A Great Multitude

"I looked up, and behold, I saw a great multitude of people from every nation, tribe, people and language, around the throne and with the lamb."  Revelation 7

Although famous for scary images, the book of revelation contains beautiful and inspiring image of heaven.  Today we reflect on just how amazing heaven is.

At the same time, the book of Revelation acknowledges the great ordeal that life on earth often becomes. 

The Saints then are the people in our lives who help us through the ordeal of life.  They do this as they draw our attention away from the frustrations and toil of earthly life back towards heaven and the lamb upon the throne.

Justice and Mercy: The Reformation

 

If Luther nailed the 95 theses to the castle door 50 years earlier, nobody would have known.  But a revolution in information technology -- the printing press -- ensured that people far and wide heard his critique of indulgences.  This would give oxygen to the movement we call today "The Protestant Reformation."

Today, we are going through another revolution in information technology -- social media.  Given this reality, how can we live as disciples of Jesus, seeking to do justice and love mercy, walking humbly with our God?

Turns out there are some lessons we can learn from the first reformation!

(And yes, this picture is from the Sistine chapel, which is located in Rome, precisely where Luther's main opponent in the Reformation lived. Why include it? Listen and find out -- hint -- God's mercy gets the last word!)

Justice and Mercy, Part 5: Rendering unto Caesar

 

"Render unto Caesar the things that belong to Caesar; Render unto God the things that belong to God!"  Jesus, Gospel of Matthew 

When Jesus says this, is he justifying separating our faith from our public life?  Is he arguing that in "real life" we follow certain rules, but in churchy spaces, and only in churchy spaces, we actually seek out lives of justice and mercy?

Rather than teaching a fundamental separation of faith and real life, Pastor Rob offers that Jesus puts forward a fundamental challenge of doing justice and loving mercy in a world that doesn't necessarily value them.

Justice and Mercy, part 4: The Righteousness of Anger

Anger is a normal, even necessary response to the injustice in our lives and in the world. As we continue to contemplate justice and mercy this fall, we must wrestle with anger, a holy but potentially toxic emotion.

Anger seems to drive the parable that Jesus shares about a king who throws a banquet (Matthew 22:1-14). What complicates this parable is that the king likely represents God. 

Pastor Rob reflects on the righteousness of anger - both human and divine - and where mercy might be hiding in this parable. 

It wraps up with some counsel on how we might move ahead when anger over injustice emerges within us.

Justice and Mercy Part 3: Not 3% better!

 

We've all had those speeches, where someone tells us that "You can do better!"

We can often assume that somehow this is what our life in Jesus is about -- a weekly motivational speech, a challenge to be 3% more holy than the last week.

Reflecting on Jesus' parable of the vineyard and the killed servants (Matthew 21) as well as Paul word's the Philippians, Pastor Rob offers that the gap between the world of justice and mercy that we long for and the world of justice and mercy we inhabit is not going to be crossed by each of us simply doing 5% more.

Instead, Paul talks about how our life will become conformed to Jesus as we experience the cross and empty tomb in our lives.

Moving Ahead Amid the Chaos

 

We've all been there -- the media headlines, the texts from family members, the emails from the doctors office -- we simply feel like we are pulled in a million directions in a never-ending storm.

Jesus often found himself surrounded by people's agendas, emotions and even hatred towards him. Every day he was pulled in a million directions. In spite of this, he found a way to maintain connection with others without being reactive; he found a way to "Do Justice and Love Mercy" amid the chaos.

As we ponder our theme of "Justice and Mercy" this fall, we reflect on how Jesus is arguably history's most "differentiated" person. This means he was able to differentiate his feelings, his identity and his purpose from those around him, but do so in a way that he was still present, courageous and empathetic for others. The events of Matthew 21 provide a master class in what differentiation looks like.

A reflection on what differentiation looks like in Jesus and what it might look like in us.

God Isn't Always Fair

 "That's not fair!" 

These are words that easily come out of all our mouths.  In fact, they likely come out of our mouth when hear the parable that Jesus offers today (Matthew 20:1-16) about a landowner that pays everyone the same even though they have worked different amounts of time.

As we continue our fall series on justice and mercy, Pastor Rob acknowledges that the Kingdom of God is not fair.  Any time there is forgiveness, someone didn't get what they deserve.  So let us rejoice that God isn't fair with us, but instead chooses mercy.

Yet, there is justice in this parable, justice about what life together looks like each person contributes so that all have what they need. 

Pastor Rob concludes by offering that the unique stained glass in our sanctuary points towards a beautiful juxtaposition of justice and mercy.  In the windows at St. Paul, the individual pieces are broken, yet they come together to form an inspiring whole.  May our congregation be a living stained glass, a community through which God's justice and mercy shine through.

Do Justice, Love Mercy

 "Do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with you God" The prophet Micah (6:8)

The words of the ancient prophet fly of the page, convicting and inspiring us.

Yet they are quite difficult to put into practice! Reflection the 25th anniversary of 9/11 crystalizes precisely the challenge of doing justice and loving mercy in our world.

The prophet Micah points us forward by reminding us that doing justice and loving mercy is grounded in humility. When our heart is humble, the seeds of justice and mercy bear fruit, even on terrible days like 9/11.

Ultimately, though, Jesus does not come to us as a prophet, but a savior, one who doesn't simply teach about humility, but humbles us and makes our hearts alive through his cross.

Confrontation can be an Act of Love

When someone does something wrong to you, what is your reaction? For most of us, it involves some combination of gossiping, ranting online, ghosting a person or simply burying our frustration. But Jesus teaches a different way of mediating conflict, a way of loving our neighbor that calls for the truth to be spoken and heard in love.

Turns out it, this is so difficult, we do not simply need moral wisdom, but we need a savior, one has truly loved us and chosen to be with us in the midst of heartache and sin. 

Which of the 5,000 do I listen to?

 

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may discern the will of God."  Saint Paul, letter to the Romans (12:2).

The human mind produces about 5,000 thoughts and feelings a day.  That is a lot!!  Which do we listen to as we figure out how to move ahead?  Pastor Rob reflects on two big challenges:  

1)  The majority of our thoughts are negative and untrue.

2) The culture gives us a filter that is pagan and not Christian.

How can do move ahead then?  Saint Paul points us in the right direction when he speaks of "the mercies of God."

The power of persistence

"It is not right to give to the dogs what is meant for the children."  Jesus, to the Canaanite woman (Matthew 15)

These are certainly harsh words!  What is Jesus driving towards here?  Is he fanning the flames of prejudice?

Pastor Rob offers that today is a summons to persistence:  Persistence to overcome social divisions and persistence to endure spiritual droughts.

Ultimately, this passage points towards the persistence of Jesus, who bears all of our prejudices and sins in his body, persisting even against death.

Note:  This fascinating art comes from Rev. Ally Barrett.  (You can see all of her drawings about this passage here..)  © Ally Barrett (www.reverendally.org) and used by permission.

The Pearl of Great Worth

"The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant who found a pearl of great worth and sold everything to go and buy it." Jesus (Matthew 13)

Pastor Rob reflects today on pearls, not the things we find in the ocean, but things in our life where we’re willing to make huge sacrifices for them because they bring us joy and life!

Pastor Rob then reflects on how we distinguish between pearls and idols, between the passions that are of God's kingdom and those that are simply of our own kingdom.  This isn’t easy. It turns out that the bigger challenge in life isn’t simply making time for Jesus, but making Jesus the foundation of all the other things we do in our lives.

The sermon though ends with a word of surprising grace about Jesus and his own search for pearls!

Finally, God said No to the Weeds

Fire has been on our minds this week as the wildfires have brought super bad air to our region.  Fire is also the center of the parable of Jesus this Sunday (Matthew 13).

Jesus tell the parable of the wheat and weeds, that culminates with Gods holy angles burning up the wicked. It is a tough parable that makes us wonder, is our God a God of mercy and grace? Pastor Rob reflects on why this holy fire is ultimately a great comfort to us, knowing that God promises to say a permanent no to evil.

The Sower who keeps sowing

The parable of the Sower is a surprisingly haunting parable. Haunting because it talks about how evil works to take away our faith; haunting because we have seen it happen just as Jesus says it will.

The parable is about the Sower who sows seed on different types of ground, each of which represents a different condition of our heart and lives. Pastor Rob reflects on how he has seen people‘s faith wither away for different reasons, each reflecting the words of the parable.

Yet the parable is also about God goodness, generosity and ultimate victory. Pastor Rob also reflects on the amazing harvest that God‘s word produces, as well as God‘s willingness to continue to sow the seed, even when our heart is hard

250th: What it might mean for us as Christians

If your town is like our town, we had a big celebration this weekend (in spite of the weather!).  Everyone had a good time, but the weekend forced us as Christians to ask ourselves, what do we make our nation's 250th?

Truthfully, Christians, like many others in our country, come to the 250th anniversary of our nation with many emotions - pride, frustration and hunger for togetherness.  Pastor Rob works with the hymn "America the Beautiful" to lead us in a prayer for our country, a prayer that includes praise, confession and supplication (request).   This includes some reflections at the end on how we can both want a society in which people follow the teachings of Jesus, but we can also be skeptical of political projects that employ Christian language.

Note: The audio file is a bit longer because it includes the interwoven singing of "America."

The Least Commission

"Anyone who gives a cup of cold water to the least of these will be no means lose their reward..."

You've likely heard of the "Great Commission", where Jesus tells the disciples to go to all the world; but in today's Gospel (Matthew 10:42), we hear the "Least Commission", where Jesus tells us to do small things -- such as giving a cup of cold water -- for the least of these.

Pastor Rob explores how we give "cups of cold water" in every day life, through our vocations of family and work. Yet sometimes we must go beyond our daily routines and pay attention to those on the margins and those overlooked.

Above all, wherever and whenever we fulfill the "Least Commandment", we do so in response to the ways in which Jesus has already filled our cup.

Daily Dying and Rising

 What will we be like in eternity? 

Turns out we should anticipate a complete transformation, not simply of body, but of the soul!  Saint Paul promises us that in our Baptisms, the sin in us is put to death and we are raised up to new life in Jesus Christ. 

Those promises are inspiring, but what does this look like for us who are still firmly planted with two feet on the ground? A reflection, then on Luther‘s interpretation of Roman six:  Baptism means that we daily die to sin and daily are raised up to new life in Christ.

To Listen is To Heal

Out of his compassion, Jesus heals people.  

Out of his compassion, Jesus sends out people to heal others.

This ministry of compassion continues, as Jesus sends out healers.  Pastor Rob offers that although we may not all be medical professionals, Jesus invites all of us into a ministry of healing, namely listening.  

An exploration of the connection between healing and listening.  Ultimately, Jesus serves as the great healer because he is also the great listener.

The Two Mountains

In life, we all must climb the first mountain of life.  This is the mountain of the self, where we establish ourselves professionally, socially and financially.

Today's Gospel from Matthew (9:9-26) warns us though, to avoid assuming the first mountain is THE mountain of life.  

Jesus teaches us about a second mountain, a mountain that is about helping others, rather than getting ahead.  This is the mountain he walked along, this is the mountain he died on and this is the mountain upon which he invites us to live.

Holy Trinity: Relationship and Surprises

 "...baptizing in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit."

The name of God reveals much about who God is, including the fact that God is always in relationship and that God is always surprising us.

Sounds great, but it turns out though, in real life, relationships often have a great deal of friction.  People often surprise us ... with disappointment.  So much friction exists in relationships, that people are drawn to frictionless relationships:  AI Chat bots.

As we confirm our youth this Sunday, a reflection on how as Christians we find authentic relationships and community in our world.  It turns out, we do not need to seek them in imaginary relationships which technology has made deceptively frictionless, but rather in real relationships that require forbearance and forgiveness.  The confirmands and all disciples are called to follow the way of Jesus, of forgiveness and forbearance.  Yet, the work of reconciliation is not left to us alone, but Jesus surprises us with his forbearance and forgiveness in our lives.  All this, that we might have restored relationships with God and each other.