May 18, 2014
Easter 5
1st Peter 2:1-10
Acts 2:55-60
(prayer)
The story goes
like this: sometime during the 40 year period of Hebrew history called the
Exodus, the people were camped at the foot of a mountain called Horeb (aka Sinai):
on which (years earlier) Moses had spoken with God, who appeared to him as a
burning (yet not burned) bush. That
conversation motivated Moses to return to Egypt and seek the liberation of the
Hebrews from their lives of slavery. Now
back on that mountain, Moses has another conversation with God - a discussion
of how the people can live in all faith and peace when they reach their
promised land. Moses came down from the
mountain with ten rules for living (commandments, if you will) etched into tablets
of stone. These stones symbolized life
and faith.
like this: sometime during the 40 year period of Hebrew history called the
Exodus, the people were camped at the foot of a mountain called Horeb (aka Sinai):
on which (years earlier) Moses had spoken with God, who appeared to him as a
burning (yet not burned) bush. That
conversation motivated Moses to return to Egypt and seek the liberation of the
Hebrews from their lives of slavery. Now
back on that mountain, Moses has another conversation with God - a discussion
of how the people can live in all faith and peace when they reach their
promised land. Moses came down from the
mountain with ten rules for living (commandments, if you will) etched into tablets
of stone. These stones symbolized life
and faith.
As the people
traveled through the wilderness and after the settled on the land of Canaan,
they protected these fragile stones in an ornate box (called the Ark of the
Covenant) and housed it in a special tent of meeting and worship, the called
The Tabernacle. Years later, a Hebrew
King, David, proposed replacing the nomadic tent tabernacle with a fixed
structure built with the finest imported cedar wood. That idea never materialized, but the next
king, David's son, Solomon, took it one step further and built a massive Temple
of Stone to be the place meeting and worship for the Hebrew people. And a special holy place within this grand
stone building would house the Ark - containing the remnants of the stones that
contained the ten commandments. New
stones for life today containing old stones of the hope for good living.
traveled through the wilderness and after the settled on the land of Canaan,
they protected these fragile stones in an ornate box (called the Ark of the
Covenant) and housed it in a special tent of meeting and worship, the called
The Tabernacle. Years later, a Hebrew
King, David, proposed replacing the nomadic tent tabernacle with a fixed
structure built with the finest imported cedar wood. That idea never materialized, but the next
king, David's son, Solomon, took it one step further and built a massive Temple
of Stone to be the place meeting and worship for the Hebrew people. And a special holy place within this grand
stone building would house the Ark - containing the remnants of the stones that
contained the ten commandments. New
stones for life today containing old stones of the hope for good living.
//
Fast forward a
few centuries more: the Hebrew nation has divided north and south. Solomon's Temple remained central to the
southern Judeans. So much so that their
theology had evolved to believe that the physical presence of Almighty God
actually lived in the Holy of Holies chamber where the Ark of the Covenant
rested. So, imagine the crisis of faith
when an encroaching empire overran the city, ransacked the Temple (presumably
including the Ark) and knocked down mighty stone walls. Where was God now that God's house laid in
ruin? There was no longer any life in
those stones.
few centuries more: the Hebrew nation has divided north and south. Solomon's Temple remained central to the
southern Judeans. So much so that their
theology had evolved to believe that the physical presence of Almighty God
actually lived in the Holy of Holies chamber where the Ark of the Covenant
rested. So, imagine the crisis of faith
when an encroaching empire overran the city, ransacked the Temple (presumably
including the Ark) and knocked down mighty stone walls. Where was God now that God's house laid in
ruin? There was no longer any life in
those stones.
//
//
I have been
incredibly fortunate to be able to visit New York City five times in recent
years. On each trip to Manhattan, I have gone downtown to the World Trade
Centre site where the Twin Towers stood before September 11th, 2001. On my first visit in 2009, that place that
had dominated the skyline for 30 years all was still largely a whole in the
ground. All of the debris had been
cleaned up but there was little obvious new construction except the concrete
for the first few floors of the new 1776ft building that was being built
there. On my next visit, the ground work
for the eventual memorial site had begun, the Freedom Tower was about 30 floors
high and other buildings were begin to be constructed in the area. One trip number three, the 9/11 Memorial was
open and my oldest son and I spent time at those falling water pool built
exactly where the Twin Towers surrounded by the names of all the victims of
those terrorist acts. It was strange mix of the sad and the somber combined
with a 'joy' that there was so much life there: people memorializing, people
building, newly planted trees, rushing waters.
That day the Freedom Tower (aka WTC1) was more than half its eventual
hight and WTC4 was also starting to become a fixture in south Manhattan.
incredibly fortunate to be able to visit New York City five times in recent
years. On each trip to Manhattan, I have gone downtown to the World Trade
Centre site where the Twin Towers stood before September 11th, 2001. On my first visit in 2009, that place that
had dominated the skyline for 30 years all was still largely a whole in the
ground. All of the debris had been
cleaned up but there was little obvious new construction except the concrete
for the first few floors of the new 1776ft building that was being built
there. On my next visit, the ground work
for the eventual memorial site had begun, the Freedom Tower was about 30 floors
high and other buildings were begin to be constructed in the area. One trip number three, the 9/11 Memorial was
open and my oldest son and I spent time at those falling water pool built
exactly where the Twin Towers surrounded by the names of all the victims of
those terrorist acts. It was strange mix of the sad and the somber combined
with a 'joy' that there was so much life there: people memorializing, people
building, newly planted trees, rushing waters.
That day the Freedom Tower (aka WTC1) was more than half its eventual
hight and WTC4 was also starting to become a fixture in south Manhattan.
A bit more
than a year ago, Patti and I had an overnight layover in NY, so we spent the
day just wandered around the historic neighbourhoods of Chelsea and Greenwich
Village. Although we never got down to ground zero, a look south told us that
the Freedom Tower was as tall as it was going to get. In fact, while we were there, they were
attaching the communication spire that brought it up to 1776ft.
than a year ago, Patti and I had an overnight layover in NY, so we spent the
day just wandered around the historic neighbourhoods of Chelsea and Greenwich
Village. Although we never got down to ground zero, a look south told us that
the Freedom Tower was as tall as it was going to get. In fact, while we were there, they were
attaching the communication spire that brought it up to 1776ft.
Two weeks ago,
I took my second oldest son and my mother to NY as a years worth of Christmas,
Birthday and Mother's Day gifts. Eight
days ago, I was back at the 9/11 Memorial pools - as powerful of an experience
as it was the first time. Except for a
construction elevator, the outside of the Freedom Tower looks finished; the
artistically designed transportation hub, with its reminiscent vertical steel
columns is taking shape. The 9/11 Museum
(which is a relatively small building) looked done but hasn't opened yet. We peered through the windows but there
wasn't much to see other than a lobby and a set of escalators. //
That makes sense because, as you may have seen, although it is not open
to the public yet, the 9/11 Museum was officially dedicated this past
Thursday. The reason why it looked small
and all I saw was escalators is because it is an underground museum - built
around parts of the bedrock and the actual concrete and steel foundations of
the Twin Towers. It looks
incredible. As President Obama said at
the dedication: "[this museum is a place] to remember and reflect but
above all to reaffirm the [spirits of] love, compassion and sacrifice, and to
enshrine [them] forever." In the
rubble of fallen stones, emerges new life and purpose.
I took my second oldest son and my mother to NY as a years worth of Christmas,
Birthday and Mother's Day gifts. Eight
days ago, I was back at the 9/11 Memorial pools - as powerful of an experience
as it was the first time. Except for a
construction elevator, the outside of the Freedom Tower looks finished; the
artistically designed transportation hub, with its reminiscent vertical steel
columns is taking shape. The 9/11 Museum
(which is a relatively small building) looked done but hasn't opened yet. We peered through the windows but there
wasn't much to see other than a lobby and a set of escalators. //
That makes sense because, as you may have seen, although it is not open
to the public yet, the 9/11 Museum was officially dedicated this past
Thursday. The reason why it looked small
and all I saw was escalators is because it is an underground museum - built
around parts of the bedrock and the actual concrete and steel foundations of
the Twin Towers. It looks
incredible. As President Obama said at
the dedication: "[this museum is a place] to remember and reflect but
above all to reaffirm the [spirits of] love, compassion and sacrifice, and to
enshrine [them] forever." In the
rubble of fallen stones, emerges new life and purpose.
//
//
The Judean
exiles who returned from Babylon built a new temple - no doubt using some of
the foundation stones of Solomon's Temple.
Then 500 years later when the empire of the day saw fit to fall those
stones again, death and destruction was not the final word. Today, some of those ancient stones
remain. The wailing wall in Jerusalem is
one of the holiest site in orthodox Judaism.
exiles who returned from Babylon built a new temple - no doubt using some of
the foundation stones of Solomon's Temple.
Then 500 years later when the empire of the day saw fit to fall those
stones again, death and destruction was not the final word. Today, some of those ancient stones
remain. The wailing wall in Jerusalem is
one of the holiest site in orthodox Judaism.
//
The author of
the 1st Peter letter, writing to a post 70AD church where there no more Temple
in which to meet, has given us a marvelous metaphor for people of faith. We are to be Living Stones. 1st Peter reminds us of how the early church
read the part of Isaiah 28 and Psalm 118 - Jesus was the rejected stone that
was, in fact, precious: becoming the
cornerstone, the source of all stability. For the Christians reading 1st Peter,
they did not meet in avtemple of stone.
Jesus Christ is the foundation of the being. The church is built on Jesus. Metaphorically, he is the cornerstone. Extending the metaphor, we are the stones
supported by Jesus: living stones alive with hope and good news.
the 1st Peter letter, writing to a post 70AD church where there no more Temple
in which to meet, has given us a marvelous metaphor for people of faith. We are to be Living Stones. 1st Peter reminds us of how the early church
read the part of Isaiah 28 and Psalm 118 - Jesus was the rejected stone that
was, in fact, precious: becoming the
cornerstone, the source of all stability. For the Christians reading 1st Peter,
they did not meet in avtemple of stone.
Jesus Christ is the foundation of the being. The church is built on Jesus. Metaphorically, he is the cornerstone. Extending the metaphor, we are the stones
supported by Jesus: living stones alive with hope and good news.
//
//
If you were in
church last week, you may remember that we read about the earliest days of the
early Christian church - how they shared
everything in common and cared for all who had need; and day by day they spent
time together in the Temple (this is before 70AD when it was destroyed by
the Roman army) and they ate their meals
at home with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of
all the people; and day by day the Lord added to their number.
church last week, you may remember that we read about the earliest days of the
early Christian church - how they shared
everything in common and cared for all who had need; and day by day they spent
time together in the Temple (this is before 70AD when it was destroyed by
the Roman army) and they ate their meals
at home with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of
all the people; and day by day the Lord added to their number.
The euphoria
of of this idyllic period of early church life quickly changes as the 'real'
world emerges for them. Day by day, the
Lord was adding to their number - great they were growing. Isn't that a goal of every church? I have done a lot of work at the Presbytery
level of the church and and in all of the Pastoral Charges have consulted with,
I have never heard a congregation say, we
hope that no one new starts coming to our church.
of of this idyllic period of early church life quickly changes as the 'real'
world emerges for them. Day by day, the
Lord was adding to their number - great they were growing. Isn't that a goal of every church? I have done a lot of work at the Presbytery
level of the church and and in all of the Pastoral Charges have consulted with,
I have never heard a congregation say, we
hope that no one new starts coming to our church.
The early
Christian Church quickly realized that it was growing so much that the 12
Apostles could not manage everything on their own - particularly the work of
making sure that the widows and others in need had enough to eat. The church had its first leadership
crisis. Some even accused the Apostles
of showing favoritism toward the aramaic speaking widows over and against the
greek-speaking people in need. To
alleviate both the problems of a lack of leaders and the cultural needs, seven
new greek-speaking deacons were appointed to work alongside James, Peter, John
and the others.
Christian Church quickly realized that it was growing so much that the 12
Apostles could not manage everything on their own - particularly the work of
making sure that the widows and others in need had enough to eat. The church had its first leadership
crisis. Some even accused the Apostles
of showing favoritism toward the aramaic speaking widows over and against the
greek-speaking people in need. To
alleviate both the problems of a lack of leaders and the cultural needs, seven
new greek-speaking deacons were appointed to work alongside James, Peter, John
and the others.
When the
church was relatively small, it just blended into wider society. They had some internal problems, but they did
their best to solve them. As the church
grew the internal issues became more challenging and as its message spread,
more of the 'real' world emerged in the form of external opposition. The church and its people were getting
noticed.
church was relatively small, it just blended into wider society. They had some internal problems, but they did
their best to solve them. As the church
grew the internal issues became more challenging and as its message spread,
more of the 'real' world emerged in the form of external opposition. The church and its people were getting
noticed.
Stephen, one
of the new leaders, found himself challenged to a debate. He holds his own but this only emboldens his
detractors to stir up complaints against him.
In Acts chapter 7, Stephen is called before the Sanhedrin Council. We didn't start reading until verse 55, this
morning. Most of the first fifty verse
in Acts 7 is Stephen's profound exhortation about God's involvement in
history. He ends by accusing his
accusers of being the ones who don't keep the law. As you can imagine, that did not go over
well. The verse immediately before our
reading today says: "When they heard
these things, they became enraged and ground their teeth at Stephen."
(Acts 7:54)
of the new leaders, found himself challenged to a debate. He holds his own but this only emboldens his
detractors to stir up complaints against him.
In Acts chapter 7, Stephen is called before the Sanhedrin Council. We didn't start reading until verse 55, this
morning. Most of the first fifty verse
in Acts 7 is Stephen's profound exhortation about God's involvement in
history. He ends by accusing his
accusers of being the ones who don't keep the law. As you can imagine, that did not go over
well. The verse immediately before our
reading today says: "When they heard
these things, they became enraged and ground their teeth at Stephen."
(Acts 7:54)
You heard what
happened next: "They dragged him out
of the city and began to stone him." (Acts 7:58a) You also heard that (in a very Jesus-like
way) with his dying breath, Stephen prays for the forgiveness of his
executioners.
happened next: "They dragged him out
of the city and began to stone him." (Acts 7:58a) You also heard that (in a very Jesus-like
way) with his dying breath, Stephen prays for the forgiveness of his
executioners.
We might
picture this scene to simply be people hurling stones at Stephen, impeding his
escape, until his injuries dropped him to ground and then they continue stoning
him to death. In fact, in many cases,
even in areas of the the world today, the technique is to dig a hole and bury
the victim up past the waist and the throw the stones. There is no escape for the condemned once the
rocks start flying.
picture this scene to simply be people hurling stones at Stephen, impeding his
escape, until his injuries dropped him to ground and then they continue stoning
him to death. In fact, in many cases,
even in areas of the the world today, the technique is to dig a hole and bury
the victim up past the waist and the throw the stones. There is no escape for the condemned once the
rocks start flying.
So, this
activity takes some preparation and planning.
One of the things I noticed in the story is that they took Stephen outside
of the city to kill him. You don't want
to be digging a hole in the middle of the street and certainly no one wants to
have to walk by bloodstained dirt on the way to the market. It is almost as if, although stoning was
culturally accepted people didn't want to have to be reminded of its brutality
- so it happened 'out of the city'.
activity takes some preparation and planning.
One of the things I noticed in the story is that they took Stephen outside
of the city to kill him. You don't want
to be digging a hole in the middle of the street and certainly no one wants to
have to walk by bloodstained dirt on the way to the market. It is almost as if, although stoning was
culturally accepted people didn't want to have to be reminded of its brutality
- so it happened 'out of the city'.
The next thing
I noticed is that the men who would be digging the hole and throwing the stones
took off their coats - maybe because they wanted a full range of motion in
their throwing arms or perhaps just because executing someone by stoning is a
hot and sweaty task.
I noticed is that the men who would be digging the hole and throwing the stones
took off their coats - maybe because they wanted a full range of motion in
their throwing arms or perhaps just because executing someone by stoning is a
hot and sweaty task.
Did you notice
who was in the crowd? "[They] laid
their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul." The one charged with looking after the coats
that day, was the same person who would get permission from the Sanhedrin to
travel to various towns and villages and arrest members of the Jesus'
movement. Saul approved of Stephen's
stoning and he would soon be actively trying to bring down (so to speak) the foundation
of the early church.
who was in the crowd? "[They] laid
their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul." The one charged with looking after the coats
that day, was the same person who would get permission from the Sanhedrin to
travel to various towns and villages and arrest members of the Jesus'
movement. Saul approved of Stephen's
stoning and he would soon be actively trying to bring down (so to speak) the foundation
of the early church.
Stones of
death.
death.
//
As we can read
further on in Acts, on one of his arresting roadtrips, Saul has a strange
experience, where he is knocked off his horse, goes blind and hears the Risen
Jesus talking to him. This event winds
up with Saul in the Demascus home of a member of the church, where he hears the
gospel story and converts, becoming a new member of the very church he
persecuted. Because he went on to be a
traveling evangelist and letter writer to the non-jewish, greek-speaking world,
we know him better by the greek version of his name, Paul.
further on in Acts, on one of his arresting roadtrips, Saul has a strange
experience, where he is knocked off his horse, goes blind and hears the Risen
Jesus talking to him. This event winds
up with Saul in the Demascus home of a member of the church, where he hears the
gospel story and converts, becoming a new member of the very church he
persecuted. Because he went on to be a
traveling evangelist and letter writer to the non-jewish, greek-speaking world,
we know him better by the greek version of his name, Paul.
With
Saul/Paul, out of the stones of death come generations of living stones.
Saul/Paul, out of the stones of death come generations of living stones.
//
//
Although the
vernal equinox was almost two months ago, we all know that the May long weekend
is the unofficial start of spring. Lawns
are being mowed for the first time this year, flower beds are being prepped,
gardens are being planted. We are
beginning to see new green on trees. The
world around us is coming back to life.
vernal equinox was almost two months ago, we all know that the May long weekend
is the unofficial start of spring. Lawns
are being mowed for the first time this year, flower beds are being prepped,
gardens are being planted. We are
beginning to see new green on trees. The
world around us is coming back to life.
This can
remind us that, the lives we are living right now is founded on all that has
come before us. We are part of a web of
a foundational history that includes Moses, Peter, Stephen and Paul.
remind us that, the lives we are living right now is founded on all that has
come before us. We are part of a web of
a foundational history that includes Moses, Peter, Stephen and Paul.
And that is
also true of the others who have blazed this way of faith before us, and (as
significantly) those we have journeyed with, in our time.
also true of the others who have blazed this way of faith before us, and (as
significantly) those we have journeyed with, in our time.
//
I feel very
grateful that I have been able to be in a relatively long pastoral relationship
with you (almost14 years, so far). One
of the only downsides of this for me is that I have been around long enough
that I am beginning to celebrate the funerals of people who were vibrant,
active parts of the church in my early years in Leduc. Just in the past couple of weeks and months,
with you, I have grieved at the death of Bill Peters, Sherrill Brown, Emilie
Storeshaw, Marg Taylor and Ewen McDonald.
And yet, on the foundations that their living stones helped build, we
continue to be a people - alive to the mission and message of our God.
grateful that I have been able to be in a relatively long pastoral relationship
with you (almost14 years, so far). One
of the only downsides of this for me is that I have been around long enough
that I am beginning to celebrate the funerals of people who were vibrant,
active parts of the church in my early years in Leduc. Just in the past couple of weeks and months,
with you, I have grieved at the death of Bill Peters, Sherrill Brown, Emilie
Storeshaw, Marg Taylor and Ewen McDonald.
And yet, on the foundations that their living stones helped build, we
continue to be a people - alive to the mission and message of our God.
//
//
We have Jesus
Christ as our cornerstone.
Christ as our cornerstone.
We have a sure
foundation.
foundation.
We can truly
be living stones in the world.
be living stones in the world.
//
Let us pray...
(prayer)
#614VU
"In Suffering Love"
"In Suffering Love"
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