Seventh Sunday Of Easter
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series VI, Cycle B
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 (C); Acts 1:15-17, 20-26 (RC); Acts 1:15-26 (E)
We Americans have long had a love affair with winners. Successful undertakings of nearly every sort quickly receive the admiration of those around us. As a group, we take great delight in banquets and other ceremonies at which honors are distributed. People who come in second are rarely remembered in our culture. The runner-up usually receives a brief word of recognition and then is quickly forgotten. If you happen to be a sports enthusiast youÍll remember the poor old Buffalo Bills of the NFL. Never mind that year after year that fine team distinguished itself by beating the best teams, winning titles right up to the Super Bowl. Never mind that for years they were good enough to get to the Super Bowl. They lost there. And for that, more than any hard-won victories, they are remembered. Stop in any bookstore and see how many books there are having to do with winning, with success, with coming in first.
Consider this man Joseph who, along with Matthias, was a finalist for inclusion with the other eleven as one of the twelve apostles. LukeÍs report tells us there were about 120 people present when the choice was made and announced. Bible stories leave out almost all details and come right to the point. There are times, though, when it would be interesting to know more. It seems likely here that everyone knew that Joseph might receive the exalted title. HeÍd have been less than human if he hadnÍt done a bit of fantasizing. Every minister whoÍs been nominated for Bishop, every candidate for an honorary degree, many hard-working and dedicated members of an organization about to award their outstanding volunteer of the year award, every candidate awaiting the decision of a pulpit committee, every team member who has played his or her heart out all season and awaits announcement of the MVP, must surely have experienced some of this private contemplation of an honor. And unless one is a genuine saint, itÍs only with great effort that we fix a smile and give a word of congratulation when the winner is announced to be someone else. No one likes to lose.
We donÍt learn any more about Joseph. Presumably he was a fine man even to be considered for the honor as apostle (or whatever title may have been in use at the time). But there must have been some inward pain when the announcement was made that Matthias had been chosen. Joseph came in second. One thing becomes clear when we read the New Testament: those people were imperfect like the rest of us. Peter whose courage failed him in Gethsemane; James and John who were nicknamed ñsons of thunder'' and blatantly asked to be first in the Kingdom of God, which they didnÍt even understand; Judas himself. Like you and me, those people also had to struggle with sin and self-centeredness. One must feel a moment of sympathy for Joseph when he realized how close he had come to being part of the inner circle. But he didnÍt come in first.
Lesson 2: 1 John 5:9-13 (C); 1 John 5:9-15 (E)
This passage creates a lot of ambivalence in me. ItÍs a wonderful word in many ways. The promise of eternal life, so confidently asserted here, warms our hearts. ñGod has given us eternal life, and this life has its source in his Son.'' What a promise. But I have a real problem with John on the fact that he states that ñwhoever does not believe God, has made a liar of him ... Whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.'' I have friends, dear friends, who do not ñbelieve'' these things. My own dear brother, now long dead, had only the dimmest sense of the truth of JohnÍs assertion. The majority of the worldÍs population does not currently ñhave the Son'' and I would lose a lot of regard for God if I thought he would forthwith banish everyone who fails the intellectual belief test. I know some not very nice people who do, however, believe in the Christian faith. IÍm being only a little facetious when I say IÍm not sure I want to be where theyÍre going anyway. I remember a minister who served in the inner city of Chicago several years ago who said that to refer to God as ñFather'' was sure to turn many a ghetto child away from the church, because their experiences with fathers were very unpleasant. Far from turning those children away, IÍm betting Jesus would grasp them to his heart.
What, then? Well, first of all, what do the words ñeternal life'' mean? Live forever? Maybe not. I have the conviction that ñeternal life'' refers to a quality of life which begins in this life. Now that makes a difference. If my brother had known Jesus, and had known the healing of the soul which that can bring, maybe heÍd be alive today. If those little fellows in the ghetto of Chicago in the Í60s „ most of whom are now dead or in prison „ had known Jesus, they might have found a creative, love-filled spirit in their hearts. Maybe John would agree that God doesnÍt blithely do away with those who havenÍt become Christians regardless of their reasons. Maybe what he wanted to convey is that when we accept Jesus as our Lord, we discover wonderful inner resources, we become recipients of all those blessings supplied by the Holy Spirit. And maybe in the next stage of existence „ life after death „ thereÍs a renewed chance to know Jesus as life-giving Lord. Then, I could agree with John. Now maybe my readers are thinking, ñWho are you to agree or disagree with John?'' Well, for better or worse, IÍm one of the many who interprets this word to a lot of people, and I believe it and thatÍs where I am. But it sure makes sense to me.
Lesson 2: 1 John 4:11-16 (RC)
(See Easter 5)
Gospel: John 17:6-19 (C); John 17:11-19 (RC); John 17:11b-19 (E)
ThereÍs an awful lot of preaching opportunity here. Jesus defines his own relationship with God as being inseparable. He knows that his earthly ministry is about complete and that the time is near when he must go on to what lies ahead for him. Now he prays for God to continue empowering those men whom God had sent to Jesus. We can feel JesusÍ overwhelming love and trust for these men. Despite the absence of much evidence of success on JesusÍ part, he knows that the future of his own ministry rests with a few men, ordinary men, fishermen and herdsmen „ people, if you will, like you and me. Because the apostles were men, Jesus used the word here. But as we view this passage, it applies to all of us, men and women alike. He asks that these men continue their ministry here, in the world. He (Jesus must have spoken this ñprayer'' with the idea of it being heard by listeners as well as by God) refers to the need for obedience, and to the dangers from the power of evil, ñThe Evil One.'' In other words, Jesus is defining the conditions of discipleship. While there are numerous implications of this prayer by Jesus, I would choose to emphasize discipleship. Recalling the old axiom „ we are to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable „ I would do a little afflicting next Sunday with this passage.
SERMON SUGGESTIONS
Title: ñOn Not Being First''
Text: Acts 1:15-17, 21-26
Theme: I know it was GodÍs will, and no doubt Matthias was the right choice, but donÍt you feel a little bit sorry for Joseph? He must have been a fine man to be considered as an apostle. Some of you have been there. I know a couple ministers who were in the running to be elected a Bishop of the United Methodist Church but lost. One man a few years ago was a shoo-in for the position until he caught a miserable cold the day before he was to give a candidating speech to the Jurisdictional Conference. Of course he sounded weak and ineffectual. Poor man, he was none of those, but heÍd almost lost his voice. He also lost the election and had to return to the only church available. A nice appointment, but a long way from becoming Bishop.
As a matter of fact, as I write this, I recall the time many years ago when I was active in the Junior Chamber of Commerce in Bloomington, Indiana. Each year the ñKey Man'' award was given, honoring the man who had done the most for the club that year. I had been Mister Activity himself. Each member was to vote and I was assured I was the front-runner. Truth: I really wanted it. I came in second, and was devastated. Trivial in retrospect, but I learned even then how it feels. In fact, every election has its losers.
This is true of life. We canÍt all be the Most Valuable Player, or recipient of the honorary degree, or alumna of the year, or whatever we may vie for in life. Joseph is never mentioned again so far as I know. I wonder how he handled it, walking out of that room knowing he had come that close to becoming one of the honored band.
HereÍs the point. God doesnÍt care. DoesnÍt give a hoot. What God wants of us is to try to be first in serving, in loving people, in honoring him, in kindness. And when we do our best at these, we are first. And the rewards will be better by far at last than another plaque on the wall or a seat at the podium.
Title: ñWhat Do We Mean By ïEternal LifeÍ?''
Text: 1 John 5:9-13
Theme: As discussed above, I think the Bible teaches a promise of rich inner experience for anyone who ñknows'' Jesus Christ as Lord. We recall that in Old Testament usage to ñknow'' someone meant a lot more than acquaintance, or even friendship. It meant an intimate union of being. The sexual relationship of husband and wife would be an earthly example. Used here, it means a close oneness of being „ Jesus and the disciple. There are many people who intellectually subscribe to the teachings of our faith, yet who have never sensed that inner oneness. It is when that happens (today we probably would speak of the Holy Spirit as an attempt to name the experience) that this joyous sense of the richness of life takes place. That, rather than mere survival beyond death, is what I think is meant by ñeternal life.''
Now, I think survival beyond death is a condition of this eternal life, but I believe people survive whether they ñknow'' Jesus or not. I also am personally of the conviction that death is not followed by a static existence, but rather by a further stage of experience and growth. I expect that many of my own weaknesses and flaws from this life can be improved upon in that life. I also believe that there will be further opportunities to accept Christ as Lord. But thereÍs no way to prove this contention. We can, however, prove the earlier contention, that when we accept Christ into our lives and give him Lordship there, a great inner joy and peace will follow.
Title: ñThe Cost Of Discipleship''
Text: John 17:6-19
Theme: Jesus, having declared to God his realization that his own earthly ministry now draws to a close, and having affirmed his close identification with God „ ñAll I have is yours, and all you have is mine'' „ then intercedes with God on behalf of his dear friends who must now carry out his earthly ministry. He affirms to God „ and one assumes to the apostles „ that God has given these particular men for this work and will therefore continue to oversee their ministries. Indeed, we remember that great exchange between Peter and some doubters in the second chapter of Acts. Peter, the former scaredy-cat in the courtyard, isnÍt scared of anything now.
With some indebtedness to William BarclayÍs commentary on this passage, I would do as follows.
1. Jesus prayed that the apostles continue in this world. We are all called to make our Christianity relevant to the everyday-ness of life. We are to be disciples ñin the world'' „ at the office and the factory, out on the sales route and the football field, at the country club and the fraternal organization, on the truck route and, it probably needs to be said, in the counseling room and the pulpit.
2. Jesus prayed for unity among his disciples. Too much conflict exists sometimes among us believers. I know of a church which at this very moment is torn by internal politics. Love needs to take charge. Jesus would pray for this, but makes it clear that the disciple is to be the lover.
3. Jesus prayed that the disciples be protected from evil. Obviously, this doesnÍt mean physically protected. Here in Indiana a couple years ago, a young minister stopped at a rest area on Road 65 on his way home. He entered the rest room. Another man walked in behind him, put a gun to his head and pulled the trigger. The minister never knew what hit him. Fortunately, the killer was quickly apprehended. ThereÍs no way God can save us from evil in that sense. God can, however, move within us to convict us of our sins, to make us see ourselves as we really are, to create in us a deep desire to be what we now know we were created to be.
4. Jesus prayed that his disciples ñbe consecrated by the truth'' (Barclay). That is, that they understand the true nature of their calling. That they realize that they were created from the beginning for their mission, and that being so created, they are equipped. So with us. We have a variety of gifts, and we are to use those gifts to serve him, and to fulfill a particular role in society. My wife has the gift of remembering everyone she meets, both face and name. We live in a small town bordering Indianapolis, and she knows nearly everyone. I, on the other hand, am known for greeting about half my congregation as ñHi, there.'' Or, more seriously, you have been equipped to preach, or to teach, or to counsel. Whatever it is, it is to be offered up as that which we owe to God.
ADDITIONAL ILLUSTRATIONS
A friend told me of the time he was announced at his Methodist Annual Conference as the new pastor of a fine, large church. He met a fellow pastor shortly after the announcement of appointments. The friend offered his hand to congratulate the lucky fellow, then suddenly turned away and covered his face with both hands. After a moment, he turned back with tears on his face. ñIÍm so sorry,'' he said. ñIÍm truly glad for you, but I just realized that IÍll never get to serve a church like that myself.'' There it is. Second place, and it can hurt a lot.
What does the Bible have to say about all of this? Does it offer consolation to us when we fall short? Of course it does. I suspect if Jesus could speak directly to our success-oriented generations, he would tell us to press on in our efforts to be successful, provided we do so in totally ethical ways and with sensitivity to the feelings of others. But therein lies a problem: for me to win (in the traditional sense) you have to lose. I think Jesus would tell us that God simply doesnÍt care one way or the other what honors we receive, how successful we are as the world measures those things. The Persian poet knew this:
The worldly hope men set their hearts upon
Turns ashes or it prospers; and anon,
Like snow upon the desertÍs dusty face,
Lighting a little hour or two „ is gone.
____________
The Seattle Times recently printed a story about two little boys named Francisco and Fernando Soto. TheyÍre aged four and eight. They were playing by a swimming pool at the Carlton Place apartments in Bellevue, Washington, when little Francisco fell into nine feet of water. His little brother jumped in to rescue Francisco, but neither could swim. Their mother, who also could not swim, began to scream as she watched her two children struggle beneath the surface. ñMy baby is drowning,'' she cried.
It so happened that 49-year-old Jorge Pagan, a maintenance man from Puerto Rico, had just returned from a run and was relaxing on a second story balcony when he heard the cries. Knowing seconds would make the difference, Pagan jumped to the ground, raced to the pool, and was confronted by a high wood fence. Heedless of injury, he slammed into the fence with such force as to knock a hole in it big enough for him to get through. He leaped into the water and dragged two gasping little boys to safety.
Jorge Pagan suffered injuries which required medical treatment. But he saved two little boys. Pagan had once been a boxer, winning no titles, and was studying and teaching martial arts, also having won no titles. Perhaps the world had taken little notice of Pagan through the years. But though he may have won little in the way of worldly honors, we would all agree he is a number one winner in ñthe game of life.'' Something more than ñsnow upon the desertÍs face.''
____________
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 1 (C) „ ñHappy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked.''
Psalm 102 (RC) „ ñHear my prayer, O Lord.''
Psalm 68:1-20 (E) „ ñLet God rise up.''
Prayer Of The Day
Bring us together in harmony, O Lord. Grant us the grace to live in peace, respecting differences of race, politics, and creed. Touch our churches with your healing power, that we might serve our Christ in unison, displaying before a troubled world that indeed he does have the power to save. In ChristÍs name. Amen.
Lesson 1: Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 (C); Acts 1:15-17, 20-26 (RC); Acts 1:15-26 (E)
We Americans have long had a love affair with winners. Successful undertakings of nearly every sort quickly receive the admiration of those around us. As a group, we take great delight in banquets and other ceremonies at which honors are distributed. People who come in second are rarely remembered in our culture. The runner-up usually receives a brief word of recognition and then is quickly forgotten. If you happen to be a sports enthusiast youÍll remember the poor old Buffalo Bills of the NFL. Never mind that year after year that fine team distinguished itself by beating the best teams, winning titles right up to the Super Bowl. Never mind that for years they were good enough to get to the Super Bowl. They lost there. And for that, more than any hard-won victories, they are remembered. Stop in any bookstore and see how many books there are having to do with winning, with success, with coming in first.
Consider this man Joseph who, along with Matthias, was a finalist for inclusion with the other eleven as one of the twelve apostles. LukeÍs report tells us there were about 120 people present when the choice was made and announced. Bible stories leave out almost all details and come right to the point. There are times, though, when it would be interesting to know more. It seems likely here that everyone knew that Joseph might receive the exalted title. HeÍd have been less than human if he hadnÍt done a bit of fantasizing. Every minister whoÍs been nominated for Bishop, every candidate for an honorary degree, many hard-working and dedicated members of an organization about to award their outstanding volunteer of the year award, every candidate awaiting the decision of a pulpit committee, every team member who has played his or her heart out all season and awaits announcement of the MVP, must surely have experienced some of this private contemplation of an honor. And unless one is a genuine saint, itÍs only with great effort that we fix a smile and give a word of congratulation when the winner is announced to be someone else. No one likes to lose.
We donÍt learn any more about Joseph. Presumably he was a fine man even to be considered for the honor as apostle (or whatever title may have been in use at the time). But there must have been some inward pain when the announcement was made that Matthias had been chosen. Joseph came in second. One thing becomes clear when we read the New Testament: those people were imperfect like the rest of us. Peter whose courage failed him in Gethsemane; James and John who were nicknamed ñsons of thunder'' and blatantly asked to be first in the Kingdom of God, which they didnÍt even understand; Judas himself. Like you and me, those people also had to struggle with sin and self-centeredness. One must feel a moment of sympathy for Joseph when he realized how close he had come to being part of the inner circle. But he didnÍt come in first.
Lesson 2: 1 John 5:9-13 (C); 1 John 5:9-15 (E)
This passage creates a lot of ambivalence in me. ItÍs a wonderful word in many ways. The promise of eternal life, so confidently asserted here, warms our hearts. ñGod has given us eternal life, and this life has its source in his Son.'' What a promise. But I have a real problem with John on the fact that he states that ñwhoever does not believe God, has made a liar of him ... Whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.'' I have friends, dear friends, who do not ñbelieve'' these things. My own dear brother, now long dead, had only the dimmest sense of the truth of JohnÍs assertion. The majority of the worldÍs population does not currently ñhave the Son'' and I would lose a lot of regard for God if I thought he would forthwith banish everyone who fails the intellectual belief test. I know some not very nice people who do, however, believe in the Christian faith. IÍm being only a little facetious when I say IÍm not sure I want to be where theyÍre going anyway. I remember a minister who served in the inner city of Chicago several years ago who said that to refer to God as ñFather'' was sure to turn many a ghetto child away from the church, because their experiences with fathers were very unpleasant. Far from turning those children away, IÍm betting Jesus would grasp them to his heart.
What, then? Well, first of all, what do the words ñeternal life'' mean? Live forever? Maybe not. I have the conviction that ñeternal life'' refers to a quality of life which begins in this life. Now that makes a difference. If my brother had known Jesus, and had known the healing of the soul which that can bring, maybe heÍd be alive today. If those little fellows in the ghetto of Chicago in the Í60s „ most of whom are now dead or in prison „ had known Jesus, they might have found a creative, love-filled spirit in their hearts. Maybe John would agree that God doesnÍt blithely do away with those who havenÍt become Christians regardless of their reasons. Maybe what he wanted to convey is that when we accept Jesus as our Lord, we discover wonderful inner resources, we become recipients of all those blessings supplied by the Holy Spirit. And maybe in the next stage of existence „ life after death „ thereÍs a renewed chance to know Jesus as life-giving Lord. Then, I could agree with John. Now maybe my readers are thinking, ñWho are you to agree or disagree with John?'' Well, for better or worse, IÍm one of the many who interprets this word to a lot of people, and I believe it and thatÍs where I am. But it sure makes sense to me.
Lesson 2: 1 John 4:11-16 (RC)
(See Easter 5)
Gospel: John 17:6-19 (C); John 17:11-19 (RC); John 17:11b-19 (E)
ThereÍs an awful lot of preaching opportunity here. Jesus defines his own relationship with God as being inseparable. He knows that his earthly ministry is about complete and that the time is near when he must go on to what lies ahead for him. Now he prays for God to continue empowering those men whom God had sent to Jesus. We can feel JesusÍ overwhelming love and trust for these men. Despite the absence of much evidence of success on JesusÍ part, he knows that the future of his own ministry rests with a few men, ordinary men, fishermen and herdsmen „ people, if you will, like you and me. Because the apostles were men, Jesus used the word here. But as we view this passage, it applies to all of us, men and women alike. He asks that these men continue their ministry here, in the world. He (Jesus must have spoken this ñprayer'' with the idea of it being heard by listeners as well as by God) refers to the need for obedience, and to the dangers from the power of evil, ñThe Evil One.'' In other words, Jesus is defining the conditions of discipleship. While there are numerous implications of this prayer by Jesus, I would choose to emphasize discipleship. Recalling the old axiom „ we are to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable „ I would do a little afflicting next Sunday with this passage.
SERMON SUGGESTIONS
Title: ñOn Not Being First''
Text: Acts 1:15-17, 21-26
Theme: I know it was GodÍs will, and no doubt Matthias was the right choice, but donÍt you feel a little bit sorry for Joseph? He must have been a fine man to be considered as an apostle. Some of you have been there. I know a couple ministers who were in the running to be elected a Bishop of the United Methodist Church but lost. One man a few years ago was a shoo-in for the position until he caught a miserable cold the day before he was to give a candidating speech to the Jurisdictional Conference. Of course he sounded weak and ineffectual. Poor man, he was none of those, but heÍd almost lost his voice. He also lost the election and had to return to the only church available. A nice appointment, but a long way from becoming Bishop.
As a matter of fact, as I write this, I recall the time many years ago when I was active in the Junior Chamber of Commerce in Bloomington, Indiana. Each year the ñKey Man'' award was given, honoring the man who had done the most for the club that year. I had been Mister Activity himself. Each member was to vote and I was assured I was the front-runner. Truth: I really wanted it. I came in second, and was devastated. Trivial in retrospect, but I learned even then how it feels. In fact, every election has its losers.
This is true of life. We canÍt all be the Most Valuable Player, or recipient of the honorary degree, or alumna of the year, or whatever we may vie for in life. Joseph is never mentioned again so far as I know. I wonder how he handled it, walking out of that room knowing he had come that close to becoming one of the honored band.
HereÍs the point. God doesnÍt care. DoesnÍt give a hoot. What God wants of us is to try to be first in serving, in loving people, in honoring him, in kindness. And when we do our best at these, we are first. And the rewards will be better by far at last than another plaque on the wall or a seat at the podium.
Title: ñWhat Do We Mean By ïEternal LifeÍ?''
Text: 1 John 5:9-13
Theme: As discussed above, I think the Bible teaches a promise of rich inner experience for anyone who ñknows'' Jesus Christ as Lord. We recall that in Old Testament usage to ñknow'' someone meant a lot more than acquaintance, or even friendship. It meant an intimate union of being. The sexual relationship of husband and wife would be an earthly example. Used here, it means a close oneness of being „ Jesus and the disciple. There are many people who intellectually subscribe to the teachings of our faith, yet who have never sensed that inner oneness. It is when that happens (today we probably would speak of the Holy Spirit as an attempt to name the experience) that this joyous sense of the richness of life takes place. That, rather than mere survival beyond death, is what I think is meant by ñeternal life.''
Now, I think survival beyond death is a condition of this eternal life, but I believe people survive whether they ñknow'' Jesus or not. I also am personally of the conviction that death is not followed by a static existence, but rather by a further stage of experience and growth. I expect that many of my own weaknesses and flaws from this life can be improved upon in that life. I also believe that there will be further opportunities to accept Christ as Lord. But thereÍs no way to prove this contention. We can, however, prove the earlier contention, that when we accept Christ into our lives and give him Lordship there, a great inner joy and peace will follow.
Title: ñThe Cost Of Discipleship''
Text: John 17:6-19
Theme: Jesus, having declared to God his realization that his own earthly ministry now draws to a close, and having affirmed his close identification with God „ ñAll I have is yours, and all you have is mine'' „ then intercedes with God on behalf of his dear friends who must now carry out his earthly ministry. He affirms to God „ and one assumes to the apostles „ that God has given these particular men for this work and will therefore continue to oversee their ministries. Indeed, we remember that great exchange between Peter and some doubters in the second chapter of Acts. Peter, the former scaredy-cat in the courtyard, isnÍt scared of anything now.
With some indebtedness to William BarclayÍs commentary on this passage, I would do as follows.
1. Jesus prayed that the apostles continue in this world. We are all called to make our Christianity relevant to the everyday-ness of life. We are to be disciples ñin the world'' „ at the office and the factory, out on the sales route and the football field, at the country club and the fraternal organization, on the truck route and, it probably needs to be said, in the counseling room and the pulpit.
2. Jesus prayed for unity among his disciples. Too much conflict exists sometimes among us believers. I know of a church which at this very moment is torn by internal politics. Love needs to take charge. Jesus would pray for this, but makes it clear that the disciple is to be the lover.
3. Jesus prayed that the disciples be protected from evil. Obviously, this doesnÍt mean physically protected. Here in Indiana a couple years ago, a young minister stopped at a rest area on Road 65 on his way home. He entered the rest room. Another man walked in behind him, put a gun to his head and pulled the trigger. The minister never knew what hit him. Fortunately, the killer was quickly apprehended. ThereÍs no way God can save us from evil in that sense. God can, however, move within us to convict us of our sins, to make us see ourselves as we really are, to create in us a deep desire to be what we now know we were created to be.
4. Jesus prayed that his disciples ñbe consecrated by the truth'' (Barclay). That is, that they understand the true nature of their calling. That they realize that they were created from the beginning for their mission, and that being so created, they are equipped. So with us. We have a variety of gifts, and we are to use those gifts to serve him, and to fulfill a particular role in society. My wife has the gift of remembering everyone she meets, both face and name. We live in a small town bordering Indianapolis, and she knows nearly everyone. I, on the other hand, am known for greeting about half my congregation as ñHi, there.'' Or, more seriously, you have been equipped to preach, or to teach, or to counsel. Whatever it is, it is to be offered up as that which we owe to God.
ADDITIONAL ILLUSTRATIONS
A friend told me of the time he was announced at his Methodist Annual Conference as the new pastor of a fine, large church. He met a fellow pastor shortly after the announcement of appointments. The friend offered his hand to congratulate the lucky fellow, then suddenly turned away and covered his face with both hands. After a moment, he turned back with tears on his face. ñIÍm so sorry,'' he said. ñIÍm truly glad for you, but I just realized that IÍll never get to serve a church like that myself.'' There it is. Second place, and it can hurt a lot.
What does the Bible have to say about all of this? Does it offer consolation to us when we fall short? Of course it does. I suspect if Jesus could speak directly to our success-oriented generations, he would tell us to press on in our efforts to be successful, provided we do so in totally ethical ways and with sensitivity to the feelings of others. But therein lies a problem: for me to win (in the traditional sense) you have to lose. I think Jesus would tell us that God simply doesnÍt care one way or the other what honors we receive, how successful we are as the world measures those things. The Persian poet knew this:
The worldly hope men set their hearts upon
Turns ashes or it prospers; and anon,
Like snow upon the desertÍs dusty face,
Lighting a little hour or two „ is gone.
____________
The Seattle Times recently printed a story about two little boys named Francisco and Fernando Soto. TheyÍre aged four and eight. They were playing by a swimming pool at the Carlton Place apartments in Bellevue, Washington, when little Francisco fell into nine feet of water. His little brother jumped in to rescue Francisco, but neither could swim. Their mother, who also could not swim, began to scream as she watched her two children struggle beneath the surface. ñMy baby is drowning,'' she cried.
It so happened that 49-year-old Jorge Pagan, a maintenance man from Puerto Rico, had just returned from a run and was relaxing on a second story balcony when he heard the cries. Knowing seconds would make the difference, Pagan jumped to the ground, raced to the pool, and was confronted by a high wood fence. Heedless of injury, he slammed into the fence with such force as to knock a hole in it big enough for him to get through. He leaped into the water and dragged two gasping little boys to safety.
Jorge Pagan suffered injuries which required medical treatment. But he saved two little boys. Pagan had once been a boxer, winning no titles, and was studying and teaching martial arts, also having won no titles. Perhaps the world had taken little notice of Pagan through the years. But though he may have won little in the way of worldly honors, we would all agree he is a number one winner in ñthe game of life.'' Something more than ñsnow upon the desertÍs face.''
____________
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 1 (C) „ ñHappy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked.''
Psalm 102 (RC) „ ñHear my prayer, O Lord.''
Psalm 68:1-20 (E) „ ñLet God rise up.''
Prayer Of The Day
Bring us together in harmony, O Lord. Grant us the grace to live in peace, respecting differences of race, politics, and creed. Touch our churches with your healing power, that we might serve our Christ in unison, displaying before a troubled world that indeed he does have the power to save. In ChristÍs name. Amen.
