2 Samuel 11: 1-15; Psalm 14; Ephesians 3:14-21; John 6:1-21
Next Sunday could turn into what Walter Brueggemann calls dislocation. Things seem to not get better in our world and these texts at first glance do not help much. Second Samuel offers us the David and Bathsheba story: Israel’s greatest king has no clothes. Ps.14 is almost identical with Ps. 53. In so many words we hear, “The fool has said in his heart there is no God!”The Gospel of John offers some relief with the feeding of the multitudes and Jesus walks on the water, even when the storms of life are raging.
Brueggemann’s work with the Psalms offers saving possibilities. There are psalms that mirror life as it really is. Bad stuff happens in our world. These he calls psalms of dislocation. We witness war and death on the news every day; we hear that our president managed to anger and alienate our international friends and then seemed to get cozy with the world’s greatest enemy. What to do, whom to believe? What to preach? Brueggeman tells us that we are not left in a state of dislocation. The Psalmist usually finds a “nevertheless,” a way out of despair, a re-orientation. The faithful find new life. Colleague and friend Bill McElvaney spoke of life as “good news—bad news—good news.” (We so miss Bill.)
I recently read some of the sermons from pastors in Germany who were trying to understand what was happening in their country
in those days when a dynamic leader was coming to power. In most cases, fear kept them from speaking truth to the powers. The responses seemed timid – “wait and see” was the word. Of course, that old fool for Christ’s sake, Karl Barth, and his student Bonhoffer, took one look at what was happening and simply said, “NO! You stand up to the bully!”
Preacher, that is who we are called to be in these strange and shaky times—an unanxious presence among the people.
Our times are not exactly those times. History does not repeat itself—but it often rhymes. In the safety of the retired relationship, I can judge the witness and silence of our church. But that is not fair. I have been a pastor in the Iowa Conference for about 60 years and “I have seen a thing or two.” We have lots of good people who are looking for a way through, and they need to be led. Preachers, you have friends out there. And the frightened among us look for an unanxious presence in troubled times. Preacher, that is who we are called to be in these strange and shaky times—an unanxious presence among the people. Being the unanxious presence is not timidity, or silence—nor is it rage and condemnation. It is thoughtfulness—what to say, when to speak; it is putting oneself in the neighbor’s shoes; it is searching for and speaking to the greater good.
And should we need courage to stand in these uncertain times, the letter to the Ephesians this week helps: “Now to the one who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus, to all generations forever and ever, amen.”
I think Paul is encouraging us to look for and name the saving possibilities that are always already given to those who are willing to take the risk of faithfulness.
Dear God,
In these troubled times, help us to listen, to learn from the past, to find our voice and to stand with all who seek a new world. Amen.
The Rev. Bill Cotton of Des Moines, Iowa, is a retired clergy member of the Iowa Annual Conference. He offers his Memo via email. To subscribe, email him at revcottonhill@hotmail.com.