Beautiful Things: Ezekiel 37: 1-14

Ezekiel 37:1-14

The hand of the Lord came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me all round them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. He said to me, "Mortal, can these bones live?" I answered, "O Lord God, you know." Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the Lord."

So I prophesied as I had been commanded; and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them. Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live." I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude.

Then he said to me, "Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, 'Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.' Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people. I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and will act, says the Lord."

Every morning, my alarm is this song. I know that’s a little cheesy. But I’ve chosen it, because every morning, I wake up with the gift of a choice. I choose to accept my fault lines, the less becoming parts of my personality, and every weakness I possess, I accept all of it, knowing that I don’t have to be my own savior. What I bring to Christ’s table is enough. I bring honesty, I bring humility, I bring effort, and I bring grace for others, because I believe that God is in the business of making beautiful things out of the dust of our lives. And so I bring my dust. That’s what it means to sit at Christ’s table together: we get a choice to honor one another’s dust, to become a part of each other’s stories in the hope that we catch a glimpse of the beautiful way Christ is at work redeeming us all. I believe this with every bone in my body, every mistake I make, every scar on my body. All of it belongs at Christ’s table, where we are received just as we are- bodies created to be redeemed in love.

I don’t think I could offer remarks on this text from Ekeziel better than they speak on their own: When we say, 'Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.' Thus says the Lord God: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back. I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and will act, says the Lord." This is the truth Jesus came to earth to fulfill. And it’s the truth we enter every single day we claim our identity in Christ.

Poetry for Today

Finding meaning in the mess

A single glance at the room

Reveals a tepid mess:

Love unencumbered by order

Stray scissors tell a story

Of creating a compass without a point:

Call it a directional, perhaps

(that language is directly from Briggs)

A hair clip and candy wrapper,

An empty bottle of water:

Life flowing from every corner

This room is no mess,

Save for the way all love is

Given and received in plenty,

Strewn about with joy

Finding its place in a rhythm

So perfectly disordered

It at once feels right

And clean and good

Like I imagined it could

To bring life into this world

Is to enter the tepid mess

And wait for the days that shine

Thirty-Three

Thirty-three is not old enough

to know the depths of life, I often hear

As my scars stare back in the mirror

True I do not know it all, Do you?

I know the pain of child new

The searing memory of cancer removed,

Veins collapsed and nerves disturbed,

The hurt of a single word.

I know the way my heart breaks

With news of loved one dying

I know the tearing of my soul

With child inconsolably crying.

What if we exposed these scars,

The ones we each bear

For the threads of healing they may contain?

These are mine, what might you share?

I do not know all of life’s pain,

And thank God for that too.

What I do know need not be felt in vain.

Yours neither, as we journey on our way

The story of our scars meets the hands and feet

Of one who bears all pain, suffering and defeat

(he too was thirty-three)

Only to rise again so we might too

In the eternal story of life made new.

Newsfeed

I’m filled with tears today

The weight of change

Contrasted by the way

new efforts of care await

those of us who want to create

good alongside God

In my newsfeed today

I cried at the way

people clap from their balcony

Honoring neighbors who keep

Communities safe for those in need.

In my newsfeed today

I laughed at the sheer

Magnitude of joy in mere

Household moments that capture

The chaos and good cheer.

In my newsfeed today

I pause and give thanks

For the way you make

Life better for me, for we

Are in it together, may it always be.

My newsfeed today is God smiling

What a sweet sight indeed!

Virtual Worship: The Story, Isaiah 43: 16-21

Isaiah 43:16-21 This is what the Lord says—he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, who drew out the chariots and horses, the army and reinforcements together, and they lay there, never to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise!

The world around Isaiah and the Israelites also felt like it was shaking. Upended. Uncertain. And the word God spoke through Isaiah is this: Don’t dwell on what could have been, see I am doing a new thing! I provide for my people, always, do you perceive it? I know it can be tough to perceive the good in new things- so that’s why we’re gathering for the sake of worship this morning- to remind ourselves and each other of what’s guided us thus and will continue long after this pandemic is complete: our story of faith.

No matter what pages of our human story we read, God has always been present in the most uncertain of times. God is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and end. Jesus is the author of our faith, and no matter what you’re feeling in this moment, our collective faith is big enough to handle it. And our shared faith is derived from stories. That’s what the bible is: a collection of stories that are authentic, meaningful, and formative. Stories become who we are, and as Christians, each of our unique narratives intersect with The Story: the one about God’s unending love for the whole world. Your story matters- and in just a bit I’ll invite you to share from it. But first let me celebrate the stories from scripture that have transformed you and shaped who you are and how you see God at work:

God remains faithful in Abraham’s life, even as he and Sarah faced seemingly insurmountable odds. (Thanks Val Kelly!)

God remains present in Jonah’s life- using a great big fish to get his attention and focus on what really matters- helping others! (Cindy)

God remains steadfast through dark valleys and green pastures, like the author of Psalm 23 assures us (Thanks, Dee)

God remains peaceful, as Jesus proclaims in John: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (Thanks, Bernie)

God remains reassuring of our future,

·        And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. -Romans 8:28

·      For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. -Jeremiah 29:11

·      Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” -Joshua 1: 9

·      ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” -Revelation 21:4 (Arlene)

God remains in touch with our human experience, as Larry Lyngstad recalls from his great feat of memorizing this verse from John 11:35 in his confirmation class: “Jesus Wept.”

God remains hopeful through the words of Paul: Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Vicki & Enid)

Lastly, God remains with us, through it all: “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (Lori)

God remains, of that I’m certain- no matter how uncertain we are about our future. God’s love will find us- because it does, every time. THESE are the stories of our faith that we need now more than ever. Scripture is our foundation, and our own life stories are how we make sense of it. My story- your story, our stories matter, because they’re the foremost way we see God at work in this world.

And here’s why not having in-person worship is so hard: we need each other to listen and interpret these stories for us. The truth is much like Brandy Carlile sings in The Story: So many stories of where I’ve been, and how I got to where I am, but these stories don’t mean anything when you’ve got no one to tell them to. When I first heard her sing this song, my first thought was “this is a church song! This is about building a loving community!”

So as we listen to this song The Story for a meditative moment, this is where you get involved: I’d like you to comment about that thing I asked you to wear. What is it? What word or phrase best captures what it says about you and your story? It doesn’t have to be super deep, but it’s great if you say something we might not know about you! And if you didn’t wear anything, no big deal- share a sentence or two of your story with us today. And be sure to read all the comments if you’re able as we build onto THE STORY of God’s love for this beautiful and broken world (virtual connection)

“It's true, I was made for you” In our most vulnerable times, our stories become more powerful. You know that feeling when somebody tells you a deep part of their story? That connection made, that’s church at its best. That’s our faith lived out in real time. Sharing the stories of who we are, all the lines on our faces, all we’ve been through. Thank you for sharing a piece of your story today. Next week I’ll share a bit more of mine with you.

I have a challenge for you this week- in whatever safe form of communication you can manage, Would you commit to sharing your story this week with someone who doesn’t yet know that deep part of you yet? It doesn’t even have to be your whole story, just a piece of it. Let your walls fall, trust that in the sharing of who we are, we become closer to the one who created THE Story, God whose love is big enough for the whole world.

Genesis 2: 18-23 Hello in There: On Loneliness and Companionship

Artistic Expressions by Liz Almlie

Listen to this sermon here!

Have you heard about the latest health epidemic? The emotional and physical strain is real. No, I’m not talking about Coronavirus, although that’s a concern, I’m suggesting we speak about something that affects way more people. Do you know its name? Loneliness. That’s right, it’s a real health crisis, and it’s on the rise. So what do we do about it? I’d like to offer a statistic from a recent national study to open our hearts before hearing scripture today. More than three in five Americans report being lonely, which means if you don’t experience loneliness, the person sitting next to you just might. Let’s begin our quest for hope with the story of creation. After God creates a good, diverse, and beautiful world, God keeps right on creating, because divine intelligence knows there’s something else important to enjoying it all: companionship.

Genesis 2: 18-23, Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner.” ¹⁹ So out of the ground the Lord God formed every animal of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. ²⁰ The man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every animal of the field; but for the man^[c] there was not found a helper as his partner. ²¹ So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then he took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. ²² And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. ²³ Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh, this one shall be called Woman, for out of Man this one was taken.”

Being with someone who truly “gets” us is so significant to our wellbeing, that God literally forms relationship as the pinnacle of creation. “At last, bone of my bone.” It’s Lent, a time when we get earthy about our wellbeing: so let me ask you, are you lonely? I’ve had plenty of seasons in life where loneliness consumed me. It’s okay to admit- in fact it’s good, because it means we can acknowledge how deeply we want someone to “get” who we are. We can begin that journey right here: accepting Christ’s companionship this Lent, the one who is ready and willing to take our hand through whatever life throws our way. But sometimes God’s presence is hard to feel apart from the tangible warmth of another human heart. Bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh.

Which makes what I’m about to say so hard. One of the more common reasons people share with me for why they haven’t attended worship in a while is this: You know I love our church, but sometimes sitting in that pew makes me feel, well I’m not sure, I guess…lonely. You can imagine how sad that makes me, any minister. It could be unresolved grief, the absence of family members, difficult memories, or spiritual wrestling from unanswered questions. Whatever it is driving this loneliness, it’s real- and I know church isn’t the only place it’s felt. But church IS the place it seems most compelling for us to do the hard work of discerning why these feelings surface and how we might do better at saying, “hello in there” to each other.

It’s not wrong to feel lonely, but it is wrong for us to ignore folks when they express that emotion. I’ll admit, it can be hard for me to understand why Sunday morning worship might feel lonely, given how much I love all of you and how worship is ‘my thang’! But I do recognize that I get to interact closely with you all, and for good reason, some of you don’t yet know one another’s names! Maybe even after worshipping together for years. I know it’s in part a product of our worship style. You do plenty of listening to me, facing forward rather than one another, and our Sunday morning time feels perpetually limited for deep conversation.

And it’s this engagement in deep and meaningful conversations that will make an impact on someone’s loneliness. "In-person connections are what really matters," says Doug Nemecek, chief medical officer for behavioral health at Cigna. "Sharing that time to have a meaningful interaction and conversation, to share our lives with others, is important to help us mitigate and minimize loneliness."

This recent study outlined by Elena Renken points out that social isolation (as it’s often called) is not confined to a certain demographic, although young adults seem to be hit hardest. Just think about how pervasive it is- 3 in 5 Americans! Some of you may be saying, “so I’m lonely, so what!” I’ll tell you what research suggests. Loneliness tips the scales not only of our mental health, depression and anxiety factoring in most heavily, but also our physical wellbeing. Did you know that loneliness is demonstrated to have as much negative effect on our life expectancy as smoking 15 cigarettes a day? It also impacts cognitive decline, depression, and heart disease. It’s not just a feeling, it’s a mental and physical health epidemic.

And from the very beginning, we’ve known this. Our origin story tells us that it is not good for us to be alone, not without significant and meaningful connections. Are you ready for the good news? We ARE doing something about loneliness here in this church. We ARE taking seriously our origin story and Christ’s call to embody him together. In these past 3 years, you have helped discern new ways of saying YES to companionship and deep conversation. I’d like to highlight three of these new ministries:

1.    Table Groups- we have 7 tables groups that launched this year, providing more intentional conversation space around spiritual questions, with over 60 of you taking part. And there’s always room for more at the table! These aren’t just social gatherings, no, these are sacred spaces honoring the truth that we were created for community (and laughter, and food).

2.    Messy Church- Our 1^st Wednesday worship in Bradford Hall is anything but isolating. We move around, we spill paint, we eat and laugh, we tell stories and let the kids teach us something new about God’s love each month. And we worship facing each other!

3.    Our 2020 pictorial directory- Soon you will have the chance to study up on each other’s names! By including photos and contact info, we’re offering real ways to connect on a personal level beyond our worship space. And all of this matters deeply.

This is the good news- the great news is that YOU can be involved in any or all of these ministries- saying, “hello in there” to each other. We can work (one relationship at a time) to minimize loneliness and build Christ’s beloved community. Above all else, please do NOT feel guilty about being lonely. We place so much emphasis on independence and privacy in our culture, even the most extroverted can have a hard time seeking out companionship. A few weeks ago, my very extroverted Grandma who’d been living in her own apartment suffered another stroke; by doctor’s orders, my dad made the hard decision to place Grandma in a nursing home. She resisted at first, as you can imagine, but (I just love this) within 24 hrs of moving there—no joke, less than a day—she called my dad to say, “Wayne, this is my favorite place I’ve ever lived in my entire life!! I just love it here, there’s a weekly bible study, great meals, a walking garden, and always someone to talk to, all in the same place!! I just love it.”

Turns out, my independent grandma needed someone to say, “hello in there,” on a daily basis, like we all do. Let’s make 2020 the year we seek out the companionship Christ embodies, and let’s be those companions for others too! It’s a beautiful world we live in, made all the better by meaningful relationships. And if you haven’t heard it in a while: “hello in there.”

Matthew 4:1-11 Christ’s Crowded Table: An Invitation

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I didn’t grow up in a denomination that observed Lent, so when I first experienced this mysterious season of the church in college, it took me awhile to learn what it’s all about. Turns out, Lent isn’t in the Bible- it’s something the church has created to remind us of living in a sacrificial way. But we don’t sacrifice just for the heck of it- it’s purposeful, drawing us back to Christ’s table, where we are nourished for the sake of serving others.

Barbara Brown Taylor describes this return to sacrificial living for the sake of building a Christ-centered community: “The church dug deep into its faith story, recalling the time (always with the number forty involved) that Israel, Elijah, and Jesus each spent in the desert, wandering and suffering, longing and learning: hungry. In response to this hunger, this emptiness, this longing, the church, Taylor says, created Lent as "a springtime of the soul." (In fact, the English word "Lent" comes from the word for "spring.") Like our own urge to clean house in the spring, the church recognized the need for a spiritual spring cleaning as well and offers us "[f]orty days to cleanse the system and open ours eyes to what remains when all comfort is gone…to live by the grace of God alone and not by what we can supply ourselves. I invite you into Lent today with…

Matthew 4:1-11 Christ’s Crowded Table: An Invitation

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." But he answered, "It is written, 'One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning you,' and 'On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'" Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; and he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! for it is written, 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.'" Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.

Jesus has the opportunity to elevate himself, forsaking others in the pursuit of power, control, and dominion over the earth. And he doesn’t, that’s why this story begins our Lenten journey each year. Because Jesus doesn’t give in to evil’s temptation to take more than he needs. Instead, he chooses what? To take the harder, self-sacrificial road to a type of power that liberates others. In our newsletter this month, I offer why the wilderness is important for Jesus to understand human suffering. But he doesn’t just understand suffering, he redeems it, beginning with his own.

And all that desert work of the soul leads Jesus to table with his friends, the night before he dies. The course of history is altered that night. Billions of people today recognize the significance of that moment Jesus pours himself out for the sake of others. We call it a sacrament. In Jesus’ final meal with his disciples, he makes a new covenant that expands God’s community. Christ wants a house with a crowded table. A welcome for ALL who are hungry for purpose. All who thirst for a Springtime of the soul. Everyone who is looking to commit to a life-force more powerful than we can imagine. Christ does the hard work of making self-sacrifice an eternally-fulfilling way forward.

That’s what Jesus is doing in the wilderness- preparing for us a place at a table where we are all wanted, no need goes unmet, and self-sacrifice guides us to holy community. It’s this holy community that I hear reflected in the Highwomen’s new song Crowded Table:

You can hold my hand, When you need to let go
I can be your mountain, When you're feeling valley-low
I can be your streetlight, Showing you the way home
You can hold my hand, When you need to let go

I want a house with a crowded table, And a place by the fire for everyone.

Jesus could accomplish his new covenant on his own. He’s that powerful. Instead, he chooses to invite us on the journey, knowing that in our attempt to create beloved community, we too will be transformed. 

In our call to worship today, Teddie reminded us of this invitation: “Beloved of God, let us drink deeply from the wellspring of God’s Spirit, which has all we need to live fully, love deeply, and serve faithfully.” That’s what Christ’s Crowded Table is all about. You are welcome here. We are all welcome here. And it is my deep delight that we witnessed another sacrament today affirming our beloved invitation to Christ’s table. Baptism- what a deep privilege we have in teaching Theodore (and continue learning for ourselves) why Christ’s table is so darn crowded: Because doing life together transforms us and the world we live in. Amen!

Matthew 17:1-9 Be Dazzled, then Share the Vision

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Today is Transfiguration Sunday- and for those who don’t geek out over the church calendar the way I do, let me tell you why it’s such a cool Sunday. We've come to the close of the season of Epiphany, the season of light, and we prepare in a few days to begin Lent, a time anticipating the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus, which of course leads us to Easter.

So in between Epiphany and Lent, we get this one Sunday to celebrate a story of Jesus becoming light so bright that no one on earth can produce it, a flash of brilliant, blinding revelation that illuminates not only who Jesus is (just in case that wasn't clear by now), but also Jesus' mysterious words about his coming suffering, death, and rising again. Jesus becomes the kind of light that dazzles us.

Matthew 17:1-9 Be Dazzled, then Share the Vision

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Then Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, "This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!" When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Get up and do not be afraid." And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone. As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, "Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."

A year ago, I completed a 4-year continuing education experience called Next Generation Leadership Initiative, a UCC “young clergy cohort” training as church leaders for an ever-changing 21^st Century religious landscape. It was a weird year, because we 14 colleagues in our cohort have become extremely close, and knowing it was the end was hard. We come from all over the US, and because our training occurred in AZ, seven of us decided to mark the completion of our time together with a trip to the Grand Canyon. I’d never been, and I was thrilled I could make it work! We rent 2 vehicles and drive the 3 or so hours to the south rim of the canyon, arriving just before dusk. This is January, so there’s ice and snow to tromp through from our cabin to the edge, but we want to see that Grand Canyon before dark.

It’s a moment I’ll never forget. I was standing by my friend Caela as we peer over the edge for the first time. Seven of us, all silent as we gaze onto the most beautiful landscape we’ve ever seen. God’s artistry on full display. After taking it in, I glance at Caela with tears in my eyes, who looks at me through tears of her own, and we know that together we’ve seen the divine.

Peter, James, and John- up high on that mountain must have felt something of what Caela and I experienced at the Grand Canyon. The divine light before them, within them, moving them to proclaim how good it would be to just stay there forever! Dazzled by the glory, in awe at the wonder of seeing God’s artistry on full display.

Then God’s voice breaks into the magical moment, confirming for the disciples who Jesus truly is: the son of God. And not just divine, but personal- worthy of our attention, because he’s willing to leave his divinity for the sake of humanity. “Listen to him.”

And what does Jesus say? Don’t be afraid. Come down the mountain with me. We still have work to do. Hold onto this vision for the right moment. There’s still more to my journey: betrayal, suffering, questions, pain, and death. You’re going to need to hold this mountaintop moment in your hearts to get your through. And when it does (and it will), SHARE what you know with others. Spread the vision of hope you received when I dazzled you just now. Be prepared in your hearts to give assurance to others in their own time of suffering and betrayal. I am among them, my face shining like the sun.

My friends and I spent a full day at the Grand Canyon, hiking the perimeter and taking as many photos as we could. At one point, I tried facetiming my kids, wanting desperately for them to share in the sheer glory I was experiencing. And let’s just say, they were less than impressed. And it occurred to me, it was my job to hold onto the vision I experienced there, for when the time was right to share it with others. Because to truly behold God’s dynamic artistry at the Grand Canyon, you just have to be there.

Maybe that’s what Jesus was saying to his disciples. Don’t stay on the mountain forever, go down when the time is right and invite others back up the mountain with you! Spread your vision, inspire others to yearn for the same sensation of being dazzled by God’s brilliance.

I’m curious if you’ve had a moment of feeling dazzled by God’s holy wonder? By divine love? By a sensation of utter peace? And I’m curious how you’ve been able to invite others to share in that glorious experience with you? It doesn’t have to be the Grand Canyon- it could be a bible study. Or a deep friendship. Or a shared conversation. Or a vulnerable moment in which your hearts is opened to another. Jesus dazzles us in all kinds of ways. And when it occurs, let’s be dazzled together- always prepared for when the time is right to share that vision with another.

God’s goodness is on display always, maybe even within you. Are we ready to share it? Lent is a great time to set spiritual intentions. I’d like to offer a challenge this Lent: if it’s been awhile since you’ve been dazzled by God’s brilliance, actively seek it out. In nature, with a friend, here in the sanctuary. And soak in the wonder of the beauty God is capable of creating, even within our own bodies.

And if you feel God’s brilliance within you already, now’s the time to share that vision. I offer you the challenge of picking one friend or colleague and inviting them into whatever it is that inspires you to see God’s brilliance on full display. It doesn’t have to be a trip to the Grand Canyon, but it can be! 😊 Or anywhere that dazzles you. Because you know within you what is from God, and that’s the vision we’re called to share.

Matthew 5: 21-37 Jesus Changes the Conversation on Hell, Divorce, and Swearing

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One of the things Jesus is really good at is re-interpreting the law (like Moses, OT) in the light of love. Last week we heard him say, “I have come not to abolish the law, but to fulfill it!” In other words, Jesus’ love fulfills the law. And I can’t think of a better scripture to celebrate Valentine’s Weekend than Matthew 5: 21-37, a text about…. hell, divorce, and swearing! Is anything more romantic that that? J Let’s listen how Jesus changes the conversation on these hot-button issues, from law to love, death to life:

[Jesus said:] "You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, 'You shall not murder'; and 'whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, 'You fool,' you will be liable to the hell of fire. So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell. "It was also said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.' But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

"Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, 'You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.' But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let your word be 'Yes, Yes' or 'No, No'; anything more than this comes from the evil one."

So these religious laws Jesus chooses to highlight here- they’re all about how we relate to others. Jesus re-interprets OT law with a relational dynamics. From law, to love. Let’s start with hell, shall we? Happy Valentine’s Day. The Greek reference to hell here means something akin to a dumpster fire (it was actually a real place, where they burned trash). And Jesus dives in to save us from…not just murder, but insults, anger, and name-calling too, because all of these create a dumpster fire of our lives. A “hot mess” of a situation. Yes, you shouldn’t murder someone, noted, but Jesus expands this religious law into a conversation about love. Loving our neighbor beyond rules means tending to our relationships, SO THAT our lives become less of a “hot mess,” less “hellish.” Hell can be thought of as anything that separates us from right relationships with God, with ourselves, and especially with others. And the prison that Jesus says ‘we will not escape if we don’t do this work” is often of our own making. See, the emotional weight of harmed relationships that we don’t tend, that is HELL on earth, is it not?  Jesus desires for us healing instead of that emotional state of hell. Here’s what’s possible: at Jesus’ insistence, we prioritize reconciling our relationships, making them right again SO THAT we might be delivered from the dumpster fire of feeling like a hot mess.

Speaking of hot mess, let’s talk about divorce. Many modern religious rules have been created around this passage, and a lot of unnecessary spiritual baggage. Because this part of Jesus’ teaching needs historical context most of all! In matters of marriage and sexual relations, men had the upper hand. So Jesus changes the conversation from what is “legal,” to what is “right.” And it’s right, according to Jesus, that women have a higher place of authority in relationships. See, the decision to divorce was strictly reserved for men. A wife in Jesus’ time had no agency, so even if she did nothing wrong, an angry or jealous man could ruin her life. Without even going to court, a man could make a woman an outcast forever. The definition of injustice. And Jesus says, that’s not okay. Your religion may say it is, but that doesn’t match the kind of love I bring to earth. My kind of love, Jesus says, is faithful and prudent and seeks no harm to another.

So let’s dive in the third delicious topic of swearing. The OT develops an elaborate system of oaths and vows to guarantee (some) words as especially true. (our judicial system uses a similar approach to those who take the stand). And Jesus says something new: take no oaths at all. What’s he doing? One commentator suggests, “Jesus abolished the distinction between words that must be true and those that must not, between words one is compelled to stand behind and those one must not. He calls instead for ALL speech to be truthful. Jesus changes the conversation from swearing on the name of God (or the bible or anything else) as a practice, because it suggests there are times we shouldn’t speak the truth- and that’s simply not true.

When hell, injustice, and lies intend to destroy us, Jesus offers to give us life. When forces of evil leave us feeling like a hot mess, Jesus gives us a path of hope. And when our mistakes become too much to bear, Jesus is already at work healing whatever separates us from God, from our best selves, and from each other. This is powerful stuff, Jesus! Thanks for changing the conversation from death to life!

Emmy Kegler, a UCC colleague, created a responsive word based in this text, and because I didn’t get it into the bulletin, I’d like to offer it as a final reflection today:

What have you heard was said about insults? We have heard that it was said, “If you so much as call your fellow believer an idiot, you will go to Hell.” But in Christ we say: We speak to each other with respect. We are honest when we have been wounded. We apologize when we have hurt each other. We choose life. We choose love.

What have you heard was said about lust? We have heard that it was said, “If you so much as look at anyone with lust, you will go to Hell.” But in Christ we say: We do not treat others as objects. We see them not as something to be consumed, but as fellow beloved children of God. We celebrate the beauty and strength in each other. We choose life. We choose love. What have you heard was said about divorce? We have heard that it was said, “If you divorce for any reason, you have committed adultery.” But in Christ we say: When someone is bound by law in a system of abuse, neglect, and violence, we do not leave them suffering. We proclaim freedom. We recognize the end of a marriage can be the beginning of healing. We choose life. We choose love.

What have you heard was said about swearing? We have heard that it was said, “If you say a single swear word, you have sworn against God.” But in Christ we say: We believe in following through on what we say we’ll do. We say “Yes” when a yes will lead to life. We say “No” when a no can be said in love. We choose life. We choose love. We choose Christ. Amen!

Matthew 5: 13-20 Blessed to Be A Blessing: Amplify and Shine God’s Righteousness!

 Last week- Jesus blesses the crowds, blesses his disciples, sets the record straight on how we deal with feelings of worthlessness: we trust our identity to Christ. In the very next breath, which is what we hear this week, Jesus charges his disciples to live into the blessing he offers. This is what it looks like:

[Jesus said:] "You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. "You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

"Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfil. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

Here's what religion does well: it guides our purpose in life. It’s also a slippery slope when we begin to use religion as a rulebook. Here’s what religion often tells us: do x amount of good, while saying y amount of prayers, and you’ll receive z = salvation! That’s not actually so far-fetched considering what we read in Exodus, Numbers, Deuteronomy (OT law). If you haven’t read it lately, trust me, it’s a lot of x + y = z, religious rules. And when Jesus comes, teaching that OT law (because remember, the NT hadn’t been written), he says this funny thing: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfil the law.” In other words- if you follow in the way of love I’ve been revealing, you are also fulfilling the sacrificial OT law.

Okay, I think I’m tracking with you, Jesus, but give me, like, an example. What does this new type of righteousness look like? It’s right here! “You are the salt of the earth.” “You are the light of the world!” Your vocation as salt is to amplify and preserve the flavor of my love. Your calling as light is to shine glory for God. It’s no longer about religious rules, don’t you see? It’s about freedom to follow your highest calling. To be a blessing in this world.

As I said, this passage about being salt and light directly follows what we learned last week about the inherent blessing we possess as children of God. So Christ clarifies, don’t lose your way on account of self-righteousness like the Pharisees and scribes. Following the letter of the law is not it. Following ME, is what a life fulfilled looks like. Freedom from you needing to be right all the time, and freedom to worship me, because I AM what is right.

So let’s revisit that religious equation again: x good works + y prayers = z salvation is NOT the way of Christ. If anything, the equation is reversed: Our good works don’t bring us faith, faith brings us to good works. This is because Jesus has always been and will always be the author and perfector of our faith, not us. Our blessing will always be tied to an identity in Christ, not ourselves. So when our blessing leads us to feelings of self-righteousness, here’s the antidote: allow your blessing to bless others. Amplify and shine Christ’s love with your life.

I got to thinking this week, it’s not always self-righteousness (like the pharisees and scribes) that gets in the way of shining Christ’s light. Sometimes it’s the opposite: feelings of worthlessness also stand in our way of shining. The idea that I’m nothing, and therefore have nothing to offer the world. Have you ever felt this? Have you ever felt like religion asks this of you (because some religious equations do) No taste, no light at all to offer.  Jesus knows this is an equally dangerous threat to abundant life, which is why he begins his sermon on the mount with a word of blessing.

I confess it’s easy for me to think I don’t have enough light to shine, enough salt to make a difference. Some of you may have seen a conversation I had with Briggs this week: I was tired, he was supposed to be in bed, and his command hooks fell off the wall. So he says,

“Mom! My hooks won’t stay on the wall!?!” Me: “why don’t we worry about that tomorrow.”
Briggs: “no I need them!” Me: “well I don’t know, I don’t have all the answers.” Briggs: “yes you do!” Me: “I’m afraid not.” Briggs: “but you’re a PASTOR!”

This gave me a good laugh, but it’s not the end of the story- I told Briggs the next morning how much people on facebook enjoyed the idea of me having all the answers, because I’m a pastor. A bit confused, he pauses and says, “Well, Jesus has all the answers.” I say, “Yes, that’s true.” Briggs: “And you know a lot about Jesus, right?” Yes, I suppose so. “Well then you have answers too!”  Dang, son. That’s true too! My blessing to share with the world is knowing Christ and inviting others to see how Christ can give their lives purpose too.

Now, please don’t ask me about command hooks- I’m uniquely bad at making them stick. But please do ask me about Jesus, I’d love to try my best at sharing with you the blessing I know a life with Christ to be. I know that’s the purpose in life Christ gives me. I ask you today: what’s your purpose in life? How has Christ led you to a particular way of serving others?

It is as wrong to deny our role in God’s unfolding love story on earth, as it is to deny God’s role in our lives. God desires us and we need God, together we’re partners in fulfilling God’s law: to love and to be loved. We are blessed to be a blessing, and when you need a reminder of this- look no further than the children. They are often much better at seeing blessing, naming it, and asking us to claim ours too.

So shine your light, be salt for this earth in the unique ways only you can. We all need that from you, just like you need it from us. And in the work of amplifying God’s righteousness, we begin to see more clearly our own paths unfold with goodness. May your journey with Christ continue to be illuminated by acts of love.