Jonah 3:1-5, 10
1The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time, saying, 2“Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.” 3So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days’ walk across. 4Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s walk. And he cried out, “Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!”
5And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth.
10When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it.
Mark 1:21-28
21They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. 22They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 23Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, 24and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” 25But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 26And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. 27They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” 28At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.
*********
As Nancy & I have mentioned before, we both have been chaplains at hospitals in Atlanta. Most of my calls were for those who had died or were dying. But from time to time, I had the joyful privilege of giving thanks to God with patients who recovered from life-threatening illnesses or accidents. And that thanks included all of the doctors, nurses, and other care-givers at the hospital. What medicine is able to accomplish today is nothing short of miraculous. And sometimes the recovery of a patient even defies explanation – truly a miracle.
So it seems strange to hear the response of the witnesses to Jesus’ healing of a man in this morning’s story from Mark. Jesus has just called his first four disciples, and now he and his gang of four enter a synagogue. While teaching, Jesus is confronted by a man possessed by an unclean spirit, maybe a demon. Performing an exorcism, Jesus heals the man. And all the congregation can say is, ““What is this? A new teaching—with authority!” A new teaching? That’s what gets their attention?
Demons and unclean spirits. Not something we think about in this day and age of modern medicine and miracle drugs. Or do we? I remember the buzz when the movie, “The Exorcist,” came out. The depiction of the power of evil possessing a young girl, and the efforts of the priests to drive it out drew millions. Of maybe the attraction was watching her head spin around while she spewed out buckets of pea soup. Almost 40 years later, yet another movie about exorcism has been recently released. I guess we still think there is some truth behind demon-possession, or at least we’re fascinated by it. The idea even slips into our everyday language. “I don’t know what possessed me to do that.” Maybe it comes from our own experiences.
I don’t know if it’s ever happened here in Hector/Lodi, but I’ve been in a church during worship when someone who was deeply disturbed walked in off the street and began disrupting the service. At first you don’t know what to do. Then the ushers try to escort this unruly individual out the door. If it seems like the person is asking for money, a sympathetic worshipper slips him or her a few dollars and tries to send them on their way. Or an elder suggests the person stay for worship and talk with folks after it’s over.
But Jesus doesn’t rebuke the man, or try to calm him down, or promise to meet with him after he is done teaching. Jesus cures the man – liberates him – with his teaching – with his words – words that make things happen.
We all know the chant. “Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” We call it out to those who would try to say mean or nasty things about us. That we feel we need to say this is proof that words, in fact, can hurt us, can cut deep to the bone. If you need proof, just listen to political ads and debates. What has been going on in South Carolina this past week is disgraceful. Words as weapons to attack and destroy. But words, truthful words, can also be a powerful, freeing tool.
Before I read from Mark, we heard a portion of the book of Jonah. We presented the whole book last fall. If you remember, Jonah is at best a reluctant prophet running away from his assignment. When he finally delivers his brief message to Nineveh, Jonah is shocked as all the people in the city listen to him, believe God, and reorient their lives – they repent. And God chooses to spare the city. God’s word through Jonah brings new life and freedom.
At the beginning of the story in Mark, Jesus himself is described as one having authority as he teaches. By the end of the story, having rid the man of what has enslaved him, it isn’t just Jesus but his teaching, his words, that have authority. The Greek word translated “authority” can also mean “freedom.” Jesus teaching, his words, are freeing.
I was watching the movie, “The Help” this past week. It painfully captures life for black servants in the South during the early 60’s. Slavery may have been outlawed for 100 years, but attitudes hadn’t changed for many. Jim Crow laws and the Supreme Court decision that accepted “separate, but equal” dictated much of life. In the movie, the black, female servants, who cooked and cleaned, who cared for the children of their white employers, were shackled by the threat of never working again or worse if they didn’t do what they were told. It took the honest truth of their lives exposed through the published stories of these same servants to bring some measure of freedom from the demon of segregation, and healing to women denied their dignity. Now, not all of that truth was pretty- it wasn’t. But the healing began once the truth was spoken.
Perhaps it’s significant that Jesus’ first healing occurs in a house of worship. It doesn’t take a huge leap of the imagination to recast this story in churches today. I wonder how many of us come to worship in hidden shackles.
The obvious examples would be addictions like alcohol or drugs or gambling. But perhaps fear is what is holding us back. The first response of the demon to Jesus’ teaching is, “Have you come to destroy us?” Does fear of failing or coming up short, stop us? Do we think we can’t measure up to some unrealistic ideal? Perhaps shame is what imprisons us. We’ve done or said something to hurt another person and we can’t forgive ourselves. Or maybe it’s anger – anger at another member that has hurt you and you can’t forgive them. Maybe our chains are built on grief. We’ve lost someone we love and we can’t go on. I also wonder if the church is the reason some of us are struggling with demons.
“In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus first act of public ministry is freeing someone, healing someone. And it happens immediately- a sign to us that the kingdom of God, the realm of love is here and is active. So maybe we could boil down the first chapter of Mark leading up to this story this way: Jesus has been baptized, tempted in the wilderness, and now comes to proclaim and demonstrate the kingdom of God on earth, and he does this by opposing the forces of evil which would rob the children of God of all that God hopes and intends for them” (David Lose, “Possessed” on workingpreacher.org).
We don’t know what Jesus’ words were to the man. I think Mark leaves them out because it would be all too human for us to turn those words into a magic incantation – just pray this or do that and all your problems will be solved. It would be all too easy for us to forget who the only one capable of bringing about true, full freedom is. Mark wants his congregation and us to see the Good News comes in the person of Jesus Christ whose teaching is not so much in words but in actions – teaching that makes things happen, if we will trust in him.
In the synagogue, the man found the Spirit-given courage and strength to confront Jesus, to be completely vulnerable in his presence. In the midst of worship, he let his disease, his brokenness, his captivity come face to face with Jesus’ holiness and healing.
Can we, as people of faith, find that same kind of courage? What might happen if we actually came to church, ready to experience God with all of who we are, not just as who we hope other people think we are? What might happen if we actually came to church anticipating and expecting that Jesus would meet us, set us free, and make us whole, just like he did for the man living with the demons of his life?
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Jan 15 - Come and See
Mark 1:14-20
14Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” 16As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 17And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” 18And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.
John 1:43-51
43The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” 44Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.” 46Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” 48Nathanael asked him, “Where did you get to know me?” Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.” 49Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50Jesus answered, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.” 51And he said to him, “Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”
*******
Call and response. It’s a fairly common musical form. The leader sings a verse and the congregation responds, often with a repetitive line or refrain. The last hymn we’ll sing today, the African-American spiritual, “I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me” has a kind of call and response. Most of us will sing the main melody, and the tenors get this great echo in harmony. Call and response.
New baptized and tested, Jesus begins his ministry by calling people to become his disciples and follow him. In Mark and John, we hear different ways they respond to Jesus’ call.
Last week, I said throughout Mark’s gospel there is a sense of urgency. We’re barely a third of the way through the first chapter and John the Baptist has been arrested. Jesus now moves center stage and begins his public ministry. His preaching message is simple, “The Kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news.” As Nancy & I have noted before, repent means turn or return, in Greek, literally change your mind. Assess your situation and make a course correction.
And the first named persons Jesus calls are fishermen. Brothers Simon and Andrew are just throwing their nets into the sea in the midst of fishing. Brothers James and John are cleaning up after a night of fishing. Jesus calls them and immediately they leave their old life and their family behind and follow him.
There are so many questions we want answered in this short story. What else did Jesus say? Why did they respond immediately? Why would they leave behind a sure occupation and life for an uncertain future? Sorry, but Mark won’t give us any answers.
Perhaps these fishermen were in a business going bust. At one time the Sea of Galilee teemed with all kinds of good-eating fish. The two sets of brothers weren’t well-off by any standards, but they were doing fine. Fine, that is, until Rome’s insatiable appetite for seafood led to overfishing. Most days now their nets contained few fish of any decent size to sell. The four were stubborn and kept trying to make a go it, but, basically, they struggled to make ends meet. Then Jesus shows up: “Follow me!” Maybe a second or two was all the assessing they needed to change the course of their lives.
The pace in John’s gospel is a little slower, but here are two interesting and different responses to Jesus’ call.
Philip – a pretty unremarkable person, maybe even a little slow. He makes four brief appearances in John’s gospel and all but one of the times seems incapable of doing or figuring out anything. He has no idea what to do about feeding 5,000 people. He has no answer for a group of Gentiles looking for Jesus and has to find his brother for help. He doesn’t seem to have understood any of Jesus’ teachings. Useless…except Jesus sought him out and said, “Follow me!” And immediately Philip followed Jesus. The encounter so affected Philip, he felt compelled to share his experience with a friend and invite him. “Come and see, Nathanael, come and see.”
Then there’s Nathanael. He was an honest, hard-working man. He was also street-smart. Question everything; take nothing at face-value. No one was going to pull a fast one on him. So when his friend Philip came by with some crazy story about finding the one promised in Scripture who was born to Joseph of Nazareth, Nathanael was naturally skeptical. No one important comes out of that small village. No, important people are from important places. You’re wasting your time Philip – try looking for someone from Jerusalem, then let me know. But how do you turn down a good friend, a persistent friend. “Come and see for yourself.”
What could it hurt? Nathanael went along with Philip to see why he was so excited. He didn’t expect much – after all, nothing fazed Nathanael. Until this day… There he was! “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you,” Jesus said. His words surprised the unflappable Nathanael. How could he have known? He wasn’t there. Jesus had done something remarkable, and Nathanael was convinced to leave his old life behind and follow. And who was he? Nathanael hazarded a few guesses: rabbi, Son of God, King of Israel. Nice try Nathanael, but you have no idea. Come and see.
Three different stories, three different experiences that cause them to follow Jesus. And lest this story give the wrong impression, let’s not forget that women also followed Jesus. There were Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus, and the Samaritan woman at the well, and the woman who anointed Jesus, and Mary Magdalene who was there at the cross even though all of the men had run away, just to name a few.
How about you? What’s your story? What or who are you looking for? What brought you here to this church? Why do you drag yourself out of bed every Sunday morning to come here when you could be sleeping late? Some of you may be asking yourself that question right now.
Perhaps we came because we heard about this church, its sense of community, and the work it is doing. Now we come faithfully to church, week after week. We hear God’s promise read in Scripture, and proclaimed from the pulpit. We sing songs of praise and we turn to God in prayer. We are called to prepare for the day when Jesus Christ will return. But every so often we catch glimpses of Jesus Christ. Sometimes he appears as we enjoy a meal together, or as we sing a hymn in worship, or when we perform acts of mercy to those in need within this congregation, and in the world around us.
Perhaps we came at a time when life was not going well and we didn’t know where to turn for help. Or perhaps we realized that our job wasn’t giving us the sense of fulfillment and purpose in life we expected. Sometimes that sense of being unsettled, or having one’s life be beyond our control is the means for Christ to reach out and call to us. One of the reasons the early church grew was that people on the outside looking in saw a community that worked hard to break down barriers and treat each other as brothers and sisters. The church believed it was continuing Christ’s ministry of reaching out to the poor and weak. Old, young, male, female, free person or slave, all were now brothers and sisters. One was quoted, “Look how they love each other.” Here we meet others who are also on this journey finding meaning in the God who created us, who came to be with us, who promises to be with us always in life and in death.
Perhaps you started coming here because a friend or relative invited you here. And when you came, you met others who shared similar experiences. Perhaps you look forward to seeing friends you don’t get to see during the week. Or maybe like Nathanael, you aren’t so sure about all this church stuff. I love Nathaniel in this story. He’s probably the most real person. Simon, Andrew, James, John, and Philip drop everything and immediately follow Jesus without hesitation. Not Nathaniel. He needs some proof, but that means he has to get up and see for himself. Perhaps you too are waiting to see for yourself.
Maybe your experience doesn’t match any of these stories. That’s OK. Jesus comes to us, sometimes directly, sometimes through others, sometimes in church, sometimes out in the world. It doesn’t matter. Jesus Christ is God who came to be with us, the Word of God made flesh and blood, who when and where we least expect reveals to us the God of love.
Last summer, ten of our youth did volunteer work in New Orleans. The mission trip had a profound effect on them. How do I know? All of the group who are still in high school are going this summer, along with another four youth – thirteen all together. The four new folks are coming because some of our youth said to their friends, “Come and see.” I’m convinced they encountered the living Christ in the people they met, listen to, and helped. It was something they could describe to others, but it was more important their friends experience it for themselves. “Come and see.”
Jesus reminds Nathanael, and he reminds us: You will see greater signs. Keep watching, but remember the God revealed to us in Jesus Christ meets us when we least expect or invites us through the least likely people. Come and see. Come and see.
14Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” 16As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 17And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” 18And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.
John 1:43-51
43The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” 44Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.” 46Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” 48Nathanael asked him, “Where did you get to know me?” Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.” 49Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50Jesus answered, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.” 51And he said to him, “Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”
*******
Call and response. It’s a fairly common musical form. The leader sings a verse and the congregation responds, often with a repetitive line or refrain. The last hymn we’ll sing today, the African-American spiritual, “I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me” has a kind of call and response. Most of us will sing the main melody, and the tenors get this great echo in harmony. Call and response.
New baptized and tested, Jesus begins his ministry by calling people to become his disciples and follow him. In Mark and John, we hear different ways they respond to Jesus’ call.
Last week, I said throughout Mark’s gospel there is a sense of urgency. We’re barely a third of the way through the first chapter and John the Baptist has been arrested. Jesus now moves center stage and begins his public ministry. His preaching message is simple, “The Kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news.” As Nancy & I have noted before, repent means turn or return, in Greek, literally change your mind. Assess your situation and make a course correction.
And the first named persons Jesus calls are fishermen. Brothers Simon and Andrew are just throwing their nets into the sea in the midst of fishing. Brothers James and John are cleaning up after a night of fishing. Jesus calls them and immediately they leave their old life and their family behind and follow him.
There are so many questions we want answered in this short story. What else did Jesus say? Why did they respond immediately? Why would they leave behind a sure occupation and life for an uncertain future? Sorry, but Mark won’t give us any answers.
Perhaps these fishermen were in a business going bust. At one time the Sea of Galilee teemed with all kinds of good-eating fish. The two sets of brothers weren’t well-off by any standards, but they were doing fine. Fine, that is, until Rome’s insatiable appetite for seafood led to overfishing. Most days now their nets contained few fish of any decent size to sell. The four were stubborn and kept trying to make a go it, but, basically, they struggled to make ends meet. Then Jesus shows up: “Follow me!” Maybe a second or two was all the assessing they needed to change the course of their lives.
The pace in John’s gospel is a little slower, but here are two interesting and different responses to Jesus’ call.
Philip – a pretty unremarkable person, maybe even a little slow. He makes four brief appearances in John’s gospel and all but one of the times seems incapable of doing or figuring out anything. He has no idea what to do about feeding 5,000 people. He has no answer for a group of Gentiles looking for Jesus and has to find his brother for help. He doesn’t seem to have understood any of Jesus’ teachings. Useless…except Jesus sought him out and said, “Follow me!” And immediately Philip followed Jesus. The encounter so affected Philip, he felt compelled to share his experience with a friend and invite him. “Come and see, Nathanael, come and see.”
Then there’s Nathanael. He was an honest, hard-working man. He was also street-smart. Question everything; take nothing at face-value. No one was going to pull a fast one on him. So when his friend Philip came by with some crazy story about finding the one promised in Scripture who was born to Joseph of Nazareth, Nathanael was naturally skeptical. No one important comes out of that small village. No, important people are from important places. You’re wasting your time Philip – try looking for someone from Jerusalem, then let me know. But how do you turn down a good friend, a persistent friend. “Come and see for yourself.”
What could it hurt? Nathanael went along with Philip to see why he was so excited. He didn’t expect much – after all, nothing fazed Nathanael. Until this day… There he was! “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you,” Jesus said. His words surprised the unflappable Nathanael. How could he have known? He wasn’t there. Jesus had done something remarkable, and Nathanael was convinced to leave his old life behind and follow. And who was he? Nathanael hazarded a few guesses: rabbi, Son of God, King of Israel. Nice try Nathanael, but you have no idea. Come and see.
Three different stories, three different experiences that cause them to follow Jesus. And lest this story give the wrong impression, let’s not forget that women also followed Jesus. There were Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus, and the Samaritan woman at the well, and the woman who anointed Jesus, and Mary Magdalene who was there at the cross even though all of the men had run away, just to name a few.
How about you? What’s your story? What or who are you looking for? What brought you here to this church? Why do you drag yourself out of bed every Sunday morning to come here when you could be sleeping late? Some of you may be asking yourself that question right now.
Perhaps we came because we heard about this church, its sense of community, and the work it is doing. Now we come faithfully to church, week after week. We hear God’s promise read in Scripture, and proclaimed from the pulpit. We sing songs of praise and we turn to God in prayer. We are called to prepare for the day when Jesus Christ will return. But every so often we catch glimpses of Jesus Christ. Sometimes he appears as we enjoy a meal together, or as we sing a hymn in worship, or when we perform acts of mercy to those in need within this congregation, and in the world around us.
Perhaps we came at a time when life was not going well and we didn’t know where to turn for help. Or perhaps we realized that our job wasn’t giving us the sense of fulfillment and purpose in life we expected. Sometimes that sense of being unsettled, or having one’s life be beyond our control is the means for Christ to reach out and call to us. One of the reasons the early church grew was that people on the outside looking in saw a community that worked hard to break down barriers and treat each other as brothers and sisters. The church believed it was continuing Christ’s ministry of reaching out to the poor and weak. Old, young, male, female, free person or slave, all were now brothers and sisters. One was quoted, “Look how they love each other.” Here we meet others who are also on this journey finding meaning in the God who created us, who came to be with us, who promises to be with us always in life and in death.
Perhaps you started coming here because a friend or relative invited you here. And when you came, you met others who shared similar experiences. Perhaps you look forward to seeing friends you don’t get to see during the week. Or maybe like Nathanael, you aren’t so sure about all this church stuff. I love Nathaniel in this story. He’s probably the most real person. Simon, Andrew, James, John, and Philip drop everything and immediately follow Jesus without hesitation. Not Nathaniel. He needs some proof, but that means he has to get up and see for himself. Perhaps you too are waiting to see for yourself.
Maybe your experience doesn’t match any of these stories. That’s OK. Jesus comes to us, sometimes directly, sometimes through others, sometimes in church, sometimes out in the world. It doesn’t matter. Jesus Christ is God who came to be with us, the Word of God made flesh and blood, who when and where we least expect reveals to us the God of love.
Last summer, ten of our youth did volunteer work in New Orleans. The mission trip had a profound effect on them. How do I know? All of the group who are still in high school are going this summer, along with another four youth – thirteen all together. The four new folks are coming because some of our youth said to their friends, “Come and see.” I’m convinced they encountered the living Christ in the people they met, listen to, and helped. It was something they could describe to others, but it was more important their friends experience it for themselves. “Come and see.”
Jesus reminds Nathanael, and he reminds us: You will see greater signs. Keep watching, but remember the God revealed to us in Jesus Christ meets us when we least expect or invites us through the least likely people. Come and see. Come and see.
Jan 8 - Beloved & Sent
Acts 19:1-7
1While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the interior regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. 2He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?” They replied, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3Then he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They answered, “Into John’s baptism.” 4Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied—7altogether there were about twelve of them.
Mark 1:4-13 (p. 812)
4John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
9In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 11And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” 12And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.
*******
I know it was a week ago, but “Happy New Year.” So what did you do on New Years’ Eve? Were you celebrating with friends? Did you stay up to watch the ball drop in Times Square? And when midnight struck, did you welcome the New Year with a toast of champagne or perhaps a kiss?
Or did you decide to go to bed early and plan to wish friends and family a Happy New Year when you got up. After all, the New Year was coming whether you were awake to witness it or not. There’s no going back or stopping time, no fixing things we didn’t get quite right in the past. So we look ahead, make resolutions to better our bodies, our lives, our families, our future and go forward, we hope.
In the church our readings for this New Year focus on the gospel of Mark. And when you read Mark, you realize he’s in a hurry. As we’ve noted before, in Mark’s gospel there’s no Christmas story. By the fourth verse, John is on the scene baptizing people in the Jordan River. By the ninth verse, an adult Jesus shows up, and then we’re off. No looking back – only going forward.
Mark’s writing reflects excitement; he is in a rush to tell the story. Translators have tried to edit Mark’s material so it sounds a little more polished, but in the original Greek, nearly every sentence in this morning’s reading begins with “And,” with a couple “immediately’s” thrown in.
“And the whole Judean countryside … were going out to him … And John was wearing a garment of camel’s hair, and a leather belt around his waist. 7 And he was proclaiming … And in those days Jesus came … And immediately, while he was coming up out of the water … And a voice came from heaven … And immediately the Spirit drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days ….”
I can remember when my sons were much younger and they wanted to tell me about something that really excited them, you could almost hear them tell it in a similar way. “And you know what happened next…” “And then, you know what…” "And then guess what…” "And then…” "And then..."
For Mark there is a real sense of urgency – there’s no time to waste. His Jesus is on the move. And what has Mark so excited at the beginning of his story? He lets us, the audience, in on a secret. Jesus has come to the Jordan to be baptized by John. And John has no idea this is the one he has been waiting for who is more powerful than himself. As Jesus comes up out of the water, he has a vision: the heavens are torn apart, and through the tear, God’s Spirit comes down to him like a dove!
This isn’t some neat opening like a door. It’s a tearing apart. If you’ve ever mended clothes, you know a tear is hard to fix. It’s as if Mark wants us to know that God has broken into this world, and there’s no closing the door, no going back to the way things were. God’s Spirit is loose – and maybe we should be scared.
Annie Dillard puts it this way: “On the whole, I do not find Christians, outside of the catacombs, sufficiently sensible of conditions. Does anyone have the foggiest idea what sort of power we so blithely invoke? Or, as I suspect, does no one believe a word of it? The churches are children playing on the floor with their chemistry sets, making up a batch of TNT to kill a Sunday morning. It is madness to wear ladies hats and straw hats and velvet hats to church; we should all be wearing crash helmets. Ushers should issue life preservers and signal flares; they should lash us to our pews. For the sleeping God may wake someday and take offense, or the waking God may draw us out to where we can never return.”
By the way, there’s only one other place in Mark’s gospel that he describes a tearing apart. It’s near the end. Jesus on the cross cries out and breathes his last. Then the curtain in the temple that hides the holiest place is torn apart.
Besides the vision of heaven and the Spirit, Jesus hears a voice telling him, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” Jesus has received his identity and a blessing. But there’s no time to think about what this means – the Spirit immediately sends Jesus out to begin his work. Baptism has kick-started Jesus’ ministry because God is in the mix, has called him “beloved,” and has blessed him. Then and only then is he ready to face the world.
In a little bit we will ordain and install elders at this church. Before we ask the candidates any questions and lay hands on their heads, all of us will reaffirm our baptismal vows. And we will say, “Remember your baptism and be thankful.” Most of us, of course, were infants when we were baptized, so it seems a foolish statement. But what do you think happens when we are baptized. Did your parents tell you about the day, about the worship service?
In baptism we acknowledge God has already claimed us and made us God’s own adopted sons and daughters before we even knew it. But we also believe at our baptism God’s Spirit comes down like a dove upon each of us. At our confirmation, we acknowledge this before God and the church. At our baptism, God has broken into our life, called us “beloved,” equipped us with gifts of the Spirit, and blessed us. Yes, we have been blessed by God – God loves us and wants the very best for us.
There was a graduate student at Princeton Seminary working toward his Ph.D. One of his teachers, Dr. Cleophus LaRue, would regularly address him as "Doctor.” Eventually it made him uncomfortable enough that he said to the professor, "But Dr. LaRue, I haven't earned my doctorate yet. I don't think you should call me that." "Dr.," the teacher responded, "in the African-American church we are not content to call you what you are, but instead call you what we believe you will be!" That is a blessing. Unexpected, unsettling, nearly inconceivable, yet blessing nonetheless. (David Lose, from workingpreach.org)
In our baptism we have been similarly blessed. God does not call us what we are, imperfect people who fall short and struggle to love others or even ourselves. Instead God calls us what God believes we can and will be with the Spirit’s help – that is children of God, loved and blessed. And then God’s Spirit sends us out. Our baptism is our call to ministry and there’s no going back. Our work is learning with the help of our church family what our gifts are and where they are most needed in this world.
This congregation discerned that God has equipped the people we will ordain and install as ruling elders this morning with the gift of leadership. Sounds scary and perhaps you may think crash helmets would be good head gear for session meetings. But you are God’s beloved and have been blessed by God for this service. And all of the rest of us are God’s beloved and have been blessed by God to help you and work with you. And all of us who have been baptized have been given the gift of God’s Spirit to guide us and give us courage. Amen.
1While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the interior regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. 2He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?” They replied, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3Then he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They answered, “Into John’s baptism.” 4Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied—7altogether there were about twelve of them.
Mark 1:4-13 (p. 812)
4John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
9In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 11And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” 12And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.
*******
I know it was a week ago, but “Happy New Year.” So what did you do on New Years’ Eve? Were you celebrating with friends? Did you stay up to watch the ball drop in Times Square? And when midnight struck, did you welcome the New Year with a toast of champagne or perhaps a kiss?
Or did you decide to go to bed early and plan to wish friends and family a Happy New Year when you got up. After all, the New Year was coming whether you were awake to witness it or not. There’s no going back or stopping time, no fixing things we didn’t get quite right in the past. So we look ahead, make resolutions to better our bodies, our lives, our families, our future and go forward, we hope.
In the church our readings for this New Year focus on the gospel of Mark. And when you read Mark, you realize he’s in a hurry. As we’ve noted before, in Mark’s gospel there’s no Christmas story. By the fourth verse, John is on the scene baptizing people in the Jordan River. By the ninth verse, an adult Jesus shows up, and then we’re off. No looking back – only going forward.
Mark’s writing reflects excitement; he is in a rush to tell the story. Translators have tried to edit Mark’s material so it sounds a little more polished, but in the original Greek, nearly every sentence in this morning’s reading begins with “And,” with a couple “immediately’s” thrown in.
“And the whole Judean countryside … were going out to him … And John was wearing a garment of camel’s hair, and a leather belt around his waist. 7 And he was proclaiming … And in those days Jesus came … And immediately, while he was coming up out of the water … And a voice came from heaven … And immediately the Spirit drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days ….”
I can remember when my sons were much younger and they wanted to tell me about something that really excited them, you could almost hear them tell it in a similar way. “And you know what happened next…” “And then, you know what…” "And then guess what…” "And then…” "And then..."
For Mark there is a real sense of urgency – there’s no time to waste. His Jesus is on the move. And what has Mark so excited at the beginning of his story? He lets us, the audience, in on a secret. Jesus has come to the Jordan to be baptized by John. And John has no idea this is the one he has been waiting for who is more powerful than himself. As Jesus comes up out of the water, he has a vision: the heavens are torn apart, and through the tear, God’s Spirit comes down to him like a dove!
This isn’t some neat opening like a door. It’s a tearing apart. If you’ve ever mended clothes, you know a tear is hard to fix. It’s as if Mark wants us to know that God has broken into this world, and there’s no closing the door, no going back to the way things were. God’s Spirit is loose – and maybe we should be scared.
Annie Dillard puts it this way: “On the whole, I do not find Christians, outside of the catacombs, sufficiently sensible of conditions. Does anyone have the foggiest idea what sort of power we so blithely invoke? Or, as I suspect, does no one believe a word of it? The churches are children playing on the floor with their chemistry sets, making up a batch of TNT to kill a Sunday morning. It is madness to wear ladies hats and straw hats and velvet hats to church; we should all be wearing crash helmets. Ushers should issue life preservers and signal flares; they should lash us to our pews. For the sleeping God may wake someday and take offense, or the waking God may draw us out to where we can never return.”
By the way, there’s only one other place in Mark’s gospel that he describes a tearing apart. It’s near the end. Jesus on the cross cries out and breathes his last. Then the curtain in the temple that hides the holiest place is torn apart.
Besides the vision of heaven and the Spirit, Jesus hears a voice telling him, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” Jesus has received his identity and a blessing. But there’s no time to think about what this means – the Spirit immediately sends Jesus out to begin his work. Baptism has kick-started Jesus’ ministry because God is in the mix, has called him “beloved,” and has blessed him. Then and only then is he ready to face the world.
In a little bit we will ordain and install elders at this church. Before we ask the candidates any questions and lay hands on their heads, all of us will reaffirm our baptismal vows. And we will say, “Remember your baptism and be thankful.” Most of us, of course, were infants when we were baptized, so it seems a foolish statement. But what do you think happens when we are baptized. Did your parents tell you about the day, about the worship service?
In baptism we acknowledge God has already claimed us and made us God’s own adopted sons and daughters before we even knew it. But we also believe at our baptism God’s Spirit comes down like a dove upon each of us. At our confirmation, we acknowledge this before God and the church. At our baptism, God has broken into our life, called us “beloved,” equipped us with gifts of the Spirit, and blessed us. Yes, we have been blessed by God – God loves us and wants the very best for us.
There was a graduate student at Princeton Seminary working toward his Ph.D. One of his teachers, Dr. Cleophus LaRue, would regularly address him as "Doctor.” Eventually it made him uncomfortable enough that he said to the professor, "But Dr. LaRue, I haven't earned my doctorate yet. I don't think you should call me that." "Dr.," the teacher responded, "in the African-American church we are not content to call you what you are, but instead call you what we believe you will be!" That is a blessing. Unexpected, unsettling, nearly inconceivable, yet blessing nonetheless. (David Lose, from workingpreach.org)
In our baptism we have been similarly blessed. God does not call us what we are, imperfect people who fall short and struggle to love others or even ourselves. Instead God calls us what God believes we can and will be with the Spirit’s help – that is children of God, loved and blessed. And then God’s Spirit sends us out. Our baptism is our call to ministry and there’s no going back. Our work is learning with the help of our church family what our gifts are and where they are most needed in this world.
This congregation discerned that God has equipped the people we will ordain and install as ruling elders this morning with the gift of leadership. Sounds scary and perhaps you may think crash helmets would be good head gear for session meetings. But you are God’s beloved and have been blessed by God for this service. And all of the rest of us are God’s beloved and have been blessed by God to help you and work with you. And all of us who have been baptized have been given the gift of God’s Spirit to guide us and give us courage. Amen.
Jan 1 - How Can We Keep From Praising
Psalm 148:1-14
1 Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
praise him in the heights!
2 Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his host!
3 Praise him, sun and moon;
praise him, all you shining stars!
4 Praise him, you highest heavens,
and you waters above the heavens!
5 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for he commanded and they were created.
6 He established them forever and ever;
he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.
7 Praise the Lord from the earth,
you sea monsters and all deeps,
8 fire and hail, snow and frost,
stormy wind fulfilling his command!
9 Mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars!
10 Wild animals and all cattle,
creeping things and flying birds!
11 Kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all rulers of the earth!
12 Young men and women alike,
old and young together!
13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted;
his glory is above earth and heaven.
14 He has raised up a horn for his people,
praise for all his faithful,
for the people of Israel who are close to him.
Praise the Lord!
Luke 2:22-40
22When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23(as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”), 24and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
25Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. 26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, 28Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,
29 “Master, now you are dismissing your servant 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
and for glory to your people Israel.”
33And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 34Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed 35so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed — and a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
36There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. 38At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
39When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.
*******
It’s hard to believe Christmas has already come and gone. Weeks and weeks of preparation have finally come to an end. All of the presents have already been unwrapped, the games/movies/CD’s are in full use, new clothes have been tried on, washed and put away. Clothes that didn’t fit or were the wrong color or style have been exchanged.
Even though the Christmas season actually runs all the way to January 6, Epiphany (the day we celebrate the arrival of the magi from the east), things pretty much have settled back down. All of the anticipation that led up to Christmas has faded. Perhaps the people responsible for selecting the Bible texts each week were aware of this. On the first Sunday after Christmas each year, the same psalm is assigned to be read: Psalm 148.
“Praise the Lord!” it begins. In Hebrew that’s “Hallelu Yah.” “Praise the Lord!” it ends. Again, “Hallelu Yah!” Praise is all that seems to be on the psalmist’s mind. Praise the Lord from the heavens! Praise the Lord from the earth! Praise, praise, praise, praise, praise! Thirteen times … and usually not as a suggestion, or a statement, or even a request. More like instruction or command: “Praise!”
And look who is called upon to praise God. Praise the Lord, sun and moon! Praise the Lord all you sea monsters, yes sea monsters. Praise the Lord you stormy wind, and snow. Praise the Lord you mountains and trees. Praise the Lord all cattle and flying birds. If this sounds strange, think about the words to the favorite Christmas carol we sang on Christmas Eve:
Joy to the World! The Lord is come. Let earth receive her king.
Let every heart prepare him room, and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven and nature sing, and heaven, and heaven and nature sing.
Not only are human beings called to celebrate the coming of God’s son, but all heaven and nature are to get into the act.
In Psalm 148, all heaven and nature are singing praise to God. The psalmist seems to have the first creation story in Genesis on his mind as he runs down the list. He looks first to everything in the heavens: the angels, then the greater light that rules the day (the sun) and the lesser light that rules the night (the moon), along with the stars, then the waters above the heavens (they used to believe the rain came from water above the heavens running through slots that opened up).
What began in the heavens now continues on the earth. First are the inhabitants of the oceans and those sea monsters. Then the psalmist moves to all kinds of weather: snow and hail, wind, frost and fire (probably caused by lightning). Next commanded to praise God are the trees, both those which are good for building and those that produce fruit for eating. This is followed by all manner of animals, wild and domesticated, on the ground and in the air.
We have to wait practically to the end before the psalmist mentions people, you and I. Just as the list of God’s creatures is intended to include all of creation, so the psalmist has tried to encompass all people: kings and princes and rulers and all nations, male and female, young and old. No one has been left out. God values each person and each person’s offering of praise regardless of status or wealth or age or gender.
Of course you may be wondering how the sun, moon and stars praise God. How about the mountains, or the weather, or the sea monster, or the wild animals, for that matter? How do they all praise God? The psalmist says, “Praise the Lord, you stormy wind fulfilling God’s command.” Perhaps, the answer is that all creation praises the Lord by being what they were created to be. That may also be the best way to describe how we can praise the Lord: by being what God created us to be, by living faithful and humble lives before God with God’s help.
And Luke’s story gives us several examples.
Mary and Joseph. Despite the amazing and almost unbelievable events surrounding the birth of their son, they continued to observe the practices of their faith. They performed the rituals of Mosaic Law which after required coming to the temple and offering a sacrifice. They honored their faith commitment as responsible parents. The rituals they observed not only marked the transition from one stage to another in their new life as a family, they were a reminder and encouragement from the community of faith to support the parents.
Simeon. Serving in the temple all his life, waiting for a glimpse, a peek at God’s promised hope for the world. How many of us would still trust in a promise made more than eighty years earlier. Yet, Simeon remained hopeful and faithful to God to the end. More than that, he didn’t just stand and observe from a distance, but shared his news, both hopeful good news, and hard, fearful news. And having witnessed God’s salvation for the world, Simeon can courageously accept death.
Anna. Also serving in the temple probably since she became a widow many decades earlier. In her eighties, Anna, too, is graced with seeing the child, the redemption of Jerusalem and the world. And like Simeon, she will not observe silently but shares her testimony, God’s good news, with all who are seeking hope. The word become public.
Mary and Joseph, Simeon, Anna – all praising God by their faithful, humble lives and service to God, lives lived in the light of promise and hope.
By the end of Psalm 148, all creation is praising God. Isn’t that what we find in the Christmas story? The star of Bethlehem, angels, sheep, cows, the mountains and fields, the magi, all offering praise to God at the birth of Jesus. And we, too, join in the celebration every year at Christmastime with decorations, gifts, festive meals, and traveling to visit friends and family.
But for some this is a difficult time. Seasonal depression, loneliness, strained finances, strained relationships, and bittersweet memories can bring a kind of darkness to their lives. How do you praise when you don’t feel like praising? When times are tough? When the news is bad? Or when one is all alone?
By describing all creation praising God, Psalm 148 suggests we are all connected.
There are seasons, Christmas included, in which it may not be easy to find a voice for praise. Sometimes the word or song of praise gets silenced by a lump in our throat, as though we have swallowed too much grief or sorrow or loneliness to utter a sound. Sometimes praise is no more than a whisper, because we are exhausted or afraid or ill. What happens when we ourselves are too sad or too weak to offer praise of God? This psalm exclaims the hopeful, comforting message that we are not isolated or alone in our vocation of praise. From start to finish, Psalm 148 places us within a vast, diverse universe where continual praise is being offered to God: Angels and stars, fire and frost, wild and domesticated animals, men and women, young and old, wealthy and poor … join in a terrestrial and celestial symphony of praise.
So, when our own song or spirit is silenced, praise still fills the space around us. In a time of personal darkness, we may stand in the midst of the congregation or with one other person, we may sit in a field or float on the water, we may listen to the birds of the air or sit with the family pet and let this creation, these creatures, these companions praise God for us until we find our voice again.
Our common vocation, which is to praise, is the heart and soul of our interrelatedness to God, to one another, to the universe. Praise, then, is a gift that brings us out of isolation and into communion. And communion is what Christmas is most truly about: God’s desire to be at one with us, Immanuel, and that in Christ God is reconciling all things. Psalm 148 will give voice for many to the joy experienced in this season. For others struggling through these days, Psalm 148 can offer assurance that they are not alone, left in isolation and silence. Let all creation and the community of faith say for them, “Praise the Lord!”
The Lord’s name be praised! Amen.
1 Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
praise him in the heights!
2 Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his host!
3 Praise him, sun and moon;
praise him, all you shining stars!
4 Praise him, you highest heavens,
and you waters above the heavens!
5 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for he commanded and they were created.
6 He established them forever and ever;
he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.
7 Praise the Lord from the earth,
you sea monsters and all deeps,
8 fire and hail, snow and frost,
stormy wind fulfilling his command!
9 Mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars!
10 Wild animals and all cattle,
creeping things and flying birds!
11 Kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all rulers of the earth!
12 Young men and women alike,
old and young together!
13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted;
his glory is above earth and heaven.
14 He has raised up a horn for his people,
praise for all his faithful,
for the people of Israel who are close to him.
Praise the Lord!
Luke 2:22-40
22When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23(as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”), 24and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
25Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. 26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, 28Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,
29 “Master, now you are dismissing your servant 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
and for glory to your people Israel.”
33And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 34Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed 35so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed — and a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
36There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. 38At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
39When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.
*******
It’s hard to believe Christmas has already come and gone. Weeks and weeks of preparation have finally come to an end. All of the presents have already been unwrapped, the games/movies/CD’s are in full use, new clothes have been tried on, washed and put away. Clothes that didn’t fit or were the wrong color or style have been exchanged.
Even though the Christmas season actually runs all the way to January 6, Epiphany (the day we celebrate the arrival of the magi from the east), things pretty much have settled back down. All of the anticipation that led up to Christmas has faded. Perhaps the people responsible for selecting the Bible texts each week were aware of this. On the first Sunday after Christmas each year, the same psalm is assigned to be read: Psalm 148.
“Praise the Lord!” it begins. In Hebrew that’s “Hallelu Yah.” “Praise the Lord!” it ends. Again, “Hallelu Yah!” Praise is all that seems to be on the psalmist’s mind. Praise the Lord from the heavens! Praise the Lord from the earth! Praise, praise, praise, praise, praise! Thirteen times … and usually not as a suggestion, or a statement, or even a request. More like instruction or command: “Praise!”
And look who is called upon to praise God. Praise the Lord, sun and moon! Praise the Lord all you sea monsters, yes sea monsters. Praise the Lord you stormy wind, and snow. Praise the Lord you mountains and trees. Praise the Lord all cattle and flying birds. If this sounds strange, think about the words to the favorite Christmas carol we sang on Christmas Eve:
Joy to the World! The Lord is come. Let earth receive her king.
Let every heart prepare him room, and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven and nature sing, and heaven, and heaven and nature sing.
Not only are human beings called to celebrate the coming of God’s son, but all heaven and nature are to get into the act.
In Psalm 148, all heaven and nature are singing praise to God. The psalmist seems to have the first creation story in Genesis on his mind as he runs down the list. He looks first to everything in the heavens: the angels, then the greater light that rules the day (the sun) and the lesser light that rules the night (the moon), along with the stars, then the waters above the heavens (they used to believe the rain came from water above the heavens running through slots that opened up).
What began in the heavens now continues on the earth. First are the inhabitants of the oceans and those sea monsters. Then the psalmist moves to all kinds of weather: snow and hail, wind, frost and fire (probably caused by lightning). Next commanded to praise God are the trees, both those which are good for building and those that produce fruit for eating. This is followed by all manner of animals, wild and domesticated, on the ground and in the air.
We have to wait practically to the end before the psalmist mentions people, you and I. Just as the list of God’s creatures is intended to include all of creation, so the psalmist has tried to encompass all people: kings and princes and rulers and all nations, male and female, young and old. No one has been left out. God values each person and each person’s offering of praise regardless of status or wealth or age or gender.
Of course you may be wondering how the sun, moon and stars praise God. How about the mountains, or the weather, or the sea monster, or the wild animals, for that matter? How do they all praise God? The psalmist says, “Praise the Lord, you stormy wind fulfilling God’s command.” Perhaps, the answer is that all creation praises the Lord by being what they were created to be. That may also be the best way to describe how we can praise the Lord: by being what God created us to be, by living faithful and humble lives before God with God’s help.
And Luke’s story gives us several examples.
Mary and Joseph. Despite the amazing and almost unbelievable events surrounding the birth of their son, they continued to observe the practices of their faith. They performed the rituals of Mosaic Law which after required coming to the temple and offering a sacrifice. They honored their faith commitment as responsible parents. The rituals they observed not only marked the transition from one stage to another in their new life as a family, they were a reminder and encouragement from the community of faith to support the parents.
Simeon. Serving in the temple all his life, waiting for a glimpse, a peek at God’s promised hope for the world. How many of us would still trust in a promise made more than eighty years earlier. Yet, Simeon remained hopeful and faithful to God to the end. More than that, he didn’t just stand and observe from a distance, but shared his news, both hopeful good news, and hard, fearful news. And having witnessed God’s salvation for the world, Simeon can courageously accept death.
Anna. Also serving in the temple probably since she became a widow many decades earlier. In her eighties, Anna, too, is graced with seeing the child, the redemption of Jerusalem and the world. And like Simeon, she will not observe silently but shares her testimony, God’s good news, with all who are seeking hope. The word become public.
Mary and Joseph, Simeon, Anna – all praising God by their faithful, humble lives and service to God, lives lived in the light of promise and hope.
By the end of Psalm 148, all creation is praising God. Isn’t that what we find in the Christmas story? The star of Bethlehem, angels, sheep, cows, the mountains and fields, the magi, all offering praise to God at the birth of Jesus. And we, too, join in the celebration every year at Christmastime with decorations, gifts, festive meals, and traveling to visit friends and family.
But for some this is a difficult time. Seasonal depression, loneliness, strained finances, strained relationships, and bittersweet memories can bring a kind of darkness to their lives. How do you praise when you don’t feel like praising? When times are tough? When the news is bad? Or when one is all alone?
By describing all creation praising God, Psalm 148 suggests we are all connected.
There are seasons, Christmas included, in which it may not be easy to find a voice for praise. Sometimes the word or song of praise gets silenced by a lump in our throat, as though we have swallowed too much grief or sorrow or loneliness to utter a sound. Sometimes praise is no more than a whisper, because we are exhausted or afraid or ill. What happens when we ourselves are too sad or too weak to offer praise of God? This psalm exclaims the hopeful, comforting message that we are not isolated or alone in our vocation of praise. From start to finish, Psalm 148 places us within a vast, diverse universe where continual praise is being offered to God: Angels and stars, fire and frost, wild and domesticated animals, men and women, young and old, wealthy and poor … join in a terrestrial and celestial symphony of praise.
So, when our own song or spirit is silenced, praise still fills the space around us. In a time of personal darkness, we may stand in the midst of the congregation or with one other person, we may sit in a field or float on the water, we may listen to the birds of the air or sit with the family pet and let this creation, these creatures, these companions praise God for us until we find our voice again.
Our common vocation, which is to praise, is the heart and soul of our interrelatedness to God, to one another, to the universe. Praise, then, is a gift that brings us out of isolation and into communion. And communion is what Christmas is most truly about: God’s desire to be at one with us, Immanuel, and that in Christ God is reconciling all things. Psalm 148 will give voice for many to the joy experienced in this season. For others struggling through these days, Psalm 148 can offer assurance that they are not alone, left in isolation and silence. Let all creation and the community of faith say for them, “Praise the Lord!”
The Lord’s name be praised! Amen.
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