first sermon this year

This is the text of the first sermon I preached at Alameda Presbyterian Church this year... As the text reveals, I didn't preach everything-- I had far too much material... But what I tried to do and what, I hope, my theological voice enabled was an appreciation of Phil 2 and what art might be gleaned from the often philosophical & heady notion of kenosis...

One of the dangers of this having “an occasional opportunity to preach” is that one faces the temptation to try to say everything one knows (or, perhaps, thinks ones knows) all at once: In this way, I don’t just want to give you a few insights, I want to share with you the whole story of my experience of faith & God-- and all the people and peoples, the events and circumstances, the remembrances, miracles, and mysteries that made it happen. I want you all to come down and sit with me. I would like to order a few lattes and really get the conversation brewing… Or go out and get some pizza, so we can talk theology for the rest of the afternoon. And so yes, this has most certainly been a temptation.
BUT, instead of trying to tell you everything and perhaps even instead of directly trying to tell you anything, my intention today is to share a few stories—with the hope that something therein speaks to you.

And so I am ALSO going to start today’s sermon with perhaps a very unconventional beginning: I give you permission to gently allow your mind, your heart, and your spirit to go to the places it needs to go as I speak today. I hope that some of these places will include a grappling with the specific words I present … but I also think that something of the miracle and goodness of preaching is that it is creative art—some might even call it Incarnational (little sense)…. And the thing about art is that it’s not just about the artist—but those who experience art—those who step back, but this time, NOT limited perhaps by that little museum rope with sigh, saying: You must remain 4 feet away from this piece of beautiful, expensive art: Those who see! And so Come close! Please, feel free to bring your hands (dirty and clean) and get them dirty in the task of open handedly grappling with the ideas presented or, for you, connoted and brought to mind! This sermon is my little big task of listening and then being given the abundant privilege of sharing with you all what I have heard. But, by the end of today’s words (sermon), it is not simply my hearing that is important—but yours. So let this be a space—a place—where the Holy comes—and hence where God speaks to you.
Taking the Plunge: Looking at Light; Contemplating a Kenotic God
When I was a kid and even up to my middle teens, I was scared of water. Now before you imagine this in the silly way of (holding up water)- “Oh, Elizabeth—you’re scared of this”- let me frame it in this way: I wasn’t afraid so much of water as that moment of going under—of taking the plunge into the unknown world of everything that lie just under the surface of the tide. In thinking about it today, I realize that a lot of my fear probably stems from my physical breathing limitations. I have a reduced lung capacity—and even though it hasn’t kept me from playing the saxophone or running a race—it has notably impacted my ability to feel safe, holding my breath under the water. Underneath the waves, I grapple with the thickness of this unbreathable substance and somehow the margin of error seems greater—When playing my saxophone or running a race, one can always stop and take a breath—Swimming feels harder—In fact, when I looked at swimmers on television—effortlessly hurling themselves through the waves (Think David Phelps!), I could never see them looking up, cocking and tilting their heads to take a breath. Hmmm--- but upon further investigation, at looking closer, one sees that swimmers do make space and time to breathe: They have to; It’s part of the process. But, when I imagined the act of swimming, I never saw this. Truth be told, I simply needed more imagination as well as the willingness to stop and really see. I needed a paradigm change.
I think about my fear of water, and although it might be too easy to draw parallels, I am set, at least for a few moments, to considering my own vocational and career discernment (Note: water analogy will come later!). I remember the first time I thought about being a minister (which I’m still discerning). I was 14 years old, and I went into my pastor’s office and was talking with him about life. This was not unusual. We had something of a mentoring relationship, in which I would often meet with him, ask him for his interpretation of particular poems I had read: “Pastor Huth, what do you think about this???---- OR--- I remember describing my unease at classroom dynamics when a substitute teacher would come, and it seemed that the whole classroom day was designed around: How much can we get away with—and I would relate to him these enormously sensitive chronicles about how I couldn’t understand why we acted so differently when subs came. Given certain realities of the human condition… one of them being: “Impress the Pastor”-- someone might wonder: Wow, Elizabeth… Were you one of those traditional do-gooding youngsters, looking for affirmation and therein—a sense of self. And I would say no--- there, in the light of his office (whether spiritual or projected), I had this safe space to really question the way the world was and why we did what we did. And yes, the question with substitute teachers always bothered me, because, first of all, I liked routine, and so I didn’t like the chaos that erupted when the normal classroom teacher and his or her expectations were gone.. But also, because, I had this undeniable sense that this ganging up on the often more passive or gentle substitute teacher was wrong. My empathy was with her. It was during one of our conversations that my Pastor asked me, “What do you want to do with your life.” And, at 14 I told him: Ah, I want to pursue goodness. He told me to consider being a pastor, and—even though I’ve sometimes kicked and screamed (metaphorically)—I haven’t looked back. Somehow I want to take the plunge into ministry, but there’s also this part of me—this part that won’t go down into the waves easily—and it wonders: Well, but what does this mean” What kind of minister would I be? What paradigms would I have to change or seen changed in my own imagination before I could be comfortable with such a title.

For me, this takes us, in part, to the Scriptures in today’s lectionary. First, there is Phil 2—known for its famous “kenotic” formulation. Kenosis refers to the way in which Jesus is described as “emptying” himself—From this concept of kenosis, many interesting and truly amazing theological concepts have emerged—drawing us, compelling us, and persuading us to consider our God images and what way they speak of a God who would chose this emptying path…. Who, as Rose Powell mentioned at Light youth group on Wednesday: a God who was willing to die to set things right. (Put an end to violence!!!!!)

From these verses in Phil 2, we abstract many important ideas and questions. We are drawn into theological debates about creation, about Christ’s relationship to the Creator God, and to our own ethical-oriented, life response to all of this---- When I think of Kenosis, I am reminded of a very specific idea: Before Christ came to Earth and God revealed Godself through Jesus as One who comes to the least of these, to the so-called sick, to the needy and poor—people of the ancient world imagined God as everything different from themselves: God was omnipotent, omnipresent, away—away—away (perhaps some might even say—safely away in abstraction)--- but then, God makes this kenotic move (Jesus comes to earth) and chooses to reveal the divine nature in such a way that culture and norms are questioned-- quick descriptions and socially conditioned definitions of what is good, successful, proper & powerful are reversed. Here’s our paradigm change: The last will be first and the first will be last. Love Your Neighbor as You Love Yourself. "You have heard it said, ' love your friends, hate your enemies.' But now i tell you : love your enemies and pray for those who presecute you Blessed are the poor in Spirit (Luke: poor)…. (This might be particularly hard to hear—Financial situation- My bank was bought up)…. In short, the Incarnation reveals a new politic, a new Kingdom or Presidency—but this time, (not to disparage politics- they are necessary) we’re not talking about John McCain’s or Barack Obama’s notion—we see a very different one: The Kingdom of God where all the vineyard workers are paid a fair wage, where tax collectors, prostitutes, and children have the inside perspective that the older, established Jewish elites (Pharisee) attempt to claim for their own, and where a poor man named Lazarus is given a name and thus an identity, subjectivity, & hope. Namely, power is re-defined & re-claimed.
The Interpreter’s Bible Commentary on Philippians explains the Kenotic miracle in this way:
** The enduring supremacy of Christ’s revelation (of this emptying of himself) will not depend on the support of theologians or the vote of the churches. It will rest on the simple fact that to the end of time no one can show any power other than the love that swooped to earth in Christ, which can win over our human spirits from enslavement to self (or, as other theologians have shared: self-effacement). This power unto salvation contradicted all the expectations of authorities, religious and secular, in Jesus’ own day. And it will forever contradict every way of imposing on the human will from outside which tries to supplant this inside persuasion and constraint. Nothing else can save humanity from itself and at the same time leave a person his/her freedom.”
“All kinds of saviors will promise to change the world from outside,” the Commentary continues, “and they can bestow certain external benefits; but at long last, [individuals] must be freely won away from self if [they are] to know the true ‘liberty of the children of God.’” 52. I would add to this usage of the word self here, a kind of concept of fearful individualism—The self is not free when it thinks it needs all the answers--- when it is too busy trying to fit in or gain just a bit of power—that is trods over another—as in my sub. Teacher ex.
The Interpreter’s Commentary then helps to clarify my clarification, stating, again about
Phil 2 “Here Paul holds up a contrasted figure who, with the nature of God, became a servant to the lowliest on earth, whom we would consider beneath us and who, by enduring all that the typical sins of men can do, revealed how respectable people (with whom we would feel quite at home) may be the chief enemies of the living God who seeks their liberation.
The thing to do with a picture is not to analyze it, but to let it talk, as Paul wanted it to talk to those in Phillipi who were exalting themselves. (GIVE some SPACE)--- I will:

It suggests that God the Creator, who ‘eternally gives Godself that we might exist,’ has had in nature from all eternity this outgoing, self-giving disposition of mind; which became visible by one supreme revelation in Christ, reaching down to individuals in order to lift each one out of self into a new union with the selfless life of God, for which our spirit was created (When I say selfless- I do not know mean without our uniqueness- but like at the beginning of Phil 2—harmony & non-violence!) Once this revelation was made in a deed, there was nothing more that could be added to it.---
In other words, Christ says, on the cross,

It is finished of Jesus: he means it.


I was able to attend a conference at the seminary this weekend. A number of amazing theologians came, including a very well-known one, a French man named Rene Girard. Rene made his academic career describing the ways in which violence so often enters into religion and showing how we can reverse this (which I described above)---

Rene, who is now in his mid-80’s, spoke with great wisdom and simple eloquence about Jesus, whose violent death, launches a new truth (light)--- He would go perhaps even so far as to say that this truth is now hidden and revealed in our human consciousness--- We have seen truth—and it was captured in the loving kenosis movement--- so much, that – although we might not consciously recognize it--- It is not those who come with great power as it is traditionally defined that truly captivate us--- We know the falsehood of manipulation – of power that overpowers rather than empowers.


In our Gospel lesson,
Sanhedrin now directly challenge Jesus (By what authority are you doing these things).
Claim: These things refer to Jesus’ cleansing of the Temple—They wanted him to claim Kingship, for they knew that Rome would deal with that claim. Perhaps they hoped he would claim messiahship—this they could denounce as blaphemsy. – with some support from the crowd (those who only saw him as a prophet).

He was proclaiming truth. He both refrained from a claim and made a claim.
There are striking meanings& suggestions here: “Jesus said in effect that when truth is spoken, it rings on the conscience as a true coin rings on stone. Like light, it needs no validation: light is its own evidence. If we tried to prove light by anything beyond itself, we would have to use light for the proof. Thus, every person has the primal gift to recognize truth. “

And we? If only we could face the light----

Talking about Light, I have begun thinking a lot about the brilliance of this name for our church youth group.

Light—When I realize that I need to empty myself—of my agenda… even my own theology. SO that it can be a space for the light can be shown--- where we as young men and women can look and confront truth

So—what does all of this leave us: A kenotic God?—Our ability to recognize truth, a God revealed through Jesus whose power politic (or way of being) is strikingly different from the politics of the world?

How can we reach out?!

I have a few thoughts:

Let’s trust, for instance, that when we speak of God as Christians we are not talking about the God who has often been presented in history or media as the judging Parent Figure who acts in the world as a great emperor would—using power to advantage, diminishing free will.

We speak of a God instead who has taken the plunge with us—shown us the way… And I allow your minds and consciences to add to this description---
Let’s also trust the important role of community… the purpose of the church. Barbara Brown Taylor writes: (struggling with her vocation as a pastor)--- She sees congregation members being playfully pushed into a swimming pool during an outdoor party. Others had already gone in, both kids and adults, and Taylor wished that she, too, would be shoved in as one of the gang. (as a teen, I would not have this wish but now)--

“Whatever changes were occurring inside of me, I still looked waterproof to them,” she worries, while standing there as an observer. But then, she feels two hands on her shoulder, and in she goes with the others.

“I never found out who my savior (the one who threw her in) was, but when I broke the surface, I looked around at all of those shining people with makeup running down their cheeks, with hair plastered to their heads, and I was so happy to be one of them. If being ordained meant being set apart from them, then I did not want to be ordained anymore. I wanted to be human. I wanted to spit good and let snot run down my chin. I wanted to confess being as lost and found as anyone else without caring that my underwear showed through my wet clothes. Bobbing in that healing pool with all those other flawed beings of light, I looked around and saw them as I had never seen them before, while some of them looked at me the same way. The long wait had come to an end. I was in the water at last.”

Brothers and Sisters: We don’t have a waterproof God. Our God has come to earth, taken the plunge, and in so doing revealed a new way of being: a light of truth about what life is really about—Instead of manipulating, mediating, instead of hating, loving, -- and so, let us remember this (as it already dances within our consciousness): Our God’s Upward way is not one of “us” versus “them”—of separating, overpowering, persecution or violence. Our God would not say: You are not good enough-- Our God of the Upward Way reminds us of the beauty and power of a way where upward does not mean HIERARCHY- or good, better, and best ----- but I have come close to you, in the person of Jesus, to love you. And it is not a wimpy or weak love--- But a love that changed the world.
Let us take the plunge, lay aside our fear, and know that this, our news… is truly GOOD! AMEN