Devotion - Monday, November 26

I am grateful to our friends at Peace Congregational Church who brought Lilian Daniel into our community.  Pastor in Glen Elyn, IL, Lillian was a contributor to the "Animate" curriculum we use on Sunday morning.

She used as her text a reading from James and a reading from Romans - both of which raised the issue of criticism and coveting. 

"We live in a culture of critique," she said.  We have learned the erroneous lesson that the strongest person in the room is the one who can tear down everyone else in the room. 

On coveting, she reminded us that the abundance of God debunks the myth of a limited sum gain.  Jesus' feeds the 5,000 with a few morsels of fish and bread.  In God's Kingdom there is plenty to go around - so long as we share.

"What would it be like if we responded with gratitude?"  How might the world be different (be more like God intends) if we interjected into cycles of criticism the attributes of the other?  When we covet, often it isn't simply that we want something - we want to take that something away from someone else.

This is the most appropriate time of the year for us to have these kinds of conversations.  All around us there are enticements to abandon God's call to look for the lowly and to embrace our own greed.  We are being asked, "What would you like for Christmas?" by family and friends.  "What I want is for God's will to be done." 

God's will will be done, but in our prayer we pray that it might also be done in our lives. 

Let us pray that God's will strengthen us in our resolve to overcome a culture of critique and a culture of covetous.  In their place might we come to  live in a culture of gratitude and gratefulness.

Sermon - Christ the King Sunday

John 18:33-37    

                                                       Christ the King 

It is Christ the King Sunday.  I reminded you of that last Sunday – sort of looking ahead.  And, as promised, I did sit back there and listen to the chatter as you were coming in – whether you were talking about your preparation for Christ the King; recounting stories of Thursday’s meal; bragging about Friday’s shopping; or bemoaning or Saturday’s football game.     

I had no intention of shaming you with the results to such an informal and completely unscientific poll.  I know that Christ the King Sunday is a difficult sale.  There are just too many things vying for our attention.  It comes at a bad time, right?  This time of the year is given over to family gatherings, and to parties, and to wrapping up the fall’s activities.  It is difficult enough, when it comes the Sunday before Thanksgiving (which is usually the case.)  When it comes Thanksgiving weekend – you can almost forget it. 

Calendar aside – Christ the King is a difficult sale.  It isn’t a concept which plays very well in our society or among our culture.  This great nation was birthed at the overthrow of a “King.”  We are getting along just fine without one, thank you very much.   Aren’t practically all the images of “king” negative ones?  Aren’t they the folks who sit on thrones and expect loyal subjects to be – well – subject to them?  It is difficult to convince freedom-loving people everywhere that we need to place ourselves under the control of a “king.” 

Something within the psyche of most red-blooded Americans recoils at such a suggestion.  

That may be our reaction at the front of our cerebral cortex.  But deep within our subconscious and down there within our learned behaviors allegiances have been made and we do allow ourselves to form strong devotions.  And those glittering images which have competed for our attention these past seven days are working to expose the king or kings to which we are devoted.  There is a reason why advertising folks make so much money.  They are really good at selling us an image of ourselves – an improved self-image.  Of course that improved self-image involves owning their automobile or giving the perfect diamond to our love-interest.  It is not all about buying things – there are also many allegiances sought for listening to the right kind of music or following a particular political agenda, or presiding over the ideal social gathering. 

We do allow a number of “kings” to rule over us – we just aren’t always aware of their power and influence. 

The task of Christ the King Sunday involves asking us “to which king will you devote your life?”  It is also devoted to helping us realize that some kings are power-hungry and demanding, while other kings (can be) serving and life-giving.  This day is not merely a choice between which king you will serve; it is a choice about the kind of king we will follow.

Practically all the language about Christ as King comes from those portions of the Gospels where Jesus is on trial or about to be executed.  This reading from John 18 has been very carefully selected.  Inherent in the exchange between Jesus and Pilate is this debate over what kings and kingship is all about.   

Pilate was the most powerful man in Jerusalem.  He was there, assigned to this post, by the Emperor.  He was the ruling authority; he was the one to whom allegiances were to be made.  And yet, particularly in the Gospel of John, we can see his wavering over what to do about Jesus.   

Look carefully, back at the 33^rd verse.  See that word, at the end of the first phrase?   “Again.”  Pilate enters the praetorium “again.”  He had been moving between Jesus and the Jewish leaders and the angry crowd – trying to find a way around this impasse.  In the extended story (which stretches from John 18:28 to 19:16 Pilate moves back and forth a total of nine times.  This movement back in forth of the one who is supposed to be the one with authority is contrasted with Jesus, who will not be moved – physically or in his words.   Jesus remains.  Jesus is unflappable.   

Pilate asks him if he presumes to be a “King.”  Notice in verse 34 Jesus’ reply to him.  Jesus, on trial for his life, remains unimpressed with Pilate’s power and authority.  Jesus’ reply moves Pilate to the point of personal decision.  “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?”  It is practically the same question put before the disciples as Jesus moves them past “Who do people say that I am?” to ”But who do you say that I am?”  Remember that it is that question which leads to Peter’s confession, “You are the Christ.” 

It is pretty clear, by this point in the story that Jesus isn’t going to make it.  All of the forces have been aligned against him.  He has been warned of the danger which awaits him in Jerusalem but goes there anyway.  He was told to stay out of the Temple but goes back and continues to heal on the Sabbath.  But it is not a defeatist attitude which motivates Jesus at this point – it is his single minded dedication to bringing the Good News to the poor, mislead people.  “You want to know what kingship looks like?” he asks.  “Here it is.” he says.  “Devotion to God and to God’s created ones.” 

Here is where you need your Bibles.  If you have them, look at the verse which is cut off from today’s appointed text.  Look at John 18:38.  (By the way – this is the latest excuse for your smart phone going off during worship.  If you download a bible on your phone, and start to use it, you have a built in excuse if yours starts to ring.  “I had it on so I could look up the verse the pastor said wasn’t in my bulletin.”) 

Look at John 18:38.  Jesus and Pilate have been going back and forth about Kings and kingship and whether Jesus fits the mold.  Jesus is working to break the mold.  In the exchange (and this part is on your bulletin,) Jesus says “For this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.  Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”  Jesus isn’t about public opinion or presumed power.  Jesus is dealing with “Truth.”  The stinger is when he says that everyone (not just some but EVERYONE) who belongs to the truth will listen to his voice.   

The verse which is cut off, is John 18:38.   It reads, “Pilate asked him, ‘What is truth?’” 

And while you have your bibles turned to that verse – look at what comes next.  Pilate shuffles again.  He breaks himself away from Jesus’ presence and goes out to the Jews to tell them, “I find no case against this Jesus.”   

Pilate knows; he understands; is realizes that he is being asked to choose.  Maybe I should have  worded that differently:  Pilate’s portrayal, in the Gospel of John, is of one who realizes that we will all choose between kings; that we will all have to decide whether we will be devoted to this way of thinking, or to that way of living.  And, the writer of John’s Gospel allows it to be Pilate who teeters between choosing the truth and merely going along with the crowd. 

It is Christ the King Sunday.  It is the day designed to ask each of us, “Who do you say Jesus is?”  You have heard that question earlier in the church year, when we read the story of Jesus asking his disciples.  Now, at the end of the Church Year, we hear it again.  This time, the stakes are higher.  It isn’t simply a matter of opinion, this question as to who we see Jesus to be, it is a matter of life and death.  In the story, it is Jesus’ life or death.  Here, today, it is ours. 

Amen.

Devotion - Tuesday, November 20

If you are on Facebook you no doubt have at least a couple of friends who are about mid-way through their "30 days of thankfulness."  I do not mean to sound critical; I have been very impressed with their posts, and impressed at the depth of their reflection.  It is a good discipline, and one which has given increased attention to the portion of my morning prayers in which I express my thankfulness to God.

We do have so much to be thankful for.  More than we can imagine; more than we can recall. 

In The Small Catechism, Luther encourages us to remember this as we pray The Lord's Prayer.  "Give us this day our daily bread," is a request that God will provide for us bread, but also life and family and a means of making a living.  All that we have is a gift from God; a gift which comes to us daily.

The Manna came daily to the Israelites, wondering in the wilderness. It came daily so they would not horde, so that they would be continually reminded that it is God who provides.  Part of my morning prayer of thankfulness gives a nod toward remembering this - even as I remember the money in my retirement account or invested.

What are you thankful for?  How actively do you list those things?  And do you realize those things to be gifts from God? Or things which you have earned and thus deserve?

Mostly, I am thankful for you all.  It is a wonderful thing to have a community where I can be myself (spelling errors and all) and yet know that you care about me.  It is a gift from God to be connected to others and to have persons praying for me and for whom I can pray.  It is an expression of God's grace - to be in this relationship with you.

Devotion - Monday, November 19

It isn't often that the appointed lessons for Sunday match the appointed daily lessons.  This is happening, now.

Yesterday's gospel reading was from Mark 13 - the so called "apocalyptic" chapter of Mark.  Today's daily reading is from Luke 12 - his inclusion of the same sort of thoughts. 

Luke is less comforting that Mark; in his writings, Jesus is more critical.  He says, "You see a cloud rising in the west, and you say at once, 'A shower is coming'; and so it is... You hypocrites!  You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky; but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?"

I want to pull your attention from the insult, to encourage you to focus on the question.  Why is it that we can interpret so many other signs in our world, but are so slow to recognize what God is doing?

Perhaps it is the image of God which developed during the Newtonian period of history.  That would be of God as unchanging, unflappable.  When researchers were shaking the solid foundations of everything, Christians developed this notion in order to provide comfort and security.  Just as we have moved a bit beyond Newtonian physics, so also has theology found other ways to speak of God.  The creativity and spontaneity celebrated in more recent physics theories is more in line with the Bible's talk of God as a living, active presence among us.

This moving, active presence among us is changing things - changing us.  And, there are signs and indications that this change is occurring.

Are we able to read them?  Do we even see them?

If today's reading is like yesterdays; then today's devotion ought to end a bit like yesterday's sermon - not with some dictum but with questions:

1. What are the signs in your life, today, of God's activity?
2. How will you interpret them; how will you act on them?

I know - you have classes and projects and many other things to be learning.  But this time my often repeated tease is appropriate - choose between things which will fade and end with the semester or your collegiate career and the things which envelop us in eternal salvation.

Sermon - November 18, 2012

25^th Sunday in Pentecost – Year B(Pr 33)  

Mark 13:1-8, Daniel 12:1-3    

                                                                  Just What is the Crisis? 

I didn’t stay for the whole game yesterday, but I was there to experience the first quarter.  In case you aren’t football fans, Clemson jumped out to a 13 point lead – which was pretty much expected.  The only thing surprising about those first three Clemson drives is that two ended in field goals rather than touchdowns.  What happened next was not expected.  And as it occurred, there was a palatable gasp of disbelief making its way through the stadium.  NC State rattled off 21 unanswered points – 14 of them in two, one play drives.   

The conversation in the stands, prior to the kickoff, was “Which BCS Bowl is Clemson going to.”  As the 21^st NCSU point went on the board, the world seemed to be crashing around us. 

The world crashing around us is a scary thing.  To think that everything we had aspired to might be removed is frightening.   

If the horror and dread of losing something as relatively unimportant (yes – I said something as relatively unimportant) as a football game could do that to Tiger fans everywhere, what is to be our response to losing something which really matters? 

Maybe there is nothing which matters more than football.  I will have to say, it seems that way, at times.  We have to put up signs and threaten to tow cars in order to keep the parking lot from becoming a disaster on Saturday.  I know it can be tough to get a spot on Sunday morning, but there are plenty across the street – an option not available on game day – the parking deck is full, too.

Sometimes it seems that the things designed to amuse us or impress us hold our attention very well.  While the things to which we claim our lives are committed – well, they are held a bit closer to the vest.  And, while no one may doubt our allegiance with regard to the Pack or the Gamecocks – do they know of our convictions with regard to the coming of the Kingdom of God? 

We have just heard two apocalyptic readings.  In each, images are shared of great anguish and of great buildings being thrown down.  Both Mark and Daniel felt it important to speak to a people who were looking, at horror, at what was happening before them.  And, they weren’t talking about the Saturday afternoon football game.  They were referring to the future of the people of God.

It is impossible to know whether the people were worried before Daniel or Mark did their writing, or if Daniel and Mark were pointing out the tenuous nature of the lives they were living.  This is particularly true in Mark – where all of this conversation arises as the disciples are looking up, at the impressive buildings of the temple.  They are rather amused by what they see and impressed with what human ingenuity has been able to accomplish.   Jesus tells them to stop prairie-dogging it and pay attention to the things which really matter.  

I wrote a little about this in the e-news on Wednesday.  There are an increasing number of doomsayers around us these days.  Some seem to just be stirring things up; others seem to be right on target.    

In Harcombe on Tuesday, a guy I hardly know gleefully announced to me that there are now thirty states with petitions underway to seek succession from the Union.  Really?  All this over the results of the last election cycle? 

One surprising and alarming sub-plot of the election was the shifting of political allegiances after Hurricane Sandy hit New York City.  The politician in question said he had to support for President someone who would take global warming seriously.  If you have seen the photos from Venice you might understand why those living near the sea level have fears of doom and gloom.  Serious and worrisome stuff. 

If you have a Facebook account or are checking your Twitter feed, then you know of the tremendous shock waves circling the globe over Thursday’s announcement that Hostess would no longer be making Twinkies!  “How will live without them?” was re-tweeted more times than I care to count. 

Israel and Hamas have resumed bombings.  Those of us who came of age during the time when nuclear winter was an active fear remember that what we feared most was a middle-east confrontation in which two or more of the nations there had nuclear capabilities.  What happens if Hamas gets a rocket to make it to Jerusalem, and Iran loans them the nuclear fuel?   

I would raise a different sort of concern.  Practically every indicator which exists tells us that the role of organized religion is on the decline.  The mirage of a few large, mega congregations distracts us from the continued and steady dead of more local, neighborhood churches.  There aren’t as many folks joining the big ones as there are leaving the small ones.  “Church” as we have known it is certainly changing.  You can call it a re-adjustment; or you might label it as an ending. 

There are doomsayers all around us.  And they have lots of fodder to feed on.  Do you feel anxious?  Are you worried?  One of the books I recommend to parents of college students is titled “College of the Overwhelmed.”  In it, the director of mental health services at Harvard University puts together a persuasive argument that the world into which they have stepped is overwhelming to the current collegiate generation.  What about you – their parents, (or grandparents)?  

It is the aging of the Church which has me most concerned and anxious.  

Were the people to whom Daniel and Mark wrote already anxious, or were Daniel and Mark trying to wake them from some amusement induced indifference?  Hard to know.  Impossible to say.

But, I fear it is indifference, or a paralysis of anxiety, which most threatens us.  A professor at Luther Seminary asks how we read these texts differently if the danger on the horizon isn’t the Roman destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, but the slow demise of the Church.  Are we alarmed?  Do we see the danger at the door?  It is not about institutional preservation – what worries me is an end to the proclamation of the Good News.  Of course, some would say that proclamation has already ceased; that the current decline is a result of churches becoming more of a social club than a center of life-changing study and devotion. 

Jesus doesn’t tell his disciples there are no reasons to be concerned.  There are reasons – lots of reasons.  And, he tells us, there will always be reasons.  There are many facing us - as a nation, as inhabitants on planet earth, as persons on the membership rolls of Christian churches.   

Now that we are feeling a bit anxious, it is time to remember that “apocalypse” is really a “revelation”.  And what is revealed is our Biblical apocalyptic writings is God’s steadfastness.  What is revealed to us is that God will remain by our side and in our midst.  These are but the birth pangs.  They are the interlude which stands between us and the joy and happiness which is to come. 

Will we experience that joy and happiness?  Probably not unless and until we share in the prophet’s pain.  It is unlikely to occur, so long as we lose our voice yelling at a Saturday afternoon football game, when all we muster on a Sunday morning is a few well scripted and softly stated “Amen’s.”   

Today, this Sunday, is the final Sunday of Ordinary Time.  Next Sunday, our church year comes to an end.  Next Sunday, we will be asked to affirm Christ as our King.  During the week to come, it is appropriate for us to reflect on all that the past year has brought us, all that a year’s worth of readings and sermons have taught us.  That is what we ought to do during the week, so that next Sunday when we walk through those we are prepared to shout at the top of our lungs, “YES, JESUS!!!  YOU ARE MY LORD AND MY MASTER!  AND I AFFRIM YOU AS MY KING!”

That is what is supposed to happen next Sunday.  But I am going to sit in that chair back there and listen and I am going to keep a tally.  And I fear that there will be more conversations about the football game with USC than discussions of what our commitment to Christ as King means in our lives.   

Please don’t let that happen. 

I think I can survive wars, rumors of war.  Even famine and earthquakes do not scare me as much as a lukewarm Church filled with folks whose devotion to Christ is about as deep as a puddle of rainwater on the sidewalk. 

The thing which frightens me the most is the intensity with which we seek out our amusements; and the mediocrity with which we approach our professions of faith.  And I fear that even God’s faithfulness can never fully overcome the latter. 

Amen.

 

 

Devotion - Thursday, November 15

Luke 11:53 reveals the evil intentions of the crowd.  Luke tells us that among those who were hearing Jesus' speak were some who were trying to "catch him at something he might say."  They had already made their minds up about him.  They didn't like him.  They didn't like what he was saying.  So nothing he could say was going to be heard.  The only thing they were listening for were opportunities to trap him.

How hopeless a situation was that?

When Jesus tries to say something, to quell their fears or to address their issues, he is seen as two faced.  He points out that this is the crowd who considered John a lunatic because his disciples were so rigid and then they considered his disciples slackards because they were not fanatics.

We know the end of this story;  we know where this type of behavior leads.  Eventually, those who will not listen succeed in murdering the messenger.  But God will not allow the message to be silenced.

Sometimes the important lesson to be learned is the simple one:  prejudging and condemning places us on the wrong side of God's struggle to bring the world to the place where Jesus reigns.

Can we learn to hear and to listen?  Can we develop the ability to abide by Luther's explanation to the 8th commandment and "interpret our neighbor's actions in the kindest way"?

Let's hope so.  Let us make it so.

Devotion - Wednesday, November 14

It may just be a phase, and we will see how long it lasts, but these days I am continually struggling with the question of how Christianity has become something we think about as opposed to a way of life.

It may have something to do with the recent election cycle.  The talk of how a Christian should vote centered on which candidate one ought to vote for, rather than the issues which matter to the Christian community.  There are some hot button issues, but (in my opinion) far too little discussion about the way in which scripture speaks to issues of war, and oppression, and equity.

Christianity seems to have become an opinion we hold with regard to some particular questions; rather than a way of life.  "Are you for or against?"  "Don't you agree that this is right and that is wrong?" 

I was reading Luke 11:37-52 this morning.  Jesus condemns those who heap regulations on others, while ignoring those instructions which apply to their own lives.

How can we make blanket statements about the behavior of others when we fail to even be willing to examine our own failings?

I realize that we all do some of this, in our own heads or in the privacy of our own homes.  But the reason Jesus established the Church was so we would have a place to help one another in these discussions and decisions.  Yet, it is impolite to have these kinds of conversations.  So we show up on Sunday morning and ask, "How are you today?" without ever being prepared to hear the answer and discuss the response.

I don't mean to scold anyone.  Do not hear this as anything other than an invitation to more fully embrace the opportunity set before us to experience community and togetherness in a way which few (very few) can even imagine.

Jesus didn't come to the earth to change our minds.  He could have done that by dropping information bombs from heaven.  Jesus came so that we might lived changed lives.  Let us hope and pray that did not come in vain.