Blog – Page 36

In the Crumbling . . .

November 17, 2024 By Vicar at Mount Olive

Our texts give remind us that faithful people have lived through times of anguish, and as we live through times of great unraveling, we are called to be Christian community with one another. This gives us the strength to move through difficult times.

Vicar Natalie Wussler
The Twenty-sixth Sunday after Pentecost, Lect. 33 B
Texts: Daniel 12:1-3; Psalm 16; Hebrews 10:11-14 [15-18] 19-25; Mark 13:1-8

Beloved in Christ, grace to you and peace in the name of the ☩ Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

It’s Scripture like this that we don’t want to hear in times like today. They paint bleak pictures that don’t feel like good news to our weary souls. We read about times of anguish, wars and rumors of wars, famine and temples crumbling. Jesus’ words here terrified the disciples. All they’d ever known would soon come tumbling down around them. At the oppressive hands of Rome, the very dwelling place of God on earth would be leveled to the ground, with not one stone left. It’s an absolutely devastating scene. And consider Daniel’s context–set during the Babylonian exile experiencing their own time of anguish with everything the Israelites knew turned up-side-down.

These writers are speaking into their current-day realities, but they feel far too close to home. Because all around us, things feel like they’re crumbling down. That grief, fear, and anger from last week has not disappeared. As the reality of our years to come set in, there’s lots crumbling down all around us. Trust in our leaders, trust in our fellow Americans, our hope, systems and structures that do their best at providing for the most vulnerable around us. The grief, fear, and anger does not stop at the political landscape. Today you might be carrying a crumbling relationship or you may have just received some news that upends your world or you may just be feeling hopeless. The truth is, we’re often in the midst of something crumbling down around us.

And that’s exactly why we need these Scriptures. They remind us that we’re not the first or the last community of faith living in a great unraveling. We follow in their footsteps–struggling in times of anguish and wondering where God is in the midst of it, searching for hope in the rubble and proclaiming good news in impossible times–carrying on as children of God. Because in the chaos of this world, we’re doing the same things in the desolation. We’re striving to build toward the world that Jesus has been teaching about–a world that uplifts vulnerable people, recognizes the widow’s gift as precious, and treats all with love and compassion. These texts remind us that faithful people have lived through times of anguish and figured out ways to live as Christ to one another. So the question is – how will we continue to live as Christ in the turmoil? How will we respond in the midst of the crumbling?

As Jesus speaks with the disciples, he first tells them these two things–Beware and do not be alarmed. Or “stay alert” and “do not be afraid” in some translations. Jesus is not saying all this to scare the disciples, but, instead, to warn them and prepare them to be the church in times of upheaval. “Stay alert,” Jesus says, to not be misled by those who want to take advantage of the chaos. Don’t let these kinds of people lead you away from God and one another. Stay alert to what God is actually doing during these exhausting times. And do not be afraid when you hear of wars and rumors of wars and when you see the fallout of the chaos. What Jesus says may feel like a tall order for us in times of anguish. Because while we want to have a total faith and trust like our Psalm professes, seeing temples toppled and hearing of wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes, and famines, provokes fear. But Jesus never promised that our lives would be free from pain and fear. Instead, Jesus promises to be with us in the middle of it. Later in this chapter, Jesus says that the Holy Spirit will be with the disciples through all they will experience, an assurance for us that we are not alone.

That’s God’s promise to us–to be with us. In the crumbling, God promises us presence through the Holy Spirit, who abides in our very souls. When we fear, panic, or grieve, we can call on the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom and strength to carry on. This same strength carried the disciples through their own persecution–it is sufficient to give you the hope you need to journey through whatever chaos you may face. God’s presence provides you refuge, counsel, and joy, says the Psalmist. And in God, you will find the strength to not be shaken. God gives you what you need to survive and continue to spread God’s transformative love through the world. God makes Godself known, even during times of turmoil.

And God shows up for us in one another. The writer of Hebrews knew this. Just listen to these invitations:

let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together.

Us, you and me, together with God. God gives us God’s presence through each other.

This life of faith is meant to be lived together, especially in times of anguish and turmoil. We need each other. Because in each other, we see the face of God. We find the strength and the hope to carry on, together. We remind each other that God is faithful. As we come before God and confess our hope as one body, we are encouraged to do the work of God in this weary world–to uplift poor and vulnerable people, to live as Christ with one another, prioritizing love and compassion.

When we are baptized, we are woven into the tapestry of God’s grace, into the family of God, and we are so much stronger collectively than we ever could be separately. With the communion of the saints, we face whatever this world throws at us, trusting that God is with us and holding us together. Let’s not allow our fear, grief, or anxiety to isolate us as it often can, but rather, let’s press into the community of faithful people we are blessed with. Let’s lean on each other and support one another. All while continuing to provoke each other to find courage to act as the body of Christ, because we all have a part to play in God’s good work in this world.

So beloved, let’s keep showing up for each other, trusting in God’s love which connects us all in a tapestry of grace. As we look toward these next years, we may feel overwhelmed at the enormity of what may crumble before us.

But take heart, dear friends. God is at work. In you, in me, in this community, and in millions of people provoking one another to do good things. To work for justice and compassion. To act in love in a world that seems so full of hate. With each good deed creating a ripple that can change tides toward something good.

And church, that is something worth hoping for.

In the name of the ☩ Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Worship, November 17, 2024

November 14, 2024 By Pr. Joseph Crippen

The Twenty-sixth Sunday after Pentecost, Lect. 33 B

Download worship folder for Sunday, November 17, 2024.

Presiding: Pastor Joseph Crippen

Preaching: Vicar Natalie Wussler

Readings and prayers: David Bryce, lector; Tricia Van Ee, assisting minister

Organist: Robert Buckley Farlee

Download next Sunday’s readings for this Tuesday’s noon Bible study.

Click here for previous livestreamed liturgies from Mount Olive (archived on the Mount Olive YouTube channel.)

Worship, Friday morning, November 15, 2024

November 14, 2024 By Pr. Joseph Crippen

Holy Eucharist, with the funeral of Julia Ann Hilpert Adams

Download worship folder for this liturgy, November 15, 2024, 10:30 p.m.

Presiding and Preaching: Pr. Joseph Crippen

Readings and prayers: Craig Adams, Elizabeth Royce, lectors; Judy Hinck, assisting minister

Organist: Robert Buckley Farlee

Click here for previous livestreamed liturgies from Mount Olive (archived on the Mount Olive YouTube channel.)

The Olive Branch, 11/13/24

November 12, 2024 By office

Click here for the current issue of The Olive Branch.

Ubi Caritas et Amor

November 10, 2024 By Pr. Joseph Crippen

Where love is, God is. That’s your hope, and why you are the hope of the world.

Pr. Joseph G. Crippen
The Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost, Lect. 32 B
Texts: 1 Kings 17:8-16; Mark 12:38-44; Psalm 146

Beloved in Christ, grace to you, and peace in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

It’s really a matter of what you want to focus on today.

Do you want to consider Elijah’s context, where he’s fleeing from a narcissistic evil tyrant who abuses his people, a king furious at Elijah for daring to speak God’s Word to him?

Or Jesus’ context, occupied Palestine under imperial oppression, where some of the wealthy religious leaders are manipulating the system and crushing people to enhance their wealth, “devouring widow’s houses,” as Jesus says?

Today we’re dealing with deep grief, anxiety, disgust, anger, and dread at what has happened. We legitimately fear for our neighbors’ safety, some of us even fear for ourselves. A lot of people are going to be hurt in the next years, people we love and people we don’t know, if the promised written plan for our country is now executed by those coming to power. That resonates with King Ahab, and Rome, and these wealthy elites.

But they’re just not the important thing here. We sang in our psalm not to put our trust in rulers. They’re just not worth it. And if we don’t focus on them, what we see in both stories is a shining ray of hope.

We see a poor widow act with empathy against all reason.

She and her son are nearly finished. She has enough flour and oil to make one bit of so-called bread, and when they eat that, what’s left is the long, excruciating process of starving to death.

And this prophet wants her to share. Says God will make her jug of oil and jar of meal never run out, if she helps him. Now, there’s no chance she’s ever seen magic food storage bins. No reason to think Elijah’s not just saying this so she’ll feed him.

But she does. This woman with nothing to do but die and watch her son die, shares what she has with this crazy man.

It’s an awesomely beautiful thing to see, the light of this love.

And look – there’s another poor widow acting against all reason.

Maybe she’s one of those widows cheated by the leaders Jesus just condemned, but however she became so poor, she’s down to two chips of copper that aren’t worth a penny.

And she comes into the treasury, where there are thirteen containers with metal trumpet shaped tops that people noisily throw their money in as an offering. Josephus says seven were labeled, designating commanded offerings for doves or sacrifices, or for incense, and so on, and six were labeled for voluntary offerings. Others say only one or two were voluntary ones. But given that Jesus praises her choice, this widow surely went up to the “voluntary” chest.

And she gives all she has. We don’t need to know why to be dazzled by the light of such beautiful, willing generosity.

Our psalm doesn’t trust rulers. But it does invite us to trust and sing praise of God, who cares for all in need.

A God who, we sang, gives justice to those who are oppressed and food to those who hunger, who releases captives and gives sight to the blind, who lifts up all who are bowed down. A God who cares for the stranger and sustains those on the margins of society. And who frustrates the way of the wicked, we sang.

This is the God to whom these beautiful women belong. A God who empowers them to act as God’s love, even if it seems ridiculous and irrational to others.

In these women, you can see the shining light of God’s love in the world. And find hope.

So here and now, can you also see God with us, in our world?

I see God right here, in all of you. Grieving, struggling with fear and anger, worrying who won’t survive this new future, and whether there’s anything we can do about it, you came here anyway. To be with each other, love each other. Even if it’s your first time, you came looking for God. To see if God has a word of hope for you, for the world. You being here is a shining ray of hope that God is here.

And we’re baptizing a little boy today, a sure sign of God’s presence. God will claim Adam and bring him through the waters into the family of Christ. But notice how we frame God’s action. His parents and sponsors will promise to make sure he’s part of a community of faith so he can learn, as we do here, to trust God, proclaim Christ in his words and deeds, care for others, and work for justice and peace. To join us to proclaim Christ, care for others, and work for justice and peace, as we say at the end when we welcome him “into the mission we share.” Today we see in Adam another blessing who will bear God’s creative and redeeming word into the world with us. Oh, this is a shining ray of hope that God is here and will always be here, if God keeps finding people to share this mission.

And you will come to God’s table today, our sure and weekly sign of God’s grace. And yes, it’s a Meal of forgiveness and God’s love for you. But it’s also food for the journey, waybread, strength and filling to help you and me have courage for what we can do today and the next days. It’s God’s lifting up of our hearts to see that even we are God’s grace in this broken world. This shining ray of weekly hope is a certain sign that God is with you and me and all God’s children. For the long haul. For the hard work. For the healing of all things.

The 8^th century Christian who wrote the hymn our choir will sing this morning saw what we see today.

Where charity and love are, that’s where God is. In every act of love in a world filled with hate, a world where plans for hate are written and ready to be executed, in every act of love God frustrates the wicked. With us. With you. How can you stop millions of people acting in God’s love in every part of this world?

These two wonderful women gave their all, and that’s your invitation. To pour your heart and love into God’s mission, to care, as God does, for all who are vulnerable and lost and afraid, for all who are hungry and homeless and oppressed. Don’t be discouraged if you think you don’t have much to offer, that your love surely can’t make a difference. A tiny bit of flour and oil, a couple chips of copper, the world disdains as nothing.

But God knows better. Your love, your offering, is as powerful as anything in this world. Because where love is, God is. Let that be your shining ray of hope today, even as God shines from you as you go out into the world.

In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen