A Sermon for Lent 2

LENT 2B-2015

The news from Thursday February 28, 2015.  The top two stories of the day:  Llama drama and #thedress.

And almost hidden in the Chronicle Herald, on page A14, backside of page, there was an article entitled, “Activists: Syrian Christian abductions increase to 220.”  The article out of Beirut reports that the abduction of Syrian Christians has risen to 220 persons in the past 3 days; it mentions the killing of members of religious minorities, driving others from their homes, enslaving women and destroying houses of worship; along with the smashing of ancient antiquities and artifacts for being consider idols; a byline reminds readers of the 21 Egyptian Christians beheaded not so long ago.  This news gives one a chill, and given any thought is extremely disturbing and unsettling. 

The llama drama is hilarious. Two llamas run wild through the streets after getting away from their caretakers.  They dodge cars and people.  Carefree. It is the kind of news clip that goes at the end of a broadcast; it is the news casters way of levity after the brutality of other events.  It is a secular version of the Good News. 

The story actually was good news once the story of the llamas was told: the llamas were therapy animals who managed to run away while on a service mission. The llamas are trained to go to schools, nursing homes, live-in institutions, to help students and residents cope with emotions. Therapy llamas help reduce stress, bring comfort, build esteem and a sense of love, and confer a positive energy.

The pic of #thedress went viral. It was a picture that came with controversy.  Some viewed the dress as blue and black, others as white and gold.  Which was it? Optometric specialists later explained that the pic was taken in the perfect light that had the dress shown in an in between state of shadow and light – perfect for the phenomenon experienced where contrasts are read by varying eyes with varying conclusions. No ones’ eyes were wrong. It did lead to tonnes of conversation and questions about who was right, and what colour the actual dress really was.  It was a simple mystery and a place for the imagination to run wild.

There is no happiness or trick of the eye, or factoid to learn in the news of Syrian Christian abductions.  There is no pithy ending to the article, or news report…it just is and it just sits there.  Most just cover over it, distract the mind as a coping mechanism for a fear and problem that seems way out of our control. We can’t let the chill settle in too deep or let our innards unravel from being disturbed or unsettled; better to guess at a dress colour and laugh at llamas.

This morning Jesus announces to the disciples breaking news:  he is going to undergo great suffering – not just a cold or a hang nail, serious suffering; he is going to be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes – not good to be on the outs with your own people when the ruling power doesn’t need much of an excuse to arrest and torture – and yes Jesus quite openly broadcasts that it is not going to end the way the disciples want this rebellion, moment of force, and movement of power to take shape – no it is going to end in Jesus’ death, period.  Peter tries to push the news to the back pages of section A, to colour it over, better yet to pull Jesus aside and try to have his words retracted from the record; to have a correction notice for the next news broadcast.

The news must go on, and seemingly immediately so, so Jesus changes tactics and does his day’s version of going viral – he turns the speakers around and broadcasts to the crowd… and original news escalates into a frenzy of additional information.  Now it is not just about his suffering and death, the suffering and death include all those that follow him.

Jesus is offering anything but llama drama or #thedress as an option to face the evils of his day – although Peter and others would have wished so -  Jesus’ option is understanding one’s life from a perspective entirely different in meaning. Life’s purpose was not to centre around a human beings sense of pleasure in this life right now; far bigger issues and vision are at stake.

Does Jesus option sound all that different from your understanding of those drawn into extremist cells, those with jihadist ideas, or fantasies of being famous – a martyr, remembered? If you lose your life, you will save it; what will it profit you to gain the whole world and forfeit your life….this generation is adulterous and sinful…The Son of Man will come in glory with the Father, the holy angels…those who lose their life will be saved – rewarded.  Set your mind not on human things, but on divine things.

Troubled times, times of fear, lead to hope in the beyond.

So where does that leave us in facing the world of our times?  In the llama drama / #thedress option, in some jihadist idea that life here is nothing and we will be rewarded in the next option, or in taking seriously the call to the cross – reading and hearing the news of the abduction of Syrian Christians –letting the news chill, disturb, and unsettle  us?

Breaking news of the past few days, is returned to by the evening satirists and news talk show hosts. Paul, through the script of Romans addresses an option for Christians and Christian community to take in a world were extremists have publicity and attention.  Using Abraham as the illustration, Paul eloquently weaves an argument that is convincing and do-able.

1.      Be faithful in action.

Paul’s argument is that Abraham is counted as righteous.  Abraham is called righteous before he is tested, before he is circumcised, before there is any law; Abram has already listen to and been moved by the voice of God. Abram acts in faith and steps out across the dessert; propelled by experiencing God.  Paul continues that Abraham didn’t weaken in faith when God called Abraham to more; even though he could have considered his own body as good as dead – too old to have children, Abraham grew stronger in faith as he gave glory to God, convinced God was able to do what God promised.

Through baptism you are counted as righteous.  You are called righteous before you are tested, before you learn catechism, before you know there is a law to follow; by coming here you have already listened to and are being moved by the voice of God.  You act in faith, as your actions in the world come from and are propelled by experiencing God. 

We have all heard the idiom that “actions speak louder than words.” Abraham’s faith grew stronger as he gave glory to God; we have heard a million times “to let our lights shine, to give glory of God.” Let us be about faithfully living from the goodness, grace and mercy we receive.  Being faithful in action is standing at the boundary of extremism and living an option grounded in mercy and grace –every action we take comes from this because it is “meet, right, and salutary” to do so. It is action that stands in opposition to extremism and models a way, a truth and a life.

2.       Dispel fear.

Although not Paul’s words, his argument is one designed to build understanding between factions within a diversifying Christian community. Faith communities have already set up barriers amongst themselves.  Barriers and differences can grow fear and fester wounds.  The unknown causes fear and precipitates ill-will. Frequently I hear the misrepresentation of Christian traditions where the liberal and the Christian right get smacked together; I hear all faiths painted and judged by the expression of the loudest, most extreme versions of said tradition. This is not okay.

The kind of news where a faction of one religion or people, openly take on another is bad news that fuels fear. Dispelling fear begins with dispelling our own.  As Paul tried to build understanding between factions, build understanding to dispel your fear: read and learn about Muslim tradition, investigate Syrian Christians and the current conflict; enter conversations with others to talk about your fears, and what-ifs; and practice rephrasing and using careful speech  when talking of other’s faith. Speak from what you know, learn what you do not know, and then broadcast the good news.

3.       Challenge your own stereotypes and –isms.

Hand-in-hand with dispelling fear you are invited to challenge your own stereotypes and –isms.  To the point, recall the news piece this week of the judge in Quebec (acting from prejudice) who would not hear in her court the women who wore a head scarf…it covered her hair and ears, not her face.  The decision put Muslims in Quebec, already feeling waves of insecurity and prejudice, in an ever growing spotlight and precarious situation.

Consider that many of us would have considered Abraham too old; Jesus too rebellious and dangerously outspoken; and Paul, depending which camp we were in, either too Jewish or too Christian.  Without addressing stereotypes and –isms there is not room for healing and change.  There is no room for the next part of addressing the not so happy news segments.

4.      Enter into relationship.   

Translating scripture can be tricky, as you have heard in the past.  The readings speak of Abraham being a father of nations; consider nations not as political entities, but, rather, as peoples.  God’s promise is to rest on grace and so be guaranteed to all Abraham’s descendants (not only those following the law but to those who share faith.) Achtemeier, a Lutheran scholar, comments on the today’s readings, saying that, “many who opposed Jesus did so because they did not trust God’s promise of grace to those they deemed unworthy of it.” 

Paul, in Romans, points to God’s mercy that is graced to all  -given to the dead – and by doing so is one way God calls into being what before did not exist.  Relationship forged from an experience of grace and mercy, brings into existence a fellowship that did not exist before.   That’s pretty powerful. By being faithful in action through the building of relationship we can be part of what God is doing in the world – bringing into existence that which did not previously exist.  Relationship: Muslims, Jews, Christians holding hands, having coffee together, acknowledging each other on the street (in our courtrooms) as persons – equal in humanness, equal in faith. Relationship: God’s grace to all even those we may deem as unworthy.

You are called to live beyond the options of llama drama and #thedress.  You are called to:

Carry the cross, of this time and place! 

AT ALL COST, enter into relationship, challenge your own stereotypes and –isms, dispel fear, and be faithful in action…to the glory of God. Amen.