“Breaking Free” (Luke 13:10-17)

“Some people live in cages with bars built from their own fears and doubts. Some people live in cages with bars built from other people's fears and doubts; their parents, their friends, their brothers and sisters, their families. Some people live in cages with bars built from the choices others made for them, the circumstances other people imposed upon them. And some people break free.”

(C. Joybell C.)

“No man was born in chains; it is their fellow man who has put them in chains, and at any given time, every single man and woman has the absolute right to break free from those chains of any nature and of any form! It is not God who has put you in any sort of bondage! It is your fellow man who puts you in bondage in the name of God!”

(C. Joybell C.)

The writer of the Gospel of Luke shares an interesting story about a miracle in which the miracle is not the central point of the story.  We are told that a woman who had been crippled for eighteen years is seen by Jesus while he is teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.  Seeing her condition Jesus heals her, telling her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.”  Immediately she was healed.  Such a healing should be a cause for great celebration and praise to God . . . but, the writer tells us that it brought about a completely different reaction from the leader of the synagogue.

Instead of celebrating and praising God for the miracle that has occurred, the leader of the synagogue becomes indignant and condescending as he speaks to the people gathered: “There are six days for work.  So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.”  The leader of the synagogue and his cronies succeed in putting a damper on the party as he attempts to put the kibosh on the people’s reaction to the miracle, and in putting Jesus in his place.  To say the least, one gets the feeling that the mood of the synagogue was a mixture of anticipation, conflict, and fear as everyone anxiously awaited to see what would happen next.  For everyone in attendance, especially those who were not in the role of power . . . well, they were stuck in the middle.

What were they stuck in the middle of?

With great 20/20 hindsight, we know that Jesus has come to change the world . . . to fulfill God’s will . . . to usher in the Kingdom of God.  We know that this means that he confronts the status quo and the powers in control.  We know that often in these confrontations his goal is to set the people free to be who they have been created to be in order to love . . . love God and other.  We know that Jesus has come to break the chains of bondage that keep God’s children from doing this.

We know this . . . and, we know that the chains of bondage are strong.  And, even though they hold the people down and keep them from growing, we know that they also provide a sense of safety and comfort.  Safety and comfort because they provide a framework—whether right or wrong, good or evil—that show the people how to live.  They do not have to think, they only have to do.  There is a lot of security in black and white . . . lot of safety in dogma.  So, we know that with Jesus his rattling of the chains of bondage creates feelings of anxiousness and fear.  Anxiousness and fear because it is all new . . . it has never been done before.

That is where those who are stuck in the middle are.  So, I imagine that those who are not in power in the synagogue witnessing the miracle and the confrontation that is taking place, were more than a little nervous . . . they were scared.

Of course, the writer tells us, that Jesus responded to the synagogue leader with his usual common sense.  He points out to the leader that any person with even a shred of common sense would not allow one of their working animals go without water—even on the Sabbath.  And, he points out that the woman is no stranger to them, that she is in fact one of their own . . . “a daughter of Abraham.”  On top of everything else, he tells them, she has been suffering for “eighteen long years.”  Thus it is that Jesus points those in power to the rightful conclusion: “. . . should not this woman . . . be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?”

As is typical with such stories, we are told that this confrontation humiliated those who were in power and control.  Yet, at the same time, it delighted those who were witnessing the whole thing.  And, if one listens closely, one can hear the links of the chain quietly falling away.  Freedom was coming . . . not quickly, but it was coming.  The woman broke free of that which bound her . . . and, those gather were sensing the loosening of the chains that bound them.

Jesus came to break the chains of bondage.  Jesus shows us the way to fully embrace God’s desire for creation to embrace love . . . love of the Divine, love of others.  This is the “truth” that Jesus represents and is.  In the Gospel of John, Jesus declares: “I am the way and the truth and the life.” (John 14:6b, NIV)  And, he shows that there is only one way to get to a relationship with God . . . and, that is through him.  “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”  In this proclamation Jesus puts forth the key to breaking the chains of bondage.  It is in believing in Jesus . . . his words . . . his actions, and living as he lived.  Thus, as demonstrated in our reading this morning, a big part of that is taking on and questioning those things that keep us from growing in our faith and love for that which is Holy.

What are those “chains of bondage” that keep us from breaking free and fully realizing our place in the family of God?

The author C. Joybell C. tells us that fear and doubt plays a big role in binding us down and keeping us from fully realizing our God-given potential as a child of God.  Fear and doubt that comes from those who are in power and control . . . who manipulate peoples’ fear and doubts to reign supreme.  Fear and doubt that comes from crushing “truth” . . . who take away the freedom to ask questions . . . to seek answers . . . or discovering “truth”. 

I remember as a little kid being told that I should never step on crack because it would “break my mother’s back.”  As a four or five-year-old that is a powerful statement that kept me from stepping on cracks . . . at least until that day I accidentally stepped on a crack.  I ran like crazy to get home expecting to see my mother on the floor with a broken back.  I was confused when I finally got home and she was standing at the kitchen sink, fixing dinner . . . Needless to say, that was the last time I fell for that one.

Though that is a simple example, we hear such lies and half-truths all of the time that keep us from fully realizing the “truth” . . . the “truth” that will set us free to be who we are and are meant to be in the eyes of God.  There is probably no part of our lives that is not bound up in such chains.  Think of all the things you once believed, but later found out that there was no truth in any of them.

The leader of the synagogue did not care one way or another about the Sabbath . . . he wanted to maintain power and control.  He did not care about the people he was serving as their leaders . . . he wanted power and control.  In his attempt to keep that power and control, he threw dogma, rules, and lies at the people.  He attempted to scare the people . . . to raise fear and doubt.  And, he did so with the authority that he was representing God.  Go against him, you go against God.

And, Jesus called him and those like him, “. . . hypocrites!” 

Jesus told them they were wrong . . . it was not their way, but God’s way that matter . . . to love . . . to believe in the “truth”. Consider this quote from C. Joybell C.:

“Any system that does not allow one to question it, has its roots digging into manipulation and control. And manipulation and control are devised by people in power. Not by gods and angels. If you fear questioning what you have been taught and if you fear to think freely and make decisions based upon what you feel, see and know; because a system has taught you to have that fear, you should know that you are under that manipulation, you are under that control. You have this one life and you are planning to live it based upon a path dictated to you as the truth, instead of questioning and seeking what the truth might actually be. Truth does not need to tell you not to look left and not to look right, because the validity of its character does not depend upon whether you open your eyes or not! Truth remains true in all times and it will encourage you to think freely, to ask questions, and to seek! Truth is not a fragile thing easily broken if you fail to tiptoe around it. Truth is not a fragile thing easily broken if you fail to wrap your hands around it. Truth is never failing and does not need the human race, or any other race living or dead, to validate it.”

It has been said that the “truth” will set us free.  Jesus is the “truth”.  He said so himself: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  With Jesus the chains of bondage are broken.  That was the point of the story shared in the Gospel of Luke this morning.  With Jesus we break free.  Amen.

“Get ‘er Done” (Hebrews 11:29-12:2)

There is a quote that comes from the documentary, Basketball or Nothing, on Netflix that one should consider if he or she is an active pursuer of life.  I am not sure who the quote comes from, but I imagine it came from the Chinle Wildcats basketball coach, Raul Mendoza explaining how important it is for his senior players to succeed.  Mendoza says: “At this level, having to endure, persevere or survive is having to do the things that may not be easy.” 

Basketball or Nothing is a documentary about the Chinle High School boys’ basketball team from the Navajo Nation reservation in Arizona.  As with many reservations across the country, basketball is more than just a game.  It unites communities and is often the main source of entertainment in remote and rural parts of the country.  It is a sort of medicine for the communities and its people as they battle poverty, high unemployment, high alcohol, drug and suicide rates.  Basketball is an outlet for teenagers who are battling hardships at home and it offers an opportunity for players to leave the “Rez” and help their families and communities.

Thus, the quote--“At this level, having to endure, persevere or survive is having to do the things that may not be easy”—carries a lot of weight when considering its setting.

Though the documentary focuses on the efforts of the team to win its first state title in basketball, there is a lot more going on that is of greater importance.  As the series progresses towards the state tournament, other issues begin to become the focus as the coach attempts them to look to the future.  What happens when basketball is done?  Will the seniors go on to college either on a sports or academic scholarship?  Will they fall into the trap of being stuck on the reservation, or will they be able to go to college, graduate, and come home to help their families and community?  This all gets mixed into the big picture of “enduring, persevering, and surviving.” 

Especially when no one knows what the future holds.

Such is the case for those who are reading the letter written to the faithful in Hebrews this morning.  As with many such New Testament correspondence, this letter is a one of encouragement to those whose faith is being tested . . . through persecution.  As we started with last week and continue with this week, we are given a running commentary of those faithful from the past who endured in their faith despite never realizing what they had been promised. None of these faithful received what they were promised; yet, they are commended for their faith.  Commended because they never quit . . . never gave up . . . as they strived towards what was still to be realized—the Kingdom of God.

This is the “halftime” speech to a weary group of players.  This is the coach willing the team towards victory by recalling all the past players, their exploits, and their refusal to give up whether in victory or defeat.  Isn’t that what the writer is saying: “Therefore, wince we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that son easily entangles, and let us run the race marked out for us.”  

Maybe the writer could have shortened it up and just used Larry the Cable Guy’s catch-phrase from his standup routine: “Get ‘er done!”

“Get ‘er done!”  Get the job done.  We have all heard that phrase a good part of our lives.  It is what we are told whenever we are doing some sort of task, job, or chore.  It is what we are told when we belong to a team playing a game.  It is something we heard going through school . . . through work . . . through marriage and family . . . through life.  We are always being told to “get ‘er done!”  And, now we are hearing it in our scripture reading this morning.  As the faithful, we are being told to “get ‘er done!”  That is what the writer is telling the original recipients of this letter, and that is what the writer is telling us.

As I stated earlier, no one knows what tomorrow will bring . . . or even if tomorrow will come.  There is a sense of uncertainty that comes with living life because we just do not know.  Despite that uncertainty, we still have a job to do . . . a task to complete.  And, what might that job or task be?  In my mind it can only be one thing and that is to live our lives to the best of our abilities as a witness to the Kingdom of God.  We are to be the best whoever we are as created by God.  We are to be the best at loving God and at loving others.  We are to strive to live that which is promised.

That is hard.

Is that not what the faithful in our reading this morning was striving for despite the hardships and persecution they faced?  It hard to remain faithful and strive towards the kingdom when everyone is kicking you in the teeth and making life miserable.  Yet the writer reminds us to remember that “great cloud of witnesses” . . . to remember those faithful who came before them.  The writer reminds them that they did not give up even though they never received what was promised them.  They moved forward because they believed in what was not yet seen . . . believed that it would be better.

So, the writer encourages them to “get ‘er done!”

And, writes the author of the letter, if the past is too far in the past . . . consider a contemporary . . . Jesus, himself.  Consider Jesus—his life and witness—as the model for getting the job done.  “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” 

No one ever said it was going to be easy . . . this game of life and faith.  God did not promise it.  Jesus did not promise it.  No one ever promised it.  We are fully invested in the adventure . . . fully invested in the task that is set before us.  And, because we are, we hear those words of Coach Mendoza once again: “At this level, having to endure, persevere or survive is having to do the things that may not be easy.”  And, despite it all, we are called upon to “get ‘er done!”

We are to remember those who came before us.

We are to remember and model the one that we follow—Jesus.

We are to focus on the adventure before us . . . to endure that which is thrown at us . . . to persevere against the odds . . . and, to survive.

That is what God calls us to do . . . “to run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”  The promise will be fulfilled.  We do not know with certainty when, but it will be fulfilled.  It will be fulfilled because we trudge onward as we live our lives as a witness to Jesus . . . as we live as he lived.  With each step, we are one step closer.  Amen