Courage

Today we heard from the book of Esther, one of the disputed books in the canon by both Jewish and Christian experts. In its 10 chapters there is no mention of God, the temple, the exodus, or the salvation history of the Jewish people. Esther doesn’t see God or hear from God. Yet Esther is a role model of bravery. She is not perfect. She would have broken all sorts of Torah rules in living in the Palace. Yet, when push came to shove, she chose to risk her life, for the life of her people.

The book of Esther could easily be a soap opera or melodramatic movie. We have a fickle King, a villain, plot twists, an unlikely heroine, war and death, triumph and tragedy. A Hollywood directors dream.

When we think of the action of God in the salvation of the Jews, it is often Moses, the one saved at birth, heard God speaking from a burning bush, and led people through the sea to escape the Egyptians. Esther is nothing like Moses, she is an orphan, there is no mention of her hearing God or anything supernatural happening. They are both times when the people of Israel were in trouble.

So often God's action in our life, God's activity in the world around us, is hidden from us; not because God is trying to hide, but because God acts in what looks like our ordinary life.

Most of us will never entertain an Angel, like Mary and Joseph did.
Most of us will not be able to tap a rock and have freshwater flow from it, like Moses.
Most of us will not touch the holes in the hands of Jesus as Thomas did.

We may wish for the certainty of the burning bush, or walking through the Red Sea, but reality is, most of us will not have those experiences.

We can learn from Esther.
We can learn what it is like to be ‘undercover’ believers.
To be the good news,
To be hope and light
to be ready.

Our lives, like Esther’s will not be perfect. We will break God’s heart at times, but God still trusts us and calls us to act for humanity.

This may seem like an unlikely reading for advent 2, when we focus on peace and the coming King of Peace.

Advent is a time of waiting, of preparation for the kingdom of God to come in completion. But what if instead of just waiting for God to waive some magic wand, what if we are being called on to collaborate with God?

What if instead of waiting for God to act, God is waiting for us to act?

“Advent waiting means reminding ourselves that perhaps God has been preparing us, too, for this very moment.

Advent waiting means taking action on behalf of God’s justice and mercy.

Advent waiting means refusing to hide behind our positions and privileges, risking action on behalf of those without access to power.

Advent waiting means realizing that our own well-being is tied up with those whose lives are threatened daily by the forces of bigotry and hatred.

While relief may come from another quarter, perhaps God has been preparing us for just such a time as this.”[i]

In advent we think of the nearness of the Kingdom of God.

The kingdom of God is near when we live it.

The kingdom of God is near when the hungry are fed.

The kingdom of God is near when we act in solidarity with indigenous people

The kingdom of God is near when we speak on behalf of people in detention centres, on Nauru, Manus island, and on the mainland.

The kingdom of God is near when we advocate for the homeless

The kingdom of God is near when we demand an end to violence

The kingdom of God is near when we open our hearts to the transforming power of the holy spirit

The kingdom of God is near when we recognise the face of Jesus in the people, we meet

Our individual stories all are woven together as part of the story of God.

Just as Esther took a risk in coming to the King uninvited,

Mary took a risk in saying yes to the Angel.

just as Jesus chose to live with the risk of loving,

we are called to take risks.

Just like Esther and Mary, we may see ourselves as having no power, of having no position or place from which to transform our community. But just like Esther we can act with courage. Like Esther and Mary we can take risks to live out our faith.

Just like Jesus we can choose to love,

      to offer grace,

      to stand when others walk away.

what if instead of just waiting for God to waive some magic wand,
we are being called on to collaborate with God?

What if instead of waiting for God to act, God is waiting for us to act?

---

[i] https://robertwilliamsonjr.com/advent-through-the-eyes-of-esther/?fbclid=IwAR0FU9hBHaLF6mR1scmzYJkt2S5VdqaRyA0oHCxX7T-2EyDgUZQaI1X0wUI

Why, Wait, Watch, Worship

Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:2-4; 3:1-4. 17-19

Bible verses quoted are from the Contemporary English Version

The book of Habakkuk is just 3 chapters long.  While most of the prophets were telling the people of Israel and Judah that the exile was punishment from God, Habakkuk challenges God.

The world was in a mess, people lived with injustice, lawlessness, cruelty and violence. Habakkuk asks the question many people ask:

God, where are you?

why are you not doing something about the mess the world is in?

Do you not care?

Habakkuk also tells God how distressing it is for him to be looking at suffering and injustice. Sometimes it is easier to turn away.

On the news at times the presenter will make an announcement like: Warning, some people may find the following images offensive.

There is violence and injustice and poverty and oppression in the world.

Yes, that is offensive.

And sometimes we want to say: I don’t want to see this anymore

I don’t want to know about homelessness or war or abuse.

It is all too much to bear.

Join Habakkuk and his prayer of Lament; a cry to God in the midst of life, when it looks like everything is going wrong, in the world or our own lives, we can cry out to God. this is what Habakkuk does. He questions God.

And God answers.

God tells Habakkuk to wait, and God will act. Firstly, the Babylonians will take over Judah, and Habakkuk says, how will that help, they are just as bad as the current crop of leaders.

As people we so often want the quick fix. Problems like injustice don’t have quick fixes.

In a part of chapter 2 that wasn’t read this morning, there is a series of statements that start ‘You’re doomed!’

You’re doomed!

You stored up stolen goods

and cheated others of what belonged to them.

You’re doomed!

You made your family rich at the expense of others.

You even said to yourself, “I’m above the law.”

You’re doomed!

You built a city on crime and violence.

You’re doomed!

You get your friends drunk, just to see them naked.

And each section continues on with but….

you will become a frightened victim.

you will bring shame to your family and ruin to yourself

you will be disgraced.

I wonder where God would tell us we are doomed.

I wonder in what ways are we part of the problems of the world.

How do we contribute to injustice and cruelty?

How often do we store up more for ourselves, just in case, rather then sharing what we have?

In the midst of the lament of Habakkuk, the response of God is that one day, some time in the future, all this will change.

And it may not be soon,

so, wait.

Waiting can be hard. Waiting for a bus or train, waiting for an appointment, waiting in a queue for lunch. But imagine waiting much longer then that.

Advent is time when we prepare for the coming of the baby Jesus. We know the story, we know how it is going to end. The people of Israel had waited for long time for the one who would bring hope and peace and joy and love, the one who would come and bring about the kingdom of God.

But waiting doesn’t mean don’t do anything.

Waiting to start school, we get our uniform and school bag ready.

Waiting for a baby to be born, there are lots of things to get ready.

And during Advent, we wait, to celebrate the birth of Jesus, but we also work towards the coming kingdom.

God tells Habakkuk to write a sign, big enough to be read by someone running past. God reminds Habakkuk that it may be a while coming, but trust God for the future and it will happen.

Reminds me of the saying “Everything will be alright in the end, so if it is not alright it is not the end.”[i]

Habakkuk does more than waiting and trusting God. The book finishes with this wonderful song:

‘Fig trees may no longer bloom,

    or vineyards produce grapes;

olive trees may be fruitless,

    and harvest time a failure;

sheep pens may be empty,

    and cattle stalls vacant—

but I will still celebrate

because the Lord God

    saves me.

The Lord gives me strength.

He makes my feet as sure

    as those of a deer,

and he helps me stand

    on the mountains.’

Despite the doom and gloom,

      the violence in the world and in our hearts

      the pain of illness and bereavement

      the horror of child abuse

      the destruction of the environment

      the breakdown of relationships.

Despite what we see and hear, God is God.

I will still celebrate because the Lord God saves me.

As we walk towards Christmas,

may we not rush ahead

but wait for God

and in our waiting,

may we watch for glimpses of the kingdom of God,  

listen for the cries of the poor and the voice of God

may we tell of the coming one who is hope

and worship the God who came into our lives

        as a little baby

        who showed us how to live

        who died and rose

so, we might know salvation

and the value of waiting on God.

Despite what we see and hear, God is God.

This Advent may you wait and watch for God,

may your days be filled with hope

may you know the joy of salvation.

---

[i] ― Deborah Moggach, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/739398-everything-will-be-alright-in-the-end-so-if-it

Worship is Not Enough

Another prophet, another person speaking doom and gloom, with just a hint of hope.

One thing I notice with Jeremiah is that he isn’t telling people to go to worship. Jeremiah is saying: God doesn’t want you to worship in the temple, and then go and live for yourself.

I remember a song when I was a young adult. It was called ‘To obey is better than sacrifice’, by Keith Green. In it he writes:

I want more than Sunday and Wednesday nights

Cause if you can't come to Me every day

Then don't bother coming at all

What might it mean to come to God every day. To worship every day. It is important for our relationship with God through Jesus Christ to be nurtured, and as with all relationships that means regular time together.

I haven’t heard it for a while, but there is a saying that goes like this: “If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?”[i]

One thing I think we hear through Jeremiah, is that worship alone will not save us from God’s judgement.

What Jeremiah was talking about, and the other prophets is summed up by Micah:

 Micah 6:8 (CEV)

The Lord God has told us

what is right

    and what he demands:

“See that justice is done,

let mercy be your first concern,

    and humbly obey your God.”

See that justice is done,

let mercy be your first concern,

and humbly obey your God.

God does not accept our hymns and prayers on Sunday morning, if the rest of the week

we hurt God’s creation,

we hurt people with our words and actions,

if we allow injustice to continue.

It seems to me injustice is everywhere.

·         violence against women, often at the hands of a partner or ex-partner

·         children, women and men languishing on Nauru

·         low prices paid to our farmers for their produce

·         a housing market that is distorted meaning people can’t afford to live in their own home.

·         The gap in life expectancy for indigenous and non-indigenous Australians

·         Conflict in many parts of the world

·         An increasing gap between rich and poor in our society

Add to this climate change, environmental degradation and animal extinctions.

Jeremiah could be speaking to us.

I hear talk about the way the church is under threat. Under threat from secularism, and apathy.

But I wonder if we need to take a long hard look at ourselves.

All through the prophets we have been hearing of the importance of justice,

compassion;

caring for the poor, the widows and orphans.

Right back in Genesis, in the first story of creation, God declares the world good, and makes people in the image of God.

I hear talk that this Parish is under threat, from reduced numbers and reduced giving and ageing members.

We are not here to keep the Parish going, we are here to worship God with our whole lives.

to be bearers of Good News,

to be people who offer hope and healing,

to show the mercy to others that God shows to us

to love

to live in peace with God, ourselves and the whole creation

Throughout the centuries, people have found it easier to be people of faith by meeting together, to worship, to pray, to learn, to share faith and food and dreams.

Do we want this Parish to continue so we can meet on Sunday morning?

Or do we have something else that drives us to maintain our buildings and our time together?

This Parish has much to offer the community around us.

To start with we have good news of God’s love and grace.

The group of people who have been to Mission Shaped Ministry workshops this year are about to do some dreaming of possible ways of connecting with the community, in ways that speak of good news and hope and grace. and the church council is looking at possibilities for the future, in terms of financial viability, and leadership into the future.

Another thing I hear is that we are too old to do anything, to try anything, to change anything. Well Jeremiah thought he was too young, Abraham and Sarah thought they were too old, Moses wasn’t a good speaker, David was the youngest, Elizabeth and Zechariah were too old. Seems like God doesn’t care about our age, or our status. God does care about us, and the whole world. And God expects us to care about the whole world.

On Friday evening we looked at this passage and wondered what gift God gave to us - …[name] God knows you and has given you gifts to do important things.  

That is true for each one of us. God knows you and has given you gifts to do important things. 

Just as Jeremiah was called to speak God’s word, each of us is given gifts to do important things, amazing things. And each of us is called to be a person of hope and faith, a person who shows love to others, who is kind, who works for social justice.

Are we people of God,

who live out compassion for the poor,

who stand against injustice,

who speak hope and mercy into people’s lives?

or will God judge us, for being people who worship, but do not live out our faith?

---

[i] https://www.yourmodernfamily.com/if-you-were-arrested-for-being-a-christian-would-there-be-enough-evidence-to-convict-you/

Justice, Kindness and Humility

If you look in a Bible, most translations show the book of Micah written in verse. It is poetry.

Micah was a prophet in the time of the divided kingdom. Many prophets only spoke to either Israel or Judah, but Micah speaks to both nations. And his message, as with all the prophets is: God is judging you, and you are not living in ways that please God, watch out, because of your lack of faithfulness, something bad will happen. And like most prophets, Micah balances this message of judgement and consequences with a message of hope and God’s continuing faithfulness.

Micah spoke out about the injustice he saw. The book of Micah gives a message of judgement against the oppressors, who were the rich and powerful. He speaks of the punishment of God for both the Northern and Southern Kingdoms. Some thought Jerusalem would never fall, that the southern Kingdom would remain untouched by the turmoil that engulfed the Northern kingdom. The Northern Kingdom was invaded in 735 BCE and the people scattered in 721 BCE. Micah spoke of the judgement of God, even against the temple practices which had become self-serving. Micah also speaks of the salvation of a remnant of Israel.[i]

Micah was warning people of the consequences of their behaviour. When leaders do not live justly, or fairly. When some have more then enough, and others are starving.

In chapter 5, we hear of a new ruler who will come from Bethlehem, another country town of no importance, just like the one that Micah lived in. At that time the powerful and the religious leaders were based in Jerusalem, not some country outpost. A new ruler who will be the one of peace. For the people who first heard these words, Bethlehem was associated with David, the great King, the one who was King when Israel was undivided, when Israel was in its golden age. Bethlehem was also not part of the establishment in terms of the seat of power.  For the people who first heard this, both points would be important, the new ruler will come from the house of David, and the new ruler will not be part of the oppressive and corrupt regime that ruled from Jerusalem.

Then we get to chapter 6.

Sections of this book are written as a court case with God as the prosecutor and judge, with the creation as witnesses, against the people. God is challenging the way the leaders are treating the people. Here in chapter six, God is asking –
what have I done to you?
why do you treat me and my people like this?

and again, we hear of Gods activity in the history of the people, the foundational story of the exodus, and the saving action of God.

in verses 6-7, there is this cascading of sacrifices. will God be pleased with a burnt offering of a yearling? – this refers to the standard offering mentioned in Leviticus.

Or maybe to please God I need to be overly and impossibly extravagant – 1,000 rams?

10,000 rivers of oil?

my fist born?

One commentator suggests that this is sarcasm – God is having a go at people who are trying to outdo each other in their sacrifices. another suggests that God is pained by the excess. Either way, this is poetry and there is probably some poetic licence in here.  The people Micah was relating to, would also be aware of child sacrifice in nearby places – so these sacrifices or offerings to God may be outrageous, but not all are impossible.

But God isn’t interested in wealth, certainly not at the expense of the poor and the hungry, nor in child sacrifice.

Looking around the world today we can think of plenty of places where corruption flourishes, countries which require a payment or bribe to get approval for a project; countries where people are oppressed by a wealthy or powerful elite; places where life is cheap, expendable, where people are bought and sold in the open.

Micah wrote that the three things to please God are not sacrifices, but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.

What might that look like? It is such a simple sentence: do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.

But it is not always easy to do.

I wonder what Micah would make of our modern times.

Where some people accessing help from agencies like Foodbank, are employed, but in low paying jobs.

I wonder what Micah would make of the way our politicians speak to each other, or broadcasters, or commentators.

I wonder what Micah would say about children being hungry, people being homeless, young people not being able to find steady work.

I wonder what Micah would say about our economic system that means those with money, or health insurance, get quicker treatment; or a nation that worships sport and sunshine; or a nation that wants to win at all costs.

I wonder what Micah would make of our modern times.

And I wonder who the Micahs of our time are.

Maybe it is the young people in the USA protesting for stronger gun control, so that they can go to school without fearing another mass murder.

Maybe it the environmentalists showing the world the effect of changing climate, particularly on Pacific Island Nations.

Maybe it is groups like Love Makes a Way, protesting to get asylum seekers off Nauru and Manus Island, many who have been assessed as refugees.

Maybe it is the group, including the Uniting Church, taking drug law reform to the Politicians, encouraging more places for people to be able to be treated for their addiction.

Who are the Micahs of our day? - speaking about the consequences of greed and self-centredness and apathy.

[the Message Micah 6: 8]

 “But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do,
what God is looking for in men and women.
It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbour,
be compassionate and loyal in your love,
And don’t take yourself too seriously—
take God seriously."

---

[i] [i] Rev Dr Anna Grant-Henderson  http://otl.unitingchurch.org.au/index.php?page=micah-6-1-8

David and Nathan

A few points to remember as we consider the passage we heard read this morning:

·           it was usual during war time for the King to be with his troops, not comfortable at home.[i]

·           Bathsheba was considered property. Any crime was committed against her husband, the theft and misuse of his property, rather than a crime against Bathsheba.

The part of the reading that we skipped over this morning, is where David tries to cover his tracks by having Uriah come home from the battle, so that the child might be considered Uriah’s, but…

Uriah stayed outside,

“The sacred chest and the armies of Israel and Judah are camping out somewhere in the fields with our commander Joab and his officers and troops. Do you really think I would go home to eat and drink and sleep with my wife? I swear by your life that I would not!” [2 Samuel 11:11]

Uriah did what was expected while his comrades were at war, he slept outside. Note also that Uriah is named as a Hittite, not even a Jew, yet he is living within the norms of the community.

David tries to get Uriah drunk in the hope he will forget the protocol and go home to his wife. When that doesn’t work, David sends orders for the commander of the battle to put Uriah at the front of the battle, so he might be killed.

My guess is you are all familiar with the story, it is a blot on David’s story, one that until now was about David being anointed to be King, rather than his older brothers, because of his good heart; David killing Goliath – victory over immense odds due to trust in God; David becoming King after Saul’s downfall. Then this??

Bathsheba is doing what was required by the law, she has no say in what happens to her. If you are summoned by the King, you go; and who is going to believe you if you say the King raped you.

Last week I mentioned that the story of Rahab is in the book of Joshua and she later appears in the genealogy of Jesus. There are 4 OT women mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew chapter 1:  While Tamar, Rahab and Ruth are mentioned by name. this woman is called the wife of Uriah.

A few weeks ago we looked at the ten commandments, to me this story shows us again what happens when we move away from the covenant relationship we have with God. David saw the woman and wanted her and took her. She was considered property. Notice how she is referred to - Her name is Bathsheba. She is the daughter of Eliam, and she is the wife of Uriah the Hittite.

David coveted another man’s wife

David took another man’s life

David took another man’s wife

After the David and Bathsheba, and David and Uriah stories, we hear from Nathan, a prophet sent to David by God.

Nathan doesn’t go and tell David he has sinned

Nathan doesn’t go and yell and scream at David

Nathan calmly tells David a story - a parable

If he had confronted David about his behaviour, I suspect the response would have been very different. Often, we are moved by a story, or an experience, more than by the harsh reality of the effect of our behaviour. We all need Nathans in our life. We all need someone who will hold a mirror up to us and show us what we are really like, to call out our bad behaviour.

Who does God use to challenge you?

Who holds up a mirror to you?

We all need people like Nathan in our lives.

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has held up a mirror to the churches and other institutions with the care of children. Through the Royal Commission we have heard of horrific abuse of children, which has had long lasting consequences for the victims and their families. We have also seen and heard about the poor response of organisations. Churches where the perpetrators were moved to a different Parish or school, or children who were punished for speaking out about abuse rather than perpetrators being held to account.

The full effects of the Royal Commission are yet to be seen.

As a denomination the Uniting Church, along with other churches, continues to look at ways to encourage safe church practices. Some of that is training for lay people in leadership roles and people who work with children. Things like Safe Place training and the State Government required Working with Children Checks.

Ministers also complete Safe Church training and WWCC, but also twice-yearly Ethics conversations and regular professional supervision. We also work under a Code of Ethics[ii].

If you want to know more, I can show you the Code of Ethics for ministers.

There is also a code of conduct for lay leaders and members of the Church.

Yesterday I was at a workshop for people involved in the three Synod committees that hear complaints against Ministers – the processes deal complaints of sexual harassment and abuse; bullying and other behaviour unbecoming a Minister. Such behaviour is not ignored or accepted

Like David we need to recognise our sin, corporately and individually. Like David we need to say, and mean, “I have sinned against the Lord".

We need to acknowledge and confess our sin. God is always ready to forgive us, but we need to do the hard work of confession, of seeing ourselves as we really are. Seeing ourselves as broken people in a broken world. We need to do the hard work of accepting that some of our choices have negative consequences for other people.

Confession is not the end, confession is the beginning. Just as David could not undo murder, betrayal and sexual abuse; we cannot undo the consequences of sin. That is why I say confession is a beginning. It is not about us feeling better about ourselves, but recognising our weakness, and our involvement in inequality and abuse in the world. Confession signals a change in us, because in confession we not only acknowledge our wrongdoing, but we commit to live as new people, God's people.

With confession comes the awareness of the hurt we have caused others, it hopefully leads to greater awareness of our behaviour.

And to greater awareness of people’s pain –

-      the pain of abuse

-      of poverty

-      of oppression

-      of racism and sexism

-      the pain of exclusion

How do we live in ways that gives life and hope to all people?

How do we live as people of the living God, of the resurrected Jesus?

---

[i] http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=599

[ii] https://assembly.uca.org.au/images/stories/Regulations/2012/A5_-Code_of_Ethics-2010-UPDATED-and-_CORRECTED-2012.pdf

Who will you serve?

One commentator I listen to some weeks, commented that he doesn’t know anyone whose favourite book of the Bible is Joshua. After the people of Israel cross over the Jordan, there is much violence and savagery against the people of Canaan.

And then the book ends with the chapter we heard read this morning.

This is Joshua’s farewell speech, and he reminds the people of their history, and asks them where their future lies.

God is saying:

I brought Abraham across the Euphrates River

I blessed him by giving him Isaac

I gave Isaac two sons,

I sent Moses.

I brought your ancestors out of Egypt,

I brought you into the land east of the Jordan River

..

..

God has been active in the life of the people of Israel.

Where has God been active in your life?

What has God done for you?

How has God been faithful; to this parish and to each of you?

These questions are usually easier to answer looking back at our lives, then at the time things were happening.

In my life, when I doubted the presence of God in my life, when I wondered if God was cruel or just not interested in me, God used a woman named Beth to give me a different image of God. Turned out God was with me, and I was looking for God in all the wrong places.

The part of this reading that is best known is: ‘My family and I are going to worship and obey the LORD!’. You may know it better as: ‘as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.’

Joshua tells the people what God has done, but then offers the choice – worship God, or choose who or what you will worship. Even back that far in time there were plenty of options, the gods that Abraham worshipped before he met the Lord, or maybe the gods of the people of Canaan?

What of us now – who and what do we worship?

Last week we looked at the commandments as part of the covenant relationship between God and the people of Israel. Two of the commandments were that the people would have only one God, and they were not to have any idols.

Joshua is saying choose – choose the Lord or some other god. You can’t sit on the fence, you can’t have a few gods up your sleeve for an emergency. Which God will you worship.   

I wondered how the Lord might speak to us today. What might God say to us?

Move to a different spot

From your birth, I have loved you.

Throughout your life, I have been present with you.

I have brought you out of slavery,

slavery to guilt,

slavery to greed,

slavery to Pharaoh in whatever form that takes in your life.

I am the God who defeats sin in your life,

who overcomes your fear with love.

Move back

Who will you serve?

Will you serve the God of market forces?

Will you serve the God of astrology?

Will you serve the God of popularity?

Will you serve the God of shame? or

Will you serve the God who has loved you and offers you freedom and liberation?

if you respond as the people of Israel did to Joshua “we will serve the Lord for he is our God”

I bring you a challenge:

        this God is not one to be trifled with,

this God knows your heart,

this God expects all of your life, not just part of it.

So I ask you again:  who will you serve?

Are you sure you want answer as the Israelites did to Joshua: I will serve the Lord my God”

Are you willing to forsake all other gods,

are you willing to be laughed at,

are you willing to be considered out of step with the rest of society,

are you willing to stand up for that which is right

even when it is unpopular and dangerous?

For this Christian life is no easy path.

Unlike the people of Israel who were responding to Joshua, we have forgiveness through Jesus Christ, we do not fear that God will smite us.

But we are still asked to respond with every fibre of our being and every second of our life.

image: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10156836121356057&set=gm.1935921346445237&type=3&theater

So I ask you again: who will you serve?