Sin - Separation - Reconciliation

Acts 3:19: “Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out” (NRSV) 

In a confluence of discussions recently, the topic of sin came up. First, we were talking about it in our confirmation class. And then in an informal discussion following worship. And then in an email response to our electronic Bible study.  This verse from Acts is part of the scripture for the Third Sunday of Easter. It seemed like a good jumping off point for this discussion. 

           In our tradition, we broadly define sin as separation. Sins are those actions which separate us from God, from neighbor, and from our own best selves. The severity we assign certain acts may result in human punishments and should. But they also can be sorted into a separation from God, neighbor, our best selves. Even the most heinous acts create separations between individuals and communities. 

           In our tradition, our worship always includes a corporate prayer of confession, with a moment of silence for people to have their private conversations with the Creator. We know that we sin, we separate ourselves from God, neighbor, and our best selves, individually and in our communal actions. 

           The separations we experience can be very painful. We hurt one another, God and our communities, with sins of commission and omission. That is to say that sometimes we do things we know are wrong, that separate us from one another, and sometimes the separation comes from things we don’t do.  

           For example: We may say out loud that someone is not welcome. And we may just not invite all of God’s children to come and experience God’s love and grace. One is an act, and one is a failure to act. Both cause separation. Separation from who God calls us to be, from our neighbors, and our best selves. 

           Peter’s sermon in this wider Acts passage points out how people’s ignorance, (failure to act) and their actions led to Jesus’ crucifixion. Peter goes on to call the people to repent and turn to God to so that their sins may be wiped out.  Repentance, turning to God and admitting our sin, is the bridge to reconciliation, the bridge across the separation. We find that bridge in Jesus. 

           As humans we can get caught up in judging the severity of the separation. God seems more interested in bridging the separation, bringing us closer to God, our neighbors, and our best selves. 

           As we live in this Easter season, still singing Christ is Risen, may we look to bridge the separations in our lives. When we repent and turn to God, we are forgiven! In our tradition, we never pray our prayer of confession without being reminded that we are forgiven.  

           May you find and own the forgiveness offered and bridge the separations in your life - and be reconciled to God, neighbor, and to your best self. 

Peace,

David

A Description; Not a Prescription

Based on Exodus 20:1-17

 I think I was about forty-five and I went to the doctor and was diagnosed with high cholesterol. The doctor said that I would need a prescription for a daily pill to control my high cholesterol. I didn’t want to take a pill. So, I asked if there were other options. A nurse came in to meet with me and described how my lifestyle would need to change. The changes included:  losing some weight, adjusting my diet, less salt, and changing my stress level. I ended up with a pill. Fast forward about eight years, a job change, and a significant change in my activity level, along with about a twenty-pound weight loss and I don’t need to take the pill anymore. At my last physical, my cholesterol level is still good.

Very often in life, we want a prescription, a magic pill to make some malady better and to be clear for some things that is the best option. There are other times that a description of better choices can lead to a good result as well. It may be more difficult and yet more rewarding. I know I feel better twenty pounds lighter!

When we look at the Ten Commandments, very often we see them as some kind of magic pill, a prescription that will make everything better. We toss them around and spout them aloud, as they fit our narrative at the moment. We find them posted in lots of places, as a reminder to take our pills.

What if we were to look at the commandments as a description of a healthier lifestyle. The commandments can provide a better understanding of our relationship with the Creator, and a healthier relationship with our neighbors. It takes some work. You have to get up every day and eat better, exercise and engage in other healthy lifestyle choices. Obedience to the prescription: Well, I didn’t take the Lord’s name in vain today – yeah me. I didn’t covet my neighbor’s stuff today – yeah me. It isn’t enough.

Beloved, if we want to have a healthier life, a more wholesome life together, if we are truly seeking wholeness as the children of God, the Ten Commandments are wonderful description of what is possible.

The Ten Commandments may not be a magical cure-all, but they still do have power for us today. It is the power to build up the people of God and remind them to love God and their neighbor.

Now imagine that you have your annual physical and God describes what a healthier life looks like. It’s up to you, to get up each day, to live in each moment, and help build up the community of God’s people.

Just wandering in the word,

Dave

Tingling Ears

The reading from the First Testament this week is from I Samuel 3:1-20.  This is the story of the call of Samuel. Samuel is just a boy and serving in the temple under Eli, and things aren’t going that well. We learn that the word of the Lord was rare in those days and visions were not widespread. Eli has let the work of the Lord slip, and his sons are in the words of a commentator “profligate carousers.”  (I looked it up. It means they were out of control.)

Then begins the running. As Samuel is sleeping in the temple, he hears a voice calling his name and he responds, “Here I am,” – and he runs to Eli. But it wasn’t Eli. He goes back to sleep, and it happens again. Same story. It happens a third time. This time Eli figures out that it is God calling Samuel and he tells Samuel what to do.

Samuel hears the voice again calling out, “Samuel, Samuel!” But now Samuel knows to answer, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” God goes on to lay out what is going to happen next. God is going to do something new. In fact, it is so new that both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle.

The boy Samuel is entrusted with the message that the house of Eli is coming to an end and he, Samuel, will now be the prophet. Poor Samuel must share that news with Eli, and to his credit Eli takes it well. Eli responds, “It is the Lord; let God do what seems good to him.”

I have always been fascinated with the idea of tingling ears. It is so easy to get stuck in routines, just going along, doing what needs to be done.  Then something new is proposed and “ears start tingling” as new opportunities and possibilities are presented.

This is a vital image for the church. The CHURCH, not just Trinity. The Church can too often be fooled into thinking we have all the answers. We may not be “profligate carousers,” but we may not be listening as closely as we should. There are voices that will make our ears tingle and we need to listen more closely and work to discern if they are of God, so that we might answer like Samuel, “Speak for your servants are listening.” 

The world often tells us that we (the church) don’t matter, unless they need us to make up for some shortfall in public care, or they need us politically. It usually doesn’t work out well. We really need to listen to the voices that make our ears tingle, even if it makes us uncomfortable. So, what is making your ears tingle?

Peace,

Dave

Mary…

Scriptures: Luke 1:26-38; Luke 1:46b-55

 (I am influenced in these reflections by the work of Lynn Japinga, Professor of Religion at Hope College writing in Connections, A Lectionary Commentary for Preaching and Worship. Year B, Vol. 1.)

In the life of the church, it is always a little strange when Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday. Somehow need to complete the Advent wreath in the morning and then shift to the Christmas celebration at night. When these days coincide on the calendar the scriptures always seem difficult to fit into the story. So, we will be looking at the two main Mary stories: The Annunciation from Luke 1:26-38 and The Magnificat from Luke 1:46b-55.

 Luke 1:26-38

There are three aspects of Mary’s story that Professor Japinga points out. They are parts of Mary’s story that the church has wrestled with and sometimes been tripped up by through the centuries.

1.     Virgin Mother – twice Luke refers to Mary as a virgin and when the angel tells Mary what is to happen, even she wonders how that can be. We might have the same question. It is important to understand that what is happening defies biology and logic. Luke is not trying to solve a biological puzzle so much as assert that God is doing something “radically” new. There is a biblical tradition of infertile women like Rebekah, Rachel, Hannah and Elizabeth (Mary’s cousin and mother of John the Baptist) conceiving when God intervenes. If the son of Mary is to be greater – then, Mary’s conception must be more miraculous. The birth of Jesus will be different from any other birth. [Side Note: A virgin birth isn’t limited to Christianity, other faiths/ cultures have stories of virgin births.] In Genesis God creates from nothing and now God is creating a baby in Mary’s womb. God chooses to dwell in the body of a woman and God chooses to be human. Dave’s thought: The story of the virgin birth – however you understand it – is more of a theological story than a biological story. The power is in God becoming human.

2.     Saint or Human – very often the miraculous elements of the text immediately raise Mary to sainthood. She is more holy, pure and obedient than any ordinary woman. The depictions of Mary don’t show any of the reality of pregnancy. Mary is greeted by the words: “Greetings favored (or graced) one – and Mary ponders how she can be favored. To be favored does not mean to be privileged in terms of power or money. What does it mean to be favored or graced? Mary is human – like us – and voices tell us all the time that we aren’t enough. But, like Mary we are favored or graced by God too. We are enough – you are enough.

3.     Handmaid or Agent – Is Mary an obedient handmaiden who passively gives into God? (More than you wanted to know category: The literal translation of the Greek word doulos is slave, often softened to handmaiden.) Mary is often portrayed having no choice. How could she decline the honor of being God’s handmaiden? Mary is sometimes referred to as the new Eve or the woman who gets it right. Eve disobeys God, Mary accepts her role and births salvation. Too often Christian women have been taught to imitate a male understanding of Mary’s obedience and submission. The text tells a different story: Mary ponders, Mary questions, Mary wonders how this could be. In the end Mary says yes. Luise Schottroff notes: “Obedience to God’s will does not destroy one’s self-confidence but builds it up.” Mary becomes a model of discipleship. Like Mary we can follow Jesus and still ponder, question and wonder. If Mary is more like us, and not so high above us, how can we become more like her? She freely and joyfully says yes to participate in God’s work in the world.

 Luke 1:46-55

After a few verses of Mary going to visit Elizabeth, we get these famous words – The Magnificat. This is a song of a mother anticipating the life and ministry of her yet unborn child, singing the liberation he will bring. Mary knows that Jesus will do what the kings and leaders have failed to do in the past. This is a song – and it is similar to the songs of other mothers in scripture. Mary knows and celebrates that this child will upset the status quo, turning the world upside down.

So beloved – read these two stories together and treat yourself to some time to reflect on what is coming. How can we be like Mary? You are enough, we are enough.

Peace,

Dave

 If you would like to receive some biblical reflections on the weekly lectionary readings contact me at Dave.mears33@gmail.com.