Blessed are They

Sermon Matthew 5:3-12 January 29, 2017 Ordinary time

Blessed are They

Children's sermon: the Bee-attitudes

sermon: 

The Beatitudes are beautiful aspiring words.

They look good on a plaque or cross stitch hung in the hallways of our homes.

They are sweet lovely platitudes that offer a sense of peace and comfort. We view them in this way and rarely consider them in other way.

Yet, these words of Jesus are a call to discipleship. They are a call to living for God. They are a call to live for the kingdom of heaven.

As a whole they are God’s blessings to have the ability to live for the pursuit of righteousness in accordance to God’s righteousness. To live as we heard from the verses of Micah 6:8, “do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.”

The word beatitude comes from Latin beātitūdō, from beātus blessed. Beatitude means happy. William Barclay one of our contemporary theologians tells us that happy means, ‘a joy which has a secret within itself, that joy which is serene and untouchable, and self-contained…completely independent of all the chances and changes of life.’

The Beatitudes are a message of hope, simplicity and compassion in a world of chaos, confusion, and misery. And yet, when we hear them we wonder, “Who in their right mind, can achieve the lofty goal of living into each of these?

When we hear things such as the pursuit of righteousness, and blessed are the peacemakers, the people who pop into our mind are people like Mother Teresa, MLKjr, Desmond Tutu. As we think of these names we convince ourselves that we cannot measure up to these larger than life figures of our history. We set aside those beatitudes as something that ‘those’ people do. We cannot bring ourselves to think of them as a call to us.

Yet, each of these larger than life people did not aspire to make history. They started simply within their own context of living doing small things to make a difference where they were. They sought the kingdom-the desire for equality and humaneness for all-as their dream to reach. But, they lived practically one small step at a time until it grew as God allowed it to.

One thing about context for us to remember is that the gospel writer of Matthew placed these words of Jesus in what we call a narrative context. As we read through the gospel we are made aware of the sociopolitical climate into which Jesus was born. A climate of oppression under the Roman Empire. And his religious context was an environment of religious elitism and corruption. Both contexts put this Sermon on the Mount in direct contrast to the culture in which Jesus was living. Jesus presented to his listeners an alternative community. For the followers of Jesus, his disciples and his crowds of listeners-he provided them with the opportunity of another way. The Way of the future reign of God.

Jesus pronounces blessing upon those within his reach. He recognizes that the people surrounding him are the poor, the meek, the hungry. Through his words he reinforces the strong Jewish principles of living for God. He brings back the words of faithful living for the people. The words of Deuteronomy and Micah are threaded throughout these beatitudes.

The culture that Jesus was going against was a culture that dehumanized and dismissed people whether through political oppression or religious dogma.

Jesus is calling the disciples to action.

I guess you call Jesus’ agenda a political one or a counter religious for his time.

His agenda as we read these beatitudes is the pursuit of righteousness. And in his sociopolitical context this meant being willing to risk their lives for the sake of others- for the sake of the stranger, for the sake of their neighbor, for the sake of their children, for the sake of their loved one.

God always chooses the side of the weak, the forgotten, the despised, the justice seekers, the peacemakers, and the persecuted.

Jesus couldn’t be more relevant today than he was when he was walking the streets of Galilee.

Every century of our history has shown a time of sociopolitical unrest and oppression and worse it has shown religion in its most disturbing exclusionary ways.

Just this week we had Holocaust Remembrance Day. A day in my context of living which is so important. I spoke to my brother this week as well. In September I had given him copies of my father’s diaries. The diaries recorded my father’s experience during the war. My brother asked me about an entry about my grandfather being bedridden for three weeks. I shared the reason he was bed ridden was because he suffered from severe Rheumatoid arthritis and the complications of it caused him great immobility. The reason for the severity of the complications was because this was during the time that the only thing they had to eat was tulip bulbs. As a result of poor nutrition, he became bedridden. The context of where and how we live is so important to how we hear these words of Jesus and the words of Micah. My father’s family hoped for the day when someone out there would hear the cries of the people and come to do justice and love kindness.

Our opportunity in the context of our lives is to grasp the richness of the blessings that Jesus offers us.

As we live each day we have the opportunity to risk our life for the reign of God. We have the opportunity to stand up for those who are unable to stand up for themselves. Christ calls us to partner with him in the mission of the kingdom of heaven. To be his hands and feet and voice.

How do we practically risk our lives for the kingdom?

As we are blessed, so we choose to bless others.

It doesn’t take money we don’t have.

It doesn’t take time we don’t have.

It doesn’t take objects or possessions we don’t have.

What it takes is the awareness of who we are where we are.

As we drive kids to school we notice the person in the line ahead of us and we wave and smile.

We show kindness in every circumstance.

We help the person who dropped their groceries on the floor.

We call a neighbor when we go to the store and invite them to go with us-because we’re going anyway-it doesn’t cost us anything.

As we develop these small risks to reach out,

God grants us more courage to do more

and to step further beyond ourselves.

We can do this! We are blessed. And blessed are they! Amen. 

Fruit of the Spirit: Kindness

Sermon Ephesians 4:29-32 June 12, 2016 Ordinary Time Series #5

Fruit of the Spirit: Kindness

I begin this week’s sermon with a series of quotes.

Kind words do not cost much. Yet they accomplish much. Blaise Pascal

With the help of grace, the habit of saying kind words is very quickly formed, and when once formed, it is not speedily lost. Frederick W. Faber

Perhaps you will forget tomorrow the kind words you say today, but the recipient may cherish them over a lifetime. Dale Carnegie

Imagine a world where people look out for each other. Where we all pay it forward. Where success is measured in selfless acts. Where kindness is the philosophy of life.

All these quotes give us a glimpse into the practical definition of kindness. Perhaps that’s what we yearn for as much as we yearn for love-a kinder, gentler world.

We have been studying the verse given to us in the letter to the Galatians 5:22 regarding the Fruit of the Spirit. It says, “The Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

One thing we have learned through our studies thus far is that the fruit is a gift. We have learned that each element of the fruit is already within us. Gifts are given to us and they come to us to be used, developed, and shared. They are given to us by God in the same manner that life and God’s love has been given to us.

God’s love for us already exists and is there for us to receive it. Whether we choose to accept the love of God or not does not change God’s claim upon us. God values who we are and cares deeply for us. In the same manner of love God has given us the capacity to love and care for ourselves and others through the gift of the Fruit of the Spirit-one giant bunch of fruit filled with rich, juicy, oozing with goodness fruit. It’s ours to taste and try and offer to the community around us.

Kindness as do the other elements of the fruit begins with caring. The Greek word for kind is chrestos. It has in its meaning, useful, it is a word of action. Rather than a state of being, kindness is a state of action.

Our lesson in Ephesians today begins with what kindness is not. Sometimes to get an understanding of what something is, is to learn what it is not. There is no room in kindness for maliciousness or selfishness, nor is there space for wrath, anger, or bitterness. As kindness is developed these other behaviors dissipate and fade away leaving room for only goodness to shine through.

As I was sitting with a family preparing for the funeral of their mother I asked one of the sons, “What is the one thing you would like to make sure everyone hears and knows about your mom?” His response to me was, “That she was kind.” What an amazing legacy to leave behind! To share with the world that the most important aspect of life to remember was kindness, yes!

What are the beginning actions of kindness?

Perhaps one place to start is with our words. Encouraging words of comfort, compliments, and courtesy. Can you think of what those might be? Our words can have a healing effect on others. Our words can draw people together as we share in conversation and seek to know someone else. Even the simple act of acknowledging the person next to you as you wait for a bus, or sit next to them on an airplane, is an act of kindness. Even in our own households recognizing the person who you share space with is an act of kindness.

A friend of mine told me how hard it was in her job in retail. She said it was difficult to always practice thoughtfulness and kindness in her business. One day her boss gave her some advice. He said, “Fake it ‘til you make it.” She thought at first that this wasn’t quite authentic or honest. But, as she began to practice a smile and kind words no matter what, she recognized a transformation within her. The more she practiced the more genuine her words and actions became. Perhaps there was some truth in practicing kindness even when it didn’t feel right-she was glad for the advice and has shown that it is now her way of life.

What are some examples of kindness that you have experienced? Was it the day you showed up in the line at the grocery store with two items in your hand and the person in front of you had a cartful, yet, they offered you to go ahead of them? Perhaps it was a day at the office and you were weighted down with the burdens going on in your life and a colleague came by and said hello, and just their acknowledgment of you mattered and made a difference in your day. Their hello drew you out of your dilemma and helped you to enter into conversation.

As we look to people around us with all their concerns and suffering, their illnesses and confusion in life, we can be moved with compassion. We can be helping, sharing, caring, encouraging and extending ourselves to them-this is kindness.

But, what about those people who have a way of pushing our buttons, you ask? How do we show kindness to those who continue to greet us with meanness?
I believe that is where the hard work within us takes place.
The meanness of others cannot deter us from being the kind people God calls us to be.
To meet the pain of another with the grace of goodness is probably the greatest gift we can offer.
 And if the goodness refuses to be received it is important for us not to change who we are based on another’s desire to live differently.
Perhaps that is when the strength of kindness will be most important.

But, if you had asked my children when they were teenagers what kind of mom I was, they would have let you know I was the meanest mom on earth. I remember saying that I could have had a bumper sticker made that said, “mean mom.” Sometimes as a parent kindness shows itself through discipline. “No you can’t stay out as late as all your friends, you have to be home by your curfew.” I’m hoping now that they are parents those rules of life will be looked on as rules of kindness. But, you’ll have to ask them.

As we develop our skill of and our gift of kindness,

it will get stronger and we will use it more frequently.

Our ability to practice makes us better and makes the world better. The more we learn, the more we grow, the more our community flourishes.

Kindness is more than friendliness, it is true engagement with others.

Through the strength and power of God to transform us we can and will be a kinder, gentler generation.

We can ask God to fill us, we can seek God out and ask for this gift to shine strong in us. We can say to God here I am use me.

May the kindness of God’s Spirit fill us today as we seek to serve God and others. Amen.

Tim McGraw’s song lyrics:

You know there's a light that glows by the front door
Don't forget the key's under the mat
Childhood stars shine, always stay humble and kind
Go to church 'cause your momma says to
Visit grandpa every chance that you can
It won't be wasted time
Always stay humble and kind

Hold the door, say please, say thank you
Don't steal, don't cheat, and don't lie
I know you got mountains to climb but
Always stay humble and kind
When the dreams you're dreamin' come to you
When the work you put in is realized
Let yourself feel the pride but
Always stay humble and kind

Don't expect a free ride from no one
Don't hold a grudge or a chip and here's why
Bitterness keeps you from flyin'
Always stay humble and kind
Know the difference between sleeping with someone
And sleeping with someone you love
"I love you" ain't no pick up line so
Always stay humble and kind

Hold the door, say please, say thank you
Don't steal, don't cheat, and don't lie
I know you got mountains to climb but
Always stay humble and kind
When those dreams you're dreamin' come to you
When the work you put in is realized
Let yourself feel the pride but
Always stay humble and kind

When it's hot, eat a root beer popsicle
Shut off the AC and roll the windows down
Let that summer sun shine
Always stay humble and kind
Don't take for granted the love this life gives you
When you get where you're goin
Don't forget turn back around
And help the next one in line
Always stay humble and kind

Poured Out Love

Sermon John 12:1-8 March 13, 2016 Lent 5C

Poured Out Love

When the word generosity enters my thoughts I’m humbled and even silenced. When I reflect on the many ways generosity has been poured upon and about me I find myself unable to grasp the fullness of it all.

Generosity is powerful.

Generosity breeds generosity.

And kindness breeds kindness.

And love breeds love.

Mary’s love poured out on Jesus’ feet is an act of worship.

Her act was a gesture of love.

It was one small thing she could do to offer all she had to the one she loved.  

Love poured out can only be from the heart.

Imagine giving someone you love every ounce of what you have in life to offer?

What would it look like?

Mary’s ability to act in love for her Lord in the midst of a feast with many gathered around demonstrates the power that love gives to discipleship. Pure love and tenderness wrapped in the package of pure audacity and boldness.

Gail O’Day comments that the anointing shows what it means to be one of Jesus’ own. Mary gives boldly of herself in love to Jesus at his hour just as Jesus will give boldly of himself in love at his hour.

The fullness of love is hard to pin down to one word or phrase.

Is it the sloppy kiss or the diamond ring?

Is it the sunset shared with a friend or the fancy new clothes?

It is the thousand simple actions that open our eyes and our hearts to the goodness and truth of love that surrounds us. We’ve seen this gift in some marriages and desire that love in our own lives. We’ve seen in parent to child. In brothers and sisters, and even neighbor to neighbor.

In his book ‘The Four Loves’ C.S. Lewis states, affection is humbled love. He doubts we ever catch love at the beginning of it. To become aware of it, he says, is to become aware that it has already been going on for some time.’ Affection opens our eyes to goodness we could not have seen.

Mother Teresa shared that not all of us can do great things.

But we can do small things with great love.

Part of our ability to begin to offer gestures of love is also to know how to receive them.

We have difficulty receiving small gestures of love and as CS Lewis said we might miss the beginning of it and not even be aware that it is happening to us.

How many of us brush off a compliment?

When someone offers us a kind word can we hear it?

If someone tells you how much they appreciate you can you accept their words or do you deny them the gift of sharing them with you?

When someone tells you they like your dress or your tie or your hair or your speech or your presentation or your tidy office do you say thank you?

 Or like so many of us do you say, “Oh this dress or tie is so old, my speech and presentation were just ok and pulled together from old stuff, my desk is just like this today, you should have seen it yesterday.”

This way of receiving a simple outreach of affection, of a compliment, of a blessing denies the giver of being a blessing to you.

Our acceptance of generosity blesses the giver and together we are able to pass on the blessing to others.

Jesus offers us in this moment with Mary a window into the world of poured out love.

We know from the story of the raising of Lazarus that Mary loves and believes in Jesus. We know she was there and witnessed his return to life. We know that she was beyond grateful for this miracle of love and reuniting of her family. Her act of pouring out a pound of perfume on Jesus’ feet and them wiping them with her hair was not just a, ‘Gee, thanks Jesus, your such swell guy’, kind of act.

The act of Mary in this scene was intentional.

It was planned.

It was anticipatory.

This act anticipated future events.

Mary anoints Jesus’ feet before Jesus is buried in the tomb. Mary wipes Jesus’ feet with her hair before Jesus washes and wipes the disciples’ feet, telling them to go and do likewise.

She is the bold prophet.

She fulfills the love commandment (as Gail O’Day states) before it is taught.

Mary gives boldly of herself in love to Jesus at his hour

just as Jesus will give boldly of himself in love at his hour.

~~

And then,

Judas tries to derail everything she has just done.

He throws suspicion and doubt at Mary.

He disrupts the holy moment

to speak of morality and justice.

Only a Judas would question the gift.

Only a Judas would place suspicion on the reasons for offering all of oneself to another.
Only a Judas would steal the love behind the gift by comparing it to what others need or the concerns of the world, or the church budget, or the strings attached or …

Judas is the thief that wants to steal the power of the gift

and he wants to control the very gift.

We too can get caught up in controlling gifts we give or receive.

We put strings to them.

We’ve seen it in church and college and hospital budgets

where the power of the gift of a love gesture

is snuffed away as suspicion surrounds even the giver about motives.

Judas is the hypocrite that criticizes the gift of Mary and the power of love in its offering by telling Jesus it should have been given to the poor.

And that’s where we find ourselves so often stuck without a response or an answer to gestures of generosity.

We could feed the world with all the food and the funds we have on earth now.

And we should.

And we should find ways to do that.

We should already be doing that.

We should be offering our gifts towards issues of justice and mercy all the time.

It’s something we are supposed to do.

Judas makes the action of Mary an either/or rather than a both/and.

We should be going out and doing what we have been called to do in the world.

Because if we are not already doing these things then perhaps what we are doing is hoarding the gifts that are meant to be shared (Feasting on the Word).

Jesus rebukes the attempt of subversion by a self-centered Judas.

Jesus refuses to allow Judas to disrupt or destroy the community of faith.

Jesus’ words about the poor were not words to dismiss the Biblical responsibility that the community of faith has to care for them and to always lift them up,

but it was an anger that Judas would compare an act of worship

to a responsibility of living out true love.

Jesus will not allow the truth to be twisted by greed or subversion or any other act that is contrary to his love for God’s children!!

There are a lot of people today who are skilled at taking our attention away from the things that matter most.

There are a lot of people who are skilled at twisting words

and turning our heads to see things that appear to be about justice and mercy

and yet are really inciting hate and anger and violence.

Be careful of the Judases that still surround us!

And especially the Judases that live within our own hearts!

This story today is about Mary and just like the world lives,

the story seems to draw back to Judas

and he gets all the attention.

Our faith is stronger than that!!

Mary’s gift is where Jesus wants us.

Whether the gift of poured out love is oil from an alabaster jar or

an anthem sung by the choir or a

Sunday school lesson or an

arrangement of flowers or a

home baked pie or a

bar of chocolate,

these open our eyes

and our hearts

to the goodness and truth of love that surrounds us and make a lasting lifetime impact.

When the word generosity enters my thoughts I’m humbled and even silenced.

I find myself unable to grasp the fullness of it all.

Generosity is powerful.

Generosity breeds generosity.

And kindness breeds kindness.

And love breeds love.

Let the love of Christ be poured out upon you. Amen.

~~~~

After a challenging moment after Sunday's sermon-I added this addendum:

Perhaps I was wrong in my sermon yesterday.

Perhaps there are times
when no amount of generosity, kindness, or love
will breed generosity, kindness, and love.

And it is in those times we remain vigilant in the faith that sustains us.
In those times we hold on to the promise that in the end God wins.
God always wins.
And that is when God's love prevails.
Isn't that what the cross and Easter are all about anyway? 

Resources: Gayle O’Day notes from Gospel of John workshop; C.S. Lewis Four Loves; Feasting on the Word Lent 5C.