July 11, 2021 – Pentecost +7B

“As Jesus and his disciples begin to attract attention, Mark recalls the story of John the Baptist’s martyrdom. Like John, Jesus and his disciples will also suffer at the hands of those opposed to the gospel of salvation. King Herod heard of [the disciples’ preaching,] for Jesus’ name had become known. Some were saying, “John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him.” But others said, “It is Elijah.” And others said, “It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.” For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod had married her. For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him. But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it.” And he solemnly swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.” She went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” She replied, “The head of John the baptizer.” Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.” Mark 6:14-29

“This is what he showed me: the Lord was standing beside a wall built with a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand. And the Lord said to me, “Amos, what do you see?” And I said, “A plumb line.” Then the Lord said, “See, I am setting a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel; I will never again pass them by; the high places of Isaac shall be made desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste, and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.” Amos 7:7-9

Do you know what a plumb line is? For those who may be a little fuzzy on the topic, a plumb line is a line you drop to help you build something that will be straight – according to your vertical aspect. It not only helps you to make sure what you are building is straight, it is also used for testing walls that are already built – to see if they are still straight – or if they are bowing, bulging, sagging or crooked – and as such, help them determine if they need to be torn down. In the Amos text we have this morning, G-d tells Amos “I am setting a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel.” G-d is telling Amos is that he is testing the righteousness and justice of Israel – and will use the plumb line to determine their justice. A plumb line does not deviate, does not provide excuses, does not change, and does not tell you what you want to hear. The Lord is going to measure Israel like that – and the Lord will measure you and me like that.

If the Lord were to measure your justice, your righteousness and your Love, Mercy and Grace right now, how would it compare to the Lord’s plumb line? In the midst of so many people rejecting G-d and the church, what can you and I do to help people see G-d for the loving, righteous, merciful and Grace-filled G-d that G-d is? Or to see how their lives are bowing and bulging to such a point they need a different plumb line in their lives?

Look, let me tell you a truth about this life and the world: Sometimes, life stinks. Sometimes people are mean and rude and downright unrighteous. The people we put our trust in, the things we put our trust in – things like people, cars, committees, judicial appointments, car mechanics, and family will ultimately fail us – leave us – and disappoint us. In other words, there are a lot of Herods in the world. And yet, in all of this disappointment and ugliness, there is great beauty in the world – and there are beautiful, faithful, loving people in the world.

Have you stopped lately to assess your plumb line? Are you following G-d’s will, or your own will? Are you following in the direction Jesus wants to lead you, or are you following your own direction? Is your spiritual wall straight and true – or are you slanted away from G-d? How do we discern the difference?

Well, it seems to me that, as we discern our direction in life, we soon come to realize that as Christians, our plumb line is actually “Cruciform”. When we trust the Holy Spirit – when we remind ourselves daily that we are marked with the cross of Christ and sealed with the Holy Spirit, then every day our spiritual wall begins straight – only to have life give us a kick once in a while – and sometimes those kicks threaten to knock down our walls. But we do not give up – should not give up – because when Jesus continues to be our plumb line, then we put our trust and faith in promises that are trustworthy and true.  

Pastor Dave