Sermon Illustrations for Proper 7 | OT 12 (2019)
Illustration
1 Kings 19:1-4, (5-7), 8-15a
Julian was born in Norwich about 1342. She was about six-years-old when the Black Death ravaged England. At this young age her thoughts turned to the perplexing mysteries of God. A few years later, feeling spiritually insufficient, she asked God for three gifts. The first was to have the “mind” of Christ’s passion. The second was to experience “bodily sickness.” Which meant to experience all that a dying person experiences just short of death itself. The third was to receive three wounds: true contrition, heartfelt compassion and purposeful love for God.
On May 8, 1373 she became seriously ill. Everyone thought she was dying. On May 12 the last rites were administered and she continued to decline. Three days later, those attending her thought she actually had died.
A priest came and held a crucifix before her eyes. As she stared at the cross her pain slowly left her body. Soon her body became completely whole. Julian then asked to have Christ’s wounds (the stigmata). She now experienced a vision. It began when she saw blood flow down from under the crown of thorns on the crucifix. Jesus seemed alive on that cross. The Trinity filled her heart with joy. She saw Mary and understood her obedience and reverence for God. And Julian heard Jesus speak. Then Jesus showed her a little object, about the size of a hazelnut, and told her everything he had made would last forever because of his love.
This began the first of fifteen “shewings,” or revelations, granted her that day. A sixteenth revelation would come on the following morning. After her recovery she recorded these visions in a very short form. Then, for the next twenty years, she interpreted their meaning. Finally, she wrote a longer text amplifying the insights she had gained in those years of meditation.
Central to her revelations was the love that drove Christ to suffer for us. She saw this as the whole explanation for history and the great expectation of heaven. Julian said, “Me liked none other heaven than Jesus, which shall be my bliss when I come there.”
During her later years Julian lived as a hermit in a cell attached to Norwich’s old church St. Julian. It is believed that from this church that she took her name. Julian, considered a mystic, probably died in 1416.
Ron L.
* * *
1 Kings 19:1-4, (5-7), 8-15a
This story of a faithful man (Elijah) who was still fearful led Martin Luther to observe:
... it is recorded for the comfort of the churches in order that we may know how merciful God is. We may indeed be evil and weak... God wants to have patience with our weakness. (Luther’s Works, Vol.5, p.25)
No way that we can be brave in Christ by our own strength. It is like John Wesley once noted:
As the best, so the bravest of men are no more than what God makes of them. (Commentary On the Bible, p.189)
We need the Holy Spirit, Wesley adds, Who moves “with a powerful, yet with a sweet and gentle gale.” (Commentary On the Bible, p.219)
Mark E.
* * *
1 Kings 19:1-4, (5-7), 8-15a
Just prior to this scene the prophet Elijah seems on top of the world. Not only does he convincingly demonstrate that the Lord is powerful and the Baals are nothing. Following that he runs ahead of King Ahab's chariot from Carmel to Jezreel, an incredible eighteen miles, almost like a victory lap after his triumph over the priests of Baal!
Yet one senses in this chapter that the prophet is exhausted and depressed. He flees in the face of Jezebel's threats, and abjectly complains to God that no one besides him has been faithful. He is burned out. God's first response to to send an angel is feed him (what does that commercial say, you’re not yourself when you’re hungry?), then lets him rant while listening to him, then assures him that he is not alone because there are seven thousand more who have no intention of bowing to the Baals.
More important, God begins to ease the prophet out from his heavy burden. Elisha will be called so that Elijah has time to mentor him, and then off the prophet will go, riding a chariot of fire to glory!
The church's most faithful servants, no matter how successful they are, can burn out. Rather than let them flame out, one should always be thinking about mentoring situations so that the mantle can be passed to another, celebrating these transitions in a way that recognizes all that has been accomplished in the past while looking forward to what remains to be done in the future.
Frank R.
* * *
Galatians 3:23-29
A practice of the ancient Greeks was to have a slave or servant responsible to take the child from home to the school or the place of learning. The term used for that slave was the word “paedagogus.” The responsibilities of the “paedagogus” were clear. One of his duties was to guard the child from evil, both physical and moral. His most important job was to accompany the child to and from the school, the gymnasium, and outdoors. Additionally, he was responsible for the child’s safety and avoidance of bad company. Greek writers Plato, Lysis, and Timarch all reference the “paedagogus.”
So, what does this ancient Greek practice have to do with our text? In Galatians 3:24-25 Paul explains the purpose of the law. He writes, “Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian…” I find it fascinating that the word translated “disciplinarian” by the NRSV is the Greek word “paedagogus.” What Paul is saying here is that the Law functions as that Greek slave did. Its purpose is to guard and protect the people of God and lead them to where they need to end up. For the Christian, the law points us to Jesus. I think this is one of the most powerful word pictures found in scripture to explain the purpose of the Law. The Law’s function is like that of the old Greek slave. It’s cool, I think, that the Greek culture yields such a wonderful word picture.
Bill T.
* * *
Galatians 3:23-29
I wonder how Jesus views the fractured and divided state of the church. It was not the vision of Jesus that we would be a multitude of small groups arguing about discipleship, scriptural interpretation, and doctrine. In fact, in John 17 we are reminded of the prayer of Jesus that they may all be one. This letter of Paul also reminds us that we are to be united in our faith and in our following of Jesus. In fact, Paul states clearly that the divisions the people of his time embraced: Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female no longer existed among and between the faithful descendants of Abraham. In our desire to be correct, we often forget that we are one family, one Body of Christ. We are called to be the people of God, the children of God, in this time and place — all together, all united, all faithful. May it be so.
Bonnie B.
* * *
Galatians 3:23-29
I have some faith in our government though there are some areas I begin to wonder about. It seems like one political party or the other has less faith in our country because of the other party. Some even in our congress feel they are free from the law. As long as you are in the president’s party, he can even have you released from prison if you are his friend.
It makes me so happy that I can have complete faith in Jesus Christ. When I read what he suffered for me, how can I not have faith in him. He has freed us from the law — even God’s law!
When I was in school, years ago I had one teacher who I felt loved me so much that I could get away with breaking some the school laws. One rule was that we were not to run in the school hall, but when I had to get to the restroom in a hurry, I sometimes ran and my teacher told the monitor to forgive me.
I often forgive my children for their sins because I love them.
As a prison chaplain I had some prisoners who were serving time for murder. Some of them wondered if even God could forgive them. I had to explain to them what Jesus suffered in order to forgive even them. Maybe they wondered because the family of their victim had wanted them executed.
One of my members confessed that he had been unfaithful to his wife. When I talked with her, I told her that even God had forgiven him. He had to put his faith in her forgiveness as he trusted in Jesus’s forgiveness.
The Lord’s prayer tells us to forgive others who we may have hurt if we expect God to forgive us.
One of the great responsibilities of our church is to help us build our faith.
Bob O.
* * *
Luke 8:26-39
"My name is Legion." Those are chilling words. The Gerasene Demoniac claims that he is inhabited by a legion of demons. A legion, a unit in the Roman army, by the way, consisted of around five thousand soldiers.
This is a Latin term, so it is quite possible that this is a way of reminding the reader that Rome itself is the demon -- the occupation of the fiercely independent region by foreign troops was an abomination that was barely tolerated. A couple generations later the entire region would revolt, with disastrous results.
Another possible interpretation of these words suggests that the individual in question may have been a Roman legionnaire suffering the effects from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Perhaps he had participated in one of the many thousands of crucifixions, or other cruel punishments, designed to quell potential trouble with brutal force. Even if not true, it is certainly a good way to get inside the trauma experienced by so many who serve their country in the worst of circumstances.
Frank R.
* * *
Luke 8:26-39
William Booth and his wife Catherine were the founders of a mission society that soon became known as the Salvation Army. It was established in the east end of London in 1865. In1867 Booth had only 10 full-time workers. By 1874, the numbers had grown to 1,000 volunteers and 42 evangelists. They served under the name “The Christian Mission.” Booth assumed the title of a General Superintendent. His followers called him “General.” Known as the “Hallelujah Army,” the converts spread out of the east end of London into neighboring areas and then to other cities.
Booth was reading a printer’s proof of the 1878 Annual Report when the noticed the statement, “The Christian Mission under the Superintendent of the Rev. William Booth is a volunteer army.” He crossed out the words “Volunteer Army’” and penned in “Salvation Army.” From those words the name The Salvation Army was adopted as it’s official title.
On May 9, 1912, Booth was honored at a belated celebration for his 83rd birthday. During the ceremonies he spoke to the guests who were assembled at the Royal Albert Hall. In his remarks Booth said, “And now comrades and friends I must say good-bye. I am going into dry dock for repairs, but The Army will not be allowed to suffer, either financially or spiritually, or in any other way by my absence, and in the long future I think it will be seen—I shall not be here to see, but you will, that The Army will answer every doubt and banish every fear and strangle every slander, and by its marvellous success show to the world that it is the work of God and that The General has been His Servant.”
William Booth died that year on August 20.
Ron L.
* * *
Luke 8:26-39
Miracle stories like this one are sometimes hard to believe. What we need to consider is what a miracle is. Martin Luther offers a reflection on why miracles like Jesus performed no longer seem to happen. He writes, “God will perform no miracles so long as problems can be solved by means of other gifts He has bestowed on us.” (What Luther Says, p.955) In fact, though, miracles continue among us. Famed playwright George Bernard Shaw put it this way once: “Miracles in the sense of phenomena we cannot explain, surround us on every hand: life itself is the miracle of miracles.” Nineteenth century poet Walt Whitman expressed similar sentiments, as he once claimed that “To Me every hour of the light and dark is a miracle.” There is an ancient Chinese proverb that well expresses God’s continuing miraculous working among us:
The miracle is not to fly in the air, or to walk on water; but to walk on earth.
Life itself really is a miracle. And as Jesus‘ miraculous work in our Lesson was in the interests of love, so 19th-century American writer Henry David Thoreau saw love itself as miraculous, when he once noted:
Could a greater miracle take place than for us to look through each other’s eyes for an instant?
Mark E.
Julian was born in Norwich about 1342. She was about six-years-old when the Black Death ravaged England. At this young age her thoughts turned to the perplexing mysteries of God. A few years later, feeling spiritually insufficient, she asked God for three gifts. The first was to have the “mind” of Christ’s passion. The second was to experience “bodily sickness.” Which meant to experience all that a dying person experiences just short of death itself. The third was to receive three wounds: true contrition, heartfelt compassion and purposeful love for God.
On May 8, 1373 she became seriously ill. Everyone thought she was dying. On May 12 the last rites were administered and she continued to decline. Three days later, those attending her thought she actually had died.
A priest came and held a crucifix before her eyes. As she stared at the cross her pain slowly left her body. Soon her body became completely whole. Julian then asked to have Christ’s wounds (the stigmata). She now experienced a vision. It began when she saw blood flow down from under the crown of thorns on the crucifix. Jesus seemed alive on that cross. The Trinity filled her heart with joy. She saw Mary and understood her obedience and reverence for God. And Julian heard Jesus speak. Then Jesus showed her a little object, about the size of a hazelnut, and told her everything he had made would last forever because of his love.
This began the first of fifteen “shewings,” or revelations, granted her that day. A sixteenth revelation would come on the following morning. After her recovery she recorded these visions in a very short form. Then, for the next twenty years, she interpreted their meaning. Finally, she wrote a longer text amplifying the insights she had gained in those years of meditation.
Central to her revelations was the love that drove Christ to suffer for us. She saw this as the whole explanation for history and the great expectation of heaven. Julian said, “Me liked none other heaven than Jesus, which shall be my bliss when I come there.”
During her later years Julian lived as a hermit in a cell attached to Norwich’s old church St. Julian. It is believed that from this church that she took her name. Julian, considered a mystic, probably died in 1416.
Ron L.
* * *
1 Kings 19:1-4, (5-7), 8-15a
This story of a faithful man (Elijah) who was still fearful led Martin Luther to observe:
... it is recorded for the comfort of the churches in order that we may know how merciful God is. We may indeed be evil and weak... God wants to have patience with our weakness. (Luther’s Works, Vol.5, p.25)
No way that we can be brave in Christ by our own strength. It is like John Wesley once noted:
As the best, so the bravest of men are no more than what God makes of them. (Commentary On the Bible, p.189)
We need the Holy Spirit, Wesley adds, Who moves “with a powerful, yet with a sweet and gentle gale.” (Commentary On the Bible, p.219)
Mark E.
* * *
1 Kings 19:1-4, (5-7), 8-15a
Just prior to this scene the prophet Elijah seems on top of the world. Not only does he convincingly demonstrate that the Lord is powerful and the Baals are nothing. Following that he runs ahead of King Ahab's chariot from Carmel to Jezreel, an incredible eighteen miles, almost like a victory lap after his triumph over the priests of Baal!
Yet one senses in this chapter that the prophet is exhausted and depressed. He flees in the face of Jezebel's threats, and abjectly complains to God that no one besides him has been faithful. He is burned out. God's first response to to send an angel is feed him (what does that commercial say, you’re not yourself when you’re hungry?), then lets him rant while listening to him, then assures him that he is not alone because there are seven thousand more who have no intention of bowing to the Baals.
More important, God begins to ease the prophet out from his heavy burden. Elisha will be called so that Elijah has time to mentor him, and then off the prophet will go, riding a chariot of fire to glory!
The church's most faithful servants, no matter how successful they are, can burn out. Rather than let them flame out, one should always be thinking about mentoring situations so that the mantle can be passed to another, celebrating these transitions in a way that recognizes all that has been accomplished in the past while looking forward to what remains to be done in the future.
Frank R.
* * *
Galatians 3:23-29
A practice of the ancient Greeks was to have a slave or servant responsible to take the child from home to the school or the place of learning. The term used for that slave was the word “paedagogus.” The responsibilities of the “paedagogus” were clear. One of his duties was to guard the child from evil, both physical and moral. His most important job was to accompany the child to and from the school, the gymnasium, and outdoors. Additionally, he was responsible for the child’s safety and avoidance of bad company. Greek writers Plato, Lysis, and Timarch all reference the “paedagogus.”
So, what does this ancient Greek practice have to do with our text? In Galatians 3:24-25 Paul explains the purpose of the law. He writes, “Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian…” I find it fascinating that the word translated “disciplinarian” by the NRSV is the Greek word “paedagogus.” What Paul is saying here is that the Law functions as that Greek slave did. Its purpose is to guard and protect the people of God and lead them to where they need to end up. For the Christian, the law points us to Jesus. I think this is one of the most powerful word pictures found in scripture to explain the purpose of the Law. The Law’s function is like that of the old Greek slave. It’s cool, I think, that the Greek culture yields such a wonderful word picture.
Bill T.
* * *
Galatians 3:23-29
I wonder how Jesus views the fractured and divided state of the church. It was not the vision of Jesus that we would be a multitude of small groups arguing about discipleship, scriptural interpretation, and doctrine. In fact, in John 17 we are reminded of the prayer of Jesus that they may all be one. This letter of Paul also reminds us that we are to be united in our faith and in our following of Jesus. In fact, Paul states clearly that the divisions the people of his time embraced: Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female no longer existed among and between the faithful descendants of Abraham. In our desire to be correct, we often forget that we are one family, one Body of Christ. We are called to be the people of God, the children of God, in this time and place — all together, all united, all faithful. May it be so.
Bonnie B.
* * *
Galatians 3:23-29
I have some faith in our government though there are some areas I begin to wonder about. It seems like one political party or the other has less faith in our country because of the other party. Some even in our congress feel they are free from the law. As long as you are in the president’s party, he can even have you released from prison if you are his friend.
It makes me so happy that I can have complete faith in Jesus Christ. When I read what he suffered for me, how can I not have faith in him. He has freed us from the law — even God’s law!
When I was in school, years ago I had one teacher who I felt loved me so much that I could get away with breaking some the school laws. One rule was that we were not to run in the school hall, but when I had to get to the restroom in a hurry, I sometimes ran and my teacher told the monitor to forgive me.
I often forgive my children for their sins because I love them.
As a prison chaplain I had some prisoners who were serving time for murder. Some of them wondered if even God could forgive them. I had to explain to them what Jesus suffered in order to forgive even them. Maybe they wondered because the family of their victim had wanted them executed.
One of my members confessed that he had been unfaithful to his wife. When I talked with her, I told her that even God had forgiven him. He had to put his faith in her forgiveness as he trusted in Jesus’s forgiveness.
The Lord’s prayer tells us to forgive others who we may have hurt if we expect God to forgive us.
One of the great responsibilities of our church is to help us build our faith.
Bob O.
* * *
Luke 8:26-39
"My name is Legion." Those are chilling words. The Gerasene Demoniac claims that he is inhabited by a legion of demons. A legion, a unit in the Roman army, by the way, consisted of around five thousand soldiers.
This is a Latin term, so it is quite possible that this is a way of reminding the reader that Rome itself is the demon -- the occupation of the fiercely independent region by foreign troops was an abomination that was barely tolerated. A couple generations later the entire region would revolt, with disastrous results.
Another possible interpretation of these words suggests that the individual in question may have been a Roman legionnaire suffering the effects from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Perhaps he had participated in one of the many thousands of crucifixions, or other cruel punishments, designed to quell potential trouble with brutal force. Even if not true, it is certainly a good way to get inside the trauma experienced by so many who serve their country in the worst of circumstances.
Frank R.
* * *
Luke 8:26-39
William Booth and his wife Catherine were the founders of a mission society that soon became known as the Salvation Army. It was established in the east end of London in 1865. In1867 Booth had only 10 full-time workers. By 1874, the numbers had grown to 1,000 volunteers and 42 evangelists. They served under the name “The Christian Mission.” Booth assumed the title of a General Superintendent. His followers called him “General.” Known as the “Hallelujah Army,” the converts spread out of the east end of London into neighboring areas and then to other cities.
Booth was reading a printer’s proof of the 1878 Annual Report when the noticed the statement, “The Christian Mission under the Superintendent of the Rev. William Booth is a volunteer army.” He crossed out the words “Volunteer Army’” and penned in “Salvation Army.” From those words the name The Salvation Army was adopted as it’s official title.
On May 9, 1912, Booth was honored at a belated celebration for his 83rd birthday. During the ceremonies he spoke to the guests who were assembled at the Royal Albert Hall. In his remarks Booth said, “And now comrades and friends I must say good-bye. I am going into dry dock for repairs, but The Army will not be allowed to suffer, either financially or spiritually, or in any other way by my absence, and in the long future I think it will be seen—I shall not be here to see, but you will, that The Army will answer every doubt and banish every fear and strangle every slander, and by its marvellous success show to the world that it is the work of God and that The General has been His Servant.”
William Booth died that year on August 20.
Ron L.
* * *
Luke 8:26-39
Miracle stories like this one are sometimes hard to believe. What we need to consider is what a miracle is. Martin Luther offers a reflection on why miracles like Jesus performed no longer seem to happen. He writes, “God will perform no miracles so long as problems can be solved by means of other gifts He has bestowed on us.” (What Luther Says, p.955) In fact, though, miracles continue among us. Famed playwright George Bernard Shaw put it this way once: “Miracles in the sense of phenomena we cannot explain, surround us on every hand: life itself is the miracle of miracles.” Nineteenth century poet Walt Whitman expressed similar sentiments, as he once claimed that “To Me every hour of the light and dark is a miracle.” There is an ancient Chinese proverb that well expresses God’s continuing miraculous working among us:
The miracle is not to fly in the air, or to walk on water; but to walk on earth.
Life itself really is a miracle. And as Jesus‘ miraculous work in our Lesson was in the interests of love, so 19th-century American writer Henry David Thoreau saw love itself as miraculous, when he once noted:
Could a greater miracle take place than for us to look through each other’s eyes for an instant?
Mark E.
