SERMON FOR MARCH 29, 2020
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COME OUT
Text: Ezekiel 37: 1-14; John 11: 1-45
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To see a video of the service that includes the sermon, click on this YouTube link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjcylIWz-AU&t=27s - or search within YouTube for "Terrence Alspaugh Worship" .
COME OUT
Text: Ezekiel 37: 1-14; John 11: 1-45
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Come out, come out, wherever you are!” How we long to hear such words in these days of self-quarantining, sheltering in place, and social distancing. “Come out, come out, wherever you are!” The game is over! No more hiding! Such a call that signals the end of hide-and-seek would bring welcome relief and joy – for we know – in these days – hiding is not a game. Not fun at all. A potential life or death decision. When might it come – such a proclamation - “come out, come out, wherever you are!” All clear! The pandemic is over! It is safe to return to life as usual: to family and friends, work and worship, school and sports, recreation and retail shopping – so many activities of ordinary living have come to a screeching, hiding halt. Fun is not the motivation. Fear is the cause – fear of contagion and transmission.
A year from now, when this pandemic is behind us, will we be any different? I want to believe that people will be kinder, more compassionate, considerate, and generous, better stewards of the blessings of life and faith that we often take for granted, more willing to be disciplined and make sacrifices for the common good, more committed to work for truth and justice for all, especially the most vulnerable. It is possible, yet not very likely.
Generally speaking, I am a realistic optimist. Faith teaches me to hold onto hope – hope in new life because of belief - belief in our resurrection lives in Christ – belief that with God all things are possible. I hold hope, along with faith and love in the one hand, and on the other hand, is the heavy burden of evidence – evidence that left to their own devices, without the Risen Lord and the intervention of the Holy Spirit - or a dramatic transformational experience that changes their lives radically – people reset to sin very, very quickly. For this reason, Jesus includes praying for forgiveness in the Lord’s Prayer, “forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us,” immediately after the words - “give us this day our daily bread.” Forgiveness of sin is as vital to human existence as food - daily bread – daily forgiveness. We need both to thrive. We can survive for a while without either bread or forgiveness – yet not for eternity.
If we have learned anything from human history, it is that people are hard to change. It is in our human nature to reset quickly to old ways of thinking and being, despite warnings and promises of new life.
The Lord God gave words and a vision to the prophet Ezekiel. The Spirit of the Lord brought Ezekiel to a valley full of bones, and God told him to deliver a prophetic word to these bones:
“O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the Lord.”
Ezekiel prophesied as God commanded: “As I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them. Then he said to me, ‘Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.’ I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude.’”
Curious how a prophecy about breath and breathing from over 2500 years ago has such relevance in our times. The global pandemic is compelling us to pay attention to our breath and breathing as we strive to limit our exposure to the airborne coronavirus at the risk of contagion, illness, and potential death.
As I read the text from Ezekiel, words of this class hymn came to mind:
“Breathe on Me, Breath of God, Fill me with life anew, That I may love what Thou dost love, and do what Thou wouldst do.”[1]
Notice that the aim of this breathing, this seeking of the breath of God, is so that the singer may love what God loves and do what God would have him do, her do, us do - which is, love God and love all people.
While we yet breathe, we can pray and sing similarly. In such ways, we are inviting the Spirit of God to come upon us, to be in us, to live and to work through us. In Ezekiel’s prophecy God promises the house of Israel: “I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and will act, says the Lord.” [v. 14]
“Come out, come out, wherever you are.”
“Lazarus, come out!” In the Gospel lesson, the story of the raising of Lazarus signals that God’s promises are here and now, already at work in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In our journeys of faith through life, what is common to all humanity is experiencing illnesses, deaths, and burials. What is less common – even though accessible to all people – is experiencing new life: the transformation of the heart, mind, and spirit.
Resurrection and new life in Christ’s Spirit are at the core of what we believe and profess as Christians. In the face of death and disease, pandemics and pestilence, suffering and sin, we are called to heed the Lord’s call to Lazarus as if the call is to us: COME OUT!
COME OUT from tombs of darkness and traps of fear created by principalities and powers of evil that threaten to bind us in graveclothes of death and destruction.
COME OUT from anything and everything that prevents you from experiencing the fullness of God’s love in Jesus Christ for you and yours and this world.
COME OUT from ways of thinking and living that do not reflect the faith, hope, and love that the Lord gives to us.
Note – to state the obvious: to protect the most vulnerable and all people in our communities, we cannot literally come out yet from self-quarantines and sheltering in place until this pandemic is over. In the meantime, now is the time to reflect the love of God for the world by working together to protect and preserve it. God’s promises in Jesus Christ are already here in our world and are still at work in our lives: resurrection life in Christ’s Spirit – here and now – not only after we die – for all who will live it.
When this pandemic is behind us, how then shall we live? Will we reset to self-focused and self-absorbed ways of living? Will we practice social distancing from the most vulnerable, oppressed, marginalized, and persecuted people in our world? The gods of entertainment and consumerism will beckon to us to reset to old habits and ways of behaving and thinking. Living as God’s resurrection people will begin to fade from our daily focus and awareness. Expressions of faith, hope, and love, words of wisdom, generosity and compassion – all these are likely to diminish in frequency and intensity.
God’s Word in Jesus Christ will stand forever – in this is our hope.
COME OUT – COME OUT – wherever you are – and be the light, life, and love of Jesus Christ in a world wrestling to experience the joy of the Lord and His peace.
In the name of the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
[1] Edwin Hatch (1886), “Breathe on Me, Breath of God,” No. 316 in The Presbyterian Hymnal (Louisville, KY: Westminster/John Know Press, 1990).
Text: Ezekiel 37: 1-14; John 11: 1-45
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To see a video of the service that includes the sermon, click on this YouTube link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjcylIWz-AU&t=27s - or search within YouTube for "Terrence Alspaugh Worship" .
COME OUT
Text: Ezekiel 37: 1-14; John 11: 1-45
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Come out, come out, wherever you are!” How we long to hear such words in these days of self-quarantining, sheltering in place, and social distancing. “Come out, come out, wherever you are!” The game is over! No more hiding! Such a call that signals the end of hide-and-seek would bring welcome relief and joy – for we know – in these days – hiding is not a game. Not fun at all. A potential life or death decision. When might it come – such a proclamation - “come out, come out, wherever you are!” All clear! The pandemic is over! It is safe to return to life as usual: to family and friends, work and worship, school and sports, recreation and retail shopping – so many activities of ordinary living have come to a screeching, hiding halt. Fun is not the motivation. Fear is the cause – fear of contagion and transmission.
A year from now, when this pandemic is behind us, will we be any different? I want to believe that people will be kinder, more compassionate, considerate, and generous, better stewards of the blessings of life and faith that we often take for granted, more willing to be disciplined and make sacrifices for the common good, more committed to work for truth and justice for all, especially the most vulnerable. It is possible, yet not very likely.
Generally speaking, I am a realistic optimist. Faith teaches me to hold onto hope – hope in new life because of belief - belief in our resurrection lives in Christ – belief that with God all things are possible. I hold hope, along with faith and love in the one hand, and on the other hand, is the heavy burden of evidence – evidence that left to their own devices, without the Risen Lord and the intervention of the Holy Spirit - or a dramatic transformational experience that changes their lives radically – people reset to sin very, very quickly. For this reason, Jesus includes praying for forgiveness in the Lord’s Prayer, “forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us,” immediately after the words - “give us this day our daily bread.” Forgiveness of sin is as vital to human existence as food - daily bread – daily forgiveness. We need both to thrive. We can survive for a while without either bread or forgiveness – yet not for eternity.
If we have learned anything from human history, it is that people are hard to change. It is in our human nature to reset quickly to old ways of thinking and being, despite warnings and promises of new life.
The Lord God gave words and a vision to the prophet Ezekiel. The Spirit of the Lord brought Ezekiel to a valley full of bones, and God told him to deliver a prophetic word to these bones:
“O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the Lord.”
Ezekiel prophesied as God commanded: “As I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them. Then he said to me, ‘Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.’ I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude.’”
Curious how a prophecy about breath and breathing from over 2500 years ago has such relevance in our times. The global pandemic is compelling us to pay attention to our breath and breathing as we strive to limit our exposure to the airborne coronavirus at the risk of contagion, illness, and potential death.
As I read the text from Ezekiel, words of this class hymn came to mind:
“Breathe on Me, Breath of God, Fill me with life anew, That I may love what Thou dost love, and do what Thou wouldst do.”[1]
Notice that the aim of this breathing, this seeking of the breath of God, is so that the singer may love what God loves and do what God would have him do, her do, us do - which is, love God and love all people.
While we yet breathe, we can pray and sing similarly. In such ways, we are inviting the Spirit of God to come upon us, to be in us, to live and to work through us. In Ezekiel’s prophecy God promises the house of Israel: “I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and will act, says the Lord.” [v. 14]
“Come out, come out, wherever you are.”
“Lazarus, come out!” In the Gospel lesson, the story of the raising of Lazarus signals that God’s promises are here and now, already at work in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In our journeys of faith through life, what is common to all humanity is experiencing illnesses, deaths, and burials. What is less common – even though accessible to all people – is experiencing new life: the transformation of the heart, mind, and spirit.
Resurrection and new life in Christ’s Spirit are at the core of what we believe and profess as Christians. In the face of death and disease, pandemics and pestilence, suffering and sin, we are called to heed the Lord’s call to Lazarus as if the call is to us: COME OUT!
COME OUT from tombs of darkness and traps of fear created by principalities and powers of evil that threaten to bind us in graveclothes of death and destruction.
COME OUT from anything and everything that prevents you from experiencing the fullness of God’s love in Jesus Christ for you and yours and this world.
COME OUT from ways of thinking and living that do not reflect the faith, hope, and love that the Lord gives to us.
Note – to state the obvious: to protect the most vulnerable and all people in our communities, we cannot literally come out yet from self-quarantines and sheltering in place until this pandemic is over. In the meantime, now is the time to reflect the love of God for the world by working together to protect and preserve it. God’s promises in Jesus Christ are already here in our world and are still at work in our lives: resurrection life in Christ’s Spirit – here and now – not only after we die – for all who will live it.
When this pandemic is behind us, how then shall we live? Will we reset to self-focused and self-absorbed ways of living? Will we practice social distancing from the most vulnerable, oppressed, marginalized, and persecuted people in our world? The gods of entertainment and consumerism will beckon to us to reset to old habits and ways of behaving and thinking. Living as God’s resurrection people will begin to fade from our daily focus and awareness. Expressions of faith, hope, and love, words of wisdom, generosity and compassion – all these are likely to diminish in frequency and intensity.
God’s Word in Jesus Christ will stand forever – in this is our hope.
COME OUT – COME OUT – wherever you are – and be the light, life, and love of Jesus Christ in a world wrestling to experience the joy of the Lord and His peace.
In the name of the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
[1] Edwin Hatch (1886), “Breathe on Me, Breath of God,” No. 316 in The Presbyterian Hymnal (Louisville, KY: Westminster/John Know Press, 1990).