In this beautiful letter

In this beautiful letter to the church he founded in Philippi, Paul calls his beloved friends into the humility of Christ by recalling one of the earliest hymns of the Christian church.

This “Christ hymn” was likely very meaningful to the Philippians; perhaps they even knew it by heart, much like we know the Lord’s Prayer or the Apostle’s Creed, or our own favorite hymn. In it, the very essence of Christ’s self-sacrificing heart is captured poetically. Paul uses the hymn to comfort the Philippians who face difficult times and to nudge them in the direction of Christ’s humility and unity as a church. Maybe during these days, we need that comfort and nudge too.    

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, Paul writes. I don’t know about you, but most time the thought of “having the same mind that was in Jesus Christ” – seems like one tall order. How exactly am I to empty and humble myself like Christ, when Christ went so far as to lay down his life for me, for us? Where does one go for “practical advice” on this seemingly impossible ask?

When I search for contemporary examples of Christ-like humility, I immediately jump to giants of the faith like Mother Teresa. Now here was a young Catholic girl from Albania named Agnes, who, at the age of twelve, heard a strong call from God. She became a nun and lived a life of devotion and self-sacrifice, working tirelessly on behalf of the poorest of the poor in the slums of Calcutta, India. Her missionary work spread all over the world, earning her numerous awards and distinctions, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. Surely, this was the kind of life Paul had in mind as he wrote to his church in Philippi.

Yet did you know that a book of Mother Teresa’a letters published after her death revealed that she, in fact, was deeply tormented about her faith throughout her life? She was deeply doubtful about God, spiritually empty more often than not. She was, indeed, deeply human.     

Still, she continued, holding the hands of lepers, and kissing the cheeks of those who were starving to death…witnessing to Christ through her hands, her smile, and her loving presence. I wonder if she was also searching for Christ in the faces of those she served.

It seems that no matter who we are in this life, to allow the mind of Christ to be shaped within is, in part to know deeply that we need one another.

As I listen to Paul’s letter to the Philippians again, I’m struck by how deeply Paul and the members of his church needed one another as they collectively persevered in the faith. Paul calls the Philippians his beloved (Phil 2:12), joyously recounting all they have meant to one another. The truth is that even as Paul’s founding words and presence led many in this early church to Christ, it is the people of the church who have sustained Paul’s broader ministry, spiritually, emotionally, and financially. Now, in prison and facing an uncertain future at the hands of the Romans, Paul reached out once more in solidarity, to help them with their internal conflicts, to rekindle their unity and shared purpose in Christ. As one commentator put it: “[Paul and the Philippians] are coparticipants in the good news about the things God has accomplished through Jesus Christ.”[1]

To co-labor with Christ is to open our hearts to both the giving and receiving of love and fellowship – to open our hearts to the reciprocity of being Christ to one another – just as was the case between Paul and the members of this early church in Philippi. 

Sometimes, this reciprocity hits home in a moment shared with a complete stranger.

Last year, about this time of year, I had just started working at Methodist Hospital as a chaplain. I was rushing to work one morning and everything seemed to be going wrong. I had slept through my alarm, I had no time to make coffee, the kids barely got to the bus on time…and when I finally got on the highway to work, there was a major traffic jam. And then, when I got into the parking garage at the hospital, I took a wrong turn, and ended up going in circles for a while. I was nervous to be seeing patients that day for the first time, and now I was late for work.

As I yanked my heavy bag out from the car, and rushed into the hospital, I noticed from a distance a nurse in scrubs standing outside the parking lot door, holding it wide open for me. She had warm eyes and a knowing smile, and she simply said, “I’m leaving and you are coming.”

It was a small act of kindness, really, but the moment we shared was sacred. Something inside of me really saw this nurse. I saw that she looked weary after a long night of work, her ponytail messy and her mascara smeared. And she clearly saw me, harried and anxious, and looked out for me by opening the door. We were two strangers who saw one another as beloved. One person giving what she could give, the other receiving what she needed. Christ was present, I am certain of it.

That’s the other piece about taking on the mind of Christ. It means having a capacity to really see people, for who they are, beloved children of God, and opening their doors when we can. Not just literal doors, though that is kind too. But when we act with the heart of Christ, we open metaphorical doors for others: we share our time and attention, we share our resources, and we are willing to share our own power and privilege with others who lack it. This is exactly how Christ emptied himself for us.   

To find Christ, is to need and seek out one another. To really see one another as beloved. To give graciously and receive gratefully. And to share what power and privilege we have in this life with others. Even as I write these words, they seem like such simple truths about humility. But they are profoundly counter-cultural, in Paul’s day and today, in a world that says greed and power should rule the day. In a world that says the first shall be first, and the last shall be last. In a world that says hold on to whatever you have for yourself.

Jesus came into this world to show us a different way. 

It is not an easy way. And it is not a comfortable way. And sometimes it doesn’t even seem fair. But our God gives us a precious gift, the gift of abundant faith and with it the vision to see Christ working in the world, and the strength to be Christ working in the world.    

Dear friends, may you find comfort and unity in the humble heart of Christ and in one another today.

Amen.

[1] Matthew L. Skinner, A Companion to the New Testament: Paul and the Pauline Letters (Waco, Texas: Baylor University Press, 2018) 197.

Generosity

There is a part of me that really doesn’t like this parable and another part that loves it.

First – why I really don’t like this parable.  I grew up on a small dairy farm and when it was harvest season – like now – everyone worked. So having spent some summers working all day in the heat and the sun, I can sympathize with those who worked all day - and resented getting paid the same as those who worked just an hour. They cry out, “Not fair!” and they grumble.

And I get it – it just doesn’t seem fair. I understand that grumbling – and I may have grumbled too. But that doesn’t put me in very good company.  It puts me with the workers who worked all day and grumbled; the pharisees who were constantly grumbling and with the older brother of the prodigal son – remember, he complained of his father’s generosity too. This parable teaches me that although I grew up being told to be “fair,” sometimes being fair isn’t always the best course of action. 

For example, imagine that I had a big project to do in my yard. And then suppose there were three neighborhood youth hanging out at the corner nearby. I knew them and so I called out to them, “Hey, can you come and help me? I need to get this cleared. And I’ve got doughnuts for those who help!”

 A couple of kids came over and started to help. One ignored me, busy with his phone. The two kids and I worked and worked but we were barely making a dent. Then I saw a few other kids on another corner. I made the same offer and they came to help too. This went on for the whole afternoon. At the end of the day, even the guy on his phone came to help – for about 15 minutes. But, together, we got the job done. 

So how do I give out the doughnuts? Do I parcel out the doughnuts based on the time that each one worked? Do I give 5 doughnuts to the ones who came first?  And then a couple to the ones who came after that? And then tear off a quarter of a doughnut for the one who came last? It would be fair, right?  But not the best solution. I would likely make the first two sick and shame the last one.

In Jesus’ story, the owner doesn’t seem at all concerned about being “fair” or about paying by the hour. Instead, he chooses to be generous to those who weren’t chosen first.

We don’t know the stories of the workers in the vineyard or why some of them weren’t hired at the beginning of the day. We do know that daily wage workers depended in those days and still today on working every day in order to make ends meet. But it’s possible that some were simply lazy and slept in.  But maybe one of them had to take care of his kids before he left for work. Maybe another one of them lived out of town and had to walk to the job center because he didn’t have any bus fare. Maybe some of them looked weak or old or sickly and no one wanted to hire them. We don’t know. All we know is that the vineyard owner simply chooses to give them what they need – and not what they deserve.

Jonah, in our first lesson, gets mad at God for not giving the Ninevites the treatment they deserve – which is the destruction of their city and their lives. Even God had called the Nineva a wicked city.  But instead of just crushing them, God decides to send Jonah to proclaim their destruction if they did not repent.

It’s a great story, but often we just focus on the escapades of Jonah running away from God and getting swallowed by a whale. When Jonah finally is convinced to go to Ninevah, he gives the most effective sermon ever – just one sentence warning that the people of Ninevah would be destroyed in 40 days. It worked. The king and all the people listened and repented and then… God changed God’s mind and forgave them. And Jonah got mad.

Jonah yells, “O Lord! Is not this what I said while I was still in my own country? That is why I fled; …for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and ready to relent from punishing.”  And then he pouts. He grumbles.

And this makes me think about those times when I have been caught grumbling when things don’t seem fair. (And I’m reminded that those who are grumbling are always the ones who are doing the opposite of God’s will and God’s way).  So, perhaps instead of asking if something is fair (or complaining when it is not) the question that I need to ask is a different one. Maybe I need to ask: what is the most gracious and generous way that I can respond? Because that’s the way God responds – and the way God wants us to respond to one another too,

For Jonah was right about who God is. God is gracious, merciful, slow to anger, loving and… ready to forgive.  That’s why God chose to give the Ninevites what they needed – a prophet -- so that they could change their ways – instead of the destruction that they deserved.

This is God’s character. God chooses to forgive the Ninevites and the rest of us sinners – all of us - who fall short of being the people that God made us to be. Instead of giving us what we deserve – God gives us something much, much better. God gives us Jesus – to be our savior who forgives us, restores us, renews us and promises to be with us always. Instead of being fair, God is generous with me – and you –and gives us far more than we can imagine.

And this is why I love this parable. It not only shows God’s grace and generosity but also encourages me – and you -- to be and act like our best selves. In the midst of the challenges of this day, it isn’t easy. But even at times like these, we can pray that the Holy Spirit gives us the grace to show generosity to one another– not only to our friends but also to those we call stranger, those you may disagree with, “those other people” or even those you don’t like… which sometimes includes ourselves.   And God, who hears all our prayers, will graciously give you – and me – the courage to show mercy, grace and love too. Thanks be to God! Amen.

Generous God, thank you for giving us mercy, love and grace instead of giving us what we deserve. Help us to show that same love and grace to others. Lord in your mercy….

Forgiven

Forgiveness. We all want to be forgiven. But forgiving someone else – from the heart - especially for a deep hurt – that’s harder.

Last fall, a young black man named Brandt Jean sat on the witness stand speaking to the former police officer, Amber Guyger, who was convicted of murdering his brother Bothem. Amber had entered Bothem’s apartment, thinking it was her own, and seeing him,  she thought he was an intruder, and shot him on the spot. At her trial, Brant was to testify to the personal hurt and loss and the damage that she caused by killing his brother. But instead, Brandt said, “speaking for myself, I forgive and love you just as any other person.” He invited her to give her life to Christ who would also forgive her. He that that this is what his brother would have wanted too. He then asked the judge permission to give her a hug, which the judge granted. I’ve included the link to the clip from the Dallas courtroom. If you haven’t seen it, it is worth watching. 1

Forgiveness of such a horrible crime amazes me not only because it is unusual but also because it feels like it goes against our natural instincts. When hurt, we have a right to be angry. We want justice. We want to hold the person accountable. We want someone to pay.  But, in time, for our own sake, we also need to be able to come to a place of peace and, hopefully, forgiveness.

The Amish understand the importance of forgiveness. Remember the story of the Amish people who not only forgave the man who shot their daughters in their schoolhouse but also befriended his parents? Steven Nolt, a professor of Amish studies, said that most people work through grief and pain – and then comes acceptance and perhaps forgiveness. However, the Amish have a practice of forgiving first. They still have to work through their grief and pain, but they start from a different place. They start from a faith practice of forgiveness. 2

Jonas Beiler, an Amish family counselor said,  "Tragedy changes you. You can't stay the same… Where that lands you don't always know. But what I found out, in my own experience, if you bring what little pieces you have left to God, he somehow helps you make good out of it.” 3    

It was because of his faith that Brandt Jean was able to forgive Amber, the white former police officer who killed his brother. But, he wisely did not offer forgiveness from anyone else in his family. It was only from himself, from his heart. For forgiveness can’t be mandated or given on behalf of anyone else. 

Brandt Jean received praise for his gracious word of forgiveness, But, as Bernice King, the youngest daughter of Coretta Scott King and Martin Luther King Jr. said, “don't confuse his forgiveness with absolving this nation for its gross, bitter discrimination against Black people in a myriad of its systems and policies.”4  She’s right. As a country, we still have a problem with racism and it is not going to be solved by the families of victims simply forgiving those who hurt them. Forgiveness opens the door for reconciliation. It does not condone or excuse the harm that was done.

Forgiveness is an act of grace towards someone who has harmed or hurt you in some way.  And, as much as it is a gift to another, it can also help in your own healing. As Brandt’s mother Allison said, "I'm proud of you my son, Brandt. Your load is lighter… Forgiveness is for the forgiver and it doesn't matter what the forgiven does with it." 3She’s right. Forgiveness, by itself, does not change the one who is forgiven.

We see this in Jesus’ story. The king forgave the slave who begged for mercy. That slave owed an incredible amount. There was no way that he or his children or even his children’s children would ever be able to repay it.  But, instead of responding with mercy and forgiveness as he had been forgiven, he chose to use his power against the one who owed him just a small sum. 

Jesus’ story begs the question, “How could someone who had been forgiven so much – not turn around and forgive someone else who owed him so little?”

Indeed, that’s the question for us too, isn’t it?  We – you and I – have been forgiven ALL of the times in which we have not been the people God made us to be. Jesus forgives us for the times in which we put our own selfish wants and desires above loving God and above caring for God’s creation, including our neighbors, our family, and the world around us.  Speaking for myself, how can I, who have been forgiven so much, so many times, NOT  forgive others?  

And yet, forgiveness does not always come easily.

I’ve noticed that the pandemic has put additional stress on everyone. And it is starting to show. For example, the other day the manager of a grocery store came out and yelled at a bunch of kids. She would have never done that in “normal times.” In another store, one shopper snarkily chided another for not properly wearing her mask. In this time of the pandemic, it seems to me that a lot of people need to, as the Romans text scripture reminds us, “mind your own knitting.”  Finally, it may be me, but it seems as if there is a lot of very fast and unsafe driving lately.  Frankly, I think people are all just a little frayed at the edges and the stress and anxiety of these times is simply coming out sideways.

So how can we begin to reclaim and live into the gracious life that Jesus calls us into?

Maybe it begins with silently forgiving the little microaggressions that we encounter on the highway or in the grocery story. Or maybe it begins by paying attention to and remembering some of the many times that we have received forgiveness. 

For example, this chair is a reminder to me of forgiveness. The needlepoint work was made by my mother a long time ago when I was a little girl. She worked on it for years and was so proud when she finally finished it. 

Shortly after she completed it, for some reason, I took a glass of grape juice into our living room and sat down in this chair. Now we were never allowed to bring food or beverages of any kind into the living room, so why I was doing this, I don’t know. But I do remember that just as I sat down, I slipped, and the entire glass of grape juice fell onto the chair. And not in one spot. It went all over. I was horrified. And so was my mother.  She was also really angry. But… despite her anger, she forgave me.

To this day, I don’t know how she got the stain out of it – but I can tell you this:  It was an answer to prayer.

Brothers and sisters, friends in Christ, we are all forgiven sinners. Like the slave in the Gospel, we too have been forgiven far more than we could ever repay.  So let our song be that God would mold us and form us and shape us so that we can lived grace – filled lives, in imitation of God: slow to anger and quick to forgive.  We pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

1Video  https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4&v=vYsMlKCa9EQ&feature=emb_logo

2. NPR Mpr News Amish Forgive School Shooter, Struggle with Grief  https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14900930

3. https://www.independent.co.uk/extras/lifestyle/how-amish-community-forgave-murderer-s-mother-a7343341.html

4 https://www.npr.org/2019/10/03/766866875/brandt-jeans-act-of-grace-toward-his-brother-s-killer-sparks-a-debate-over-forgi

5. Kathryn Schifferdecker, Forgiveness Is at the Core Sunday, Sept 06,  2020  https://www.workingpreacher.org/craft.aspx?post=5454

Speaking the Truth in Love: Opening the Door to Reconciliation

Do you read the comics? In a recent Calvin and Hobbs comic, Calvin “kidnapped” his neighbor Suzie’s doll. Suzie was outraged…much to the amusement of Calvin. But then… Suzie grabbed Calvin’s stuffed tiger, “Hobbs” and ran into her house and locked the door.  Now Calvin was outraged.  He complains, “So I kidnapped her stupid doll. She didn’t need to retaliate! Can’t she take a joke? Girls have No sense of humor. That’s their whole problem! And then he says…All this was funny until she did the same thing to me….”

Retaliation.  Revenge. Conflict. You probably have been living alone on a deserted island if you have never experienced conflict.  But even then… did you hear about the man who was rescued from a deserted island? He proudly showed the crew that found him his house and even the church that he had built. But one of the crew noticed another building.  He asked the man, what’s that?  Oh, the man replied, “that’s the other church. I never go there.”  

In our Gospel, Jesus speaks about conflict – especially church conflict. Most of us, including me, don’t like to talk about conflict. We would rather avoid it altogether. Why borrow trouble? After all… our world seems to be full of conflict already – one group calling out another, wanting to “cancel” each other’s voices. The news and social media are full of angry voices confronting the “other side,” one side vilifying another.  And yet, as I read and studied in preparation for today, I realized that Matthew’s community may not have been that much different from ours. That community was also steeped in conflict – the issues were different but the pain and strife was the same. 

It is to a hurting community, a torn community, that Matthew writes the story of Jesus in his Gospel. Just prior to today’s lesson, Matthew shares the story of Jesus lifting up the vulnerable, calling children to him and reminding his readers and us that the good shepherd goes and leaves the 99 sheep in order to find and restore the one sheep who was lost. So keep the image of the children in Jesus’ arms and the good shepherd seeking the lost in the back of your mind as you hear today’s lesson of confronting those who have done wrong. The goal is not to shame another child of God or to hold anyone up for ridicule. The goal is that even the lost, or the one who has hurt us or the one who has done wrong may be restored into Christian community. And that is the story that we need to hear in our world today.  

Instead, Jesus is calling for conversation. Notice how many times Jesus invites listening – first speak directly to the one who you think need correction. Then, if you aren’t listened to, invite others. If the person still doesn’t listen, then invite the whole church.  If they still won’t listen, then “let them be as tax collectors and sinners.” That’s confusing because Jesus spent a lot of time with “tax collectors and sinners” AND he just got done talking about the Good Shepherd who looks for the lost sheep – which would include “tax collectors and sinners” AND this passage leads into another about forgiveness. So, what is the church to do?  Well…before making judgments, what if we stopped and took our time with the invitation to listen.   

Pastor Ryan was struggling in his new congregation. Actually he loved his congregation  - except for one person. I’ll call her Sarah. Every time Pastor Ryan suggested a new course of action for the church, Sarah opposed it. Every time she suggested something, Pastor Ryan shot it down. Their conflict started to get entrenched and people started choosing sides. Finally, Sarah had had enough. She went to the Bishop and complained about Pastor Ryan. The Bishop called Pastor Ryan – and he complained about Sarah. The Bishop, being wise, called them together. He invited each of them to tell the other what they wanted for the church. And then he made the listener repeat back what they had heard. The Bishop would ask the first person – “Is that right? Is that what you meant?” If not, they had to try it again. Back and forth – listening, repeating, listening some more.  Pastor Ryan said that, by the end of the conversation, they both realized that they had said some hurtful things to one another for which they needed to ask forgiveness. But they also realized that, while they had different visions, there was some room for overlap between their visions and that maybe they could even build the community – together. 1

The goal of confronting someone with the truth is not to put them down. It’s not about winning the argument or proving that you are right. As professor and theologian Michael Chan writes, “Confrontation is a necessary companion on the road of reconciliation. But when confrontation does occur it should be done in a way that invites reconciliation among the interested parties, all of whom stand condemned and forgiven at the cross.”2

In other words, when there is a conflict within the church because someone has done something to hurt another or one person seeks to correct another, it is important to tell the truth – and – telling the truth must be done with the goal of reconciliation, restoring the community. 

As Pastor Ryan and Sarah found, it may have just as much to do with listening as it does with talking.  They also discovered that, while at first they did not like one another much at all, they both took the risk to be vulnerable enough to speak and listen to the truth with open hearts, open minds and with open ears of love. As a result, they were able to do so much more together than they ever could have when they were fighting each other.  The surprise blessing was that, in the end, they became friends. 

All relationships don’t have this happy ending.  There are times that… at least on this earth… speaking the truth does not result in reconciliation. There are times that the one who sinned – the one who hurt you, the one you are trying to correct  – does not want to change. And there are times that relationships need to be severed.  Sometimes that’s the most loving thing to do. As a wise counselor once told me, you break up with everyone that you don’t marry. Sometimes relationships change – and need to change or end in order for other relationships to begin.  

The challenge for us as a Christian community is to speak the truth in such a way that everyone can hear it, receive it, be convicted by it and be restored to community. This is not easy.  And sometimes we will fail because, after all… we are all sinners. We areallsinners.  

But… the good news is that even when we can’t agree, even when we or someone else won’t listen, Jesus promises to be with us, saying “for when two or more are gathered in my name, I am with you.” This is the real blessing that comes from this scripture. For Jesus, the one who came as “God WITH Us” is still with us, and promises to alwaysbe with us. And that, brothers and sisters in Christ, is Good News. Thanks be to God.   

1https://asermonforeverysunday.com/sermons/a41-the-fourteenth-sunday-after-pentecost-year-a-2020/by Rev. Ryan Ahlgrim

2https://www.workingpreacher.org/craft.aspx?post=5453 by Rev. Dr. Michael Chan

Discipleship: Following Jesus

We read the Bible in bits and pieces. And that makes sense. We want to focus on the Word of God, and delve deep. But sometimes that chops up the story and we only get part of the story each Sunday. Last Sunday we heard hear Peter declare, “You are the son of God, the Messiah!” and Jesus blesses him. But when Jesus starts showing them that he will suffer and die and rise again, Peter could not get past the suffering and dying part. He couldn’t fathom a suffering savior so he says, “God forbid it Lord! This must never happen to you.” In this one conversation, Peter is both given eyes to see Jesus as the Messiah and then attempts to make Jesus into his own image of what the Messiah should be. Peter reveals himself as a blessed saint – and a selfish sinner… all at the same time.

Jesus blesses Peter for his proclamation but he will not tolerate anyone – not even Peter – however well-intentioned he may have been – interfering in God’s mission to save the whole world.  Jesus blasts Peter with words that echo what he said to Satan after Satan tried to get Jesus to use power for his own sake. However, there’s one important difference. Jesus tells Satan to leave; he tells Peter to get behind him and then tells him – and all his disciples to follow. The word disciple means learner or student. And it’s really hard to learn if we don’t know how to follow.

Sometimes it’s hard to follow. I remember once when I was young trying to dance with my sister – and we both were trying to lead. We ended up stepping on each other’s toes and were both quite frustrated. Finally, she looked down at me – she’s quite a bit taller -- and said, “I’ll lead, you follow. Got it?” Yep. Message received. After that, we were able to whirl and twirl around the room. 

We were just trying to dance. Jesus was teaching his disciples to pick up their cross and follow him – despite not knowing where it would lead. Jesus was teaching his disciples to trust in him. 

Sometimes it’s hard to know how to follow – even when we want to.  That’s how it was for Peter… and that’s a bit how it feels for us today.

We are in a liminal time, a time between the “old way” when people could shake hands and worship together in church without fear that we might accidentally infect someone else or become infected and the “new way.”  Right now, we do what we can to help one another – protecting and loving our neighbor by wearing a mask and washing our hands and giving air-hugs instead of bear hugs. But we are still on the threshold of the door, at a time betwixt and between. And … just as when a door opens and we know there are new possibilities on the other side, we also realize that we aren’t there yet and we can only imagine what these possibilities may be.  

So how do we follow Jesus? Is it just the same – or has it changed somehow?

I think the answer is yes.  One thing that has changed is that technology allows us to reach out to one another in new ways. Not only are we able to worship online together – something I would never have dreamt possible – but we are also able to reach out to one another personally. For example, last week I found out that my aunt was entering hospice. Normally, I tried to visit her – even though she lives 5 hours away from me – but because of covid19, I couldn’t. But… because of technology – specifically Facetime – I was able to talk with and see Aunt Ethel. She couldn’t say much but I could see her smile and nod as my sister and I chatted with her and her daughter. We were able to connect and pray together in a new way.

But, while we can’t pick up another’s cross or take away the suffering of someone who is hurting because of covid19 or anything else; and we can’t erase the history of racial injustice and we can’t negate emotional stress or feelings of isolation, we can work to seek justice for our neighbor and we can help to bear the burden of another’s pain, another’s cross.

I’ve seen many of you step up again and again to help bear the burden of another’s pain. But, it’s also good to accept help from others and let others help bear your pain. After all, Jesus accepted the help of Simon of Cyrene to carry his cross. And Jesus was comforted by the women bystanders at his cross who stood and prayed, brought spices to his tomb and brought the news that Jesus had risen to the disciples.  Like Jesus, we can accept the help, the love and the care of our brothers and sisters in Christ when we are in pain.  We don’t have to carry our pain, our suffering, our “cross” alone. 

Jesus calls us, invites us to follow him and invites the disciples – and us -- to pick up our cross. Jesus does this – not because he wants us to suffer. But, perhaps, Jesus invites us to pick up the challenges that come our way because Jesus knows suffering and pain do come into each life and choosing to pick it up, and trusting in Jesus to help us, will end up being the better way.

Pastor and author Susan Beaumont tells the story of her sister-in-law who received a diagnosis of early onset Alzheimer’s disease.  Some of the family wanted her to get another opinion. Others favored researching new experimental treatments.  But instead of striving against the disease, her brother and sister-in-law, after much prayer, decided to surrender to what appeared inevitable. Susan writes, “some may view this as a sign of weakness…. It wasn’t. Their surrender was an act of incredibly bravery.” It allowed them to make decisions and choices so that she could live meaningful life and they could prepare for what was to come. For example, she became a national spokesperson for the Alzheimer’s Association while she could still speak and they chose a home that she could live in even as the disease progressed. Some may have been bitter and considered this diagnosis an unfair cross that they had to bear, but Beaumont’s brother had a different explanation. He said, “This disease chose us but I choose it back… for everything that it can teach me about myself and our future.”1

Like Susan Beaumont’s brother and sister-in-law, we too have or will have challenges in our path. We may not feel as confident about picking up our cross as they did. And yet… Jesus has promised to be with you too – and you can trust in him. Thanks be to God. Amen.  

August 23, 20

Dear friends in Christ, grace and peace to you from God, who lives and breathes and moves among us. Amen.

Caesarea Phillipi is a place in northern Israel about 25 miles north of the Sea of Galilee. It is a place of much ancient history. It is the place where Jesus has brought his disciples to ask them a pivotal question:“Who do YOU say that I am?”

I wonder if you can picture being in this place, like the disciples.

Imagine, if you will, standing with your good friends in a cave tucked high into the rocky terrace of a cliff. Fragments of ancient temple relics are strewn about, and pictures of Greek gods are etched on the stone walls that surround you. These idols and artifacts are not of the living. 

Yet as you look out from the cave, you are treated to a sweeping view of the Jordan River Valley below, and deep, verdant greens. It’s incredibly noisy, in this place, with water rushing down into the valley, feeding the Jordan river and all that lives and breathes and grows below. This remarkable view says something important about the realm of God: that God is alive! with life, shades of green, the rush of water, fertile soil, movement, and being.

It is to this place – where the contrast between death and life is palpable – that Jesus brings his disciples to ask them: “Who do YOUsay that I am?”

All throughout Mathew’s Gospel, Jesus has been priming his disciples to answer this tough question, with, shall we say, mixed results. But in today’s gospel, we have reached a turning point in Jesus’ ministry. You see, the opposition and rejection of Jesus has been growing and deepening, and Jesus needs an answer from his followers about who he really is. The answer to this question will define what this new community of Jesus-followers is really all about.

Will it be about pagan idols like the ones etched in stone all around them? Will it be about another prophet, more or less like John the Baptist, Elijah, or Jeremiah? Or, will this community be revealed as something altogether new and different? 

“But who do YOU say that I am?” asks Jesus. 

Peter takes the lead in confessing the truth, but his “right” answer is not so much a personal triumph as it is pure gift from God. He responds: 

 “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”  

It is a radical, revolutionary answer; within it, we hear the truth that God lives in Jesus. That God moves in Jesus. That God’s very breath is the breath of Jesus. That all that Jesus has revealed in his ministry of healing, feeding, mercy, and liberation reveals the life of God, too.

Friends, what does it mean to you to believe in a livingGod in Christ? What does it mean to be a community of faith that believes in a living God in Christ? 

I wonder…

even in these difficult days, as we grieve the loss of too many loved ones to COVID19; do we not see a living God in weary health care workers who continue to courageously show up on the front lines to heal and care for those who are sick and alone? 

I wonder…

even as we lament lost time with our friends and family during this season of pandemic; do we not see God working in our love for neighbor as we wear our masks, social distance, and check in on those who are isolated?   

I wonder…

even as we are confronted with the continued sin of racism in our communities; that inequality that persists for our black, brown, and indigenous neighbors; and the loss of jobs, housing, and food security for so many; 

do we not see see the living God working through community organizations and churches who have reoriented their operations on a dime to respond to the need for food and basic necessities; do we not see the living God in volunteers and activists who continue to share their gifts of time and money in their hopes of dismantling injustice?  

I wonder…

even as we mourn the loss of being in our sanctuary, worshipping and singing, and just being together; even as we long for things to just get back ‘to normal’; do we not see what God might be doing in our midst as the church engages in new ways of connecting and caring for people? 

Dear friends, where do you see God living and working in your life, and in the life of your neighbors? This isa difficult time for so many of us, and yet we live in hope. Through faith, we glimpse a God on the move, making a way, connecting us to love, healing, feeding, liberating, and reconciling all things in Jesus. As Pastor Emmy Kegler reminded me during a video message this week, “God is already way out ahead of us.” 

May it be so.

And may we, like Peter, be a people with eyes to see God living and moving and breathing right in front of us; calling us to magnify the life of Jesus in our own hearts and in our work together.

Amen.  

Faith: Perseverance in Prayer

This isn’t my favorite scripture. It ends well. But having Jesus first ignore and then not only allow his disciples to harass a woman, but to himself call her a dog doesn’t sound like the Jesus I know.

I’m not alone. Some Biblical scholars try to find excuses for Jesus, suggesting that he was just referring to her affectionately, like a puppy.  But that, frankly, kind of makes it worse. I think it is better to acknowledge that while the Gospel of John paints Jesus as more divine than human, Matthew follows Mark in this story in portraying Jesus as a part of his culture –as being very human.

A little context: Jesus has just left an acrimonious fight with the Pharisees about the religious debate of the day and has taken his disciples up north for little peace and quiet. So they left the city and the realm of the Pharisees and went up to a Gentile area, Tyre and Sidon. They didn’t tell anyone where they were going, but as soon as they got there, a Canaanite woman started shouting to Jesus for mercy, yelling, “Kyrie, Ellieson” Lord have mercy.

I understand that Jesus was human and was tired. But I still wince a little at his first two responses to this persistent woman. First, he was silent. Maybe he was trying to pretend he didn’t hear her? But she was shouting, “Kyrie, Eleison.” Lord have mercy. Meanwhile, the disciples were shouting, “Get rid of her!” My former Greek professor, Dr. Jim Boyce, writes that “in the original Greek their words are an alliterative and ironic echo of the woman's cry: apolyson. “ 

So imagine – Jesus hears a solo plaintive voice shouting, “Kyrie, Eleison” “Lord, have mercy” and his disciples shouting back, “Apolyson” Get rid of her.” Back and forth: “Kyrie, Eleison” “Lord, have mercy”; “Apolyson” “Get rid of her.”

Jesus turns to the disciples, and reminds them that he was sent to the lost sheep of Israel – to them. This was his mission – not to spend his time and energy on dogs.

But who is acting like sheep who follow? Who are acting like dogs?

The disciples seem to be angrily barking out words of exclusion while the woman bows down before Jesus, humbling herself, calling Jesus “Lord” and asking for mercy, “Kyrie Eleison.”  As a foreigner from a tribe that had been an enemy to the people of Israel she was the least likely person to be a witness to Jesus and yet, here she is, on her knees proclaiming him as Lord. She knows, somehow, that just a crumb from his healing hand, just a word, would be more than enough to heal her daughter. And so she prays, “Kyrie Eleison.” “Lord have mercy.”

Jesus is struck by the depth of her faith. He hears her prayer, and he does have mercy. In that moment, Jesus – who is fully human as well as divine – has an aha moment, an epiphany – that opens his mission and his ministry to include the woman, her daughter and the whole world.

Jesus chooses to show mercy. His original purpose was for the lost sheep of Israel, but on the way, he discovered other people who were not from his tribe who were also worthy of care. Tired as he might have been, Jesus reveals that it is in God’s very nature to bend (to lean) to the side of grace, mercy and compassion.

And Jesus still listens to prayers.

This gives me hope – in the midst of the pandemic, social unrest and all of the protests and counter protests in our community. Jesus hears our prayers: “Kyrie Eleison.” “Lord have mercy.”

Like the Canaanite woman, our prayers aren’t necessarily answered right away. But her example gives me courage to not only hope, but to act and to persevere.

Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”  It’s a good reminder that the work of justice doesn’t happen overnight. But we can’t forget that it also doesn’t happen all by itself.  King was influenced by the words of another black preacher, Theodore Parker.  Parker was an abolitionist who said in a sermon, “I do not pretend to understand the moral universe. The arc is a long one. My eye reaches but little ways. I cannot calculate the curve and complete the figure by experience of sight. I can divine it by conscience. And from what I see I am sure it bends toward justice.” 1

That’s a statement of faith. And faith perseveres. AND faith acts. That’s what Parker did as an abolitionist, that’s what King did as a civil rights leader and that’s what the Canaanite woman did in seeking healing for her daughter.  She may not have gotten Jesus’ attention if she had quietly sat at home and wished for change. Instead, she was obnoxiously loud in her prayers. And she did not take offense or give up when she did not get help right away. She persevered.

That gives me both hope and courage to persevere in prayer and action.

The video of the killing of George Floyd at the hands of police is an epiphany, a wakeup call for me and for many of us that the work of justice for our black and brown brothers and sisters is not done and that we cannot sit by and simply hope that the arc of the moral universe will turn towards justice all by itself. As Christians, we are called to not only pray for justice but to also act for justice, working with our brothers and sisters in Christ of all tribes regardless of the color of their or our skin. We are called to persevere.

I was inspired by the memorial for Representative John Lewis. Lewis was a faithful Christian who lived out his convictions in a life of prayer, worship and action.  Like Martin Luther King Jr, Lewis believed the movement for civil rights “was based on the simple truth of the Great Teacher: love thy neighbor as thyself.”2  And he believed that people could make a difference. In 1963, at the March on Washington, he said, "We all recognize the fact that if any radical social, political and economic changes are to take place in our society, the people, the masses, must bring them about." And that’s what he spent his life trying to lead despite being beaten, jailed and harassed for his convictions. In  2016, after the mass shooting in Orlando, Florida, Lewis led a sit-in on the floor of the House of Representatives advocating for an end to gun violence saying, “We have been too quiet for too long…There comes a time when you have to say something. You have to make a little noise. You have to move your feet. This is the time.” 3

In December, Lewis was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. A few days before his death, he wrote, “In my life I have done all I can to demonstrate that the way of peace, the way of love and nonviolence is the more excellent way. Now it is your turn to let freedom ring.

When historians pick up their pens to write the story of the 21st century, let them say that it was your generation who laid down the heavy burdens of hate at last and that peace finally triumphed over violence, aggression and war. So I say to you, walk with the wind, brothers and sisters, and let the spirit of peace and the power of everlasting love be your guide.” 4

Like Lewis and the Canaanite woman, we, who have faith, can persevere in prayer and let our prayers lead to action. So brothers and sisters in Christ, let us boldly pray for the Spirit of peace and the love of Christ to bring justice and health for our community, our country and our world. Let us persevere with confidence, knowing that God not only hears our prayers but will respond with even more grace, mercy and compassion than we can imagine. Thanks be to God. Amen.  

1 Huffington Post, Jan 18, 2018 The Truth About ‘The Arc Of The Moral Universe’ by Mychal Denzel Smith,

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/opinion-smith-obama-king_n_5a5903e0e4b04f3c55a252a4

2 https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/john-lewiss-faith-was-a-source-of-strength-in-the-face-of-cruelty/2020/07/20/8e0b7770-caa4-11ea-bc6a-6841b28d9093_story.html

3 https://www.biography.com/political-figure/john-lewis

4Lewis, John, July 30, 2020 posthumous letter, The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/30/opinion/john-lewis-civil-rights-america.html

Prayers of the People

Let us pray for the church, the world and all of God’s creation.

Holy God, you call us to be bold like the Canaanite woman and to persevere in prayer and to seek justice. Grant us faith to believe and courage to boldly bring our cares and concerns to you.    Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

God of healing, you accompany us in sickness and suffering. Strengthen caregivers, health workers, and all whose work ensures the safety and well-being of others. Bring relief to all afflicted with the coronavirus or other illnesses including: David, Jacqueline, Sandy, Beverly, Bob, Brad, Ruth, Margaret, Linda, Dan, Cori, and Lucas. Bring the knowledge of your presence to all those feeling isolated especially those in care facilities including Jane, George, Ramona, Lois, Helen, Bev, Carolyn, and Herb. Console, heal, and nourish all those we name before you including those we now name silently or aloud……………… and those you know who need love and care. Lord in your mercy…Here our prayer.

We continue to remember those who have died and those who mourn. We remember: JoAnn Bloom, Gail Frost, sister of Jane Bork, Representative John Lewis  and all those we name, silently or aloud…. Lord in your mercy… Here our prayer.

God of connection, you call us to make your presence known. Where the sin of racism fractures our relationships, bring repentance and reconciliation. Open our hearts for attentive listening so that our places of connection are filled with your Spirit. Lord in your mercy….

Receive these prayers, O God, and those too deep for words; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Chaplain Austin

This is Mary’s song of praise when she realizes God’s promises are coming true. Her baby Jesus and her cousin Elizabeth’s baby John will change the world. What I hear her expressing in this song is a power move that God is accustomed to making in the scriptures. A tamed version of this power move would be something like this: *HANDS* he has brought down the powerful from their thrones and lifted up the lowly. We might call it the divine equalizer. 

But a more radical and I would say faithful rendering of the power move that we hear today in the magnificat and throughout the Bible is: *HANDS* he has brought down the powerful from their thrones and lifted up the lowly. Let’s call it the divine reversal. A power flip in which the powerless become powerful and the powerful powerless. 

See, this is what is happening for Mary. In first century Palestine occupied by the Roman Empire, she along with most Jewish people have been waiting for centuries for a savior, a new king to arise like King David and restore their power. One might expect such a grandiose figure to come from an esteemed Jewish family, perhaps of the religious elite. But GOD says the savior will come from a teenage brown girl who is controversially pregnant out of wedlock. She will be the one to bear in her own body the Son of God. It’s the divine reversal. 

Mary’s song actually mirrors quite closely the song of Hannah, who was an ordinary person from the Old Testament. Hannah was a barren woman who was constantly ridiculed by another woman who was able to have many children. While praying for children one day Hannah was even accused of being a drunkard. And yet, GOD grants her prayer to bear a child, whom she names Samuel, and he becomes a great minister before the Lord. This is the divine reversal. 

There is no doubt that this is the character of our God, because even farther back in the Old Testament, the Exodus story reveals much of the same, and this story is key to the identity of God’s people. The Israelites were enslaved by the Egyptians for many generations, powerless before the powerful throne of Pharaoh. And yet, GOD eventually hears their cries and leads them on the long road to deliverance and salvation, freedom from their oppressors. The oppressed Israelites walk through the Red Sea on dry land, while their pursuing oppressors - Pharaoh and all his army - are drowned. The divine reversal. 

We could look at countless stories from the scriptures, but what about today? As we seek to know God more deeply, let us wonder where God might be making such a power move today. Where is the divine reversal taking place in our lives and in the world around us? 

In my life, I experience God making this power move when I am humbled in my pride, especially in the most petty things. For example, some of my roommates walk with a heavy foot. And to say the least our house is not the biggest nor best insulated on the block. So it is not an uncommon occurrence that I will be trying to focus on something or even sleep when I hear their heavy feet thunder throughout the house to distract me. And immediately I become frustrated that they can’t walk more softly like me. 

And then, on several occasions - sometimes only minutes sometimes hours after I have puffed myself up in my righteous walking habits - it will happen that I catch MYSELF thundering throughout the house heavy-footed. In that tiny moment my proud spirit is overwhelmed and humbled by God. My petty righteousness is shattered. As Mary says in the magnificat, God has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. It is the divine reversal. The proud humbled. And in newfound humility I am more able to be in life-giving relationship with my roommates. 

Again, this is consistent with God’s character in the Bible, especially in the life of Jesus, which Mary celebrates in her song. Jesus enacts this divine 

reversal by calling out hypocrisy wherever he sees it. Jesus calls out the Pharisees for keeping up religious appearances that make them seem righteous while in their hearts lacking true love for their neighbors. And so rather than identify with these hypocritically proud religious folks, Jesus identifies with those on the margins of society. The divine reversal. 

In our wider context I can think of an image of power no clearer than that viral video we all saw back in May, in which a black man named George Floyd was suffocated beneath the knee of a Minneapolis police officer. It’s a perfect example of where God makes this power move. We have the LOWLY - black men like George Floyd who are so often held down by racism like racial profiling, mass incarceration, and police brutality. And we have the POWERFUL - police officers charged with too many responsibilities and too little education and training to fulfill them all well, leading to such cases of too much unchecked power. 

But the Good News is the divine reversal. God has brought DOWN the powerful from their thrones, and lifted UP the lowly. Negligent police officers like the man from the video are being charged with crimes, and systems of policing are being reimagined more and more for the sake of more just and equitable treatment for people of color. God has brought down the powerful from their thrones. 

Meanwhile, the voices of people of color like the late George Floyd are being amplified more and more through movements like black lives matter. Antiracism work is in many places becoming a household conversation, including and especially the church. God has lifted up the lowly. This is the divine reversal. 

Depending on where we find ourselves in these contemporary societal issues, the divine reversal may not feel like Good News. I sympathize with that, often finding myself objecting to some of the changes in power. My 

prayer for us though is that God would open us to see that where the divine reversal is happening it truly is Good News. 

Jesus himself literally embodied this divine reversal. He was from God and indeed God in the flesh. The power which was his that created the heavens and the earth, he traded for the limitations of being human, of being born as a helpless baby. And the power which was his to crush nations like the Roman Empire which so oppressed the Jewish people, he traded for the power of self-giving love and ultimately a human death as humiliating as public execution. 

This Jesus did so that ALL lives who know him might know the riches of the fullness of new life, BEGINNING with those most marginalized lives, the ones with the least amount of power. 

Siblings in Christ, Jesus made it clear that prostituted lives matter. That disabled lives matter. That foreigner Samaritan lives matter. That female lives matter. That young lives matter. That even extortionist tax collector lives matter. And so because of this embodiment of the divine reversal, we can with confidence believe that Jesus now says Black Lives Matter. Amen.

Prayers of the people

Let us pray for the church, the world and all of God's creation.

 God of power and might, humble us to see your work not only in the divine reversal that Mary sings in her song, but also in our world and in our lives today. Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer. 

God of healing, you accompany us in sickness and suffering. Strengthen caregivers, health workers, and all whose work ensures the safety and well being of others. Bring relief to all afflicted with the coronovirus or other illnesses including: David, Jacqueline, Sandy, Beverly, Bob, Brad, Ruth, Margaret, Linda, Dan, Cori, and Lucas. Bring the knowledge of your presence to all those feeling isolated especially those in care facilities including Jane, George, Ramona, Lois, Helen, Bev, Carolyn, and Herb. Console, heal, and nourish all those we name before you including those we now name silently or aloud.................. and those you know who need love and care. Lord in your mercy..Here our prayer. 

We continue to remember those who have died and those who mourn. We remember: JoAnn Bloom, Gail Frost, sister of Jane Bork, Representative John Lewis and all those we name, silently or aloud.... Lord in your mercy... Here our prayer. 

God of connection, you call us to make your presence known. Where the sin of racism fractures our relationships, bring repentance and reconciliation. Open our hearts for attentive listening so that our places of connection are filled with your Spirit. Lord in your mercy.... 

Receive these prayers, O God, and those too deep for words; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

FAITH-FULL

The Gospel of Luke 5:17-26 One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”  The Gospel of the Lord

FAITH-FULL

August 2, 20202                      Faith-Lilac Way Lutheran Church        Pastor Pam Stalheim Lane

One of the first things that I saw when I came to Faith-Lilac Way many years ago was a banner hanging in the narthex that says, “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”  This quote from Hebrews, chapter 11, sums up what faith is and what it is not. It is not something that is proven, that you can earn, or is available for sale. Rather, it is a gift from God, a gift of knowing, of assurance and conviction.

Faith is not only what you believe in your head but is also what you believe in your heart and what is reflected in the way you live your life. That is what it means to be faith-full. It is the way we live out the convictions of our heart, our mind and our lives.

The story of the four faith-full friends bringing their hurt friend to Jesus illustrates faith in action. 

Jesus was healing people – and the word was out! You can imagine what a crowd gathered – everyone wanted to hear and see the miracles of healing that Jesus was doing.  But when the friends can’t get through the crowd, they bring him up on top of the house and lower him down through the roof! That’s innovation. Jesus says, “that’s faith.”  

But notice, it wasn’t the man’s faith that Jesus was amazed at – it was the faith of his friends. The man couldn’t get to Jesus on his own. But his faithful friends could carry him to Jesus.

Faithful friends. As the body of Christ, that is what we are called to be. But, you may wonder, how can I do that during a pandemic?! We can’t get that close to one another. But there is more than one way to help carry someone else’s burden to Jesus and there is more than one way to be faithful friends.

Caring bridge is a wonderful online tool to communicate with others when you or a family member has a health or other crisis. It allows you to share updates and also needs and prayer concerns.  On her caring bridge site, one woman called those who were responding to her needs with prayers and encouragement, her “mat-carriers.”  They were her “faithful friends” that were helping her to see Jesus in the midst of a long and challenging health crisis.

You, people of faith – are mat-carriers, bringing people to Jesus… through your prayers and care. You are mat-carriers when you reach out with a phone call, a card, or a prayer. You are mat-carriers when you deliver a meal to someone in need. You are mat-carriers when you write a check so that kids and their families in our neighborhood can receive meals through Kidpack or Near foodshelf or through the ELCA hunger program across the world. You are mat-carriers when you carry the cares of the neighbor, the stranger, the other.

But, you might argue – I didn’t do much. I just prayed. Or I just sent a card. Or I just wrote a check.

Brothers and sisters, friends in Christ, I know that you are mat-carriers because through throughout the time from when my mother was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer to her time in hospice care, you did it for her and for me. Some of you prayed, others had a kind word or sent a card, wrote on Caring bridge, or visited with her and we all celebrated her life when she died last year. And I’ve seen you act as mat-carriers for others. You probably don’t even realize what an impact you have, but when you do these things to care for another, you bring the love of God and serve as Christ for another.

This is the power of Christian community. One person writes a note and another person sends a check and another person says a prayer. Together, you make a difference. Together you make Christ known.

Have you ever seen someone crowd surf?  It’s pretty dangerous at a concert. But at camp, as part of a trust exercise, we have lifted the heaviest counselor above our heads.  Not one of us could do that on our own – but because he trusted us, and made his body stiff – we were able to do that together.  That’s community – that’s Christian community. It is the power of faith and is dependent upon trust in Jesus.

But, there are times in our lives in which it’s harder to trust even in Jesus. And there are times when bad things happen and life is hard. This might be such a time for you. And if so, you are not alone. The Covid19 pandemic and the social unrest has depressed and challenged many people. What then? Since faith is a gift – are you just stuck?

This was Mary’s concern. She had just experienced a tragic loss. It felt like everything in her world that she loved and trusted and lived for – was gone. She didn’t know what to do.  Feeling a combination of embarrassment and frustration, she confessed to her friends, “I am so hurt. I am so angry about what happened and I am so mad at God that I can’t even pray right now. I don’t even know if I am a believer any more.” But instead of dismissing her concern, one of her friends took her hand and said to her, “Then we will believe for you right now. You don’t have to worry about your faith. We will keep it for you until you are ready to take it back. We will hold you up in prayer until you have faith again.”  And they did.

That’s what the four friends were doing when they brought their friend on a mat to Jesus.

Although the obvious problem for the friend on the mat was that he was paralyzed, the first problem that Jesus noticed wasn’t his paralysis… it was his soul. So, the first thing that Jesus said to this man who was hurting and in need of healing was, “your sins are forgiven.”  It was only after he sensed the grumbling of the pharisees and others that he said, “take up your mat and walk.” Two miracles happened that day – the wounded man was restored in his heart and soul and was restored to his feet. And it all happened because of the faith of his friends.

The four friends remind us that God made us for community. Faith is something that is not meant or even designed to be done on our own. And while we often like to think of ourselves as independent and self-sufficient, I think that one thing that has become clear to me is that we are connected. The Covid19 virus has shown that we not only breathe the same air but our actions affect the health not only of ourselves and those in our family and the friends we choose but also the grocery store clerks, teachers and caregivers and the strangers that used to stand in line beside us or sit near us in a restaurant, theatre, bus or airplane. 

But just as our selfish actions can hurt the neighbor, our loving and faith-full words, actions and prayers can bless the neighbor. We, like the faithful friends – can lift up our neighbor when he falls and help her when she stumbles. Together, we can carry our neighbor’s burden – and they can carry ours – to Jesus. Thanks be to God!

Prayers of the People

Faithful God, help us to be faith-full mat-carriers, caring for one another, especially the stranger and the one in need, as you care for us. Lord in your mercy…Hear our prayer.

Surround our community of faith with health and peace. We remember before you:  Donna, David, Jacqueline, Sandy, Beverly, Bob, Brad, Ruth, Casey/ Margaret, Linda, Dan, Cori, Lucas and Vic. Many are feeling isolated because of the pandemic, we remember those in care centers including Jane, George, Ramona, Lois Anderson, Helen, Bev, Carolyn, and Herb. We give thanks for the lives of JoAnn Bloom, Gail Frost and Representative John Lewis and ask you surround the family and friends of these and all who mourn with your comfort, compassion, and grace. Lord in your mercy… Hear our prayer

God of Faith, in the midst of the many challenges of our world, including the hurt and sin of racism and the harm that we do to the environment, teach us to be witnesses of a different way - your way. Lord in your mercy….Hear our prayer

Into your hands, O Lord, we place our cares and our joys, trusting in the assurance of your grace and your abundant love, mercy and peace. In Jesus’ name, Amen

PEACE - FULL!

The Gospel according to Mark, the 4thchapter.

35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. 37 A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” The Gospel of our Lord.

PEACE- FULL!

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Grace and “peace.” This is how the apostle Paul often began his letters to the churches invoking both grace and peace in the name of God.

Perhaps one of the reasons that Paul begins this way is that in Hebrew, the word to greet someone and the word to say goodbye is the same – Shalom. Shalom means peace. So, when you meet someone, you say “Shalom,” or Peace be with you. And when you take your leave … you also wish them Shalom – peace be with you. 

Peace-Full is our focus word for this week.” We heard in our lesson from Isaiah of the coming of the “Prince of Peace” and we hear Jesus, in our Gospel, stilling the waters with a command of “Peace! Be still!” 

But what is this peace? 

Often when we think of peace – or at least when I think of peace – we think of the absence of war, of striving, of angst, of conflict and disruption. We want peace for ourselves and our community. Like the disciples caught in a small boat in a raging storm, we too yearn for peace, for gentle waters, for calm. But not any calm. 

In New Testament times, Romans ruled much of the known world and became known for the “Pax Romana,” The Roman Peace.  Pax Romana was established, not by good will and voluntary actions, but through the brutal force, power and ruthless violence of a large force of armed soldiers on land and sea. The Roman navy was even able to squelch piracy in the Mediterranean Sea for over a hundred years. This was good for the Empire. The Empire grew rich and economically and politically powerful. As a reward for bringing about this order and calm –the Emperors and Generals were given titles such as “Prince of Peace” and “Bringer of Peace.”  But while Pax Romana brought “peace” – and while this enforced peace was good for some – those in control –it oppressed, enslaved and killed many others. 

It is into this world that Jesus comes preaching and teaching a different peace, God’s peace.  This peace is not like the peace of the world – but,

even though they were with Jesus and heard his teaching and preaching, it wasn’t easy for the disciples to understand.

Our story begins in an ordinary way – the disciples and Jesus are crossing the lake. But suddenly a big storm comes up. The boat is tossing back and forth in the harsh winds and waves. It’s taking on water.  The disciples – many of whom had been fishermen -- knew this lake. They’d seen a storm or two before. But nothing like this. This is an all hands on deck kind of storm. Desperately bailing water, they look to Jesus. But where is he? In the stern…. Sleeping on a pillow.  Sleeping? Through this? How could he? Thinking they weren’t going to make it, they cried out to Jesus, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 

I can’t say that I blame the disciples for asking the question. There have been times that I’ve asked that question – or one like it. Maybe you have too. There are times in our life – times that we feel abandoned, lonely, afraid, worried, anxious and, despairing because we can’t see God’s presence, maybe you’ve wondered if Jesus is sleeping or just doesn’t care.

But Jesus, after the disciples wake him, rebukes the wind and the waves, “Peace. Be still.” Or in another translation, “SHUT UP. MUZZLE IT.”  And then… he has a question for the disciples. “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 

Jesus challenges the disciples – and us not to be afraid but to trust in Him. Because we can’t be at peace if we are afraid, if we do not or will not trust that Jesus is not only more powerful than all the forces of this world AND all of the forces of nature but also to remember that Jesus is with us and for us. Always. No matter what. 

When I was recovering from the accident that I had as a young woman after foolishly running in front of a car while trying to catch a bus, I had some such moments. I worried that I was never going to walk or think or do anything useful. It didn’t help that I knew that my predicament was all my fault. But one day, as I was sitting on my hospital bed, fretting and  worrying about what would become of me, my doctor walked in and sat down and he said, “have any questions?”

I blurted out, “Am I going to be ok?” 

The doctor smiled and said, “Yes… because you have faith.” And then he left. 

I have to admit I was expecting a medical analysis from my doctor. But he gave me what I needed – a reminder that I already had everything that I needed – the gift of faith, and that everything else in my life was the details. Peace comes in believing. 

That doesn’t mean that my life has always been calm or that I have always felt peace-full. But I was reminded – and I keep getting reminded – that even when the world or even my little world - is not at ease, I can trust in the power and presence of Jesus. 

And you can too. As the body of Christ, one of the things that we can do for one another is to do what my doctor did for me – remind each other of the faith we share.  And another is to share the peace of Christ with one another. One way to do this is through prayer. 

How many times have you been in this situation –Sarah was having a rough day, but when asked by her friend Anne, “How are you?” Sarah said, “Fine.”  That’s pretty typical, right? You’ve probably done this yourself. But Anne told Sarah, “No you’re not. But… I’ll pray for you. And with that word, Sarah felt a peace come over her.  Prayer – and the knowledge that someone is praying for you – makes a difference. 

Brothers and sisters, friends in Christ, may the peace of Christ, God’s peace be with you – not as the world gives but as Jesus Christ gives.

For Jesus is the true “Prince of Peace” who brings peace - not an enforced peace like the Pax Romana, but the Peace of Christ -- which is a lasting peace and a peace that brings wholeness and healing – for all.  

May the God of HOPE fill you with all JOY and PEACE IN BELIEVINGso that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Pastor Pam Stalheim Lane        Faith-Lilac Way Lutheran Church        July 26, 2020

Prayers of the People

Let us pray for the church, the world and all of God’s creation.

Prince of Peace, The world around us is not at peace with itself or one another. Let your peace, the peace that passes all understanding, protect and guide us and keep us always in your loving care. Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

`

As more and more people in the world, in our country, in our state and in our community fall ill with the coronavirus, bring peace, health and healing especially as we weary of the feelings of isolation and loneliness of staying at home alone. Give wisdom and peace to the leaders of our community, especially Governor Walz and the infectious disease team in our state. Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer

Surround our community of faith with health and peace, especially Donna, JoAnn, David, Helen, Jacqueline, Sandy, Beverly, Bob, Brad, Ruth, Casey/ Margaret, Linda, Herb, Dan, Cori, and Lucas and all those we name silently or aloud…... Lord in your mercy… Hear our prayer

God of Peace, in the midst of the many challenges of our world, from the hurt and sin of racism to the harm that we do to the environment to the negative and hurtful things that we say and do, help us to share the peace of Christ, the shalom of God with one another and with our community. Lord in your mercy….Hear our prayer

Into your hands, O Lord, we place our cares and our joys, trusting in the assurance of your grace and your abundant love, mercy and peace. In Jesus’ name, Amen

JOY-FULL

You may wonder why we are reading about Mary coming to see Elizabeth and why we are singing Joy to the World today.  It’s not even close to Christmas!   But this week, we are focusing on the word “JOY.”

It comes from our VBS theme verse: “May the God of hope fill you with all JOY and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

So the question that I have been asking this week is: What fills you with joy?  What makes you joy-filled? And I’ve received wonderful responses. Here’s just a few: family, friends, an act of kindness. One father was joy-full for the blessing of teenage children full of curiosity, energy and life. A mother was joy-filled at watching her daughter  -- who is on the autism spectrum – joy-fully graduate from college. He had been told that he could never make it.  Another person was grateful and joy-filled because of neighbors who reached out in new ways because of the coronavirus, offering to get groceries, sharing a good word over the fence and even leading an exercise class!

When I asked the young woman who cuts my hair what fills her with joy, she smiled and said, “I’m pregnant! My joy is knowing that despite all of the hard things that are happening in the world, I’ve got joy coming this year.”

New life is often a reason to celebrate – but not always. When a pregnant young Mary came to see her cousin Elizabeth, she could have been seeking refuge. After all, in their culture, it was disgraceful for a young woman to become pregnant before she was married. Mary could even have been stoned to death.

But instead of receiving hushed words of condemnation, Mary heard uncontrollable joy that bubbled up and out of Elizabeth. Elizabeth, pregnant with John, who would become John the Baptist, notices that her baby John is jumping in her womb. Filled with the Holy Spirit, she speaks as a prophet in a really loud voice a word of welcome to the mother of her Lord and proclaims that her son – also a bit of miracle, coming years after she had given up hope of having a child – her son is jumping for joy that the child in Mary’s womb is the Messiah. The Holy Spirit revealed to her – and she prophesizes --- that God was doing a new thing. God was keeping God’s covenantal promises in a completely surprising and unexpected way – through an unwed mother and a little baby who would be born to be our Savior.

Elizabeth was full of joy – but not because life was easy or comfortable. She and Mary were still living in a country occupied by Roman soldiers.  The source of her joy was the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit gave her eyes to see God at work in her world.

And God is still active in our world today. Sometimes it is not easy to see what God is up to. We get distracted by the many challenges of our day-to-day lives. We can get disheartened by the negativity, “disinformation” and lies of social media and political campaigns and… the list goes on.  And that was true even before the coronavirus. But, as we heard in the scripture from Isaiah, God has made a covenant, a promise to God’s people and God’s word will not return “empty” but will accomplish all that God has promised.

And that is why we can be joy-full. Despite the disheartening circumstances around us, we know that God’s word will accomplish all God intends.  As my neighbor said, “I am joyful for each new day.” And then she quoted Psalm 118, “This is the day that the Lord has made, let us be JOYFULL and glad in it!” Psalm 118:24

This has been a favorite verse of mine too – it reminds me to not get “stuck” on the challenges of my day and instead to look at each new day as a part of God’s creation.  God has made the day – and the night - and since God continues to make all things new, each day has new possibilities -- and the promise of God’s presence with us. 

Recently I heard another translation of this verse: “This is the day that the Lord has made, let us be glad and rejoice in HIM.”  That too an opportunity we have each day – to rejoice in God our creator, our redeemer, and our savior. And to rest in that assurance of God – no matter what comes our way.

As Lutherans, we are sometimes a little reticent about expressing our joy. But I’ll never forget a very joy-full first communion. A little boy came and place his hands out in the form of a cross to receive Holy Communion, just as I had taught him. And after he received the communion, he jumped up, gave a fist bump and a joy-filled shout, and ran all the way back to his pew.  He was joy-full.

As people of faith, one of the gifts that we can give to our community is a joy-filled response to God’s work in our world.  Our expressions of joy can have the exuberance of a little boy or the quiet confidence of a grandparent. It doesn’t matter how we do it, but perhaps what the world – and our neighbors – need right now is a witness of joy.

Inspired by Psalm 98, Isaac Watts wrote the hymn, “Joy to the World,” proclaiming the joy of resurrection and the salvation of the world as well as the joyful response of the whole world: earth, sky, seas and trees to the presence of the Lord God at work in our world. The song later became associated with Christmas. But it wasn’t meant as just a Christmas song but rather points to God’s presence in our world now, the Lord IS Come and will come again with truth, grace and love. So, let us rejoice!  Let us join our voices to the music of the fields, floods, rocks, hills and plains in a joy-filled response to the presence of God in our world and in our lives. Thanks be to God!

July 5, 2020

Grace, peace, and mercy from God, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, amen.

Good morning. I want to begin with a thank you to Bishop Svennungsen for this opportunity to serve as your preacher this morning. I recently retired from my congregation back in February, just one week before the coronavirus. I hadn’t really preached very much since that time.

I think about how when the bishop was deciding who among the many wonderful preachers she has on staff who she might have preach for today, she looked down the synod deep bench of preachers and saw me sitting at the end of the bench, at got the call. It’s like the bishop was that coach who looked down at the end of the bench and said, “Chatman, you’re in.” Thank you, Bishop Ann. Thank you faithful people of the Minneapolis Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

These are challenging times. These are times of tremendous change when we cannot gather the ways we used to gather. These are challenging days when we do not get to see all the people, we are accustomed to seeing. We do not get to hear the voices we are accustomed to hearing or the children we are used to seeing and the hope they give to the church. I don’t know about you, but the people I see when we gather, the children I see when we gather, the voices I hear when we gather, well, thy give me hope. The people I see when we gather, they remind me of the people I see in the neighborhood. Sunday morning for me, looks a lot like the rest of the week. Now, while I can’t be in the building on Sunday morning, it’s the WEEK that reminds me of Sunday morning. When I visit that sight at 38th and Chicago where George Floyd died, was killed, lynched, it kind of causes me to think of the church on Sunday morning. It causes me to ask the question, “Where is God?” The church does not cut us off from the world, the church connects us to the world. It does not matter if your congregation is in Assante, Jordan, Eden Prairie, Elk River or North or South Minneapolis. The church is the body of Christ connecting us to God’s world, God’s neighborhood.

Our gospel text for today is from the 11th Chapter of Matthew. Jesus has already been baptized by John the Baptist and fed those 5,000 people on the side of the mountain. Jesus faced temptation in the wilderness. Prior to this morning’s text Jesus had been teaching and healing people throughout the land. At the beginning of this 11th chapter, John the Baptist is in prison and he sends word to Jesus. He wants to know if Jesus is the one the world has been waiting for or should they be looking for someone else? John wants to know, “Where is God?” Jesus, are you the ONE? Are you the answer to our hopes, the answer to our dreams, or should we be looking for someone else? Jesus with a “Dah!” Go and tell John what you hear and what you see. “The blind receive their sight. The lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them.” And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.

What we see in the text is, Jesus is lifting up John and John is lifting up Jesus. Jesus and John are great leaders in the tradition of the prophets and their mission is to fulfill God’s promise of liberation for the people of God. John and Jesus are following in the great tradition of the prophets, they are picking up their mantel and they are saying to one another and to the people of their day, “It is time.” CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? The kingdom of God is at hand! It is time. But of course, there is resistance and there are people who do want or are not able to see or hear the promise in the person of Jesus and John.

I am reminded of when I was growing up as a child. It was way before we had cable television. We had one of those big box televisions. As a family we would gather around that tv when Mohammad Ali had a boxing match. We gathered around that big box tv when Martin Luther King was giving a speech and the civil rights movement was televised and we saw children being sprayed with water hoses and chased by police dogs. On that big box tv we relied on big rabbit ears antenna to give us reception. Quite often that reception would grow weak. Someone in the family would have to jump up and begin maneuvering that antenna to our reception. They would position the antenna to just the right position to where that reception would provide us with us a clearer picture. As we got older, we learned that that if we added aluminum foil to the antenna it would give us even better reception.

Jesus and John served as prophets. to help people hear and see the promise of God. Since the time of Abraham and Sara, God sent prophets to bring liberation and help people not forget. God sent prophets like Moses, Elijah, Elisha, Lydia, Jeremiah, Martin, Bonhoeffer and so many more. It is in this deep, deep tradition and witness that Jesus and John the Baptist offer testimony to the faithfulness of God.

The tension in the text is, people of God, our reception grows weak. In the text Jesus talks about how the people are distracted and unable or unwilling to see. Sound familiar? Our distraction is in the reality of racism. Our distraction is in the reality of white supremacy? The distraction is in the privilege and comfort of living in a nice neighborhoods where “our” children get to attend good schools, and the privilege of living in a country where we don’t have to worry about our children being forced into gangs or into sex traffic and walls are built to protect “our” privilege. In recent weeks, Minnesota has had a spotlight shined on us. In a lot of ways, the church has been fortunate that the focus has been on the police for a history of abuse and neglect.

Thankfully, we have the witness of congregations like, Holy Trinity and Calvary and others who have been at the epicenter where the death of George Floyd has turned into an international cry for racial justice and confrontation with white supremacy. That is the reality of South Minneapolis, 38th and Chicago Avenue. Let us not forget, from Wilmer to Duluth, Albert Lee to Fergus Falls and throughout our state, there are stories.

We are the church. Like Jesus and John, we are rooted in that rich prophetic witness to be the voice of God, “Can you hear me now?” We are the church, called and baptized into that prophetic tradition to proclaim, “the blind receive their sight. The lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them.”  Amen!