Knowing What IsTruly Important In Life
Sermon
Sermons On The First Readings
Series I, Cycle C
When she was a little girl her parents bought a cottage by the lake. It was a small and humble place, but it soon would be filled with many memories. Each summer the family would go to the lake. She and her brother and sisters went swimming almost every day. On special occasions her father would rent a boat and the whole family would paddle around the lake. She learned how to fish and even tried her hand at water skiing. Vacations were a constant source of joy because of the little cottage by the lake.
When she grew a little older and entered high school, other interests were found besides the cottage by the lake. Clothes, parties, and especially boys occupied the majority of her time. She went to summer school to improve her mind but also to enhance her social life. The few times that she did go to the lake were with her friends. Horseplay, long walks along the shore of the lake, and roasting marshmallows over a dying camp fire were memories which she collected.
As time passed she graduated from high school, went to college, and got a job. She became successful and married the man of her dreams. She was far too busy to go to the little cottage by the lake. Even when her parents died and left the house to her, she could not muster the energy or resolve to go to the lake; it no longer seemed to fit her taste. After all it was small and inconvenient due to its location; it would take lots of remodeling to satisfy her tastes. The lake was more like a big pond; it was hardly something of which to be proud. When she had children, they convinced her to go to the lake a couple of times, but her attitude rubbed off on them and no one had a good time. In the end she abandoned the cottage completely. She was a successful business woman who lectured and traveled widely and thus did not have any time for the cottage. Besides, she had all that was needed, a fancy car, designer clothes, and a palatial home.
One day while at work she received a message from her secretary. Vandals had broken into the little cottage by the lake and burned it to the ground. It didn't matter to her, but for some strange reason she felt compelled to go to the lake. When she arrived she stood in the ashes of what once was the little cottage by the lake. Surrounded by the charred rubble she remembered and began to cry uncontrollably; she couldn't stop. At that moment she came to a stunning revelation. If all the fancy things she had -- the car, designer clothes, and palatial home -- were lost she would not cry as hard as she was now for the little cottage by the lake. The place had become part of her and she never realized it. That day when she left, the lake looked bigger than it ever had before. Her tears had made it so.1
What is truly important in life? What has meaning and value beyond all other things? The woman in the story only came to realize the importance of the little cottage after it was gone and it was too late to show her appreciation. Today our reading from the prophet Hosea challenges us to ponder what is important in our lives. The metaphorical language of the future destruction of the nation of Israel cautions us to make certain we have placed our priorities in order, with the full realization that nothing is more important than our relationship with God.
Hosea preached God's message and warning to the Northern Kingdom of Israel, as did Amos from whom we have heard the past few Sundays. The symbolism of the passage we heard today is significant. God asks Hosea to take a harlot for a wife, a gesture that signifies how the nation of Israel has consorted with harlots, namely the gods of peoples in the surrounding area. Israel has been unfaithful to God in its failure to abide by the most basic precept of the law, the abolition of false gods. They have broken the covenant and strayed far from the course they were asked to follow as people unique and special to Yahweh. Hosea's metaphorical relationship with the harlot Gomer produces three offspring, each of which is symbolic of the punishment God plans to inflict upon Israel for its faithlessness. The firstborn, Jezreel, signifies that God will bring an end to the kingdom of Israel. The independence the nation has enjoyed since its split from Judah in the time of King Rehoboam (1 Kings 12) will soon end. We know historically that what Hosea predicted happened when the Assyrians conquered Israel and dispersed its people in 722 B.C.E. Hosea's secondborn, a daughter named Lo-ruhamah, symbolizes that God will no longer have pity on Israel nor forgive the sins of the people. God, however, will remain faithful to the nation and people of Judah. Thus, God distinguishes between the sins of Israel and the faithfulness (at least at the time) of Judah. The third child, a second boy named Lo-ammi, testifies to God's proclamation that Israel is no longer God's people nor is the Lord the people's God. Israel has been disowned by God and will now suffer the cruelties of the world as an orphan.
We might wonder why God abandoned his people. What did the Hebrews do that brought Yahweh's wrath, especially after many previous offenses seemingly did nothing to jeopardize God's faithfulness to the covenant, namely to be the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob forever? The answer is that the people totally lost their way and placed their attention on things that were not important. Like the business woman in the story, everything save what was truly important became the focus for the people of Israel. Not only did they forget God, but they placed the customs and ways of the pagan peoples in the region above those of the Hebrews. The people allowed their prosperity and assets to blind them. God was ever patient and sent numerous prophets who issued many warnings, but now the time of reckoning has arrived. The people must be punished for their idolatry.
People in contemporary society, as in all human history, must battle against the great forces of power, wealth, and prestige that vie for our attention and often sidetrack us from concentrating on what is most important: our relationship with God. Jesus also had to contend with the great temptations of the world, but he managed to overcome the enticements of Satan and continue his ministry to initiate the Kingdom of God in our world. Matthew's Gospel (4:1-11) is the classic New Testament text that demonstrates how Jesus handled the three great temptations, the same allures that led the Hebrews of Israel into disfavor with God and brought destruction to the nation. After Jesus had spent forty days in the desert preparing himself for his public life in Galilee and Judea, he was tempted by Satan. First the devil enticed Jesus with the allure of power by commanding him, because he was a powerful person, to change stones into bread. Jesus responded that there was something more important than power and bread, namely the word of God. Next, Satan tried to convince Jesus of the need for great prestige. He took the Lord to the pinnacle of the Temple and suggested that he cast himself off. Satan said that because the Lord was an important man, his angels would certainly not allow anything bad to happen to him and, thus, would break his fall. But Jesus replied that he did not need such attention and told Satan that one should not put the Lord God to such a test. Lastly, Jesus was tempted with wealth, an attraction we find so common in our consumer-driven first world existence. Satan displayed before Jesus all the kingdoms of the world, telling him it could all be his if he would prostrate himself in homage before the devil. Again, Jesus was up to the test, saying one must never worship the material world, but rather God and God alone is to be so honored. God alone is the one whom we must serve.
Contemporary society, increasingly so it seems, concentrates its efforts in accumulating as much power, wealth, and prestige as possible, under the misguided notion that these are the things that will get us where we need and want to be. We become possessive and fail to see that if we can release ourselves from such fascinations and desires we will receive all we could possibly need. A little story demonstrates how misguided at times we can be.
Once upon a time there was an old man from the lovely island of Crete. He loved his land with such great intensity that when he perceived his death was near, he asked his sons to take him outside and lay him on the beloved earth. As he was about to expire he reached out and grabbed in each hand some soil. Then he died a happy man. When he arrived at the gates of heaven, God, dressed as an old man with a long white beard, welcomed him and told him that he had been a good person. "Please," said God, "come into the joys of heaven, but you must drop that soil." "Never," responded the man. Thus, God departed sadly, leaving the man outside the gates.
A few eons passed and God again came to the man, this time appearing as an old crony and drinking buddy of the man. After a few drinks and stories of the past, God said, "Now it's time to enter heaven, but you must drop that soil." Again the man refused. Many more eons passed and God returned a third time to the man, this time appearing as his beloved granddaughter. God, in the voice of the girl, said, "Oh, Grandpa, we all miss you so much. Please come inside with all of us." The man agreed, but by this time he was very old and arthritis has attacked his hands so severely that his gnarled fingers could no longer form a clenched fist and in his efforts to raise himself the soil sifted between his fingers and his hands were once again empty. He then entered heaven and the first thing he saw was his beloved island.
Success and possessions in the things of the world -- power, wealth, and prestige -- may aid us in ways on this earth, but it is the things that we often feel are unimportant or give little credence that can really make the difference in life. The woman with the cottage by the lake discovered this reality. The Hebrews to whom Hosea prophesied never listened and God's judgment upon them was severe. Their flawed understanding of wealth cost them everything. Another story can show us who is truly wealthy and knows the important things in life.
Once upon a time there was a very rich and proud man named Carl who loved to ride his horse through his vast estate as a way to congratulate himself for his great wealth. One day he came upon Hans, an old tenant farmer, who had sat down to eat his lunch in the shade of a great oak tree. Hans' head was bowed in prayer, but when he looked up he saw Carl and said, "Oh, excuse me, I didn't see you. I was giving thanks for my food." The rich man was indignant at the coarse dark bread and cheese Hans ate. "I don't think I would feel much like giving thanks if that is all I had to eat." The poor man replied that he felt it was sufficient. He continued telling the rich man of a dream he had the previous evening, feeling it important that he know. In the dream a voice called out to him and said, "The richest man in the valley will die tonight." Carl, the rich man, only replied, "Ah dreams, nonsense."
The man rode away thinking that the poor man's dream was amusing and decided to forget it, but the thought would not leave his mind. He had felt fine all day until the poor man had recalled his dream. Now he was not sure how he felt, so he called his doctor that evening and the physician came over promptly. Carl told the doctor the dream and although the physician thought the whole incident to be poppycock, he agreed to examine the rich man. The doctor reported, "You are strong as a horse. There is no way that you will die tonight." The doctor was just closing his bag when a messenger arrived out of breath at the manor door. "Doctor," he cried, "come quickly. Old Hans just died in his sleep!"2 Let us, my friends, learn a lesson and know that God and God alone is the one who is truly important in life!
____________
1. Paraphrased from "The Lady of the Lake," in John R. Aurelio, Colors! Stories of the Kingdom (New York: Crossroads, 1993), pp. 40-41.
2. Paraphrased from "The Isle of Crete," and "Hans and Carl" in William J. Bausch, A World Of Stories for Preachers and Teachers (Mystic, Connecticut: Twenty-Third Publications, 1998), pp. 236-237, 245-246.
When she grew a little older and entered high school, other interests were found besides the cottage by the lake. Clothes, parties, and especially boys occupied the majority of her time. She went to summer school to improve her mind but also to enhance her social life. The few times that she did go to the lake were with her friends. Horseplay, long walks along the shore of the lake, and roasting marshmallows over a dying camp fire were memories which she collected.
As time passed she graduated from high school, went to college, and got a job. She became successful and married the man of her dreams. She was far too busy to go to the little cottage by the lake. Even when her parents died and left the house to her, she could not muster the energy or resolve to go to the lake; it no longer seemed to fit her taste. After all it was small and inconvenient due to its location; it would take lots of remodeling to satisfy her tastes. The lake was more like a big pond; it was hardly something of which to be proud. When she had children, they convinced her to go to the lake a couple of times, but her attitude rubbed off on them and no one had a good time. In the end she abandoned the cottage completely. She was a successful business woman who lectured and traveled widely and thus did not have any time for the cottage. Besides, she had all that was needed, a fancy car, designer clothes, and a palatial home.
One day while at work she received a message from her secretary. Vandals had broken into the little cottage by the lake and burned it to the ground. It didn't matter to her, but for some strange reason she felt compelled to go to the lake. When she arrived she stood in the ashes of what once was the little cottage by the lake. Surrounded by the charred rubble she remembered and began to cry uncontrollably; she couldn't stop. At that moment she came to a stunning revelation. If all the fancy things she had -- the car, designer clothes, and palatial home -- were lost she would not cry as hard as she was now for the little cottage by the lake. The place had become part of her and she never realized it. That day when she left, the lake looked bigger than it ever had before. Her tears had made it so.1
What is truly important in life? What has meaning and value beyond all other things? The woman in the story only came to realize the importance of the little cottage after it was gone and it was too late to show her appreciation. Today our reading from the prophet Hosea challenges us to ponder what is important in our lives. The metaphorical language of the future destruction of the nation of Israel cautions us to make certain we have placed our priorities in order, with the full realization that nothing is more important than our relationship with God.
Hosea preached God's message and warning to the Northern Kingdom of Israel, as did Amos from whom we have heard the past few Sundays. The symbolism of the passage we heard today is significant. God asks Hosea to take a harlot for a wife, a gesture that signifies how the nation of Israel has consorted with harlots, namely the gods of peoples in the surrounding area. Israel has been unfaithful to God in its failure to abide by the most basic precept of the law, the abolition of false gods. They have broken the covenant and strayed far from the course they were asked to follow as people unique and special to Yahweh. Hosea's metaphorical relationship with the harlot Gomer produces three offspring, each of which is symbolic of the punishment God plans to inflict upon Israel for its faithlessness. The firstborn, Jezreel, signifies that God will bring an end to the kingdom of Israel. The independence the nation has enjoyed since its split from Judah in the time of King Rehoboam (1 Kings 12) will soon end. We know historically that what Hosea predicted happened when the Assyrians conquered Israel and dispersed its people in 722 B.C.E. Hosea's secondborn, a daughter named Lo-ruhamah, symbolizes that God will no longer have pity on Israel nor forgive the sins of the people. God, however, will remain faithful to the nation and people of Judah. Thus, God distinguishes between the sins of Israel and the faithfulness (at least at the time) of Judah. The third child, a second boy named Lo-ammi, testifies to God's proclamation that Israel is no longer God's people nor is the Lord the people's God. Israel has been disowned by God and will now suffer the cruelties of the world as an orphan.
We might wonder why God abandoned his people. What did the Hebrews do that brought Yahweh's wrath, especially after many previous offenses seemingly did nothing to jeopardize God's faithfulness to the covenant, namely to be the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob forever? The answer is that the people totally lost their way and placed their attention on things that were not important. Like the business woman in the story, everything save what was truly important became the focus for the people of Israel. Not only did they forget God, but they placed the customs and ways of the pagan peoples in the region above those of the Hebrews. The people allowed their prosperity and assets to blind them. God was ever patient and sent numerous prophets who issued many warnings, but now the time of reckoning has arrived. The people must be punished for their idolatry.
People in contemporary society, as in all human history, must battle against the great forces of power, wealth, and prestige that vie for our attention and often sidetrack us from concentrating on what is most important: our relationship with God. Jesus also had to contend with the great temptations of the world, but he managed to overcome the enticements of Satan and continue his ministry to initiate the Kingdom of God in our world. Matthew's Gospel (4:1-11) is the classic New Testament text that demonstrates how Jesus handled the three great temptations, the same allures that led the Hebrews of Israel into disfavor with God and brought destruction to the nation. After Jesus had spent forty days in the desert preparing himself for his public life in Galilee and Judea, he was tempted by Satan. First the devil enticed Jesus with the allure of power by commanding him, because he was a powerful person, to change stones into bread. Jesus responded that there was something more important than power and bread, namely the word of God. Next, Satan tried to convince Jesus of the need for great prestige. He took the Lord to the pinnacle of the Temple and suggested that he cast himself off. Satan said that because the Lord was an important man, his angels would certainly not allow anything bad to happen to him and, thus, would break his fall. But Jesus replied that he did not need such attention and told Satan that one should not put the Lord God to such a test. Lastly, Jesus was tempted with wealth, an attraction we find so common in our consumer-driven first world existence. Satan displayed before Jesus all the kingdoms of the world, telling him it could all be his if he would prostrate himself in homage before the devil. Again, Jesus was up to the test, saying one must never worship the material world, but rather God and God alone is to be so honored. God alone is the one whom we must serve.
Contemporary society, increasingly so it seems, concentrates its efforts in accumulating as much power, wealth, and prestige as possible, under the misguided notion that these are the things that will get us where we need and want to be. We become possessive and fail to see that if we can release ourselves from such fascinations and desires we will receive all we could possibly need. A little story demonstrates how misguided at times we can be.
Once upon a time there was an old man from the lovely island of Crete. He loved his land with such great intensity that when he perceived his death was near, he asked his sons to take him outside and lay him on the beloved earth. As he was about to expire he reached out and grabbed in each hand some soil. Then he died a happy man. When he arrived at the gates of heaven, God, dressed as an old man with a long white beard, welcomed him and told him that he had been a good person. "Please," said God, "come into the joys of heaven, but you must drop that soil." "Never," responded the man. Thus, God departed sadly, leaving the man outside the gates.
A few eons passed and God again came to the man, this time appearing as an old crony and drinking buddy of the man. After a few drinks and stories of the past, God said, "Now it's time to enter heaven, but you must drop that soil." Again the man refused. Many more eons passed and God returned a third time to the man, this time appearing as his beloved granddaughter. God, in the voice of the girl, said, "Oh, Grandpa, we all miss you so much. Please come inside with all of us." The man agreed, but by this time he was very old and arthritis has attacked his hands so severely that his gnarled fingers could no longer form a clenched fist and in his efforts to raise himself the soil sifted between his fingers and his hands were once again empty. He then entered heaven and the first thing he saw was his beloved island.
Success and possessions in the things of the world -- power, wealth, and prestige -- may aid us in ways on this earth, but it is the things that we often feel are unimportant or give little credence that can really make the difference in life. The woman with the cottage by the lake discovered this reality. The Hebrews to whom Hosea prophesied never listened and God's judgment upon them was severe. Their flawed understanding of wealth cost them everything. Another story can show us who is truly wealthy and knows the important things in life.
Once upon a time there was a very rich and proud man named Carl who loved to ride his horse through his vast estate as a way to congratulate himself for his great wealth. One day he came upon Hans, an old tenant farmer, who had sat down to eat his lunch in the shade of a great oak tree. Hans' head was bowed in prayer, but when he looked up he saw Carl and said, "Oh, excuse me, I didn't see you. I was giving thanks for my food." The rich man was indignant at the coarse dark bread and cheese Hans ate. "I don't think I would feel much like giving thanks if that is all I had to eat." The poor man replied that he felt it was sufficient. He continued telling the rich man of a dream he had the previous evening, feeling it important that he know. In the dream a voice called out to him and said, "The richest man in the valley will die tonight." Carl, the rich man, only replied, "Ah dreams, nonsense."
The man rode away thinking that the poor man's dream was amusing and decided to forget it, but the thought would not leave his mind. He had felt fine all day until the poor man had recalled his dream. Now he was not sure how he felt, so he called his doctor that evening and the physician came over promptly. Carl told the doctor the dream and although the physician thought the whole incident to be poppycock, he agreed to examine the rich man. The doctor reported, "You are strong as a horse. There is no way that you will die tonight." The doctor was just closing his bag when a messenger arrived out of breath at the manor door. "Doctor," he cried, "come quickly. Old Hans just died in his sleep!"2 Let us, my friends, learn a lesson and know that God and God alone is the one who is truly important in life!
____________
1. Paraphrased from "The Lady of the Lake," in John R. Aurelio, Colors! Stories of the Kingdom (New York: Crossroads, 1993), pp. 40-41.
2. Paraphrased from "The Isle of Crete," and "Hans and Carl" in William J. Bausch, A World Of Stories for Preachers and Teachers (Mystic, Connecticut: Twenty-Third Publications, 1998), pp. 236-237, 245-246.
