august 9, 2009

Anna Blaedel
First UMC, Osage
August 9, 2009
Psalm 130
Ephesians 4:25-5:2

There are times when a piece of scripture speaks to me, so clearly, so plainly, so deeply that to expound on it, to pick it apart, to interpret it almost seems sacrilegious.

But. This is the task of preaching, of course, the call to preachers: to preach the good news of Jesus…to share God’s living Word…to interpret the context of the scriptures to the context of a faith community, so that together, we might feast on the living word…One of the questions raised in the Wednesday evening Bible study series we brought to a close this past Wednesday was how exactly I come up with the sermon that I share with you on Sunday.

First, I sit down with the scripture. I try to do this Monday morning, so that I can, as the ancient Christian mystics put it, “chew on” the scripture throughout the week. I select, from the lectionary cycle, the assigned scripture for the week, two pieces of biblical text. Often a psalm and a reading from the gospels. Then, I write out these two passages, longhand, word for word. This slows me down, draws my attention to words or phrases I might otherwise miss. Then I pray. I ask God to speak to me through these words. I ask God to guide my mind and my heart. I return to the words or phrases that jumped out at me. For example, after reading this week’s texts on Monday morning, I found myself repeating: “Out of the depths I cry to you…” “I wait for God, my soul waits…” “putting away all falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another…” “let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up…” “be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love…”

Then I read the passages again, and ask God to show me how these words of scripture speak to my life right now, to the life of this community, right now.

Then I read the passages again, asking God to bless me through the reading of these words. I invite God to touch me and change me through my encounter with this living word. And, I pray that God will help me share this word with all of you, that you might be touched and changed through this encounter.

Then, I read the scripture yet again, allowing it to wash over me. This time, I read it aloud. After focusing on particular words or phrases, I invite the entire text to speak to me, and invite myself to rest in and enjoy the experience of being in the presence of God.

Then, I move through the rest of the week, knowing that the feasting I have done on the word goes with me. Each encounter enters into the creative process of sermon writing. I experience and interpret the world through the lens of the scripture I have read and encountered.

This way of reading scripture is called “lectio divina,” latin for “divine or spiritual or holy reading.” This slow, contemplative way of reading scripture dates back to the 12th century, and once was a traditional and common Christian practice of “praying through scripture.” It is intended to enable communion with God, to increase knowledge and wisdom about God’s living Word. Some have called it, “feasting on the Word.”

This morning, I’m going to try something a little bit different. I’m going to invite you into this practice, reading this morning’s text from Ephesians 4:25-5:2. Rather than share stories from my life that I feel relate to these biblical texts, I’m going to invite you to recall stories from your own lives. Rather than offer my interpretation, my understanding of the meanings and lessons and gifts from these biblical texts, I’m going to invite you to prayerfully receive the meanings and lessons and gifts God is giving.

I will read this passage from Ephesians, the passage you have already heard Jeannine read, four times. The first time, I invite you to receive the word. Listen for the still, small voice of God speaking to you personally. Listen for particular words or phrases that jump out at you.

The second time through, I invite you to listen for a word of wisdom. Meditate on the words or phrases that caught your attention on the first reading. How do these words of scripture speak to your life, right now? How do they interact with your thoughts, your hopes? What word of wisdom might God be offering you through the hearing of these words?

The third time through, I invite you to listen for a word of transformation. How is God blessing you through these words? How is God calling you to confess? How is God inviting you to be touched and changed and transformed and redeemed through this encounter with scripture? Allow yourself to trust in God’s promise of forgiveness. Allow yourself to consider how you might need to do something differently.

And the fourth time through, I invite you to rest in the word. To allow God’s word of love to wash over you. Remember that God is with you in the words and in the silence. What word of love and blessing is God offering you through the hearing of this scripture? In this reading, simply enjoy the experience of being in the presence of God.

Don’t worry. Before I begin each reading, I will repeat those invitations and instructions. If you want to close your eyes, I invite you to do so. Get comfortable, or at least as comfortable as you can on wooden pews…

Let us pray: O God, may the words of my mouth and the meditations of all of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O God who is our strength, and our redeemer.

Receive the word. Listen for the still, small voice of God speaking to you personally through this scripture. Listen for particular words or phrases that jump out at you.

So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another. Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for evil in your heart. Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy. Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Listen for a word of wisdom. Meditate on the words or phrases that caught your attention on the first reading. How do these words of scripture speak to your life, right now? How do they interact with your thoughts, your hopes? What word of wisdom might God be offering you through the hearing of these words?

So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another. Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for evil in your heart. Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy. Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Listen for a word of transformation. How is God blessing you through these words? How is God calling you to confess? How is God inviting you to be touched and changed and transformed and redeemed through this encounter with scripture? Allow yourself to trust in God’s promise of forgiveness. Allow yourself to consider how you might need to do something differently.

So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another. Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for evil in your heart. Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy. Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Rest in the word. Allow God’s word of love to wash over you. Remember that God is with you in the words and in the silence. What word of love and blessing is God offering you through the hearing of this scripture? In this reading, simply enjoy the experience of being in the presence of God.

So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another. Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for evil in your heart. Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy. Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

May it be so. Amen, and amen.