Weekly Lessons and Sermon
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be always
acceptable in your sight, oh Lord our strength and our redeemer. Amen.
acceptable in your sight, oh Lord our strength and our redeemer. Amen.
A crowd clamors after Jesus for healing.
The Great Physician is curing the sick and there are many in search of his healing touch. But there is something more going on here than a health clinic or even a faith healing revival. The Gospel of John tells us: “A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick.” Notice that John tells us the crowd “saw the signs.” In John’s gospel, miracles are signs that point beyond themselves. The miracles are not important merely because someone is healed, or because Jesus changes water to wine and so on. The miracles are signs that point to the reality of who Jesus is: They point to something much more than the miracles themselves. And so the crowd gathers for healing: But they keep following Jesus because of the signs: Because the miracles, and the healing, point to something even bigger. And Then Jesus provides a new sign. He has been feeding them spiritually and now he will fill their stomachs as well. He takes the small offering of bread and fish: Gives thanks for them and distributes the food to the hungry multitude. And there is enough bread for twelve basketfuls of leftovers. As for the fish, we are told that everybody ate “as much as they wanted.” This new sign points not simply to Jesus’ ability to perform miracles: But how-- with Jesus we move from scarcity to abundance. The people were in scarcity. Philip told Jesus that there was not enough money to buy food as: “Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” Andrew told Jesus, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?” The disciples look at the situation and see that there is not enough to go around. Why spend what little money we have when even a mound of money would not be enough? Why take the little food the boy brought when it wouldn’t even be an appetizer for Jesus and the disciples, much less a meal for a multitude? Resources were scarce. And people think: when there is not enough to go around: it is not the time to share, but the time to hoard. Even the disciples thought: There’s not enough: So we might as well quit… We might as well leave. Jesus has a different view of the situation. Because Jesus operates out of abundance. With Jesus: there is more than enough: There’s more than anyone can even imagine: let alone want or need. There’s enough bread to gather together twelve basketfuls of LEFTOVERS. As the people gathered on the grassy hillside that day, They held in their minds the stories of miraculous feedings in the past: When during the Exodus: Pharaoh horded food: Turning bread into bread of fear, scarcity, and slavery. In the wilderness, the people were fed with manna, the bread of angels: Bread that could not be horded: Bread that was just enough: And would rot if someone tried to store it for even the next day. The leaders and kings of the past only offered scarcity: Hording riches in palaces that the average person could never enter. And now: There’s Jesus on the hillside: Not in a big palace: Not in a fancy church: But on the hillside: In the midst of his own great creation: freely offering abundance. Jesus certainly offered free healthcare and free food. And also a change from scarcity to abundance. A sign: pointing to something much bigger: That there would be more than enough for everyone. Just after our reading for today, Jesus says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.” You saw. You ate. You felt. And you filled. Jesus wants much more than to heal people who will later get sick again: Or to feed people who will again hunger. Jesus wants to give them more: To fill in every single way. In the coming weeks: We will continue to read through John’s Gospel: And we’ll hear a lot about bread: A lot about how Jesus himself is the bread of life. And for now: We see the abundant God: Who strives for something more: Who strives to fully fill: Who leads us out of scarcity into abundance: Out of fear and into joy: Away from Hording: Into a life completely satisfied. The multitude, satisfied by the meal, desired to always have Jesus care for their every need in this life. Yet they didn’t understand that Jesus’ reign is much more than that: Eternal, not bound by time or place. And utterly abundant. Much more than healing the sick, and feeding with physical food. They did not yet know that Jesus himself IS, the Bread of life: Jesus himself IS abundance. With Jesus, we offer our very lives – ourselves, our souls, and our bodies as a living sacrifice. We offer the broken places that need healing. We offer the sinful places of our lives that need repentance, forgiveness, and redemption. We offer our spiritual hunger and thirst and find spiritual food and living water in abundance. We come here: Gathered together, to share the bread: The body of Christ. And yet we must keep our eyes open: Looking for the signs: NOTICING the signs of abundance, that point to something much more: Rather than being afraid of potential scarcity: Or hording up treasures that bring us little joy or health. We find in Christ the Reign of God breaking into the here and now: Making us strong and Holy as today’s collect says-- While Jesus continues to gives us our daily bread: In ways that point to something more: In ways that are far beyond our understanding: Far beyond our earthly hopes and desires. With baskets and baskets of abundant leftovers. Amen.
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You would think, given all of the images of sheep and shepherds today, that
It was Good Shepherd Sunday! It feels like a replay of that Sunday in the Easter season, where we consider Jesus the Good Shepherd. Sheep or Shepherds are mentioned in THREE of our four readings today. And in those three texts, we see that there can be good shepherds, and bad shepherds. The good shepherds are those who lovingly care for their sheep: Those who lead the sheep to still waters, And to rest in green pastures. Good shepherds bring comfort, And food, And calm all fears. Good shepherds provide safety and security. Bad Shepherds, Like those mentioned in our first lesson from Jeremiah, Scatter, and even destroy their sheep. Bad shepherds are inattentive, They drive the sheep away, rather than draw them in. And then there are the sheep that have no shepherd at all. Not a good shepherd, and not a bad one: But sheep who are wondering lost, who might long for comfort, safety, and security. In today’s gospel story, There’s a great crowd: That is just that. Sheep without a shepherd. And Jesus: Who is not only a good shepherd: But the GREATEST shepherd of all: Saw that they were sheep without a shepherd, and he had compassion for them. I love the shepherd sheep image for a lot of reasons. First, and most obviously, because there’s great comfort in knowing that “The Lord is my shepherd.” But we’re also not ONLY sheep of the great shepherd. There are times in our lives, when we are also the shepherd of others. There are times when we are a “good shepherd” offering comfort , compassion, and security. And then there are times when we’ve been the “bad shepherd”: inattentive, and pushing our sheep away. There are even times that we feel like sheep without a shepherd. The point is: We’re all human. We have good shepherd days, We have bad shepherd days. We have days when we feel lost without a shepherd, And days where its much easier to trust our Lord and shepherd. And no matter what day it is: It’s okay. Because the hard and beautiful truth if it all is that: Being a Christian doesn’t mean that every pain or worry diminishes. And that’s where the 23 rd Psalm really holds its power. Hear the Psalm again: “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, And leads me beside still waters. He revives my soul, And guides me along right pathways for his Name’s sake. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil, For you are with me, your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me, You have anointed my head with oil, and my cup is running over. Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” This Psalm has power. For a number of reasons. But most significantly because it acknowledges the “valley of the shadow of death.” The valley of the shadow of death is real. I can’t help but be astonished: That we would get this famous Psalm this week: When many of us are grieving the loss of Joe: a member of our flock. We prayed, We kept vigil, And we saw this week, that sorrow is real. That the valley of the shadow of death is real. We will all go through that valley. Some of us many times, Some of us fewer: Yet we will all go through it at one time or another. And when you’re in that dark valley, It’s easy to feel like you’re all alone: A sheep without a shepherd. Even the most faithful among us, can feel lost and alone in the dark valley. And that’s why we need the 23 rd Psalm. There’s a famous Anglican theological principal that states “Praying shapes believing.” It comes from the Latin, “Lex orandi, Lex Credendi”, Which literally means “the rule of prayer is the rule of belief.” It means that our habits of prayer shape our beliefs. We sometimes assume that it’s the other way around: That we believe first, And then our prayers come out of our believes. But this primary principal of our theology in the Episcopal Church: And in our prayerbook, Tells us that we don’t HAVE to believe first. And that our praying can shape our believing. You don’t have to have your beliefs perfectly in order to pray to the Greatest Shepherd of all. You CAN be uncertain, You CAN be unperfect. You can feel utterly lost. You can even feel like you might not believe. And you can pray anyway. Because our prayers shape our beliefs. So if you’re feeling like a sheep without a shepherd: It’s okay. Pray the 23 rd Psalm. Pray it like you believe it, even if you’re having a hard time believing it: because our praying shapes our believing. If you’re feeling pretty good because you’ve been a compassionate and loving shepherd to others: Pray the 23 rd Psalm: Pray it to remember that the truest, kindest, most faithful shepherd is not you: But our Lord God, alone. Pray it because our praying shapes our believing. And if you’re feeling like you’ve been a bad shepherd? Pushing people away-- Responding to your own wants above the needs of others: Pray the 23 rd psalm: Be led to the still waters that revive your soul, And set you back on the right path: Because our praying shapes our believing. I invite you today, To pray the 23 rd Psalm wherever you find yourself. Whether you’re feeling smug about being a great disciple of Jesus, Or feeling guilty because you know you’ve done wrong, Whether you’re in a deep dark valley, Or even feeling like a sheep without a shepherd, Pray the 23 rd Psalm. Because praying shapes believing. Pray the 23 rd Psalm wherever you find yourself in the moment: If you find yourself as a sheep, Or you find yourself a shepherd, good or bad: Pray to the Greatest shepherd of all: No matter where you are. And the more you do it: The more your prayers will shape you: Form you: OOZE into you. And maybe: JUST MAYBE: The next time you find yourself in the shadowed valley: You’ll know that you’re never alone. I invite you now to come as you are, And pray the 23 rd Psalm with me one more time today: “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, And leads me beside still waters. He revives my soul, And guides me along right pathways for his Name’s sake. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil, For you are with me, Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me; You have anointed my head with oil, And my cup is running over. Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Amen. Herod Said: “John, whom I’ve beheaded, has been raised!”
He must have been terrified. Herod: a guy who relied on treachery, questionable political moves: and wealthy power: is confronted with his worst nightmare. He knew John was dead. He saw John’s head: On a platter no less. But this Jesus, obviously a man of power himself, is becoming known throughout Herod’s kingdom. And who is this Jesus? Could it really be John, raised from the dead? John, the man Herod killed because of a grudge, a grudge he held against John for telling the truth? Here: Fairly early in the Jesus story: We hear already some of the most significant elements of the story: Death, Resurrection, and Power…… Lots of power dynamics… How very sad. How very tragic. And yet, because of what we’ve seen in our own lifetimes: of the consequences of misused power, political greed: and society’s belief that “it’s all about me:” maybe Herod has something to teach us. Herod is an interesting character. What Benedict Arnold is to the word “traitor,” the name Herod has become to the word “evil,” but a sad kind of evil. In Herod we see a man desperate to be king. Desperate for power: So desperate, he would even kill his own relatives: Let alone someone like John the Baptist or Jesus: who posed another threat to Herod’s power. Herod was a weak man. Who relied on earthly power as the only real means of success. John the Baptist knew differently: And lost his life because of it. But John isn’t the only one messing with Herod’s understanding of power and success… Because there’s also Jesus. Herod had to have been terrified. Is it John back from the dead to haunt him? Or is it yet another who would challenge Herod’s authority? We know the answer and Herod would soon find out. Jesus was known by most as a man who taught with authority: Who broke the roles made up by weak men who were afraid of losing power. Jesus: who spoke the truth without fear: and who placed his own power in God alone: preaching to all of the possibility of becoming God’s children. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians mirrors what people were saying about Jesus in Herod’s time: How we are connected to God through Jesus. And of the amazing gifts that we are given because God loves us: Not because God holds authoritative power over us. Instead of being afraid, Paul says: “Blessed be God … who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens!” There’s no fear here, just deep and joyful gratitude that we are empowered by God’s blessings. And Paul goes on to tell us what some of those blessings are: adoption as God’s children, redemption through the blood of Jesus, forgiveness for our sins and grace lavished on us. God’s grace being lavished on us… None of these things are worldly gifts: Like those that Herod craved. They are all of a heavenly nature: But we can use them here in our earthly lives. These gifts give us a spiritual power that we must use to do good: To spread the Good News among all people. And there’s no comparison between this kind of power and authority, And that of people such as Herod, or even Pilate: Who later in the story: has the same kinds of weakness for power: Based out of fear and treachery. Our power comes from the deep and abiding love of God. And this is our inheritance. But sometimes: We can get sucked in. With people like Herod and Pilate all around us, Fighting for power: Even in the Church: power, fear, and authority, can corrupt our spirits. We, too, can be fixated, here on earth: With deciding who gets to heaven and who doesn’t. There are parts of us that want to judge. Want to control. Want to have some power… Because its what society tells us is important. Maybe this gospel about Herod hits a little too close to home. It’s certainly not a sweet and adorable story: As we are forced to picture the image of John’s head carried into a party on a platter. And Herod’s weakness for power may remind us of how we come up short. Maybe we’re not yet thrilled with Paul’s words of the blessings of God’s grace: But we can strive to want it more and more: And if only we’d know that it’s already happening. Unlike Herod and others like him: We won’t have to fight, connive, and fawn over others: So that power would be ours to abuse. We have the power of a loving God supporting us. We have the inheritance of the saints of light. We have the example and teachings of Jesus to show us the way. And it’s a much better power. A much more loving and peace-giving authority. Earlier this week: A pastor friend of mine posted on facebook: SERIOUSLY!?! The beheadding of John on the day that we have a baptism!?! But maybe it is appropriate. To get this weird, and tragic story: Even if you’re celebrating a baptism. Because this story reminds us of where the real power comes from: That we too can lavish our care on God’s world, and on God’s people: Instead of buying into society’s worldly perception of power and authority. Maybe we can remember that the powers of society and earthly authority can’t hold us: Because as Paul tells us: We are marked with the seal of the Holy Spirit. We are destined to be God’s people. It’s who we are: The ones who inherit the only real power. The only real power of abundant grace and love for all. We celebrated Morning Prayer today. Ponder the readings and pray.
See you next week.
One thing that I love about the Bible:
Is that it reminds us that human suffering is nothing new. People are just people. And they’ve always been so. Our hardships are not unique to our times. Wars, hunger, natural disasters, Illness, pain, and loss… All of it is nothing new. Yet when we’re in it: We sometimes feel as if we are alone in our pain: As it’s weight seems crushing. But then we read today’s Gospel story. Where TWO suffering people, Come to Jesus. And we hear a man’s cry: His begging, pleading pain-filled words: “Jesus! My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” And a woman: With nothing else left: Except to hope that if she could only touch Jesus’ clothes, she would be made well. And when we read all of that, We are reminded that we live in a world that has always had profound tragedy. That our experiences are not unique: That throughout the history of time: People have begged and pleaded in pain and sorrow. And yet: Through it all: All the suffering and grief: All of the destruction, plagues, illnesses, and starvation: Human beings continue to multiply and survive. And the people continue to need God. We know that suffering and pain is real. We don’t need to look around for it. Far too often, it’s right in front of our eyes. Look at the people who wait for Jesus in today’s Gospel story. A story about a grieving father and his dying daughter, Sandwiched by a sick woman longing for relief. This was during a time in Jesus’ ministry when Jesus was highly popular. Hundreds of people were following him around everywhere that he went. At the beginning of these stories, Jesus is walking along, on his way to dinner. And the leader of the synagogue barges in begging for the healing of his dead daughter. Jesus immediately gets up and follows the father: But is then bombarded with others: who are in need of healing, and words of hope. People who are sick and need to be healed: People like us today: who are longing for a way out of the pain, grief and suffering of the human world, And probably some people who are just plain curious. A stooped woman approaches and touches his cloak. It’s not a big deal. Jesus is surrounded by hundreds of people: And so she is sure that nobody would notice. And yet, she is so desperate, that she is convinced that the touch alone will heal her. And it does. In another version of this story, Jesus stops and says, “Who touched my cloak?” Because he could feel the power leaving him, and healing her. And Jesus says to her: “Take heart, daughter, your faith has made you well.” There was something about that woman’s incredible faith: Her total conviction that after years of suffering, TWELVE years, in fact: She had finally found the cure in Jesus. And the energy of that faith was more powerful than all of the shoving and pulling of the crowd. One single touch of utter faith calls forth the creative power of God, And healing occurs. And all of this happens super quick: While Jesus is rushing to meet another person’s need. The connection of Jesus to the source of life and love, To God the father: Is so intense and unbroken, That it’s like electricity. Jairus: the father of the dying girl, Plugs into that power and receives hope. The sick woman plugs into it and receives healing: Nothing else matters, And nothing interferes with Jesus’ purpose. Fame doesn’t distract him. Physical exhaustion doesn’t hinder him: The clamoring crowd, with its multitude of desires doesn’t get in the way. Two people with very specific needs have reached out to him. Two people , crying out to God. In the following scene in the little girl’s room: Death has already arrived. The mourners have gathered. The Gospel writer tells us that there Jesus “saw flute players and a crowd making a commotion.” Why is the father still bringing Jesus to the house when he has been informed that his child is dead? What good can the healer do now? Why doesn’t he just leave Jesus to attend to the hundreds of others in the crowd? Because a grieving father never gives up. A grieving father cries out to the Lord. And as he usually does: Jesus turns it all upside down. He turns to the grief-stricken father and says: “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laugh at him. So Jesus goes in, Takes the little girl by the hand, And she gets up. Jesus seems to be the only one who is free from the terrible bondage of fear: Over and over again, he commands all who follow him to not be afraid. There’s a whole lot of fear in our world today. Fear of disease, Fear of “the other” Fear of losing a job, Fear of people with guns. Fears of not succeeding. Fears that are never-ending. But our God is a god who can conquer all fear. So trust. Depend. Know that the one who brought us to new life, Has the power to wipe our fears away. To hold us in our grief. To be near to us in the day of trouble and sorrow. Go and touch his garment. Amen.
Announcements: Save the Date - August 18th outdoor service, pet blessing and pot luck meal to follow. Smoked pulled pork sandwiches provided. Happy Birthday to Chris and prayers for healing.
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