You Can Make It Happen
Sermon
Sermons On The First Readings
Series I, Cycle B
Some friends invited Brenda to go rock climbing with them. Even though Brenda was scared of heights, she reluctantly went along. They were going to climb the face of a tremendous granite cliff. Brenda put on the necessary gear, took hold of the rope, and started climbing the rock.
When they reached a ledge, they decided to take a break. As they were resting, the safety rope snapped against Brenda's face, knocking out her contact lens. With her sight blurry, Brenda frantically began searching for her missing lens. It was nowhere to be found. Brenda was sitting on a rock ledge with hundreds of feet below her and hundreds of feet above her, far from home, unable to see clearly.
Naturally she was upset, so she prayed, asking the Lord to help her find her missing lens. Brenda was still unable to find her lens. They decided to continue their climb. Once they reached the top, a friend examined her clothing, thinking that maybe the lens was on her clothing. It was not.
As she waited for the rest of the group to reach the top, she continued to pray; "Lord, you can see all these mountains, you know every stone and leaf, and you know exactly where my contact lens is. Please help me." The Bible verse, "For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the entire earth ..." (2 Chronicles 16:9) came to mind.
As they were walking back down the trail, another group of climbers just starting up the face of the cliff met them. One of them shouted out, "Anybody lose a contact lens?"
The climber told how he had found it; an ant was moving slowly across the face of the rock, carrying it. Brenda could hardly believe it.
Brenda later told her dad, who is a cartoonist. He drew a picture of an ant lugging that contact lens with the caption: "Lord, I don't know why you want me to carry this thing. I can't eat it and it's awfully heavy. But if this is what you want me to do, I'll carry it for you."1
God has a wonderful way of using us to God's own glory. God is able to take all of our unique life experiences and somehow or another use them. That was precisely what happened to Esther. As our lesson reveals, God is able to put the right people in the right place at the right time.
Our scripture lesson has all the makings of a blockbuster action thriller movie -- the kind that keeps you on the edge of your seat. It is the story of a reversal of fortunes, of political intrigue, and ultimately, the triumph of good over evil. What makes the story of Esther so memorable is that it reminds us that God is always at work in our world, even at those times when we do not perceive God's presence. And more importantly Esther re-enforces how God is able to put the right people in the right place at the right time.
Our story opens with young Esther becoming queen. What the king did not realize at the time was that Esther was Jewish. "Esther did not reveal her people or kindred" (2:10). God placed Esther in the right place at the right time to carry out God's design. Esther would liberate her people much like Joseph saved his family from famine back in Genesis. She would rescue her people from certain destruction in much the same way as Moses led the people from slavery to the Promised Land. As queen, Esther would have the king's attention and would be kept informed of what was happening in the kingdom.
Esther's relative, Mordecai, was also in the right place at the right time. One day he overheard two of the king's trusted guards plotting to assassinate the king. Mordecai told Esther who informed the king at just the right time. An investigation was launched that ended with the two guards hanging on the gallows. Mordecai won the favor of the king for uncovering this plot and saving the king's life.
The next character who enters the story is quickly identified as the enemy. His name was Haman. He had devised a devious plot to kill all the Jews throughout the kingdom. As an advisor to the king, Haman was able to secure the king's approval without the king knowing exactly what he was signing. Haman tricked the king in order to gain his consent. As word reached the people of Haman's deed, they might have felt that there was nothing they could do to prevent the impending doom. "Wherever the king's decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting and weeping and lamenting, and most of them lay in sackcloth and ashes" (4:3).
When Esther heard about this plot, she called for a three-day fast in the hopes of receiving divine guidance in this most serious life and death struggle. In a time of national crisis it is wise to call upon God, seeking God's will and direction. Even at those times when our lives seem out of control, it is helpful to step back and seek out the Lord's guidance. That's exactly what Esther had the people do -- pray with all their might, seeking God's direction.
To add to the intrigue, Haman developed such a strong dislike for Mordecai that he wanted to see him hanged. Haman began secretly plotting against the Jews and Mordecai while the king continued to praise Mordecai for uncovering the plot to assassinate him. Esther's hope was somehow to convince the king of Haman's evil intention. If only she could expose him for what he truly was, perhaps then she could save her people. From the very beginning she was well aware of the risk involved, "After that I will go to the king, though it is against the law; and if I perish, I perish," she said (4:16). There was a risk involved going to see the king and Esther knew it. So she decided to host several banquets, just hoping for an opportunity to expose Haman's plot and save her life and those of her people.
On the second day of the banquet, the king again asked Esther, "What is your petition, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you." After a little too much wine, the king was willing to grant Esther "half of my kingdom." This was Esther's moment. This was what she was hoping for -- a chance to speak freely about Haman's evil scheme.
Even though there was a risk involved that the whole thing might backfire, Esther knew it was worth it to save the lives of her people, as well as her own life. In one daring move she requested, "Let my life be given me -- that is my petition -- and the lives of my people."
The long-held secret would now be told. The king was unprepared for what she would tell him, "For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated." The king was shocked; he knew nothing about it and asked, "Who is he, and where is he, who has presumed to do this?" The person responsible was nearby listening to every word. Esther told the king, "A foe and enemy, this wicked Haman!" The king had trusted his royal adviser to protect his interests and act accordingly. Haman must have felt uneasy as he stood there listening intently to the conversation. What Esther told the king would send him into a rage. Haman was guilty, no question about it. The king left in a fury while in a complete reversal of fortunes, Haman begged for mercy from Queen Esther. Haman was now fearful of his very life.
In a movie-like twist of fate, Haman was hung on the very gallows he had constructed for Mordecai. Esther had saved her people; they would not die. Esther was locked in a life and death struggle and took the necessary risks to win the release of her people. It was a moment of triumph that would be remembered for all time.
God has a wonderful way of placing the right people in the right place at the right time. We discover throughout the pages of the Bible how God has raised up the right people for the task at hand. Even at those times when it appears that God is absent, God is still at work behind the scenes to bring about God's own purposes.
God has brought us to this place at this time in the first decade of a new century and Christianity's third millennium -- for a reason. How might God use each one of us in this time and place? God expects something from us as we blaze a pathway for others to follow.
There are times when our faith requires that we take risks. We might risk friendships when we feel compelled to confront someone who is acting in destructive ways. When we take a stand that might be viewed as unpopular by others, by standing firm we risk being labeled a fanatic or worse. When we feel called to start new ministries within our church and reach out to others, we place ourselves at risk.
One morning before school, twelve-year-old Craig Kielburger saw a picture in the newspaper of a boy about his age smiling. As he read the article he learned that the boy's name was Iqbal Masih. He had worked in a carpet factory in Pakistan for most of his life. The article reported that the boy had been shot dead by an unknown assailant. Craig was horrified, wondering how such a thing could happen. And why did the boy work in a factory?
That day at school Craig went to the library to find information on child labor. He wondered if there was anything he could do to prevent such abuse. The next morning in homeroom he passed around copies of the article and told the class what he learned from his research. The students were just as shocked as he had been the day before. That evening a group of interested students met at Craig's house. They searched the Internet for firsthand accounts of child labor from children all over the world. They decided to try to prevent child labor and named their effort, "Free the Children."
Not everyone shared Craig's enthusiasm. That summer his parents told him with the start of a new school year it was time to stop. When school started some fellow students resented his opposition to brand name sneakers and jeans made by child laborers. But Craig continued, believing that through his efforts he could make a difference.
A couple of months later, after some successful fund raisers, Craig had the opportunity to travel first to Bangladesh and then India. "I talked to ten-year-old boys who had quit school to work fifteen-hour days to help support their families," Craig explained, "and realize how frivolous my hours spent playing ball would seem." On that two-month trip Craig saw firsthand much injustice, but he also saw ways to change it. Through his efforts he knew he could make a difference. "It starts with me -- with each one of us," he says, "with what we can do to make things better." While he realized that he cannot solve all the world's problems by himself, he and others can work to solve some -- with the help of God.2
When we stop to examine our own lives, could the risks we have taken or in some cases failed to take be the reason our life has gone the way it has? That's a powerful question that only we can answer.
Esther risked everything including her own life to save her people. She was the right person at the right place at the right time. Only God is able to take our experiences and use them in ways we cannot even imagine. Remember that God does not call the qualified, God qualifies the called.
Jesus has called us to be his followers and that call demands our very best and often involves some degree of risk. Only God can take all of our experiences and weave them with other persons' to accomplish God's will. We are here for a reason; we have a purpose.
____________
1. "The Ant and the Contact Lens," a true story by Josh and Karen Zarandona, via e-mail.
2. "It Starts With Me," Craig Kielburger, Guideposts, November 1999, pp. 2-6.
When they reached a ledge, they decided to take a break. As they were resting, the safety rope snapped against Brenda's face, knocking out her contact lens. With her sight blurry, Brenda frantically began searching for her missing lens. It was nowhere to be found. Brenda was sitting on a rock ledge with hundreds of feet below her and hundreds of feet above her, far from home, unable to see clearly.
Naturally she was upset, so she prayed, asking the Lord to help her find her missing lens. Brenda was still unable to find her lens. They decided to continue their climb. Once they reached the top, a friend examined her clothing, thinking that maybe the lens was on her clothing. It was not.
As she waited for the rest of the group to reach the top, she continued to pray; "Lord, you can see all these mountains, you know every stone and leaf, and you know exactly where my contact lens is. Please help me." The Bible verse, "For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the entire earth ..." (2 Chronicles 16:9) came to mind.
As they were walking back down the trail, another group of climbers just starting up the face of the cliff met them. One of them shouted out, "Anybody lose a contact lens?"
The climber told how he had found it; an ant was moving slowly across the face of the rock, carrying it. Brenda could hardly believe it.
Brenda later told her dad, who is a cartoonist. He drew a picture of an ant lugging that contact lens with the caption: "Lord, I don't know why you want me to carry this thing. I can't eat it and it's awfully heavy. But if this is what you want me to do, I'll carry it for you."1
God has a wonderful way of using us to God's own glory. God is able to take all of our unique life experiences and somehow or another use them. That was precisely what happened to Esther. As our lesson reveals, God is able to put the right people in the right place at the right time.
Our scripture lesson has all the makings of a blockbuster action thriller movie -- the kind that keeps you on the edge of your seat. It is the story of a reversal of fortunes, of political intrigue, and ultimately, the triumph of good over evil. What makes the story of Esther so memorable is that it reminds us that God is always at work in our world, even at those times when we do not perceive God's presence. And more importantly Esther re-enforces how God is able to put the right people in the right place at the right time.
Our story opens with young Esther becoming queen. What the king did not realize at the time was that Esther was Jewish. "Esther did not reveal her people or kindred" (2:10). God placed Esther in the right place at the right time to carry out God's design. Esther would liberate her people much like Joseph saved his family from famine back in Genesis. She would rescue her people from certain destruction in much the same way as Moses led the people from slavery to the Promised Land. As queen, Esther would have the king's attention and would be kept informed of what was happening in the kingdom.
Esther's relative, Mordecai, was also in the right place at the right time. One day he overheard two of the king's trusted guards plotting to assassinate the king. Mordecai told Esther who informed the king at just the right time. An investigation was launched that ended with the two guards hanging on the gallows. Mordecai won the favor of the king for uncovering this plot and saving the king's life.
The next character who enters the story is quickly identified as the enemy. His name was Haman. He had devised a devious plot to kill all the Jews throughout the kingdom. As an advisor to the king, Haman was able to secure the king's approval without the king knowing exactly what he was signing. Haman tricked the king in order to gain his consent. As word reached the people of Haman's deed, they might have felt that there was nothing they could do to prevent the impending doom. "Wherever the king's decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting and weeping and lamenting, and most of them lay in sackcloth and ashes" (4:3).
When Esther heard about this plot, she called for a three-day fast in the hopes of receiving divine guidance in this most serious life and death struggle. In a time of national crisis it is wise to call upon God, seeking God's will and direction. Even at those times when our lives seem out of control, it is helpful to step back and seek out the Lord's guidance. That's exactly what Esther had the people do -- pray with all their might, seeking God's direction.
To add to the intrigue, Haman developed such a strong dislike for Mordecai that he wanted to see him hanged. Haman began secretly plotting against the Jews and Mordecai while the king continued to praise Mordecai for uncovering the plot to assassinate him. Esther's hope was somehow to convince the king of Haman's evil intention. If only she could expose him for what he truly was, perhaps then she could save her people. From the very beginning she was well aware of the risk involved, "After that I will go to the king, though it is against the law; and if I perish, I perish," she said (4:16). There was a risk involved going to see the king and Esther knew it. So she decided to host several banquets, just hoping for an opportunity to expose Haman's plot and save her life and those of her people.
On the second day of the banquet, the king again asked Esther, "What is your petition, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you." After a little too much wine, the king was willing to grant Esther "half of my kingdom." This was Esther's moment. This was what she was hoping for -- a chance to speak freely about Haman's evil scheme.
Even though there was a risk involved that the whole thing might backfire, Esther knew it was worth it to save the lives of her people, as well as her own life. In one daring move she requested, "Let my life be given me -- that is my petition -- and the lives of my people."
The long-held secret would now be told. The king was unprepared for what she would tell him, "For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated." The king was shocked; he knew nothing about it and asked, "Who is he, and where is he, who has presumed to do this?" The person responsible was nearby listening to every word. Esther told the king, "A foe and enemy, this wicked Haman!" The king had trusted his royal adviser to protect his interests and act accordingly. Haman must have felt uneasy as he stood there listening intently to the conversation. What Esther told the king would send him into a rage. Haman was guilty, no question about it. The king left in a fury while in a complete reversal of fortunes, Haman begged for mercy from Queen Esther. Haman was now fearful of his very life.
In a movie-like twist of fate, Haman was hung on the very gallows he had constructed for Mordecai. Esther had saved her people; they would not die. Esther was locked in a life and death struggle and took the necessary risks to win the release of her people. It was a moment of triumph that would be remembered for all time.
God has a wonderful way of placing the right people in the right place at the right time. We discover throughout the pages of the Bible how God has raised up the right people for the task at hand. Even at those times when it appears that God is absent, God is still at work behind the scenes to bring about God's own purposes.
God has brought us to this place at this time in the first decade of a new century and Christianity's third millennium -- for a reason. How might God use each one of us in this time and place? God expects something from us as we blaze a pathway for others to follow.
There are times when our faith requires that we take risks. We might risk friendships when we feel compelled to confront someone who is acting in destructive ways. When we take a stand that might be viewed as unpopular by others, by standing firm we risk being labeled a fanatic or worse. When we feel called to start new ministries within our church and reach out to others, we place ourselves at risk.
One morning before school, twelve-year-old Craig Kielburger saw a picture in the newspaper of a boy about his age smiling. As he read the article he learned that the boy's name was Iqbal Masih. He had worked in a carpet factory in Pakistan for most of his life. The article reported that the boy had been shot dead by an unknown assailant. Craig was horrified, wondering how such a thing could happen. And why did the boy work in a factory?
That day at school Craig went to the library to find information on child labor. He wondered if there was anything he could do to prevent such abuse. The next morning in homeroom he passed around copies of the article and told the class what he learned from his research. The students were just as shocked as he had been the day before. That evening a group of interested students met at Craig's house. They searched the Internet for firsthand accounts of child labor from children all over the world. They decided to try to prevent child labor and named their effort, "Free the Children."
Not everyone shared Craig's enthusiasm. That summer his parents told him with the start of a new school year it was time to stop. When school started some fellow students resented his opposition to brand name sneakers and jeans made by child laborers. But Craig continued, believing that through his efforts he could make a difference.
A couple of months later, after some successful fund raisers, Craig had the opportunity to travel first to Bangladesh and then India. "I talked to ten-year-old boys who had quit school to work fifteen-hour days to help support their families," Craig explained, "and realize how frivolous my hours spent playing ball would seem." On that two-month trip Craig saw firsthand much injustice, but he also saw ways to change it. Through his efforts he knew he could make a difference. "It starts with me -- with each one of us," he says, "with what we can do to make things better." While he realized that he cannot solve all the world's problems by himself, he and others can work to solve some -- with the help of God.2
When we stop to examine our own lives, could the risks we have taken or in some cases failed to take be the reason our life has gone the way it has? That's a powerful question that only we can answer.
Esther risked everything including her own life to save her people. She was the right person at the right place at the right time. Only God is able to take our experiences and use them in ways we cannot even imagine. Remember that God does not call the qualified, God qualifies the called.
Jesus has called us to be his followers and that call demands our very best and often involves some degree of risk. Only God can take all of our experiences and weave them with other persons' to accomplish God's will. We are here for a reason; we have a purpose.
____________
1. "The Ant and the Contact Lens," a true story by Josh and Karen Zarandona, via e-mail.
2. "It Starts With Me," Craig Kielburger, Guideposts, November 1999, pp. 2-6.