Tag: Temple

Sermon: Changing the Story

The widow in this morning’s reading from Luke 21 gave those two coins not because it made a speck of difference to the temple. Not because anyone there cared for her – no one did. She gave those coins in spite of the temple and all it stood for, not because of it.

(A Meditation on the Story of the Widow’s Mite)

I recently learned that many who watch sermon videos online watch the introduction, then skip to the end for the conclusion. … (I’m sure no one here does that!) … But it’s understandable. I mean, everyone has too much to do and not enough time to do it in.  So, why not just skip all that stuff in the middle …  get done quicker?

In conclusion…

Well, before I get to the conclusion, I’d really like to talk a bit about this morning’s readings. The story of the Widow’s Mite teaches us that God honors faithful gifts, no matter how small, no matter what they are, no matter what size they are. It’s the size of the faith that matters, not the size of the gift. 

Another point we sometimes overlook is that the Widow’s two tiny coins mark the end of her life. She had almost nothing left to give; but she gave anyway. After that, there was nothing left not even her life. Her journey had reached its conclusion.

This story also marks the closing of Jesus’ ministry. He never taught in public again. He had given everything he could. He also had nothing left to give except his life. They were both done, both at the end of their journey, both ready for the next step. And, they both knew it.

And yes, these are important lessons. But Luke is teaching us about more than just this. He shows us that all that we have, all that we can give, already belongs to God. He teaches that we are called to bless and support others with what God has blessed us with.

We’ve all heard that lesson many times, it can be found everywhere in the Scriptures. Our willingness and motivation for giving is what matters. It’s not about how much treasure we give, or even whether anyone notices.

Luke speaks of the magnificence of the temple. But, it is the widow’s action, done in good faith, that matters – not the temple.

Continue reading “Sermon: Changing the Story”

Sermon: Knowledge, Faith, and Love

Solomon is certain he has built a place worthy of being God’s dwelling place forever.  … Forever is a long time: building a permanent dwelling place for God strikes me as an attempt to create boundaries for God that work for us, but perhaps not for God.  God’s former home was that tent made out of cloth, and skins, not stone.  It was not a permanent dwelling.  And so I think of that tent as representing how our Faith is a journey, not an endpoint; a path we must walk.  We might stop occasionally to dwell for a time, but we always move on.  A tent is not a monument.

Lord God, may your peace and Holy Spirit fill this place. Open your scripture to us, and may I clearly communicate that which you intend us to receive. May your Word take root and flourish within each and every one of us; and through it may we be strengthened and transformed by your unconditional, living, and limitless love for us and all of your Creation. 

In Jesus Name, Amen.

Tom texted me yesterday and asked if I would fill in for him this morning.  I immediately said yes, certain I had a sermon somewhere in my archive that would provide a good starting point for a meditation on this morning’s scripture.  Oops.  It took a lot more work than I thought; which is probably a good thing, actually: because if it wasn’t a journey to write this sermon and prepare for this service, then it probably wasn’t worth doing.

This morning’s reading is about Israel redefining its relationship with God in the time of Solomon the Wise.  The old tent that long housed the Ark of the Covenant no longer seemed fitting to them, for their prosperous and peaceful Kingdom.  

At the end of our reading, Solomon is certain he has built a place worthy of being God’s dwelling place forever.  …Forever is a long time: building a permanent dwelling place for God strikes me as an attempt to create boundaries for God that work for us, but perhaps not for God.  God’s former home was that tent made out of cloth, and skins, not stone.  It was not a permanent dwelling.  And so I think of that tent as representing how our Faith is a journey, not an endpoint; a path we must walk.  We might stop occasionally to dwell for a time, but we always move on.  A tent is not a monument.

Also, for a while now, I’ve been pondering how Faith operates in and through us on our journey through life.

For example, we saw Faith at work last week here, at our Special Congregational Meeting  – a major stepping stone in a long period of our congregation evaluating what works, what doesn’t, what’s broken, and what needs to be replaced or rethought.  We were asked to commit ourselves to the next step in that journey in the form of a Capital Campaign, to prepare our church’s infrastructure for the future. 

That meeting, just like this worship service, and so many other things that we do – either individually or jointly – are all expressions of faith.

Continue reading “Sermon: Knowledge, Faith, and Love”