[Propertalk] Fwd: Proper 14 b - 1

Sun Aug 9 13:00:25 EDT 2015

Forwarded:

-----Original Message-----
From: robertpmorrison <robertpmorrison at charter.net>
To: 'propertalk at stsams.org' <propertalk at stsams.org>
Sent: Sat, Aug 8, 2015 8:11 pm
Subject: [Propertalk] Proper 14 b - 1

I'll try splitting this to post ... off to have dinner, then proof it. 

THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF ST. ALBAN, ALBANY             THE ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

1 SAMUEL 18:5-9, 31-33                                                                                                        PROPER 14 b

EPHESIANS 4:25 – 5:2                                                                                                    9th AUGUST, 2015

JOHN 6:35, 41-51                                                                                                                      PSALM 130

            “I am …”

            Check through John’s Gospel to see how often these two words are on Jesus’ lips. To us, perhaps, they’re not much of a big deal. Unless, of course, they come from someone who’s so full of her or himself that the words are a bit grating; as if that person perpetually self-promotes.

            But to the average listener to Jesus, whenever He began by saying, “I am …”, that person would think immediately of the encounter between Moses and God. “Tell them ‘I am’ sends you,” God said to Moses.

            “I am” on Jesus’ lips, then, plainly places God right in the centre of human life. “I am here.” “I am your friend.” “I am your comforter.” “I am your guide.” “I am your yard stick.”

            “I am …” – it sounds so heartwarming, and yet it terrified and enraged so many in Jesus’ day. It was, indeed, identified with Moses’ encounter in the desert. But it was interpreted also – rightly, as it turns out – as Jesus equating Himself and what He was saying and doing, with God. THAT was blasphemy! THAT was enough to get Him killed! And, despite the message of freedom, of courage, of hope that it embodied, it also set in motion the wheels that would roll on to Calvary.

            How can bread get one in such trouble?

            The problem was – and remains – the idea that God was and is so readily available, so present. This is not God who won’t come off the mountain, or leave the chic beach resort where it’s been so temperate these last couple of weeks. This isn’t God who only frequents air-conditioned homes, and sips martinis, or margaritas or cold designer beer. This isn’t God who wouldn’t be seen dead riding public transportation.

            There was an interesting article on the news last week about a new bus service in Salem. It seems that if you live in West Salem, with all its steep hills and mostly residential areas, there isn’t much help for you if you want to get into the centre of the city, never mind any of the malls to the east, north or south. With the exception of Wallace Road, right along the river, you’re out of luck if you don’t have a car or it’s in the shop.

            So some students at Portland State are developing a programme to organise busses on demand – it was described as Über busses. Of course, there were immediate issues raised.

            No one who has a car wants to leave it at home. We know the familiar arguments. “If they want to ride a bus, let them move out of here and find someplace where Cherriotts, the existing public busses, run already.” There isn’t even a whiff of a thought that “I am a West Salem resident”, if I can put it that way, might make us stop to consider what’s going on.

            Doesn’t it sound a bit strange? God WANTS to feed us. God WANTS to help us find meaning in our lives, and satisfaction and reasonable, livable compensation in our employment. God WANTS us to be happy. God is present EVERYwhere, in EVERY neighbourhood. Yet it’s so hard to accept and make this a guiding principle in our lives. God WANTS to take us out of situations that cripple and debilitate us.

            Yet that’s not quite right. God doesn’t necessarily want us actually to move. God simply wants the conditions to change, the attitudes to be reformed, the whole idea of community to be reinvented. God hopes and prays that all who are around and come in contact with others will become aware of their hungers.

            Bread, in other words, is not in church alone.

            “I am here,” God says, “not just there. I’ll take care of you. I’ll give you guidance. You’ll see.”

            But folk get in the way of God so often, consciously or unconsciously. What right does anyone have to say that she or he can speak for God; can try to act for God?

            “Just to the north side of the high altar in the parish church of St Lorenz in Nuremberg stands the remarkable sacrament house by Adam Kraft.” It’s pictured in your bulletins. “Commissioned in 1493 by Hans IV Imhoff, a wealthy patrician, this tabernacle is far more elaborate than was needed for housing the wafer and wine for Holy Communion, or Eucharist. Its spire rises to a height of (almost sixty feet). This sacrament house is both functional and ambitious. Its towering architectural form contains sculptures of the Last Supper and Christ's Passion, both appropriate themes for this structure,” which talks about Jesus as the Bread of Life. “Imhoff's coat of arms is displayed prominently for all worshippers to see, but closer scrutiny also reveals the presence of (the sculptor) Kraft in the centre, and two assistants. These three life-size statues seem to bear the weight of the whole structure on their shoulders.” 1

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