Sermon for July 10, 2011
Isaiah 55:10-13 Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
The Rev. Rita L. Henault
Two of the Scripture passages for July 10, 2011 were Isaiah 55:10-13 and Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 – two of my favorites. I know I say that a lot; I have a lot of faves. The 55th chapter of Isaiah, though, starts out with invitation, “everyone who thirsts, come to the waters.” As though God is saying, “my economy is not your economy, come to me if you’re hungry”, “you that have no money, come, buy and eat”. The invitation to “come” continues. “Incline your ear, and come to me”. God invites us to come and God will give us what we need. “My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts”. Then at verse 10, “for as the rain and snow come down from heaven, and don’t return until they have watered the earth . . . “ The blessing of precipitation that renews a dry, arid land, the rain and snow are part of the cycle of God’s creation. “So shall the word that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”
Wow, that is a wonderful vision. The Word of God is the source of abundance, the source of water and food for the entire earth. The “Word”, the “Ruach” is the very creative power of God’s love. This is the “Word” that summoned paradise into being; the “Word” that creates, redeems, and sustains. It is the creative “Word”, the breath of God, God’s Ruach that heals. Even the land will receive healing. And this “Word” will never return empty; it will accomplish God’s purposes.
“You shall go out in joy and return in peace.” Even the mountains and hills will be singing and the trees will be clapping their hands. What a fabulous image – the whole earth rejoicing. There is healing for God’s people and for all of God’s creation. God’s Word does not return empty. This is a picture of God’s Word returning FULL.
Then we heard the Gospel story, commonly called “The Parable of the Sower”, but perhaps more fittingly could be called “The High-Risk, Indiscriminate Farmer”. This sower seems to be flinging seed out everywhere, willy-nilly, without plowing or fertilizing or irrigating. He doesn’t know where this stuff is going; whether the ground is fertile or not, or even if the seed hits dirt or lands in a patch of weeds. The goal of the sower is just to sow seed - everywhere, extravagantly, on all soil, as if it were all good soil. This farmer isn’t looking for guarantees; he’s just grateful when the seed lands and produces. Really though, is there any place or circumstance in which God’s seed – God’s Word – cannot sprout and take root, even in the most unlikely places?
There are those who worry that the world is not fertile ground for sowing God’s seeds anymore – that hope is plucked up, and cynicism produces hardened soil that has no need for God’s seed, and shallow faith is being cultivated by feel-good, prosperity-gospel churches, and the thorny problems of today’s world is choking out God’s harvest. But as The Rev. Joseph Evans reminds us in his recent Day-1 sermon, we are the sowers of God’s seeds and our goal is just to sow. He reminds us not to “quibble about theological differences, but just to sow love; Not to worry over membership numbers, but just to sow grace and mercy over new ground, and not to worry over where it will land, only with casting as much seed as possible – leaving all the rest up to God”. I like that a lot; very wise. Let’s just sow the seeds of God’s Word, sow the seeds of God’s love and mercy, and then let God do the rest. Trust God; trust that whatever we scatter in God’s Holy Name will not return empty. It will be full to the brim.
What might God’s fulfilled Word look like? I think it is a life filled with hope. It is a place of kindness and compassion; a world of justice; a people brimming with joy. I think it is a world renewed – a world of plenty for those who have been hungry and thirsty. I see God’s Word – that creative Ruach, breath of God – continuing to create, day after day in God’s world.
This creative Word of God, this seed of love, mercy, healing and renewal, is God’s good gift to us. It is abundant and life-giving, and free! We can afford to scatter it far and wide. So invite those you meet along the way to share in this abundance. Everyone who thirsts for hope and friendship, COME to this place and share in the water of baptism. You who hunger, COME and feast at the Lord’s Table with us. You who are hurting, COME among this healing community and we will love you. These are the seeds we have for sowing, so let’s sow extravagantly. And don’t worry; go ahead and scatter the seed far and wide. You never know what will sprout.
Do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
"God is coming to heal the world, not to kill millions of people". A quote from the preface of Barbara R. Rossing's "The Rapture Exposed"
The predicted “rapture” of the believers did not happen on May 21, 2011. No surprise there. But there continues to be a dis-ease among some Christians, uneasiness that maybe, just maybe we really are living in the “end times”. What with wars, fires, floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, and tornadoes, one could certainly wonder if God is mad at us and plans to destroy the world. Maybe God really will let his “chosen ones” escape it all and go directly to heaven before the tribulation starts. A “get-out-of-tribulation-free” card, so to speak. But none of that is biblical, trust me.
We will hear more and more of this as we approach Harold Camping’s (of Family Radio) new end-of-the-world prophecy – Oct. 21, 2011. It seems he made a small error with the May 21 date. It was really the “end of God’s salvation program”, not the rapture that happened on that day. No worries; everything is still on schedule. He’s absolutely sure of the October date for God’s final judgment. And if it doesn’t happen then, well we know about the Mayan calendar and the prophecies of Nostradamus – Dec. 21, 2012 at the latest, then we’re done for.
I recently read Barbara R. Rossing’s “The Rapture Exposed: the Message of Hope in the Book of Revelation”. I read it immediately following the hype around the May 21 date. I must confess, my usual response when people ask about the rapture and the tribulation is to mumble that “it’s not biblical” and “I generally don’t think much about it at all”, but that’s about all I say. Barbara Rossing has given me some helpful language with which to respond to these questions.
She points out how this is not an innocuous heresy, but a dangerous, escapist theology that has been so woven into the American narrative, since its invention in the mid 19th century, that many people don’t question it. They assume it’s in the bible.
I believe that our little church, The Episcopal Church of the Nativity, has a wonderful opportunity to express a narrative of hope and love instead a narrative of fear. We’re good at it; that’s our strength.
I am starting a “Rector’s Book Club” at 7pm on Wed. evenings at Nativity. Starting July 6, we’ll look at the above mentioned book, and then we’ll explore Rob Bell’s “Love Wins” starting August 10.
In my opinion, people shouldn’t be afraid to question, they shouldn’t live in fear of being “left behind”, and they shouldn’t renege on their responsibility to care for God’s creation.
Join us if you can. Oh, and don’t worry, I don’t think the world is going to end, nor do I believe that a world-wide tribulation will to start on October 21. I do, however, live in hope and trust that God’s kingdom will come and God’s will is going to be done on earth as it is in heaven.
God’s Peace,
The Rev. Rita Henault
We will hear more and more of this as we approach Harold Camping’s (of Family Radio) new end-of-the-world prophecy – Oct. 21, 2011. It seems he made a small error with the May 21 date. It was really the “end of God’s salvation program”, not the rapture that happened on that day. No worries; everything is still on schedule. He’s absolutely sure of the October date for God’s final judgment. And if it doesn’t happen then, well we know about the Mayan calendar and the prophecies of Nostradamus – Dec. 21, 2012 at the latest, then we’re done for.
I recently read Barbara R. Rossing’s “The Rapture Exposed: the Message of Hope in the Book of Revelation”. I read it immediately following the hype around the May 21 date. I must confess, my usual response when people ask about the rapture and the tribulation is to mumble that “it’s not biblical” and “I generally don’t think much about it at all”, but that’s about all I say. Barbara Rossing has given me some helpful language with which to respond to these questions.
She points out how this is not an innocuous heresy, but a dangerous, escapist theology that has been so woven into the American narrative, since its invention in the mid 19th century, that many people don’t question it. They assume it’s in the bible.
I believe that our little church, The Episcopal Church of the Nativity, has a wonderful opportunity to express a narrative of hope and love instead a narrative of fear. We’re good at it; that’s our strength.
I am starting a “Rector’s Book Club” at 7pm on Wed. evenings at Nativity. Starting July 6, we’ll look at the above mentioned book, and then we’ll explore Rob Bell’s “Love Wins” starting August 10.
In my opinion, people shouldn’t be afraid to question, they shouldn’t live in fear of being “left behind”, and they shouldn’t renege on their responsibility to care for God’s creation.
Join us if you can. Oh, and don’t worry, I don’t think the world is going to end, nor do I believe that a world-wide tribulation will to start on October 21. I do, however, live in hope and trust that God’s kingdom will come and God’s will is going to be done on earth as it is in heaven.
God’s Peace,
The Rev. Rita Henault
Monday, January 17, 2011
Sermon for Martin Luther King, Jr. Sunday
I don’t usually do this, but today I’m going to be political. I cannot avoid it; I don’t think I should avoid it. Today, even as we commemorate the life, work and legacy of The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., this country has been jolted awake – and hopefully jolted about of complacency – by another senseless act of violence. It happened last Saturday, in Tucson, Arizona. Six people died; more were injured; and our nation was traumatized once again. We cannot try to ignore it because “it doesn’t affect me” here in Georgia. And there’s no point in wringing our hands and worrying about it. And it’s unproductive to spend time finger-pointing and assigning blame. Instead, let us reach into the wisdom of Dr. King’s legacy, and let this prophet of God help us now.
In April 1963, Martin Luther King wrote “A Letter from a Birmingham Jail”. His words were written in a different context – racial injustice – but they are applicable now. He wrote, “We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny”. An inescapable network of mutuality – no matter what side of the “what caused this tragedy” debate we’re on, we are in this together. Dr. King said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”. We could say that hateful words, violence, too easy access to too many guns and too much ammo by people who are angry or mentally unbalanced – anywhere – is a threat to peace everywhere. Is the question relevant that asks whether there is a direct cause-and-effect between violent words and a particular violent action? Words have power! We know that. Martin Luther King knew that. It was true during the Civil Rights Movement of the 60s and it is true about the violent social discourse that has been thrust into the spotlight with the attack last Saturday. Even if there is not a direct correlation between what has been said and what was done (and I don’t think there is), we all need to take a step back, take a deep breath, and think about how we use words.
My mentor, The Rev. Robert Layne, who marched with Martin Luther King and integrated a church in Kentucky, often told me about a rabbinic tradition. A rabbi, whose name I do not remember, said that words should only be used to prosper, bless or heal. Words should only be spoken if they prosper – bring about some good for someone – or they bless or they heal. We all need to examine our language according to those criteria.
The prophet Isaiah (49:1-7) says to the people of Israel that they are called to be a light to the nations. The early Christians carried this forward and saw in Jesus the fulfillment of the words of the prophet. Jesus became the light to the nations. And all followers of Jesus Christ are likewise called to be lights to their nation, to their society, to their community. Martin Luther King was a light! He knew the power of words, and he used them eloquently and powerfully. He was a prophet who called this nation’s attention to the cause of justice for African American people. Through his eloquent words he called this country to account for the disparity in opportunity, education, justice and freedom between white and black.
In his letter from a Birmingham jail, Dr. King challenged Christian and Jewish religious communities to live up to their call to be lights to the nation. He decried the timid words of white pastors who said, “Wait”, to the black community. Wait, now isn’t the time, be patient. He decried the words of those who said that the civil rights of African Americans were “social issues, with which the gospel has no real concern”, and those who told their congregations to comply with a desegregation decision because it was the law. Knowing the power that those pastors’ words would have had on their congregations, he longed to hear them say, “Follow this decree because integration is morally right and because the Negro is your brother.” Words have power! And how we use words has everything to do with the gospel.
As Christians and Episcopalians we vow to reflect the light of Christ and to be the light of Christ to all who we meet. We do so by proclaiming by word and example the good news of God in Christ, by striving for justice and peace for all people, by respecting the dignity of every human being. That’s what lights do!
Words have power, and each and every one of us needs to think about how we use them. Do we respect the dignity of other human beings with our words? I confess that I have been guilty of breaking that vow; of making disparaging remarks about political figures who I think are just plain wrong. It’s OK to think they’re wrong – it’s not OK to call them names. I knew someone once who would say terrible, hurtful things, and when I was hurt, she would say, “Oh, I was just talking”, as though words don’t matter. They do matter!
If you doubt that words are powerful, think about what these words have meant to you. “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.” “I have a dream!” “Blessed are the peacemakers.” Words have power. They can uplift or destroy. They can bless or curse. They can heal or hurt, clarify or complicate, enlighten or confuse.
Martin Luther King also wrote, “We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people.” We are good people here at Nativity. Let us not be silent or timid when it comes to the issue of hateful speech in this country. Let us not be timid when we hear words that hurt or do violence. Let us not be silent in the face of violent, disrespectful, or bullying language. Let us take a stand for what is right, and say that’s enough! And let us proclaim by our words and examples the good news that we are all children of God, by not vilifying and demonizing other people. Let us strive for justice and peace by refusing to speak violently about those we oppose. Let each of us help raise the level of social discourse in this country by respecting the dignity of even those we disagree with.
Martin Luther King Jr. preached peace and non-violent resistance. He called a nation to justice for all. And for that, he was arrested and jailed; for that he was assassinated. Some called him an extremist. He was an extremist – an extremist for love and justice and peace. Jesus Christ was an extremist for love and justice and peace. We have the choice to be an extremist for hate or an extremist in the example of our Lord. We have a choice how we use our words. Martin Luther King had a dream of racial equality in this country; a dream that all people would be judged by the character of their heart and not by the color of their skin. He dreamed of a peaceful and just society. Let us, now, listen to the words of our prophets. Let us use our words to be lights in our nations. Let us use our words for love and justice and peace. Amen.
In April 1963, Martin Luther King wrote “A Letter from a Birmingham Jail”. His words were written in a different context – racial injustice – but they are applicable now. He wrote, “We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny”. An inescapable network of mutuality – no matter what side of the “what caused this tragedy” debate we’re on, we are in this together. Dr. King said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”. We could say that hateful words, violence, too easy access to too many guns and too much ammo by people who are angry or mentally unbalanced – anywhere – is a threat to peace everywhere. Is the question relevant that asks whether there is a direct cause-and-effect between violent words and a particular violent action? Words have power! We know that. Martin Luther King knew that. It was true during the Civil Rights Movement of the 60s and it is true about the violent social discourse that has been thrust into the spotlight with the attack last Saturday. Even if there is not a direct correlation between what has been said and what was done (and I don’t think there is), we all need to take a step back, take a deep breath, and think about how we use words.
My mentor, The Rev. Robert Layne, who marched with Martin Luther King and integrated a church in Kentucky, often told me about a rabbinic tradition. A rabbi, whose name I do not remember, said that words should only be used to prosper, bless or heal. Words should only be spoken if they prosper – bring about some good for someone – or they bless or they heal. We all need to examine our language according to those criteria.
The prophet Isaiah (49:1-7) says to the people of Israel that they are called to be a light to the nations. The early Christians carried this forward and saw in Jesus the fulfillment of the words of the prophet. Jesus became the light to the nations. And all followers of Jesus Christ are likewise called to be lights to their nation, to their society, to their community. Martin Luther King was a light! He knew the power of words, and he used them eloquently and powerfully. He was a prophet who called this nation’s attention to the cause of justice for African American people. Through his eloquent words he called this country to account for the disparity in opportunity, education, justice and freedom between white and black.
In his letter from a Birmingham jail, Dr. King challenged Christian and Jewish religious communities to live up to their call to be lights to the nation. He decried the timid words of white pastors who said, “Wait”, to the black community. Wait, now isn’t the time, be patient. He decried the words of those who said that the civil rights of African Americans were “social issues, with which the gospel has no real concern”, and those who told their congregations to comply with a desegregation decision because it was the law. Knowing the power that those pastors’ words would have had on their congregations, he longed to hear them say, “Follow this decree because integration is morally right and because the Negro is your brother.” Words have power! And how we use words has everything to do with the gospel.
As Christians and Episcopalians we vow to reflect the light of Christ and to be the light of Christ to all who we meet. We do so by proclaiming by word and example the good news of God in Christ, by striving for justice and peace for all people, by respecting the dignity of every human being. That’s what lights do!
Words have power, and each and every one of us needs to think about how we use them. Do we respect the dignity of other human beings with our words? I confess that I have been guilty of breaking that vow; of making disparaging remarks about political figures who I think are just plain wrong. It’s OK to think they’re wrong – it’s not OK to call them names. I knew someone once who would say terrible, hurtful things, and when I was hurt, she would say, “Oh, I was just talking”, as though words don’t matter. They do matter!
If you doubt that words are powerful, think about what these words have meant to you. “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.” “I have a dream!” “Blessed are the peacemakers.” Words have power. They can uplift or destroy. They can bless or curse. They can heal or hurt, clarify or complicate, enlighten or confuse.
Martin Luther King also wrote, “We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people.” We are good people here at Nativity. Let us not be silent or timid when it comes to the issue of hateful speech in this country. Let us not be timid when we hear words that hurt or do violence. Let us not be silent in the face of violent, disrespectful, or bullying language. Let us take a stand for what is right, and say that’s enough! And let us proclaim by our words and examples the good news that we are all children of God, by not vilifying and demonizing other people. Let us strive for justice and peace by refusing to speak violently about those we oppose. Let each of us help raise the level of social discourse in this country by respecting the dignity of even those we disagree with.
Martin Luther King Jr. preached peace and non-violent resistance. He called a nation to justice for all. And for that, he was arrested and jailed; for that he was assassinated. Some called him an extremist. He was an extremist – an extremist for love and justice and peace. Jesus Christ was an extremist for love and justice and peace. We have the choice to be an extremist for hate or an extremist in the example of our Lord. We have a choice how we use our words. Martin Luther King had a dream of racial equality in this country; a dream that all people would be judged by the character of their heart and not by the color of their skin. He dreamed of a peaceful and just society. Let us, now, listen to the words of our prophets. Let us use our words to be lights in our nations. Let us use our words for love and justice and peace. Amen.
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