Martin Luther is often quoted. I don't mean in religious journals or
research papers or even sermons. I am thinking of the one-liners which
both expressed his theology and generate smiles. Some (perhaps most)
are folklore - but they serve their purpose just as well.
He is
quoted as saying, "Lowly maggot fodder that I am - if God could love me
then God can love even the lowest scoundrel among us."
Keeping
this thought in mind, it is much easier for me to overcome disagreements
with those around me. Luther's words remind me of the ease with which
we identify the faults and the lowly intentions of others; while
excusing or totally overlooking our own.
I Thessalonians ends
with the admonition "Be at peace among yourselves." Being at peace
means being understanding of the other and making allowances for the
actions which might give cause for ill will - except for the deeply
rooted awareness that I am likely to take note of the actions of another
while overlooking my own. Being at peace is easier when I remember
that "lowly maggot fodder that I am," I am likely to have offended in
ways I don't even realize.
There is no intended target out there
for this message. I do not have a particular situation in mind as I
write. What came do mind as I meditated on this was the tendency for
misspoken comments to find a foothold when we are under stress or strain
- which you certainly are these days.
Be understanding of each
other. Be self-aware. It allows for a greater opportunity to be at
peace among our friends and fellows
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Monday, December 10, 2012
Devotion - Monday, December 10
At this time in the semester, the LCM Lounge (and many of the Sunday
School rooms) turn into study carrels. The Church set it up that way,
making sure there is 24/7 access, Wi-Fi, a printer, etc. When I arrived
last evening I saw the three or four studying students in the Lounge
itself; only after my meetings ended did I realize there was someone
squirreled away in the far back room. This was the student who remained
on my mind and in my heart as I approached this morning's time of
reflection and prayer.
As this student was leaving the building, my offering of rather generic, encouraging words ("Do well on those exams.") was met with a request ("Please pray for me.") I took that as equally generic and replied, without hardly looking up from my work, "I will. Every day." To which the reply was, "Could you pray with me right now?"
How often do we fail to understand the specificity of a request from a sister or brother? Why are we too inclined to promise to do something for you - later. And in the case of prayer, to do it when we are alone, rather than in your presence? And the most troubling question of all - do we forget to return to the person or the issue when we are in our time of dedicated conversation with God.
"Could you pray with me now?"
Why did the one who felt the need for prayers have to ask the one from whom prayers were requested to be specific and immediate? Why had I not realized the request was timely? Isn't the request for prayer always urgent?
The LCM Lounge and the SCS rooms will be open for you this week. Come by and use the building. There are goodies in the frig and some remaining items from the UniLu Christmas Party Stocking Stuffing extravaganza. Most importantly (but humbly) there is a pastor sitting in the first office to the left, praying for you. Praying for you by name. Praying for you; praying with you.
As this student was leaving the building, my offering of rather generic, encouraging words ("Do well on those exams.") was met with a request ("Please pray for me.") I took that as equally generic and replied, without hardly looking up from my work, "I will. Every day." To which the reply was, "Could you pray with me right now?"
How often do we fail to understand the specificity of a request from a sister or brother? Why are we too inclined to promise to do something for you - later. And in the case of prayer, to do it when we are alone, rather than in your presence? And the most troubling question of all - do we forget to return to the person or the issue when we are in our time of dedicated conversation with God.
"Could you pray with me now?"
Why did the one who felt the need for prayers have to ask the one from whom prayers were requested to be specific and immediate? Why had I not realized the request was timely? Isn't the request for prayer always urgent?
The LCM Lounge and the SCS rooms will be open for you this week. Come by and use the building. There are goodies in the frig and some remaining items from the UniLu Christmas Party Stocking Stuffing extravaganza. Most importantly (but humbly) there is a pastor sitting in the first office to the left, praying for you. Praying for you by name. Praying for you; praying with you.
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Sermon - Advent 2, Year C
Luke
3:1-6 & 1:68-79
Malachi
Anyone who had been assigned to
read the lessons on Pentecost Sunday or at an Easter Vigil liturgy had to smile
a little smile this morning when you heard me stumbling over the names for the
regions presided over by Philip, brother of Herod. “Ituraea?”
“Trachonitis?” “Abilene” is
rather easy to pronounce, but what of the guy who ruler of this city – “Lysanias?” Like the readings on Pentecost, difficult
names to pronounce, of places and people we have long since forgotten. If you were the lay person asked to read on
those other occasions, you had to be thinking this morning, “About time one of the
pastors had to read the difficult list.”
Why are all those names included
in Luke’s text? I had this discussion
earlier in the week, with the pastor at Walhalla, Frank Honeycutt. I asserted that they were there in order to
document the year when John begins his ministry. “One reference would have done that,” Frank
replied. Besides, this reference only
confuses the time line. While each of
the persons mentioned eventually figures into the unfolding story, their reigns
don’t align as purely as Luke 3 would have us believe.
“No.” Frank insisted. “They are mentioned so Luke can drive home
the point that all these powerful people are passed over when God has a word to
share.” Look right there at the last
phrase of verse 2. The word of God
came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. The word of God does not reside in the
structures of power – whether that be structures of political power or
structures of religious power. The word
of God goes where it will – and God wills it to go to John, out there, in the
wilderness.
Luke will employ such a tactic
many times in his writings. And we had
all better get used to it, because we are in the year of Luke. From now till next Christ the King Sunday, we
will be reading from Luke on Sunday mornings.
And throughout Luke there is a theme of God passing over the rich and
powerful in favor of the lowly and powerless.
Such a message was an added “good news” to Luke’s readers. I guess it is yet to be determined if we will
accept this aspect of his presentation as good news.
Emperor Tiberius, Governors
Pontius Pilate and Herod and Philip; high priests Annas and Caiaphas – the word
of God is spoken to them, but not by them.
The word of God is spoken by John, the guy living out there along the
river bank.
Or I should say, it will be
spoken by John, eventually. Did you
notice or realize that John doesn’t speak in today’s readings. He is spoken about, but he does not
speak. Others speak about him.
The first to speak about him was
his father. Zechariah’s song is in Luke
1. (Luke 1:68-79) It serves as our Psalm for today, and is
printed on the bulletin insert. The lines
of this song are unique, a collection of verses and thoughts from various
Psalms. The message is clear and
straight forward – God has looked with favor upon His people and is sending to
them one who will save them “from the hands of our enemies.”
Zechariah’s speech is notable for
other reasons. Do you remember that when
a messenger from God told him that he and Elizabeth would have a child;
Zechariah doubted that such a thing was possible. Elizabeth was old and considered barren. Zechariah lost his ability to speak. It is only at the naming of the child, when Zechariah
affirms that he is to be named “John” that he regains the ability to talk. And Luke 1:68-79 is what he says.
As Pastor Hartsell noted in his
sermon last week, God sees us and remembers His promise to us. God comes to us, giving us reason to hope and
then fulfilling our hopes. Zechariah’s
song addresses this, “The dawn from on high will break upon us, to give
light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our
feet into the way of peace.”
That is what Zechariah has to say
about John. In Chapter 3, we read what
Luke has to say about him.
These lines are borrowed from
elsewhere in our bibles. Do you remember
where? I think I pointed this out in the
E-news note to prepare you for this morning.
We talked about it around the dessert table at last night’s progressive
dinner. Luke quotes from Isaiah 40: The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord. Again, high hopes and welcomed promises. Luke remembers the words of Isaiah, spoken to
people who had lived through some of their darkest days. Luke repeats Isaiah’s assurance that God will
come and set them free from the hands of those who hate them, the tyranny of
those who oppress them.
In Luke’s day, it was the ruler
of Rome – all those folks mentioned in verse 1.
In the time of Isaiah, it was the Babylonians.
If you turn in your bibles to
Isaiah 40, you might have footnote, similar to the one in my bible. Isaiah 40 begins what is sometimes called
Isaiah II. There are three sections in
Isaiah: one which speaks to the time just prior to their being overrun and
carried off into exile; one (the one that begins at Chapter 40) which is
offered during the time of transition in their fate; and a final section which
speaks of the rebuilding of their lives and their religious practices. Isaiah 40 was an assurance that God had not
abandoned His people. They were sitting
in darkness and may have feared that they had lost their status in God’s
eyes. “Not so,” God assures them.
Same situation, same message,
some six-hundred years later. This time
it is Rome who rules over them; this time the message will be none other than
the long expected Messiah. Tiberius and
Pilate and Herod and Lysanias and Annas and Caiaphas – these are not your
liberators or redeemers. The one who can
save you is the one whom God is sending.
This is the John Heyer
moment. Whenever he critiques my
sermons, which he does practically every week, he asks me, “What do you want me
to do?” Here is what I understand this text is
telling us to “do.”
We are too often enamored with
the power structures of our world. We come
to rely on the alliances we have made and the systems we have put into
place. They usually function very well –
particularly for those who created them, because in the creation process we
tend to make them favor us as much
as possible. But the message of Luke 1
and Luke 3 is to remind us that we cannot find our salvation, or our hope, or
any reason to be encouraged in such structures.
The word of God goes to the wild-eyed guy living in the wilderness. It goes to the one who cares not what happens
to the rulers of the state or to the rulers of the religious structures. It goes to the one who isolates themselves from
all of that and listens for the word.
This is an established pattern –
for God and God’s word. And what we need
to do, today, as we go home is to consider the degree to which God is also
saying this to us and to our structures.
Is Christmas about what God did
back there, in that place and time; or is Christmas the perpetual arrival of
the One who turns the tables in the Temple, angers those in authority, upsets
the social norms, and is eventually executed at the insistence of the crowd who
had once welcomed his word but turned on him when they learned the
ramifications of accepting that word?
I join the majority who like the
way things are. I live rather
comfortably in the configuration as it is.
But all week I have struggled with the question of whether the rest of
the world’s populations would accept my complacency.
That list of difficult to pronounce
names were the who’s who of Luke’s day. All
of them are gone. The only reason their
name are remembered is because they are included in someone else’s story. The nations and regions they fought so desperately
to control – wiped off the map and given different names by new rulers who were
themselves eventually overthrown.
But the word of God
continues.
This is the John Heyer
moment: when we decide whether we will remain
wedded to the systems of our day or if we will find a way to place ourselves in
the wilderness where we might silence the noise long enough for the word of God
to come to us.
I hope so.
Amen.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Devotion - Thursday, December 6
Happy St. Nicholas Day!
December 6 is the feast day of Nicholas, Bishop of Myra. At a time when the Church was just finding acceptance in the world, Nicholas defined what it means to be a Christian and a servant of others.
He lived at the turn of the 3rd and 4th centuries. He was alive and serving during the years of Constantine's conversion. Myra, where he served as Bishop, is now known by the name "Demre," Which is in modern-day Turkey. He would have been witness to the establishment of Constantinople as the center of Christian life.
Nicholas is acclaimed as a Saint because of his generosity. The legends include his slipping out of the manse at night in order to give money to those in need. His attempts to be hidden by darkness was compromised when the recipients would see his red Bishop's cape fade into the darkness of night.
In a world in which Church seems to collect money, Nicholas is a reminder that Christ came to give. He instructs all of us on what it means to follow the way of Jesus.
The modern day facsimiles of St. Nicholas still give gifts. But their gifts are seldom anonymous, and rarely are they presented to those in need. Occasionally, you will see one standing by a red kettle, ringing a bell. But they attract far less attention than those who leave new automobiles in driveways or diamond pennants hanging on the tree.
On this St. Nicholas Day, remember the servant of Christ who (long before there was a celebration of Christmas every December 25) understood and acted on Jesus' instructions to those who have plenty. He is a favorite of Children. And all God's children need to learn from him what it means to share.
December 6 is the feast day of Nicholas, Bishop of Myra. At a time when the Church was just finding acceptance in the world, Nicholas defined what it means to be a Christian and a servant of others.
He lived at the turn of the 3rd and 4th centuries. He was alive and serving during the years of Constantine's conversion. Myra, where he served as Bishop, is now known by the name "Demre," Which is in modern-day Turkey. He would have been witness to the establishment of Constantinople as the center of Christian life.
Nicholas is acclaimed as a Saint because of his generosity. The legends include his slipping out of the manse at night in order to give money to those in need. His attempts to be hidden by darkness was compromised when the recipients would see his red Bishop's cape fade into the darkness of night.
In a world in which Church seems to collect money, Nicholas is a reminder that Christ came to give. He instructs all of us on what it means to follow the way of Jesus.
The modern day facsimiles of St. Nicholas still give gifts. But their gifts are seldom anonymous, and rarely are they presented to those in need. Occasionally, you will see one standing by a red kettle, ringing a bell. But they attract far less attention than those who leave new automobiles in driveways or diamond pennants hanging on the tree.
On this St. Nicholas Day, remember the servant of Christ who (long before there was a celebration of Christmas every December 25) understood and acted on Jesus' instructions to those who have plenty. He is a favorite of Children. And all God's children need to learn from him what it means to share.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Devotion - Wednesday, December 5
The words from the book of Isaiah inform so much of our Christmas
story. This Sunday's Gospel Lesson consists of verses from Isaiah,
spoken in reference to John the Baptist. Isaiah will return to
prominence when we hear the words, "Therefore the Lord himself will give
you a sign. Look, the young woman* is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel"
The words of Isaiah are front and center during this time of great anticipation and expectation.
How wonderful it would be if the Isaiah verses appointed for today were embraced with equal zeal.
Today's verses are Isaiah 2:1-4. Read them. Read them several times. Meditate on them. And keep them in your heart as you catch glimpses of TV News. In a world that is torn apart by war; in a world where we turn to war as a way to solve differences; in a world where we believe that violence (and here I would include violence sanctioned by a nation or country) can somehow stop violence - in such a world the words of Isaiah 2 need to be repeated, shouted, and applied to our lives.
When the house of the Lord is lifted up as the highest of the mountains, then our spears will become plowshares and our swords pruning hooks.
Here are those verses from Isaiah:
The words of Isaiah are front and center during this time of great anticipation and expectation.
How wonderful it would be if the Isaiah verses appointed for today were embraced with equal zeal.
Today's verses are Isaiah 2:1-4. Read them. Read them several times. Meditate on them. And keep them in your heart as you catch glimpses of TV News. In a world that is torn apart by war; in a world where we turn to war as a way to solve differences; in a world where we believe that violence (and here I would include violence sanctioned by a nation or country) can somehow stop violence - in such a world the words of Isaiah 2 need to be repeated, shouted, and applied to our lives.
When the house of the Lord is lifted up as the highest of the mountains, then our spears will become plowshares and our swords pruning hooks.
Here are those verses from Isaiah:
In days to come
the mountain of the Lord’s house
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
and shall be raised above the hills;
all the nations shall stream to it.
Many peoples shall come and say,
‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob;
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths.’
For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations,
and shall arbitrate for many peoples;
they shall beat their swords into ploughshares,
and their spears into pruning-hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more.
the mountain of the Lord’s house
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
and shall be raised above the hills;
all the nations shall stream to it.
Many peoples shall come and say,
‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob;
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths.’
For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations,
and shall arbitrate for many peoples;
they shall beat their swords into ploughshares,
and their spears into pruning-hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Devotion - Tuesday, December 4
On Sunday mornings, we make use of the "Sundays and Seasons" worship
aids. This includes the prayer petitions, for The Prayer of the
Church. This past week, there was a petition for "nations of the world
experiencing distress." There was the encouragement to name such
countries. In preparing the assisting minister at the 11:00 service for
this petition, he replied, "I am going to need more sheets of paper, if
you want me to list them all."
It may be that electronic media and the ability to travel quickly to any region of the world means that we are more aware that we once were. Or, it could be that there are more and more societies and civilizations in upheaval. There is distress among the nations.
The prophet Isaiah spoke of distress among the countries. He wrote of the causes of these hardships; he also wrote of how God might guide the people through them.
Isaiah writes: "Zion shall be redeemed by justice, and those in her who repent, by righteousness." Justice - righteousness. These are attributes which never cease to reveal God's hope and promise.
Those parts of the world where uprisings and conflicts are found might be quietened with a good dose of justice. Yes, it is true, justice can sometimes be politicized. But we know what is fair; there is a reluctance to move there when it costs me something. Here is where righteousness compliments justice - if I am righteous in my own life, then justice becomes personal and I begin to consider what is the right and proper thing for me to do.
The Advent we seek is more than a personal gift; it is an event for the whole of creation. The heavens announce the birth of Messiah. Our preparations and our celebrations need to include such a cosmic understanding of what it means to welcome the Christ child - not merely into our hearts, but into our world.
It may be that electronic media and the ability to travel quickly to any region of the world means that we are more aware that we once were. Or, it could be that there are more and more societies and civilizations in upheaval. There is distress among the nations.
The prophet Isaiah spoke of distress among the countries. He wrote of the causes of these hardships; he also wrote of how God might guide the people through them.
Isaiah writes: "Zion shall be redeemed by justice, and those in her who repent, by righteousness." Justice - righteousness. These are attributes which never cease to reveal God's hope and promise.
Those parts of the world where uprisings and conflicts are found might be quietened with a good dose of justice. Yes, it is true, justice can sometimes be politicized. But we know what is fair; there is a reluctance to move there when it costs me something. Here is where righteousness compliments justice - if I am righteous in my own life, then justice becomes personal and I begin to consider what is the right and proper thing for me to do.
The Advent we seek is more than a personal gift; it is an event for the whole of creation. The heavens announce the birth of Messiah. Our preparations and our celebrations need to include such a cosmic understanding of what it means to welcome the Christ child - not merely into our hearts, but into our world.
Monday, December 3, 2012
Devotion - Monday, December 3
The calendars collide this time of the year. In my readings this
morning, I was directed to passages appropriate for the beginning of the
season of Advent. These next four weeks are to be given over to
preparing our hearts, our lives, and our world for the arrival of God's
Anointed One. Yesterday was the First Sunday of Advent; there are three
more to follow.
It is so very important that we prepare.
I was a bit stronger in my presentation at the 8:30 services yesterday. By 11:00 I had enough encounters with God's children, presenting themselves and seeking God's outpouring of grace, that I softened my tone. Even Jonah discovered that God's tough words are conceived far from those to whom we intend to speak them. When he get up close and among them, Jonah's convictions were confirmed, that God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and Jonah's harsh message melted away.
Realizing yesterday the needs among God's children for a word of Grace, I had lost the harsh edge by the time we got to the 11:00 service.
Earlier, when it was just me and my thoughts, I had introduced the season of Advent by saying, "Unless there is a need in your life for the arrival of Messiah, why should Messiah come?" This morning, I am once again alone with my thoughts, and so I return to the harsh and sometimes critical question of "Are you making any room for the Babe?"
God is gracious and merciful. And (following a Christmas theme) he will love you even if you have been naughty. It isn't that God punishes the naughty, it is their own actions which block the inflow of God's presence and thus leave them with a life less than God would offer.
Don't come up short. Don't receive a sample and think "This is enough." Prepare your heart and your life for the arrival of God's Anointed One. Move deeply into the season of Advent.
Yes, Christmas is coming. I know, you are entering exam period. There are conflicting calendars and events compete for our attention. But don't allow Advent to be the one that takes it on the chin. Look carefully and discern where Christ needs to become a part of your life, then welcome Christ in.
It is so very important that we prepare.
I was a bit stronger in my presentation at the 8:30 services yesterday. By 11:00 I had enough encounters with God's children, presenting themselves and seeking God's outpouring of grace, that I softened my tone. Even Jonah discovered that God's tough words are conceived far from those to whom we intend to speak them. When he get up close and among them, Jonah's convictions were confirmed, that God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and Jonah's harsh message melted away.
Realizing yesterday the needs among God's children for a word of Grace, I had lost the harsh edge by the time we got to the 11:00 service.
Earlier, when it was just me and my thoughts, I had introduced the season of Advent by saying, "Unless there is a need in your life for the arrival of Messiah, why should Messiah come?" This morning, I am once again alone with my thoughts, and so I return to the harsh and sometimes critical question of "Are you making any room for the Babe?"
God is gracious and merciful. And (following a Christmas theme) he will love you even if you have been naughty. It isn't that God punishes the naughty, it is their own actions which block the inflow of God's presence and thus leave them with a life less than God would offer.
Don't come up short. Don't receive a sample and think "This is enough." Prepare your heart and your life for the arrival of God's Anointed One. Move deeply into the season of Advent.
Yes, Christmas is coming. I know, you are entering exam period. There are conflicting calendars and events compete for our attention. But don't allow Advent to be the one that takes it on the chin. Look carefully and discern where Christ needs to become a part of your life, then welcome Christ in.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
