Beginning Sunday, June 6 we will shift to the Lectionary readings for year C in the season after Pentecost. We will focus on the gospel of Luke for most of the summer.   Many of the favorite stories and parables of Jesus are found in this gospel. The writer of this gospel is the same person who wrote the Book of Acts. Together they serve as a whole story, the first telling about Jesus and the second about the Church under the power of the Holy Spirit. You may want to take the opportunity for some good summer reading to read both Luke and Acts together.

     Both the Gospel and Acts are addressed to Theophilus, a name that means “lover of God.” Theophilus could have been an actual person to whom Luke was writing, for that was a fairly common name. Or Theophilus could also represent a group of people, possibly people in the Way who loved God and had come to or were considering coming to faith in Christ. 

     We may want to read the gospel as though it was written personally to each one of us or possibly for our congregation as lovers of God. As we listen to the stories about Jesus, listen for God’s Word for you and for us as a church. How does the story about Jesus relate to our story?

 

 

June 6            Scripture: Luke 7:11-17

The predicament of this woman is hopeless. She is a widow. Now her only son, her only source of income is dead. In addition, any possessions she might have accumulated during her marriage now return to her husband’s side of the family. Such injustice was common practice in that world. But it is not the way God’s Kingdom operates.

Who are the most vulnerable in our community? Who speaks up for them? Who cares for them? You can tell the soul of a city, a country, or a church, by the way it treats its widows.

June 13           Scripture: Luke 7:36-8:3

Jesus dealt differently with women than did the world. Throughout the gospel and continuing through Acts, women play a very prominent role in his ministry. Mary’s Song of Praise (Luke 1:47-55) proclaims the reversal of fortune for those left behind or oppressed by the cruel systems of that day. In this scene a woman, known in the community as a sinner, comes and anoints Jesus’ feet, washes them with her tears, and wipes them dry with her hair. The Pharisee noticed and disapproved.

Clearly a woman’s sin was dealt with differently than a man. This woman, because of her sin, was a castaway. She had no value. But whatever repentance or hope or faith were contained in her tears touched Jesus. Actions like hers only come from authentic faith.

June 20           Scripture: Luke 8:26-39

We all have demons. They may be talked about in more medically or psychologically approved language, but we have them nonetheless. These demons occupy us, possess us, prevent us from being fully alive. Addictions, distractions, obsessions, financial problems, phobias, etc. demand greater attention than anything or anyone. They own us. They tell us when we can sleep, whether we can relax. Jesus has authority over these demons. Jesus has power to liberate us, clothe us in healing grace, and bring us to our right and peaceful mind.

 

June 27           Scripture: Luke 9:51-62

Life is filled with priorities. But the follower of Jesus has but one priority, all the rest are values. Idolatry is not the worship of a statue or piece of wood. Idolatry is the placing of something of great importance to the level of greatest importance. There are so many things of great importance that if the follower tended to them before following, there would never be time nor energy for following.  Some did not like the way Jesus had set his face. Perhaps he appeared less than friendly, no time to mingle. But Jesus’ face was set for the redemption of humanity. And nothing would distract or replace that mission.

 

On this birthday of our nation, we might consider what is the best way to show love for country. This account of Jesus sending the 70 out on mission may give us insight into the kind of love that can really make a difference. It was a mission that offered peace, healing from their diseases, and announcing the amazing good news of the kingdom. It was not a church that sat and expected people to come to them. They went to the people and went without possessions so that they had to become part of the community.

 

Who can you count on in time of need? Really count on? A lawyer is testing Jesus asking what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus asks what scripture teaches and he answers “love God and Neighbor.” Jesus says do that and you will live. “But who is my neighbor” asked the lawyer.

Jesus tells a story about a man traveling down the dangerous road from Jerusalem to Jericho. Robbers stripped him, beat him, and left him half dead. He found no help from religious leaders who passed him by. But a Samaritan, one considered to be an enemy, stopped and rescued him, took responsibility not only for urgent care but long term care as well. And the neighborhood changed that day.

 

Poor Martha, no one helping her with all her tasks.   And where is Mary when Martha needs her? Sitting down at the feet of Jesus, just listening, just sitting and listening. That doesn’t pay the bills. Martha is resentful. She seems like she fusses at Jesus, maybe triangles him into fussing at Mary for her. But it backfires. Jesus points out that Martha is worried and distracted.   She really needs only one thing. If she could only find that one thing, it could surely simplify her life. Adding insult to injury, Jesus not only refuses to fuss at Mary, he lifts her up as an example of the very thing Martha needs. Mary was focused on the one thing.

 

Once you really get started praying, you will probably never want to stop. It is getting started that is so challenging. How do you come to know God? How do you have a conversation with One who does not audibly talk back? What kinds of things should we say? How do we listen and what do we listen for? Jesus shares with his disciples the first and great prayer. He teaches them the persistent asking, searching, knocking nature of prayer. He offers them the promise of prayer.

(Are their books or short term classes we might want to consider in conjunction with this week?)

 

So insidious is this cancer that even Hollywood has formed a series called “American Greed.” Today thousands of gallons of oil spew each day in the gulf. It could have been prevented. But relatively inexpensive shortcuts, failure to place a valve, failure to maintain equipment in order to save a buck, led to great harm.

Greed’s only logic is to serve and preserve the self. When let loose in the body it works like leukemia, one cell feeds on another, taking and no replenishing. 

Jesus tells a parable about a rich man whose land produced abundantly. It was not enough. The self centeredness of the man framed his questions: “He thought to himself (not to God the real owner); ‘what should I do for I have no place to store my crops…”   Me, I, and myself was this man’s Trinity. And Jesus had a word for that kind of religion: “you fool.”

 

Once more Jesus points out the power of possessions to turn around and possess us. There is a great temptation to set one’s heart on things or images that do not last, things that once we have placed our security in turn and keep us awake at night. Fear and anxiety are alarm clocks that go off at night keeping us focused on something less than the kingdom.

Jesus’ advice was to rid ourselves of anything and everything that would own us and distract us from the kingdom. It is God’s good pleasure to give us a kingdom that will never wear out, a kingdom that cannot be contained in purses and portfolios that wear out.

 

Scripture: Luke 12:49-56

Sermon: “When Peace is not very Peaceful”

There is a scene in Fiddler on the Roof where Tevier is speaking with men in the market. A young radical comes and shares his political views to which Tevier says, “You know, he is right.” Another more traditional man counters with his own political view to which Tevier says, “You know, he is right.” A third gentlemen confronts Tevier saying, “You say he is right, then you say this one is right. They both can’t be right.” Tevier responds, “And you are right as well.”

There is a natural tension between truth tellers and peace mongers. Peace mongers try to keep the peace at the cost of the truth, at the cost of the kingdom of God. Every family has that member whose temper no one wants to provoke. They tiptoe on eggshells, suppressing honesty and truth so as not to disturb the so-called peace. Not Jesus. Don’t think he came to bring that stuff. It is a new day. And the followers of Jesus will be served well to know just what time it is, and when it is time to tell the truth in love even if it is disturbing for the sake of the kingdom.

When following Jesus is replaced by religious law, things deteriorate, community is lost. Religious rules stifle movement within the body. Like a decubidus, a bed sore from sitting or lying too long in one position which cuts off circulation. Religious rules can cripple a person or a body by removing incentives to move, only sit and obey. The Church is a movement not an institution; an organism not an organization. It moves by faith not by rules.

Jesus met a woman who was crippled for eighteen years, bent over and unable to stand up straight. Jesus set her free from her ailment enabling her to stand up straight and she began to praise God. Can’t you hear that voice of praise? Can you imagine Tiger stadium filled with shouts of that kind of praise, of people set free, lifted up straight from all their ailments?

 

The Kingdom of God is a Kingdom of Paradoxes: the first will be last and the last will be first; the poor will be raised and the rich sent away empty; those who save their life will lose it and those who lose their life will find it; and those who exalt themselves will be humbled and those who humble themselves will be exalted. But Lord it’s hard to be humble. Reinold Niebuhr said, “The essence of sin is to take oneself too seriously.” When people begin to fight for position and power, community disintegrates. Community of faith is built around a common need for God, not competition for place. It is hard to confess your sin in a room of people anxious to take your seat.

The follower of Jesus goes from brown nosing to brown bagging. They give up desires to sit next to the rich and famous and focus on inviting and providing seats for those who could never repay them. Once you know that you are rich and your treasure is secure, it is easier to share. 

 

September 5 Scripture: Luke 14:25-33

Did Jesus Really Say That? Over the past few weeks I have been searching web pages of Churches to see what is being preached. I noticed many different sermon series, even web sites that offer suggestions for sermon series, catchy, provocative issues that touch the desires of many especially those who need the grace the church might offer. Of those sermon series I saw many dealing with family: “Family Matters,” “Extreme Makeover for Family” “How to Have a Happy Marriage” “True Sex as God Intended” “How to Become Prosperous and Expand Your Territory” and so forth. I looked carefully but never found one series entitled, “How to Hate your family, father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters” or “Unless you give up all your possessions you cannot be a disciple.”   Who says such things? Maybe it was intentional that this text was picked for Labor Day weekend when attendance is typically low.

The issue Jesus is addressing is the cost of discipleship. True discipleship is not for everyone. If you cannot carry the cross, then… The disciple knows that it is not the purpose of God to serve the family, rather it is the purpose of the family to serve God. It is not the goal of the kingdom to make us king.

Maybe this is the day and the text that invites us to consider just how serious we are in being a follower of Jesus. No need to soft sell this relationship. And if high commitment frightens away a prospective member or seeker, that is better than false advertising or speaking of a gospel where the costs are hidden in fine print.

 

It is probably beyond comprehension just how much God cares for the lost and the vulnerable, for those who have no one else to speak for them or care for them. Jesus was criticized for welcoming sinners. He ate and drank with them. They became like family.

It is one thing to give to a charitable organization. It is quite another to make friends and family of those who have no one. There is a difference in charity and authentic compassion. Charity throws you a biscuit or drops a bottle of water from a helicopter. Authentic compassion descends in humble form and shares the biscuit and water in fellowship. Disciples are not made outside of authentic community. Jesus says that God loves these sinners, these outsiders so much it is as though he would leave the 99 family members in the wilderness to go and find just one that is lost. And unless you really know the pain of being lost, you will never be able to understand nor fully celebrate the joy of being found, or the joy of another being found. The party will be held in the lost and found department.