Rev. Bill's Sermons

EXODUS 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20PHILIPPIANS 3:4(B)-14 MATTHEW 21:33-46COMMUNION OCTOBER 2, 2005 “THE POWER OF LOVE” READ SCRIPTURE In his novel The Brothers Karamazov the Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoyevsky relates a moving story of a Russian village and the daily lives of those who live there. In one moving scene a woman goes to talk with a holy man about her problems with faith. "What if I've been believing all my life, and when I come to die there is nothing but Burdocks growing over my grave? ... How can I prove it? How can I convince myself?" The holy man answer thinks – then responds: "By the experience of active love. Insofar as you advance in active love, you will grow surer of the reality of God and of the immortality of the soul." The power of active love. That is what our faith is all about – the power of God’s active love in our lives – and the power of God’s call to each of us to have active love for all people. The power of active love. The 10 Commandments we heard again moments ago have become “hot potatoes” lately – with groups forming to bring them back into the public life – and other groups against such public show of religion. From courthouses in Alabama to Washington state there are battles over the public display of the 10 Commandments. What should we make of – and how should we consider – the 10 Commandments? As laws written in stone by God -- who will strike us down if we attempt to break them? As 10 laws meant to do away with any fun we might have -- or think about having -- handed down to us by a God who is a killjoy - - continually spouting forth a litany of “Thou shalts” and “Thou shalt nots”? As 10 laws that restrict what we do -- handed down to us by a God who is only interested in limiting our actions? Or -- as 10 rules to closely follow - - to keep track of our obedience to - - and to take great pride in our ability to follow - - while at the same time looking down on those we do not feel keep the Commandments as well as we think we do? Or – as a litmus test for political candidates – be for our side on the issue of the public display of the 10 Commandments – or we will not vote for you. All these ways of interpreting the 10 Commandments are fairly prevalent - - as rules that restrict us or rules that cause us great pride when we feel we follow them better than others or as political litmus tests. But - - wait a minute. Are there other options for interpretting the 10 Commandments - - and other options for visualizing God? Surely there must be. Let’s take another look at God giving the 10 Commandments to the Israelites and see if we can come up with another way to interpret them -- and another way to visualize God. God had just freed the people of Israel from slavery. Through Moses God had worked miracles and mighty deeds that made clear God’s will for freedom for God’s people. They had been freed by God - but now what? Should their freedom change how they live? Are they to live any differently because they have been freed from slavery by God? Certainly. The glorious fact that they had been freed from slavery by the power of God was to be the deciding factor in how they lived. They were to live differently from others -- because God had blessed them with their freedom. But - - how were they to live differently? At Mt. Siani they found out. In the fire and the smoke and the quaking of that holy mountain they found out how God wanted them to live. They had been freed from slavery by their freeing - - life-giving God -- and now they were to have undivided loyalty to God - - a loyalty that would not allow them to try to manipulate God by carving idols -- or to take God’s Holy name lightly - - and that would require them to take a Sabbath day of rest out of every 7 days to remember and worship God. But -- because God had freed them - - they were also to live in a special relationship with others -- honoring their parents -- refraining from murder, adultery, stealing, lieing and coveting -- or doing anything else that might keep them from living in this special relationship with God and others. The 10 Commandments were indeed commandments - - but they were not Commandments that restricted what the people could and could not do as much as it freed them to love - - to love God and to love others -- to honor and respect and worship God and to treat others with love and honor and respect. The 10 Commandments are commandments to love God and to love others. They are not commandments to restrict us or make us feel proud -- they are instead commandments to love. We are commanded to love. We can feel the power of God’s love in our lives – and share God’s love with others in powerful, active ways. The 10 Commandments are all about the power of God’s love. Jesus understood what the 10 Commandments were all about. When he confronted the Jewish leaders who for centuries had thought that they were better than all others -- and who used the Commandments as a measuring stick to see how much better they were than others -- he made it plain that just having the Commandments -- just being in the vineyard -- is not enough for the Kingdom of God. Unless you let the Commandments lead you to be open to God -- loving and respecting God and loving and respecting all people -- you are not living in the ways God calls you to live -- no matter how good a person you are if you do not let God lead you to love for Him and others -- you are not living in the ways of God. If you do not realize the power of God’s love – let the power of God’s love change your life – and share the power of God’s love with others – you are not living in God ‘s ways. Living in God’s ways is not so much about strict obediance as much as it is about the power of love. The tenants in Jesus’ parable thought they had it made there in the vineyard -- so much so they did not care about the landlord servants or his son. They didn’t let the power of having the vineyard change them and their attitudes towards the landlord. Having the love of God -- having salvation -- should change us – the powerful love of God should change us -- and it should bring about a change in our attitudes -- in our devotion to God - - in the love we have and share with others. That’s the power of God’ s love It can change who we are It can change how we relate to God and others That’s what the 10 Commandments are all about – the power of love Paul finally understood this. He thought his life was perfect until he met Jesus -- and saw just how imperfect he was. Then he began striving to live in love – the power of love -- love for God – and love for others. He finally discovered that his life was not meant to be spent feeling superior to others -- but loving others. Those 10 Commandments he had taken such great pride in were actually commandments to love God -- and to love others. He finally experienced – and committed himself to sharing – the power of God’s love. I can experience and share God’s active, powerful love with the world So can you We can experience and share God’s active, powerful love with others. This is not easy. Paul understood how difficult it was -- and yet he let God strengthen him as he strove to share God’s love with others. It is only when we let God’s love take root in us that we can truly love others. Jesus said the greatest commandment was to love God with all your heart -- soul -- mind -- and strength -- and to love others as yourself. There is an ancient monastic saying which is printed on your bulletin cover for today:

We have thrown down a light burden, which is the reprehending of our own selves, and we have chosen instead to bear a heavy burden, by justifying our own selves and condemning others.

When we choose to follow the power of God’s great love – sharing His love with each other and others – God strengthens us to live by the power of His love. When we choose to try to justify ourselves – feel superior to others – and judge others instead of loving them as God does and as God calls on us to do – we are weakened by our own feelings of hatred and jealousy. So – the question for us is: How much do we love? How much do we love God? How much do we love others? Do we let the active, life changing love of God work in your lives? Do our actions show God’s active, life changing love to others? The real question, though, is for you: How much do you love? How much do you love God? How much do you love others? Do you let the active, life changing love of God work in your life? Do your actions show God’s active, life changing love to others? Friends – as you partake of the Sacrament in a few moments, learn once again what it means to love. As you partake of the bread and cup, remember the love of God – let that love touch you in a new way – and commit yourself to sharing the active, powerful love of God with others. Learn again what it means to be open to God in your life and to be open to others. Learn again what it means to be loved by a gracious God -- who can lead us to love Him and the world. Use this time in this place - - around this table with these people -- to reflect on how well you show a love for God and others in your life -- and use this Sacrament to strengthen your love for God and for the world. Learn to not take up the burden of feeling superior to others or judging others – but to take on the actions of love and joy and peace. Learn again to let God’s love move in you and change your life. Learn again the power of God’s active love and how to share that with others. Learn again the power of love. AMEN