The Twenty-Third Sunday After Pentecost

You know it's funny, I've always found the by following the lectionary, I actually am able to connect my messages with the life of the congregation better than if I just preach on whatever strikes my fancy. But that's probably just because I almost completely rely on God when I'm writing a sermon - because I don't have any real wisdom or insight, but God does. It also often happens that whatever I'm preaching about is something that *I* need to hear. And if I need to hear something, it's a pretty good bet that someone else does too.

Here's what I think is happening. You're getting preached things that these pastors think you're supposed to hear instead of things they're supposed to say. Know what I mean? I can see the pastor in his study (I mean this is a really conservative place, so you don't hear from women, do you?) with is Bible open going, "Okay, I'm going to preach to a bunch of 18-21 year olds. What do they need to hear? Hmmm, well, I bet their hormones are raging - let's see..." Opens up Bible to some "good" Old Testament and Pauline fornication passages. "Yep, this'll stop 'em."

So, the Lectionary. This week one of the readings is from Mark 12:38-44:
"As he taught, Jesus said, 'Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted in the marketplaces, and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widow's houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severly.' Jesus sat down opposite the place where hte offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, 'I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything - all she had to live on."

Okay - in my congregation this plays really easily - we've got a wealthy congregation, most of whom give without really thinking, give out of their surplus. And many give with an attitude of what a great gift they're giving to the church. So I've got plenty of material in the widow's mite part - but the self-righteousness section could play easily here, too.

So - what would I say to the college age demographic? Well, I'd really tailor it to being authentic. The problem with the "teachers of the law" is that their PROJECTION of who they think the world sees (the long robes, the prayers) doesn't match either the reality of their hearts or the reality of their actions (what the world REALLY sees) - they devour widows' houses. Same with the rich people THROWING (there's a bunch of good stuff about this action) their offering into the treasury. It's about being real. It's about what you show the world really being what's in your heart. If you want to work in a point about raging hormones, go ahead. But in the larger context of the TRUTH of God's relationship with us and our relationships with each other. About being transparent. But also about grace - I can't say that I've never stood up in front of people and said, basically, "Look at me. Look how profound I can be." Or whatever. We all fall into the trap of being inauthentic - fake - hypocrites...

That's off the cuff - and I didn't even use the Ruth passage (which would probably play right into the raging hormones thing)...

My point is just that ANY passage of scripture can be applied to where we are - this is the LIVING word of God, after all. And without twisting it and bending it to OUR agendas.