STANDING in a CIRCLE
Ezekiel 17: 22-24
MARK 4: 26-34
JUNE 16, 2024 – CONFIRMATION/FATHER’s DAY
I looked to my left and there was a three-legged dog … the guy with purple hair was wandering around in the crowd and the couple whose hands were linked together sat directly in the sun adding red to his totally bald head. I smiled watching as a young girl finished the dance she created on the spot and then she slipped into her mom’s arms for a wonderfully renewing hug. Their hug inspired me to write a poem. And friends it felt like I was in the center of a circle looking out at a beautiful world around me filled with joy traced faces of absolute strangers.
Yesterday’s JASPER JAM MUSIC FESTIVAL was a wonderful escape for me and for others. There was great music and thankfully a gentle breeze … I was smart enough to sit under one of the canopy tents that the organizers had placed in this large parking lot for a day of music. And let me tell you … that music was awesome allowing me some peace-filled connection with God as I closed my eyes just listening. But I also was observing those strangers around me … I gave a thumbs up to a young couple whose toddler was really into the music and there were other moments where we strangers acknowledged each other knowing how blessed we were to have found this escape.
You know, there is something uplifting when we actually notice the potential for all of humanity in this world or perhaps when we just recognize that we are all humans with both good sides and yes, some faults. When we do that, it really does help us erase the negativity of the 11 o’clock news. When we allow the stereotypes to be broken down and as Sly Stone sang back in the Sixties, when we realize that we are all everyday people loved by God; no better than anyone else and pretty much the same whatever we do.
When we make that discovery of who we all are in contradiction to what is constantly drum-beaten into our minds it’s then that we can begin to live as people called by Jesus. Called to go into the world to reach out to our fellow humans and to actually make disciples for God by showcasing what makes us tick, our personal faith stories acknowledging God’s love in us through Jesus Christ. To cross what seems to be an inviolate line of the circle between our faith or church life and our every day lives.
It is more like a wall that many have built up through the years; you know the saying don’t talk about politics or religion with your friends, neighbors or colleagues. It’s sad how a significant percentage of American church goers never talk about their faith beyond the circle walls of their Sunday church experiences. Live for God for an hour on Sunday and then go back across the circle’s line to be part of the world. Rebuking or ignoring lessons of faith that form the core of what we say we believe. Not wanting to be known for believing in or even following Jesus out there in the world where it is more comfortable to have a world-life circle viewpoint that keeps the Gospels out.
When we actually become engaged out in the world, meet different people or at the very least observe others living their every day lives, and in doing so leave behind our self-imposed barriers it is then … IT IS THEN that you and I can be difference makers.
Difference makers for God … people of faith who can actually strive to open the faith circle wider and wider with love, and joy, and an energy that God’s Holy Spirit is ready to offer us regardless of our ages or circumstances. But we have to become non-judgmental; we can not live with bias or prejudices … we can’t stay in a protective circle. Rather we need to get out into the world, we have to walk with God and yes, we most definitely have to love all of our neighbors with mercy and equality not superiority.
Have you ever paused to really look out at the world. To honestly notice what the vast majority of people are like. The folks at the grocery store … the neighbors whose names you don’t know. What are they having for dinner? They do have bills to pay. Wonder what they watch on TV or what music they listen to? Do they go to church? Believe in God?
It is easy to be a prejudiced observer from inside a circle. Perhaps you have even moved yourself in a circle looking at different aspects and realities that surround you but with a jaded point of view? But what if you were honest and open whenever you considered another person or group of people? NO prejudice just treat them like you treat yourself.
Bela said something about the song the men will be singing at the offertory today … that in its simplicity there is a great message of faith that is preach-able. The song comes from the prophet Micah, which by the way is a book in the Old Testament, and as we reside in the circle of our faith life this morning, I want to tell you that these words should be a segment of Scripture you can easily recall if not memorize. Yeah, that is tough to do but God expects us to apply these instructions in our lives so if we don’t know the words how can we take on the actions? Perhaps in retrospect I should have required the young people we are confirming this year to have memorized these words because … the words are more than words … the words are a directive for living life. A directive that will help you smile at those inside your circle and also at those who for whatever reason you have placed beyond your personal circle of life.
We need to start merging circles and taking away barriers and aligning with God. So, what does God expect from us? We know the two commandments that all the law and all the rules fall on … LOVING GOD and LOVING ALL of OUR NEIGHBORS but there is a clarification and that is what we find in Micah.
A question that leads to this profound challenge for life is asked of the prophet, “With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God?” The answer, which aligns perfectly with everything that Jesus teaches during his lifetime is this, “He has showed you O man what is good. And, what does the Lord require of you? TO DO JUSTICE, EMBRACE ALL with FAITHFUL LOVE, and to walk humbly with your GOD!”
One of our challenges in life is determining which circle we want to be part of. We hear about various social circles and of course there are political circles. Circles feature an interior, an exterior, and that curvy line that either never ends or never begins because there is no gap in it. Today, on this Confirmation Sunday I am going to argue that most Christian folks find themselves inside a life circle of their own creating when it comes to their faith journey.
On the inside of our circle there is great comfort because that inner circle is usually found in a place like a church. We walk through the doors … the doors conveniently close because we don’t want to let the world know what’s going on in here or do we<<RUN TO THE BACK OF THE CHURCH AND OUT THE DOOR SHOUTING JESUS CHRIST IS RISEN … GOD LOVES YOU …. DISCOVER THE JOY AND PEACE OF GOD … WE WANT YOU TO BE WITH US!!!>>>
Oops sorry about that but someone mentioned that I haven’t run out the door lately during worship but I guess I am a lot like most of you … when it comes to your faith walk, your connection to God … your HUMBLE WALK … have you built a bridge across the circle’s line to shout out to those around you with love that God is calling them into the circle of faith?
We heard the Gospel lesson for today that essentially is the greatest challenge for the 21st century. Jesus asks, “what’s a good image for God’s kingdom?” and then he goes on to explain about the mustard seed. In Mark’s Gospel we are given the short version of this parable of Jesus, but the fact is if the mustard seeds are just stored up inside the church, nothing will grow. Jesus declares, God’s kingdom is as though someone doesn’t merely scatter the seeds … like tossing the seeds across the protective line of the church circle and hoping some take root. He says when it is planted … those tiny seeds … your words … your actions … your testimony … Jesus says that is what will grow the Kingdom of God. Like in our prayer Thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven … we are the ones responsible for opening up the circle; for getting God’s kingdom here.
Mark Miller is an amazing New Jersey songwriter, and his song, ‘Draw the Circle Wide’ that we sang at this year’s Annual Conference refreshes in my mind where we need to go … to survive as a church and to be a vital cog in our community. The lyrics read, “No one stands alone; we’ll stand side by side. Draw the circle, draw the circle wide. Let this be our song … NO ONE STANDS ALONE … standing side by side … draw the circle; draw the circle wide.”
And here we are … will you run with me out the doors of this church to declare in your world and in your neighborhood that your faith circle is wider than just Sunday mornings here at St. Paul’s? Will you be invitational to those in your life so they can discover this amazingly loving and prayerful circle we all belong to where we worship God with joy? Are you with me in dedicating your coming days, weeks, and months to ensuring no one stands alone by joyfully accepting every person in your world as a person of value and as a person worthy of hearing your faith story.
Jesus asked, “What is a good image for the Kingdom of God?” Do you meet the requirements? Are you ready to help strengthen that image here and now and tomorrow and the next day? Let it be our song … draw the circle wide … so no one we know stands alone without discovering God and Jesus Christ through us. VBS is coming what kids are you inviting?
The purple haired guy, the couple holding hands, the little girl hugging her mom, and the owner of the three-legged dog … get to know them and talk about your faith because your faith matters. DO JUSTICE, LOVE ALL with MERCY, and WALK HUMBLY with OUR GOD. DRAW THE CIRCLE WIDE! AMEN