articulate. She lived a very happy life with her two children in their own house. As her life unraveled, she lost everything, and ended up in Chicago.
After three months when it was time for us to move out of the shelter, Joan and I were given a transitional apartment. We could live for free, but we had to work and to save up our money to be able to make a deposit on an apartment.
On the outside looking in
During this time, I went on with my daily activities. Went to work, went to social events at school, hung out at the library. But I felt that I had gained a whole new perspective on life. Today, we hear and talk a lot about homelessness. And we have an image of who homeless people are and how we should deal with them.
I listened to a lot of conversations on homelessness, and how we as a society should deal with it. Perhaps, if we had enough jobs, or enough people to help, everyone would have a place to go. Or perhaps is we could just raise the self esteem of people and teach them a better way of life, everything would be okay.
But the explanations that we make up, don’t always fit the reality of the people and their stories. There were a lot of times when I felt that I was an alien, listening to the thoughts of others, and just not understanding.
For instance, I remember listening to a speech of a man who was in tears, because he had met a women sitting on a park bench crying. He made up a whole story about the women, and felt so guilty that he never bothered to help her. I remember being so frustrated because I could not help but to wonder why he would just assume she was homeless. Why didn’t he just speak to the woman to say hello, instead of making up a story about her. Like many people, he was willing to feel guilty about doing something big, but he was not even willing to relate to the woman.
And there was the time when I was in the Northwestern library, and a former classmate and fellow religion major, Heather, had organized a canned food drive for the homeless. I told her that was a nice gesture, but most of the homeless people that I knew did not have can openers in their pockets. And most of us were not as resourceful as Joan, who one day borrowed a hot plate, and cooked her can of soup right there on the street.
I had been baptized at Second Baptist church a few months before this experience. My Associate Pastor worked at the morning center where we would go when the shelter closed. One day I had finally worked up the courage to go up to his little card table and talk with him – to ask him a question. I think I am being called by God – can you tell me what that means? His response to me was that I had fallen through the cracks of society and that I needed to concentrate on getting me life together. I remember staring at the table to find the crack that I had fallen through – that he couldn’t answer me question.
Lessons I learned
I feel that it is important to tell my story, because we get caught up on our impressions. So we give to causes in hopes that they are making a difference. But what is it really that we are giving people and why?
As a journalist, one of the first things that Joan did upon moving into the shelter, was to ask the Chicago Tribune if she could write a story about being homeless. One the night before her deadline, we talked about her story. Our conversation has always stuck with me.
In her research, she said that she realized that if Hilda announced to all of us that the shelter was closing tomorrow and she told us all to go home, not one of us would be at a loss of where to go. As a matter of fact, for thanksgiving many of us had to call in to make a special execption for being late to return to the shelter, because most people had went home to visit their In her interviewing other people in the shelter, she realized that if they were to shut the shelter down and tell us all to go home. Not one of us would be at a lost of where to go. We all had families, and a place to go. Yet there was always a reason that people felt alienated from their families.
Joan went on to note that the search for a homeless shelter is not really a search for a physical bed, or food or clothing. People on the tramp trail (as living in shelters is affectionately called) are really on a spiritual journey. They are in search for a spiritual bed, spiritual covering, and spiritual food. For many of us – we had a bed, and shelter and a means of getting food – but were looking for someone who cared enough to give.
I was not born a Methodist. The seeds of my decision to devote my life to the Methodist church began in the help that I received during that time in my life. The mystery of God was not in the physical help that I received, it was in the grace that I felt for the first time in my life. I didn’t have to earn my keep, or answer any questions. I was just taken care of.
A Day of Grace
One day a minister from Northwestern brought his campus ministry group to worship with us in the shelter. Afterwards, Jack came up to me and told me that I appeared to be such a happy person. I think it was the reflection of the purple sweatshirt that I had on. People have told me that purple makes me glow. Because happy is not a verb that I would ever use to describe myself. But the interesting thing is, that after he said that - I didn’t need to live that life anymore. That was my moment of grace. I did need to earn a good grade, or be on my best behavior, or be told that what someone expected of me. I joined his campus ministry, went back to school and went on the seminary. All because of one word of kindness from a stranger.
During his weekly worship service we would always sing songs out of the Methodist hymnal. I decided that if Jack liked those corny songs – then I had to like to too. Jack was willing to talk with me and answer all of my questions, and invite me to be apart of his faith. I not only went to worship – I actually worked there all throughout seminary, and decided that perhaps I should be Jack to other people and become a United Methodist minister.
Interestingly enough – the pastor from the shelter also went to Garrett seminary. If I couldn’t think of a valid reason to back to school before – the chance to walk down the same halls as him, and attend the same classes as him and lick my tongue out at him was a very good reason. That was fun, God is good sometimes. – He became a United Methodist pastor too. I am a United Methodist pastor today because that is the church that helped me to truly understand what grace means. This was my experience that helped me to experience the power of Jesus for myself.
Mission to Save the Nice Church People
I often wondered if the people who volunteered to help us realized that people go to homeless shelters in search of the same things that people who haven’t lost their patience with society would go to church.
As members of the shelter grew together and shared our stories, they were not stories of houses burning down, or robbers taking everything. They were stories of significant relationships breaking down. They were stories of marriages falling apart, or of alienation from parents, or dealing with the death of a loved one. Even today, when I talk with people who ask for money- I always ask about their family. And I always find some type of alienation.
Some people can get their spiritual fulfillment by going to work or spending time in community. But when they cant find community, many people seek the tramp trail. It is called a trail, because people go from shelter to shelter, church to church telling their sad story over and over again. And once you start to get responses to your story – you get accustomed to that lifestyle. You get accustomed to getting taking care of.
Which is why I am not comfortable with our approaches to homelessness. After awhile, it starts to enable to behavior that it tries to address. It is important to give to those in need, but until the spiritual issues are addressed, I wonder if anything will ever change?
There were many times in my stay with Joan, where I wondered if I would ever get out of that situation alive. There were many times when she threatened me. By the time I moved out – I was sleeping with the dresser pulled over the door because she had predicted that I would be found in a park cut up in little pieces. My prayer to God was that if I ever got out of the situation alive, my mission would not be to the homeless people I lived with – I don’t know the answers to that situation, my mission would be to save the nice church people that helped me.
I will never forget the first day I went to the community dinner at First Presbyterian Church. All of the churches of Evanston has gotten together and decided that they would provide a lunch and dinner somewhere in the city everyday of the week. The people were so proud that they had given me a meal. Yet I was concerned that this was the worst day of my life. A day when I was totally confused, and had no answers of what was happening and what to do. And yet no one talked to me, no one said anything about their faith, their call to help me.
The prayer that got me through that experience was a request to God. Not to have a chance to help homeless people necessarily. But to be able to go back and give a message to all of those nice church people. That in the midst of all of your giving – give people Jesus.
make sure that you give people love and care. Treat them as if they are people, on the same level as your are. They are searching for answers, give them the answers of your faith.
There are people in the world who are really looking for what you have – a relationship with a caring community.
21 years later, I am still homeless. Contrary to rumors, I still don’t have a place of my own to stay. And I am still totally dependant on nice church people to provide my housing. Until next general conference if guaranteed appointments are taken away, Jesus told me that was not a problem for me to worry about. My home was to be totally inside of the Love of God.
Have you Seen Joan
Finally, at one point, Joan had as many as seven men living in our house. Whenever they got kicked out of the shelter, Joan would take them in. We only had six months to live in our apartment. Joan was pretty far gone at the end of those six months. She had really gotten in a drug culture, and her illness got much worse. At the end of the six months, Joan’s mother picked her up and she went back home to her family and I went back to school. When I walked around, I would see a lot of the men that lived with us. And we would always end our conversation with the question – Have you seen Joan?
On the day that we moved out of the apartment, joan said goodbye to me and wished me well. Remembering the fact that I slept with the dresser to my door because Joan threatened to kill me, my response to Joan was that if I ever see her again in life, it will be too soon. Forever isn’t here yet, because I still don’t care where Joan is. (people have told me that I need to learn to forgive Joan).
My point being, None of us ever saw Joan again. She never returned to the people she considered family and to to place she called home. Have you seen Joan? If you have, what did you say to her? How did you show the love of God?
Other things to add to the story:
The structure of all of the Evanston churches working together to provide a structure to help people. Several churches took a day to provide a meal. Which during that time provided a safety net for me.
The experience with second Baptist pastor- I wanted to talk with him because I felt that I had been called by God. He told me that I had fallen through the cracks of society and I needed to get my life together. Looking for the crack in the table that I had fallen through that prevented him from asking my question.
I don’t really care where Joan is the last thing I told Joan when her family came to pick her up – If I ever see you again in life, it will be too soon for me. Forever aint here yet, because I don’t care where Joan is. People have told me that I need to get past that.
Standing in line , an hour wait to talk with the episcocal priest to get bus tokens. When I was asked why I was on the tramp trail – you know it is the tramp trail – because you go from church to church giving your sad story, asking for help.
Joined the campus ministry group, worked for university Christian ministry all through seminary, became United Methodist. Those corny songs in the hymnal seemed to really mean something to Jack, so they started to mean something to me. If Jack was United Methodist, I would be one too.
Why don’t you get your life together – just don’t feel like it
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
Our God is an Awesome God
Genesis 28:10-19a
Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
5th Sunday after Pentecost
July 17, 2011
Year A
Our God is an Awesome God
When Barry Merritt was a little boy, he fondly remembers playing baseball. Those were the days when his coach would take them all out on a picnic, and they would all have a good time. The coach would ask them, how many of you want to grow up and become a part of the major leagues, and play baseball in the big time. Every single had went up, every child had a dream of being something more than what they were, every child had something to aspire for and to hope for. When he grew up, he didn’t become a major league player – but he did become a coach. He had his own team, he was entrusted to pass on his dreams to the next generation. He did the things that his coach did. He had picnics for the boys, he asked the question that he had been asked – how many of you want to become major league players when you grow up? How many of you think you have what it takes to play professionally. Not one hand went up. Not one of the children had any hope or any dreams of being anything more than what they were. Barry had to stop and ask himself what went wrong? Who had stolen the dreams of these young people? More importantly, how do you give hope and encouragement to someone, who doesn’t have a dream of being anything more than what they are today?
It is our dreams that define us. Our dreams that call us forward. Our dreams that inspire us to move forward. The dream to play ball professionally is still a big one. I think of how many young men in Englewood who love to play basketball. Who if you ask them what they want to grow up to be – they tell you that they want to be a basketball player. A basketball player and a lawyer. If it keeps them in school, it keeps them motivated, it inspires them to do the right thing – then it is a wonderful dream. You never want to say anything to them to take away their dream. The good news for us today is that no matter how much the world change, no matter how much we change, the power of our dreams never change. If it is God that gave us that dream, then there is nothing in the world that can take it away. God gives us our dreams for a reason. It is in our dreams that God makes a promise to us. Promises for our future, for the future of the kingdom of God. A dream is the image of something that is not present yet, but is coming.
Genesis is another story of a young man and a dream. A pretty typical young man by today’s standards. He was always competing with his twin brother, always in some kind of trouble. He came from a religious family, but didn’t have much use for this God himself. But this time he has gotten into enough trouble that the dream may be in danger. He has been fighting so much with his brother, that his mother sends him away to a safe place – back to her family down home. During his escape he has a strange dream. A dream of angels descending and ascending into heaven. God speaks to him, reminds him of the promises of the past, and the promises of the future. Reminds him that the world is dependent on his dreams, his hope, his future. He changes his life, and learns to include God in everything that he does. That all that he does is dependent on the presence of God with him. For him to experience the love of God, this must be an awesome place. He sets a stone so that the place would be remembered. What he misses is that this is not an awesome place. But an awesome God. The presence of God with us is not a place or a thing, it is a relationship. Anyplace with God is awesome. Any dream that we have that includes God is an awesome. Because the God we worship is an awesome God. A god that is incomparable, unexplainable, and without rival.
Jacob called it Bethel, Jesus called it the kingdom of God. What do you call it? When you reach that point in your life when you feel the presence of God? And you know that God is with you?
In chapter 13 of Matthew jesus gives several parables that describe what the kingdom of God is like. Jesus says that the kingdom of God is like a field, a field of wheat with a bunch of tares. That is an interesting comparison. Jesus was a carpenter, not a farmer, so what did he know about planting seeds? And the people that Matthew would have wrote this story for were city dwellers, they too would not have understand planting. But this was written to address something going on in the church. People were starting to judge others. The bible teaches us right from wrong, good from bad. What do you do when you are doing to right thing, and you see other people doing the wrong thing. Is it time for you to judge them and what they are doing?
Is God always going to be with us, going to support us. Is everthing that we do right? We know that answer to that question no. Sometimes I do and sometimes not. But the real question for the disciples is how do you respond to people who you think are wrong? What happens when you disagree with their dreams? How do you respond? Do you respond? Do we ever have a right to judge someone else’s dream?
There were two stories in the news that resonate with this point. First there is the story of the 16 year old who just married a 60 year old. The met on the internet and talked for 4 months and decided that they were a match made in heaven. When you look at the girl, she has boobs out to here, wears short dresses, and is constantly smooching on this man. Hardly appropriate for a 16 year old. Her parents say that she is a devout Christian and feels that this marriage is the right thing to do. It makes you ask – what kind of church does she go to. More importantly, what kind of church does her parents go to that they would allow such a thing. Is she still a child of God? do we have a right to take away her dream?
And then there is the Casey Anthony case. She was just released and protestor were angry, feeling that she got away with murdering her daughter. Is she a child of God? Does God have a plan for her life? Was she guilty? Jesus says that none of that is our place to judge.
A group of pastors experienced that first hand in Rwanda as they witnessed whole congregations being killed. As their life was threatened, they ask their superiors what to do. They were told that that God no longer needed them. They were watching everyone getting killed around them, and their turn was coming too. God did not need them that was why this was happening. In the war between the Tutsis and hutu’s. there were tutsi and their bosses were hutus. Some were the wheat and some were the weeds.
That seems a little extreme, but when we judge other people as good and bad, right and wrong, us and them that is what we do. When we think we need to get rid of the wrong people in church that is whag we do.
There is good and bad in us all. But there is also a part of God. And only god knows the difference in us. If God can save a scoundrel like Jacob, then surely God has use for all of us, you and me.
Our God is an awesome God, God has some awesome plans for us, God has some awesome dreams for us.
Anyone who is a part of God, has a dream from God. If God gives you a dream God will make sure that it comes to fruition. For God’s sake not yours.
If you can think it, you caught it, God bought it, You sought it, I got it. God will give you the vision to see, the faith to believe, and the will to do some awesome plans. amen.
Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
5th Sunday after Pentecost
July 17, 2011
Year A
Our God is an Awesome God
When Barry Merritt was a little boy, he fondly remembers playing baseball. Those were the days when his coach would take them all out on a picnic, and they would all have a good time. The coach would ask them, how many of you want to grow up and become a part of the major leagues, and play baseball in the big time. Every single had went up, every child had a dream of being something more than what they were, every child had something to aspire for and to hope for. When he grew up, he didn’t become a major league player – but he did become a coach. He had his own team, he was entrusted to pass on his dreams to the next generation. He did the things that his coach did. He had picnics for the boys, he asked the question that he had been asked – how many of you want to become major league players when you grow up? How many of you think you have what it takes to play professionally. Not one hand went up. Not one of the children had any hope or any dreams of being anything more than what they were. Barry had to stop and ask himself what went wrong? Who had stolen the dreams of these young people? More importantly, how do you give hope and encouragement to someone, who doesn’t have a dream of being anything more than what they are today?
It is our dreams that define us. Our dreams that call us forward. Our dreams that inspire us to move forward. The dream to play ball professionally is still a big one. I think of how many young men in Englewood who love to play basketball. Who if you ask them what they want to grow up to be – they tell you that they want to be a basketball player. A basketball player and a lawyer. If it keeps them in school, it keeps them motivated, it inspires them to do the right thing – then it is a wonderful dream. You never want to say anything to them to take away their dream. The good news for us today is that no matter how much the world change, no matter how much we change, the power of our dreams never change. If it is God that gave us that dream, then there is nothing in the world that can take it away. God gives us our dreams for a reason. It is in our dreams that God makes a promise to us. Promises for our future, for the future of the kingdom of God. A dream is the image of something that is not present yet, but is coming.
Genesis is another story of a young man and a dream. A pretty typical young man by today’s standards. He was always competing with his twin brother, always in some kind of trouble. He came from a religious family, but didn’t have much use for this God himself. But this time he has gotten into enough trouble that the dream may be in danger. He has been fighting so much with his brother, that his mother sends him away to a safe place – back to her family down home. During his escape he has a strange dream. A dream of angels descending and ascending into heaven. God speaks to him, reminds him of the promises of the past, and the promises of the future. Reminds him that the world is dependent on his dreams, his hope, his future. He changes his life, and learns to include God in everything that he does. That all that he does is dependent on the presence of God with him. For him to experience the love of God, this must be an awesome place. He sets a stone so that the place would be remembered. What he misses is that this is not an awesome place. But an awesome God. The presence of God with us is not a place or a thing, it is a relationship. Anyplace with God is awesome. Any dream that we have that includes God is an awesome. Because the God we worship is an awesome God. A god that is incomparable, unexplainable, and without rival.
Jacob called it Bethel, Jesus called it the kingdom of God. What do you call it? When you reach that point in your life when you feel the presence of God? And you know that God is with you?
In chapter 13 of Matthew jesus gives several parables that describe what the kingdom of God is like. Jesus says that the kingdom of God is like a field, a field of wheat with a bunch of tares. That is an interesting comparison. Jesus was a carpenter, not a farmer, so what did he know about planting seeds? And the people that Matthew would have wrote this story for were city dwellers, they too would not have understand planting. But this was written to address something going on in the church. People were starting to judge others. The bible teaches us right from wrong, good from bad. What do you do when you are doing to right thing, and you see other people doing the wrong thing. Is it time for you to judge them and what they are doing?
Is God always going to be with us, going to support us. Is everthing that we do right? We know that answer to that question no. Sometimes I do and sometimes not. But the real question for the disciples is how do you respond to people who you think are wrong? What happens when you disagree with their dreams? How do you respond? Do you respond? Do we ever have a right to judge someone else’s dream?
There were two stories in the news that resonate with this point. First there is the story of the 16 year old who just married a 60 year old. The met on the internet and talked for 4 months and decided that they were a match made in heaven. When you look at the girl, she has boobs out to here, wears short dresses, and is constantly smooching on this man. Hardly appropriate for a 16 year old. Her parents say that she is a devout Christian and feels that this marriage is the right thing to do. It makes you ask – what kind of church does she go to. More importantly, what kind of church does her parents go to that they would allow such a thing. Is she still a child of God? do we have a right to take away her dream?
And then there is the Casey Anthony case. She was just released and protestor were angry, feeling that she got away with murdering her daughter. Is she a child of God? Does God have a plan for her life? Was she guilty? Jesus says that none of that is our place to judge.
A group of pastors experienced that first hand in Rwanda as they witnessed whole congregations being killed. As their life was threatened, they ask their superiors what to do. They were told that that God no longer needed them. They were watching everyone getting killed around them, and their turn was coming too. God did not need them that was why this was happening. In the war between the Tutsis and hutu’s. there were tutsi and their bosses were hutus. Some were the wheat and some were the weeds.
That seems a little extreme, but when we judge other people as good and bad, right and wrong, us and them that is what we do. When we think we need to get rid of the wrong people in church that is whag we do.
There is good and bad in us all. But there is also a part of God. And only god knows the difference in us. If God can save a scoundrel like Jacob, then surely God has use for all of us, you and me.
Our God is an awesome God, God has some awesome plans for us, God has some awesome dreams for us.
Anyone who is a part of God, has a dream from God. If God gives you a dream God will make sure that it comes to fruition. For God’s sake not yours.
If you can think it, you caught it, God bought it, You sought it, I got it. God will give you the vision to see, the faith to believe, and the will to do some awesome plans. amen.
Saturday, July 09, 2011
A vessel to be filled
July 10, 2011
Year A
5th Sunday after Pentecost
Romans 8:1-11
Matthew 13:1-9; 18-23
“A Vessel to be Filled”
Introduction: Trying to find meaning in a story
The Wrong Question: What Does It Mean?
For a moment, let's put this story to one side and hear another story. It concerns a young anthropologist named Connie who works among aboriginal people in Australia. The community where she lives has a rich tradition of storytelling. Everyone gathers at night, a story is told, and then another, and another. Connie feels extraordinarily privileged when she is asked to join in this activity.
The first story told that evening is about the animal ancestor of this community and its adventures at the beginning of time. The story overflows with detail, action, imagery.
At the end of the story, Connie is delighted. "May I ask a question?" she says. "What does it mean?"
All eyes are upon her. The elder looks at her gravely and says, "That is the one question you cannot ask." A long time passes before she is invited again. She has asked the wrong question.
"What does it mean?" was the wrong question for Connie to ask about the aboriginal myth. It may also be the wrong question for us to ask about the story of the sower, or any of the stories told by Jesus. "What does it mean?" is the wrong question if we think that by having an answer, we can somehow get a handle on this story, domesticate it, make it safe. The stories Jesus tells are not subject to our control. He tells these stories so that we can be transformed. He tells these stories, not so that we can ask questions about them, but so that the stories can ask questions of us.
Charles Hoffacker, What Kind of Soil Are You, What Kind of Sower?
We tend to ask that question a lot of ourselves, our lives and of God, and yes even of Jesus - what does it all mean? We want the bible to have all of the answers to our lives. And in a sense it does and in a sense it doesn’t.
It is not Jesus intention to give us the answers, but to give us something to think about, believe it or not, he trusts us enough to be able to come up with our own answers – if we have the right guidance.
Romans 8 the answers to all questions
I chose the scripture romans 8 in honor of Marj. A member of my last church, who told me that romans 8 was her favorite chapter in the bible, because she felt that it contained all of the answers to living a life of faith.
Verse 28 says that all things work together for those who love God.
Verse 31 asks if God is for us, then who can be against us. Verse 35 asks who can separate us from the love of God? verse 37 tells us that we are more than conquerors. Pretty powerful words at the end of the chapter.
Our scripture for today comes from the beginning of the chapter – where Paul starts with the beginning of our faith – there is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Life in the spirit, Life in the flesh
Throughout the whole chapter, Paul talks about two warring forces in all of our lives and in the world. There is the life of the flesh and the life of the spirit. Life in the flesh is not a really a life of overconcern about bodily satisfaction. It is a more a life of overconcern about the things of the world. About what is here on earth. It is a life which leads to death and to sin. Life in the spirit is a life concerned with the things of God and heaven. It is a life that Christ was leading us to. It is a life that leads to eternal life. We all have a choice – we can follow the things of the flesh – and stay stuck in the bad things of our lives, the wounds that have happened to us, the things that people have done to us, the meaning of this life. Or we can chose to be transcendent – knowing that with God’s help all things will come to pass and we will get over them.
The thing to remember however, is that life in the spirit and life in the flesh are not about us – but about cosmic forces the control the universe. It is a battle in life that will never end.
We also have to remember that Paul is telling us that we will never ever conquer that battle. None of us will ever live totally a life in the flesh, none of us will ever live a life totally in the spirit. We spend our lives always somewhere in between the two. Romans is the place where Paul talks about how he does the things that his heart tells him is wrong, but he does them anyway. He also talks about a thorn in his side that he has to life with. He never tells us what that thorn is, but the point that he want us all to remember is that suffering is a part of life. As long as we are in this fleshly body – there is something wrong, there is something to worry about, there is something to learn to live with, there is a reason to go forward. We don’t always have control over the circumstances of our lives, but we do have control over how we deal with them.
If we are in Christ Jesus – then we have the mind of Christ and the spirit of Christ. Romans8: 11 says of the spirit of him who raised Jesus dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.
Christ gives us the power to live in the flesh
Because Jesus Christ came to the world to live our life, was crucified, dead buried and rose from the dead. Even though we are fleshly people. We don’t have to live in the flesh. We can always choose between the life of the flesh and the life of the spirit.
Hearing the gospel as fertile soil
The good news of the gospel this morning is that not only are there two ways to live our lives. There are also different ways to hear the gospel of the lord. We can choose to be a fly by night hearer – who hears the word one minute – and pursuing the desires of the flesh the next, we can be a fair weather hearer – who hears the word when it is good for us, but forgetting it when it is not. We can be a too busy hearer – who hears the word, but is too busy to apply it to our lives, or we can be a productive hearer – that not only transforms our own lives, but has learned to transform the lives of others. Just by how we listen and obey the bible and what Jesus says.
Jesus tells the parable of the sower to the crowds the he was teaching. The disciples asks him what does it mean – why would he tell that story – what are we supposed to get out of it. The standard explanation of the story is that God is the sower, the word of God is the seed, and that we are the soil in which the word falls. But the point is that it means that and it means so much more.
Story of church clothes pantry – and planting seeds
There is the story of a church – a small church in a changing community- which started to see its membership declining. They noticed that there were no children in the Sunday school and wanted to do something to attract new members.
They decided that as an outreach project – they turned their Sunday school rooms into a clothing center. They would collect old clothes and give them away to anyone who needed them. Anyone could take as many clothes as they needed.
One winter day – a mother came with her many children. She said that she needed clothes. The kids took bags and bags of clothes. The church realized that this was a needy family – so they asked the pastor and some others to stop by to visit the family. While at the house – they noticed a pile of clothes that they had taken so much time to fold – being used as bedding for the dog. One lady noticed a dress that had belonged to her late grandmother torn and crumpled on the floor. As they were walking back to the church – they decided that the clothing ministry was a waste of time. People did not care anyway. And the help that you gave most people was wasted, because there were ungrateful about what you do for them.
Until one snowy day a winter later – when the pastor noticed an old beat up pickup truck in the parking lot before church service. The pickup was plowing the parking lot – when the pastor asked why – it was one of the older children of the family who had taken all of those clothes – the young man was now eighteen. He replied that the church had helped out his family when they were down on their luck. Now that they were on their feet and doing a little bit better, this was their way of helping out.
For many years later – the family plowed the churches parking lot. Most parishioners never even noticed.
In this story, the church members were the sower and the seeds were planted within the lives of those they served. It is not our responsibility to make the seeds grow – the life is inside of the seed not inside of our actions. We may never know the difference that our Christianity makes to those whose lives we touch. But it does indeed make a difference. Our job is to plant freely and abundantly – just as God has done for us.
The Mystery of God
Isaiah 55:10-11 says “My word is like the snow and the rain that come down from the sky to water the earth. They make the crops grow and provide for planting and food to eat. So also will be the word that O speak – it will not fail to do what I plan for it; it will do everything I send it to do.” The wonder and mystery of God is contained in the seeds that we plant for God. Why did Jesus tell parables with no real definite meaning – because he understood that God was a mystery that we have to experience for ourselves. The life is in the seed itself, not in the sowing.
Jesus trusts that what is planted will bloom
Speaking of parable – we may have heard of the parable of the rich young ruler. He asked what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus told him to sell everything that he had and to give it to the poor. He told Jesus that was more than he could bear. Jesus did not argue with him, or try to convince him otherwise. Jesus walked away. The seed had been planted, all there was to do now was to patiently wait for it to grow within the heart of the hearer. The seed of God, the seed of life, the seed of the eternal, is somewhere inside of us all. What does it take to make it grow? Let us pray….
Year A
5th Sunday after Pentecost
Romans 8:1-11
Matthew 13:1-9; 18-23
“A Vessel to be Filled”
Introduction: Trying to find meaning in a story
The Wrong Question: What Does It Mean?
For a moment, let's put this story to one side and hear another story. It concerns a young anthropologist named Connie who works among aboriginal people in Australia. The community where she lives has a rich tradition of storytelling. Everyone gathers at night, a story is told, and then another, and another. Connie feels extraordinarily privileged when she is asked to join in this activity.
The first story told that evening is about the animal ancestor of this community and its adventures at the beginning of time. The story overflows with detail, action, imagery.
At the end of the story, Connie is delighted. "May I ask a question?" she says. "What does it mean?"
All eyes are upon her. The elder looks at her gravely and says, "That is the one question you cannot ask." A long time passes before she is invited again. She has asked the wrong question.
"What does it mean?" was the wrong question for Connie to ask about the aboriginal myth. It may also be the wrong question for us to ask about the story of the sower, or any of the stories told by Jesus. "What does it mean?" is the wrong question if we think that by having an answer, we can somehow get a handle on this story, domesticate it, make it safe. The stories Jesus tells are not subject to our control. He tells these stories so that we can be transformed. He tells these stories, not so that we can ask questions about them, but so that the stories can ask questions of us.
Charles Hoffacker, What Kind of Soil Are You, What Kind of Sower?
We tend to ask that question a lot of ourselves, our lives and of God, and yes even of Jesus - what does it all mean? We want the bible to have all of the answers to our lives. And in a sense it does and in a sense it doesn’t.
It is not Jesus intention to give us the answers, but to give us something to think about, believe it or not, he trusts us enough to be able to come up with our own answers – if we have the right guidance.
Romans 8 the answers to all questions
I chose the scripture romans 8 in honor of Marj. A member of my last church, who told me that romans 8 was her favorite chapter in the bible, because she felt that it contained all of the answers to living a life of faith.
Verse 28 says that all things work together for those who love God.
Verse 31 asks if God is for us, then who can be against us. Verse 35 asks who can separate us from the love of God? verse 37 tells us that we are more than conquerors. Pretty powerful words at the end of the chapter.
Our scripture for today comes from the beginning of the chapter – where Paul starts with the beginning of our faith – there is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Life in the spirit, Life in the flesh
Throughout the whole chapter, Paul talks about two warring forces in all of our lives and in the world. There is the life of the flesh and the life of the spirit. Life in the flesh is not a really a life of overconcern about bodily satisfaction. It is a more a life of overconcern about the things of the world. About what is here on earth. It is a life which leads to death and to sin. Life in the spirit is a life concerned with the things of God and heaven. It is a life that Christ was leading us to. It is a life that leads to eternal life. We all have a choice – we can follow the things of the flesh – and stay stuck in the bad things of our lives, the wounds that have happened to us, the things that people have done to us, the meaning of this life. Or we can chose to be transcendent – knowing that with God’s help all things will come to pass and we will get over them.
The thing to remember however, is that life in the spirit and life in the flesh are not about us – but about cosmic forces the control the universe. It is a battle in life that will never end.
We also have to remember that Paul is telling us that we will never ever conquer that battle. None of us will ever live totally a life in the flesh, none of us will ever live a life totally in the spirit. We spend our lives always somewhere in between the two. Romans is the place where Paul talks about how he does the things that his heart tells him is wrong, but he does them anyway. He also talks about a thorn in his side that he has to life with. He never tells us what that thorn is, but the point that he want us all to remember is that suffering is a part of life. As long as we are in this fleshly body – there is something wrong, there is something to worry about, there is something to learn to live with, there is a reason to go forward. We don’t always have control over the circumstances of our lives, but we do have control over how we deal with them.
If we are in Christ Jesus – then we have the mind of Christ and the spirit of Christ. Romans8: 11 says of the spirit of him who raised Jesus dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.
Christ gives us the power to live in the flesh
Because Jesus Christ came to the world to live our life, was crucified, dead buried and rose from the dead. Even though we are fleshly people. We don’t have to live in the flesh. We can always choose between the life of the flesh and the life of the spirit.
Hearing the gospel as fertile soil
The good news of the gospel this morning is that not only are there two ways to live our lives. There are also different ways to hear the gospel of the lord. We can choose to be a fly by night hearer – who hears the word one minute – and pursuing the desires of the flesh the next, we can be a fair weather hearer – who hears the word when it is good for us, but forgetting it when it is not. We can be a too busy hearer – who hears the word, but is too busy to apply it to our lives, or we can be a productive hearer – that not only transforms our own lives, but has learned to transform the lives of others. Just by how we listen and obey the bible and what Jesus says.
Jesus tells the parable of the sower to the crowds the he was teaching. The disciples asks him what does it mean – why would he tell that story – what are we supposed to get out of it. The standard explanation of the story is that God is the sower, the word of God is the seed, and that we are the soil in which the word falls. But the point is that it means that and it means so much more.
Story of church clothes pantry – and planting seeds
There is the story of a church – a small church in a changing community- which started to see its membership declining. They noticed that there were no children in the Sunday school and wanted to do something to attract new members.
They decided that as an outreach project – they turned their Sunday school rooms into a clothing center. They would collect old clothes and give them away to anyone who needed them. Anyone could take as many clothes as they needed.
One winter day – a mother came with her many children. She said that she needed clothes. The kids took bags and bags of clothes. The church realized that this was a needy family – so they asked the pastor and some others to stop by to visit the family. While at the house – they noticed a pile of clothes that they had taken so much time to fold – being used as bedding for the dog. One lady noticed a dress that had belonged to her late grandmother torn and crumpled on the floor. As they were walking back to the church – they decided that the clothing ministry was a waste of time. People did not care anyway. And the help that you gave most people was wasted, because there were ungrateful about what you do for them.
Until one snowy day a winter later – when the pastor noticed an old beat up pickup truck in the parking lot before church service. The pickup was plowing the parking lot – when the pastor asked why – it was one of the older children of the family who had taken all of those clothes – the young man was now eighteen. He replied that the church had helped out his family when they were down on their luck. Now that they were on their feet and doing a little bit better, this was their way of helping out.
For many years later – the family plowed the churches parking lot. Most parishioners never even noticed.
In this story, the church members were the sower and the seeds were planted within the lives of those they served. It is not our responsibility to make the seeds grow – the life is inside of the seed not inside of our actions. We may never know the difference that our Christianity makes to those whose lives we touch. But it does indeed make a difference. Our job is to plant freely and abundantly – just as God has done for us.
The Mystery of God
Isaiah 55:10-11 says “My word is like the snow and the rain that come down from the sky to water the earth. They make the crops grow and provide for planting and food to eat. So also will be the word that O speak – it will not fail to do what I plan for it; it will do everything I send it to do.” The wonder and mystery of God is contained in the seeds that we plant for God. Why did Jesus tell parables with no real definite meaning – because he understood that God was a mystery that we have to experience for ourselves. The life is in the seed itself, not in the sowing.
Jesus trusts that what is planted will bloom
Speaking of parable – we may have heard of the parable of the rich young ruler. He asked what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus told him to sell everything that he had and to give it to the poor. He told Jesus that was more than he could bear. Jesus did not argue with him, or try to convince him otherwise. Jesus walked away. The seed had been planted, all there was to do now was to patiently wait for it to grow within the heart of the hearer. The seed of God, the seed of life, the seed of the eternal, is somewhere inside of us all. What does it take to make it grow? Let us pray….
Saturday, July 02, 2011
Come to Jesus
July 3, 2011
Come to Jesus
Genesis 24: 34-38;42-49;58-67
Matthew 11:16-19;25-30
Third Sunday of Pentecost
Year A
The Fourth of July and Freedom
On this 4th of July weekend, we can all relate to the song “America the Beautiful. We can all agree that we live in the land of the free and the home of the brave. America is a very special country, a country where all are free to pursue their happiness and well being.
And even though we all enjoy that freedom, we all know that freedom is not free. We know the cost that many have paid with their lives, and that many others pay for with their obedience to continue to defend our country. We know that America is not perfect, our forefathers and leaders have done their fair share of injustice.
Freedom and discipline
But we also know that freedom is not free, because we cannot go around doing what we want to do. We cant just sit around and expect freedom to hand deliver everything that our heart desires. It takes much hard work and discipline. It takes obedience to our laws and rules. It takes being yoked, as Jesus would say. Jesus says to put on his yoke. The burden is easy and light. We are called to be obedient to his way of life.
Rabbi and the woman
There is an old story of a widow – who had two daughters and a field. Since her daughters were young – she would plow the field herself. But the law said to her that she was not supposed to plow with an ox and an donkey together. When she began to seed the field the law said that she was not to seed with a mix of different seed. When she began to reap and to stack her corn – the law said that she should not be reaping if she still had corn in the field. When she began to thresh – she was commanded to give her offering for the first and second tithe. She accepted the law and gave all that she had. But she sold her field and thought it easier to raise sheep – until the law said that she had to give her first fleece to the temple. She killed the sheep so that she could eat it – until the priest told her that she had to give the shoulder, the cheeks and the stomach of her sheep to the temple for sacrifice. Frustrated – she threw up her hands and asked the priest if there was anything that she could do to be free from the law. I have killed me sheep – and you are still asking for more - you killed the sheep asked the priest? Yes replied the woman. In that case the whole sheep belongs to me – he took her sheep, her lively hood and left her alone with her two daughters. There was absolutely nothing that she could do to escape the yoke of the law. It demanded everything of her. That is not the kind of yoke that Jesus is asking us to bear.
Freedom in Christ
Jesus asks us to take on the burden of freedom. Freedom in Christ. Galations 5:13 says that you were called into freedom. Matthew 11 says Come to me all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me.
The yoke of Christ is voluntary, easy, and peaceful. The yoke of Christ is faith in Christ. The yoke fulfills all of the promises of God.
The freedom of Rebekah
Genesis 24 is a beautiful story of the faithfulness of Rebekah in fulfilling the promises of God. God promisedAbraham that he would have a family as numerous as the stars. In spite of himself destroying the promise. God works to fulfill the promise and saves Isaac. Now Sarah has died, and Isaac is unmarried. Before he dies he asks his servant to find a wife for Isaac. The servant prays for a successful mission, but it is Rebekah herself who offers herself as a faithful servant, by being willing to go home with the servant. When she sees her fiancé for the first time, she is estatic. And happily accepts the yoke not only of marriage, but of the faith to follow God.
Where are you in the story?
This unique perspective may be the point of this story, not only narratively (after all, the aged and well-off Abraham is not going to do this himself), but also theologically. This next phase of God's promise unfolds through the faithfulness not so much of the one calling the shots (Abraham), but of a trusted servant and kinfolk hundreds of miles away. God's story and promise is embedded in the interactions of all these people across all these cultures. Perhaps most importantly, that promise now depended on the decisions and discernment of the two who had the least power, but had been given the most trust by all involved — the unnamed servant and Rebekah.
Where does your worshiping community find itself in this story?
Where do some people in your worshiping community find themselves in this story?
(Note: These are two different questions which will likely have very different answers!)
Are you or some of your worshiping community Abraham, entrusting the hopes for the continuation of God's promise to another?
Are you or some of them the trusted servant, trusting God and skillfully navigating the negotiations that will help that promise come to fruition?
Are you or some of them Rebekah, suddenly finding yourself invited to be part of a story you didn't know could be opened to you?
Or are you or they Laban, invited to make a bargain that may seem like sending a sibling far away?
Put another way, is your congregation or are some in it releasing control, actively negotiating, being invited to consider a new future, or entering into some sort of exchange in which you may lose one thing to gain another?
Now a third level — where is your community — not just where your building is located, but the networks of relationships you have as individuals and a congregation — in this story?
Given where you are as a congregation, where your people are, and where you discern your community is, how might this story encourage you to understand the kind of role or roles you may have in continuing to embody God's promise, God's kingdom, where you are?
But don't stop there. Remember that the response of every person in this story involved a new commitment.
Abraham had to commit to ensuring the line would continue through his family and to sending a servant with clear boundaries but no micromanaging instructions to take care of that. The servant had to commit to fulfill Abraham's commission and to trust that God would indeed help that happen. Laban had to commit to allowing his sister to join the journey his uncle Abraham had embarked on many years, several cultures, and hundreds of miles ago. And Rebekah had to commit; indeed, she was given final say and freedom to choose — to take up the role of matriarch in an extended branch of the family and with a husband she had never met in a land far away.
How is God at work in our story?
Where we see ourselves, depends on where we see God on our lives. How is God blessing us today? How is God at work in our lives. In the story, we hear from everyone except God. God speaks to know one, God directs no one, there are no miracles present that point to an obvious God.
God at work not in knowledge but in faith
And yet God’s promises are fulfilled, just in the actions of those who are powerless over their fate, yet obedient and faithful to what they are supposed to do in life.
Jesus thanks God that God has hidden the promises of God from the wise and shown them to infants. Those who have the innocent faith of a child.
The faith of a farmer
A farmer was hard at work on his farm, and he did not realize that it was time for the Sabbath. Nightime Saturday came upon him, and he could not go home. The law forbid him from walking that far on the Sabbath. He had to spend the night in the field. He missed his home that night, he missed his family. But most of all he missed his scriptures. Without them he did not know how to pray to honor God. The next day, he told his rabbi what happened. The rabbi told him that he did not need scripture in order to praise the glory of God, to tell God that God was the head of his life. The farmer confessed that he did not think that far in his faith. He was not that wise. But he did pray the letters of the alphabet – a, b,c. Knowing that if he said the letters, then God would put the words together to hear what needed to be said. The rabbi could do nothing but praise the simplicity of his faith. Freedom is not free….but faithfulness is always rewarded and understood by God.
The invitation of Christ
All that God is to us is revealed in the lessons that Christ taught us. Jesus invites us to come. On this day and in the days to come. Take on the yoke of Christ and find rest, peace, and a freedom that is fulfilled forever. Real freedom is a promise of God to the faithful. Amen.
Come to Jesus
Genesis 24: 34-38;42-49;58-67
Matthew 11:16-19;25-30
Third Sunday of Pentecost
Year A
The Fourth of July and Freedom
On this 4th of July weekend, we can all relate to the song “America the Beautiful. We can all agree that we live in the land of the free and the home of the brave. America is a very special country, a country where all are free to pursue their happiness and well being.
And even though we all enjoy that freedom, we all know that freedom is not free. We know the cost that many have paid with their lives, and that many others pay for with their obedience to continue to defend our country. We know that America is not perfect, our forefathers and leaders have done their fair share of injustice.
Freedom and discipline
But we also know that freedom is not free, because we cannot go around doing what we want to do. We cant just sit around and expect freedom to hand deliver everything that our heart desires. It takes much hard work and discipline. It takes obedience to our laws and rules. It takes being yoked, as Jesus would say. Jesus says to put on his yoke. The burden is easy and light. We are called to be obedient to his way of life.
Rabbi and the woman
There is an old story of a widow – who had two daughters and a field. Since her daughters were young – she would plow the field herself. But the law said to her that she was not supposed to plow with an ox and an donkey together. When she began to seed the field the law said that she was not to seed with a mix of different seed. When she began to reap and to stack her corn – the law said that she should not be reaping if she still had corn in the field. When she began to thresh – she was commanded to give her offering for the first and second tithe. She accepted the law and gave all that she had. But she sold her field and thought it easier to raise sheep – until the law said that she had to give her first fleece to the temple. She killed the sheep so that she could eat it – until the priest told her that she had to give the shoulder, the cheeks and the stomach of her sheep to the temple for sacrifice. Frustrated – she threw up her hands and asked the priest if there was anything that she could do to be free from the law. I have killed me sheep – and you are still asking for more - you killed the sheep asked the priest? Yes replied the woman. In that case the whole sheep belongs to me – he took her sheep, her lively hood and left her alone with her two daughters. There was absolutely nothing that she could do to escape the yoke of the law. It demanded everything of her. That is not the kind of yoke that Jesus is asking us to bear.
Freedom in Christ
Jesus asks us to take on the burden of freedom. Freedom in Christ. Galations 5:13 says that you were called into freedom. Matthew 11 says Come to me all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me.
The yoke of Christ is voluntary, easy, and peaceful. The yoke of Christ is faith in Christ. The yoke fulfills all of the promises of God.
The freedom of Rebekah
Genesis 24 is a beautiful story of the faithfulness of Rebekah in fulfilling the promises of God. God promisedAbraham that he would have a family as numerous as the stars. In spite of himself destroying the promise. God works to fulfill the promise and saves Isaac. Now Sarah has died, and Isaac is unmarried. Before he dies he asks his servant to find a wife for Isaac. The servant prays for a successful mission, but it is Rebekah herself who offers herself as a faithful servant, by being willing to go home with the servant. When she sees her fiancé for the first time, she is estatic. And happily accepts the yoke not only of marriage, but of the faith to follow God.
Where are you in the story?
This unique perspective may be the point of this story, not only narratively (after all, the aged and well-off Abraham is not going to do this himself), but also theologically. This next phase of God's promise unfolds through the faithfulness not so much of the one calling the shots (Abraham), but of a trusted servant and kinfolk hundreds of miles away. God's story and promise is embedded in the interactions of all these people across all these cultures. Perhaps most importantly, that promise now depended on the decisions and discernment of the two who had the least power, but had been given the most trust by all involved — the unnamed servant and Rebekah.
Where does your worshiping community find itself in this story?
Where do some people in your worshiping community find themselves in this story?
(Note: These are two different questions which will likely have very different answers!)
Are you or some of your worshiping community Abraham, entrusting the hopes for the continuation of God's promise to another?
Are you or some of them the trusted servant, trusting God and skillfully navigating the negotiations that will help that promise come to fruition?
Are you or some of them Rebekah, suddenly finding yourself invited to be part of a story you didn't know could be opened to you?
Or are you or they Laban, invited to make a bargain that may seem like sending a sibling far away?
Put another way, is your congregation or are some in it releasing control, actively negotiating, being invited to consider a new future, or entering into some sort of exchange in which you may lose one thing to gain another?
Now a third level — where is your community — not just where your building is located, but the networks of relationships you have as individuals and a congregation — in this story?
Given where you are as a congregation, where your people are, and where you discern your community is, how might this story encourage you to understand the kind of role or roles you may have in continuing to embody God's promise, God's kingdom, where you are?
But don't stop there. Remember that the response of every person in this story involved a new commitment.
Abraham had to commit to ensuring the line would continue through his family and to sending a servant with clear boundaries but no micromanaging instructions to take care of that. The servant had to commit to fulfill Abraham's commission and to trust that God would indeed help that happen. Laban had to commit to allowing his sister to join the journey his uncle Abraham had embarked on many years, several cultures, and hundreds of miles ago. And Rebekah had to commit; indeed, she was given final say and freedom to choose — to take up the role of matriarch in an extended branch of the family and with a husband she had never met in a land far away.
How is God at work in our story?
Where we see ourselves, depends on where we see God on our lives. How is God blessing us today? How is God at work in our lives. In the story, we hear from everyone except God. God speaks to know one, God directs no one, there are no miracles present that point to an obvious God.
God at work not in knowledge but in faith
And yet God’s promises are fulfilled, just in the actions of those who are powerless over their fate, yet obedient and faithful to what they are supposed to do in life.
Jesus thanks God that God has hidden the promises of God from the wise and shown them to infants. Those who have the innocent faith of a child.
The faith of a farmer
A farmer was hard at work on his farm, and he did not realize that it was time for the Sabbath. Nightime Saturday came upon him, and he could not go home. The law forbid him from walking that far on the Sabbath. He had to spend the night in the field. He missed his home that night, he missed his family. But most of all he missed his scriptures. Without them he did not know how to pray to honor God. The next day, he told his rabbi what happened. The rabbi told him that he did not need scripture in order to praise the glory of God, to tell God that God was the head of his life. The farmer confessed that he did not think that far in his faith. He was not that wise. But he did pray the letters of the alphabet – a, b,c. Knowing that if he said the letters, then God would put the words together to hear what needed to be said. The rabbi could do nothing but praise the simplicity of his faith. Freedom is not free….but faithfulness is always rewarded and understood by God.
The invitation of Christ
All that God is to us is revealed in the lessons that Christ taught us. Jesus invites us to come. On this day and in the days to come. Take on the yoke of Christ and find rest, peace, and a freedom that is fulfilled forever. Real freedom is a promise of God to the faithful. Amen.
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