Where am I going?

For whatever reason, Sam has been singing the opening lines from Paint Your Wagon a lot lately, and it’s gotten stuck in my head. “Where am I going, I don’t know.  When will I get there, I ain’t certain, all I know is I am on my way.”  Do you ever feel like that?  Not sure where you are going or how you are going to get there?  Or even what to do once you do get there?

Sam and I had the pleasure of spending the past week down in Galveston with 20 other retired clergy couples.  There were also 7 members of the Church Pension Fund who led us through a series of talks, exercises and discussions designed to help us look at our life and our goals for living out our retirement and Christian vocation as couples.  The Credo conference that I attended in September did very similar things, but was focused only on clergy.  But this conference acknowledged that spouses are an important part of our life, planning and future.  

So in essence, this conference helped us address that burning question in Sam’s mind, “Where are we going...”. I think the disciples, after the death of Jesus had some of these same burning questions.  Where am I going?  What do I do next?  How do I get to my next assignment?  If you remember last week, after baptizing the Ethiopian eunuch, Philip was whisked away by the Holy Spirit and set down in Azotus.  But mostly the apostles had to walk where ever they went.  

In today’s lesson from the Acts of the Apostles, our focus is on Peter who is preaching to the household and friends of Cornelius, a Roman Centurion.  Peter is breaking a lot of rules just being in Cornelius’ home and preaching to these Gentiles.  Because the leaders considered this new sect to still be a part of the Jewish religion, they insisted that only Jews were acceptable in their movement.  They wanted to limit who could be included in God’s salvation.  But God had other ideas and He was beginning to spread his net over all people, not just Jews.  

So even though these are not circumcised believers, as Peter preached, the Holy Spirit fell on them all and they began to speak in tongues and extol God.  This is one of those examples where the disciples/apostles had to make an about-face and hurry to catch up with what God was doing in this place.  They not only had to accept the gentiles, but they realized that they also had to baptize them. 

When Peter got back to Jerusalem, he had to defend his decision before the counsel.  He had done at least four things that were wrong.  He stayed with Gentiles in their house.  He ate their food.  He preached to them.  And He had them baptized.  The church was not happy with Peter.

But Peter, even though he had broken the rules, knew that he had done what God wanted him to do.  And that was more important that any rule that had been imposed.  God’s will, not mine, be done.  So, what does that mean for us today?  It means when God leads the way into something new, whether we like it or not, whether we agree or not, we at least need to pay attention.  

The Gospel lesson tells us that we are to abide in God’s love – to obey the commandment is to love one another as God has loved us.  It also tells us that we are no longer servants, but friends.  That means something special - it has deepened the relationship between us and God – we are no longer slaves, but now are friends because the master has made known to us what he is doing in the world.  God is always navigating new pathways into our broken and torn world, and we sometimes have to run to keep up with what he is doing and the way he is reaching out to all people.  

His desire is that all should be saved.  In Chapter 2 of Acts, Peter preaches his first sermon and says, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”  Not if they are good enough.  ..  Not if they believe exactly like us...  Not if they are without sin...  But if they call on the name of Jesus, then they shall be saved.  

Our two lessons from John both speak of love and abiding in the grace of the Lord. Jesus also says, “You did not choose me, but I chose you.”  To many of us, in our humanity, question whether we are good enough to be chosen, but the truth is that we are all created in the image of God and he has chosen every single one of us.  All we have to do is answer his call to love, both God and one another.

And if we love him and choose to follow him, then we need to be prepared to go to uncomfortable places and live into the kind of love that he has for all creation.  When I started the journey with God, I told him, “If you open the door, I will step through it.”  That’s the way I’ve lived for the past 18 years.  Walking through open doors and trying not to look back when a door closes.  Following where God leads and very grateful that this last door he opened was right here at my home.

I’m not sure where I will go from here.  I have several short term plans for next month and Sam and I want to do some traveling.   Our collect says, “You have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding...”  We plan to continuing to follow the Lord, because he has already led us into more wonderful places and relationships than we could have imagined.  I plan to continue preaching the love of God to those who will listen and to seek his will for our lives.  I also plan to continue singing a new song to the Lord whenever and wherever I can. I know that God is going to be here with you after we leave and that he will make a way for us to return someday.  

I believe that God has great plans for Grace Church, but you need to be willing to step into whatever role God has for you in follow him.  What is your plan for following the Lord?  What doors are you willing to step through for the Lord?

Follow that star.

Today we celebrate the Epiphany.  Twelve days after the birth of Jesus.  This is the third week that we have surrounded ourselves with narratives concerning the first month of Jesus’ life.  Today’s story concerns the coming of the Magi, the ‘Wise men’ or Sages who saw a star and left home and hearth to follow a dream.  We’ve been told all our lives that these were Gentile astrologers, and I’ve preached that in the past, but that is not the understanding given in my new study Bible.

It is the Jewish Study Bible, a Bible written by Jews for Jews, Messianic Jews - those who believe in and follow Yeshua Messiah, Jesus Christ, as Lord and Savior.  Many of the leaders of the Jewish leaders had been carried off to exile in Babylon around 600 BCE when Judah and the first temple fell to Nebuchadnezzar.  

Many years later (60-80), after the Persians had conquered the Babylonians, King Cyrus allowed the Jews to return home, but not all of them did.  Probably close to half remained in Babylon where they had become established with homes and jobs and families.  They were still Jews and they studied the Torah and worshiped Yahwah, the God of the Jews.  So according to my new Bible, these sages were members of the Jewish community established and led originally by Daniel in Babylon.

We celebrate the coming of these sages or Magi 12 days after the birth of Jesus.  We don’t know exactly when they came, but our scripture today says, “after Jesus was born...”  After, not when.  Tradition says it was 12 days later, but from scripture we know that it might have been as much as 2 years after his birth.  After all, it takes time to see the star, search and interpret scripture, prepare for a journey and then travel.

Many of you will remember that on Christmas Eve, I talked about the Son of God lying in a manger and those who heard and who cared enough to go out of their way to see this child.   These Magi saw the star and went out of their way to see this thing that the Lord had prepared.  500 miles out of their way - by donkey, or horse back, or camel, it doesn’t say.  It is estimated that it would have taken them any where from 25 to 50 days to travel one way.  They had to prepare and take their own supplies, there were very few inns or restaurants on this trip.  This was not a small undertaking.  

The important thing is that they saw this star and said “yes” to this journey.  Too many of us might consider this to be a fool’s journey.  Well, today’s gospel lesson is a prime example. Here we have a number of people – the gospel doesn’t tell us how many – tradition says 3, because there were three gifts. Anyway, the Magi are people maybe Jewish, maybe not, who have seen a sign in the sky, who go out of their way to discover what that means.  

But these wise men, sort of like university professors of today – single focused – continued on their journey until they came to the Christ child in a house (not a manger) and knelt down before him. They also brought him gifts – gold and frankincense and myrrh – gifts for a king. According to tradition the gifts had special significance – gold represented his deity and purity; frankincense represented the fragrance of his life, and myrrh represented his sacrifice and death. 

But the most important part of today’s lesson is the light – the Magi followed the light and we live in that light.  St. John tells us, “The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.” The Magi followed that light and Herod tried to snuff it out, but it wouldn’t snuff. 

Our first lesson today says, “Arise, shine, for your light has come.” Jesus had come into the world.  And Jesus has come into our world, too. And the question is, what are we going to do about it?  These Magi said ‘yes’ to God, to following the star.  How can we as individual, and as a church, say ‘yes’ to God?

There is a study in improv where one person throws out an idea.  The next person must say, “yes” and add to that idea.  And this continues around the room with each person saying ‘yes, and...’  We can do that same thing here in church.  When someone comes up with a new idea, instead of shooting it down or listing reasons why not, say, ‘yes’ and think of ways you can help or expand on the idea.  One woman said when her church decided to have a health fair, she immediately thought, I’m not a doctor or nurse, how can I possibly help?  Then she remembered to say, “yes, and...” and she found ways she could be involved and help to make it a success.

Grace needs new ideas on how to expand our fellowship with one another to help us become a solid community in Christ. and to work together to reach out to others.  Several new ideas have been put forth that I believe are worth pursuing.  I would like to see Grace church begin to develop a closer community life through fellowship and working together on projects beyond the Fish Fry and the Pumpkin Patch.  What can each of us do to further a closer bond that brings people in and furthers the life of the parish?  As ideas are put forth, follow the example of the Magi by saying, “Yes, and ...” And find ways to help, expand or promote to begin to make Grace Church a thriving community of Christ’s love once again.  In 2018, as we call a new rector, prepare a place that is welcoming and alive.    

Amen

Christ is coming.

In our Old Testament lesson Isaiah said, "O that you would tear open the heavens and come down so that the mountains would quake at your presence - to make your name known to your adversaries, so that the nations might tremble at your presence!"

And in our gospel Jesus said, "The sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.  Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away before all these things have taken place."

Even our epistle from Paul says, "…you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ…" 

These lessons look forward to the end of the world.  During the first century, the new church was sure that Jesus would return during their lifetime - he said he would.  

This message was time-sensitive – the young Christian sect had to get it out - and the message spread like wildfire.  The only problem is that it didn't happen - and then they remembered that he also said, "But of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."  

The message that Christ is coming is what Advent is all about: the coming of the Messiah.  Advent is always the four Sundays before Christmas.   Advent looks forward to the coming of Jesus  -  And it acknowledged that the Messiah comes to us in four ways.

1 - He came in the flesh - he was born as a baby in Jerusalem.  A star and the heavenly hosts heralded his coming.  But those who noted it were few: Three wise men, a few shepherds and an old prophet and prophetess.

2 - He came in power - healing the sick, driving out demons and bringing hope to a nation that didn't recognize him.  "Prepare the way" was the call of John the Baptizer.  "Prepare the way of the Lord.  Make straight his paths."

3 - He came in Spirit as the Risen Lord to empower the church to spread the gospel to a world broken and torn by strife.  The fire of the Holy Spirit danced on their heads and the Word of the Lord was made known.  And he still comes in Spirit to guide and direct us.

4 - But most importantly, he will come again - this time in glory - "coming in clouds with great power and glory."  This is what we look forward to on this the first Sunday in Advent.

Advent is a season full of hope and anticipation - Advent is pregnant with expectation.  Advent is a time of preparation - to prepare for the Lord's coming.  We've been preparing for a long time.  The Old Testament prophets predicted his coming and the people waited with hope for the Messiah who was to come.  But when he came so many didn't recognize him, didn't accept him. 

For people in Palestine in the first century - the world was not a friendly place - you could get killed.  The Roman army didn't need a reason - they just took what they needed and did what they wanted.  They totally destroyed the temple and drove the people out.  

This new sect, the one called Christian, was not a favored religion - they were hunted and killed.  And the church grew - it thrived - Nero was the anti-Christ and war and pestilence marked the beginning of the end.  Jesus was going to return - in power and glory.  

But time passed, Christianity became an accepted religion and later the official religion.  And the people grew complacent.  

This is a pattern that has come down through the ages.  World War II was the war to end all wars, Hitler was the anti-Christ and the establishment of the Jewish state in Palestine signaled the beginning of the end. So said Hal Lindsey in his best selling book, The Late Great Planet Earth.  He claimed that Jesus would return in 1988.  Well, maybe Hitler wasn't really the anti-Christ after all.  

So we, as a people, have grown complacent.  When I was growing up, there was the cold war - which occasionally heated up.  People talked about building bomb shelters.  The television and movie theaters were full of information about the Atom Bomb and we were warned to be prepared in case we were attacked.  

There were drills at school so we would know what to do if we were bombed.  The television and the radio were full of tests of the emergency broadcast system - on a daily basis. We lived with the threat of annihilation.  People went to church.  Apocalypse - Second Coming - whatever… annihilation seemed to be a real threat.  

By the time I graduated from high school we had entered the race for space and John Glenn had made his historic trip around the world and we had mostly forgotten the threat of the A-bomb.  In October of 1962, during the Cuban Missile Crisis - people stayed glued to their TVs praying against war.  Vietnam followed Korea and our young men and women were sent out in droves.  

Lots of people were tired of trying to handle the tension of the constant threat and totally rebelled and so started the peace movement - flower power… make love, not war… for many, drugs were a way to forget the threat… and it was all reflected in the music that became so popular.

Where have all the flowers gone...  Johnny's gone for a soldier…  Blowing in the Wind… Groups like Peter, Paul and Mary sang their hearts out - protesting against the tension - trying to find relief or expression or to just forget.  For some, Jesus was an example they could cling to and proclaim.  Others drifted away from the church, from religion, from home and family, and eventually from life.  

As the millenium approached people once again predicted the end.  There were hundreds of books on the market about the Second Coming, the rapture and prophecy fulfillment.  Harold Camping first predicted might return on September 6, 1994.  When that did not occur he then predicted the rapture on May 21, 2011.  When that didn’t happen, he said no, it was actually October 21.  Well, that came and went, and we’re still waiting.

A later prediction was not by Christians, but by New Age-ers.  It was based on the really old Mayan calendar with ends on December 21, 2012.  A lot of people jumped on that band wagon, but again it did not occur.

And even now we see the kinds of signs that have many wondering if the end is coming soon.  Just in the past few months there have been mass shootings, earthquakes, hurricanes bringing death and destruction - a confrontation with North Korea causes anxiety so that Hawaii is reactivating it’s air raid siren system - an oddly shaped large asteroid from outside this solar system recently passed very close to earth bring questions from various corners.

Notice that our Gospel story for today begins in the future tense - the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give light, the stars will be falling.  This is yet to come - we do not know when.  The lesson then continues in the present tense - learn the lesson of the fig tree, when it puts on leaves, you know that summer is near.  It suggests that the coming of Christ is a certainty that makes a difference in how we live our lives right now.  

Then our story ends with a parable in the imperative.  A man is going on a journey.  He has put his servants in charge, each with his own work and commands them to "Watch!"   This is something that is going to happen and a response is required of us, both as a church and as individuals.  The servants are not singled out in this parable as they have been in some of the other parables.

This is the message for all of us. Together we are to keep watch - each with our own work.  We are to be prepared to meet our Lord whenever he comes - whether it’s tomorrow or a million years from now.  We are to spread the gospel message that Jesus is alive and that he is coming and that he offers us hope of a better world.  He offers us those things that the world cannot give us; fullness in our hearts, peace in our minds, joy in our souls.  He offers us forgiveness for our sins and eternal life.  He offers us stability when our world falls apart around us.  

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German pastor and theologian. He was hanged by the Nazis in 1945 for his steadfast loyalty to Christ and his unswerving opposition to Hitler and the Third Reich.  Bonhoeffer disapproved of the new trend he called "cheap grace" - this talking about love without judgment, belief without loyalty, and forgiveness without repentance. 

Bonhoeffer tells us there is a cost for following Jesus.  He demands our loyalty, our sincerity.  We are not only to pay lip service to Jesus, but we are to follow his example.  We must not only talk the talk, but we must also walk the walk.  That's what Jesus calls us to do - let our actions speak for us.

Be aware of the fact that Christ is coming.  Begin to prepare your life for his appearance.  Align your values and attitudes with those of Christ.  Make commitments and seek activities that reflect Christ's love for the world.  Make the worship of God an integral part of your life - not only on Sunday but every day.  To help you reflect on the coming of Christ each day in Advent, I have a book from Living Compass to give each family.  We will pass them out during the announcements.u 

This Advent be aware of Christ coming into your life.  Be involved in and support the work of the church in the world.  When you find yourself falling into habits that do not reflect the love of Christ, turn around and start anew.  Prepare yourself for the Advent of Christ in your life so that when he bursts in on you unexpectedly you may not be found wanting.       Amen.

Are you ready?

When I was a student at Sam Houston University, a friend of mine named Nancy had a date with an Aggie.  Well, Nancy and her date came in early and so we found a fourth and played a game of Hearts.  Contrary to my normal performance at Hearts, I actually won that night.  Several days later, I got the card from A & M from this guy.  It said, "Someday your ship will come in."  You open it up and it continues, "And you'll be at the train station."  

Now most of you know that my name is Nan.   It's not Nancy, it's not Nanette, or any of the other possible variations.  Now, the problem was, this card was addressed to "Nancy Lewis."  So we never figured out if it was intended for me or for Nancy, but we both decided that he was the one who missed the boat.  He just didn’t pay attention – not unlike the five foolish bridesmaids in our gospel lesson today.  They just didn’t pay attention either.

You know, today’s gospel lesson could be compared to when a hurricane comes through.  Let’s say there were ten guys who bought new generators, but when the hurricane came along half of them realized too late that they forgot to buy extra gasoline to run them.”  So by the time they finally figure out that they need more gas than what’s left from when they tried it out, and they go to the station, the power’s already out and the pumps don’t work, and regardless of how sorry they are, or how much they are willing to pay, they can’t get the gasoline. 

Our five foolish maids came with that same mindset where they believed that all they needed was the lamp because this occasion would be just like all the other weddings they had been a part of.  It just never even crossed their mind that this time it might be different.  But it was different and they didn’t adapt to the change – they were unprepared for change.  And even when they began to get an inkling that this time might be different, they did nothing.  They could see that the others had brought extra oil – and now, with the groom’s delay, they had time to go get oil, but they still didn’t use this time for that purpose.  They waited until the end when the reality of the situation was unavoidable and then it was too late.

These were young women from the groom’s household who wait at some distance from the house to escort the groom and his new bride back to the house when he comes from collecting her from her father’s house – and according to one source, they not only light the way, but they also perform a welcome dance to honor the new bride who will be living among them.  

While these maids wait for the groom they grow drowsy and fall asleep.  Someone likened the five foolish maids to everyone’s worst nightmare…  Well, maybe not nightmare – but that common dream so many of us have – each our own versions – about not being prepared at the appropriate time.  My particular dream usually has to do with going to class to take a test – in my dream, not only have I not studied for the test, but I’ve never even attended the class and I’m not sure where it is.

These young ladies have participated in other weddings and they don’t expected this to be any different.  Like the foolish maids, we, too, may be resistant to change.  We often expect everything to stay the same – like there’s some kind of status quo that’s never going to change.  We do this in our personal life, in our professional life and even in our church life.  Maybe we have a good thing going, and we expect it to stay the same.  Then it doesn’t and like the five foolish maids, by the time we recognize that there is a problem, it’s too late to reverse the situation.  It’s like a wife (or husband) who doesn’t realize there’s a problem with their marriage until their spouse asks for a divorce.  Or like parents who overlook the signs of alcohol or drug abuse by their child until they are called by the police.  There could be any number of scenarios that we could imagine or name.  

Churches can be just as blasé about what is going on in their parish.  They can be just as resistant to change as individuals.  They like to see new people come in – but that causes discomfort if the new people are different.  One of the churches in our diocese decided that they needed some way to incorporate new people into their church family.  And sometimes it’s just too long to wait for the bishop to come, so they’ve come up with a service of “inclusion” – they call it the “Liturgy of Belonging.”  We have actually used this here in the past.  There is a little service after The Peace when a family has expressed a desire to become a part of the parish family.  Patterned somewhat after the Baptism service near the end, the priest turns to the congregation and asks:  

Will you welcome (name/s) into this family, embrace their gifts, their needs, and their dreams?  Will you recognize that their presence and participation will change the shape of the body and help it grow in new ways?  Will you support them in their journeys, and assist them in their ministries?

And the answer is:   Yes! Yes! Yes!

This is very intentional in the realization that when new people are added to a congregation, there will be change.  And it is very intentional in recognizing the need for new blood in the church and the change that will occur and the intention to accept that change.  I guess that you could consider it to be something like a marriage ceremony.

Like the maids in our story, maybe we’re waiting for something to happen in our lives.  The five wise maids anticipate a future that involves them and they want to be prepared.  We may be anticipating a change in our lives also.  We may be waiting for the birth of a child, or for a phone call that offers us a job…  maybe for our child to graduate from high school and leave for college...   news from the doctor’s office…  that special person to pledge to share our life with…  All these circumstances are going to create change in our lives.  We have to be prepared to face that change regardless of what it brings.  If we are not willing to grow and change, then we will stagnate and die.  

It reminds me of one of my favorite sayings: “all you have to do is suit up and show up and the Holy Spirit will take care of the rest.”  Well, maybe sometimes that doesn’t quite get it.  You have to be accepting of whatever is going on, and willing to fulfill your part, whatever that might be.  But it’s about being prepared and ready to do your part.    

Notice that this is a wedding feast – not a funeral.  It is a joyous occasion – an occasion for celebration.  And also notice that the participants are not alone – even in the waiting.  When things go slow, when nothing appears to be happening – when you wait for the future to reveal itself to you – you are not alone.  There is always someone there with you – with similar questions or doubts or struggles – but ready to sit with you and share what is happening.  It is not unlike what is happening here at Grace.  We know that a new rector is long in coming, but knowing that the vestry is now receiving names and preparing to go out, even this month to visit and interview, we have to be prepared.  We also know that a new rector is going to change the dynamic of Grace, and we each have to be prepared for that change. 

This whole story is considered to be somewhat allegorical.  Scholars are very careful to point out that we are not to consider it a complete allegory.  The difference between the two groups of bridesmaids is said to be their faith preparation.  It takes faith to wait – faith to sustain us during the long night watches.  It takes faith and courage to change when that is needed.  It takes knowing and believing that when the Lord calls us to wait or to make changes in our life, that he will give us the strength and the tools to accomplish what needs to be done, or to survive the changes that are made.  We prepare our lives, our hearts and our minds so that when the Lord comes, we may go in with him, rejoicing and may feast at the table that he has set for us.  Are you ready for the changes that are coming?

Come to my wedding feast.

Listen to the sermon.    

There are some scripture passages that I take exception to and this is one of them.  I’m never quite sure what to do with it.  I wrestle with it – and maybe I want to judge it.  Somehow I have trouble reconciling the teller of this story with the Jesus I see portrayed in scripture – who tells us to turn the other cheek - who welcomes all to come in, who turns away none.  Jesus accepts tax collectors and sinners and heals the lame and the ill.  Even in the one incidence where someone (beside the Pharisees and other officials) turns away – it is still the free choice of the person who was invite in.  

Only two gospel writers tell this story, Matthew and Luke.  Luke ends the story with the people coming in and there is still room so he sends the servant out again to bring in more people.  Luke makes no mention of any killing or mis-treating- either by the invited guests or by the banquet giver.

In reading Matthew’s version of this story, he appears to be angry, and I don’t know what to do with his anger.  Luke was a gentile – Matthew a Jew.  I think Matthew is quite angry that his community is not welcome in the synagogue because they follow Jesus.  I think Matthew is like the author of Psalm 137 who wants to smash babies against the rock because Jerusalem was destroyed.

Most of the commentaries report that this parable tells of a king (God) who invited the people (the Israelites) to his banquet – to feast at his table.  But they turned away and even when he sent his servants (the prophets), they were ignored and mistreated and some even killed.  So he dis-invites his guests and reaches out to a new group – blood lines don’t matter – position, power and wealth don’t matter.  Anyone who will listen and come in is welcome.  

Now Luke stops his story right there and we get the wonderful picture of a God who is willing to fellowship with anyone – with everyone – everyone who accepts his invitation - no exceptions.  But Matthew – wants to exclude someone – Matthew, who was raised as a Jew - with the concept of a God who picks and chooses – a God who blesses and curses.  Matthew, as a Jew, wants to exclude certain people. He wants people punished when they don’t do things the way he wants.

Jesus himself invites the rich young man to come follow – he does set a condition – and the young man decides to walk away.  Jesus does not exclude him.

For me it’s the same way.  This lesson ends with “Many are called, but few are chosen.”  Boy, did that ever do a number on me!  For far too long I believed that I was one of those who would never be chosen.  And that was a mantra for me, “Oh yes, I’ve been called, but I’ll never be chosen.”  

What I had to finally understand was that we are all called – each and every one of us.  God is not willing for any of us to perish and he gives us every opportunity to come in.  But we are the ones doing the choosing.  Do we choose to follow or like the rich young man, do we choose to turn away?  

I guess the part I have trouble with is the weeping and gnashing of teeth – the being bound and the cast out.  I think the older I get, the more trouble I have with this.  I suppose I get my vision of heaven and hell from C. S. Lewis.  In his book, “The Great Divorce,” hell is depicted as a dank, dark and dismal place – a place that is continually dusk and where it is always raining – where people wander aimlessly and no one speaks kindly to another.  Lewis posits a place in the midst of this darkness where people are given a last chance to visit bright heaven and to cast off the darkness that keeps them separated from the presence of God.

The other vision of heaven/hell that he gives is from the Narnia series in “The Last Battle.”  As the battle is raging the world begins to crumble and the sky begins to fall in.  Aslan encourages and ushers everyone who will come to enter the ‘hut’ on the hill which is the gateway to the new kingdom.  It is a bright and bold and happy place but the dwarves who had been thrown into the hut earlier sit around the fire with their eyes closed refusing to see the glory that has appeared around them.  They remain in that self-made hell because they have convinced themselves that that was all there is.

So we are back to the man who is cast out.  And why?  Because he wasn’t wearing the proper clothes.  There are places here on earth that there is a ‘dress code’ and if you are not wearing the proper attire, you are asked to leave.  But here we have a guy (Jesus) who is advocating radical hospitality and he tells a story where he invites everyone in and then kicks out one person because he didn’t wear the right clothes.  

What is being said here is that there is a cost - a price - for following Jesus.  We have to be willing to accept him, not only as savior, but also as Lord.  And we have to allow him to come into our life and begin to change us - to mold us into his own image.  We are to put on Jesus Christ and his righteousness.

This is an easy parable, I guess, if you are certain that you have the proper garment, but for those who struggle with faith or what they see of Christianity, it’s not so easy.  The point is that Jesus accepts us right where we are, but he doesn’t leave us there.  All through the gospels we see him healing people and driving out the demons that hold them captive.  He will do that for us also - we simply have to allow him to work within us.  

I remember a young man (college student) in Huntsville who showed up at church one Sunday morning in dirty running shorts, a muscle shirt, with his tattoos and various body jewelry standing out.  He said he only came to borrow a prayerbook and he obviously didn’t meet the dress code for church attendance, but he was encouraged to come in and once there he was treated like everyone else.  The following Sunday he showed up in clean cutoffs and a regular t-shirt.  Once again he was accepted just as he was.  Eventually his dress improved as he came back Sunday after Sunday.  He was looking to be accepted – and he was met where he was, in the condition he was in, and he was accepted.  

Radical hospitality accepts people where they are – and allow them the time and space to grow into the grace that has been extended to them.  And in the process, the rags they wear will eventually become garments of praise.   

And the invitation still goes out even today:

Come, won’t you come, for the banquet is laid.

Won’t you come, for the feast is prepared.

Won’t you come, won’t you come.  

Amen.

Transforming Love

Our collect tells us we are to trust God with all our hearts – when we are proud and confide in our own strength, we are not trusting in God – but if we boast of his mercy and trust in him – he will never forsake us.  

Our lesson from Romans tells us to love one another and in that way, we fulfill the law.  Paul sums up the commandments quoting Jesus, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” And he says, “Let us lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.”  Then he tells us to “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.” 

And Matthew tells us if another sins against you…  I think we have to be very careful when we accuse someone of sinning against us.  So often there is no clear cut right or wrong.  Greed, misunderstandings, accidents, different world views have all led to disputes of various kinds.  That’s the reason we have courts and judges and juries to decide on cases.  That’s the reason that in this country a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty.  Unfortunately, in recent times, people start drawing lines in the sand and refuse to even listen to a viewpoint other than theirs. 

It appears that Matthew is presupposing that the second party is guilty – and I say Matthew rather than Jesus because the words that he puts in Jesus’ mouth talk about the “church” – not the synagogue or the temple – which are the things that Jesus would have talked about.  This is written after the establishment of the Christian church in those areas around the Mediterranean Sea where the disciples had gone to spread the good news of Jesus.  

And I find it really interesting because he goes through this progression – which is really a good progression – you go first and talk one on one to try to resolve your problems.  If you don’t get satisfaction, then you take two or three witnesses with you.  In Jewish legal procedure, everything had to be established by at least two witnesses.  

Robert Heinlein wrote a book called “Stranger in a Strange Land,”  And in that book, there was a character called “a fair witness.’  Once a fair witness put on their official robe, he or she could not tell a lie, could make no assumptions, and went only on the facts that could be verified.

 Their “testimony” was legally binding – something like a notary on steroids.  At one point in the story, a fair witness was asked the color of a house on a nearby hillside.  The fair witness replied, “The side facing us appears to be white.”  They were asked, “so the house is white?”  The fair witness replied, “The other sides may be a different color.  I can only speak for the side I see.”

We hope that witnesses would always tell the truth, but that is not always the case.  There is an apocryphal story of Daniel called “Susanna.”  It is the 13^th chapter of the Greek version of the book of Daniel.  In this story, two elders bore witness accusing Susanna of impropriety.  They were lying, but thought that they could get away with it since they constituted a “legal” two witnesses and Susanna’s witness (being female) didn’t count.  But Daniel believed Susanna and caught the elders out in their lie and saved her life.

The truth of the matter is that different people see things differently.  It’s dangerous to draw lines in the sand in personal disputes, because like the witness in Heinlein’s story, you may have only seen one side of the house – and unlike the witness, you may be drawing conclusions from one view.  In other words, what I see (or hear) may seem to be one thing, but what you intended might be something entirely different.  We see our own faults most clearly when we see them in someone else. 

When we live in close proximity to other people, we are bound to rub up against them and irritate one another from time to time.  Even when we are together even for a short time, things can happen that cause discord.  Even at times, an innocent comment can hurt and cause division:

            (insert story about Rob at Camp Allen)

Bishop N. T. Wright writes:  Forgiveness doesn’t mean saying ‘it didn’t really happen’ or ‘it didn’t really matter’. In either of those cases, you don’t need forgiveness, you just need to clear up a misunderstanding. Forgiveness is when it did happen, and it did matter, and you’re going to deal with it and end up loving and accepting one another again anyway.

The new thing that seems to be very prominent in today’s society is condemning people without ‘trial’ and believe me, it is rampant today.  “Look what he did!  Did you see that?”  Sometimes its true and sometimes it’s not.  What we often don’t understand is what is behind the action.  What are the circumstances in that person’s life that has brought them to this place?  When we see people behave in certain ways, we are quick to condemn.  I offer up the story of the Samaritan woman at the well and her interaction with Jesus.  He offered salvation to her - without condemnation.  He stated the facts about her life – you have had 5 husbands and the one you have now is not your husband.

Since women were not allowed to have property, and they couldn’t inherit, they were sometimes desperate for survival.  They would do whatever it took to stay alive.  Most of us don’t know what it is to be that desperate – for shelter, for food – to believe that someone cares.  Jesus did not condemn this woman for her ‘sin.’  He didn’t even call it ‘a sin.’ Like the fair witness, he simply stated the facts – without commentary.  We need to leave off the commentary when we talk to people, because it most often is conjecture and that is where the real harm comes from in our interactions with other: the conjecture, the commentary by which we judge people.

Our lesson from Romans says to lay aside the works of darkness – those works that condemn others – and to put on the armor of light.  It tells us to put on the Lord Jesus Christ and that means to do as Jesus himself would do.  The flesh in us wants to be hurt by others – the flesh in us wants to compare ourselves to them and come out on top.  It wants to condemn those who are not like us, who want to do things in a different way.

So how did Jesus treat the tax collector and the Gentile?  With dignity and with love.  He greeted them as friends, and his friendship was so powerful that their lives were transformed.  Jesus calls us to do the same – to everyone - to be a transforming agent.  He calls us to greet them as friends, and to allow the power of that friendship to transform them and to transform us, over time, into new creations of his love.  Don’t expect instant results.

Yesterday I gave a talk at Camp Allen mostly concerning angels and I said that the demonic influences seem to be winning through out the world today.  When we look at the divisions such as political situation, terrorism, genocide, wars and the rampant hatred that has plagued the world in recent history, it is hard to see how our world will survive.  It is sad to see how far down our world had come.  And then there is Harvey, the fires burning in Oregon and Montana, the earthquake in Mexico, Irma bearing down on Florida - and people wanting to comment - these are punishments from God.  No!  Those are not punishments.  I believe these are tools that God is using to allow the good in people to shine through and teach us to pull together and unite for a common cause.

Our gospel ends with Jesus saying, “For whenever two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”  Whatever you bind or loose on earth will be bound or loosed in heaven.  What you reap here on earth, what you transform for the glory of God, will be credited to you in heaven.  When you gather with the tax collector or the Gentile, in the name of Jesus, without condemnation and allow that friendship to grow so that the love of Jesus shines through it, then and only then will you have put on Jesus Christ and the armor of light.

Amen