Matthew 14:22-33-“The Weight of Fear”

Synopsis:

After feeding the multitude, Jesus sends the disciples off to set sail while he finally gets away to pray. During the night, a great storm rises and the disciples are battered to and fro. Early in the morning, Jesus defies gravity and transverses the waters to meet the disciples exactly where they are. They think he is a ghost, but Peter asks to be invited onto the water. He begins to walk on the water. Not until he looks around he sees the storms and rising tide and begins to sink with fear. Jesus catches him, but still asks him, why didn’t he trust God with what was first firm beneath his feet. FDR said to our nation in a time when we were facing a Great Depression and an impending World War, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself,” and in this Gospel story we see how Peter’s fears cause to sink, rather than being still and trusting God is the God of the wind and the waves.

John 11:1-6- "Clearing the Way for Christ: Seeing Life with Fresh Eyes"

Synopsis:

Jesus’ dear friend Lazarus dies, and he delays his arrive in Bethany. To return to Judea means the threat of execution for Jesus, so the disciples (all except Thomas, who gets the unfair reputation as Doubting Thomas) urge Jesus to not go, while Thomas is ready to die with his Rabbi. Mary and Martha are deep in grief and blame Jesus for Lazarus’ death because he did not come sooner. Jesus shows them that he is “the resurrection and the life,” and calls Lazarus forth from the cold tomb smelling of rotting flesh. Death is an inevitability we must all face, but the the Gospel bears witness to our hope that God of Love and Life leaves no child behind and collects us all into the loving arms of our Savior. Believing in the life beyond this life changes our posture and orientation as we recognize that success does not have to mean the accumulation of belongings or the assurance of longevity, but in the continual sacrifice and decluttering of all that charms us most–titles and treasure are all trash and trinkets before the Immortal, Invisible God only Wise. In a consumerist culture, we are taught our possessions are what give us purpose and value, but in an instant death can arrive at our doorstep. What matters truly to us? Who will call us forth from the depths of our own white-washed tombs filled with the stuff we hoard? Jesus invites us to see our life with fresh eyes in the light of resurrection.

Luke 12:32-40 - “Stories Jesus Tells: Fight to Keep the Fire Burning”

Synopsis: Jesus says, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also,” and then tells a parable of servants waiting for the master to return from a wedding feast. Weddings were sometimes multiple days and in an era before cellphones, a watchman had to keep the fires burning to welcome the master home at any time day or night. This watchfulness is like a fire burning inside, too, where we keep focused on our heart’s deepest desire and duty. According to Jürgen Moltmann, at the core Christianity is a religion on promise. There is a hopefulness to our faith which challenges the despair or numbness of our culture. We are called to keep the fire of hope and love burning through the night time of our fears.

Watch Christian Picciolini’s story on TED.com

(The sermon title comes from the song, “Fight to Keep,” by the band Korean-American Indie Rock band Run River North)

Keywords: Parables, Jesus, Kingdom of God, hope, promise, despair, violence, evil, white supremacy, racism, justice, peace, peacemaking, relationship, transformation, salvation, longing, belonging