"Worthy Questions" June 26, 2016

2nd Kings 2:1-14 Luke 9:51-62 There is a story about a famed preacher, esteemed for his eloquence, his command of poetry, prose, philosophy, his knowledge of Scripture, Shakespeare, and even more the connection of ideas to underscore lessons of life. However, for many years he had employed a clerk who researched, cross referenced and wrote every word he uttered. Finally, the staffer became fed up with the lack of recognition for their work, his plagiarizing their words as his own. As the renowned preacher was speaking to thousands of believers who hung upon his words, at the bottom of Page Two were the stirring words: “This my friends leads us to our point and the very heart of the Scripture, which is...” only to turn to page three, and find the words “You are on your own.” Up until this moment in life, you have been taught, carefully schooled, educated for whatever question is asked. First, to know that you are loved unconditionally; second the meaning of “No;” then, to sit up straight, to stand, to walk, to talk, the taste of spinach, Brussel sprouts and beets; to sleep at bed time and rise in the morning; to wash your hands and behind your ears. All that, before you ever learned the alphabet in English, to conjugate verbs, numbers or advanced calculations. Today, you process through the park to the Gazebo and jump in the lake, to be recognized by all those who have had a part in preparing you, that you passed the test having learned all that is required for a New York State Regents diploma. Over these last eighteen years, you have acquired the answers to the curriculum, you have mastered every question everyone else has put before you. When suddenly, perhaps tonight, or at the first day of Freshman Orientation, or when you are sitting on the bed provided by your host family in another Country, or in Boot Camp, or when you receive a diagnosis of Cancer, or when you graduate from college, or when you get married, if you divorce, when you bring your own child home from the hospital, or you are fired, or your child graduates and moves away, when it will occur to you: “You are on your own!” It is unfathomable, but there will come a time, when you will wish you could again live in your room in your parents' house, sharing a bathroom with your siblings, where meals miraculously appeared on the table, dishes were sanitized and put away before every meal, there were an endless supply of clean socks in your drawer, and you neither have to worry about rent or taxes or insurance or gas for the car you did not pay to drive. “You are on your own.” That is when you begin to ask Worthy Questions. Not that the date of Constantine's Dream was not important; not that you did not need to know how to find the square root of Pi. But when you begin to ask questions of yourself, 321 AD or 1.77245 are not answers to the worthy questions you need. The Worthy questions are: Who are you? Where is the Lord God? What are you doing here? Can I cope without my nest? Do I need love? Am I able to love? How far can I push myself? How far am I willing to trust another person? How can I cope with anger or fear different from what I have known? What is life and death about? Elijah was the great prophet of Israel, who stood against King Ahab and Queen Jezebel and 450 Priests of Baal. Elijah was the prophet of the great contest between Gods, who poured water over his sacrifice but when he commanded fire to come down out of heaven, everything was incinerated to ash. Elijah was the one who stood up against Jezebel and killed all 450 of the Priests of Baal. Elijah was the Prophet of the Lord, who journeyed to the Mountain where Moses, wanting some sign from God, had seen the presence of God. And there was Earthquake, Fire and Flood and a Mighty Wind, but God was not in any of those things. When a voice came asking: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” in other words, “You are on your own.” Elijah was the one, whom God then commanded to anoint a new King over Israel, and anoint a new King over the Nation of Judah, and anoint a new Priest in each Country, and after all of that, to find Elisha who will continue as Prophet after you are gone. So what was the first thing that Elijah did when coming down the mountain? First thing, he went looking for Elisha to give the job to, so Elijah would not be on his own. Elijah found Elisha with 12 pair of yoked Oxen, plowing the fields, and he was with the last pair, meaning the plowing of the field was done. Elijah draped his mantle over the shoulder of Elisha as Elijah passed. Elisha responded, “I will go with you, but first let me kiss my Mother and Father goodbye.” But Elijah says “You are on your own, decide what is important.” Elisha does not go to kiss his parents goodbye, but takes the 24 Oxen and butchers and sacrifices them to the Lord. In other words, making this sacrifice Elisha can never again return home. In the intervening chapters, Elijah goes up a mountain, and the new king tries to appeal to the Prophet of God to bring God down, making the Nation of Israel Great Again. The King appeals to him by sending 50 men to Elijah. But Elijah responds “Is it because there is no God in Israel, that you search for me and for the prophets of Baal?” Then Elijah commanded fire to come down and consume the 50 men. The king sends 50 more, and Elijah commanded fire to come down. The king sent 50 more, and Elijah commanded fire to come down. Finally, the king sent 50 more men, who offered their lives to Elijah, asking that their lives would be of value. And an angel appeared to Elijah and he came down the mountain. This takes us to the passage we read today at the transition from 1st Kings to 2nd Kings, where everyone in all Israel knows that Elijah is about to die, and Elisha the Apprentice is going to be on his own as Prophet of the Lord. Before Elijah dies, he makes a pilgrimage a grand circle from Gilgal to all the sacred places of ancient Israel, before returning to Jericho to cross the Jordan River into the Wilderness. The people in each place do not ask Worthy Questions. Like reporters asking victims of a hurricane, fire or a mass shooting, “How do you feel?” they ask “Do you know that today the Lord is going to take your master, leaving you alone?” Elisha responds, “I know, leave me alone.” Like Israel before them, Elijah parts the Jordan River for he and Elisha to cross together. The vow of Elisha to Elijah is like the vow of Peter to Jesus at the Last Supper, “I will not leave you.” Except that Peter cannot, because Jesus' death is something only he could do for all humanity, and Peter was weak. But what Elisha was pledging to Elijah, was that Elijah would not Be Alone in death. What is not spelled out clearly here, is that in the Religion of the Canaanites, who had been in the land before Israel took possession, their God was described as riding the clouds in a Chariot of Fire with Horses of Fire. When Elisha witnesses Elijah being carried up by the Chariots and horses, he tore his clothes, meaning not only that he was filled with emotion but Elisha could never go back to putting those on again, the past is the past. Read this as his parents converted his bedroom into a guestroom. Read this as, His parents took Elisha off their Income Taxes as their dependent. Elisha recognized neither he nor Israel could ever go back. Instead, Elisha took up the mantle of Elijah and struck the water, just as Israel's Prophets had done, as Moses and Joshua and Elijah had done, asking The Worthy Question: “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” Elisha had no intention of going alone, because wherever he goes Elisha trusted God will be with him. Jesus and his disciples did not suddenly appear without knowledge of the prophets and history of Israel before them. When Jesus had set his face toward Jerusalem, and the Samaritans rejected him because he would not come be their Prophet whenever they wanted him, James and John asked the Elijah Question of coping with fear & anger: “Do you want us to bid fire come down from heaven to rebuke them?” And when Jesus invited others to follow, and one replied “first let me first bury my dead,” and another “first let me say farewell to those at home” Jesus was describing Elisha at the plow. Probably few of us have ever driven a team of horses, or plowed a field with oxen, but the reality is you cannot drive straight or plow forward if you are forever turning to consider the past. The Worthy Question, which until now we often tried to ignore and sidestep, is the meaning of Life and Death, the purpose of Life. When Elisha was accompanying Elijah on this final pilgrimage, crossing the Jordan into the wilderness, everybody knew that Elijah was Going to die, everyone including Elisha knew this meant Elisha would be on his own as a Prophet of the Lord. So when Elisha asked for a double share, different from the Prodigal Son or the Elder Son he was not asking for his half of the inheritance, he was asking for Everything and this from a dying man who never wanted his responsibility. Years ago, I recall praying for a double portion of faith... within the next six months, I arrived here, I had to have my Gall Bladder removed and my parents were in a fatal Car Accident. Be careful what you wish for! When Elisha took up Elijah's mantle and struck the Jordan, Elisha was claiming his own command over life and death, because Moses and the Red Sea, Joshua and the Jordan, Baptism, and your leaping off the wall into the Lake, ALL are affirmations of the reality of life and death and that you choose as Elisha did: Responsibility. When Jesus “set his face toward Jerusalem” even the Samaritans knew that no longer would Jesus be a wandering Rabbi, a miracle healer and teacher, he was claiming his purpose and responsibility as going to the Cross to die for the sins of the world. Everything from this point forward comes with insight and conviction of that reality. Wherever you go from this place, you go knowing you are part of this Church, we love you unconditionally. You go as a Graduate of Skaneateles, having learned everything we thought we could teach you as a foundation for your asking the Worthy Questions. “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?”

"Parables in Life" June 12, 2016

I Kings 21: 20-29 Luke 7: 36-42 On Wednesday evenings, the Bible Study Small-group have been reading and reflecting on the Book of Proverbs which in other places are referred to as the Book of Parables or the Book of Poetry. These are different from the Gospels or Epistles, as this is part of the Wisdom material. Over the years, our congregation has been split over those who enjoy my use of poetry in prayer and worship and those who have not. The reasons why I have selected classic poetry for prayers are numerous and I think important. First, that the Worship of God is different from anything else in life, so our language needs to be different from immogies and texting, prose and profanity. Second, poetry has a grace and rhythm all its own, and far more descriptive images than common language. Third to read poetry, or proverbs or parables, you have to slow down and think about the words, about The Word being God in our midst. But most important, if you have made the effort on a Sunday Morning at 9:30am to come into this House of God telling your spouse and children they need to be here, you know that we are not here to discuss the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie, Quantum Mechanics, or the price of Groceries... And whereas with other fields, we can discuss objectively, when speaking of God, we are sharing together matters as personal as life and death, as intimate as trust and brokenness and forgiveness, vows and covenants, peace and community, which need to be described from a slant, otherwise the world will dismiss them as being as trite and predictable as the words of a political candidate. Jesus is described as having taught in Parables, in fact saying everything to the crowds as in parables. Which makes me believe the whole of each Gospel: the story of Jesus life, death and resurrection while true is a parable. Every story, and the whole of the Bible, is a parable: a memorable story that we identify with and catches us in meaning about God. As well as what are the parables in our lives, whether our lives as a whole are parables? In every Parable, the people and places named have meaning, as do their actions, otherwise there would be no point in naming them. Three weeks ago, I told the parable of someone brought before the Judge, who admitted they were guilty but could not pay the fine, and the Judge got off the bench took off their robes and paid the fine for them with a $100 bill. Now, when a preacher refers to The Judge they mean whom? God. Those who know they are guilty and cannot pay the fine? Us. A $100 Bill is an extravagant over abundance meaning Grace paid for us. And the description that the Judge stepped out of the Bench took off their robes, putting on a suit like us, then went back to sitting at the Bench as Judge, is Jesus. Early in the Gospel of Luke, 5 Chapters after the story of Jesus' miraculous birth and presentation at the Temple, 3 Chapters after Jesus' Baptism and Temptation in the Wilderness, Jesus was invited to Dinner at a Pharisee's home. This event occurs in each Gospel, yet in the rest, this occurs immediately prior to the Last Supper and Jesus' Crucifixion; and Lazarus' and Martha's sister the disciple Mary anoints Jesus as one does in burial of dead. In Luke, the telling is different, a Dinner at the home of a Pharisee named Simon, an un-named Prostitute anoints Jesus, not with a expensive perfume but with her tears, kisses, and the perfume of her hair. The dinner comes immediately after Jesus healed raised a Widow's Son from death to Life, the Disciples of John the Baptist ask if Jesus is the Messiah; and immediately prior to Jesus telling the Parables of the Sower sowing Seed on Soils, the Good Samaritan and the Sign of Jonah. All of which are essential details for interpreting this and what Jesus is remembered as saying, as a parable within a parable within a parable. What we know from the outset is that there is a Pharisee, hosting Jesus in the Pharisee's home, and while they were at Table a Woman of the City entered. When you hear the identification “Pharisee” we perceive him to believe right or wrong that he is a Righteous Man, maybe like us. The Pharisee perceives Jesus to be a Prophet, and his abilities as a Prophet will be determined by what happens at the meal. The Pharisee perceives the uninvited Woman to be a Sinner. In any parable, whenever there is a Table and Supper, this is reference to the Banquet of God described in Psalm 23 “My cup runneth over” and also a foretaste of Communion, which is Jesus' Last Supper, where we will know if Jesus is a Prophet and how powerful he is or is not. The Pharisee made a judgement (meaning he took on the role of Judge=God), about the woman and about Jesus, because Jesus allowed her not only to touch him, but to touch him with an over abundance of devotion and intimacy. At which point while reclining at the Table, Jesus tells a parable, within this story. “There was a Creditor with two debtors, one who owed the equivalent of 2 years wages, the other who owed a sum of less than two months. When neither could pay, he forgave both.” Now, who is it that has forgiven us our debts? The Creditor, the Father, the Sower, the King is always God and always acting out Grace. And Jesus asks the Pharisee by name, because those who feel righteous always want to be assured they are known by name for being righteous, and for making righteous judgements: “Which of these two will love the Creditor more?” Jesus assumes the Pharisee will believe there will be a difference in their responses, and the difference will be demonstrated by acts of love. Simon responds, as a righteous judge, by supposing “The one, whom the Creditor forgave more.” At which point, Jesus interprets their circumstance in the Pharisee's home as being the Creditor with two debtors. The Table and Simon's judgements signify this is: The Judgement Day like separating the Sheep from the Goats. The most basic customs of Community are how you welcome and treat strangers in your home. The norm was not simply to allow the guest to remove their sandals, but to wash their bare feet before entering, like that basin of warm soapy water outside the Camp during the summer. When you welcome someone, Romans did so with a Handshake, to be certain the other was disarmed, but as a welcome guest in your home you greeted them with a kiss. When they are a guest at your Table, you act out Psalm 23 by anointing their head with oil, like washing your hands and face to freshen up before a meal. However, Simon the Pharisee offered Jesus none of the basic hospitality that you would extend to any stranger; whereas the uninvited Woman bathed his feet with her tears and ceaseless kisses, and she wiped his feet with the ointment and perfume in her own hair. Therefore, Jesus is not simply a Prophet unable to judge what kind of woman this is, but Jesus is The Creditor, The Judge: God. Where the Pharisee and the Prostitute are both debtors, and therefore both sinners, but Jesus offers both absolute forgiveness of all their debts, all their sins. But the one believing they are forgiven less, both loves less and is judgmental of the other and of God. So, using what we have learned, we turn to the Book of Kings in the First Testament. Before we even begin to read, we know there is going to be a problem, because in Israel there is only one true King who is: God; and Kings of Nations, are as was predicted by the Prophet Samuel, going to consume your sons with wars, take your daughters for their harems, take your wealth and the land of God for their own. The worst of which was Ahab married to that jezebel: Jezebel. A jezebel is a woman not to be trusted, who seduces powerful men away from their values and ethics, God, and what they know to be right, in order to amass great power, wealth and land. Naboth was a Jezreelite who had a Vineyard in Jezreel. This was not real estate he had bought, not a farm he had cultivated, to Naboth this was his ancestral birthplace, part of Moses' Division of the Land of Milk & Honey gifted by God as an act of Grace to the People of Israel for all time. Can you sell that? Literally, “over your dead body!” The land which Naboth owns is not his house, or his factory, this is a Vineyard. Naboth's vineyard happens to be located immediately adjacent to the palace of the King, Ahab. Now in the Bible, a Vineyard always reminds us of the Parable of the Vineyard in the Book of the Prophet Isaiah. Isaiah's Vineyard represents the Nation of Israel as The Garden of Eden, established by God, with Caretakers of the Garden: Adam and Eve and their descendants Cain and Abel; Abel whose name means Evil for Abel killed his brother because he coveted what his brother had. As if this point needed to be underscored, what Ahab King of Samaria wants Naboth's Vineyard for, is to make his own “Garden.” We know there is a problem with Ahab's desire for this, because while Naboth's Vineyard is named as the Best parcel of land in the kingdom, Ahab offers either to pay for it, or to trade a “better” parcel. What better parcel of land could there be, than the best land in the kingdom? When Naboth explains that he cannot sell land which is his ancestral birthplace, Ahab becomes so depressed he goes home to bed and pulls the covers up over his head. Seeing her husband frustrated, Queen Jezebel asks the cause. To which she makes the most natural and evil of conclusions, “You are the King.” Meaning there is No God and you possess the power of God. If Naboth's Vineyard is only available over his dead body, pay disreputable men to lie that Naboth said something against God and King, for which he will be killed for Blasphemy and Treason.” This is what takes place, even to the extent that Ahab throws a Public Feast, where Naboth is guest of honor, until he is arrested for what others said he said, and Naboth was put to death. Which is the setting for our reading. But set within the whole of the Bible, when Abel killed Cain, and Ahab and Jezebel paid men to accuse Naboth of Treason and Blasphemy what other outcome do we expect for the Messiah, the True Son of God except to be arrested and executed, because Judas and the Leaders of the people said Jesus had committed Treason against The Empire of Rome, and Blasphemy against God by claiming to be the Messiah? The dangling thread is Elijah, the Prophet of God, who was sent to King Ahab, and finds him walking in the Garden which was Naboth's Vineyard. When else have you heard description of God or God's prophet meeting up with a man walking in the Garden? Adam after the first sin. We often imagine Jesus as smiling and loving, with children on his lap, or as the Choir sang “Standing at the door, knocking to come in.” I have often thought in the Modern world we have that backward, and Jesus should be trying to get out into the world. Christians, people of faith are never depicted as dour, but as happy people, who no matter what, smile. Yet here, when King Ahab meets Elijah, King Ahab's greeting to the man of God is: “Have you found me, O My Enemy?” Sometimes in Parables, we identify with the Shepherd who found the lost sheep and rejoices, when we should be the Sheep; or we identify with the woman who found the lost coin and celebrates, when we are what was valued which was lost; or as being the Prodigal who returns home, or the man who fell among robbers on the way to Jericho and was rescued by of all people a Samaritan. The question of Elijah and Ahab is as a Child of God, loved by God, under what circumstances in our lives would we greet God, or the prophet “Have you found me, O my Enemy?” Yet, even Ahab was able to turn and to repent, putting on sackcloth and asking for forgiveness. And God forgave Ahab and he lived in peace for three years. When this Church sent me for a Doctor of Ministry, there were many wonderful lessons, reading 20-30 books for each of two week classes, writing the history of this congregation, and comparing our circumstance with other congregations. But the most beneficial, which I would strongly encourage you to try, came from a class with Walter Brueggemann, taking three Bible passages you know very well and three you do not know, and use these as parables to tell your story, who you are and what do you need to say about your life?