June 7, 2015
Pentecost 2
1st Samuel
8:4-11, 16-20
8:4-11, 16-20
Mark 3:31-35
(prayer)
There is an episode of Star
Trek: The Next Generation from 1993 called Parallels. The storyline focuses on Lt Worf, the
security officer on the Starship Enterprise.
Trek: The Next Generation from 1993 called Parallels. The storyline focuses on Lt Worf, the
security officer on the Starship Enterprise.
In the story, Worf has been
off the ship to attended a klingon competition, but when he returns he starts
to notice changes in the world he knows:
some small and almost insignificant (the placement of a picture, the
flavour of birthday cake) and some life altering (like the fact that he is now
married).
off the ship to attended a klingon competition, but when he returns he starts
to notice changes in the world he knows:
some small and almost insignificant (the placement of a picture, the
flavour of birthday cake) and some life altering (like the fact that he is now
married).
Changes continue to
happen. What, in fact, is happening is
that Worf is being transferred between many other ‘alternate realities’.
happen. What, in fact, is happening is
that Worf is being transferred between many other ‘alternate realities’.
The theory being: that when
we are faced with choices, that we do (in fact) make each possible choice -
only in alternate versions of reality.
we are faced with choices, that we do (in fact) make each possible choice -
only in alternate versions of reality.
That’s where the story gets
really tough to fathom - when you think about how many small and large choices
we face everyday - to imagine a separate timeline existing for each one - the
possibilities (quite literally) are infinite.
really tough to fathom - when you think about how many small and large choices
we face everyday - to imagine a separate timeline existing for each one - the
possibilities (quite literally) are infinite.
Lucky for Worf, there were
quite a few similarities between the realities he was fluxing between. So, he had some idea what was going on.
quite a few similarities between the realities he was fluxing between. So, he had some idea what was going on.
Needless to say, the crew
of the USS Enterprise (of whatever reality Worf found himself in at the climax
of the story) discovered what caused the problem and they devised a plan for
how to fix it and return this Lt Worf to his reality.
of the USS Enterprise (of whatever reality Worf found himself in at the climax
of the story) discovered what caused the problem and they devised a plan for
how to fix it and return this Lt Worf to his reality.
//
//
Who among us has NOT
wondered: What might have been different
if I had only made another choice here or there?
wondered: What might have been different
if I had only made another choice here or there?
Also, we have all likely
imagined, what might be different, if some choice of someone else had not
affected us in the way it did.
imagined, what might be different, if some choice of someone else had not
affected us in the way it did.
//
//
When the Hebrew people
emigrated back into the land of Canaan - following their centuries of slavery
in Egypt, they lived as (what we might call) a Tribal Confederacy. Although they saw themselves as one people -
with a common story, a common ancestor, they did not organize themselves as a
nation - in the more conventional sense.
emigrated back into the land of Canaan - following their centuries of slavery
in Egypt, they lived as (what we might call) a Tribal Confederacy. Although they saw themselves as one people -
with a common story, a common ancestor, they did not organize themselves as a
nation - in the more conventional sense.
Besides their lineage and
history, they were bound together under The Torah - the law. Founded in words shared with the people by
Moses on the exodus journey between Egypt and Canaan, there were basic
expectations for living faithfully in the land.
history, they were bound together under The Torah - the law. Founded in words shared with the people by
Moses on the exodus journey between Egypt and Canaan, there were basic
expectations for living faithfully in the land.
As time went on, more and
more of these laws were written down and collected. In fact, most of the Old Testament books of
Leviticus and Deuteronomy are made up of precepts for living as God intended.
more of these laws were written down and collected. In fact, most of the Old Testament books of
Leviticus and Deuteronomy are made up of precepts for living as God intended.
In those early post-exodus
years, the descendants of Jacob, the people of Israel were not governed by a
king (or pharaoh) but by the Torah itself.
Yahweh, their God, was their
true sovereign.
years, the descendants of Jacob, the people of Israel were not governed by a
king (or pharaoh) but by the Torah itself.
Yahweh, their God, was their
true sovereign.
//
If there were disputes, if
there were conflicts with neighbouring nations, the people turned to wise local
judges determine the faithful path forward.
How might the Torah guide them in whatever situation they found
themselves in?
there were conflicts with neighbouring nations, the people turned to wise local
judges determine the faithful path forward.
How might the Torah guide them in whatever situation they found
themselves in?
Tucked among the early
books of the bible is the book of Judges that describes the work and guidance
of several of these judges, like Ehud, Deborah, Gideon, Samson (yes, the guy
with the hair).
books of the bible is the book of Judges that describes the work and guidance
of several of these judges, like Ehud, Deborah, Gideon, Samson (yes, the guy
with the hair).
These people - wise and
faithful - worked to keep the people safe and brought them back to faith, when
they strayed.
faithful - worked to keep the people safe and brought them back to faith, when
they strayed.
//
As we move on beyond the
‘book’ of Judges into the next four books in the chronology of the History of
Israel (titled Samuel and Kings), we begin to hear about Samuel - first as a
boy working alongside the priests in the Tabernacle and then as a wise and
respected person of God (in the vein of the other judges).
‘book’ of Judges into the next four books in the chronology of the History of
Israel (titled Samuel and Kings), we begin to hear about Samuel - first as a
boy working alongside the priests in the Tabernacle and then as a wise and
respected person of God (in the vein of the other judges).
//
However, there was a
problem - which we saw hinted at in today’s first reading. As Samuel aged, the people became concerned
about what life would be like after Samuel was gone. Samuel’s sons were not ‘judge’ material. And so, the people desired change. They wanted a king - like other nations.
problem - which we saw hinted at in today’s first reading. As Samuel aged, the people became concerned
about what life would be like after Samuel was gone. Samuel’s sons were not ‘judge’ material. And so, the people desired change. They wanted a king - like other nations.
It was a big shift - and it
distressed Samuel - so (as we heard today) he laid out some of the harsh
realities of living under a King:
distressed Samuel - so (as we heard today) he laid out some of the harsh
realities of living under a King:
·
The
king will form armies with your sons;
The
king will form armies with your sons;
·
The
king will take control over your property and processions;
The
king will take control over your property and processions;
·
And
don’t forget the taxes!
And
don’t forget the taxes!
Samuel relays his own
pre-emptive “I told you so”, when he tells the people: “in that day, when you will cry out because of your king, whom
you have chosen for yourselves, the Lord will
not answer you.”
pre-emptive “I told you so”, when he tells the people: “in that day, when you will cry out because of your king, whom
you have chosen for yourselves, the Lord will
not answer you.”
Samuel was disappointed
‘that simply living faithfully under the Torah’ was not enough - but he was
willing to let the people live with their choice.
‘that simply living faithfully under the Torah’ was not enough - but he was
willing to let the people live with their choice.
//
//
We also had an interesting
reading from the gospel of Mark today.
reading from the gospel of Mark today.
Jesus is with some of his
followers and some of his family comes to visit: his mother and some
siblings.
followers and some of his family comes to visit: his mother and some
siblings.
“Your family is her,
Jesus.”
Jesus.”
It is a matter-of-fact statement. This probably happened many times
before. Clearly, the people who relayed
the message knew who these people were.
before. Clearly, the people who relayed
the message knew who these people were.
In the church office,
sometimes, the phone rings and it might be my mom, or my spouse or one of my
kids. The matter-of-fact response Kate
will give me: “Your mom is on line one.”
sometimes, the phone rings and it might be my mom, or my spouse or one of my
kids. The matter-of-fact response Kate
will give me: “Your mom is on line one.”
But... Jesus (as he often
does), he takes a boring ordinary moment and highlights something great about
the grace of God.
does), he takes a boring ordinary moment and highlights something great about
the grace of God.
“My mother and brothers are
outside. Well, I could have sworn they
were already here. You are all my family
because we all are part of God’s family.”
outside. Well, I could have sworn they
were already here. You are all my family
because we all are part of God’s family.”
There is no hint in this
passage that Jesus was rejecting his family - that he turned them away. He was taking advantage of the
matters-of-fact and spoke about the wideness of God’s reach - and the
connectedness of his followers.
passage that Jesus was rejecting his family - that he turned them away. He was taking advantage of the
matters-of-fact and spoke about the wideness of God’s reach - and the
connectedness of his followers.
//
//
We have relationships that
are givens in our lives - families we grew up in; work and school environments;
neighbourhood connections.
are givens in our lives - families we grew up in; work and school environments;
neighbourhood connections.
But there are also broader
relationships that we choose to nurture.
relationships that we choose to nurture.
Yes, by choosing a certain
line of work or picking a home in a certain area, we are also kind-of choosing
our co-workers and neighbours, but those relationships are not always from and
centre when the choices are made. Those
people come with the job, they are part of a community.
line of work or picking a home in a certain area, we are also kind-of choosing
our co-workers and neighbours, but those relationships are not always from and
centre when the choices are made. Those
people come with the job, they are part of a community.
I think Jesus - in a way -
is reminding us that - our attitude toward the value of others is a choice.
is reminding us that - our attitude toward the value of others is a choice.
We can choose to see others
as kin or not.
as kin or not.
//
//
We are early in this year’s
church season that follows Pentecost.
Between now and late November, we will be presented with various
scriptural texts that encourage us to reflect on God’s presence in our
midst. We can hear some of the voices of
past leaders and wise ones who have advice for how to nurture ourselves as part
of the family of God.
church season that follows Pentecost.
Between now and late November, we will be presented with various
scriptural texts that encourage us to reflect on God’s presence in our
midst. We can hear some of the voices of
past leaders and wise ones who have advice for how to nurture ourselves as part
of the family of God.
//
This is as true for us
today as it was in Samuel’s time and in Jesus’ day.
today as it was in Samuel’s time and in Jesus’ day.
We are invited to mirror
our hoped-for, longed-for relationship with God within the connections we make
in this world.
our hoped-for, longed-for relationship with God within the connections we make
in this world.
And so, we are given the
choices.
choices.
May we choose wisely - so
that God’s grace can reign.
that God’s grace can reign.
//
Let us pray:
We
thank you, Creator God, for your vision for justice and wholeness for our
world. May we grow in your love, wisdom, and presence so that in the face of
injustice and suffering we may become leaders, helping to usher your peace into
all creation. Amen.
thank you, Creator God, for your vision for justice and wholeness for our
world. May we grow in your love, wisdom, and presence so that in the face of
injustice and suffering we may become leaders, helping to usher your peace into
all creation. Amen.
***offerings***
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