Sermon Morsels
Fourth Sunday after Pentecost: The Old Testament reading this past Sunday (June 17th) from the Prophet Ezekiel was the narrative of the Lord God taking a sprig from the top of a cedar tree and planting it on top of a “high and lofty mountain.”
The strength of a cedar tree is identified through its name derived from the root of a Hebrew word meaning “firm.” Solomon used the cedar tree to build his temple because of its majestic growth and strength. Some authors refer the cedar tree as “God’s Tree” or the “king of trees.” It is said, even today, Syrians refer to the cedar as the “cedar of the Lord.” As strong and majestic as the cedar tree is, scripture expounds upon the one thing stronger than the cedar, “the voice of God.”
Ezekiel describes this strong, majestic tree of God as a place of sanctuary and rest with its outreaching branches welcoming all of God’s creatures with shade for sanctuary, refuge, asylum, and shelter. The cedar may present unto us an image of a gathering place to be watered by the Word of God, energized by the light of Christ, and always growing and always green with a freshness of the Holy Spirit.
The Gospel reading from Mark speaks of the smallest of seeds growing into a great mustard tree. The parable of the mustard seed growing into what it is meant to be, an expansive shrub offering the same sanctuary, shelter, and rest as the majestic cedar.
Whether strong and majestic or short and thick both the cedar and mustard tree unfolds a vision of the realm of God welcoming the creatures of the air and the creatures of the ground (beast, organism, and insect) into God’s kingdom.
Baptism is a mark of new birth, unto us a child is born, into God’s realm. Promises are made on behalf of parents and godparents, or on our own accord. The promise to live a life with faith, love, and dignity of others is a self-sacrificing honor of mother and father (the fifth Commandment) and a means in which to live a life as a majestic cedar, or a short stubby mustard shrub with outreaching branches welcoming “your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”
Honor mother and father, live into the life of God’s Kingdom, spread out your branches, become a cedar or mustard tree.
The strength of a cedar tree is identified through its name derived from the root of a Hebrew word meaning “firm.” Solomon used the cedar tree to build his temple because of its majestic growth and strength. Some authors refer the cedar tree as “God’s Tree” or the “king of trees.” It is said, even today, Syrians refer to the cedar as the “cedar of the Lord.” As strong and majestic as the cedar tree is, scripture expounds upon the one thing stronger than the cedar, “the voice of God.”
Ezekiel describes this strong, majestic tree of God as a place of sanctuary and rest with its outreaching branches welcoming all of God’s creatures with shade for sanctuary, refuge, asylum, and shelter. The cedar may present unto us an image of a gathering place to be watered by the Word of God, energized by the light of Christ, and always growing and always green with a freshness of the Holy Spirit.
The Gospel reading from Mark speaks of the smallest of seeds growing into a great mustard tree. The parable of the mustard seed growing into what it is meant to be, an expansive shrub offering the same sanctuary, shelter, and rest as the majestic cedar.
Whether strong and majestic or short and thick both the cedar and mustard tree unfolds a vision of the realm of God welcoming the creatures of the air and the creatures of the ground (beast, organism, and insect) into God’s kingdom.
Baptism is a mark of new birth, unto us a child is born, into God’s realm. Promises are made on behalf of parents and godparents, or on our own accord. The promise to live a life with faith, love, and dignity of others is a self-sacrificing honor of mother and father (the fifth Commandment) and a means in which to live a life as a majestic cedar, or a short stubby mustard shrub with outreaching branches welcoming “your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”
Honor mother and father, live into the life of God’s Kingdom, spread out your branches, become a cedar or mustard tree.
Fourth Sunday of Easter: The Gospel story of the Good Shepherd from John's Gospel along with the reading of the 23rd Psalm is a reminder for us in the 21st century still need a shepherd in our lives. From an Old Testament perspective, this reading is very much a political statement and the roadmap to see the difference in our leaders between shepherd and wolf. From an individual standpoint, we can only drive so far down a straight road looking where we have been in the rearview mirror before we come to a curve in the road and need a shepherd to guide into the curve. Otherwise we find ourselves in the ditch waiting for our shepherd to come and care us in our vulnerable places.
Third Sunday of Easter: Hearing Luke's (24:36b-48) Gospel reading this morning we find ourselves in the upper-room again. This time, Thomas is not present and we learn from Luke that this first meeting with the Risen Jesus is not all that different from the doubts Thomas had in the second encounter. They like Thomas wanted to see the wounds of Christ from the crucifixion. Jesus asks them, "why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” The disciple now realize that their relationship, like Thomas, lives beyond the grave. They are now just beginning to realize the purpose of their calling is so much more than students of a mortal teacher. All they have learned is now to be shared with the world. Before you go out into the world I have more to teach you to Show you the way." As I ponder upon the questions the disciples may be asking, I am reminded of the song by the rock band Styx Show me the Way "wash my illusions away...Show me the way...Give me the strength and the courage to believe..." beyond the grave.
Second Sunday of Easter: We hear the story of "doubting" Thomas in the reading from the Gospel of John 20:19-31. Thomas seems very human to me, a man I can relate too. So, it always seems troubling to me to refer to him as "doubting." Doubting has such a negative implication attached. I tend to prefer "seeking" Thomas. A man seeking a relationship with Jesus that he may have believed ended at the grave, a relationship he was not ready to see end. We may also acknowledge, that Thomas really was no different from the other disciples, until they encountered Jesus in the upper room when Thomas was not with them. Did they understand their relationship with Christ would go beyond the grave until that moment when they saw the wounds on Jesus' hands and side, or did their intellectual understanding of death lie no further than the tomb? Thomas is an example for every generation in post-resurrection times that there is a relationship with God beyond the tomb, for us who "have not seen and yet have come to believe," and we too, more than two thousand year later, can say, as Thomas said, "My Lord and my God." May this Easter season continue to fill your heart with the joy of Easter Sunday.
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