Loading...As I’m working on this sermon,
I can hear my two step-sons washing dishes.
Now, one could hear this statement I’ve made and think:
Oh, what good and helpful boys!
If you thought that, then you are better that I am
because that means that you don’t have the control issues that I have.
What I hear going on is a colossal waste of water
coupled with the knowledge
that the dishes are not being washed “right” –
you know efficiently and effectively.
Please understand me:
I come by this aspect of my control freakishness honestly.
You see, I used to be the one who did not wash dishes correctly.
But then, Henry Meinecke (my dad) taught me.
And, boy howdy!!!
Before I wander too far down the garden path
and offer an excursus on the proper way to wash dishes.....
let me suggest that the underlying issue here is Control;
and our human need for it.
Controlling the thoughts and behaviors of others
(There are many political conversations over who can use what bathroom, over our own bodies and who can do what to them, over the choices we make with our resources, etc.);
Controlling our own thoughts and behaviors
(I used to tell myself the convenient lie that I only really want to exert control over my own self. HA! Please refer back to the beginning of this sermon!);
We even, if we’re really honest, interested in controlling God.
Controlling Jesus.
Controlling the Holy Spirit.
You may want to deny this last one, about trying to control God, but come with me for a moment:
how many of you have heard (or said),
“If I just pray hard enough....”
“If I read and understand scripture and what God has done, then I will know what God will do. And I can hold God to that.”
How many of you assume that you know what God is up to....?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Um, No. This doesn’t work....
The trouble is, even we know that this doesn’t work,
we still act as though we can somehow manipulate, control, or maybe understand God.
Our heads may get it, but our hearts and emotions may not.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
But,
God is full of surprises. This we can rely on.
Jesus acts out of the ordinary – even his own “ordinary”.
And the Holy Spirit is never the same twice.
In this story about Lydia, from the book of Acts,
the Holy Spirit is SO unexpected:
• First, the Holy Spirit tells Paul (you have to go back a few verses in Acts 16) and company to not go any further in Asia Minor to preach; indeed, the Holy Spirit “blocks” them;
• Next, the Holy Spirit sends a vision of a man calling Paul over into Europe (Macedonia was a part of Greece, part of the European continent) –a new area and direction for Paul’s ministry;
• Then Lydia, a business woman who clearly has some financial means and authority, but who is not already Jewish (although she is very interested in Judaism) becomes a convert. Yet, in her conversion and baptism, the Holy Spirit works totally behind the scenes. The Holy Spirit does not come upon her before, during, or after her baptism (at least, we’re not told if she does). This is unlike other baptism and conversion stories in Acts (NB: The Holy Spirit never acts the same way twice in Acts stories!). But, Lydia’s baptism is true and valid and real.
And, Jesus!
When Jesus is walking by this area with a pool (not a swimming pool!) on the outskirts of the Temple grounds, he sees a man who is lame in some way. Jesus asks him, “Do you want to be made well?”
This is a somewhat unusual question, but not too much.
The man’s response is not a resounding, “YES!” Rather, he begins complaining about his situation. Not his illness, per se, but the fact that whenever he tries to get down to the pool for healing, someone else beats him down there and shoves him out of the way.
The other interesting bit about this man is that he has no idea who Jesus is! We don’t necessarily know that from the part of the story we read today, but keep going in John’s gospel a couple of verses, and we learn that when the Jewish authorities ask him who healed him (because, of course, he IS healed), the man doesn’t know. He cannot name Jesus as his healer.
The man doesn’t recognize Jesus,
he doesn’t seem to care,
and he definitely doesn’t believe that Jesus can do anything particular – like heal him of his ailment.
But, Jesus DOES heal him
without a “means” test,
or “faith” test,
or any sort of “politeness” or “gratitude” requirement.
Jesus just says,
“Stand up, take up your mat, and walk.”
The story goes on, as they do, and there are a variety of complex layers, but this story as we’re given it today?
It’s all about Jesus doing his Jesus thing.
It’s all about Jesus healing and bringing life, even to those who don’t ask or particularly want it.
This story is about Jesus
not doing the thing that we think Jesus should be doing.
We think that we know Jesus and what Jesus deems important (for example, enough faith or at least the chutzpah to ask for healing). And so, by extension, we think we know God and what God deems important.
But do we?
Do we really know what God will do?
Do we really know what Jesus is capable of?
Do we really know what the Spirit will do next?
(By the way, these questions are not meant to constitute a threat)
I think we should be ready for a surprise.
We should be ready to be shocked and amazed, like so many people in Jesus’ time were.
We are invited to be ready to be challenged.
Be ready for your world and assumptions to be rocked.
Be ready to ...
are you ready for this?...
let go of control!!!
Let God surprise you!
Let Jesus heal you!
Let the Spirit blow where she will!
Let the call of God to step outside yourself and what you think is good and right and proper permeate your whole being.
Stand up! Take up your mat and walk!
Join Lydia by the riverside and let the Sprit move you!
You just never know what will happen when you let go of yourself and let God work in and through you!
Amen
