Luke 20:34-38; Haggai 1:15b-2:9
November 3, 2019
First Presbyterian Church, Sterling IL
Christina Berry
Our gospel reading this morning finds Jesus in Jerusalem.
It is the final week of his life.
He has entered the city, riding on the back of a donkey,
to the cheers and excitement of the people who believe
that he will be the one to save them.
And he will, but not in the way they think.
In this reading, Jesus has been confronted by religious authorities
who hope to trick him or trap him into saying something wrong.
They’ve asked him one of those ridiculous hypothetical questions
about what happens to marriage in the afterlife
if a person has been married, widowed, married, widowed, etc.
It’s interesting that the Sadducees, who are asking this question
do not believe in the resurrection after death.
But Jesus isn’t going to play their game.
Let’s listen for God’s word to us in Luke 20: 34-38
Jesus said to them,
"Those who belong to this age marry and are given in marriage;
but those who are considered worthy of a place in that age
and in the resurrection from the dead
neither marry nor are given in marriage.
Indeed they cannot die anymore, because they are like angels
and are children of God, being children of the resurrection.
And the fact that the dead are raised Moses himself showed,
in the story about the bush, where he speaks of the Lord
as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.
Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living;
for to him all of them are alive."
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Our second reading is from the prophet Haggai,
a book of only two chapters that is often overlooked.
But it is a rich little book, and contains much wisdom for us today.
Haggai has worked hard at encouraging
“the dispirited, apathetic, and indifferent community
to begin work on the dilapidated temple.”[1]
Now he has to keep the enthusiasm going,
because they’ve realized how much there is to do
and how much work is still ahead of them.
do not believe in the resurrection after death.
But Jesus isn’t going to play their game.
Let’s listen for God’s word to us in Luke 20: 34-38
Jesus said to them,
"Those who belong to this age marry and are given in marriage;
but those who are considered worthy of a place in that age
and in the resurrection from the dead
neither marry nor are given in marriage.
Indeed they cannot die anymore, because they are like angels
and are children of God, being children of the resurrection.
And the fact that the dead are raised Moses himself showed,
in the story about the bush, where he speaks of the Lord
as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.
Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living;
for to him all of them are alive."
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Our second reading is from the prophet Haggai,
a book of only two chapters that is often overlooked.
But it is a rich little book, and contains much wisdom for us today.
Haggai has worked hard at encouraging
“the dispirited, apathetic, and indifferent community
to begin work on the dilapidated temple.”[1]
Now he has to keep the enthusiasm going,
because they’ve realized how much there is to do
and how much work is still ahead of them.
This reading is not just a pep talk, though,
to get the congregation to finish painting the trim or repairing the doors;
Haggai’s is an important voice that guides and leads the community
to understand that their place of worship is a major symbol in their faith.
The temple serves a critical function in their lives and in their community.
The state of the building, the condition it is in,
is a reflection of their relationship with God.
Let’s listen for God’s word in Haggai 1:15b-2:9
In the second year of King Darius, in the seventh month,
on the twenty-first day of the month,
the word of the LORD came by the prophet Haggai, saying:
Speak now to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah,
and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest,
and to the remnant of the people, and say,
Who is left among you that saw this house in its former glory?
How does it look to you now? Is it not in your sight as nothing?
Yet now take courage, O Zerubbabel, says the LORD;
take courage, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest;
take courage, all you people of the land, says the LORD;
work, for I am with you, says the LORD of hosts,
according to the promise that I made you when you came out of Egypt.
My spirit abides among you; do not fear.
For thus says the LORD of hosts: Once again, in a little while,
I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land;
and I will shake all the nations,
so that the treasure of all nations shall come,
and I will fill this house with splendor, says the LORD of hosts.
The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the LORD of hosts.
The latter splendor of this house shall be greater than the former,
says the LORD of hosts;
and in this place I will give prosperity,
says the LORD of hosts.
God’s word for God’s people.
Thanks be to God.
to get the congregation to finish painting the trim or repairing the doors;
Haggai’s is an important voice that guides and leads the community
to understand that their place of worship is a major symbol in their faith.
The temple serves a critical function in their lives and in their community.
The state of the building, the condition it is in,
is a reflection of their relationship with God.
Let’s listen for God’s word in Haggai 1:15b-2:9
In the second year of King Darius, in the seventh month,
on the twenty-first day of the month,
the word of the LORD came by the prophet Haggai, saying:
Speak now to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah,
and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest,
and to the remnant of the people, and say,
Who is left among you that saw this house in its former glory?
How does it look to you now? Is it not in your sight as nothing?
Yet now take courage, O Zerubbabel, says the LORD;
take courage, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest;
take courage, all you people of the land, says the LORD;
work, for I am with you, says the LORD of hosts,
according to the promise that I made you when you came out of Egypt.
My spirit abides among you; do not fear.
For thus says the LORD of hosts: Once again, in a little while,
I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land;
and I will shake all the nations,
so that the treasure of all nations shall come,
and I will fill this house with splendor, says the LORD of hosts.
The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the LORD of hosts.
The latter splendor of this house shall be greater than the former,
says the LORD of hosts;
and in this place I will give prosperity,
says the LORD of hosts.
God’s word for God’s people.
Thanks be to God.
Ok Boomer.
Have you heard that phrase?
It’s a dismissive two words – a verbal eye-roll,
and it is all over the place this last week or so –
maybe longer and I didn’t know it.
“OK Boomer” according to one writer:
“conveys that the speaker considers the person being addressed
to be obtuse, stubborn and out of date.”
Have you heard that phrase?
It’s a dismissive two words – a verbal eye-roll,
and it is all over the place this last week or so –
maybe longer and I didn’t know it.
“OK Boomer” according to one writer:
“conveys that the speaker considers the person being addressed
to be obtuse, stubborn and out of date.”
Maybe it’s important to add here that the speaker is someone younger –
a person from a younger generation than the Baby Boom,
like a Generation X, born between 1963 or so and 1980,
or a Millenial, those born between 1981–96,
or Generation Z - the “Zoomers” born later than 1996.
Boomers, as you know, are the generation after WWII -
those born in between 1946-1963,
when there was an enormous increase in the birth rate,
particularly in the United States.
As part of that Baby Boom generation,
especially as a person born toward the end of that period,
I get a little irritated and weary of the hits the Baby Boomers take.
They did not, after all, scheme and conspire to be Boomers;
they just happened to be born at a particular time.
They are products of their time, just as those who came after them.
And while it is true that the Boomers sometimes seem
like an enormous swarm of locusts,
taking up all the jobs and all the wealth
and all the attention and all the air in the room,
again, none of us has any control over where and when we were born.
As a younger Boomer, I’ve felt the same effects of that as Generation X –
this generation takes up a lot of space and a lot of resources.
There is some resentment around that.
And Generation X feels left out,
because they are in the shadow of this huge population bulge.
The Millennials feel picked on.
See, they don’t go to movies as much, or buy newspapers,
or shop the same way or date the same way as previous generations,
and so they are accused of ruining everything.
They are accused, for example, of ruining cold cereal and real estate!
They don’t eat cold cereal because they are on the go, and eat that way
– and you can’t exactly slurp down a bowl of cereal while driving.
and they don’t buy houses because they simply can’t afford it–
because they’re gasping under crushing educational debt.
There was an article this week that said perhaps Generation X
are the church’s last great hope,
because they are cynical, efficient, and they love the church.
“Unlike the Millennials, we’re not innovating new forms of ministry,
a person from a younger generation than the Baby Boom,
like a Generation X, born between 1963 or so and 1980,
or a Millenial, those born between 1981–96,
or Generation Z - the “Zoomers” born later than 1996.
Boomers, as you know, are the generation after WWII -
those born in between 1946-1963,
when there was an enormous increase in the birth rate,
particularly in the United States.
As part of that Baby Boom generation,
especially as a person born toward the end of that period,
I get a little irritated and weary of the hits the Baby Boomers take.
They did not, after all, scheme and conspire to be Boomers;
they just happened to be born at a particular time.
They are products of their time, just as those who came after them.
And while it is true that the Boomers sometimes seem
like an enormous swarm of locusts,
taking up all the jobs and all the wealth
and all the attention and all the air in the room,
again, none of us has any control over where and when we were born.
As a younger Boomer, I’ve felt the same effects of that as Generation X –
this generation takes up a lot of space and a lot of resources.
There is some resentment around that.
And Generation X feels left out,
because they are in the shadow of this huge population bulge.
The Millennials feel picked on.
See, they don’t go to movies as much, or buy newspapers,
or shop the same way or date the same way as previous generations,
and so they are accused of ruining everything.
They are accused, for example, of ruining cold cereal and real estate!
They don’t eat cold cereal because they are on the go, and eat that way
– and you can’t exactly slurp down a bowl of cereal while driving.
and they don’t buy houses because they simply can’t afford it–
because they’re gasping under crushing educational debt.
There was an article this week that said perhaps Generation X
are the church’s last great hope,
because they are cynical, efficient, and they love the church.
“Unlike the Millennials, we’re not innovating new forms of ministry,
opening coffeehouses and bike shops and calling them churches.
Nor are we getting the “big steeple” pulpits
because the Boomers either won’t leave them
or are driving them into the ground.”[2]
Fair enough.
So who is going to do the important work of building?
Who’s going to make sure that this building, and others like it,
outlast our generational squabbles,
which are really class divides that pit us against each other
and benefit only the corporate wealthy and elite in this country.[3]
Who is it who “saw the house in its former glory”?
and who is going to see to it that the
“latter splendor of this house shall be greater than the former”?
The generation before the Boomers, the ones who built THIS house,
are called the Builders.
They’ve also been called the “Greatest Generation.”
They are the generation that recovered after the Great Depression,
who began to rebuild the economy,
and who went off to war to make the world safe for democracy.
They were dedicated, community oriented, cautious and risk averse.
They gave much and asked little.
They built this church, and others like it,
and their children, the Boomers, filled it to the rafters,
requiring the addition of “an education wing”
to address what this church described as “the problem of growth.”
They were not without flaws, nor was their generation.
There was racism and sexism and oppression and injustice.
People were marginalized and not everyone cared about them.
But they did what they knew to do, and they were disciples of Jesus.
They were faithful people, and though you will see their names on plaques,
they were not building this church for themselves,
but for the glory of God, and for generations yet to come.
As their spiritual heirs, we have received this legacy.
It is not a burden, though some might have once described it as such.
It is not a problem, though once there were those who thought so.
It is not, though it might sometimes seem that way,
a brick hole into which we throw money year after year.
Our building, with its flaking paint and zillion stairs and outdated design,
is a beautiful welcome.
A beautiful welcome.
This building is a sanctuary – literally and spiritually.
Holy things happen here.
Lives are changed.
Lives are saved.
Nor are we getting the “big steeple” pulpits
because the Boomers either won’t leave them
or are driving them into the ground.”[2]
Fair enough.
So who is going to do the important work of building?
Who’s going to make sure that this building, and others like it,
outlast our generational squabbles,
which are really class divides that pit us against each other
and benefit only the corporate wealthy and elite in this country.[3]
Who is it who “saw the house in its former glory”?
and who is going to see to it that the
“latter splendor of this house shall be greater than the former”?
The generation before the Boomers, the ones who built THIS house,
are called the Builders.
They’ve also been called the “Greatest Generation.”
They are the generation that recovered after the Great Depression,
who began to rebuild the economy,
and who went off to war to make the world safe for democracy.
They were dedicated, community oriented, cautious and risk averse.
They gave much and asked little.
They built this church, and others like it,
and their children, the Boomers, filled it to the rafters,
requiring the addition of “an education wing”
to address what this church described as “the problem of growth.”
They were not without flaws, nor was their generation.
There was racism and sexism and oppression and injustice.
People were marginalized and not everyone cared about them.
But they did what they knew to do, and they were disciples of Jesus.
They were faithful people, and though you will see their names on plaques,
they were not building this church for themselves,
but for the glory of God, and for generations yet to come.
As their spiritual heirs, we have received this legacy.
It is not a burden, though some might have once described it as such.
It is not a problem, though once there were those who thought so.
It is not, though it might sometimes seem that way,
a brick hole into which we throw money year after year.
Our building, with its flaking paint and zillion stairs and outdated design,
is a beautiful welcome.
A beautiful welcome.
This building is a sanctuary – literally and spiritually.
Holy things happen here.
Lives are changed.
Lives are saved.
The beautiful welcome of our building is expressed during this hour,
now, as we worship together,
welcoming all people who come.
We do not exclude anyone because of their age or social standing,
or gender or race or sexual orientation,
or politics or beliefs or the lack thereof.
Worship is a welcome.
now, as we worship together,
welcoming all people who come.
We do not exclude anyone because of their age or social standing,
or gender or race or sexual orientation,
or politics or beliefs or the lack thereof.
Worship is a welcome.
The beautiful welcome of our building is expressed throughout the week.
The shouts of children who come for scouts or mom’s group
is a joyful song that makes God’s heart sing.
The stories told in the supportive circles of NA and AA
are heartfelt prayers that reach into the rafters of heaven.
The embrace given in Youth Outlook,
in the open arms that may be otherwise hard to find,
is a passing of the peace to a young person in need of acceptance.
The shouts of children who come for scouts or mom’s group
is a joyful song that makes God’s heart sing.
The stories told in the supportive circles of NA and AA
are heartfelt prayers that reach into the rafters of heaven.
The embrace given in Youth Outlook,
in the open arms that may be otherwise hard to find,
is a passing of the peace to a young person in need of acceptance.
This building is a welcome.
It is a sign from generations past that their faith would go on,
and a sign to the future that we believe,
that our faith is worth preserving, and sharing.
This building is a welcome,
a promise from the God of the living.
As in the time of the prophets,
God has filled this house with splendor,
and given it prosperity.
So the question for us, in this season of Stewardship, is about building.
Whether we are boomers or Xers or millennials,
are we building each other up?
Are we a building a space for faith?
As we prayerfully consider our stewardship gifts,
whether time or talent or money,
are we building?
And will our building continue to be a place of welcome?
The prophet asked, “How does it look to you now?”
How does it look to you now?
I would answer that question in this way:
How it looks to me now is hopeful.
How it looks to me now is faithful.
How it looks to me now is courageous.
It looks to me like a holy welcome.
It is a sign from generations past that their faith would go on,
and a sign to the future that we believe,
that our faith is worth preserving, and sharing.
This building is a welcome,
a promise from the God of the living.
As in the time of the prophets,
God has filled this house with splendor,
and given it prosperity.
So the question for us, in this season of Stewardship, is about building.
Whether we are boomers or Xers or millennials,
are we building each other up?
Are we a building a space for faith?
As we prayerfully consider our stewardship gifts,
whether time or talent or money,
are we building?
And will our building continue to be a place of welcome?
The prophet asked, “How does it look to you now?”
How does it look to you now?
I would answer that question in this way:
How it looks to me now is hopeful.
How it looks to me now is faithful.
How it looks to me now is courageous.
It looks to me like a holy welcome.
“Take courage, says the LORD…work, for I am with you.
My spirit abides among you; do not fear.”
To God be all the glory.
Amen.
[1] Steed Davidson, Working Preacher commentary, 2013
[2] https://nextchurch.net/gen-xers-cynicism-might-make-them-the-churchs-last-great-hope/?fbclid=IwAR2iWJc4lFe4Y5aiQC4756my5lb042qjPrAUlBsl_sDXPHjlwfGt73jVY_k
[3] https://www.rawstory.com/2019/11/is-ok-boomer-the-new-n-word-or-are-millennials-still-destroying-everything/
My spirit abides among you; do not fear.”
To God be all the glory.
Amen.
[1] Steed Davidson, Working Preacher commentary, 2013
[2] https://nextchurch.net/gen-xers-cynicism-might-make-them-the-churchs-last-great-hope/?fbclid=IwAR2iWJc4lFe4Y5aiQC4756my5lb042qjPrAUlBsl_sDXPHjlwfGt73jVY_k
[3] https://www.rawstory.com/2019/11/is-ok-boomer-the-new-n-word-or-are-millennials-still-destroying-everything/
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