Rend the Heavens text: And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” John 1:21
Prompt: For Pete's sake
Once, in a sermon for a preaching class in seminary, I portrayed Martha speaking to Jesus about not coming when her brother, Lazarus, had died. The professor didn't like the sermon because he said, and I quote, "It was too angry."
I have spoken about that moment many times.
Too angry? Too angry at an untimely death? Of someone Jesus loved?
What's too angry?
What is too angry with Jesus?
Are we too angry when we want a little more clarity on the when and where this is all coming down?
Are we too angry when we are ticked about the unfairness of grace, even as it includes us?
Are we too angry when the heavens seem silent about injustice, war, and pain?
Are we too angry when we wonder why the second time Quirinius was governor was the right time, but not the first time Trump was president?
Are we too angry when we are grieved to silence toward the Divine at untimely deaths and powers and principalities that seem run amok?
For Pete's sake, what's too angry?
Because I'm not sure that I'm actually there. Because I still breathe, I still speak, I still pray, I still hope.
So, no. No. I am not yet too angry.
And I'm pretty sure Martha wasn't either.
Prompt: For Pete's sake
Once, in a sermon for a preaching class in seminary, I portrayed Martha speaking to Jesus about not coming when her brother, Lazarus, had died. The professor didn't like the sermon because he said, and I quote, "It was too angry."
I have spoken about that moment many times.
Too angry? Too angry at an untimely death? Of someone Jesus loved?
What's too angry?
What is too angry with Jesus?
Are we too angry when we want a little more clarity on the when and where this is all coming down?
Are we too angry when we are ticked about the unfairness of grace, even as it includes us?
Are we too angry when the heavens seem silent about injustice, war, and pain?
Are we too angry when we wonder why the second time Quirinius was governor was the right time, but not the first time Trump was president?
Are we too angry when we are grieved to silence toward the Divine at untimely deaths and powers and principalities that seem run amok?
For Pete's sake, what's too angry?
Because I'm not sure that I'm actually there. Because I still breathe, I still speak, I still pray, I still hope.
So, no. No. I am not yet too angry.
And I'm pretty sure Martha wasn't either.
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