Ultimate Questions - God is God
Pentecost 23a, Nov. 16,2014 (Zeph. 1:7,12-18; I Thessalonians 5:1-11; Matthew 25:14-30
I am convinced that the lessons literally cry out asking two questions. These questions run to the heart of who we are, to the core of whose we are, to the very purpose of our lives. Such questions are not peripheral. They are not about what kind of car we shall purchase, or where we should meet for lunch or travel for vacation. Such questions aren't even about whether we should purchase a home or rent. We do so worry about these lesser questions. We often invest so much of who we are in wrestling with such questions. We may even toss and turn at night thinking about whether we got the best deal or not. But after all is said and done, these lesser questions don't matter a hill of beans. Today, tomorrow, five years or fifty years from now as we look into the eyes of those we love the most, these lesser questions will not be in the forefront of our minds. They won't lift up our hearts. Nor will anyone else remember us, rejoice with us or weep over us because of how we answered these lesser questions.
But there are questions that do matter: ultimately.
DO WE CARE?
I know that we care about some things, some people. We care about our kids, our grandkids. We give of ourselves so that they have all kinds of opportunities, a variety of experiences. We bend over backwards, work over-time, make sacrifices so that they can have such experiences. Most of that is good.
I also know that many of you care about your friends. Many of you care about your spouse. Those of you who are blessed to still have living parents care about them. All of that is very good.
But let me ask this. In our caring are we aware of God? Do we count on God to guide us, to help us in setting priorities and living with them? Do we believe, do we trust that God is God? Do we realize that God is more powerful than anything or anyone else? God has the power to both create life and to overcome death! Who else can do that, here and now? Truly!
God knows and loves us and this world in ways that defy our imagination and comprehension! Do we realize this? Are we living from the foundation of God's love and hope – God's great compassion for us and all whom we will ever meet? NOW THERE ARE QUESTIONS THAT MATTER.
When we don't actually trust God and God's ability to love and care for us in this world in ways that make incredible differences, well then we are where Zephaniah's people were. Then we are literally counting only on our own abilities to "manage" things. Let me tell you in stark terms (so that we don't miss this) – trusting in ourselves first and foremost is a huge mistake. It flies in the face of reality. All flesh is dust. That's a fact. Or as Zephaniah puts it, when we try to live as if God weren't God the ultimate result is that all blood becomes like dust and all flesh becomes like dung – something that is offensive, disposable, to be avoided. When we lose sight of God as God – the cosmic powerful things of life and death most certainly can and will overwhelm us.
When we aren't aware of God, aren't trusting God, we are far more blind than anyone with a white cane. Then we become like my very first dog, Lucky. Lucky was blinded because he had an obsession with chasing cars. He ended up being run over numerous times, resulting in literal blindness. Yet Lucky refused to stop chasing cars. When we aren't aware of God, when we refuse to trust God, we are blind to so much truth. This results in decisions and actions that are far less than wise. We are not of infinite value because of what we do or don't do, because of our successes or failures. Instead, we are of infinite value because God loves us. God yearns to be near us, to be trusted by us, to enliven us. It is from this love that we can actually care with and for each other and all others. As we lose sight of God our little "life boats" are easily and devastatingly swamped by so many things – fear, illness, jealousy, greed, injustice, catastrophe.
When we act as if God is irrelevant to everyday life, think or feel that God couldn't or wouldn't care about this or that in our lives or in the life of the world – then what we "have" is not God but merely some incredibly small, false idea of God.
Acting as if there isn't a God we become like a ship without a rudder, a person without a heart, a dog without a loving master.
The implied question that is the genesis for all of our lessons this morning is, "Does God care about us?" This question is more important than any of our resulting ultimate questions. If God doesn't care about us – it makes absolutely no difference if we care about God!
I could never begin to describe how much God cares for us. God is the only one who knows us before we are in our mother's womb. God is the One who forms our DNA, our lungs, our hearts our minds. God is the One who places us in relationships with people and with all of creation. God is the One who dreams incredible possibilities for us – and for those who have gone before us. Look at the ones you love. Know that God has formed and makes them. Is that not the most incredible love? From dust and fluid to living beings. Wow!
Granted - there are times when it is incredibly difficult to trust God, to sense God's love. As we are miraculously and wonderfully delivered into this world, not everything is well. Not everything goes well. Too often, we hurt others. Too often others hurt us. You know what I mean...Too often we demand more than what we need, thinking, feeling that "more" will help us. Meanwhile others are hungry, lonely, despairing. Too often there is little justice and far too little mercy.
Hurt yields more than mere pain. Untended hurt yields broken relationships. Being broken we are unable to hear others. Our vision is compromised. Then we do not see the others as people. They are then no longer "we" but somehow "them". It's somewhat like losing a friend. Once there was harmony, joy, being together. But now there is nothing. Death is powerful.
But God refuses to leave us in such places. Because God cares about us and this world, God acts. When we care, we act. God does this radical thing. God becomes human in Jesus. God becomes human. In God's humanity we might see, we might know, both within and around – the truth about ourselves and the truth that God is. Death, evil, fear: nothing is more powerful than God's love.
So, let me ask you again – DO WE CARE? Are we trusting God in the way we are living our lives right now? Or, are we allowing ourselves to be sucked into a powerful whirlwind of thinking that everything depends on us? Do we just keep on running, fretting frantically. Are we living as if we have to get what we can, while we can?
I know and experience these temptations.
When we find ourselves in such places dear people, it's time to be in Zephaniah's words, "quiet". In silence we glimpse God and ourselves. We can ask God for help – help to be still, help to know - God. God is our refuge and strength. We do not need to mourn as those who have no hope. We can live anew.
God desires that we experience God's love and peace in heart and mind, no matter what is happening – especially in the darkest times of this world and ourselves.
We can depend on God.
But to depend on ourselves as if there were no good or even worse that we are God – such "belief", such "action" is beyond foolishness. Instead, call out to him! Kyrie eleison. God is listening. God cares. God will help. Even now we might hear a baby crying... Amen.