Sermons from Mission Hills UCC San Diego, California Rev. Dr. David Bahr [email protected] May 12, 2024 “Why Do We All Belong?” Acts 10: 9b-17a – Common English Bible Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted to eat. While others were preparing the meal, he had a visionary experience. 11 He saw heaven opened up and something like a large linen sheet being lowered to the earth by its four corners. 12 Inside the sheet were all kinds of four-legged animals, reptiles, and wild birds.[a] 13 A voice told him, “Get up, Peter! Kill and eat!” 14 Peter exclaimed, “Absolutely not, Lord! I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” 15 The voice spoke a second time, “Never consider unclean what God has made pure.” 16 This happened three times, then the object was suddenly pulled back into heaven. 17 Peter was bewildered about the meaning of the vision. Peter got hungry and started thinking about lunch. While he waited for lunch to be served, he fell asleep. He was so hungry he had a dream or a vision about all kinds of things he couldn’t eat. Not foods with too much fat, salt, and sugar, he dreamt about foods he couldn’t eat because he was faithful to the dietary laws of his religion. In his vision, he saw the sky open and something that looked like a large linen sheet tied in its four corners being lowered down from heaven – like a tablecloth spread over a picnic table. And on that tablecloth was every kind of animal, reptile, and bird you could think of. A voice said, “Get up, Peter! Kill and eat!” Peter exclaimed, “Absolutely not, Lord! I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” The voice said, “Never consider anything unclean that God has made pure.” He had the same dream three times and when he woke up he was puzzled. But as hungry as he still was, lunch was delayed because some visitors showed up at his door. They wanted him to come with them and meet a man named Cornelius. You see, the day before, Cornelius had an unusual dream too, a vision of his own. It was 3:00 in the afternoon, the regular time for prayer. An angel of God appeared in a vision – an angel as real as his next-door neighbor – who called out his name. Cornelius answered, “What is it?” The angel replied, “Your prayers and compassionate acts have come to God’s attention.” Cornelius wasn’t your average joe, a humble man doing good deeds that nobody noticed. Cornelius was a prominent Roman soldier and not just a solider, he headed a military unit of about 600 soldiers for the occupying force of Rome. If anyone represented the enemy, it was this guy. He had a reputation, but not for cruelty. He was always the first person to help someone in need. He was a thoroughly good man and always faithful to prayer. He directed his whole household – children, relatives, and servants – to live worshipfully before the Jewish God. That’s why he was praying at 3:00 in the afternoon. They were what we call Gentile God-worshippers. The angel told Cornelius what to do. He sent two servants and one of his soldiers who was also devoted to God to bring a man named Peter to meet with Cornelius. No explanation why, just go get him and bring him back to me – a day long journey both ways. They arrived at Peter’s house and knocked on the door. Peter was still waking up from the most unusual dream and trying to figure out what it meant. Something about a linen sheet lowered down from heaven with foods on it that he wasn’t allowed to eat and yet told to kill and eat. He was so lost in thought that he didn’t hear the repeated knocking at the door. The Spirit had to nudge him and whispered, “Go answer the door. I’ve sent these men.” They introduced themselves and told Peter their request that he accompany them to see Cornelius, but they assured him, this Roman soldier, this leader of soldiers, is a good man, a God-fearing man. Ask any Jew in the land. Peter invited them into his house and in the morning, Peter and several of his friends made the 14-hour walk to the beautiful city of Caesarea along the Mediterranean Sea. Cornelius was waiting with his whole household to welcome Peter and the others. Cornelius got on the ground to worship Peter who quickly told him to get up. “I’m human just like you.” As the family and servants of Cornelius gathered around, Peter said, “You know, it’s highly irregular for us to visit with people like you. Forbidden, in fact. But I just had this unusual dream. Something about eating things I’m not allowed to eat and the instruction – ‘never consider anything unclean that God has declared pure.’” He thought about what his dream might mean for a minute and had an epiphany: “I think God has just shown me that I should never call a person impure or unclean. But first, what do you want with me? Why did you call me here?” Cornelius told Peter about the vision he had while he was praying, the visitation by an angel who instructed him to send for Peter. He described every detail. And said, “we’re ready to do whatever you ask of us.” Peter nearly fell off his chair. He exclaimed, “God has done it! God has shown us the truth. It’s as clear as day. In every nation, those who do right by their fellow human and worship God with sincerity are included. God plays no favorites. God shows no partiality. The door is open to everyone. The children of Israel and everyone else too – including, shocker of shockers – a Roman soldier. Our enemies. All who worship God are one in Christ.” Everyone stood there with their mouths wide open. And then all of a sudden, the Holy Spirit fell upon everyone in the room, just like on Pentecost when she had fallen on people from every nation speaking every kind of language. But, they were all devout Jews. Here, the Holy Spirit came upon non-Jews – poured out on Gentiles, even on an enemy. Peter watched in amazement and said, “Does anyone object to baptizing these friends?” But of course, after all that, who could object? What a glorious, joyous occasion. But when the folks at headquarters heard about it, they were not so happy. Peter went to Jerusalem and heard plenty of criticism. They accused him of entering the home of the uncircumcised and eating with them. Isn’t it fascinating that when Jesus ate in the homes of tax collectors and prostitutes, the religious authorities accused him of eating with sinners!? And now the religious authorities representing Jesus turned on Peter for eating with “those people?” But step by step, Peter detailed what happened –
Peter asked his accusers, “So, if God gave them the same gift as was given to us who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, then who am I? Could I stand in God’s way?” Those leaders who had been riled up and angry and indignant that Peter would do such a thing as eat at the home of a sinner… they stood there in silence. “Huh. Well, all right then. God has a plan and we better not get in the way. Everyone can change their hearts and lives and have new life.” “No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.” Why? This story tells us why. We all belong because God plays no favorites. “Never consider anything unclean that God has declared pure.” Especially people. Because who are we to keep some people out? I’ll never forget watching this play out in real time. Back in the late 1980s, a new church formed in the Twin Cities from a group of social justice minded folks who were unhappy with the lack of that focus at the Metropolitan Community Church in Minneapolis. I had already made a decision to leave that church about a year earlier. When I started seminary, I didn’t have a church home. As many of you already know, I was forced to leave the United Methodist Church of my childhood because in 1984, the General Conference added a line to their Book of Disciple prohibiting “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” from ordination. Without a home, I considered my options, one of which was the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches, a denomination made up primarily of LGBTQ Christians excluded from every type of denomination from Pentecostal to Catholic. The first time I worshiped at the MCC in Minneapolis, sitting in a massive sanctuary full of 400 worshipers, I cried throughout the service. It was a large congregation, all Christians like me who needed refuge, who either felt excluded or were excluded or had actually been physically kicked out of their churches. The message my first Sunday was “God loves you just as you are.” It was so healing. They had an amazing choir so I joined that almost immediately. The message on the second Sunday was “God loves you just as you are,” as it was on the 3rd and 4th and 10th and Sunday number 26. I was hungry for what was next. I wanted to know what we were called to do with that love. After six months, I decided to look for a United Church of Christ to join. Shortly after, a larger group discerned the same need to move on. They formed a new independent congregation named Spirit of the Lakes. Eventually they decided they wanted to affiliate with a denomination and chose the United Church of Christ. But the UCC 35 years ago wasn’t yet the UCC we know today. The process for a congregation to join the UCC isn’t quick and easy and in the end, requires a vote of the delegates and clergy of all the other churches in the local Association – usually about 30 or 40 congregations. I went as an observer to the meeting where the decision would be made. It was contentious and emotional, lots of scripture weaponized. And then an older man in a wheelchair went forward to speak from the microphone. He held a very worn Bible in his hand and I knew what was coming. More Sodom and Gomorrah, even though Sodom and Gomorrah were actually about the lack of hospitality, just like the lack of hospitality being shown toward Spirit of the Lakes. The man began reading from his weathered Bible. “I saw something like a large linen sheet being lowered from heaven by its four corners.” I thought, what is he talking about?! He continued, repeating certain lines as he went, “never consider anything unclean that God has made pure. God shows no partiality.” And Peter’s question, “who are we to prevent these people from being baptized.” He closed his Bible and rolled back to his place. The room was silent. The question was called. All who vote to accept Spirit of the Lakes stand. The man struggled to stand up. Two people helped him and he stood as straight as he could. He spoke loudly, Aye! The margin was small, but the church that day became Spirit of the Lakes United Church of Christ. Oh, and by the way, for those who don’t know, the General Conference of the United Methodist Church overturned that ban two weeks ago. When the vote was announced, they broke out singing Draw the Circle Wide. I will never read this passage without the image in my mind of a man with his weathered Bible being helped to stand in order to say “We all belong.” This story is why all of us – no matter who we are or where we are on life’s journey – this is why we all belong. It’s not a political statement. It's a deep theological affirmation grounded in scripture. Any objections?
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I was raised in a United Methodist Church and have wonderful memories of my childhood and youth. Our rural church in North Dakota was picturesque, situated at the intersection of two gravel roads on a corner cut out from fields of wheat and sunflowers on land donated by members of our family tree. The men of the church built the church themselves which sits alongside a parsonage and cemetery out back. It could be a movie set. The General Conference of the United Methodist Church just voted to overturn its prohibition against openly LGBTQ clergy. Some are celebrating while others may be embarrassed to be associated with a denomination that would do such a thing. It may feel like a decision that only affects people far from your own experience. I would like to share my story. The church played an absolutely central role in our family – and I was happy about that. I loved church. I was part of a family that showed up any time the doors were open – although, in this rural setting, the doors were never actually locked. Among other things, my mother was a beloved Sunday School teacher and active with missions, connecting us with the state and national levels. We even hosted a missionary from Hong Kong at our kitchen table. My father was a trustee, and I can only imagine every other function too, active in the Brotherhood. We always sat in the same third row pew on the left side – where there is now a plaque on a new window featuring a stalk of wheat in honor of my parents and aunts and uncles. I have fond memories of Sunday School flannelgraph panels illustrating Bible stories, the annual Christmas Eve pageant – always wishing to be Joseph. Vacation Bible School and church camp every summer. Washing dishes after a potluck and listening to women tell stories. Youth group on Sunday evenings – serving as president twice. I was a youth delegate to the state annual conference meeting. In 7th grade I started playing the organ during worship on Sunday mornings, taught by the pastor’s wife. In high school I started riding along with the pastor – Rev. Cushing, never “Ralph” – to the other churches on our three-point charge, which means one pastor serving three churches in a 65-mile circuit every Sunday. He picked me up so I could play the piano at one of the country churches with only 14 worshipers. While driving those country roads, we had wonderfully deep theological conversations. Sometimes I would go along to play the pump organ at the second church in a small town with 25 worshipers. Ours was the “big church.” My aunt was the main organist and I played regularly. I never encountered words of hate in my local church – from either pulpit or people. The love of Jesus was the message. I believed that and so when I was 7-years old, I went forward one night during the annual week of revival services and gave my life to Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Our revivals were quiet. Lots of singing, always in four-part harmony, a sermon by a guest preacher, and an altar call. Emotion came in the form of quiet tears, not shouts of praise. When a Baptist from Texas moved to one of the local farms and joined our church, his enthusiastic “amen!” during very dry sermons still caused people, and the pastor, to jump even years later. I wanted to paint a picture of this idyllic setting. A church that was a place of love and belonging and intertwined family trees – we may have been second or third cousins with over half of the church. The church encouraged my musical abilities long before they were very good. I was a good kid and when I announced that I was called to become a pastor, no one questioned why. I knew that one day my picture would be added to the frame of the many others from this small church who had been called into ministry as pastors and missionaries – and even included my sister and aunt because they married pastors. However, I’ve been ordained over 30 years and my picture never made it to the wall. My mother was sad about that until the day she died at age 90. Why? I graduated from high school in 1983 and only looked at United Methodist colleges. I intended to go straight from college to seminary and become a pastor in North Dakota. I reasoned that I should return home because people who weren’t raised in North Dakota wouldn’t want to move there. Big changes came while I was in college. First, the farm crisis hit hard. Our family like thousands of others were suddenly forced out of business. Those family farms supported small towns and small churches. Both started emptying out. Secondly, I accepted what I had tried to deny for years. I started to understand in high school that I was different but didn’t know exactly how. I was mortified when I figured out that I might be gay. What little I knew about it wasn’t good. I did what I could, including a lot of prayer on my knees, to be something other than what I realized years later I couldn’t change. In the middle of all this, the United Methodist General Conference adopted a rule in the Book of Discipline that prohibited “self-avowed, practicing homosexuals” from ordained ministry. It felt like a particularly cruel joke that I would both be called to ministry and be gay. I knew that when I met with the Board of Ordained Ministry, I would be asked if I was a self-avowed, practicing homosexual. I considered lying since, as my campus minister counseled, it would be an unjust question. In the end, they didn’t ask because they already knew me so well. I had been so active as a youth in the conference. But I decided I wouldn’t be put in the position of deciding to tell the truth or a lie again. I would pursue ministry as a pastor somewhere else – not that there were really many options. But God made a way out of no way. Not long after, I received a phone call inquiring whether I would be interested in serving as the pastor of churches in two small towns during my senior year of college, my first introduction to the United Church of Christ (UCC). I loved being a pastor – at 20 years old, preaching every Sunday, marrying, burying, counseling the grieving. Why they listened to me, I don’t know. God was kept busy helping me. And then I went to seminary – as an out gay man. Ordination in the UCC wasn’t an easy path, but at least the possibility existed. Whereas in 1972 the United Methodist Church declared “Christianity is incompatible with homosexuality,” the UCC ordained the first openly gay man in 1972. I am grateful that the UCC became my home. I have worked and served on every level of the church from national to local and been a pastor for over 30 years. All that service and devotion would have been in the United Methodist Church. I say this with no bitterness. I just want people to know that the decision of the General Conference just made wasn’t about “other people” from some place far away. It directly affected one of the Sunday School children who was nurtured and formed in a country church, who enjoyed listening to Bible stories and watching them illustrated with figures cut out of flannel, who went forward to the altar one night when I was seven years old, and who, at age 16, 42 years ago, God called into ordained ministry. Is it too late to get my picture on the wall outside the sanctuary? My parents would be very happy. Sermons from Mission Hills UCC San Diego, California Rev. Dr. David Bahr [email protected] April 28, 2024 “Pretending” Acts 5: 1-6 – Common English Bible However, a man named Ananias, along with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property. 2 With his wife’s knowledge, he withheld some of the proceeds from the sale. He brought the rest and placed it in the care and under the authority of the apostles. 3 Peter asked, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has influenced you to lie to the Holy Spirit by withholding some of the proceeds from the sale of your land? 4 Wasn’t that property yours to keep? After you sold it, wasn’t the money yours to do with whatever you wanted? What made you think of such a thing? You haven’t lied to other people but to God!” 5 When Ananias heard these words, he dropped dead. Everyone who heard this conversation was terrified. 6 Some young men stood up, wrapped up his body, carried him out, and buried him. In some churches, when the liturgist finishes reading a scripture passage, they will say “The Word of the Lord,” and the congregation replies “Thanks be to God!” This is one of those passages where the response is more likely to be “Thanks be to God??” Ananias and Saphira sold a piece of property and gave the proceeds to the apostles to care for the needs of their community. Why? The previous chapter tells us. Acts chapter 4: The community of believers were united as one – one heart, one mind. No one said, “That’s mine; you can’t have it.” They shared everything and so there was not a person in need among them – that’s the power of the Holy Spirit. Those who owned fields or houses sold them and brought the proceeds to the apostles as an offering and the apostles distributed it according to each person’s need. This was such a remarkable characteristic of the early Christians that this is already the second time in the Book of Acts that the author, Luke, has told this story. Back in Acts chapter 2, following their experience of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost: All the believers were united as one – one heart, one mind. The believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the community, to their shared meals, and to their prayers. They would sell pieces of property and possessions and distribute the proceeds to everyone who needed them. Sound familiar? Must be important. And then Barnabas is specifically lifted up as an example. Barnabas, whose name means “encourager,” owned a field, sold it, brought the money and placed it under the care and authority of the apostles. What an inspiration he is! The next word, however, is "however…" Yay Barnabas, and then, let me tell you, however, about Ananias and Saphira. They saw the example of Barnabas and others. They too decided to sell a piece of property but this husband and wife duo decided they would hold back a piece of the proceeds for themselves. To be clear, that was their right to do. Peter said so. He told Ananias, that was your property to keep and after you sold it, it was your money to do with as you wanted. But Peter could tell there was some kind of deception going on. What was it? Peter said they lied to the Holy Spirit. That’s not really a helpful explanation for us, but Ananias understood and when he heard it, dropped dead. He wasn’t struck dead, he dropped dead from a conscience attack. He was wrapped up, carried out, and buried. A frightful and puzzling conclusion. And now we say, thanks to be God? This is not an inspiring story. It could have been. I mean, this seems like a perfect opportunity to teach about two central ideas in Christianity: honesty about our actions and forgiveness. For example, the story could have been that when Ananias was confronted by his deception, it broke his heart. He realized his error and begged forgiveness. He promised to change his ways and he did! And look at what this man became – the greatest philanthropist in history! Instead, he realized what he had done was wrong and he dropped dead. Where is the opportunity for redemption in that? This is not an inspiring story. And it’s not even the end. It gets worse. Three hours later, Saphira arrived. She didn’t know that anything had happened to her husband. Peter said, “Tell me, was this the price you given for your field?” “Yes, that’s the price.” Peter replied, “how could you scheme with each other…” but he doesn’t specify exactly what that scheme was, leaving us, again, to wonder what was the real offense? But, it was bad enough that when confronted with it, she too immediately dropped dead. Just fell to the ground. Another conscience-attack. They were under no obligation to sell. And the problem wasn’t that they held some back, which they were free to do. So, what was the problem that resulted in such an extreme action? My theory is that they pretended to give the entire proceeds of the sale to receive recognition for their generosity. They pretended that it was because the Holy Spirit had inspired them to give, just like Barnabas and all the others. But the Holy Spirit would never inspire us to do less than we are capable of already. The Spirit is in the business of inspiring us to do more than we thought possible. It would be a betrayal of the Spirit to do less. Ananias and Saphira wanted praise for their acts of generosity, which they were, just not quite as generous as they wanted to people to think. Their motivation was status in the community, not love for it. In the origin story of the church, they were the first “pretend Christians.” That can actually mean many things. We are well aware of the declining rates of church participation across the country. It’s not all a bad thing. It just means people don’t have to pretend anymore. For a long time, some people’s motivation to belong to a church had more to do with cultural expectation than religious orientation; maybe some family pressure. Everyone was supposed to belong to a church. And now they’re free not to. It’s not that they had bad intentions but now, since they won’t be judged for not going to church, they’re not going to church. Please understand that I’m not trying to cast blame – but some people felt they had to pretend to be Christians to fit in, to be accepted. Isn’t honesty and freedom better for everyone involved? Now, I would suggest to them that belonging to a church is a good thing, participating in religious rituals, practicing generosity, giving kids a moral grounding, caring for and being cared for by your neighbors – all of these things bring tremendous meaning to our lives. We often like to pretend that we are at the center of the world, but it’s a really good thing to be reminded on a regular basis that we are not. So why did Luke tell this story? Of all the important things he could have chosen to say about the origins of the church at the very beginning, why include this less than inspiring story about Ananias and Saphira? I’m sure there are plenty of reasons, but the one that speaks to me today was his concern for the appearance of hypocrisy among early Christians. This couple wanted to look generous, they sought out status, but they were not acting out of love. And that’s not Christianity. They weren’t misers, cheapskates. They were impostors. Pretenders. And Luke cautions the early church to be careful, because hypocrisy can be deadly. You know, the kind of pretend Christianity that is killing the church in America, but don’t blame people who are leaving. They are reacting quite understandably and logically to an inexplicable form of Christianity that seeks privilege for itself, professes love for authoritarians, embraces the denial of science, a distrust of women, and the demonization of immigrants. It’s all in such stark contrast with descriptions of the early church characterized by its remarkable generosity and sacrificial concern for all who have need. It’s a betrayal of the Holy Spirit. That’s why I have such gratitude for churches like this. Not perfect but trying. Aspiring to love and understand and serve – to do more than it would seem possible, were it not for the Holy Spirit. From the bottom of my heart, please hear my gratitude for your genuine generosity and compassionate spirit. I give thanks for your orientation to our community – what do the people around us need? It is churches like this that many of us depend upon to remain in Christian community or we might be among the formerly-churched. Not that we should be overly self-congratulatory, but it can’t be stated enough. Churches like this matter. And we shouldn’t keep it a secret. I know I have thrown some arrows at so-called pretenders, so let’s turn our gaze inward and be reflective. Are we as loving and accepting as we profess to be? Are we pretending to care? As individuals – am I, are you, using our resources to address human need in our communities – not for recognition but the requirement of love insisted upon by the Holy Spirit? Am I trying to hold back what the Spirit is inviting me to share? Because I don’t want to just pretend to be a Christian. Do you? Sermons from Mission Hills UCC San Diego, California Rev. Dr. David Bahr [email protected] April 21, 2024 “In the Name of Jesus” Acts 3: 1-10 – The Message One day at three o’clock in the afternoon, Peter and John were on their way into the Temple for prayer meeting. At the same time there was a man crippled from birth being carried up. Every day he was set down at the Temple gate, the one named Beautiful, to beg from those going into the Temple. When he saw Peter and John about to enter the Temple, he asked for a handout. Peter, with John at his side, looked him straight in the eye and said, “Look here.” He looked up, expecting to get something from them. 6-8 Peter said, “I don’t have a nickel to my name, but what I do have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!” He grabbed him by the right hand and pulled him up. In an instant his feet and ankles became firm. He jumped to his feet and walked. 8-10 The man went into the Temple with them, walking back and forth, dancing and praising God. Everybody there saw him walking around and praising God. They recognized him as the one who sat begging at the Temple’s Gate Beautiful and rubbed their eyes, astonished, scarcely believing what they were seeing The Book of Acts began last week with the criteria Peter presented for choosing a new disciple to replace Judas Iscariot. As I said, Mary Magdalene should have been the one and only one considered as the 12th apostle but wasn’t, in favor of a guy whose name we’ve immediately forgotten. All of that happened sometime between the 40th and 50th day after Jesus’ resurrection. The 50th day was the Feast of Pentecost, a Jewish High Holy Day. The faithful were all gathered in Jerusalem when followers of the risen Christ of every nationality and language were filled with the Holy Spirit – a big story we’ll get to in a few weeks. Right after their Holy Spirit experience, the community of Messiah believers quickly grew to more than 3,000 people, but it’s important to note, they didn’t see any conflict with continuing to also practice all the rituals of the Jewish faith. And so it was that Peter and John went to the Temple at 3:00 in the afternoon. It was just a regular day. It was also just a regular day that they would encounter someone at the entrance gate collecting alms. That’s simply how a disabled person at the time could earn money on which to live. Nothing unusual. As they approached the temple, the man asked Peter and John for mercy, another word for alms. Peter said, “we don’t have any money, but I’ll give you what I do have. In the name of Jesus Christ, rise up and walk.” And he did. He jumped up and walked around and entered the temple, leaping and praising God. As he walked in, people stared at him in wonder and amazement. For years they had walked past him and now here he was walking past them. People rushed to Peter and John to ask how this was possible. Peter replied, “why are you so amazed,” as if there was anything unusual about an old man – yes, the text notes, he was over 40 years old – walking for the first time in his life. Peter then explained to the crowd that Jesus was simply the fulfillment of promises and prophecies dating all the way back to the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. You know, the one we’ve been expecting all this time. “Don’t look at us like we’ve done anything unusual. It wasn’t because of our power or some kind of extraordinary faithfulness on our part. This was done in the name of Jesus.” But no matter how humble they might have been about it, their healing actions incensed the religious authorities, the same ones who plotted with the Romans to execute Jesus only months before. Now his followers are out healing in his name – a new form of danger. Irate, the authorities arrested Peter and John and threw them in prison. But when word got out, the number of believers increased from 3,000 to 5,000 – overnight! The next morning, Peter and John were led in front of the high priest, elders, legal experts, and Roman authorities who all demanded an answer: “By what power or in what name did you do this?” In response to the hostile questioning of all those powerful and important men, Peter had a simple answer. “You’re making a big deal about a good deed?! All this because we did something good for a sick man?” He explained, all these things were done in the name of Jesus who, again, is simply the one promised down through the ages. Why do you find that so unusual? Peter’s simple answer caught those powerful and important men by surprise because they assumed Peter and John were just ignorant and uneducated Galileans. How could they be so eloquent? They had no counter argument and the healed man was standing right there, so they couldn’t claim it didn’t happen. The crowds were on Peter and John’s side. What could they do? They ordered Peter and John to wait outside while they discussed their dilemma and then brought them back into the room. The authorities demanded they stop all speaking and teaching in the name of Jesus. Peter and John said, “No.” “All right, we’ll make you stop.” “OK, try it and see how that works out for you. This time.” It wasn’t a threat. It was simply true. Those powerful and important men thought that by executing Jesus, it would send a message to stop anyone else from trying to imitate him. But all they had done was increase the number of his followers, now 5,000 and rising. Peter and John were released and they rejoined the others. Together they rejoiced over the signs and wonders done in the name of Jesus. “In the name of Jesus.” As I thought about my sermon title today, the phrase “in the name of Jesus” kept coming to mind, but I hesitated – picture the over-the-top antics of a television evangelist. “In the name of Jeee-sus!” But I kept the title because I want to tell you about something extraordinary done in the name of Jesus on Tuesday. In 1966, the pastor of Mission Hills and three members went to tour a new apartment building next to Grace Lutheran Church in Hillcrest. The church had recently opened a 15-story tower next door for low income seniors through HUD – the newly formed Department of Housing and Urban Development. They came back to our church and began promoting the idea that we should do the same. In addition to Pastor Kermit White, one of those four people was Lawrence Green, a member of the church for 40 years. Among other things, he owned 40,000 acres of citrus groves south of Escondido. He was wealthy and a Christian at heart. He put up the money to hold onto some available land at the corner of Fort Stockton and Ibis to ensure a location by the church. As he said, without the land, the plan wouldn’t have happened. That’s why it’s called Green Manor – named for Lawrence Green, not that people are being put out to green pastures. HUD financed the 13-story building with a loan of $1.5 million dollars – equivalent to $12 million today. As part of the loan agreement, the church agreed to “finance the expected preliminary operating expense and at least 25% of the estimated annual operating expenses” for the first five years in the event Green Manor was unable to do so on its own. The church took on a significant financial risk in order to see the project to completion. To me, that sounds like a miracle, wonder and amazement, done in the name of Jesus. Construction began in October 1969 and residents started moving in just one year later in November 1970. Pretty hard to believe construction of something that large could happen so quickly. But people were waiting. There were 150 apartments for 2,000 applicants. When you drive around town you’ll see quite a number of these HUD senior towers, often built by churches. First Lutheran built Luther Tower, Wesley Methodist built Wesley Terrace, First Presbyterian built Westminster Manor, and so on. And one more. When First Congregational and Mission Hills merged to form Mission Hills UCC, as part of their legacy they built First Congregational Memorial Tower on Park Boulevard. Each building has its own board of directors, effectively the owners of the property, and often it is still the members of the sponsoring church that serve as the board. More than a few of you here today have served in the last 50 years. By Green Manor’s bylaws, the pastor is a permanent director and the majority of the board must be members of the church. It’s not owned by but it is a mission of the church. Two years ago, we learned about something called low-income housing tax credits. To this day I still can’t really explain it, but I know what it can do. Affordable housing developers can purchase properties like these senior towers to rehabilitate them and extend their life as affordable housing. The building’s board of directors can take the money from the purchase and use it for other non-profit purposes. They can walk away. Or the board can enter a joint ownership agreement with a developer and remain a minority partner, receiving as payment the equity of the building while the developer receives the benefit of the tax credits. The building is completely rehabilitated, including the residents’ apartments, and the property is guaranteed to remain affordable housing for another 55 years. If you don’t quite understand how or it sounds too good to be true, imagine the challenge of the board responsible for the stewardship of the building and the lives of the residents. Was it a scam? Would it put the building or residents at risk? Imagine, however, the risk the church agreed to 50 years ago if Green Manor failed. We were propelled by one thing: what more can we do for today’s growing number of unhoused seniors? But look what can be done when it is in the name of Jesus. That’s why churches did it in the first place. To take seriously the healing ministry of Jesus, to follow the teachings of Jesus to show love by feeding his sheep, to clothe the naked, visit the sick, and shelter people without a home. So, here’s what happened this week: after two years of education, skepticism, diligence, and a lot of meetings, our board evaluated 17 offers, pursued deeper conversations with three different affordable housing developers - two of whom live in Mission Hills and drive by Green Manor every day, and all three have kids in school in either Grant or Francis Parker. We chose one group and agreed to enter into a long-term joint-ownership which will completely rehab the building from top to bottom and ensure the building continues as a home where low-income seniors pay only 30% of their income for rent. Plus, in our arrangement, we will return to majority ownership after 16 years. And for all that, we will receive $53 million. A staggering amount with which we are determined to build more low-income housing – in the name of Jesus. We’ve already put in an offer on a piece of land and if it’s accepted, we can start working toward another apartment complex –for only a portion of the $53 million. This is wonder and amazement done in the name of Jesus to bring healing among our neighbors. They may not be able to jump up and leap their way into the temple, but for many, a safe home would feel ever as much a miracle after working a lifetime at lower wage jobs. Amazing, right? In the spirit of Peter and John, I think this is a miracle worth celebrating today. Sermons from Mission Hills UCC San Diego, California Rev. Dr. David Bahr [email protected] April 14, 2024 “Mary Magdalene and Peter Armwrestle” Acts 1: 15-16, 21-26 – The Message 15-17 During this time, Peter stood up in the company—there were about 120 of them in the room at the time—and said, “Friends, long ago the Holy Spirit spoke through David regarding Judas, who became the guide to those who arrested Jesus. That Scripture had to be fulfilled, and now has been. Judas was one of us and had his assigned place in this ministry. 21-22 “Judas must now be replaced. The replacement must come from the company of men who stayed together with us from the time Jesus was baptized by John up to the day of his ascension, designated along with us as a witness to his resurrection.” 23-26 They nominated two: Joseph Barsabbas, nicknamed Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed, “You, O God, know every one of us inside and out. Make plain which of these two men you choose to take the place in this ministry and leadership that Judas threw away in order to go his own way.” They then drew straws. Matthias won and was counted in with the eleven apostles. After the resurrection, Jesus spent another 40 days with his 11 remaining disciples and many more followers before leaving them to figure out how to keep his message going: Love one another as I have loved you. They returned to Jerusalem and gathered. The Book of Acts says there were about 120 in the family of believers at that time – named as both men and women. Peter stood up and said they should choose a replacement for Judas Iscariot. Peter told them his criteria and to cast lots – think of it like drawing straws. As in, the one with the longest straw “wins.” Did you know that the Amish choose their pastor by casting lots? The way I heard it told, and I could be completely wrong, is that a slip of paper is put into a hymnal. A stack of hymnals is put on a table and then all men over a certain age go forward and choose one. When every man has a hymnal, they open it up and the one with a slip of paper becomes the pastor. It doesn’t matter how qualified that man may be, they believe that because God has done the choosing, God will give that one all he needs. Of course, what about the women? And what about the women among the 120 gathered in that room in Jerusalem? Peter addressed them, “Brothers and sisters,” the person to replace Judas could include anyone who had been with Jesus since his baptism and who stuck with him until the moment Jesus just ascended. Anyone who fit these criteria could become among those who now go forth to share the Good News of Christ’s resurrection. Oddly, that would have included no one in the room. At our bible study on Thursday, Rachel pointed out that no one was with Jesus at his baptism since it happened before he began his public ministry and began gathering disciples. I had never noticed that before. And if we look more closely at Peter’s criteria, the only ones eligible on the second point would have been women. While the men had locked themselves behind closed doors, only women stuck with Jesus through it all. It was only women who discovered the empty tomb. And women were first to preach that Jesus had risen to men who thought they were telling idle tales. More importantly, Jesus appeared to only one woman in particular on the morning of his resurrection. In the Gospel of John, Mary Magdalene, named as present in every gospel… Jesus appeared to Mary, the one and only one who should have been named the 12th apostle. But as Renita Weems said, they chose what was expedient over what was prophetic. Perhaps a power struggle could have been settled if just one man had stood up and said, “What about Mary?” The history of Christianity would have been radically different. Overnight, the false argument that women can’t be ordained because Jesus only had male disciples would be gone – an already absurd argument given the unwavering faithfulness of his many women disciples. Just one man to say, “How could we not consider Mary?” You may or may not know that there were more than four gospels written. Four were included in the official canon – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John – but other gospels were written. For example, the Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Judas, which portrays the actions of Judas Iscariot in a very different, and positive, light than the others. And a Gospel of Mary – Mary Magdalene. She didn’t write it – it came after her death, written in the second century, just like the Book of Acts was written in the early second century. But it tells a story lost – perhaps intentionally lost as Mary was minimized in that room of 120. It was just the beginning of Mary’s character assassination and the start of a betrayal of Jesus’ egalitarian intentions. There are only fragments of the Gospel of Mary,[1] but this is what we know: Just like today’s text began, “Jesus departed.” Chapter 5 of the Gospel of Mary continues: 1) But they were grieved. They wept greatly, saying, How shall we go to the Gentiles and preach the gospel of the Kingdom of the Son of Man? If they did not spare Him, how will they spare us? 2) Then Mary stood up, greeted them all, and said to her brethren, “Do not weep and do not grieve, for His grace will be entirely with you and will protect you. 3) But rather, let us praise His greatness, for He has prepared us… (skipping ahead) 5) Peter said to Mary, “Sister we know that the Savior loved you more than the rest of women. 6) Tell us the words of the Savior which you remember which you know, but we do not, nor have we heard them.” (Peter admits she knew more than the men.) 7) Mary answered and said, “What is hidden from you I will proclaim to you.” 8) And she began to speak these words: “I saw the Lord in a vision and I said to Him, Lord I saw you today in a vision. He answered and said to me, 9) ‘Blessed are you that you did not waver at the sight of Me. For where the mind is there is the treasure.’” The next fragments are lost, but when it resumes in chapter 9, she concludes telling them what Jesus told her. 2) But Andrew answered and said to the brethren, “Say what you wish about what she has said. I at least do not believe that the Savior said this. For certainly these teachings are strange ideas.” 3) Peter answered and spoke concerning these same things. 4) He questioned them about the Savior: “Did He really speak privately with a woman and not openly to us? Are we to turn about and all listen to her? Did He prefer her to us?” 5) Then Mary wept and said to Peter, “My brother Peter, what do you think? Do you think that I have thought this up myself in my heart, or that I am lying about the Savior?” 6) Levi answered and said to Peter, “Peter you have always been hot tempered. 7) Now I see you contending against the woman like the adversaries. 8) But if the Savior made her worthy, who are you to reject her? Surely the Savior knows her very well. 9) That is why He loved her more than us. Rather let us be ashamed and put on the perfect Man, and go as He commanded us and preach the gospel, not laying down any other rule or other law beyond what the Savior said.” (that was repeated several times in the Gospel of Mary – no other rule or law beyond what Jesus himself said) 10) And when they all heard this, they began to go forth to proclaim and to preach. Thank goodness that at least Levi spoke up and defended Mary, accusing Peter of treating Mary like their adversaries. And did you notice Peter’s comment – do you really think Jesus preferred Mary to us? Why wouldn’t he? Her devotion was unfailing and she deserved to be named the 12th apostle. But the power dynamics revealed in the Gospel of Mary are pretty much what we might expect. Jesus’ intention for those who followed him were radically egalitarian, upsetting the status quo in many ways, including the patriarchy. But as time went on, the farther the church got from Jesus, the more anti-woman it became. The final nail in the coffin for Mary Magdalene came from Pope Gregory in the year 591. He claimed that Mary was a prostitute – a complete fabrication. A total lie to discredit women. But with that, her character assassination was complete. The doors to women completely shut. Though Mary wasn’t named the 12th, scholar Therasa Topete makes the following points:[2] When Mary stood up to speak, she had a leadership role among the apostles. She spoke of courage to a group that was distraught and afraid to stand firm. They listened to her and believed that she had knowledge the others did not have. They acknowledged she had received a revelation through a vision. Only someone with strong moral fiber and considered a pure soul was considered worthy to receive revelation. It wasn’t the revelation, though, that Peter attacked. It was that she was a woman. If only they had arm-wrestled to settle it. I put my bet on her. Yes, the Gospel of Mary is not in our Bible, but its existence along with other writings that were not included show the struggle to fulfill Jesus’ vision against the prevailing attitudes toward women at the time. That still plague much of Christianity to this day. Thank God the UCC has ordained women since 1853, through our Congregational tradition, since before Arizona adopted a code of laws or was a state. And do you know why Antoinette Brown, the first woman ordained in the Congregational Church of South Butler, New York, was allowed to be ordained? One male pastor stood up and said, “Wait a minute. Women were the first preachers of the gospel. Why would we not ordain her?” He didn’t say it, but we could add, just look at Mary Magdalene. As the role and rights of women in church and society continue to be the subject of debate, let’s make it simple. What would Jesus do? The Gospel of Mary has great advice: “Let’s not lay down any other rule or other law beyond what the Savior himself said.” Oh, and by the way, that 12th apostle chosen by lot – which one was it again? Don’t worry. His name was never mentioned ever again. Instead, let’s remember and honor Mary Magdalene’s extraordinary witness as we preach the good news of Jesus Christ. Are you a disciple of Christ? Then treat one another – everyone – as you would like to be treated. [1] http://gnosis.org/library/marygosp.htm [2] https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5451v7g8 Sermons from Mission Hills UCC San Diego, California Rev. Dr. David Bahr [email protected] March 31, 2024 “Puzzled by Life” Luke 24: 1-12 – The Message At the crack of dawn on Sunday, the women came to the tomb carrying the burial spices they had prepared. They found the entrance stone rolled back from the tomb, so they walked in. But once inside, they couldn’t find the body of the Master Jesus. 4-8 They were puzzled, wondering what to make of this. Then, out of nowhere it seemed, two men, light cascading over them, stood there. The women were awestruck and bowed down in worship. The men said, “Why are you looking for the Living One in a cemetery? He is not here, but raised up. Remember how he told you when you were still back in Galilee that he had to be handed over to sinners, be killed on a cross, and in three days rise up?” Then they remembered Jesus’ words. 9-11 They left the tomb and broke the news of all this to the Eleven and the rest. Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them kept telling these things to the apostles, but the apostles didn’t believe a word of it, thought they were making it all up. 12 But Peter jumped to his feet and ran to the tomb. He stooped to look in and saw a few grave clothes, that’s all. He walked away puzzled, shaking his head. (The sermon is based on a compilation of stories, not just this one from Luke) The women were puzzled. Peter was puzzled, too, and left the empty tomb shaking his head. “Well, I guess that’s it.” An odd response for a guy who has always been impulsive, emotional, known for saying whatever he thinks in the moment only to discover he stuck his foot in his mouth big time. How could he just walk away puzzled? Peter’s an interesting character who, give him credit, tried really hard and sometimes had moments of great insight followed by moments of complete failure to understand. In other words, fortunately, he’s a lot like us. It all started one morning after a night of fishing but catching no fish. Peter and his partners were bone tired, washing their nets before heading home to sleep. On shore, there was a commotion. A crowd was pressing in to listen to a traveling preacher. The guy asked Peter to row out a little way so he could talk to the crowd. Peter reluctantly obliged, but he actually owed the guy a favor. Just a few nights before, he came over for dinner and before it even began, healed Peter’s mother-in-law. But then he asked Peter for an even bigger favor. Row out, throw your nets back in and try again. Peter complained that they were exhausted, but OK. And when they did as Jesus said, so many fish jumped into the nets that they started pulling the boats down. But what was Peter’s response to all this abundance? Not gratitude. Not, “hey, can you come back tomorrow and do this again?” No, he told Jesus, “Get away from me. I'm not worthy of this.” Jesus said, “Get over yourself and come follow me.” He immediately dropped everything for the vague promise to now “fish for people.” Peter was all in, not knowing at all what he was in for. He was all in. One time, Jesus sent his disciples out ahead to cross the Sea of Galilee while he stayed behind to have some alone time. In the morning, Jesus set out to rejoin the disciples. Meanwhile, out in the middle of the lake, the disciples were in full panic. Violent winds and waves threatened to swamp the boat. While they are hanging on for dear life, one of them with his head over the side emptying the contents of his stomach noticed something that looked like a ghost coming toward them. They shrieked in fear, but Jesus said, “Hey guys, it’s just me” Then, without really thinking about it, Peter told Jesus, “Command me to come to you on the water.” “Sure, come on in.” Peter boldly stepped out of the boat and began walking but when he realized he was actually walking on water, he freaked out and began to sink. He cried out to Jesus, “Rescue me!” Jesus did and asked, “Why’d you doubt? You were doing it! Why have you so little faith?” A little while later, Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” And then he turned to Peter, “Who do you say that I am.” He replied, “You are the Messiah” and Jesus told Peter, “You’re right! You got it, Peter!” And then immediately, like two minutes later, Peter got it completely wrong. Jesus told his disciples that it was now necessary for him to go to Jerusalem and suffer at the hands of the religious leaders and the Roman Empire, that he would be killed and then be raised up alive on the third day. But Peter wasn’t willing to hear of such a thing and took hold of Jesus and began scolding him. “God forbid, Lord! This can’t happen to you.” But Jesus said to him, “Get behind me, Satan.” Peter expected a messiah who would vindicate them and punish their enemies. Someone who would promise “I am your retribution” – not someone who would be killed. Not a messiah who would suffer. That represents failure. But it turns out, all that love stuff Jesus kept talking about, he actually meant – that’s how we save the world, not through violence for violence, not through hate for hate, not evil for evil. So anyway, as they moved toward Jerusalem, Jesus continued to repeat what would happen to him, but then said something even worse. Jesus told Peter that when all these things were happening, he would deny him three times. Peter blurted out, “Never! I would never ever do such a thing. I’ll die alongside you before I deny you.” Let’s see how long he can hold on to that promise. It was shortly after that Jesus took Peter and two others to pray with him in a garden. All he asked them to do was stay awake while he prayed. Instantly they fell asleep. Jesus came back and asked why they couldn’t stay awake for me, for just one hour? Jesus told them to stay awake while went back to pray. They fell asleep again. Three times this happened, but it gets worse. Just then, their eyes still sleepy, soldiers came to arrest Jesus, tipped off to his whereabouts by one of his own disciples who betrayed him with a kiss. In response, Peter grabbed a sword and cut off the ear of one of the soldiers. Jesus rebuked the use of violence. Do you still not understand? Do you still not understand what kind of messiah I am? Jesus had compassion and healed the soldier’s ear and was then led off to appear before the authorities. But before Jesus could even reach out his hand, Peter and the others vanished, trying to avoid being arrested too. He tried to hide in the crowd but someone noticed him and said, “You were with him.” “No, I wasn’t.” Someone else said, “I saw him too.” “I don’t even know who that man is.” Questioned a third time, Peter said emphatically, “I told you. I don’t know that man.” And just then, Peter heard the rooster crow, just like Jesus had said it would, and he broke down in tears. During the sham trials and false testimony that followed, not a single one of his disciples stood up in his defense. So much for Peter’s bravado about standing alongside him, to even die with him. As Jesus was whipped and mocked, he couldn’t look into the crowd to see even one sympathetic disciple among the Twelve. They were absent as he was forced to drag the instrument of his own execution down the street. As he hung from that cross, only the women held vigil and when they took Jesus down off the cross, they paid attention to where they put his body so they could come back after the Sabbath and prepare him for a proper burial. That’s when they discovered his body was missing and they were puzzled. Who could have taken it? But they were reminded of what Jesus had been saying all along and they believed and they raced to tell the other disciples. He is risen! The men didn’t believe a word of it. An idle tale, they said, which is just cleaned up language for what the disciples really thought: Garbage. BS, actually. However, at least Peter’s curiosity was sparked. He ran to see for himself. He looked into the same tomb and was puzzled. He didn’t run back to tell the disciples. He simply walked away shaking his head. An odd response since Peter’s usual comeback was to overreact, act impulsively, make impossible promises, stick his foot in his mouth. For him to simply be puzzled is completely out of character. I understand it, though. The women and Peter were puzzled because the events of that morning didn’t fit their expectations. Why wouldn’t they be puzzled? Life doesn’t follow death. Death follows death. They looked in and expected to see evidence of death. All they saw was some grave clothes but no dead and decaying body. On the other side of his death, Jesus appeared to the disciples a few times including one morning when he pulled Peter aside and asked him three questions. Three questions representing the things that mattered to Jesus. First of all, he didn’t ask, “Peter, do you believe my mother was a virgin?” He didn’t ask, “Do you believe all the miracles happened exactly as they will be written down when the story is told?” He didn’t ask, “Peter, do you believe in the bodily resurrection?” He asked, “Do you love me?” Peter replied, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” And he asked again, “Peter, do you love me.” “Yes, I just told you,” wondering if Jesus may have been holding a grudge for all those misunderstandings, and continually falling asleep, and using violence against the soldier. Oh yeah, those three denials and ultimate abandonment. Jesus asked a third time, “Peter, do you love me?” “Jesus, why do you keep asking me. Don’t you believe me?” Jesus didn’t make it any more complicated than that, even though the church makes Easter perhaps the most complicated day in the whole year. We ask questions like, was Jesus really resurrected? How? Did Jesus actually walk on water? And we try to explain. But does it matter? All that mattered to Jesus was, do you love me? And if so, then feed my sheep. Do you love me? Then tend to the poor, the captive, those yearning for liberation, those grieving painful loss, all my people – the peacemakers, the pure in heart, those who hunger and thirst for justice. Do you love me? Then take care of each other. The life and teachings, the death and resurrection of Jesus teach us: Love isn’t a feeling. It’s how we treat one another. Love isn’t just for the loveable. It’s for those hardest to love. Love is a sacrifice. But, Jesus said, I’ve just shown you how. I’ve shown you the kind of love that prevails. Do you love him? Then love one another. That’s it. Be the love you want to see in the world. Be the change you want to see in the world. Be the hope the world needs to hear today. The text for the sermon is a compilation of gospel stories, not just what is reported in Luke Sermons from Mission Hills UCC San Diego, California Rev. Dr. David Bahr [email protected] March 17, 2024 “More Humility” John 13: 1-15 – Common English Bible Before the Festival of Passover, Jesus knew that his time had come to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them fully. 2 Jesus and his disciples were sharing the evening meal. The devil had already provoked Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew the Father had given everything into his hands and that he had come from God and was returning to God. 4 So he got up from the table and took off his robes. Picking up a linen towel, he tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a washbasin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he was wearing. 6 When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus replied, “You don’t understand what I’m doing now, but you will understand later.” 8 “No!” Peter said. “You will never wash my feet!” Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t have a place with me.” 9 Simon Peter said, “Lord, not only my feet but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus responded, “Those who have bathed need only to have their feet washed, because they are completely clean. You disciples are clean, but not every one of you.” 11 He knew who would betray him. That’s why he said, “Not every one of you is clean.” 12 After he washed the disciples’ feet, he put on his robes and returned to his place at the table. He said to them, “Do you know what I’ve done for you? 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you speak correctly, because I am. 14 If I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you too must wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example: Just as I have done, you also must do. Two weeks after Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio became Pope Francis in March 2013, he shocked and scandalized the world by his choice of whose feet to wash in the annual Maundy Thursday ritual. Prior to Francis, popes in modern times had only washed the feet of priests – meaning, all men – within the ornate spaces of the Vatican. But on his first Maundy Thursday as pope, Francis went to a juvenile detention center in Rome and washed and kissed the feet of 12 young people – including two women and two Muslims. Though unprecedented for a modern pope, in 2001 when he was Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Francis went to a hospice to wash and kiss the feet of people living with AIDS. In 2005 he went to a maternity hospital and in 2008, he washed and kissed the feet of 12 people in a drug rehab center. It would only be one of the first times people were unhappy with this radical cleric. Peter was also shocked and horrified, scandalized by such an idea, that he refused to allow Jesus to wash his feet. “You will never wash my feet!” Peter declared. He and the disciples watched as Jesus got up from the table, took off his robes, and tied a linen towel around his waist. Jesus poured water into a washbasin and one by one began to wash the feet of his disciples – reversing their roles. Imagine the honored guest at a banquet getting on his or her knees to take on the most humble of tasks. But just six days earlier there had been another scandalous foot washing. Gathered around the supper table, the disciples watched as Mary, the sister of Martha, who probably cooked that meal… They watched as Mary entered the room with a bottle of expensive perfume, so expensive it cost the equivalent of a year’s wages. She opened the bottle, startling their nostrils and filling the room with the powerful scent. She then loosened her hair, bent down in front of Jesus, rubbed perfume on his feet, and then wiped his feet with her hair. Judas questioned the expense, a waste of money, he claimed. But Jesus praised Mary. “Leave her alone,” he said. She bought this for my burial. While the other disciples still refused to believe Jesus would soon be killed, Mary listened and had been busy preparing for it. In the morning, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey while people waved palm branches and shouted Hosanna. Crowds gathered around him while he taught, “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains only a single grain. But if it dies, it will bear much fruit. Those who love their lives will lose them, but if you let it go, you will have it forever.” He was teaching about the necessity of his own death. And so, six days earlier, supper at Mary and Martha’s, entrance into Jerusalem that next morning, and now it’s a few days later. Jesus knew the time had come. Because his disciples had repeatedly proven they couldn’t comprehend his teachings, he decided to teach them by example. So, he got up from the table, took off his robes… The disciples stopped their chatting about the events of the day. He tied a linen cloth around his waist… What is he doing? Why is he pouring water into the wash basin? Why is he getting down on the ground? No one dared question what he was doing. No, not you, Lord. This was something for only a servant to do. When Jesus came around to him, ever impulsive Peter demanded that Jesus will never wash his feet. Rebuffed and always with a flair for the dramatic, he then told Jesus to not only wash his feet but his hands and head too. But Peter has missed the point. This isn’t a lesson in hygiene. It’s a lesson in humility. This is how my followers are to act. When he finished, Jesus put on his robes and returned to his place at the table and asked them, “Do you know what I’ve done for you?” Wisely, Peter chose to say nothing. “If I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you too must wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example: Just as I have done, you also must do.” After this shock and scandal, he revealed to the group an even more shocking scandal: one of them would betray him. The disciples looked around at each other with horror. Who would do such a thing? Jesus replied, “The one who takes this bread.” Just then, Judas took the bread and Jesus told him, go quickly and do what you are about to do. When Judas left the room, Jesus reiterated again that he would be with them only a little while longer and so, “I give you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, so you also must love each other. This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples, when you love each other.” Peter asked, “But where are you going?” Jesus told him that he couldn’t follow him now, but he could later. “But Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I’ll give up my life for you!” “Not so quickly, Peter. Before the rooster crows, you’re going to deny me three times.” And with that the curtain closes and the chapter comes to an end. But back up a minute. Do you realize, Judas was at the table when Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. Even though he knew what would happen very soon, Jesus washed the feet of Judas too. This point was made by George Marion McClelland. George was a Black Congregational minister born in 1860. Interesting story. George studied at Fisk University in Nashville, a school started by Congregational missionaries who followed right behind the Union Army and set up schools on what had been battlegrounds – a school still related to the UCC. George graduated in 1885 and started work as a minister in Louisville Kentucky while also studying for what we now call a Master of Divinity at the Congregational seminary in Hartford, Connecticut. George was a published poet and author of short prose while at the same time teaching Latin and English before becoming a high school principal. Busy guy! I wanted to give his background before reading his beautiful poem. Born in a time of slavery, he was raised during the hope of reconstruction, hopes that were crushed when the federal government turned their back and gave free reign to the former enslavers to terrorize those who dared to live free. And yet, McClellan said, Christ washed the feet of Judas! The dark and evil passions of his soul, His secret plot, and sordidness complete, His hate, his purposing, Christ knew the whole. And still in love he stooped and washed his feet. Christ washed the feet of Judas! And thus a girded servant, self-abased, Taught that no wrong this side of the gate of heaven Was ever too great to wholly be effaced, And though unasked, in spirit be forgiven. And so if we have ever felt the wrong Of trampled rights, of caste, it matters not, What e’er the soul has felt or suffered long, Oh, heart! This one thing should not be forgot: Christ washed the feet of Judas. Those words were controversial then just as they are controversial now as they could be seen as excusing those who enslaved in the past or who persecute today. Even so, his poem causes us to really consider: How far did Jesus mean to go? Jesus taught, You have heard it said, ‘Love your neighbor,’ and ‘Hate your enemy.’ But I say, love your enemies. “God gives the sun for warmth and nourishing rain to everyone – the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that. In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.”[1] What does it mean to follow Jesus? Well, what did he teach us by his own example in today’s text? Christianity is about service, not doctrine. We’re called to humility and sacrificial love, not power. We’re invited to be vulnerable, not controlling. Having one’s feet washed feels very vulnerable. Few people feel comfortable with the practice, but it is just as sacramental as communion. In fact, for John, this is communion. This is the last supper. In John there are no words of institution involving bread and wine. In the first three gospels we remember Jesus by eating and drinking together. In the Gospel of John, we remember Jesus by following his example to serve one another by washing one another’s feet. Those who have never had this experience could come on Maundy Thursday and choose, if you wish, to participate in a foot washing. I know it’s uncomfortable and makes us feel vulnerable, so it’s only an option during the service, but worth considering as we seek to deepen our faith – vulnerability, humility, sacrificial love. Some are trying to make Christianity in America more powerful and dominant over society. As I’ve said before, that is at odds with the actual teachings of Jesus. Rev. Benjamin Cremer has a brilliant response: Christianity in the United States doesn’t need more political power. It needs less arrogance. It needs less entitlement. It needs less animosity towards those who are different. Christianity in America needs more humility. It needs more generosity. It needs more compassion and understanding. There are few passages in the gospels that more powerfully teach this lesson. “If I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you too must wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example: Just as I have done, you also must do.” To even Judas. I see it as a call to be a healing presence in the world. What the world needs now is love. Are you ready? [1] Matthew 5: 43-48 – The Message Sermons from Mission Hills UCC San Diego, California Rev. Dr. David Bahr [email protected] March 10, 2024 “Don’t Just Do Something” Matthew 17: 1-9 – Common English Bible Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and brought them to the top of a very high mountain. 2 He was transformed in front of them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. 3 Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Jesus. 4 Peter reacted to all of this by saying to Jesus, “Lord, it’s good that we’re here. If you want, I’ll make three shrines: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5 While he was still speaking, look, a bright cloud overshadowed them. A voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son whom I dearly love. I am very pleased with him. Listen to him!” 6 Hearing this, the disciples fell on their faces, filled with awe. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. 9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Don’t tell anybody about the vision until the Human One[a] is raised from the dead.” One cold winter morning, the matriarch of a small New England church was nervous when she came to worship. Not that the sidewalks might be icy or that the boiler might not have kicked in overnight to warm the sanctuary. Betty was anxious because it was the first Sunday with their new pastor. It wasn’t a Congregational Church, so she had had no say in the pastor assigned to them. She and many others in her coffee klatch traded rumors that this pastor had been a troublemaker in the past and might try to shake things up. But by the end of the service, Betty was reassured. As she grasped the hand of the new pastor, Betty told her that all her fears had been relieved. “I listened carefully to your sermon and I am so happy. You were wonderful! You didn’t say a thing!” [1] In contrast, a white pastor in 1960s Alabama, inspired by the civil rights movement, began preaching about issues of race, every week, preaching from such passages as Ephesians, “in Christ’s flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us.” One by one, he preached the church down to just a handful of people. He then remarked, “Good. Now we can become a Christian church.” In seminary we were told that we should “comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.” Among your group of peers, freshly called to ministry, that sounds fun and exciting – in practice, it’s a little scary. But, in case Peter thought his call to follow Jesus would be an exciting fun-filled adventure, Jesus afflicted him with some uncomfortable clarity. The text today begins by saying “six days later.” Later than what? We talked about this last week. Jesus asked his disciples, who do people say that I am. And then he turned to Peter and asked, who do you say that I am. “You are the Christ, the Messiah, Son of the Living God.” Jesus told Peter, “You are right,” and then told everyone not to tell anyone. And then Jesus began to share that soon they would go to Jerusalem where he would suffer many things, be killed and raised on the third day. Peter took hold of Jesus and began to rebuke him. “This must not happen!” But Jesus then rebuked Peter, “Get behind me, Satan,” and went on to explain what kind of Messiah he was. Not someone who would ride in on a white horse and crush enemies and proclaim retribution. Jesus very patiently described the call of a disciple to this kind of Messiah – “Pick up your cross. What good is it to gain the whole world but lose your lives?” And then, six days later, they climbed to the top of a very high mountain. Six days after Peter’s “you’re the messiah!” and Jesus’ response that “I’m not the kind of messiah you might be expecting…” that’s when something extraordinary happened. In the Common English Bible, it says, Jesus was transformed right in front of them. It’s also known as the transfiguration of Jesus. Transfiguration is one of those odd words only used in the church. Eugene Peterson tries to describe the indescribable as “His appearance changed from the inside out. Sunlight poured from his face. His clothes were filled with light.” Something happened, but what was its purpose? Throughout Matthew’s gospel, he tried to link Jesus as the new Moses. “Up a high mountain” is just one example. And it’s where Jesus too encountered the magnificent light of God’s presence. This time with Elijah was there too. Why? According to Matthew, Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets, represented by Moses and Elijah. So again, six days earlier, Peter declared Jesus the Messiah, as well as the Son of the Living God. And now God’s voice is heard saying exactly that. “Listen to my Son. My beloved.” It was the same voice heard at his baptism, at the start of his ministry, and now again to start his descent to death – to Jerusalem and his betrayal and crucifixion. OK, so there’s a lot of symbolism going on in this text. Enough that we may we start to ask, “so what?” So, if I’ve lost you with all of this background and context, you can come back now because I want to talk about what we do with this text. What is Peter’s response to all of this? My father’s mother rarely smiled. She rarely, or perhaps never, hugged anyone – including my dad. Here’s my most vivid memory of her: We were visiting her when I was about 6 or 7 years old and I told my mom I was hungry. Grandma Bahr brought me to the kitchen and handed me a black banana. The kind that is so ripe that it squishes in your hands. I looked at it suspiciously and she screamed “Eat it!!!” I cried and looked at my mother and she just shrugged her shoulders. No doubt being her daughter-in-law wouldn’t have been easy. Anyway, one of Grandma Bahr’s warm and fuzzy sayings was: “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop.” Meaning, “Don’t just stand there. Do something!” Well, maybe Peter had someone like that in his life too, so he naturally tried to think of something to do. So, let’s build something! Various translations of the specific word Peter used for his “let’s build something” idea include dwellings, booths, shrines, tabernacles, shelters, and more. Just like translators have a difficult time describing exactly what happened to Jesus on the mountain, they have a difficult time describing what exactly Peter was suggesting they build. But whatever exactly it was, it was to do something. Perhaps it was a shrine to memorialize the moment up there. Another interpretation puts the emphasis on “let’s build something up here,” like a shelter or dwelling, stay here so we don’t have to go to Jerusalem – avoid all that conflict. But before Jesus could reply to such an idea, that voice from heaven intervened and said, “Listen to him.” Or, here is my translation of this verse: “Don’t just do something. Stand there!” How does that phrase make you feel? “Don’t just do something. Stand there!” For all of us who are too busy, overprogrammed, driving our children across town from a soccer game to a piano lesson, continuously checking our emails, responding to texts, burdened with too much homework, busier in retirement than ever before – that sounds good. A relief. “Don’t just do something. Stand there!” It sounds comforting. Comfort for the burned out. Comfort for the broken down. Comfort for the afflicted. But some church folks, like Betty, our matriarch from New England, not to pick on her, they don’t want that comfort interrupted, to be afflicted by hearing about the needs of the world. What happens when the mission of the church is “don’t just do something, sit there?” I’m in a group of preachers that get together every quarter to discuss worship and improve our craft of preaching. Our conversation on Thursday turned to a discussion on preaching for the next six months leading to the presidential election. The whole country is weary of the idea that we have to repeat the last one, which will only harden the divide among the people of our country. What affect will this have on our preaching? Do we just ignore it in order to comfort all of us feeling afflicted? Do we accept the status quo? Turn a blind eye to suffering? Do we not challenge the voices tearing us apart? Yesterday, Franklin Graham came to town on his so-called God Loves You campaign promoting something his father Billy warned again. You may have heard the term christian nationalism. Christian nationalists believe that the United States was founded to be a Christian nation – despite the clear intentions of our founders not to establish a state church. Many were seeking freedom from persecution by state churches in their home countries. But that lie only stands as the foundation on which to proclaim that therefore, only Christians should control the government – from school boards to the presidency, and only according to their own very narrow view of the Bible. By all means necessary, they seek to dominate, coerce, and control the people of our nation because, in their view, that’s what God wants. One race over the others. One gender over the others. One religion over the others. A religion at complete odds with the teaching of Jesus. But actually, it’s not a religion at all but a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Some members of our church and I along with other UCC pastors and many more went to Chula Vista yesterday to learn more and begin to counter the voices like Franklin Graham and the “christian nationalist” movement. It is not the voice of Christianity. And not only do they counter the ideals of democracy, they are further damaging churches, frightening, repelling those who want nothing to do with this vision of America thinking that all Christians share a desire to suppress the rights and freedoms of women and queer people and People of Color, of Muslims, Jews, Sikhs, Buddhists, Hindus, wiccans, and everyone outside their narrative. A narrative that people with brown and black skin represent an existential threat to the country, not that all together we represent the promise of our country. Jesus said, “bring all to me who are weary, and I will give them rest.” The transfiguration, or the transformation, of Jesus on that high mountain teaches us to, first of all, stop – stand there or sit down and listen, listen to my son, my beloved, not just do something. But then, we do have to come back down from the mountain. Jesus taught the disciples that we can’t avoid the difficult challenges waiting ahead, like those he would face in Jerusalem. It’s not that Jesus was seeking out conflict, but only by doing something can we redeem hate and bring forth love; we can’t follow him but avoid Jerusalem. Only by doing something can we redeem hate and bring forth love. To bring peace among divided people we must address what divides us. That’s how we bring divided Christians together, the hope found in Ephesians, chapter 2: “Christ tore down the wall we used to keep each other at a distance. He repealed the code that had become so clogged with fine print and footnotes that it hindered more than it helped. Then he started over. Instead of continuing with two groups of people separated by centuries of animosity and suspicion, he created a new kind of human being, a fresh start for everybody.” That sounds beautiful and like a lot of work. It all starts in relationship, and so, during the season between Easter and Pentecost, we are going to get to know each other better by learning and practicing the skills of listening – 1 on 1 with each other. Everyone who wants to participate will gather after worship every Sunday in April and early May, to deepen our relationships and grow in our faith. And those who want to, will continue to listen deeply to our neighbors and family among whom walls divide us as we search for unity. But first, don’t just do something, stand there. Listen. And then, don’t just stand there, don’t just sit around, do something! That might make my grandma proud, though she’d never let on by cracking a smile. [1] Adapted from Will Willimon Sermons from Mission Hills UCC San Diego, California Rev. Dr. David Bahr [email protected] March 3, 2024 “What Kind of Messiah” Matthew 16: 13-20 – Common English Bible As Now when Jesus came to the area of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Human One (Son of Man) is?” 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” 15 He asked Peter, “And what about you? Who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter said, “You are the Christ, [the Messiah], the Son of the living God.” 17 Then Jesus replied, “Happy are you, Simon son of Jonah, because no human has shown this to you. Rather my Father who is in heaven has shown you. 18 I tell you that you are Peter.[b] And I’ll build my church on this rock. The gates of the underworld won’t be able to stand against it. 19 I’ll give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Anything you fasten on earth will be fastened in heaven. Anything you loosen on earth will be loosened in heaven.” 20 Then he ordered the disciples not to tell anybody that he was the Christ. Who are you? It’s not as easy a question to answer as you might think, is it? Most of the time we are really asking one another, what do you do for a living. We tell how we make money to pay for a place to live, food to eat, and provide for our families. I usually answer the question “who am I” with “I’m a pastor.” Unless I’m on an airplane and want some downtime, or at a party and I don’t want to spend the rest of the evening debating some religious question. And then, after I answer, I wait. Unless I’m in some sort of church setting, there is almost always a reaction of some sort, an instant judgment – “oh how nice” or a kind of questioning reaction. And if I sense fear rising, I quickly jump in, “but not that kind.” Lawyers and few other professionals might understand. But increasingly, when people hear that I’m a pastor, they ask, what does that mean? Of course, I also hear a lot, what do you actually do for more than one hour a week? “I go to a lot of meetings.” Who are you? Can you finish the sentence: I am a person who… Try it sometime today or this week. I am a person who… I took some time this week to ask the question. I am a person who needs to see the ocean at least once a week or I start to feel like something is off in my soul. I am a person who enjoys sharing what I see on the other side of a camera lens. I am a person who struggles and feels shame about my weight. I am a person who marvels at my husband’s willingness to follow me and pick everything to move to a new city. Twice. I am a person who tries to listen but often fails. Or I try to be understanding while at the same time finding it difficult not to be exasperated by people I just can’t understand! I am a person who… Or, how would you answer, “people say that I am…” That can be frustrating because sometimes people may judge your intentions. Maybe even question your competence. But maybe they just don’t understand how many things you’re trying to juggle in life right now just to stay sane and so they'll say you're impatient, or that you don’t have enough time for them… Or maybe you hear people saying, she’s great to work with, he really goes above and beyond, they are so patient – how can they be so patient? If only you knew..! Jesus asked his disciples, who do people say that I am. Who do people say the Human One, or more familiar, the Son of Man, is? And he hears: some say you are a truth-teller and a life-changer like John, or a visionary like Elijah, or one who both condemns the lack of justice for widows and orphans and strangers and yet gives hope like Jeremiah and prophets do. They’re all good answers. But Peter, who do you say that I am? Was that an easy question for Peter to answer or was it really hard? Was he put on the spot at that moment and expected to answer what must have surely still been a mystery. Who is this guy for whom I gave up my job in order to make money for my family? For some vague promise about fishing for people. Did he impulsively blurt out his answer? My money’s on that. Or did he thoughtfully consider it and reply, it’s making sense now: “You’re the Christ, you’re the Messiah we have long waited for.” Jesus confirmed this is true. And then he ordered all who were standing around listening – glad that Jesus put Peter on the spot and not them – don’t tell anyone. In between this confirmation that Peter is right and telling them to keep quiet are some very confusing declarations about Peter being a rock upon which his church will be built, something about gates and keys, and this weird phrase about fastening and loosening… The likelihood that Jesus actually said such a thing is less than miniscule. Jesus wasn’t out there building a church, he wasn’t starting a new religion. He was gathering a community of followers, yes, but “church” wasn’t a word until later. When Matthew wrote his gospel, he was looking back to explain Peter’s early role in the church. Why him? But Peter was dead when Matthew wrote this, crucified on an upside down cross in the year 64. Matthew was written about 20 to 25 years later. But enough about that. So, Jesus asked the disciples, “Who do people say that I am.” And then he asked Peter, “Who do you say that I am.” Again, he replied that Jesus was the Messiah and Jesus told Peter he was right. And then immediately, like two minutes later, Peter got it completely wrong. I mean, so wrong that Jesus called him Satan. Here’s what happened: Jesus then made it clear to his disciples that it was now necessary for him to go to Jerusalem and submit to an ordeal of suffering at the hands of the religious leaders – the elders, chief priests, and legal experts. That he had to be killed and then be raised up alive on the third day. Peter took hold of Jesus and began scolding him. He tried to correct Jesus: “God forbid, Lord! This can’t happen to you.” Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You are a stone that could make me stumble, for you are not thinking God’s thoughts but human thoughts.” Ouch! Peter had this soaring revelation, he climbed to the pinnacle of understanding the great mystery of who this person named Jesus really was. Jesus was a person who was able to heal people. Jesus was a person who made a violent storm calm down. Jesus was a person who needed to take a break and be alone. Jesus was a person who grew frustrated and at times angry at his disciple’s continued inability to see the whole picture. And did you notice, Jesus had just minutes before called Peter his rock, and now he calls Peter a stone, a stumbling stone. A very quick demotion. But here’s the problem: Peter didn’t understand what kind of messiah Jesus really was. Frankly, not many of us do either. What do you think a messiah is? I’ll be honest, sometimes I’m uncomfortable with this messiah language, because I too get what that means wrong. But upon further examination, I’m in. Here’s why: Think about the ways we use the word in popular culture. She has a messiah complex, meaning a big ego, or we say, he’s going to be our messiah – He will be our vengeance. He will vindicate us and crush our enemies and restore us to power – spoken by an alarming number of American Christians right now. I just don’t understand. And what would Jesus say about that? Wouldn’t it be similar to his reaction to Peter’s complete misunderstanding of Jesus? Yes, I am the Messiah, but not that kind. Specifically, not the kind who would act with any kind of retribution or so-called vindication. That’s what people hoped for and wanted from a messiah who would restore the throne of King David. With violence to take up arms and throw off the yoke of Rome – a very understandable desire. But before Matthew wrote his gospel, it had already been proven not to work. In the year 70, Rome put down, crushed, an attempted revolt – known as the first Jewish-Roman war – and completely and utterly destroyed the Temple. Matthew wrote about Jesus little more than 10 years later, leaving that knowledge out of the narrative, but reflecting what Jesus was trying to teach. He is a different kind of Messiah, not the kind the prosperity gospel preaches. Not the kind that damns “those” people to hell. And definitely not one who advocates violence and retribution. What kind is he? Immediately after his rebuke of Peter’s rebuke, Jesus gathered his disciples around. Listen up: “All who want to come after me must say no to themselves, take up their cross, and follow me. All who want to save their lives will lose them, but all who lose their lives because of me will find them. Why would people gain the whole world but lose their lives?” What did he say? Take up your cross to serve one another, not to hold it over others and certainly not to use it as a weapon. What kind of Messiah would say such a thing? Not someone with a messiah complex. Not someone promising revenge. Because blessed are the people who are hopeless, blessed are the people who grieve, blessed are the people who are humble, pure in heart, peacemakers, and thirst for righteousness. Not those who are self-righteous, but who hunger for a world in which the poor are fed, the captives are set free, and the oppressed are liberated. That’s the kind of messiah who will actually save the world and the kind of messiah I want to follow. By each of us taking up our own cross. A joint effort, a partnership, something we do together, each of us embracing who we really are. Who are you, really? Not what you do for a living. How do you finish the statement, “I am a person who… I am a person who tries to follow Jesus and his teachings in order to realize heaven on earth, the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven, where no one race is superior, no one gender is supreme, no one way of loving is all that is permitted, and no one religion has power over all the others. The cross is not power over, it is power with. Or better yet, power on the under-side – lifting people up. Take up your cross. And we will no doubt fail as often as we succeed, but Jesus will never give up on us. Take heart from blessed Peter who will fail miserably. He didn’t just deny Jesus three times. On the night Jesus is betrayed in the garden, when the soldiers came to take him away, Peter took a sword and cut off the ear of a Roman soldier. Which Jesus then restored. That’s not what my followers do. And yet still, in the end, Peter was the rock on which the church of Jesus was built. Who are you? Sermons from Mission Hills UCC San Diego, California Rev. Dr. David Bahr [email protected] February 25, 2024 “Whole-hearted Faith” Matthew 14: 22-33 – The Message As soon as the meal was finished, he insisted that the disciples get in the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he dismissed the people. With the crowd dispersed, he climbed the mountain so he could be by himself and pray. He stayed there alone, late into the night. 24-26 Meanwhile, the boat was far out to sea when the wind came up against them and they were battered by the waves. At about four o’clock in the morning, Jesus came toward them walking on the water. They were scared to death. “A ghost!” they said, crying out in terror. 27 But Jesus was quick to comfort them. “Courage, it’s me. Don’t be afraid.” 28 Peter, suddenly bold, said, “Master, if it’s really you, call me to come to you on the water.” 29-30 He said, “Come ahead.” Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus. But when he looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink. He cried, “Master, save me!” 31 Jesus didn’t hesitate. He reached down and grabbed his hand. Then he said, “Faint-heart, what got into you?” 32-33 The two of them climbed into the boat, and the wind died down. The disciples in the boat, having watched the whole thing, worshiped Jesus, saying, “This is it! You are God’s Son for sure!” Last week we began a journey with Peter and his call as one of the first of the 12 disciples of Jesus. We learned that he was impulsive and impetuous but even more passionate, committed and bold, even if his boldness wasn’t always well thought out – as today’s story proves. But first: Chapter 14 began with the news that John the Baptist had been beheaded by Herod because it’s what his daughter wanted for her birthday – the head of John the Baptist served on a platter. Jesus was devastated by the news and got into a boat with the intention of going to a deserted place by himself, but before he even got there, crowds heard he was coming and were growing larger by the minute, waiting on the shore for him. By the time he landed, there were thousands of people in search of hope and healing. He really needed a break, but he had compassion upon them. A little later the disciples arrived and saw the chaos. After a few hours, they suggested that Jesus dismiss the crowd so they could go get something to eat, or perhaps, so that Jesus could finally get his delayed break. But instead, Jesus told the disciples, you feed them. A story you probably already know: They brought him everything they could find – five loaves of bread and two fish which he blessed and broke into pieces and sent around to the crowd. At the end, 12 basketfuls of loaves made their way back to Jesus. About 5,000 men plus women and children had eaten that day. That’s the point at which Jesus sent the disciples off to the other side of the Sea of Galilee while he finished up. Finally, he could go up the side of a mountain to be alone and pray. Even Jesus needed a break from the stress and heart-heavy work of compassion. When evening came, Jesus decided to rejoin the disciples. I was curious, how big is the Sea of Galilee? It’s the largest source of fresh water in Israel – about as wide as the Salton Sea, which is much longer and definitely not fresh water. It’s about the distance between here and La Mesa, which doesn’t seem that far in a car on the freeway but think about that distance in a boat fighting against fierce winds and violent waves. And just imagine. It was so difficult sailing into the wind that Jesus caught up with them by walking! The disciples had a similar experience in a boat in chapter 8. Jesus was in the boat with them as they were crossing when a fierce storm came up, waves so big they were filling the boat. Jesus slept right through it, only awakened by terrified disciples begging him, “Rescue us!” He said, “Why are you afraid, faint-hearts?” Why??!! Because a freaking storm is going to drown us, that’s why! But this time he’s not in the boat with them, he’s outside of it walking toward them. Which, of course, freaked them out. But when the whole “it’s a ghost!”-thing was resolved, Peter, true to his impulsive and impetuous personal style, asked to join Jesus on the water. Actually, he said, “Lord, if it’s you, order me to come to you on the water.” With the fierce violent storm still raging, Peter got out of the boat, and began walking toward Jesus. But then he notices(?) the fierce violent storm is still raging, began to sink, and he called out, “Rescue me!” Jesus immediately reached out to grab him. The Message translates Jesus’ response as a sympathetic, “Faint-heart, what got into you?” I much prefer that – faint-heart – over the Common English Bible which translates the words as an accusation that Peter had “weak faith.” “You man of weak faith, why did you begin to doubt?” Or maybe you’re familiar with the slightly more sympathetic, “O ye of little faith, why did you doubt.” But Peter doesn’t suffer from a weak or little faith. He may be misguided at times, a little over-zealous perhaps, but if we can describe anyone in this way, he is a man of “whole-hearted faith.” He has an all-in, no holding back, emotions on the sleeve kind of faith. Cry one minute, roll on the floor laughing the next. Weakness wasn’t his problem. And I’m not sure it’s ours either. Mainline Christians might not have a weak faith as much as perhaps a timid faith. Our struggle isn’t with doubt. We know that doubt isn’t the opposite of faith. But what is? Doing nothing, trying nothing, standing for nothing, is the opposite of faith. Peter may be impulsive and impetuous, he may break promises and act without thinking – like a bull in a china shop – but at least he doesn’t stand outside the china shop and just peek through the window. His faith was not weak and I thank God that Peter, full of enthusiasm, rushed right in. But I also thank God there are also those who act boldly with great faith in thoughtful and deliberative ways too – who are prepared to do something, try something, and stand for something. Do you know the story of Diane Nash?[1] In the summer of 1961 she was teaching workshops for Freedom Riders with her husband Rev. James Bevell. She was 23 and five of her students were under 21 years old. She was arrested and charged with contributing to the delinquency of minors by encouraging them to break the law to desegregate interstate buses. She was found guilty of five counts, each carrying a sentence of 6 months – a combined total sentence of 2 ½ years. She appealed and the NAACP sent a $2,500 bond, the equivalent of almost $26,000 today, but the appeals court deliberately didn’t inform her of her court date. So, because she didn’t appear, there was now a warrant out for her arrest. That warrant was quite a dilemma – she could avoid it completely by simply leaving the state, as the state hoped she would, but abandon the work she felt passionately called to do. Or she could go to jail. She and her husband planned to spend their lives in Mississippi working for the liberation of Black people. She said, “I didn’t want Mississippi white men or anyone else deciding for me where we could live and work. I didn’t want anybody to run me anywhere I did not want to go.” But even more complicated, or rather, much more complicated, she was six months pregnant, which would mean her child would be born in jail and she would miss the first two years of his life. It wasn’t a decision to rush into so she retreated to her bedroom for three days. She told Bevel she didn’t want to be disturbed by anyone. “I did nothing but eat, sleep, think, and pray. After three days I made the decision to surrender and serve the term. With intense meditation, I had tapped into a very powerful force that I can’t totally explain. I thought over every eventuality and was prepared to face anything. I knew I could handle it. There was really nothing anybody could do to hurt me. I came to a place of strength and peace. If they killed me, I was ready.” Bevel was very supportive, but faced a lot of criticism. “Oh, Rev. Bevel, you shouldn’t make your wife do that. That’s too much.” They only thought of me as “the Reverend’s wife,” and as a woman, incapable of making a decision like that on my own. So, she presented herself to the sheriff, ready to serve her sentence. He was clearly amused at her bulging midsection and told her to appear in Judge Moore’s court, the same Judge Moore who had found Byron De La Beckwith not guilty of killing Medgar Evers – with a gun Judge Moore kept hidden in his home. Diane entered his court but wasn’t going to sit in the “colored section” so she walked right down to the front. For the “protest” of sitting in the front row, she was charged with defiance of local segregation laws and sentenced to jail for 10 days which she immediately began to serve. The jail provided absolutely no accommodation for her advanced pregnancy No vitamin pills allowed, no change of clothes or even a toothbrush. She was kept isolated from other prisoners so as not to corrupt them with her talk of civil rights. Only one guard was willing to engage her in conversation and, one day, seemed genuinely interested when Diane explained the discrepancy in public school funding. For example, in Holly Bluff they spent $191.77 per white child and $1.26 per Black child. But the worst of her jail experience, she said, was the cockroaches, masses of them crawling up the walls at night, the clicking of their feet, and then falling from the ceiling right over her concrete slab of a bed. At the end of those 10 days, she appeared before Judge Moore. He proclaimed her sentence was complete and she was free to go. She asked, “aren’t you going to hear the case of my contributing to the delinquency of minors?” He said no. She told the judge very clearly that she was going to go right back to teaching young people how to do non-violent civil disobedience. She told him her full home address for the court records so they couldn’t say they couldn’t find her. “I want you to know I’m not hiding from you.” But Mississippi authorities had tapped their home phone. They were aware that every civil rights organization in the nation knew her case and decided that keeping her in jail was public relations liability. Diane said, “I came away from the whole experience very much spiritually strengthened. In jail I learned that I could live with very little. The oppressive authorities imprisoned me and withheld basic necessities to frighten and control me, but it backfired. They are the ones who got scared. And in the end, I was freer, more determined, and stronger than ever.” Diane today is 85 years old and living in Chicago. Both Peter and Diane had what I call a “whole-hearted faith.” They put themselves all in. Where Peter may have been impulsive and Diane was more deliberate, both acted deeply and honestly to fulfill Jesus’ call to come follow me and love our neighbors as completely as we possibly can. Next week we’ll continue to watch Peter succeed and fail to do just that – a reassuring example of our own attempts not to act timidly in the face of need, but with a faith that is whole-hearted. What would that mean for you today? To live with your whole heart. [1] For the following story, see Hands on the Freedom Plow for 55 personal accounts of women in the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. |
AuthorI love being a Archives
May 2024
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