Where the Good Way Lies

Sermon

In a book published in 1962, Rabbi Abraham Heschel made this comment: “Why are so few voices raised in the ancient world in protest against the recklessness of man? Why are human beings so ready to kill and ready to die at the call of rulers…? Perhaps it is easy because they worship might, venerate those who command might, and are convinced that it is by force that man prevails. The splendor and pride of kings blinds the people. … It is the bitter irony of history that the common people, who are devoid of power and are prospective victims of its abuse, are the first to become the ally of him who accumulates power.”

It’s been a rocky start to the new year, hasn’t it?

Some of us may be asking why the pastors are preaching so much from the Hebrew Scripture (the Old Testament)? Why preach from Jeremiah, “the Weeping Prophet”—for four solid weeks in the rainy darkness of January, of all times? Well, here’s a reason: we are aiming to get a Biblical perspective on the broken human condition, a condition evident from the 6th century BCE, and today. As we read through the filter of the ancient world, we are seeking wisdom from the roots of our faith. The prophets distrust power in all its forms and guises.

The prophets proclaim: Might is not supreme. The sword is an abomination, violence is obscene. The prophets denounce “arrogant boasting” and “haughty pride”; the kings who ruled the nations in anger; the oppressors; the destroyers of nations, who went forth to inflict waste, ruin, and death (from Jeremiah 4:7); the “guilty men, whose own might is their god.” (Hab.1:11)

We can sum up Jeremiah’s sixth chapter as the consequences of the human idolatry of might. God speaks through the prophet to remind us that we are God’s own beloved and that our path lies with the good way, the way of self-giving love that cares for the other as much as for the self.

Some of history’s most powerful figures knew the limit of force and might. Napoleon said to his minister of education: “Do you know what astonishes me most in this world? The inability of force to create anything. In the long run, the sword is always beaten by the Spirit.”

Do you agree? Do you believe that? In the long run, the sword is always beaten by Spirit.

Recently, someone I know to be a kind and peaceful person confessed that he had thoughts of revenge and violence about “the bad guys.” The toll of chronic anger is violence. Violence, even in our thoughts, strays from the love of Jesus and our true calling. One of the challenges of our time is to see clearly, being honest, and yet not succumbing to anger that dehumanizes anyone else. How do we allow the best of ourselves to come forth? This morning, we recall the covenant of baptism. The best comes forth when we live into the covenant together. Together, we live our promise to love others, to love with God’s love, which means, especially, to love those who are most vulnerable.

God is still speaking, and perhaps today, we can hear God’s word to us: My beloved people, on this precious and fragile planet: Leave behind the idolatry of might, and remember that you are my children, created in my image. Let go of vengeance, violence, fear, and greed. Let my Love guide you into ways of peace, the good way.

The voice of God through Jeremiah is harsh, pointing out God’s punishment for the wayward people turning away from God. But in Jeremiah, there is also the heartbreak of God. God’s pain and disappointment rings throughout, like a loving parent with a rebellious, destructive adolescent. Thus says God (and you can almost hear the parent saying): “What wrong did you find in me that you went far away from me? Why did you pursue what was worthless?” Jeremiah 31: 9 says, “For I have become a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.”

When I was a kid, there were various forms of punishment. At that time, a paddling sometimes happened. But the worst punishment I ever got from my dad was when he looked steadily at me and said, “I’m disappointed in you.” When he said that, I always knew that I could be better and more than my behavior had indicated. My dad believed in me, and I needed to make a correction in my life.

In the time of climate change, blazing fires, creatures lost, missiles launched, innocents dead, leaders assassinated, immigrants imprisoned, and threats hanging heavily, we can sometimes step back and say, Lord, we have made a grand mess of it. And, still, God calls us back.

In baptism, we are reminded that we don’t simply belong to our parents, but that we are God’s children, made in the image of Love. We have the power, together, to humbly seek the truth, to love and forgive. Rather than responding with irritation, hatred, and anger, we have the capacity, and the model in Jesus, to respond with authentic compassion and love. It’s not the way of the world, it’s not the course that makes the history books, but it is, ultimately, the power of love that creates. God made us for that and continually invites us back to it.

Thomas Troeger wrote a baptismal hymn that captures the contrast between the human fascination with power and God’s love that promises to reshape us no matter how bad a mess we have made of things.

What Ruler Wades Through Murky Streams –Thomas Troeger

What ruler wades through murky streams
and bows beneath the wave,
ignoring how the world esteems
the powerful and brave?
Water, River, Spirit, Grace,
sweep over me, sweep over me!
Recarve the depths your fingers traced
in sculpting me…
Come bow beneath the flowing wave.
Christ stands here at your side
and raises you as from the grave
God raised the crucified.