Merry Christmas, everyone! Enjoy this silly video.
Twelve Days of Christmas, anyone?
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Monday, December 15, 2008
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Adopt-a-Student!
Here is one of the things we are most excited about this semester: People from the congregation at UPC have adopted some of our students! We are so thankful for these "parents" who provide hospitality and love to our community.
We recently invited them to Campus Dinner and Evening Worship. Enjoy some pictures of last Sunday night!
We recently invited them to Campus Dinner and Evening Worship. Enjoy some pictures of last Sunday night!
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Congratulations to our Graduate!!!
Congratulations to our very own Isaac Petersen who graduated on Saturday! Isaac has served as our campus deacon this year. He has been an excellent student and an incredible friend to those in the Austin Agape community.He graduated with majors in Psychology and French.
Isaac, we are VERY proud of what you've accomplished, and we have so much gratitude for who you are in relationship with us.
Way to go, Isaac!
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Sermon: People Who Keep In Readiness
Mark 1:1-8
Well, he was an eccentric one, John the Baptist.
Picture him: An ascetic wilderness man. A brazen preacher, crying out -- dressed in camel’s hair of all things, eating dinners of locusts and wild honey.
Yeah. He was an eccentric one, John the Baptist.
But it’s not as if people shied away from him, running off to avoid encountering someone so weird. The text in Mark describes droves of people going out to meet him in the wilderness – the whole Judean countryside and all of Jerusalem. This eccentric preacher had an audience. He had the attention of the people.
And what was he doing out there? His actions were eccentric too. He took people into a simple river of all places – the Jordan River to be exact – and he made a place of ultimate life-change. It became a place of repentance, which literally means to turn around. He brought people into the water, and even though their feet probably moved back home in the same way they got there, in a very real sense, they left moving in a different direction.
And as strange and unique as those actions may sound, there was probably no place more significant to do them than the Jordan River. That river had a history with the people in their sacred stories. The people told each other the story of how the Israelites had miraculously crossed the Jordan River under the leadership of Joshua, finally entering the Promised Land after wandering around in the desert for forty years. That certainly sounds like a place of new direction.
The people told each other the story of Naaman. Maybe you remember that one from Sunday school. Naaman was a commander of a foreign army who developed leprosy. He was told to go to the prophet Elisha in Israel for healing, and Elisha gave him an eccentric command too: “Go, wash in the Jordan River seven times and your flesh shall be restored and you shall be clean.” Naaman thought this was a ridiculous command, and he was angry about it too. But he eventually entered the waters, and left the Jordan River restored. Again, that certainly sounds like a moment and place of new direction.
So as eccentric as his actions were, John the Baptist was tapping into a tradition, and he was transforming it anew for a present movement of life-change.
But beyond what he was doing out there, what was he saying out there? His message was eccentric too. All four gospels associate John with the passage from Isaiah that we heard earlier. John is the one in the wilderness crying out, “Prepare the Way of the Lord! Make his paths straight!” And this message of preparation wasn’t passive by any means. The message was to “Repent!” – “Turn around!” Pay attention! “The Kingdom of God is at hand!” Something incredible, life-altering, cataclysmic was on the horizon. Get ready! Enter this water and move in a different direction! Leave here, and live in expectation!
And although each gospel tells John’s story with different nuances, they all speak of him as a forerunner to Jesus – one who is preparing the way for Jesus’ ministry. Here John says, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” What an eccentric message! “Get ready! Prepare! Because another Baptizer is coming – one so powerful that I am not worthy to bend down before him and even untie his shoes. Get ready! Repent! Turn around! Make your life a preparation to meet this one who is coming! The Kingdom of God is at hand! It’s more near than you can imagine!”
What a strange, eccentric message.
And so here we sit – Sunday, December 7th – Second Sunday of Advent, Year of our Lord 2008 -- and we’re profoundly distanced from whatever happened historically in that river. And yet, we’re somehow connected to it. Maybe it’s more near to us than we can imagine.
As eccentric as he is, John the Baptist is an important figure in the Christian tradition, and every second Sunday of Advent, we read his words and consider his witness. And it makes sense to do that. Advent is a season of preparation, and John the Baptist teaches us to prepare the way for Christ’s coming.
This week, as I looked at this passage, I learned something that peaked my curiosity. The word that gets translated here as “prepare” – Prepare the Way of the Lord – can also be translated, “Keep in readiness.” “Keep in readiness.” That’s strange too. It got my attention. It adds a new layer of meaning, doesn’t it? “Keep in readiness the Way of the Lord.” We’re called to prepare. But we aren’t called to prepare once. We’re called to “Keep in readiness.” That means we’re preparing all the time. That must mean that Christ is coming to us all the time. We need to be ready – ready to prepare his way and ready to recognize him as he is graciously revealed to us again and again.
And our faith teaches us to follow his Way. Somehow the Christian life involves preparation for the Way, and once that Way is revealed, we’re called follow in it. We prepare. . . we follow. . . prepare. . . and follow. These are somehow the rhythms of Christian living. These are somehow the rhythms of Christian discipleship.
What a strange, eccentric way to live.
Karl Barth is a man who wrote a lot of books. A lot of books. In his professional life, he wrote eight publishable pages a day. Can you imagine doing that? That added up to volumes and volumes of writings – writings of theology to be exact. Karl Barth is generally characterized as the most influential theologian of the 20th-century.
In his study, Barth kept a painting of John the Baptist in right where he could see it. And in that painting, John stretches out a finger – a very long finger pointing away from himself. In the fourth gospel, John says about Jesus, “He must increase. I must decrease.” Barth kept this painting in his study to remind himself that all these volumes and volumes he was producing shouldn’t ultimately point to himself but to Christ, the one he was writing and writing about. John was Baptist was preparing the way – keeping in readiness – always pointing and witnessing toward the one who was forging the Way for us to follow. Karl Barth to be this kind of witness too.
So here’s a question: Do you ever think of yourselves as witnesses? Well, let’s face it. The words “witness” and “witnessing” get a bad rap sometimes. Maybe they conjure up pictures of people who think they’re always right, have everything figured out, and want to hit people over the head with it. Images of “Bible Thumpers” come to mind – people who seem to use their faith against others, pushing them down -- people who seem to use faith as a weapon against those who share their own humanity.
But maybe there’s a way to witness that affirms what is most human.
Have you ever considered how important you are? You -- you strange, unique, eccentric people? Have you ever considered it? Have you ever considered that you have been chosen and empowered to be a witness, a witness like John, pointing to the one who forges a Way for us to follow, pointing to the one who shows us what it means to be fully human? We point to Jesus Christ who Karl Barth called the True Human. We’re challenged to be human in the same way Christ lived his humanity. That’s a witness. And though we stumble and make mistakes, we look to him as our example. He leads us in our attempt to be human. We keep in readiness for him. We expect him around every corner. And when we find him, we’re called to follow him..
And where do we find him? Don’t we somehow find him in the lives of our fellow human beings? “As much as you do good to the least of these – the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, the sick, and the imprisoned – you do it to me,” Christ says. Don’t we somehow find him in each other?
Friends, wherever there is need, wherever there is humanity, there is Christ. Keep in readiness to receive him always. Wherever there is greed, wherever there is malice, wherever there is selfishness, wherever there is hatred, wherever there is sin, there we find actions that are inhuman. Point to Christ in those places. Witness to him there. Point to Christ in the inhuman systems such as these. Point to Christ in the inhuman places within yourselves. And keep in readiness for him to show up again and again. Be ready for him to baptize you into a new direction.
Have you ever considered how vital you are? Have you ever considered that your need and your humanity witnesses Christ’s presence to the world? Your lives and stories just might reveal his Way to others. Keep in readiness. Prepare his Way. Watch for him to come to you – to enrich you, to turn you around - any second. He is more near than you can imagine.
What wonderful, eccentric things to believe!
Have you ever considered that you are ministers, ministers and proclaimers of good news? You are part of a faith and a tradition that takes part in eccentric actions. How strange they are! Like this one. (Pour water into bowl). It’s just water. It’s just simple water like the simple Jordan River. But this water becomes holy and meaningful when it is bound up with our sacred stories.
How eccentric it is that we baptize each other! How strange it is that we’re told to remember our baptism – that we’re invited to ultimate life-change every day as Christ comes to us ever anew. Have you ever considered that baptism is a type of ordination? You have been ordained to live as Christ’s faithful ministers– as God’s own children – when you were brought to waters of baptism by others.
Some of you were baptized as infants or young children, some of you as adults, and there may be some of you who haven’t experienced the physical act of baptism, but who are nonetheless beloved children of God who are being called ever anew to keep in readiness and follow.
In baptism, you have been ordained as ministers and witnesses. How will you live out that identity? How will you keep in readiness, always remaining open to Christ’s presence, which will form and transform that identity? How will you live out such a strange, incredible calling?
Well, you will certainly be eccentric ones, University Presbyterian Church.
Picture yourselves: Loving, living into a human calling, wearing deeds of justice and kindness, eating dinners of fellowship and broken bread.
Yeah. You’re eccentric ones, University Presbyterian Church.
Keep in readiness.
Amen.
-Renee Roederer, Campus Minister
Well, he was an eccentric one, John the Baptist.
Picture him: An ascetic wilderness man. A brazen preacher, crying out -- dressed in camel’s hair of all things, eating dinners of locusts and wild honey.
Yeah. He was an eccentric one, John the Baptist.
But it’s not as if people shied away from him, running off to avoid encountering someone so weird. The text in Mark describes droves of people going out to meet him in the wilderness – the whole Judean countryside and all of Jerusalem. This eccentric preacher had an audience. He had the attention of the people.
And what was he doing out there? His actions were eccentric too. He took people into a simple river of all places – the Jordan River to be exact – and he made a place of ultimate life-change. It became a place of repentance, which literally means to turn around. He brought people into the water, and even though their feet probably moved back home in the same way they got there, in a very real sense, they left moving in a different direction.
And as strange and unique as those actions may sound, there was probably no place more significant to do them than the Jordan River. That river had a history with the people in their sacred stories. The people told each other the story of how the Israelites had miraculously crossed the Jordan River under the leadership of Joshua, finally entering the Promised Land after wandering around in the desert for forty years. That certainly sounds like a place of new direction.
The people told each other the story of Naaman. Maybe you remember that one from Sunday school. Naaman was a commander of a foreign army who developed leprosy. He was told to go to the prophet Elisha in Israel for healing, and Elisha gave him an eccentric command too: “Go, wash in the Jordan River seven times and your flesh shall be restored and you shall be clean.” Naaman thought this was a ridiculous command, and he was angry about it too. But he eventually entered the waters, and left the Jordan River restored. Again, that certainly sounds like a moment and place of new direction.
So as eccentric as his actions were, John the Baptist was tapping into a tradition, and he was transforming it anew for a present movement of life-change.
But beyond what he was doing out there, what was he saying out there? His message was eccentric too. All four gospels associate John with the passage from Isaiah that we heard earlier. John is the one in the wilderness crying out, “Prepare the Way of the Lord! Make his paths straight!” And this message of preparation wasn’t passive by any means. The message was to “Repent!” – “Turn around!” Pay attention! “The Kingdom of God is at hand!” Something incredible, life-altering, cataclysmic was on the horizon. Get ready! Enter this water and move in a different direction! Leave here, and live in expectation!
And although each gospel tells John’s story with different nuances, they all speak of him as a forerunner to Jesus – one who is preparing the way for Jesus’ ministry. Here John says, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” What an eccentric message! “Get ready! Prepare! Because another Baptizer is coming – one so powerful that I am not worthy to bend down before him and even untie his shoes. Get ready! Repent! Turn around! Make your life a preparation to meet this one who is coming! The Kingdom of God is at hand! It’s more near than you can imagine!”
What a strange, eccentric message.
And so here we sit – Sunday, December 7th – Second Sunday of Advent, Year of our Lord 2008 -- and we’re profoundly distanced from whatever happened historically in that river. And yet, we’re somehow connected to it. Maybe it’s more near to us than we can imagine.
As eccentric as he is, John the Baptist is an important figure in the Christian tradition, and every second Sunday of Advent, we read his words and consider his witness. And it makes sense to do that. Advent is a season of preparation, and John the Baptist teaches us to prepare the way for Christ’s coming.
This week, as I looked at this passage, I learned something that peaked my curiosity. The word that gets translated here as “prepare” – Prepare the Way of the Lord – can also be translated, “Keep in readiness.” “Keep in readiness.” That’s strange too. It got my attention. It adds a new layer of meaning, doesn’t it? “Keep in readiness the Way of the Lord.” We’re called to prepare. But we aren’t called to prepare once. We’re called to “Keep in readiness.” That means we’re preparing all the time. That must mean that Christ is coming to us all the time. We need to be ready – ready to prepare his way and ready to recognize him as he is graciously revealed to us again and again.
And our faith teaches us to follow his Way. Somehow the Christian life involves preparation for the Way, and once that Way is revealed, we’re called follow in it. We prepare. . . we follow. . . prepare. . . and follow. These are somehow the rhythms of Christian living. These are somehow the rhythms of Christian discipleship.
What a strange, eccentric way to live.
Karl Barth is a man who wrote a lot of books. A lot of books. In his professional life, he wrote eight publishable pages a day. Can you imagine doing that? That added up to volumes and volumes of writings – writings of theology to be exact. Karl Barth is generally characterized as the most influential theologian of the 20th-century.
In his study, Barth kept a painting of John the Baptist in right where he could see it. And in that painting, John stretches out a finger – a very long finger pointing away from himself. In the fourth gospel, John says about Jesus, “He must increase. I must decrease.” Barth kept this painting in his study to remind himself that all these volumes and volumes he was producing shouldn’t ultimately point to himself but to Christ, the one he was writing and writing about. John was Baptist was preparing the way – keeping in readiness – always pointing and witnessing toward the one who was forging the Way for us to follow. Karl Barth to be this kind of witness too.
So here’s a question: Do you ever think of yourselves as witnesses? Well, let’s face it. The words “witness” and “witnessing” get a bad rap sometimes. Maybe they conjure up pictures of people who think they’re always right, have everything figured out, and want to hit people over the head with it. Images of “Bible Thumpers” come to mind – people who seem to use their faith against others, pushing them down -- people who seem to use faith as a weapon against those who share their own humanity.
But maybe there’s a way to witness that affirms what is most human.
Have you ever considered how important you are? You -- you strange, unique, eccentric people? Have you ever considered it? Have you ever considered that you have been chosen and empowered to be a witness, a witness like John, pointing to the one who forges a Way for us to follow, pointing to the one who shows us what it means to be fully human? We point to Jesus Christ who Karl Barth called the True Human. We’re challenged to be human in the same way Christ lived his humanity. That’s a witness. And though we stumble and make mistakes, we look to him as our example. He leads us in our attempt to be human. We keep in readiness for him. We expect him around every corner. And when we find him, we’re called to follow him..
And where do we find him? Don’t we somehow find him in the lives of our fellow human beings? “As much as you do good to the least of these – the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, the sick, and the imprisoned – you do it to me,” Christ says. Don’t we somehow find him in each other?
Friends, wherever there is need, wherever there is humanity, there is Christ. Keep in readiness to receive him always. Wherever there is greed, wherever there is malice, wherever there is selfishness, wherever there is hatred, wherever there is sin, there we find actions that are inhuman. Point to Christ in those places. Witness to him there. Point to Christ in the inhuman systems such as these. Point to Christ in the inhuman places within yourselves. And keep in readiness for him to show up again and again. Be ready for him to baptize you into a new direction.
Have you ever considered how vital you are? Have you ever considered that your need and your humanity witnesses Christ’s presence to the world? Your lives and stories just might reveal his Way to others. Keep in readiness. Prepare his Way. Watch for him to come to you – to enrich you, to turn you around - any second. He is more near than you can imagine.
What wonderful, eccentric things to believe!
Have you ever considered that you are ministers, ministers and proclaimers of good news? You are part of a faith and a tradition that takes part in eccentric actions. How strange they are! Like this one. (Pour water into bowl). It’s just water. It’s just simple water like the simple Jordan River. But this water becomes holy and meaningful when it is bound up with our sacred stories.
How eccentric it is that we baptize each other! How strange it is that we’re told to remember our baptism – that we’re invited to ultimate life-change every day as Christ comes to us ever anew. Have you ever considered that baptism is a type of ordination? You have been ordained to live as Christ’s faithful ministers– as God’s own children – when you were brought to waters of baptism by others.
Some of you were baptized as infants or young children, some of you as adults, and there may be some of you who haven’t experienced the physical act of baptism, but who are nonetheless beloved children of God who are being called ever anew to keep in readiness and follow.
In baptism, you have been ordained as ministers and witnesses. How will you live out that identity? How will you keep in readiness, always remaining open to Christ’s presence, which will form and transform that identity? How will you live out such a strange, incredible calling?
Well, you will certainly be eccentric ones, University Presbyterian Church.
Picture yourselves: Loving, living into a human calling, wearing deeds of justice and kindness, eating dinners of fellowship and broken bread.
Yeah. You’re eccentric ones, University Presbyterian Church.
Keep in readiness.
Amen.
-Renee Roederer, Campus Minister
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Scripture for Sunday
How does this scripture speak to us this Advent?
Mark 1:1-8
The beginning of the good news * of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.*
Mark 1:1-8
The beginning of the good news * of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.*
As it is written in the prophet Isaiah*
‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,*
who will prepare your way;
3the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
“Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight."
4John the baptizer appeared5678 in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, ‘The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Rachael Sends Us An Update!
Rachael Bauman is a member of our community who is serving as a Young Adult Volunteer in Miami. The YAV program is a great opportunity to participate in a year of mission service in the PC(USA). It is one of the best things happening in our larger church!Dear Loved Ones,
I hope that my last letter did not cause you too much alarm or panic. I received several letters of concern after my last reflection. I feel safe almost all the time. I have learned which corners are drug corners, and I try to avoid them when at all possible.
I have started tax classes. I actually find the subject fascinating and enjoy being back in "school." I am doing really well in class, and I think I will be comfortable doing over a hundred returns this next tax season. Though much of what I am learning will not apply to my clients who will not be making over 100,000 dollars or have to worry about fringe benefits totaling too much. In addition, Sunday mornings I have taken over the chiropractor paperwork. Twice a month two different chiropractors come and provide free services for our patrons.
In addition, one of my many jobs is to print/copy job listings every week to hand out. People who come in looking for work can get a job listing with the available positions and contact information. This last Sunday, I was walking through an outside mall and someone called my name. It was a lady who I had talked to and given a job listing. She was working in a shop that she had just been hired in. Richard Foster in Celebration of Discipline talks about celebrating with others in community how God is working in their lives. It was great to celebrate with someone who had been praying for a long time for this second job. Also, it is a good feeling to know that God is working through you to do good things.
I voted here in Florida. You actually bubble in the person which is a bit different than our computer system. Then you go and scan the papers through the optical scanner machine. I admit that the first time I heard that name I pictured something from Sci-Fi that would scan your eye. I am a nerd. Everybody who was anybody in the campaigns was coming to Florida. I tried to attend one of the many Obama rallies here but was unsuccessful. I waited three hours to see Hillary Clinton but it ended up getting canceled due to a plane delay. I was 12th in line.
The CCDA conference just finished up. It is the Christian Community Development Association. It is basically a conference for Non-profit people. It was awesome (and I mean this word in the way it was originally intended) to be surrounded by all the people "doing good" in the world. I attended a workshop on helping with Sexual Abuse (specifically incest) victims. It was depressing and hopeful at the same time. Almost all of the people that attended told their personal stories. Eye-opening would be the least I could say.
In Overtown this month, there was another murder of a high school student. This time the boy was continuously receiving anonymous threats. When he went outside to the dumpster at his job he was shot and then burned. Please pray for the family and community.
Love,
Rachael
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Drew Shares His Experience of UPC!
Drew wrote a reflection about his experience at UPC which is printed on the pew cards in the sanctuary. Here is what he had to say:
Moving away to college allowed me to experience many new changes in my life. Between having a dorm room as my new home, learning to live with a roommate, and experiencing all the opportunities that UT and Austin have to offer, I also had the chance to search for a new church and church family.
I attended Grace Presbyterian Church in Temple, Texas for my entire life. After moving to Austin, it was only natural for me to seek a new place to worship during my college years. I visited UPC my first Sunday in Austin, with the attitude of finding a "temporary church." However, it only took a few weeks for me to realize that UPC would become much more than a substitute church. It would become a new home.
The one thing that drew me to UPC was how every member of this congregation strives to share his or her faith in any way possible. This church offers its members many incredible opportunites to glorify God. UPC has allowed me to share my love for God by singing in the UPC choir, volunteering at the food pantry, and being an active member of the campus ministry, Austin Agape. It's impossible to become complacent in your faith here at UPC. This church has forced me to challenge my convictions and ponder my faith, two processes that have helped me grow as a person while also deepening my faith in God. Not only has this church served as a place where I can escape claesses and the stress of so many new beginnings, but also it has served as a venue for forming long-lasting friendships and forging a stronger relationship with God.
Drew Gerdes, Sophomore
Friday, November 28, 2008
A Note From Renee
I am thinking of you, and I'm hoping that you've had a fantastic Thanksgiving. Ian and I have enjoyed our visit to Indiana, and we're looking forward to seeing each of you when we return.The weather has been cold here but much warmer than an average for this time of year. I will look forward to returning to the 70s in Austin, but I have enjoyed the excuse to wear my favorite coat. We never get to wear our coats in Austin.
I would like to share a prayer concern with you. Ian and I had to take my Dad, Leroy Foster, to the hospital this week. Several of you know that my Dad has a lot of health concerns with his kidneys. Since August, he has been receiving dialysis three times a week. We are grateful that dialysis makes him healthier, but it certainly takes a lot of time for him. Each treatment takes about five hours of his day.He developed a staph infection this week from the dialysis treatment. We took him to the hospital on Wednesday, and he has to spend Thanksgiving there. He will be there until we leave, so he unfortunately had to miss out on a lot of our visit.
We appreciate your prayers of concern.
Ian and I send our love, and we look forward to seeing you soon.
-Renee
Monday, November 24, 2008
Sermon: Much Ado About Thank You
In 1559, Elizabeth I of England passed the Act of Uniformity, which obligated that every man go to church once a week or be fined 12 pence, which was at that time a huge amount for a poor person.
She was trying to unify the fledgling Anglican Church as well as her country, which had seen many years of turmoil as the crown had passed from Henry the eighth to Edward the sixth to Mary the first – and therefore from Catholicism to Protestantism to Catholicism and back again.
People had been burned at the stake for dissenting from whatever religion was the official state religion at the time. In fact, Mary the first got herself the nickname Bloody Mary because of the brutal way she put Catholicism back in power, to the tune of 300 dissenters burned at the stake. Religious intolerance can be awful.
A group of separatists who came to be known as the Pilgrims fled first to the Netherlands and then to the new continent of America in order to escape the religious persecution that had become the norm in their home country. After they got there and realized that they didn’t know anything about farming or surviving in the harsh environment of the frontier, they were saved by a Native American by the name of Squanto, who taught them to catch eel and plant corn. When they realized that their deliverance was secured, they had a feast and all the Indians were invited. This feast later became the holiday of Thanksgiving, which we just celebrated together so deliciously. So the legend states, at least.
I’m going to bring in the story of the leper now. This was probably a familiar story to most of you, the Samaritan leper who is the only one of the group healed by Jesus that comes back to thank his healer. The part I’m interested in the most reads: “He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan.”
It adds that last part almost as an afterthought. Oh yeah, he was a Samaritan. We almost forgot that not only was he a disgusting, unclean leper, but he was a disgusting unclean Samaritan, the lowest of the low.
The Samaritan ex-leper comes back to tell Jesus thank you. Thank you for saving me, even though I was a leper, even though I am a Samaritan. “Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” Jesus says.
In Luke 9:51, a group of Samaritans refused to give food and shelter to Jesus because he was on his way to Jerusalem and they didn’t want to facilitate a pilgrimage to a city they saw as falsely holy. But Jesus still healed the Samaritan leper, not holding the inhospitality of a few people against the whole group.
The disciples wanted to know why Jesus hadn’t rained fire upon them, like Elijah had done. He rebuked them. Religious persecution wasn’t Jesus’ way. We could all take a lesson from him.
This election cycle, I heard a lot of people say that America is a Christian nation. They would be 78.4% right, according to the Pew Forum on Religious and Public Life. But a closer look reveals that even Christianity is divided into so many sects and denominations that one Christian could look at another Christian and be able to say “what in the world are you worshipping over there?”
We saw some of that back in the primaries when the Christian right spoke out against Mitt Romney, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. An article by the Associated Press summed it up this way: “GOP rival Mike Huckabee, a populist Baptist, wondered whether Mormons believe Jesus and the devil were brothers. Romney was asked about polygamy and sacred Mormon undergarments."
In John 8:48, the Jews ask Jesus, “ Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?” Reading this reminded me of a woman who stood up at a McCain rally and stated that she had heard Obama was a Muslim.
An article in the AFP a week before the election read:
"Not since the election of John Kennedy (a Catholic) in 1960 has the religious faith of a US presidential candidate generated so much distortion as the false claims generated by extremist critics that Senator Barack Obama, the candidate of the Democratic Party, is a stealth Muslim," said a joint petition by some 100 Islamic scholars.
"This is part of an islamo-phobic hate campaign that fuels prejudice against Americans who practice their Islamic faith and Muslims worldwide," the group who called themselves "concerned scholars" stressed. In September, a controversial DVD on Islam was circulated in Florida, adding fuel to the fire of the US election campaign. The video, titled "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West" and released more than a year ago by a group called Clarion Fund, showed images of young children reciting appeals for jihad mixed with archival footage of Hitler Youths. Already stigmatized in the wake of the September 11, 2001, attacks, the Muslim community of the United States feels it has been ostracized during the current election campaign.”
Only at the end of the campaign did I see someone in the news media have the sense to ask, “who cares if he’s Muslim?” Should it be such an abhorrent idea that a Muslim might become President someday? Would it be like a Catholic becoming king, or a Samaritan being a savior?
Eventually, Romney delivered a major speech in which he declared that as president he would "serve no one religion, no one group, no one cause," and said calls for him to explain and justify his religious beliefs go against the wishes of the nation's founders.”
A Muslim president would serve in the same way. The good of the country does not rely on the leader’s religion but on his or her capacity to lead in a way that is good for all people. This is why the Founding Fathers wrote the first amendment into the Constitution.
The Thanksgiving holiday, today celebrated with turkey and pie in a ceremony so gluttonous that my stomach hurts just thinking about it, has its roots in gratitude over some eel and corn. But it is also very much a holiday celebrating freedom from religious persecution and conformity. We can believe whatever we hold true in our hearts.
The first amendment of the Constitution states: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
This was written into the Constitution to keep America from being like England, from there being an established Church of America with a twelve-cent fine for not attending church once a week. But it also protected the Jewish people, the Muslims, the Hindus, and the atheists, and their right to worship in the way they saw fit. It didn’t establish freedom of Christianity, but freedom to believe the truth you believe.
And so I challenge you this week, as we celebrate the federally-established holiday of Thanksgiving, to be thankful that there is not a federally-established Church of America. Be thankful that you are allowed to be here, in a spiritually hungry, institutionally suspicious worship service.
Be thankful that if you decided, you could change your affiliation, baptize with full immersion, believe in the supremacy of the Pope, chant the Torah, worship in Mecca…
Be thankful for the freedom that your country gives, and remember always that religious freedom is a privilege and a responsibility.
Remember that those who spread fear about the possibility of a Muslim becoming president are undermining the very country they claim to love.
Be thankful.
Amen.
- Amanda Koss, Elder
She was trying to unify the fledgling Anglican Church as well as her country, which had seen many years of turmoil as the crown had passed from Henry the eighth to Edward the sixth to Mary the first – and therefore from Catholicism to Protestantism to Catholicism and back again.
People had been burned at the stake for dissenting from whatever religion was the official state religion at the time. In fact, Mary the first got herself the nickname Bloody Mary because of the brutal way she put Catholicism back in power, to the tune of 300 dissenters burned at the stake. Religious intolerance can be awful.
A group of separatists who came to be known as the Pilgrims fled first to the Netherlands and then to the new continent of America in order to escape the religious persecution that had become the norm in their home country. After they got there and realized that they didn’t know anything about farming or surviving in the harsh environment of the frontier, they were saved by a Native American by the name of Squanto, who taught them to catch eel and plant corn. When they realized that their deliverance was secured, they had a feast and all the Indians were invited. This feast later became the holiday of Thanksgiving, which we just celebrated together so deliciously. So the legend states, at least.
I’m going to bring in the story of the leper now. This was probably a familiar story to most of you, the Samaritan leper who is the only one of the group healed by Jesus that comes back to thank his healer. The part I’m interested in the most reads: “He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan.”
It adds that last part almost as an afterthought. Oh yeah, he was a Samaritan. We almost forgot that not only was he a disgusting, unclean leper, but he was a disgusting unclean Samaritan, the lowest of the low.
The Samaritan ex-leper comes back to tell Jesus thank you. Thank you for saving me, even though I was a leper, even though I am a Samaritan. “Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” Jesus says.
In Luke 9:51, a group of Samaritans refused to give food and shelter to Jesus because he was on his way to Jerusalem and they didn’t want to facilitate a pilgrimage to a city they saw as falsely holy. But Jesus still healed the Samaritan leper, not holding the inhospitality of a few people against the whole group.
The disciples wanted to know why Jesus hadn’t rained fire upon them, like Elijah had done. He rebuked them. Religious persecution wasn’t Jesus’ way. We could all take a lesson from him.
This election cycle, I heard a lot of people say that America is a Christian nation. They would be 78.4% right, according to the Pew Forum on Religious and Public Life. But a closer look reveals that even Christianity is divided into so many sects and denominations that one Christian could look at another Christian and be able to say “what in the world are you worshipping over there?”
We saw some of that back in the primaries when the Christian right spoke out against Mitt Romney, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. An article by the Associated Press summed it up this way: “GOP rival Mike Huckabee, a populist Baptist, wondered whether Mormons believe Jesus and the devil were brothers. Romney was asked about polygamy and sacred Mormon undergarments."
In John 8:48, the Jews ask Jesus, “ Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?” Reading this reminded me of a woman who stood up at a McCain rally and stated that she had heard Obama was a Muslim.
An article in the AFP a week before the election read:
"Not since the election of John Kennedy (a Catholic) in 1960 has the religious faith of a US presidential candidate generated so much distortion as the false claims generated by extremist critics that Senator Barack Obama, the candidate of the Democratic Party, is a stealth Muslim," said a joint petition by some 100 Islamic scholars.
"This is part of an islamo-phobic hate campaign that fuels prejudice against Americans who practice their Islamic faith and Muslims worldwide," the group who called themselves "concerned scholars" stressed. In September, a controversial DVD on Islam was circulated in Florida, adding fuel to the fire of the US election campaign. The video, titled "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West" and released more than a year ago by a group called Clarion Fund, showed images of young children reciting appeals for jihad mixed with archival footage of Hitler Youths. Already stigmatized in the wake of the September 11, 2001, attacks, the Muslim community of the United States feels it has been ostracized during the current election campaign.”
Only at the end of the campaign did I see someone in the news media have the sense to ask, “who cares if he’s Muslim?” Should it be such an abhorrent idea that a Muslim might become President someday? Would it be like a Catholic becoming king, or a Samaritan being a savior?
Eventually, Romney delivered a major speech in which he declared that as president he would "serve no one religion, no one group, no one cause," and said calls for him to explain and justify his religious beliefs go against the wishes of the nation's founders.”
A Muslim president would serve in the same way. The good of the country does not rely on the leader’s religion but on his or her capacity to lead in a way that is good for all people. This is why the Founding Fathers wrote the first amendment into the Constitution.
The Thanksgiving holiday, today celebrated with turkey and pie in a ceremony so gluttonous that my stomach hurts just thinking about it, has its roots in gratitude over some eel and corn. But it is also very much a holiday celebrating freedom from religious persecution and conformity. We can believe whatever we hold true in our hearts.
The first amendment of the Constitution states: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
This was written into the Constitution to keep America from being like England, from there being an established Church of America with a twelve-cent fine for not attending church once a week. But it also protected the Jewish people, the Muslims, the Hindus, and the atheists, and their right to worship in the way they saw fit. It didn’t establish freedom of Christianity, but freedom to believe the truth you believe.
And so I challenge you this week, as we celebrate the federally-established holiday of Thanksgiving, to be thankful that there is not a federally-established Church of America. Be thankful that you are allowed to be here, in a spiritually hungry, institutionally suspicious worship service.
Be thankful that if you decided, you could change your affiliation, baptize with full immersion, believe in the supremacy of the Pope, chant the Torah, worship in Mecca…
Be thankful for the freedom that your country gives, and remember always that religious freedom is a privilege and a responsibility.
Remember that those who spread fear about the possibility of a Muslim becoming president are undermining the very country they claim to love.
Be thankful.
Amen.
- Amanda Koss, Elder
Friday, November 21, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Scriptures for Sunday
This Sunday, we'll be considering our final spiritual discipline for our series, giving thanks. How do you give thanks? How does that serve as a spiritual discipline for you?
Luke 17:11-19
On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!’ When he saw them, he said to them, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, ‘Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?’ Then he said to him, ‘Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.’
Philppians 4:4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Luke 17:11-19
On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!’ When he saw them, he said to them, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, ‘Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?’ Then he said to him, ‘Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.’
Philppians 4:4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
First Place in Our Hearts!
Yes, that's hokey.But it's true!
The UPC Barcodes honorably finished up their season on Sunday. And there was quite a discrepancy. Our team was INCREDIBLE this year. (It was the best we've ever played by far. Really, incredible!) And yet we managed to finish in last place. The other teams were pretty good too.
But! The Barcodes will always be first place in our hearts!
You each have the heart of a champion. LIFE OF A CHILD!
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Sermon: The Ministry of Election
Ruth 1:1-19"No Ammonite or Moabite shall be admitted to the assembly of the LORD. Even to the tenth generation, none of their descendants shall be admitted to the assembly of the LORD, because they did not meet you with food or water on your journey out of Egypt. . . You shall never promote their welfare or their prosperity as long as you shall live."
That's Deuteronomy.
"We have heard the pride of Moab -- how proud he is! -- of his arrogance, his pride, and his insolence; his boasts are false. Therefore let Moab wail, let everyone wail for Moab."
That's Isaiah.
"The calamity of Moab is near at hand and his doom approaches swiftly. Mourn over him, all you neighbors, and all who know his name and say, 'How the mighty scepter is broken, the glorious staff!"
That's Jeremiah.
Are these statements making you uncomfortable? They make me uncomfortable! And they're only a snippet of how many negative statements there are concerning the country of Moab and the people who live there. This certainly sets a scene for what we're studying tonight! Moab was the enemy of ancient Israel. Its people were considered to be absolutely abhorrent.
And then? Ruth? Ruth the Moabite? What on earth is going on here in the Book of Ruth? This book has a different perspective entirely and isn't ashamed to give it. Ruth from Moab becomes the epitome of one who shows loyalty and devotion, breaking apart every negative connotation of the people of Moab. Ruth is God's faithful servant, pledging her life toward others -- going way beyond the expectation. And she convicts us to do the same. I wonder. . . What will we do with a story like this one? How will we put it into practice?
Some of you had a chance to read the Book of Ruth this week. And as you did, I imagine that some parts were convicting and others were just puzzling. This story contains a lot of ancient customs that are completely foreign to us today. And if you haven't had a chance to read the entire story, I'd invite you to do so. I think you'll find that this little story -- only four brief chapters -- is absolutely radical. It's full of abundance and excess, because from beginning to end, over and over again, we find people going way beyond what's expected of them. We find surprising characters who challenge us to pledge ourselves toward others. We find surprising characters who convict us to include those on the margins, people who are constantly told "You're not welcome," people who are told they have no hope of belonging. This book -- The Book of Ruth -- flings doors wide open. It teaches us to choose one another -- to accompany one another. I wonder how we'll put it into practice.
At the beginning, the story is a bleak one. It begins with a famine in Bethlehem in Judah. And a man named Elimelech makes a choice that would be outrageously offensive to his own people. But perhaps the situation was desperate enough for such a desperate action. He travels with his wife Naomi and his two sons Mahlon and Chilion to the land of Moab - to a land that was forbidden, to a land full of people who were not to be admitted to the assembly of the LORD.
But the situation becomes more desperate. Elimelech dies in Moab, leaving Naomi behind as a widow. Thankfully she has her two sons. Now they do something that would be completely looked down upon. They marry foreign wives, Moabite wives, people who were not to be included.
And some time passes, and Naomi's sons die as well. Now three women are left defenseless in an ancient culture where women were entirely dependent upon male relatives for security.
What could widows do to be protected in a situation like this? There weren't many options. They could remarry, live under the care of their children, or turn to prostitution. That's about it. But none of these options were viable for Naomi. There weren't any children left. What could these three women possibly do to protect themselves?
Naomi receives word that there's food in Bethlehem. So after ten years, it's time to go back. But in a sense, there is no going back. Things will never be the same. Naomi came to Moab to seek a future, and she thought her future was right beside her -- a husband and two sons. But now Naomi knows she is alone and too old for a future. She's going home empty and humiliated. There's no hope for her.
She tells Orpah and Ruth, her two daughters-in-law, to leave her to it. She tells them to turn around -- to go back to their families and remarry. There was hope for them, she thought. And that would have been the easy thing for them to do. Orpah and Ruth had seen grief and hardship, but they were young enough to have options. Naomi has no options. Orpah follows Naomi's instructions. It's interesting: Oprah's name in Hebrew means "back of the neck." She turns around and goes back home to her people.
"See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods," Naomi tells Ruth. "Return after your sister-in-law."
But no. Ruth clings to her. Ruth is tenacious. She will not turn back. Ruth will not leave Naomi's side -- even if her best option for survival is to follow Orpah back home. And Ruth launches into this beautiful statement of commitment. She will go where Naomi goes. She will live where Naomi lives. Ruth's God will be Naomi's God. She will die where Naomi dies. She will not leave. Ruth makes a conscious choice to pledge herself toward Naomi. She will accompany her - not only on the journey to Bethlehem but throughout life. Ruth - a foreigner, and worse, a Moabite -- sets the example of what it means to live with and for others.
And she keeps her word. If you've read the rest of the story, you've discovered that this is true. Ruth meets Boaz, a close relative of Naomi, and though she has no status whatsoever in Israelite society, she makes a claim on Boaz for him to marry her. She asks him to marry her.
Boaz also goes way beyond the expectation too. He praises Ruth's loyalty to Naomi and marries her. Boaz marries a foreign woman. He accepts her. He includes her. He learns from her. He knows that Ruth -- this Moabite who was not to be included -- has gone beyond the expectation. Pledging herself in loyalty, she becomes a teacher to Israel. She and Boaz give birth to a son who will care for Naomi in her old age. Naomi has hope. This son is Obed, the grandfather of David. That's crazy! According to this story, Ruth - an outcast - becomes the great-grandmother of King David, the one who all of Israel would look to as a great leader. The outcast has become cast-in. She's an example.
I wonder how we will put this story to practice.
We've spent a whole semester talking about spiritual practices. We've been intentional for months, thinking about the ways that we might practice our faith -- ways that we might serve as faithful disciples. We've talked about ministries of prayer, proclamation, Sabbath, and Sacrament. We've considered ministries of remembrance, playfulness, and healing. We've asked ourselves who we are called to bear God to the world and how we are called to bear one another. How will we spiritually practice the type of devotion that Ruth practices? How can she serve as an example to us?
"Do not press me to leave you or to turn back from following you!
Where you go, I will go,
Where you lodge, I will lodge;
Your people shall be my people,
And your God my God.
Where you die, I will die -
There I will be buried.
May the LORD do thus and so to me, and more as well, if even death parts me from you!"
Those are powerful words. Those words are a powerful pledge and claim. In our theological tradition, we make a powerful claim as well. That claim is this: God elects us. Well, what does that mean? It means that God chooses us to be recipients of divine love. It means that completely apart from our own effort, God loves us. It's astounding when you think of it!
Really, think of it! We can't do anything to make God love us. And we can't do anything to make God stop loving us. God loves us. God has chosen us. God has deliberately become pledged in love toward us. God has made a willful choice.
The Doctrine of Election - that's fancy theological-speak for this powerful claim we make. And we make the claim because God has first made a claim on us.
I'll tell you a story. Once I was at a camp for college students (many like you), and I overheard an interesting conversation. Two students were asking someone else about what it means to be Presbyterian. They asked all sorts of questions. Eventually, one of them asked, "So. . . what's predestination?"
I have to admit that I laughed out loud. "How's he gonna answer that one?" I thought.
Predestination has been a part of the Reformed faith traditions, and at times, it's been interpreted to say this: "God has chosen some for salvation and others for damnation. There's nothing anyone can do about it. It's all God's choice. Case closed. End of story. That's the way it is."
This person decided to answer the question in a way I've never forgotten. He said, "Predestination means that God has pledged to be God toward us. And we are the people we are because of that pledge." To bring is point home, he mentioned his daughter. "You know, there may be a day when she could decide to not act like my daughter. She may never talk to me or care if I exist. But I've made a pledge to her, and here's what I say to that: 'I'm not gonna let you not be my daughter!'"
I think that's beautiful. "I'm not gonna let you not be my daughter." That's what God does to us. God has elected and pledged to be God toward us. We can act like that's not true, but in a myriad of ways, God is always saying "I'm not gonna let you not be my son! I'm not gonna let you not be my daughter!"
Well, here's an idea. If God lives this way toward us, could it be that we are called to live in such a way toward others? "I'm not gonna let you not be my sister!" "I'm not gonna let you not be my brother!" "I'm not gonna let you be an outcast because I'm gonna include you!" "I'm not gonna let you believe lies about yourself, because I know who you are: A Child of God. And I'm gonna tell you and toward you like that's true!"
This is what Ruth has done in this story. She has made a pledge to Naomi, and Naomi is someone because of that pledge. Could we live a ministry through spiritual practice of election?
Can we elect one another? Can we choose to be loyal toward one another? These are important questions.
Tonight, I will close with this: Who is it that needs to you practice this pledge? Is it someone in your family? One of your friends? Who needs you to stick by them no matter what -- no matter what the cost might be to yourself?
Who in this neighborhood needs a pledge of Austin Agape? Students who don't feel welcome anywhere? People who sleep in the courtyard? People who come to our food pantry every Tuesday morning?
Who will you pledge to love?
Who will you accompany?
Who will you elect to serve?
May the God who elects you give you strength to elect others.
Amen.
- Renée Roederer, Campus Minister
Friday, November 14, 2008
Scripture for Sunday
Our scripture for Sunday comes from the Book of Ruth. How does Ruth, relegated to outsider status as a Moabite and a widow, teach us to be dedicated to one another?
Our theological tradition teaches us that God elects us -- God chooses us and pledges to be God toward us, apart from any action on our own. Can we in a sense do the same? Can we pledge to be ourselves toward others in ways that are faithful and loyal? In a sense, can we "elect" to be with and for one another?
Is this a spiritual discipline?
Ruth 1:1-19
2345In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land, and a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to live in the country of Moab, he and his wife and two sons. The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion; they were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. These took Moabite wives; the name of one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. When they had lived there for about ten years, both Mahlon and Chilion also died, so that the woman was left without her two sons or her husband.
Our theological tradition teaches us that God elects us -- God chooses us and pledges to be God toward us, apart from any action on our own. Can we in a sense do the same? Can we pledge to be ourselves toward others in ways that are faithful and loyal? In a sense, can we "elect" to be with and for one another?
Is this a spiritual discipline?
Ruth 1:1-19
2345In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land, and a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to live in the country of Moab, he and his wife and two sons. The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion; they were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. These took Moabite wives; the name of one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. When they had lived there for about ten years, both Mahlon and Chilion also died, so that the woman was left without her two sons or her husband.
Then she started to return with her daughters-in-law from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab that the Lord had had consideration for his people and given them food. 7So she set out from the place where she had been living, she and her two daughters-in-law, and they went on their way to go back to the land of Judah. 8But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, ‘Go back each of you to your mother’s house. May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. 9The Lord grant that you may find security, each of you in the house of your husband.’ Then she kissed them, and they wept aloud. 10They said to her, ‘No, we will return with you to your people.’ 11But Naomi said, ‘Turn back, my daughters, why will you go with me? Do I still have sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? 12Turn back, my daughters, go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. Even if I thought there was hope for me, even if I should have a husband tonight and bear sons, 13would you then wait until they were grown? Would you then refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, it has been far more bitter for me than for you, because the hand of the Lord has turned against me.’ 14Then they wept aloud again. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.
So she said, ‘See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.’ 16But Ruth said,
‘Do not press me to leave you
or to turn back from following you!
Where you go, I will go;
where you lodge, I will lodge;
your people shall be my people,
and your God my God.
17Where you die, I will die—
there will I be buried.
May the Lord do thus and so to me,
and more as well,
if even death parts me from you!’
18When Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
The Phrase of the Week Game
So. . . every Wednesday, we people at Austin Agape play a silly game. It's called the "Phrase of the Week!" Game. While we eat lunch together, someone comes up with a phrase and challenges everyone to try to work it into a situation or conversation later in the week. Once we come back a week later, we all tell how we used the phrase, and the most creative application gets the most points. Are you ready for this week's phrase? It's quite interesting.Here goes.
Wild like a Wookie.
Yep.
Wild like a Wookie.
Which one of you can find a reason this week to say something like, "Wow! That's wild like a wookie!"?
We look forward to responses.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Sermon: Bearing God and Bearing Neighbor
Luke 1:26-38, Mark 3:31-35, and John 19:25-27Mary.
Mary the Mother of Jesus.
Mary the Mother of God.
Well, that's pretty strong language, isn't it? Mary, the Mother of God? But that's the language Christians in the fourth century believed was appropriate for this person.
After all, Mary is a Godbearer.
Mary is a vital part of our faith. We find her name and influence all over our scriptures, but we Protestants tend to neglect her. Well, we kind of . . . neglect her. . . We parade her around at Christmas pageants. We love to imagine her in that bleak mid-winter – snow falling, a frosty, sparkly topping to our crèche scenes. We like to think of her as our dear, sweet Mary – holding the baby that we love to sing Christmas carols about. But once that beautiful Christmas season is over, we place Mary back in the cardboard box. We stuff her in with the garland, glitter, and flickering Christmas lights. “Bye, Mary! See you next year!”
We treat Mary – this foundational witness of the Christian life- like one of our Christmas decorations.
But maybe we shouldn’t neglect her. Maybe we shouldn’t pull her out only once a year. Maybe we need to consider her life and witness beyond a timeframe on a calendar, because Mary has much to say to us about how we are called to live in this world. She certainly has a lot to tell us about the character of the God we serve. And she can teach us a lot about a beautiful spiritual practice of the Christian faith: Mary teaches us to bear God to the world and to bear one another.
You know, our introduction to Mary isn’t as pristine as our crèche scenes might like to imagine it. Mary was an unwed teenager. Can you imagine the stigma a fourteen year-old girl would have to endure in this situation? And her son wasn’t born in some stable of frosty delight either. We can’t fully know what the conditions of Jesus’ birth were, but this human being – this One whom the Gospel writers would come to call the Son of God – was placed in a manger at birth – a simple, profane feeding troth for animals! That’s no sweeping way to come into the world, is it? God comes into the world in and through a humble virgin? – an unmarried teenager? This socially stigmatized Mary bears God. Incredible, isn’t it?
And if Mary is a Godbearer, she certainly bears an interesting God to the world. After all, what kind of God is this? We might expect this God to come to us in a flash of lightning – to remain holy by staying separate, but this God chooses to become human flesh. This God chooses to be made known in a particular, human person with hands, feet, whimpering cries, and screams. This God chooses to be held in the arms of a mother who no one would expect.
What kind of God is this? This God grows to pray on humble human knees, becoming pledged toward creation. And this is the God who comes through someone as simple as Mary. This God proclaims a Kingdom where everything is turned on its head – where the last becomes first and the first becomes last. And this is the God who comes through someone as unexpected and last as Mary. This God honors the Sabbath by working, working to heal those who are in dire need. This God, this God born of Mary? What kind of God is this?
This God makes everything and everyone alive through sacrament - becoming baptized with tax collectors and sinners and breaking bread with the nobodies of this world. This is the God born of a fourteen year old teenager – someone considered to be a nobody, someone who broke bread with Jesus for years on end. This God remembers the covenant by living the spirit of the law anew – living into God’s dreams for creation, radically loving others no matter the cost. And the same God plays with simple children – “Let them come to me.” Jesus must have been influenced by his mother. Mary, what kind of amazing God did you bear to the world in human flesh?
This God transgresses every social norm if it will heal one who is desperate for care. This God came in the world, blowing apart a social norm right from the beginning in the life of this faithful young woman. This God acts in unexpected ways, choosing to live and to be found in the womb of an ordinary but profoundly faithful unwed Mother. That is an incredible miracle that we don’t need to celebrate only once a year.
Mary bears this God to the world. She bears this God to us. Thank God. It’s unbelievable.
And then, I’m so struck by the image of Mary standing at the foot of Jesus’ cross. There she stands, grieving – one of the only ones left who had the courage to stand by Jesus in his hour of greatest need. The other disciples have fled away in fear. But even here at the end – even in this scripture of death – Mary teaches us what it means to give life, to live in community as one who bears others. On the cross, Jesus unites her with another disciple, the person known as the “disciple that Jesus loved.” He says to her, “Behold, your son!” and to him, “Behold, your Mother!” Jesus unites the two of them and calls them to live in relationship with one another, and from that day forward, Mary enters the home of the disciple. We don’t know the rest of the story, but we can only imagine that they lived as family from that day onward. Again, how incredible! How amazing it is that God chooses to bless this woman named Mary as a Christian example of what it means to live the spiritual discipline of bearing, of giving birth. She bears God to the world and lives her life as a Lifegiver toward others. Mary the Mother of God. Mary, the Mother of Her Neighbor.
How do you bear God, and what kind of God do you reveal to the world? And how do you live in relationship with people, giving birth – giving new life – to those around you? We give thanks that God chooses us, just like Mary to be vessels that carry God and reveal God to others.
And to be honest, we’re not all that extraordinary. Sure, we’re good Presbyterians. We’re good students. We don’t smell too bad. But we’re just normal people. Just normal people. How amazing that God could use us like that?
How do you bear God, and what kind of God do you reveal to the world? And how do you live in relationship with people, giving birth – giving new life – to those around you?
Well, those might seem like big tasks, but it’s incredible to discover that they can happen right here. Again, we don’t need to look for a flash of lightning. We just look for God’s presence right where we are.
I’ve been thinking a lot about Madelyn Payne Dunham this week. She was the grandmother of Barack Obama who died only one day before the election. Some people voted for Barack Obama to become the next president. Some people didn’t. But I don’t think anyone can deny what an unlikely candidate Barack Obama has been. And like other presidents, he didn’t get to this moment in time alone. He was shaped. People bore him. A host of others gave life to him. As I listened to Obama’s acceptance speech on Tuesday night, I thought of his grandmother who raised him and died the day before. I thought to myself, “My goodness, this woman probably had no idea she was going to affect the entire world.” With the presidency comes a tremendous amount of power. We will have to wait and see how Barack Obama will use that power. But as I listened to that speech, I was reminded that when we love a human being, we have no idea how significant it might become.
How do you bear God to the world? And who do you bear in the process?
There’s a beautiful quote from the Talmud, which is Jewish commentary on the law. It says this: "Whoever destroys a single life is as guilty as though he had destroyed the entire world; and whoever rescues a single life earns as much merit as though he had rescued the entire world." That’s worth saying again. "Whoever destroys a single life is as guilty as though he had destroyed the entire world; and whoever rescues a single life earns as much merit as though he had rescued the entire world." I think this speaks volumes. First of all, it tells us that one human life is just as precious as the life of an entire world. It tells us that a particular life is worth saving. But when we invest in the life of others – when we bear them, when we bear God toward them – we’re not only impacting them but their children and all the people that they will influence. We are giving birth to a world.
And we don’t have to look to a flash of lightning from the sky to do it. We only have to look as far as here. Jesus said something so beautiful in that passage from Mark. Mary and his brothers and his sisters came looking for him. Now some may think that Jesus’ response was kind of smart-alec-y, but I don’t think so. I tend to think that he simply saw the occasion for a teaching moment with the people who were sitting right around him. “Who are my mother and my brothers and my sisters?” The text says that looked right at those who were sitting around him. That action was powerful when it was added to these words, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”
Austin Agape, you are a community of faith. You’re also a family. You give birth to each other. Family is profoundly larger and wider than biology. And it need not be exclusive either. There are other members of our family who have yet walk into our doors. Mary has given us an incredible example of bearing God and of bearing one another. You can do that right here. Here is your mother and your sister and your brother. Right here! I think Jesus is always saying to us from that cross, “Behold, your child!” and “Behold, your Mother!”
Let God be born in you. Reveal that God to your mother, sister, and brother. Love deeply here and imaginatively invest in the lives of one another here. If you love one another, you are sure to impact an entire world.
How do you bear God, and what kind of God is revealed in you?
Who will you bear in the process?
- Renée Roederer, Campus Minister
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Minute for Stewardship
On Sunday morning, Lauron addresses our congregation about how much Austin Agape means to her. Here is what she has to say:
Being a part of Austin Agape at University Presbyterian Church has changed my life. I give thanks with a grateful heart for every moment I spend with the community I have found here. When I started coming to UPC, the number of children, high school and college students, and young adults that were here just blew my mind. At First Presbyterian Church in Beeville , Texas
Being a part of Austin Agape at University Presbyterian Church has changed my life. I give thanks with a grateful heart for every moment I spend with the community I have found here. When I started coming to UPC, the number of children, high school and college students, and young adults that were here just blew my mind. At First Presbyterian Church in Like I said, rarely were there other kids my age in my home church. I never had “church friends.” Now, MOST of my friends are “church friends,” and I can’t imagine my life without them. We are constantly growing closer; at campus dinner and in evening worship, at bible study, on our retreats, and especially on our ski trips each spring. Twenty hours in a van really brings a group together. After the ski trip was over, I knew there was no turning back. Not because I wanted to keep going on ski trips, but because I felt so deeply and personally invested in Austin Agape.
As college students, it is difficult for us to give back to the church financially. Our offering to UPC and Austin Agape is often intangible. We give our time. We give our talents. We give our presence. We give our personalities. We give our conversation. We give our relationships. We are stewards of each other.
As you continue to think about stewardship and how you will give back to UPC, consider Austin Agape. Consider sharing with us your presence, your personality, your conversation. Share a meal with us on Sunday night. Worship with us. If you work on the UT campus, join us for lunch at the student union one Wednesday. Be a part of the Adopt-A-Student program, and adopt us. You will enrich us, and you will be enriched as I have been.
- Lauron Fischer, Sophomore
Friday, November 7, 2008
How Do We Bear God and One Another?
This Sunday, we will be reading scriptures about the life of Mary, the Mother of Jesus. We wondered together: How does Mary's life and witness teach us about what it means to bear God to the world? And how does her example teach us to bear others? How are we Godbearers, and how do we give new birth to one another? How are these spiritual disciplines?
I interpret this question as the idea of answering God’s call, and this idea is illustrated by Mary’s conversation with the angel Gabriel. We all know the story-- Gabriel reveals God’s plan for Mary of having a great son, and her reaction is one of doubt and confusion. Nevertheless, Mary accepts what God wants of her (does she have any choice???). It is a short and sweet story, but we can substitute characters for ourselves and substitute the situation and reveal a truth. How many times does God speak to us, if not through angels then through our hearts, to let us know that he has a plan for us that is greater than we have ever expected of ourselves? And how many times do we respond with doubt and confusion. “I think you have the wrong person, God. I certainly have never done anything like that and I don’t think I can. Surely, you mean someone else. Surely I am not worthy of something so noble. Surely, you mean someone else better than me.”
In the story, Mary accepts and does God’s will, trusting, that despite the seemingly impossible event to occur, that God would be there with her. But this isn’t just about what God was going to do for Mary; Mary was also doing something for God, doing something that was to serve the greater good. AND, it seems that God and Mary were serving and answering each other to serve and answer the needs of humankind. I think when we answer a call, as Mary did, we allow God in the world. Our decision to let go of ourselves, our egos, to serve the community around us allows goodness to flow.
- Jess Andres
"Then Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’"
I feel like Mary's response here summarizes what it means to bear God to the world. Mary had to know the judgment she would receive for being pregnant before she was married, but doing God's will took priority over maintaining her reputation. To bear God to each other and the world, I think we really have to be concerned with loving people and determining how God would have us act, as opposed to being concerned with whether or not we have the appearance of serving God.
- Tiana Won, Sophomore
Coming from a strange experience regarding the bible I don't really translate any of the virgin birth of Mary literally. I hope to one day be able to know as much as I can regarding Jesus and his mother, and everything in his life, because I feel that this mystery has the power to unlock my true identity in Christ. This is part of my excitement and fuel for the decision to attend seminary.
However, whether or not this understanding of Mary the mother of Jesus is literal does not negate the beauty and power of this idea. The concept of a woman birthing the Son of God is a powerful one. Coming from a philosophical standpoint, what could this say about women? How they are portrayed in the Bible? What does Mary's role tell us about Jesus? The amount of respect that Christ showed to his mother, realizing that his death on the cross could have a significantly more negative effect on her more than the rest of his disciples is from John 19:25-27. What kind of relationship, are we to have then, from this example of Christ, with our own mothers? With women? How should we go about showing them that kind of respect? How could this possibly relate to our modern version of family?
I'm afraid that I have more questions than answers. I suppose that, however, that this is a starting place, and when the time comes, I will be able to pour my heart out in the search for the truth of Jesus Christ.
- Megan Weckerly, Junior
If we cannot
look after each other
agree to maintain creative, constructive tension in disagreement,
sing
err on the side of simplicity
feel one-another's pain
seek common ground
laugh and get the giggles
pass on the tales of our ancestors and dreams for our descendants
respect the decency of life
avoid imposing on others' rights
sense our own mortality when staring at a starry sky
remember what it was like to be bullied
translate "Hello, world!" into "hello, neighbor"
take off our shoes for all that is holy
recognize that differences should inspire inquiry not incite inquisition
volley footballs instead of grenades
tend one big green garden on one pale blue dot
stand up for those who cannot afford care to stand up
cross the border
recycle pet, hdpe, pvc, ldpe, pp, ps, other, Al, Sn, and SiO_2
articulate appreciation without words
together, then whose favor do we find and who do we bear?
- Ian Roederer, Ph.D. Student
I interpret this question as the idea of answering God’s call, and this idea is illustrated by Mary’s conversation with the angel Gabriel. We all know the story-- Gabriel reveals God’s plan for Mary of having a great son, and her reaction is one of doubt and confusion. Nevertheless, Mary accepts what God wants of her (does she have any choice???). It is a short and sweet story, but we can substitute characters for ourselves and substitute the situation and reveal a truth. How many times does God speak to us, if not through angels then through our hearts, to let us know that he has a plan for us that is greater than we have ever expected of ourselves? And how many times do we respond with doubt and confusion. “I think you have the wrong person, God. I certainly have never done anything like that and I don’t think I can. Surely, you mean someone else. Surely I am not worthy of something so noble. Surely, you mean someone else better than me.”In the story, Mary accepts and does God’s will, trusting, that despite the seemingly impossible event to occur, that God would be there with her. But this isn’t just about what God was going to do for Mary; Mary was also doing something for God, doing something that was to serve the greater good. AND, it seems that God and Mary were serving and answering each other to serve and answer the needs of humankind. I think when we answer a call, as Mary did, we allow God in the world. Our decision to let go of ourselves, our egos, to serve the community around us allows goodness to flow.
- Jess Andres
"Then Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’"I feel like Mary's response here summarizes what it means to bear God to the world. Mary had to know the judgment she would receive for being pregnant before she was married, but doing God's will took priority over maintaining her reputation. To bear God to each other and the world, I think we really have to be concerned with loving people and determining how God would have us act, as opposed to being concerned with whether or not we have the appearance of serving God.
- Tiana Won, Sophomore
Coming from a strange experience regarding the bible I don't really translate any of the virgin birth of Mary literally. I hope to one day be able to know as much as I can regarding Jesus and his mother, and everything in his life, because I feel that this mystery has the power to unlock my true identity in Christ. This is part of my excitement and fuel for the decision to attend seminary.However, whether or not this understanding of Mary the mother of Jesus is literal does not negate the beauty and power of this idea. The concept of a woman birthing the Son of God is a powerful one. Coming from a philosophical standpoint, what could this say about women? How they are portrayed in the Bible? What does Mary's role tell us about Jesus? The amount of respect that Christ showed to his mother, realizing that his death on the cross could have a significantly more negative effect on her more than the rest of his disciples is from John 19:25-27. What kind of relationship, are we to have then, from this example of Christ, with our own mothers? With women? How should we go about showing them that kind of respect? How could this possibly relate to our modern version of family?
I'm afraid that I have more questions than answers. I suppose that, however, that this is a starting place, and when the time comes, I will be able to pour my heart out in the search for the truth of Jesus Christ.
- Megan Weckerly, Junior
If we cannotlook after each other
agree to maintain creative, constructive tension in disagreement,
sing
err on the side of simplicity
feel one-another's pain
seek common ground
laugh and get the giggles
pass on the tales of our ancestors and dreams for our descendants
respect the decency of life
avoid imposing on others' rights
sense our own mortality when staring at a starry sky
remember what it was like to be bullied
translate "Hello, world!" into "hello, neighbor"
take off our shoes for all that is holy
recognize that differences should inspire inquiry not incite inquisition
volley footballs instead of grenades
tend one big green garden on one pale blue dot
stand up for those who cannot afford care to stand up
cross the border
recycle pet, hdpe, pvc, ldpe, pp, ps, other, Al, Sn, and SiO_2
articulate appreciation without words
together, then whose favor do we find and who do we bear?
- Ian Roederer, Ph.D. Student
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
The Craziest Game Ever!
Hello Barcodes!If you missed this past Sunday's Intramural Volleyball game, you missed a thrilling spectacle! The Barcodes went head-to-head against the Vietnamese Student Association (VSA) in a long, exciting matchup. VSA took game one, 25-18, as the undermanned Barcodes found their rhythm. The Barcodes took game two, 25-20, in a game full of long rallies and great serves.
Game three started off beautifully, as Amanda Koss gave the Barcodes a 8-0 start with some awesome serves. But, VSA was not to be outdone so easily. Each point in the third game was incredibly well-fought and very exciting for both sides. The Barcodes became increasingly aggressive and talkative on the court (even culminating in a hilarious exchange between Catherine and Patrick which is far too difficult to relate through email--ask about it on Sunday!). It looked all wrapped up for the Barcodes as they pulled ahead 24-19, but, alas, we lost the serve to VSA. Then, VSA brought in their "ringer" to serve, and she steadily brought the score back to being tied at 24. Then the Barcodes got the ball back, and were one away from winning. After a long volley, the serve returned back to VSA and the game was tied again at 25. This back-and-forth of serves and points continued until the referees decided that the score was getting too high, and the next team to score would win the game. And so, after 45 minutes of exhausting and exciting play, VSA finally took game 3, 30-29. It was a hard loss, but it was so exciting, and the Barcodes played wonderfully.
So, you definitely do not want to miss the Barcodes play this Sunday night at 9 pm against the team "Franky and Monroe." And we'd love to have more players this weekend! Please call me or text me at 210-325-9549 to let me know if you are available to play this weekend, and I hope everyone enjoys the rest of their week.
~~Your IM Volleyball Captain, Laura Michelle
Scriptures for Sunday
How does Mary's life and witness teach us about what it means to bear God to the world? And how does her example teach us to bear others? How are we Godbearers, and how do we give new birth to one another? How are these spiritual disciplines?Luke 1:26-38
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you.’ But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’ Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’ The angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.’ Then Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’ Then the angel departed from her.
Mark 3:31-35
Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, ‘Your mother and your brothers and sisters* are outside, asking for you.’ And he replied, ‘Who are my mother and my brothers?’ And looking at those who sat around him, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.’
John 19: 25-27
Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, here is your son.’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Happy Election Day!
Don't forget to vote today if you haven't already!
It's so exciting that so many of you are voting for the first time. Way to make your voice heard!
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Sermon: Transgressive Healer
Mark 1:40-45
This story is outrageous. This little story at the beginning of Mark’s gospel is completely outrageous. And it’s more than outrageous. It’s scandalous. This is how Jesus chooses to begin his ministry in
When Mark starts his Gospel, he hits the ground running. There’s no birth story here. It’s almost like there’s no time for it. Mark starts out full speed ahead. And so much happens in this first chapter. It almost like Mark is capturing little snapshots and piecing them together for us in flashes, like some trailer for an action film. He strings these small stories together with words that become characteristic for him. This story – “and” -- This story – “and” – This story. “And, and, and.” “Immediately” this. “Immediately” that. Mark uses the word “Immediately” over and over.
So much happens in this first chapter! The Gospel of Mark starts out this way: “The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” Then we’re off. John the Baptist appears in the wilderness, baptizing. Three verses about John baptizing Jesus. Immediately the Spirit drives Jesus into the wilderness. Two verses about his temptation there. Jesus calls his first disciples. And Jesus stuns a synagogue of people when he casts out an unclean spirit from a man. “What is this?” they say. “A new teaching – with authority! And immediately, Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law from her fever right after they leave the synagogue. And the whole city gathers around her door, asking Jesus to heal people of their diseases. And he goes on a preaching tour, doing the same type of work all around
All in one chapter! What’s going on here? Mark starts out building Jesus up in this amazing way. “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” A baptism. Healing. New authority! A city at a door! Jesus reputation is building. . . and then, WHAT?
Jesus has an encounter with a leper?
Mark, this is really where you want to throw this story in? Right here? Just when you were building up Jesus in every way? Really? Outrageous.
Now granted, Mark didn’t put chapter numbers in his gospel. The early church eventually did that. But Mark puts this story right at the beginning – right after a huge string of stories that give Jesus an immense amount of credibility. And then, this story -- this scandalous story.
A leper approaches Jesus and falls on his knees begging. This is scandalous in itself. A leper was someone who could have had a variety of skin diseases that were considered to be unclean by Levitical law. According to the law, people with leprous diseases were supposed to wear torn clothes, keep their hair disheveled, cover their upper lips and cry out everywhere, “Unclean. Unclean.” Can you imagine having to announce your own condition everywhere – to be seen and known only through this label? Lepers were supposed to live alone, and they were supposed to stay outside the camp or city.
So what gave this leper the audacity to approach Jesus? Who did he think he was? Or maybe a better question is, “Who did he think Jesus was?”
“If you choose, you can make me clean.”
Here was this sad outsider – an outcast – on his knees, kneeling and begging. He must have been trembling there, terrified. He had approached Jesus when he was supposed to remain as far as possible from him. And this was more than a simple break of the rules. He could defile Jesus! He was unclean, and at any point, if he contacted Jesus, he would make Jesus unclean too. He could damage him. He could ruin an entire preaching tour.
But he had audacity because he had faith. He must have known that there was something different about Jesus. “If you choose, you can make me clean.”
And Jesus was different. He was moved with compassion. The word used in the Greek text says that his compassion was bodily. He was gut-wrenched about this. And perhaps he was angry about it too. Why did this man have to constantly be overlooked, to live with continual stigma, to be isolated from his family – from the entire community – when he too was a Child of God?
Then Jesus does the outrageous. He does what is utterly scandalous. Willingly, he chooses to touch this man – this man! with leprosy! “I do choose. Be made clean!” Jesus has broken the social custom of his day. He’s obliterated it. He’s touched the one who was labeled – stigmatized – to be untouchable.
And there’s that word of Mark’s again: “Immediately,” the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. But things hadn’t returned to back to some simple state. In one touch, Jesus and this man with leprosy have exchanged places. The healed man goes into the open – into the city, where he has been forbidden, with new life and newfound freedom. And because he spreads the word about his new life, Jesus can no longer enter a town openly. He stays out in the desert places, and because of the word of this leper, people come to Jesus from every corner to join him there. Jesus is on the outside now, among desperate people. In one willful touch, Jesus has chosen to become a leper.
Who is this Jesus? This One who goes against the social norms – even the law! – if it will restore people to true worth and dignity? Who is this Jesus that Mark is portraying – this One who goes on to do so many scandalous things in this gospel – telling a paralyzed man that his sins have been forgiven, no matter the rage of the scribes who witness it? This one that heals on the Sabbath – who time and time again, puts human need first. Who is this one who continues to be touched by the unclean – a woman who has been bleeding for twelve years, longing to only touch his garment and be healed? Or a dead twelve year old girl – whose corpse was ritually unclean, but who Jesus willingly touched? He proclaimed her only to be “sleeping” and restored her to life? Who is this Jesus who eats with tax collectors and sinners? This Jesus who chooses common fishermen to follow him – who chooses 1st century women to be disciples? Who is this Jesus who says, “Let the children come to me?” Who is this one who is constantly, willfully choosing to break every social custom to serve human need and dignity first? Jesus is one who transgresses what is expected. Jesus, who did not sin toward God, was constantly sinning against what society told him was the norm. Jesus is a healer. Jesus is a transgressive healer.
What would it take for us to do the same? What would we risk to become the healers we are? We’ve spent a whole semester talking about spiritual disciplines – practices which shape our daily lives and impact the lives of others. When we’ve talk about Prayer, Proclamation, Sabbath, Sacrament, Remembrance, and Play, we haven’t just been talking about things we do. We’re talking about people we are because we are Pray-ers, Proclaimers, Sabbath-keepers, Sacrament celebrators, Rememberers, and People Who Play. We are the things we are called to practice. Our identity is wrapped up in them. And tonight, we tell the truth to one another. We are called to be healers.
It’s remarkable when you think about it. Maybe scary even. Because we’re not just members of a church. We’re not just students. We’re not just employees. We’re not people enslaved to the list of tasks we find ourselves doing. We are ministers. We are called to be healers in this world – not because there’s anything extraordinary about us – but because we belong to Divine Healer of this world who enters our pain, suffering, and stigma. We follow a Divine Healer who is so very Human. He chooses our condition. And this is the One we follow.
Jesus Christ is a transgressive healer. He breaks the norms of his culture, and we are called to do the same. What might we have to risk to follow? Who might we be called to touch? How might we be called to enter their conditions as people who want to accompany the lives of those who are suffering? And how will those people change us? What will we learn from them?
Who are the lepers of our modern day culture? Who is being told day-in and day-out that they belong on the outside? Immigrants? Undocumented workers? People who are gay? People who don’t know where their next meal is coming from? People with a skin-color that society defines as unacceptable? People with terminal illnesses? People with mental illnesses? People with stigmatizing disabilities? Children who are abused and neglected? Young people in the foster care system? Or what about people who are belittled for their religion? What about Muslims who are dishonored in every e-mail that derides a political candidate because he might be one of them? And no matter how untrue these e-mails may be, aren’t they also sending a message that the worst person someone can be is a Muslim? Who are the lepers of our modern day culture?
You are ministers, and Jesus Christ, the transgressive healer, dwells in you. You are the Body of Christ – the hands and feet of the One who heals. And as that Body, who will you dare to touch, and how will you be touched in the process? What social norms will you willfully choose to break? How will Austin Agape throw open its doors – fling them wide open – for people who have never been welcomed before?
God is at work here. God is at work in us, right here.
What if we became aware of it?
Live as the healers you are.
Amen.
- Renée Roederer, Campus Minister
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