January 24, 2010
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To Know and Do God’s Will Reverend Orin Cummings
St Paul-Reformation Lutheran Church
January 24, 2010
Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10; Psalm 19; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a; Luke 4:14-21 Several items in the news this past week caught my attention. Here are a few: The devastating Earthquake in Haiti: emergency relief efforts and rescue; Nigerians pull bodies from wells after deadly clashes [between Muslims and Christians]; Great Britain raises terror attack level to ‘Severe’ citing possible Al Qaeda strike; and Republican victory in Massachusetts has implications across US.[i] These are by no means cheerful (except for the latter for some people), but for the most part rather unsettling news. The Vikings’ triumph over Texas was an exception for Minnesotans. Closer to home, this week we learned that Luther Seminary accepted two staff resignations – the Dean of Students and the Seminary Pastor. What is even more troubling is that the president stated that the office of the Seminary Pastor will be downsized, eliminating the support staff position and reducing the pastoral position to part-time status. The Church Council of the ELCA at the end of 2009 took action to eliminate over 40 full-time positions. Both the Seminary and the ELCA point to economic downturn as the reason for drastic changes in the way business is conducted. Needless to say, unemployment level across the country is high and those with jobs for the most part do not feel like they have job security. These are anxious times. Not unlike the experience of those who returned from exile only to find Jerusalem in ruins. Life was very difficult in a foreign land, albeit there was food, shelter and employment. But the prospects of rebuilding from total devastation is not only daunting, it requires a certain outlook on life. Like the exiles, Haitians will need substantial amounts of material resources, a plan and strategy for reconstruction. But most importantly they will need encouragement that inspires determination and pride to achieve their goal. They would have to be united in purpose and commitment. As one commentator observes Haiti needs help, but more importantly solidarity. Alissa Trotz states in an article in the Stabroek News (Guyanese newspaper), “…the language of charity is not the model, for it springs from pity and is not based on a principle of equality.”[ii] She makes a good point in light of our colonial experience, but I would offer mutuality rather than equality, especially since there is an overwhelming lack of resources and infrastructure in Haiti for its reconstruction. It is enough to say at this time, Haiti needs all the help it can get. It is in no position to pick and choose. But charity must be a short term goal. The long term health of the nation should not be dependent on charity, but overcoming systemic injustice, economic and political oppression. Back in September 2008 Haiti was hit hard by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. At that time, there were over a thousand fatalities and 12% of the population was displaced. It was observed that Haiti, one of, if not the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere could not deal with such natural disasters and their aftermath. Regrettably, American televangelist Pat Robertson who said that the earthquake was payback for the pact Haitians made with the devil in return for an end to slavery under the French, did not take this fact into consideration. Martin Luther King Jr. provides an appropriate response in saying, “Any religion which professes to be concerned with the souls of men and is not concerned with the slums that damn them, the economic conditions that strangle them, and the social conditions that cripple them, is a dry-as-dust religion.”[iii] Where did the exiles look for inspiration? For them, history had revealed that when they themselves turned from God and were conquered by surrounding nations, God was not defeated nor did God abandon them. In spite of their disobedience, God remained faithful to them. They learned from their suffering to turn once again toward God. Through it all they learned that God can be trusted for God is steadfast, loving and forgiving. So who did they turn to for inspiration? They turned to God urging Ezra to declare God’s word to them. Indeed: “The teaching of the Lord revives the soul” (Ps. 19:7). When caught in a web of dissension where does the church at Corinth turn to for inspiration? They turn to their trusted leader, the Apostle Paul. He tells them that Christ is not divided. Those who are of Christ have unity in diversity. What would it take for the ELCA to believe and live out this word? The Presiding Bishop, Mark Hanson in a Town Hall Forum urged leaders to focus on the complete picture of the ELCA through “a wide-angle lens” versus focusing on human sexuality issues. He said, “ELCA leaders and members need to encourage each other in their ministries.”[iv] One must remember that the church at Corinth was so divided that there were factions. No doubt the problem grew worst when they started to quarrel among themselves. The inevitable would have been parting ways. Paul addressed the subject of their disagreement when he says, “…the body does not consist of one member but of many” (v. 14). He concludes by saying that the church is the body of Christ (v. 27). Further, God has so ordered the body not for division, but for interdependence. In other words, God has so designed our body which is a model for life together in the church. ELCA member churches need to get used to it. If you want someone to quarrel with, quarrel with God who assigns roles in the church.God is the one who has call us and endowed us with special abilities for the benefit of the whole and our witness to the world. When one is tempted to think too highly of oneself, pause and consider who you are and whose you are. We are a new creation for in baptism we died with Christ and rose to new life in him. We are Christ’s resurrected body no longer to be controlled by our own whims and fancy, but by the Spirit into which we were baptized. Like Jesus we are Spirit led, not ego led people. Luke tells us that the Spirit is the secret behind Jesus’ power over the evil one. In the passage before us, Luke wants us to understand that the Spirit is fully at work in Jesus’ life. Owing to the presence of the Spirit, Jesus performs miracles, exhibits wisdom, authority and fulfills prophecy. It is not by chance that Jesus shows up in his hometown, goes to the synagogue on the Sabbath, indicates his intention to read from the Torah and his given the prophecy of Isaiah. Luke would have us know that Jesus purposefully locates this passage because having been ordained by God for public ministry at his baptism, Jesus now fulfills history. Look at how Luke emphasizes the effect of Jesus on his people. The NIV renders verse 20, “The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him.” The NRSV states, “The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.” There is a sense of expectancy here. They knew the passage pointed to the Messiah. They were eager to hear what he would say next. When he came to his hometown word had already circulated about him. There was talk that he is the Messiah. No doubt, the question for them as it is for us is: what does the messiah look like. But they also knew him to be one of their own. He grew up in front of them. He worked in Joseph’s carpentry business. He was Mary’s son. So for them the question will be: how does one reconcile his previous life with his present claim. That I am certain will be taken up in next week’s reading. What is important for us in that history is fulfilled. The good news is that the Messiah has come. And the way of identifying the Messiah is by what he does for you and the world. As I watched the news in the company of Samuel this past week, he asked me: Why are so many bad things happening? He was trying to make sense of the news. But this is precisely the difference between news and good news. The news reports what’s happening in our world. Granted it is not always objective, still it attempts to lay bare the facts of the matter. It is descriptive at best even though it attempts to shape our perceptions as to why some things happen. However, the good news does the opposite. It shows us who we are; that we are a needy people for whom Christ gave his very life. The good news announces that God is for us in spite of the evils that surround us. It declares that God is present with us in our suffering giving us strength to bear up and finally to overcome. The good news is that we can trust Christ who says, “I am with you always” (Matt. 28:20). God is with us always in the Word and in Spirit. Like Jesus we too are given the Spirit. Having received the Spirit we live not to ourselves, but for others both in and outside of the church. In answer to the question: why are so many bad things happening, I say this much, we are a new creation, but the world is certainly not. The evils that we see reminds us that God’s redeeming work is done, but still to be completed. Christ’s work continues in and through our work in St Paul, MN, the US, Haiti, Jos, El Salvador, and the world. Let us not be distracted by petty disputes aimed at massaging our egos while pushing others out. There is no place for that in Christ’s body. Instead, Paul encourages all of us to seek the more excellent way. That too we will hear about new Sunday. For now, we live in the fullness of the Spirit like the exiles seeking only to know and do God’s will. And in so doing may we say to one another, “the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Neh. 8:10). Amen. [i] http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/01/12/haiti.earthquake/index.html (accessed, January 23, 2010). [ii] http://www.stabroeknews.com/2010/features/01/18/we-must-stand-with-haiti-solidarity-not-help/ (accessed, January 23, 2010). [iii] http://www.ppu.org.uk/e_publications/mlk_2.html (accessed, January 23, 2010). [iv] http://www.elca.org/Who-We-Are/Our-Three-Expressions/Churchwide-Organization/Communication-Services/News/Releases.aspx?a=4365 (accessed, January 23, 2010). |