What is Greatness?

Katelyn Rakotoarivelo

Sermon 9.20.2015

Faith Lilac Way Lutheran

What is greatness?

Last week, Pastor Pam asked “Who do you say Jesus is?” In our gospel reading for today, I would say Jesus is one who re-orients, one who challenges the systems and understandings of society.

After the disciples have been arguing about who is the greatest, Jesus reorients them. He tells them what greatness really is. He reorients them from a worldly view of greatness to greatness in the kingdom of God. “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all,” Jesus says. Servanthood is pretty different from what the disciples were arguing about.

In showing them what greatness really is, he also challenges the norms of society. He tells them "Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me, welcomes not me but the one who sent me."

We tend to see children as curious, innocent, imaginative -- but in Jesus’ time, children were near the bottom rungs of the social ladder, and they certainly had the lowest status in the household. It’s almost like they weren’t fully human. So when he’s telling the disciples to welcome children, he’s telling them to welcome the most vulnerable and overlooked people in their community. To welcome the sick, the poor, the foreigner.

I can’t imagine the disciples were feeling too proud of themselves in this moment. It says they were silent when Jesus asked them what they were arguing about. I think they were probably embarrassed, maybe even ashamed. After all, they’ve been with Jesus for some time now -- they’ve seen his ministry and heard his teachings. They know he is about service and healing and being with those who’ve been cast out. They should know what’s important in the kingdom of God. And yet the disciples are still wasting time arguing about which one of them is better than another. We might wonder how they’re seriously still stuck with that kind of concern, after everything they’ve learned from Jesus.

But maybe we shouldn’t be so quick to judge the disciples. Have you had profound experiences of God and yet still wonder if he’s really there? Do you know who Jesus is and what Jesus is about, and yet still have a hard time following him? We share this human reality with the disciples. We know what’s important, but we miss the mark sometimes.

Another thing we share with disciples is that our society also defines greatness in ways that are really different from how Jesus describes it. Wealth is one example.

Think of how we admire celebrities or how we nod approvingly at someone dressed in a sharp suit. Now think of how we turn up noses at those begging on the streets or someone who’s shown up in our neighborhood wearing ragged clothes, a little smelly and unkempt. 

We don’t know any of these people’s stories -- the ragged person showing up could have just escaped a really hard life, for example -- and yet we make assumptions about their worth. In both the disciples’ time and ours, the appearance of wealth is a marker of success, of greatness.

Another marker of greatness was simply being born in the right family with the right gender. In Jesus’ time and ours, you don’t have to have done anything but be born to be afforded certain privileges.

For example, if you were the firstborn male in an established Roman family, you had several things going for you -- you were the first born, you were a male, you had resources, you were Roman … all of these things meant you were “greater” than many others.

In our context, if you’re a white, able-bodied, male in a family of white U.S. citizens, those characteristics will make you greater than a brown, disabled female in an immigrant family. We all have characteristics we didn’t choose that benefit or disadvantage us in society.

And even if you’re the wealthiest, healthiest, most American man ever -- well, we all age and we all have the potential to lose our mental and physical faculties -- which will then send us spiraling down the mountain of greatness. How our world sees greatness turns life into a competition, into a show.

These societal definitions of greatness are shallow. They’re often unfair. And sometimes they’re fleeting. But the kind of greatness Jesus shows us, and what is great in the kingdom of God, is deep, accessible, and everlasting. Anyone can be a servant. Anyone can welcome the child, the sick, the poor, the stranger. Our capacities to serve and welcome may differ from person person, but no one is incapable of this kind of love.

There’s a video that went around online a few years ago that I think demonstrates this kind of greatness. In the video, there are two women, Gladys and Naomi. Both appear to be in their 80s or so. But these two women have very different circumstances. Gladys has been living with Alzheimer’s for nearly a decade, and she is virtually non-verbal. Naomi is in good health and is sound of mind and speech.

Some people might think Gladys isn’t quite human anymore -- just like we said about those children in Jesus’ time. Some people might think she’s not quite human because she can’t do things that most people can do -- like speak understandably, walk, bathe herself. But Naomi knows better.

She sees a person, a living, breathing soul. Naomi welcomes Gladys in her life, and she serves Gladys by trying to make a connection. She holds Gladys’s hands, notices the tear on her face, rubs her cheeks lovingly, and believes there can be communication.

Then Naomi starts to sing “Jesus Loves Me,” knowing that it would be a familiar song in Gladys’s life. Gladys begins to tap her hand to the rhythm of the song, and Naomi matches the speed of the song to the speed of Gladys’ tapping. Eventually, Gladys joins in a few words of singing “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” when Naomi sings it. As the video goes on, Naomi continues to be a comforting presence and remains in connection with Gladys.

I think Naomi exemplifies greatness here. She is looking after someone who is often forgotten by the world. She is welcoming someone extremely vulnerable. And she doesn’t expect that Gladys will communicate every time, but she believes it’s worth a try. And I think Gladys is great as well -- she’s also giving the gift of connection to Naomi, even if she isn’t fully aware.

This kind of greatness is far more powerful and meaningful than having more money than you can spend, or enjoying privileges granted to you by an unjust world.

But even if you enjoy certain privileges or possess astounding wealth, this doesn’t mean you can’t participate in the kind of greatness Jesus shows us. One example of this is Dikembe Mutombo. He is a Congolese man who played in the NBA for many years, even making it into the hall of fame.

He certainly made a large sum of money.

Many people in his position have easily squandered that kind of money away, spending it recklessly on themselves. However, Dikembe uses the wealth granted to him to help others in his home country. The point isn’t that having wealth is bad or sinful -- the point is that if you do have it, you have a responsibility to use it wisely and lovingly, just like any other gift or talent you may possess.

The mission statement of his foundation says,

“The Dikembe Mutombo Foundation is dedicated to improving the health, education and quality of life for the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Foundation strives to accomplish this goal through an emphasis on primary health care and disease prevention, the promotion of health policy, health research and increased access to health care education for the people of the Congo.” (http://www.dmf.org/mission-statement.html)

“In the Congo there is currently civil war and they have been entangled in violence since 1996. This conflict has been the world’s bloodiest since World War I. The country’s education, healthcare, and legal and road systems are in shambles.” (http://worldwithoutgenocide.org/genocides-and-conflicts/congo)

Dikembe has worked with others to help people in his country gain needed access to medical care and health care education, and in the future is working to improve general education for children. He’s using his resources to serve.

While playing professional basketball -- and being an exceptional player in the NBA at that -- is quite an achievement, this is not what makes Dikembe great. His greatness is in his service to some of the most vulnerable and overlooked people in our world.

Whether through larger-scale acts like Dikembe or one-on-one acts like Naomi and Gladys, this service and welcoming are what counts as greatness in the kingdom of God.

And just like the disciples needed reorienting, we do, too. We can never be reminded enough of what life is really about, what greatness really is. We can never be reminded enough that it is the content of our character and actions that determines who we are.

There are all kinds of pressures to be a certain way, to have certain things. There are all kinds of unjust markers of greatness that our society proclaims. But listen instead to Jesus’ proclamation: be a servant of all, and welcome those cast aside -- this is true greatness. Amen.

9-13-15 Getting to Know the Real Jesus - and Following Him

“ Who do people say that I am?”  That’s the question that Jesus asks his disciples. Clearly people have been talking about this miracle worker who heals the sick, teaches about God with authority and even casts out demons. The disciples answer readily: "John the Baptist; Elijah; one of the prophets."

 People haven’t stopped talking. It’s not “new news,” but in our media – print, internet and social media - there is still plenty of “talk” – and disagreement about “who is Jesus”.  So, if Jesus was to ask today, “Who do people say that I am?”  What are other people saying today?  Turn to your neighbor and tell them – You’ve got about 30 seconds – Go!

 So who DO people say that Jesus is?  (Invite people to share).

 OK – That’s what “THEY” say.  You know the next question: Who do YOU say that Jesus is?  Turn to that neighbor again.  30 more seconds – GO!

 So who do “YOU” say that Jesus is?  (Invite people to share).

 At our pastors’ text study this past week, Pastor Ashley shared a survey of ELCA youth – kids like ours –  that was done by Jen Bradbury, a seasoned youth worker who was working on her Masters in Youth Ministry project. She asked the youth this same question: Who do you say that Jesus is? 

 I was a bit surprised at the results.  Remember, these were church kids.  After Bradbury compiled the responses, the most popular description of Jesus was: “SUPERHERO JESUS” – a Jesus with power to do miracles.  The runner up she calls the “Mr. Rogers Jesus” – a kind, friendly teacher who teaches and demonstrates a good way of life.  In third place came a“God-like Jesus” – but still a man just with higher powers. She also found youth who described Jesus as a “Spiritual guru Jesus, “Joe Jesus” – my best buddy, and King Jesus.  To be fair, Jesus is described in all of these ways in scripture – but the “REAL JESUS” encompasses all of those characteristics – and more.  Distinctly missing from these descriptions was the description of Jesus as God.  For the REAL JESUS is both a real human being and really GOD.  Jesus is incarnate God – God with flesh and blood.

 A popular song a while back asked the question, “What if God were one of us.” Well… YES. That’s exactly who Jesus is. Really human –AND really God.  One of the biggest challenges for Christians today is that so many people in our culture THINK that they know who Jesus is – but they don’t know the REAL Jesus. 

 I hope our youth – and you all – would score higher than the youth that Jen Bradbury surveyed.  At Camp Wapo our youth sing a great song called “Prince of Peace” that helps articulate who Jesus really is – by naming Jesus as: “Lord, King, Mighty God, Emmanuel, the Great I AM, Prince of Peace, Lamb of God, Living God, Alpha, Omega, Savior, Messiah, Redeemer and friend.”  The REAL Jesus – both God and Human encompasses all of these names.

 Reading just a part of Bradbury’s study convinced me that I and YOU need to talk more about Jesus – and for two reasons.  First – because other people don’t know the REAL Jesus – God and Human.  And, because simply knowing who Jesus is – both God and Human – is just the first part of being a Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ. 

 The other part of being a follower of Jesus is just that:  it’s following… following Christ.

 That was Peter’s problem.  For a brief moment, it sounded as if Peter “Got it.”  He was able to answer Jesus’ question by confessing: “You are the Messiah” – which could also be translated as“God’s anointed. The One we have been waiting for.”  But Peter had his own idea of what it meant for Jesus to be the Messiah”. The Messiah that they had all been waiting for was one who would purify the society, put Israel first among nations and bring in a new era of peace and holiness.1 Peter had big ideas for the Messiah he was looking for and it didn’t have anything to do with Rejection. Suffering. Death.  Or a cross.

 That’s when Jesus gets in his face and says, “Get behind me Satan!”

 Imagine what this might have looked like.  Jesus is standing here, with his face pointed to Jerusalem.  That’s the destination, that’s the direction that he is headed – come hell or high water – literally.  So if Jesus is standing here – and looking in that direction – where is Peter is standing?  He’s probably standing right in front of Jesus – but that means he is looking 180 degrees in the opposite direction.   He’s headed the WRONG WAY.

 Ever accidentally turn the wrong way down a one way street? You don't have to admit it.  But let me tell you, that …once you realize it, it’s pretty scary. I did once see a man drive down the wrong way onto a freeway – and I just wanted to yell across the freeway to him: TURN AROUND.  You are going the WRONG WAY. That’s exactly what Jesus is saying to Peter.

 Peter’s ideas of the Messiah might have been for a “superhero Jesus” or a kingly Jesus. Peter’s way would have led to Glory and stardom and superhero status – not the cross. But that’s the WRONG WAY.  It’s not the way of Jesus. 

 To Peter, Jesus says, “Get behind me.”  Anything that stands in the way of Jesus is like Satan, going against God’s will.  Instead, Jesus rather pointedly commands Peter – Get behind me. Or in other words: Don’t lead because you’re going the wrong way.  Follow. Follow me. That’s what Jesus said to Peter and now, Jesus invites you, saying: “Follow Me”.

 So what does it mean to follow Jesus?

 Following may sound easy. But following Jesus doesn't mean sitting back and simply receiving God’s gifts of grace.  Following is active – not passive. Following Jesus means actively making choices in your life that follow Jesus. And, following Jesus means that you can’t follow other things that would send you a different way. 

 How do we follow Jesus?  We follow Jesus by doing what Jesus did – and by doing what Jesus taught: Love God. Love your neighbor as yourself.  It isn’t complicated. There aren’t a lot of rules. But that doesn’t make it easy.  It’s challenging because the culture – and human nature – often encourage us to do just the opposite – and to go a different way. 

 But Jesus wants us to follow and so he gave us four tools, gifts, to help us.  Jesus taught us to PRAY – to ask God for help; Jesus entrusted us with the WORD of GOD to guide us; Jesus gave us ONE ANOTHER – Christian community and finally, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit so that we would not be alone.

 Jesus said, “Follow Me.” It’s an invitation and a challenge. So let’s follow.  Follow Jesus – the Real Jesus, who is God incarnate, God made human. Amen.

 1Matt Skinner – Working Preacher website: 

9-15-15 Challenges of Race and Culture for Christianity

The Gospel according to Mark 7:24-37 (NRSV)

24 From there he set out and went away to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice,

25 but a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet.

26 Now the woman was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter.

27 He said to her, "Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs."

28 But she answered him, "Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs."

29 Then he said to her, "For saying that, you may go--the demon has left your daughter."

30 So she went home, found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.

31 Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis.

32 They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him.

33 He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue.

34 Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened."

35 And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly.

36 Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it.

37 They were astounded beyond measure, saying, "He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak."

Healing and Transformation

Location. Location. Location.  That’s what realtors say. Location is important when buying a house - but location matters in our Gospel too - because it gives us the context of the story.  So when Mark writes that Jesus headed to the region of Tyre, that’s the coast of the Mediterranean Sea - it’s like going “up north”.  And Mark tells us, that Jesus “did not want anyone to know he was there.”  

In light of my recent travels, I wondered, “Is Jesus trying to take a “Sabbatical?” Who could blame him?  He has just fed 5000 people with a little boys lunch, walked on water, taught crowds of people and challenged the authority of the Pharisees – as well as a host of other miracles.  I would say that Jesus deserves a break, a time with his disciples to refresh and renew.

But somehow news travels in a small town.  Mark writes that a woman came and bowed at his feet.  In the culture of Jesus’ day, women did not approach men, especially not a Jewish rabbi. This woman was a Gentile and a foreigner – a Syrophoenician Gentile woman. In the Jewish culture of the day that was three strikes against her.  She would not be expected to even get near him - let along talk to him. Yet… here she is.

Before I go any further, I have to say that this passage has ALWAYS made me uncomfortable. You can probably guess why.  When this woman – we don’t know her name – bows at Jesus’ feet and begs for help, Jesus responds, “"Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs."   Did Jesus just call her a dog?  That just doesn’t fit with my image of Jesus. 

There are times in which I wish I could do what Thomas Jefferson did.  He simply took a scissors and cut out all the passages of the Bible that he didn’t like. It’s tempting. These words offend our - my ears. How could these be the words of the Jesus that I know?  But then…I don’t remember who told me this – but one pastor said that if a scripture was offensive or challenging just hold onto it and squeeze it, squeeze it like you are squeezing an orange until the juice runs out -- squeeze the scripture until the Gospel comes out.

So, first let’s look at who’s writing this Gospel – because perspective matters. If you were to take a picture of a cat, the picture you got would depend on your perspective – just look at the cat pictures on the internet.  Did you take the picture of a cat all stretched out – or curled up in a ball.   Or did you take the picture from above looking down at it? Or close up to reveal the whiskers. Each picture would reveal something different about the cat and if a four people who had never seen a cat before were given just one of these pictures – their image of what a cat is would be vastly different.  In this same way, each of the Gospel writers reveals a different perspective of Jesus.  The Gospel of John portrays Jesus as godly, all-knowing, and spiritual. Jesus is human too -- but just barely. In Mark, Jesus is very human – touchable – someone you can imagine walking along the shore and stubbing his toe. Mark is also the shortest Gospel and so the details he shares seem to be very intentional.

So why does Mark quote Jesus saying something we would consider a cultural or racial slur?  Cultural ethnic bias was clearly present in Jesus' day. It was around before Jesus. Religious and ethnic cleansing is nothing new.  There are clear commands in the Hebrew Scriptures, our Old Testament, to the Israelites to kill all of the pagan residents as they enter the promised land as a way to protect the Israelites from falling away from God’s way.  As the prophets remind us, God chose the people of Israel to be God’s people. Further, God promised to send Israel a Savior, a messiah. In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus comes as just that – the Jewish Messiah, the one the was promised. Jesus’ mission is clear: he was sent to the children of Israel.  He's only in Tyre for a little R&R. 

If this story was in the Gospel of John- and it’s not - it would be clear that Jesus knew all along what the Gentile Phoenician woman would say - and what he was going to do.  But this story is in the Gospel of Mark - and Mark’s Jesus seems genuinely surprised by the humble yet bold words of this foreign Gentile woman.  And Jesus - like God in the Hebrew Scriptures - can’t resist being Gracious. Every time God changes God’s mind in the Hebrew scriptures, it’s to show mercy rather than judgment and to extend care rather than destruction. Like Father, like Son. Jesus does the same thing.  Jesus changes his mission

This is a turning point in Jesus ministry. He heals the daughter with a word. At the next stop he heals a deaf and mute gentile man in the Greek area of Decapolis.  It’s not that there weren’t Jewish deaf and mute people in need of healing.  But Jesus, nudged by the bold and audacious words of a foreign gentile woman, the ultimate outsider, expands his mission to include all people.  He includes women, and “foreigners” - people of other cultures, people who didn’t look like him, and people who had always been considered “outside” the family of God.  And he didn’t wait a nanosecond. He acted immediately.

This past week, I received an email from the Presiding Bishop of the ELCA , Elizabeth Eaton, the woman who introduced herself to our high school mission trip youth as “the Lutheran Pope.” Don’t worry - she wasn’t complaining about our kids.  Instead, she challenged me - and every other ELCA pastor, bishop and rostered leader to focus this Sunday on the issue of race. “In a letter to the African Methodist Episcopalian church, the AME, she promised them -- and shechallenged us --to join in “Confession, Repentance and Commitment to End Racism.”   

I didn’t want to do it.  After all, my mission is to the people here at Faith-Lilac Way. You all are really nice people – good Christian people who want to serve the Lord.   You know what’s been going on in the news in the culture around us – and maybe you just want to take a break from the culture outside –take an hour sabbatical from the cultural challenges on the outside – and just hear Good News.

But just as Jesus’ sabbatical was cut short by the bold and audacious words of a woman who wanted healing and wholeness for her daughter – and who did not want to wait but wanted God’s righteousness NOW, so too, there are people – Christians even, but not just Christians – who are dying to have God’s Justice, God’s Righteousness NOW.

You know the stories – they’ve been on the news. 

In fact, these stories have been on the news so much that perhaps your sensitivity has even been dulled – or overwhelmed, or perhaps you think – this is terrible – but what could I do.”

That’s how I felt. But then I heard a National Press club speech on the radio by Bishop John Richard Bryant of the African Methodist Episcopal church.  Speaking of the hate crime at Mother Emanuel Church in South Carolina, the Bishop said,”the nation was able to get a close- up view of a real church and a description of a real pastor. They were murdered while studying the Word of God. Pastored by a man who loved Jesus, loved his family, loved his flock, loved his community. He was on the floor (of the state legislature) because he was a State Representative. An important vote was coming up. His seatmate said, “You stay for this vote.” And he said, “No. I’m going to a prayer meeting.” I’ve been elected here but I’ve been selected there. And I’ve made it clear that my first priority is the Church.” And so he went to his church, to Bible study, welcomed a new person into the group --- and was shot to death in the middle of the Biblestudy. “  Nine people shot to death in Biblestudy for what? The color of their skin.

There was a time for questions after the speech and one person asked, “

How do you take down the racism in people’s hearts and minds? Bishop Bryant responded, “And that’s where we need our white brothers and sisters of good will.” 

That’s us. Bishop Bryant is asking for your help and mine. And our own Bishop Eaton has promised that we will. Hate crimes happen – but there have been too many incidents of racial violence in this country to dismiss this as one act of one crazy person. And people are taking notice. It’s time. It’s time for us to be those “white brothers and sisters of good will.”

So how do we help? Bishop Eaton called us to Confession and Repentance. Confession and Repentance- that’s prayer.  We need to prayerfully confess and repent of those times in which we have stood by and participated – willingly or unknowingly – as our black brothers and sisters have suffered under the ungodly system of racism.

Prayer is our first step – and it is an essential first step because we need God to take down the racism that lurks in our hearts and minds. But, as the letter of James reminds us, as essential as prayer is, it can’t be the last step.

Bishop Eaton also calls us not only to join in “Confession, Repentance” but also a “Commitment to End Racism.”  It’s a tall order -- but we believe that nothing is impossible for God. So we pray and our prayer must lead us to action… to change…so that we can grow in love and care for our neighbor. And at this moment, our black neighbors are asking us for help. Still responding to the question of how to take down the racism in people’s hearts and minds, Bishop Bryant said, “A lot is said in our absence that can be corrected.”  He’s calling on you to speak up when a neighbor makes a racist joke. Work against the injustice in your workplace or school. Share the love of Christ that knows no bounds of color for this is what Jesus Christ calls us to do: love and care for the neighbor.

On the day that the Syrophroenician woman boldly asked Jesus to heal her daughter, the focus of Jesus’ ministry was broken wide open to include the outsider, the poor, the foreigner, the disenfranchised, the weak, the deaf and the mute.  Jesus mission was no longer to the “insiders”  - and neither is ours.

Let’s start with prayer: Lord God, Open our hearts. Embolden us to confess and repent of the sin of racism and heal us and put love in its place. Transform us to be agents of change so that our world can be a place of love - not hate, justice - not inequality, a place where people care for the other and not just “their own,” a place in which all children are called “children of God” . In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Pastor Pamela Stalheim Lane

Faith-Lilac Way Lutheran Church, Robbinsdale

September 6, 2015

8-30-15 Vicar Katelyn

So … Jesus is telling us not to wash our hands before meals? That seems odd … Of course that is not the point of this passage. I don’t think Jesus is against trying to prevent spreading disease.

The issue for Jesus isn’t the ritual washing itself -- his issue is with how the Pharisees have decided that this (and probably many other things) are just as important as God’s commandment to love and serve others.

It’s kind of like saying that how chairs and tables are arranged for our community breakfast this morning is of equal importance to actually feeding people and being together. The set-up matters, but the exact method isn’t on the same level as providing a needed meal.

So let’s take a look at the problem this text points out, what the Gospel has to say about it, and what this all means for us.

Put simply, the problem is that we put our own desires above God’s commandments and mission. We make idols out of our traditions and gods out of our desires. There are two main examples of this in the text.

First, Jesus accuses the Pharisees of “teaching human precepts as doctrines.” I’m pretty sure this applies to us as well. We sometimes act as though our own practices and traditions are as sacred and unchangeable as if they were established by Jesus himself. Can you think of anything like that?

We also might not even know why we do what we do, like the woman in this story:

“One day, a mother was teaching her daughter the family recipe for making a whole baked ham. It was the very best ham anybody had ever had so they always followed that recipe carefully.

They prepared the marinade, scored the skin, put in the cloves, and then came a step the daughter didn't understand.

"Why do we cut off the ends of the ham?" she said. "Doesn't that make it dry out?"

"You know, I don't know," said the mother. "That's just the way grandma taught me. We should call grandma and ask."

So they called grandma and asked, "Why do we cut off the ends of the ham? Is it to let the marinade in, or what?"

"No," said grandma. "To be honest, I cut the ends off because that's how my mother taught me. Let's call great grandma and ask her."

So they called great grandma, and the old woman listened to their questions, and then she exclaimed:

"Oh, for goodness sake! I cut off the ends because I didn't have a pan big enough for a whole thing!" (adapted)

Sometimes traditions are very meaningful and make a big difference. But if we never ask why we do what we do, we may end up wasting perfectly good ham.

But back to the text. Jesus also informs the people that it’s not outside practices or conditions that defile, that force us away from God’s commandments -- he says it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come. Fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, envy, slander, pride, folly … add anything you like … these all happen because we act on poor motivations and bad intentions that arise within us.

There is a version of the Bible called The Message, which paraphrases Scripture in some evocative ways. It describes these sins as vomit from the heart, and says that they pollute our lives.

Vomit from the heart … pollution. These are some strong images. And I think they’re accurate. When we act out of evil intentions, when we vomit from our hearts, our actions pollute. If you throw a bunch of trash and chemicals on the ground, it will start to ruin the soil. Eventually it may seep into plants. If you spread an untrue rumor about someone, it pollutes their lives -- it first affects them, then their family, then their relationships with other people. Both in nature and in our human lives, sinful actions spread and contaminate. It’s possible to clean up pollution, but it can be pretty hard.

So when we put our own desires first -- whether it’s our desires for how something has to be done or a sinful desire to act hurtfully -- we neglect other things.

We might not think about why we do what we do, and instead just go through the motions. We might miss out on a bigger picture because we’re so determined to do something our way. We might miss out on God’s mission and God’s call for us because we’re too focused on getting revenge or being jealous of someone.

We miss out on participating in God’s kingdom because we’ve replaced what should be central -- God’s commandment to love and serve others -- with something else.

But fortunately, God intends another way for us to live.

The response of the Gospel is pretty clear: God’s commandment to love and serve others is what’s most important, and should inform our whole lives. The second reading for today, James 1, tells us: “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress … ” And in the passages in Mark that come after today’s Gospel reading are examples of loving and serving others, of bringing about God’s kingdom -- Jesus heals the Syrophonecian woman’s daughter, he heals a deaf man with a speech impediment, and he feeds thousands.

Orphans, widows, and those with disabilities were some of the most vulnerable and disenfranchised people at that time. Today this might those who are mentally ill and homeless, those who are new immigrants from war-torn countries, those who are sold as objects in human trafficking.

We can’t fix all the problems of the world, but making God’s commandment to love and serve others central would sure make a difference. If what is within our hearts is a focus on this commandment, then our actions will follow.

Our lives will reflect what we’ve decided is most important … which brings us to what this all means.

First, let me say what this doesn’t mean. You don’t need to get out pen and paper and make a checklist of things to do. You don’t need to post a list of morals on your wall. You don’t need to keep track of absolutely everything you do wrong.

This is not a call to perfection, nor is that even possible.

But, as one theologian (Karoline Lewis) says: “If you expect to follow Jesus, then this will demand an examination of yourself, of your true intentions, your true beliefs, and on what you stake your relationship with God.”

We need to ask ourselves if our practices and traditions help us to live as God intends. We need to examine our desires and our hearts. We need to be honest with ourselves about whether what we truly believe is reflected in how we live.

Jesus is calling us to put God’s mission before our own wishes. He is calling us to go beyond our comfortable traditions and jump into serving others.

It can definitely be hard in our society to put God’s commandment first -- you do have to make an effort. But if you do, you never know what might happen. As James also says, be doers of the Word. You might make a huge difference in someone’s life because you paid attention to their needs. You might inspire someone to love and serve because they see you as an example. You might find healing in your life because love replaced hatred in your heart.

Certainly you will be transformed.

You cannot control how others act or decide the values of society. But you can decide what’s most important to you and to live as an example. When you choose to ask a homeless person their name, when you choose to be an advocate for those suffering abuse, when you choose to pray for someone who’s hurt you -- you are choosing to reflect the love of God in who you are.

Who you are are is a beloved child of God called into this life of love and service. It might not be easy to examine your life and place God’s commandment in your heart … but I can’t imagine anything more worthwhile. Amen.

Surprise! It's Jesus!

Surprise! It's Jesus!
May 17, 2015
Pastor Pamela Stalheim Lane

Surprise! Do you love surprise parties? Many people that I know love GIVING surprise parties… but would rather not be the one “surprised.”

Today’s Gospel has multiple surprises. 

The first surprise came On the Way.  Cleopas and his companion were surprised that the curious stranger knew nothing about what had been going on in Jerusalem. Their eyes were kept from recognizing Jesus but we, the reader, can see that they had all of the information.  The women told them of the empty tomb. Some disciples had checked it out.  There was even a report of angels proclaiming that Jesus was alive.  And yet… Cleopas and his companion were discouraged.   For none of them saw Jesus.   That’s what they were waiting for… hope against hope… they wanted to see Jesus… but they were disappointed.  Peter went home. And they were on their way, away from their hopes and dreams of a messiah.

The next surprise came in the stranger’s response. He chastises them, saying, "Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared!”  Jesus – although they did not know it was Jesus – sounds like a high school or college professor whose entire class has failed the exam.  Didn’t you get all of the lectures that I gave? The stories that I shared?  But then, again like a teacher who goes back over everything that she has taught for the last four years so that you will be ready for that IB or AP or Final exam… Jesus patiently begins to teach, and as they walk the road he goes through the Hebrew Scriptures – what we call the Old Testament – and explains the passages about the Messiah.  His teaching was full of surprises.

Surprises even come in the ordinary breaking of the Bread.

It had been a long day when they finally got to Emmaus.  It was late.  So Cleopas and his companion do what any honorable Israelite would do – they urge the stranger to stay with them.  The roads simply were not safe after dark – and offering hospitality was the courteous thing to do.  They shared a meal.  Again, this was an ordinary event. The only thing unusual was that traditionally, since Cleopas and his companion offered the hospitality, they would be the ones to offer the blessing.  But instead, it is Jesus who becomes the host and blesses the bread. Luke writes, “Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him.”  That was a great surprise party.

It’s a holy “AHA” moment, and that changed the way that they saw everything. Jesus vanishes. But that doesn’t seem to bother them. Instead, they began to remember and reflect. They remembered that the Word took on new life and meaning as he opened scripture for them. They said, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?" They remembered Jesus’ presence with them on the road.   As they reflected, Cleopas and his companion realized that while their eyes were first opened to see Jesus when he broke the bread, Jesus was present with them as he taught the word and as they walked on the way.

Jesus is present for us in each of these ways too.

Jesus has promised to be with us in the breaking of the bread.  As he invited the disciples at the Last Supper, so he invites us to “take and eat” his body and drink of his blood.   We come together not as perfect people but as broken people, people who are thirsty for hope and health and healing and hungry for new life.  We come, each one with our own needs and cares and concerns. But, as we come together and receive Jesus’ body and blood… suddenly, we are no longer just us. Now we have taken into our own bodies, Christ’s body and blood.  We are no longer separated by our own cares but now Christ is in us, empowering us… and has chosen to work through us.  

Jesus has also promised to be with us in the Word. Jesus is with you as you read your devotions privately, in a Bible class, and as we come together to hear the Word of God read and proclaimed as the Community of Christ at Faith-Lilac Way.   We come together to hear God’s Word, and then to learn, grow and be transformed.

Jesus met Cleopas and his companion “on the Way.” They just didn’t know it.   That’s the way it is for us… most of the time.  We can get so focused and busy on what we are doing, our agendas, schedules, plans, that we don’t look for or recognize the presence of God in our midst.  But Jesus has promised us that He will be with us - Always.  And Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to be with us…. ALWAYS.  That’s a promise.

Just as Jesus was present for Cleopas and his companion in the breaking of the bread, in the Word, and “on the way”, so too, Jesus is present for us.  For the next three months, I will be walking on some new paths on my pilgrim journey -- some close to home and others overseas as I delve into Scripture, study Luther again, and take some extra time to reflect and pray.  I know that Jesus will be present with me and with my family as we journey on the way and as we break the bread and study the Word.  In the meantime, I know that Jesus will be present here too.  You will hear the Word proclaimed through wonderful pastors – some new to you, like Ibrahim from Nigeria and Pastor Dan from Bonfire, and Pastor John and some you will welcome back, like Pastor Eleanor and Pastor Bob and now Pastor Durk.  You will break bread here with Pastor John and Vicar Kelly.   Some of you too will be walking paths “up North,” journeying to cabins and lakes or traveling to other places.  But regardless of where you walk, People of Faith-Lilac Way, know that Jesus is walking with you on THE WAY, giving you Faith for the journey.  And that’s a promise.  Amen.

Pastor Pamela Stalheim Lane
May 17, 2015