Pastor Christine's Message - June 26 Children's Message - June 26 |
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Sermon Notes from Pastor Christine...
Almost every pastor will mutter to themselves at some point, "I have to preach on this... again?" Either because the readings assigned for the week are somewhat mundane or they are especially harsh and difficult; or since Jesus is apt to repeat himself, the subject is the same one you just preached on the week before. Although, let's be honest, no matter how many times Jesus says, "Love your neighbor," it doesn't seem to stick. So maybe Jesus has to repeat himself often because we're a little slow on the uptake.
Regardless... it can be a struggle for a pastor because you know, we're NOT Jesus and when the message gets boring we can't do cool things like cast demons out of pigs as Jesus did last week.
So, one of the 'tricks' a seasoned pastor once shared with me to deal with the plague of 'this again?' is to take your Bible and go read the passage someplace you would never think of reading your Bible. Like under a fire escape of an abandoned building or cross-legged in the middle of the sidewalk at the dining room table of a fire house...
Or in a gay nightclub.
These aren't place we typically crack open our Bibles.
The advantage of changing the context in which the Bible is read, is you 'hear' it differently. The portions of the story that seemed predictable begin to expose their radicalness and the portions which seemed unimportant reveal their significance.
Obviously, I didn't go to Orlando and read the words that Luke writes to us today in the aftermath of the murdering of 49 gay and lesbian people. I didn't go and sit in the pools of blood which drenched the floor and mingled with spilled beer. I didn't go and wrestle with the silence and stillness which now existed in the very place where people used to dance and sing and love...
and read the words of Luke.
But I imagined I did. I imagined I might. I wondered what I would hear reading Luke's words in that context. And not in the safety of my office or the refuge of a sanctuary.
This matters for a few reasons.
First, this week upon reviewing the Gospel, I honestly was like, "Really Jesus. We already know we're supposed to follow you. Can't you give me something a little more inspired to work with this week? Plus, Pastor Steve just preached on this whole concept of following and costly discipleship last week..."
Which is what made me think of the 'trick' my friend had shared with me.
Second, while the immediate peculiar place that game to mind was a gay nightclub - the only reason it did was because of recent events. Never in my wildest dreams would that be the place I'd seek to shake up my theological cobwebs.
Third, my initial reaction to my idea for a different place to read the passage was... it's not news anymore. It happened TWO weeks ago. Can't you think of anything fresher to talk about, Christine? Someplace more unique to situate yourself for reading these words?
Well, I couldn't.
So I pretended to be in a bar I could only imagine, in a city I've only known as the 'happiest place on earth,' with people whom I've never met and only know they even lived 'after-the-fact.'
And that's when the words, "Jesus set his face towards Jerusalem," landed like a ton of lead at my feet.
What if it said, 'Jesus set his face towards Orlando?'
What if Jesus was just as resolute in his decision to go to Orlando as he was Jerusalem?
It's actually not a far stretch. Jesus weeps for the city of Jerusalem crying, "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God's messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn't let me."
Jesus didn't pick an exotic vacation destination to set his face on. Jesus was determined to go to The City that kills the messengers of God. Or shall we in this day and age say, Jesus was determined to go to The CITIES that kill that
messengers of God.
Orlando, Orlando the city that kills the gays and lesbians; the messengers of God...
Charleston, Charleston the city that kills the blacks; the messengers of God...
Newtown, Newtown the city that kills the children and innocent; the messengers of God...
Today, those words would slip off Jesus' lips.
However, the words that would slip off my lips are more in line with James and John's desire to call down fire from heaven. I mean, I'm angry. Just as many of you are angry. I'll gladly bang on the doors of heaven and call down judgment upon those perpetrating hate and violence.
But, I don't think this is exactly what Jesus had in mind then or now. James and John get into trouble when they suggest this to Jesus. Plus, as far as I can tell, the heavenly realms are anything but some type of divine arsenal by which to fry the Samaritans. I mean, what exactly is it that we think heaven contains? Fire? Consuming anger?
If the heavens aren't going to destroy the Samaritans for rejecting grace and mercy, they aren't going to destroy Omar Mateen [that's the shooter at Orlando]. And they aren't going to destroy ISIS, or Dylann Roof, or Adam Lanza, or ...
Well, basically, the heavens aren't going to rain down hell on those who seek to bring hell to earth.
I may want them to, but that is not how Jesus works, nor is it how heaven works.
If Jesus is of heaven, then the ONLY thing that could rain down from heaven is love, grace, and mercy. And God knows the world needs a whole lot more of that right now.
Jesus sets His face on the places that are most in need of himself.
I hate to ask this question, but I have to, if only for the fact that as Christians we are bound together under the cross and called to point to the Gospel. What place or person is most in need of YOU right now?
Are we waiting for someone else to speak justice? To call for righteousness? Or shall we embrace this moment and proclaim the promise of God's favor?
Are we waiting for others to stand up for those our world rejects and reviles? Or will we seize the moment and say God's love is for all?
Is my face, is your face set on the same places Jesus' face is set?
I'd like to say it is...Certainly much of the world's attention has been on Orlando these past few weeks; a right place for our faces to be set. But, Orlando was 2 weeks ago and already I find my face turning. It's already becoming old news - the prayer vigils have ceased and it no longer floods my newsfeed. As I said, I even thought to myself, "We've heard enough about Orlando...". Onto the newest news of the day.
Brussels was 3 months ago - and I had to look up how long ago that happened.
Charleston was 1 year ago - and was remembered on the year anniversary but otherwise who thinks of the 9 that lost their lives anymore?
Baltimore was 1 ½ years ago - and still racial intolerance and prejudices run rampant.
Newtown was 4 years ago - and school shootings have become almost 'normal.'
New York was 15 years ago - and just a few 'never forget' bumper stickers remain.
Jerusalem was 2016 years ago - and there's no sting left in the crucifixion of the savior of the world.
Violence and intolerance are pervasive - throughout the world and throughout history. It's no wonder Jesus had to set his face - with his steely eyes and clenched jaw set down a difficult path, refusing to be deterred despite what lay ahead of him.
The unfortunate ongoingness and normalcy of it all causes us to feel desensitized, helpless, and disengaged.
It's easy to become 'unset.'
And it's easy to want to call down fire from heaven [or would that be hell?].
But being a disciple of Jesus begs us to another way...
Jesus' little parables about plows and families and burying the dead aren't literal; they are metaphoric. Mini parables to remind us that looking back, making excuses, and remaining in the tomb are incompatible with following Jesus.
Which basically means that much of the ways I live my life are incompatible with Jesus. Help me, God.
I take my hand off the plow often.
Which is why I need to be in this place; in this room. Because here is where I am reminded to look to Jesus. Here is where I set my foot again on the path of peace, even when the world screams war. Here is where I hold on to your hand and you take mine, even when the world tells me to take care of myself. Here is where I not only mourn the lives of those lost, but remember the claim that Jesus' death and resurrection has on my life - to value every child of God. Here is where we look to the Prince of Peace - like there is no other hope to which to cling.
Because there isn't.
He's it.
His ways; His love; His forgiveness; His life.
The path He travels is straight into the mouth of death.
And He comes out alive.
And so will we.
Hell will not reign; heaven will quench it's fires with floods of mercy.
Here is where we 'reset' our faces to the places and the ways of Jesus.
Amen.
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