Walk in Faith

Christ Church, Needham

November 17, 2019

The Rev. Nancy E. Gossling

Let us pray,

        In the name of Jesus, Amen.

            It seems to me that Jesus is reporting live from Jerusalem today; for in today’s gospel lesson, Jesus talks about wars and insurrections, and I hear news about Turkey, Russia, Chile, Haiti, and Hong Kong. Jesus claims that nations will rise against nations, and I think about guns, bombs, and nuclear threats. Jesus says that there will be earthquakes, famines, and plagues, and I want to ask him about the fires in California, rising waters in Italy, if he’s ever been bitten by mosquitoes in Massachusetts, or heard about the 200 elephants that died recently in Zimbabwe. “There will be dreadful portents,” Jesus says. “You mean like impeachment inquiries and allegations of bribery?” I ask him. “Where are those great signs from heaven that you promised?” I want to know.

            This past Monday, we remembered the veterans of our wars and the people who are serving in the military forces today. I grew up during the cold war between the United States and the Soviet Union, when nuclear bombs were considered a real and present danger, like today in Iran and North Korea. People were building bomb shelters in their backyards, and stockpiling non-perishable food on their shelves. In those days, we didn’t have fire drills at our schools; we prepared for nuclear attacks. Today we prepare for guns.

In our churches, synagogues, and mosques, we don’t prepare people for the coming of Jesus or the great Judgment Day of God. “If you see something, say something” we tell people, and then we talk about security measures, rather than the good news of God. There are no cold wars any more, only hot spots of violence throughout our world. These days we walk not by faith, but rather we have learned to run in fear. We see through our glasses rather darkly.

I imagine that some of you, if not all of you, are following the current impeachment inquiry of our sitting president. Perhaps you are like a dog with a bone, gnawing away at that on-going process, relishing every bit of news, and cheering for your side. Or maybe, you are “over it” - angry that our political leaders are not focussed on more pressing issues, like wars and insurrections, gun violence and climate change, health care and housing, criminal justice reform, and equal opportunities for all people.

I read with interest an article written by the executive director of the Wisconsin Council of Churches three years ago. “Parishioners of different political persuasions were no longer on speaking terms. Friends were turning into enemies, there were divisions within their churches, and so he wondered, given their caustic political life, if Isaiah's vision of a peaceful public square was a naïve hope?” (Christian Century, November 11, 2016)

“Like many American Christians, I long for this eschatological image of peace to take root in our politics,” Scott Anderson wrote. “The public square has always been a marketplace of clashing ideas, the arena of competing value systems and policies that grow out of them. But the intense polarization of our era has turned the political marketplace into a toxic battleground, where political leaders who express differing worldviews are transformed into enemies,” he said.

No different than the times of Isaiah and Jesus, right? Jesus talks about people being arrested, persecuted, and handed over to the authorities, and placed in prisons. Maybe they’ve committed a high crime and misdemeanor, or they’re guilty of bribery or treason, perhaps even admissions fraud. Maybe they’ve lied under oath or been accused falsely, or crossed the borders of a country illegally. But Jesus says this will happen because of his name. “You will be betrayed even by your own family members, and hated by relatives and friends,” Jesus warns, “because of my name.”

 Betrayal. Wow, a heavy word today, and a word that Jesus knew well. “Weren’t you accused falsely?” I ask Him. “Didn’t you also stand before a judge and a jury, after your religious leaders bribed Judas to betray you? Weren’t you accused of being a traitor to your faith community and having committed treason against Rome? After you were condemned to die like a common criminal, did you not feel betrayed by your family, friends, and followers? And even by your God?”

Recalling what happened to Jesus, I get snarky. “So, how did that work for you?” I ask Him. You, the Son of God, the true prophet, and the anointed one of Israel. You, who was supposed to become King of the Jews, the Prince of Peace, and the One who would save us from our enemies. You who talked about God’s love. And yet, even You were betrayed by everyone. “How did that work for you?” I demand of Jesus.

“Sometimes, like you, I feel as if God has forsaken us,” I tell Him. “Maybe like you, I wondered where God was when you hung upon the cross, when guns killed innocent children in our schools, and bombs exploded in our houses of prayer. Who are the true prophets among us now,” I ask Jesus, “who will not make false promises, and will lead us faithfully into a future of hope?” 

Promises, promises, I say to myself, as the wheel of fortune turns ever more slowly, dividing the rich from the poor, the weak from the strong, the high and mighty from the lowly and powerless. Struggling with my faith, the political process in our country, and the violence throughout our world, I wonder in this run up to Advent, if the image of the wolf and the lamb is just a lovely children’s story that we trot out at Christmas?

In despair, rather than hope, I wonder if Isaiah’s vision of a new heaven and a new earth is merely a fantasy game upon which we bet? Is life only an endurance test to be survived, and then we die? Or is there another story, a more fundamental truth, a possibility that is just too hard for us to believe? I have a dream, I want to say, and it’s God’s dream of a new creation.

In an on-line meditation this week, Will Oxford, asked “What does your idea of paradise look like?” (www.d365.org) From the mountains in North Carolina, he said, “I think if a prophet described mine, they might say: “Hey ya’ll! In this new world, there is no such thing as humidity, all the tea is sweet, the Carolina Panthers win the Super Bowl, and all the people I ever loved are waiting for me in paradise!”” And I say to him, “You are a false prophet, my friend; for in paradise the Celtics win the NBA, the Patriots win the SuperBowl, the Bruins and Red Sox go undefeated, and my coffee is strong and black.”

In my paradise, I tell him, there are people from every language, tribe, and nation who are no longer enemies or political foes but all the beloved children of God. In this place we are free from toxic relationships and nuclear waste, and we are living in freedom and peace. On God’s holy mountain, there are no more sounds of guns and bombs, weeping or cries of distress. Indeed, new vineyards are being planted every day, and life is everlasting and sweet. With thanksgiving, we sit down for a meal, a feast of rich foods, and well-aged wines, and no one at the Table struggles with addictions, diseases, or mental health. There are no food fights, and plenty of food for everyone.

I return to Jesus again and ask, “So where are those heavenly signs that you promised?” And Jesus replies, “Look all around you; and you will see the miracle of life that God is creating even now. The blessings and signs of God’s presence and power and love are everywhere; indeed in you and me, within this church in every generation, and at this Table. You just need to look and listen with eyes and ears of faith. Pay attention. God is doing something good each and every day. Try to be a part of it.

We can walk by faith even now, if we choose, or we can run away in fear. Today, be a witness to God’s love. Testify to the power of God’s amazing grace. Hold fast to the hope that has been given to us in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, let us “fight the good fight, finish the race with perseverance, and keep the faith.”  By this endurance we will gain our souls, and our labor will not be in vain.

Isaiah 65:17-25

Canticle 9

2 Thessalonians 3:6-13

Luke 21:5-19

There's a Whole Lotta Shaking Going On

St. Barnabas, Falmouth

November 10, 2019

The Rev. Nancy E. Gossling

Glory to God, whose power working in us can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine, glory to God from generation to generation in the Church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever. Amen.

            In the second year of the President Trump, in the eleventh month of the year, on the ninth day of this month, the word of the Lord came by the prophet Haggai, saying to the people of St. Barnabas in Falmouth: “Who is left among you that saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? (And) is it not in your sight as nothing?” And I say to you, “What do our churches, our political houses, our country, and our world look like to you now? Are they just former places of glory? Is there nothing to behold, only remnants of human dignity, integrity, and religious faith? And what exactly are we called to do?”

Unlike today’s social media, the book of Haggai gives no personal information about this particular prophet. No words of disparagement about his physical appearance, no comments about his age, his opinions, or his actions. Like the opponents of Jesus, Haggai doesn’t offer absurd situations for debate, like whose wife she will be in the Resurrection. History repeats itself; and so we can change the destructive courses and patterns of our past with the clarity and clear resolve of people like Haggai, Jesus, and St. Paul.

The date of the book of Haggai is “unusually precise.” It was written sometime between the months of August and December, maybe even in this month of November, but in the year 520 B.C. It includes four sermons spoken by the prophet Haggai to his people in Jerusalem. His words were grounded in the historic times in which he lived, and his prophetic message had a singular purpose and a particular focus. Haggai encouraged his people to continue rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem; for he believed that the messiah would not come until the building was done.

Perhaps you recall some of the history of Jerusalem, and how it had been invaded by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon in 587 B.C., some 60 years before Haggai spoke. King Nebuchadnezzar, ruling from the territory which is current day Iraq, had destroyed the temple in Jerusalem, and then forced most of the Jews into exile in Babylon, where they hung up their harps and wept. This kind of invasion, oppression, and forced migration continues today throughout our world. Imagine hostile forces sweeping over the Bourne Bridge, destroying St. Barnabas and Falmouth, and then forcing most of you into immigration camps in the inner city of Boston! And now you are the remnant left behind.

No less true today, the country of Israel was surrounded by powerful kings, who were seeking to expand their territories, protect their power, and maintain control of the people in their countries. As is often the case, uneasy alliances were made by the ruling kings. Friends became foes and foes became friends. Even their own country was divided during the time of Haggai, and prophets spoke from both sides of the borders. It was hard for people to know who to follow and what was the right thing to do.

During the time of Haggai’s prophecy, King Darius was the ruler of Persia, which is current day Iran. His predecessor had defeated king Nebuchadnezzar, and then in 539 B.C., 20 years before Haggai, he had allowed the exiled Jews to return to Jerusalem. Many of them did not; and because of age only some of the remnant remained. Recalling their exodus from Egypt, and the promises made to them by their God, Haggai encouraged the remnant of his people to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, and restore it to its former glory. He claimed that until the temple was restored, normalcy would elude his people and the coming of the messiah would be delayed. Even though this work was difficult and costly, it must be continued, he argued.

I was fascinated by a recent article in which former President Barack Obama said “compromise” shouldn’t be frowned upon. Speaking in Chicago, he called on Americans to abandon ideological purity tests in politics. “The world is messy,” he said. “There are ambiguities. People who do really good stuff have flaws.”  Like the kings and queens in other countries, like the presidents and politicians in ours, like the prophets and priests in our history and even now; they are flawed and still do really good stuff. Indeed, like you and me; for religion, and politics, and social mores are messy.

Obama also called out what he perceived as a ‘danger,’ describing the current use of Twitter outrage as ‘not activism.’ “There is this sense sometimes that ‘the way of making change’ is to be as judgmental as possible,” he said. “Like if I tweet or hashtag about how you didn’t do something right. Then, I can sit back and feel pretty good about myself because, ‘Man, you see how woke I was? I called you out.’ You know, that’s not activism,” said Obama. “That’s not bringing about change. If all you’re doing is casting stones.” (Ed Mazza,Overnight Editor, HuffPost, 10/30/19)

Prophets like Haggai, St. Paul, Jesus, and Obama remind us that words are empty without constructive actions that follow. The restoration of our bridges and buildings is as necessary today as it was back then. Although the work is difficult and costly, it must be continued, said Haggai. Like the hard work of religious faith, social justice, and God’s mission  of reconciliation and peace. All of these costly and difficult efforts must be continued as well.

Do you remember that famous old song,“There’s a whole lotta shaking going on?” Well there’s been a lot of that shaking recently, not only on the Cape with hurricanes and tornadoes, but also in our nation and throughout our world. Political unrest, threats of wars, cyber attacks and trade tariffs, farmers and pharmacists all remind us of our human vulnerability. When we are faced with any kind of destructive force, the words of the prophets Haggai, Jesus, and St. Paul offer us words of encouragement and hope.

According to Haggai, the Lord of hosts said, “Once again, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land; and I will shake all the nations, (not for destructive purposes, but rather) so that the treasure of all nations shall come, and I will fill this house with splendor.”

“The silver is mine, and the gold is mine,” says the Lord of hosts, not as part of a benefits package from a prosperity gospel, or a new government or corporate policy. Rather we have been given our time, talents, and treasure to rebuild bridges across the waters of our division, to repair the breaches in our communities and countries, and to restore God’s holy temples to be houses of prayer for all God’s people.

“Do not fear,” said the prophet Haggai. “Be faithful. Take courage.” Remember the promises of our God, who liberated us from Egypt and Babylon. “Work, for I am with you,” says the Lord of hosts. “My spirit abides among you; so do not fear.”

 “We should not be quickly shaken in our minds or alarmed,” wrote St. Paul to the earliest church members in Thessalonica, reminding them to keep on working until the return of Christ. No, Jesus wasn’t coming again as quickly as they thought; and yet they believed that He would surely come. Our God is a God of promise and hope, liberation and freedom, justice and mercy, resurrection and love for all people. Indeed, our God was there at our creation, is here with us now, and will be with us in the Resurrection. “Our God is a God not of the dead, but of the living,” said Jesus.

My prophetic message to you today has a singular purpose and a particular focus. Remembering our history, and as baptized members of Christ’s Body, we have been called by God to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ in both our words and our actions. Follow Him. Listen to Him. Act like Him. With Haggai and St. Paul, I encourage you to rebuild your temples of the Holy Spirit, with faith and courage and hard work. Difficult and costly and necessary is the Way of Love. “For this purpose of proclamation,” wrote St. Paul, “God has called you.”

“Who is left among you that saw this house in its former glory? And how does it look to you now?”  Is it not in your sight as something to behold?” Let them see and hear on the other side of the Bourne Bridge that “there’s a whole lotta shaking going on” in Falmouth!

Haggai 1:15b-2:9

Psalm 145:1-5, 18-22

2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17

Luke 20:27-38