Sermon Illustrations for Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 (2011)
Illustration
Exodus 33:12-23
Some things are simply too powerful for us to gaze upon. Even in nature, there are instances of phenomena that when looked at cause blindness. Take, for example, looking directly at a solar eclipse. Even when the disk of the sun is partially covered, looking directly at it, especially with telescopic equipment, can damage the retinas in a fraction of a second, even leading to blindness. Also, snow blindness is a temporary yet painful blindness caused by looking at the reflection of sunlight in the snow.
These things are pale shadows of the blinding glory of God. We see time and again in the scriptures descriptions of how awesome God's glory really is. It is too much for our mortal eyes and minds to take. As God told Moses, "Man shall not see me and live" (v. 20). It's important to realize just how great and awesome the God we serve really is.
Craig K.
Exodus 33:12-23
As our biblical passage indicates, Moses had a special relationship with God. Undoubtedly this relationship was forged in the silence and isolation of the desert, especially in his "burning bush" experience.
Elizabeth O'Connor, a member of the unique Church of the Savior in Washington DC, has based her book Cry Pain, Cry Hope on the call of Moses. In a section titled "Being Present in the Moment," she accents Moses' ability to let his experiences of God sink into his very being.
O'Connor also mentions Ann Lee, the founder of the Shaker community, who once gave the following instruction: "Do all your work as if you had a thousand years to live and as you would if you knew you must die tomorrow." Her followers heeded her advice; the result has been the Shaker-style furniture in all its simplicity and beauty.
As we approach death, we too would like to be so present to the task that we are doing that we would keep doing it faithfully unto we enter the ultimate mystery.
Richard H.
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Charles Darwin remains a controversial individual because of his theory of evolution. Little known to the public is his cousin Francis Galton, who made an equally revolutionary discovery in the evolution of a species, but absent of Darwin's controversy. Galton became intrigued with the nature of heredity. He developed mathematical formulas to examine the relative contributions of both parents, as well as grandparents, to the inherited makeup of an individual. He recorded how certain traits were passed on from one generation to another. For his studies, Galton became known as the father of eugenics.
Paul writes that we are to "labor in love." Certainly the painstaking work of Galton was a labor of love as he tried to discover the genetic traits of individuals.
Ron L.
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Through darker times in our lives, the faiths of others can become invaluable. Can you think of a time that someone else's love of God gave you hope through a difficult time? Remember that throughout his ministry Paul was opposed, beaten, imprisoned, continuously under threat of death. You can imagine him occasionally wondering, "Is this all really worth it? What am I really doing here?" How much more did the faith of the Thessalonians mean to Paul then? When Paul thanked them, we can imagine he meant it since they bore the fruit he and all others making sacrifices for the gospel long to see.
Brian H.
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Amnesty International is an organization that works to free prisoners of conscience around the world. By uplifting the names and stories of individuals who fight for human rights, Amnesty uses the force of words -- letters, speeches, articles -- to pressure governments to free these individuals. Although the work of these prisoners may be focused on a single area, culture, or nation, each story inspires Amnesty members and others to take up the work of fighting for human rights. By spreading the word and the stories of each prisoner Amnesty works to free, hope is born not only for that prisoner and his or her country or interest, but hope is born for all who want to make a change, in all places, in all situations. One voice of truth inspires a thousand more tongues to speak.
Leah T.
Matthew 22:15-22
Marcus Borg, in his provocative book, simply titled Jesus gives us a radically different interpretation than we usually get from Jesus' dialogue with the Pharisees and the Herodians. The central question was "Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor or not?" The usual interpretation is that our prime obligation is to God but that we have a secondary obligation to the emperor or Caesar. In the gospel accounts Jesus does not give a direct answer. After asking for a coin with Caesar's image on it, he responds to his questioners who are trying to trap him, "Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor's and to God the things that are God's."
Borg goes on to ask an additional question. "Jesus, what belongs to God?" Borg answers his own question by saying that he believes Jesus would answer, "Everything." Surely, Jesus shared a central affirmation of the Jewish Bible, 'The earth is the Lord's and all that is in it" (Psalm 24:1). Therefore, what belongs to the emperor? Borg says, "Nothing."
Richard H.
Matthew 22:15-22
The American tax code is often the source of headaches for many people during the first part of the year. Every year there are new rules or new exceptions to old rules; it's almost impossible to keep everything straight. No wonder there are so many people every year who fail to file their taxes. A 2007 report by the IRS stated that over 16% of Americans were noncompliant on their taxes. While there were several reasons involved, the complicated tax system definitely could have played a part.
While the temptation to just skip on taxes is real, especially if you know you'll owe, Jesus didn't give us that option. His words were simple: "Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's" (v. 21).
Craig K.
Some things are simply too powerful for us to gaze upon. Even in nature, there are instances of phenomena that when looked at cause blindness. Take, for example, looking directly at a solar eclipse. Even when the disk of the sun is partially covered, looking directly at it, especially with telescopic equipment, can damage the retinas in a fraction of a second, even leading to blindness. Also, snow blindness is a temporary yet painful blindness caused by looking at the reflection of sunlight in the snow.
These things are pale shadows of the blinding glory of God. We see time and again in the scriptures descriptions of how awesome God's glory really is. It is too much for our mortal eyes and minds to take. As God told Moses, "Man shall not see me and live" (v. 20). It's important to realize just how great and awesome the God we serve really is.
Craig K.
Exodus 33:12-23
As our biblical passage indicates, Moses had a special relationship with God. Undoubtedly this relationship was forged in the silence and isolation of the desert, especially in his "burning bush" experience.
Elizabeth O'Connor, a member of the unique Church of the Savior in Washington DC, has based her book Cry Pain, Cry Hope on the call of Moses. In a section titled "Being Present in the Moment," she accents Moses' ability to let his experiences of God sink into his very being.
O'Connor also mentions Ann Lee, the founder of the Shaker community, who once gave the following instruction: "Do all your work as if you had a thousand years to live and as you would if you knew you must die tomorrow." Her followers heeded her advice; the result has been the Shaker-style furniture in all its simplicity and beauty.
As we approach death, we too would like to be so present to the task that we are doing that we would keep doing it faithfully unto we enter the ultimate mystery.
Richard H.
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Charles Darwin remains a controversial individual because of his theory of evolution. Little known to the public is his cousin Francis Galton, who made an equally revolutionary discovery in the evolution of a species, but absent of Darwin's controversy. Galton became intrigued with the nature of heredity. He developed mathematical formulas to examine the relative contributions of both parents, as well as grandparents, to the inherited makeup of an individual. He recorded how certain traits were passed on from one generation to another. For his studies, Galton became known as the father of eugenics.
Paul writes that we are to "labor in love." Certainly the painstaking work of Galton was a labor of love as he tried to discover the genetic traits of individuals.
Ron L.
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Through darker times in our lives, the faiths of others can become invaluable. Can you think of a time that someone else's love of God gave you hope through a difficult time? Remember that throughout his ministry Paul was opposed, beaten, imprisoned, continuously under threat of death. You can imagine him occasionally wondering, "Is this all really worth it? What am I really doing here?" How much more did the faith of the Thessalonians mean to Paul then? When Paul thanked them, we can imagine he meant it since they bore the fruit he and all others making sacrifices for the gospel long to see.
Brian H.
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Amnesty International is an organization that works to free prisoners of conscience around the world. By uplifting the names and stories of individuals who fight for human rights, Amnesty uses the force of words -- letters, speeches, articles -- to pressure governments to free these individuals. Although the work of these prisoners may be focused on a single area, culture, or nation, each story inspires Amnesty members and others to take up the work of fighting for human rights. By spreading the word and the stories of each prisoner Amnesty works to free, hope is born not only for that prisoner and his or her country or interest, but hope is born for all who want to make a change, in all places, in all situations. One voice of truth inspires a thousand more tongues to speak.
Leah T.
Matthew 22:15-22
Marcus Borg, in his provocative book, simply titled Jesus gives us a radically different interpretation than we usually get from Jesus' dialogue with the Pharisees and the Herodians. The central question was "Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor or not?" The usual interpretation is that our prime obligation is to God but that we have a secondary obligation to the emperor or Caesar. In the gospel accounts Jesus does not give a direct answer. After asking for a coin with Caesar's image on it, he responds to his questioners who are trying to trap him, "Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor's and to God the things that are God's."
Borg goes on to ask an additional question. "Jesus, what belongs to God?" Borg answers his own question by saying that he believes Jesus would answer, "Everything." Surely, Jesus shared a central affirmation of the Jewish Bible, 'The earth is the Lord's and all that is in it" (Psalm 24:1). Therefore, what belongs to the emperor? Borg says, "Nothing."
Richard H.
Matthew 22:15-22
The American tax code is often the source of headaches for many people during the first part of the year. Every year there are new rules or new exceptions to old rules; it's almost impossible to keep everything straight. No wonder there are so many people every year who fail to file their taxes. A 2007 report by the IRS stated that over 16% of Americans were noncompliant on their taxes. While there were several reasons involved, the complicated tax system definitely could have played a part.
While the temptation to just skip on taxes is real, especially if you know you'll owe, Jesus didn't give us that option. His words were simple: "Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's" (v. 21).
Craig K.
