Pastor Ray
03/20/2005
Palm Sunday / Sunday of the Passion
And so said all the disciples…
I may be quite a Duke fan, but I’m not the biggest sports fan here in this church. Why, I may be the only one here who didn’t bother to watch the Super Bowl this year. Nor last year, if I honest. Don’t exactly remember why… I’d like to say it was because I was busy doing holy and church things… but, that’s probably not the truth. Though it would make a good story. But regardless of whether you’re a big sports fan or not, you know enough to know that a winning team is much more popular than one who has a losing season. Duke fan that I am, I’m pretty pleased with my own guys this year. It’s not often, but sometimes… things just don’t go so well. I remember a couple of years ago when Duke just fell apart. Seems like the unlikely happened. And I dare say, the crowd back at Duke greeting their team… was much smaller than expected. A time for honesty… I’m rather confident the praises for Coach K, and his team, are more enthusiastic this morning near Cameron Indoor Stadium than are the praises being lifted up next door in Duke Chapel. More louder prayers too! And that’s a sad thought, isn’t it? Even when the impossible happens, the faithful very quickly chant… something to the effect of “just wait til next year!” And so goes the prayers as well.
And not to leave out my undergraduate school, I remember quite a few celebrations with Coach Smith, the Dean of all Coaches. I just told my age, didn’t I? A lot of celebrations happened because of Dean Smith. But, skipping over some history, I remember that day that Coach Doherty was named as our new head coach. The fans, the faithful tar heel fans were excited and even threw a little confetti. But remember the days of Coach what’s his name? Started with a G, or some letter like that. But at least he was better than the guy who followed him. Coach Doherty… and some folks aren’t so sure he was worthy of the title. Oh, there’s a few faithful supporters and followers who faithfully stand by their coach, and their team, but even the most faithful of fans are quite content standing in the shadows when the season stinks. Oh imagine the painful sound of silence and hurting heart of a man who has given his all for his love and for his alma-mater and of us all, prays all the more loudly … just to have a next year.
Think about it. That’s one way in which to set the stage today, that through all those things we pray for and pray about… well, it’s a glimpse into our souls and what we really value most in life. And this time of year, I bet lots of prayers go up for just the right team. And may I be so bold and so honest to say, that I’m not sure that of all the things going on in the world… whether God really cares who wins the next round of games. But surely God pulls for Duke! Me – well I pull for Duke, unless Carolina is winning…. I still have both class rings after all. Okay, I’m fickle. But I’m not alone. Yet the question is, can you have it both ways?
And that is the question for today -- known as both Palm Sunday and Sunday of the Passion. In one very real sense, all of history had pointed to this moment. This was God’s plan. Obviously, it wasn’t ours.
For so long, we didn’t recognize Jesus. At least we refused to recognize him. We certainly didn’t listen to his message, or to his prophetic voice. We couldn’t see that Jesus was the Messiah. A few did. But often the crowds made fun of them too. I don’t see too many “Go Harvard” stickers around here, do you? Don’t see too many Duke football stickers either. What about “Go Jesus!”?
Back to this day… a long time ago. As Jesus rode into town, a few, then some more, and suddenly a crowd gathers around him. Why, remember, just last Sunday as we found Jesus standing outside the tomb of Lazarus, dead for four days. Jesus wept, was moved to tears… and Jesus called for Lazarus to come out of the grave… and he did. And the crowd of fans, well... I guess I mean believers grew. As a dead man breathed again and walked again and lived again full of life, how could anyone ever doubt again? Certainly a major victory party was called for… and the crowd grows as does their songs of admiration.
This must be the Messiah. For who but God can breathe life into a corpse? Finally the cheers for the triumphant Messiah riding into Jerusalem to take his place and to lead his people to the great victory that God had promised.
It’s no wonder that the people gathered to cheer on the Messiah as he passed by them to be seen by their very own eyes. They wanted to see. And their voiced cried out their love and admiration, their love and dedication. They shouted hosanna hundreds of years ago, but as quickly as luke-warm fans can turn on their team, the crowd turned on Jesus. I don’t know why… maybe the cheerleaders fell from their pyramid. Maybe one of the players broke all the rules of decency with a low hit to another player. Maybe the other team offered better seats. Maybe the leaders in charge of the other team became so scared and concerned that they told lots of lies…. regardless, the crowd did the unthinkable. Their cries quickly turned from praising and saving -- to killing. Crucify him! Throw the bum out! Crucify him. Can’t you see it? The crowd betrayed him,… all of them did. You thought it was a victory party and a team parade, but someone threw the ball away at the last minute. That’s the other side of today: remember it’s both palm Sunday and Passion Sunday.
We may have started this morning with the joy of greeting the king of hope and eternal promise….but quickly when they realize that the game isn’t all fun and play, turns away from him as Jesus faithfully walks toward his week-long journey to the cross…. for our sake. The prayers of thanksgiving turned to hurtful and unthinkable hopes… that he die. It’s not all that often that I use sports as a way to weave a sermon, but think about it. What do you pray for most fervently? That YOUR team win? Or that all the teams have fun? Do you pray for the last parking space at the game? Or that the school builds more parking spaces so that everyone can have a place to park? Do you pray to catch the game winning ball at the park? Or that somehow, some way, the little boy with the broken leg will catch it?
On the Fourth of July, do we pray long and spirit-filled prayers of thanksgiving that our nation be blessed? Or do we pray that all the nations may prosper and live in peace and freedom?
Do you jump on the bandwagon of the winner of the day, or do you always pull for the underdog?
Be still, be quiet and simply listen: The Holy Gospel as appointed to us this morning continues: {26:1} Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests {15} and said, "What will you give me if I betray him to you?" They paid him thirty pieces of silver. {16} And from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him. {17} On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?" {18} He said, "Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, 'The Teacher says, My time is near; I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.'" {19} So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover meal. {20} When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve; {21} and while they were eating, he said, "Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me." {22} And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, "Surely not I, Lord?" {23} He answered, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. {24} The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born." {25} Judas, who betrayed him, said, "Surely not I, Rabbi?" He replied, "You have said so." {26} While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is my body." {27} Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you; {28} for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. {29} I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom." {30} When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. {31} Then Jesus said to them, "You will all become deserters because of me this night; for it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' {32} But after I am raised up, I will go ahead of you to Galilee." {33} Peter said to him, "Though all become deserters because of you, I will never desert you." {34} Jesus said to him, "Truly I tell you, this very night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times." {35} Peter said to him, "Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you." And so said all the disciples. {36} Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."
So, have we waited? Have we prayed? Have we been faithful? Oh, when times are good, we are faithful children of God, aren’t we. But what about when the temptation of success stands before us, or the temptation of laughing at a a good, yet hurtful joke, or the temptation of just following the crowd… wanting to fit in, … simply other ways of hiding in the shadows denying that we are among those who walk with Jesus. Every one of us have in some way, been on this long, fear-filled journey.
We may have began this day greeting the promised Messiah who ushers in God’s kingdom and glory,… but we need to re-live the reality of what our Lord did for you and for me. The journey of Holy Week calls us to reflect on our own lives, our own daily response to our Christian call to be disciples and witnesses and servants. And not only this week, but every week, God wants us to think about what song does those who see us, the church, the children of God … living and working and laughing and …. what song do they hear us singing?
It’s so easy just to walk up beside a crowd celebrating victory, but it’s much harder, and much costlier to truly take a stand, to truly be committed, to boldly sing as loudly… when the crowd turns against you. And we then give in.
“Surely not I Rabbi.” And Jesus said, "You will all become deserters because of me this night.” In one very real sense, we were there…. And Jesus faithfully said, Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.” And all the noise, and all the fans became quiet and quietly disappeared into the night.
What began as a crowded and spirited pep rally, all too quickly fizzled as things became tougher. Where did everyone go? Would you have stayed? Would you have run? “Surely, not I, Lord?” …… And so said all the disciples.
Sunday, March 20, 2005
Sunday, March 13, 2005
"Looking beyond the flesh"
Pastor Ray
03/13/2005
“Looking beyond the flesh”
We’ve all been there… standing beside the grave. Sometimes literally. Sometimes our own lives feel lifeless. Regardless of the kind of death, Jesus calls us to new life. By God’s power and grace, we can be set free. True, at times we will sit and weep, but God promises to be with us always so that we may be given strength to live in the light of new life.
It’s a human emotion to fear the unknown. It’s frightening to feel abandoned, alone, and helpless. It’s only natural to cry out to God or even at God when life seems to crumble around us and we become so overwhelmed that these old bones of ours make us a good as dead. Fortunately, God invites us to have new life breathed into these old bones. But sometimes we must make a journey through the shadows of death before we are able to realize just what we need from God. Many have been there before us.
I think we can all relate to what Martha says in this morning’s Gospel. Jesus, where in the world were you? Why weren’t you here? If only you had come in time!
If only… very human words which cry out in pain, that life has fallen apart. It’s not the way we expect it to be. Mary and Martha’s life had fallen apart. Their brother Lazarus, a young man, a friend of Jesus had become very ill. So the family quickly sends for their friend Jesus. Certainly, he would come. Jesus knew them. He had stayed in their home. Mary had sat at Jesus’ feet. Of course, he would come to heal their brother.
But after receiving the message that Lazarus was sick, Jesus chose to stay where he was for two more days. Lazarus died. Even then… he had been in the tomb for a couple of days when Jesus arrived. No one could possibly think that he was merely asleep or in a coma. The evidence could not be denied. It’s no wonder that when Martha saw Jesus arrive her first words were, “Where were you?”
Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. Her words echo our own disappointments in life. Lord, I know who you are and what you could have done. You, Jesus could have healed him. If you can make the blind from birth see, if you can drive away the demons, if you can heal the sick and the lame…. if you had only been here. But now, it was too late, her brother was dead.
Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha knew that and cherished the promised resurrection, but her grief was still real. When her sister Mary reached the place where Jesus was, she fell at his feet and began to weep. Deeply moved, Jesus wept. Oh how I find such comfort in his tears. Oh to know that my Lord loved his friend Lazarus so much that he cried at his death. Jesus understands our tears. In spite of knowing that one day, our loved ones will rise again, it hurts to give them up. Our Lord’s tears are one way He says, don’t worry I’m right here crying with you, bringing you comfort.
Take me to where Lazarus is buried, Jesus said. Even as they walked, there were some people there who still complained that Jesus should have been there… had he come, Lazarus would be alive. Jesus faced the cave and the stone which blocked the entrance and kept the people away from the body. Of course, the people didn’t know it, but Jesus was about to show them that a stone could not keep him from bringing forth new life. Lazarus, come out! …Jesus cried out. Still wrapped in the grave clothes, he stepped out of the tomb. Four days worth of death didn’t prevent Jesus from making Lazarus whole again and full of new life. It’s the promise of resurrection miracles. If God could make us in the first place, God can certainly put us back together again… only better.
I chuckle when I think about this verse: Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. Well…. Of course they did. Probably fell on their knees in praise of God. This Jesus truly is the son of God! Everybody there must rejoiced at the miracle.
But what about Lazarus? Have you ever paused and thought about that? Wonder what Lazarus thought as he stepped into the sunlight. “Hey Jesus, what do you think you’re doing?” “Yes, it’s good to see you, but thank you very much, I was very happy in heaven.” “I was very content living in God’s kingdom.” “And now here you are and here I am. So, where do we go from here?”
Only Jesus knew where life’s journey would lead him. Jesus is now the one led to face his own tomb and heavy stone guarding its entrance. In a short time Jesus himself would cry out to his Father, Where are you? Why have you forsaken me? Our Lord and Savior has lived life beside us and knows the feelings we have….
Today’s lessons are filled with emotion. Whether it’s the emotion of a dying brother, or the emotion of placing a family member in the grave, or the emotion of feeling alone and abandoned by God… (This is God’s promise….) Jesus walks with us through it all. But the message for us to hear is that Jesus doesn’t stay at the tomb. Jesus cries with us and pushes us forward with him. He gives life again. Lazarus, get up. Unbind him. Let him go. His life is just beginning.
Though we are not dead, we have been in one sense, for we once were dead to the wonderful and grace-filled life God wants for his children. We were dead because in sin we turned our backs to God. But God said, get up. Wash in these life-giving waters of Baptism. Get up. Unbind yourselves from the grave clothes of sin. Look beyond the flesh and old dry bones…. and embrace new life.
It truly is a gift of second life, of a second chance. It’s just as much a miracle as the second life Jesus gave to Lazarus. And certainly, if Jesus can bring life to a body already in decay, Jesus can bring life, new life, to us and to our souls. Jesus has already called us from the tomb of death. For because he died and rose, we live with a new vision beyond mere flesh and old dry bones. But perhaps the real message for today is that in our darkest moments, Jesus is beside us, weeping with us, walking with us. And Jesus is always victorious because God’s promises never fail. “I am the resurrection and the life. Believe in me and you shall never die.” That’s one of the last promises Jesus made as he continued his Lenten journey to the cross. And it’s that promise that brings us to the foot of the cross and that gives us a glimpse of life beyond the flesh and bones of today.
03/13/2005
“Looking beyond the flesh”
We’ve all been there… standing beside the grave. Sometimes literally. Sometimes our own lives feel lifeless. Regardless of the kind of death, Jesus calls us to new life. By God’s power and grace, we can be set free. True, at times we will sit and weep, but God promises to be with us always so that we may be given strength to live in the light of new life.
It’s a human emotion to fear the unknown. It’s frightening to feel abandoned, alone, and helpless. It’s only natural to cry out to God or even at God when life seems to crumble around us and we become so overwhelmed that these old bones of ours make us a good as dead. Fortunately, God invites us to have new life breathed into these old bones. But sometimes we must make a journey through the shadows of death before we are able to realize just what we need from God. Many have been there before us.
I think we can all relate to what Martha says in this morning’s Gospel. Jesus, where in the world were you? Why weren’t you here? If only you had come in time!
If only… very human words which cry out in pain, that life has fallen apart. It’s not the way we expect it to be. Mary and Martha’s life had fallen apart. Their brother Lazarus, a young man, a friend of Jesus had become very ill. So the family quickly sends for their friend Jesus. Certainly, he would come. Jesus knew them. He had stayed in their home. Mary had sat at Jesus’ feet. Of course, he would come to heal their brother.
But after receiving the message that Lazarus was sick, Jesus chose to stay where he was for two more days. Lazarus died. Even then… he had been in the tomb for a couple of days when Jesus arrived. No one could possibly think that he was merely asleep or in a coma. The evidence could not be denied. It’s no wonder that when Martha saw Jesus arrive her first words were, “Where were you?”
Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. Her words echo our own disappointments in life. Lord, I know who you are and what you could have done. You, Jesus could have healed him. If you can make the blind from birth see, if you can drive away the demons, if you can heal the sick and the lame…. if you had only been here. But now, it was too late, her brother was dead.
Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha knew that and cherished the promised resurrection, but her grief was still real. When her sister Mary reached the place where Jesus was, she fell at his feet and began to weep. Deeply moved, Jesus wept. Oh how I find such comfort in his tears. Oh to know that my Lord loved his friend Lazarus so much that he cried at his death. Jesus understands our tears. In spite of knowing that one day, our loved ones will rise again, it hurts to give them up. Our Lord’s tears are one way He says, don’t worry I’m right here crying with you, bringing you comfort.
Take me to where Lazarus is buried, Jesus said. Even as they walked, there were some people there who still complained that Jesus should have been there… had he come, Lazarus would be alive. Jesus faced the cave and the stone which blocked the entrance and kept the people away from the body. Of course, the people didn’t know it, but Jesus was about to show them that a stone could not keep him from bringing forth new life. Lazarus, come out! …Jesus cried out. Still wrapped in the grave clothes, he stepped out of the tomb. Four days worth of death didn’t prevent Jesus from making Lazarus whole again and full of new life. It’s the promise of resurrection miracles. If God could make us in the first place, God can certainly put us back together again… only better.
I chuckle when I think about this verse: Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. Well…. Of course they did. Probably fell on their knees in praise of God. This Jesus truly is the son of God! Everybody there must rejoiced at the miracle.
But what about Lazarus? Have you ever paused and thought about that? Wonder what Lazarus thought as he stepped into the sunlight. “Hey Jesus, what do you think you’re doing?” “Yes, it’s good to see you, but thank you very much, I was very happy in heaven.” “I was very content living in God’s kingdom.” “And now here you are and here I am. So, where do we go from here?”
Only Jesus knew where life’s journey would lead him. Jesus is now the one led to face his own tomb and heavy stone guarding its entrance. In a short time Jesus himself would cry out to his Father, Where are you? Why have you forsaken me? Our Lord and Savior has lived life beside us and knows the feelings we have….
Today’s lessons are filled with emotion. Whether it’s the emotion of a dying brother, or the emotion of placing a family member in the grave, or the emotion of feeling alone and abandoned by God… (This is God’s promise….) Jesus walks with us through it all. But the message for us to hear is that Jesus doesn’t stay at the tomb. Jesus cries with us and pushes us forward with him. He gives life again. Lazarus, get up. Unbind him. Let him go. His life is just beginning.
Though we are not dead, we have been in one sense, for we once were dead to the wonderful and grace-filled life God wants for his children. We were dead because in sin we turned our backs to God. But God said, get up. Wash in these life-giving waters of Baptism. Get up. Unbind yourselves from the grave clothes of sin. Look beyond the flesh and old dry bones…. and embrace new life.
It truly is a gift of second life, of a second chance. It’s just as much a miracle as the second life Jesus gave to Lazarus. And certainly, if Jesus can bring life to a body already in decay, Jesus can bring life, new life, to us and to our souls. Jesus has already called us from the tomb of death. For because he died and rose, we live with a new vision beyond mere flesh and old dry bones. But perhaps the real message for today is that in our darkest moments, Jesus is beside us, weeping with us, walking with us. And Jesus is always victorious because God’s promises never fail. “I am the resurrection and the life. Believe in me and you shall never die.” That’s one of the last promises Jesus made as he continued his Lenten journey to the cross. And it’s that promise that brings us to the foot of the cross and that gives us a glimpse of life beyond the flesh and bones of today.
Sunday, March 6, 2005
"Was blind, but now I see..."
Pastor Ray
03/06/2005
“Was blind, but now I see…”
It’s Lent and as always, I get a little nostalgic as I think about what should be…. It’s another way of asking, What changes in life, and especially in my own life, would God like to see happen? It didn’t help that just a couple of days ago, a killer of thirty years was arrested… and much to the world’s surprise, he was a leader of his congregation. Killer and church person doesn’t seem to go together, does it? And, to make matters more vivid for us, this man, arrested as the alleged BTK villain, is the president of his ELCA congregation. How does that make you feel?
Nauseous is one word that comes to mind. But being the Lutheran that I am, I have to remember that he’s not yet convicted. Somehow I am to pray for him and for all those who have been harmed these past thirty years. Surely, God wants better for us. Has evil always been around? Or has life just recently gone wrong?
Well, I know that bad things have always happened, but life seems to have gotten worse. Leave the front door to my home unlocked all night long…. I don’t think so, yet, I remember my grandmother and her sister talking one day about the good old days when they never ever even considered having to lock the house.
It’s Lent and we reflect on how life could be better…. and how life has changed. My grandmother was born at the turn of the century as was my dear great-aunt. Imagine how much change they witnessed in their lifetime as horse and buggy sprouted wheels and gasoline motors. Imagine how much change -- as birds had to give over the right-of-way to giant airplanes.
And look around. We’re all sitting here in a heated and air conditioned building… no wood stoves allowed anymore. Some changes are indeed good! Yet there’s more. Change? Where’s the red book? And the sad … the Bible stories we all know… well, not everyone knows them all anymore.
Care to help me make the point. Let me ask you a couple of questions. “Who was swallowed by a whale?” (Jonah.) “And who led the children of Israel out of Egypt into the promised land?” (Moses.) I knew you knew the answers. Just like you know that the Ten Commandments are found in Exodus chapter 20. Here’s the change: Right down the street from where you and your family live, there are people who have no idea about the basic Bible characters and stories, or who God’s people are, or what’s a Commandment. Used to be that almost everybody could at least tell you which church they ought to be in on any given Sunday morning. Not today. Blind from birth you might say. But then, a couple of days ago, when the president of one of our Lutheran congregations is arrested for multiple murders, well, there’s a lot we can’t see.
Today, we who do know about God’s love are confronted in John’s Gospel with a man born blind who receives his sight. Jesus, you know, the Messiah, puts mud on a man’s eyes, tells him to go wash in the pool of Siloam, and when he comes back, … he’s not blind anymore. That’s change. That’s a gift from God. That’s a miracle.
The once blind man who can now see, and stands now before Jesus looking at him, marveling at what has just happened. He has no idea who Jesus is. Prophet? Optometrist? Physician? He doesn’t have a clue. Then, Jesus tells him what he needs to know. Oh My Lord, it’s you. I didn’t know. Blind. But now I see. By God’s grace, lots of people who were once blind, now see. Of course, we’re talking about spiritual blindness. And by now, you too have thought of the old hymn, Amazing Grace, haven’t you? Maybe even hummed a couple of bars in your mind. The first time I read the history of this hymn, I was amazed to learn about its, John Newton. Truly a story of transformation and change of heart. He was a slave trader, blind to the call of God for human equality. And on one journey across the Atlantic in his boat filled with slaves stolen from their homeland …. John Newton was confronted with the story of God and right there on that ship, realized what it meant to see God for the first time. With a changed heart he quickly penned the words that we know all so well, “Was blind, but now I see.”
What a strange and wonderful story this is of a man once blind, but now who sees. What wonderful stories of two men given new sight… one blind from birth physically and one blind for a long, long time… by profession and trade. Once healed, you can almost see these men running around looking at the beauty of God’s new creation seeing things they had never seen before. The things we as children of God just simply take for granted. You understand my words here and all that they may mean, but would all your neighbors understand?
In John’s Gospel, we greet a man who represents the world so well… blind. For isn’t so much of the world blind to the power and mercy and presence of God. This one man, like all too many of us, is blind to what God offers in life, until Jesus, the Light of the World, reveals God’s healing message. Go and wash and you shall see. Go and wash and you shall be changed. Go and wash and you shall … never be the same again.
But down the street, maybe they don’t understand. They have no idea what has happened. They are too blind themselves to see God at work. So, God calls for us to simply re-tell the story… again. It’s in the telling of the story that others may come to understand and to know and to want to be able to see as well. But not all were interested. Not all would even listen. So Jesus said, those who were blind will see, but those who already “see” may plunge into darkness. Personally, I don’t like that. … Why can’t all of us see?
If we think we know all the answers, we are blind. But if we know that we are pitiful without the love and grace and power of God in our lives…. if we know that we are blind, then there’s hope.
In our Gospel, the once blind man discovers that Jesus is none other than his Lord and Savior. “Lord, I believe.” He says and worships him. You didn’t miss this, did you? : before his statement of faith and belief, Jesus had already healed the blind man. The man receives the loving touch of Jesus and is healed… and only then can he begin to understand and live in faith in the true fullness of life which God intends for all His people.
The challenge for us today is to know that God has already touched us. There’s no reason to be blind, or struggling, or unsure of our lives. God loves you. God claims you. Now go wash… and come back seeing the splendor of God’s kingdom which has been promised to you. Like the once blind man, we are called to tell and tell and re-tell the story…. That all may one day hear and believe and want to go wash as well.
It may take a long time to tell the story enough times that all the world will believe, but ‘til then, God was patient with me, and with many of you. So, doesn’t everyone deserve the same chance to see? After all, the same Jesus who gave sight to a blind man two thousand years ago…. is same Jesus who gave sight to a spiritually blind man, on a slave ship two hundred years ago… is the same Jesus who gave sight to us.
Through the generations, some things have changed, some for the better, some for the worse. But, in all of life, there is but one constant – the God who made the world is the same God who brings life and sight it as well.
03/06/2005
“Was blind, but now I see…”
It’s Lent and as always, I get a little nostalgic as I think about what should be…. It’s another way of asking, What changes in life, and especially in my own life, would God like to see happen? It didn’t help that just a couple of days ago, a killer of thirty years was arrested… and much to the world’s surprise, he was a leader of his congregation. Killer and church person doesn’t seem to go together, does it? And, to make matters more vivid for us, this man, arrested as the alleged BTK villain, is the president of his ELCA congregation. How does that make you feel?
Nauseous is one word that comes to mind. But being the Lutheran that I am, I have to remember that he’s not yet convicted. Somehow I am to pray for him and for all those who have been harmed these past thirty years. Surely, God wants better for us. Has evil always been around? Or has life just recently gone wrong?
Well, I know that bad things have always happened, but life seems to have gotten worse. Leave the front door to my home unlocked all night long…. I don’t think so, yet, I remember my grandmother and her sister talking one day about the good old days when they never ever even considered having to lock the house.
It’s Lent and we reflect on how life could be better…. and how life has changed. My grandmother was born at the turn of the century as was my dear great-aunt. Imagine how much change they witnessed in their lifetime as horse and buggy sprouted wheels and gasoline motors. Imagine how much change -- as birds had to give over the right-of-way to giant airplanes.
And look around. We’re all sitting here in a heated and air conditioned building… no wood stoves allowed anymore. Some changes are indeed good! Yet there’s more. Change? Where’s the red book? And the sad … the Bible stories we all know… well, not everyone knows them all anymore.
Care to help me make the point. Let me ask you a couple of questions. “Who was swallowed by a whale?” (Jonah.) “And who led the children of Israel out of Egypt into the promised land?” (Moses.) I knew you knew the answers. Just like you know that the Ten Commandments are found in Exodus chapter 20. Here’s the change: Right down the street from where you and your family live, there are people who have no idea about the basic Bible characters and stories, or who God’s people are, or what’s a Commandment. Used to be that almost everybody could at least tell you which church they ought to be in on any given Sunday morning. Not today. Blind from birth you might say. But then, a couple of days ago, when the president of one of our Lutheran congregations is arrested for multiple murders, well, there’s a lot we can’t see.
Today, we who do know about God’s love are confronted in John’s Gospel with a man born blind who receives his sight. Jesus, you know, the Messiah, puts mud on a man’s eyes, tells him to go wash in the pool of Siloam, and when he comes back, … he’s not blind anymore. That’s change. That’s a gift from God. That’s a miracle.
The once blind man who can now see, and stands now before Jesus looking at him, marveling at what has just happened. He has no idea who Jesus is. Prophet? Optometrist? Physician? He doesn’t have a clue. Then, Jesus tells him what he needs to know. Oh My Lord, it’s you. I didn’t know. Blind. But now I see. By God’s grace, lots of people who were once blind, now see. Of course, we’re talking about spiritual blindness. And by now, you too have thought of the old hymn, Amazing Grace, haven’t you? Maybe even hummed a couple of bars in your mind. The first time I read the history of this hymn, I was amazed to learn about its, John Newton. Truly a story of transformation and change of heart. He was a slave trader, blind to the call of God for human equality. And on one journey across the Atlantic in his boat filled with slaves stolen from their homeland …. John Newton was confronted with the story of God and right there on that ship, realized what it meant to see God for the first time. With a changed heart he quickly penned the words that we know all so well, “Was blind, but now I see.”
What a strange and wonderful story this is of a man once blind, but now who sees. What wonderful stories of two men given new sight… one blind from birth physically and one blind for a long, long time… by profession and trade. Once healed, you can almost see these men running around looking at the beauty of God’s new creation seeing things they had never seen before. The things we as children of God just simply take for granted. You understand my words here and all that they may mean, but would all your neighbors understand?
In John’s Gospel, we greet a man who represents the world so well… blind. For isn’t so much of the world blind to the power and mercy and presence of God. This one man, like all too many of us, is blind to what God offers in life, until Jesus, the Light of the World, reveals God’s healing message. Go and wash and you shall see. Go and wash and you shall be changed. Go and wash and you shall … never be the same again.
But down the street, maybe they don’t understand. They have no idea what has happened. They are too blind themselves to see God at work. So, God calls for us to simply re-tell the story… again. It’s in the telling of the story that others may come to understand and to know and to want to be able to see as well. But not all were interested. Not all would even listen. So Jesus said, those who were blind will see, but those who already “see” may plunge into darkness. Personally, I don’t like that. … Why can’t all of us see?
If we think we know all the answers, we are blind. But if we know that we are pitiful without the love and grace and power of God in our lives…. if we know that we are blind, then there’s hope.
In our Gospel, the once blind man discovers that Jesus is none other than his Lord and Savior. “Lord, I believe.” He says and worships him. You didn’t miss this, did you? : before his statement of faith and belief, Jesus had already healed the blind man. The man receives the loving touch of Jesus and is healed… and only then can he begin to understand and live in faith in the true fullness of life which God intends for all His people.
The challenge for us today is to know that God has already touched us. There’s no reason to be blind, or struggling, or unsure of our lives. God loves you. God claims you. Now go wash… and come back seeing the splendor of God’s kingdom which has been promised to you. Like the once blind man, we are called to tell and tell and re-tell the story…. That all may one day hear and believe and want to go wash as well.
It may take a long time to tell the story enough times that all the world will believe, but ‘til then, God was patient with me, and with many of you. So, doesn’t everyone deserve the same chance to see? After all, the same Jesus who gave sight to a blind man two thousand years ago…. is same Jesus who gave sight to a spiritually blind man, on a slave ship two hundred years ago… is the same Jesus who gave sight to us.
Through the generations, some things have changed, some for the better, some for the worse. But, in all of life, there is but one constant – the God who made the world is the same God who brings life and sight it as well.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)