Sunday Sermon: Living Generously, Part 1: Greater than our Grief

based on Mark 10:17-31

            I recently heard a riddle that I could not figure out the answer to.  It had me stumped!  Here it is: “What’s better than God, worse than the devil?  Rich men want it, poor men have it, and if you eat it, you'll die?"

       What’s the answer?

            Nothing.  

            You wouldn’t think it would be so hard!  Right? Nothing is better than God, nothing is worse than the devil, rich people want nothing – and poor people have it. If you eat nothing you’ll die.” There you go.   

            Except that, according to the gospel reading today, it’s not exactly true.  

            The rich young man – as it turns out – he did want something.  “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”  

             it’s an odd question, if you think about it.  I mean, what do you DO to inherit anything?  

            Nevertheless, there is something that the rich man feels that he lacks – and Jesus begins by reminding him of the commandments. 

            He has kept the commandments, since his youth, he says.  And Jesus must sense that this is not bragging but a sincere answer – so he looks at the young man with love and says, 

            “Well all right. There’s one more thing.  Sell, all of your belongings, and give the money to the poor. Then come, follow me.”  

            You wouldn’t think it would be so hard!  

            In fact, it should be easy, shouldn’t it?  

            That’s what I told my dad once.  He was sitting in his wheelchair at the nursing home, and was suddenly worried about salvation.  Eternal life. What if he wasn’t good enough? He thought.

            Dad, do you trust Jesus? I asked.

            Yes, he answered.

            Well…. “You mean it’s that simple?”

            That’s what I told my dad.  

            But Jesus told the rich man, “Go, sell all of your belongings, and give the proceeds to the poor)

            And then, follow me. And the young man went away grieving, because he had many possessions.  

            And you know what? I think I know how he felt.

            And it makes me think back – to when I went to be a missionary in Japan.  

            And no one said that I had to sell everything I had and give the proceeds to the poor, but, truthfully, I could fit everything into two suitcases and one trunk that I sent ahead.  

            It was easier to go, because I didn’t have so much.  

            And after I graduated from seminary, and was called out to rural South Dakota – two farmers came up to my mom and dad’s house with their pick ups and hauled everything I owned to the parsonage. 

             It was more than I took to Japan, but it was still not a lot of stuff.

            This last move though – this one was hard 

            A whole house full of stuff.  A whole office full of books.  

            And even though no one told me I had to give up everything, I knew I couldn’t take everything. And I grieved.

            You wouldn’t think it would be so hard!    

            Trust Jesus!  They said.  It’s so simple!  They said. 

            But the truth is, when you follow Jesus, when you trust Jesus, there is grieving involved.

            There’s something else as well.  

            I think perhaps the young man thought he could follow Jesus – but just sort of keep all of his possessions on the side for when they returned from the journey.             

            Selling it all and giving it to the poor – that’s so permanent.             There’s no security in case things don’t turn out the way you planned.   

            There’s nothing to go back to if you have sold everything and given it to the poor.  

            It’s just like that old camp song we used to sing, “I have decided to follow Jesus…. no turning back, no turning back.”  

            And it’s an invitation to journey with Jesus, an invitation to life, an invitation to trust him –but don’t kid yourself that there’s no grieving involved.   

            Because trusting Jesus involves trusting him with – everything.                 Trusting Jesus involves trusting him with your soul and trusting him with your work, and trusting him with your relationships, and trusting him with your …. Finances.  Your wealth.    

            And you wouldn’t think it would be so hard. 

            There’s another side to Jesus’ hard saying.  

            When he tells the rich young man to sell everything, and give the proceeds to the poor – Jesus it not only inviting him to transform his life – he’s inviting him to transform the lives of the poor too.

            And he is creating a connection between them, between his future and their futures,  his life and their lives.    

            And that is what “eternal life” is about – it’s not simply about a secure future “after you die” – but it is a life worth living, right here and now, a life where we are walking with Jesus, and where 

            – whatever we have left behind – we have gained in a wider and more abundant community, a life of purpose, and where we have eternal value.  

            It’s the promise of Jesus to his disciples, who have given up everything.  

            Jesus promises that whatever they have given up – they will receive back 100 fold – in the abundance of family and relationships and the abundance of wealth.   What kind of wealth?  

            Well, I don’t know for sure, but I suspect that it is the wealth that comes from belonging to a community of believers with a shared mission of transforming the world around them. 

            That’s treasure in heaven.

            But there’s grieving involved.  

            Whether you turn away, like the rich man, or whether you are all in with Jesus, there is grieving involved.  

            The grieving involves realizing that everything you thought you owned – was never yours to begin with.  

            The grieving involves leaving behind things you thought were important.

            Because Jesus is looking at each of us with love, and every single day he makes the invitation, “Follow me.”  

            He makes that invitation to us as individuals – and he also makes that invitation to us as a congregation.

            He makes an invitation to us as individuals to be all in – to trust him and to follow him with our whole lives.

            And he is making an invitation to our congregation to do the same.  Feed the hungry. Give Shelter to the homeless.  Give hope to those who are on the edge.  Nurture the children.  

            Share the Grace of God in our community. 

             

             “Trust Jesus.”  That’s an invitation to stewardship – which is to entrust our WHOLE lives to him – the one who loves you so fully that he went to the cross for you. 

            At Grace we’re a small part of God’s BIG mission – and so every October we ask you consider your gift to Grace as a small part of your total commitment to following Jesus.  

            Because through this congregation you have experienced the Grace of God – and because through your giving, we can continue to embody the love of Jesus, and share his invitation with others, so that they can see his love and follow him as well.

            And what do we want our neighbors – our community – the world – to know – through our lives – and through our giving?

             The answer to the riddle – “Nothing” – that “Nothing” can separate us from the love of our generous God – in Christ Jesus our Lord.

            Amen

            

            

            

            

Monologue: The Servant Girl who Challenged Peter

            It started out as simple curiosity.  That’s the truth.  Usually, I try to keep to myself, just do my work, follow the high priest’s instructions, keep out of the way.  I find that works best. 

But this evening there was so much commotion.  Usually it’s quiet at night – but this night there was a trial – and that was such an unusual thing.  I thought – this prisoner must be something very special, for them to want to do everything in the dark.  So of course I was curious.  I overheard some of the questions they were asking this Galilean – questions about tearing down the temple and claiming to be God.  But I couldn’t hear his answers. 

And then I saw this man – a man I didn’t know.  He looked like he was from Galilee, I thought – and he seemed interested in what would happen to the prisoner.  I looked at him for a long time.  Then I got up my courage and asked, “Weren’t you with this Jesus?  Aren’t you one of his followers?”  I have to say, I was surprised at how loudly he protested.  But the more loudly he protested, the surer I was that he must have been one of Jesus’ men.  I appealed to those around me – I saw to them, “I think he is one of Jesus’ followers.”  And I think they agreed with me.  But he got angrier and angrier – and scared too, I think.  For some reason, he wanted to put as much distance as possible between himself and this Jesus.  Then why was he hanging around?  That’s what I wanted to know.

            That Jesus must have been a dangerous man.  The high priest was afraid of him – I could tell that by the way he asked him questions, and how he tore his clothes.  But that man was afraid of him, too, in a way – afraid to be called one of his followers, afraid of what Jesus stood for.  I suppose that he was afraid that what happened to Jesus might happen to him, too.  But he was supposed to be one of Jesus’ friends, wasn’t he?  And no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get him to admit it.  He was ashamed and afraid.

            I was right, though.  He was one of Jesus’ friends.  I’ve seen him since then.  He talks to everyone about Jesus now – right out in the open.  One of these days he’s going to get in trouble, just like his friend did.  But now, he doesn’t seem to care any more.  I’m curious about that, too.  I wonder what has changed.  I mean, if I were him, I’d be ashamed.  First, I’d be ashamed of Jesus, and what happened to him – he died on a cross, and you know what THAT means.  That’s the worst thing that can happen to a person.  And if wasn’t ashamed of that, I’d be ashamed of myself – that when the chips were down, I didn’t stand up for my friend.  Some friend I turned out to be.  That’s what I’d think.  I do hear rumors that some people say that Jesus isn’t dead any more, but I don’t know about that.

            Sometimes I want to go up to this man, just like I did on that night, and ask him again.  I’m curious, like I said.  I don’t know what is stopping me, so far.  I suppose I don’t have much opportunity, serving the high priest, like I do.  But I’d like to ask him about his friend Jesus, and see what he says this time.  I’d like to ask just the same question – “Aren’t you a friend of Jesus?” and see what he says this time.  And if I had the opportunity, I’d ask him…. “Why aren’t you afraid any more?”  I wonder what he would say.

Sermon for Epiphany 5: "Ordinary Miracle"

based on Mark 1:29-39

            

            The theme for pre-school chapel this week was “Jesus' Many Miracles.”  With a theme like that, where do you begin?

             The feeding of the 5,000?  The four men who lowered their  friend through the roof so that Jesus could heal him

             The ten lepers who were cleansed?  The two blind men Jesus healed?  The one little girl he raised from the dead? 

            I started with this one – the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law. 

            Notice it happens RIGHT after Jesus leaves the synagogue – right after his teaching and casting out of the demon. 

            He goes to Simon Peter’s house and Simon’s mother-in-law is sick.  She has a fever.  And I say to all of the children, “Have you ever had a fever?” – and they all said “Yes!”

            It’s an ordinary sickness, something all of us can understand, especially in a year when there is a particularly scary variety of flu going around. 

            We have all had a fever – although it might help to remember that there was a time when a fever was a lot more worrisome than it usually is now. 

            I remember hearing a story at a funeral once – the woman who died, I was told, had a secret. 

            She had been married once, briefly, before her current marriage.  But her husband had died after they were married only a short time, maybe a year. 

            He died of an infection.  Her second husband got sick with an infection, but he got well – because in the intervening two years – they had discovered – penicillin. It must have seemed like a miracle.

            So a fever – it’s a common sickness – an ordinary sickness – and maybe we can even imagine being healed from a fever – more than we can imagine some Jesus’ other miracles. 

            Peter’s mother in law was sick in bed with aches and pains and she couldn’t do the things that she was used to doing – and Jesus came right up to her – not worried about germs or anything – and he took her by the hand and healed her

            And she got up and served them.

             And I have thought of this scene in somewhat humorous ways, I’ll admit

            – I’ve pictured her as a sort of first century version of Raymond’s mother on Everybody Loves Raymond, getting up and putting on a big pot of stew, because that’s what Jesus and his disciples needed right now.

            “You hungry?  Sit down.  I’m better now.”

            Women’s work is never done, am I right?

            There’s something about this scene that I love – and – I’ll confess – something about it that bothers me. 

            I love it because it shows that Peter’s mother-in-law is fully healed.  And you know, I’ve had a fever, and even when it leaves, getting up and cooking –that’s not the first thing I want to do. 

            Well, actually, though I love cooking “a little” – it’s not always my favorite thing, so maybe part of what bothers me is the idea that she’s the one who has to do it.   

            I know that she’s doing it with love – and I know that she’s doing it as well out of gratitude and love --- she’s serving for the same reason all of us do ANYTHING – to show our gratitude and thanksgiving.   

            So I love that this scene shows this woman getting up with energy – and giving back with gratitude – and not in some big and dramatic way, but in an ordinary way.

             Really, it’s an example of living generously.  She is a giver – and when she is healed, what is the first thing she does? 

            She gives.  She serves.  She cooks and makes her guests feel at home.

            So this is a great example of how healing is not an end point – it’s a beginning point. 

            Or maybe it’s both an end – and a beginning. 

           

            When we are healed by Jesus, when we are set free by Jesus, when we are given life and forgiveness and hope by Jesus – it’s the end of one thing – but it’s the beginning of another. 

            It’s the beginning of a new purpose in life, the beginning of hands and  hearts and lives more open – the beginning of living with generosity. 

            But here’s what else I think about – when I think about Peter’s mother-in-law – I just hate to have her gifts restricted to cooking and cleaning. 

            Those are good gifts.  But they are not the only gifts – and not the only gifts for women. 

            Recently I read somewhere that the word here for service – it’s the greek word “diakonia” by the way, is used in scripture two different ways.  If the subject is a woman, diakonia is translated “serve” or “wait on”. 

            But if the subject is a man, or men, the word is translated as “served as a deacon”, “did a deacon’s job.” 

            Hmmm.

             And what was a deacon’s job?  In the early church, deacons were servants, that’s for sure.

             But what they did was organize in the church to make sure that those who were needy got their needs met by the resources of the community. 

            They operated the food bank, for example.  Made sure the money collected went to the people who needed it.    As one commentator put it – they connected “the need with the resource.”

            And this perspective answers a question that I have about this scripture reading.  How did all of those people – the needy people – find out about Jesus, and where he was staying?  Was it just the mysterious Holy Spirit? 

            Maybe.  OR maybe Peter’s mother-in-law was doing a deacon’s job – not just making the stew and cleaning the house – but going out and telling people where the resource could be found – the healer for all of their hearts, and bodies and souls. 

            Need – and resource.  That’s what it means to be a deacon.  That’s what it means to be a servant.  

             I recently read a story about a priest In Bolivia, Father Pedro Arrupe. 

            One day Father Arrupe was invited to the home of a poor member of his congregation. 

            “The man had a gift for the padre, he explained.  So Arrupe accompanied the man and was led to a shack, where the man lived with his wife and children.  It was so rough, small, and spare, it took Arrupe’s breath away.  He was moved so deeply, his eyes brimmed with tears.  Then The man led him to a huge opening  in the wall.  Not a window but just a hole, and he pointed.  It was a sunset.   That was his gift.  *

            Need – and resource.   He brought the priest to the Sunset – and it was an ordinary miracle.

            Because we all need healing – of some kind or another – and we all have gifts to share – holes through which we show and share the glory of God.  

            And there is more kind of healing – and what do we do – when we leave here?   And when we share – when we serve – we become ordinary miracles. 

            Because despite everything about us that is marred and flawed and wounded and broken, we show forth the glory of God. 

            We connect our children to the one who made sunsets, and beauty, and them. 

            We connect homeless families with food and shelter and the love of God.  We connect sinners with the source of healing and hope.

            Need – and resource.

            Come to the table and open your hands to receive the life and healing you need. 

            And then go – as an ordinary miracle – to share that healing with others. 

            AMEN

           

*the story about Father Aruppe I found in “Barking tothe Choir,” Father Gregory Boyle

For the insight about the work of the deacons in the early church, I am indebted to Richard Swanson, and his essay from "Provoking the Gospel"

Sermon for 3rd Sunday after the Epiphany

"Immediately"

based on Mark 1:14-20

            Sometimes it’s the small things you notice.    

            On Tuesday I woke up expecting to see a lot of snow on the ground – I ended up looking for the small pieces of sleet and snow that signaled danger

            Or those small pieces of ice – that can trip you up if you aren’t careful.  

            Or small signs of life --  when I used to visit the desert in Arizona, it would look pretty barren – but if I looked closely I could tell it was really alive.

            Sometimes it’s the small things you notice – that I notice – here – on Sunday morning – when we’re sharing the peace, or sharing communion, or visiting after the service.

            A smile.  A word.  A Gesture.

            Or in this passage of scripture from Mark – the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. 

            I’ve always focused on the obvious – the men were fishermen, and Jesus calls them by telling them that they will be “fishing for people” now.   

            And in using those words and that image – Jesus hooks them right away. 

            But today you know what I am noticing?  The word “immediately.”   

            Did you notice that word?  Jesus is at the very beginning of his ministry. 

            He has just been baptized and driven out to the wilderness.  (And by the way, the Spirit drove him out – immediately.)  

            And  afterwards he sees two fishermen and he calls them – and they follow him – immediately. 

            That’s sort of incredible. 

            I mean, you can chalk it up to Jesus being the voice of authority.  If he calls you, you just have to go. 

            When I went to do a church service at the Denver City and County Jail once, the inmates all told said that it was no surprise – that they followed “immediately.” 

            Because – Jesus. 

            You can’t trust anyone else, but you can trust Jesus. 

            So -- It’s a sign – a revelation – that when Jesus calls disciples, they follow “immediately.”  They can’t resist. 

            In the church, this season is called “Epiphany” – which is a word that means “Revelation.” 

            The word “epiphany” with a small “e” actually means a moment when the truth is revealed to you without you having to study or figure it out.

            You just suddenly (for example) knew, just KNEW that 2 plus 2 really does equal four, or that that key in the middle of the piano is middle C, or that the thing that you touch with your hands and drink and wash with – that’s called water. 

            The disciples heard Jesus call their name and suddenly they just KNEW, without having to study it, that he was the one.  It was a revelation.

            But what does it reveal? 

            The disciples know that Jesus is the one, they know he is the Messiah, but they don’t know much about him.  Yet. 

            They will learn more, and more will be revealed to them, but for now they have just heard him calling. 

            And they followed.  Immediately.

            And for me this reveals three things.  It reveals something about the disciples – that they were waiting. 

            They were waiting for someone, for something, for the kingdom of God, the Messiah, someone they could follow. 

            They were waiting for someone who would teach them, and heal them, – but they were also waiting for someone who would make them teachers and healers. 

            They were waiting for something that God had promised to Israel – that God had promised to the world. 

            So they followed immediately.          

            But  “immediately” also reveals a sense of urgency – that this is not the time for delays. 

            This is a time for action. 

            This is a time for repentance, by which I mean, a time to turn around, go in a different direction, actually follow Jesus. 

            And as much as we might say, OF COURSE the disciples followed immediately, it’s not that easy, is it? 

            So the other thing that this reveals is our – my – hesitation. 

            I want to ask, “Wait a minute?  Is it that really God calling?  I have a couple of things I have to do first that are important.”   

            Most of the time, following Jesus may not seem that urgent to us.  In fact, most of the time, the decisions we make may not seem that urgent – until the flood waters come up and you have to leave your home – or stay –

             or until someone is in trouble and you have to help – or not

             – or someone asks you (for example), “will you marry me?” and you have to answer yes – or not.   

            The Kingdom of God has drawn near – and do you want to be a part of it?   -- Don’t take your time.

            So, it’s a small thing, but the word immediately sticks out to me.    As being a part of the epiphany – a part of the revelation.

             And you know what – it happens TWICE. 

            Twice that word “immediately” – when Jesus calls the second set of brothers, James and John – he calls them immediately.

            Peter and Andrew didn’t hesitate. 

            But when Jesus gets to James and John, he doesn’t hesitate either.             He doesn’t ask for resumes.  He doesn’t have them do a personality test. 

            He doesn’t have a conversation with them first, so that he can find out if they are right for the job. 

            He calls them  -- immediately. 

            If you ask me, this is even more incredible. 

            That Jesus does not hesitate – to call Peter and Andrew, James and John – and us. 

            And this – this reveals something too, something about Jesus, and something about us.

            But what does it reveal? 

            What do you think? 

            God is not hesitating to call you – right where you are. 

            And not just (or even immediately) here, in church. 

            I just get to remind you about it on Sunday. 

            NO – he’s calling you while you are casting your nets into the sea, which is to say, he is calling to you while you are doing your daily work, while you are going to the grocery store with your kids,

            while you are at the office, in the truck, meeting your neighbors, playing with children. 

            God is not hesitating to call you – immediately -- to be a part of God’s reign of mercy and love and compassion

            And what does it reveal? 

            Today Jesus is calling you  -- and suddenly – suddenly – you know – without studying or having to figure it out – you just know – that despite everything – you are beloved and valuable –and worthy to bear the good news. You are God’s beloved child, and he is calling you without hesitation.          

            “Follow me,” he says to you – every single day. 

            And you know – sometimes it’s the small things that you notice.     The child who needs encouragement to follow her dream

            The stranger who needs hope.  The family who needs a home. 

            The refugee who needs shelter.   

            Every person who needs – the kingdom of God.  Right now.

            Immediately he calls you.  Because he loves you.  Because he sees you.

            Don’t take your time.  AMEN