“Called by Name” (Isaiah 43:1-7)

In the Book of Exodus, Moses asks God for a name that he can tell the people so that they will begin to know God.  Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’  Then what shall I tell them?” (Exodus 3:13, NIV) 

Moses had his reasons for asking God for a name.  Moses understood the importance of names.  A name tells others things about the person bearing the name.  It gives an individual an identity . . . reveals qualities and traits about the individual . . . it gives meaning to the individual . . . it expresses the individual’s personality . . . it is how people know who the individual is.  If Moses could give to the people the name of God, the people could then begin to know and understand God.

Well, God understood names too.  God also knew what Moses was up to.  And, apparently, God has a sense of humor because God did answer Moses’ question.  God gave to Moses a name.  God said to Moses: “I AM WHO I AM.  This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” (Exodus 3:14, NIV)

In my mind, I think God’s answer floored Moses.  I imagine Moses got a look of bewilderment on his face as he heard the name of God.  To Moses’ ears the name revealed nothing about God; and yet, to God it revealed everything.  But, whatever the case, it opened the door for a relationship with God for the people . . . it gave them a place for them to begin.  I guess God could see the look on Moses’ face because God was adamant about the name.  God also said to Moses: “This is my name forever, the name you shall call me, from generation to generation.” (Exodus 3:15b. NIV)

Names are important.

In our reading this morning we learn the power that comes in a name.  Remember that the prophet Isaiah speaks to God’s children who have been in exile.  They had been exiled to the land of the Babylonians for their stubbornness to not do God’s will.  Now they have returned from exile . . . returned to their homeland and are standing in the devastation and ruin of their homes, businesses, and the temple.  They stand where there were once family and friends.  They stand in a place that once was home.  And, they have returned home to nothing with nothing.  Imagine the despair they must have felt.  It was down-right depressing.

And, there they stood.

Isaiah speaks for God.  He tells the people that they should not wallow in their despair . . . that they should not fear . . . because God has chosen them.  God has rescued them.  God has returned them.  And, that God will never abandon them no matter how difficult life might become . . . God will always be with them.  The prophet lets the people know that this is no ordinary choosing . . . no, because God chooses each and every one of them as God calls them out by name.  “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine.” (Isaiah 43:1b, NIV) Because God has done this there is no reason to fear.  There is no reason to fear because God is always with them . . . through thick and thin, good and bad . . . God is with them.

During the season of Epiphany, we celebrate the manifestation of the Holy . . . the manifest of God . . . to all people.  Through Jesus, God has been revealed to all of God’s creation . . . to everyone.  This manifestation was not to a select group of people, but to all people.  God desires that intimacy with all of God’s children . . . each and every one.

Surprisingly, that is the same message God is speaking through the prophet Isaiah in our reading this morning.  The prophet speaks for God: “Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west.  I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’  Bring my sons and daughters from the ends of the earth—everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” (Isaiah 43:6-7. NIV)

And, this is no blanket proposition . . . it is not a “one size fits all” sort of deal.  This promise it customized for each and every individual for God has called each by name—each and every one is God’s.  God calls each one by name.  Think about how powerful that is.  Think about it as we hear the reading once again, starting with verse two: “When you, Bob, pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you, Marilyn, pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.  When you, Lena, walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze . . . Since you, Richard, are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life.” 

When God speaks to us, God calls and addresses us by name . . . God is acknowledging us and the intimate relationship we have with God—no one else.  God’s words are for us . . . the children of God . . . as God has created each and every one of us.  Through name we discover power . . . the power of God’s love and grace for each of us for God knows us intimately . . . every strength and weakness, every hair on the top of our heads.  God knows us despite it all and still wants us . . . God calls us by name.

Of course, during the season of Epiphany we acknowledge once again the fact that God has manifested God’s self to all.  We do it every year, generation after generation.  There is no real “aha” moment to that acknowledgement.  Yet, I think that in our reading this morning we do stumble upon a new “aha” moment . . . a new epiphany.  That epiphany is that in God’s manifestation to all, God still comes to each of us on an individual basis to acknowledge the Holy to each of us.  God calls us by name . . . desires to know each of us.  That, too, is pretty powerful . . . that God calls to each of us individually to come into the divine dance of life with God.

Upon accepting that invitation we enter into relationship with God.  God who will not abandon us no matter what life throws at us . . . good or bad.  God will stay with us through it all.  Note that God does not promise to take away the bad stuff; no, God promises to be with us, no matter what.  God knows us . . . calls us by name, and because God does, we begin to know God.  Our situation in life may not be as dire as those we have heard about this morning in our reading, yet we have our ups and downs.  But, we too, have been redeemed.  God is with us.  How do we know?  Because God has called us by name and we are God’s.  We are not alone.  What more can we ask for?  Amen.

“Resiliency” (Matthew 2:1-12)

One of the great adventures of each Sunday’s worship service takes place at that point when the individual comes forward to extinguish the altar candles.  The tension mounts as to whether they will be extinguished on the first attempt, or will it take more than one attempt.  If you ask those whose task it is, they will tell you that it’s a roll of the dice . . . sometimes they get it the first time, sometimes it takes two or three attempts. 

Over the years, I have jokingly told them that I have put those trick candles in the tubes.  I think that there have been moments when they believed me . . . especially when the candle re-ignites after they thought they had put it out.  Trick candles are designed to keep igniting repeatedly, which is frustrating when attempting to put them out.  They just keep coming back.  Which is great for a joke, but not when you are trying to put something out.

That is resiliency.  Resiliency is the ability to bounce back and continue what is supposed to be done.

This morning we hear a story about resiliency as it relates to our faith as the followers of Jesus.  Today marks the start of the church season of Epiphany.  We have marched through the season of Christmas and its story of the birth of Jesus and now we enter the “rest of the story” as it begins with Epiphany.  As the followers of Jesus, we need to note that the season of Epiphany is recognized as the first manifestation of Jesus to the Gentiles.  Thus, it is that we hear the story of the visit of the Magi to the Christ Child. 

An epiphany is defined in many layers.  It is the appearance or manifestation of the divine.  We see this in the reaction of the shepherds upon seeing the Christ Child.  We see it in the Magi as they encounter the child.  They recognize that the divine is in their presence.  At the same time an epiphany is also a sudden perception of the essential nature or meaning of something . . . an intuitive grasp of reality . . . an illuminating discovery, realization, or disclosure.  All of which is encompassed in the Christmas Story and the visit of the Magi.  The whole thing reeks of epiphany!

That was then, and this is now.  We celebrate the epiphany of the Christmas Story and the visit of the Magi.  We affirm its revelation of the divine into the world, especially its presence to the Gentiles . . . to all people everywhere.  We get it . . . God’s presence breaks into the world for everyone.  We see it in the story, we feel it in our hearts . . . but, there is more to be revealed . . . more to understand.  As I said earlier, this is a story of resiliency.

As we know, the Magi come to Jerusalem to ask King Herod where they might find the “one who has been born king of the Jews?”  This question disturbs Herod, after all, he is the king of the Jews.  He senses a threat.  After doing a little research he learns of the prophecy and promise.  This seems to upset him even more, thus he begins to plot . . . he must get rid of this threat to his throne.  He secretly meets with the Magi, explaining that he, too, wants to pay homage to this newborn king.  He tells them that when they find him, report back to him where the child is.

So, off they go.  Eventually they find the child.  They recognized the Holy that was before them . . . even as gentiles.  They bowed down and worshiped him.  They presented the child gifts.  Then they took off . . . not towards Jerusalem and King Herod . . .but by another route to return home.  They had been warned in a dream not to return to Herod with the location of the child.

This story reveals two things: the manifestation of the Holy—God—to the Gentiles; and, the beginning of the conflict between those in power and Jesus in what he represents.  King Herod sees Jesus as a threat to his throne, but more importantly as a threat to his power.  Going beyond our scripture reading this morning we learn that an angel appears to Joseph telling him to take his family to Egypt to escape Herod’s attempt to kill the child.  Joseph, Mary, and Jesus hightail it out of town.  Herod realizing that he had been flamboozled by the Magi was not deterred.  He issues an order to have all the male children two years and under in and around Bethlehem killed.  In this way he was certain he would rid himself of the threat to his throne.  He would snuff it out like a candle.

And, you know what?  It sounded like a pretty good plan.  But, like one of those trick candles . . . it came back.  Joseph, Mary, and Jesus returned upon the death of Herod.  They came back, and the story continued just as God had laid it out.  In fact, we constantly see that in the story . . . the never-ending story of faith . . . every time that it seems as if the candle is going to be put out, it re-ignites itself and continues.  Over and over again, even with the crucifixion and death of Jesus, we see the story bounce back.  We see it bounce back because it is a story of resiliency.

For those of us in this day and time, that is the epiphany we should glean from this story . . . it is resilient.  It cannot not be put to rest . . . it cannot be put out . . . it never ends.

In this season of Epiphany, we should rejoice that the Holy has manifested itself to all the world . . . that God is for the taking by everyone.  We should affirm that even though we have heard that story repeatedly for over two thousand years.  More importantly, we need to rejoice in the greater epiphany of this story . . . that the story cannot be stopped.  It cannot be killed no matter what happens to it . . . it keeps on coming back.  For the followers of Jesus, faith is resilient.

Think about it.  We know all the stories of the attempts to get rid of Jesus throughout his ministry . . . but her persisted forward.  We know how they tried him, crucified him, and watch him die . . . but he returned from the dead, and it continued.  We marvel at how the faith movement bloomed and prospered in the beginning despite the attempts to squash it over the centuries.  From a small community of disciples who gathered around Jesus it has grown into a world religion with over two billion members.  Each time when the movement seemed to be doomed, it bounced back and continued.

It has been said that the followers of Jesus—that we--are once again at a point where things do not look good.  That everything is falling apart.  And, yet, these times are no darker than times in the past.  And, we must remember that the story cannot be stopped . . . that it will bounce back . . . that faith is resilient.  We need to remember those earlier followers . . . and followers ever since . . . in what they did to keep the faith alive.

We need to remember that the story must be shared . . . one person at a time.  Churches are not built and survive through great and powerful preachers, but through the simple testimony of those who make up the faithful as they share their stories with others.  The story of faith comes from the heart of one person to another.  Sharing . . . that is the key.  As I tell one person, that person tells another.  The story grows.

That is the “aha” moment of our lesson this morning . . . ours is a resilient faith . . . a resilient story that cannot be stopped . . . cannot be silenced.  No matter what the world throws at us . . . no matter how dark the world may seem . . . ours is the never-ending story of faith.  Nothing can stop us if we share the story in the words that we speak and in the way that we live our lives.  Herod tried to put that candle out, but it re-lit.  The joke was on him.  Amen.