Philippians 4:1-9
I don’t know about you, but I am tired of the
challenging texts from the Gospel of Matthew. So, I thought I would instead
tackle the Philippians text from the Apostle Paul. After all, what could be
challenging about being Paul?!
This letter to the Philippians is my favorite book
in the Bible. It is written by Paul to his beloved congregation in Philippi, a
pastor’s letter to a group of friends and colleagues. Sounds good so far,
right? Except, by now, Pastor Paul is in prison, in Rome, where he will die, in
a few months, in a year or two. We don’t quite know, but he apparently died in
Rome, executed by the Roman authorities.
How, I wonder, can he be so cheerful? Rejoice, he
says. How can he be rejoicing when he is about to die because he loves Jesus?
But he says, Rejoice, again and again. He says, don’t worry about anything.
Just trust God.
I want to say, “Pastor Paul, do you know what you
are talking about? Of course we are worried about lot of things. There’s a lot
going on in our lives, in our church, in our community, in our nation, in the
world. Aren’t you paying attention? Between the bills and the hurricanes and
the possibility of another war, there is a lot to be worried about.”
But Pastor Paul, if he were writing today to St
John Lutheran Church, would have no concern about our fears, our worries.
Instead, he would be telling us to pay attention to how we treat others. He
would say, “Find a way to agree with each other, because it’s what Jesus wants.
Remember all that you have done together in ministry, in Jesus’ name. Focus on
the good things, whatever is true, honorable, just, and pleasing to God. Focus
on those things in your relationships with each other and you will know God’s
peace.”
Many times, we have experiences or events in our
lives that begin with grief and distress that later become cause for rejoicing.
That’s the way God works.
… Norris and Susan and I were in Orlando for Synod
Assembly this past week. We heard lots of stories of congregations and
ministries, from the speakers and at tables over meals. These stories are about
rejoicing despite crummy situations. Here are some of them.
There is a lot of bad press about the youth of
today. They do this or that, they don’t do this or that. But we were all
rejoicing one afternoon when thirteen young got themselves excused from school
to attend the Assembly. They all took a turn saying what being at the Assembly
meant to them. Their answers were all different, but all said how much they
were learning, and how they felt valued by being invited to fully participate
in the Assembly. Of course, the youth also rejoiced in being fed chips and soft
drinks every evening.
… When we – the Florida Bahamas Synod – were gathered
last year in Assembly, we learned of the mass shooting at the Pulse Night Club.
At this Assembly, three chaplains spoke about that night. Gathered with family
members at a nearby hotel, the chaplains waited with them for news. What had
happened? Whose child was alive? Whose child was injured? Whose sibling was
lying dead on the floor?
You may remember the event. The Pulse was a
popular club. Many who went there often were gay or lesbian or transgender.
Some were single women who felt safe there; no one would try to assault them
there.
As they waited, some other pastors and chaplains arrived
at the hotel. They came carrying large Bibles and an attitude about the young
people who frequented the Pulse. The Lutheran pastors made it clear that they
were there to minister to all the families, without judgment. The people in the
room were hurting. Many families were just in that moment learning that their
children were homosexual. They didn’t need to hear that their children were
sinners who would never see the face of God. They needed to hear that God loved
them and their children, and that Jesus wept with them and cared about their
pain.
I wept as I heard the chaplains tell the story.
And I rejoiced that they – and we Lutherans through them – were there that
horrible night bring Jesus to hurting families.
… We elected a new Bishop at this assembly, and it
is cause for rejoicing. There are many reasons for Latino and Latina people to
be fearful. They are often arrested simply because their skin is brown, or
because they live in Miami.
Pedro Suarez is from Venezuela, and many parts of
the US. He is a trained mission developer and redeveloper. At first, I simply
wanted to hear a different voice, a different perspective on ministry in
Florida than that told by white male pastors. So, I voted for him.
As we got to know him, I realized I was supporting
him not because of his different heritage but because I believed he is the best
candidate of the group. The others were all good, but Pedro stood out as the
right person for the Synod at this time. When I was standing in line to
congratulate him, I heard people say, “We have changed the church in Florida today.”
I and many others are rejoicing in this election.
… There is much to fear in our world these days.
There is much that is not right, not just, not honorable, not pleasing to God.
We could dwell on the bad news, in the world, or in our personal lives.
Or we can rejoice in what is good, what is
honorable and pleasing to God. I hope you will pay attention this week and find
some things worthy of rejoicing.
Please pray with me. God of hope, lead us to see
the world through your eyes. Help us recognize those who are hurting, and offer
to ease their pain in some way. Help us also to notice those reasons for
rejoicing and take time to celebrate. Amen
