Healing Hearts

Pentecost 4c (Father's Day), June 16, 2013

Luke 7:36-8:3 with I Kings 121:1-21a in the bg

Have you ever wondered how some people can actually forgive?

 

For example, do you remember the shooting in 2006 when a man went into an Amish school and began shooting children? To refresh our memories: on October 2, 2006, a shooting occurred at the West Nickel Mines School, an Amish one-room schoolhouse in the Old Order Amish community of Nickel Mines, a village in Bart Township of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.^[1][2][3] Gunman Charles Carl Roberts IV took hostages and shot ten girls (aged 6–13), killing five, before committing suicide in the schoolhouse.^[1][2][3][4] 

 

I wonder what my or our response might have been under similar circumstances? On the very day of the shooting, a grandfather of one of the murdered Amish girls was heard warning some young relatives not to hate the killer, saying, "We must not think evil of this man."^[15] Another Amish father noted, "He had a mother and a wife and a soul and now he's standing before a just God."^[16] Jack Meyer, a member of the Brethren com- munity living near the Amish in Lancaster County, explained: "I don't think there's anybody here that wants to do anything but forgive and not only reach out to those who have suffered a loss in that way but to reach out to the family of the man who committed these acts."^[15]

 

What do we think of these reactions: naive, foolish, out of touch with reality? Listen to some more of what these Amish people undertook.

 

A Roberts family spokesman said an Amish neighbor comforted the Roberts family hours after the shooting and extended forgiveness to them.^[17] Amish community members visited and comforted Roberts' widow, parents, and parents-in-law. One Amish man held Roberts' sobbing father in his arms, reportedly for as long as an hour, to comfort him.^[18]The Amish have also set up a charitable fund for the family of the shooter.^[19] About 30 members of the Amish community attended Roberts' funeral,^[18] and Marie Roberts, the widow of the killer, was one of the few outsiders invited to the funeral of one of the victims.^[20]

 

Marie Roberts wrote an open letter to her Amish neighbors thanking them for their forgiveness, grace, and mercy. She wrote, "Your love for our family has helped to provide the healing we so desperately need. Gifts you've given have touched our hearts in a way no words can describe. Your compassion has reached beyond our family, beyond our community, and is changing our world, and for this we sincerely thank you."^[20] 

 

Some commentators criticized the quick and complete forgiveness with which the Amish responded, arguing that forgiveness is inappropriate when no remorse has been expressed, and that such an attitude runs the risk of denying the existence of evil,^[22][23][24] while others were supportive.^[25][26] Donald Kraybill and two other scholars of Amish life noted that "letting go of grudges" is a deeply rooted value in Amish culture, which remembers forgiving martyrs including Jesus himself. They explained that the Amish willingness to forgo vengeance does not undo the tragedy or pardon the wrong, but rather constitutes a first step toward a future that is more hopeful.^[27][28]

 

Think about that: a future that is more hopeful – don't we all need that?

 

I raise this account of life and these questions because of the gospel lesson today, because of the very gospel itself. We probably  feel a long way removed from a Pharisee's house and even a seemingly "sinful" woman who dares to weep openly as she approaches Jesus and then anoints his feet with expensive oil and wipes them with her hair. What could ever move a woman to do such a thing? How can we possibly identify with her?

 

Yet in the light of the shooting of the Pennsylvania Amish children – a reality which can feel closer to us, because there are shootings near us, and tragedies have occurred to children around us.  We too have a love for children, particularly "our" children and grand children. If anything even remotely like this were to happen to us, how might we react?

 

These particular Amish people have a very real sense of the forgiveness and love of God in Jesus Christ as a daily part of their lives. For them, such love and forgiveness isn't just a discussion item, nor a philosophy to be pondered, nor merely a word mentioned in worship. Forgiveness is the very essence of their lives. They know they are being forgiven, that they are loved and accepted by God as they are. They also experience being changed, even transformed by God daily in the way they relate to each other and creation. They wish this, and pray this for all people.

 

Out of this radical sense of gratitude, of daily being forgiven themselves – they seek to forgive others – not by denying the reality of evil within and without but by facing it, walking into it, by seeking to follow Jesus who also walks into it. As such they do not stand in condemning judgment of others. Instead they look first to God and then also to themselves with honesty and humility. As a result they are moved to love and generosity, at times even to selflessness and hope. A mere 6 months after the tragic killings of their children these people erected  a new schoolhouse. They call it HOPE Schoolhouse!

 

How about us? Can we be like the sinful woman who in approaching Jesus is moved to tears of gratitude and actions of love, not caring what others think? In the long run what others may think, others who at times like us are filled with a sense of counting but little honesty regarding their own sin and a limited perspective of the radical love of God, must not limit or control our actions. Might we be like these Amish people who even in the midst of incomprehensible tragedy and pain still choose to reach out to those who are related to the one who has hurt them? They reach out with a love so deep that it changes and has the power to bring healing.  Can we so live, love and forgive?

 

Certainly not on our own nor by our own power – never! Left to our own devices we are more likely to hate, to bear grudges, to demand vengeance.

 

But with and through God's love – anything is possible!

 

We believe oh God, forgive and help our unbelief!

 

Looking to the cross of Christ may we see and experience healing for our minds, bodies and spirit and for the world! In Christ's action is hope, hope for us and hope for the world, a hope that does not disappoint but instead a hope which often bears new life. May it be so with us, in us and through us, for Christ's sake.  Amen.

 

 

Healing Touch

Pentecost 2c, June 2, 2013 (I Kings 18:20-37; Galatians 1:1-12; Luke 7:-10)

Elijah is my favorite Old Testament prophets. Now I need to say something about prophet before I say why he is my favorite. Prophet – prophet not profit – is not someone who so much predicts the future but rather someone God calls and commissions who is then enabled to speak a word of God into that present situation. Not many people, if any wanted to be prophets. Prophets weren't usually well received by their own people.

 

Nevertheless Elijah carries out his calling well. As we meet him today Elijah is in the face of the people, because he cares about them. Not only that but Elijah battles his own fears and doubts – sometimes even running for his life. Nevertheless he remains in the people's faces speaking the word of God to them in their time and place.  

 

Today we hear him saying to the people of Israel, "How long are you going to attempt to limp along trying to follow two gods?" It's a good question. It's also a relevant question even though at first glance we may not think so.

           

he people of Israel were torn. They sometimes didn't like to make difficult decisions. So, at times they followed the path of least resistance. Baal was the god of thunder and lighting. If you have ever been out in a thunder storm – you can understand how powerful thunder and lightning can be. Baal was a very popular god of the time – for many of the people who lived in the surrounding area of the Israelites. Could it hurt if they "paid" that god some allegiance? After all they still observed the Sabbath, the dietary food laws. What could it matter if they threw Baal something his way? It might even help. You never know....

 

But Elijah refuses to back down.. Whom we give our allegiance to  does matter! Whenever anyone or a group  attempts to worship two gods, when you give your loyalty and allegiance to one or something that is not god – there will be negative repercussions. The rest of this story is quite interesting, in many ways disturbing but ultimately pointing to this profound truth: there is only one God, the Creator of heaven and earth. Later as Christians we see the extrapolation of this truth: this One God is the One who becomes human in Jesus and then sends his/her very Spirit to inhabit us, to move us – to direct us for the well being of others and the earth.

 

Do we believe this? Do we live this way?

 

Of course, we may not be tempted to worship a thunder and lightning god! But do we ever think, do we ever act as if our well being and the well being of those we love the very most depends only or primarily upon us? Do we sometimes work frenetically and frantically in attempts to get ahead while neglecting God, neglecting even a regular time to worship, to give thanks, even to joyfully share with others the goodness of God? Or, are we sometimes so concerned with what others may think of us, that we betray our own fundamental convictions?

 

What happens then? Might our families be hurt? Are our neighbors neglected, forgotten, because we give our primary loyalty or allegiance to someone or something other than God? Does the earth suffer when the Gross National Product or our income is the most important thing to us? Are the people whose homes are  below current sea levels being hurt? Are people in third world countries damaged when to us only the best and the brightest (as computed by our "standards")  matter – and our number one priority is ourselves? Are we then worshiping God who commands us to love the Lord our God with all of our heart and mind and strength and our neighbors as ourselves? Or are we giving allegiance to some other false "god"?

 

Finally do we not even hurt ourselves when we attempt to assume the role of God – by providing for ourselves all we need  and desire? How foolish, how exhausting, how all consuming such "living" is! Is it any wonder that we sometimes then become sceptical, even deeply negative? In such times we are limping, figuratively and literally.

 

But it need not be that way.

 

 St. Paul does not tire of frequently telling the Galatians that the Gospel is good news. The Gospel is all about what God does – not what we do! God is the One who becomes human in Jesus. This Jesus is the One who crosses all kinds of social boundaries (hear the Gospel today) to embrace others, who then suffers and dies so that we and creation can be reconciled to God, to  each other and even the rest of creation (so Colossians). Jesus undertakes His mission so that we and many can live, not just exist, now and even through death (in all its forms) to new life.

 

Do we hear this? Our deliverance, our new beginnings always come from God and can only be received as gifts . Thanks be to God! Or, as Inspector Gadget says, Wowsers!!! We don't have to be a "certain way" to be loved by God. God reaches out again and again to all people of all times and places. Thanks be to God! This grace is for us too – just as we are. It is even by God's grace, that we are enabled to trust God.

 

There are amazing results, possibilities to such grace, to God's radical love in becoming human for us and with us. Such results are good, that is, of God. Paul says to the Galatians that because of Jesus and all Jesus does they can be freed/delivered from this present "evil age". Such freedom doesn't mean escape – as if we, who are somewhat aware and attempting to respond to God's grace live in one reality totally devoid of thoughts and feelings, hopes and fears, disappointments and failures – on a so-called heavenly plane, while everyone else is somehow bad or evil or less than us. Not at all!

 

But what this ongoing reconciling love and forgiveness of Jesus for us and others and creation does mean, is that we are being enabled to love others, to practice forgiveness, to be honest about our culpabilities – even to attempt whatever else we discern God calling us to be and do in this time and place. Such living response IS BOTH EXCITING AND EXCEEDINGLY DIFFICULT.

 

Who knows - one of our enemies, or a person who harasses or bristles our very being may show up asking for help or claiming that God has already helped them.  What will we do then? Shoo them out the door – or tell them that it's their fault they didn't believe or didn't work, or didn't treat us "right"? Shall we turn a deaf ear because they bother us or have hurt us?

 

Or, do we see Jesus in today's gospel? The Roman centurion, a representative of all those who had been oppressing Jesus' own people for a long time requests help on behalf of another whom he loves. Jesus responds. Through Jesus' action the oppressor's hope comes to fruition.

 

Don't we see? God and God's love is so much greater than our understanding, beyond any deserving or even great expectation. All of this is our reason for rejoicing and living with hope for the world!

 

So Lord - we confess that we believe. Still we need your help for our unbelief. And, dear Lord, help us to live in and from your love for the well being of others, our world and even ourselves – for Christ's sake. Amen.    

Undivided Loyalty?

Pentecost 2c, June 2, 2013 (I Kings 18:20-37; Galatians 1:1-12; Luke 7:-10)

Elijah is my favorite Old Testament prophets. Now I need to say something about prophet before I say why he is my favorite. Prophet – prophet not profit – is not someone who so much predicts the future but rather someone God calls and commissions who is then enabled to speak a word of God into that present situation. Not many people, if any wanted to be prophets. Prophets weren't usually well received by their own people.

 

Nevertheless Elijah carries out his calling well. As we meet him today Elijah is in the face of the people, because he cares about them. Not only that but Elijah battles his own fears and doubts – sometimes even running for his life. Nevertheless he remains in the people's faces speaking the word of God to them in their time and place.  

 

Today we hear him saying to the people of Israel, "How long are you going to attempt to limp along trying to follow two gods?" It's a good question. It's also a relevant question even though at first glance we may not think so.

           

he people of Israel were torn. They sometimes didn't like to make difficult decisions. So, at times they followed the path of least resistance. Baal was the god of thunder and lighting. If you have ever been out in a thunder storm – you can understand how powerful thunder and lightning can be. Baal was a very popular god of the time – for many of the people who lived in the surrounding area of the Israelites. Could it hurt if they "paid" that god some allegiance? After all they still observed the Sabbath, the dietary food laws. What could it matter if they threw Baal something his way? It might even help. You never know....

 

But Elijah refuses to back down.. Whom we give our allegiance to  does matter! Whenever anyone or a group  attempts to worship two gods, when you give your loyalty and allegiance to one or something that is not god – there will be negative repercussions. The rest of this story is quite interesting, in many ways disturbing but ultimately pointing to this profound truth: there is only one God, the Creator of heaven and earth. Later as Christians we see the extrapolation of this truth: this One God is the One who becomes human in Jesus and then sends his/her very Spirit to inhabit us, to move us – to direct us for the well being of others and the earth.

 

Do we believe this? Do we live this way?

 

Of course, we may not be tempted to worship a thunder and lightning god! But do we ever think, do we ever act as if our well being and the well being of those we love the very most depends only or primarily upon us? Do we sometimes work frenetically and frantically in attempts to get ahead while neglecting God, neglecting even a regular time to worship, to give thanks, even to joyfully share with others the goodness of God? Or, are we sometimes so concerned with what others may think of us, that we betray our own fundamental convictions?

 

What happens then? Might our families be hurt? Are our neighbors neglected, forgotten, because we give our primary loyalty or allegiance to someone or something other than God? Does the earth suffer when the Gross National Product or our income is the most important thing to us? Are the people whose homes are  below current sea levels being hurt? Are people in third world countries damaged when to us only the best and the brightest (as computed by our "standards")  matter – and our number one priority is ourselves? Are we then worshiping God who commands us to love the Lord our God with all of our heart and mind and strength and our neighbors as ourselves? Or are we giving allegiance to some other false "god"?

 

Finally do we not even hurt ourselves when we attempt to assume the role of God – by providing for ourselves all we need  and desire? How foolish, how exhausting, how all consuming such "living" is! Is it any wonder that we sometimes then become sceptical, even deeply negative? In such times we are limping, figuratively and literally.

 

But it need not be that way.

 

 St. Paul does not tire of frequently telling the Galatians that the Gospel is good news. The Gospel is all about what God does – not what we do! God is the One who becomes human in Jesus. This Jesus is the One who crosses all kinds of social boundaries (hear the Gospel today) to embrace others, who then suffers and dies so that we and creation can be reconciled to God, to  each other and even the rest of creation (so Colossians). Jesus undertakes His mission so that we and many can live, not just exist, now and even through death (in all its forms) to new life.

 

Do we hear this? Our deliverance, our new beginnings always come from God and can only be received as gifts . Thanks be to God! Or, as Inspector Gadget says, Wowsers!!! We don't have to be a "certain way" to be loved by God. God reaches out again and again to all people of all times and places. Thanks be to God! This grace is for us too – just as we are. It is even by God's grace, that we are enabled to trust God.

 

There are amazing results, possibilities to such grace, to God's radical love in becoming human for us and with us. Such results are good, that is, of God. Paul says to the Galatians that because of Jesus and all Jesus does they can be freed/delivered from this present "evil age". Such freedom doesn't mean escape – as if we, who are somewhat aware and attempting to respond to God's grace live in one reality totally devoid of thoughts and feelings, hopes and fears, disappointments and failures – on a so-called heavenly plane, while everyone else is somehow bad or evil or less than us. Not at all!

 

But what this ongoing reconciling love and forgiveness of Jesus for us and others and creation does mean, is that we are being enabled to love others, to practice forgiveness, to be honest about our culpabilities – even to attempt whatever else we discern God calling us to be and do in this time and place. Such living response IS BOTH EXCITING AND EXCEEDINGLY DIFFICULT.

 

Who knows - one of our enemies, or a person who harasses or bristles our very being may show up asking for help or claiming that God has already helped them.  What will we do then? Shoo them out the door – or tell them that it's their fault they didn't believe or didn't work, or didn't treat us "right"? Shall we turn a deaf ear because they bother us or have hurt us?

 

Or, do we see Jesus in today's gospel? The Roman centurion, a representative of all those who had been oppressing Jesus' own people for a long time requests help on behalf of another whom he loves. Jesus responds. Through Jesus' action the oppressor's hope comes to fruition.

 

Don't we see? God and God's love is so much greater than our understanding, beyond any deserving or even great expectation. All of this is our reason for rejoicing and living with hope for the world!

 

So Lord - we confess that we believe. Still we need your help for our unbelief. And, dear Lord, help us to live in and from your love for the well being of others, our world and even ourselves – for Christ's sake. Amen.