On the Way to Wonder

Prelude: “Make Me a Servant,” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6U8O_WnPZY
Call to Worship:

Blessed be the holy Trinity, +one God, whose steadfast love is everlasting,                            whose faithfulness endures from generation to generation.  Amen

Confession and Forgiveness:  Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, whose steadfast love is everlasting,whose faithfulness endures from generation to generation. Amen.

Trusting in the mercy of God, let us confess our sin.  Reconciling God, we confess that we do not trust your abundance, and we deny your presence in our lives. We place our hope in ourselves and rely on our own efforts. We fail to believe that you provide enough for all. We abuse your good creation for our own benefit. We fear difference and do not welcome others as you have welcomed us. We sin in thought, word, and deed. By your grace, forgive us; through your love, renew us; and in your Spirit, lead us; so that we may live and serve you in newness of life. Amen.

 Absolution:

Beloved of God, by the radical abundance of divine mercy we have peace with God through ☩ Christ Jesus, through whom we have obtained grace upon grace. Our sins are forgiven. Let us live now in hope. For hope does not disappoint, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. Amen

 Gathering Hymn: ELW 533 Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sl9bw7ol_EA

Greetings: The grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And also with you.

 Kyrie:

Have mercy on us, Lord, and hear our solemn prayer. We come to hear your living word; it saves us from despair.

Have mercy on us, Christ, and wash away our sin. Pour out your grace and make us whole that new life may begin.

Have mercy on us, Lord, make sun and shame depart. Renew us with your saving pow’r, create in us new hearts!

Prayer of the Day: Almighty God, we thank you for planting in us the seed of your word. By your Holy Spirit help us to receive it with joy, live according to it, and grow in faith and hope and love, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

 Selection of the Faithful: ELW 55 Break Now the Bread of Life https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQpj4TSe-Ec

HEARING GOD’S WORD

Gospel Acclamation:  Alleluia. The word is very near to you;* it is in your mouth and in your heart. Alleluia. (Deut. 30:14)

First Reading: Isaiah 55:10-13

¹⁰For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
and do not return there until they have watered the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
¹¹so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
¹²For you shall go out in joy,
and be led back in peace;
the mountains and the hills before you
shall burst into song,
and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
¹³Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;
instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;
and it shall be to the Lord for a memorial,
for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

Psalm: Psalm 65:[1-8] 9-13

[ ¹You are to be praised, O God, in Zion; to you shall vows be fulfilled.
²To you, the one who answers prayer, to you all flesh shall come.
³Our sins are stronger than we are, but you blot out our transgressions.
⁴Happy are they whom you choose and draw to your courts to dwell there! They will be satisfied by the beauty of your house, by the holiness of your temple. 
⁵Awesome things will you show us in your righteousness, O God of our   salvation,
O hope of all the ends of the earth and of the oceans far away.
⁶You make firm the mountains by your power; you are girded about with might.
⁷You still the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the clamor of the peoples.
⁸Those who dwell at the ends of the earth will tremble at your marvelous signs; you make the dawn and the dusk to sing for joy. 
⁹You visit the earth and water it abundantly; you make it very plenteous; the river of God is full of water. You prepare the grain, for so you provide for the earth.
¹⁰You drench the furrows and smooth out the ridges; with heavy rain you soften the ground and bless its increase.
¹¹You crown the year with your goodness, and your paths over flow with plenty.
¹²May the fields of the wilderness be rich for grazing, and the hills be clothed with joy.
¹³May the meadows cover themselves with flocks, and the valleys cloak themselves with grain; let them shout for joy and sing. 

Second Reading: Romans 8:1-11

¹There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. ²For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. ³For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and to deal with sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, ⁴so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. ⁵For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. ⁶To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law—indeed it cannot, ⁸and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
⁹But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. ¹⁰But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. ¹¹If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.

Gospel: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

¹That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. ²Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. ³And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. ⁴And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. ⁵Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. ⁶But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. ⁷Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. ⁸Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. ⁹Let anyone with ears listen!”

¹⁸“Hear then the parable of the sower. ¹⁹When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. ²⁰As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; ²¹yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. ²²As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. ²³But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
Children’s Sermon: Naaman is a famous general in the Old Testament who Jewish tradition has it as supposedly shooting the random arrow that killed King Ahab of Israel. We know he had leprosy and the little Jewish girl he brought home to serve his wife, told her that a prophet in Israel could cure Naaman of his leprosy. Naaman went to the king who wrote a letter of introduction. Naaman was sent to Elisha and Elisha told him to dip seven times in the river Jordon. Naaman, insulted, was not going to do it but was convinced by his soldiers that he should. The seventh time he dipped, he came up clean with skin like a baby. He was so grateful, he offered Elisha great rewards but Elisha refused. The story closes with Naaman begging two mule loads of dirt to take home “for from now on your servant will not offer burnt offering or sacrifice to any god but the Lord.” Two mule loads of dirt. What was that about? Let us pray.

SERMON

         Our text today is about dirt. At the beginning of Pentecost, Jesus looks at the crowds and has compassion for they are like sheep without a shepherd. So he sends forth his disciples and us with instructions for sharing the good news, the kingdom of heaven is near. Last week Jesus reflects, “To what shall I compare this generation? They are like children dancing in the marketplace.” Sheep, children and now today’s text Jesus continues by telling the parable of the sower spreading seed that lands on four types of soil. Sheep, children, and now soil/dirt in which God’s word is planted.

But first I want you to appreciate the irony that I, raised on the Los Angeles freeway, am speaking about farming to Hoosiers who have farming in their blood, about. Please forgive my ignorance for I am not a farmer but…. I did live in Africa. The parable shares that the sower’s seeds fall on four types of soil: the path, the rocky soil, the thorny soil, and the good soil. Each type of soil presents a challenge to the seed.

THE PATH

The seed that fell on the trodden path was eaten by birds. Jesus compares this to the words of God falling on people who do not understand and so the evil one is able to steal the truth from them. I would suspect we all know people who have been so beaten up by life that no matter how many times we tell them we love them, that they are valuable or talented, they just are not able to receive our words. You can almost see the words go in one ear and out the other. If the sower is God and if the seed is his word, I find it encouraging that God does not avoid throwing seed on the path, the downtrodden. He does not label the path, hopeless. He does not deny the truth that for some, it is very hard to receive truth and love. And yet his sun shines on that path, the rain hits that path, and we know paths do get reclaimed as grass, as weeds creep in and as the path is less worn down. It takes time and it takes work to change a path into a garden. Perhaps you have seen pictures of that tree that has grown in the cliff or I had a tomato plant that grew in the crack in the driveway and gave lots of tomatoes. I think of Moses struggling with the stiff-necked Israelites. At one point he told God that if God would not go with them and bless them then he, Moses wanted to die. God promises that his word does not return void but accomplishes his purpose and we can claim that promise. Perhaps the seed will lie dormant but one day, it will accomplish its mission. Hard soil needs lots of work, extra manure, plenty of water and care, but it is not impossible. Prayer and faith are needed for that path.

ROCKY SOIL

Rocky soil makes me think of England. The soil was so rocky there that they built walls and houses out of rocks removed or pushed to the side. Stone Hedge is one of the famous sites. Jesus says rocky people, unlike those who are hardened by the trials of life, are those who are just shallow. There is a sense of faith but when trials come, they do not run to church. Perhaps it is like a vaccination when a small amount of the virus is given to prevent the disease. I had a patient in the hospital once who shared about how as a child watched on the front steps of the church as the priest kicked his father out of church because his wife left him. He never returned to church. How many stories have we heard about no faith because God did not show up and answer a prayer as desired. That person turned his back on religion or faith. People who pray for a father to return from the war, an alcoholic to stop abusing them…terrible, terrible scars we inflict on each other and prayers that are not answered as we think they ought. The result is rocks within our soul that prevent faith from growing.        Those rocks have to be dug out. I think we call that process forgiveness. Old offenses are like land mines in our soul that explode under certain conditions and block faith. Forgiveness is hard work and we need God’s help.

THORNY SOIL

Seed thrown on thorny soil is like people who hear the word but concerns about the world, about wealth choke that faith. In Kenya, farmers would first slash the weeds, the thorns but just removing the top of the plant does not deal with the roots under the surface that will cause that dandelion or weed to regrow. Slashing deals with the surface but then the soil must be tilled to sift out roots and remove and expose the undersoil. It makes me think of Paul’s admonition, “See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble, and through it many become defiled. Heb 12:15” Roots of bitterness defile not only the person but also the community. Roots are similar to rocks in that they block faith but unlike a rock that might be a single incident corrupting faith of a person, roots have tenacles and travel under the surface spreading distrust, “remember how so-and-so” did “such and such” and the bitterness spreads and defiles many. Gossip is the most obvious symptom. Passive resistance and silent skepticism can undermine faith as effectively as outright rebellion.

Rocks require forgiveness but I think that probably roots of bitterness require a world view change. A book on dealing with anger, likens anger to planes circling an airport tower that the controller does not allow to land. The author suggests that the story needs to be rewritten so that the person becomes the hero of the story and not the victim. For example, instead of saying I was abused by my father so I cannot…., the person would choose to present themselves as a survivor of abuse, willing to pray with someone struggling.        Stories of faith like in the Bible help us rewrite our stories as we recognize the hand of God and as we normalize our experiences seeing similarities to theirs. Faith allows us to put situations in God’s hands and trust him to give vengeance where vengeance is needed, to bring a good ending to an incident we see no good in. We give up the responsibility of dealing with everything and trust God with the future.

GOOD SOIL

            ^“23But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” Good soil! I went to w.w.w and discovered there are three types of good soil in Indiana: Mississippi soil, sandy soil, and clay soil. Because Indiana is in the Ohio River and Mississippi River basins there is a lot of soil good for winter wheat, soybeans, and corn. But I know from Kenya that you need sandy soil up near Lake Michigan to plant peanuts and watermelon and other food that needs water drainage. Clay soil is very compact so needs to be broken up and a lot of organic material added. Each soil is receptive to different types of seed. “Good soil” may be touched by the laments of the Old Testament while others like the more didactic teaching of Paul. Good soil is not uniform.

As I look out to our garden, the soil may be good but it needs to be watered, climbing frames added, weeding and thinning. Growing healthy plants takes work even if the soil is good, hence the different yield for seeds sown on good soil. Growing healthy, mature Christians         takes work. Faith does not just happen. Relationship with husbands, friends, and God don’t just happen. Faith is not magic. A healthy church is more than Sunday morning worship service, as we said last week, faith with 0% interest. Every plant in the garden does not require the same treatment nor yields the same fruit. Good soil can produce a variety of plants

So I want to go back to my original question. Why did Naaman request two mule loads of dirt to take back to Syria? The answer sheds a different light on our parable today. In Naaman’s days, people believed that gods were territorial. Jehovah was the god of Israel but there was a different go in Syria, Naaman’s country. We see this in the challenge between Elijah and the priests of Baal on Mt. Carmel and Elijah taunts the 400 priests – “call louder, maybe your gods are in the bathroom. Maybe they are napping.” Similarly God tells Moses to take off his sandals at the burning bush for he was standing on Holy Ground. Wars among the gods were turf wars, fought on land. Naaman took the dirt to sacrifice on because he was now Yahweh’s person. He understood Yahweh was the more powerful God.

This speaks to me of the spiritual warfare we experience as we try so hard to be good soil. The soil of our lives is the battle ground where God is choosing to confront the lies of Satan. The war was won on the cross but God is building a kingdom and we are the soil he is using.

As we reflect on our lives today, I hear this text challenging us to examine our hearts and ask if there are hardened areas in our life, trod down by the scars of life, that need water, prayer and care? Are there rocks we need to remove with forgiveness and get rid of? Are there thorns creeping around that need to be removed? We are God’s soil. He breathes life into us. His sun shines on us and Holy Spirit is available to us. His will is that we will have life, life more abundant. Thank you Lord!

Hymn of Day: ELW 508 As Rain from the Clouds https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gX25SZcRqyQ&list=RDgX25SZcRqyQ&start_radio=1

 The Apostle’s Creed:

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of  saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Or you can listen to the Creed in vocal form: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuDI-sk2nJU

Prayers of Intercession: Called into unity with one another and the whole creation, let us pray for our shared world.

 Gracious God, your word has been sown in many ways and places. We pray for missionaries and newly planted congregations around the world. Inspire us by their witness to the faith we share. Hear us, O God.  Your mercy is great.

Creating God, the mountains and hills burst into song and the trees and fields clap their hands in praise. We pray for the birds and animals who make their home in the trees, and for lands stripped bare by deforestation. Empower us to sustainably use what you have given. Hear us, O God.  Your mercy is great.

Reigning God, we pray for our nation’s leaders. Increase their desire for justice and equality. We pray for our enemies. Bridge the chasms that divide us and guide authorities to a deep and lasting peace. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

Abiding God, care for all who are in need. For those who are doubting, renew faith. For those who are worrying, provide release. For those who are struggling, ease burdens. For those in fear, give hope. Hear us, O God.  Your mercy is great.

Renewing God, revive your church in this place. Nourish and nurture the seeds you have planted, that we might grow as disciples. Replace what has been depleted. Sustain our ministries of day care and the Community Garden and deepen relationships with the wider community. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

 Eternal God, we give thanks for all who have died. Comfort us in the sure and certain hope of the resurrection. We especially pray your healing hand be on Marilyn Schnake. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

Receive these prayers, O God, and those too deep for words; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

 Peace: If you are worship with someone else, turn and share, “The peace of Christ be with you always.” Response, “And also with you.” You might use your finger to mark you children or loved one with a cross on their forehead. If you are practicing social distancing, put your palms together blessing of them. Peace!

SHARING GOD’S MEAL

Offering Prayer: God of goodness and growth, all creation is yours, and your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens. Water and word, wine and bread: these are signs of your abundant grace. Nourish us through these gifts, that we might proclaim your steadfast love in our communities and in the world, through Jesus Christ, our strength and our song. Amen.

 The Great Thanksgiving:

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

Lift up your hearts. We left them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.

 The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come. thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those that trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Communion: I invite you to talk a little piece of bread and eat it. Christ is as close to you as the bread in your mouth and stomach. Always remember. Now take a sip of your drink. Christ is as close to you as the blood in your body, strengthening you. Always remember.

Prayer after Communion:  God of the welcome table, in this meal we have feasted on your goodness and have been united by your presence among us. Empower us to go forth sustained by these gifts so that we may share your neighborly love with all, through Jesus Christ, the giver of abundant life. Amen.

 THE SENDING

Blessing: Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. God, the creator, ☩ Jesus, the Christ, and the Holy Spirit, the comforter, bless you and keep you in eternal love. Amen.

Sending Hymn: ELW 550 On What Has Now Been Sown https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9YhZxgnkL8

Dismissal: Go in peace. Christ is with you. Thanks be to God.

Prelude: Freely, Freely, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vhMfCJzXqk

Call to Worship:

Blessed be the holy Trinity, +one God,                                                                                     whose steadfast love is everlasting,                                                                                       whose faithfulness endures from generation to generation.                                            Amen

Confession and Forgiveness:  Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, whose steadfast love is everlasting, whose faithfulness endures from generation to generation. Amen.

Trusting in the mercy of God, let us confess our sin.

Reconciling God, we confess that we do not trust your abundance, and we deny your presence in our lives. We place our hope in ourselves and rely on our own efforts. We fail to believe that you provide enough for all. We abuse your good creation for our own benefit. We fear difference and do not welcome others as you have welcomed us. We sin in thought, word, and deed. By your grace, forgive us; through your love, renew us; and in your Spirit, lead us; so that we may live and serve you in newness of life. Amen.

 Absolution:  Beloved of God, by the radical abundance of divine mercy we have peace with God through ☩ Christ Jesus, through whom we have obtained grace upon grace. Our sins are forgiven. Let us live now in hope. For hope does not disappoint, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. Amen

 Gathering Hymn: ELW 876, Let the Whole Creation Cry, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCHfHQDvszA

Greetings: The grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And also with you.

 Kyrie:

Have mercy on us, Lord, and hear our solemn prayer. We come to hear your living word; it saves us from despair.

Have mercy on us, Christ, and wash away our sin. Pour out your grace and make us whole that new life may begin.

Have mercy on us, Lord, make sun and shame depart. Renew us with your saving pow’r, create in us new hearts!

Prayer of the Day: You are great, O God, and greatly to be praised. You have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you. Grant that we may believe in you, call upon you, know you, and serve you, through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

 Selection of the Faithful: ELW 742, What a Friend we have in Jesus, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SCorW9r_Is

HEARING GOD’S WORD

First Reading: Zechariah 9:9-12

⁹Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion!
Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem!
Lo, your king comes to you;
triumphant and victorious is he,
humble and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
¹⁰He will cut off the chariot from Ephraim
and the war-horse from Jerusalem;
and the battle bow shall be cut off,
and he shall command peace to the nations;
his dominion shall be from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
¹¹As for you also, because of the blood of my covenant with you,
I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit.
¹²Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope;
today I declare that I will restore to you double.

Psalm: Psalm 145:8-14

⁸The Lord is gracious and full of compassion,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
⁹Lord, you are good to all,
and your compassion is over all your works. 
¹⁰All your works shall praise you, O Lord,
and your faithful ones shall bless you.
¹¹They shall tell of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your power,
¹²that all people may know of your power
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
¹³Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom; your dominion endures throughout all ages.
You, Lord, are faithful in all your words, and loving in all your    works.
¹⁴The Lord upholds all those who fall
and lifts up those who are bowed down. 

Second Reading: Romans 7:15-25a

¹⁵I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. ¹⁶Now if I do what I do not want, I agree that the law is good. ¹⁷But in fact it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me. ¹⁸For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. ¹⁹For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. ²⁰Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me.
²¹So I find it to be a law that when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand. ²²For I delight in the law of God in my inmost self, ²³but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind, making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. ²⁴Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? ^25aThanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia. Blessed are you, Lord of heav’n and earth;you have revealed these things to infants. Alleluia. (Matt. 11:25)

Gospel: Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

[Jesus spoke to the crowd saying:] ¹⁶“To what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another,
¹⁷‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
we wailed, and you did not mourn.’
¹⁸For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon’; ¹⁹the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”
²⁵At that time Jesus said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; ²⁶yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. ²⁷All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
²⁸“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

 Children’s Sermon: How the zebra got his stripes.

At the beginning of the world, all the animals looked the same. They all had four legs, one tail, and had brown fur. One day the King of the Plains looked down from his cloud and realized how dull and boring his world was because all the animals were brown. His wife, the Queen of the Wind who was used to constant change suggested he ask the animals their wish for size, shape, color. He thought the idea excellent so he called the animals together.

“I want a long neck,” said the giraffe. So it became.

“I want an enormous nose,” said the elephant. So it became.

“I want sharp claws and huge teeth,” roared the lion. Wish granted.

All day long the king worked granting wishes. Finally he came to his last brown animal. “Who are you and what would you like?” asked the King.  Zebra identified himself and was not sure if he wanted to be black or white. He asked to be white, and it was so. But then he said, “No, wait, I want to be black.” The king changed him to black. Zebra waited and said, “No, wait, I want to be white.” The king was exasperated. He changed the zebra to black and white stripes and left. Even today zebra is unique because of his stripes.

SERMON

         Last week we finished Jesus’ instructions to his disciples as he sent them out into the field ripe for harvest. We next read that John the Baptist has already been seized by Herod and put in prison, but not yet beheaded. John sends his disciples to Jesus to ask Jesus if Jesus is the one predicted, the Messiah. Jesus points to his fulfillment of prophecy found in Isaiah 61:1,2. Jesus further clarifies that the John, people went out to see in the wilderness, by the Jordon River, was preparing the way for him, Jesus to arrive. Jesus then goes into our text today. Instead of looking at the life of the disciple, he now turns to the people he is talking to.   He asks, and could be asking us today, “To what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another.” We are no longer sheep without a shepherd but children in a marketplace.

         I shopped in the markets of Kenya for 25 years. Let’s unpack that image! But before you place the “marketplace” in Africa, let us identify it in our world. Farmers markets are similar here only we choose to go there and have alternative but in Kenya, that’s where food was. I believe we now talk about choosing health care as “the marketplace.” Buying a new car? Which used car dealer will you go to? Allright, how about life insurance or bank or even grocery store. We are overwhelmed with choice in the United States and can identify with this image. We are like children in the marketplace. Do I hear “Amen” or do I hear, sighhhhh.

The marketplace in Kenya, is not like Krogers with a whole row of cereals to choose from but more like a farmer’s market. It is a place of diversity, capitalism, and bargaining. Perhaps the vendors paid a price to rent a stall in the market but inside they compete with all the other sellers of their item – personally. Gunny sacks of corn, or mangoes, of rice from around the world, spices of all colors and aromas. Each vendor held out a delectable example of their item, might give some to my children, called me generically “mzungu”- white person, or “mama” – mother, trying to attract my attention. Of course their item was the best quality and the best price and often a “bakshish” a bonus was thrown in to bring me back again. Vendors sought to establish relationship.

I suspect Jesus’ generation and our generation approach faith in a similar manner. I stand and engage sellers but I am asking in my heart what is in this for me? A miracle? A healing? A good entertaining sermon? A fantastic choir? Perhaps a financial handout for the needy. Jesus says, “we played the flute for you but you did not dance.” The truth is that all the sales pitches the church might give meet an audience that is shopping, that is skeptical. We cannot depend on our “entertainment, our dance” value nor should we be surprised when we are rejected, when people don’t want to dance. The shopper, the seeker, is looking but the choice of item is a decision of their heart. Something must happen in the soul of the shopper that helps them decide to invest. I I would call it the work of the Holy Spirit. Children enjoy the diversity, the liveliness of the market, the handouts but they are not serious shoppers.

So if we are children in the marketplace, Jesus is questioning not only if we are being entertained by church but if we even have the finances, the ability to buy, the maturity to buy. Children are insolated by family, by youth, by financial poverty. We are insolated by our wealth, by the fear of making a wrong choice or commitment, by the over whelming process of choice available in our culture now. Do we want social justice focus, miracles, Bible teaching…you notice all these thoughts focus on what I get, not what I have to give, to invest. What brings you to the marketplace of faith today? Do you come as a child or are you serious about wanting to invest in God and looking for a place to do it?

The flip of the coin of attracting people in the faith marketplace by our dancing, our “programs,” is the focus on the message, Jesus continues “we wailed, and you did not mourn.’ In my generation, the message of Christianity has shifted. In the 60-70s in Los Angeles we took the Luther League to Maranatha Chapel in the tent at the ocean to hear crusades. We even went to Billy Graham crusades. There was the call to repentance and a changed life. There was a message of mourning. Now we focus on a message of a God of love, of acceptance of all people, of interfaith conversation, of tolerance. We want faith that promises health, wealth and prosperity, faith with 0% interest, faith that is comfortable.

I am not saying one is right and one is wrong but I am saying there has been a shift of focus and in this context Jesus is warning us about the potential shallowness of people and institutions. We want to jump to a faith that works for us and skip past the lamenting over our sins part and the hard work of developing relationship. I think Jesus is warning that programs and techniques we use to attract people and the messages we preach must be centered on faith in the Holy Spirit’s work in our generation. No matter what we do or what we say, people will criticize. So our focus and self worth must be centered on God.

“Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.” Vindicated. Even as prophets were only known to be from God when the words they predicted came true. We cannot gauge our success by the responses of people but must stayed grounded in our relationship to God and trust in Him to bring results. Vindication happens after faith has proven justified. Tough stuff. To step out in faith and trust God is not easy, “try it you’ll like it” is the motto today. Read Hebrews 11:18 at the end of the people who lived by faith chapter:

“the world was not worthy of them. ..These were all  commended for their faith yet none of them received what had been promised. God   had planned something better for us so that only together with us should they be made perfect.”

Next, our text today skips a few verses and concludes with Jesus’ gratefulness that faith is not the result of education, wealth or power. Faith is a revelation from Jesus. Yesterday we celebrated the 4^th of July and patted ourselves on the back that we live in a country where freedom of religion and freedom to worship is part of our fundamental beliefs. We may argue today about justice and ethnic inequalities but these inequalities have not stopped faith. We may wear masks today and socially distance or we may choose to shelter by our TV, our radio, our computer. The marketplace of freedom allows the message of faith to be broadcast. Today we actually may feel exhausted trying to figure out which church best fits us or how to help our church “dance” more attractively. Jesus closes with one of the greatest promises in the Bible,

          ²⁸“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy   burdens, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you, and    learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will  find rest for your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy, and my burden is     light.”

The zebra could not decide if he wanted to be white with black stripes or black with white stripes and ended up with a bit of each. Jesus invites those of us dancing in the “white zone” and those of us mourning in the “dark zone” to come to him, not to a doctrine or a theology. He calls us to a personal relationship that brings peace. The zebra is beautiful. You never see a skinny zebra. As we work together with all our gifts and come to Jesus, we are beautiful too and free to appreciate each others uniqueness. Thank you, Lord!

Hymn of Day: ELW 611, I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MkC7eoR81U

 The Apostle’s Creed:

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,  was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will  come to judge the living and  the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of  saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Or you can listen to the Creed in vocal form: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuDI-sk2nJU

Prayers of Intercession: Called into unity with one another and the whole creation, let us pray for our shared world.

We pray for the church. Sustain us as we share your word. Embrace us as we struggle to find our common ground. Lift up leaders with powerful and prophetic voices. Free us from stagnant faith. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

We pray for the well-being of creation. Protect the air, water, and land from abuse and pollution. Free us from apathy in our care of creation and direct us toward sustainable living. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

We pray for the nations. Guide leaders in developing just policies and guide difficult conversations. Free us from patriotism that hinders relationship-building. Lead us to expansive love for our neighbor. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

We pray for all in need. For all who are tired, feeling despair, sick, or oppressed. Take their yoke upon you and ease their burdens. Give your consolation and free us from all that keeps us bound. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

We pray for this congregation. Bless pastors, deacons, and congregational leaders. Energize our garden ministry volunteers, church administrators, and those who maintain our building. May we be a blessing through our Day Care. Shine in this place that we might notice the ways your love transforms our lives. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

 We give thanks for those who have died in faith. Welcome them into your eternal rest and comfort us in our grief until we are joined with them in new life. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

Receive these prayers, O God, and those too deep for words; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 Peace: If you are worship with someone else, turn and share, “The peace of Christ be with you always.” Response, “And also with you.” You might use your finger to mark you children or loved one with a cross on their forehead. If you are practicing social distancing, put your palms together blessing of them. Peace!

SHARING GOD’S MEAL

Offering Prayer: God of goodness and growth, all creation is yours, and your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens. Water and word, wine and bread: these are signs of your abundant grace. Nourish us through these gifts, that we might proclaim your steadfast love in our communities and in the world, through Jesus Christ, our strength and our song. AmenThe Great Thanksgiving:

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

Lift up your hearts. We left them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come. thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those that trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Communion: I invite you to talk a little piece of bread and eat it. Christ is as close to you as the bread in your mouth and stomach. Always remember. Now take a sip of your drink. Christ is as close to you as the blood in your body, strengthening you. Always remember.

Prayer after Communion:

God of the welcome table, in this meal we have feasted on your goodness and have been united by your presence among us. Empower us to go forth sustained by these gifts so that we may share your neighborly love with all, through Jesus Christ, the giver of abundant life. Amen.

 THE SENDING

Blessing: Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. God, the creator, ☩ Jesus, the Christ, and the Holy Spirit, the comforter, bless you and keep you in eternal love. Amen.

Sending Hymn: ELW 726, Light Dawns on a Weary World https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0GEA_FtnW8

Dismissal: Go in peace. Christ is with you. Thanks be to God.