Mind the Equation

22nd Sunday of Pentecost October 20, 2024

The texts for this sermon are 1 Chronicles 16:24-25,27,29 and Mark 12:41-44

Consider what God has given to humankind writ large, to individuals in the past, and to us:

Light upon the earth
Breath of life
Dew of heaven
Fatness of the earth
Abundance of grain and wine

A blessing to Abraham 

a blessing that, through Abraham, 

would pass to all peoples of the earth.

To Moses, eloquence even in his stuttering speech.
To us, words in the time of trial.

To the fleeing Israelites a path through the sea.

And a column of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night 
to guide them through the wilderness.

To us, the inner Voice of that same Shekinah glory,

and footprints of the saints before us.

In the wilderness, manna from heaven so the fleeing Israelites had no lack;

Quail by the winds,
Water from a rock.

To us, the means of grace to nourish our souls.

To them, commandments to mold and to 

lift righteousness from chaos; 

To us, the Living Word to guide us to wisdom, 

to equip us to follow the Way and
whispers of assurance as we live into that Way.

To the Chosen People, a pleasant land 

in which to dwell and vindication.
Rains in their season,
And peace.

To us, a spiritual, soul-safe shelter in the midst 

of a frenzied world,
the company of people who share laughter, 
encouragement and comfort.

To all who seek: 

blessing, strength, wisdom, compassion,
forgiveness, mercy and love.

And, of course, a Sign of all of this, 

an Embodiment of all of this:

He shall be wrapped in swaddling clothes
a warm-eyed Savior with balm in his touch: then and now.

Uncommon wealth from unlikely sources, 
An everlasting legacy.
Life instead of ashes,
The oil of gladness instead of mourning,
A mantle of praise instead of despair.

Cleansing, a new heart, a new spirit, a life made whole.

The keys of the Kingdom of Heaven,
Light to those who sit in darkness,
Springs of living water,
Insight and hope,
A calling and a purpose,
Meaning.

The invitation to petition as well as to praise,

The Holy Spirit our Comforter and Guide,
The fruits of the Spirit:

love, joy, peace, patience, kindness

goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

The wherewithal to repent;
And the gift of eternal life.

All of this from the generous, faithful, loving heart of God.

What does God ask in return?
It’s devotion to be sure. It’s worship, yes. But God also requires something tangible. God instructed the Israelites to build a place of worship. In the wilderness they were instructed to build the Tabernacle and God instructed them, through Moses, to

Take from among you an offering to the Lord; let whoever is 
of a generous heart bring the Lord’s offering. Exodus 35:5

This commandment was given to the Israelites who were making their way through a barren wilderness from Egypt to the Promised Land. They were to fashion a Tabernacle for worship to their rescuing God. The people were invited to contribute what they could to its making and furnishing. It was to become a constant anchoring, guiding presence in Israel’s midst. 

If we believe that we’re to heed the whole of Scripture, then we have to own this commandment as well, do we not? We are to set aside a place of worship. And even if it is a storefront, it’s to be consecrated and cared for with reverence. It is to be supported by offerings such as we are able to make. Giving in support of a place of worship is an act of worship. We don’t give because a church asks us to give; we give because God calls us to give.

Yes, we are to give God our praise and adoration. First Chronicles 16:8 tells us we are to

Give praise to the Lord, proclaim God’s name;
     make known among the nations what God has done.

And how do we “make known what God has done” in this our day and time? Has it not been and is it still now, to anchor a physical presence within a community? To lift up a place that speaks of the presence of God? That offers a place for folks to offer their praise and for those who seek to enter a place where they discover the God who blesses and a company of people who welcome and affirm?

Yes, we go out into the community to aid the widow, the orphan, the houseless, and welcome the immigrant. But we do so from the equipping, energizing power of a place of worship. 

We are to render the same reverence to, the same care for this place of worship as those ancient wilderness-wandering Hebrews were required to do for theirs. Yes, it can be humble and modest, but it is to be reverenced as the holy, set-apart God-honoring place it is meant to be.

Yes, we are a company with limited income. But poor though we be, we are still on notice to do what we can to be a physical and missional proclamation to our ‘nation’, Cornelius Oregon. 

These words from 1 Chronicles 16:29 (taken from the Orthodox Jewish Bible)

Ascribe unto [God] the kavod (weight, strength, power, honor, glory, magnificence, dignity, splendor) due unto Shmo [God’s name]; bring a minchah [an offering], and come before God; worship God in the hadar [splendor] of kodesh [holiness].

Let us call to mind the communal prayer we’ve made a commitment to pray each day:

Come, Lord Jesus. Be as an intrusive and glad presence, excite our expectations, disrupt our assumptions, shake loose our routine, and rally us with the fire and power of Your Holy Spirit so that we can be the kind of church You want us to be.