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4th Sunday after Epiphany
1Cor. 13:1-13
Luke 4:21-20
January 31, 2010
By Rev. Mark E. Zender
Father may the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable to you O Lord our Rock and our Redeemer Jesus begins his sermon today in his hometown synagogue and he quotes from the prophet Isaiah telling them; Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing. At first it seems the folks gathered there are pretty positive and upbeat about his message. They cant believe this is the same Jesus they all knew as Joseph and Marys son So initially the words Jesus preaches today grab the folks and they like what he has to say. Then suddenly the crowd turns against him. Rather than admiration they find what hes said to be offensive.
You know Ive discovered in my years as a preacher that a lot of things I preach about and proclaim tend to rub folks the wrong way. Finding the Gospel and Jesus words offensive sort of goes with the territory, Ive found. I heard a preacher say once in a sermon something like; Whenever and wherever Jesus encountered people he filled them with a great sense of peace. Doesnt sound like it here in what we just read in Lukes Gospel, does it? Now, Ill admit Jesus calmed a few stormy seas, released demons on more than one occasion, had a calming presence if thats what we want to call it, dont get me wrong. My point is the Jesus that I read about and study and have gotten to know does more than just bring about a sense of peace and calmness. If anything I think the opposite is more true. The Jesus I know and read about, the words that I hear him say tend to stir things up rather than calm things down, most times. Ive been re-reading a lot lately from The Works of Martin Luther and Luther said: Wherever the Gospel is preached faithfully, demons are set loose. In other words things are stirred up, emotions riled. We tend to think everyone who came in contact with Jesus automatically was overwhelmed and overpowered just by his holiness. That they took his words to heart, after all God speaks, people listen!
But you know what, not everyone received Jesus, did they? We know from our own experience the same is true today too. In fact most folks then and now reject Jesus and the words he speaks. There seems to be a resistance to the message. Something about the person and presence of Christ evokes even anger, like I said resistance. Eventually we know its the peoples anger and wrath that puts Jesus on the cross The congregation that heard Jesus today got so angry they wanted to kill him. How dare he talk to us that way! At Nazareth he upset the folks about their idea of who and how God is portrayed. Their whole idea about so called insiders and outsiders of Gods Kingdom, Gods chosen. What I want to do this morning is look at the words of Jesus and just let them be what they are. Often as a preacher we tend to soften the words proclaimed on Sunday. Sermons get to be advice on self improvement or I put in my two cents worth on what I think Jesus was really trying to tell us on any given Sunday. Early in my ministry I read a book on preaching by Paul Borden who said that preachers to be effective need to introduce Jesus into the sermon and then just let him be, let him walk where he will, touch who he touches. Insert Jesus and then relinquish control.
So if this offends anyone this morning, I guess Ive done my job today I titled this topic this morning The Gift of Love that might seem like an odd title but its talking about the kind of love we read in our reading from 1Corinthians. Not the sentimental stuff, more like the real and true love that Scripture describes. Love thats patient and kind, not jealous or boastful, irritable, rude or arrogant. The kind of love that bears all things, endures all things. The kind of love I think Jesus spoke today that so many took offense to. Almost a tough love, we call it. He spoke the truth, not what they wanted to hear. He said what he had to say and then he let the congregation do with it what they will. The question today is; are we willing to listen to Jesus, no matter what he says? Do we let him walk among us no matter where that leads us? I want to share something I received in the mail a few days ago from a friend of mine.
I dont know personally the person who originally wrote what Im about to read. But it touched me so I havent been able to get it out of my mind since last Thursday, so much so that I thought well a good way to get it out of my mind would be to pass it on to yours. You can thank me later, maybe even angrily, well see! The articles titled The Room written by a fellow named Brian Keith Moore and Im paraphrasing here.
In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room. There was no distinguishing features save for the one wall covered with small index card files. They were like the ones in libraries that list titles and authors in alphabetical order. The difference was these files had titles with very different headings.
As I walked up to the wall, the first to catch my attention was one that read People I Have Liked. I opened it, flipped through and quickly shut it. I realized I recognized the names written on each one! At that moment I also realized exactly where I was. This room with small files seemed to be a catalog of my entire life. Every action, every moment of my life was there on those cards. Some brought joy and sweet memories, some sadness and shame and regret. The feelings were so intense I could almost feel anothers presence and I looked over my shoulder to be sure.
A file named Friends was next to one marked Friends I Have Betrayed. Common stuff too like Books That I Have Read, Jokes Ive Laughed At, titles like Lies Ive Told, Things Ive Done in Anger. Often in each of these files were many more cards than Id expected. The sheer number actually overwhelmed me! How could it be that so many things had been attributable to me? Yet on closer examination I discovered each and every card had been written in my very own handwriting. Each card signed with my own signature, each one whether I liked it or not confirming the truth.
I pulled out a file marked Songs I Have Listened To and it seemed to stretch forever. I realized it represented not what I listened to but how much time and energy it represented and shut it ashamedly. When I came to the one labeled Lustful Thoughts I felt a chill run through my body. I felt sick that such thoughts and so many had ever been recorded. I felt desperate, no one should ever see these thoughts and I tried to tear the card and destroy the record. The card though seemed to be as strong as steel and as hard as I tried, it wasnt to be. Defeated and utterly helpless I let out a long self pitying sigh instead.
Thats when I saw the file titled People I Have Shared the Gospel With. The handle was brighter than the rest. It seemed to have been hardly used or opened at all. The cards in that file sadly I counted on one hand. And thats when the tears came. I began to weep, sobs so deep my stomach hurt. I fell on my knees and cried, overwhelmed with shame. And then looking up through my tears I saw Jesus enter the room. I watched as he open the files and read all of the cards, O God Please dont read that one, or that one! He could have said so many things about those cards but he didnt. He should have made so many judgments about those cards but he wouldnt. Instead he sat down on the floor with me and cried. When he got up he started on one end of the room and one by one signed his name over every one of my signatures on every single card! The writing was so dark, so rich, so alive I realized it was written in blood. And then he said It is finished, placed his hand on my shoulder and led me out of the room. In that place between wakefulness and dreams Ive realized there are many more cards to be written
God Bless and AMEN
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