Category Archives: cross

April 25, 2011

God Shows No Partiality – Easter Sunday 2011

By Keith Anderson


My oldest daughter Ellie is in second grade and she loves school. Her teacher has a system for keeping all the kids in line. If you misbehave in class you get what’s called a “violation ticket.” If you get too many tickets, then you have to miss out on recess, computer time, or some fun thing the class is doing.

Ellie is a little obsessed with this. Actually, she’s a lot obsessed. She has never gotten a ticket and she is proud of her perfect record. Which, to me, is a little worrisome. I worry what will happen when she does get a ticket and her record is blemished. Will she know that she’s still a good kid? It’s just a dad’s worry.

So the other day, we’re walking out here through the woods and talking about this, I say to her, “You know, Ellie, I would love you even if you got a ticket.” She said, “Oh Daddy. But you’ll love me more if I don’t.” And then I got to say the greatest thing a parent can say to their kid: “Ellie, look at me, I can’t love you any more and I can’t love you any less. I love you completely, whether you get a ticket or not.” And she giggled.

But then, just as she turned her head to continue walking, her expression subtly changed and I could see it. I could see in that moment she didn’t believe it.

My seven year-old daughter already knows that’s not how the world really works. Continue reading

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , | posted in cross, easter, easter sunday, grace, inclusion, love, salvation

November 22, 2010

Christ the King

By Keith Anderson

Sermon preached by The Rev. Ted Asta, Associate to the Bishop of the New England Synod

There are two quite different images of kingship in our readings this morning: the one majestic, powerful, filling the entire cosmos, all things subject to his awesome rule; the other humiliated, weak, nailed to a cross, subject himself to the rule of hatred and greed.  Yet, both of these kings are enthroned: one as the Creator of all things whose throne is the universe; the other, the Redeemer of all things whose throne is the cross.  How can both of these be images of kingship? Aren’t they the antithesis of each other?  From the beginning of Genesis to the end of Revelation, though, God’s ways are not the ways of the world.  Where we see power, God sees weakness; where we see defeat, God proclaims victory.

It’s surely the case at the beginning of the 21st century that being a king “ain’t what it used to be,” as the saying goes.  Kings used to exert total power and control over their subjects. Just think of Henry VIII. They inspired fear and trembling.  They had immense wealth and considered even the meager wealth of their subjects theirs to do with as they chose.  Even the kings of Israel, mimicking the kings around them, acted in this same manner.  The welfare of their subjects and the concerns of justice were not number one on their agenda.  Even the messiah promised of old to be the deliverer of the people from such corruption and abuse, began to be understood as a king of power and status.  So now compare these images of king with that of Prince William who will one day assume the throne of England or the formerly exiled king of Afghanistan who was living in luxurious obscurity in Italy.  What power can they really have?  What control over people’s lives will they exert? Continue reading

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , | posted in christ, cross, messiah

November 15, 2010

Planting Our Tree

By Keith Anderson

Every November, as we near the end of the church year, which will conclude next week with the celebration of Christ the King, our lectionary turns to thoughts, images, and stories about the end of the world.

And so, today we hear Malachi warning about the Day of the Lord approaching like a burning oven.  In Luke, Jesus speaks of how in the final days, the great stones of the Temple will be torn down – and how those days will be filled with persecution, false prophets, imprisonment, strange signs, and natural disaster.

In reading these and other texts this week, it occurred to me just how much of the Bible is about what to do when the world is or seems to be falling apart.  Take our second reading.

Thessalonians

As Paul writes, some members of the Thessalonian community, because of their belief that the end of the world and Christ’s return were immanent, had stopped working and were living off the generosity of other members of the community.  Jesus was coming back, so, they thought, there was no need to work – or, if we read between the lines – they were probably using it as an excuse.  Paul warns them bluntly that if they want to eat, they need to work.

Paul tells to them not to be idle, to contribute to the life of the community, to imitate Paul, who, when he was with them worked day and night.  He says, “do not grow weary in doing what is right.”  Continue to follow Jesus, taking my example and instructions.

It’s interesting here that Paul does not deny that Christ is coming back.  Paul doesn’t say the end of the world is not near.  Perhaps its a little delayed, but its still coming.  And yet, for the sake of the Christian community, for the sake of the Christian witness, and for the sake of the Gospel, he urges people to get to work.

Planting a Tree

This exchange with the Thessalonians reminds me of a famous quote from Martin Luther, who said, “Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.” In fact, Luther himself believed that his world was falling apart and the end was near.  He believed the Pope was the anti-Christ written about in the Book of Revelation.  The ground was shifting under everyone’s feet: intellectually, theologically, politically.  His own life was in danger.  And his response?  To plant an apple tree, choosing life, to give life, nurture life, to invest in life, in the face of death.

And it seems to me this is what God did in Jesus.  Continue reading

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , | posted in apocalypse, cross, culture, death, despair, hope, suffering, theology of the cross

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