Vena Alesio

Sermon for December 31, 2023 “A Word of God, Still Speaking” Not long ago, I read a book entitled, A God Who Questions, by Leonard J. De Lorenzo. It’s referenced at the end of your bulletin. It’s a short book, but it makes a powerful impact. We always ask God so many questions in our daily lives, whether it be while working, doing chores, or during our prayer time. “God, when will the wars end?” “God, could you help us end hunger, homelessness, hopelessness?” However, do we stop to think about the questions God asks us? Because when God asks us a question, there is never a simple answer. In one of her recent sermons, Pastor Sue reflected on Jesus asking Peter if he loved Him. Jesus asked him three times and, of course, each time Peter said yes. But every time Peter gave Jesus a simple answer, Jesus forced him to look deeper. His words were, “If you love me, feed my lambs.” “If you love me, take care of my sheep.” “If you love me, feed my sheep.” We know from Scripture that Peter ultimately betrayed the God he said he loved. So, let’s go back to the beginning – the book of Genesis. The man and the woman were in a place of perfection, communing with God directly on a daily basis. Can you imagine it? Human beings and God in the perfect relationship, enjoying each other’s company. And Genesis 2:3 says, “Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.” This is an important verse, because it tells us what it was like for the man and woman to live in perfection. Then, we have the betrayal. The man and woman ate from the tree that was forbidden to them and, as Scripture tells us, “The eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked, so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.” Perfection has been destroyed, and they have turned away from God, hiding in the garden so that God won’t see them. Like us, they want to believe that if they hide their iniquities, God won’t see them. But, they can’t hide their betrayal from God. God walked through the garden, seeking them out, as was the Creator’s usual habit. We know that God was aware of what had happened. I wonder how God felt: sad, disappointed, angry? Did God think, “I was really hoping this wouldn’t happen…”? Scripture doesn’t say. However, what DOES take place is this: God asks a question: ”Where are you?” Isn’t that interesting? God doesn’t accuse by saying, “Come out, I know what you’ve done.” Instead, God simply asks a question. “Where are you?” Now, the man and woman must face their God, explain their actions, and acknowledge that they turned away from their Creator by disobeying what was asked of them. As we do now, the man makes the weakest of excuses. “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.” “A Word of God, still speaking: I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.” We make excuses for why we’ve turned away from God in a particular situation or with another person. That’s what sin is: the opening of our eyes in such a way that our nakedness betrays God. The question that fascinates me, following the man’s explanation, is God asking, “Who told you that you were naked?” “The serpent did.” Again, this is “A Word of God, still speaking.” The serpent represents everything negative that defies the positive love of God. The serpent says, “You can control your life; with your eyes opened, you can be like God, knowing good and evil.” Let’s admit it: we like to have control over our lives. That desire for control is our greatest temptation. To quote the medieval mystic Meister Eckhart, “When I seek God with something in mind, the best I get is the something I had in mind.” The desire for control, turning away from God, who seeks us out to ask, “Where are you”, leads us down a highly undesirable path. But, God doesn’t desert us, even when we, during the time that we head down that errant path, desert God. There IS no place for us to hide when we are naked before God. And, yet, God still forgives us unconditionally, looking into our hearts and gifting us with the Holy Spirit to cleanse us. That brings me to our second scripture reading, as we consider the character of God. Another question that continues to resonate today. Let me read the passage again: This question is reiterated in three of the four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Now, the Gospel of John opens with these words: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word WAS God. He was with God in the beginning.” Moving on in the chapter, John says, “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.” And, so we have the most profound question in all of Scripture: JESUS is the divine question. Here are seven “I Am” statements from Jesus in the Gospel of John: I am The Bread of Life I am the Light of the World I am the good Shepherd I am the Resurrection and the Life I am the way and the truth and the Life I am the true Vine Does this continue to be “The Word of God Still Speaking”? Today’s “crowds” have broadcast their views far and wide about their beliefs in who Jesus is: “Jesus is…” fill in the blank. The crowds say, “Jesus is the ONLY way to commune with a loving God.” The crowds say, “Jesus does not accept the LGBTQ+ community. Homosexuality is a sin.” The crowds say, and this is my favorite: “You just ask me…. I’ve been going to church my entire life and I’ll tell you exactly who Jesus is.” I marvel when people tell me EXACTLY who they know Jesus is. My feeble mind comprehends what I read in Scripture, what I pray about, and what I discuss with others in Bible and book studies, or over a cup of coffee. But, I certainly don’t have the wherewithal to give someone the complete definition of who our Savior is. And, I’m OK with that. For me, Jesus is the beauty of nature, the memories of family and childhood, the small acts of kindness and generosity that take place all around me, and the “still small voice” that always envelopes me. And, yes, for me, Jesus is God who came into the world to dwell among us. When God asks, “Who do you say I am?”, I may have a different answer every day. I will never know fully who God is. But, here’s what I do know: Paul told the Corinthians, “For we know in part, and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now, I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” Here is something else I know: Jesus opened his heart to ALL the people of the world in his Beatitudes, words we should never forget: And, finally, here is what else I know about Jesus. He said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment of all. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” THIS is the Word of God that still speaks today. Friends, we can never take our church mission for granted: “Faith is nurtured, curiosity is encouraged, questions are welcome, and ALL are loved.” So, when God asks, “Where are you?”, let’s open our eyes, and ask God’s Spirit to fill our contrite hearts with hope so that the fear of nakedness doesn’t overcome us. God is reaching out to us, asking where our hearts are, inviting us to participate in dialogue that leads to salvation as we confess our failings. God forgives unconditionally. Yes, God’s questions make us uncomfortable because they break through all that separates us from God. But those questions cleanse our heart and soul and draw us into God’s welcoming arms. Join me with your response: “The Word of God, still speaking.” Thanks be to God. Amen.