34th Sunday After Pentecost Proper 7

                         June 20, 2010

the Rev. Ken Kroohs

(Isaiah 65:1-9; Ps. 22:18-27; Galatians 3:23-29 Luke 8:26-39)

IT DOES NOT MATTER

St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, High Point, NC

MAY THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH ... AND THE MEDITATIONS OF ALL OUR HEARTS ... BE ALWAYS ACCEPTABLE TO YOU --- OUR STRENGTH AND OUR REDEEMER AMEN

    I wonder .... this week I may get on the internet and see how many of my colleagues decided to skip the Gospel lesson and preach on Isaiah or the Psalm or Galatians! This talk about a legion of demons is a bit difficult to grasp.

    And there is a full sermon in each of our readings. Isaiah for example tells us that God was waiting .. waiting patiently for us to reach out anyone. God cries out “here I am, here I am” to a rebellious people. What comfort that provides to those of us who are rebellious and waiting to truly find God.

    God says that ultimately even those who provoke me to my face continually will not be destroyed.

    In Galatians Paul is still trying to explain the relationship of law to faith, or a life under the law to a life with Jesus. Paul is not throwing out the law. Not saying we can ignore all the rules but rather we need to go beyond the rules – we must do something that is more difficult, and more freeing than simply obeying laws.

    Paul’s point is one of the most difficult to grasp but we, unfortunately, have the perfect example going on right now in this country ... in the Gulf of Mexico. The people in charge of the clean up are obeying the laws and rules when they require permits, and safety inspections, and background checks. Those are the rules.

    But we criticize them for following the rules. We want them to go beyond the rules. We do not want the rules thrown out – most of them are good rules. But we want the rules applied in a manner consistent with the situation.

    An aside – if some of the Coast Guard officers are applying for a transfer – to Iraq – I would not blame them. If they follow the rules their careers are ruined since they will be listed as people who stood in the way of the clean up. If they break the rules their careers are ruined since they will have those broken laws on their record. .... Let’s give them a break.

    The rule Paul does want to throw out is the division between good people and bad. The division between “God’s people” and “not God’s people”. Paul says we are all God’s people.

    Which ... is part of the lesson in the gospel. But first let’s answer the question most people have when reading this passage about the exorcism of demons by the hundreds. .... IT DOES NOT MATTER! It does not matter whether we believe this is a historical account or a metaphorical reading. It does not matter for the lessons God is teaching us in it. We can talk about demons and exorcisms another day but for now, IT DOES NOT MATTER.

    God is teaching us a number of lessons we bury under the question of historic or metaphorical. Begin by noticing the context. Luke tells us Jesus and disciples had gotten in the boat to cross the lake. A major storm kicked up and the disciples were scared. Jesus woke up and told the winds and sea to calm down ... to chill. They did and the disciples wondered who this person is who controls weather.

    Now Jesus comes ashore and rather than facing the evil of nature He faces the evil of humans. So part of the teaching is Jesus’ power over all the other powers - natural and supernatural.

    One reason some people read this metaphorically is that the man is described in ways Jews used to describe gentiles in general ... doing everything wrong: naked, touching the dead, living with pigs and crazy enough to break chains – living in chaos. Notice the Isaiah reading again: “people who provoke me to my face ... who sit inside tombs, who eat swine’s flesh”. Those not following Yahweh. So another part of the teaching is that Jesus came to calm all human beings — Jews and non-Jews.

    Jesus’ power and Jesus’ mission are both teachings possibly more important to first century people than to us. Most of us have heard these thoughts before.

    So let’s move down a level and see what else is taught. Whether reading historically or metaphorically, the idea that being in God’s presence can cure the demons is important.

    We all have demons, some have many, some have a few but we all have demons. Some of our demons are substance abuse, some are related to DNA in bio-chemical matters, some are family demons — in fact so many people have family related demons that it is ironic we read this on father’s day.

    We all have demons – influences which make us behave in ways we later wish we had not. That could be deep depression or mis-behavior or whatever but we wish we could change that behavior.

    And this lesson says that being with God is the answer.

    Too simplistic? Probably. In fact I hate it when people argue this passage, and others, teach we simply have to connect with Jesus and WOW it is all good. That the change is instantaneous and permanent.

    Understand, I have seen seemingly instantaneous changes. They do happen. But not often. Usually the change requires hard work and time and help.

    I don’t think Jesus would have given Prozac even if He had it available! But that does not mean God cannot act through the doctors, the equipment, the medicines. This week I was with three different people thanking God for the gift of medical skills, science and medicine. Those are gifts from God - God healed those people even if God used the doctor’s hands. I have told people that each time they take one of those pills, to visualize God giving it them as a gift. It changes our attitude and it is, I believe, perfectly accurate.

    There may be a teaching buried in the man’s isolation. That without a community, and the proper help, the man could not be cured. Too often people with deep problems isolate themselves which is about the worse thing they can do. The worse thing is to associate with someone who is going to do more harm by being too pushy! But just below that in “worseness” is being isolated.

    And finding the right help to help us ‘exorcize’ our demons. Notice the people in the region had tried to help the man but could not do so. Finding the right help – the right doctor or therapist is critical. And while the human helps us, also staying in close touch with Jesus.

    Moving on ... the demons entering the swine could be a picture of evil joining with evil until it destroys itself.

    One reason for thinking this is metaphorical rather than historic is that in that part of the story Jesus knowingly destroys the lives of the swine herders. They have nothing left. Unlikely Jesus would hurt people with no remorse.

    Notice that the people of the area come to see what happened and are seized with great fear. They knew something good had happened, something powerfully good and it scared them. They asked Jesus to leave because they were more comfortable in the known life.

    I find a very important teaching buried in that part. The reason so many people find retreats, and workshops, and times away so powerful is that they allow us to be isolated ... away from those powers which are influencing us.

    Our spouse expects us to act and react in a certain way. It is just normal and they influence our actions and reactions. Our friends expect us to act and react in certain ways. Our family, our neighbors, our co-workers all shape us. Our habits, our schedules, our physical surroundings are powerful influences.

    We think about reading the Bible but the lawn needs mowing. Our physical surroundings influence us.

    When we are away we have the freedom to be different. Freedom to try something new. Maybe it is .... gasp! ... praying out loud! Something we would never do in front of family and friends.

    Maybe it is asking that difficult question which suggests we do not have. ... gasp ... perfect faith! Something we believe people think of us so we would never ask that question in their presence. Time away can be a very powerful instrument. If this man had been with the people who KNEW how he acted it may have been even more difficult for Jesus.

    Finally notice what Jesus tells the man who wants to leave his situation — a very difficult situation and simply follow Jesus. Spend his life in prayer and worship. Jesus tells him to go help his family and friends ---- those who had deserted him.

    That may be one of the most difficult lessons for us to follow. Jesus tells him to “declare how much God has done for you”. That’s difficult for us because we may not recognize all God has done for us. Another thing easier to learn away from our daily routine. One fascinating aspect of this is that when Jesus calmed the storm the disciples ... the DISCIPLES asked “who is this man?” — BUT, the evil spirits knew exactly who Jesus was. Maybe we are closer to the disciples in that sense than we may want to be.

               AMEN

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CLICK HERE TO RESPOND: I would enjoy reading your comments about this sermon. Please feel free to discuss content or presentation. (If you wish to use another email system send your comments to: ken@st-christopher.com)