John 4:5-14-" Clearing the Way for Christ: Seeing Our Circumstances with Fresh Eyes (COVID #2)"

Synopsis

So he came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired out by his journey, was sitting by the well. It was about noon. A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, ‘Give me a drink’. (His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, ‘How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?’ (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, “Give me a drink”, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.’ The woman said to him, ‘Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well, and with his sons and his flocks drank from it?’ Jesus said to her, ‘Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.’

John 9:1-41-"Clearing the Way for Christ: Seeing First with Fresh Eyes (COVID #1)"

Synopsis:

Jesus heals a man born blind. His disciples assume he is born blind because of his parent’s sin, but Jesus tells them this is not so, spits in the mud, rubs it on his eyes, and sends him to wash in a pond. Immediately, everyone in town who knows this man start asking questions, and the religious authorities get involved. Because Jesus heals on the sabbath (using religious rules as a technicality rather than celebrating this man has been healed), the Pharisees are outraged and interrogate the man who is now seeing for the first time in his life with fresh, healed eyes. They want him to agree that Jesus is a sinner for healing him on the sabbath and that Jesus is a charlatan. With great humility and simplicity the man responds, “Look, all I know is I was blind, and now I see.” No matter our level of sight impairment, the trans-formative power of the Gospel illuminates our mind’s eye to imagine new possibilities beyond the situations into which we are born. We are invited to re-imagine our lives (through dreaming), our relationships (through reconciliation), our homes (through clearing), and our communities (through peacemaking and justice) with fresh eyes as if we were seeing the world for the first time.

John 3:1-17-"Clearing the Way for Christ: Seeing Others with Fresh Eyes"

Synopsis:

Jesus is visited at night by the respected rabbi Nicodemus. He visited at night because Nicodemus doesn’t want anyone to see him. In a world before streetlights and lampposts, night time was a dangerous place, but the danger of socializing with a radical rabbi like Jesus was a greater threat to popular Nicodemus. Jesus invitation to Nicodemus flips his world upside down when Jesus tells him that he has come because “God so loved the world,” not just the chosen, biological of Abraham descendants. The wind of Spirit, “blows where it chooses,” and those born again of the Spirit cannot be contained by restrictive, exclusionary religious systems. The Holy Spirit came down on Pentecost to not only set fire to our hearts but to open our eyes to see each other–of every race, place, and faith–as our God-given siblings. While we want to build walls between who is in an who is out, the Spirit keeps circling our hearts until the walls come tumbling down so we can look into our neighbor’s face with fresh eyes and see a fellow child of God.

Genesis 2:15-17-"Clearing the Way for Christ: Seeing Ourselves with Fresh Eyes"

Synopsis:

The writers of Genesis offer us two accounts of the creation. The first concludes with a very good creation and God taking a sabbath rest to which all creation is invited. The second concludes with the creation of relationship where the human is torn apart in two making the first community, the first relationship. If we choose to read Genesis literally we already run into problems because there are two creation accounts that are opposites, so it is better to see Genesis as the ancients divinely inspired way of describe the state of world and the human condition. Immediately, the humans choose the one thing they are told not to do because they are told they will become “like gods themselves,” so they eat of the fruit. Immediately, they see more than they ever wanted to see and they feel shame. Their bodies are not a source of life, joy, and love as God intended, but a sign of their lack, embarrassment, and shame. Seeing ourselves as we truly are with fresh eyes, naked before the God who loves us and accepts us is the first step towards healing and reconciliation as we clear the way for Christ to come and speak words over our lives: “You are loved, you are forgiven, and you are welcome.”

Matthew 17:1-9- "The Light Has Changed: Transfixed on the Transfiguration"

Synopsis:

Transfiguration marks the conclusion of Epiphany. The Light of the World made flesh changes before the disciples’ very eyes as they see Jesus fully revealed as the Son of God, the who about whom the law (Represented by Moses’ appearance) and the prophets (Represented by Elijah’s appearance) spoke and testified. The Transfiguration is a strange, surprising moment where we finally fully realize the epiphany that things are not always what they seem–the poor, Jewish Palestinian day laborer Jesus is, in fact, the Son of the Living God and the fulfillment of the promise to make one human family from old Abraham and Sarah. The transfiguration is the spotlight of God’s Epiphany on the Eternal Christ made flesh, just before we turn our eyes up the Lenten road to Crucifixion as light turns once again to darkness.

Deuteronomy 30:15-20- "The Light Has Changed: Who Lives, Who Dies, and a Story Worth Telling"

Synopsis:

Moses stands on a mountainside for a second time for the second retelling of the law, and the summation of the law should sound familiar to Christian ears reading backwards who know Jesus’ synopsis of all ethics: love God and love neighbor like you love yourself. Moses offers an every consequence: If you choose life, you will live long, but if you choose death you will surely die. But, the surprising twist is religion is not about rule-following, purity culture, or clean living. Religion is about our relationship with God, our fellow humans, and the earth we inhabit. Living with an ethic of love is a matter of life and death. In the alternate texts for today, Matthew speaks about the importance of reconciliation, and Paul writes about division in the church and the importances of moving beyond “teams” to the unity of the Gospel. In light of Moses’ words, it is our relationships with each other that are a matter of life and death, so let us choose lives which bring the light of love, forgiveness, reconciliation, and peace in all of our spaces.

Matthew 5:13-20- "The Light Has Changed: Searching for Surprise"

Synopsis:

Salt enhances food, like the Law enhances our relationships. The Pharisees focus on the rules themselves, but the Law was always intended to enhance our relationships by creating healthy, life-giving boundaries which help us understand where I end and You begin. This is the turn from searching for the light to shining it yourself, and we are now called to shine the light in all of the God-less places to reveal God is here already.

Matthew 5:1-12- "The Light has Changed: A Guide for the Journey

Synopsis:

The Beatitudes are more than just a set of rules or guidelines.  They are a way of life and faith.

Keywords:

beatitudes, guidelines, guide, rules, righteousness

Matthew 4:12-23- "The Light Has Changed: Arise Your Light is Come"

Synopsis:

As Jesus calls his first disciples, we are invited to continue to search for the calling God has on our lives. For each of us, no matter our age and station in life, there are those who need a word or deed of comfort, of compassion, and of Good News. As those first four disciples left behind their boats, they were called back into there own neighborhoods and hometowns to follow Jesus and share the Good News of God’s Reign of Love and Justice. To what is God calling you this day?

Keywords:

Calling, Jesus, mission, Good News, evangelism, justice, compassion, love

John 1:29-42- "The Light Has Changed: A Five-Star Recommendation"

Synopsis:

John is the latest Gospel to be written, and by the time it is written the Christian community is so expansive beyond being a small Jewish sect that the writer translates common Jewish words three times for the Gentile audience. How does the movement spread so quickly? From an executed Jewish Rabbi to being a global religious movement? The text shows us. One person uses their relationships to point people to Jesus (John and his disciples; Andrew and Peter), and because they have trust in each other it makes it easier for them to hear Jesus. Once they arrive though Jesus invites them to come and see for themselves. So, did you trust who pointed you to Jesus?

Keywords:

Epiphany, outreach, relationships, evangelism, mission

Matthew 2:1-12-"The Light Has Changed: An Unexpected Origin Story"

Synopsis:

From his palace of comfort and place of privilege, Herod remains seated on his throne. He calls the experts to tell him what the prophesy says about the Messiah’s origin (Bethlehem). In the Acts text from the day (10:34-43), we learn the surprising inclusion of the Gentiles into the new community. The sermon Peter preaches and tells Cornelius to preach is that Christ alone holds the keys of judgment (not Caesar).

Keywords:

Epiphany, Three Magi, inclusion, mission, Gospel, welcome to all

John 1:1-18

Scripture:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. (John testified to him and cried out, ‘This was he of whom I said, “He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.” ’) From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.

Matthew 2:13-23-"Tears in Heaven"

Synopsis:

There must have been tears in heaven in this horrific moment following the joy of Christ’s birth at Christmas. Known at the Slaughter of the Innocents, this story harkens back to the Hebrews’ memory of Pharaoh and his tyrannical fear of being overrun by the enslaved Hebrews who began to outnumber the Egyptians. Pharaoh’s attempt to consolidate power is no different than Herod’s. Matthew, who writes to a predominately Jewish audience, highlights these similarities between Moses and Jesus who is depicted as a New Moses (Moses gives Torah from Mt. Sinai while Jesus interprets Torah in the Sermon on the Mount, etc.). We cannot help from wondering why God who allow such a tragedy to occur, but the prophesy was not the plan penned by God’s hand. The tragedy was the work of a mad man who wanted to stay king. The Early Christians scoured the Scriptures to find verses which pointed to Jesus as the Messiah, and so the verses presented here from Jeremiah stir their memory as they grieve this traumatic moment from their past and now in their present. Sin is not God’s plan, but God responds to violent, sinful tragedies to bring healing, peace, and justice for those wronged. 

Keywords: Christmastide, Jesus, birth, Herod, Old Testament prophesy, tragedy, grief, lament, comfort, peace, providence, theodicy, doubt,

Matthew 1:18-25- "An Incarnation Celebration"

Synopsis:

The miracle of incarnation is more about mystery than magic. Our rational minds want to wrap around this story, but perhaps the point is not, “How could something like this happen?” But, rather, “Why would God go to such lengths to be near humans?” The answer is love. E. P. Sanders, New Testament scholar from Oxford, points out how many of the miraculous stories about Jesus (birth, miracles, death, resurrection) were all in the mythological traditions of the ancient world. The difference between those myths and Christianity, according to Sanders, is the Jesus Movement is still alive today. How could this be? In spite of humble roots, the Good News of Jesus Christ continues to spread globally, even if we understand it or not. Like Joseph and Mary, we might not understand what it means that God became human, but we are invited to celebrate the mystery of Immanuel’s love and promise to stay with us.

Keywords: Advent, Love Sunday, incarnation, Immanuel, presence, joy, celebration, miracle, mystery, God-with-us

Luke 1:46-55 - "Joy Sunday"

Synopsis:
On Joy Sunday at Broadway, the Gospel is preached in scripture and song as the Chancel Choir shares a musical masterpiece in worship. Born in Venice, Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) served as an ordained priest and Baroque Era violinist, composer, and musical educator for over thirty years at the orphanage for girls in Venice called the Ospedale Della Pieta (Hospital of Mercy). His Gloria was written in 1715 for the orphaned children of the Ospedale and performed in the Venetian opera house. Venice was the Las Vegas of 18th Century Italy and opera houses were raucous venues. With a protective consideration for the young girls in the choir, Vivaldi constructed screens to shield the choir from the intoxicated patrons of the opera. One might imagine the wild crowd turned into a weeping congregation at the angelic sounds of Vivaldi’s choir coming from mysterious silhouettes. The memory of Vivaldi’s choir of orphaned children harmonizes with Luke’s image of Mary–an afraid adolescent with child–who still sings her heart out in the liberating lyrics of the Magnificat. Her song prophesies of a world where God’s goodness, justice, and promise are fulfilled and every human flourishes with God-given worth. Mary makes a truly joyful noise worthy of any audience.

Keywords: Advent, Joy Sunday, Mary, Magnificat, justice, peace, joy, love, hope

Isaiah 11:1-10 - "Humble Roots, Holy Shoots"

Synopsis: Isaiah is traditionally interpreted by the Christian community to be one of the primary prophets who prophetically paved the way for the Messiah. While Isaiah’s words were relevant to the precarious situation of the Hebrew people in his days, his sermons continue to unlock and inspire truth in each new generation, especially for those reflecting on the Advent of Jesus. Isaiah points to a world where an ancestor of King David (11:1,10 - Jesse’s son) shall bring justice and peace to the world, even among the most corrupt systems (11:4) and vicious creatures (11:6). Isaiah imagines a world where the violence of Genesis 3-11 does not plague the world anymore, but this leaders will not emerge from the nursery of a palace. The Messiah, the anointed King, will come from humble beginnings (like King David), but these roots will blossom into shoots and fruits of justice, peace, and wisdom until even lions dine with oxen, not on them (11:7).

Keywords: Advent, Peace Sunday, Isaiah, prophets, peaceable Kingdom, justice, Messiah, shalom, prophesy, hope

Luke 23:33-43 - "Christ the King"

Synopsis: On Reign of Christ Sunday, we celebrate the culmination of the Christian calendar with the coronation of Christ the King. Although, our King is not crowned with gold but with thorns; Christ is not crowned with glory but with our shame. Even in these final breaths, Jesus takes time to tell the criminal beside him, “today you will be with me in Paradise.” People have puzzled over these words for millennia, but the mystery points us to a deep comfort and confidence that even in his final hours, Jesus did not stop speaking for the most vulnerable people around him–even a heart-broken criminal being executed. Christ’s crucifixion continues to call us to not crown ourselves with glory and honor through success, popularity, or comfort, but to humble ourselves and speak out for those who hang on history’s crosses.

Keywords: Reign of Christ Sunday, Christ the King, Jesus, cross, crucifixion, glory, honor, shame, justice, humility, compassion, grace, liberation

Isaiah 65:17-21;24-25- "The Hope of Tomorrow"

Synopsis: After years in captivity, the Israelite people have returned home to the Promised Land.  But with this new beginning, things didn’t always go the way they had hoped or expected.  The people need to be reminded of God’s presence in their lives and that God will keep the promises that have been made. Where will they place their hope?  Where do you place your hope?

Keywords: Hope, new beginning, Promised Land

Luke 20:27-38- "The Hope of Heaven"

Synopsis: The Sadducees (who don’t believe in an afterlife) try to trip Jesus up with a scenario about marriage and remarriage. Jesus doesn’t bite the bait, and affirms the life hereafter, not on the grounds of some technicality about marriage and remarriage, but on their Sadducees own trust in Moses who spoke to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who all live and dwell in the fullness of the Living God. On the heels of All Saints when we remember those who have died in Christ, Jesus points to the heavenly hope that this life is not the end of their story or our story.

Keywords: Jesus, resurrection, heaven, afterlife, hope, saints, life after death, marriage, remarriage, Church Triumphant, All Saints

Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4- All Saints: Semper Reformanda

Synopsis: This beloved text from Habakkuk helped spark the Protestant Reformation. Martin Luther, exhausted and exasperated from the ritual demands of Medieval Christianity, heard these words scream in his soul, “The just shall live by faith.” With each passing generation, we make our contribution to each chapter of God’s Story, and on All Saint’s we remember and honor the lives of those who have gone before us as we draw courage from their witness. The stories of our past inspire us into our future as we stand on the shoulders of giants who continued the great work of the Church which Karl Barth described as semper reformanda––always reforming. There is no Church of the old or the young. There is no Church that is not evolving, changing, or growing. Wherever the Church is and wherever the Holy Spirit is still breathing life through God’s Word made flesh, there will always be Reformation.

Keywords: Jesus, Holy Spirit, All Saints, Church Universal, history, saints, past, story, future, vision, hope, Reformation