Scripture Text (NRSV)
Luke 4:21-30
4:21 Then he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been
fulfilled in your hearing."
4:22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words
that came from his mouth. They said, "Is not this Joseph's son?"
4:23 He said to them, "Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb,
'Doctor, cure yourself!' And you will say, 'Do here also in your
hometown the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.'"
4:24 And he said, "Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the
prophet's hometown.
4:25 But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time
of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and
there was a severe famine over all the land;
4:26 yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at
Zarephath in Sidon.
4:27 There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the
prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the
Syrian."
4:28 When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with
rage.
4:29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the
brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might
hurl him off the cliff.
4:30 But he passed through the midst of them and went on his
way.
Comments:
"Ear Candy". The trouble with the gospel is that it holds itself -and
it's proclaimers!- to a higher standard than one comes to expect from
presidential speeches and coaches pep-talks. Jeremiah's encounter with
the almighty was sounding all wonderful and sweet until that
sobering/sour phrase about building up and plucking down; to plant and
to wreek havok! Now Jesus is doing some of the same; just after we
note that some speak well of him and celebrate his gracious
words...now he lets 'em have it with a reality trip that sends them to
throwing stones!
So what's the place from which to preach the gospel? Do we communicate
enough grace and goodness to do justice to God's good news??? Do we
speak enough trouble and cynicism to accurately reflect the world as
it stands in need of God's good news?? Frederich Buechner says that
the gospel is always bad news before it is good news (quoted by Paul
Scott Wilson in "The Four Pages of the Sermon, abingdon, 1999). Maybe
there's something in that; candy -for the tummy or the ear- is no
sensible ingredient for a steady diet, but it works alright as a
re"treat" from the normal. As such, the gospel requires us to chew on
the tuff realities of our need for God's grace long enough to
appreciate the 'candy' of how that Grace DOES offer a way out.
Perry in kitchener/Waterloo, Ontario
Jesus picked a fight!
From the text, obviously the first reactions from the audience to
Jesus’ sermon were very favorable: “All spoke well of him and were
amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, ‘Is
not this Joseph's son?’” But then He had to provoke them and telling
them how God had moved on from them. (Yike! Would that be my fate too?
For I have been growing up and serving at this same church for the
last 20 years...) No wonder that “when they heard this, all in the
synagogue were filled with rage.”
Why didn’t Jesus just keep His mouth shut?! The key seems to be in
v.23: He said to them, "Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb,
'Doctor, cure yourself!' And you will say, 'Do here also in your
hometown the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.'" Unless
Jesus was mistaken, the crowd inner reactions were not the same as
their outward reactions in the preceding verse. (So, the next time
people respond well to the sermon, don’t take heed too much, watch for
their real responses from their life styles).
What were the audience’s real reactions? They wanted to see “the
things that they have heard Jesus did at Capernaum.” They demanded
that Jesus walk his talk (didn’t He just finished saying that God
anointed Him to recover the sight for the blind, release the captives,
and bring good news to the poor earlier?) But this was more than just
a hunger to see some actions; this was the stubborn challenge to the
authority of God. (Sadly, this will be one of the typical responses we
can expect from harden hearts toward our preaching: ‘Hey preacher,
apply that to yourself first;’ and ‘Yeah, it would be nice if YOU do
something about it!’)
The same Word spoken, to the humble heart (which submit itself under
the authority of God) breeds life-changing responses; yet to the
harden heart yields stubborn challenges and even persecutions to the
proclaimers.
“He passed through the midst of them and went on His way.” It is
interesting to see how Jesus responded to the harden hearts. He didn’t
bother to prove Himself with miraculous signs or healing. Nor neither
he corrected their misconception of “Is not this Joseph’s son, a
historical man named Jesus?” He shook his sandals and moved on. In the
tradition of Jeremiah and the prophets, Jesus came back to His own
hometown and proclaimed God’s Word. In that same tradition, He
provoked them to revealed the true state of their harden hearts. And
if that tradition were to hold true, as He was on His way departing
from them, His own heart was also broken in grief, for He loved them
and wished so much that things could end in the different way.
Father God, keep my heart humble to the authority of Your Word so that
I can lead my congregation in humility toward Your Word too. Don’t
pass through our midst and go on your way, leaving us with our
religions and rituals but without You. Help us to respond rightly
(both outward expressions and inward attitudes) to You and Your Word!
Coho, Midway City
People in Jesus' hometown are initially pleased when he says that God
will free the oppressed. Their pleasure turns to rage, however, when
he reminds them that prophets often bring God's blessings to those who
are regarded as outsiders.
Jesus stands in the synagogue in his hometown, reading the scripture.
Then he sits down, as was the custom, to interpret—to preach. He is
surrounded by kinfolk, neighbors, friends. Surely this is a loving
assembly, as when one of our own goes to seminary and returns to
preach among us. And at first "all spoke well of him" and were
properly impressed at his gracious words.
This reception was less than it seemed. Quibbles arose: "Is not this
Joseph's son?" Just a carpenter, a common man. Rumors had returned
here of Jesus' healings in Capernaum. Some who knew him thought he
should heal himself, others wanted to see the show. There is nothing
here reflecting the sort of encouragement God showed to Jeremiah.
Proclamation of the gospel, as Jesus will make clear in parables, is a
two-way street. The word must be lovingly proclaimed, and it must be
lovingly received. Paul lays out memorably the parameters of love in
today's second reading. In fact, it takes little effort to alter
Paul's words to fit the hearing assembly: "If one speaks in tongues of
mortals and of angels, but does not have love, it will sound like a
noisy gong or a clanging cymbal." The original wording, of course,
applies to the preacher; the responsibility lies on both parties.
The gospel flourishes in the matrix of love. It has amazing power in
itself, but it cannot do its work where it is strangled by an absence
of love. Every congregation wants to be a gathering of loving people
nourishing all that is good. But we need to be reminded now and then
of the hard truth that warm, fuzzy thoughts are not enough. The gospel
calls from us loving action—patient, kind, not envious or arrogant—in
response to the proclamation.
George W. Hoyer
To be known by God can be a challenge as well as a comfort. Jesus is
back in his hometown with people he has known all of his life. They
are amazed by his reading from the prophet Isaiah in the synagogue and
his claim that the words of the prophet are fulfilled in him. They
think they know Jesus - he is Joseph's son! But Jesus reminds them of
the stories of two prophets who were not sent to the people of Israel
but to foreigners. He tells them that he knows they will not receive
him, either. He knows them and expects their response: they try to
kill him.
When I went to serve First Presbyterian Church in Paris, Texas in
1990, one of the first things I noticed was that there were two chairs
(heaavy oak, almost throne chairs) on each side of the communion
table. I asked what they were for- and Mr. Bauer said that they were
for the pointer and the beaner. The pointer's job was to listen to the
sermon, and if there was a part of the sermon that he thought applied
to a person in the congregation, he was to stand up and point at them.
And what did the beaner do, I asked. Mr Bauer said that he was to
watch for those who were starting to nod off, and he had a drinking
straw and some small beans...
I've never seen a congregation without a few pointers. Somehow, the
sermon always seems to apply to someone else
Grace and Peace;
revgilmer in texarkana
The bad news is ... the healing is for Namaan and the never ending
meal and oil are for the widow of Zarephath, not for me.
The good news is that if I love Namaan and the widow of Zarephath, I
have something to rejoice about too!
Why do you think they let him pass through the crowd and depart? Do
you think that as part of a mob they were willing to do it, but when
it came down to who was actually going to hurl him off the cliff they
all left it for someone else? Did Mary or Joseph or one of Jesus
siblings show up and shame them? Did they come to their senses when
Jesus did not resist them?
I just find it rather curious that there isn't any explanation. I
guess as far as Luke is concerned, WHY they refrained from throwing
him off the cliff isn't important. The important thing is THAT he was
able to walk away.
SS in PA
I think that perhaps there is a connection to this gospel pericope
from some words that Jean Vanier wrote years ago about our own
communities (regardless of denomination, stated purpose, goals,
hopes): "It is quite easy to found a community. There are always
plenty of courageous people who want to be heroes, are ready to sleep
on the floor, to work hard hours each day, to live in dilapidated
houses. It’s not hard to camp—anyone can rough it for a time. The
problem comes in living with brothers and sisters whom we have not
chosen but who have been given to us, and in working ever more
truthfully towards the goal. A community is only being created when
its members accept that they are not going to achieve great things,
that they are not going to be heroes, but simply live each day with
new hope, like children, in wonderment as the sun rises and in
thankfulness as it sets. Community is only being created when they
have recognized that the greatness of humanity lies in the acceptance
of our insignificance, our human condition, and to thank God for
having put in a finite body the seeds of eternity which are visible in
small and daily gestures of love and forgiveness." I'm still pondering
the daily implications of that... Fr. Tom, OCW
I often think of when I was out of college and I interviewed with my
home church for a children/youth director position. I was offered the
position, but I turned it down because I kept hearing this scripture
in my head. I usually think the same thing when I hear of people
serving in the church they grew up in. I think it is hard for many to
let go of the image of a person as a child.
Nebraska Nick
Perry in kitchner got me to thinking: being a preacher/pastor, I've
been thinking lately, is much like walking a tightrope. My role is
part chaplain part turn-around pastor, and those roles can come into
conflict!! When I get into trouble is when I start thinking that it's
my job to "save" a congregation - usually from its ultimate demise. At
those times (and they are many, I confess), I recall the words of a
more experienced pastor ... "if you try to be a savior, remember that
saviors are always crucified."
While I, too, have difficulty feeding "candy" to hearers of "my"
sermon, or interpreting the Gospel as entertaining Pabulum, I think
Perry is right. Pushing the envelope too far is counterproductive.
Another pastor put it to me thusly: "They have a savior and it isn't
you." (ouch!)
one more thing:
What strikes me this time is not that they were mad at Jesus (this is
an old familiar story and the impact that ANYone would disagree with
JESUS has worn off), but just how passionately angry we can get when
our point of view is challenged.
The psych major in me attributes this to a serious identity crisis:
it's not just our point of view, but our very identities wrapped up in
that point of view defining who we ARE that causes this angry
defensive reaction.
Sally
I had been serving churches for 8 years when the church I had grown up
in had an anniversary and invited back all those who had gone off into
full time ministry. It had actually been 22 years since I had
graduated HS and went to college, never to return to that church for
regular attendance, yet I was invited to preach one of their Sunday
services as part of their annivesary. The sermon was brilliant and
well executed, if I do say so myself. Then little old Mrs. Unger came
up to me in front of a whole crowd and said, "I remember when little
Davie was the narrator of the youth play...he was so cute then and
still is today." No one commented on the sermon at all, only on my
time as a child and youth in that church. You really can't go
home...at least not to preach. Rev. Israel
Sally, Well, that's what Mr. Bauer told me. He may have been kidding,
but he told me that it was the truth-and I have yet to see a communion
table with one chair on each side (that stayed there all the time)
anywhere else.
revgilmer in texarkana
It strikes me that Jesus' words were accepted, "All spoke well of him
and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth," but
that Jesus Christ himself was not accepted.
In "The Cost of Discipleship", Bonhoeffer writes, "Discipleship means
adherence to Christ, and, because Christ is the object of that
adherence, it must take the form of discipleship. An abstract
Christology, a doctrinal system, a general religious knowledge on the
subject of grace or on the forgiveness of sins, render discipleship
superfluous, and in fact they positively exclude any idea of
discipleship whatever, and are essentially inimical to the whole
conception of following Christ. With an abstract idea it is possible
to enter into a relation of formal knowledge, to become enthusiastic
about it, and perhaps even to put it into practice; but it can never
be followed in personal obedience...And a Christianity of that kind is
nothing more or less than the end of discipleship." (Chap. 2, p. 59)
Could it be that their (our?) enthusiasm about doctrine, ideals,
concepts, abstracts, words stood in the way of truly accepting and
following Christ? That instead, they (we?) were disciples of
doctrines, disciples of ideals, and disciples of words? That they (we?)accepted
the words, but not the Messiah? They had a simple choice: acceptance
or rejection - not of the words, but of the Christ. They chose
rejection.
What is our choice?
What is my choice?
Ed in GA
"The synagogue was filled with rage." I was asked to leave my
congregation. I don't know any of you. I thought I knew them.It hurts
From: weary of well doing
This is the first time I have posted here, although I have "lurked"
for awhile - and truly owe thanks to those who post so thoughtfully
and reflectively every week. You have inspired me more than once!
This Sunday we are celebrating Scout Sunday in our church, and the
readings for this week are leading me to reflect on the possible
pitfalls of honest leadership. When I see those young people, my
inclination is to exhort them to always strive to be true to
themselves, to be honest, to be willing to go against what is popular
if it means doing what they feel is right. And yet, I have to wonder
how often I have sidestepped opportunities to do these very things in
the pulpit because of concerns about offending some of the people in
the pews.
Weary, your words touched my heart and prompted me to post. Most of
the pastors I know are trying their best to be faithful to their call
to proclaim the gospel and care for their congregations. I cannot
imagine the pain of having that rejected. My prayers are with you.
RevMary in Illinois
It takes courage and guts to stand before your hometown and proclaim,
"I have the words of everlasting life."
But didn't we see you in nappies (diapers)? Didn't we play with you in
the dirt of the street? Didn't we see you struggling to read, and
speak even the most basic of words? Didn't you go to school with my
little Tommy? He doesn't profess to being the saviour.
It takes guts and courage to stand before a congregation and proclaim
the gospel, when people know that you are a human being! Whether that
be your hometown or after you have lived in a parish for 2 - 3 years.
People see only the person.
They very rarely see the truth you are trying to offer them. They also
almost always resent any suggestion that they have to change. It is
much easier if one man should die, for the sake of the nation.
Weary, I had to leave a parish because of a hostile parishioner. I
can't know your specific pain, but I do share something of the hurt
and frustration you offer in your post. Can I offer, that it is more
common than we would care to admit in the church.
I am cynical I know, but I now trust very few parishioners. Beware the
mob, who one day cry "Hosanna" and the next day "Crucify him".
I still remain in the church by a thread of faith, but in the belief,
that I have nowhere else to go.
Regards KGB
KGB,
Your words reminded me...
Jesus said, "Do you also wish to go away?
They answered, "Lord, to whom shall we go, you have the words of
eternal life."
Often our depression does thin our faith to threads, but our Lord's
words of eternal life remain, and we are compelled to share them,
within the church, and to the outsiders. Keep the faith, we are in
this with you.
Michelle
Weary of well-doing,
May the Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on
you, and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon
you, and give you peace.
From your DPS friends
I am assuming our Lord's Mother, Mary, lived in this town in this
community before Jesus came back and after this scene from Luke 4... I
wonder how she treated those in her community? and how did they treat
her?
Wondering, Hook
Unsigned poster - that was powerful - a sermon in itself.
Who are you?
Sally
With the start of Survivor this Sunday, I can't resist ...
"he got voted off the island!" "The tribe has spoken!"
a Survivor fan
I return to what I said last week: A serious part of Jesus' early
theme was realized eschatology. It's in this text. It's in Mark
"Repent! The kingdom of heaven is at hand." It's in Matthew in the
Sermon on the Mount. "Blessed are..." not "blessed will be." Jesus
calls people to look at the flowers of the field and the birds of the
air to see and understand God's providence and love.
We live in a world (Christian world) that points to a kingdom of the
not yet. What does it mean-- what dreams does it shatter-- to announce
that God's kingdom is now available in the very midst of you-- that
"Today, all this is fulfilled in your presence."
That's not a message that most people want to hear. People want and
expect more. Because of that, they tend to ignore the bounty that God
has already set before them.
My sermon last week set up the theme of realized eschatology. And
there were some quizical looks, a bit of frustration, and a couple of
comments-- "I've never looked at it that way before. God surely has
been gracious, hasn't he?" However, that was the minority opinion.
It was not just the local boy. It's the message that he's preaching--
particularly when he isn't doing miracles in their midsts. Mark (6)
and Matthew (13)focus more strongly on the hometown connection. ANd in
both of them, it appears that he did do "some" or "a few" miraculous
acts in their midst. It is only in Luke that the focus is on the
content of his preaching and that seems to make that a focal point for
preaching this Lukan text.
Anyway, those are my thoughts to this point.
West Texas Presbyterian
I also am coming at it from the standpoint of ordinary people as
preachers. Okay, we all know that we're ordinary people, but our
congregations don't see us that way and sometimes don't like to see us
that way because it would challenge them. I am going to talk about the
preaching of ordinary people and that it's the message that was
important. I'm also thinking about blending in the Jeremiah text and
doing a "Top Ten Excuses for not serving God" and bringing in Moses,
Jeremiah, Zachariah, etc.
If it works, that is! This is my first post as well but I thank all of
you for the several weeks of help I've gotten. Not answers, just
inspiration. Peace, Beth in GA
Also, I forgot to add that although Jesus was not ordinary and was in
fact the gospel personified, the people still could not hear the
message because they couldn't see past the person. How common that is,
and how common it is to not even be able to see past ourselves. Hope
that clears things up a bit. Peace, Beth in GA
I am being drawn to the idea that Jesus "went on his way." He left
them behind (a twist on the popular books). Someone posted this week
about being left behind by A Christ who is moving forward. Are we
moving forward with him? Here is a true story. Oscar was an 85 year
old former butcher (they called him "butch"). He went to mass everyday
and to the tavern three times a week. The tavern even had a "Butch"
burger named after him. He would walk into the tavern and all would
greet him, like "Norm" of Cheers fame. Butch was well loved. One day,
as he struggled to get up the steps to the church for mass (his knees
were shot from 20 years as a semi-pro catcher) a young priest said to
him "Oscar, you have been faithful to this church and to Christ for so
many years. There is no need for you to come everyday." (At 85 what
Oscar heard and what was actually said may not have been the same
thing.) So Oscar stopped attending mass, and no one from ST. Stephen's
ever called to check up on him.
One day Butch was in the tavern and mentioned his roof was in
disrepair. That weekend a crew of ten guys from the tavern tore off
his roof and replaced it for the cost of materials only. When Butch's
son died at 55 of a heart attack the tavern owner sent him a butch
burger and a couple of cold beers as well as an employee and some
tavern patrons to keep him company until his other son could arrive
from out of state.
Christ had left that church behind, He had moved on to a tavern around
the corner.
When Butch died, we all went to the tavern following the funeral to
have butch burgers and a beer in his memory. The burgers were on the
house, the mass at St. Stephen's had to be paid for.
RevIsrael
As an addendum to that story above...I don't mean it to sound as
anti-Catholic as it does. It could have happened at any church of any
denomination. It just so happened that Butch was Catholic..and my
wife's grandfather. The story is all to true and all to sad.
RevIsrael
RevIsrael -- your story is heartbreaking -- and probably truer of more
of our churches than we care to admit!
Blessings, Eric in OH
I'm toying with the idea that all three of the other lessons are about
sharing one's faith with others (i.e., evangelism). Jeremiah is
commissioned by God as a prophet, though only a boy, to go deliver
God's word to the people. At the end of Ps. 71, vv. 15-17 read: "My
mouth shall recount your mighty acts and saving deeds all day long;
though I cannot know the number of them. I will begin with the mighty
works of the Lord GOD; I will recall your righteousness, yours alone."
(In the Episcopal Lectionary we use the whole of the psalm, or vv. 1-6
_and_ 15-17.) And then there's Paul admonishing those who speak in
tongues not to do so if there is no interpreter available because the
message will be lost on the stranger who would be unable to say "amen"
to the speaker's words.
Three lessons about speaking God's word to the people. Then this
Gospel about the results of speaking that word ... that is, rejection!
Which is, frankly, often the result of any evangelism.
I once had a spiritual director who, whenever I complained about being
badly treated by parishioners or bishops or fellow clergy or whomever,
would say to me, "And how did they treat Jesus?" Basically, he was
saying something like "Why should you expect to be treated any better
by the powers of this world than the One who walked this way before
and who promised you persecution and death if you follow him?"
That's a good question. And why should we (and our congregants) who
try to speak the word of God to the world around us expect to have any
better reception than th One who was the Word of God!?!?
Anyway -- that's sort of where my early-in-the-week thoughts are
going....
Blessings, Eric in OH
17 O God, you have taught me since I was young, * and to this day I
tell of your wonderful works.
Blessings, Eric in OH
Sometimes I think the only time you should start with family and
neighbors is when you're selling Girl Scout cookies.
If I were a doctor setting up practice, I don't believe I would want
to start my patient list with the people I had known my whole life. If
I were a teacher, I would not want to start my career teaching at my
old high school. It's too close, and it would be too hard to make the
switch between the relationship as it was and how it needs to be now.
It would be too easy to tell people what they want to hear from a
friend, rather than what they need to hear from a person answering a
call to serve the best way possible. It would also be too easy to
accept shoddy work because of long-term friendship and desire to not
cause a rift. Maybe later, after I got myself well established in my
career, I could return home to work among my neighbors, if they still
want me. If not, fine. There are others who will want me.
Even though I find terrific insight in the lines of thought offered by
previous posts, I am also thinking along the line that Jesus HAD to go
to Nazareth to let the family and friends know that he no longer
belonged to them, but to all Israel, and indeed the world. "I'm not
going to start my ministry with you because I know you too well. I
will begin elsewhere. You can hear about the work I do, and when I
come back to this area, you can decide for yourself whether you want
to come hear me. Don't expect anything from me because I'm your
neighbor; wait until you see what I will do. Assess my work based on
my work, not on my friendship with you."
I'm not aware of many times when people followed Jesus because of what
he MIGHT do for them, (outside of the 12 disciples, that is) but
plenty of times when they followed because of what he had already done
for them. We love because he first loved us, not because he might love
us in the future.
Mid-week musings.
KyHoosierCat
KHC offered, "Even though I find terrific insight in the lines of
thought offered by previous posts, I am also thinking along the line
that Jesus HAD to go to Nazareth to let the family and friends know
that he no longer belonged to them, but to all Israel, and indeed the
world."
I actually laughed out loud ("LOL" you know) when I read this because
it reminded me of the day I told my folks I was retiring from the
practice of law after 15 years to become a priest. My stepdad and I
had a knock-down-drag-out argument about it. My mother was not at all
supportive, although not as angry as my dad; I learned later that she
tried to get my brother, sister-in-law, and step-sister all to talk me
out of it! LOL ... four years later, after seminary and year in the
ordained diaconate, a few months after I was ordained to the
presbyterate, I learned that my folks were attending "inquirers'
classes" and preparing to be received and confirmed in the Episcopal
Church (my mom was reared in the Disciples and my dad was an R.C. -
both nonpracticing). When I asked about this, my mother said, "Well, I
guess your serious about this so I should learn something about the
Episcopal Church." She went on to become a very active member, office
volunteer, secretary of the Episcopal Church Women, and a hostess in
her parish's "reception guild". I think she was doing all the things
she thought a priest's mother ought to do.... I wonder sometimes if
Mary was the same way, doing all the things she thougha a Messiah's
mother ought to do....
Blessings, Eric in OH
I don't know about you, but I already covered this passage last
Sunday, not realizing the text would pick up at verse 21. Oh, well.
I may be mistaken, but I took it that Luke was "tongue-in-cheek" at
the least when his hometown people "...all spoke well of him",
especially after Jesus related the text to himself. And it may have
been a literary device which Luke is famous for: Jesus was 'praised by
everyone' as he preached in the Synagogues of Galilee...before coming
home to Nazareth.
"The Year of the Lord's favor" was Jubilee: a gracious way to say
'revolution'?
Steve
A brief note of explanation -- my comments above about the Epistle
Lesson are based on the Episcopal Lectionary which uses 1 Cor
14:12b-20 for that lesson instead of Ch. 13 used in the RCL.
Blessings, Eric in OH
along the lines of how families receive the news - whew! It's NOT
easy, is it. My family is STILL trying to adjust to it, I think.
Yet, I "hear" the dilemma (how cliche) - my mom wanted me to say some
words at my dad's funeral. I said "no," but I did read scripture (I
Cor 13, ironically enough). Really only because it seemed important to
her. For me, I just wanted to cry.
While that was grief and Jesus is talking about prophesy (or
prophecy?), I sort of "feel" that awkwardness with him. If I'd have
firmly refused to even read scripture, my mom would forever remember
my dad's funeral as my not taking part in it and, while not filled
with rage and disowning me, she'd have been mad.
Such are we when we expect to be served. Far be it from me to think
for God (but I'm going to anyway) - maybe just maybe - it's in our
expecting to be served, as if we somehow own it, that precipitates
"the Divine No." Not necessarily that God says no because we're
undeserving - because we ARE and that's the whole point of grace - but
that when we expect much, when we presume ourselves to be entitled to
healing or help or status or whatever, we become that much more aware
ofwhat we DON't have rather than what we DO have. A theology of
poverty, so to speak.
How much greater to have a theology of wealth - a theology modeled by
the widow.
Thinking this through...and still haven't come up with anything truly
preachable.
Sally in GA
to continue (sorry - thinking in soundbytes again)
therefore, when all were amazed at Jesus, they probably felt like
"Cool! Home boy made good - and we've got 'im!" When Jesus says
essentially that you can't really do ministry among your own kin, that
made them mad. Shouldn't they be entitled to some Messianic help?
Sally
Dear "Weary"
You are in the best of company! Many (dare I say most?) pastors have
experienced rejection in some form. Not all have been asked to leave a
church, but Jesus was crucified for speaking truth. You still have a
chance to speak, to reach other hearts with truth. I pray that you
will receive blessing and strength while you sojourn in the
wilderness, and that you come out stronger than ever before, ready and
able to speak the truth in love. Blessings, RevJanet in CNY
To weary,
yes, I know it hurts. Been there. But take heart that the Lord has a
better place for you. You are in my prayers. If you want to talk, feel
free to email me at swmoriarty@earthlink.net.
Susan in Wa.
Weary - In listening to a colleague who had just been asked to leave
her church, I found out that our denomination provides FREE
counseling, something like 8 sessions, and then after that, the
sessions cost $10 an hour. Obviously this is subsidized by our UM
conference health insurance, and I'm grateful. I'm also a little
incensed because I had no idea this was available when I went through
the rejection bit and paid someone big bucks to hear what your dps
friends are telling you now - that we are praying for you, that there
are very few of us who have never gone through that, and if anyone
knows your pain, Jesus does. Check the possibilities for
denominational support, not just for easing your personal pain, but
for gaining experience in understanding and dealing with
congregational dynamics, which are sometimes really convoluted and
dysfunctional. kbc in sc
My family wasn't angry about my call to ministry, but they were sure
puzzled. Never would have thought it of me, I guess. But my
"confirmation" from my parents came when my sister died. My mother
looked me straight in the eye and said, "Will you officiate at her
funeral?" I did, and am glad I did. When my mother died, my father
asked me the same question. So, frankly, when I don't measure up to
somebody's standard, I don't give it a second thought. I know that
there are those who do honor the call I received many years ago -
whether they are family, friends or parisoners. (Maybe this fits
better with the Wedding at Cana - Jesus and Mary)
It's not just ministry, either. My brother was a poor student, at
best. We all thought he'd get out of schoolhouses as fast as he
possibly could. But now he's one terrific teacher, especially for
those students who struggle with their lessons. Who would have guessed
he could do that??
The calling comes from God. Let others say and think whatever they
will, become angry, storm out or try to throw you out, the call must
be answered to God's standards, not to satisfy the whims of the
generally unhappy, twitchy people out there.
KHC
Is Jesus saying that ministry in your local environment doesn't work?
How then, do we encourage our churches to not just sit in their pews
but get out there and minister?
Perplexed
Perplexed,
This is not about the ability of the laity to pastorally minister to
one another.
Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet's
hometown." This statement is about prophets. These are the people who
draw people out of their comfort zones. Who challenge people to
improve their position. Prophets are those who read the signs of the
times and recognise the consequences of current attitudes and such.
It is not Jesus's pastoral ministry that is being rebuked, but his
recognition that the people of Israel had been, and were,
dysfunctional in their spiritual life. They were being bypassed by
God's Spirit for people in places such as Sidon and Syria. (Considered
pagan and condemned places by orthodox Jews)
Jesus was challenging them to come out of their apathetic and lukewarm
approach to the gospel of God (which we read last week) They simply
weren't living up to their part of the bargain and so they were in
danger of being overlooked.
For people who think they are the favoured people of God, and they are
truly righteous, there is only one response to make - they are
offended at Jesus's inference.
It is the prophet they are wanted to hurl off the cliffs, because a
prophet often strikes too close to the bone, to be simply ignored.
So I believe that laity can minister to each other in a pastoral way,
but see what happens when one of them challenges the others in what
they should be doing. As that person takes on prophetic aspirations,
the others will respond in exactly the same way as they did with
Jesus.
"Who are you to tell us???"
The pastorally caring priest will always be more popular than the
prophetic one.
I hope I'm right in thinking that this might be what is causing your
confusion. Please disregard if it isn't.
Thanks anyhow for the opportunity to respond.
Regards, KGB
Something in some of the comments triggered my memory of the old saw
that an expert is someone who carries a briefcase, has a great slide
show, and comes from more than 50 miles away.
How many of us have brought in facilitators for leadership retreats or
workshops who don't say anything any different from what we have said
to our congregations already? Yet, the message is heard more clearly
when it comes from the outsider....
Isn't the same principal operative here? The "local boy" may say the
same thing as the expert/prophet from far away, but we're not able or
willing to hear it from the local fellow.
Is this because, as the shibboleth puts it, "familiarity breeds
contempt"? Our knowledge of the speaker gets in the way of what he/she
has to say. And when we are the speaker, others familiar with us have
the same sort of barriers to hearing our words.
Blessings, Eric in OH
revgilmer in texarkana,
You made me laugh on a morning that I needed a laugh. I shall use the
illustration of the pointer and the beaner on Sunday morning, for our
church has those "immoveable" large oak chairs as well. Ever heard of
Ry Cooder who played the slide guitar in the movie, "Paris, Texas"?
Pastor Bill in NC
When I preached on this text three years ago, I focused on God's
call.. that God doesn't always choose the likely candidates (the good
boys, who everyone says, "Isn't that nice" after they speak). When the
people said "Isn't that nice?" Jesus got mad, because it was a sign
that they didn't really hear the prophetic nature of what he was
saying.
We have a shortage of pastors in our denomination. And as a church we
are not cultivating the gifts of our young people enough... maybe
because we tend to be prejudiced against the very people God may be
calling. We're looking at the good boys and girls, not the ones who
can throw tables, sneak away from the group at night, drink wine at
parties and not be afraid of getting into trouble or questioning
authority.
This time I'm going to focus more on the Bible stories Jesus told that
got them angry: God appearing people who are outside their small
world.
Our congregation is begining the discussion of whether to share our
space with another congregation. There is a lot of resistance, based
on past experiences as well as some stereotypes, and the discussion
itself may shake us up. Are we ready to risk standing at the edge of
the cliff? Say something that may get others angry? Expand our world,
share our space, risk a relationship that may end up being more of a
pain than a blessing (because that often happens when sharing space)?
I'll have to use the I Cor. passage with this, "There is no fear in
love, but perfect love casts out fear."
love you all! DGinNYC
Hey, Eric in OH- This is totally off-topic and probably inappropriate
for here, but which diocese are you in? The new Bishop of Ohio, Mark
Hollingsworth, is a good friend of mine. He was my rector when I was a
teenager and now I'm a transitional deacon. Then again, maybe this is
relevant - could I ever serve in a diocese where the Bishop knew me as
a child? Maybe not - anyone who could suffer through knowing me as a
teenager and would be able to see me as a colleague would have to be a
remarkably forgiving person. -Julie in MA
Hey, Julie in MA -- I'm in Mark's new diocese. In fact, I spent a
couple of days with Mark and Sue (and a bunch of other clergy couples)
just two weeks ago. And in a few days, I will be meeting with a
committee of other clergy to plan his consecration and ordination as
our bishop.
Could you serve with a bishop who knew you as a child? Sure. Why not?
Many of us have.
Blessings, Eric in OH
I think I have an idea for why the people in the synagog went into
such a rage.
First of all some background. I read somewhere that Galilee had a
mixed Jewish and Gentile population. Perhaps there were the same kinds
of tensions in Galilee that exist in Israel/Palestine, or Ireland, or
Bosnia, or...
Jews of that day, as we all know, wanted nothing to do with Gentiles.
Gentiles were not the chosen people, so many (most?) looked down on
Gentiles. The tension between them must have been great.
Then here comes a perfectly good Jewish boy to remind them that God
helped Gentiles and ignored Jews. In effect, He was telling them that
God loved(those hated, enemy) Gentiles at least as much as He loved
Jews and that the two were equal. A modern day parallel might be a
good Jewish boy in modern Israel saying in his synagog that God loved
the Palestinians at least as much as the Jews and that the two were
equal. Can you feel the rage? Or, in the 1960's, imagine a white boy
standing up in his segregationist church and saying the God loved
Blacks at least as much as whites and that the two were equal. For
those of us old enough to remember, it is not hard to imagine the kind
of rage that would have produced. You can go all over the world and
see the same scenario. You can see it right at home. There is a
retired neighbor who mows his lawn sometimes twice a day. I'm
fortunate if I can mow my lawn once a week. My neighbor thinks I am
some kind of scum when it comes to mowing grass. He wouldn't go into a
rage over something this small, but he would certainly snort his
displeasure if someone told him that in God's eyes, we were just as
good. He knows he's better than me. I am, of course, just as arrogant,
especially toward those who are as arrogant as I am. It has always
puzzled me that those who are tolerant become most intolerant of the
intolerant.
My point is that we can understand the rage of that First Century
synagog by understanding whatever kind of prejudices we have in us
that produce rage in us when we are challenged. Then, when we see our
sin (which ultimately is the same as theirs), we can hear the Good
News that Jesus has come to set us free from all such "irrelevancies"
as sin, death and the power of the devil...and even my arrogance...and
has opened a whole new way of dealing with each other: through love.
It's jsut an idea. What do you think? LB in MN
This is terribly late to be making a contribution (computer virus
trouble is just another way of being tested, an opportunity for
spiritual growth!) but I am going to work with this little insight:
those that we think are outside the grace of God are not as "out" as
we think, and those who think they have an "in" with God are not as
"in" as they think.
On another occasion, I quipped that we don't really have all that much
trouble understanding why bad things happen to good people, but we get
really upset when good things happen to bad people! Of course, we want
the messiah who is "one of our own" to take care of us first, so we
get upset when Jesus tells us that God's love isn't based on
favoritism, but grace. We have to be careful that we don't choose the
benefits over our Benefactor!
OLAS
