Pentecost: Leah

 We are in Ordinary Time in the church year with no major feasts. It’s also the heat of summer and that can make us feel like we don’t have any energy. Day follows day in a similar pattern. Ordinary time—day in and day out, the same things happen. It can be rather numbing.

I wonder if that’s how Leah felt. After all, she was not the pretty younger sister. She was the responsible, older sister with ‘lovely eyes.’ She worked to keep her brother Laban’s household running smoothly. Then as the wife of Jacob, she did the same. Day after day she did what was expected of her as the older sister, the one in charge, and the one who could take care of any problem.

Being the ‘responsible one’ can be quite a heavy load. You don’t want to disappoint anyone so you keep trudging forward ‘doing your duty’ day after day. The routine can blur our sight, so we don’t see God. Yet, God is there whether we take time to notice or not. What can Leah’s daily life tell us about where God shows up in our own daily lives as we live up to expectations of all kinds? And how that might be different than we expect?

Expectations are something we all have. We have expectations of ourselves. Expectations of God. Expectations of our family and friends. We also try to meet the expectations of our employers, children, friends, etc. All those expectations can pile up pretty high, as they did for Leah. She had Jacob, her sons, the rest of the tribal group, and her own self-expectations. Think about your own expectations and how you try to measure up.

How do we release some of those expectations? Jesus invites us to be yoked with him. He says Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. We are to share the burden with Jesus just as two oxen share the load of a plow or wagon. What can be too much for one animal, can easily be pulled by two. In the same way, the work that feels too heavy by ourselves can be shared with God and with others. Jesus promises rest for your souls when we don’t try to do everything alone. Just like Naomi learned last week, it is the community that upholds us in the hard times of life.

The Pulpit Commentary notes Jesus is inviting us. The Commentary says, “there is work to be done, therefore enter on it. The yoke is the service that Christ gives us to do [and] that Christ speaks of it as though almost identical with his yoke.” We each have gifts to use in the daily work and it goes better when God is part of the work.

Leah may have found her work tiresome because she didn’t recognize that in the serving of others she was doing God’s work. Brother Lawrence is famous for his words of wisdom found in Practicing the Presence of God. He found joy in finding God in all the parts of his life as a monk. After his death Father Joseph de Beaufort, of the monastery, compiled the book noting, "[Brother Lawrence] had always been governed by love, without selfish views; and that having resolved to make the love of GOD the end of all his actions, he had found reasons to be well satisfied with his method. That he was pleased when he could take up a straw from the ground for the love of GOD, seeking Him only, and nothing else, not even His gifts."

How many of us are willing to pick up a straw, or piece of trash, or open a door for the love of God? I have to admit I don’t really think of those things as being actions that show God’s love. However, when you stop and think about it…anything that makes life better for someone else is the hand of God.

If we take seriously being yoked, and co-workers, with Christ then truly anything we do that moves the Kingdom of Beloved Community forward is God’s work and God is present.

Palm Sunday-Expectations

Last week we touched on expectations and how God often changes our expectations—for something much better. Miriam found her life dramatically changed when Moses returned, claiming to be the Deliverer. It changed even more during the Exodus wanderings and when she was struck with leprosy. In the end, she and all the Children of Israel found that they were blessed beyond their wildest dreams, but not in the way they expected. Some of the areas of NM are much like the terrain of the Exodus--rocky, desert with scrubby vegetation. However, in the midst of that seeming desolation, God provided food (manna and quail) and water (even from a rock)! God definitely exceeded expectations!

The disciples and crowd were filled with expectation on the first Palm Sunday when Jesus entered Jerusalem to the cheers of the people. This was Messiah, the Deliverer who would cleanse the Temple and city and country of the hated Romans. Everyone was sure that Messiah would return Israel to her proper place in the world and all would be well.

God’s plan was quite different. When their expectations weren’t met, the people turned against Jesus, shouting ‘crucify him.’ Too often we box in God by trying to impose our plans for this event or that dream. Maybe we need to rethink our desire to control the outcome and let God have a little more chance to work!

A couple of weeks ago I attended a retreat where Bishop Frey talked a bit about our expectations of God. He reminded us that our God is a God of action. Throughout the Bible, we hear God say “I am the God who led you out of bondage,” I am the God who fed you in the wilderness,” “I am the God who redeemed you,” “I am the God who called you by name,” etc., etc. Despite that, we often have limits on our expectations of what God will do.

The Bishop reminded us that Jesus tells us not to limit our expectations just because it appears that God isn’t listening. In the parable of the widow and the judge, Jesus reminds us that it is important to continually bring our needs and desires to God in prayer.

“Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. He said, ‘In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, “Grant me justice against my opponent.” For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, “Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.” ’And the Lord said, ‘Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?’” (Luke 18:1-8)

Unlike the judge, who gives in because the widow nags, God gives us what we need out of love. When we give our dreams and desires and needs to God, amazing things happen. What God does with them, will be greater than anything we can imagine! I confess that I do try to outline for God the way things should go. When I remember and step back, then amazing ‘coincidences’ happen. Has that ever happened to you?

Bishop Frey used a favorite quote during his talk. (He admits he doesn’t remember where he got the quote and a quick online search finds several clergy claiming or using it in sermons and meditations.)

“Hope is the ability to hear the melody of the future.

Faith is the courage to dance to it today.”

Living out this quote is one way to move beyond our narrow expectations and embrace joyfully the promises and expectations of our loving God. We may need to let go of some of our plans and plots.

What expectations bind you? Are they expectations of yourself, your life, or even of God?

May your Palm Sunday be a blessing and greeted with the joy of these children and adults at a Wings party. As you enter Holy Week and follow Christ on his journey to the Cross and Easter, may you find renewed joy in your expectations.

See you next week-Easter Sunday!