THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS LIKE A LOVING FATHER
Rev. Vivian L. Rodeffer
Sunday, March 27, 2022
Luke 15:11-32
11 Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. 14 When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. 16 He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything.
17 But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”’ 20 So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. 21 Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate.
25 “Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. 27 He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’ 28 Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ 31 Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’”
There is not one of us who has not heard the Story of the Prodigal Son at least a few times during our spiritual journeys. When we read this teaching story by Jesus in our bibles or have studied it in Sunday School or Bible Study Group, almost always the attention is on the wayward son, The Prodigal Son. My guess is that looking at it this way has been the tradition down through the centuries. We’ve always looked at it this way.
In doing the research for this week’s message I can see that as time goes by more scholars and preachers and students of the bible have broadened their understanding of the lessons Jesus was trying to get across with this parable. And they began taking into account the father and the older son in addition to the younger son. The story itself is as old as time. Let’s use our imaginations and examine the characters as they might appear in our own families.
Almost every family has that smart alecky child somewhere in it who takes everything he or she can and off they go…..with the family’s old car, a bunch of new clothes from the mall, a credit card with dad’s name on it, a cell phone on mom’s plan, and a desire to be independent, to not need the family anymore, to strike out on an exciting new adventure of life. To just be me!!! If they had a beret they would toss it up into the air just like Mary Tyler Moore and spin around.
Now, let’s look into our families for examples of the older son. I would wager that most of us sitting here in the pews and watching from home identify with the older son. We were responsible, sure we had some fun, but not like our crazy family membe. We were always around either in person or by phone to help mom and dad. We were respectful and compliant and never would even think of rocking the family boat. And when we read this bible story we shake our heads. That’s not fair! The younger son chose to embarrass himself and his family with his style of living. It is the older son who deserves the father’s praise and gifts!
Are you still with me? Now the third and maybe the most difficult character to get a handle on in the story is the Father. If you have ever been heartbroken over an adult child you can probably symphasize with him. One such set of heartbroken parents, members of my church, contacted me many years ago and asked me to stop by their home. And what a beautiful home it was, big and well appointed, windows opening onto a lovely stone patio with plantings Martha Stewart herself would have been proud of. They were lacking for nothing.
We sat around their dining room table and they proceeded to share why they had called me, their pastor. Through tears they told me how their son who was in his late teens had angrily left home a few weeks ago. They have not heard from him , they cannot contact him.
He was always a handful, the mother said. But this last year, the father added, he resisted every attempt we made to help him. He is rude to his mother and me. He wants nothing to do with us, his sister or our family. We suspect the so-called “friends” he is hanging with are a really bad influence. What did we do wrong? What can we do? We have tried our best as parents his entire life. He was never lacking for anything. His running away has broken our hearts.
In the story that Jesus tells, it is not a stretch of the imagination to understand that the prodigal son’s father felt exactly as these parents of their own prodigal son did. His son had broken his heart as well. But in Jesus’ story, seeing how the prodigal’s father responded to seeing his son’s return we witness a great love.
- He saw him from a distance–In order for that to happen, he must have been watching and waiting. Never giving up on his son. Praying for his return. Waiting, waiting, waiting.
- When he finally saw his son in the distance, the father was filled with compassion. Not anger.
- The father didn’t hold back and wait for the son to come to him. He ran to his son, hugged and kissed him.
- He brought out special clothes and a ring and sandals for his son to replace the rags he was wearing.
- And finally the father throws a party–”Let’s eat and celebrate!”
Why? “For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” [v.24]
There you have it, the three main characters in Jesus’ teaching story. Someone described them like this. It is a “wonderful story because each of us lives the roles of all the characters in it at some point in our lives–the role of loving, the role of being loved even when we are unlovable, and maybe most of all the role of feeling we have not been loved enough.” [preaching.com, “The Prodigal Son: The Prodigal Who Stayed At Home,” Kenneth L. Gibble]
During the season of Lent we are encouraged to return to our faith from whatever faraway land we have gone off to. A faraway place where our faith is no longer the primary force guiding our lives. Faraway is not measured by distance. Faraway is measured but not being in fellowship with God.
What can we do to come home to our loving parent God? We can repent of the things that distance us from the loving and forgiving actions of God. And in that manner we become the instruments that God can use in our day to day lives to exhibit the fruits of the spirit: patience, goodness, forbearance in love, self-control, joy, peace. Even as we startnour turn toward God, God is already reaching out to us, welcoming us home. God is rejoicing and celebrating our homecoming. The kingdom of God is like a loving father welcoming us home. This is the Good News of Lent! Life may take us to unexpected places, but love brings us home.
Let us pray.
Gracious God, How sorry we are when we turn away from you, our Heavenly Father, and go off on our own way to some faraway place. Have patience with us. Help us remember you and the love you have for us. When we are heartbroken over our own prodigal family members, heal our hearts and give us hope and patience to wait for their return. When we are indignant because you love everyone the same, help us to rejoice instead and give thanks for your measureless love. All of this I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
The Kingdom of God is Like A Fig Tree
Rev.Vivian L. Rodeffer
Sunday, March 20, 2022
Luke 13: 1-9
13 At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 He asked them, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. 4 Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.”
The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree
6 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. 7 So he said to the gardener, ‘See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?’ 8 He replied, ‘Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”
Let me retell the first two stories from today’s scripture using some modern examples. Think back five days ago. Nine members of a college golf team were killed when a 13 year old driving a pick up truck crashed head on into their van. Scripture would have us ask: Do you think that because these students and their advisors suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all the other students at their college? Jesus would answer this question just as he answered it back then! “No, I tell you, but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.”
Let’s try another modern example. Over the past two years, more than 30,000 of our fellow New Jerseyans have died of Covid-19. Jesus would have asked: “Do you think they were worse offenders than all others living in New Jersey? No, I tell you, but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.”
The people of Jesus’ time often connected sin and suffering. However, Jesus would have none of this kind of erroneous logic! Tragic circumstances are never to be equated with divine punishment and the reverse is true as well. Don’t ever think your good fortune is some type of special blessing only you received!
In the tragic examples that Jesus used and in the modern ones that I substituted, the lesson seems to be that “life’s fragility gives it urgency.” [workingoreacher.org, Matt Skinner, March 7, 2010] Most likely Jesus focussed on the two tragedies “to stress the suddenness of death and the unoredictability of life” to the folks gathered to hear his teaching. [See above]
He wished to impress upon them all “unless you repent you will all perish.” This is not a warm and fuzzy message. This is a life and death warning. To repent is to turn away from your way and turn to God’s way. A hard lesson to swallow so to make his point in yet another way he tells the crowd a story.
The Parable of the Fig Tree.
There was a man, he owned a vineyard and growing right there among the grapevines was a fig tree. It had been growing for three years and yet still has no fruit! It is useless! The owner of the vineyard says “Enough is enough, cut down this tree!” But the keeper of the vineyard asks for a reprieve.
Those of us who love growing things hate to get rid of a plant even when it is not doing very well at all. We have all fussed with a particularly difficult plant and given it our best efforts and sometimes are surprised and pleased when it comes back to life. Well, the keeper of the vineyard was a plant lover. He offers to give it some special attention, some extra digging the soil around it, some fertilizer and maybe even some mulch and then next year, if it is still without any fruit, then, cut it down!
In his parable of the fig tree Jesus sees an opportunity to illustrate God’s graciousness. The role of the vine keeper is patience and mercy. Just like God treats us! The tree is not left to itself to bear fruit but is going to be nurtured by the vine keeper. In the very same way, God does not leave us alone to our own resources, but instead nurtures and nourishes us with grace and forgiveness so that we might make changes…so that we might turn to God….so that we might repent.
One of our familiar prayers of confession in the back of our hymnals describes us when we are like that barren fig tree:
“We have sinned against you in thought, word and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.” [United Methodist Hymnal, #890] When we confess, we are repenting of the things that separate us from God. It is certainly fortunate that the Lenten Season is long and provides a lot of time to think about what we need to repent of and the changes that are necessary in our lives to do just that!
We all need to ask ourselves what changes we need to make in our lives to live as disciples of Jesus and perhaps even more importantly to help make disciples of others through our gracefilled thoughts and words and fruitful deeds.
I’ll leave you with this question as your take away. How can we open our lives daily to Jesus, our vineyard keeper, so he can cultivate and fertilize our roots and help us bear fruit for the kingdom of God? Let us pray.
Gracious God, Help us remember Jesus’ warning that unless we repent and turn back to you, our lives are as useless as the fig tree with no fruit. Please be patient and merciful to us, Lord. In your great mercy give us another opportunity to repent and to return to you! Amen.
The Kingdom of God: LIKE A HEN
Rev. Vivian L. Rodeffer
Sunday, March 13, 2022
TEXT: Luke 13: 31-35
“I desired to gather your children together
as a hen gathers her brood under her wings…” v.34
31 At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” 32 He said to them, “Go and tell that fox for me, ‘Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. 33 Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.’ 34 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 35 See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
During this season of Lent the Gospel scriptures are stories about Jesus that lift powerful metaphors about the kingdom of God. We were taught that every story about Jesus and every story that Jesus tells answers the inquiry: what is the kingdom of God like?
Last week we recounted the story of the temptations of Jesus in the wilderness. And how the third temptation by the devil was to take Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple in Jerusalem and challenge him to jump! To jump because it was promised in scripture that the angels would catch him lest he “dash his foot upon a stone.” The kingdom of God is like an angel or an eagle ready to bear you up, up to where the hurt and troubles of your life cannot harm you.
Today’s passage centers around a lament. A song or poem about sadness and grief. Jesus speaks a lament over the city of Jerusalem. The city was Jesus’ destination, the final destination of his earthly journey. Earlier in this same Gospel, Luke tells us: “As the time approached for Him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.” [Luke 9: 51] But as he approaches the city, Jesus is warned by some Pharisees to “get away from here.” [v.31] Why? Because Herod wants to kill him. Not his father, Herod the Great wanted to kill Jesus as the baby in the manger but rather his son called Herod Antipas. The royal family carries on the threat.
The Pharisee’s warning only angers Jesus, who replies that he has work to do and Herod’s threats will not stop him in the least. “I am busy” he says. “Today, toomorrow and the third day.” These words a reminder that his upcoming death on the cross will be a logical contiuation of his life and works. He must be on his way because “it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.”[v. 33b]
But Jerusalem, the Golden City, the center of worship and sacrifice for the Jews, hasn’t lived up to what God had intended. In our bibles we read that Jerusalem will be…”the place that the Lord your God will choose out of all your tribes as his habitation to put his name there.” [Deut. 12:5] Jesus knows this truth and has offered his love to the people of Jerusalem countless times and has been rejected. You know how it feels to offer your love to someone you care about only to have them spurn you, turn away from you, act as if you don’t exist.
So Jesus shares this lament for Jerusalem.34 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! Jesus begged to give the city his protective care but they refused his offers.
To this very day Jesus is still coming to Jerusalem…to our “Jerusalems” and is always calling us “to life, to more life, to new life.” [interruptingthesilence.com] So, when are we like the original Jerusalem so adamant in refusing to accept our Lord? We are “Jerusalem” when
- When we have our lives on autopilot…not thinking..just going through the familiar motions of living
- When we are holding onto angry thoughts and grudges and are not forgiving
- When we refuse to listen to the other
- When we believe the only way is our way
- When we hang onto past hurts, guilt or loss
- When we refuse hospitality and to welcome others
- When fear overtakes us and prevents us from acting in loving ways
- And finally, when we are so stuck in the past and that is the way things were always done, that we cannot try anything new or different.
Fear, anger, hostility, inability to listen, our way or the highway, on and on it goes. These are the times we are the “Jerusalem” that Jesus still tries to comfort, protect, and offer his love to. As a hen gathers her precious chicks under her wings and nestles them in the downy feathers of her breast, just so Jesus offers us his protection and love for our lives.
The lament assures us even this morning, this day, that God loves us, GOd roots for us, God’s help is available for any problem or trouble, and finally, God always gives us the freedom to choose between good and evil.
Today and in this coming week, open yourself to take shelter under the mother hen who gavae you birth and loves you dearly. Go willingly to her, rest in her warmth and protection, gain strength from her strength, be not afraid. Let us pray.
Gracious God, You love us so dearly we can barely take it in. A love so deep, so strong, so fearless that we too become Christlike in our discipleship and service to one another. Keep us in the shadow of your wings that we might fear no evil and grow up in every way into a likeness of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
LIKE AN EAGLE
Rev. Vivian L. Rodeffer
Sunday, March 6, 2022
TEXT: Luke 4: 1-13
1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. 3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.” 4 Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’”
5 Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And the devil said to him, “To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. 7 If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” 8 Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’”
9 Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 10 for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,’ 11 and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’”
12 Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 13 When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.
Today’s Gospel Story is “Jesus’ Temptation in the Wilderness.” Immediately after Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River by his cousin John the Baptist, he is “led by the Spirit” into the wilderness. For forty days he ate nothing and during that period he underwent a series of challenges or temptations by the devil. The Gospel of Luke gives us touchstones in Jesus’ life. First, in the Temple at age twelve Jesus begins to understand God as his father in a most special way. Then, when he was baptised, God appears as a dove and a voice announces that this is my Son, the beloved. Now in this story, Jesus is ready to begin his mission and ministry. However, he needs to be ready. Is the time right? God’s Holy Spirit leads him into the wilderness desert to prepare him for his awesome mission.
This may be the most sacred story in all of scripture because it had to be told by Jesus himself to those who would later share it in their gospels. Only Jesus was present during those forty days. He walked alone as Myrtle sang so beautifully in her song. Nobody walked it for him.
Most likely you have heard about these temptations before. Jesus was very hungry after forty days without food, the devil urged him to turn the stones lying about in the desert into bread. It was a try to get Jesus to rely on material things, maybe even use them as bribes to follow him. Jesus replys that real life is not found in material things. “One does not live by bread alone.”
Then the devil transports him to the top of a very high mountain. The type where you are so high, you are looking down on creation. And he offers Jesus a trade off. If you worship me, all this will be yours. Come on, Jesus, just compromise a tiny bit, and this will all be yours. That’s a very good offer because Jesus needed to recruit people to learn about and carry on his mission. Basically Jesus replies that there is no compromise with the world of evil gain. “Worship the Lord your God and serve only him,” Jesus replies as he turns down the offer.
The devil doesn’t give up easily. He knows scripture well, miseuses it, but knows it well. He now spirits Jesus to the center of his world–the top most point on the Temple in Jerusalem. The Temple is situated on the highest point in the city–referred to as the Temple Mount or Mountain.
What a beautiful view that must have afforded. Looking down over the Golden City. Crowds of people in the temple courtyard and throughout the city, shopping, eating, talking with friends. Then the devil says “Jump, jump my friend, and you will attract more attention than if you brought a Super Bowl TV commercial. Go ahead, you can’t buy publicity like this because God’s gonna send angels to catch you before you hit the ground.” The scripture promises this.
Jesus answers him “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” Suddenly, the devil disappears but we are reminded only until another “opportune time.” “Being tested” will be an ongoing opportunity for Jesus and for us as well.
“For us as well.” Hmm. Lent is a time for us as well to think about our temptations. Someone once said that our ability “to repent and to resist temptation comes from our relationship with God and the grace of His deliverance rather than from our own strength and initiative.” [workingpreacher.org, 021416] Remember that verse in Hebrews? Hebrews 4:15 “For we do not have a high priest incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin.”
There are many temptations that we encounter as we go through life. Things like these. The temptation to stay angry with someone who has done us wrong; the temptation to gloat over an enemy down on his or her luck; the temptation to eat too much or drink to much; the temptation to take something that isn’t ours–to copy someone else’s homework, to borrow something and not intend to return it, to conveniently forget to repay someone. The temptation to cut corners, to intentionally forget something important to someone else. The temptation to look at or listen to something that is not edifying for our souls. The temptation to be opinionated, bullying and unsympathetic. You know, this list goes on ad infinitum.
Many of the things that tempt you and me, followers of Jesus, often seem impossible to surmount! But if you remember what I shared earlier there is hope to overcome temptation. Someone shared that our ability “to repent and to resist temptation comes from our relationship with God and the grace of His deliverance rather than from our own strength and initiative.” [workingpreacher.org, 021416] Our relationship with God. The grace of God’s deliverance.
St. Paul writes in his letter called 1 Corinthians, chapter 10:13: “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humankind. And God is faithful; he wil not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” During the forty days of Lent we are encouraged to draw close to God and experience grace firsthand. Draw close to God by praying evey day; draw close to God by not just reading scriptures but by studying them and thinking about them. Just get the Upper Room [on the table inthe lobby by the church office] or purchase the online book we are using for Lent in the prayer group and you will have ample material to read, to meditate upon and to grow your faith deeper.
During Lent pray daily, read and study scriptures and finally reach out in acts of charity and service. I mentioned last week that the United Methodist Committee on Relief is receiving money for their relief efforts for Ukrainian refugees. You can write a check and put it in the offering or mail to the office or you can go to the church website and give online. There are always many opportunities to help and serve others around you as well. Our temptations to do nothing in these matters are temptations that we must overcome. “Our temptations will never compromise our relationship with God, but will bring to the surface God’s amazing grace for us in times of need.” [sermoncentral.com]
God is with us through every temptation we encounter in our lives. We are never alone. We may well imagine God’s love like an angel ready to catch us if we fall and hold us up, or like an eagle that will soar with us above the difficulties of this world and remind us that God is always with us and loves us dearly. Let us pray.
Gracious God, Sometimes it feels as if the things that tempt us are too much to overcome. We are weak but you are strong. Bear with us, help us overcome, keep us near the cross and keep the cross near us. Lift us this Lenten seasonlike an angel, like an eagle, up into a higher altitude of faithfulness and discipleship. Amen
THROUGH JESUS’ EYES: SEEING THE ANCESTORS
“Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him.” v.30
Rev. Vivian L. Rodeffer
Sunday, February 27, 2022
TEXT: Luke 9: 28- 43
28 Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. 30 Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. 31 They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. 33 Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said. 34 While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. 35 Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” 36 When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.
Let’s think about ancestors for a while this morning. Many of you are interested in your genealogy. You’ve done some pretty sophisticated research and constructed some quite detailed family trees. More recently, the DNA tests have become popular too. Have any of you completed one of those DNA tests? You know, Ancestry.Com or Twenty Three and Me? What did you find out? Anything surprising? I gave Robb one of those tests a couple of years ago and he receives about one email every few months that they have found additional cousins. He might be up to fifty some by now. Either they are mistaken or the Irish relatives have been very prolific.
My African American friends have a most beautiful way of referring to their departed family members. “My son is with the ancestors now.” “My husband is with the ancestors.” “ Our loved ones have gone home to the ancestors.” Someone once wrote: “To forget one’s ancestors is like a river without a source or a tree without roots.” There is something deeply compelling to remember our loved ones and accord the respect their lives demand in the honorific title, the ancestors. Yet, this is precisely what today’s scripture lesson is about. Jesus and his ancestors
This scripture called “The Transfiguration of Jesus” has many important elements surrounding the appearance of the ancestors. It is also a perfect way to start the introspective season of Lent in which we take on spiritual discipines in order to draw closer to God. This scripture “gives us a glimpse of who Jesus really is, resurrected, ascended, glorified.” [bryontaylor.com, 021013] It is a continual reminder that the cross is not the end of the story of Jesus. That God has more in mind and we are part of that plan.
Today’s episode happens during intense prayer on a mountaintop, just as Jesus is about to set out for Jerusalem and the final part of his mission, death on the cross. It is absolutely essential for him to take the journey to it’s end, the conclusion of his life and earthly mission. And so, this climb up the mountain with Peter, James and John and an evening of fervent prayer becomes a pivotal point in the life of our Lord.
The location of the Transfiguration, the mountaintop, adds to the power of this drama. Have you ever stood on a mountaintop? Maybe you hiked up. Maybe you took a ski lift or gondola. Maybe you drove your car up. Think for a moment about a mountain that you have been on top of. On the top of a mountain one feels very, very far away from the world. Like the song goes: “On the top of the world looking down on creation.” The vista from any summit is expansive and stunning. You can see for miles. Wherever you travel, montaintops are magical spaces, perfect for miracles.
During Jesus’ forty days of temptation in the wilderness, the devil “ took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; 9 and he said to him, ‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.’ 10 Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’”
Miracles happen on the mountain top as Jesus prays and the disciples struggle to keep their eyes open. Jesus’ appearance is suddenly changed, transfigured, he glows and his clothes become as bright as looking into the sun. Too bright to gaze at comfortably. Then two men appear alongside Jesus–two spiritual ancestors. Two men whose purpose is to help Jesus complete his mission to Jerusalem and his sacrifice on the cross. The bible tells us that the two men “appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.” [v. 31]
The first ancestor is Moses, the great leader, the favored one of God, the one who received the Ten Commandments during his own mountaintop experience so many centuries before. Moses lived life under the shadow of the wings of God, obeying God, witnessing the Burning Bush, confronting Pharoah to let the Hebrew slaves go, leading his people forty years through the wilderness to the promised land. Though at the end of their journey, Moses was not allowed to cross over into the promised land because of an incident of disobeying God’s instructions. Perhaps he was present on the mountain to encourage Jesus to obey God by finishing the journey. To go to the Holy City Jerusalem, to offer himself up as a sacrifice, to make a way for all of us, sinners, to transcend this life and enter into the next.
The second ancestor who appeared on the mountaintop was the Prophet Elijah. We learn about him in the Book of Kings in our bibles. He was a prophet and miracle worker, living in the northern kingdom of Israel during the reign of King Ahab. He defends the God of Israel over the Canaanite God Baal. He was so beloved of God that he never tasted death. Do you remember what happened to him? Think of the spiritual “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.” A fiery chariot and horses came and took him away to heaven. Perhaps he was at this transfiguration meeting to reassure Jesus that God would take Jesus to himself one day and death would be but an empty tomb.
What happens next is even more spectacular than the transfiguration and the appearance of Moses and Elijah, God visits the mountaintop in a cloud that surrounds them all including Peter, James and John. 35 “Then from the cloud came a voice that said, ‘This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!’ 36 When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen…”
This Wednesday, Ash Wednesday, the forty days of the Lenten season begin. I encourage each of you to observe Lent in ways that you might grow a deeper, stronger faith. On Wednesday evening we will start Lent with a clean slate, confessing our sins, receiving forgiveness, sharing The Lord’s Supper with one another and receiving the ashes from last year’s palms as the mark of the cross on our foreheads. Please take time to join by zoom or in person. Let us pray.
Gracious God, How we love your Beloved and Chosen Son who came that we might have forgiveness of sin and eternal life. We thank you for our own spiritual ancestors, mothers and fathers, grandparents, aunts and uncles who shared the faith with us and taught us to love. We thank you for the opportunities in these coming weeks to grow closer to each other. Amen.
THROUGH THE EYES OF JESUS: SEEING OTHERS DIFFERENTLY
“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” v.36
Rev. Vivian L. Rodeffer
Sunday, February 20, 2022
Text: Luke 6: 27-38
27 “But I say to you that listen, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”
Last week we looked at the Beatitude portion of Jesus’ “Sermon on the Plain” which shares lessons like “blessed are the peacemakers, blessed are the poor, blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake.” And we were reminded how these Beatitudes urge us to reorient our lives, to live for eternal life not just for the things that we can pursue for ourselves now in this life.
I also shared four warnings from these Beatitudes which I invited you to write down: wealth, comfort, having fun and popularity. Warnings about the things we often seek that separate us from the kingdom Jesus came to inaugurate. None of which are bad in themselves but often lead us astray from the core values of our faith. As someone once said: “We can become so comfortable in the world that we become spiritually lazy….We don’t see faith that is characterized by sacrifice, diligence, passion or singlemindedness.”
Today’s passage continues the challenge. These verses set the tone for an unbelievable request from Jesus: love your enemies; do good to the haters; bless those who curse you; pray for your abusers; if someone hits you, let them hit you again; if someone demands your coat, give them your shirt as well; give to every beggar; if someone borrows from you, don’t ask it back. And then the grand finale of Jesus’ requests: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. The Golden Rule. Whew!
At it’s most simple, this passage calls us to respond to the world as Jesus did “loving, blessing, praying and offering.” in order that the world’s gridlock of “hatred, judgement, blame, recrimination and violence” be broken. [sacredspace.ie] This is impossible! We may protest. There is no way that we can live out the commands of this teaching. But, St. Paul teaches us otherwise when he proclaims: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” [Philippians 4:13]
The scripture today summarizes Christian ethics. First, our way of doing things is a positive one. We are called to be actively doing good things. Secondly, not only are we doing good things we are called to do the extra thing! Turn the other cheek, give the shirt along with the coat. We are not just seeing how much better we are than the average person, we are comparing ourselves with God. Thirdly, the reason for Christian conduct is that “it makes us like God.” We know that “God’s love embraces saint and sinner alike.” [Barclay, p.95]
Our faith ethic means that we are to “collaborate” with Jesus and “to live on a higher level of loving” than the average person who is not on the kingdom path. We are to become a channel for God’s compassion. Our responses to the teaching of Jesus means we will not depend upon our own power alone “but on the grace that comes from God.” [sacredspace.ie] As St Paul reminds us “[We] can do all things through Christ who strengthens [us].”
The very first verse of today’s scripture lesson is “love your enemies, do good to those who hurt you.” Our lives and the world would be a very different place if we could all follow this edict. The love in this passage is not like “falling in love” where we easily go where our heart leads us. The love in this passage involves our willingness to change our attitude about someone and to “seek nothing but their highest good.” [Barclay, p.93]
For us to live into today’s scripture we must be willing to draw our strength from God; to be willing to put on a new attitude especially toward persons we have difficulty liking; and to keep trying even if we are not successful in our attempts to love our enemies. We can do no less. Here’s your assignment for the week. A practice exercise. Pick someone who doesn’t love you. Maybe even someone you might call an enemy. Enemy is a strong word, maybe it is somebody you do not see eye to eye with or someone you avoid or actively dislike.
Do the following. Pray for that person every day. Speak with that person. In your contact with that person be a good listener and a kind listener. Don’t argue. Don’t insist on being heard. See if in your careful listening there might be something to begin to soften your attitude toward that person by understanding him or her better. Keep praying. Become aware of the changes happening in you as you channel God’s love and grace toward another child of God. Let me know how it goes. I’ll be waiting to hear. I will close with a prayer that I discovered recently. Let us pray:
Lord, “I pray that I may be open, transparent and free in letting the Divine image in which I am created be seen and experienced” by those around me especially my enemies” so that I might love, bless, pray and offer” Your love to them. Amen.
THROUGH THE EYES OF JESUS: WHAT BLESSEDNESS IS
“Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven…” v.23
Rev. Vivian L. Rodeffer
Sunday, February 13, 2022
Text: Luke 6: 17-26
17 He came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea, Jerusalem, and the coast of Tyre and Sidon. 18 They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. 19 And all in the crowd were trying to touch him, for power came out from him and healed all of them. 20 Then he looked up at his disciples and said:
“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
21 “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled.
“Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.
22 “Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man.
23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets.
24 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.
25 “Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry.
“Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep.
26 “Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets.
The back story to today’s scripture lesson is that Jesus has just been to the mountain and has prayed an entire night. He has spent those hours with his Father in Heaven communingwith him and receiving the blessing and power that only the Divine Parent can impart. When he comes down from the mountain that morning he is ready for ministry, and prayer is guiding his steps. First, he chooses his twelve disciples. Then, he turns his attention to the crowd that has gathered. They have come to listen to this rabbi whose reputation is spreading, they have come to be healed of physical ills and evil spirits, they have gathered because they “sought to touch him because power went out from him.” v.19 On that day scripture records that he “cured all.” v.19
Jesus’ teaching has come to be known as The Sermon on the Plain in the gospel of Luke and a similar teaching has been recorded as the Sermon on the Mount in the gospel of Matthew.
Both are very similar and may very well have been Jesus sharing the same message to different crowds of people. Although the locations are different, the gist of both is the same–God is creating a new realm and it is up to us to be part of the new creation or not.
This sermon, the Beatitudes, isn’t always an easy one for us to appreciate. Someone wrote that it is a series of “bombshells.” But you know if Jesus has just touched you with the power of his healing hands and you no longer are filled with anxiety or you know longer have a wound that will not heal or you no longer are blind or hard of hearing or filled with dreadful worries, you might hear these words not as bombshells but as the loving promises of a God who will not forsake the poor, those who hunger, and those filled with sorrow.
The four warnings from these Beatitudes are simple. These are warnings about the things we often seek and love that separate us from the kingdom Jesus came to inaugurated.
The first warning is wealth. While wealth is not a bad thing per se, it often causes us to feel totally self-sufficient. More importantly, it prevents us from understanding and having compassion for the poor. When our lives are measured by the finances we have, we have a very false sense of security and where to place our trust.
The second warning is comfort. When we feel secure and comfortable in our lives it is very difficult to feel compelled to act for those whose lives are spent in misery and want. Refugee families, homeless men and women, families affected by domestic violence, so onand so forth. To be selfsatisfied and smug, we have little motivation to reach out to others.
The third warning is having fun. By having fun I don’t mean we can’t ever laugh and enjoy ourselves. But how much worldly fun do we have to engage in? How many fun nights out partying? How many vacations at casinos gambling? How many pranks that hurt others? How many mean comments on social media?
Finally, the fourth warning is popularity. Having the most “likes” on Facebook, being voted the most popular kid at your school, constantly putting yourself out there to garnish applause, attention and attraction. Worldly popularity contrasts mightily with the Godly quality of “everlastingness.”
Jesus taught these Beatitudes because “we can become so comfortable in the world that we become spiritually lazy….We don’t see faith that is characterized by sacrifice, diligence, passion or singlemindedness.” Wealth, comfort, having fun and popularity make us fit into the notions of success in this world but God has chosen a different path to His kingdom.
Jesus makes it pretty clear–if you choose the way of the world, you have it now. If all your energies are to “obtain the things which the world values, you will get them-but that is all you will ever get.” [The Gospel of Luke, William Barclay, p.91] But if you wish to live in a way that fits you, that grooms you, for eternity, you must make some choices. Some not very easy choices.
The challenge of the Beatitudes for every one of us today is this: Will you be happy in the world’s way? Or in Christ’s way? Think about it in the week ahead. And think about how you might choose to live in a manner that puts you on the path to eternal life–the real life to come. Let us pray:
Good and Gracious God, Let the power that emanated from Jesus’ healing hands on that long ago day, be a fresh power falling upon each of us this day. Let us be rich in love and grace, let us be healers and uplifters, let us share our wealth with those less fortunate, let us count our sacrifices as blessings not losses. Let us be your disciples for this day and in this place. We give you thanks! Amen.