Rev. George Miller
June 9, 2024
Joshua 8:30-35
Today we have the chance to talk about the
Philippines as they prepare to celebrate their Independence on June 12.
The Philippines is a nation of over 7,000 islands
with turquoise waters, skyscrapers that kiss the clouds, and a cuisine influenced
from all over the earth.
When preparing for today, there was much thought
about what to say. A political narrative
about the Philippines? A step-by-step narration
of their history with Spain in 1521, America in 1898, and Japan in 1941?
Should we recap all of the colonization, or
spend this time speaking of the leaders who lost their life?
Or could today be more of a celebration?
A celebration for how the people of the
Philippines are known for being resilient.
How it is a nation known for its diversity
and people who are easy to make friends with.
Today can be a tribute to how the
Philippines had a successful women’s suffragette movement in 1905 and in 1986 voted
in a female president.
Sometimes, sometimes in the midst of wars
and worries and strife, it is to good and it is Ok to focus more on the success
than the struggles, the moments of bliss than the months of war.
We celebrate Philippines Independence today
because one of our beloved members, Fe, is a proud daughter of that island
nation; she is someone who has shared her love and shined her light upon us.
There are things about the people and
places of the Philippines that are so wonderful, and full of life.
How formality and respect for others is
important. Streets are known for being
safe. Cost of living is affordable.
The way Christmas is celebrated for 4
months, with clubs playing Mariah Carey at the stroke of midnight on September
1 and malls installing multi-story trees that are fully decorated.
The ways in which family will come
together for holidays, birthdays and other celebrations, playing games, singing
karaoke, feeding you the moment you walk through the door.
Today feels more like a day to shine light
than to speak of war and strife, because those two things seem to always be
there in our lives, in our newspapers, never to fully go away.
We share this because today’s reading is
one that feels and sounds like a holiday.
Here we have Joshua and the people finally
in the Promised Land, and they are having a very holy moment.
Joshua was stepped in as leader.
He’s led the people through trials and
tribulations, battles and bad times. But
at this moment, he and the people have come to a place between two sacred
mountains.
There is an altar. There are God’s commands. There are offerings being given, and food,
that after being sacrificed, goes to feeding the people.
They are in a time of worship; worship
grounded in word, ritual, and fellowship.
It appears that everyone is there.
The author mentions not just Joshua, the
priests, or the leaders of the congregation.
The author mentions that there are elders,
there are citizens, there are foreigners, implying that some are gentile, there
are women, and there are children.
It is an amazingly inclusive image the
author portrays- women and men, infants, and elderly,
-those who run the day-to-day operation,
those who oversee the spiritual welfare,
-those who are citizens and those who are living
as aliens alongside them.
It is such a beautiful, beautiful reading
if we only stop there and say “look- look at how wonderful the Kingdom of God
can be,
look at how even before Jesus, the words
of Galatians 3:28 were being embodied.”
But the truth is that there is more to
this story.
There is way more that goes on right
before this story and there is way more takes place after.
Though today’s 5 verses seem to be nothing
but a celebration, they come right after there has been major battles and mass
cruelty,
there has been great disobedience and
there have been thousands of people killed by the hands of the Israelites and
supposedly at the direction of God.
So knowing what goes on before today’s
reading in chapters 6, 7, and 8, it is hard to present today’s reading in rosy
light.
Except, except sometimes, sometimes it
seems like we just need to take a breather, we need to take a break,
we need to intentionally distance
ourselves from all that is going on that is wrong with the world,
and take a moment, just a moment, to focus
on something that seems so right.
That’s what today is.
A chance to create a breather; a buffer, a
pause from the week before and the weeks ahead.
Sometimes what worship really needs to be
is less a history lesson, or a motivational speech, or a missive on mission,
and worship just needs to…
Be.
Sometimes it is just good to knowingly
leave all the other stuff behind, and just be present, just be in the here, in
the now.
That’s what we’re seeing in today’s
reading.
God, Joshua, the people, taking some time
to come together to experience scripture, to give offerings, to share a meal,
with everyone and anyone present.
Sometimes we talk too much, think too
much, explain too much, that it is best just to be beside each other and
experience holy sacredness together.
To breathe. Smile.
Let go.
So for the next minute, we’re going to do
something together that requires no words.
Let us simply look at what’s ahead- to
look at our window.
And not solve, not fix, not fight, not
worry. But just look….
Green for the grass and fertility of the
earth.
Blue for the rains and waters.
Yellow for the sunflowers and honey, the
bees and butterflies.
Red for the blood that flows through us
and the Spirit that dwells within us.
Today we are mindful of being present, being with one another, being with God. We celebrate that just as we continue to celebrate one another. Amen.
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