Standing on Tiptoe
Sermon for Sunday, November 9, 2008

We are coming to the end of the Church Year. After today, we have two more Sundays in what is called “The Season After Pentecost.” Depending on the date of Easter, this season can consist of as many as twenty-nine Sundays, which this year it did. During the Season After Pentecost, the priest wears green vestments, except for three, maybe four Sundays on which the priest wears white. That is all about to change when we enter the Season of Advent – those four Sundays leading up to Christmas. We will soon have some variety of color.

As we finish out the church year, we will stay in the twenty-fifth chapter of Matthew’s gospel. If you want to read ahead you will find out that the twenty-fifth chapter of Matthew is primarily about judgment. God is gracious and allows us time to be prepared. This helps us to keep alert. This is the lesson of the ten bridesmaids. (Matthew 25:1-13) 

The twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew’s Gospel, which we do not cover this year, also has this theme. It is about the end of time, the return of Jesus, also called the Parousia. This has long been a very hot topic in popular religious culture. A quick reading of the twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew will reveal that no one knows the day or the hour. Apparently by his own choice, even Jesus does not know. (Matthew 24:36) But be assured: he will come back, and it will be a sudden surprise when we least expect it. If someone says they know for sure the exact date, be assured that is not the date. Many “prophets” have experienced embarrassment over this very issue.

Before we get to those ten bridesmaids, a word of explanation might be in order. Matthew’s gospel was written for a community of believers, probably between the years 80 and 90 A.D. In those days, life for Christians was tough on at least two levels. First, since the death and resurrection of Jesus in approximately 33 A.D., various Christian leaders had also been killed by the Roman government. Think Peter, James, Paul and hundreds of lesser-known saints.

The second problem early Christians faced was this: Jesus, who had ascended into heaven forty days after Easter, had promised that he would return to earth physically and take all the believers back to heaven with him. As enthusiastic as the early Christians were, it was hard to stand on tiptoe all those years, looking for Jesus. There was a danger of their love growing cold, or of their falling asleep literally and figuratively. Do you ever wake up in the mornings and wonder if Jesus will come back today? According to the words of Jesus, watchfulness is especially important for Christians.

By about the year 50 A.D., Christian leaders started writing apologetics. Saint Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians is among the first Christian literature ever written, and it is not by accident that he explains the Parousia. Since Jesus had not physically returned and since Christians were dying for their faith, Paul especially felt that he had some explaining to do. Matthew and the other Gospel writers wanted to make sure the story of Jesus stayed alive. Mark’s Gospel, about 55-58 A.D., which we get all next year, was written to be read out loud at one setting. All these writings keep Christian hope alive.

Christian hope is hope of resurrection from the dead. Whenever I officiate at a funeral, I bury the dead person in the “sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Christian hope is hope for life after life in the presence of Almighty God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. When we are suffering or in doubt, we need hope, which the poets say “springs eternal in the human breast.” Saint Paul made it his mission to assure believers that no matter what - they would be with God. He wanted to make sure the believers in Thessalonica held on to their hope of resurrection. The text strongly indicates that Paul expected Jesus to come in his own lifetime, as he says “we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever.” Paul asks Christians to encourage, or comfort, one another with these words, and that is what we have been doing for two thousand years. In a sense, we are still standing on tiptoe looking for Jesus to return.

And now back to the Gospel, which was written several years after Paul’s letters. We have a parable, an allegory, which scholars are hard-pressed to explain. Who were the bridesmaids? The Greek text calls them parthenois, or virgins. Were they all betrothed to one man? Or, where was the bride? This allegory could be applied to Christ and his church, as the Church has long been referred to as the “Bride of Christ.” Since the bridegroom (Jesus) delayed his coming, all of the bridesmaids fell asleep. The good news for five of them is that they stashed back some extra oil before they fell asleep. They made some necessary preparations just in case the bridegroom showed up in the middle of the night when it was dark. They were all startled awake, they all had lamps, but some were more prepared than others to meet the bridegroom.

At times lately our world has seemed dark. Wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes, shaky economy, unusual weather patterns and many other “signs of the times” cause some Christians to think that the end of time is near – that Jesus will return any day now. And I say, “even so, come, Lord Jesus.” It will be a very exciting time. But since we have been standing on tiptoe for almost two thousand years looking for Jesus, I think it is also practical to be about his business – caring for the poor and needy, loving our neighbors as ourselves, worshiping him in Spirit and in Truth. If we do this, we will have plenty of extra oil for our lamps when at midnight there is a shout: “Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.”

Amen.

All We Like Sheep

Psalm 23

One thing I really enjoy about Montana is getting to see the critters out in the fields. Growing up on a farm I learned to love and respect critters. I sincerely hope that the cows and antelopes in Montana never stage a rebellion against us humans, because they have us vastly outnumbered.

Critters each have their own nature, and many have their own personalities. Like the plow-horse we had when I was about twelve. Her name was Sue. I told my cousin Stanley not to stand behind Sue because she kicked backwards like a mule. Sure enough – Stanley got too close behind her and she landed a hoof in his stomach. We almost had to carry him back up the hill to the house. And then there was our little white goat named Nanny Belle who entered the house through an unlocked kitchen screen door, got up on the dining room table, and helped herself to the leftovers. Since Nanny had not acquired human manners, my mother soon found Nanny a new home where there were lots and lots of goats.

I have a theory about critters. I think that they know God in some mysterious way. I think they have no sin because they are what they were created to be and don’t try to be anything else. You won’t find a cow cleverly disguised as a turkey. When I get to heaven, I’ll have to have a talk with David the Psalmist who thought he was a sheep.

When I think that “The Lord is my shepherd” then I have to admit that I am a sheep. Although I have met very few sheep face to face, I have heard that sheep are – well – less than brilliant. I know this is hearsay evidence, but I have actually heard it said that sheep are . . . stupid. If I am going to be called a sheep, I thought I should learn more about these beautiful creatures.

As it turns out, sheep are not as stupid as I thought they were. Whew! [1] Sheep are given credit for helping to bring about human civilization. It seems that about the same time that humans began to bake bread – maybe 10,000 years ago, we also began to herd sheep. It was sort of a no-brainer for us to herd sheep because they naturally flock together for safety. Trouble is -- sheep chew up a lot of pasture land. Civilization needed the prime land near the streams to grow grains to make that bread. So – sheep had to go off to the mountains and the wilderness. There are dangers in the wilderness, and we could not let the sheep go out there alone.

The farmer could not be in two places at once, so, he or she hired someone to look after the sheep. Shepherds are the first middle managers in civilization. If the shepherd was not a member of the farmer’s family, the shepherd could become a nomad – out of the mainstream of society. The shepherd was supposed to be always taking the sheep to greener pastures – making sure they had sufficient grass and water – gently leading the ewes that were about to give birth, and those with young lambs. The sheep are smart enough to learn the shepherd’s voice.

Prominent Biblical characters were shepherds. Moses’ experience as a shepherd was useful when God called him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law Jethro on the back side of the desert when God Spoke to Moses out of the burning bush. Amos the prophet was a herdsman. And perhaps most famously -- King David began his career as a shepherd. Every Bible I have ever seen gives David – the Sweet Songster of Israel – credit for writing Psalm 23.

Shepherds have always had some daunting responsibilities. For example, it is his or her job to protect the sheep from predators. In the United States, coyotes are the main predators. In New Zealand, shepherds have to fend off Keas – large green parrots that attack and kill the sheep. Other predators such as bears, wolves, and lions come to mind from images in the Psalms and elsewhere in the Bible. When David the shepherd boy who would be king interviewed for the job of fighting the Philistine giant Goliath, David listed his qualifications. He said that as a shepherd he had fought and killed both a bear and a lion to protect his father’s sheep.

Since King David was a shepherd, and Jesus in his humanity was of David’s royal lineage, we get Biblical images of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. When Jesus was born in David’s hometown, whom did the angels tell? It was the shepherds. They were the first to hear of the birth of the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

In my research, I learned that some sheep can take on special responsibilities. In Iceland, they have a breed of sheep called Leader-sheep. These intelligent creatures protect their own flock. Sheep in general are smart enough to stay together when grazing. The predators don’t go after a whole flock. They go after stragglers who are separated from the flock. Staying together is the only natural protection that sheep have.

Sheep do not stand and fight. Their natural instinct is to flee when they see the wolf coming. Amazingly, after sheep have run from their predator, they will regroup and look straight at it. Maybe they are not as smart as I thought they were.

We are warned in Scripture to flee temptation. If we try to fight it, temptation might get the best of us. My favorite warning comes from St. Peter: “Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith.” [1 Peter 5:8-9a]

When the flock is scattered, the individual sheep are vulnerable to danger. That’s why sheep need a shepherd – to ward off invaders and gather the flock together. We have things that gather us – scriptures, hymns, the Creeds, Holy Eucharist.

Sheep also have a highly developed tolerance of pain. If sheep showed pain, they would be more vulnerable to predators that look for the weak, injured ones. Christians have taken the Prophet Isaiah’s description and applied it to Jesus: “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.” [Is. 53:7]

Sheep are social. So is the Good Shepherd. In fact, where two or three of us sheep are gathered together, He is in the midst of us.

If I’m going to be a sheep, I need the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd knows exactly how many sheep he has. If he has a hundred sheep and one gets lost, he makes sure the other ninety-nine are safe and goes looking for the one that is lost. The lost sheep has probably nibbled its way around the mountainside, looking for those greener pastures on its own. The lost sheep is not necessarily a bad sheep – it’s just a lost sheep, and needs to be brought back into the fold so everyone can get some sleep. You have noticed, of course, that Bishops carry a crozier, or shepherd’s crook, as they pursue their official duties. I love the symbolism in the Episcopal Church.

I’m getting a little more accustomed to being compared to a sheep, especially since the Lord is my shepherd. How thrilling it is to be invited to graze in his pasture.

Amen.

[1] Factual information about sheep found at http://www.sheep101.info/flocking.html

Sunday, October 5, 2008
Matthew 21:33-46
Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20
Philippians 3:4-14

The Good News About Crisis

There has never been a time when our world was not in some sort of crisis, and now is no exception. Crisis is catastrophe for some; opportunity for others. There are good crises and there are tragic crises, and then there is everything in between. Crises create stress and always bring about change of some kind. I can think of some good crises: getting married, buying a house, having a baby, getting promoted to a better job.

Tragic crises, of course, are just the opposite and involve loss. Often crisis of any degree will bring about a crisis of faith. We might find ourselves asking, “Where is God in all of this? If God is all powerful, why do bad things happen to good people? What did I do to deserve this?” Conversely, if life is treating us well, we might ask: “Why is God blessing me with such a wonderful life? What did I do to deserve this wonderful spouse, house, or job?”

Clearly in our Gospel reading, Jesus’ hearers are in a crisis. They have the opportunity to see Jesus as the Messiah of God, but the catastrophe is that they have rejected him, at least at this reading. This was a turning point in the life of Jesus. He was headed straight for personal and professional catastrophe. It wasn’t just this incident. It was a series of incidents for which Jesus would be betrayed and handed over to the authorities. He would no longer walk among them as rabbi – as teacher.

On the other hand, this was an opportunity for those who believed in Jesus to gather as his followers and to preserve his teachings for us in later generations. This parable is a description of salvation history. The Kingdom of God is often referred to in farming terms, since Jesus walked among people who knew about farming and vineyards. The chief priests and Pharisees recognized themselves as the tenants who were in charge of the vineyard, who not given the owner of the vineyard what was his own.

I want to say a word on behalf of the chief priests and Pharisees. In New Testament scripture it seems that they always have an adversarial relationship to Jesus. For the Gospel writers, they provide a backdrop against which to explain Jesus’ teachings. The unstated fact is that these people – the chief priests and the Pharisees – were the guardians of the faith at the Temple. I think they were operating in all the light they had at the time. God’s revelation of God’s self was gradual. But Jesus is the true light – the light of the world. Jesus is the fullest revelation of God, and it took a while for this to sink into their consciousness. They needed Jesus to prove himself to them, and Jesus really had nothing to prove.

If it seems that the Pharisees followed Jesus more closely than his own disciples, they probably did. They seem to be on the front row of the crowds that followed Jesus. They were always testing him. Before we judge them as treating Jesus unfairly, let me say that before Jesus’ came along, many people had roamed the hills and valleys of Israel claiming to be the Messiah – the Anointed One of God who would deliver his people from oppression. Those false Messiahs had all been debunked. Jesus would stand the tests of the Pharisees and the test of time.

The good news is that after the resurrection of Jesus, scripture reports that many of the priests in Jerusalem became Christian believers. The tragic news is that many did not. Two prominent Pharisees – Nicodemus who came to Jesus by night, and Saul of Tarsus who became known as Paul the Apostle, became famous for their faith in Jesus. After the destruction of the Jewish Temple in 70 A.D., the Pharisees seemed to have disbanded as a group. They no longer had anything to guard and apparently they melted into the general population, never again to be in power.

In a crisis we lean back on something we know – something we can trust to be true and right. The Pharisees would have leaned on the laws handed down by Moses. The Ten Commandments, which we read this morning, are straightforward and simple. But through the years there came along all the traditions of the elders. Through the years they were so busy guarding the Law of Moses that they had “built a fence around the law.” They had made so many other laws to keep people from getting anywhere near to breaking the Ten Commandments, that they needed a whole legal system to keep things straight. This was not the original vineyard that God had planted.

St. Paul was one of those Pharisees who had great knowledge of the fence around the law. He had been so zealous for the law that he had persecuted the church. He was the one standing by holding the coats of the men who had killed one of the first Christian Martyrs, Stephen the Deacon. That incident started Paul’s crisis of faith. If the law was so all-embracing, who was this Jesus into whose hands Stephen had commended his spirit with his dying breath? Paul found out in a hurry while he was on his way to arrest Christians in Damascus. Paul became a believer when Jesus met him on the road and knocked him off his horse. And it was a pretty high horse. Paul was blinded by the light of his Damascus-Road conversion, and although he regained his physical sight, he never got over the experience. He had to go to the very Christians he was persecuting and convince them that he was now one of them.

Saul of Tarsus the Pharisee became St. Paul the Apostle when he realized that Jesus Christ is the full and final revelation of God. The Good News is that his conversion came from beyond himself. Paul could not have made this up. His new-found faith in Christ was a joy and a wonder to him. Because of this crisis, this turning point in Paul’s life, he left everything behind in his pursuit to know Jesus. Paul would have lots of other crises. The New Testament is filled with stories about his life and death struggles as he went all over the Mediterranean world planting churches and preaching the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Paul was smitten like someone in love.

Jesus had “laid hold” of Paul. Jesus is like that. Jesus takes hold of us and does not turn loose. We start learning about Jesus, seeing him in other people, and we start a life-long quest to know him better. We come to church on Sundays because we have some secret hope that Jesus will show up. And he never lets us down. Jesus is always present with us in word and sacrament. And he is present in every crisis, of every description. Thanks be to God. Amen.