To the Glory of God (Proper C27)

As a Pentecostal I am deeply excited about the imminent return of Christ, but let’s face it, as with most traditions, Pentecostalism has more than its fare share of flakes. We like to engage our emotions. That isn’t bad, but we have the same danger faced by the Thessalonians.

I grew up fearing the second coming because of the way it was used to evangelize. We would speculate about the meaning of current events with heated discussions around my Grandparents dinner table. Jack Van Impe had great sway with my Grandpa along with many people in our Pentecostal tradition. So often they missed the point rushing with emotion to conclusions about what eschatology was all about.

Paul says the Day of the Lord has not yet come. There is to be a mysterious evil, a Man of Lawlessness who would appear before Christ came, his point isn’t to figure out who this man is, indeed “many antichrists” have come, enough to keep every generation guessing.

In verse eight Paul declares, “And then the lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord Jesus will destroy with the breath of his mouth, annihilating him by the manifestation of his coming.” Paul is getting a really excited as he talks about this!

It is the Glory of God that is at the center of the Second Advent. It runs through every text this week.

2 Thessalonians 2:13-14
But we must always give thanks to God for you,brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth. For this purpose he called you through our proclamation of the good news, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ

Haggai Speaks of the Day of the Lord:

Haggai 2:6-9
For thus says the LORD of hosts: Once again, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land; and I will shake all the nations, so that the treasure of all nations shall come, and I will fill this house with splendor, says the LORD of hosts. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the LORD of hosts. The latter splendor of this house shall be greater than the former, says the LORD of hosts; and in this place I will give prosperity, says the LORD of hosts.

Haggai has a beautiful apocalyptic quality to it. Hebrews echoes the refrain; “‘Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.’n The words ‘once more’ indicate the removing of what can be shaken--that is, created things--so that what cannot be shaken may remain” (Hebrews 12:26,27 NIV).

Psalm 145:5 On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.

The poetry of the psalmist is full of the awe of the Glory of God!

Running along with the blazing glory of God is the eternal steadfastness of life in him. Job’s determined cry longs for the permanence of that Life, “I know that my redeemer lives!”

Jesus answers those who would discount a resurrection, with an image of the glory of God (20:38) “Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive."

A wee little man? (Proper C26)

Dylan suggests that Zacchaeus was already righteous in his actions.

LK 19:8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look,
Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have
cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.

She argues that since the verbs give and pay are present tense in the Greek, he is already making it a matter of practice. Chuck pointed out at our ministerial meeting today that in studying this very thing he came across a tradition that held Zacchaeus as a supervisor of tax collectors who would chastise his subordinates for cheating the public.

If this is the case it does a lot to change what we have been taught of this wee little man. The crowd held the view that we commonly do—that he is a sinner.

But God knew his name. Do you ever wonder why Jesus calls some by name, that he foreknew Nathanael, Zacchaeus, the woman at the well? Is there some reason that he should be concerned about these more than others? He is omniscient you say? Yes, but what did he empty when he became flesh?
Both with Nathanael and Zacchaeus Jesus makes a statement about their relationship to the patriarchs.

JN 1:47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, "Here is a true
Israelite, in whom there is nothing false."

When he hears of Zacchaeus’ actions, Jesus declares him a child of Abraham, a child of faith.

In both cases salvation comes, not because of their actions, but their faith. This story speaks to grace by faith. Righteousness is a proper response to faith, but it is Zacchaeus’ faith that draws Jesus and brings salvation to his house.

Is not there unusual faith found in the woman at the well also? Is that the kind of person God already knows, and calls by name? Hmm… what does that say about election? I come from a tradition that swings towards Arminiansim, though I am more open to a paradoxical interpretation where Calvin and Arminius do not disagree. God’s grace is powerful and effective in its various forms, but it is made complete by response. God’s call and response is the way of Spiritual Formation. When we respond we participate in the work of grace. Engagement allows the grace to truly transform us. Faith leads inexorably to righteousness.

Habakkuk's complaint

As I read this week's texts, this section gripped me. Why do the righteous suffer and the wicked prosper? Would the Babalonian king be held accountable?

Yes, because he is wicked and the righteous will live by his faith, not some puffed up pride.

Interplay (Proper C26)

I drove by Wisner UMC this afternoon, Pastor Chuck had his sermon titled already: "amazing Grace." As I drove I thought about it, and grace is a pretty good word to sum up all this week's readings. Again the first thing that jumps out at me is two separate threads of interplay.

If you start with the Habakkuk text and Psalm 119:137-144 you wind up at 2 Thessalonians along a thread of Righteousness coming by faith. If you have the other reading starting in Isaiah you wind up at the gospel text looking at sin and forgiveness.

Faith and righteousness do intersect the gospel slightly, here's how: Zacchaeus makes amends, doing right, he shows righteousness. Jesus then declares that salvation has come to this house. How? Not by the tax collector's works but because he was a child of Abraham too. We can understand that he is a child because of his faith.

As usual with the ordinary time, this connection is a little weak for me to be comfortable as an expository preacher, but since the themes of the two threads, salvation and faith are so intertwined (their braiding creates the cord of grace) I don't think it is an improper hermeneutic. There is also woven into this cord a thread dyed red-persecution, and faithfulness through trial.

Grace, grace, and more grace! Grant it to us O Lord.

The story of Zacchaeus is so familiar. (Zacchaeus was a we little man... la la la...) Can we find something fresh and exciting to our souls this week?

Delphi, Art - Apollo offering a libation, cylix

Poured Out (Proper C25)

Trinity United Methodist is on my way home, and I always look at the sermon title on their sign. It is a secret little game I play with Art, the pastor. I see if I can steal his title for my sermon. Titles aren’t a big deal to me; they just form the filename on my computer. But during ordinary time, while he has been focusing on the gospel text and I have been mainly in the OT, his titles usually don’t work for me.

This week his sign reads “Reasons For Prayer” and I say ah-ha, he is focusing on the Pharisee and the Publican. This scene is also depicted on our bulletin covers for this week (we borrow extras from the Moravian church, thanks guys!)

It gets me thinking about where this fits in the overall theme… the OT texts speak of God pouring his grace and presence out on us with a lavish and fierce grace. Paul shares in the heart of God saying, “I am already being poured out like a drink offering.” As he nears the end of his race, he sees his life being spent, lavishly.

The publican’s heart is near to God’s in the same way. Here the stream poured out in the Hebrew text flows together with Paul’s own brook. The publican pours himself out and seeks God’s pouring of mercy.

The text doesn’t give the same hook words, but I don’t think it inappropriate to see the parable as a picture painted with the same themes. Far from the Pharisee’s exalted hypocrisy, the sinner engages his all, strength, soul, mind, spirit, and lets it all drain to the floor, laid bare.

The Hebrew poetry speaks of God in the same way, driven, emotional, pouring himself out for us – grace, mercy, depth of presence – all ours. Our response should be measured against his.

(Pour Me Out I think I will use this as a puppet song this week)

Fall Rains (Proper C25)

I love fall. The cool crisp air, the color, and even the rain. The weather is perfect for coffee and contemplation. Fall is the most romantic time I know so this weeks text is nostalgic and dreamy.

Joel 2:23 "Be glad, O people of Zion, rejoice in the LORD your God, for he has given you the autumn rains in righteousness. He sends you abundant showers,both autumn and spring rains, as before. "

God in his grace pours out mercy on devastated destroyed land-rain to cleanse the land and refresh the spirit. This text is very important for me as a Pentecostal, it promises another kind of rain to be poured out-the Living Spirit of God.

Joel 2:28 "And afterward,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams,
your young men will see visions."

This was the experience of the apostles on the day of Pentecost and it is my experience as well. Pentecostal or not, people around the world have experienced the sweet presence of God as a refreshing rain on their thirsty souls.

Psalm 65:9 You visit the earth and water it, you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; you provide the people with grain, for so you have prepared it.

Ah, the river of God is full of water. The presence of God is rich and is poured out on us generously.

2 Timothy 4:6 As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come.

Paul shares in the heart of God, being poured out, just as the Spirit was poured out on him, just as mercy was poured out on the desolate promised land.

I'm not sure how this all comes together but it strikes my heart like the onset of fall. Tears come to my eyes and I breath deeply the cleansing air.