How to Live Life- Luke 6

How to Live Life?

Tony Dillon Hansen

Reflection based upon Luke 6:27-38, Psalm 37; 1 Corinthians 15:35-50;

Let our minds be in prayer. From the words of Psalm 19, may the words of my mouth and the meditations of all of our hearts be acceptable to you O God, You are our rock and you are our Redeemer!

People often drive on the highways with various interpretations of what the signs on the road mean (Such as, speed limits.) What is the legal definition of speed limit anyway?  Is it 5-over is the speed limit posted, or is it conditions of the road?  What about stop signs? Do you in fact stop on the line and wait? Do you creep up to the stop and go if no one is looking? Do you just ignore that it is there?

Are these mere suggestions?  What happens when you follow them to the letter?  What happens when you break these?

Even better question is what do other people see in your example of these?

We don’t get to read this sermon of the “level place” (or the plain) often because we do not usually get a lengthy Epiphany like this year. Today’s portion is a continuation of last week’s Scripture. 

There are similarities to the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew.

So let us walk through the text a bit here,

First, a recap of last week’s:

Jesus is preaching to a crowd of people from Judea, Tyre and Sidon (Jews and Gentiles). We have a version of the beatitudes.

Blessed are the poor, the hungry, and those who are hurting. Blessed are those who hate you – especially on account of God. 

Rejoice your day is coming!  You will have your rewards.

 Your efforts and toil will not go in vain,

but we have some Woes!

As in, don’t feel too safe in your material luxuries, wealth, food, laughs or good reputation.

Ouch!  This is not an easy sermon to hear!  You might look at yourself and wonder what am I missing. I feel ok, have food to eat, laugh a good laugh and might even have a good name.

In that part of the sermon, Jesus is describing something that sounds reassuring to us who are suffering, but radical by challenging our comfort zones just the same.

Now, today’s part of the lesson from Luke, we shift a bit and we are given a set of precepts or teachings.  You might even call these guides or rules, and as rules and precepts go, these are pretty good ones on their face.

To summarize today’s portion:

Listen Now!

Love your enemies.

Forgive those who hurt you.

Give to people.

“do unto others as you would have them do to you.”

Be fair in your work.

Be merciful.

Simple, but not as simple as we might like to think.

Then again, is being a Christian really simple?

Lets look at each of these for a moment.

Listen Now!

(In case, you were not listening before.)

Love your enemies.

Forgive those who hurt you.

These two are difficult if you ever been on the receiving end of bullying or prejudicial injustice.  I know this from personal experience.

Give to people.

Here, I am reminded of my youth when our family didn’t have much money and the church would give us those boxes and envelopes for us kids to put money for the offering. When we would get a $5 in rare form, to give a portion of that to the church was feeling “difficult.”

“do unto others as you would have them do to you.”

You might recognize this as the Golden rule, but as a corollary to the earlier points, what happens when people are not nice or kind to you?

Be fair in your work.

Be merciful.

These are good things to be fair and merciful.

Jesus challenges us and goes further in telling us to do these (not just our friends, family and good neighbors, but) for any and every one. (32) “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.”

There is a lot here! You might see yourself in many of these in your own ways.

Just like the road signs, There are a number of ways that people come to the text of the Bible and these Gospels. 

Some of us read this as the rulebook for daily living.  Some of us might read this text and say, “yeah that’s me!” Some might say, “I am already saved – what more do I need?” Some of us read this text and say, “um I have some work to do.”  You might count me in the latter of that.

If this is a rulebook, do you follow it and what does it mean to follow these?

Jesus presents to us a set of precepts and rules, and as rules and precepts go these are pretty good ones and pretty radical because Jesus tells us not to feel too comfortable in our comfort.  

Regardless of where you are on life’s journey (or if you think you have done enough), Jesus does not distinguish for whom these precepts are meant.  These are for us to follow and to live yes, but you might even ask, why do we have to do this. That is a great question.

Sure, we can be ethical in all of our work and have morals action and thought, but still the question remains why do have to do this?

Be fair in your work.

Be merciful.

Why do we do this? Look at that last line, Because your God is merciful.

That’s right! This is not about you, this is describing what God does for us and that is why we need to be like God. The world will bless us in turn. Karma from God.

That is big! Are these mere suggestions and rules, like the road signs?  

I submit to you there is something more than just following a law, but as one writer describes, these first parts (the blessed are the hungry, the poor and the hurting and woe if you revel in your luxuries) these, along with karma, outline the reward of God’s kingdom.  Then this set of precepts outlines how we participate in that kingdom today and now.

So then the question changes from whether you follow these or not – into “How do we reveal that in our lives?”  How do we reveal God’s kingdom in the now, here on Earth?

Step back again into the text, “forgive and you will be forgiven…for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.” Jesus invokes karma. That which you wish upon yourself, you must be that example. Even more, this is a covenantal bond between you, God and the wider community.

So yes, Many people think of the Bible as a guidebook telling us what to do and not to do. If you do your best to follow them, that might be all well and good.

Again, I submit to you passages like this remind us there is something more here.

Wherever you are on the spectrum, the question is how do you really participate in God’s kingdom?  Do you really embody what are the stakes? (I don’t mean good juicy steak.)

How do you live this, and how do you share this because this is not meant to be a checklist so we can boast about our great work. This is challenging us.

Our order is being upended as we live just as order in Jesus’s time was upended. Further, Jesus did not discriminate with people that were different from his own culture or community. We have been given the grace of God to be us and to live in our communities as faithful servants of our God while living those precepts. When we do these in full body and mind, we may truly receive grace.

Perhaps today is the day to forgive those who hurt us so badly.  Maybe now we can let go of that pain in our lives. 

Perhaps today is the day we find out that we really do have so much more we can give than just dollars and coins.

Perhaps today is the day we reach out to the person in our community that is needing a helping hand.

Perhaps today is the day we say no to racial injustice, violence, queer slurs or any bigotry so that we might instead embrace the whole world that God gave us.

Perhaps we can extend an authentic and genuine smile because we would like that done to us.

It has been done to us.  We have grace that has been given to us. Doesn’t that just warm your hurt (even in the midst of all of this snow)?

We could all just say we do these things (whether we do or not) and say we live a moral and ethical life.  Jesus does not say this just for oneself but how we are in the community. There is something more here.  What is at stake is that God’s kingdom can be in the present now (and not just as rewards for tomorrow.)

A verse from another text can help us here.

51b.

Giving birth,

Nourishing life,

Shaping things without possessing them,

Serving without expectation of rewards,

Leading without dominating:

These are the profound virtues of nature,

And of nature’s best beings.

“Love your enemies, do good and lend, expecting nothing in return.  Your reward will be great and you will be the children of the Most High.” (Luke 6: 35)

Remember that we are in Epiphany.  In the beginning, we talked about how God is revealing to us. Here, Jesus asks us how are we participating in God’s kingdom – with all of God’s children.

With this lesson, ask yourself How can you live your life better each day by embodying God’s work here on Earth and you might see how much grace you have been given.

Let us be one with the spirit that surrounds us and bind us. Let us be profound virtues of nature and let go of our expectations while nourishing life and shaping the world which we live with our love of God.

As we prepare for upcoming Lent (yes only couple weeks away), you could consider prohibitions like abstaining from chocolates or something like that, and yes, I have my own practice. This sermon from Jesus might serve as a template for this Lenten journey. Yet for your Lenten journey, you don’t have to wait until then to start living these today.  Still, If you are looking for a Lenten theme, this scripture has potential to gift you a focus point for each week and even each day.

Thanks be to God!

Baptism Luke 3

Baptism of the Lord

Tony E Dillon Hansen

13 Jan 2019

I am not going to try to project to you that you should believe as I do. I make no expectation of how one should receive these words, but I ask you to open your hearts and minds.

Let us pray from Psalm 19, “let the words of my mouth and the meditations of [all of our] hearts be acceptable to you O Lord, [our] Rock and [our] Redeemer.”

Today is a festival of the baptism of Jesus!! Hopefully, you have some cake today to celebrate.

We all come to church and to baptism from a variety of directions and beliefs of what baptism is and does. Often, we pull from 2 Corinthians what Paul says about baptism. In this lesson, Luke’s Gospel also provides an idea of what baptism means, its role in our faith, and how this is a cornerstone to Jesus’s ministry. 

Yet, we have to ask, what does it mean to me? What does baptism tell us to do?

We heard part of this story a couple weeks ago in Advent, and John is preaching and baptizing people in water.  People are wondering about John and asking him what we must do.  John preaches to let go of our worldly desires because true happiness is not found there. 

 “As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah …” (Luke 3)

Now, my dog, Reno, is ecstatic when we come home, but despite what Reno how wonderful he thinks I am, especially when I prepare his favorite dinner, I want to temper that enthusiasm when I think of how messy I am.  In a similar way, John reminds us that he is not the one they came to see.  John does not believe himself worthy, and John is kind of an outcast.

Then, the Gospel skips to the moment Jesus meets John to be baptized.  Here, John’s expectation of Jesus may have been challenged too.  He expected fire and a pitchfork. This expectation is of Jesus as judging and dividing people into who has reward versus punishment. Yet, Jesus does not project a vindictive God. 

Jesus, by true example, comes out to meet John in the wilderness to be baptized by water.  Jesus comes to be with the fringe of society, the outcasts and us, as sinners, to pass through the waters of baptism rather than burn with judgement.

Why go out to the fringe of society?

This is part of why Louis Gunnemann calls baptism a “Sacrament of Christian Vocation”

because through baptism, we are called into the Church, to the mission of Jesus and thus, to service with our community. Christians are a called people because we are called in baptism. Jesus answers the call in baptism and sets aside judgement.

Water is an important symbol of baptism because of the beautiful and life-sustaining properties, but the real sign is how the Spirit mutually connects to us in baptism.  The Gospel tells us the real power of baptism when Jesus connects with the Spirit of God. Baptism is not just about someone getting wet with water but how we come into covenant with the Spirit so that new life begins.  In baptism, one may find that relationship with God, and one may find, as Gunnemann writes, “liberation from the bonds of self-serving religion” (or judgement and desires).  That is how we are given new life through this sacrament.

(For myself, I would like to consider baptism as part of ordination because one truly takes on a new life in Christ’s mission.)

When we, as people, witness this transformation, we can also affirm and connect to our understanding of that Spirit. Ultimately, baptism is a powerful and meaningful experience because baptism is about how Jesus is revealed within us. That is a revelation of Epiphany because the holy spirit calls our hearts through this covenant of faith.

To illustrate this, let me describe a couple baptisms that I witnessed and served at Plymouth.

(I should note that we do public baptisms in front of the whole congregation during worship, and the congregation is invited to renew their baptismal covenant as well). 

This one gentleman decided to join Plymouth after many great experiences and to be baptized. He proceeds to the front of the church for the baptism. As he received baptismal waters, he just opened up like a flower, and it felt like ray of sunlight suddenly shown upon him.  He was glowing with tears of absolute joy, and that joy flowed from him. There was a scarce dry eye that day in the whole congregation. This was truly a memorable experience and may illustrate what one might describe as a “conversion of the heart.”

In another experience, I participated in a baptism of an infant child that was obviously not sure what was happening. When Pastor started blessing with water, the young boy was startled by the water, suddenly looked up, and had giant smile. Of all us, our hearts just melted.  Yes, baptism can be moving, and our smiles can be powerful and moving as well. 

These happened because in baptism, there is something happening, perhaps a “conversion of the heart” or just warm smile of acceptance. When we let God connect, when we set aside judgment and when we set aside expectations, we might hear our call to do good today and be compelled to tears or a simple smile.

Further, Acts (8:14-17) reminds us that the Spirit is an active agent in baptism. That Spirit bridges the many divides around us to call us into one community with God. Then, with prayer -- answering the call, you can let God’s love fill you, and maybe, you can witness that light upon you too!

What does baptism mean to you?

I would suggest to affirm your baptismal call, listen for God speaking to you, and follow the light upon you – a child of God – for whom God is well pleased!

Hear God calling you to service in your community.  That service can be your beautiful smile and tears that you share with the people in this very room. Thus, just as Jesus was called by God in baptism, we continue that call through our own baptism and affirm that call with our faithful service, charity, grace and love.

These are moments we can connect to the holy and live into your call to Christian vocation from your baptism.

Thanks be to God!

What Do Our Dreams Tell Us - Matthew 2

What Do Our Dreams Tell Us?

Tony E Dillon Hansen

Jan 6, 2019 – Epiphany

Reflection based upon Matthew 2:1- 12, Isaiah 60: 1-6, Palm 72.

I make no expectation of how one should receive these words,

but I ask you to open your hearts and minds.

Let us pray from Psalm 19, “let the words of my mouth and the meditations of [all of our] hearts be acceptable to you O Lord, [our] Rock and [our] Redeemer”.

Today, is Epiphany, The Magi, as the wise ones are referenced, or Three Kings Day (a decent poker hand if you play).

Matthew tells us these wise ones bring gifts to Jesus. 

Some speculate this is the origin of gift giving we celebrate in current Christmas traditions. 

I would speculate the gift we received from God on Christmas Day is perhaps an origin as well. 

What a gift we have in Jesus. 

One particular aspect for us to consider is “dreaming.”

(I know while you are sitting here listening to me, some of you may find your own dreams even.)

Yet I would like to consider why dreams are important and what they may tell us.

We all dream and about many things. 

These become the elements of great remembrances, great legends, fantasies (Lord of the Rings even), and also warnings. 

They can help us understand more about us and also maybe confuse us as well. 

There are a plethora of books, magazines and websites that may offer insights into your dreams and what they could mean – that is if you remember what happened.

How many of you woke up from a dream in the morning and you felt just a rush of good joy? Maybe, you saw a loved one that reminded you of why you love them.

Maybe, you woke up in a terrible fright, shaking and wondering. 

When I was young, people started talking about the terrible things called tornados.

Later that night, I thought I was being chased down by these vicious creatures. 

(Thank you to ones who thought it would be fun to tease me like that!)

Why are we talking about dreams?

The Bible offers us plenty of accounts when people have received information or visions from God via dreams like Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Isaiah to name a few.

Today, dreams inform the wise ones of Jesus and warnings.

We have heard some people declare that God spoke to them in a dream.

Now, when you hear a person say something like that, what do you say?

That the person is missing a few straws in that haybale?

Wait a minute though.

 I would like to say I haven’t lost all of my straws or marbles.

(After all, I thought a tornado was something trying to slice me up and eat me – and why me?!)

I believe, in my heart of hearts, that dreams are how God lighted a path for me into ministry. 

For a long time, I did not listen – ignored it even. 

One day, I woke up and realized I might want to listen to the call.

Thus, here I am doing ministry.

I may have a few loose screws, but I still listened.

The questions for you to consider then …

What if God was talking to you in your dreams?

Does God talk to you in your dreams (like I believe happened to me?)

What path is God lighting up for you that you maybe have ignored?

What do you do? 

Would you tell God, “that sounds crazy”, “the time is not right” or would you completely ignore what God says?

I did for a long time,

but when I finally listened,

the light given to me fully enriched my life.

That is not by material wealth, but by immeasurable interactions and the experiences of working in the community in new and revealing ways.

(Don’t worry, if you listen to God, religious vocation does not have to be your path, but …)

Think about these questions then.

What do our dreams tell us?

Does God speak to us in our dreams?

Are we willing to listen to that speaking?  Ask those of yourself.

I mentioned this “light” given to me,

and I wonder if this is the light that Isaiah refers.

With dreams, we have people in this story deserving some light.

From the Gospel account, Herod deceives to find this potential rival king.

Herod then orders the murder of babies – and for what?

This is distinctly a reaction of the powerful, or privilege, against perceived threats or “outsiders.”

Martin Luther King Jr. famously wrote that privileged people do not willingly given up said privilege or power.

Herod wants to preserve his – at all costs.

The Magi followed the light of a star from darkness that we read from Isaiah’s “dreams”.

The Magi represent the revelation of hope and wisdom to the world by God,

but ultimately, they also represent the revelation of Jesus -- from foreigners –

because they follow the light of the star (their dreams).

These outsiders tell Herod their dreams and hopes in Jesus. (Herod listens too!)

Thus, this Gospel gives us ample reason why we should listen to God, to our dreams, and to outsiders. 

For us today, wisdom (and dreams) of outsiders can speak to, and even challenge, our traditions, our privilege, and of our Church. 

I know that your church will be filling the pulpit with voices of outsiders during this time of transition.

Maybe, a lesson from the Magi is to ask what can your church learn from those voices.

The Magi express their hope and dreams to the world of this light in Bethlehem.

They travelled a long path and faced a tyrant to express this hope.

In our life journey and against great odds, how do we express our hopes and dreams? 

God lights a path for the Magi, along with us people, and through dreams so that we all might realize that hope and dream in our world too.  

Despite difficulty of life’s journey,

God is lighting a path for you and wants you to feel that hope of the Magi.

When you feel intense hope and love - that awesome feeling,

you have no choice but to share that.

God wants you to share that with the whole world.

That adds another question to our list earlier:

What do our dreams tell us?

Does God speak to us in our dreams?

Are we willing to listen to that speaking? 

How are we making known this wisdom, this hope, this compassion of God?

We know that Jesus embodies the power, the hope and the love of God.

Jesus is the example of God to us and a light upon our hearts. 

Remember, that you too are a child of God,

 and you embody all that is good of God

 – when you let God be you.

Thus, we can be that hope, compassion, that love and that wisdom to others.

So when God speaks to you, whether in dreams or otherwise, will you listen?

When God brings wisdom to you, to the Church and to the community,

what do you do with that and how do you share that?

Matthew tells us to let the light of Epiphany be upon you.

Make room for wisdom and outsiders -- find your light.

Especially as we look into the new year,

listen for God lighting your path,

and there is a gift of hope and love - despite any confusion.

Jesus is right there. 

If anything, remember that wisdom can be found in dreams.  Mary, Elizabeth and Joseph received their calls by dreams, and the Magi were guided by their dreams.

Yes Christ is revealed to us in Epiphany. 

Jesus reveals to us the hope, the peace, the joy, and the love, along with outsiders,

as gifts from God.  

Precious Child of God, what are you going to do with your gifts?

Thanks Be to God!