Struggle of Easter - Luke 24 - Easter 1C

The Struggle of Easter

Tony E Hansen

Sermon based upon Luke 24:1-12, Psalm 118, John 20: 19-31

Opening prayer

People will point out that we live. Obviously since you hear and read the words that I say.

Yet with life, our living and all that we are today, all of that comes to a conclusion via this thing called death.  There is no other truth that is so real to everyone, and this is a truth that no one can deny. No congressperson can lie about it, no president can wish it away, and no queen can wave their hand to ward off this affect.

Death is real and is part of why people struggle with Easter.

I have seen many and presided over funerals in my life. I have not seen funerals with anyone jokingly laying in the coffin without breath and without life. I have seen many comedy skits that play with the potential shock of a lively coffin, but no one escapes this part of our mutual journey.

The struggle of Easter however isn’t that there is a miracle to believe but that people don’t believe in miracles anymore. 

Think about this a minute…

Why do we have to wait until all hope is lost before people are willing to attempt to change; to resurrect what is possible?

Still, the last possible moments go by and we let it slip away - let it vanish from our eyes, from our grip, from our presence. We even deny what is happening like that somehow lessens the change or its impact upon us.

This however is a point for us to understand that we let it slip and fade is unfortunately too late for what was.

I have done this more times than I would like to admit. For many, this is the seed of regret, of questions why we didn’t do more, of why things had to be the way they were. Yet, this moment is honestly and truthfully too late - for what was.

Why did Judas betray? Why did Peter deny? Why did the disciples cower in fear? Why didn’t anyone lift a finger to help Jesus stay alive and forgo the torturous execution?

Why didn’t the disciples believe what Jesus said or what the women said until they had to see for themselves an empty tomb?

The struggle of Easter is that it changes “final” into many questions - of what could have been, what never happened and what why we didn’t.

However, Easter reminds us there is life on the other side of the slip or even the denial. There is life on the other side of the night we wrestled truth, when we wrestled with the life we have been given, or when we wrestled with God for putting us here and now - in this place and this fight.

This is the moment we come to terms with our fallibility and our mortality.

That you and I are looking at moments like this in our own lives where all seemed lost, all seemed out of reach or there was no turning back. 

For sure, there are moments when we fail - and we wonder, question and desire some different outcome.

We still have witnessed and endured - some may be facing moments like these now.

The would’ve, the could’ve, the should’ve, never did, but why continue on that farce ?  "What if" never tells us "what is." Why continue in that mindset  - rejecting what wasn’t possible or rejecting that which we have been taught?

We don’t have to be Thomas denying there is potential after all was gone. 

Even a burned meadow field finds life and a chance. Even after massive tornado that destroys a community, there is life afterwards. Even after death, there is life to witness, to celebrate - and to touch what is real.

That last moment is then what people hold onto when they try to make their way back from whatever.

The problem then is that people could wallow in what never happened or the loss of everything we held dear.

People wont allow for themselves that there is possible because we didnt get what we wanted when we wanted. We can’t believe there is possible. We didnt cause it, the logic didn’t work or the people who reported aren’t believable. Peter had to go and see the tomb himself rather than believe the women and Thomas could not believe without his own witness.

Our society has grown accustomed to people getting what they want , when they want it- the BK “have it your way” meal - regardless consequences - we forget tasty burger meals turn into larger waist lines and challenge cardio health. I don’t want to do anything I don’t want to do results in us have to face hard choices later.

Instead of changing, the drink turns into more and consumes us or the drug turns euphoria into panic.

Our decisions have consequences that we can attempt to ignore, but there is more than one perspective that is undeniable.

Even if we do all the right things we think we should - lived the righteous path, did the healthy things, or saved money for retirement, things happen, life happens. There is a change that we cannot deny.

Like any person that has played sports and lost, the loss stings, the loss hurts and is miserable.

Yet there is more.

The loss provides lessons. The loss is a starting point - It is a chance to be retrospective, a chance to realize what we have learned and to realize what is possible now and going forward.

That, for many is the struggle, is that we dwell in the loss and don’t want to see an empty tomb. People without faith don’t believe miracles happen and they cant see beyond their own reach. Further they don’t want to believe what Jesus told us or what Jesus did for us.

People dismiss miracle for misery, and our eyes are fixed in the loss.

Resurrection is a path and it tells us that God has something for us on the other side. Resurrection tells us there is possible.

Better question: why wait for things to be final - to be out of options? We can change today because there is possible today.

Today is a great day to do something extraordinary. Today is great day to believe - to believe in forgiveness, to believe in love for you, and to believe in beautiful miracles - those that can happen for you and me too.

Do you need to reach out to someone? Perhaps, a misunderstanding that needs cleared? Is there a wrong that you need to own up and offer apology? Is there something that you should have done long ago that you didn’t?

What is holding you back from doing the right thing?

Your options aren’t limited when you believe and when you let God be with you in that belief.

One said, that “Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle and the life of that candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.”

We may have scars from living and learning, but remember that we have a horizon before us. We have Jesus who lifts us beyond and gives us a way.

Jesus lit a candle for you.

We have an empty tomb of possibilities.

The struggle of Easter is for us to believe that resurrection is possible and more importantly, resurrection is possible for us - just when you need it the most.

That Beloved is

Thanks Be to God.

Showing Love or Complicit in Betrayal - John 12 - Lent 5C

Showing Love or Complicit in Betrayal

Tony E Hansen

Sermon John 12: 1-8, Psalm 126, Philippians 3:4-14

Opening prayer

Judas is not portrayed well by the Gospel. Judas is rebellious, thieving, deceitful and treasonous. (It is for that last one that Dante puts him in the center of Hell. )

It is one of the reasons some criticize portrayals like those from Jesus Christ Superstar that suggest more sides of Judas.

I am open to questioning spaces between the lines for there is much we don’t observe in the writing. What is missing? There could be ego of those involved (or the writing) that cloud perspectives because we know victors often write the history.

Is Judas given an unjust bad rap where others have masked their own jealousy and sins upon Judas? (Sins like jealousy have a remarkable abilities to stain truths and perspectives.) Or, is Judas really sinister with selfishness, greed and betrayal as written in the Gospel.

Betrayal is hiding intent, posing to be a friend, or pretending to understand words when instead we walk away in quiet disgust. What didn’t we like and why not speak up instead of plotting downfall?

Betrayal destroys not just one but whole communities.

Judas receives (wanted or not) silver in order to hand Jesus over to whom? They who plot not only Jesus’s demise but that of Lazarus too. (Hmm is it curious to note religious folks plotting murder? How uncanny.)

Judas watches the feet washing, observes expensive product used and questions why. Gospel suggests there may be greed behind the question. 

(Side question: why didn’t any of the group raise concerns about Judas with the purse if it was known Judas would help himself to its contents?)

I often hear folks talk about how poor people should give up their cellphones - like communication with the world holds no value - like poor can give up what they, those claiming, would not give up. Folks, that is simply a shroud over bigotry. That bigotry is a form of betrayal.

Here, Mary is showing love to Jesus by washing his feet with expensive perfume.

Remember during the Last Supper, Jesus washes the feet of those who follow him but also the betrayer, the liar, and all who cower in fear. Jesus did this despite knowing that was going to happen.

Jesus shows that love to the disciples, regardless of what they do to Jesus.

Even though Jesus knows what Judas, Peter and the rest of them will do, Jesus washes all of their feet in the same way that Mary has done.

Having that kind of knowledge, you and I might be looking for doorways.

That isn’t to say, we should accept relentless and prejudiced lies and deception, but in our last time on earth, what good is wishing ill-will? In fact, what good is that in “normal times”?

Instead, between these two scenes, Jesus shows loves to the disciples in the way that Jesus has been shown love by Mary.

Why? Above all else, despite all of our concerns, things we want to do and even all the things that irritate us, this, this is what Jesus wants us to do: to show love and forgiveness that has been shown to us.

Similar to last week’s parable, the parable ends with forgiveness and love while urging us to do the same.

Why? A righteous life, a diligent life, a purposeful life, without Christ, without compassion and forgiveness, that effort loses purpose and meaning 

When we don’t practice forgiveness and love with those around us (including those who hurt us or who don’t look like us.)

What is to be written about us who perhaps say we are blameless or even imagine ourselves wearing “the whole armor of God” when there is emptiness inside. 

If we are silent during injustice, if we do not carry true compassion inside our hearts nor God’s understanding that is hypocrisy, elitism, and betrays the words of Jesus.

Inaction is just the same as the betrayal of Judas because it is all an act, pretending, and just the motions. 

Our silence, when injustice shows its ugly face, makes us complicit.

What damage can that do? 

Friendships, marriages, families, churches and whole communities have been destroyed because of betrayal, hypocrisies, elitism and silence. 

The role of complicit persecutor or the actual betrayer is dangerous.  When we are complicit, we watch Rome burn and do nothing.

Maybe since someone tells our history a little nicer, we might think to ignore truth. Malarky. 

Being complicit with injustice does not absolve the sin but reveals us as participants, and God knows. 

“Not my monkeys, not my worry.” Maybe, it should be.

Instead, the psalmist reminds us we are to be “bearing the seed for sowing…” and witness the Lord with all of us.

Similarly, even though Paul persecuted Christians, he realizes the error of his way and he converts into a believer of Christ. Paul as a non-believer goes blind on that road to Damascus and is born into Paul that witnesses Jesus. 

Paul has an Easter moment because Jesus forgives in life and beyond. 

Paul witnesses, is forgiven, converts, and becomes more than a guy on the road.

Paul, to Philippi, says everything (that he was) became nothing compared to witnessing Jesus in his life. That is because having all the knowledge in the world, or doing the right thing simply fail without knowing the gifts that come from Christ.

We all have suffering, and sometimes, like Judas, we are angry, resentful or questioning our Creator, but we are here no less. 

Thankfully, God has big shoulders for us all, especially in those moments.

We do fall short even when we think we are doing the right things. Sometimes, we lose reason. For we are among the dead walking the streets with many excuses and many broken thoughts.

However, if we truly listen to Jesus speaking to us through the Spirit, there is reason to care. There is possible. There is love and forgiveness.

With faith in Christ, we can truly live when we leave the skepticism aside and live our baptism - to be born into Christ. 

That is part of Easter (not just a date on a calendar). 

Easter is coming and can happen for you now. Are you ready?

With our Creator in our hearts, our words and our being, we are true love to others that has been (and continues to be) poured out for us. 

We are lights in the darkness.

When we do that, it spreads from one to the next and the next.

That is love and life beyond excuses, beyond reason, and beyond measure. That is true love embodied into and beyond this community. Then, the Spirit works us, opens eyes, and teaches us.

Jesus is forgiveness in life and beyond. When we truly embrace that, we become more than we ever were, and distractions that we thought were important fall away.

Walk with the love that cleans us all. Let Mary touch and wash Jesus and let Jesus touch you and wash you.

Then, in turn, we wash others with forgiveness and love, even those who are different than us. 

Then, Beloved, we truly can say that we follow Jesus instead of a betrayer’s fate.

Find the love and forgiveness that is beyond measure, beyond price, and beyond death and let that be the Spirit speaking to us today.

Thanks Be to God

What would you do - Luke 15 - Lent 4C

What would you do

Tony E Hansen

Sermon based upon Luke 15: 1-32, Psalm 32

Opening prayer

This weekend's lesson in Luke offers us the familiar parable of the father with two sons. Of the sons, there is one who is diligent in efforts and one who squanders. There is the parent who makes decisions about his children.

There are plenty of interpretations that discuss who each figure represents, but it is a story of different perspectives. 

Lost being found. (For in Luke 15, we have lost sheep and lost coins as well as lost children.) Maybe, we ought to consider who, in this story, needs to be found?

I would argue there is a fourth person involved here too. You will see that person is not in the story as much as they observe the story.

One child asks for their share of inheritance today. This can be an insult to ask for post-death inheritance today. We do know that this takes away from the potential of the family and community to do something with that money too.

What would you do?

We as the reader can be Monday quarterbacks, the 20-20 hindsight, or the “I would have done this differently…” We have the perspective of observing, but remember, there are many times when we are in moments and need to make decisions. 

We don’t have the luxury of time and consideration.  Even if we play the moment in our minds over and over, we may still question. 

Some of those decisions are the necessary, regardless if we like to admit it.

Some don’t have everyone winning (may upset those closest to us.)

Nevertheless, this parent divides his assets between them. We don’t know if this was exactly half to each child or if this division included some living expenses for the parent.

Nevertheless, we have stories of different paths taken.

One leaves home with money, and blows it. He squanders wealth so that he is forced to live a life of poverty and hunger. He returns home expecting to not be treated as a son but something less - perhaps “not worthy to tie sandals.”

The parent sees the child coming back. What would you do at this point?

Here, the parent celebrates the return with robes, feast and dancing.

There is the one who has been working in the fields, storing up all this wealth of good work, who apparently didn’t get an invite, didn’t get a goat for himself, but has been obedient: the dutiful one. 

This could be the person who goes to church in a suit-and-tie watching people with shorts and sandals walking in the door.

All of that work and time feels worthless. 

In many rights, the son is angry over this display and celebration.

The father tries to calm saying, “you are always with me and all that is mine is yours.” 

Probably more true than not. If we take that literally, that means this dutiful one just paid for the celebration of the squanderer’s return. 

There might be reason to be a bit disgruntled - or really angry. 

However, any parent can tell you that finding a lost child means the world in that moment. 

Think, Iowa State Fair, large crowds and trying to stay in arms reach of my child. Children have a incredible way of finding shiny things hanging or what looks like some fun. Similarly, parents get focused on something, and boom, I lost him. I was surprised, then scared, then bit of anger, then worry and then mix of all of that. 

For parents whose child is gone (for longer than it takes a department store announcement or our shouts to find them), things go through the mind.  When you are scared and wondering what has happened or could happen, rarely, the good things bubble to the top, but instead, we think the worst. 

Thus, this child returns home in tatters, hungry, and pitiful. We can imagine being overwhelmed with seeing them alive. Just that is a relief of the emotional coaster-ride, and that converts negative energy into positive.

Not just relief but overwhelmed with joy that one is found! 

Pivot.

This cant be much consolation to the angry, dutiful child and neither the words “you are always with me…”

The parable ends there, and we can imagine sequels to this story. Many could even rewrite this parable with how we would have acted as the one who squandered looking for forgiveness; we could be the parent deciding how to welcome (if at all); and we could be the dutiful child holding grudges.

Good story writers, even comics, lead us through stories to reveal the point  in the last line (aka punchline.)

 

This is however no joke. The parable ends here instead of pondering various negative ways this could end. 

Perhaps, Jesus wants us (and religious elites) to understand the value of finding those who are lost. 

Jesus wants us to realize God is the welcoming parent, who is willing to celebrate with forgiveness - while acknowledging those who have been dutiful. Further, God wants the dutiful to also take time to find and celebrate those who are found - because the father says, “we had to celebrate.” 

For us who are dutiful, question what value are we holding in our grudges. To have stacked up all this good work and effort (wealth) is meaningless if we aren’t willing to give out forgiveness, like our God. 

Go ahead wear the suits and do duties. Look up from your work and see people come to God from their own journeys. That is part of your duties being realized and that should be celebrated.

Psalmist tells us, “do not be …without understanding, whose temper must be curbed…"

Good thing this isn’t about what you or I would do but what God does.

Instead celebrate God's forgiveness.

That Beloved is for all of us, 

Thanks be to God.