Integrity; Matthew 25:31-46

 

Rev. George Miller

March 26, 2023

Matthew 25: 31-46

 

Integrity.

 

That was the word of the day at Tuesday’s School Board Meeting.  The student who presented on integrity attend the Virtual School, so this word had extra meaning. 

 

Their presentation began and ended with a quote from C.S. Lewis- “Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.”

 

Integrity.  That’s what Jesus discusses today.  Doing what is just, what is right, just because it is right, and it is just.

 

Not because others are watching or so you get a grace plus plus.

 

Integrity’s complexity comes when what you see as right and just may not be just and right to others.

 

I found that out Wednesday at Council.  We discussed a topic that I thought was a no-brainer and would be a unanimous vote.

 

Turns out for Council it was a no-brainer, it was a unanimous vote, just not in the direction I thought.

 

So being me, I was emotional, vocal, defensive.  Was even called a bully, for which I apologize for.

 

It was truly one of those moments that breaks a pastor’s heart, and could break a pastor’s spirit.

 

Wondering, like a parent, “How did they come to this conclusion?” but knowing it was their decision to make.

 

And truth is, the decision Council made was a decision made with integrity, the kind of integrity that comes from answering the call to church leadership in which very few matters are black and white, and almost all matters have to be done from a fiscal, communal eye.

 

Integrity.

 

Looking at today’s reading, which is instrumental in forming the UCC’s identity, we have the last public teaching of Jesus before his arrest.

 

And what a teaching it is.

 

Jesus sets the scene of the whole world coming before the King.

 

The King says “I was hungry, and you gave me some corn bread.  I was thirsty, and you gave me a cool glass of lemonade.” 

 

“I was a Haitian, a Cuban, a Filipino immigrant and you welcomed me.  I was wearing rags and you gave me a tshirt, underwear and socks.”

 

“I was at Adventist Health and the County Jail and you visited me.  Come into the Land of Blessings, for my Father’s joy covers you.”

 

But the people you receive this invitation are dumbfounded, confused.  They say “But Great Creator, when did we ever do any of those things for you?”

 

You see, the people did not know.  They had not planned.  They were not scrupulous or trying to earn extra points for Heaven. 

 

They just “were.”  They had…

 

Integrity.

 

To which the King says “Anytime you gave anyone a slice of hot cornbread, a cool drink, a warm hello, a tshirt, a “thinking of you” text or contacted someone in jail, you were actually feeding, greeting, clothing, caring for me…and I am so, so thankful.”

 

This message is so beautiful, so pure.  It is so free of bylaws and committee work and obligations and deadlines.

 

And it is so obtainable by anyone with an open heart and a truly generous spirit. 

 

“Did you do anything, big, small or medium sized to show someone that the Heaven of God is real and at hand?”

 

If so, experience the good road that God has placed before you.

 

Integrity- God is saying “I see you and all that you do and have done just because it was the right thing to do, and I am so proud of you.”

 

I think this is what last week’s message was really about- those 10 women with the 10 lamps.

 

Those lamps can be the good that we do. 

 

The kindness we do without thinking, the justice we do when no one is watching.

 

The compassion we show when it seems like no one even cares.

 

Perhaps what Jesus was really saying last week is “No matter how dark things get, no matter how pointless things may seem, don’t stop doing what you do that brings light into the world.”

 

Jesus doesn’t always make things easy, he doesn’t always make things clear, but at this moment, before he is arrested, before everything goes dark and dangerous for him, Jesus leaves a final lesson. 

 

This lesson ties everything else together.

 

When we do for the least, we do for God.  When we are just and we are kind, we are blessed. 

 

When we are generous, we receive the greatest reward.

 

When we care for another, we are caring for God.  And that makes God so happy.

 

Amen and amen.

Jesus Gets it Wrong; Matthew 25:1-13

 

Rev. George Miller

March 19, 2023

Matthew 25:1-13

 

Being an adult is not easy.  Bills.  Morning aches and pains.  The infamous “Hurry Up and Wait.”

 

Hurry up to get to get to the dentist for your 9 am appointment but they may not see you until 9:15.  Hurry up to get to Quest after 12 hours of fasting but you may have to wait an hour more.

 

Hurry up and wait is no fun.

 

It was no fun as a child when Mom rushed us out of the house so she could get her favorite seat 45 minutes before worship began.

 

Hurry up and wait is no fun at Disney World where it make take 2 hours to get on a ride.

 

Hurry up and wait is certainly no fun in today’s reading, perhaps my least favorite of all parables.

 

Parables were Jesus’ preferred way of teaching.  Short, confusing tales made to make us think about God, faith, and the ways of heaven.

 

Well, I hate this story. I find it unfair, misogynistic, and abusive.

 

10 maidens with 10 lights on their way to attend an evening wedding.

 

Trouble is, the groom is nowhere to be found.  He shows up when he shows up.  Some women are referred to as foolish, some of the women are called wise.

 

The groom has taken so long to make an appearance that the foolish women have run out of oil, the wise women refuse to share. 

 

Out into the cold dark night 5 of the women go searching for supplies and when they get back the door is shut and the women are treated as nobodies.

 

“Keep awake,” is the moral of the story.

 

I’m sorry- what about “Show up when you’re supposed to show up!”

 

What a bunch of nonsense.  The women are punished because the groom couldn’t commit to a time?

 

Know what this reminds me of? Back before cell phones when women were expected to sit by the phone waiting for it to ring.

 

Is this the image we want of God?  Is this the image we want of heaven? 

 

That’s God’s going to make an appearance but we don’t know when but it’s our job to be prepared and if you run out of supplies, tough?

 

Nope.  Not me.  So we’re going to tear this story apart.  Jesus taught in parables to make us think.  So, we’re going to thank.

 

First, the misogyny.  We have 10 women who are described in just 2 ways- the foolish and the wise. 

 

Men may not realize it, but so often women must contend with being seen as binary beings. 

 

Either you’re old or young, virgin or whore, weak or a witch.

 

Why does Jesus have to label the women these 2 ways?  Why does he set up a story in which women are pitted against women?

 

Not to mention- why are 5 of the women called foolish?  Are they foolish because they trusted the groom to show up when he was supposed to show up and they brought just enough?

 

Were they really foolish or were they trusting?  Were they wrong to assume that an adult man would be a grown up and arrive at his own wedding at the set time?

 

Were the other 5 really wise? 

 

Did bringing extra oil mean that deep down they didn’t trust the groom, nor did they expect the groom to show up on time?

 

And what does it say about the groom if he can’t be trusted by the bridesmaids?

 

Talk about major red flags.

 

Then we have these 10 women being made to sleep outside at night.  You mean there was no one there to let them in? 

 

Did no one look outside the banquet window and say “Hey! We got 10 women sleeping outside in matching bridesmaid outfits and their lamps have one out!”

 

Didn’t the groom think ahead and explain to the staff that just  in case he runs late, let the guests in, especially of they are 10 women in the middle of the night?

 

And what about the 5 supposedly “wise” women refusing to share their oil with the other women? 

 

Didn’t Jesus just spend all this time teaching and preaching  and turning little into much and making miracles happen?

 

Wouldn’t Jesus want the women to share the oil they have?

 

Since when did Jesus teach us to hoard it all and only think of ourselves?

 

This whole entire parable is just a mess.  Misogynistic, mean spirited.

 

Is this what being a Christian is meant to look like?  Waiting for some absent man to show up when he chooses to show up?

 

Is that what Church is meant to look like?  Stay outside in the cold and only the ones who are smart and with resources are allowed in?

 

Is this what the Kingdom of Heaven is meant to look like?  That after waiting hours upon hours, going out into the cold dark to get more supplies, you come to a locked door and a voice saying “I do not know you?”

 

Nope, nope, nope.  This is not what I envision…and maybe that’s the point.

 

Maybe Jesus is once again making us uncomfortable so we can figure out for ourself how do we view God, how do we view God’s kingdom, and how do we view our relationships with one another.

 

What if Jesus told us this fractured fairy tale so that we can in try to create our own?

 

So here it goes- what if the Kingdom of Heaven is like this…

 

10 bridesmaids of all shapes, ages, abilities, skin tones, economic and educational backgrounds walked together carrying 10 lamps.

 

Though the bridegroom was delayed because he was finding a lost sheep, he arranged for them to be warmly greeted into the banquet hall.

 

While waiting, the women fell asleep, and upon waking up 5 women discovered their lamps had burned out. 

 

Before they could even ask for assistance the other 5 women said “No worries, we will gladly share some of ours as we wait together.”

 

When the groom finally appeared, the banquet hall was full of guests from all nations, places and times and he greeted each and every person by name.

 

Now- that’s a story I could get behind, but it’s not the story we have. 

 

So once again, Jesus leaves us feeling uncomfortable, Jesus leaves us feeling unsure.

 

And once again, isn’t that what being an adult is about? 

 

Facing that which is uneasy, facing that which is difficult, living with so much that is unknown.

 

Jesus is trying to tell us to be prepared, to let our light shine.

 

And he’s telling us in a world that is more fractured than it is a fairy tale; he’s telling us in a world that is more disjointed than it is Disney.

 

So we listen to what Jesus has to say, we wrestle, we wonder, and we continue with Jesus on the way.

 

On the path to Cross, and on the path with God.        

Amen.

Sermon for March 12, 2023

Rev. George Miller

March 12, 2023

Mathew 22:1-14

 

Imagine you are living in Jerusalem in 55, a time in which people believed there were many different gods, and these gods were tempestuous, jealous, and had to be bribed to get what you wanted.

 

Baal demands you sacrifice a pig.  Aphrodite requires sex with a temple prostitute.

 

But you happen to attend a small, intimate church in which folk gather at the home of a widow.

 

You share a meal, sing songs, say a prayer, and read a letter from Paul the apostle.

 

The letter says “For in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.  As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  There is no longer Jew or Greek…slave or free…for you are all one in Christ Jesus…heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:26-29)

 

Afterwards you go out onto the highways and byways to feed, clothe, heal, and share joy.

 

Imagine it is now the year 60.  The church has grown.  You’re meeting in a larger house. 

 

You share a meal, sing songs, say a prayer, and read a letter from Paul.

 

The letter says, “You were taught to put away your former way of life, your old self, corrupt and deluded…and to clothe yourself in the spirit of your minds, and to clothe yourselves with the new self-created to the likeness of God…” (Ephesians 4:22-24)

 

Afterwards you go out onto the highways and byways to feed, clothe, heal, and share joy.

 

Imagine it is now year 61.  The country is becoming uneasy with turmoil.  Rome is threatening to attack and destroy your city.

 

While others go and sacrifice a pig to Baal, or pay to have sex with one of Aphrodite’s prostitutes, you go to that growing home church.

 

You share a meal, sing songs, say a prayer, and read a letter from Paul.

 

The letter says “As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience.  Bear with one another…forgive one another.  Above all else clothe yourselves with love…and let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…” (Colossians 3:12-17)

 

Afterwards you go out onto the highways and byways to feed, clothe, heal, and share joy.

 

Now imagine it is the year 71.  Rome has come in and totally decimated the city, leveling all the homes and places of worship.

 

But as long as you and your church have a place to gather, you share a meal, sing songs, say a prayer, and read a letter from Paul.

 

You encourage each other to clothe yourself with Christ, to clothe yourself with the spirit of your minds, and to clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, and love.

 

Afterwards you go into the rubble that used to be the highways and byways to feed, clothe, heal, and share joy with your war-torn town.

 

Now imagine it is the yar 80.  You have been attending the church for 25 years, but now it meets in a big beautiful sanctuary that was built after the war.

 

One day, a member of the church says they have a gospel they would like to share about Jesus- his birth, ministry, healings, and parables.

 

When the person stands up to read, you are fascinated to hear what they have to say.  They get to Matthew 22 and the parable about the wedding banquet. 

 

You live in a culture that likes to tell stories.  You know that stories are full of metaphors and symbols to teach great truths.

 

You know the King is God; the son is Jesus, the slaves were the prophets who were rejected, you know the banquet represents the Kingdom of Heaven.

 

And you know that the wedding robe is not an actual wedding robe.

 

And because you’ve been coming to this church for 25 years and hearing Paul’s letters again and again, you understand what is actually happening.

 

This is not a story about a man who did not have the right wardrobe. 

 

It is about a person who was in the presence of God, in the presence of Christ, and chose not to clothe himself with Christ, in which everyone is equal and all heirs according to the promise.

 

You understand that the man was not caught unprepared, but that he had yet to put away his corrupt self and be transformed into the likeness of God.

 

You understand that the King is upset at the man because here he is, at the generous banquet the King has provided, and the man refuses to clothe himself in compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, love, patience, and to practice forgiveness.

 

And you understand that him being cast out is just an over-the-top way of Jesus saying, “When you don’t do what it just, what is kind, it is you who actually spiritually suffers and feels no joy.”

 

Now imagine that instead of living in Jerusalem in the year 80, you are in Sering, March 12, 2023. in a sanctuary surrounded by 60 sisters and brother who are one in Christ.

 

Imagine you have sung songs, said a prayer, read letters from Paul, and will soon share a meal.

 

Now imagine what spiritual clothes you are wearing.  Imagine you are clothed in Christ, and you are heir to God’s promise.

 

Imagine you are clothed with the spirit of wisdom, transformed into the likeness of God.

 

Now imagine you are clothed in compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, love, patience, willing to practice forgiveness.

 

Imagine that you are now clothed to go into the highways n byways to feed, clothe, heal, and share joy.  Amen and amen.

Matthew 20:1-16; Parable of the Good Coach

 

Rev. George Miller

March 5, 2023

Matthew 20:1-16

 

You are about to hear the 2 scariest words in the English language:  Junior High.

 

Perhaps the most treacherous, confusing era in our entire lives.

 

The lunchroom where the cool kids sit here; the nerds there.

 

Science room when the teacher says, “Pick your Lab partner, you’ll be working together all semester.”

 

English class where introverts are forced to stand up and read infront of everyone their book report.

 

The group project in which 1 person does it all while 1 person does absolutely nothing.

 

The locker room, when everyone gets to see who is developing where and at what rate.

 

Picking teams during gym class and the sense of “please don’t let me be picked last.”

 

Could this be another way to approach today’s reading?  What if the Landowner was an athletic coach who lets everyone play on the team?

 

Imagine this:  The people picked first are the athletically astute, the tall, the agile, the quick, the strong.

 

That would be a winning team, but the coach goes to the theatre department, he gathers the drama geeks and the tech nerds.

 

Now we have a team that will not only win but put on a dang good show while doing it!

 

The coach sees there are others who want to play.  So during lunch, he goes up to the outcast table in the lunch room and says “C’mon, I want you to be part of the team.”

 

Though they may have glasses, acne or funny sounding accents, they get to play alongside the jocks and the drama nerds.

 

Not only are they now a winning team that puts on a good show, but they are a team that has become wonderfully diverse.

 

But that’s not enough.  The coach goes out behind the school building, under the bleachers, and finds the ones who are making out, smoking, skipping class and being oh so goth.

 

The coach says “C’mon, I want you to be part of the team.”

 

At 5 the coach goes to the class delegated as “special education,” the coach reaches out to the students listed as “special needs.”

 

The coach asks “Why aren’t you playing on the team.”

 

To which someone in in a wheelchair says “Because no one will pick us.”

 

To which the coach says ““C’mon, I want you to be part of the team.”

 

Now, there’s a field full of jocks and beauty queens, muscles and mathematicians, computer techs and trombonists, students the shades of brown, black, white, and sunburned.

 

And at the end of the event, the coach says “Congratulations, you have all won the game!

“Congratulations- you all get 1^st prize!”

 

Would that upset you?  Perhaps if you were the jock selected at 7 am; but for the students selected at noon or 5 pm, it would be a joy.

 

...but what if we look at today’s reading another way.

 

What if the vineyard is not a place.  What if the vineyard is a person, and the person is you?

 

And what if the hours actually represented eras in your life?

 

What if the people are you at those different eras.

 

Think of this for a moment.

 

If you were born before 1960 there is a good chance you were raised going to church.

 

Perhaps you got to be that sweet innocent child who got to sing “Jesus Loves Me” and attend Confirmation.

 

But then as you became a teen, go off to college, get your first job, date, church was no longer a priority or a regular thing.

 

Then maybe around the noon hour of your life you have a child, raise a family, so you decide it’s time to go back to church.

 

But then the kids grow up, the kids leave.  And with no more need of Christmas pageants and bake sales, your participation begins to wane.

 

Then there comes that moment- death and disaster break in at the 3 pm hour, and when it does, one may find the desire to come back to church or come back to God….

 

…or some may find themselves pulling further away.

 

Then there is the 5 pm hour in our lives.  The long day has begun to come to a close. 

 

We’ve done it all, we’ve seen it all, we may know it all or discover we don’t know a thing, asking “Was any of it worth it?”

 

And as the night begins to fall…there can be that thought:

 

“Does God still care about me?  Does God still want me to be part of the team?  Am I still a beloved child of Heaven?”

 

To which the owner of the vineyard comes along, extends a hand and says...

 

“Yes.  Yes YOU are!”

 

Maybe today’s parable isn’t about us judging others on what time they “arrive.” 

 

Maybe it’s a story saying -

 

“No matter what hour of life you are in, God is seeking you out, God is extending an invitation to you, God wants YOU.”

 

Maybe the beauty of today’s story is that the Kingdom of God is a place in which there is space for all, a time for all, and a way for all to be part of the team.

 

For that, we can say “amen.”