Body Bend

Jeremiah 1:4-10, Luke 13:10-17

“She was bent over and quite unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Woman, you are set free from your ailment?

In last week’s passage from Luke, Jesus announced that he had not come to earth to bring peace but division. Our passage today gives us a taste of how bitter that divided place can be. The rigidly religious Pharisee stands up next to a “daughter of Abraham,” a woman literally bent over for so long that she could not possibly stand up straight even if she wanted to.

Between the one who was bent and the one who was unbending, Jesus stands, in the divided place: ready to teach, set to heal, and good to go—all upon the Sabbath day. He heals the body-bent woman, and the very first thing she does is rise up, and the very next thing she does is praise God for this totally unexpected and unbeckoned goodness.

The entire crowd witnessed the healing, and the very first thing they did was rejoice, and the very next thing they did was rejoice even more. “Just look at all the wonderful things Jesus is doing right before our very eyes!”

Any of you ever had back trouble? I started having back trouble at 11 years old, the result of a gym-class game of dodge ball gone awry. A few years ago I had a bout with sciatica—a crippling pain in the lower back. I had to hold perfectly still; I did not want to move an inch; if I moved, I believed I might break. No position was comfortable.

About 80 percent of the adults in the U.S. have been bothered by back pain at some point. More than half said the pain severely limited their daily routine for a week or longer, and 88% said it recurred throughout the year. Lower-back pain disrupts many of the normal activities of life: [sleep, work, weight, sex]. Although lower-back pain is the fifth most common reason people go to a doctor, many of those with more prolonged pain don't see a health-care professional because of cost concerns or because they do not think professional care can help them.[1]

After 18 years of suffering, the bent-over woman had probably given up on doctors and medicines, too. Notice, however, that she had not given up on God, for she was there in the temple on the Sabbath.

For a moment now, let’s put ourselves in her body. Bend over your knees and look down. What do you see? Turn your head to the left; to the right. How far can you see? Remain bent over; now try to look up here at the pulpit. Not easy, is it? Terribly uncomfortable, I know; almost impossible to do . . . if you cannot—or will not—bend.

Just think: here was this woman who could see only about 4 square feet of ground beneath her, and she was in the presence of the greatest healer who ever walked the face of this earth; yet, she never asked for his help. It was Jesus who called to her! [You can sit up now.]

When the woman brought her body, bent, to Jesus, when she gave herself and her condition to him completely, the Lord touched her and proclaimed, “Woman, you are set free from your ailment” (Luke 13:12b). The woman stood up straight, and she praised God for the power in Jesus’ hands that changed her life.

How many of us have come here this morning with a body, mind or spirit bent under the weight of a constant condition? Is there a problem, an edgy situation, a hurt, a heart break, an anger, an empty nest, a grudge, an illness, a spirit of pain and unrest that is crippling you? Has this “ailment” reached the point of spilling over its boundaries, disrupting the normal aspects of your life?       

Do you believe that there is nothing that can be done for you; that there’s no one who can help you? Have you forgotten all the wonderful things Jesus can do for you?

To the bent-over woman, Jesus said, “Come to me”; he calls to us as well. “Come to me, all you who are weary and heavily burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

And what is this rest? It is Sabbath, the day that God proclaimed holy. The author Alice Walker said, “Anybody can observe the Sabbath, but making it holy surely takes the rest of the week.”[2] There is healing in the presence of the holy; there is holiness in the presence of the healer.

In the Body of Christ, we are able to be in the presence of the healer at any and every moment.

So what does that mean? It means we bend but do not break; it means we live in faith and hope, not in rigidity and religion. It means Sabbath, and what better day is there than the Sabbath to heal and be healed?

Friends, Christ is the one who offers his people and his church the miracles of new beginnings, no matter what ails us. We may be bent over, struggling, feeling invisible and alone, but we are also the sons and daughters of God. Praise God! For God gave us the Son who came to set us free from whatever divides body and soul.  

Let’s fill ourselves from the fountain of God’s grace and rejoice at all the wonderful things Christ is doing for us, his beloved Body, bending before him, knees bowed in thanksgiving for Christ’s gift of new beginnings. Amen.

August 25, 2013

First Parish Federated Church of South Berwick, ME

The Reverend Donna Lee Muise, Pastor

---

[1] Consumer Health Care Report

[2] Sermon Seeds. www.UCC.org.

That Can-Do Attitude

THAT CAN-DO ATTITUDE

Jeremiah 23:23-29; Hebrews 11:29-2; Luke 12:49-59

“You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?”

the Can Do 

Before The Perfect Storm, there was the 1978 blizzard that lashed the Massachusetts coast with blinding snow, 90-mile-per-hour winds and 40-foot waves. Into the juggernaut sailed the small pilot boat Can Do and its crew of five civilians on a doomed mission to assist two other vessels imperiled by the storm. As in The Perfect Storm, all hands were lost; but since the Can Do sank only a few agonizing miles from shore, there are records of terse radio transmissions to help the author recreate their last desperate hours.[1]

Perhaps most of us here have stories to tell, or at least memories to share, of the Blizzard of ’78. I remember parts of the storm well—the National Guard came into Gloucester to dig us out; no one was allowed to drive, even if your road had been cleared—you had to walk everywhere you wanted to go. I remember not having to go to school in Boston for several days—that was awesome.

And I remember the Can Do, a pilot boat from Gloucester, and the story of how its captain and crew headed out beyond the breakwater the night of the storm on a mission to do whatever they could to assist in the rescue of the men aboard the storm-split tanker, Global Hope, and the floundering Coast Guard Cutter sent to assist that ship. The Captain of the Can Do, Frank Quirk, was known for his heroics; he was always saying, “I’ll give it my best shot.”

People who earn their livings from the sea are experts at reading the skies and sensing omens in the wind. They had to be, for their lives depended on this skill. There was no room for false prophecies, as we heard from the passage in Jeremiah. Forecasting the weather is not as easy as reciting a poem: “Red sky at night, sailors’ delight; red sky at morning sailors take warning.”  Navigating a stormy sea can be extremely stressful. In a matter of a few hours 7 foot waves became 70-foot walls of water that February night in 1978. There’s nothing quaint or poetic about the water or the weather.

There’s nothing really quaint or predictable about Jesus, either. Luke tells us the Lord is stressed out—all of us can identify with him, can we not. We’ve been there…and Jesus has been there, too. Part of Jesus’ stress was the anticipation of his death, his baptism by crucifixion that he knew was looming just over heaven’s horizon.

Jesus’ stress is exacerbated, though, by the observable laissez-faire attitude of the crowds. He is so frustrated with them that he calls them Hypocrites! He said, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, ‘It’s going to rain’; and so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat’; and it happens. Why do you not know how to interpret the present time?”

 In other words, Jesus is telling them that God is about to do something new, huge and life-changing right under their noses, and unless they start reading the signs of the times and get on board with it, they will be left behind, alone to face their maker.  God’s judgment is imminent.  Death looms. They were in danger, and they didn’t even know it.

Captain Frank Quirk and his crew of friends, Charlie Bucko, Don Wilkinson, David Curley and Kenny Fuller all knew that they were in danger when they set out from Gloucester for Salem Sound that late afternoon in February; death loomed. Yet, they headed out anyway; they were willing to give this rescue mission their best shot: they had that Can Do attitude—not the idea that they were going to be just fine despite the danger, but the deeply committed love and determination to do their part, whatever they could, to save fellow mariners from being swallowed forever by the sea, from having their names added to the more than 5000 engraved for eternity on the Fisherman’s Memorial, which stands still, overlooking Gloucester Harbor.

 Captain Frank and his Can Do crew sacrificed their lives during the Blizzard of ’78. Christ gave his life to save us from sin and death so that we will not perish but have everlasting life with God. Are we willing to take risks, to do what it takes, to give Christ our best shot to lift up this Church, His church? If we are willing, then we must become experts of that Can Do Attitude. It is time to look at the horizon, feel the direction of the wind, study the skies of faith. It is time to be baptized with Christ into the fire of a whole new beginning for His Church, our church.

               A great opportunity has appeared on our horizon, friends. Our Church Council has interpreted its meaning as one of hope; the forecast is all about transformation. The signs of our present time include new life, new beginnings.

               I mentioned to you last Sunday that the Council was to meet with a leader of the Hope Partnership for Transformational Ministry on Tuesday evening. We held a conference call with Matt Rosine, the Minister of Congregational Development from the Partnership.

Matt spent an hour with us expertly answering the many thoughtful questions about what the Hope Partnership New Beginnings program has to offer churches just like ours.

               When the call was over, we talked for quite a while more. And we decided to head out into the open water of New Beginnings. We have adopted that Can Do attitude, willing to give the church our best shot, and we very much want all of you to be a part of what’s coming over Heaven’s Horizon for us. We need leaders and followers; we need support, love and prayers. We need everyone to own their part of the voyage so that our mission will be amazing, passionate, life-giving and God-glorifying. We need YOU on board with that Can Do Attitude.

Of course, there may be stormy seas ahead, but we are confident that our Savior, Jesus, will pilot us through whatever dangerous  shoals we may encounter during this voyage to new hope, renewed faith, amazing opportunities to serve God. By faith, like our ancestors, we will set out with God into a new beginning. As of today, the destination is not yet revealed, but we can trust the Lord to see us through, for God has a great purpose for us, I just know it. I feel it. I see the signs all around us. 

The Council has interpreted the signs of our times accurately, and they are about to lead us on a tremendous journey to turn this ship around. Will you get on board with us, leave the shores of laissez faire church life and become a partner in the transformation of First Parish Federated Church? Please say, “Yes!” New life looms; God’s blessings are imminent. Praise God for the council’s leadership; praise God for those who will come forward to serve with that Can Do attitude. Praise God for New Beginnings! The forecast for our future is now extremely bright! Amen.

August 18, 2013/First Parish Federated Church of South Berwick, ME/The Reverend Donna Lee Muise, Pastor

---

[1] Publishers Weekly review of Ten Hours Until Dawn: The True Story of Heroism and Tragedy Aboard the Can Do, by Michael Tougias.

What Now?

What Now?

preached Sunday August 4, 2013 by the Reverend Jack Williams 

 

          I have really enjoyed being with you for the last three Sundays. I have felt your warmth and your joy for the church.  The people of First Parish Federated Church have learned how to do and be church and I am blessed more than you will ever know by being asked to lead worship these last three Sundays.

          Two Sundays ago we learned about who Jesus is, based upon Paul’s words from the letter to the Colossians.  Simply put, Jesus is Lord. He is God incarnate, God with us. It is through the life of Jesus that we can know the nature of God.  If you have seen Jesus, you have seen the Father. Additionally, even though you and I did not see Jesus during his earthly ministry,  he said to Thomas, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” Jesus is talking about us. You and I are blessed because without seeing, we have come to believe.

Last week we talked about what difference Christ means in our lives.  Through our baptism, we participate in his death and resurrection which means when you were baptized, you died to your old way of life and were reborn to a new life - a new life in Christ.

There are many ramifications to new life in Christ.  For one, I don’t have to worry about things as much as I used to. As one who has struggled with anxiety and feelings of low self esteem and self worth, I can tell you that when you invite Christ into your life, the old self does pass away and a new you will come forth. 

This week, I will answer, or at least give you some ways to respond to your new life in Christ. What I call “What now?”

Our reading from chapter 3 of Colossians is a good place to start. Paul writes, “So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”

There was a time in my life when my mind was not set on things above. I remember working with a pastoral counselor named Wesley Burwell nearly 30 years ago. I was explaining to Dr. Burwell my plan for retirement from the Air Force. How when I retired, I wanted to go back to Hinsdale, NH where owned a house, fiddle around with my old cars, and sit on the front porch in my rocking chair.

Dr. Burwell asked me just one question, very similar to the title of my message this morning.   He asked me, “And then what?”  It was back there 30 years ago that I decided, as painful and as hard as it might be,  to change the direction of my life.

Rather than reading automotive repair books at night, I started reading the bible.  I joined a vibrant church in Dover, NH where I was nurtured and grew in my walk with Christ.

I was finally baptized in about 1990 in the waters of Lake Winnipesaukee. I became a deacon in the church. I visited the sick.  I directed a handbell choir. In short, I became a practicing Christian.

But just because I became a Christian did not mean my life would be easy.  My marriage fell apart when my wife recognized she was a lesbian. Divorced in 2001, I got involved in a bad relationship.  Yet all the time, I kept on trying to seek the things above.  I completed a Masters in counseling degree in 1999 at UNH and then started studies at Andover Newton that fall. I met and married a wonderful woman named Karen.

It was not easy getting through seminary. I was working full time and going to school part time. Finally, in May of 2006, I received my master of divinity degree and was called to a church as a full time pastor.

Now, I am 63 years old.  I have gotten rid of nearly all my earthly goods, and I had a lot of them. 13 antique cars and trucks, at least 49 amateur radio transmitters, all kinds a stuff to include hundreds of pounds of tools. It is all gone including houses and many books, dishes, furniture, all give to the Salvation Army. I even built a bigger barn at my house in Madbury to hold all my stuff.  That is gone too. Now I merely have a small storage unit at Uhaul to store my church books.

So I got rid of almost all my earthly goods. And it felt good.  Do you know how much time and energy it takes to care of a bunch of junk? I considered it my treasure and what Jesus said is certainly true. Where your treasure is, there will be your heart as well.

Paul gives a list of earthly vices that we are to put aside. It is a pretty good list and starts with getting rid of fornication meaning anything that is sexual immorality.  Quite simply, if you are involved in sexual activity that you know is wrong, stop it. Being involved in sexual immorality causes a separation from God. That is what sin does, it leads to a separation from God.

Paul says we need to stay away from impurity. Things like pornography pollute your mind and makes it difficult to keep your mind of things above.  Once again, things such as pornography leads to a separation from God. You can’t have your mind on things above when you mind is in the gutter.

          Stay away from evil desire. I had an uncle who lived in Springfield, Massachusetts. One time, his car was stolen by some kids from the city. My uncle proudly told me how he had taken care of the situation by hiring a hit man to slam the alleged car thief’s hand into a car door there by breaking his fingers.  That was evil on the part of my uncle.

We are to rid ourselves of anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language.  I personally have used this simple principal in my dealings with people. I will not say anything about someone to another person that I would not want them to hear.  Simply put, if it is not nice, don’t say it.

All of these things are summed up in Jesus’ commandment to us as his disciples.. “love one another.”

As most of you know, the mainline churches are in trouble.  Many of our churches in New England are dying and worship services are more like calling hours than a worship service. Some churches just need to have the funeral and get it over with. Fortunately, that is not the case here at FPFC. Yes, financially, we are facing challenges, but if the right man were not on  your side, as we sang in our opening hymn, there would be no hope.

I have said many times that the only bible most people will ever read is the one they read in you. Churches that are vibrant and alive contain people who love one another. They have something going on that other people want to be a part of. It is like one beggar telling another person where to find food. You offer the food those hungry for God need.

So what do we do now?  Well, you are doing it. You profess that Christ is the Son of god, that he rose from the dead, and that Christ is the head of the church.  A church, solidly built on the foundation of Christ, no matter its size, will be a vibrant church. It may not be a large church, but it will be a church, not just a museum piece from the good old days.

I have great faith that FPFC has good days ahead. You have strong lay leadership. A good facility and devoted disciples.  An excellent music program. You have everything you need, to live out your faith. I urge you to keep Christ as the head of the church. Rejoice in the Lord. Pray about everything and worry about nothing.  And the peace of God which surpasses all our human understanding, will be yours.

Today we celebrate the Lord’s table.  It is one of the many ways we can center ourselves on things from above. 

But, it is not as helpful to come to the Lord’s table if there are things in our lives that separate from God.  They could be ways in which we have missed the mark. Ways in which others have deeply hurt us and we wear the scars of that hurt.  Either way, it is sin that separates us from a full relationship with God.

Our God longs for honesty and holiness within the promise-based

relationship God has established with us in Christ. In a culture that

avoids talk of sin and culpability, regular prayers of confession foster

honesty and openness in our relationship with God. Just as a marriage cannot flourish without honest communication, so our marriage- like relationship with God cannot flourish unless we freely and honestly express all facets of our life: hopes, fears, sins, desires, thanksgiving, and praise.

          So let us boldly say together, the Prayer of St. Francis, number 468 in the Chalice Hymnal.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

          Hear now, our individual confessions, spoken in silence.

                  ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

God of love, in the wrong we have done

and in the good we have not done,

we have sinned in ignorance;

we have sinned in weakness;

we have sinned through our own deliberate fault.

We are truly sorry.

We repent and turn to you.

Forgive us and renew our lives

through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Hear the good news:

This saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance,

that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.

He himself bore our sins

in his body on the cross,

that we might be dead to sin,

and alive to all that is good.

I declare to you in the name of Jesus Christ,

you are God’s forgiven people.

What Difference Does it Make ??

What Difference Does it Make

preached Sunday July 28, 2013 by the Reverend Jack Williams 

          I have a friend who a Lutheran. Ollie gave me a small sticker to put on my bathroom mirror that says, “When you wash your face, remember your baptism.” I had that little sticker on my bathroom mirror for a number of years and it was a good reminder of who we are as a result of our baptism.

          Later on, I picked up a small book written by the Methodist Bishop, William Willimon  titled "Remember Who You Are".  Willimon tells the reader that when he was in his teenage years and started dating, just before Will left the house to pick up his date, his mother would say to him, “Remember who you are.  You are baptized.” 

          Last Sunday, based on chapter 1 of Colossians, we saw Paul’s divinely inspired words of who Jesus is. Please bear with me while I read Paul’s words from the NRSV.  “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross. And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him— provided that you continue securely established and steadfast in the faith, without shifting from the hope promised by the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven.”

In short, Jesus is the Messiah, God’s anointed one, Emmanuel, God with us, God’s Son.  In Jesus, we see God and the nature of God.

          This week, our reading from the second chapter answers the “so what”. If Jesus is the Son of God and all the things we heard last week, exactly what difference does that make to us 2,000 later?  More specifically, how does our belief that Jesus is Lord give us new life in Christ?

          There are several theological ideas of how we as Christians have new life, or in another way of saying it, how does Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection give salvation to you and me?

          In powerful language Paul says that “When you were buried with Christ in baptism, you were also raised with him in baptism.” We don’t see that as clearly as we would if we were baptizing people the way the early church did. So allow me to tell you how baptism was carried out in the early church. In the early church, preparation for baptism took from 1 to 3 years. Prior to being baptized, the unbaptized would not be allowed stay for the entire church service. They would be excused before the Eucharist was celebrated for instruction in theology. The day of baptism for these Christians in training, was on Easter Sunday. In some communities, the font was a large eight sided pool of water with steps on one side leading into the font and steps on the other side leading out of the font.  Women and men were baptized separately because in many churches, they required the baptismal candidate to be naked, representing being naked, as when one is born. The person would enter into the font and be submerged under the water, not just representing but actually dying with Christ.  The baptizer would say, as the one being baptized was plunged into the watery grave, I baptize you in the name Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Upon coming up out of the water, the newly baptized would be raised to new life just as Christ was resurrected from the dead. After being baptized, new clothing was placed on the new Christian. Usually it was a white robe and the newly baptized were eagerly welcomed to full membership in the church which allowed him or her to take part in the other sacrament of the church, the Lord’s table, or Holy Communion.

          So what is the big deal here?  It is more than just a big deal. Baptism is life changing, life giving, and is an important part of what gives us new life, or salvation. What is that other part that gives us new life in Christ?  It is faith, faith in the very power of God that was able to raise Christ from the dead. Let me say that another way. When you were baptized, you were buried with Christ in baptism, you were also raised with Christ to a new life. In other words, resurrected with Christ.

          I have a couple of questions: Do you think that all things are possible for God to do? Do you believe God answers prayer?  Do you believe God can heal people.  Do you believe God can perform miracles? Do you believe that God raised Jesus from the dead?  Paul states in Roman’s 10, “If you will confess with your lips, that Jesus is Lord and that God raised him from the dead, then you will be saved.”  It is a simple as that.

          Maybe we could say that together:  “Jesus is Lord and God raised him from the dead.” Our brothers and sisters in the Catholic church say something similar as the mystery of faith. “Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again.”  I almost can’t say those words without breaking out in song.

          But there is more. When you were baptized, you took part in a death and a resurrection like Christ’s death and resurrection. You died in the waters of baptism, a watery grave, and emerged a new person. In words reminiscent of a court document, your rap sheet which contained all the sinful things in your life, that separated you from God. were nailed to the cross.  The charges against you were declared dismissed and stamped null and void and the rap sheet put to death with Jesus on the cross.  Think of it, your charges on that rap sheet, now dismissed.

          So here is another big question:  “Are you and I convinced enough of the sufficiency of God’s action in the crucified Christ to gamble our lives on the power of the way of the cross rather than making compromises with other powers?” Let me say that again:  “Are you and I convinced enough of the sufficiency of God’s action in the crucified Christ to gamble our lives on the power of the way of the cross rather than making compromises with other powers?”

          How might we compromise the way of the cross with other powers.  I can think of several ways, none of which in themselves bad. They are only bad when they become a substitute for the way of the cross.  Here are some I have thought of. Special knowledge that helps you get ahead. Remember Kevin Trudeau who has written numerous books. Cures the doctors don’t want you to know. Get rich in real estate. Or the latest health food supplements.  Some of the programs we see on TV that promise health, wealth, or romance.  Steve Covey’s “The Seven Habits of Highly Successful People”.  All kinds of self help books.  Just the right clothing, or home, or car – all the materialism of our world.  I am sure you can think of many other compromises we can find in other powers.

          Money that we have in our pockets is stamped “In God we trust” but how do we feel when our supply of money is low?  What do most people really put their trust in?  Money or God?

          So here is why Christ is so important for you and me.

In Christ,  through faith and baptism you are a new creation.

In Christ through faith and baptism you are born again.

In Christ through faith and baptism you have the inheritance Christ has.  

In Christ through faith and baptism you are marked as one of God’s own.

When you were baptized either as an infant or an adult, the priest or minister, immersed you in, or poured water over your head and saying your God given name, said these words, I baptize you in the name of the Father, in the name of the Son, and in the name of the Holy Spirit.  May your name be written in the book of life and may you forever be held in the palm of God’s hand.  The sign of the cross was made on your forehead and you were marked as one of God’s very own.  

So what difference does it make? Every difference in this life and in  your eternal life to come. So next time, when you wash your face, remember your baptism. When you go out into this world, remember who you are.       

Next week I will talk about “Now What”. Now that we know who Christ is and now that we know what difference it makes, now what do we do?  And like the newly baptized of the early church, we will gather around the table and celebrate the sacrament of communion.

Who He Is

Who He Is

July 21, 2013

presented by the Reverend Jack Williams 

I want to thank the deacons of First Parish Federated Church for inviting me to share in worship with you on this Sunday and the next two Sundays.  It is an honor and also humbling to stand in the pulpit where so many fine pastors have stood.  My appreciation goes out to you, the congregation and to Pastor Donna Muise for this opportunity.

What would happen if you were at a social gathering, and since you are part of that 25 percent of Mainers who identify as practicing Christians, you are asked by a skeptical or perhaps curious person, who is the person Jesus that you worship?  Who is Jesus? You are now on the spot, and perhaps, like so many of us New Englanders,  religion is not something we talk about. We keep our beliefs to ourselves. We try not to offend anyone, so we keep away from discussing our religious convictions.  But this person asked you. What are going to say.  Who is Jesus?

For these next three weeks I want to dig into three questions with you: Who is Jesus?  What difference it makes?  And finally, Now what?

These three questions are at the root of who we are as Christians and I think it is important that we are versed in having an answer to them.  Here they are again.  Who is Jesus? What difference does it make? Now what?

In the familiar reading from Luke’s gospel, we hear if Jesus’ visit to the home of two women, Mary and Martha. Why do you suppose Mary sat and listened to Jesus’ every word?  Yet her sister Martha felt it necessary to put on a good home cooked meal for him.  Both were important things to do, but our Lord says, Mary has chosen better and it will not be taken away from her. Did Mary recognize something in the man from Galilee that Martha did not?  What would you do if Jesus showed up at supper time at your home? Is there a time when listening is the most important thing to do? Maybe it says something about taking time to listen to God.

In Matthew’s gospel, after Jesus’ disciples have been out for a few days of spreading the news about Jesus and God’s Kingdom, the 12 disciples meet with Jesus for a report of how things went.  The disciples have news from the towns they went to. They healed people of all sorts of diseases in Jesus’ name.  The disciples shared their stories with Jesus and then Jesus asked them a question.  Who do the people say I am? They told what the people were saying. Some say you are a prophet or Elijah come back to life.  Then Jesus asks them the most important question of their lives, the most important question for us as followers of Christ.  “But who do you say I am?” When Jesus asked his twelve disciples, “And how about you, who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”  Jesus responded to him, ”God bless you Simon. You didn’t get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am.”

The Gospel of John  begins with these familiar words, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” The Word, referring to Christ. John goes on to tell us that the Word, that creative God became flesh and lived in the person of Jesus.

Back in my days at seminary I had a wonderful professor named Russell Pregeant. Dr. Pregeant is a New Testament scholar and a United Methodist pastor.  While what he said in class should have been obvious to me by that time in my studies, it was not.  Dr. Pregeant said ,“The teaching and life of Jesus shows us what God is like.” In other words, if you want to know what God is like, study the life of Jesus.

Theologians, who specialize in Christology,  the people who are the experts on who Jesus is, have written many books. And I have quite a few of them on my library shelf.  I have read them and I must tell you, none of them can hold a candle to what I learn from just reading the Bible. 

This morning, we read from a short letter to the Christian Church in Collosae.  The letter is one of four letters of Paul known as the prison letters. They are called “Prison Letters” because Paul wrote them while he was a prisoner in Rome from the years 61-63 CE. Paul was a prisoner in Rome, chained to a Roman soldier guard, but as a Roman citizen, was allowed more respect than a common criminal who was not a roman citizen.

While a prisoner in Rome, he probably wrote many letters, only 4 of which we have in our Bible. They are Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and a very short letter to Philemon.

Colossians will be at the heart of our learning for this Sunday and the next two Sundays. The church in Collosae was founded by a disciple of Paul’s named Epaphras. Epaphras is mentioned in the letter as a skillful teacher, fellow servant, and a faithful minister of Christ.  The letter is written to the church in Colosae both to encourage them and to teach them. Of all the letters of Paul, it has, in my view, the best answers to: who Jesus is, what difference it makes, and what now.

Allow me to elaborate on chapter 1:15-18 of Colossians  to help us more fully answer, “Who is Jesus?”

 ^15-18 “We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen”.  If we study the life and teachings of Jesus, we can understand the nature and character of God. Just consider the story of the prodigal son, or the woman caught in adultery. Time and time again, Jesus shows us that God is a just and merciful God.

We look at this Son and see God’s original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment.

          The book of Genesis begins this way, “In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth…  And Colossians tells us that Jesus was there as part of the creative force that made the heavens and the earth.

          The Gospel of John begins in a similar way:  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people…. And the Word became flesh and lived among us.

       And so, Jesus is the Word, which is God’s creative agent. Jesus is this Word.

And when it comes to the church, he organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body.  In other words, Jesus is the head of the church and the church is the body of Christ. So when someone says a particular pastor is the head of the church, that is not true. Christ is the head of the church.  A person may be a leader or teacher, but Jesus is the head of the church.

At the end of John’s Gospel we find a passage of scripture that is read every year, on the Sunday after Easter. It is the familiar story commonly called the confession of doubting Thomas. You remember the way it went. After Jesus’ crucifixion,  the 11 disciples are hiding out in the upper room of a house near Jerusalem. Jesus had appeared to them on Sunday night of the first Easter.  But Thomas was not with them and could not believe that Jesus had appeared. Thomas tells his fellow disciples, “unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails, and my hand in his side, I will not believe.

So one week later, the 11 disciples, including Thomas  are in the locked room of the house again. Jesus appears among them and says to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.”

Thomas’ answer is his confession of who Jesus is, “My Lord and my God.”  Jesus is our Lord and our God. And then Jesus says encouraging words for us who were not eye witnesses way back then, ”Blessed are those who have not seen, but have come to believe.”

          Do you believe that Jesus is God incarnate? Do you believe he is Emmanuel, God with us?  Like Thomas, would you be willing to exclaim, “My  Lord and my God.” Do you believe he is the head of the church?  If you know and believe these things, the blessed are you.

          Next week we will consider what difference Jesus makes in our lives. The “So What question.”  And two Sundays from now, we will answer the question, “So now what do we do?” In the mean time, remember who Jesus is, and think about who you are in bearing his name as a Christian.

Things Not Seen

THINGS NOT SEEN

Genesis  15:1-6; Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16; Luke 12:32-34

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

In 1967, I was in the second grade, and way back then prayer was still a daily part of the opening of the school day. During one of those opening exercises, I remember being, for the first time in my life, embarrassed by my faith. Perhaps you remember the routine? After pledging allegiance to the flag and singing a patriotic song, we would sit down and “the voice” coming out of that black box high on the wall of the classroom would tell us to pray.

On that particular day, I bowed my head, folded my hands, and prayed… and prayed… and prayed. Pretty soon, I began to hear soft giggles; my classmates were chuckling. I opened my eyes to see what was so funny…and everyone, including my teacher, was staring at me. They were laughing because I was praying too long. I did not hear the command to stop praying. The children laughed at me; but I have kept the faith all these years.

If I said we are going to go around the room right now, and I was going to ask each one of you to answer the question, What is faith? Some of you would think that was just fine; you’ve got some ideas about what faith is—trust, belief, confidence, hope.

However, others of you might have quite a different reaction. Even though you know the answer, you might panic anyway, look quickly down at your feet. You might begin to pray exceedingly hard, “O Lord, O Jesus, please don’t let her call on me; please God. Please God! I’ll do anything you want, just make her not see me even though I’m sitting right in front of her! Let George answer…or Marion…or Frank or anybody! Please God! Make me invisible! Please God! Please God!” I know well that prayer of supplication; I used to pray that prayer in seminary a LOT! It works only about 50% of the time. Smile; today the odds are with you!

The book of Hebrews has the best definition of faith that a Christian could ever want: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Well, what does that mean? Faith is trust; faith fills us with hope; faith convinces us of a reality that though we cannot yet see it, we trust that it is as real as if it were standing right in front of us, 12 feet high and bright green.

God calls us to be faithful, and to prove this point, the author reminds us of Abraham who was called by God to leave his homeland, his father, his family, and everything that was familiar to Abe to go, as God said, “to a land that I will show you.”

God did not ask Abraham if he wanted to go or if he thought it was a good idea or if he might want a change of scenery. God said, “Leave, go, and I will show you. I want to give you all that my kingdom has to offer.”

It seems to me that Abraham exhibited the kind of belief that Jesus was teaching his disciples in our passage from Luke: “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” There’s a reason to have faith in God—he’s got plans to give us all that the kingdom has to offer. What an awesome thing to live knowing that God has good gifts in store for us when we are faithful!

How appropriate this passage about faith is for us today. We are on the boundary of new territory because we made the difficult decision to go to a ¾ time pastorate at annual meeting. Instead of being downcast, sorrowful or embarrassed that we have had to take that step, let’s go another way: let’s dedicate our journey in this unfamiliar territory to the future God has planned for us.

We agreed to begin a formal venture toward transformation called “New Beginnings,” a program from Disciples of Christ denomination. The church council has a conference call this Tuesday night at 7:30 to learn more about this opportunity. Let’s join together in faith pursuing New Beginnings and the benefits it can bring to our congregation. Do not be afraid, my friends; join in no matter who you are or where you are on your personal faith journey: skeptics, bring your doubts; wonderers, bring your questions; curious, bring your inquisitiveness; enthusiasts, bring your energy; and believers, bring your assurance of things hoped for, your conviction of things not seen.

Are you ready for a new beginning? Are you willing, like Abraham, to step out of the familiar, to leave behind the struggles and weariness we’ve become accustomed to? Are you willing to become completely dependent on God, trusting that God has every intention to be with us on our unknown sojourn to a new beginning?

I am well aware that there is some grumbling among the congregation about this new program. “We’ve tried this before; it never works; nothing ever comes of it,” etc. I’m not letting that reaction stop my conviction in its tracks, neither am I going to give in to any negativity.

What I am doing, without any embarrassment for my faith, is to urge, cajole, beg, encourage, affirm, appreciate and plead with you to commit yourself to the future of our church, whether or not you’re a fan of the particular direction we are taking. I am praying, “Please God, please Lord, please Jesus, help my beloved congregation have faith in things we cannot yet see!”

By working together, doing whatever it takes, walking the walk and talking the talk, grumbling, mumbling, stumbling, side by side, until we reach the Promised Land that God longs to show us, we shall be triumphant, we shall live into the new beginning that God so wants to give us.

So now I am going around the room and asking each and every one of you to do the following, not for me but for the good of the kingdom:

·         never stop praying, even if people are laughing at you-- it’s impossible to pray too long or too much.

·         Never be embarrassed for believing in God’s promises of what is yet to be;

·         and always, always, always seek the kingdom of God first, for it is God’s good pleasure to give us all good things not seen. Amen.

August 11, 2013

First Parish Federated Church of South Berwick, ME

The Reverend Donna Lee Muise, Pastor