Getting to Know God Through Prayer

Readings for July 24, 2016

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The Rev. Jessica E. Sexton

In today’s Gospel reading Jesus tells his disciples how they should pray, why they should pray and the importance of prayer. Jesus himself led a life of unceasing prayer in his work and ministry, where he prayed both in community and in solitude. According to author and friend, Jenifer Gamber, "a life of unceasing prayer is more than just getting away from it all every now and then. It's acknowledging God's presence in all that we do. It's living our lives in a close relationship with God.” Therefore, prayer is acknowledging God's presence in our life and our trust in that presence. Jesus’ relationship with God through prayer is what supported him as he prepared for his impending death on the cross. His unceasing prayer life demonstrated that he acknowledged God’s presence and his trusted in God.

So, why do we pray?  We pray to have this deeper and more personal relationship with God as well to develop the same faith and trust in God as Jesus.  That when we pray in the silence of our car going down 95 or in a crowded store—we too are acknowledging that we know that God is with us, listening to our thanksgiving or petition and that we trust that God will continue to be present with us. Because God already knows every hair on our head, our innermost thoughts and fears because God created us in God's image. This personal relationship that we seek through prayer is not so much about God knowing us because God already knows who we are as children of God—God created us. It is about us learning to know who God is.

How do we come to know God? How is this relationship built and developed?

Jesus tells the disciples when they pray to “Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you."

These directions given by Jesus facilitate the development of trust between God and us when we pray. Jesus is encouraging us and his disciples to trust that what is asked will be given and what we seek will be found and doors or opportunities will open up for us. It is through this process of letting go of control, and asking and seeking God that we become less dependent on ourselves and more dependent on the mercy and love of God. And through this trust and dependence on God we come to know and experience God in bolder ways throughout our lives.

However, what we are seeking, and asking and looking for may not be what is given or found or behind door number one. This is why trust is so important for our prayer life. Because when we pray we are not praying for God to fix the situation as much as we are praying for God to be present in it—for us to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit. There are many things that we pray for that may not turn out the way we expect or had hoped. Maybe it was for healing and recovery or for opportunities maybe professionally or romantically. And despite life not turning out the way we wanted or expected or hoped for, Jesus is still calling us to trust in God. This is not an easy task.

How do we trust when we're suffering from loss or continuous failure or grief or pain? We trust because even in our own pain and suffering through prayer God does not allow us to be alone. Through prayer we come to know a God that has experienced the same pains and suffering of losing a child and seeing all of us suffer in our own ways.

The relationship we form with God through prayer is the one relationship in our life that is always steadfast and always present. There is power in prayer not only because our prayers are answered in ways we can't imagine or understand because we are transformed.  The trust we put in God opens us up to knowing God and the love that God has for us. Mother Teresa said, “Love to pray. Prayer enlarges the heart until it is capable of containing God’s gift of himself.”

Prayer has changed my life and opened my heart to experience a God of mercy and of love. As a new clergy person here at the Church of the good Shepherd we are still getting to know one another and I would like to share with you how prayer has influence and powerful in my own life.

When I was 13 years old I was an active, healthy and vibrant middle schooler who had just landed a role of Miss Hannigan in the Perry Hall Middle School production of Annie. However for a young girl I was experiencing too many migraine headaches and my cautious pediatrician decided to send me for an MRI. I had the MRI on a Tuesday afternoon and my mother brought me back school so that I could go to play rehearsal. Halfway through the practice she had come to pick me up early because the doctor had called and he wanted to see her and my father.

After I was dropped off at home to have dinner with my grandmother and my little brother I was too caught up in a art project to realize that hours had passed before my parents finally arrived home with bloodshot eyes and pale faces--I knew something was wrong. A short time later I was sitting in Johns Hopkins pediatric emergency room staring up at a scan of my brain from earlier that afternoon and I noticed something different that the doctor pointed out was a tumor in my brain. From the location of the tumor it was initially deemed inoperable. Whether being 13 or 30, hearing news that your life is about to change or come to an end is overwhelming.

The feeling of being out of control and powerless and alone despite those around me is painful. I began to understand why my parents were so upset. It was because no doctor could heal or change my prognosis.

I grew up in a family that valued prayer especially around the dinner table and my brother and I recited the Lord's prayer before bed each night. And it was my exposure of prayer from my parents growing up and how much it mean to them, that I realized in the hospital room that prayer and God were the only things that would be help me get through this difficult time.

The next day I with sent for an MRI that lasted for over an hour and as I laid there in that suffocating tube, I had plenty of time to talk to God—and I told God I scared, frustrated and disappointed, and how much I wanted to be Miss Hannigan in the school play. God heard it all for a good solid hour.

Afterward I went back to my hospital room and a little while later I was greeted by the top neurosurgeon at Hopkins and his entourage of doctors. After such a grim night the day before I wasn't sure what to expect. The doctor came into my room and walked over to me grabbing my hands, and then looking at my mom he asking “have you been praying, Mrs. Sexton?” My mom said every minute. He smiled at her and said, “well, it worked.”

Less then 24 hours later I went from having an inoperable brain tumor to an arachnoid cyst at the base of my brain stem that was treated a month later.

How could things shift and change so quickly? The scans were clear for both of them. Once the doctor and his team left, my mom quickly rushed out of the room to ask a nurse what had happened. We couldn’t understand the sudden change in prognosis. She said “a miracle just happened, Ms. Sexton.”

What I learned and came to know about God through that experience was that by seeking God out through prayer and asking for help—made me realize how much I opened myself up to allow the Holy Spirit to work and move in my life. After all these years it's not about the miracle of having the scans change. The hope I found through prayer in God was the miracle. The miracle was how those prayers in the hospital made me realize the importance of having a relationship with God--to trust that God always is present in my life and that no matter what happens I'm not alone. The other miracle is that we can have the ultimate hope of new life in Christ Jesus because of his death and resurrection. And the prayers that we pray are held up by his hope that whatever happens we are surrounded and loved by God.

The trust that we develop in our relationship with God through prayer is what transforms our hearts and our minds because the more we trust God in our lives the more trust ourselves and love ourselves. I am blessed everyday to take a minute and talk to my creator for always being by my side and for giving me a second chance.

Have you been praying?

Amen.




Gamber, Jenifer. My Faith, My Life: A Teen's Guide to the Episcopal Church. Harrisburg, PA: Morehouse Publishing, 2006.
 

The Harder Part

Readings for 7/17/16

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When I was in 8th grade I had a memorable English teacher – Mr. MacCullough.  That year we studied Shakespeare – and he insisted we read the plays, aloud in class.  And while 13 year olds aren’t keen on reading lines from Romeo & Juliet aloud… it was some smart pedagogy in my opinion – it’s not the same trying to read a play in your head.

So it came time for Julius Caesar – which was a revelation for me.  You’ll recall….Caesar isn’t really the main character – it’s Brutus.  Brutus is Caesar’s friend, good friend, and colleague.  And Brutus struggles in the play to reconcile his beliefs about Caesar as Emperor and the fact that they are friends.  For Brutus fears what Caesar will do as leader – so he decides he has no choice but to join with the group planning Caesar’s assassination.  Which inevitably comes to pass – each member of the group taking a turn stabbing Caesar – Brutus being the final one provoking Caesar with his dying breath to utter the infamous line – you too Brutus?

Brutus rocked my conceptual world at age 13.  Up until that point – everyone – certainly storybook characters – were classified as either good guy – or bad guy, right or wrong.  So I remember raising my hand for our post-play discussion. I was confused, frustrated, a little angry – and asking MacCullough about Brutus – how could Brutus, who seemed like a good guy, with honorable intentions, trying to do the right thing - who defended this horrifying act in a way that made sense to me, but in point of fact he betrayed a friend – gone so far as to end his life - yet believed he was saving a country.  I couldn’t understand what category Brutus fit into – was he good?  Or was he bad?

Oh I remember MacCullough smiling (Cheshire Cat), “That’s the genius and beauty of Shakespeare!” he said.  Shakespeare portrayed life, people as it really is – the good and the bad – always wrestling inside.  It’s not black and white – it is so very gray. Context – circumstances – emotions – leading us to our actions and choices – that can’t always easily be put into categories – because people are far too complicated for that.

That black and white, easy categorization is always a temptation when reading (or remembering) stories from the bible – and we have a great example of that today in this brief exchange between Martha, Jesus and Mary.  Martha is the “Martha, Martha, Martha!” (Brady Brunch) – the anxiety-filled, busy bee who can’t be bothered being with Jesus because she’s too concerned doing for Jesus.  And this lack of understanding makes Martha “bad” – especially if we hear Jesus comparing her with Mary – who filled with the love of God – adoringly sits at the feet of Christ while he speaks pearls of wisdom.  We can hear Jesus sounding like he is criticizing Martha’s passive-aggressive question, “don’t you think she should help me” with a “tsk-tsk, Martha – unlike you, Mary is doing the better part.”

But is that what is happening?  Is Jesus really saying Mary is better than Martha? My 8th grade self would want to – want to put each of them in a box, to tell me what I’m supposed to do.  Scripture though, I think, is even richer than Shakespeare.  And as we just heard Paul say – wisdom is from maturing in Christ – so what is the wisdom in this story?

First of all, this moment isn’t out of the blue – there is context.  This home visit concludes a significant travel narrative – ch. 10 – built around the verse – love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul – and love your neighbor as yourself.  That’s the central teaching of the section.  A section that opens with Jesus encouraging plenty of doing.  He sends the 70 disciples out to share the good news of God – and they go – then he has that memorable exchange with the lawyer that prompts the memorable Good Samaritan story – which is a story all about doing for others.  So obviously Jesus doesn’t think doing for others is wrong.  We know, Jesus teaches, we grow in loving God, when we love neighbors.  And that love that is more than just a feeling – it is enacted in – taking risks, caring for, crossing streets and being God’s hands and feet in the world.

But, loving action grows out of something.

I think there are two reasons this story comes at the end of the section.  Martha is doing exactly what would be expected of her.  As a woman of her time – she is tending to the host duties in the appropriate way.  And it is natural she’d expect Mary to live into her role of what a woman “should” be doing in that context.  Jesus invites her to see herself as more than the role she has been assigned.  Mary is doing something radical – she is acting as a disciple.  She is sitting at the feet of the teacher.

Her love of God is what gives her permission to consider herself worthy enough to simply be in Christ’s presence.  I hear Jesus saying – Martha, Martha – not as a putdown – but as an invitation – Martha, you too are worthy to sit here and listen.  Martha, Martha – stop proving yourself.  God loves you more for who you are than for what you do.

Do we believe we are worthy of taking the time to simply be and listen for God?  Do we think of a million reasons why we don’t have the time for that?  Or that’s not what we should be doing?  Busyness tends to be in the productive category, hence the “good” category.”   We hear Jesus this morning say – let go of the “shoulds”, let go of the busyness – be still and know that I am God.

Secondly, if this chapter is built around the commandment – love your neighbor as you love yourself – loving your self has to include taking time for the one relationship that only you have – yourself and God.  And that is definitely the harder part – because to sit and listen to God is to be with yourself.  With all that stuff – that you and I are wrestling with all the time.   There are a million ways we can distract and avoiding dealing with what’s going on “in here” – some of those distractions include putting all our attention on “doing” for others.    The chapter starts with disciples going out to neighbors to share God’s love.  And it concludes with a disciple replenishing that well – being with God to listen for the Word that her heart needs to hear.

So – how about you?  Are you worthy of simply being with God (and I don’t mean church – way too much taking and busyness here).  There are a myriad of ways we can make time to listen for that Word which is so very near to us – on our lips and in our heart for us to observe.  Are we avoiding being with God because of all there for us to wrestle with?  Can we let go of what we “should” be doing with our time – and make time for the most important relationship in our lives?

All of us are worried and distracted by many things – God knows that.   But the word which is very near us – reminds us that loving our self is as important as loving neighbor.  God knows we too need to hear that we are worthy – that we are loved – by the one who is love – be still and know God – who knows all that you wrestle with – and longs to tell us what we need to hear. Amen.

The Rev. Arianne R. Weeks

To Be A Neighbor

The Readings for Sunday, July 10, 2016

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The Rev. Jessica E. Sexton

How do we inherit eternal life? Well according to the gospel, we must love God and love our neighbor to have eternal life. But who is our neighbor?

A lawyer who is trying to determine Jesus credentials attempts to test his knowledge of the Law of Moses with this very question. He has already proven that he knows the law but he wants to see if Jesus will answer the question correctly. And by correctly that would mean that Jesus’ understanding of a neighbor would have been a fellow Israelite.

The concept of a neighbor meant someone or a group of people that shared a similar purpose or interest that focused on feelings of the camaraderie, community and solidarity. For the Israelites they all shared a covenant with the God of Israel and this was characterized by them sharing land, language, blood, a common way of life, and worship. For the lawyer, a neighbor was someone who shared the same ethnicity, race, religious beliefs, land and language. A neighbor with someone who was the same; therefore, a neighbor was an Israelite.

Yet the lawyer's understanding of what it means to be a neighbor does not allow him to love God or love his neighbor. The lawyer’s perspective of neighbor is someone who is like him and this limits him from loving all people especially those who are different. And by not showing love to all people, the lawyer then does not fully love God. To love God is to show God's children love—by loving your neighbor, you love God.

Jesus tells him a parable to make him think about his own definition of a neighbor. Jesus tells the lawyer a story of a man who was returning from Jerusalem, who is most likely Jewish and worshipped at the Temple. This man is traveling a dangerous road between Jerusalem and Jericho and finds himself being robbed, stripped of his clothes, brutally beaten and left for dead. This image in the gospel reading is a horrifying picture of a man bloodied, beaten and left on the side of the road to die alone.  Jesus asks the lawyer who was a neighbor to the dying man?
 Was it the priest?

Jesus describes a priest traveling down the same road who was most likely coming from Jerusalem as well. And he passes by the man on the other side because if he touched the man who was bloody from the attack he would become ritually unclean. Also to touch a dead body that had not been ritually prepared was something that the priests knew he couldn't do.

Was it the Levite?

Another religious official, a Levite who works at the temple also passes by the man and most likely for the same reasons as the priest.

Jesus then tells the lawyer of a third person who comes upon the dying man and it’s a Samaritan. A Samaritan was a foreigner (who does not live in the same area as the Israelites), they don't share the same beliefs and they were known to not get along. Yet despite all the differences and negative history between Samaritans and Israelites, this Samaritan shows the dying man the greatest kindness and mercy.

The mercy that the Samaritan shows the dying man was not just bandaging his wounds or finding him shelter, but his acknowledgment of the man’s pain and honoring the sanctity of his life. What makes someone your neighbor is not just similar geographies or heritage but recognizing who is our neighbor by acknowledging their humanity. In the case of this parable, the Samaritan is a neighbor because he does not ignore the man's pain of near being death, or his rejection and neglect by those who pass by him. The Samaritan is a neighbor because he acknowledges human suffering.

We are not told much about the him but we do know that Samaritans were looked down upon, therefore we can suspect that he has his own story and experiences of neglect and rejection. The Samaritan and the dying man may come from different races, different lands, and different religious traditions but pain and hurt is universal.

Who is our neighbor?

This week has been painful, especially for the black community and the law enforcement community in our country. The loss of life has been horrific and has caused much divide. The killings of Alton sterling, Philando Castille, Lorne Ahrens, Michael Smith, Michael Krol, Patrick Zamarripa and Brent Thompson has left us hurt and grieving over the loss of innocent lives.

As neighbors, black and white, law enforcement and civilian, we grieve for the world we are living in, and wrestle together with how to confront our violent world with God’s commandment to love.  But in the midst of our sadness, grief and fear, the blessing is that we are not alone. We have one another and most importantly we have God.

I came across a post shared by a black woman named Natasha Howell.

She had gone into a convenient store to get a protein bar when she noted that there were two white police officers, one about her age and another several years older, and they were talking to a woman behind the counter about the shootings over the last few days. When they had noticed her they fell silent. She went about her business and when she came up to the register to pay  the oldest officer asked her how she was doing. And she replied "okay, and you?" She said that he gave her a strange look and then said “how are you really doing?” Natasha looked at the officer and said “I'm tired!” To which he replies, “me too. I guess it's not easy being either of us right now is it?" Natasha said, “no, it’s not.” It was then that they hugged each other and she began to cry. In her post she says “I had never seen that man before in my life. I have no idea why he was moved to talk to me. What I do know is that he and I shared a moment this morning that was absolutely beautiful. No judgments, no justifications, just two people sharing a moment."

This is what it means to be a neighbor. A neighbor is someone that shares in your pain—who grieves with you and hopes for better with you. There does not need to be any judgments or justifications, just two people being present and recognizing each other's pain, hurt and grief.

That's why God called us to love our neighbor because it is love and mercy that brings healing. Natasha and the officer show us that being a neighbor is not ignoring one's experiences or hurt but acknowledging it. That acknowledgment is mercy and it is love because when we acknowledge someone’s suffering we are saying that we see them as people, God’s people—human beings who hurt over the loss of life and fear violence.

That's why the Samaritans act of mercy changes the definition of the lawyer’s understanding of what it means to be a neighbor. A Neighbor became defined in this parable as someone who does not look at you based on a checklist of similarities but as a human being who in our differences loves, grieves, and hurts the same. The Samaritan did not look at the man and say well he’s an Israelite and we don’t get along so I can’t help him. No, the Samaritan sees a dying man. It did not matter who he was—it only mattered that he was hurting.

Let us be the Samaritan, let us look at one another during this time of violence and pain as human beings who are hurting together—that is what matters. Pain is universal. May we not walk past one another but with one another, side by side to bring peace and healing to this world. Amen.
  

Cold Call Conversion

Readings for Sunday July 3, 2016

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The Rev. Arianne R. Weeks

The sermon was preached extemporaneously, but here are some notes - 

Cold-calling – have any of you ever done it?  College – Telemarketing – Cambridge – orientation – 3 calls – headsets off, walked out the door. Sounds like Jesus is asking these 70 followers – notice it’s a lot more than just the 12 – to go out – door to door – as some denominations do – and do some in person cold-calling for Christ.

And yet – is it? I’d like to look at the differences between what Jesus says – and what you and I would generally call – proselytizing – be it on the phone or door to door.

1) First – he says – Go on YOUR way.  There is not a prescribed direction each one of us are to go.  No one but you – can have the interactions with others that are part of your journey.  There is quite a bit of faith Jesus has in us then isn’t there.  Not telling us a specific path – but to choose the path that is meant for us.  Now in plenty of other places in the gospels Jesus does give us some ways to help us figure out our way – the way – is the way of truth, it aligns with our values it aligns with the values of God – the way of life and light.  It is the way of loving neighbor as yourself.  And it’s a narrow way – like a camel going through the eye of a needle.  It is not the way of the world – it is the way of the God.

Jesus doesn’t tell us specifically who or where to go – Jesus trusts that we can find our way.

2) Jesus says – I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves.  Jesus doesn’t say – armor up, protect yourself, grab your weapons and prepare for battle.  Jesus says – take nothing – no purse, bag or sandals.   Let go of what we typically use to cover and protect ourselves.  Jesus is asking his followers to be vulnerable – open.  Which of course is risky.  But that’s part of the way – the way of forgiveness, risky.  The way of love, risky.  Depending on God and one another (or neighbors) – it’s all risky.  Which is why that’s not the way of wolves.

Wolves fend for themselves.  Lambs – on the other hand – are dependent on one person aren’t they?   Their shepherd.  Jesus is telling us when we go on our way – when we chose our path – risk vulnerability.  Opening ourselves – and putting all our trust – our dependence – on God alone.

3) And finally – there is the focus on accepting, as opposed to performing. Which again, is the more vulnerable position to be in.  When you come to a house – pray for peace – anticipate an environment that will be open and welcoming.  Have that mindset – that expectation from the beginning.  And if – if – you are welcomed into conversation – then accept what is given to you.  In the form of food and drink – but also in what is shared with you.  Listen – do not think about what you will say in response.  Hospitality is more than just the food and drink to be offered to a guest.  Hospitality it is an attitude Jesus models – an attitude that trusts – I have more to receive in this interaction than to give – because everyone I meet is a teacher.


That is very, very different then a cold-call – where you are scripted and tied to an outcome.  An outcome that is usually tied to the monetary value of a bottom line.  The path we choose to share the good news of God’s forgiveness – worth and love – is certainly never scripted.  And I imagine it is why those 70 followers returned filled with joy.  Because maybe at the outset they thought Jesus was sending them out to convert – God was actually sending them forth to be transformed.  Because that is really the only way true conversation happens.  When people see someone who radiates the love of God – the acceptance of God – the hospitality of God – then they too, want to know that deep and everlasting joy.

Turning Your Face Toward Jerusalem: Where is God Calling You?

Readings for Sunday, June 26

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Turn Your Face Toward Jerusalem: Where is God calling you?

A Baseball Player’s Second Calling

Back in 2010 my mother sent me an article she had found online that she thought would interest me. At first I was surprised because I don’t follow sports regularly and the article was about a baseball player with the Oakland A's named Grant Desme. But as I got deeper into the article I found out why my mom sent it my way.

Grant dreamed of being a big leaguer since he was 4 years old and through his hard work and success on the field he played baseball in college and was drafted in the second round in 2007 by the Oakland Athletics. Grant has said that he was on top of the world with a successful baseball career, not having to go to school anymore, and having a big contract – – he had it all and even said that he thought he had everything figured out too.

Unexpectedly, he was hit by a pitch, which broke his right wrist and what was supposed to be a six-week injury ended up taking a year and a half to recover.  It was during this time that Grant admits he had to confront himself without his dream of being a baseball player. He had to look at his life without baseball and he didn't like it. He said, "at first I got angry but after that I decided to start praying and trying to figure out what the meaning of all this was.”

For Grant the source of his anger and frustration was that he had thought he had it all figured out—he had worked hard, met his goals, and done everything he could do to be successful, then it was all taken from him instantly by his injury and it made him wonder—what's the purpose? What am I actually going after?

Because if I can put all my effort into something and not have it be fulfilled, why do it? All reasonable questions I must say and ones I have also asked God and maybe you have asked as well.

Grant began to reflect on his existence on this earth and confront the big questions about life. Through this process of self-reflection and discernment, Grant says he was led to God and realized that maybe God was calling him to something different and something that was not baseball.

After playing baseball for so long it must of been scary for him to even consider making such a drastic career change and to walk away from the only thing that he really knew. In an interview he says that he did not want to feel like he was running away from baseball so he thought that he would try another year and what a successful year it was. Grant had one of the best years of his baseball career almost making his decision to leave baseball that much more difficult.

Yet, after winning MVP of the league and being invited to spring training with the Oakland A's he still felt “this yearning in [his] heart that there was something more."

That something more was God calling Grant to was the priesthood to become a Roman Catholic priest. He was called in particular to join St. Michael’s Abbey of the Norbertine Fathers that live in monastic community in Silverado, California. God called Grant to be baseball player but God also called him to the priesthood.

Initially, you can imagine the media’s response—how could a top baseball prospect leave the sport when he’s not only at the top of his game and has a big contract to go along with it? Money, success, fame-- he was living the dream that most people could only imagine. People were in disbelief that he could leave it all behind when so many other people wanted what he had accomplished? How and why?

Now,  in the Gospel reading today, we are told that Jesus set his face toward Jerusalem—he is being called to Jerusalem. We know this because Luke says that the days are drawing near—meaning that time is running out and the only one in control of time is God.

So, Jesus is being called by God to journey to Jerusalem despite knowing what the city had in store for him. And he is continuously faithful and steadfast to fulfill God’s calling.

My question is now all these years later for Grant Desme is: how did he keep his face turned toward Jerusalem? How will we know when we are called by God?

What does it mean to be “called”?

What does it mean to be "called" or to have a calling? Grant is called to the priesthood. Jesus is called to Jerusalem. So, there are many things we can be called to—a new vocation, gaining a relationship or breaking ties with someone, traveling or living somewhere new, a new spiritual awareness or practice, to have kids or not have kids—God calls us many times to many things. Thus, a calling is about the way in which we hear, feel and experience God’s purpose for our lives and what that purpose may be.

We can be called by a sudden awareness, or maybe a gnawing feeling that takes a while for us to recognize something needs to change. A call can be clear and it can be obscure. For Grant it was not instantaneous but a gradual uncovering of his purpose through prayer and how he felt when playing baseball. What did it feel like to be out on the field? Did it provide the same meaning and motivation that it once did?

I read in a book called Listening Hearts, that a call may not be so much a call to “do” as it could be a call to “be.” What we are called to do and who we are called to be is not a once-in-a-lifetime experience but an evolution of communication and connection to God. Our purpose in life evolves and changes and moves as we create relationships or lose them, as we have children or decide not to, as we take on a new jobs or decide to retire, as we lose loved ones and friends and as we gain them.  As the book Listening Hearts explains, “it is our faithfulness to God and not our station in life that honors a call.”

The Complexities of our Calling

Yet faithfulness is not easy. It is not an easy task to accept a call from God especially if it's something that we don't want to do, or if we don't feel ready for it or if we feel we are giving up and running away like Grant felt about his baseball career.  It can be scary and difficult to embrace and take on with ease something that God is calling us to. There have been things that I have felt that God was calling me to become so I worked really hard to get there and it didn't work out. What was God telling me? Was I hearing him right? The complexity of our purpose in life and what God wants from us can also be difficult to hear or to recognize in our lives. But a call from God to be better people, to live the life that honors God, and to live out our purpose is not meant to fulfill our own needs but to transform the lives of those around us.

In the depths of our confusion on whether we are up for the task or whether we are hearing God clearly, I have realized that there is one important thing that must be done – – surrender.  To surrender—let go of control and to not let anything get in the way of that release to God in order to hear, feel and experience God in our lives.

There is a song called "Multiplied" that emphasizes the importance of surrendering to God. I love the chorus and it goes as follows:

God of mercy sweet love of mine

I have surrendered to Your design

May this offering stretch across the skies

And these hallelujahs be multiplied.

For Jesus, his surrender to the prophetic call was an offering that stretched out his arms on the cross. And it was this surrender that has allowed us to sing hallelujah.

Christ is the ultimate example to us of living out our call in the world. His surrender and faithfulness to God is not deterred or distracted by the unkind Samaritans, or those who want to retaliate, or those who seek to follow him but on their time.  This is why Jesus tells us “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

For if we are truly serious about living out our callings, we need to look forward to the possibilities—new opportunities, service, love, grandchildren, adventure—all that will glorify God. We need to look forward not to be distracted and overwhelmed by the unkindness of others who don't understand what we are trying to do.

Jesus knew that if we look back then we will get caught up in past hurts, failures, insecurities and projections. That turning backward does not let us fully move forward in our journey to live out God's call in our lives. Turning backwards keeps us in the state that does not allow us to hope or dream or listen or just be present.  Looking backwards does not allow us to even look upon God because we will be caught up with what was, instead of what could be.

Not everyone has a calling to the priesthood but everyone at some point in their life has felt like Grant Desme—asking ourselves: what is our purpose? What does God have in store for me now? Embedded in these questions is vulnerability and confusion of what God is calling as to do or be in this world. In a sense we are out of control. We have no control of what life will ask of us. Thus, our calling can be difficult because we have control of what it will be and what it will mean for us.

However, the beauty and greatness of God is that God is present with us on this journey—God is with us in our lack of control—in our unsettled lives. Jesus is on the journey with us toward Jerusalem, holding our hand as we make our way toward our call or calls.

As Jesus is on his journey to bring new life through his death and resurrection in Jerusalem, we too also receive newness and transformation through our ride through life.

What will your journey to Jerusalem look like? Amen.


The Rev. Jessica E. Sexton

Call on the God who Saves

Readings for Sunday, June 19

Click the picture to listen to the sermon

The first thing that comes to mind when I read this gospel story (which also causes me to groan as I think about preaching) –– is a hazy memory of a memorable scene from a movie trailer that was a follow-up to the Exorcist.  This deep, multiplicitous voice crying out – our name is Legion.

Movies portray demonic possession fantastically – scaring us, of course with special effects and unexpected jolts – typically locating evil – within one person, one character – to be annihilated or freed.

Scripture – the New Testament in particular – in both Jesus’ back and forth with Satan – in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians – and in the vision of Revelation describe evil differently.  The power and principalities – Paul writes – the cosmic powers of darkness – which are the forces Satan claims to control – and offers to Jesus in exchange for his allegiance.

This is not something we talk about much, in church – evil, Satan and the powers of darkness.  But this morning we have this gospel – and a baptism – where adults on behalf of their child – will be asked if they renounce Satan, the evil powers and all spiritual forces of wickedness.

And in our world – sadly, we see evil and the spiritual forces of wickedness that - in more than one tragedy this week – violently enact hate by terrorizing and cutting short the lives of God’s people.

Where is our good news in our world which has yet to exorcise itself of the powers of violence and death? What can 21st century well-educated Christians learn about their life in God from a 1st century story of exorcism?
Jesus didn’t happen upon this poor guy in his travels.  In fact it looks as though he sailed across the Sea of Galilee specifically to save this person from his illness.  You all remember the story of Jesus calming the storm. Well that just happened.  He and the disciples had been hanging out on the other shore – fishing and talking – I suppose – when Jesus says, he guys, let’s get in a boat and go to the other side of this lake.

The Sea of Galilee is a big lake – about 10 miles across.  And it is also a dividing line – between the Jewish territory of Galilee –– and the Gentile, Greek-speaking territory of Gerasene.  And there’s no reason to believe the disciples had any interest in going over there – but they get into the boat, set sail and Jesus promptly falls asleep.

Until out of nowhere the waters begin to rage against the boat as if the sea itself is possessed.  The terrified disciples wake Jesus up – and without a word – the wind ceases, all is calm.  And they turn to one another saying – who is this that even the winds and the water obey him?

The disciples ask – but can’t answer.  The tormented man, however, does.  Storm ceases, they make it across, and as soon as they step foot on that rocky shore – the man with his demons confronts them saying – What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?  He knows exactly who Jesus is – and why he is there.

It is almost as if – the powers and principalities tried to keep Jesus from getting to that guy.  Tried to whip up a storm – stop that crossing – and scare them back.  Because as usual in gospel stories – evil has no trouble naming the saving power that it knows will cast out the darkness – to bring in the light.
When Jesus asks the man his name, however – legion is all he’s got.  It’s not a name – it’s a noun.  Legion means an army of 5-6 thousand Roman soldiers.  Legion conveys a mind that is under siege, occupied by voices that create a delusional reality of torment.  Torment made worse by having been cast out – to live, naked, ashamed and abandoned among the dead.

So – God is revealing something pretty incredible about our worth.  Why did Jesus cross that lake – yes, to get to the other side – but also I believe - because he was called there.  Jesus didn’t just willy-nilly decide to go out on the water.  On the quiet shore of Galilee Jesus heard something and so he deliberately crosses into unfriendly territory – to get to this person.

An unclean man – living in what would be considered the faithless territory of the Greeks – amongst the ritually unclean place of the tombs.  In other words – this is one of the darkest places for a Jewish prophet to be – it is the last place the Son of the Most High God should ever step foot.

And yet, there he is.  The darkest places – the fallen places – can simultaneously be where we find our strongest awareness and connection to God.  They are the places where none of us want to go – in here or out there.  Places of grief, shame and loss.  Places where – like this man – abandonment feels deserved and hiding in secret seems to be our only hope.  When we’re in those places - God hears the deepest parts of us longing for wholeness. And the saving power of God will not be driven back by the wildest of storms.

Last month – I and many of you – listened to a powerful sermon by the Rev. Glenna Huber.  She preached on John’s gospel story when Jesus meets a paralyzed man sitting by a pool, well-known for its healing waters.  Waters that he has not availed himself of.  So Jesus asks a direct – but challenging question – Do you want to be made well? And as she shared, it’s challenging because Jesus knows that healing will change us and it will upend the way we live in the world – it will upset the system we’ve gotten used to – no matter how dysfunctional it may be.  So we have to want help – we have to trust that new life will come and we have to actively participate in casting out the powers of darkness.  We have to work with God to bring in the light.

Not everyone wants to upset the system – not everyone wants to bring in the light – because the devil you know – may be easier than the God you don’t. Notice how the onlookers react to what Jesus has done for this man.  He is restored – clothed – in his right mind – but the people ask Jesus to leave. Why? They hadn’t asked the demon possessed man to leave.  What is it about God’s healing that scares them more than Legion?

That is a question very present in our 21st century world – what is it that scares us from changing what needs to be changed….as one late-night talk show host said this week - “It’s as if there’s a national script that we have learned, and…by accepting the script, we tacitly accept that the script will end the same way every time, with nothing changing, except for the loved ones and the families of the victims, for whom nothing will ever be the same.”  (Stephen Colbert, NYTimes, 6/14/16)

For the 1st c. people of Gerasene when they experience a power on earth that restores a person to wholeness – it challenges the system they’ve been living in.  A status quo that allowed them to pin all the evil on one person so they can shun and demonize – (Isaiah – Keep to yourself, do not come near me, for I am too holy) and probably feel better about themselves.  By healing one person, showing change is possible, Jesus upends how they’ve structured their society - which is why they want him to go.  They can’t un-see it – and are going to keep hearing about it.  Jesus says to the man – stay here and tell everyone what God has done for you.  Tell them how God reaches out to those who are at the lowest of the low – finds them – restores them – and says – now go, and tell the world how love saved you.

You all know the hymn – A Mighty Fortress is Our God – Martin Luther (Bach, music)
And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God hath willed / his truth to triumph through us.
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him; his rage we can endure,
for lo, his doom is sure; one little word shall fell him.

That "little word" - Baptizatus sum – I am baptized.  The love that saves us is symbolized in the act of baptism.  For as Paul writes – being baptized in Christ – we are clothed in Christ.  That is with us all the time – God’s claim on us as worthy of being called children of God.  And when you believe you are worthy of that love and belonging – you cannot despair.


That is the basis of hope – of faith in that which is not yet seen – and it is the power that helps us to change – to let in the light.  And in my experience – when you deeply believe that God’s claim of love is real and forever – it’s because you’ve experienced – first-hand – perhaps when you were at the lowest – how love saved you.  We have been clothed with Christ - so let us tell the world – our story of God’s saving good news.  Let us show the world what saving power looks like.  Amen,

The Rev. Arianne R. Weeks