Rev. George Miller
Matthew 17:1-9
“What the Outside Reveals”
March 6, 2011
Don’t judge a book by its cover. Beauty is only skin deep. It’s what’s on the inside that counts. That’s what we tell our children.
Then come Sunday we teach them about Rebekah who was “fair to look at”, Joseph and his Technicolor Dreamcoat, and about Jesus’ face shining like the sun and his clothes becoming dazzling white.
If appearances don’t matter, why does the Bible share these details?
Is it possible that sometimes appearances do count and are a means in which the ways of heaven are seen and God’s glory becomes visible in the very fabric of our lives?...
…Today’s Scripture is known as the Transfiguration. It takes place 6 days after Jesus tells the disciples that he will die in Jerusalem and be raised three days later.
Although it was just 10 weeks ago that we witnessed the birth of Christ, we are about to join him on a death march that will bring us to the place where Jesus will be betrayed and nailed to the cross.
It’s a journey we embark on every year. But first we are first taken to a mountain top, in which past meets present to move us into the future and the ways of heaven are seen.
It is during this moment that we discover Jesus is a victor. His face shines, his clothes become luminous, not because of some mutation, but as a way to show what is already true, revealing God’s favor and the purpose that has been woven into his existence.
The Transfiguration is about the outside revealing what has always been inside…
A way to illustrate this is a scene from the Broadway musical “Legally Blonde” which played in Tampa not too long ago.
“Legally Blonde” is one of those feel good plays about embracing your full potential, no matter what others may say, and about celebrating who you are.
The main character is named Elle, a blonde beauty who makes her way into Harvard. While there, she meets and falls in love with a scruffy teacher’s assistant named Emmett.
Emmett has a great future as a lawyer. He’s smart, compassionate, a hard worker; unfortunately, his clothes don’t reflect this.
He wears a raggy corduroy jacket, an outdated tie and shaggy hair. At one point his boss kicks him out, citing his attire.
As a way to help Emmett out, Elle takes him to a department store where he is shown different clothes, stating what he likes, what he does not.
Eventually they find him the right tie, and a classic, fitted suit. He tries it on…and when he comes out of the changing room the audience applauds and he and Elle go “Woa.”
“I look…good.” He says “But it’s just me.”
To which Elle sings “That’s the best part. The outside is new. But now it reflects what’s already in you. Couldn’t change that if I wanted to. And I do not.”
…The outside reveals what’s already inside.
That’s part of what the Transfiguration is about, and it is a good theme for us as we embark on our Stewardship season.
Last week we heard about how it is OK for us to make mistakes and be imperfect if we have sincerely done our best for the sake of God’s Kingdom.
Today, as we gather in this holy house, we are asked “Is it apparent where our heart is?”
Do we present ourselves as the living, thriving family of God that we truly are?
Can an outsider or first time visitor tell that
Emanuel UCC sincerely loves the Lord, that we do the kingdom’s work and that we honor this space?
In other words: are we dressing our faith in a timeless suit or in raggy corduroy jacket?
This is God’s house. And as important as prayer, Bible Studies and sermons can be, it takes much more to keep this house going.
It requires time donated by our dedicated members. It requires talents shared by everyone. It also requires financial gifts.
Ministry is an expensive endeavor to perform. To keep our church running, we depend on donations.
What do those donations do? For one thing, they help to make sure that the outside reveals what’s inside.
First, we are a people who worship God. To do so, we have microphones, furniture, the AV system. Music.
As stated before, we have what’s been called the best music program for a church our size. Connie, Sue, both choirs do an amazing job. But it comes at a cost.
For example, it costs about $170 a year to maintain our handbells. Or should I say $3.27 a week.
The songs the choir sings cost about $200 a year, or $3.85 a week.
Can anyone say they are not worth it? The anthems, bells, organ, musicians; they all work together to give God our praise.
Raggedy corduroy? No, our music program is a timeless, well-fitted suit.
Second, the ministry that takes place. Cards that are sent out, calls that are made, house, nursing home and hospital visits; the mileage they require.
The Agape offering that helps those in need, not to mention the fees we pay to help run our conference and denomination.
Should these forms of ministry be treated like an outdated tie?
What about the buildings and grounds? The mowing of the grass, trimming of bushes, the landscaping. The signs of welcome, the care of our roof.
All these are ways we care for the space in which we worship and do ministry in.
But it doesn’t stop there. To truly welcome the stranger in, we need lights to illuminate the rooms, plumbing that works, clean water to drink, a heating system that keeps us warm, and air-conditioning to keep us cool.
Let’s not forget supplies like paper, ink, and computers to put out the bulletin and newsletter and the electricity needed to make it all possible.
All these things, plus many, many more, add up to create a budget we must meet each and every year. A budget that says we reflect
what we feel, that our treasures show off our hearts.
The question is, does our offering reflect a fine suit or an outdated tie?
To maintain our church, it costs $193,000 a year. That sounds like a lot. But allow me to break it down. In the last 11 months we have averaged 95 people per week in worship. 95.
If each person donated $39 a week, we would meet our budget. If each person donated $40 a week, we’d end up with over a $4,000 surplus. If each person donated $41 we’d have a $9,000 surplus.
Last week we heard Gene talk about the biblical principal of tithing and the importance of giving to God.
We acknowledge that like sex and politics, money is a very personal thing to talk about.
Agree or disagree, one of the main ways we show our love to God is what we are willing to give.
Give to church. Give to neighbor. Give to those in need.
Do we give in a way that says God, Christ and the Holy Spirit are deserving of a classic suit or do we give in a way that the Holy Trinity should make due with an outdated tie and raggy corduroy jacket?
Do we share our financial blessings in such a way that Emmanuel UCC reflects all the ways that God has blessed us?
Are we willing to step out on faith, trusting that our financial gifts will become a way to assist God in making the ways of heaven visible in the very fabric of our lives?...
In conclusion, let us embrace the joy of stewardship so that this glorious, living body of Christ can continue to be transfigured again and again, reflecting all the holy glory, peace and joy that dwell within.
Thanks be to God who has given us so much, the Holy Spirit that aids in our transformation and to Jesus Christ who makes the ways of heaven that much easier to see. Amen and amen.
A UCC Pastor's walk through the spiritual waters of Scripture, pop culture and life.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Feb 27, 2011; Matthew 6:24-34
Rev. George Miller Matthew 6:24-34 “Life A la Carte” Feb 27, 2011
Today’s message is dedicated to all the people who make worship and ministry at Emmanuel UCC possible.
To our Administrative Assistant who works hard to put out our newsletter and bulletin.
To our Minister of Music and the members of both choirs who works hard to give us such beautiful songs.
To our Moderator who spends time on the audio visual component of worship.
To all who head committees, sit on those committees, those who work behind the scenes, and those who work in front.
This sermon is dedicated to everyone here today because without you, we would not and could not be a church family.
Because we are a church family. And like any family we have our share of situations, personalities, and our share of traditions.
Traditions like Harvest Home, the Spaghetti Supper, and Yard Sale, in which so many worked so hard to make it all possible.
And new traditions like the Air Conditioner Chat.
We are a family, and every family has their own traditions. Right or wrong. Crazy or sensical.
Many times we’re not even aware of them until an outsider enters in. For example, last week I joined Rosie and her daughter for lunch at Homer’s, in which I was welcomed to their own family tradition: making root beer floats before your meal.
My family had our own traditions. Some of them dealt with order and control. Like my Mother’s need to get to church 45 minutes early so she could sit in her favorite pew.
Or going to McDonald’s. I was one of four children, which on Long Island was seen as a big family.
Before we could enter the restaurant, my father would gather us around and ask what we wanted to eat.
He’d frugally downsized our orders: a large fry became a medium fry; a medium shake became a small shake.
With all of our orders written down, Dad would go to the counter and we’d find our seats.
Looking back, I appreciate Dad’s logic. Who wants to be stuck behind some kids who can’t decide what they want to order?
There was this one time, when I had a girlfriend named Gina, and we all went out. We got out of the car. Dad took our orders. Even Gina’s, which caught her by surprise.
Although that was over 20 years ago, Gina still jokes about that day. Last month she e-mailed me and made a comment about eating at McDonald’s and it tickled me so, because right or wrong, crazy or sensical, my father had created a family tradition.
We all have traditions. They may bring back fond memories, they may irritate us, but they are ours, and those memories can not be taken away.
That’s part of what’s going on in today’s reading. Matthew has invited us to take a glimpse at an unusual family that did things different from the rest of the world.
After all, Jesus, his disciples, Mary Magdalene, were a family of sorts. They shared meals, they traveled together, they experienced life; they witnessed death.
Today, we hear a bit of from the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus sees the crowds. He sits down. The disciples come to him. And he begins to teach.
In today’s portion, he is telling them not to spend so much time worrying about food or clothes. Jesus wisely reminds them that worrying does not add time to your life.
“God knows what you want,” Jesus tells them, “strive for the kingdom and these other things will be given to you.”
This is such a beautiful passage, so logical in its thoughts, so pastoral in its poetry. Simply reading it aloud gives one hope and a respite from their worries.
There is something about these verses that can make you feel as if Jesus is talking directly, assuring us not to worry about the things we think we need and items we wish to have.
But it also works on a corporate level. Jesus is talking to the disciples, people who had given up their way of life to help spread the Good News.
Comments about food and clothes were most likely directed to those who were already living in such a way that they were dependant on the hospitality of those they ministered too.
Following that line of thought, this message is not so much Jesus talking to the common person dealing with the every day aspects of life and survival.
Jesus is talking to the kingdom people who were busy doing the ground work for what would later become known as the church.
I don’t believe Jesus is saying food and clothes don’t matter. Nor do I believe Jesus is saying “Sit back, and do nothing.”
I believe that what Jesus is telling the disciples is “If you stay focused on why you are doing ministry, if everything you do is to make the Kingdom real, then you do not have to spend so much time worrying or being afraid of the what ifs and how-sos.”
Think about it: Jesus knew who the disciples were. Jesus knew what they were and were not capable of. Jesus knew their strengths; he knew their weaknesses.
But it didn’t stop Jesus from teaching them. From giving them the authority to cast out demons and cure diseases.
He trusted them enough to go out into the world to proclaim the Good News. He knew they would face dangers. He knew they would experience great joy.
And when they succeeded, they succeeded, and when they failed, they failed.
What mattered was that whatever they did, they did so for the sake of the kingdom, and for the glory of God.
Think about the Resurrection. When Christ appeared to the disciples, it wasn’t to chastise them, or judge them or to tell them what they could have done better.
When the resurrected Christ appeared to the disciples, it was to be present to them.
To assure them. To give them comfort. To remind them that they were “not losers but winners” (as one author stated).
In the Gospel of John, Jesus comforts a grieving woman who loved him with all her heart.
In the Gospel of Luke he walks alongside a couple trudging back to Emmaus and breaks bread with them. (*above 2 examples taken from “Snapshots of Truth” by A. Kenneth Hannum, pp. 17-18.)
In the Gospel of Matthew he greets the disciples in Galilee and makes a promise: “I am with you always to the end of the age.”
With those words, a new tradition, the tradition of Christ’s eternal presence, entered into the life of the Christian family.
…So what does this mean for us, as a church family?
It means that as a unified whole, we do not have to be so anxious, worrying so much about tomorrow, and about all the things we spend so much time worrying about.
It means that as long as we stay focused on the kingdom of God, as long as we strive to do what is righteousness, it is OK.
It is OK if from time to time the bulletin has a mistake or misses a key point.
It is OK if from time to time if a song falls flat or someone in the choir hits a wrong note or dings the bell at the wrong time.
It is OK if the AV does not project the right image at the right time all the time.
It is OK if we have a day where the sanctuary seems to be a bit hot.
It is OK if one of the banners is accidentally hung up wrong.
It is Ok if we only have 5 types of cookies instead of 20 types of treats.
It is Ok if we can only help out 5 organizations and not the 5 million that exist.
…It is even Ok if sometimes the sermon falls flat, or the liturgy is a little weak…
Because what Jesus is calling us to do is to strive first for the Kingdom, to set our sights on the Good News, to be reminded that what we do is not about ourselves or our egos, but it is about the glory of God and the work of heaven.
As long as we keep our focus on that, our heavenly parent will see to it that the other things will be given too.
In closing, we are a family. A magnificent, diverse, complicated family.
We are joined by a ministry that is not to be about tightly wound control or a fear of mistakes, set backs and missteps.
But instead, a ministry that is first and foremost focused on the Kingdom of God and the Gospel message.
Let us trust that as long as we strive to sing it, preach it, live it, reflect it and share it, God will do God’s part to make sure that everything else that is needed will be provided.
That is a beautiful tradition to behold.
All thanks and honor be to God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, our heavenly treasures.
Amen and amen.
Today’s message is dedicated to all the people who make worship and ministry at Emmanuel UCC possible.
To our Administrative Assistant who works hard to put out our newsletter and bulletin.
To our Minister of Music and the members of both choirs who works hard to give us such beautiful songs.
To our Moderator who spends time on the audio visual component of worship.
To all who head committees, sit on those committees, those who work behind the scenes, and those who work in front.
This sermon is dedicated to everyone here today because without you, we would not and could not be a church family.
Because we are a church family. And like any family we have our share of situations, personalities, and our share of traditions.
Traditions like Harvest Home, the Spaghetti Supper, and Yard Sale, in which so many worked so hard to make it all possible.
And new traditions like the Air Conditioner Chat.
We are a family, and every family has their own traditions. Right or wrong. Crazy or sensical.
Many times we’re not even aware of them until an outsider enters in. For example, last week I joined Rosie and her daughter for lunch at Homer’s, in which I was welcomed to their own family tradition: making root beer floats before your meal.
My family had our own traditions. Some of them dealt with order and control. Like my Mother’s need to get to church 45 minutes early so she could sit in her favorite pew.
Or going to McDonald’s. I was one of four children, which on Long Island was seen as a big family.
Before we could enter the restaurant, my father would gather us around and ask what we wanted to eat.
He’d frugally downsized our orders: a large fry became a medium fry; a medium shake became a small shake.
With all of our orders written down, Dad would go to the counter and we’d find our seats.
Looking back, I appreciate Dad’s logic. Who wants to be stuck behind some kids who can’t decide what they want to order?
There was this one time, when I had a girlfriend named Gina, and we all went out. We got out of the car. Dad took our orders. Even Gina’s, which caught her by surprise.
Although that was over 20 years ago, Gina still jokes about that day. Last month she e-mailed me and made a comment about eating at McDonald’s and it tickled me so, because right or wrong, crazy or sensical, my father had created a family tradition.
We all have traditions. They may bring back fond memories, they may irritate us, but they are ours, and those memories can not be taken away.
That’s part of what’s going on in today’s reading. Matthew has invited us to take a glimpse at an unusual family that did things different from the rest of the world.
After all, Jesus, his disciples, Mary Magdalene, were a family of sorts. They shared meals, they traveled together, they experienced life; they witnessed death.
Today, we hear a bit of from the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus sees the crowds. He sits down. The disciples come to him. And he begins to teach.
In today’s portion, he is telling them not to spend so much time worrying about food or clothes. Jesus wisely reminds them that worrying does not add time to your life.
“God knows what you want,” Jesus tells them, “strive for the kingdom and these other things will be given to you.”
This is such a beautiful passage, so logical in its thoughts, so pastoral in its poetry. Simply reading it aloud gives one hope and a respite from their worries.
There is something about these verses that can make you feel as if Jesus is talking directly, assuring us not to worry about the things we think we need and items we wish to have.
But it also works on a corporate level. Jesus is talking to the disciples, people who had given up their way of life to help spread the Good News.
Comments about food and clothes were most likely directed to those who were already living in such a way that they were dependant on the hospitality of those they ministered too.
Following that line of thought, this message is not so much Jesus talking to the common person dealing with the every day aspects of life and survival.
Jesus is talking to the kingdom people who were busy doing the ground work for what would later become known as the church.
I don’t believe Jesus is saying food and clothes don’t matter. Nor do I believe Jesus is saying “Sit back, and do nothing.”
I believe that what Jesus is telling the disciples is “If you stay focused on why you are doing ministry, if everything you do is to make the Kingdom real, then you do not have to spend so much time worrying or being afraid of the what ifs and how-sos.”
Think about it: Jesus knew who the disciples were. Jesus knew what they were and were not capable of. Jesus knew their strengths; he knew their weaknesses.
But it didn’t stop Jesus from teaching them. From giving them the authority to cast out demons and cure diseases.
He trusted them enough to go out into the world to proclaim the Good News. He knew they would face dangers. He knew they would experience great joy.
And when they succeeded, they succeeded, and when they failed, they failed.
What mattered was that whatever they did, they did so for the sake of the kingdom, and for the glory of God.
Think about the Resurrection. When Christ appeared to the disciples, it wasn’t to chastise them, or judge them or to tell them what they could have done better.
When the resurrected Christ appeared to the disciples, it was to be present to them.
To assure them. To give them comfort. To remind them that they were “not losers but winners” (as one author stated).
In the Gospel of John, Jesus comforts a grieving woman who loved him with all her heart.
In the Gospel of Luke he walks alongside a couple trudging back to Emmaus and breaks bread with them. (*above 2 examples taken from “Snapshots of Truth” by A. Kenneth Hannum, pp. 17-18.)
In the Gospel of Matthew he greets the disciples in Galilee and makes a promise: “I am with you always to the end of the age.”
With those words, a new tradition, the tradition of Christ’s eternal presence, entered into the life of the Christian family.
…So what does this mean for us, as a church family?
It means that as a unified whole, we do not have to be so anxious, worrying so much about tomorrow, and about all the things we spend so much time worrying about.
It means that as long as we stay focused on the kingdom of God, as long as we strive to do what is righteousness, it is OK.
It is OK if from time to time the bulletin has a mistake or misses a key point.
It is OK if from time to time if a song falls flat or someone in the choir hits a wrong note or dings the bell at the wrong time.
It is OK if the AV does not project the right image at the right time all the time.
It is OK if we have a day where the sanctuary seems to be a bit hot.
It is OK if one of the banners is accidentally hung up wrong.
It is Ok if we only have 5 types of cookies instead of 20 types of treats.
It is Ok if we can only help out 5 organizations and not the 5 million that exist.
…It is even Ok if sometimes the sermon falls flat, or the liturgy is a little weak…
Because what Jesus is calling us to do is to strive first for the Kingdom, to set our sights on the Good News, to be reminded that what we do is not about ourselves or our egos, but it is about the glory of God and the work of heaven.
As long as we keep our focus on that, our heavenly parent will see to it that the other things will be given too.
In closing, we are a family. A magnificent, diverse, complicated family.
We are joined by a ministry that is not to be about tightly wound control or a fear of mistakes, set backs and missteps.
But instead, a ministry that is first and foremost focused on the Kingdom of God and the Gospel message.
Let us trust that as long as we strive to sing it, preach it, live it, reflect it and share it, God will do God’s part to make sure that everything else that is needed will be provided.
That is a beautiful tradition to behold.
All thanks and honor be to God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, our heavenly treasures.
Amen and amen.
Sermon from Feb 20, 2011; Matthew 5:38-48
Rev. George Miller
Matthew 5:38-48
“Welcoming*”
Feb 20, 2011
Jesus ate. A lot. And with everyone.
It has been said that Jesus was crucified for who he ate with.
Jesus ate with Jews and Gentiles. Jesus ate with rich and poor. Jesus ate with the religious elite and Jesus ate with notorious sinners. Jesus ate with men, Jesus ate with women.
Jesus ate the night before he died, sharing the table with the very person who would betray him.
Jesus ate after he was resurrected.
If we were to remove all the scriptures that involve Jesus eating or talking about eating, we would have very little left.
Jesus ate with every body, which is important, because when we eat with someone, our actions say “I like you.”
Jesus ate…
…Allow me to share a story, one of the most powerful childhood memories I have.
On the block that I lived was a woman named Marty who taught catechism classes. Kids would go there after school for their lessons. Some days Marty had them over just for fun.
One of those days everyone was invited to Marty’s for popcorn and to play in her basement.
Everyone, that is, except for me.
Marty gave me a bowl of popcorn, closed the door, and like an idiot, I sat down on her stoop, and ate it.
There are other memories of being made to feel like an outsider. Trying to find someone to sit with during school lunch; graduation parties not invited to.
Each slight a not so subtle message that said “I do not like you and you don’t belong.”
It’s a story that everyone shares at some point of their life, no matter if you are the star quarterback or the class geek.
We all want to feel welcome; we all want to be liked.
Now, my 30’s brought some healing. I attended seminary and had a core group of friends I hung out with. We were active in everything, hosting dinner parties and going to cafes.
One day someone said “You’re part of the popular crowd.” That made me feel good… until I realized that what they were really saying was that some people were feeling left out.
As you see, you can not have an “in” crowd unless if there is someone to make up the “out” crowd.
And that is where hospitality becomes so important. Perhaps more then any other act, hospitality is the way in which we say “You are welcome and you belong.”
Think about it, isn’t there a thrill to being invited to something, the chance to feel like you are part of a group?
In today’s reading there is a sense of hospitality that runs throughout, a radical sense of welcome that speaks in impossible-to-match hyperbole:
giving someone not just your coat but your cloak as well. Not refusing someone who asks for help. Even loving your enemy; the very person who would do you harm.
Jesus challenges us to show compassion and mercy and to always act with love.
Is there any wonder why he was seen as such a threat?
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
This is one of the most difficult scriptures to hear, agree upon, and to act on.
Jesus expects us to treat everyone as a child of God and to welcome them into our lives.
But the notion of welcoming is so complex.
Here at Emmanuel UCC we have a saying that is stated every Sunday:
“No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.”
And as wonderful as it sounds, as simple as it may seem, we have found ourselves challenged as to what that idea of welcome should look like and if we actually practice what we preach.
After all, what does this word welcome mean?
Does it mean that someone can bring a pet to church, even if it poses a safety risk to the rest of the congregation?
Does it mean that we provide financial assistance to a family, even if we know they will squander it on their addictions?
Do we extend the hand of fellowship to a former pastor even though ethics may say otherwise?
These are questions we’ve had to ponder over the years.
In fact, the whole reason why the title of today’s sermon has an asterisk is because some people have asked if we truly do welcome everyone.
One parishioner bravely suggested that perhaps we need to put an asterisk after our welcome statement so we can make a disclaimer on who we do not mean.
As Christians we should be thankful for these observations. They help to keep us honest and to prayerfully consider just what the idea of welcome means.
After all, the definition of everyone and welcome has expanded throughout the years.
There used to be a time when everyone meant men and women. Then it grew to mean black and white. Then it became Christian and Jewish. Then it became gay and straight.
But have you noticed how lately the categories have exploded?
Race now includes Hispanic and Asian, Haitian and Hmong, Indian (both Native American and from India).
Religion now includes Muslim and Buddhists, Wiccans and atheists.
It’s no longer just about being gay or straight but bisexual, transsexual, asexual.
Issues of being ageist against children or the elderly.
Those living with a physical disability, such as those who are deaf or blind or in a wheelchair.
Someone who has a mental illness.
Or a prison record. Or committed a crime.
Just what does welcome mean? What does welcome look like?
These questions are raised with each new instance of what welcome can mean.
For example, many churches are dealing with the reality of registered sex offenders joining them in worship.
Are they welcome to sit in the pew? Are they welcome to teach Sunday School?
Or say if someone like Bernie Maddoff moved to Sebring and wanted to join Emmanuel?
Do we welcome him with open arms? Do we let him be in charge of balancing our books?
How does welcoming look? When does caution and wisdom come to play?
These are all questions for us to wrestle and think about, to engage in theological conversation, because the truth of the matter is that Jesus calls us to welcome and to love,
not just our neighbor and those who are just like us, but to show welcome and acts of love to everyone, even those who we may fear or think will do us harm.
And as long as we are church, as long as we state these welcoming words, we will always be challenged.
We will always find people who are on the fringe, who are part of the unpopular crowd, who are sitting on the doorstep waiting for a chance to come on in.
Since I can not provide the answers, I’d like to end with a true life story.
In Texas there was a football game between Grapevine Faith Academy and Gainesville State School.
Gainesville State is a maximum security correction facility. Their team is made of 14 teenagers who’ve been convicted of crimes ranging from drugs to assault and robbery.
Most of their families have disowned them. They wear outdated helmets and shoulder pads. They play every game on the road. Their record: 0-8; they've only scored twice.
The other team, Faith Academy, has 11 coaches, 70 players and new equipment.
Chris Hogan, their head coach, realized that Gainesville had no fans or people to cheer them on, so he thought, "What if half of our people cheered for them?"
He sent out an email asking people to do just that. Some thought he was nuts.
Hogan said "Imagine you have no one to pull for you. Imagine that everyone has given up on you. Now, imagine what it would feel like to suddenly have hundreds of people who believe in you."
The idea took root. On the night of the game, the Gainesville players took the field. There was a banner for them to crash through, the visitors' stands were full, cheerleaders cheered for them, and the fans were calling them by their names.
Isaiah, their quarterback, said, "I never thought I would hear parents cheering us to tackle their kid. Most of the time, when we come out, people are afraid of us. You can see it in their eyes, but these people are cheering for us. They knew our names."
Gainesville lost the game, but when the teams gathered, it was Isaiah who led them in prayer: "Lord, I don’t know what just happened…but I never knew there were so many people…that cared about us."
On the way back to the bus and under guard, each player was handed a burger, fries, and a Coke with an encouraging letter from the players from Faith Academy…
… Members and dear, dear friends of Emmanuel United Church of Christ: could this be the very thing Jesus meant when he called us to love everyone, even our enemies?
Is this what your idea of welcome looks like?
How can we find ways to welcome everyone in, and help the Kingdom to grow?
After all, no one should be made to sit on the outside, to feel as if they are not liked, eating their popcorn all alone.
All honor and blessing be to God who calls us to welcome our neighbor, to Jesus who ate with everyone at the table and to the Holy Spirit that breaks into our world in the most unusual of ways.
Amen and amen.
Matthew 5:38-48
“Welcoming*”
Feb 20, 2011
Jesus ate. A lot. And with everyone.
It has been said that Jesus was crucified for who he ate with.
Jesus ate with Jews and Gentiles. Jesus ate with rich and poor. Jesus ate with the religious elite and Jesus ate with notorious sinners. Jesus ate with men, Jesus ate with women.
Jesus ate the night before he died, sharing the table with the very person who would betray him.
Jesus ate after he was resurrected.
If we were to remove all the scriptures that involve Jesus eating or talking about eating, we would have very little left.
Jesus ate with every body, which is important, because when we eat with someone, our actions say “I like you.”
Jesus ate…
…Allow me to share a story, one of the most powerful childhood memories I have.
On the block that I lived was a woman named Marty who taught catechism classes. Kids would go there after school for their lessons. Some days Marty had them over just for fun.
One of those days everyone was invited to Marty’s for popcorn and to play in her basement.
Everyone, that is, except for me.
Marty gave me a bowl of popcorn, closed the door, and like an idiot, I sat down on her stoop, and ate it.
There are other memories of being made to feel like an outsider. Trying to find someone to sit with during school lunch; graduation parties not invited to.
Each slight a not so subtle message that said “I do not like you and you don’t belong.”
It’s a story that everyone shares at some point of their life, no matter if you are the star quarterback or the class geek.
We all want to feel welcome; we all want to be liked.
Now, my 30’s brought some healing. I attended seminary and had a core group of friends I hung out with. We were active in everything, hosting dinner parties and going to cafes.
One day someone said “You’re part of the popular crowd.” That made me feel good… until I realized that what they were really saying was that some people were feeling left out.
As you see, you can not have an “in” crowd unless if there is someone to make up the “out” crowd.
And that is where hospitality becomes so important. Perhaps more then any other act, hospitality is the way in which we say “You are welcome and you belong.”
Think about it, isn’t there a thrill to being invited to something, the chance to feel like you are part of a group?
In today’s reading there is a sense of hospitality that runs throughout, a radical sense of welcome that speaks in impossible-to-match hyperbole:
giving someone not just your coat but your cloak as well. Not refusing someone who asks for help. Even loving your enemy; the very person who would do you harm.
Jesus challenges us to show compassion and mercy and to always act with love.
Is there any wonder why he was seen as such a threat?
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
This is one of the most difficult scriptures to hear, agree upon, and to act on.
Jesus expects us to treat everyone as a child of God and to welcome them into our lives.
But the notion of welcoming is so complex.
Here at Emmanuel UCC we have a saying that is stated every Sunday:
“No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.”
And as wonderful as it sounds, as simple as it may seem, we have found ourselves challenged as to what that idea of welcome should look like and if we actually practice what we preach.
After all, what does this word welcome mean?
Does it mean that someone can bring a pet to church, even if it poses a safety risk to the rest of the congregation?
Does it mean that we provide financial assistance to a family, even if we know they will squander it on their addictions?
Do we extend the hand of fellowship to a former pastor even though ethics may say otherwise?
These are questions we’ve had to ponder over the years.
In fact, the whole reason why the title of today’s sermon has an asterisk is because some people have asked if we truly do welcome everyone.
One parishioner bravely suggested that perhaps we need to put an asterisk after our welcome statement so we can make a disclaimer on who we do not mean.
As Christians we should be thankful for these observations. They help to keep us honest and to prayerfully consider just what the idea of welcome means.
After all, the definition of everyone and welcome has expanded throughout the years.
There used to be a time when everyone meant men and women. Then it grew to mean black and white. Then it became Christian and Jewish. Then it became gay and straight.
But have you noticed how lately the categories have exploded?
Race now includes Hispanic and Asian, Haitian and Hmong, Indian (both Native American and from India).
Religion now includes Muslim and Buddhists, Wiccans and atheists.
It’s no longer just about being gay or straight but bisexual, transsexual, asexual.
Issues of being ageist against children or the elderly.
Those living with a physical disability, such as those who are deaf or blind or in a wheelchair.
Someone who has a mental illness.
Or a prison record. Or committed a crime.
Just what does welcome mean? What does welcome look like?
These questions are raised with each new instance of what welcome can mean.
For example, many churches are dealing with the reality of registered sex offenders joining them in worship.
Are they welcome to sit in the pew? Are they welcome to teach Sunday School?
Or say if someone like Bernie Maddoff moved to Sebring and wanted to join Emmanuel?
Do we welcome him with open arms? Do we let him be in charge of balancing our books?
How does welcoming look? When does caution and wisdom come to play?
These are all questions for us to wrestle and think about, to engage in theological conversation, because the truth of the matter is that Jesus calls us to welcome and to love,
not just our neighbor and those who are just like us, but to show welcome and acts of love to everyone, even those who we may fear or think will do us harm.
And as long as we are church, as long as we state these welcoming words, we will always be challenged.
We will always find people who are on the fringe, who are part of the unpopular crowd, who are sitting on the doorstep waiting for a chance to come on in.
Since I can not provide the answers, I’d like to end with a true life story.
In Texas there was a football game between Grapevine Faith Academy and Gainesville State School.
Gainesville State is a maximum security correction facility. Their team is made of 14 teenagers who’ve been convicted of crimes ranging from drugs to assault and robbery.
Most of their families have disowned them. They wear outdated helmets and shoulder pads. They play every game on the road. Their record: 0-8; they've only scored twice.
The other team, Faith Academy, has 11 coaches, 70 players and new equipment.
Chris Hogan, their head coach, realized that Gainesville had no fans or people to cheer them on, so he thought, "What if half of our people cheered for them?"
He sent out an email asking people to do just that. Some thought he was nuts.
Hogan said "Imagine you have no one to pull for you. Imagine that everyone has given up on you. Now, imagine what it would feel like to suddenly have hundreds of people who believe in you."
The idea took root. On the night of the game, the Gainesville players took the field. There was a banner for them to crash through, the visitors' stands were full, cheerleaders cheered for them, and the fans were calling them by their names.
Isaiah, their quarterback, said, "I never thought I would hear parents cheering us to tackle their kid. Most of the time, when we come out, people are afraid of us. You can see it in their eyes, but these people are cheering for us. They knew our names."
Gainesville lost the game, but when the teams gathered, it was Isaiah who led them in prayer: "Lord, I don’t know what just happened…but I never knew there were so many people…that cared about us."
On the way back to the bus and under guard, each player was handed a burger, fries, and a Coke with an encouraging letter from the players from Faith Academy…
… Members and dear, dear friends of Emmanuel United Church of Christ: could this be the very thing Jesus meant when he called us to love everyone, even our enemies?
Is this what your idea of welcome looks like?
How can we find ways to welcome everyone in, and help the Kingdom to grow?
After all, no one should be made to sit on the outside, to feel as if they are not liked, eating their popcorn all alone.
All honor and blessing be to God who calls us to welcome our neighbor, to Jesus who ate with everyone at the table and to the Holy Spirit that breaks into our world in the most unusual of ways.
Amen and amen.
Sermon from Feb 13, 2011; Deuteronomy 30:15-20
Rev. George Miller
Deuteronomy 30:15-20
“Standing Before the Feet of Moses”
Feb 13, 2011
The past, the present and the future; what do they all have in common? For one thing, they all come together in the book of Deuteronomy.
In today’s reading, we hear what was believed to be the final words of Moses before he died.
The people had been wandering the dessert for 40 years, facing trials and tribulations, good times and bad. After such a long journey they’re about to cross the Jordan River and enter into the Promised Land.
Before they do, Moses has gathered them in a place between Paran and Tophel, and he gives them this final message.
He recounts the journey they have made together, the ways in which God chose them, took care of and loved them.
Moses reminds them about the laws and commandments that God has given them so they could live, flourish and be blessed.
Moses tells them that they are to make a choice: choose God.
In essence, Deuteronomy is an extended Valentine’s Day card to the people God has loved, continues to love and will love forever more.
And it’s a love story that does not follow the rules. See, in ancient times it was said that the gods only showed divine favor to the leaders of the world. The gods did not care much about ordinary people.
But our God was different. The Israelites believed that God did care about them. They claimed that God had “set his love” upon them, not because of any greatness or merit on their part, but simply out of God’s choice.
Even when they constantly showed themselves to be a rebellious, cantankerous bunch, God still loved them, just as God continues to love us.
This love is a powerful, holy love, a love that produces life and brings blessings that reach out beyond the spans of time.
But it is also a love that God will not force upon the people. As Moses tells the Israelites, God has chosen them, but they are free to choose God or to choose other gods to worship.
They are free to be blessed or to live a life of non-being.
They are free to live as part of a larger community or to live if they are alone.
God will not force their hands, God will not make unfair demands.
Before the feet of Moses the people are asked to make a choice: will God be their Valentine or not? The choice is theirs to make; today.
………………………………………………
There’s a sense of timelessness to the book of Deuteronomy. The people are standing between Paran and Tophel, and they are given a choice, but as it turns out, they are not the only ones who are there.
For so are we, and our children, and our children’s children.
Read through Deuteronomy and you’ll get the sense that you too are before the feet of Moses and that Moses is talking right to us.
That’s because Moses is.
This is a sermon craftily created to be heard throughout the ages. It’s a sermon in which certain words appear again and again. Choice is one of them; love is another.
It is the phrase “today” that appears nearly 100 times. For example:
“The Lord our God made a covenant with… all of us here alive today” (5:2-3)
“See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse…” (11:26)
And “I am making this covenant …not only with you who stand with us today…but also with those who are not here today.” (29:14-15)
Thus, before the feet of Moses we are not just hearing a sermon about the ending of one journey, but about the beginning of many others.
We are not only hearing about the past, we are being asked to participate in the future.
And we are being assured that our past failures and present mistakes will not rule our future, because that is how much we are loved.
But we have to choose. Are we going to choose God or are we not?
Are we going to embrace life or are we going to continue living the ways of death?
Moses, being the awesome leader that he is, makes it easy for all of us to make an informed choice. Consider these facts:
Once you were enslaved; God set you free.
When you felt like you were lost, God lead you through the wilderness, making sure you had want for nothing.
God fed you when you were hungry, God fought your fights, and it was God who carried you as a parent carries a child. (1:31)
If that is not love, then what is?
“So choose!” Moses says, speaking to each and every one of us. “Choose God, so that you and your children’s children can have life. Choose life so you can live it!”
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
You know, most of us here today have chosen God, or we have a deep desire to choose, otherwise we wouldn’t be here today.
There are so many other things we can be doing; so many other gods we can be worshipping, like golf, shopping or staying in our warm, cozy beds.
But we have chosen to be here, in this place, today. In doing so, we have chosen to be part of this community, to stand before the feet of Moses and to hear his words of exhortation.
But I wonder how many of us this day, or this week, or this month, have really chosen God, and have really chosen life?
How many of us have found ourselves in an argument that in retrospect seems silly? Or are carrying around a grudge that they would rather hold onto then to give an inch?
How many of us have found ourselves caught up in gossip; the whole he said/she said/they all said mentality that can really tear a group apart?
How many have decided that they would rather stay in the wilderness, at Paran and Tophel, then to cross the Jordan River and enter into the Promised Land? (RAISE MY OWN HAND)
How many of us have made a choice that was not the right one to make because we were too obsessed with the present to think about the future? (RAISE MY OWN HAND)
It is amazing that as Christian as we are, as much as we pray and worship and try to do the right things, we still fall down, we still make mistakes, and we still allow our ego-driven selves to get in the way.
We prefer to hold onto our anger, assuming it gives us power while it prevents us from having to address our own flaws and issues.
We find comfort in our illnesses because they bring us the attention we so desperately need, afraid that if we were healthy no one would acknowledge just how wonderfully beautiful we really are.
We embrace our helplessness because it prevents us from having to step out of our comfort zone and try something new, instead of discovering how responsibility can be an amazing gift.
So we linger about, between Paran and Tophel, afraid of what it will mean if we let go of these things and step into the Promised Land that God has prepared for us.
But here is the Good News: God already knows all of this- all that we have done, all that we have felt, all that we’ve experienced. God is not surprised; God knows all about it.
And God still loves and chooses us anyway.
And here is another bit of good news: we are not just standing before the feet of Moses, but we are also standing before the feet of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Less then two months ago we welcomed the light of Christ into our lives, and today and every day we get to do the same thing again.
And here is where it gets even better: before the feet of Moses we get the gift of choice.
BUT before the feet of Jesus we get the gift of…………forgiveness.
Forgiveness: the gift that stems from the very love of God.
Forgiveness: the gift that says “I know you are human, I know you have hurts and I know you make mistakes, and I forgive you.”
Forgiveness: the act that says whatever we have done wrong in the past has been wiped away.
Forgiveness: that no matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.
Forgiveness: the most wonderful Valentine which says “Guess what? Today is a whole new day with a new chance to make your choice.”
The forgiveness of God that Jesus demonstrated at the table and on the cross, is the very gift that God has freely given us, designed to bring about blessings and give us new life….
…if we can just learn how to reach out, and to accept that gift;
to share that gift of forgiveness with others when they need it most;
to ask for forgiveness when we have done the hurting.
So, before the feet of Moses and before the feet of Christ we are given a choice, each and every day, each and every hour, each and every minute, to choose God and to choose life.
When we do choose God, we bring healing to our past, hope to our present and our future becomes pregnant with possibilities.
What will each of us choose today?
May God bless you with the making of your choice, may Jesus show you how the choosing is done and may the Holy Spirit guide your feet into your heavenly future.
Amen and amen.
Deuteronomy 30:15-20
“Standing Before the Feet of Moses”
Feb 13, 2011
The past, the present and the future; what do they all have in common? For one thing, they all come together in the book of Deuteronomy.
In today’s reading, we hear what was believed to be the final words of Moses before he died.
The people had been wandering the dessert for 40 years, facing trials and tribulations, good times and bad. After such a long journey they’re about to cross the Jordan River and enter into the Promised Land.
Before they do, Moses has gathered them in a place between Paran and Tophel, and he gives them this final message.
He recounts the journey they have made together, the ways in which God chose them, took care of and loved them.
Moses reminds them about the laws and commandments that God has given them so they could live, flourish and be blessed.
Moses tells them that they are to make a choice: choose God.
In essence, Deuteronomy is an extended Valentine’s Day card to the people God has loved, continues to love and will love forever more.
And it’s a love story that does not follow the rules. See, in ancient times it was said that the gods only showed divine favor to the leaders of the world. The gods did not care much about ordinary people.
But our God was different. The Israelites believed that God did care about them. They claimed that God had “set his love” upon them, not because of any greatness or merit on their part, but simply out of God’s choice.
Even when they constantly showed themselves to be a rebellious, cantankerous bunch, God still loved them, just as God continues to love us.
This love is a powerful, holy love, a love that produces life and brings blessings that reach out beyond the spans of time.
But it is also a love that God will not force upon the people. As Moses tells the Israelites, God has chosen them, but they are free to choose God or to choose other gods to worship.
They are free to be blessed or to live a life of non-being.
They are free to live as part of a larger community or to live if they are alone.
God will not force their hands, God will not make unfair demands.
Before the feet of Moses the people are asked to make a choice: will God be their Valentine or not? The choice is theirs to make; today.
………………………………………………
There’s a sense of timelessness to the book of Deuteronomy. The people are standing between Paran and Tophel, and they are given a choice, but as it turns out, they are not the only ones who are there.
For so are we, and our children, and our children’s children.
Read through Deuteronomy and you’ll get the sense that you too are before the feet of Moses and that Moses is talking right to us.
That’s because Moses is.
This is a sermon craftily created to be heard throughout the ages. It’s a sermon in which certain words appear again and again. Choice is one of them; love is another.
It is the phrase “today” that appears nearly 100 times. For example:
“The Lord our God made a covenant with… all of us here alive today” (5:2-3)
“See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse…” (11:26)
And “I am making this covenant …not only with you who stand with us today…but also with those who are not here today.” (29:14-15)
Thus, before the feet of Moses we are not just hearing a sermon about the ending of one journey, but about the beginning of many others.
We are not only hearing about the past, we are being asked to participate in the future.
And we are being assured that our past failures and present mistakes will not rule our future, because that is how much we are loved.
But we have to choose. Are we going to choose God or are we not?
Are we going to embrace life or are we going to continue living the ways of death?
Moses, being the awesome leader that he is, makes it easy for all of us to make an informed choice. Consider these facts:
Once you were enslaved; God set you free.
When you felt like you were lost, God lead you through the wilderness, making sure you had want for nothing.
God fed you when you were hungry, God fought your fights, and it was God who carried you as a parent carries a child. (1:31)
If that is not love, then what is?
“So choose!” Moses says, speaking to each and every one of us. “Choose God, so that you and your children’s children can have life. Choose life so you can live it!”
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
You know, most of us here today have chosen God, or we have a deep desire to choose, otherwise we wouldn’t be here today.
There are so many other things we can be doing; so many other gods we can be worshipping, like golf, shopping or staying in our warm, cozy beds.
But we have chosen to be here, in this place, today. In doing so, we have chosen to be part of this community, to stand before the feet of Moses and to hear his words of exhortation.
But I wonder how many of us this day, or this week, or this month, have really chosen God, and have really chosen life?
How many of us have found ourselves in an argument that in retrospect seems silly? Or are carrying around a grudge that they would rather hold onto then to give an inch?
How many of us have found ourselves caught up in gossip; the whole he said/she said/they all said mentality that can really tear a group apart?
How many have decided that they would rather stay in the wilderness, at Paran and Tophel, then to cross the Jordan River and enter into the Promised Land? (RAISE MY OWN HAND)
How many of us have made a choice that was not the right one to make because we were too obsessed with the present to think about the future? (RAISE MY OWN HAND)
It is amazing that as Christian as we are, as much as we pray and worship and try to do the right things, we still fall down, we still make mistakes, and we still allow our ego-driven selves to get in the way.
We prefer to hold onto our anger, assuming it gives us power while it prevents us from having to address our own flaws and issues.
We find comfort in our illnesses because they bring us the attention we so desperately need, afraid that if we were healthy no one would acknowledge just how wonderfully beautiful we really are.
We embrace our helplessness because it prevents us from having to step out of our comfort zone and try something new, instead of discovering how responsibility can be an amazing gift.
So we linger about, between Paran and Tophel, afraid of what it will mean if we let go of these things and step into the Promised Land that God has prepared for us.
But here is the Good News: God already knows all of this- all that we have done, all that we have felt, all that we’ve experienced. God is not surprised; God knows all about it.
And God still loves and chooses us anyway.
And here is another bit of good news: we are not just standing before the feet of Moses, but we are also standing before the feet of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Less then two months ago we welcomed the light of Christ into our lives, and today and every day we get to do the same thing again.
And here is where it gets even better: before the feet of Moses we get the gift of choice.
BUT before the feet of Jesus we get the gift of…………forgiveness.
Forgiveness: the gift that stems from the very love of God.
Forgiveness: the gift that says “I know you are human, I know you have hurts and I know you make mistakes, and I forgive you.”
Forgiveness: the act that says whatever we have done wrong in the past has been wiped away.
Forgiveness: that no matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.
Forgiveness: the most wonderful Valentine which says “Guess what? Today is a whole new day with a new chance to make your choice.”
The forgiveness of God that Jesus demonstrated at the table and on the cross, is the very gift that God has freely given us, designed to bring about blessings and give us new life….
…if we can just learn how to reach out, and to accept that gift;
to share that gift of forgiveness with others when they need it most;
to ask for forgiveness when we have done the hurting.
So, before the feet of Moses and before the feet of Christ we are given a choice, each and every day, each and every hour, each and every minute, to choose God and to choose life.
When we do choose God, we bring healing to our past, hope to our present and our future becomes pregnant with possibilities.
What will each of us choose today?
May God bless you with the making of your choice, may Jesus show you how the choosing is done and may the Holy Spirit guide your feet into your heavenly future.
Amen and amen.
Sermon from Feb 6, 2011; Isaiah 58
Rev. George Miller
Isaiah 58
“Resting the Body, Restoring the Soul”
Feb 6, 2011
Three weeks ago Tracy Miller shared a story about working for John Deere. He said they had been approved for a major project with a tight budget and strict deadline. Trouble is- nothing went right.
Equipment- did not work, contractors- behind schedule, ovens -didn’t get hot, washer- didn’t clean. And some of the tractors actually fell off the conveyor.
As you could imagine, Tracy was having a bad day, his frustration was apparent and one of his peers said to him…
… “You know, if John Deere never makes another tractor, the cosmic scheme of things will not change.”
With those words Tracy’s co-worker had created a space of emptiness for peace and wisdom to enter on in.
There is a holiness about emptiness.
Sometimes the modern, liberal church can feel as if it’s lacking in a sense of holiness- that aura of majesty and ritual that creates space for bits of heaven to break in.
The repetitious chanting of words; the embrace of silence; the burning of incense in which smoke dances up to the sky.
Two religious acts that we heard about today were fasting and observing the Sabbath.
Fasting is a practice that exists in almost all the world’s religions. It’s a means in which one intentionally does not eat anything for a period of time.
Fasting accomplishes various things. From a spiritual point of view, fasting can become a form of prayer, contrition and repentance; a way to connect to God.
From a physical point of view, it gives the body a chance to rest, clears away toxins and relieves the digestion system from overworking. Doing so balances out our emotions, increasing our awareness.
From a social justice point of view, fasting gives one just a glimpse of what the poor and hungry face nearly every day.
In the Bible you’ll find fasting done as a sign of grieving, such as when David’s son was ill. Or as a sign of repentance, such as when the residents of Nineveh donned sackcloth and refrained from food. Or as a time of preparation, such as when Jesus was in the wilderness.
Now, Sabbath is a time for rest. Sabbath appears immediately in Genesis and runs throughout the Bible.
It is a time set aside by God in which all of Creation is meant to rest, from the people to the animals to the land.
Designed to begin at sunset on Friday, Sabbath is a period of 24 hours in which one is not to work or worry, but to relax; one is not to be in control but to be in accord with the world.
It is a time of grace in which everything is freed from toils and strain to just be and exist in a “sanctuary of time.” (29)
Sabbath is a way to become attuned to the holiness of time in which one says farewell to work for a day, is reminded that the world has already been created and to remember that we are not God.
Fasting and Sabbath are wonderful, holy practices, that unfortunately, so many of us have failed to embrace, which is a shame, because I think we lose something.
The way we live nowadays is spiritually draining and physically killing us. How many of us (me included) will eat until it hurts and our stomachs dangerously expand?
But how many of us know how to eat just to the point of being pleasantly satisfied?
In the same manner, how many of us over plan and over-schedule our day with lists of chores and things to do until we are so exhausted, burn out or end up sick?
But how many know how to work with a combination of fun and rest?
Think of a cup. There’s only so much it is meant to hold. Once it is filled, everything else that’s poured in is wasted and spills out.
In terms of food and activities, how many of us fill our cups until they are overflowing? For example, the jeans I’ve had to put into storage can testify to that.
So why do we do it? Why do so many modern Americans overflow our cups with too much food and with too many things to do?
I think it’s because we’re afraid.
I don’t think it’s because we are afraid of going hungry, or because we are afraid of being lazy.
I think it’s something else.
I think it’s because we’re afraid that if we don’t eat, we’ll feel the true emptiness inside- the emotional emptiness that makes us question everything about our lives.
I think our list-making and our hyper-activities are because we’re afraid of being out of control.
Those emotions can be very scary things, especially if you’ve ever had your choice taken away or if your life feels void of the very things that matter most such as family, friends, and faith.
I think that sometimes we eat so that we can feel satisfied here (points to belly) and not have to focus on the emptiness that is here (points to heart).
And we overwork so that the exhaustion we get from using these (show hands) covers up the thoughts and worries that we carry up in here (point to brain).
If you have ever felt empty or ever felt like your life was out of control, know that you are not crazy nor are you alone. These are very common and basic human conditions shared by everyone.
But there is good news: that emptiness you may feel, that lack of control you are experiencing can actually mean that now there is finally some space in the cup for God to enter in and to do something new.
Sometimes it takes us realizing and accepting the fact that we feel empty for our ego to step away and create space for the Holy Spirit to enter on in.
Sometimes it takes acknowledging and admitting the fact that we have lost control for us to rouse Jesus from the hull of the ship so he can calm the waters and say to us “Peace…be still.”
But we can’t get there if our bodies, minds and souls are constantly being bombarded with food and drink, work and stress.
That’s where the holy mystery of fasting and Sabbath come into play, because what they can do is create space and create sanctuary.
When one chooses to fast, one creates space to not be tricked by their emotional belly. The time spent cooking, eating and cleaning up after oneself is freed up to spend in thoughtful prayer, pondering life and living.
To celebrate Sabbath, one creates space to discover that they are not God, nor do they have to be. By not working, creating or planning a person can discover it is alright to leave things unfinished and to just be present in the moment and for whatever the day may bring.
When fasting and Sabbath are embraced, they allow us to truly see and experience whatever emptiness we may have so the Trinitarian God can enter on in.
If you are experiencing restlessness or chaos, you can receive peace.
If it is uncertainty that you are facing, you can receive wisdom and guidance.
If it’s hopelessness you feel, you can be given a ray of hope that brightens up the night, allowing your eyes to shine.
Perhaps that’s why Jesus’ ministry was so powerful: he constantly found ways to be emptied so that he could be filled with God.
Jesus emptied himself out during his time in the wilderness, yet emerged with greater wisdom and resolve.
Time and time again Jesus went away to pray and be by himself. When he returned he was able to face the most difficult of situations.
Finally, when Jesus was on the cross, he emptied himself out, admitting his thirst and feelings of forsakenness, and we all know how that played out three days later.
In conclusion, just as the cosmic scheme of things does not rest on the production of a tractor, our souls do not depend on what we eat or how much we work.
Because of what Jesus did for us on the cross, we are no longer bound to the rituals of fasting and Sabbath. Grace has been given, salvation has been assured.
But there is no reason why we have to totally neglect these holy rituals. It is Ok to embrace and engage in them from time to time; after all they were designed to allow our bodies and minds to rest.
And you may just be surprised to discover how they can create a holy emptiness within you that will allow your spirits to soar, making you more connected to God, connected to others, and yes- even connected to yourself.
May the love of Christ be enough to fill your empty spots, the love of the Spirit refresh your soul and the love of God satisfy all your earthly needs.
Amen and amen.
Isaiah 58
“Resting the Body, Restoring the Soul”
Feb 6, 2011
Three weeks ago Tracy Miller shared a story about working for John Deere. He said they had been approved for a major project with a tight budget and strict deadline. Trouble is- nothing went right.
Equipment- did not work, contractors- behind schedule, ovens -didn’t get hot, washer- didn’t clean. And some of the tractors actually fell off the conveyor.
As you could imagine, Tracy was having a bad day, his frustration was apparent and one of his peers said to him…
… “You know, if John Deere never makes another tractor, the cosmic scheme of things will not change.”
With those words Tracy’s co-worker had created a space of emptiness for peace and wisdom to enter on in.
There is a holiness about emptiness.
Sometimes the modern, liberal church can feel as if it’s lacking in a sense of holiness- that aura of majesty and ritual that creates space for bits of heaven to break in.
The repetitious chanting of words; the embrace of silence; the burning of incense in which smoke dances up to the sky.
Two religious acts that we heard about today were fasting and observing the Sabbath.
Fasting is a practice that exists in almost all the world’s religions. It’s a means in which one intentionally does not eat anything for a period of time.
Fasting accomplishes various things. From a spiritual point of view, fasting can become a form of prayer, contrition and repentance; a way to connect to God.
From a physical point of view, it gives the body a chance to rest, clears away toxins and relieves the digestion system from overworking. Doing so balances out our emotions, increasing our awareness.
From a social justice point of view, fasting gives one just a glimpse of what the poor and hungry face nearly every day.
In the Bible you’ll find fasting done as a sign of grieving, such as when David’s son was ill. Or as a sign of repentance, such as when the residents of Nineveh donned sackcloth and refrained from food. Or as a time of preparation, such as when Jesus was in the wilderness.
Now, Sabbath is a time for rest. Sabbath appears immediately in Genesis and runs throughout the Bible.
It is a time set aside by God in which all of Creation is meant to rest, from the people to the animals to the land.
Designed to begin at sunset on Friday, Sabbath is a period of 24 hours in which one is not to work or worry, but to relax; one is not to be in control but to be in accord with the world.
It is a time of grace in which everything is freed from toils and strain to just be and exist in a “sanctuary of time.” (29)
Sabbath is a way to become attuned to the holiness of time in which one says farewell to work for a day, is reminded that the world has already been created and to remember that we are not God.
Fasting and Sabbath are wonderful, holy practices, that unfortunately, so many of us have failed to embrace, which is a shame, because I think we lose something.
The way we live nowadays is spiritually draining and physically killing us. How many of us (me included) will eat until it hurts and our stomachs dangerously expand?
But how many of us know how to eat just to the point of being pleasantly satisfied?
In the same manner, how many of us over plan and over-schedule our day with lists of chores and things to do until we are so exhausted, burn out or end up sick?
But how many know how to work with a combination of fun and rest?
Think of a cup. There’s only so much it is meant to hold. Once it is filled, everything else that’s poured in is wasted and spills out.
In terms of food and activities, how many of us fill our cups until they are overflowing? For example, the jeans I’ve had to put into storage can testify to that.
So why do we do it? Why do so many modern Americans overflow our cups with too much food and with too many things to do?
I think it’s because we’re afraid.
I don’t think it’s because we are afraid of going hungry, or because we are afraid of being lazy.
I think it’s something else.
I think it’s because we’re afraid that if we don’t eat, we’ll feel the true emptiness inside- the emotional emptiness that makes us question everything about our lives.
I think our list-making and our hyper-activities are because we’re afraid of being out of control.
Those emotions can be very scary things, especially if you’ve ever had your choice taken away or if your life feels void of the very things that matter most such as family, friends, and faith.
I think that sometimes we eat so that we can feel satisfied here (points to belly) and not have to focus on the emptiness that is here (points to heart).
And we overwork so that the exhaustion we get from using these (show hands) covers up the thoughts and worries that we carry up in here (point to brain).
If you have ever felt empty or ever felt like your life was out of control, know that you are not crazy nor are you alone. These are very common and basic human conditions shared by everyone.
But there is good news: that emptiness you may feel, that lack of control you are experiencing can actually mean that now there is finally some space in the cup for God to enter in and to do something new.
Sometimes it takes us realizing and accepting the fact that we feel empty for our ego to step away and create space for the Holy Spirit to enter on in.
Sometimes it takes acknowledging and admitting the fact that we have lost control for us to rouse Jesus from the hull of the ship so he can calm the waters and say to us “Peace…be still.”
But we can’t get there if our bodies, minds and souls are constantly being bombarded with food and drink, work and stress.
That’s where the holy mystery of fasting and Sabbath come into play, because what they can do is create space and create sanctuary.
When one chooses to fast, one creates space to not be tricked by their emotional belly. The time spent cooking, eating and cleaning up after oneself is freed up to spend in thoughtful prayer, pondering life and living.
To celebrate Sabbath, one creates space to discover that they are not God, nor do they have to be. By not working, creating or planning a person can discover it is alright to leave things unfinished and to just be present in the moment and for whatever the day may bring.
When fasting and Sabbath are embraced, they allow us to truly see and experience whatever emptiness we may have so the Trinitarian God can enter on in.
If you are experiencing restlessness or chaos, you can receive peace.
If it is uncertainty that you are facing, you can receive wisdom and guidance.
If it’s hopelessness you feel, you can be given a ray of hope that brightens up the night, allowing your eyes to shine.
Perhaps that’s why Jesus’ ministry was so powerful: he constantly found ways to be emptied so that he could be filled with God.
Jesus emptied himself out during his time in the wilderness, yet emerged with greater wisdom and resolve.
Time and time again Jesus went away to pray and be by himself. When he returned he was able to face the most difficult of situations.
Finally, when Jesus was on the cross, he emptied himself out, admitting his thirst and feelings of forsakenness, and we all know how that played out three days later.
In conclusion, just as the cosmic scheme of things does not rest on the production of a tractor, our souls do not depend on what we eat or how much we work.
Because of what Jesus did for us on the cross, we are no longer bound to the rituals of fasting and Sabbath. Grace has been given, salvation has been assured.
But there is no reason why we have to totally neglect these holy rituals. It is Ok to embrace and engage in them from time to time; after all they were designed to allow our bodies and minds to rest.
And you may just be surprised to discover how they can create a holy emptiness within you that will allow your spirits to soar, making you more connected to God, connected to others, and yes- even connected to yourself.
May the love of Christ be enough to fill your empty spots, the love of the Spirit refresh your soul and the love of God satisfy all your earthly needs.
Amen and amen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)