Hopeful Praying Luke 11: 1 - 13

Imagine--

            My friend Deb has several beautiful garden spaces in her yard.  One of them is almost walled off by vine-covered trellises and flowering bushes.   Suppose she wanted to bring together some family and friends for fellowship in this intimate, peaceful outdoor space--to host a summer meal there.  Suppose she asked Ken B for some of his tasty tomatoes for the salad in this meal.  Imagine Ken answering,  “No.  I’m too tired to go out into the garden to pick some tomatoes, and I don’t feel like getting any of the tomatoes I already picked from the shelves in my kitchen or storeroom.  No, go away.”  That’s preposterous!  No way would Ken say that!  Ken is a generous man who loves to share.  He encourages fellowship opportunities, like the one we supposed with Deb.  Because Ken has a green thumb--a gift for growing tasty vegetables and fruits--it’s within his power to grant the request.  It is in Ken’s nature to give, the request is in line with his values, and he has the means to provide.  It’s preposterous to think he would say no!  Of course Ken will share some tomatoes--for fellowship.

Imagine

            It’s November--time for the Presbyterian Women’s annual Christmas and bake sale.  Suppose Bailey asks Helen C to bake some of her lemon loaf cakes for the sale.  Bailey’s youth group is planning a lock-in and she wants the lemon loaves for breakfast the next morning. Imagine Helen telling Bailey, “I’m not going to bake for the sale.  I’m too busy planning ahead and baking for my family’s Thanksgiving.  That’s preposterous! No way would Helen say that!  She is a generous woman. Without being asked, she brought brownies for the Youth bake sale. Helen has been devoted to supporting the mission and ministry of this church through the work of Presbyterian Women for many years.  Because she is a gifted baker, Helen has the power to grant the request. It is in her nature to give, the request is in line with her values, and she has the means to provide.  It’s preposterous to think she would say no!  Of course Helen will bake a lemon loaf cake--to feed the youth.

Imagine

            A service organization--like scouts or the blood bank-- is using our foyer space.  Suppose they need to connect to the internet for the work they will do here, but they are having difficulty. Suppose Bailey or I call James Mc asking how we might assist the group with the internet connection.  Imagine James saying, “No, I can’t help you.  I’m tired of working with technology.  Just tell them to do without.”  That’s preposterous!  No way will James say that.  James is a generous man who loves to connect people with ideas and to connect people with each other--using technology.  Our new computers and wifi had just arrived right before day camp.  Even though they weren’t unpacked yet, James took the wifi and set it up so that the Heartland staff would have access to their website and to their email throughout the week they were here. It is in James’ nature to give; the request is in line with his values, and he has the means--the expertise--to grant the request. It’s preposterous to think he would say no!  Of course James will help the group connect.

            In today’s text, Jesus tells a preposterous story--like the 3 preposterous stories I just shared.  It’s the parable of the 2 neighbors.  In the mid-east--in Jesus’ time and now--hospitality was the foundation for communal relationships.  A person or a family will go to great lengths to show hospitality--because it’s expected.  To fail to do so brings shame upon the family.  In Jesus’ story, a surprise guest shows up at midnight.  The host has wine but no bread to set before the guest.  What can he do?  Go next door and get some bread from his neighbor.  Jesus says, “Imagine that neighbor responds, ‘No, I won’t give you any bread.  We’re all ready for bed. Quit bothering me.  Go away.’”  And Jesus’ listeners--like you when I said imagine Ken won’t share tomatoes; imagine Helen won’t bake for the PW sale; imagine James won’t help people connect--Jesus’ listeners’ all say “that’s preposterous!  No way will the neighbor refuse.” It’s in his nature to be generous; hospitality is in line with his values; and he has he means to grant his friend’s request.  It’s preposterous to think he would say no!  Of course the neighbor will get up and give his friend bread for the surprise guest.

            Jesus uses this parable to drive home the point:  Of course God will answer our prayers. 

            For God is generous.  Creating this whole, beautiful, wonderful universe, God created us--humans--to share it with.  God is generous.  Taking on the form and nature of humanity--becoming incarnate, God as Jesus the Christ poured himself out for us--in his life, death and resurrection. God is generous. God the Holy Spirit draws us--individually--towards God, offering us communion -oneness--with Christ. God the Holy Spirit empowers and sustains the church--the faith community. God is generous.  It is in God’s nature to answer our prayers.

            Of course God will answer our prayers, for God is all powerful.  God has the means to answer our prayers. 

            Of course God will answer our prayers--when our prayers are in line with God’s values, in line with God’s good purposes.  We hear this in Jesus’ model prayer at the beginning of today’s text.  The 1^st request in that model prayer is “God, bring in your kingdom.”  Our first thought, our first desire, our first request, should be that God’s good plan will come about.  If our requests are framed within God’s will, then Jesus assures us, as he did his disciples:  Of course, God will answer our prayers. 

            Knowing who we are in relation to God:  we are the created--not the creator, we subject our wishes and more importantly ourselves to God’s will.  So even as we pray, we are being re-formed.  In prayer, we are re-directed to ask for, to seek, to open up to, to work towards what will be God’s good purposes for the world, for our community, for our congregation, for ourselves.

            Of course God will answer our prayers.  It is in God’s nature to give, our requests are in line with God’s will, and God has the power to grant our requests.  Of course God will answer our prayers--giving us what we need and transforming us into who we are meant to be--agents of God’s good purposes here and now. 

Let us pray:  Loving and Almighty God, may your rule be established in our hearts, in our lives, in our church, in our community, in our world.  As this is happening, give us what we need--nourishment, reconciled relationships, and protection.  Amen.

“A Double Measure: Participating in God’s Call” 2 Kings 2: 1 - 14

            It’s another day in the life and ministry of Elijah, the prophet of the Lord God Almighty.  Since we last encountered Elijah, he has returned to Gilgal from his flight into the wilderness and his journey to Mt. Horeb.  He has apprenticed Elisha to learn the prophetic tradition.  Today God calls Elijah on a journey--a journey that will end in his being taken up to heaven on whirlwind--says the Biblical narrator.  All Elijah knows at the beginning of this day, is that God is leading him to Bethel.  He tells Elisha to stay behind.  Perhaps there is work to be done with the other prophets in Gilgal.  Perhaps Elijah just wanted a day alone.  Perhaps Elijah suspects the journey’s end, and he just isn’t ready to accept it; he isn’t ready to say good-bye.  Nevertheless, Elisha refuses to leave the side of his master and teacher.             

            They arrive at Bethel--the place where Abraham--a thousand years before--built an altar to God who had brought him safely from his home in Ur to this new land in Canaan.  They arrive at Bethel, the place where Jacob, fleeing from his brother Esau, built an altar to commemorate God’s promise to him.  There, in fitful sleep, Jacob had seen angels ascending and descending a ladder stretching from earth to heaven bringing him a message.  God would give Abraham’s inheritance--this very land--to Jacob’s descendents.  They arrive at Bethel, the official place of worship in the northern kingdom of Israel. Bethel was the Jerusalem of the northern kingdom.  They arrive at Bethel, and a company of prophets runs out to tell Elisha, “Your master will be taken from you today.”  And Elisha, who does not want to be separated from his mentor, tells them, “I don’t want to talk about it.”  They arrive at Bethel, and Elijah tells Elisha to stay behind -while Elijah goes on to Jericho.  But Elisha refuses to leave the side of his master and teacher.

            So they continue the journey.  They arrive at Jericho--the first city Joshua, Moses’ successor, had led the wandering Hebrews to after they crossed over into God’s promised land.  They arrive at Jericho, and a company of prophets runs out to tell Elisha, “Your master will be taken from you today.”  And Elisha, who does not want to be separated from his mentor; Elisha, who is not yet ready to be on his own, tells them, “I don’t want to talk about it.”  They arrive at Jericho, and Elijah tells Elisha to stay behind--while Elijah goes on to the Jordan River.  But Elisha refuses to leave the side of his master and teacher.

            So they continue the journey.  They come to the banks of the Jordan River--the river that separated the wandering, redeemed Hebrew slaves from the land promised by God through Moses.  They come to the banks of the Jordan River--the river that separates “the settled land governed by the king [from] the wilderness,”[1]  Reminding us of Moses parting the Red Sea for the fleeing Hebrew slaves, reminding us of Joshua parting these very waters so that the Hebrews could claim their land of milk and honey, the narrator tells us that Elijah strikes the Jordan River with his coat and the waters part for him.  He and Elisha cross on dry land into the wilderness, the inscrutable land of mystery.  They cross into the wilderness, the place where it is necessary to rely on the power of God.  

            Here, their journey together ends.  “Why have you accompanied me on this journey?” asks Elijah.   “What is it that you want from me?” Elisha does not want to be separated from his mentor.  Elisha is not yet ready to be on his own.  Elisha is afraid to lead Israel’s prophets.  So, he asks for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit.  Elisha, whose devotion to Elijah has been almost familial, asks for a double portion--the son’s rightful inheritance from the father.  But Elijah cannot promise what only God can give.  Rely on the power of God, he says.  Open your eyes. Don’t hide from the truth--whether it’s ugly or pretty, whether it’s frightening or reassuring, whether it’s hard to understand or it makes sense. Open your mind. Don’t deny what must happen.  Open your heart.  Accept God’s will. Open your hands.  Take part in God’s work.  So, Elisha watches as fiery horses pulling a fiery chariot separates him from his mentor, and Elijah is taken up into heaven in a whirlwind.

            Here, the biblical narrator makes a change.  He is no longer telling a journey story that connects geographical place with theologically grounded events.  Here, the narrator combines apocalyptic imagery with natural forces to create the setting for God’s awesome power--a power that transcends time and place and overcomes all forces of evil.  Elisha sees and names the power of God. "Oh, my father, my father! Israel's chariots and its riders!"[2]   Elisha sees, names and experiences God’s power that will ultimately overcome the immanent--the here and now--forces of evil:  poverty, injustice, cruelty, and lies.

            Elisha sees a vision of God’s power.  To claim that power, he must act on what he sees.  So he picks up Elijah’s coat, walks back to the Jordan River, taps it with the coat, and the waters part for him.  While his work with Elijah had helped prepare him to be Israel’s next great prophet, it is in participating in the events of this day that Elisha confirms God’s will for his life.  It is in accompanying Elijah on his final journey, in watching the fiery chariot and whirlwind, in picking up Elijah’s mantle, and in attempting to use it that Elisha confirms God’s call for him to lead the prophetic tradition in Israel.

            God provides leadership even in times of transition.  Elijah and Elisha worked together in the last months of Elijah’s tenure just as we are working together in the last months of my tenure.  Their relationship was loving and strong just as our relationships have been tender, compassionate, and have grown strong. 

            Elisha was not yet ready to be separated from his mentor, so he told the various groups of prophets, “I don’t want to talk about it.”  Some of us are finding it hard to talk about our upcoming separation. 

            In today’s story, at the end of Elijah’s tenure as prophet in Israel, Elijah and Elisha travel together to places theologically significant in the Jewish faith story.  We might do well to travel to places theologically significant in our shared faith story.  We might do well to remember, to record, and to celebrate our experiences together. 

            It seems like every month, something new appears on the church timeline in the hall.  I clapped my hands with joy when I saw that the Heartland day camp staff had added their presence here on that timeline. Our recent successful community outreach through day camp should be a stop on our reminiscing journey together.  Celebrating new, engaging, successful outreach should be a stop on our reminiscing journey together. 

            Another stop we might make is the celebration of our sharing full-time mission and ministry together in 2012 and ending 2012 financially “in the black” with an actual surplus. Not having had to dip into our reserves--at all--while we have engaged in full-time, shared ministry these past 22 months is a significant theologically-grounded milestone. While we have devoted ourselves to doing God’s work, God has provided!   Celebrating the reality of God’s abundance should be a stop on our reminiscing journey together.

            Another stop we might make is recognizing our children and our youth’s deepened faith. We could celebrate their and the adults in both our mid-week Bible study and our adult Sunday School class’ burning desire to learn more about the Bible. Celebrating growth in faith should be a stop on our reminiscing journey together.   We could remember private times of shared sorrow as well as shared joy.  Celebrating relationship and community should be a stop on our reminiscing journey together.

            God provides leadership in times of transition.  You are that leadership--all of you, each and every one of you.  Just as Elisha was commanded to keep his open for the upcoming unknown, we must keep our eyes open.  We must see what is happening.  Like Elisha, we must open our mouths and name what we see. We must open our minds and our hearts to God’s will--that this congregation play a part in God’s good work in this community and in our world.  Like Elisha, we will realize God’s call on our lives as we participate in the events God lays before us while we journey together over the next two months and when we journey separately thereafter.

            Elisha witnessed God’s awesome power, a power that transcends the difficulties in the here and the now, a power that ultimately overcomes all evil, a power that will protect and will provide for God’s people.  May we also witness, experience, and take part in God’s awesome power. All we need is a double portion of the Holy Spirit.  And Jesus says, “Ask and you will receive.”[3]

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[1] Walter Brueggemann. Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary: 1 & 2 Kings.  Macon, GA:  Smyth & Helwys, 2000, p. 295.

[2] 2 Kings 2: 12

[3] Matthew 7:7  Common English Bible

Faith: Ebbing and Flowing 1 Kings 19: 1 - 15a

            When we last encountered Elijah, the prophet of the Lord God of Israel, he was challenging the prophets of Baal to a showdown on Mt. Carmel.  Vastly outnumbered, he showed no hint of fear.  So sure was he of the results of the impending contest that he gave Baal’s prophets every advantage.  He gave them choice of the sacrificial bulls.  He let them go first and take practically all day in trying to coax Baal to rain down fire on their sacrifice.  He was “so bold as to openly and sarcastically mock them”[1] saying—“perhaps your god is sleeping, shout louder to wake him up.”[2]  So confident in God’s desire and ability to fire up his sacrifice, Elijah drenched it with 12 large jars of water.  When we last encountered Elijah, he was praising God for the magnificent display of fire from heaven that consumed his sacrifice—the magnificent display that proclaimed to all those gathered on Mt. Carmel—that the Lord God of Israel is indeed the one Lord God Almighty. 

            So what happened between the end of chapter 18 and the beginning of chapter 19?  For today, we meet, not a plucky prophet but a fearful fugitive. Jezebel—the foreign born queen who brought Baal-worship with her to Israel when she married its King Ahab—has placed a price on Elijah’s head.  The prophet who relied on the Lord God Almighty on Mt. Carmel is now afraid of a human—Jezebel.  Fearing for his life, Elijah runs—he runs into the wilderness where even Jezebel’s power does not reach.  He runs until he can run no more.  Then he collapses.  In the shade of a broom bush, he awaits death and, exhausted, he falls asleep.  In his sleep, he is visited by a heavenly messenger who gives him just what he needs.  Awaking he finds fresh-baked bread and a jar of cold water.  Appetite sated, thirst quenched, he falls asleep again.  And in his sleep, he is visited again by the heavenly messenger who gives him just what he needs—food, water, and a mission.  Nourished by the 2 heavenly meals, refreshed from his 2 long naps, Elijah sets out on a long journey, a journey to Mt. Horeb, a journey to meet with God.   

            At Mt. Horeb, Elijah waits in a cave for the Lord God of Israel.  A great and mighty windstorm buffets the mountain.  The wind, the ruach of God—which breathes life into creation, which blows us where God wants us to go—the wind encircles the mountain.  But Elijah remains in the cave.  A terrible earthquake shakes the mountain; rocks slide; cliffs crumble.  The awesome power of God rumbles the earth.  But Elijah remains in the cave.  A fire engulfs the mountain.  The refining fire of God that burns away impurities and transforms the old into new, the drab into bright, the common into the rare—the refining fire of God consumes the mountain.  But Elijah remains in the cave.  Then, a sound—thin, quiet.  Elijah emerges from the cave—head bowed, hands clasped, face shrouded—Elijah emerges from the cave to meet God. 

            “Why are you here?” God asks.  Elijah responds, “I have been passionately faithful to you—standing up to King Ahab, Queen Jezebel, and the prophets of Baal.  I find myself all alone. There is no one else faithful to you—the Lord God of Israel. I am all alone.  I am spent.”  Then God commands Elijah to go to Damascus.  In verses after our reading, God assures Elijah there are others who have been faithful, others with whom he can continue to serve God, others from whom he can draw strength. God assures Elijah he is not alone.  Elijah obeys—traveling to Damascus—going on to the next thing God has planned for him. 

            Have you ever felt like Elijah?  One minute you were on top of the world, basking in success from work, relationship, school, or play and then something happens and it all seems to tumble down.  You get the wind knocked out of you. One minute you’re confident and brave, the next minute you’re unsure and fearful.  Have you ever felt like Elijah—as if you are standing alone in your convictions?  Rather than face the powerful—all alone—you’ve run away?  It’s not easy to stand up to power—all alone—to political power that uses the ins and outs of the system to guard possessions at the expense of people.  It’s not easy to stand up to power—all alone—to the power of peer pressure that ostracizes the transfer student, the new employee, the not-from-around-here neighbor.  It’s not easy to stand up to power—all alone—to the power of management when your boss or your co-workers whose proposal will earn the company more prestige and money—but will hurt people and kill programs. 

            Elijah thought he was standing alone in his convictions and so he ran—he ran away.  He ran until he was exhausted, ready to give up—completely.  In his exhaustion, in his despair, God provided.  God provided sleep, food, and water—a double dose.  God nourished, watered, and refreshed Elijah.  Then God called Elijah on to the next thing.  Elijah was not alone.  God was with him.

            God did not berate Elijah for losing confidence.  God did not berate Elijah for being afraid.  God did not berate Elijah for running away.  No, God provided what Elijah needed.  Then he called him on to the next thing—where he would find he was not standing alone in his convictions.  For at the end of chapter 19, we learn there were 7000 more Israelites who had remained faithful to God in spite of Jezebel.  At the end of the chapter, God brings Elijah a helper who will work with him and later succeed him as the Lord’s prophet in Israel. 

            Like Elijah, we are not alone.  God is with us . . . in our spectacular successes— like day camp.  And God is with us when just one or two people show up for a Sunday School class. God is with us when our energy and creativity spur us to plan fellowship activities like Friday’s well-attended movie night and today’s all-church picnic. And God is with us, when we’re tired and think we can’t do one more thing.  God is with us when we are confident in the mission and ministry we are engaging in together. God is with us when conflict arises, and we feel like running away or hiding.  The good news in today’s scripture, the good news that runs throughout all of scripture is that God is with us—providing for us—giving us rest, feeding us, and renewing us—so we’ll be ready for the next thing. 

            May we, like Elijah, realize we are not alone—that we are instead accompanied by God—surrounded by his grace.  May we realize we are not alone but are surrounded by the communion of saints—other believers in all times and all places—other believers faithfully seeking to follow God.  May we, like Elijah, take the nourishment that God offers and be renewed. May we, like Elijah, listen for God’s voice—through the noisy din and the thin quiet—may we listen for God’s voice and then obey God, following where God guides us.

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[1] Trevor Eppehimer,  “1 Kings 19: 1 – 4 (5 – 7), 8 – 15a :  Theological Perspective,” in Feasting on the Word, Year C, Vol. 3.  Edited by David L. Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor.  Louisville:  Westminster John Knox Press, 2010, p. 150.

[2] 1 Kings 18: 27