‘THE GREAT DARING’ (with homage to Howard Thurman’s
Jesus and the Disinherited)
3rd Sunday after the Epiphany - Psalm 27; 1 Cor. 1.10-18;
Matt. 4:12-23
Rev. Tiare L. Mathison, Pastor & Soul-Tender
Howard Thurman, one of the great religious leaders of the Civil Rights movement in the 1950’s & 60’s. Martin Luther King, Jr. claimed him as his pastor and spiritual mentor. Thurman says, quote:“…nothing but a great daring in the face of overwhelming odds can achieve the inner security in which fear cannot possibly survive. It is the essence of the religion of Jesus of Nazareth. Yes God cares for the blade of grass, the fallen sparrow, the stars in their course. But more so? God cares for me! To be assured of this is the great daring.” Unquote
The Psalm writer of #27 believes this great daring. She pursues God, uncertainty at the fore, yet with rich hope. ‘The Lord is my light and salvation…’ Maybe she declares this out loud with great power, or maybe it's a whisper, spoken with a hint of fear. ‘The Lord is my light…’ She asks to move closer to God, from the doorway of the temple to the inner sanctum, the holy of holies, where the curtain is rent when Jesus dies on the cross. She believes she will be sheltered, like in the cleft of the rock, yet now she is exposed!
Enemies at the door, she seeks beauty and truth, the goodness of the Lord, in the land of the living. She is no optimist; 'everything's going to be fine, I don't need to do anything.' Nor a pessimist, 'everything's going to hell in a hand basket, there is nothing I can do.' Rather, she sets the stage for her admission of great fear and her claim of great faith: The Lord is my light, whom shall I fear? The stronghold, of whom shall I be afraid?
Well, how about the evil doers who devour her; the army encamped against her; the threat of the Assyrians breathing down her neck; let alone false witnesses telling lies about her! She does not remain afraid or only afraid; the writer lays claim to this uncertainty: in conversation WITH God. She knows, as do we, sometimes answers are not forthcoming. At least not immediately. But she listens carefully and pens her faith statement:
'I believe
I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Wait; take heart; have courage; be strong.'
A word for herself, a word for ancient Israel as threats of invasion and exile are all around; a word for us, as we walk into the future clouded with fear, almost unable to see the spaciousness of uncertainty . Memorize verses 13 & 14, I strongly suggest. They are a lifeline in times of trouble.
I believe I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord; be strong, let your heart take courage.
Wait for the Lord.
This is The Great Daring.
Both here in this Psalm and in Matthew’s tell of the call of Jesus, there is a particular emphasis on our capacity to hear, to listen, to know Jesus’ voice amidst the cacophony of voices in our heads all around us. I think it is critical for us to develop a tender ear for His voice, the one that speaks love, mercy and forgiveness, justice. It is also our responsibility as mature Christians to be able to discern the true voice from the demonic, especially when we listen to the travails of other folk. For instance, People who struggle with suicidal ideation often speak of hearing voices that say, “you’d be better off dead. The world would be better off without you. Go ahead take your life, your misery will end.’ This is the demonic voice from the pits of hell. It is in the land of the living where God dwells - this God we need to know so deeply we hear Him speak clearly: ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’ I’m calling you to follow me, Jesus says.
Dr. Jeffrey Sung is a psychiatrist here in Seattle who specializes in research and treatment for people who are haunted by the idea of suicide. I think this is really important for us Christians to know. He says that from all his work he knows this: the best practices to stand against suicidal ideation —or to think suicide is the answer - are faith practices. Prayer, worship in community, Scripture reading regularly , meditation, mindfulness. It is in the building up of the scaffolding of our faith we grow strong enough to withstand the demonic. And have enough faith to be able to hold it for someone else as they struggle. This is The Great Daring
Consistent with Scripture, Jesus calls disciples to Himself. He is not our gateway to heaven alone, you might say He is our commander in chief here on earth! First though, He wants to establish friendship with you. He wants to hear what’s on your mind and heart, your fears, your doubts, your hopes, your failings. He wants to give you life, abundant. You know this: to build a friendship you have to spend time together, shared space, just the two of you, to listen, to discover mutual interests and concerns. To have some fun together, to laugh and tell stories. It is hard in this society, as the metaphysical is relegated to the wacko’s - tarot card readers and Pentecostals.. ‘You speak with Jesus? You hear His voice? Really? hmmmm’ Again, it is the practice of listening deeply, taking time away from everything else, everybody else, that makes it possible to develop a tender ear.
What does Jesus’ call on your life look like? (Pause)
Service? Belief? Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a Christian martyr in WWII says, “absolute discipleship. Come to Christ and die to yourself!” It is only in this surrender that we receive our greatest joy, for abundant life happens here and now in community with the faithful.
We do have to practice the presence of Christ, it doesn’t come naturally. Here in worship, we sing, pray and listen to the Gospel, as if Jesus is right in our midst. Remember what Melody taught us a couple Sundays ago? In the Anglican Tradition, the gospel lesson is always read in the midst of the people, to symbolize Jesus’ Presence right with us. Which He is, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Christ dwells among us - not in flesh, not in measurable formulas - rather incarnate in you and in me. When we pay attention to one another, we experience His Presence. But you have to be willing to listen deeply and sometimes ask intense questions, like, ‘how is your soul these days?’ Not to intrude, rather to become more bounded together.
Faith in Jesus Christ is built on blocks. Blocks designed and shaped by the great cloud of witnesses that have gone before us, yet still surround us. We are called to be builders ourselves, to share our faith in ways that encourage others to have faith. Testimonies and prayers are the twin pillars that hold us all together.
God cares for the blade of grass, the sparrow, the stars in the heavens. And you. This is The Great Daring. Amen