I am blessed to know a lot of chaplains and religious leaders from many faiths and backgrounds. While we share and grow through the diversity of our experiences, the true gift is the camaraderie we have in a particular shared experience. We each want so deeply for the people we encounter to grow more deeply in their faith.
To grow in faith sounds simple enough on the surface but in reality most of us feel like Paul in his cry from Romans 7, “I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” The truth is that all of us struggle to grow in faith in some way. It might be the adhering to spiritual practices or it could be the living out justice filled beliefs. Regardless of the particulars, faith is always marked by some sort of strife.
Next come the behaviors we use to cover our pain and sorrow. That too is varied in its expression. For some, they hide the pain by delving into false piety and “holier than thou” behaviors. Others of us take on the experience as a personal failing resulting in self-loathing. Still others work very hard to desensitize themselves and live in the proverbial bliss of ignorance.
We religious leaders bump up against these behaviors that are symptomatic of faith struggles both personally and professionally. Whether it’s congregational life, hospitals, or park benches the sore spots of our faith struggles are out there to be rubbed and made even more raw.
This is where that shared experience of clergy comes back. Our desire for people to grow either becomes a healing balm or an irritating liniment to those sore spots that reveal the faith struggle. When we are blessed to witness healing, it is a deeply meaningful experience as a person of faith. However, when that healing doesn’t occur it can be painful, frustrating, and even consuming when our own faith struggles take this experience personally.
I feel such deep sorrow when I watch other clergy become so wounded and discouraged with the strife they experience and the perceived lack of growth in their flock that it becomes a barrier to their own faith and participation in creation. All this leads me to what I see as the true miracle. To me, the true miracle is that in spite of humanity’s bent toward violence, destruction, and fearfulness healing continues to occur and the lives are transformed.
When we look throughout history, it’s remarkable that faith persists at all. The perception of “end days” violence today holds nothing against the atrocities against people, races, and nations throughout history. I personally might have lost faith in God if I had been part of the one million plus Armenians slaughtered in the early 1900’s or witnessed the inquisitions of the 12th and 13th century. Moreover, these are not isolated incidents. The pain and suffering of humanity when we look at the lives of everyday people has been and continues to be on a scale that most privileged people in the United States cannot begin to imagine. And yet, faith persists. The violence we wrought on one another cannot seem to squash the meaningful ways faith keeps us going despite all that we face.
We, as clergy, keep looking for people of faith to become something wholly different and completely transformed. I personally even preach about transformation in a way that unfortunately misleads people into thinking that they are chasing after a destination rather than an ongoing process that will be ever challenged and ever changing. But the reality of history and our daily lives is that of a process. We take steps forward that are met with a new challenge that could push us back.
Therefore, when we see people that work to stay bind to the injustice of the world or persons in the hospital who act “tougher than cancer,” we are seeing defense mechanisms that have been heaped on after experiencing so much disappointment and pain. Deep down they want to live a life of faithfulness that matches an unrealistic ideal. Deep down, that ideal crushes. But again, instead of completely running away, humanity finds a way to maintain some level of faith in spite of the struggles.
Truly I can’t tell you how many people I know that are completely unable to forgive themselves for their struggles in faith yet act content in their faith on the outside. Sadly, the notion of a loving and forgiving God is not near as difficult to grasp as the concept of forgiving ourselves. And still, we persist in faith.
The call of faith is tough and the notion of celebrating the journey is rarely upheld or practiced. We place too much emphasis on the destination or expect people to be at a point on their journey that is unrealistic given their experiences and level of faith. Yet, I suspect that reorienting ourselves to celebrating even the little milestones is what we need if we are to heal the sore spots that become barriers to healing. That healing likely won’t bring about a radical transformation in the church, but it is part of the ongoing work that counteracts the sorrow, fear, and destruction of the world. May we all be instruments of healing and peace that represent the true miracle of creation.
Showing posts with label growth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label growth. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Sunday, August 28, 2011
A Brief Encounter
Ordinary 22A – A sermon based upon Exodus 3:1-15
Good morning. It is a true blessing to be back with you and I’ll be here for the next few weeks. I’ve missed you but you’ve remained in my prayers. And you’re never far from my heart, either.
Well, today’s scripture from Exodus is another one of those treasure troves of God’s wisdom. I have chewed on it all week and kept hearing more revelation from God even though I knew I needed to narrow the focus. So who knows, maybe I’ll preach this text again in a few weeks with a different focus. But for now, we’ve got enough to chew on.
It’s that amazing story of Moses and the burning bush. Moses was on his way to work and worried that he would be late but he turned to see what was happening up the hillside. What was this fire that burned but did not consume the bush? It turns out it was a message from God and a calling to do something remarkable. God had heard the cry of the Israelites and wanted Moses to help in the work of spreading God’s liberation and justice. Moses insisted that he would be too afraid to do this task. He protested and told of reasons he could not do it but God’s call was still the same. He wanted to know how this could be done. And you know what? God was not explicit on how this would happen even when asked. God never offered a detailed roadmap of how to overthrow an empire. But God’s promise to be with Moses through it all was loud and clear.
It’s a great story isn’t it? It has all these amazing ways of thinking about it. For example, we could ask what can we learn about God through this story. What about what we can learn about Moses or human nature? We could even ask about what we can learn about the life of people 3500 years ago. But for this day, I think we might be well served by asking what we can learn about our lives today through this story.
What is it that we need to know so that we to can experience a life changing moment with God? For Moses, this was just a brief encounter but it definitely changed the whole direction of his life. So what are a few of the take-a-ways for our lives?
Well, for today, we’re going to focus in on three… how very three point sermon of me. First, there are all kinds of burning bushes. Second, we just might be missing some burning bushes around us already. And third, following God’s call on our lives is not about having all the answers or always being fearless.
First, are there all kinds of burning bushes? I know we read the stories of the bible and often wonder why doesn’t God light up a bush and talk to us sometime? It would be much easier to have faith if God just spoke more loudly and clearly. But even though we might like a burning bush or at least a nice email from God, God has already filled our lives with life changing messages that came in all kinds of forms.
For those of you who have felt the call to be involved in some sort of ministry or cause, how did you know that was the right thing to do? Or when you were looking for a church home, how did you know this was the one? And when you were struggling to find meaning, direction, or vocation, what led you down the path the fulfillment?
See, I doubt it was a burning bush. The answers to any one of those questions are going to be so varied among us. It could have been a series of seemingly unrelated events that collided that made you see a certain direction… providence, if you will. It might have been a still small voice that kept whispering the same thing to you over and over. Perhaps it was a large event that happened long ago that changed you in a way that has altered your decision making ever since. Regardless of what it looked like, if it was the right decision, it was God.
God speaks to us in all kinds of ways. God used Moses to speak to the Israelites and encourage them to believe that they would not always have to suffer. God used passersby to tend to the wounds of an injured person. God speaks through moments and whispers and people and God speaks to us in this time and place.
It may not be a burning bush but unlocked, this bible has set lives on fire. Social time between services may consume more donuts than a non-consuming flame but lives are transformed and the face of God is seen. Vacation bible school, reaching out to one another as neighbors, community events, meals with loved ones, and ALL the countless ways we “hear” and “are” God’s voice in the world… oh yes, there are all kinds of burning bushes in our lives that set us on a path and guide us all the way.
Second, are there already burning bushes around us that we may have missed? Well, let’s see. There is a tale told by rabbis about why the bush was burning but not consumed. I mean, for the purposes of delivering a message, does it really matter if the bush is left in ashes or not? Well, as the story goes, the rabbis argued about this until one of them said, “The bush was burning but not consumed so that one day when Moses passed by he would finally notice it!”
If we re-read this passage, stopping to think that Moses might have missed it before, suddenly some of the language makes sense. God put out this sign waiting for Moses to turn away from what he was doing long enough to notice it. So, this bush needed to not be burned up by the flame. It needed to last.
Now, whether or not the bush had been burning for years or just that afternoon doesn’t really matter. The point is that God did not put it right in front of Moses but rather it was off to the side and took some intentionality on Moses’ part to go to it. The scripture says he had to turn aside from what he was doing to go over to the bush.
So, coming back to the idea that there are already burning bushes in our midst, how often are our lives like this? (walk past communion table in a hurry) Or this? (walk past communion table reading) Or this? (walk past communion table meandering) Or this? (walk past communion table on phone) Or this? (walk past communion table with a hurt back) Or this? (walk past communion table laughing) (Turn and finally notice the communion table)
The joys, the tears, and everything in between are always going on in our lives. How often do we walk past the same thing and then finally one day see it? I venture to guess, quite a bit. And God knows that too. Sometimes we probably do miss out on a message. But for the big stuff, God keeps a bush lit for us. That bush may have to be moved from place to place or time to time to keep up with us but it stays lit.
What do I mean by this? Well, what would happen if we all took a bit to talk about the direction of this church? I bet that conversation would end with some pretty amazing ideas about invigorating existing relationships or maybe starting new ministries. It’s not that these are new ideas. It’s just that we didn’t stop to notice them before now.
It only takes pausing for a bit and being willing to see something new or different to realize that God has set fire to a bush near each of us. Maybe the message we’ve been missing is that of embracing something we weren’t sure we could handle. It could be a message to forgive someone. It might even be a calling to do something entirely different in our lives. But the point is that when we are intentional to pause, look, and change course even a little, we always find a place God is speaking to us that we didn’t recognize before.
So, to the final point, following God’s call on our lives is not about having all the answers or always being fearless. If we know anything about Moses’ story, we know that he was plagued by repeated doubts, fears, and was nearly always asking God to “Prove it.” And repeatedly God addressed the doubts, fears, and pleas to prove it with the reply “I will be with you.”
God’s greatest gift to Moses and to us is that we are never alone. We are going to have fears and we are most definitely going to have doubts. We are even going to be dissatisfied with the unclear plan we have in front of us and ask God to show us more of the road map. But God’s constant answer is “I am with you.” And then in due time, more is revealed.
So what does that mean in practical terms for us? We need to keep our focus on what God has called us to do today and not let our anxiety and fear about the how all this is going to work out distract us. And how does that happen? We keep living as the body of Christ, watching and responding to burning bushes as they appear.
Consider what the Pastor Nominating Committee does. They join together seeking the voice of God each week. Now I am positive they might prefer an obvious burning bush but the fact of the matter is that their ongoing relationship with one another makes them more and more aware of God’s presence and work in this place. Their work is hard and produces a lot of fear and anxiety. I bet every one of them worry “what if we get it wrong?” Have they missed a few burning bushes? In this case, I doubt it. But I am absolutely sure that God is with them. They need only keep on the path before them until a new burning bush illuminates God’s way. And we need to support them by offering encouragement and reminding them that God’s guidance will be present in this church, no matter what.
But the practical part of knowing God is with us even though we fear doesn’t end there. When John Karins died last month, the presence of God was felt by his family because this congregation responded with love and support. When the church needs juice boxes for vacation bible school, we bring them in. When a hurricane strikes the east coast, we donate to the Red Cross. When there is a new birth in our midst, we celebrate with one another.
All of these things we do as the body of Christ, Emmanuel… God with us, are a constant reminder that we are not alone. Our fears will find comfort in God and one another. The path we should take will be made known if we hold together as a body. Even the future of this church, it’s members, and it’s leadership are secure in the workings of God. Our job is to keep moving forward as a body and being ever watchful for that next burning bush. Amen.
Good morning. It is a true blessing to be back with you and I’ll be here for the next few weeks. I’ve missed you but you’ve remained in my prayers. And you’re never far from my heart, either.
Well, today’s scripture from Exodus is another one of those treasure troves of God’s wisdom. I have chewed on it all week and kept hearing more revelation from God even though I knew I needed to narrow the focus. So who knows, maybe I’ll preach this text again in a few weeks with a different focus. But for now, we’ve got enough to chew on.
It’s that amazing story of Moses and the burning bush. Moses was on his way to work and worried that he would be late but he turned to see what was happening up the hillside. What was this fire that burned but did not consume the bush? It turns out it was a message from God and a calling to do something remarkable. God had heard the cry of the Israelites and wanted Moses to help in the work of spreading God’s liberation and justice. Moses insisted that he would be too afraid to do this task. He protested and told of reasons he could not do it but God’s call was still the same. He wanted to know how this could be done. And you know what? God was not explicit on how this would happen even when asked. God never offered a detailed roadmap of how to overthrow an empire. But God’s promise to be with Moses through it all was loud and clear.
It’s a great story isn’t it? It has all these amazing ways of thinking about it. For example, we could ask what can we learn about God through this story. What about what we can learn about Moses or human nature? We could even ask about what we can learn about the life of people 3500 years ago. But for this day, I think we might be well served by asking what we can learn about our lives today through this story.
What is it that we need to know so that we to can experience a life changing moment with God? For Moses, this was just a brief encounter but it definitely changed the whole direction of his life. So what are a few of the take-a-ways for our lives?
Well, for today, we’re going to focus in on three… how very three point sermon of me. First, there are all kinds of burning bushes. Second, we just might be missing some burning bushes around us already. And third, following God’s call on our lives is not about having all the answers or always being fearless.
First, are there all kinds of burning bushes? I know we read the stories of the bible and often wonder why doesn’t God light up a bush and talk to us sometime? It would be much easier to have faith if God just spoke more loudly and clearly. But even though we might like a burning bush or at least a nice email from God, God has already filled our lives with life changing messages that came in all kinds of forms.
For those of you who have felt the call to be involved in some sort of ministry or cause, how did you know that was the right thing to do? Or when you were looking for a church home, how did you know this was the one? And when you were struggling to find meaning, direction, or vocation, what led you down the path the fulfillment?
See, I doubt it was a burning bush. The answers to any one of those questions are going to be so varied among us. It could have been a series of seemingly unrelated events that collided that made you see a certain direction… providence, if you will. It might have been a still small voice that kept whispering the same thing to you over and over. Perhaps it was a large event that happened long ago that changed you in a way that has altered your decision making ever since. Regardless of what it looked like, if it was the right decision, it was God.
God speaks to us in all kinds of ways. God used Moses to speak to the Israelites and encourage them to believe that they would not always have to suffer. God used passersby to tend to the wounds of an injured person. God speaks through moments and whispers and people and God speaks to us in this time and place.
It may not be a burning bush but unlocked, this bible has set lives on fire. Social time between services may consume more donuts than a non-consuming flame but lives are transformed and the face of God is seen. Vacation bible school, reaching out to one another as neighbors, community events, meals with loved ones, and ALL the countless ways we “hear” and “are” God’s voice in the world… oh yes, there are all kinds of burning bushes in our lives that set us on a path and guide us all the way.
Second, are there already burning bushes around us that we may have missed? Well, let’s see. There is a tale told by rabbis about why the bush was burning but not consumed. I mean, for the purposes of delivering a message, does it really matter if the bush is left in ashes or not? Well, as the story goes, the rabbis argued about this until one of them said, “The bush was burning but not consumed so that one day when Moses passed by he would finally notice it!”
If we re-read this passage, stopping to think that Moses might have missed it before, suddenly some of the language makes sense. God put out this sign waiting for Moses to turn away from what he was doing long enough to notice it. So, this bush needed to not be burned up by the flame. It needed to last.
Now, whether or not the bush had been burning for years or just that afternoon doesn’t really matter. The point is that God did not put it right in front of Moses but rather it was off to the side and took some intentionality on Moses’ part to go to it. The scripture says he had to turn aside from what he was doing to go over to the bush.
So, coming back to the idea that there are already burning bushes in our midst, how often are our lives like this? (walk past communion table in a hurry) Or this? (walk past communion table reading) Or this? (walk past communion table meandering) Or this? (walk past communion table on phone) Or this? (walk past communion table with a hurt back) Or this? (walk past communion table laughing) (Turn and finally notice the communion table)
The joys, the tears, and everything in between are always going on in our lives. How often do we walk past the same thing and then finally one day see it? I venture to guess, quite a bit. And God knows that too. Sometimes we probably do miss out on a message. But for the big stuff, God keeps a bush lit for us. That bush may have to be moved from place to place or time to time to keep up with us but it stays lit.
What do I mean by this? Well, what would happen if we all took a bit to talk about the direction of this church? I bet that conversation would end with some pretty amazing ideas about invigorating existing relationships or maybe starting new ministries. It’s not that these are new ideas. It’s just that we didn’t stop to notice them before now.
It only takes pausing for a bit and being willing to see something new or different to realize that God has set fire to a bush near each of us. Maybe the message we’ve been missing is that of embracing something we weren’t sure we could handle. It could be a message to forgive someone. It might even be a calling to do something entirely different in our lives. But the point is that when we are intentional to pause, look, and change course even a little, we always find a place God is speaking to us that we didn’t recognize before.
So, to the final point, following God’s call on our lives is not about having all the answers or always being fearless. If we know anything about Moses’ story, we know that he was plagued by repeated doubts, fears, and was nearly always asking God to “Prove it.” And repeatedly God addressed the doubts, fears, and pleas to prove it with the reply “I will be with you.”
God’s greatest gift to Moses and to us is that we are never alone. We are going to have fears and we are most definitely going to have doubts. We are even going to be dissatisfied with the unclear plan we have in front of us and ask God to show us more of the road map. But God’s constant answer is “I am with you.” And then in due time, more is revealed.
So what does that mean in practical terms for us? We need to keep our focus on what God has called us to do today and not let our anxiety and fear about the how all this is going to work out distract us. And how does that happen? We keep living as the body of Christ, watching and responding to burning bushes as they appear.
Consider what the Pastor Nominating Committee does. They join together seeking the voice of God each week. Now I am positive they might prefer an obvious burning bush but the fact of the matter is that their ongoing relationship with one another makes them more and more aware of God’s presence and work in this place. Their work is hard and produces a lot of fear and anxiety. I bet every one of them worry “what if we get it wrong?” Have they missed a few burning bushes? In this case, I doubt it. But I am absolutely sure that God is with them. They need only keep on the path before them until a new burning bush illuminates God’s way. And we need to support them by offering encouragement and reminding them that God’s guidance will be present in this church, no matter what.
But the practical part of knowing God is with us even though we fear doesn’t end there. When John Karins died last month, the presence of God was felt by his family because this congregation responded with love and support. When the church needs juice boxes for vacation bible school, we bring them in. When a hurricane strikes the east coast, we donate to the Red Cross. When there is a new birth in our midst, we celebrate with one another.
All of these things we do as the body of Christ, Emmanuel… God with us, are a constant reminder that we are not alone. Our fears will find comfort in God and one another. The path we should take will be made known if we hold together as a body. Even the future of this church, it’s members, and it’s leadership are secure in the workings of God. Our job is to keep moving forward as a body and being ever watchful for that next burning bush. Amen.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
How Did He Do That?
How Did He Do That?: <-- Audio file of sermon based upon Matthew 4:1-11
Good morning. We missed you if you weren’t able to be with us on Ash Wednesday. It was a lovely service full of the Spirit’s moving. We joined in soup and salad supper with one another, watched as the kids bore in the elements to the table for communion, and sought to understand where and how God wants us to experience the holy during this time of Lent. But it’s not too late. Just because you might not have been here, doesn’t mean that the fruits of retreating into the wilderness have passed. We’ve barely gotten started in seeking the holy so keep coming back… we’re on a journey together.
Okay, that sounded more like a sales pitch than I meant but the essence is the same. We’re on a journey and a worthy one at that. And the main origin of that journey is part of our scripture passage today. We read in Matthew about Jesus retreating to the wilderness to fast. He did this just after his baptism and just before he set out on his ministry.
See, we have to remember that prior to this point, we know very little about Jesus other than a few stories of his childhood. We can guess that he was a good Jew who worshiped and kept the holy days. We also can guess he was in the family business as a carpenter. He was in his early 30’s so that makes all this more interesting. You see, the average life expectancy for folks in his time was only 35 because the infant mortality rate was so high. But if you made it into adulthood, you would likely die by age 50. So, in the scheme of life and in his community, he would be seen as well into or past mid life. Now a days we say we might call him a young man but then, he would have been a master carpenter with nearly 20 years under his belt.
But I didn’t start down this road to fill the room with all that we don’t know or understand about this man from Nazareth. I actually want to point to what we do know and can understand from his life. I want to point to what we can know in our own lives from this because Jesus sets a wonderful example for us to follow. The fact of the matter is that by the time we get to the end of this passage, he’s going toe to toe with Satan and wins. So, I think it bears some interest on our part to find out how he did this since most of us have a hard time resisting the little things let alone the offer of the world.
So, how did Jesus do it? What does this passage tell us? First of all, we can know that good decision making and preparation are important.
We don’t know exactly why he suddenly at age 30 decided that it was time contemplate a career change but we know he did not enter into it lightly. He was diligent in his decision-making. How do we know this? Because he listened to the Holy Spirit and went on a retreat into the wilderness to fast and pray.
Now you may ask what that has to do with it since it only takes up one verse in this passage. Well, the answer is a lot. This is more than what anthropologist Joseph Campbell would call the typical retreat of the hero archetype before a journey.
Jesus chose retreat to isolate himself so he could consider what was happening. He did not want distractions of his work or community life to get in the way. This gave him the space to understand what was going on more fully.
Also, he fasted. Now, fasting is a somewhat lost spiritual discipline in the modern era but it is an amazing tool for digging deep into ourselves. The process of fasting is more than just an act of self-discipline. It is an act of therapy.
Theologian Richard Foster wrote a book some years back called The Celebration of Discipline where he shares the practices of several mostly lost spiritual disciplines. In it, he talks about fasting in a way that has always stayed with me and informed my own attempts at fasting. He said that when we fast, there is a tendency to dismiss our feelings but that the feelings are precisely the point. If we are agitated or short tempered or sad when we’ve not eaten, it’s not because we have not eaten. We have those feelings because the spirit of anger or sadness lives within us and without food to cover it up, those feelings come to the surface. So, fasting provides an amazing opportunity to look our un dealt with feelings and issues in the eye and do something about them.
I imagine Jesus stared down a lot of fears and doubts during this 40-day period of fasting. It was probably a period of great growth with the combination of fasting and isolation. There would have been nowhere to hide from his inner angst.
But what does Jesus’ example of decision making and preparation mean to us? We all have times in our lives that we are about to do something big or make decisions that are life changing. Many of us have even contemplated and changed careers too. But it’s unlikely we went to the wilderness to make those decisions.
Well, the model of Jesus is a sound one here but I think we can learn more than just how to imitate his actions. The point is that he clearly took it seriously. He did what he could to consider what setting out on ministry would mean and to prepare himself. Likewise, when we are in that place, we must take steps to hear the Holy Spirit and to make good decisions and prepare ourselves.
This looks different for different people. Some of us are helped by engaging in various spiritual disciplines like fasting. In fact, if you’re ever interested in learning more or practicing it or other disciplines, I can suggest some books for you. Others of us make decisions and prepare through equally spiritual means of prayer, consulting loved ones, and careful analysis of the situation. Regardless of the decision, how serious we take it will be clear by how intent we are to seek God’s guidance and gifts in making that decision.
And speaking of gifts, that has bearing on the second point I want us to see in this passage. The bulk of this scripture tells of Jesus resisting temptation. How does he do this? By quoting scripture and standing firmly upon it. Each and every time Satan temps Jesus, he comes back by quoting scripture.
So, what does this tell us? Well, it’s unlikely that Jesus had lugged up the sacred scrolls from the temple so he could study them in the wilderness. First of all, the Rabbi probably would have attacked him at the door since scrolls were not only expensive, they were sacred. But more to the point, Jesus would have already known these scriptures because his culture was much more imbedded in the use of scripture for stories and cultural references.
So again, what does this tell us? Well, much like the example of Jesus on retreat, I don’t think the answer is necessarily to mimic Jesus outright. We can learn from his example. The point is that to resist temptation, Jesus used the skills and gifts God had given him. He tapped into what he already had.
You see, in a general way we often talk about becoming more Christ like. But we mean that in terms of our the likeness of our heart, mind, and spirit. But when it comes to gifts, we all are in different places. To resist temptation and do the right thing, we don’t all have to become bible scholars and quote scripture with ease. The key is to find, cultivate, and use the gifts and skills God gave each of us. To me, this is one of the most crucial pieces of spiritual truths we can ever internalize.
Jesus stood on a foundation of faith he knew and supported him. It didn’t feel empty to him to quote scripture. It felt empowering and fortifying. So, what is it that each of us have that helps us do the right thing? What foundation is our faith built upon that empowers and fortifies us? What blessings has God given us to make us better people?
We all have something to tap into. Some have the gift of scriptural study and knowledge. Others have a strong moral compass reinforced by rigorous attention to growth and love. For some of us, our families and friends are the fortress that makes us stronger. Reading, persuasive speech, compassion, learning, fasting, quite time, journals, prayer, retreats, holy days, volunteering… whatever it is that God has given each of us, it will help us to become better people… fuller members of the body of Christ.
And that’s the point. This holy season of Lent can be like a time of retreat to consider what God has fortified and empowered us with. It can be a time when we emerge with a stronger understanding of the tools God has given us so that we are able to do the right thing when we are faced with temptation.
So, this is where we are… Lent, on the journey. We know how Jesus emerged from the wilderness stronger. What can we apply from his example so that we can do the same?
Last week pastor and theologian Peter Gomes died. It is a loss of a theological giant. But his words live on and I think he completely understood what we’re talking about here today. He said, “The question should not be ‘What would Jesus do?’ but rather, more dangerously, ‘What would Jesus have me do?’ He came to ask human beings to live up to their full humanity; he wants us to live in the full implication of our human gifts, and that is far more demanding.”
Sisters and brothers, Peter Gomes, just like Jesus, knew that it is by living into our God given gifts and skills that we find the tools we need in situations. That doesn’t mean that we have to do things alone. In fact, sometimes our biggest gift is our community. But it does mean that we have to be rigorous in finding and cultivating those gifts. May we use this season of Lent to do that work so that we blossom into the creation God calls us to be. Amen.
Good morning. We missed you if you weren’t able to be with us on Ash Wednesday. It was a lovely service full of the Spirit’s moving. We joined in soup and salad supper with one another, watched as the kids bore in the elements to the table for communion, and sought to understand where and how God wants us to experience the holy during this time of Lent. But it’s not too late. Just because you might not have been here, doesn’t mean that the fruits of retreating into the wilderness have passed. We’ve barely gotten started in seeking the holy so keep coming back… we’re on a journey together.
Okay, that sounded more like a sales pitch than I meant but the essence is the same. We’re on a journey and a worthy one at that. And the main origin of that journey is part of our scripture passage today. We read in Matthew about Jesus retreating to the wilderness to fast. He did this just after his baptism and just before he set out on his ministry.
See, we have to remember that prior to this point, we know very little about Jesus other than a few stories of his childhood. We can guess that he was a good Jew who worshiped and kept the holy days. We also can guess he was in the family business as a carpenter. He was in his early 30’s so that makes all this more interesting. You see, the average life expectancy for folks in his time was only 35 because the infant mortality rate was so high. But if you made it into adulthood, you would likely die by age 50. So, in the scheme of life and in his community, he would be seen as well into or past mid life. Now a days we say we might call him a young man but then, he would have been a master carpenter with nearly 20 years under his belt.
But I didn’t start down this road to fill the room with all that we don’t know or understand about this man from Nazareth. I actually want to point to what we do know and can understand from his life. I want to point to what we can know in our own lives from this because Jesus sets a wonderful example for us to follow. The fact of the matter is that by the time we get to the end of this passage, he’s going toe to toe with Satan and wins. So, I think it bears some interest on our part to find out how he did this since most of us have a hard time resisting the little things let alone the offer of the world.
So, how did Jesus do it? What does this passage tell us? First of all, we can know that good decision making and preparation are important.
We don’t know exactly why he suddenly at age 30 decided that it was time contemplate a career change but we know he did not enter into it lightly. He was diligent in his decision-making. How do we know this? Because he listened to the Holy Spirit and went on a retreat into the wilderness to fast and pray.
Now you may ask what that has to do with it since it only takes up one verse in this passage. Well, the answer is a lot. This is more than what anthropologist Joseph Campbell would call the typical retreat of the hero archetype before a journey.
Jesus chose retreat to isolate himself so he could consider what was happening. He did not want distractions of his work or community life to get in the way. This gave him the space to understand what was going on more fully.
Also, he fasted. Now, fasting is a somewhat lost spiritual discipline in the modern era but it is an amazing tool for digging deep into ourselves. The process of fasting is more than just an act of self-discipline. It is an act of therapy.
Theologian Richard Foster wrote a book some years back called The Celebration of Discipline where he shares the practices of several mostly lost spiritual disciplines. In it, he talks about fasting in a way that has always stayed with me and informed my own attempts at fasting. He said that when we fast, there is a tendency to dismiss our feelings but that the feelings are precisely the point. If we are agitated or short tempered or sad when we’ve not eaten, it’s not because we have not eaten. We have those feelings because the spirit of anger or sadness lives within us and without food to cover it up, those feelings come to the surface. So, fasting provides an amazing opportunity to look our un dealt with feelings and issues in the eye and do something about them.
I imagine Jesus stared down a lot of fears and doubts during this 40-day period of fasting. It was probably a period of great growth with the combination of fasting and isolation. There would have been nowhere to hide from his inner angst.
But what does Jesus’ example of decision making and preparation mean to us? We all have times in our lives that we are about to do something big or make decisions that are life changing. Many of us have even contemplated and changed careers too. But it’s unlikely we went to the wilderness to make those decisions.
Well, the model of Jesus is a sound one here but I think we can learn more than just how to imitate his actions. The point is that he clearly took it seriously. He did what he could to consider what setting out on ministry would mean and to prepare himself. Likewise, when we are in that place, we must take steps to hear the Holy Spirit and to make good decisions and prepare ourselves.
This looks different for different people. Some of us are helped by engaging in various spiritual disciplines like fasting. In fact, if you’re ever interested in learning more or practicing it or other disciplines, I can suggest some books for you. Others of us make decisions and prepare through equally spiritual means of prayer, consulting loved ones, and careful analysis of the situation. Regardless of the decision, how serious we take it will be clear by how intent we are to seek God’s guidance and gifts in making that decision.
And speaking of gifts, that has bearing on the second point I want us to see in this passage. The bulk of this scripture tells of Jesus resisting temptation. How does he do this? By quoting scripture and standing firmly upon it. Each and every time Satan temps Jesus, he comes back by quoting scripture.
So, what does this tell us? Well, it’s unlikely that Jesus had lugged up the sacred scrolls from the temple so he could study them in the wilderness. First of all, the Rabbi probably would have attacked him at the door since scrolls were not only expensive, they were sacred. But more to the point, Jesus would have already known these scriptures because his culture was much more imbedded in the use of scripture for stories and cultural references.
So again, what does this tell us? Well, much like the example of Jesus on retreat, I don’t think the answer is necessarily to mimic Jesus outright. We can learn from his example. The point is that to resist temptation, Jesus used the skills and gifts God had given him. He tapped into what he already had.
You see, in a general way we often talk about becoming more Christ like. But we mean that in terms of our the likeness of our heart, mind, and spirit. But when it comes to gifts, we all are in different places. To resist temptation and do the right thing, we don’t all have to become bible scholars and quote scripture with ease. The key is to find, cultivate, and use the gifts and skills God gave each of us. To me, this is one of the most crucial pieces of spiritual truths we can ever internalize.
Jesus stood on a foundation of faith he knew and supported him. It didn’t feel empty to him to quote scripture. It felt empowering and fortifying. So, what is it that each of us have that helps us do the right thing? What foundation is our faith built upon that empowers and fortifies us? What blessings has God given us to make us better people?
We all have something to tap into. Some have the gift of scriptural study and knowledge. Others have a strong moral compass reinforced by rigorous attention to growth and love. For some of us, our families and friends are the fortress that makes us stronger. Reading, persuasive speech, compassion, learning, fasting, quite time, journals, prayer, retreats, holy days, volunteering… whatever it is that God has given each of us, it will help us to become better people… fuller members of the body of Christ.
And that’s the point. This holy season of Lent can be like a time of retreat to consider what God has fortified and empowered us with. It can be a time when we emerge with a stronger understanding of the tools God has given us so that we are able to do the right thing when we are faced with temptation.
So, this is where we are… Lent, on the journey. We know how Jesus emerged from the wilderness stronger. What can we apply from his example so that we can do the same?
Last week pastor and theologian Peter Gomes died. It is a loss of a theological giant. But his words live on and I think he completely understood what we’re talking about here today. He said, “The question should not be ‘What would Jesus do?’ but rather, more dangerously, ‘What would Jesus have me do?’ He came to ask human beings to live up to their full humanity; he wants us to live in the full implication of our human gifts, and that is far more demanding.”
Sisters and brothers, Peter Gomes, just like Jesus, knew that it is by living into our God given gifts and skills that we find the tools we need in situations. That doesn’t mean that we have to do things alone. In fact, sometimes our biggest gift is our community. But it does mean that we have to be rigorous in finding and cultivating those gifts. May we use this season of Lent to do that work so that we blossom into the creation God calls us to be. Amen.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Seeking the Holy
Seeking the Holy: Ash Wednesday sermon based upon Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
Good evening. It is good to be with you on this beginning day of the holy season of Lent.
Some in this room look forward to Lent as a time they’ve encountered since childhood. Many have negative memories of being forced to fast without understanding why or what is to be gained. Others look at this time as something odd that just doesn’t quite make sense. No matter our history, Ash Wednesday and Lent still come to us like clockwork 40 days before Easter.
So, here we are. We gather on a day we don’t usually and with the imposition of ashes, we engage in a practice that seems foreign in our culture. But why are we here and what is all this about? Well, I’ll sum up all of Lent for you in one phrase: Seeking the Holy.
The idea of Lent is about seeking what God has for us so that when Holy week arrives, we’ll have the courage to bear the crucified Christ. We’ll be able to look into the eyes of a Christ murdered for living fully into love. And by the end of Holy week, we hope our Lenten practices will have prepared us to receive in a new and bolder vision of the risen Christ. We’ll recognize when we see Christ around us in the world. We’ll hear God’s call more clearly and we’ll respond with faith and passion to that call.
Now, that’s a lot of hope to be bound up in 40 days. Most of us can’t give up our biggest vice for a few days. How are we supposed to get from here to there and feel like we’ve experienced that kind of growth? Well, it starts right here. (Hold up ashes)
We start this journey on ash Wednesday with the symbol of ashes for a reason. Ashes are about sorrow and repentance. They also symbolize our own mortality as we are formed from the dust of the earth and to dust we shall return. So, when we receive the ashes, the hope is that it is an outward marker of an inward understanding, and understanding of humility.
When we are humble, we can truly repent because we can truly see the damages we’ve caused by our words, deeds, and deeds left undone. So, a good first step in seeking the holy is cultivating humility. That’s really what the whole of the Matthew passage is about. It’s a guidebook for keeping ourselves humble so we can see God.
And usually that’s what the practices of self-examination and penitence, prayer and fasting, works of love, and reading and meditating on the Word of God are about. The things we give up and the practices we take on for Lent point us toward God.
So this is where we find ourselves this evening. What is it each of us needs to see God more clearly and experience God more fully? What is it that will prepare us to bear witness to what Easter has to offer? Many of us have already chosen Lenten practices that will be of meaning. But I want us to think not only of the practices but of the experience.
So, I’d like to take us on a guided meditation to reflect on how we might seek and find the holy during this time. I realize this might be a bit out of our comfort zones. I know it’s out of mine. But I believe God’s still small voice is bolder than mine will ever be. What God will tell you is what you need. So, as we prepare ourselves, just try to remember that you are in God’s loving arms and the loving arms of God’s community. Whatever is revealed to you is something God and those who love you will help you through.
To begin, I’d like you to know that there are no wrong answers here. There are times in our lives when silence is too much to bear and recognizing that the inner conflict is holy too. So, if you find yourself uncomfortable, ask yourself and God why. If the answer is too big for this moment, then feel free to sing a song in your head or do what you need. This won’t last long and we’re here together.
So, let’s begin. Let’s lower the lights just a bit. Try to relax the tension you feel in your body.
Breathe naturally and you can either close your eyes or just relax your gaze. Remember, there are no wrong experiences here.
Now just let the silence speak to you for a few moments.
I imagine God is already speaking to you but let’s try and focus in. Think on the question, “where is God?” or “where is the holy?”
What things have been getting in the way of experiencing God and the holy? Fear, discontentment, boredom, frustration, embarrassment, hate, fatigue, depression, sadness, greed, self-centeredness… gossip, haunting memories, health problems, our playthings like television and the internet, overscheduled time, underutilized time.
What does God want for you? joy, liberation from fear, guilt, & shame, belonging, courage, vitality, peace, kindness, humility, gratitude, an inner sense of grace, community & connection… to volunteer, to take quiet time in the day, to enter into a different kind of prayer, to seek God in study, to restore God’s temple (your body), to engage in acts of love of both yourself and others.
What small steps can you take to claim what God wants for you during this time? Intentional scheduling, covenanting with a friend for support, making a plan, cutting out something distracting, taking the time to breathe.
What would it take to start out each day with grace and love for yourself and others that God has for us? What would it take to see the holy in others and our everyday lives?
What God’s still small voice tells us right now is true. It is something that will bear fruit in Lent and beyond. This time is about a journey to seek the holy and I believe God is calling. Take what God has shown you and hold onto it. Nurture it in the days and weeks to come. Feed it in the ways God has shown you tonight and will reveal in the time to come.
If we are seeking the holy, I imagine that what will emerge is not just a single Lenten practice but a focus on something that will truly make us better people and stronger community. May God bless this journey and our walk together. Amen.
Good evening. It is good to be with you on this beginning day of the holy season of Lent.
Some in this room look forward to Lent as a time they’ve encountered since childhood. Many have negative memories of being forced to fast without understanding why or what is to be gained. Others look at this time as something odd that just doesn’t quite make sense. No matter our history, Ash Wednesday and Lent still come to us like clockwork 40 days before Easter.
So, here we are. We gather on a day we don’t usually and with the imposition of ashes, we engage in a practice that seems foreign in our culture. But why are we here and what is all this about? Well, I’ll sum up all of Lent for you in one phrase: Seeking the Holy.
The idea of Lent is about seeking what God has for us so that when Holy week arrives, we’ll have the courage to bear the crucified Christ. We’ll be able to look into the eyes of a Christ murdered for living fully into love. And by the end of Holy week, we hope our Lenten practices will have prepared us to receive in a new and bolder vision of the risen Christ. We’ll recognize when we see Christ around us in the world. We’ll hear God’s call more clearly and we’ll respond with faith and passion to that call.
Now, that’s a lot of hope to be bound up in 40 days. Most of us can’t give up our biggest vice for a few days. How are we supposed to get from here to there and feel like we’ve experienced that kind of growth? Well, it starts right here. (Hold up ashes)
We start this journey on ash Wednesday with the symbol of ashes for a reason. Ashes are about sorrow and repentance. They also symbolize our own mortality as we are formed from the dust of the earth and to dust we shall return. So, when we receive the ashes, the hope is that it is an outward marker of an inward understanding, and understanding of humility.
When we are humble, we can truly repent because we can truly see the damages we’ve caused by our words, deeds, and deeds left undone. So, a good first step in seeking the holy is cultivating humility. That’s really what the whole of the Matthew passage is about. It’s a guidebook for keeping ourselves humble so we can see God.
And usually that’s what the practices of self-examination and penitence, prayer and fasting, works of love, and reading and meditating on the Word of God are about. The things we give up and the practices we take on for Lent point us toward God.
So this is where we find ourselves this evening. What is it each of us needs to see God more clearly and experience God more fully? What is it that will prepare us to bear witness to what Easter has to offer? Many of us have already chosen Lenten practices that will be of meaning. But I want us to think not only of the practices but of the experience.
So, I’d like to take us on a guided meditation to reflect on how we might seek and find the holy during this time. I realize this might be a bit out of our comfort zones. I know it’s out of mine. But I believe God’s still small voice is bolder than mine will ever be. What God will tell you is what you need. So, as we prepare ourselves, just try to remember that you are in God’s loving arms and the loving arms of God’s community. Whatever is revealed to you is something God and those who love you will help you through.
To begin, I’d like you to know that there are no wrong answers here. There are times in our lives when silence is too much to bear and recognizing that the inner conflict is holy too. So, if you find yourself uncomfortable, ask yourself and God why. If the answer is too big for this moment, then feel free to sing a song in your head or do what you need. This won’t last long and we’re here together.
So, let’s begin. Let’s lower the lights just a bit. Try to relax the tension you feel in your body.
Breathe naturally and you can either close your eyes or just relax your gaze. Remember, there are no wrong experiences here.
Now just let the silence speak to you for a few moments.
I imagine God is already speaking to you but let’s try and focus in. Think on the question, “where is God?” or “where is the holy?”
What things have been getting in the way of experiencing God and the holy? Fear, discontentment, boredom, frustration, embarrassment, hate, fatigue, depression, sadness, greed, self-centeredness… gossip, haunting memories, health problems, our playthings like television and the internet, overscheduled time, underutilized time.
What does God want for you? joy, liberation from fear, guilt, & shame, belonging, courage, vitality, peace, kindness, humility, gratitude, an inner sense of grace, community & connection… to volunteer, to take quiet time in the day, to enter into a different kind of prayer, to seek God in study, to restore God’s temple (your body), to engage in acts of love of both yourself and others.
What small steps can you take to claim what God wants for you during this time? Intentional scheduling, covenanting with a friend for support, making a plan, cutting out something distracting, taking the time to breathe.
What would it take to start out each day with grace and love for yourself and others that God has for us? What would it take to see the holy in others and our everyday lives?
What God’s still small voice tells us right now is true. It is something that will bear fruit in Lent and beyond. This time is about a journey to seek the holy and I believe God is calling. Take what God has shown you and hold onto it. Nurture it in the days and weeks to come. Feed it in the ways God has shown you tonight and will reveal in the time to come.
If we are seeking the holy, I imagine that what will emerge is not just a single Lenten practice but a focus on something that will truly make us better people and stronger community. May God bless this journey and our walk together. Amen.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Response to Issue of Youth Involvement in Conferences
The following is my response to an excerpt entitled “Christian Conferences: Necessity or Distraction?” from Becky Garrison’s book entitled “Jesus Died for This?” posted on Youthworker.com. In it, she tries to pull apart the difficulty of deciding how to invigorate youth’s spiritual growth through conferences, local involvement, etc. Among the issues she raises are the ways in which events speak to only a certain context. To her, I wrote:
I understand that the issues raised in this piece are complex though I must quickly concede that I am not involved in youth work and do not pastor a congregation. I am a pediatric chaplain. Yet regardless of my role, I think it is a tough balance when looking at programed events. How are they set up? Who will benefit from it? What will be the lasting effect?
Honestly, I think it is very difficult to plan for a group and determine what will positively affect the most number of people. What is one person’s transformative experience is another’s distraction. We each find what we are looking for (even if it is not what we need).
When I think of my own conference experiences as a youth, most were fleeting moments of buzz but the new people I met and my exposure to a broader world of believers made an immeasurable impact upon me. In my adult life, I understand the types of events that will feed me most and choose those. They are usually more communal and intimate gatherings like the Quaker Pastoral Care Conference and the Pediatric Chaplains Network Annual Forum (which my spouse has lovingly dubbed “chaplain camp” because of how fun it is).
As an extravert, I need new people to cultivate new tools. But what do more introspective, introverted people need? I suspect the answer for most youth programs is in offering and providing many different types of encounters so that participants can come to understand the varying ways they connect and therefore develop an ever-evolving spiritual life. But regardless of how one chooses, I truly believe the Holy Spirit always does her work if we show up.
I understand that the issues raised in this piece are complex though I must quickly concede that I am not involved in youth work and do not pastor a congregation. I am a pediatric chaplain. Yet regardless of my role, I think it is a tough balance when looking at programed events. How are they set up? Who will benefit from it? What will be the lasting effect?
Honestly, I think it is very difficult to plan for a group and determine what will positively affect the most number of people. What is one person’s transformative experience is another’s distraction. We each find what we are looking for (even if it is not what we need).
When I think of my own conference experiences as a youth, most were fleeting moments of buzz but the new people I met and my exposure to a broader world of believers made an immeasurable impact upon me. In my adult life, I understand the types of events that will feed me most and choose those. They are usually more communal and intimate gatherings like the Quaker Pastoral Care Conference and the Pediatric Chaplains Network Annual Forum (which my spouse has lovingly dubbed “chaplain camp” because of how fun it is).
As an extravert, I need new people to cultivate new tools. But what do more introspective, introverted people need? I suspect the answer for most youth programs is in offering and providing many different types of encounters so that participants can come to understand the varying ways they connect and therefore develop an ever-evolving spiritual life. But regardless of how one chooses, I truly believe the Holy Spirit always does her work if we show up.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)