Have you ever known someone who, when told something they didn’t want to hear, just ignored it - pretended they didn’t hear it? The plea or message falls on deaf ears. It strikes me that in both our Old Testament lesson and our Gospel lesson, God’s plan is being revealed. And in both cases there is a reluctant witness who doesn’t like what they are hearing and would rather not be a part of the plan.
Moses sees this burning bush and says, “Cool! I think I’ll go over and poke it with a stick and see what happens.” (My husband tells me that’s a guy thing to do.) This burning bush that was not being consumed - it was outside the experience of Moses - it was designed to draw him in. And it was only after Moses turned aside to see this phenomenon that God spoke to him. And the first thing he says is, “Take off your shoes for you are standing on holy ground.” This was a sign of respect in the Middle East; and when God reveals himself, Moses hid his face for he was afraid to look at God.
Then God lays out his plan and Moses doesn’t want to hear it. He complains, “I’m too old; I’m slow of tongue; I don’t know your name; they won’t believe me; besides - I’m wanted for murder - who’s going to follow me.” He tried every way he could to get out of it, but God just wasn’t buying it.
I remember when I received that “pick up your cross and follow me” message - I finally realized that God was calling me to become a priest. I made every excuse I could think of. “I’m too old. I’m not smart enough. I’m not holy enough. Besides, I’m a woman.” Not so much different from Moses’ excuses. And like Moses, I finally gave in and reluctantly headed for seminary.
God tells Moses: “I have observed the misery of my people. . . ; I have heard their cry. . . . Indeed, I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them. . .” God has heard the cry of his people and he cares about what they are experiencing, what has happened to them - and what they are feeling. AND he not only cares, he wants to do something about it. He is not going to intervene himself, but he is appointing someone to go for him and he will work through that person to redeem and free his oppressed people. The most important thing that God says to Moses is, “I will be with you.” He doesn’t promise that everything will be good, or that everything will go as expected, but he does promise that regardless of who we are, where we are, or what we’ve done - God will be with us.
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This says something about what is going on in the world today.
God knows what happened in Maui, and He cares, and He is going to work through people like us to help those who have lost so much. He knows what happened in Florida and He cares, and he going to work through people just like us. God cares and he is going to make himself known through the people who have said, ‘yes’ to God’s call on their life to reach out to those who suffer.
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In our Gospel lesson today, Jesus reveals God’s plan for the first time - that he will have to suffer and die and after 3 days will rise again. And the disciples don’t want to hear it - especially Peter. Peter is ready to fight for Jesus, to lay down his life that Jesus might live.
Last week we read the gospel where Jesus asks the disciples ‘who do people say I am?” And they repeat the standard answers, “Elijah, Jeremiah, John the Baptist or one of the prophets.” Then he brings the question home, “Who do you say I am?” That’s a harder question to answer because you have to put yourself on the line - make a decision, right or wrong. And Peter steps right out there and says, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Good answer, Peter, and he is praised to saying that. Matter of fact, Jesus tells him, “Blessed are you. Flesh and blood has not told you this, but God in heaven revealed it to you.” Peter stepped out and got it right. - (for a change.)
So now that the disciples know Jesus is the Messiah, Jesus begins to reveal his plan and Peter, who just got praised, takes exception. “Lord, you don’t have to die. We won’t let this happen.” And Jesus doesn’t just tell him he’s wrong, he says, “Get thee behind me, Satan.” He calls Peter, Satan! Peter is thinking only in earthly terms, only about what he wants to happen - or not happen. But Jesus is revealing the plan of heaven, — and Peter can’t see it, because it doesn’t line up with Peter’s view of how the world should be.
Too often, we do that. We look at what we would do if we were king - or god - or whatever. But I think it’s probably a good thing that I’m not god, because I’m pretty selfish when it comes to worldly things. I wasn’t real happy last month when my best friend died - and I’m pretty sure Peter considered Jesus to be his best friend. He was proud to be Jesus’ right hand man. It made him feel important, and he didn’t want to lose that. If Jesus died, where would that leave Peter?
Too often we are Peter. Floundering around trying to find meaning - trying to make the world line up with our own ideology. This world that God created is not perfect, but it is good. And even though bad things sometimes happen, there is always room for God’s goodness to be revealed through the people who call him “Lord;” Through the love that is expressed through the people who say ‘yes’ to God’s call to go out into the world and be Christ to those who are hurting.
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Six years ago, when Harvey hit, Sam and I were at Camp Allen and we were flooded in with no way to come home. We had food, beds to sleep in, clean water, electricity and although we watched the water in the lake come almost up to the cabins, we didn’t have to worry about flooding. We were somewhat isolated from the world and so we did what we could. We prayed and offered up intercession for those who were in the brunt of the storm - I think that may have been most of you folks here today. After we got home, we helped provide meals for those who were working to clean out flooded homes.
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God quite often gives us the opportunity to share His love for all people. We remember when we needed help to overcome struggles - and we remember the people who were there for us at that time. If we listen to God’s call on our life, and we overcome our objections, we can be the catalyst for change in the world - or at least a small corner of it.
In the ancient world, people thought everything that happened to them was caused by God or by any number of ‘gods’ - little g. You might remember that Paul even preached a sermon telling the Athenians about the unknown god to whom they had erected a shrine. I hope that in today’s world, we have gotten past the point of thinking that God causes bad things to happen, things like hurricanes, and wildfires, and earthquakes, and even cancers and other diseases.
I had someone tell me not long ago that God doesn’t make mistakes. Well, that’s true - but nature does and people do. We see the results all the time. What God does is to work in and through people - people who have made it a priority to care for God’s children - and by “God’s children” - I mean everyone who has been created in his image.
God speaks to us in a multitude of ways. That small still voice in your head that won’t go away; a word from a friend or a stranger that stays with you; a chance encounter, or a passage in a book. God inspires us, and he nurtures us, and he sends people to help and inspire us. In 2018, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. God did not cause that cancer - but after sending me 3 messages to get a mammogram, I finally responded - after having gone 2 years without - and I was diagnosed with stage zero breast cancer - a simple surgery and I walked out clean and cancer free - because I listened to the promptings that God had sent my way.
I invited you to pay attention when God send some random though your mind. It just may be your burning bush. Amen.
