March 24, 2019. “Why God?” To view just the sermon, advance video to 32:30
March 25, 2019
Why, God?
Luke 13:1-9
Over the nearly 33 years of ministry, I’ve spent my share of time in intensive care units, emergency departments and trauma units. These places often have about them a sense of gravity and urgency, because loved ones are sometimes hovering between life and death, and family members and friends are understandably concerned.
I recall walking into the Parkview Hospital Fort Wayne, Level One Trauma center, a young man from the church had just been airlifted there. He had been in a serious motorcycle accident. The waiting room filled with his friends and in a separate room was his immediate family. Shortly after I arrived the hospital chaplain came in. The news was not good. Their 20-year-old son was brain dead. Would they consider donating his organs?
Many years earlier in ministry, there were young parents with three children. They didn’t have much. The children slept together on a queen size mattress on the living room floor. Their young Mom was dying of cancer.
Frank was a pillar in the first church I served. I get the call in the middle of the night. There’s been an accident. Frank is dead. His body burned beyond recognition in an automobile crash.
The question always arises. “Why? . . . Why, Pastor? . . . Why, God?”
What did “I” do wrong? What did he, she, we do to deserve this?
And then there are those who looked at the new reports coming out of Nebraska and place like Mozambique recently and ask why, God? And there will always be those who will look at circumstances like hurricane Matthew that hit Haiti a few years back and suggest that the island was “targeted” because of the AIDS epidemic there.
Some will ask “Why God?” when it is a loved one. And some not so close to it will assume it is God’s punishment, that it involves the supposed “sin” of others.
Jesus anticipated questions like these in today’s reading from Luke. Some people came to him and told him how some Galileans had been slaughtered by Pontius Pilate and their blood was mingled with the temple sacrifices. Perhaps they brought this up because Jesus had just taught about the need to make amends and here was an example of people who were not given the chance. What about them Jesus? Whatever the reason for their bringing it up, this horrific act was no doubt a warning from the occupying forces of Rome that they were in charge and could do what they wanted, to the Jews, even in their own temple!
After hearing about this incident, Jesus asked them, “Do you think that because these Galileans had suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans?” . . . And his answer: “No, they were not.”
Jesus then mentions a fluke accident where the Tower of Siloam fell and killed 18 people. “Do you think,” Jesus asked “that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.”
Now, if only Jesus had not gone on to say that last part, this issue might have been clearer if not easier to preach on! But doesn’t it seem like Jesus could be inferring that there is some connection between bad things happening and being a non-repenting person?
Not that repenting isn’t a good thing to do; I believe we all need some repentance in our lives, as I understand repentance: metanoia, a turning around or turning to a new direction. It is the basis of the familiar Shaker dance hymn:
‘Tis the gift to be simple ’tis the gift to be free . . .
When true simplicity is gained,
To bow and to bend we shan’t be ashamed,
To turn, turn will be our delight,
Till by turning, turning we come ’round right
Repentance is a good thing. But is Jesus really saying if you don’t repent you better watch out? Don’t walk near towers or under ladders or hang out around places where they offer sacrifices!
Or is it the counterpart to this, if you repent, all will be and go well for you?
I don’t believe so. I know too many instances, too many good people, “faithful” people who have plenty of misfortune, even death in their lives.
I believe Jesus’ message is that we should turn our attention to our own lives and stop speculating about others. Don’t worry about judging their worthiness – look at your own life.
Life is short. Pay attention. Stuff happens. Be ready. Do the things that we should be doing. To use a biblical expression, bear the fruits of righteousness. Jesus is reminding us that life is precious and we should be doing those things that have eternal significance. He had just been teaching them about the “Rich Fool” And the Watchful and Unfaithful Servants.”
When you look back at what you did today, what will have lasting meaning? Sure, there are some things we just have to do, but do we take time to play with our children or grandchildren? Or in the case of many of us Facetime or Skype them, or text them, or to the old fashion thing, call them on the phone?
Do we take time to visit our friends and tell them how much they mean to us?
To we seek to expand our circle of friendship?
Do we take time to meditate and let God speak to us?
Are we “good news” to the people we work with and live with?
I cannot tell how many times at funerals or in the rooms of dying people I have heard family members say, “If I had one more day. There were things left unsaid. I should have told them I loved them; that I forgive them or asked for forgiveness. I should have told them how much they meant to me.”
And I think, “Well, why didn’t you?” To be reconciled with people is one of the most important things we can do. Then I realize I have not been all that good at this either. I too have left many things unsaid.
Bear the fruit of righteousness and not self-righteousness mind you! Just showing up and occupying a pew in church once in a while is not bearing fruit. This story gets at the heart of our presumed spiritual security. Garrison Keillor warns us that “you can become a Christian by going to church just about as easily as you can become an automobile by sleeping in a garage.”
Jesus gives us the parable of the fig tree that had borne no fruit for three years. The owner told the gardener to cut it down; it was wasting precious water and land. However, the gardener was patient and wanted another year to dig around it and put manure on it to see if it would bear fruit.
This is not so much a parable about judgment as it is a lesson in urgency and hope, and maybe a bit of grace. The gardener is saying, “I’m going to do everything I can to give this fig tree the chance to really live and bear fruit.”
While we may be wasting time speculating on whether others are getting what they deserve in life, the Gardener is busy working to loosen up the hard soil of our hearts, preparing us to really live and to quote John the Baptizer, bear fruit fitting of repentance.
The scriptures tell us the fruits of God are things like generosity, compassion, service, peacemaking, justice, respect, and witness.
Are these the hallmarks of my life, we might ask?
Are they the hallmarks of our church?
Is my congregation spreading outward in mission to others, or are we just scrambling to maintain ourselves so that we have a church to be buried in?
These stories of Jesus are real. They are as real as the attack on places of religious worship, the tornados in the south this winter, the cancer in your family, the heart attack of a friend, the innocent child caught in the effects of the domestic violence or the crossfire of a drug war.
Time is fleeting.
What needs to be done? What needs to be said?
What am I doing with this gift of life that God has given me?
Am I doing important stuff, eternal stuff, or just stuff?
Let the Spirit work the soil of our hearts that we might truly live and bear fruit.
Let this be the year we see a flourishing of the fruits of righteousness!
Leave a Reply