Don't Worry?

Don't worry? Me? Impossible.

I'm a worry professional. Really.

Why, if I were to find myself not worrying about something (. . . work to be done . . . VBS coming up . . . an editing deadline that is just five weeks away . . . bills . . . my health . . . my parents' health . . . the health of congregation members . . . the cost of gasoline . . . the rising cost of groceries . . . disasters throughout the world . . . wars . . . ), I would worry that I was overlooking something.

I'm human; I worry. Alfred E. Neuman I'm not.

As I was thinking about this coming Sunday's Gospel reading, Bobby McFerrin came to mind.

Bobby McFerrin - Mr. "Don't Worry, Be Happy."

I never did care for the song. I always thought that there was something wrong with it.

I know what it is - it's too happy.

Truth be told, I don't care for "happy" all that much, either. I figure that everyone could stand a small dose of depression - it keeps a person from being too shallow. After all, given the state of the world around, who wouldn't be just a tad depressed?

And so it is that I don't care for Bobby McFerrin's "Don't Worry, Be Happy." I find it too demanding. Too much Law there; no Gospel.

The song throws the responsibility for my lack of worry and my happiness completely on my shoulders. And that would make not worrying another thing for me to worry about.

Reading Jesus' words in the Gospel, one might hear him as the Bobby McFerrin of his day (and if my skills in Aramaic were stronger, I might insert my best transliterated rendering of "Don't worry; be happy" here, but alas . . . )

However, the only similarity that I find between Jesus and Bobby is Bobby's decision to leave socks and shoes behind (in the video, at least).

Yes, Jesus tells his hearers (and also you and me, through the holy Evangelist St. Matthew) not to worry, but he also gives them the means to not worry - God is running the show; He will take care of you.

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? . . . if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

You are valuable to your Creator. He will provide all you need.

The Jesus who says not to worry is also the Jesus who says "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Mt. 11.28).

The writer of the epistle to the Hebrews puts it this way: Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Hebrews 13.5).

Saint Peter writes: Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you (1 Peter 5.6&7).

Peace, contentment, serenity, and confidence are rooted in the promises of God. They are gifts to us from the One "Who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2.20).

This isn't Bobby McFerrin "Don't worry" - Law "Don't worry;" instead it is Gospel - it is gift.

As God's people of faith, our primary focus is on the reign of God - in us, among us, and extending throughout the world. Our focus is on the reign of God that comes to us through the means of grace (through Word and Sacrament).

Does this mean that there will be no other concerns in life?

No. There will always be items that concern us. However, with our primary focus on the reign of God, the other matters of life fall into their proper place - they stay in perspective.

Worry can powerfully distract us from the important things of life.

What we worry might happen might not happen. Wouldn't that be an incredible waste of time!

Instead, we keep in mind who we are (the Redeemed of God) and Whose we are (we belong to God).

Our God will always keep His promises to us.

So, "Don't worry. Be happy." ~ because you are His.

Penteconst 2

Isaiah 49.8-16a
Psalm 8
Romans 1.8-17
Matthew 6.24-34

Collect for Pentecost 2
Eternal God, You counsel us not to be anxious about earthly things. Keep alive in us a proper yearning for those heavenly treasures awaiting all who trust in Your mercy, that we may daily rejoice in Your salvation and serve You in constant devotion; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Easter 6

Acts 17.16-31

Psalm 66.8-20

1 Peter 3.13-22

John 14.15-21

Collect for Easter 6:

O God, the giver of all that is good, by Your holy inspiration grant that we may think those things that are right and by Your merciful guiding accomplish them; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

On Sermons

But [Stephen], full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." And when he had said this, he fell asleep. ~ Acts 7.55-60

Agnus Day appears with the permission of http://www.agnusday.org/

Very cute cartoon. I'm certainly glad that the folks at church aren't so severe when I preach a sermon that just doesn't work :-)

Easter 5

Acts 6.1-9, 7.2a, 7.51-60

Psalm 146

1 Peter 2.2-10

John 14.1-14

Collect for Easter 5:

O God, You make the minds of Your faithful people to be of one will. Grant that we may love what You have commanded and desire what You promise, that among the many changes of this world our hearts may be fixed where true joys are found; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Psalm 23

1The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

No Good Deed . . .

No good deed goes unpunished.

You've probably heard that one before. No one is quite certain where it first popped up. Some attribute it to Clare Boothe Luce, others to Oscar Wilde. It is probably older than both of them.

It seems as if Saint Peter is saying "no good deed goes unpunished" in the epistle reading for this Sunday.

For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. (1 Peter 2.19-21)

You do good . . . you might suffer for it. Doesn't sound very appealing, does it.

And just what kind of suffering is he talking about?

Early Christians suffered as they simply lived out their faith in Christ, and did so peacefully. From harassment and imprisonment to the most horrible forms of execution, they suffered for doing good in the name of Jesus.

Throughout the ages, Christians have suffered for holding to salvation by grace, for Christ's sake, through faith alone - often at odds with the teachings of their day.

Around the world today, many Christians suffer persecution and death because of their faith. It is said that, since the turn of the twentieth century, there have been more people killed for their faith in Christ than in all the preceding 1900 years.

They suffer what, in the Beatitudes, Jesus called persecution "for righteousness' sake."

How about those of us who are blessed to live in the United States with its Constitutional guarantees of freedom of religion? Do we suffer for doing good in Jesus' name?

The short answer? Yes.

Yes, there is suffering that comes to us because of our Christian faith.

We may not endure torture and murder because of our faith; we may not have to worship in hiding for fear of being arrest by the authorities and being imprisoned, but there are Christians here in "the Land of the Free" who do suffer because of our faith.

It might be ridicule from co-workers or family members. And while we might hear someone say "sticks and stone . . . but words will never hurt me," that just isn't true. Words do hurt. And, depending on their frequency and intensity, they can devastate. Words can cause unseen suffering.

Some people have had friendships and relationships with family members severed because of the offense some take to the Christian faith. Heartache over it is real suffering.

These are just a couple of examples of suffering that we might endure. No one (I know) likes to suffer. But suffering comes and it is real.

What do we do? Just "stiff upper lip" living?

Saint Peter directs us, in the midst of our suffering, to look to Christ the crucified.

In the time of trouble and pain, we flee to Christ the crucified.

Christ the crucified knows how we feel - He went through all this and more.

Christ the crucified comes to us and gives us His unexplainable peace.

Christ the crucified strengthens our faith . . . He helps us to continue on in His name.

Christ the crucified will not abandon us.

And so, because we are in Him, we can take up our cross and follow Him. He leads the way; we follow.

Perhaps it is true that, in this present age "no good deed ever goes unpunished," but our Savior Jesus tells us that will not always be the case:

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." (Matthew 5.10-12)