Sermon March 18, 2012

Power over Despair

Scripture Psalm 107 1-3 and 17-22 and Mark 5:35-43

Homily by Linda Jo Peters ~ March 18, 2012

With Baptism of McKayla and Ethan

Service of Healing

Unity Presbyterian Church ~ Terre Haute, Indiana

Scripture Reading      Psalm 107 1-3 & 17-22 read responsively

The psalmist calls for all those who have been saved from trouble to give thanks for God's steadfast love and unswerving faithfulness to the covenant and the covenant people.  Then in four stanzas the writer focuses on experiences of loss.  Our lectionary reading for today is on those who God has saved from illness.

1O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever.

2Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, those he redeemed from trouble
3and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.
17Some were sick through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities endured affliction;
18they loathed any kind of food, and they drew near to the gates of death.
19Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress;
20he sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from destruction.
21Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind.
22And let them offer thanksgiving sacrifices, and tell of his deeds with songs of joy.

Mark 5:35-43

We continue the story of Jarius and his daughter which we began last week and was interrupted by a woman in desperate need of healing. But the question here is not “Am I worthy of healing?” but the more cynical “Why bother?”  How often we hear that question when catastrophic illness or disaster strikes. As if our efforts make no difference. Yet, the world is reshaped daily by those who do “bother” themselves on behalf of others.
Truly, herein is the substance of this story. Why bother, why be concerned (troubled), why put yourself on the line? Why? Because Jesus bothered! It was and is never too late for him.[1]

While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader’s house to say, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?” But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. When he had entered, he said to them, “Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside, and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha cum,” which means, “Little girl, get up!” And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.

Homily

Despair is rooted in loss, particularly loss that seems unredeemable, such as the death of a child.  This week we all grieved over the murder of children in Kandahar, Afghanistan and we grieve over the soldier who took their lives.  The human reaction to such evil is a desire for retribution and vengeance.  We believe that if someone pays the ultimate price for such destruction, we will know peace again.  But that is a lie.  Nothing will bring these little ones back to life.  It was retribution and vengeance that led us to Afghanistan.  War almost always begins with a desire to restore order.  Yet the master mind of 9/11 is dead.  Has it given us peace and restored balance to our nation? 

I want Jesus to say to all the frightened children of our world, “Get up, little ones and come have something to eat.”  I want him to say it to the children of Afghanistan, and the little ones of Haiti and Henryville and Terre Haute.  I despair that we will ever change, because the source of power to overcome despair is surrender to God and forgiveness of those who hurt us.

Why would I talk about violence in a reflection on healing?  Because until we can forgive our enemies, I do not believe we can forgive ourselves.  Forgiving ourselves can be the greatest source of healing.  Where in your life do you need to see yourself as a precious child of God, fearfully and wonderfully made, of great value and worthy?  Forgiving and loving your enemies is intrinsically bound with forgiving and loving yourself.  They go together.  So too until we surrender to God we cannot surrender our illnesses of body, mind and spirit to God’s healing care.  As long as we are in charge, we will continue to get in God’s way.  Today you have an opportunity to open your heart to the power of forgiveness and to surrender yourself to God’s healing touch.  Jan and I are going to create a worship center that we hope will impact your senses and help you know how loved you are by God.  I have asked Kathy Hackleman one of our prayer chain members to sit in the adult Bible Study room to be available for those who need someone to pray with them.  If the door is closed please wait until she opens the door to go in with her. 

Today we can touch the waters of baptism that have embraced two of our beautiful children.  We can be anointed with oil or kneel in prayer or withdraw into prayer with another child of God.  We are blessed with amazing medical care that many of our loved ones have been healed of their illnesses.  Yet we are still a wounded people needing God’s grace. 

Reflection as worship center is created:

The candles are lit to draw all people to the source of life.

This stethoscope reminds us that even doctors need to listen to hear what is needed. Many times in our lives we need a little help from others.

This canereminds us of the love and care that hold us up when we are low.
This mirror reminds us that we are all children of God and to see ourselves as precious to God.
This oilreminds of the anointing power of God Holy Spirit.
Our Offering is a reminder that through financial giving we sustain those struggling through a crisis.
These essential oils remind us of the many medicinal treatments that God has guided us to learn about and share.
We bring flowers of spring to remind us that in joy and sorrow we share our love for others through expressions of concern. This Bible reminds us that throughout God’s word from Miriam healed of leprosy to Peter healing the crippled man, to a tree growing in the new Jerusalem whose leaves where for the healing of the nations, God’s story is a story of restoration and hope.[2]  
We give thanks for the gift of music that is a balm for the soul.
Here is Christ’s cross and we bring the bread and cup to remind us of the power of communion with God to bring healing.

Let us begin this healing service with prayer:

UNISON PRAYER

We ask your presence among us, O God, Creator of the universe, Sustainer of life, Redeemer of humankind; bring your healing light and power into our wounded hearts and bodies and minds and souls, clear the way for each of us to discover within ourselves the fullness of your power and all of your wondrous blessings; help us dear God to respond to your vast love and to bless you,  so that we may be a beacon through which you may shine into the world and be  everlasting citizens of your Kingdom both in heaven and on earth.   Amen.

READING                                                                                                      JAMES 5:13-16

Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed.

Invitation:

To be anointed with oil
To partner in prayer
To kneel in silent prayer

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[1]From commentary by Jerry Goebel, One Family Outreach see: http://onefamilyoutreach.com/bible/Mark/mk_05_21-43.html

[2] Numbers 12:10-16, Acts 3:1-10, Revelations 22:2

Sermon: March 11, 2012

“Interruptions bring Healing”

Scripture: Psalm 19 read responsively and Mark 5:21-34

Preached by Linda Jo Peters ~ March 11, 2012

(Continuing series on healing)

Unity Presbyterian Church ~ Terre Haute, Indiana 

INTRODUCTION TO SCRIPTURE

Psalm 19 read responsively

It is easy to see that all of creation reflects the handiwork of the creator.  To the Psalmist the Law of the Lord was just as perfect a proclamation of God’s glory as the sun or the moon. 

1.The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
2Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge.
3There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard;
4yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun,
5 which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy, and like a strong man runs its course with joy.
6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them; and nothing is hid from its heat.
7The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple;
8 the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes;
9the fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
10More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb.
11Moreover by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
12But who can detect their errors? Clear me from hidden faults.
13Keep back your servant also from the insolent; do not let them have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Mark 5:21-34

Last week I told a story about Henri Nouwen and his friend Trevor.  Henri was unwilling to neglect his friend to lunch with the notables invited to be with Henri.  Here a woman takes a terrible risk and interrupts not just Jesus on an errand of mercy, but a religious leader of her community who is desperate to have his little daughter healed.  But this interruption brings a deeper understanding to how approachable Jesus was and is for us all. 
²¹When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered around him; and he was by the sea.²²Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet²³and begged him repeatedly, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live.”
²⁴So he went with him. And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him.²⁵Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years.²⁶She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse.²⁷She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak,²⁸for she said, “If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.”²⁹Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.³⁰Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?”³¹And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, ‘Who touched me?’”³²He looked all around to see who had done it.³³But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth.³⁴He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

SERMON

Having had a week of interruptions by computer problems and crashes, it is hard to imagine any interruption to my plans and focus that could be a source of healing.  Many of you have faced far more destructive interruptions to your lives.  Health and financial crisis let alone what the people from Kansas to Alabama experienced in the wake of 269 tornadoes.  Jesus models for us that we need to be attentive when interrupted.  On Wednesday, Aiden came to the door and said he needed a shovel that would fit his size.  Dawn and his Mom where digging spring potatoes so they would not be destroyed when our garden was tilled.  This interruption lead to a little break out in the balmy weather watching Dawn, Molly and Aiden hard at work with Annie and I supervising.  The result was a bag full of potatoes and onions for our food pantry.  This is the one area of ministry that Jesus has drilled into my head.  Pay attention and be available for the interruptions because they are vitally important.  Jesus could have ignored the power going out of him, but he paid attention and noticed the woman who had been healed by touching him.  Taking the time, even though Jairus’ daughter was dying, models for us that interruptions can have a life altering purpose.  Not only was this woman healed she was welcomed and affirmed as a child of God. 

But there are interruption that are not pleasant and as we are focusing on healing, I want to talk about illness and other forms of loss that interrupt our daily lives.  Where is God when the innocent suffer.

Arthur Hoope wrote a column about his cancer a month before he died.  He titled it “A few good things to say about cancer”:

First of all, of course, it wins you letters and calls from friends you haven't seen for years. My children phone regularly, and my dear wife of more than 50 years and I have never been closer. Cancer brings with it a warm bath of sympathy and love... I (tried) to remember each morning to say, "Thank you, God, for another day." I tried to relish each moment. But I was busy with this and busy with that, and I all too often failed. Any serious illness brings home this ephemeral nature of time. I now do thank God each morning for another day. And while it's impossible to relish every moment, I manage to do it again and again - when I awake from a nap, when my tongue touches that first morsel of lemon cake, when I hug a loved one. Never before have I realized what a wonderful gift is life. I like to think that the greatest benefit of cancer is that it's made me wiser.[1]

Though the interruption called cancer took Hoope’s life, it also gave him wisdom to relish the life he was given

Joseph gets sold into slavery by his brothers.  His life had surly been interrupted.  When he is finally reunited with them his forgiveness of his brothers seems impossible. Joseph has learned wisdom and says, “you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” (Genesis 50:20) Joseph had gloated over his father’s obvious favor when he was young.  The interruption of slavery led to a new perspective on his relationship with his brothers. 

Even the loss of a job can be the opportunity to re-evaluate your choices because you have more time to reflect or enjoy your family, volunteer more and even start a business of your own.[2] 

Elie Wiesel is a Romanian-born Jew who at 16 was deported to a concentration camp with his whole village.  His life was interrupted by real evil.  As a Holocaust survivor, he became an American, writer, professor, political activist, Nobel Laureate. He writes, “There are victories of the soul and spirit. Sometimes, even if you lose, you win.”

Where is God when the innocent suffer?  Joseph said God meant it for good.  Elie Wisel says he is closer to God because of his struggles.  For Hoope it gave him wisdom.  For me it makes me more aware of how precious life is.  It was important for Jesus to respond to Jarius whose young daughter was dying.  But it was also important for a women excluded by most of society because of her illness to find healing.  

Where in your life have you been interrupted?  You never know but this interruption may be brought to you by God’s grace and love.  Amen.

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[1] Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/04/22/EDRJ174DUN.DTL#ixzz1oT7ISyRs

[2] http://www.ehow.com/info_8416990_positive-effects-job-loss.html  By Stephanie Kain, eHow Contributor| updated May 14, 2011.

Sermon: March 4, 2012

Be Open!

March 4 with Celebration of Our Lord’s Supper

(Three part series on healing in the Gospel of Mark)

Scripture: Psalm 22: 23-31read responsively and Mark 7:31-37

INTRODUCTION TO SCRIPTURE READING

Psalm 22 is categorized as an individual lament, in which the psalm singer cries out to God for deliverance from some life-threatening situation. Jesus cried out its opening line from the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Our lectionary reading for today is may be less familiar as it speaks with praise that all people can come to God for assurance and deliverance.

Psalm 22: 23-31 read responsively

23 You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him; stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!
24 For he did not despise or abhor the affliction of the afflicted; he did not hide his face from me, but heard when I cried to him.
25 From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will pay before those who fear him.
26 The poor shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the Lord. May your hearts live forever!
27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord; and all the families of the nations shall worship before him.
28 For dominion belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations.
29 To him, indeed, shall all who sleep in the earth bow down; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, and I shall live for him.
30 Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord,
31and proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn, saying that he has done it.

Mark 7:31-37
Returning to the stories of healing in Mark, Jesus heals both hearing and speech.  Once again it is friends who bring the man to Jesus’ attention and care.  Jesus uses an Aramaic word that means to be open.  Where in our lives to we need Jesus to open us to hear and speak Good News?

Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,”[1] that is, “Be opened.” And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. They were astounded beyond measure, saying, “He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”

Sermon
In Father Gerry Pierse’s commentary on this healing story he recalls a man who was healed after years of being deaf and even losing his ability to speak.  “At first I talked and talked - I needed to release what was bottled up inside me. I would try to talking with everyone I met. Then I realized that I was over-talking. I was not listening and I was hurting people by inflicting myself on them. I started trying to listen; to do this I had to stop talking and open not only my ears but also my heart. Then I discovered that most hearing people are deaf. I learned too that most people had speech impediments - we can never communicate exactly what we want to say. The greatest tragedy is not to be deaf and dumb but it is to have these faculties and never REALLY use them to listen below the surface of things."[2]

As with many of the healing stories when Jesus cures the deaf and dumb man, he warns the man not to tell others because Jesus was interested in promoting a deeper kind of healing. Jesus wanted people to come to the wholeness found in the Kingdom of God.  It seems to be in our nature to look for sensational phenomena, like the curing of the physically deaf, and fail to appreciate or recognize relational and spiritual deafness from which we all suffer.  To me this photo by Andy Hooper is an amazing example of deep healing.  It speaks to the wholeness of spirit.  It is what Jesus wants for all of us.  The command Jesus makes to the deaf man’s disability is to be open.  Being deaf, being closed to God’s grace keeps us form sharing the Good News

We come to this table broken in body, mind and spirit.  Jesus’ sacrifice opens us to the amazing possibilities when we love first, we risk running when we have no feet.  I would change the title of this picture from, “The only disability in life is a bad attitude.”  To  “The only disability in life is a closed heart and mind.”  May you see in the broken body of Christ a healing for the whole world.  May you see in His blood shed for our sins, a new relationship with God and one another. 

Henri Nouwen writes about visiting his friend Trevor who was a handicapped member of the Daybreak Community.  Trevor was being evaluated at a hospital.  When Henri called to make arrangements to come visit his friend, the chaplain wanted Henri to meet with local clergy and leaders of the community.  Henri agreed but when he arrived at the hospital his friend Trevor was nowhere to be found.  Upon inquiring Henri was told that he could see Trevor after the rather exclusive lunch that had been planned.  As you can imagine Henri Nouwen would have none of it and insisted that if he was eating with them so was his friend, Trevor.  So Trevor joined his friend Henri and the gathered notables. Just as the lunch begins, Trevor stands and lifts his glass saying, “Ladies and gentlemen… a toast!”  Henri watched the discomfort ripple through the room and then Trevor began to sing:

If you’re happy and you know it, lift your glass!

If you’re happy and you know it, lift your glass!

Soon everyone was standing and singing loudly under Trevor’s direction and the mood in the room drastically changed from a gathering of strangers to a place of welcome, open to the other.[3]

Jesus says, “Be open!”  This is more than a command to heal a deaf man.  It is a command to heal our hearts and our minds.  Be open to all that God has created us together to be.  Amen.

 

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[1] (begins with the name of the letter f:  ef-fä-thä)

[2] http://www.bibleclaret.org/liturgy/daily/sundays_pierse/cycleB/B_23rdSunOT.htm

[3] Henri J.M. Nouwen, Can You Drink The Cup? Ave Maria Press, Notre Dame, IN, 1996 p.63ff

found the Andy Hooper picture on facebook but you can learn more about this great sports photographer from http://www.andyhooper.co.uk/Profile.html