The Passion of Jesus of Nazareth

 

SERMON

Monday – Holy Week

March  29, 2021

 

Jesus has arrived in Jerusalem. Triumphantly riding on the young colt provided by his disciples, Jesus has arrived at his destination. His intentional journey from rural Galilee to the bustling city of Jerusalem; home of God's Temple; site where he will be crucified. His journey is completed.

After the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, depending on which gospel you are reading, the unfolding of events that leads to Jesus' crucifixion on Good Friday differ in both date sequence and story content. But the point that Jesus is making in all four gospels, indeed in all of his teachings is clear. The Way – capitol "W" – is to be found by following Jesus. The Way is to be found by laying down self and taking up the cross. The cross, a metaphor, that represents an absolute commitment of self to God.

It is this point of total commitment to God that Jesus makes when in Luke he rebukes the money changers saying, "It is written, my house will be a house of prayer; but you have made it a den of robbers." (Luke 19:46)

Jesus is clear - his house – God's Temple - will be a house dedicated solely to the passionate worship of God and God alone; not a house in which those who have sinned come to offer monetary bribes in exchange for forgiveness, only to return to their sinful ways again and again. Not a house that worships the empire while proclaiming that it is worshipping God.

Marcus Borg in his book The Last Week, makes the point that the passion of Jesus is not simply about passion as taken from the Latin noun passio, meaning suffering. But it is also about the passion of Christ – his passion for the Kingdom of God. His passion to incarnate the justice of God. It was this passion for God's Kingdom that led to Jesus' passion, his passio – his suffering. It is the former passion - Jesus' passion for God's Kingdom that he is now asking us to take up. It is this passion that he is referring to when he commands, "Follow me."

As we walk with Jesus these few days of Holy Week, it is critical to see him as he was, Jesus of Nazareth, an impoverished Jew from the northern town of Galilee. A passionate young man who was the definitive definition of God in the world. God incarnate.

A passionate young man who asked, and is asking, his followers (you and me) to take up our crosses and to join him in the procession that entered Jerusalem, and to walk with him on his passionate journey to the cross. Jesus is asking that we join his procession and passionately commit to God, with no fear of the consequences.

The psalmist writes, "For with you is the well of life, and in your light we see light. Continue your loving-kindness to those who are true of heart. Let not the foot of the proud come near me, not the hand of the wicked push me aside." What beautifully poetic and passionate words that express the hopes and dreams of an ancient people who understood God to be a "Lord whose love reaches to the heavens." A people who yearned for the priceless love of God. A people who understood their well-being to be dependent on "taking refuge under the shadow of God's wings."

As we journey with Jesus of Nazareth this week, the pain and the sorrow we experience while hearing the passion week stories will sting our souls and render us deeply saddened. A sadness that, this year will be compounded by the past twelve months of suffering and pain experienced by so many of us; experienced by so many millions of people throughout the world; victims of the coronavirus, Covid 19. Many of us will mourn not only Jesus as he hangs on the cross; we will also mourn other significant losses of this past year. This is a painful time for us and for God.

But we cannot be on the journey without experiencing the pain – not if we are passionately on the journey - not if we have passionately joined the procession. But, in our pain we must also see the light. We must remember the words of the psalmist, "Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens…how priceless is your love, O God!...For with you is the well of life, and in your light we see light…Continue your loving-kindness to those who know you, and your favor to those who are true of heart."

Holy Week is only holy if it is a sacred journey based in our passionate commitment to God's Kingdom. Only if we enter into this sacred week passionately, with our whole heart and mind and soul, will we recognize the stark contrast of the pain and injustice inflicted by the empire on Good Friday, and the triumphal glory and power of the love offered by God's Kingdom on Easter Sunday.

"Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens. How priceless is your love, O God."

 

Coming together, once again

 

SERMON

March 7, 2021

 

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer." (Psalm 19, v 14)

 

As I began to write this sermon, I thought it would be interesting to have a quick look back to March 7, 2020. Just a short twelve months ago. A time that, at least in my mind, is a complete blur. Back then, what were we doing? What were the headlines of the day? What pre-occupied America?

On that day in 2020, the New York Times led with an article titled, "Spiraling Virus Fears Are Causing Financial Carnage." The Washington Post reported "Coronavirus continues its rapid spread, confounding efforts by global leaders." The Posts reporters went on to write, "Efforts to contain the coronavirus outbreak showed signs of faltering during the weekend, as Washington, D. C. confirmed its first case Saturday, and Italian leaders announced a plan early Sunday to lock down an entire region including Venice and Milan after reporting 1,000 new cases in 24 hours. The virus's exact reach remains unknown."

The virus's exact reach remains unknown… That I am sure you will agree was, and still is, a vast understatement. In the twelve months since that article appeared the deadly power of the coronavirus has proved catastrophic in the United States and throughout the globe. The impact of this still very present pandemic will not be known for many years – perhaps never. But, one thing cannot be disputed, its bewildering symptoms; its propensity to cause the rapid onset of life-threatening and far too frequently deadly symptoms; and its lingering and sometimes debilitating aftereffects have caused millions of lives to take dramatic turns in every direction. Dramatic turns in order to, quite literally, stay alive.

The church, not unlike all other institutions, has been deeply affected by the coronavirus. On Palm Sunday, April 5, 2020, just four weeks after the Washington Post reporters wrote "the virus's exact reach remains unknown" St. Simon's doors were closed for worship. Throughout Holy Week St. Simon's doors were closed. On Easter Sunday St. Simon's doors were closed. In fact, St. Simon's doors remained closed until, five months later, when on Saturday, September 5th both indoor and outdoor worship resumed.

During this time, Fr. David, Jennifer, and a host of others scrambled to learn alternative ways of offering worship. Initially, Facebook was our primary platform for live streaming Morning Prayer and a modified Sunday service. Then we added YouTube as a second platform. As the weeks passed our technological skills increased.

Initially, those of us who serve at the altar were brought to you as we sat at our kitchen tables or enjoyed the comfort of our outdoor patios. Slowly, we migrated back to the church – just the clergy and altar guild at first. Then, a little music was added; and then, one lector. Finally, on September 5th St. Simon's doors were opened. Our congregation resumed worship in the pews.

Throughout all of this, Fr. David, and I, along with clergy throughout the country spent many hours wondering how best to keep people engaged. How best to keep them in touch with God. How best to bring the Holy Spirit and the comfort of community into the midst of this tragic, terrifying, and isolating time.

As the blanket of fog imposed by the trauma of Covid 19 lifts and we slowly emerge into the world once again, many, if not all, of us are experiencing our lives and the world in ways never imagined. These new ways are the seeds of our future together. Seeds that require acknowledgement and attention.

In some cases, these seeds are new and amazing ways of experiencing God in the world and in our lives. These particular seeds I believe, if given the proper attention and care, can grow into what our Presiding Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Michael Curry, calls a true Jesus Movement. They can flourish and develop into refreshingly new and energized ways of discipleship - of bringing the light of Christ into the world.

So, what are these seeds you may ask. What are these new ways that people are experiencing God in the world? Well, here are a few direct quotes from folk at St. Simon’s:

“I now see so clearly that church is not about a building. It’s about being out in the world and bringing love to those who are alone and isolated.”

“I never understood the importance of our community, it’s about more than coffee hour gathering – it’s about worshipping together. In community. Praying together as a community is so important.”

I never heard the words of Scripture – not like I do now. Scripture has taken on a whole new meaning for me.”

These are but a few of the comments that I have heard, time and again, from so many of you. And each time I hear you express such a thought - express it with passion, with conviction - my heart takes a little leap of joy. “Yes,” I say to myself. “Yes,” the church is still alive and like a branch in the springtime, it is growing new buds and shoots. Buds and shoots that with attention and care will grow into healthy and most thrilling ways of being Christians in the world.

Today’s psalm reflects my thoughts on our coronavirus journey so beautifully. It is a celebratory psalm that is written in three distinctive sections. It begins by celebrating the universe that God has created. “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows its handiwork…In the deep he has set a pavilion for the sun; it come forth like a bridegroom out of his chamber; it rejoices like a champion to run its course.”

So many of us, in this coronavirus isolation time have developed new ways of connecting with the magnificence of God’s creation. Walks in wooded areas and leisurely strolls on the beach; evenings spent on the porch or patio gazing at the sunset, the rising of the moon, the glimmering of the stars; participating in the St. Simon’s outdoor service along with the wildlife that comes and goes over the calm bay waters. In one way or another we have seen God reflected in the work of his glorious creation in new and life-giving ways. Through his Creation God has remained with us in our time of isolation.

The second portion of the psalm celebrates God’s law. “The statutes of the Lord are just and rejoice the heart; the commandment of the Lord is clear and gives light to the eyes.”

Many, if not most, of us are now listening to Scripture and prayers through ears newly attuned to hearing God’s love for the world and his desire for us to love the world as he loves us. God’s law – his commandments – heard anew, give light to the path that he has set for us. A path that leads to coming together in new ways not only in the building, but perhaps more importantly in the world. Through his Word God has remained with us in our time of isolation.

In the final section, the psalm moves its focus from God to us. It prompts us to enter into inward reflection and the admission that we are far from achieving the perfection that God has envisioned for us. We are far from having the strength or the courage to remain steadfast in our commitment to God and his way. “Above all, keep your servant from presumptuous sins; let them not get dominion over me; then shall I be whole and sound, and innocent of a great offense.”

This final section is an important reminder that our work at rebuilding a church community now and in the coming months will not be easy. The challenges are not for the feint at heart. The future, as has always been the case, is unknown; and, because we are human, we will make errors in judgement and action as we imagine and plan.

It is our very humanness that makes it so important to listen carefully to the last section of this psalm. “Above all keep your servant from presumptuous sins; let them not get dominion over me…,” says the psalmist. He warns us that without a self-reflective honesty that acknowledges and explores our vulnerability– our tendency to fall away from God’s path - without this honesty with self, we are at peril of failing to stay on God’s path.

Finally, the closing verse of our psalm says it all. It is an expression of our intent. It is our commitment to God to do our best as we go into the world following the light of his way and tending to the seeds that he has cast upon us to grow and to harvest.

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer." (Psalm 19, v 14)