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October 3, 2004 - Year C - Pentecost +18
Wesley White
October 3, 2004
Lamentations 1:1-6 ; Lamentations 3:19-26 or Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4
Psalm 137 or Psalm 37:1-9
2 Timothy 1:1-14
Luke 17:5-10
Just how obedient, submissive, miserable, or lonely do we have to be? Is there an option to being wretched worms?
How might "world" communion help us shift gears from little communions with ourselves?
Remember that prophets and progressives bring choices, not dogma, resignation, and fatalism. In choosing, we set a course for a better future (no guarantees) that brings us to evaluation and re-choosing. We are not stuck, no matter how much it seems that way. A larger picture is available.
Wesley White
Luke 17:5-10
Mandated to forgive, Jesus' students ask for more faith.
Apparently they think there is a connection between forgiveness and faith.
Their thinking is: to not forgive is to lack faith.
Jesus avoids this connection, just like he does with some of the healings. Not every healing has to do with faith. Likewise forgiveness is not always tied to faith. More faith would be overkill, see what a smidgeon of a jot or a tittle will do.
Jesus pooh-poohs the need for faith in the face of a clear and dramatic instruction about forgiveness - as often as it is requested, it is to be given. That's all. It doesn't take faith, it simply takes the doing of it.
They are simply to do what they were asked to do without gussying it up or getting faith involved -- forgive.
Can you imagine forgiveness simply being forgiveness without forgiveness being a product of faith?
Wesley White
2 Timothy 1:1-14
"You have the gift of faith living within you. That's good. Not only that, but I've touched your life. You are not afraid in light of the power, love, and self-discipline you carry with you.
"But I am afraid that very power, love, and self-discipline will take you where even angels fear to tread, so don't color outside the line I laid down for you."
What a deal -- the very gifts given, are warned against. And, yet, is not the Holy Spirit a living spirit living within us pushing us to greater things than even Jesus is recorded as having participated in.
It is so easy to hold only to the letter of a teaching itself without paying attention to the spirit of the standard of the teaching which is to break new ground through the cracks in our realities and a new creation pulling us forward.
We have so often read this as a dire warning that if you go beyond Paul you are on the side of terror. We are called to go beyond such a limitation to herald through our lives, not through Paul's life repeated, the light of good newness revealing life and more while they were invisible to us.
Wesley White
Psalm 137 or Psalm 37:1-9
How do we pursue a journey to awareness of the presence of GOD in the face of our present situation demanding our attention be limited to it? When captured by Babylon, Capitalism, Preemptive War, Drugs, Sex, Niceness, Comfort, or Whatever -- how do we sing a different song that releases accumulated hatred? How do we sing Dylan's It Ain't Me, Babe to those who and that which would claim our soul?
A sense of detachment/assurance works wonders in this setting. We don't fret at what might be done to us, we don't become envious and do the same to others. All of this (me and my situation) will soon fade. This leaves a clearer vision of the possibility of doing good in the midst of subversions of a blessed creation.
So we engage patience and walk away from wrath. We participate in creative acts of parabolic living and active non-violence. We do this in regard to both ourselves and others.
Wesley White
Lamentations 1:1-6 ; Lamentations 3:19-26 or Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4
In Egypt the people finally cried out for justice. They were led into the wilderness, away from their complaint.
In Judah the people finally cried out for justice. They were led into exile, away from their complaint.
Today the people finally cry out for justice. "The law becomes slack and justice never prevails. The wicked surround the righteous -- therefore judgment comes forth perverted."
We will also be led away.
All pay when all do not stand up for justice. All pay when one perverts justice. Perhaps not immediately (which does encourage others to do the same), but eventually the cry comes forth and all are led away.
Prophets, stand with the Lamenter and Habakkuk. Help us be clear about this matter that we change and not be led away.
Wesley White
2 Timothy 1:1-14
A debate regarding future leadership was held last night. A part of the difference between the debaters is touched upon by verses 13 and 14 -- "Hold to the standard of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard the good treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us."
One debater held to the spirit of the law as a standard passed on to him - war is a last resort. The other debater guarded the letter of the law as a treasure that had one, and only one, consequence - stay the course unwaveringly.
I was more impressed with the flexibility and standards of teaching, faith, and love than the guarding of doctrinal verities finding its authority in repetition and volume.
The spins that went on after the debate were what really got to me. I expect that there are reasonably good reasons for different folks choosing to emphasize standards versus guardianship. I can live with that and help to decide between them in a given situation.
What I find disturbing are the folks who have a task of defending one or the other to the exclusion of the other or the one. Samantha Bee, on The Daily Show reporting of the debate, indicated that dealing with the undecided had led her to a decision to drown herself. I can put up with the undecided who opt out of being part of a solution to a difficult issue. I am only led to think about drowning in the face of the spinners who doggedly refuse to get off message to acknowledge any worth in one they have labeled as opponent or enemy.
What keeps me going are wonderful songs like Ewan MacColl's Joy of Living that brings me back to verse 4 -- "Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy." I am always glad to hear echoes of the Song of Songs as a call to a better future.
"Farewell to you, my love, my time is almost done
Lie in my arms once more until the darkness comes
You filled all my days, held the night at bay, dearest companion
Years pass by and they're gone with the speed of birds in flight
Our life like the verse of a song heard in the mountains
Give me your hand then love and join your voice with mine
And we'll sing of the hurt and the pain and the joy of living
"Farewell to you, my chicks, soon you must fly alone
Flesh of my flesh, my future life, bone of my bone
May your wings be strong may your days be long, safe be your journey
Each of you bears inside of you the gift of love
May it bring you light and warmth and the pleasure of giving
Eagerly savour each new day and the taste of its mouth
Never lose sight of the thrill and the joy of living"
What keeps you going?
Wesley White
Luke 17:5-10
We have been off lection for the last couple of weeks. A focus has been upon spiritual gifts. One of the consequences of identifying and following one's gifts is that the emphasis is taken off the results of our living as the measuring rod of quality living. Rather, the joy of living within one's current gifts (not those one once had or may have sometime in the future) takes a prominent place.
Do you thank someone for doing what their gifts calls for? Well, yes. Thanks in this case is quite appropriate. Well, no. They have simply and naturally and graciously/gracefully done what was theirs. Well, yes. Even those living from their gift base have a need for thanks (after all we are in the image of GOD who seems to desire thanks). Well, no. The rest of us simply begin to use the gifts given us - this is thanks enough.
Not only increase our faith, but increase our identification and encourage our following the gifts given us for the common good.
October 10, 2004 - Year C - Pentecost +19
Wesley White
October 10, 2004
Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7 or 2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c
Psalm 66:1-12 or Psalm 111
2 Timothy 2:8-15
Luke 17:11-19
Giving thanks in good times and in bad is a crucial element for keeping on keeping on in the face of political and economic nonsense (defined as not caring for the poor for it always is foolish in the long-term).
This would be a good week to join our Canadian sisters and brothers in thanksgiving.
Wesley White
Luke 17:11-19
The following comment by Susan Ivany on the free-for-email-registration lectionary conversation Midrash found on joinhands.com under Wood Lake Books and their Resource section, was helpful to me regarding the need for thankfulness to our being, not in response to the situations we encounter.
= = = = = = =
Let me guess. Each of your pastoral encounters has a clear starting point and ends with an embossed thank you card extolling your many gifts for ministry. I didn't think so. When it does happen this way, it is a rare and wonderful thing, but for the most part pastoral ministry is not that tidy. More often than not, pastoral care evolves out of need and dissolves out of circumstance. People move on, lives change for the better, and situations require less of your presence.
If we were in ministry for the accolades and gratitude, we wouldn't have made it past our first internships. The truth is we get up every morning entrusting our lives and ministries to the grace of God. We do the best we can, often unaware of the effect we might have on the people we meet.
Jesus didn't really need the ten people to thank him. He knew who he was and did not define himself on the basis of other people's approval. He wanted them to be thankful, not for his sake, but for their own.
Wesley White
2 Timothy 2:8-15
"Remind them of this, and warn them before God that they are to avoid wrangling over words, which does no good but only ruins those who are listening."
Poetry is a great gift. It transforms words into meaning different than the dictionary, shifting us from denotation to connotation - from separating and distinguishing and wrangling about it depending on what you mean, a la Humpty Dumpty and our current politicians in heat to a picture of new relationships.
We had a congregational conversation about a difficulty in our midst - building - that has gone on for 7 years. In the listening to one another we identified a number of question areas but one stood out - what is our picture of the future? what is the spiritual gift this congregation has to offer the community for its common good? what is our purpose or what meaning will this offer to our ministries, our life?
One question expressed three ways? Now we will have to more clearly wrestle with what has been holding us in chains and how an unchained melody of GOD will transform us.
I wonder if our next mission/vision/purpose statement will be poetic enough to cast a picture worth following or a stringing together of accepted religious words that are vague enough in people's minds to pass because they sound good and we can twist them to our advantage in any given situation?
What would unchain you and wouldn't that be a moment of thanksgiving for both yourself and those you encounter?
Wesley White
Psalm 66:1-12 or Psalm 111
"Pay no attention to the facts on the TV screen or in the papers and magazines. All is going well." So runs part of the debate about Iraq - an OZ story replayed off the page.
Sometimes all the praise talk feels like that. It is like talking to one of the old kings. It is not just a matter of "if you don't have something good to say, say nothing at all." It is studiously avoiding a recognition of difficulties and questions or actively turning any news other than glorious into glorious. Only one side can be spoken, there is only one perspective to hold.
Even with these hesitations about praise, one of the grandest images comes in 66:12, "yet you have brought us out to a spacious place." This is not a spacious empty, but a spacious full place, saturated. Would that we had a sense of spaciousness that understood there is more than enough to go around, that we are not playing a zero-sum game. Would that we had a sense of spaciousness that gives room to turn around, repent even, and rethink, replan, re-act.
This is the best praise - living from a space of enough daily bread, living from a space of uncoerced reevaluation and new beginning. Both of these lead us to acting from a better base and thus better participating in extravagant thanksgiving.
How might our decision-making be clearer? - being in a spacious place with resources aplenty and openness to move in ever better directions.
Wesley White
Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7 or 2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c
When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. When GOD gives you exile, make a home there.
When you take charge of someone else's life, listen to their experience. When GOD takes charge of your life, listen to the new options.
Thanksgiving is not based on getting what you want (that's the Santa Claus fantasy).
Thanksgiving is based on thanksgiving.
It's about thanksgiving, stupid.
Thanksgiving, anyway!
Wesley White
2 Timothy 2:8-15
"Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David--that is my gospel...."
Remember Jesus Christ who lives between the future and the past, right here with us in the present.
Resurrection is a wonderful, future-oriented experience. It is filled with the energy of a new believer, a convert. Having experience resurrection, a repentant turn from hurtful, habitual ways, a touch of miracle unbidden, unexpected. What could be wrong with this? Well, it can lead to presumptuous, out-of-touch decision-making and the jumping to inaccurate actions that avoid connections with the experience of others.
Descension is a wonderful, past-oriented experience. It is filled with the passion of a Hatfield or McCoy. We come into the world as an empty book and fill our pages with the context into which we were born and the events of our lives. (see lyric ) These are more pain than gain but it becomes so much a part of us that it is a real struggle to escape, much easier to simply go along.
So often we get caught flipping back and forth between these rather than bring them together to inform one another. We are excited about newness, we are comforted with the commonplace, we loose touch with first one and then the other.
What great thanksgiving there will be when we live in the midst of resurrection firmly in one hand and blessed/sinful firmly in the other. We will use resurrection to raise our reality and our experience to ground resurrection. Out of this connection better decisions in the moment will arise.
Wesley White
Luke 17:11-19
We find ourselves in borderlands, between related but different perspectives. The issue is not whether one belongs to this group or that group, this tradition or that. The question is related to the relationship issues of healing and mercy. How do we move toward personal wholeness as well as social holiness?
Certainly there is a place for the traditions to come to bear - going to see the priests for certification. There is also a place for breaking such - turning back from going to see the priests in order to express thanksgiving.
Sometimes, though we get all caught up with the one who returned thanks to Jesus. We equate this with faith. All ten had the faith to go for certification of a healing that was not visible. All ten had a healing. All ten gave thanks (my projection), but in different directions. One might argue that Jesus sent this one who came back off in a similar direction as his nine companions - "Get up and go on your way."
Our way is wholeness and health; our way is sharing that story and encouraging others and pointing a way for individuals and communities and even enemies to be more whole and holy.
Let's not limit thanksgiving as a way of being before Jesus, but a way of life, no matter where or when we are or what circumstance we are facing.
Wesley White
Luke 17:11-19
Jesus asks, "Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?"
Too often we take this literally, as though praise to GOD can only be done in a particular acceptable format. I wonder if Jesus isn't still hoping that we will think and feel about life in such a way that we won't have knee-jerk reactions to questions, pre-planned responses to town-hall queries.
And if those gathered around responded to Jesus' question with, "Yes, they were all found to give praise to GOD and they did so by going forth to share the gospel they experienced. You will find them returning to you in other times and places with not only their own thanks, but that of others. In some sense this one has come to bury his talent, rather than invest it. It would be good if you sent him on to emulate the others."
Might then we see Jesus again learning and finally saying, "Get up and go on your way...."
What part do you and I have to play in the salvation of the world, the extension of thanksgiving for life, for life renewed, for life eternal? Might we go beyond simple acquiescence to literally taken questions and sense a movement of life, not a reduction to the lowest common meaning of words?
October 17, 2004 - Year C - Pentecost +20
Wesley White
October 17, 2004
Jeremiah 31:27-34 or Genesis 32:22-31
Psalm 119:97-104 or Psalm 121
2 Timothy 3:14 - 4:5
Luke 18:1-8
One of my favorite active images is that of "god-wrestling."
See the books about god-wrestling by Rabbi Arthur Waskow for an invigorating challenge to seeing things in the same old way.
Right now it feels like we will have to do more than one night's wrestling to get these scriptures down to one focal point. Perhaps that's not needed and we most need to wrestle with our need to have one clear point rather than coming to a draw.
As a start for the week you might try looking at the importance of a question.
Wesley White
Luke 18:1-8
The New Interpreter's Study Bible notes a stronger translation is available: "lest she continue coming and end up doing violence to me!" and continues by reflecting, "The point is that, according to societal norms, this widow should simply have accepted her fate; by refusing to do so, she acts so out of character that the judge is astonished. In this way, she becomes a model of faithfulness on earth."
Where have you and I self-censored ourselves? Where might we break free from societal norms, from our usual character, and be faithful to a larger picture of the meaning of life?
This is an important question in a time of political turmoil. To play our usual passive role is to allow continued violence to ourselves and others. It is not that we will threaten violence, it is simply that any standing outside the norm will be interpreted as violence by those in power - note any non-violent action from the Song of Songs to Jesus to Civil Rights.
It is not too amazing that our translators get a bit tentative once in awhile and choose a milder translation. However, we do not have the same felt constraints they do so let's go with the "stronger" translation.
Wesley White
2 Timothy 3:14 - 4:5
"Continue in what you have learned." When in Peace Corps training to teach teachers how to teach science without lab equipment it was emphasized that learning how to learn was more important than learning a particular experiment and fabricating equipment for a particular experiment.
What have Christians learned? Have we learned memorization? Have we learned doctrine and dogma? Have we learned ritual? Have we learned that a living GOD is going to keep us learning beyond each and every particular learning?
Scripture is "useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness." Two support functions, two correction functions. A given passage can be used in at least these ways. Which is the one and only correct use? -- none. When we wrestle through and learn how to learn we are equipped for every good work needed in the moment.
Among other things, it takes flexibility to be ready for the next good work needed. We can't keep repeating the same good work in a variety of settings without that good work eventually becoming exactly a bad work that makes everything worse.
Keep wrestling with scripture and the persistent need to keep momentary truths from limiting a coming new heaven and earth.
Wesley White
Psalm 119:97-104 or Psalm 121
The law as a meditation vehicle is important. Too often the law is an enforcement issue. Meditation here may be a mild word for wrestling. Wisdom comes in the midst of the wrestling, not the passivity that sometimes comes to mind with meditation. Just sitting and waiting for revelation is not what this is about. As a result of active interaction with the law it becomes a guide for our living. This is different than setting the law up as an article of obeisance.
Likewise is the need for active participation in the discernment process. Simply lifting one's eyes and seeing everything being taken care of works against the early understanding of finding conversation in the cool of the evening that would shape our next day. And there was evening talk and morning work, each and every day, and it is good. Upon the mountains or under the trees, where do you sense the healing touch arising? Is it from far away or here in our midst?
Wesley White
2 Timothy 3:14 - 4:5
"Be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage with the utmost patience in teaching."
These qualities have both positive and negative aspects. In light of the "debates" we have heard in America from the Republican and Democrat candidates for the presidency we have seen the use of these qualities overused to the point of emulating the big lie. It is as, if you say it often enough it becomes true. This does reflect the communication rule of thumb that folks need to hear something seven times before it begins to sink in that there is more than noise going on, but it is still disheartening that the level of political insight and discourse is so low after all these years and getting lower.
Persistence need not mean repetition. We can be persistent in our actions and keep reaping the same whirlwind over and over again, thinking that somehow the same decisions won't bear the same results. We can also be persistent in well doing that is different in response to the different needs at this moment, instead of the last moment.
Conviction, correction, and support are all part of the teaching function. In most settings these are best done with some creativity that plays off of incremental insights. In prison settings the boundaries around these are much more constrained. But as people freed to the limitlessness of doing good, we are called to the creative part of teaching. We continue to not only see people as they are, but as they might become and to interact with them on this basis.
This is a call to the difficult and rewarding work of wresting with applying new duties to new occasions. This is not a call to rote memorization or intellectual speculation.
Let us continue to encourage one another to persist in living in the midst of GOD's expansive love and to not only love GOD and neighbor, but to fairly wrestle with them.
Wesley White
Luke 18:1-8
Tomorrow is Children's Sabbath. One of the injustices is to limit the slogan, "No child left behind" to the educational realm. Material from Children's Sabbath asks, "What would it look like to treat every child as a child of God?" They go on to indicate, "We would ensure that every child has a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start, and a Moral Start in life.
You may note that we need to do more with starting the kids than noting they are already behind and try to pull them along, all the while enlarging exactly the gap that all these starts need to deal with - poverty.
Widows and orphans are an inseparable pair in the scriptures. Imagine, if you will, replacing the widow with an orphan. This draws the picture all the more starkly. A widow can have some modicum of standing, being an adult and possibly having friends. The same cannot be said about an orphan unless you or I enter the picture as an intentional, going-the-long-distance, advocate.
This story is filled with accusations in this political season against a mass-deceived war, poverty and an increasing gap between the rich and the poor denying any increase of minimum wage to the poor so the rich don't even have to get any richer to increase that gap, and a program that is only concerned about some measurability of grades with no concern about the health of the children that allows any head learning to mean something.
Yes, GOD/widow and GOD/orphan have an accusation to bring against the rulers of our day and those of us who have quietly avoided the call to be an advocate who will wrestle against the powers and principalities of our day.
October 24, 2004 - Year C - Pentecost +21
Wesley White
October 24, 2004
Joel 2:23-32 or Sirach 35:12-17 or Jeremiah 14:7-10, 19-22
Psalm 65 or Psalm 84:1-7
2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18
Luke 18:9-14
At first blush this week the issue of recognizing our name is being called, that GOD is present, stands out. Our playbook has only one play in it - pay attention to the Presence of GOD.
Wesley White
Luke 18:9-14
The direction of action often tells us what is at the center and what is at the periphery and what the relationship between the two might be.
The "Pharisee" is at the center of the universe - "I thank you".
The "Tax Collector" is at the periphery - "God, be merciful".
The Pharisee stands separated from and moving further away - I'm not like others (even if they claim to be in the image of God or if God claims a relationship with them).
The Tax Collector stands separated from and moves closer - mercy leads to justified reconciliation.
Where are GOD and Neighbor with you this day?
Wesley White
2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18
There is some movement here from Paul's fight being the center-of-the-universe to not being able to do it without God. But on the whole it is more triumphant than not.
In some sense Paul lives and dies with the resurrection even though he talks a lot about the cross and suffering. It is this resurrection that comes off rather haughtily as a special person who has GOD on their side.
In light of glory-forever-and-ever what is it that would constitute an evil attack? Are these the thorn-in-the-flesh temptations to stop or give-up? Is any attack on one an evil one from an evil empire? By what criteria would only certain attacks perceived as evil?
At some point we need to get out of the evil-attack mentality/spirituality. A key to this is a sense of the presence of GOD and Neighbor.
Wesley White
Psalm 65 or Psalm 84:1-7
The Lord of hosts, the GOD of Gods, pours out GOD's nature in the form of rain. Much in the Psalms can be traced back to a competition with various Rain Gods. This makes sense in a dry climate or one reliant upon agriculture.
We experience this refreshing and growing rain as a gift of resurrecting, reviving, and restoring community -- the rain of forgiveness, the reign of GOD, the rein on our destructive tendencies.
Of course there is torrential rain, monsoon rain, hurricane rain, typhoon rain, and the like, that erodes and floods out. But here we are in a thankful mood that catches a glimpse of the presence of GOD in the fertility of rain that satisfies our longings and lifts our fainting souls.
As folks made in this GOD's image we too are to become at least a shower of blessing in other's lives. This is our happiness and our praise.
May you be poured out as daily as the bread that sustains you.
Wesley White
Joel 2:23-32 or Sirach 35:12-17 or Jeremiah 14:7-10, 19-22
No matter what desolation and abandonment is experienced, still GOD is in our midst.
And so those words of prophesy that allow us to change from our current path, those retellings of a dream of a better way of living, and those poems of vision leading us beyond the current and limiting traps of a reduced picture of what is possible -- all move us beyond survival issues to participation in a call to redeem the injustice shown to widow and orphan.
Prophesies, dreams, and visions are real processes, not shortcuts (like a bribe), to better living. They identify the poor and identify with the poor and identify the arena of mutual ministry with the poor. They confront the idolatry of each and every economic and political formula.
As elections grow closer, do not forget to share your prophesy, dream, and vision in regard to our present and future. This is not to further any particular party or person as they all will disappoint at some point, but to hold for yourself and the rest of us a creative way through to a time of healing in the face of each and every terror. This is living and hoping and faithing and loving worth the doing.
Wesley White
2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18
Have you ever felt poured out on the altar of life? If so, was that a momentary sense or has it lasted? If not, have you wondered what you have missed and that you have played too safe.
There is a sense in which a key choice in life is that of being poured out or not. Eventually, we know, we will cease to be. There used to be an ad about only going around once and so going for all the gusto in that once and only life. Even reincarnationally there is an important understanding of not being passive in this moment because it will affect another time to come.
We know the religious right pours itself into its understandings and is willing to take almost any risk to prevail. Might the religious progressives pour themselves into their understandings to take any risk to remain faithful to their perspective?
Prevailing and perspective are here intentionally distinguished from one another. This is not a scientific or sociologic or psychologic description, but a felt experience of having been prevailed against and hoping to not return like for like.
May your pouring out your life be a joy and sustenance to you and many.
Wesley White
Luke 18:9-14
Slightly modifying the note in The New Interpreter's Study Bible:
The basic question is this: Who recognizes God as the gracious benefactor? Who has learned the fundamental lesson Jesus has been developing throughout the Jerusalem journey -- namely, that God's nature is characterized by generosity, compassion, care, and faithful activity on behalf of God's creation.
In terms of atonement issues, note that the blood of Jesus was not necessary for justification and forgiveness of sins. Humility in the present is sufficient. It would be good to remember the parables and stories and observations of Jesus whenever we get into doctrinal issues. They show every single-note legalism for the control mechanism it is.
Now how is the opportunity to stand in the presence of GOD rather than having GOD stand in the shadow of our own selves going to be offered in your worship opportunities?
One option is to use repetition.
Have the congregation stand and repeat, almost ad nauseam, "I'm better than these others." Have them even stick their nose in the air as they say it.
Then invite them to bow forward and repeat, quite slowly, "God, mercy." Have them extend that to others, "God, mercy for all."
And simply end the message. "You have both Pharisee and Tax Collector within you. The choice is yours -- which will grow and which will diminish?"
Lynn Scott
I'm working with the aspect of humility and I see it defined in the Greek and Hebrew languages as "lowly," "on bended knee," "to depress," "to humiliate in condition of heart," and more. I am reminded of another definition from the mystics that talked about humility as the capacity for universal communion. How is humility related to repentance (to know God at the center as the tax collector prayed) and how is humility less than whole outside of community?
October 31, 2004 - Year C - Pentecost +22
Wesley White
October 31, 2004
Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4 or Isaiah 1:10-18
Psalm 119:137-144 or Psalm 32:1-7
2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12
Luke 19:1-10
Let's finally get on the right track of what it takes to rebuild a fractured community where everyone is out for their own and divide ourselves into winners and losers, patriots and traitors, saved and heretic.
This is the last sermon before the American election. What will you be praying for, preaching about?
Is this a scary halloween with dirty tricks and great fear?
Is this a sacred hallowed time of all souls and great hope?
Wesley White
Luke 19:1-10
Bulletin Cover
Call to New Living
Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song!
Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
Bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.
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.
Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again.
Do to others as you would have them do to you.
Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord this new song.
from Moira Laidlaw
Hymns by Ken Medema
These three could to keep you occupied for the week.
Wesley White
Psalm 119:137-144 or Psalm 32:1-7
You always do the right thing, Lord,
and your judgments are spot on.
You have set out your instructions for us,
marking the way of honesty and integrity.
When I see opponents ignoring your teachings,
I get so angry I could explode.
Your promises have tested true over and over
and I will cherish your every word as I serve you.
I might be a nothing, a no one,
but I know how to stick to your ways.
Your commitment to what's right never ends
and your law is the essence of truth.
Tough times have come to torment me,
but your teachings still put a smile on my face.
Your directions are the ultimate in justice;
they show me the way to fullness of life.
from Nathan Nettleton
Wesley White
2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12
This is not negative advertising. Can you imagine a message as late as today coming from either of the candidates to the nation that would approximate Paul to the Thessalonians - an adopted country?
"I and my advisors boast of you among the countries for your steadfastness and faith during these last months of persecution and afflictions you are enduring. Our attempts to solidify your vote have continued to drive wedges between family members, making winner and losers - winners of the losers who will have a new cause to rally behind and losers of the winners who enter the waters of poisoned communal decision-making.
"Knowing the heritage of a living and loving GOD experiencing the very same persecutions and afflictions of negative advertising, closed ears, hardened hearts, unjust laws restricted expressions of choice, betrayers and loyalists misrepresenting intentions and yet working to powerfully fulfill every good resolve and work to connect our best dreams with our practical day-to-day decisions - we will do our best to represent you to others and represent to you a sense of abundance in the midst of the fear of too little and putting our common money toward expressions of healing each one and binding us all together. In such a manner we will really fulfill the ancient vision of our land of a general welfare of all, no matter what, and a common defense of this value, no matter what."
To what end will you pray these days that we might be worthy of this creation and one another?
Wesley White
Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4 or Isaiah 1:10-18
Facing ourselves
For ignoring the vision
breathed by the living Spirit
churning deep within our souls;
Lord have mercy,
Lord have mercy,
Have mercy upon us.
For refusing to look at the vision
alive within those
who look or act or sound different from us;
Christ have mercy,
Christ have mercy,
Have mercy upon us.
For choosing familiarity, ease, and comfort
rather than risking the opportunities
afforded in the vision
Lord have mercy,
Lord have mercy,
Have mercy upon us.
Invitation to new selves
If the vision seems to tarry
wait for it;
it will surely come…
it will surely come…
from Kathryn Hawker
How does the line, "have mercy" play within today's American politics that places such high emphasis upon photo-ops?
How does the line, "have mercy" play within your life that places such high emphasis upon being righteous?
Wesley White
2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12
It would be nice, I suppose, to always have something bright to say about every bit of sacred writ. It would keep me thinking I understand what's going on around. But, today, at least, as Jon Stewart would say, "I've got nothing."
In theory this keeps me honest and humble. But I'm proudful enough to boast that I've got plenty of nothing.
Isn't it amazing how we can turn our deficits into pluses, at least for the moment we acknowledge a deficit.
So, to some apocalyptic or whimpering end, pray for me. Who knows, it may draw you closer to Paul and myself closer to the Thessalonians.
Wesley White
Luke 19:1-10
What metaphorical tree would you climb to see who Jesus is?
Would it be the tree of human compassion?
Would it be the tree of church?
Would it be the tree of meditation?
If we compare this passage with Amos 7:14 we find Amos coming hurriedly out of his sycamore tree to prophesy. Zacchaeus is also a prophet reminding us that economics is the major idol. We don't seem to know how to serve both GOD and Mammon. The reversal Zacchaeus goes through is a parallel to the transformation of Amos. Are you ready to be so converted?
Politically we might note that the constitution was set up to deliberately keep economic powers from overwhelming community political power. We are now at that point of conflict in America where economics has equal status (if not more) with politics and this next election will let us know if we will continue on the trail of increased emphasis upon economics or a reestablishment of a bulwark against that idolatry (both religious and constitutional).
This wee little story casts a huge shadow. We will see how it gets played out this election time and whether Zacchaeus will now say, "I don't see what the big deal is, my house will remain my house and everyone can look out for themselves, just like I have had to."
How will we keep terror at bay. Trust the Economy? Trust GOD? Fortify our house? Share? These are questions that continue to haunt.
Musically, the song Where Are You Standing by Judy Fjell puts this well. Her note on this song says: "The Oregon battle against the OCA and Ballot Measure 9 has inspired me to delve into my Lutheran roots for a few Bible stories to sing to the rabid right. It is my hope that in these difficult times we can all act from love and justice, not fascism and fear." Still a pertinent understanding with another vote in Oregon this Tuesday.
Verse 2
I knocked upon your door and you did not answer
You looked from behind your curtain and then you turned away
Did you do that to me or did you do that to Jesus
I hope this question lingers I hope this question haunts you
This question in your life
Chorus
Where are you standin'
Are you standin' on the side of fear
Do you close your heart to others
when differences appear between you
Where are you standin'
Do you shout so only you can hear
Or do you listen to the beat of the world
Are you livin' in the hope of the world
Are you livin' for the future of this world
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