Speaking Prophetically - Sermon on Mark 6:14-29 - 07.15.2018

Listen to the gospel reading and sermon here.

Mark 6:14-29

14 King Herod heard of it, for Jesus' name had become known. Some were saying, "John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him." ¹⁵ But others said, "It is Elijah." And others said, "It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old." ¹⁶ But when Herod heard of it, he said, "John, whom I beheaded, has been raised." ¹⁷ For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because Herod had married her. ¹⁸ For John had been telling Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." ¹⁹ And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, ²⁰ for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him. ²¹ But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. ²² When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, "Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it." ²³ And he solemnly swore to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom." ²⁴ She went out and said to her mother, "What should I ask for?" She replied, "The head of John the baptizer." ²⁵ Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter." ²⁶ The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. ²⁷ Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John's head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, ²⁸ brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. ²⁹ When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.

SERMON:

The Gospel of the Lord?

This is one of those rare days where my call to preach and proclaim the good news of Jesus is directly challenged by a gospel text that isn’t really about Jesus.  In fact, Jesus is only mentioned in passing as a set up.  Ya know so often we read and hear stories of Jesus that teach us a lesson or moral, a lesson that challenges us or affirms our calling, but today rather we get a story that is a bit tangent to the rest of the gospel.

Mark’s gospel account begins with John the Baptist.  From the first verse of chapter one, JTB is proclaiming out of the wilderness.  “Prepare the way of the lord” he says. “Make straight his paths”. Recall the season of Advent when John the Baptist saying, “the one who is more powerful than I is coming after me and I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals.  I baptized you with water but he will baptize you with Holy Spirit.”

John spent his days as a prophet, proclaiming the arrival of the Messiah.  He was the one crying in the wilderness, prophesying a word of hope among the people.  With prophetic and faithful witness, he proclaimed the coming light into the world. A light not darkness can overcome.  And of course, Jesus arrives right on cue to be baptized.

And we hear this marvelous story unfold about Jesus emerging from the waters of baptism, and the heavens being torn apart, and the Spirit descending like a dove and God say, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”  Jesus wandered the wilderness, ignoring Satan's temptations.

And as Jesus leaves the wilderness to call disciples and embark on his Galilean ministry, there is one small, quick verse that is often overlooked.

The 14th verse of Mark’s first chapter says, “Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news…”   How subtle of Mark. The author begins his gospel with this wonderful prophecy by John the Baptist, but once Jesus arrives, John seems to become old news.  Oh, and he was arrested, but back to Jesus.

And yet, for some reason, four chapters later, Mark finishes the story of John.  It’s a side story, a flashback really. And if you’re reading the gospel of Mark straight through, chances are you have forgotten all about John, and probably don’t recall that he was even arrested.  

We’re so focused on Jesus being active and present as the Messiah, Jesus healing and teaching in the synagogue, Jesus sending the disciples out two by two….but all of a sudden Mark is says, “Oh by the way...remember that John the Baptist guy?...have you ever wonder what happened to him?”

Well as the story goes, King Herod married the wife of his brother.  In other words he married his sister-in-law. Her name was Herodias. And by the law in Leviticus, their marriage was to be considered unlawful.  

So, John the faithful prophet and witness calls attention to their unlawful marriage.  He spoke a hard truth to those in power and authority. This does not sit well with Herodias.  She held a grudge against John.

So Herod has John arrested, whether to appease his sister-in-law turned wife, or to silence the faithful prophet and save face among his people, he arrests John none-the-less.

But what is interesting is that the text tells Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man.  So Herod protected him. Even more so it tells us that Herod was intrigued by John the Baptist and enjoyed listening to him.  John made him think. As John prophesied and proclaimed, sowing seeds we might say...Herod thoroughly liked John’s company. Never-the-less, John spoke a hard truth to hold the king accountable, and he found himself imprisoned.

So it was Herod’s birthday, and during the party his niece, now step-daughter dances for Herod and his guests.  And to be clear, it is likely Not a suggestive or inappropriate dance. Rather she was a young girl, likely performing an innocent routine, hamming it up for Herod’s guests.  

So he summons the girl and says “whatever you ask me, I will give you.”  So the girl runs to her mother, seeking advice on such a big ask.

And Herodias, with her festering grudge against the truthful yet convicting prophet, says, I want John the Baptist dead, with his head on a platter.  

So the girl conveys her wish to her uncle, now step-father.  And rather than appear weak or face embarrassment, Herod is bound by his word.  Thus John the Baptist is beheaded and brought on a platter to the girl. I can only imagine her reaction.  The girl gives the platter to the mom and John’s disciples came to collect the body. The end..

Now, where were we with Jesus and his friends…

It’s an oddly placed story in the middle of Mark’s gospel.  Jesus is thriving in ministry. Sure he just faced a cold greeting in his hometown, but things are going well.  We, the hearers, along with Jesus’ disciples are learning more and more about this Messiah, his power, and his purpose.  Then out of nowhere...oh, do you remember John?

It’s a strangely-timed flash back that closes the book on a character we’ve long moved past.  And there is only a passing mention of Jesus in order to set the story up. So what could the author of Mark possibly be teaching his audience?  Then and now? What, if any, is the good news in today’s text?

Perhaps the key to first understand the author.  Mark is a brilliant writer, and part of his style is to bookend stories within his writing.  Throughout his entire gospel account, uses bookends to write in rounds. He has a clever and subtle way of writing the narrative so that the format tells as much of a story as the text does.  He draws subtext parallels and expands metaphors. He foreshadows much of what is to happen later. Today’s text is a perfect example in two ways.

First, the story of John the Baptist being beheaded foreshadows Jesus’ death.  From speaking hard truth the those of authority and power, to dying at the hands a timid and reluctant political leader.  John’s death prepares us for a greater and more traumatizing death that is to come.

Second, and this might be the key, the beheading of John the Baptist is preceded by Jesus sending out the disciples two by two, and followed by the disciples returning to Jesus and Jesus feeding 5000.  

Jesus encounters resistance in his hometown, making clear the difficult reality of the call to preach, teach, proclaim, and heal.  The message and work of the one called is not always welcomed warmly. Then Jesus sends his disciples into the villages two by two, to teach and heal.  To be vulnerable and risk everything. To take nothing for the journey and trust in God and the message of hope.

It’s precisely in that moment, as the disciples leave, that the author flashes back to the story of a familiar and faithful prophet losing his life to wealth, power, and authority after speaking hard, faithful truths.  The timing isn’t ironic. The placement of this story isn’t an afterthought. For Mark, the message is intentional. We may not know exactly what the disciples encountered on their journey, but Mark is sure to tell us what they risked.

It makes me think about the phrase “Don’t shoot the messenger.”  We always hear in a context that says, “It’s not my fault you’re receiving the bad news, I’m just delivering it.”  But when I think about John and the prophets it makes sense because history may kill them but the message never dies.

Even centuries before John came crying out of the wilderness, the prophets spoke truths.  Hard, faithful truths in the face of opposition. They challenged authority. They offered warning to the hard of heart and hard of hearing.  

And many of them were killed for their prophetic voice.  Isaiah was sawn in two. Jeremiah was starved to death. Even Amos, from our 1st lesson was said to suffer a violent death after giving a powerful word of warning to the Northern Kingdom.  But despite a cold welcome by a resistant world, the stories of the prophets have life and meaning today because of the message they proclaimed. Not because of who they were speaking to, but because of in whose name they spoke.

The voice and witness of those who are called to teach, preach, proclaim, and yes prophecy is more powerful than death.  The message is greater than any earthly kingdom or unlawful ruler that may feel challenged by their words.

Power, wealth, and authority may arrest, imprison, beat, challenge, oppose, belittle, smear, slander, dismiss, behead or even crucify the prophet, but the message that prophet proclaims is far greater.   

Yes, they risked their lives, but their story and their proclamation are still told.  Herod killed John, but John’s life and prophecy to prepare the way of the Lord is far more powerful.  They killed Jesus, but God’s story of hope was far too great for sin, death and the devil.

So what do we do with this text that feels out of place?  Perhaps there is truth to be told today? Jesus sends out the 12 disciples to teach and heal, and we are reminded of our call as well to journey village to village and share in the stories of God and our neighbor.

I always think the hard part of being a follower of Christ is being sent two by two to strangers homes and sharing in their time, food, and stories.  But in light of today’s gospel, perhaps that is is the easiest part of being a Christian. And the most challenging and vulnerable thing for us to do is speak with Christ’s authority to people in power.

As Christians, it is our power and privilege, our call to speak prophetically to unlawful powers and unjust systems.  It’s our call to preach, teach, and heal with authority. With passion. With fervor and power. We are called to name sin and sinful behavior.  To encourage and empower repentance. To challenge unjust and unlawful systems. To prophecy against oppressive power.

And the prophets message is always one of hope.  Hope in a God who is far more powerful, far more just, and far more fair than any Earthly kingdom or rule.

Sure, Proclaiming Christ, being a prophetic voice and witness of hope in a world that is burdened by wealth, status, power, greed, and destruction is risky business.  But what is far more risky, is if the prophet never speaks at all. If sin is never named. If truth is never told. If hope is never proclaimed. If repentance and forgiveness is never offered.

So as the disciples leave for their first missionary journey, Mark closes the chapter on John the Baptist not to say that being a prophet is too risky.  Rather, Mark reminds us that power of the prophetic witness is far greater than the risk of speaking out. Jesus calls us to be prophetic in spite of the risk.  It seems that in today’s world there will always be unjust, unlawful, and unruly systems of power. And if that’s true, then there will always be a need for prophetic proclamation too.  That is our call, here and now. No matter how strange the timing may seem.

Amen.

Come Away and Rest! - Sermon on Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 - 07.22.2018

Listen to the gospel reading and sermon here.

Mark 6:30-34, 53-56

30 The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. ³¹ He said to them, "Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while." For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. ³² And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. ³³ Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. ³⁴ As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.

⁵³ When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. ⁵⁴ When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him, ⁵⁵ and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. ⁵⁶ And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.

I suspect most everyone here knows by now that Sarah is pregnant.  We are expecting our first child any day now. In fact, Sarah are you here?  Ok, good, just making sure I’m not missing it!

If you didn’t know, Sarah is 39 weeks pregnant this week and we are so ready to meet baby Locke!

Ever since we announced our pregnancy, we have truly been blessed by this community.  Your love and support is incredible and we are truly grateful. Now of course, this being my first child, I am always open and receptive to everyone’s advice, and you have willingly offered it.  You’ve offered your experience and advice with everything from preferred diapers and books, to schools and childcare.

And of all the advice we’ve gotten, I think the most consistent and most beneficial piece of advice is to sleep while we can.  In fact, many of you have encouraged us to get extra sleep now, to take our rest as we can before the baby comes. What’s that all about?   There seems to be a consensus that a newborn will somehow compromise our rest? As though we are about to busier than ever. More depended upon than ever.   It’s as if all of you who are parents or teachers, aunts or uncles...it’s almost as though you know that my life is going to change.

It got me thinking this week, how often do we encourage one another to rest?  Out of genuine, mutual care for one another, how often do we encourage rest? Or better yet, how receptive are we to the invitation to rest?

I think more often than not our gut reaction is to be defensive.  When someone advises us to rest or take a break we perceive it as an insult, even if it’s doctor’s orders.  The implication is that we look tired, with deep heavy eyes. We feel convicted or accused because the presumption is that we can’t take care of ourselves.  Or we feel called out because we can’t be trusted to maintain good boundaries. Even when rest is prescribed in the best interest of our health we’re offended because how dare the doctor presume to know what’s best for me.

And to be clear, I don’t think any of us are opposed to resting.  Who doesn’t like a good night’s sleep, or a lazy day nap on the couch?  I think we love to rest. But our society and culture pressures us us to believe that rest equals weakness.  That somehow to take a respite or power nap, to care for ourselves is to ignore work that could be done.

Somewhere the script was flipped and rather that work being a burden to our self-care, we’ve allowed self-care to be a burden to work.  Our society is go. Go. go. And more often than not, the one who works over-time and risks their health to get a job done is rewarded. What’s the phrase...no rest for the weary?

Well, friends, as you have graciously encouraged me over the last few weeks, I want you to hear the same good news today:  Take a break. Rest. Relax. Refuel. Find your deserted place and rest awhile. But, you don’t have to take my word for it.

In today’s text the disciples return from their two by two journey.  We have no knowledge of where they’ve been, what they’ve done, or what they’ve seen or experienced.  As they return to Jesus, Mark tells us that they gathered around Jesus shared All that they had done and taught. I can only imagine the stories they shared.  Stories about families in hard times. Stories of being rejected, ignored, or dismissed. Stories of unexpected heeling. Stories of heartbreak or hope. Stories where the Spirit intercede and grace prevailed.  

And in all of these stories and experiences, I imagine the disciples to be weary.  Physically, mentally, spiritually. Tired from their mission. Exhausted, in the best way, from their two by two Ministry.  The text even tells us they worked so hard that they had no leisure even to eat.

So Jesus not only offers, but instructs the disciples to rest.  He says, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest awhile.”  Rest. Renew. Refuel. Recharge. You have worked hard. Mission and ministry is tiring.  Good and faithful servant, take rest. You deserve rest.

In seminary, every Lutheran candidate is required to complete a unit of CPE.  That’s clinical pastoral education. 400 hours of working in a hospital, hospice, or nursing facility as a chaplain.  

300 hours are spent on the floor, knocking on doors, and responding to calls.  The other 100 hours are spend in a class setting, evaluating your visits, learning about yourself, and most of all learning about yourself during visits.  But one big responsibility is being on-call.

I did my CPE chaplaincy at level one trauma hospital that had nearly 1000 beds, and it was my turn for on-call.  My first overnight, by myself. So as 5:00 O’clock hits and all the other chaplains hand-offer their call sheets and pagers, I was left by myself with a stack of visit requests, 4 pagers, and two on-call phones.  

So I went to work.  Visit after visit. Saw patients, and responded to emergencies.  I say with families as they waited. And others as they grieved.

Before I knew it, it was morning, and as the other chaplains arrived they commented how tired I looked.  The room got quite as I gave my report.

Everyone seemed shocked and my supervisor stopped me and said, “how late were you up?”  

Well I was on-call all night...so I was awake all night. There were lots of request visits and emergencies and families...”  

She stopped me and said, “Wait. So you didn’t sleep or nap at all?”   

I was appalled, “How could I, I said, when there was so much to do!?”   

She smiled...and then she taught me a lesson.

“Daniel, there will always be families in need. Always be emergencies. Always be visits to make.  There will always be a need for a chaplain. There will always be stories to share. There will always be ministry to be done.  But you simply cannot care for others, if you do not care for yourself. It is ok to rest and sleep.” It is ok to rest.

We don’t often think about the ministry of resting.  God’s mission to sleep. Have you ever thought that perhaps God may be calling you to sleep.  To rest. To relax. Refuel. Recharge?

I think it’s certainly within reason for us to discern that at times God is stirring within us a holy slumber.  Even God, on the 7th day, God finished the work and rested. On the seventh day God rested from the all the work that God had done.  So God blessed the 7th day, hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work done in creation.

Mark’s gospel story is a very fast-paced account of Jesus’ life and ministry.  Even from the beginning Mark wastes no time with lineage, birth announcements, or even a birth.  

Mark begins by saying “The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ,” and from then on it’s a non-stop race.  John announces Jesus and Jesus jumps right into ministry. And with a quick recap we might notice that almost every story of Jesus in Mark’s gospel begins with a quick transition… “And then he...”  “Immediately…” “On that day..” “When he crossed…” Even today’s text says, “When the crossed…” Jesus is always on the move. And Mark writes with urgency in the stories of Jesus.

So when Mark takes the time to intentionally tell us about Jesus recognizing the disciples’ weariness, and inviting them to come away to a deserted place to rest awhile..I think we should listen.  I think Mark is lifting up a valuable, essential piece to ministry - self care. Rest. refueling and recharging. Jesus encourages the disciples to take a break. Cool their jets. Take time for themselves to rest.

What’s important to discover here is not necessarily that Jesus empowers them to take a nap, but he says “come away to a deserted place by yourselves to rest for a while.”  A deserted place. A place that’s set apart...apart from crowds, work, and business. Apart from streets and buildings. It’s almost of middle of nowhere. Because in the deserted place there is no distraction.  There is no wifi, netflix, Facebook, or email.

Come away to a deserted place, and if you need a nap, then nap.  But in the deserted place you are free from distraction, freed from the stress of life, free the pressure of society and culture to be “on” all the time.  You are free to rest in the comfort and care of the shepherd. Free to refuel the mind, the body, and the Spirit. To reflect, pray, confess. To feed on the word and rest in the one whom created you,

It’s always easier to look on from the outside isn’t it?  Easier to be the one encouraging and advocating for rest than it is to confront your own exhaustion and name your own need for spiritual, mental or physical respite and renewal.  And the hardest part about naming your need for rest...is claiming it and not feeling guilty.

The call to discipleship is tiresome.  It’s a non-stop journey because you’re not called to work as a disciple, but rather to be a disciple.  And rather that take a break and rest from being a disciple...I think resting is in the nature of the disciple.  It’s in the nature of the one who created us and a necessary discipline in the life of the apostles.

Volunteering for family promise, VBS, back to school Sunday, UCOM, LSS, office volunteer, fellowship meal, or Saturday morning men in mission...it’s hard work.  Serving on a committee, council or team...it’s hard work. Living out your vocation as a teacher, doctor, engineer, musician, waiter, security, parent, grandparent, garbage collector, or student...it’s hard work.   

Now you might be thinking...well wait a minute...Jesus invited the disciples away to rest but as soon as they did the crowds swarmed in and overwhelmed them with a hunger for Jesus.  Well...you’re right. Jesus encourages a well-deserved rest not only for work well-done, but because there is more work to be done. It’s almost as though Jesus knows there will be more work ahead of them.  Crowds who hunger for healing. Crowds who hunger for justice. Crowds who hunger for the word of hope, grace, peace, and love.

It’s as though Jesus knows they are about to be busier than ever before.  More depended upon than ever. It’s as if Jesus knows that their lives are going to change.  It’s true. Because in the ministry of the gospel, there will always be work to be done

But the good news friends, is that Jesus first teaches them to rest.  And if you never hear it, hear it today: Well done, good and faithful servant, now come away to a deserted place and find rest. Because spiritual care is an important part of being a discipleship. Never feel guilty.

Amen.

The Spirit is Always Up to Something - Pentecost B Sermon - 05.20.2018

Listen to the gospel and the sermon here.

ACTS 2:1-21

1 When the day of Pentecost had come, [the apostles] were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.  5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6 And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7 Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” 12 All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”
  14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. 15 Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. 16 No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
  17 ‘In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.  18 Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.  19 And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist.  20 The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.  21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ ”

John 15:26-16:15 

²⁶ “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. ²⁷ You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning. “I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. ⁵ But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ ⁶ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. ⁷ Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. ⁸ And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: ⁹ about sin, because they do not believe in me; ¹⁰ about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; ¹¹ about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.
¹² “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. ¹³ When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. ¹⁴ He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. ¹⁵All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

 I have come to believe wholeheartedly that the Spirit is always up to something.  I think our understanding of scripture and the Christian tradition teaches us that Spirit is always moving, always stirring, she’s always up to something.  The Spirit challenges us, pushes us to the realization of things that we cannot come by on our own fruition. The Spirit is enlightening, she is encouraging, she is breathing and moving.  The Spirit, at times can even be a real nuisance, relentless annoying, but nevertheless she persists. 

We are blessed with this weird, power-struggle of a relationship with the Spirit.   It seems we’re either praising the Spirit for being active and abiding in a certain situation, or whether we’re blaming the Spirit because she nudged beyond our comfort zone or calls us into a situation that will undoubtedly result in personal change, transformation, or growth.  The Spirit, as Jesus promised does not leave us alone. The Spirit abides with us through our lowest of lows, standing firm as our punching bag...graciously taking the blows of our emotions. The Spirit abides with us through the highest of highs, demonstrating humility and grace.   From one extreme to the other, the Spirit abides. Faithfully. As Jesus promised. And in those moments it is easy to consult the Spirit...whether through anger and yelling or by praise and thanksgiving.

But what about every moment in between?  When life is content? When everything feels settled, normal, routine, comfortable.  You feel far from a crisis and close to joy. It is precisely those moments that the Spirit stirs.  Ready or not, here she comes.

The story from Acts today is a familiar story.  The disciples have been through some incredibly rough waters, from living with Jesus to watching him die.  From mourning his death to him being alive again. From celebrating that new life to watching him ascend. Last week the disciples rolled dice to replace Judas and restore their numbers to 12.  They did this to fulfill scripture. 

So the disciples and the crowds around them have grieved together.  They processed all of the recent events in light of all that Jesus has said and done, and they seem to be at a place of comfort or at least content.  They have their mission and they understand, for the most part, what it is they are called to do. Whether they know it or not, they have become...vulnerable to the power of the Spirit. 

From Acts, “When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.”  

I think it’s good to remember that Pentecost is not strictly a Christian celebration.  Pentecost began as a Jewish festival, specifically the festival of Weeks. Or better yet, the harvest festival.  Jews celebrated this festival 50 days after the festival of Passover meal. It was a festival of harvest, of first fruits, of grain.  The festival also has connections to people of Israel in Exodus and God giving the Torah to the whole nation at Mount Sinai.

So the disciples, along with devout Jews from other nations were gathered in one place for the festival of weeks.   They were gathered to celebrate the harvest. Per tradition and cultural norms, they were going about their lives as they would have any other year.  Devout Jews from every nation aren’t gathered for Jesus’ sake. They’re not there to console the disciples or even inquire about the once-dead, now-alive-but risen Christ.  And it is precisely this moment that the Spirit chooses to descend and stir up a holy chaos. 

Sarah and I regularly visited a Starbucks in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.  And as we sat there drinking coffee and working I paused to listen. Everyone around was speaking in a different language.  Tamil, Malay, one of three Chinese dialects, even some German, and of course English. Now there was no rush of a wind or tongues of fire to help me understand my neighbor, but it was by far the closest I’ve come to appreciating this story from Acts. 

Devout Jews from every nation were gathered for the Festival.  And they didn’t speak the same language or dialect. As they traded their harvests and carry about daily living they couldn’t communicate with one another verbally.  And as I’m sure you’ve experienced, if you can’t communicate easily with someone then chances are you don’t interact at all. So, come Holy Spirit.

The disciples, unsuspecting and vulnerable to the power of the spirit are lit up with tongues of fire.  The rush of a mighty wind fills the room and divided tongues, like fire, rest on each of them. They were filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking other languages.  

This holy chaos draws the crowds in and Devout Jews from multiple nations gather with curiosity and intrigue.  And beyond their wildest dreams, they heard their native tongue being spoken by strangers from another land. The Spirit was moving. 

And rather than shrug it off or explain it away, Peter embraces the Spirit and proclaims the word of God.  Peter speaks and all hear and all listen. The Spirit moves and the good news of God is proclaimed. 

And I don’t think the point of the story is that Peter is a good, faithful proclaimer...It’s not that the Spirit is bilingual or a good translator.  What is being proclaimed through this story is that Spirit is alive and moving. The Spirit is stirring. And whether we like it or not, here she comes.  Just because we are unsuspecting, content, comfortable, or settled doesn’t mean the Spirit will wait on us to be ready to move. She is always swirling, always stirring, always moving, always challenging, always up to something.

And if that’s true, then people of God, watch out.  Be alert. Because life in the Spirit yields growth, change, and transformation.   I won’t have you raise your hand, but how many of you have had an experience in life where you just know, you can sense it and feel it, whether you like it or not that the Spirit is stirring within you.  The Spirit is calling you to do or be in a way that will make you uncomfortable...push you beyond your bubble. And this calling, this gut-turning flow of the Spirit will transform you. We call those growing pains.  Because a life in the Spirit means never being settled, never being content, never being comfortable. The Spirit is always up to something.

And here is the crazy part, did you know we actively and consciously pray for that swirling and stirring.  We knowingly call upon God to move among us. Come, holy Spirit. In worship we call upon the Spirit to fill our hearts, bless us in worship, in bread and wine. Come, Holy Spirit.  We urge God to wrap us in the mighty rushing wind. We sing it. We pray it. We chant it. We intentionally plea for the Spirit to move.

The same Spirit that will drive the disciples beyond Jerusalem to a life in service and faithful proclamation.  The same Spirit that will lead the disciples to be arrested and persecuted. The same Spirit that will accompany the disciples as their flogged and stoned for proclaiming Jesus.  The Spirit that leads to transformation and growth. The Spirit that draws you out, challenges you, takes you beyond comfort and into struggle. 

The Spirit that waits eagerly for your to say “here I am God, send me” and the Spirits says “please stow away your tray tables and put your seats in their upright positions.  Keep your arms and legs inside the vehicles at all times. Ready or not, here we go!” That’s the Spirit we pray to. We call upon. And I don’t think we’re that naive or uninformed...so Are we just crazy?!  

Peyton, Naomi, Tahiana, Miora.  In just a moment you will stand before this congregation and make a public declaration to continue in the promises made on your behalf in Baptism.  Whether you know it or not, the Spirit is moving in that. You will kneel and the altar, and I will say “Father in heaven, for Jesus’ sake, stir up the gift of your Holy Spirit.” Now let me tell you a secret. When I say that prayer you will not instantly understand God, Jesus, or the Spirit.  Your mind won’t be opened to all knowledge and understanding of Faith. Everything will not be made crystal clear. Nor are you declaring that you understand and believe everything forever. 

Rather just like the disciples and devout Jews gathered that Pentecost day, you promise to be receptive to the Spirit.  Open with curiosity and intrigue. You declare that you are vulnerable to the power of the Holy Spirit and you are prepared, as best as you can be at this moment in your faith, for the Spirit to stir up holy chaos.   Or at least, that’s what I’ll be praying for.

People of God, Pentecost is not simply a celebration of Jesus’ promise fulfilled in the gift of the Holy Spirit.  It’s not just a reminder that some 2000+ years ago the Spirit descended in a fiery chaos to change the world. Rather, Pentecost is a faithful proclamation that not only does the Spirit relentlessly abide, but also that the Spirit is forever stirring in our lives.  Forever stirring in this community of faith. Stirring in the world. 

Some may fight the Spirit.  Sometimes we just ride the wave.  Often times we just need to get out of the Spirit’s way.  Regardless, as Christians, baptized in the water and claimed by God we are vulnerable to the power of the Holy Spirit.   We are created and called for the Spirit’s swirling. In our individual lives. In our communities. Here at St. Mark’s. Make no mistake, the Spirit is up to something.  And in the name of God, I promise she’s up to something good. So ready or not, here she comes. Amen

© Preached by Pastor Daniel Locke on May 20, 2018 @ St. Mark's Lutheran Church

Actively Waiting for the Lord - Sermon on Matthew 25:1-12

The Holy Gospel according to Matthew 25:1-12

"‘Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, “Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.” Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, “Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.” But the wise replied, “No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.” And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, “Lord, lord, open to us.” But he replied, “Truly I tell you, I do not know you.” Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour."

I always get caught up when I hear Jesus say, I’ll have nothing to do with you.”  Words like these run counter to understanding and experience of Jesus.  They challenge our expectation of the bridegroom and the kingdom. Literally this could be translated as, “I’ll have nothing to do with you.” So when the 5 foolish come knocking, crying out, Lord, Lord, open to us, Jesus says “I’ll have nothing to do with you.”

Ouch Jesus. Ouch. Now I think we can agree that this can be a tough text to hear. And I think that it is very important for us to name that difficulty. Especially if we are going to attempt to understand the parable, or better yet, relate it to our lives today.

It’s necessary that we recognize the tension and the anxiety that apocalyptic, “end-time” parables like this stir up within us. We don’t have be ok with it, but we should name it.

As we approach today’s difficult text, might I offer two foundations that we can rely on.  Two things we can depend on as we shed some light on Jesus’ parable.

First, as Christians trust with hope and faith in the actions of God. Trust in God who is faithful to God’s promises. Trust that the Kingdom of Heaven means the absolute return of the bridegroom.  Trust that through the movement of the Holy Spirit, God is relentlessly faithful.

Second, we trust in each other, the community, the body of Christ gathered to hear God’s word.  Trust the support, the love, the grace, the work of the community who shares in the Gospel message; however difficult it may be. These two things, relationship with God and relationship with the body of Christ are strong and reliable foundations as we discern Jesus’ words this day.

Let’s wade together in today’s text.

Today, 20 chapters after last week’s Beatitudes, Jesus continues to teach about the kingdom of heaven.  This time he does so in the form of a parable. Ten Bridesmaids, 5 foolish and 5 wise, as they wait for the bridegroom.   This is the first of three “end-time” parables in the 25th chapter of Matthew.  All three of which, we will hear as our Gospel lesson for these last three Sundays of our church year leading up to Advent. But today’s parable is one of readiness and waiting, a difficult text with a rather abrasive ending. Jesus teaches, The kingdom of heaven will be like this: Ten bridesmaids, all of whom have lamps and all are waiting to meet the bridegroom. Now Jesus distinguishes between 5 of them, deemed wise for bringing extra oil for their lamps, and 5, called foolish, for taking no oil.

In their waiting to meet the bridegroom, there is a delay.  As ready as they might have been, the bridegroom did not arrive as they expected or hoped. All ten grow drowsy and sleep. Suddenly, at an hour unexpected they were all awakened to a loud shout, “Look! Here is the bridegroom!  Come out to meet him!” So everyone trimmed their lamps in preparation, but of course the five foolish bridesmaids have no oil.  And despite the plea of the foolish, the wise do not share their extra oil. Waiting for the Lord.  Waiting, the time we spend now, in this place, in this community, in this world, our lives on earth...waiting until the bridegroom returns. You see friends, as Christians we live our fragile and God-given lives in the in between status of the kingdom.  On one hand, as Jesus proclaimed coming out of the wilderness, “the kingdom of God has come near.”  Joined to Christ in baptism we die in a death like his, and rise into new life, life within the Oh, so near, Kingdom of God.  But Yet, at the same time we confess that Jesus will return again, and with him comes the fulfillment of the Kingdom. A holistic reconciliation of all of creation to God through Jesus Christ by the power of the Spirit.  That’s the now-and-not-yet of the kingdom of God.   And in the meantime, we are called to wait.  But how do we wait?

So the five foolish go off to find some at the 24 hour oil quick-e-mart, and it is while they are gone that the bridegroom arrives. Those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet and the door was shut.  Of course, the foolish return, knocking at the door “Lord, Lord, open to us.”  And the Lord says, “Truly I do not know you.”  

Keep awake therefore, for know neither the day nor the hour.

So what could this parable really be about?

Could it be a parable about the necessary resources one needs for admittance to the celebration?  Could it be a parable warning us of our surprise, shock, or alertness upon the bridegroom’s arrival? Could it be a parable advising us to be in the right place at the right time? Or is it maybe a parable about having a relationship the Lord distinguishing between those who know Jesus and those who don’t.

Well I might argue that no it’s not chiefly about any of these things.

It’s not strictly about obtaining the necessary resources, or accumulating works and deeds or doing enough things so that we might earn admittance to the celebration. After all, all ten bridesmaids, wise and foolish, bring lamps in their waiting.

It’s likely not about the surprise, shock, or alertness of the bridegroom’s arrival.  After all, all ten fell asleep, and all ten wake at the sound of his arrival and all are made alert of his imminent return.

I don’t think Jesus is suggesting that the kingdom of heaven is dependent upon knowing the Lord, or laying claim to our relationship with Christ. After all even the foolish bridesmaids know him when they cry out, “Lord, Lord, open to us.”  

And so really, the only thing that divides the wise from the foolish is the bit of extra oil that the wise brought with them in their waiting. The biggest difference is that the wise were prepared for the bridegroom’s delay and they were ready for the wait.

Perhaps then today’s parable, as it was for the disciples then who were soon to see Jesus die on the cross, as it was for the Thessalonians in our new testament lesson who were anxious because their loved one’s were dying and the Lord had not yet returned, is for us some 2000 years later... about readiness and waiting.

First we wait in God.  Waiting every moment in praise, thanksgiving, and worship to God.   The bridegroom will return. And in our waiting we rely on the faithfulness of God. God’s promise of love, peace, justice, forgiveness, and mercy.

Wait in the faithfulness of God that Jesus Christ, the bridegroom, IS coming back.  He will return.  And when he does… there will be a party, a wedding banquet, a heavenly celebration. A great feast where the Lord welcomes all with peace and love.

We wait in the full and confident expectation of Christ’s imminent return, Celebrate every possible moment of waiting, actively spreading the good news that Jesus will return.  Because washed in God’s promises we are lit with a flame that will not run out, supplied with more oil in our lamps than we could ever need, to keep us burning burning burning for the Lord and we can not help but spread the light of Christ.

Second, we wait in community.  We wait with the whole body of Christ, our neighbors, and our enemies. We wait with the whole church of Saints.   Not in a passive, foolish, nonchalant posture, but we wait in the calling of our baptism to...

   Live among God’s faithful people,

   Proclaim good news of God through word and deed,

  To serve all people, following Christ’s example,

  To strive for justice and peace in all the earth.

This communal waiting is an active waiting. One that embodies these baptismal promises and works to build up the kingdom of God, both now and not yet.   

This waiting means standing up against injustice empowering the voice of the oppressed.  Lately that looks like honoring the countless women who bravely share their experiences of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse.  Means challenging oppressive and patriarchal systems until all are made equal.  

It means we are called to meet the person next to us. Listen to their stories.  Honor and respect their experiences.  Share in their joys and pains. Weep when they weep, mourn when they mourn. Celebrate in their victories. Pray without ceasing.  Waiting means encouragement.loving, supporting, and building up each other. Working for peace. Striving to end violence, as well as the multitude of influences that perpetuate and enable violence.  

Siblings, our participation in the Kingdom of God and our call to wait for the Lord means that we actually have work to do.  Not as a requirement or some pre-condition for our entering the celebration, but rather as outward expression of our embodied faith in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. A Daily witness to God’s promise of Jesus’ return.

So Keep awake! Trim your lamps.  Wait in God.  Wait in one another.  For although we know neither the day nor the hour, we are called to wait.  And make no mistake, our waiting, in this life, is a gift.

Amen

© Pastor Daniel Locke Nov. 12, 2017 @ St. Mark's JAX