January 2015 Sermons:
The Reverend Joyce Smothers

"Where the Star Stops" — January 4
"Chosen By God" — January 11

“Where the Star Stops”
January 4, 2015
First Presbyterian Church of Hokendauqua
The Reverend Joyce Smothers

Matthew 2:1-12

The older I get, the more comfortable I am with mystery—with the fact that some questions will never be answered. I am learning that life is a constant search for understanding and wisdom.

In our Old Testament reading, Isaiah talks about bringing things to the light. “Lift up your eyes and look around,” the prophet proclaims. In other words, come from the darkness to the light. It was the light of the star that led the Wise Men to find Jesus. In a world of mysteries, we can find Jesus too. We just need to set our minds on looking for Him—and taking the necessary steps of faith to find Him.

The Wise Men tried to answer the question, “Where?” Historians believe these men were astrologers, not kings. They were probably from Babylon or Persia, where Jews in exile had spoken of the longed-for Messiah for hundreds of years. We know they brought three gifts, but we aren’t sure there were actually three Wise Men. Some scholars believe there were quite a few more—a whole entourage of astrologers. In those days, people who studied the stars, believed that certain bright stars were supposed to signify the birth of a royal baby. This group of men saw a star in the East. They were intrigued and followed it, as it moved, searching for this royal child.

The first stop for the Wise Men was Jerusalem. Their first question in the holy city was, “Where?” They specifically asked, “Where is the child who has been born King of the Jews? For we have observed His star in its rising, and have come to pay him homage.”

Imagine leaving your home to follow a star! There would be so many risks involved. You wouldn’t have known how long you’d be gone. You wouldn’t have known whose land you would have to cross, or whether the owners of that land had weapons. You wouldn’t have known how rough the terrain would be. And you wouldn’t have known where you would end up.

Matthew’s story, in chapter two of the gospel, doesn’t tell us about the dangers the Wise Men faced, or how they even had the courage to begin. What we do know, is that the first leg of the journey took them to Jerusalem. And the child-king was not there! In fact, King Herod helped them by telling them that the prophet Micah had foretold that a ruler would be born in Bethlehem, just six miles away. Micah’s prophecies had implied that this child might challenge Herod’s authority.

The Bible doesn’t tell us much about Herod the Great, but from ancient historians we can get an idea of what kind of ruler he was. According to the historian Josephus, Herod wasn’t a nice person. When Herod’s brother-in-law started to get too popular with the people, Herod arranged for him to accidentally drown in the royal swimming pool. Herod killed one of his wives, his mother-in-law, and three of his sons.

Herod was perplexed by the Wise Men and the star. There was no new baby in his royal household. This child frightened him, so he conspired to send the Wise Men to Bethlehem. He commanded them to bring word back to him when they found the royal child, so he, Herod, could worship Him. Herod acts like the Grinch in this gospel story, rubbing his paws together to see how he can get rid of Christ (not Christmas).

So the Wise Men continued their journey of faith. They followed their guiding star south to Bethlehem, until it told them where to stop. And when it stopped, the Bible tells us that they were “overwhelmed with joy.” There, in a stable, they found Mary and Joseph and the child. The Wise Men knelt beside Jesus to pay homage. They opened their treasure chests to present Him with gifts of gold and expensive fragrances.

The Wise Men searched for Jesus, and were rewarded when they found Him. Whenever we look for Jesus, we will be rewarded with joy when we find Him. If we seek him in our daily chores, we may be able to find joy in those chores. If we seek Jesus at church, we will find Him at church. If we seek Jesus in the person who is driving us crazy, we will even find Him in that person.

Along with finding Jesus, we will discover a mysterious pull –we will feel compelled to follow Jesus. And when that happens, the question of “Where?” remains with us as it did the Wise Men—Where will He lead us? Will we be able to rest—and if so, where? What obstacles will we encounter on our journey?

Most of us don’t like unanswered questions. We don’t want to have to live with mystery. But the life of faith requires it. We have to trust that God will answer our questions when we need the answers, and that He will guide our steps.

Each year the church celebrates Epiphany on January 6, the day after the twelfth day of Christmas. January 6 falls on a Tuesday this year. On Epiphany we celebrate the Wise Men’s discovery of Jesus’ birth. The Star of Bethlehem disappeared from the sky two thousand years ago, but we still follow Jesus now. And just as following the star was a journey of faith for the Wise Men, it is a journey of faith for us to follow Him.

Legend has it that Confucius said, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” One step of faith will lead to another, more important step. And since we are all at different places on our journey, that step will be a different one for each one of us.

As the year 2015 begins, your new year’s resolutions could take the form of steps of faith. Your step of faith could be to deepen your involvement with the church. We are looking for a person or persons to represent us at Whitehall Food Bank meetings—four a year. Or you might want to take a behind-the-scenes part in the life of the congregation. Your step of faith could be to encourage a family member or friend on his or her journey of faith. You could start reading the Bible every day, or join a Bible study group. Your step of faith could be reaching out in loving service to others.

The Wise Men invite us to pray for God’s guidance for our journey, and then to move forward with confidence into the New Year---and into a renewed relationship with God. You’ve made a step of faith by coming to church. We are here in response to a spiritual longing, even if we can’t name it. We have been called forth like the Wise Men, led by the light of a star. We have felt the pull of God’s love. Where will your next step of faith take you?

Let us pray. No matter how we prepare to meet you, God, we are never ready for your coming. For who can prepare for the unexpected? We offer open hands and open hearts; abide with us we pray. Amen.

“Chosen By God”
January 11, 2015
First Presbyterian Church of Hokendauqua
The Reverend Joyce Smothers

Mark 1:4-11

Our gospel reading today is the beginning of Mark’s story of Jesus. Unlike Luke, Mark doesn’t tell us anything about Jesus’ birth or childhood. All four gospels tell the same story of Jesus’ baptism, but Mark has given us the short version. He’s more concise than the other three. It takes Mark just one verse to tell us that "Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan."

This story is difficult, even though it’s very short--because John the Baptist is difficult. John is as strange a character as the Old Testament prophet, Elijah. In the nineteen sixties, people might have called him a hippie. Like Elijah, John storms out of the wilderness, eating locusts and washing them down with honey, and warning the people of God’s wrath to come. John is a prophet because he is in the business of calling God’s people back to God. Surprisingly, crowds flock to John to be baptized. He keeps telling everyone that, after him, a leader will baptize, not in water but with the Holy Spirit. That leader will be Jesus.

Mark tells us that John was busy “proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” The word, repent, comes from the Greek word, metanoi, which means “to turn around.” John demanded that the people he baptized, should turn from the direction they had been going in life. John was arrested, and died a martyr’s death, right after Jesus’ baptism.

Jesus comes to John to be baptized, as part of the crowd from Jerusalem and the countryside. Why would an imperfect prophet, like John, be chosen to baptize the Son of God? Good question. Here’s my answer: Jesus is humble. He’s a leader who walks with the common people and experiences what they experience. They have come to the Jordan to be washed clean, and to get right with God. Jewish tradition expected Elijah to return and usher in the Messiah. Mark, in describing John the Baptist as looking like Elijah, is powerfully pointing to Jesus as the Messiah.

In Mark’s version of the story, Jesus steps into the river, He’s dunked, and He comes up. There’s a dove and then a voice from above that declares Him to be God’s own child … and it’s done! What a joyful scene, as Jesus’ ministry begins. Today is the day in the Christian year called “The Baptism of the Lord” when we remember Jesus’ baptism. When we think about Jesus’ baptism, we remember our own callings by God. Calling to ministry doesn’t end with baptism. It’s just the beginning. Our new church officers will accept their calls today.

The moment of high drama in Jesus’ baptism is the moment when the heavens are ripped open, and the Spirit descends like a dove, and the voice says, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well-pleased.” That is the way Mark shows that the arrival of Jesus has cosmic significance. God is tearing open the fabric of the universe to lay claim to His Son, Jesus. Mark uses the same Greek word for “torn” that he later uses to describe the curtain of the temple being ripped apart at Jesus’ death. That word is schizomai.

The baptism happens at the very beginning of Jesus’ ministry. He hasn’t done anything yet for God to be pleased about. So when the voice says "with you I am well pleased," it has nothing to do with Jesus’ work. Jesus hasn’t healed anyone yet. He hasn’t told parables or performed miracles of any kind, prior to His baptism. God is pleased with Jesus, just for being who He is: the child of God. In the Presbyterian church we baptize babies. They haven’t had much of a chance to do anything except look cute! But God loves them. Baptism is the start of their lives as God’ children. Our baptism takes on meaning, for years after the actual event. This is the way it was, for Jesus too.

Imagine what the voice from heaven must have said at your own baptism--even if you were a baby who hadn’t done anything yet. "Archie, you are my son, my beloved; with you I am well pleased." "Sharon, you are my daughter, my beloved; with you I am well pleased." Hear, in your own mind, your name being spoken by a voice from heaven, saying, "You are my child." and "I am well pleased with you." How different would our lives be if, every morning when we woke up, one of our first thoughts was, I am a child of God. God is pleased with me. None of us are perfect, but God keeps calling us to serve him, at our baptism and our confirmation, and again at our installation as church officers.

The purpose of Jesus’ baptism is seen in the years that follow that afternoon by the Jordan. In the waters of baptism, Jesus heard the Spirit calling Him to speak the truth and to live with grace. Jesus was true to the voice. Jesus gave everything: His days and nights, His hopes and dreams, His work and His life itself. Jesus gave himself to God’s people—sharing, listening, and ministering.

Baptism carries with it God’s expectation that we will serve. But first and foremost, our baptism is God’s declaration of love for us. Baptism means that God has broken through. We, in turn, are called to tear into the challenges of the world with everything God gives us—all our time, talent and treasure. It's a summons to give our lives to something more challenging, and in the end, more enduring than any other work. Jesus came up out of the waters, and perhaps He saw a vision of God, and a vision of His future. And because we are baptized, our lives have been pointing us to ministry too. Saying “yes” to our baptism is our daily work. It is saying yes to a life torn open, like a curtain, by the love of God. God starts with average people who are willing to get wet—willing to go deep—willing to make a commitment.

Growing in faith is a lifelong process. God hands us the map at our baptisms, but we are the ones who have to take the trip. It takes a lifetime to finish it. Just as Jesus’ life gave meaning to His baptism, so our baptisms receive meaning through the way we live. We are not Jesus. We can never be faithful as Jesus was faithful. But even if we can’t be Jesus, we are called to live in such a way that God can announce, “You are my sons and daughters. With you, I am well pleased.”

Church officers are set apart by God for ministry. Elders and Deacons are called to live in a manner that fulfills God’s love for them. The congregation will promise to support their ministry. The ceremony will end with the practice of laying on of hands. Any current or former officer in the Presbyterian church is invited to lay hands on our new officers.

You are a child of God. Your baptism gave you a power that will uphold you through any test of your faith—in fact, any challenge you will face. God empowers you to help make His vision of heaven a reality. With you, God is well pleased. Remember your baptism.

Let us pray. O God, you are the source of all ministry in the church. Empower us to be your disciples and your chosen ones, and to take your good news out into the world. AMEN

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