Bishop Craig Schweitzer

Mark 6:14-29 • July 15, 2018

Brothers and sisters in Christ grace and peace to you from God our Father and Lord and Savior Jesus who is the Christ. Amen.

Whenever this gospel reading comes along in our worship – which is every 3 years in case you didn’t know – I hesitate a little to conclude the reading by saying “The Gospel of our Lord.” After all – the gospel is the good news of our Lord. The good news of God’s love for us through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. How in any way are these 15 verses of the gospel of Mark good news?

John the Baptist – Jesus’ close relative and first proclaimer of the good news of the Messiah coming into the world – is in prison. Although many seem to think he’s already dead.

Herod’s wife used to be his brother’s wife. And she seems like someone who holds onto grudges by seeking revenge. Revenge at any cost.

http://dustoffthebible.com/Blog-archive/2015/10/11/jerks-of-the-bible-series-entry-7-herodias/

Herod’s wife used to be his brother’s wife. And she seems like someone who holds onto grudges by seeking revenge. Revenge at any cost.

Herod’s daughter is dancing at her father’s party. Dancing in ways that are pleasing to her father and his guests. One can only imagine what kind of incestuous dancing this may have been.

Herod gets caught in a trap to murder John the Baptist by his wife and daughter, even though he is intrigued by John’s teaching and proclamation. Herod even protects John.

Jesus is never mentioned. In fact, this is the only story in the gospel of Mark in which Jesus doesn’t even make an appearance.

How is this gospel? How is this good news?

We are spending the bulk of our worship time this year in the gospel of Mark. It’s the shortest of the 4 gospels and definitely the fastest moving. It’s also the gospel that spends the greatest amount of time on the story of John the Baptist. A story of intrigue, greed, revenge, murder, and family dysfunction that extends far beyond anything that I have ever witnessed.

Why is this shocking story so important to Mark’s telling of who Jesus is?
One possible answer to that question might be found in the recent writing of Dr. Leroy Huizenga, a theology professor at the University of Mary.

His most recent book is called “Loosing the Lion.” It focuses entirely on the gospel of Mark. The first words of Professor Huizenga’s book solidify why I think today’s gospel reading is important for us to receive – even if it only appears once every 3 years. “Our age is numb.” Huizenga writes, “It’s numb to beauty, to goodness, to truth, because it’s numb to grace, and ultimately numb to God.”

He uses these opening words to remind us of the shocking ways in which the gospel of Mark tells us the beautiful story of the good news of Jesus Christ, the savior of the world.
In other words, today’s gospel reading may not seem like good news on the surface. But if we dig just a little deeper – something that you and I are not always willing to do in our faith journey – we will discover something much more. Something that will bring forth gospel and restore new life in each one of us and the neighbors that God places on our path along the way.

A time long ago, but a time in human history and society quite similar to today, theologian G.K. Chesterton wrote, “It is not that Christianity has been tried and found wanting, but tried and found difficult.” Or in my own words, being a follower of Jesus ain’t always easy. And if you think it is, I question whether or not it’s Jesus you’re actually following.

The Jesus we follow did not die in a quiet and peaceful way at the time and place of his choosing. The Jesus that we follow was crucified on a cross. One of the most painful and destructive forms of death to ever exist in the history of humankind.

It

https://blessedbeyondmeasure3.wordpress.com/2014/09/09/in-the-shadow-of-the-cross/

is in the shadow of that cross we live and move and have our being as followers of Jesus. It is in the shadow of that same cross that makes the story of John the Baptist that much more significant for our own lives and our time.

John the Baptist’s proclaiming the coming of the Messiah results in his head showing up on a platter for Herod’s daughter. And 10’s of thousands of other followers of Jesus throughout the centuries have found a similar fate as John the Baptist because of their proclamation of Jesus as Lord.

I’ve prayed a lot about that recently. What have I done, or better yet, what am I doing today as a follower of Jesus, the might warrant my head on a platter – metaphorically or otherwise? Or, am I too chicken to actually live out my faith in words and deeds that may cause a little risk to my being and the relatively comfortable lifestyle I enjoy?

You see, brothers and sisters in Christ, you and I live in a broken world that continues to mirror the story of John’s beheading. We have all been part of a similar story at one time or another.

Persons in power deflecting fault.

Times when we have sought revenge at all costs on those who have been bold enough to speak truth to us.

Making vane promises that we know will cause harm to others if we ever have to, in fact, bring those promises into reality.

Lording power over another part of God’s creation because we think they are somehow less important to God than we are.

In the words of Pastor David Lose this past week, “Herod’s beheading of John seems rather brutal, something we look for on Game of Thrones but are surprised to see in a Gospel (conveniently forgetting, of course, the brutality of the cross!). Yet are Herod’s actions really all that far from the callous manipulations of power we see today?” Pastor Lose boldly asks. And then, offers this concluding thought. “This is our world and our story, and perhaps we forget that only because we have become so numbingly accustomed to seeing it play out daily in the headlines.” [www.inthemeantime.com]

It is my hope and prayer that we haven’t become numb – like Professor Huizenga and Pastor Lose suggest. Or have somehow forgotten that following Jesus may in fact not be as easy as we think it is. But if we have become numb to God or forgotten what following Jesus is all about, I hope and pray that the shocking good news that we are invited to receive from the gospel of Saint Mark today gives us pause to recommit ourselves to this work. And for that, I give God thanks and praise.

http://theweathervane.org/news-and-feature/new-sculpture-arrives-on-campus/

Like Herod, you and I are invited each and every day to really listen to the challenging voice of God in our day and age and to turn away from the lures and temptations that attempt to seduce us away from loyalty to God. And like John the Baptist…through us – through you and through me – God speaks words of peace, love, forgiveness, and mercy. Words of truth that challenge the world’s appetite toward violence, hatred, deceit, judgment, and ultimately death. [sundaysandseasons.com]

Brothers and sisters in Christ, I’m grateful for your commitment to this work. Commitment to this call that following Jesus invites us into. As we await God’s final redemption of the world, may we continue to be beacons of God’s love for all of God’s children. After all, that’s all John the Baptist was trying to do. That’s the gospel of our Lord. And that most definitely is good news indeed. Amen.

Mark 4:26-34 * June 17, 2018

Brothers and sisters in Christ, grace and peace to you from God our Father and Jesus, our savior and Lord. Amen.

First of all, on this 4^th Sunday after Pentecost, we also celebrate and give thanks for all of the dads in our life. Those that have been and continue to be fathers toward us in so many grace-filled ways. Happy Father’s Day.

We have two parables from Jesus before us today as we continue our journey through this season after Pentecost.

Do the parables of Jesus reflect what God does or what we do? Hang on to that question for a few minutes. Do the parables of Jesus reflect what God does or what we do?

And for clarification purposes – I’m using the terms reign of God and kingdom of God to refer to the same thing in today’s sermon.

I spent a couple days this week at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN. So I decided that it would be appropriate to quote a professor from the seminary in today’s sermon. New Testament professor Matt Skinner reminds us about this general idea of Jesus’ parables. “Parables are comparisons, meant to cast two things alongside one another to provide analogy, contrast, or reflection.”  Skinner believes. He goes on to share that, “Jesus’ parables … have a way of reordering conventional assumptions and values. They don’t explain how one is supposed to recognize the reign of God, but they make it clear that we will need to adopt or receive new ways of perceiving.” [www.workingpreacher.org]

The first parable in today’s gospel is unique only to the gospel of Mark. I think this is probably the case because it just might be the most boring of all Jesus’ parables. The seed is sown. The seed grows. The crop is harvested. Everything happens as it’s supposed to happen. Oh well…

I mean – the seed doesn’t grow into a BMW or become an apple tree instead of a head of grain. It simply does what God made it to do. And all of this happens while you and I are away taking a nap as the parable implies.

About today’s first parable, Professor Skinner says this. “It is the nature of God’s reign to grow and to manifest itself. That’s what it does. God’s reign, like a seed, must grow, even if untended and even if its gradual expansion is nearly impossible to detect.”

God’s reign – God’s kingdom – gradually expanding through dozens of children who are participating in Day Camp and Vacation Bible School at Good Shepherd this summer. Seeds planted. God growing them. You and I enjoy the harvest of young people living out their lives with the love of God at the center of who they are and everything they ever will be – simply because God has planted us to be together in Christian community through Good Shepherd.

The second parable today is a bit more complex than the first. The seed planted doesn’t just grow into something that we can harvest or gaze upon its beauty. This seed grows into something that will also provide shelter and security for other parts of God’s creation – “birds of the air can make nests in its shade.” The parable offers.

But the second parable’s seed is not seen as good by all. A mustard plant in Jesus’ time wasn’t a cash crop. In essence, it was kind of a noxious weed. Only bigger. And much more annoying. Think crabgrass that you can never seem to get rid of in your yard or a seemingly endless number of dried up thistle bushes rolling across the prairie.

Back to professor Skinner, while reflecting on the mustard seed and the kingdom of God, Skinner offers this insight, “the reign of God apparently isn’t much of a cash crop. Yet it grows. It is not easily eradicated. Good luck keeping it out of your well-manicured garden or your farmland. Better be careful what you pray for when you say, “Your kingdom come…”

As we celebrate Father’s Day this week, I’m also mindful that this day isn’t a day of celebration for everyone. For some, thinking about your father brings forth feelings of abandonment and abuse. For others, thinking of your father brings joy and comfort. And for others still, thinking about your father brings forth sadness and grief because your father is no longer alive and has already joined the great cloud of witnesses.

The father of one of our daughter’s closest friends died very suddenly this past week. Throughout our daughter’s lives, Wendy and I have tried to plant seeds of God’s kingdom. As parents, whether these seeds are growing or not is something we ever really know for sure. But God does. And this past week, we witnessed our daughter’s care and compassion for their friend following the death of her father in amazing and life-giving ways that we never dreamt possible. Our teenage daughters are becoming the “greatest of all shrubs” so that God’s love shines through them even when we least expect that it is possible for God’s love to shine. So that God’s love can give comfort and peace and shelter as they hold onto their friend in her time of greatest need.

I began today’s sermon by asking the question – Do the parables of Jesus reflect what God does or what we do?

Author Jeanne Choy Tate believes that “the parables aren’t meant to be understood, at least not fully,” she writes. “Their many possible meanings allow us the flexibility to apply them to the seasons of our lives.” [Christian Century, May 23, 2018, pg. 23]

I think there is truth in that statement. Because the parables are not about what we do, but about what God does. What God does through us as God’s kingdom comes.

I’ve witnessed God’s kingdom coming as seeds are being planted at one of our church’s seminaries. Seeds that will grow into the philosophers, theologians, teachers, pastors, Christian movement leaders of tomorrow.

I’ve witnessed God’s kingdom coming as seeds are being planted in young people at Day Camp and Vacation Bible School. Seeds that will grow into abundant harvests of God’s love that has no end.

I’ve witnessed God’s kingdom coming as seeds are being planted in my own family. Seeds that are producing mighty shrubs that provide shelter to dear friends during their time of unimaginable grief and pain.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, today’s parables remind us that the good news of Jesus Christ does not remain buried in the ground like a dormant seed.

Through your savior Jesus, God is planting seeds in you each and every day. Seeds that will bring forth God’s kingdom in the world today – even though this world seems darker and more broken with each passing day – God’s reign is at work.

Whether you know it or not, or can even begin to grab on to this truth of God’s love for you today – God’s kingdom is growing and shining forth through you. Growing in you in amazing, transformative and life-giving ways.

Don’t be afraid to keep growing brothers and sisters. Seeds are being planted as God’s kingdom comes. May your continued growth in the kingdom bring blessing where God plants you. May we always keep growing. Amen.