Listening is the fruit of love

A Sermon for February 10, 2013 (Last Epiphany, RCL C)

Offered by Nathan Ferrell for The Church of Saint Mary

Texts:             2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2; Psalm 99; Luke 9:28-36

Primary Message:              listen to Jesus, the smartest person who ever lived

Call to Action:          take up spiritual disciples, learn to love and listen

Title:               Listening is the Fruit of Love

“Then from the cloud came a voice that said, ‘This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!’” (Luke 9:35).

My dear friends: Who has your attention? To whose voice are you listening?

Have you noticed precisely what it is that the voice of God said at this crucial moment for Jesus and the disciples? At this moment when the full beauty and majesty of the Messiah, the Incarnate One, is on display for his friends to see, as a preparation for the very difficult days just ahead of them, what is it that the divine voice said?

Did God say, This is my Son, my Chosen; worship him? Or follow him? Or keep the commandments? Or be a good person? Or do your duty?

No. That voice emanating out of the cloud was precise and specific: listen to him.

Let’s talk about listening to Jesus. First we’ll talk about the “why”, and then we’ll move on to the “how”.

A book was published a few years ago which chronicled some of the most poignant stories of everyday, ordinary American citizens collected by the StoryCorps project (see www.storycorps.org).  

This project is still on-going, and the book is titled “Listening is an Act of Love.”

Did you hear that? Listening is an Act of Love!

Think about people in your life with whom you just enjoyed sitting and listening to them tell their stories, even if you had heard the same ones time and time again.

Listening is an act of love. From the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Son, the Chosen; listen to him.”

On Thursday, the Falmouth Ecumenical Clergy group met for our monthly breakfast meeting. I am still new to this group, but it seems mostly to be a social affair. A chance to talk together, to catch up with one another. As the newbie, however, I am eager to talk about new ministry ideas that we might do together. On Thursday, I asked them to consider joining me in supporting the creation of a new Young Life group here at the Falmouth High School.

For those of you who do not know, Young Life is a non-denominational, international outreach ministry to youth. It is highly effective, very specific in its goal, and it relies upon broad, ecumenical support in the community.

I am quite excited about the potential for Young Life here in Falmouth, but a few of the other clergy were not. They shared their frustration about simply trying to get teenagers to show up for confirmation meetings, or to be involved in the church, or to attend Sunday worship. Now, someone asked, are you suggesting that we try to get them out TWICE a week? Once for our own youth group, and then another time for Young Life club!

I understand the frustration, but this, my friends, is flawed thinking. This is getting the cart before the horse.

Let’s step back and reconsider: what is God’s dream for our lives? That we might love God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength, and love all people as ourselves.  Right?

If you truly love someone, is it a struggle finding the desire to spend time with that person? When teenagers falls in love, do they or do they not want to spend all of their time together? Do I, as a parent, need to tell my son, “You know, you really should go out tonight and spend some time with your girlfriend. It’s the right thing to do.”

Is that how it works? Of course not! We all know better.

The task for us church leaders, whether we are dealing with youth or children or adults, is not to find creative ways of convincing people to attend all of our wonderful programs and small groups and worship services. It is not to cajole or manipulate or guilt people into showing up.

Our task is to help people fall in love with Jesus.

If listening is an act of love, then we might also say that listening is the fruit of love.

Who here today listens to musicians and speakers and radio stations which you enjoy? Of course you do! You love this style of music, this band, this radio host, this station – whatever it is – you love it, and so you listen.

St. Paul speaks of that fact that we, with unveiled faces, see the glory of the Lord and this leads to our transformation into that very same image.

Think about beholding. We commonly say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. To behold signifies deliberate intention, purposeful choosing, a maintained and delighted gaze.

For who, I ask you, chooses to gaze upon and to behold things which they find distasteful? Who? Do we not – all of us – choose to spend our days looking at things that we love to look at?

As far as it is within our control, do we not focus our eyes upon those things which we find delightful? And do we not focus our ears, our oral attention, upon those voices which we find delightful?

So consider this, my friends: who, I ask you, will choose to gaze upon the Lord Jesus Christ, to behold him, to contemplate him regularly in the depths of the heart, if they do not love him? Who will choose to listen to him, to chew upon him words, to savor them and digest them, if they do not love him?

“This is my Son, the Chosen; listen to him.” To listen is the fruit of love.

But we need also to talk briefly about the “how” of listening to Jesus. We are not in the same position as Peter and James and John. We do not have the living and breathing Messiah right in front of us, but we can listen to him.

Now in fact is an especially proper time to discuss this. In 3 days, on Ash Wednesday, we begin our journey known as Lent. And Lent is a time of focused spiritual practice in order to prepare ourselves as a community for the great celebrations of Holy Week and our Paschal Feast.  

Over the last two millennia, a wide range of tried-and-true spiritual practices have developed within the Church which provide each one of us with clear and simple ways to listen to Jesus.

These disciplines include daily Bible reading, meditation, various forms and times of prayer, practicing silence, speaking with a spiritual guide, self-evaluations, taking retreats, fasting, regular giving to those in need, meeting weekly with a small group for support and accountability.

These and all spiritual disciplines are means by which regular Christ-followers have been able to listen to Jesus and to apply his words to their lives.

There is no great mystery here; these are well-worn paths toward spiritual growth, and the wise ones in every generation have walked upon them.

As you know, it is common for folks to think of Lent as a time to “give something up”, to abstain from something as a small act of sacrifice.

May I suggest that - this year - all of us instead consider taking up something new, trying out a spiritual discipline which will enable us to listen deeply and intently to the words of Christ.

After all, these practices are the primary ways in which we behold him, gaze upon him, and so learn to love him.  And this is the goal: in all things, to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength.

“From the cloud came a voice that said, ‘This is my Son, the Chosen; listen to him.’”  May we be counted among those who love and who listen. Amen.

From the Same Mouth - a children's message for Sept. 16, 2012

A Children’s Message for 9-16-2012

Offered by Nathan Ferrell for Trinity Episcopal Shared Ministry

Texts:             James 3:1-12; Psalm 19; Mark 8:27-38

Themes:        the power of the tongue, our words, the words of Jesus

Title:               From the same mouth

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord my strength and my redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14). Amen.

I’d like to invite all of the children to come in close and to sit here around me, while all of the adults will please be seated.

A dangerous wildfire! OR a spring of refreshing water! Which one is your mouth like?

My dear friends: today let’s talk together about our words! Let’s talk about the power of words, and about how we talk to one another. Words are very powerful and we need to be very careful about how we use them.

So I’ll start with this question:

What do you think are the most powerful words that we can say to one another? What phrase do you think it is that people most like to hear?

Well, it has been said that a few years ago, a research company conducted a survey and asked a bunch of Americans this question (though I have not been able to find this survey anywhere on-line!) and the answers received were these: 

1. “I love you.”
2. “I forgive you.”
3.  “Dinner is ready.”

Do you know what I think would be a close fourth-place finisher? “Welcome home.”

Let’s try a simple little experiment.

Please close your eyes for a moment. Picture your best friend in your imagination, or perhaps your mom or your dad or your spouse or partner. Now imagine that person turning to you and saying these words, “I hate you!”

Ouch. That hurts doesn’t it! Even though it’s not real! Sorry about that. Now, close your eyes again and imagine that same person once more and imagine them turning toward you again and saying these words, “I love you!”

Wow! Doesn’t that feel so much better? Even when we simply imagine them, words have tremendous power over us.

One more little experiment: I want you to turn to the person next to you and look them in the eye and say (like you mean it), “Welcome home!” Go ahead, say it to each other.

Did you feel it? Did you notice how those words made you feel?

Words are very powerful. Speaking words is like swinging a hammer.  

I can use my hammer here to do lots of good things – to build and fix things.

OR I can use the hammer to do a lot of damage - to destroy and break things.

Words are tools just like this hammer.

One of the clearest ways that we can tell if people have been transformed by the love of God is by the words that come out of their mouths.

People talk a lot about faith, about believing in God.

That’s good, I suppose. But, to be honest, I’m not sure what that even means most of the time.

Now if this means that you have the idea in your mind that God exists, that Jesus lived and died and rose again, and if you support these ideas, then I have to say – honestly – that I don’t think God is very interested in that at all.

Far more than believing in God in that way, far more than saying a few prayers every day, far more than even attending church and receiving communion on a regular basis – do you know what it is that God is far more interested in?

The words that come out of your mouth!

What did we hear today from the Letter of James? “With our mouths we bless the Lord and Father, and with [our mouths] we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so” (James 3:9-10).

 That’s just one part. You can find references to this emphasis upon the importance of words everywhere in today’s lessons. Look at the Psalm:

“Let the words of my mouth be acceptable in your sight…”

And what about the Gospel reading? What did Jesus ask his disciples?

“Who do people say that I am? Who do you say that I am?”

And then at the end, he added a warning for “those who are ashamed of me and of my words…”

God seems very interested in words, in what comes out of our mouths, and in how those words are used – to do good or to harm.

Our lesson from James ends with a bunch of questions from the world of nature to prove the author’s point:

Can the same spring give you fresh water AND salt water at the same time?

Can a fig tree produce olives? Can an apple tree produce oranges?

It is all about consistency. 

In a redeemed life, in a heart changed with the love of God, there is a natural consistency.

The source is always the same. It’s not clean water and dirty water mixed together.

It’s only the clean water of God!

BUT … there is a catch!

Hear me, please. The last thing that I want to ask you to do today is to try a little harder. Just try a bit more to be kind with your words. That would not be a bad thing, of course, but that is not what this life in Christ is all about!

Consider: if you are an olive tree, can you simply try a bit harder and then produce some figs?

If I am a human being, can I just try a bit more and then fly like a bird?

No, of course not. We are who we are. This tree is what it is. Salt water cannot just apply a bit more effort and become fresh water! That is not how life works. 

The oak tree cannot change itself into a maple! But it can be changed by another.

Salt water cannot change itself into fresh water. But it can be changed by someone else.

Hey kids: I have something for you to help you remember our talk today.

Can a spring give you fresh water and salt water at the same time?

No! If it has any salt in it at all, then it’s no longer fresh water! It’s salt water.

So, in the same way, you cannot just try a little harder to be more careful with your words.

You need to let GOD change you on the inside, and then the words that come out of your mouth will naturally, normally be different!

Salt water cannot yield fresh water. But…it can yield salt water taffy! And I have some here to give out to all of you.

Who wants some? Good! But first, I want you to pray with me – and repeat these words after me. Everyone! Can you do that?

Lord Jesus: by your grace, change us to be springs of fresh, clean water to be a blessing to all people. Thank you for teaching us. We love you. Amen.

The 5 Stages of Transformation

A Sermon for the 2nd Sunday in Lent (RCL A) 3-20-2011, offered by Nathan Ferrell for Trinity Episcopal Shared Ministry

Texts: Genesis 12:1-4a; Psalm 121; Romans 4:1-5,13-17; John 3:1-17

“How can anyone be born after having grown old?” How can anyone be born from above?

Our youngest child, Fiona, is now 8 years old. She is what we call a “cuddle bug.” She is her mama’s girl. Ever since she has had the ability to speak, Fiona has asked if she can crawl back into her mama’s belly. Even at age 8, she still tries. She’ll pull up Erin’s shirt and try to squeeze in as close to that belly as she can get. I think Fiona likes Nicodemus’ idea of “entering a second time into the mother’s womb”.

Unfortunately, it is likely that she is just as confused about our Lord’s words in this story as Nicodemus was. These words of Jesus when he responded to Nicodemus have puzzled more people than just that learned Israelite! In addition to Nicodemus, Christians throughout the centuries have wondered over the meaning of this text.

The truth is that it seems clear that the one who wrote this text in John’s Gospel intended for it to be puzzling. In our text today, Jesus said, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” But in most people’s Bibles, Jesus says “No one can see the kingdom of God without being born again.” Why the difference? Which one is it? Born from above or born again?

The word used in the original Greek manuscripts in anothen, and this is a word that has a double meaning. Anothen means either “from above” or “again”. Both are consistent with the original text, and both offer directions for faithful interpretations of the text.

To be born again has meant, to many Christians, the need for each believer to have a dramatic, one-time conversion experience that changes the direction of life from then onwards.

How many of you have “born-again” Christians in your family? In your circle of friends?

It’s not quite so common here, but if you travel down in the Bible belt region, you’re almost certain to be asked the question: “Have you been born again?” Christians who emphasize the need for this kind of conversion are mostly the ones who practice believers baptism. Their teaching is that those who are born again in this way, those whose hearts are suddenly touched and changed by the grace of God, are then baptized as a sign of their new faith and their new identity as a member of the body of Christ.

On the other hand, to be born from above has meant to many Christians the steady, on-going progress of spiritual transformation that occurs throughout the life of a believer. This of course is the primary meaning that we use in the catholic tradition, and this is one of the reasons why we baptize children.

Let’s be clear: baptizing babies has nothing at all to do with protecting them from an uncertain fate in the tragic event that they die as infants. Rather, it has everything to do with immersing them in a community where they are given the tools for this kind of life-long spiritual rejuvenation.

The name for this entire topic within Christian theology is regeneration: the process by which someone is re-generated, re-created, made young in heart and soul once again after becoming physically mature.

And the question before us today is this: is regeneration a sudden conversion experience, a born-again experience; or else is it a life-long process of conversion and transformation?

The answer, of course, isYES! Both are true. Both are legitimate, faithful ways of interpreting this text and of understanding how God works in our lives.

The truth is that many people experience sudden touches of grace that change them radically, but many others do not. And, in fact, many others who were baptized as infants most likely need to be born again – they often need to experience a profound fresh start in their lives.

Both of these emphases are true and faithful. God has as many unique ways of dealing with human beings as there are people. This is because the process of growth and change in life is so very difficult.

A story is told of a homeless man who was standing on a street corner just off of Wall Street up in Manhattan. He stood there holding out hands, begging for money, pleading with all the corporate people passing by, saying, “Change? Change?”

One corporate executive who passed right in front of the homeless man responded frankly by saying, “I’m trying! I’m trying!”

Isn’t that right? Aren’t we all trying? All of us who are in Christ are trying to be faithful, but many of us simply do not know how, and we do not have a plan for how to embrace fully this eternal life that Jesus brings.

So how do we do it? How can we be born after having grown old?

In his masterpiece book called The Divine Conspiracy, Dallas Willard lays out a way of understanding the progressive growth of the Christian life. Willard describes five developing dimensions of the eternal life that we share with Christ. Each dimension builds upon the previous ones, like the building of a house in stages.

The first dimension, the foundation of this eternal life, is “confidence in and reliance upon Jesus”. To begin this journey into an eternal kind of life, we need to come to a point where we recognize our need for Jesus to guide us into this new realm. This confidence often comes suddenly; many people describe it like falling in love.

Once we have become enraptured by Christ’s vision of this new life, once our hearts have been taken hostage by his grace and love, next comes the “desire to be his apprentice in living in and from the kingdom of God.” Whenever we come to respect someone as an important person, we naturally want to learn from them, to listen to their stories and to pay attention to their habits and behaviors. This is true even more so of Jesus, who offers us access into a new kind of life. This listening and paying attention is what an apprentice does, along with putting these things into practice for personal experience.

Next, after serving as apprentices for some time, we begin to learn a life of obedience. Just as Jesus was obedient to the One he called Abba, we begin to lead a life where we regularly practice the kind of life that we have seen in Christ and in those who are close to him, not out of fear, but out of love and desire. The obedience that counts is the obedience of love.

This on-going practice of obedience leads to a “pervasive inner transformation of the heart and soul.” Old habits are broken; new habits are created. The new practices become a complete way of life that is characterized by the same spirit that was seen in Jesus.

And finally, once this transformation has taken place, we are endowed with “power to work the works of the kingdom.” The friends of God are those who are close to God, those who have proven themselves trustworthy of the power of the Spirit, which blows where it will. These are the ones entrusted with more and more of God’s grace and power as life progresses, because they share more and more of their lives with God.

(The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard, p. 367-369).

Confidence, apprenticeship, obedience, transformation, power: these are the typical stages of regeneration in a human soul.

My friends: you and I are somewhere along this journey of regeneration. Perhaps we need a fresh start, a new birth. Perhaps we need strength to carry on with our learning and practice. Wherever we may find ourselves, let us not be content to stay where we are. There is more life available. With God’s help, may we have the strength and courage to persevere on this path of eternal life which we share with our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.