To hear the sermon see  http://soundcloud.com/tigerowl/

Last week, I spoke of the division of Chapter 13 into three parts. I thought that the end of this chapter 13 was difficult to understand, but the front part, being read this week, is just as difficult. Brian Stoffregen a long time computer friend and Biblical scholar has described this part of our Gospel lesson in the following way…”In part one there are two different examples with nearly the same “punch line” are given. The first example is offered by someone in the crowd; the second by Jesus. In the first, the untimely deaths of the Galileans were human-caused. In the second, the untimely deaths of the Jerusalemites were nature-caused. Note that in the first one, Jesus’ question refers to their “suffering,” although the “mingling of blood with their sacrifices” probably implies death. In the first example, Jesus refers to the Galileans as “sinners.” In the second, the Jerusalemites are called “offenders.””

He continues, “There are some similarities in the two examples. Both refer to Jews, although “Galileans,” living some distance away from the holy city, might be viewed as less pious than those living in the city. Jesus concludes both examples with exactly the same words: “No! I am saying to you, unless y’all would be repentant, you all will likewise perish.” The examples of untimely deaths are about “them”—“those other people.” Jesus’ exhortation is addressed to “you” (plural). We might take the plural “you” (as well as the image of the fig tree which frequently represents Israel) as a corporate need to repent and bear fruit. What sins have we committed? How do we repent of such wrongs? How do we begin to bear the proper fruit? We may be looking at our family, our congregation, our city, state, or government.

Last week I spoke in the sermon about the increasing challenges we are facing as a congregation, not only in the process of seeking a new pastor, but in maintaining the ministries of outreach and support for our members and members of the community in a time of intense cutbacks. I have a cousin who lives and works politically in Washington. We talked last week about the death of her father and his burial in Arlington on Thursday, which I could not make, but we also talked about the challenge of serving you and this community. I spoke about my letter writing to our legislative representatives, and my encouraging you to join me. That is when the Baptist, legislative activist, lobbyist, governmental policy wonk swung into action. She said my letter ought to be public and I ought to call it a press conference with the real people of Upper Darby. In calling the press, it offers the politicians public face time and makes it politically costly for them not to come and meet with folks who don’t wear suit jackets daily and wear flags in their lapel button holes. I’m glad she’s the extrovert and I am quite comfortable being the introvert.

We got into a short but intense conversation about the Washington blindness to those who don’t make appointments or offer contributions. We didn’t use the word but the intent crossed my mind as I reread the Gospel and its call for REPENTANCE. Luke/Acts, who have a common author, mentions repentance 14 times in the author’s writings. Combined, Matthew, Mark and John mention repentance only 10 times. Luke ends in the 24th chapter with Jesus’ concluding words in this gospel, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.” [24:46b-47].

What is repentance in our day? In the context of our worship services we have a confession of our sins. Out loud we are very general in our offerings of confession. But when I sit down, when I make time and take time to be serious in my time with God, I can be much more specific. It is more than a promise to God to “NOT DO IT AGAIN”, but it can be more like an adjustment in our lifestyle that says, I have to act differently, I have to respond differently, I have to alter my lifestyle to be more responsive to --- Now I stop there because it would be easy to say that our repentance is directed toward God or Church or our activities, and yes I have been asking for people to step forward and assume more responsibility as the lay members of the congregation. You may have been asked by council members to be available for specific responsibilities in the process of calling a new pastor or taking on responsibilities in the running of the church, but I don’t want to limit our repentance to just those things that take place in the midst of this fellowship. ---- We may need to be responsive to our spouse, our children, our relatives, our neighbors, maybe even our jobs, our co-workers, our clients, the people we serve. Our need for repentance may be much broader than what happens in church. We are Christians, faith Believers, God searchers, 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

That may be the Lenten discipline that is called for in our lives to see ourselves not as singular parts of many relationships or family units or job cohorts, but as living witnesses of the Power of God in today’s living. As the congregation reassesses its ministry and plans for new leadership, are we assessing our roles in being a disciple in God’s Family? Lent is the time for us to reassess, to repent, to change directions to alter our lifestyles.

That process all fits with the final part of today’s Gospel message. Are able to do some self-pruning at this time of the year? This is the time of the year when the vine dressers are roaming through the vineyards to cut back the vines and trim the plants to get them ready for a new growing season. The trimming allows the plant to concentrate its growing strength in parts that are already strong and have produced fruit. The trimming allows more sunlight to nurture the plant as it grows, but all that work is done in the midst of the winter when the vine dressers have to endure the cold, the snow, the freezing temperatures, to enable the plant to be fruitful come spring and summer. We may be a part of a personal self-examination during this Lenten season. Once again I will encourage you to spend some time with God. In these times when the days are growing longer, we can prepare for the ministry and the lives that will be to the Glory of God.

AMEN.

Thanks to Brian Stoffregen.