Passing on God's Good Gifts

August 3, 2008 Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost Texts: Genesis 32: 22-31, Matthew 14: 13-21 Sermon: Passing on God's Good Gifts As I read today's texts, particularly, these from Genesis and Matthew, I am reminded of the holiness of time and remembering life changing moments that helped me see things, activities, people in a different way. Think with me about your own "ah-ha" experiences in life that has helped you learn about who you want to be and how you want to be known. In 2003, I spent time with study group of theology students and pastors in Volos, Greece. We were there to learn about Orthodox spirituality from Orthodox Christians at Nea Anchialos near Volos. The Ecumenical Institute of Bossey was the organizer of this seminar. Volos is north of Athens on the Aegean Sea coast. After the meeting I wanted to go to Thessaloniki north of Volos. I wanted to visit this place where early Christian churches were reported as meeting and thriving in their growth; the Apostle Paul wrote letters to these churches and we read them today in our churches. In fact, when you visit the Museum of Byzantine Culture in Thessaloniki, you see three rooms of artifacts from the Early Christian period with exhibitions related to Early Christian churches, Early Christian towns and Christian cemeteries (4th-7th centuries). Early in the morning, I caught a bus from our retreat center to the town center of Volos. I bought my bus ticket and set out to find the bus to Volos that went to Thessaloniki. This was my first challenge. There were about 25 buses lined up ready to go in every direction in Greece and beyond; of course, the signs were in Greek on the buses and I had to find the right bus quickly before it pulled away from the gate. Thank goodness, the little Greek I knew from my seminary days came in handy. I just made it to the right bus and found my assigned seat when I realized in my haste I had not packed any food or drink for the long journey. Well, I could make it and be okay, I was sure. Usually these regional buses stopped at rest areas with little shops, I learned later, so I was not worried. I sat next to an older woman dressed in black; she looked very tired, thin and sad. As we started the journey, I began talking with this woman and learned that she had returned from visiting family members. They were mourning the death of her husband who died a few weeks earlier. She was traveling back to her home in Thessaloniki. To complicate her life, she was suffering from swollen feet and ankles. When it was around lunch time, we did stop and people got off the bus to buy food and stretch their legs. This woman got off the bus, selected her food, went to pay for her food and could not find her wallet. She was already distraught but was more distraught when she could not find her wallet. I was in the line to buy food as well and saw what was happening. I told her that I would go to the bus and look for the wallet. I did and found the wallet under the seat where she was sitting; it must have fallen out of her bag. Anyway, she was very thankful and happy that I had helped her and we went back to our seat on the bus. Everyone began eating the food they had purchased as we started our journey again. As I got out my little granola bar, all I really wanted, this dear Greek woman told me to put it away. She spread a feast of cheese, crackers, sweets, and other Greek delights in front of me and insisted I share her food. Even after we arrived in Thessaloniki that afternoon, she told me that we could ride together in a taxi to my hotel and then she would go to her home. Again, she insisted that she pay for the taxi and thanked me for helping her. There are some moments in life and experiences that stand out and we remember them vividly, the many details and strange occurrences. The preciousness and remembrance of those moments in time cannot be erased. I remember this story in my travels because of the generous sharing of food and openness of this woman to talk to me and take me under her wing. For me, it was nice to have a companion since I was traveling alone but the experience was not without my own personal struggle. The struggle was not only the challenge of getting on the right bus but this dear Greek woman, my travel companion, did not speak much English. In fact, English was her 5th language. She spoke Greek, of course, and much better French, Spanish and German than her 5th language, English. Her conversation to me was quite a mix of these languages; I must admit, my head was spinning as we arrived in Thessaloniki and I left the taxi for my hotel. But, obviously, this was a bus trip I'll never forget. In those "I remember" moments, our life in the here-and-now space seems to stop and we recognize the holiness of time. We understand in a new way the gift of God to know this world, its people, its lessons, and our own humanity that ties us to one another. What experience has come to mind for you? What "I remember when" moment has helped you get perspective on your life and God's world? Hopefully, our lessons, have triggered some "ah-ha" experience and preciousness of a moment for you. Each of us has a personal time-stopping moment that cannot be erased and learn something about ourselves each time we stop and remember. The reason we read scripture is go to glean from the experience of the people from ancient times who had a gift to pass to us of their "moment" with the divine. The particular stories in our Bible like the feeding of the multitudes by Jesus and the disciples with only a little bit of food is one. And, the story of Jacob, wrestling with the Angel in his sleep is another. These stories lead us to wrestle with the meaning of life and who we are sons and daughters made in God's image. They help us to identify our purpose for being and renew our commitment to let God's will unfold for us in how we perceive our lives and our future. What shall we pass on regarding God's gifts to us in our precious time on this earth? How shall be known to others? Let's talk about this a moment by looking at the story of Jacob. Naming has always been an important part of the Jewish faith. When we read this story of Jacob, sometimes known as the trickster much of his life, we see a person who must come to terms with his character, his inner being, his deceptions, his "get ahead" whatever the cost. Remember Jacob is the twin son of Isaac and Rebekah. (see ending of chapter 25 of Genesis to recall the story). Even before Jacob was born (so the tradition goes), he was not satisfied that his twin Esau, would be born before him. When the birth happened, Jacob was hanging onto the heel of his brother, trying to get out first. Later, he colludes with his mother to steal his brother's birthright and tricks his father-n-law, Laban, out of sheep. In today's lesson, Jacob has decided to meet his brother who had sworn to kill him and make peace. (Genesis 27: 41-42 "Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him ...the time to mourn my father will soon be here then I will kill my brother Jacob.") You see why Jacob is worried. The night before he meets him, he wants to be alone. Was this another one of Jacob's schemes? He sends his wives and children ahead of him to protect himself, fearing his brother's anger. You may be asking, "Would he really try to bait his brother, banking on Esau's generous spirit that he would not harm women and children so that Jacob could ease his way back?" Jacob, called trickster, has been given this name for a reason. The night before the meeting, Jacob wrestles with the Angel. At this point, we have an "I remember when" moment for Jacob. For that Angel, we identify as God, would not let him face the future without a struggle and that meant being honest with himself. What a great gift that God would in this dream confront him and make him stop in that moment and ask, "Who are you, Jacob?" "What have you done with your life?" God asked Jacob, "What is your name?" God is not asking what others called him, his label or his title. God was asking, "Who are you, really?" In this moment, an "I remember" moment, Jacob had a reality check. He took hold of the moment and asked God to let him change and give him a blessing of support in this new person he wanted to be. Through this story we learn about the holiness of time. We learn about moments in life when God comes to us to let us look in the mirror, struggle, if need be, and change for the good. What happened to Jacob? His name changed and his heart changed with it. It changed from Jacob, "the one who grabs by the heel" to Israel "the one who struggles with God." The naming, the blessing, was a symbol of the struggle. Not struggle in a negative sense but in a positive new way. It was an opportunity to be honest with himself, the messiness of his life, and allow God to help him change. He would not forget that night, that struggle. A symbol of remembrance is tagged onto the story itself. Jacob would have a limp and the admonition of the faithful was not to eat thigh meat. It was a time to mark the moment. We read in 32:31 "Jacob named the place Peniel" Why? "Because I have seen God face to face and I have survived." I believe one of our deepest yearnings in life is to know God and receive God's blessing. Our yearning, in some way, is to see God face to face and not only survive but thrive. We do this by honestly facing ourselves and being grateful for the good gifts we have. We are showered with God's mercy and grace daily and have moments that teach us to stop and be grateful for an opportunity to pass on to future generations a trust and faithfulness in God, our Creator. It is important to also share our stories of struggle and what we have learned from our past mistakes. How do we do this? How do we always remain open to what God can teach us through all the moments we are given in this brief life? From my own experience on the bus ride in Greece, I learned, again, about the trust of strangers, of God's generosity through others, of breaking bread with those from a different culture, language or Christian (or other faith) tradition. I learned that even when I feel like a stranger or uncertain about my destination, God is with me, teaching me how to treasure the moments of struggle, uncertainty or new experience. For the future, how can we pause and allow the "holiness of time" provide meaning for our existence? May we all be open to how God can change us, give us a new name, a new life or new opportunity. May we be open to the wrestling and struggle of what God can do with us through the ordinary experiences that come to us in our daily lives? May we mark the moment of encounter with God, openness to see the face of God, and pass on the good gifts that come from knowing and being in God's presence? May it be so? Amen.