Homily November 9, 2008

Amos 5:18-24
Psalm 70
I Thess. 4:13-18
Matthew 25:1-13

Today, November 9, is many things.  Three stand out in my mind.  Today is my oldest sister’s 70th birthday.  We celebrated it well over Columbus Day weekend. 

Today is also the 70th anniversary of kristalnacht when on a single night in Germany more than 200 Synagogues were destroyed, tens of thousands of Jewish businesses and homes were ransacked, 92 Jews were murdered, and between 25,000 and 30,000 Jews were arrested and deported to concentration camps.  On this day we remember the evil that people – all of us – are capable of.

And, of course, this is the first Sunday after the elections.  Because I don’t like to leave the homily to the last minute, I asked Bob how I could begin this without knowing the outcome of the elections.  He told me to say, “It’s God’s will.”  And he might be right.  Although, I think the real statement should be, “It’s not the most important thing.”

And in addition, several things have been playing in my mind and heart recently.  Bill spoke of how we see God’s backside.  That homily made me wonder about the hand that God uses to cover our eyes so that we do not see too much.  Is it a limitation, or is it a reminder of God’s protection of us.  But, of course, the question remains -- what would we see and why would we die if we saw God’s face?  It reminds me of the Tree in the garden of Eden.  The death there was from the life God envisioned for us – living in harmony with God, with one another, and with nature.  Perhaps looking at God’s face means we would learn too much and no longer be human.

And the retreat committee has met to begin structuring a retreat around a spirituality theme.  How can we improve our spiritual awareness and practice and how can we support one another in this?

So how do I decide what direction to go in this homily?

I have read three articles this week, all in the October 2008 Covenant Companion, which is published by the Evangelical Covenant Church of America.  Together they have helped me focus on the spiritual aspect, so that is where I will go.  I know that anything in my life, or in our corporate life, can help move us closer to God – but one has to be aware and focused in order for that to happen.  Prayer is a part of that, but awareness and intentionality are also involved.  These three articles, collectively, helped me think about this. 

One of the articles was about busyness, one about listening, and the other about solitude.  Actually, all were about the way that busyness keeps us from focusing on what is important. 

There is nothing wrong with being busy, productive, heavily involved in what we are doing.  It is a truly healthy way to live – and it is a gift from God.  For most of us, in different ways, we are busy with things that work toward justice, peace and righteousness, as Amos commends.  The problem is when “busyness” defines us – when it comes between us and God – when it comes between us and our neighbors.  When this happens our busyness is ego driven – a reflection of how important we are.  Almost, one might say, we are substituting ourselves for God, and losing focus on who is in charge and what is really important.  The author of this article decided to stop using the word “busy” about her life, because that word tended to block her from being open to God’s movement in her life.

Amos said that the Lord hates the religious festivals and offerings.  I think that he might have been referring to what happens when we are so busy with the trimmings, and with what we think is important, that we forget the meaning of our relationship with God and therefore with each other.  We are then too busy to focus on what is truly fulfilling, what brings meaning to our work.  We don’t remember to spend time with that which enriches us and speaks to our true selves.

The story of the wise and foolish maidens is a story that goes against much of what we have always been taught:  the importance of community; the importance of sharing.  It seems to speak instead to individuality – you are only responsible for yourself.  (And so it is difficult for me to understand.)

One source I read said that a new bride would await her bridegroom in their new home, preparing to celebrate with their friends.  The maidens would wait outdoors for the bridegroom to arrive, then they could enter and the party would begin.  Sometimes the wait would be long – I assume some kind of stag party was involved.  Since this was known to happen, those awaiting the party should be prepared for a long wait.  In this story, half of the presumptive partygoers didn’t focus on the possibilities, and therefore weren’t prepared.  Maybe they had spent too much time dressing or cooking for the party – focusing on busyness – and forgot to prepare for eventualities.   Ultimately, they were refused admission to the party. 

Instead of letting busyness define our lives, we need to remember the appropriate focus and be ready to respond to God’s important work around us.  And to do that we must listen -- to each other and to God. 

Listening to those around us will allow us respond to the people in our lives and those we come across in our daily work.  In truly listening we affirm the other person, and God’s love for that person.  We also affirm who we are, and God’s love for us.  The author of the “listening” article challenged herself to try to look at her own life and the lives of those around her as litany and liturgy.  The events that happen to us throughout our years eventually become our lives, and our lives become our worship. 

And, of course, listening includes listening to God.  For many people, solitude is a useful step.  That might mean a few minutes of quiet each day, or it might mean extended time alone, as stated in a book I recently read, “…where you would have to face down the contents of your own soul, stripped of all packaging.”
In the article I read on solitude, the author spent 5 days alone in the desert.  Here he finally, after struggling with loneliness and boredom, came to realize that he needed to stop striving (relying on busyness.)  He says, “In striving, you bury your need for God.  When you stop and allow God to be sovereign in all things, you can embrace your calling with freedom and joy, rather than guilt and fear.”

Now, I confess that solitude, even structured daily time for prayer and meditation is difficult for me.  I struggle to just sit and listen to God. 

Because sitting and praying in solitude is so difficult for me, I connect better with other approaches.  Cathy loaned me the book “Praying Our Experiences” by Joseph Schmidt.  In being aware, not just of our outside experiences, but also of who we are in them, we are searching for the truth of ourselves, and, as the book says, “any time we search for truth, we are really searching for God.”  Of course, when we search for truth, we must honestly face our struggles, fears and pains, as well as our joys.  This approach can be used in our daily experiences, as well as in coming to terms with our history.  Most importantly, to me, it is a way of reminding myself of what is important, of what my focus should be.  It is a method of prayer that can help me keep my focus on what is important in the midst of “busyness” -- my relationship with God, and with you all, and with my other neighbors.  

The other part of this listening is corporate.  How do we as a Community focus our priorities – how do we listen corporately to each other and to God?  We need to make “business” decisions, but those need to be consciously informed by listening and by “stopping and allowing God to be sovereign in all things.”  I hope that the retreat will give us new insights and tools as we continue our spiritual journey together. 

In the meantime, the article on solitude includes two verses from the Psalms that I plan to have available as a reminder that “busyness” is less important, and that listening and focusing on that of God is more important.  I commend them to you.

“Cease striving and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10)

“Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.”  (Psalm 81:10)

Amen