Witnesses to What?

April 26th 2009
Third Sunday of Easter
Rev. Mark R. Bradshaw-Miller
“Witnesses to What?”
Luke 24:36-48

“Is it true?” On the first Sunday in Easter it was this question with which we were faced. The answer I gave to that question, was to simply ask another question; “What have you seen?” It is not that I was playing games or trying to avoid the question. Instead, it was my attempt to remind us that our calling is not to provide pat answers but to give a witness to how we have seen God at work in the world.
Last week, as we gathered around the table and the smell of fresh baked bread surrounded our celebration, we learned of Jesus’ elusive presence whenever bread is broken and shared. It was a poignant reminder as to the surprising ways and places where God’s presence is made manifest. But, in many ways, it was really a continuation of the question: “What have you seen?” In order to be a witness we must train ourselves to expect God’s presence in the most unusual places. Today’s reading is not only an extension of these passages but the culmination of Luke’s gospel. Like any good culmination, or conclusion, this passage points us backwards so we can move forward with confidence.
“Peace be with you!” It is with these words that Jesus makes his presence known. To the disciples locked behind closed doors, these words are welcome news. However, a greeting of peace, in the Gospel of Luke points us all the way back to the beginning. In this greeting we must remember the visitations of the angels to Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, Mary, the mother of Jesus, and the shepherds keeping watch of the flock by night. From the beginning of the Good News, God is doing a new and earth shattering thing. The mighty will be brought down from their thrones, and the lowly will be lifted up and filled with good things. It is a good news story which causes everyone who hears to fear.
That reaction should not be all that surprising. After all, even positive changes can elicit a reaction of fear. Fear is the response to God’s good news. So just imagine the fear of finding the empty tomb and hearing that Jesus is not dead. Fear of Rome is one thing but fear of what this might mean is entirely different. Standing in the presence of the disciples Jesus speaks words of peace and the response is joy, disbelief, fear, and doubt. Into the face of the disciples doubt, Jesus does not challenge, but instead teaches, but not before eating some fish.
The request for fish could almost be considered a “throw away” line. Or, it could be to prove that Jesus was not a ghost. It might be both, but it is also much more. In the gospel of Luke, fish play an important role. Or maybe a better way of putting it is that when Jesus eats fish here, it should remind us of something important. On two occasions in the Gospel, Jesus takes fish and bread, just enough for a few people, and feeds thousands. I simply cannot imagine that when Jesus eats fish he is simply hungry or trying to prove a point. Instead, he is showing the disciples the importance of shared meals and shared resources. Disciples know how to eat and to make sure no one goes hungry.
In this encounter, Jesus teaches first with his actions and then he opens the scriptures to them. When all is said and done he tells them the most important thing: “You are my witnesses to these things.” It is in those words that the disciples of all ages are set to the task of being witnesses. But the key to it turns out to be the words: “These things.” When Jesus uses those words he is calling the disciples to remember what they have seen. Being a witness means that we cannot remain behind closed doors. Being witnesses to these things means we have something to share. And being witnesses to these things, means that we must be in touch with the reality of the fear, joy and doubt that are all part of being an honest disciple.
When Jesus says we are to be witnesses it means simple to tell what we have seen. The good news about being faithful witnesses is that we are not called to be superhuman. God wants our passion, not our perfection. Above all else being faithful is about being honest. We must acknowledge the places of fear and doubt and remember the words of the angels and the words of Jesus. Peace be with you, do not fear! So we are most faithful and believable as witnesses when we acknowledge the fear, welcome the doubt, rejoice like crazy in the joy. When we do this, when we share what we have seen and share what we have, then we are truly witnesses to “these things!” So, tell me… What have you seen? Amen? Amen!

Strange God

Second Sunday of Easter Communion Meditation

“Strange God” Luke 24:13-35

Did any of you hear about the “tax parties” which occurred this week? Maybe some of you saw the coverage or possibly attended. Well, I will admit to watching the rally sponsored by FoxNews which occurred in Atlanta. Seeing that event on the steps of the Georgia State Capital I noticed that the crowd stretched across the street to the steps of a Presbyterian church that I know well.

Central Presbyterian Church sits immediately across the street from the Capital building. Having spent a number of Sunday’s worshiping there, and many hours in that place working in their homeless shelter I stopped listening and started thinking. And when I saw all those folks protesting paying taxes I thought back to the time when I met James, the brother of Jesus.

The times I worshiped at Central I remember seeing James sitting in the balcony always with bible in hand. It was clear at first glance that James was homeless and that he was suffering from years on the street and a mental health system not geared for those without resources. Most of the time when I saw him, he appeared to me as being somewhat angry and not too interested in speaking. At the after church dinners I would occasionally listen to him say a few things but we never really had a conversation. Mostly, I just felt pity for him. However, one night that arrogance changed.

Central church has a homeless shelter which is run by volunteers. It was the first homeless shelter in Atlanta, a real testament to the ways in which the church of Jesus Christ can be at the forefront of real social crisis. It was set up back when there still existed an expectation that homeless was wrong and required our attention to solve. But throughout all the changes in social policy and attitudes, Central kept running the night shelter through the work of volunteers.

I saw it as a spiritual discipline to be part of the volunteer group from the seminary. The nights working at the shelter impacted me in powerful ways. It was a shelter that was housed in the church gym. It may have been run by the volunteers but it was organized by the men. What I remember most was that once everyone was served the volunteers and the men ate dinner together. The men and the volunteers also worked side by side in order to make the whole system function. There was this strange, yet refreshing leveling where the lines between served and servers were often blurred. It was a powerful way in which the humbled were afforded a bit of dignity and the privileged were humbled. The bread was broken and those who were strange to one another became known to one another as brother and sister, at least in some small way.

The disparity of wealth in the city of Atlanta was and is quite large. The unofficial totals of people who are homeless were somewhere around twenty-thousand. And unless you did your best to remain blind to the harsh realities of being poor in Atlanta, it was enough to make you despair, or at least flirt with it. I did that an awful lot. It was a city which claimed the mantra “Too busy to hate,” but I always thought it might be more accurate to say: “Too busy to care.” The economic dominance of Atlanta seemed to come with a price, and that price seemed to be the expendability of certain people. If you really paid attention to it all you could become overwhelmed. The sad reality is that this is not a problem unique to Atlanta, but that is a sermon for another day.
My life-changing encounter with James actually began the night before when I happen to sit at his table, not many people liked to sit with him. The truth is that I was no different but it was really the only seat available. James began to talk, about the bible, which he knew well. Then he went on to tell me how he was Jesus’ brother. In my own naive way I talked about us all being brothers and sisters with Jesus. James was quick to correct my mistake. He was Jesus’ flesh and blood brother who was with Jesus up until the crucifixion. I decided not to argue but instead I listened. I decided in that moment that I probably had a lot to learn. He told me about the difficulties of life on the street and the need for hope. He was a very kind soul who was rough around the edges but has a heart of gold. The depth of his faith commitment frankly made me feel a bit embarrassed though that was not his intention. That night before we said good night he told me not to worry that Jesus was going to come soon. As I went to sleep the lights shining from the dome of the capital and the Coca-Cola buildings provided a strange backdrop for the communion shared in that room. I pondered the words of Jesus’ brother.

The next morning, as everyone was busy cleaning up to get out before 5:30am, I did lunch duty. That means, I sat at the exit door by the elevator and handed out lunches to the men headed out to work. (Did I mention that 95% of all the men in the homeless shelter were employed in full time jobs?) After saying good-bye to most of the men there was a long pause. During those quiet moments prayed. While I do not remember the prayer exactly, it went something like this: “How much longer God?” About that time James came out grabbed his sack lunch and looked deeply in my eyes. He said: “Don’t worry; it’s not going to be long now.” Then he headed out the door.

To some his words might have been a simple word about how much longer it was going to take till the volunteers could leave. For me, those words were like manna from heaven. His words were an answer to my prayer. And with his words, I had a glimpse of Jesus that morning, through his brother James, telling me not to despair.

The simple truth of the Emmaus Road passage is that Jesus becomes known when people break bread together. When people share with one another what they have, whether its wisdom, or wealth, or love, or all of the above Jesus becomes known. When the love of God moves us beyond serving those in need to seeing those in need as people we need, then Jesus becomes known. When a seminary student can be encouraged by the words of man that the world sees as expendable, then Jesus becomes known. As we share bread at this table may this sharing lead us to journey in the world in new ways and with fresh vision so that we too might see Jesus, or Jesus’ brother, in the most unexpected places. Amen? Amen.

A Woman was the First Witness

April 12^th 2009 Easter Sunday
Rev. Mark R. Bradshaw-Miller
“The First Witness Was a Woman”
John 20:1-18

I read somewhere that what many people come seeking an answer to this question on Easter: “Is it true?” Is it true that the tomb was empty? Is it true that Jesus’ death was not in vain? Is it true that it matters to my life, and if so, how? If those are you questions then I am supposed to provide some satisfactory answers. So what am I going to say? The comfortable, traditional, convenient, and sanitized answer is simply: “Yes, of course it is true. Now, where are we going for Easter, brunch, lunch or dinner?” But that is not the answer I am going to give. I will not say that because it is not authentic. After all, if the question is really: “Is it true?” Then we should walk carefully. Anything which has the ring of an easy answer should not be the word to which we cling as authentic witnesses. The good news is that there is something more and this morning’s scripture reveals this in its depth and beauty.

Mary Magdalene was the first person to see Jesus on Easter. However, unlike us, Mary did not go to the tomb expecting it to be empty. Instead, Mary goes to the tomb for reasons that are not clear. Maybe she is going to be closer to Jesus. Maybe she is going to provide ritual care to the body of a loved one. Or, maybe Mary goes to the tomb hoping to find that the events of the last three days were just a bad dream. Instead what Mary finds is what looks like the work of grave robbers. She reports this to the other disciples only to face disbelief.

The most intriguing thing about this passage is not how the men do not believe the woman, that’s cliché. Nor is it how Mary is unable to see Jesus when he is right in front of her. The most interesting and, I believe, important thing is that Mary goes and places herself in this painful place. It is only as a result of her willingness to go to the place of death that she becomes the first witness of our faith.

Mary’s faithful witness is one which gives us some important clues for our own journey of faith. Like Mary we need to be willing to go to tomb places in our lives. It is a reminder that we need to be present in the places where we least expect to find God. This can be a revolutionary action in our culture which is well practiced in the art of avoidance. In other words, we are called to be vulnerable for others, for ourselves, and for God. If we, unlike Mary, avoid the tomb places, we may very well miss the presence of Jesus. It is because Mary is present in the place of tombs that she: “Sees the Lord!”

When Mary returns from the tomb a second time her message to the other disciples is not meant to convince them of what happened. Mary has already faced their doubt and the reality of rejection. This does not deter her in the least. Instead, she simply shares what she has seen. Mary shows what it means to be a witness to the resurrection. What we learn from her witness is that being people of faith is not primarily about engaging in conversations or arguments about the historic nature of the resurrection. Being people of faith is not about convincing others about the validity or supremacy of our faith. And, being people of faith is not about developing air-tight orthodox formulations. While those things have their place, it is not on Easter. Instead, Easter is about being witnesses. Which brings us back to the original question: “Is it true?”

When Mary returns to the disciples she says: “I have seen the Lord.” When the others hear Mary’s witness no one questions her or runs to the tomb in order to find out if what she has said is true. Mary is a witness because she simply shares what she has seen. And that is what the life of faith is all about. So when confronted with the question, “Is is true?” I believe the best response is: “What have you seen?” Or, “What do you see?” When we focus on this question it focuses our attention away from trying to formulate proofs and towards honing our ability to perceive God at work in the world. So, when trying to answer the question of the day, “Is it true?” let me tell you what I have seen.

I believe we get glimpses of the truth. However, these glimpses do not always come in the ways or places we most often expect. But I have seen God at work overcoming the tombs, the places of death, even today. I have seen this at times when white folks begin to see others as equals and not recipients of charity or less than. I see God overcoming death when men see women as fully human and not objects for personal pleasure. I see God overcoming death when gay and lesbian folks are truly welcomed and affirmed as God’s children. I see God overcoming death when all children are welcomed and not merely as window dressing. I see God overcoming death when people share their food with one another. I see God overcoming death when men and woman gather in the basement of this church each week to affirm their sobriety. I see God overcoming death when neighbors and congregations join together as best they can to make a difference in this community. I see God overcoming death when a community of faith seeks to be a living witness to God’s reconciliation in a city so deeply divided along race and class lines. That is what I have seen… I too have seen the Lord. So, the question still remains: “Is it true?” My response is: “Do not take my word for it.” Instead go from here to the places of the tombs and with your eyes wide open tell me what you see! Then, come back and tell me: “Is it true?” Amen? Amen!

Donkey King

March 29^th 2009 Palm Sunday Communion Sunday
Rev. Mark R. Bradshaw-Miller
“Donkey King” Mark 11:1-11

I have never attended a Saint Patrick’s Day celebration in Saint Louis. From what I hear I am missing quite a few spectacles. In fact, over the last three weeks three people have commended the Dog Town parade in particular. From what I have heard the parade is one where the lines between spectator and participant are rather blurred, literally and figuratively. This, I believe, is what truly great parades are all about. When I lived in Northern Ireland, I was a witness and participant to the very first legally allowed celebration of Saint Patrick’s Day in the Belfast City Square. That historical event was quite a spectacle. As a participant-observer, it was abundantly clear that this celebration was charged with pride, politics, and ideology. The whole event was all about identity and loyalty. One of my favorite pictures from the day is the one where the statue of Queen Elizabeth the First is covered in shamrock stickers and a tricolor (Irish) flag stuck between her fingers.

That was a day that I will never forget. In that celebration the parade clearly blurred the line between the participants and the spectators. As the festivities began to wind down the group of friends I was with left the center of town to walk home. In the very next block we ran headfirst into a large group of police and the army which had encircled the event, just in case the festivities got out of hand. Although nothing happened on that day, it was a powerful reminder that this celebration of cultural heritage was intimately connected to issues of power, political loyalty, and identity. For me, celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day has never been the same, though I still wear green every year.

On that first Palm Sunday, the very same issues of identity, power, and political loyalty were at work. While this might come as a surprise it is only because the meanings and implication of the day are often obscured in our modern celebrations. In a book by Marcus J. Borg and John Dominic Crossan called: The Last Week: What the Gospel’s Really Teach about Jesus’ Final Days in Jerusalem, this is made clear. This begins to make more sense once they explain that Jesus’ procession was not the only one which occurred that day. They write:

Two processions entered Jerusalem on that day. The same question, the same alternative, faces those who would be faithful to Jesus today. Which procession are we in? Which procession do we want to be in? This is the question of Palm Sunday and of the week that is about to unfold.

We know a great deal about the procession of Jesus that included his followers and other admirers. Jesus rides down from the Mount of Olives on a donkey as branches are laid in front of him and the people yell: “Hosanna.” It is no accident this event looks like a scene from the prophet Zechariah. The intended similarity is meant to be a proclamation that Jesus stands in the prophetic tradition and claims the mantle of the peaceful king who rejects the ways of war and violence. This scene is God’s rejection of the ways of violence made clear through the witness of Jesus riding on donkey. A humble king who invites those who observe to come and join the parade is what this day is all about.

The second, or other, procession looks nothing like the one we know well. As Jesus enters from the east side of Jerusalem, Pontius Pilate enters from the west. And his entry is anything but humble. The contrast between the processions is amazing. Pilate’s procession into the city is an imperial show meant to terrify the population. At Passover, Rome wanted to make sure that everyone would know who had the power. To insure that this Passover celebration would not get out of hand, the imperial cavalry and soldiers were part of the procession. It was a massive show of force meant to show that the order of the empire would be maintained at any cost. It too was a procession which was all about identity and loyalty. But unlike the other procession, this is a parade which does not invite people to join in. Instead the message is for the population to remain passive and on the sidelines.

So, on this day, when we celebrate a King who rides a donkey by waving our palm branches, it is so much more than reenacting the event. It is not event where we can sit on the sidelines as observers alone. Today is a time where we are all asked to recognize the truth about our loyalties to the powers of this world in the light of Jesus invitation to follow him in the humble parade. In the journey of faith we are called to join this parade and blur the lines between observer and participant. And as we do, we must remember that the struggle between following the imperial parade and the parade of the donkey king is a life-time affair. Each day provides us with the opportunity to join in the procession. So let us wave our palms and join in this strange parade led but King Jesus, who chose to ride a donkey. Amen.