June 27, 2010

A Tough Road to Follow

Scripture Psalm 77: 11-20 read responsively and Luke 9:51-62

Ordination and Installation of Elder Barbara Atkinson and Installation of Jane Kohr

Preached by Linda Jo Peters ~ June 27, 2010

INTRODUCTION TO SCRIPTURE
Psalm 77: 11-20 read responsively

Psalm 77 begins as it recalls the past out of a senses of abandonment and loss. It concludes with our reading for today which is an affirmation. The past not only recalls loss but it is also a source of promises fulfilled. It becomes a source of hope for the present because God’s eternal nature intersects with our past and present to shape our future.
11I will call to mind the deeds of the Lord; I will remember your wonders of old.
12I will meditate on all your work, and muse on your mighty deeds.
13Your way, O God, is holy. What god is so great as our God?
14You are the God who works wonders; you have displayed your might among the peoples.
15With your strong arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. Selah
16When the waters saw you, O God, when the waters saw you, they were afraid; the very deep trembled.
17The clouds poured out water; the skies thundered; your arrows flashed on every side.
18The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind; your lightnings lit up the world; the earth trembled and shook.
19Your way was through the sea, your path, through the mighty waters; yet your footprints were unseen.
20You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron

Luke 9:51-62
We know Jesus grew up in Galilee. Most of his ministry has been in communities around his home base. Now he is heading toward the conflict his ministry will create in Jerusalem. Now following him takes on more troubling significance. He will become homeless, derided and finally killed for his passion to bring the Kingdom of the God to the people of God. What would you give up to serve the Lord?

51When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. 52And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; 53but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. 54When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” 55But he turned and rebuked them. 56Then they went on to another village.

57As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 59To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 60But Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61Another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” 62Jesus said to him, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

SERMON
Today we will ordain Barbara Atkinson and with Jane Kohr install them into office to serve Christ’s church. Jane has been down this road before and Barbara has been attending Session meetings for the past several months. Neither one would be surprised by my sermon title that following Jesus is a tough road. Yet they also know the great joy that comes from following Jesus. There are many times of laughter and feelings of accomplishment, but there also times when someone corners you over an issue they have with the church and they pour out their anger and frustrations on you. Like James and John we may want to pour fire down on them,

Though James and John are "messengers," they get the message wrong. Elijah had indeed called down fire from heaven to destroy a military detachment from Samaria (2 Kings 1:10). They seem to suppose that fiery judgment might again be called for against the Samaritans, and they further suppose they are the ones to administer it.

Elijah is an important fore-runner of Christ. But Jesus is not Elijah, and his mission is not about judgment, but compassion and mercy.

As followers of Jesus our job is to listen to those hurting even in the church with patience and love. It is not easy but it is part of our road.

Following Jesus means we are sojourners in this world because our home is with the risen Christ. We may live in a five bedroom house or an efficiency apartment; we may live in a trailer or a cardboard box. We may have resided in our house for over sixty years or have just moved in yesterday. All are temporary. We are all resident aliens, but not homeless because wherever we are, as long as we are following Jesus, we are home. Hospitality is one of the great gifts of Christians everywhere. This week many of you opened your home for the Grove UMC Youth Choir and also prepared meals for over forty people. On Thursday Jan took over the Praise service for me so I could moderate the Clinton Session. Thursday they have a community meal for anyone who can come. They had feed 44 people that day. They also house the community food pantry. Sound familiar? Churches large and small are pouring out resource during yet another time of crisis, when their own budgets are hurting. Instead of withdrawing from our commitment to Jesus Christ, we continue to step out in faith. It is not easy to follow Jesus but it is the road we travel.

People want to be where the action is. It was just as true in Jesus’ day as today. Jesus was “where it was at!” So people gravitated to him and wanted to follow him and be his disciple. Jesus was warning these people that road he was on was fraught with danger and demanded high commitment. So I ask you again, “What would you give up to serve the Lord?” Perhaps you feel you have already sacrificed enough for Jesus. Maybe you’re tired and the kingdom of God seems so far away. Our world is full of trouble what more can we do about it? When we start looking back on what we have done, we lose our momentum. Our past life, our past home, our past relationships are all set aside to follow Jesus. Like mowing the lawn, if instead of watching where you are going you are always looking where you have been, your will wander all over the yard. You might run over a few flowers or into a tree on the way. Jesus wants our full attention. What we are called to do as disciples is too important to turn back or get tangled up in old commitments that are not life-giving.

Perhaps the question I should be asking is, “What do you need to give up to keep your commitment to Jesus Christ?”

I was watching a video of Berkley graduates, who were asked “What do you want the future to look like?” Over and over was the theme of acceptance of diversity as integral to their vision along with their own commitment to make that happen. Then I watch the commencement address at Barnard Women’s College by Meryl Streep. She said:

Never before in (our) history or country have most of the advanced degrees been awarded to women but now they are. ( ) It's hardly more than 100 years since we were even allowed into these buildings except to clean them but soon most of law and medical degrees will probably also go to women. Around the world, poor women now own property who used to be property and according to Economist magazine, for the last two decades, the increase of female employment in the rich world has been the main driving force of growth. Those women have contributed more to global GDP growth than have either new technology or the new giants India or China. Cracks in the ceiling, cracks in the door, cracks in the Court and on the Senate floor.

If diversity can inspire so much hope for our shared future, what do we as followers of Jesus want the future to look like? I want it to look like the kingdom of God. A reign of peace and joy, were all have a place at the table. Where the gifts of everyone are valued and used to serve the greater good. I see a future where it is not about accumulation of wealth and stuff, but sacrifice and love.

Meryl told those young women, “This is your time and it feels normal to you but really there is no normal. There's only change, and resistance to it and then more change.” A tough road to follow? You bet! But so worth it! Amen.

Resources: The Old Testament Readings: Weekly Comments on the Revised Common Lectionary, Theological Hall of the Uniting Church, Howard Wallace, Melbourne, Australia. John Petty, Progressive Involvement, 2010.See:http://e.iciba.com/space-4457699-do-blog-id-1202609.html