Staying Behind

Luke 2:41-52

 “Staying Behind”

27 December 2015 St. Andrew’s Military Chapel Singapore

Those on my mom’s side of the family get together for a dinner a few days before Christmas. A few years ago I was able to go and we were all having a great time talking and playing, doing what families do over the holidays. I can’t remember what exactly prompted someone to ask “Has anyone seen Walker?” He was around two at the time, so like everyone knows, it’s when a two year old boy is quiet that you have to worry about him finding trouble. We all look around at each other with that combination of laughter with the twinge of worry.

A group leave the dining room to the den to see what toys has his attention and see nothing. I had made a tradition of taking the younger kids around searching for the cats that would hide in fear of strangers, so we searched for the boy on a hunt for cats running in fear of a strange little person chasing them. Still no Walker. Someone looked out on the enclosed porch to see if he made his way out there. Nothing. Now we’re starting to get worried. How does a child simply vanish in a house? It happens all the time, but it is still an amazing phenomenon. I think it was my brother, but someone had the idea to open the pantry door and what did we find? Walker contentedly playing with the canned goods of the pantry. He looked up at us with an expression that said, “What are you worried about?”

Walker was content and safe and there was no need to worry. The look on his face confirmed this and questioned why we were so worried about him and his whereabouts. He was where he needed to be and that was all that mattered. If he had needed something, he would have cried out and let us know.

We all have stories that make us feel like we’re the stars of Home Alone, either the son or the mom. And it is in just this type of situation that we find Jesus, Mary, and Joseph today. Jesus had gone to Jerusalem with his parents for Passover, and like the good theology nerd he was, he slipped unnoticed into the temple to go and sit at the feet of the rabbis of the day.

Now, some people will read this passage and automatically ask how in the world did Mary and Joseph lose track of their son? They knew his was the Messiah, how could they ever let him out of their sight? To those questions I respond, have you ever met a 12 year old? They’ve already gotten everything figured out in life, so they are going to do their own thing regardless of what their parents want.

Jesus’ disappearing act can teach us a great deal about our faith. For one thing, Jesus and his family were a regular part of a faith community. Going and learning from those in the temple was important to the family and it was usual for them to go to the temple on a regular basis.

But, it wasn’t a faith that they just consumed. Jesus was at the feet of the leaders listening and asking. Because he was God there was no need for him to sit in the temple and learn from the rabbis, but he did. I’m sure those around him were learning more than they expected from this young man. At the very least, they were amazed at his understanding and answers. I’m confident he was probing to find ways to present the Gospel in a way that would reach as many people as possible. He was taking the time to learn the culture around him and how they spoke so that he could speak a new theology using the framework of the existing theology. Being able to speak theologically matters, even for Jesus.

I want us to just sit with an amazing fact of this story for just a second. Much like Christmas Eve when I talked about how God chose to become a human as the clincher of the Christmas story, here God makes time to learn theology from those around him. I can’t think of any better reason for us to not only regularly attend a large faith gathering, but also to find someone or group of friends that will challenge and teach us the faith. Just reading the Bible on our own and sitting with our own interpretations will never be enough to strengthen and deepen our faith.

Not only did Jesus get to be a part of a strong faith community, he was part of a strong community of families. It’s almost like Joseph or Mary were in the military stationed overseas. How many times do we travel together with our families because of the strong bonds we have forged during our time being stationed together either here or previously. It always warms my heart when my Facebook or Instagram feed pops up with photos of multiple families from this congregation on a weekend getaway together (even if it means you are skipping church).

That comes from the trust you all put into each other on a daily basis. I don’t live in the immediate neighborhood, but I do spend a lot of time here and at the Terror Club and I always see y’all blending families and even cultures as many of you are friends with our allied families. This fact alone is the reason it took me a good three months to figure out which parents belonged to which kids. The communal force is strong here and it is my prayer that you take the community you live out here and extend it to wherever the military drops you off next.

Because of such a tight community like we have in the black and whites out here, it makes sense that Jesus got left behind. They just assumed he was hanging out with the Jeters. I’m sure Mary looked over saw a huge group of kids hanging out and assumed Jesus was there. If she didn’t see him for a few days, she knew he’d eventually make his way back for food. Other families can only sustain an extra teenage boy for a day or so before they run so low they make him go home.

So, don’t ever let a pastor get away with criticizing Mary for losing sight of Jesus. Jesus was living out a communal life and faith, one that we should all strive to follow. He was drawn to the chapel to engage the rabbis and strengthen his faith. I know that wasn’t the first place I slipped off to growing up. He was part of a large community that was comfortable for him and his family in which they all trusted that he was cared for no matter where he was. Something we can experience here in Sembawang and should strive to take with us.

Let this story always be one that encourages us to seek out and develop a community that allows our young believers the confidence to explore their faith above all else. One in which they know that no matter where they are people will always care for them and that their parents will always eventually find and support their faith development.

Our Peace

Micah 5:2-5a

 “Our Peace”

20 December 2015 St. Andrew’s Military Chapel Singapore

            (Play Imagine)

For many of us this is what we have come to associate with peace. John Lennon wrote this song at the height of the Vietnam War and was working to help people reimagine a different world. One that was free of conflict, where there weren’t borders to define who we are, one where peace has broken out. It was needed in 1971 and was the song that defined his solo career. Imagine has gone on to be considered by many people as one of the top songs of all time. Jimmy Carter has even remarked that he hears that song during his travels around the globe as frequently as the national anthems of the countries he visits. There is a reason this song continues to resonate with us today.

It’s not just John Lennon; we all strive to see a world of peace. We see refugees sacrificing their lives to escape Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo, Burma, and countless other war torn areas. We see our own tax dollars funding more weapons than homeless shelters. We see people thinking violence is how to get the most attention to their cause, so for some odd reason, people decide to convince us of their religious convictions through horrible methods. We even have episodes in our own lives where we don’t think we’re ever able to be a broker of peace, especially if, like me, driving in places like Los Angeles brings out your best. So we begin to doubt God’s plan.

We tell ourselves that Christ is an unreachable example, an ideal that we just will never measure up to. We say the bar is too high and just give up trying to clear the hurdle. We think to ourselves we aren’t good enough to be the one who brings about peace in our time; we aren’t Christian enough of an example for people to listen to what we have to say through word and deed. We think we’ll let other more capable people take care of ending violence. Maybe we even point to the cross and say if Christ died a violent death, what can we even do to bring about the Peaceable Kingdom Christ described?

But, Micah won’t let us go down that road. Micah says that even Bethlehem, little old Bethlehem will be the place from which the ruler of Israel will arrive. Not only will this King rule Israel, but “he shall be great to the ends of the earth; and he shall be the one of peace.” Micah tells us that peace will arise in the most unexpected of places. Just wait, peace will overcome. So, we wait and pay attention. And if we’re open to looking, we will see peace in unexpected places.

We see a Hindu stand up to the British Empire and topple their rule in what many thought the crown of the empire. We see Black man in America in the 1960s unite people of all races and faith groups, inspiring thousands to stand up and risk life and limb to extend basic civil rights to a long oppressed minority. We see a young Pakistani girl of only 16 stand up to an oppressive religious regime and say I, and every other girl, deserve an education. Despite the real threat of death she doesn’t quit and doesn’t back down. We see an economist from Bangladesh realize that peace comes from personal economic security and the sense of purpose from work who begins a movement of micro-financing empowering people and transforming communities.

Not all of these individuals are Christian you may say. I never said God worked in ways I would expect. Micah says peace is coming from the most insignificant place in Israel and Christ was born without any earthly fanfare in a manger in Bethlehem. Because he came from humble beginnings, from a one-stoplight town, many failed to see the fulfillment of God’s plan right there before them. Unlike John Lennon, we don’t need to imagine the world he describes. It’s already here. Christ has already come and will come again. Let us strive to see God working right in front of us.

But, to open eyes to see Christ, we must first accept the inner peace that Christ brings. Without this inner peace, we’ll never be able to fully surrender to Christ and thus bring about his Peaceable Kingdom. Christ’s birth shows us that there is a plan of which God is in control. This plan understands our humanity because God came down and became human. Not only did he become human, he also overcame death and the power of sin in this world. He could have kept that to himself, but he chose to tell us that the battle is over, good wins. Light overcomes the dark. Where O Death is thy sting?

When we accept Christ victorious, peace washes over us like a river and all is well with our soul. Fully believing that Christ has one gives us the confidence to be at peace in our own lives so that we can radiate that peace to the rest of the world. For when we are at peace, we are better able to see peace breaking through all around us and to join in and support those places where we see Christ at work. It won’t make much sense, but neither did an independent India, or Civil rights, or micro loans for budding entrepreneurs in developing countries. Following Christ truly brings about a peace that surpasses all understanding.

Advent has taught us to wait, not just on Christ’s birth, but also his second coming. In Advent we celebrate the already but not yet of Christ. He has come but not yet again. His Kingdom has already won the battle, but it doesn’t yet look that way. Because of that, we don’t have to imagine Christ’s reign, we have to accept his rule in our lives so we can see the incarnation of Christ and his Kingdom all around us.

True Joy

Zephaniah 3:14-20

Philippians 4:4-7

 “True Joy”

13 December 2015 St. Andrew’s Military Chapel Singapore

            (Play laughter video)

That video was a glimpse of true joy, especially the one with the kid holding the water hose for his dog. Those kids are experiencing something way beyond mere happiness. For there always seems to be true, deep, unbridled joy in the laugh of children. Because joy sometimes seems so elusive in our lives, when we see not just happiness, but true joy, we stop and slow down to bask in its warmth and love.

            If all we did were to look at the TV, read the news, or God forbid, read the comments of any website, we may think that joy is elusive and dwindling for the struggle in our lives is real. Circumstances and situations both within and out of our control can put us of the mind that joy is beyond not just our reach but even beyond our comprehension.

            Zephaniah speaks from a situation of national hopelessness and despair. Israel had been defeated and they were subjected to the whims of another culture as slaves. It was dark personally and culturally. God had promised so much; abundant offspring, a powerful society, a promised land of milk and honey, blessings for generations. None of that seemed possible.

            But, Zephaniah is a prophet and he hears from the Lord and is given a different take on things. Oh, he did speak the judgment of God upon his people. However, he was given the full vision, the full word of God where he saw the other side of their grief and pain. He saw joy and light just around the corner. He knew to say, “Be not afraid for God is with us.”

            Paul tells us that our joy is in the Lord and to not worry, to not fear. He even takes it a step further and tells us that we aren’t to seek joy, but rather to make our requests know to God through prayer and pleading with thanksgiving. And that is a hard thing to do sometimes, especially if we find ourselves in a place of despair like Zephaniah was speaking from.

            What I find amazing about Paul’s words is he says we shouldn’t seek joy and I think that is the biggest difference between happiness and joy. We are able to pursue happiness, and our nation’s founding documents explicitly says that it is an unalienable right to pursue happiness. So, we do. We do everything we can to make ourselves happy. We buy things, we collect friends, we strive for success in sports, academics, or some other hobby.

            Pursuing happiness isn’t necessarily a bad thing, for it can sometimes lead to joy. However, we need to be careful for happiness is fleeting and can be addictive so we buy bigger and better things for the momentary warmth of happiness. How many of us when we were growing up begged and pleaded for the one toy that would make us happy only to throw it to the side after a few days? Ever bought a must have gift for a child only to have them find enjoyment in the box in which it came?

            Did anyone ever have a simple toy, worn out doll, tattered stuffed animal, or smelly shredded blanket that was always there? A Hobbs to our Calvin with which we lost ourselves in joy? That’s the difference between joy and happiness. Happiness is flashy and fleeting, the toy everyone wants and needs. Joy finds you in unexpected ways and sticks around forever.

            Culture wants happy shiny people, so much so that we tend to confuse joy and happiness while also trying to smother any other emotion because we don’t want anyone to see a tarnish on our lives. (Play first Inside Out Clip)

            Joy is the bossy pants of the mind giving instructions to Fear, Anger, and Disgust. If she can just keep them distracted long enough she gets to be the #1 emotion, and Riley will be known as a happy, shiny person. Joy knows sadness is a powerful emotion so she tries to put Sadness into a corner, keeping her from “ruining” not just Riley’s first day of school but keeps pushing her away so as not to ruin Riley’s life. At this point Joy is not true joy, she is just happiness run amok.

            We know what’s coming. Life has taught us that happiness has to be punished. It’s almost like there’s this law of finite happiness. I have to take some from you to make my happiness factor rise. Something happens that makes us sad and we try to happy our way out of it. And that can lead to despair. We can find ourselves in need of Zephaniah, a prophet to point elsewhere, to point us to true joy, God’s grace.

            Because joy is part of God’s grace, we don’t find joy, it finds us. Most of the time, we need someone to point it out to us and say, “This is joy. This is all you need.” Sometimes it takes a journey and finding ourselves in a dark place full of forgotten memories to realize the Joy we have been given through Christ.

Visions of joy, however they are given to us, motivate us to change the status quo. That longing we have to bring the world into alignment with God’s plan for us and the world, that’s joy breaking in. That unease with suffering while also being baffled at the joy in those who have less than us, that’s joy breaking in. True joy will always be there seeking us out, sometimes we just have to realize it can be in the most unlikely of places. (Play Inside Out Clip #2)

Riley never experienced true joy until Joy came to realize that Sadness can lead to joy and that she needed to share and let all of Riley’s emotions play a role in Riley’s life. For true joy is complex, but it builds stronger and more lasting core memories. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is our joy. Where we encounter God’s grace is where joy finds us. So, let us go forth living a life open to grace so that the true and lasting joy comes and finds us rather than us pursuing a culturally defined momentary happiness.