|
Have You Seen the Risen Christ?
Luke 24:13-35
April 6, 2008
3rd Sunday in Easter C
Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.” Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures. As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread. (NRSV)
A few years ago I attended an educational event in Fond-du-Lac. The topic of the keynote address was “Will There Be Christians in the Future”, a thought-provoking, perhaps even disturbing, idea. The speaker, who was an American Baptist minister, spoke to us about why she was a Christian and her belief that yes, there would be Christians in the future.
She told the audience that while American mainline denominations, like the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) were declining in members, Christianity was growing phenomenally in places like Africa and China. The branch of Christianity that was growing the most? Pentecostals. That would make a good topic for discussion, I think.
The event was on a Saturday, I was going to be preaching on this scripture from Luke, and I had almost finished my sermon. However, after listening to the speaker, I came away with a question, and that question caused me to understand this story from Luke differently. So I went home from that workshop, deleted the sermon I had almost completed and started over. I’ll share the question with you in just a minute.
There are many interesting things about this story. For me though, it boils down to one important lesson. This resurrection story from Luke is plain old evangelism. That’s right, evangelism--a word that often makes us nervous. In my experience, that’s a committee that no one wants to serve on.
This story is an evangelism story. Evangelism comes from the Greek word, euangelio, which means “good news” or gospel. So, an evangelist is someone who shares this good news, this gospel.
When the story begins, the Risen Christ encounters these two men on their way to Emmaus. Remember, this is the day of the resurrection, and they are discussing the events of the day and all the things that had happened and Jesus joins them on the road, but they don’t recognize him. And he just joins in their conversation, “What are you talking about?”
So, they tell him, and boy do they tell him. Not just a one or two word answer, Jesus gets not only the lead news story of the day, the front page and a bit of editorializing on the side--their hopes, “But we had hoped he was the one to redeem Israel.”
They go on to tell Jesus about the stories the women told, about going to the tomb early that morning and not finding Jesus there, and of their vision of angels, and the angels message that Jesus was alive.
Can you see, that they’re not just telling a story, they are witnessing about Jesus and who he is and what he meant to them. They are sharing with someone they (at least in their minds) don’t know about their faith and their hope. They are telling the good news, the gospel – evangelism.
Then it’s Jesus’ turn and he’s the evangelist. Luke writes, “Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.” In other words, he preached.
And the witnessing doesn’t stop with the conversation. As they approach their destination, it looks as though Jesus plans to walk on, but his two companions invite him to stay and join them. This too is evangelism, although those two probably don’t realize it. One of the most profound and meaningful ways we evangelize is through our hospitality, particularly the hospitality of a shared meal.
“So the three of them sat down to dinner and Jesus took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight.”
This is my favorite part of the story, because they don’t react to that at all!
Rather, they take a moment to put the pieces together: their recognition of Jesus when he breaks the bread and gives it to them; the way they felt as they listened to him on the road: Were not our hearts burning within us, while he was opening the scriptures to us?
And then we read “That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem—7 miles on foot, all the way back!!—and they found the eleven and their companions and they told what had happened on the road and how Jesus and had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
Evangelism! Good news! Gospel!
So here is the question that this story raised for me and I throw it out for you…
When did you encounter the Risen Christ this week? And whom did you tell?
Did you encounter him at worship last week? Or on Easter Sunday the week before? Maybe you encountered him during a conversation with a friend, or in a prayer, or doing volunteer work, or at the grocery store, or at work, or in a kindness that someone did for you.
And whom did you tell?
I’m willing to bet that most of you can answer that first question. Maybe not now, but later on today, you’ll think of something. And maybe you can’t think of a time this week, but sometime in your life you have encountered Jesus. Most of you can answer that question.
I’m will to bet that most of you can answer that second question too—and I’m willing to bet that most of you would answer that you didn’t tell anybody.
You didn’t tell anybody because, well,
that’s not how you are. Or you don’t want to embarrass other people.
You didn’t tell anybody because, it would sound weird, people would think you were odd. Oh, like Cleopas and his companion didn’t sound a little odd? “We were with Jesus and we didn’t recognize him at first, but then we did and then he disappeared right before our eyes.”
As if the disciples didn’t think the women were crazy. Cleopas recounts that some women of our group astounded us. An unbelievable story of an empty tomb and angels.
Where would we be today if the men and women who encountered the Risen Christ hadn’t said anything for fear of looking goofy? We wouldn’t be here.
Have you ever stopped to consider that we in the church owe our very existence today to the people who were willing to share the good news of the gospel? We owe our presence here on 200 S. Lincoln Avenue, Marshfield Wisconsin to evangelists?
This book, this bible, is not just a rulebook on how to live. It is a collection of God stories, the stories of people witnessing to the power and presence and glory of God in their lives. Perhaps we ought to get down on our knees and thank them for being willing to tell the stories, no matter how crazy they sounded (and some of those stories sound pretty crazy) , no matter what people might have thought of them and in some cases, no matter what happened to them, because plenty of people shared the good news….and were ridiculed for it and shunned for it. Plenty of people shared the good news and died for it.
And we’re worried about what people might think?
I encountered the risen Christ in my grandfather who treated everyone he knew with grace.
I encountered the risen Christ in the wonderful old hymns of the church, introduced to me by mother who is a vocalist and a pianist. Hymns like Immortal, Invisible, God only Wise; A Mighty Fortress is our God; Be Thou My Vision.
I encounter the risen Christ in our church staff who serve here with such love and dedication; in Pastor Scott and his concern for justice; in a member who prayed for me this a week; in another member who wrote to me this week, in a number of members who gave me a hug and
I encounter the risen Christ every day in the wisdom and care of my husband and in the love of my children.
You have stories like that too. Tell them. Share them. Treasure them. But don’t keep hidden away.
There are Christians today because men and women long ago saw the risen Christ and shared their stories. That’s why we’re here.
Will there be Christians in the future? Yes…As long as we share our stories
In the name of the the God who names us, the Christ who claims us, and the Spirit who sets us free.
Amen.
Rev. Cyndy Little
First Presbyterian Church
Marshfield, Wisconsin
We Believe
John 20:19-31
March 30, 2008 2nd Sunday of Easter
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.” A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name. (NRSV)
My understanding of Jesus’ disciples is that they were a kind of faith community – an early church, if you will. True, they didn’t have a building or committees or a Book of Order. Yet in their life together, they worshiped, studied, ministered, shared meals, and prayed. They also argued, dropped the ball, missed the boat, panicked in a crisis, and worried when 5000 people showed up and there wasn’t enough food. Sounds like a church to me.
And occasionally, somebody skips the service. That happens from time to time, right? It happened here in the First Church of the Upper Room. The faith community (the disciples) are gathered together, not sure how the service is going to go now that Jesus is gone, when suddenly Jesus is there: He is standing there with them! He gives them a greeting: Peace be with you. He empowers them with the Holy Spirit by offering them his own breath. He even does a little preaching on forgiveness.
However, someone is missing. Thomas is not there. Absent, not present on Easter Sunday (of all days!). We don’t know why, but I’m sure he had a good reason. Isn’t it comforting to know that even in the earliest days, people missed church?
Unfortunately, for Thomas, he missed something HUGE-- the Risen Christ. Jesus, who three days before had been executed before their eyes, put in a tomb, a stone rolled in front –dead…buried. Yet as they gathered together, Jesus was there—a living, breathing person.
And Thomas missed it.
So later, when Thomas joins them, the disciples share the news – Thomas, you should have been in church on Sunday – Jesus was there.
And Thomas says I don’t believe it.
Have you ever been the odd person out?
The lone dissenter, the devil’s advocate, the cynic, the skeptic, the black sheep? The Doubting Thomas?
“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”
Now that’s what I call throwing down the gauntlet. In the face of the account of 10 witnesses, and not just any witnesses, but men with whom Thomas has spent years, with whom he has worked, laughed, eaten, suffered and grieved – he is saying to them, I don’t believe you. We are not in the same place on this.
Imagine being one of the disciples and listening to your friend say he doesn’t believe you. You have just shared great and glorious news and your experience isn’t good enough for him.
I have tried to picture this scene in my mind and I have to believe that the moment was pivotal one for these 11 men.
You see, I think the best part of this story is verse 26: “A week later his disciples were again in the house and Thomas was with them.”
A week later: I think we rush right past those words, so take a moment and imagine what that week would have been like. What would that week have been like for the disciples who saw the risen Christ?
I think it’s safe to say that their encounter with Jesus was a topic of conversation at least once or twice. Maybe the first couple of days, that’s all they talked about.
What would that week have been like for Thomas who doesn’t believe? Do you think he wondered if his fellow disciples were having a laugh at his expense? Do you think things may have gotten a little tense sometimes? Maybe he got up a left the room once or twice.
Maybe they just avoided the topic altogether.
We don’t know- the gospel writer leaves that to our imagination.
Here’s what the scripture does tell us. When the next Sunday comes, they are all together – even Thomas. His faith community stands beside him. They do not reject him for his doubts, for his unbelief. They don’t criticize him for needing to see and touch for himself. They don’t ostracize him for not getting with the program, for not being in exactly the same place that they are. Thomas doubts, and the disciples let him doubt, and he remains a part of the community.
As for Thomas, he felt like he could stay.
I believe that this is one of the greatest gifts that the church has to offer. This is a shining example of how we live the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit.
We know that this is not how it always works. We know that there are groups, including communities of faith who would say to those like Thomas: hit the road. I have heard those stories from folks who had that experience. How unfortunate. Because, as we see from this story, even in the earliest time of the church, even with those who were closest to Jesus, there was doubt, there were questions. Yet, there was room in the community for the doubt and for the questions.
More importantly, there was room in the community for the doubters.
John Westerhoff, an Episcopal priest and scholar in the area of Christian Formation tells a thought-provoking story of a Christian missionary working with in a village in Africa. He is teaching the members of this village about baptism, in order to prepare them for their baptism, which will take place in a few weeks at the river.
The missionary is clear in his expectations: attendance at his classes is mandatory for all being baptized. What he finds is that some attend every class, some attend a few, and some never show up at all.
When the special day arrives, the entire community gathers at the river. Much to the missionary’s consternation, everyone there expects to be baptized. The missionary pulls the chief of the tribe aside and says, “We have a problem.”
“What problem,” says the chief, “there’s no problem – We believe!”
No, says the missionary, I was clear – only those who attended all the classes have been properly prepared for being baptized. There are some here who attended all the classes and they are ready. Most of these people didn’t attend all the classes, and I really can’t baptize them.
The chief was confused: “I don’t see the problem – We believe!”
“But not everyone has been prepared,” insisted the missionary.
The chief smiled and said – “I don’t see the problem. Yes, some did not attend, but some never missed. Yes, some don’t understand, but others do. The important thing is we believe.”
The missionary was quiet for a moment. Then he said, “I’m sorry. I’m from the United States. We are not good at this. Of course, you are right – We believe.” And everyone who gathered at the river was baptized.
I deeply appreciate this story because the first time I heard it, I didn’t get it, and even now, I’m not sure I fully understand—but I’m getting there. And what I’ve learned over the years is that on any given Sunday those of us gathered here are all over the map in terms of what we believe. Some of us aren’t in the same place that we were one week ago.
Some of us come with belief that is solid and unwavering – WE BELIEVE!
Some of come with belief that lies in shattered in pieces on the floor. We believe? Not a chance.
Most of us are probably somewhere in between. However, when we are here together in the presence of Christ, something happens – and NY Pastor Roger Gench says it better than I could: “Believing is something that happens in community. Faith does not happen in isolation under a tree, nor does it happen while reading theology. Christian believing occurs in a real community of people who profess and live the faith.”
For Thomas, that is what happened. Belief came as he gathered with his friends and experienced the risen Christ.
For the doubters among us, I pray you will find a community that welcomes you, doubts, and all. I pray that you will encounter Christ who meets you where you are.
What we share is less about what we know in our heads and more about what we’ve learned in our hearts – that to follow the risen Christ is a journey into the unknown. From eating with outcasts to raising the dead. From death on a cross to resurrection to reunion in an upper room. From Sunday worship here to out there wherever God calls us to be. We cannot make that journey into the unknown alone. We make it with our faith community.
For those times on the journey when you feel like Thomas – Unless I see, I will not believe – Struggle with those doubts. Wrestle with your unbelief. We are with you…and we believe.
In the name of the God who names us, the Christ who claims us, and the Spirit that sets us free….Amen.
Rev. Cyndy Little
First Presbyterian Church, Marshfield
Power Struggle
Matthew 4:1-11
February 10, 2008 1st Sunday in Lent
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’” Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him. (NRSV)
This is the first Sunday in Lent, which began this past week with Ash Wednesday. This story of how Jesus was tempted in the wilderness is often used as the gospel reading for the first Sunday in Lent. You will find different versions of the temptation story in the gospels of Mark and Luke. In Mark, there is no mention of the specific temptations. In Luke, the trials happen in a different order. Both Matthew and Mark mention angels that waited on Jesus, but in Luke’s account, Jesus faces the devil alone.
The story that immediately precedes this one in the bible is Jesus’ baptism, and you may recall that when Jesus is baptized and comes up out of the water, the Spirit of God descends upon Jesus like a dove.
That is a powerful, beautiful image. So it may jar us a little when we hear verse 1 of this morning’s story: Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Note, that the same dove-like Spirit that blesses Jesus, escorts him to his testing grounds. This encounter with the devil is no accident, no chance encounter on a vacation camping trip. For 40 days, Jesus eats nothing at all and he was famished.
The devil is a cunning adversary. He starts with that powerful physical need: if you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread. What could be wrong with that? By changing stones to bread you will not only be able to feed yourself Jesus, but think what a great ministry tool that will be when you’re out among the poor. They’ll love you for it.
No, says Jesus it’s not enough: Jesus replies: One does not live by bread alone. Our needs are spiritual as well as physical, and bread alone, will not make us whole.
The devil tries again. He takes Jesus to the holy city, Jerusalem, and sits him upon the top of the temple and offers this challenge: If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written: For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against the stone.
The devil is a smart guy who knows how to construct a winning argument. Those are actual words from Psalm 91. And everyone knows if you quote scripture, it must be true.
Furthermore, hurling yourself from a building? What a public relations bonanza. This is reality TV, the ultimate Fear Factor. We all know how well people respond to this kind of programming. Once again, Jesus, resists. Do not put God to the test.
The devil tries one more time and shows him all the kingdoms of the world. I can give these to anyone I want, and I want to give them to you. Bow down and worship me, and they’ll be yours.
Now, we know that it’s never a good idea to worship the devil.
But maybe we’re getting a little too hung on principle here. Isn’t it possible, even good to hedge integrity a little for a greater good. The Jewish people are looking for a Messiah, who will overthrow their enemies and lead them to victory. To accept this offer will save Jesus a lot of time and energy, give him the credentials he needs, and well, we can work out the details of who to worship later.
No, says Jesus, even if good were to come of this, the bottom line is always God first. Worship the Lord your God, and serve God alone.
So the devil leaves, unsuccessful.
I would caution you not to shortchange the story by assuming that this was easy for Jesus, that he was able to shrug off these temptations without a second thought. Temptation is always a struggle and, at its most insidious, doesn’t find us wrestling between a clear-cut choice of good and evil.
One Lenten season a few years ago, my son James had the lead role in his school play, “The Late Christopher Bean.” In his role as a simple country doctor we watch as he starts his day with his usual routine only to have it turned upside down with the possibility that he could become a very rich man. The problem is that it won’t happen unless he is a dishonest.
He admits his struggle with temptation, but rationalizes his decision by thinking about the good things that he can do for his family once he is rich. He makes the curious observation that “being tempted for your loved ones isn’t as bad as being tempted for yourself.” The tempter is a master at his craft.
For Jesus, the stakes are even higher. As Fred Craddock writes: “So Jesus has before him three excellent offers: Turn stones to bread. In a world of unbelievable hunger, why not? Leap from the pinnacle of the temple. In a world callous to sermon and lesson, why not a coercive shock into belief? Enter the political arena. In a world of slavery, war, oppression and disregard for life and rights, why not? “
All this is to say that a real temptation is not an offer to fall, but to rise. The tempter in Eden did not ask, “Do you wish to be as the devil” but “Do you wish to be as God?”
Ingenious, isn’t it? And whether you believe that temptation comes to us through a being like Satan or arises from our own brokenness, the final result is the same: We forget who we are and whose we are.
You probably know, as I do, people who give up things for Lent. A popular choice of item to give up is chocolate. Now, as a chocolate lover myself, I’m not saying that wouldn’t be a real struggle, but let me suggest that it’s one thing to give up things that make me feel good. It’s another thing to give up things that make me feel like God.
Consider something ordinary. Consider our schedules. Our busy, overfull, overcommitted, run ourselves ragged schedules. Someone asks you hi, how are you doing, and more often than not, the answer is busy. And thanks to all our time saving devices, our planners, PDAs, and palm pilots, our cell phones, we’re even busier.
Even though we complain about it, we think it’s a good thing. We admire people for cramming 36 hours of activity into 24. We speak in awestruck tones about people who fly from one place to another without stopping to catch their breath.
And let’s be honest, those of us that are functioning at superhuman capacity, we secretly feel really proud of ourselves for all those things that we do. There’s a certain thrill in doing it all and even more thrilling to be admire for it. We feel important – may I suggest, we feel like God.
If you don’t believe me, then you’ll have no problem rising to the challenge I’m going to give you. For Lent, from now until Easter, March 23, give up one of your activities preferably something that involves you weekly or more often. Give it up, take it out of your schedule. Resolve that for the season of Lent, you will not do this activity. (and make sure it’s one that you feel is important!)
But don’t worry, I’m not suggesting that you should deprive yourself. Once you give up that activity that makes you feel like God, put another activity in its place. Put in something that brings you into closer relationship with God. – like prayer. In other words take Jesus’ advice – stop trying to turn stones into bread, stop leaping off tall buildings, and walk away from the kingdoms of the world---worship the Lord your God and serve God alone.-
Something to think about.
Perhaps for today it is enough to consider how Jesus faced his trials. It was not with cosmic powers, and an army of angels ready to defend. Not mighty hero, but hungry, weak, tired fully human person whose strength came from who remembering who he was and whose he was. We can find our strength from that too.
May it be so for you and for me. Amen.
Party Time
Matthew 17:1-9
February 3, 2008
Transfiguration Sunday and Everybody’s Birthday Party
Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. 2And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. 3Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” 6When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. 7But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” 8And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone. 9As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” (NRSV)
Today is a celebration Sunday in the life of First Presbyterian Church. It is a day marked with excitement, anticipation, and fun. we have been treated to special music with our Jazz musicians and our choir; Pastor Scott is back with us after several weeks of absence; following worship we will gather for food and fellowship and cupcakes as we celebrate Everybody’s Birthday Party; in honor of the occasion, we have been invited to dress festively; our Silent Auction ends and some of us walk away with some wonderful purchases; our youth have collected of the Souper Bowl of Caring, not to be confused with another major event today – the Super Bowl.
It’s party time!
As I studied this morning’s gospel reading from Matthew it seemed like it had all makings of a party. Jesus takes three of his disciples, Peter, James and John, to a mountaintop, and in the bible, the mountaintop is often the place where the action is. When they arrive, Jesus dons his own version of party clothes: dazzling white garments and glitter on the face.
Other guests arrive, Moses and Elijah, and they start up a conversation with Jesus.
At most parties, you’ll find a variety of people and personality types. Based on what I’m reading here, I’m figuring James and John are the introverted types, who are hanging back, sipping on their drinks and trying to take it all in. At least one of them is experiencing some mild anxiety over what they will say if any of the other guests should try to strike up a conversation.
Peter is the extrovert, jumping into the conversation and affirming what a great party it is and how glad he is to be there. Unlike his wallflower companions, he gets involved, offering to enhance the party decorations by building three dwellings. There’s been a lot of speculation among scholars about what that was all about, and certainly one possibility would be that Peter was trying to be hospitable, to create a welcoming atmosphere for these special guests. Or, perhaps he was having so much fun that he didn’t want the party to be over.
Just as the party hits full swing, enter the party crasher – a bright cloud – a rather interesting special effect – and it talks – This is my Son, the Beloved, I am proud of him – you’d better pay attention when he’s speaking.
That has a sobering effect on the celebration, causing the disciples to drop to the ground and the other guests to leave. As they make their way home, down from that extraordinary mountaintop party, Jesus orders them not to talk about what they’ve just seen. – Right. Like anyone would believe them.
Just so we’re clear, I’m not anticipating any luminescent vocalizing clouds when we gather in the Fellowship Hall … but, you might want to keep an eye on the balloons!
I don’t know if Jesus had music at his party. If he did, it almost certainly was not jazz, but it would’ve made a nice touch!
And obviously the transfiguration story is not a birthday party. Yet, like birthdays, this mountaintop experience marked the beginning of a new direction for Jesus and his disciples. Birthdays can be like that. We feel as though we are on top of the world, practically glowing with the joy of the day. Each of my children celebrated a milestone birthday in 2007 – 10, 18 and 21 – all of them felt as though that day left them a little bit changed – even transfigured. Then comes the day after and we feel let down.
However, the “let-down” doesn’t have to be the final word. The challenge is to see the opportunity, the invitation that comes from a mountaintop experience. Can you see it here?
Is it accidental, coincidental, or providential that we are having this celebration day on the last Sunday before the season of Lent? Liturgically, the church observes Lent with solemnity: use of the color purple, confessional prayers, sacrificial practices, and a fast from the celebratory alleluias. Our celebration is a last hurrah before this season of seriousness. Just like in our reading this morning: the mountaintop “high”, followed by the “let-down” when we leave the mountain.
Yet, just as a birthday does not mark the end neither did the transfiguration.
For me, Lent has become less about sacrifices and penitence, and more about deep listening. A time to look back at that mountaintop celebration and reflect on the invitation of that party-crashing cloud: This is my Son, the Beloved; with him, I am well pleased: listen to him! Listen to him!
During Lent, I try to hear the urgency of that call, to shut out the clamor of so many other voices that want to claim me, and to listen. For you see, if I listen deeply and faithfully enough, I will find the gift. This is my son, the beloved; with him, I am well pleased. Listen to him!
Hold on to those words, for Lent is coming. But it’s not here yet. Today we celebrate! This is the day that the Lord has made! Let us rejoice and be glad in it!
Alleluia! Amen.
A Tribute to Zebedee
Matthew 4:12-23
January 27, 2008
I was taught that when I wrote a sermon I needed to be able to answer 2 questions. The first was, “What does the sermon want to say?” The second was “What does the sermon want people to do?”
Now, I would say that I do pretty well with that first question: What does the sermon want to say? I think I usually write sermons that are pretty focused with a clear message. It’s the second question that I struggle with: What does the sermon want people to do? I remember sitting in my seminary preaching classes and we students would usually answer that second with responses like: The sermon wants people to think about their faith, or to reflect their discipleship—something appropriately “churchy”, but not much more than “thinking” or “reflecting”.
This morning’s sermon answers the first question, what does the sermon want to say? I think that will be pretty clear. And it fails in a spectacular way to answer the second one – this sermon doesn’t want you to do anything. In the eyes of my homiletics professors, it could not even be called a sermon, hence the title, “A Tribute to Zebedee.”
I would invite you to listen to what God is saying to us through this reading from the Gospel according to Matthew:
Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. 13He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 15“Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— 16the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.” 17From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 18As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 19And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” 20Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. 22Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him. 23Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people. (NRSV)
You may recognize this as a “call story,” one of many call stories found in the Bible. In the Old Testament God would speak to someone through an angel, a burning bush, even sheer silence, and send him or her to a task that usually involved a major change in lifestyle. Call stories are also found in the New Testament, and it is often Jesus who calls.
Usually, pastors have personal call stories, and we are frequently invited to share them. When asked to share mine, I find myself feeling rather apologetic, because my call story is not some moment in time when I heard a voice or saw a vision, or experienced a powerful summons to serve as an ordained minister. Rather, it is more of a series of events that unfolded over a long period of time. It is only in hindsight that I see how God was at work in my life to bring me to where I am today.
Moreover, this particular story makes me feel a little guilty. The fishermen in this story respond with immediacy – leaving their nets, walking away from the boats at the very moment that Jesus called them. No hesitation, no visits with their religious leader, no conversations with a Presbytery Committee on Preparation for Ministry. I was seventeen when I clearly identified the call to pursue ordained ministry, yet it would take almost 20 years to respond to that call and follow Jesus.
As this is the lectionary reading for this Sunday, I imagine that congregations all over the country are being invited to think about what it means when Jesus calls us. What does it look like? How do we respond? Where will it lead?
In the past, I have preached about being called, not just to ordained ministry, but calls that anyone who has experienced that led them along the path that they are to walk. Calls that have been powerful and life-changing and taken us to new places and situations. It is not only clergy who have left everything behind to follow where God leads. Some of you sitting here this morning can probably also share a call story.
But today I want to look at the character in this story who doesn’t leave the boat. Today I want us to think about the one who stayed behind and watched while his sons got up and without a backward glance, left everything behind to follow Jesus – Zebedee.
Virtually everything we know about Zebedee is right here. He was a Hebrew fisherman with sons named James and John. They worked together as fishermen, maybe even shared a home together. They spent their days together in the boat, casting nets, bringing in their catch, repairing holes in their nets, and patching leaks in their boat. The lives of father and sons were highly interconnected in their occupation , and perhaps they believed that it would always be this way.
Then one day, without warning, without any kind of preparation, without as much as a “Hey dad, can we talk?” Zebedee’s sons were gone. They left during the workday, right in the middle of one of the most important tasks in the life of a fisherman– mending the nets. It appears from this reading as though they left without even saying good-bye.
In previous sermons on this story, I have asked the question, what would it be like to leave everything behind to follow Jesus? This week I have been asking myself, what would it be like to be the one who did not go?
What was it like in those few minutes after his sons walked away? Did Zebedee sit there watching them disappear into the distance? Did he call out? Did he stand up and start to go after them? Did he weep?
In the minutes and hours that followed, did he sit in his boat and keep mending his nets? Did he decide to take the rest of the day off? Did he go home and tell his wife? Did he seek the comfort and counsel of his friends? Did he torment himself with questions: where did they go, how long would they be gone and most painful: “why”?
In the days and weeks that followed, did he try to pick up the pieces and continue where he and his sons had left off? Did he post “help wanted” signs around the village and start interviewing potential replacements? Did he consider a career change?
In previous sermons on this story, I have observed that to get up and leave your nets and follow Jesus means your life will never be the same again, and that is true. However, I would have to think that it is also true for the one who did not walk away. Even without following Jesus Zebedee went to bed that night knowing that his life had been forever and irrevocably changed because of him.
I am wondering if our attention is so riveted on the ones who leave the nets, hop out of the boat, walk away from families, careers, and settled lives into that unknown adventure that God calls them to, that we forget to look back at the boat where Zebedee sits?
Some might argue that Zebedee could have gone too, could have followed Jesus, but chose not to and in making that choice, did not respond to God’s call. Perhaps, and certainly that happens. However, that doesn’t mirror my experience with a God who works in so many mysterious and incredible ways.
With so little information, we can only speculate. Yet isn’t it possible that something in Zebedee’s parenting of his sons, gave them the courage and willingness to get up and go when they were called? Isn’t it possible that as he raised his sons in their Jewish faith that he taught them a love of God that made it impossible for them to say no when God called? Isn’t it possible that before James and John could fish for people, they needed the fishing skills that only their father could have taught them?
Isn’t it possible that though his sons walked away that day, they returned home from time to time and found support and strength from being with their father Perhaps they sought out his advice and counsel?
I wondered this past week if our understanding of call is too narrow? Or is our language so limited that we do not have a name for the experience of those like Zebedee? The ones who nurture, who teach, who support, who encourage, and in the watch as those they love follow a path. They watch because God does not call them to that path, but to support and stand by the ones who are called?
I’m asking more questions than I’m answering, because before now I’ve never considered this story from the Zebedee’s point of view, so perhaps I’m reading something that isn’t there. Perhaps it has something to do with trying to write a sermon at the same that you’re trying to move!
What I do know, is that when my husband, who spent most of his life in South central Texas married me, he never imagined he would end up in Marshfield, Wisconsin. This is not his call, yet he’s right where he always has been-mending the nets, and keeping the boat afloat while his wife tries to fish for people.
I don’t know how Zebedee felt, yet I have seen first hand what my call to serve God in ordained ministry has meant for the three people who call me “mom”. As I took a long look at Zebedee this week I was reminded that while my call is not my family’s call, it has changed their lives, just as Zebedee’s life was changed. I also know that we have folks like Zebedee sitting here today.
My hope is that somehow, some way, James and John remembered their father, went back to him, and said thank you. But if not, my faith tells me is that God will not forget Zebedee.
So, when I said that this sermon would not ask you to do anything, perhaps I was wrong. This morning, if you know a Zebedee, take a moment to say thank you and offer a prayer of gratitude. Give thanks for Zebedee and those like him make it possible for those like me to leave the nets behind and follow.
Amen.
|
|
|