This is the first sermon in a five-part Lenten mid-week sermon series, "Faith Journey through Middle Earth"
Scripture: Exodus 4:1-17, Luke 5:1-11
Through the next five weeks, we’re going to be exploring the Gospel story through the illustration of the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings, one of the most well-known fantasy sagas of our time. If you’ve never seen the movies or read the books, that’s ok. You don’t need to in order to follow along.
Today's message will focus on “The Hobbit” and our theme is “the call to journey.” To give a little background – in author JRR Tolkein’s world, there are many different forms of life - humans, elves, dwarves… and hobbits.
Hobbits are quiet, unassuming “Halflings” that live in a place called “the Shire.” They don’t bother others, and typically, others don’t bother them. Few hobbits ever even venture outside the Shire, because they know it’s safe just staying right where they are.
All that changes one day when a party of Dwarves and a human Wizard named “Gandalf” show up for a meeting at one particular Hobbit’s house, named Bilbo Baggins. They are in need of a “thief” that will help them defeat the dragon, Smaug, who ran the dwarves out of their homeland. You see, Hobbit's are light on their feet and quiet, and able to go places quietly.
After adjusting to the fact that Bilbo’s neat and tidy little hobbit hole house has been invaded by these unruly and unwanted guests, he listens to what it is they are wanting from him. At first, Bilbo refuses this call. The video below is a scene from "the Hobbit" where Bilbo is asked to begin this journey...
Refusing to want to go on a dangerous quest or journey is really not all that uncommon of a response. Few of us want to answer calls that might bring us into harm’s way.
When I think about the story of Bilbo, and his reluctance to want to answer this call to journey – I think also of Moses from our reading today. Moses, who had fled from Egypt because he’d murdered a man. Moses, who knew that returning to Egypt would probably mean at the very least his arrest, at worst, his execution. Yet God is insistent – Moses is who he has chosen for this task, despite Moses coming up with every excuse in the book…Oh, they won’t believe me. Oh, I don’t speak well… and resorting finally to simply, “Send someone else.”
All the reasons not to go.
Not the least of which is Gandalf’s promise at the end of our clip we just saw… because accepting the call, going on the journey… will change you. Because when one encounters the Living God, walks down the path that ultimately leads to the cross – one is changed. One’s heart, outlook and life is changed in a variety of ways. We are changed and transformed by the experience.
And we resist change. We resist God’s calling because it can be frightening, being called onto an unknown path, called into relationships we normally would never have. Called into this faith journey that will never leave us the same.
Now this desire to refuse the call, to try to make our own paths, to resist the journey of faith – is not an unusual trait when it comes to the prophets. Jonah likewise tried to wiggle out of his prophetic duties, Jeremiah tried using the excuse that he was too young. Isaiah pointed out that he was an unclean sinner and not worthy of such a duty.
Excuse after excuse after excuse.
And we’re no different. We hear the call, but make excuse after excuse to ignore it. I’m too busy. I’m not worthy. That’s just not my thing.
Most of us feel like we would be the most unlikely candidates chosen for God to work His will through. Yet, choosing the unlikely person is how God tends to operate.
Moses, a fleeing murderer, is called upon. David – a shepherd. The prophet Amos – again, a simple shepherd. Paul – a Pharisee and persecutor of early Christians.
Unlikely people called upon to do simple, and yet, extraordinary things. Even in our Gospel reading, we see Jesus calling upon not the typical religious leaders to follow him, but fishermen.
And just as Gandalf and the dwarves descended upon poor little Bilbo Baggins, uninvited, so Jesus also climbs into these fishing boats uninvited, calling upon those present to be part of his ministry. To become “fishers of men.” Simon/Peter’s reaction is much the same as that of most who are called upon – “Get away from Lord, for I am a sinner.” I’m not worthy.
Simple, ordinary – unworthy – people. Why? Why does God choose ordinary people doing ordinary things to be His messengers and workers in our world?
I think the Wizard Gandalf explains it best on why he chose a simple, unlikely hobbit to join him on this journey.
“I found it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love.”
Small acts that can have such a profound impact on our world. Every day deeds of ordinary people – called to be witnesses and workers in the world. We expect that the only way change can happen in our world, the only way evil can be dealt with is through big things. Strong leaders.
And yet – Christianity, especially early Christianity, survived and thrived because Jesus’ followers did simple things to combat the evils of the Roman Empire. They visited and welcomed prisoners. They treated slaves as equals. They responded to persecution and violence with love. Those with abundance shared with those in their community who were less well off. They took care of the widows and orphans. Small acts of kindness and love that transforms the world.
Now Bilbo’s story will transfer eventually to his nephew, Frodo. For on this journey, Bilbo is indeed changed – and a part of what changes him is he unwittingly finds a Ring of Power – a ring so powerful that it can enslave the entire world of Middle of Earth. A ring that has been misused by those who have sought to rule using its power. A ring that he discovers in the possession of a creature named Gollum. A pitiful, wretched little creature that he is tempted to kill, but out of mercy – opts not to take his life.
Once it is discovered that Bilbo is in possession of the ring, the struggle begins for those who believe the ring and the evil it will bring upon the world must be destroyed, and those who seek to utilize its power for their own personal gain. But that journey will become the burden his nephew will carry throughout the Lord of the Rings Trilogy.
Like Joshua will eventually replace Moses, or Elisha replacing Elijah, Frodo will come and replace Bilbo as the central character. He, too, will be called upon to make his own journey that will transform him forever as well. A journey, like ours, that is filled with friends, temptations, trials, and sacrifice as we continue our mid-week Lenten services next week and you’ll hear more about how once on the journey, God provides us with the companions and gifts we need to persevere.
Scripture: Exodus 4:1-17, Luke 5:1-11
Today's message will focus on “The Hobbit” and our theme is “the call to journey.” To give a little background – in author JRR Tolkein’s world, there are many different forms of life - humans, elves, dwarves… and hobbits.
Hobbits are quiet, unassuming “Halflings” that live in a place called “the Shire.” They don’t bother others, and typically, others don’t bother them. Few hobbits ever even venture outside the Shire, because they know it’s safe just staying right where they are.
All that changes one day when a party of Dwarves and a human Wizard named “Gandalf” show up for a meeting at one particular Hobbit’s house, named Bilbo Baggins. They are in need of a “thief” that will help them defeat the dragon, Smaug, who ran the dwarves out of their homeland. You see, Hobbit's are light on their feet and quiet, and able to go places quietly.
After adjusting to the fact that Bilbo’s neat and tidy little hobbit hole house has been invaded by these unruly and unwanted guests, he listens to what it is they are wanting from him. At first, Bilbo refuses this call. The video below is a scene from "the Hobbit" where Bilbo is asked to begin this journey...
Refusing to want to go on a dangerous quest or journey is really not all that uncommon of a response. Few of us want to answer calls that might bring us into harm’s way.
When I think about the story of Bilbo, and his reluctance to want to answer this call to journey – I think also of Moses from our reading today. Moses, who had fled from Egypt because he’d murdered a man. Moses, who knew that returning to Egypt would probably mean at the very least his arrest, at worst, his execution. Yet God is insistent – Moses is who he has chosen for this task, despite Moses coming up with every excuse in the book…Oh, they won’t believe me. Oh, I don’t speak well… and resorting finally to simply, “Send someone else.”
All the reasons not to go.
Not the least of which is Gandalf’s promise at the end of our clip we just saw… because accepting the call, going on the journey… will change you. Because when one encounters the Living God, walks down the path that ultimately leads to the cross – one is changed. One’s heart, outlook and life is changed in a variety of ways. We are changed and transformed by the experience.
And we resist change. We resist God’s calling because it can be frightening, being called onto an unknown path, called into relationships we normally would never have. Called into this faith journey that will never leave us the same.
Now this desire to refuse the call, to try to make our own paths, to resist the journey of faith – is not an unusual trait when it comes to the prophets. Jonah likewise tried to wiggle out of his prophetic duties, Jeremiah tried using the excuse that he was too young. Isaiah pointed out that he was an unclean sinner and not worthy of such a duty.
Excuse after excuse after excuse.
And we’re no different. We hear the call, but make excuse after excuse to ignore it. I’m too busy. I’m not worthy. That’s just not my thing.
Most of us feel like we would be the most unlikely candidates chosen for God to work His will through. Yet, choosing the unlikely person is how God tends to operate.
Moses, a fleeing murderer, is called upon. David – a shepherd. The prophet Amos – again, a simple shepherd. Paul – a Pharisee and persecutor of early Christians.
Unlikely people called upon to do simple, and yet, extraordinary things. Even in our Gospel reading, we see Jesus calling upon not the typical religious leaders to follow him, but fishermen.
And just as Gandalf and the dwarves descended upon poor little Bilbo Baggins, uninvited, so Jesus also climbs into these fishing boats uninvited, calling upon those present to be part of his ministry. To become “fishers of men.” Simon/Peter’s reaction is much the same as that of most who are called upon – “Get away from Lord, for I am a sinner.” I’m not worthy.
Simple, ordinary – unworthy – people. Why? Why does God choose ordinary people doing ordinary things to be His messengers and workers in our world?
I think the Wizard Gandalf explains it best on why he chose a simple, unlikely hobbit to join him on this journey.
“I found it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love.”
Small acts that can have such a profound impact on our world. Every day deeds of ordinary people – called to be witnesses and workers in the world. We expect that the only way change can happen in our world, the only way evil can be dealt with is through big things. Strong leaders.
And yet – Christianity, especially early Christianity, survived and thrived because Jesus’ followers did simple things to combat the evils of the Roman Empire. They visited and welcomed prisoners. They treated slaves as equals. They responded to persecution and violence with love. Those with abundance shared with those in their community who were less well off. They took care of the widows and orphans. Small acts of kindness and love that transforms the world.
Now Bilbo’s story will transfer eventually to his nephew, Frodo. For on this journey, Bilbo is indeed changed – and a part of what changes him is he unwittingly finds a Ring of Power – a ring so powerful that it can enslave the entire world of Middle of Earth. A ring that has been misused by those who have sought to rule using its power. A ring that he discovers in the possession of a creature named Gollum. A pitiful, wretched little creature that he is tempted to kill, but out of mercy – opts not to take his life.
Once it is discovered that Bilbo is in possession of the ring, the struggle begins for those who believe the ring and the evil it will bring upon the world must be destroyed, and those who seek to utilize its power for their own personal gain. But that journey will become the burden his nephew will carry throughout the Lord of the Rings Trilogy.
Like Joshua will eventually replace Moses, or Elisha replacing Elijah, Frodo will come and replace Bilbo as the central character. He, too, will be called upon to make his own journey that will transform him forever as well. A journey, like ours, that is filled with friends, temptations, trials, and sacrifice as we continue our mid-week Lenten services next week and you’ll hear more about how once on the journey, God provides us with the companions and gifts we need to persevere.
No comments:
Post a Comment