Reflections...

A sermon preached at Kowloon Union Church on Third Sunday of Lent 20 March 2022, by Dr. Hope Antone.  The scripture readings that day were Isaiah 55:6-9; Luke 13:1-9; 1 Corinthians 10:13.

Shalom, sisters and brothers in Christ! Please join me in prayer:

God, you are our God, we seek you, our souls thirst for you [Ps 63:1a]. Through the written and spoken words, may we hear your living Word. Amen.

 

We will continue to reflect on “Grace through the Darkness,” our Lenten theme at Kowloon Union Church. And for this third Sunday of Lent, we will try to find “grace through the darkness” by focusing on Luke 13:1-9.

 

The passage tells of some people who cited an incident to Jesus of Pilate mingling the blood of Galileans with animal sacrifices. It sounded like Pilate had executed these Galileans during a religious ritual. Unique to Luke’s gospel, the narrative does not tell Pilate’s reason for doing so. However, Luke’s narration of the incident seems to foreshadow Pilate’s role in the mixing of the blood of Jesus, a Galilean, with Passover sacrifice during the Holy Week.

 

The passage does not say why the people told the incident to Jesus. Gleaning from his response, Jesus used it as a teaching moment. Instead of talking about Pilate’s penchant for brutality, or of the sinfulness of the people who died, Jesus pointed to what his fellow Galileans were thinking. He asked: "Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans?”

 

Then citing an incident where 18 people died when the tower of Siloam fell on them, he asked a similar question: “Do you think that they (those 18 people) were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem?”

 

People in ancient time believed that bad things happened for a reason; that terrible events were divine punishment (or retribution) for sin; and that punishment was proportionate to their sin or crime. Some believed that the punishment would even continue to their grandchildren.

 

It is now the fourth week of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It’s also been more than 13 months since the military takeover in Myanmar. I can almost hear Jesus, asking you and I the question: “Do you think that the people in Myanmar and Ukraine were worse offenders than all the others in the world?” Jesus’ big “No” to such a question reverberates in my mind as I find myself echoing it right now: No, No, No.    

 

Indeed, how can we take terrorism, genocide, militarization, or a country’s war against its people or those of another country, to be synonymous with God’s justice? The way of power-hungry, ego-tripping leaders is clearly not God’s way. And the innocent victims – families who lost their homes and livelihood – do not deserve such cruelty.  

 

Similarly, natural disasters, pandemics, or random accidents should not be seen as divine punishment for human iniquity. People affected by tragic events could very well be innocent, unsuspecting victims of the unforeseen incidents. Tragic events just happen and should not be equated with divine retribution or punishment.

 

The notion that “bad things happen as divine retribution” follows a very simplistic logic: that those who were not hit by the tragedy, those who were spared or who survived, must be the blessed or favored ones. We must guard against such a simplistic way of thinking for as Isaiah 55:8 reminds us, “God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, nor are God’s ways our ways.”

 

Jesus used the two incidents as teaching moment on the precariousness and fragility of life. The lesson was really repentance. Hence, he called the people to repentance, twice. After each narrated incident he said: “unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.”

 

Then Jesus told a parable. A vineyard owner felt very disappointed that the fig tree he planted three years ago, showed no sign of fruiting. Normally, a fig tree begins to fruit on the second year after planting. Since it’s been three years, the vineyard owner instructed the gardener to cut the fig tree down. But the gardener replied, 'Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’

 

If it bears fruit… The phrase speaks of grace through the darkness. It carries a note of hope for the fig tree, which was already marked to be cut down. 

 

If it bears fruit… It sounds like a reminder of the reason or purpose of the fig tree’s life. It’s been given a chance to fulfill the reason or purpose of its existence. 

 

If it bears fruit… It implies responsibility not only on the part of the fig tree, but of everyone and everything around it. There is the vineyard owner who agrees to giving the fig tree a new lease of life. There is the gardener who offers to dig around the tree so its roots can breathe and take in nutrients from the soil. And of course, there’s the soil, water, sunlight, and fertilizer from animal manure, which all contribute to the tree’s wellbeing. What a shared and interconnected responsibility it is to help the fig tree realize its purpose. It is grace through the darkness…      

 

In view of this shared/interconnected responsibility, I want to say that it is not always the tree/plant that wastes the soil, as the owner of the vineyard had said in the parable. Sometimes, something else can waste the plant/tree.

 

Recently, my sister (Phoebe Tan) in the Philippines, excitedly shared a photo of her newly harvested bananas. But when she cut open one banana, she found its color to be off-white and there was a long black streak through the middle of the fruit.    

 

Another sister (Dr. Merab Chan), the botanist in the family, explained that the discoloration and abnormality in the banana were symptoms of fungal infection. She was on a research team that conducted a study of this fungal disease in bananas. Since the fungus attacking the banana is soil-borne, she said that the cluster of bananas in that same location would most likely be infected as well. 

 

I shared this information to show that it is not only the plant/tree that wastes the soil; sometimes unhealthy or polluted soil, water, or air, can also waste the plant/tree. So to put it simply, it takes the whole ecosystem – of natural, material and human resources – to grow and fruit a tree successfully.

 

How interesting to note that the parable of the fig tree follows Jesus’ call for repentance: “unless you repent, you will all perish.” Bearing fruit therefore means repentance. Repentance is more than feeling sorry, more than confessing any wrongdoing. It is linked to real action, concrete change, and tangible result – of a life transformed from recklessness, apathy, or meaninglessness into having a sense of meaning and purpose. When we have a sense of meaning and purpose in life, we will naturally bear fruit. Human fruiting of course is not just procreation. It is having a life because one is grounded in purpose and meaning of one’s existence.  

 

The Rev. Mia M. McClain, a minister of the United Church of Christ USA, puts it this way:

“…when Jesus starts talking about fruit, I know he’s talking about change; about action and tangible results; about the kind of fruit that helps us meet the material needs of those who are without. When he talks about fruit, I imagine he’s dreaming of the kind of liberation that regenerates itself. The seeds of the positive produce we bear will become nourishment for the subsequent generations.”

 

My sisters and brothers in Christ, If it bears fruit… is a prayer for each one of us, that we may grow and fruit as we were always meant to. Affirming this is grace through the darkness. Amen.    

 

A sermon preached at Kowloon Union Church on Second Sunday of Lent 13 March 2022, by Rev Phyllis Wong. The scripture readings that day were Psalm 27; Philippians 3:14-4:1; Luke 13: 31-35.

Hong Kong and the world are in deep trouble, fear and threats. 

The Covid crisis with the increasing number of people contracting Covid 19 variants, the increasing death rate especially the elderly people, the breaking down of medical care system, the closing down of many businesses, some people are still stuck overseas and not able to come back home. Beyond Hong Kong is the Russian invasion of Ukraine that has touched many people’s hearts all over the world.

In such a chaotic, uncertain and fearful world that we are living in, the scriptures we heard today inspire me to share a message --- “Stand firm in the Lord!” 

From Psalm 27, the Psalmist’s confidence in God has given us light and encouragement. Here I highlight the 1st and the last verse. 

27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

 

27:14 Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!

We, as Christians and God’s people, let us stand firm in the Lord by trusting in Him. 

Trusting God and having faith in God does not mean there is no trouble and fear. But with confidence in God, who is the source of good life and power, we shall overcome! Remember, God is our source of hope! God is our solid foundation like the big mountain that we can rely on. So stand firm in the Lord, trust in the Lord with confidence and patience to wait! When we have confidence in God, God will in return give confidence in us to trust ourselves that we can have new imagination and creative power to cope and to live. Remember too that the confidence the Psalmist shared with us is not just for individuals but for a community. Therefore, as a community we can help each other to build up confidence in our God through prayers, genuine sharing and words of encouragement. 

Stand firm in the Lord!

The second reading today is the letter taken from the book of Philippians. My sermon title and theme of the message today is inspired by the verse taken from 4:1.

It says:

“Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.”

Apostle Paul encouraged and instructed the disciples in his time and us today, stand firm in the Lord in this way. 

What is meant “in this way” by Apostle Paul? 

Here is the way: taken from verses 19 & 20

3:19 Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things.

3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 

In summary, Paul urged the disciples of Christ do not set our minds on earthly desires to fulfil our own interest. To the contrary, Christ’s followers should focus our lives in Jesus, our Lord and our Saviour, and very importantly is to keep our identity as citizens in heaven. 

This is the way to go as suggested by Apostle Paul – to stand firm in the Lord by living out the Kingdom of heaven on earth with our lives being focused in Christ.

Luke 13

The gospel reading taken from Luke 13: 31-35 today helps us to see how Jesus had set an example on ‘stand firm in the Lord’ when he was living a human and divine life on earth.

First of all, Jesus was fearless in facing the threat of death from his enemy. He refused to leave Jerusalem. He was courageous to continue the work and mission God has entrusted in him. He was clear about his calling and mission in the world.

Jesus’s rejection to leave Jerusalem because of the threat of being killed by Herod led me to think of the president of Ukraine, Mr Zelensky.

 After the Russian invasion of Ukraine started, Mr Zelensky was warned to move out from the capital but he stated very firmly that he will not leave his country but would stay on and fight for his people and his homeland. 

Secondly, Jesus’ love to the people was so deep. Although the people turned away from him and even tried to kill him, Jesus still showed his love and care like a mother hen to open her wings to cover and protect them. 

Thirdly, Jesus never gave up the people God asked him to love and save. He had been longing for their return and to recognize his divinity in him and in them. 

From Jesus, we are clear that “stand firm in the Lord” is to be courageous to face danger and threat in life. 

“Stand firm in the Lord” includes also compassion like Jesus Christ, to love and to humbly obey before God.

Echoed by Apostle Paul, to stand firm in the Lord also required disciples to seek God with our clear identity as citizens of heaven, and to wait for the Lord with confidence and trust as highlighted by the Psalmist.

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When we are focusing our life in God, and our work and our mission in Christ, we will be fearless. We will be also strengthened with love like Christ. 

As the profound verse taken from 1 John 4:18 – “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear”.

Now I would like to share how the community of faith witnesses to Christ and “stand firm in the Lord” in a time of crisis brought by the Covid pandemic recently in our city.  

In the midst of limited supplies and increasing cost of food especially vegetables, daily necessities and medical supplies to refugees and asylum seekers, our church, some other Christian organizations and NGOs have mobilized resources to support this community. 

When migrant domestic workers were terminated by their merciless employers and left homeless after testing positive, organizations and churches working with this community have provided immediate shelter and support to the sisters. KUC is one of those to offer support in such a critical moment. When the migrant organizations appealed for food, masks and medical supplies etc, boxes and boxes of these supplies were brought to their offices. It is amazing to see the miracle of five loaves and two fish happening in our city in the midst of crisis and suffering of many people. 

It is heart-warming to see how the under-privileged refugees/asylum seekers and migrant domestic workers are treated with dignity and love. I see hope and joy when there are caring and kind people, focusing their energy to do good things for others.   

In the refugee community that we have been pastoring for years, I witness how those who have been desperate for help and support because of limited resources are helping each other. After we received donations like food, rapid antigen kits and face masks from Christian organizations and other sources, there were brothers and sisters from the community helping on distributing and organizing them in the store room systematically. There were brothers volunteering to take food and medical supplies to single mothers with small children, who were not feeling well and unable to come to church to collect. 

With a serving heart, they came to the church with courage by overcoming the fear of getting the virus. Of course we have done our best to ensure public hygiene and social distancing measures to protect everyone. But still I really appreciate their kind support.

I shared with my other co-workers in church, zero risk is impossible. We are willing to offer whatever we can for the service of others who are in need. This is the mission of the church – to love God and our neighbors as ourselves.

While the Covid variant Omicron is super contagious, the love from God and the love in Christ is equally contagious when people are sharing with each other selflessly and generously.

As I shared right at the beginning in my sermon, recently many people all over the world have been very concerned about the people and situation in Ukraine. At the end of my sermon, I would like to share a video from OM *, a Mission organization that has sent missionaries to Ukraine and the nearby country Poland. After the war and violence broke out in Ukraine, their mission team in Poland has started to receive and take care of refugees from this country. Some missionaries in Ukraine chose to stay with the people even after the outbreak of the war. We see how these missionaries have demonstrated their godly life and how they stand firm in the Lord with confidence and trust in Christ, with courage in the midst of danger and threat, with compassionate love for the Ukrainians who are living in the trauma of war.

May we learn from these missionaries and join them in prayers and loving actions that we are able to do.

May we all stand firm in the Lord as we continue our Lenten journey – Grace through the darkness.

*Link of the video-  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyN5sb0ZDYs 

The part shared by the missionary Wayne in English – from 4:28 to 7:41 

A sermon preached at Kowloon Union Church on Lent 1 6 March 2022, by Revd. Judy Chan. The scripture readings that day were Psalm 91, and Luke 4:1-13 

The Temptations of Jesus are traditionally the Gospel reading for the first Sunday in Lent. The story is found in three of the Gospels, which fits neatly into the three-year lectionary cycle - Year A we read Matthew’s version; Year B, Mark’s version; and today in Year C, Luke’s version. 

Lent lasts 40 days before Easter not counting Sundays. This mirrors the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness after his baptism and before he begins his public ministry. 

As you’ve heard, our theme at KUC this season is “Grace Through the Darkness”. Note, it’s not Grace in the Darkness, but Grace Through the Darkness. Why? Because darkness is not always negative. In fact, those dark times and places can be a source of God’s hidden blessing.

One prime example is Jesus’ temptations in the wilderness. We tend to think of this as a sad and lonely time for the Savior. The barren landscape, the isolation, the deprivation, the confrontation with Evil personified. Yet, notice what Luke says: Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness where he was tempted by the Devil. That doesn’t mean God was leading him into temptation (heaven forbid).  God never tempts us to be disobedient to his commands. God was, however, using this occasion to test Jesus…not just to see whether Jesus would obey his commands, but more importantly how he might go about it. In other words, would he do the right thing in the right way?

And that’s exactly what the Devil wanted to find out too – but his goal was to tempt the Son of God to do the right thing in the wrong way. Because that was the only way he was going to get Jesus to sin. It’s fascinating then how the Devil plays with Jesus’ mind and heart. Notice how sly he is. He never asks Jesus to deny his identity or mission. The Devil knows exactly who Jesus is and what Jesus had come to do. But Jesus was both divine and human, so the Devil knew he could attack him on both fronts. 

So, just at the time when Jesus was most humanly vulnerable - hungry, exhausted and by himself - the Devil makes his entrance with offers almost too good to be true. Now they would be for us. We can’t turn stones into bread. No one would give us all the kingdoms of the world. And we wouldn’t dare jump off that rooftop, even for God. (At least, I wouldn’t, not even from KUC’s rooftop!)

But for Jesus, these were all very possible and very tempting. So why not?

That’s what the Devil says over and over. 

Why not use your divine power to get things done the easy, fast and smart way? After all, you are the Son of God, for goodness sake!

First, you could save yourself. Why not command this stone to become a loaf of bread before you starve?

Next, you could save the world. Why not let me give it you on a silver platter? 

Finally, you could save God’s face. Why not jump off the top of the Temple so God can protect you just like Psalm 91 promised? 

Why not?

Why not? Because, Jesus says, If I didn’t know it before, I know it now. I won’t take shortcuts. I won’t cheat to win. I won’t abuse my privilege as the Son of God. Of course, Jesus says it more exquisitely by quoting Scripture from Deuteronomy. But the meaning is clear: There is no easy, fast, smart way to be faithful in the Kingdom of God. That’s just our human desire for ‘instant discipleship’ when what’s really required is way more time and effort. It’s what Eugene Peterson calls “a long obedience in the same direction”.  A long obedience in the same direction. And for Jesus that direction would always be away from the Devil and towards his Heavenly Father. So, when the Devil saw he was defeated in this round, the Scripture says he departed until a more opportune time.

There’s a saying attributed to the ancient Chinese sage Mencius that’s very apt here: “Before a man can do things there must be things he will not do.” That’s what Jesus had to find out in those 40 days in the wilderness. What things he would never do in order to accomplish the things he must do. Grace through the darkness. A hidden blessing indeed.

What about us? What do the next 40 days more or less hold in store for you and me and KUC? 

There’s been the trend lately at least in the West to stop talking about giving something up for Lent. I understand. After all, what are our little sacrifices compared to what Jesus did for us on the Cross? Anyway, as one minister remarked “Every day feels like Lent” recently with COVID and a world in turmoil. Yet, Christians traditionally give up something they enjoy for these 40 days in solidarity with Jesus. Still others choose to do something more instead - more prayer, Bible study, meditation, worship and service. Definitely all these are worthwhile too. Either way is fine. You can choose to do less of something or to do more, or some of each. The most important thing is that these 40 days are different from what you do the other 325 days of the year. And they draw you closer to God.

Let me leave you with some thoughts for Lent from Christian writer Frederick Buechner. This passage is pretty famous. But I think it’s worth hearing this time every year so we might see what progress we’ve made in that long obedience in the same direction with Jesus Christ. Hear what Buechner says:

 After being baptized by John in the river Jordan, Jesus went off alone into the wilderness where he spent forty days asking himself the question what it meant to be Jesus. During Lent, Christians are supposed to ask one way or another what it means to be themselves.  

Buechner then asks a series of questions:

Of all the things you have done in your life, which is the one you would most like to undo? Which is the one that makes you happiest to remember? 

Is there any person in the world, or any cause, that, if circumstances called for it, you would be willing to die for?

If you had … one last message to leave to the handful of people who are most important to you, what would it be? 

If this were the last day of your life, what would you do with it? 

Buechner says when you try to answer questions like these, you begin to hear something not only of who you are, but of both what you are becoming and what you are failing to become. It can be pretty discouraging, all in all. But he concludes, “if sackcloth and ashes are at the start of it, something like Easter may be at the end.” And I’m confident he’s right – Easter will always be waiting for us at the end of Lent. Because the Holy Spirit also leads us into the wilderness if we are willing, not to make us weak but to make us strong. Not to watch us fail but to help us succeed. Not to see if we fall but to invite us to rise up. Grace through the darkness. This is our prayer, in Jesus’ name. Amen.