Watching and Waiting

Debbie Cato

Isaiah 64:1-9 and Mark 13:24-37

Peace Presbyterian Church

November 30, 2014 – First Sunday of Advent

“Watching & Waiting”

Our passage from Isaiah this morning is a lament on behalf of the Israelite community. A lament is a wailing; a mourning out of deep grief. The kind that comes from deep inside you in the midst of overwhelming suffering and sorrow. A lament is crying out to God in the depths of pain and despair.

We know that kind of pain; the kind of pain that fills your soul. We know that kind of grief. Our beloved Bernice died early Wednesday morning; after sharing her life with Paul for 59 years. Pat Lanier was in the hospital over Thanksgiving and just went home yesterday. Sterling, Bob, and Roger are all fighting illnesses. Two months ago we said good-bye to dear Phyllis. Each of us has had suffering and sorrow in our lives that fills our body and causes us to cry out - “Where are you, God?” We can relate to the cry, “O Lord, that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence.”¹

The Israelite people are hurting. They are trying to find understanding in the midst of their pain. The Babylonian empire has conquered Jerusalem and the people are disoriented. Their sanctuary lies in ruin. The crisis shook the religious foundation of the community to its' very core. They turn to God and ask, “Where are you God?” and “Why did this happen?”

Hundreds of years later, Jesus is talking with his disciples, trying to help them understand what is going to happen in the future. Jesus is getting ready to leave them. It's time for him to go be with His Father in heaven. “But, I will come again,” he tells his disciples. “When?” they ask. “When will you come again? How will you come again?” “Watch and wait,” he tells them.

These are the Scripture readings we are given for this first Sunday of Advent. The season of Advent is a time when the church is reminded to wait and prepare for the coming Messiah. Advent is a time when we are filled with new hope in the impending birth of the baby Jesus – the Savior of the world.

Advent is a time when we are reminded that there is a big difference between waiting for Christmas and waiting for Christ. Waiting for Christmas is about getting the decorations up and the shopping done. It's about scurrying and over scheduling. It's about running to get everything done until we are so exhausted that we can't enjoy any of it. But this busyness; what the world has us believe is Christmas, has nothing to do with Christ.

We cannot buy our way into Christ. Waiting and watching for Christ involves a painful longing; a bold allegiance. It requires passionate patience. Waiting for Christ requires us to draw on our collective memories of God's people as a source of hope for the future – hope we sorely need today.

In the season of Advent, Christians imaginatively enter a time of waiting for the Christ child. The Christ who comes as God, hidden in human form. The Christ who comes to reveal the power of the powerless in his self-giving act on the cross.

There's a beautiful story that's told about watching and waiting for Christ that I would like to share with you. The author is unknown, but I challenge you to listen and see how this kind of attitude might change you – might change us as a church. How it might change our community.

As the story goes, there was once a great religious order of monks. It was a decaying monastery that only had five monks remaining. The order was dying. In the surrounding deep woods, there was a little hut that a Rabbi from a nearby town used from time to time.

The monks always knew the Rabbi was home when they saw the smoke from his fire rise above the treetops. As the Abbot of the monastry agonized over the imminent death of his order, it occurred to him to ask the Rabbi if he could offer any advice that might save the monastery.

The Rabbi welcomed the Abbot and invited him into his hut. When the Abbot explained the reason for his visit, the Rabbi could only commiserate with him. “I know how it is,” he exclaimed. “The Spirit has gone out of the people. It is the same in my town. Almost no one comes to the synagogue anymore. The Abbot and the Rabbi sat together discussing the Bible and their faiths. When the time came for the Abbot to leave, he said, “It has been a wonderful visit, but I have failed in my purpose. Is there nothing you can tell me to help save my dying order?”

“The only thing I can tell you,” said the Rabbi, “is that the Messiah is among you.”

When the Abbot returned to the monastery, his fellow monks gathered around him and asked, “What did the Rabbi say?” “He couldn't help,” the Abbot answered. “The only thing he did say, as I was leaving, was that the Messiah is among us. Though I do not know what these words mean.”

In the months that followed, the monks pondered this and wondered whether there was any possible significance to the Rabbi's words: “The Messiah is among us.”

Could he possibly have meant that the Messiah is one of us monks here at the monastery, they wondered? If that's the case, which one of us is the Messiah? Do you suppose he meant the Abbot? Yes! If he meant anyone, he probably meant Father Abbot. Certainly he could not have meant Brother Elred! Elred gets crotchety at times. But, even so, come to think of it, Elred is virtually always right. Maybe the Rabbi did mean Brother Elred.

Of course, the Rabbi didn't mean me, each monk thought to themselves. He couldn't possibly have meant me. I'm just an ordinary person. Yet – supposed he did? Suppose I am the Messiah!

As they contemplated in this manner, the monks began to treat each other with extraordinary respect on the off-chance that one among them might be the Messiah. And, in turn, each monk began to treat himself with extraordinary respect.

Now it happened that people would still occasionally come to visit the beautiful forest and monastery. Without even being conscious of it, visitors began to sense a powerful spiritual aura at the monastery. They were sensing the extraordinary respect that now filled the place.

Hardly knowing why, people began to come to the monastery frequently – to picnic, to play, and even to pray. They began to bring their friends, and their friends brought their friends.

Then it happened that some of the younger men who came to visit the monastery started to talk more and more with the older monks. After a while, one asked if he could join them. Then, another and another asked if they too could join the Abbot and the older monks. Within a few years, the monastery once again became a thriving order; a vibrant center of light and spirituality in the realm.²

Anyhow – that's the story. It seems to speak to me about the power the risen Christ

has to change even our lives. Even when it seems His kingdom has fallen into ruin; even though we can't see Him walking along the way with us as he did with His disciples, He is here. This is a story about how followers of Christ become witnesses to his life-giving presence – even after thousands of years. It doesn't matter if Jesus could eat a bit of fish with the disciples back then. What does matter, is what does it mean now? What does it mean for us today?

Truth is, we don't usually see or meet Jesus in a vision of nailed-scarred hands and feet as the disciples did. We meet Jesus in the illegal alien picking produce in the field, or the checkout clerk at a big box store. We meet Jesus in the youngster fidgeting in the seat next to us, while we quietly try to pray or listen to a sermon. We meet Jesus at the food bank, in the prison or in our home. We meet Jesus in strangers and in friends. Do you want to see the face of God? Look at the person sitting next to you!

Others see and meet the risen Christ in us! We are the witnesses to the power of God to transform life – to make life new. Just as important as it is to see Christ in others, it is important that others have the chance to see Christ in us. Each day, we may be someone's last and best hope to see the love of God in their lives; to know that God is present with them and loving them in a way that can make a difference for them. Do you want to see someone created in God's image? Look in the mirror! Odds are you'll recognize the face looking back at you!

The choice is ours – whether to serve God with heavy hearts or with the hope and joy and grace of the transformed monks in the story. The choice is ours – are we willing to seek the face of Christ in our presence? Will we believe that the Messiah is among us?

We are witnesses when we invite someone to look into our homes, our families, our

friendships, our work, our checkbook – and find Jesus there. We are witnesses

when we allow ourselves to be touched by folks who are lost and afraid. We are a witnesses when we rest in God's peace in spite of our circumstances. We are witnesses when we live in a way that defies any explanation other than the presence of the living Christ within us.

And this living God – this risen Christ – isn't stuck in the pages of a story from long ago. This risen Christ is real today. This risen Christ can and does change lives today. My friends – my sisters and brothers in Christ – you are the people of God. The Messiah is among you.

Let's remember this, as we watch and wait together this Advent season.

1Isaiah 64:1

2 The Rabbi's Gift. Author unknown, adapted from “The Different Drum: Community Making and Peace,” by Dr. M. Scott Peck.  

Finding God in Cannon Beach

November 23, 2014


I've been at Cannon Beach Christian Retreat center since Thursday for a week of study leave.  My goal was to finish writing a Bible study on The Book of Acts.  I had already written 11 chapters but I had 17 left to write and I just wasn't finding the time during my "normal" schedule.  I also brought three books that  I wanted to read  -  (I always bring more than I could possibly read).  And, yes of course I intended to relax a little bit, enjoy the beach, and knit.

My room is comfortable - nothing fancy.  I haven't seen or talked to anyone since I got here and there's no T.V.  It's very quiet.  I am very alone.  At first it was uncomfortable.  I always have the T.V. on and it was eerily quiet without it.  Nothing to distract me; no noise to fill the quiet.  But a peace has come over me.  Just being still and quiet has removed all the other voices, the distractions from my mind.  Instead, I hear God, and we are having conversations.

During my stay there have been strong coastal storms. I love storms. The big evergreen tree outside my window has been dancing around, whirling and bowing about.  God spoke through the sound of the huge branch beating against the balcony, saying "Nothing is stronger than I am.  I am your All-Powerful, Sustaining God."  The rain beats against the building - sometimes in a light, rhythmic sort of way that is soothing in the quiet.  Other times the rain pelts and stabs the windows and the walls and the roof and I hear God saying, "Beloved, let me wash away your worries, your fears, and your anxieties." There have been claps of thunder so loud and long-lived that it seems as if  they come from the very depths of the sea.  In the thunder, God reminds me that He is the Creator of all that was and is and is to come.  "This is my plan," God seems to say.  Leave it to me.  I am in charge.

This is my 3rd full day here.  I've written 12 chapters of the study, read most of one book, and I've done a fair amount of knitting.   Yet, I feel relaxed and whole and focused on God.  I've become comfortable in the silence, knowing that He is with me.  He always has been of course, and He always will be. I just need to take time now and then to be still.  To be quiet.  To hear His voice.


Psalm 147:1-20   
Praise the LORD! How good it is to sing praises to our God;
    for he is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting.  
The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel.  
He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds.  
He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names. 
Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure. 
The LORD lifts up the downtrodden; he casts the wicked to the ground.  
Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre.  

He covers the heavens with clouds, prepares rain for the earth, makes grass grow on the hills. 
He gives to the animals their food, and to the young ravens when they cry.  
His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner;  
     but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.  
Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem!   Praise your God, O Zion!  

For he strengthens the bars of your gates; he blesses your children within you.  
He grants peace within your borders; he fills you with the finest of wheat.  
He sends out his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly.  
He gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes.  
He hurls down hail like crumbs-- who can stand before his cold?  
He sends out his word, and melts them; he makes his wind blow, and the waters flow.  
He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and ordinances to Israel. 
He has not dealt thus with any other nation; they do not know his ordinances. 
     Praise the LORD! 

God's Got It Covered!

Rev. Debbie Cato

Matthew 6:24-34

Peace Presbyterian Church

November 16,2014

God's Got It Covered!

Under the current administration, the economy is prospering. Wheat, olives and wine exports have never been more significant or profitable. The fishing industry is booming. It has even expanded to include dried fish - which everyone seems to love.

About 200,000 – 300,000 people live here. The powerful business leaders and politicians are growing wealthier every day. Along with the rich upper class, there is a middle class just like most communities have. They are able to take care of their families without any problem as long as the businesses in the community are thriving. But by far, the majority of the population is lower class. In fact, the gap between the upper class and the lower class is growing. Most of the low-income citizens in the community work hard every single day. They are tenant farmers, day laborers, laborers on fishing boats. You know, they do the kind of jobs that the rest of us take for granted but would miss if they weren’t being done.

Yes, Galilee during the time of Jesus' ministry is a rich prosperous community. Life is good – very comfortable. But the people that crowded around Jesus that day were not the wealthy or even the middle class people of Galilee. Things were not “good” for Jesus' audience. The folks listening to Jesus’ teach are poor. They are the working poor. They work as hard as they can but still struggle to meet the basic needs of their families. And Jesus tells them “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.”

You probably thought I was describing the United States didn’t you?! It’s interesting how similar the economies are. As a nation, we have enjoyed prosperity for many years. But there's another side to our story; a dark side.

We live in the world's wealthiest nation. Yet 14.5 percent of U.S. households—nearly 49 million Americans, including 15.9 million children—struggle to put food on the table.¹  The price of food is increasing at alarming rates and those numbers are going up and not down. The housing market is struggling to recover after thousands of hardworking families lost their homes. Gun violence continues to take the lives of our children. Our politicians spend more time fighting with one another than solving critical issues in our country. And Jesus tells us, “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.”

God spoke this passage into my life for the first time about 25 years ago. I was a single mom with a baby and a 3 year old. I was a CPA working full-time, well-respected in my community. Yet because of circumstances in my life, we struggled – big time. One night in particular, driving home from work with my babies in car seats in the back, I realized I had nothing to give them for dinner. They had finished the last of the milk at breakfast. They had eaten the last of our food for dinner the night before. Our cupboards were bare. As I got closer to home, praying all the way, I heard God say, “Do not worry. I know what you need.”

As I pulled into my driveway, I cried when I saw bags of groceries sitting at my front door. I don’t know who left them but Tracy had her favorite baby food for dinner that night and Jessica and I ate hamburger, green beans, and bread for dinner. The girls had milk to drink. God knew what we needed.

In spite of God’s amazing provision – and I have many similar stories - I still worry. I can worry better than anyone else! In fact, I worry when I don’t have anything to worry about!

Do you worry? Why is it that we can have experiences where it is absolutely clear that God met our need and yet the next time we are in crisis we don’t believe He will help us? You see, worry is a form of disbelief. Worry is a mental and emotional response of concern or fear to vague or unspecified threats. What will I do if? What happens if? What if? Worry is a response to something that not only hasn’t happened but might not happen at all!

Worry interferes with our comfort and peace of mind. How many hours of sleep have you lost because you were worried about an appointment the next day? How many vacations have you spent worrying about what was happening at work without you, rather than relaxing and enjoying your time away? How many times has your quiet time or prayer time with God been interrupted by worry?

You see, to really understand this passage, to really get it - we must fully appreciate that Jesus’ is directing his words to people who do have to sow, and reap and toil and spin. He wasn’t telling them to stop doing those tasks; he simply wanted them to understand that their lives were a lot more than the sum of their work. He wants us to know that our lives are more than the sum of our work.

Jesus gives us an alternative to worry. Jesus ties his call to not worry to the Kingdom of God. Just as he told the crowd of Galileans he tells us. Do not worry. Rather, seek first God’s kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Jesus is teaching us that our primary concern must be the Kingdom of God. Our number one priority must be God. Jesus is teaching us a way of looking at life where God is at the center of all that we are, everything we can be and everything we need. It's about the most essential relationship in our lives. It's a relationship that changes how we look at everything in our life. It's a relationship that promises us life eternal.

Today’s gospel teaching is about reminding ourselves that God IS first. It's about reminding ourselves that God is in charge of life. It's about reminding ourselves that God is the creator and we are the created. Why wouldn’t God perfectly provide for someone he so lovingly created?

Today is Stewardship Sunday – the day we submit our financial pledge toward the ministries of this church for the coming year. Today we say to God; this is what I pledge to give back to you out of gratefulness and trust, for the growing of your kingdom here on earth. I trust you were prayerful about your pledge. I hope you trust that God will provide for you – he promises that he will. “Do not worry, he says.”

Jesus is calling us not to be distracted by worry. At the root, worry is a shortage of hope and trust. But God, who gave us life, will provide for our needs. We can be sure that the Father who provided for us yesterday will also provide for us tomorrow.

None of this is to say that we won’t have some normal worries. We can’t love someone without worrying about threats to his or her well-being. We cannot be sensitive persons without occasional concern that we haven’t done all we should. We cannot listen to the news without some uneasiness about the direction many things in the world appear to be going.

We are human and our limited understanding of God gets in our way of really, really getting it. God knows our needs and He will provide. Jesus tells us that if we stay focused on God, if we keep our thoughts on Him, we won’t be preoccupied with worrying.

Having concern or interest in someone or something that is important to us is one thing. But to expend our energy on anxiety, to spend our time fretting, to be “unduly concerned” about something doesn’t help us. God is in control. God loves us more than we can imagine. God knows our needs. God has it covered. If we focus on the things of God, we’re able to relax and have confidence in God’s providential care.

There is a story about a far away land that was ruled by a vicious king. His iron fist reached into every corner of his subjects' lives. Every corner, except one. Try as he might, he couldn't destroy their belief in God. In his frustration, he finally summoned his advisors and asked them: "Where can I hide God so the people will forget about him?"

One advisor suggested hiding God on the dark side of the moon. His idea was debated, but it was voted down because the advisors feared that their scientists would one day discover a way to travel into space and God would be discovered again. Another suggested burying God in the deepest part of the ocean. But there was the same problem with this idea, so it was also voted down.

One idea after another was suggested and debated and rejected. Until finally, the oldest and wisest advisor had a flash of insight. "I know," he said, "why don't we hide God where no one will ever think to look? If we hide God in the ordinary events of people's everyday lives, they'll never find him!"

And so it was done. They say people in that land are still looking for God, even today.

Will you take time this week to find God in the ordinariness of your life? Where is God meeting your needs that you aren’t recognizing? How is God providing for your needs but you are missing it because you are so caught up in worry? Perhaps we focus too much on expecting extraordinary provision when all along, God is in the everyday, ordinariness of our lives.

God is sovereign. God created us, he loves us, and he knows our needs. God will take care of us. God knows what we need. God has it covered.

May His kingdom come on earth, as in heaven. Amen.

1http://www.bread.org/hunger/us/

Just a Year ...

Philippians 4:6-7   Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

The Apostle Paul wrote this to the church in Philippi while he was in prison. His letter to the Philippians is full of joy and thanksgiving and hope – not attitudes one would expect from someone suffering in a first century prison. In spite of his circumstances, Paul believed that we can have peace and joy in the midst of suffering and hardship if we find our joy in Christ; if we have the peace of God which transcends any and all circumstances.   

I love Paul's letters. He believed. He walked the talk. I studied Paul and his writings in seminary. I read them on a regular basis. I preach from them. I too believe that we can be thankful in all circumstances. I have felt the peace of God in times when I should not have felt at peace. Yet, this past year, I did not live as I believe.

A year ago, I was in a very difficult job situation that was pulling me down.  I was empty because I was not serving a church and I began to believe that God had ended my call to pastoral ministry. I felt stuck and questioned God."  Why, I asked?"  "Where are you," I wondered. I knew in my head that this was just part of my journey but I stopped believing in my heart. The negative voices took over and instead of hearing God speak into my life, I heard old recordings. I did not have peace. I stopped feeling thankful.

God did not desert me. He was with me – protecting me from accepting the wrong call; serving the wrong church. He provided for my needs. He encouraged me through friends and family and a city that I missed when I was away. He sat with me as I wrestled with my faith. He held me while I cried. He gave me courage to speak out about the work environment.  I saw His face in my daughters as they spoke truth into my life. And then, when the time was right, he opened a door for me to walk through.

A year later, I can look back and say with certainty - “Yes! That was just part of my journey. God did not end my call; he put it on hold until the right call was available.” Now, I can see why [some] of the things I experienced, happened. Of course, I think. I should have been thankful in everything. I should have rested in God's peace that is beyond understanding. I should have trusted; I should have had more faith.

But I've learned that the should-haves will bury me. God already knows I'm human. He knows that my faith is like a roller coaster. Sometimes it's strong and I feel like I'm on the highest track. I'm excited and ready for the next thrill. He knows that sometimes, my faith wavers; that sometimes I feel like I'm in the front car, racing to the bottom trying not to vomit. God knows. He loves me anyway.

I wish I could say that I learned my lesson and in the future will have joy and peace in all circumstances but if I'm honest, I know myself. My faith will falter again. I will doubt and sink to the depths.  But I trust that, Praise Be to God, he will not desert me – again.

“Doing the Right Stuff”

Rev. Debbie Cato

Matthew 19:16-24

Peace Presbyterian Church

October 26, 2014

“Doing the Right Stuff”

I like rules. Rules help me know what’s expected of me. I like to be sure that I know what I’m supposed to do. I like to know what’s O.K. and what’s not O.K.

While I was in seminary, I would drive from Tacoma to Seattle 2-3 days a week – often during rush hour. For those of you not familiar with Seattle traffic, let me just say that its a mess. It is 23 miles from Tacoma to Seattle and it could take over 1 ½ hours depending on how bad traffic was. To help with traffic, there are carpool lanes most of the distance. I never used the carpool lane if I was driving to seminary by myself. The rule is – the carpool lane is for 2 or more drivers. I would see people driving alone in the carpool lane and feel pretty righteous. Even though I was sitting in traffic, I was doing the right thing and they were doing the wrong thing. I was following the rules.

Monday night I stopped at Safeway on my way home from meeting to pick up a few things. I had 16 items in my cart so I stood in a long line rather than go through the express lanes that say “15 items or less.”

You see, I’m a rule follower. Are you a rule follower? I think it’s probably fair to say that most of us like to do the right thing. Most of us try hard to follow the rules. Even when we don’t agree with the rules, most of us still follow them – after all, they are the rules!!!

Sometimes as Christians we can be too rule focused. Rules can become how we “measure our religion.” Doing the “right thing” is what Christians do. After all, Christians have THE most important rules in the world – we have rules from God. The Ten Commandments. Rules given to the Israelites by God himself. There is no better – no HOLY-er rule maker than God.

For the Jews, The Ten Commandments – or the “law” as it is called is how they stayed in relationship with God. The “law” was how they measured their faith. The more strictly they followed the law, the more righteous they were. The Pharisees are an extreme example of this. Not only did the Pharisees strictly follow the law given by God – they made up more laws more rules; that made righteous living even harder – nearly impossible. Jesus was critical of the Pharisees because of their excessive laws.

So imagine yourself a Jew in 30 A.D. You live following Jewish tradition and your only scripture is the Old Testament. Ever since you were a young child, you learned and lived by the law given to the Israelites. You follow the purity laws and the laws about food. This is the only way of life you know and you have always tried to live a godly life. Now this Jewish man – Jesus - comes on the scene and teaches a different way of living and being. Many of your Jewish neighbors – maybe even family members are drawn to his teaching.

You go to hear this rabbi teach and this idea of eternal life appeals to you. Wanting to gain eternal life, you get up the courage to go speak to Jesus. And you ask him, “What good thing must I do to achieve eternal life?” What good thing must I do.

This young man – faithful to a religion that is all about doing the right thing – the good thing, logically wants to know what good thing will give him eternal life. Jesus response is important – “There is only One who is good.” Jesus corrects the young man’s thinking that doing things makes us good. Only God is good. Only Jesus is perfectly good. And all the goodness in us, comes from God! Jesus makes that clear at the very beginning of the conversation with the young man.

But then Jesus goes on to answer the young man’s question: “If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.” Which ones the young man asks? Jesus lists six of the commandments. “All these I have kept. What do I lack?”

Perhaps Jesus knew that this young man – so eager to gain eternal life – was a good Jew. Perhaps Jesus knew this was an opportunity to teach this young man about the difference between doing and being. Whatever the reason, Jesus challenges him in a way that even now surprises us.

“Go and sell all your possessions and give to the poor. Then, come follow me.” Sell all my possessions? Now, I don’t have much – I’ve never had much. But – sell everything and then give the money to the poor? Whoa! That’s radical.

The young man must have felt the same way, because he went away sad. He couldn’t do it. Jesus was asking too much. This eternal life Jesus talked about wasn’t worth it.

Although we don’t have a lot of details, the title of this passage – The Rich Young Man – paints a picture for us of a young man who has it all. Youth, money, and morality. Since we are told he is young, we could even presume that his life has been easy. Maybe his family has always had money. Maybe he has never had to work hard for money and the stuff money buys. Yet even though he is young and has money, he comes to Jesus with a sense that something is missing. In spite of all he has – all the stuff he owns, something is missing in his life.

What did he lack? What else does he have to do? I’m sure he expected Jesus to give him one more commandment – one more rule for him to complete. One more check-mark on his list of accomplishments.

Jesus understood what was behind the young man’s question. He thought that knowledge alone was all he needed. He thought that whatever needed to be done he could do on his own. This rich young man thought he could do something to have eternal life. He was preoccupied with having. But, eternal life is not another possession. This young man is concerned with doing while believing needs to come first. Discipleship in the kingdom is more than just obeying commandments, it requires 100% commitment. Being a part of God’s Kingdom requires sacrificial discipleship.

Jesus knows this rich young man is most vulnerable when it comes to his possessions. He knows that for this young man, sacrificing his wealth is necessary for him to be 100% committed to God. Jesus knows that we must treasure God more than we treasure anything else. But the young man is so attached to his possessions that he is unwilling to part with them. His possessions mean more to him than the gift of eternal life. This young man – so eager for eternal life – treasures his wealth and possessions far more than he treasures God. As long as he could obey the rules – as long as he could do the right stuff, he was good. As long as he could DO, he was in control and eager to please. But Jesus was asking him to BE a certain way. To be sacrificial, to be 100% committed to God.

If he gave everything away, he couldn’t rely on himself anymore. Giving everything away would require him to be totally dependent on God. Giving away his possessions would force him to put all his trust in God rather than in his money & his stuff. Giving away his possessions would be giving away control. I don’t know about you but for me – that’s scary.

True, he had not murdered. He had never lied or stolen anything. Presumably, he honored his mother and father. But had he in fact “loved his neighbor as himself”?   He thinks so. Perhaps he was a kind and thoughtful guy. Perhaps he showed respect to other people.  But, Jesus knows that many people in his community were poor and hungry. This young man standing before him, wanting the key to eternal life had great wealth. Jesus is aware of the unequal distribution of wealth. Jesus asks him to “go and sell his possessions and give the money to the poor.” This would be loving his neighbors! Jesus tests this young man because he knows that he cannot “love his neighbor as himself” while his Jewish brothers and sisters have nothing. But the young man can’t do it. Jesus is asking too much. As a result, this rich young man fails the test. He really doesn’t love his neighbor as himself. This young man – so confident that he successfully obeyed the commands – so sure he did the right stuff – realizes he has fallen short. He misses out on eternal life. He walks away sad.

At this point many of us might be feeling pretty good. Few of us have great wealth. We don’t store up expensive possessions while people in our community go without. We give money and time and resources to help our neighbors. This story in Matthew doesn’t have much to say to us. This lesson doesn’t apply to us. We aren’t like the rich young man. We don’t have anything to worry about. Don’t’ we wish!

Jesus isn’t telling a parable that applies to everyone. He isn’t talking to a crowd. Jesus is talking to the man who asked the question about eternal life. Jesus is talking individually to this young man. The rich young man is being called to follow Jesus in one particular situation. Because of his situation, Jesus asks him to give up his wealth and follow him.

But this is a challenge to each one of us. For this particular young man, it was his wealth. What is it for us? What is it in our life – yours and mine - that requires radical change? What is it in your life; in my life, that gets in the way of our relationship with Christ? What is it that we depend on more than God? What do we need to give up in order to follow Jesus and gain eternal life?

The catch is that God calls each of us into unique situations. Each of us is called into faith in a way that is unique to who we are. We aren’t all asked to do the same thing because we each have unique circumstances – unique barriers to giving everything up for God. But each one of us is challenged to let go of things and give up control so that we can truly rely on God alone.

Today’s passage from Matthew reminds us that discipleship in the kingdom is more than just obeying commandments, it requires 100% commitment. Being a part of God’s Kingdom requires sacrificial discipleship. What is God asking us to give up so that we are totally dependent on Him? What radical change do you need to make in your life to fully follow Christ?

It’s probably safe to say that like the young man, most of us have not murdered. Most of us don’t steal and cheat. But are we really, truly loving our neighbor as we love ourselves? Are we focused on “doing the right things” or “being in a relationship with Christ so that we can have eternal life?” If you are like me and you like to follow rules – this is hard. It’s uncomfortable. Just like the young man, we can make a decision. Are we going to take a risk and follow Christ or are we going to walk away sad?

May His kingdom come on earth, as it is in heaven. Amen.

Use Your Talents Well

Rev. Debbie Cato

Psalm 123 and Matthew 25:14-30

Peace Presbyterian Church

October 19, 2014

“Use Your Talents Well”

This is the third of four stories Jesus tells about the implications of the impending but unscheduled end times; the second coming of Christ. All four stories center on the return of the master or the bridegroom or the king.

All four stories warn about the judgments that will come when Christ returns, and how those who wait for His return, ought to spend their time. Jesus teaches us that there is a right way to wait, and a wrong way to wait. This story give each of us a chance to consider: Will we wait the right way; or the wrong way?

In today’s parable a wealthy man prepares for a long journey by entrusting his property to his servants. The return of the master is certain, but the timing is unknown. There are three servants and the man divides up his property between them according to their ability. The first servant receives five talents, the next servant two talents, and the third servant is given one talent.

Although the first man receives five times as much as the last, each receives a significant sum of money. A talent is equal to about 6,000 denarii. Since one denarius was a common laborer's daily wage, a talent would be roughly equivalent to 20 years wages for the average worker. Five talents, the largest amount given to any of the servants, is comparable to one hundred years’ worth of labor, an astronomical amount of money.

After being away for a long time, the master comes back and discovers what each servant has done with his property while he was gone. The first two servants use the master's talents wisely and as a result they double his money. Although the first servant earned more than the second, each has done remarkably well with what he has been given. They have performed according to their potential and they have been faithful in doing what the master required of them. 

The master's response to each is the same.

He commends the men for being good and faithful servants;

He entrusts them with more authority; and

He invites them to share in his "joy."

“Enter into my joy,” he tells the first two slaves.

Enter into my joy.

The third servant is not so fortunate. He admits that he was afraid to lose the master's money. To protect himself, he buried the talent in the ground. Although this may seem odd to us today, burying treasure was quite common in Jesus’ day. Sort of like us hiding our money in the cookie jar or under our mattress or in our underwear drawer.

Now, it’s important to notice that this third servant is not a bad man. He is prudent and careful with his master’s money. He’s not about to take chances. He doesn’t want to lose any of the money. It’s all there when his master returns – every penny of it He is proud of himself. “Here it is. All of it is safe and sound.” When I read this it seems like something I would do. Guard my bosses money carefully. Make sure I return every bit of it.

Yet, the master is furious.  He trusted this servant with a portion of his property.

He expected that the slave would use his abilities –

Abilities that had helped the master in the past –

In order to turn a profit; make more money for his master.

But this servant was too afraid to take a risk -- even though risky behavior was part of the master's business. Because he was afraid, he focused on his own well-being. In the end, his unfaithfulness to carry on the master's work cost him severely.

The master expected the servants to continue his business, to take risks, and to imitate his behavior. The point here is not really about doubling your money or about accumulating wealth. In fact, it’s really not about money at all.

It is about living.

                  It is about investing yourself.

It is about taking risks.

It's about Jesus himself and what he has done and what is about to happen to him in the last days of his ministry and life on earth. But mostly, it is about what He hopes and expects of his disciples – then and now – after he is gone. It is about being a follower of Jesus and what it means to be faithful to him. It's about continuing the business of the Master; taking risks, and imitating His behavior. And so finally – it is about you and me.

This parable provides a poignant picture of the divine generosity of the kingdom of heaven. A talent was originally a monetary term, referring to a particular unit of gold or silver. Historians of language believe that the modern understanding of a talent as a gift or ability was derived directly from this parable.

But in Jesus’ day, a talent was a unit of money approximating 20 years of earnings by a day laborer. Thus each of the gifts the master gave to each servant was enormous! To be entrusted with 5 talents was to be entrusted with more than a lifetime’s worth of average wages; an amount equivalent to nearly 100 years of earnings by a day laborer. This is a very generous master!

Then, the master goes away, to provide both the distance and the room needed for his servants to lead and grow and take chances and flourish.

The exceptional love of God is shown by the generosity of entrusting talents to his people;

It is also demonstrated by God’s willingness to self-limit so that we may exist and live creatively, in the image of God.

God offers gifts and space so that we may be beings who have a hand in shaping lives, communities, and futures.

It is as if there are times when God demonstrates love, not by doing things for us, but by letting us learn; by letting us use our talents.

It’s interesting that despite having been given no instructions, two of the servants know what to do once their master leaves. Using their own enthusiasm and energy, they multiply their talents for their own delight and blessing, as well as the master’s. The third servant neglects the opportunity and does nothing but bury the talent in the ground.

Faithful living is not static; yet like this third servant, we are good at knowing without doing. We are adept at holding on to a talent, knowing what we should do with it, but not doing so. We know what faithful living looks like, but we hesitate to live it. It’s risky. It’s uncomfortable. It's scary. It’s exciting!

So instead, we bury too much goodness,

Too much time,

Too much love,

Too much treasure, and

Too much talent in the ground.

In this parable, it is fear and distrust that paralyzes the third servant. His view of the master, who in giving him even just one talent keeps him fearful to the point that he rejects the master’s graciously given opportunity.

What we think about God and do in response to our master’s gracious trust is neither trivial nor incidental. We have real choices and power, with genuine consequences resulting from the ways we use our gifts and talents. What we do or fail to do shapes this world and our lives.

God gave each one of us different talents. Each of us must use them rather than bury them. Perhaps some of us feel our talent is too small to make a difference. But God doesn’t give talents that aren’t important; that aren’t needed. God gives us talents to bring about his kingdom on earth. God gives us talents and resources to benefit OUR master. We are to use our gifts, our abilities, our resources, to be faithful while we wait for our master – Jesus Christ to return.

This year when you receive your pledge package in the mail, it will include a survey asking each of you what skills; what talents; what gifts you have that can help us live into our Ministry Plan for 2015 – the plan we started to share last Sunday. The Plan that you will be hearing a lot more about in the weeks ahead. The Ministry Plan that your leadership believes is a reflection of the joy of the Spirit’s presence here at Peace. A Ministry Plan that needs your involvement; your talents.

What are the gifts, resources, talents, and abilities that God has given to you? How are you using them in a way that pleases God? That continues the work of Jesus? How will you using them as we move forward into this next season of life here at Peace?

What does faithfulness look like in a time of waiting for Jesus? In Matthew's Gospel, faithfulness is emulating the ministry of Jesus. Jesus has announced the arrival of God's kingdom by feeding the hungry, healing the sick, blessing the meek, and serving the least. Perhaps we are to do the same.

We will be asked to give an accounting of our use (or non-use) of our talents. Those who are found faithful will share in the Master's joy and hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

             What will you hear?

May His kingdom come on earth, as it is in heaven. Amen.

Rejoice in the Lord!

Rev. Debbie Cato

Matthew 22:1-14 and Philippians 4:1-9

Peace Presbyterian Church

October 12, 2014

Rejoice in the Lord!

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, Rejoice.” This is Paul's call to contemporary faith communities on this Sunday.

Remember, Paul is writing from prison to the church at Philippi. Longing to be with his favorite church, Paul is well into long,-difficult days between his last visit to Philippi and when he will again feast with his brothers and sisters there. The Philippian church, like Paul, is also suffering. The joy that energized the community when Paul first proclaimed the gospel in their midst is waning, partly because of his prolonged absence.

As sometimes happens during uncertain times, tensions have surfaced within the Philippian community. Paul urges Euodia (Eooda) and Syntyche (Sydeehe), co-leaders of the church who seem to be at odds with one another – or perhaps even with Paul, to “Be of the same mind as Christ.”

Paul knows these women well. They struggled beside him in the work of the Gospel and even though Paul is in prison, he has heard that they are not getting along – they are disagreeing. Euodia (Eooda) and Syntyche (Sydeehe) are long-time friends and co-workers. They are leaders in the believing community in Philippi, most likely heads of house-churches who have fallen on some bad times in terms of their “doing the gospel.” Most likely their disagreements were not even substantial. Perhaps they had more to do with what projects to take on, how to worship, which activities to be involved in. But because they are leaders, their unresolved disagreements are having a negative impact on the worshiping community in Philippi. “Have the same mind as Christ,” Paul tells them. “Stand firm in the Lord. Rejoic in the Lord.”

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Paul uses the language of rejoicing to both encourage and remind his beloved brothers and sisters. Paul reminds them that they have a story of faith. They have experienced God's presence in their midst. This Greek city is home to Paul’s first church – the Holy Spirit formed a Christian church out of a bunch of pagans in the middle of a Roman controlled Greek city. Women were the head of the house churches in Philippi. God’s presence was with them as they grew in their faith and were witnesses of the good news in Philippi. Paul praises the work they have done and encourages them and the rest of the Philippian community: “Keep doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you,” he tells them. In Paul's understanding of the life of the Spirit, “joy” and “peace” go together.

Now the kind of joy that Paul refers to is not some superficial cheerfulness but a deep joy in what God has done in Christ and is continuing to do through the work of the church. The kind of joy Paul is referring to is not an emotion dependent on our circumstances. Paul is not thinking of something that is merely an emotional experience but rather he is speaking of something deep and lasting; a joy that comes through a deepening relationship with Christ. This joy is not an escape from the pain of life; it is a reconsideration and reinvestment in life from a different, liberating perspective. The fact that this joy is “in the Lord” reminds us not only that it comes from the Lord, but also that it is shared by those who live in him. This unmitigated, untrammeled joy is – or at least should be – the distinctive mark of the believer in Jesus Christ. This unmitigated joy is the distinctive mark of the body of Christ – the church.

Paul urges Euodia (Eooda) and Syntyche (Sydeehe) to resolve their differences and focus on what’s important. “Have the mind of Christ,” he tells them. Paul is a wise man. He knows that when the body has no joy – the body is dying.

I’ve witnessed that first hand. A church with no joy. The church had turned inward - existing only for itself. No longer being the church but only a social club. Gathering together on Sunday’s only to be with one another; to visit with one another. Unwelcoming to new visitors. Not wanting to grow in their faith or be engaged with the community. Feeling bitter and angry toward outside influences. The joy of the Spirit had long since gone. There was no life left in that church.

That’s not our church. Peace Presbyterian Church has a story of faith. You have experienced God's presence in your midst; you have felt the joy of the Holy Spirit. This week for the first time I saw the newspaper article announcing the first church service in the newly built sanctuary! I could imagine the joy experienced by those building this beautiful sanctuary and how it must have felt completing the job and preparing to worship in here for the first time. I actually got chills thinking about entering for the first time and sitting in the pews. Singing the first hymn, praying the first prayer – feeling the presence of the Holy Spirit here in this place that you built with your own hands.

I saw youth group pictures from years when this church was filled with families with children and youth and I could hear the laughter and noise that filled the church during those years; the life that was in these buildings. God was at work in our congregation.

God is still at work in our congregation. After decades without a youth group, the Holy Spirit moved in miraculous ways this summer and even though we don’t have families in the church with youth, we have a youth group. The joy of the Spirit is present at Peace!

We decided to collect school supplies for the children at Spring Creek Elementary and we called it Peace Presbyterian’s BIG School Supply Drive. We prayed you would participate even though we don’t have children in our congregation. You did! You bought more school supplies than would fit in the bin. They spilled onto the floor and piled up all around. The staff at Spring Creek were thrilled to see all that we collected and how it would benefit their students. The joy of the Spirit is present at Peace!

We have had our times of uncertainty; times of transition. Like the leaders at Philippi, we too have had our disagreements. We too have had our struggles. But we knew as leaders, we needed to work them out. Paul says, “Stand firm. Be one in the Spirit, as one person contending for the faith of the gospel. Have the same mind as Christ.” We knew that Peace has a wonderful story of faith and we are confident that the story isn’t finished yet. The joy of the Spirit is here. Perhaps we even heard Paul whispering, “Keep doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.” Joy and peace go together.

Your leadership – your elders and your deacons came together and in doing so, they felt the joy of the Lord. In our time together, they clarified our identity as a church and how we are going to live out the everyday promises of the resurrection as the community of Christ here at Peace; how we are going to experience the ongoing joy of the Spirit.

Starting this morning, you are going to be hearing about the outcome of the work the deacons and elders have done over the last month. We are excited to share the Ministry Plan for Peace for the next year – the direction that we sense the Holy Spirit is leading Peace as a Church. A direction that will help us grow deeper in our faith, meet the needs of the congregation, and help us reach out into the community - the same community where God planted this church over 50 years ago. As you learn more, you will see that there is a role for everyone – for only together are we the body of Christ. We need all the parts to be whole. It’s what makes our joy complete! Ordinary acts bearing extraordinary gifts of God's love.

Paul uses the language of rejoicing to encourage and remind us. Our joy is found in what God has done in Christ and is continuing to do through the saints in the church. The kind of joy Paul is referring to is not an emotion dependent on our circumstances, but is a deep and lasting joy that comes through a deepening relationship with Christ. The fact that this joy is “in the Lord reminds us not only that it comes from the Lord, but also that it is shared by those who live in him. It is shared by each of us in his church.

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, Rejoice.” This is Paul's call to contemporary faith communities on this Sunday. This is Paul’s call to us. Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, Rejoice!

May His kingdom come on earth, as it is in heaven. Amen

Fee, Gordon, D. Paul's Letter to the Philippians: The New international Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing Co. 1995. pp 385-413.

Bartlett, David and Taylor, Barbara Brown; eds. Feasting on the Word: Year A, Volume 4. Louisville: Westminster/John Knox Press. 2011. pp 158-163.

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