Love, Pain and New Life
Sermon on Pentecost 16c, September 8, 2013. (Jeremiah 18:1-11 and Psalm 139)
Have you ever gone shopping for clothes with someone you love? What's that experience like? You know it's not really any different if it's your grown daughter or son, wife or husband or close friend. What do you do when they pick up something they really like and you realize not only that it doesn't look that good on them, but in fact it may even look really bad. Do you say nothing because you don't want to hurt their feelings? Do you actually trespass your better judgment and because of their excitement tell them something that isn't really true – that the dress, the shirt, the slacks look good on them? Or because you actually do care about them will you make yourself vulnerable and open up the possibility of hurt by telling them something like this –" perhaps there is something else that you would really like that might look better on you?" Make no mistake – they aren't dumb. They know you at least as well as you know them. Even though you are attempting to cushion the words, they will get the message. That particular thing which they really like doesn't really look very good on them.
Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg. When we actually care about someone else, we seek to act consistently in their best interests. All of this becomes more complex as we seek to follow Jesus. The risen Jesus through the Holy Spirit calls us to act in the best interests of all others including ourselves. Remember, God loves the world!
This becomes increasingly difficult as we seek to love those whom we know the very best. There are occasions when soft or loud "no's " are required. As we raise children there are times when they really want to do something Which could result in harm for themselves or others. Then we will be called upon to say, NO! They may not much like us then. But that's not what really matters, even though it will be painful. Because we love them, there will be times when we will need to speak a word they don't wish to hear.
The more deeply we come to know each other, the easier it is to hurt each other – sometimes even when we don't intend to: by a lack of a word or the tone of our voice, or by forgetting an important event or a promise. If you have lived very long and ever been in caring relationships you will know what I mean.
But what if the One who knows us so intimately, is God? God knows not just what we do or don't do, but all our thoughts, our words, internal and external, our feelings towards others and ourselves. What if this God also deeply cares about us, and so wills at times to redirect us, in order to protect us from ourselves? So it is that God gives us rules, guidelines – to put God first always, to take one day off each week to rest and to worship, not to do a hundred and one other things that we didn't get done the rest of the time because, well we are so busy? What if that One calls us to honor and love our parents even when that is so very hard? What if that one commands us not to kill, not merely literally but figuratively via disparaging words or gossip? What if that One realizes that when we keep wanting more and more we only become empty, less satisfied, less fulfilled? So, it is that God calls us to stop wanting more and more – and look for meaning and purpose with God and with others. Will we listen to such a One? Will we obey God – seeking to be closer? Or, will we rebel and turn our backs – thinking we know best and will do whatever we wan? After all, we live in a free world, don't we? But I ask, where has such freedom gotten us?
How amazing it is to reflect upon this reality – that the wondrous God, creator of the universe, dares to love us even though She/He knows us intimately, even so much better than we know ourselves. This God, out of love for us, dares to become human! Bask in this mystery. It is mind boggling – sometimes frightening. Yet, at the same time it is also comforting, even hope bringing. God refuses to give up on us, because God loves us.
We need to know. The reality of God's love does not give us licence to do whatever we want, taking God's love for granted, anymore than we have license in our marriages or friendships to betray those we deeply love, who trust us. Even more so, it is good for us to strive to honor God's will.
Dear people I encourage us to be still and know God. Know this One who knows us, who loves us so, who dies so that we can be reconciled to God and each other. God's love for us is steadfast. Rest in that – and then run with it, limp with it ,crawl with it. It is God's love and forgiveness, that is the hope of the world. It is God's love and forgiveness that is the source of hope of every parent, of every husband and wife, of every friend – and yes even of every enemy even, though they or we may not be consciously aware of this.
We are fearfully and wonderfully made by God. We have strengths and weaknesses, the capacity to care and hate. Oh God, help us to love and not hate, to forgive by refusing to hold on to wrong- to trust you and so be able to discern whom else we may trust. May God give us the courage to risk by taking part in God's grand mission of loving the world which always must start with loving those closest to us, those we know best, those who know us best, warts and all, with truth, compassion, mercy and justice, humility and grace. May God bless us all as God's children. May we not turn our backs on God. Instead may we daily turn to God, depending on God's love, for Christ's sake and the sake of the world. Amen.