02/21/2021
Today Hegre participates in "Ash Sunday." Since we don't meet mid-week, we tweak things a bit so we can mark Lent with the soot of life. Below is a sermon based upon good old King David's writings from Psalm 51.
If you are so moved, you can grab some ashes from the fireplace or the collecting dust on a forgotten shelf to mark yourself repentant and in need of the gospel. Or you can just trace your forehead with the cross of Christ, (God comes through, ashes or no ashes.)
Regardless, fellow sinner, may you not only know your need for God, but feel his unending promise to show up and sift through the ashes.
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Grace and peace to you from the God of all creation and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Lately one of my kids has been talking about how dreamy it will be when he gets to move out.
The list he has come up with is pretty solid.
No little sisters in his space. No pesky chores, or at least chores you get to do on your own personal time-line. Annnnnd, all the late nights when and how you want them.
I get it. I remember that age and when I first moved out from my parents’ house and into the college dorms.
It was great. I look back on it with fondness. The people I was around, the freedom I got to enjoy, and most especially, a perk at the college I went to. An upgrade if you will-from my house. Cable TV.
As a kid who grew up in a house with five channels, if the antenna was getting the signal, this was gravy.
There were so many things to watch. The History Channel. The channel for movies. There was even an entire channel devoted to shopping.
But my guilty pleasure?? The Entertainment Channel, where I could watch something called “The E True Hollywood Story.”
It was ridiculous, had no educational value and quite frankly, was over the top and salacious.
I loved hearing what was really happening on Different’ Strokes, Family Ties and Growing Pains…they even had stories on “The Facts of Life.” Apparently, Jo and Blair didn’t get along. Or maybe they did. I can’t remember anymore.
I hadn’t really thought about life beyond what was depicted on the screen or in the newspaper.
Apparently, these actors were actually people who lived multi-dimensional lives. Turns out, this was also true about all people throughout history.
People I admired where not who I thought they were. Or rather, they were more than I thought they were.
It was a bit shocking to find out about the papacy in the 15th century. Heart breaking, really. Learning about how the church sold forgiveness and the corruption present was hard.
That wasn’t all. Then and now, as I look more into the lives of astounding leaders that contributed so much to the world, there is a mix of intelligence and talent along with utter sinfulness.
Things like jealousy, vengefulness, insecurity, and corruption were present.
And while it may come as a surprise neither showbusiness or politics have a monopoly on the market of brokenness. Not by far.
After you’ve read the Bible a few times, it seems like the ultimate screenplay for scandalous behavior.
I mean, we start out with an epic tale of lies, disobedience and murder. I’m looking at you Eve, Adam, and Cain.
Then you have the greatest king of all, David. He was a leader extraordinaire, talented musician, gifted military tactician and brave warrior.
All he needs is a cape. This guy was amazing and faithful. Until he wasn’t.
Until he used his power and might to take what wasn’t his.
Why? Because he wanted to and because he could. Poor Bathsheba, put in a position where ‘no’ meant death. Poor Uriah, his crime was being the husband of a beautiful woman and a faithful soldier.
David’s, this great man with so much wisdom, talent and honor, does what is vile and repugnant.
It is then that, Nathan, God’s prophet, confronts David with the tell-all scandal. But not directly. He tells a tale about a rich and greedy man who selfishly steals and slaughters a poor man’s pet ewe for some dinner guests.
David, if you recall, gets enraged and demands justice for the poor man who lost his beloved pet...only to find out that the story was really about him and his wicked dealings with Bathsheba and Uriah.
David is forced to take a long, hard look in the mirror, from which we get today’s Psalm. In his guilt and shame, David writes a lament to God:
“I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are justified in your sentence and blameless when you pass judgment.”
David, head hung low and shoulders hunched together, writes, “I messed up and there is no going back. I deserve whatever you throw at me.”
He does, too. Talk about a trail of destruction: Murder. Assault. Adultery.
It is the stuff of a shocking tell-all.
You know, it’s a little easier on this side of the scandal…the outside looking in. Be it David’s scandal or any number of ones that surround us.
At times it can feel helpless and infuriating hearing about the evil that destroys what is good and beautiful. But it’s also safe...looking at the stuff out there, that is. The sordid tales, the never-do-gooders, the lawbreakers and stealers.
Maybe that’s why I liked those silly stories in college. Because it’s a lot easier looking at other people’s stuff.
It’s harder to be like David. To take a long hard look at what needs the redemption of a savior. The kind of stuff that leaves you saying, “I messed up. There is no going back. My sin is ever before me.”
We know that this Lenten journey is about death and Jesus’ journey to the cross, but it is also about taking a look at the memoir we are writing.
These next weeks we will hear the epic tell-all story that includes hypocrites, deniers, self-righteous and judgmental souls, betrayers, tax collectors, prostitutes, and those who are ruthless.
We will find our own lives reflected in their stories, stories that can leave a trail of ashes.
So today, right now, we claim this.
We come before God and have soot smeared on our hands or forehead. We repent and heed the Spirit’s invitation to admit we need help.
We collectively confess that, “against you and you alone have I sinned. I have done what is evil in your sight. My sin is ever before me.”
We sit, trusting in God’s mercy and echoing David’s words from that ancient Psalm, knowing their truth, “O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.16 For you have no delight in sacrifice; if I were to give a burnt offering, you would not be pleased.17 The sacrifice acceptable to God[d] is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
So today, at this very moment, we come with contrite hearts before our God. We have ashes placed upon our foreheads or hands and hear about dust and the need to turn and hear the gospel.
Won’t you please rise and join me with the prayer that’s printed in your bulletin: Almighty God, you have created us out of the dust of the earth. Grant that these ashes may be to us a sign of our mortality and penitence, so that we may remember that only by your gracious gift are we given everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
