July 30, 2000
Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

LECTIONARY READINGS
from the Revised Common Lectionary

2 Kings 4:42-44 and
Psalm 145:10-18
Ephesians 3:14-21
John 6:1-21

[ Read the texts at the Vanderbilt Divinity On-Line Library ]
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Enough is Enough

How much is enough?

According to the old saying, enough is enough.  When you have enough of anything, it means you have an adequate supply.  If it is money it means you have sufficient funds to pay the bills.  If it is food, it means you have an ample amount for the number of people who are going to eat.

If there is not enough of something, you could have trouble.  Not enough money means you might have creditors hounding you.  Not enough food might mean lots of complaints.  In one scenario presented by Henry Kindall and David Pimentel in a journal of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, there is, "...little hope of providing adequate food for the majority of humanity by 2025-2050."  [Ambio Vol. 23 No. 3, May 1994]  It is almost frightening to think that there might not be enough to go around when the children in our nurseries are raising their families.

On the other hand there are people that enjoy much more than enough to get along.  During May this year, people in Michigan and Illinois shared the biggest lottery jackpot in U.S. history. They will each have $20,000 each week to spend as they wish. I guess you would call that way more than enough.  This is especially true in light of the fact that a family of two, according to the federal guidelines on poverty, lives on just over half that amount in a year.¹

And yet, "enough" is a relative concept isn't it?  There are countries in the third world where it would take almost 40 years for a family to make the equivalent of our poverty level income.

How much is enough?

Enough is when we are able to meet the essential needs which confront us at the present time.  If the bill reads, $15.45 then $15.44 is not enough and $15.46 is abundance.  If we need strength to lift 80 pounds, then strength to lift 79 pounds is not enough and strength to lift 81 pounds is abundance

We have been taught since childhood to pray for enough.  "...give us this day our daily bread."  We do not pray for bread for yesterday.  That would be praying about "not enough."  We do not pray for bread for tomorrow.  That would be praying about "abundance." The foundation of faith that has been laid for us in the Lord's Prayer is that God is enough!   It is through dependence upon God moment by moment, day by day, that we discover what it means to have enough. Indeed the scripture lessons for today are clear evidence that "more than enough" of what is truly needed comes from God alone.

There are of course some things we can not possibly have more than enough of - a child's "I love you"  A moon light night with a fresh blanket of the season's first snow....

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¹  See the federal poverty guidelines by clicking here.

Connections in the Text

The key words for the lessons today are from Ezekiel 2:3 -- "...I am sending you." To know the Lord is to be sent on behalf of the Lord.  

Ezekiel 2:1-5

Ezekiel's ministry comes to Israel during her darkest days. The glory of the Kingdom under David and Solomon is a memory and the nation is in exile as the last days of Judah's decline are upon the people of God. Ezekiel is a priest who cared for the cultic life of the exiles, but he is called as a prophet, "...to a nation of rebels who have rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have transgressed against me to this very day."

The passage parallels the gospel text in that there is a sending by the Lord to a people who will resist the message.   Nevertheless, Ezekiel is to bring a message, "Thus says the Lord."  This commissioning has never changed - the representative of God brings a message from God.  The word which Ezekiel brings is God's word, not Ezekiel's word. Ezekiel is the servant of the word, not the source of the word. The point is underscored with the words, "O mortal, stand up on your feet." *  This is the Eternal Word coming to a mortal man who will be empowered by the Spirit of God. "And when he spoke to me a spirit entered into me and set me on my feet..."

The last verse of this text also parallels the gospel.  The people to whom Ezekiel is sent may or may not hear the word - but, "...they shall know a prophet has been among them."  Jesus warns his disciples that they may or may not be "received". In either case the obedient servant delivers the message.  It is only when the servant of the word is faithful and obedient to bring a "thus says the Lord" message to God's people that God's people have opportunity for authentic repentance and restoration.
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* (The translation "son of man" is the more literal translation and important to any discussion of the use of the phrase "son of man" in scripture. In Ezekiel it does point to the limited mortal nature of the human being who stands in the presence of an almighty God.)

Mark 6: 1-13

Jesus and his disciples come to Nazareth after a series of amazing healing miracles. The disciples of Jesus must have been in a state of euphoria. What an amazing tour this was! There was the calming of the sea when they were stunned and exclaimed, "Who is this that even the wind and the sea obey him?" [Mk.4:41] Then the healing of the Gadarene demoniac, the woman with the hemorrhage and the raising of Jarius' daughter.  They must surely have felt that the kingdom would come swiftly.  How wonderful it was to be on the winning team.

Then came Nazareth.  The townspeople of Nazareth were surprised that this "local lad" was teaching and doing all that he was.  "Why - isn't this Mary's son?  Doesn't he work with his hands just as we do?  He's nobody special."

Jesus is amazed at the response. Interesting statement for Mark to make.  Jesus taught frequently about his ultimate rejection and crucifixion which would come at the hands of his opposition - so how is he "amazed"?  This provides wonderful insight into Jesus' humanity and his identification with us.  There is a sense in which we can know something is going to take place, but when it happens, we are still amazed.  It is not so much that Jesus did not expect the rejection - but it is startling when people who had been a part of his upbringing suddenly take this great offense at him.

The teaching mission goes on and in some ways this event in Nazareth is a "reality check" for the disciples.  Not everyone is going to be thrilled with the ministry of Christ and ultimately with the ministry of Christ's followers.  They are commissioned and sent out into the real world where they must bring the ministry and message of Jesus Christ to everyone.  Some will receive and some will not receive - but all must hear and witness the call of God to repent and believe the good news.

2 Corinthians 12: 2-10

There is a mysterious center to this text.  Paul himself says that the revelations he had received from the Lord were in a realm that can not be told.  His experience is akin to Moses who asked to see the glory of the Lord and was permitted barely a glimpse.  Or Isaiah who exclaimed "woe is me" when he glimpsed the glory of God in a vision.

The context of this heartfelt section of the Corinthian correspondence is the work of Paul's detractors to question his apostolic authority and ministry.  He has received the most incredible revelations and visions from the Lord - whether in body or in spirit, he has experienced an intimacy with the divine that can not even be described and indeed should not be described.

Yet, it is not in these revelations or in personal charisma that his apostolic credibility rests.  It is rather in his humanity - even in his weakness that God is most fully glorified. (There are some very important insights here when contemporary ministry is evaluated.  Reports of fantastic visions and secret insights are to be heard with ac critical eye towards the principles Paul spells out in this text.)

Paul is plagued by some kind of physical ailment which he believes is given to him so that he will remain cognizant of his frail humanity and not get an inflated view of himself because he has received "special revelation." 

Then the heart of the text comes.  "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."  The glory of God shines most fully through a frail, surrendered mortal being.  "Whenever I am weak, then I am strong," Paul affirms.

If we could get hold of his last comment, we would gain much in our spiritual lives ... "Therefore I am content with..."   The ability to discover contentment in our circumstances - not matter what the circumstances are - is a sign of the reign of God in our lives.

It is here that the epistle connects with the Ezekiel and Mark passages.  Mortal beings - in partnership with the Eternal Word - are empowered and sent to deliver the message of God for the redemption of the world.

 Worship Helps

A Call To Worship

Leader:   O Lord, our Lord, we look to you for you are our God.
People:  As the flowers below look to the sun above,
Leader:   So our spirits turn to you for life.
People:  Have mercy upon us O Lord,
Leader:   For our lives are empty without you.
People:  Visit us in your glory today for we rejoice in you.

A Prayer of Confession

Lord of all living, we confess that we are too centered on ourselves and too
often turn away from others.  We enjoy the abundance that comes from
your hand and shut our hearts against those whose lives are lived in
desperation.  We pray that your renewing Spirit would shape us more
fully into the persons you would have us be.  Forgive us of our sin and
restore us by your healing grace. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon

Friends, receive the words of scripture, "If we confess our sin, {God} is
faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Those who turn to Christ are forgiven and given a right relationship with God.
 

A Prayer of Thanksgiving

Almighty God we give thanks to you for your gift to us of the church in this place.
Here our children have learned the stories of Jesus and have found their way to
the arms of Jesus.  In this place we have come to know some of the dearest
people in our lives.  We have found comfort in the midst of our sorrows and
courage in the midst of trials.

As we sing the songs of faith, hear the words of holy scripture and meditate upon your word, we find renewal for our spirits and strength for the living of our days.  There is no one like you in all the universe O Lord.  We are blessed beyond all expectation and stand in awe of who you are.

O merciful Lord, be pleased this day to fill us once again with the hope, joy and love that come to those who truly trust you and who give themselves to follow the footsteps of our Savior Jesus Christ.

All the saints in heaven and on earth join in giving all glory, honor and praise to you, both now and forevermore.  Amen

A Prayer of Dedication