08/10/2014 ~ Proper 14 ~ Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time ~ Ninth Sunday after Pentecost ~ Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28; Psalm 105: 1-6, 16-22, 45b; 1 Kings 19:9-18; Psalm 85:8-13; Romans 10:5-15; Matthew 14:22-33 ~ At the First Baptist Church ~ David Spiegel and Joe and Bob Oehme Share the Word ~ The Baseball Sermon ~ Used: Exodus 3:1-16; Romans 8:14-17a; John 3:1-17.
READINGS:
A READING FROM THE TANAKH IN THE SECTION KNOWN AS THE TORAH — Exodus 3:1-16 [ILV]
JOE:
In part because we read these words in translation certainly one of the things we miss is that God names God’s own self by using a form of the verb “to be.” But perhaps of equal interest is that God uses three different forms of the verb in stating that name. Hear now this reading as it is found in the work known as Exodus in the Third Chapter.
[1] Moses was tending the flock of Jethro, who was the father-in-law of Moses and was the priest of Midian. Leading the flock beyond the beaten path, deep into the wilderness, Moses came to Horeb, the mountain of God.
[2] There a messenger of God appeared in a flame of fire from the midst of a thornbush. Moses saw this— a bush ablaze with fire and yet not consumed— [3] and Moses said, “Let me go closer and look at this remarkable sight and see why the bush does not burn up.”
[4] God saw Moses coming closer and called out from the midst of the bush: “Moses, Moses!”
Moses answered, “I am here.”
[5] God said, “Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you stand is holy ground!”
[6] Then God said, “I am the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham and Sarah, the God of Rebecca and Isaac, the God of Leah and Jacob and Rachel.”
Moses looked away, afraid to look at the Holy One.
[7] Then God said, I have seen the affliction of my people in Egypt; I have heard their cries as they suffer because of those who oppress them. I have, indeed, felt their sufferings. [8] Now I have come to deliver them, to rescue them from the hand of Egypt out of their place of their suffering and to bring them to a place out of that land, a place that is wild and fertile, a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey— the country of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. [9] The cry of the children of Israel has reached me; I have also seen how the Egyptians oppress them. [10] Now Go! I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”
[11] But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and lead the children of Israel out of Egypt?”
[12] God answered, “I will be with you; and this shall be the sign by which you shall know that it is I who sent you: after you bring my people out of Egypt, you will all worship at this very mountain.”
[13] “But” Moses said, “when I go to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ if they ask, ‘What is the name of God?’ what shall I say to them?”
[14] God replied, “I AM WHO I AM.” God also said, I AM AS I AM. Then God further said, “This is what you shall tell the Israelites, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
[15] God spoke further to Moses, “Tell the children of Israel, ‘Yahweh, the I AM of your ancestors, the God of Abraham and Sarah, the God of Rebecca and Isaac, the God of Leah and Jacob and Rachel, has sent me to you’:
This is my name forever;
This is the name
you are to remember
for all generations.
[16] Now go and gather the elders of Israelites and tell them, ‘I AM, the God of your ancestors, ancestors the God of Abraham and Sarah, the God of Rebecca and Isaac, the God of Leah and Jacob and Rachel, has appeared to me and sent me to you. Say to them I have heard you, I have heard your cries and I have seen the way you are being treated in Egypt.
Here ends this reading from Scripture.
A READING FROM THE EPISTLES — Romans 8:14-17a [ILV]
BOB:
This passage makes it clear: through Jesus we are adopted by God as children of God. Hear now this reading as it is found in that section of Scripture known as the Letter to the Church in Rome, commonly referred to as Romans.
[14] ...all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. [15] You did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. You have received a spirit of adoption, adopted by God. When we cry, “Abba! Daddy!”— for we think of God on intimate terms so we call God ‘Daddy’— [16] it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit which proclaims we are children of God. [17a] And if children, then we are heirs— heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ....
Here ends this reading from Scripture.
A READING FROM THE GOSPELS — John 3:1-17 [ILV]
DAVID:
The writer of John is clear: the Spirit of God has and is acting in Jesus, who is the Christ. Hear now this reading as it is found in the Gospel According to the School of John.
Now, a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a member of the Sanhedrin— Sanhedrin - a Greek term which means ‘assembly’ or ‘council’— [2] Nicodemus, a member of the Sanhedrin, came to Jesus one night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can perform these signs and wonders you do apart from the presence of God.”
[3] Jesus gave Nicodemus this answer:
“The truth of the matter is:
no one can see
the dominion of God,
the realm of God
without being born from above.”
[4] Nicodemus said, “How can anyone be born a second time, after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?”
[5] Jesus replied, “The truth of the matter is:
no one can enter the dominion of God
without being born of water and Spirit.
[6] What is born of the flesh is flesh,
and what is born of the Spirit is Spirit.
[7] So, do not be surprised when I said to you,
‘You must be born from above.’”
[8] “The wind blows where it chooses.
You hear the sound it makes,
but you do not know where it comes from
or where it goes.
So it is with everyone
who is born of the Spirit.”
[9] “How can these things be possible?” asked Nicodemus.
“How can these things be?”
[10] Jesus answered, “Are you a teacher of Israel,
and you still do not understand these matters?”
[11] “The truth of the matter is:
we talk about what we know
and testify to what we have seen;
yet you do not accept our testimony.
[12] If you do not believe
when I have told you about earthly things,
how will you believe
when I tell you about heavenly things?
[13] No one has gone to heaven
except the one who
comes from heaven— the Chosen One.
[14] As Moses lifted up the serpent
in the wilderness,
so must the Chosen One be lifted up,
[15] so that whoever believes
in the Chosen One may have eternal life.”
[16] “For God so loved the world
as to give the Only Begotten One,
so that whoever believes
may not die but may have eternal life.”
[17] “Indeed, God did not send
the Only Begotten into the world
to condemn the world,
but that through the Only Begotten
the world might be saved.”
This is the Gospel of Jesus, Who is the Christ, the Messiah.
***********************************************************************
Baseball, the Bible and Trinitarianism:
A Tri-logue
(A Dialogue for Three People)
JOE:
Well, I am here to offer a serious academic lecture about the connection between sports and the Bible. I see some doubting looks out there. But I do need everyone to know that there is a definite connection between athletics and the Bible. In fact, did you know that strange as it may seem, the Bible is about Baseball.
DAVID:
(At the start of this David is sitting among the members of the congregation.) Wait! Wait! Wait just a cotton picking minute. Hold your horses! Baseball? How can the Bible be about Baseball? As you know, I am a really, really big Baseball fan. And if I know anything, I know Baseball was invented by Abner Doubleday. Abner invented Baseball in Cooperstown, New York, just over the hills from where we are right now. Now, on the other hand, Abraham is in the Bible and lived in the part of the world we today call the Middle East. But Abraham probably lived about four thousand years ago. And, Moses is in the Bible. But Moses probably lived in the part of the world we today call the Middle East but about three thousand years ago. And Jesus is in the Bible. And Jesus lived in the part of the world we today call the Middle East but about two thousand years ago. So, they all lived in what we today call the Middle East. The Middle East— that’s thousands and thousands and thousands of miles away from here. Even by jet, that would take better than a half a day to get there. But Abner Doubleday— Abner Doubleday lived in Cooperstown, New York. Cooperstown— it just ain’t that far from here. And legend has it that Doubleday invented Baseball right there... in Cooperstown, in 1839. I know because I’ve been in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown and that’s what it says, right there in the Hall of Fame. And if there is anything I know, it’s that 1839 is not thousands of years ago. 1839 is only about... 175 years ago, not 4,000 years ago and not 3,000 years ago and not 2,000 years ago.
BOB:
(Bob has been sitting in the congregation also, on the opposite side from David.) David— I am sorry to say you’re wrong. Baseball is in the Bible. After all, don’t the first words in Genesis say: “In the Big Inning...”
DAVID:
Oh, yeah?
JOE:
Yeah. You see? There is a connection between Baseball and the Bible.
DAVID:
Yeah? Well... well... who’s on First?
BOB:
What do you mean, who’s on First?
DAVID:
I just want to know the name of the player in the field, the position we call First Base. Who’s on First? After all, a lot of Baseball players have funny or a funny names. I mean, in the past Baseball players have had names like Dizzy Dean who played for the Saint Louis team. Or Mookie Wilson who played for the Mets. (I love the Mets.) Or Moose Skowron— he played for the Yankees. Moose— you’d think he’d be from Maine and play on the Red Sox. But no. He played for the Yankees. And today there’s a pitcher named Joba Chamberlain— Joba Chamberlain— that name doesn’t even sound like the name of a Baseball player. That sounds like a character out of Star Wars. But a guy named Joba Chamberlain plays for the Detroit Tigers. At least when he’s not on the disabled list. Anyway, there was this guy named Charles Dillon Stengel— speaking of funny names— Charles Dillon Stengel— Charles Dillon Stengel is known to most people as Casey Stengel. Casey— he should have been managing a locomotive, not a Baseball team. But Casey said you can’t have a Baseball team without a catcher— so let’s forget about a catcher and start on First Base. I’ll say it again. If the Bible is about Baseball, who’s on First?
BOB:
I still don’t quite know what you mean by who’s on First? What happened to the catcher.
DAVID:
Never mind about the catcher. Here’s what I want to know: if the Bible is about Baseball, what’s the name of the player who plays First Base in the Bible?
JOE:
What is not the name of the one who plays First Base on the Bible Baseball team.
DAVID:
I know that! Who’s on First?
BOB:
Who is not the name of the one who plays First Base on the Bible Baseball team.
DAVID:
Look. Do either of you know the name of the one playing First Base on the Bible Baseball team?
JOE:
I think we both know the name.
DAVID:
Great. So can either one of you please tell me the name of the one playing the position of First Base on this Bible Baseball team?
BOB:
I AM.
DAVID:
You play First Base?
BOB:
No.
DAVID:
I didn’t think you were playing First Base. So, the name of the one playing First is...?
BOB :
I AM.
DAVID
Look, you just said you are not the one playing First on the Bible Baseball team. And then I ask you the name of the one playing First on the Bible Baseball team and what do you say? You say, “I AM.” No you are not. You said you are not. (Turns to Joe.) O.K. You— maybe you Mr. know it all about the Bible and Baseball can tell me. What is the name of the one playing First on the Bible Baseball team.
JOE:
What is not the name of the one who plays First.
DAVID:
I think we’ve already established that. So, let’s try this again: the name of the one playing First on the Bible Baseball team is...?
JOE:
I AM.
DAVID:
You play First Base? (Points to Bob.) First he said he’s playing First. Then you say you’re playing First. Who’s playing First.
JOE:
No. I am not a good enough player to play First and who is not playing First, either.
DAVID:
O.K. We got that straight now. (Points to Joe.) You’re not the one playing First. (Points to Bob.) And you’re not playing First. So, who is playing First?
BOB AND JOE (TOGETHER):
I AM.
DAVID:
No. Wait! You can’t both be playing First!
JOE:
No. We’re not.
DAVID:
So, who is playing First?
BOB AND JOE (TOGETHER):
I AM.
DAVID:
All right. You’ve got two people playing First Base.
BOB:
No, no, no. You don’t understand. When Moses asked God to tell Moses what the name of God is so Moses could tell the people of Israel that name, the word God used to identify God’s own self was the Hebrew word Yahweh.
JOE:
And the Hebrew word Yahweh is, in Hebrew, a form of the verb to be. Hence, the name of God is...
BOB AND JOE (TOGETHER):
I AM.
DAVID:
No. That can’t possibly be right. No one can be named ‘I AM.’ It’s just... just too strange.
JOE:
Hey! If someone can be named Dizzy or Moose or Joba, how can you say ‘I AM’ is a strange name?
DAVID:
Well, I guess you have a point. But I’ve heard people call God by a lot of names. I’ve heard God called Creator. I’ve heard God called the Light. I’ve heard God called Rock— now that name sounds like a Baseball player— Rock. I’ve even heard God called Father.
BOB:
Yes. God is called by a lot of names in the Bible. But of all those names you mentioned, Father is the one you will never find in the Bible.
DAVID:
What do you mean Father is not in the Bible? Didn’t Jesus teach the disciples to start a basic prayer to God with the words “Our Father...”?
BOB:
No.
DAVID:
What do you mean no? We say a prayer that starts with the words “Our Father...” at nearly every service on a Sunday. And I know Jesus taught that prayer to the disciples.
BOB:
No. The prayer Jesus taught the disciples was more personal and more intimate than that. Jesus told the disciples to pray saying “Our Daddy...”
DAVID:
But this is God we’re talking about! That sounds way too...too... too... informal— “Our Daddy...”
BOB:
But that’s what it really says in Scripture when we read it in the original language— “Our Daddy.”
DAVID:
All right, so where did we get Father?
JOE:
We got it from the Romans. They called their chief God ‘Father.’ So you see, the term ‘Father’ is not in the Bible. It just started being used because the Romans were using it for their god.
DAVID:
But the Romans worshiped a lot of gods; the Romans were pagans.
JOE:
I think you’ve made my point. They were pagans.
BOB:
And since God is not called Father in the Bible, maybe we should just stick with the name Yahweh— “I AM.”
JOE:
And you know what we just said: who’s on First? I AM is on First.
DAVID:
I AM is on First?
JOE:
I AM is on First.
DAVID:
O.K. Who’s on second? Bet I got you with that one. Who plays second Base on this Bible team? It ain’t ‘I AM’ is it?
BOB:
No. It ain’t I AM.
JOE:
Jesus is on second.
BOB:
One of the basic Christian beliefs is the one many people label as Trinity. And in Trinity Jesus is known as the Second Person— Jesus, the Second Person of the Trinity— Jesus is on second.
DAVID:
Oh, yeah? Think you’re smart with that one, do you? (Mocking.) Jesus is known as the Second Person of the Trinity. So, Jesus is on Second. Well, I know my theology too. And Jesus had two natures. Jesus is fully human and Jesus is fully divine. You can’t pin Jesus down that easily. So, maybe Jesus is not just on second. Nah, nah, na, na, na!
JOE:
Shortstop.
DAVID:
What?
JOE:
Shortstop.
DAVID:
Jesus plays shortstop?
JOE:
You are right on that one, O grand inquisitor of all things Baseball and Bible. Our Christian claim is that Jesus is fully human and fully divine. So, Jesus gets to play second.
BOB:
And Jesus gets to play shortstop too. Fully human and fully divine.
DAVID:
Who’s on second?
JOE:
Jesus.
DAVID:
Who plays short?
BOB:
Jesus.
DAVID:
But how can someone play two positions?
BOB:
David... it’s Jesus.
DAVID:
(Resigned.) Yeah.... right... fully human; fully divine.
BOB:
Right.
DAVID:
O.K. Explain that. Explain how someone can play two positions.
JOE:
David... it’s Jesus.
DAVID:
(Resigned again.) Right. O.K. It’s Jesus. But you still have the hot corner! You haven’t got to the hot corner covered yet!
BOB:
The hot corner?
DAVID:
Third Base! Where you have to be ready for someone dropping down a bunt. Where you have to be ready when the batters hit wicked shots down the line and you’ve got to dive for the ball and make a backhanded catch! And you don’t have third covered on the Bible Baseball team, do you?! Wham! Crack! And there goes a line drive over the bag...
JOE:
David. David. David. David. Slow down. You know who covers the hot corner.
DAVID:
I do?
JOE:
You do.
DAVID:
(Long pause. Quietly:) Third Base... the Spirit of God?
JOE:
See? You do know your theology. The Spirit of God is sometimes called the Holy Spirit. And, speaking of funny names, the Holy Spirit is sometimes called the Paraclete...
DAVID:
Hold it! Hold it! Hold it! Nothing you’ve said so far proves the Bible is about Baseball until now! That the Holy Spirit is called the Paraclete really proves the Bible is about Baseball!
JOE:
That the Holy Spirit is called the Paraclete really proves the Bible is about Baseball?
DAVID:
Of course it does! The Holy Spirit must be wearing a pair of cleats.
JOE:
Right. Well, the Holy Spirit is sometimes called the Paraclete, sometimes called the Spirit which is present to us, sometimes called the Spirit in our midst... the point is the Holy Spirit is here with us. The Holy Spirit can handle all our situations, anything anyone hits to us... all those bunts which might catch us unaware and all the hot shots down the line. The Holy Spirit helps us with everything.
BOB:
Yes, the Spirit of God is always with us. The gifts of the Spirit, sometimes called the fruits of the Spirit, these are gifts that God gives us and they are many: wisdom, knowledge, healing, prophecy, discernment, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, joy, peace and love. The Spirit of God is at work in our lives. And we can rely on the Spirit to guide us through life.
JOE:
And when we consider our experience of God which takes in the faithfulness of the one called I AM, the example of Jesus and the guidance of the Spirit— that is the real reason we say Baseball is mirrored in the Bible.
DAVID:
Why do you say that?
JOE:
David, what’s the object of the game of Baseball?
DAVID:
To score runs?
BOB:
Close!
DAVID:
Oh, I know! The object of the game is to avoid three strikes and you’re out!
JOE:
Not quite right, either, although I think part of the point is to stay at bat until you realize that you can walk with God.
BOB:
So, yes, besides a walk with God, the real object of the game is to be safe at home.
JOE:
And if we pay attention to the fact that God, the Great I AM, is on First...
BOB:
And Jesus plays both second and short...
JOE:
And the Spirit covers third...
BOB:
And that God, Jesus and the Spirit is what Christians through the centuries have called Trinity and that God, Jesus and the Spirit are Trinity...
JOE:
When we pay attention to all that...
DAVID:
I know. I know. We will be safe at home with God.
JOE:
Safe at home...
BOB:
Safe at home...
ALL 3:
Safe... at... home...
JOE:
And you know, there are only two places people sing together in public any more. One is in Church. And one is in the ballpark for the seventh inning stretch. It would not be church and it would not be a Baseball game if there was not community singing. So, let’s all sing the song in the bulletin, Send Us Out. Marcia! Hit it!
LYRIC:
Send us out, God, in Your Name
God be there in the crowd!
By You we live and we play and run.
We are a part of Your Three in One!
And it’s root, root, root, for the One God—
Maker, Redeemer and Flame!
And it’s one, two, three ways to know:
God’s beyond all Names!
BOB:
Baseball and the Bible!
JOE:
That’s a real Home Run!
DAVID:
Amen, and again, Amen!
ALL 3:
Amen, and again, Amen!
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