Practicing a Better Story

 

         On Ash Wednesday we considered our Lenten Disciplines. 

We touched upon the fine line between right religious practice and practicing our religion hypocritically: 
Practice instead of projection, 
A Kingdom focused verses self-righteousness, 
religion that comes from a place of integrity instead of dis-ease, 
practice grounded in God’s grace, instead of our works.

         It’s that last one I’d like to emphasize again today. 
All that we do, 
especially in this season of intense religious doings, 
ought to be a response to God acting first. 
Our life as religious people, as Christians, tell a story about God…

         As it is said, “Be careful how you live. You may be the only Bible some person ever reads.” 
How we practice Lent, 
and how we live our whole lives, 
ought to tell the truth about God… 
There are many stories that are “If/Then” stories, 
ultimately false stories about God’s relationship with the world… 
but ours, 
the stories we tell in words and deeds, 
are “Because/therefore” stories.

         Not if/then, but because/therefore…

         Prayer

 

         In today’s Gospel we read about two competing stories, 
the devil’s “If/Then” story 
and Jesus’, “Because/therefore” story.

         In the devil’s story, 
The If/Then story tempting Jesus, 
is that Jesus has to earn his Sonship
—that Jesus’ Heavenly Father will only acknowledge that relationship if…

         If you transform stones to bread, then you are God’s son…

         if you temp angels by throwing yourself off a high point, then I will be your Father,

         if you conquer the world, by whatever means necessary
—even worshipping the devil
—then my inheritance is yours!
If/then.

 

         A common story in Jesus’ time
—a world weighed down by Roman Rule
—If you support the emperor, then you get Bread and Circuses, 
if you do what you’re told, then a Roman Legion won’t wipe you out,
if you declare that Caesar is Lord, then you shall have peace.

         A story that still has resonance in our own world
—If you work hard, then you’ll get ahead,
If your child gets into college, then everything will be fine,
If you give the mugger your wallet, then he won’t stab you. 
If if if…

 

         But Jesus tells another story
—Jesus tells a better story in Matthew’s Gospel
—He tells a because/therefore story…

because he is the Son of God, 
therefore he will feed the 5,000, the 4,000, and the 12 at table
—feed them with the bread of life.

         Because he is God’s beloved son, 
therefore he will reach the heights by preaching the sermon on the mount, 
be transformed on the mount of transfiguration, 
and die on mount Calvary.

         Because he is God’s heir, 
therefore he will teach prayers and tell parables about Heaven’s Kingdom, 
and it shall have no end!

 

         So too, our Lenten Practice can tell God’s Because/Therefore story.

         When we collect alms, 
we are not saying, “If you are deserving, 
then I’ll give to you.” 
No, “Because God has created all that is, and I am a steward of that goodness, 
therefore I gladly share of it as able.”

         When we pray, 
we are not saying, “If I say this one particular prayer in this one particular way, 
then God will do what I want.”
No, “Because God is our loving parent, 
therefore we can come to God with all our needs and shortcomings, praises and thanksgiving.”

         When we fast, 
we are not saying, “If I abstain from this or that, 
then I’m righteous.”
No, “Because God is a relational and reconciling God, 
therefore I can avoid things that wreck relationships.”

 

         Or, consider the three practices I’m encouraging you all to try: Conversation, Reading, and Discernment.

         When we have God Conversations, 
we are not saying, “If I talk to people about Jesus, 
then they’ll fill the pews and become leaders in this congregation.” 
Though if that happens praise be to God!
No, “Because God’s Spirit is already active in the world and continues to go on ahead of us, even when the Church isn’t looking or following, 
therefore we can learn what the Spirit is up to among our neighbors and join them in it.”

         When we read the Bible, wide or deep, 
we are not saying, “If I read enough of this book, 
then I’ll be an excellent person.” 
Though it does happen.
No, “Because God has a long history of being faithful to God’s people, 
therefore we get to read about it and see more clearly how God continues to be faithful to us today.”

         When we Discernment God’s calling on our life, 
we are not saying, “If I find the sweet spot between Joy, Competence, and Need, 
then everything is going to work out.” 
Though hopefully we’ll be nudged in a more purposeful direction.
No, “Because God has made us who we are in this time, place, and community, 
therefore we get to explore how the roles and relationships we have can be good and very good.”

 

         May this Lent, and our practice of it, tell God’s story… 
tell of God’s grace, 
be a response to God’s continued love and care for 
this world, 
each of you, 
and our neighbors near and far. Amen.