Grow Where You are Planted

God spoke to God’s people through the prophet Jeremiah. And what Jeremiah told these people was to grow where they are planted. And at this particular time in history where the Israelites were planted was in exile. About that forced captivity the people cried out: By the rivers of Babylon— there we sat down and there we wept when we remembered Zion. 2 On the willows* there we hung up our harps. 3 For there our captors asked us for songs, and our tormentors asked for mirth, saying, ‘Sing us one of the songs of Zion!’ 4 How could we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land? How indeed? Captives of the enemy-- taken from the land you believe God ordained to be yours. That land the place you call home destroyed burned to the ground. Hating what is (exile) - grieving what was (Jerusalem) and knowing that life as you know it...life as your knew it...hoped it to be would never be the same. That powerless, helpless state of mind can and will render a person and a community paralyzed...unsettled...stuck in limbo. Healing from the loss feels impossible - just as imagining a new and different future is unthinkable. Can’t go back, no direction on how to go forward...but still the human spirit tells you === you must find a way....and like it always is...it is not you, but God who makes a way. Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. In short - grow where you are planted. Beyond Maxwelton, USA - where has God planted you? Sometimes in life we find ourselves planted in bright sunny places filled with smiles and contentment and that all-around-feeling of good. And O it’s so easy to grow in those places. Not so easy to grow in those places and times in life when there are downpours and droughts, blazing heat, soul-shattering winds, times and places where the ground is so hard and frozen you believe it is all but impossible for anything in your life to take root. And though it is not, it may very well feel like exile. But God is relentless- and still God says: Build houses, put in a garden, make friends, build families...try something new...learn something new, think out of the box, be inventive, imaginative, search and find and put to use your God-given gifts, adapt to your new reality ....in short - grow where you are planted. Babylonian exile; our personal life situations put aside for a moment....and Since it is Sunday morning - I would be remiss if I did not ask: - when it comes to the church - where are you planted - or are you planted at all? There are generations of plantings in this place. Like a grape vine, Clifton family roots run deep in this West Virginia soil. Some of you have been here since birth - as have your parents and grand parents and great grandparents. Others of us - first generation-ers have come seeking and made Clifton your church home. And like every home there are expectations. It is expected that as Christ’s church, we extend Christian hospitality to visitors and strangers; expected that we love one another; expected that we put no dividing walls between us; that we serve; that we welcome, extend mercy, share the good news...living every day -in such a way - that they will know we are Christians. And like every home there are responsibilities. To participate in the life of the church - in worship, in the care of the congregation, in the governance of the church, in giving our time, sharing our gifts - musical gifts, teaching gifts, leadership gifts, visitation gifts -- gifts that nurture and encourage children, gifts of organizing and repairing and decorating, gifts of service, mission, evangelism, preaching. Do you have a dream, a hope, a vision for the present-day Clifton Presbyterian Church....Do you have a dream, a hope, a vision for her future? What do you want this church to offer you, offer others - and how can we make that happen? What do you want from me, and the leaders you elected? What exactly is it that God is calling you to do for this church? Where exactly is it here in Clifton that God wants you to put down some roots? What will we as a community of faith, as a congregation be able to do to ensure our present and our future? Especially at this time in our history, these are questions we must continually ask ourselves as members of Christ’s church. And yes, what this is - is a Stewardship sermon - perhaps one of more than a few this year. Clifton needs your physical presence, your involvement in our programs, your hands, your hearts, your willing spirits, your imagination, your prayers, and yes your financial support...because I believe --- and I hope you believe --- that Clifton church --- planted in Maxwelton USA more than 100 years ago --- still has an important mission. This past Spring we planted new grass up at the park. But before we could do that we needed dirt. Dirt delivered, grass planted and it grew - just as planned and just as hoped. And in that new dirt and grass we now have wild flowers. Sprinkled over that whole area are tiny daisy like flowers. And one more. Hibiscus trionum. I have never seen this flower before - because it doesn’t grow in WV. I’ve been told it grows in the Piedmont area, and the internet tells me that it is common in Central and Northern Illinois. Hibiscus trionum - commonly called Flower of an Hour - rightly named because each flower blooms during a single sunny day, and remains open for only a few hours. Hibiscus trionum is an exile in this land - whose roots are now firmly planted in our park. Jesus said we are in the world but not of the world....Paul told us that our citizenship is now in heaven. True exiles are we. Planted here on earth - given the gift of bloom and flower - able to share that gift - but only for a short time. What is your gift, what is it that will allow you and Clifton to glorify God and enjoy him forever. We are called to be the church in the world, in this time and in this place, and hopefully to be the church in the world for those who come after us. So let us grow where we are planted.

What More Could You Ask For?

So you got a nice house with a nice manicured yard. And the inside of that house is filled with lots of nice things. Things that make living in that house pretty comfortable. It’s warm when the snow flies and cool when the summer heat descends. You have in that house every single thing you need and more. More than one phone, more than one television, more than one set of dishes, more than one pet, more than one computer, more than one car. The colors in your house match and compliment, it smells good and clean in your house, Your house has rooms set aside for certain things - rooms for working out, and another room for working...a room for laundry and another little room to hang the clean clothes. You have more rooms than you use, and all of these things are more than most people in the world have. What more could you ask for? And you’ve got family and friends - a good and happy marriage, pretty good kids, parents who support and guide you no matter how grown up you are. O there may have been more than a few bumps and bruises from birth to now, but generally speaking - life has turned out pretty good...probably better than most if you look at the statistics...so all things considered...what more could you ask for? And you got a job that fulfills you...or a retirement in which you spend your time just exactly the way you want to spend it. There is plenty and more than plenty of food in your fridge and you cupboards and you have a little bit or maybe a lot of discretionary income. Money that is left over after the bills... money which you can spend any way you want to spend it. You can save it up to buy something special, or go on vacation, or go out to dinner every night. You have the ability to do and be things that most people in the world never have. What more could you ask for? And you live in good neighborhoods...a relatively safe town with beautiful views, decent schools, pretty good sports programs, decent enough shopping. You are situated in a place that is better than most people in the world ever get situated. What more could you ask for? With all of this more and more....it seems that more and more these days, people are feeling a great sense of loneliness...a feeling that something is missing in their lives. We hear about people’s lack of a sense of community, a growing feeling of despair...of being disconnected and not a part of something, feelings of isolation, rejection, and like you don’t quite fit in. Something has happened in our society and our communities that presses us more and more toward anonymity, and flying solo, and doing our own thing. And though we have the nice homes, the good strong families and friends, relative financial and personal security....and often remind ourselves that asking for more would be totally out of the question and rather greedy...we do. So many people ask for, search for, long for a connection that cannot quite be explained. A something that cannot be put into words, but it is there inside of us just the same. Augustine, one of our early church fathers described it this way: You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you. A more contemporary thinker, wrote a book entitled, There’s a hole in your soul that only God can fill. Considering that Augustine wrote in the 5th century AD - it is a pretty good bet that this empty feeling we experience at times is part and parcel of being human. If this is true, then while we are walking this earth, there’s not much we can do to eliminate this feeling - but there is something we can do so that we are not consumed by this emptiness...this restless heart. It is the word religion. Which when we hear it we think in terms of - Catholic, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Jewish, Islam, Buddhism. But if you look back to the Latin, we find the word ;;; ligare - meaning to bind or connect and re-ligare - meaning to reconnect....we get the drift. Religare = religion. That which binds and connects us...that which reconnects us. To each other and to God. And where do we practice our religion...practice our binding, our connecting...our re-connecting with others and God -- where? but in mosques and synagogues and churches. In what place does that practice come to life. Where is it that we can bind and connect with each other...where do we come to reconnect to our God? Church. ... where we gather together, where we are one body, where Paul asks us to be of one mind, to celebrate with one another and to cry with one another. Church where children and youth can be nurtured in the faith by adults, and where adults can be energized and enlightened, and encouraged by out younger members. Church where we have an opportunity to learn how to live in community -- one of the best places where we learn how to take the focus off of ourselves and look outward to others, and probably one of the only places left where we are encouraged to let go of the constant self-absorption of our time and serve - serve God, and serve another human being. Church where if we listen we will learn how God wants us to live, and how Christ wants us to love others as we love ourselves. All of these things are what the church is supposed to be. And though so often we fail miserably...a whole lot of the time we hit it right on the mark. Name the times you needed help, and it was a church member who showed up. The lonely times, when the phone rang at just the right time and it was the person who sits way on the other side of the pew - the person you didn’t think even knew you. How many times have you broken bread with the people in this room, invited them to your home, took them vegetables from your garden, received a plate of muffins, enjoyed watching the babies grow up, shared a plate of food and the view at the park. I do believe that given half a chance - that this Christian religion - this connecting and re-connecting with one another and God - this community that has the power to remove the sting of isolation ...I do believe given half a chance we could be the balm that is so desperately needed to heal the wounds of the world. There is something so very vital about fully participating in the life of a church, that words cannot quite express it. And unless you’re in one, you can never know what it feels like to be welcomed, nurtured, lifted up in prayer, surrounded with love, and cared for from birth to death. What more could you ask for?

In the World But not of the World May 12, 2013

Back in 1963 during a Time magazine interview, theologian Karl Barth made the comment that when crafting a sermon, one should take the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other. Those kinds of sermons are usually challenging sermons - and I am not sure people really like those kinds of sermons much. Surveys indicate that people prefer light-hearted sermons - sermons that promise - like so many television preachers - that if we just think good thoughts - good things will come to us. It is believed --- that the reason many people want to here only happy thoughts from the pulpit is that in this political and economic climate, just living life one day to another is challenging enough. But sometimes- an unending list of happy thoughts are not on the preacher’s dance card. Because...it is my thought - that if Christians are uninformed about what is going on in the world - then we won’t be able to do anything about the injustices that occur every minute of every day. There is so much stuff - way too much – stuff going on in the world. More than enough to overwhelm you if you think about it for too long...more than enough to break your heart a thousand times over...more than enough to make you wonder how we’re even allowed to go on. There are the unsettling controversies about the war we are fighting in Afghanistan; nuclear bombs in North Korea; gun laws, immigration laws, Ben-Ghazi, the daily pillaging and rapes that have taken place for years in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Even when we start to feel a little bit good about our world - something puts the brakes on - the possible use of chemicals on the people in Syria, a school shooting in Newtown, a slick hustler of hedge funds, the government that allows scientists to make and fill our tables with genetically modified food, tent cities in Washington, Michigan, Oregon, California, New Jersey, Texas, Tennessee, Florida, Nevada. Tent cities filled with homeless - not because every one of them is derelict and on drugs, but because the many of them have lost their jobs due to the economy. And now we learn about the sick and horrible ten-year ordeal that has taken place in my hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. Here at home...Last week another person came into the office asking for help to get to their doctor in Beckley; last week a man who I never saw before pulled into our parking lot looking for someone to talk to about his disintegrating marriage; last week we helped feed about 80 people, last week another meth lab was discovered in the county. And we read Revelation - something about a new heaven and new earth...something about tears being wiped away - and mourning, crying, pain and death being no more. And we wait for this first earth, we wait for this old broken earth to pass away, and the new one to come. In our waiting, it seems that things get progressively worse, that humanity hits new lows. And though every vile act committed in every corner of the world, diminishes the whole of humanity, it seems that we have become desensitized and disengaged. With so much of the world seemingly out of control, and out of our control - our feelings of powerless allows us to be only momentarily surprised, shaking our heads, and moving on into the next day. If we have a conscience - if we have a Christian conscience - moving on into the next day - somehow doesn’t seem like it’s the right thing to do. So as ---the whole creation groans and as we all suffer together right up to the present time....is there something...anything we can do? Yes> Christ’s disciples have much to offer. We have a mission of service; a ministry of welcome, hospitality, and civility to offer. As recipients of the Holy Spirit - we have gifts to offer. Gifts to be shared with our church, our community, our world, all for the building up of the kingdom. Now we may think our gifts are not so grand as to save a world, or build a kingdom. We may think our God-given gifts aren’t enough, or not good enough to make a difference. To be sure there are those who are gifted with the money and ability to build a hospital in El Salvador, open a school in Mali, or start a community center in Camden, New Jersey. Others have gifts to work with wounded soldiers, or spend time doing prison ministry, or work overseas as a missionary, or march on Washington. We need their gifts - they are not my gifts - maybe not your gifts, still, not possessing the grander gifts does not allow us the excuse to just move on into the next day. We are reminded that we are not of the world --- not conformed to the world, not in line with its values, principles or its powers. We are however in the world - called by God to be a blessing, to be a light, to be the ones who point to something different, to be present and standing and strong - when others are not - when others cannot. There is only one place to learn how to be in the world, but not of the world -- and that is here in church. Worship is important; membership is important, preaching and teaching and singing and baptizing and confirming and bread and juice are all important. But what in this present time what may very well be the most important and what the church teaches best -- is how to be in community with one another. In church, we learn what it means to be a blessing to others, by recognizing that God has blessed us - and by acknowledging that we have been blessed by other members. In church, we learn how to be the light by hearing about Jesus Christ - the light of the world. In church, we learn how to be the ones who point to something different - by living out Christ’s teachings, so that as we exhibit Christ - others will see that we are different, that we do represent something different, that we can be a beacon of light that shows a more perfect way. Here in church we learn how to be present and standing and strong - because - on a day when we could barely muster the energy to get out of bed - someone was present and standing and strong for us. Here is where we learn to share with one another’s joys and sorrows, to laugh and to cry together, so that - we can do that out there. You know, Christ didn’t bring us together in community for no good reason. Paul didn’t give his life to founding and nurturing churches because he had nothing better to do. For Christians, church is where community begins. This is where we learn to accept one another, love one another (even if we don’t like one another.) This is where we learn about human nature, and conversation, and sharing a meal, and sharing a life, and bestowing grace, and forgiving, and growing together, growing old together - and yes, here is where we learn how to loose and let go of one another. Jesus prayed: I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world. I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them. As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. Yes, the creation groans, yes, the world can be a very ugly place. But this place - this church place - unlike any other place - must be a safe place. A refuge in the storm of life; a rock in the stormy sea of the world’s reality. Here in this place is where - like babies we are cared for and nurtured, loved and protected. Here in this place - like babies we are fed the milk of our faith - so that when we are out there - we will know who we are; know who we are called to be, know what we are called to do.

Undeserving May 5, 2013

I am not sure exactly what speaks to us when we read this story. Is it the image of a helpless paralyzed man longing to be healed? Or the image of him laying by the side of the pool for 38 years Is it because he was alone for all those years Maybe the sad tug at our heart is imagining how miserable and disenfranchised that man must have felt – when we learn that every time he dragged or scooted his broken body to the side of the pool – others more able-bodied got in front of him and made it into the water before him. Then again, when Jesus cures the man – perhaps what speaks to us is a sense of joy – as we hear yet again and in yet another way – the good news of Jesus Christ. Previous readings of this story, found me admiring- or at least respecting-- on some level -- the paralytic’s tenacity. It seemed that no matter the weather, the severity of his affliction, or the continual disappointment at never making it to the water’s edge, this man’s spirit of hope prevailed. By the end of the story I was convinced that he possessed what could only be a genuine faith. This time however, and for some unknown reason, the story spoke to me in a different voice. After another careful reading of the words without making any assumptions, without jumping to conclusion, I am convinced that faith had nothing at all to do with this healing. Mainly because there is not one word about faith in these verses. Unlike other stories where people hear about Jesus, or show up in the crowds, or call him the Son of God, or go directly to him and ask for help, the man by the pool didn’t open his mouth to ask, only opened his mouth to tell Jesus why he couldn’t be healed. The paralytic had no belief or faith in Jesus. Truth is the paralytic didn’t even know who Jesus was. The only belief or faith that man did have – was in the magic of the bubbling waters. Furthermore, after the man was up and walking around, he didn’t promise to follow Jesus the rest of his days, or confess his faith in him,,,why he didn’t even have the decency to say thank you! One commentator wrote: Who is this guy? Well, he’s a real bum, that’s who he is! He had no gratitude, no faith, no humility, no nothin’....he didn’t deserve to be healed. That’s not a totally unheard of attitude. We hear it all the time. I worked harder than he did, I deserved that raise – not him /// I’m better than she is at this – I deserve the recognition /// Hey, I’ve been living by the rules, how come she’s got made and I don’t...How come he gets all the breaks when he hasn’t done anything to deserve them? That deserving thing is a slippery slope. I’m pretty sure there are lots of people who probably deserve more and better than the hand they have been dealt. And by the same token I’m pretty sure there a lots of people who perhaps maybe don’t deserve all the goodies they have. But then who’s to say who deserves what—and whose to say how much of what any of us deserve? Which brings us back to the crux of this story. Who among us deserves God’s love – a love so strong and eternal that Jesus came to live among us, die for us – so that we – undeserving people – would be found righteous in God’s sight and given life everlasting. Who among us deserves all that? Which is why we don’t look to the man at the pool. You see, Jesus didn’t heal the man because of who he was, or what he deserved. Jesus healed the man because of who Jesus is. Jesus didn’t die for us because he thought we were such a good and sweet and kind bunch – let alone a deserving bunch – Jesus died for us because of who he is. Yes this is a healing story – but more than that -it is a story about God’s mercy and grace. This is a story about the enormous, unparalleled, unexplainable ...undeserved and unmerited love of God – which is given freely to each and every one of us. I leave you with a few final thoughts. The pool – in this gospel called - Bethzatha – is in the shadow of the Temple. Scripture tells us that it is located right outside the Sheep Gate. Why is it - do you think- that the man chose not to go to the Temple for healing – but chose instead to remain away and outside of the Temple? It is because he would be considered unclean and so undeserving of even entering the Temple. The question for us to ponder is --how many people out there feel and fear that they would not be welcome in the church because they believe they are unclean or undeserving to share the pew with us. How many are desperate for healing and wholeness, but instead of being in here are out there - looking for acceptance --- looking for a soft place to land – and people to care about them....how many are not in here with us, but out there looking desperately for love - in all the wrong places because they believe we will not welcome them..or because they believe we have nothing in the way of healing to offer them. Finally, How much grace has God shown you? Think about that one for a minute...how much grace has God shown you? How many times have you gotten side-tracked, veered completely off the path, ignored the signs, found yourself lost. How many times have you done that which is totally against what you know in your heart to be wrong? How many times have you done absolutely nothing. Then consider the grace God has shown you. The number of times cannot even begun to be counted. And if that is the case – who are any of us to deny that kind of love, mercy and grace to any other human being. Who are any of us – that we have the ability to decide who is deserving of God’s love and healing...and who is not. As we go back out there into the world, remember -- Jesus – as revealed in this story --is the only one who heals us not because we who we are, not because we are worthy or deserving or better than anyone else - but for no other reason than he loves us.

Living on the Edge April 28, 2013

Life is filled with difficult lessons. Whether we are on the teaching side of the lesson or sitting on the learning side of the lesson – it might be - that one of life’s first lessons is the hardest. It is the lesson about sharing. My mother made a mean chicken wings and rice dish. It was a cheap meal and one that got her and her family through the depression. But for me – my mom’s chicken wings and rice was a meal fit for a king. My boyfriend through high school and college ate many a meal with us and one of his favorites was – chicken wings and rice. Like any good mom and cook she loved it when we showed our appreciation for her culinary delights – and so the small pan of chicken wings and rice grew larger and larger until it was made in a good sized soup pot. One evening my boyfriend was on his third helping and since he was in the living room with my dad eating at a TV table – I offered to refill his plate. Not because I was the doting girlfriend, but because I wanted to limit his rice intake – because you see I love the rice best and if he ate it all – or most of it- there would be less for me. Well right as I spooned a measly portion of rice on his plate – here comes my mother around the corner. And she was appalled at her stingy daughter and told me so in so many scolding whispers. But I held out – NO I said in my only child brat voice. And then quick as a blink the dish was out of my hands and in hers – and the measly rice portion grew to take over half the plate. I think she was trying to teach me a lesson... At any age...Perhaps the hardest of life’s lessons is the one about sharing. The question the religious authorities in Jerusalem asked Peter was Why did you eat with the uncircumcised? Translated --why did you eat with unclean Gentiles? More to the point – Peter, what possessed you to eat with people who are not like us? Bottom line - Peter, why would you even consider eating with people like them? It would appear that Peter’s back is up against a wall. He has broken the law in more than one way: It’s bad that Peter has eaten food that has been forbidden for generations; bad that he knowingly violated the dietary laws of his faith; It’s bad that he has knowingly associated with the unclean; but put them together – an actual sit down meal with heathens – done voluntarily..and perhaps even (oh say it isn’t so) enjoyed his evening with people who were different....Oh yes, Peter is in big trouble. It’s a funny thing about sharing a meal, isn’t it? When in the school cafeteria we sit with people we like; when thinking about having a dinner party, we invite people we like; at fellowship, at picnic in the park we tend to sit with people with whom we have things in common; even at family holiday dinners, we avoid crazy Aunt Clare and cousin Herman who beat us up when we were ten ---and hope all the way to Granma’s house that we don’t get stuck sitting next to them at the table. In its own way eating has an intimacy about it, and it is rare – if ever – that we share a meal with strangers, or people whose ideas are different than ours, rare that we would willingly share meal with enemies – or in Peter’s case, unclean heathens. Why was Peter willing to break rules that he had been taught all of his life? Why willing to be hauled in front of the religious authorities in Jerusalem? What could have compelled Peter to go against doctrine and be so sinfully reckless? Blame it on trances, and visions and dreams...blame it on seeking God’s will in prayer and hearing it in voices and angel’s messages. Blame it on the Holy Spirit at work. The Holy Spirit! Not the Holy Spirit. Peter, Peter....First eating with Gentiles – now you’re telling us that the Holy Spirit (excuse me, OUR HOLY SPIRIT) spoke to them...and yikes – fell upon them...you mean just like it fell upon us? Us, God’s chosen people? It’s a funny thing about sharing the Holy Spirit, isn’t it? When we THINK we’ve got it...(BUT WE PROBABLY DON’T) but no matter - we take ownership – belongs to me, not you – in our church, not yours, for certain kinds of people, but not those kinds of people. Since Jesus was a Jew and the Jewish Messiah...and we are talking gentiles here (that’s us by the way)...the question with which those in Jerusalem were faced was this: Who is in and who is out? Should anyone be out...is this what Jesus meant when he told us to Make disciples of all nations? If that was what Jesus meant – then lots of long held beliefs and ideas, long held religious doctrine and cultural norms were gonna have to change. Today’s reading records a time in our church history when that realization was just starting to sink in. Living Jesus’ teachings was counter-cultural, stepping into his footprints was radical behavior, being the church in a Jewish, pagan, Roman world was more than risky – it was life changing. It mean a change in thinking, in attitude, in behavior...it meant living on the edge. Though we try, we cannot imagine the very early church - breaking away from Judaism – scorned, humiliated, ridiculed, persecuted - diverse in a world that was segregated, inclusive in a world of prejudice and rules. In ways that the present day church is not – be assured that the early church was progressive and was a progressive force to be reckoned with. Way back in the first century, it was the church who was exploring a risky, radical, never-heard-before idea of accepting those considered unclean – the Gentiles – in the church. It was the church of the first century who looked back and remembered how lovingly Christ treated every unclean oddball reject...and then looked forward into an unknown future and trusted the leadings of the Holy Spirit. It was the church led by the Holy Spirit - who welcomed those who had always been excluded (gentiles/us) from keeping company with God’s covenant people. It was the church who --with Peter’s help, brought believers together by the breaking of bread and the sharing of the cup, the church who – looking to Christ - encouraged hospitality and table fellowship. It was the church --who with Peter’s help, recognized that the Holy Spirit was a free agent, without human-imposed limits, human prejudices, human arrogance. It was the church who knew there was no stifling the Holy Spirit; no keeping it from going where it would, or keep it from falling on all kinds of people. Let me paraphrase the closing words of one of the commentaries I read: : When today’s church seriously considers the truth about the inclusive and diverse nature of the first century church...when today’s church truly sees Christ and actually listens to Peter...when today’s church is embarrassed by whom we have chosen to exclude...and chooses instead to include...when we share both the nourishment of the body and that which nourishes our spirit with those who are not like us - then we too will be living on the edge.

March 24, 2013 Palm Sunday - Look Again There was something in the air. It was more than the sounds and smells. It was excitement, joy, expectation, curiosity, adoration, respect, awe, apprehension, skepticism, distrust, anger, hatred. There were lots of somethings in the air – it was thick, it was palpable, it was unavoidable. If you were there...you couldn’t escape it. It was the Festival of the Passover – for 8 days --- people – thousands and thousands of them coming and going from the city of Jerusalem. For some it was an annual pilgrimage; for others it was a once in a lifetime event. Some were lucky enough to live right there in the midst of it; others traveled days to worship and celebrate in the holy city. Some came alone, serious, searching, determined; others came with their neighbors and their children and considered it an adventure. There were the priests with all their pomp and authority – bustling through the Temple with robes billowing out around them, scribes carrying scrolls, and all those attached to the Temple, busy at some such task or another in every direction one looked. But as important and wonderful as this festival was, with old friends united, and new sites to be seen, and family reunions, the beauty of the Temple – a black cloud of Roman soldiers on high alert //// hovered over them, and the city, and their religious feast days. They were standing on every corner, walking in twos and threes through the crowds, gathered in groups at the city’s gates, vigilant, and lined up on the city’s walls. All of this was in the air...and on this Passover day there was more. Some followed him; some came to see him for the first time; some had heard of his coming- but kept their distance; some were glad to see him; others turned and scurried away so as not be counted among them. There was something in the air like hope, and trouble...like fear and awe...relief that the waiting was over...and a worry that perhaps they were mistaken. He came to the top of the hill - a teacher, a healer, a leader, a wise man, a reformer, a trouble maker, a thinker, an instigator, an advocate, a strong voice, yes all of those things, --- but was he a king, was he the messiah? What they did not yet know ....was that this man who rode on the back of a colt, with cloaks spread out on the path before him, ...this man was the suffering servant. And a suffering servant does not look like a king. And a suffering servant does not look like a Messiah. The suffering servant will not cry out or lift up his voice, neither will he make it heard in the street. The suffering servant does not draw attention to himself; he does not have to be the loudest voice in the room; or make sure that he’s the center of attention. People who are already hurting, already powerless, already lost and disappointed in themselves, people who already feel unworthy, embarrassed, helpless, people who are already down and out....all those people who are bruised reeds - the Messiah will not break. The Messiah will not make them feel worse about themselves by shaming them or humiliating them, or scolding them - a dimly burning wick he will not quench...he will not snuff out because the Messiah knows that God’s spirit no matter how low the flame – God’s spirit flickers in each and every one. The suffering servant has been given a mission – no matter what he does...all that he does is focused upon this pinpoint of a mission. His mission - it is singular - it is to bring forth justice. He will not be swayed, his mind cannot be changed. He will not be bribed or coerced, ...the suffering servant will persevere; no matter the threats or the risk. 4He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth The suffering servant is calm, unassuming, quiet, gentle, faithful, true to his word, true to his calling – and because the Lord upholds him, because the Lord has chosen him, delights in him, has put his spirit upon him...the suffering servant will be triumphant. The description of the suffering servant was first heard by Jews in the 8th century BC -- and – if it did nothing else – these words of Isaiah challenged their thinking about God’s purposes, and who God is, and how God acts in the world. Not like a king, surely and nothing like the Messiah for which they hoped. Still, it caused them to reconsider, re-imagine, caused them to look again at who their Messiah would be, and for whom their Messiah would come. This Palm Sunday, marks the end of yet another Lent – the season when we are to take another look...the season when we are to look again at ourselves – at our behavior, our words, deeds, and thoughts- in light of Christ’s teaching; to look again at our commitment to Christ and to Christ’s church; to look again at Christ’s mission and our mission to the world. This Palm Sunday, as Jesus was welcomed, ushered, and hosanna’ed into Jerusalem, ...only to be crucified because he was not who they thought and wanted him to be. This Palm Sunday may also be our time to look again at our ideas about Jesus Christ. Look again to make sure we do not make the same mistaker...look again to make sure we have not made our Messiah in our own image. THOSE WHO HAVE EARS, LET THEM HEAR: Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. 2He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; 3a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. 4He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his teaching. 5Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it: 6I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, 7to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. 8I am the Lord, that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to idols. 9See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them.

March 10 - Breaking the Mold

We all know that a parable is a story within a story whose message teaches us a lesson. And because Jesus had a lot of lessons to teach, he made good use of the parable. And the parable we know best is the one we heard this morning. At first read this is a story about a father and his two sons, one of whom went wild and squandered his inheritance; the other who stayed down on the farm – and got very upset because the father threw a big party when the runaway son returned home. We however, know that there is more to the story. But do we really know how much more? To make sure that we do, today we will take a hard look at this passage. First off, we must recognize that the story is set at a time and in a culture where one’s behavior either brings honor or shame to the family. Though not unusual, the younger son’s request for his inheritance went against all that was acceptable behavior, and would be considered shocking and shameful. What the young man is saying - in so many words – is I am so important that I can’t wait around for my father’s natural death. The insult cuts deeper as in this request, the younger son infers that - for all intents and purposes...his father is of no more use to him, has nothing more to offer him, his father is already dead to him. Next sentence reads, so the father divided his property between them. Traditionally, that would be 2/3rds to the elder and 1/3 to the younger. However, the word property – in the Greek – means more than land or possessions...it literally means one’s essence, one’s living, one’s life. The son is asking for his father to give up his life’s work, all he has worked for, all that he stands for. In essence – the son is dismissing all his father is and has been. In this culture, both father and eldest son had the duty to protect the honor of their family by refusing the request of the younger son. If anything, the youngest son should have been disinherited immediately. Furthermore, when word got out into the community, that the father decided not to disinherit -- it would be a scandal....and if they chose to do so, it would be appropriate for the whole community to shun the father and the elder son. And the scandal worsens as the father is further disgraced when the youngest son took off to a foreign or a distant land. And did what...but squander his property. We have two meanings to consider here. Again the word property meaning one’s living, one’s life or essence = we read and understand that the youngest son squandered all that he was...his very being – in short – his soul. The second meaning of the world property is ...literally the land. You see the father didn’t go to the bank, sell the land, and hand the youngest a bag of cash. He gave him the land. So when the youngest squandered his property = he did so on credit, so to speak. Promising his creditors pieces of his family’s land – as a trade off to finance his wild living. No longer is this about one family – now it’s about the whole community. Because of the young man’s selfish and irresponsible behavior – strangers now have access to the land in this village. Strangers, foreigners, people of ill repute, and who knows what kind of people - will come and they will bring with them strange ideas, strange habits...all of which will upset the established order and perhaps pose a threat to the townspeople’s very lives. All of this brings more shame and disgrace on the father and the eldest son.... – and now shunning is not the issue because this family is at risk of being banished. When there is nothing more to lose = the young man heads home. We read that while the son was still far off, the father saw him. The Greek lets us know that this was not just happenstance. In fact, the Greek lets us know that this was a common practice. The father went out on a regular basis, maybe every day, maybe every time he was outside = surveying the horizon = not only looking = but waiting..and waiting expectantly = trusting that somehow, his son would come home. And when the son’s frame finally showed itself on that horizon, what happens...but the father did a few more shameful and disgraceful things. First, the father went to him...when it would only be right that the son come to him, and asked if he could come into his father’s presence and plead his case. Second, the father ran – grown men with some status and reputation – (even though at this point that status and reputation if pretty well in tatters) grown ment don’t run, cuz when you run - you have to pick up your robes and expose your legs == and you get disheveled and you don’t look respectful - all unacceptable behavior in this culture. Third, the father put his arms around the son and kissed him....literally in the good ol’ Greek – the father fell upon him, actually collapses on him, hung on his neck, sobbed, overwhelmed, tears of joy, and smothered him with kisses – an emotional display that would make anyone blush = and worse, an embarrassing display of emotion toward a wayward son--- who we all know should have been disinherited and sent out of the community from the get go. And then a celebration – a party and people, and a feast. We all know that a parable is a story within a story. This is a story about us – the wayward sons and daughters. A story about God, the father, who goes to any length to love and welcome us; God who waits every second of every day for us to return to him; God who for the love of us is willing to be disgraced and shamed in the streets of first century Jerusalem; God who is willing to be shunned and banished from society; God who goes against the status quo to show his love for us; God who no matter how many times we turn on back on him - embarrasses himself by overlooking our indifference; embarrasses himself in his relentless pursuit of us. God who is willing to literally give up his life, his essence, his very being for a people who have taken off to distant lands and squandered every good gift we have received by his hand; God, in Jesus Christ who upon our return is ready to celebrate by inviting us to a great feast. As Christ sets his face toward Jerusalem and prepares to be nailed and hung on a cross – surely this God – who breaks every mold for our pitiful sakes – is worthy to be considered during this Lent.

March 3 - God is Everywhere

The questions have been asked for years: Where to find God? How do we reach him? Where do I go, what do I do, is there a special formula, a secret code, are there certain words I have to say? But we answer: oohhh that’s way too much to figure out – because I’ve got way too much to figure out already. Running from here to there, deadlines, appointments, commitments, responsibilities, expectations. I can barely keep up with what I’ve already heaped upon myself. The over scheduled calendar already reaches out into July and August, and it’s only the third of March. Even thinking about adding one more thing to my busy busy life makes the brain freeze up. And ya know....when you think about it... what does God expect....certainly God understands how busy we are in 2013, and the stress of getting ahead, or more often...just keeping our head above water. God must have figured out by now, that this life is way too full to spend much more than an hour on Sunday with God. Still, the questions persist. Where can I find God? How do I reach him? But the alarm clock goes off and we are off...and running...day after day... And we work overtime, and decide not to take our vacation days...and we sit at our laptops and work well into the night. And just like us - the kids and grandkids have to be here and there and everywhere.... and when we are not so busy busy...we have contraptions in our hands, at our fingertips, or in our ears that connect us to the world, and information, and friends, and games, and we can’t communicate anymore unless we are typing our conversations out on a little plastic pad of letters, or doing some such silliness in cyberspace. And we think nothing of spending hours watching the unexplainable on television: heartbreaking things like people who are hoarders, and people who are addicted to all kinds of things, shows about vampires, and reality shows about bachelors, and moonshiners, and wild and drunk young people in Brooklyn, the Jersey shoremand West Virginia. The world and its people are falling apart, but we won’t see it, cuz we’ve been lured into believing that all this stuff is most important. //// And somewhere back in our brain - somewhere under all that junk, we hear God asking us once again: Why are you wasting time on that which does not satisfy you, fill you, connect you...to anything? And we push that thought back further back in our brains...And we go on line to shop, and we go the mall to shop, and we go to QVC and shop...and we buy stuff we don’t need...and we buy stuff we can’t afford...and even when we go to the store to pick up just a few items, we end up with way too much stuff in our shopping carts... And again we hear God ask: Why are you spending your money on that which is not bread? I have fond memories of spending Saturday mornings at the West Side Market in Cleveland, Ohio. Built in 1912 the outdoor fruit and vegetable stalls stretch out 500 feet in front of you. Inside the adjoining building are cakes and pies, breads and fish, and any kind of meat you can imagine. The family owned kiosks and stalls have been there for 101 years. Shoppers yell out – a pound of German hotdogs please, a dozen perioges, two loaves of rye... a bunch of grapes, how about a dozen ears of corn. The sellers hawk their wares. C’mon now – this cheese is the freshest you will find – look at these strawberries as big as a tennis ball. There is banter across the aisle as vendors who have known each other since childhood participate in friendly competition. They point at the shoppers passing by and them “ You’re making a mistake if you buy from anyone else.” It’s busy, it’s loud, it’s hard to take it all in, it engages all your senses, and takes every bit of your attention. Just like this life. This scene from the Isaiah is much like that of a marketplace. And right there in the midst of life...between the strawberries and the rye bread...between the overtime, the ridiculous and obscene on TV, and the too full shopping cart -is God, speaking through Isaiah and telling us that in between it all, all around it all, in and through it all....that’s where God is. He picks you out of the passing crowd and points, and calls out, Hey you, are you thirsty, do you have money, no? No matter, it’s not important. I just want to say... listen to me ...pay attention, over this way, I’m here, come closer. I’ve been telling people for years, but they don’t take the time....but forever now -- I have wanted everyone to know ...that --- I have what you are searching for and what you need......I’m only asking you to partake of the good and the richness that I offer...so that you will have life. We think that so much has changed since Scripture was written – changed so much that it couldn’t possibly apply to us. And to be sure we have come a long long way in a few thousand years. So many discoveries, inventions, phenomenal leaps of in science, medicine and technology we cannot count. But human beings, human nature = not changed at all. From then until now, we have been obsessed and addicted, enamored and distracted by everything under the sun....everything except one thing = God. Augustine said our hearts will be restless until they rest in God...and so until we carve out a space for God in our busy busy lives, the questions will persist. Searching? Thirsty? Longing for a whole lot more than what the world offers you? Lent is a time – time enough to seek the Lord while he may be found...time enough to call upon him while he is near; more than enough time to realize that God – God is everywhere.

The Unexpected Jesus

February 3, 2013 Part of life is living with expectations. I’ll go out on a limb here and say it might even be a part of our genetic soup – to live expectantly. We expect to wake up in the morning, expect to eat a meal or two today, expect to make it safely back home and wake up in the morning to do it over again. And then there are those other kinds of expectations. About how our life will turn out; about the presents under the Christmas tree; we have expectations about the big vacation we’ve planned for months; about our children and our retirement years. And let’s not forget the expectations we put on friends and family ...and the expectations we put on ourselves. But what happens when the gift under the tree is not what you hoped for, the vacation you planned turns out to be the worst 2 weeks of your life; your friend didn’t turn out to be such a good friend. You see the thing about expectations is that they can disappoint. Everyone here has expectations about God. I have found it to be true, that if you worship a loving God...you have him. If you prefer a harsh judgmental God – well, then that kind of God will be your kind of God. If you hate certain kinds of people, you God will hate the same ones. And there is no doubt that many people have convinced themselves that their idea of how things should be done and run, is surely how God would do it, too. Same is true about Jesus. For a long time we looked at the brown haired, blue eyed, fair-skinned Jesus and knew that was our man...until we got a whole lot more realistic about Jesus’ Middle Eastern Jewishness. If your politics are on the liberal side – then of course you believe that Jesus thinks like you do. And if you fall on the conservative side of the fence – you have no doubt that Jesus is sitting right there with you. Any student of the Bible knows that the Jews were waiting for their Messiah =a Messiah about whom they had expectations. Warrior - victorious in defeating Rome, a King like David, returning Jerusalem to its rightful place in the world = free... a powerful and prosperous nation. What they didn’t expect --- more to the point, what they would never expect is a kid from the neighborhood, from maybe the lower middle-class, whose family’s livelihood was carpentry. Just because he showed up after some ritual bath in the Jordan River and lots of rumors about healing people didn’t mean a thing...at least not after that day in the synagogue. And to think...it was all going so well. Everyone praised him. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. And then....after reading the scroll, he sat down and declared himself the fulfillment of the law. Declaring himself the fulfillment of the law was not what they expected. You see unlike today and in our culture - in Jesus' day it was considered not only horribly bad manners, but DIShonorable to boast, dishonorable to seek fame and celebrity, dishonorable to deliberately do anything for the purpose of drawing attention to oneself. Even if Jesus was speaking the truth, it probably wasn’t perceived that way...disappointing – not to mention a bit on the blasphemous side. Another thing the men in the synagogue didn’t expect was that Jesus would say no. They expected Jesus to do the same things he did at Capernaum – miracles. Because that’s what their culture expected. One’s family and village were always to be given precedence. Perhaps it is how we read it – the tone we give it...but we don’t know the tone in which it was spoken 2000 years ago....and so the question, Isn’t this Joseph’s son? – may not have been meant to be accusing or derogatory. Many believe it was their way of saying, Isn’t this Joseph’s son...hey...this is Joseph’s son...he is one of us...so...Jesus, this is your hometown, we are the people who watched you grow up, we are the friends who grew up with you....and so it is only fitting – actually you owe us – you can’t do miracles someplace else and leave us out in the cold...this is your hometown – out of respect, out of obligation – we should be the primary beneficiaries of your miracles --- so miracle us – it’s expected. But there were no miracles performed in Nazareth that day. Jesus said, no – and talked to them about two other prophets – whose miracles were performed, whose help was given--- not to their own, not to the insiders, not to the hometown gang --- but to the foreigner, to those who were outside of the Jewish community. Luke’s gospel has long been known as the gospel of reversal – filled with the unexpected. Luke makes sure the reader knows that Christ’s message is one that -- as Luke writes in the book of Acts -- turns the world upside down. ..... By bringing good news to the poor, lifting up the lowly and sending the rich away empty...proclaiming release to the captive, sight to the blind, and freeing the oppressed. What was is no more. The old is made new. Expectations are shattered. The Messiah is never to be boxed in, never to be held to societal norms or cultural expectations. To quote a New Testament scholar: We must understand that Jesus’ ministry will not be predictable....will not focus on the insiders, but on the excluded....anyone who cannot accept this, will find Jesus unacceptable. Anyone who cannot accept that God’s ways and thoughts are not ours...that Jesus is not bound by our limitations...that the Lord does not hold our world view, and came - in fact - for all people... for those who cannot accept those truths about Jesus – they will more than likely run him out of town and do their very best to hurl him over a cliff. Today’s scripture passage ends: But Jesus passed through the midst of them and went on his way. Went on his way to preach to people who had ears to hear and eyes to see and hearts that were hungry. Jesus was surely kicking the dust off his sandals when he left Nazareth that day. One commentator writes, that the same could happen to us.....if we are not willing to welcome the unexpected Jesus, it will be with a ho-hum and an uncovered yawn, that Jesus will slip right out the back door of the church, ...while we are so consumed with making him in our image, so busy insisting that he is the fulfillment of our expectations ...that we won’t even notice he left us.

Words of Life

January 27, 2013 I wonder about any number of things --- about this world and about this thing we call life. Two of the things I wonder about concern the church. I sometimes wonder how people manage to get through life’s tough times without faith...mostly, I wonder about how people manage without the support of the church and her members. I’m sure you know people like this --- people without a church, without the loving and supportive friendships and the shared fellowship with church members. What do those people do with the struggles and the sorrows, the harsh realities of the world, the personal heartbreaks. And who is there for them when it is time to celebrate and acknowledge the really good stuff in life? Like you I know people who have lots of stuff, lots of relatives, good jobs, but no church, no church family, no kindred spirits in the faith...and what I see in them is a flailing, as they try to make sense of life’s circumstances that quite often don’t make sense...a flailing then that often turns to bitterness and despair...and what I hear in their voices is a flatness, an emptiness...and so often a lack of joy for the pure pleasure of living in the Lord. When I think about these people, I wish better for them. And the wish is for a faith and a church. For a sanctuary to sit in; for congregations to call, send a card, bring a warm meal, listen to their deepest worries. But even more that those things, what I wish is that they had the word of God to strengthen and comfort them, for much-loved scripture passages to be their anchor, or their compass, or a set of wings to lift them up and over the tough days that come to every life. The other thing I wonder about is how in the world the church has managed to keep on going for 2000 years. From the first day, there were outside forces that could have crushed the church and sent it into oblivion. Governments, regimes, dictators, wars, radical factions, other religions, underground movements, threats, disinterest. The church could have been over before it really started if people had gotten tired of waiting for Jesus’ return, or if they thought Paul was too crazy, or if following Christ took too much effort. All of it could have fallen apart if the arguments and differences...the prejudice and hard feelings were so great that they could not be overcome. Let us turn then to Nehemiah, where we meet a people who have been too long without the Word of God...a people whose way of life is threatened not only from the inside, but from the outside as well. The year was 440 BC. The Jews who were in exile have been released. With very little resources, but as best as possible - the Temple has been rebuilt – a mere shadow of its former self. Now as the people set about to rebuild the walls around their beloved Jerusalem – they face threats from the outside. Fearful that the Israelites were planning some kind of revolt – enemies promised to tear down the city walls once again. They tormented the Israelites with insults calling them poor workers, called them fools to even think they could rebuild, and humiliated them with jibes and taunts because the only materials they had to rebuild the city’s walls were the charred and fire damaged stones from the original wall. Rebuilding the city’s wall became dangerous. As the situation deteriorated, armed guards we stationed to keep watch; the builders grew tired; a sense of defeat and disillusionment set in. And there were economic problems. There was drought and crop failure – food was at a premium. Though farmers lost their livelihood, ---their already high taxes continued, their loans were called in by their creditors, and children were forced to work. The people were forced to pledge their fields, vineyards, and homes just to get grain to feed their families. The powerful and the creditors used this crisis for their personal gain. In chapter 5 Nehemiah notes that a people who have been freed from slavery are now being sold back into the slavery of debt. Forces on the outside were determined to erase the Jews – their traditions, their history, their faith, and their future. And that is also true for the forces from the inside. Because it was their own kinfolk who held, and now called in the notes on their property. It was their kinfolk – who – out of fear of their enemies - sabotaged the building of the wall. And...the Jews who were not taken into exile, but had remained in Jerusalem, the Jews who were left behind and did their best to farm the land, build up what they could, raise families, keep traditions ---it was those Jews who ‘held down the fort’, who the government forced to give up and leave their homes and their farms – so that the returning exiles could move in and take over. And those thousands who over the many years had married foreigners – were forced to divorce = forced to send spouses and children away - what misery that must have caused, and what resentment. This is a picture of a people who are surely broken, every hope dashed, exhausted by life’s struggles, crushed on all sides. These are a people without support – from the inside - not from their own, not from one another – and certainly not from the outside. So what was it that offered them strength and comfort? What was their anchor, their compass, and where did they find a good set of wings to lift them up and over all these tough days? Nehemiah wrote a beautiful sentence: All the people assembled as one man. Individuals, separated, torn apart by many circumstances...but together as one --- united and strong -- when they become a congregation. And where do they assemble? But at the Water Gate, a place where everyone could gather, men, women, children, and yes, even the ritually unclean. There is equality in this congregational gathering – it is inclusive, diverse, open, and available to all people. The congregation gathers together to do what??? To hear --- the Word of God. And that is important because it will be in the Word of God that they will not only reclaim their past – not only be renewed for the struggles of the day, but as well --be equipped for their future. The people’s amen – sealed once again – their covenant with God...and they wept – perhaps as they recognized all they had lost over the year ... perhaps after years of frustration, bitterness, unhappiness, worry and the loneliness of exile – the words they heard – words chosen by God and spoken specifically to them –were the wings they needed to lift them up and out of their despair, comforted and strengthened – encouraging them to carry on as a congregation, a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God. And with that good news – Nehemiah insisted that the weeping be left for another day – now it was time to celebrate. Time to eat the fat and drink sweet wine and share with those who had nothing, for – Scripture tells us that ....the day the people assembled to hear God’s Word was called holy. How do people get through the trials of life – without faith and without the care of the church --- I will still wonder about that. But what I will no longer wonder about is how the church has managed to stay alive, managed to stay together for all these good and bad years.... despite forces from within and without – we are bound...and we remain because of these Words of life....Wonderful – amazing -- grace filled words of life.

Two Ways

1.6.13 He was a schemer who took advantage of every situation in order to get to the top. He levied exorbitant taxes on Jewish citizens so that he could live lavishly, and finance his pet projects. He did all kinds of horrible things to remain in power - divorced his first wife, and sent her and their son away. He ended up having 9 wives, several of whom he had killed. He killed one of his wive’s brother, her grandfather, her mother, and two more of his sons. He was violently jealous, suspicious, and paranoid. As the years went by, as he gained more and more powerful, he grew more and more fearful of losing it all...and his dark and cruel streak grew worse. Family members – and a whole bunch of other people – never knew if they were in or out of favor...if they were on his good side or his bad side. In his world there was no room for anyone but himself=== and whoever he decided would fit, whoever he decided was acceptable, whoever he decided he liked --- at the time. His heart was small – he looked out for himself, was obsessed with what he wanted, disregarded the needs of others, offered no hope to anyone, protected himself and his own interests, ruled with fear. Toward the end of his life he ordered the murder of every child in and around Bethlehem who was two years old or younger. Because the wise men were searching for a child who was born king of the Jews. And the jealous, power hungry, paranoid, violently crazy ruler, could not stand the thought that a new king had been born - who would grow up to dethrone him...who might be better than him, who might actually be loved by the people. A grown man afraid of a child...a baby who threatened – and in his world all threats must come to an end. Herod, a man who could not stand the idea of a Jesus. Jesus – who shunned power and chose the path of peace; a man who was tender, showed compassion, and spoke of justice. A man who preferred the company of those who everyone else hated, ignored, avoided or feared. A man who spent his time with men and women with bad reputations, questionable pasts ..with those who were...unacceptable by cultural and moral standards...those who were sick and unclean. A man who broke into history – to serve and not be served, to sacrifice all, bringing with him an unknown hope and an unimaginable light to a despairing and dark world. Wise men from places about which we can only guess. Star-gazers who recognized the light of the world in the rising of a distant star. Wise men who packed a bit of hope in their bags and journeyed long and far - faithfully following the star that told of the birth of a king. The Magi who came from distant lands, would have been considered unacceptable and unclean because they were different – and unknown; and foreigners - Gentile foreigners at that. New Testament professor from Brite Divinity School comments: We do not see the rich, the powerful, the educated, the so-called “normal”...so... how can we miss the message of the gospel? When from the very beginning of Jesus’ life, we see only lowly shepherds and foreigners – they are the first to hear...it is to them that Jesus’ Kingship is revealed. At the very beginning of Jesus’ life the gospel reveals to us that in His kingdom the dividing walls between races and cultures, the prejudice between people who are different will be broken down. We just heard Isaiah say: nations shall come to your light; all will gather together; all will come to you; from far away, even the abundance of the sea shall come; they will come from places like Midian and Ephah and Sheba – all foreign places. If ever you believed that God was exclusive..if ever you believed that God came only for certain people...then you were mistaken. We have begun a New Year - A New Year in a world that has been labeled post-Christian, a world that is more and more secular, where church and her members are viewed with skeptical --if not indifferent eyes. And so, the church has to choose – we have to choose -- between two ways. Between the ways of the Herod’s of the world - and the way of Jesus Christ. We have to choose between Herod’s way of being so consumed with our own existence that we see nothing else, so consumed with keeping the circle of who is acceptable very small; we have to choose between protecting our own interests, choose between extending love, compassion, support and hope to only those who are on our side, only those who we like, only those who fit in the way we think they should fit. We have to choose that... Or Choose to walk with a loving, compassionate, inclusive Christ. A harder road to be sure, a narrower path without a doubt, a route – which much like the one taken by the Magi – will cause you to make a change. The road we walked before we heard the angels, before we came to the manger, cannot be taken again. We, like the magi - cannot go back the way we came, but we will travel by another – a new road. This new road is the one upon which the master insists we go – Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame ...go out into the roads and lanes and compel people to come in so that my house may be filled – yes filled, with every sad and sorry outcast you can find. Filled, with people who need to be fed, who need a human touch, and a voice of understanding, - fill my house with people who are tired of being hurt out there, and long to be safe in here. Fill my house with the lowly shepherds and the foreign magi’s of the world. The virgin will conceive and bear and son and he will be called Emmanuel – God with us. Not God with us...and then there is them....but God with us – all of us. Two ways – which will we choose...because we must choose.