First Lesson: Ruth 3: 1-5; 4: 13-17
Responsive Reading: Psalm 127
Second Lesson: Hebrews 9: 24-28
​Gospel Lesson: Mark 12: 38-44

Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
​
“I look forward to Tax Day every year because it shows that I have something to give.” –Sychar member Bob Eckstrom

Let me begin by telling a story about Grandma.  I was in high school; I had let Grandma know that I thought I might be called to go into the ministry. Grandma wanted to give me encouragement in this venture, so on a Thursday night during the school year, Grandma calls me up.  Grandma told me that she needed to drop off her “tithe.”

Grandma was never a real regular Church attender when I was growing up, as she tended to enjoy making phone calls to California during middle of the night, so getting to a 9 or 10:30 service at Trinity Lutheran could be a challenge.  While most people would wait until Sunday morning to try to handle their offering for Grandma patience has never really been a strength. So Grandma told me that she was picking me up at 8:30 and we were driving out to the preacher’s house to give him her offering.  My parents must not have been around to veto such an idea.  So Grandma and I driveway past the church to the other end of town, Grandma rings the doorbell (I would be surprised if she thought of calling), the preacher and his wife come to the door wearing pajamas.   Grandma proceeds to try starting a casual conversation; Pastor Tom lets her know he needs to go to “bed,” Grandma hands her “tithe” to him and drives me home with her lesson on the nature of ministry. 

Now Today’s Gospel lesson tells the tale of a woman who like my Grandma had her own noteworthy approach to giving[1].

The scene for Today’s lesson is Holy Week. Passover week would cause Religious pilgrims from all over to travel to Jerusalem where they would give their yearly offering.  Jesus and his Disciples are sitting within the Temple as it’s packed with people watching the whole scene unfold.  You had rich and poor alike gathering to deliver their offering at the same time. 

A couple of years ago, I went to an event on non-profit fundraising for North Shore Area Partners down in Duluth. I got paired up with a partner; my partner was the head of a large foundation down in Duluth.  We were comparing fundraising within our organizations; I described how we make due with a lot of small gifts $5, $10, $20, 50, 100, gifts larger than this would be noteworthy.  The woman describes to me how for her job, she would occasionally host small informal coffee parties of maybe 6-8 people for fundraising.  When I asked how much money these brought in? She proceeded to tell me $75,000 for a typical gathering.  My jaw was on the floor.  She had all sorts of connections within Duluth’s medical industry that could give like that without a second thought.  There were plenty of people like this within Jesus’ day.  The type of people when they walked into the Temple, everyone knew that large amounts of money we're going to be placed in the offering boxes.   Among the rich, they would try to out dress and out display each other.  Giving one’s offering for many was the social event of the year at the Temple. 

Now standing in one of the lines on this day was a lady that probably didn’t stand out in any way[2].  She certainly wouldn’t have stood out in such a busy and noisy crowd.  She is described as a widow.  Just like the wealthy temple goers, she approaches the offering boxes where she dropped in two small copper coins called “mites[3],” almost like dropping pennies into piles of gold and silver.  Jesus though noticed this woman right away.  Jesus might have been the only one in the room to notice this woman.

Jesus proceeds to point out: “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.  They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on[4].”

Jesus noticed that this woman was making her next meal more difficult, yet she believed that she was giving to a cause with even more significant meaning. 

It was this woman that Jesus wanted to point out to his Disciples as a real model of generosity.  

Jesus wanted to remind the Disciples that there was much more going on in this story than all they could see on this day.

Later in Mark’s Gospel, a woman with a bad reputation approaches Jesus, she washed his feet with her tears and cheap perfume[5].  Everyone around objected that Jesus didn’t shoe her from his presence.  What they were saying is “Don’t you know of her sin?”  whereas when Jesus looked at this woman he didn’t see her sin, he saw in her forgiveness and new life[6]. 

It was people like this questionable woman and widow who truly understood the impact of believing that the love of God was without boundaries[7]. 

Once upon a time, there was an IRS Agent[8].  The guy was checking out tax returns when one gentleman’s caught his eye.  The guy claimed an income of under $10,000, yet he claimed to be giving over $1200 to his church.  The agent decided that he was going to investigate.  The agent shows up unannounced at the gentleman’s home the next day.  He was struck by how the gentleman like nearly every person who he encountered wasn’t nervous to be questioned by an IRS agent. 

The agent asked for a giving receipt from the church.  The gentleman calmly goes upstairs to retrieve it.   The agent reviews the receipts for ten seconds realizes this guy is on the level.  The agent apologizes for the bother[9]. 

As the agent is leaving, the gentleman proceeds to invite him to his church.  The agent is struck by the request, “Thanks, but I belong to a church myself[10].”

The gentleman is embarrassed as he declares “Excuse me, that possibility never occurred to me[11].”

The agent couldn’t shake the gentleman’s words, why didn’t he think that he attended a church.  The agent was well-off as we think of it, he went to church nearly every Sunday, yet he would never dream of giving like this gentleman that had so little.

The gentleman just like the widow had unbelievable trust that whatever his circumstances that the Lord would ultimately provide.  One man saw as an act of financial recklessness, the other man saw as an act of faith.  The difference towards life was noticeable. 

The whole point of our lesson seems to be how exactly, we think about being rich and poor is generally wrong.  Let me close with one final story:

Once upon a time, there was a father that wished to give his son a “life lesson” on wealth[12].   The father had done quite well for himself, and the boy was never in need of anything growing up.  The father wished to teach the boy what it was like to be poor, so they traveled to a farm in a foreign country where they spent a few days.  They spent the night at the farm of what they considered to be a low-income family.

So father and son return from the trip, when Dad asks if he enjoyed the trip.  Son replies “It was great[13].”
            Father asked: “Did you see how poor people can be?”
            Son answers: “Oh yeah.”
            Father asks: “What did you learn?” Hoping his life lesson to be effective.
The son answered, “I saw that we have one dog and they had four.  We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden, and they have a creek that has no end.  We have imported lanterns in our garden, and they have the stars at night.  Our patio reaches to the front yard, and they have the whole horizon[14].”

“We have a small piece of land to live on, and they have fields that go beyond our sight.  We have servants who serve us, but they serve others[15].”

“We buy our food, but they grow theirs.  We have walls around our property to protect us; they have friends to protect them.” “It showed me just how poor we are[16].”

The Father’s jaw had dropped to the ground at such an answer.  The little boy was just like Jesus within the Temple; he understood something about the real difference between poverty and abundance regardless of what every other onlooker might see. 

My Grandma was a widow as a relatively young woman.  She was never one to stay in a job for very long.  She never had much to give when living on her own! She would never be the first target of any church’s stewardship campaign.  When Grandma did give, she was undoubtedly way more dramatic than the widow within our lesson.  Grandma though taught me something value about the nature of generosity.
The greatest givers are not always though with the most to give.  She gave not out of fear, force, or to get praise from others; she gave because she believed that God had not abandoned her through all quirks. Amen

 
             
[1] Mark 12:38-44. 
[2] Markquardt, Ed. “Hannah and 2%, the Widow’s Mite.” Sermons from Seattle. Web. Oct.25.2018. 
[3] “Lesson of the widow’s mite.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 16.Feb. 2018. Web. Oct.25.2018. 
[4] Mark 12:43-44. 
[5] Mark 14:3-9
[6] Stier, Leon. “Seeing Others as Jesus Sees Them (part one).” Email Mediatations. 2.June.2015. Web. Oct.25.2018. 
[7] Stier, Leon. “Seeing Others as Jesus Sees Them (part one).” Email Mediatations.
[8] Zingale, Tim. “Sacrifical Lifestyle.” Sermon Central. 3.Nov.2003. Web. Oct.25.2018. 
[9] Zingale, Tim. “Sacrifical Lifestyle.” Sermon Central.
[10] Zingale, Tim. “Sacrifical Lifestyle.” Sermon Central.
[11] Zingale, Tim. “Sacrifical Lifestyle.” Sermon Central.
[12] Stier, Leon. “What is Rich? What is Poor?” Email Mediatations. 22. Aug.2018. Web. Oct.25.2018.  Taken from a Facebook page by Dan Dan Asmussen. 
[13] Stier, Leon. “What is Rich? What is Poor?” Email Mediatations.
[14] Stier, Leon. “What is Rich? What is Poor?” Email Mediatations.
[15] Stier, Leon. “What is Rich? What is Poor?” Email Mediatations.
[16] Stier, Leon. “What is Rich? What is Poor?” Email Mediatations.

First Lesson: Isaiah 25: 6-9
Responsive Reading: Psalm 24
Second Lesson: Revelation 21: 1-6
​Gospel Lesson: John 11: 32-44

Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
​
Later this afternoon, I will go home to watch my beloved Minnesota Vikings play.  The game is guaranteed to have plenty of commercials.  A lot of the commercials will be dealing with Tuesday’s upcoming election.  Many of these commercials will be dealing with the election of a new congressman from our area between Pete Stauber and Joe Radinovich .  The majority of ads will be negative trying to portray serious scandals within both candidates’ respective pasts.  It will be reported that Mr. Stauber used his Saint Louis County email for partisan political purposes.  Mr. Radinovich’s repeated traffic violations and possession of drug paraphernalia upon graduating high school will also come upon our T.V. screens[1].  After these commercials air, voters will be asked to go to the polls on Tuesday to determine which candidates past sins are more disqualifying.  As I hear this debate take place, I wonder if an even bigger debate is taking place regarding human nature itself.

Huey Long was elected Governor of Louisiana in 1928.  Long was remarkable for a southern politician at the time as he avoided using race as a tool to try to win votes[2].  Long was an early proponent of old age pensions such as Social Security.  Long was so charismatic and such a gifted orator that he was the first American politician to become a radio star.  Long was quite popular as Governor for denouncing the wealthy elites and banks holding the commoner down.  Long’s popularity was such in Louisiana that[3] his brother got elected Governor; his wife got elected Senator, his son served in the Senate for forty years.  Multiple cousins got elected to Congress.  After serving as Governor, Huey got elected to the United States Senate.  Mr. Long was thought to be a possible candidate for the Presidency in 1936, as arguably, the second most popular and well-known politician in the country after Franklin Delano Roosevelt.  Long’s political career ended prematurely upon being assassinated in 1935.

So how is Huey Long viewed eighty-some plus years after his death?  Depends on to whom you talk?  The Louisiana House of Representatives tried to impeach Long for taking bribes, carrying concealed weapons, and rumors were widespread that he hired thugs to kill political enemies[4].   These charges say nothing about Long’s open womanizing and frequent vulgar behavior.  They report that if Long had gotten elected President that America would have descended into a cult of personality dictatorship.  To many of his constituents, he remains a hero decades after his death for serving as a voice for the voiceless. 

So how should we as Christian people interpret Huey Long, Pete Stauber, and Joe Radinovich as we go into the week ahead?

Today we gather for All Saints Sunday, we remember and honor those that have left Sychar’s Communion of the Saints within the past year.  Now when we hear the word “Saint” a certain image inevitability pops up into our mind[5]: Saint Peter, Saint John (Men who risked their life preaching and spreading the Gospel within the Early Church), Saint Patrick, Saint Olaf (Men who brought the Christian faith to previous unbelieving nations), Saint Mary (The Mother of Jesus).  Saints are thought of as Super-Heroes of the Christian faith.  Even Huey Long’s greatest supporter would admit that he doesn’t fit in with such a crowd as this.

Here’s the thing about the term: Saint as we often think about it fits none of us perfectly, even the greatest superheroes of the Christian faith.  The reality of Sainthood is that a “Saint” regardless of how colorful their past has been being one not without sin, but rather one who has been granted forgiveness.  Sainthood is an individual Christian’s belief that the Cross of Christ changed everything for them.

Today’s Gospel lesson comes to us from the story of Lazarus[6].  Lazarus grew ill.  Jesus wasn’t around.  Lazarus’ sisters Mary and Martha confront Jesus about this.  Jesus weeps!  Jesus goes to visit Lazarus’ tomb.  Jesus calls “Lazarus, come out.”  Jaws drop as Mary and Martha witness a reunion with their loved one on the other side of his grave.  What made Lazarus worthy of such an honor?  The scriptures give no evidence other than a belief that the Jesus whom he knew would not abandon even at his own grave. 

So as we gather on this day at Sychar, we remember those whose loss we have mourned in the past year, those who tombs that Jesus declares will not be permanently occupied!

On this day, we remember the Saints of Sychar who have left our presence within the past year:

Wayne Johnson[7]: Wayne was instrumental in the founding of this congregation in 1953 when it began meeting at the “Green Door.”  Wayne would help approach Reserve President William Kelley to choose a lot for this church on the corner of Edison and Banks where we meet today.  Wayne’s legacy though goes beyond his role in Sychar’s founding.  Wayne served his country in World War II in China within General Claire Lee Chennault’s famed Flying Tigers-14th Air Force.  Wayne’s love of flying eventually saw the Silver Bay Airport bear his name.  Wayne upon leaving the service then moved into the legal profession.  Wayne would spend the next fifty plus years serving as city attorney within both Silver Bay and Beaver Bay, the longest tenure within this nation’s history.  When Wayne died, the Duluth News Tribune described him as a “North Shore” legend influenced by his role in the famous trial of this town’s history Reserve Mining vs. the United States.  

Gordy Marquardt: I remember my visits with Gordy in the last few years at home, then Chris Jensen in Duluth and finally the Veterans Home in Silver Bay.  We bonded over our shared passions of the Minnesota Twins and to a greater degree the Minnesota Vikings.  I’ll remember Gordy for his gracious and tremendous appreciation of every visit that I made to him.  I’ll remember Gordy in these days for continual joy that he would have at his wife of 33 years, Julie’s presence.  Gordy worked as a welder.  His passion was being outdoors.  Gordy was not a man of many words; Gordy was a hard worker that sought to be decent to others.  I’ve had residents of the Marks Apartments point out to me on more than one occasion how Gordy was the most devoted caretaker the building there ever had. 

Evelyn Buetow: We remember Evelyn for her love of canoeing as she met her late husband Harry at YMCA Camp Widjiwagan near Ely.  They began lifelong canoe trips to BWCAW and Quetico Park.  We will also remember Evelyn’s love of music.  She sang in the Sychar choir and with the Singing Moms.  She worked for a time as Sychar’s organist, taught piano lessons, and played handbells. Evelyn loved attending the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra.  MPR was her constant companion in her final days. 

Ida Koehler: When I was planning Ida’s funeral with her daughters what they remarked and it was something that stood out from my own time with Ida both at her house on Edison and at Carefree Living was her sense of contentedness. Regardless of her circumstances, Ida wouldn’t complain. Ida certainly had her share of tough days being widowed as a young woman.  Ida didn’t complain even, nor did she speak ill of those around her.  Ida will be remembered for being accepting of others and her graciousness. Even when living down at Carefree Living, one could never remove the smile from Ida’s face. The only conflict when she moved into Carefree Living is that the lunch hour dared to interfere with her viewing of the Young and the Restless.

Kathryn Samuel: Kathryn grew up in Harrisburg, PA.  As a young woman she worked in the Pennsylvania state legislature.  Afterwards taking a job at the Harrisburg Airport where she would met Arthur Samuel.  A short time later, Art and Kathryn moved to Silver Bay when Art took a job for Reserve Mining.  They were among the first seventy-five families to settle into this community.  Art’s career would eventually see him become the plant’s manager of Research and Development.  Kathryn at first really struggled with the move according to her daughter Marcia, she cried for nearly two years privately out of her own loneliness. Kathryn though eventually adjusted to life up here.  Art and her were active in this congregation with Art serving on the Building Committee.  Kathryn studied to be an instructor for the Bethel Bible Series.  Kathryn stood out for her sense of fashion; she described it as an “LL Bean” habit.  Kathryn’s memory loss would in the last few years of her life see her move away to Michigan to be closer to her daughter Marcia who did special music when we remembered her this summer. Kathryn’s legacy remains strong in this community as her son David moved back here to become quite active in building up the Mariner Alumni Association.

Al Thorngren: Al’s life could not be separated from the North Shore from where he spent all of it.  Al grew up here as his father Frank worked as a commercial fisherman.  Al would begin his working life doing sounding down at the Harbor.  Al’s career would transition as a Taconite processing plant would be built in the town that came to be known as “Silver Bay.” Al participated in the plant’s construction.  Al would spend his working career like so many others of his town’s fellow residents working shifts for Reserve Mining until his retirement.   Upon Reserve closing, as a way of trying to keep the town’s economy afloat a Veterans Home was built in Silver Bay.  Al would become not only a frequent visitor for his wife Margaret and best friend Warren but also a resident.  Al above all loved the North Shore for not only its water but its woods, where Al managed to get “stuck” but would never get “lost.” 

Bob Hanson: Bob was a man of deep faith. Bob sang in our church choir.  Bob served on the building committee of this church for the sanctuary that we currently sit in. Bob served as a Luther League advisor where he did the seemingly thankless task of traveling with groups of teens across the country. Bob served as this congregation’s president nearly fifty years ago. Bob in his advancing age hoped that he would be able to move back to Silver Bay and become a resident down at the Veterans Home.  Bob looked forward to reuniting with friends from this community, yet our Gospel lesson declares even greater reunions await for those who believe. 

Gwen Ronhovde: Gwen was adored by those closest to her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, foster children, her neighbors (Ward the Barber and Vicki Danielson), and her friends especially those within the Knit and Sit group.  They will forever remember Gwen for living to serve as a caregiver to others.  Within the Lutheran tradition, we do not believe that there are any higher callings to serve than one’s family. 

Gary Olson:  Gary was a great lover of the Guitar and music in general. As we remember Gary on this day, I read what was wrote about him by his mother Esther: “Gary was a wonderful son! It was always so good when he came home to see me!” Esther loved cooking for Gary because it brought him joy! They would call each other daily both always worried about each other.  Gary worried about a 99-year-old mother living alone and Esther worrying about Gary through his various ailments.  Esther’s life will never be the same after Gary’s passing. In Gary’s passing, I saw first-hand what a wonderful calling that friendship is within this world.  From Gavin Leblanc’s constant checking in on Esther to Lorraine Nelson and Betty Josephson’s friendship.  The following serves as a reminder to be grateful for the unexpected Saints that make up our community. 

Shirley Moschet: We remember Shirley as a “matriarch” within our congregation. Shirley was active within SLCW for many years.   We’ll forever remember her gift of music on display within the Sychar choir.  Shirley lived for her family.  When her cancer began advancing, I remember her declaring her wish to be able to attend her Granddaughter Jamie’s wedding.  She was able to make it.  Then when her husband of sixty-seven years, Frank began approaching his 100th Birthday, Shirley perversed and made it.  Shirley was even able to see her beloved Minnesota Twins advance to the playoffs one final time before she died.  Her faith played a huge part of her existence.  She would occasionally get on me for when my Scroll articles would get off task of proclaiming it.  Shirley believed the great truth that we celebrate Today that we have hope even in the presence of death, because we have a Savior who conquered sin and the grave, so one day we may inherit not only Sainthood but the gift of Eternal Life. 

What does this all mean for our week ahead?

Tuesday you will be invited to go “vote” for a host of candidates.  None of the candidates will be without sin in their life; none of them will permanently remove sin from our nation. Thankfully, we have a savior whose promises are more certain that any politician we may know.  This savior promises that the tears our eyes have shed in the last year will soon be permanently removed from our eyes forever just like at the grave of Lazarus.  All this doesn’t mean that ordinary men and women can’t serve as Saints in the world around them as mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, sons, daughters, grandpas, grandmas, neighbors, friends, and even politicians.   Remember the Cross assures that the world will soon be filled with all sorts of unlikely Saints.  Amen  


[1] Koff, Stephen. “Fact check: Joe Radinovich, running from the law?” Duluth News Tribune. 18.Sept.2018. Web. Oct.22.2018. 
[2] “Huey Long.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 21.Oct.2018. Web. Oct.22.2018. 
[3] “Long Family”. Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 13.Oct.2018. Web. Oct.22.2018. 
[4] Latson, Jennifer. “The Strange Career of Assassinated Louisiana Politician Huey Long.” Time Magazine. 8. Sept.2015. Web. Oct.22.2018.
[5] Stier, Leon. “Believing in the Communion of Saints (a)” Email Meditations. 20.Sept.2015. Web. Oct.22.2018. 
[6] John 11:32-44. 
[7] The following comes from Wayne’s self-written obituary and the Sychar Remembers 60th Anniversary book edited by Joan Claire Graham in 2013.  

First Lesson: Jeremiah 31: 31-34
Responsive Reading: Psalm 46
Second Lesson: Romans 3: 19-28
​Gospel Lesson: John 8: 31-36

Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
​
The date was January 14th, 2018.  The place was U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.  The Minnesota Vikings were playing the New Orleans Saints in the NFL Playoffs.  The Vikings were in their 57th year of existence with zero World Championships to their name in twenty-eight previous playoff appearances[1] (including four Super Bowl losses). You could describe the Vikings losses as either 0-4, 0-28, or 0-56 as their marks of futility.  Now the Vikings were playing with their best team in some years heading into the game at 13-3, only three wins from a Championship.  66,000 plus seemingly all purple faithful were in attendance. 

Nearly three of the four quarters were played, and the Vikings were seemingly in control leading 17-0.  The Saints though rallied: touchdown, Vikings interception, another Saints touchdown, and with 25 seconds left the Saints had seemingly taken the lead for good at 24-23.  The Vikings season seemed destined to be over. 

I started looking around our section.  Shoulders were slumped! People were saying here we go again.  I probably heard a cuss word or two.  Viking fans are often by nature cynics on account of what might seem like decades of losing.   People like my fellow Viking fans aren’t unique in our life[2]. 

*You might know a man or woman that has been disappointed so many times in love that they believe they’re just not destined for happy relationships.

*You might have a friend who gives you all sorts of reasons as to why you can never trust people.

*You might know people that shoot down every new idea they hear as unpractical or infeasible and doomed to failure[3]. 

*You might hear all the reasons why the church’s only future is an inevitable decline into death.

Now here’s the thing about cynics.  They’re generally not wrong.  They are continually able to cite all sorts of good examples from the past about why things seem destined to remain the way they are. 

Now I want to tell you the story of one of history’s greatest cynics.  Martin Luther was born in Eiselben, Germany in 1483.  He was the son of Hans and Margarethe Luther. Hans Luther had a dream of young Martin becoming a lawyer. Martin eventually enrolls in law school at the age of 22, after working for years to achieve this goal.  Martin couldn’t help be influenced by years of study in its pursuit.  Luther’s big problem with studying the law was the uncertainty over the true meaning of human nature.

To illustrate what I mean, let me tell another story. Carey Nieuwhof was a young law student working in Canada’s largest city of Toronto[4].  He dreamed of practicing constitutional law before Canada’s Supreme Court. He was newly married and had recently become a Dad. Nieuwhof had a good work ethic, a good intellect, and seemed destined to smash through barriers within the legal profession quickly.  He quickly noticed something about his fellow lawyers, none of them were happy.

 One day a colleague who was in his mid-30’s wildly successful both financially and professionally came in waving a lottery ticket, proclaiming if he won that no one would ever see him again.  Nieuwhof soon proclaimed to his colleagues: “If you can find a happy lawyer in this city, I’ll pay you a million dollars.” They would all go silent. 

Nieuwhof would soon leave the legal profession to enter the ministry; he realized what Luther had that the law represents despair because the judgments it makes confront all sorts of here and now realities.  I say this as someone whose sister is an attorney, who describes sitting in her parking lot during her lunch hour in similar despair because of the hardships within her client’s lives.  The law showcases how tough a place the world can be seemingly without escape.

So cynicism about the future sets in. Luther came to believe that no matter how much learning he could do, he could not understand God’s plan for his life

This struggle would forever change his life on the night of July 2nd, 1505[5].  Luther was traveling from the family home back to the University.  A great thunderstorm came out of the sky.  Luther was able to see lightening nearly strike him.  Luther proceeded to make a desperate plea to God: “Help! Saint Anna, I will become a monk.”

So Luther became a monk and he became as good a monk as one could be.  He would spend hours in prayer, he would fast to build discipline, he would take religious pilgrimages to holy shrines, and he would try to confess every sin both big and small that he committed.  The better that Luther became as a Monk-like Carey Nieuwhof became as a lawyer, the more that they could only see cynicism and despair.  God for Luther couldn’t be a God of love if Luther kept feeling terrible about himself day after day despite his best efforts.

Luther’s mentor seeking a solution suggested that he become a Bible professor.  Luther went all out studying the Psalms, Hebrews, Galatians and the Book of Romans.  Luther kept continually trying to make sense of the world around him through his study, to remove his negative nature from his life once and for all. 

Martin Luther one night when studying in his tower comes across Romans 1:17: “For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Luther’s study of this verse was the start of the Lutheran Reformation.  Luther came to realize that he was indeed truly a sinner. The following was not his ten-second life-changing revelation though as he already believed this.   More importantly, Luther came to believe that the only thing that he needed to bring to his salvation was his sin in need of saving.  The Cross became his source of hope as he was nearly overwhelmed by his cynicism.

Luther, when he came across these words, had every intention of remaining within the Universal Catholic Church.  Eventually, though the Church politics of the day would cast Luther out for what he believes, the Lutheran Church would soon be born which we celebrate[6].

A similar story takes place within our Gospel lesson from John 8.  Jesus is speaking to a group of Jewish believers who had been cast out of the synagogue for disagreeing with the religious authorities of their day over whom exactly should they follow[7].   They were looking for new life! They like Luther were looking to turn from cynicism to hope!

Jesus spoke of their present condition as one of slavery: “whoever commits sin is a slave to sin[8].”

Freedom was soon to come to their lives so that they will become free indeed.  For a short time after this encounter, Good Friday would take place. 

The Good Friday story in the words of writer Michael Gerson serves as an invitation to cynicism[9].  The government comes off as irresponsible debating who has the authority to put Jesus to death until Pontius Pilate finally throws his hands up.  Religion doesn’t come off in the best light as; the religious authorities are quick to turn to judgment.  The crowd in Jerusalem comes off no different than a mob cheering as thorns are jammed into Jesus’ forehead.  Even Jesus’ closest of friends in the Disciples fall asleep when he asks them to keep watch.  Even God seemed to fail just as he had in Luther’s life when Jesus declared: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me[10].” Jesus is seemingly forced to go to his grave alone[11].

As Good Friday comes to a close, it seemed every possible comfort from friendship to faith had been declared nonsense in the face of death.  The cynics had seemingly been proven right.  Human hope seemed to be extinguished with nothing that could be done in response.

Everything and I mean everything would soon change.   Two days later, word had come that the tomb was now empty! The first ten seconds, people had with their Risen Savior had indeed changed everything. Life had come out of death.  The outcome was unbelievable: The power of Resurrection has outlasted the world’s greatest empire which sentenced Jesus to death[12].  The previous cowardly friends would soon become bold missionaries even unto the point of their death[13].  The same man who had been mocked by a mob was now giving a word of forgiveness to every corner of the globe.  Martin Luther would come to believe that God was on his side, even in the darkest nights of his life.   Hope would eventually win out over cynicism.   

Ten seconds were left between the Saints and Vikings.  Mathematical models gave the Saints a 96% percent chance to win the game[14].  As I’m sitting in the stands on that evening, for some strange reason I wasn’t all that nervous, I couldn’t explain why.  I had seen the Vikings lose all sorts of big games throughout my life, often in the most creative of ways.

I knew that one play could change everything (even if the odds were seemingly small). 

Ten seconds were left when Vikings Quarterback Case Keenum drops back throwing the ball to the sideline on the same end but opposite side of the field from where Dad and I were sitting.  The pass was high; Vikings receiver Stefon Diggs leaps as high in the air as he can to try to bring it down, one Saints defender tries to tackle low missing Diggs and hitting his own guy instead.  Diggs hauls the pass in with no defenders in position to tackle him.  He runs to the end zone, scoring a touchdown untouched as the clock strikes zero. Pandemonium ensues!  People whose shoulders were slumped moments earlier were now complete hugging strangers.

 Vikings win! The play will forever be known as the “Minneapolis Miracle.”  Even though the Vikings would lose the next week to Philadelphia, the narrative had changed, the Vikings were not cursed.  The ten-second play had declared cynicism to be dead in the presence of all sorts of Vikings fan.  The past does not necessarily predict the future.  The great truth about cynicism is that it is ultimately a failure of patience. 

A few weeks ago, I was at a Vikings game when I saw a t-shirt which declared: “Live each day like it’s 23-24 with ten seconds left.”

While the shirt was about a football game, it spoke to the great truth of Martin Luther’s Reformation: no matter the past experiences and present circumstances of your life, things will not remain the way that they currently are.  Good Friday reminds us of this.  Martin Luther believed with every fiber of his being throughout his ministry in the words that Jesus declares within our Gospel lesson “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free[15].”   Amen
 
                 
[1] “Minnesota Vikings.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 20. Oct.2018. Web. Oct.21.2018. 
[2] Nieuwhof, Carey. Didn’t See It Coming. 2018. Waterbrook Mulnomah Publishing. Colorado Springs. Page 11. 
[3] Nieuwhof, Carey. Didn’t See It Coming.Page 11.
[4] Nieuwhof, Carey. Didn’t See It Coming. Pages 9-10.
[5] “Martin Luther.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 16.Oct.2018. Web. Oct.21.2018. 
[6] Luther was formally excommunicated from the Catholic Church on January 3, 1521 when Pope Leo X issued the Exsurge Domine (Papal Bull.)
[7] Hogan, Lucy Lind. “Commentary on John 8:31-36.” Working Preacher. Luther Seminary. 28.Oct.2018. Web. Oct.21.2018. 
[8] John 8:34. 
[9] Gerson, Michael. “What Good Friday teaches us about cynicism.” Washingston Post. 13. Apr.2017. Web. Oct.21.2018. 
[10] Matthew 27:46. 
[11] Gerson, Michael. “What Good Friday teaches us about cynicism.” Washingston Post.
[12] Gerson, Michael. “What Good Friday teaches us about cynicism.” Washingston Post.
[13] Gerson, Michael. “What Good Friday teaches us about cynicism.” Washingston Post.
[14] “Minneapolis Miracle.” .” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 21.Oct.2018. Web. Oct.21.2018. 
[15] Gerson, Michael. “What Good Friday teaches us about cynicism.” Washingston Post.

First Lesson: Job 38: 1-7, (34-41)
Responsive Reading: Psalm 91: 9-16
Second Lesson: Hebrews 5: 1-10
​Gospel Lesson: Mark 10: 35-45

Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
“Be still, and know that I am God.
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth!”-Psalm 46:10
When I was in college, I had a roommate named Gabe.  Gabe came from Oregon to Concordia.  Gabe had an interesting approach to time management.  I remember coming back to our apartment when I was confused by Gabe’s presence as I thought he had class at that time.  Gabe said he was on his way already fifteen minutes late, as he was casually scrolling his laptop.  To which Gabe proclaimed “He would leave, upon changing his Fantasy Baseball roster.” 
Here’s what made Gabe such a fascinating student, even if his time management wasn’t the best.  Gabe was really smart.  Gabe’s currently a college professor.  Now, most people who would show up an hour late to a three-hour class would try to sneak into the back of the room unnoticed.  Gabe would proceed to raise a hand and proceed to lecture the class on everything that Gabe had missed.  Here’s the thing Gabe is not unique. 
Students like Gabe thinking they’re possibly smarter than their teacher goes all the way back to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.  We often see the world through our own experiences and think we know better than God how exactly it should all work.
Teresa was born in Macedonia in 1910[1].  She considered her true birthday to be the day of her baptism rather than the day of her birth.  By the age of 12, she was fascinated by missionaries who served in the faraway nation of India.  She would spend her high school years praying at religious shrines and traveling on religious pilgrimages.  Teresa became a nun at age 21 and spent many years teaching at a religious school[2].  At the age of 37, she received a call within the call where she desired to leave her convent and work among India’s destitute and dying[3].  Teresa was a model Christian till to this point in her life. 
Teresa’s new calling though nearly broke her faith.  Within a few years of her new calling, she wrote letters to her religious superiors describing her feelings of “doubt, loneliness, and abandonmen[4]t.”  She described God as “absent, heaven empty, and bitterest of all, her own suffering seemed to count for nothing[5].”  She would spend every day for the next fifty years of her life struggling with God’s existence.  How should we make sense of Teresa’s struggles with her faith, we’ll get back to her story in just a little bit.
Let me tell you the story of a man whose story mirrors Teresa’s in many ways.  His name was Job.  The scriptures describe Job as one of the most devout men around who prayed diligently. Job was also a recipient of God’s tremendous blessing.  He had seven sons and three daughters, all sorts of sheep, cattle, and oxen[6].
Well one day, God and Satan were having a debate.  Satan was looking for someone to test.  Satan was looking for a model of faith.  God suggested Job.  God gives Satan permission to do what he must to try to break Job’s faith[7].
Pretty soon, Job’s world begins to fall apart.  Job loses everything in his home, his possessions, and even his children.  Job kept his faith in spite of all this.  
“And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”-Job 1:21
It was when Job gets stricken with a horrible skin disease that brought him painful boils that he fell into a deep depression and began to question God’s plan for his life[8]. 
The majority of the book of Job consists of a long discussion between Job and his friends trying to make sense of God’s ways[9][10].  His friends tried all sorts of tactics in both defending God and trying to calm Job down in his anger towards God. 
Finally, in Chapter 38, God breaks his silence.  Job probably wasn’t going to be satisfied with God’s answers. 
“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?
    Tell me, if you understand.”-Job 38:4
God’s answer to Job is that God and Job’s knowledge base on how the world works are not comparable.  Job didn’t decide upon the size of the universe, nor which direction water would flow.  Job did not create the sky or the life that wanders the earth[11], God’s answer to Job is our knowledge bases are so different; you are in no position to question my methods.  
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.”-Isaiah 55:8.
Job’s response to God’s answer was remarkable.  Job didn’t lose faith.  Job didn’t lose hope.  Job’s eventual conclusion was that he would be still in God’s presence:[12] “
Within Today’s lesson, Job declares: “Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know[13].” As Job previously declared: “I lay my hand on my mouth[14].”
Joni Eareckson was born in Baltimore in 1949[15].  Joni was a typical child.  She enjoyed riding horses, hiking, tennis, and swimming.  A few months before her eighteenth birthday, her life would forever change.  Joni dove into the nearby Chesapeake Bay.  She misjudged the shallowness of the water.  She struck her head, fractured her vertebrae, and would become a quadriplegic unable to move her body from the neck down.
Joni’s accident was such that she needed to spend two years of her life in extensive physical therapy.  She experienced the full range of expected emotions during these two years: anger, depression, suicidal thoughts, and religious doubts[16].  She had to learn to write with her teeth. 
Joni like Job nearly had her faith destroyed.  One night though she was visiting with a friend of hers who pointed out to her the following: “Joni, Jesus knows how you feel. He was paralyzed. He couldn’t move or change position on the cross. He was paralyzed by the nails[17].”
The realization was profoundly comforting. Joni came to realize that God’s purposes could be at work within her life, in ways that she can’t even imagine. 
Joni now known as Joni Eareckson Tada has since become one of the most well-known and widely admired Christian authors in the country.  Joni still prays for her own healing.  Joni realizes that her healing will take place on God’s timeline rather than her own, yet God has been with her every day since her accident[18]. 
We will have people in our lives like Teresa, Job, or Joni.  We might even be someone who wonders “Why does God allow such suffering around me?”  I don’t want to begin to try to answer this question.  I can’t always make sense of all of God’s ways in my own life.  I know first-hand how frustrating this can be.  What I will say is that I believe in hope beyond what I can see Today[19].  Whenever we despair, we need to look in the direction of the Cross of Christ to remember this. 
Peter earlier in the Gospels was struggling with the question of whether to remain one Jesus’ followers after all sorts of other disciples abandoned him in droves[20].  Peter realized something that was recognized by Job before him[21]: “Where else should we go? You have the words of eternal life[22].”
Earlier, I told you the story of Teresa who spent the last half-century of her life in the deep struggle of her faith because of the poverty and pain she witnessed within India.  Teresa is better known as Mother Teresa of Calcutta. 
Mother Teresa was like Job; she wasn’t some pie in the sky, perfect Christian who never struggled or doubted[23].  Mother Teresa was in many ways, no different than many of us.  She lived with the poorest of the poor, ate a meager diet, and wiped the types of sores on people’s bodies not dissimilar to the sores that caused Job to curse God’s name[24].  She spent most of her life surrounded by death and suffering without any break[25].  She didn’t do this because she was crazy; rather she did this because she managed to see God’s presence where others could merely see Satan’s curses.
Mother Teresa came to believe that even as she felt abandoned by God, God did not abandon her.  On the cross, when God seemed to be most absent, he was most-present.  Mother Teresa came to believe that it was her suffering that would indeed point the way to her eventual salvation.  She looked every way around her and saw nothing but trials for her faith.  Whenever Mother Teresa would encounter visitors and community members, she encouraged them to “keep smiling[26].”
Like Job, she believed that no matter how much she struggled with her faith, God-like in the story of Job or Joni Eareckson would eventually restore great “joy” to her life.  “Be still, and know that I am God[27].”  Cling to the Cross of Christ no matters the current storms of your life. We remember as we look toward the cross on this day that God’s sense of timing for how the universe all works together is better than our own. The teacher is indeed most often wiser than the student.    Amen


[1] “Mother Teresa.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 7.Sept.2018. Web. Sept.18.2018. 

[2] Mother Teresa.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation
[3] Hoezee, Scott. “Job 23.” Center for Excellence in Preaching. Calvin Seminary. Grand Rapids, MI. 5.Oct.2015. Web. Sept.18.2018 taken from May 2003 edition of First Things “The Dark Night of Mother Teresa.” Written by Carol Zaleski.
[4] Hoezee, Scott. “Job 23.” Center for Excellence in Preaching.
[5] Hoezee, Scott. “Job 23.” Center for Excellence in Preaching.
[6] Job 1:1-3
[7] Job 1:6-12
[8] Job 2:7-3:1.
[9] Job 3-37
[10] Stier, Leon. “Be Still (B).” Email Mediatations. 6.Sept.2017. Web. Sept.18.2018. 
[11] Molin, Steve. “Intelligent Design, Indeed.” Sermon Writer. 2006. Web. Sept.18.2018. 
[12] Stier, Leon. “Be Still (B).” Email Meditations.
[13] Job 42:3. 
[14] Job 40:4.
[15] “Joni Eareckson Tada.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 16.Sept.2018. Web. Sept.18.2018. 
[16] “Joni Eareckson Tada.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation
[17] “Joni Erikson Tada.” Stories for Preaching taken from Joni and friends’ website, Joni’s books. Web. Sept.18.2018
[18] Joni Erikson Tada.” Stories for Preaching.
[19] Stier, Leon. “Be Still ©. Email Meditations. 7.Sept.2017. Web. Sept.18.2018. 
[20] John 6:66.
[21] Stier, Leon. “Be Still ©. Email Meditations.
[22] John 6:68.
[23] Hoezee, Scott. “Job 23.” Center for Excellence in Preaching.
[24] Hoezee, Scott. “Job 23.” Center for Excellence in Preaching.
[25] Hoezee, Scott. “Job 23.” Center for Excellence in Preaching.
[26] Hoezee, Scott. “Job 23.” Center for Excellence in Preaching.
[27] Psalm 46:10. 

First Lesson: Job 1:1, 2:1-10
Responsive Reading: Psalm 26
Second Lesson: Hebrews 1: 1-4, 2: 5-12
​Gospel Lesson: Mark 10: 2-16

Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
​
“Love is patient; love is kind.  It does not envy; it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others; it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”-1st Corinthians 13:4-7. 

Let me begin this morning with an old tale[1].  Nasruddin and his friend were having tea one afternoon where the conversation turned to Nasruddin’s love life.

“How come you never got married, Nasruddin?” said his friend.

Nasruddin pondered the question for a moment before sighing. Nasruddin describes spending his youth in pursuit of finding the perfect woman.  He describes journeying all over in this pursuit, he began in Cairo where he met a woman who was beautiful and intelligent, with dark olive eyes, yet deep down her soul was unkind. 

Finally, Nasruddin journeyed to Baghdad where he met a woman whose possessed a kind and generous spirit, yet they did not possess any common interests together.

One woman after another, Nasruddin described meeting.  In the end, there would always be something missing.  Then one day, Nasruddin’s finally believed that he found love, he had finally found a woman that met all his criteria: beautiful, intelligent, kind, and all sorts of common interests[2]. 

“Well, “What happened?  Why didn’t you marry her?”-said the friend[3].

Nasruddin started shaking his head.  “Well, It’s a sad thing.  It seems she was looking for the perfect man[4].”

This story leads us to our Gospel lesson for Today from Mark 10[5]. 

Our lesson has the Pharisees coming up to Jesus asking: “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?

Now here’s a little background into our passage, so you can best understand Jesus and the Pharisees’ discussion.  Divorce was a hot-button issue within Jesus’ day among the rabbis.  It was debated in multiple camps[6].  One group taught that divorce could only be permissible if a man caught his wife in adultery, whereas another group made the argument that divorce could take place for pretty much any reason including not liking their spouse’s cooking[7].  All the arguments about divorce within Jesus’ day were about what degree a man could use divorce to exert control over a woman.

So to better understand Jesus’ position on divorce consider where it is within Mark’s Gospel.  It comes after Jesus’ instructions are for the care of the church regarding young children[8].  Jesus’ comments have to do with divorce’s ramifications in his day being that a woman (who didn’t work outside the home) would be abandoned and destitute if their husbands casually deserted them. 

Jesus’ response to the Pharisees  is “Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.[9]”  Jesus then later doubles down by declaring: Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery[10].”

Now, these words jump out in the New Testament because at first glance without any background they seem to absent of any grace or understanding of the situation.

Here’s the thing, we’re dealing with the same Jesus here who defended a woman getting stoned to death for committing adultery, the same Jesus who gave grace to the woman he met at Sychar who had been divorced a seemingly unbelievable five times and was now living with another guy, and the same Jesus who welcomes prostitutes, tax collectors, and other assorted sinners into his presence[11].

Now Jesus’ point in this passage is not to draw the line at a woman living in an abusive relationship who dares thinking of leaving her husband[12]. 

Instead, to best understand this passage, you need to understand the nature of Jesus’ conversation.  Jesus is not being asked about “divorce” by a woman who is clearly hurting because of physical or emotional betrayal[13].  Jesus is not being asked about divorce by a person in need of a word of grace. Jesus is being asked about divorce by the Pharisees. 

Jesus was being asked by people trying to expose him as a hypocrite and fraud to anyone who would listen, by asking about divorce.   Jesus instead flips the question back by referring to the created order of the Genesis story[14]. 

“But at the beginning of creation, God ‘made them male and female. ‘For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh[15].”

Jesus’ statement has to do with the importance of marriage. We live in a society where individual satisfaction can often be the greatest of pursuits, until the very moment when people find it no longer convenient[16].

Britney Spears is a pop music singer born in Louisiana in 1981.  Spears has sold over 100 million records worldwide[17].  In 2004, she was visiting Las Vegas with a hometown friend, when on a whim they decided to get married[18].  They got married at 5:30 A.M. in a Vegas wedding chapel, only for Spears to awaken regretting what she had done.

By Monday morning a petition for annulment was filed declaring: “Before entering into the marriage the plaintiff and defendant did not know each other’s likes and dislikes, each other’s desires to have or not have children, and each other’s desires as to state of residency. Upon learning of each other’s desires, they are so incompatible that there was a want of understanding of each other’s actions in entering into this marriage[19].”

Britney Spears’ marriage to Jason Allen Alexander ended up lasting officially 55 hours.   This story highlights a world that is often too casual about the extent of marriage, how its brokenness can easily be shrugged off. 

Jesus is letting the Pharisees know that he didn’t take such a casual attitude to marriage as they implied.  Jesus is instead making the point whenever marriage ends is tragic for whatever reason. 

Pete Rose. Sr. was possibly the worst husband a woman could have.  Pete Sr. repeatedly chased other women while married and said all sorts of nasty put downs to his wife besides.  Pete’s son Pete Jr. became a decent Baseball player in his own right.  He had a shot at the big leagues.  His parents had been divorced for years when he said: “I would trade whatever future I have in big league baseball to see my parents get back together.”

These were the wishes of an adult child long moved out of the family home.  It speaks to divorce’s brokenness of many levels[20].

Jesus’ words on divorce are tough because they speak to pain caused by broken human relationships both those directly involved and the innocent bystanders.  So Jesus within this passage is seeking to address the attitude with which people in his day would approach divorce, especially as it negatively affected both woman and their children.  We must understand these words within the larger context of scripture which continually deals with God’s forgiveness and the new beginnings that such forgiveness brings[21]. 

God does not bless or celebrate divorce.  God weeps along those who experience it!

For despite the best intentions that people have when they make wedding vows; life happens.  People mess up; our loved ones disappoint us, people can’t control their temper, they develop addictions, they drift apart.  We sin with our minds, our tongues, and other parts of our body[22]. 

Jesus’ great point on Divorce takes place when he encounters the woman caught in adultery in John 8. “I do not condemn you…Go and sin no more.[23]”  Jesus is saying no matter how broken your past relationships have been; I can forgive you, so that you may have new life both personally and spiritually going forward. 

The scriptures continually grant forgiveness to those from the most broken of relationships.  David committed adultery with Bathsheba.  David heard a word of harsh judgment from Nathan then suffered his sin’s consequences.  David though was granted a new beginning.  David and Bathsheba got married and their son Solomon became King over Israel[24].  The story reminds us that while they are inevitable breaking points within a marriage, there are no breaking points to the Love of God.  God will not give up on us even when we are at our most broken.  What our Gospel message reminds us of is the following.  No matter how broken your past relationships have been, do not feel shame, do not feel guilt, leave your burdens behind.  In Christ, a message of hope and resurrection has been given unto you many times over. 

Let me close with one final story for Today to illustrate exactly what these means.  This illustration might work within a marriage, but it is more representative of the Love of God.  How in the words that I began with from 1st Corinthians that our love may be imperfect, but God’s love is perfect.  

Once upon a time, there was a couple that had been married sixty years[25].  They talked about everything.  They kept no secrets from each other.  The wife only had one request for her husband, never look into the shoe box on top of the bedroom closest.  The husband followed this advice for every year of the marriage.  Finally, the wife grew very ill.  It became clear that her days were numbered.  In needing to settle their affairs, she instructed her husband to bring down the shoe box.  He opened the box saw two things: two croqueted dollies and a huge stack of money it must have been thousands of dollars.

The wife began to explain. “When we were to be married," she said, "my grandmother told me the secret of marriage was never to argue.  She told me that if I ever got angry with you, I should just keep quiet and crochet a doily[26].”

The husband is so moved that tears come to his eyes hearing that the wife had only been mad at him twice in sixty years of marriage.  He’s beaming with happiness as he says “Honey that explains the doilies, but what about all of this money? Where did it come from[27]?"

"Oh," she said, "That’s the money I made from selling the doilies[28]." 

Relationships are hard and might inevitability break with this lifetime, yet the love of God for us will ultimately never break
. 
Amen
 


[1] Stier, Leon. “She’s Perfect, But…” Email Meditations. 29.May.2017. Web. Aug.28.2018.  Taken from  Rick Fields in Chop Wood, Carry Water, page 35.
[2] Stier, Leon. “She’s Perfect, But…” Email Meditations.
[3] Stier, Leon. “She’s Perfect, But…” Email Meditations.
[4] Stier, Leon. “She’s Perfect, But…” Email Meditations.
[5] Mark 10:2-16
[6] Juel, Donald.H. “Divorce and Forgiveness: The Way of the Cross- Markan Texts for Late Pentecost.” Word and World. Volume XIV. Number 3. Summer 1994. Web. Aug.27.2018
[7] Juel, Donald.H. “Divorce and Forgiveness: The Way of the Cross- Markan Texts for Late Pentecost.” Word and World.
[8] Mark 9:38-50.
[9] Mark 10:9
[10] Mark 10:11-12
[11] Hoezee, Scott. “Mark 10:2-16.” Center for Excellence in Preaching. 28.Sept.2015. Web. Aug.26.2018
[12] Hoezee, Scott. “Mark 10:2-16.” Center for Excellence in Preaching.
[13] Hoezee, Scott. “Mark 10:2-16.” Center for Excellence in Preaching.
[14] Hoezee, Scott. “Mark 10:2-16.” Center for Excellence in Preaching.
[15] Mark 10:6-8.
[16] Hoezee, Scott. “Mark 10:2-16.” Center for Excellence in Preaching.
[17] Spears, Britney. Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 24.Aug.2018. Web. Aug.26.2018. 
[18] Today Show. “Judge dissolves Britney's 'joke' wedding.”NBC 4.Jan.2004. Web. Aug.26.2018.
[19] Today Show. “Judge dissolves Britney's 'joke' wedding.”NBC
[20] Sermon Illustrartions. “Divorce” Web. Aug.26.2018. Taken from Jerry Jenkins, Hedges, Wolgemuth & Hyatt, 1989, p. 128.
[21] Stier, Leon. “Divorce and Remarriage (part two of two).” Email Mediations. 27.Mar.2014. Web. Aug.26.2018. 
[22] Stier, Leon. “Divorce and Remarriage (part two of two).” Email Mediations.
[23] John 8:11.
[24] Stier, Leon. “Divorce and Remarriage (part two of two).” Email Mediations.
[25] Zingale, Tim. “Marriage.” Sermon Central. 2.Oct.2006. Web. Aug.26.2018. 
[26] Zingale, Tim. “Marriage.” Sermon Central.
[27] Zingale, Tim. “Marriage.” Sermon Central.
[28] Zingale, Tim. “Marriage.” Sermon Central.

First Lesson: Esther 7: 1-6, 9-10; 9: 20-22
Responsive Reading: Psalm 124
Second Lesson: James 5: 13-20
Gospel Lesson: Mark 9: 38-50

Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
​
“Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example[1].”-Mark Twain

The year was 1988.  I was eight years old; third grade would be starting in one month.  My Dad and a buddy had recently built a treehouse that stood several feet off the ground.  Dad being responsible had attached a ladder for safe travel up and down.  The treehouse soon became a hang out for kids from my neighborhood (Danny, Tommy, Ben, Ira, and I).  We were all about to start the third grade.  Pretty soon though a few of my friends noticed something about the ladder, it wasn’t very exciting to climb down.  You don’t want to be goody-two-shoes heading into third grade.  So they began jumping down from the treehouse.  Whereas I listened intently to my parents instructions, to always take the ladder.  This went on seemingly the whole summer.  Friends would jump down, and I alone would take the ladder.  So eventually my friends start getting on my case about this.  I keep taking the ladder, until one day.  One day I was going to jump, just like they jumped.  I had seen them jump dozens of times safely without incident.  So I leapt in the air to jump down from the treehouse.  The rest of the night was spent in the emergency room at the Chisago Lakes medical center with Dr. Overgaard.  My leg was broken.  I would spend my first three months of third grade in either a cast transported by crutches or a walking bone.  My friend's example had led me astray and I had paid the consequences for it. 

In Today’s Gospel lesson, Jesus declares: “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea[2].”
These words speak to the power of one’s good example.  Ed Markquart describes reading an article about a pastor and protestant congregation in Ireland[3].  Ireland has been marked with generations of strife between Protestants and Catholics.  So the Pastor will preach to the parents all the reasons for the strife.  The parents will then go home and instruct the children why they are to oppose Roman Catholics.  The children, in turn, will throw bricks throw Catholic homes[4].  So what these examples teach is that hatred, violence, and prejudice for generations are justified if one has a good excuse.  Perhaps Jesus’ words then make a bit more sense: “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea[5].”

The third example, last winter the Silver Bay Girls Basketball team was playing in McGregor.  It was a tight back and forth game.  McGregor had some fans who every time, Silver Bay would dribble up and down the court would yell at our small, short guards that they were committing some violation that should lead to a turnover.  I could tell by the second half that the girls were getting bothered by this harassing.

So I was going to make a point.  Next time, McGregor dribbles the ball up the court, I start shouting “carry” over and over.  A ‘carry’ is a violation that would lead to a turnover in Basketball, even though everyone in the gym knew McGregor was doing no such thing.  A couple of our high school boys watching chimed in the same.

The offending McGregor fans were then quiet for the rest of the game.  Luke Thun was the Silver Bay assistant coach that night; he turns around, shouts at me then gives the knock it off symbol.  After the game, Luke comes up to me to point out “No matter how bad other fans might be, that doesn’t mean we want to set a bad example.”

For even in our own lives, Jesus’ words often apply to those around us “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.”

Today’s Gospel lesson comes to us from Mark 9[6].  It contains some of the most dramatic language of Jesus within all the Christian gospels.

“If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell.”

Jesus’ words are a reminder that we will all face temptations in this life[7].  These temptations will hit us in different ways from different angles.  For some of us, we will struggle with alcohol more than others; others might be a temptation towards adultery, others might be inclined to be loose with the tongue through destructive language.

When we give in to temptation it doesn’t merely affect us; it affects those around us, especially the littlest ones among us.  As Ed Markquart points out, little ones doesn’t merely refer to young children it refers to new Christians, the poor and vulnerable of society, even seasoned believers who fall short of what God is calling them to do[8].

Jesus to illustrate the importance of the example, we set for others uses the analogy of a millstone.  Millstones in Jesus day were huge being eight feet in diameter and three feet thick.  They would be hauled by oxen to grind grain[9].  They would weigh well over a ton[10].

Jesus says it would be better to drop with a millstone into the deepest, the middle part of the ocean that causes one of God’s little ones to sin.

The themes of our lesson are carried on a generation later by the Apostle Paul who declares in Romans: “Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. “- Romans 14:13. 

Jesus’ words serve as a powerful example of the judgment that awaits those who carelessly interact with not only the church, but the world around us.

Children learn the faith from their parents, grandparents, friends, and neighbors.  If we deny this responsibility, then we cannot cry out when they walk away from the church.

Examples are often more powerful than we think.  Monterrey, California for many years was a paradise for Pelicans from far and wide[11].  Monterrey had a large commercial fishing base.  So when fish were being cleaned, the residue organ meats would be tossed aside, and the Pelicans would feast.  Eventually, changes to the fishing industry started seeing these pieces be utilized.  The Pelicans feast had come to an end.  The Pelicans because of years of habit would not fish for themselves.  The Pelicans began to starve and die.

Monterrey though eventually thought of a genius solution, they started imported Pelicans from different parts of the country, Pelicans that were used to fishing on their own.  Placing these Pelicans among their starving brethren soon changed everything.  The previously hungry Pelicans came to discover once again, Monterrey as a paradise for them.  All that was needed in the Pelicans case was a good example.  Are humans really any different?

Let me close with one final story, in 1853 Hudson Taylor was a 21-year-old missionary moving to China where few missionaries dared to go[12].  Taylor was one of the first missionaries to venture away from the big cities with their large British populations and journey into China’s interior.

Taylor translated the Bible into Chinese, recruited more missionaries, and founded a  missionary organization within China.  Taylor believed his great calling in life was to bring the Gospel to those in China’s most remote areas who had not heard the Gospel.  Hudson Taylor died in 1905[13].

In 1949, after the Chinese Civil War, the communist People’s Republic of China was born.  Government leaders were seeking to discredit Christianity by going after its greatest missionary within the nation of China.  An author was hired to do a hit piece on Hudson Taylor to paint him and all Christians in a bad light[14].  The author researched and researched.  Eventually, though something stood out about Hudson Taylor that was his example to the little ones around him.  The author eventually decides he cannot do a hit piece on such a man.  To refuse assignment from the Communist government could result in one’s death, yet this didn’t matter.  The author would soon renounce his previous Atheism and become a Christian because of Hudson Taylor’s life a few generations before.

“For whoever is not against us is for us.”- Mark 9:40

We are never perfect examples within this world.  Even Hudson Taylor was in need of God’s grace and forgiveness.  What Jesus’ words remind us of though is the power of our example.  How we will all face grave potentially temptations in this life, yet our example has the power to both give life and death to those around us.  This passage serves as a reminder that our greatest calling as Christian people is not to re-earn the salvation that was previously won for us upon the cross.  Our greatest calling instead is the care of our family and neighbors alike[15].  There is no more powerful form of care than our example.  You might even prevent a broken leg or two because of it.  Amen


[1] Found on Sermon Illustrations on August 22nd, 2018 under example.
[2] Mark 9:42. 
[3] Markquart, Ed. “Millstones.” Sermons from Seattle. Pentecost 17B. Mark 9:42-50, Luke 7:1-4, Matthew 18:6-10. Web. August.22nd.2018. 
[4] Markquart, Ed. “Millstones.” Sermons from Seattle
[5] Mark 9;42
[6] Mark 9:38-50.
[7] Markquart, Ed. “Millstones.” Sermons from Seattle.
[8] Markquart, Ed. “Millstones.” Sermons from Seattle.
[9] Markquart, Ed. “Millstones.” Sermons from Seattle.
[10]
[11] Found on Sermon Illustrations on August 22nd, 2018 under example.
[12] “Hudson Taylor and Missions to China”. Christianity Today. Found on Christian History. No.52 published in 1996.  Web. August.22.2018. 
[13] Hudson Taylor and Missions to China”. Christianity Today. Found on Christian History. No.52 published in 1996.  Web. August.22.2018. 
[14] Found on Sermon Illustrations on August 22nd, 2018 under example
[15] Juel, Donald. H. “Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Mark 9:38-50 (Causing One of These
Little Ones to Stumble.” Word and World. Volume XIV, Number 3. Summer 1994.  

First Lesson: Proverbs 31: 10-31
Responsive Reading: Psalm 1
Second Lesson: James 3: 13- 4:3, 7-8
​Gospel Lesson: Mark 9: 30-37

Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
​
Richard Petty was born in North Carolina in 1937[1].  He is one of the most successful Nascar drivers of all time.  By 1978, he was in the midst of a losing streak.  Petty had lost forty-five consecutive races[2].  In early 1979, the biggest race of the year was about to take place the Daytona 500.  One-hundred thousand people would be in attendance.  The winner’s purse would be over $70,000.  It was such a big race that it was the rare Nascar race to be shown on live T.V. in 1979[3]. 

The Daytona 500 would be raced over 200 laps.  Heading into the last lap, Petty’s losing streak seemed likely to continue; he was thirty seconds behind the leaders Donnie Allison and Cale Yarborough[4].  Thirty seconds within one lap is seemingly insurmountable within Nascar racing. 

The final lap though would be one of the most unexpected though in Nascar history.  Second place Yarborough attempted a slingshot pass on the backstretch, Allison tried to block Yarborough forcing Yarborough’s tires onto the infield grass, causing Yarborough’s car to start spin out of control, the leader's cars kept coming into contact before eventually crashing into the outside wall.  When both vehicles finally came to a halt within the infield, Allison and Yarborough proceeded to have a fist fight with each other.  What happened to Richard Petty?  He would overcome his long losing streak by beating Darrell Waltrip by a car length[5]. 

Richard Petty and the 1979 Daytona 500 reminds us of the nature of our Gospel lesson for today regarding unlikely outcomes where Jesus declares: “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all[6].”

Here’s the background for our lesson.  Jesus walks up and hears a conversation taking place among the Disciples.  The Disciples were debating among themselves “Who exactly is the greatest Disciple?”

Mark’s Gospel seemingly separates the Disciples into two groups.  Earlier in Mark 9, Jesus takes three of his disciples (Peter, James, and John) with him to the Mount of Transfiguration to witness the seeming high point of his earthly ministry a visit from the resurrected Moses and Elijah appearing before them[7].  Whereas the other nine Disciples stood around the base of the mounting waiting, even further divisions among the Disciples could have taken place[8].  The one disciple with the most impressive background coming from cosmopolitan Jerusalem trained in rather than backwoods Galilee was Judas.  Judas probably didn’t see eye to eye with Matthew, the tax collector after Judas was placed in charge of the Disciples’ joint treasury. 

So Jesus tries to sort out all this bickering among the Disciples by making a point in response about the nature of God’s Kingdom.  “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all[9].”

The Disciples like many of us do would continually struggle with Jesus’ point here. Later in Mark’s Gospel, James and John go to Jesus to argue over who would get to sit closest to him within the Kingdom of Heaven[10].  James and John were convinced they were the greatest of Jesus’ disciples.  The other disciples were mad that they could ever think this way.  Contrast this with Jesus at the Last Supper.  Jesus with mere hours remaining in this world believe the most important statement that he could make about the coming nature of his kingdom was to bend down and proceed to wash the Disciples’ feet. 

Jesus made the point that the Kingdom of God is not about one’s own greatness, it is about reaching those often considered to be lost and the least. 

Jesus on this day wanted to make to the Disciples an important point about the true nature of his ministry:  “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise[11].”

The Disciples heard these words and remained confused; they were so confused they didn’t even want to ask Jesus what they meant in response.[12] 

For the reality of Jesus’ ministry that the Disciples didn’t understand was this.  Jesus was God in the flesh, yet he came to this world to serve, not be served[13].  He came to give his very life as a ransom for many[14]. 

Jesus’ wishes to make the point to the Disciples that his kingdom is way more inclusive than merely whether one is first or last within this world. 

Eddie Edwards dreamed of being an Olympic Skier within Great Britain.  The only problem was he wasn’t that good an athlete, he was too-heavy, and his eyesight wasn’t all that good[15].  Edwards dreams of becoming an Olympian seemed destined to end in disappointment.  Edwards did indeed fail to make the Olympics downhill skiing.  He thought of a solution though; he would become Britain’s only ski-jumper[16].  He lacked training, talent, and funds but Britain eventually agreed to send him to Calgary to compete in the Olympics.  In training, he was forced to live in a psychological institution for lack of funds.  When Eddie showed up to the competition, the security guards didn’t believe that someone that looked like him could be an Olympic athlete, so they were going to refuse him access[17].  The competition begins.  Eddie comes in 56th out of 57.  The 57th place finisher had been disqualified.  Most of us would be embarrassed at such an outcome but not Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards[18].  He was thrilled to be at the Olympics.  He didn’t care if he basically came in dead last.  Eddie’s enthusiasm in the gift that he had been given to compete continually shown.  Eddie was soon such a sensation that he appeared on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.  He became a celebrity in his native England. 

Here’s the thing, no child would dream of growing up and ending up like Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards.  Jesus’ disciples Peter, James, Judas and John were correct that you’d want to be like Lebron James instead[19]. 
The Olympic Committee in response was so uncomfortable with Eddie’s presence that in response, they tightened qualifying rules.  So no more Eddie Edwards could embarrass the Olympic Games in the future[20].

They wanted the Olympics to highlight the “first” rather than the “last.”  Eddie failed to qualify in 1992, 1994, and 1998 in returning as a ski-jumper to the Olympic games[21]. 

Here’s the point though of our Gospel lesson.  People like Eddie will not eventually fade away from God’s presence.  Jesus’ point Today is that it the seeming unsuccessful that will indeed be embraced within God’s kingdom.  The last shall eventually indeed become first.  Fortunes shall ultimately be reversed.  Because of this, we need not see our callings as Christian people to merely be by resumes. 

Let me close this morning with one final story to illustrate the nature of what it means for the first to become last.  While in college, Robertson Mcquilkin spotted Muriel Webendorfer for the first time[22].  They soon began dating.  Robertson quickly fell for Muriel: she was smart, fun, and loved being around people.  They proceeded to get engaged on Valentine's Day 1948[23].  They would marry in August of that year.  Over the next three decades, they would raise six children together and work all over the world as missionaries.  Eventually, Robertson achieves his dream job by becoming a college president at his alma mater.  Muriel was well respected in her own right as a prominent conference speaker with the occasional T.V. and radio appearances[24].

In 1978, Robertson and Muriel McQuilkin ’s life would change forever[25].  While on a trip to Florida, Muriel who was a renowned story-telling, proceeded to repeat a story that she had just told a few minutes prior.  The same issues with Muriel kept increasing with greater frequency.  Muriel would grow confused about planning dinner and she had to begin to withdraw from public life.  In 1981, while still a relatively young woman Muriel was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease[26].  The next several years would see Muriel’s conditions continually worsen while Robertson did his best to serve as her caregiver.  Communicating in full sentences became next to impossible for Muriel.  The one complete phrase that Muriel was able to keep communicating with Robertson was “I Love You.”  Eventually, whenever Robertson would leave for work, Muriel would grow greatly distressed and leave the house trying to find him.  These incidents forced Robertson to make seemingly the most difficult decision in the world of whether to continue with his dream career or work full-time as Muriel’s caregiver.  Robertson would resign as a college president[27]. 

Robertson’s reason his vow to Muriel forty-two some years prior, she had been a loving and faithful wife in the previous decades.  So Robertson finally realized “I don’t have to care for her.  I get to.  It is a high honor to care for so wonderful a person[28].”  Robertson came to realize that caring for Muriel would be God’s assignment for him for the rest of her life[29].

Muriel would speak her last words to Robertson in 1995.  They were her first words spoken in months.  They were spoken forty-seven years to the day after their engagement in 1948. Muriel who called out to Richard “Love, love, love.” 

Muriel would not speak for the last 8 ½ years of her life.  She passed away in 2003[30]. 

Robertson McQuilkin understood something about our Gospel lesson. Robertson McQuilkin had seemingly given up everything of value within this world, yet in the end, he received something much greater in return. 

The McQuilkins’ story illustrates something about the Kingdom of God. How Earthly resumes are not the most important things.  The Kingdom of God is not meant for the richest or the most powerful.  The Kingdom of God is meant for those who cling to the greatest of promises previously spoken unto them.  “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all[31].” God’s grace and forgiveness are given unto each on every one of us on this day regardless of resume!    Amen


[1] “Richard Petty.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 18. Aug.2018. Web. Aug.27.2018. 
[2] Sermon Illustrations. Com. “LAST, first shall be.” Web. Aug.27.2018. 
[3] “1979 Daytona 500.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 23.July.2018. Web. Aug.27.2018
[4] “1979 Daytona 500.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation.. 
[5] “1979 Daytona 500.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation.
[6] Mark 9:35. 
[7] Mark 9:2-4. 
[8] Markquardt, Edward. “Jesus Loves All the Little Children of the World.” Sermons from Seattle. Pentecost 16B. Gospel Analysis. Web. Aug.27.2018.
[9] Mark 9:35. 
[10] Mark 10:35-37. 
[11] Mark 9:31
[12] Mark 9:32. 
[13] Markquardt, Edward. “Jesus Loves All the Little Children of the World.” Sermons from Seattle
[14] Mark 10:45. 
[15] Hoezee, Scott. “Proper20 B.” Center for Excellence in Preaching. 14.Sept.2015. Web. Aug.27.2018. 
[16] “Eddie the Eagle.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 27.Aug.2018. Web. Aug.27.2018. 
[17] Hoezee, Scott. “Proper20 B.” Center for Excellence in Preaching.
[18] Hoezee, Scott. “Proper20 B.” Center for Excellence in Preaching.
[19] Hoezee, Scott. “Proper20 B.” Center for Excellence in Preaching.
[20] Hoezee, Scott. “Proper20 B.” Center for Excellence in Preaching.
[21] Eddie the Eagle.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation
[22] Stier, Leon. “Valentine’s Day Last Words.” Email Meditations. 14.Feb.2016. Web. Aug.27.2018. Adapted from a Family Life.com article.
[23] Stier, Leon. “Valentine’s Day Last Words.” Email Meditations.
[24] Stier, Leon. “Valentine’s Day Last Words.” Email Meditations.
[25] Stier, Leon. “Valentine’s Day Last Words.” Email Meditations.
[26] Stier, Leon. “Valentine’s Day Last Words.” Email Meditations.
[27] Stier, Leon. “Valentine’s Day Last Words.” Email Meditations.
[28] Stier, Leon. “Valentine’s Day Last Words.” Email Meditations.
[29] Stier, Leon. “Valentine’s Day Last Words.” Email Meditations.
[30] Stier, Leon. “Valentine’s Day Last Words.” Email Meditations.
[31] Mark 9:35. 

First Lesson: Proverbs 1: 20-33
Responsive Reading: Psalm 19
Second Lesson: James 3: 1-12
​Gospel Lesson: Mark 8: 27-28

Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
​
The year was 1996.  King Carl Gustaf XIV and Queen Silvia of Sweden were traveling to America in honor of the 150th Anniversary of Swedish Immigration to the States[1].  They were going to visit Ellis Island, meet with the Head of the United Nations; they were then going to make their way to Minnesota to visit the college named after perhaps Sweden’s greatest king Gustavus Adolphus, they were going to visit the American-Swedish Institute in Minneapolis and dine with Governor Carlson.  They had one additional stop planned on the five-day stateside trip.  They were going to visit a small town of about 2,500 people just outside the Twin Cities.  They were coming to my hometown of Lindstrom.  The visit was big news.  The President of the United States probably had never heard of Lindstrom.  Never even remember the Governor of Minnesota stopping by.  Here were the King and Queen of Sweden coming to town.  They were coming to see the “Nya Duvemala” house which was a replica of the prairie house found in Vilhelm Moberg’s Emigrants book.  So I got out of a day of school to attend!  Local musician’s serenaded the King and Queen.  Other locals dressed in their most authentic Swedish garb.  Hanging in my dad’s office is a picture of the King and Queen immaculate dressed, walking towards the house, standing right next to my dad and I where it looked like they were conversing with each other.  I had never dreamed up of being this close to actual royalty, so I imagined that this was exactly how it should look.  What if my picture of true royalty is wrong??  What if others have made similar mistakes?

Today’s Gospel lesson comes to us from Mark 8[2].  Our lesson takes place in the middle of Jesus’ public ministry[3].  People had heard him preach.  They had witnessed miracles.  His reputation had begun to spread.  Peter and the rest of the Disciples had front-row seats to it all.  They had recently witnessed him feeding thousand with just a few loaves of bread and small fish[4].  They had just witnessed him heal a man born blind at Bethesda[5]. 

So Jesus as a way of figuring out what the Disciples understand about his ministry asks: “Who do people say I am[6]?

The Disciples answer “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets[7].”

This answer reveals the problem of comparison.  Every new articulate politician might be the next John F. Kennedy or Ronald Reagan.  Every great young Basketball player might be the next Michael Jordan, every preacher whose fame spreads might be the next Billy Graham.  The problem of such comparisons is they tend to downplay what people bring to any given moment of history[8].

Jesus knowing these comparisons didn’t work asks the Disciples directly.  “Who do you say I am[9]?

Peter then answers quickly, “You are the Christ[10].”  Peter declares that Jesus is more than just a mere prophet like in Old Testament days.  Peter declares Jesus to be God in human flesh.  Peter declares that Jesus will be the savior of the nation of Israel.  Peter answered the question, correctly. 

Only for moments later, Peter had his answer flipped completely upside down.

Once upon a time, there was a farmer named Hank who lived in a small town in Central Minnesota[11].  One of his relatives invited him to visit in Saint Paul for Thanksgiving.  Hank didn’t want to deal with Twin Cities traffic, so he decided to take the passenger train that passed through his town.  At the first stop, the conductor announces a brief stop.  Hank being hungry goes to find a vending machine where he purchases a carton of milk and a six-pack of Oreo cookies.  Hank proceeds to wander to the waiting area, puts down his stuff, and sits next to what Hank would term a “city-slicker.”  The man was dressed immaculately and was reading the Wall Street Journal.  Not a lot of gentleman looked like this guy where Hank came.  He reminded Hank of Ward Cleaver of Leave it to Beaver fame.

Hank just wanted to get something to eat though.  So he sees his Oreo's opened lying between both gentlemen.  Hank takes a cookie, only for Hank to be shocked as Ward Cleaver grabs one for himself without asking, never even looking down from his paper.  Back where Hank came from, no one would ever do something as rude as this.  Ward grabs another cookie.  Hank is so irritated he quickly grabs a second and third cookie, and then begins to eat them quickly.  Only for Hank to see Ward grab the final cookie, fold his paper, and walk away from Hank huffing and puffing looking annoyed.  Hank couldn’t believe how strange city folks like Ward acted.  So Hank finishes his milk and approaches the train to re-board.  Hank reaches into his pocket for his ticket, while feeling something else in there he wasn’t expecting.  As soon as Hank pulls out his ticket, he pulls along with it an unopened six-pack of Oreo cookies.

Now picture Hank’s reaction to Ward.  Now let’s look at what takes place within our Gospel lesson after Peter declares Jesus to be the Messiah.

Jesus then starts talking exactly how the Messiah isn’t supposed to talk.  He must go to Jerusalem. The “Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again[12].”

For Peter, these words would have been as seemingly out of place as Ward eating those Oreo cookies.  Kings don’t talk like this. King don’t speak of their death.  Kings need to be like when the King of Sweden came to Lindstrom hailed by people for their title and the ways they stand out for the rest of us. 

So Peter gets mad.  Peter getting mad would have made sense[13].  Peter and his brother Andrew had given up their fishing business to follow him; they had given up their home for generations in Galilee.  They had trusted everything on the promise that Jesus was indeed the long-awaited Messiah, who was going to save the people of Israel not end up upon a cross. 

So Peter takes Jesus aside for rebuke and correction, to minimize Peter’s embarrassment[14].   Jesus can merely say to Peter in response: “Get behind me, Satan!” “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns[15].”

What if when we hear Jesus’ rebuke of Peter, we remember how we might think the same way, often looking for royalty in all the wrong places.

Once upon a time, there was a mayor of a small village not much bigger than Lindstrom.  The mayor received a message that was seemingly too good to believe[16].  The message had just been delivered by a royal messenger himself.  The message read: “I, King Edward, am on a tour of the northern provinces, and I would like to stay in your village tomorrow night.  If this is agreeable to you, please have prepared a warm supper and a place of lodging[17].”

The mayor said “Of course, who would turn down the King of the land.”  He is greatly loved in these parts and we will anticipate his visit.

The mayor immediately gets to work in anticipation of the King’s visit.  He enlists everyone that he knows in the preparations.  Everyone important would be immediately invited.  By the next afternoon, the town was looking perfect.  All the citizens gathered on the road to greet King Edward[18].

Just then a figure appeared off in the distance.  He was slovenly dressed and on his back carried only a ragged sack.  The mayor was embarrassed at what the king would think seeing such a man in town.  He had previously ordered all the beggars away from the street.  The mayor thought of a solution; he told one of his servants “take that traveler down the road to old Jacob’s hut[19].”  Jacob is a good and decent man who would never turn anyone away.  We will pay for his accommodations for the night.  The man was hurried away.  The town resumed waiting for King Edward only for hours to pass with no king appearing.  They were all like Peter upon hearing Jesus’ predictions for his upcoming death; they were gravely disappointed.

The beggar eventually arrives at Jacob’s hut.  Jacob’s hut wasn’t much to see.  But Jacob served him the best soup and bread that he had.  The beggar then began to tell Jacob about his travels; all the lakes and mountains he had seen, and all the cities that he had visited.  Jacob was having the time of his life in the presence of this beggar[20].

The following morning, the Mayor received another message.  What the Mayor saw left him frozen and shaking his head in despair.  It was on the same paper as the previous message as the King[21]. 

“I wish to express my sincere gratitude for the fine provision of food and lodging, and the generous hospitality of such a fine host.  You could not have chosen for me a better companion than Jacob.  Perhaps on a later visit I can meet with you.”  It was signed, KING EDWARD[22].”

The Mayor had just experienced, exactly what Peter experienced in our Gospel lesson.  He had such expectations for the King’s visit that he ended up missing out on what was truly important. 

“Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?”-Mark 8:34-36.

The Messiah came not for Earthly power, but for Earthly people.  He came within their midst.  As he was soon to go to the Cross they did not recognize him.  He didn’t fit with their expectations of how the Messiah of Israel should look.  Although Peter rebukes Jesus Today, although he denies knowing him three times upon his arrest and Peter would be a witness to Christ’s resurrection, Peter would see a world of forgiveness and hope begins to be unveiled before his very eyes.  For Peter, these things would serve as a reminder that there might indeed be unopened Oreo cookies in your pocket after all. Amen 
 


[1] “Sweden’s King and Queen on Whirlwind Tour of America.” Vestkusten. No 16. 1. Oct.1996. Web. Aug.21.2018 taken from California Digital Newspaper Collection.
[2] Mark 8:27-38
[3] Zingale, Tim. “Faith's Famous Four Words.” Sermon Central. 17. Sept.2003. Web. Aug.21.2018. 
[4] Mark 8:1-13
[5] Mark 8:22-25
[6] Mark 8:27
[7] Mark 8:28. 
[8] Hoezee, Scott. “Mark 8:27-38.” Center for Excellence in Preaching. 7. Sept.2015. Web. Aug.21.2018. 
[9] Mark 8:29
[10] Mark 8:29
[11] Stephens,  Rev. Dr. Wiley. “Read the Fine Print.” Day 1. 14.Sept.2003. Web. Aug.21.2018.  Story comes from Baxter Black on National Public Radio. 
[12] Mark 8:31.
[13] Carder, Kenneth. “Why Follow Christ.” Day 1. 14.Sept.1997. Web. Aug.21.2018. 
[14] Mark 8:32
[15] Mark 8:33
[16] Stier, Leon. “Mistaken Identity.” Email Mediatations. 15. Jan.2018. Web. Aug.21.2018. 
[17] Stier, Leon. “Mistaken Identity.” Email Mediatations.
[18] Stier, Leon. “Mistaken Identity.” Email Mediatations.
[19] Stier, Leon. “Mistaken Identity.” Email Mediatations.
[20] Stier, Leon. “Mistaken Identity.” Email Mediatations.
[21] Stier, Leon. “Mistaken Identity.” Email Mediatations.
[22] Stier, Leon. “Mistaken Identity.” Email Mediatations.

First Lesson: Deuteronomy 4: 1-2, 6-9
Responsive Reading: Psalm 15
Second Lesson: James 1: 17-27
Gospel Lesson: Mark 7: 1-8, 14-15, 21-23

First Lesson: Deuteronomy 4: 1-2, 6-9
Responsive Reading: Psalm 15
Second Lesson: James 1: 17-27
Gospel Lesson: Mark 7: 1-8, 14-15, 21-23

Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
​
The place was Springfield, U.S.A[1].  The date was May 10th.  It was a tradition that traced its origins to the fictional Revolutionary War hero Jebediah Springfield.  The day was known as “Whacking Day.”  Every year the townsfolk would round up all the snakes within Springfield to the town square and whack them to death with sticks.  Only eight-year-old Lisa Simpson would speak out against the cruelty of such a practice.  Lisa’s words though were ignored though as she was going against the town’s long-standing tradition.  Lisa Simpson then sets out on a one-woman campaign to save the snakes of Springfield.  What ended up happening, we’ll get back to the story of Whacking Day in just a little bit.

Second Story, Once upon a time a little girl was sitting in her mother’s kitchen[2].  She was watching her mother prepare a roast; she noticed her mother every time before putting the roast in the oven would cut a piece off the end of the roast beef discarding it into the trash. 

Little girl pipes up “Mom, why do you do that?”  Mom says in response “Because that’s how my mother taught me to do the roast?” The girl was more curious, so a few weeks go by, and she sees her Grandma at a family gathering,  she asks “Grandma, why do you cut the end of the roast off before cooking.” Grandma thought and said “I’m not sure, but I remember that’s the way that my Mom prepared the roast. I’m sure she’s got a really good reason”. Finally, a few more weeks, go by when the little girl goes to visit her great-grandmother she asks “Why do you cut the end of the beef off before cooking it, Mom said she learned it from Grandma, and Grandma said she learned it from you.” Great-Grandma starts shaking her head; she then blurts out “ Imagine the two of them doing that! Why I only cut the piece off because my pan was too small[3]!”

Both these stories tell us about how we often cling to tradition, because that’s the ways it’s always been, no matter how outdated the practices might seem to be.  People can confuse the true meaning of tradition within Religion like nowhere else.

Fiddler on the Roof tells the story of Tevye and his family[4].  Tevye was merely a poor farmer, yet he was respected as the leader of the family.  Tevye had three daughters who were all needing to be married.  Within Tevye’s tradition, a matchmaker would meet with the family then find suitable husbands for each of the three daughters.  The system had been working well for generations.  The daughters as you can imagine didn’t like this arrangement.  Tevye’s oldest daughter Tzietel gets set up to marry a rich farmer in his mid-fifties.  Tevye thought the family hit the jackpot.  The only problem was Tzietel was in love with a poor tailor who couldn’t even afford a sewing machine.  Tzietel and her prospective husband break the news to her father.  Tevye was outraged that Tzietel would go against tradition. Tevye huffs and puffs finally gives in[5].  The second daughter, similar story.  Finally, Tevye’s third daughter Chava went even further in wanting to marry outside the faith.  The following was unforgivable.  Tevye would bend no further.  He refused to take part in the marriage.  He kicked his daughter out of the house.  He declared Chava to be dead[6].  What ends up happening to Tevye and his traditions, we’ll get back to his story in just a little bit. 

Today’s Gospel lesson is about tradition[7].  It’s about a tradition that arose for very good reasons in ceremonial hand-washing.  Now within the Old Testament, there were all sorts of laws about what one could or couldn’t eat: shellfish, pork, mixing meat with dairy were all forbidden.  Now even if you were self-disciplined enough to exclude these foods from your diet, if you ate non-forbidden foods then you must wash your hands not merely for cleanliness, but also for ceremonial purposes.   For example[8], you needed to wash your hands with your finger-tips pointed upward, then dry with the opposite wrist, then finally turn hands downward to let excess water drip.   You violate these laws then you were declared unfit to be on holy ground.    Now good holy people of Jesus’ day like the Scribes and Pharisees had these rituals down from childhood.  Now as they were observing Jesus’ Disciples they realized they weren’t washing their hands according to proper tradition, so they went to Jesus for an explanation. 

They say to Jesus “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands[9]?”

Jesus’ answer isn’t that such traditions are bad, they had served a very good purpose for generations, just like Tevye had seen his tradition of matchmaking make many happy marriages including his own.  The issue is expressed by Jesus as such: “You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.[10]”

Tim Zingale tells the following story[11]: Once upon a time, a man grew ill between two villages.  Back in these villages whichever village was closer would take care of the stricken man.  The only problem was, in this case, it wasn’t entirely clear.  One village argued that the distance needed to be measured from the man’s belly button whereas the other village argued from the man’s mouth.  Both villages wished to pass off the responsibility onto the other.  They went back and forth between each other.  One problem was in the midst of all this drama; the poor fellow passed away.

The point of this story is even though your answer may be right, it can be very wrong at the same time.  How Jesus came not to do away with tradition, but give tradition a new meaning.  Jesus came to point all of the Old Testament in the direction of the Cross.  The promises given are in our Gospel are more significant than any tradition that came before it or since.

Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them[12].

Once upon a time, there was a gentleman named Narcissus[13].  One day, Narcissus wandered into the forest where he went looking for a spot to get a drink of water.  As Narcissus looked down at the pond, he saw the most beautiful sight he had ever seen: a beautiful face, pretty eyes, a noble nose, the most beautiful human being he had ever laid eyes.  So Narcissus stared and stared wanting to kiss this figure.  Every time though he bent down to kiss the face in the stream, the face would disappear.  Narcissus would grow depressed, back away, until he saw the face once again.  He sat there withering away until the very moment he died[14]. 

We often think the following way about tradition.  What we think we see has more beauty than ever was intended for it, traditions are merely markers to the point to much greater truths. 

As long as people have worshipped God, they have often viewed tradition in the same way as within our Gospel lesson. 

“For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person[15].”-Mark 7:21-23.

Tradition does not eliminate human sin. Tradition does not put to death our own selfishness.  Tradition unto itself will merely lead to death, whereas the Gospel is the Gift of God which shall bring forth eternal life[16].

Earlier, I told you the story of Tevye disowning his daughter for marrying outside the faith.  The final scene of Fiddler on the Roof, the Russian Revolution was beginning[17]. The family was going to be split up forever.  Tevye’s daughter Chava returns.  She hoped to make amends with her father against tradition.  This was where tradition’s authority would ultimately make itself known within Tevye’s life.  Tevye turned his back on her once again; the story ends in nothing but brokenness, pain, and separation.

Compare this story to the ending of another story where tradition isn’t quite so sacred.  A story like within our Gospel lesson where traditions are redefined forever. 

Also earlier, I told you the story of Springfield’s whacking day[18].  Bart Simpson after being kicked out of school did a little bit of research.  He found out Whacking Day’s origins were not with the town founder not in the Revolutionary War, the origins were much, more recent, and the day originated as an excuse for ethnic bullying.  The Simpson children then hatch a plan to save all of Springfield’s snakes, before pointing out to the gathering crowd all the good the snakes had in fact done in taking care of Springfield’s rodent population.  The snakes against all odds had ended up being cheered upon the conclusion of Whacking Day.

Sometimes traditions live on; sometimes they die natural deaths.  The great Christian hope though does not come through how we wash our hands.  The great Christian hope comes that we have a savior who washes away the very sins of the entire world. 

Since being a young child, I’ve never cared much for snakes.  Even seeing a harmless garter snake out hiking, causes me to flinch.  Like all traditions, it’s a good thing that my traditions aren’t what ultimately determine whether our God could possibly work through even snakes for his purposes and for our salvation.  Amen
 
 


[1] “Whacking Day”. Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation.  5th.July.2018. Web. Aug. 1.2018. “Whacking Day” is the tweinth episode of The Simpsons fourth season originally airing on the Fox network on April 29th, 1993. 
[2] Higgins, Scott. “The Pan.” Stories for Preaching. Web. Aug.1.2018. 
[3] Higgins, Scott. “The Pan.” Stories for Preaching. Web. Aug.1.2018. 
[4] Markquardt, Ed. “Tradition, Fiddler on the Roof.” Sermons from Seattle. Pentecost 13B. Web. Aug.1.2018. 
[5] Markquardt, Ed. “Tradition, Fiddler on the Roof.” Sermons from Seattle.
[6] Markquardt, Ed. “Tradition, Fiddler on the Roof.” Sermons from Seattle
[7] Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23. 
[8] Zingale, Tim. “Using Religion To Escape Religion.” Sermon Central. 5. Sept.2003. Web. Aug.1.2018.    
[9] Mark 7:5
[10] Mark 7:8
[11] Zingale, Tim. “Using Religion To Escape Religion.” Sermon Central.
[12] Mark 7:14-15. 
[13] Sterne, Rev.Martha. “Looking in the Mirror.” Day 1. 30.Aug.1999. Web. Aug.1.2018. 
[14] Narcissus (mythology). Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 1.Aug.2018. Web. Aug.1.2018. 
[15] Mark 7:21-23. 
[16] Markquardt, Ed. “Tradition, Fiddler on the Roof.” Sermons from Seattle.
[17] Markquardt, Ed. “Tradition, Fiddler on the Roof.” Sermons from Seattle.
[18] Whacking Day”. Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation