Here's the audio link if you'd prefer to hear Pastor Karen preach this sermon.
https://www.box.com/s/ihwognr571qcqwgjrilz
Meditation for June 30, 2013
https://www.box.com/s/ihwognr571qcqwgjrilz
Meditation for June 30, 2013
***
When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go
to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they
entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; but they did
not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. When his
disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command
fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But he turned and rebuked
them. Then they went on to another village. As they were going along the road, someone
said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him,
“Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has
nowhere to lay his head.” To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said,
“Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Let
the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of
God.” Another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say
farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts a hand
to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:51-62
***
This week, Jim and I were blessed to
spend time with our close friend, Marylynn. We met on Friday for lunch, prayer,
and conversation at a Mankato restaurant while our son attended college
orientation. As we talked, though I had
been feeling discouraged that morning, I felt my spirits lifting. Her joy was infectious! Afterward, I
considered the power and importance of words—and especially words spoken by a
friend in person, face to face.
It is true that ministry in the 21st century involves many
forms of communication. Email, Facebook,
and cell phone texting have made it possible to communicate with people
virtually 24 hours a day, without uttering a syllable. And it is true that, since Jesus’ time, ministry
has always been not just about our words; it is the example of our lives. And we know that it is also true that
sometimes we say more when we say nothing at all and seek simply to be the
caring, peaceful presence of Christ.
But as we drove back from Mankato, I considered how our conversation would
not have been the same if we had communicated instead by phone, letter or email,
as we often do. We all know the power of
the spoken word—how loving words can encourage, strengthen, and stir us on to
good deeds. And how angry speech can wound and hurt for a long, long time. We can’t ever take back what we say—can
we? Words—for better and for worse—are
forever etched in our memories.
During our 2-hour journey home, I
thought about a passage of scripture I read long ago and treasured in my heart. When we arrived home, I looked it up and
found that it was in Deuteronomy chapter 32. Moses speaks to the assembly of Israel
after the Lord has commissioned Joshua, Son of Nun, to take his place as leader. God has told Moses that he is nearing the end
of his life, preparing to “lie down with” his ancestors. And Moses, with all
Israel gathered to hear him speak, recites a song, part of which goes like this:
“May my teaching descend like the rain; my words…like dew; like gentle
rain on grass, like showers on new growth; for I will proclaim the name of the
Lord; ascribe greatness to our God.”
Words that descend like dew don’t disturb the earth or its creatures. They aren’t like a flood that drowns or washes
away, scattering and destroying life. Words like dew gently stimulate growth—build up and not tear down. They are life-giving words that
heal, and don’t hurt or wound. They are words that draw God’s people closer to
one another and to Him.
Jim and I had been blessed by
just such life-giving words from our friend Marylynn—words that encouraged,
refreshed, and even brought about healing as they descended “like dew, like
gentle rain on grass.”
***
In today’s gospel in Luke chapter 9, we don’t encounter words that
descend like dew. We have, instead, an
example of Jesus’ chosen twelve behaving badly and misunderstanding what it
means to be his followers. At verse 51,
we begin what scholars call Luke’s travel log –when Jesus single-mindedly turns
toward Jerusalem. He is now preparing to serve God through his own suffering,
humiliation, and death on the cross.
Jesus has attempted to teach his disciples the
true meaning of discipleship before he goes home to be with the Father. He has tried to teach them that being his
disciple means serving God, seeking Him in prayer, submitting to the Father’s
will, denying oneself, and enduring humiliation and rejection for Christ’s sake.
Disciples do not return evil for evil; they reach out with love and compassion
for the lost and help people in need. And they are always kind to one another.
But just six verses before the travel log begins, it is obvious that the
lessons of humble, self-giving service have not been learned. The disciples argue
over who among them is the greatest. And
Jesus sets them straight. He says,
“Whoever welcomes this child in my
name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me; for the
least among all of you is the greatest.”
The journey to Jerusalem begins with rejection. Jesus sends his
messengers on ahead of him to a Samaritan village, which refuses to welcome him.
James and John respond in anger. “Lord, do you want us to command fire down
from heaven and consume them?”
Jesus corrects them again, trying once more to teach them about
discipleship. His followers don’t return evil for evil! They submit to God’s will and have compassion
for the lost. And if rejected, they move on, without looking back or being
distracted from the call. And they are always kind to one another, faithfully continuing
on with the Kingdom work as Christ beckons, “Follow me.”
***
Friends, like His original 12 who struggled to understand just what it
meant to be his disciples, we, too, struggle to understand what the Lord
requires of us.
The healing conversation I experienced on Friday with my friend,
Marylynn, provides a glimpse of what discipleship
can look like in the 21st century—when two or three gather in His
name to encourage one another along their journey of faith, draw nearer to the
Lord, and renew their strength and joy.
Friends, I urge you to consider this week and give thanks to God for the
people whom the Lord has placed in your life to help you along your faith
journey. And I urge you to consider the
power of your words and how you might use them to encourage someone else.
Is someone you know discouraged?
Are they in need of your life-giving words and Christ’s loving presence
that dwells within you?
Let us hope and pray, like Moses,
that our words, with God’s help, will descend like dew; like gentle rain on
grass, like showers on new growth. May we always proclaim the Lord’s name;
ascribe greatness to Him!
May we, with the Spirit’s help, live
together in unity, gratitude and obedience to Him as we learn what it means to
be His disciples.
May we never lack compassion for the lost and always be kind to one
another.
And may we be faithful to continue on with the Kingdom work as Christ
beckons, “Follow me.”
Let us pray.
Holy One, thank you for your Spirit that
lives within us and guides us each day.
Forgive us when we have not been faithful to you and have not sought to
be Christ’s disciples. Unite us in His love and shared mission to the world.
Open our ears so we hear Christ beckoning us to follow Him—and open our hearts
so we obey. Open our minds to understand what it means to be His disciples
today. And Lord, help us to do what we
know is right, to live as Christ would have us live. May we use our words only
to build up and never to tear down—to heal and never harm. Give us courage to
be kind and forgive as you so generously forgive us. Fill us with your joy and
strength as you draw us nearer to you and closer to one another. In Christ we pray. Amen.
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