Sermon for 12/29/19 Matthew 2:13-23

There’s a phrase (or saying) that’s become popular the last few years that I think fits with this reading quite well. The phrase is “well, that escalated quickly.” Sometimes it’s used sarcastically. Sometimes it’s used when the situation didn’t really escalate at all. Sometimes it’s just used when someone is being dramatic. However, with this reading, well, this is a situation that escalated quickly. We were just gathered less than a week ago singing by candlelight about a holy infant so tender and mild. Well, Herod has received news of this boy, this Messiah, the Lord. See, we don’t hear that part of the story today. Herod heard the wise men refer to Jesus as the king of the Jews. His first reaction? He was frightened. And out of his fear he reacted. No one was to be king but him. No one was to rule but him. He wanted to know where Jesus was and it was up to the wise men to tell him. But, when the wise men realized that Herod’s intentions weren’t what they seemed, they did not return to Bethlehem. Herod was furious. To make sure that no one would be king but him, he demanded that every baby boy under the age of 2 be killed. Well, that escalated quickly. 

You don’t hear this story in your kids picture books in the telling of the Christmas story. There is only one Christmas carol I know of that speaks of this passage. You probably won’t find a depiction of this passage on the walls of a nursery anytime soon. It’s violent, it’s disturbing, and it’s another reminder of what happens when any of us fall to the power of sin: we become what we hate, the worst versions of ourselves. There’s a lot of uncertainty in this passage; a lot of relying on dreams. And of course, so much travel. Jesus was born into uncertainty and quickly became a refugee seeking only to be safe from a mad man who wished him dead. Scholars wonder if the slaughter of the innocents (as this passage is often called) actually happened. It is only spoken of in the book of Matthew. Even if Herod didn’t actually demand this horrible atrocity to take place, he had the ability to command and carry out such things. This was a man who “maintained a private security force and built fortresses [in many locations] so that he would never be far from a defensible refuge. He killed descendants of the Hasmoneans so he would have no rival. When he suspected intrigue in his own family, he killed his wife Mariamne and one of his own sons. Before he died he commanded that at his death political prisoners should be killed so that there would be mourning throughout the land” (Feasting on the Word, Culpepper 167). So did he do it? We don’t know. But we do know he was capable of escalating things quickly. 

Herod was good at creating chaos and uncertainty. He wanted his people to question everything and follow only him. This world ruler was not about to stand very long for something new. Herod was invested in keeping the status quo because the status quo benefitted him quite well. And for Herod, the status quo didn’t involve a baby Messiah. In the midst of chaos and confusion, God provided a lot of protection. “God demonstrates God’s providential care in uncertain times” (Feasting on the Word, Thomas 166). Think about it: God sent an angel to Joseph in a dream; the Holy family took a very dangerous trip through the desert (as they fled to Egypt) traveling a lot by night (which was very dangerous) and weren’t hurt or harassed; we don’t hear this today, but the wise men were warned by an angel in a dream not to return to Herod; another angel appeared to Joseph after Herod died letting them know it was safe to return to Israel; finally in one final dream, God redirects the Holy family to Galilee. God provides protection in uncertain times. 

This is where I find the good news in this terrible text. Let’s be honest, it’s hard to find any piece of good news in a reading like this. But, the fact that God provides protection and guidance in uncertain times is good news for me. I don’t know if that sounds like good news for you, my beloved, but it is good news for me. I dare to hope, to dream, to even believe that if God can protect our Lord and Messiah from hurt, harm, danger, evil, and the most horrid people then maybe, just maybe, God can protect me. Just to be clear: faith in God does not, cannot, and will not preclude us from uncertain times, I think we all know that. But hope, for me, comes in knowing that God will protect and provide. God may not protect and provide in the ways we want (or even the ways we expect) but God will provide and protect always in the ways that we need. 

God came into this world through a baby; an inbreaking of love that often sends us out to places that look like “Egypt.” These are places that may seem foreign to us, but will offer us the most protection and the places where God will meet us. Herod desire to slaughter innocent children should make us angry. We cannot become complicit in systems that would allow this to happen again and again. Where might God be sending us to share the news of this baby born to change the world? And if we’re being sent, don’t you know that God will protect us? If we’re being sent, don’t you know that God will provide? Herod honestly wasn’t the most evil person around. He built roads and infrastructure. But Herod was never held accountable. The public, people like you and me, never questioned him. When power goes unquestioned and unchecked, it can quickly turn into sin and evil. But, God provides. God always provides. 

We know sin and evil have no place in this world and they will be defeated. It may not look like we imagine or envision, but they will be defeated; the cross taught us that. The cradle, and this fleeing to Egypt should show us that God’s reign shows up first to the most mundane ordinary places. Not to fortresses and halls of power, but to stalls full of animals and caravans of wise men bringing gifts. God also shows up to the most mundane people: shepherds, wise men, an unwed teenager, Joseph (through his dreams), and maybe, if we’re lucky, people like you and me. Evil does not have to remain a force of power in this world. We trust what God will do through Jesus Christ to defeat evil. We also continue to trust that God will provide for us through mundane means: bread, wine, and water. For now, that’s enough. 

Sermon for 1/6/19 Matthew 2:1-12; Epiphany

It’s a new year and with it come new possibilities. I don’t make resolutions because I know my personality and I feel like I am just setting myself up for failure. I have some things I’d like to work on in 2019 but these are not do-or-die type of resolutions. And while I don’t poo-poo resolution making, I often find that whatever God has planned for me is better anyway. But, an ongoing goal I have, no matter the time of year, is to always increase in my spiritual life. Maybe you made a resolution along these lines. Perhaps you want to read the Bible more, have a more active prayer life, or maybe you just want to be in these pews more often than not. A spiritual resolution is always good. An invitation from God to enter into a fuller relationship is one that I would have trouble turning down. Today though I want to talk about an interesting spiritual practice that may pique your interest. I want to talk about what it might be like to be like the magi and engage in holy resistance.

Let me give you a little background before we start thinking about holy resistance. Today’s story is a familiar one. After all, we have all seen nativities or maybe even own one with wise men as part of the set. And how many come in a set usually? (3) But how many does the Bible mention? None! The Bible doesn’t mention a number. We know it was more than one because we are told that these are wise men, men plural. The number three most likely came from the number of gifts. These wise men, or Magi as they are called were stargazers, literally. They were most like astrologers who studied the heavens and the skies for signs of significant events and changes. It was not strange for them to follow a star.

Herod had conversations with the magi. He found out their timeline and then said “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” That sounds innocent enough, doesn’t it? But it wasn’t. Herod had the most evil of intentions. He was King and in his mind, there was room for only one king. There was only room for so much power and it all belonged to him. Herod felt threatened. He was so threatened in fact that shortly after this story, we hear of Herod giving the orders for all babies under the age of two in and around Bethlehem to be killed. Can you imagine being so insecure in your place of power that you demand that even children be killed? In our story today, the magi are warned in a dream to not return to Herod. So they didn’t. That is holy resistance.

So what am I talking about when I talk about holy resistance? I think the easiest way to explain it is choosing Jesus and Jesus’ values over society and societal values. We could also say that holy resistance is knowing our power comes from the cross and not anywhere else. What I proposing isn’t easy. I mean, it’s called holy resistance for a reason, we’re going to get resistance. If this were something easy then it’d be called holy cake walk or something of the sort. When we choose Jesus (versus choosing society) and when we follow Jesus’ call and path, we’re bound to do things that aren’t popular, that aren’t seen as smart, and that may even cost us friendships and relationships. Like I said, holy resistance isn’t easy.

We already have one concrete example of holy resistance, thanks to the magi. They were led by a dream, maybe even the Holy Spirit, to not return to Herod. And they didn’t. This did not gain them favor with Herod. After all, Herod was used to people doing what he said. So let’s talk about holy resistance for our time. What does that look like from a practical standpoint? Like I said, it often comes down to being on the same side as Jesus and remembering that our power comes from his death. Here’s a fairly small, mundane, yet relevant example. To engage in holy resistance means that next time you hear a friend, family member, or co-worker use a racial slur or tell a racially charged joke, you speak up. “That’s not funny. I don’t appreciate that kind of humor or that kind of language. Please don’t do it again.” If we believe that we are all made in God’s image, then there is no place in the holy resistance for bigotry and hate.

Holy resistance might affect how you spend your money. This takes a bit more time and commitment. But, for example, perhaps you make the decision to only purchase goods that follow fair trade practices; meaning that the people who make the goods earn a fair days wage. That is holy resistance. Most of you know where your meat comes from (as it comes from your own stock) but perhaps you find out more about that if you purchase from the grocery store. Same with your fruits and vegetables. God created the earth and put humans in charge of taking care of it. This includes all vegetation and animals.

Holy resistance is hard when it comes to more hot button topics; most of the things talked about on the news for example. What would Jesus say about a wall between the United States and Mexico? What would Jesus say about the rising health care costs? Did you know that 1 out of every 3 campaigns on GoFundMe is for medical costs? What would Jesus say about the hungry, the homeless, the underemployed, the imprisoned? Holy resistance isn’t always so clear when you’re faced with these types of issues. I try and think about what Jesus would do, but so often doing the opposite is easier and it doesn’t cost me friends. This is where our sin enters the equation of holy resistance. Because so often we do what is in our best interest instead of being the disciples that God has called us to be.

The good news today, my beloved, is that just by being here today you’re already engaging in holy resistance. On a day that so many choose to sleep in, get stuff done around the house, or just stay at home and relax, you have chosen to come and spend an hour here. I know it may not have been an easy choice. And soon, we will engage in holy resistance as we receive the body and blood of Christ. So many that aren’t part of the church may think that this holy meal is weird. But we know that in this act of holy resistance, we receive grace upon grace. So whether you know it or not, you have already been engaging in holy resistance. I know it is hard work, but God is with you. Your reward for this resistance may not be seen until we reach our heavenly home. Perhaps we should all take a cue from the wise men and take a different road. The road of holy resistance is spirit filled, spirit led, and God inspired. If this new year has you thinking about new ways of engaging your spiritual life, perhaps holy resistance is just the thing you’ve been waiting for.

Sermon for 7/15/18 Mark 6:14-29

Mark is the shortest of our Gospels. It moves quickly and doesn’t spend a lot of time on details. Much of what happens in Mark happens “immediately.” So I find it interesting that a Gospel that is so short and not very detail oriented spends around 16 verses talking about the beheading of John the Baptist. People who say that the Bible is boring or confusing may need to read this story. It has everything that a good soap opera has: sex, adultery, lust, violence, imprisonment, power, and a party. Riveting stuff.

So, let me make sure we’re all clear on what is going on before we get too deep here because this story can be a bit confusing. There’s King Herod (his father was known as Herod the Great. So, good luck measuring up to that). King Herod married Herodias who was actually his brother Philip’s wife. Now, Herod’s daughter in this story is also referred to as Herodias. However, in other gospels, she is referred to as Salome. Then, of course, there’s John the Baptist. Do you know who is only mentioned in this story once? Jesus! But, John the Baptist is a disciple. He was on the outreach committee of Jesus’ posse.

Now, this story comes right after the text we heard last week. In last week’s text, Jesus sent the disciples out two by two to proclaim repentance, to cast out demons, and anoint those who were sick and cure them. Our scripture today picks right back up where we left off. “King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known.” King Herod had heard what the disciples had been doing. What Jesus had the disciples doing. John was sent out to encourage people to repent, King Herod included. Herod wasn’t really supposed to be married to Herodias. Philip wasn’t dead yet! Herodias didn’t like John and wanted to kill him. Herod feared John because John was righteous and holy. The plot thickens. Here’s what this story comes down to: power is one heck of an intoxicating drug.

John the Baptist wasn’t killed because Herodias asked for it. John the Baptist was killed because he represented a new kind of power. And that was a threat to Herod. He was power hungry. He would do anything to prove he had power and so he had John the Baptist killed. The crazy thing was is that John the Baptist didn’t have the same kind of power that Herod had. John the Baptist didn’t have money, or palaces, or armies, or servants. However, he did have Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit behind him. That made Herod fearful. And instead of trying to understand John the Baptist or Jesus’ message and the power of the Holy Spirit, Herod had him killed. This is the same reason that Jesus was killed. His version of power was somehow a threat to the Roman empire. They observed Jesus’ power of healing, feeding, and teaching and that was a threat to their piles of money, thousands of soldiers, and acres of land.

The quest for power wasn’t a problem just during the time when Jesus walked the earth. It continues to be a problem every single day. In fact, so many of the problems of this world come down to one central issue: power. The issue of illegal immigration is one of power. What if an immigrant comes into this country undocumented, takes my job, and takes my wages. That means they are taking my power. The issue of gun control is one of power. If you take away my guns, I won’t be able to protect myself or my family and you’re taking away my power. Our current administration, whether you like him or not, is very concerned about power. He speaks of the press the way he does, he speaks of other world leaders as he does, and he tweets as he does as a way of maintaining power. Power, my beloved, is one of the most intoxicating drugs in the world.

But Jesus wasn’t sent into this world to have the power of a dictating ruler like Caesar or Herod. Jesus came to turn the idea of power upside down. Jesus spent much of his ministry noticing the unnoticed and just by doing that, gave them power. When Jesus cured the hemorrhaging woman, he gave her the power to interact with society again. When Jesus met the woman at the well, he offered her forgiveness and reestablished her place in society and her power. When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, he showed that not even death had power any more. And for those in governmental power, that was a threat. If you can conquer death what kind of ruler are you? And those in power were scared and threatened. And when our power is threatened we do stupid illogical things.

What people didn’t realize is that the power that Jesus had wasn’t the power that the world was used to. His power actually benefited the powerless. Jesus wasn’t of any threat except to those who were afraid their power would be taken away. For those who didn’t have any power to begin with, Jesus was and still is good news. When we are brought to these waters and splashed with grace, just as Timothy will be today, we are washing away the powers of this world and replacing them with the powers that come from Christ alone. These powers that come from Christ give us the ability to see injustice, work towards reconciliation, fight for those on the margins, and be in service with and to one another. Most importantly, those waters allow us to be bathed in grace when we forget it’s all about Jesus and instead work for the powers being all about us.

I shared this with council last week, but it deserves to be said again. There is a rhythm to our worship. We gather, we heard the Word, we are fed with the meal, and then we are sent out into the world to share the good news. One of the last things we say before worship ends is one of the boldest and most daring proclamations we say all service. I usually say something like “go in peace to love and serve the Lord” or “Go in peace, Christ is with you” and you all say? (“Thanks be to God.”) When really, the world has us trained, maybe even encourages us to say instead “Go in power to love and serve yourself.” Or “go in power! You’re in this alone.” We know as Christians and as disciples that’s just not true. We also know that the powers this world gives and promises will always fail us. The powers given to us in baptism are the only ones that can sustain our lives. When you are able to use your Christ-given powers to seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God, then you are truly powerful. The powers of this world are nothing compared to the powers of Christ. Show me a power in this world that can defeat death. Show me a power in this world that can give hope to the hopeless. Show me a power in this world that can raise up the lowly and give status to the marginalized. There is nothing in this world that can compare to Christ. Because Christ’s love is the most powerful weapon on Earth. And that alone is enough to make others scared. So go out there, my beloved, and love the hell out of this world.