From the Rite of Release from Call - 2/10/19 Sermon – February 10, 2019
The lessons today are filled with stories of people being called into God’s work: Isaiah. Paul. Disciples.
For each of them, there was a definitive moment – a clear invitation to serve God. I don’t know about you but when I hear these stories about such a clear message from God…it sounds as fanciful as Jonah being swallowed by a whale.
(Which also was a call story but the reverse – running away from God’s invitation)
I do know one thing I have in common with each of those people: they were not perfect. They were flawed, human. God doesn’t make us perfect and then invite us to do his work in the world. God takes us – warts and all. There are no distinctions or qualifications for who can serve God. God only asks an open heart for us to see people as they are – made in the image of God.
Some of our Biblical giants could be reminded of that!
Only a few verses before today’s lesson, Paul writes: “As in all churches of the saints, women should be silent in churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be subordinate, as the law also says. If there is anything they desire to know, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.”
We can chuckle at that now and point our finger at Paul, but who has the church silenced in Christ’s name since then? Children and young people. Those with a different theology of God: Jews, Muslims, Native Americans. Our brothers and sisters in the expansive LGBTQ community. Those struggling with mental health issues. People with dark skin. And on and on….
I don’t mean to bum you out. I firmly believe in the transformative power of God through the church when we live with an open heart.
We all are called to be followers of Jesus. We are not called to be the same.
Maybe the first step is to imagine together what Jesus means when he invites us to follow him.
Different kinds of following come to my mind:
1. I think of Hermione, Ron and Harry hurrying to keep up with Professor Dumbledore as he glides through the halls of Hogwarts, dropping bits of wisdom as he moves. They are hoping to just keep up and glean something.
2. I also think of the faceless followers on social media, looking for a glib sentence or two that reinforces their own beliefs. And being willing to un-follow with one click when an opposing view is expressed.
3. What about the followers in a crowd, blending in, trying to be anonymous so that they do not become the next target? They are following out of fear not love.
None of these are the type of following that Jesus calls us to. We are called into relationship, into community. As Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King frequently said: the Beloved Community. A way of justice, peace and harmony so every person has a voice, has hope, has dignity and is a part of God’s promise.
When Jesus says, “Do not be afraid. Come.”, he is saying: Join me. Live with me. Share in my life and my work.
Jesus’ invitation is specific and personal. It is to you and what you have to give to the world.
And…just like for those fishermen of Galilee, it is an opportunity for something new.
The call to follow Jesus may or may not take us to a new place, but it will always change our heart.
It was a huge leap of faith for each of the people called in today’s lessons. They were not given instructions like: Follow me and you will work in this way, with these goals and objectives. The invitation to the unknown did not stop them. They still “left everything and followed him.”
Can we do that?
Can we be like Isaiah and say, “Here I am. Send me!”
Unknown times are a difficult place to be and can be hard to hear God’s voice.
· After the last child is grown and leaves home
· After high school or college graduation
· Retirement
· The beginning or ending of a significant relationship
· OR…every morning when we wonder – “What will today bring?”
We (me and y’all) are both in a place of wondering ‘what is next’. It will be something different, something new. The Spirit’s Holy Imagination will be guiding us. To what – I and you and we do not know yet, but with whom – is never in question!
Our “Yes” to God does not happen just once in our lives, it happens every time Jesus invites us into relationship with him and each other.
When Jesus invites us into baptism, we are called by name and begin a relationship with God.
When Jesus invites us to the table, we receive forgiveness so that we may then take the gift of reconciliation out into the world.
Our call from Jesus is like that of Isaiah, Paul and the Disciples: The Holy Spirit opens our hearts, puts us in the midst of God’s people and says – you have work do.
I want to close with a poem. The author is Susan Palo Cherwien. She is a writer and musician. And a Lutheran from Minnesota!
A Pilgrimage
In the beginning,
From the beginning
It becomes very clear
this is not a journey
we take on our own:
Someone brought us or carried us,
Someone soaked us
(Gasping, cold, wet!)
We welcome you
- someone said –
into the Lord’s family.
From the beginning
- one Lord, one faith, one baptism –
From the beginning
It was made very clear
This is not a race
but a pilgrimage,
not a biathlon,
but a cropwalk
Hand clasping hand.
From the beginning
It becomes very clear
this is not a journey
we take
alone
but a journey
we take
all one.
Amen
The lessons today are filled with stories of people being called into God’s work: Isaiah. Paul. Disciples.
For each of them, there was a definitive moment – a clear invitation to serve God. I don’t know about you but when I hear these stories about such a clear message from God…it sounds as fanciful as Jonah being swallowed by a whale.
(Which also was a call story but the reverse – running away from God’s invitation)
I do know one thing I have in common with each of those people: they were not perfect. They were flawed, human. God doesn’t make us perfect and then invite us to do his work in the world. God takes us – warts and all. There are no distinctions or qualifications for who can serve God. God only asks an open heart for us to see people as they are – made in the image of God.
Some of our Biblical giants could be reminded of that!
Only a few verses before today’s lesson, Paul writes: “As in all churches of the saints, women should be silent in churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be subordinate, as the law also says. If there is anything they desire to know, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.”
We can chuckle at that now and point our finger at Paul, but who has the church silenced in Christ’s name since then? Children and young people. Those with a different theology of God: Jews, Muslims, Native Americans. Our brothers and sisters in the expansive LGBTQ community. Those struggling with mental health issues. People with dark skin. And on and on….
I don’t mean to bum you out. I firmly believe in the transformative power of God through the church when we live with an open heart.
We all are called to be followers of Jesus. We are not called to be the same.
Maybe the first step is to imagine together what Jesus means when he invites us to follow him.
Different kinds of following come to my mind:
1. I think of Hermione, Ron and Harry hurrying to keep up with Professor Dumbledore as he glides through the halls of Hogwarts, dropping bits of wisdom as he moves. They are hoping to just keep up and glean something.
2. I also think of the faceless followers on social media, looking for a glib sentence or two that reinforces their own beliefs. And being willing to un-follow with one click when an opposing view is expressed.
3. What about the followers in a crowd, blending in, trying to be anonymous so that they do not become the next target? They are following out of fear not love.
None of these are the type of following that Jesus calls us to. We are called into relationship, into community. As Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King frequently said: the Beloved Community. A way of justice, peace and harmony so every person has a voice, has hope, has dignity and is a part of God’s promise.
When Jesus says, “Do not be afraid. Come.”, he is saying: Join me. Live with me. Share in my life and my work.
Jesus’ invitation is specific and personal. It is to you and what you have to give to the world.
And…just like for those fishermen of Galilee, it is an opportunity for something new.
The call to follow Jesus may or may not take us to a new place, but it will always change our heart.
It was a huge leap of faith for each of the people called in today’s lessons. They were not given instructions like: Follow me and you will work in this way, with these goals and objectives. The invitation to the unknown did not stop them. They still “left everything and followed him.”
Can we do that?
Can we be like Isaiah and say, “Here I am. Send me!”
Unknown times are a difficult place to be and can be hard to hear God’s voice.
· After the last child is grown and leaves home
· After high school or college graduation
· Retirement
· The beginning or ending of a significant relationship
· OR…every morning when we wonder – “What will today bring?”
We (me and y’all) are both in a place of wondering ‘what is next’. It will be something different, something new. The Spirit’s Holy Imagination will be guiding us. To what – I and you and we do not know yet, but with whom – is never in question!
Our “Yes” to God does not happen just once in our lives, it happens every time Jesus invites us into relationship with him and each other.
When Jesus invites us into baptism, we are called by name and begin a relationship with God.
When Jesus invites us to the table, we receive forgiveness so that we may then take the gift of reconciliation out into the world.
Our call from Jesus is like that of Isaiah, Paul and the Disciples: The Holy Spirit opens our hearts, puts us in the midst of God’s people and says – you have work do.
I want to close with a poem. The author is Susan Palo Cherwien. She is a writer and musician. And a Lutheran from Minnesota!
A Pilgrimage
In the beginning,
From the beginning
It becomes very clear
this is not a journey
we take on our own:
Someone brought us or carried us,
Someone soaked us
(Gasping, cold, wet!)
We welcome you
- someone said –
into the Lord’s family.
From the beginning
- one Lord, one faith, one baptism –
From the beginning
It was made very clear
This is not a race
but a pilgrimage,
not a biathlon,
but a cropwalk
Hand clasping hand.
From the beginning
It becomes very clear
this is not a journey
we take
alone
but a journey
we take
all one.
Amen
