February 23, 2014
Epiphany 7
Leviticus 19:9-18
Matthew 5:38-48
(prayer)
On Friday,
just after Team Canada won the men's semi-final game against Team USA, a
facebook friend of mine jokingly posted: "Will the bars be open Sunday
morning at 5AM?? LoL". Of course, it didn't take too long to learn that
the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission rules were - in fact - being suspended
for this morning and many bars with
big screens were only closed for a hour or two last night. And they had eager customers wanting to see
if the men's hockey team could match what the women's hockey team had done.
just after Team Canada won the men's semi-final game against Team USA, a
facebook friend of mine jokingly posted: "Will the bars be open Sunday
morning at 5AM?? LoL". Of course, it didn't take too long to learn that
the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission rules were - in fact - being suspended
for this morning and many bars with
big screens were only closed for a hour or two last night. And they had eager customers wanting to see
if the men's hockey team could match what the women's hockey team had done.
In fact, on
the way to church this morning, Patti and I drove a young man home who had been
kicked out an early morning bar before the end of the game and taken the
celebration to a friend’s house. Given
where he said he started and where he needed to go, he had been walking in the
wrong direction. I’m glad he came across
us or else, he might not have made it home.
the way to church this morning, Patti and I drove a young man home who had been
kicked out an early morning bar before the end of the game and taken the
celebration to a friend’s house. Given
where he said he started and where he needed to go, he had been walking in the
wrong direction. I’m glad he came across
us or else, he might not have made it home.
If you were at
a pub at 5am this morning, I hope that you have enough energy for the rest of
the service. But, hey, if you need to
take forty winks, go ahead.
a pub at 5am this morning, I hope that you have enough energy for the rest of
the service. But, hey, if you need to
take forty winks, go ahead.
Early this
morning, people knoew that the women's hockey never lost a game on their way to
the olympic gold medal. Maybe the men
could do that too. How perfect would
that be?
morning, people knoew that the women's hockey never lost a game on their way to
the olympic gold medal. Maybe the men
could do that too. How perfect would
that be?
In case you
missed it… Canada 3, Sweden 0.
missed it… Canada 3, Sweden 0.
Jennifer
Jones' team went also undefeated to curling gold medals. Brad Jacob's rink also
won gold in curling, but (of course) they lost two games in the round robin; I
guess we can't call that perfect.
Jones' team went also undefeated to curling gold medals. Brad Jacob's rink also
won gold in curling, but (of course) they lost two games in the round robin; I
guess we can't call that perfect.
//
One of the
minor football coaches I work with is fond of asking the team as we lead up to
the weekend's game: 'What do I [we] want?'
The correct answer (the players quickly learn) is 'perfection'.
minor football coaches I work with is fond of asking the team as we lead up to
the weekend's game: 'What do I [we] want?'
The correct answer (the players quickly learn) is 'perfection'.
||: 'What do
we want?' ... 'Perfection' :||
we want?' ... 'Perfection' :||
It's actually
a reference to the true-story-based football movie, Remember The Titans. In the movie, T.C. Williams High School Head
Coach Herman Boone (played by Denzel Washington) says something similar to his
1971 team dealing with the realities of the new racial diversity of their now
fully integrated high school. "When
you put on that Titan uniform, you will be perfect." Denzel Washington's coach Boone worked them
pretty hard. Mistakes were made, but
they were 'acknowledged' and 'worked on' until they were corrected. When they began there was a lot overt clicky
racism; by seasons end, they were a true
team and state champions.
a reference to the true-story-based football movie, Remember The Titans. In the movie, T.C. Williams High School Head
Coach Herman Boone (played by Denzel Washington) says something similar to his
1971 team dealing with the realities of the new racial diversity of their now
fully integrated high school. "When
you put on that Titan uniform, you will be perfect." Denzel Washington's coach Boone worked them
pretty hard. Mistakes were made, but
they were 'acknowledged' and 'worked on' until they were corrected. When they began there was a lot overt clicky
racism; by seasons end, they were a true
team and state champions.
In the case of
my peewee team, we wanted perfection, we worked for perfection, but we weren't
very close to a championship.
my peewee team, we wanted perfection, we worked for perfection, but we weren't
very close to a championship.
//
//
In Jesus'
sermon on the mount, he tells the crowd to be perfect. This instruction comes after a series of
examples were Jesus challenges the people to go beyond what might be commonly
expected in response to hardship caused by another:
sermon on the mount, he tells the crowd to be perfect. This instruction comes after a series of
examples were Jesus challenges the people to go beyond what might be commonly
expected in response to hardship caused by another:
·
Turn the other cheek,
Turn the other cheek,
·
Give your cloak as well,
Give your cloak as well,
·
Go the second mile,
Go the second mile,
·
Love your enemies,
Love your enemies,
·
Pray for those who persecute you.
Pray for those who persecute you.
Jesus seems to
be saying the common expectation to a tit-for-tat (eye for an eye, tooth for a
tooth) revenge is not a good example of the kind of compassion that Jesus is
promoting.
be saying the common expectation to a tit-for-tat (eye for an eye, tooth for a
tooth) revenge is not a good example of the kind of compassion that Jesus is
promoting.
God's natural
world treats all people the same: the sun shines on both the good and the evil;
rain wets both the righteous and the unrighteous. The weather is indiscriminate, Jesus says. There is no process of discernment: weather
is not a punishment, nor a reward. The
sun and the rain, don't choose; they just are.
world treats all people the same: the sun shines on both the good and the evil;
rain wets both the righteous and the unrighteous. The weather is indiscriminate, Jesus says. There is no process of discernment: weather
is not a punishment, nor a reward. The
sun and the rain, don't choose; they just are.
I think that
Jesus is saying that... rote revenge is just as mindless.
Jesus is saying that... rote revenge is just as mindless.
Love your neighbour and hate your enemies? That is too easy of a rule. You have no real
choice to make. If you love only those who love you, how hard is that? Learn to love your enemies - that would be
something indeed.
choice to make. If you love only those who love you, how hard is that? Learn to love your enemies - that would be
something indeed.
//
Jesus' view of
a more perfect way of living is to not give in to easy violence. To get in the way of the path of
revenge. To not quit on this quest, even
if others tried to draw him into the fight.
a more perfect way of living is to not give in to easy violence. To get in the way of the path of
revenge. To not quit on this quest, even
if others tried to draw him into the fight.
And nothing
bothers a bully more than the victim who refuses to be one - not because they attack
seeking an eye for an eye, but because they won't fight back and they run away.
bothers a bully more than the victim who refuses to be one - not because they attack
seeking an eye for an eye, but because they won't fight back and they run away.
These are not
just words of a mountain side sermon for Jesus.
The totality of his life will show that he lives out these words.
just words of a mountain side sermon for Jesus.
The totality of his life will show that he lives out these words.
As Susan
McCaslin (in Arousing the Spirit -
Provocative Writings) tells us: "In the case of Jesus, what stands out
is his complete, unabashed commitment to non-violence. He refuses to retaliate in the face of the
forces of the Empire that are threatened by him. He chooses not to react with violence to the
violence that is done to him and instructs his followers to put away their
swords when he is arrested in the garden.
He forgives his enemies from the cross and has compassion for them in
their ignorance. The violence stops with
[Jesus]. Even when he expresses outrage
in the temple, overturning the tables of the moneychangers, his is a symbolic
act of peaceful resistance that flows from a place of unity with the one he
calls Father."
McCaslin (in Arousing the Spirit -
Provocative Writings) tells us: "In the case of Jesus, what stands out
is his complete, unabashed commitment to non-violence. He refuses to retaliate in the face of the
forces of the Empire that are threatened by him. He chooses not to react with violence to the
violence that is done to him and instructs his followers to put away their
swords when he is arrested in the garden.
He forgives his enemies from the cross and has compassion for them in
their ignorance. The violence stops with
[Jesus]. Even when he expresses outrage
in the temple, overturning the tables of the moneychangers, his is a symbolic
act of peaceful resistance that flows from a place of unity with the one he
calls Father."
McCaslin's
words echo what we read in Matthew 5:48 - Be
perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
words echo what we read in Matthew 5:48 - Be
perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
The word “peace”
is not specifically used in today’s passage, but it is a word Jesus offers to
his friends as they met him as the risen Christ. The gospel of John records that the greeting
Jesus gives to the disciples (huddled in fear in a locked room) is “peace be
with you”. The Hebrew concept of peace
is not just calm - or a lack of violence - but a sense of wholeness and
completeness. Peace (or shalom) is a state
of being. And that kind of situation is
perfect.
is not specifically used in today’s passage, but it is a word Jesus offers to
his friends as they met him as the risen Christ. The gospel of John records that the greeting
Jesus gives to the disciples (huddled in fear in a locked room) is “peace be
with you”. The Hebrew concept of peace
is not just calm - or a lack of violence - but a sense of wholeness and
completeness. Peace (or shalom) is a state
of being. And that kind of situation is
perfect.
//
Perfection can
feel far away or out of reach. A perfect
Love of Enemies is as radical today
as it was in ancient Galilee. Even those who embrace conventional forms of
Christianity ignore this saying as impractical.
Peacemaking is part of the heritage of our spiritual forerunners. Jesus said that the peacemakers are bless`ed
children of God.
feel far away or out of reach. A perfect
Love of Enemies is as radical today
as it was in ancient Galilee. Even those who embrace conventional forms of
Christianity ignore this saying as impractical.
Peacemaking is part of the heritage of our spiritual forerunners. Jesus said that the peacemakers are bless`ed
children of God.
In spite of
this (as Susan McCaslin) wrote, "peacemaking...has not been lived out on a
large scale...Jesus' way...is still pretty much an untried experiment."
this (as Susan McCaslin) wrote, "peacemaking...has not been lived out on a
large scale...Jesus' way...is still pretty much an untried experiment."
//
Are we capable
of the kind of patience, love and forgiveness Jesus describes?
of the kind of patience, love and forgiveness Jesus describes?
Will we at
least admit that there is no honour in the techniques of those addicted to the
bully power of imperial order - and that (in a perfect world) it would not be
so successful?
least admit that there is no honour in the techniques of those addicted to the
bully power of imperial order - and that (in a perfect world) it would not be
so successful?
//
I know, as a
coach, that perfection does not come instantly - and it is seldom experienced
universally. But here and there, in the
right moment, with the right combination of effort and circumstance - there it
is.
coach, that perfection does not come instantly - and it is seldom experienced
universally. But here and there, in the
right moment, with the right combination of effort and circumstance - there it
is.
//
The most
common thing that gets in the way of a movement of true community and honour
for all is a discouragement that it seems impossible - a resignation that the
bully wins.
common thing that gets in the way of a movement of true community and honour
for all is a discouragement that it seems impossible - a resignation that the
bully wins.
Jesus does not
give examples of massive change - he describes the small things that each
person can do - in small times (here or there) that create a peaceful (Shalom-filled)
moment.
give examples of massive change - he describes the small things that each
person can do - in small times (here or there) that create a peaceful (Shalom-filled)
moment.
Jesus did not
call the children of God to be peacekeepers - that is a passive term - it
implies peace is here and we simply need to maintain it, not let it slip
away. The children of God are
peace-makers.
call the children of God to be peacekeepers - that is a passive term - it
implies peace is here and we simply need to maintain it, not let it slip
away. The children of God are
peace-makers.
We do things
that bring us closer to that perfect, holy state of being.
that bring us closer to that perfect, holy state of being.
Religious
practices throughout the world, in many different faith expressions, offer
guidance on ways to achieve modicums of inner peace. And that is wonderful.
practices throughout the world, in many different faith expressions, offer
guidance on ways to achieve modicums of inner peace. And that is wonderful.
But that is not what Jesus calls us to - we
are called to share peace, to make peace known, beyond our own psyche.
are called to share peace, to make peace known, beyond our own psyche.
//
Perfect peace
is only achievable by linking together peaceful moments and experiences. We have to think long term, beyond this
moment, beyond today.
is only achievable by linking together peaceful moments and experiences. We have to think long term, beyond this
moment, beyond today.
You can
see that as an image for this message, I chose the classic North American image
of the entry into a new year – the dropping of ‘the ball’ in New York’s Times
Square. We are now almost eight weeks into 2014. How are those New Year’s
resolutions going? Of course, it is seldom good to be stuck in the past. It is
good for all of us to live in the moment – to notice the beauty and wonder that
is in our midst now – to know and appreciate the joy that is possible in the
now. But we are wise to not simply live for this moment alone. Yes, the future is uncertain, but we are called to be mindful of what lies beyond today –
to see beyond ourselves and simply our own needs and desires. The plan is to
keep the clocks moving even if that famous ball won’t be dropping for 10 more
months. Can we accept the challenge to live “in” the moment and “for” the
moments to come? If we only do this when a loving peace is easy, how hard is
that.
see that as an image for this message, I chose the classic North American image
of the entry into a new year – the dropping of ‘the ball’ in New York’s Times
Square. We are now almost eight weeks into 2014. How are those New Year’s
resolutions going? Of course, it is seldom good to be stuck in the past. It is
good for all of us to live in the moment – to notice the beauty and wonder that
is in our midst now – to know and appreciate the joy that is possible in the
now. But we are wise to not simply live for this moment alone. Yes, the future is uncertain, but we are called to be mindful of what lies beyond today –
to see beyond ourselves and simply our own needs and desires. The plan is to
keep the clocks moving even if that famous ball won’t be dropping for 10 more
months. Can we accept the challenge to live “in” the moment and “for” the
moments to come? If we only do this when a loving peace is easy, how hard is
that.
Our story is
one of not giving up.
one of not giving up.
Jesus'
non-violence did not stop his violent death, but his commitment and compassion has
lasted longer than the empire that crucified him.
non-violence did not stop his violent death, but his commitment and compassion has
lasted longer than the empire that crucified him.
Thanks be to
God.
God.
Let us pray:
(ad lib)
#348VU “O Love
How Deep”
How Deep”
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