sermon excerpts: I Hope Not

... The world today, much like the world of Jesus time, sees people who are poor, hungry, and disrespected and figures they only have to blame themselves. One difference, we, in our day and age, have been able to unhinge our physical health from our moral lives. No longer do we assume that sickness befalls evil people, that disease is punishment for some unconfessed sin. We accept that cancer is an equal opportunity disease that can strike any of us regardless of who we are, how much we own or how righteously we live our lives.

But the other conditions of our life remain our responsibility – our income, our reputation, our employment, our happiness. ...

There is tremendous value to the hardworking, never-say-quit attitude, such as that found in the congregation here in the work and care for the church; but it is a dangerous trap that leads to unnecessary guilt and worry. The fact is there is too much that is out of our control that affects our life situation and that our story is always more complicated than our bank balance, housing situation or reputation in the community. And even if God knows our story and cares compassionately and deeply for each of us, that doesn’t matter much in the opinions of those who like to talk about other people’s business.

Jesus was going against the grain by seeking out the sick, those physically ill and those afflicted spiritually. The kingdom of God’s reign that he was bringing defied all the social conventions of who deserves greatness and status. But before we all get too comfortable and cozy with the Messiah, he goes on the attack. His words of blessing and compassion are suddenly harbingers of doom and distress.

This kind and caring healer is suddenly pronouncing sorrow and woe upon those who are happy, well-fed and well-respected. It seems that there is only so much wealth in the world, or food or happiness. Those that hoard it for themselves do so at the expense of others. We are all connected to one another; perhaps this is another expression of this fact.

Is this true? I hadn’t really thought of it that way until this week, and I don’t believe that is the case, but I can see how that could make sense. That thought doesn’t prompt us as people to leave aside some wealth or food or happiness for someone else, it compels us to stockpile even more.

...we live in an imperfect, entropic world. When Luke was writing his gospel, the church was in a time of persecution. The Roman Empire was actively seeking out, arresting, torturing and killing people who professed to be Christian. Such pioneers of faith were truly reviled and hated, by their own families and friends even, yet they held fast to their beliefs.

False prophets were ones that told people what they wanted to hear. You can imagine that false prophet would be well-liked, have a wide network of friends and connections; but their truth was not the truth. In those days of persecution, telling others what they wanted to hear might help you keep your life, but there would be little value in it.

The truth often makes us squirm. If it makes us uncomfortable, then it is a blessed disturbance. Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain offers us truth and hope. But it is a complicated messy hope, that can challenge and discourage us. Real life is like that, and our faith is meant to be lived out in the real world. We are not alone, thanks be to God.