Immanuel Lutheran Church Weekly Devotion + Monday 1 November 2010

   

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 Romans 3:21-25a NRSV  But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith.

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One of the first classes I took when I started my theological education was at St. Mary’s Seminary - Ecumenical Institute of Theology in Baltimore; the class was Spirituality of the Early Church. A husband and wife team where the instructors; they both had Th.D.s from the Pontifical Institute in Montreal. They were very well versed in the early church and very smart. We were talking about Paul and the early church and the instructor asked the class a question and I remember responding with the verse from Romans 3:23. This was only the second class I had enrolled in and I did not have a very secure grasp of scripture. As I had attended church in the years before I enrolled in this class, I must have been paying some attention to what I heard, for every so often I have heard read this third chapter of Romans. I will not claim that I was always paying attention when the lessons are read, but apparently I was able to recall this verse from Romans.
    Many people love Jesus, but hate the church. All to often, modern culture and media portray the church as composed of a bunch of straight laced, moralistic, judgmental hypocrites. People give this as a reason not to be involved in a church. To some extent there is truth in their evaluation of the composition of the church. But, I have heard it said: “there is always room for one more.” If the church were composed of people who have not sinned, we would have no need for church. We all fall short of the glory of God and sin. There is no getting around it. We come together in church to admit we are sinners, and to ask God to forgive our sinful nature. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. We cannot redeem ourselves. Jesus has redeemed us by his death on the cross, once and for all. Paul is offering us a liberating truth. We are sinners; sinners of God’s redeeming, through the blood and body of Jesus Christ. As we acknowledge this truth, we can get on with our life.

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We pray: Most merciful and loving God, we come before you as repentant sinners, sinners of your redeeming. Walk with us through life, as we face our struggles, our fears, our concerns. Always remind us that we are your beloved children, even when we sin and fall short of your glory. Our steps may be faltering as we walk with you, you are there to help steady us and guide us on our life’s journey. In your Holy Name we pray.  Amen.

Reformation Sunday + 31 October 2010

I have decided to preach from the Gospel of Luke today. The usual text for Reformation Sunday is from John. This is the Gospel text for the 23rd Sunday after Pentecost. The story of Zacchaeus is indeed about being justified by grace. Zacchaeus responds by acting faithfully, by bearing good fruit. Zacchaeus is indeed a son of Abraham, he is living righteously.

This is a story of the one who is a seeker becoming the sought after one. Of all the stories in the Gospel of Luke - this is the one where by the Word of Jesus, a person is justified out right. But Zacchaeus is a tax collector and apparently a very good one at that. Our opinion of tax collectors has not really changed a whole lot since Biblical times. The only difference is that in Biblical times the tax collector was not an impersonal bureaucratic extension of the government, it was an individual who may or may not have been a Jew, who collected taxes for the occupying government of the time - The Empire of Rome. It is one thing to disdain a bureaucracy, but disdain can be much more palpable when it is a person you interact with day in and day out. Zacchaeus is such a person. As a tax collector, the tax collector gets a cut of the taxes he is able to collect. Ironically Zacchaeus means pure one or righteous one. Zacchaeus was not disdained and called a sinner for doing his job of collecting taxes, he was called a sinner for his working with Romans, foreigners, those who are ritually unclean, impure. That he collected taxes and was rich, did not help win him any friends either.

So here is this “little” man who wants to see Jesus. Because of the crowds he cannot see Jesus, so he climbs a tree in order to better see Jesus when he walks past. What the text does not tell us is the motivation behind his wanting to see Jesus. How many of us would want to see the Lord Jesus if we heard he was coming this way? Why would we want to see Jesus, what would be our motivation at wanting to see Jesus? Our motivation or reasons for wanting to see Jesus are as varied as we are. Zacchaeus just wants to see the Lord Jesus; he is seeking Jesus out. Zacchaeus is out on a limb so to speak and Jesus is walking underneath, looks up and says to Zacchaeus: “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. If Jesus turned to any one of us and made the same announcement would we greet the announcement with happiness; would we thing that Jesus was being a bit “forward”or would we be worried that we were behind in our house keeping? I don’t think it would matter to Jesus. Jesus just wants to be with us, us sinners.

As we read this text closely, we realize that things have not really changed a whole lot since the time of Jesus. ‘All who saw it began to grumble and said, “He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.”’ Apparently the crowd grumbled because they must have assumed that they do not sin, they are righteous and pure, pure as the wind driven snow, and wouldn’t Jesus be more comfortable staying with them? Jealousy and envy are still alive and well and these sins still tempt us today. Yet as Zacchaeus is a sinner, so are we. But that does not stop Jesus from asking to be a home with him or us. Jesus is saying to Zacchaeus, I want to be with you and eat with you. Jesus offers us the same invitation today. Jesus invites us to the table where he offers us a meal he hosts, in his holy house.

How does Zacchaeus react to the presence of Jesus in his life, this gift of grace coming to his home? ‘Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord: “Look, half my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.”’ The text does not say Zacchaeus repents or has faith, but Zacchaeus responds to the Grace of God, through the presence of Jesus Christ in his life. He freely responds to this gift of grace. ‘Then Jesus said to him: “Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham.”’ Salvation comes through the Word, the Word made flesh and dwelling among us - Jesus Christ. We seek to see Jesus, we long to hear this word of salvation, this promise of Life eternal offered to us. Luther feared God; he was seeking to find the merciful, loving God. Luther realized there was nothing he could do to attain God’s mercy, love and salvation - no amount of works could justify him. Life in our world is just as chaotic and uncertain as it was in Jesus’ Day, as it was in Luther’s day. Life’s uncertainties are so often beyond our control. When we think we have everything squared away, something happens, a decision is made - beyond our control - and all our best laid plans have gone awry. Through the Word of Christ we hear that salvation has come to us today. Jesus does not offer us an IOU - we have the promise given to us now, today. This is what we believe and hold fast to when everything else around us falls to pieces. This is why we gather together - we hear the Word of God proclaimed, we hear Jesus promise to us of salvation, today; we gather at the table and have the meal that is the physical promise given to us of God’s love and mercy. We receive God’s grace of the forgiveness of our sin given to us by the body and blood of Jesus Christ. This is how we are made righteous - justified by God’s grace through our faith in Jesus. Jesus who comes to us, us poor sinners and says to us: “I want to be with you, I want to stay in your home; I will be with you always.” Listen, Jesus is standing, knocking at the door - open the door and Jesus will come in and be with you and will eat with you. And we say: “Come Lord Jesus, come and be our guest, come and be part of our lives.”     Amen.

22nd Sunday after Pentecost + 24 October 2010

This parable Jesus offers us is like a unique mirror where we can see both sides of our nature, our character. There have been times when my pride and arrogance of who I am has gotten in the way of relationship. A relationship with people and a relationship with God. There have been times when I have recognized that I am a sinner, and come before God seeking God’s mercy and grace.

So what does this look like in our context of life in Absarokee or America in general today? I read a posting on a blog on the internet about how we are consumed by the disease or sin of Perfection. People put on this façade of perfection because they are so insecure of who they are, their situation in life; they want to project this aura of success and being perfect, so others will not see the truth of their lives. The insecurity, the real truth is hidden by this façade of Perfection. It takes a lot of psychic energy to maintain this façade. It takes it toll in our ability to be real and active in our participation in life; it takes a toll on relationships which suffer when we are out of the public spotlight; it takes a toll on us when we expend so much energy to live a lie. The façade of Perfection, takes a toll on our being real with the people around us, our ability to be a friend to others. The disease or sin of Perfection is not just pride but self righteousness. We try to make others aware of just how righteous we are. Yes, Jesus calls us to be righteous in our living and our relationships with each other and with God. Jesus will determine just how well we do this in living our call as a followers of Christ.  

When I entered seminary, I was determined to do the best that I could do academically. I faced some tough competition from very gifted and bright undergrads. I was bound and determined to show them that this 50 year old seminarian was up to the task. I studied long and hard; I worked to make my papers the best pieces of writing they could be. I worked hard at presenting to the seminary community this façade of a hard working, dedicated student, striving to be the best seminarian. Yes, it is one thing to work hard be diligent in my studies. It is quite another to consciously make the effort to prove just how diligent and dedicated I was in my demeanor and attitude. At seminary our faith is being formed, we are engaged in a process of change, as we study to become a pastor. The process is faith formation and not Perfection. This faith formation is a process you cannot fake. I had to surrender my vain pride and say to myself that I was just a struggling student like anyone else, a sinner of God’s redeeming. When I could do that, then I could really be engaged in my faith formation.

A former professor at Gettysburg told me this parable to illustrate this. There was a man who spent much time and treasure in therapy with psychologists. He felt he had an inferiority complex. Many years and many therapists came and went and he still suffered with this inferiority complex. He was referred to a therapist and he went in for a session and explained just how this inferiority complex complicated his life. The therapist listened attentively and at the end of the session he leaned over to the patient and said to him: “You don’t have an inferiority complex, you are inferior.” When the patient heard this and understood just how this is true, he then honesty live his life.

The times when we behave like the self righteous pharisee, trying to convince ourselves, others and God that the façade is who we are, relationship is broken. When we finally decide the maintenance of the façade is not worth it and we give it up, we become like the tax collector. We can admit to ourselves, our friends and to God, who we really are. We can be real genuine, honest in who we are; we can be in relation ship with each other and with God. The tax collector wants to experience God’s grace, love and mercy. We all want to share such an experience. When we give up our pretense, when we tear down the façade and let go and accept who we are, God’s grace can come into our lives. When we let go and give ourselves to God, we experience God’s grace in our lives we build our relationship with God; when we offer grace, mercy, forgiveness to others we build our relationships with each other. Is it easy to chuck the pretense, destroy the façade - No, it is hard honest work. But the results are so much more rewarding. Instead of looking for friends, Jesus calls for us to be a friend, just be who we are - sinners caring for sinners.  Amen

Monday Devotion + 18 October 2010

NJB Luke 18:1 Then he told them a parable about the need to pray continually and never lose heart.

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There is a good reason Jesus told his disciples to continually pray. Life is not easy, there are times when we experience hardship, pain, loss; there are times when we become aggravated, frustrated, frightened or anxious. Jesus knew the disciples, as they engaged in ministry, would face such difficulties. We are called to be followers of Jesus - if we accept this call to proclaim the Gospel, to live the Gospel - as Jesus' disciples, we can expect our share of difficulties in doing this, on top of all the difficulties of engaging in living life we normally encounter. Jesus spent much time in prayer as the Gospels tell us. Jesus knew the power of prayer for him in discerning where and how God was calling him; Jesus grew in his relationship with God through prayer. Jesus shares with us this gift of prayer and urges us to use it. God will always hear us. We believe and trust this by faith, that God hears us when we are in prayer with God. God is not the unjust judge in this parable from Luke. The unjust judge finally gave in to the persistent widow. God wants us to be persistent in prayer, but unlike the unjust judge - God will always hear us when we come to our Creator in prayer. We can unburden ourselves before the Lord God Almighty. God can take it and God can handle it when we are angry, hurt, confused, disappointed. We can let go and let God deal with it, especially during the times when we can't. Because when we don't, we can act out our frustration, our anger, our pain; we lash out at others, others who are just innocent of any wrongdoing. Prayer makes a difference in our lives. Prayer can help us diffuse our anger and pain so we do not lash out at others. Prayer changes our attitudes towards those who we care about, about events or situations that concern us, prayer changes us in our attitudes towards those who may aggravate us. Prayer makes a difference for us and those for whom we pray. Prayer changes us; Jesus tells us to use pray continually in our lives.

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We pray: Lord you extend this invitation to us of prayer, persistent, continual prayer. Help us to make use of this gift. Help us to unburden ourselves to you O Lord. You alone O Lord, will take the time to hear us and be with us, when no one else will or can. Forgive us when we ignore such a loving gift of your willingness to hear us always. As we engage in prayer with you Lord, help us to change, help us to grow our relationship with you, so we willingly, continually and persistently come to you and offer our thoughts, concerns, our hurts. In your Holy Name we pray. Amen.

Monday Devotion + 11 October 2010

Luke 17:15-19 RSV Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then said Jesus, "Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" And he said to him, "Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well."

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This is the passage in Luke about 10 lepers who called upon Jesus to have mercy on them. Jesus only tells them to go and show themselves to the priest. Obeying Jesus, they travel to present themselves before a priest and they realize they are healed. Only one returns praising God and giving thanks to Jesus at his feet. Are we to castigate the 9 who did not return to thank Jesus? No, they are only obeying Jesus' command to show themselves to a priest. Does faith have anything to do with being healed? No, for the 9 where healed by the Word of God in Christ Jesus. Faith has to do with responding to the power of God in our lives and recognizing everything comes from God. The Samaritan praises God and give thanks to Jesus. This is worship pure and simple; this is what we do as Christians when we gather together. We respond to all God has done for us and praise God; we give thanks to Jesus for going to the cross for us to forgive our sins. We are expressing our faith and trusting in God's guiding hand in our lives. We express our faith in the promise Jesus offer us to be with us always, even unto the end of the age. We express our faith, exercise our faith and live our faith through praise, thanksgiving and our worship together as children of God. Faith is given to us to be shared, when we share our faith with each other we grow stronger and deeper in our faith.

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We pray: Lord you have the power to heal us. We give you thanks for your healing presence in our lives. At times we fail to respond or recognize your healing presence, forgive our waywardness. Open our eyes to your presence with us. May we recognize your renewing and healing power in our lives - we praise God and give thanks to you, our healing and loving savior, Jesus Christ. In your Holy Name we pray.  Amen.