Standing on One Foot

PROPERS:         PROPER 18, YEAR C  

TEXT:                 JEREMIAH 18:1-11

PREACHED AT HOLY TRINITY, PENSACOLA, ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2019

ONE SENTENCE:        God seeks to transform our lives, even in the midst of                                           loss, and our task is to be open to such transformation.     

                                    

            In the years just before Jesus’ ministry, there was a prominent and well-respected teacher among the Jewish people.

            Rabbi Hillel had been born many years earlier in Babylonia – modern-day Iraq – and had come to Jerusalem to study the Law.  He became a most astute teacher.  That respect led to his being named president of the Sanhedrin – an important governing body in the Jewish faith.

            Hillel was descended from the Tribe of Benjamin on his father’s side, and from King David on his mother’s side. His teachings are studied to this day.

            He was known for his counterpoint to a more conservative rabbi – Shammai. Shammai’s teachings and interpretations of the Law would typically be more strict and legalistic.  Hillel’s would be more generous and compassionate. In most of their disputes, Hillel’s opinions would prevail.

            A much-repeated story illustrates this tension.

            A young man – not of the Jewish faith – wanted to become Jewish – a process which involved in-depth study of the Law and teachings.  There was a unique twist to his quest: He wanted to have the Law summarized by the rabbi while he, the student, stood on one foot.

            He first went to Shammai with this request.  Shammai threw him out of the house.

            So, he went Hillel, and posed the same question.  Hillel had an answer for this young man.  The essence of the Law is this, Hillel told him: "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor. That is the whole Torah; the rest is the explanation of this—go and study it!"

            Hillel practiced what he taught – and it influenced his family.  His grandson, Gamaliel, was the Pharisee who argued for gentle treatment of the Christian disciples in Acts 5.

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            I sometimes wonder about summarizing the Christian faith – in simple, understandable terms.  I am reminded that Bishop Henry Parsley of Alabama would ask prospective clergy, “What is your sermon?”  The theory behind that question was that we allhave one sermon – and all of our sermons branch off for that essential message.

            The lesson from Jeremiah today illustrates my essentialsermon.  It is Jeremiah’s story of the Potter’s House.  Jeremiah is invited by God to visit the potter, who is in the process of forming a clay pot on the potter’s wheel.

            But the pot has spoiled.  It is poorly formed.  It is not fit for its purpose. The passage continues:

Then the word of the Lord came to me: Can I not do with you, O house of Israel, just as this potter has done? says the Lord. Just like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. At one moment I may declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, but if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will change my mind about the disaster that I intended to bring on it. And at another moment I may declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it, but if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will change my mind about the good that I had intended to do to it. Now, therefore, say to the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: Thus says the Lord: Look, I am a potter shaping evil against you and devising a plan against you. Turn now, all of you from your evil way, and amend your ways and your doings.

          God is sending a message to the people of Israel: If you do not meet my purposes, I will re-form you into a more fitting vessel for my work in the world.

          That was the message of Jeremiah in this portion of his prophecy.  It was a proclamation to the nation.

          I believe the same message is appropriate for us as individuals.

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          There is much to be discovered in the sacred stories that are found in the scriptures and sacred writings of the church.  But, if you look at the meta narrative… the over-arching theme, you will find a remarkably simple message.

          I cannot do justice to that theme in the few minutes I have here today, but I can share with you what I consider the distilled essenceof the gospel story – while standing on one foot,if you will.

          It is my belief in existential redemption:  That God is seeking to bring about new life even in the most desperate circumstances. Our task is not to obstruct his work.

          It is God’s work of transformation.  It is seen in the simple bread and wine becoming the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. It is exemplified in the cross being transformed from a cruel instrument of death to a sign of hope and victory. It is as vivid as the silence of the tomb being converted to the hope for life.

          On one level, that truth is very personal.  We can allow our lives to go down a pathway of brokenness, disrepute, or alienation.  We are aware of our separation from God, others, and even ourselves.

          But we do nothaveto stay on that path.  God can transform our lives into something new – something which is more sacred, constructive, and healthy.  It can happen.  But we have to be open to it, and we cannot stand in the way.

          And there is another application of this existential redemption – the overcoming of severe loss.

          Yes, we face bitter losses.  There is death – random and sudden.  There are broken relationships.  We lose jobs.  We have financial and personal disasters.  We betray others and others betray us.  We make poor decisions which have short and long term effects.

          But allof these are subject to the redeeming work of God.  No, I am not suggesting some sort of Pollyanna-ish approach to our losses.  I am saying that God can bring new lifeto any situation.  It will likely be a different life, but it can be a life of grace and hope.

          It is all summarized so well in the burial liturgy. As we commend a soul to the resting place, we pray these words: All of us go down to the dust, yet even at the grave we make our song Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

          If God can transform the grave as a sign of hope – as a sign of eternal life – can God not transform the losses and disappointments of this life, as well?

          Our task is to not stand in the way.  To be a re-formed vessel of hope instead of a pot which is spoiled on the potter’s wheel.