Sermon: Proper 15 (20) Year C 2007
Church of Jesus Christ, Reconciler
August 19, 2007

Readings

Burning Down the House

How often do we pass the peace of Christ? Every time we gather. Wonderful! Let's try it right now. Seriously.

The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.
Greet one another with a sign of peace.

We love to speak about how Jesus brings peace. We have images of lilies in the fields. We are not to worry for our lives. Our lives are held in the loving embrace of God. In the nativity story, Matthew's telling of Jesus' birth, angels will appear and proclaim Christ to be the Prince of Peace. Our images of Christ's peacefulness and gentleness are well-founded. We aren't making them up. So what the heck is going on in our Gospel reading this morning from Luke? What is the prophet Jeremiah trying to tell us about the nature of God's judgment?

The Hebrews have always understood the deeply rooted existence of injustice and “wickedness.” In our psalm this morning even the gods are held in contempt because they too have fallen prey to the temptation of oppression and subjugation. Through the psalmist's words the Most High God judges a holy court of other gods.

"How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked?

Give justice to the weak and the orphan; maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute.

Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked."

Jeremiah will say that God's word on such matters is like a fire. It will break open rock with its heat.

This morning we encounter Jesus upsetting the boat. His words are from an age old tradition in Judaism. His words are echoes of the psalmist. They are prophetic like those of Jeremiah. Jesus knows that when we are in the presence of God, the order of things, the world as we know gets turned around. The Prince of Peace is proclaiming something utterly removed from what we imagine as peacefulness. Instead of singing the Eagles' Peaceful Easy Feelin', we have a Jesus singing the Talking Heads' Burning Down the House!

Watch out
You might get what you're after
Cool babies
Strange but not a stranger
I'm an ordinary guy
Burning down the house

Hold tight wait till the party's over
Hold tight were in for nasty weather
There has got to be a way
Burning down the house

Here we are, encountering the disquieting Christ. Here we are encountering the Truth of the Gospel and how, if we are honest with ourselves, it really plays out. You see, the Good News is always good, but it will not necessarily be received peacefully. The world will push against it.

The world will deny it.
The heavens will deny it.
The world will attempt to stifle those who proclaim it.

The world will flee from it.
And when this does not work, the world will co-opt it and find a way to gain more power with the same message.

Telling the truth about God, that God loves the world, that God created it good, actually upsets the world in which we live. Sometimes telling this truth, like telling other truths, causes a lot of trouble. It will burn down the house!

Jesus knows this. Jesus knows that though his message is one of Love, that it will be felt as fire by all. You. Me. The apostles. The Pharisees. Pilate. All of us will encounter a flame. And our houses will fall.

“From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; they will be divided: father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law." (Luke 12:52-53)

Here Jesus seems to attack the most important social structure of the first century. Some say the family is still the most important structure, the lowest common social denominator, or the principal economic unit. And Jesus comes right at it and says that even this, even this will be found wanting in the light of the Love of God. Even this does not measure up. It is not prepared for the Love of Christ.

We cannot rest on our laurels and be satisfied with the status quo. The status quo will fly apart when we speak the truth.

The status quo is comfortable with oppression. It is comfortable with inequity. It is comfortable with violence. It has resigned itself to a world where unfairness is part of the game. It knows that power is real and that some people have none. The status quo revels in this. And we who live in the status quo know how to play the game. We know how to get ahead. We know how to get the leg up. We know how to take advantage of the systems whether they be the tax code, the legal system, or the remnants of our welfare state. We all learn, rich and poor, through cynicism and despair, how to live in the status quo.

Jesus wants to undo this. Jesus' entire ministry is about uncovering this truth about ourselves, about the world, and proclaiming an alternative.

Here's your ticket pack your bag: time for jumpin' overboard
The transportation is here
Close enough but not too far, maybe you know where you are
Fightin' fire with fire

All wet
Hey you might need a raincoat
Shakedown
Dreams walking in broad daylight
Three hun-dred six-ty five de-grees
Burning down the house

Jesus delivers this message of fire and justice on his way to Jerusalem. He knows what will befall him. He is on the way to the cross. He knows that he has to die. He knows that the powers and principalities (the church and the state) will try and put out the fire he started. He has called them out. He has shown his followers what they are really about. He is holding everyone – you, me, us, the apostles, the Pharisees, the government, the religious institutions – accountable for the world in which we find ourselves. And he knows that we cannot handle the critique.

He is a dream walking in broad daylight. We are asleep. And we do not want to awaken...even though our dreams are not sweet. So, Jesus burns down the house.

The powers think that they have put out the fire.
They crucify Jesus.

The followers of Christ will also think that the story is over. They will believe that the fire has been extinguished as well. But no. Two women will run to the tomb and there they will encounter the resurrection. The fire of the Gospel, the Love of God, cannot be extinguished, not even by death. The judgment has come to fruition and even death has no hold on the truth of God's love.

Women come, the downtrodden, the mistaken, the unloved, and they encounter the Risen Christ. And Jesus will appear to others. He will dine with them. He will ask them to continue his work. This fire will be passed on from generation to generation in the church.

Passing the peace of Christ is greeting one another in love. It is upholding one another in gentleness. But the peace of the Lord is a fire. When we pass the peace of Christ with one another, we pass a torch. We pass a flame.

God wants us to share this Love with the world. It is a love that will continue to challenge everything about our lives...the way we engage politics, the way we do business, and the way that we love our mothers, fathers, spouses, and children.

And though the world will push back...we know that there is a Resurrection. We know that though the world always seems to have a step on us, in the end is the Resurrection, God's love fulfilled, the world judged, and though it is found wanting, it is met with grace and forgiveness no less. And we will all be redeemed.

The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.
Greet one another with the sign of peace.

Amen.

Sermon: "The Right Stuff"

Proper 14 (19) August 12, 2007
Sermon Preached at Jesus Christ, Reconciler and
Immanuel Lutheran Church
(Baptism of Louise Eleanor Dzik, Immanuel Lutheran Church)
Texts: Isaiah 1:1,10-20, Psalm 33:12-22, Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16
Gospel: Luke 12:22-40
The Rev. Laura Gottardi-Littell, preacher

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As human beings, we’re anxious about our survival. Will we have enough food, clothing, shelter? But another kind of anxiety can also gnaw at us, even when we have enough provisions. We wonder: “Am I enough? Am I important? Am I cooler, richer, better looking than those around me? Do I have enough stuff? Is it the right stuff?” Dressing well, having a nice house or cool-looking car can make us feel important, even more important than other people. So we spend a lot of time and energy acquiring things. We over-consume. But this often fails to make us feel more secure or happier, and even creates more anxiety.

In today’s gospel, Jesus he says we don’t have to be so anxious. Consider the lilies of the field. They neither spin nor toil, but are beautifully decked out. God clothes them. The ravens of the air don’t store food, yet they get enough to eat. God feeds them. And it’s like that with us. We can trust God to provide. We can let go of our anxiety and our desire for things we don’t really need.

Today’s gospel is not directed at folks who are truly down and out. We don’t say to someone who’s starving: “Life is more than just food.” No. Today’s gospel is directed at those of us who have more than the basics, more than enough stuff.

Today’s gospel is about getting our priorities straight. Jesus says: Seek first the kingdom of God. And then all these things will be added unto you. Think more about your spiritual life than your material life. And if you do, you will have what you need.

In today’s gospel, Jesus asks us to be fully present, and have faith in God. Yet it’s an ongoing process. It can be a lifelong journey to put away our human tendencies to be anxious and grasping, and instead live in trust. It can take time to realize our security and identity come not from our possessions, but from God.

I confess that I find today’s gospel challenging. It touches me where I live. It hits close to home. Although there are so many beautiful images – the lilies in the field, the ravens in the air – it’s one of Jesus’s more difficult sayings. It was challenging in 1st century Palestine, and it’s even more challenging in affluent America today. But it’s good news, as the gospel always is, even if it doesn’t always feel that way.

The Christian existentialist Kierkegaard likewise struggled with this passage from scripture. He wondered how a person could best pursue the kingdom of God. What about seeking a suitable job in order to exert a virtuous influence over others? No, Kierkegaard concluded, we must first seek God’s kingdom. Then what about giving away all our money to feed the poor? No, we must first seek God’s kingdom. Well, then, should we rush out and preach this truth to the world that people are to seek first God’s kingdom? Once again the answer is a resounding: no, we are first to seek the kingdom of God. Kierkegaard concluded: “Then in a certain sense it is nothing I shall do. Yes, certainly, in a certain sense it is nothing, become nothing before God, learn to keep silent, in this silence is the beginning, which is, first to seek God’s kingdom.” (as quoted in Richard Foster's Celebration of Discipline, Harper and Row, 1988.)

Jesus calls us to a certain simplicity. Not just outward but inward. They have to go together. Simplifying our lives is not as easy as just purging our possessions. We need an inner conversion as well. Christian simplicity means putting God first, and knowing our security comes from God. Not letting our belongings get in the way of our relationship with God or neighbor.

What can we do to cultivate true simplicity?

In his book Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster cites three attitudes that can help us develop a discipline of simplicity. First, we need to remember that our belongings are gifts from God. OK, maybe in a sense we’ve earned them, but God gives us our abilities and skills, and without them we earn nothing. We’re dependent on God for so much, even the air we breathe, the sun and rain, and without all that, we could earn nothing. Second, it’s God’s responsibility to protect our stuff. Of course we still need to lock our houses and cars, but to some extent, we can’t control what happens to our belongings. Even if we’re careful we may lose them to disaster or theft. So we should care for our things but know that ultimately protection comes from God. Third, our possessions should be available to others. Be generous. Give or lend what you no longer need, even give away some things you still want.

When we understand these three things -- 1) our possessions are gifts from God, 2) they are protected by God, and 3) they’re to be shared with others -- we will not be overly anxious about our belongings, and will experience more simplicity in our lives.

When I think about people who seem to grasp the message in today’s gospel, a few folks come to mind.

One is Davis Fisher, an Episcopal priest with an MBA, who lives here in Chicago. Davis spent many years as a consultant, helping people make ethical decisions about their finances. Then his brother died at age 56 of a rare cancer. Davis felt called to do some soul-searching and see where God might be leading him. He went to some of the poorest countries in the world as a volunteer, and worked with Mother Theresa in Calcutta, comforting the dying. Working with the poorest of the poor, he found they were no different from himself, except in circumstances. He met desperately poor people who were incredibly rich in spirit and faith. He often received much more than he could give. He recalls in particular a very ill man he helped care for.

This man held Davis’s arm with one hand, and with his other hand pointed to himself saying, “30. No money. No family. TB. AIDS. God is good.” This man who had nothing, in the world’s eyes, gave Davis a perspective on life that was priceless.

At one point, Mother Theresa encouraged Davis to “Go home to where your work is so needed. Go home to the most impoverished nation in the world – the United States.” She meant that here in the US, many of us are rich in things but poor in spirit.

Now, back in the States, Davis helps individuals and groups develop what he calls a healthy money life. Davis says: “Often as we start to accumulate things, a wall begins to form that can become a barrier between us and the love of God. While nothing can stop God from loving us, we can sometimes push God away by becoming too reliant on things – by becoming too self-sufficient and less dependent on him. I’m not saying we should be anti-wealth, but we must make sure our wealth doesn’t own us…. A healthy money life begins with understanding how much we need, how much we have, and what we want to do with it. It means sharing our wealth with others in need, and putting money into proper perspective so it doesn’t build a wall between us and God. It means gaining the freedom to live well, regardless of the amount of money we have.” (as quoted in Robyn Johnson's article in the spring 2001 edition of The Works magazine).

I find Davis’s message, like today’s gospel, challenging but also hopeful. It’s not an easy subject, but one that we as Christians need to think, talk and pray about. I feel inspired to try to simplify my life. I’m wondering, do I really need new clothes, or just want them? Do I need to buy this book, or can I get it from the library? What things can I give away, or sell at a garage sale? On a deeper level, I’m wondering, How do my possessions separate me from, or connect me with, God and other people? How do they free or control me? And I’m becoming more aware on a gut level that we are all equal, no matter how much or how little stuff we have. Possessions should never divide or define people.

I wish for all of us a life of Christian simplicity. A life in which we are not anxious about possessions, because we know where our true treasure and security lie. A life in which we seek God’s kingdom first, and find that our needs are met. A life where we give and receive freely, helping and encouraging the poor. Where we find an appropriate balance between blind submission to mammon and a rigid, un-Christian asceticism. May we all be clothed and fed with the love of God and neighbor. May we draw inspiration from the lilies of the field and birds of the air, and remember the true source from which our lives draw nourishment. Amen.

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Reconciler Update

Friends,

Last week I had the opportunity to volunteer at Vacation Bible School at Immanuel Lutheran church. The theme for the week was St. Francis of Assisi. The children heard stories and watched skits about Francis. They learned about his wealthy family, and about how Francis gave up his lavish, party-going lifestyle to listen more and more closely to God. They heard about his love for God, humanity, nature, and peace. They learned in Sign-Shi-Do (a combination of sign language and Tai Chi) the signs for "In You, O Lord, I have found my peace." The children baked bread over coals for communion, made rope, and one day dressed in simple brown tunics -- tied with their hand-made rope -- in the style of Francis. They made care kits for folks at Uptown Ministries, and finished up the week with a Blessing of the Pets and a picnic. It was a good time for all.

One of the songs in Vacation Bible School was "Lord, Make Us Instruments of Your Peace" based on the Prayer of Saint Francis. This prayer is defnitely not just for kids. If we want to be God's instruments, spiritual disciplines like prayer and meditation can help us find more peace in our lives, and let that peace spill over into the world.

I've been reading Celebration of Discipline, by Richard J. Foster. It's a little book, not hard to read, and something of a classic on spiritual disciplines. Well-written and lively, it contains chapters on prayer, meditation, fasting, and study, complete with instructions. Foster mentions "holy leisure," an idea that goes back to the Church Fathers. It refers to a "sense of balance in the life, an ability to be at peace through the activities of the day, an ability to rest and take time to enjoy beauty, an abillity to pace ourselves." It challenges our multi-tasking lives that can border on frenzy (at least I know mine can), and a society that judges people by their productivity. Francis of Assisi is someone who understood and embodied holy leisure.

This summer, I wish you time that nourishes your soul and brings you peace. May you enjoy those you love, savor quiet moments at beach, park, or cafe, appreciate the goodness of creation, hang out with God in prayer or meditation, and cherish the "small moments" that are all around us. Read Foster's Celebration of Discipline (and the new Harry Potter). Are there other people who need you? Are there neighbors you can serve? Do as much good as you can for as many as you can. Listen, like Francis, to what God might be saying to you. May these things together help us become ever more sensitive instruments of God's peace.

Faithfully,

Laura+
The Rev. Laura Gottardi-Littell

for The Pastoral Team

The Church of Jesus Christ, Reconciler

Announcements

In the fall our worship time will change to 5:00 p.m. starting September 9th. We hope this change of time in combination with the provision of childcare will make our congregation more welcoming for families with young children.

Shared Worship with Immanuel Lutheran Church -- Sunday morning 10:30 August 5. No worship service at Reconciler that evening. Come worship with us Sunday morning, as we seek to deepen our connection to the Immanuel and St. Elias congregations, on our common "Campus of Discipleship."

We will be at the Glenwood Arts Festival August 25 and 26th. The focus will be on art from our artists in the congregation . Talk with Chrissy and Larry about displaying your art at the festival. Chrissy will be also organizing the staffing of the booth.

'Nidge North (AKA Tripp and Trish's house) Potlucks and Movie nights TBA.

Pastoral Care - The Pastoral Team will be divvying up pastoral care duties. Each pastor will be "on" for a month at a time. Larry is available to handle any and all pastoral care needs at Reconciler for the month of August.

Sunday August 5th

Sunday August 5th we are not having our regular worship service at 6PM. There is a joint worship service with Immanuel Lutheran Church and St Elias Christian Church at 10:30 AM, in Immanuel Lutheran Church's Sanctuary.
We return to our regular worship time of 6 PM on August 12th. In September we will move our worship time to 5PM starting September 9th.