Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Breadwinner

John 6: 24-35

(I am referring to a book called The Spirituality of Bread by Donna Sinclair for this sermon, as well.)

Bread is considered to be a life source for most of the world. People since ancient times have cobbled together grains finely ground and water and created enough food to give them sustenance.  Manna was considered to be a sort of bread given by God to the Israelites during their journey in the desert. A devilish temptation offered to a starving Jesus during his forty days in the wilderness was a delicious taste of bread.  We depend on bread to live.

In a world that is increasingly gluten-free, this can be an interesting concept to discuss.  How can something like 'regular ordinary bread' hurt so many people's digestive systems?  I suspect it has more to do with current additives and modified growing practices than with the ancient natural stalk of wheat, but I am not here to give you an agricultural changes talk. I am here to talk to you about Jesus being given to us as the bread of life. And the ways we can look at the concept of 'bread of life.' Why is Jesus giving himself to the world compared to bread?

Bread connects us to one another.  We associate breads with where we are from... where I come from, for example, cornbread is made in a skillet and has NO sugar added.  Every nation on earth seems to have a bread or two that is representative of their culture.  I remember days I spent in Paris in college, spreading some soft cheese each morning on a half of a baguette, that combined with my chocolat chaud made for such a wonderful start to the day. And I would wrap the other half in a napkin and put it in my backpack for a delicious lunch later in the day.

Bread connects us to justice. We read of the biblical stories of sharing bread. From the manna in the wilderness,  to the woman who makes bread from a little flour and oil, to the feeding of the 5000, to the breaking of the loaf as a symbol of Jesus' approaching death, we are faced time and again in the biblical story with the miraculous nature of sharing bread to create a stronger humanity.  Whether we are sharing literal bread with others (in a meal like our Soup, Soup and more event...), or we are sharing the abundance of our resources, bread reminds us that we are called to break our loaves and our lives open for those who need it.

What memories do you have of bread? Have a favorite recipe or holiday where special bread is served? How does bread symbolize holy in your life?

Email me or comment below.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

The Food Network

John 6:1-21

This story is probably one of the top five most famous Bible stories. The account of Jesus taking a little boy's lunch and miraculously blessing it so that it feeds over 5000 people has been told throughout the centuries with great gusto. It is counted as one of Jesus' miracles with good reason.

I have no doubt it was a miracle indeed. But what I wonder about is the way it all occurred. I think Jesus' actual miracle in offering the blessing might have centered more around having people who were tired and sorely wanting... they came looking to Jesus for help after all.... being able to pull together and get past their individual crisis to share themselves with one another.

I have to think that surely more than one little boy's mom remembered to pack him a loaf and fish lunch?  Surely others had food on them as well; after all they had long walks everywhere they went. Is it possible then, that Jesus is able to use the beautiful miracle of this little boy's willingness to share a lunch as a catalyst for everyone doing so?

Frank told a story during children's time last week of a congregation that invited an immigrant congregation to a potluck, but didn't explain to them what a potluck was... everyone bringing a dish to pass...  and yet, somehow everyone was fed.  The miracle is that in some kind of wonderful Pentecost moment, everyone gets on the same page and understands what it means to pool together resources and share, and the ways that can lead to abundance beyond imagination.

Let's consider what we can do to share a little more of what we have each week to give to the collective body. If we all give a little, as the story says, we will be surprised by the abundance we have left over.

What cool miracles have you witnessed? Have you ever seen a little turn into an abundance? Email me or comment below.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Jesus Christ Superstar

Mark 6:30-34, 53-56


Ever had a time in your life when you always felt like someone wanted "a piece of you?"  Being so tugged and pulled in so many different directions that you weren't sure where or what to go to first?  That feeling is why we decide to retire, right?  All of us have some times in our lives when we feel that everyone around us is pulling us to do something for them, to help them, to be with them... and we feel like we have no time to be ourselves.


That's why I love this passage today.  I read this passage whenever I feel pulled in a thousand different directions because that is what is happening to Jesus here. He has people following him around and wanting something from him wherever he goes. He can run, but he can't hide. 


Reading this passage reminds me that Jesus feels my pain, understands what it is like to be overburdened by other people's demands.


So many times, when we see photos of famous people on TV or in magazines, etc., the photo we see is taken with dozens of other people standing nearby taking their own photos. Celebrities are never alone when they are out in public. They are always bombarded and find it very hard to escape from the constant crawl of the paparazzi.  What must that feel like? Jesus understood that, too.


My thought in this is always, also, "When does Jesus take care of himself?" He hardly every gets a chance to get away.  Some of my colleagues are always talking about self care... caring about yourself so that you can care for others. Important, of course. And definitely the reason that I am diligent about my Friday "Sabbath Family Time." But Jesus shows us time and again that living selflessly is a call from God.


What do we make of this story? What lessons does it have for us? Perhaps your tugs in life are from people, perhaps they are from decisions you need to make, perhaps they are from the voices in your own head, but all of us feel tugs at our time and our being... wanting us to move in different directions and do something here and something else there.  And all of us resist them from time to time.


How do you deal with the tugs of life? What pulls you around? How do you find a balance between being pulled around and pulling yourself back to center?


Email me or comment below.



Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Freedom


Galatians 5:13-14
The Message (MSG)
 13-15It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don't use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that's how freedom grows. For everything we know about God's Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That's an act of true freedom. If you bite and ravage each other, watch out—in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then?

This week's service is going to be terrific! There is no sermon, but our fine team of readers will speak 'freedom words' from a great series of scripture readings and quotes from famous promoters of freedom, like Abraham Lincoln and Nelson Mandela. We are also singing all the hits from the hymnal that we rarely sing, like "America" and "America the Beautiful."  Beautiful music, powerful readings, lots worth mulling over...
In preparation for the service, how do you define 'freedom' for yourself? What do you see as 'true freedom'? How do we, as Christian people, create 'freedom in Christ' for one another? What does the example of Christ's sacrifice tell us about freedom and oppression?
Have a great Fourth of July!  See you soon!