Psalm 89 p 475
1I will sing of your steadfast love, O LORD, forever; with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations.
2I declare that your steadfast love is established forever; your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.
3You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to my servant David:
4‘I will establish your descendants forever, and build your throne for all generations.’” Selah
5Let the heavens praise your wonders, O LORD, your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones.
6For who in the skies can be compared to the LORD? Who among the heavenly beings is like the LORD,
7a God feared in the council of the holy ones, great and awesome above all that are around him?
8O LORD God of hosts, who is as mighty as you, O LORD? Your faithfulness surrounds you.
9You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them.
10You crushed Rahab like a carcass; you scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.
11The heavens are yours, the earth also is yours; the world and all that is in it—you have founded them.
This is the Word of the Lord….Thanks be to God
Luke 1:26-38 p 831
26In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,27to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.28And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”29But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.30The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.31And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus.32He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David.33He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”34Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”35The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God.36And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren.37For nothing will be impossible with God.”38Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
This is the Word of the Lord….Thanks be to God
Luke’s Gospel opens with the writer telling us that he is writing “an orderly account…so that we may know the truth”.
But frankly, there could hardly be a less orderly account—a priest struck mute, an elderly woman about to have a baby, and a young woman, in a back water town, visited by an angel, given a surprising and disturbing message.
Throughout the centuries, there has been much art work depicting the event told to us in this morning’s gospel lesson. It is called the Annunciation: The Announcement. And in most of the paintings, there are typically a few things present: Mary, the Angel, the dove, representing the Holy Spirit, a lily, and a book—although sometimes the book is replaced with a spinning wheel or spindle, which represent suitable activities for a young woman.
And, most often, Mary is shown with her head down, or at least her eyes cast down, in a humble, obedient pose. Sometimes she is on her knees, sometimes she is seated on a chair-but most of the time she looks pretty terrified- after all, angels are scary- and the text tells us that Mary was “much perplexed”- in this, she is at least ahead of the shepherds, who also get an angel visitation- they were “sore afraid” in the KJV of the story- that is, scared right out of their socks, if shepherds even wore any socks.
But Mary is “much perplexed”= which translates as “greatly troubled or disturbed”…..well, wouldn’t you be, if you heard this kind of announcement? Your whole future- gone, in an instant, not even counting the singe marks on the ground from an angel of Lord, Gabriel, the messenger, showing up one sunny afternoon, or the worry about how you could possibly go home and tell your parents or your fiancée.
Mary is greeted by the angel as “favored one” or “blessed one”, it could even mean “happy one”- but I’m not sure Mary is happy. Happy doesn’t seem to be one of the things she is feeling at that moment.
Tradition has that Mary was favored because she was extra holy, or without sin, or extremely obedient. But in Mary, God is showing us that God does surprising things and regards us- all of us! With favor and blessing. We are regarded, we are seen, we are noticed by God. And not because we are special, or extra holy, or without sin. Not because we are powerful, or have status, or are shakers and movers. In fact, quite the opposite. But that is what God is like.
The text says that “Mary pondered what sort of greeting this might be.” She pondered—which sounds very calm, and contemplative--
but have you met any 13 yr old girls lately? They are rude—they are pushy—they will drive their mothers to tears and their fathers to all night worry. They will challenge anybody, yell about anything, slam doors, stomp up the stairs, throw hairbrushes- and dispute nearly everything- so when Mary “ponders”, what she is actually doing, says the original Greek, is debating, working "to bring together different reasons, to reckon up the reasons, to reason, to deliberate.”
I think what Mary is doing is wrestling- perhaps in much the same way Jacob wrestled with God. Jacob was visited by an angel, as well, at the river Jabbok, and he wrestled with the angel until daybreak, and limped for the rest of his life from that encounter.
So I’d like us to think of Mary in a different way- not as a passive, pure vessel, ready only to receive, but as someone who is actively engaged with God. Someone like Deborah or Jael, who takes action when called to do so by God. Someone like Jeremiah, the prophet who yelled back at God. Someone like Jacob, who really wrestles with what God is asking her to do. Someone who is weighing the cost of the announcement the angel brings to her.
Someone, perhaps, like each of us.
Because it is my hope and prayer that we do actively engage with God, even wrestle with God. That we do ponder, debate, dispute, what God is doing in our lives—both as the church and as individuals.
God acts in ways that we cannot comprehend—God acts in ways to redeem, and heal, and restore, even when we can’t understand how in the world that might be able to happen.
As the story unfolds, Mary acts as a creative partner with God. God has initiated this wonderful thing; God is doing this. But the word in Greek that means ponder also has the meaning of “to resolve, to come to a conclusion.” And Mary can hardly understand what is about to take place, or how it even CAN take place- how can this be? she asks. But after wrestling, she agrees to take an active part in God’s plan. Because, as a song from the Iona community puts it, Mary says to the angel “Tell God I say yes”. May it be so for us as well.
Amen.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Advent Meditations Week 4
Advent Devotional Calendar
Monday December 19 Luke 1:1–25
Luke writes, he says “an orderly account”, but the account is anything but orderly. Luke goes back, before Jesus, to an old priest and his wife. In looking back to your life, and the generations before you, are there any places where you see the action of God? Have you ever experienced anything so weird—or so holy—that you couldn’t find words to describe it?
Prayer: Holy One, in prayer or in silence, let us always listen for your Word. Amen.
Tuesday December 20 Luke 1:26–38
A song from the Iona community in Scotland puts Mary’s answer to the angel as this: “Tell God I say yes.” In what ways can you say yes to God in this day?
Prayer: Surprising God, give me a heart that always says yes to you, even when it is risky or uncomfortable or challenging. And then, Lord God, by your Spirit, give me strength and courage. Amen.
Wednesday December 21 Luke 1:39–48a (48b–56)
We know that Elizabeth withdrew from society, and remained in seclusion for these months. It is when Mary visits that Elizabeth gets a real, physical confirmation of what the angel had told- the baby “leaped for joy”. Have you ever had a time when you were waiting on the promises of God? What did you think in that in-between time? How did you get through that time?
Prayer: Lord God, most of our lives seem to be lived in the “in-between” time. Time between your promises and the actual confirmation of that promise. Give us grace to wait and see, for with you nothing is impossible. Amen.
Thursday December 22 Luke 1:57–66
“All of them were amazed” the text says. This gospel that Luke is writing is anything but an orderly account. But that is the way God is—overturning the established way of things, making things new in surprising and joyous ways. What surprising things has the Lord done in your life?
Prayer: Lord, be with us, as we draw close to you. Be with us, as we draw close to Christmas. Be with us, as we hear your surprising good news. Amen.
Friday December 23 Luke 1:67–80
Zechariah’s first words spoken after being struck mute are these: “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel”. After a daunting experience, seeing an angel, being struck mute, and nine months of derision by his neighbors, Zechariah’s first words are praise. Is praise always our first response? How will you praise God this Christmas?
Prayer: Faithful God, give us mouths that always give you praise. Amen.
Saturday December 24 Galatians 3:26-27
The church in Galatia struggled with what to believe: there were lots of competing messages, many of which sounded good. Paul writes to the people of the freedom and grace given to them—and to us-in Jesus Christ. The old divisions are gone: we are known only as a child of God. A favorite song often sung on Christmas Eve is, “Children of the heavenly Father.” And thanks be to Jesus Christ, that is who we are.
Prayer: Loving and Compassionate God, thank you that through Jesus Christ, you have claimed us as your own. Amen.
Monday December 19 Luke 1:1–25
Luke writes, he says “an orderly account”, but the account is anything but orderly. Luke goes back, before Jesus, to an old priest and his wife. In looking back to your life, and the generations before you, are there any places where you see the action of God? Have you ever experienced anything so weird—or so holy—that you couldn’t find words to describe it?
Prayer: Holy One, in prayer or in silence, let us always listen for your Word. Amen.
Tuesday December 20 Luke 1:26–38
A song from the Iona community in Scotland puts Mary’s answer to the angel as this: “Tell God I say yes.” In what ways can you say yes to God in this day?
Prayer: Surprising God, give me a heart that always says yes to you, even when it is risky or uncomfortable or challenging. And then, Lord God, by your Spirit, give me strength and courage. Amen.
Wednesday December 21 Luke 1:39–48a (48b–56)
We know that Elizabeth withdrew from society, and remained in seclusion for these months. It is when Mary visits that Elizabeth gets a real, physical confirmation of what the angel had told- the baby “leaped for joy”. Have you ever had a time when you were waiting on the promises of God? What did you think in that in-between time? How did you get through that time?
Prayer: Lord God, most of our lives seem to be lived in the “in-between” time. Time between your promises and the actual confirmation of that promise. Give us grace to wait and see, for with you nothing is impossible. Amen.
Thursday December 22 Luke 1:57–66
“All of them were amazed” the text says. This gospel that Luke is writing is anything but an orderly account. But that is the way God is—overturning the established way of things, making things new in surprising and joyous ways. What surprising things has the Lord done in your life?
Prayer: Lord, be with us, as we draw close to you. Be with us, as we draw close to Christmas. Be with us, as we hear your surprising good news. Amen.
Friday December 23 Luke 1:67–80
Zechariah’s first words spoken after being struck mute are these: “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel”. After a daunting experience, seeing an angel, being struck mute, and nine months of derision by his neighbors, Zechariah’s first words are praise. Is praise always our first response? How will you praise God this Christmas?
Prayer: Faithful God, give us mouths that always give you praise. Amen.
Saturday December 24 Galatians 3:26-27
The church in Galatia struggled with what to believe: there were lots of competing messages, many of which sounded good. Paul writes to the people of the freedom and grace given to them—and to us-in Jesus Christ. The old divisions are gone: we are known only as a child of God. A favorite song often sung on Christmas Eve is, “Children of the heavenly Father.” And thanks be to Jesus Christ, that is who we are.
Prayer: Loving and Compassionate God, thank you that through Jesus Christ, you have claimed us as your own. Amen.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Sermon Dec 11 2011
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 p 803
61The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners;2to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn;3to provide for those who mourn in Zion— to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, to display his glory.
4They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.8For I the LORD love justice, I hate robbery and wrongdoing; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.9Their descendants shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge that they are a people whom the LORD has blessed.
10I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.11For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.
This is the word of the Lord….thanks be to God
Psalm 126 p499
1When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
2Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then it was said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.”
3The LORD has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.
4Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like the watercourses in the Negeb.
5May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy.
6Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.
This is the word of the Lord….Thanks be to God
Today is the Third Sunday in Advent. It is the JOY Sunday, the day we light the pink candle. Originally observed only in the city of Rome, it comes from the Latin word "Gaudate"—the day we "Rejoice." And indeed, today’s Scripture lessons call for us to rejoice. We need to take care to understand what it means, though. We are not simply to be happier on Advent's third Sunday. To rejoice is to engage in a radical act and to adopt a certain stance toward God and humanity. It is, in many ways, to defy what the world tells us and shows us, and live out a radical truth—that God is in control, despite what things look like.
Psalm 126 is a Song of Ascents, one of the songs the pilgrims of Israel sang as they went up to Jerusalem. And the Songs of Ascents were joyous, for to be able to go to Jerusalem, the Holy City, was both a requirement for faithful Jews, and a blessing.
But if we look carefully at the psalm, it is not all happy happy joy, joy. It is, in fact, a psalm of lament—of crying out to God. It begins with remembering the great things God has done: “When God restored…the fortunes of Zion”. It begins, not with present praise and celebration, but in looking to the past. The psalmist remembers: The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced. But the great things are no more, apparently, because the psalmist’s next words are: “Restore our fortunes, O God”. Literally, “turn, O God”. And then: a prayer, “May those who sow in tears reap with joy”.
The psalmist can pray this, the people of God can sing this, because they have an already established relationship with God. They have experienced the goodness of God—even if they do not see it today, in this moment. Even if there is no joy right now—they can remember, and trust, and look to the future.
The psalmist insists that God will see to it that we who are lost will find our way home, and we who sow in tears will reap with joy.
The prophet Isaiah is speaking, in this morning’s portion, to the people who have returned from exile. And while this is what the people of God longed for, prayed for, cried out to God for, the reality is different from their dreams. Even returned to Jerusalem, there are still problems. The world is still broken. There are still disparities in income, there are still political divisions, there are problems between the people who were brought back from exile, and the remnant who stayed in Jerusalem. The city and the Temple are not restored to their former glory, and Jerusalem does not look like the restored and healed community. The gritty reality of life does not seem to match the promises of the prophets.
But Isaiah says this to the people: “The spirit of the Lord is upon me”, he says, “to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor”—the Jubilee year, the time when debts would be forgiven, when land would be returned to the rightful owners, when slaves would be set free. A time when the world would be restored, when economic injustice would end, when theer would be no more mourning, or shame, a time when the world would be healed, not broken.
Jesus spoke those same words, reading from the scroll in his home town synagogue. Those words of good news, of freedom and release. His first sermon, really. And the people were so astonished—and offended that they tried to throw him off a cliff and kill him.
I once heard a woman read these same words as the text during her service of ordination to the office of teaching elder, or minister of word and sacrament. And I was astonished—and offended. Surely, I thought, it is one thing for Jesus to read those words. It is quite another thing for her! But I now think, that the church must claim these words for itself—to speak as the “me” in that text “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the oppressed…to bind up the broken hearted…to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Maybe we should read it as “the spirit of the Lord is upon us…”
Because that is what the church is called to do: to proclaim good news, to bring comfort to those who mourn, to proclaim and enact liberty to captives….to feed the hungry, to clothe the cold and naked, to talk about what God is doing—we, who know God’s actions, we who have a prior relationship with God, we who see that the world needs restoring again.
The promises of God are faithful and true. God, who has restored in the past, will restore again. The word “Promise,” turns out not to be empty, but a word closely related to “mission.” It derives from a Latin word, “pro-missio” meaning, “to send, hence put, in front, hence to engage to (do something).” A promise, then, is a call to take action, to move, to perform a required service. The promises of God become our mission statement.
We do well to look at John the Baptist, out in the wilderness, who when questioned by the authorities, was very clear about who he was not: Not the Messiah, not Elijah, not even a minor prophet. Just a voice, and a witness, pointing to the light, rejoicing as he goes. The church acts as a witness, a voice of testimony, a pointer—and lives out what it is talking about—justice, redemption, restoration, love.
This is work. And it will not always be easy, or popular, or received well. But it is the work we are called to do—Isaiah even mentions work clothes: garments of salvation and robes of righteousness. And we do this work, this rejoicing, this pointing, this witnessing, because of the very nature of God: “ 1 Thessalonians says “the One who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.”
The prophet Isaiah uses the language of rejoicing instead of mourning. This talk is rooted in the character of God the faithful. It is as natural as the earth bringing forth its shoots. Restoration and healing happen, because God is acting. It is the nature of the Creator. And so we rejoice. This is the work of the Spirit of the Lord that Isaiah talks about. And we join in that work with joy.
Amen.
61The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners;2to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn;3to provide for those who mourn in Zion— to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, to display his glory.
4They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.8For I the LORD love justice, I hate robbery and wrongdoing; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.9Their descendants shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge that they are a people whom the LORD has blessed.
10I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.11For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.
This is the word of the Lord….thanks be to God
Psalm 126 p499
1When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
2Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then it was said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.”
3The LORD has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.
4Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like the watercourses in the Negeb.
5May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy.
6Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.
This is the word of the Lord….Thanks be to God
Today is the Third Sunday in Advent. It is the JOY Sunday, the day we light the pink candle. Originally observed only in the city of Rome, it comes from the Latin word "Gaudate"—the day we "Rejoice." And indeed, today’s Scripture lessons call for us to rejoice. We need to take care to understand what it means, though. We are not simply to be happier on Advent's third Sunday. To rejoice is to engage in a radical act and to adopt a certain stance toward God and humanity. It is, in many ways, to defy what the world tells us and shows us, and live out a radical truth—that God is in control, despite what things look like.
Psalm 126 is a Song of Ascents, one of the songs the pilgrims of Israel sang as they went up to Jerusalem. And the Songs of Ascents were joyous, for to be able to go to Jerusalem, the Holy City, was both a requirement for faithful Jews, and a blessing.
But if we look carefully at the psalm, it is not all happy happy joy, joy. It is, in fact, a psalm of lament—of crying out to God. It begins with remembering the great things God has done: “When God restored…the fortunes of Zion”. It begins, not with present praise and celebration, but in looking to the past. The psalmist remembers: The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced. But the great things are no more, apparently, because the psalmist’s next words are: “Restore our fortunes, O God”. Literally, “turn, O God”. And then: a prayer, “May those who sow in tears reap with joy”.
The psalmist can pray this, the people of God can sing this, because they have an already established relationship with God. They have experienced the goodness of God—even if they do not see it today, in this moment. Even if there is no joy right now—they can remember, and trust, and look to the future.
The psalmist insists that God will see to it that we who are lost will find our way home, and we who sow in tears will reap with joy.
The prophet Isaiah is speaking, in this morning’s portion, to the people who have returned from exile. And while this is what the people of God longed for, prayed for, cried out to God for, the reality is different from their dreams. Even returned to Jerusalem, there are still problems. The world is still broken. There are still disparities in income, there are still political divisions, there are problems between the people who were brought back from exile, and the remnant who stayed in Jerusalem. The city and the Temple are not restored to their former glory, and Jerusalem does not look like the restored and healed community. The gritty reality of life does not seem to match the promises of the prophets.
But Isaiah says this to the people: “The spirit of the Lord is upon me”, he says, “to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor”—the Jubilee year, the time when debts would be forgiven, when land would be returned to the rightful owners, when slaves would be set free. A time when the world would be restored, when economic injustice would end, when theer would be no more mourning, or shame, a time when the world would be healed, not broken.
Jesus spoke those same words, reading from the scroll in his home town synagogue. Those words of good news, of freedom and release. His first sermon, really. And the people were so astonished—and offended that they tried to throw him off a cliff and kill him.
I once heard a woman read these same words as the text during her service of ordination to the office of teaching elder, or minister of word and sacrament. And I was astonished—and offended. Surely, I thought, it is one thing for Jesus to read those words. It is quite another thing for her! But I now think, that the church must claim these words for itself—to speak as the “me” in that text “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the oppressed…to bind up the broken hearted…to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Maybe we should read it as “the spirit of the Lord is upon us…”
Because that is what the church is called to do: to proclaim good news, to bring comfort to those who mourn, to proclaim and enact liberty to captives….to feed the hungry, to clothe the cold and naked, to talk about what God is doing—we, who know God’s actions, we who have a prior relationship with God, we who see that the world needs restoring again.
The promises of God are faithful and true. God, who has restored in the past, will restore again. The word “Promise,” turns out not to be empty, but a word closely related to “mission.” It derives from a Latin word, “pro-missio” meaning, “to send, hence put, in front, hence to engage to (do something).” A promise, then, is a call to take action, to move, to perform a required service. The promises of God become our mission statement.
We do well to look at John the Baptist, out in the wilderness, who when questioned by the authorities, was very clear about who he was not: Not the Messiah, not Elijah, not even a minor prophet. Just a voice, and a witness, pointing to the light, rejoicing as he goes. The church acts as a witness, a voice of testimony, a pointer—and lives out what it is talking about—justice, redemption, restoration, love.
This is work. And it will not always be easy, or popular, or received well. But it is the work we are called to do—Isaiah even mentions work clothes: garments of salvation and robes of righteousness. And we do this work, this rejoicing, this pointing, this witnessing, because of the very nature of God: “ 1 Thessalonians says “the One who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.”
The prophet Isaiah uses the language of rejoicing instead of mourning. This talk is rooted in the character of God the faithful. It is as natural as the earth bringing forth its shoots. Restoration and healing happen, because God is acting. It is the nature of the Creator. And so we rejoice. This is the work of the Spirit of the Lord that Isaiah talks about. And we join in that work with joy.
Amen.
Advent Meditations Week III
Advent Meditation Week 3
Monday December 12
Ephesians 6:10-17
This passage sounds like girding for battle—which it is. But it is interesting to note that all of the equipment, the clothing, is defensive: shields, helmets, breastplates. But what is interesting, in light of all that battle armature, is verse 15: “Put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace”. What can you put on that will prepare you, this Advent season, to proclaim the gospel of peace? Is it reading Scripture? More time in prayer or meditation? More silence?
Prayer: God of peace, so often we feel like life is a battle— with others, with our employers and co-workers, with disease and poverty, with ourselves. Help me to put on whatever will make me ready to proclaim your peace. Amen.
Tuesday December 13Acts 3:17-4:4
“Repent, therefore, and turn to God, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,” says Peter. In the Bible, repenting is always linked to turning- turning away from sin, and turning to God. But the Bible also knows that turning may happen again and again—that we may lose our way, and get lost, and need to turn and return to God. Turn this day to God, and be refreshed and renewed.
Prayer: Holy God, in Christ you have made for us a new way. Help us always to turn to you. Amen.
Wednesday December 14
Malachi 3:16-4:6
16Then those who revered the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD took note and listened, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who revered the LORD and thought on his name.17They shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, my special possession on the day when I act, and I will spare them as parents spare their children who serve them.18Then once more you shall see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.
“Hail the heav’n born Prince of Peace! Hail the sun of righteousness!” The language for that Christmas carol comes from this passage of Malachi. In what ways is Christ a sun for you? How does the righteousness of Christ affect your life?
Prayer: Righteous One, have mercy on us. Your day is surely coming: let us look to you as our light. Amen.
Thursday December 15
Hebrews 1:1-4
“In these last days God has spoken to us by a Son” says this letter, “through whom he also created the worlds.” The writer of Hebrews tells of Christ not as an infant, but as the word of God, from the beginning of time, when God was creating the heavens and earth. How does that change how you see the baby in the manger?
Prayer: Lord Christ, in the fullness of time, you came to us. Lord Christ, in a mystery of light, you created the world. Lord Christ, you are the word of God. Speak to us now. Amen.
Friday December 16
Hebrews 1:5-14 The angels appear in the nativity story to announce the birth of Jesus. This portion of Hebrews compares the angels and Jesus, and shows that Christ is greater than angels, is God—the angels worship him. We often see angels portrayed in popular culture—but what message do they bring? In what ways are they different from the biblical angels?
Prayer: Christ, you are the son of God, come to dwell with us. With all the angels, let us worship and adore you. Let us ne angels—messengers of your good news. Amen.
Saturday December 17
John 7:40-53
“Surely the Messiah does not come from Galilee!” someone in the crowd around Jesus said. People expected a Messiah who came from a much grander place than the back water town of Galilee. But that is the way God works—in surprising ways, in ways that are not like the ways of the world, to save and redeem to build up and heal. Where is an unexpected place you have seen the work of God?
Prayer: Mysterious One, you do not work in ways we understand, and are seen in places we would not expect. Yet you come to us, and to all, to heal and to save. Amen.
Monday December 12
Ephesians 6:10-17
This passage sounds like girding for battle—which it is. But it is interesting to note that all of the equipment, the clothing, is defensive: shields, helmets, breastplates. But what is interesting, in light of all that battle armature, is verse 15: “Put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace”. What can you put on that will prepare you, this Advent season, to proclaim the gospel of peace? Is it reading Scripture? More time in prayer or meditation? More silence?
Prayer: God of peace, so often we feel like life is a battle— with others, with our employers and co-workers, with disease and poverty, with ourselves. Help me to put on whatever will make me ready to proclaim your peace. Amen.
Tuesday December 13Acts 3:17-4:4
“Repent, therefore, and turn to God, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,” says Peter. In the Bible, repenting is always linked to turning- turning away from sin, and turning to God. But the Bible also knows that turning may happen again and again—that we may lose our way, and get lost, and need to turn and return to God. Turn this day to God, and be refreshed and renewed.
Prayer: Holy God, in Christ you have made for us a new way. Help us always to turn to you. Amen.
Wednesday December 14
Malachi 3:16-4:6
16Then those who revered the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD took note and listened, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who revered the LORD and thought on his name.17They shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, my special possession on the day when I act, and I will spare them as parents spare their children who serve them.18Then once more you shall see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.
“Hail the heav’n born Prince of Peace! Hail the sun of righteousness!” The language for that Christmas carol comes from this passage of Malachi. In what ways is Christ a sun for you? How does the righteousness of Christ affect your life?
Prayer: Righteous One, have mercy on us. Your day is surely coming: let us look to you as our light. Amen.
Thursday December 15
Hebrews 1:1-4
“In these last days God has spoken to us by a Son” says this letter, “through whom he also created the worlds.” The writer of Hebrews tells of Christ not as an infant, but as the word of God, from the beginning of time, when God was creating the heavens and earth. How does that change how you see the baby in the manger?
Prayer: Lord Christ, in the fullness of time, you came to us. Lord Christ, in a mystery of light, you created the world. Lord Christ, you are the word of God. Speak to us now. Amen.
Friday December 16
Hebrews 1:5-14 The angels appear in the nativity story to announce the birth of Jesus. This portion of Hebrews compares the angels and Jesus, and shows that Christ is greater than angels, is God—the angels worship him. We often see angels portrayed in popular culture—but what message do they bring? In what ways are they different from the biblical angels?
Prayer: Christ, you are the son of God, come to dwell with us. With all the angels, let us worship and adore you. Let us ne angels—messengers of your good news. Amen.
Saturday December 17
John 7:40-53
“Surely the Messiah does not come from Galilee!” someone in the crowd around Jesus said. People expected a Messiah who came from a much grander place than the back water town of Galilee. But that is the way God works—in surprising ways, in ways that are not like the ways of the world, to save and redeem to build up and heal. Where is an unexpected place you have seen the work of God?
Prayer: Mysterious One, you do not work in ways we understand, and are seen in places we would not expect. Yet you come to us, and to all, to heal and to save. Amen.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Advent Calendar Week 2
Monday December 5 Psalm 122
In this psalm, the faithful tie together the fate of the temple and the fate of society: they are both bound together, and they will prosper together. The families of the faithful are in there, too- “for the sake of my relatives and friends, I will say “Peace be within you.” In what ways do we see our church relating to the whole community? How often do we see our calling as the church to be the welfare of the larger society?
Prayer: Christ, you came as ruler of the whole world. Help our church to remember and care for others outside our walls. Amen.
Tuesday December 6 Psalm 33
This psalm spans the gamut of a command to praise the God who made all creation, to an assurance that God will keep people alive in famine. The psalm is founded on trust in God’s goodness: “our hearts are glad in him, because we trust in his holy name” says the psalmist. In what do we place our trust? In this Advent season, let us examine ourselves and look at what we really trust in: our own hard work? Luck? The government? Family? A God who comes to live among us?
Prayer: Holy One, we wait for you, for you are our help and shield. Help us always to trust in you, even when the wait seems long. Amen.
Wednesday December 7 Psalm 50
In this psalm, God speaks directly and forcefully to the people. Sacrifices will do no good if the people continue to steal, lie and slander others. It is thanksgiving to God that is seen as an acceptable offering, and a life lived out of that thankfulness. It is very fitting that the Advent season, a time of preparing our hearts for Christ, comes after our American Thanksgiving holiday. Thanksgiving is always the correct way to approach and honor God.
Prayer: Let us glorify you, O God, with lives of gratitude. For you are our God, and will show us salvation. Amen.
Thursday December 8 Psalm 18: 1-3, 18-20
The psalmist tells of calling on the Lord. God hears, and bends the very heavens, and comes down. In what ways is the birth of Christ an answer to prayer? In what ways has God heard your cries, and delivered you?
Prayer: Holy One, you hear us, and deliver us. I will call upon your name. Amen.
Friday December 9 Psalm 102
If yesterday’s psalm was a song of hope and trust, this psalm is a psalm of lament. The singer feels that God is hiding, that God is not acting. And yet…the singer also can lament, freely, because he has already experienced God’s great love and mercy, and looks forward to continued action by God. Have you ever felt that God was not responding to you, was absent? How did you feel? What did you do? The psalms of lament remind us that it is not only okay, but a sign of a firm relationship with God, to lament to God.
Prayer: Awesome God, there are often times when you seem absent. We cry out to you, and trust in you. Do not hide, do not forget, but remember us and hear our prayers. Amen.
Saturday December 10 Psalm 90
How many days have you lived? How many more do you think you will live? “So teach us to count our days that we may gain a wise heart” says this psalm. The goal of gaining and counting up our years is not to amass wealth, or prestige. It is to have a heart that is wise in God. In God’s time, our lives are short—and yet they still matter. “O prosper the work of our hands!” prays the psalmist.
Prayer: Eternal God, a thousand ages in your sight are like an evening gone. And yet, you remember us, and have sent Christ to us. Prosper the work of our hands, that they may give glory to you. Thank you. Amen.
In this psalm, the faithful tie together the fate of the temple and the fate of society: they are both bound together, and they will prosper together. The families of the faithful are in there, too- “for the sake of my relatives and friends, I will say “Peace be within you.” In what ways do we see our church relating to the whole community? How often do we see our calling as the church to be the welfare of the larger society?
Prayer: Christ, you came as ruler of the whole world. Help our church to remember and care for others outside our walls. Amen.
Tuesday December 6 Psalm 33
This psalm spans the gamut of a command to praise the God who made all creation, to an assurance that God will keep people alive in famine. The psalm is founded on trust in God’s goodness: “our hearts are glad in him, because we trust in his holy name” says the psalmist. In what do we place our trust? In this Advent season, let us examine ourselves and look at what we really trust in: our own hard work? Luck? The government? Family? A God who comes to live among us?
Prayer: Holy One, we wait for you, for you are our help and shield. Help us always to trust in you, even when the wait seems long. Amen.
Wednesday December 7 Psalm 50
In this psalm, God speaks directly and forcefully to the people. Sacrifices will do no good if the people continue to steal, lie and slander others. It is thanksgiving to God that is seen as an acceptable offering, and a life lived out of that thankfulness. It is very fitting that the Advent season, a time of preparing our hearts for Christ, comes after our American Thanksgiving holiday. Thanksgiving is always the correct way to approach and honor God.
Prayer: Let us glorify you, O God, with lives of gratitude. For you are our God, and will show us salvation. Amen.
Thursday December 8 Psalm 18: 1-3, 18-20
The psalmist tells of calling on the Lord. God hears, and bends the very heavens, and comes down. In what ways is the birth of Christ an answer to prayer? In what ways has God heard your cries, and delivered you?
Prayer: Holy One, you hear us, and deliver us. I will call upon your name. Amen.
Friday December 9 Psalm 102
If yesterday’s psalm was a song of hope and trust, this psalm is a psalm of lament. The singer feels that God is hiding, that God is not acting. And yet…the singer also can lament, freely, because he has already experienced God’s great love and mercy, and looks forward to continued action by God. Have you ever felt that God was not responding to you, was absent? How did you feel? What did you do? The psalms of lament remind us that it is not only okay, but a sign of a firm relationship with God, to lament to God.
Prayer: Awesome God, there are often times when you seem absent. We cry out to you, and trust in you. Do not hide, do not forget, but remember us and hear our prayers. Amen.
Saturday December 10 Psalm 90
How many days have you lived? How many more do you think you will live? “So teach us to count our days that we may gain a wise heart” says this psalm. The goal of gaining and counting up our years is not to amass wealth, or prestige. It is to have a heart that is wise in God. In God’s time, our lives are short—and yet they still matter. “O prosper the work of our hands!” prays the psalmist.
Prayer: Eternal God, a thousand ages in your sight are like an evening gone. And yet, you remember us, and have sent Christ to us. Prosper the work of our hands, that they may give glory to you. Thank you. Amen.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Advent Devotions Week 1
Advent Devotional Calendar
Monday, Nov 28 Matthew 21:1-11
The crowds had been waiting for Jesus. Or, more specifically, they had been waiting for the Messiah to arrive…and what they got didn’t look anything like what they had been expecting. A guy, a farmer, a country hick, really, on a donkey…..not on a white steed, not with fan fare and trumpets and weapons…but Jesus. Humble, riding on a donkey.
Advent is a time of waiting. What are you waiting for? Or, rather, who are you waiting for? In what ways does the God who comes to us in Jesus Christ not resemble all of our assumptions about what God is like?
Prayer: Holy God, we are waiting for you. Help us always to receive you as you are, full of humility and grace, and not as we expect you to be. Amen.
Tuesday, Nov 29 Matthew 21:12-22
I’ve always been bothered by this passage. Both the people in the Temple, and the fig tree, were minding their own business—just doing what they needed to do to do business, just trying to grow at the side of the road. And Jesus comes and starts tearing things down. But what I just have noticed, in re-reading, is the word ‘prayer’: “My house shall be a house of prayer, and the tail end of the story, “whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive.” Maybe prayer is the point of the story—not getting on with our lives, doing what we’ve always done—but intentionally stopping, and setting aside the day to day, and praying. In faith.
Prayer: Loving and disturbing God, you came in Jesus to set things right, to knock down the things that get in the way of our life with you. Give us breath to pause, and stop, and be with you in prayer at this busy Advent time. Amen.
Wednesday, November 30 Matthew 21:28-32
In the ancient world, when a word, especially by a parent, even more especially by a father, was said, and was heard, it was to be obeyed. Hearing was obeying. There was no alternative. In the parable, however, Jesus tells of a son who at first says no, but afterwards goes and does the work of his father. He then asks the crowd gathered around him: “Which of these did the will of his father?” Is it our words that make a difference, or our actions? Or both? St Francis of Assisi said “Preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary use words.” In what actions are we telling the Good News?
Prayer: Holy Father, let my words, my actions, my whole life be a reflection of the goodness you have given to all in Jesus Christ. Amen.
Thursday, December 1 Matthew 21.33-44
This was a typical setting in Roman-occupied Palestine. A wealthy land owner bought some land, prepared it, hired tenants to work it, and then went away to another part of the Empire to attend to other business affairs. “While the cat’s away the mice will play” is another saying. Things take a wrong turn—making this parable sound more like an episode of CSI than something in the Bible. And yet, Jesus twists the story and begins talking about a cornerstone. “Christ is our cornerstone” we sing. In what ways is Christ our cornerstone, undergirding our lives? How do we produce fruit in the kingdom of God?
Prayer: Holy One, you are the foundation of our lives, you are the strength we seek. Give us eyes to see you, and lives that produce fruit for your kingdom. Amen.
Friday, December 2 Matthew 22:1–14
Why are we hearing these stories about weeping and gnashing of teeth, during Advent? Isn’t Advent a time of expectant—and hopeful—waiting? Why all this talk about judgment? One of the things we might wonder about is the man who shows up without a wedding garment. He was just pulled in off the street, for heaven’s sake! Maybe he didn’t have a wedding garment! But ancient tradition was that the slaves who invited the people in would also give them a wedding garment—specifically so they would be arrayed in fine clothes, and so they could come without feeling shame if they had no good clothes to wear. The king was giving them everything they needed to come and feast—and the man who showed up without it was directly insulting the king. God has given us all we need in Christ—in what ways are we refusing God’s gracious gifts, by refusing to use them?
Prayer: Generous God, in Christ you have given us all we need. By your Spirit, let us clothe ourselves as your children, your beloved guests. Amen.
Saturday, December 3 Matthew 22:15–22
“Whose head is this?” (literally, whose image is this?) And whose title? Jesus asks the crowd. What images do we have of Jesus? A little baby? A smart young teacher? A rebel against the Roman occupiers? What titles do we use—Lord? Suffering Servant? Savior? The image we have of God, and the language we use, often grew out of our childhood experience. What are some others ways you can think of, some other images to use, as we travel through Advent?
Prayer: Lord God, we are made in your image. Help us not to confuse our image with yours, but only to worship you. Amen.
Monday, Nov 28 Matthew 21:1-11
The crowds had been waiting for Jesus. Or, more specifically, they had been waiting for the Messiah to arrive…and what they got didn’t look anything like what they had been expecting. A guy, a farmer, a country hick, really, on a donkey…..not on a white steed, not with fan fare and trumpets and weapons…but Jesus. Humble, riding on a donkey.
Advent is a time of waiting. What are you waiting for? Or, rather, who are you waiting for? In what ways does the God who comes to us in Jesus Christ not resemble all of our assumptions about what God is like?
Prayer: Holy God, we are waiting for you. Help us always to receive you as you are, full of humility and grace, and not as we expect you to be. Amen.
Tuesday, Nov 29 Matthew 21:12-22
I’ve always been bothered by this passage. Both the people in the Temple, and the fig tree, were minding their own business—just doing what they needed to do to do business, just trying to grow at the side of the road. And Jesus comes and starts tearing things down. But what I just have noticed, in re-reading, is the word ‘prayer’: “My house shall be a house of prayer, and the tail end of the story, “whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive.” Maybe prayer is the point of the story—not getting on with our lives, doing what we’ve always done—but intentionally stopping, and setting aside the day to day, and praying. In faith.
Prayer: Loving and disturbing God, you came in Jesus to set things right, to knock down the things that get in the way of our life with you. Give us breath to pause, and stop, and be with you in prayer at this busy Advent time. Amen.
Wednesday, November 30 Matthew 21:28-32
In the ancient world, when a word, especially by a parent, even more especially by a father, was said, and was heard, it was to be obeyed. Hearing was obeying. There was no alternative. In the parable, however, Jesus tells of a son who at first says no, but afterwards goes and does the work of his father. He then asks the crowd gathered around him: “Which of these did the will of his father?” Is it our words that make a difference, or our actions? Or both? St Francis of Assisi said “Preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary use words.” In what actions are we telling the Good News?
Prayer: Holy Father, let my words, my actions, my whole life be a reflection of the goodness you have given to all in Jesus Christ. Amen.
Thursday, December 1 Matthew 21.33-44
This was a typical setting in Roman-occupied Palestine. A wealthy land owner bought some land, prepared it, hired tenants to work it, and then went away to another part of the Empire to attend to other business affairs. “While the cat’s away the mice will play” is another saying. Things take a wrong turn—making this parable sound more like an episode of CSI than something in the Bible. And yet, Jesus twists the story and begins talking about a cornerstone. “Christ is our cornerstone” we sing. In what ways is Christ our cornerstone, undergirding our lives? How do we produce fruit in the kingdom of God?
Prayer: Holy One, you are the foundation of our lives, you are the strength we seek. Give us eyes to see you, and lives that produce fruit for your kingdom. Amen.
Friday, December 2 Matthew 22:1–14
Why are we hearing these stories about weeping and gnashing of teeth, during Advent? Isn’t Advent a time of expectant—and hopeful—waiting? Why all this talk about judgment? One of the things we might wonder about is the man who shows up without a wedding garment. He was just pulled in off the street, for heaven’s sake! Maybe he didn’t have a wedding garment! But ancient tradition was that the slaves who invited the people in would also give them a wedding garment—specifically so they would be arrayed in fine clothes, and so they could come without feeling shame if they had no good clothes to wear. The king was giving them everything they needed to come and feast—and the man who showed up without it was directly insulting the king. God has given us all we need in Christ—in what ways are we refusing God’s gracious gifts, by refusing to use them?
Prayer: Generous God, in Christ you have given us all we need. By your Spirit, let us clothe ourselves as your children, your beloved guests. Amen.
Saturday, December 3 Matthew 22:15–22
“Whose head is this?” (literally, whose image is this?) And whose title? Jesus asks the crowd. What images do we have of Jesus? A little baby? A smart young teacher? A rebel against the Roman occupiers? What titles do we use—Lord? Suffering Servant? Savior? The image we have of God, and the language we use, often grew out of our childhood experience. What are some others ways you can think of, some other images to use, as we travel through Advent?
Prayer: Lord God, we are made in your image. Help us not to confuse our image with yours, but only to worship you. Amen.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Tax Time?
Exodus 33:12-23
12Moses said to the LORD, “See, you have said to me, ‘Bring up this people’; but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’13Now if I have found favor in your sight, show me your ways, so that I may know you and find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.”14He said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”15And he said to him, “If your presence will not go, do not carry us up from here.16For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people, unless you go with us? In this way, we shall be distinct, I and your people, from every people on the face of the earth.”17The LORD said to Moses, “I will do the very thing that you have asked; for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.”18Moses said, “Show me your glory, I pray.”19And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim before you the name, ‘The LORD’; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.20But,” he said, “you cannot see my face; for no one shall see me and live.”21And the LORD continued, “See, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock;22and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by;23then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my face shall not be seen.”
Matthew 22:15-22
15Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said.16So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality.17Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?”18But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites?19Show me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius.20Then he said to them, “Whose head is this, and whose title?”21They answered, “The emperor’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”22When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.
Our calendars say “October 16th” today, but according to the text this morning, it is April 15. Tax Time. And the question posed to Jesus is, is it lawful to pay taxes to the government, or not?
In many ways, this question makes no sense to us. Of course we pay taxes. We pay taxes on everything- gas, clothes, cigarettes, our income. The only two sure things in life are death and taxes. But to the people in 1st century Palestine, this is a loaded question. The Pharisees and Herodians are trying to trick Jesus.
And they start with flattery- “We know that you are sincere. We know that you teach the way of God, and that you show no partiality”- and they use an idiom which means, literally, “you do not look at other’s faces”. Which is ironic, because Jesus’ answer is all about faces, and icons, and images.
But first comes the “Gotcha” question: “Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, to Caesar?” The Jewish people have been taxed by the Romans—in fact, Jesus’ own story began with a tax. Mary and Joseph must travel to Bethlehem, for the census, that all the world should be counted—which was Rome’s way of ensuring an accurate tax roll. Back to the present of the story, the Pharisees and the Herodians think they have him- if Jesus answers “Pay the tax”, then he is colluding with the Roman occupiers, and will lose the support of the common people. If he says “don’t pay the tax” then he is a revolutionary- and a traitor.
Jesus answers their challenge with a question and a challenge of his own: “show me the money”. Actually, he says “show me the coin.” Now coins of the Roam Empire had the image, the icon, of Caesar on them. At this time, archeologists remind us, it would have been "Tiberias Caesar, son of the divine Augustus and our high priest." The coin would have had on the other side an image of the imperial mother, Livia, as the goddess of peace.
And Jesus’ point is this: faithful Jews were to follow the 10 commandments- and the first two are: 1) You shall have no other gods before me, and 2) “You shall make for yourself no graven images”- But the coin of the realm violated both. They featured another god, namely Caesar, and his cast image on the face of the coin.
Which begs the question: what are faithful Jews doing with one of those coins in their pockets? God has forbidden false images and idols. Here are religious leaders, within a stone’s throw of the Holy of Holies, with miniature blasphemies in their change purses. Whether they know it or not, Jesus has just nailed them for hypocrisy. By identifying Caesar’s face on the coin, they have revealed their own inconsistencies. Jesus has just caught them in hypocrisy. Gotcha back!
But this story isn’t a “Jesus is really clever and gets the best of his opponents” story. This story is about whose we are, and who we are, to whom our allegiance is due, and in whose image we are made.
Many of us have heard the moral of the story, the tag line, like this: “render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s, and render unto God that which is God’s”.
Which would be easy, and great, if our lives were neatly divided into God areas and not-God areas, two separate columns in the book of life. And some faith traditions have made distinctions between spiritual kingdoms and authority, and temporal kingdoms and authority. But we understand that God is Lord of all our life—not just a portion of it, not just part of it, not just Sunday morning, but all of it.
“The earth is the Lords, and the fullness thereof,” Psalm 24 says, “the world and they that dwell therein”. That’s us- all of us, all of our life. Despite what we might think, given how much of us our jobs and the banks and the credit card companies own, we are the Lord’s. Our baptism was the sign and seal of that—that God claimed us.
Which is comforting—but doesn’t make Jesus’ challenge any easier. Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and render unto God the things that are God’s- well, that looks like all of it, doesn’t it? Does that mean we don’t have to pay taxes?
Do you remember the story of Jonah we acted out a few weeks ago? In that story, the people of Ninevah even had their animals repent, put on sack cloth and ashes- because all of life, all of their belongings, all of everything was involved in repenting and turning to God.
Jesus challenge to us is to see that everything—everything—belongs to God, is under the authority of God. God’s claim on a person has no limits—it embraces all areas of life. In First Peter, the author writes advice to the church: “Honor everyone. Love the family of believers. Fear God. Honor the emperor”. (1 Peter 2:17) Which sounds like the emperor is held in high esteem- certainly a prescription for paying taxes. But when we look carefully, we see that the emperor is held in the same esteem as everyone else. We are to love the family of believers, the church. And we are to fear God.
Moses feared God, although not in a cowering way. And not in a highly anxious, worrying about what kind of God this God is way. Moses feared God, revered God—and yet was able to go toe-to-toe with God, to argue with God on behalf of the people. Moses had a sense of awe that made him brave. Because Moses knew what kind of God, God is. Not a god like Caesar, capricious and vain and scary, but a God who says “I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will show mercy on whom I will show mercy”…and that is us. We who are made in the image of God, as Genesis says.
So we have Caesar’s face on the coin, and we have the living God, in whose image we are made. A cold metal face on a coin, or the presence of the living God. Which will you choose? To whom do we belong, to whom do we give our allegiance?
I want us to try something this week. When you go home, I want you to look around at your life. The tv? The car? The cat? Your children? But I also want us to wrestle with what Jesus meant when he said “Render unto Caesar…and render unto God.” Because, to be honest, we live in both kingdoms. We pay taxes in the kingdom of Caesar, and we talk about, we pray about, we live in the kingdom of heaven. We are not, I don’t think, going to stop paying taxes any time soon. Some people talk about the church “being in the world but not of the world.” How does our faith shape our daily decisions, including our economic ones? How do we negotiate living out this life of faith, given the economic reality we are in, we who are the 99% the occupiers of Wall Street have been cheering about?
So, as the church, I want us to struggle, together, about what it means to give our whole lives to God. What it means to be made in the image of God—and how that shapes our behavior, our talk, our spending—the whole shebang—all of it, all of life. We can work on discerning, together, how to live before the God in whose image we are made.
12Moses said to the LORD, “See, you have said to me, ‘Bring up this people’; but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’13Now if I have found favor in your sight, show me your ways, so that I may know you and find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.”14He said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”15And he said to him, “If your presence will not go, do not carry us up from here.16For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people, unless you go with us? In this way, we shall be distinct, I and your people, from every people on the face of the earth.”17The LORD said to Moses, “I will do the very thing that you have asked; for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.”18Moses said, “Show me your glory, I pray.”19And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim before you the name, ‘The LORD’; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.20But,” he said, “you cannot see my face; for no one shall see me and live.”21And the LORD continued, “See, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock;22and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by;23then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my face shall not be seen.”
Matthew 22:15-22
15Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said.16So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality.17Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?”18But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites?19Show me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius.20Then he said to them, “Whose head is this, and whose title?”21They answered, “The emperor’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”22When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.
Our calendars say “October 16th” today, but according to the text this morning, it is April 15. Tax Time. And the question posed to Jesus is, is it lawful to pay taxes to the government, or not?
In many ways, this question makes no sense to us. Of course we pay taxes. We pay taxes on everything- gas, clothes, cigarettes, our income. The only two sure things in life are death and taxes. But to the people in 1st century Palestine, this is a loaded question. The Pharisees and Herodians are trying to trick Jesus.
And they start with flattery- “We know that you are sincere. We know that you teach the way of God, and that you show no partiality”- and they use an idiom which means, literally, “you do not look at other’s faces”. Which is ironic, because Jesus’ answer is all about faces, and icons, and images.
But first comes the “Gotcha” question: “Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, to Caesar?” The Jewish people have been taxed by the Romans—in fact, Jesus’ own story began with a tax. Mary and Joseph must travel to Bethlehem, for the census, that all the world should be counted—which was Rome’s way of ensuring an accurate tax roll. Back to the present of the story, the Pharisees and the Herodians think they have him- if Jesus answers “Pay the tax”, then he is colluding with the Roman occupiers, and will lose the support of the common people. If he says “don’t pay the tax” then he is a revolutionary- and a traitor.
Jesus answers their challenge with a question and a challenge of his own: “show me the money”. Actually, he says “show me the coin.” Now coins of the Roam Empire had the image, the icon, of Caesar on them. At this time, archeologists remind us, it would have been "Tiberias Caesar, son of the divine Augustus and our high priest." The coin would have had on the other side an image of the imperial mother, Livia, as the goddess of peace.
And Jesus’ point is this: faithful Jews were to follow the 10 commandments- and the first two are: 1) You shall have no other gods before me, and 2) “You shall make for yourself no graven images”- But the coin of the realm violated both. They featured another god, namely Caesar, and his cast image on the face of the coin.
Which begs the question: what are faithful Jews doing with one of those coins in their pockets? God has forbidden false images and idols. Here are religious leaders, within a stone’s throw of the Holy of Holies, with miniature blasphemies in their change purses. Whether they know it or not, Jesus has just nailed them for hypocrisy. By identifying Caesar’s face on the coin, they have revealed their own inconsistencies. Jesus has just caught them in hypocrisy. Gotcha back!
But this story isn’t a “Jesus is really clever and gets the best of his opponents” story. This story is about whose we are, and who we are, to whom our allegiance is due, and in whose image we are made.
Many of us have heard the moral of the story, the tag line, like this: “render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s, and render unto God that which is God’s”.
Which would be easy, and great, if our lives were neatly divided into God areas and not-God areas, two separate columns in the book of life. And some faith traditions have made distinctions between spiritual kingdoms and authority, and temporal kingdoms and authority. But we understand that God is Lord of all our life—not just a portion of it, not just part of it, not just Sunday morning, but all of it.
“The earth is the Lords, and the fullness thereof,” Psalm 24 says, “the world and they that dwell therein”. That’s us- all of us, all of our life. Despite what we might think, given how much of us our jobs and the banks and the credit card companies own, we are the Lord’s. Our baptism was the sign and seal of that—that God claimed us.
Which is comforting—but doesn’t make Jesus’ challenge any easier. Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and render unto God the things that are God’s- well, that looks like all of it, doesn’t it? Does that mean we don’t have to pay taxes?
Do you remember the story of Jonah we acted out a few weeks ago? In that story, the people of Ninevah even had their animals repent, put on sack cloth and ashes- because all of life, all of their belongings, all of everything was involved in repenting and turning to God.
Jesus challenge to us is to see that everything—everything—belongs to God, is under the authority of God. God’s claim on a person has no limits—it embraces all areas of life. In First Peter, the author writes advice to the church: “Honor everyone. Love the family of believers. Fear God. Honor the emperor”. (1 Peter 2:17) Which sounds like the emperor is held in high esteem- certainly a prescription for paying taxes. But when we look carefully, we see that the emperor is held in the same esteem as everyone else. We are to love the family of believers, the church. And we are to fear God.
Moses feared God, although not in a cowering way. And not in a highly anxious, worrying about what kind of God this God is way. Moses feared God, revered God—and yet was able to go toe-to-toe with God, to argue with God on behalf of the people. Moses had a sense of awe that made him brave. Because Moses knew what kind of God, God is. Not a god like Caesar, capricious and vain and scary, but a God who says “I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will show mercy on whom I will show mercy”…and that is us. We who are made in the image of God, as Genesis says.
So we have Caesar’s face on the coin, and we have the living God, in whose image we are made. A cold metal face on a coin, or the presence of the living God. Which will you choose? To whom do we belong, to whom do we give our allegiance?
I want us to try something this week. When you go home, I want you to look around at your life. The tv? The car? The cat? Your children? But I also want us to wrestle with what Jesus meant when he said “Render unto Caesar…and render unto God.” Because, to be honest, we live in both kingdoms. We pay taxes in the kingdom of Caesar, and we talk about, we pray about, we live in the kingdom of heaven. We are not, I don’t think, going to stop paying taxes any time soon. Some people talk about the church “being in the world but not of the world.” How does our faith shape our daily decisions, including our economic ones? How do we negotiate living out this life of faith, given the economic reality we are in, we who are the 99% the occupiers of Wall Street have been cheering about?
So, as the church, I want us to struggle, together, about what it means to give our whole lives to God. What it means to be made in the image of God—and how that shapes our behavior, our talk, our spending—the whole shebang—all of it, all of life. We can work on discerning, together, how to live before the God in whose image we are made.
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