That’s Enough

Sunday November 8, 2009
Preacher: Pastor Kendra Mohn

Readings:
1 Kings 17:8-16
Hebrews 9:24-28
Mark 12:38-44

“I’d rather poke a hot stick in my eye!” Gary Johnson
“Grace, gratitude, and generosity” Mick Roschke
“That’s Enough!” Kendra Mohn

A place is consumed by the vocabulary and language that comprise it. Mt. Zion is no exception. These are both memorable quotes for their oft-repeatedness and how they help plant and root many a good idea and feeling in our congregation.

Today we focus on the gratitude shown by the widow and the generosity that poured forth from it, all prompted by the grace she admitted was bestowed upon her. Today, Pastor Mohn confessed her compassion for these women who have NEVER known the feeling of having enough.

Many of us have never known or really tasted the insecure feeling that comes from feeling there is truly nothing between us and the end.

Our lives are more fragile than we like to admit.

It would be all too fine if we could just say, “All will be fine and God will take care fo everything as we would like.” This can be every bit the lie. People really do lose their jobs, lose their homes. It would be, yes, disingenuous to stand in front of these people and say, “all will be fine”.

The truth is “You’re never going to have enough”.

The security you seek is elusive.

We all have “that list of things we’re going to buy when we have enough” … the next replacement appliance around the corner, another “shiny thing” that rears its head. Requests, from Church or therwise, put a knot in our stomachs … what if my family needs it, what if we don’t have enough. Truth is …

You never have enough to stave off death. Never.

Someone may say, “Keep your pennies, dear widow … you’re going to need them” to which the widow replies “Why? So I can die Wednesday instead of Tuesday?”

Why does the widow give?

Because she knows the freedom that comes with having lived so close to death. The rest of us seek the security and happiness that will keep death away. To have enough to do that is our elusive quest. And, the truth is, there is never enough .

If, rather, what you want is to breathe freely, live life to the fullest , live in the sun, live a life for God, you already have more than enough!

That’s enough … I’m ready to retire.
That’s enough … it’s time to make a decision.
That’s enough … it’s time to run the marathon.
That’s enough … I’m leaving
That’s enough … it’s time to eat, dinner’s ready.

God is ALWAYS present in that precious moment of recognition when “that’s enough”. And that moment is now.

Now is the moment to say that’s enough. I have identified my calling as a child of God. I have recognized my part of a living community. I have enough.

The thing about the widow is she’s so fragile. She had nothing left to fear. She had the true freedom to intimately know grace, gratitude and generosity.

When will we have enough? There will NEVER be a better, more perfect moment than now.

The Gift of Truth

Sunday October 25, 2009
Preacher: Pastor Kendra Mohn

Readings:
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Romans 3:19-28
John 8:31-36

Audio sermon file:

http://fileresource.sitepro.com/filemanager/74/filecollections/742/58C601D0-DCE7-3A92-D3CC-F0C2A1474183.mp3


Pastor Mohn started off today by remembering somewhat vividly the actual day she was confirmed by saying …

“We’re not supposed to be old enough to remember anything that happened 18 years ago!!”

Welcome to thirty-something!

She remembered there was “no film in the camera” and she has only memories of that day. She remembers the feeling of the Pastor’s hand on her head. It prompted her to add that it’s really a pity we don’t stop to recall this moment or other significant moments in our lives much more often.

In the life of a believer, affirming one’s Baptism is very profound. The Gospel made Pastor Mohn mildly (?) upset as it conjured images of a culture that thrives on competition and designating fault. We like to think we have some handle on “THE Truth”, some license on it, so to speak.

But the REAL truth is not a dogma or ideology. We spend a ton of capital trying to convince others that we have some ownership of the one truth, that we have the best, most compelling argument. As a culture, we stress competition over cooperation, education and tolerance.

Luther was tormented by the notion that he could not be righteous enough … because, as h realized, righteousness is a gift.

TRUTH is a lot like righteousness. Truth is also a gift … given freely. It comes in the name and form of aJesus, bestowed in the waters of Baptism, a promise that frees us to live better … no matter what the truth us.

We should ask God more often to guide us through unchartered territory rather than seeking the truth we can not find. Like some of the qualities like humility and character and goodness of heart spoken of in this blog back in September, these gifts come from what C.S. Lewis calls the great principle of inattention – they come when, rather than seeking them in futile vain, we focus on something more eternal. God will then provide the gift.

Maurice Boyd described a friend who said “I wonder if I’m licking the right boots?” He thought, “How terrible to be licking anybody’s boots!!” He then said something I’ll never forget …

The greatest quality of friendship is its disinterestedness!

It, like the truth, comes not when you’re willing to over reach to find it or attain it (when that will never work). It comes when you’re just being yourself. THAT unlocks the door behind which you eventually taste true friendship.

And truth, humility, righteousness, character, all live on the other side of that door .

I Fought The Law and … the Law Won

Sunday October 4, 2009
Preacher: Pastor Kendra Mohn

Readings:
Genesis 2:18-24
Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12
Mark 10:2-16

Audio sermon file:

http://fileresource.sitepro.com/filemanager/74/filecollections/742/3A4B34FD-DC40-3F81-58B9-C324151FAF33.mp3

Divorce is very often very emotional, fraught with despair, pain, but sometimes also relief. When the Pharisees question Jesus about divorce, though, it is ALL about testing Him.

They’re not thinking about people in pain when they pose the question. They are not saying, “ How can we honor unity in the midst of a broken relationship?” They’re not saying, “How can we minister to the broken-hearted?”

What they are asking is “What does the letter of the law say?” This is actually an insult to Jesus who, in fact, created the law.

Today’s text is not so much about divorce as it is about “loopholes around the law”. The Pharisees are acting more like bookish lawyers paid high retainers to “find an out” than to serve some higher good or honor the intent of the law rather than exploit “the letter“of it.

We’ve heard the speak before:

“How little can I give to the Church and still be faithful?”
“How many times do I HAVE to forgive someone some offense?”

If you question the law, one thing you can certain of is the conversation will be a short one.

You want the law?
YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE LAW!!!

We often think the law (if we can find the loophole, will be on our side. Good luck with that one. It reminded Pastor Mohn of the song ...


“I fought the law … and the law won!”

But … if you can talk your way out of the law, you really don’t need Jesus. But understanding the letter of the law will help us. We need Jesus … and the Pharisees don’t get that!

You know who gets it? Children get it. Pastor Mohn told a wonderful story about Annika … that while feedng her goldfish crackers while singing, Annika gave the sign language for “more”. Upon giving her “more” crackers, she continued to sign. What she wanted was more singing!!

What we need is not more crackers, but more of Mom’s lovely voice caressing our eardrums and our hearts, more of Mom’s love for us. We need more of God’s love for us. You want the law? OK, but it won’t help you.

LOVE … is why we come together every Sunday … for “more”.