Do You Know?
Sermon
What If What They Say Is True?
First Lesson Sermons For Sundays After Pentecost (Middle Third) Cycle C
" 'It was I who taught Ephraim how to walk, I took them up in my arms; but they did not know that I healed them' (11:3). They did not know me. Do you?
" 'I led them with cords of human kindness, with bands of love. I was to them like those who lift infants to their cheeks. I bent down to them and fed them.' (1:4). But they did not know me. Do you?
"I fashioned a world in love, bringing forth order from chaos and light from darkness. I filled the seas and the land and the air with life. As the climax of my work, I created human beings, casting them in my own image. In my own image I made them, male and female. But they did not know me. Do you?
"Seeking the best for them, I set the humans in a garden full of good things. I asked them to care for the garden, to keep and till the land. I bid them to enjoy its pleasures, to eat its fruits and relax in its shade. However, I knew that there were parts of the garden they should stay away from, that there were limits to how far they should go. I gave them boundaries for their life, cautioning them to avoid certain trees, certain fruit. I did it for their own good. But they acted as if they did not know me. Do you?
"I started anew with a man named Abraham and a woman named Sarah. I provided for them a child when they were certain that they were barren. I brought forth life in the unlikeliest of ways; and through that son, Isaac, the promise continued, moving through Rebekah and Jacob and Leah and Rachel and their children. In spite of my faithfulness, these people were often faithless and hardhearted, forsaking me and wandering from me. Murder and rape and deceitfulness were a part of their lives. It sometimes seemed as if they never knew me. Do you?
"Hard times moved them to Egypt where they became enslaved to Pharaoh. They cried to me for deliverance, and I intervened to rescue them from the bonds of their oppression. I led them through the waters of the Red Sea, nurtured them in the wilderness, and took them to a mountain called Sinai, where I presented Moses with my law for their life as my people. Yet Moses had no sooner come down from the mountain than the people were worshiping a golden calf. They didn't know me. Do you?
"Still, I brought them to a land of milk and honey, a bountiful land, a land of promise. I raised up judges to lead them and keep them safe, but they insisted on having a king so they could be like every other nation. They didn't know that I was their king. They didn't know me. Do you?
"I anointed kings, but most of them failed. Even David, my beloved, was not without sin. My law was neglected. The poor and the downtrodden were not cared for. The people worshiped me like they were going through the motions, like they had better things to do. They spent much time on the details of animal sacrifices, but little time doing justice and loving kindness. I sent prophets to call them back to me. But they just didn't listen. They didn't seem to know me. Do you?
"In the fullness of time, I sent my son, my only son, to do for them what they could not do for themselves. Jesus lived among them in humility and peace, teaching them about loving me and loving their neighbors and loving themselves, reminding them that religion is a matter of the heart. He called on people to turn around, look up, and reach out. He demonstrated what it means to give of oneself. Many were drawn to him. Yet, when things got tough, even those closest to him ran away. One of them, named Peter, insisted that he did not even know Jesus. Do you?
"With a heavy heart, I watched Jesus hang on a cross, carrying the sin of the world, a victim of its violent ways. He was executed as a criminal because his words were too true for most people to bear, especially people with power and might. When he breathed his last, they shut him up in a tomb, thinking that they were finally done with him. But death is no barrier for my love. They did not know that. Do you?
"I raised Jesus from the dead, forever vanquishing death's power, offering forgiveness to those beaten down by sin and new life to those languishing in the tombs of their brokenness. I sent my spirit to change hearts and stir up faith. I birthed the church to continue the great work of reconciliation and to proclaim the good news of what I have done. Do you know me?
"I am a rock and a refuge, a place to rest beside still waters. I am your help and your salvation, a dwelling place in all generations. I am living water, bread of heaven, light of the world. I am the way and the truth and the life. Do you know me?
"It is I who spins the planets and twinkles the stars, who raises the mountains and fills the seas, who splashes brilliant color across the skies. It is I whose glory radiates in leaf and flower. I whisper in the wind and wink with the sun. I clatter in thunder and cleanse with rain. I pulse with life. Do you know me?
"It is I who peeks out in surprising ways: the idea that moves a group forward; the sudden, clarifying thought; the possibility no one expected. I laugh at your preoccupations with control and giggle when you make definite plans. I know there are things only God knows. I know that. Do you know me?
"It is I who is tucked into the little things: a knowing smile from a friend, a cheerful conversation with a stranger, a good night's sleep. I reside in the simplest of places: a phone call from your sister, a meal with your family, a few moments of silence. I am there. Do you know me?
"It is I who continues to advocate that justice and righteousness be done. It is I who insists that those cast out and left out not be forgotten. I have seen your prosperity, but I have also seen what you have not done. I will not move from my concern. I know well that it's easy to get caught up in yourself, to believe that your own needs are more than enough. Giving is hard. Reaching out is hard. Looking beyond yourself is hard. I know that. Do you know me? Absorbed in yourself, how can you know me?
"I rejoice in your triumphs. I enjoy seeing you use well what you've been given. You are capable of much in body and mind, but also in heart. Your achievements reflect well on your creator. Do you know that?
"I am sorry for your setbacks. It pains me to see you disappointed. I want good things for you. I want you to realize that what may seem to be a dashed hope or a broken dream or a missed opportunity may actually enable you, even empower you, for something you can't even imagine right now. Who knows what will happen? You don't. Do you even know me?
"I have heard your cries. I have grieved for your losses. I have extended arms of comfort and solace. I carried you at times when you weren't even aware of it. I have been in hospital rooms and at bedsides, places where death is expected and places where death is sudden. I know what it's like to have someone you love die. I know. Do you know me?
"I cannot stop creating. I cannot stop bringing forth new life. I grin at every birth, beholding the possibilities of each baby. So much potential. I anticipate how you will seize the opportunities presented by life's transitions: graduations and marriages, new jobs and new locations, retirement. How will you grow and change as you move along life's journey? So much potential. Count on me to keep on creating. It's what I've always done. It is who I always am. I've been ordering chaos and illuminating darkness since the beginning. You know that, if you know me.
"I have observed your mistakes. I've seen you struggle with what to believe in. You've had a hard time discerning what is true. You've given much of yourself to things that really don't matter. You've invested in things that will not endure. You've worshiped gods that cannot help. I know there are lots of ways to spend your time. I know that. Do you know me?
"I am calling out to you. I am inviting you to walk with me, to learn from me. I am offering you a way to go, a path to follow. I want to help you understand a life that often seems so random. I have seen you try to make it on your own. I have seen you pretend to know the answers and to have it all figured out. But I've also seen beneath the surface. I've seen the emptiness inside. I want you to have something to hold onto, someone to hold onto. I want you to know me.
"I want you to gain knowledge of my word and experience of my ways. I want you to be sure of my presence and confident of my grace. I want you to enrich yourself with my values. I want you to know the power of my forgiveness and the freedom of my perspective. I want you to trust that I am the one who loves you without condition, the one who has formed you and who keeps you and who will never fail you. I want you to know me as deeply as I know you.
" 'It was I who taught Ephraim how to walk, I took them up in my arms; but they did not know that I healed them' (11:3). They did not know. Do you?"
" 'I led them with cords of human kindness, with bands of love. I was to them like those who lift infants to their cheeks. I bent down to them and fed them.' (1:4). But they did not know me. Do you?
"I fashioned a world in love, bringing forth order from chaos and light from darkness. I filled the seas and the land and the air with life. As the climax of my work, I created human beings, casting them in my own image. In my own image I made them, male and female. But they did not know me. Do you?
"Seeking the best for them, I set the humans in a garden full of good things. I asked them to care for the garden, to keep and till the land. I bid them to enjoy its pleasures, to eat its fruits and relax in its shade. However, I knew that there were parts of the garden they should stay away from, that there were limits to how far they should go. I gave them boundaries for their life, cautioning them to avoid certain trees, certain fruit. I did it for their own good. But they acted as if they did not know me. Do you?
"I started anew with a man named Abraham and a woman named Sarah. I provided for them a child when they were certain that they were barren. I brought forth life in the unlikeliest of ways; and through that son, Isaac, the promise continued, moving through Rebekah and Jacob and Leah and Rachel and their children. In spite of my faithfulness, these people were often faithless and hardhearted, forsaking me and wandering from me. Murder and rape and deceitfulness were a part of their lives. It sometimes seemed as if they never knew me. Do you?
"Hard times moved them to Egypt where they became enslaved to Pharaoh. They cried to me for deliverance, and I intervened to rescue them from the bonds of their oppression. I led them through the waters of the Red Sea, nurtured them in the wilderness, and took them to a mountain called Sinai, where I presented Moses with my law for their life as my people. Yet Moses had no sooner come down from the mountain than the people were worshiping a golden calf. They didn't know me. Do you?
"Still, I brought them to a land of milk and honey, a bountiful land, a land of promise. I raised up judges to lead them and keep them safe, but they insisted on having a king so they could be like every other nation. They didn't know that I was their king. They didn't know me. Do you?
"I anointed kings, but most of them failed. Even David, my beloved, was not without sin. My law was neglected. The poor and the downtrodden were not cared for. The people worshiped me like they were going through the motions, like they had better things to do. They spent much time on the details of animal sacrifices, but little time doing justice and loving kindness. I sent prophets to call them back to me. But they just didn't listen. They didn't seem to know me. Do you?
"In the fullness of time, I sent my son, my only son, to do for them what they could not do for themselves. Jesus lived among them in humility and peace, teaching them about loving me and loving their neighbors and loving themselves, reminding them that religion is a matter of the heart. He called on people to turn around, look up, and reach out. He demonstrated what it means to give of oneself. Many were drawn to him. Yet, when things got tough, even those closest to him ran away. One of them, named Peter, insisted that he did not even know Jesus. Do you?
"With a heavy heart, I watched Jesus hang on a cross, carrying the sin of the world, a victim of its violent ways. He was executed as a criminal because his words were too true for most people to bear, especially people with power and might. When he breathed his last, they shut him up in a tomb, thinking that they were finally done with him. But death is no barrier for my love. They did not know that. Do you?
"I raised Jesus from the dead, forever vanquishing death's power, offering forgiveness to those beaten down by sin and new life to those languishing in the tombs of their brokenness. I sent my spirit to change hearts and stir up faith. I birthed the church to continue the great work of reconciliation and to proclaim the good news of what I have done. Do you know me?
"I am a rock and a refuge, a place to rest beside still waters. I am your help and your salvation, a dwelling place in all generations. I am living water, bread of heaven, light of the world. I am the way and the truth and the life. Do you know me?
"It is I who spins the planets and twinkles the stars, who raises the mountains and fills the seas, who splashes brilliant color across the skies. It is I whose glory radiates in leaf and flower. I whisper in the wind and wink with the sun. I clatter in thunder and cleanse with rain. I pulse with life. Do you know me?
"It is I who peeks out in surprising ways: the idea that moves a group forward; the sudden, clarifying thought; the possibility no one expected. I laugh at your preoccupations with control and giggle when you make definite plans. I know there are things only God knows. I know that. Do you know me?
"It is I who is tucked into the little things: a knowing smile from a friend, a cheerful conversation with a stranger, a good night's sleep. I reside in the simplest of places: a phone call from your sister, a meal with your family, a few moments of silence. I am there. Do you know me?
"It is I who continues to advocate that justice and righteousness be done. It is I who insists that those cast out and left out not be forgotten. I have seen your prosperity, but I have also seen what you have not done. I will not move from my concern. I know well that it's easy to get caught up in yourself, to believe that your own needs are more than enough. Giving is hard. Reaching out is hard. Looking beyond yourself is hard. I know that. Do you know me? Absorbed in yourself, how can you know me?
"I rejoice in your triumphs. I enjoy seeing you use well what you've been given. You are capable of much in body and mind, but also in heart. Your achievements reflect well on your creator. Do you know that?
"I am sorry for your setbacks. It pains me to see you disappointed. I want good things for you. I want you to realize that what may seem to be a dashed hope or a broken dream or a missed opportunity may actually enable you, even empower you, for something you can't even imagine right now. Who knows what will happen? You don't. Do you even know me?
"I have heard your cries. I have grieved for your losses. I have extended arms of comfort and solace. I carried you at times when you weren't even aware of it. I have been in hospital rooms and at bedsides, places where death is expected and places where death is sudden. I know what it's like to have someone you love die. I know. Do you know me?
"I cannot stop creating. I cannot stop bringing forth new life. I grin at every birth, beholding the possibilities of each baby. So much potential. I anticipate how you will seize the opportunities presented by life's transitions: graduations and marriages, new jobs and new locations, retirement. How will you grow and change as you move along life's journey? So much potential. Count on me to keep on creating. It's what I've always done. It is who I always am. I've been ordering chaos and illuminating darkness since the beginning. You know that, if you know me.
"I have observed your mistakes. I've seen you struggle with what to believe in. You've had a hard time discerning what is true. You've given much of yourself to things that really don't matter. You've invested in things that will not endure. You've worshiped gods that cannot help. I know there are lots of ways to spend your time. I know that. Do you know me?
"I am calling out to you. I am inviting you to walk with me, to learn from me. I am offering you a way to go, a path to follow. I want to help you understand a life that often seems so random. I have seen you try to make it on your own. I have seen you pretend to know the answers and to have it all figured out. But I've also seen beneath the surface. I've seen the emptiness inside. I want you to have something to hold onto, someone to hold onto. I want you to know me.
"I want you to gain knowledge of my word and experience of my ways. I want you to be sure of my presence and confident of my grace. I want you to enrich yourself with my values. I want you to know the power of my forgiveness and the freedom of my perspective. I want you to trust that I am the one who loves you without condition, the one who has formed you and who keeps you and who will never fail you. I want you to know me as deeply as I know you.
" 'It was I who taught Ephraim how to walk, I took them up in my arms; but they did not know that I healed them' (11:3). They did not know. Do you?"
