Bethlehem Lutheran Church

Sermon series: Mission Possible

2010-1-31 800.mp3

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A couple of weeks ago my family and I saw the movie Avatar in 3D.  In all honesty I had seen some of the trailers and had had no interest in going.  But as you probably know, it's gotten a lot of attention.  I'm glad I went.  I kept hearing from people whose opinions I respect rave about it.  It was touted as being a groundbreaking visual experience and it was.  Hard for me to explain exactly how but it was as if it introduced a whole new reality.  It changed the way I saw things around me-long after I had left the theatre.  It continues to make me think about things differently.  I've heard that some people have seen it numerous times because it's a reality they appreciate more than the one in which they live.  We are such a technologically savvy culture that when something comes along that surpasses our expectations, such as this movie, it captures our attention and takes our culture by storm. 

Both of the readings that we heard in this service today are words that are not foreign to the ears of those who worship in a church.  The reading from 1 Corinthians is especially familiar which makes it a challenge to hear it with fresh ears.  It's a meaningful text for many people but its meaning doesn't come because its especially effective at explaining that Hallmark feeling.  Its power comes in its description of a new reality made possible because of what God has revealed to us through Jesus Christ. 

The words from the gospel reading might not be as familiar as the love poem from 1 Corinthians but it is a text that comes up in our 3 year rotation of assigned readings for the church.  It's not an obscure part of Jesus' story.  At this point in Luke, Jesus has been baptized by John and resisted temptation in the Wilderness.  Last week we heard about how he made his way home to Nazareth.  Quoting the prophet Isaiah Jesus clearly stated to his former neighbors who he was.  Then he explained his mission on earth.  He's the one for whom Israel's been waiting.  The one who will usher in a new reality.  The one who will establish God's kingdom on earth. 

That's where the story picks up today. This week's reading begins with last week's punch line.  Jesus says, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing"

So did you hear it?  Were you listening?  When the people of Nazereth heard what Jesus had to say they were initially impressed but then they filled with rage, chased him out of town and led him to the top of the hill so that they might hurl him off the cliff!  I'm not making this up.  That's exactly what I just read!  But when I read it a few moments ago I didn't sense any rage in this room. 

Maybe an experiment can help us get a better sense of what's going on in this.  Be warned:  I'm asking for some congregation participation.  Any one nervous?  Good.  Here we go.

To begin with, everyone who can stand, please do so. Now, I will give a series of instructions and I'd like you to wait until all the instructions have been given.  You'll know when I'm done when I say "go".   When I say "go" I want those of you in the old choir loft over there, I want you to switch places with those who are sitting over here (Langemo section).  Those of you on this side--switch with those of you on this side.  Those in the choir loft...well there's been lots of confusion about sharing the peace so we're going to go back to the way it's done in the bible:  a kiss.  I'd like you to take this time to practice.......ok...GO!

Why are you all looking at me like that?  You're looking at me like I'm crazy!  Of course you know I'm not serious--it was the kiss that gave it away wasn't it-Still the exercise does have a point.  Please be seated.

The truth is we come to this place with certain expectations. Worship experiences will be offered on Sundays.  And during worship:  we'll hear the Holy Scriptures read, the Word will be proclaimed.  The sacraments-baptism and communion-practiced.  The choir sings.  Musicians lead.  We'll hear the organ/ensemble. Sunday school is offered.  These are the more obvious expectations and they are good.  They define who we are.  They keep us focused as a community of faith in Jesus Christ. 

But we also come with expectations for things to not happen.  Great example: when's the last time you came expecting the Pastor to ask you to move from your pew?  So what was your reaction when I did?  I wanted to make you uncomfortable.  I was hoping for a moment in which your mind wondered what in the world was going on and what it was I was up to.  Had I pushed you all and insisted that the service wouldn't continue until you did what I said, I imagine that there would have been a variety of reactions:  some of you would have been angry.  Others, may have sat back down and refused to move.  Some may have found the whole thing amusing, and I suppose there would have been some to follow the instructions without question.  But all of you were caught off guard.  This wasn't what you expected. 

Take the experiment outside these walls and we have similar reactions:...You're going to an event downtown when someone living on the streets stops you.  They want to talk.  They ask you for money or food.  This wasn't want you were expecting.  You're not sure what you should do.  The family down the street is having trouble, you know this.  But one day your doorbell rings.  It's the woman asking if you'll take her son in because she can't take the conflict anymore.  Not what you were expecting.  It's hard to know what you should do. 

These kinds of situations give us a hint of what's going on in Nazareth.  The people come with certain expectations of Jesus.  They had heard about his amazing preaching in Galilee. They were excited to hear what the hometown boy would say.  Jesus read from Isaiah whose words pictured the deliverance of Israel from exile in Babylon as a Year of Jubilee.  All debts were to be canceled, all slaves freed, and all property returned to original owners.  Isaiah was prophesying a new reality-a messianic age, a time when one would come in the Spirit of the Lord to do many wonderful things.  The passage Jesus read offered great expectations to an oppressed people. And then Jesus delivers the punch line with perfect timing:  "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."  Jesus was proclaiming himself as the One who would make this Good News happen.  This is not something far off in the future.  This new reality is possible with Jesus now.

Initially the people were impressed.  They'd known Jesus since he was a boy; he was Joseph's son.  And now here he was making claims to bring God's reign into the world.  How exciting!  Things were about to change and it would start right here, with them. 

But suddenly the atmosphere changed.  Jesus loses that meek and mild manner we've come to expect.  He picks a fight. The Good News is not just for them.  The Good News of God's reign is for all people.  Just as God's grace had been given before-to the Syrian army officer or the poor pagan woman at Zarephath-God's grace would pour out for all people, so that the world would be reconciled to him.  They were included in this plan.  But the plan didn't mean they could stay put.  Life would not be the same.  There were places to go and people to meet.  They would need to follow Jesus into the world hungry for healing and hope.

This was not what they expected. This was a threat to the core of who they understood themselves to be. God's justice for all people?  This was crazy talk Jesus!  Talk that could not be tolerated and should not be heard again! So to the top of the hill, on the outskirts of town they led him.  There was a way to silence this threat.  Hurl the guy off the cliff and there's nothing left to be said.

But of course, that's not how the story ends.  Jesus passes right through the midst of them and continues on his way.  Jesus' mission is accomplished all the way to Golgotha and an empty grave.  His mission was possible because the mission came from God.

As children of God, this mission is passed on to us.  We are invited to follow Jesus into the future he has proclaimed but this news is not just for us and so do we choose to let him walk right on by or do we follow. 

Be warned:  if you follow Jesus will expect participation.  Unexpected things will happen:  you'll find yourself praying for enemies, bringing meals to strangers, granting forgiveness to a friend, extending a hand of compassion, speaking encouraging words, giving money you didn't think you had to people in other parts of the world.

The invitation to God's mission might sound overwhelming.  It's easy for us to get sidetracked with feelings of fear or inadequacy but know that God's mission will go forward, no matter the mistakes you make or the opportunities you miss.  The blind do see.  The oppressed are set free.  The poor hear good news.  The broken are made whole.

The lessons we learn from Jesus are this:  you are here to love God and love others and 2) love requires you to leave your comfort zone.  Make your next step a step of love.  For it is love which brings about the new reality-one that catches the attention of others, and has the power to change the world for good.  The apostle Paul describes the kind of love we're called to practice: Love is patient, kind.  It's not envious, boastful or rude.  It doesn't insist on its own way.  It's not irritable or resentful.  It rejoices in truth.

This love does not come easily.  It might make you uncomfortable.  Unexpected things will happen but as Paul says, it is the more excellent way.

I close with a Franciscan blessing:

May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships so that you may live deep within your heart.  May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.  May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy.  And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that, through your love, you can make a difference in this world so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.*

Never forget that God's love and healing is for all people-those who are here, and those who are not here.....yet.  This IS God's mission-to reconcile the world to him.  It is the new reality and God invites you to play a part so that others might know God's love for them. Amen

*anonymous

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