Is That You God?

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The time after Epiphany coincides with the start of yet another New Year. A time in our lives overflowing with potential. New Resolutions. New beginnings. New Opportunities. A time when we find ourselves challenged to be the church together in the midst of unprecedented challenges and opportunities. TO BE THE CHURCH … EVEN WHEN … physical distancing mandates and COVID-19 safety protocols make it hard for people to gather under the same roof for worship. Even when we attack one another instead of sitting in the mess together. Listening for understanding. Being open to the possibility of change.

It’s as if we’ve forgotten how to play nice in the sandbox. Sadly, lately it seems that if we don’t get our way, many of us shut down. Not even attempting to understand opposing views or being open to the possibility of changing our own opinions. Instead, we simply pick up our toys and head home.

Yes, EVEN THEN, in the midst of all that is unfolding right now, the Holy Spirit is at work reconciling all things to God. Sending us, pilgrims traveling the way of Jesus, out into the world’s brokenness. To share the good news of the gospel. To love and serve our neighbors. To be the body of Christ in a world filled overflowing with anger and division.

The texts selected for this Sunday (1 Samuel 3:1-20 and John 1:43-51) remind us just how hard it can be to hear the invitation to discipleship that Jesus extends to disciples of every time and place. The call to: “Follow me” (John 1:43).

Notice, however, how Jesus not only extends an invitation but also takes the lead. And, in doing so, thereby extends a hand to you and to me to follow him. To follow Jesus into the places most in need of God’s love, healing, and acceptance.

The invitation to “Follow me” is not for the faint of heart. Is it? We know full well where the path of Jesus leads. To surrendering to God’s will. To showing compassion to the marginalized, persecuted, poor, addicted, and incarcerated ones. To sowing peace in our divided communities and congregations. To the cross. Where humiliation, scorn, and death awaits.

Yet, knowing all of this, Jesus ALWAYS moves forward in faith. And he calls out to you and me to join him on the journey; traveling the way of Jesus together as we live into our respective baptismal vocations amidst the world’s violence, intolerance, bitter partisan divisions, and FEAR.

Like us, the prophet Samuel also lived during a turbulent time. A time of warfare, and violence, corruption, and increasing dissension. A time when the book of Judges tells us that the people did what was right in their own eyes. A time when “the word of the Lord was rare” and “visions were not widespread” (1 Sam 3:1). A time when God called forth prophets like Samuel to speak truth to power.

Remember Samuel? The child dedicated to the Lord’s service in answer to a mother’s prayer. A child God called by name in the night – “Samuel, Samuel.” A prophetic calling that Samuel did not understand because “he did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him” (1 Sam. 3:7).

Interestingly, Samuel’s calling required discernment and guidance from another. The child was confused. Thinking that the chief priest summoned him, Samuel repeatedly visits Eli exclaiming, “Here I am!” Until, after the third visit, when Eli, whose sight had grown dim, realizes that God might be calling the child. The epiphany prompts Eli to advise Samuel that if he hears his name called again, he should say: “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening” (1 Sam. 3:10).

Though God also speaks to us through the Word proclaimed and the Living Word encountered I suspect that the Word of the Lord often breaks into our lives more like a mumbled whisper instead of a thunderous shout. Far too many of us have become so preoccupied with the affairs of the world, especially now – in the midst of all that’s happening – that we may find ourselves ill-equipped to respond to God’s activity in our lives. Or, even worse, we may very well know how God has been nudging us to follow the way of Jesus, only to make excuses for our own inaction. Preferring instead to rationalize our response of ignoring the many ways God IS inviting us into discipleship. Especially now, when the need is so great!

The unfortunate side effect of all of this is far too many of us have discounted the activity of the Holy Spirit in our lives. So we respond by turning away from God and ignoring the needs of our neighbors near and far. Instead, focusing our gaze and attention inward – toward our own selfish needs, desires, and wants. Justifying our sinful behavior as we discriminate, judge, condemn, and other. Distancing ourselves from “them, they, and those people.” People Jesus loved enough to die for.

In spite of our best efforts to ignore God, the same God who called Samuel, Philip, and Nathanael ALSO CALLS YOU (and me). Yes, God calls you! Not just pastors, council members, music ministers, and church leaders. God calls you! Inviting you into relationship time and time and time again! In the hearing of God’s word proclaimed. In the waters of holy baptism, where the Holy Spirit equips you with gifts for ministry. In the gathering of God’s people at the Lord’s Table. Where we are fed, forgiven, strengthened in faith, and sent! Sent out into the world to proclaim the good news of the gospel. Sowing peace in the midst of discord. Testifying to the unity we share in Christ in the face of all that seeks to divide us.

Pay attention. God is calling you! For Jesus’ ministry is never a solitary one. He is always on the look-out for partners in ministry. People, who on the surface, don’t appear to have a lot to offer. The most unlikely of ministry partners. Tax collectors, sinners, and fishermen like Philip and Nathanael. People like you and me.

Rest assured, you can run, but you can’t hide. For God is calling you in your role as spouses, siblings, grandparents, and friends. God is calling you in your position as students, educators, farmers, mechanics, health care workers, emergency responders, business owners, ministry partners, and community leaders. Whether employed, unemployed, under-employed, looking for work, or retired. God IS calling you!

So, perhaps the lesson is simply TO LISTEN! To listen to one another with Christ-like compassion and concern. To listen for understanding. To listen to the different ways that God is inviting each and every one of us to participate in God’s healing and saving ministry for the world. To listen to the invitation echoing across the centuries, “Follow me.”

A Holy Land Christmas

Orthodox Christmas Parade in Bethlehem

As I look forward to the promise that a new year brings, I fondly remember my year of two Christmases that took place six years ago during a visit to Israel. The opportunity to celebrate two Christmases occurred because Orthodox Christians living in the Holy Land celebrate Jesus’ birth in early January — a difference created by the Orthodox Christians’ use of the Julian calendar.

My second Christmas in the Holy Land began with an early morning January stroll with friends through the limestone-lined streets of Bethlehem, the same town where Joseph and Mary went for a census and returned with a son. Making our way from Christmas Lutheran Church, our home for the week, we headed for Manger Square before the barricades would be set in place to control the throngs of onlookers gathering to watch the city’s residents, many of whom were outfitted in colorful costumes, parade through the narrow streets of the city as part of their traditional Orthodox Christmas festivities.  

Walking the streets of Bethlehem as throngs of pilgrims lined the streets to celebrate the Orthodox Christmas, was no easy task – even with the helpful assistance of Palestinian police officers eager to clear a path for visitors from the United States of America. Here, in the midst of noisy and excited onlookers, I was suddenly struck by the both the vast numbers of people gathering together in the place of Jesus’ birth and the great diversity of pilgrims slowly making their way to Manger Square. “Today is a day for colorful and joyous celebration,” I thought to myself. Amazingly, Christians from all over the world had gathered in this place, even in the midst of long-simmering animosities and differences between Israelis and Palestinians, to bear witness to the birth of the Prince of Peace.

Like other pilgrims, we also visited the Church of the Nativity. The church, in existence since 326 AD, bears significance for Christians regardless of denominational affiliation, for it marks the location of Jesus’ birth. After visiting the church complex, our tour guide directed us to a prime location on the outskirts of Nativity Square to await the procession of the Patriarch of Bethlehem and other religious leaders.

Once the long-awaited procession commenced I could not help but reflect upon the gift of my Holy Land Christmas. A gift of celebration, prayer, and Christian witness spent in the company of Orthodox Christians, Roman Catholics, and other Christians who came to Bethlehem from parts far and wide. It was a diverse gathering of God’s beloved children from across the globe.  At that moment, near the very place that welcomed the Christ child into our midst long ago, a sudden realization hit me. Christmas in Bethlehem involved much more than visiting the sacred stones — the churches, archaeological remains, and places associated with Jesus’ life and ministry. No, the experience was so much more than that. Standing in the midst of the crowd that day during my second Christmas I gave thanks for the gift of the living stones – siblings in Christ gathered together on Christmas day; people for whom Jesus Christ became human, lived among us, died, and was raised. The living stones, an unexpected Christmas gift, helped me to see and to experience in a very powerful way the truth of one, holy, and apostolic church, Christ’s church.