Sermons
2nd Sunday of Advent 12/8/2019
2nd Sunday of Advent
Pastor Michael Stadtmueller
Sermon Scripture: MATTHEW 3: 1-12
1In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, 2“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,
“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.’ ”
4Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, 6and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
7But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8Bear fruit worthy of repentance. 9Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 10Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
11“I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
1st Sunday of Advent 12/1/2019
Jesus is Coming
Pastor Leta Arndt Behrens
Sermon Scripture: Matthew 24:36-44
Christ the King 11/24/2019
Christ the King
Pastor Leta Arndt Behrens
Sermon Text:
When my grandfather passed away a few years ago it was time to clean out the house they had lived in for 60 years. As you can imagine, this was not a quick simple project. My grandparents were very tidy people and they were people who kept, well, all the things. So it was a daunting project. AND it was a cleaning out like I had never experienced before, treasures were found around every corner and in each nook and cranny. We found silver sets we never knew existed and photos that were well worn and precious. But it wasn’t until my sister and i were cleaning out the dressers that we found what was truly hidden and loved by each of them. In my grandma’s dresser as we quickly figured out that we had to take out each article of clothing because there could be a $20 bill that would fall out! And in my grandfather’s dresser… ok we were a little hopeful that we would find $50s.. But instead we found hundreds of tiny little chocolate bars stuffed in between the shirts and thrown in with the socks. These treasures we found uncovered something we didn’t know about our grandparents and they brought laughter and joy to the room.
Perhaps you have had the experience of grand clean up or small simple one that brought treasures into your life–the $10 bill haphazardly stuck in a pocket last winter makes its appearance and you suddenly have a little extra for a warm cup of hot chocolate! Or maybe it was something you lost long ago and, as a friend of mine had happen, you crawl all the way under the bed for a good dusting and in the midst of dust you find your wedding ring. And your heart swells because something that was lost has been discovered.
In our reading from Kings today, we have a story of king, Josiah, and his grand cleaning out that leads to a newness to his kingship and uncovering of a treasure that was long lost to the people and when found brings a swelling to their heart and new step forward in their lives as people of God. Josiah became king when he was just 8 years old and he inherited the role after the death of his father. Josiah is uplifted as a good king, one who followed in the heart of David and who reigned well. And part of his story is because of a grand clean up. He decided it was time for the temple to be renovated. This building that had stood for so many years, where his parents and grandparents and great grandparents had worshiped and served as royalty, was in need of the hands of the next generation. And as the priest and others were cleaning out the temple for this project, they came across a great treasure; one that they didn’t even really remember had been lost–the book of the law. A scroll really that had words that are now about of the book of Deuteronomy, this scroll was ascribed to Moses’ own hand and included words about worshipping only Yahweh and told the story of the people including the exodus and the passover meal that was to be shared. And so Josiah reinstituted the worship of God alone and he began again to celebrate the passover and bring the stories back to the people.
This treasure turned out to be more profound than any other. It was like a love letter from their grandparents or even more from God. A way for the people to renew what they had forgotten about their ancestors, about themselves, one another, and the promise that they were God’s people. It was a turning point for them, one where they learned that they had a place and a promise to live into. And through this Josiah is remembered as a true king, one who lead the people back to the love and mercy of God.
Jesus too is this kind of king. King is a tough word for us to grasp, especially with regards to our faith. So why in the world is there a whole Sunday dedicated to this idea of Christ as king? This story of Josiah and the story of the cross give us a clue. Our text from Luke of the crucifixion of Jesus is a key text because it is really the first time Jesus is ever referred to as king. This was not a name that the disciples used or the people that followed. Jesus is not lifted up as a king while he teaching and healing. He is not king until there are charges brought against him. Messiah, yes, but messiah means savior and in the time of the people this was not automatically associated with a king figure. The political charge comes from Pilate and Pilate places the title upon him as he is sent to die. With this title of king, Jesus forgives, loves and he too brings the people back to the love and mercy of God.
This is what a Godly king does. Seeks us out and brings us back to the heart of the law which is the grace and mercy of God. From the dust and dirt of the storage space of the temple and from the cross and the grave, God comes and uncovers treasures that can make our hearts swell and the course of our lives change forever. In this promise, we too are invited to see and live and know the Holy Spirit moving among us. At times we seek this out and at times we are surprised by grace. And always, always, God is with us as a king who uncovers the mystery of the Holy spirit among us.
We have 41 people on this type of seeking pilgrimage right now. Going to Israel, seeing what we call the Holy Land, walking where Jesus walked and seeing the places he stood as well as the kings before him stood can be a holy experience. I have some photos to share with you–So far our travelers have floated in the dead sea, seen the church of the nativity, walked the streets of Bethelehm and seen the wilderness of Masada.
And as they have seen these places, they have also seen and met the people of God who dwell there and their faces and stories are what so far have made the biggest impact of the heart. This priest from Poland connecting his story with the story of land, this woman whose face shows us God in the sparkle of her eyes and the years on her face.
And then there is this video posted by one of the travelers with these words:
We saw a lot today. This was probably one of the most meaningful moments of the day. It is at a little chapel at Beit Sahour – the Shepherd’s Field – Church of the Angels. At first we were the only ones in here. Then a group from Delaware came in. The acoustics were amazing so we started singing and everybody joined in. “Can we do that again?” was the response. So we did. Keep singing.
Keep singing, keep searching, keep connecting, and keep knowing that the promises of God are around every corner and in every nook and cranny because the promise from the cross, the promise from our creator God and the promise of the Holy Spirit is the promise that Christ is king and will always bring us back to love and mercy.
Reclaiming Our Gifts 11/17/2019
Reclaiming Our Gifts
Pastor Michael Stadtmueller
Sermon Scripture: LUKE 21:5-19
5When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, [Jesus] said, 6“As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.”
7They asked him, “Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?” 8And he said, “Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is near!’ Do not go after them.
9“When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.” 10Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; 11there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.
12“But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. 13This will give you an opportunity to testify. 14So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance; 15for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. 16You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. 17You will be hated by all because of my name. 18But not a hair of your head will perish. 19By your endurance you will gain your souls.”
Renewed in Life 11/10/2019
Renewed in Life 11/10/2019
Paula & Denny Lofstrom – International Health Partners
Sermon Scripture: JOHN 17:25-26
25Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. 26I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
Renewed by Love 11-4-2019
Renewed by Love 11-4-2019
Pastor Leta Arndt Behrens
Sermon Scripture: LUKE 6:20-31
20Then [Jesus] looked up at his disciples and said:
“Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.
21“Blessed are you who are hungry now,
for you will be filled.
“Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.
22“Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. 23Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets.
24“But woe to you who are rich,
for you have received your consolation.
25“Woe to you who are full now,
for you will be hungry.
“Woe to you who are laughing now,
for you will mourn and weep.
26“Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets.
27“But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. 30Give to
everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. 31Do to others as you would have them do to you.”
Sermon Text:
My childhood was surrounded by my grandparents and great grandparents. I have many memories of being in their presence. For each of these grandparents and others in my life who have died, I have dates- so many dates that surround their lives here with me. Their birthdates and death dates–the very specific life dates that come up each year and sometimes my feelings on those days catch me by surprise. And also there are the dates that are more vague, the ones that hold memories of moments and events that contributed to our depth of relationship. And then there is this date- All Saints Day. A day given where we remember, celebrate, grieve, and mark these lives and their meaning in our life story. This date feels different for me because it is a day wrapped in the promises of God. It’s a day where we remember not so much who they were but who they are to us and how they are held with us in God’s story, the bigger story of life death and eternity. And how they and we together are blessing and light and how they and we together are blessed and given light- through the source of Christ as our light. It is a day we place ourselves in the light of renewal-renewal through memory, renewal through connection, renewal through love.
Jesus in these beatitudes from Luke is pronouncing a blessing. This blessing is not instructive, but it is descriptive. It is a blessing upon them that says you are blessed. You have this promise from God. You are infused with this light and with this love so you can respond, you can go, you can be free to love–love your people, love your enemies, love the moment in life that you have been given. This blessing is given to all the saints, all those who live in our memory AND all of those who sit by us and walk with us each and every day AND all those still come-the generations who will never know my grandparents are still connected.
This blessing on all saints day connects us through a renewed promise and sends us to be that which Jesus pronounces us–those who have agency and love to bring to the world.
This happens here today as we light candles and sing and pray together. This happens in our community of faith that gathers to bring our memories into one space and lift them to God. And it happens when we leave this place. We are still connected, still called blessed, still sent into a world that needs this renewal of love again and again.
I have a video to show you that I connect with and believe it demonstrates this blessing that we possess, that we don’t always see, but when we let the light come on and inspire, it is a way of living into the sainthood that is pronounced upon us.
Eattogether video 2:30
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
That is a gathering of saints–a coming together, a recognition of connection and a blessing of community dwelling in the movement of love. As you remember your loved ones, also remember you are a loved one and you have the calling and the gift to bring that love into the hallways, the elevators, the classrooms and parks, all the spaces big and small you are given to bring renewal with the love and light of Christ.
In the letter to the Ephesians, Paul reminds us of this inheritance we have through the passing on of the faith in and of Christ. We set our hope and our renewal in this promise of the word of truth, the gospel of salvation and the sealing of the Holy Spirit. Linda Hogan, a native american writer, says it well when she reflects on All Saints day, she says, Suddenly, all my ancestors are behind me. “Be Still” they say, “Watch and listen. You are the result of the love of thousands.”
God is the source of this love of the thousands. You are a result of the love that goes back to the beginning of time and extends well past the end of your time. You are claimed, named and sent out in that result of the love of God that ties you this ancestral and future eternal promise.
Renewed by Grace 1-27-2019
Renewed by Grace 1-27-2019
Pastor Michael Stadtmueller
Sermon Scripture: JOHN 8:31-36
31Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; 32and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 33They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, ‘You will be made free’?”
34Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. 35The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever. 36So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.”
Renewed by Connection 10-20-2019
Renewed by Connection
Pastor Michael Stadtmueller
Sermon Scripture: LUKE 18:1-8
1Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. 2He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. 3In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Grant me justice against my opponent.’ 4For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, ‘Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, 5yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.’ ” 6And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? 8I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
Renewed in Gratitude 10-13-2019
Renewed in Gratitude
Pastor Leta Arndt Behrens
Sermon Scripture: LUKE 17: 11-19
11On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. 12As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, 13they called out, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were made clean. 15Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. 16He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. 17Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? 18Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19Then he said to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.”
Sermon Text:
This scripture , it sparks such connection and joy for me when I read it. It seems like one that lends itself a little more easily to what I like to call our modern day scriptures or parables. Those stories that teach us and tell us some deeper truth that we understand on a grander level. While I was on a visit this week, I heard one such story from a homebound couple of our congregation. It is a story the woman loves to tell, taking her back to her memories, her personal experiences that have become the stories and scriptures that connect her to herself and to God. She was a teacher, she wanted to be an engineer but even though she applied across the country at that time was never accepted because women were not allowed in engineering school. She always says though, I found a love and a place in teaching that I would never trade. She was a teacher for students with special needs and in particular a gifted math teacher- I know this because of the light that goes on her eyes when she tells this story and because of the pride in her husband’s posture and stance when he listens. The textbook was no good, it didn’t teach children, it only showed information. She is a teacher of children, of people, and she found ways to connect to the parts of their world that they cared about in order to learn math–like how not to get cheated when making big purchases is a really good reason to know your fractions and percents! She did away with the textbook and taught the people. The students were in the middle years of schooling and when they left her school for the next she mostly did not know how they landed. Except for one. One student whose mother after a year of his being in high school, came back to her. She came back and told her how well he was doing and how much he had improved. She back and thanked her, poured out her gratitude for the gift that was given to him by this teacher of people. And this gratitude. This thankfulness. This one time has made all the difference in that teacher’s story of herself, her life, and her gifts being used in the light of God. And it is renewing for her whole self.
I told her this week as she wrapped up that this was also a story of Jesus. A story of how he threw away the policies of healing only at certain times and healing only certain kinds of people and instead, he simply healed people. He saw people. He heard people. He loved people and brought grace and mercy to heal people. And many we never know what they did or how their life changed, but this one leper, the foreigner in fact, the one who did not automatically fit in with the others around him, we do know. We know his gratitude. We know his joy. We know his faith and his heart were changed and impacted in big and mighty ways. We also know he was welcomed, he was praised, and he was renewed-an outsider brought in and blessed by the grace of Jesus.
And because he came back in gratitude, because he couldn’t keep this story to himself, we hear and tell this story again and again so we can also remember and renew our story, our life, our gifts in the light of God.
I was talking with a colleague and she said sometimes it feels like the spiritual practice of gratitude has been so invaded by culture that it has become a platitude, a buzz word. She may be right. However, gratitude–it’s of and from God. We as people who attempt to walk in faith, we get to take it back not because it’s popular with Oprah or the hallmark industry, but because it’s ours–it’s of our faith, it’s from our scriptures, it’s a part of who and what we are–refilled with grace to know that every time we re-return to God, Jesus is already there, ready for our gratitude, ready for our gifts, ready for our light in the world.
Eckert Tolle, a spiritual teacher and writer, says “if the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.” Think about it for a moment. The prayer of gratitude, the prayer of thanks. It is a way we connect our spirits to our minds and also to our community. When is a time you have been genuinely given gratitude? How did it feel? How did it connect you to your gifts… to the other person.. To your spirit? How about those gratitude you have to give? Some may be simple–a word of kindness, a meal, a walk with a loved one. Some may be profound and deep–a gift, a tough experience, someone who has stuck with you through ups and downs. These prayers of thanks are in your heart and they invite you to be transformed in your mind, in your hopes, in your movement in the world.
We are going to pause for just a moment and practice–because like all spiritual endeavors, gratitude takes practice. Turn to your neighbor or grab the pencil and paper in your pew and just lift up one gratitude you have and give God thanks. (Pause, 30 sec)
As we come back from our gratitude break I have a little greek lesson for you today–the word Eucharist, it comes from the greek for Thanksgiving. This is why you will sometimes hear communion, the holy meal, called the Great Thanksgiving. The Eucharist as it has come to be in our practice is a spiritual way of that re-turning to give thanks and returning to be renewed. When we come together each week and we gather at this altar, at this table and rail to be brought back together in thanksgiving for the grace and love that God has promised to us. Those words of institution, those are the words of the story that Jesus has a remember- to remember his promise and words yes, but also to Re-Member- to be back together as a community who re joins itself together in renewal, in thanksgiving, in gratitude, in spiritual practice of knowing the renewal of our story, our life, our light is in God. Thanks be God. Amen
Renewed by Faith 10/6/2019
Renewed by Faith
Pastor Michael Stadtmueller
Sermon Scripture: LUKE 17:5-10
5The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6The Lord replied, “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
7“Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here at once and take your place at the table’? 8Would you not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink’? 9Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? 10So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, ‘We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!’ ”
Rich Man & Lazarus 9-29-2019
Rich Man & Lazarus
Pastor Leta Arndt Behrens
Sermon Scripture: LUKE 16:19-31
[Jesus said:] 19“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. 22The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. 23In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. 24He called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.’ 25But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. 26Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.’ 27He said, ‘Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house—28for I have five brothers—that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.’ 29Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’ 30He said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”Sermon Text:
Oh how I want to make this parable feel better. Tame it down it somehow to make us who sit in the 21st century surrounded by conveniences never even dreamed about when this parable was told and when the words of Jesus were remembered and written down. And there are ways to interpret the scripture in a much “nicer”, more comfortable way. There are interpretations that that tell us that the Jewish people of the time would have heard this text and been shocked to hear that wealth wasn’t a blessing and that poverty could ‘get you into heaven’. There are writings and sermons and devotions that try to explain away why someone who is rich would be denied the comforts of being called home to God just for being rich. I am sure I have even given a sermon alluding to this idea that Jesus was attacking a cultural norm that wealth meant blessing from God and poverty meant curses from God and thus he had come to reverse this notion and be that bridge that brings us together. And while all these things have truth in them, they in effect try to make a story that is true at face value look like it has something to hide.
Remember, this is a parable. A story meant to point out the vast, exaggerated differences so that we have a chance of seeing where we fall. The rich man, who has a gate, who is described as being dressed in fine linens and eating sumptuous everyday is vastly wealthy. Is outside of the norm of the everyday person. And Lazarus, who is laid at the gate, who’s sores are licked by the dogs and who’s very life and breath depends on someone else, is beyond poor, beyond the realm of our own understanding. The two are divided. They are divided by social status. They are divided by how they experience the world. The chasm between them is one that has no bridge to cross over.
The person hearing Jesus tell this story would have known they were not the rich man and they would have known they were not the poor man. Furthermore, they would have known that the problem with the rich man was not his wealth, but that he was the one acting outside of social, cultural, and religious norms. It was not the culture of the time or the religion of the Jews to ignore the poor and step over them at the gate. Many scripture passages in the torah and the prophets tell the people to care for the widow, the sick, the hungry. Deuteronomy 15 commands, If there is any among you anyone in need, a member of your community in any of your towns, do not be hard hearted or tight fisted toward your needy neighbor. Isaiah 57: 7 teaches: “Share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, cover them and do not hide yourself from your own kin.” The true shock in the story is that the Lazarus, who may have been lain at the gate of this man precisely because others knew he had the capacity to help, was not even seen or acknowledged. And that in the afterlife, the rich man still did not really see him as he asks him to go and relieve his thirst. This rich man was creating a new system by turning away, the problem with the rich man was not his wealth-remember Jesus said it is the love of money that was the problem–the problem was his placing Lazarus outside of society, outside of Faith practice, outside of God’s promise.
And then in the afterlife, Abraham, known as ‘father’ to the people, as one who would hold the children of God close, tells the rich man no. No, this man is not outside of God’s promise. He is here. You have created this chasm and tried to divide, but that is not the truth. God creates the kingdom, God’s promises and law triumph, God’s love persists here and in the life you were given. So, No he will not help you and no I will not go and warn your family.
This is the harsh part. The no. The no created by the rich man’s not seeing. The no created by the story to show plain and simple that the calling of God reaches beyond social status and also beyond actions. Notice, Lazarus did not do something to earn his salvation. This is not a theology of making us think we have boxes to check. Remember-this is a parable. It is meant to make us sympathize with Lazarus, dislike the rich man in the story, and then wonder–what about us in the middle-what about the merchants and the artists, what about the teachers and the nurses, what about the CEOs and the city council members and police officers and construction workers?
What does this parable, this story mean for us who give money to foodbanks, help in shelters, bring food items for kids to make breakfast and snack kits, who give time and money and prayer to this very church that reaches and changes so many lives. What does it mean for us who do our best to remember to take reusable bags to the grocery store and use our resources wisely?
What does this mean for us who also know that reality is, just as it was for the 8th century Israelites and the disciples walking with Jesus, that we participate in systems of injustice both knowingly and unknowingly. We like our conveniences, we do drive more than we walk, we do run water unnecessarily sometimes, and buy clothing at discount stores that rely on cheap labor from developing countries and we do probably eat more at one meal than three quarters of the world eats all day. So are any of us really free from the systems and power or greed that our in place and can we really tell the difference all of the time? Are we doomed to create chasms in our world whether we want to or not and how can we truly bring blessing into our lives and the lives of others?
Amy Jill Levine, a Jewish new testament scholar writes about this parable and says in summary of this parable: Do not just contribute to the food drive, but invite the hungry into your home. Do not just put money in the collection plate, but use your resources to provide jobs and support for those in need. Do not treat the sick as burdens, but as beloved family members who deserve love and care. Know the names of the destitute; each has a story to tell. Recognize, as Jesus puts it, that you cannot serve both God and mammon.”
Remember, even as Abraham is saying no, he is also saying yes. When the rich man asks him to warn his family, Abraham replies, they already have what they need. Ahh, so there is the grace. Wasn’t sure we were going to find it here, but there it is. A promise. That it doesn’t matter who you know or what questions you have or who your family is or how you make your way in the world. You have what you need. And what you have matters. That is, you have the knowledge, you have the resources, you have the love in your heart to make a difference and to be ones that create bridges not chasms. Jesus came not to tell people they had it all wrong, but to show them and us that God is here, all along, giving us the Spirit that brings us scripture and inspiration and people and eyes and hearts. You have what you need to know how to make your way in this world.
God has nothing to hide. That is grace. This parable pushes us to go beyond what we think is possible and really see the gifts we have and really hear the calling of how to be in the world. This is the blessing from Abraham, passed on and down through the Spirit to us.. That you, and me and the very rich and the very poor and everyone in between matter and God seeks to bring us together, not divide us a part. And the plain, simple truth is that God goes before you and with you and behind you all the way.