in response to the gospel, as found in Matthew (28: 16-20)
what's the world's best Sunday-school question?
this: "What is your favorite Bible verse?"
well, it's at least among the best.
what better an ice-breaker?
be it Vacation Bible School, children's choir, or (the aforementioned) children's Sunday-school...
be it adult Bible Study, men’s group, UMW--that's United Methodist Women, for those not in the tradition and by the way, an incredible group that keeps the church, at least the United Methodist Church, going...but that's just UMW (and that's just my opinion)
Perhaps it is asked at youth group...prayer-shawl sewing circle, nursing-home devotional, hospital room,
or even death-bed-side...
it gets the wheels turning!
"what is your favorite Bible verse?”
think about it, really...
It's a good question.
Well dear ones, here is mine: The Great Commission, as it has come to be known, written in Matthew's gospel account (Chapter 28, verses 16-28).
It is the parting shot, the final movement, the last words of Matthew (actually, they are the last words of Jesus in the book, just recorded in Matthew)
Go into all the world (as some say), or 'all nations' as the New Revised Standard Version puts it.
baptizing, teaching,
and remembering that "I will be with you, always…"
my first pastor to work alongside, one of my first mentors and a friend, Renfroe Watson,
used to speak good truth about what happens when we 're-member'.
the gist is that we put the pieces back together. we re-attach. come back together.
Remembering is more than just fondly recollecting.
Let me go ahead and get it over with: my Star Wars illustration, that is. I could write a book (and I just may at that) on the subject. I could preach a whole sermon, or the ever [currently] popular 'sermon series' on the gospel threads found in Star Wars (all 6 movies, though I would say the first two--Episodes IV and V, in particular).
Though I won't friends--not today. Today, I'll keep to one point. Sure, that flies in the face of the 'three point sermon'. Good. Anyway, on with the Star Wars illustration...
There is a poignant scene, where Obi-Wan leaves Luke in a control room. They are on the Death Star—it's intense enough, and then Obi Wan (Luke's sage, mentor, and newest friend) takes off. He leaves Luke with it!
Moreover, little does Luke know (though Obi Wan knows fully) that it's the last time they will see each other. That is, see each other face to face in the earthly--or galaxian--physical sense. And then, Obi Wan (characterized so wonderfully by Sir Alec Guinness) says,
“the Force will be with you, always…”
It's enough to send chills, amigos!
I was five when I first experienced that. Star Wars was, and is, is my favorite movie of all time no question…but its just that: my favorite...and a movie. It’s not real, its not life. Hurtful as it is to tell a young man, full of dreams, it's fiction.
Though I recall something else too...I was around that same age when I first experienced this—“I will be with you always…”.
And what is so cool about this is the fact that it's real. It is life.
That will send chills , amigos! And it still does.
Now, to the one who doesn't believe, it's foolish. Sure. That Apostle Paul will tell you that, and sure, I can dig it.
Though I believe, and I want to so live my life that you may come to believe these words too. To me, this is deep--abysmally deep. It is the greatest comfort I could ask for, the most powerful assurance I could receive--"I will be with you always".
What more could I ask for? Now that's a good question too!
It’s my favorite, among all the Bible verses…today. It works out so nicely that the lectionary calendar suggests this for the gospel reading (for May 18, 2008), but I think there's so often so much more involved than a simple list of suggested readings...
My favorite passage of Scripture depends largely on what's happening around me, and I am inclined to think that's the way it's supposed to work.
‘Sizt im Laben’ they would teach us in seminary, our 'situation in life'. That's very often how I recognize my favorite passage of Scripture. What's taking place around me? What's happening to others? There may be a prophet that needs to be your favorite, or a psalm or proverb. Maybe even one of Paul's spankings!
Star Wars, Citizen Kane, Raging Bull, The Sopranos...
Hamlet, The Raven, War and Peace, Twain, Lewis, Mozart, Beethoven's 5th, Miles Davis, Rembrandt, Michelangelo, Mona Lisa...
These are some of the greatest pieces of art, and some of the best artists in history.
This list could go on--in fact, I know it does--and you can even disagree, providing proof, though these come pretty close. The common thread is that they are all trying to paint the picture of how we understand life.
Though if there were nothing real...
art would have no inspiration...
This is my favorite Bible verse, or verses, today, because it’s what I need to hear today.
I believe too that we all need to hear it, and at Shiloh, we need to hear it today!
Living this story, living this life—the life of a disciple, imitating, emulating, mirroring as best you can the life of Christ Jesus, doing it, is the heart of this passage.
That'll make it a favorite, in my book, any day.
Its about going out into the fields and the hedgerows…the back alleys and the bars, the grocery stores, 'the Wal Marts', Rave Theaters,
The word 'mission' means going out, going forth, being sent. And the words 'mission' and 'commission' have a great deal of similarity, no?
Your school, your job, your family reunions …the opportunities are endless!!! Use them!!!
“We’ve a story to tell to the nations” (what a hymn, what a way to capture our call). Someone, for the sake of Charles Wesley (and John too!), read that hymn--from the United Methodist Hymnal--and try to see how those words can became real to you...and, more importantly, how you can make them real to the person next to you.
A quick word or two about call—
When one receives a phone call--and I am the single worst person to talk about answering the phone--one can do several things:
answer the call (respond)
let the phone ring or cut the ringer off (ignore)
answer, but hang up (respond, but turn back)
call back at some point (respond, but conditionally)
Any one of these is a real, human, response or reaction to a call. Though only one or two of them can come close to saving a dying world.
Matthew 28 calls you into action. That'll make it my favorite, any day.
VBS, MDO (Mom's Day Out), prayer groups, new worship, morning worship,
Block parties, free oil changes for single moms, Financial Peace University, a wi-fi coffee house for young folks (or old folks who use the web)...
We have so many ways to connect, and share, and to indeed tell this story to the nations. So many ways to answer that call.
Though folks--friends--if we spend more time finding ways and getting good at keeping people away, or keeping people out (outrageous), or even thinking more about of ourselves than others, and spending more time on ourselves then the world we are called to save…
Then we are declining this great commission…
I think its as much a commandment as a commission, now that's just me.
But if that is the case, we are breaking a commandment and that, I think, would be living in sin. I know...I’m a sinner.
Though I serve a Lord and Savior that gave his life--and is giving his life to you today--to forgive…just accept the gift. It's like answering a call, no?
If Jesus commands, commissions, asks, or even hints at something he wants me to do—
I’m going to try to do it.
If I don't, I have no business calling myself a disciple.
If we’re not, we have no business calling ourselves a church.
We have so many ways to share to good news—
Use them! Be the church, build the Kingdom of God. And know that as we do this, someone, not just anyone, but the One is with us…always…amen.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Do You Feel Something Moving Under Your Feet?
In response to the reading of Matthew 28:1-10
You may have heard the Bible called 'the greatest story ever told'.
If that is true, and I believe it is, today (this passage) would have to be the greatest part, of the greatest story ever told
I mentioned freedom this morning at our sunrise worship
Freedom…
That was my first thought, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion…
God-given gifts, free. Gratis.
I cannot get over that. That we people of faith, the Christian faith,
Easter people many have called us, do the most peculiar of things.
Fro example, we are free to speak any way we want, though we choose to speak with words like: crucifixion, atonement, repentance, forgiveness…resurrection
These aren't words you here on MTV all that much, or Fox,
or even (the devil himself) HBO.
These aren’t words you hear here too often, even though we’re free to say them--
free as we can be. The actual problem is that we just don’t say them…even in our congregations—
we’d much rather talk about football, or politics, or other religions
Some would say--rightly, in Alabama--that football is all three.
We are free to say these things, though we do say them far to seldom.
Exercise that freedom of speech!
We have freedom of assembly, which means you are free to stay home
or go to another church, or go to the mall, the movies, or Pizza Hut,
Applebees’, Dairy Queen, anywhere…
And yet some of you choose to spend much, or most, of this entire last week
with your church either working or worshipping.
Granted, I can count that number of people on one hand, but it’s a start. We do strange things with our gatherings--that freedom of assembly--and seem to do it at terribly inconvenient times.
We sing strange songs (sometimes, not often, though sometimes, even new songs) and we talk out loud to some...presence, some 'one' we cannot see
and we read stories that are thousands of years old. That’s a peculiar gathering—a bizarre assembly, in fact!
you had the freedom to stay home and yet you came, cold,
shivering maybe…
more than that, you were glad and joyful, excited even…
Keep exercising that freedom of assembly!
And we do (still) have freedom of religion—some say that means freedom of any religion
...and it sure does. Our faith is not the only one in the world, and that doesn't for a minute make us better, truer, or morally superior (that would give us the ability to judge--something we LOVE to do)
A peculiar thought, but its true. You could just as easily go to a mosque
or a synagogue or a temple or a shrine or anywhere pagan gods are worshiped…
but you come here...to Shiloh.
I just named three freedoms that our national constitution gives us, entitles us to,
certain inalienable right some would say. And we go and do terribly alien things with them.
Though this morning we gathered to proclaim a new freedom,
to proclaim to the victory of life over death, to proclaim the resurrection
and to proclaim the year, the day and the name…of The Lord.
And that brings with it a whole new kind of freedom—
Freedom to love unlovable, to forgive the unforgivable,
to plan for the unlikely and to practice the impossible.
There is a wonderful addition to Matthew’s account of this story, as compared to John's…the earthquake.
An earthquake…think about what an earthquake can do. I can only really remember one earthquake, the one in 1989 which disrupted the World Series.
It is, as far as I can tell, a naturally occurring phenomena. It has causes, a reaction to an action, though it's not really a personal decision: to have an earthquake.
An earthquake, depending on it's magnitude, is a force of the earth that changes people’s lives, takes lives, sets things ablaze and sometimes even opens up the earth. An earthquake literally shakes the world to its core…
There is one time, when an individual caused an earthquake...
and it took Superman to save the earth from it's quaking!
Through the use of nuclear (not "new-cue-lur") weapons, Lex Luthor shook and opened the earth, and he took lives, and he paid for it, and...it's only a movie. A story on a big screen.
This gospel, the resurrection at the heart of the gospel, is nothing short of that, an earthquake, but a real one.
It changes people’s lives, puts life upside down you'd say, and yes--it can take lives. It cost Jesus his…
This gospel can set this world ablaze and shake this earth to its core…not in a good way, but in the best way.
It's quite the metaphor for what a Risen Lord calls you to do.
This resurrection gave Christ freedom over death,
He gives us that freedom to be saved from death,
so that we may freely go and fight for this world against death. Death caused by a brokenness--our own sin, our own evil.
Death we bring upon ourselves.
Keep up your exercise, keep exercising your freedom.
Don't exercise freedom (only) in a national, constitutional sense, exercise it in the strangest ways you can dream up!
Go Lex Luthor on this earth!
Be the one to start an earthquake that will shake this world,
an earthquake that will change this world--an earthquake even Superman can't touch!
This gospel is an earthquake that will save this world, in the name of Jesus Christ.
Amen.
You may have heard the Bible called 'the greatest story ever told'.
If that is true, and I believe it is, today (this passage) would have to be the greatest part, of the greatest story ever told
I mentioned freedom this morning at our sunrise worship
Freedom…
That was my first thought, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion…
God-given gifts, free. Gratis.
I cannot get over that. That we people of faith, the Christian faith,
Easter people many have called us, do the most peculiar of things.
Fro example, we are free to speak any way we want, though we choose to speak with words like: crucifixion, atonement, repentance, forgiveness…resurrection
These aren't words you here on MTV all that much, or Fox,
or even (the devil himself) HBO.
These aren’t words you hear here too often, even though we’re free to say them--
free as we can be. The actual problem is that we just don’t say them…even in our congregations—
we’d much rather talk about football, or politics, or other religions
Some would say--rightly, in Alabama--that football is all three.
We are free to say these things, though we do say them far to seldom.
Exercise that freedom of speech!
We have freedom of assembly, which means you are free to stay home
or go to another church, or go to the mall, the movies, or Pizza Hut,
Applebees’, Dairy Queen, anywhere…
And yet some of you choose to spend much, or most, of this entire last week
with your church either working or worshipping.
Granted, I can count that number of people on one hand, but it’s a start. We do strange things with our gatherings--that freedom of assembly--and seem to do it at terribly inconvenient times.
We sing strange songs (sometimes, not often, though sometimes, even new songs) and we talk out loud to some...presence, some 'one' we cannot see
and we read stories that are thousands of years old. That’s a peculiar gathering—a bizarre assembly, in fact!
you had the freedom to stay home and yet you came, cold,
shivering maybe…
more than that, you were glad and joyful, excited even…
Keep exercising that freedom of assembly!
And we do (still) have freedom of religion—some say that means freedom of any religion
...and it sure does. Our faith is not the only one in the world, and that doesn't for a minute make us better, truer, or morally superior (that would give us the ability to judge--something we LOVE to do)
A peculiar thought, but its true. You could just as easily go to a mosque
or a synagogue or a temple or a shrine or anywhere pagan gods are worshiped…
but you come here...to Shiloh.
I just named three freedoms that our national constitution gives us, entitles us to,
certain inalienable right some would say. And we go and do terribly alien things with them.
Though this morning we gathered to proclaim a new freedom,
to proclaim to the victory of life over death, to proclaim the resurrection
and to proclaim the year, the day and the name…of The Lord.
And that brings with it a whole new kind of freedom—
Freedom to love unlovable, to forgive the unforgivable,
to plan for the unlikely and to practice the impossible.
There is a wonderful addition to Matthew’s account of this story, as compared to John's…the earthquake.
An earthquake…think about what an earthquake can do. I can only really remember one earthquake, the one in 1989 which disrupted the World Series.
It is, as far as I can tell, a naturally occurring phenomena. It has causes, a reaction to an action, though it's not really a personal decision: to have an earthquake.
An earthquake, depending on it's magnitude, is a force of the earth that changes people’s lives, takes lives, sets things ablaze and sometimes even opens up the earth. An earthquake literally shakes the world to its core…
There is one time, when an individual caused an earthquake...
and it took Superman to save the earth from it's quaking!
Through the use of nuclear (not "new-cue-lur") weapons, Lex Luthor shook and opened the earth, and he took lives, and he paid for it, and...it's only a movie. A story on a big screen.
This gospel, the resurrection at the heart of the gospel, is nothing short of that, an earthquake, but a real one.
It changes people’s lives, puts life upside down you'd say, and yes--it can take lives. It cost Jesus his…
This gospel can set this world ablaze and shake this earth to its core…not in a good way, but in the best way.
It's quite the metaphor for what a Risen Lord calls you to do.
This resurrection gave Christ freedom over death,
He gives us that freedom to be saved from death,
so that we may freely go and fight for this world against death. Death caused by a brokenness--our own sin, our own evil.
Death we bring upon ourselves.
Keep up your exercise, keep exercising your freedom.
Don't exercise freedom (only) in a national, constitutional sense, exercise it in the strangest ways you can dream up!
Go Lex Luthor on this earth!
Be the one to start an earthquake that will shake this world,
an earthquake that will change this world--an earthquake even Superman can't touch!
This gospel is an earthquake that will save this world, in the name of Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Friday, April 4, 2008
He Comes, He Goes, ...He Dies
Palm Sunday
March 16, 2008
(Preached at Shiloh UMC, Ryland/Huntsville, AL)
Gospel Reading: Matthew 21:1-11
You are part of something special today! (I once again heard that “every day you wake up sucking air, you’re part of something special”), though I’m here to tell you that…
YOU are here today, part of something special. You are also going against the grain.
You make not think of yourself as a hippie (those that don’t understand hippies tend not to like them) but you are definitely anti-establishment today!
You’re a radical. You’re counter-cultural—you have come to a place of worship, freely proclaiming that you are a believer in Christ Jesus.
Now that could seem like every Sunday—that is, it would be, if you came to church every Sunday, but…
Still, this day isn’t ordinary—its extraordinary. Because so much has to happen…for this [worship] to happen,
First, to ‘proclaim freely’: that means you have to be free, and we are free people. That didn’t happen by accident—people have given the whole lives, and their very lives, for us to be free.
We may be persecuted—we are—more and more as people of Jesus, but we are free.
Next, you had to get up, maybe too early on possibly the one day in a week that you have off, or at least the only chance you have to sleep late.
We get dressed, we use gas (which is a ridiculous cost, for both)
It just doesn't make good sense.
And yet, we come here…to Shiloh.
Also, this is the first day in a while were you don’t know whether to add a little a.c., or a little heat. Its beautiful, and you could be anywhere else…fishing, swimming, running, walking, reading, pick-a-nicking, …napping…possibly
And you are here on what is for most everyone in these parts is Spring Break—
These things are not normal. You are going against the grain, you are radical, maybe even a hippie…because you are here.
now 50 years ago, everything I just said would have been a waste of time. You may still think it is, though I don't care because it’s not true. This is a good use of time, because I believe people need to hear it.
50 years ago, you didn’t get up and wonder if you were going to church or not. Even 25 years ago, most professing Christians wouldn’t have made plans anywhere near missing Palm Sunday. This...this is a holy day my friends.
And just think for a minute…how many people, how many believers, aren’t here?
Not the sick, not those who absolutely cannot come even if they wanted to…sometimes life brings us that.
Think about people who were here last week, who aren’t here this week. Think about how many people will be here next Sunday (Easter Sunday!). There are usually many, many, people that you haven’t seen in a long time. They’ve been sobusy, life has been so crazy, they don’t like the pastor (one of people’s favorite, one of the easiest and one of the absolute weakest, excuses for not coming to church).
Now, we wont say anything bad about them I promise…we’ll just take an important vote and everyone here gets to vote, and they don’t! Kidding. Just 'softly and tenderly' tell them we prayed for them. Just tell them they were missed, they are loved…maybe tell them that they have made a vow to support this church with their prayers, their presence, their gifts and their service. But that's really pushing it, telling the truth that is.
Being here is important—it’s not a decision, it’s a vow! (I wont be here btw on the 30th!)
Not just at Shiloh, though think about how many professing Christians are on their way to Gulf Shores, right now, rather than in worship with a congregation of fellow Christian believers.
You are extraordinary for doing what you made covenant to do—and God has met you here. God has met you here. Behold, he comes!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord—Hosanna!
Hosanna means—in a way, ‘an appeal to God for deliverance, or a shout of praise’.
As in “He is here! Hosanna!” Don't say that, sing that! Let it ring like we'd have freedom ring throughout the earth. I mean, what Jesus brings is freedom. God through Christ Jesus brings us real, actual, freedom.
Jesus came to town, a town he prepared for, for so long. Remember him setting his face towards Jerusalem? He never looked back? He puts his hands to that plow and didn’t let go…even when that plow became a cross, dripping with blood.
He came so boldly…
and yet, on a colt—boldly, yet so humbly…HE WAS ON A COLT FOLKS!
That’s not like driving on in a limo, its like driving in, in a Pinto!
It just doesn't make good sense.
And yet, Jesus comes. He comes to Jerusalem. He comes to Shiloh.
“Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord—Hosanna in the highest!" LET IT RING!
Veni, vidi, vici—I came I saw I conquered—you may have heard that before, having something to do with Julius, or one of the Caesars of Ancient Rome. Maybe it was just Shakespeare. Though it’s a popular quote, and it’s a popular attitude. Now, check yourself…
Here is Jesus’ version—
Veni, vidi, serva te—I came, I saw, I served you
Some of that crowd was overjoyed! Some were just concerned, and some…some were just ready to kill him. Amen.
March 16, 2008
(Preached at Shiloh UMC, Ryland/Huntsville, AL)
Gospel Reading: Matthew 21:1-11
You are part of something special today! (I once again heard that “every day you wake up sucking air, you’re part of something special”), though I’m here to tell you that…
YOU are here today, part of something special. You are also going against the grain.
You make not think of yourself as a hippie (those that don’t understand hippies tend not to like them) but you are definitely anti-establishment today!
You’re a radical. You’re counter-cultural—you have come to a place of worship, freely proclaiming that you are a believer in Christ Jesus.
Now that could seem like every Sunday—that is, it would be, if you came to church every Sunday, but…
Still, this day isn’t ordinary—its extraordinary. Because so much has to happen…for this [worship] to happen,
First, to ‘proclaim freely’: that means you have to be free, and we are free people. That didn’t happen by accident—people have given the whole lives, and their very lives, for us to be free.
We may be persecuted—we are—more and more as people of Jesus, but we are free.
Next, you had to get up, maybe too early on possibly the one day in a week that you have off, or at least the only chance you have to sleep late.
We get dressed, we use gas (which is a ridiculous cost, for both)
It just doesn't make good sense.
And yet, we come here…to Shiloh.
Also, this is the first day in a while were you don’t know whether to add a little a.c., or a little heat. Its beautiful, and you could be anywhere else…fishing, swimming, running, walking, reading, pick-a-nicking, …napping…possibly
And you are here on what is for most everyone in these parts is Spring Break—
These things are not normal. You are going against the grain, you are radical, maybe even a hippie…because you are here.
now 50 years ago, everything I just said would have been a waste of time. You may still think it is, though I don't care because it’s not true. This is a good use of time, because I believe people need to hear it.
50 years ago, you didn’t get up and wonder if you were going to church or not. Even 25 years ago, most professing Christians wouldn’t have made plans anywhere near missing Palm Sunday. This...this is a holy day my friends.
And just think for a minute…how many people, how many believers, aren’t here?
Not the sick, not those who absolutely cannot come even if they wanted to…sometimes life brings us that.
Think about people who were here last week, who aren’t here this week. Think about how many people will be here next Sunday (Easter Sunday!). There are usually many, many, people that you haven’t seen in a long time. They’ve been sobusy, life has been so crazy, they don’t like the pastor (one of people’s favorite, one of the easiest and one of the absolute weakest, excuses for not coming to church).
Now, we wont say anything bad about them I promise…we’ll just take an important vote and everyone here gets to vote, and they don’t! Kidding. Just 'softly and tenderly' tell them we prayed for them. Just tell them they were missed, they are loved…maybe tell them that they have made a vow to support this church with their prayers, their presence, their gifts and their service. But that's really pushing it, telling the truth that is.
Being here is important—it’s not a decision, it’s a vow! (I wont be here btw on the 30th!)
Not just at Shiloh, though think about how many professing Christians are on their way to Gulf Shores, right now, rather than in worship with a congregation of fellow Christian believers.
You are extraordinary for doing what you made covenant to do—and God has met you here. God has met you here. Behold, he comes!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord—Hosanna!
Hosanna means—in a way, ‘an appeal to God for deliverance, or a shout of praise’.
As in “He is here! Hosanna!” Don't say that, sing that! Let it ring like we'd have freedom ring throughout the earth. I mean, what Jesus brings is freedom. God through Christ Jesus brings us real, actual, freedom.
Jesus came to town, a town he prepared for, for so long. Remember him setting his face towards Jerusalem? He never looked back? He puts his hands to that plow and didn’t let go…even when that plow became a cross, dripping with blood.
He came so boldly…
and yet, on a colt—boldly, yet so humbly…HE WAS ON A COLT FOLKS!
That’s not like driving on in a limo, its like driving in, in a Pinto!
It just doesn't make good sense.
And yet, Jesus comes. He comes to Jerusalem. He comes to Shiloh.
“Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord—Hosanna in the highest!" LET IT RING!
Veni, vidi, vici—I came I saw I conquered—you may have heard that before, having something to do with Julius, or one of the Caesars of Ancient Rome. Maybe it was just Shakespeare. Though it’s a popular quote, and it’s a popular attitude. Now, check yourself…
Here is Jesus’ version—
Veni, vidi, serva te—I came, I saw, I served you
Some of that crowd was overjoyed! Some were just concerned, and some…some were just ready to kill him. Amen.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Brides, No Ides, and a Big Rock Rolled Into Nothing
To the faithful ones at Shiloh, (and all my blog followers around the world!)
Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, as we journey through these forty incredible days with the Savior of humankind!
March is a very special month for me—this time, March will take me back 12 years, particularly on the 16th. That’s when Mary Ann made an honest man of me. Or, at least, that’s when she began the process of trying. Yes, we were married on 3-16, a date I picked for a very silly reason…I thought. Yes, I admit it, it came from one of those rock and roll songs. Though something felt bigger. “3-16” I would say to myself. “Ah yes! John 3-16! There’s some bigger reason this happened”—I knew it felt right. A beautiful verse, many people’s favorite, and likely the most popular Bible verse to memorize…but its not necessarily my favorite. I do love it, don’t get me wrong, though I have come to love the next verse, 17, even more. There John’s gospel reads, “Indeed God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him”. So in this strangest chain of events (no coincidences mind you) our anniversary in March makes me think of John 3:16…and thus, I now always think of 3:17 too! March makes me think of my bride, Mary Ann. Thus I am reminded of that biblical bride—the church. And that’s not all folks! What’s a bride without a bridegroom? Not much, that’s what. Though we have a bridegroom—Christ Jesus. All of this from a few numbers on a calendar…or is it from somewhere greater? True, the Lord, and at least my mind, works in mysterious ways.
In this March of 2008, there is much to be reminded. If you look at the full calendar Kathy puts together, or pay attention to the beautiful bulletins Tonya crafts, or even keep an open ear at worship, meetings, small groups and conversations, you will know that March is full! Not full for any anniversary. Not full because of Spring Break. We believers must see March full for other reasons. March contains the ending of the forty days of Lent—the extreme discipline, self-denial, the suffering, the intense introspection that we should be experiencing. This March also brings Palm Sunday. And then on that Palm Sunday, March 16, we begin to relive the most incredible series of events to ever take place upon, and beyond, this earth—Holy Week. In other words, that’s what we’ve come to call ‘the passion’ of Jesus. Some traditions have worship, study and other disciplines every day of these seven sacred days. It is the practice of United Methodists (yes, that is who we at Shiloh proudly are) to highlight and bring out at least 5 of these days in particular. Here they are:
Sunday, March 16 is Palm Sunday. Here our children will ‘prepare ye the way’ and welcome Jesus as he was welcomed into Jerusalem: with the waving of palm branches! It’s a beautiful sight, and a beginning to an unbelievable, very real, week of living Scripture.
Thursday, March 20 is Maundy Thursday. We will celebrate the Seder Meal in the Fellowship Hall—a way to relive and respect the Passover meal, which Jesus shared with his disciples. This is also the meal that connects us to our Judaic heritage going back thousands, upon thousands of years. That’s deep. We will also offer a traditional Maundy Thursday time of service and humility that night. Friends, make no mistake… these moments are powerful.
Friday, March 21 is Good Friday. We will worship with Tennebrae: A Service of Shadows. This is a time of reading Jesus’ final words and remembering his final moments from Scripture, as we move from candlelight to darkness.
Saturday, March 22 is Holy Saturday or Easter Vigil. This is a mysterious day for us. We don’t always know what exactly happened that ‘second day’, or how to best observe and honor it. We do know that God was at work, taking away all power from the word ‘impossible ‘ and destroying death. We will observe that time with a day of celebrating our children with an Easter Egg Hunt.
Sunday, March 23 is the day of the Resurrection—Easter Sunday. We will begin with a beautiful sunrise worship, we will share meals together, as well as times of worship, fellowship and rejoicing. He has risen. He has risen indeed.
And friends…that’s just one week!
The point is this: this March has a lot to offer Shiloh. This March has a lot to offer the world. Truth be told, God is using this month to call you into faithful stewardship of prayers, presence, gifts and service with your congregation. That stone has been rolled away! Can you respond any other way?
The Lord be with you,
Matthew
Is a Year Too Long?
Well, it has been nearly a year. That may be too long. It may not be long enough. Though I'd like to think it may be just right (like good porridge). Who's to say? Though, with Easter less than two weeks away, I thought it appropriate to come back and update anything spiritual, ministerial, or holy in nature, and of course anything (fit to print) about Shiloh. You don't have to belong to Shiloh to come here and blog your little heart out. (Most of you here have big hearts though I bet)
They'll be more soon, I promise. I will begin by coming back strong...I hope...with my last newsletter front-page. Let's see if we can't make that happen tonight. If not, enjoy the last sermon I posted.
Though remember, this page is not just for me, or my sermons. It's for your thoughts, or sermons, too--anything the Spirit lets or wants or leads you to write about Shiloh, your life (spiritual, ministerial, and holy) and/or anything about the Kingdom of God.
We may rename this page soon, just to indicate how broad we want to take it. I once had a blog named "The Tao of Truth". Now that's broad, bud. If I can somehow put them together, remember that password or link these things up, it may well make its comeback too.
So for now...
"welcome back, welcome back, welcome back"
the best of blessings to you,
MMS
They'll be more soon, I promise. I will begin by coming back strong...I hope...with my last newsletter front-page. Let's see if we can't make that happen tonight. If not, enjoy the last sermon I posted.
Though remember, this page is not just for me, or my sermons. It's for your thoughts, or sermons, too--anything the Spirit lets or wants or leads you to write about Shiloh, your life (spiritual, ministerial, and holy) and/or anything about the Kingdom of God.
We may rename this page soon, just to indicate how broad we want to take it. I once had a blog named "The Tao of Truth". Now that's broad, bud. If I can somehow put them together, remember that password or link these things up, it may well make its comeback too.
So for now...
"welcome back, welcome back, welcome back"
the best of blessings to you,
MMS
Friday, April 27, 2007
To the Saints Who Are In Shiloh, And Are Faithful In Christ Jesus
To the Saints Who Are In Shiloh, And Are Faithful In Christ Jesus,
There is a crisis in the church--the church in the world, the church in Alabama, the church at Shiloh.
There is a loss, almost a hemorage, of leadership. The main problem we have is that we don’t have enough ministers to carry out the work of the church or the ministers we have just won’t do the work they have been charged with.
Now, you are looking at (or reading the writings of) one such minister that is not doing everything they can…and I looking at (or witing to) who knows how many such ministers. You see, I am clergy, you are laity. I am a pastor, you are a parishoner.
Though we are all ministers. This isn't preferential and politically correct langauge--it is biblical.
And we ministers aren’t doing what we need to do for Jesus’ church.
Hear the word of the Lord:
Ephesians 4:11—16
We are the body—the Body of Christ and it has many parts. Some of you may be under the impression that the pastor is the only ‘minister’ in the church. Or that anyone paid, should do any job that needs to be done...because they’re paid.
But you see, there are so many jobs—so many parts to the body—so many opportunities to be in ministry—that no one person, or no staff, can do them all…nor should they do them all.
You’re gift may be cleaning, pressing, and laying out paraments—that is a vital ministry.
You’re gift may be driving the van for our seniors, and that is a vital ministry.
Cooking, cleaning, counting. No one person, nor one group of the same 5 people—whether its clergy, lay, whatever, should be doing everything. That’s unhealthy leadership. And a church with unhealthy leadership will shrink, shrivle up, and fade into history with a whimper.
I love the name of this conference on the 28th—from ‘sitting to serving’. There’s a big difference in the two. If we come sit here for an hour on Sunday, and that’s it, then we’re a chapel, not a church.
You ministry is hard to live out if it is confined to one room, for one our, on Sunday.
We have to find out if we want to be a church or a chapel. A chapel is a place for a nice reunion on Sundays, where we come sing some of our favorite hymns, hear some preaching that makes us feel good, and we go home feeling good, that we have fulfilled our duty.
A church rolls up its sleeves, takes risks, gets hurt, gets bloody—and I don’t mean from fighting each other.
A church thinks about the people who aren’t in the church! That’s one of the strangest qualities of the church—it doesn’t exist for those who are part of it, it exists for those who aren’t!
Think back, over the last 5 years, think what you have been involved in other than sitting in a pew on a Sunday. Now think what you have led, or put together, or something new you came up with. What is the last change you brought about? What is the last crazy idea you have brought before the church?
You see, this Shiloh is not the same Shiloh from 1985. This is not the same Shiloh from 1995, or 2005…not even 2006. Your pastors have changed, you have changed, your neighbors have changed…the world has changed.
We can adapt our mission, or we can fade into history.
You see here, Paul is calling, urging, and loving the church—the saints—you, and me—to be the church together.
That’s what I’m trying to do. I am trying to call you to leadership. I am trying to urge you to take up service in the church. And I already love you (so does Mary Ann). I wouldn't say it if it weren't so.
Though understand that my approach is different. Shiloh hasn’t been exposed to a lot of different pastors, not in the last half century or so. Before me, you’ve had 3 pastors over a period of 40 years.
Now as good or bad or ugly or beautiful as that may have been at times, it is practically unheard of in the United Methodist Church. I’m a United Methodist pastor, that has served in several United Methodist churches—all very different from each other.
I'm a graduate frlm Candler School of Theology, I'll be ordained as an Elder in Full Connection this June.
That’s going to make me a kind of strange bird to many of you.
It may make you examine what you think a pastor is.
"It is well known that the title of "pastor" refers to a "shepherd" in both Greek and Hebrew. Many therefore endeavor to find the duties of a pastor by analogy to those of a literal shepherd, spiritualizing the physical duties involved, so that "feeding" may represent (for example) preaching the Word, leading sheep to new pasture represents leadership, and the overall caretaking responsibilities involve meeting people’s needs on an individual basis. The problem with this understanding is that there are no inherent controls on the analogy itself—those making the analogy may interpret any duty in any manner they choose. The usual understanding that emerges from this approach lays great emphasis on personal care for the congregation by the pastor, which may or may not be what was intended by the New Testament use of the term to describe a type of leader within the church."
(What is a Pastor? Examining the Biblical Job Description—Keith Schooley)
Think about that. Now think about this (from Bishop Will Willimon's meeagse to clergy about
Soren Kierkegaard's ideas of pastoral identity.
"Kierkegaard, the “Solitary Dane,” had some tough things to say about pastors of his day. He firmly believed that pastors are not called to run errands for members of the congregation or to be the freelance therapist for everyone in need. Pastors are, in Kierkegaard’s words, primarily “servants of the truth.” We must cultivate an attachment to the truth, which is Jesus Christ, and to speak that truth no matter what."
If you are not all that familiar with Kierkegard, then just trust that he represents one of the greatest theological and philosophical minds in history.
It may cause you to wonder why God (not just the Bishop and Cabinet) sent me here. It may make you ponder what the mission of Shiloh really is. At least, that’s what I hope happens.
Now here, is my favorite part. This letter is written to all of us. To all the saints at Shiloh. We are part of a royal priesthood—we are all ministers!
You all are beautiful, you each have gifts. And Shiloh needs them all right now. Some of you may be apostles, some of you may be evangelsists, some of you may be van drivers, some of you may be chairs of committees or leaders of teams that make up and do the work of the church.
I don’t know what God is calling you to do, but God is not calling you to be an observer. God is calling you to be a participant.
We will soon—very soon—be taking a very close look at what gifts each of us have. And then, if we want to continue, to survive, to even bloom and grow, then we must begin to use them…together.
Do you think the church will be here in 200 years? Do you think Shiloh will be here in 200 years? Do you want Shiloh to be here in 200 years? What will it take to make that happen?
I have great faith in you, in Shiloh, but even more, I have a great faith in the living God. It is our living God that will bind us together, if we allow God to do it---
What I mean is that God won’t force any binding on us. Its there for us to choose or not.
Do no be discouraged by change or loss, because that will always be there, especially in a world and community that is changing so rapidly.
But Shiloh is here—has been here for 200 years. If you are ready to roll up those sleeves, step up, take risks, change lives for the sake of the gospel of Christ Jesus…so am I…together with you.
Our ministry may change, our ‘methods’ may change. Our mission will not--it's still Matthew 28. How can you become a part of renewing our congregation--a 200 year old congregation-- to make this happen?
I won’t ask you what you want me to do to ‘be the chruch’. I ask you what you want you want to do to live this mission we have been called to, and then tell me how I can help you make that happen. And then I'll be right there with you.
What is the mission of Shiloh? What is Shiloh here to do? Think about it. Don’t think about what you think Shiloh s here to do, tell me what you think God wants Shiloh to do. Ask and answer honestly. And then, let me know. I am with you all the way.
To all the Saints at Shiloh, and are faithful in Christ Jesus, I extend to you the grace, peace, and love of our God. Amen.
There is a crisis in the church--the church in the world, the church in Alabama, the church at Shiloh.
There is a loss, almost a hemorage, of leadership. The main problem we have is that we don’t have enough ministers to carry out the work of the church or the ministers we have just won’t do the work they have been charged with.
Now, you are looking at (or reading the writings of) one such minister that is not doing everything they can…and I looking at (or witing to) who knows how many such ministers. You see, I am clergy, you are laity. I am a pastor, you are a parishoner.
Though we are all ministers. This isn't preferential and politically correct langauge--it is biblical.
And we ministers aren’t doing what we need to do for Jesus’ church.
Hear the word of the Lord:
Ephesians 4:11—16
We are the body—the Body of Christ and it has many parts. Some of you may be under the impression that the pastor is the only ‘minister’ in the church. Or that anyone paid, should do any job that needs to be done...because they’re paid.
But you see, there are so many jobs—so many parts to the body—so many opportunities to be in ministry—that no one person, or no staff, can do them all…nor should they do them all.
You’re gift may be cleaning, pressing, and laying out paraments—that is a vital ministry.
You’re gift may be driving the van for our seniors, and that is a vital ministry.
Cooking, cleaning, counting. No one person, nor one group of the same 5 people—whether its clergy, lay, whatever, should be doing everything. That’s unhealthy leadership. And a church with unhealthy leadership will shrink, shrivle up, and fade into history with a whimper.
I love the name of this conference on the 28th—from ‘sitting to serving’. There’s a big difference in the two. If we come sit here for an hour on Sunday, and that’s it, then we’re a chapel, not a church.
You ministry is hard to live out if it is confined to one room, for one our, on Sunday.
We have to find out if we want to be a church or a chapel. A chapel is a place for a nice reunion on Sundays, where we come sing some of our favorite hymns, hear some preaching that makes us feel good, and we go home feeling good, that we have fulfilled our duty.
A church rolls up its sleeves, takes risks, gets hurt, gets bloody—and I don’t mean from fighting each other.
A church thinks about the people who aren’t in the church! That’s one of the strangest qualities of the church—it doesn’t exist for those who are part of it, it exists for those who aren’t!
Think back, over the last 5 years, think what you have been involved in other than sitting in a pew on a Sunday. Now think what you have led, or put together, or something new you came up with. What is the last change you brought about? What is the last crazy idea you have brought before the church?
You see, this Shiloh is not the same Shiloh from 1985. This is not the same Shiloh from 1995, or 2005…not even 2006. Your pastors have changed, you have changed, your neighbors have changed…the world has changed.
We can adapt our mission, or we can fade into history.
You see here, Paul is calling, urging, and loving the church—the saints—you, and me—to be the church together.
That’s what I’m trying to do. I am trying to call you to leadership. I am trying to urge you to take up service in the church. And I already love you (so does Mary Ann). I wouldn't say it if it weren't so.
Though understand that my approach is different. Shiloh hasn’t been exposed to a lot of different pastors, not in the last half century or so. Before me, you’ve had 3 pastors over a period of 40 years.
Now as good or bad or ugly or beautiful as that may have been at times, it is practically unheard of in the United Methodist Church. I’m a United Methodist pastor, that has served in several United Methodist churches—all very different from each other.
I'm a graduate frlm Candler School of Theology, I'll be ordained as an Elder in Full Connection this June.
That’s going to make me a kind of strange bird to many of you.
It may make you examine what you think a pastor is.
"It is well known that the title of "pastor" refers to a "shepherd" in both Greek and Hebrew. Many therefore endeavor to find the duties of a pastor by analogy to those of a literal shepherd, spiritualizing the physical duties involved, so that "feeding" may represent (for example) preaching the Word, leading sheep to new pasture represents leadership, and the overall caretaking responsibilities involve meeting people’s needs on an individual basis. The problem with this understanding is that there are no inherent controls on the analogy itself—those making the analogy may interpret any duty in any manner they choose. The usual understanding that emerges from this approach lays great emphasis on personal care for the congregation by the pastor, which may or may not be what was intended by the New Testament use of the term to describe a type of leader within the church."
(What is a Pastor? Examining the Biblical Job Description—Keith Schooley)
Think about that. Now think about this (from Bishop Will Willimon's meeagse to clergy about
Soren Kierkegaard's ideas of pastoral identity.
"Kierkegaard, the “Solitary Dane,” had some tough things to say about pastors of his day. He firmly believed that pastors are not called to run errands for members of the congregation or to be the freelance therapist for everyone in need. Pastors are, in Kierkegaard’s words, primarily “servants of the truth.” We must cultivate an attachment to the truth, which is Jesus Christ, and to speak that truth no matter what."
If you are not all that familiar with Kierkegard, then just trust that he represents one of the greatest theological and philosophical minds in history.
It may cause you to wonder why God (not just the Bishop and Cabinet) sent me here. It may make you ponder what the mission of Shiloh really is. At least, that’s what I hope happens.
Now here, is my favorite part. This letter is written to all of us. To all the saints at Shiloh. We are part of a royal priesthood—we are all ministers!
You all are beautiful, you each have gifts. And Shiloh needs them all right now. Some of you may be apostles, some of you may be evangelsists, some of you may be van drivers, some of you may be chairs of committees or leaders of teams that make up and do the work of the church.
I don’t know what God is calling you to do, but God is not calling you to be an observer. God is calling you to be a participant.
We will soon—very soon—be taking a very close look at what gifts each of us have. And then, if we want to continue, to survive, to even bloom and grow, then we must begin to use them…together.
Do you think the church will be here in 200 years? Do you think Shiloh will be here in 200 years? Do you want Shiloh to be here in 200 years? What will it take to make that happen?
I have great faith in you, in Shiloh, but even more, I have a great faith in the living God. It is our living God that will bind us together, if we allow God to do it---
What I mean is that God won’t force any binding on us. Its there for us to choose or not.
Do no be discouraged by change or loss, because that will always be there, especially in a world and community that is changing so rapidly.
But Shiloh is here—has been here for 200 years. If you are ready to roll up those sleeves, step up, take risks, change lives for the sake of the gospel of Christ Jesus…so am I…together with you.
Our ministry may change, our ‘methods’ may change. Our mission will not--it's still Matthew 28. How can you become a part of renewing our congregation--a 200 year old congregation-- to make this happen?
I won’t ask you what you want me to do to ‘be the chruch’. I ask you what you want you want to do to live this mission we have been called to, and then tell me how I can help you make that happen. And then I'll be right there with you.
What is the mission of Shiloh? What is Shiloh here to do? Think about it. Don’t think about what you think Shiloh s here to do, tell me what you think God wants Shiloh to do. Ask and answer honestly. And then, let me know. I am with you all the way.
To all the Saints at Shiloh, and are faithful in Christ Jesus, I extend to you the grace, peace, and love of our God. Amen.
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Easter Sunday Sermon, April 8, 2007
Impossible Is Nothing
John 20:1-18 (NRSV)
“they went in, and they saw and believed!”—not bad
“ I have seen the Lord”—even better!
What a powerful, rich, rendering of the resurrection story by this gospel writer. We have just heard it, in two parts. It goes on really, into 2 more (Jesus appearing to the disciples and then Jesus and Thomas)
It really goes on from there still, the ending of the gospel as written, into Acts—the birth of the church, and on throughout history and then here to us.
But the story for our purposes today, the good news of the Risen Lord begins with these stories—one story, two parts: search and discovery.
The search sort of takes the form of a race—the day of the great race between Peter and well, someone Jesus loved (probably the same someone who wrote this). Each wants to be the first to see if Jesus is there, the first to see if all this time they had spent—all this faith—all this life—was worth anything.
Here the, nothingness, the emptiness they see causes their belief. Very interesting.
Don’t you love this? “The two of them were running together”--that’s beauty, that’s poetry, and that should be an image of the church. What a thought!—brothers and sisters running together—
Running is good for you. I talked with my friend Chris about this yesterday. You may have to work yourself back into it (I used to run some, and I will need to work back into it). You have to make your own pace, you have to know your limits. But if you take care of yourself and you stay healthy, you can run into your 70’s, maybe your 80's. (though please check with you doctor first!)
In fact, there’s a lot of running back and forth in this story—its almost sounds like panic, almost like chaos. But its not—its just... desperation.
There is desperation here. And desperation, when it comes to God, is good.
You see Jesus had touched their lives…many of their lives in such a profound way. So desperate are they now that the two of them are running…together…to find out what’s up.
Scared, confused, out of breath, thirsty, legs cramping…together; going through life, running together.
And then when they arrive…its what or who they don’t see that gives them faith. We—the world, says seeing is believing—but that’s the world. We can't be the world, not if we want to see Jesus.
Here is God; here, by not being here. Faith to these disciples—is the assurance of the unseen.
Granted, they were confused, but they believed—its right here in black and white. Amen to Simon Peter and the beloved disciple. And thank you.
But there, Mary stood…all the boys went home, all the men folk went back for their nap.
And there stood Mary. She stayed.
Weeping, yes. Surprised to see two angles sitting in a tomb--apparently not! So, she has some kind of faith, or some kind of shock—they can often be the same, no?
We can talk about something enough, until it really happens and it becomes so real we don’t know what to do with it.
We’re kind of in a state of shock.
And this poor Mary, a sweet girl with a checkered past maybe, she is frozen by her tears. So numb that she sees Jesus and finds him to be the gardener.
Now this is a symptom we all share, and all have guilt in being part of. We see God, and then discount into the ordinary or everyday.
Don’t get me wrong, God is in the everyday just as God is in the miraculous, that’s part of being divine. In fact, it gives my heart joy and defines a lot of my faith that God is in the ordinary just as much as God is in the extraordinary.
But the shame of it all is when we do finally find God through Jesus in the everyday, our thoughts of the world make us numb to his presence. We don’t take notice and celebrate the miracle of the divine being mixed in with the human. He's just the gentle gardener over there, tending to the roses, or petunias, or lilies.
But when Jesus calls her by her name…
Everything changes. She knows him, Rabbi she says. The connection is made.
Funny, Mary almost sounds like a sheep here. She’s confused, fragile, delicate--kind of how we think of sheep.
Though if you know anything about sheep, you know that they can wonder around, confused, delicate, fragile
Though when sheep hear the voice of their shepherd, they follow. They know their shepherd! we all are here, ready to be sheep and tend to the sheep (“feed my sheep, tend my lambs”--Jesus). Its kind of strange being both at the same time-sheep and shepherd. Kind of reminds me of another strange, dual nature—the one person who is fully God and fully human.
That’s part of the Easter story friends! You will see God, and then can’t pick God out as some stranger, or sunset, or some other everyday thing or person.
But when God calls your name—and God will call your name—when we finally hear God call our name I suppose I should say, then we really begin to see clearly and we know he is risen, and in this world.
That’s Easter.
I still watch t.v, though I have been swearing to swear off it for some while now. I would love to obtain one of those bumper stickers that reads "shoot your television". But I mostly just 'look' at the t.v anyway. Though every once and a while, my attention is caught. There was this commercial with athletes up on i-beams, seemingly hanging over the edge of nothing, kicking a soccer ball around and sweating profusely, doing unthinkable, incomprehensible, impossible things.
I said, ‘what is this?” and then comes the tag. “Impossible is nothing. Addidas".
(I really wanted some Addidas, so their ad worked. Though, I loved that phrase even more—'impossible is nothing'.)
You could almost say, in God’s view, impossible is child’s play, impossible is routine, impossible is everyday ordinary.
But I like that—impossible is nothing. It doesn’t mean anything to God, to a God that creates, destroys, brings back, loves beyond and through pain, at will and at Word...
to a God through Christ in whom all things are possible...
Impossible… is nothing.
This is such a strange thing to do, it defies most people’s understanding of science and logic, even reason.
It just doesn’t make sense to most, or not worth the time for many, or we’ve put such a bad taste in some that, who would blame them for not wanting to be here?
But if you are here, at your core, a faith in a risen God is more important—more real to you than anything else in this world. Worth more than what others think is wasting time, or foolish, or hypocritical. Somewhere, something in you in you makes you run like those two—or get up at 4am and freeze outside while the cars and trains whiz by, or sit through a sermon every Sunday, or talk to someone you cannot see—and listen for their voice to tell you what to do. That’s some kind of faith!
—That’s Easter.
And then, after you have been inspired to run to your breath is gone, it becomes your job—your sacred task and honor—to become like Mary Magdalene—a scorned, mocked, young woman…who just happened to be the first person to tell the world of the risen Christ. So maybe there’s three parts to this story—search, discovery, and sharing. Pass it along, pay it forward. You get the drift.
What would they say to her—or you?
“Yes, Mary Magdalene, we know you and we know your reputation. You loved Jesus so much, you’d probably say anything, and here you sit and talk of the impossible”.
Mary retorts, “Impossible is nothing. I have seen the Lord”. Amen Mary. And thank you.
You may enjoy thinking that you are here because its beautiful outside, spring has sprung, you have a nice new out-fit or some candy, or its just a good thing to do with your family. And all of these things may be true.
But I tell you that you are here because at some level, somewhere in your mind, in your heart, …in your spirit…
you believe that impossible is nothing. At least, impossible is not a word God is bound to.
Somewhere in your life you have seen, or you will see, …and you will believe. That’s Easter.
What you do with it from here, is up to you. Happy Easter. Alleluia. Amen.
John 20:1-18 (NRSV)
“they went in, and they saw and believed!”—not bad
“ I have seen the Lord”—even better!
What a powerful, rich, rendering of the resurrection story by this gospel writer. We have just heard it, in two parts. It goes on really, into 2 more (Jesus appearing to the disciples and then Jesus and Thomas)
It really goes on from there still, the ending of the gospel as written, into Acts—the birth of the church, and on throughout history and then here to us.
But the story for our purposes today, the good news of the Risen Lord begins with these stories—one story, two parts: search and discovery.
The search sort of takes the form of a race—the day of the great race between Peter and well, someone Jesus loved (probably the same someone who wrote this). Each wants to be the first to see if Jesus is there, the first to see if all this time they had spent—all this faith—all this life—was worth anything.
Here the, nothingness, the emptiness they see causes their belief. Very interesting.
Don’t you love this? “The two of them were running together”--that’s beauty, that’s poetry, and that should be an image of the church. What a thought!—brothers and sisters running together—
Running is good for you. I talked with my friend Chris about this yesterday. You may have to work yourself back into it (I used to run some, and I will need to work back into it). You have to make your own pace, you have to know your limits. But if you take care of yourself and you stay healthy, you can run into your 70’s, maybe your 80's. (though please check with you doctor first!)
In fact, there’s a lot of running back and forth in this story—its almost sounds like panic, almost like chaos. But its not—its just... desperation.
There is desperation here. And desperation, when it comes to God, is good.
You see Jesus had touched their lives…many of their lives in such a profound way. So desperate are they now that the two of them are running…together…to find out what’s up.
Scared, confused, out of breath, thirsty, legs cramping…together; going through life, running together.
And then when they arrive…its what or who they don’t see that gives them faith. We—the world, says seeing is believing—but that’s the world. We can't be the world, not if we want to see Jesus.
Here is God; here, by not being here. Faith to these disciples—is the assurance of the unseen.
Granted, they were confused, but they believed—its right here in black and white. Amen to Simon Peter and the beloved disciple. And thank you.
But there, Mary stood…all the boys went home, all the men folk went back for their nap.
And there stood Mary. She stayed.
Weeping, yes. Surprised to see two angles sitting in a tomb--apparently not! So, she has some kind of faith, or some kind of shock—they can often be the same, no?
We can talk about something enough, until it really happens and it becomes so real we don’t know what to do with it.
We’re kind of in a state of shock.
And this poor Mary, a sweet girl with a checkered past maybe, she is frozen by her tears. So numb that she sees Jesus and finds him to be the gardener.
Now this is a symptom we all share, and all have guilt in being part of. We see God, and then discount into the ordinary or everyday.
Don’t get me wrong, God is in the everyday just as God is in the miraculous, that’s part of being divine. In fact, it gives my heart joy and defines a lot of my faith that God is in the ordinary just as much as God is in the extraordinary.
But the shame of it all is when we do finally find God through Jesus in the everyday, our thoughts of the world make us numb to his presence. We don’t take notice and celebrate the miracle of the divine being mixed in with the human. He's just the gentle gardener over there, tending to the roses, or petunias, or lilies.
But when Jesus calls her by her name…
Everything changes. She knows him, Rabbi she says. The connection is made.
Funny, Mary almost sounds like a sheep here. She’s confused, fragile, delicate--kind of how we think of sheep.
Though if you know anything about sheep, you know that they can wonder around, confused, delicate, fragile
Though when sheep hear the voice of their shepherd, they follow. They know their shepherd! we all are here, ready to be sheep and tend to the sheep (“feed my sheep, tend my lambs”--Jesus). Its kind of strange being both at the same time-sheep and shepherd. Kind of reminds me of another strange, dual nature—the one person who is fully God and fully human.
That’s part of the Easter story friends! You will see God, and then can’t pick God out as some stranger, or sunset, or some other everyday thing or person.
But when God calls your name—and God will call your name—when we finally hear God call our name I suppose I should say, then we really begin to see clearly and we know he is risen, and in this world.
That’s Easter.
I still watch t.v, though I have been swearing to swear off it for some while now. I would love to obtain one of those bumper stickers that reads "shoot your television". But I mostly just 'look' at the t.v anyway. Though every once and a while, my attention is caught. There was this commercial with athletes up on i-beams, seemingly hanging over the edge of nothing, kicking a soccer ball around and sweating profusely, doing unthinkable, incomprehensible, impossible things.
I said, ‘what is this?” and then comes the tag. “Impossible is nothing. Addidas".
(I really wanted some Addidas, so their ad worked. Though, I loved that phrase even more—'impossible is nothing'.)
You could almost say, in God’s view, impossible is child’s play, impossible is routine, impossible is everyday ordinary.
But I like that—impossible is nothing. It doesn’t mean anything to God, to a God that creates, destroys, brings back, loves beyond and through pain, at will and at Word...
to a God through Christ in whom all things are possible...
Impossible… is nothing.
This is such a strange thing to do, it defies most people’s understanding of science and logic, even reason.
It just doesn’t make sense to most, or not worth the time for many, or we’ve put such a bad taste in some that, who would blame them for not wanting to be here?
But if you are here, at your core, a faith in a risen God is more important—more real to you than anything else in this world. Worth more than what others think is wasting time, or foolish, or hypocritical. Somewhere, something in you in you makes you run like those two—or get up at 4am and freeze outside while the cars and trains whiz by, or sit through a sermon every Sunday, or talk to someone you cannot see—and listen for their voice to tell you what to do. That’s some kind of faith!
—That’s Easter.
And then, after you have been inspired to run to your breath is gone, it becomes your job—your sacred task and honor—to become like Mary Magdalene—a scorned, mocked, young woman…who just happened to be the first person to tell the world of the risen Christ. So maybe there’s three parts to this story—search, discovery, and sharing. Pass it along, pay it forward. You get the drift.
What would they say to her—or you?
“Yes, Mary Magdalene, we know you and we know your reputation. You loved Jesus so much, you’d probably say anything, and here you sit and talk of the impossible”.
Mary retorts, “Impossible is nothing. I have seen the Lord”. Amen Mary. And thank you.
You may enjoy thinking that you are here because its beautiful outside, spring has sprung, you have a nice new out-fit or some candy, or its just a good thing to do with your family. And all of these things may be true.
But I tell you that you are here because at some level, somewhere in your mind, in your heart, …in your spirit…
you believe that impossible is nothing. At least, impossible is not a word God is bound to.
Somewhere in your life you have seen, or you will see, …and you will believe. That’s Easter.
What you do with it from here, is up to you. Happy Easter. Alleluia. Amen.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
