Summer Homework Preached on June 17th, 2018 Scripture: Mark 4:26-34 I have heard many sermons and read many reflections on biblical stories, like the parables we read today. Typically the preacher or writer will explain that Jesus uses metaphors from the farming world, because the hearers of Jesus’ tales were simple folk: farm laborers and the like. It is as if Jesus actually had far more sophisticated analogies in his mind and he dumbed them down for the simple folk. And, I admit, for many years I’ve entertained this kind of thinking. But today, I am beginning to think of the parables of the seeds a little differently. I’m beginning to reflect on the deep wisdom of ancient farming methods and how they might relate to the stories we heard. I’m beginning to think that the fact that these stories focus on the seeds, the land and the elements needed to make them grow is the pointof the story. Coastal city dwellers like ourselves have largely grown away from the wisdom of farming over the generations. Few of us work the land any more. Mostly of us travel to work each day by mass transit or car. We work in offices, schools, universities, high tech medical facilities. In this part of the world we do not see many fields of grain. Our contact with agriculture is usually limited to growing plants and vegetables in our spare time, rather than daily tilling of the soil for a living. The food we eat is generally obtained from the Supermarket or the Farmers’ Market. Often we don’t know where is came from and how it got here. We don’t know who labored so that we might eat. We don’t know who and what suffered so the markets can offer the weekly special buys. We may feel very far from Jesus’ world of seeds and harvests. So, as we approach the two parables we heard today: the parable of the sower, and the parable of the mustard seed, let’s remind ourselves that we are totally dependenton the productivity of the land. The story of the seeds and harvest is actually very close to our daily lives and our daily bread. If the seed planted by the sower does not grow, we do not live. Let’s think about these particular plants. In the first parable, Jesus likens the kingdom of God to a sower scattering seed on the ground and leaving it to grow. That is all. He does not spend time fertilizing or tilling the ground. He does not worry that pests will destroy the grain, and spray it liberally with pesticide. He does not water the crop, weed the planting, or thin out the shoots when they appear. This sower simply scatters the seed on the ground and does nothing else but sleep and wake. In due course the ripe full head of grain may be harvested. In the second story, Jesus compares the kingdom of God to a mustard seed. He says that when this seed is sown in the ground it grows up into the greatest of all shrubs. This particular mustard plant is unusual – it puts forth great branches to shelter the birds and they can make their nests in its branches. This is no ordinary mustard plant. For now, we can see the common elements of the stories involve seeds that grow: a common enough occurrence. How quickly do weeds spring up in your own yard, without any help from you? And yet, this growth is a miracle of the created world. There are these ingredients:
The soil of the earth is not in the same condition it was when Jesus first told those parables of the seeds. Agronomist Wes Jackson says that “soil is as much a nonrenewable resource as oil.” [1]And we, humans, having been using up that resource. In the book “Grounded,” author Barbara Brown Taylor, says that “in the last century and a half the planet lost half its topsoil. American soil is disappearing at a rate 10 times the rate at which it can be replenished … in China and India the erosion rates are 30 to 40 times faster.” [2] Besides the erosion of topsoil, widespread use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers have depleted the soil and killed off important species.Fertilizers are needed because the same crops are grown, continually on the same land. Yet, ancient farmers knew that soil needs time to recover after producing. Resting the land is prescribed in the Hebrew laws of Sabbath, Wayne Muller writes: “Hebrew practice of Sabbath included honoring the Sabbath year, when people refrained from planting, sowing seed or harvesting crops. During this fallow time … the community relied upon whatever grew in the fields of its own … a dramatic reminder that it was not their work alone, but rather God and the earth who fed them.” [3] In our modern world we are unwilling to rest and let ourselves recover from being productive. It’s no wonder we will not let the land recover either. We have tried to keep up with human growth and demands for an inexpensive food supply by outsourcing production to vast farmlands in the middle of our country. Sadly, this has separated us from our food sources, and allowed us to turn a blind eye to unsustainable practices. And yet, Barbara Brown Taylor notes that many people are coming back to the ground, drawn back to the benefits of gardening. Parents are enjoying teaching their children the pleasures of sowing, tending and harvesting. Residential facilities for the elderly are introducing gardens for residents to tend as a productive and meaningful activity. We are even learning that contact with the soil – actually putting our hands into it – is beneficial for our health. Many churches are turning outdoor space into community gardens. First Congregational Church in Stoughton MA, where I did my first field education year, has created a sustainable garden on church land. They grow vegetables for local food banks and pantries. It’s a wonderful community activity and sends a very positive message to the church’s neighbors and passersby. Now, I have to admit I am not much of a gardener. I was able to grow just about anything in England. The soil was full of earthworms, there was plenty of rain, plants stayed lush and green throughout the year. I never learned to deal with the harsher climate, the grubs, and other pests that are found in New England. One success was a beautiful herb garden planted for me by a friend. All was well until I introduced a little of my favorite herb – mint. Pretty soon all I had was a mint garden. I’m excited that I have finally begun composting. I used to feel anxious about food waste and sad tossing the peelings, stalks, and other vegetable waste in our trash. Now our leftovers are bundle up and go to the composting facility in our town, to be returned to the earth in due course. So now let’s return to our parables. The mustard seed and the grain planted by the sower represent God’s great gift to us in the miracle of Creation. Then Jesus likens the growth of these seeds to the coming kingdom of God. In the poetic stories of Creation in the book of Genesis, we read that God created the world and everything in it. God proclaimed that plants and animals, forests, oceans, rivers, deserts, mountains and planes were all “very good.” Then our Creator God made human beings in God’s own image, and sent us out to till the soil, and to enjoy forthcoming good gifts. It seems that humankind has fallen down on our part of the bargain. We learn from Jesus and the prophets that God’s vision for the world – God’s kingdom - includes all children being fed good, nutritious food; shelter and security provided for all people; a banquet table laden with good produce to be shared among all the world. If the bringing about God’s dream for the world were all up to us, it would be a tragic failure. But it’s not. The seed sown in the soil does not require any further intervention from the sower. The un-engineered seed comes with Creator-approved DNA. It is predestined to produce a bumper crop. Our participation is simple: put the seed in the ground, and then wait. Sometimes this is what our participation in the fruition of God’s dream means. We do our part, for today. We plant the seeds or generosity and kindness when we bring a bag of groceries to Interfaith Social Services during the lean summer months. We plant seeds of justice when we stand and speak for those who cannot safely speak for themselves. We plant seeds of love and connectedness, when we reach out and make friends with someone who looks different from us. We plant seeds of compassion when we respond to another’s need, looking at life through their eyes. Like the sower in the parable choose your seed, plant it today, and then leave the growth to God. And so, I have some homework for you all this summer: First of all rest. Like the earth, in order to be productive we need rest from work. So this summer get some unplugged down time. Like the sower, sleep and wake and sleep and wake again. Remember, it doesn’t all depend on you. Second, plant a seed. I have some here – mystery seeds if you like – for various herbs. I’ll give one to each of you. But you’re welcome to take more. Perhaps you will keep your seed of a reminder of the story today, or perhaps you’d like to grow it. A word of warning, just scattering the seed on the ground and going away probably won’t work. And so, Church, rest, get your hands into some soil. Compost your food scraps and vegetables. And get outside. You’ll feel better. May all God’s people say, Amen [1]Barbara Brown Taylor, “Grounded: Finding God in the World”, (HarperCollins, New York, 2015), 45 [2]Ibid., 45-46 [3]Wayne Muller, “Sabbath: Finding Rest and Renewal In Our Busy Lives”, (Bantam Books, 2013)
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Are We In Our Right Mind? Preached at Wollaston Congregational Church On June 10th, 2018 Family members, co-workers and friends have, from time to time, asked me questions like: “Are you out of your mind?” Granted they have used more polite terminology, such as “Are you sure about this?” or “Do you really want to do that?” Usually these questions have something to do with my call to ministry. My family and friends are well acquainted with the complications of congregational life. They know the conflicts that can spring up, seemingly out of nowhere. Over the years, they have seen church members take out their frustrations in life on their fellow congregants. They have noticed that the pastor often becomes the scapegoat for issues in the church. If you haven’t heard about this phenomenon, check out the subject “family systems theory and congregational conflict” on Amazon or in your local library. And I have to admit, congregational life is often messy. It is only by the grace of God, I am sure, that I landed here in this small and loving congregation. Believe me, I give thanks to God every day for every one of you. And still, the idea of creating loving community made up of a diversity of people from every age generation, race, walk of life, political persuasion, sexual orientation and gender identity, family configuration, can seem like a crazy, unattainable goal. In the “who we are” statement we adopted in January this year, we stated that our common denominator is “a desire to find our place in the expansive love of God, and to share that love, made known in Jesus Christ, in this community and in the world beyond.” Were it not for this lofty goal, I would agree with the critics, and say that our attempts at community are indeed crazy. In our gospel today, we heard of Jesus getting into the swing of his ministry in the third chapter of the gospel of Mark. The crowds are overwhelming. People in need of healing crowd around. Jesus and the disciples don’t even have time to eat. Jesus’ reputation of casting out demons from the afflicted is going before him. The temple scribes accuse him of being in league with Satan, but the people know better. Perhaps the scribes have dismissed the sick and the demon-possessed, because they don’t know what to do with them. Perhaps they have sent them away telling them to: “get ahold of themselves”, to be grateful for what they have, look on the bright side, get over it, to stop complaining, and focus on the positive. Perhaps they have shamed them for their sickness. Yet the temple scribes seem to think that they have a monopoly in the business of casting out demons. Perhaps they see Jesus’ work of compassion and healing as a threat to the sacrificial system. Perhaps they are fearful because his healing ministry actually works. And so they accuse him of being in league with the devil. And, it seems that Jesus’ family is also worried. He’s not getting his sleep, he’s not eating, he’s not “himself.” All this getting down and dirty with the afflicted ones is setting him apart. He is bringing down a shady reputation on the family. Jesus’ family call him crazy, and the scribes call him possessed, but he is making healing changes in the lives of people. He is forming grace-filled, messy community around himself. These are the people he decides to call family. It’s worth reminding ourselves that the people of Jesus’ time thought that diseases of the mind were caused by demons. The only treatment of the time was to cast out the demon. Jesus seems to have found a way to do this, such that the person was healed from their disease. Of course, in our times we understand that diseases of the brain are medical conditions. If you, or someone you love is struggling, they deserve a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. We know that, in our culture today, mental illness is a serious problem. Anxiety among teenagers has reached unprecedented proportions. And suicide rates have increased in nearly every state over the past two decades, and half of the states have seen suicide rates go up more than 30 percent.[1]Over the past few days the suicides of designer, Kate Spade, and celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain, have prompted conversations about this trend. In our times, there is still a sense of shame, for sure, around mental illness. And so, I am so grateful that therapists encourage their patients to seek out the community of church as a part of their healing process. The Health Fitness Revolution online magazine gives ten health benefits of belonging to a church. These include discipline, routine, self-identity and esteem, and participating in acts of service. The most significant benefit they list is social support: “Going to a place of worship gives you a sense of community. You have a second family that you can share your life’s problems and fun times with. Friends from church support you through the best and worst of times. [Worshiping] together makes the sense of community stronger.”[2] Despite the optimistic tone of this report, we know that simply belonging to church will not solve all mental health problems. Healthcare and treatment options are essential. And for a healthy society, these options must be available for everyone who needs them. But, we, the church, do have a role to play in the healing of those with mental illnesses. We can begin talking openly about mental health issues and naming them for what they are. Removing the taboos and stigmas around issues like depression, PTSD, and suicidal thoughts can help sufferers to seek out treatment. And we can normalize the need to seek help for mental conditions, talking openly of our own experiences and negating feelings of shame that plague sufferers. The second part of our role is to work on the gathering the kind of community Jesus called “family.” Can you imagine what that looks like in the light of the gospel passage we heard? Can you imagine a community of love, belonging and healing for all people? Last Sunday afternoon at the first Quincy Pride Day up on Pageant Field in Merrymount Park, I believe I saw a manifestation of this kind of community. I saw people of all ages, all walks of life, all races, all family configurations, people with disabilities – and quite a few dogs too – come together for music, dancing, games and food. It was a community of celebration. I was humbled by the fact that the Quincy clergy and faith leaders were invited, as a group. We were graciously invited to bless the raising of the flags and given a time to introduce ourselves and to speak as “Voices from the Interfaith Community.” I felt the grace of the invitation deeply, remembering that as a group, clergy have acted much like the temple scribes of Jesus time for members of the LGBTQ community. Clergy have sought to leave LGBTQ folk out of the faith community. They’ve branded them as “out of their mind” and possessed. They’ve sent them into the abusive practice of conversion therapy. I’m grateful that the United First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church has been a leader for same-sex marriage in the city of Quincy. First Parish and their minister, Rev. Rebecca Froom, provided the clergy with an entrée into the QPride space. All the churches in attendance were given table space in one of the tents. Several members from WCC and I spent the windy but joyful afternoon greeting the people who stopped by our table. We shared our flyers as well as Hershey kisses, brownies and cookies. One moment in the middle of the afternoon I paused and looked around the field. I felt as though I was stepping out of the space to look on from a “birds eye view.” And I wondered, “what ever made me think I would be able to minister to a congregation that would welcome and affirm the LGTBQ community … and welcome and affirm those seeking healing for mental illness? How did I ever have the audacity to think that?” Coming back to my family and friends, yes, I may be a little “out of my mind” to attempt this ministry here with you. Maybe we are all a little “out of our minds.” We have the audacity to think that we can share the love of God made known in Jesus Christ in this community and in the world beyond. To think that we – even we – this little band of followers of Jesus could become a community of healing. And yet we know that we arewhat Jesus calls his “family.” May all God’s people say Amen. [1]https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/06/07/617897261/cdc-u-s-suicide-rates-have-climbed-dramatically [2]http://www.healthfitnessrevolution.com/top-10-health-benefits-going-church/ |
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