overwhelmed by ?

If we wanted to look at the miracles in these two readings, there are plenty:

Elijah being woken by an angel, and fed, twice

God coming to Elijah in the silence

Jesus walking on water

Peter walking on water

The wind calmed as Jesus and Peter get into the boat

This morning I want us to think about another aspect of these two readings:

·    In the gospel, we have the disciples in a boat when a storm comes. These men are fisherman, so a storm is scary, but not as terrifying as a person walking on water. Peter steps out of the boat, and walks on the water, until … he notices the wind and waves

·    Elijah is running away after threats to his life. But when does God speak to him:

o  Twice through and angel and food

o  Then in a gentle breeze, or some translations have a still small voice or silence.

o  And tells him to go back and continue the work God has given him to do.

In both of these stories, there is fear and when God/Jesus speaks and acts, a sense of calm is restored.

Looking at the world around us, and it seems that there is much to fear, chaos is everywhere:

Kim Jong-un in North Korea

Donald Trump in the USA

with their threats of nuclear war

Race hate marches in the US

unrest in Venezuela

continuing violence in various parts of the world

and natural disasters:

earthquakes

landslides

floods and droughts

At times, it seems like life is out to get us.

Elijah’s life was threatened

Peter starting drowning

I am sure we can all think of things that clamour for our attention:

As well as the news headlines, there are often more personal issues:

Health

Family

Finances

It is easy to be overwhelmed at times,

·    by the list of things that concern us and our family and friends

·    by the needs in our community

o  homelessness

o  domestic violence

o  drug addiction

o  loss of hope

o  underemployment

·    and the issues nationally and internationally

o  refugees

o  war

o  slavery

o  racism

o  poverty

o  hunger

o  child mortality

o  and on and on

as much as we would like to change things,

·    for our friends to be healthy,

·    for everyone to have a safe place to live,

·    for children to be educated

·    for people to have adequate work

·    for violence and war and poverty to cease

we feel unable to influence these issues.

It is easy for us to feel we are on our own, and out of our depth.

But we are not on our own. And I am not only talking about God being present with us.

Elijah thought he was the only one who remained loyal to God, but we read that seven thousand Israelites refused to worship Baal. Elijah is not on his own.

Peter left the disciples in the boat, but ended up back in the boat.

One of the advantage of support groups, is that you find out you are not the only person in the area with:

·    a child with a drug addiction

·    a partner with depression

·    a problem with gambling

When we work together we can help people who are homeless, offer support to those who are ill, listen to people who feel that no-one cares about their situation. We won’t have all the resources to deal with every problem in our area, but we do have the resources to make a difference.

Remember the Gospel reading from last week, the disciples wanted to send the crowd away to get their own food. The disciples could not see a way to fed everyone, they were overwhelmed by the size of the task.

But Jesus said, just wait a minute, you can do this.

…

These two passages all remind me that fear and worry can cloud our judgement and make it harder for us to be aware of God in our lives.  

For Elijah God wasn’t in the earthquake, wind or fire, but in the silence or gentle breeze.

For Peter, he started to sink when he stopped focussing on Jesus and started focusing on the waves around him.

I am not suggesting we ignore the difficulties in life. The problem isn’t being aware of what is going on around us, and Jesus never avoided the complications and difficulties around him.

But when we start focussing on the difficulties of life,
when we see what we cannot do, rather then what we can do,
we will continue to be overwhelmed,
and wonder where God is in all of the chaos.

For me, there are plenty of days when I wonder what is going on, the to-do list multiplies, the desk gets messier, and my brain gets foggier. I know what I need to do:

Make a space for me away from the lists and deadlines and

Take a few minutes to check in with God and to breathe

As this quote says: the question is not, “Does God speak?” the question is, “are you listening?”

Some people will read that quote as God speaking with a human type voice. I do believe that God guides us.

There are times when I need to rewrite something, because when I read it, my gut knots up, or my heart feels sad. At times, I have had to write something that I knew was likely to be contentious, but when I reread it, and intentionally sat with God, there was a sense of calmness. But it usually requires me to focus on God, rather than what I think I should be writing.

Life can feel overwhelming, and we can wonder, where is God in all this.

When we focus on God, the source of all life,

And on Jesus, the one who showed us how to live,

And on the Holy Spirit, who guides our way

we are more likely

• ·    to know the peace and grace of God
• ·    to follow Jesus in caring
• ·    and to allow the Holy Spirit to transform our lives

Feeding 5,000 with compassion

We could look at the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000; ponder how Jesus managed to feed so many people with such a small amount of food. We could find a way to explain the feeding, such as the miracle of sharing. What if everyone had their own little packed lunch, but no-one was game to bring it out until they saw others doing the same? I sometimes wonder if getting people to share was a bigger miracle than food being multiplied.

But, I wonder what else we might see in this story?

.. Another food story in the Bible.

·         Manna and quail in the wilderness is the iconic feeding story

·         the widow of Zarephath whose flour and oil didn’t run out [1 Kings 17]

·         wedding at Cana

·         Jesus eating with Zacchaeus,

·         And many more

Eating, especially eating with others, occurs frequently in the Bible. Maybe because food and friendship, are vital for life, especially life with dignity.

.. The section just before this is about a birthday party for Herod; the daughter of Herodias danced for him, earning his praise, and led to the death of John the Baptist. Not only was John the Baptist killed, but his head was bought on a platter into the party.

At the time, people like Herod had lots of food, but for most people there was the daily struggle to find enough to eat. Food inequality has been happening for centuries, and food inequality continues to happen today.

The feast of Herod brings about death; yet the fish and bread – subsistence food – is a life giving feast for many.

.. Jesus has compassion on the crowd. Jesus and the disciples were headed for some time together, time for Jesus to grieve the death of his cousin John at the hands of Herod; but the crowd followed. “He felt sorry for them and healed everyone who was sick.”; other translations have that Jesus had compassion on the crowd.

Compassion that led him to act, in healing and feeding.[i] When you feel compassion for someone, does that lead you to action?

.. By feeding people, Jesus is acknowledging the humanity of people in the crowd. And it wasn’t enough to get by until they were back home; they ate until they had all they wanted. This was a time when most people would not have had the luxury of having all they wanted to eat.[ii]  

.. Another idea to think about from this passage is the way Jesus sees things differently to the disciples. The disciples saw why they could not feed everyone, they did not have enough; but Jesus trusts that what has been provided will be enough.

The disciples saw only five loaves and two fish and a large crowd, and said we can't do anything for all these people send them away.

But Jesus saw what the same 5 loaves and two fish, trusted God and saw potential. And there was more than enough.

I wonder when do we see scarcity,
when do we hold on to that which we have, not being willing to share?

Sometimes we are called on to give when we don't know if we have any to spare,
sometimes we are called to act when we feel unequipped,
sometimes we are called to speak out and we don't know the words to say.

 “What if rather than fretting whether we have enough, we simply give thanks for what we have, put it to use for those around us, and see just how far God might stretch and, indeed, multiply it? “ [iii]

It is easy to look at what we have, and see scarcity, see what we don’t have; but what would happen if we looked at what we have with the gratitude and trust that Jesus showed?

.. Jesus was concerned for the physical welfare of the people, not only their spiritual lives. [iv]

Some schools, including Ettalong Primary, now have breakfast available for students, because without breakfast it is very difficult to concentrate in class.  Jesus cared not only for the spiritual life of those he met, but cared about their whole life: physical, social, emotional and spiritual aspects of living.  

…………..

I love this passage from Isaiah, I wondered about the questions that are asked:

Why do you spend your money on food that doesn’t nourish?

Why do you spend your hard-earned wages on things that will never satisfy you?

What is it we are looking for? Some in the crowd were looking for healing, but what are we looking for?

Do we spend our money on that which nourishes our own life,
nourishes and nurtures the lives of the people who produce our food and clothes and other things,
and nourishes the life of the whole of creation?

Are we like Herod, whose feasting and lifestyle meant death and hunger to other people?

What resources do we have that brings us abundant life, and offers abundant life to others?

……

Sometimes we are like the disciples,
we doubt our ability,
we are pre-occupied with our own concerns,
and Jesus comes and shows us that there is more to us and more to life than we ever imagined.

This miracle is for those times.

I wonder what we need from Jesus?

Where are we being called to live out a miracle?

.. shortly we will share around bread and juice around the table.
Bread and juice that reminds us of the life and death and resurrection of Jesus.
Bread and juice that that is enough for all
bread and juice that symbolises nourishment and grace for all people.

.. Jesus had compassion on the crowd, what does it feel like to know Jesus has compassion for you? ^[v]

I wonder what we need from Jesus?

What can we do, that would show the compassion of God, not just to some people, but to all people.

---

[i] Jennifer T. Kaalund, https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=3357

[ii] Matt Skinner, https://www.workingpreacher.org/craft.aspx?post=4946

[iii] David Lose http://www.davidlose.net/2017/08/pentecost-9-a-gift-not-goal/

[iv] Jennifer T. Kaalund https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=3357

[v] David Lose http://www.davidlose.net/2017/08/pentecost-9-a-gift-not-goal/

The kingdom of heaven is like

The kingdom of heaven is like ….  that phrase occurs about 30 times in the gospel of Matthew; it is one of the main themes of Matthew’s Gospel. This morning we have 5 parables, all of which start: The kingdom of heaven is like.

Some things to think about with these parables:

Firstly, the mustard bush.

The kingdom of heaven is like what happens when a farmer plants a mustard seed in a field. Although it is the smallest of all seeds, it grows larger than any garden plant and becomes a tree. Birds even come and nest on its branches.

It was a weed!

No farmer in their right mind would plant mustard seeds, it would quickly take over the whole field, and your neighbour’s field.

And the woman with the yeast and flour.  Start yeast/flour/water mix

The kingdom of heaven is like what happens when a woman mixes a little yeast into three big batches of flour. Finally, all the dough rises.

A few surprises in this parable:

Yeast was often considered to be impure, a symbol of decay.

Woman were not highly valued, so the analogy of the activity of God being like anything a woman does would be strange to the ears of the people Jesus was speaking to.

And then there is the ‘three big batches of flour’, which is equivalent to about 21 kgs. That is a lot of flour. Someone has calculated that this would make 52 loaves of bread. This woman is making enough to feed the village, not her family.[i]

For me, these two parables are surprising, and for the first hearers would have been shocking or stupid.
I mean, who plants a rampant weed on their farm,
and who makes enough bread for the whole village,
and just imagine how big a bowl that would be.

Here is 1 kg flour, imagine how much 144kgs is going to be.

The next two parables:

The kingdom of heaven is like what happens when someone finds a treasure hidden in a field and buries it again. A person like that is happy and goes and sells everything in order to buy that field.

The kingdom of heaven is like what happens when a shop owner is looking for fine pearls. After finding a very valuable one, the owner goes and sells everything in order to buy that pearl.

finding treasure in a field, and a fine pearl; both ending with people selling all they have for the sake of the treasure and the pearl; who does that?

Is there anything you would give up all you had for?

Maybe the fifth parable will help.

“The kingdom of heaven is like what happens when a net is thrown into a lake and catches all kinds of fish.”

So far seems OK, but …. Then the separation of good and bad fish. Which reminds me of another part of the Matthew’s gospel, chapter 25 and the sheep and the goats at judgement time.

Each of the parables we heard this morning hints at the kingdom of God. the kingdom of God is not one dimensional, and it is not easily described.

Jesus says the kingdom of God is like, ... then an action.
So, the kingdom isn’t like a weed,
or yeast, which is a contaminant
or buried treasure or a fine pearl
or a net full of fish.

The kingdom of heaven is not like the objects, but what people do with them.[ii]

These parables give a picture of a kingdom that infiltrates and spreads through our lives. [iii]

The kingdom of heaven is not an object, but an activity. The kingdom of Heaven is active in ways we may not even realise, “in the mysterious and powerful things that happen right beneath our eyes, even if our eyes can't seem to see what's happening (The Lectionary Commentary: The Gospels).”^[iv]

Do you read the Bible, pray, and come to Sunday worship thinking that these things might lead to our lives being infiltrated, changed, and taken over by God’s reality and rule? ^[v]

Is God enough for you to give up everything for?

“the Gospel of the kingdom that Jesus proclaims and lives is truly good news only to those who are not finally satisfied with what this life has to offer. For those who are content, selling everything to possess a single pearl, no matter how valuable, seems a little crazy. How can anything be so precious as to give up everything else to possess it? But to those who are dissatisfied – with the status quo, with what they have been able to secure on their own, with the values, stereotypes, or prejudices of the culture – then Jesus’ Gospel, while still disruptive and even upsetting, nevertheless feels true, real, and something worth buying at any cost.” ^[vi]

Fulghum story p116-7 Uh-Oh

Affirmative vandalism [200 words]

I wonder what we could do, here on the Peninsula, to spread love, grace, and forgiveness?

What could we do to make a difference,

---

[i] http://breadmonk.com/my-bread-blog/three-measures-of-flour

[ii] http://worshipingwithchildren.blogspot.com.au/2014/06/year-proper-12-17th-sunday-in-ordinary.html

[iii] http://www.davidlose.net/2014/07/pentecost-7a-parables-that-do-things/

[iv] http://www.ucc.org/worship_samuel_sermon_seeds_july_30_2017

[v] http://www.davidlose.net/2014/07/pentecost-7a-parables-that-do-things/

[vi] http://www.davidlose.net/2017/07/pentecost-8-a-parabolic-promises/

Following Jesus: Welcoming or Welcomed

This short passage from the Gospel of Matthew continues on from our readings the past few weeks. Jesus calls the disciples and tells them they will go out in pairs, proclaiming the good news:

“…the kingdom of heaven will soon be here. Heal the sick, raise the dead to life, heal people who have leprosy, and force out demons. You received without paying, now give without being paid. Don’t take along any gold, silver, or copper coins. And don’t carry a traveling bag or an extra shirt or sandals or a walking stick.” Matthew 10:7-9 CEV

The disciples have been warned that some will hate them, there will be divisions within families, and then this short section, about the rewards for those who welcome the disciples.

…

When Ian and I moved into the manse, there were some yummy slices, and lovely flowers when we arrived; and later that day, dinner arrived. A wonderful welcome.

I wonder when you have felt particularly welcomed? What was it that you appreciated or made it so special?

…

“anyone who gives one of my most humble followers a cup of cool water, just because that person is my follower, will surely be rewarded.”

This verse is usually considered to mean that something as simple as a glass of cool water will be rewarded. You don’t have to do anything elaborate.

But at that time there was no fridge in the corner, and water was drawn from the well, and kept in clay jars, on hot days, the water would warm up. To give a guest a cup of cold water required an extra measure of hospitality. An unplanned trip to the well, to gather more water so it could be served before it warmed up. A drink of cold water was exceptional. This was exceptional hospitality that stretches the hostess and host beyond the ordinary.[i]

I wonder when you have done something exceptional for someone you didn’t know well?

…….

Have there been times when you needed hospitality or welcome:

when you were looking for a place to rest, or
     a new home
     or even a drink of water

what happened?
Were you offered what you needed?

…

It is one thing to offer a welcome, “into church, or your home, or your life. You have the power. You get to make the decisions as to whom you’ll invite and when. You can control the circumstances, the setting, and the surroundings. You are able to determine when the welcoming will come to an end.

It’s a completely different situation, however, when find yourself on the other side -- the one being welcomed. The one at the mercy of another.”[ii]

Welcoming goes both ways. It is wonderful when we offer a welcome to another person, and it is important to do that. But how often do we accept the welcome of another?

The disciples may have travelled empty-handed, but not empty hearted. They were sent to heal and liberate and announce the good news of the coming kingdom of God.

What gifts do you see in people who come looking for a welcome?

When new people come into:
     our church or our lives,
      our community or our country,
do we see potential,
    or trouble
do we see gifts
     or a burden?

The disciples relied on being welcomed into a home while they were out healing and liberating people. They relied on food and water from people they didn’t know. 

This requires a level of vulnerability.

When we start to imagine what it must feel like to rely on the welcome of others, perhaps then we will have a sense of the kind of vulnerability Jesus knew and Jesus lived. When you have to depend on another, perhaps even for a meal and a place to sleep, trust steps through that door first. When you allow yourself to be welcomed, perhaps that can be the first step to letting go of thinking you are not enough.^[iii]

Are we willing to be vulnerable in our welcoming and allowing ourselves to be welcomed?

---

[i] Rev. Debra Jene in https://revgalblogpals.org/2017/06/27/revised-common-lectionary-a-cup-of-cold-water/

[ii] https://www.workingpreacher.org/craft.aspx?m=4377&post=4931

[iii] https://www.workingpreacher.org/craft.aspx?m=4377&post=4931

Lament

a short section early in worship

Lament

How long, O Lord.

Where are you, Lord

These are cries of Lament

The Lament psalms give expression to the deepest moments of human pain;

anger, confusion, questioning, and despair are all said out loud.

In a time of crisis, personal or communal

the palmist cried out to God:

How long, O Lord, or

what is going on or

when are you going to come and make things right?

These psalms are important for several reasons.

First, they give us words for the deepest, darkest nights of our lives -- when the bottom drops out, when the pain seems too much to bear. Second, the tell us that God is big enough for everything we've got -- 

our pain, 

our anger, 

our questions, 

our doubts.

They even suggest that genuine biblical faith is comfortable challenging God. And that God is present with us precisely when it feels like God isn't there.

While these psalms are a way of expressing anger and confusion, they do so in a way which claims the promise of God's presence in the midst of our suffering and also the promise that the God-who-is-with-us will preserve us from evil and bring us to a new day when the sun will rise and light will dawn.[i]

I am guessing that at some point in your life you wanted to shake your fist at God and ask why?

[followed by a PPT of Out of the Depths I cry to you O Lord.]

---

[i]  https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=3270

Following Jesus is costly.

The section we heard this morning continues from last week’s reading. Jesus is talking with the disciples, preparing them to go out in mission.

But this isn’t what we expect a pep talk to sound like. Here the disciples are told it will be difficult, and some people will hate them because of the message of Jesus.
The life of faith is not necessarily easy.
remember the song: I never promised a rose garden.

We are not promised life will be easy,
or that we will not have difficulties along the way.
We are promised new life and the presence of Jesus with us.

I know many people get concerned about the section that talks about the division within a family. Family members will be turned against each other.     

Following Jesus was costly.

Matthew's Gospel was written in part to encourage synagogue members to risk separation from family and friends in order to follow Jesus.[i]
following Jesus is not about being popular,
or rich,
or famous.

Being a disciple, we hear again and again is about
 ‘not being afraid’
following in the way of Jesus
putting Jesus first.

And that is what this section is about.
The disciples are about to go out into the mission field,
in pairs,
relying on the hospitality of people they meet.

Not everyone will like you, and some may try and kill you.
This was time when the early Christians were leaving the synagogues, no longer being both Christian and Jewish. For many this meant being exiled from their families, at a time when family meant having somewhere to live and a place to belong.

But it also meant having a new family, the family of the church.

As a teenager, many people knew me as my father’s daughter. That is what I would be called. My dad was such a larger than life figure, that we were Ross Bannister’s, wife, daughter and son. We didn’t have our own names.

Dad and I were close in many ways, and had lots in common, until I started going to church. My relationship with parents, particularly my father, changed. He didn’t want a religious daughter, so me going to church meant that I was different. I had changed. At times, I had to choose between pleasing my parents and doing what I thought was right in my relationship with God. Those decisions were not easy.  

Jesus is not saying ignore your family, but that obedience to Jesus will relativize household relationships.^[ii]   That is your family relationship will be secondary to your relationship with God through Jesus.

We often hear about Christian or Biblical family values, yet here we have Jesus calling into question the idolatry of the family and warns that the gospel may divide rather than unite the home."^[iii]

The Message paraphrase of the Bible puts it this way: I’ve come to cut through these cosy domestic arrangements and free you for God. [the Message]

Parents often have an idea about what they would like their child to be like as they grow up; such as a musician or a sportsperson. Some families have very specific expectations. Other people will also have expectations about what you will do with your life.

If we are to be disciples, followers of Jesus, we need to be able to follow God’s dream for who we are, not our parents, or our bosses, or our children, or even our own dreams.

It can be difficult growing into the person God calls us to be, and this passage recognises that, and again Jesus tells the disciples to not be afraid.

This morning as we celebrate the 40^th Anniversary of the Uniting Church,
as we recognise people who have offered leadership,
as we commission elders and church councillors,
what are we being asked to give up for Jesus?
where are we being asked to step out in faith?
what is the mission field we are being sent out to?

Are we willing to take the risk?

---

[i] http://www.ucc.org/worship_samuel_sermon_seeds_june_25_2017

[ii] https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=3303

[iii] http://www.ucc.org/worship_samuel_sermon_seeds_june_25_2017