Whole Armor of God - Ephesians 6 John 6 - Proper16 B

Whole Armor of God

Tony E Hansen

Sermon based upon Ephesians 6:10-20, John 6 and Psalm 34

Opening Prayer

Today we continue our walk through the bread of life discourse in John 6. People are confused to what Jesus is saying, “Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood… whoever eats of me will live because of me.”

The people say these teachings are difficult. Who can accept?

These words invoke the great sacrifice and foreshadow Jesus on the cross. 

These words are why the cross is so important to Christians.

Remember Jesus fed the crowd with fish and bread. Jesus tells us “I am the bread of life.” Jesus touches on the holy Eucharist - the communion at the table where all are welcome and all receive the grace of something much larger than ourselves  or our flesh. 

Jesus uses these words not just as grandiose proclamation, but also understanding that these holy gifts of life, love and forgiveness are given through the power of that sacrifice. 

We all know who is willing to put Jesus on the cross and who will to see him die. Funny thing is that we don’t see ourselves in that image. 

Why would I say something like that? 

Remember that it was disciples would turned their back and abandoned Jesus in the darkest hours. It was disciples that betrayed Jesus to enemies. 

Even more, it was regular folks who yelled to Pilot to execute Jesus and save the murderer. It was regular folks who taunted and tortured Jesus and people who carried out the execution.

Why? 

People have an image of God and what that image is doing -some military savior, some great royal figure, someone who reinforce unequal social structures, who reinforces religious elites with privileges, or perhaps the image was something else.

Perhaps, they looked at Jesus and saw and heard something that didn’t fit that image. 

Perhaps, people did not (do not) fully appreciate what Jesus says and does.

Because Jesus words are revolutionary, and they are powerful to people with or without titles. Jesus lifts all of us to be the best of us with each other regardless of creeds, social status, titles or privilege. 

The forgiveness of sins, the breath life, the power of the Spirit: these are poured out for us so that we might have life - real life - not just the one bought and paid for or marketed to us.

Question is are you worthy of this ? Are you worthy of the great sacred sacrifice - of this life?

The answer from John’s gospel is that grace and love are abundantly given, and they are beyond our physical self - they are where we find eternal life. Yes, you are worthy and is precisely why Jesus did this.

These gifts from the spirit give life beyond our broken bodies, pain and fears. 

The great sacrifice, the cross is for you and me - all of us. God willing to experience sacrifice for us - for you and me. That blood poured out is the Spirit breaking forth into this world for all to see - all to witness love, grace, and forgiveness: The abundant and eternal gifts.

Speaking of images of God…

The lesson from Ephesians carries abundance of imagery for us while invoking shields and swords - but not the kind of swords that maim.  

I read and I find myself wanting to dress up - could be images of old knights but maybe closer to like Hagar the Horrible. After all, I do enjoy cartoons and comics.

The lesson pleads to take up “the whole armor of God… belt your waist with truth and put on the breastplate of righteousness…  Take the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

Yes this sword is not one that maims but is the word of God - the word made flesh.

Why should I put on all this ?? 

Think of what you put on this day and others. What symbols you wear, whether sports, brands, colors or the sayings? What do they say about you to others? Why not put on the sacred Spirit as well?

This imagery of putting all of these things to protect us from spiritual forces of evil, but also to be the example God’s love.

That isn’t to make us righteous, indignant and privileged. 

When we wear this outfit from God, then we are to remember the great sacrifice and the blood poured out for us - you and me. For us to remember to be defenders of love, grace and forgiveness.

Thing is that when we put on the many different outfits, it affects how we walk into the world. When I put on a suit, taekwondo dobak, cycling gear, or just t-shirt and shorts, I look and feel different for each of these. 

We might look into the mirror and see how we look outside but also how we look inside. 

Maybe, instead of weapons and knightly armor, maybe, the armor God that we read in  Ephesians is closer to something like Linus with his blanket. 

Linus didn’t go anywhere without the blanket and didn’t let people make fun of him for it. Linus could make the blanket into anything he wanted too. 

For Linus, the blanket is protection and a layer of comfort. In that protection and comfort, there comes understanding, Linus would extend that comfort, protection and knowledge to others around him. 

That is, when we put on this armor of God, yes, it is for us protection, and it is comfort. In that protection and comfort, we find understanding and knowledge. 

When we do this, we can acknowledge how that helps us to be the protection and comfort for others as well.

To be defenders of love, grace and forgiveness, we must first be the love, grace and forgiveness. We recognize the power of the cross as not exclusive but something for all of us - even you and me.

You are invited to partake in the communion that celebrates, you are invited to put on the armor of God.

Go ahead and find there is much more than our physical self.

Thanks Be to God

Bread That Fulfills - John 6 - Proper 13 B

Bread That Fulfills

Tony E Hansen

Reflection based upon John 6:24-35, 2 Samuel 11:26-12:33, Psalm 51

Opening Prayer

I have often spoke lovingly about my Grandmother’s cooking, but one thing I will always remember is her bread. 

My brother and I would stay at the farm when we were young, and Grandma would fill the house with the smell of bread in the oven and the jams she would can. I think she made everything from scratch for they had almost everything they needed right there on the farm - apples from the orchard, eggs from the chicken coop, milk from the dairy barn, sweet corn (when in season) and fruits and vegetables from a very large garden.

This bread featured a nice tasty crust that one did not simply tear off and discard like folks do of store-bought bread. You eat the whole slice. 

The bread was a mainstay for the farm, for breakfast, lunch or supper or the mid-afternoon snacks.

Those mid-afternoon snacks (when we weren’t in the field) became times when folks would suddenly show up around the house too. Funny how good cooking can bring people together, and Grandma would say, “there’s always room for one more.”

Unfortunately, I never learned her recipes for I was too young to appreciate what she did for everyone.

So why do I tell you about this delicious bread?  Nostalgia and just to wet your appetites?   I am sure there are fair amount of you that could make a good loaf of bread as well. 

Why I lift up this memory is a good setting for today’s reading from the Gospel of John.

This week’s readings offer us a continuation of last week as part of the Bread of Life discourse in John. 

Last week, Jesus fed a whole crowd of five thousand people with this young boy’s five loaves and two fish - enough food that filled 12 baskets when they gathered the leftovers. 

(I wonder if anyone asked the young lad if they could have these bits of his food rather than just assume they could take it.)

The crowd was amazed, and I am sure this young boy was as well. To turn this small contribution into so much abundance is a theme of John.

Jesus and the disciples leave, and the crowd goes looking for them. 

They question why did you go, but Jesus turns the question into a teaching moment. “You are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate your fill…”

That food perishes and is limited to what we see, touch, taste and feel. Yet, there is “food” that does more than fill bellies. 

Jesus tells us in John 6 “I am the Bread of life.” This is one of the “I am” statements in John.

What does this mean though?

Bread is sustenance - food. Yes the crowd had food from the fish and bread. Their bellies are full, but their minds and their spirits need something as well. 

Jesus says, “I am the bread of life.” Whoever believes will not have hunger and thirst.

That is a bold claim.

This is not “bread” of flour, water and yeast. This is beyond warm summer smells of loaves in the oven. This is clearly not Grandma’s bread (as delicious as it was) but a different kind of “bread.” 

These are smells and tastes that quench the largest of appetites.

These are the teachings of Jesus, the embodiment of all that is good, the incarnation of love poured out for us, and the manifestation of true forgiveness that heals.

That Beloved is true sustenance without limit and without judgments. 

Yes that means whoever takes in the teachings, the compassion, the love that Jesus teaches us and brings to us - those people will truly be sustained. 

How?

Taking in these teachings, believing them, is more than just sayings, words on a page, or words we say, but this is also how we live and how we share that love, that bread, in the world - for one cannot just say they have love and then exclude or cast judgments.

We can practice this too. Instead of shunning folks on the street, we can offer them a sandwich. Instead of denying women their deserved rights, we can help defend them. Instead of rejecting youth as somehow lacking, maybe we acknowledge that they have something to teach us. Instead of  tearing down folks of different races, maybe we give space and opportunity for different cultures to blossom and increase our own culture.

Maybe, instead of walking around with division, hate and anger, we, instead walk with Christ's fill of love and grace in our hearts. 

That is the power of the holy Eucharist that welcomes all to the sacred table to taste something beyond the physical - something eternal - something Christ-like.

When you do, you will find that your wants suddenly vanish - whatever is missing in your life is filled. Love and grace have unique capabilities to do that for us. 

When you seek what is good and better in people, you will find that also in your own heart - you will make lemonade from lemons, you will have time to prepare "bread" in your own kitchen so that you can share it with others, and you can understand that this kind of "bread" is love that endures. You can realize how this forgiveness invites and welcomes. You can recognize there is always enough - “always room for one more.”

When you let love of Christ be in your heart, you will realize this bread, this bread of life, is exactly what you need.

That Beloved is

Thanks Be to God

Abuse of Power - 2 Samuel 11 - Proper 12 Year B

Abuse of Power

Tony E Hansen

Reflection based upon 2 Samuel 11:1-15

Opening prayer 

Abuse of power is what some call it. Maybe we ought to include the terms: manipulation, deception, cheating, coercion, and arrogance.

This story of David and Bathsheba is arguably one of the most well known story in the scriptures. It also presents a “#Metoo” moment in the scriptures.

We may have heard over the years different characterizations about what transpires here. This however is not a story for us to do that - as it requires honest dialog about dark issues in humanity - assault and dominance.

As I sit with youth today, I cannot let a story like this just get reduced to a flaunt, taunt or a romanticized song. Odd that people would ever want to romanticize a thing like assault or rape.

How can we give a pass to something like this? Why give a pass to any crime?

Yes this is not a story for us to do hero worship or “blame the woman” for there is little agency on her part. 

I know some people want to dance over the story with songs like “Hallelujah”, but the reality is that there is an assault that is a result of power abuse (manipulation, deception, and coercion) by someone or, in cases, some people.

This is also a steady reminder that even good people can do dumb things - dumb things that have lasting consequences. 

For us as good people, think about what you do, there may be temptation to do something one should not. 

There is a before and after. There is “as it was,” and then, there is “Now” or “now what?”

There are plenty of people, not just royalty, that do this. This is a reminder that words and actions can and do have negative consequences when we don’t use our heads, our empathy, or our lessons and commandments.

Once the bell is rung, no one can unring it. Nor does a target want to wait around for it to ring again. Unfortunately for some, it happens repeatedly - often without agency. 

What David does here is no doubt abuse to Bathsheba, to Uriah and also to Uriah’s fellow soldiers.

Decisions like this have aftermath far beyond a single scene or even two people. 

This was assault - ugly and distortedly simple.

For us assaulted, do we live with what has been done, with what has been lost - what cannot be replaced? 

So now what?

For those that have been hurt like this, your pain is real and you are not alone. You are not a pariah because you are a child of God deserving of love, grace, and care.

People want to ask where is God in all of this? Why did God let it? Ask God these questions. 

Blamers might ask, why didn’t Bathsheba stop? Maybe instead, we ask why didn’t David stop.

He clearly isn’t where he is supposed to be. He may have given some thought and planning even. Instead of respecting marriage, instead of following commandments, instead of human decency, David does this, plans this, orchestrates this.

Perhaps, David is still impacted by his own loss, but such loss is never a reason for one to cause damage to others. Perhaps, things are going so well for David that he can’t possibly make a bad decision - he cant go wrong. Distortedly, maybe, he thinks he is above scrutiny: That no one can question David.

That arrogance comes, however, with a price, when he takes these steps. This arrogance becomes a harsh reality for Bathsheba. David has taken more than her public image, but also her husband and her home. In those days, she loses everything.

That is the reality. Infidelity does damage - some that is not repairable. Infidelity harms and thanks to STIs can also kill. It destroys not only a house but trust, honors and relationships. When trust is lost, communication follows. Why? Think, why communicate with someone who deceives and who do so especially so spectacularly?  

We come back to the question now what? We cant undo that which has been done, but we can learn and also we must learn how to live with what has been done -> the “new” reality. 

What was assured, is not. 

What was promised, has been discarded.

What was treasured, has been turned into something else.

What was maybe innocent, is no more.

(That can be the same for part for both the assaulted and those doing the assault.)

That is why I can no more listen to that Hallelujah song that romanticizes this with its first verse versus the harm that was inflicted.

That is Why some people no longer wear a particular color. 

That is Why some change appearances.

That is Why attitudes change.

So now what? With things like this, what now? What do we do? How does one pick up the pieces and step forward? How do we heal and recover?

Take it from me, we start with a step, then another - then another.

Healing does happen, and like all injuries, this too takes time. 

Thing is not to beat oneself up over such for this is not your fault. 

Avoid sinking into drink or drugs. Believe me - the problem follows you there too. For some, it can trap you there too.

First, Get out of bad situations as soon as you can. Feel empowered to get up, take control of yourself and leave the ugly spaces. 

Then, there are good quality people around you to discuss and get help. 

Help is definitely needed here because we don’t need to do this alone. So yes, discuss what has happened, what changed and the questions you have.  For the answers to those wont come to those who don’t ask.

That is where God can help too. When we feel alone, desperate or confused, God has big enough shoulders and arms for us. Reach out and find recovery in the good people and in the true Spirit that surrounds us, comforts us and heals us.

Do these things repeatedly and you will find peace that may have seemed to escape. Learn how others have recovered in healthy ways to see how that may work for you. Lean on your community.

Again avoid things that can drag us into the “mudpits” like alcohol and drugs. 

When you are strong enough (yes you will be - even if you don’t think so today), remember then to help others find their way to recovery. For we cannot “fix” what has been broken because we understand healing takes time and personal effort. Do these and guide others how to recover from their trauma.

Like we discussed with Ephesians last week, remember that we were once the oppressed and now hopefully have understanding and community to lean. 

Understanding that, we can help folks learn how to live, how to breathe, how to enjoy life today, and how to find God today.

With God, you have a true friend and a path to recovery.

Thanks be to God