tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72856608719323166762024-03-18T08:27:42.998-07:00Rev. June Wilkins SermonRev. June Wilkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05379751460851476288noreply@blogger.comBlogger121125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285660871932316676.post-79257694561246878872024-03-18T08:26:00.000-07:002024-03-18T08:26:41.404-07:00Hate Your Life<p><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">John
12: 20-33 <br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Lent 5<br />March 16, 2024</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmXjlk6ITwIemrpG6vwYTuVSS7mVxyqDSb1E0bJQUBCSvlnIzpwDsw0Y9vfFMD_um_8Fsr_YJSH54nd3lU4-MWBPbu7m0AWoKOLB1QpKhLN-UGYoEE2jMKNi30YdVMofOFZ7qYks6N4Vxb0Q__4VNJePNCZB4Ods8yxiC6w_-OqNR908JBZjauir4GwLXn/s3082/wheat%20field%20crows%20and%20cross%20mildorf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1479" data-original-width="3082" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmXjlk6ITwIemrpG6vwYTuVSS7mVxyqDSb1E0bJQUBCSvlnIzpwDsw0Y9vfFMD_um_8Fsr_YJSH54nd3lU4-MWBPbu7m0AWoKOLB1QpKhLN-UGYoEE2jMKNi30YdVMofOFZ7qYks6N4Vxb0Q__4VNJePNCZB4Ods8yxiC6w_-OqNR908JBZjauir4GwLXn/s320/wheat%20field%20crows%20and%20cross%20mildorf.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Wheat Fields Crows and Cross</i><br />Milford</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Some
Greeks ask to see Jesus.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It doesn’t say a whole lot about these Greeks,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">but we can infer some things.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It says that they were Greeks.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In other words, they were Gentiles by </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">birth,
non-Jewish people<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And it says that they were in town <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">worshipping for the festival of the Passover.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Maybe
they’ve converted to the Jewish faith.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Not unheard of, even in that time. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Or maybe they haven’t converted, but they’re
spiritually curious,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Like people today they’re trying out different
things,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">hoping to find the one that fits.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Or maybe they are just religious tourists <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">fascinated with other people’s spiritual
practices.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Like people of different faiths, or no faith, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">visiting churches and temples, like people
come to town <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">for a Irish Festival or an Italian Festival.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">For
whatever reason they’re there,<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">now they want to see Jesus. They said they
just want to <u>see</u> Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">They don’t want to hear Jesus or get to know
Jesus. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">They want to see Jesus. Jesus had developed a
reputation for <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">doing many impressive things and they just
wanted to see him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Maybe see a miracle, if he’s up to it. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If it were modern times, they might have just
wanted<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">to get a selfie with him to show their
friends.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">They<u> just</u> want to see Jesus. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Maybe tell
everyone they saw Jesus. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just observe,
not get involved.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Like they told Andrew, and Andrew told
Phillip,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and Andrew and Phillip told Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“We want to see Jesus, please. “<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">They’re very polite.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">So
, I don’t think these Greeks at the festival –<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">or even Andrew and Phillip – were quite prepared
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">for the speech that they got from Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Somehow their arrival prompts Jesus to give<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">a short sermon to everyone around him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He tells them that this is it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Now</span></u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> is the time for
Jesus to be glorified.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And for that to happen, he was going to die.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Uh,
we just wanted to see Jesus. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Jesus
talks about his death. He compares himself to wheat,<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">saying if a grain of wheat falls to the earth
and dies, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">it spreads it’s seeds around so that more can
grow.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In other words, Jesus death isn’t just a death<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">it’s for the benefit of all people, so that
others can live.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Now,
<u>we</u> understand and believe that in Jesus death there’s life,<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">that somehow because Jesus died and rose,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">that <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>gives us eternal life. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>But
there’s more to it than that, <o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">because Jesus also says this life and death
cycle applies to us too: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He says, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Those
who love their life lose it and those who <o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">hate
their lives will keep it for eternal life.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus is expecting
us to die too. Maybe even the Greeks.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
Greeks are getting much more than they bargained for here.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">So
really, hate our lives? What does Jesus
mean by that?<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Should we reject everything on this earth <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and just focus on Spiritual things? </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Should we
be negative all the time always complaining? </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Should we<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>be outraged by everything </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">that happens this world?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(some Christians have taken Jesus words to
mean just that.) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I thought we were supposed to live with
gratitude every day. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">That seems more healthy and Christ-like than
hating our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I
mean, I don’t hate my life, I actually
love my life.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I love my job, my husband, my home, my job, my
friends.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I love doing the things I enjoy. I love my
life. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Does that mean I’m going to lose it?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And
those Greeks just wanted to see Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">So
I don’t think Jesus wants us to actually <u>hate</u> our lives.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus is using hyperbole again, exaggeration,
which he uses often,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and which often throws people off today.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">What
I think he means is this:<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We should not cling to the things of our
lives,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">we should be willing to give them up if we
need to.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We should long for God’s kingdom, God’s ways,
God’s will.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And do everything to see it come to reality.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Even if gaining the kingdom means losing
something <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">that you have grown fond of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and even love.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Hate your life. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Don’t love all the things of this world so
much<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">that you won’t trade the gospel for them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The
gospel of Jesus, the gospel of serving others,<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The work of justice, and love requires
sacrifice.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As Christians, we are asked to give up things
that <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">we might love in order to see God’s vision
through.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Those
who cling to the things of this world,<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the power, the comforts, the predictability,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">their status, their reputations, even their
traditions,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and refuse to give them up for God’s vision,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">will find that the things they cling to are
temporary<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and unsatisfying. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Jesus
is saying don’t love the things of this life so much,<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">that you are not willing to release them for
God’s sake.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">To
quote Martin Luther in <i>A Mighty Fortress</i>:<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“Were they to take our house, goods, honor, <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">child, or spouse, though life be wrenched
away, <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">they cannot win the day, the kingdom’s ours
forever.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And
all those poor Greeks wanted to do was see Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">This
world is filled with stories of people who cling to their <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">power and their money and their comfort and
won’t <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">give it up, and this results in terrible
consequences<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">even if it means taking many, many lives.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Kings
and queens and presidents and pastors,<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">prime ministers, and CEO’s and senators and representatives
,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">who hold onto their positions long after
they’re time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The
president of Syria refused to leave office,<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">even though it has meant 14 years of war,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and his beautiful country basically destroyed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And we have our own issue in this country with
that, don’t we?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">73% of our Senate and 50% of our congress is
over 70 years old.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And both of the people running for president
now<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">were born in the 1940’s<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And one of them just promised a “bloodbath” if
he loses.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12pt;">And you and I cling to our love of fossil fuels and
plastics<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and other conveniences, even though it’s wreaking havoc<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">with our environment. We’re just beginning to see the results now<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and our children and our grandchildren will have <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">to deal with more repercussions in the future.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12pt;">We cling to our right to own guns so hard in this country<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And just in the first three months of this year <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">5000 people already have been killed by gun violence. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span><b><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12pt;">And we see what’s happening in our own churches.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I don’t have to go in to statistics and details because you know.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Is it because we can’t let go or let in new ideas?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Is it because we’re afraid of the changes that <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">younger generations will bring?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Are we loving and grasping so hard to it that it’s losing its life?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><i> Pr. June, we didn't want to hear all this.</i></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12pt;">Hate your life. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Be uncomfortable
with the way things are.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Be uncomfortable with the privileges you have and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">see where you can
give your power to someone else.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Don’t be so
attached to the way it is that you fight the change<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">that the Holy
Spirit is trying to make.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Be willing to let
it go so that the Kingdom of God can come to earth.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Let go of your
life, so that the Kingdom of God can flourish.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Pr. June, we just wanted to come and see Jesus today.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">So
see Jesus. See what Jesus did.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus loved his life, I’m sure. He loved his
friends,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">he loved his ministry, he loved to eat and
drink.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He loved healing people and telling stories
about God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And then he stepped aside in death and let his
followers take over.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Jesus
had the ability to live eternally on earth and rule forever.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But Jesus didn’t do that.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Maybe it would have been nice to have him around.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But he didn’t want to be about him, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">he wanted it to be about us, and about future
generations <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">who will share the gospel with their future
generations.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus became the seed that bore much fruit.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Generations and generations of fruit.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Like
those Greeks at that festival.</span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We want to see
Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And certainly we certainly have. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We have seen the light in the world<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">that scatters the darkness, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and we can testify to that.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We have seen death and life again.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">But
Jesus doesn’t just want us to <u>see</u> him. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus wants us to <u>be</u> him. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus doesn’t need religious tourists who<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">just say they saw him and behave the same as
they did before. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus wants disciples.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus saved us, so we could <u>be</u> him to
the world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Be his hands and feet, and do his work.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And also, when the time comes, Jesus wants us
to<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“hate our lives” to let go of what we have, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and let the seeds fall, so that others can
live.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt;">“The hour
has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. <sup style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></sup></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a
single grain; <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">but if it dies, it bears much fruit. <b><sup><o:p></o:p></sup></b></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Those who love their life lose it, <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and those who hate their life in this world <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">will keep it for eternal life. “<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Let us see Jesus. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Let us truly see Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And let
us <u>be</u> Jesus for the sake of the world.</span></span><span style="background: #F9F9F9; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Rev. June Wilkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05379751460851476288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285660871932316676.post-39373452609510429542024-03-13T13:30:00.000-07:002024-03-13T13:30:23.040-07:00Just As Moses Lifted Up the Serpent<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtnbUzh4QVwhZq9JmRfa87Ra4s6htDljfOJXOzwt_XbYgf8W_qbwFJqtZv9KfWGkzgglTy2gGOUUUKBAhc15wMmr49emyzDS3N338TQznFtwecb3qn5xe50CLLZct_9QCDRZeLIe-DpfhlWVRm7DMhIcNOEN1PZwS2DMM0ywoz06a-SEWFykKyGnos-bRT/s588/Crucifixion%20Paul%20Chester.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="588" data-original-width="507" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtnbUzh4QVwhZq9JmRfa87Ra4s6htDljfOJXOzwt_XbYgf8W_qbwFJqtZv9KfWGkzgglTy2gGOUUUKBAhc15wMmr49emyzDS3N338TQznFtwecb3qn5xe50CLLZct_9QCDRZeLIe-DpfhlWVRm7DMhIcNOEN1PZwS2DMM0ywoz06a-SEWFykKyGnos-bRT/s320/Crucifixion%20Paul%20Chester.png" width="276" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Crucifixion </i><br />Paul Chester</td></tr></tbody></table><br />John
3:14-21 4 Lent March 11, 2018</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The
Book of Numbers is a book which shows<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">to its readers or hearers how God was present <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">with the Israelites even during </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">their 40 years in the wilderness.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In
this time in the wilderness, God is an unpredictable <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and sometimes dangerous character, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and in this early stage </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">of
their relationship between the Israelites and the </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">all-mighty and powerful
creator of the universe, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the people aren’t really sure how to handle this new relationship.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Some
people have likened dealing with God in this time <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">to dealing with a nuclear reactor. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">If everything goes well, things are wonderful and </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">great power is
harnessed. But if one piece is forgotten or overlooked,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">it’s disaster for everyone involved.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It’s
main character in the book is Moses. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The one with the direct link to God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God and Moses and the people had a complicated relationship.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God would talk to Moses, Moses would tell the people what God said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The people would talk to Moses,</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and Moses would tell God what the people said<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In churches
we were told to avoid triangulation as much as possible.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Having a conversation with someone through another person<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">to try and influence their behavior is not a good idea.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But right at the beginning, our first biblical hero is caught in the worst one.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">By
the time of Numbers, the Israelites<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">had been out in the wilderness for a few years.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The miracle of the Red Sea was a distant memory to some of them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And the people were cranky and frustrated.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">“Why did we ever leave Egypt” they said over and over.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">“Oh, we should have stayed in Egypt. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />
Things were so much better there.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Meaning while they were slaves to the Egyptians.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The
people turn on Moses and his brother Aaron repeatedly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Then God would threaten to do something horrible to the people<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and then Moses would beg God not to do it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And God would usually give in. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And this would be repeated over and over.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It was not a healthy relationship.<br />
<br />
In Chapter 21, which we read today,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Moses and the Israelites find themselves
</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">again
by the Red Sea. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Where it all started, where God had done such amazing things for
them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But instead of remembering God’s saving acts,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the people again start whining and crying,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">“Why
have you brought us up out of Egypt, to die?<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We
used to have food there.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We
hate this manna that you’ve given us.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In other words, we have nothing to eat . . .<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background: white; font-size: 12pt;">and we don’t like it anyway. Like toddlers.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Finally,
the story says, God had had it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The people had forgotten about what he had done at the Red Sea.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And they insulted food that God has made them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The nuclear reactor was springing a leak.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />
So God released poisonous snakes and the
people<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">were bitten and many of them died.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The people begged Moses to go back and tell God they were sorry</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and they asked Moses to ask God to take away the serpents.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Now,
I always ask, “did God actually send snakes to them?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Or were God’s chosen people having such a terrible time<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and they reasoned that God’s anger with them was the cause?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This is something I debate whenever we read the Hebrew Scriptures.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Regardless -- Where the snakes came from <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">is not the most important part of this story.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The remedy is the most important part.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">After
the snakes, Moses went back to God and, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">asked God to take the snakes away and of
course, God gave in.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But the remedy was unusual, a paradox really, a mystery.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The people wanted God to “take away the serpents from us”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But God did not just take the serpents away.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God doesn’t even make the serpents stop biting them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background: white; font-size: 12pt;">Deliverance does not come in the way that they
expected.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The
remedy was this:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God tells Moses to make another poisonous serpent -- <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">a permanent reminder of this episode with the snakes -- <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and set it on a pole and raise it up in front of the people.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Moses did it, he made the serpent out of bronze and put it on a
pole. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It doesn’t go into any detail about how Moses established </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">a bronze
workshop in the middle of the desert.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Regardless, he made this bronze snake on a stick and<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Whenever those who were bitten and destined <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">for death looked at the serpent, they would live.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God
didn’t take the serpents away.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The snakes didn’t stop biting,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the remedy wasn’t to remove the evil.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The remedy was to look at the evil,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">see the problem, remember the pain, and then they would live. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The only remedy was for them to look at the snake that bit them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In the
John story, Jesus tells Nicodemus<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">that he will be like that snake, he will be lifted up<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">so that we can look at him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus, on the cross, is lifted up, so we can look at the snake of
violence<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and in the same way, we will live.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We have
lived with Jesus death and the cross <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">as a symbol for so long, and we have tamed and </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">domesticated it so much, that
many people forget what it was: <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">it was an instrument of torture, capital punishment, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">a public display of the power which some people have<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">to control and subdue, to silence, and oppress others.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The cross is a symbol of our violence towards others.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It’s
violence that still used today to the same ends.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Like in war, when we dehumanize others in order<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">to feel good about killing them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In the systemic racism that has existed in our country<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">since its foundation and still drives our economy and function.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In mass incarceration of large portions of our population,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">in our stubborn refusal in this country to join most of the rest of the<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">developed world and abolish the death penalty,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In our neglect and suspicion of the poor around us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In our hatred of immigrants, which seems to rise<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">to ugly levels during election years.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In our worship of guns and when we turn our head </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and shrug our shoulders
at the gun violence in this country </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">as if there is nothing we can do about it
an we just have to live with the killing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This is the same violence that we see represented<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">in the cross of Jesus: violence that dominates and oppresses.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And like
the Israelites blamed God for the poisonous snakes,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The church has often</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> said that
Jesus died on the cross <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">to satisfy <u>God’s anger</u> at us for our sins.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">That makes it easier for us to take, as if it was all God’s <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">idea and doing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But the
cross was not God’s invention, it was <u>our</u> invention.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Humans made this method of torture and have made <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">other, countless methods of torture too.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God did not kill his son to satisfy God’s wrath,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God heard <u>our</u> wrath. God heard our constant </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">request for someone’s
blood -- And gave us his own blood
instead.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God said, “You want someone to die? I’ll die for you!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God’s
remedy for all this violence and blood lust was<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">not to just take it away and pretend it wasn’t there.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Instead, God lifted it up, made it the central symbol of our <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">religion, a constant reminder of what we are capable of.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Like that
serpent in the wilderness, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the remedy to our evil is to look at it, recognize it<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">deal with it, acknowledge it as a society,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">as a country, as a whole species.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">To look at the violence that we cause, aid, abet,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">demand, ignore, and avoid.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And maybe one day, we will put an end to it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As
Moses lifted the serpent in the wilderness,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Christ has been lifted up on the cross for us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Look at the cross, look into the snake of human violence that bites us
all.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Because deep in that cross is also God’s power of resurrection,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God’s power to make life again.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Because, in
spite of all we can do and have done to each other,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">in spite of the violence, in spite of the hatred,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and cries for blood, and apathy, and greed, and unchecked privilege, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">in spite of our comfort with other people’s suffering,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God still so loved this world that he gave his only son <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">to die for us, in front of us, at our own hands.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In order that one day, we, as the human race, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">will really learn the lessons of the cross,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">and maybe, one day, the world might choose life instead of death.</span> </span></p>Rev. June Wilkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05379751460851476288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285660871932316676.post-66674672404263383602024-03-13T13:25:00.000-07:002024-03-13T13:25:25.126-07:00Jesus is Angry<p><b> <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">John 2:13-22</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b>Lent 3<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b>March 3, 2024<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZT4Dfu2m9SqkEQk2tDn-bpmkXZnQm3RrOKEgdFIlICiG5AAFmZtKzt9DteVM83URIvu9FYvyEQKp_kkmB8jqQLiTwIv4nPoLOskZeRX-xFhjCmirkVkwoUb8oHI0P8eCegRs6COHgpKwEsYtF3zUUNHYD-eR5diTuB6QlQpjw4ohxhV-5UF9P37Khq3WZ/s400/Jesus%20is%20really%20angry%20in%20the%20temple%20Dinah%20Roe%20Kendall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="271" data-original-width="400" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZT4Dfu2m9SqkEQk2tDn-bpmkXZnQm3RrOKEgdFIlICiG5AAFmZtKzt9DteVM83URIvu9FYvyEQKp_kkmB8jqQLiTwIv4nPoLOskZeRX-xFhjCmirkVkwoUb8oHI0P8eCegRs6COHgpKwEsYtF3zUUNHYD-eR5diTuB6QlQpjw4ohxhV-5UF9P37Khq3WZ/s320/Jesus%20is%20really%20angry%20in%20the%20temple%20Dinah%20Roe%20Kendall.jpg" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Jesus is Really Angry in the Temple</i><br />Dinah Roe Kendall</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I think we mostly lie
to think of “nice” Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
Good Shepherd Jesus, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the
one who welcomes children Jesus, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the healer Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But
todays Jesus is not that nice Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This
week he’s angry Jesus. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I mean
he was also angry Jesus <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">just last
week when yelled at Peter,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“Get
behind me Satan.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">but we
don’t like to remember that Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And
this week he’s demonstratively angry Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">They often call
this the “cleansing of the temple”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and
I’ve never liked that term.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Cleansing
seems more innocuous, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">like
Jesus was giving it a nice scrub and polish.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And
that’s not what Jesus is doing here.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And
cleansing of the temple gives me the impression<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">that
it was once and done. Now the temple is now <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">clean
and the problem is over.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But what I think Jesus
was doing here would better <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">be called “Jesus having and angry protest at the
Temple”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He saw
something that was wrong, that went against God’s plan, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and he
was showing that with a demonstration. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And
Jesus crossed a line that lots of people think <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">you’re
not supposed to cross when he was protesting: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">he destroyed
personal property<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">he
caused physical destruction to a business.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If he
crossed that line today, lots of us would just call<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus
a “thug” and disregard what he had to say.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And
sure enough, in Mark’s Gospel it says that this<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">was
basically the thing that made the religious <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">authorities
look for a way to arrest and crucify him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Some
say Jesus did it in order to get into trouble<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and
get arrested. But I think that’s silly.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I say
he did it for the reason that so many other<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">people
get angry and protest,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and
why some people cross that line:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Things
were just plain wrong needed to change.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So what was Jesus
so angry about?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Some people think it was just because they were
selling<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">stuff in the front of the temple.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And some pastors and denominations have made a hard <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and fast rule that there can be no selling of things
on <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">church grounds, and they feel they’re saving their
churches<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">from this temptation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But I don’t know that that is what Jesus was mad
about.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Like we could just stop selling things and Jesus
would be happy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I remember
preaching about this story coincidentally<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">one Sunday when the kids were having a sub-sale<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">for their youth trip, it completely slipped my mind.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I wasn’t telling people not to sell anything, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">but I had the distinct feeling that THAT was not<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I had to go, yeah, but kids what you’re doing is
just fine. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I don’t think the problem is selling things and <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">even what they were selling. And we shouldn’t think
just<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">because we put a ban on selling things, we’re scott
free.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I think it’s deeper than that.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So it
would probably help to explain why people were </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">selling things in the front of </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the temple in the
first place?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The reason that they </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">were selling was so people could buy
them </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">to do sacrifices which was the main element of Jewish worship at the time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
original idea was that p</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">eople worshipped
God by giving <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God
back the best of what God had given them. A sacrifice.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A gift
from the heart. Most people would bring their own animals,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">or
they would trade whatever they produced <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">for an
animal to sacrifice.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But
when the temple was built in Jerusalem,</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">people
would travel there to do their worship.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So they
couldn’t bring one of their own animals <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">or a
bunch of fruits or vegetables. So people started to<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">sell
animals in front of the temple for money.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And because Jews
couldn’t use Roman money,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">there
were money changers, who would exchange <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Roman
money for Jewish tokens for a price<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">so
then you could use them to buy the animals.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I
don’t think this system in itself was what made Jesus so angry.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It wasn’t outrageous. It all made perfect sense. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">They
weren’t selling terrible elicit things, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">or
necessarily bad things. It was all stuff for worship.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">All of
these things were proscribed by religious law.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But
what had developed was two things. One:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The temple
that was built for everyone to worship God<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">had
become a place of exclusion. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Even
though I’ve heard that it was on a sliding scale,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">still,
it was only a place where only those with money <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">could
worship. The poor were kind of left out.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The whole purpose
of the temple <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and
the act of sacrifice, was so that people<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and
communities would grow closer to God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So
they could understand God’s will for humanity.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So
they could live out God’s dreams, and live in a just</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and righteous community,
caring for the poor, the orphan and the widow.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But
they actually built a system that excluded<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">those
that they should be caring for.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">That’s
what “market places” do. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Only
those with something to trade can participate.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And two:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Instead of serving
God like they were supposed to,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">they ended up just “doing temple”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
purpose of it had become to make money.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus saw
that the place was full of people<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">who
were just “doing temple” in order to sell things. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">They
were not considering<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">how to
serve God or to serve other people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">they
were just there to make a buck.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">They
were not concerned with God’s will,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
worship of God wasn’t changing them at all.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And
this is a warning for us too.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We could be “doing church” just right.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We
could say all the right things, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">sing
the right songs, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">have
the most accurate budget, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the
best classes, the nicest facility, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the
best most organized ministry teams, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And
sometimes just doing this we inadvertently exclude<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the
people that we’re intend to be serving.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Lots of people
have been “doing church”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">for a long time, but many have forgotten<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">what
we were “doing church” for.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">People
can go through their whole lives<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">doing
the practice of Christianity and never<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">have
it change them, never have it effect their lives.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We forget what God wants out of this whole thing:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">justice,
mercy, forgiveness, loving our neighbors,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">loving
our enemies, self sacrifice, faithful service, and love.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And if
we’re not doing it all for God’s vision for us<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and
for this world, what is it all for?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And there <u>are</u>
quite a few churches that “Do church” so well, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">that
they’ve turned the whole process into a money making venture.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Not
sub-sales for the youth group to go on a trip, but big money. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">That
is a temptation that many churches have faced <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and
that many churches and church leaders have given into: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">They find
that they are making a lot of income,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and
then they serve that purpose instead of the ones <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">that
God has for them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Those
churches have become market places,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and
people are commodities.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">That’s why it might be best to be a church like ours,</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">just a
little less than breaking even.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
No one is making the big bucks off of</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Christ Lutheran church, right? Temptation thwarted? Of course not.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Lots of churches still put all their focus on the <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">anxiety
of having enough money. They make that<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">their
whole focus and they forget about their mission<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and their
purpose for existing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">They just
become market places that doesn’t make money.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So to be clear, I
don’t think that Jesus thought that the<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jewish way of worship was uniquely bad, or that the Jewish
way </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">of life needed to be overturned more than any other,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">but I do think that he saw that the intent for
worship </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">was going off the rails. That there was a lot of doing, and a lot of profiting,
and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">a lot of excluding people who were supposed to be
served,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and <u>not</u> a lot of heart-changing going on.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As Amy Jill Levine
said in her book that we’re reading for </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Wednesday: <i>“Worshippers
who go through the motions, but neither repent in the hearts, nor act with love
of neighbor and love of stranger. Ritual without repentance, financial
contribution without fellowship and community, prayer without actions.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And these are
things that all houses of worship of all faiths </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">have to </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">struggle with at one time or another.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 273.75pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">When
I was in seminary, one summer<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 273.75pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I went to Guatemala for a month by myself to learn Spanish. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 273.75pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I still don’t speak Spanish, but that’s another story.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">When
I was there,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the
church in the town where I was staying <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">was
in the center of the city near the town square.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I
noticed on Sunday, there was this weird class dichotomy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
only people actually worshipping were the more<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">well-to-do
people. I mean there wasn’t anyone in that town in Guatemala </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">who was even as
well off as the most modest middle class<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">people
in the United states, but still there was a dichotomy<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">of
class in who actually attended church.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Like
the owner of the house I was staying in went, but the housekeeper and her
daughter did not.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Now
in front of the church on any day of the week,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">there
were always vendors there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">That’s
where a lot of the poor people were.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">They
were standing in the town square <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">trying
to sell things to tourists and other people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And
on Sunday morning, on the way to worship<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the
vendors were doubled. They were selling rosaries, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">wooden
crucifixes, all types of religious articles. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And while I
was in worship on Sunday,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">every week, there was a boy who was visibly paralyzed
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">would
come into church on a homemade wooden cart </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and roll around the church asking
for money from all the worshippers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And
especially the out-of-towners like me.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Whenever
he would come to me, I would just <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">shake
my head at him and go back to focusing<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">on
my worship, like every other person in that church did.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">And I have to
admit, this was the thing that annoyed me.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This
was bothering my religious experience.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I
was annoyed by the selling of religious trinkets in the front,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and
the boy asking for money right in the middle of worship.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It
wasn’t “right”. The Church after all was a “sacred space” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Sitting
there, I actually thought of this scripture, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“Don’t<i>
make God’s house a marketplace</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I
felt more than a little self-righteous as only a young person<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">whose
just completed their first year of seminary can be.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But
I ask you now, what system would<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus
have protested then?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Which
table would Jesus have turned over?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Would
Jesus have scolded the poor people<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">who
were selling and just trying to make a living?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Would
he have scolded that young paralyzed boy<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">rolling
around church bugging the worshippers?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Honestly,
I think that if Jesus was there that day<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">he
would have left all <u>those</u> tables alone.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I
think Jesus what Jesus would have done was turn over<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the
table of my heart that felt entitled to have my sacred moment.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He
would have turned over my table that <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">was
actually thinking that the poor people <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">were
bothering my experience of Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And he would
have turned over the table<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">of everyone else there who looked down on that young
boy<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and would have nothing to do with him, a</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">nd the table </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">that had only the more well-off in worship who didn’t engage <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">with
the rest of the community.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 273.75pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The tables that put a barrier between God and others.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 273.75pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 273.75pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He
would have turned over the tables of the <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 273.75pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">system that allowed people to go to worship,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 273.75pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">but never touched people’s hearts and lives and attitudes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus didn’t
just talk about his anger in the temple that day.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He
didn’t waste time telling a parable, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">or
asking a clever question.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">That
day he flipped it all over.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He
turned over a tradition that he had been a part of,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">that
his parents had been a part of,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">in
a religion that he loved and honored.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He
turned it over. He disrupted everything.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Everyone
was disrupted that day.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He loved God and God’s people so much <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">that he disrupted what they were doing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Richard Rohr a
well known Catholic theologian said:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Christianity is a lifestyle - a way
of being in the world </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">that is simple, non-violent, shared,
and loving. </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">However, we made it into an
established "religion" </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(and all that goes with that) and </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">avoided the lifestyle change itself.
</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">One could be warlike, greedy,
racist, </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">selfish, and vain in most of
Christian history, </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and still believe that Jesus is
one's "personal Lord and Savior" . . . </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The world has no time for such
silliness anymore. </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The suffering on Earth is too great.</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">The suffering on Earth </span><u style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">is</u><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> too
great.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We
<u>don’t</u> have any time for this silliness.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This
“doing church” without allowing <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">our
hearts to be changed we don’t have time for it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And
God isn’t having it any more either<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God
is disrupting us now in so many different ways.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God
isn’t being nice and gentle these days.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Things
are changing quickly and the church<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">is
struggling to keep up with the Holy Spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">To be honest,
God is kind of being a thug right now.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Not
having any regard for our property and our possessions,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and
the things that we have valued and held as sacred all our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We
have to do this whole church thing <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">completely
different than we once did it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And
that is okay, because I think what was happening <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">before
was probably making Jesus angry.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God
loves us so much that the tables <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">are
being turned over on us and all we know.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">And that,
brothers and sisters, is good news.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>Rev. June Wilkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05379751460851476288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285660871932316676.post-69789177402069812442024-02-26T11:43:00.000-08:002024-02-26T11:43:55.714-08:00The Messianic Secret<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>Mark 8:31-38<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tm9kWHTUgL_SbO9ZqX3M4Jxg_jIDH9utMydBlU-n3P7X7F2FwfHMxIBtXG9TgzW2Ctk6iBq9CEcamQO_IGG2LgX1vRWI944KWTlkt824vC_LtS2-aHn8pp_KjpqaMRUSmz12xNUQFBoBUIOtFQUCg4fDM45XK-Gw7zXweFDjrjAzF0OD9sRJoNz6oLf6/s753/The%20Fifth%20Station%20Ang%20Kiukok.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="601" data-original-width="753" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tm9kWHTUgL_SbO9ZqX3M4Jxg_jIDH9utMydBlU-n3P7X7F2FwfHMxIBtXG9TgzW2Ctk6iBq9CEcamQO_IGG2LgX1vRWI944KWTlkt824vC_LtS2-aHn8pp_KjpqaMRUSmz12xNUQFBoBUIOtFQUCg4fDM45XK-Gw7zXweFDjrjAzF0OD9sRJoNz6oLf6/s320/The%20Fifth%20Station%20Ang%20Kiukok.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Fifth Station</i><br />Ang Kiukok</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Lent 2<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>February 25, 2024</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Do you know about the Messianic Secret?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Throughout
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the Gospel of Mark <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">right after Jesus does
something great,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">he warns everyone sternly </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">not
to tell anyone about it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Ann just asked me about this
a couple of weeks ago.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Bible scholars called it “The
Messianic Secret”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">When Jesus heals a leper, Jesus tells him<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">not to tell anyone, but go
right to the priest.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Several times Jesus tells the
unclean spirits<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">not to make his identity
known to anyone.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">After he heals Jairus daughter, it says<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">“he strictly ordered that no
one should know about this.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">When he heals the man who is
deaf,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">he orders the people there
not to say anything.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">When he heals a blind man, he
tells him to go straight home<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and not to talk to anyone.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Later on in chapter 9, Jesus goes up to the mountain <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">he’s transfigured and he
appears with Elijah and Moses,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">he tells the three disciples
that are there, not to tell anyone -<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">presumably not even the other
disciples -<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">until after he had risen from
the dead.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It’s a curious thing about the Gospel of Mark<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">it shows up a bit in the
other gospels, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">but not half as often as it
does in Mark.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">There are a lot of theories
about it,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But there are still debates
about what it means.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The Messianic Secret.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In today’s reading we have another instance.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus asks the disciples “Who
do you say that I am?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And Peter shares the
revelation that might have<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">surprised the other disciples.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Maybe Peter even surprises
himself - <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He says, “You are the
Messiah.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Which, of course, is Jesus’
true identity.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But again, Jesus warns them,
sternly, “<u>not </u>to tell anyone about it.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But juxtapose this with the rest of today’s gospel<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">where Jesus is talking about
his suffering and death.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And about that, the gospel
makes the point to say,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">“All <u>this</u> he said
quite openly.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So, he works miracles,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">he was transformed on the
mountain,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">he talks to ancient prophets.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The demons, who live in some
bad part of <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">an other-worldly dimension are
controlled by Jesus,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The sky has opened up several
times<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and God has claimed Jesus as
God’s own son.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus <u>is </u>the Messiah,
the son of God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">About this stuff, Jesus says
to keep it a secret.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Don’t tell anyone about it. For
now at least.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />
But then when he talks about the fact
that he<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">must suffer and be rejected
and killed by the authorities.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">(And after three days rise
again.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">That stuff, Jesus says quite
openly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">No wonder Peter rebukes
him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">What are you doing, Jesus?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus is just getting
notoriety, he’s getting a good following,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">maybe people who want to give
financially to his mission,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and then he starts talking
about the fact that he’s <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">going to die, and then he
talks about crosses.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As we talked about in our Wednesday
night discussion,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Crucifixion was a form of
capital punishment reserved for <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">those who rebelled against the
Roman Government,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It was a public display,
people could walk around and witness it,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">it was made to be extremely
painful and humiliating.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And it was a public display
so those suffering </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">could be an example of what not to do. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Lots of people had
seen crucifixions. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">They knew they were horrible.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So everyone would have
been very aware of what the cross was<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and it would have had a
terrible stigma.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So Jesus was saying:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m glad you like me, and what I do, and what
I say. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Come follow me. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But just know I’m going to
get the worst death penalty.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And you should too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus was a PR disaster.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Why would he do this? <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Why
does the gospel writer Mark do this?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Like
I said there’s not complete agreement from scholars,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">so
that means I can choose my favorite one and tell you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And what I think what both of them are trying to say
is:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">we cannot understand the
glory of Jesus <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">without first understanding
the suffering of Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus knew that people would naturally gravitate<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">towards someone who could
perform miracles,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">someone who was special, who
could heal others.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And he did get crowds of
people who were impressed </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">with him and they gathered around him as long as he <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">was doing these special
things.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But that’s not what Jesus wanted,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus didn’t just want people
who would admire him,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus wanted people who would
follow him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And Jesus wanted people who
would sacrifice themselves<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">for the sake of others and
the good of the world.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus knew that his true glory was <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">not
found in his power to do miracles. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus
glory is found in him giving his life away for others. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus always wanted the great and glorious
things</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">about him to be put in the context of the cross.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So he wanted all the miracles
and healing to be revealed,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">only AFTER his death and
resurrection.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So now we do know the
whole story. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We know about Jesus
crucifixion, resurrection, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and all the miracles and
healing, and parables.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But still, we try to avoid
that cross.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I tell this story all the
time,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In my first congregation, one
year we just did Palm Sunday<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">on Palm Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We did not read passion story, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the story of Jesus
crucifixion, during Palm Sunday worship.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I think the music person
wanted to do it or something.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So after worship, a delightful,
happy woman came up to </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">me after the Palm Sunday worship in a big, floppy,
yellow, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Easter hat and said, “I’m so glad we didn’t read that terrible story </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">of
Jesus death. It’s so depressing. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This is like having two Easter Sundays in a
row!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And in my true new pastor
without an editor style,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I told her “And this is why
we will never do this again.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I still thank her for the moral
clarity she provided.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But I’m not just talking
about her. She was a nice woman.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I’m glad I didn’t say, “Get
behind me, Satan!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">anywhere in our conversation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As humans, our tendency is to avoid pain,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">we usually avoid conflict and
trials, we deny our sorrow and grief.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We tend to seek out comfort,
fulfillment, joy<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We look away from pain and
sorrow,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We try to climb the ladder up
the next rung<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">trying somehow escape anything
that might lead to suffering.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12pt;">And we equate power with leading an unchallenged life,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">with ease, with cleanliness,
with a full dose of regular happiness.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So we expect God to be found
in these places,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So we<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>worship God in large, ornate cathedrals,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">or state of the art buildings
with expensive special effects.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Or at least with good air
conditioning and heating.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But Jesus was not found in a comfortable palace,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">or a cathedral, or even in a
quiet, peaceful room most of the time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus was not found on the
top of the ladder.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus was outside, walking
the hard road.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He was with the suffering,
the poor, the lame, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the hungry, the sinners and
the prostitutes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus was found with the
people who weren’t able <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">to run up the ladder of
happiness.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Who could not escape their
own suffering,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And the Jesus we know best, was found on a cross.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As my Lutheran theology
professor used to say, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">“<i>This is how God wants to
be seen:<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">on the cross with his arms
stretched out, <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">not even able to scratch
his own nose</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In this absolutely powerless
and vulnerable position,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">we find Jesus true power, in
giving himself for others.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And there’s no way the
disciples<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">or anyone else would
understand that until they saw it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This is the way of Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Death to life. Self sacrifice
and resurrection.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And it’s not just Jesus’
story,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus means to take us with
him too:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">“Those who want to become my
followers,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">should deny themselves and
take up their cross.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We are called to suffer with other people,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">to have compassion, to feel
their pain and suffer with them,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">To make compromises that we
would rather not make.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">To give up things that we
want or need in order to provide <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">for our children and other vulnerable
people.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We give our lives and time to
our communities,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Our hearts break with
compassion for people we don’t know.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We are drawn to places of
poverty,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">of loss, of sadness, grief,
and illness.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We pray for people halfway
around the world<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We spend time in hospitals
and hospices,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">in addiction clinics, in
homeless shelters, and food pantries,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">we go to El Salvador, Haiti,
Syria, Ukraine, Gaza.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We help other people carry
their crosses.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This is the way of the
Christian.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Not basking in Christ’s glory
and power <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and demanding it for
ourselves.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But following the way of the
cross.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">This is the paradox that Jesus proclaims.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">This is the meaning of the gospel.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In order to have our life, we
give it away.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">There is great power in
giving ourselves away.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This is the Messianic Secret:</span></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We never get to the true life
of Jesus if we <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">keep trying to avoid the
pain, the sacrifice, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the suffering, the cross.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We follow a crucified savior.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Walking with Jesus means
letting our hearts be broken for others.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It means bearing the cross.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It means we save our life by
losing it for others.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Rev. June Wilkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05379751460851476288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285660871932316676.post-40634931175049389842024-02-21T12:21:00.000-08:002024-02-21T12:21:40.016-08:00The Temptation to Be Normal<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Mark
1:9-15 February 17, 2024 Lent 1</span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSfbjn-q_7zoq207TJJQaNR-nYp_NvNLG8R3czvYySeiR5mY7fcw01_CxtHMFAMMYkMP3PljSTJ5sQrFwwCNebvmUpjgbfy39jkS7L9BKTbd12Pcq1JwQOMZxp462NyJ4MwziSGEvttWv5KoXa2-jL-l1zTcL_N6GOGyXtsoG_MHDQGRuthNs6EID-4gD_/s1000/Temptation%20of%20christ%20J.%20kirk%20richards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="665" data-original-width="1000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSfbjn-q_7zoq207TJJQaNR-nYp_NvNLG8R3czvYySeiR5mY7fcw01_CxtHMFAMMYkMP3PljSTJ5sQrFwwCNebvmUpjgbfy39jkS7L9BKTbd12Pcq1JwQOMZxp462NyJ4MwziSGEvttWv5KoXa2-jL-l1zTcL_N6GOGyXtsoG_MHDQGRuthNs6EID-4gD_/s320/Temptation%20of%20christ%20J.%20kirk%20richards.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Temptation of Christ</i><br />J. Kirk Richards</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So Jesus’
baptism was lovely.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The heavens were
torn apart </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and the spirit came down<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and the voice of
God said “you are my beloved. “<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It was a
beautiful thing I’m sure.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Everyone loves a
baptism.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But Jesus
had no time for a baptismal party.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">No time for punch
and sheet cake <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and those little quarter-cut
pimento cheese sandwiches.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Because the nice
spirit who just descended lightly on Jesus<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">just picked Jesus
up and threw him out into the wilderness.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And when we think of the
wilderness today,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">it usually conjures up lovely
images:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A camping trip, a weekend
getaway, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">maybe a little fly fishing, respite
from our normal life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But in Jesus time, the
wilderness was not <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">a place people ever really
wanted to go.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It was desert. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">There were no comforts, no resources,
no springs or streams, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">no plants for food, no shelter.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Besides the wild beasts
mentioned,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">There was also the real
possibility of wild people<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">who were out to do others harm.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In the bible, the Wilderness
represented dangerous, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">unruly, risky places.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Places that most people would be
avoiding.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We could consider the wilderness
as<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the opposite of “normal and
respectable”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Yet this is where the Spirit
drives Jesus right after his baptism.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Right after the anointing of him
and the beginning of ministry.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The Spirit sends Jesus into a
place that people would try to avoid.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="color: #010000; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And not only is Jesus driven
into this <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">uncomfortable place.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But it says he was there to be
tempted by Satan.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Notice
that in Mark’s gospel – <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">what most people
think was the first gospel written down -- <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">there is no
explanation of what that temptation was,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This
whole story is just one sentence:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: #777777; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">13</span></sup></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He was in the wilderness for forty days, tempted by Satan; <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and he was with the wild beasts; <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and the angels waited on him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Matthew and Luke embellish this
basic story in their gospels.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">When traditional, US Christian
preachers<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">talked about temptation, it has
usually been about vices:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">drinking, drugs, lust and sex, decadent
dessert –<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">compulsions to do something, or
consume something.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Habits or indiscretions that might
enjoyable or<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">satisfying at the moment, but
can get us into trouble.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And then as church people, we would
pat ourselves on the back<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">because, for the most part we
have avoided these temptations<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">or we have given the appearance
that we have avoided these temptations, to excess anyway.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So then, temptation is only
someone else’s problem.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But are those things out there
really our greatest temptation?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Was that Jesus temptation?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">There is a young and popular
theologian <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">named Shane Claibourne.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He said in a seminar that he
taught,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">that normally, when we testify
to Jesus power to transform lives, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">we usually talk about Jesus transforming
people who are in<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the hold of one of these vices.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12pt;">We talk about people who have
given into these “temptations”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">so much that they have fallen outside
of our mainstream -<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">People who are not seen as “normal
and respectable” –<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">like people who suffer from
addictions, people who are <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">homeless or those who commit
crimes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And then they follow Jesus and
they can come back</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">into the mainstream, they become “normal and respectable”
again. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">They, once again, fit in. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Those are the kind of stories
that Christians seem to love, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and I know that I’ve told a few.
And they are wonderful to hear.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But Shane said his own story with
Jesus <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">was almost opposite from that.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He had a very “respectable” life,
one others would aspire to.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He was destined for “normal and
successful”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He was homecoming king, had good
grades, he was popular<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">was going to go to college, and would
have had a lucrative career.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But then Jesus came in and
messed everything up for him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">His faith journey moved him to
go to India to work </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">with Mother</span><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
Theresa helping the poorest of the poor.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">After he came back from there,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He started community with other
Christians in <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">one of the poorest neighborhoods
in Philadelphia.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He lived on the streets or in a
group home.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He does not have what most
people would call<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">a “normal and respectable life”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God called him outside a normal
life to something different.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And I think that may be closer
to Jesus journey.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus temptation wasn’t drugs,
or drinking, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">or dancing, or lust or any
number of vices<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">that we might think of as
temptation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">His temptation wasn’t to steal,
or murder,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">or take advantage of people. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12pt;">Don’t you think that his
greatest temptation</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">was just to live a normal life? <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">To follow the path of everyone
else around him?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">At Jesus baptism, the heavens
opened up and God spoke,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">claimed Jesus as God’s beloved,
set aside for a special call.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I guess Jesus could have opted
for a normal, quiet life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He could have chosen to get
married <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and have children, open up his
carpentry business, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and just go to synagogue on Saturday
night.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He could have just followed the
call of the world, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">to be normal and respectable and not make any trouble for
himself or others.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But instead Jesus chose to
follow his own call.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God’s particular call for him –
savior of the world.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And what if that is really our
greatest temptation too?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">To <u>always </u>go with the
status quo, to not make any trouble,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">To always follow the thoughts
and actions<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">of the people around us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">To always follow the way of the
world,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and do what is “normal and
respectable”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and live up to those
expectations.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Now I’m not saying that the Spirit
is calling each one of us<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">to leave our jobs and family and
drop out and live in <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">communes in poor neighborhoods.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">That is not my call.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">That may be the call for some of
us, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">but not all of us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="color: #010000; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But I do think that God is calling
us, as people<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and as a congregation, to be
different.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12pt;">To be different than the
dominant culture.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">
We are called:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">-To trust God above our own
abilities,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">-To not put our trust in the
market system<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">or the blind pursuit of wealth
and security.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">-To trust in God’s abundance. To
share what we have.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">-To not fall in step with the
drums of war and violence.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">- To forgive instead of holding
grudges.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">-To not fear those who are
different from us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">-To care for other people’s
families as much as we care for our own.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">-To love and pray for our
enemies, to turn the other cheek.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We are called to follow Jesus
teaching.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Our temptation is to fall in
line with the rest of the world.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But we are called to be
different. Not mainstream.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And that might mean that we sometimes
(often?)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">have to choose what is not seen <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">by some as “normal and
respectable”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It means that sometimes we’re
seen as trouble-makers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Satan would love for us to be
like the rest of the world.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Maybe our biggest Christian
success stories are ones where <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the “normal people” finally fell
out of step </span></span><span style="color: #010000; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12pt;">with the status quo. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12pt;">Where we were seen as a problem for everyone
else.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Where “normal people” were
called out of our “normal lives”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">for the sake of the gospel and
the good of the world.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In our baptism, God chose us to
do his ministry in the world.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We are called to walk with Jesus
in our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And sometimes that means making
difficult choices.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Our baptismal call is not always
easy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Like Jesus’ road, our road won’t
always be smooth and pleasant.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Our trust in the Holy Spirit can
take us to the wilderness.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But God promises to be out there
with us,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and that is the good news we’re
asked to believe.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Rev. June Wilkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05379751460851476288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285660871932316676.post-12130069588117170832024-02-12T12:36:00.000-08:002024-02-12T12:36:14.337-08:00I've Been to the Mountaintop<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> <b>Matthew
9:1-9 <br />Transfiguration <br />February 11, 2024<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK4WFj_1R2U1U46h8UDZ9oiVy-DWRqU2fnXnEffDVMU6CT7A6032VdZXF-yldbl8h_jfLdbed73pv4yTHdWrW2jmyewt7y4YuoqPRb7V6Q7XWHEDwFL0c11LWxTvm-iFvmap6LUsimTed0bPFW3Bb91Y_VZ8_n5N9nFv-eplpSXdfpWlZhJacSE3iWKWZA/s541/Transfiguration%20james%20janknegt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="541" data-original-width="402" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK4WFj_1R2U1U46h8UDZ9oiVy-DWRqU2fnXnEffDVMU6CT7A6032VdZXF-yldbl8h_jfLdbed73pv4yTHdWrW2jmyewt7y4YuoqPRb7V6Q7XWHEDwFL0c11LWxTvm-iFvmap6LUsimTed0bPFW3Bb91Y_VZ8_n5N9nFv-eplpSXdfpWlZhJacSE3iWKWZA/s320/Transfiguration%20james%20janknegt.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Transfiguration</i><br />James K. Janknegt</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Like
most kids when I was young, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I hated going to the dentist.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I had lots of interesting things wrong<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">with my mouth and the visits usually didn’t go well.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />
But as I was in the dentist chair, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I was able to get through the whole thing<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">because I knew that after I was done, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I would get a trip to the treasure chest.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Oh,
the treasure chest!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It was this giant<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- well,
it seemed giant at the time – <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">wooden treasure chest. Or maybe it was plastic. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And it was filled, filled with prizes:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">little toys, bubble gum, candy, balloons, high bounce balls, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">everything of my fantasies when I was a little kid.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Just
knowing that the treasure chest was there<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">made it tolerable to have strange people<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">shove their hands in my mouth and cause me pain.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I
could get through the pain and discomfort<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">because I knew that something good was coming up.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I had a vision of something better to come.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">That’s
what visions are for.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">They get us out of our fear and pain,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">out of the panic of right now,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and they give us a vision of a better future.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Visions
can be powerful things.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Not only do they help us get through the bad times,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">they drive us to create what we imagine and see.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A vision. Hope of what is to come.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This
is Transfiguration Sunday,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We hear the story of how Jesus <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">brought his three closest disciples<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">onto the mountaintop to pray.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And when they get there, they see a vision.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Now
they had been with him a while now.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We’re already in chapter 9 here Mark only has 16 chapters<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The disciples had seen and heard some amazing things,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">They had also seen and heard some scary things.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Immediately
before this trip up the mountain,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus tells his disciples that they would go to Jerusalem <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and there he would undergo great suffering and be killed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The disciples were surely anxious when they got <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">to this point in their journey with Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Peter, James, and John were probably<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">steeped in these concerns while they’re all up there praying.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Maybe they were wondering whether they did the wrong <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">thing, leaving their nets behind and following Jesus. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Maybe they should have just stayed home.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But then, as they were sitting up there praying,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">they see their friend, Jesus –<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The one whose ministry they were just doubting –<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">transformed, changed, dazzling white, glorified and perfect.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and standing with their two most beloved prophets:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Elijah and Moses.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This
is not just a miracle for the sake of a miracle.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It is a vision. A vision of hope for the disciples to keep with
them <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">in their back pockets as they go on their way and follow Jesus to
the end.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I don’t mean to make it trite, but it’s the treasure chest<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">that they can remember when times get difficult for them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We
know that beyond this chapter, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the story is not so wonderful.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">They don’t stay on top of the mountain in the glory of God,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">they go back down the mountain.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">They meet demons and evil spirits.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And then just two chapters later, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">they do go to Jerusalem, and there they find<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">doubt, betrayal, denial, abandonment, great suffering, and death.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But
the leaders of the disciples have this vision with them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A vision of Jesus, Jesus resurrected.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A vision of hope for them to travel with.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Something that tells them that the trouble will all be worth it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">No matter how dark it gets, God’s will get the last word.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God
has not left us alone in this world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God gives us visions to help us on the journey.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As Christians, we don’t have visions of toys in a treasure box.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But we do get visions of justice done. We do see wars and
conflicts end,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">we do see people getting fed, we do see how far we’ve come <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">in terms of racism. How far we’ve come in terms of women’s rights,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and how LGBTQ people are treated today verses even 30 years ago.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">There’s more to do, but we also get glimpses of what the world can
be, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the vision of God’s will done on earth as it is in heaven.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We
have seen God’s glory here today.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Occasionally, just fleeting flashes. Never
the full picture.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But those visions keep us going when times get tough.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><o:p> </o:p> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Whenever
I hear the story of Transfiguration,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and the disciples’ trip up to the mountain top,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I always remember this Martin Luther King Jr. speech.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It’s been called “<i>I’ve been to the mountain top</i>”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He gave before striking sanitation workers in Memphis. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He says:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I
don’t know what will happen now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve
got some difficult days ahead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it doesn’t
matter with me now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because I’ve been to
the mountaintop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I don’t mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like anybody, I would like to live a long
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Longevity has its place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I’m not concerned about that now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just want to do God’s will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And He’s allowed me to go up to the
mountain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I’ve looked over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I’ve seen the promised land.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I may not get there with you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a
people will get to the promised land.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And I’m happy tonight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not
worried about anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not fearing
any man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mine eyes have seen the glory
of the coming of the Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><o:p> </o:p>It
was a moving speech. And it’s all the more poignant because</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">it was given on April 3<sup>rd</sup>, 1968.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The next day he was shot and killed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Even though he knew there was still so much work to be done, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Even though he seemed to know he wouldn’t live much longer,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Martin Luther King had a vision, he knew that God would prevail.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Like
James and Peter and John, he had been to the mountain top.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He had seen a vision of God’s glory.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">That gave him confidence that his hopes would be reality one day.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Even in the face of death, it gave him the courage not to give up,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and he shared that vision with others.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God
gives us visions. <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Visions of hope in
our times of trial.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Visions of Easter in times of Lent. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Visions of peace in times of war.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Visions of life in times of death.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Even when all hope seems lost,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Our eyes <u>have</u> seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Link to see MLK's Speech, April 3, 1968</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhv86Dc89FRMCooQt3N4jcYfj0e8cQctiRtm8YfhkEePH9ejndjTS1z2e44KGH-bgBZZ2dxfQD3p21p6pI3C96r0iLoYmjtqUY41lFXEKRLvtXZfVG94ZPDzqE9rZHZa0tmasAkjwlltO8Q9ExzVyfgGyHE1fcVJFi2bwtsAwaKhYjcR6gb17gQ74ZblXB_" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><img alt="" data-original-height="81" data-original-width="900" height="29" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhv86Dc89FRMCooQt3N4jcYfj0e8cQctiRtm8YfhkEePH9ejndjTS1z2e44KGH-bgBZZ2dxfQD3p21p6pI3C96r0iLoYmjtqUY41lFXEKRLvtXZfVG94ZPDzqE9rZHZa0tmasAkjwlltO8Q9ExzVyfgGyHE1fcVJFi2bwtsAwaKhYjcR6gb17gQ74ZblXB_=w320-h29" width="320" /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></p>Rev. June Wilkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05379751460851476288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285660871932316676.post-9656604192523428772024-01-17T09:42:00.000-08:002024-01-17T09:42:18.899-08:00Generosity is Contagious<p><b> <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Luke 20:45-47; 21:1-4</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>January 14, 2024<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>Stewardship</b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeI4aoracM5R8fFVM-GHQS0FNn_mFLrGkAOuS3jJG6-gNVQlygWQ21g20euswUlLeWgkeq07N7Kb-9K5rRm4qCntibu55HWoEPQKYYs9bQCrEKVPhl9c8ungqWVAT4I8emV4KNoPN5is9ME1Ke0g9NPenSlZM0OIIaBdQmRrkYEzrZced-WSLgMGSrQ6Jj/s3782/widow's%20mite%20kathleen%20peterson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3782" data-original-width="3782" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeI4aoracM5R8fFVM-GHQS0FNn_mFLrGkAOuS3jJG6-gNVQlygWQ21g20euswUlLeWgkeq07N7Kb-9K5rRm4qCntibu55HWoEPQKYYs9bQCrEKVPhl9c8ungqWVAT4I8emV4KNoPN5is9ME1Ke0g9NPenSlZM0OIIaBdQmRrkYEzrZced-WSLgMGSrQ6Jj/s320/widow's%20mite%20kathleen%20peterson.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Widow's Mite</i><br />Kathleen Peterson</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">When you think of
money, what is your initial feeling?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">My guess is it’s not completely positive.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Lots of us have negative thoughts of money,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">It’s a cause of stress for a lot of people,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">and we think of greed, corruption, the root of all evil.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Maybe you think I’m going to ask you for some right now.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">If you are like
me, or most people, you have a <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">complicated relationship with money.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">It’s a joy, and a pain. It’s a source of pride, comfort,
and anxiety.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Habits and feelings about money are <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">hidden deep within the recesses of our brain<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">some where we aren’t even consciously aware of them. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Money is the cause of many family arguments <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">and many divorces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">It’s a motivator for crime, violence, and murder, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">It causes wars, devastation and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>famines.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">It can at once be freeing and constraining,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">There is not one
life in here that is not in some way,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">determined or influenced by money.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Money controls where we live, what we eat, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">where we go, how much power we have or don’t have.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Money is a huge determinate in our lives,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">in the lives of others, and in the world.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">And yet many
people of faith feel like God doesn’t <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">have anything to say about money. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Like it’s outside of God’s concern.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I’ve told
you this tidbit, but it’s so good I have to tell you again.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Mark Allen Powell, professor at Trinity
Seminary </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">who wrote a book about stewardship </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">tells the story about baptism in the
first century.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">New converts were devoting themselves to Christianity<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and getting baptized.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span> </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But when
they were baptizing in Gaul<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the men who were soldiers <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">would go into the water to be baptized and hold their <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">dominant hand up outside the water because<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">that was the hand that would hold their sword<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">when they went into battle.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">They
wanted to reserve that piece of their lives<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and not have it influenced by Christ’s teachings,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">so they could go on and continue to do what they were doing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Dr. Powell
says that this is how many people feel about money.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He said we want to hold our wallets outside of the waters of
baptism<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">so we can do whatever we want with it and not worry about God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Never mind that money is mentioned over
800 times in the bible,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">lots of us feel like money, and our struggles with money are
unholy,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">are somehow outside of God’s realm.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But
obviously they are not.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The reading that we’re using for the next four weeks is just one
example.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus and his disciples are in the temple.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus is teaching them, but everyone can hear.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He’s verbally sparring with the chief priests, scribes, and
elders,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">basically all the church leaders around him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And he’s using the people around him as examples.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And he points out three things:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">One the corruption
of the church leaders<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and how they take money from the poor.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus calls it devouring widow’s houses.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Obviously, a dishonest use of money.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Second
there’s the people who are visibly well off<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and are putting lots of money into the offering box. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">They got a lot of attention and recognition,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">but their giving had little effect on their wallets and on their
hearts.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And then
there is the widow who comes to the temple.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">to the temple and this woman only puts two small coins in<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">like two pennies, almost nothing into the offering.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But Jesus
says, in his estimation, she was the most generous<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">even though her gift was the smallest.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Now I
don’t know that Jesus was advocating<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">for giving your last dollar away to someone else.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I don’t think that this is about what percentage<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">of our gifts should go to the religious institution of your choice
-<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Which is what most sermons about this story end up being about.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">What Jesus
was lifting up, was the generosity of this woman’s heart.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">She was living generously. She felt this gift when she gave it. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It meant everything.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
scribes took from others.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The rich people gave and it possibly didn’t even challenge them at
all.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But when this woman gave, it was all she had. She felt it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Maybe
because she gave that day,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">she may not have eaten,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">she might have gone without heat or water.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Maybe it was ridiculous of her to give it away,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Maybe Jesus was lamenting the fact<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">that the church didn’t take care of her like it should.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Those
things all might be true, but her gift was the<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">most generous and valuable in God’s kingdom.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Because it was the hardest to let go of, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">it took all of her heart to do it, and the woman still did it. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Normally, no one would notice a gift that small, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But Jesus made sure that her gift didn’t go unnoticed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And the
gifts that we give, that are a struggle for us to give <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">are the most generous.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Something that is hard for us to give up.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">whether it’s<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>time, efforts,
compliment, thanks,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">patience, empathy, concern, forgiveness, time, assistance, or
money.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Whatever
is hardest for you to part with, that is generosity.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">That is giving with your heart. And generosity is contagious.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">There was another
woman here today.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A few years ago
in January, it was bitterly cold in Chicago,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">like it is this
week, and while everyone was huddled in their homes<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">keeping warm,
this Chicago</span> woman had heard about<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">a homeless group of tent dwellers were pushed from their <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">tents when a propane tank exploded and they had no were
to go.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The shelters were filled to capacity.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">She was feeling terrible for them and wondering <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">what they were going to do with the cold and the shelters
filled<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and didn’t get any
kind of answer.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">So she impulsively, without too much thought,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">put 20 hotel rooms onto her credit card for them.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Then, she was trying to figure out how to get all </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">these
people into those rooms. So she then asked people to help drive these people to
the hotel.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Eventually people started to offer their help too and eventually
they<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">got 100 rooms and rides for all these people.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Was it well
thought out plan? No. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Was this woman independently wealthy? Not at all.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">At first she said she didn’t really know how she was going
to pay for it.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">We all lament that people live in tents and there are
people who are cold.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">But so few of us do anything about it even though we do have
the power to.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">But this woman’s heart was filled with generosity.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">And her generosity inspired other people’s generosity.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Generosity and sharing are contagious.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">It spreads, once one person does it than other people do
it too.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">It becomes a culture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But the opposite is true too.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Remember at the beginning of the pandemic when the
word<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">got out that toilet paper was scarce and we all started <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">going to stores at 6:30 in the morning and buying in
bulk?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">And we got it and said we were going to share with
everyone else,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">but then we ended up keeping all the toilet paper for
ourselves,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">because, what if we run out of toilet paper?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Generosity is contagious, and fear and hoarding are
also contagious.<br /><br /></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">There is no problem with us having or money,</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">or security, or the comfort and security <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">and power that comes along with that.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The problem comes when we hoard it.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">When we refuse to share. Then everyone else doesn’t
share.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Then it becomes a problem.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">And also when we have the <u>power</u> that money
brings,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">and we don’t demand that corporations,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">and governments and institutions share too.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">That’s when it becomes a problem.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">As people of Christ, we’re called to be the first to
share<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">even when it’s scary, and we don’t know how the story
will end.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We have to
make choices every day about<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">how we take and spend what we have.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">To be honest, I don’t think anyone in here is <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">devouring widow’s houses, and I also don’t think anyone<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">here is giving their last penny to support a ministry.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Most of us
live in this gray area between those two poles.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But the good news is that we’re not alone there.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God is with us in that gray area.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God is with us in our decisions, in our work, and even in our
money.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus sees
us across the temple making those tough decisions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus knows the injustice that many of us face.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus knows the questions we deal with, the inner struggles.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus knows how we worry about our past and our future.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God sees the gifts we give, no matter how small.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Even if it’s just two small mites.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But this
isn’t about giving to a church.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This is not about calculating a percentage of your income. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This is not about pledge cards and budgets.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It’s about discipleship. It’s about following Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It’s about the mission of the church as a whole,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and about each one of us individually.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Because God doesn’t just want our money.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God wants our hearts. <o:p></o:p></span></p>Rev. June Wilkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05379751460851476288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285660871932316676.post-84526000868904772712023-12-05T11:29:00.000-08:002023-12-05T11:29:19.057-08:00Signs of the Apocolypse<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> Mark 13:24-37</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">
Advent 1<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">December 3, 2023<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiah5OWtstN8NwOkF3AThmCYR3GtnemwxHP9jFDMc6Ty5Uhq6g0ssda6b3by9me2n8uTU4lou9SqGcDmBpuHskhOlcQGr9UvcLrghMLO53sFrfIoBf2Z8eUnoOAwqReouG22hoEZKHLgCqxJhHIwxTWKn3bKAdax4aBXt4Mx4mHc4ZJntaBSsd8Hv5XProJ/s784/begining%20is%20near.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="784" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiah5OWtstN8NwOkF3AThmCYR3GtnemwxHP9jFDMc6Ty5Uhq6g0ssda6b3by9me2n8uTU4lou9SqGcDmBpuHskhOlcQGr9UvcLrghMLO53sFrfIoBf2Z8eUnoOAwqReouG22hoEZKHLgCqxJhHIwxTWKn3bKAdax4aBXt4Mx4mHc4ZJntaBSsd8Hv5XProJ/s320/begining%20is%20near.jpg" width="261" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Beginning is Near</i><br />Imaginary Foundation</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color: #010000;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This chapter in
Mark is called a little apocalypse.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Every first Sunday in Advent, we read these little
apocalypses.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Each of the
synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark & Luke) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">have these little apocalypse.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">They all talk about things that we fear.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Terrible suffering, wars, hatred, persecution, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">vitriol from family, natural disasters <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and then, after that<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>things don’t get much better.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The sun will be darkened,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the moon will not give out light<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the stars will fall, and the powers of the heaven will be
shaken<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Pretty much our worst nightmares.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Each one of these
passages talk about signs <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">to watch out for to know when this is coming.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">They don’t specifically enumerate the signs,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">but they say you’ll know it when you see it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And you shouldn’t miss them,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>so you should keep watching.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">If you’re keeping alert, it should be obvious,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">like every year when you see the leaves on a tree come
out, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">you know summers about to come,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the signs will tell us
the end is nigh.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Just in time for Christmas I guess. I think it seems
contrary<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">to the spirit of Christmas that we like to evoke.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The arrival of the long awaited savoir, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">is preceded by imagery of desperation, hopelessness, destruction,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the opposite of salvation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I think the problem is that these little apocalypses
have kind of <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">been made into full blown, frightening theologies for
many Christians.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">They seem focused on the future in fear and dread and
foreboding.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">They look at Jesus second coming as a time of disaster<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and hopelessness for the everyone.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I think it works to keep followers is a constant state
of alert and panic.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So focused on self-preservation to think of much else
really.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Some of them even stockpile food and weapons and a </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">hefty
amount of suspicion of everything.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">These groups of Christians seem fixated on who is good and
who is evil, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">who is for them and who is against them. </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Because, of
course, they’re on the right side,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and
looking for signs to tell one from another.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Now, we don’t believe
that this kind of fixation is necessary.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As Lutherans, we take more seriously the part of this lesson,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">when Jesus says “<i>about that day or the hour no one knows</i>”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We take that as an order for us not to dwell on the things<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">that are only God’s business and above our paygrade so to speak.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But this kind of theology has leaked out into the
mainstream,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">so that even if we’re not one of those Christians, these
apocalypse<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">passages and talk of the second coming of Jesus is
frightening.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br />
</span>But Jesus does tell us to keep
awake. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and there is a lot of scary stuff happening now isn’t there?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I mean doesn’t it feel like we’re on the brink of something awful?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Not just in this country, but around the world.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The division in our
country is huge.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Families and friends have
been divided by political<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">convictions and it seems
like we can’t have a civil conversation any more.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The climate is becoming
more and more erratic<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">leading to worse and
worse natural disasters.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">People have been terrorizing
the country with guns<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and all sorts of
other<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>creative methods of <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">violence meant to wield
fear and power.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It seems like Artificial
Intelligence is about to do<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">something scary and
unpredictable, but I’m not sure what.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It seems like our leaders
are ruling almost exclusively by corruption.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And for so many people today, life is actually awful. </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">With
unbearable wide-spread poverty and the hopelessness that comes with it <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the price of housing
everywhere is so out of control<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">so that just surviving is
difficult.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It’s so bad that many
have checked out or are apathetic. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">There’s an epidemic of addiction
and an enormous rate of suicide.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And the war in Ukraine
is now going on for nearly a year<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">much longer than I
thought possible.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And the week-long cease-fire
in Gaza ended on Friday.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It seemed so hopeful,
with hostages and prisoners being <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">released, but then it
ended, for a reason it doesn’t seem<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">we’re privy to, and
already, just over the weekend, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">more than 200 people have
been killed in that small area.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Things are very scary right now and there are “signs”</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">I’m sure many people are frightened
of what’s to come<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I’m sure our doomsday preppers are in overdrive<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">because of these events and these apocalyptic passages.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Many of us at the moment can, of course, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">just decide to turn away </span>and ignore what we see.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I mean things are looking
pretty nice here on<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Hilton Head, I can just
choose look away and remain distracted.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But Jesus has asked us to be awake<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">be aware and to look at
the signs.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But the signs fill me
with a dread when I do think about it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Why does Jesus want us to keep awake?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Does Jesus want us scared and nervous all the time?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Does Jesus enjoy our anxiety?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Is this a way to scare us and to control our behavior?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">No, I don’t think Jesus is
telling us this to raise our</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">anxiety, Jesus actually wants to lower it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus tells his
disciples and us about these little apocalypses </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and scary signs, but all of
these little apocalypses end the same way,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">there is fear, there is
suffering, and then there is Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus tells us that the
suffering and fear are <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">just a precursor to God’s
presence with us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The bad things that seem
to be closing in on us<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">are an assurance to us
that God is near us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">That’s the point of these
little apocalypse passages.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Not to fill us with new
dread about new, awful things on the horizon,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">but give us the assurance
that when awful things<u> are</u> happening,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">we are sure to experience
God’s presence.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The word
apocalypse is from the Greek<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and it means “uncovering”, “revealing”, “revelation”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">not the end of the world like it’s come to mean,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">but the uncovering, revealing, and revelation of God’s
presence.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">When the sun is darkened and the stars are falling,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and things seem to be
getting seriously worse for all involved, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">that is the time that the
son of man will come in his greatest glory,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">you can be assured of
that.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Just like many of us have felt the presence of God the most <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">during the worst times of
our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Just like when disaster
strikes, the helpers come out of nowhere,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">after the suffering, God
will be with us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">What if we heard the word apocalypse that way,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and instead of fear and dread, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">we reacted with joy,
hope, and anticipation?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Not because everyone else
will suffer and I will be raptured, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">or some other weird logic
like that.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But what if Jesus return was joyous for the world?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Our expectations about Jesus second Advent<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">should be shaped by what
we know about Jesus first Advent.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">When he came to us as a child, lived and suffered with
us,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and finally poured out his love for all creation on the
cross<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">when the sun was darkened and the powers in heaven were
shaken,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">when God took the worst of creation and gave us the best.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The coming of Christ is a welcome presence,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the arrival of our dearest friend.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">No one knows the
time or the hour, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It might be a surprise, but we should be <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">waiting in anticipation not in dread.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Watching all the signs and when terrible things happen in
this world, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">as they always do, we mourn, we get angry, we will do our
best to help<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the situation, but we can also ask and notice what God is
doing, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">how God is using the situation, what new life God is
creating out of the old.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Christ was with us
then, Christ is with us now, and Christ will come again.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In our greatest hours of suffering and fear Christ will be
there.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> <br /></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We know that even
in the worst of times, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Even in all the awful stuff that is happening right now.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Even in times of desperation and hopelessness.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God ‘s power will prevail, somehow some way, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the end of the story will be better than the beginning<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">or the middle of the story even.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The season of
Advent is a time for us to wait for Christmas – <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the remembrance that Jesus was born and God came to us – <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">but it’s also a time of hoping for the time <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">when our deepest prayers <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">for this world will be answered. <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">When the sun is
darkened, and the moon doesn’t give light<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and the stars fall from the heavens and all seems lost, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">we know that God will be nearest to us then. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">When terrible things happen, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">we have faith that it is not the end, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">it is just the beginning of God’s presence with us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>Rev. June Wilkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05379751460851476288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285660871932316676.post-54580889080541868842023-11-28T12:34:00.000-08:002023-11-28T12:34:36.485-08:00What Does the King Want?<p> <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Matt
25:31-46 November 26, 2023 Christ the King<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2mTIouSsd7PQhei8ju7kFoCnlaS3cDWgkC4or7s6UmJAuLhXUOnNGml8il9SjlfwfxA7NfK8JoKViMjR-AzR_n7H41eYqnNMozt9hCPnER1kD6fsdmgzB7E8hlHahOlFZ8u2oMCIOdfUVkD7f8eoPhM9JRcCNtpIs44ARxGYVFtWUap24w0ygelNZ9CdR/s925/salvator%20mundi%20da%20vinci.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="925" data-original-width="700" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2mTIouSsd7PQhei8ju7kFoCnlaS3cDWgkC4or7s6UmJAuLhXUOnNGml8il9SjlfwfxA7NfK8JoKViMjR-AzR_n7H41eYqnNMozt9hCPnER1kD6fsdmgzB7E8hlHahOlFZ8u2oMCIOdfUVkD7f8eoPhM9JRcCNtpIs44ARxGYVFtWUap24w0ygelNZ9CdR/s320/salvator%20mundi%20da%20vinci.png" width="242" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Salvator Mundi</i><br />Leonardo daVinci</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">King
Midas is a story about a King who loves gold,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He
was already rich beyond anyone else, but he wishes <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">that
everything he touched would turn to gold.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He
gets his wish, but he finds that this is not a good thing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Everything
he touched <u>did </u>turn to gold: flowers, furniture, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">he
couldn't sleep because his bed was gold,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">he
couldn't eat because his food turned to gold.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Then
he touched his beloved daughter </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and she turned into solid gold.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He
got what he wanted, but he was miserable.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Shakespeare’s
Richard the Third is the story about a King<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">who
as a prince stopped at nothing to get to be King.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He
puts his relatives in jail, has some killed, and tells lies about others.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He
finally becomes King, but he is so frightened </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and suspicious because of
everything he did that he eventually <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">kills
one of his brothers and his wife.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">His
kingdom rebels against him and on the night </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">before a great battle, the ghosts
of everyone Richard has killed come to visit him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">They
tell him that he will die.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And
the next day, Richard is killed in a battle against his own brother.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">His
ambition for power was his downfall.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">King
David was the great King of Israel,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the
chosen one, the anointed one.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He
has everything he wants, he is beloved by his country, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">he has wealth luxury,
many wives, many concubines, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">but
one day he sees a woman, Bathsheba,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">bathing
on her own roof top.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Even
though she is married and he has eight wives of his own,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">he
decides that he wants her. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">She
concedes, because you don’t refuse the king, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and
she becomes pregnant with his child. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So
David sends her husband into a dangerous battle and he is killed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God
is not pleased with David for this, and David’s relationships <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">with
his children are cursed for the rest of his life.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
These are just three stories about Kings<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There are many more stories about Kings who have many things, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">but choose to use their power for their own ends<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">to fill their own wants and egos.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And that story rings true even today.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The stories
of powerful people committing<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">sexual
assault, abuses of power, and corruption, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">are stories
of powerful and wealthy people <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">who have everything
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">they want, </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">but use their positions to intimidate and coerce <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and to get more and more.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And it seems
like many of our current world’s leaders <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">seem to want absolute loyalty from everyone<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and will use intimidation and violence <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">against their own people to get it. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And our own
leaders in this country spend their<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and power and collateral just trying to make <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">corporations bigger, and trying to ensure that<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">banks have more money, and rich people have more money,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and to make themselves more comfortable<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">all at the expense of the average American, and especially the poor.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The story
seems to go that those who have the most power<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">want more of it, And the only thing that satisfies them<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">is more than what they had the day before.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This is the common story about the kings of this world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Today is
Christ the King Sunday, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the day when where we remember that Christ is our king,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">our ultimate leader, and the <u>real</u> leader of the world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And in the illustration we hear today, we see what Christ<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">uses his considerable power for.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So, this is
Jesus last parable in Matthew.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It’s the last one he tells before he is arrested and killed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It’s the final of the apocalyptic parables,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the ones we’ve been hearing, about the end times.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This is what he leaves his disciples with.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus says
that at the end, when Jesus returns, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">he will come in glory, just as you would imagine <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the king of the whole world coming:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
On a throne with the angels surrounding him,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">draped around in glory and splendor.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And at that
moment, he judges all the nations of the world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But what does he use his power for?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And what is the basis for his judgment?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It’s not how much money they provided for him,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">or how much land they gave him,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">or did they worship him or bow down to him on a regular basis,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">or did they make him feel good about himself,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">or did they honor him give him enough loyalty.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">No, his
question for them is <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“How did you treat the least of those
among you?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This is what is important to the king.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This is what is important to Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Did you give
the hungry something to eat? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Did you give the thirsty something to drink?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Did you welcome the stranger? Clothe the naked?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Take care of the sick? Visit the prisoner?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This is the basis for the judgment of the world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This is what is important to the king.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Not whether you bowed down before him<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">with the proper reverence and ceremonies,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">not that you gave him what he wanted and made<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">his friends happy and rich.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">What is most
important to the King, is that you used your power to</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">take care of the <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>least powerful in
your nation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So the
parable says at the time of this judgment<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“All the <u>nations</u> will be gathered before him, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and he
will separate people one from
another as a shepherd separates <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the sheep from the goats”</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">The translators translate that word
there as people,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">but people is “laos” or “anthropos”
but the Greek </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">word that’s there</span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> is “autos”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>which is just the pronoun “them” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">which refers back to the “nations”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">“All the nations will
be gathered before him,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and he will separate them – the <u>nations</u> – one from
another.”</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Most people who study this stuff believe that the intent </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">of
the parable was that the<u> nations</u> would be divided like sheep and goats.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This is not a
parable about individuals, but about nations.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This is not a parable about our personal piety and mercy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This is parable about politics and empires.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">That one little translation choice makes a big difference.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So how is the nation that we live in doing?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">What is important to our leaders?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Because in
the end, we will not be judged on stock market returns,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">or the strength of our military, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the amount of successful fortune 500 companies we have,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">or our unemployment rates, or the rate of inflation<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">which all of which our leaders seem to be most interested in.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We will be
judged on how we treated <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the least powerful in our empire. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So have we
fed the hungry?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">17 million households in the US suffer from hunger.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And this country continues to cut food stamps <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and other benefits for those in poverty.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Have we given
the thirsty something to drink?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Flint Michigan, Jackson Mississippi, the Rio Grande Valley,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and other primarily black and Latino communities have had <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">ongoing water problems in the US.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Have we
welcomed the stranger?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There is still a fear and hatred of immigrants in our country.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And many people with all kinds of immigration statuses<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">live in fear of violence, exploitation, harassment, and deportation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Are we taking
care of the sick?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Almost 67 percent of bankruptcies in this country are due to <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">medical bills and healthcare for the poor is always being cut.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Are we
reaching out to the prisoner?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The US represents only 4.4 percent of the world’s population<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">but we have 20 percent of the world’s prison population.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This is just a short list.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">How would our
nation do when the Son of Man returns?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Has the United States recognize Jesus in the least of these?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The richest most powerful nation in the world?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Would we be with the sheep or with the goats?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">With 63
percent of Americans still identifying as Christian,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and with 88% of our Senators and Representatives in the US<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">identifying as Christian, we should be doing better.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Because this is what is important to Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This is what is important to God.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This is what is important to the king.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">The King
doesn’t care about who is saying “Merry Christmas”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">or about keeping prayer in school, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">or posting the 10 commandments in court houses,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Or about giving religious privileges to Christians.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It’s not about sexual morality, or policing women’s healthcare,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It’s not about advocating against transgenderism, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">or removing marriage rights from same gender couples,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">or whatever passes as Christian public policy these days.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">What’s most important to the King is how we treat the least of these.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Now this
might seem like all bad news, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">because we’re
not doing well in that department as a nation.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">It might seem that we’ll all be cast
into the eternal fire.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But we remember that this is a parable not an allegory.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This parable is not here to make us feel guilty because<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">we personally didn’t do enough for one person.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It’s not a prediction, it’s a story to help us <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">think and imagine, evaluate, and reorient ourselves.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This parable is here show us what is the ultimate concern <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">for our savior and ruler.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And to tell us that empires and nations who don’t care<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">for the least powerful, will not stand in the end.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So it might
be bad news to those who love their <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">wealth and
power and have no interest in sharing it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But I assure you, this is good news for those people<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">who feel chewed up by the system. And for those unable</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">to sustain themselves and keep their heads above water.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And this is good news to all of us who ache and hunger for justice.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And who see our brothers and sisters suffer and hurt for them. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It’s good news because the King sees their suffering<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and our suffering this suffering is not the end of the story.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> <br /></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It might not
look so good for us now,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It might look like we’ve failed the test <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">between the sheep and the goats.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But Christ is King and he wants to see all the nations<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">care for all their people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And if that’s what the king wants,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">that’s what the king will get.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It may look like we’re going in the wrong direction right now,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">but God is in the process of creating a world,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">a new heaven and a new earth,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">where greed and apathy have no place.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Where violence and hatred are only memories.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We don’t know how or when the King will get there,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">but we have faith that the King will make this happen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We live in a
world that God created<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and in the end, the world that God created<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">will not sustain nations who do not care for the least among them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We will be changed, God’s way will be our way,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">probably not in our lifetime, but soon and very soon.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The good news
of this parable is that we have a King who cares.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We have a savior who’s concern is for us all.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God doesn’t see people just as tools that the more <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">powerful can extract labor and resources from <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">until they’re all used up.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God doesn’t see us as pawns in a play for power,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">or some economic game.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">To Christ the King, we are not <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">just subjects or peasants or play things.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">From the most
powerful <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">to the least
powerful among us,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">we are all the King’s children.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Rev. June Wilkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05379751460851476288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285660871932316676.post-51744843782740753972023-11-12T11:29:00.000-08:002023-11-12T11:29:34.712-08:00Don't Believe the Crafty Virgins<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Matthew 25:1-13</span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>November 12, 2023<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvIzuNQlVwDk7u-mcjw48xYSWnvB6fMgdIaQS28NrAVnIhptEhOKI1DiOifWCSvfViyh2yD7lr8IhH-MY5-qK4n_YWYPYOFJdedTbZ_yxATHU_dVdvANjH4xa-fyFx7z2pxpoAaFexyysaUg607uv1n-6NXAKI80J7XR6QbhCClRYWd2KsiaSP91lR9hU4/s558/wise%20and%20foolish%20virgins%20ain%20vares.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="326" data-original-width="558" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvIzuNQlVwDk7u-mcjw48xYSWnvB6fMgdIaQS28NrAVnIhptEhOKI1DiOifWCSvfViyh2yD7lr8IhH-MY5-qK4n_YWYPYOFJdedTbZ_yxATHU_dVdvANjH4xa-fyFx7z2pxpoAaFexyysaUg607uv1n-6NXAKI80J7XR6QbhCClRYWd2KsiaSP91lR9hU4/s320/wise%20and%20foolish%20virgins%20ain%20vares.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The Wise and Foolish Virgins</i><br />Ain Vares</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We’re nearing the end of the Gospel of Matthew,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and
I can’t say I’m too sorry.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It’s
often hard to find the good news in some of<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">these
parables Jesus tells in this gospel.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Mark
and Luke often have the same parables<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">written
a little gentler.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But this parable is only in Matthew.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We
only get this every three years and often<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">we
don’t get it because of Reformation and All Saints,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So
when we get it, we should take it seriously.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I think when we read parables, we want to come right
to <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the
definitive conclusion and find out <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">what
Jesus wants and get on with the whole thing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But
the parables that Jesus tells aren’t like that.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">They’re not like Aesop’s fables.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus
doesn’t always seal things up neat and tidy for us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I
think they’re here to make us wonder.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">They’re there to make us think differently and <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">To
make us guess, and even to debate.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Debate
was something that Jewish people did<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and
do about theology and the scriptures.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It’s
a way to discover.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Christians
seem to want to have all the answers, but as a Jew, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus
was probably more into debate or hashing things </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">out together, having several
different possible answers to the same question. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">They
liken it to Jacob wrestling the angel in Genesis,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">they
don’t stop wrestling with scripture until they get a blessing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And this is a parable that I think deserves <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">more
wrestling than we usually give it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I think the classic way to wrap this parable up in a
neat package<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">is
to say, “be like those wise young women” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Have
your lamp filled with oil and your wicks trimmed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And
to tell everyone what that metaphor means for us:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">like
the oil is prayer, the wick is faith. Something like that.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">“Keep
your lamps trimmed and burning” is an old gospel song.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And
that’s a perfectly fine interpretation, I bet you can write <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">your
own sermon with that one. I’m sure I have.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But I have found this conclusion to be little anxiety
inducing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Like
one of those dreams I keep having where I <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">show
up at a test at the end of a semester, but I have forgotten <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">to
go to any of the classes or read any of the books.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Or the feeling that I always get when I’m having<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">people
over for a party, that nagging feeling <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I’ve
forgotten something very important.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It
stresses me out. Have I done enough? <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I’ve
surely missed something.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12pt;">And the moral to that story is “be prepared”,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">like
the boy scout motto. “be prepared”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Don’t
forget to get the right cranberry sauce, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">people
will want the right cranberry sauce, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The
party is ruined if you don’t have the right cranberry sauce.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">You
know what will happen if you’re not prepared, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">scorn
and embarrassment, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And
if that’s not enough, Jesus won’t even recognize you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Yikes,
lots of anxiety. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Not
a lot of grace at all.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">No
blessing there.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But if you notice, “be prepared” is not even what
Jesus <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">tells
us at the end of the parable.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus
doesn’t say, “be like the wise young women” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and
he doesn’t say be prepared with that oil.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He tells
us “Keep Awake”. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And
in the story, “ALL of the young women got drowsy and slept.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So
all of them were not doing what they needed to do.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It’s important when reading a parable to understand <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the
context that it’s being told in.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Here,
Jesus is talking to his disciples,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">not
to the religious leaders in the temple.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He
and the 12 have left the temple and Jesus says that <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">there
would be a time when the temple wouldn’t be there.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And
then they’ve asked him to tell them about that time,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and
how would they know?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He starts out this lesson for the disciples in chapter
24<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and
he starts it out by saying “don’t let anyone lead you astray”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He
talks about false prophets that try and make them<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">go
here and there. That is important for this parable, I think.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And it’s also important, in a parable, to know about <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the
social context of the story that Jesus is telling.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Which
is a wedding. Weddings didn’t roll then like they do now.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In
Jesus time, weddings were kind of surprises.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The exact time was not known
in advance.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The community kind of knew
something was brewing<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">that a couple is engaged and
about to be married<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and they needed to be ready <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and the weddings happened
after sundown.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The young women, or the bridesmaid’s
job was to </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">light the way for</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> the bride
and the groom to go to the wedding party.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">There’s lots of other
fascinating things about weddings, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">but that’s all we really need to know for
this parable.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">So the young women are doing their job,</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">waiting for
the bride and groom,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But
in this story the bridegroom is late.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">None
of this would have mattered if they bridegroom wasn’t late.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But
he was, and instead of staying up, the young women fell asleep.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">All
of them. Not just the ones called foolish, the wise ones too.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And another thing we can do with a parable is look<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">up
some of those words and how they were translated.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I
can always rely that someone who knows more than me<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">to
have done this already, and sure enough someone has.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The
word that they translate as “young women” </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">is actually “virgins”, which is
interesting for a variety of reasons,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and
I don’t know why the translators made the </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">choice to call them “young women” but
I’m not sure what to make of that.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So
moving on.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But what I kind of do know what to make something out
of is that<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the
words that are translated a little more gently in the story<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">as
“wise” and “foolish” are a little harsher in the Greek.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">“Wise”
is better translated as “crafty”. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It’s
the same word that’s used when Jesus </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">says in Luke “be as crafty as serpents”. So
more than wise, they’re cunning. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Or
maybe even “devious”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And
the word that’s translated as “foolish” is probably<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">better
as stupid. It’s actually pronounced <i>morai </i>which is the <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">where
we get the word moron from. So more than foolish,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">it’s
actually dull or slow-witted.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Now obviously, the disciples wouldn’t need that
subtlety<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">of
language translated for them. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">They
would have just known from the words<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">that
Jesus was calling the virgins with the oil crafty,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and
that maybe they were up to no good actually.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12pt;">So back to the parable, everyone has fallen asleep</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and
when the tardy bridegroom comes,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the
stupid virgins realize they don’t have enough oil<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and
their lamps have gone out.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And
they ask the crafty virgins if they could have some oil.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">One thing that always bothered me about this </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">parable in
the</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">
traditional understanding of it, is about those Wise virgins –</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">the ones that we were supposed to be like and emulate –<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Why
don’t they something as simple as share?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus
talks about sharing in lots of other places.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In
the wide scope of the story of Jesus, he is all about sharing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So
if these wise virgins were actually the heroes of our story,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">why
wouldn’t they share a little of what they had?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Some
people posit that maybe Jesus is talking about </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">stuff that couldn’t be shared,
like personal faith. And again, it’s vague<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and
anxiety inducing. And I think that’s a stretch anyway.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I think the answer to this conundrum is actually that
the <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">crafty
virgins are not the heroes of the story.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The
crafty virgins take advantage of this opportunity<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">of
the sleep-dazed, dopey virgins.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">When
the stupid virgins ask for some oil, the crafty virgins </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">tell the foolish ones,
“<i>no, there won’t be enough, <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Why
don’t you go to the gas station up the road <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and
get you some more?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And
here’s where, I think, the real problem comes in, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the
stupid virgins believe the crafty virgins and they leave.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">They
are led astray by these false prophets.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">They
go off on a hunt for the right kind of cranberry sauce,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and
they miss the whole party.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Where the foolish virgins went wrong in this story is
that <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">they
believed the crafty virgins. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">They
trusted the myth of scarcity of the kingdom of God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">They
believed that there wouldn’t be enough oil.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">They
believed there wouldn’t be enough light and that </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the bridegroom was <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>not going to be happy </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">if they weren’t prepared
because – what? there wouldn’t be enough light?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Here’s
the thing about light, just because I’m holding the light<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">it
doesn’t mean that other people can’t use the light I’m holding.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">If
five of those virgins had lamps that were lit,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">that
would have been enough for that whole bridal party.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The
reality is that those crafty virgins wanted the bridegroom<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and
the party all to themselves, so they sent the <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">stupid
virgins on a wild goose chase down <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">to
the Kwiki mart for some more oil.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I think the point of this parable,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">is
that five virgins without enough oil <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">didn’t
actually need to be worried about it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">They’re
worry actually led them astray and they missed<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the
main goal which was to see the bridegroom into the party.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">So what I think Jesus was saying to his disciples is actually </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">what he </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">says,
“keep awake” and don’t believe in those </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">crafty religious people who tell you
that the kingdom of God is only for the select few<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">that
the blessings of God are only for those who have <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Don’t
believe the false prophets when they try to re-direct you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Basically
don’t believe in the traditional interpretation<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">of
this parable! Don’t go off spending all your time trying </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">to be perfectly
prepared, you might actually miss the whole party.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And for us, don’t believe those religious leaders<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">who
tell you in the nicest way possible that God only wants <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">a
certain narrow definition of good and holy in God’s kingdom.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Don’t
believe them when they say that God only wants<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">those
people who have pulled themselves up by their <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">own
bootstraps and are self- sufficient enough </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and resourceful enough and have all
their spiritual ducks in a row.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Don’t
let them distract you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And don’t believe all the voices that try to lead you
astray<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and
tell you to go and get your fill elsewhere. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Don’t
believe the voices that tell you to go shopping, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">or
to gather other earthly goods, like oil or <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">pricey
things that feed you <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">for
a short time and then let you down. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">You
might be otherwise involved and miss God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">When the disciples ask Jesus “<i>how do read the
signs? <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">how
do we tell when you’re returning to us</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus
answer is, “don’t sweat it.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Just
keep awake. Don’t get distracted.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">You
are invited to the party no matter if you’re prepared or not.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Just
stay awake and wait for God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And
don’t worry about the lamps if you run out of oil,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">there’s
enough light to go around.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So that’s it, I think.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I
think that we’ve wrestled enough to<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">get
a blessing from God here.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Maybe
next time we’ll approach it from <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">another
angle and get different blessing, I don’t know.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Parables
can grow and change depending on what’s going on.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So in conclusion for this time. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The
Parable of the 10 virgins:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Don’t
believe the voices that <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">try
to convince you of your inadequacy, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">don’t
believe the voices that say<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">that
you don’t have enough, or you aren’t enough, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">or
you don’t do enough.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The Kingdom of God is like a party.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />Everyone’s
invited.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and
you don’t want to miss it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Rev. June Wilkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05379751460851476288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285660871932316676.post-22473743926713022552023-11-08T06:44:00.007-08:002023-11-08T06:44:49.449-08:00Blessed are the Peacemakers<p> <span face="Calibri, sans-serif">Matthew
5:1-12 11-5-23 All Saints Day</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus
was a good public speaker, wasn’t he?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbs8o-xd2JyMM1Xjs8QNyDZBAFLby2hhcarWHHp_f9NNZC6yMB_LgVeELpWcv89pOND4-ovobUlj53iQ-us1OM4xvkpyUeaJ0seoDa7IIn2D2wP4AYnSVGjEhJaxO0L7GFCliBraYtqz3TEASN3na899Px5pz1SQzGo2jkfEQGTLJ9vLjSS9OLEKHYtRB3/s679/all%20saints%20Shalom%20Youram%20Raanan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="523" data-original-width="679" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbs8o-xd2JyMM1Xjs8QNyDZBAFLby2hhcarWHHp_f9NNZC6yMB_LgVeELpWcv89pOND4-ovobUlj53iQ-us1OM4xvkpyUeaJ0seoDa7IIn2D2wP4AYnSVGjEhJaxO0L7GFCliBraYtqz3TEASN3na899Px5pz1SQzGo2jkfEQGTLJ9vLjSS9OLEKHYtRB3/s320/all%20saints%20Shalom%20Youram%20Raanan.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Shalom</i><br />Youram Raanan</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He really knew how to draw people in with his words.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Now
I think from watching movies, we kind of think<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">that Jesus had everything all</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">thought
out </span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">or it was dictated </span>to him from God. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal">A<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">nd
rehearsed and spoken perfectly.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I thought that for a long time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Like
he’s Laurence Oliver <br />
</span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">standing up and reciting a Shakespeare soliloquy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“Blessed
are the poor. For theirs is the kingdom of God.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As if he’s moved by hearing his own voice <br />
and dramatics more than anything else.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But
now I like to think of this sermon of Jesus– <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and all of Jesus sermons and parables and <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">arguments – in a different way.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I don’t think anything was written down, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">or rehearsed. I think that Jesus <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">spoke from his heart and emotions<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">much more than he seems to in movies.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I like to think that what he said was influenced<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">by his context. It was changed by the people he was talking to.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This
Gospel today is the beginning of the sermon<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">on the mount. This part is called the
Beatitudes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Or the blessings.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Now
just previous to giving this sermon, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">it says that Jesus chose his twelve apostles and they were with
him<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and that a huge crowd was gathered around him<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">wanting Jesus to heal them and get rid of their bad spirits.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It says that Jesus healed many people. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It says that he looked over the crowd, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">went up on the mountain <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and the disciples came and gathered
around him</span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">His 12 new apostles must have been excited and a<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">little scared with their new role.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And the people there probably would have been poor, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and desperate and disheveled <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">All
those faces in need looking up at Jesus<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He knows they need to hear something. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Something to sum up this experience, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">something to help them understand what it meant.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I
like to think maybe he planned <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">on jumping right into the instruction
and teaching<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">portion of the sermon, or maybe he
wasn’t<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">planning on saying anything to them all.</span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But
right now, he looks at his disciples <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and the crowd around him</span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
and his heart is filled with love <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and compassion for this ragged crew<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and he knows that they need something <br />
more than instruction.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">Blessed
are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.<br />
</span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">Blessed are those who
mourn, for they will be comforted.<br />
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.<br />
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">for they
will be filled.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--></span><span style="background: rgb(249, 249, 249);"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I
like to think of this sermon<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">as an unplanned, un-rehearsed verbal hug to the <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">people that were drawn to Jesus, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and who Jesus was drawn to.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The saints of God. All the saints of God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Today is All Saints Day, the day that was set aside to celebrate<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the people of God. The concept of a Saint is not in the bible.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The practice of honoring of certain people who </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">had led exemplary
lives and done acts and miracles that were out of the norm<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">formed as a tradition of the Christian church over the centuries.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The first official saint was <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">canonized by the Catholic Church in 993.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And by the time of the Reformation, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">apparently, it seemed like some communities<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">were worshipping saints more than God and Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But when Martin Luther came in,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">he rejected this veneration of saints and <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">he said that everyone was a saint,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">basically and only, because we were loved by God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And at the same time we were all sinners.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Simul Eustus Et piccator.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Simultaneous saint and sinner.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Which is probably more close to how Jesus saw people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And probably closer to how he saw the crowds<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">that day when he gave this sermon on the mount.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Not judging people by what they have done <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">or haven’t done, good or bad.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But filled with compassion for them, regardless <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">of the situation of those 5000 and the other people<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">that he met along the way,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">because you know not of them were pure and blameless,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">but Jesus calls these people blessed, loved by God, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">healed by God, called into the comfort of God’s care<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And he does this only because he can see and feel their suffering.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">They are blessed because they suffer.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Blessed are the poor in spirit, those who mourn,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the meek, those who are persecuted.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">When Jesus did this sermon on the mount,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">he called the people blessed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">When he went to Tyre and Sidon, he blessed them<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">when he went to Samaria, or Caesarea Philippi, and Damascus <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">which is modern day Lebanon, and Jordan, Syria, and Palestine.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus didn’t just see gentiles, or Samaritans<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">or Pagans or other religions or ethnic groups, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">he saw their suffering first.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He saw people that needed to be healed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Where others have had contempt, or hostility, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus has compassion. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This is a comfort to us today as Jesus followers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And it’s also a challenge.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Blessed are all those who are poor, all those who mourn, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">all the meek, all those who hunger for justice and righteousness.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Can we see, in others, the blessedness that Jesus sees?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If we can’t, can we at least trust Jesus’s compassion<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">for others? for all of them? All of them?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We have watched the situation in the Holy Land<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">unfold in the saddest, most destructive way.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This is obviously not the first time,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">but it’s one of the worst in recent memory.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The situation there is very complex.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If anyone tells you they have absolute the answer, don’t believe them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This is a land that we love because of its ties to Jesus<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and his life, and so many other people love it too, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">for it’s historical and religious significance, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">so many people are weighing in,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">emotionally and passionately on this situation<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and making declarations and statements<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">which is surely not helping the situation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Our own South Carolina senator has <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">called on Israel to ‘level Palestine’<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and has said that no amount of civilian deaths<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">in Gaza is too many deaths.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And there’s a bill in the house calling for the <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">expulsion of all Palestinians in the Untied States.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">At the same time, in October, there has been<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 114.0pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">a 140% rise
in acts of antisemitism since October 7 </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 114.0pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">on top of the already scary rise of antisemitism
around the world. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 114.0pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 114.0pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And there have
been protests where people<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 114.0pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">have called
for the destruction of Israel<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 114.0pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and for the
destruction of the Jewish people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 114.0pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 114.0pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And Christians
could be peacemakers in this situation, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 114.0pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">but there are
some parts of Christianity who are excitedly <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 114.0pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">anticipating
this “holy war”, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 114.0pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(which is an absolute
oxymoron in my mind)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 114.0pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">because they see
it as the precursor to <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 114.0pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the rapture
and the second coming of Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 114.0pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(Which is a
ridiculous reading of the scriptures.)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 114.0pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So they have
this vehemently strong and blind<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 114.0pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">support of
the Israeli government, while often,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 114.0pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">at the same
time, believing that the Jewish<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 114.0pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">people have
no share in God’s kingdom<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 114.0pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">because they
don’t worship Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 114.0pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 114.0pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And then
there is the “blessings” theory<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 114.0pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">which is
based on a literal reading of the book of</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 114.0pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Genesis where God tells Abraham that he will<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 114.0pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“bless those
who bless you and curse those who curse you”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 114.0pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">so some
Christians feel the more they support the Israeli <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 114.0pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">government, the
more blessings people will accumulate<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 114.0pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">in their
personal life which, I feel, is almost <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 114.0pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">as insulting
to the Jewish people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 114.0pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 114.0pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And there are
other Christians who put 100%<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 114.0pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">of the responsibility
for this violence on the Jewish people,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 114.0pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and the
settlements that have grown in Israel in the last 75 years.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 114.0pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So, many
parts of Christianity are not helping.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">People seem anxious to lay blame on everyone<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and to choose sides and demand revenge and blood<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and add fuel to the fire that is already burning.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But can we, as followers of Jesus, accept Jesus challenge<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">of the Beatitudes and the challenge of All Saints Day?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Can we look with compassion at all those who have suffered?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Can we begin with compassion instead of blame?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Can we call all people blessed just because of their suffering?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Can we have compassion for the suffering<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">of Israelis who lost 1400 people in one day,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">to a horrendous, outrageous act of terrorism<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">on civilians, children, babies, old people, unsuspecting concert<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">goers on a normal fall day. Can we feel compassion<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">for the families of 240 hostages, whose lives still hang in the
balance?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Can we have compassion for their suffering<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and even their anger at a time like this?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But can we also have compassion for the Palestinians<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">in Gaza and other territories in Israel who have </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">had their land
and homes taken by Israeli settlements?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Who have increasingly suffered intolerable conditions, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">who can’t live
or travel freely in their own territory, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">who regularly struggle for food and
water because of blockades at their borders?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Can we have compassion for a situation that Amnesty International, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the UN, and even other Jewish organizations have called Apartheid.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Can we have compassion for their suffering too?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Can we also have compassion for the <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">suffering of Jewish people who have been repeatedly <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">driven out of countries and have almost never in their history<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">been able to self-govern and live without the <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the threat of persecution wherever they’ve been.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Can we have compassion for a people who have suffered, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and just want to have a place that they can call home?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And at the same time can we have compassion<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">for the Palestinian people who are suffering now<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">like never before, with thousands of deaths and <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">bombings every day of civilian refugee camps, and schools, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">apartments, and hospitals and also have suffered </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">from a military block
on medical care and aid and water and food, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">who have no where to escape to in retaliation for violence <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">that the majority of them did not choose to inflict on others?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And at the same time can we have compassion for the <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jewish brothers and sisters here in the US </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">most </span>of who have know
someone who was effected by the acts of October 7<sup>th</sup>,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">or who have loved ones in Israel,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">who know someone who was killed or taken hostage.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 117.75pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And can we
have compassion for those who are scared <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 117.75pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">at the rise
of anti Jewishness and violence against them<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 117.75pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">because of
the horrors that have been hoisted on them in the past?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And can we have compassion for both<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jews and Palestinians in Israel who have suffered <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">from ongoing wars and violence, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and complete lack of level-headed leadership on both sides,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and who, largely don’t support any kind of violence<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">but just want to live their lives in peace like most people?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Can we have compassion for all the suffering.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Can we call all of them children of God?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So instead of pouring gas on an already fiery situation? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">can Christians take the challenge of the Beatitudes, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and the challenge of All Saints Day?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Can we start by seeing people’s suffering,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and lead with compassion instead of blame?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Can we not draw lines and barriers and borders,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and walls and the divide between good and bad<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">or holy and unholy, friend and enemy<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and instead call all people blessed and loved by God?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Can we be the peacemakers?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Yes, there are sinners,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">yes there are bad and horrible actions, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">but can we take the challenge of Martin Luther <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and in the face of every sinner,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 92.25pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">can we also
recognize the saint?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 92.25pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 92.25pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Can we as
Christians lead like Jesus did, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 92.25pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">with compassion
instead of with blame and hatred?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">Blessed
are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.<br />
</span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">Blessed are those who
mourn, for they will be comforted.<br />
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.<br />
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">for they
will be filled.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif"><br /></span></div><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif"><br />Blessed are the peacemakers, <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">for you
will be called children of God<span style="background: rgb(249, 249, 249);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Blessed are you. Blessed are all of us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">All the Saints of God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Rev. June Wilkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05379751460851476288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285660871932316676.post-43224640674804109282023-10-26T11:19:00.000-07:002023-10-26T11:19:56.237-07:00Give to God What is God's <p><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> Matthew
22: 15-22</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;">October
22, 2023<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><o:p><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></b></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This scripture has been misused a lot.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Sometimes
its used as a stewardship sermon<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">to try
and persuade people to give some money <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">to God,
and what we mean is give money to the Church.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Which
isn’t awful, but I don’t think that’s what Jesus was</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">talking about here and
trying to incorporate stewardship is hard.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I think it has been used in the
past mostly, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">to justify the separating of the
work of religion <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and the work of politics and
commerce.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">People used this to say that Jesus
was telling the church <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">not to get involved in any part
of politics.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Give to the Emperor what belongs
to the Emperor – earthly things.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and give to God what belongs to
God – spiritual things.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #010000;">This theory says that Jesus was saying that these things are
separate </span><span style="color: #010000;">– </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #010000;">the
realm</span><span style="color: #010000;"> of Caesar is money, finances,
your business, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and work life, your voting, your stance on issues.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">
And the world of God is praying, worship, hymns, spiritual stuff.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #010000;">The belief was God doesn’t get involved in those other places <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMqEqbtDoCVNTcOvNYbzktW7MxqVQgyOD6r8jvnpnTTzbSwKLUiK8OEZZdZ5miPQrkuvOHCZByV7tWfRUvTa7GIFgPo5dKYyfRF8qdaAyY9wpsSL_v-9YJRQCdxUJGeg-0SaYWBPaiYqmtByoa3MnGZlIdrxudRNH6hOD0GWjIASsCM0s6isoKUg2B7h78/s1000/dinarius.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMqEqbtDoCVNTcOvNYbzktW7MxqVQgyOD6r8jvnpnTTzbSwKLUiK8OEZZdZ5miPQrkuvOHCZByV7tWfRUvTa7GIFgPo5dKYyfRF8qdaAyY9wpsSL_v-9YJRQCdxUJGeg-0SaYWBPaiYqmtByoa3MnGZlIdrxudRNH6hOD0GWjIASsCM0s6isoKUg2B7h78/w249-h249/dinarius.jpg" width="249" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A Roman Dinarius Coin</i><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><span style="color: #010000;">and neither should you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Church people should worry about
spiritual and eternal stuff.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Politics are worldly, always
evil, and temporary – <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">as people of faith, we shouldn’t
bother with it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This is actually the stance that the Lutheran Church had taken<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">for
much of its time as a denomination in America.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Political
Quietism it was called.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It
reflected the feeling that Jesus was only involved<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">in the
spiritual and what happened to the soul after death.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The
rest of the stuff that happens in the world is of no consequence,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">so
religion shouldn’t comment on it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I mean the Lutheran Church, north or south,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">didn’t
have much of anything to say about the issue of Slavery <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">until
the Southern half of the Lutheran church left the<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">General
Lutheran church in 1863.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">By
then, the Civil War had been going on for two years.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Some people also use this scripture to criticize<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the Christian
church now, saying that it’s “too political”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">which
I get in some ways, but it’s actually hard for me to wrap <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">my
head around when I try to think about it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Politics is simply just the way that people in groups make
decisions<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">about
how we live together on this planet.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God
and Jesus and scripture have a lot to say about that.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Some
of those decisions are more controversial and <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">there
are disagreements about them,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">but
all group decisions are political.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I
suspect that when the church is talking about<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">something
that people don’t agree with,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">it’s
called “too political”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Now
I believe in separation of church and state<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The state should not mandate any religion, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">even ones I agree with and love.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And religions should not mandate that its
followers to<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">follow any political ideal or that it vote for
one person or another.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And I’ve seen how many Christians have
demanded<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">that they get special treatment under the law,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and they want the law to protect their faith
alone.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Or they want their Christian teachings in
public schools,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">or they want to impose their specific,
peculiar spiritual <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">practices and interpretations on the general
public. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And I am here to say that is NOT how we should
be <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">involved in politics as people of faith.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><o:p> </o:p> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But
as followers of Jesus we are compelled to <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">find ourselves in the public sphere<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">reminding the state what it’s supposed<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">to be doing with its authority and
responsibility.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It means reminding our governments that the
political systems<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and the economic systems are here to serve the
people </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">that God has created and loves. In other words, all people.<span style="color: #010000; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The reality was, it was a very
political world that Jesus came into <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The time that Jesus was in was
deeply steeped in politics.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">People couldn’t get away from it
even if they wanted to.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And Jesus was a very political
person,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He was not a politician, he did
not advocate for any politician,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He didn’t want to rule in any
kind of political leadership.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He didn’t want his way to be the
law of the land.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But he was political.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He political in how he advocated
for people.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">How he talked to them, and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>how he talked about them,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He was political in the way that
he kept the company <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">of certain people in public.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was political in the way<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">that he talked about God’s
forgiveness when <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God’s wrath and anger was a way
of controlling people.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He was political in the way that
brought light to <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">oppression and human suffering.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He was political in the way he
empowered the poor and oppressed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus was killed by the
authorities for being too political,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">for not staying in, what some
people thought, was his lane.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">If he had just commented on
strictly spiritual stuff,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">no one would have cared enough
to arrest him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">At
the time of Jesus, the Israelites were under Roman rule. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">They had gone from being under one rule to
another for many years. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The Romans were good in some ways, they
developed conveniences, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">roads, methods of commerce, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Romans allowed </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">people to worship how they
wanted, even the Jewish people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And
the Romans invaded and took control and then<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">required a ‘Tribute’
be paid to it – a tax.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Romans required two things, that you pay the
tribute<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and that you keep the peace. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">No protesting, no gathering in the street, no
organizing, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">definitely no telling people not to pay their
taxes. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The Romans government required submission. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">You had to worship Caesar (which was against
Jewish practice)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And you had to submit to their rule.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And the Roman government was cruel.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The death penalty was a favorite consequence
of the Romans.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Being
under Roman Rule was an insult to the Jewish people,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">like most occupation
by foreign rule is.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So the question of paying taxes to it was
always a sore spot.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Should we or shouldn’t we?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It
says that the Pharisees were trying to catch Jesus- to entrap him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">If he said that the Jewish people should <u>not</u>
pay the tax to the Romans, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">then Jesus could be arrested by the Romans for
sedition.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">If Jesus said that they <u>should</u> pay
taxes to Rome, then <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">he would have lost his appeal to his Jewish
followers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But
Jesus doesn’t answer yes or no.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Rather, he catches the Pharisees in their own
trap:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">First thing he does is ask the pharisees for a
coin used for the tax.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the he asked them for a Roman Coin. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As
we find out in the story, it has a picture of Caesar on it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And it had a claim that Caesar was the son of
God. It was an idol, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">a graven image. Jews, especially Jewish
leaders <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">were not supposed to have these coins. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">There was specially
minted Jewish money<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">that was not very valuable outside of Jewish <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">circles that they could carry. But Jesus asks
for a denarius.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And the Jewish leader reaches in his pocket
and takes one out.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus
catches them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The religious leaders were telling everyone
else to<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">follow Jewish law, and they were breaking one
of the rules.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Even those that fancied themselves the closest
to God<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">could not escape becoming a part of the Roman world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Maybe Jesus could have stopped right there,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and he would have had one up on the people <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">who were trying to catch him in a trap.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But Jesus goes on.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He
looks at the coin. It had picture of Caesar on it,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">so give it back to him. Give him his taxes. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">but remember always give to God what belongs
to God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It was a complex and subtle answer for a complex
issue.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus was not afraid of difficult questions,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and he was not afraid of getting into the fray
of difficulty.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It’s not black and
white. Not absolute.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It was complicated,
like politics is. Like life is. Like living together is.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Like trying to love
and serve all people can be.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />
I think that the
lesson we can learn today from Jesus story </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">is not to separate ourselves from the world and shy away from
it<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">but to be involved
with all its complexities.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Pay your taxes, be a good citizen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But always make sure that God gets what is
God’s.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And what is God’s? Everything.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God created everything in nature and every
person.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And our involvement in the political sphere<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">is to make sure that the systems of the world,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">care for all those things equally.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><o:p> </o:p> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So when Martin Luther King Jr. advocated for
civil rights<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><u>that</u> was political.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">When Pope Francis washed the feet of prisoners<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">on Maundy Thursday, <u>that</u> was political.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">When we go to Town Council to advocate for <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">workforce housing, <u>that</u> is political.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">When we strive publicly to love<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and accept all people, <u>that</u> is
political.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This is how Christ becomes manifest. How God’s
love becomes </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">incarnational and really present in the world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But the objectives in all of those examples is
not to <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">gain power or notoriety or special rights for
our own religions, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">it’s not to impose our religious practice or
unique ideology or <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">rules or morality on other people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It’s always to advocate for the under-served,
those that world <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and politics don’t always show love and
respect to.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So
we’re not asked, as people of faith, keep out of <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the political sphere and the sphere of
commerce.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus is actually telling us to go into it. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">To give it back to God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">To reform it so that it serves God’s purposes
for it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Give
to God what belongs to God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God wants us to specifically watch over<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">those who are most vulnerable.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It doesn’t matter what government or political
party is in charge<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">we need to keep everyone true to that ideal at
all times.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><o:p> </o:p> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We
are created in the image of God. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And not just the spiritual
side. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We are not just half
a coin.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We are not just souls hanging around the earth<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">waiting for heaven one day.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And God just doesn’t hover around in the ether
and <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">let the rest of the material world go to seed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God is interested in the whole package <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the spirit and the body.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God loves us all, and God every part
of us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The neat and tidy parts and the messy parts.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And God wants that love to transform every
part of our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Not just one hour on a Sunday morning.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Not just our prayer life and our spiritual life and our home life.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But every part of our life:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Including our budgets, our communities, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">our commerce, and our politics,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Give to Caesar what is Caesar's.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Give to God what is God’s.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And that is everything.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Rev. June Wilkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05379751460851476288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285660871932316676.post-73379789559489600722023-10-19T11:38:00.006-07:002023-10-19T11:38:53.236-07:00Come to the Party!<p> <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><b>October
15, 2023</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b>Matthew
22: 1-14</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjDK6IRH2P2AVOX7l9N48xEWzvCR9B_5Tyjp12UxIVew_96kBK2luDQe73xvPjBc-DI-5lSz5mw-39lbUQOcz99DxvQQ0QkdmSuhOrJfV3MVvrvvtUp_Xi19RuEUPUPmYnDGUC8oswDdTYmHj8Oh5LMoX1s-vG5TuR8oP-hWv4TXAl5zjCkVBXIU8jGNv7/s2001/Banquet%20Hyatt%20Moore.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="739" data-original-width="2001" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjDK6IRH2P2AVOX7l9N48xEWzvCR9B_5Tyjp12UxIVew_96kBK2luDQe73xvPjBc-DI-5lSz5mw-39lbUQOcz99DxvQQ0QkdmSuhOrJfV3MVvrvvtUp_Xi19RuEUPUPmYnDGUC8oswDdTYmHj8Oh5LMoX1s-vG5TuR8oP-hWv4TXAl5zjCkVBXIU8jGNv7/s320/Banquet%20Hyatt%20Moore.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Banquet</i><br />Hyatt Moore</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We
love this parable! Yay.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And it makes us uncomfortable.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
It’s great! There’s a banquet! Yay.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And there’s destroying cities.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It’s
a party for everyone, good and bad,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">everyone that usually isn’t invited to parties! Yay.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But then
there’s that poor guy who didn’t <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">wear a wedding coat, thrown into the outer darkness.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Dark Jesus is back again with another parable.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But don’t despair.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Remember, he’s still talking to the religious
leaders,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And remember, we don’t have to throw everything out<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">that we know and believe about grace.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We just have to remember that Jesus thinks this is
really important.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Let
me tell you, Luke’s version of this parable <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">is more palatable it’s very nice and there’s no<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">city-wide destruction and no outer darkness <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">or wailing and gnashing of teeth, you can read that
one Luke 14.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But
still, we’re not in Luke this year, we’re in Matthew<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And Matthew’s Jesus has a flair for the dramatic, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">he tries to grab us in with exciting descriptions
and consequences.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And this is the parable we’ve been given today so we have to deal with it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And maybe it’s not all bad news.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So Jesus says
the Kingdom of heaven is like this:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It’s
like a King who has wedding banquet. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
kingdom of God is like a party!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yay!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">For so long,
the church and God</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and everything involved with it has been<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">depicted as a drag, a bunch of sad, serious, wet
blankets.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I remember one member in my last congregation
telling us that when <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">she was young she was told that she needed to stop
smiling when <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">she was going up for communion.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">People have confused spirituality with stoicism. And
joy with disrespect.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But that’s not God’s way, that’s our way.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And that, I think that is part of the
understanding of this <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">story that Jesus is telling to the religious
leaders.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">They were
doing their own thing, and not God’s thing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">They forgot all the lessons their fore-fathers and
mothers had<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">taught about God’s love, forgiveness, inclusion,
abundance,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and all the rest of it, and they decided to take the
easy way out.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The way of the world. The way of scarcity and fear,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">threats and judgement,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">in order to control people and get what they want.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But
God’s way, God’s kingdom is like a celebration,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">With great food, and drink, and decoration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Enough for everyone. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So the
Kingdom of God is like a celebration.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">he invites the usual suspects, <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">other important people:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">politicians, business execs, doctors, lawyers, art
gallery curators, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">celebrities, and of course, religious leaders.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But they’re not interested in the king’s party.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">They want to keep doing their own thing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">They
dismiss him, forget about the invitation, they even get hostile.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Everyone is too busy doing their own thing, the
religious leaders <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">are running things the way they want to run things, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and they don’t want to come and do God’s thing. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But
the party’s there and the food is ready,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">so the King asks his people to invite everyone else<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">everyone else who might actually do things God’s
way.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Everyone that no one would have thought to invite
before.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And they do,
they don’t care who they ask: “Good and bad” it says.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Luke’s gospel describes the poor, the crippled, the
blind, the lame.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We know who
they would be today.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We know who our own normally uninvited are in our
day.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In God’s way, the table – real and metaphorically, is opened up to everyone.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And that’s
the another great thing about this parable,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">At God’s party everyone is invited. Yay!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
earliest church knew this, and it was known<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">for having rich and poor together, Jew and Greek,
slave and free,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">male and female, no one else did that at the time<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and that was the earliest Christian calling card,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">they were all one in Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Rachel
Held Evans, the popular millennial<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">theologian who sadly died in 2019 wrote:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">“The apostles remembered
what many modern Christians tend to forget—</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">that what makes the gospel offensive
<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;">isn’t who it keeps out, but
who it lets in.”</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And
that was Christ’s intent for the church.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And that is what got him killed in the end.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He opened up God’s party and therefore <u>God’s
power.</u> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Satan hates that kind of stuff.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And
frankly, the world – commerce, and business, </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">government, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and many of our institutions, systems, and religions hate that too. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Because it means sharing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Because if we know it’s there for the taking, it’s
free.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But if I can convince you that its scarce, and that I’m
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the only one who can give it to you, then I can
charge you for it.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I can get money, favors, actions, attention, and honor.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Still,
today, the thought of inviting everyone<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 319.8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">to the table and to the party is a
scandal to many.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 319.8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 319.8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So
the Kingdom of God is like a party,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 319.8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and the party is happening whether we want
to participate or not,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 319.8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and everyone who normally isn’t invited
to parties is invited, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 319.8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(and those who ARE normally invited can
come too.)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 319.8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So Yay! For radical banquets that can’t
be stopped!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 319.8pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that brings us to the most concerning
part of this parable,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the King and that guest and his wedding garment, or
lack of it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">To us it
might look like the king is just mad because someone<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">was not wearing the right clothes or didn’t have the
right look.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I know some of those joyless preachers in the past<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">have used this bit of the parable as an excuse to
tell people <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">they had to dress right in church. But that’s kind
of a ridiculous take.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So
at the time, weddings at that time were kind of surprises,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the date wasn’t set a long time in advance.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">When the time was right, the wedding started,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and someone would go out into the neighborhood,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and let them all know that the wedding was about to
start,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and everyone was supposed to stop what they were in
the middle of, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">they would take their wedding robe out of the closet
and go.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And if they didn’t have one,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the host would provide a wedding robe at the door.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
wedding robe was a garment that was simple<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and
non-descript, and everyone’s robe was similar,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">meaning
that everyone looked the same: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the
king looked the same as the ditch-digger,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the
farm hand looked the same as the business owner.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">To
wear the robe was a sign of solidarity, unity,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">honor for the host and for the rest of the guests.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As I said, if they were too poor to have one on
hand,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">they would have been given one at the door.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So the man
who came in wasn’t just flighty<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and forgot, or too poor to afford one, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">he would have had to reject it.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">To not wear it, was a snub, it was arrogance even.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">With
Matthew’s own flair for the dramatic,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">he’s saying that everyone is invited to the party.
Yay.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 282.15pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But it’s not just a free-for-all,
anarchy. Yay still, I guess.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 282.15pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 282.15pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God’s party is open to all people, it’s true.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 282.15pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And when we come to God’s party,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 282.15pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">we’re asked to behave differently than before.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 282.15pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We’re not asked to change our identity, or our gifts, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 282.15pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">or our uniqueness, we’re not asked to conform in those ways.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 282.15pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 282.15pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But
we are asked to wear <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 282.15pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The garments that cover our status and, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 282.15pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">our superiority, our self-righteousness <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 282.15pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and our judgmental nature that we left
the house with, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 282.15pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and we are asked to put on Christ’s
garments of <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 282.15pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">abundance, love, forgiveness, joy,
inclusion, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 282.15pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">service, self-sacrifice, and care for
everyone around us. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 282.15pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Everyone at the table. Yay again.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 282.15pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 282.15pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Putting on that robe, and following Christ’s way<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 282.15pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">is how we keep this party going for
everyone.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 282.15pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 282.15pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So don’t dwell in the outer darkness, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 282.15pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">don’t worry about the wailing and
gnashing of teeth.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 282.15pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Don’t worry about those things.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 282.15pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Just know that Jesus is really serious
about God’s party.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 282.15pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Believe in God’s abundance.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 282.15pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 282.15pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Just
put on Christ’s garments, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 282.15pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and come to the banquet that God <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 282.15pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">has prepared for everyone.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 282.15pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Rev. June Wilkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05379751460851476288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285660871932316676.post-76552760256285192912023-10-11T11:24:00.001-07:002023-10-11T11:24:37.529-07:00When Jesus Gets Dark<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> Matthew 21:33-46 October 8, 2023<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1vbcoKceDLCiib-OTOub3NwsuyP25qCGYie710EMxG8utlA6nqTdzt8KDq6II5_uxyuBb3N7VQqUPc9XR5LF01ptkm6NaESwRBKEeliAeII04fr-SJcbC11CyZ4xKR9d5QN-1AAr_8dNpdsojiPMpgIDV1HCv67CCBbtUjayvV7gFOJDzntXvQlHDMy_g/s984/The%20wicked%20Tenants%20james%20janknegt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="403" data-original-width="984" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1vbcoKceDLCiib-OTOub3NwsuyP25qCGYie710EMxG8utlA6nqTdzt8KDq6II5_uxyuBb3N7VQqUPc9XR5LF01ptkm6NaESwRBKEeliAeII04fr-SJcbC11CyZ4xKR9d5QN-1AAr_8dNpdsojiPMpgIDV1HCv67CCBbtUjayvV7gFOJDzntXvQlHDMy_g/s320/The%20wicked%20Tenants%20james%20janknegt.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Wicked Tenants</i><br />James Jankgnect</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This
is the point in Matthew where Jesus <br />starts getting a little dark. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">His stories are a little threatening,
not very gospel centered.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus has entered into Jerusalem
at this point<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and he’s confronting all the religious
leaders there<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and he’s obviously not happy with
the work they’re doing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Martin Luther once said that sometimes you have to
squeeze <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">a
biblical passage until it leaks the gospel.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This is one of those weeks.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">There’s the landowner, there’s the
tenants, there’s lots of killing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This parable ends, basically with
Jesus saying that the kingdom<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">of God is going to be taken away
from those who don’t bear fruit<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and given to someone who does.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Not too much grace going on here.<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So,
even though this particular parable might <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">not be easy to take in, we still
shouldn’t avoid <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the point that Jesus is making
here.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">When Matthew
gives us “Dark Jesus”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">we don’t have to avoid it or
ignore it, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">OR trade in our Lutheran
understanding <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">of God’s grace when we hear it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We just need
to remember that at these times,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus is being <u>very</u>
serious. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">These things are important to
Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And when Jesus gets really dark
and forceful,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">he’s usually talking to people of
higher status,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">people in control, people with
power.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Not the sick, not the poor, not
the prejudged.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So
in this parable, Jesus was talking to the<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Chief Priests and the Pharisees,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the leadership of the church and
of those worshipping God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And now when
we read it, we need to look at ourselves. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We are the tenants in the
vineyard.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We are the keepers of the church
now.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It applies, bishops, pastors, church
leaders<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and members of the Christian
Church.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The question
that it asks all of us: How are we doing? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">What are
we doing to bear fruit for the kingdom?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">What are we giving back to God?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Are we doing what we’re supposed
to be doing?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Are we giving
the landowner what he wants,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">or are we turning God away
empty-handed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It’s a legitimate question to ask.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">If we’re here as a church for a
purpose <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">are we doing that purpose?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Unfortunately,
the way that the church has <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">often
evaluated itself on this point is by how much we have.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">When evaluate how we are doing,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the scale we often use is how many
people do we have<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and how much money we have.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Kelly
Fryer, a Lutheran Church developer said it best:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">She says that, even if we don’t
say it out loud,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">churches evaluate themselves in
terms of “butts and bucks”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">If
we have lots of people and lots of money,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">we
assume we’re doing something right.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">if we don’t, we assume something
is wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But is that
what God wants?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Is
that what Jesus thinks is so important?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">When we
evaluate ourselves this way,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">we end up comparing ourselves to
other churches<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Those churches over there who have
a giant building<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Or need security to direct traffic
in the morning.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">They’ve got a lot of people, they
must be doing something right.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And then, of
course we compare ourselves,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">to the “glory days” of the church,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Whether it was the 50’s or the 2010’s
or the 1800’s.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">When we think of the glory days<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">it usually has to do with the
amount of people in the church<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and how the church’s bank account
was doing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And we look back and wonder, what
were we doing right then?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And then we try to recreate the “old days”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Which isn’t really being the
church in our own days.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But a bigger,
wealthier church is not necessarily a church that<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Is doing God’s will and following
God’s mission.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But some churches have traded in
God’s plans in order to appeal to the most people. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Some Christian pastors have
given up on the gospel<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and made themselves into self-help
gurus in order to appeal </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">to the most people and have made heaps of money for
themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Some churches have become so
focused on<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Worship in order to appeal to the
most people’s <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">preferences instead of doing what
comes from their hearts.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Some churches preach hate every
Sunday morning:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">hate of people of other races,
Religions, LBTQ people, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and some of them are very crowded and have lots of
money coming in. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Lots of large churches have given
into only what<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">“the people” want instead of what
God wants.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Now, there
are plenty of churches that do have a lot of people<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">that <u>do</u> follow God’s call
and many people have joined <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">to live that out that plan with
them with them. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It’s not that large churches are
bad.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But it’s not necessarily true that
churches that are </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">large in number and have lots of room in their budgets are
always doing God’s will.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But we still often see it that
way.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Butts
and bucks, It’s pretty much an influence from business<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">from the world. Money and
customers mean success.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">That’s the fruit we think we’re
supposed to bear<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">for the owner of the vineyard.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">People are just numbers and
commodities.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Krister
Stendahl, was a professor at Harvard Divinity<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and then he went on to be the
bishop of Sweden,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">he wrote extensively about Christianity
in the world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He spoke at the seminary when I
was there, and I still remember<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">this little story from his
lecture. He said: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">“When
God comes into the office in the morning, he doesn’t ask for <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Christian growth statistics, he
doesn’t ask <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">how many people have we added to
the ledger <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God asks ‘What have my Christians
done for the Kingdom?’”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God
isn’t interested in the raw numbers of <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Christians
in the world or members in our churches</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God’s
interested is in the mending of the whole of creation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God
doesn’t care about numbers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God needs to get things done.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And maybe God can do that better
with less people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We never know what God could be up
to.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I do know that God can do
wonderful things with small churches too.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I
also remember him telling us Jesus said to us,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">“you are the salt of the earth”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But no one wants the world to be a
salt mine.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We don’t need
to be like that church down the street.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We don’t need to imitate another
church in order<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We don’t need to trade in the
mission that we’re called<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">To in order to get more people and
get more money.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We need to do what God needs us to
do here<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">With the community that God has
creation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I
think that God has some great plans for
us here.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We may not know what all those
plans are yet, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">but we need to keep our ears open
for the moving of the spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I do know that we’re not here as
Christians just to make big and <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">glorious churches that make us
look and feel good.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We’re here to
serve God’s dreams.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Mercy and justice, things that
flow naturally <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">out of us when we care.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">That’s the rent we pay.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As
we’ve done research for Christ’s 50<sup>th</sup> anniversary<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And I’ve
been doing the interviews for the videos<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We’re
seeing these mornings.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And
almost everyone said something like:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">“We’re
small, but. . .” as if we’re apologizing for it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Not to
criticize everyone, I’ve done the same thing.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />But let’s stop apologizing for who we are. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This
church has done some amazing things with the<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Community
that the Spirit has assembled here at different times. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Sometimes
with 20, sometimes 200, sometimes 30, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and
sometimes just 8 people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We have
made a difference in our community,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">we have
produced fruit for the Kingdom of God<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">at all the
sizes we’ve been.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God
wants us to love each other, and to love other people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This is the kind of fruit that God
wants back.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I think, right now, the landowner
would be pleased<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">with Christ Lutheran. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Could we do more, could we pay
more rent?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I’m sure.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As
tenants, we always need to keep asking the question,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">what does God want us to do <u>now</u>?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Where is the Spirit leading us <u>now</u>?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Not what’s going to get us the
most people,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">not what’s going to curb my
anxiety about paying the bills,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">but what is God calling <u>us</u>
to do in this world?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Now,
we still have the problem of this vineyard, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">those
tenants and that land-owner.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I so need
to give you some sort of Gospel at some point.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">If there is a way to squeeze any more
gospel out of it, it might be this:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Every time
those tenants broke their lease<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and abused the servants that the
landowner sends –<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the landowner sends more, and more,
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and then he even sends them his
son.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Obviously,
that landowner is desperate <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">to be in relationship with those
tenants. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Obviously that landowner keeps
hoping<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">that the tenants will turn things
around.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And
so it is with God and us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We might not always live up to our
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">end of the bargain as tenants and
care-takers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But God
loves us, and God loves the churches<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">that God
has created,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and God
has not lost hope in us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and God
will not lose hope in us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Seventy times
seven - over and over again -<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God forgives and God reaches out.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Again and
again.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<span style="font-family: helvetica;">God
comes back to us</span>Rev. June Wilkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05379751460851476288noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285660871932316676.post-6648986288613153382023-10-02T12:34:00.003-07:002023-10-02T12:34:47.480-07:00God Is Not Fair<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> Matthew 20:1-16</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">September 24, 2023<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo40I4BHEy9OChtqCDLhyVw6ZL4A0wE2Ec6H6G9ax8abPH8EssFGbckNKXF_d4XCu_iR-PmXlb0DZGTE8EnxGe5xLjQfycZArh1Ow1Yv8HAilukmMFAyrj2yKAsoWTGeB-xSS-OhX8quzuAXRBGwo3C-yNy2vNQ8iAiCfqqe9xffhY9BJtuwjMWQnH4K87/s767/Red%20Vineyards%20Near%20Arles%20van%20gogh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="767" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo40I4BHEy9OChtqCDLhyVw6ZL4A0wE2Ec6H6G9ax8abPH8EssFGbckNKXF_d4XCu_iR-PmXlb0DZGTE8EnxGe5xLjQfycZArh1Ow1Yv8HAilukmMFAyrj2yKAsoWTGeB-xSS-OhX8quzuAXRBGwo3C-yNy2vNQ8iAiCfqqe9xffhY9BJtuwjMWQnH4K87/s320/Red%20Vineyards%20Near%20Arles%20van%20gogh.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Red Vineyard Near Arles</i><br />Vincent Van Gogh</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This is just not fair.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I mean you hear this story
and it just sets off your “fair button.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">That button that was formed
in us as children,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">when one of your siblings got
more of anything, “that’s not fair.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Or when another student gets
attention, or a better grade,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">“that’s not fair”. Or when
someone else gets the promotion that<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">you think you deserved. Or
when the corrupt seem to have easy<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">lives and get away with
everything, while the people who work <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the hardest have to pay in
every way. “that’s not fair”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">There’s something in us that wants
everything to balance </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">out in the world that wants the universe to be equal.<br /><br />
</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The fair button gets pushed because this story isn’t fair.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I mean, if we’re adults, we know that <u>the world</u>
is not fair.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We know by this time that
things aren’t equal in this world<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the systems are just stacked
for some people and against others.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And then there’s just luck--
both good and bad – that tilt the scales.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But this is a story about <u>God</u>.
About the kingdom of God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And we still want to think
that in the end,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God will follow those mathematical rules that we rely on.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Like the one that says that
those that work<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the longest doing the same
work will get the most.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But this parable says that the kingdom of God is <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">not like that. It doesn’t fit
our definition of fair.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The laborers who were hired
at the crack of dawn <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and worked 11 hours got paid
their fair wage, it was<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the one they agreed on it
with the <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">landowner at the beginning of
the day<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It’s just that the ones who
were hired at 5pm <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and worked one hour got the
same wage.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">That’s the part that doesn’t
seem fair.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The parable does not say that the landowner<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">paid the ones who worked
longer hours <u>less</u>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It’s just that the ones who
worked less got paid the same as them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Amy Jill Levine the Jewish scholar of the Christian
bible<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">said that this parable shows
that the kingdom of God is like this:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus shows that in contrast
to the world, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the rich people in the
kingdom of God<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">fulfill their responsibility
to everyone who<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">work for them by giving them
enough to live on.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Which I love. The landowner
fulfills his obligation<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">to see that everyone is fed
and comfortable.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">You might think that everyone
would be happy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But of course, everyone
isn’t. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Of course, Dr. Levine and
we <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">know that Jesus isn’t talking
about wages. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus is talking about
blessings and favor and love<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and honor both earthly and
eternal. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The thing that inspired Jesus to tell this story was
Peter.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He asked Jesus right before this, “<i>so
what are we going to get?<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We left everything behind
to follow you, and we got here first<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I hope we get something
special. How will we be privileged?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />
Jesus tells him, You will get back a hundredfold
–<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>isn’t that great?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But he also says “the last
will be first and the first will be last.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">You will get yours, but
others will get too.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Whether they were the first
to follow or the last, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God is not interested in how
many hours, or years, or how<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">much effort you’ve put in, or
sincerity, or anything.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God’s favor is the same for
all.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">My guess is that Jesus
could see that Peter was not happy<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">about this, Jesus could see
Peter’s fair button going off.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Because then we get this
parable.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Peter is like those early crack of dawn workers,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">They
were mad, not because they didn’t get enough,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">but
because the 5pm people didn’t get<u> less</u> than they did.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The crack of dawn people were
mad because the landowner<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">was, they thought, overly
generous to other people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">They got used to being the early workers.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">They got used to the idea that they earned more<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">than those other people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It doesn’t say that they were
better workers<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">or harder workers, they were
just lucky enough<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">to be the first to be hired
that day.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">They actually said to the
landowner, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">“You have made <u>them</u>
equal to <u>us</u>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">That’s what they were mad at.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">That’s what was unfair.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This is how privilege works doesn’t it?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">When
we are privileged, we’re used to getting more than others.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Then
when other people start getting equal, it almost <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">feels
like a slight. We kind of get used to the status.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The
unspoken, assumed hierarchy. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This is what we’ve found
happens when <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">people who traditionally have
gotten less rights<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">ask for equal rights, the
people who have been<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">privileged start asking, what
about me?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">When women, people of color,
LGBT people,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">immigrants, have asked to be
treated equally,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">people who have normally had most
of the privilege before, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">have that fair button pushed
in them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It feels to some people like
they are being cheated,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">but all that is happening is
that the other people are getting<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">what we got. Then people end
up whining like Peter and those crack </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">of dawn people, going “what happened?” </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">“You
have made them equal to us? What about me? I was here first. That’s not fair”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Deep down it says, “Let’s
keep things the way they are now, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">so those
who are used to being on top can still stay on top”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But that’s not the way it is in the Kingdom of God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God
loves all of us the same. There is no status or hierarchy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We
are all equal in the kingdom of God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And
since we, as Christians, pray for God’s will to be done on earth<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">as
it is in heaven, we are supposed to do the work of justice - <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">to
help those who don’t have the same rights <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and
favor on earth right now. To give extra attention and work for<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">those
who are oppressed by laws, or tradition, or situations.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Latin
American theologians call it <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">“The
preferential option for the poor”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Meaning the church needs
to focus more attention, more effort<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">on
those who are poor and are oppressed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And
as Christians, we are asked to let go of our privileges and <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">give
them away to those who don’t have them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">To
remember the last will be first and the first will be last.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This parable teaches us that God doesn’t count beans,
or favors, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">or
sincerity, or hours or years. If you’ve been in God’s </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">vineyard one hour or eleven it doesn’t matter. God’s love is the same. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This parable teaches us: God
is not fair, God is generous.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">When I was a seminary student, I did my field work </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">in
a farming community
in Perkasie, PA. 20 years ago it was farms,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">now
I’m pretty sure it’s all suburban subdivisions.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Since
I came from a very urban church in New York City,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">my
field ed director thought I would benefit from a </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">different experience, and it
was. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Not that I really understood all the implications of that.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Since I was the sophisticated, urban seminarian, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I
was asked to lead a class on sexuality. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Big
mistake on someone else’s part, not my idea at all.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But I was a first year seminary student, therefore I was <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">arrogant
and ignorant enough to accept the appointment.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So to start the class, I held up a sign that said in
big letters <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">“GOING
TO HELL” and I told everyone in that first year seminary way:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;">“So if we believe in the basic
premise of the Lutheran faith, <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;">we know that we are not
saved because of our works <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;">or what we’ve done, we’re
saved by God’s grace.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So we remember that even
criminals are loved by God.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And we know that people of
different sexualities are loved by God.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>So we are just going to
forget that THIS is even an option</i>”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And I crumpled up the sign
and threw it on the floor behind me.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I was showboating. First
year seminary.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">My
point was that we needed to put aside all the talk<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">of hell and damnation for
anyone due to their sexuality<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">before we could discuss
sexuality with any care or clarity.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I mean I thought this was Lutheran 101.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Justification by Grace
through <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">faith not works right?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I assumed I was just reiterating
what everyone already knew<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and believed and we could use
that as a basis for our discussion.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And the discussion did go well for a few weeks.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But after I finished the class, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I
heard from my supervisor that the president of the council<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">had
come to him after my little spiel in the
first class.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He wasn’t particularly upset
about the sexuality part,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">but he was concerned about
what I had said about God’s <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">grace for all people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The president asked the
pastor:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">“You mean I’ve been doing all of this work, and God
loves people<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">who don’t go to church and who do bad things the same
as me?<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Is that what Lutherans
believe?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The pastor told him yes. That
is what Lutherans believe.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And that is how I caused
the president of the council of my <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">first field ed church to
resign from the Council, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and leave the congregation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">To his credit, my field ed
pastor didn’t blame me or<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">try and make me feel bad
about this at all, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">probably because he realized he
should have been drilling <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">basic Lutheranism into his
congregation and maybe <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">not let a first year
seminarian teach a class on sexuality.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But what happened is the
president’s fair button went off.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He just couldn’t live with
the idea that they (whoever they were)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">were equal to him. He wanted
all the good things he did <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and his dedication count more
to God. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He wasn’t upset because he
got less, he was upset because those <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">who were unworthy got as
much.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I get that. He wanted a
religion that was fair.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But God isn’t fair, God is
generous.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And we thank God for that.
Because if God was fair, we would<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">all be in trouble. If God was
counting beans and sins and <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">good works, and bad works,
we’d all be doomed. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The president of that congregation, and the pastor, and me,
and you. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Things done and left undone, things known and unknown. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The things
we’ve said and thought in our minds and hearts. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />We have all fallen short of the
glory of God.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The kingdom of God is like
this.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Everyone is fed, and housed,
and worthy, and loved.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Everyone has enough to live
and not to worry.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Everyone is a child of God,
heirs to God’s love and gifts.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Everyone benefits from God’s
generosity.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So as Baptized believers,
we’re called to put away that fair button.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We
are called is to bring God’s gracious abundance to<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">to the places in this world
that are starving for it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We are called to share God’s
love with the deserving and <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the undeserving, by the
world’s standards.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We are called to make God’s
will done on earth as it is in God’s kingdom.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And we are called to give
thanks for the fact that God is not fair.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But that God is generous.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>Rev. June Wilkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05379751460851476288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285660871932316676.post-32802808912471820462023-09-18T09:31:00.005-07:002023-09-18T09:31:44.024-07:00Forgiveness<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> Matthew
18 21-35<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgovebYFDoBeerZyDOSEGVHp-TCCW1Ms9DZSOdrzVeUect5e345qx2vXo0WWwcHktU-0-7NPT9DNkAUKmPmweUtDclBZ18curUh_HMu9MB-WQWrbLVLF3bbydPqmH8r_A0UfE8o0lm_YENtq5WlYfhkERDir1NRK9ycEA0v1gGKf5-o03ssQYIrhxyuIOAo/s1009/Forgive%20thy%20brother%20Scott%20Erickson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1009" data-original-width="999" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgovebYFDoBeerZyDOSEGVHp-TCCW1Ms9DZSOdrzVeUect5e345qx2vXo0WWwcHktU-0-7NPT9DNkAUKmPmweUtDclBZ18curUh_HMu9MB-WQWrbLVLF3bbydPqmH8r_A0UfE8o0lm_YENtq5WlYfhkERDir1NRK9ycEA0v1gGKf5-o03ssQYIrhxyuIOAo/w247-h249/Forgive%20thy%20brother%20Scott%20Erickson.jpg" width="247" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Forgive Thy Neighbor</i><br />Scott Erickson</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">September
17, 2023<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So
Peter asks, “How many times should we forgive someone? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">seven times? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He probably thought he was being generous with
that.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But Jesus says No, a lot more than that.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">
Try seventy and seven times. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Now
these numbers were not just picked out of the air.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Their linked to an important reference in
Genesis.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">After Cain kills his brother Abel, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Cain is banished from his home and <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">sent to wander around the earth. He tells God
that<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">he can’t live with that punishment, and <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">someone will surely kill him. So God protects
him<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">with a seven times vengeance against anyone
who does.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Cain
remains an outcast, not counted in <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Adam’s official
lineage, but he marries<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and has a family of
his own and Cain’s great, great grandson <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Lamech, is born he
has two wives, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and he tells them:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="text"><i><span style="background: white; color: black;">“Adah and Zillah, listen to me;</span></i></span><i><span style="color: black;"><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="background: white;">wives of Lamech, hear my words.</span></span><br />
<span class="text"><span style="background: white;">I have killed a man for
wounding me,</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="background: white;">a young man for injuring me.</span></span><br />
<span class="text"><sup><span style="background: white;">24 </span></sup><span style="background: white;">If Cain is avenged seven times,</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="background: white;">then Lamech seventy-seven times.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="text"><i><span style="background: white;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black;">It was kind of a brag and kind of a
threat.</span></span><span class="text"><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black;">He was taking advantage of his
protected status,</span></span><span class="text"><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black;">and instead of being thankful for
it,</span></span><span class="text"><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black;">he was vengeful he didn’t give
others the grace</span></span><span class="text"><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black;">that he and his family were given. </span></span><span class="text"><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black;">Seventy seven fold.</span></span><span class="text"><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="text"><span style="background: white;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It
important to remember that in Jesus time<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and before, revenge was a way of life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">If someone did something to you or your
family,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">you didn’t just brood over it, and internalize
it<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and stopped talking to the person or leave the
neighborhood,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">You didn’t let law enforcement do its work, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">since there was no law enforcement as we
understand it now.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">You got back at the person who did it. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It was your right and obligation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">If you didn’t, you and your family’s honor was
at stake.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It was supposed to work like a code of
honor, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">but you could see how it could easily out of
hand and it did.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Someone could kill you or punish you for
something that <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">your grandfather did 50 years earlier. Or
someone could<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">be mad at someone or want some of their
property<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and use the excuse that their ancestors <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">had hurt someone else a centuries earlier.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In Leviticus 24, it’s spelled out and kind of
tried to temper it,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">“an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In other words, just keep it to one eye for
one eye. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And one tooth for one tooth.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And then in Matthew 5, Jesus says,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black;">“You have heard that it was said, </span></span><span class="text"><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black;">‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a
tooth.’ </span></span><span class="text"><sup><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></sup></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black;">But I say to you: Do not resist an
evildoer. </span></span><span class="text"><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black;">But if anyone strikes you on the
right cheek, turn the other also”</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="text"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In other words,
stop the cycle of violence.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="text"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="text"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And today, we
hear Jesus call for forgiveness.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background: white; color: black;">Jesus says that the call of his
followers is not </span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background: white; color: black;">seventy-seven fold</span><span style="background: white; color: black;"> </span><span style="background: white; color: black;">vengeance like Lamech,
but seventy-seven fold forgiveness.</span><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background: white; color: black;">Jesus is calling for his disciples to undo the curse of Cain</span><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background: white; color: black;">and the vengeance of Lamech that has trapped humanity</span><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background: white; color: black;">in endless cycles of hate, vengeance, and violence, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>over generations.</span><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background: white; color: black;">Jesus is calling his disciples to be different from our
ancestors</span><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background: white; color: black;">and to take another path a path of life, not death.</span><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So
now knowing some of that, we can look at Jesus parable.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In
the parable, A slave owes a king a ton of money.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Remember, exaggeration is one method of
parables.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And 10,000 talents was a lot.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">One talent was 15 years wages, this was 10,000
times that.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Basically It’s a lot of money. More money than
can be repaid.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This means that king had a lot of power over
his subjects.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He could do almost anything he wanted.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And if he held onto that debt, he could
leverage it<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">over this man and his whole family not just
now, but for years to come.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And what does he do?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He releases the slave of the obligation of the
debt.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Not just some of it, all of it. That must have
sounded ridiculous.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And scandalous and radical.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Holding
onto debts and grudges maintained power,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the caste system, a pecking order.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">If the king started just forgiving people it
would be <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">mass hysteria, dogs and cats living together,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">you wouldn’t know who was who, slave or free, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">man or woman, Jew or Greek.<br />
This would be a new world, new freedom, new life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus meant to overturn a basic system of
society.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">For
this now former slave, it could have been<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">a new morning, a new day, a new life for
everyone.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He could have passed the Kings forgiveness on<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and created a new reality in his community.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But as soon as he left that meeting with the
king,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the slave forgot the new world he was given.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">
He went out into the world and forgot the forgiveness he was given,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and resumed the old way. The counting every
debt,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the demand, the violence and the torture.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Now
Matthew’s Jesus is always taking it over the top<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">in God’s justice department, but this old way<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">of accounting sins is torture – <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>for the
counted and for the counter.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Have
you ever been in a position of not being able to forgive someone<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">for something they’ve done, whether it’s a
large or small offense?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Of grumbling every time their name comes up<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and relishing every bad thing that happens to
them?</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />
Of course you have, just like I have. Everyone has. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It’s human nature. And I can tell you it’s not
good for you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">You think about it, you relive it, you imagine
you’re offense over and over again. </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The one who’s done it has probably moved on
and doesn’t<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">think much about it. But we can be held by the
offense for years.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A
society that is build around revenge and getting even <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">cannot move on. It
cannot sustain itself, it will eventually blow itself up<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">with depression, or addiction, or guns, or
nuclear bombs.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus wants to overthrow this system with our
forgiveness and love.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Now
a days, we’re more sophisticated than they were in Jesus time,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">we like our retribution for sins taken care of
by our institutions,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">we like our justice departments, we like our
revenge meted<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">out by solitary confinement and the death
penalty,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">we like our debts counted by credit agencies and
payday loan companies, </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">we still like the church to divide us <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">into holy and not holy, sinful and righteous.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />
We’re comfortable with the caste system <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">created by sin and debt and we are reluctant
to give it up<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">but still and all, it’s torture for everyone.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It cannot survive.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Even though it’s lasted for thousands of
years,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">we can’ t sustain ourselves like this.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As someone said, “If everyone took an eye for
an eye, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the whole world will go blind.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We will destroy ourselves.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And that is why Jesus made forgiveness
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">front and center of his ministry.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And that’s why God’s forgiveness comes first<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and sets us free so we can pass it on and <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">create a new reality in our community.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In
2014 I went with a group of other clergy to a presentation<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">of a group called
Sandy Hook Promise.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It was started by
the parents of the victims of the Sandy Hook<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">school shooting in
2012 where 26 people were killed, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">20 of them first graders. Two of the parents
were there talking to us.<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">They have a foundation who’s purpose it is to
curb school shootings<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">it’s called Sandy Hook Promise.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">One
arm of their foundation works on reasonable gun control<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and all of those safety precautions.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But
their main focus is on loving everyone’s children. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">They called it “Parenting our whole
community.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">They know that the young man, who killed their
children, Adam Lanza,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">was, like a lot of other mass shooters, called
a loner. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">No one knew him, or knew his name.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">They wanted to work to correct that in schools
so that other <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">They have two programs:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">“No Child Eats Alone”, which encourages
children </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and staff to go and eat with other children who are eating alone.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And “Know Me Know My Name” an effort for every </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">staff teacher and administrative person to know every child’s name and use it
regularly.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The
man who lost his son said that his son, Ethan, was a person who<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">would go and sit with a child who was alone or
was crying.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And this father, who’s son was killed said:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">“I<i>f more children like my son were there for
Adam Lanza,<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>maybe it wouldn’t have happened</i>.”
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Which I thought was an amazing statement. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This man who had every right to be bitter and
angry and spiteful even,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">but instead he had compassion for the person
who shot his child.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The group said that many of them were
people of faith.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And their faith brought them to a place of
compassion .<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And they felt that this was a better place to
be, a more productive place <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">than if they chose vengeance and hate.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">That
is forgiveness. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It’s not being a “doormat”. Not “doing nothing”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">That’s not “just letting it happen again”. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But it’s also not relishing in the pain of his
offender.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It’s being truthful and honest about where we
are.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But it’s not being hung up in cycles of
offenses and vengeance,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It’s facing the past, and working towards new solutions
and healing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">What if we could do this in our own
lives?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">What if we could do this in our own
communities?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">What if we could do this in our countries and
our world?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It could change everything, everything we’ve
ever known.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Forgiveness
starts with remembering we are forgiven. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In Jesus parable, the first thing that happens
is that the<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">king forgives the servant everything. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He is released and freed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He was able to start a new day and a new life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But the servant forgot that, and that’s where
the trouble began.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We
who have been given so much,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">have been asked to give those debts that we
hold <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">against other people, back to God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And in the process, the debts we used to hold<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">will no longer have a hold over us anymore.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In forgiveness, we are freed too.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And our forgiveness can also show God’s grace
to the world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus,
How many times should we forgive? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Seven times?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Seven times might seem like a lot, but more
than seven.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Keep doing it. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Keep practicing, keep trying and keep failing
and keep trying again.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Do it with your family, your church, and
community <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and then do it with others.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Until God’s will is done on earth as in
heaven.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>Rev. June Wilkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05379751460851476288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285660871932316676.post-46809547693247042932023-09-11T09:59:00.001-07:002023-09-11T09:59:04.223-07:00Conversation<p><b> <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Matthew
18:15-20</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b>September
10, 2023</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A pastor from
Texas told me this story.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDoK4C_P5GbcGYgDDFBBFnrvyDQSff9i_LEwLHlmXYw5ogUSlWQWdci2u1YARoszHFrn6Jja5ZkJWbYxqkXClrkMcAnpHHClkMembQxiNu2ksgHx_-WKypF2Ht_Wg3Gxwmog2otIQ817M-mqZm9Cx-YNPRVw8a9Pt5IFmMNf3JWE89aUHyILH8CZGVuj-p/s540/where%20two%20or%20more%20are%20gathered%20Theresa%20Daughtry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="398" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDoK4C_P5GbcGYgDDFBBFnrvyDQSff9i_LEwLHlmXYw5ogUSlWQWdci2u1YARoszHFrn6Jja5ZkJWbYxqkXClrkMcAnpHHClkMembQxiNu2ksgHx_-WKypF2Ht_Wg3Gxwmog2otIQ817M-mqZm9Cx-YNPRVw8a9Pt5IFmMNf3JWE89aUHyILH8CZGVuj-p/s320/where%20two%20or%20more%20are%20gathered%20Theresa%20Daughtry.jpg" width="236" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Where Two or More Are Gathered</i><br />Theresa Daughtry</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He had just started a new call at a church in a
small town.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Soon
after he started, he was in a grocery store.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">One
of the members of his church saw him from down the aisle.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He
was right behind him, he said “hello, Pastor”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">a
couple of times. He had to have heard him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
pastor ignores him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He
acts like he didn’t see him and scoots quickly down the aisle.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
member is offended.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The member
tells his wife: the new pastor ignored me.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He saw me and avoided me. Maybe he’s mad at me.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">She tells her
friend who is on the council.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Do
you know how much money we give to this church?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
council talks. We have seen signs. The pastor is not friendly.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Other
church members are told. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Maybe
we made a mistake in calling him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There’s
phone calls and quiet discussions.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Yes,
we noticed it too. He thinks he’s better than us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Sunday,
people seem cold to him, the pastor doesn’t know why.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
pastor doesn’t find out until after church when<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">one
“concerned” spokesperson comes to talk to him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“Some
people are not happy.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Always
a good line to hear.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Well,
what’s the problem?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I
think it started because you didn’t say <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">hello
to Joe in the grocery store.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Why
did you ignore Joe in the grocery store?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
pastor is caught unaware.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
pastor thinks, that doesn’t sound like me.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">After
a little thinking he remembers:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the
battery in one of the pastor’s hearing aids gave out, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">so
he didn’t wear them to the store that day.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If
he doesn’t wear his hearing aids, he can’t hear.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He
never heard Joe.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He
explained it to Joe, and then to the congregation,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and
apparently they worked it all out because <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the
pastor was there for the next 20 years.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This story is
true. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Well, this is how it was told to me by the pastor. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And
I believe it, because this happens a lot.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I’m
sure we all have a story or two like this.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Some
a lot more destructive than this one.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">People
complaining to other people instead <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">of
to the person their complaining about.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It
happens in families, at work, in organizations <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and
definitely in churches<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">maybe
most often in churches.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I think it
might happen in the church even more <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">than
other organizations because we’re supposed to be nice.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We get this impression that we’re supposed <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">to
be of one mind and one opinion and thought.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We think that
to be church means that we’re <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">supposed to only be sweet in front of one another.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">To
show no disagreement. So when we do disagree with someone,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">when
we’re frustrated we couldn’t possibly tell <u>them.<o:p></o:p></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">That
wouldn’t be nice. That could be rude. That could create conflict.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So,
we just tell someone else. Maybe even innocently, concerned.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We
have parking lot discussions and share gossip.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I
have surely participated in it. I bet most of us have.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If it helps
at all, we obviously haven’t been <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the first people to do it this.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We’re
in Matthew 18 this week.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
whole concept of the church <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">has
just been brought up for the first time<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">in
chapter 16 when Jesus tells Peter that <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">he
was going to build his church on him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And
here Jesus is, two chapters later, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">telling
them how to deal with disagreements.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Almost
instantly, after church, there was church conflict.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Matthew 18.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This
is maybe the most directly applicable,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and
the most practical advice we’re given in the whole bible:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If
someone sins against you, if someone does something to you,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">like
snubs you in a grocery store,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the
first step is to talk to the other person directly. Alone.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Don’t
tell a bunch of other people first.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">That means don’t embarrass them. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Don’t tell them in the middle of a meeting.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Or
in the middle of the Narthex where other people can hear.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Don’t tell their spouse or their friend about it. Go
to them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So
much in the church and the world would be solved<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">if
we just went to that first step.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We
wouldn’t have any sit-coms if we did that.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But it would solve a lot of problems.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And if that
step doesn’t work, there are other practical steps </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">outlined too: </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Take a couple of people and talk to the other person.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(Of
course, there’s always a chance the other <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">two
people might disagree with you.) </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And if that doesn’t work, <u>then</u> tell the church.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Then</span></u><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> bring it up
in a meeting. And if all that doesn’t work, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">then
treat them as a Gentile or a tax collector.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Of course, we
know how Jesus treated Gentiles and Tax Collectors.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This
gospel was, of course, written by Matthew-<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the
Tax Collector – a disciple chosen and loved by Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So this is
simple advice.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If
you’ve got a problem, go directly to that person and talk to them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Simple.
So why don’t we do it?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Why
is it that churches, who have this in our scriptures,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">forget
to do it so often?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The fact is,
the steps might be simple and clear, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">but they are very, very hard. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">They leave us very vulnerable.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Telling other people, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">especially
other people we are around all the time,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">something
that they’re doing or saying that we don’t like,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">having
an honest discussion with them,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">staying
connected with someone you disagree with is difficult.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Whenever I have to do it, I know I get a knot in my stomach<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and
it worries me for days.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This is often
what, I think, turns people off of the church.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It
turns people off of organized religion. It can get difficult.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Have you ever
told someone that you were involved in the church<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and
they told you that they were “Spiritual but not religious”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">They
just don’t like all that church stuff?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">A UCC pastor
named Lillian Daniel wrote a great little blog entry</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">more
than 10 years ago called:<br />
“<u>Spiritual But not religious? Stop boring me</u>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">She
complains about the people that she meets on planes<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">when
they find she’s a minister, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">most
people tell her that “they’re spiritual but not religious.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">She
writes:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Such a person
will always share this <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">as if it is
some kind of daring insight, <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">unique to them,
bold in its rebellion <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">against the
religious status quo. <br />
<br />
Next thing you know, he's telling me that he finds God in the sunsets. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">These people
always find God in the sunsets. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And in walks
on the beach. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Sometimes I
think these people never leave <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the beach or
the mountains, <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">what with all
the communing with God they do <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">on hilltops,
hiking trails and . . . <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">did I mention
the beach at sunset yet? <br />
<br />
Like people who go to church don't see God in the sunset!<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">What she goes
on basically to say is that being spiritual by yourself<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">with
nature that doesn’t talk back, doesn’t have it’s own opinions,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">doesn’t
change its mind, doesn’t have a bad hair day, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">is
unchallenging and, in her estimation, kind of boring.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It’s
comfortable to be spiritual but not religious. It’s safe.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I
guess I don’t BLAME people who have decided to leave<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">religion
and the people that come with it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Church
life is difficult, community is tough, people are complicated.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Religion,
and all of its humanness is complicated.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We
have to deal with institutions that we didn’t create ourselves,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">with
traditions that might be very important, or irrelevant,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and
we have to decide which is which.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We
have to deal with people with different experiences,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">different
upbringings, different backgrounds, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">different
temperaments, and often very different opinions.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And
we have to come together to make something.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Sunsets,
in comparison, are simple. No attitudes, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">no
different opinions, they don’t talk back,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">they
don’t question your methods or motives.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Sunsets
don’t want you to be anything <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">different
than you already are.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Sunsets
don’t ask anything of you at all.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Sure,
sunsets and mountains and beaches are<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">beautiful
and can rest your body, mind, and soul,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">but
is that all that God is? Rest?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I
think God is rest, but God is also challenge,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God
is questions, God is restlessness, God is opinions, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God
is sleepless nights, God is messy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God
is more complicated than sunsets and beaches.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And
church is a reflection of that. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Church
is not for the faint of heart.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Community
is not for the faint of heart.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I
say people, like all of us, who are willing to get in <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and
get messy, with each other, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">we
are the bold and daring ones.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I
think what turns a lot of people away from religion and church<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">is
that often, things tend to fester in them. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Lots
of times things are swept under the rug,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">sins
and offenses are allowed to go on and grow<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">conflict
is avoided until it becomes unbearable,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and
then it becomes an all out fight or division.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In
Ohio, I was on the synod team that dealt with<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">churches
that were in conflict and <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I
have been to congregational meetings that have<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">been
so destructive, and the words so spiteful<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">that
I have had a crisis of faith myself.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">You
get that microphone set up in the <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">fellowship
hall and people who are normally very<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">reasonable
people suddenly sound like professional wrestlers<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">challenging
the champ to a fight next Saturday night.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I
have left those meetings thinking that a sunset would<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">be
a much better option.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But notice
the advice that Jesus gives this week doesn’t say,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“when
someone sins against you just deal with it and keep it to yourself.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">or
“Just forgive them in your heart and everything will be okay.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Or
“just wait and air all your emotions out at a public meeting”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus
says talk to that person one on one.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Get
involved. Be engaged. Talk to each other directly.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Be
vulnerable. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Of
course, again, this requires us to be uncomfortable.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A
lot of those public fights could have been avoided<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">if
there were conversations that were had earlier.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Sometimes
10 or 15 years earlier.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In
my work on the conflict team I saw some terrible things,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and
I have also seen miraculous and beautiful things.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Sometimes
things are untenable, and <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">sometimes
the best thing is for one of the parties<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">to
remove themselves from the situation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But
sometimes conversations are had, and agreements<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">are
made, and reconciliation happens.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Relationships
that were broken are repaired.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">When
this happens at this micro-level, we can see<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">what
God can do. And what God will do, in big ways.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We
become signs of God’s grace, love and power.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I
will trade a sunset in for that experience any day.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God
is fixing and repairing and rebuilding all the time.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />God
is reconciling, and renewing, and resurrecting everywhere.<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And
we, as church people, get to be partners in that work.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In
our own hearts and in our own messy petri dishes<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">of
challenge, conflict, death, and rebirth, which is the church.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Sunsets
are fine.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But
God’s real miracles happen<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">when
we find God’s image in other people,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">people
that think different than us,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">that
have different experiences, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">different
cultures and backgrounds, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">different
opinions and understandings.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And
especially maybe, those who disagree with us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Because
where two or three are gathered in Christ’s name –<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">when
we can support one another, work together, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">serve
God and serve our community—it is a miracle!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And
we know that God is with us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Rev. June Wilkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05379751460851476288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285660871932316676.post-49437853558756432572023-09-04T07:17:00.008-07:002023-09-04T07:27:01.439-07:00Take Up Your Cross<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> <span><b>Matthew 16: 21-28</b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>September 3, 2023<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO5z-KP-XdTki1tBVVyHs5t6GH5rPyxJIYrsiXr0X9RS6TTHrmFpk-kqHetLOwRimRP-8h2Yp23MJUPcB6w_GJToKW1wbt2p4GjBO3K7M63ib8XUyhR2l8MvV3X3PpARCVIY9RCqbphwZRd7z3H-PPcfTq9re2eQTFhhTzRdyOFg4Iz7NsgL5EdsNrCMUY/s900/take-up-your-cross-dean-f-merritt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="643" data-original-width="900" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO5z-KP-XdTki1tBVVyHs5t6GH5rPyxJIYrsiXr0X9RS6TTHrmFpk-kqHetLOwRimRP-8h2Yp23MJUPcB6w_GJToKW1wbt2p4GjBO3K7M63ib8XUyhR2l8MvV3X3PpARCVIY9RCqbphwZRd7z3H-PPcfTq9re2eQTFhhTzRdyOFg4Iz7NsgL5EdsNrCMUY/s320/take-up-your-cross-dean-f-merritt.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Take Up Your Cross</i><br />Dean Merrit</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">On Facebook I have an acquaintance from high school,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">who is a very outspoken
Christian, always putting <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">things about prayer and Jesus
up on her page<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And a while back, she put a
meme up,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a little image with words that said,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">“Hurt my kids and I’ll bury you where they won’t find
the body”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I’m sure this was kind of a
joke, but kind of not.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The most disturbing though, were the comments that
followed<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">in almost in some sort of
“Christian honor and zeal” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">they were affirming her in
that, and trying to top it with<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the more violent reaction
they would have <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">if someone “messed” with
their kids. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It was almost as if violence
was the only honorable Christian reaction. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Anything less proved you didn’t love
your kids as much.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">There is an innate human reaction to defend what is <u>mine</u>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Whether its family or things.
It’s MINE.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Mine is the first word many children
use with regularity.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">MINE.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s so visceral and human .<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I think we all understand that inclination.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We
don’t like people stealing from us, we certainly want to <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">preserve
our life and defend our family<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and
we want to correct the wrongs in society.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But today, there seems to be a current in modern <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">American
Christianity that is focused on this zeal to <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">preserve
what is MINE and to do it violently if necessary.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I
know that Christians are sometimes put in the unfortunate </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">position of
having<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to physically defend themselves
at times. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But
this now appears to one of the primary identifiers <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">of
American Christianity, and even a source of pride.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I
am a Christian, so I defend what is MINE, even with violence.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Whether it’s my dignity, or my house, or my life,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">or my land, or my family, or
my country, or my heritage,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">or my way of life, or my favorite
politician, or my view-points,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">or my comfort level . . . There
is a feeling -- almost an obligation </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">that Modern American Christianity seems to
convey, that I need to </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">defend what is MINE and use with force against anyone
who </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">tries to take it away or change it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s disturbing really.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In the past few years, we’ve seen white supremacists
walk <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">through
the streets of American cities</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">with torches saying, “Jews
will not replace us”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">If you can get over the
outrageousness of that statement,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">behind it, there’s a fear
that something is being taken<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">away and they must defend
themselves against it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>I think our country’s fascination with guns, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>and
especially assault </span><span>weapons is related
to this. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It comes under this banner
and current of “self-defense”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">There is an abstract “them”
who are always coming to get “us”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">They are a threat to what is
MINE and it must be defended.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It almost seems like an
obligation for American Christians<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">to defend what is ours at any
moment.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But where has this gotten us? We’re not safer, that’s
for sure.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Other countries have listed
the US on its travel advisories –<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">“Travel with caution” -
because of gun violence.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The big problem is this cycle
has no end.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Violence begets violence. People
see more guns, they<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">want to get their own guns. The
ones with the biggest weapons wins.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Until they come up with a new
and bigger weapon and the cycle repeats itself. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Everyone defending what is
theirs and<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">we get stuck in a repetition
of violence.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We’ve seen it play out personally and internationally.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It starts out small, but
sometimes it grows<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">into violence, war, and even
genocide.</span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Where does it end?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>Jesus tells us today</span><span> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>“This <u>should</u> end with you, my followers.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Last week, we remember, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Peter confessed rightly that
Jesus was the Messiah.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">They were all happy about
that for a while.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus said that God gave
Peter that information<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and he would build his church
on it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Peter may have gotten that right, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">but it’s pretty clear that
Peter was fundamentally mistaken<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">about <u>how</u> Jesus would
go about being the Messiah<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and saving the people.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus tells Peter and the disciples the rest of the
story,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">he
tells them that he will go to Jerusalem and undergo <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">great
suffering and die and that he will rise again on the third day. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus makes it clear that he will not be defending<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">his
rights or anyone’s rights with violence</span><span>, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">he would not claim a piece of
land, or retaliate for the injustice of it all. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus would not be taking back
what is his.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He wouldn’t even be defending
his own life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Now his disciples knew Jesus most,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">they knew he was innocent of
any crime.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And the suffering that Jesus
experienced would be unjust,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">would be unfair, would be
wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And yet Jesus didn’t say to them,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">“disciples, I need you need
to get back at the authorities for this.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">“Claim your rights”, “Avenge
my unjust death.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Take back what is rightfully
MINE.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Contrary to the loudest voices of Christianity today, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Jesus
said, “if any of you would be my follower, </span><span>deny
yourself.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Deny your ego, deny your own
rage, your need for revenge.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>Deny that human inclination
you have to add more violence to the</span><span>
world, </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>lay down <u>your</u> power and take up God’s power. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Take up your cross and follow
me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It’s not a surprise that Peter didn’t like that idea
at all.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It’s not a surprise that he
scolded Jesus and told him that </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">can’t happen the way that Jesus laid out.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />
I think Peter is reflecting our natural human <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">inclination to defend, to
fight, to keep.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">To take back what is MINE.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It’s not a surprise that Peter was uncomfortable with
the prospect.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It
feels too vulnerable, too open for uncertainty.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And
different than anything any of the disciples <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">would
have been used to.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And it’s not a surprise
that Jesus rebuked him <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and brought up Satan. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This is Satan’s temptation to
the whole world.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">To take back what is MINE.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Satan wants us taking things
back by force.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />
Satan wants the endless cycle of violence and contempt.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Satan would love nothing more
than us holed up in <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">concrete bunkers defending
what is MINE.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Satan says “The best defense
is a good offense.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But
Jesus is says, “the best defense, is actually no defense.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus says, with his words and his cross,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">When
faced with violence, s</span><span>tep out of the
cycle of defense and violence. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>Put the world’s senseless violence on display.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Trick the devil at his own
game. In other words,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">“Take up your cross and
follow me.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This is not just Jesus is
not telling us to display a cross on us, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">or proudly tell everyone that
we’re Christians, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">it’s not even just taking our
suffering in stride <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">or being martyrs for the
faith. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It’s about putting down our
defensiveness <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and leaving ourselves open
and vulnerable.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It’s about living our life
in the same,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">self- sacrificial way that
Jesus lived his.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We have been reading from Paul’s letter to the Romans<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">for
the past 13 weeks in addition to our Gospel.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Romans
is the longest of Paul’s letters <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and
some would say his best that we have.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Most scholars agree that the apostle Paul<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">never heard any of Jesus’
parables or sayings.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The gospels were written down
and shared after his death.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And he never uses Jesus words
in his letters, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">even when it would serve his
purpose well.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">From Paul’s writings, it is apparent that <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Paul only knows Jesus from <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">his own encounters with Jesus
Spirit,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">from Jesus death and
resurrection,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and from the fellow believers
who traveled with him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But still, Paul picks up on this primary tenet of
Christianity<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">without the benefit of knowing
Jesus sayings, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Paul, tells the
Romans in his letter:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Do not repay anyone evil for evil”<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He quotes this often forgotten section <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">from Proverbs
in the Hebrew scriptures saying:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">if your enemies are hungry, feed them; <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">if they are thirsty, give them something
to drink; <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #010000;">for by doing this you will heap burning
coals on their heads</span></i><span style="color: #010000;">.”</span><sup><span style="color: #777777;"><o:p></o:p></span></sup></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And he says,
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome
evil with good</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">What a
vulnerable posture to take.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">With Paul, there is no MINE.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Everything
about us - our whole lives - belong to God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So then, even
our revenge and anger aren’t ours.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And even the
wrongs we suffer, we don’t own them either.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We don’t hold
onto them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">They are not
ours to keep. They belong to God too.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Paul says, turn
them over, let God take care of it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">If any want to be my followers deny
themselves<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and take up
their own cross. Do not be overcome by evil. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Overcome evil
with good. In other words,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Deny yourself,
take up your cross and follow Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><u><span style="color: #010000;">This</span></u><span style="color: #010000;"> is the main identifier of
our faith.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><u><span style="color: #010000;">This </span></u><span style="color: #010000;">is what should set us apart as
Christians.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Not Christian
pride and honor and zeal, and violence for God’s sake.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Not “<i>Burying
bodies where no one can find them</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It’s putting
our self aside for others. Even our enemies.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #010000;">It might
sound overwhelming, like it did to Peter.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #010000;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #010000;">But we can<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>do it in small ways too.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #010000;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Someone
at my previous church told me this story<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">about
himself. About forty years ago, this man told me he was<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">constantly
fighting with his neighbor.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It
started out with a tree dropping stuff in someone else’s driveway. </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">One neighbor demanded a solution <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and
the other didn’t like it, someone didn’t like the tone of the others voice. </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The
argument escalated, then it was arguments about garbage, </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">then the dog, then the
lawn, then the lights.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">You’ve
seen this kind of thing before maybe you’ve been a <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">part
of it, shouts, nasty looks, threats, small claims court,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">police
called on occasion.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It
could have escalated or gone on forever until<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">one
of them moved or died.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: 237.75pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But one day, the mailman brought a package<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: 237.75pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">meant for the parishioner to the neighbor’s house by
mistake.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He
would never have known about it, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">but
the neighbor came over and rang the bell. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The
neighbor said, “I’ve been sitting with this package for three hours. </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I thought
about burning it, stabbing it, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">running
over it with my car<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">, </i>but I decided,
just to bring it to you.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And
he gave him the package.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The parishioner
said when he took that package,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and
closed the door, all kinds of guilt came over him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Everything
that he had ever done or said to this man<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">washed
over him and he felt sorry for it<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and
the anger he felt melted. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He
had a change of heart. A heart transplant.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">They
worked on being neighbors after that and,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">even
though they weren’t friends, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">they
lived peacefully next to each other for the next thirty years.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Bringing
that package over took courage.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And
it was power even though to some,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">it
might have seemed like weakness.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Those
who want to be my followers,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Deny
yourself, your rights, your pride, your ego,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">your
complete legal justification to defend what is yours<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and
your moral justification to retaliate.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Deny
yourself and<u> your</u> power,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and take up <u>God’s</u> power.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Be the
first to forgive, the first to say I’m sorry,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">be
the first to make the call, send the e-mail, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">return
the package unharmed. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We
take up that cross and follow in our actions,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">in
the words that we choose, in the way we treat our neighbors,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">in
what we write or say when faced with a hypothetical threat.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Those
kinds of small things inform us,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">when
big things happen to us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It’s a very vulnerable place to be,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">it
may not go your way, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">it
doesn’t always work it doesn’t always end in reconciliation. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">There’s
no guarantee that everyone will be good neighbors.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But
it is always very powerful.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Absolute
vulnerability and absolute power.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">That
is the cross. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">That
is the gift that Jesus has given us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">That
is God’s power.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span></p>Rev. June Wilkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05379751460851476288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285660871932316676.post-8116991482418377302023-08-28T08:54:00.002-07:002023-08-28T08:54:20.189-07:00The Messianic Secret<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b> Matthew 16:13-20 August, 27, 2023</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus is the Messiah, the son of the living God.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTEsmTzz_cl8IV0fCWKzmEV29UEIaNwuKiW8SedrdHlUFIuXow3ppiNe4nRKGNlcP1Ezxn4IhA-RGdchddasZlDbVGq76p3PtolcGp3XHPRbots9J0f0ypinYEGb_DGC2HirQqCeE_aQyPOHtwRuHGsUASOJvCfjrGzmltWuZB3z2m7i-LPraJmSiYiEyF/s1127/Icon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1127" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTEsmTzz_cl8IV0fCWKzmEV29UEIaNwuKiW8SedrdHlUFIuXow3ppiNe4nRKGNlcP1Ezxn4IhA-RGdchddasZlDbVGq76p3PtolcGp3XHPRbots9J0f0ypinYEGb_DGC2HirQqCeE_aQyPOHtwRuHGsUASOJvCfjrGzmltWuZB3z2m7i-LPraJmSiYiEyF/s320/Icon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Then Jesus sternly ordered the disciples not to tell
anyone he was the Messiah.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In the Jewish faith, the Messiah is a person that was
promised by <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the prophets. He would be a future king of the Jewish
people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He would be in the line of David. It was believed he
would be<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">a great charismatic leader that would be familiar with
Jewish law.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">There was no specific time when the Messiah would come,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">it was believed that the Messiah would come when the
people<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">needed it the most (when things were going so bad) </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">or
when they deserved it the most (when genuine goodness rule the world.)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The Messiah is the one that would rule the people and
deliver them<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">from the injustice of the world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jewish people today are still waiting for the Messiah.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And Christians believe that the Messiah came to us in
Jesus Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So when Jesus asks
the disciples, “Who do people say that I am?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">At first the disciples give him the scoop on the street: “Some
say<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">John the Baptist, some say Elijah, a prophet.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But then - and I think this is what he really wants to
know -<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus asks them who do <u>they</u> think he is.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And Peter comes up
with the right answer.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This is not something that happens all the time in the
gospels.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Peter and the rest of the disciples are kind of goofy
when it comes down to it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But Peter got it right this time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />
He says “You are the Messiah, the son of
the living God.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And Jesus confirms it.
Telling Jesus that Peter, the Rock<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and his confession will be the basis of Jesus church on
earth.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Seems like a good revelation that everyone would want<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">to be spread far and near, especially maybe, Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But then
Immediately, Jesus tells the disciples <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">not to tell anyone that he’s the Messiah.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Among bible people this is called the “Messianic
Secret”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It shows up mostly in Mark’s Gospel, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">but it also shows up a few times in Matthew and Luke,
like it does here.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And John is, as usual, a whole other story.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And there’s few theories about why Jesus wants the
disciples<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">to keep this Messianic secret, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">but bible people don’t have one solid answer.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Some people say that it’s because Jesus is afraid that
the<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">authorities would have him killed if they knew he was the
Messiah.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But that’s kind of boring. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And there are also a lot of issues with that theory.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But the one that I’m going with today is this:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus does not want the disciples to claim Jesus’
authority<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;">before they see fully how he lives his life, and how
he dies.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus does not want the disciples to show off and
claim Jesus<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and tell people that they represent the Messiah,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">before they fully see and understand how the Messiah
lives<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and how the Messiah dies in service to the world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And this is very insightful of Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Because the church has very often done this.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Lots of people say “Jesus is the Messiah, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I’m an authority in the church of Jesus,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">so therefore whatever I say and think is from Jesus.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">With no attempt or intention to act like Jesus does.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This has resulted in a lot of messes. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Some would say most of the messes of the modern era.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And some of these messes stem from the use of this <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">piece of scripture right here that we’re reading today,
ironically.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">After Peter confesses Jesus is the Messiah,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus says: “<i>And I tell you, you are Peter, and on
this rock <o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I will build my church, and the gates of <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>Hades will not prevail against it</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The Church has
taken this very piece of Scripture<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and has used it to
claim absolute authority of the church<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and the men who
have held the office that Peter held,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the office of the
bishop of Rome (which is the Pope).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Now today, Pope
Francis, is very kind and seems very intent on <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">following Jesus
example as best he can, which is refreshing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Because that has
not always been the case with the leader<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">of the Catholic
Church. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The Catholic
church, whose history we share, </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">has a pretty embarrassing </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">history of their leaders </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">using their
authority to justify some seriously horrifying things, </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the Crusades and the
Inquisition are just two very big examples,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">but there are
multiple others that have been facilitated, </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">aided, and abetted by claiming the
absolute infallible authority </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">of the earthly church claiming the authority of
Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And Catholic Popes
don’t have exclusive rights </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">to bad behavior by claiming </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the authority of Jesus. </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Protestants have been
just as guilty of taking advantage </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">of their positions, and using the authority
of Christ for their own ends.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus knew all of
his disciples very well and he knew we would <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">easily claim our
authority in the disciple we follow,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">but we would not
so easily follow in Jesus’s footsteps.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Throughout time,
God has been kind of a fuzzy character <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">to the human race.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God has been labeled with a lot of different
characteristics over time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God has been seen as a wonderful creator, slow to </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">anger
and abounding in steadfast love, but more often God has been seen as a
destroyer – <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">angry and vengeful, a God of war.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A God who kills and destroys who wants human and animal
sacrifice,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">who is jealous and vengeful.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God has been an excuse to defend slavery and white supremacy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God is credited with wanting the obscene wealth of
religious leaders.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God has been used to justify the second class citizenship
of women.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God has been just to justify wars and destruction,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">to defend condemning people, scaring, and threatening
people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God has been used to justify sexual and physical abuse.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God has been used to justify about everything.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God is so grand, so divine, so unknowable, that we can <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">tell people that God is whatever we want God to be. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We know that God
created us in God’s image,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But I think that
we also try to create God in our image.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We make God into
whoever we need God to be to justify our <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">hates and likes
and wants fears and desires and greed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And that, I
think, is why God sent us Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus is very
clear. Jesus isn’t fuzzy at all.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus is human,
living and breathing and existing on this earth with all of us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We can clearly see Jesus in the stories we have shared
for centuries<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Eating with
outcasts, sharing, welcoming children, healing,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">caring for others, crying for friends, keeping company
with shepherds and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">prostitutes and sinners, feeding the hungry, giving good
news to the poor,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">demanding justice for others, caring, and freeing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Restoring humanity and bringing new life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We have seen Jesus,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Not dropping bombs or making threats, or keeping
everything for himself.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But speaking the truth, sharing, giving.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We have seen him, not coercing and intimidating,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">but serving and empowering.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And if anyone
wants to claim Christ’s authority –<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">we <u>always </u>have to return to Jesus not just <u>who
he is, </u><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">but how he was and how he lived and died.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We have to
remember that God didn’t just send <u>A </u>messiah. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God sent us <u>Jesus</u> to be the Messiah.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus brings that fuzzy picture of God back into focus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It changes the God who could be anything we want<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">into a solid, living, breathing, human life, who is a
clear reflection of God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Right down to his own death for the salvation of the
world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus is how God
wants to be seen and understood. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God is not all these other things that we want to make
God out to be.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God is this. Jesus on the cross.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Giving himself to us until the end.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus came to us to show us how God loves us<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and how much God loves this world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Unconditionally and without end.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So who do <u>we</u>
say that Jesus is?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus is the Messiah, the son of the living God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And that is who we serve.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But let’s not <u>tell</u> other people that.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Let’s <u>show</u> them by the way we live our
lives.</span></span>Rev. June Wilkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05379751460851476288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285660871932316676.post-42745657015003885752023-08-21T10:13:00.002-07:002023-08-21T10:14:02.134-07:00Changed by Compassion<p><b> <span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica;">Matthew
15:21-28 </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b>
August 20, 2023</b></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXPrYD4bQDjNLGllUAaoxQlfeo69jbQTeFvcNhoNVJ1rUbv-8TiObeePUKrgSkhRTbv1DXs2TG4_5J8kKwR6NYOro8xkQNAjoJzI2MfvtDMJTy-19i8wPWPfmD95awAwrqJ9iQ9l5M97LZ1-g_BMyMK43Cx3pqlEP2onKwPI7o4lrt5mdY2AMbFkTa4a-/s586/The%20crumby%20Dog%20ally%20Barrett.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="586" data-original-width="440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXPrYD4bQDjNLGllUAaoxQlfeo69jbQTeFvcNhoNVJ1rUbv-8TiObeePUKrgSkhRTbv1DXs2TG4_5J8kKwR6NYOro8xkQNAjoJzI2MfvtDMJTy-19i8wPWPfmD95awAwrqJ9iQ9l5M97LZ1-g_BMyMK43Cx3pqlEP2onKwPI7o4lrt5mdY2AMbFkTa4a-/s320/The%20crumby%20Dog%20ally%20Barrett.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><i>The Crumby Dog</i><br />Ally Barrett</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b><br /></b><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There’s
a comedy sketch or a cartoon</span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">or something that I remember<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">it’s in a restaurant and a man is having a heart attack<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and another diner yells to the waitress, “Call a doctor!"<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and she says, “Sorry, that’s not my table.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Now,
it’s just a joke, but jokes always have a bit of truth<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">to them and the truth brings up anger in
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Someone was in need and the waitress wouldn’t put aside<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">her work protocol to help him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We get that way when a bureaucracy of company<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">or a government office stands in the way of helping people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I don’t think I’m alone in this.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Businesses and institutions and
people should put their <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">protocol and traditions aside to help someone, right?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">That waitress should just help that man,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">it’s kind of inexcusable that she wouldn’t.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We wouldn’t like a person who did that.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In
the same way, I have to say that I don’t <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">really like Jesus at the beginning of
this story.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I have a hard time with the way he acts.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus is in the Gentile area of the country, Tyre and Sidon,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the non-Jewish area and a woman,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">who Matthew points out as a Canaanite, someone who isn’t Jewish.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A woman comes up to him because her daughter is in trouble<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and she begs Jesus to help her.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But he says that the food he has is for the children, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">meaning the people of Israel.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He says it’s not fair to feed her before all the children are fed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He even kind of calls her a dog in the process.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Faced
with this person in need, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus tries to turn her away because of protocol or bureaucracy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Now that is against everything else that I’ve understood about
Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Some
people want to save Jesus here<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and say that he was teasing her so she could show her faith.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Or that he was using her to teach his disciples a lesson.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But I don’t know if any of those reasons make <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">me feel much better than my first impression<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and I think that it’s reading more into the story than what’s
there.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And what’s there is that at first, Jesus tells this woman <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">that he can’t help her. That’s not my table.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I think people try and make up
noble reasons for Jesus behavior<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">because people are uncomfortable with Jesus<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">having any negative attitude or emotion.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We don’t ever want Jesus to be dismissive as <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">he was here with this woman.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But I think what people are most
uncomfortable with is that<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus could change his mind on something.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We feel like Jesus is supposed to know everything all at once. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He’s supposed to never let what he <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">sees or hears change his mind about anything.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We don’t want Jesus to be changed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We want Jesus to have all the right answers all at once.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We want him to be all knowing right at the beginning.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus doesn’t learn, he IS.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We say that Jesus is fully human, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">but we don’t want him to be <u>too</u> human.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We don’t want the reality of the world have <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">an effect on Jesus ideology or his theology <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">or what he believes God wants him to do.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We don’t want him to be changed by things like<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">compassion or sadness, or pleas of a desperate mother.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We don’t want Jesus’ heart to change Jesus mind.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Now Martin
Luther didn’t see Jesus like that.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Here’s what
he had to say about this gospel story<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">in a sermon
he gave in 1534:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><i><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“What a
superb and wonderful object lesson this is, <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><i><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">therefore, to
teach us what a mighty, powerful, <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><i><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">all-availing
thing faith is. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><i><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Faith takes
Christ captive in his word, <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><i><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">when he’s
angriest, and makes out of his cruel words<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><i><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a comforting inversion, as we see here….<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><i><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">she catches
Christ with his own words, <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><i><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and he is
happy to be caught.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Martin Luther was comfortable with Jesus changing<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">his mind and his heart.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Regardless
of what you think he is doing here,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus <u>is</u> reflecting what was believed for thousands of
years of history<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and scripture and tradition by the Jewish people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">That Yahweh was the God of the Israelites.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God’s covenant was for the Israelites.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Gentile nations might be blessed <u>through</u> the Israelites<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But the promise was for the Israelites.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The messiah was sent for them, and consequently, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and the messiah’s Salvation was meant for the Jewish people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Scholars
try to remind us over and over that <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the way of Jesus, Christianity, started as a movement inside Judaism.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus was a Jewish man, he talked about Jewish customs, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">his disciples were Jewish, most all of the early followers were
Jewish.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And
Matthew’s community, the community this story for<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">was a Jewish community that followed Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The way Jesus acted at the beginning of this story<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">was probably normal for the writer of the story.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The way Jesus acted, was probably a reflection of the <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">thoughts of most of the people who would have been <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">following Jesus at that time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But
when Gentile people heard about Jesus Way,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As the Holy Spirit got a hold of them<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">they wanted to be a part of the promise too,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">they wanted to worship, to be preachers and teachers and leaders,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">they wanted to be a full part of the community.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This was a struggle that shows up in
a lot of Paul’s letters.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This struggle of who is in and who is not was <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">probably the main topic of conversation in the first 50 or so<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">years of Christianity. It just took a while for the people <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">to catch up to the Holy Spirit and to God’s plan.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So
when the early church heard Jesus say to the woman,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“It
isn’t fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Most of them probably weren’t shocked by it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">They would have heard it before.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And a few of them probably would have said, “yes. I agree with
that.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The promise was not meant
for the gentiles.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And
the woman in the story understands the tradition too.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">She doesn’t argue with its fairness or justice<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">but she appeals to Jesus compassion:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“Jesus, wasn’t it you who fed 5000 people (plus women and
children)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">with two barley loaves and five fish?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Wasn’t it the God of Israel who fed everyone <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">indiscriminately without regard for who they were?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus, didn’t you teach your disciples that God was abundant?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Didn’t you tell them that there was enough for everyone?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Don’t
the dogs under the table at least get the crumbs?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And
if I didn’t like Jesus in the beginning of the story,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus impresses me three times as much in the second part.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus
does something that is so amazing and so humbling and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I have to admit is so hard for me to do at times:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus changes his position. He goes in a different direction.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He lets his compassion change his ideology, his theology,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He lets his heart change his mind.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Through
the persistence of that one gentile woman,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In one act of openness and welcome and love<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">- Jesus heals this woman’s daughter of the demons AND,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">- Jesus <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>opens the promises
and covenants of Yahweh <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">to the, Gentiles, to the rest of the world,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">to most of us who wouldn’t have received it before.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">- And in the process, he changes thousands of years of scripture
and tradition.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">That can’t have gone over gently in every early </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jewish/ Christian
community. But thank God it happened.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In
this week’s gospel, and throughout the scriptures,</span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> really<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">we see Jesus bending and breaking and changing laws, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">or the
traditional interpretation of laws for the sake of compassion.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus eats with sinners, touches lepers, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">talks to women, heals on the sabbath.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">All laws of his religion, all deeply held beliefs in his time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Some accused Jesus of ignoring the law or disposing of it, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">but Jesus doesn’t dispose of the laws, he actually makes <u>another
law.</u><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A law that more accurately reflects the nature of the God of
Israel.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A law that is possibly harder to keep than all the rest.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And that is:</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
when laws and rules and tradition and scripture <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">conflict
with the love of neighbor, the love of neighbor wins.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Meaning
that, as Christians,</span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">we can’t hide behind a rules or laws or doctrine or tradition<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">in order to ignore our neighbor.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">That’s what it means when we say we should follow <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the <u>spirit</u> of the law and not just the <u>letter</u> of the
law.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We can’t be like that waitress and claim “that’s not our table”.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus expects that as his followers, we won’t embed <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">ourselves in our tradition, or <u>even in scripture</u> so far
that we can’t <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">be moved by the plight of another person.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As
Christians the dilemma comes when we ask ourselves <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">when the rules need to be changed, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and when should they stay the same?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">-This
was an issue during Paul’s time when some<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">people believed that circumcision <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">needed to be a requirement for being Christian.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">-This was an issue in the US during the 1800's when most people<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">of faith in the South AND THE NORTH believed that the bible<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">condoned and supported slavery.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">- This was an issue in the 1970's when Lutherans <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and other denominations were debating the ordination of women.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">-And this is an issue in the Christian church now <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">when we talk about issues of sexuality and gender identity.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">-And there will be another issue down the line, I’m sure.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">These days,
for some reason, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">people see changing your mind is something bad.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In
politics they’ve called it things like flip flopping or being wimpy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">For
religious people some see it as <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">compromising
our faith to the culture around us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Coming
to another conclusion is seen as an indicator of weakness.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Especially,
for some reason, Christians seem to highly value<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">sticking
to every tradition and everything<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">that
we’ve ever been taught or believed is seen as<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">faithful,
steadfast, true.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But Jesus has
shown us another way.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus
showed us that compassion wins over tradition and rules.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Sometimes
we end up realizing that <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">what
our parents believed does not work for us now.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Or
what <u>we</u> believe doesn’t work anymore,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">or
what our whole denomination or <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">church
believed at one point needs to change.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Sometimes
drastic change is the most faithful thing to do.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God is on the
move.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God
is revealing the scope and wideness <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">of
God’s grace to us every day.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Bit
by bit, as we are moved by our compassion, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and
we turn it into practice.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus
showed us how to do this <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">as
his compassion for one Canaanite woman<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">changed
the whole course of his mission to the world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And
Jesus is still showing us how to do this today.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">How wide is
God’s mercy and compassion?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I
am hoping that our minds and convictions <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">are
<u>always</u> stressed and strained and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">moved
as we discover the answers to that.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />I hope that we are always surprised and changed<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">by
the vastness of God’s love.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Rev. June Wilkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05379751460851476288noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285660871932316676.post-86852616010289762992023-08-14T12:03:00.007-07:002023-08-14T12:04:50.282-07:00Walking on Water<p> <span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Matthew
14:22-33 <br /></b></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4lXVDgefPuOUJPMNCRR_Q_SSFYAw3Zsamw3JBT2wB26dNDpg_1L5AJVmasy6zJxEAbxYjCiSiJFKI8cdtwMHKIAM-8PdW6LuWhwwX8tKKKEpIhVRvJIc5N6871GOy9ATNUnG73p_PEDdCdEOBjCQbI176WE2e26wzjzDx5GVPSGvviiGa7YZ68sU6tM-Z/s920/Jesus%20walking%20on%20water.png" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="920" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4lXVDgefPuOUJPMNCRR_Q_SSFYAw3Zsamw3JBT2wB26dNDpg_1L5AJVmasy6zJxEAbxYjCiSiJFKI8cdtwMHKIAM-8PdW6LuWhwwX8tKKKEpIhVRvJIc5N6871GOy9ATNUnG73p_PEDdCdEOBjCQbI176WE2e26wzjzDx5GVPSGvviiGa7YZ68sU6tM-Z/s320/Jesus%20walking%20on%20water.png" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>Jesus Walking on Water</i><br />(I can't find the artist)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> </span><b>August 13,
2023</b></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus has just fed more than 5000</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">people
with five loaves and two fish.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And
now he’s doing something amazing again.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">After he’s done with the crowds,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">he
sends the disciples off in a boat.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And
the wind takes them out into <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the
deep part of the sea.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And
while they’re there, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">they
see a figure walking on the water.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">At first the disciples are scared, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">not
because of the storm, but because they think it’s a ghost,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">because
what else could be walking on the water.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But
they realize it’s Jesus. Jesus is walking on water.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus calls out to them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“It’s just me walking on water,
don’t be afraid.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And Peter is maybe
emboldened by Jesus’s presence,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">or moved by the Spirit, or just
trying again <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">to impress everyone, he tries it
himself.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He tells Jesus to command him to
come out into the water.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And Jesus does. “Okay, Peter, come on”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But the wind is high and Peter
freaks out and he starts to sink.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He calls out to Jesus, “Please
save me”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And he does and Jesus says the oft
quoted phrase:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“You of little faith, why did you
doubt?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Now the
interpretation of this line I’ve <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">heard most often is that Jesus was
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">disappointed in Peter because Peter
faltered.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He took his eyes of Jesus and became
self-conscious.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He doubted that he could walk on
water.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And his doubt caused him to become
afraid <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and he sank right then and there.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So based on
this, the sermons kind of follow:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Don’t take your eyes of Jesus like
Peter did, and you won’t fail.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If you don’t let your faith
falter, then you won’t fail.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">You’ve got to step out of the
boat, take the risk, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">believe you can do it and success
will follow.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Don’t doubt for a minute, or
you’ll end up like Peter.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Basically the power of positive
thinking and faith,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">enables us to do the impossible.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But I struggle
with that interpretation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Is that really what the Gospel
writer wants us to come away with?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If I believe hard enough I
can do it?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><u><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I</span></u><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> can walk on
water? Really? <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Can <u>anyone </u>walk on water?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If this were true, you would think
there would be<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">some Christians who could – walk
on water.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I’ve known many with a faith that
couldn’t be shaken for anything.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But they’re still not walking on water.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So maybe I’m
just a cynical person,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">but my main trouble with seeing
this story that way is that<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Peter can’t walk on water. He <u>never</u>
walks on water. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Even in Acts, he’s filled with the
Holy Spirit, he is courageous, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">he sees the power of God, he has
visions, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">wonderful things happen, miracles
all around him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But we never see him walking on
that water.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And I think that is probably what the Gospel writer<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">wanted
us to leave this story with:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We</span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> can’t
walk on water. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Only
Jesus can walk on water.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But even though we know that in some portion of our brain,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">it’s
hard for us to remember.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It’s
hard for us, as followers of Jesus, to remember that it’s not all <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">on us,
that the world the church and everything else<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">doesn’t
all rest on our shoulders.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We
feel like we need to walk on water.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Whenever we see those difficulties of the world<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">that
have been put in front of us as disciples:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Spread
God’s love, feed the hungry, heal the sick,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">bring
good news to the poor, I mean,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">at
times even just keeping our churches open, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">alive,
and preaching the gospel <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">they
all seem like a impossible tasks in themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And at this point, it seems like our country <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">is
slipping further and further into a dangerous place.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Hate
and racism seem to be surrounding us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We
seem on the verge of violence all the time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We
have staggering inflation and looming evictions,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and poverty,
hunger, and desperation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And the
climate is changing which is leading to disastrous results<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and
none of our leaders seem to have the will or courage<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">to do
anything or formulate any constructive plan to<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">get us
out of this situation that <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I look at this disaster at this present moment <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and I say
“this is impossible.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">How
are we ever going to climb out of this hole?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">How can
we fix all of these issues ?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">How can <u>we </u>help so many people in need<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">How
will I change the world? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Sometimes
I can hardly keep up with life in general <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">how am
I going to do this?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">You
ever get that feeling of being overwhelmed?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We
feel like we need to walk on water sometimes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But we
just don’t have the skills?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">When I was in seminary, our very first class was Hebrew.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We did a month of intensive Hebrew in <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">August before the year started and our professor was
Dr. Robinson, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">he was very smart and exceptionally kind. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I was pleased to have seen him again at the reunion
I just went to.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">At the end of the
month of this Hebrew class, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">we all felt woefully inadequate, and it was our
first dip into seminary<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and a lot of us felt like we didn’t have a grasp on
Hebrew it at all.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The month ended with an in-class translation test.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We were worried. Some people thought they might fail.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">First class in seminary and we were going to fail.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We were all talking about it a lot and some of this
talk<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">got back to Dr. Robinson.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Dr. Robinson came into class the day before the exam.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He said, <i>“I hear some of you think you’re going
to fail.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“<i>I have to say, I’m very disappointed in you.”</i></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We thought, Here it is,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">we’re gonna hear how bad at Hebrew we really are.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But he said, <i>“I’m
disappointed that you would think <o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I would let anyone fail.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I am here to help you learn Hebrew, not fail
you.</span></i></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We’ve spent a lot of time together over the last month and</span></i></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
I’m disappointed that you thought that of me.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Which was a relief, but almost smarted worse than
failing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I think it’s important to look at this parable this way.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus
said to Peter “<i>Oh you of little faith, why did you doubt</i>”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus
was not disappointed in Peter because<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">he doubted
he walk on water and he failed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus
was disappointed in Peter <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">because
he doubted Jesus would save him. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Peter doubted that Jesus would save him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And we
doubt that Jesus will save us too.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus
is not here to fail us on our exam.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus
is not here to give us tests we can’t pass.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus
does not want to see us drown. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus
is here to save us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />So, let’s get this straight. We cannot walk on water.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Only
Jesus can walk on water. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It’s
God’s job to save this world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God
will do something <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">amazing
with this mess, I have no doubt.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Now there are things that we can do. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It’s
not permission to just sit out and watch <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the
world go by and do nothing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We
still had to work hard at learning Hebrew<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and
learning our vocabulary, and understanding it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We all have our own part in this, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">we do
all have to help others, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">we
need to demand the changes to our systems,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">we are
asked to love others the way Christ told us to love.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There
are things that we <u>can</u> do.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But it is not our mission to walk on water.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus will
walk on water.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
Spirit will do the heavy lifting.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It
might take a while, it might not all look <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and
feel like we want it to,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">but God
will be the one to bring <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">all
the pieces together in the end.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God
will save us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">CS Lewis, the popular Christian writer said: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“The problem
is not that we expect<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">too much out
of God, but we expect too little.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Why do we doubt God’s love for us? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Knowing
what we have known, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">why do
we doubt that Jesus will be there? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Why do
we doubt that God will get things done?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Why do
we think that it is all up to us, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and
that we have to learn to walk on water?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We are living in the middle of this rough sea.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Some of us are out on the sea in our
personal lives,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and all of us, I think, feel like this
world is out to sea right now.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Listing this way and that, battered by
waves and wind,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">barely able to stay afloat, at times it
seems hopeless.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">At times we might
feel like we’re drowning<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and desperate and like there’s no hope
for us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Will God save us?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Oh we of little faith,
why did we ever doubt?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Rev. June Wilkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05379751460851476288noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285660871932316676.post-22796655947555295332023-08-07T10:21:00.002-07:002023-08-07T10:21:09.626-07:00A Tale of Two Parties<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Matthew
14: 13-21</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>August
6, 2023</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 105.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In chapter 14 in Matthew we get the story <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 105.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">of two
different parties. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 105.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Two very
different celebrations,<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip1Xz-340AFvRBAMijLf1Nt15vHjBP0L7dllm6mPtDjGpTYYFNXGs-_s63HJ91qZ4r6trR9UxdeRjMy7s0AUospktbAR9x7jSwZ2koiVUee2W0Umb6Xpzdfc9qiXgC7OwdArlwmP1UWjJ_2BnWZxDE8qphBtMyezyOAknPLkcj9kdzpwee1tMHRN2hMAYg/s1356/christ%20feeding%205000%20eric%20feather.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="805" data-original-width="1356" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip1Xz-340AFvRBAMijLf1Nt15vHjBP0L7dllm6mPtDjGpTYYFNXGs-_s63HJ91qZ4r6trR9UxdeRjMy7s0AUospktbAR9x7jSwZ2koiVUee2W0Umb6Xpzdfc9qiXgC7OwdArlwmP1UWjJ_2BnWZxDE8qphBtMyezyOAknPLkcj9kdzpwee1tMHRN2hMAYg/s320/christ%20feeding%205000%20eric%20feather.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Christ Feeding 5000</i><br />Eric Feather</td></tr></tbody></table></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 105.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">two very
different feasts.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 105.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 105.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The party
that we hear about first is Herod’s party.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 105.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The second is
Jesus’s party.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 105.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I think
Matthew purposely shows us<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 105.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">those parties
together so we can see the difference in the two.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 105.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So let’s look
at them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 105.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 105.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The first
party is a royal party. King Herod’s party.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 105.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">An official
party of the ruling class.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 105.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">King Herod,
the king of the northern region of Judea,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 105.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">appointed by
the Roman Empire,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 105.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">has thrown
himself a party for this birthday.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 105.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He has an
exclusive guest list for the party,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 105.0pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Just the
officers and the leaders of Galilee.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I’m sure they had the best food and wine.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">
The best décor, the best of everything.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Surely,
John the Baptist was not invited to the party.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But John was very much involved.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Herodious
who is King Herod’s current wife, is angry with John.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Herod
had married Herodious,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Herodious was Herods’ brother’s wife, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">which wasn’t too odd in itself at the time,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">except that Philip, Herods brother Herodious’ husband, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">was still alive and so was Herod’s wife.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Most
people were probably pretty upset with <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">this arrangement and how the king had left his wife<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and taken up with his brother’s wife,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">but still no one said anything about it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">People in power seem to get away with stuff like this.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But
John the Baptist said something about it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and he had mentioned it publicly <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">that Herod and Herodious’s marriage was a sham.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So
Herod has John thrown in prison, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">but he doesn’t want to kill John.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">it says Herod is even afraid of him<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and afraid of what the people would do if he had him killed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But
back to the exclusive dinner party,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the birthday bash for Herod.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Their entertainment was a dance by Herodious’s daughter.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It says the dance pleased Herod and his guests greatly.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Herod
wants to show off to his guests how generous<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and wealthy he was.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He swore to the girl that he would give her <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">anything that she asked for – half his kingdom even.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Right in front of all these important people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I’m
sure he thought that maybe she would ask for a pony,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">or a new dress, or a chariot, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">or whatever the first century equivalent of a cell phone was.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But the girl knows an opportunity when she sees it,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and she consults with her mother Herodious<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">who’s been steaming about John the Baptist.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And Herodious tells the girl <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">to ask for the head of John the Baptist.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Having it on a platter was the extra flare of the girl.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Now
Herod is stuck.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Stuck in that awful place that so many politicians are.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Between doing what he wants to do,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">doing what he should do, what he knows is right,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and what the rich and powerful around him expect him to do.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">What he promised to do.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />
So forced by his oath, his honor, his
fears, his pride, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and his need to be respected by his high-powered guests,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Herod has John the Baptist beheaded.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And, just as the girl asks, at the banquet, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">he gives her his head a serving platter.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">That
is the feast of Herod.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The feast of the empire.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A party thrown for his own honor.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The feast that is a feast of wealth and power.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The feast that’s governed by greed and gluttony.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Where children are paraded around for entertainment<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The one that’s governed by misplaced oaths.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It’s a feast that’s exclusive, where just a few eat too much<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and most everyone else gets nothing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This
is the feast of the market, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">of politics, and commercialism, even of religion.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And if you stay until the very end, you see that this<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">is a gruesome feast.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It’s a feast that always ends in violence and death.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A feast that ends with the truth being slayed and killed<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and served up on a platter for someone’s spite and enjoyment.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This feast is a feast that ends with death.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We
know this feast.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We live in this feast every day.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">
Whether we’re the guests or the victims or, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">for most of us, somewhere in between.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It’s the world we live in. It’s the empire all around us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It’s the one that is comfortable sacrificing people to save the
economy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The one that has plenty to spend on parties and luxuries <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">but not enough to spend on hungry, desperate people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It’s the party that votes raises for itself, but votes down<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">funding for food stamps and food banks.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It’s the party that has housing for a select few,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">but not enough for everyone else.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It’s the party that has enough to fill our own comfort and
excesses,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">but doesn’t have enough for other people’s needs.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I don’t have to dwell on describing this feast.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We eat at this table every day.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Or the world tells us that this is the table we need to hope and strive
for.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">John the Baptist is just one of its victims.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And
when Jesus hears about this feast<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and the death of his cousin and friend John,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">he goes off by himself to grieve, and pray<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But the people find out where he is, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and they invite themselves to the next party.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Which
brings us to the next party.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In this next feast, Jesus is the host.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus doesn’t throw this party to honor himself.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He gives God the honor, he celebrates the people there.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And unlike Herod’s party, there is not an exclusive guest list,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">everyone is invited to come, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">they can come even if they haven’t been invited.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">At
this party, people are healed and cured, not harmed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">People are left more alive not dead.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">At this party, there is enough for everyone.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">When the disciples try and get Jesus to send everyone away<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">to get their own food, Jesus tells the disciples to <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">give them something to eat.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Now
the disciples haven’t yet learned all the lessons of Jesus table.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">they are still used to eating at other tables.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">They’ve eaten at the empire’s party so long<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and they know it’s mantra, “there isn’t enough for everyone”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So they try to convince Jesus that its true. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">“<i>Jesus
you know, there’s just too many people,<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;">There’s just five loaves and two fish. The math doesn’t work out.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It’s complicated, Jesus, distribution and all that.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Supply and demand, the economy, Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;">If you give the people something for free, <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;">then they won’t want to work for it. Yada, yada, yada.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But
Jesus won’t hear it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus knows that at his table, there is enough for everyone to get
fed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So everyone is invited to eat and enjoy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And so he takes what he has and he blesses it, breaks it, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and gives it away.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And
at this party, Jesus feeds five thousand men.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And besides, even the women and children were invited.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Not just for entertainment, but to eat with everyone else.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Not just to serve, but to be served too.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And at the end of the meal, everyone is satisfied.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And there are even twelve baskets of food left over.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">More food to feed more people. The abundance doesn’t end.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This feast doesn’t end with a death, it ends with more life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">At
Herod’s party, he makes an oath – <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">half the kingdom to one select person.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But Jesus makes a promise:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The whole kingdom to everyone.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In
Chapter 14, Matthew presents us these two meals.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">These two options:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The feast of the world, of greed and want and scarcity,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">where some eat and some go hungry.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Or the feast of God. The feast of abundance, of plenty, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">of gift, of grace, where the everyone eats.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">
The question is, which party do we want to join?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">At which table do we want to eat?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">For
Lutherans, we believe that we don’t<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">decide whether or not to have faith.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God’s grace is ours no matter what.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But
we <u>do</u> believe that we have a choice<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">what to do with that grace.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We make a decision every day at which table we want to eat.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We
make that choice in how we treat others,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">how we work, how we spend our free time,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">how we use our money, how we raise our children, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">how we talk to other people,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">how we treat those who are poor and less fortunate<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and how we treat the rich and powerful.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">How we, as a church, represent God to the world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">At churches all around the world we have eaten meals<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">like at tables like this for a couple of thousand years.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We eat it to take away our sin and <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">for our own spiritual nourishment, yes. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But we also eat it every week to remind us of this meal of God’s
grace <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and that there is enough for everyone.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We eat it to remind us of the party that we want to<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">be invited to and a host of. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We eat it every week to help us to remind us of that choice every
day.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus
Christ has set this table of abundance, and healing and life, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">in the middle of this world that keeps defaulting back <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">to scarcity, and division, and death.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We are all invited to eat at Christ’s table.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">There is enough for everyone.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And everyone is invited to come and eat.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Rev. June Wilkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05379751460851476288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285660871932316676.post-31023205047635896002023-07-17T10:56:00.002-07:002023-07-17T10:56:38.478-07:00The Parable of the Sower<p><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><b>Matthew
12:1-9, 18-23</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b>7-16-23</b></span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy1O-LZTf1uNShK1hXPhSQ566YNTOFo0TkScuTdNlh1R-TUj7zpwzd_ejdzxXw-dPeFJZIfQiuki9lXdZzKWB-uGHJKQBhqksPgKRyBYfUydz25MgaXkT7FcCgTMnQenVAnJOKfG_ZRMvOedoRBLiNoHN5D-pum50canvwwX4LLvyPNEgEp7UUjuf_eTPU/s968/Sower%20Van%20gogh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="968" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy1O-LZTf1uNShK1hXPhSQ566YNTOFo0TkScuTdNlh1R-TUj7zpwzd_ejdzxXw-dPeFJZIfQiuki9lXdZzKWB-uGHJKQBhqksPgKRyBYfUydz25MgaXkT7FcCgTMnQenVAnJOKfG_ZRMvOedoRBLiNoHN5D-pum50canvwwX4LLvyPNEgEp7UUjuf_eTPU/s320/Sower%20Van%20gogh.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Sower</i><br />Vincent Van Gogh</td></tr></tbody></table>This
week, we hear the parable of the sower.<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Parables are tough. Especially
Jesus’s parables.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">They’re metaphors.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">They show a point by telling a
story.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And sometimes the point of the
story isn’t all that clear. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And it’s even harder for us today because
a lot <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">of the metaphors Jesus uses rely
on information<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">or references that the people then
shared and we do not.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But
this week Jesus tells them this story about growing things.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Fortunately, how things grow or
don’t grow hasn’t changed<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">too much since Jesus has been
around,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">so we can understand this one
pretty well.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And we get a rare gift in the
gospels:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus explains the parable to his
disciples.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
So a farmer goes out and spreads seeds
on different terrains.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A path, rocky areas, a place with
thorns, and good soil.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus tells us that the seeds are
the Word of God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And there are four types of people
outlined in the parable:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Those who don’t understand the
word of the kingdom.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Those who receive it with joy but
it doesn’t take root.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Those who hear it, but worry too
much about the cares of the world<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and so it doesn’t amount to
anything.<br /><br />
And those who hear it and it grows and it bears fruit.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So,
there it is. Jesus has done it for us.<br /><br />
</span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Nothing
much for me to do except lay it all out there.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">My job is done this morning.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Except,
I have some questions that I would</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">like to have asked if I was there
with Jesus that day.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I’m really interested in that
soil.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Isn’t
there anything we can do about the soil?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">-Can we make it better?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">-Can we cultivate it? Improve it?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">-can we, metaphorically speaking, put
some dirt on top of those rocks<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">- Can we go and take out some of
the thorns?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">-Once you’re bad soil are you just
bad soil?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">-Are some people just hopeless?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">-And who is bad soil and who is
good?<br /><br />
-How can I tell who is good and who is bad?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">so that I don’t waste seeds?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">-And
Jesus, which one am I?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">-Because some days I feel like I’m
that good soil.<br /><br />
-But some days I think I’m that rocky ground<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">-And some days the thorns come in.<br /><br />
-And some days it just depends on the hour of the day.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So
I have a lot of questions about all that soil. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #010000; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #010000; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I
think the temptation we have when we hear this parable <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #010000; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">is to make this into
“the parable of the soil.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #010000; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But it’s important
to remember that this is <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #010000; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">called “The Parable
of the Sower”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #010000; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus even gives it
that name, which is rare<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #010000; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">in the world of parables.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #010000; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So we should pay
attention to the sower.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #010000; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Whenever we garden, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #010000; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">we spend a lot of
time on our soil.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #010000; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We mix nutrients
into it, we till it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #010000; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We make sure it’s
the correct place for sun exposure.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #010000; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We make sure it’s
ready for the seeds.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #010000; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And then we put
seeds or plants in carefully.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #010000; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We do it very
intentionally and purposefully.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We
sow <u>our</u> seeds with prudence.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Cautiously, sparingly, <u>we</u>
have limits.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We don’t just put them anywhere.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We don’t want to waste them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But
look what this crazy sower in the parable does.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He’s got some seeds, these
precious seeds, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and he throws them all over the
place.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He’s
not worrying where they land.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Good soil or bad soil. Rocks or
dirt.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And
this was at a time that you couldn’t talk to the Burpee dealer<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and purchase more seeds if you
needed them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Each seed was cultivated by the
sower.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Seeds were precious and limited
things then.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But still the sower in this parable
throws the seeds everywhere.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The sower is not thwarted by the
failure.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He just keeps throwing those seeds
around.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I
want to break in right now<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and tell you about my saga of
gardening.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Most of my adult life, I lived in
apartments.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Texas was my
first ever house with a yard,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">but it was too hot and most people
didn’t <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">grow vegetables in their gardens.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So when we bought a house in Columbus,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">one of the first things I did was
to plan a garden.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A friend of
ours picked the spot with me <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and I started the garden in 2013. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I did
everything that you were supposed to do<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">tilling, adding, things to the
soil.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Things were looking good at first.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But the
first year, I planted too many things <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">in my plot and I got a bunch of beautiful
leaves<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and not a lot else. But I learned
and I started <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">again the next year. And the next.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />Every year I would start with big
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">hopes and things would look good<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and by July, I would have a bunch
of leaves and a lot of <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">sweat and tears and not much a lot
to show for it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I did this five years in a row. It
got worse every year.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Some
people blamed it on the walnut tree<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">on the corner of our property.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But realistically, the neighbors
all have great gardens.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And I had the soil tested and they
said it was fine.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So one year,
I gave up and I planted sunflowers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Which seemed to like whatever I’ve
done to the soil there.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But
I couldn’t stop. The next year I picked<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">another plot of land, on the opposite
side of the walnut tree<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And
I thought I had a good start.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Then the bugs at the pepper
plants.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And the birds ate my string bean
plants.<br /><br />
Actually I’ve started the string beans six times in one year,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">seed after seed,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And something happened to each
plant.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But I had a
cucumber starting! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And
a few strawberries in the pot. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />But then a deer came and ate lots
of it and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the cucumbers and the strawberry
plant.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And so I
bought a tent and put it over the yard. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And replanted the cucumbers and
the strawberry <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and another pepper and some more
green bean seeds AGAIN<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But the tomatoes got some kind of
wilt and I lost <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">three of the four of them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And realistically nothing else good happened.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Just a lot of leaves and nothing
else.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And then we moved here.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">But before we knew we were moving,
I was making big plans</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">for the next year. Eight years I
tried to grow <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">a garden, I think in total for all
those 8 years,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I’ve gotten one basket of
vegetables.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Now,
I don’t usually like to put myself</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">in the role of prime example in my
sermons.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But just to be honest, I am like
that sower!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I
keep trying and trying and gardening with reckless abandon<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Not looking at the cost. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(I’m NOT looking at how much all
that cost).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As many times as I’ve failed, I
keep trying.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I am the sower! BE like me!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But
of course, in the end,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus is
not talking about gardening.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus is talking about people<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and Jesus is talking about God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I
wish I approached every person<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the way I approached my task of
gardening.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I wish I looked at people with
renewed hope,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and without regard for past
experience.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I wish I shared grace and love and
the Gospel like that.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
I wish I looked at every person anew instead<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">of judging them by what the last
person like them did.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I wish I
was as forgiving as that sower<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">when it came to other people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But I’m not.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Like most
people, I judge people by what they look like,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and where they come from, and by
my past experiences <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">with people who look and act like
them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I make decisions about who I want
to spend time on<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and who I want to share the good
news with and with<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">based on all sorts of perceptions
that are often not valid.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I am stingy with my seeds<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But
God just throws those seeds of love out there</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">ham-fisted willy-nilly without
thinking much about the results.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God gives that love to people who
deserve it and <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">those who don’t just the same.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">That is the grace of the sower.<br /><br />
That is the abundance God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God's
grace doesn’t calculate the best choice<br /><br />
</span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">it
doesn’t hedge its bets on who’s worthy and who’s not.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It
doesn’t determine who’s bore fruit in the past,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">who
will be the best and the brightest.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God
just throws grace around with wild abandon.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #010000; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Our creator is
not worried where the seeds go,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">just
that the seeds keep falling on everyone.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Remember,
Jesus was preparing the disciples to send them out.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He’s telling them, showing them, “don’t
worry where the seeds fall.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Just worry that the seeds keep
falling.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Don’t count how many seeds you
drop on thieves, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">tax collectors, prostitutes, Pharisees,
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">gentiles and other people that
seem unworthy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Don’t
worry about whether people seem like good soil or not.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Just
keep the seeds coming. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There
will always be more when you look in the bag.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><sup><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #777777; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></sup></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">That is the
parable of the sower.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
ground that we work in may seem rocky or thorny,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">it may
seem hopeless and like no one is listening.</span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But God will not give up on us. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God will
continue to spread those seeds, confident <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">that they will take root in us and
in time <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">will yield a wonderful harvest.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><sup><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #777777; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></sup></p>Rev. June Wilkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05379751460851476288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285660871932316676.post-27180353628893307832023-07-05T09:48:00.001-07:002023-07-05T09:48:51.229-07:00Real Peace vs. False Peace<p><b><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"></span></b></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjedC2JBWBJj6xNtIeBUZJTIweQJAN1FkcdjhsECOBGsomTA_46DQxthup5CAYpfSJztLgjOfAkIy8nCvqB5JguXPSngbowQ2XenEf0Y-ckduRtftbwoIJYjqwkDu1lltsnJQcv7nOgzbdEUzA8Tq_sXZu89Ld4WG-PtN-qYJ9BicDbbHWUGabLGlYCFnK5/s584/The%20Cost%20Shawn%20nelson%20dhalstrom.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="584" data-original-width="584" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjedC2JBWBJj6xNtIeBUZJTIweQJAN1FkcdjhsECOBGsomTA_46DQxthup5CAYpfSJztLgjOfAkIy8nCvqB5JguXPSngbowQ2XenEf0Y-ckduRtftbwoIJYjqwkDu1lltsnJQcv7nOgzbdEUzA8Tq_sXZu89Ld4WG-PtN-qYJ9BicDbbHWUGabLGlYCFnK5/s320/The%20Cost%20Shawn%20nelson%20dhalstrom.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>The Cost</i><br />Shawn Nelson Dhalstrom</span></td></tr></tbody></table><b><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />Matthew
10:24-39</span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b>July 2, 2023</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I
think when we hear peace we think of,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">good
things: love, harmony, understanding,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">tolerance,
inner security, calm.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And
we might go, why would Jesus say<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">he
isn’t here to bring peace?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Those
seem like ideals of the kingdom of God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But
that’s not the only way the word peace has been used.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Sometime
people use the word peace<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">when
they are talking about something else entirely.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Pax
Romana or Roman Peace<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Was
an unprecedented <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>time of <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">prosperity
in the Roman Empire.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It
went from about <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">27BC
to about 120 AD, give or take a few decades,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It
was right around the time of Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It
was an unprecedented time because <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the
centuries prior to that, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the
empire had been almost constant war within itself<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">with
emperors and rulers deposing other <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">emperors
and rulers and occupying territories<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">until
another ruler came in and deposed them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">War
was a habit for the Romans.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
time of Pax was ushered in by Augustus defeat<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">of
Mark Antony and Cleopatra in 31BC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">After
he took power, Emperor Augustus had the clever idea<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">to
tell the people of the Roman Empire that they should just let<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">him
rule, and that being without war would be more prosperous <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">to
them than being with war. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And
it was. The 200 years of the Pax Romana<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">was
a time of economic expansion,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and
creative and cultural achievements.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
building of many of Rome’s roads and monuments, statues,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">places
of worship, stadiums happened during this time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And
eventually, by Jesus time, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
Roman Empire was bragging about the </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Pax Romana to the world. It was something
they were dedicated to maintain.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
word “Pax” or “Pax Augusta”, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">showed
up on coins and other methods of <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">written
communication as kind of advertisement:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We’ve
got peace here in the Roman Empire, come to Rome, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">live, do business, vacation, come
join the Roman Empire.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And
part of the economic expansion was an expansion of <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">territory,
this was the rise of the Roman Empire.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">During
the height of the Pax Romana, about 70 million <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">people
lived in the Roman Empire,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">almost
a quarter of the entire world’s population.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Pax
Romana was good for the emperor, for the ones in power, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">for
the business people, and for the wealthy <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">citizens
around the center of Rome.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But
of course, this Pax Romana wasn’t <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">peaceful
and prosperous for everyone.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Especially
for the people of the regions that Rome invaded<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and
occupied and expanded into by force <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">like
Israel and the middle East.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And
to maintain the peace, or the image of peace at least,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
Roman Empire forcibly took down any rebellion,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">any
inkling of an organization that might have <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the
thought of challenging or changing the Empire.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And
from these conquered territories and people<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">on
the outskirts of the empire, the Roman<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">government
collected lots of taxes to fund their prosperity.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Ad
with the inability to pay taxes,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">millions
of people were enslaved, sold into forced labor,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">in
order to build the structures of the empire<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and
to work for the wealthy and those in power.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
Pax Romana, the peace and prosperity of Rome,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">was
maintained, not by merciful coexistence,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and
harmony, but by dominance,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and
military and economic might.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">What
was called peace and prosperity by Rome<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">was
an illusion of peace maintained by fear and intimidation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">it
was a peace that was almost a prison for so many.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #181818; font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Tacitus, who was a Roman politician and a
historian,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #181818; font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and a critic of his own country wrote:<i> <o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #181818; font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“To ravage, to slaughter, to steal, this they
give the <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #181818; font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">false name of empire; <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #181818; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and where they create a desert, they call it
peace.”</span></i><i><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It
is the Pax Romana, the illusion of peace,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">that
Jesus would have heard about repeatedly <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">in
the Roman territory that he lived in.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He
would have been taught to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>not say
anything,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">in
order to not disrupt the “peace”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">His
disciples would have heard the same.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Just
get along. Don’t disturb the “peace”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It’s
this peace – the uncomfortable peace that was<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">brought
by intimidation and threats of violence—<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">that
he tells his disciples is not here to maintain.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In
the face of this false peace, Jesus has come to <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">bring
conflict, the conflict between <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the
way things are and the way of God’s Kingdom.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This
speech is near the end of the pep talk that Jesus<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">is
giving his disciples before he sends them out.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He
is sending them out to do that work that <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">he
has started: healing, and casting out demons, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 366.75pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">announcing the kingdom of God <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 366.75pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He is warning them that everyone might not<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 366.75pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">receive their message with joy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Sometimes we
assume that healing, and casting out demons, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 366.75pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">announcing the kingdom of God would be<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">universally well received. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">That
everyone would be happy with the news<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">that
God’s presence on earth would bring<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">joy
and happiness to all. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">That
and everyone would welcome the disciples in. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But
Jesus is telling them no.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Bringing
power and hope to people<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">that
are oppressed and freeing them <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">from
the bonds that hold them captive, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">that
is a disruption to that illusion of peace.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Before
real peace and justice comes, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">there
can actually be conflict and discomfort.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">When
Jesus said that love your neighbor as yourself<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">it
wasn’t a problem, but when Jesus showed that it meant<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">eating
with tax collectors and prostitutes <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and talking
to their religious rivals, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">that
was uncomfortable.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">People
love to quote the phrase<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“an
eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But
they forget the rest of the quote where <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus
says that isn’t the way anymore.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He
says do not resist an evil doer,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">if
they strike you on one cheek offer the other also.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">That
was uncomfortable.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">When
Jesus talked about God’s blessings, it was okay,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">but
when he said “blessed are the poor” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and
“woe to the rich”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">that
was uncomfortable.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">When
Jesus said the Kingdom Of God is at hand,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">it
sounded great.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But he
reminds us that that means that another<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">kingdom
will fade away.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">That was
uncomfortable.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
coming of the Kingdom of God <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">can be
uncomfortable, it can cause conflict.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But this
conflict is expected.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It’s
the old world holding on tightly to its old ways.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It’s
the new world being born.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And
birth doesn’t happen without<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">some
pain and suffering.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And this is
how Jesus message <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">often comes into this world too.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We assume that talk of God’s love
will be <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">received with joy and happiness,
but it’s not.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Now
Jesus isn’t telling us to take up arms<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and
he’s not telling us to get into physical altercations<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">with
people who disagree with us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus
doesn’t want us to be jerks to everyone.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But
sometimes Christianity has made us conflict avoidant<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Christians
have sometimes acted<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>like the first calling of Christianity is to
be nice. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">To
make sure that everyone is always happy and no one is uncomfortable.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus
is telling us that “nice” isn’t the first call of peace,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and
that bringing God’s real-life message of love<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">into
this world is often controversial.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And
sometimes people, even other Christians,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">can
have a problem with Jesus message.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Just
saying that Black Lives<u> do</u> matter,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">that
can be uncomfortable.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Just
saying that God loves LGBT people the way they are,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">that
can be uncomfortable.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Just
working for housing for our neighbors means that<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">development
doesn’t happen and a company<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">might
not make all the money they projected for this year.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">That
can be uncomfortable.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Just
making a plea for love, for justice, for equality,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">for
tolerance, for actual peace, for understanding<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">can
cause conflict, some of this discomfort can happen <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">in our
own neighborhoods, with our friends,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and
sometimes it in our own families<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">around
a dinner table.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus
is warning his disciples that the real life, bold<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">proclamation
of God’s Kingdom<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">can
come with discomfort.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As
Martin Luther King, Jr. said:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"True
peace is not merely the absence of conflict; </span></i><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">it is the
presence of justice”</span></i><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background: white; font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus didn’t
come to bring false peace.</span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background: white; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Not just the
nice absence of conflict that passes as peace.</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus came
to bring real peace, real justice for everyone.</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Kingdom
of God.</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background: white;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And to get
there, Jesus needs us to get to the</span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background: white; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">bottom of some
real problems here and now.</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And that
often starts with disruption of the way things are.</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">That’s the
sword that Jesus talks about.</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A
metaphorical sword, not a real one.</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But the
question that he asks the disciples then<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and that he asks us today is:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Will
be able to bear that cross for Jesus<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and
for the Kingdom of God?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">When
the kingdom of this world<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">contradicts
the kingdom of God<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and
the rights and justice of all people,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">will
we be willing to stand up for what’s right?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Will
we be able to do difficult things <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and
have uncomfortable conversations?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Are
we willing to pursue real peace, real understanding<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and
justice and not just the absence of conflict?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As
we celebrate July 4<sup>th</sup> this week,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">we
know that there are many things<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">in
our country that we should be proud of.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And
there are also many ways that this country has not <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">lived
up to its own ideals that it was founded on.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It
seems like every day there are new ways<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">that
hard-won freedoms are being stripped away<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and
are slipping out of our hands.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">it
is not self-evident that all people are created equal,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">it
does not seem as if we behave as if all people<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">have
been endowed by their creator with the <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">inalienable
rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It
seems like there are people who are intent<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">on
preserving that right for only a select, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">privileged
few instead of for all.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Whenever we
try to live up to those ideals,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">there
are conflicts and sacrifices.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There
are uncomfortable conversations<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and
there is resistance.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But
this discomfort is just a part of the birth pangs.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Nothing
gets born without some pain.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This
is our world working out its problems.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This
is the human race exorcising its demons. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It’s
part of bringing about the new life that Jesus promises.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Shedding
off the old and letting in the new,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">it
will continue to be painful and difficult.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But
God will not abandon us in this struggle for real peace.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Like
Jesus told the disciples:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Even
the hairs on our head are counted.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God values us, God loves us, God sees us<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God
will be with us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus
didn’t promise that real peace would be easy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He
told us that some of it may be very hard<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But
staying grounded in God’s love gives us hope.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It
gives us courage, it gives us peace,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">true
peace that passes all understanding.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Rev. June Wilkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05379751460851476288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285660871932316676.post-48145512068153449752023-06-26T10:03:00.004-07:002023-06-26T10:03:52.965-07:00God's Welcome<p><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><b>Matthew
10:24-39</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b>June
25, 2023</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This is the
end of the pep talk that</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim14bL1GWexSLeGTnL4W73ekTw9jSFQjG9iR_9nsjLGngziDP5eVbPX_H37wFmsIqlD4vLlkP2oc4_68Z-lY9t5gVhYwdb4ngwph4cIM2ujLshRaL1jcqTvzaQhg2Fpu4PFP7euG-Nsu2MxNsovUQlnjZzIfaMYuXuXE3o_AmuRP1sFK6nETuo8sWFEzww/s541/Jesus%20and%20His%2012%20Ed%20de%20Guzman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="404" data-original-width="541" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim14bL1GWexSLeGTnL4W73ekTw9jSFQjG9iR_9nsjLGngziDP5eVbPX_H37wFmsIqlD4vLlkP2oc4_68Z-lY9t5gVhYwdb4ngwph4cIM2ujLshRaL1jcqTvzaQhg2Fpu4PFP7euG-Nsu2MxNsovUQlnjZzIfaMYuXuXE3o_AmuRP1sFK6nETuo8sWFEzww/s320/Jesus%20and%20His%2012%20Ed%20de%20Guzman.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Jesus and His 12</i><br />Ed de Guzman</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Jesus gives the disciples before he sends them out.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We heard
some last week and we’ll </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">hear more next week.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I have
to admit that I swapped next week’s<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">readings
for this week’s readings.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This one
was just too appropriate for our<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">worship
today: the theme of the Gospel is Welcome.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Welcoming is a hard word to
explain.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We’ve talked about it a lot lately,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">but if you asked me to define it,
I don’t know if I could.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“You know, not unwelcoming.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The dictionary definition is <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“to
greet someone in a glad or friendly way”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">but like a lot of definitions, it
doesn’t quite get there.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Welcoming is a lot of unspoken
things together.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Basically, we know when we’ve felt
welcomed,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and we know when we haven’t.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">When
someone’s face <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">lights up when we enter a room.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">That can be welcoming.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">When someone gives us a hug, that
can be welcoming.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And
when we come into a room,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and a group of people abruptly
stop talking.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Or when people look away and avert
their eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Those things can be unwelcoming.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But
then again, sometimes a hug isn’t welcoming at all. <br />
</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Sometimes those lit up faces can seem false.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In some
situations, silence when we enter is respectful<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And
sometimes it’s more welcoming for someone to avert their eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I’ve
been to parties where I knew lots of people<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and have
felt like I was intruding on something.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And I
have been to parties where I knew no one,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and the people
there made me feel like I was their oldest friend.<br /><br />
I think we’ve all probably had experiences like that.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Welcoming
is more than just a few identifiable actions.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Welcoming is a feeling that we
have for one another<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It’s conveyed in our actions, but
goes beyond our actions.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Really welcoming someone is for us
to make room<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">for another person in a
conversation, in a moment, or in our life. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Christ
Lutheran is a place of welcome.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We do a good job of welcoming new
people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We try to make people feel at home.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There are things we could do
better,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and Christianity, in general,
could do a better <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">job of being welcoming.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Many
Christians churches have the best intentions to <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">welcome everyone and they believe
that they’re welcoming.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">They say that they’re “friendly”
and “welcoming”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But lots of them are friendly to
the people they know,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">but to strangers they are less
than welcoming.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">When you walk in, you feel like
you’re interrupting a private party.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">When I was on
Sabbatical about four years ago,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">On Sundays that I was in town, I
went to church at congregations </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">that my friends were pastors of, since I never
usually get to visit them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I probably went to five different
churches,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and at four of them, the only
person that talked to me<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">was the pastor that I knew. The
other people were all talking to their friends, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">laughing, hugging one another.
I was sitting by myself.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Walking in and out unfettered by
any conversation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">That was not welcoming.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There was another
church I went to while I was on my sabbatical<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I was visiting another city, it
was a large church, a very large church<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and there were a lot of people who
talked to me and every person<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">that talked to me, asked me to
come back. It was noticeable to me.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And then when I told them that I
lived in another city and I couldn’t,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">they dropped me and moved on. It
felt a little like a car salesperson<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">when you tell them you’re not
interested in buying.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">That was not welcoming either.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And I was a pastor.
I knew my way around churches.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I was a straight, white woman
going to majority straight, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">white churches. And those were still
going to be tough hurdles<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">to jump over to get me to feel
comfortable or at home.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Just imagine someone who isn’t at
home in a church, or<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">who isn’t straight, or isn’t
white. Think of the hurdles they might </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">need to overcome just to get inside.
Letting people know they’re welcome<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and then following that up with an
actual welcome can help.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Alternately,
when I was in seminary, and I wasn’t otherwise </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">occupied on a
Sunday, I went to a Roman Catholic church<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">that was near the neighborhood
where the seminary was.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">People talked to me, they were
genuinely interested in me.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">When I told one person the first
time I was there<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">that I was going to the Lutheran
seminary,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">they made sure to tell me that I
was always welcome to take<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">communion with them at this
church. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I really went only sporadically
one Summer and several people </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">remembered my name and would ask me how things
were going.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">That place was welcoming.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I cannot remember the priest or
anything that he said or did,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">but I remember that congregation
fondly.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Real welcome
requires honesty. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">To really welcome someone is to
genuinely<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">want to know them and to enjoy
their presence with you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It’s not just about adding numbers
to the roster,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">it’s about genuinely liking and
wanting others to be involved.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Welcoming requires
vulnerability too.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">When we welcome, someone could
reject our welcome.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Someone could take advantage of
us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">To welcome someone in – to really
welcome them <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">into our churches and our lives –<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">means that we will allow them to
change the things <br /><br />
that we like, and to ultimately change us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">To welcome means to be open to change<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus
values the spirit of welcoming.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus says, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Whoever welcomes you welcomes me,<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and
whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus
is talking to the disciples about how other people<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">may or
may not welcome them. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But
he’s also teaching the disciples how to act towards others.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He’s
telling them to treat others how you would like to be treated.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; tab-stops: 243.75pt; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Welcome is the first step to know others<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; tab-stops: 243.75pt; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the first
step to allow them into our space<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; tab-stops: 243.75pt; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">to bring them
into our circle<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; tab-stops: 243.75pt; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">to intertwine
them into our lives<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; tab-stops: 243.75pt; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and make the
stranger a part of our new families.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; tab-stops: 243.75pt; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Brothers and
sisters in Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Welcome
is the first step at the heart of the gospel.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">How can we meet new people?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">How can we help people? How can we
understand them?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">How can we give them that cup of
cold water?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">How can we tell them about Jesus?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Unless we first welcome them?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The religious
leaders at the time of Jesus and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">lots of
religious leaders, now and over the years,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">try to
make Christianity into something more complicated:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">following
rules, repeating rituals, or following certain, <br /></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><br />narrow definitions of purity.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But
true Christian spirituality is as simple as welcome.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">About
being willing to open ourselves up and giving<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">someone
what they need, a cup of water on a hot day.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Everyone
can be a part of this.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Even the
least among us, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">just a
simple cup of water is enough.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Not a
bathtub. Just a simple cup.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And Jesus
doesn’t tell us to make sure they <u>really </u><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">need the
cup of water, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">or if they’ve
led a good life thus far,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">or to
ask whether they will use the cup of water <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">for good
things or not. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus
says to give it, to share it. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">No
questions asked.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus’ way doesn’t
get much more complicated than that.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">No
elaborate systems, no checked boxes,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">no
obsessions with keeping every code or law.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Because one
small welcome can snowball into others<br />
</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />and eventually the world is a place of welcome,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and that
place of welcome becomes the Kingdom of God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Bishop
Desmond Tutu,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
bishop of South Africa during and after Apartheid,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">gave
this in a sermon in Washington DC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">in
November 2001, two months after 9-11.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He
said:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“God says, I
have a dream, that all of you - my children -<br />
will realize that you belong in one family. <br />
This is a family in which there are no outsiders; all are insiders. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">All</span></u></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">. <br />
When Jesus spoke about his death, he said, <br />
If I be lifted up, I will draw <u>all</u> - he didn’t say I will draw some. <br />
He said, I will draw <u>all</u> – <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">black, white,
rich, poor, American, Iraqi, <br />
Afghanistan, gay, lesbian, straight. <br />
All belong in this family: Arafat, Sharon, George Bush, bin Laden. <br />
And God says, I have no one except you to help me realize my dream. <br />
Will you help me? says God. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have no
one except you.” <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> <br /></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">God dreams
about us.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We
might dream about wealth, or romance, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">or
fame, or grandkids, or security, or that next big trip.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But God
daydreams about us, reaching our hands out<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">to
someone new, someone different,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and
giving just a cup of cold water to them in God’s name.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God has no one but us.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God dreams
about us welcoming others <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and
us being welcomed by them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Until
we, all of us, share God’s welcome together.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Rev. June Wilkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05379751460851476288noreply@blogger.com0