Visionary Faith

Thomas...one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, 'We have seen the Lord.' But he said to them, 'Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.' A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you.' Then he said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.' Thomas answered him, 'My Lord and my God!' Jesus said to him, 'Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.'" [John 20:24-28, NRSV]

If we look at the story of Thomas metaphorically, a powerful message emerges: It's easy to have faith in something when it's standing right in front of our faces. It's a lot harder to have faith in a future that has yet to be seen.

Visionary faith is a powerful thing. It is the kind of faith that moved Martin Luther to begin the Protestant Reformation. It is the kind of faith that empowered Ghandi to start a revolution in India. It is the kind of faith that inspired Martin Luther King Jr to proclaim "I have a dream." It is the kind of faith that many LGBT people and their straight allies possess as they envision a future that looks much different from the world we live in now.

It is easy to believe in LGBT equality when we see it happening right in front of our faces. It's a lot harder to work toward an unseen future where full equality is achieved for all. If we are going to continue the fight. If we are going to have enough spiritual energy to outlast the setbacks and disappointments that will occur along the way, then we must have the kind of faith that believes in a future that has yet to be realized.

Truly we are blessed if we "have not seen and yet have come to believe." It is the power to change the world as we know it.

Behind Closed Doors

"Later on that day, the disciples had gathered together, but, fearful of the Jews, had locked all the doors in the house." Jesus entered, stood among them, and said, "Peace to you." [John 20:19, The Message]

It was Easter evening and John tells us that the disciples were "in the closet," i.e. they were acting like frightened disciples instead of being bold proclaimers. They had rolled the stone over the tomb of their fear and doubt and had sealed it shut! Hmm...not exactly how we picture the Easter story is it?

We imagine in our minds that the disciples had spent the rest of the day running through the streets of Jerusalem "Shouting "Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed!" We imagine them being overwhelmed with joy; laughing and shouting and singing. However, John tells us that as the sun set over Jerusalem the disciples were hiding behind locked doors, afraid that the Jewish religious leaders were coming after them next. What's up with that?

Don't be too quick to judge those first disciples. After all, how do we react when bad news is all around us? We, too, feel like hiding behind locked doors. We, too, feel like huddling close together with our loved ones, trying to create a space of peace in the midst of the emotional whirlwinds of life.

The good news of the Easter story is not that the disciples were brave and fearless. The good news is that in spite of their doubt and fear, Jesus found a way to reach them. Jesus found a way to get behind their locked doors and make his presence known. He then gave them the gift of his peaceful presence as well as the Holy Spirit who would empower them and give them the courage to set aside their fears, unlock their doors, and go out into the world to change it forever.

What locked doors are we hiding behind? Are we literally "in the closet," afraid to let others known we are lesbian or gay? Do we hesitate to become a voice for LGBT justice and equality in church and society? The good news of John's Easter story is that there is not a padlock, chain or deadbolt that can keep Jesus from reaching us and transforming our hearts, our minds and our spirits. Let us claim this good news for ourselves and for our community that we might face the future with confidence, optimism and hope.

Easter Sunday Sermon

EASTER SUNDAY                                   Matt 28:1-10                                             David Eck

4/23/11

I. This morning we heard Matthew's version

---Of the story of Jesus' resurrection

It began with two women:

---Mary Magdalene, the faithful disciple of Jesus,

---And someone referred to as "the other Mary,"

---Who is probably Mary,

---The mother of James and Joseph.  [Mt 27:56, Mk 16:1, Lk 24:10]

These two Marys went to see the tomb.

---'’m sure it was a solemn occasion,

---Filled with sadness and dread.

After all, they had seen Jesus die on the cross

---Three days earlier [Mk 15:40, Lk 23:49]

They had witnessed Joseph of Arimathea

---Wrap his lifeless body in a clean linen cloth

---And place him in a newly hewn rock tomb.

Then Joseph rolled a "great stone"

---Across the entrance of the tomb and went away,

---Leaving the two Marys standing there

---In stunned silence. [Matt 27:57-61, Mk 15:46-47, Lk 23:50-55]

The next day Pontius Pilate ordered

---That a guard of soldiers be placed at the tomb's entrance.

The he ordered that the stone be sealed,

---So that no one could claim 

---That Jesus had risen from the dead [Matt 27:62-66]

I'm certain word of this final insult

---Would have reached the two Marys

---And filled them with great sadness.

Then, on day number three,

---We find the two Marys making their way to the tomb,

---Presumably to anoint Jesus' body with spices  [Lk 24:1]

I'm certain they were wondering

---"What are we going to do about the guards?

How are we going to roll the stone away

---From the entrance of the tomb?

I don't think the guards will let us

---Anywhere near that place.

This may be a pointless journey...

---But what else can we do?

---Our Lord, our Rabbouni, our Teacher, has died 

---And we want to give him a proper burial"

As our story continues, Matthew says

---"Suddenly there was a great earthquake;

---For an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven,

---Came and rolled back the stone and sat on it

His appearance was like lightning,

---And his clothing white as snow.

---For fear of him the guards shook

---And became like dead men."

Can you imagine the sight?

---All obstacles between the two Marys and the tomb

---Were obliterated.

---A massive stone was hurled aside

---With the brush an angel's wing.

---The once impenetrable guard of soldiers

---Were passed out on the ground, motionless,

---Frozen by fear.

Then the angel said to the two Marys

--- "Do not be afraid” [The understatement of all time!]

---"Do not be afraid 

---I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified

---He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said."

Came you imagine what that must have felt like?

---New life had destroyed death.

---Hope had vaporized despair.

All the rules had been rewritten.

---The two Marys would never look at the world

---The same way again...and neither would we.

II.  We tell this Easter narrative time and time again,

---Because we need to hear it time and time again.

Like the two Marys on the way to the tomb,

---Our lives are sometimes filled

---With a sense of sadness and dread.

We feel entombed by fear, anger, doubt,

---Sickness, depression, grief, loneliness

---Or a loss of control over our lives.

We wonder

---Who will roll the stone away for us?

---Who will set us free from our overstressed, overburdened lives?

---It seems like an impossible, overwhelming task.

Who will remove the guards

---We keep at the entrance of our tomb?

---We’ve told them to go away,

---But they just keep standing there

---And show no signs of fatigue.

The power of the Easter story

---Lies in the truth that it is not a one time event.

---Resurrection, forgiveness and new life

---Are ours for the asking

---If we trust that God has the power

---To roll away the stones which entomb our lives.

The Easter story is our story.

---It is a story of a journey

---From death to life

---From despair to hope

---Form sadness to joy

---From dead ends to new beginnings

All of this is possible

---Through the transforming power of God

---Which shakes our lives to the core,

---And rewrites the rule book,

---So that new life and new beginnings

---Are possible again and again and again.

III.  Some people seem to think

---That we gather in this place of worship

---Because God will punish us if we don't do it

Others seem to think

---That we are here so that

---We can feel morally superior to other people

---And look down our noses at them.

Some people seem to think

---That we gather in this place of worship

---To find easy answers to complex problems.

The truth of the matter is this:

---We come to this place because

---Sometimes our lives are a mess.

We are real people with real problems

---Who seek a God who promises us

---That Easter is NOT a one time event that happened long, long ago.

---It is something real and relevant

---That we can experience in our lives, too.

We do not have to remain entombed 

---By fear, anger, doubt,

---Sickness, depression, grief, loneliness

---Or a loss of control over our lives.

We have a Savior who conquered death,

---Whose mighty angel rolled away the stone

---And turned a guard of soldiers

---Into motionless dead men.

This occurred on that first Easter morning

---But it can also occur in our lives as well.

Brothers and sisters in Christ

---This is exceedingly good news!

It is the reason why we've dressed up in our finest this morning

It is the reason why the fragrance of Easter lilies fills the air

---And shouts of “Christ is risen!  He is risen indeed!"

---Echo throughout this sacred space.

Today we celebrate

---Because death has been vanquished forever.

---The tomb is empty.

---Resurrection and new life.

---Are popping up everywhere around us

Today is a day of hope,

---A day of unshakable optimism,

---A day when we proclaim

---That the stones which entomb our lives

---Will not remain there forever.

The power of the risen Christ

---Is working in us and through us

---To birth something new and wonderful in our midst.

IV.  Matthew Fox in his book "Creativity"

---Echoes this sentiment when we says

---"What is resurrection?

---Resurrection is the rolling away

---Of these boulder-sized obstacles from our hearts and minds

---In order that new life might emerge."

This is the message we take with us

---As we leave this place today.

---"Christ is risen!  He is risen indeed!"

---The stone has been rolled away!

---The tomb is empty!

Therefore, we can rejoice 

---Because this same power is available to us,

---Not only on this day but every day of our lives.

God can roll away the stones which entomb our hearts and minds

---In order that new life and new beginnings

---Might emerge once again.

Trust this truth, brothers and sisters in Christ.

---May the Easter message fill us with hope,

---And transform our lives, with the resurrection power

---Of Jesus Christ our Lord       AMEN

Palm Sunday Sermon

PALM SUNDAY                                          Matthew 21:1-11                                         David Eck 

4/17/11

Hosanna Heysanna Sanna Sanna Ho

Sanna Hey Sanna Ho Sanna

Hey J C, J C won't you smile at me?

Sanna Ho Sanna Hey Superstar

I. Every year since the age of twelve,

---It has been my tradition to begin Holy Week

---By listening to the Broadway musical "Jesus Christ Superstar."

---There are numerous recordings of it available

---But I still prefer the original Broadway Cast Recording

---Starring Ian Gillan of Deep Purple as Jesus

---And the astonishing Murray Head as Judas.

About half-way through the first act,

---We encounter the Palm Sunday story

---Where the crowd is cheering and waving palm branches,

---Asking Jesus to smile at them.

But immediately following this rousing chorus,

---We encounter a more ominous voice in the crowd.

---It is the voice of Caiaphas, the high priest of the Sanhedrin.

---As a kid I thought it was the lowest voice

---I had ever heard in my entire life.

---As an adult, I realize I can now hit those notes!

Tell the rabble to be quiet.  We anticipate a riot

This common crowd is much too loud

Tell the mob who sing your song

That they are fools and they are wrong

They are a curse.  They should disperse.

Then the crowd kicks in again with the refrain:

Hosanna Heysanna Sanna Sanna Ho

Sanna Hey Sanna Ho Sanna

Hey J C, J C you're alright by me

Sanna Ho Sanna Hey Superstar

Finally Jesus gets his turn

---And he addresses Caiaphas' complaint:

Why waste your breath moaning at the crowd?

Nothing can be done to stop the shouting

If ev'ry tongue was still the noise would still continue

The rocks and stones themselves would start to sing:

Then the whole crowd joins Jesus on the refrain:

Hosanna Heysanna Sanna Sanna Ho

Sanna Hey Sanna Ho Sanna

Hey J C, J C won't you fight for me?

Sanna Ho Sanna Hey Superstar 

The entire song lasts only two minutes and nine seconds,

---Giving us a condensed version of the Palm Sunday story.

---Brilliant!

It tells us that everything is NOT alright in Jerusalem.

---There is something about Jesus' presence,

---And perhaps the way he chose to enter the city,

---That has some people all riled up.

So, as they say in the musical:

---"What's the buzz?  Tell me what's a'happenin'?

---What is the significance of the Palm Sunday story

---And Jesus' entry into Jerusalem on a donkey?

Hopefully, by the time I finish this sermon

---We'll have a deeper appreciation of this event.

---We'll better understand why Christians tell this story

---To mark the beginning of Holy Week.

II. Lets start with the details of Matthew's narrative

---He mentions all the things we are quite familiar with

---When we think of the Palm Sunday story.

We have a donkey.  In Matthew's case we have two:

---A donkey and her colt,

---Which better fits the Zechariah prophecy

---Matthew cites in the verses that follow.

Matthew is telling us that Jesus is Zechariah's shepherd king

---Who comes to bring "peace to the nations."

---Whose "dominion shall be from sea to sea."  [Zech 9:9-12]

In the chapters beyond our first lesson,

---Zechariah further predicts that this king will be

---Betrayed for thirty pieces of silver [Zech 11:12ff].  

---And the inhabitants of Jerusalem will look upon

---The one they have pierced and mourn for him  [Zech 12:10ff].  

When this shepherd king has been struck down

---His sheep willscatter. [Zech 13:7]

As we examine the way Matthew, Mark, Luke and John

---Shape the events of Holy Week in their gospels,

---We will find all of these details firmly in place,

---Many of them in Matthew.

This gives us an insight into who Matthew thought Jesus was.

---He saw Jesus as Zechariah's shepherd king

---Who, would, one day, become Lord over all the earth.

---Just as the prophet had predicted. [Zech 14:8-9].

Thus Matthew sees something powerful in Jesus' use of a donkey.

---It's symbolism should not be underestimated.

III.  But there is more than just a donkey and a prophecy

---In Matthew's telling of the Palm Sunday story.

---There are cloaks and branches that were spread on the road.

---[It wouldn't be until John came along

---That these branches were identified as palms.]

But Matthew's branches are accompanied

---By another familiar Scripture passage, Psalm 118.

---It is placed on the lips of the cheering crowd:

---"Hosanna to the Son of David!

---Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!

---Hosanna in the highest heaven!"

This hymn of praise was traditionally recited by Jews

---On the festival of Tabernacles or Booths.

---It's Hebrew name is Succoth [sue-coat]

During this festival  the pilgrims walked in procession

---Around the altar in the Temple

---While waving a bundle of of greenery

---Which consisted of leafy branches of willow, myrtle and palm trees.  

---This bundle of greenery was called a lulab. 

---Sounds familiar to our gospel lesson, doesn't it?

Succoth actually occurs in the fall

---But here the ritual is transported to the spring,

---Perhaps more metaphorically than literally,

---Since one cannot find palm branches in Jerusalem in the spring.

---But that's another story altogether!

The important thing for us to remember

---Is that Zechariah prophesied that in the messianic era

---Succoth would become a universal festival.

---All the nations of the world

---Would make annual pilgrimages to Jerusalem

---To celebrate it there.

Again, Matthew is saying something powerful

---About who he thinks Jesus is.

---He is the the messiah of peace, the shepherd king,

---Who will rule the world in a way that is quite different

---From those who rule it now.

Matthew ends his Palm Sunday story with a comment and a question.

---He says that when Jesus entered Jerusalem:

---"The whole city was in turmoil"

---And they were asking "Who is this?"

Here Matthew hints that something more ominous is brewing in Jerusalem.

---While the crowd proclaimed that Jesus was a "prophet"

---There were others who would give a much different answer

---To the question "Who is this?"

IV.  Turning back to Jesus Christ Superstar for a moment,

---Remember that it is the voice of Caiaphas that interrupts the celebration.

While Caiaphas does not appear in Matthew's version of the story,

---The Pharisees as a whole make an appearance in Luke's version.

---They make the same request Caiaphas does in Jesus Christ Superstar

---"Teacher, order your disciples to stop."

---To which Jesus replies "I tell you, if these were silent,

---The stones would shout out."  [Lk 19:39-40]

The gospels, as a whole, paint the religious establishment

---As being hostile to Jesus.

---While there are several accounts of Pharisees

---Who were supportive of him,

---Such as Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea,

---The majority of Pharisees appeared to see him as a threat.

The easy answer that many Christians give

---Is that it was all a part of God's divine plan.

---However, Jesus did not get crucified for being a nice guy.

---There was something about his message

---That threatened to upset the status quo of religion.

I believe it was his vision of God's kingdom

---Where everyone had a place at the table:

---Lost sheep, prodigal sons and daughters,

---The poor an oppressed as well as the rich and famous.

The Pharisees, as the gospels portray them, were an exclusive little club

---Who looked with contempt upon those

---Who did not follow all the rules and regulations of the Torah.

Jesus threatened to dismantle this oppressive system.

---That is why they were hostile to him.

In fact, in the gospel of Matthew,

---The next story that is told is Jesus entering the Temple

---And overturning the tables of the money changers

---As well as those who sold sacrificial animals.

He proclaimed "My temple shall be called a house of prayer;

But you have made it a den of robbers."  [Matt 21:12-13]

Can there be any doubt that the leaders

---Of the religious establishment of Jesus' day

---Were hostile toward him?

---Caiaphas' voice from Jesus Christ Superstar

---Rings out loud and true!

V.  There is one more place we need to stop

---On our Palm Sunday journey this morning.

---Because the Pharisees were not the only dissenting voice in the crowd.

---The secular authorities saw Jesus as a threat as well.

Here is where knowing a little bit of Roman culture comes in handy.

---The leaders of Rome such as Julius Caesar and Pontius Pilate,

---Were well known for having lavish military parades

---As they entered the city of Jerusalem.

These political processions included

---Squadrons of Roman soldiers,

---Decked out in leather, armor and helmets,

---With swords, shields, and other weapons of war.

---There were also banners waving in the wind,

---And golden eagles mounted on poles.

It was a spectacle of the highest order.

---It was designed to remind the people who was in charge.

---It conveyed the message that the "Pax Romana" or peace of Rome

---Was maintained through military might and intimidation.

---If you tried to speak out against that order,

---You would be executed.  Plain and simple.

In contrast to this over the top Roman military procession,

---Can we then picture Jesus entering through the back gate

---On the opposite side of the city?

---Can we picture him riding on a donkey with palm branches waving,

---And a rag tag group of followers shouting "Hosanna"?

Make no mistake about it, Jesus was making a political statement.

---He was making fun of the military might of Rome.

---His riding a donkey was intentional

---And it had nothing to do with the Democratic Party!

---I think we can venture a guess as to what he was trying to say!

 Apparently, Pilate and his minions heard about 

---Jesus' little piece of political theater and they didn't like it.

---A week later, Jesus was executed on a cross.

So, as we enter into the story of Palm Sunday

---We are reminded that not everyone in Jerusalem

---Was shouting Hosanna that day.

There were people in both the religious and political establishment

---Who saw his message as a threat

---And they set out to to eliminate that threat

---Which is the story of Holy Week.

VI.  So what does all this mean for us in 2011?

---Well, when we confess that Jesus is Lord,

---We are saying that the Caiaphases and Pilates of this world are not in charge!

Religious and political systems who oppress people,

---And have no compassion for the poor, are not of God.

Jesus calls us to take up our cross

---And follow him out into the world around us.

---He calls us to fight for justice, serve the poor,

---And be a voice for those who are oppressed,

---Until everyone has an equal place at the table.

This is not the Jesus that every church proclaims

---But it is the Jesus of the gospels nonetheless!

So, as we enter into the narrative of Holy Week,

---We must all answer the same question

---That was asked by the cheering crowd

---On that first palm parade: "Who is this?"

The way we answer this question

---Will determine whether we continue to preserve

---The status quo in both church and society

---Or whether we grab a donkey and ride it into town.

AMEN