Hope Paul style

 Those who have been part of the congregation for a few years will know I don’t do Mother’s Day in church.  In the online discussion groups for Ministers this week, lots of comments about what, or what not, to do with Mother’s Day as far as worship is concerned.

Then I saw the reading from Romans – Paul is one of my least favourite writers to preach on. So I did wonder about finding a cute video of kittens playing – every Ministers go to for getting out of preaching J  - and ignore both Paul and Mother’s Day.

 

We’ll start with Paul.

Paul is writing to a  group of Christians he has not met, he has heard about them, but hasn’t met them.  And he writes of how suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character and character produces hope.

 

Creative reading:[from Spill the Beans]

 

……………….

 

Paul writes of Hope – hope that comes from suffering and endurance, this isn’t hoping for a fine day to get the washing dry, or hoping to lose a few kilos to fit into an outfit; this is hope in Jesus, assurance that we are Gods precious people.   This isn’t wishful thinking, this is certainty in the face of persecution,  faith in the face of death. This is hope based on our knowing that we are reconciled to God. The language of Paul can be difficult for our modern ears, but one thing to remember with Paul is that he is not writing about justification from a judicial perspective, but from a  relational viewpoint.

Paul writes of reconciliation, not retribution or revenge.

 

we will now see a video, it starts with an outline of the beginnings of Mother’s day, then tells some stories of women.

 

Video 7 minutes

  [Mother's Day proclamation and stories from women such as Sojourner Truth]

 

I am amazed at the stories of these women, and their willingness to suffer, to endure, and to live in hope – not hoping for a fine day, but hoping to a world transformed.

For me that is one of the great messages of Christianity, that life can be different, that we can be transformed. Again not an individually focused I want to be 20 kilos lighter, but a transforming the world to make it a better place for all people, in spite of the personal cost.

During Lent we looked at some readings about the Kingdom of God, and what it might be like – a kingdom of hope, peace, joy and love, a kingdom without poverty and oppression. A Kingdom where all are loved, cared for, fed and clothed, where everyone has the opportunity for a healthy life and appropriate work.

 

While this video focuses on mothers, it is a reminder of what one person can do, with some passion and hope – hope that is lived out of a strength that comes from outside ourselves – we would call it the Spirit.

 

I am sure we could think of other examples of people who have placed there hope in something greater than themselves, who have faced hardship, persecution even, not for themselves, or even their own family, but for the sake of the world for which Christ died.

 

PPT image : “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
― Mary Oliver

 

Romans week 1

This week we start reading sections from the letter to the Romans.  Romans differs from the rest of Paul’s letters, in that he hasn’t been to the Church in Rome. The rest of the letters are written to churches where Paul has been, and often churches that Paul began. So Paul begins by introducing himself -  not with a physical description, but setting out his credentials, a servant of Jesus Christ, an apostle; and also sets that in the bigger picture of  the prophets and David.

Did you ever have a pen pal? What did you tell them about yourself?

I wonder how you would introduce yourself to a group of people who hadn’t met you yet?

A group of people you wanted to visit?

The church in Rome is likely to be a mixture of people from both Jewish and gentile backgrounds.

Paul is wanting to visit the church in Rome, one reason is to use Rome as a staging point to spread the gospel into Spain. For that he needs support and money, so it is important that he lets the people know that he is trustworthy, and of the shared foundations of the Christian faith.  [i]

Listen as we hear a slightly different version of the reading. Jan is Paul writing his letter, Dick is saying what Paul may be thinking as he writes.  

       Creative reading [Spill the Beans]

 

Rather than trying to cover the whole section this morning, I will reflect on a few words and phrases, hopefully this will help as we read more of Romans in the next few weeks.

Righteousness of God – often we think of people who are righteous as some people who are respectable and with high morals. But here Paul writes of the righteousness of God – and that isn’t about morals or respectability. The righteousness of God is about God’s faithfulness, that is God keeps God’s promises.

Another word that Paul uses a lot is faith.  Faith that witnesses to the good news, faith that encourages, faith that isn’t a belief system, but a response to God’s faithfulness.

And Gospel or Good news:

The gospel is not a doctrine or a creed, but a living message with power to change lives.[ii] The living message of Jesus Christ himself. The gospel is Jesus, not words about Jesus, but Jesus. And the Gospel is founded on the righteousness of God – God’s faithfulness.

 We live in a time when we are the centre of our own little universe – things like selfies and  technology that allows you to see only that which you agree with.

But the gospel is not  ‘me’ centred – it is God centred. The Christian life has God’s faithfulness as a foundation, and the transforming power of Jesus Christ transforming and challenging and living in us.  

The righteousness and faithfulness of God call for a response in our lives, as does the good news of the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus. But the gospel is not our response.

Our response is to live out Gods calling – for Paul that was to be an evangelist to the Gentiles; what is your calling?

That is serious question: God calls each of us – not only ministers and evangelists and missionaries, but all of us.

And we need each other to encourage us in our calling.

“For I am longing to see you so that I may share with you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—or rather so that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine.”

Mutually encouraged by each other’s faith?

How might we do this?

Christianity is a God-centred, Christ powered faith – with a foundation of God’s righteousness –

how do we respond to God’s faithfulness?

How do we respond to the living good news of Jesus?

---

[i] RevGalBlogPals Narrative Lectionary: Something to Write Home About (Romans 1:1-17)

 

[ii] Spill the Beans

Acts 10

This week we move into the book of Acts. This book tells the story of the early church, the spread of the gospel, the movement of the Spirit,  the travels of Paul, and the challenge of what to do with non-Jews who were believers.

 

Peter was one of the twelve who had travelled with Jesus. The twelve are known as the disciples when they were travelling with Jesus - disciples means learner or follower. But after the ascension, they are apostles – which means a messenger, one who is sent on a mission. So they moved from being fellow travellers to being messengers.

Peter was one of the people who travelled with Jesus, and one who was commissioned to go and spread the gospel or good news.

 

From this passage we could think about what are the things or people we consider to be unclean?

If , in creation, God declared it good, is anyone or anything ‘unclean’ or outside of God’s grace and love?

We could think about when we have been challenged to do something outside our comfort zone.

We could think about a time we changed our mind on a significant issue.

 

And you are welcome to reflect on those issues, but for the next few minutes I want to look at the pattern in this reading.

The passage starts with Cornelius, an Italian, so not a Jew but a gentile, an outsider. Even though he was an outsider, he was a person who worshipped and prayed and did good deeds.

And he has a spiritual experience – an experience so profound he immediately acted on the message he was given.

 

Peter was a Jew as well as a follower of Jesus, an insider. Peter also had a spiritual experience. Peter wasn’t sure about the experience and the sheet was lowered three times, and the message repeated three times.  Even then Peter was still trying to work out what this meant, he couldn’t eat those creatures, Jews were not allowed to eat those foods – why would God tell him to do something forbidden?

But the messenger then tells him to meet the three men. That bit he acts on.

 

In both cases there was a spiritual experience,

which led to an action.

In both cases that action included hospitality,

making space in their home for the other.

And then an excited , passionate proclamation from Peter.

 

And in the telling, Peter recognises the message that being given to him in the vision of the cloth and the animals. It wasn’t about food and what could or couldn’t be eaten, it was about God breaking down the barriers.

One of the big issues for the church at the time was what to do with people who were not Jewish, but who believed the message of Jesus, and wanted to be part of the Christian community. Did they need to be Jews?  

And in this moment, Peter gets it – you don’t need to be a Jew, before you can be a Christian. You don’t need to be a certain race, or colour, or age, or school background, or family or anything else. Because God is in the reconciliation business, the breaking down of barriers, barriers between people and  between people and God. But reconciliation so more than breaking down barriers, it is also building relationship, and the church is about relationship.  

 

A recap of the pattern.

Spiritual experience

Response

        And sometimes that may take some time

Some kind of action – welcoming, sharing, being present

Telling the story

 

And from telling the story, who knows what might happen – in the story we heard, the Holy Spirit came and people were blessed and baptised.  

 

Sometimes it seems evangelism is a ‘dirty’ word. But evangelism is simply telling the good news.

In the Uniting Church there are concerns at time about our lack of evangelism, I think this is partly because of the experiences some of us have had with people who try and guilt us or scare us into believing, people who don’t seem to be able to have a conversation without badgering.

But notice, Peter does not do this, Peter asks Cornelius, why did you send for me, then Peter tells the story of Jesus. The story of what he saw and experienced of Jesus.

 

Now none of us was there on the road to Jerusalem, or  there when the storm hit the Lake of Galilee, or the when the crowds were fed or the tomb was empty.

And we can only tell the story out of our experience.

What is your experience of God,

what is your experience of God that leads you to response,

to action,

to sharing the story of your life transformed.

 

Notice the order – telling the story is at the end of the list J

Evangelism is

Living out our faith,

and when appropriate telling our story,

the story of the way knowing God’s presence in our lives has changed us,

motivates us to love,

and challenges us to be more gracious, forgiving and welcoming.

 

a short Easter morning sermon on Matthew

Don’t be afraid.

Where have we heard those words before?

It is all through the Christmas story.

Don’t be afraid the angel said to Mary,

don’t be afraid Joseph was told in a dream.

Don’t be afraid  the shepherds were told by an angel.

It seems that angels must be scary, every time they speak to someone, the first thing they say is ‘don’t be afraid’.

Or maybe it is because no one expects to see an angel.

And the women who went to the tomb were certainly not expecting what happened that morning.

They were not expecting an angel,

or an empty tomb,

or to meet Jesus.

 

The women had seen what had happened on Friday,

the crucifixion and burial,

and they were coming to mourn.

Some gospels mention burial spices,

but not Matthew.

Matthew has the women going to see the tomb,

I guess it is like some people these days go and visit the graves of loved ones.

But,

something happened that morning,

something extraordinary and amazing and earth shattering.

 

I wonder what it was like for the women that morning,

Going to the tomb, my guess is sad, and maybe concerned about getting into trouble for even being there.

Then when an angel rolled the stone away, and spoke to them?

And then when Jesus spoke to them?

 

Then they grabbed his feet and worshipped him.

 

They went to grieve at the tomb,

and end up worshipping Jesus.

 

Sometime the best things in life are surprises J

 

Every so often something happens in our lives that is life changing, and in my experience, that is often accompanied by pain or fear, or both J 

 

I wonder what this story has for us today, most of us have heard this story, or variations of it from Mark, Luke and John, many times over. 

Remember  the Leunig image I showed earlier: “Look at that! Brilliant! You kill the leader and you nip the whole movement in the bud.”

 

And  then just a few days later, the leader isn’t dead anymore, and the movement …

 

The movement has lasted another 2000 years.

 

What shape is the Jesus movement in today?

 

Both the angel and Jesus tell the women : don’t  be afraid, and then ‘to go and tell’.

 

Don’t be afraid, go and tell.

 

Tell the story of Jesus –

The story of compassion,

of grace,

of inclusion,

of acceptance,

of healing,

of liberation.

 

Tell it in words and actions

Tell it with your time and your money,

with your  voice and your hands,

tell the story of love with your life.

Don’t be afraid, go and tell

Your Kingdom Come?

People still love a parade, whether it is for returning defence force personnel or an Easter Hat parade at the local school, a parade of sports teams or St Patricks Day Parade.  People will queue to get  a good position.

We think of parades as fun, or we don’t go. But some parades are ‘compulsory’.

Jerusalem was under the control of the Romans, and like many people under occupation, they knew they rules.
Don’t make a fuss
Don’t create a scene
Obey orders
Pay homage to the Roman leaders
Basically  - don’t upset the Romans.
And that means if there is a Roman parade, cheer!

Around the time of Passover there were lots of visitors in Jerusalem. Passover celebrated the liberation of the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt. Passover was the founding narrative for the nation of Israel. While it was a religious festival, in Israel, religion and nationhood were closely tied together, and the Roman leaders knew that. Any festival was a potential time for an uprising of the locals.

So like any occupying force, from time to time there was need for a show of force, and Passover was a good time to do that.

So as Pilate was entering the city with a display of military might, Jesus was also entering the city, but on a donkey.
     was this a counter demonstration?
     a satirical dig at the Romans?
     street theatre?
     testing his popularity?

People living under oppression often find ways to say what they want to, to make fun of the rulers. This can be in using words or phrases with hidden meanings, signs or symbols that would not be understood by the rulers, or creatively mocking the system.

Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey is subversive and mocking, but it isn’t a threat to a military power like the Romans.  It could have hadn’t unnoticed by the authorities.

But Jesus knows he is being watched. It isn’t only the Roman authorities he needs to be wary of, but the religious authorities as well. The Romans knew that religion was one thing that people would fight for, so they would co-opt the local leadership on the grounds that as long as the religious leaders kept the local b people obedient, they could continue in the positions, and people could continue with their worship. As long as it didn’t interfere with Roman rule.  

The people of Israel were looking for a Saviour, so they shout Hosanna!
Hosanna!  an Aramaic word in a sea of Greek. The gospels were originally written in Greek, but here an Aramaic word is used.
A word that the Romans may not have understood.
A word with two meanings – ‘praise God’ and ‘save us’.

Jesus isn’t taking on the Romans at their own game, Jesus came to change the game.  To change the game from oppression and power and fear, to freedom and grace and love.

Jesus came to change the way things were done, not to overpower the Romans, or anyone else. And he knew where that might lead.
Protesters today risk being arrested,
     for praying in Government offices for the release of children in detention,
     for preventing mining companies getting access to farms,
     for stopping the transport of waste products.
The people who protest in these ways know they risk going to prison or being fined.

Jesus knew the potential for arrest and death, the Romans were known for taking care of trouble makers swiftly and permanently.

Usually on Palm Sunday we only hear about the entry into Jerusalem, but this morning we also heard about the incident in the Temple.  Jesus cleared out the animals, overturned the tables of the money changers and healed the sick.
the Temple was one of the main economic activities in Jerusalem. It made sense when travelling to buy the animals for sacrifice at the Temple, rather than carrying them for many days.  It wasn’t the selling of sacrificial animals, or even the money changing that was the problem; the problem was that this had taken over as the main activity of the Temple.

Again Jesus isn’t trying to beat the Temple Authorities in some game of who is the most powerful; Jesus is changing, transforming, the Temple back to the role of healing and praising God.

Throughout Lent we have been thinking about what it means to Pray: Your Kingdom Come. Here we have two kingdoms,
one kingdom is a kingdom of fear, power, oppression and death.

The other  kingdom of peace, freedom, healing and life.
One Kingdom reliant on state power to keep people under control
The other reliant on the Holy Spirit to enliven people
One Kingdom where the Temple is a place of economic activity
The other where the Temple is a place of healing and wholeness.

Jesus came to bring about a new order, a new kingdom.
how do we live into that new order?
how do we people of peace and hope and faith, in a world of fear and greed?

Living as the people of God is more than praying for peace, or healing, or grace; it is living out the kingdom in spite of the scorn of those around us.
Living as the people who are Christian, named for Christ, means following in the way of love and hope and generosity, even when that is dangerous.

Jesus came to bring about a new order, a new kingdom.
Is it this upside down, radically inclusive Kingdom which we pray for?

Judgement

This section of Matthew’s gospel is usually read on Christ the King Sunday, so it seems unusual to hear it read towards the end of Lent.  If we look at where Matthew includes this story. The entry of Jesus into Jerusalem that we will hear next Sunday, Palm Sunday, is in chapter 21 – there is a whole lot that Matthew includes as happening in the few days between the triumphant entry and the betrayal, arrest, trial and crucifixion.  

 

Matthew includes

• the cleansing of the temple,
• lament over Jerusalem
• prophecy of the destruction temple,
• persecution

•  questions about
• paying taxes
• resurrection
• the greatest commandment

 parables of

• the wicked tenants,
• the wedding banquet,
• ten bridesmaids
• talents

After this story of judgement,

• plot to kill Jesus
• Jesus is anointed
• Passover
• Garden of Gethsemane
• etc.

 Jesus could read the signs around him, he knew the religious and political authorities were not happy, he knew he could be arrested or killed at any time. During these few days, Jesus did a lot of teaching,  responded to questions, and told some stories, including the parables we looked at in the past 2 weeks, and the story we heard this morning.  

 

One way of looking at this reading is to think of the connection with the arrest, trial and crucifixion of Jesus. Jesus is about to be thirsty, naked and scorned.[i]

• on the cross he is thirsty – who gives him something to drink? [27:34, 27:48] soldiers, bystanders
• his clothes are taken from him – who covers his nakedness [27:59] Joseph of Arimathea
• how was he treated in prison [27:27-37]
• was Jesus welcomed, or treated as a stranger [26:70] Peter denies knowing Jesus; the crowd [27: 21 – 23]

 ………………

Another way to understand this story is to think about where we fit – are we sheep or goats? Remember both groups were surprised, the sheep weren’t helping because they were going to be judged, but because people were hungry or thirsty or cold.  And the goats weren’t snubbing the King, if they knew it was him, of course they would have helped.  This story encourages us to not focus on ourselves, and what we will get out of feeding, clothing, or welcoming someone; but to focus on the person who is hungry, lonely or scared.

Not an easy thing to do.

 

But there is a twist in the story - the social code of the time meant that you only helped those who could later repay you, or where you would be rewarded in some way. The sheep ignored the social code.[ii]

The goats behaved in a way that society accepted, the sheep were foolish.

…………

 

Another thing with this parable, as with some others, is that we tend to immediately assume that the King is God or Jesus – even when that figure in the story behaves differently to everything we know about Jesus from the rest of the gospel.[iii]

This passage is the only place in Matthews gospel that has the phrase ‘eternal punishment’ and there is only one other reference to ‘eternal fire’. [18:8]

 

What if this isn’t God, or Jesus, judging the nations;  I wonder who the judge might be?

  

And really

is any nation,

or group of people,

or individual,

always helping those who need help,

or never helping those who need help.

Let’s face it, most people, and nations, are both sheep and goats at the same time.

 

how would you judge?

how would you decide who goes to eternal punishment and who to eternal life?

 

I know that isn’t our judgement to make it,

but how often do we make those judgements?

 

How often does our judgment make life hell for someone else? or for yourself?

 

a few weeks ago I showed a picture, the caption was  “The only time you should look in your Neighbour’s bowl is to make sure they have enough. You don’t look in your neighbour’s bowl to see if you have … as much as them.” [iv]

What if the judgement is ours?

because the more we focus on our own life, our own needs, our own worthiness – the less secure we are in our own life, the more we worry about having enough, about being good enough, clever enough, pretty enough. And comparing ourselves to others.

 

What happens when we focus on the needs of others,

• when we offer food and drink and clothing to people, not because we think they deserve it, but because they are hungry and thirsty and cold
• what happens when we welcome, include  and encourage  people; not because we like them, but because they are lonely and isolated and looked down upon.
• what happens when we share, when we welcome, when we visit - when we no longer worry about being good enough.

When our life is no longer focussed on ourselves?

 

What if eternal punishment is what happens when we focus on our own needs, and ignore the cries of the hungry, lonely and imprisoned.

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[i] Working Preacher Podcast:  http://www.workingpreacher.org/narrative_podcast.aspx?podcast_id=602

[ii] http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=2403

[iii] Preaching Peace: http://www.preachingpeace.org/lectionaries/34-year-a/170-yeara-lastpentecost.html

[iv]https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=737584633116&set=gm.832129916824391&type=1

what is a bridesmaid to do?

Another parable, another wedding banquet.

as I mentioned last week, the paperwork for the wedding was done, and at a later time the groom would go and get the bride from her family residence and bring him back to his family; and there was a party.

The bridesmaids would be friends of the bride, unmarried, so possibly a bit younger than the bride. The bridesmaids would be waiting for the bride and groom to join the party. But in this story, the groom comes on his own. The implication is that Christ is returning for his bride, the church.  

There are a few stories in the gospels about ‘the end times’, and how we need to be ready when Jesus returns to earth.

This parable can be understood as being about the end times, Jesus return is delayed, and we need to be ready and not lose faith.

I have some concerns about this understanding of the parable – for one, what does it tell us about the Kingdom of heaven? be ready or get locked out?

What about the girls with oil not sharing with this without oil?

Is Jesus really running that late!

Jesus the good shepherd who left 99 to find the one lost sheep locks out half the Bridesmaids and refuses to answer the door?

But,

What if

- it isn't about oil, but about being there

-  it is about being, and waiting, in the darkness , for Jesus is the light,

- instead of searching for our own solutions, we wait for Jesus?

- it is about having our own spiritual life, so we are ready to serve when needed.

 

Here is a  story from a colleague:

A few years ago, to help out another pastor who had to be out of town that day, I officiated at a wedding at a very nice hotel. The hotel scheduled a wedding in the same room every two hours.

The bride and groom were concerned because the bride’s family had a history of somebody or another being late for everything—always running behind. And, sure enough, the wedding rehearsal ran way behind because people were late.

..

But the bride and groom had a plan for the wedding day. They asked everybody to show up an hour early. And it worked.

Until the Father of the Bride (Yes the Father of the Bride) . . . went home to get something that somebody in the wedding party had forgotten.

He ran into bad traffic—and wasn’t back when the wedding was supposed to start. The hotel’s wedding coordinator insisted that the wedding had to start on time so that we would be out of the room in time for the next wedding.

When I joked that I’d never been to a wedding that started on time (I said it with a smile, but I think it was true), the wedding coordinator looked at me and said VERY seriously, “then you’ve never been to a wedding HERE.”

We managed to stall a little longer, but at about quarter after the wedding coordinator insisted the wedding start. And, with the Father of the Bride stuck in traffic, the Bride’s uncle walked her up the aisle.

The problem wasn’t that some member of the bridal party left something at home, because the wedding went on without it. The problem was that the Father of the Bride left, and didn’t get to walk his daughter up the aisle.

The Bridesmaid’s problem wasn’t that they ran out of oil. The problem was that they LEFT.

[from Jay Egenes – narrative lectionary Facebook group]

…..

The bridesmaids left to find oil; but the role of the bridesmaid was to be there to welcome and celebrate with the bride and groom.  

The bridesmaids forgot their purpose, forgot WHO they were waiting for, distracted by the discussion about oil and lamps.

What is our role, what is our purpose as people of God?

What distracts us from our purpose?

……………………

 

 

I am thinking about how these parables flip common wisdom on its head. We can spend our time in being prepared for every eventuality, making sure we get paid the correct amount, etc; yet the kingdom is not like that. The kingdom is strange and so different to our reality .

I read something yesterday on this parable about sitting in the darkness.

I wonder if sometimes instead of trying to find our own light, we need to sit in the (dim) light that others provide while we wait for healing/ daybreak and Jesus to be light in our lives.

 

All the parables we have heard so far during Lent, encourage us to rethink our basic values.

While we are told that we should get away with whatever we can; the kingdom value is offering forgiveness in response to our own forgiveness.

While we are told that different people are worth different amounts, a CEO gets many times the wages of a cleaner, and some people have too much work and some not enough; but in the kingdom everyone has work and everyone receives enough to live.

While we are told that we should make sure we have friends in the right places, and that revenge is sweet; the kingdom of heaven is a kingdom of peace, where all are valued.

A kingdom of grace and generosity and peace. a kingdom built on relationship.

let us pray:

 

Prayer of the Day

You do not want us

to be ignorant of your

dreams and hopes for us,

God of holiness,

so you speak to us in parables,

so we might pay careful attention

to your words;

you tell us stories about

our grandparents in the faith,

so we might become mentors

to our grandchildren, and theirs.

Filling us with the holy oil

of generosity and grace,

you make us ready to welcome

Jesus Christ into our lives,

and to open our hearts

to those who are in need.

 

On this day, we choose to serve you,

God in Community, Holy in One,

….

 

— written by Thom Shuman, Lectionary Liturgies website