I was asked to do the homily for March 3rd’s evening service at the church I attend here in Charlottesville. Now that it’s done (and I managed not to faint or run away from the podium), I thought I’d share it here.
Readings: Exodus 3:1-15, Luke 13:1-9
In today’s biblical texts, we can trace a clear progression. It has to do with human responsibility. But it’s not an obligation we place on ourselves. It’s one God has compelled us toward since his first meeting with Moses in the burning bush and maybe even before.
It’s a responsibility to personal growth that turns to action.
The Exodus passage begins with Moses going about his daily tasks. In the Old Testament’s typically understated fashion, the text tells us that Moses is suddenly quite curious about a burning bush that is not consumed: “I must turn aside and look at this great sight.”
The commentary in the New Oxford Annotated Bible notes that the motif of Divine Fire is common in this period and that it: “arouses dread, for divine holiness is experienced as a mysterious power that threatens human existence.”
So we can assume that Moses approaches with some understanding of what he’s seeing. When God tells him, “You will set your people free,” he doesn’t need to waste time figuring out if it’s God; he doesn’t doubt. He knows.
And he is so in awe of the Divine that he is afraid to look at God.
Though many of us have heard this passage before, it struck me this time in that it shows an incredible measure of trust on God’s part. Though he has seen the pain and struggle of his people himself, though he has the power to show himself in a bush that isn’t consumed, he tells Moses that HE will do it. God, knowing that perhaps he is unsuitable to act as liaison to Pharaoh considering a general “DREAD” of the Divine, in a sense needs a human to implement his plan. And Moses doesn’t seem to be a random choice. He is the right person for the job.
The first step we take in living within God’s will is one we don’t take at all. It’s an acceptance to let the blazing fire – the passion – of God be kindled in us and the moral diligence to not let it be consumed by doubt, apathy, worry, or self absorption. It’s also the confidence that this passion will lead us forward in ways that suit us, even if not in ways that make us feel comfortable.
And that brings us to Luke.
In the first part of chapter 13, Jesus addresses our human tendency to turn a blind eye to those we perceive as the Other. He confronts a bias born of privilege, one that states that My life is good because I’m a good person and gets reiterated every time someone other than us or our loved ones suffer.
Jesus extends the work of his father in Exodus, who insisted that mere humans feel the passion of his people’s pain and DO SOMETHING about it. He says, “unless you repent you will all perish as they did.”
You’re not better. You’re not more righteous. You got out for now, but you have to do something with that.
His parable ties it all together. God expects great things from us, but we’re just as led astray as a sterile fig tree. Jesus comes to us with grace. He gives us a second chance. He opens our eyes by coming not in the form of a burning bush that makes us turn away, but in the recognizable, comforting form of our own species. It had become clear that we were too consumed in fear to be consumed in God’s loving justice, so God became one of us to show us we could succeed. We see Christ and his mission and we don’t have to turn away – we can embrace it.
God came first with passion, with fury and movement and an impatient drive to protect his people. And he let one of us in. He gave us the power to do something and the motivation to do it. But, just like the disciples and Jesus’ listening crowds, we got lost again in our own concerns. And we saw suffering and only felt lucky not to be suffering, too. And we repeat the cycle daily.
But we aren’t better. We aren’t better because we’re Americans or Episcopalians or Liberals or Conservatives or Charlottesvillians or UVA students. We see suffering and do nothing. We aggressively consume products presented to us through slave labor – we ignore the bullying, prejudice, and apathy in our own communities and in our own hearts – and we consume ourselves in the process of curating and collecting things and experiences, gluttons to our wants. And we think it’s ok because we’ve told ourselves other people are worse than us. All the while, the burning fire God presented us with is burning out.
We know through today’s texts that we are no better than anyone else. We all come to this life as equals in both merit and guilt. We need this humility to see suffering and empathize with it. We also learn through Moses that God shows us suffering in the places where we have influence, where we can take action.
For instance, our lives as consumers have the power to change or destroy lives. Human beings – people like us – suffer long hours, poor wages, and poor working conditions in the futile attempt to make ends meet at the hands of American corporations fueled by American consumers. Instead of feeling lucky to be here, we should recognize that we aren’t better, that we are the same. And once that hits us, we should realize that WE have the collective power – and the moral obligation through the Bible’s teachings – to make changes to set the suffering free. We can only liberate ourselves when we liberate others.
If we shut down from the important moral responsibilities laid out before us, we deserve to perish. But we’re given a second chance because Jesus believes in us, believes that with a little prodding, we can bear fruit again, and stands by us as we turn away, as we deflate our egos, as we press on to equality and progress.
As Christians, we are tasked to do something with the fire of God in front of us, and through Christ, we can face it head-on and not turn away. We are commanded to “turn aside [from the things that distract us] and look at this great sight” of suffering on earth and change our habits, our minds, our hearts. To set the slaves of unethical values, consumption, trafficking, patriarchy, hatred, and false conceptions of God free. We can only do that if we see that we are all the same, and that God is with us as we move toward equality under the banner of Christ’s grace and love.
I encourage you to assess your values and priorities during the remainder of the Lenten season and to make positive, visible, DIFFICULT changes in your own life.
Leah Wise 
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A thoughtful article
Where’s a “love” button when you need one? Keep blogging and I’ll keep reading. Just started following you. Can’t wait to read more.
Thanks so much for your support.
😉
I think your words are beautiful. I appreciate the simplicity. Having read the different historical theologies that are so abundantly present in the church, I am relieved to see something so well put that requires us just to hold up our life to the light of Christ, and live.
Stumbled upon this post on Freshly Pressed–I am a fellow Charlottesvillian 🙂
Awesome! I’m still fairly new to the area, but I really like Virginia.
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We come from different faith traditions, but I really appreciate your desire to read, understand and share God’s Word.
Hey! I looked at your bio on your blog. I actually attended a Church of Christ for more than a year and have an appreciation for its traditions. In the end, I left due to theological differences that I couldn’t move past, but I hope that ultimately we can unite under the banner of Christ. Thanks for your comment. – Leah
Reblogged this on Die Lewegewer and commented:
Hierdie is rerig iets om oor na te dink…
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thanks for such an enlightening post/homily
Thank you for your post…I now have to go reread these verses. Also congrats on not fainting 🙂
Love the line as “Christians we are tasked to do something with the fire of God in front of us and through us”
Thankyou
Great article, I appreciate it thoroughly. God Bless.
Thank you so much for adding this photo
let God help us
Reblogged this on shalilah2002.
What a great article! Thank you. I certainly will be looking at my values and priorities closer.
Bless you!
Thank you. This article makes me think as I see the faults in others may I see mine. Also I see the good in other people and not lose faith in my fellowman. At the same time maybe they can help me and me them.
Amazing post! thanks for sharing 🙂
I appreciate the reminder that the fire did not devour the bush.
Too often it feels like it’s about to devour us!
At least, when we’re attentive and close enough to the Source.
Reblogged this on Apple of Life.
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“But we aren’t better. We aren’t better because we’re Americans or Episcopalians or Liberals or Conservatives or Charlottesvillians or UVA students. We see suffering and do nothing.” This was just what I needed to read today. A good reminder that I (and we) can and must always do better.
We are all the same! You are wise and eloquent.
I stopped reading commentary after I discovered commentary perverted my perception of the text itself. Thanks for your article!
Great article and really lovely picture too 🙂
Exactly
A wonderful reminder of the responsibility of a Christian–to ourselves as well as to others.
I loved this! As a fellow Episcopalian (and one who blogs about faith and Christianity), I really enjoyed this! We’re doing a Lenten series right now called “Lent through Lens” where we read the Gospel passage for the next Sunday and spend the week interpreting it through pictures. I love how it makes me really wrestle with the text each week. This particular Gospel reading was a little hard for me at first, because it seemed like two disparate parts, but it finally came together for me on Sunday when I was blogging about it. I loved reading how you interpreted it and how you tied it all together as well. Blessings & happy blogging!!!
that sounds like a cool way to participate in Lent.
It really is – I love photography and church, so it’s a double bonus when the two come together.
Nice article
i came across this and as a fellow christian i understood and took onbaord what you had said. Nice article
Charlottesville, VA?! That’s near me! Great Post.
Yup!
So good!
@”As Christians, we are tasked to do something with the fire of God in front of us, and through Christ, we can face it head-on and not turn away. We are commanded to “turn aside [from the things that distract us] and look at this great sight” of suffering on earth and change our habits, our minds, our hearts. To set the slaves of unethical values, consumption, trafficking, patriarchy, hatred, and false conceptions of God free. We can only do that if we see that we are all the same, and that God is with us as we move toward equality under the banner of Christ’s grace and love.
I encourage you to assess your values and priorities during the remainder of the Lenten season and to make positive, visible, DIFFICULT changes in your own life…”
>This confirms what I’m doing this Lenten period..a very special time frame for me as I’m to be confirmed at the Easter Vigil Mass. Many thanks for posting this..Stay UPlifted and blessed!
I’m glad my words have encouraged you during this exciting time in your spiritual journey!
A piece that is both beautiful and challenging! This season of Lent has been life changing for me. I have been practicing intentional silence each evening, and my priorities( both the good and the bad) made their presence known very quickly during the quiet.
Thanks for your kind words. I have been trying to adopt better devotional and spiritual habits during this Lenten season, but at the end of the day, I often feel that I’ve failed. Being able to overcome my fears and give a homily and then being able to share it with a wider audience here has been very encouraging.
Oh you are so not alone in the feeling of failure! I just shared about a personal failure yesterday, and when our failures are met with God’s grace, new opportunities(like you had and then shared here) or kind words it makes the ‘starting over’ process a little more hopeful.
Hey! I just read your About page and wanted to let you know I grew up in Church of God – Anderson congregations. I see you attended a Church of God college.
Oh wow! WPC has outstanding professors.
Yes, I think giving up something like chocolate for lent is just silly and self-serving. Becoming less of this world and its pleasures benefits everyone, but alas, is very difficult. All things, though are indeed possible through Him. Turning away from the world’s temptations and toward Him for help in everything is the daily walk of the Christian.
Can I ask two questions?. Did you, or do you open the scriptures and actually read from the Bible during your talk or was it all commentary? Which specific scripture verses did you actually read from and have the congregation read along from? Connie
http://kingjesusblog.wordpress.com/
The Episcopal church follows the liturgy for its service, so the readings (Exodus 3:1-15, Luke 13:1-9), which are listed under the the image within the post, were read in full in front of the congregation by a lay member of the church and an associate priest before I presented the homily. Congregants also have the scriptures written up in their bulletins with references so that they can follow along.
Was the Episcopal church founded by Jesus?
The church was founded by Jesus. The Episcopal church is a Christian denomination that gets its word and mission from the Bible, which we believe is God’s inspired word to us.
Jesus founded the church and purchased us with His blood. If it is His church, and He died for it, why did He name it the Episcopal church? What does that mean?
I like your post! Blessings!
A strong word
wow this is so true, i was almost heading to that direction, losing my values and putting false priorities but thanks to you am not anymore!
Well said. My favorite line “It had become clear that we were too consumed in fear to be consumed in God’s loving justice, so God became one of us to show us we could succeed.” Brilliant.
beautiful.
great post i loveyour views on Christianity but i personally am a Crabologist.
Check my blog out for my info on crabology!
Nice article keep up the good job!!!