St. Mary Nanoose Bay

July 28, 2019 Sermon

Luke 11:1-13   Thank you, Heavenly Father, for giving the Holy Spirit to those who ask. Amen.              

This gospel reading from Luke brings to light the difference between our own ability to give, and God’s ever-flowing abundance.    In the parable, Jesus doesn’t shame the person who must be harassed in order to get out of bed and help out his neighbour, his metaphor simply points out that we are reluctant givers. We have limited energy, imagination, ideas about hospitality and abundance.            

In comparison, Jesus tells us that God, who he says can be thought of as a loving Father, gives us more than we can imagine. We just need to ask. Becoming aware of our own human limitations, we can stop trying to do things under our own steam, stop trying to control events, and realize from where, or from whom, our life comes.  It is in honestly acknowledging our need and dependence, that we are well positioned to receive what is given us …. with gratitude!            

When we don’t acknowledge our need and dependence; when we think we can take care of ourselves, we separate from God. Standing on the outside of a door we are not even aware exists. Or if we do see the door we simply give it a quick cursory glance as we hurry by to take care of our own lives in the way we think best.            

If we want to fully live our lives, the way we were created to do, we are invited to knock on that door and enter into a relationship with the Divine that leads to real and eternal life.            

That life, that kingdom, Jesus tells us, is eternally in the present. In each moment. Not in the future. But now, in our daily bread. As gift. But in ways we often don’t recognize because we’re not living in the present. We’re living in the past with regrets and resentments, or in the future, with hopes and plans for something better than we have now. But this now is all we have. This “now” where the real gift is. Every Sunday, and maybe on the days in between, we pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.”  What we are saying, whether we agree or not, is that we need food for this day. We can’t eat tomorrow’s food today. What we need is the nourishment to support us for what will be given us this day – the challenges, opportunities, experiences, the losses. That’s all we need – the strength and love and courage and joy for today. And in faith, we know that what we need will be given us tomorrow.            

As babies, we lived in the present. Whatever was in our line of vision captured our full attention. We weren’t planning our next meal, or reliving a conflict over and over in our minds. We were simply there. And we didn’t miss a thing. We were fully alive in the moment. Until we’d had enough, and promptly fell asleep.            

We can learn how to return to that place of living moment by moment through prayer and meditation. We can learn to let go of our fears; and enjoy the moment. And the resilience we develop as we drop our fears, helps us deal with difficult situations, as they arise, with more finesse.            

And we can do more. We can consciously learn to let go of our expectations around how our needs are going to be met. Because when we have our own ideas about how life should be, we miss out on how our needs ARE being met.            

I heard a wonderful anecdote just this past month from a friend. A 4- year-old child asked his mother, “Mom, what’s for dinner?” to which the answer came, “Tonight we’re having breakfast for dinner – pancakes and sausages.” “Mom, I don’t want that. I want noodles.” “Son, I know you want noodles but that’s not what we’re having, we’re having pancakes and sausages.” “But mom….” and the conversation went back and forth with mom being patient and son being persistent. Then there was a pause, and the son looked at his mom with a noticeable twinkle in his eye, “Mom, you know what I want for dinner?” “No, son, what do you want?” “Mom, I was pancakes and sausages for dinner!            

How often do we resist the wonderful ways we are offered nurturance because we have a preference of how we “should” be taken care of?!            

I’m reminded of my time in Tokyo where some very gracious hosts were taking us out for a meal. When I learned we were heading to a restaurant specializing in eel, I inwardly freaked out. Eel? Yuck!! I couldn’t contain myself and whispered my dismay to Jim. “Don’t worry, you can order something else,” he encouraged me. Well, when we got to this high end restaurant, the only items on the menu were the variety of ways eel could be prepared. I set my resolve to not seem like a spoiled child and let our hosts order for me. What can I say? That smoked eel dish was one of the tastiest meals I’ve ever had.            

How often have I let my past, my preferences, my biases keep me from enjoying and appreciating the gifts of the moment??!!            

When we learn to receive graciously, we are free and open. And we can see how Jesus’ parables help us turn the world, and our expectations, upside down. Which, in God’s world, is the right side up.            

I spent so many years of my marriage determined that I knew best and when things didn’t turn out the way I wanted, I was disappointed and resentful. Then I would work extra hard to try and make life the way I thought it should be.            

Luckily my marriage has lasted and the disappointment and frustration have worn me down. I’ve given up. I’m not pestering my neighbour  - who is my husband - all the time. And lo and behold, I discover that my “hard work” was mostly for naught. I was fighting the tide. And it was bringing me what I needed all along. I just needed to be open to different ideas and ways of living.            

I didn’t need to work so hard. I was just addicted to my own idea of how life and what a husband should be like. And here I find myself with the perfect mate. The foil for my craziness; the patient friend who has stood by me through thick and thin. Not the perfect man, but he’s perfect for me.            

And so, too, is it with God. We work for approval, we hide because we’re ashamed. We judge ourselves and others.            

But folks, Jesus tells us - the door is simply there. It doesn’t have list stapled to the door saying who is qualified to enter. No…..we just have to knock. We just have to say, “Let me in! I want to be in relationship with you, God. Help me be open to seeing how you have sustained me all the way along and show me how You are present to me in every moment of the day, which is really your day, and your  gift to me.”            

Jesus asks us today that if we, with our human limitations, know how to give good gifts to our children, that how much more gracious is the One who created all that is, was and will be? We create our future by the way we live moment by moment. And here today, in this moment, we come together in community, acknowledging our need and dependence on God. Finding the strength in the daily bread given us and the courage to step into the next moment.            

So come to the table of God’s abundance this morning, open your hearts and be fed by the One who created you, loves you, and never abandons you.  Amen.