Musical Prelude and Service.

1st Corinthians 12:12-31a & Luke 4:14-21
I can’t help but think of Bishop Mariann Budde and her plea to Donald Trump as I stand before you this morning. I will confess, most of the clergy socials I am part of have been discussing her; admiring her courage and expressing their support for the Bishop in light of her words and the many reactions to what she said.
My colleagues have also been spending a lot of time responding the criticism she has received from some quarters. I must admit I find it curious that there are some people who are upset that she asked the man who occupies the most powerful office in the world to show mercy in his decision making.
She is now receiving messages of hatred and accusations of being political. I tend to be careful wading into these controversies; especially when they originate in a different country, but this does speak to something we as a community of faith do need to be mindful of.
The simple truth is that sometimes we must be ready to face that criticism. Because if we are going to presume that how we view and treat our fellow human beings and the rest of God’s creation is a political issue, we have no choice but to be political. Jesus’ message is all about how we view the world and our fellow human beings, and also how we love one another.
Luke’s gospel tells us Jesus makes it very clear where he stands on this matter. And in his letter to the Corinthians as well as most of his other letters, Paul makes it very clear where the church –
as the body of Christ, should stand on this matter.
As a community of faith, I believe we should be wary of softening our stance on these core issues. We can’t let fear of drawing hatred force us to hide who we are and who and how we love. We can’t let the fear of being labeled political silence us in our message of compassion, mercy and justice.
In the story from Luke, we are told Jesus is filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, and visits his hometown of Nazareth. He reads in the synagogue from the Prophet Isaiah. “The spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
For Jesus, power is not about enriching oneself. It is not about gaining even more power. It is about helping others, making life easier for those who have no power; those who are held under the boot of the powerful.
Power is to be used to build up others.
Karoline Lewis, a professor and theologian I have referenced in the past, notes that the Bible is not intended to be read as an instruction manual to improve your station in the world. Yes, it is often referenced in that manner. As a set of rules or instructions that guide us to heaven. And you can find wisdom and direction to a deeper relationship. But it is not about finding strategies to achieve political power or wealth. It is about catching a vision of what this world can be and how we are empowered to play a part in creating a world of compassion and of mercy. How are we shackled to unjust systems and attitudes that interfere with compassion? How are we blinded from the cruelty of so much in this world? Are we willing to let scripture open our eyes to who we are and what we can be?
I remain, in fact I am increasingly convinced, God desires to see us change our lives so that we can be part of changing the world.
In Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth, he essentially repudiates the glorification of rugged individualism and the right of the powerful to exploit the weak. Paul insists in this passage that we are connected. We need one another to be whole and healthy. If one suffers, we all suffer. If one of us is honoured, we all rejoice.
Diversity is to be celebrated. And furthermore, unity is not the same thing as uniformity. We are all unique and special, but together we are bigger and stronger.
Paul makes use of a common image from Roman society – the idea of the body in community was used in society to promote the idea of the emperor or the wealthy and powerful being at the head and having control of the limbs that do all the work. It was used to keep the weak or the powerless in their place. But Paul flips this.
We all have a role to play as part of the body of Christ. All part of the body must work together. Each is important and all are connected. Therefore, the weaker part of the body must be treated with special care. In fact for Paul, sometimes what is seen that the weakest part is in fact the most powerful. In other writings of his, Paul notes that the scandal of the cross; the notion that our God, Christ Jesus died on the cross is a sign weakness. Rome killed our God. But in fact, the knowledge that Jesus was prepared to go to his death to live out his love for all creation is the source of our strength. That God defeats death and returns from the grave is a sign of God’s ultimate power.
What often seems to be our weakness; our love, our compassion our mercy and our willingness to hold on to those values, those truths are our strength. Our love of diversity, our insistence on welcoming the stranger, of greeting those we have been taught to fear or to despise with love.
Our realization that God sees new and wonderful possibilities where others see despair; this is our strength. This is what makes us who we are.
I want to be clear that I see a difference between political and partisan. If talking about how we view and treat our fellow human beings and God’s creation is political; if discussing the world God desires for us is political, we will be political from this pulpit. However, partisan means advocating for a particular political party or movement or arguing against a party. That I will not do. That is not appropriate.
I offer one more anecdote and quote from the history of the protestant church.
In 1521, Martin Luther faced pressure from the Roman Catholic Church and the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V. He was brought before a council in Worms, Germany at that time. He was told to justify or recant his writings or face excommunication. After a fitful night of prayer and reflection, he stood before this council and is recorded as saying: “My conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not retract anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience. Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise. God help me. Amen.”
May we be open to hearing God speaking to us through scripture and the work of the spirit. May we find the strength and the conviction to keep speaking of justice, of mercy, of compassion in the face greed and hatred. May we continue to speak of and live out God’s vision of a world grounded in that love. Amen
Rev. Warner Bloomfield

Music provided with permission through licensing with CCLI License number
2701258 and One License # A-731789