In The Midst of our Insanity

Epiphany 2a, January 16, 2011. Text – John 1:29-42; Other – Isaiah 49:1-7

Sometimes life is absolutely crazy.

 

A young police officer doing his job – is trying to prevent a stolen snow plow from wreaking havoc on a city street, from doing any more damage, from hurting or killing anyone else. He thinks that  he has the situation under control – but suddenly the situation flip flops and he is killed. He is only 35 years old. He leaves a wife and 2 year old son in the wake of his death.

 

A 9 year old girl asks her family to accompany her to see her elected state official speak on a bright Saturday morning. This girl has a view of the world that not many 9 year olds, to say not many adults have. She is already a part of her elementary school council. She is keenly interested in what is going on in the world, what is right and fair. So, off she  goes at 9 years of age to hear her elected official speak – to meet her, maybe to ask some questions – to in a sense see democracy in action. While she is there someone who is being overcome by the violence and hatred in his heart begins shooting others indiscriminately.  And this little 9 year old girl, Christina, is killed.

 

Sometimes life is absolutely crazy. And people, sometimes we ourselves, wonder in the midst of the insanity, the chaos, the violence, at times the apparent randomness of it all,  where is God?

 

It's always a good question! Where is God, now?

 

Well, you have come to worship, to a church building, to be a part of a small Christian community. We gather around the Word, sometimes seeking to hear that Word speak to us through words. In itself that is a bold act of faith. This morning we hear John. John at times seems to me a bit dazed, the English might say daft. In Matthew, Mark and Luke he dresses strangely while screaming a message, "Repent and be baptized!" But here, in the Gospel of John, John the Baptizer appears somewhat differently.   Here he points to Jesus in a specific way.  John says as he sees Jesus, "Here is the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." Can such a message have anything to offer us in the midst of the craziness of our world? I wonder.

 

If I say "lamb" what do you think of? Lamb chops? A stuffed toy? Like a lamb led to the slaughter? Maybe if you are familiar with some of the theologies of the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, you may think of the Passover Lamb whose blood smeared on the doorposts in some sense freed the Israelites both from a literal death and from the death of slavery. You might even think of the Agnus Dei we sing during Communion (which comes out of this text).

 

But I think the writer of John's Gospel meant more than any of that! Who knows, perhaps John the Baptizer did too! You see people in Jesus' time spent some time gazing at stars. And one of the chief constellations that they saw was a constellation named Aries – which translated means lamb. So when John sees Jesus and says "Here is the lamb of God" – well it would be his way of saying, "Here is someone really important! Pay attention!"

 

But what about the second part of John's acclamation? He says that Jesus is the Lamb of God, but  he doesn't stop there. Jesus is the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.

 

Sometimes I think that  we have a really weak understanding of sin. I also need to tell you that there are many different understandings of sin, in the Bible itself and in and among the Gospel writers. But today we are listening to John's Gospel. For John Jesus comes so that people may trust God and him, and in that trust experience new life, a quality of life with God and then with others that is meant to begin now and will go on forever! This is Jesus' mission according to the Gospel of  John.

 

So when  John the Baptizer says, "behold the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world", he is saying a lot! I mean, can we, do we trust anyone? In the craziness of this world, can there be any hope that is real, that is not just pie in the sky or so much fluff?  You know our culture tries to convince us that the very meaning of life is in procuring things – having lots and lotsa stuff,  things or money,  possessions or investments. But let me tell you – although we need some of that stuff, we do pray for daily bread because Jesus us acknowledges our need for such, all that stuff in and of itself is not to be the purpose of our life!

 

The very purpose of our life according to John's Gospel and in varying shades the other gospels – is to experience the love of God, to live from and in that love now and forever. This love comes to us from God through Jesus, spreading out from his cross and resurrection to the world.

 

But do we trust God? Do we see Jesus in any manner shape or form in the daily living of our lives?

 

Two of John's disciples decide to walk behind Jesus. He asks them, "What are you looking for?",
and they respond by asking him, "Where are you staying?" They aren't asking him if he lives in Richmond or Vancouver or Surrey? No, they are asking him, where is he abiding, what is he truly about? Did you notice his response to this question? He invites them to "Come and see!" He wants them to come and spend time with him – time where they can watch, time where they can speak, time where they can be together.

 

I wonder, what you are looking for? In the midst of the many realities of your living, what are you truly looking for? How about  your friends and other family members? Our privilege, our responsibility as ones who are washed in the baptismal waters, who would like to claim the name Christian even as we are claimed by him, is to daily come and see Jesus. Listen for him. Watch for him. See His Spirit move in our lives and the lives of others. As we do so, may we not hesitate to invite others to also with us, "come and see". Many do not know him. Many do not know that there is a God who is not absent but present, who is not vengeful or hateful but loving, who wills to move us through despair to trust, beyond hatred and violence to compassion and sacrifice for others,  who will never let us go. Ah yes, Jesus commands us with such an inviting tone, "Come and see!" Bring others too!

At times life is crazy... But, especially in that craziness we are not alone! Amen.

No God In A Box!

The Day of Epiphany, January 9, 2011.  (Matthew 2:1-12 with Ephesians 3:1-12 in the b.g)

Where do you expect to see or experience God's action? And with whom, or among whom do you expect to see or experience God's action?

 

I tell you a story. The happenings about to be described occurred at a 10 year high school reunion. Quite a few people attended that event. That particular graduating class had numbered about 140 people – over half of them came back. Most of them brought along with them partners, spouses, dates. Very few of them attended alone. One of the few who came back alone was a young pastor. As the night progressed he felt even more alone.  It seemed like everyone else was paired up. Have you ever felt like a fifth wheel? Although many of the people were friendly and although it was great to have many more mature conversations than he had remembered  in high school, he still felt pretty much  alone. Such feelings were not new. In all honesty he often felt alone in his congregation. He was young, single, living in a tiny rural community, where most people got married when they were very young. The people in the congregation were exceedingly good to him, but on Friday nights, at wedding dances, on any holidays he felt pretty much alone. Now, of course on the outside, he was smiling. He looked good. He was well respected, even popular.

 

As the music at the high shool reunion started in earnest, people paired up and began to dance. He decided that he would quietly head out. As he neared the door, he felt a tug on his elbow. He turned around to see Ed. Ed was tall, towering over him and smiling. Ed motioned towards the door. Apparently Ed wanted to talk to him before he headed off. Now Ed and this young pastor had really never been friends in high school. They were acquaintances. He had heard that Ed had gotten into law school. He had heard that Ed had married a "nice" girl from another school whom he had also known. But he couldn't imagine why Ed would want to talk to him. And yet he also wanted to be polite. So outside the two of them went. At least outside  was closer to his car, closer to getting away from  all "this".

 

Ed began, "I don't want you to think I'm crazy. You know, in high school I had nothing to do with religion or God." The young pastor nodded, not sure where any of this was going. He just wanted to get out of there. Now Ed was looking at him rather intently. "You knew I got into Law School?" There was an affirming nod. "Well, when I got into Law School we already had 2 little kids. So it was really important that I do well. And I was doing well. But then I met some people. And they had a plan whereby I could make a fair bit of money fairly quickly. We needed the money. It was a pyramid scheme. But I figured – who would ever know? So I did it.

 

But then- I got caught. I was put in jail. I was kicked out of Law School. It was bad, particularly for my wife and kids. But while I was in jail, these people came to visit me. They heard my story. They went to visit my wife and kids. They helped out with food, even with rent. I couldn't figure out why they were doing any of this, why they cared about me or my family. When I asked them, they told me in a very simple but weird way, that they did this because Jesus loves me and cares about me.  And you know, as crazy as it sounds, after a while I came to believe them. So, that's why I am talking to you tonight, because now I try to listen to whatever God may be saying to me and to respond in positive ways to that. And tonight – well somehow God told me that you are lonely and that I should talk to you – that I should tell you, don't be embarrassed by your loneliness, but let the people in your church know. Some of them can help you. That's it - thanks for listening to me". And with that Ed left the young pastor standing there, quite speechless, in fact overwhelmed.  (Pause)

 

So, I ask again, "Where do you expect God to reveal God's self to you? Through whom and when might that happen?"

 

Today's Gospel shows  that God can reveal God's self to anyone, at anytime. The so-called wise men were either astrologers or dream interpreters. They were not Jews. They would not have worshipped God as we understand God. If the Gospel account were being told today the magi would be palm readers or tarot card readers. Remember also, the magi were foreigners, coming to Jerusalem. Most foreigners are not easily trusted. But these magi  were seekers. They were people who looked beyond themselves towards a greater being. And when they received messages of some sort, they would respond. So it is by God's grace that they come to the baby Jesus. Did you hear what they do when they actually arrive where that baby is? They bow down in that babe's presence. They worship – and give thanks by giving of what they have.

 

Are we open to God revealing God's self, God's direction or dream for us through others?

 

We need to know that God doesn't always fit into our neat expectations or to categories or even to working through people or situations that we might expect. God's work is not limited to the walls of this building or of any church or even of the various Christian communities!

 

We also need to know that the incredible love and forgiveness of God which flows through God's own Son, Jesus the Christ, is often met by great resistance, sometimes even among Jesus' followers. Doesn't it seem to be so much easier to hold onto a grudge than to look at ourselves, our part in any unfolding of events? At times doesn't it seem to be easier to hate, to judge or to blame another or others,  than to seek to care, to love to attempt to understand? Such hatred, such seeking vengeance even under the guise of justice, such blaming is often the way of our world, or our culture, what post modern theologians often call empire. We can so easily embrace any or all of that or be caught up in its clutches. God knows Herod wanted to keep the status quo, particularly his own place in it. And look what Herod does. He murders babies and  very young children.

 

But such resistance, such hatred, such fear and vengeance seeking  is not the way of following Jesus!  We need to struggle against the resistance to the revelation of God in Jesus firstly within ourselves. And then by God's grace we need to exemplify in loving, strong but non violent ways against such resistance in our culture and world.

 

2011 has begun. God continues to work at loving the world, particularly through the reality of His Son Jesus the Christ and in the lives of those who would seek to follow Him. The light of Jesus Christ shines in the darkness. And ultimately the darkness cannot and will not overcome it. By God's grace may we be open to this light of Jesus, wherever and through whomever it shines. In what we say and do, in what we think and aspire to, by God's grace we can be reflectors of the light of Christ. May we be open to His light wherever He chooses to let it shine and may we so reflect it.   Though this rarely is easy, this can be very good. God help us, for Christ's sake, Amen.  

Christmas Wailing - Beyond the Manger

Christmas 1a, December 26, 2010 Matthew 2:13-23 with Hebrews 2:10-18 in b.g.

How has your Christmas been? (OK, wonderful, difficult)

 

Carolyn asked me that question this morning. For me Christmas is always a mixed bag always. The excitement among worship participants is unparalleled  on Christmas Eve.  The building is packed and this Pastor's heart is warmed. There is no joy for me like having our kids home, in church and now bringing their significant others under our roof to remember Jesus' birth, to share gifts that are small tokens of His love. It is good.

 

I know that for many of you the celebration of Christmas has been good – because I have eaten at your table, or heard your relief at events in your life. But for me part of Christmas also means that people come into the church who are hungry or very lonely. Each Christmas I also continue to walk through  hospitals with people laying on gurneys in hallways. There I hear both inward and outward cries.  

 

Yesterday it was refreshing as we drove to some friends  for Christmas dinner to hear a radio station proclaim that there will be no bad news bulletins today – just a wish for peace during these holidays. I felt relief for a moment and a sense of quietness.

 

But such a "news" flash is an interlude. Today we arrive to worship only to and hear of King Herod killing innocent children. Herod is desperate to maintain his grasp on power. To do that he feels that he must maintain the status quo at any and all costs.  He stops at nothing to maintain "power" having already murdered his own son in the fear that his son might have replaced him. Herod is obsessed with the exercise of such power. To be sure, even during his murderous rant, the baby Jesus is delivered.  But many others according to Matthew, many wee children, 2 years old and younger are killed.  And the voices of mothers, the inconsolable voices of parents whose babies have been killed,  wail across the universe. Can you hear them? Their crying rises up, unabated. 

 

I remember my own  Aunt Phyllis. We gathered at my parent's house the day of her son, Tom's funeral. Tom was 21 years old. He had died of an overdose of heroin in a Calgary hotel room. I will never forget that day. Nor can I forget my aunt's ongoing pain.  Until the time of her death she missed him. Until her last breath  she wondered, what could she have done differently to help him, to move him in a different path, with different friends, different choices. How she sobbed that funeral day!  My friend, serving as her pastor for that day,  told her that when your child dies, something within you dies and it doesn't come back.

 

I am thrust back there when I hear Matthew saying that Rachel's voice is crying in Ramah as her children, the babies of Israel are killed.

 

I remember my first funeral in our second parish. You know I always try to visit everybody in the first year I am in a new congregation. It takes a lot of time, but it's worth it. I try to make all these visits for two primary reasons. One is relatively selfless – I want to get to know people, at least a bit. I want to hear their stories so that I can actually be their pastor, one who cares about and for them. And I hope that in that process they can get to know me just a bit. Hopefully then they can see as a person, yes a person of faith, but a person like them, with flesh and blood, hopes and dreams, joy and disappointment, not above or below them, but with them.  The second reason for making all these first year visits is much less selfless.  It is my hope that I will have had an opportunity to be in their home before some tragedy or great loss besets them. I don't want the first time that I meet them to be when one whom they love has just died or been killed, or when their marriage is ending, or when they have received a pink slip. It's hard enough to trust anyone at such times, save someone they don't know.

 

But sometimes I don't get around to making all those visits in time. So it was then. Three months into that congregation our phone rang. One of our older members was on the line. She was sobbing. Her great granddaughter , born only 3 months before had just died – a crib death. "Pastor, will you go and visit my granddaughter? She doesn't come to church, but she needs God, she needs her pastor, now!" There was no question. Off I went to be  with that young couple, as they wept, their new baby no longer alive.

 

They aren't alone. Many of us have stories of great loss. Even now they may move us to deep pain.  And parents, particularly mothers around  the world, wrestle today as their children are ill, starving, or are afflicted with some disease that may or may not have been preventable.

 

To all of that, to all of us, this Christmas comes Christ. We remember in these days as a babe himself. According to Matthew God protects him, delivers him from the wrath of a despot who will gladly kill others to maintain his position.

 

 As a child and as an adult I have often wondered why God can't or won't spare these children, then and now.  There is a massive mystery to suffering and death. To be sure, some of it is brought upon ourselves by our greed, our apathy, our stubbornness to do things our own way. There are systems involved, earthly and heavenly, that transcend our comprehension. But having said all of that – much of personal suffering just is – it comes like death, sometimes as a thief in the night – to children who sometimes find their ways to children's hospitals – to children and infants sometimes still in the wombs of their mothers, nevertheless afflicted with deadly viruses and diseases.  Then the cry goes up from their mothers and fathers, from grandparents and all who love them. .. AND WHERE IS GOD?

 

To this question comes a baby, this God in the flesh, the one the Gospel writer calls, "God with us". Sometimes we are convinced and actually sense God's presence. But sometimes we cannot feel at all. The horror of the pain has washed away feeling.  Is God with us then?

 

Then we must not only look to the wood of the manger that holds this baby. Then we must not only look to the Word become flesh, that we often think about as Bible. But then, as Luther said, we must realize that the wood of the manger leads to the wood of the cross. And there we see, in the midst of untold suffering and pain, that GOD IS WITH US. This one who take on our flesh does not abandon us in our suffering. This doesn't make our suffering easy.  But our loving with such pain can also bear hope.

The cry continues to go up. This is not only the cry only of parents – but it is also the cry of God who is our Parent, our Father and our Mother. Someday God promises that the crying will cease. Then there will be a feast to which all are invited. There will be new life!

 

So, this baby is born beginning his journey to a cross. He too utters a cry but this cry wills to lead us into the depths and through our cries, through all the cries and pain of the world to new life. May we bear his creative and redeeming word within us and through us! Amen.