Jan. 1, 2012 Christmas 1

Luke 2:22-40

22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”

   25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

   29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, 

   you may now dismiss your servant in peace. 

30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 

   31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: 

32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, 

   and the glory of your people Israel.”

   33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

   36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

   39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.

“A Sign Spoken Against” 

Jesus came as a sign; a sign of God’s love; a sign to be spoken for or against.

Many spoke against Jesus in his days - those who loved their religious ritual and formalism more then a living faith.  They didn’t want to lose their importance as religious leaders to one who would make it so easy to be a child of God. The Rich Young Ruler spoke against Jesus; he wanted to buy his way in; not enter through the grace of God. The Pharisee’s spoke against Jesus - they were too proud to live by grace.

The question we all have to struggle with is “Do I speak against the sign God has given us?”  With Christmas over -  do I live as one who has celebrated it’s mystery and experienced its joy?

  “To Be Or Not To Be”

What we believe is basic to who we become in life.

To surrender to Christ is to become a child of grace; it is come alive and discover real self identity and self worth.  I am not a no body, no matter how insignificant I feel; I am a child of God and that makes me somebody - somebody unique, precious, and loved.

Out of surrender to Christ comes new birth in Christ.   A life of becoming, including a life of good works.  We become what we believe.  When I believe I am a child of God -- I can fail and not be destroyed;  I can have worth even when I don’t feel worthy... even when I have preached the worlds worst sermon.

Dec. 25 Christmas Day

John 1:1-14

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

   6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

   9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

   14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

“The Word Became Flesh” 

Christmas is here; and will soon be past.  The celebration of Christmas, which begins earlier each year, will soon be over.  Yet Christmas is never over.  It never ends.  It is hidden in every day, every word, every deed of our lives.

As we celebrate the Word which became flesh and dwelt among us, we also celebrate the Word becoming flesh - our flesh - and dwelling still in our midst.

We are to live our words and live The Word so that even our flesh becomes a presence of the God who became human and dwelt among us in Jesus.

God’s Word - God’s best word to us is seen before it is heard. felt before it is known, experienced before it is understood, lived before it can be spoken. 

It became flesh and dwelt among us so we could best know it in the most human ways possible.   And that is also how we share it - by living it.

Henri Nouwen:  “The most important question for me is not, ‘How do I touch people?’  but, ‘How do I live the word I am speaking?”

Indeed, Christmas is not just once a year.  It is yesterday, today, and forever, as the Word becomes flesh in us and dwells among us.  

Indeed, Christmas is every day!

Christmas Eve - December 24

Luke 2:1-14

  1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

   4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

   8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

   13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

   14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, 

   and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

                      “Love came down at Christmas 

                love all lovely, love divine;  

                love was born at Christmas,

                star and angles gave the sign.

              Worship we the Godhead,

              Love Incarnate, Love Divine;

             Worship we our Jesus;

             But wherewith for sacred sign?”

Christmas is the celebration of the sacred sign, given to us in human form, that God is love, and whoever loves is of God and God is of them, and “God does, in fact, live in them.” as John tells us in his Epistle...

“God is love, and the (person) whose life is lived in love does, in fact, live in God, and God does, in fact, live in (them).”

                                                            I John 4:16 (Phillips)

This is what makes this such a special time of the year.  Such a sentimental time of the year.  Such a warm and loving time of the year when people do things they don’t always do and remember those who are so easily forgotten the rest of the year.  This is also what makes this such a difficult time of the year to not be together with family and friends, to be forgotten and alone.  For this is the season when the world almost stops, if but for a moment, and lets love be center stage and the hearts of even the most callous are softened as together we reflect on the awesome possibility that love did come down at Christmas and that love can make all the difference in the world...even in this world where love is the one thing there is just too little off.

Our story tonight  reminds us that God isn’t moved by power or prestige or fame or fortune...God isn’t impressed by what we do to show how holy and righteous and important we are.  God is move and impressed by how we love when no one seems to notice; when it costs us more then we have; when we are not trying to impress anyone, including God but are simply letting God’s love have sway in our lives and letting it touch those we touch in ways unnoticed by the world.

The story takes place a long time ago in a far away country where few people have traveled.(“Why The Chimes Rang”-Raymond MacDonand Alden)

It is a story about two boys who lived in a little village and dreamed of visiting the great church in the city a number of miles away.  It was a beautiful church, high on a hill, with stone columns and dark passages and a grand entrance leading into it.  It was so large that standing at the entrance one could hardly see to the other end, where the choir stood by the marble altar and the powerful organ which filled the church and even the country side with it’s beautiful music.  It was so powerful that sometimes when it played, the people for miles around would close their shutters and think a thunderstorm was coming.  There was no other church like it...and as if this wasn’t enough to make it special, it had a wonderful chime of bells high up in a tower which were not meant to be played by the organist but were heard only on Christmas Eve when the greatest and best offering was laid on the altar as a gift to the Christ Child.  They were the most beautiful, sweetest bells in the world, sounding like angles far up in the sky.

Now the bells had not been heard for a long time... some said they didn’t believe there were any bells in the tower at all...others said that they remembered someone telling them they had heard the bells a long time ago...others said the wind rang the bells and still others that only the angels could set them swinging.  Yet they all went to church on Christmas Eve and brought their gifts to the Christ child and waited...hoping to hear the bells.

Pedro and his little brother, the two boys who lived in the village, had dreamed of going to the big church on Christmas eve and bringing their gift to the Christ child too.  It wouldn’t be much, just one silver coin, but it was all they had.  So they set out one bitterly cold Christmas Eve day to walk to the city and see the great Church on Christmas Eve.  It was a long hard walk but by nightfall they saw the lights of the big city before them and were about to enter one of the great gates when they saw something dark on the snow near their path, and stopped to see what it might be.

It was a poor woman, who had fallen just outside the city, too sick and tired to get in where she might have found shelter.  She lay in the soft snow, asleep and if someone didn’t wake her, she would never wake again.

Pedro knelt down beside her and tried to rouse her, tugging at her arm and rubbing some snow in her face.  But it was no use...and he was too small to carry her into the city.  So he sent his little brother on by himself to find some one to come and help him.  “Go to the church,” Pedro said, “everyone is there now.  And when you come back, bring someone to help her.”  I will stay here and keep her from freezing, and perhaps get her to eat the bun that is left in my pocket.”

“But you will miss the service, Pedro.”, protested  little brother.

Yes, but you need not miss it too.  You must see and hear everything twice, Little Brother - once for you and once for me.  I am sure the Christ child must know how I would love to come with you and worship Him; and if you get a chance, Little Brother, slip up to the altar without getting in anyone’s way and put this little silver piece there for our offering...and forgive me for not going with you.”

The great church was a wonderful place that night.  Everyone said it had never looked so bright and beautiful.  When the organ played and the thousands of people sang, the walls shook with the sound and even Pedro outside the city wall could feel the sound of the music.

At the close of the service came the procession of offerings...with many great gifts proudly laid upon the altar.  Wonderful jewels, baskets of gold, creations of art and literature, even the King took from his head the royal crown and lay it gleaming on the altar.  But no Christmas chimes were heard...and the people shook their heads and said they didn’t believe the story of the chimes and doubted if they ever rang at all.

Then procession was over, the closing hymn was being sung when suddenly the organist stopped playing as if he had been shot and all turned to see the old minister, standing by the altar holding up his hands for silence.  Not a sound could be heard from anyone in the church, but as the people strained their ears to listen, there came softly, but distinctly, swinging through the air, the sound of chimes in the tower.  So far away, yet so clear and pure - sweeter then anything they had ever heard before.  The Christmas chimes were ringing!  Then they all stood up together and stared straight at the altar to see what great gift had awakened the long-silent bells.

4

But all that the nearest of them saw was the childish figure of Little Brother, who had crept softly down the aisle when no one as looking, and had laid Pedro’s little piece of silver on the altar.

Indeed, it doesn’t take much to make God’s heart glad; just a little love at work in our lives, changing our hearts and making us available in places of human need.  For as Mother Teresa has so well put it, we are not called to do great things for God; we are called to do small things with great love.            

Then Christmas comes again, and again, and again, all year long!

Indeed: “Love came down at Christmas

            love all lovely, love divine;

            love was born at Christmas,

          star and angles gave the sign.

         Worship we the Godhead,

          Love Incarnate, Love Divine;

         Worship we our Jesus;

         But wherewith for sacred sign?”

Therefore: Love shall be our token,

                Love be yours and love be mine,

               Love to God and all (people)

               Love for plea and gift and sign.”

Dec 18, 2011 Advent 4

Luke 1:26--38 

 26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

   29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

   34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

   35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”

   38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Smuggling God Into The World

The extraordinary occurs in the ordinary, the uncommon in the common, the divine in the human.  This is the mystery we celebrate in Christmas.  Where ever love is in human form, something of God is there too, in divine form.  Our task is to “keep our eyes skinned“, open for the miracle which is hidden in the common.

It wasn’t as easy as it looks, believing this promise and living with the mystery.

Consider Mary as Barbara Brown Taylor seeks to capture the moment the angel comes to her.

“If you decide to say No you simply drop your eyes and refuse to look up until you know the angel has left the room and you are alone again.

Then you smooth your hair and go back to your spinning or your reading or whatever it is that is most familiar to you and pretend that nothing has happened...Or you can set your book down and listen to a strange creature’s strange idea.  You can decide to take part in a plan you did not choose, doing things you do not know how to do for reasons you con not entirely understand.  You can take part in a thrilling and dangerous scheme with no script and no guarantees.  You can agree to smuggled God into the world inside your own body.”  (Mothers of God, pp. 150-53)

We stand with Mary and Joseph this morning in pure amazement at the wonder of Christmas and how God did it and continues to do it, in loving in human form.

“Blessed Is She Who Believed” 

It is incredible - that Dr. Luke  would report that a young woman would conceive without a man in her life; that Elizabeth, Mary, and Joseph would believe what they were told, by angels. 

It is incredible -not that God could do it.  But that they believed it would be done through them!

The miracle of Christmas you see, is not that God was born of a virgin, but that a virgin believed God was to be born through her.  Not that the Holy Spirit caused Mary to conceive, but that Joseph believed it was the Holy Spirit who did it.

As Luther says, “The miracle of Christ as Virgin-born, is a trifle for the mighty God.  That God becomes a man is an even greater miracle.  But the most amazing of them all is that the maiden finds the angel’s message credible and that the Child he promised would be hers.”

God chose her.  

God chooses us, to also be God’s instruments.  To be a human vessel through whom something of God’s love and grace becomes human and lives among us.

Blessed indeed are those who believe that there can be a fulfillment of God’s purposes through them, for they shall see God.  And know the true meaning of Christmas.

Dec 11, 2011 Advent 3

John 1:6-8, 19-28

6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

 19 Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.”

   21 They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”

   He said, “I am not.”

   “Are you the Prophet?”

   He answered, “No.”

   22 Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

   23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”

   24 Now the Pharisees who had been sent 25 questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

   26 “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”

   28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

“One Whom We do Not Know”  

                          “Love came down at Christmas,

      love all lovely, love divine;

      love was born at Christmas,

      star and angles gave the sign.”

And the world did not know him...

And his own people did not accept him. 

And as strange as it sounds. even among us,  more often then we would like to think, He stands as “One whom we do not know.”

He is among us in places we least expect, in people we find it difficult to be civil toward let alone love and in ways we are far from wanting to take as our way on this earth.  For His way is the way of love and that is the hardest thing for us to come to in this world.  We say we know what love is yet we reject it as the way to run our world.

It is too soft, we say; too sentimental, too easy, too forgiving.  It’s a good way to get yourself killed,  And of course, that’s exactly what happened to this Baby who commands so must attention at this time of the year.

     

Without love, as Paul reminds us so emphatically in his hymn to love, no matter what we do or believe, we are nothing!

That’s what makes this season such a powerful time of the year.  This is no casual thing we are celebrating.  This is the cosmic event of all time! 

For Jesus is pure love coming to dwell in a world where hate has its sway and such love is always on the cutting edge of life going where we do not want to go and asking us to follow in places we would never go alone.

Indeed, 

          “Love came down at Christmas,

love all lovely, love divine;

love was born at Christmas,

star and angles gave the sign.”

To believe this is to also have to, want to, dare to, rejoice to sing:

          “Love shall be our token,

Love be yours and love be mine,

Love to God and all people,

Love for plea and gift and sign.            

“One Whom You Do Not Know”  

God is always a surprise.  There is always more mystery than knowledge with God.

God came in human form and God comes in human form.  It is the challenge and task of faith to see God in places we expect Him not and in people we know not.

Jesus was a surprise to all who thought they knew what to expect from God.  He was not the One they were looking for - they didn’t want a ‘word become flesh’ - that was too close for comfort.  

God is always new even as God is forever of old.  God is always close to us, even as God dwells in the far places of heaven.  God is deeply intimate even as God is powerfully creative.  God is among us as One who would change us into His likeness day by day as we walk with Jesus and dare to see him as the One God sent.  This means that we become more human not less, more alive, more joyful, more loving, more real and that our religion becomes not something which keeps God in our control , but something which opens us up to the mystery and surprise which God always is!

Dec 4, 2011 Advent 2

Mark 1:1-8  

1 The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, 2 as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

   “I will send my messenger ahead of you, 

   who will prepare your way”— 

3 “a voice of one calling in the wilderness, 

‘Prepare the way for the Lord, 

   make straight paths for him.’”

   4 And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 6 John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

 “The Mystery Hoped For”

There is a lot of mystery in our religion.  Today we look the end in the eye and are not afraid, for we wait for what God has promised, a new heaven and a new earth.

There is a lot of mystery when we get close to God.  Perhaps the greatest mystery is grace - that God will never give up on us.  He waits patiently, lovingly, eternally, for our turning to Him and then as a Shepherd gathers and carries us in his Bosom.  This is the mystery we hope for - and live in!  The mystery of Christmas!

 “The Mystery Foretold”

Today we are reminded not to rush headlong into our celebration of Christmas.  To not start the celebrating until we have had time to be still and discover again how deep is God’s love.

We are reminded that we may well need to clean up our own act first, to come to repentance and open ourselves to change, before we can really celebrate Christmas.

Repentance - sounds like pouring cold water on a happy time, but it isn’t.  It is the way to make a happy time happier.  For it opens us to the joy of forgiveness and the joy of Christmas.  God waits for us to come to repentance, so God can love us in a way which makes a real difference in our lives.  So God can soften our hard hearts and make us more loving, as God is loving.

There is something of Scrooge in all of us.  We are reminded today to confess this so we can truly celebrate the mystery of Christmas.

Nov. 27, 2011 Advent 1

Mark 13:24-37

(Jesus is speaking)

24 “But in those days, following that distress,

   “‘the sun will be darkened, 

   and the moon will not give its light; 

25 the stars will fall from the sky, 

   and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’

   26 “At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.

   28 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 29 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door. 30 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

    32 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. 34 It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.

   35 “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”

“Watch - In Faith”

The word watch often goes with the word out.

“You better watch out, you better not pout...”

It carries more from the sense of a threat of something bad  happening rather then a promise of something good happening.

This produces more fear, guilt, apprehension which leads to up tight, unhappy living and believing.  Not able to let go and live.

How contrary to the spirit of Jesus, who came that we might have life abundantly!

So...lets put in a different preposition - in.

Watch in faith, in joy, in thankfulness, in anticipation of something good going to happen.  Watch in faith for the mystery of God to unfold before your very eyes. 

It will...it has...it does...it is happening now!

To stay awake means to stay faithful at each moment in our lives.  Living not in the idolatry of certainty, but in the ambiguity of faith which wrestles with mystery and dares go beyond reason. Christmas is not reasonable.  It is mystery opening before our eyes when we are open to seeing it.  This is what we watch for!

 “The Mystery Awaited”

Mystery means (5th meaning in Webster) “any truth unknowable except by divine revelation.”  That is, mystery can be something I discover and live with, embrace and experience through encounter.

We don’t solve the mystery of the end time.  We live ready lives, alive and alert to the mystery of God’s love as it has been, is, and shall be in our world.

These words are not a threat;  they are a promise.  A promise which creates hope in our lives.

To be watching for Jesus return is to be watching for the return of a lover, and you know how exciting and energizing that can be!

We are to live as those who know a great mystery, and live to experience that mystery in deeper and deeper ways in our lives.  As Albert Einstein has said:

“The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious.  It is the source of all true art and science (and at the center of all true religion).  He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead.”

 “And Yet O lord”  

“Such a text must be approached cautiously, lest we say too much and therefore be too much misunderstood.”  Walter Brueggemann, Proclamation 3, p. 13

It is tempting to try say too much about the second coming; and use it to try scare people

into being good and in believing in God, like we  do with children.

          “You better watch out, you better not pout,

you better not cry, I'm telling you why,

Jesus Christ is coming to town.” 

This is not what these words are about.  They are about hope and are meant to generate anticipation, excitement, expectation, and joy because the One we are waiting for is a friend, not an enemy.  We are to get ready for something big which is going to happen.

In this, which is not the easiest time of the year, we hear this word of hope which gives meaning and direction to all we do.  Our God, who has come to dwell with us is coming again, now and at the end of time - we need not fear, we can live in hope!  For with God there is always hope.  And with God’s coming we experience hope.  Nothing can happen to take this away from us, for no matter what happens God is present for us and will turn the worst into the best.  Christmas will be a joy, no matter what!

“There were many periods in our past when we had every right in the world to turn to God and say, ‘enough.  Since You seem to approve of all these persecutions, all these outrages, have it Your way: let Your world go on without Jews.  either You are our partner in history, or You are not.  If you are, do Your share; if You are not, we consider ourselves free of past commitments.   Since You choose to break the Covenant, so be it.’

And yet, and yet...We went on believing, hoping, invoking His name...We did not give up on Him....for this is the essence of being Jewish:  never to give up- never to yield to despair.”  A Jew Today, p.  164  Elie Wiesel

Nov. 20, 2011 Christ The King Sunday

Matthew 25:31-46

    31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

   34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

   37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

   40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

   41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

   44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

   45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

   46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

 “Come, You Blessed”

We all know that words can be cheap.

We all know that faith which is not lived is hollow, empty, meaningless; that without love faith is nothing.  I Cor. 13:1-3

We also know that we fall far short of being who we say we are. 

Jimmy and Tammy Baker are not the only hypocrites in the world.

So we come here again, not to gloat, but to be kept on course. 

Just as the rocket to the moon has to constantly be adjusted lest it miss the mark.

Today we come to the end of the Church year and we hear a word of hope from Ezekiel and Paul.( Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24; Ephesians 1:15-23)  The story is complete; we can live in the sure and certain hope of the resurrection and in the confidence that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

Then the Gospel turns our eyes back to life in the here and now, with a strong reminder that what counts is not just dreaming about what will be, but loosing  ourselves in what is.  Not just star gazing, looking for the coming of the Glorious Kingdom, but seeing the places and people whom God has placed in our path, through whom we are given the opportunity to live out our words, and make our faith active in love.  Not because we are trying to gain heaven, but because we are being led by, and are open to the nudging of the Holy Spirit.  This makes us vulnerable to the real human needs which cross our paths and call for our compassion.

We don’t  always know we are doing it.  It is not trying to be religious; it is being open to what comes our way and responding with something which has in it the love of God.  Did you notice, both those who were affirmed and those who were rejected, didn’t know why!  The depth of our goodness and badness can often best be seen when we think no one is looking.

 Sometimes we are being evil and don’t know it.

i.e.  Scott Peck story of the father who gave his second son the gun his older brother used to committed suicide, as a Christmas present.

Is it possible that whenever I evade my responsibility to stand up for my brother or sister in need, turn my back, pretend I don’t hear, can’t see, become indifferent, it is a sign of the evil within me, which keeps God from  loving through me?

Likewise, when ever I stop to help, to care, to live in some small way, the love of God is there to do its powerful thing. As Mother Teresa says, 

“All gestures of love, however small they be,

in favor of the poor and the unwanted.

are important to Jesus.”

This makes God glad, for God’s Kingdom is still coming on earth as it is in heaven.  Then God can say what God wants to say: 

“Come ye blessed (of my Father),

inherit the Kingdom prepared for you,

from the foundation of the world.”

“The Least of These”

Two things stand out in these words of Jesus.

1.  The Kingdom of God has a lot to do with the nobodies of this world.  It always has and it always will.

Life in the Kingdom is forsaking greatness for smallness,

      property for people,

      one’s own religiosity for others needs,

      the protection of respectability for the vulnerability of compassion.

“It is (our) care and love and service of ‘the very least’ of the human race , the helpless, the presumed ‘godforsaken’ the lawbreakers, the ‘little ones’ which are the marks of the righteousness expected of the authentic children of God.  “  

This is where God looks to see what it is we really believe!

2.  We do this best when we don’t know we are doing it.  We do this best when

we lose ourselves in being kind and doing good, not because this is

the way to get to heaven, but because this is what naturally flows out

of a life touched by the love, grace, and mercy of God.

When he was a wise old man Aldous Huxley wrote: “It is a bit embarrassing to have been concerned with human problems all one’s life and find at the end that one has no more to offer by way of advice than try to be a little kinder.”

It is as a Western Mystic who said, ”Do you want to be a saint?  Be kind, be kind, be kind.”

And it was Mother Teresa who said: 

“At the end of life we will not be judged by

                  how many diplomas we have received

      how much money we have made

      how many great things we have done,

We will be judged by

        ‘I was hungry and you gave me to eat

        I was naked and you clothed me

        I was homeless and you took me in.”

“Hungry not only for bread - but hungry for love.

Naked not only for clothing - but naked for human dignity and respect.

Homeless not only for want of a room of bricks - but homeless because of rejection. 

This is Christ in distressing disguise.   What we do to them we do to him! “

Nov. 13, 2011 22nd Sunday of Pentecost

Matthew 25:14-30

14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

   19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’

   21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

   22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’

   23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

   24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’

   26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

   28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

“Afraid To Risk”  

What we do not use we waste.  Money is no good unless it is used.  God’s gifts of

grace, love, forgiveness are of little good if they are only kept to ourselves.  In fact, they create self-righteousness in us which leads to no good.

“In this one sense, we human beings are akin to the battery in a flashlight; unused, it corrodes.  What we do not use is wasted; what we do not share we cannot keep.”

Earl A. Loomis, “The Self In Pilgrimage” p. 7

What we fear to risk we loose.

“A child who fears he won’t be liked never finds out how likable he could be.  A young girl who believes she’s so unattractive she’ll never have a date actually contributes, by worry , to the poor appearance that fulfills her fears.” Dr.  Loomis p. 6

When we are so afraid of making a mistake that we do nothing, we loose more than if we risked, and made a mistake.  God has a cure for mistakes.  It’s called forgiveness.  

Dare to risk making a mistake and discover what God can do with what little you might have to make a big difference in someone's life, a difference which makes a big difference to God!

Therein lies the abundant life Jesus promised.

 “Doing Something With Our Talents” 

The emphasis of this parable is on the servant who did nothing - who was afraid to fail so didn’t try.

The parable warns us against doing nothing with the Gospel...our talents...our uniqueness...our creativity...our ideas and skills...our unique self.

When we don’t use it we lose it!  

It is okay to fail; make a mistake, have a flop.

It is not okay to do nothing.

What ever God has created in us, that is our talents.

What ever we do with it, that is the measure of success in life.

As Paul Simpson Duke suggests: 

“Jesus’ point seems to be that the worst we can do is nothing.”  

“The parable proclaims joyous freedom under great grace.”

Nov. 6, 2011 All Saints Sunday

Matthew 5:1-12

1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.

The Beatitudes

    He said:

   3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, 

   for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

4 Blessed are those who mourn, 

   for they will be comforted. 

5 Blessed are the meek, 

   for they will inherit the earth. 

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, 

   for they will be filled. 

7 Blessed are the merciful, 

   for they will be shown mercy. 

8 Blessed are the pure in heart, 

   for they will see God. 

9 Blessed are the peacemakers, 

   for they will be called children of God. 

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, 

   for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

   11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

 “Rejoice And Be Glad”

“I’m no Saint!

I’ve made some mistakes.

I’d do some things differently.

I’d not do some things I did, and do some things I didn’t do.

I’m no Saint!”  Gerald Ford as he was being considered for appointment to V. Pres.

Most of us do not consider ourselves to be saints.  In fact, it is almost an insult to be called a saint.  It means you are not in touch with real life.  As the agnostic Robert Ingersoll describes, you are someone who is “...not quite sick enough to die nor healthy enough to be wicked.”

This is a gross contradiction!  A saint is someone who is very human. 

 A saint is someone who wants much out of life but refuses to crush life to get it.  Who is passionate enough to not hurt others as he/she drinks deeply of life. 

A saint is someone who dares to live as a human with an eye towards heaven.  Who can be “poor in spirit” because he/she doesn’t have to pretend.  Who can be “meek” because he/she doesn’t have to always be right.  Who can be” merciful” because he/she doesn’t have to judge others.  Who can “hunger and thirst after righteousness” because he/she doesn’t have to have all the answers all the time.  

A saint is a very human person who can “rejoice and be glad” amidst persecution, suffering, grief or pain because he/she lives on earth with an eye on heaven; and the love of God which comes from above.

“Enjoy The Luxury Of Doing Good”

We usually think of a saint as someone extraordinary.  A St. Francis of Assisi, a Maximillian Kolbe - the catholic priest who took the place of a condemned polish Jew at Auschwitz and was canonized a saint in l971, or a Mother Teresa.  A Raoul Wallenberg, Martin Luther King, or Dietrick Boenhoffer.

We don’t often think of ourselves as saints.  Yet this is what we are - all of us!

Or at least it can be said we are called to be saints!  We are called to live out our faith in the places where it makes a difference in our lives and in the lives of others.  Even as we are called saints numerous times in Scripture.  See Ps 31:23; Ps 31:4;Rom 1:7

This is what we are - saints!  Sinners who have not yet given up and thrown in the towel.

Real alive, vibrant, passionate, gutsy human beings who struggle to make faith “ a power and passion in authority among the powers and passions of life” (P. T. Forsythe) and not just a little frosting on the cake.

The Beatitudes are our marching orders.

“poor in spirit” - humble enough to laugh at our own foolishness and not claim to have all the answers.

“mourn” - feel the sadness of life and grieve deeply.

“meek” - Not weak, but strong in a gentle way.

“hunger and thirst for righteousness” - who desire something more than the easy life.

“merciful” - compassionate; walking with those who suffer; the luxury of doing good.

“pure in heart” - living from the inside out;  genuine; trustworthy; real.

“peacemakers” - something every one wants and seems to evade us all.

“persecuted” - to be a saint is no easy calling; it will mean conflict;  dangerous calling!

God calls us to be saints and God is with us, empowering us in this calling.  Nothing can keep us from being happy; Nothing can keep us from enjoying the luxury of doing good, loving justice, and walking humbly with our God!