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St. Luke’s / Prescott, AZ
The Rev. Mark Moline
Sunday June 15th, 2007
Title:  “The Rich Fool”

“But God said, “You fool!  This very night your life is demanded of you. “Those are pretty scary words taken from what is commonly referred to as, “The Parable of the Rich Fool.”  We don’t know a lot about this unhappy Bible character – we don’t even know his name.  He is the lone figure in a simple teaching story that bears a simple single lesson.  It is the nature of a parable to teach one basic truth, and we read too much into parables when we attach some deep spiritual meaning to every single detail of the story.  But we do have a way of complicating the simple, and so in all this simplicity we find ample opportunity for misconception.

This man was not a fool because he was rich.  He was not a fool because he decided to initiate a building program; he was not a fool for not knowing that he would die that very night.  He was not even a fool for wanting to eat, drink and be happy.  He was a fool simply because he was living his life without God.  He excluded God and all things spiritual.  The Psalms tell us that the fool says in his heart that there is no God.  This man was acting as his own lord and God.  He thought he was in exclusive control of his own destiny.  “I will say to my Soul, Soul you have ample goods.”  In other words, he took charge of his own soul to the exclusion of God, and none of his ample riches were from God.  Apparently, his life was a complete spiritual vacuum.

The single simple truth of this parable is — we need God!  We need to seek out the riches of God through our faith in God.   There is a lot here in this simple truth and in these readings for us as individuals, and as members of individual families.

However, while this simple little parable makes for a good personal reflection, I also wonder about it and us as a Parish.  I mentioned our recently constructed parish profile last week.  You know – we may not be involved in a literal building program, but it sure feels like we are pulling down some old barns around here, with the high hopes of constructing new and better ones.

In other words — We want to grow, and there is absolutely nothing wrong or foolish with that as long as God is with us every step of the way.  We want to grow in numbers, in financial terms, in programs, in ministries, in outreach, in community involvement, and in many other concerns, and none of that desire for growth is foolish.  In fact I think it is clearly God’s will, and it is good stewardship of our abundance.  However, unlike the Rich Fool, we first and foremost want to grow spiritually.  We covet the riches of God for we know we are not the Lion’s club, the Prescott Optimists or the country club.  We are nothing less than the extended Body of Christ in this place.

Our lectionary readings really do work together for us this morning.  If this Gospel gives us our marching orders, Paul’s letter to the Church at Colossae provides the route of our marching journey.  Our second reading begins by telling us of places along that route to avoid, “the mine fields if you will”: Impurity, evil desire, greed, abusive language, slander, wrath, malice, lying — and –oh yes…..Anger.  We are to avoid being angry with one another.

Then Paul lists the spiritual points of interest we won’t want to miss.  We can’t afford to miss.  Compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, thanksgiving and patience.  Paul then adds a little internal maintenance, “Bear with one another and if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”  That sounds like last week’s sermon.

If you come to parish leadership with a relatively insignificant complaint about another parishioner, remember you are complaining about someone we love very dearly, and don’t think us disinterested if we advise you to simply forgive them, love them and let it go.

I am aware that some problems are significant enough to fester and disrupt and obstruct our journey and our growth, especially if we rub a little of our own malice and indignation into the wounds.  Again, don’t think us disinterest when we send you back to reconcile with that person, or as Paul writes here, “admonish one another in all wisdom” and then forgive.

If you’ve given that attempt at a face-to-face personal reconciliation an honest effort, and it doesn’t work, and the contention continues to fester and even spread…..then the rector, the wardens and the vestry are ready to intervene—in the best interest of the parish. We know that we as a parish are to (as Paul writes) clothe ourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.  And when that harmony starts to break down, we know that some of us or perhaps all of us are forgetting the simple truth of this unhappy little parable, we are storing up treasures for ourselves, but are not rich toward God.  In the love of Christ let us strive for the Peace of Christ in perfect harmony.

St. Luke’s / Prescott, AZ
The Rev. Mark Moline
Sunday July 8th, 2007
Title: “Father Mark’s First – Joy”

Years ago as a newly promoted Police Sergeant I accompanied one of my officers – an Officer Ed Bennett – as he conducted a “Kindergarten talk.” Ed worked with the elementary schools as a “resource officer” and thus provided for safety education and awareness. In the Kindergarten classes he would speak of “Danger Stranger,” pedestrian and bicycle safety, and auto passenger safety such as seat belt usage. At their young age Ed could only keep their attention for about fifteen minutes max – sort of like preaching to Episcopalians. When they grew restless he would begin talking about his police uniform as children are always fascinated by uniforms and outfits.

During my visit Ed blew his whistle, passed his hat around so the kids could try it on, and showed them his handcuffs and such. He invited me to join in and the children had many questions and comments. I’m afraid my vanity got the best of me for I just knew the children would be impressed with my glossy new gold “Sergeant’s Badge. It was the only difference between Ed’s and my uniform – he still wore the burnished nickel badge of an officer. I vainly asked the children if any of them could see the difference between our uniforms and there was initial silence. I was disappointed and pressed the matter. I should have left well enough alone for finally one little girl raised her hand and said, “I see the difference.” I asked her to stand and explain the difference between our uniforms. She did: and in a loud clear voice she said, “Officer Bennett has a thin uniform and you have a fat uniform.”

I didn’t expect that response back then, but now at least I know better than to try too hard to impress you. If I try too hard to show you my gold – you may just see my fat. Rather I need to get to the business at hand and that business is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, — In today’s lectionary readings we view the gospel through what I consider a much neglected lens – that is the spiritual lens of “Joy or Happiness.” The church has always had a lot to say about love, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, but we seldom hear sermons or teachings concerning the depths of spirituality to be found in our own individual and corporate happiness. While the deacon will occasionally dismiss us with the words, “Let us go forth rejoicing in the spirit,” you are not likely to ever hear any preacher conclude a sermon with, now go out there and have fun. “Yet the theme of “Joy” can be found persistently and consistently though out all Holy Scripture. St. Paul lists joy immediately following love in his Fruits of the Spirit. It’s second on the list, but I personally suspect the Church has historically been just a little leery of joy. It’s almost as though we’re afraid to let the good news be all that good.

Our appointed Psalm for today encourages us to, “Be Joyful in God.” In our Old Testament reading, Isaiah prophesies on behalf of God and says, “Rejoice with Jerusalem.” Then Luke’s Gospel reading tells of Christ sending out the 70 2X2 as sheep out there among the wolves. Sheep don’t run with wolves without getting hurt and yet the 70 returned with great “joy.”

Of course joy in Christ is not just a free and random external sense of fun, laughing, and good time feelings. It is so much more – we should note though in passing that a free haphazard, superficial sense of fun, laughter and good feelings is not sin and is not precluded by our Christian faith. The fact that Christian Joy can be a deep spiritual experience does not at all suggest that our joy should exclude common fun. St. Luke’s needs to be a loving place to come to on Sunday morning – it likewise needs to be a joyous place even a “fun place.”

Theologically speaking, next spring Lent — should be one of the more joyous seasons of the church calendar. It is certainly intended to be a time to seek joy. Traditionally it is a time of reflection and repentance, and admittedly that reflection and self assessment can be a little troubling. But repentance means to turn around and proceed in the opposite direction. We travel in our sin toward pain, despair and spiritual depression. We stop, we reflect and then turn around and head back to God’s will….back to love and peace and joy. Perhaps that joy can prevail in our Lenten celebration next year. Perhaps St. Luke’s can be a fun place to be even in the depths of lent.

I know this is a precious holy place and I know folks come here in all sorts of pain and suffering, and we need to respect and even share in that suffering. God shares in that suffering. There will be times a plenty when we must leave the fun and laughter behind, but never the joy. This, of course is far easier said than done, but we must desperately cling to that deep abiding joy of Christ even in the worst of times. The baptismal response “I will with God’s help” is certainly most fitting here. Christ’s Joy, the joy of hope, the joy of faith, the joy of love. Christ proclaimed, “Joy I give unto you as the world cannot give.”

St. Luke’s / Prescott, AZ
The Rev. Mark Moline
Sunday July 15th, 2007
Title: “A Crime Story – A Love Story”

Our Gospel reading begins with an interesting exchange between a lawyer and an itinerant preacher. The lawyer wanted to test the preacher and so he asked him the question, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” How do I insure that I’m going to live forever? The lawyer was skilful in that he didn’t immediately confront the preacher with a legal question — he didn’t ask about good behavior and bad behavior, good and evil, right and wrong – things of the law with which he was most proficient. Instead, he asked about life —- and his question cut to the very core of Christ’s message and purpose.

But then that street preacher was likewise skilled and he knew the lawyer’s heart and he did ask a legal question, “What is written in the law?” “What do you read there?” The answer, of course is love. Love God, love self and love neighbors. Then Christ answered the lawyer’s original question, “Do that (love God, self and neighbor) and you will live.”

You see contrary to popular belief, the principal hypothesis of our Christian faith is not the good guys against the bad guys, choice of evil or goodness, or proper behavior versus bad behavior. The principle concept of our faith is life and death. As important as it is for us to live ethical upright lives, Jesus is not coming to town to find out who’s been naughty and nice. That’s Santa Claus and we confuse the two at our own spiritual detriment. Jesus has already been here and I’m sorry to report — all of us here this morning ended up on the same “less than nice “list. As we read in the letter to the Romans, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” But Christ proclaimed that he came that we might have life and have it more abundantly,” and the cross made that possible for us even with our bad behavior. Perhaps we have not always been good, but we still get the ultimate Christmas gift —- we get eternal life —- and we call that “The Good News.”

That lawyer apparently believed that life would come through the law, but Jesus was teaching that life would come through love, and his story of the Good Samaritan brought the law and love and life all together in a proper perspective.

Our Gospel reading is really a simple little crime story, but it is unlike any other Crime story we’ve heard. The robbers are barely even mentioned. We don’t know if they were ever caught or brought to justice. There is absolutely no mention of the police or the authorities. Were there witnesses to the actual crime? Was there evidence left at the scene? We just don’t know. Told by a teacher and written down by a physician, we do hear a lot about the victim and the pain and suffering caused by the violence. We hear about the injuries and the after care and the healing. We hear about the reaction of others – of the indifference of some and the involvement and compassion of one good neighbor.

This armed robbery caused a life and death situation and so we hear about the very essence of the Gospel – we hear about the choice between life and death. The man was dying, and a clergyman happened by and unfortunately he chose death. He did so by choosing to leave the man behind to die just as the robbers had. Then along came a Levite, if not a teacher or a judge, at least someone who enjoyed that status, and he likewise chose death. Finally, along came the Samaritan who chose life – he chose to care for the injured man, and because of that compassion – that love for neighbor — the injured victim survived – he lived.

Sin leads us to death – Love leads us to life. Love leads us to the very source of life. God is love, God creates and sustains life. In our baptismal vows we do renounce sin and evil, but then we come to the water and through it Christ leads us through his death and resurrection, from the bondage of sin into everlasting life. It’s all about life – new and unending life in him.

We must strive for good behavior, but not out of some sense of legalism, rather out of a choice for life. When we sin, we hurt God, self and neighbor. Sin can lead to death of self, neighbor and the death of Christ on a cross. Thus we choose not to sin because we love God, self and neighbor. We don’t want to hurt those we love. It’s all for love, it’s all for life.

Perhaps this really is more of a love story than a crime story. The lawyer wanted to test Christ and justify himself, and in so doing he ran head-on into the awesome love of God. From time to time, we each in our own way seek to test Christ. Let us this day at this table run head-on into the awesome life-giving love of God.