Lots of questions in pumpkin season*

In America, October is pumpkin season; November is Thanksgiving season and everything after that is the annual holiday ramp up.  From the moment the turkey comes out of the oven, the pace of life quickens, schedules get over booked, and The Holidays are upon us.  We are bombarded with controversies about Starbucks paper cups, public nativity scenes, and endless commercials.  It is sensory overload season.

It is not so in the Church.  We spend October getting Jesus ready for Holy Week, which we will put off until April in 2019.  November is about end times.  December is all about waiting and watching. The order of the Church's calendar does not sync up with greater American society.  Sigh.

In truth, the Church spends December preparing for Christmas, a holiday ( holy day) that America begins celebrating as soon as the turkey roaster is back on the shelf. As the final strains of Silent Night fade away, the Church begins 12 days celebrating the new promise which is the birth of the Christ Child, while the rest of the culture is wrapping up a month of insanity and begins putting it all back in storage the moment the last bit of wrapping paper is recycled.  January 6th when the Wise Men arrive at the stable, most nativity sets have been packed away. Then the Church begins to celebrate the bright light of Christ while the rest of the northern world settles in for a long winter nap and the football playoffs. We are out of sync.

Just to be clear, I don't have any other suggestions.  It simply leaves me as a preacher with parts of scripture which should be accompanied by dramatic music and a sense of danger ahead, as folks are settling in for pumpkins, turkey, family and football.  Even as I write this, I know that whatever message comes to us through the Spirit is in competition with the ever-present messages that come from the World.  Yet for me, it is October and November which seem so terribly out of step with everything else.

Just possibly the problem isn't the dissonance of October and November, but the seeming lack of tension throughout the rest of the year. Of course the message of Christ is out of sync with the world.  Dramatically out of sync.  This makes these last stories so very important, for they describe the struggle that is the act of following Jesus.  They speak about wealth and sacrifice.  They speak about glory in servanthood and ruling from the feet up.  They speak about total trust in a higher power.  

In these last weeks Jesus asks some hard questions and would-be disciples are making some difficult discoveries about this path called discipleship.  Perhaps they are exactly the stories we need to hear as the world powers up to claim all our attention, our loyalty and, if possible, our money.  Perhaps I have been looking at this all wrong.  Hmmmm.  

          What does it take for us to confront our own bondage to the world's mindset?  

           What portion of scripture can better highlight the dissonance between God's thinking 
           and our cultural practices?  

           Is this the year we radically re-orient and focus on the Divine Message, with supporting 
           roles played by culture and tradition? 

Lots of questions this morning to consider with your pumpkin spice latte. What are your answers?

 *** 64 is the countdown from Oct. 22nd when I wrote this.  Sigh.

Business 301: be sure they can deliver

This isn't about business at all.  You have already figured that out, but once we start talking about wealth and possessions we put on our version of a business suit and start thinking like a bunch of MBAs.  This story grabs us right in our wallet, as it should, but let us not stay there. We are talking about the story of the rich man who turns away from following Jesus presumably because 'he had many possessions.'  Mark 10

Perhaps it is good for us to admit how difficult this story is for us.  How crazy we find it.  How we can't possibly give up all our stuff and follow Jesus - even if we wanted to, and we are not sure that we want to.  I believe that wrestling with this story is am important part of our spiritual development.  It seems that it should lead us into some serious conversation with God, good and necessary conversation.

Yet there is this.  The rich man asks, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?"  What must I do?  Have I done enough?  Have I forgotten something?  Have I concentrated too much on this when I should be doing that?

At some point we have asked the same question.  What must I do to satisfy God?  (for Lutherans reading this, that is the perpetual question of the Law and it drives us to confession)  We really can't help ourselves.  It's what we know; what we have been taught.  For each phase of our lives there is a checklist to be completed.  The question has been asked with every tone of voice from incredulity to earnestness; from entitlement to frustration; from humility to hubris.  What more do I have to do?

Getting it right is critical in many situations.  To perform surgery we need to prove we are qualified.  To drive a car we must pass the test.  To buy a house we need to qualify for a mortgage.

But not with God.  It's not about what you do.  It's about who God is and how much God loves those God created.  God reached out to us through Jesus; God invites us into a new life through Jesus.  God defeated death in Jesus.

Or, to quote the story  'and Jesus, looking at him, loved him.'  Knowing that this rich man would not be able to leave behind the glory of this world for the promise of another, Jesus, looking at him loved him....as he walked away, as Jesus died on the cross, as the days or months passed.  Jesus loved him, and continually invited that man.........and each one of us...........to leave behind the stuff that only leads to death.  Put it down.  Come to me.

In the end, this gracious, life-giving love will be worth more than anything to which we cling in this lifetime.  The love of God costs us nothing, it is freely given.  Yet it is the gift for which we will give everything we have and we are.

Bonhoeffer writes in Cost of Discipleship   "Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will go and sell all that he has.  It is the pearl of great price to buy for which the merchant will sell all his goods.  It is the kingly rule of Christ, for whose sake a man will pluck out the eye which causes him to stumble; it is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows him."

Listen for the Spirit to guide you along this path towards life in the Divine.  The love of Jesus calls you. Today and tomorrow.

Business 201: read the small print

We were talking about the rich man in Mark 10.  Today has lots of information and even more questions to ponder.

Of course the story is more than the few verses to which I have referred.  This encounter with a rich man is set in Mark's larger story; in chapter 11 Jesus will enter Jerusalem for the last time.  This story is situated within a smaller section of Mark's story which begins with the healing of a blind man (the healing that took two tries) and the healing of Blind Bartimaeus.  One should definitely pay attention to that dynamic.  Is there a 'blindness' in the rich man that needs healing?

So, we are engaging a story which stands in the immediate run up to the climax of Jesus' story.  The rich man interrupts Jesus on a journey - and that journey is to Jerusalem and is near its end.  Since Jesus is aware that his time is short, and certainly Mark is aware that the story is about to take an important turn, this story takes on a new urgency and with that, new meaning.  Jesus has a limited amount of time left to teach his disciples - to prepare them for the cross ahead that they can't even imagine.  These encounters are like the final letters of a dying man; they are especially important.

If you continue reading you learn several things.  First, the rich man turns away grieving for he had many possessions.  Second, Jesus 'looking at him, loved him' (a note that is eliminated from every other telling of this story).  Third, Jesus remarks that it will be very difficult for the rich to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.  Fourth, the disciples are shocked that the rich won't have priority seating.

The rich man turns away from Jesus.  He is the only person in the entire gospel of Mark who, when invited to follow Jesus, turns away.  Here are two things to ponder.  The Greek word used for 'grieving' or 'sad' has overtones of betrayal.  The man felt betrayed; his expectations were pulled right out from under his feet.  Here's another.  The word 'repentance' or metanoia in Greek means to turn around (that is, turn 180 degrees).  A repentant person turns from the wrong way and turns towards the right way.  But not the rich man - he's got repentance all backwards.  At the end of the story, he is going the wrong way!

Jesus loved him.  In fact, even before the rich man turns away, Jesus 'looking at him, loved him'.  I find this one of many grace filled descriptions of Jesus.  No judgment.  Just love.

Jesus knows how difficult it will be for the wealthy to enter his new kingdom.  They are the winners in this world.  The power of this world works to their advantage; they are comfortable and have the means to mitigate any difficulties that arise.  It is hard to let go of it all and cling only to God, to cling only to the crucified and risen Christ.  Jesus knows.

The disciples don't.  Throughout Mark's gospel, the disciples are incapable of comprehending what Jesus is telling them.  They expect that the Kingdom of God will function much like the kingdom in which they currently live - only they will be the winners in the new rendition.  They cannot conceive of the power of servanthood; they dream of places of glory in Jesus' kingdom.  They truly believe that the rich ones of this world will have the inside track in the next - because that is how it always works.

Who are you in this story?  Do you find yourself clinging to stuff that doesn't connect you with the Divine?  Does your fear of want keep you from making other choices?  Where are your blind spots?

It is good to remember that this is an open ended story.  Who knows what happens a week or a year down the road?  Does the rich man live out his life turned the wrong way?  Do we find the power of servanthood incomprehensible just like the disciples?

That's enough for today; it's exhausting.  Take a moment and listen for the Spirit for this we know - that Jesus looking at him, loved him.....and you too.

Business 101: don't pay more than what it's worth

Let's consider the story of the rich man in Mark 10.

Even though we don't 'learn' it until the end of the story, everyone in the crowd around Jesus knew from their first glance that this guy was wealthy.  Definitely his clothes were better quality, perhaps an expensive color like blue or purple, and I would guess he lacked that ever pervasive odor of sheep dung that the lower classes had.

I would guess that no one was surprised when Jesus engaged this wealthy man kneeling at his feet. Granted, Jesus talked with everyone but we know that the wealthy are given a bit of leeway; they are listened to.  The crowd might have even taken an unconscious step backward when this little scenario gets underway.  Even in the 21st century, we regular folk tend to put 'the rich' into a distinct and generally elevated category.  Somehow they have managed to be 'winners' in this lifetime.

He has a question.  "What must I do to inherit eternal life?"

How you hear this question shapes your response.  If what you hear is arrogance and entitlement then you might interpret the question as a quest for one more privilege, one more way to ensure that the lofty position he has in this lifetime carries over into the next.

However, if what you hear is an earnest, sincere desire to get it right, to find out if he has done enough, if he has forgotten something.........then you might be able to conger up a little grace and think he sounds a bit like 16th century Martin Luther.

Furthermore, we have no idea what Jesus knew or what Jesus was thinking.  We have lots of guesses, and a few clues, but our guesses are generally more a reflection of what is going on inside of us than they are insights into what is going on inside of either Jesus or this rich man.

Jesus appears to play it straight:  get your life in order, which for a Jew meant living righteously before God.  Follow the commandments.  But here it gets interesting.  Notice which commandments Jesus quotes.

The first 3 are missing.  There is nothing about God.  Then he lists murder, adultery, stealing,  , honoring mother and father and defrauding??  There isn't a defrauding commandment, and folks, unlike teenage confirmation students, Jesus is sure to know the commandments.  What is going on?  Why these?

A lot of ink has been spilled answering that question.  Were the God commandments left out because Jesus simply assumed that the man worshipped only one god, YHWH?  Did Jesus skip those because if you can't manage the commandments about caring for your neighbors then loving God is a reach too far?  Or does Jesus know how this man got all his wealth in the first place and is 'gently' calling him to confession?  Hmmmm.  Don't know, but in the end, it doesn't appear to have any effect on this man since he says..........

I have kept all of these from my youth.

Maybe.  Maybe not.  Jesus does not judge.  He moves on to step two.

Go.  Sell all your possessions.  Give the money to the poor (don't worry: you'll have treasure in heaven) and then Come.  Follow me.

Or I shall paraphrase.  If eternal life is what you want, then get rid of everything you are not going to need for the journey.  We travel light, and you are welcome to come with us.  Follow me and I will show you the way.

Now, this guy had a lot of stuff.  Sort of like your parents when you have to close up their home and empty it out.  Sort of like us.  We have lots of stuff.  Oh, sure there are people in this world who have lots more stuff than we do, but (as my mother would have said...) this conversation is about us, not some other folk.

We have lots of stuff and at this point in this story we are certain Jesus has lost his mind.  It took us a while to get here.  His family thought he was crazy back in the 3rd chapter.  The disciples thought he had lost it when he wanted them to feed 5000 people.  But us?  It's the 'stuff' that gets us....

because the whole idea of selling all you have and giving the proceeds away is simply crazy.  

We have lots of minimizing approaches to this [unfortunately?] very clear series of commands.  We translate it into more manageable renditions such as "You Can Give More To The Church" (this text comes to us during 'Stewardship Season').  Or here's another  "Be Sure To Share Your Extra" with its corollary "Recycle. Reuse. Donate."  But we certainly don't apply this radical command to our personal holdings.  Me either, just in case you were wondering.

You do have to ask yourself, however, who has egg on their face now?  Hmmm?

The first lesson of Business 101:  be sure that what you receive is equal in value to what you are paying.  It is basic Cost-Benefit analysis.  

So what are affluent Americans to do?   Think about it.  Pray about it.  We'll talk more tomorrow.

Gratitude as a Super Power

For what are you grateful this day?

Thus begins the Ignatian Examen, a spiritual practice for the end of a day which helps us examine our day.  The Examen begins with gratitude.  For what am I grateful today? 

As you sort through your day, seeking something for which you can express gratitude, you find your day transformed.  On wonderful days, you can’t help but be filled to the brim and over with the joy that erupts.  On your darkest days, this small moment of gratitude provides a light within the darkness and points towards hope for the next day.

Today, I give thanks for………..  This little exercise calls us back into relationship with the God of all creation, the one we call ‘good’.  It pulls us up, easing the weight of the mundane and inconveniences and reminds us of God’s presence and partnership in this experiment we call ‘life.’  In order to summon up a moment of gratitude, we must put down our complaints and wounds and sorrows……..even if just for a moment……and bring to mind that moment of grace or joy or forgiveness or kindness or respite which found us during the hours past. 

Gratitude resets our spiritual compass.  It is such an effective healing tool that spiritual directors, mental health professionals, and 12 step groups encourage the practice of naming the blessings we have received.  It is a practice that cuts across generations, cultures, racial barriers, and every other kind of divider we can imagine.   Where did I find life today?  Where did someone take care of me, protect me?  Who reminded me that being human is difficult work?  It is a beginning point for growing deeper in our relationship with God.

Both individuals and families can make Gratitude a practice.  Some folks use a Gratitude Journal, taking a moment every evening to identify places for gratitude in their life that day.  Some families use dinner time for conversation that includes this enduring question, “For what am I grateful today?” (Sometimes phrased and 'highs' of the day).  Both the very young and the very old can participate.  Some parents use that vital last 3 minutes before the lights go out for the night to have this conversation with their children.  Spouses can easily ask one another this simple question.

Practicing Gratitude is probably the most powerful tool we have in our tool box.  It will transform us as individuals, as families and as communities of faith.  No longer are we weighed down by our shortcomings.  No longer are we convinced that we have nothing for which to give thanks.  No longer do we move through our day unaware of the moments - large and small- where God’s Spirit of Life and Love is breaking into our day and making moments of gratitude. 

Even in times of loss and sorrow, recognizing a moment of gratitude can steady us and move us into the future. Practicing Gratitude will spill over into every aspect of your life; not because you will have more, but because you will see the giftedness in what you have received this day. 

Are you willing to risk being grateful?  How can you or your family begin to intentionally share your moments of grace regularly?  There are some clever ideas out there especially for including younger family members. (pinterest is always a good resource for these).

For what are you grateful today?  That simple question could transform your life.