Sermon for Sunday, October 31, 2021

Matthew 26:47-56

Matthew 26:47-56 

English Standard Version 

  What weapons do you bring to arrest the son of God?

  I can imagine the soldiers quaking at the thought of arresting Jesus with their clubs and swords, tools which must have seemed so impotent in the face of Jesus Christ.  They'd heard the stories, they likely understood that his power was far greater than anything they had in their armory.  

  God had made a promise in Scripture, and Jesus was here to keep it, no matter what.  And so he went with the soldiers and their weapons, despite his superior power.  When Peter pulled out his sword to fight, Jesus was pointing him to a bigger picture, to a greater fight, to a larger story that was being told.  

  It's important to keep our eyes on that narrative.  The news will often pull your head down into the smaller stories, and we'll get lost in fear and hopelessness there.  We find anxiety when we lose track of the greater story, for we lose track of our true identity.

  But when we focus on the larger story, then we're not pulling out our swords at every opportunity.  When we're certain that we're rooted in eternity and anchored in the love of Christ, then we're able to enter into the smaller stories without getting lost in them.  We can go to the dark places and proclaim grace and love without fear of losing who we are, without fear of being lost.  We can go to people experiencing loss and sit in the darkness, trusting that there will yet be another dawn.  We can go to the darkest corners of the world and know that we will not be lost there, for we have been claimed by the light and marked as Christ's own forever.  There is hope when we remember who we are, and we don't need swords, for we have grace and light and peace, and that is sufficient.

Matthew 26:36-46

Matthew 26:36-46 

English Standard Version

  When we pray the Lord's prayer, we say Thy Will be Done, but it's such a hard thing to pray and fully mean.  We want to mean it... but God asks some huge things of some Biblical characters.

  Remember when Daniel went into the Lions' Den?

  Or when Gideon had to get rid of most of his army?

  Or when Esther risked her life to address the king?

  One way to read the Bible is to read it as a collection of heroes of the faith who we are called to emulate.  And while there are certainly traits of many Biblical leaders, male and female, that we are wise to imitate, the Bible isn't a book about human heroes.  It's a book about God and what God is doing.  The Bible is meant to teach us about how God works through ordinary people, and the best Biblical characters reflect traits of God.  So Jesus is a braver Daniel, willing to demonstrate his mastery over creation.  Jesus is a stronger Gideon, taking on any force one his own.  Jesus is a better Esther, willing to risk his own life to save his people.  All of these Biblical characters are pointing us to God, just as we are called to point to God in our own lives.  We aren't the heroes of the story -- we're the ones who are saved by the true hero who never disappoints, who always wins the day, who delivers us from peril.

  So even if we struggle to truly follow God's will, afraid of what might come, we can give thanks that Jesus always follows God's will perfectly, meeting the demands that we cannot, and it is his faithfulness that saves us.

Matthew 26:30-35

Matthew 26:30-35 

English Standard Version 

  Again, this is really high on the list of the sections the disciples would have omitted if they were making the entire story up.  If they were trying to 'sell' Jesus as ultra-successful and the disciples as the prized recruits ready to take on the world, they likely wouldn't include the section about Peter incorrectly predicting that he'd never deny Jesus, right before Peter denies Jesus.  Oops.

  But these sections are crucial to seeing how human the disciples were.  Peter didn't want to deny Jesus -- he likely meant these words as he spoke them.  But situations change and people get scared and things happen faster than we predict.  Plenty of people never mean to look at their phones when they drive, but then it makes that noise and we figure we can look quickly and it won't do any damage...  Or people think they'll just tell a little lie and they can correct it later and it won't hurt anyone and then things escalate beyond our control...  We've all seen things get out of control faster than we expected.  We think we can be in control, and we often discover the opposite is true.  

  Isn't it marvelous that these are the people Jesus calls into discipleship?  Jesus knows Peter will deny him, and Jesus calls him anyway.  Jesus knows they will all flee to save their own skin, and Jesus calls them anyway.  Jesus knows you'll mess that thing up, and Jesus calls you anyway.  Jesus knows I'm going to forget that other thing, and Jesus calls me anyway.  It's marvelous, and wondrous, and we are the recipients of grace, freely given.

  Thanks be to God!

Matthew 26:17-25

Matthew 26:17-25 

English Standard Version 

  How well do you know yourself?  What are the best things you are capable of?  What might be the worst thing you could do?  

  It's an impossible question -- we surprise ourselves all the time, both in the good and bad.  I suspect that many people have done things impossibly worse than they ever thought they might do, but people also constantly surprise themselves by doing wonderful things they didn't think they could do.

  Here, the humanity of the disciples is on full display.  They've spent three years with Jesus, walking and talking and learning with him, and yet during the Last Supper, they aren't certain as to whether or not they are the ones who will betray him.  They don't deny him here -- they're asking if they are the ones who will do it.  They aren't sure.

  There's something so human about this, so real.  Verses like this help me believe the Gospels report what really happened, because if you were going to make it up, you'd never include this verse.  You'd have Judas as the evil one and the disciples are heroes, certain of their own virtue.  But the disciples recognize that they can fall short and do evil.  They see it in themselves, which is perhaps why they cling so closely to Jesus -- just as they recognize their own faults, they see in Jesus the only solution to the brokenness of humanity.  

  In Jesus there is hope, no matter how broken we may be.  There exists a way forward in Christ, no matter what.

Matthew 26:6-13

Matthew 26:6-13 

English Standard Version 

Jesus Anointed at Bethany 

  6 Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, 7 a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table. 8 And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? 9 For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor.” 10 But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. 12 In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial. 13 Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”

*****************

  Here's Jesus at the house of a leper.  That's extraordinary right there, the idea that Jesus would spend time visiting a house of a leper.  Nobody expected the Messiah to do that -- they figured he'd spend all this time with the rich and powerful people.  They assumed that for the Messiah to have influence, he'd have to be with the people considered influential.  Instead, Jesus spent time with those often not even thought about by the powerful.

  In the house of the leper, there's an extraordinary scene -- this woman comes up and pours out this rich gift of ointment as a way to honor Jesus.  It's not about money, it's simply a heartfelt offering, poured out to the King.

  When we give from the heart, it's not necessarily about the gift.  It's about the act of giving.  Gifts aren't meant to be compared, but instead we're called to simply give as we feel compelled to give, with the hope of honoring God through the giving our gifts.

  So may we pray for the wisdom to give generously, with the hopes of honoring God through the giving of our gifts, pouring ourselves and our resources out in joy and gratitude.

Sermon for October 24, 2021

Matthew 25:31-46

Matthew 25:31-46 

English Standard Version 

  Everyone reads this and wonders -- am I sheep or am I a goat?  I think the thing to take away from this is the importance of serving the poor.  Jesus never wavers in this request -- how do our lives join with God's unending love, particularly for those on the margins of society?  There's certainly plenty of ways to read this and soften the impact, but it's good for us to read this and ask ourselves tough questions.  Do our lives, how we spend our time and our money, point to God's love for those who might be cast out of parts of society?  Do we notice the poor and the needy?  Do we care for them?  

  And if not, do we need to ask ourselves some tough questions and perhaps re-examine our priorities?  

Matthew 24:36-44

Matthew 24:36-44 

English Standard Version 

  Pop quizzes were so stressful.  Almost as stressful as in-class essays, but not quite, because I remember how much my hand would hurt at the end of 45 minutes of writing.  I suppose students today don't have that same experience -- I doubt I'd be able to write nearly as much as I could back then.  But pop quizzes -- they were a test to see how prepared someone was.  Had they been doing their homework, their reading, their preparing?  Or were you coasting, counting on being able to cram before the announced test?

  No one knows when the Kingdom of God will come.  No one knows when this whole party wraps up.  And so how does one live in the light of such uncertainty?  Jesus doesn't tell us this to make us afraid -- I think the point is so that we don't end up in fear due to people announcing that they know for certain when the end will come.  But we should live in a state of perpetual trust, uncertain of the timing but certain of the outcome.  

  Quizzes aren't so stressful when the teacher has already announced that you will pass the test.  Jesus laid down his life to announce this good news, so may we live in quiet confidence and perpetual trust.

Matthew 22:15-22

Matthew 22:15-22 

English Standard Version 

  Do you marvel at Jesus, at who he is and how he is and what he's done?  The Pharisees found time to marvel -- they didn't intend to, but they couldn't help it.  They spun webs to ensnare him and he cut clean through them, like a missile blowing through cobwebs, targeting the hearts of all who could hear.  When the Pharisees realized the brilliance, they marveled.

  We marvel at lots of things.  We marvel at fancy cars and the lives of the rich and famous and mansions that sell for $30 million.  We marvel at social media personalities who make $50,000/month and people who make millions playing video games.  We marvel at the latest iPhones and binge-able series.  We marvel all the time, and some of the things in the world are marvels.

  We rarely set aside time to marvel at Jesus.  Maybe the world is just so busy, but we've forgotten how to marvel at the idea of the God who created the universe and then fell so deeply in love with God's creation that God wrote himself into the story, entering into the pages of the story to redeem the people who had gotten everything wrong.

  Marvel at the God to whom everything belongs, and who takes responsibility to set all things new, even you.  It's worth marveling at.

Matthew 22:1-14

Matthew 22:1-14 

English Standard Version 

  Sometimes I wish faith was easier.  Sometimes I want to pull it over me like a warm blanket, letting it comfort me against all the hardships in the world.  And there are plenty of passages that do that, that remind me of grace and provide a light in the dark world.

  Other times, I read the Gospels and feel like I'm in the dark!  Maybe I just don't want to confront my own shortcomings.  Maybe I'm comfortable and don't want to be challenged!  I think we can all be a little defensive in our heart of hearts, wanting all the good things Jesus promises and not wanting to pay any price, not wanting to sacrifice any comfort.  We want Jesus' rewards on our agendas.  

  Jesus comes to remind us that he, in fact, is Lord, and we are not.  Jesus also spends a lot of time reminding us that it's better this way, but we tend to tune out that part.  We check in for the rewards and the promises of peace, but tune to another channel when Jesus confronts us about our false idols.  Martin Luther said the heart is a factory of idols, and he's not wrong -- we worship lots of things, and often all the wrong things.

  Fortunately, Jesus loves us in spite of our failings and is willing to take on the punishment, but he pushes us in the process to live like God is king and to stop letting our agendas drive our lives.  May we sacrifice our desires, and trust that God's desires for our lives are greater than our own.  So much of our age is therapeutic -- we chase our own desires, and yet we often end up miserable and wondering why.  We can't truly trust our own desires -- so if we trust God, we often have to give up things in the short-term, but what we get in the long-term is so much richer, and God tells us that we'll get short-term peace thrown in as well.

  What keeps us from signing up for that program?

Matthew 21:28-32

Matthew 21:28-32 

English Standard Version 

  The message I hear in this is that Jesus goes to everyone, and the invitation isn't rescinded when it's first offered.  The first said they would not go, but there was room in the kingdom when they showed up.  So let none of us think that we're too far gone for the Kingdom -- but rather there is always room for at least one more, no matter when they show up!

Matthew 20:29-34

Matthew 20:29-34 

English Standard Version 

  If someone you know is trying to lose weight and you see them eating three Big Macs every night at McDonald's, you'll likely suspect that perhaps they don't quite it.  Or imagine you know someone who is trying to control their impulse spending, and that person is wearing brand new shoes every time you see them.  You'll likely think they don't quite get it, right?

  The great crowd is following Jesus, and yet when two blind men cry out, the crowd rebukes the two men.  They're clearly missing something, right?  Here is Jesus, who consistently has made time, even when heading somewhere else, to heal the broken and tend to the needy.  People wanted the miracles, but they were missing the message.

  So when we read the Gospels, let's be amazed at the amazing things that Jesus does... but let's be sure we read the message, too.  Let's be sure we're listening to the one who sends us to care for the broken and hurting world, who teaches us to love selflessly, to share with the needy, to give, no matter what.

Matthew 20:1-16

Matthew 20:1-16 

English Standard Version 

  As I'm sure you've heard somewhere, the global supply chain has a few kinks in it.  There was a story just last night that said you need to buy a Christmas tree now if you're in the market, because they'll be completely sold out by December and you won't be able to find one if you wait.

  From the perspective of people facing scarcity, this story makes sense.  The workers who have worked all day feel like it isn't fair for people who have worked less to receive the same -- if these workers drain the purse, then what if there isn't enough?  It's fear-driven.

  But from God's perspective, there is abundance.  There is plenty for all, so those who have worked an hour don't impact those who have worked all day.  There is sufficient grace.  Removing fear allows us to celebrate that we all receive the same grace, rather than live in fear.  We can invite others in without worrying about how it impacts us, because we know we receive enough -- we trust that we will be fully satisfied by the God who assures us that God can meet every need, and that every desire will be perfectly filled by God.

Matthew 19:23-30

Matthew 19:23-30 

English Standard Version 

  Life sure would look differently if we took this seriously, wouldn't it?  Imagine a bunch of people competing with one another to be last, to put everyone else first... paints a different picture than what you see in the world, doesn't it?  

  We're hard-wired to try and be first, and Jesus knows this about us, which is why he spent so much time not only teaching us about servanthood, but also showing it to us.  He washed feet.  He listened.  He healed.  He traveled to see people who might not otherwise have heard.  He reached out.  He made the effort, at inconvenience to himself.  The entire incarnation of Jesus was a demonstration of selfless service -- Jesus didn't have to leave heaven, but Jesus chose to leave heaven so that we might join him there.  

  It was all a free choice.

  So pick something to try and be last in today.  Pick the slowest line at the grocery store.  Go out of your way to visit someone, meaning you don't optimize your time.  Listen to someone's story.  Help someone with a project that doesn't help you at all.

  Be last.

Matthew 19:16-22

Matthew 19:16-22 

English Standard Version 

  I'm having a hard time imagining looking God in the face and asking, "Which of those rules did I need to keep?"  There's only one answer to that, right?  And then the next thing I'm supposed to say is, "Oh, I was supposed to keep ALL of them?  But there were so many!"  That'd be the extent of that conversation...

  It's a pretty bold thing for the young man to say that he's kept all the commandments.  I certainly will be claiming no such thing.  But by doing so, he's making the claim that he doesn't need anything.  He's been able to satisfy everything required of him by his own strength.  And if you need nothing, where does God fit into the picture?

  Jesus is trying to teach him compassion.  Jesus is trying to introduce lack into his life, so that he'll see how much he needs. As he goes away sad, he's clearly devastated by the thought.

  One helpful practice for all of us is to recognize how much we need.  One option is to do that through giving away everything you own.  I certainly wouldn't stop you, although Jesus doesn't tell everyone to do that.  Jesus interacts with lots of people, rich, poor, and in-between, and this one is the only one to whom Jesus gives this command.  But we're wise to think about what we need -- all of our stuff, all of our success and material resources, can keep our eyes and our hearts from realizing that we have deep, deep needs.  These are needs that only God can fill, and our sin prevents us from meeting them on our own.  Jesus wants you to see this, because only then will you come to Jesus with an awareness of your need, and you'll discover that God longs to fill that need through a free gift of grace.

  

Matthew 18:23-35

Matthew 18:23-35 

English Standard Version 

  When we pray the Lord's Prayer, we petition God to forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.  Someone once called that 'as' the most dangerous word in the entire Bible!

  There's probably 1,001 ways to read and interpret this parable.  To briefly sum it up, Jesus is telling us that the grace we receive should transform how we treat others.  In some ways, it's probably that simple.  If we go out into the world and treat others without being strongly influenced by the grace we have received, are we living faithfully?  If Sunday morning worship doesn't help guide our hearts for the remainder of the week, are we truly allowing Christ to be Lord of our lives?

  Questions worth asking, in my opinion.