First Sunday After Christmas/Holy Family
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series VI, Cycle A
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Isaiah 63:7-9 (C)
Henry Sloane Coffin called this "one of the sublimest prayers in the Bible, lofty in poetic form, and profound in its revelation of the richness of God's fellowship with his people." Indeed, a more apt description would be difficult. One feels total faith in God on the part of the writer.
Lesson 1: Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14 (RC)
God placed parents in authority over their children, and those who honor their parents will be blessed by God.
Lesson 1: Isaiah 61:10--62:3 (E)
The prophet declares a rather exalted expectation of divine blessings on Zion. He himself will be richly blessed, like a well-dressed bridegroom. One must admire the prophets such as this writer for their unshakable faith in God to do for them what history clearly shows has yet to happen.
Lesson 2: Hebrews 2:10-18 (C)
This passage has helped many Christians to understand the Incarnation. At the time of Jesus' birth, most Greeks and Romans believed in a panoply of gods, but their deities were invariably self-centered creatures, detached from the problems of their people. The idea of a god not only caring about his people, but actually taking his place among them was unheard of. Little wonder then that people reacted in one of two ways. A minority were moved at the idea, easily converted to follow this Jesus. Others, however, were offended at what they saw to be slander by implication of the gods they had been taught to worship.
The author declared that God chose to perfect Jesus through suffering. This may be as close as biblical writers would get to explaining the "why?" of suffering. If Jesus was perfected by suffering, so too we all might be. Incidentally, the word for "perfect" was not intended to mean perfection as we use the word today. It more correctly meant just-right-for-the-task. If you want to put a screw in a piece of wood, a drill with a screwdriver bit would be perfect. If you want to hammer a nail, a hammer would be perfect for the task. The drill or the hammer might be a basic tool purchased at the local hardware store, but it would serve better than any other tool.
The Christian finds comfort in the fact that Jesus has walked where we walk and therefore has firsthand knowledge of our sufferings. Loneliness, apparent failure, rejection, physical and emotional pain, the absence of any physical comforts, grief, even anxiety were pains known to Jesus, as to us. Only guilt feelings seem to be unique to us.
Many theological dilemmas are posed by this passage. If Jesus was unique, perfect, as most of my friends would testify that I am not, then I'm not likely to be able to duplicate Jesus' response to suffering. Still, if he'll help ...
Lesson 2: Colossians 3:12-21 (RC)
Paul was at his best as he wrote this passage. Through the power of love, the listener/reader is to be kind and compassionate toward others -- humble, gentle, and patient. We are to strive for "perfect unity" through the power of love. As discussed elsewhere, this is what at least one well-known theologian called "an impossible ethic." It has proved impossible for me, yet I do understand that Paul is presenting what in reality is a description of Jesus, one against whom we must continually measure ourselves. We're not to be overcome with guilt because of our failure to measure up. But we are to keep that lofty goal before us as, day by day, we relate to people in our ordinary lives.
The last few verses present problems of their own. "Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands" is not a popular injunction outside very conservative circles. I once had a young couple sit with me as they planned their wedding. The girl asked to have this passage included in the service. I advised against it and the young husband-to-be agreed. At that point, the woman, with a momentary flash of anger, snapped: "I'm the one who's planning this wedding and I say we include it." So much for submission.
Actually, the line "Husbands, love your wives" mitigates the problem and actually represented a major move forward in male-female relationships at the time. I suspect were Jesus to speak to us today, however, he'd word all that quite differently. Speaking as a pastor, I appreciate the sentiment but believe it requires too much explanation to be useful in a wedding service these days.
Lesson 2: Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7 (E)
The first portion of the passage is obscure for most people. I think Paul was saying that the only sure way to know right from wrong prior to Jesus' ministry was by written laws. Jesus taught the way of love and, in theory, when we truly love, we no longer need laws. Actually, we still need guidelines or rules.
The latter verses elaborate Paul's thesis. With the birth of Jesus came another gift besides (or as part of the birth): "God sent the Spirit of the Son into our hearts." We are set free from the confines of legalism.
Gospel: Matthew 2:13-23 (C); Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 (RC)
What a tragic story, this. All those little boys murdered, all those mothers suffering life's most unbearable grief, the loss of her child. This kind of inhumanity is widespread even today. I have never been able to read this passage without its sheer unnecessary tragedy striking me above all else.
This report accounts for references to Jesus as a Nazarene, though there doesn't seem to be any other biblical basis for this contention. It's obvious that Joseph and Mary found it necessary to stay on the move for an extended period of time as Herod tried to find Jesus. Three times Joseph reported receiving instructions in dreams. Each time the dream sequences caused him to escape with his famiy. Matthew is comfortable with the dream reports, which seems to suggest that dreams were a recognized means of communication from God.
Angels also seem to play a major part in the early Jesus stories. Christians are divided on the question of belief in angels. They play a major role in the theologies of some Christian groups, but are relatively unmentioned throughout mainstream Protestantism. Like so many faith issues, each of us must decide what to believe and then live accordingly. Actually, the very definition of "angel" is open. Some conceive angels to have form and shape; other people think of "angels" as simply a word for a guiding inner spirit. Perhaps most of us are at least comfortable with the thought that God remains involved in our daily lives.
Gospel: John 1:1-18 (E)
John does not appear to be familiar with the birth narratives in Matthew and Luke. His writing style is more philosophical. Jesus was the Logos, the word of God, and according to John's perception, God actually brought about creation through the Christ. It may be that John's audience was more sophisticated than was true of Matthew and Luke, perhaps familiar with the works of such as Plato and Aristotle. However, although his language is different, John's conclusions are essentially the same as those of the other Gospel writers. All who embrace Christ become children of God and recipients of divine grace.
SERMON SUGGESTIONS
Title: "An Attitude Of Gratitude"
Text: Isaiah 63:7-9
Theme: Isaiah was grateful for all the things God had done for him and his people. His words are an eloquent reminder for us to do the same. Life isn't always easy for any of us, and we have already agreed that sometimes suffering is a purifying process and, therefore, God cannot eliminate it from existence. But people of faith discover that in crisis moments, God is there for us. True, God does not and probably cannot solve all our problems. As has been said before, we do not pray for lighter burdens, we pray for stronger backs. That kind of prayer is always answered.
Title: "The Old Made New"
Text: Isaiah 61:10
Theme: Isaiah here uses symbolism familiar to his readers of some 2,000 years ago, the changing of garments like those of a bridegroom, but it is the "garment of salvation." He is a changed man, a fortunate man, because God has made everything new for him.
Saint Paul has written that "if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation, the old has passed away, behold, the new has come." In theory, at least, we do become new and changed when Christ enters into our lives. I say in theory, because I'm fully aware that nothing is automatic. People who perceive themselves to have accepted Christ "as Lord and Savior" are all too often found saying and doing things which are petty and hurtful. Judgmentalism has always been a besetting sin of Christians. Keep in mind that the Bible has been used to defend apartheid in Africa, slavery in America, and one young fellow down south was recently caught burning a black church to the ground because of his "faith." It seems he was a dedicated member of a nearby white church and didn't think black people should have a church like his. I write this having yelled at a slow driver even today (not so he could hear me). I'd like to quit that sort of thing, but after many years as a Christian, I still make such mistakes.
If the change we seek is to take place, it requires not only Christ's presence in our lives, but a firm determination on our part to be familiar with the teachings of Jesus and to make a sincere effort to live by those teachings. So:
1. Repentance, which means honest self-criticism on an ongoing basis, is the starting point.
2. Finding ways to act lovingly toward others, even when some expenses are necessary, including the expense of changing how one acts, accustoms us to becoming changed people.
3. Nurturing our prayer and worship life is essential.
Title: "The Gospel Of Our Suffering"
Text: Hebrews 2:10-18
Theme: "Gospel" means good news -- the good news of our suffering. Not that to suffer is good news in the ordinary sense, but every mature person understands that suffering is the eventual fate of us all. It begins for most with the tummy ache and the sore throat, and one day the death of a beloved pet. It continues on through life's exigencies, including disappointments, failures, rejections, injuries and illnesses, humiliations, guilt feelings, and, as painful as any, loss of loved ones. To live is to suffer; to suffer is to grow.
The author of Hebrews has stated that Jesus was made like us in every respect, especially in regard to suffering. He has argued that suffering was the purifying force in Jesus' life, that because he himself has suffered and been tempted, he is able to help us in similar situations. The preacher's role is to affirm this truth, yet not strike a negative note. What this much-quoted passage reveals is:
1. Suffering is inevitable.
2. The "Devil" loses power in the face of Jesus' power. Each preacher must decide what is meant by "Devil." For me, it is a symbol, not of a literal being in any sense similar to Jesus' existence, but rather it symbolizes all the hateful, destructive forces working in the world. One of my old professors used to say, "There may not be a Devil, but if not, someone else is doing his work."
The sermon could, of course, deal with the source of evil. However, a more productive course seems to me to confront the question: What can Jesus do about life's destructive forces? Isn't the answer to that "Love"?
3. If Jesus is to be our "High Priest" (this usage was, of course, meaningful to the original readers in a way it is not for us), it means he is our intercessor with God. Thus, through our personal relationship with Jesus, we gain access to a form of love which is greater than any love inherent in us.
4. The only power which can overcome evil is not a stronger version of the same thing, but its opposite: love which is willing to suffer. Few of us can sustain for long love that is willing to suffer abuse and rejection -- except by allowing God's love to work through us. When Paul called us ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us, I think he meant more than witnessing verbally. He meant that only God can change some things, overcome this world's destructive forces, by expressing his love not only directly into human hearts which are open to him, but into the world through those of us who can change things.
5. If enough of us are willing to serve in this way, God will be able to succeed, and therein lies the world's hope. That, finally, is good news.
Title: "Love Can Be Painful"
Text: Colossians 3:14
Theme: "And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony." This is an unattainable ideal, yet a goal we're all called to strive for.
Several years ago I had occasion to reside with some friends for several weeks during which time the man was facing a difficult moral choice. He was manager of a manufacturing operation in a large, well-known plant. Business was down and my friend was ordered to terminate one of his two engineer assistants. One was a man who had been with the company for nearly fifteen years, had become well-established in the community, and had children in school. The man was active in civic organizations and, in all likelihood, expected to live out his work life in that community.
The other engineer was much younger, single, not yet established in the community. However, the young man, only with the company for a couple years, was the better engineer, though the first man was adequate. But the young man had imagination, ambition. He was worth more to the company.
During my weeks with that family, my friend agonized over his choice: fire the young man who could find new employment fairly easily, leaving a less qualified man with the company; or fire the less valuable man, thereby benefiting the company. It was a moral issue which nearly tore my friend apart. His was an example of choices -- less dramatic perhaps -- which all of us must make. My friend was motivated by love. Otherwise, his choice would probably have been easy. Either way, someone was going to be hurt.
That's the real world. This means if we're to practice love, to "put on" the qualities of love as Paul put the matter, we must be prepared to suffer in ways unloving people know little about. Paul knew this. So did Jesus. When he said that to follow him one must take up his cross, he wasn't only referring to extraordinary moments of inconvenience. He knew that to love other people would consistently present us with the anguish connected with moral choices.
Possible outline:
1. Love means accepting responsibility to make difficult decisions having to do with the welfare of others (e.g., the judge deciding custody battles, the surgeon deciding who gets the donated kidney, etc.).
2. Love requires courage. My friend mentioned above could agonize for a time, but soon he had to make his choice, then live with it. Sometimes doing the loving thing brings criticism and anger.
3. Love requires that self-pity be avoided. My friend would have done no good for anyone had he felt sorry for himself. In the end, he had to stand up, make his choice, then face the consequences.
4. Love of the kind Paul spoke of is supported by Christ. "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts," wrote Paul (v. 15). Constant prayer is the necessary companion of the loving heart. (My friend prayed long and hard, then fired the right man. He hated the necessity, but his faith enabled him to do what was right.)
Title: "Love And The Moral Law"
Text: Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7
Theme: Paul is addressing the Jewish tendency to control almost all human conduct with specific laws. They had hundreds of them. This, in turn, led to clever ways to observe the letter but not the spirit. The Pharisees were notorious rule-makers. This frustrated Jesus, who felt that if we act in love, we may not need those laws.
One law, for example, ordained that a devout Jew could not travel more than a short distance on the sabbath. However, if a man needed to make a trip he could leave a small chair under a bush the allowable distance from his home, then perhaps some eating utensils a similar distance, and so forth, until these various items reached the desired destination. On the Sabbath, the man could walk the allowable distance to his chair, sit a while and establish residence, then walk to the eating utensils and eat some food, once more establishing residence, and so forth. This way, the man could circumvent the law.
Paul wanted to substitute love for law, contending that once Christ comes into our hearts, we no longer need these endless laws. Henceforth we would do what is good and kind and right. It's little wonder the Pharisees had a big problem with Jesus. Joseph Fletcher played a major role in the radical sixties with the publication of his book, Situation Ethics, in which he argued that there are no absolutes, morally. He quoted Henry Miller, who spoke of "the immorality of morality." Fletcher's point was that sometimes we have to break traditional ethical givens in order to obey the higher law of love. This opened a floodgate of rationalizations which, for a time, disempowered many clergy from affirming moral teachings of the faith. Herein lies a Christian dilemma: sometimes to do the "right" thing is wrong.
Title: "What's In A Dream?"
Text: Matthew 2:13-23
Theme: Some people believe that dreams are a channel of communication. Certainly, early Christians seemed to have thought this. The passage also presumes the existence of angels, another of those references passed off by biblical writers, leaving us nearly 2,000 years later to decide what exactly they meant.
I was recently asked to do something requiring all my preacherly creativity, such as it is. I was stumped. For several days, I explored one possibility after another, never feeling that my ideas were worthy. I was near the point of giving up, deciding that this particular assignment was not for me. I uttered one last prayer that if God did indeed want me to proceed, I would try to remain open. I then put the issue out of my mind.
That night, or rather early morning, at about 3 a.m., I awakened with a clear understanding of just exactly what I was to do. Literally, like a panorama display, it was there. I could honestly declare that I received this in a dream. (Let the angel symbolize the revealing spirit.)
As I reflect on this event, however, other possibilities occur to me. For one thing, I had been doing my homework. This wasn't exactly a free gift. One of my friends would contend that I merely had put my mind at rest and the thoughts which were somewhat jumbled up there had been subconsciously sorted out.
My point? I feel that my prayer was answered, and that the sleeping mind is still able to receive guidance. I don't personally go in for dream evaluation and I have frankly given the subject very little thought throughout my ministry. Those who delve into such matters say that dreams are often a means by which we face stressful life situations which we find too stressful to deal with consciously. If that's true, we need be very careful not to interpret dreams generally as messages from God. At best, a standard must prevail: only what one may feel are messages of love can be legitimate.
If one is to preach on this passage, the main point is that Joseph and Mary were trying to do the right thing, do what they believed God wanted them to do. God had a life plan for them, just as he surely does for each of us. (Let me press that point: I don't necessarily think there is some specific responsibility for which we are created, but I believe we are all here with a mission based on our particular capabilities and limitations.) God prompted Joseph, but there was no coercion. He was free to pass the dream off as just that -- a dream.
Sermon outline:
1. God wishes to communicate with us. Perhaps our varying personalities are such that different people are best reached in different ways.
2. God is surely not going to empower us in doing anything not directly consistent with his will. (The person who prays for a new Cadillac or an advantage over a business competitor will be disappointed.) It's when we are seeking to do what we know is right that God will help.
3. God isn't going to take the work out of life. Joseph and Mary still had to undergo what must have been a very rugged life in order to escape Herod.
4. All things will, eventually, work for good when we proceed in this way. Paul said as much in his letter to the Romans.
ADDITIONAL ILLUSTRATIONS
C. S. Lewis, writing in his helpful Mere Christianity, wrote this: "Remember, this repentance is not something God demands of you before he will take you back. It is simply a description of what going back to him is like. If you ask God to let you go back without it, you are simply asking God to let you go back without going back. It cannot happen."
____________
Pat Boone, long known for his religious music and his healthy lifestyle, recently appeared in public attired in rock music style attire in an effort to publicize his new music album. Well into his fifties, Boone did appear just a little bit strange, especially to those who were accustomed to his very conservative music. However, it was all in good fun and the Pat Boone of yesterday was no different from the Pat Boone of today. But the reaction among a fairly large group of Christians was one of outrage and biting criticism. How could he, they clamored? One or two of his sponsors threatened to withdraw sponsorship.
I don't happen to be one of Boone's fans, mainly because my musical preferences run more to mainstream contemporary jazz, and to traditional hymnology when I go to church. But really, where is everyone's sense of humor? You'd think that anyone who likes rock music or -- heaven forbid -- plays rock music, is somehow anti-Christian. Nonsense. What about all the teenagers? I occasionally visit a local Methodist church which sometimes features rock music as an alternative worship form. In small doses, I kind of like it. This is a good illustration of the fact that merely being converted to Christianity doesn't make one more loving or accepting than in one's prior state. We still have to work at it.
____________
Dateline Kabul, Afghanistan, Associated Press, March 30, 1997. "The Taliban religious rulers on Saturday stoned to death a young woman who tried to flee Afghanistan with a man who was not her relative." The article continued: "Under the Taliban's strict interpretation of Islamic law, a woman found in the company of a man other than a family member is guilty of a crime punishable by death by stoning."
The girl's name was Jamila. She lived in a society which prohibits women from appearing in public except in the voluminous folds of a garment called a burqa, from going to school or from being in the presence of a male non-family member. Windows of all homes must be painted black so women cannot be seen.
I normally don't presume to criticize another person's religion, but this is ridiculous. Here was a young girl trying to escape to a new, less repressive life, with what was apparently the man she loved. For that she was officially murdered. This is not something new. It is as old as humanity and vividly points up the kind of thing God was trying to eliminate when he sent Jesus Christ with the gospel of love.
____________
A friend told me of the time she and her husband went for a visit to a home for mentally handicapped children. They waited outside while a friend went in for a visit. As they watched, a young couple arrived to see their little girl. An attendant brought the child, who appeared to be about six or seven years old, to see her parents. The young mother dropped to her knees and held her arms wide to embrace her daughter. But the child only stared. My friend said the features of the child were very pretty, giving little sign of the child's limitations. Finally, mother drew her daughter close in a warm embrace and, as my friend watched, tears rolled down the mother's face. The little girl, uncomprehending, only stared.
As I listened to this sad story, I thought maybe that's how God feels with some of us. God came in love, and so many of us only stare uncomprehendingly.
____________
Dr. Weatherhead told of a young man who, having grown up in a good home with strong values, fell in with a wild crowd and began to drink too much, coming in late, defiant of his parent's wishes. One evening the boy came home late, staggered drunkenly through the house with barely a word of greeting to his parents, then up the steps to his bedroom. Mom and Dad sat quietly in front of their fireplace for some time. Then the mother arose and went upstairs. The father, after several minutes, became concerned for his wife. He too went upstairs and along the hallway to his son's bedroom. There he saw his wife sitting beside her son. As he watched, she leaned over and gently kissed his forehead. When she saw her husband, she smiled and said, "He won't let me do that when he's awake." God must at times feel this way as well.
____________
"Defeat may serve as well as victory
To shake the soul and let the glory out.
When the great oak is straining in the wind,
The boughs drink in a new beauty, and the trunk
Sends down a deeper root on the windward side.
Only the soul that knows the mighty grief
Can know the mighty rapture. Sorrows come
To stretch our spaces in the heart for joy."
-- Edwin Markham
____________
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 147:12-20 (C, E) -- The setting is in Zion, the Temple at Jerusalem. The choir is calling the congregation to praise God.
Prayer Of The Day
Thank you, God, for your patience with us. We are preoccupied with our own activities, many of them trivial and useless. Even the valuable pursuits of our day are less so than those moments spent consciously in your presence. In our best of times we know this. Forgive us our little faith, empower us in growing more aware of your constant presence, and enable us to balance the demands of daily life with a growing faith.
Lesson 1: Isaiah 63:7-9 (C)
Henry Sloane Coffin called this "one of the sublimest prayers in the Bible, lofty in poetic form, and profound in its revelation of the richness of God's fellowship with his people." Indeed, a more apt description would be difficult. One feels total faith in God on the part of the writer.
Lesson 1: Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14 (RC)
God placed parents in authority over their children, and those who honor their parents will be blessed by God.
Lesson 1: Isaiah 61:10--62:3 (E)
The prophet declares a rather exalted expectation of divine blessings on Zion. He himself will be richly blessed, like a well-dressed bridegroom. One must admire the prophets such as this writer for their unshakable faith in God to do for them what history clearly shows has yet to happen.
Lesson 2: Hebrews 2:10-18 (C)
This passage has helped many Christians to understand the Incarnation. At the time of Jesus' birth, most Greeks and Romans believed in a panoply of gods, but their deities were invariably self-centered creatures, detached from the problems of their people. The idea of a god not only caring about his people, but actually taking his place among them was unheard of. Little wonder then that people reacted in one of two ways. A minority were moved at the idea, easily converted to follow this Jesus. Others, however, were offended at what they saw to be slander by implication of the gods they had been taught to worship.
The author declared that God chose to perfect Jesus through suffering. This may be as close as biblical writers would get to explaining the "why?" of suffering. If Jesus was perfected by suffering, so too we all might be. Incidentally, the word for "perfect" was not intended to mean perfection as we use the word today. It more correctly meant just-right-for-the-task. If you want to put a screw in a piece of wood, a drill with a screwdriver bit would be perfect. If you want to hammer a nail, a hammer would be perfect for the task. The drill or the hammer might be a basic tool purchased at the local hardware store, but it would serve better than any other tool.
The Christian finds comfort in the fact that Jesus has walked where we walk and therefore has firsthand knowledge of our sufferings. Loneliness, apparent failure, rejection, physical and emotional pain, the absence of any physical comforts, grief, even anxiety were pains known to Jesus, as to us. Only guilt feelings seem to be unique to us.
Many theological dilemmas are posed by this passage. If Jesus was unique, perfect, as most of my friends would testify that I am not, then I'm not likely to be able to duplicate Jesus' response to suffering. Still, if he'll help ...
Lesson 2: Colossians 3:12-21 (RC)
Paul was at his best as he wrote this passage. Through the power of love, the listener/reader is to be kind and compassionate toward others -- humble, gentle, and patient. We are to strive for "perfect unity" through the power of love. As discussed elsewhere, this is what at least one well-known theologian called "an impossible ethic." It has proved impossible for me, yet I do understand that Paul is presenting what in reality is a description of Jesus, one against whom we must continually measure ourselves. We're not to be overcome with guilt because of our failure to measure up. But we are to keep that lofty goal before us as, day by day, we relate to people in our ordinary lives.
The last few verses present problems of their own. "Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands" is not a popular injunction outside very conservative circles. I once had a young couple sit with me as they planned their wedding. The girl asked to have this passage included in the service. I advised against it and the young husband-to-be agreed. At that point, the woman, with a momentary flash of anger, snapped: "I'm the one who's planning this wedding and I say we include it." So much for submission.
Actually, the line "Husbands, love your wives" mitigates the problem and actually represented a major move forward in male-female relationships at the time. I suspect were Jesus to speak to us today, however, he'd word all that quite differently. Speaking as a pastor, I appreciate the sentiment but believe it requires too much explanation to be useful in a wedding service these days.
Lesson 2: Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7 (E)
The first portion of the passage is obscure for most people. I think Paul was saying that the only sure way to know right from wrong prior to Jesus' ministry was by written laws. Jesus taught the way of love and, in theory, when we truly love, we no longer need laws. Actually, we still need guidelines or rules.
The latter verses elaborate Paul's thesis. With the birth of Jesus came another gift besides (or as part of the birth): "God sent the Spirit of the Son into our hearts." We are set free from the confines of legalism.
Gospel: Matthew 2:13-23 (C); Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 (RC)
What a tragic story, this. All those little boys murdered, all those mothers suffering life's most unbearable grief, the loss of her child. This kind of inhumanity is widespread even today. I have never been able to read this passage without its sheer unnecessary tragedy striking me above all else.
This report accounts for references to Jesus as a Nazarene, though there doesn't seem to be any other biblical basis for this contention. It's obvious that Joseph and Mary found it necessary to stay on the move for an extended period of time as Herod tried to find Jesus. Three times Joseph reported receiving instructions in dreams. Each time the dream sequences caused him to escape with his famiy. Matthew is comfortable with the dream reports, which seems to suggest that dreams were a recognized means of communication from God.
Angels also seem to play a major part in the early Jesus stories. Christians are divided on the question of belief in angels. They play a major role in the theologies of some Christian groups, but are relatively unmentioned throughout mainstream Protestantism. Like so many faith issues, each of us must decide what to believe and then live accordingly. Actually, the very definition of "angel" is open. Some conceive angels to have form and shape; other people think of "angels" as simply a word for a guiding inner spirit. Perhaps most of us are at least comfortable with the thought that God remains involved in our daily lives.
Gospel: John 1:1-18 (E)
John does not appear to be familiar with the birth narratives in Matthew and Luke. His writing style is more philosophical. Jesus was the Logos, the word of God, and according to John's perception, God actually brought about creation through the Christ. It may be that John's audience was more sophisticated than was true of Matthew and Luke, perhaps familiar with the works of such as Plato and Aristotle. However, although his language is different, John's conclusions are essentially the same as those of the other Gospel writers. All who embrace Christ become children of God and recipients of divine grace.
SERMON SUGGESTIONS
Title: "An Attitude Of Gratitude"
Text: Isaiah 63:7-9
Theme: Isaiah was grateful for all the things God had done for him and his people. His words are an eloquent reminder for us to do the same. Life isn't always easy for any of us, and we have already agreed that sometimes suffering is a purifying process and, therefore, God cannot eliminate it from existence. But people of faith discover that in crisis moments, God is there for us. True, God does not and probably cannot solve all our problems. As has been said before, we do not pray for lighter burdens, we pray for stronger backs. That kind of prayer is always answered.
Title: "The Old Made New"
Text: Isaiah 61:10
Theme: Isaiah here uses symbolism familiar to his readers of some 2,000 years ago, the changing of garments like those of a bridegroom, but it is the "garment of salvation." He is a changed man, a fortunate man, because God has made everything new for him.
Saint Paul has written that "if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation, the old has passed away, behold, the new has come." In theory, at least, we do become new and changed when Christ enters into our lives. I say in theory, because I'm fully aware that nothing is automatic. People who perceive themselves to have accepted Christ "as Lord and Savior" are all too often found saying and doing things which are petty and hurtful. Judgmentalism has always been a besetting sin of Christians. Keep in mind that the Bible has been used to defend apartheid in Africa, slavery in America, and one young fellow down south was recently caught burning a black church to the ground because of his "faith." It seems he was a dedicated member of a nearby white church and didn't think black people should have a church like his. I write this having yelled at a slow driver even today (not so he could hear me). I'd like to quit that sort of thing, but after many years as a Christian, I still make such mistakes.
If the change we seek is to take place, it requires not only Christ's presence in our lives, but a firm determination on our part to be familiar with the teachings of Jesus and to make a sincere effort to live by those teachings. So:
1. Repentance, which means honest self-criticism on an ongoing basis, is the starting point.
2. Finding ways to act lovingly toward others, even when some expenses are necessary, including the expense of changing how one acts, accustoms us to becoming changed people.
3. Nurturing our prayer and worship life is essential.
Title: "The Gospel Of Our Suffering"
Text: Hebrews 2:10-18
Theme: "Gospel" means good news -- the good news of our suffering. Not that to suffer is good news in the ordinary sense, but every mature person understands that suffering is the eventual fate of us all. It begins for most with the tummy ache and the sore throat, and one day the death of a beloved pet. It continues on through life's exigencies, including disappointments, failures, rejections, injuries and illnesses, humiliations, guilt feelings, and, as painful as any, loss of loved ones. To live is to suffer; to suffer is to grow.
The author of Hebrews has stated that Jesus was made like us in every respect, especially in regard to suffering. He has argued that suffering was the purifying force in Jesus' life, that because he himself has suffered and been tempted, he is able to help us in similar situations. The preacher's role is to affirm this truth, yet not strike a negative note. What this much-quoted passage reveals is:
1. Suffering is inevitable.
2. The "Devil" loses power in the face of Jesus' power. Each preacher must decide what is meant by "Devil." For me, it is a symbol, not of a literal being in any sense similar to Jesus' existence, but rather it symbolizes all the hateful, destructive forces working in the world. One of my old professors used to say, "There may not be a Devil, but if not, someone else is doing his work."
The sermon could, of course, deal with the source of evil. However, a more productive course seems to me to confront the question: What can Jesus do about life's destructive forces? Isn't the answer to that "Love"?
3. If Jesus is to be our "High Priest" (this usage was, of course, meaningful to the original readers in a way it is not for us), it means he is our intercessor with God. Thus, through our personal relationship with Jesus, we gain access to a form of love which is greater than any love inherent in us.
4. The only power which can overcome evil is not a stronger version of the same thing, but its opposite: love which is willing to suffer. Few of us can sustain for long love that is willing to suffer abuse and rejection -- except by allowing God's love to work through us. When Paul called us ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us, I think he meant more than witnessing verbally. He meant that only God can change some things, overcome this world's destructive forces, by expressing his love not only directly into human hearts which are open to him, but into the world through those of us who can change things.
5. If enough of us are willing to serve in this way, God will be able to succeed, and therein lies the world's hope. That, finally, is good news.
Title: "Love Can Be Painful"
Text: Colossians 3:14
Theme: "And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony." This is an unattainable ideal, yet a goal we're all called to strive for.
Several years ago I had occasion to reside with some friends for several weeks during which time the man was facing a difficult moral choice. He was manager of a manufacturing operation in a large, well-known plant. Business was down and my friend was ordered to terminate one of his two engineer assistants. One was a man who had been with the company for nearly fifteen years, had become well-established in the community, and had children in school. The man was active in civic organizations and, in all likelihood, expected to live out his work life in that community.
The other engineer was much younger, single, not yet established in the community. However, the young man, only with the company for a couple years, was the better engineer, though the first man was adequate. But the young man had imagination, ambition. He was worth more to the company.
During my weeks with that family, my friend agonized over his choice: fire the young man who could find new employment fairly easily, leaving a less qualified man with the company; or fire the less valuable man, thereby benefiting the company. It was a moral issue which nearly tore my friend apart. His was an example of choices -- less dramatic perhaps -- which all of us must make. My friend was motivated by love. Otherwise, his choice would probably have been easy. Either way, someone was going to be hurt.
That's the real world. This means if we're to practice love, to "put on" the qualities of love as Paul put the matter, we must be prepared to suffer in ways unloving people know little about. Paul knew this. So did Jesus. When he said that to follow him one must take up his cross, he wasn't only referring to extraordinary moments of inconvenience. He knew that to love other people would consistently present us with the anguish connected with moral choices.
Possible outline:
1. Love means accepting responsibility to make difficult decisions having to do with the welfare of others (e.g., the judge deciding custody battles, the surgeon deciding who gets the donated kidney, etc.).
2. Love requires courage. My friend mentioned above could agonize for a time, but soon he had to make his choice, then live with it. Sometimes doing the loving thing brings criticism and anger.
3. Love requires that self-pity be avoided. My friend would have done no good for anyone had he felt sorry for himself. In the end, he had to stand up, make his choice, then face the consequences.
4. Love of the kind Paul spoke of is supported by Christ. "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts," wrote Paul (v. 15). Constant prayer is the necessary companion of the loving heart. (My friend prayed long and hard, then fired the right man. He hated the necessity, but his faith enabled him to do what was right.)
Title: "Love And The Moral Law"
Text: Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7
Theme: Paul is addressing the Jewish tendency to control almost all human conduct with specific laws. They had hundreds of them. This, in turn, led to clever ways to observe the letter but not the spirit. The Pharisees were notorious rule-makers. This frustrated Jesus, who felt that if we act in love, we may not need those laws.
One law, for example, ordained that a devout Jew could not travel more than a short distance on the sabbath. However, if a man needed to make a trip he could leave a small chair under a bush the allowable distance from his home, then perhaps some eating utensils a similar distance, and so forth, until these various items reached the desired destination. On the Sabbath, the man could walk the allowable distance to his chair, sit a while and establish residence, then walk to the eating utensils and eat some food, once more establishing residence, and so forth. This way, the man could circumvent the law.
Paul wanted to substitute love for law, contending that once Christ comes into our hearts, we no longer need these endless laws. Henceforth we would do what is good and kind and right. It's little wonder the Pharisees had a big problem with Jesus. Joseph Fletcher played a major role in the radical sixties with the publication of his book, Situation Ethics, in which he argued that there are no absolutes, morally. He quoted Henry Miller, who spoke of "the immorality of morality." Fletcher's point was that sometimes we have to break traditional ethical givens in order to obey the higher law of love. This opened a floodgate of rationalizations which, for a time, disempowered many clergy from affirming moral teachings of the faith. Herein lies a Christian dilemma: sometimes to do the "right" thing is wrong.
Title: "What's In A Dream?"
Text: Matthew 2:13-23
Theme: Some people believe that dreams are a channel of communication. Certainly, early Christians seemed to have thought this. The passage also presumes the existence of angels, another of those references passed off by biblical writers, leaving us nearly 2,000 years later to decide what exactly they meant.
I was recently asked to do something requiring all my preacherly creativity, such as it is. I was stumped. For several days, I explored one possibility after another, never feeling that my ideas were worthy. I was near the point of giving up, deciding that this particular assignment was not for me. I uttered one last prayer that if God did indeed want me to proceed, I would try to remain open. I then put the issue out of my mind.
That night, or rather early morning, at about 3 a.m., I awakened with a clear understanding of just exactly what I was to do. Literally, like a panorama display, it was there. I could honestly declare that I received this in a dream. (Let the angel symbolize the revealing spirit.)
As I reflect on this event, however, other possibilities occur to me. For one thing, I had been doing my homework. This wasn't exactly a free gift. One of my friends would contend that I merely had put my mind at rest and the thoughts which were somewhat jumbled up there had been subconsciously sorted out.
My point? I feel that my prayer was answered, and that the sleeping mind is still able to receive guidance. I don't personally go in for dream evaluation and I have frankly given the subject very little thought throughout my ministry. Those who delve into such matters say that dreams are often a means by which we face stressful life situations which we find too stressful to deal with consciously. If that's true, we need be very careful not to interpret dreams generally as messages from God. At best, a standard must prevail: only what one may feel are messages of love can be legitimate.
If one is to preach on this passage, the main point is that Joseph and Mary were trying to do the right thing, do what they believed God wanted them to do. God had a life plan for them, just as he surely does for each of us. (Let me press that point: I don't necessarily think there is some specific responsibility for which we are created, but I believe we are all here with a mission based on our particular capabilities and limitations.) God prompted Joseph, but there was no coercion. He was free to pass the dream off as just that -- a dream.
Sermon outline:
1. God wishes to communicate with us. Perhaps our varying personalities are such that different people are best reached in different ways.
2. God is surely not going to empower us in doing anything not directly consistent with his will. (The person who prays for a new Cadillac or an advantage over a business competitor will be disappointed.) It's when we are seeking to do what we know is right that God will help.
3. God isn't going to take the work out of life. Joseph and Mary still had to undergo what must have been a very rugged life in order to escape Herod.
4. All things will, eventually, work for good when we proceed in this way. Paul said as much in his letter to the Romans.
ADDITIONAL ILLUSTRATIONS
C. S. Lewis, writing in his helpful Mere Christianity, wrote this: "Remember, this repentance is not something God demands of you before he will take you back. It is simply a description of what going back to him is like. If you ask God to let you go back without it, you are simply asking God to let you go back without going back. It cannot happen."
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Pat Boone, long known for his religious music and his healthy lifestyle, recently appeared in public attired in rock music style attire in an effort to publicize his new music album. Well into his fifties, Boone did appear just a little bit strange, especially to those who were accustomed to his very conservative music. However, it was all in good fun and the Pat Boone of yesterday was no different from the Pat Boone of today. But the reaction among a fairly large group of Christians was one of outrage and biting criticism. How could he, they clamored? One or two of his sponsors threatened to withdraw sponsorship.
I don't happen to be one of Boone's fans, mainly because my musical preferences run more to mainstream contemporary jazz, and to traditional hymnology when I go to church. But really, where is everyone's sense of humor? You'd think that anyone who likes rock music or -- heaven forbid -- plays rock music, is somehow anti-Christian. Nonsense. What about all the teenagers? I occasionally visit a local Methodist church which sometimes features rock music as an alternative worship form. In small doses, I kind of like it. This is a good illustration of the fact that merely being converted to Christianity doesn't make one more loving or accepting than in one's prior state. We still have to work at it.
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Dateline Kabul, Afghanistan, Associated Press, March 30, 1997. "The Taliban religious rulers on Saturday stoned to death a young woman who tried to flee Afghanistan with a man who was not her relative." The article continued: "Under the Taliban's strict interpretation of Islamic law, a woman found in the company of a man other than a family member is guilty of a crime punishable by death by stoning."
The girl's name was Jamila. She lived in a society which prohibits women from appearing in public except in the voluminous folds of a garment called a burqa, from going to school or from being in the presence of a male non-family member. Windows of all homes must be painted black so women cannot be seen.
I normally don't presume to criticize another person's religion, but this is ridiculous. Here was a young girl trying to escape to a new, less repressive life, with what was apparently the man she loved. For that she was officially murdered. This is not something new. It is as old as humanity and vividly points up the kind of thing God was trying to eliminate when he sent Jesus Christ with the gospel of love.
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A friend told me of the time she and her husband went for a visit to a home for mentally handicapped children. They waited outside while a friend went in for a visit. As they watched, a young couple arrived to see their little girl. An attendant brought the child, who appeared to be about six or seven years old, to see her parents. The young mother dropped to her knees and held her arms wide to embrace her daughter. But the child only stared. My friend said the features of the child were very pretty, giving little sign of the child's limitations. Finally, mother drew her daughter close in a warm embrace and, as my friend watched, tears rolled down the mother's face. The little girl, uncomprehending, only stared.
As I listened to this sad story, I thought maybe that's how God feels with some of us. God came in love, and so many of us only stare uncomprehendingly.
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Dr. Weatherhead told of a young man who, having grown up in a good home with strong values, fell in with a wild crowd and began to drink too much, coming in late, defiant of his parent's wishes. One evening the boy came home late, staggered drunkenly through the house with barely a word of greeting to his parents, then up the steps to his bedroom. Mom and Dad sat quietly in front of their fireplace for some time. Then the mother arose and went upstairs. The father, after several minutes, became concerned for his wife. He too went upstairs and along the hallway to his son's bedroom. There he saw his wife sitting beside her son. As he watched, she leaned over and gently kissed his forehead. When she saw her husband, she smiled and said, "He won't let me do that when he's awake." God must at times feel this way as well.
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"Defeat may serve as well as victory
To shake the soul and let the glory out.
When the great oak is straining in the wind,
The boughs drink in a new beauty, and the trunk
Sends down a deeper root on the windward side.
Only the soul that knows the mighty grief
Can know the mighty rapture. Sorrows come
To stretch our spaces in the heart for joy."
-- Edwin Markham
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Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 147:12-20 (C, E) -- The setting is in Zion, the Temple at Jerusalem. The choir is calling the congregation to praise God.
Prayer Of The Day
Thank you, God, for your patience with us. We are preoccupied with our own activities, many of them trivial and useless. Even the valuable pursuits of our day are less so than those moments spent consciously in your presence. In our best of times we know this. Forgive us our little faith, empower us in growing more aware of your constant presence, and enable us to balance the demands of daily life with a growing faith.
