Sermon for June 24

June 24, 2018

John the Baptist

Malachi 3:1-4

Psalm 141

Acts 13:13-26

Luke 1:57-80

Please pray with me,

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O God, our rock, our strength and our redeemer.  Amen.  

In the tender compassion of our God, the dawn from on high shall break upon us.

This is the refrain to sung as part of morning prayer in our hymnals.  The rest of the canticle or hymn, is known as the song of Zechariah.  It is the second half of our gospel lesson today.  

In the tender compassion of our God, the dawn from on high shall break upon us.

On Friday mornings at seminary, a small group of us would gather for Morning Prayer and we would sing this refrain a part of our morning prayer.  The rest of the final verse incorporates the refrain with some additional text:

In the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.  

I have to be truthful here.  I spent lots of time this week wrestling with this text as I listened to the news and as I packed and prepped for Houston.  

In the tender mercy of our God…as we listen to this canticle, we know that part of it is Zechariah rejoicing over the birth of his son and rejoicing because he is now able to speak.  Earlier in the gospel of Luke, when the angel Gabriel announces to Zechariah that he and Elizabeth would have a son, he questions Gabriel, saying, “How can this be?”  And because of his disbelief in the proclamation, Gabriel renders him mute.  

His ability to speak returns (as we heard today) after he writes that the child shall be named John.  

Needless to say, there is much reason for Zechariah to rejoice, but it is more than the birth of his son and the return of his voice.  The reason to rejoice is because of God’s great mercy. 

The word mercy, in our passage today is defined as showing kindness or concern for someone in serious need.   

Last month at the Poconos, I led a session that talked about God’s infinite mercy. Part of our time together allowed the youth time to come up with a definition for the word mercy.  

One group said it was that game where you bend your partner's hands back until they say mercy...it caused the adults in the room to shudder.  

But most of them came up with a working definition that had to do with acting kind or gentle or with compassion when in a position to do the opposite.  

The key that we discussed in the definition was that mercy is shown when a person in power or a person who has power or privilege choses to show compassion when they have the opportunity to use his or her power to their own advantage.  

Does that make sense?  The key to mercy is that when a person is in power or in a position of power, she or he decides to respond to a situation with compassion, instead of hurt or harm.

Mercy is tough stuff.  

Thank God that God's mercy is endless.  

When we mess up (yes, there are consequences) but God gives us second, third and millionth chances.  God, whose power is infinite, shows compassion and mercy.  

Yet it’s hard for us to live out of God's grace and mercy modeling that for others.  As soon as we get a glimpse of that power or authority or control, we hesitate to give it up.  It's easier to use that power to maintain power or the control that we think we have rather than show mercy and compassion to others.  

This isn't a new problem...humankind has always struggled when it comes to power, who has it and how you act with it.  

We, the people of God, the family of God, are called to live out humble lives of service and love, extending mercy and compassion when we could hurt or harm others.

So, if mercy is to show kindness or concern for someone in serious need., then who is in "serious need"? 

In our text, it might be that the barrenness of Elizabeth had put her and Zechariah in need.  (Stoffregen) The "needy" are defined in verses 78 & 79.  Spoiler alert…it’s us.  

People sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death. 

People who are not at peace.  

It’s us, the imperfect ones.  

The ones who struggle daily with the divisiveness coming from our political parties.  

The ones who struggle with wondering how in a world that produces enough food for 7 million people, that people in our own community go to bed hungry.  

The ones who struggle to make ends meet.  

The ones who live in or are trying to mend broken relationships.  

The ones who worry about how they will be seen or heard.

The ones who struggle with self-esteem and body image. 

The ones who post the perfect images on social media as they covet the perfection of their neighbors and friends.  

The ones who are imperfect…

It’s you, it’s me…

Look, it’s us.  

We still walk in the darkness in this world.  

Yet God, who loves us unconditionally, reaches out from a place of extreme power and offers us compassion and mercy and a place of love and a place to be loved.  

But I have to tell you, in receiving that love and mercy and grace and compassion…we are transformed.  We are placed in a path in the light to walk the way of peace.  

And when we walk that path…we illumine the path for others.  

I’d like you to watch part of Chris Pratt’s acceptance speech for the Generation Award at the MTV movie and TV Awards from last week.  

He begins with words of thanks to his family and a nod to his son and then enters in with the 9 Rules from Chris Pratt.  

When I shared this video in worship, I left out #7.  While it was on MTV, it didn't really fit in with the sermon as part of worship.  

Here's the full speech: Chris Pratt Is Our Generation Award Recipient Speech

It sounds some what reminiscent of a Lutheran sermon, no?  I  mean, he used the word grace!!   Chris talks about each of us having a soul, about how we are called to act around others and to know God loves us, to pray and that grace is a gift!  

That grace, my friends, is Jesus.  There is nothing that we can do to earn this gift. 

Through God’s love and mercy, Jesus came into the world to break us free from the power of sin and death and transform us into humble, grace-filled servants in the world around us.  

When we live out of that grace, I can’t say this enough, we are empowered to show mercy and compassion to others…to walk along the path that Jesus set before us as the Prince of Peace and to make a difference in the world because we are loved and forgiven and sent to serve.  

A wise woman (my mother) said to me this week, “We need to be that grace in action.” 

So whatever it is you find to do…you should do it with all your heart.  

Lead with love.  

Respond with mercy.

Continue to walk humbly with God.  

Let us pray, 

Good and gracious God, thank you for loving us.  Thank you for creating us in your image and for continually calling us to live lives that model your compassion and mercy.  We give you thanks for offering us forgiveness when we mess up or miss opportunities to serve and care for others.  Help us to see all humanity as our neighbor.  Help us to build relationships, model humility and show mercy.  And all God’s people say, amen.  

Truth is...

Truth is working out is hard this week. 

I'm not sure why.  I've had drive to run twice and the desire to not do anything else the other days.  
I know it's good to work out. 
I know I'll feel better when I do. 

But goodness, the emotional drive to do it this week has been a struggle.  
I've reached out to a private workout facebook group for some accountability.  
I'm wondering where my internal drive has gotten off to.  
The good news is that the prospect of running has been inspiring.  It seems that is all I want to do.  
But since I hurt my achilles tendon several years ago I have not been in the habit of back to back running days. 

With a Ragnar in the fall, I know that in July I'll kick into training gear.  Having a goal race and a plan to get me there works really well for me.  I know that having something larger than myself to work for I will be jazzed to run and workout.  In fact, I can't wait to start that training plan.  But in the meantime, I'm frustrated with my lack of internal motivation.  

It's been a weird week with feeling all or nothing.
I think I need to take it one day at a time.  

Today: 
I'll set out my clothes to get a spin class in at the gym before work.  
I will go 'screen free' at 8:30 and read until an early bed time.  

Tomorrow: Early morning spin. 

I'll tell a friend or two that this is my plan for today and tomorrow.  

I can do this.  
I will do this.  

It is good for my heart, body and soul.  

In other news, my weight has been fluctuating just a bit.  Since my last weigh post at 152.4 on May 21, I've been down to 149.6 and back up this week to 151.2.  All in all, it's not that much.  And, I think my body is good at this weight.  I like seeing numbers under 150, but this past week I have not been logging food as faithfully as I have in the past.  When I don't log it, I tend to snack more and not think too much about it.  

I don't want this post to be only frustrations and struggles...but I share them because they are part of this journey for me.  It's not all great runs and healthy eating.  I struggle with this.  It's work for me.  Truth is...it always will be.  

Some days are better than others.  
Yesterday I ran a sweet 3 miles with negative splits and ended up having a milkshake for dinner.  (win. win?)
I had a really good stretch and roll both yesterday and Sunday when I ran this week.  
I'll take the ups and downs.  
It's a journey and you learn along the way.  

Thanks for listening.  

Until the next post.

Some thoughts on mercy for today.

Collywobbles

Taradiddle

Widdershins

Bumfuzzle 

The list of words above is the way my Bible study at the Pocono Retreat began.  (This study came from Nick Diliberto's Youth Group Lesson on Mercy) In groups of 2 or 3 they needed to come up with a definition for each word that the judges thought was the best.  They received bonus points if they actually defined the word, but the creativity was my favorite part.  

After a few questions about how we determine success and how we think God determine's success, we read Micah 6:8.  
"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."  

We talked about how we are called to act in the world around us...and then back in those small groups, they defined the word mercy.  One group said it was that game where you bend your partner's hands back until they say mercy...it caused the adults in the room to shudder.  But most of them came up with a working definition that had to do with acting kind or gentle or with compassion when in a position to do the opposite.  
Merriam-webster.com offers this as part of the definition of mercy - a : compassion or forbearance (see forbearance 1) shown especially to an offender or to one subject to one's power;

The key that we discussed in the definition was that mercy is shown when a person in power or with power or with privilege choses to show compassion when they have the opportunity to use his or her power to their own advantage.  

We watched the end of the Veggie Tales Movie, Jonah.  The scene when Jonah, played by Archibald Asparagus is flailing on the ground....ranting and raving about how upset he is that God has not rained down brimstone on the people of Nineveh.  But Jonah doesn't get it.  He never gets it.  Even though God extended mercy to Jonah, gave him a second chance, Jonah doesn't think the Ninevites deserve a second chance.  Jonah proclaims the word of the Lord, but has a hard time realizing how that word transforms, changes and impacts lives, his own included.  

Mercy is tough stuff.  
Thank God that God's mercy is endless.  
When we mess up (yes, there are consequences) but God gives us second, third and millionth chances.  God whose power is infinite, shows compassion and mercy.  

We are more like Jonah than we realize.  It's so hard for us to live out of God's grace and mercy modeling that for others.  As soon as we get a glimpse of that power or authority or control, we hesitate to give it up.  It's easier to use that power to maintain power or the control that we think we have rather than show mercy and compassion to others.  

This isn't a new problem...humankind has been in a constant struggle when it comes to power, who has it and how you act with it.  

Many of us have heard the story of the Good Samaritan from Luke 10:25-37.  The lead in to the familiar part of the parable is that a lawyer is testing Jesus about eternal life.  The lawyer knows the command to 'love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.’ 

But the lawyer wonders aloud, "Who is my neighbor?"  

The parable reveals that the one who is the neighbor is the one who shows mercy.  The one who, when in a situation to help or hinder the situation, has decided to help.  This individual choses to take a situation and make a difference in a positive way, in a way that will dramatically change the life of another.  

In this story, the neighbor, the one who showed mercy, was the one least likely.  This story reminds us that loving our neighbor means caring for those who are different than we are.  We are called to show mercy to God's children who have backgrounds, ethnicities, beliefs - religious and political, genders, sexual orientation and skin colors that may not be our own.  That, my friends, is not easy, but it is the call of the gospel, to live lives out of God's love, grace and mercy.  

When have you received mercy?  

How did that moment make you feel?  

When have you been in a position of power or control?  

Have you used that position to extend mercy?  How has that transformed you?  

God's mercy is infinite.  

We are called to live out humble lives of service and love, extending mercy and compassion when we could hurt or harm others.  

Will you have the opportunity to do that today?  Tomorrow?  

Good and gracious God, thank you for loving us.  Thank you for creating us in your image and for continually calling us to live lives that model your compassion and mercy.  We give you thanks for offering us forgiveness when we mess up or miss opportunities to serve and care for others.  Help us to see all humanity as our neighbor.  Help us to build relationships, model humility and show mercy.  In Jesus' name, amen.