Contradictions

A good salesperson will avoid contradiction
Those interested in truth seek it out

A wise teacher finds it useful to inform

If there is no contradiction it is not religion

We do not know is what we mostly know

We do not care is what we mostly care

The gospels are hopelessly contradicted you say

Why didn't they just fix it - it is their strength

Were they not as smart?

I would wager any sum they knew more to do than you or I

The margin for error is what we change

In those small bands they were razor thin

They say their blades as sharp or sharper than our scalpels 

They followed the bald guy

Our margins wide as our mid sections on average

Hard to tell who is bald

I Know Some Things

People like to look at religion separate from our world.  The faults of all large institutions are shared, but people have higher expectations for some.  Religion given a chance likes to separate itself from the world.  There is a theme here we are going to explore along with our gospel reading from Mark.  Perhaps I can say it best this way: I believe science is stranger than science fiction.  I know the world God has created is more beautiful than we are able to imagine.

I know some things about God.  Time doesn't seem to be an issue as things take place on the scale of billions of years and also nanos of seconds.  Distance as well no mind.  Messages from millennia ago arrive everyday.  Think of those people today realizing things you have long known.  First heart breaks will never heal until they do.  Love is the one thing in the universe that God creates new.  All of your problems come from old things.  It is hard to even think about the perspective of God, but we are invited to try I think during lent.

To try to reflect on this little we know.  1 Corinthians 13:12a Amplified Bible 12 For now [in this time of imperfection] we see in a mirror dimly [a blurred reflection, a riddle, an enigma],

We are invited to do many things.  Many are the fin backs Melville to me was talking about.  I read this thick book thicker than anything I had ever read.  Reading it I actually wear as a badge of courage.  Few things I do.  Something so thick and intricate to come out the end with something so simple.  Chapter after chapter of this craft.   These fin backs, whalers would chase and lose much of their time.  They looked from a far that it would be something of value and only a chase would tell.  

You would give chase too for that is what they did.  More times than not there is no satisfaction no value.  If you don't chase you will never gain, many are the fin backs.  Those from afar that look of value. Great literature is this complexity that delivers simplicity.  Here in the middle of Mark we find the heart of our simple religion that delivers eternal complexity.  And people think Christianity is something normal.  I believe religion is stranger than religion fiction.  

People creating new complexity to deliver the simplicity of Jesus miss the point.  It isn't really important who wins, but that we all do.  Good news.  It isn't really important who serves, but that we all do.  Good times.  It isn't really important the music, but that we all sing.  My Grandfather put it this way: There are no bad instincts, just as there are no bad notes on a piano; there are only bad players, who make discord out of notes meant for harmony. 

We read today Mark 8:31-38 from the amplified bible:

31 And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must [of necessity] suffer many things and be rejected [as the Messiah] by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and must be put to death, and after three days rise [from death to life]. 32 He was stating the matter plainly [not holding anything back]. Then Peter took Him aside and began to reprimand Him. 33 But turning around [with His back to Peter] and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, “Get behind Me, Satan; for your mind is not set on God’s will or His values and purposes, but on what pleases man.”

Ok so we find ourselves here in the eighth of sixteen chapters of Mark.  We have talked several times how Mark likes to get to the point and leave plenty out that he doesn't think is as important.  Jesus picked up Peter back in chapter one so these guys didn't just meet, but boy does Jesus shock them here.

I can't say I know what Peter felt but I've had something of a similar or inspired by experience.  I was working as a dishwasher for several years.  My first real job I guess you would say.  In the dish line you knew you were paid the least and everyone treated you that way.  Not in a hateful way but more like junior high.  I exaggerate a bit because the best kitchen crew people start on the dish line.  A proving ground of sorts.

Well, we got to know each other as members of the lower caste.  Our arms had to keep moving because we were always slammed, but it didn't take much more effort to keep our mouths moving.  There were quiet moments as well.  I would arrive early to mop the floor.  It was something of a meditation which I actually enjoyed.  To this day boy I can mop a floor, hah, but it was that moment when the guy in the bad suit came tracking in the first mud of the day that things would start south.

In reality he was making five or six dollars more an hour than me.  I was young and didn't see the value in what I was doing.  I thought I was going somewhere.  Peter thought he was going somewhere.  

So we got to know each other well on the dish line.   I remember a native American who would go out and work a second eight hours in Thompson and somehow still never get ahead.  Sun burned as the day is long.  These were the people who first told me about food pantries.  They talked how you could always go in and you would be surprised what good you would find.  As similar as each nights work was the conversation never was.

I got to know a young, well I was young, Pentecostal dude.   We had long conversations about the bible.  Not all the time, but often.  Surely could have filled eight chapters or so.  Thought we were all friends.  I had never really been out in the world on my own.  I was just there learning.  I didn't know much, but I knew many things.  One day I guess I said the wrong thing, with no hesitation, which to this day I still remember he said get behind me Satan.   I was slowed down which I rarely find myself.

This happening to me at the time was already more interesting than what we were talking about.  We'd been through some things.  Maybe not trench warfare that Marko is now learning about, but through some things.  I didn't have a response.  I had heard that before I guess.  What struck me was it was from a friend.  Must have stopped Peter for a second too.  

I am not trying to compare these situations in any real way.  These two surely friends were working to change the world.  We were only working to change the dish room.  If we didn't show up nothing would run.  I don't really remember many things I have written, but one sticks with me: The universe is a restaurant under management from below.  We were certainly the most important because we were the most likely to walk out.  Job wasn't great.  Peter might have felt that way.  Lucky for us he never walked out, well without coming back.

34 Jesus called the crowd together with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and [a]take up his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me]. 

People think this is a great sin of religion.  Give up your interest.  The devil believes in you or so he will tell you.  We often assume there is something wrong with our interest.  Is someone banging on the keys the piano's fault.  Is the piano poorly designed.  Not that your interest is wrong just that it is doomed, but you don't have to be. 

This is the why of religion.  It is simple.  You can follow yourself as far as you wish and no where.  Your not going where you think you are. We can't all be first, but we can all be last. 

 

35 For whoever wishes to save his life [in this world] will [eventually] lose it [through death], but whoever loses his life [in this world] for My sake and the gospel’s will save it [from the consequences of sin and separation from God]. 36 For what does it benefit a man to gain the whole world [with all its pleasures], and forfeit his soul? 37 For what will a man give in exchange for his soul and eternal life [in God’s kingdom]? 38 For whoever is ashamed [here and now] of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

Go with your interest, your will, and you will reap your reward.  Go with God's interest and you will reap God's reward, which involves more service.  We have a ways to go yet here in Mark.  This more than anything Lent reminds us we have a ways to go yet here.  Spring around the corner and Easter and joy, but also we have ahead what the disciples didn't want to hear.  

Can hardly blame them.  The greatest story ever told is also the strangest.  Simple good news about an abundant future and this equal present with the grace of god available for everyone.

What I think Mark in the heart of his Gospel is telling us: we are not going where we think we are.  He is giving fair warning.  We kind of go in circles.  Yes it is about me and you, but it is also about them and all them.  Fear of God you would think might do the trick, but in the end it really doesn't get you far.  It has taken all the love of God to get us this far.

Do you have a better explanation?  I would like to hear it

Religion has reformed itself and reformed itself.  From the Nicene Creed to Vatican II and even today as our Methodist church devolves into something new.  We were very optimistic about the future we called ourselves united.

31 And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must [of necessity] suffer many things

We come back here to our spirituality and seek answers each for ourselves.  

32 He was stating the matter plainly [not holding anything back]. Then Peter took Him aside and began to reprimand Him.

We know what Peter's response was  a rebuke, an official one.  He put Jesus on notice.  This small thing.  Most of the things in Mark are small.  In the center.  Most of the things in Mark are not in the center.  I do not know what is meant.  I wonder why of necessity.  I can believe of necessity.  I know of necessity.

The conversation I like to have is below.  There is so much more in science than will ever be dreamed of in science fiction.  So much better so much more reliable so much more amazing so much more efficient.  Or not.

One funny story before we go somewhere.  Photosynthesis is today a very inefficient process.  Wasn't always so.  Photosynthesis  began on earth when there wasn't much oxygen around.  Made so much that it doesn't work so well.  Funny Oxygen gets in the way now so much around.  People now working to make photosynthesis more efficient.  Doing things better can make things harder.  I think we can forgive Peter  for thinking it might be easier when he met the messiah.  Human interest I don't think Jesus is telling us is so wrong as much as a dead end.

37 For what will a man give in exchange for his soul and eternal life [in God’s kingdom]?

This right here in one sentence in the middle of Mark is more expansive than every new age thought.  And also inclusive.  Not important who wins, but that we all do.  In the next chapter we all know a big show is coming.  God says it straight, "Listen to him."  In God's love their is a below and above.  The conversation flows on all these levels.  Religion likes to put itself apart.  It often has much to defend.  Spirituality the acts of individual people following God will take the most people home possible.  

I know some things about God.  The scope is ridiculous.  Much more than I would have done.  We can detect gravity waves now and people debate if they are black holes crashing or Boson stars.  Boson stars.   

We follow a man who walked a flat earth.  In describing Christianity to people of other religions I find it difficult to describe the hard part.  In a real sense I think of mistakes I have made and forgiveness I have received.  I'm sure I could have gotten some more forgiveness.  That is the easy part in my final story here today.

Again from my Grandfather something of a summation:

        God Provided thy way in Jesus Christ the perfect one. -The new testament in the teachings and life of Jesus sets forth a clear plan of salvation.  First the realization of our need for God.  Second our desire to live a righteous life.  Then the submissions of our will to God's will, and finally growing in grace thru the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  The Bible shows us a God who is continually reaching down to man in love and compassion to lift man up.  And when man responds to God's love and places his hand in God's hand God lifts him up to higher ground, but the bible teaches that we must open the door.

"Behold I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." (rev 3:20)

The hard part is telling people yeah this is what I believe.  I follow this example that was set in this man's life two thousand years ago.  They didn't have computers, heck they didn't really know much.  I know some things.  I follow this guy.  It isn't because of the reward though.  It is the selling point I guess.  The eternal life.  I follow because it is the way.  And when I am human like Peter I thank God for another blessing and ask if I may have another.  In a real sense this is where Mark starts in the middle and we will work our way out yet.

Let Us Pray

God above, we are here in the middle of Mark with Peter.  Forgive us our interest in doing things our way.  Help us to see you in places we don't look.  Lead us to places we don't go.  Love us till days we no longer count.  Help us to leave behind what was helpless and hopeless and destined for nothing.  Help us to see solution in your son Jesus Christ.  Help us to show the expansive and inclusive story of your creation and love.  Be with Us always we ask in the name of your son Jesus Christ. Amen

Benediction

Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the

 Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God. 

Arise and go in the awareness that all things

are ours through the gift of God. Amen

Nottingham UMC 2/28/2021 

Lightning

 The old old story we love to hear.  This old story of good news was once as new as this word out of my mouth.   We sit in this stark place of division and sin in the world knowing the answer and solution to it all.  We see this as a difficult proposition but in truth we are standing on the shoulders of giants.

This phrase is most common in the scientific community, but I think applies well in all. The simplest version is of Newton and Einstein. Without one there is not the other. What they essentially did was improve our resolution of our world. Newton could figure out most things we needed to know. The orbit of mercury was the problem.  

Imagine where we had traveled from a flat earth at the center of the universe to a people doing math and scratching their heads at the behavior of Mercury.  It is complete fantasy if it were not so well grounded in science.  Magical as anything in this universe.  We would learn that we occupied a distant part of our galaxy.  Now they say we are not so far out.  Thing about science is change.  What makes it so exciting.

How many generations of young men and women like me imagined Ben Franklin and his key flying on his kite in the thunder storm. I never really understood what he was doing as a child, but what I understood was that it was something new in this world as was this America.

Thing about religion there are no great mysteries. We also stand on the shoulders of giants. Too many to list it is actually more fruitful for you to think of  all of those giants you stand on. In religion their may not be many new discoveries but there are hugs. These people we can remember who hugged us with their hearts because of where we were not who we were there. Today we have one of those scriptures to digest. In the room where it happened if you would.  Jesus Preaches in Galilee

14 Now after John [the Baptist] was arrested and taken into custody, Jesus went to Galilee, preaching the good news of [the kingdom of] God, 15 and saying, “The [appointed period of] time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins, live your life in a way that proves repentance; seek God’s purpose for your life] and believe [with a deep, abiding trust] in the good news [regarding salvation].”

What strikes me here is our image of John the Baptist. With our modern celebrity culture we think of him as a big deal. These are the words that Mark chooses to just present us as we leave John whom we will hear later of his gruesome death.

I have this half of a thought, how people who study the Bible talk about these different types of literature and writing styles and actually in some ways never come to the idea that God would be the most complex writer. This bible we have almost a hodgepodge that is very easy to dismiss. Even worse it is easy to use small pieces to divide us. That second issue the more critical for us here today.  Now just as well each small piece can be used to bring us together.  Almost a conspiracy of good or bias in reality,  There is more matter than antimatter thank God.  It will be an exciting day when we figure that out.  Scientifically we are pretty close actually.  

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The matter-antimatter asymmetry problem they call it.  In science half the battle is naming the problem.  In the beginning was the word.

As a kid it was almost like a relay race and John simply passed the baton. See I have never lived in a world that didn't have the good news. We know the lightning struck the dove descended on Jesus. The people there were witness a new world. We are in the first chapter of Mark and this is one of the first points he want to make.  It was an explosion that day.

10 Immediately coming up out of the water, he (John) saw the heavens torn open, and the Spirit like a dove descending on Him (Jesus); 11 and a voice came out of heaven saying: “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased and delighted!”


We have this scene and what is more actual people there who bear witness. We are talking about their story this morning. Through generations uncounted. I have never known a world that didn't have an answer, nor have you, but imagine now that lightning to the world. In a real sense we have nothing to complain about. Imagine Abraham dude didn't worry about Mercury. He didn't have our luxuries and somehow they all made it down to the river Jordan. You know it is like when your drowning you have to survive some to be saved.

Been thinking a bit about my Dad this week going through some old videos, that was the thing about him he was gone so quick. Plus or minus When we've been there ten thousand years Bright, shining as the sun We've no less days to sing God's praise Than when we first begun. So Jesus begins his ministry in chapter one and Mark lays it out as clear as he can.

In the NIV:
“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

As if the woman at the well came running up to you. Repent and believe the good news! There is a solution for this world and a reconciliation with God available to all. Even when the church tried to sell to the highest bidder, yes they actually did that, new churches grew.

This is the heart of the replicability, that is the ability to replicate the ministry of Jesus.  Just repent and believe the good news.  As I outlined in our start no new mysteries in religion, but the second part of scripture today from Mark speaks to me about spirituality which is different but in relationship as even God and the Holy spirit are.

We continue in Mark
16 As Jesus was walking by the shore of the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon [Peter] and Simon’s brother, Andrew, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me [as My disciples, accepting Me as your Master and Teacher and walking the same path of life that I walk], and I will make you fishers of men.” 18 Immediately they left their nets and followed Him [becoming His disciples, believing and trusting in Him and following His example]. 19 Going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John, who were also in the boat mending and cleaning the nets. 20 Immediately Jesus called to them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired workers, and went away to follow Him [becoming His disciples, believing and trusting in Him and following His example].

I love to hear the story. I love to tell the story. What is hard is to feel the story. I think that is what often sends people down strange Christian paths. Often people want more from their spirituality than they are willing to give. My grandfather was more direct about this issue and said if you come with nothing to church you will get nothing. It is harsh, but not cruel. No real judgement involved. No proof to be had. Some understanding. As I understood him it is almost like a garden. You don't come to the garden and pray for food. You work the ground. If you are an intelligent creature you work with nature not against.

We live in this world they created. For good and bad. Science and Religion we have found so useful. Spirituality we need to cultivate. Remember Paul's message in 1 Corinthians 7:29-31

Amplified Bible
29 But I say this, believers: the time has been shortened, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they did not; 30 and those who weep, as though they did not weep; and those who rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; and those who buy, as though they did not possess [anything]; 31 and those who use the world [taking advantage of its opportunities], as though they did not make full use of it. For the outward form of this world [its present social and material nature] is passing away.

Ok so we have some wives here we find this confounding in many ways. Conventional interpretation says Paul may be referring to the appointed time of the return of Christ, or he may have been focusing on the briefness of human life, or both of these. There for me is our disconnect. 

This old old story is new new for us. We are ethereal things. We stand or we would be standing where people have worshiped for 100s of years. The 2000 plus years we think about since Jesus. So many wrongs and so little solution. But every life is it's own solution in this grand equation of our God. We are like lightning. Thing about us we can hit the ground running we can share the good news with our children and our community and we will make them better. We will believe that we all fall short and in this way we are all equal. Not like it is a maybe here. We are all worse than worse as my best friend in Bosnia would say. He was talking about his home town but it might as well been his home planet.

The message for you today is threefold. There is a simple reason history is divided. It is the good news. On the river Jordan this lighting struck and was gone before they knew. My Lord says that is what had to happen. As John showed the way

6 John wore clothing made of camel’s hair and had a [wide] leather band around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And he was preaching, saying, “After me comes He who is mightier [more powerful, more noble] than I, and I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the straps of His sandals [even as His slave].

Mark doesn't waste much time on things he doesn't think is important. This can be helpful but can also lead us to unpack much. The details he leaves in are perhaps given too much attention over what is left out. This is a natural process probably helped us find food.

I do happen to be a big fan of evolution. I have never understood people who thought that was too hard for their God, but here we reach the basement level of spirituality. It is what you think and feel and interpret. It is also perhaps you don't care. Some people carry that spirituality proudly and stealthy in this world. Not mine to judge thankfully.

This last idea here is difficult to describe. What I want to say as we equate a lighting strike to a lifetime. I have never had that moment when I gave my life to my savior. Not something I hear much. I hear about these moments people are very proud of. Here is the problem I don't really have any issue, but people seldom talk about the other ways.

I think of these two cousins from our story. Quite a family. Good intentions our more powerful than you think. As I've never lived in a world without Good News I've never lived in a world where there was not a network of people praying for me.   Even science takes some interest in the power of prayer.  That giant and great hugger Judy Kitchen loved that article showing science teasing out the effects. Spiritually I stand on the shoulders of giants.

Now this world can be very dark and people go to very dark places and Jesus saves. I have been a very lucky person. My family had a different kind of wealth and they spent it freely.

So what is Mark saying what is Paul saying what is Jesus saying. I know there is a lesson of time here and I'm hoping you have some sense of it. Things can take a long time or they can not.

These apostles. This was the best they would do. They responded to the call without hesitation, not because they knew what to do. The rest of the gospels documents this well. They responded to the call without hesitation. That is why we celebrate them today.

As fishermen they made a net work. As followers of Jesus they made a network that still saves and raises children everyday. You know who else grew up in the synagogue. We will be looking at Mark a lot in this new b year of the church. As we take our lesson from what is there we also need to remember what is not. Remember you have never known a world without good news even on its darkest days. You are blessed. We have solution. We have God.

Let Us Pray.
Heavenly Father, Help us to see the wonder never ending that you are. Thank you for you patience with us as you raise and nurture your children. Thank you for saving those lost sheep you do. Help us, your well fed, welcome home each lost soul with the joy Jesus showed us with each interaction he had in his life. Lead us to bring your glory here today and forever through your son Jesus Christ. Amen


Benediction

"The amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, the extravagant love of God, the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit, be with all of you" 2 Corinthians 13:14, (The Message)
Amen

Nottingham 1/24/2021

I Drank Two of His Whiskeys

 He had many names, but I think his favorite was Deda Dane.  The first time we spoke I told him I was from Vise Grad.  I was calling from Vise Grad.  Even I knew they didn't use language that way.  It was a long road, but what makes it a story worth telling is that he went out of his way for me.  

"You from Mup Sup?."  First you need to understand how well respected doctors are in the Balkans.  The police had come to see me, but they found us.  A Colonel in the Army.  Respect is a form of money.  He spent freely us three talked further., inspector, huh, you need to go to school for that?"  What is funny to me how one comment lead to the other.  He didn't have to go out of his way.

Return of the Baby

 So here we arrived four week from King to baby.  We come to the most unusual of Sundays: the first after Christmas.  Unlike our other great holiday Easter which we celebrate on a Sunday, and actually every Sunday, Christmas finds us on different days of the week each year.  A silent night can be every night is the first lesson of Jesus.

Before people watched their screens they watched the skies.  I think their is a great misunderstanding of the connection between the bible and nature.  In many ways the bible is the culmination of our desire to understand our environment.  Whenever the bible talks about the greatness of God it is done by describing what has been created.  Nature itself is the greatest witness to our God.

Before people watched their screens they watched the skies.  I want you to understand this idea.  Just as we take important and relevant information from our screens our ancestors read the world around them in a similar way.  We haven't really created any new human talents as put them to use for other things.

Caesar spoke in awe of the Druids for their ability to remember everything.  We still have this talent if not need for it.  Our ancestors created this world with God.  They were God's as we are.  The world was predictable for them.  Remarkedly so.  Ten thousand summers so.  Our place started to make sense.

The first notification as it were was the sun setting in different times and places during the year.  This enough to stir wonder, but would return each year as well.  This time of year the days stopped growing shorter in the north and started growing longer.  This has long been a time between even long before the first date was decided.

And onward to spring.  And so are we returned to the same places and stories of Jesus year after year in the Methodist Church.  Here in this time between, after this most precious gift we continue to celebrate.  More than a birthday we celebrate the beginning of our own return to God.  Our day republic.  In this story from our scripture we listen for our lesson for today. 

Luke 2:22-40
Amplified Bible

22 And when the time for their purification came [that is, the mother’s purification and the baby’s dedication] according to the Law of Moses, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord [set apart as the Firstborn] 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy [set apart and dedicated] to the Lord)” 24 and [they came also] to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord [to be appropriate for a family of modest means], “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

In this first part of our scripture today we are welcomed into a time and place.  We are reminded once again of the expectation and constraints of society.  Not so much important what is done as that everyone in the community knows what is to be done.  Even we see accommodations for class is made.  This old news of division.  It reminds us that Christmas is the beginning of the idea that would grow into new good news of equality.  As we learn in our own body each part is vital.  Each piece needed.

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout [carefully observing the divine Law], and looking for the [a]Consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed). 27 Prompted by the Spirit, he came into the temple [enclosure]; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, [b]to do for Him the custom required by the Law, 28 Simeon took Him into his arms, and blessed and praised and thanked God, and said,

When we think about our Christmas story we think in broad strokes and we often focus on Jesus being rejected later, but the story like any is deeper and we see it here.  Simeon is a type of man that we could all hope to be like.  In his right time and right place.  The religious experience is one of the most personal experiences we can have, but we have his words,

2
“Now, Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to leave [this world] in peace,
According to Your word; 30 For my eyes have seen Your Salvation, 31 Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 A Light for revelation to the Gentiles [to disclose what was previously unknown],And [to bring] the praise and honor and glory of Your people Israel.”

That something like this is experienced is what keeps us building churches.  Here is the heart of religion both our own and the Jewish one as well a Venn diagram of the good news, without one there is not two.  A man can live a good life and come to an end such as Simeon.  

If we imagine God, Simeon is the type of man we might envision.  This long loving relationship that comes to a final moment to fruition.  An inevitability of a man well loved by God to find the right place and right time.

What is truly remarkable is that he could reach out to these young parents at this critical time.  He speaks first for himself, but continues for them,

33 And His [legal] father and His mother were amazed at what was said about Him. 34 Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Listen carefully: this Child is appointed and destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for [c]a sign that is to be opposed— 35 and a sword [of deep sorrow] will pierce through your own soul—so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

Mary and Joseph and Jesus were certainly not alone.  These sign post for them placed by God to the Glory of God.  We have these too.  People in our lives.   Places in our lives.  Times in our life.  There is agreement all around.  When we listen to God and try to follow we find agreement.  When we try to go our own way we also find agreement.  We have a sign post here for us as we start a new year.

The agreement is always there because we choose to see certain things in certain way.  They, like Simeon have their own nature, but we see what we choose.  We know of the sorrow for it reveals our heart as well.  

Between Christmas and New Years this time in-between we think of this baby we worship growing into this man we follow.  Each year we finish with a King and start again as a baby.  We find this lesson to keep our own faith fresh and for new growth each year.  We start over and over again secure in our destination.  How we mark our time and our good works which by the grace of God we are lucky to find.

As we talked about during this season of advent God is not hiding salvation from anyone and certainly to the glory of God we still speak of Simeon and this fine day.

“Listen carefully: this Child is appointed and destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for [c]a sign that is to be opposed— 35 and a sword [of deep sorrow] will pierce through your own soul—so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

Listen carefully, indeed and when the scripture itself tells you to listen carefully...will pierce through your own soul-so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

We all know of the straw that breaks the camels back, but what we have here is quite the opposite.  A small thing that makes all the difference.  This moment for new parents along with others would keep them going through long years.  Jesus was a young child and a teenager and a young adult and gone too soon.  Before he was gone too soon he talked in the middle of the night over a kitchen table about life.

As a new father information is the key commodity.  Joseph and Mary had difficulties to overcome, but they had an understanding and what is more a guarantee of struggle.  While struggling to travel to Bethlehem and find shelter on the silent night, they are reminded again by Simeon.  Sorrow would not be a signal of failure but a sign post from God that they were on the right road.  Almost as if the time to worry is when things go well.  Joseph and Mary never had that concern.

36 There was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old, and had lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage, 37 and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She did not leave the [area of the] temple, but was serving and worshiping night and day with fastings and prayers. 38 She, too, came up at that very moment and began praising and giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all who were looking for the redemption and deliverance of Jerusalem.

As she takes her place on the list of thing that happened  to the inevitable we remember this day that day.  And we see our God in relationship with this women as well.  Set in place next to Simeone here in this story.  We look back at who was there then and find Anna not out of place.  We see God speaking to those who listen.  We don't see any other separations than those who listen and those who will not hear.

39 And when they had done everything [in connection with Jesus’ birth] according to the Law of the Lord, they went back to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. 40 And the Child continued to grow and become strong [in spirit], filled with wisdom; and the grace (favor, spiritual blessing) of God was upon Him

And Christmas came and they went home.  We have hints and traditions about these times in Jesus' life but nothing very substantial.  In many ways there isn't much substantial.  We are born and then we become who we are.  This we see in Jesus and his story.  He was born and then we learn who he was and how he lived and how we should live.  

I think of teen-agers when I think of these missing years of Jesus.  When we are born it takes awhile before we are able to ask any questions.  We love babies because they do not ask questions.  Need sleep food or dry mostly.  Communication can be loud and strained at times but essentially very simple.  It takes us years to start to formulate our own questions.  Often when we are confronted by questions we are surprised.  I think being a teen-ager is mostly about the answers you are given.  

We hear about this context again in Galatians 4:4-7

Amplified Bible

4 But when [in God’s plan] the proper time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the [regulations of the] Law, 5 so that He might redeem and liberate those who were under the Law, that we [who believe] might be adopted as sons [as God’s children with all rights as fully grown members of a family]. 6 And because you [really] are [His] sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, [a]“Abba! Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave (bond-servant), but a son; and if a son, then also an heir through [the gracious act of] God [through Christ].

As children of God our communication is once again simple.

In our faith journey as in our life journey we do walk in circles.  We must take this faith of a new baby and nurture and grow each year so that we can face the challenges of each new generation.  Sometimes we only see the baby then the savior, but we have mostly this in-between time.

People like to talk about when they were saved, but I like to think that I am saved everyday.  Somedays we find ourselves in the temple in front of our community as a family held up as the example of examples.  And then we can find ourselves refugees in another land.  Things change and stay the same.  God is the one in charge of times of celebration and struggle.  God doesn't change our understanding can.

I don't think I know much of God.  I think of Simeon on that day after the first Christmas and what a good life he led and what a good time he found himself.  I wouldn't call it jealousy, but almost to see what he saw and to know.  To tell people.  Doesn't seem that much until you try to.  I find joy that such a person lived.

There is much we can get wrong about God, but there are certain things we know.  We know about God's love and how it brought both Jesus and Simeon there.  Makes me wonder who that day was for if not for me and you as much as Mary and Joseph.

We take these signposts of God like Simeon and we say the world would not be this way without God.  Our Children become teen-agers and it is messy, but what is more is we nurture them and they grow in their own place and time with the grace of God to the Glory of God.

Complicated to tell simple to live.  Easily confused but joyous.  More than anything else that is how you know.  More than anyone perhaps that ever lived that was Simeon. 

Let Us Pray:

( https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/scotty-smith/a-prayer-for-adoring-jesus-like-simeon/ )

Dear Lord Jesus, what a breath-taking image and holy paradox. Eight days after your birth, Simeon took you into his arms; yet it was by your arms that all things have been made and are sustained—“things above the earth, on the earth, and below the earth.” Everything has been made by you and for you, including Simeon and us.

We praise you for the humility of your incarnation, the magnificence of your salvation, and our accessibility into your presence. From eternity, you came close; for eternity, you remain closer, for our Father has hidden our lives in you.

Lord Jesus, it’s only because you’ve embraced us in the gospel that we have a good measure of the same peace Simeon experienced; for you are God’s promised salvation for Israel, for Gentiles, and for us. In you we’ve found the consolation that cannot be found anywhere else. You are our righteousness and redemption, our holiness and hope, our sanity and surety, and a whole lot more. The saints in heaven are more joyful than us, but they’re not more loved or more secure than we are.

As we stare the beginning of a New Year in the face, we want the peace of your grace to help us live by the rhythms of your peace. Slow… us… down, Jesus. Like Simeon, we want to live thankfully and expectantly. Continue to show us the difference between the things that matter, and the things that don’t matter “squat“. If we’re going to be in a hurry about one thing in the upcoming year, may it be to linger longer in your presence. Everything else will take care of itself. So very Amen we pray, in your glorious and grace-full name.

Benediction: Luke 2: 29-32
Here’s a closing benediction based on the Song of Simeon (Luke 2: 29-32). It was written by Bruce Prewer.
Going On Our Way with Confidence
(based on Luke 2:22-40)

Loving God, now your servants may go in peace,
just as your word has promised;
for our own eyes have seen your salvation
made ready with everyone looking on,
a revealing light for outsiders,
and a glory for all your faithful people.

Grace mercy and peace,
from the Creator, Saviour and Counsellor,
will be with you now and ever more. Amen!

Nottingham 12.27.2020

Oppression

 Art is a product of response

Struggle is a product of its lacking

Power corrupts people who think they are in control

Blind to abundance they steal

Great ugly is what makes great beauty

Return of the King

 

There are many themes that bind the human family and the idea of royalty.  Some of our oldest stories lost to the shadows of time are of prince and princess.   We often are confused by their messages. This one lost.  That one sleeping.  Always one clear problem to overcome.  Royalty to us is about things being fixed.  About division ultimately.  

There are many contexts to these stories.  I studied Russia in college and loved learning of this idea the peasants held that the Tsar would always do right if he knew what was going on.  This organic structure in their culture that could answer every question.  Evil and wrong were only temporary manifestations of the Tsars ignorance.  If he knew what was going on he would fix the situation. We in the west forget that Moscow laid claim to the title of a New Rome as a powerful orthodox culture.  Christ the King is something like their Tsar.

Much like the Israelis of the old testament they made the same mistakes time after time.  This theme of history repeating itself.  Even God's first chosen people wanted royalty.  Give us a King.  They wanted to be like others.  They got their kings.  Still to this day there are things to be fixed and divided.  

As Christians we find ourselves at the end of our year with our Christ the King Sunday.  Banner and processionals to be sure.  It can be easy to forget that we are talking about Jesus.  Almost a trinity in him this King this human this son.  Our scripture today helps us to see this our King.  

Matthew 25:31-46  
Reading from  the Amplified Bible we will break down a few verses at a time.  Coming directly after two parables Jesus teaches we come to a section titled: The Judgment

31 “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory and majesty and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him [for judgment]; and He will separate them from one another, as a shepherd separates his sheep from the goats; 33 and He will put the sheep on His right [the place of honor], and the goats on His left [the place of rejection].

Jesus is teaching what the kingdom of God is like. Verse 13 we hear:  13 Therefore, be on the alert [be prepared and ready], for you do not know the day nor the hour [when the Son of Man will come]. and Verse 14 14 “For it is just like a man who was about to take a journey, and he called his servants together and entrusted them with his possessions."  Jesus brings us to a point many who first followed Jesus were waiting.  Seated on his throne of glory!  

I often thought about how objectively evil societies could use these same treasured scriptures to defend the most vile things known to Man.  But the real source of their power comes in their ability to sustain the oppressed.  Oppressors have few questions.  It does me good to know that battles fought in the past are harder than those I face today.  

People tell me we are divided more than we ever have been.  In our own brief two hundred year history I find the abolitionist faced an opponent that was a slave holder.  I think we lack perspective in our political battles.  We see this new way with Jesus.  When the Son of Man comes in His glory.  We first feel we are told to tarry.  Those first followers thought Jesus would fight the obvious villainy the Romans.  Jesus fights sin in our world which is why he seeks out sinners.  This was a long term battle no one could truly comprehend that we have trouble understanding because we feel the story is stale, uninteresting.  Turning the other cheek is a long game, nice to say, but something we leave everyday.

I say again that Jesus entered the world as a bolt of lighting two thousand years ago and we struggle to maintain the electricity.  What is radical about Christianity is equality.  We often speak yet seldom experience equality.  Why people are skeptical of Christianity is because they seldom see equality.  A large number of people who call themselves Christian don't believe in equality and certainly not grace.

It is something that has always been hard to believe in and what is always new about Christianity.  In this new age our belief systems seem old and antiquated until you ask a simple question where is the equality?  Where is the grace?  Something to be asked of every theory or belief system.

34 “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father [you favored of God, appointed to eternal salvation], inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; 36 I was naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me [with help and ministering care]; I was in prison, and you came to Me [ignoring personal danger].’

Finally our King triumphant heaping praises it would almost seem upon us.  But this is where the story is often confused, no:

 37 Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? 38 And when did we see You as a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 39 And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 The King will answer and say to them, ‘I assure you and most solemnly say to you, to the extent that you did it for one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it for Me.’

The sheep didn't know.  It is their defining quality.  We often laugh of this idea of sheep following, but they didn't feed the hungry to go to heaven. That a person was thirsty was enough reason to give a drink.  Opportunities to serve are the true blessings.  "Lord, when did we?"  

41 “Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Leave Me, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels (demons); 42 for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; 43 I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me [with help and ministering care].’ 44 Then they also [in their turn] will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or as a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ 45 Then He will reply to them, ‘I assure you and most solemnly say to you, to the extent that you did not do it for one of the least of these [my followers], you did not do it for Me.’ 46 Then these [unbelieving people] will go away into eternal (unending) punishment, but those who are righteous and in right standing with God [will go, by His remarkable grace] into eternal (unending) life.”

The goats and the sheep here have the same question.  Here is the equality.  Jesus upends both his foes and his followers.  No one it seems is comfortable with our Lord.  Sometimes we like this vision of an all powerful king because the world can be so hard.  Jesus has layers.

Some of us often dwell on the rewards and the punishments.  It is difficult not to.  I don't think that there can be a greater punishment than to be separated from God.  I do believe the details to be irrelevant.  We are often tempted to read grand schemes into this scripture today. What remains is grace.  The left and the right with the same questions.  This isn't a small detail this is the detail.

We are lost in all of our ways.  We look for ourselves among the sheep and try to define these goats in our life.  What Jesus is telling us here is that at the end of this line when he will finally bring a final judgement everyone will be confused.

People approaching life from completely different sides of the equation will come to the end to find what they equal not knowing.  Like the lost sheep that the Shepard left so many to find. 

We see in Ezekiel 34:11-16
Amplified Bible
The Restoration of Israel

11 For thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I Myself will search for My flock and seek them out. 12 As a shepherd cares for his sheep on the day that he is among his scattered flock, so I will care for My sheep; and I will rescue them from all the places to which they were scattered on a cloudy and gloomy day. 13 I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries and bring them to their own land; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the streams, and in all the inhabited places of the land. 14 I will feed them in a good pasture, and their grazing ground will be on the mountain heights of Israel. There they will lie down on good grazing ground and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15 I will feed My flock and I will let them lie down [to rest],” says the Lord God. 16 “I will seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bandage the crippled, and strengthen the weak and the sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong [who have become hard-hearted and perverse]. I will feed them with judgment and punishment.

Jesus talks to each of us.  Even as we look for ourselves in these scriptures.  Our translation here makes a fine point of grace being the final vehicle of salvation :  "those who are righteous and in right standing with God [will go, by His remarkable grace] into eternal (unending) life."  As to those others the vehicle seems to be themselves: "Then these [unbelieving people] will go away"

"Then these [unbelieving people] will go away"  Huh?  I think maybe till that last moment the vehicle of grace is available till they finally leave.  I think again what happens after your separated from God is kind of moot, what could be worse.  Maybe some will argue the goats were already separated and it was too late.  I'm not gonna argue, but I see something finally different in the two sides.  One saved by grace and one that gives up.  In the end the battle of good and evil is a forfeit.  

For even before there was good news we knew:

Ezekiel 34:20-24 continues
Amplified Bible

20 Therefore thus says the Lord God to them, “Behold, I Myself will judge between the [well-fed] fat sheep and the lean sheep. 21 Because you push with side and shoulder, and gore with your horns all those that have become weak and sick until you have scattered them away, 22 therefore, I will rescue My flock, and they shall no longer be prey; and I will judge between one sheep [ungodly] and another [godly].

23 “Then I will appoint over them one shepherd and he will feed them, [a ruler like] My servant [a]David; he will feed them and be their shepherd. 24 And I the Lord will be their God, and My servant David will be a prince among them; I the Lord have spoken.

So especially this Christ the King Sunday and our thanksgiving holiday we remember who we serve. Also what we are thankful for: a chance to serve this inevitability in the world.  Working all day in the field or just arriving we are equal.  You can't win more than grace.  We serve finally a King who has an answer that fixes the world.  This aspect of love: equality that confuses the goats and the sheep.

Let Us Pray,

Holy One, enthroned in glory over all creation, you are a shepherd to the lost and the least. Teach us to see your face among the poor— feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, welcoming the stranger, clothing the naked, and visiting those who are sick or in prison— so that we may share in your eternal realm prepared from the foundation of the world; through Jesus Christ, who is coming indeed, to reign with justice, compassion, and love. Amen 

Benediction
"Christ Has No Body,” – Teresa of Avila
Christ has no body now on earth but yours; no hands but yours; no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes through which the compassion of Christ must look out on the world. Yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good. Yours are the hands with which He is to bless His people.

*It is not enough to acclaim Jesus Christ
as our Lord and King.
Our mission in life is
to make his kingdom a reality among us
and to bring it to those around us
by our words and deeds.
The way to do this is to live as he lived:
for others, in love and service.
May almighty God bless you for this task:
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
and to give shape to his kingdom.
Thanks be to God!
Amen.

*~ from Liturgies Alive, Models of Celebration.
http://www.bibleclaret.org/liturgy/CycleA/

Nottingham 11.22.2020