Born Identity: A Sermon for the First Sunday in Lent

Photo by R Ceesay

Lent is a season traditionally focused on sin and repentance, with sombre words and sombre music. There are heavy feelings around Lent and the journey to the events of Jesus’ final three days. When taken out of context, Lent is seen as a sad time, a time where you are told to examine all your faults, and a time where you are asked to suffer for 40 days to show your penitence to God. It is easy feel like Lent is something to be endured to placate a stern God whose suffocating nature perennially frowns on our pleasure.

 

As a resurrection people, we look for the gospel, for the hope, and Lent can indeed be that source of hope, despite its outward appearance. When looking through the scope of the entire liturgical cycle, Lent, while keeping its sombre tones, can truly be a sign of hope. During Lent, we have the opportunity to reorient our lives, to learn the truth about ourselves, and to walk with Christ through his journey to the cross. Lent gives us the chance to receive the seed of salvation that comes to us by the grace of Christ’s death and resurrection.

 

This year, especially if you’ve never done so before, I wish for you to experience Lent from a perspective of hope rather than despair. From joy rather than suffering. Not to negate the heavy and sombre feelings of the season, but to enhance some of the meaning behind those feelings. I want to remind you that you belong to a community of resurrection people who are all experiencing these same reeling emotions as we walk with our Saviour to his death.

 

What does it mean to belong? To God? To Jesus? To each other? To a community?

 

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, there are many definitions of the word belong. The one I find most important for our purposes is that to belong means to be a member or part of a club, an organization, a class, etc. To belong means to be included, and to be allied to.

 

Over the next few weeks, we are going to be hearing some very massive texts from John, and, of course, today’s temptation text from Matthew, that are saturated with themes and messages. These texts can be overwhelming, but I want to focus these enormous texts down into a moment, into key moments, that shows what it means to belong.

 

Belonging comes from being yourself and being seen. Part of feeling this sense of belonging is to make a claim on your identity.

 

In the Gospel reading today, we have the three temptations of Jesus. During the discourse between Jesus and Satan, twice there is a statement of “if you are the Son of God”. This piece of Jesus’ identity is not in question. He is the Son of God and Satan very well knows it. The question is, does Jesus really know it?

 

Yes, and no. These temptations are a real pivotal moment for Jesus. His identity is truly connected to knowing and understanding to whom does he belong and with whom does he belong. Throughout the temptations, by turning away Satan’s temptations, Jesus comes into his own, claiming his identity as the Son of God.

 

As well, with this 40-day journey falling between his baptism and the start of his ministry, Jesus is claiming his identity as fully human. Jesus is exhausted, starving, and alone as he struggles with his time of temptation and challenge. If he was only God and not human, these temptations would have been meaningless. Let’s look closer at these temptations and what it has to do with identity and belonging.

 

In the first confrontation, the tempter encourages Jesus to satisfy his physical hunger by turning stones into bread. Satan isn’t declaring doubt as to Jesus’ identity. Instead of “if”, he could have just as easily said “because you are the Son of God”. The deceiver is attempting to mislead Jesus into using his power for himself, rather than trusting in God to provide. Jesus, of course, sees through this trickery and declares “one does not live by bread alone”. Jesus knows there is more at stake than food and he will not misuse his power for personal gain.

 

The question becomes, “will God provide?” Will God provide for us? Belonging to something or someone means trusting in provision. Trusting in being fed. That’s one thing that happens with this first temptation, is that we find out that Jesus does provide bread in his ministry. The recognition of being provided for, particularly recalling God’s provision of manna in the wilderness, the knowledge of God’s provision in the direst of times, in the most unexpected and overwhelming circumstances, is what Jesus carries forward and does in his own ministry. For example, in the feeding of the 5000, Jesus knows that he belongs to God creates a moment of belonging with the people. In the sharing of the bread, there is a collective belonging to one another. Throughout this first temptation, there is a trust in God and in God’s provision, and it is this trust that is part of what it means to belong to and with God. Jesus trusts that God will care for him because he belongs to God. And so should we trust that in our belonging to God, we will be provided for.

 

The second test focuses on Jesus’ vulnerability and need for safety. Jesus is tempted to use his power to make himself secure from injury and death, but, again, Jesus refuses to misuse his power.

 

In the second temptation, the tempter is using scripture out of context to try and convince Jesus to test God’s protective grace. To belong to God means that you don’t need to throw yourself off a cliff to prove to everyone that God will protect you. Belonging to God means to have a deep trust that God will bear you up. In fact, only a few verses later, Matthew shows that this indeed happens by saying, “suddenly angels came and waited on him.” Verse 11 is an affirmation that God is present and will bear you up in times of need.

 

And finally, in the third temptation, Satan attempts to seduce Jesus with domination and prestige. The tempter offers Jesus control over all of the world’s kingdoms in exchange for his allegiance. Do you think Jesus was fooled this time? Who wouldn’t want to be ruler of all? Of course not! Instead, Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 6:13, “worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.”

 

In this last interaction, Satan reveals that his reign in the world is through empires like Rome. What Jesus realizes belonging to God means is that Jesus announces and lives God’s empire. He realizes that belonging means living in God’s kingdom, living in the presence and promises of God’s kingdom. If you continue further into chapter 4 of Matthew, you will come to a verse that says, “From that time Jesus began to proclaim, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’” In this case, repent means a transformation of perspective and, to an extent, that is what belonging means. It means that you have a perspective that is oriented to God, that you move about in the world in the promise that God’s kingdom has come near, just as Jesus has declared. It is a sense of belonging to something that is so much bigger, and so opposite, from the “empires” around us.

 

Part of belonging means an absolute trust in your identity of who you are. Jesus experienced these temptations as a way to affirm his humanity alongside of his divinity. In the midst of these temptations, Jesus comes into his own identity. All of these temptations, and Jesus’ ability to deny the tempter each and every time, has created a sense of belonging that is an affirmation of Jesus’ identity, of knowing who he is, and knowing to whom he belongs. Ultimately, it means that Jesus himself will be provided for and then, subsequently, he will also provide for others, for us. It means he will be born up and lifted up by God’s presence in his life. Jesus becomes an embodiment of God’s kingdom.

 

And because we too belong to God, we will also be born up and lifted up by the presence of God in our lives, no matter what our wilderness is.

 

And we will have many wildernesses throughout our lives, times where we might feel like we belong no where and to no one. But know that you will always belong to a community of resurrection people, a community of people that belong to each other, that belong to Jesus, and that belong to God. And that is good news indeed. Amen.

Resources:
"Pilgrim Year: Lent" by Steve Bell
"Feasting on the Word" edited by David Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor
"Belonging: A Preaching Workshop for Lent" hosted by Karoline Lewis

A Review of the Book "Belonging" by Karoline M Lewis

Title: Belonging

Author: Karoline M Lewis

Publisher: Abingdon Press

Year: 2022

106 pages

Karoline Lewis is one of the people to whom I often lean on for modern biblical commentary. She brings a new way of thinking about old stories. Her book "Belonging" is no different as she opens our eyes to a different interpretation of the well known story of the Samaritan woman at the well.

The book breaks down John 4:1-42 into five pieces - discomfort (1-6), wonder (7-15), trust (16-25), letting go, (25-30), and witness (31-42) - with each section reflecting on how the woman at the well is a true example of discipleship. Lewis makes useful comparisons to what would be called the typical interpretations, such as the common description the Samaritan woman as "loose" as opposed to simply following the Jewish law of the day of having to be married to different men as each previous husband dies or leaves her.

From the back of the book, "Each chapter begins with scripture and includes questions for reflection, a brief prayer, and space for making notes." As well, each chapter contains Lewis' reflections on the section and encourages the reader to reflect on the story and the renew our perspective.

For sermon writers, it is an excellent tool that can be used to develop a sermon series. for Faith formation instructors, this book would be an excellent resource for a faith development program. And for everyone, reading "Belonging" can help you to gain a new understanding of Christian discipleship.

"Belonging" is a short, easy read and I highly recommend to anyone looking for new ways to read and interpret their scripture. And especially to preachers looking for a new way to talk about an old story.

Speaking Up For Silenced Voices

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This month, I contributed to an article for the Rupert's Land News that "challenges readers to consider 'silent voices,' those persons whose voices are suppressed through means subtle and direct, and consider how we might speak up for all." You can find it on their website by clicking here. I’ve also included the text below:

Silence is a double-edged sword. It can be equally beautiful and comforting, and dangerous and scary.

            There are moments in life where being silent or sitting in quiet can be important. In church liturgy, there are various periods of silence strategically placed throughout a worship service so that a person has time to reflect on what has been said, to meditate and pray, and to open their heart to God.

            Sitting in a silent vigil next to a dying friend’s bed can be quite powerful, for both people. While it may take time to acclimate yourself to simply sitting in silence with another person (plenty of people find silent pauses uncomfortable), allowing for that quiet to permeate the room can bring moments of reflection, meditation, and prayer similar to those found in a worship service.

            Jonathan Bartels, a registered nurse in the US, created the Medical Pause. This event is a moment of silence taken by medical staff and friends and family of the patient immediately after death. This sacred moment of silence “allows individuals to personalize their practice while not imposing onto others and is a means of honouring a person’s last rite of passage.” (https://thepause.me/2015/10/01/about-the-medical-pause/)

            These silent moments are precious, beautiful, and comforting. They break up our busy lives, give us time to hear our own thoughts, and they can reconnect us to God. These golden moments can be tranquil and healing and are sometimes so rare that when they do happen, one needs to take hold of them and cherish them.

            However, silence has a dark side to it, as well. While there are times in our lives when silence is required, an imposed silence has a very different feeling. When a silence is imposed, it means there is a voice that has been silenced. Perhaps someone is making decisions for another person without consulting with them. Perhaps a voice is silenced by passive aggressive comments. More than likely, this imposed silence means that not all voices are being heard. Who is it that we are listening to and who is it we are silencing?

Being unable to tell your story could mean life or death. A person being abused, especially a woman being sexually abused, is often silenced by dismissing comments or outright declarations of denial by others. The abusee’s voice gets lost in the noise generated to protect the abuser.

A transgender person living stealth will be in constant fear that their secret will be discovered. It only takes one slip of the tongue or one tiny rumour to destroy a person’s life and possibly cause death, whether by their own hand or another’s.

These are only two examples of people are being silenced in one way or another. The only thing worse than voices being silenced are the bystanders who remain silent.

Desmond Tutu is attributed with the quote, “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” By silencing your own voice in situations of abuse or intolerance, you are encouraging harassment, bullying, dismissal, and humiliation. So, whose voice is being labelled as more important? And who is it that is being silenced?

We as bystanders need to break the silence and change the course of history. Breaking the silence can change laws and as a result change a person’s life. Maybe even save a life.

It brings to mind Simon and Garfunkel’s song “Sound of Silence”, particularly this verse:

            “And in the naked light, I saw

Ten thousand people, maybe more

People talking without speaking

People hearing without listening

People writing songs that voices never shared

And no one dared

Disturb the sound of silence”

            We have become accustomed to the evil around us, desensitized to the point that we no longer raise our voices against cruelty and injustice. No longer do we dare “disturb the sound of silence.” Instead, it’s become easier to turn the other cheek and allow the voices around us to be silenced. If we ignore a problem, it will simply go away, right?

            Clinical Pastoral Care students are taught that a silent listener is important for voices to be heard. That is what we need to be today – silent listeners. Space needs to be given to all the voices who have been silenced over the years. To do this, we need to shed our indifference and stand beside those who have been silenced, historically and presently.

            We can no longer be bystanders as victims of harassment, abuse, and violence are placated with half-promises and told to keep silent about events that have unfolded. We can longer be indifferent as death tolls rise from murder and suicide. It is long past the time for silent voices to be given the space they need to speak up against cruelty and injustice. It is time for those of us who have a voice, to speak up for those who have been silenced. It could mean the different between life and death.

A Review of the Book "The Haunting of Hill House" by Shirley Jackson

Title: The Haunting of Hill House

Author: Shirley Jackson

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Year: 1959

182 pages

The Haunting of Hill House is a story about four people who are invited to stay at a house that has been known to be the location of psychic phenomenon. The researcher, Dr Montague, has chosen these people particularly  because he feels they have the skills to help him prove that Hill House is indeed haunted.

This book is listed as a horror novel and definitely has scenes that make your imagination run wild. The advantage of an imagination, however, is that your mind has the ability to ton down the imagery. So I would say that this book is relatively tame in its horror compared to other books. That said, I have not seen the Netflix Series so perhaps seeing the story unfold onscreen which bring much more fear that did the book.

However, that isn't to say the book wasn't enjoyable. The story moved along well and it was easy to get into the characters story-lines, wanting to keeping finding out what happens next.

If you are looking to get into the genre of scary books, this is a good one to start with.

Go and Be Salt: A Sermon for the Fifth Sunday After Epiphany

Let us pray. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Amen.

I love watching the Food Network. Especially the food competitions. Shows like Iron Chef, Hell’s Kitchen, Worst Cook in America. They are quite entertaining, and I happened to have learned a cooking trick or two from them over the years. One of the most common phrases you hear from judges on these shows, including the baking ones, is “this needs more salt”.

I was never one to add much salt to my food, if any. I’ve always thought that it wasn’t good for you and that it should be avoided. But salt is such an important ingredient in cooking. First and foremost, salt is used as a seasoning to enhance the taste of food. It makes bland foods such as bread and pasta taste good and it helps to bring out the natural flavours in other foods.

            As well, salt is an important natural preservative and has been used for centuries to preserve meat, fish, dairy products and many other foods. Long before the invention refrigerators, techniques such as pickling were used to keep food safe to eat. Salt in the brine dehydrates the food making it take longer to spoil.

            In Biblical times, salt was very important. People back then did not have refrigerators or ice cube makers and so salt was very important to preserve food. They preserved vegetables. They would preserve fish for the winter time; that is, they would salt it and dry it out.

            Today, Jesus has a lot to say about salt and the importance of salt being salt. “You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled underfoot.” Well, what does that mean?

            Even in very small quantities, salt can make a big difference to a much larger whole. A pinch of salt brings a dish’s flavors alive. Indeed, salt is one of the only spices that can enhance and bring out other flavors in a dish.

            Jesus has a vision in mind, a standard by which we should be in the world. We are meant to be the salt of the earth, a sort of leaven or spice for the world. In a word, we followers of Jesus are meant to enhance the world, to draw out the flavors of all the world, existence, everything!

            “You are the salt of the earth.”

            In this single verse, we see Jesus would have his followers deeply engage with the world, to act as a spice that enlivens all the rest. With this spice, the world feels things more deeply, the highs are higher, the lows are lower. With this spice, the world feels, thinks, and acts more profoundly.

            “You are the salt of the earth.”

            Aside from the word “salt”, the other keyword in this verse is “are”. Jesus says that we are the salt. He doesn’t say, “You will someday be the salt of the earth,” or “Continue to work at becoming the salt of the earth.”

“You are the salt of the earth.”

For Jesus, we are already the salt of the earth. Jesus isn’t giving us a new role to play. He is naming who we already are. We don’t have to work to become salt. God made us this way, blessing us with gifts that can bless the world. But we do have to claim and embrace and live out these gifts. We do have to actually be salty, fulfilling and embodying what our gifts make possible. We do have to be who we are.

And this idea of being who we truly are forms the basis for all the instructions to come in the rest of Jesus’ sermon. Jesus does not say, “Follow these instructions and you’ll be blessed.” Rather, he says, “You are already blessed with gifts for blessing the world, so go and bless! Spice and shine! And here are some instructions for how best to do just that…”

“You are the salt of the earth.”

With this verse, Jesus moves from the announcing of blessings we heard last week, to giving instructions on how to live. Are you living as the salt of the earth? Are you enchanting and enlivening the flavors of life, are you feeling, thinking, and living deeply in the pain and joy of the world or are you living in another way that Jesus doesn’t describe?

And what does this salty life look like anyway? To me it seems that a salty life of following Jesus is one where, first and foremost, the disciple has begun to make peace with themselves. Where in your life have you shied away from the cold facts of life? Which relationships have you let grow cold because the truth is just too awkward?

Next, I suppose, is that the salty ones begin to move beyond themselves and gently offer themselves to others; hopefully simply as presence, ally-ship, and friendship and not as an overpowering fixer. We are salt, not cayenne. Salt allows the flavors of others to shine. Cayenne insists on being forward and in your face. Being salt means that we listen, we notice, and we don’t have to have our way.

Jesus is inviting us to live our salty discipleship out in the world. In our schools. In our places of employment. In our neighborhoods. In our circle of friends. Out there in the world which is often not so godly.

Being salt for the earth means to remind the world of what God created it to be: a loving commonwealth that is created for the flourishing of all and that anything other than that is not living in accordance with how God desired things to be. If we are to be disciples of Christ, we either season the world with love and grace or we cease to be a disciple of Christ.

You are the salt of the earth, called so by Jesus himself, now go and be salt.

Amen.