Rev. Donna Giver Johnston
Jan. 30, 2005 (4th Sunday Ordinary)
Music Director Jane Van Valkenburg’s last day
One For the Road
Micah 6:6-8; Matthew 5:1-10
It’s January 30th
Jane’s last day
If the sermon were in verse
What would she say?
She would no doubt be glad, I bet
Just a bit
When I say I won’t sing it or ring it or play it--
but just say it!
Not like Beethoven, or Handel or Bach
Will it sound
No poetic lines of Dickinson, Shakespeare or Frost
Will be found
It will be more like Dr. Seuss
And his cat
Puts on his theologian’s hat
And that is that
So sit back, relax, and listen
Lend an ear
To old words that are still true
For us all to hear
A 5-year old staring at a plate
Of beef stew
Wonders how much to earn dessert
"What do I have to do?"
A 15-year old in school hears "test tomorrow"
Ugh! bad news
Wonders how she can pass it
"What do I have to do?"
A 45-year old working hard at work
For bread and food
Wonders how to earn a promotion
"What do I have to do?"
A 65-year old at the Dr. again
With the flu
Wonders how to have good health
"What do I have to do?"
It’s the same story throughout our lives
It’s true
We want to do right, we want to be good
But please tell: "what to do?"
Even in church, especially in church
Even in the Bible
The question is: what do we have to do?
To not be God’s rival.
Throughout the Bible, the people sing
The same old song
Offering calves, rams, oil, even their first born
But they’ve got it all wrong.
The prophet Micah has heard it before—finally,
He shouts, "Wait!"
Leave it to a prophet
to give it to us straight.
God is not pleased by your offerings,
Not at all
God just wants your hearts
Open to the call.
But we Presbyterians have to wonder:
What do we have to do?
In chapter 6, verse 8
Micah gives us a clue:
What does the Lord require?
Just these three
Do justice, love kindness,
Walk humbly with Thee.
Do justice: but what does it mean?
Now let us see
"Do" does not mean wish or pray or say,
It means "do," actually
Justice is a great big word
It is true
It requires changing our ways
In order to do
For justice lifts up the lowly, feeds the hungry,
Shares with the poor,
Stands up for what is right
But, wait, there’s more—
What does the Lord require?
Just these three
Do justice, love kindness,
Walk humbly with Thee.
Love kindness—it’s required of us
It’s our part
But, it’s not something that comes easy—
So where do we start?
Kindness is more than a card or a cookie
Or even a smile
It requires seeing people differently
And that takes awhile.
Kindness is faithfulness and generosity
From a pure heart
Caring for one another
Is a very good start.
Lest you think that’s all there is
But just wait
Leave it to the prophet Micah
To elaborate--
What does the Lord require?
Just these three
Do justice, love kindness,
Walk humbly with Thee.
Walk humbly with God—Micah saved the best
for the last
But, it’s a different kind of walking
And not at all fast
For, walking humbly makes frequent stops
To help another
Such walking will not win money or prizes
Just the thanks of your brother
In our journey of life what is key
Is not our talk
But, what shows a Christian’s true colors
Is our daily walk
So walk the path Jesus has shown
That’s the only way
To do justice, love kindness, and
walk humbly always
What does the Lord require?
Just these three
Do justice, love kindness,
Walk humbly with Thee.
Here Micah ends his 3 point sermon
With a period.
And yet we can’t help but ask:
Is he serious?
Why do justice, love kindness,
Walk humbly with Thee?
When the world runs by
Seemingly with great glee
But success and glee are fleeting and not
what we’re after
it’s contentment and peace here and now and
In the hereafter.
Jesus holds the key we need
No surprise
He tells us who will be blessed
In God’s eyes:
Blessed are the peacemakers and pure in heart
Blessed are they
Blessed are those who work for righteousness
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven someday.
Say-- I wonder if we leaned in close
What would it say?
If we listened to this ancient text
Would it speak to us today?
We are all at different stages of life
It’s true
Wondering how to see the kingdom of heaven
"What do we have to do?"
We’re not asked to move mountains—well, maybe just a shove
But, whatever we do—it’s much easier
With faith, hope and love
Why? Why do such hard work?
You inquire
It’s how we say thanks, change the world and
good works we inspire.
(Not to mention it’s to what Jesus calls us to aspire!)
But, Jesus not only calls, he blesses
And not just a few
His words are for all who have ears to hear
Blessed are you and you and you!
So, let us go forth to do, love and walk
These three
Trusting that we do not go alone,
We are blessed by Thee.
Well, my verse has run out on the Bible meets
The Cat in the Hat
Blessed are you who lent an ear, blessed are you—who patiently sat
I pray God spoke a word to you
In this holy hour
And for this holy work, I pray, the Holy Spirit,
On you God will shower.
It’s January 30th
Jane’s last day
"Thank you" seems too small a word
Then, pray, what shall we say?
For all she’s given
For all she’s done
For all the music and worship
For all the fun!
Good-bye, Jane, good luck, God speed
Be well
But before you go
I have one more thing to tell:
On behalf of us all
I thank you
For because of you and your gifts
Closer to God we grew
We’ll meet again, no doubt
You see
Because we’re all a part of God’s family
Trying to be:
Those who do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with Thee.
And so, if you all remember nothing else of this curious sermon
Know this part:
Do what you can everyday and
You will know God’s heart.
Yes, being a Christian means
Doing our best
But, just as importantly,
Trusting God with the rest.
For God goes with you always
God is there
Infinitely more than you can imagine
For you, does God care.
So, take these words of blessing with you
Wherever you go
A blessing for your journey--
Just one for the road!
Thanks be to God in heaven and on earth,
Glory be
To the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
Glory be to Thee.
Amen.