A sermon preached at Kowloon Union Church on Sunday 27 September 2020, the Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost, by Peter Youngblood. The scripture readings that day were Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32; Philippians 2:1-13; Matthew 21:23-32.
Growing up we had a cat. He was what you could call an indoor-outdoor cat. I don’t think you really have indoor-outdoor cats in a big city like Hong Kong. Either a cat is your pet, and stays inside all the time, or it is nobody’s pet and pretty much goes where it wants to in the neighborhood. But our cat was an indoor-outdoor cat. He would stay outside most of the day, but would return for mealtimes or whenever he, in his esteemed wisdom, had decided to actually be part of the family. As pets, cats are quite set in their ways. You can’t really tell them to do anything. If our cat wanted to go outside, he could not be convinced otherwise. Treats or belly rubs could only go so far.
But sometimes our cat could be very indecisive. For instance, if it was raining, he might spend a long time just standing in the doorway considering the situation. If there was a stranger cat in the yard, he would investigate the problem from as many different angles as his neck could support. Sometimes he would go to the edge of the porch, look around a bit, and then immediately want to come back inside.
So, on the one hand, cats are fiercely stubborn creatures, with strong wills. They do what they want to do, when they want to do it. But there are those rare moments when their whole decision-making ability can be thrown off. Sometimes the situation will be so vexing to them that they will look back helplessly at their human, as if they are saying, could you please do something about this? Could you please make a decision for me?
Unlike cats, human beings are not driven by instinct, but we are often just as stubborn. In the Gospel Jesus comes across many stubborn people who have strong beliefs and get quite defensive when those beliefs are challenged. Usually these people are local religious leaders and scholars quite offended by some of the things that Jesus Christ says, so they try to debate him and catch him saying something controversial. This is why the chief priests and elders in Jerusalem ask questions like: “in whose authority do you teach these things?” If he says that he teaches on God’s authority, they can brand him as a false prophet, but if he says anything less, they can call him a charlatan or con man. Either way he answers, they think they have caught him.
But Jesus refuses to play their game. Instead he turns the question back on them. He asks them about John the Baptist. Did they think John baptized with the power of God or not? The priests and elders are stumped. If they said he did, then why had they not supported him? But if they said he didn’t, they feared the response of the crowd. Now, they were the ones caught, and they could not answer. Suddenly, these proud wise men were unable to speak.
But we can’t really blame them for something that is all too human. Unlike other animals, God has given us this wonderful thing called free will. We aren’t controlled by instinct, but are meant to use our reason to make informed choices. Yet, this is precisely what stumps us! You see, often our choices are just a matter of personal taste, like what outfit to wear to church. But in certain more critical situations, we are expected to make a right choice in what we say or do. And despite all our wisdom, when the stakes are high, the fear of making the wrong choice renders us incapable of saying or doing anything at all. Like those who question Jesus, we have been tongue-tied.
But here Jesus has done more than reveal their fearfulness. He has exposed the very problem at the heart of human pride and willfulness. The problem is uncertainty. If Jesus’ questioners had true conviction, then they would not have feared the crowd. If they believed the Truth of their own message, then that Truth would vindicate them, even if it made others angry. Instead, it is obvious that these that these men could not say, with conviction, that John the Baptist wasn’t a messenger of God. This also meant that they could not say, with conviction, that Jesus did not speak for God either. Notably, Jesus never answers their question. He does not say he teaches on God’s authority, because he doesn’t need to! His point has already been made.
Jesus has exposed the critical flaw in religious certainty. Some people think they have all the answers to life, the universe and everything. There are those who pridefully boast that they need no guidance, for they are their own counsel. Of course, many of these same people are quick to offer guidance to others, even when it isn’t asked for. You see a lot of this kind of unsolicited advice on Twitter and Facebook, especially when it comes to politics. Even the most enlightened among us are prone to hubris. Our society has its own Sadducees and Pharisees. We have leaders, elders, and PhDs who deign to tell us how the world works, yet they fail to reckon with their own doubt. And to quote the great (fictional) spy, George Smiley, there is always a secret doubt.
Those who question Jesus in today’s Gospel did us a great favor. If, like them, we actually let Jesus respond to us, then we would know how silly some of our questions are. We would be confronted with our own uncertainty. When we ask Christ: “By what authority do you say these things?”, he turns the question back on us: “By what authority do you ask the question in the first place?” By what authority do we claim the things we claim? He thus exposes our deeply held beliefs for what they are - partial and temporary. Anything that we human beings can call “truth” or “justice” only lasts as long as the time it takes for someone else to challenge our claim. If we listen to Christ, we come to realize that we cannot claim any authority. Not over others, and not even over ourselves.
But where, then, does Christ’s authority come from? Or the better question to ask is: Who, if anyone, can claim authority? The obvious answer is God. God gives us free will so that we may obey God. But how, then, amid all our uncertainty, can we know the will of God?
Well, Jesus Christ shows us the way. In the Gospel, Jesus rarely claims any special authority for himself. Most of his time is spent either reciting the Torah, that is, laws and teachings that preceded him, and the rest of his time is spent answering questions from his followers and his enemies. He never really claims much authority because he doesn’t need to! His authority rests in who he is an what he does. Jesus the man humbly listened to the Word of God, even to the point of death, and this is what makes him the Son of God. In his humility, Jesus Christ’s heart and mind are in full accordance with God’s Will.
Christ teaches us that the Word of God is not limited to any written Scripture or doctrine, but is written on our hearts. God’s law is a dynamic law of love. It speaks to us in different ways at different times and in different situations. More importantly, it speaks to us through those we encounter. This is why authority does not lie just in any one person, and just at any one time.
While we all have doubts, “doubt” is not something that weakens us. In fact, it is through our doubts that God speaks to us. In our Gospel today, Jesus Christ makes it clear that righteousness comes not through our beliefs, but through our choices and our actions. Despite our sins, like the first son in the Matthew parable we can still change our minds and choose to follow good. The greater sin is the unwillingness to let one’s mind be changed.
Often, I do think of how simpler life would be if I were a cat, having no greater purpose in life than to sleep 18 hours a day and occasionally chase things. A cat never has to change its mind. But God has given us free will and responsibility. And for the sake of love, Christ asks us to acknowledge our doubts and uncertainties. In fear and trembling, we are to question ourselves and our motives. This is so we might be more authentic in our love of God and compassion for others.
Amen.
# posted by Kowloon Union Church : Sunday, September 27, 2020
A
sermon preached at Kowloon Union Church on Sunday 20 September 2020, Sunday for Peace, by Bruce Van
Voorhis.
The scripture readings that day were Isaiah
58:1–11, Psalm
119 1–12, Colossians 3:5–14, Matthew 5:1–12.
In our world without
peace, may this meditation today be acceptable and pleasing to you, Lord, and
bring your people a peace that the world is not providing us. In your Son’s
name, we offer this prayer. Amen.
Tomorrow
is the International Day of Peace, and thus, the theme of my message and our
service today focuses on this topic on this Sunday for Peace. (Ironically, as a
quick aside, tomorrow is also the 48th anniversary of the
declaration of martial law in the Philippines by Ferdinand Marcos.) When I hear
the word peace and a day devoted to promoting it, I immediately think of
it as a reaction to war and an attempt to end violent conflicts, and indeed,
this aim was the intent of the U.N. General Assembly when it passed a
resolution in 1981 creating this special day and annual observance.
As
we all know though, there have been many, many wars since 1981, and many wars
still rage throughout the world today. We also know that the absence of peace
today is not just confined to wars and violent conflicts. In the midst of our
COVID-19 world, there is a lack of peace in our hearts as we worry that we may become
infected and perhaps possibly die. In our city, we have witnessed violence on
our streets since June of last year in the clashes between the police and
protesters that took place even outside our church doors. Now we also live with
the uncertainty and anxiety produced by the national security law. What can we
say or what can we do without being arrested under this new law? Where are the
red lines and land mines of free speech? The law has created fear; and where
there is fear, peace cannot be found.
Meanwhile,
for a person who has lost their job, there is no peace; for a homeless and
hungry person, there is no peace; for a woman battered by her husband, there is
no peace; for a person with asthma breathing polluted air every day, there is
no peace; for a person being tortured, there is definitely no peace. These are
sadly the realities of people in our city and in our world in these times of
unpeace.
This
deficit of peace is naturally not confined to these external events. We may
also be feeling a lack of peace in our lives because of various issues in our
school or workplace or family.
In
short, we find today an abundance of conflict and too little peace, an abundance
of division and too little respect for others, an abundance of hate and too
little love.
We
may ask, Where is God in this world without peace?
God,
on the other hand, may ask, Why have my children created such a violent and
hateful world?
If we look at the problems of violence we have raised
this morning—
war, domestic violence, environmental degradation, human
rights violations, homelessness and hunger, unemployment and so forth—many of us know that this lack of peace in our
city and in our world are because of broken relationships with other people,
with other nations, races and cultures and with brokenness within our
societies. A broken relationship with ourself may also be at the root of our
feelings of disharmony and unpeace, and these problems certainly indicate a
brokenness of humanity with God as we seek every day to push God to the side
because of greed, a desire for power, the supremacy of our ego, maybe apathy,
etc.
Many
of us also know that there can be no peace without justice, or justpeace. There
may be winners in wars, but they are only planting the seeds of future wars if
they do not justly address the grievances of the losers that sparked the
conflict. We may recall that the Treaty of Versailles that concluded World War
I, for instance, only laid the foundation for the rise of Hitler and Nazi
Germany.
In
our own community, the Hong Kong and Chinese governments would like there to be
peace in our city, or social harmony as they label it, so that they would not
be confronted with criticism, protests, disagreement with their policies. In
reality, what the authorities want is obedience, to be in charge, the power to
decide. If only the people would shut up and not cause trouble, there would be
“peace” in their eyes; there would be harmony. But would there really be peace
in the city amid this silence of discontent? Would people still not yearn for
genuine democracy and the freedom to express themselves? We can all answer
these questions for ourselves.
What
then are we to do?
As
people of faith, the Scriptures provide a guide for us. In our Old Testament
reading this morning, the prophet Isaiah, first of all, admonishes those who
fast and pretend to be holy and devoted followers of their faith but then
exploit their workers. The worship that pleases God, according to Isaiah, is to
work for justice, to share our bread with the hungry, to bring the homeless
into our homes, to provide clothes for those who need them. If we address these
needs of the poor, then Isaiah says God will guide us and provide us with the resources
we don’t think we possess—maybe money, maybe skills and knowledge, maybe the
inability to step outside our comfort zone, etc. Would not the poor have more
peace if they were not hungry, had a place to sleep and adequate clothes? Our
true worship then takes place outside the walls of the church out in the world.
As the Rev. Martin Adhikary, a theologian and church leader in Bangladesh,
says, “Religion without justice has no value.”
Our understanding of what is required of us to work for
justice and peace is further enhanced by Psalm 119. In this psalm, the psalmist
has a burning desire to know and to follow the statutes or commandments of God,
which are not revealed or indicated specifically in any of the 176 verses of
this psalm—the longest chapter of the
Bible of which we obviously only read a small portion today. However, Paul in
his letter to the Galatians in verse 14 of chapter 5 says that the whole law is
defined in these familiar words: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Would the
world again not be more just and peaceful if we could just live out these
words?
Other insights are provided by our epistle reading today
in which Paul instructs the Colossians not to lie or slander others, to curb their
anger, to let go of their evil desires and greed. He further instructs the
people to embrace compassion and kindness, to live with humility and patience
and to forgive others who they feel wrong them—a topic that Maggie discussed with us last week.
Above all, they are to “put on love, which binds everything together in perfect
harmony.”
Lastly,
our Gospel reading this morning underlines the message that God blesses
peacemakers and those who seek righteousness, or justice, in the Beatitudes in
Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. We do not need to be diplomats or people in
positions of power to be peacemakers and work for justice. Every day has the
potential for us to be a peacemaker by seeking to resolve conflicts justly in
our homes, schools and workplaces. Moreover, as we noted earlier, by caring for
someone who is sick, by listening to another person’s problems, by attempting
to address the needs of the poor, we may bring peace to others.
Our
motivation to be peacemakers flows not from a desire to be blessed by God but rather
from our love for others, a love that is rooted in God’s love for us. We may
tap into this love of God through Christian meditation that I’ve discussed in
previous sermons. In the divine silence of meditation, we provide ourselves
with the opportunity to discover this energy within us that flows like a river
that is hidden from us by the desire of our egos to be in control.
Our motivation to be peacemakers also springs from our
desire to be in a right relationship with God, with ourselves and with others. The
Rev. Adhikary that I cited earlier explains that “peace is not just [the] absence of war, of quarrel[s] or fights.” He adds
that the familiar Hebrew word for peace—shalom—“refers to completeness
or wholeness where the relationships between God and man, man and man, man and
nature are harmonious.”
Thus, our efforts to be peacemakers
include much more than dealing with external events in our lives but rather
begin with the internal transformation of ourselves to align ourselves and our
relationships with the love and Spirit of God. From this wholeness, or shalom,
we are better equipped to respond to the external events of unpeace in our
lives and in our world.
As the Rev. Adhikary says, “We know
[the] God of peace and [the] peace of God from the Bible,” but this knowledge
does not make the task of being peacemakers any easier. I find that the messages
of the Bible today seem clear and straightforward, but this clarity does not
mean that the messages are easy to live out. It is because of this difficulty
or unwillingness of humanity to align ourselves with the love of God that we
have the world that we have today.
As you know, we will shortly pass the peace today. During
this time, let us wish shalom for each other, for ourselves, for our city and
for our world in this historic and unpeaceful era in which we find ourselves.
I will end with a proverb from Burma that encapsulates the goal for us today and every day:
“Where there is love, there is peace.” Amen.
# posted by Kowloon Union Church : Sunday, September 20, 2020
A sermon preached at Kowloon Union Church on Sunday 6 September 2020, the fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost, by the Rev. Phyllis Wong. The scripture readings that day were Ezekiel 33:7-11, Psalm 119:33-40, Romans 13:8-14, Matthew 18:15-20.
Opening prayer
Holy God of Life,
Guide us to judge by your Law of love and justice. Grant to us courage and wisdom through Your Word. Make us your prophetic voice and reveal your glory through our words and deeds. Amen!
***********************************************************
The National Security Law that was enacted in Hong Kong has affected different spectrums of life.
Because the Law is very vague in many ways, people who are working or involved in different areas such as mass media, education, social services, human rights and faith communities have grave concerns as they are not sure when and how they may reach the red line and be accused by the authorities of breaching the Law. Self-censorship is thus unavoidable under such potential threat and danger. Churches are no exception.
I was disturbed and worried whenever I heard about pastors who are warned by their church leaders to be careful of their preaching in the pulpit in order not to touch the red line and to avoid any trouble.
I agree that we should be smart and careful in our language and course of action when we are facing authoritarian rule. And yet we have to be cautious not to limit our own conscience and freedom to do the right thing for God's sake and for the common good of the people. The prophetic voice to challenge the wrongdoing of individuals and in the society from the people of God, and from the church is still very much needed in today's new political landscape.
In today's scripture readings, there are good reminders and insights for us as we are facing a more tough political situation, and a sinful world full of threats.
The readings this week again are so timely to strengthen our faith and nourish our heart.
In today's scripture readings: the Book of Ezekiel 33 and Matthew 18, both texts have brought up an important message of speaking up against wickedness and wrongdoings. God has no tolerance of sins. His Church and his people cannot neglect it. They should do something about it.
From the Book of Ezekiel, it is very obvious that God will punish the wicked by taking their lives. God is so serious about sins and intolerance of evildoers, He called the prophets of Israel to give warning to the wicked and ask them to turn from their evil way.
If the people of God refused to give warning to the wicked, they will be punished as well. As said in 33:8 If I say to the wicked, "O wicked ones, you shall surely die," and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but their blood I will require at your hand.”
We can see, then, people of God cannot turn a blind eye to sins and wicked people. This is a very strong demand from God that requires the faithful to take full responsibility.
In Ezekiel, God addressed his people as ‘mortal'. In 33:7, it said, “So you, mortal, I have made a sentinel for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.”
In Hebrew, mortal means Ben Adam, meaning son of Adam, children of the earth. The Son of Adam, Cain, killed his brother Abel out of jealousy. When God asked him about Abel. Cain replied “Am I the one looking after my brother?” In the story, it tells us and implies to us we have the responsibility for our brother's well-being.
Mortal also means human being. It implies we are all human and share common humanity in God's creation. As children of God and human beings, we have responsibility for each other. Therefore, we cannot turn a blind eye and deaf ear and do nothing when we see others are committing sins.
To speak up against the wicked and warn them to stop their evil acts are the demand from God not only to the prophets and to all His people of faithful.
The demand for warning against the wicked is out of justice because God is righteous. But what is equally important if not more important is that God cares for their life and the relationship with his people.
On verse 33:11, it says “the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from their ways and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways” The call from God to his people to speak up against sins and the wicked is out of love. God wanted to save and restore life and relationship with His beloved people.
In Matthew, the speaking up and warning of persons who have done wrong is referring to church settings. But warning or prophetic voice should include the wider community and even at the national level. In the Book of Ezekiel, we are very clear that God has demanded His people to warn their own country. As the Lord said, “Turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?”
God cares for individuals. God cares for the people of the whole nation. God cares for the people of the whole world. By calling the wicked to return to God, they will be saved and do God's command: to love God and to love neighbours.
Therefore, I would say Christians and Church, as faithful people of God and witness to Christ, they have a strong spiritual and social responsibility to build a just and loving civil society.
Therefore, when Christians are questioning church and pastors who share messages that are critical against government and authorities who have been doing wrong and against the interest of their people, please be aware of this aspect of prophetic teaching from the book of Ezekiel. We are called by God to be prophetic to speak the truth and warn the wicked to return to God, for Life and for Love.
O Mortal, speak up!
It's never been easy to speak up and be prophetic. The cost has been always high. The cost is getting higher and higher in our current political situation. We have witnessed those who spoke up for truth and justice have been arrested or put in jail. Some lost their jobs. Some have even left Hong Kong for personal safety.
Our society is getting more and more divided. It is the results of sins and wrongdoing of the wicked. As Christians, we need to be very alert of the wicked people and their sinful acts that confuse people by telling lies and divide people by spreading distorted facts. We need to have a clean heart and quiet soul. We need to remember the teaching from Psalm 119 today. We keep the Law of God and observe it with our whole heart. For the Law of God, His greatest commandment is Love: to love God and to love our neighbours as ourselves. The Epistle of Romans we have heard today highlighted to us about love - 13:10 “Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.”
In the past year up to now, there were times I was very angry and distressed. There were times I felt hopeless and helpless. What saved me from this time of trial? It is the Word of God, the Spirit of Love and Life, and the incarnated Christ who lived, died and rose that help to revive my soul and confidence.
God reveals to me through our congregation in KUC. Whenever I see members from our Church that are persistent and insist in seeking justice and serving whole-heartedly for the vulnerable, my strength and hope is back.
God reveals to me his presence in the persistence and kindness of many people in Hong Kong working in different areas. They don't give up Hong Kong. Many of them continue to refuse to compromise and stand for justice by doing different things no matter how small it seems to be.
For Christians, to speak up against the wicked indeed requires more and more courage in these days. To speak up against the wicked indeed will take greater cost. The wicked are powerful and merciless. So we have to prepare to take the cross which is much heavier than before.
The authorities who have no mercy to their people but only focus on their own interest and power, will continue to instill fear and try to silence their people. But for the faithful of God and followers of Christ, we will stand together to overcome fear. Let us uphold what the Psalmist has asked to God, “Confirm to your servant your promise, which is for those who fear you.” (Psalm 119:38)
We as God's people, we fear only God but not the earthly authorities.
Sisters and brothers, do remember the promise of Jesus who said in the Gospel of Matthew today, here I quote: “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”18:18) Our incarnated God Jesus Christ has given to the faithful the heavenly power and authorities to do his work on earth.
Jesus had assured his disciples by saying, “Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.” (18:19) When we are united as one in the name of God, even the number as small as two, we can still do the work of God and make a difference to the world. It is because we are not alone. Our God in heaven is with us and makes things happen.
With deep faith and hope, as God's sons and daughters, as Christ’s faithful disciples, let us speak up and be love. Amen!
# posted by Kowloon Union Church : Sunday, September 06, 2020
