Life Lessons from Eli

Epiphany 2B-2015

The Book of Samuel introduces us to the character Eli; he is the next to last judge of the people of Israel and a High Priest at the holy shrine in Shiloh.  Eli appears in the first four chapters of Samuel and reading his story can teach us some valuable life lessons.  This morning I present to you four life lessons to take to heart.

Life lesson #1:  THERE IS HOPE BEHIND DIM EYES

            Eli is old. In chapter 4 he is said to be of 98 years.  His eyes have grown dim.  It is not only Eli’s eyes that have grown dim, so too is the vigour he must once have possessed.  He was of the priestly lineage, but, specifically chosen to be at Shiloh.  It is a time in the history of God’s people when the Philistines were on their borders, when the people were starting to complain that they wanted a king rather than judges – so they could be like the other peoples’ around them. It was a time when the word of the Lord was rare and visions were not widespread; God was silent – or the people had forgotten how to listen.  Eli was tired.  He had been devoted to the sacred shrine for most of his life. I can’t help but wonder if he felt like throwing in the towel; the same old, same old… fewer people, less devote, people turning away from organized religion (so to speak) to whatever suited their fancies.  Did he feel like quitting?  Did his faith or hope suffer?  Did he feel alone – as if he was the last of a very few who still believed in a God that was not seen or heard?

            Eli’s eyes were dim but, our reading today points to a hope that was still present.  Eli still believed that God might just appear. When Samuel is brought to the Shiloh by his mother Hannah and left to the glory of God in thanksgiving for his life, Eli takes him in and becomes Samuel’s father.  Eli gives Samuel a unique place to sleep; right in the Temple where the ark of the Lord was: the ark where upon God sat during the days of Moses and Aaron.  Eli couldn’t place Samuel any closer to the presence of God.  There was a chance that this child might just hear God … that hope was enough for Eli to carry on despite dim eyes.

Life Lesson # 2: TOUGH LOVE IS SOMETIMES REQUIRED

            Samuel does hear God and hears a message that is disturbing.  Reading the Book of Samuel readers would have discovered in the chapter before our reading today, that Eli has already been told by a man of the Lord what is to befall his family.  Eli’s sons, Phinehas and Hophni, are scoundrels and have no regard for the Lord or the duties of the priests of the people.  They were disrespectful and stole from the sacrifice offerings brought to the holy place, taking the good pieces for themselves before the offering was made to God. Those who had contempt for organized religion grew in their displeasure of all things God.

            Eli knew what his sons were doing, and although he questioned them about other acts of impropriety with temple goers… it was a weak attempt to curb their behaviour and disrespecting the Holy was not addressed.  What it means now is that Eli’s line will not continue serving God in the sacred place; both sons will die on the same day – which happens when the Philistines attack in the next chapter.  Eli’s line is disgraced.

            But what would have happened if Eli had a measure of tough love. Parents have the ability to train their children as best they can, teaching life lessons, manners, opening doors to customs, faith, and traditions.  Then at a certain age the child becomes an adult and makes their own choices.  God wasn’t displeased with Eli because his sons had gone down a rocky path; God was upset because they remained in the temple continuing to act in inappropriate ways.  It was Eli’s responsibility as high priest to ensure the temple was a house of prayer and offering … and in this case to act in a way that would have broken his heart, to let his sons go; send them away from the sacred place for by their actions they defiled the very core of who the people of Israel were to be.  Perhaps the people would have had visions, heard the Lord, been more faithful has the priest’s sons not been acting recklessly in a position of authority.

           

Life Lesson # 3: ACCEPT THE CONSEQUENCES

            Eli responds to what Samuel speaks, “It is the Lord; let him do what seems good to him.” Eli accepts the consequence of his failure to adequately address his sons and their behaviour. Eli has come to the end of his life, he knows his days are few. He is tired and worn. Now it is too late to go back and change what was; in days past he could have made other choices, been more concerned about the temple rituals and less about his sons being heirs in the family business; he could have spoken out on the responsibility to be upright, faithful; he could have taken his sons to task … now it is too late. Eli accepts the consequences. This doesn’t mean that what he did was meet, right, and salutary.  It is a realization that it is too late.

            This shows a lot of character on Eli’s part.  Others would rail against God, make excuses, and spread rumours and lies disregarding God even more.  People would talk about how unfair, it is my sons not I. Eli though has a relationship with God and is willing to be obedient to the heart of God – Eli trusts God even in a time of punishment – trusting in grace amidst a retribution of justice.  Eli trusts God by leaving what is left of his life in God’s hands.

           

Life Lesson #4:  HOLD TRUE TO FIRST LOVE

            According to the Law of Moses, ones’ first love is the Lord your God; whom you shall love with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.  And Eli does right to the very end! Despite his sin – letting the offices of the temple be abused and in so doing dishonouring God - ; despite his choice to let  his sons be rather than confront them, to be weak  in action; despite the words of the Lord that destroy his lineage in temple service forever; Eli’s heart still resides with the Lord. In the story the Philistines come to war against the people of Israel.  As was the practice of the day the ark of the covenant – the seat of God- was brought out to the battlefield.  It was the most holy of holies. Sacred beyond sacred.

As the battle raged, Eli’s sons die.  As the battle continues, the Israelites run away – out numbered, out fought, and the Philistines take the ark.  Eli is told that his sons are gone. Eli is unmoved.  Pious Eli however, when he hears that the ark is gone … his heart is torn, he so distressed, he falls backwards from the rock in which he sat – hits his head and breaking his neck dies.  His last breath connected to the pain of losing God’s presence amidst the people. Eli holds true to first love –God. 

These four life lessons can be applied to our individual lives, yet, today it feels as if the words are spoken and directed to the mainline church.

I reflected with the Halifax area pastor’s sermon prep-group that it is increasingly easy to be an Eli.  As the cultural tendency turns from organized religion, as there are growing rumours and realities of war and terror, as darkness lurks waiting to bet loose or let in; one can become dim of sight; frustrated, feeling alone, wondering does this whole thing really matter; being tired of casting the vision; tired of holding hope and waiting for God to speak, to be seen – it has become so hard to hear over the noise, so hard to focus and listen.

The lessons we learn from Eli are for the church of today. They are given as encouragement and as guidance. Let us encourage each other and work together as a remnant… let us live and act applying life’s lessons:

There is hope behind dim eyes.  Tough love is sometimes necessary. Accept the consequences. Hold true to first love.

And in the end … all things shall be well.

There were plenty of Eli’s through the centuries, today the sermon ends with a prayer by one who would understand feeling like an Eli:  a prayer of Julian of Norwich:

In you, Father all-mighty, we have our preservation and our bliss. In you, Christ, we have our restoring and our saving. You are our mother, brother, and saviour.  In you, our Lord the Holy Spirit, is marvelous and plenteous grace. You are our clothing; for love you wrap us and embrace us.  You are our maker, our lover, our keeper.  Teach us to believe that by your grace all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.  Amen.

Christmas 2B sermon for those who missed it due to snow

Christmas 2B-2015

“Come to me, you who desire me, and eat your fill of my fruits. For the memory of me is sweeter than honey, and the possession of me sweeter than the honeycomb.  Those who eat of me will hunger for more, and those who drink of me will thirst for more.” (Sirach 23: 19-21)

Do these words sound familiar? A little bit of Jesus with a sprinkling from the Psalms.

“Come to me, you who are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.   … the law of the Lord is perfect – sweeter than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb… whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”  

The words with which I began follow from our reading in the Book of Sirach.

Those of you from a Roman Catholic background will have been introduced to this book as “Eccesiasticus.” It is found in Roman Catholic Bibles and in Protestant Bibles that include the Apocrypha. As an aside, the Protestant reformers, kept the books in the Old Testament that were canonical in Judaism – and although Sirach was highly regarded in rabbinic literature and cited in the Talmud it was not included in Hebrew scripture.  

Written about 200 years before Jesus, Son of Joseph –and Mary, the author, “Jesus, Son of Sirach” eloquently expresses wisdom and tradition in a form of Hebrew poetry emerging at this time. Unlike Proverbs, which is a string of sayings, Sirach develops thoughts, crafts theology, and captures the minds of his students and later readers. The teachings are complex, philosophical, multicultural; drawing on a vast milieu of image, scripture, hymns, prophetic snippets, and present practices. The top three themes of discussion are: the Law, the temple (worship), and works of love.

What is striking is that the book was translated from Hebrew into Greek by Sirach’s grandson 50 years or so later.  The grandson includes a prologue explaining the merit in his grandfather’s work – a lovely tribute that expresses the knowledge of his elder, the instructional value and wisdom to be found in the poetic writing, and a blessing that “those who love learning might make even greater progress in living according to the law.” And also that “lovers of learning be able through the spoken and written word to help the outsiders.”

My imagination, my heart – okay my whole being- is captured by the expression of cosmic concepts; presented in a way that I experience the words, I get it, I feel it…yet after a pause… logically, scientifically…please don’t ask me to articulate it. The Word, as presented – in Sirach, in the words of John chapter 1, in Genesis; wraps together a cosmic presence, an essence:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters.”

“I came forth from the mouth of the Most High and covered the earth like a mist… Alone I compassed the vault of heaven and traversed the depths of the abyss.”

“All things came into being…

The Word is timeless.

This year we celebrate Resurrection’s 100^th birthday.

Perhaps we can see ourselves in the shoes of Sirach’s grandson – we are the grandsons and granddaughters of those who have sat in these very pews for a century – the Word in that time has spoken bringing the true light, which enlightens everyone – a light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it; Wisdom has found a resting place and taken root in an honoured people – having moved over the sea, over all the earth, and over every people.  We have heard it as heirs to the glorious message that has been whispered in the cosmos, in creation, in being, from before the beginning of time. 

Wisdom moves amongst us, timeless, coming from the mouth of the Most High with the message as told in Sirach. We are invited to embrace the Law –the commandments- as with the love of a young man for a partner; to come to the temple for worship and praise, to offer thanks; and to go and live lives that shine in the darkness – working acts of love.  It is like a three legged milking stool, all legs are needed for the stool to be sturdy and useable.

A little later on in the book Sirach explains working acts of love – the reinterpretation of the Law, reads like New Year’s listens and a good place to start with resolutions… Wisdom says…

I take pleasure in three things and they are beautiful in the sight of God and of mortals;

Agreement among brothers and sisters, friendship among neighbours, and a wife and a husband who live in harmony.”

“I hate three kinds of people, and I loathe their manner of life: a pauper who boasts, a rich person who lies, and an old fool who commits adultery.”

Like Sirach’s grandson, it is time…in fact to set aside a whole a year… for us to translate the works of Resurrection’s ancestors. It is time for us to add a prologue and more importantly an epilogue to a hundred years of history, expressing the story of Word and Wisdom as it is experienced and breathing through our lives, billowing the ashes of life to be flaming lights – torches leading the way  in this time and place.

Today as we begin to respond to the heritage we’ve been given: following the commandments, worshipping, let us retell the story through working acts of love.  I have brought to church with me 100 loonies.  Each of you will be given one, some of you two –just because there are not quite 100 people present.  What you are invited to do is take the coin and use it to the glory of God to bring light to the darkness. Perhaps that is buying someone a coffee, donating the money, investing the money, planting seeds in the spring and feeding people with the produce… be creative, allow Wisdom Word speak to your heart. 

The act of love itself is not enough, part of Sirach’s message and that of his grandson is that Wisdom moves from one generation to the next; it is translated, it is –as we heard with quotes from Jesus- reinvented, reused, reinterpreted.  So as you take your loonie or loonies and act a work of love, please return with your story of what you did with it.  Tell others how you were part of God’s mission in the world.  Send your stories to me via email, or write what you did with your loonie in the faith blog open at the back.

The Story of the Hundred Loonies” will be written and then shared with everyone, telling of Wisdom moving over the waters and dancing through us dispelling darkness, in our human world, in the created world, into the cosmos and beyond.

Wisdom praises herself, and tells of her glory the midst of her people.

Thanks be to God.

Amen.

Blue Christmas

Christmas “blue” – funeral home service   Dec. 2014

This time of year is a season of too much: there is too much darkness, a landscape that is too bare, too much traffic, too much consumerism, too much chaos, too much food – drink –and merry making, too many things to do, too much pressure, and too much fake happiness and joy.

Despite all this, within my Lutheran tradition, the next four weeks are my favourite season within the church year. In the church this is the season of Advent – a time where Christmas is held at bay, a time of reflection, a time that looks for hope, seeks peace, craves love, and covets joy.  The colour of the season is blue. You see the season is not about merry-making, it is about remembering who we are, where we have come from, and where our future might lead.  It is a time where we refrain from “too much.”  It is a time where we do not need to put on airs and feel the need to be fake happy – we can be sad, depressed, alone, grieving – seeking comfort.

During this season we read words from the prophet Isaiah, words that you may know from Handel’s Messiah:

Comfort, O Comfort my peoples says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her ...

A voice cries out: in the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low, the uneven ground level, and the rough places a plain. Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

Words of hope spoken to a people in exile, thousands of years ago. Words of comfort repeated by Handel for his Messiah.  Words of comfort and hope read again and again, within Judeo-Christian circles.   The words of the prophet speak to a people who are grieving their homeland, a way of life, their traditions and religious practices – the words offer hope in the image of an easy passage through the desert. Who wouldn’t appreciate a little more ease in times of crisis, an ease to everyday life, an ease to the hurts and pains human beings experience?

This year I need the season of Advent, a season of blue, even more than usual.  At the end of August my dad died. Since I have been a pastor I have not spent Christmas with my parents who live three provinces away, yet I know that this Christmas will feel different. I am different. I understand a depth of sadness I have not experienced before. It’s a sadness that has settled in and become a permanent part of who I am. The words of the prophets, especially those of Isaiah, are overflowing with an abundance of hope ... I feel the words differently because there is a great sadness to comfort.  Because of my father’s passing I more fully grasp hope; and as I have grasped hope there is a greater sense of peace and contentment. Dare I say I am joyful because hope has blossomed and is blossoming in a new way.

  In his later years, my dad crafted intricate Christmas decorations on his scroll saw. Every family member, down through the grandchildren, have a collection of his works of art.  He was very specific about the decorations – particularly in their theme.  Each one is religious in nature, with the intent of spreading his understanding of Good News.  The decorations were to be a sign of hope pointing to the glory of God.

The idea was to continually remind those whom he loved that there is hope through the darkness, peace amidst the chaos, love despite feelings of being alone, and joy that is not a fake-happy but rather a contentment with what is. 

This year, through the other side of death, my dad continues to share the Good News.  This angel is one that my dad made. It is edged in blue stain – reminding us to embrace sadness and grief – the angel cradles a bird in its hands to reassure each of us that we do not walk alone; we are held in God’s hands, we are held by this community – a shared grief, a shared seeking of hope; we are not alone.  The angel also offers a promise: that to everything there is a season; a season for laments and one for joyous singing; and as we live in Nova Scotia the season might change instantly without warning. 

Over the next few weeks, embrace the angel songs –whether laments or joyous acclamations.

Be present for each other, open with family and friends about the season you are in, share tears, and laughter, stories, remembrances, and create new traditions.

Carry with you the words of the prophet, as words of hope and words for action: Comfort, O comfort my people says your God.

As you comfort others, you also will be comforted; here you will find God – love, hope, peace will be exchanged and grow into joy for the present and for time eternal.

Peace be with you.