JESUS REVOLUTION OF LOVE AND JUSTICE

Luke 4: 14­30
July 27, 2014
Rev. Grant Lowe

(Picture­ Nazareth)
In the little village of Nazareth an old woman who has just finished her
breakfast is standing looking out her window as she wipes her hands on her
apron, and she sees that Jesus boy walking down the alley behind her house
to go play with his friend as he often did. Jesus, the six year old snotty nose
kid, and she hollers out at him “Hey Jesus, wipe your nose of goodness
sakes”.
Did you ever live in a little town like that? Professor James Strange at the
University of south Florida estimates the population of Nazareth at the time
of Jesus was probably less than 500. It’s a village where everybody knows
everybody, and where all the adults share the role of parent to all the kids.
Jesus may have apprenticed with his father to learn to be carpenter, but he
was struggling with what God wanted him to do with his life, and he went
down to the Jordan where his cousin John was preaching, and he listened.
Eventually he was baptized by John, and then wrestled in earnest with his
sense of call and all the temptations to avoid what God is calling him to do.
Then, after spending his time in the desert he taught his new understanding
of the faith in the synagogues around Galilee and then went back to
Nazareth. The elders of the synagogue invite him to be the preacher of the
day at Sabbath services.
As Luke tells the story, the people in Nazareth have heard about him and
they listen with great expectations as he reads from the Isaiah scroll: “The
spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has appointed me to to bring good
news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and
recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free.” At first they were
pretty amazed at his gracious words. “Wow, is this Joe’s boy?” But then
Jesus said the good news is for everyone, that God has an invitation to
radical hospitality, and it extends to all, even non­Jews, gentiles. They
thought of themselves as God’s pet, but Jesus said, no, God doesn’t have
pets. He reminded them of the great drought and famine in the time of
Elijah. There were plenty of widows in Israel, yet God sent the prophet Elijah
to none of them but to a foreigner, a widow of Zarephath in Sidon. There
were also many lepers in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them
was cleansed except the Naaman the Syrian.’ Jesus said God cares as
much for gentiles, including Syrians, and Phoenicians, as he does for the
Jews. That’s revolutionary. That’s upsetting. They were upset, angry, mad
enough to kill him, Luke tells us.
Here, at the beginning of his ministry in Luke’s gospel Jesus said he has
good news for the poor. At the end of his ministry in Matthew he says when
you fed the hungry you fed me, when you clothed the naked you clothed me,
when you cared for the sick you cared for me. The good news is that God
cares about people in need, and the better news is that God calls us to serve
God in this ministry. God calls us to make a difference in God’s world, to be
a part of Jesus’ revolution of love and justice.
Many of you have responded to this call in many ways, mostly unknown and
unsung. This congregation has many people reaching out to folks in need in
our community and beyond our shores. We recently heard from a couple of
our young people who travelled to Guatemala and Haiti. This morning I want
to mention just a couple of ways we can make a difference.
(BETH­EL PICTURES) One way we respond to this call is the Beth­El
ministry to migrant workers which was started by presbyterians in 1976.
Since then it has grown and become a major migrant ministry attracting
attention and support from all over our country, offering counseling, legal
advice, clothing, food and more. The school for migrant children this past
year had the highest FCAT scores of any school in Hillsborough County. Not
easy with migrant children. You can be a tutor there. You can make a
difference. We have a bunch of folks who go there every week to support
the food program. Junie Miller is the lady to talk to if you want to make a
difference this way.
While Beth­El is a ministry of compassion, we also deal with the root causes
of poverty. This gets more risky because it means asking questions about
our economic system.
(CIW PICTURES) Today people of many faiths here in Florida have
supported the Coalition of Immokalee workers as we change, the system
that keeps migrant workers impoverished. And we are having success!
90 % of the growers in Florida have agreed to the Fair Food program,
agreeing to provide adequate hygiene in the fields, forbid sexual harassment
as well as physical abuse, and many other protections the rest of us are
used to. A dozen of the largest tomato buyers in the world, including
McDonald's, Burger King, Whole Foods, Aramark, Trader Joe’s, Subway,
Chipotle, Taco Bell, and Wal­Mart have all agreed to buy tomatoes only
from growers who agree to these protections for their workers. Publix has
refused, and we want them to come on board. Wages have increased for
30,000 workers. They receive a penny more for every pound of tomatoes
they pick. The picture shows Walmart representatives John Amaya and Tom
Leech signing the agreement to support the Fair Food Program with
representatives of the CIW.
“This is the best workplace­monitoring program I’ve seen in the U.S.,” said
Janice R. Fine, a labor relations professor at Rutgers. Beau McHan,
Pacific’s harvest manager said, “We’re trying to run a business and make a
profit, yet everyone wants to know they’re changing the world for the better.”
A former New York State judge, Laura Safer Espinoza oversees the
inspection apparatus, which interviews thousands of workers, audits payrolls
and conducts in­depth interviews with farm managers. There are lengthy
trainings for crew leaders, and six of them were fired after her team
investigated allegations of verbal abuse and sexual harassment.
“Supervisors have gotten the message, and we’re seeing far fewer
allegations of harassment than three years ago,” she said. “It is a model for
agriculture across the U.S. If anybody is going to lead the way and teach
people how it’s done, it’s them.” She was with us for our recent march from
Immokalee to Lakeland to appeal to Publix to join in supporting the fair food
program. There Fair Food program has received awards for its effectiveness
by the State Department and the United Nations.
(PICTURE OF POPE FRANCIS) In spite of Jesus words to the contrary,
there are those who question the role of the church of Jesus Christ helping
the poor in any way that calls for change in a system that keeps them poor.
One of those who has called for change is Pope Francis. He is Time’s Man
of the Year but that is only because Jesus is his "Person of the Day" —
every day. As Jim Wallis put it, Francis is just doing his job. The pope is
meant to be a follower of Christ. Isn’t it extraordinary how simply following
Jesus can attract so much attention when you are the pope? Every day,
millions of other faithful followers of Christ do the same thing. They don’t
attract attention, but they keep following Jesus. Pope Francis is not asking
us to follow him, but inviting us to follow Christ. Pope Francis reminds us of
Jesus, calling us to a deeper relationship with Christ. Out of that deeper
relationship with Christ we begin to see the world from Christ’s new
perspective, and we find the courage and strength to join Jesus revolution of
love and justice. When he invites homeless men to have breakfast with him
on his 77th birthday, or provides a chair and food for the Swiss Guard
outside his room, he reminds us of Christ. When he kisses the feet of Muslim
prisoners, he reminds us of Christ. When he chooses a simple place to live
and simple clothes to wear and when we hear rumors of his going out at
night in disguise to minister to the homeless, he reminds us of Christ. His
intention is to impress on all the world, Christian and non­Christian alike,
what it means to follow Jesus.
But Christ’s kingdom goes beyond acts of charity; Christ’s Kingdom is meant
to change everything, and Pope Francis reminds us of that. In his recently
published Evangelii Gaudium (Joy of the Gospel), he points to the kingdom
of God, which is more than generous acts of compassion; it is
establishing justice in the world. Let me quote a few sentences which
are worthy of quiet reflection as you consider how Jesus is asking you to
make a difference in God’s world:
“Just as the commandment 'Thou shalt not kill' sets a clear limit in order to
safeguard the value of human life, today we also have to say ‘thou shalt not’
to an economic system of exclusion and inequality. Such an economy kills.”
“Some people continue to assume that a free market, will inevitably succeed
in bringing about greater justice and inclusiveness in the world. This opinion,
expresses a crude and naive trust in the goodness of those wielding
economic power and in the sacralized workings of the prevailing economic
system.”
We dare not give our economic system a sacred value which rightly belongs
only to God.
When pundits Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck called his words “Marxist,”
Pope Francis again offered a Christ­like and humorous response, “The
Marxist ideology is wrong. But I have met many Marxists in my life who are
good people, so I don’t feel offended.” The Pope offers food to the poor and
they call him a saint. He asks ‘Why are hard working people so poor?’ and
they call him a communist. Jesus calls you as his disciple to make a
difference in the world as citizens of Gods kingdom. How will you respond to
his call?

PLOW, SOW, CULTIVATE, HARVEST, SHARE -- REPEAT!

Matthew 13: 17

June 13, 2014

Peg Papsch

When Elizabeth first sent out this summer's preaching schedule during her absence, I went straight to the lectionary to see the suggested texts for with dismay I saw this parable and I didn't want to preach on something so simple and easy to understand.  I looked at alternative texts, prayed, and continued to fight with myself until I joined others from Peace Church at Montreat.  I signed up for an art workshop led by an old friend I hadn't seen in several years.  As I walked into her classroom, I noticed this stole hanging on a bulletin board along with several others.  Brenda, who also made several of the other stoles Elizabeth wears, had made it to address the theme, "Food for the world." I knew that this was the text God wanted me to study and share with you.

Let's pray,   Prepare our hearts, Oh Lord, to hear you Word.  Silence in us any voice but your own, so the hearing we may understand, and understanding, may be led to serve.   Amen

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake.² Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. ³ Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. ⁴ As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. ⁵ Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. ⁶ But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. ⁷ Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. ⁸ Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. ⁹ Whoever has ears, let them hear.” ¹⁰ The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” ¹¹ He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. ¹² Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. ¹³ This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.  ¹⁴ In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.” ¹⁵ For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes.  Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’^[a]16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. ¹⁷ For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

It was the last week of summer camp at Kirkwood, Philadelphia Presbytery’s version of Cedarkirk, located in the heart of the Penna. Pocono Mountains – a green and wonderfully wild wilderness some 120 miles north of the teeming city of Philadelphia.  The college aged counselors were tired after 11 weeks of chasing down hundreds of active children some of them had already returned to school, and the rest were distracted with their upcoming plans.   So, this week was dubbed MAD Camp – music, Art, and drama, and an experienced team of us had been recruited to come and lead the group of 5th through 8th graders in various art experiences which had been added to the regular schedule of outdoor adventures.  That would give the counselors some down time each day  About 100 kids had come with musical instruments, cameras, notebooks full of poems and stories, liturgical dance or step team routines, and a variety of other talents and abilities.  That year, however, the schedule coincided with the end of the day camp program at Chester East Side Ministries, our Presbytery’s inner City mission in Chester City – regularly ranked as 1st, 2nd, or 3rd poorest city in the U.S. So, add to the mix another 2 dozen youngsters with little or no art experience or interests, and lacking in social skills.

I was Pastor in residence that week charged with planning daily worship services using as many of the children as wanted to be involved each day. On Wed. morning the volunteers and I were meeting in the outdoor chapel in the woods, on a hill that overlooked the main camp area.  All was going well, until I realized that everyone’s attention had shifted away from planning, and toward the field below.  Turning to look down the hill I saw one counselor walking and talking with a small, obviously reluctant youngster.  “Oh, no,” gasped one sweet youngster, “Is that PJ?”  peeped up another.  I knew about PJ.  He was notorious for misbehavior in the dining hall.  As they grew closer, we could begin to hear their ongoing argument. “Don’t wanna be in no worship service!”   “Sure you do, it’ll be fun. “Din’t sign up for this. I wanna play soccer. “  “No, see you signed up, there’s your name.”  “No, I din’”  They arrived at the clearing, and Tim, the counselor quickly disappeared, leaving me with an angry, defiant little 10 year old.  Ain’t gonna be in no worship service” he declared loudly.  “ell, ok, you don’t have to, but you do have to stay here until we finish.”   I counted on the truth that I had heard that inner city kids were afraid  of the wilderness.  “You know it’s too dangerous to walk around out here by yourself.”    It worked, he took a seat off to one side, still grumbling under his breath.

The service was planned around Jesus’ two passages where he says, first “I am the light of the world.”  And then, later,   “You are the light of the world.”  Busily passing parts to the eager youngsters, I almost missed the soft voice coming from the side.  “’ll do the Scripture” said PJ.  It was a challenge more than an offer., but I ignored the eager waving hands, and trying to sound encouraging,  I asked, “Which one do you want to do?”

“Don’t want to do neither of them.  I’ll do the 27th Psalm.”  I will remember that day for the rest of my life, although, for the life of me I couldn’t thin of a single word from that Psalm.  Calling on the old teacher’s trick, I asked “Say some of it for me.”    This scrawny little, angry faced, hunch shouldered child was transformed.   Standing erect, his head held  high, he announced loudly and definitively “The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear.”  The Lord is the stronghold of of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? ”  and he continued flawlessly through all 14 verses of the 27th Psalm, which concludes  “I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  Wait for the Lord. Be strong and let your heart take courage.  Wait for the Lord.” It seemed as if even the birds and crickets kept silent.  It took some time for all of us to compose ourselves.

Children in Chester face many challenges, poverty, gangs, drugs abuse, you name it/ As the planning time ended, I asked PJ to stay behind.  "Tell me, did your father teach you that?"  The small resistant, scowling child was back.  "Don't have no father."  How about your mom?"  "She in jail.  My Gran taught me."  "Oh, that's great, will she be here on Saturday for the closing?"  "She dead."  It was barely a whisper  So, how did this Word of God sprout in this example of hard between down, rocky, thorn infested life?     "I be in a foster home."  he ventured.  "How is that?"     PJ shrugged, "Ok, he be tough but they nice enough and I have my own bed." With that we had come to the main campgrounds and he scampered away to play soccer.  I watched him the rest of the week, but our eyes never met again, and on Saturday he was gone.

I wondered about him from time to time, and checked each time I heard or saw in the news about another youth killing in Chester  I had learned that his name was Walter, PJ had been given him at camp because he wouldn't eat any of the healthy food we served,  just peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.  I never found him in the news, thank God.   Fast forward six years.  The Presbytery youth council was planning a spring retreat at the Atlantic coast.  As staff support, I was checking in the councilmembers. Into the room strode a tallish, well- groomed, self-assured  African American teen with a broad smile.  After greeting all his friends, his gaze fell on me.  His grin was even more broad as he came toward me. "Remember me?"  I gasped, PJ!  Now I was not a hugger at that point in my life, and anyway, old, grey-haired white women didn't go around hugging African American teen aged boys, but I hugged him that afternoon.  He had, once again been transformed.  The foster parents with whom he had been placed were a couple from the only Presbyterian Church in Chester. Charlie Warren was clerk of Session, and his wife was volunteer secretary two days a week.  When PJ's mother had signed over her parental rights, they had adopted him right away, and brought him up to know and love God The parable of the sower took on flesh and blood.  The sermon could probably end right here, you all get the point.

Gardening in Jesus' day was a far cry from agriculture today.  The gardener in fact did scatter seed indiscriminately across the land, and then rake it around to cover it with soil. How wasteful  But, you know, God is just like that - no tidy, straight rows in carefully prepared beds for God.  The gardener God just  tosses the Word, His love, around everywhere, for anyone at all to grow up there - open hearts, closed heart, enriched hearts, grief stricken hearts, oppressed hearts and oppressing hearts struggling poverty stricken hearts, even middle class and wealthy hearts.  God isn't partial, God wants to bless everyone  It certainly isn't the way of our culture today.  Where did this idea of caring for every living being come from?  Well, it got its roots  in the early history of the Hebrew people, and by extension into Jesus' time all the way into our thoughts today.  In the midst of Leviticus - the Law Book of the Hebrews.  Right in the middle of the Torah the Sacred text comes the Holiness Code - the moral imperative of the people God identified as a holy people .came this imperative.  Do not harvest your crops to the ends of your field.  Do not pick up produce that falls to the ground; leave it for the poor,  It also made it's way into the story of Ruth, and also into 21st century Peace Church, where I understand you have participated in gathering the gleanings from gardens to give to the Manatee Food Cupboard.

Jesus' disciples asked why he talked in parables.  He told them, "To you has been given to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God. The parables as parables are simply to show how God's extravagant love is poured out  Those of us who have received that love are called upon to do the rest - cultivate, harvest and share Even as we have worked here at Peace Church to beautiful the wonderful garden of Peace, pulling weeds, cutting down invasive plants and trees, emending soil, clearing rocks, so we have also  welcomed strangers  into the midst,  shared the faith with others, helped the needy, making our lives and this community witnesses of what God can do.  With just a day's notice, a week or two ago, a group of folks from Peace gathered at Beth-El, and in a few hour had filled about 200 bags of groceries for farmworker - those folks who harvest the fresh foods we eat, and a paid meager wages.  200 families had meals for a week because Peace shared God's love in a tangible way. That is the secret we know and live here whether it is packing food, giving of our means, beautifying this place so that it becomes more and more appealing to others who need to receive a measure of God's love to be added to their lives; however we continue this age old faith driven , plowing, sowing, cultivating, harvesting and sharing, we keep this parable alive and growing.  It can be a word of encouragement to someone in the office where we work, a hand across the shoulder of a sorrowing acquaintance, even a quick prayer uttered on behalf of another just as we are falling asleep, we are building up the Kingdom of God this Sunday.

 

 

 

 

"Rough Seas Ahead"

Matthew 14: 21-31

Jenny Sheffield

July 6, 2014

 

I am grateful and humbled by the support of my Peace family who made it possible for me to experience the best and most challenging week of my life so far. Some things you need to see to believe it; like the rivers of sewage and the piles of garbage. Children standing in the street, emaciated with bloated bellies from malnutrition. The locals lined up at Univers Medical Center, praying to receive care. The need is so great and the laborers are few, so most are turned away, but they don’t complain. I had the opportunity to experience a glimpse of life in Ouanaminthe, Haiti at Institution Univers. I also experienced the juxtaposition of the depth of poverty and the joy and gratitude of my new friends.

Rosemica is a seventeen-year-old young lady. She loves candy, reading and Jesus. She is kind and sassy. She hopes to come to the US to study Business Administration and to work at Univers when she’s older. She was supposed to be my translator for the week but she and Grace, my teammate, have become sisters for life.

Tessicka is a five year old little girl with the sweetest smile I’ve ever seen and the cutest dimples that I must have kissed five hundred times. She loves to play “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes” She was one of my students and my little Sunshine. One day after class she tripped and fell; I just scooped her up, held her and rocked her. After plenty of kisses and a few lines of Jesus Loves Me, she stopped crying. As I held this little girl, I thought, what if this is how God sees us? Our feet have failed us, we’ve tripped, fallen down, we’re covered in boo-boos and need to be cared for.

My name is Jenny I had Chickungunya. I am not making up that word. Although our team did call it Chimichanga when we needed a laugh. I had joint pain and fever. I also had ibuprofen for the pain, Motrin for the fever, and fans to keep me cool when we had electricity. I slept under the safety of a mosquito net reading letters from home every night and being encouraged that my Peace family was praying for me. Being sick away from home was frightening and I felt a little like Peter. Jesus had called me to walk on the water with Him but my feet failed me and I began to sink in my fear. Jesus reached down and pulled me out and He asked “Why did you doubt Me?” He pulled me out when I saw a two-month-old infant whose tiny body was hot with fever. His mother can’t afford food, let alone medication; but the God we worship doesn’t sit back and watch us trip and fall, or watch us sink and drown. He is bigger than that.

The God we worship, who did the unthinkable for us, whose love is so deep and complex, we’ll never understand this side of Heaven is bigger than that. The God we love and serve is bigger than a season of poverty that won’t seem to end, He is bigger than a corrupt government that considers improvement to be paving a couple of roads here and there… and that’s about it. He is bigger than Chickungunya, AIDS or Malaria. He is bigger than the rough seas ahead. Our feet may fail us when the waves are too big and the wind is too strong. But let’s take a lesson from Peter; let’s be courageous, step out of the safety of the boat when Jesus calls us. Trust without borders, despite our fears, and walk on the water with Jesus.

Matthew 10:24-39:

Rev. Kim Adams

June 22, 2014

 

Prayer:

Lord, open our hearts and minds

by the power of your Holy Spirit,

that as the scriptures are read

and your word is proclaimed,

we may hear with joy what you say to us today.

                                                                                                                            

Matthew 10:24-39:

“Whoa, what does that passage say?” That was my reaction the first time I read the Scripture lesson for today. After a few times reading this passage, images of Superhero Jesus with a red cape and a “J” on his chest saying “Have no Fear, Jesus is Here!”  invaded my mind, then I moved on to the Mighty Mouse theme and began singing “Here I come to save the day, Jesus Christ is on his way.” Then I stopped myself. I recognized that I was trying to make light of something that I didn’t really understand, most likely because I didn’t look at the passage in it’s entire context the first time I read it. However, after spending some time familiarizing myself with this passage, I learned that Jesus had just called and commissioned his disciples “to go out and proclaim the good news. The kingdom of heaven had drawn near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with skin disorders, and throw out demons.” (vv7-8) Then, I recognized the seriousness of this text. Can you imagine how intimidating it must have been for the disciples to go out and do what Jesus commanded them to do, after all, Jesus, their teacher, had experienced persecution in his ministry, and as followers of Jesus, why wouldn’t they?  However, Jesus was concerned for his disciples and their mission and knowing they would encounter rejection and persecution along the way, Jesus did not want them to be overcome by fear.

Being overcome by fear can really be problematic, it can hinder the way we experience faith and life. About a month and half ago, my husband, Jason, daughter, Emma, son,  Andrew, along with my sister-in-law and her family and I attended a Greek festival at the Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church in Marietta, GA. Just outside the sanctuary there was a large amphitheater, nestled into the hill, where people were gathered, clapping their hands and watching Greek dancers dance to live Greek music - OPA! - It was a magnificent site. Emma, Andrew, and my two nieces wanted to go down and join in the dancing, and begged for one of the adults to go down with them and join in the fun, and yet the four of us were reluctant to do so. In all honesty, I really wanted to go dance with them, but between not knowing the dance moves and my “fear” of what others might think, held me back. So we found some seats and became spectators. However, shortly after we sat down, something interesting happened, without a word, my brother-in-law stood up, took Andrew and his youngest daughter by their hands, and with Emma and his oldest daughter following, the five of them headed down the steps of the amphitheater, joined hands with the other people, and danced. You could see the joy radiating from them as they smiled and moved to the music. It was a special moment for the four children, and I imagine it was a special moment for my brother-in-law too. As I reflect on that day, I realize that my brother-in-law was able to do what I would not allow myself to do, that is, by putting his fear aside, he was able to enjoy the moment more fully.

Friends, what do you fear?

Putting fear aside can be difficult. Some people might be worried about what others think of them, other people might be consumed with the fear of failure, and some people even feel that by putting their fear aside, they will become vulnerable to judgment. Yet, others may have learned to fear from parents or other authority figures, whether it was intended to keep them out of harms way or to coerce them into believing a certain way.

Fear is powerful. In some instances, fear can motivate people to do things that are good for them like, wear seat belts, lock doors at night, and put on sunscreen. In other circumstances, fear can be immobilizing, preventing people from doing things like: putting an end to an unhealthy relationship, it can prevent someone from taking a risk on a new endeavor, and fear can silence us in the face of persecution and injustice. 

Jesus’ disciples are called to be like their teacher therefore, on their mission, the twelve could not only expect to preach what Jesus preached, but also to suffer how Jesus suffered. I can’t imagine that anyone really wants to experience suffering, but when Jesus calls and commissions someone, is there even a choice? (Pause) Jesus their teacher, did not want fear to silence them in the face of persecution. So, Jesus says to them: “Don’t be afraid.” In fact Jesus says this three times in this text, so it must be pretty important! 

Jesus tells his disciples “...don’t be afraid of those people because nothing is hidden that won’t be reveled, and nothing is secret that won’t be brought out into the open.” You see, Jesus doesn’t want the disciples to be silent in front of people, Christ wants them to share the good news, to share their new found faith with others. So, the message here is, don’t be afraid of what people will say to you, don’t be afraid to share your faith and proclaim the good news.  Don’t be afraid of those people judging you or persecuting you. Everyone has secrets they want to share and your courage to step out and share your faith will help others do the same, and in the larger picture keeping secrets is futile, because God knows what is in our hearts and our minds, so it doesn’t do us any good to keep our faith to ourselves. In the world we live in and in the world the disciples lived in, change begins with a drop of water, then a trickle, eventually building into a gentle stream, and then a flowing river. Jesus wants his disciples, this includes us, to have the courage to be the first drop.

Again, we hear Jesus say “Don’t be afraid.” “Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body but can’t kill the soul.” You see, Jesus knows what is coming for him, he knows that the disciples are going to witness the arrest and crucifixion of their teacher. Those days are going to prove to be very scary for the disciples.  What do they do? How do they handle this fear? “Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body but can’t kill the soul.” As we know all too well, humans have the power to hurt others, humans have the power of destruction, humans have the power to kill. The disciples knew this then just as we know now.  So this fear is going to be very real for the disciples and what does Jesus reassure them of?.....That people can kill the body, but not the soul. God the divine parent, protects and cherishes your soul. No matter what physical harm might come to you on this earth, your soul, your very being, the core of who you are is shielded and protected by God who created you, God who loves you and is more concerned for your safety and well-being than you will ever be.  

The last time in this passage we hear “don’t be afraid”,  Jesus says  “Don’t be afraid, you are worth more than many sparrows.” This statement comes right after Jesus tells the disciples a story about two sparrows being sold for a small coin in the market, although those sparrows may seem insignificant to humankind, they will not fall to the ground without the Lord God knowing about it, God cares for creation. God cares for us. Humankind is created in God’s image. God created us, God has called us and claimed us, we are God’s children, God loves us!! We are in the Divine grip of God all the time...we are important to God! Creator God knows the number of hairs on our head, the intentions of our hearts, our inner most secrets. We’ve seen the work of God the Creator on earth and in the sky and in one another, and my, oh my is it a wonderful creation! We can and should get lost in the wonderment of God’s creation. God loves us so much, that God poured God’s self into human form in the person of Christ. Therefore to be like God, we are to live out our lives proclaiming God’s love and the love of Christ to the world. Jesus wants his disciples, all of his disciples, to live by faith, to be filled with hope and courage, not with fear.^[

^1] 

Friends, what do you fear?
What is holding you back from living into your faith?
What is restricting you from experiencing the love of Christ more fully?

When we participate in the life of the church, we live into our faith. When we reach out to the poor and marginalized, we experience the love of Christ. When we put our fears aside and live by Christ’s example, we experience our faith more fully. When we put our fears aside and trust in God, even in the darkest and scariest moments, we experience our faith more fully. When we put our trust in Christ and speak out boldly for our faith, we experience our faith more fully. When we trust, REALLY TRUST in the Holy Spirit to be at work in the world around us, we experience our faith more fully.

Friends, in life, the “fear” to dance can prevent us from experiencing a moment; don’t be afraid to dance, don’t let fear hold you back!  In faith, the “fear” to dance can prevent us from experiencing the full love and awesomeness of the Creator, the Christ and the Holy Spirit. Don’t let fear  hold you back from fully experiencing the faith that God has intended for you. Do not be afraid! The Holy Spirit is with us. Christ is near! God is here!

Amen!

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^[1] Holwerda, David E. The Lectionary Commentary, Theological Exegesis for Sunday’s Texts: The Third Readings: The Gospels. William B. Eeerdmans Publishing Company: Grand Rapids, MI. 2001, 58.