Momentous, humbling decisions

18^th Sunday after Pentecost, October 16, 2011 (Exodus 33:12-23 with I Thessalonians 1:1-10 (bg)

At times we are faced with momentous decisions. They may begin when we are very young. Is this person trustworthy – could they be my friend? Is there enough time to cross the street safely? Or, shall I wait until there is more time? As we get older the decisions may have even greater impact on our lives and the lives of those we love. Shall I enter a trade or pursue post secondary education? Is this the person I shall live with/marry? Shall we seek to conceive children or not?

 

And then as we grow even older the decisions and questions we must answer continue: how shall I invest my earnings in order to have a retirement that is funded? What part of that is to be offered to charity, to God? What do I need? What is optional?

 

Of course there may be curves along the way. The loss of a job. The loss of a marriage. The contraction of a serious illness – cancer, heart disease, copd, multiple sclerosis. What then? How do you decide? Whom do you listen to? Whom do you trust? Where is God in all of that?

 

When I wrestle with such questions I often think of Abraham Lincoln who in the reality of the American Civil War is reported to have said, "I am often driven to my knees by the reality that there is no place else to go."

 

I think of momentous decisions often, because as a Pastor I get to listen into the wrestling of a number of people, as they must make decisions decide even when often there is no clear right or wrong, and certainly few if any guarantees of how the resulting action will turn out.

 

I particularly thought about these realities  in the last 2 months as a 34 year old friend awaited a much needed liver transplant. His family all volunteered to be tested to see if they could be viable candidates to donate to him part of their liver.

 

Moses in today's Old Testament reading is facing a momentous decision. It's one thing to be responsible for one's own life's decisions and the subsequent consequences. But it's an entirely overwhelming thing to be responsible for the lives and well being of many others – perhaps hundreds and even thousands of people.

 

Yahweh (God, the LORD) had freed the people of Israel from the oppression of slavery in Egypt. Yahweh had been leading them through the wilderness towards a land they had been promised. But the people were often filled with doubt, resentment, a yearning for what they thought were the good old days. They had complained bitterly about lack of food, water – about the unknown length of time for the journey and the uncertainty of the destination. Yet God had provided – manna, water – everything they had needed.

 

God had also been present to them, if even only at a visible distance. The was the cloud and the pillar of  fire. But all of that hadn't been enough for them. I wonder if God's provision is ever enough for us – or if we too doubt, complain, wander after other gods?

 

That's exactly what the people of Israel did. As Moses their leader had gone off on one of his relatively frequent forays to commune with God, to seek direction and guidance from Yahweh, the people yearned for something much more tangible to follow, go give their allegiance to, to cling to. They brought their gold, the very best of their possessions. Such offerings had been  fashioned into a golden calf. Then they threw a party, dancing around that lifeless image. Forgetting God who had brought them so far they gave their allegiance, their loyalty to a thing that was so far, so utterly different from God, that it is almost incomprehensible.

 

God is not pleased. God had promised to accompany the people directly. So, there had been the pillar of fire and the cloud. But now God tells Moses that an angel, a divine messenger, will be dispatched to go before them.  This is not convincing (a poor substitute?) for Moses. 

 

Now, we are privileged to listen into the intense intimate conversation that ensues between God and Moses. To be sure Moses is very thankful that God will not destroy the people, nor completely abandon them because of their serious transgression. But, Moses needs to know, wants to know in no uncertain terms, that God will personally accompany them –otherwise all will be lost. Without God, they will not be a chosen people, or even a peculiar people. So Moses, makes demands of God. Go with us! Show me your ways. Show me your glory!

 

 Amazingly God acquiesces - to some extent – BUT NOT COMPLETELY.

 

Moses doesn't realize what he is asking of God. If Moses were to actually see God's face, that is God's very essence, Moses couldn't handle it. NO HUMAN BEING COULD! And so God chooses to show Moses as much of God's glory as Moses can handle.  Moses is placed in the cleft of a rock where he can't see God directly. Only after God has completely passed by is Moses allowed to peer out from his cleft perspective and see what the Hebrew says beautifully, is the "backside" of God.

 

There is something profoundly amazing, wonderful, beautiful and mystical here. Despite the people's sin, in the midst of the consequences of their sin – GOD CHOOSES NOT TO ABANDON THE PEOPLE. God is merciful and gracious to those people, stubbornly keeping God's promises of giving them a land. Despite their sin, God still loves them. God no longer travels with them as directly as God once did. But God does not abandon God's care of them.

 

I wonder about this in the midst of our lives – of the global crises: economic, environmental;  of times when we have either lost our collective souls to consider and act on behalf of others and those who come after us in order to worship the gods of consumerism, apathy, anomie. What are the consequences of our living in these ways? Where is God?

 

Do we dare speak to God as frankly as Moses does? Do we have the courage, the faith to listen to how God responds?

 

The other profundity here has to do with faith. Faith is not knowing as in being able to prove to someone else who doesn't see or will not trust. Here, faith in God is about trusting enough to actually follow God's direction. For Christians this is about being guided somehow by the Spirit of God, a Spirit that cannot be nailed down, explained or even often understood. Yet, that Spirit blows into our lives. As we are directed and sometimes obey the guidance of this Spirit – sometimes even in retrospect we are allowed to see that it is indeed God who has been and is leading. In such moments we realize that God is gracious and merciful to us.

 

Part of human life is making momentous decisions. We must not run from them. We can use all the resources God places in our paths: science, the experience and wisdom of gifted people in any and all particular fields. But before and after any of that, may we like Moses consult God, realizing that God is THE ONE who loves us, makes us, and desires the best for the whole world. We see these qualities of God in the mercy and grace of Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

As we so listen may we then act boldly. By God's grace through our actions may some others see our labour of love, our work of faith and yes even our steadfastness of hope. How good and gracious it would be to reflect even the smallest smidgeon of the love of Christ Jesus our Lord!  Who knows – in such living, there may be healing for us and for others! Amen.

Prostrate But 20/20

Thanksgiving Sunday, October 9, 2011 (Luke 17:11-19 – Jesus on his way to Jerusalem) with II Corinthians 9:6-15 and Deuteronomy 8:7-18 in the b.g.

I tell you a story. Once there was an older woman. She was gracious, often smiling, chuckling and oh so giving. She was known in her community for taking children as young as 5 or 6 out for dinner around the special occasions of their lives, like a birthday for instance. She often invited people over to her home, not just her long time friends, but people she had just met. And even though she was in her early 80's while all this was going on, she attended the educational classes at her church. She liked to say that she was studying for finals, that one was never too old to keep on learning.

 

Her pastor eventually learned that this woman prayed each day for people listed on the prayer list of her congregation whether she knew them or not. And her home was beautiful but simple. She had great taste. Although she lived on (what many would consider) a very limited budget over the years she had acquired beautiful things, fashioned her own things, decorated in such a way that you as you entered her home you had both a sense of belonging combined with inspiration.

 

One of the many amazing things about this woman, was how quietly generous she was. She gave to many causes quietly without any fanfare. And she also gave to her church GENEROUSLY. It gave her joy to give of her time, her significant talents and her money. Those numbered as her "family" included not only her biological children, but many others adopted through her immeasurable love. Hers is an amazing story.

 

Very young and newly married this woman had been blessed with 2 children and a husband who loved her and them deeply. But far too soon her husband became ill and suddenly died. She was left with 2 children, no job and little money. She went out, became re-educated and worked, supporting both her children and as at times others. Her children were free to pursue or at least choose from many different possibilities in terms of education and careers.

 

Later when her own health deteriorated because of cancer she not only soldiered on, but even somehow lived life more fully. Then when her daughter was permanently injured, even comatose for a long period of time after being struck by a taxi late at night she didn't give up hope.

 

One Easter morning while the youth in her church were putting on an Easter fundraiser this woman had the audacity to speak honestly to one of her friends who was quite wealthy. He had been blessed with more money than she would ever see. She observed him drop a $10 bill in the plate for the breakfast he and his wife were about to enjoy. As only she could she took his hand, smiled and said quietly but certainly, without any malice, "You can do better than that." And you know what? That morning he did do better than that. 

 

I tell this story about this woman to have us reflect on our vision. How well do we see? How well do you see yourself, others and God? Do we see what is? Do we see what could be? Do we see what matters, the chasm between our need and our want? Is our eyesight 20/20 or something far less?

 

So I tell a second story. There were 10 men. They were desperate because of the maladies they suffered from. These illnesses were such that they were separated from society. In fact whenever anyone came near, by law they were compelled to shout out, 'UNCLEAN, UNCLEAN'. This also meant that they could no longer work or live with their families. These men and those suffering from similar maladies were a community unto themselves regardless of their former economic status or ethnic background.  But these men did know their situation. They needed help. They needed deliverance. They needed new life.

 

So it is that one day they approach Jesus of Nazareth. They cry out to him, "Master have mercy!" Who knows if they actually expected healing? Maybe  they only hoped for a financial donation like those outside BC place or Rogers arena on game days.  At least they knew they needed help – help that would have to come from beyond themselves. So it is that they boldly cry out to Jesus.  

 

At first  Jesus doesn't seem to respond. He definitely doesn't preach at them nor  demand that they profess a certain statement of faith. He doesn't even (at least according to the text) physically touch them. But, he does speak to them. "GO TO THE PRIESTS". It seems like a simple but cold imperative. Nevertheless, they obey. On their way they discover that their skin condition, that thing that had separated them from the majority of society has  been cured! Can you believe it? Now their possibilities are no longer closed but open! Back to life. Back to family.  Back to work. BACK HOME!

 

Nine of them continue on their way to the priests to make their cure official. After all it is the law. Supposedly all of these nine are Jewish people – people who once again would have full status in the society of their time. But one of them is a Samaritan man. He is the contemporary social equivalent of a street person, one whom most of us wouldn't invite over to our house for thanksgiving dinner or a sleep over. IT IS ONLY THIS ONE who doesn't continue on to the priests. Instead, he turns around. Then he heads back to Jesus throwing himself in gratitude at Jesus' feet, PRAISING HIM WITH A LOUD VOICE. This one is deeply thankful.  He sees where his thankfulness needs to be directed. Jesus is the one who brings new life for him!

 

With this one, this Samaritan at his feet, Jesus says to him, "Get up and go on your way, your faith has made you WELL!" Here the word for well in Greek is sozo – which can mean salvation, wholeness, deliverance from something for something.

 

What does Jesus mean in saying to this Samaritan, this former leper lying prostrate at his feet, "your faith has made you well"? Does Jesus mean, if we just believe enough we will be cured from whatever ails us – from economic disparity to broken relationships – to the demise of the earth, to terminal and terminating illnesses? There are some Christians that make such (literalistic decontextualized) claims. But I don't think those claims 'hold water' in this text at all!

 

Do you notice? It is only to this Samaritan man that Jesus says "your faith has made you well."? It is only this one who comes back to thank Jesus, who realizes that his new life flows from Jesus. But this new life changes everything!  The old life is over. New possibilities are dawning.  To be sure,  the other nine were cured. But were they MADE WELL?  They didn't even thank Jesus. They were busy hustling back to what had been.

 

But what will be? What could be? How is God blessing us, calling us? As these blessings occur are we thankful? Are we being made well/whole?

 

Dear people, we all need help to see. We need help to see firstly that we need help. We need  help to daily trust and receive the love and forgiveness God so richly offers. Then we need help to see others, to have the courage to enter into their lives. In their lives and ours we need help to then love them even as God loves us in Jesus Christ. I am not speaking here of those we think who are just like us or even just of those we are 'related to'. Rather I am speaking about genuinely caring about all we meet, all God places in our journey. We can't do this on our own! God knows we don't.

 

We also need help to see that we are RICHLY, RICHLY BLESSED.  We live in a country with running, clean, safe water. We live in a country where when one gets sick one can see a doctor in a short period of time and if need be, become hospitalized. Oh, I know there are waiting periods. Sometimes these are incredibly frustrating, even dangerous. But people, my grandfather died because he didn't have the money to be placed in a hospital. He was 44 years old with 5 children under the age of 12. He had a boil removed, was sent home and died. That was Canada in 1934.

 

Don't forget. We are RICHLY BLESSED: to be unconditionally loved by God in Jesus Christ. We gather under the sign of the cross that has been etched not only into our foreheads I pray – but into our hearts where we are joined first with our Lord who enters into all suffering, but then also joined with all others who suffer. We are being loved and forgiven each day (that's you and that's me)  not because we are good. Oh, NO, NO , NO – see clearly. But rather because God in Christ is gracious.

 

What are we doing with all of our rich blessings? What are our opportunities to actually give thanks? What might we do?

 

 Maybe we can start to answer those questions by joining the leper and the lady I first told you about by going as quickly as we can to Jesus' feet to thank him. Somehow 'down' there – our vision becomes clearest. We see the grace of God, ourselves and others honestly.

 

Could we, will we pray? Your kingdom come, here,  now and forever,  by your grace even in and among us. THANK YOU. THANK YOU LORD! Amen.

 

Loved Enough To Be Told

Pentecost 16a, October 2, 2011 (Exodus 20:1-20 with Philippians 3:4b-14 in the bg.)

 

How many of you like being told what to do? (discuss briefly) Does it depend on whom is giving the order/command? If the source of the command is my children I'm not usually so happy in complying. But occasionally if I am really up against it and need help – if it's a computer question, a technology question – I'm open to their direction, as sort of information. But if it's just a command or an order that they are giving me, "Do this!", or "Don't do that!" well, usually I am not so compliant. Sometimes I do what I want to do WHEN I want to do it. Can you identify? But does such self(ish) action ever get us into huge trouble - what my grandmother used to call deep doo doo?

 

When our oldest daughter Chelsa was a toddler, just beginning to walk and run we developed a few rules or commandments. The first was this: she must never cross the street without first asking permission from one of her parents or her babysitter. Let me tell you, the cars raced up and down that street.

 

We issued this command for two reasons. Firstly, we loved and love Chelsa: with all of our hearts, minds and strength – just as those of you who have children or grandchildren love them with all that you are. Secondly, we gave this command to Chelsa because we know Chelsa. She loves puppies. She was and is a curious person.  So if our tiny two or three year old saw a puppy across the street – or a floating balloon or almost anything that caught her fancy, she would lurch into high gear crossing the street to investigate, to touch, to see, to pet to sniff. Never mind that cars could be screaming by! Chelsa at that point was purely absorbed in whatever had caught her fancy. Everything else was adiaphora.

           

So we gave her the command. We sat her down. We held her hand. We looked deeply into her eyes. We told her how much we loved her. "BEFORE YOU EVER CROSS THE STREET HONEY, YOU MUST COME AND ASK MOMMY OR DADDY IF IT'S OK! Do you understand? She vigorously nodded her head adding words, "Yes mommy. Yes daddy."

 

But do you think, giving Chelsa the command, even from all the love that we have for her, ensured that she would keep, that she could keep that command? What might happen if three amazing dogs came by, or if a horse stopped in the neighbor's yard across the street? God forbid that one of those musical ice cream trucks pulled up across the street.   

 

How about us? How are we dealing with commands, particularly those that come to us from God, WHO LOVES US SO MUCH?

 

Some people try to keep them. Some people think that they do keep them. The rationalizations may proceed: I haven't killed anybody. I haven't stolen anything from anyone (at least anything that matters). I go to church, well, sometimes. I am at least as "GOOD" as the next person.

 

Chelsa could have said, if she had the capacity to rationalize as an adult when she was three, "You know Dad, I only occasionally cross the road. Just about all of the time I don't cross the road. Sometimes I even ask permission before I cross the road." Nevertheless the consequence of "crossing the road" even one time without asking permission (checking for safety) could have meant the loss of her life.

 

Did you hear the preface to the Ten commandments of our first lesson? God is speaking to a people God deeply loves. God has recently delivered these people from Egyptian slavery and oppression. Before God gives them any commandments, any directions for living together, God has already actively loved them by giving them new life. It is from this life-giving love that God gives them commandments, so that they may have life, so that they do not unnecessarily harm themselves or others. They are God's children! That is their identity. Their identity is a gift which cannot be discovered by looking at their own effort or achievement.

 

So, God speaks to them: "I am the Lord your God, who brought out of the land of Egypt." Is it possible that God is speaking to you, to me? "I am God, your Lord, who gives you life and the capacity for freedom. I give you freedom in terms of relationship with me and endless possibilities in terms of relationships with others... This is good news, wonderful news. This is what theologians call GRACE!

 

But such freedom gifted from God to us is not license. Such freedom is not privilege without responsibility. Such freedom is lived in the realities that we are not God. Let me say that again. Such freedom is born to our reality that we are not God. God alone is God!  

 

Our most pressing problem is that too often we try to live as if we are God. Then we do what we want when we want. The result is often pain and hurt for others and ourselves. We consume the earth as if it were ours, without any regard for God or others. We eat and drink too much or too little. We speak angrily disregarding God and others. Our words, seemingly so little, cut to the core damaging others and our relationship with them. Then we may take others for granted, even those who love us. Sometimes we hurt ourselves and others by thinking or acting as if everything depended upon us. Then we refuse to rest disregarding God's command.  

 

Like little Chelsa years ago, having the command, even though it's offered in great love, doesn't enable us to keep it. When we don't keep God's commands, there are consequences. Sometimes the consequences are grave. . .

 

But even then God continues to work for new life for us and others.

 

Today Kaelyn is baptized. Baptism is all encompassing and risky. Whether we realize it or not baptism is something God does in and through us.  In Baptism we are washed, even drowned to old realities. In Baptism we are reborn children of God. That's right, I said, CHILDREN OF GOD.

 

Who am I? Who are you? Long before I was a pastor, a father, or even a friend, I was a child of God. God is my Father and Mother. And God in Christ links me to this world God so deeply loves. God seeks to direct all of us away from death and self-centeredness to new ways. Such ways lead to life for us and others. These ways actively resist anything or anyone that isn't God, that seeks to be God for us.  

 

There are so many things that vying to be God for us, to have that most important position in our lives. Such things may even ordinarily be beneficial, but when elevated to #1 status in our lives actually suck life from us and others. They can be anything: from our work, to our families, to possessions, to achievements, to how others think about us. None of these things are God. But if we allow them to become our gods we will be hurt, disappointed, harming others.  

 

So, be careful. Remember this. You are not God. I am not God! But God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ loves us, with a love that is deep, bold and abiding. Because God both cares for us so deeply and knows us, observes and experiences our inability to keep that good and perfect law, God chooses to become human. In Jesus, God's Son, hope dawns. To be sure, we are to work at keeping the commandments. But like my beloved Chelsa we don't always manage this. Even then, often God delivers us from ultimate catastrophe so that there can be new life, forgiveness, opportunities to experience new life again, here, now and ultimately forever.

 

Listen for God speaking to you today, directing, even commanding.  There are other forces seeking to direct, to control us, forces far stronger than our own will.

 

May our eyes, ears, minds and hearts be opened. By God's grace may we be open to God shaping our minds, and wills so that we will not resent God's good and gracious commands. After all by God's grace we along with Kaelyn are children of God, being loved and forgiven! And we all CALLED to be part of God's unfolding effort in Jesus to embrace and care for one another and this universe.   Will we pray?

 

Lord help us to be receptive to your commands. When we fail, forgive us. By your grace give us, even now, a new opportunity to respond to your goodness - for Christ's sake, Amen.