March 20, 2022 – Lent 3C        

“At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. He asked them, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did’” Luke 13:1-5

“What is Karma?” One definition of Karma is “a person’s destiny or fate following a series of life events.”  Karma is more understood as a Buddhist or Hindu process of: “the sum of a person’s actions in this and previous states of existence (lives), viewed as deciding their fate in future existences.” As such, in the Buddhist understanding Karma is an explanation for what happens to someone because of the sins of their past—and by past I mean past life experiences. Now, I would suggest to you that there might be different kinds of Karma. For example, the people who just happened to go to a Mosque or a Temple or Church for prayers or a service — and someone comes into the building and shoots them dead–well I would call that kind of Karma “Bad Random Karma”. And then there is “Regular Karma”, which might explain why someone has a bridge beam fall on their heads while they are stuck in traffic—and just happen to be sitting under a bridge under construction.  Have you shut me out yet? Just wait, it gets better…

There is the story told about a small country congregation in Georgia where on a Sunday night they were having an evening prayer service back in 1938. The prayer service was in full motion when a local man named Sam came running into the church. When he caught his breath he shouted “I just heard on the radio that Martians have landed and are attacking people in New Jersey.” The congregation stared at the pastor, because everything is the pastor’s problem or responsibility—and he had stopped in mid sentence in his sermon. Now, we all know that this local man was taken in by the Orson Wells “War of the World” radio theater—but no one knew that at the time. Finally an old farmer stood up and said “I expect that Sam has some of his facts wrong, but if it is true, we are in the right place here at church. So, let’s keep going…”

Where else do we go, or where else do we want to be when bad karma strikes us, Amen? But, truth be told, if space ships are landing, or someone is outside shooting up the place, I would rather be in church than in a farmer’s field trying to shoot down a space ship.

What we need to do my friends, as children of G-d, we need to change the narrative, not only in our lives, but in the lives of the small world we inhabit. Right now, it is through the tragedies, the doom and gloom, the terrorist attacks, the announcements of rogue asteroids that cause people to run around shouting that the end is near—that G-d is about to punish us—that the sky is about to fall. That is the only way a lot of people see G-d interacting in our world.

As people of G-d, we need to make “Grace” the sign of the times. How? Well, we need to learn to live lives of Grace—and to learn to give away Grace prodigally, wastefully, by being bearers of Grace unconditionally—and then we, as people of G-d, we become the “signs of the times”.

Pastor Dave

March 19, 2022 – “The Fruitless Fig Tree”        

“And he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry.And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it.” Mark 11:11-14

“The fruitless fig tree” – one of the parables where a fig tree plays a prominent role. For the Prophets, the fruitless fig tree was a metaphor for the people of Israel—like in Joel 1:7: It has laid waste my vines, and splintered my fig trees; it has stripped off their bark and thrown it down; their branches have turned white.

Micah 7:1: Woe is me! For I have become like one who, after the summer fruit has been gathered, after the vintage has been gleaned, finds no cluster to eat; there is no first-ripe fig for which I hunger.

Hosea 9:10: Like grapes in the wilderness, I found Israel. Like the first fruit on the fig tree, in its first season, I saw your ancestors.
But they came to Baal-peor, and consecrated themselves to a thing of shame, and became detestable like the thing they loved.

For Jesus, the fruitless fig tree is the people of Israel. They had become a people whose faith was fruitless – they were going through the motions, but were not impacted in the heart. Jesus wants us to bear good fruit, worthy of repentance. Our faith in G-d should produce fruit – not so that we have salvation, but because Jesus has won that salvation for us. Our fruit instead helps with our Sanctification—our journey with Holiness.

This text can be a frightening text – because it shows the power of G-d to smite – without consideration – and to smite with a mighty hand.

But there is another parable involving a fig tree—in Luke 13. This story talks about the gardener who asks for and is granted more time to fertilize the fig tree. This fig tree story is a story of Grace–the Luke story is a true story of the Grace that Jesus offers us all. Jesus gives us chance after chance after chance to bear fruit worthy of repentance.

Let us pray

Lord Jesus, I know there have been times in my life where I have been fruitless. Give me the power of your holy spirit today so I can bear good fruit. Help me to share out of your abundance. Amen.

Pastor Dave