Proper 8 - Proportionate Compassion for Our Grief
Notes
Transcript
Welcome Statement
Welcome Statement
Text
Old Testament Reading - Lamentations 3:22-33
Old Testament Reading - Lamentations 3:22-33
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in him.”
The Lord is good to those who wait for him,
to the soul that seeks him.
It is good that one should wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord.
It is good for one to bear
the yoke in youth,
to sit alone in silence
when the Lord has imposed it,
to put one’s mouth to the dust
(there may yet be hope),
to give one’s cheek to the smiter,
and be filled with insults.
For the Lord will not
reject forever.
Although he causes grief, he will have compassion
according to the abundance of his steadfast love;
for he does not willingly afflict
or grieve anyone.
Although He Cause Grief, He Will Have Compassion
Although He Cause Grief, He Will Have Compassion
How is it that a God who doesn’t willingly afflict or grieve people, can cause grief? What does this even mean? Isn’t God a Good God? Why would he throw afflictions in our past, or afflict us if he doesn’t want to? Is someone forcing his hand?
Why in Job for example does he take everything away if he doesn’t find delight in it? What is He doing?
This is an example of what I call Truths in tension. These seemingly apparent contradictions in the Bible, that are actually making apparent, the pain and complexity of the human condition, and the complexity of God’s nature we can’t comprehend.
For example, we have this idea of being refined through the fire, or being sanctified, Christ pruning branches from us to make us better. This is a painful process. We of course have to discern what is actual sanctification and what is us just needlessly hurting ourselves and burning ourselves to the bone, but Christ doesn’t delight in our pain, he delights in our joy from our transformation.
I think the most apparant compassion is the fact he took on the form of humanity, so he too had to feel our anguish. No longer can anyone argue this is all apologetics for stockholm syndrome, we have someone with the ultimate selflessness, sending us to greener pastures, even if that travel is weary.
Yes, one will always ask the question, why does life have its meaning built from adversity and pain, why must we even feel pain, why must we Grow? But these are design choices God has made, I’m not saying don’t question them, I think inquiry through science, philosophy, and rational thinking are valid roads of inquiry that help strengthen yourself and your heart and mind. We are called to love God with our minds in the commandments.
However, these why questions can become a spiral, that without a stop, can unravel our lament into a full on rage. That is what our present society has deconstructed itself into. It has decided to grieve for grievance’s sake. It doesn’t grieve the loss, and move on, or address the grievance. It grieves, then grieves, and next week, on the menu, is more grievances.
Christ never wants us to stay in grief, as is show in our next passage.
New Testament Reading - Mark 5:21-43
New Testament Reading - Mark 5:21-43
When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered around him; and he was by the sea. Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet and begged him repeatedly, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live.” So he went with him.
And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, for she said, “If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.” Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?” And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ” He looked all around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader’s house to say, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?” But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. When he had entered, he said to them, “Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside, and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha cum,” which means, “Little girl, get up!” And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.
Your Faith has Made you Well
Your Faith has Made you Well
This woman, who struggled for over a decade with an illness, had no evidence, at least from our point of view, to trust that God would ever fix her affliction. But her belief, “If I could just touch his cloak”, it would fix everything. She had multiple doctors try to help her, and she only got worse. As we talked about the storm last week, the storm in her life roared louder and louder.
But then, she was able to recognize a light. This light that is Christ, in a realm of darkness.
Christ, with his omnipotence, allowed her through her belief to receive a gift of Grace of healing, for her faith. He didn’t have to do this, we don’t know the motivation, we don’t know if it’s selfishness, or just a desire if she was healed she could take care of a family again, not be a burden, etc. We don’t know. The thing is, those facts aren’t stated because that is what grace is. No one is worthy in the sense of their attitudes, their works, and their views. Everyone can be blessed by God should they believe in Him.
In the beginning of Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews is probably one of the best explanations of how faith works. One wonders, what faith must have been like for this woman for those 12 years. It’s hard to think about a condition someone wrestled with. I can tell you, for myself, thinking about my own grandmother, who struggled and died from Cancer, that took a tremendous tole on my own faith. The tremendous faith she had to have to trust God, and still put a smile on her face till the end. I can’t imagine it. I don’t have the same faith as a person with Cancer, I can’t, unless I find myself inflicted with it.
We think faith has to be this proof or test, that we have to show others we really do believe in God. When in reality, the only person we have to prove is God. You convincing other people you are saved won’t save you.
This woman didn’t care she was an outcast, she didn’t care that there was a crowd, her resilience, her determination, is what made her get past potential questions like “why here? Why Now?”. Instead, she ACTED.
There is this problem for some people that believe faith means you must not wrestle., that you must accept scripture at face value, whatever meaning it throws at you at the surface, is what it simply means.
There is this weird idea of faith being this sort of off/on switch
You must not doubt. I have two very important passages that need to be revisited.
Job says in Job 13:15
Though he slay me, I will hope in him;
yet I will argue my ways to his face.
Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”
There are still events today that can rattle me, that can rattle, my faith, the difference is today I’m much more willing to surrender my grievance at the alter, than I was 10-20 years ago, I continually grieved, I never let go. I never surrendered. You MUST surrender your grievance to God, otherwise you can’t unlock this deeper faith, you will only have a shallow faith where you think you aren’t questioning God, but you’re really just, fearful of talking to him.
Why do you make a Commotion and Weep?
Why do you make a Commotion and Weep?
New Testament Point #2
New Testament Point #2
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New Testament Point #3
New Testament Point #3
words
Closing Statement
Closing Statement
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Closing Prayer
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father,
adfs asdfa
Amen.
Doxology / Benediction / Closing
Doxology / Benediction / Closing
May you Have a Blessed Sunday, and rest of your Week! Amen!
References
References
https://griefwatch.com/blogs/articles/reading-lamentations-in-times-of-grief
https://livingbyfaithblog.com/2014/01/14/god-afflicts-but-not-willingly/
