Sunday, April 28, 2019

Sermon Title – “Road Trip”

Texts: Luke 24:13-35

 

Have you ever taken a road trip before? Where’d you go? Who was with you? Was it by car, grey hound or train? Was it a fun vacation or a road trip w/ a particular purpose like a move to another state? Perhaps it was to attend a wedding or even a funeral? Did you make it to your destination in one piece? Did you sing songs in the car or argue over the radio stations or about which route to take? Was there laughter and all-around joy or was it tedious w/ a feeling of complete desperation just to make it to your final destination?

Well, this road trip we just read about didn’t take place in a car, bus or train, of course not. No, it was a long walk actually, which was approximately 7 miles long. Perhaps it was a dusty dirt road with the sun beating down on them or maybe there was a grey – cloud hovering above, to accompany their over-all grey mood. For, as we can see, these two travelers are pretty much down and out. In fact, they are deep in thought and there’s a tone of somberness in the air.  There is an over-all disappointment and confusion that hovers over them as well. We know this, because Luke tells us that they even looked sad and said how they had “hoped” for a different outcome to the recent events.  

And what were those recent events? Well, it was none other than the arrest, crucifixion and then remarkably reports of Jesus’ resurrection. ALL of these recent events had their undivided attention.

So, no, this is not a happy trip; instead, it is one of sadness, despair and many unanswered questions. Here were these two men who, although weren’t among the original 12 disciples, were clearly a part of the group that would have been close to Jesus. We see them deep in conversation, trying to make sense of what has just occurred. They’re probably checking in w/ each other to compare notes on what they had heard of that original Easter event. As with any good friends, they ponder things together, clarifying, asking themselves out loud how they could possibly make sense of what they’ve heard. “Could it be true,” they ask each other, “that their leader and friend who had just died three days ago was then raised from the dead- just as those women had said?”

That’s the setting of this particular road trip, one which doesn’t seem to be too pleasant until…the road takes a very unexpected turn when suddenly, a “stranger” joins them on their walk. Now, the road trip becomes quite different. Now, they have an opportunity to share their grief with the very One who COULD understood their pain and confusion, the most.

Ironically, they don’t recognize Him to be the very person they were speaking of but it doesn’t matter because Jesus takes this opportunity to engage w/ them in a very real conversation. And that’s when this road trip of despair becomes a very different kind of road trip – one, they will never forget.

I need to pause right here because don’t you just love what Jesus did once he joined them on this trip? Notice that He didn’t give them a long lecture on what had just happened and why it all happened. Instead, he listened to their questions, doubts and feelings. In other words, he invited them to share w/ Him their stories. He met them exactly where they were at on their spiritual journey. He didn’t say, “oh get over yourselves.” No, he listens and patiently waits until… He can do something incredible for them. And do you know what that was? According to Luke, Jesus begins to reveal His very self through the interpretation of scripture!

You see, after meeting them where they are at (with their grief and confusion), AND after listening to their doubts and fears, He doesn’t just leave them w/ all of these emotions and questions. No, instead, He shows them the real reason why all of that had to occur. And he does this by going through Biblical scripture and Biblical history. In other words, Jesus listens and takes them seriously. In doing so, he helped them to put their feelings into context, showing them that what had just happened wasn’t about them, but about God’s great plan for His people.

And this is where I want us to begin to ask ourselves what this story can possibly say to us today- two thousand or so years after that Easter and after that important road trip. You see, it is very important to remember that Jesus meets us where we are at on our journeys of life. And, it’s equally important to be able to put our own detours of life into context. Just as He had done for them.  Isn’t remarkable that whether we’re currently on a fun journey or a difficult one… Whether we feel we know exactly where we’re going presently or not… Whether you’re loving the beautiful scenery around you or it’s raining SO hard that you can’t see out the window…Whether you’re SO lost that you don’t know which turn to take…No matter what of your life journey looks like to you right now, Jesus IS with you. 

He’s right there along side of you and he’s ready to help you put it all into context so that you don’t get stuck or lost on your trip for ever but so that you can find you way home.

And that’s not all, He wants to engage us in our questions and doubts, not interrupting us or make fun of our feelings of confusion or loss. No, of course not. Instead, He wants to remind us that there’s a purpose to all of it, even if we can’t see it right now. He reminds us that He was with us, is with us and will always be with us. In doing so, He tells us that the grief will not be forever, the momentary detour will not veer us way off track; as we might suspect it will. He does all of this by use of scripture, of His word which still holds power today.

Then, right when we think that’s enough, it isn’t. There’s still more! After the exchange of questions and conversation what did Jesus do? He walked on before them. And Jesus still walks before us, as he walked before those 2 pilgrims. Why, because He is our true leader, our true tour – guide, sort to speak.

Now notice something else abt. the story.  When it was time to share the meal Jesus didn’t impose himself on them but instead, waited for them to invite Him to dinner and more conversation. Then, that’s when it gets even better. Because… it was around their sacred, intimate meal where their eyes were really opened. It was at that moment when their hearts were burning (with His truth and His presence) that they realize just who has been walking that long road with them, just who loves them so much that he would spend time w/ them, listening, sharing, teaching… Moreover, it was when he broke the bread that they realize clearly who he was. He was their Lord and master. He was their Messiah! At that precise moment Jesus goes from being a guest to being the host of that meal. Just as Jesus is the host of every communion we partake of, in His name.    

Now I wonder, what would have happened had they not invited him into their homes? Would they have had the benefit of being able to see clearly? And then I wonder something about us and that is… if we really want to see clearly what is happening on our own journeys? Because if so, then all we need to do is invite Him into our homes. Invite Him into our homes where we are who we really are- not the people that we must be out in public; where we often hide behind a mask. But again, we must want to see clearly our own situation and then want to see clearly who He. Think about it. Had those two travelers not invited him in to their home, they wouldn’t have received the ultimate revelation. Had they not offered him hospitality they would have missed the opportunity to see him up close and personal. They would not have been able to return to where the 11 disciples were congregated. They wouldn’t have been able to share w/ them the exciting news that it WAS true, that He HAD risen from the dead. He was not dead and the powers of principalities had not had the last word. Jesus had the last word. He Had been able to accomplish what He said He would. He had  come through with his promise!

You see friends, we too need to invite Him in; really invite Him in, not because we’re perfect and worthy to have him be our guest (because none of us are, of course.) But because He wants to be w/ us. He wants to walk with us as we “walk through the valley of the shadow of death” as Psalm 23 speaks of. He wants to walk w/ us during our moments of disappointments, disillusionment, or disagreements. He wants to be w/ us when we’re worried about how we’re going to pay the bills this week and even when we’re morally outraged at how many mothers and fathers are being deported, or that our environmental protection laws are being dismantled, or that the most vulnerable of our society are being targeted like never before.

So yes, He wants to know about our desires for ourselves, our families, our church, and the world. He cares like no one else does and meets us where we are at. Why? Because He loves us! 

SO, what abt. the rest of our road trip called life? What will that look like? Will it be a smooth, even road with no distractions, detours, or traffic jams? Well, none of us really knows what the future holds and where our journeys will take us. Of course not. However, we can be sure that Jesus walks w/ us on that journey called life and that He will never leave us alone. EVEN if it feels like we are alone. We can be sure that God is w/ us.

   The good news is that it is never too late to search Him through His holy Word and it is never too late to invite Him into our homes and hearts. Do it and then get ready… for the road trip of a life time!

Sermon for Mothers’ Day (May 12, 2019)

Title: “Love and Honor”

Scripture Texts: Deuteronomy 5:1-3, 16; I Corinthians 13:1-13

 

Rev. Liz Aguilar

Community Congregational Church of Chula Vista, UCC

 

Happy Mother’s Day again! There are many clergy who refuse to preach about Mothers or Fathers on these important holidays. I grew up in a culture and church community that did celebrate these special days. Today, I am grateful we are doing so, as well.

 

I do not however, want to preach about what it means to be a “holy mother.” Or perfect children. I want however, to encourage families to honor each other.

To do that I want to look at what the word honor meant in Hebrew tradition and language- it comes from the words, kabbed which means “to give something it’s due weight or importance.”  The Hebrew culture was largely built around a shame and honor system. Actions and decisions were taken accordingly. The idea of honor was not foreign to the Israelites, therefore, when Moses gave them the 10 Commandments.

If you look back at what Egyiel read in the first three verses of Deuteronomy 5, notice that Moses reminds the Israelites that the 10 commandments were an, A) “covenant” and b) meant to be a contemporary covenant with them when he said, “The lord our God made a covenant with us at Horeb. Not with our ancestors did the Lord made this covenant, but with us, who are all of us here alive, today.”

 

So, keeping your part in a covenant and honoring others was key to those first followers of God. These are still key to us, as well.

 

It’s interesting however, that the families in the Bible are not perfect. There are many examples of family dysfunction. Joseph and his brothers who sold him into slavery. Can and Abel. Esau tricking his father out of the blessing that was supposed to be for his brother and his mom being the one to give him the idea to trick his dad…!  David and his kids who hurt each other and passed on their hurt onto next generations… The list goes on…

 

All this to say that if you don’t come from a perfect family, know that you are in good company!

Of course, these stories are actually not meant to be examples of how to behave but of what not to do. And in each of these stories what they have in common is that they did not hold on to the covenant they had made with each other, with God or with their parents. They did not honor one another, in other words.

This brings me to the fifth commandment- “honor your father and your mother as the Lord your God commanded you, so that your days may be long and that it may go well with you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.”

How do we show honor to our parents?

Presbyterian pastor, Eugenia Anne Gamble said this about the commandment to honor our parents: “It is about how we honor life and all of the people who bring and nurture life in us. Because God chose to offer the gift of life to us through human parents, those parents are to be given a place of honor in our lives as the instruments through which God draws each of us in being and into relationship which God. This honoring is called for even if biological parents have not been a part of our lives. Honor is not, however limited to our biological parents. The call to honor parent applies to all of those whom God has used to parent us in one war or another. These ones act for God and therefore are worthy of honor.”

So, therefore, whoever has brought life to you in a nurturing, healing way is your parent and you are meant to honor that person in how you live and act out the Covenant.” (from Love Carved in Stone; PW Horizons Bible Study 2019, Louisville Kentucky, 2019.)

I have friends who refer to others as their spiritual mother or father. I never understood this growing up, however. As an immature child I would get jealous if someone thought of my parents as their parents. Later I felt proud, however, because I knew it meant that they considered my parents their spiritual parents. People they loved b/c they had felt love from them. Many had left their own parents behind in Latin America. They needed a new family and that was their family of faith.

We all have had someone who has nurtured us along the way. Some of us were blessed to have a parent who could do that; who showed us the love of God. Others of us may have had someone else in our life that showed us what God’s love looks like, how to respect ourselves and others.

Today we live in a world where there is much division and hurt. Today, we need to be able to be that nurturing person for someone else. You see, we aren’t just meant to be blessed but to be a blessing to others.

You might recall the first time we hear the word, “covenant” come up. It was in Genesis when God called Abraham to leave his home and God makes a covenant with him. But God states to Abraham that he will bless him so that “he may be a blessing to others.”

There are people who need you and me to be a blessing to them. To show them the love of Christ.

My prayer is that we can continue to honor one another in ways big and small. That we show the kind of love that the Apostle Paul wrote about in Corinthians.  Notice that his list is not only about what love looks like but what love is not, as well.

Let us be a church that shows love and honor to one another. To the stranger to the vulnerable and yes, let us honor those who gave us life.

And now I would like to call forward all of the mothers and people who have been like mothers, to come forward so that we may bless you and pray for you.

A Prayer of Blessing for Mothers on Mother’s Day

Blessed be the works of your hands, daughter of God

Blessed be these hands that have touched life.

Blessed be these hands that have nurtured creativity

Blessed be theses hands that have held pain.

Blessed be these hands that have embraced with passion.

Blessed be these hands that have tended gardens,

Blessed be these hands that have closed in anger.

Blessed be these hands that have planted new sees.

Blessed be these hands that have harvester ripe fields

Blessed be these hands that have cleaned, washed, mopped, and scrubbed

Blessed be these hands that have become knotty with age.

Blessed be these hands that are wrinkled and scarred from doing justice

Blessed be these hands that have reached out and been received.

Blessed be these hands that hold the promise of the future.

Blessed be the works of your hands, the words of your lips, and the heart that you share.

…. May you be blessed, Daughter of God, and disciple of Christ

(Prayer adapted from the writings of Diann Neu from Soul Weavings, A Gathering of Women’s Prayers)

 

CHIMES May 2019