Mark 9:38-50 Be yourself

            I like to sing. I don’t think it is any big secret. Our mother taught me and my siblings how to sing. We would listen to her and she would teach or make us sing in the church choir. She taught us the joy of singing. My wife jokes that she married into the Von Trapp family because we all sing. At one point in my life I wanted to sing professionally, and sometimes still think of it. There was a problem with that. When I would sing, I would try to make my voice just like the voice of the singer. I wanted to sing just like, or EXACTLY LIKE, that singer. It became a problem when I would try to sing a song from a singer who had a raspy voice. I would make my voice raspy and I would end up with a sore throat and getting sick from it.

            In our Gospel reading we are faced with somewhat of a similar problem. “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name! Doesn’t that sound like the disciples are telling on this person? When you think about it, doesn’t it sound a little like middle school? “We tried to stop him because he was not following us.” More of this telling on the one using Jesus’ name! What does some of this mean? Are the disciples trying to be the enforcers of Jesus’ teachings? Are they trying to protect Jesus? Are they trying to keep their own positions as disciples? Could it be that one of them might get kicked out because this person is using Jesus’s name and casting out demons? It could be all of these things.

            I can’t blame the disciples for their actions. Who of us might want to stop that person for fear that they have some insider information that we don’t have. Maybe this man has a special gift that they, the disciples were not given. That could mean that they are out of the group. OR, it could mean that they don’t measure up to Jesus’ expectations and may be cast to the side. It can be a pretty scary thing to go through this journey with Jesus, every step of the way so far, only to find that there is someone out there that is using Jesus’ name and has something you may not have.

            It sounds as if there might be some jealousy going on in and among the disciples. After all, these disciples spent the time and effort to learn what Jesus was telling them and witnessed all the things that Jesus had done. In this very same chapter, Chapter 9 vv. 14-29, there was a child who needed a demon cast out and the disciples could not do it. Only Jesus was able to cast out the demon. Now here is this other person who has not been following and he is doing the very thing that they could not do just a short time before! I could see there being jealousy and especially after last week when the disciples were arguing which one was the greater.

            Jesus is telling the disciples that it is not a competition! Jesus does not want them to stop anyone from spreading the name of Jesus or God in the world. When people do things in the name of Jesus, it can and many times does, have a profound effect on a person. Jesus is telling them that this man doing things in Jesus name is not a bad thing because it will bring people closer to God. It will bring him closer to God. The more he invokes the name of Jesus, the more he learns about Jesus, gets to know Jesus, AND the better the relationship becomes with he and Jesus; to the point where he can say no evil toward the Son of God who blessed him to help others.

            We can get caught up in that competition feeling. It is easy for us to want to “be like” someone or something else. For example, we might want to be like the “mega church” down the street. The "Mega church" down the street is in the process of this major building program, their parking lot is full every weekend. It is a traffic jam just for me to get home on Sunday afternoon. We see those big churches that have television screens and television shows. I mean, you look at it and can’t help but ask “what are we doing wrong?” We get caught in the “well their beliefs are not ours so they must be wrong!” Just so you know, we pastors, can get caught up in it as well. We are not immune! We feel like it is a competition for souls or more butts in the pews, to be blunt.

            But Jesus’ message today is that we are not in competition. It took me a long time and a few voices to tell me that when I sing a song, “stop trying to sound like…there is only one artist (insert name) and you are not it!” Be yourself and own your own voice. We don’t have to be like any other church (insert name) because there is only one like that and we are not it!

            And that brothers and sisters is Good News! We don’t have to be like anybody else. All we have to do is be ourselves. Proclaim God’s love and healing in the name of God’s only Son, Jesus Christ! We are called to teach the Word of God, share the Word of God through our words, actions, and relationships. The bottom line is that we as Christians are all in this thing called life together! It is not easy, it can get downright nasty in this world of putting down others; but we are all called to proclaim the word of God together.

            I hope that you find this a little freeing. It is freeing in that we are unique in God’s eyes. We are not the same and, therefore, we bring a variety of experiences into our worship space, we lay our burdens at the foot of the cross in many different ways: BUT we all believe and rely on the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for the forgiveness of all our sins, not matter what denomination we belong. We rely on the promise of God at our baptism to hold onto us and never let go. We all cling to the abundant mercy of a God who is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Regardless of how we worship, we are not that much different when you look at it from that point of view.

            It can be freeing in other ways. It means that we can share ideas of where God is calling us and work together doing God’s work in feeding the hungry, providing shelter and clothing to the homeless, and reaching out to the unchurched. This past week, I spoke with a world renowned Pastor who specializes in Christian education, Rev. Dr. Rich Melheim. He offered some very simple ideas to grow into a deeper relationship with God and with one another, all using the name of Jesus as our center. One of those practices that can enhance our lives and relationship with God is to share with each other …and our children our highs and lows. Something very simple can give us the freedom to try something new and different, all using the name of Jesus. It is not something the disciples did and yet can bring us closer to God and one another. God’s love, sacrifice, and mercy are not competition events. These things that God offers are free to all who seek to know about God and grow into a relationship with God.

            Jesus calls us to lift up those who invoke the name of Jesus for the sake, and in the hopes, that we all grow into a greater, deeper relationship with God. And like the man in our Gospel reading we are called to go out and invoke the name Jesus in our words and in our actions: AMEN

            

Mark 9:30-37 "Talledega Nights," Facing fears

            Please pray with me: May words from my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable to you, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer: AMEN!

            I never thought I would be asking this question but yet the Holy Spirit compels me to ask: Have you ever seen the movie ‘Talledega Nights?” It is a movie about this man whose father was a race car driver. He was also a drunk as well as many other things. His son, Ricky Bobby, adored him and held onto his every word (Disclaimer: it is not a movie for young children). When his father left him, he uttered this phrase, “Remember son, if you’re not first, your last!” Ricky Bobby held onto that statement. HE grew up to drive race cars and he was good! He won a lot of races.

            I think this movie illustrates, rather well, what is going on in our Gospel reading this morning. Jesus and the disciples are on the road, again, and Jesus keeps talking about his death and resurrection. The disciples are afraid to ask what it means. They are not understanding that Jesus is the Son of Man. They are still not getting exactly who this Jesus is and why he keeps saying this. What are they so afraid of? It is something they just don’t want to hear? It could be because of their relationship with Jesus. IS it too depressing? Could be. Is it that they are afraid of asking what might be perceived as the “stupid question?” Could it be that they are afraid of the knowledge that they might gain? It could be all of these.

            Whatever the answer is, they are afraid and that is clear. Their fear doesn’t allow them to go down that path. Their fear prevents them from boldly questioning Jesus about what it means, how would it happen, who would do this, and why it might be necessary. They just seem to block it out and start a whole other discussion to change the subject.

            As they are walking, they are arguing about themselves. They are arguing about who is the greater; which one is the better disciple! I can imagine them trying to “one-up” each other; “I delivered the baskets when we fed five thousand! Oh yeah, I collected more left over fish! And the arguing goes on and on. They are now focused on themselves and what they did as opposed to what Jesus is going to have to go through.

            Does it sound familiar? It doesn’t sound too much different than where we are in our society today. In this movie, Talledega Nights, Ricky Bobby goes through this accident on the race track; he was not injured but thinks he is. The life that he had of always being first is turned upside down because he goes through this and, now has to face the possibility he won’t be first. He has to face his fear of being second or third…or last.

            This is what we see in this Gospel reading. Fear is taking over and controlling what the disciples are doing; how they act, what they say, and where they are focused. They are being stretched to something beyond their comprehension. Fear has control over them; it is preventing them from asking questions, from seeking guidance. Their fear is so powerful that it is not allowing them to even approach the subject of faith! That is how much fear has control.

            Does that sound familiar? Just like the disciples we can get too caught up in fear. Our world holds that same Ricky Bobby mentality “If you’re not first, your last!” we hear it all the time. Society expects everyone to be the best or strive for that thing on the really high pedestal called “perfection!” We set goals that are so high for ourselves and others that we see that goal as the more important thing to attain in our lives; its because of the fear that if I don’t get this then I must be a failure, if I don’t get that job, I have failed, if I can’t afford this then I must not have made it (whatever that means)!

            This fear that the disciples felt in asking can be our fear. When we think of it from the church perspective, how many times do we talk about a changing world but are afraid to try something new? I am not a big fan of change and when the church went from the LBW to the ELW, I was not a happy camper. It was a fear of that change that made me really question what was going on in the church. How many times do we not try something because of being afraid that it won’t work?

            I believe the concern is that it may change my faith and this is where the Good News comes in. Sometimes fear can be healthy. It can help us make decisions that otherwise could be dangerous to ourselves or others. It can help us refrain from doing something that may have a lasting impact on the world. It can also be unhealthy. It can prevent us from fully experiencing our faith in Jesus Christ. It can prevent us from asking the question of “God, what are you calling us to do? Who are you calling us to be? It can prevent us from reaching out to our neighbors to recognize and celebrate the different gifts that we all have been blessed with. It can prevent us from gaining a greater understanding of who God is and who Jesus is in our lives and experiences.

            God calls us to a life of releasing our fears. We don’t have to be afraid of whether we are first or last in this world; It is not our pride or fear that makes us who we are. It is the claiming of God through the waters of Baptism, it is the promise of God to accept us just as we are, and it is the sacrifice of God’s only son on the cross that claims, reminds us, and heals us to make us whole, to make us precious in God’s sight, and that makes us whole as the body of Christ.

            Today, Olivia Grace Yingling will be claimed by God and God’s promise will be made to her. Her parent’s and Godparents will promise, and we will promise to walk with her and help her. When she has fears, family will be there to support her. We will be here to support her, walk with her and be God’s feet and hands in showing God’s love for her; so that fear will not contain her faith, but the promise of God and the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross will strengthen her faith, so that she can step out in the confidence of a loving God who loves her just as she is. And, it is the resurrection of Jesus Christ on that Easter morning that heals us of fear and/or pride and promises eternal life: AMEN!

            

Mark 8: 27-38 (Primary) Holy Cross Sunday...Tongues, helpful and harmful

            In 1994, I had a teacher in Community College that was also a prosecutor at the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office. I expressed an interest in wanting to work there as I had just been honorably discharged from the service. He helped me get an internship position with the department working for him. I respected him greatly and we worked well together. I got to work on this really big case. As part of this big case, there was one suspect who was already in jail. It was discovered that this person was actively seeking someone to kill this prosecutor. It was all over the news that this death threat was made. Needless to say, I was worried that my mentor would be killed; and to be selfish, I started trying to figure out how to stay far enough away so that I did not get hit if this happened. I was scared, to say the least.

            Today’s readings carries a very serious theme. As I prayed over the readings, I noticed that the theme had to do with tongues, you know the thing in your mouth. The tongue is a pretty important organ. It has thousands of taste buds that act as nerves and connect directly to the brain through the nervous systems. The tongue detects flavors of salt, sweet, bitter, and sour. When eating the tongue is strong (to help with chewing). Then there is the other function of the tongue, speech. In the case of speech, the tongue is more flexible and acts in concert with the ears.

            When we read the Gospel reading for today in Mark, we hear Jesus using his tongue. He uses it to form the words of questions. One of the most important questions to his disciples, “who do people say that I am?” He listened to their answers. “Some think John the Baptist, Elijah, one of the prophets,” they answer. Then they are asked the ultimate question, “who do you say that I am?” Peter speaks up “you are the Messiah.” What incredible words to come out of Peter’s mouth. Peter is making a declaration that is bold and can potentially get him in trouble. He, Peter is declaring that Jesus is the one that God has sent into the world. He IS saying that Jesus is the Son of God.

            It would be nice to sit back and take all that in. It would be great for us to be able to hear Peter’s declaration and everyone goes home nice and happy and rejoicing! But that is not what happens. Jesus begins to speak again. This time he tells them how he, the Son of Man, will undergo suffering, rejection, and death. Jesus uses those words…uses his tongue to describe that this “Messiah” will have to undergo these three things. Those are not necessarily words that I want to hear! Can’t we just stop with Peter?

            But we can’t. Jesus doesn’t hold back. He lets the disciples know what is going to happen, whether they want to hear it or not. Jesus keeps right on talking; and, in fact, he tells Peter to stop talking because Peter wants Jesus to say around. He wants to continue on this path of learning and being with Jesus. He and the others have been in this relationship for quite some time. They don’t want him to go anywhere and Peter wants what Peter wants; I can’t blame him. IF the Messiah was physically with us for a long time, would we want him to stick around to help and guide…to use his tongue and his speech to help guide us and keep us on the straight and narrow?

            Just as much as we would want him to stay, Jesus points to what must happen, suffering, rejection, and death. We know how that story goes and where it goes from here. Jesus continues and it is Judas Iscariot who uses his words to plot with the leaders to have Jesus arrested. It is that very same Peter who uses his tongue and his words to vow to stay by Jesus’ side but in the end, denies knowing…rejects… Jesus three times. It is the crowd who gets stirred up to use their tongue and their words “Crucify him, Crucify him!” that brings much of this about.

            In our second reading, we hear the author saying “how great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is a fire.” The author goes on to say with the tongue “we bless the lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God.” We don’t need to look too far to see that. It is right in our Gospel reading. It is exactly what Peter is doing. “Lord I want to stay with you, you are the Messiah; I swear to you I don’t know this man!”

            It doesn’t get much planer than that! It is quite clear that Peter may not be the best example of a loyal follower. He makes those statements…he uses his tongue to craft those words of love and then later uses it to craft the words of rejection; because he does not want to suffer the same fate as Jesus!

            I know it sounds like a third person story but we are not far from this very story. We do some of these same things. We make statements and then say things that contradict the statement we just made! We do it in our personal lives; for example, let’s say you or I have met up with someone you have not seen in years. You’re chatting and the other person says, “We need to get together!” you respond “oh sure yeah call me and we will make it happen.” And we walk away; intentionally not getting the person’s phone number or saying to a friend “I am not going to call them.”

            It happens with our faith as well. Someone you might admire or hold in high esteem says something that goes against your faith, how many times do we use your words to stand up for your faith? How many times do we use our words to say that I DO believe that Jesus is not an imaginary person but real and in my heart, in my words, and in my actions? How many times do we say I am sorry that I fall short but ask God’s forgiveness every day and place myself at the foot of THIS CROSS that we celebrate today? Sometimes we find it is better to say nothing than start an argument.

            That is where the Good News comes in. Jesus does not claim that it will be easy to proclaim…to use our tongue and our words to speak God’s Truth in that Jesus Christ was sent to die for us; you and me. It is the grace and mercy of almighty God that Jesus said that “three days later” he will be raised so that death is not the end; that death means no more words to say because God is the one who has the last word on all things.

            And it is God who promises everlasting life; so that we use our words to witness to the grace and mercy of almighty God. It is God who raises Jesus so that Jesus continues to use his words to invite, teach, and promise that whoever gives up their life (through words and actions) to God will have life abundant and eternal.

            Jesus does not promise a life of ease when we declare Jesus, the Messiah. He does say that it will be difficult at times. He does say that it takes courage to believe in God, to follow Jesus teachings, and to put our entire lives, words and all, into the hands of the one who created, shows, grace and mercy, and forgives. There were more threats that came toward the office, prosecutors, and some even came my way from defendants. I felt called to do my job and gave it 100 percent despite the difficulties.

            Brothers and sisters in Christ, we are called to do the same. We are called to step out in our love for God, in our witness to the Goodness and glory of God. We are called to proclaim God’s mercy upon this cross for us; to acknowledge that we fall short but that God does not give up on us or any of God’s creation!

            This day of the Holy Cross is our witness to the love that God has shown each and every one of us. It is here where we meet to hear the words of God’s Son giving of his body and blood for you and me. It is where we lay our burdens at the foot of this cross, at the rock of our salvation; AND it is from here we go to witness our forgiveness and may we share God’s forgiveness and love, with others: AMEN!

Mark 7: 24-37 Could this be a teaching moment for Jesus and for us?

            It feels good to be in the Gospel of Mark again. In the Gospel of Mark, there is always this sense of urgency. We know this because one of the most prominent words in Mark is the word “immediately.” And so with this word, immediately, we could tend to think of things being rushed. Almost like a skimming is necessary if you think about it as a journey. So we may hear stories and think “yeah, I know what that means. Jesus feeds 5000, got it, heals a leper, two guys lower this other guy into the house through the roof, Jesus heals him, raises a dead girl and lets move on.” It would be easy to get that sense of rushing around; after all, it is the shortest Gospel and is packed with many stories AND little detail.

            We may even think the same of this morning’s stories of healing. Here is Jesus on the move! He is trying to get some peace and quiet, doesn’t want anyone to know where he is and that does not work. This lady finds him. She is a syrophoenician woman. She is from the other side of the tracks; outside the Jewish faith and, dare we say, a gentile! She throws herself at his feet and starts begging for him to heal her daughter. He flat out rejects her plea! Why?

            Well some think he is doing this to test her faith. That might be the rush answer; the quick answer because this Gospel has Jesus always rushing around. Even the Syrophoenician woman “Immediately heard about him” and she rushed in to plea to Jesus. So, we could think this is just another testing story and move on, right?

            Lutheran Theologian, David Lose, poses another possible answer as to why Jesus answers so coldly. Possibly, Jesus doesn’t fully understand God’s mission for him or God’s view of the world. We know Jesus to be this perfect, divine being from the moment of his birth. In our Gospel of Mark, the book begins at his baptism. So we know this Jesus as being anointed by God, thrown into the wilderness to be tested, and coming out of the wilderness. Jesus goes through the world healing people and teaching; but this teaching and healing is to the people that God had chosen, the People of Israel.

            So Jesus is pretty much “preaching to the choir.” He is travelling to parts of the land where they know the customs, they know the laws of Moses and they know the practices and what is required to live within the law. Jesus is doing the divine things throughout the Community and land that God gave to the people of Israel. SO, it would make sense that he knows what to do when he is in that community. He knows what to do to proclaim God’s community from the inside.

            Just as Jesus is fully divine, he is also fully human. His human nature may not fully realize that God is calling him to go outside the immediate community; to go to the people who don’t know God or never heard the Word of God uttered in their midst. He may not realize that God is calling him to the people from “the other side of the tracks,” those Gentiles to teach them about the love of God or heal them to demonstrate God’s abundant love and mercy.

            Could this Syrophoenician woman be teaching Jesus? What a concept! She is teaching him that God’s vision of the world goes beyond the border region of the Jewish people. She is teaching Jesus that all those Good things that he is doing is for everyone, despite community borders, nationality, economic status, race, color, creed.! She is teaching Jesus that the stranger is just as welcome as the insider!

            This is not a story to just rush through as are finding out. This is one of those stories of Jesus encountering his teachable moment. This Gospel reading is one of those times where we are called to slow down and read…re-read, if necessary, this encounter to grasp that this is one of those times where God is reaching out to a broader community, region, and people.

            That is one of the beauties of this Gospel reading. This story of Jesus and this woman could be revealing a different part of God’s character. God is reaching out to people who have different traditions, languages, practices, gifts, and experiences and, through this story, God is inviting these people into a relationship with God; to reveal a God who created everything, shows mercy in the forgiveness of sin, promises to never abandon, heals, and claims them so that there is nothing that will separate them from God’s love and promises eternal life.

            I think we can all learn from what God is teaching and who is God using in this lesson. God is using this woman to teach us about hospitality; inviting people to hear the word of God. You never know who is outside these doors waiting and wanting someone to invite them in to hear words of Good News; that Jesus Christ died on the cross for the forgiveness of everyone’s sin. God is teaching us to stretch our understanding of God’s vision of the world; that God’s Good News is not just for us here in this sanctuary, but that it is for everyone!

            It is not just about the people who are outside these doors either. Hospitality is also for those inside the sanctuary. I know of a person in another congregation that had been attending her church for years. After about three years, someone asked her if she would help with a youth project. Her response was “I have been waiting for someone to ask me to help. I have wanted to help for so long but no one ever said they needed help.” She has been running the youth project ever since.

            This teaching isn’t just limited to this woman. Jesus Continues on to heal a deaf mute. Jesus teaches the community and us that God’s Word… God’s invitation extends to those with disabilities as well. A society that would write this person off is taught and we are taught that God’s invitation is open to all people, at any time.

            So, the question may be “how do we invite? Who do we invite?” The answer is pretty simple in the question of who to invite. Invite friends family, people you know who have not been here in a while. Invite a stranger you have never spoken to; maybe someone you see having a difficult time. The question of how do we invite can be easy as well. The most and best way is to ASK! Studies show that most people who begin coming to church is because they were invited by a friend, through direct contact, or family member.

            Another way is to use media to advertise. Some of that can be just as easy. IF you have a facebook account; check in before church. When you get here check in with your location and type an easy message of “getting ready for worship.” Or, something to invite your friends. Other ways can include door hangers, advertisements.

            Today God uses this woman who pleads for her child’s health for God to reach out to the broader community. God calls us to reach out, as well, to share God’s love and mercy with the larger community: AMEN!