Lectionary 18C Pr 13
Grace Lutheran Church
Lakeland, FL
July 31, 2022
Hosea 11:1-11
Psalm 107:1-9, 43
Colossians 3:1-4, 12-17
Luike 12:13-21
Grace to you and peace from God and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Please pray with me. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.
Last week we were introduced to a recent translation of the New Testament, one prepared by and for the indigenous persons of North America – Native Americans. It is called the “First Nations Version.” Like virtually all regularly used translations, this one also works to maintain faithful accuracy to the ancient text written in Greek while also recognizing the different context of the translator and the intended reader. This version gives us a different lens, if you will permit me to mix metaphors, through which we hear the good news of Jesus Christ. We heard the translation of the portion of the Gospel of Luke in which we find Jesus teaching the disciples how to pray – that is how to “send your voice to the Great Spirit” and later we read words urging us to “dance our prayers.” These different phrases and images broaden and enrich our understanding of Scripture.
So, again this week, we are going to look at the second reading for today, a portion of the Letter to the Christians in Colossae, this time from the third chapter. Hear these words again from the First Nations Version – you may wish to follow along with the version that is in your worship folder.
Since you have been raised up to a new life with the Chosen One, then keep looking upward toward him into the spirit-world above, where he sits in the place of greatest honor at Creator’s right hand. Keep your thoughts and desires centered on the spirit-world above, no on the things from the earth below.
You died with the Chosen One, and now your life is hidden with the Chosen One in the Great Spirit. When the Chosen One is revealed, then you will be revealed with him and share in his beauty and honor.
The Great Spirit has chosen you to be his holy and deeply loved children, so put on the new regalia he has provided for you. Put on deep feeling for the pain of others, kindness, humbleness of heart, gentleness of spirit, and be patient with one another. If there are any complaining against each other, then carry that burden basket and learn to forgive. For we must forgive other sin the same manner that our Honored Chief has freely forgiven us.
When all this new regalia is in place, let the love of the Great Spirit gather all the loose threads and braid them together in unity with one another. Le the Chosen One guide you on the path of peace and harmony, and then as his one body this peace will be the guiding light in your hearts as you give thanks to the Great Spirit.
Let the message of the chosen One become a deep watering hole inside you. It will then become a refreshing spring as you teach and guide on another with wisdom and understanding. You will sing traditional prayers, sacred chants, and spiritual songs as you dance your prayers before the Great Spirit with glad and thankful hearts.
Every step taken and each word spoken should be done to represent our Honored Chief Creator Sets Free, as you dance your prayers and give thanks through him to our Father the Creator.
Whether you are drawn more to the traditional version or to this new version, we need to remember a bit about the Christians in Colossae. They lived under Roman rule – that rule that maintained “Pax Romano” at any cost, where any whisper of dissent could bring retaliation and punishment. They lived in the second or third generation after Jesus’ crucifixion, resurrection and ascension. They were discouraged that he has not yet come again. They were struggling with how to live this new life in Christ while still living in the reality of the present age. They relied upon their relationships with each other as they worshipped in small gatherings, praying, learning, growing in faith.
To them, this letter of encouragement and hope is written. Remember who you are as followers of Jesus. Let your mind dwell on things that are above – the spirit-world filled with that we cannot see. Be kind to one another and humble. Bear with one another and be patient. And above all else, clothe yourself with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
The First Nations Version puts it this way: When all this new regalia is in place, let the love of the Great Spirit gather all the loose threads and braid them together in unity with one another. I love the images here – all the loose threads being braided together in unity through the work of God.
We have loose threads and rough edges. We have fraying seams and worn patches. Even in the church. And these can lead us to worry and despair and bicker and quarrel. These can swamp our hope. So, we are told and encouraged to take this loose threads and braid them together with love – not love that is our own creation but come to us from God – we love because God first loved us.
I’d like you to take a look at this quilt. (or crazy quilt) See each square – they are not the same – some are similar, but each is cut individually, each is placed individually. Then the squares are stitched together and all the separate pieces come together into one, what is called the quilt top. Then the top is placed on top of some batting and then on top of the quilt backing and it is sewn together, these layers, tied with thread or stitched with a pattern and the separate layers and separate pieces are one. But then the rough edges are exposed and they could fray or split apart. So they are covered over with a binding. And a perfect harmony, a whole and complete quilt is completed.
Yet it doesn’t stop there. It will be packaged up with tens of others and sent on its way to Lutheran World Relief that will distribute this bundle of love and warmth to people in need, people who are cold and suffering.
And so it is with we who are the church. We also have our differences, yet in the waters of our baptisms we are joined to Christ and to one another, frayed edges, worn patches, loose threads and all. Here at Grace we are actively involved in loving and caring for each other, helping and binding up our loose threads. And the love of God binds us together as one. But this unity is not an end on to itself. We are sent into the world to share this love with those in need, with those who are suffering or despairing, with those who need the encouragement that we ourselves have received.
This letter opened with a thanksgiving for this Christian community – for the faith they have in Jesus, for the love that they have for each other and because of the hope stored up for them in heaven. It is there that their minds are set – not on things of the present time but on the things that are above. It is in this that they establish their hope as they live in difficult times. I recently read this about hope:
People speak of hope as if it is this delicate, ephemeral thing made of whispers and spider’s webs. It is not. Hope has dirt on her face, blood on her knuckles, the grit of the cobblestones in her hair, and just spat out a tooth as she rises for another go.
That’s the way that it is sometimes, isn’t it. Our hope does not disappoint. It is found in the love of God that gathers the loose ends and braids them together in unity and peace.
May it be so.
Amen.
