Christian Education Sunday
(Proper 14A/Ordinary +24)
Sermon from 9-14-08
Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:1-9 (main text), Psalm 103:15-18, Matthew 2:34-40
"Shema yisrael Adonai eloheinu Adonai echad." "Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone." This opening phrase of Deuteronomy 6:4 is one of the most sacred prayers in all of Judaism. It's called the "Shema" after the opening word of the phrase and means, "Hear" or "Listen" or "Act on" or "Obey". This passage from Deuteronomy that we read this morning is spoken each morning and evening as part of Jewish prayers and is at the center of their remembering who they are as people of God-the one God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob--the God who led these slaves from Egypt and has brought them to just outside the Promised Land. The beginning of Deuteronomy finds Moses, on the cusp of entering the Promised Land. They've finally found their way out of the desert where they wandered for 40 years.
Speaking of wandering, I saw a comic a few years ago that asked, "Why did Moses wander in the desert for 40 years?" You probably guessed it… "Because he refused to stop and ask for directions." I wasn't there so I can't commit on the validity of that statement, but I would suggest he check the batteries on his Garmin GPS next time he heads out on another trip across the desert or across the street for that matter.
All joking aside, these Israelites are ready to enter the land of their ancestors. Moses sets out here in Deuteronomy to recount their history and help the younger generation remember WHO they are and WHOSE (W-H-O-S-E) they are. Knowing WHO and WHOSE they are will help them to re-member—re-orient—themselves in the Promised Land. Moses recounts the 10 Commandments again for them in Chapter 5 and then reminds them about God--their one God. As the Message translation recounts Moses' words, it reads: "Attention, Israel! God, our God! God the one and only! Love God, your God, with your whole heart: love him with all that's in you, love him with all you've got! Write these commandments that I've given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder; inscribe them on the doorposts of your homes and on your city gates."
When we hear this passage, I hope that we hear the actions associated with the command from Moses. This is not a passive faith where reciting these verses is all that is required. Instead, Moses is calling the Israelites to an active faith of re-membering their lives—re-orienting their lifestyle—claiming WHO and WHOSE they are—being marked as followers of God Almighty. And it was not just for those listening. It was for the generations to come. The adults are to get these commands inside of them first and then to pass them along to their children as they grow. They are to teach the children to remember WHO God is and re-member their lives to know WHOSE they are. This teaching and re-membering is to go on forever..."to infinity and beyond."
Speaking of "To Infinity and beyond", we were watching the movie Toy Story the other night. For many of you, it's probably a familiar story, but in case you've not seen it, it was Pixar Studio's 1995 first full-length animated movie about the toys that live in Andy's playroom. Andy, the boy in the story, has no idea what happens inside his room when the door closes and he leaves the room. That is when the toys come alive. Woody, the cowboy doll is the leader of the pack, which includes Mr. Potato Head, Bo Peep the shepardess, Rex the dinosaur, Hamm the piggy bank, and of course, Buzz Lightyear, the space ranger who is the newest addition to the pack. Woody is Andy's favorite toy until Buzz arrives, and this creates lots of problems in the story. When Woody and Buzz get separated from the rest of the toys and it seems like everything is lost, Buzz looks down at his shoe and sees "Andy" written on the bottom. It is at that moment that he suddenly remembers WHOSE he is, and this brings a turning point in the story. Woody and Buzz work to try and find their way back to Andy because Andy needs them--they are his favorites and they belong to him--they are marked—Andy’s name is on each one’s shoe. I won't spoil the movie in case you haven't seen it, but I do recommend watching it.
Marked with the name of the one WHOSE you are. Moses reminded the Israelites of WHOSE they were--they were God Almighty’s. They were marked by the covenant with God and where to show this by living their faith in their daily lives. The Israelites were being taught to pass along their faith in the mundane activities of daily life--not just remember God on the special days only.
Even today in orthodox Jewish communities, you will often see men marked with their faith by wearing small boxes on their foreheads--called phylacteries--which hold scrolls with the Shema verse from Deuteronomy 6 inside. Also many Jews today often have a small box called a Mezuzah attached to their front door, which also contains this same verse from Deuteronomy. When the Mezuzah is attached in a house blessing ceremony, they pray a prayer, “We affix the Mezuzah to the doorposts of this house with the hope that it will always remind us of our duties to God and to one another. May the divine spirit fill this house – the spirit of love and kindness and consideration for all people…Fortify our resolve to make it now and always, a Temple dedicated to You. Let it be filled with the beauty of holiness and the warmth of love. May the guest and the stranger find within it welcome and friendship….” This mark cannot be missed as one walks through the door of the house--whether bringing in the groceries or taking out the trash.
What is on our doorpost? How do we remember WHO we belong to--WHOSE we are? Do we have a cross on the door? Do we have Andy's name written on our foot? One of my friends in seminary grew up thinking that Andy was God's name. She learned it through a song they often sang in church...
So I ask again, literally and figuratively, what's on your doorpost? What is around your forehead or neck or wrist? What is displayed on the back of your car or on your office door? How are you marked to remind yourself, and those who see it, that you are God's? What has set us apart as Christians to know WHOSE we are as God's beloved children.
Today as we look at Christian Education, welcome our 2nd graders into "Big Church," and kick off another Sunday school year, it is good for us to look at WHOSE we are and how we know this in our daily lives? Deuteronomy tells the parents and adults to get these words inside of them first and then inside their children. We echo this in our Moravian beliefs that parents and the congregation are to raise up our children in faith in our Lord Jesus Christ as well. If we have been baptized, we are marked by God as part of God’s covenant promise.
Take out the hymnals and turn with me to page 165 in the Book of Worship. This liturgy for Baptism should be familiar to you. As Moravians, we call upon the parents to profess their own faith during our baptisms to be sure they have this belief inside them first, which follows Moses’ instructions in Deuteronomy 6. Many of you probably remember the baptisms of the 2nd graders sitting up here right now, and I'm sure their families remember them. At the bottom of page 165 we read, "As you present yourselves before God and this congregation, we call upon you to profess your faith. Do you believe in God as your Creator and loving heavenly father, in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, and in the Holy Spirit as your Comforter and Sustainer, according to the Holy Scriptures?”
Then turn to the next page, page 166. In the middle of page 166, we ask parents: "Do you intend to participate actively in Christ's church, serving God all the days of your life?" At the bottom of the page, the questions turn to the congregation, "Do you receive and affirm these children of God as members of this congregation and accept your obligation to love and nurture them in Christ?" We, the parents and congregation of Raleigh Moravian Church, have made these promises to raise these children and get this faith inside their hearts. Baptism marks US as God's--it is through Baptism that we know WHO we are and WHOSE we are. It's like taking a sharpie marker and putting "God" on our shoe to always remind us though every step we take along our life's journey, we belong to God.
As we see though both Deuteronomy and our Baptism liturgy, we are called to "Hear", "Listen," "Obey" and "Act"--SHEMA, O Congregation: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. Write these commandments that I've given you today on your hearts. As the adults, parents, grandparents, friends, leaders and role models, get them inside of you and then get them inside your children, for all the children here are your children to love and teach. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home in Sunday School or walking in the street, driving in a car or sitting in a coffee shop; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night, as you buy groceries and take out the recycling. Every moment is sacred and holy, and presents a teaching opportunity. God is present with you. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder. If you wear a cross, bracelet, or ring to show your faith, let it also remind you WHOSE you are; inscribe them on your shoes, the doorposts of your homes, and on your city gate. The way you live shows WHO you are. People should know WHOSE you are.
So I ask each of us this day, what’s on your doorpost? What is written on your shoe? What are you writing inside your heart and the hearts of those around you? Let us help one another to “Love God, your God, with your whole heart: love him with all that's in you, love him with all you've got!" To infinity and beyond, let us live it together. Amen, let it be so.
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