\namong you sent this card\u00a0<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/64.media.tumblr.com\/f0217d0029d8a1f1bc45a4bd9c956c57\/448e11cef0a6cd63-e8\/s540x810\/cd6ed962168770770b713373568b08567cb46a4d.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\u00a0<\/b>to us,
\nand it has embodied the past 3 months for me. \u00a0For those who know me
\nwell, you may know that this has driven me up the wall. \u00a0I spent a
\nlot of time dreaming what I’d do with my next \u201cbreak from
\nbreastfeeding\u201d only to learn that feeding a extra tiny preemie
\ndoesn’t really COME with breaks. \u00a0Or at least it didn’t for me. \u00a0I’m
\ntold I got an extra special dose of being velcroed to the couch.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
What
\nis funny is that this was only different for me in matter of degree.
\nFor my whole life I’ve had a running to do list in my read, one that
\nwould require every day to be 3 days long and each day to be
\nPERFECTLY efficient, and every day I’ve been frustrated that I
\ncouldn’t complete the tasks on my mental to do list. \u00a0 And then, I
\nfeel guilty for what I didn’t get done.\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I’m
\nunder the impression this isn’t just me.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
All
\nof which I share to admit how I EMOTIONALLY respond to this gospel
\nlesson today \u2013 the one where Peter gets called \u201cthe rock on which
\nI’ll build my church\u201d and I think, \u201cWOW, he must have gotten a
\nlot done to get that title, which is further proof that a human CAN
\ndo that much and so I should be able to and I’ve failed.\u201d \u00a0Which,
\nif I’m honest, isn’t a great emotional response to this gospel, but
\nit is MY emotional response right now, and I have a fear that many
\npeople can follow me.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
There
\nare some ironies in my response of course. One is that Jesus didn’t
\never SAY this, the story we read is the construction of the later
\nChristian community expressing their faith as well as their
\nleadership structure. \u00a0The other irony is that this is said to PETER
\nwho is the disciple best known for getting everything wrong and
\nputting his foot in his mouth. \u00a0Peter, in the gospels, isn’t the
\nparadigm of perfection and productivity. \u00a0Peter is the paradigm of
\nmissing the point. \u00a0He wants to build tabernacles at the
\ntransfiguration, he encourages Jesus to stay out of Jerusalem for
\nsafety’s sake, he denies Jesus after the last supper, he refuses
\nfootwashing.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
It
\nis a funny way to be a rock \u2013 but actually, it is rather
\nhistorically true. \u00a0ALL the gospels tell us that Peter usually missed
\nthe point, loudly, while Acts and church history tell us that he
\nbecause the leader among the disciples after Jesus’ death. \u00a0Its a bit
\nconfusing, unless you remember that God doesn’t judge us the way
\nwe judge ourselves or others.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Which,
\ndear ones, is one of the most significant pieces of faith, and bears
\nrather constant repeating. \u00a0Our value is NOT based on our
\nproductivity, it is NOT based on our consumption, it is NOT based on
\nour knowledge, it is NOT based on our success. \u00a0Our \u201cvalue\u201d is
\ninherent: \u00a0we are beloved children of God, and we are loved because
\nwe are God’s, and nothing we can do can take away God’s love. \u00a0We do
\nNOT have to earn God’s grace, and we do not have to prove our worth.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
If
\nyou are like me, knowing this may be easy, living it is not.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
But
\nit is a big deal. \u00a0Because we believe this applies to EVERYONE, and
\nif everyone is beloved by God… the world is really messed up. \u00a0\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Now,
\nI believe that our core identity is being beloved by God and our
\nproductivity is irrelevant. \u00a0AND I think that there is a reasonable
\nquestion that follows the wonder of being loved by God…. \u201cWhat is
\nan appropriate response to God’s love?\u201d \u00a0Or perhaps, \u201cHow can I
\nexpress my gratitude?\u201d \u00a0Or, maybe, \u201cThat’s wonderful, how would
\nGod most like me to share my joy?\u201d \u00a0(I’ve
\nheard of a preschool Sunday School teacher who asked it as \u201cWhat
\nmakes God smile?\u201d)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I
\nbelieve these questions are VERY different from \u201cWhat do I have to
\nDO to be worthwhile or worthy?\u201d but we tend to get them confused.
\nOr at least, I do.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
From
\nmy knowledge of God and the Bible, the answer to the questions about
\nresponding to God’s love are: to love in return. \u00a0Love God, and love
\nyour neighbor \u2013 two sides of the same coin.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
But
\nthis can get tricky too. \u00a0Because sometimes we think that the harder
\nwe work to love, the more worthy that love is. \u00a0But Paul’s sharing in
\nRomans helps counteract that idea. \u00a0\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Paul
\nencourages us to bring our WHOLE SELVES to God, to worship with body
\nand spirit. \u00a0We aren’t meant to leave our weaknesses or struggles
\nbehind in our God-life. \u00a0 Responding to God’s love is something we do
\nAS WE ARE, not while pretending to be perfect. \u00a0#peter<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Paul
\nurges us not to be conformed to this world \u2013 and I think that is
\nthe world where our \u201cvalue\u201d is in our production and consumption.
\n Rather, we are freed to see as God sees, to love as God loves, to be
\ntransformed by grace and to transform the world around us. \u00a0Paul
\nencourages the members of the church \u2013 the parts of the Body \u2013 to
\nuse the gifts they have toward the kindom. \u00a0Not to use the gifts they
\nWANT to have, nor the ones they THINK are most valuable, nor even the
\nones others want them to have, but to use the gifts the HAVE. \u00a0It
\neven seems a little bit like the wisdom of the IJ book \u201cHow to Be
\nan Anti Racist\u201d by Dr. Ibram Kendi \u2013 which invites us to take
\nhierarchy out of how we see cultures and people and instead celebrate
\npeople and peoples where and how they are. \u00a0So too the gifts of God.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Then, <\/p>\n Peter <\/p>\n Thanks <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Questions:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Where What What How What —<\/p>\n Rev. Sara E. Baron <\/p>\n First United Methodist Church of Schenectady <\/p>\n 603 State St. Schenectady, NY 12305 <\/p>\n Pronouns: she\/her\/hers\u00a0<\/p>\n http:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/<\/a> <\/p>\n https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/FUMCSchenectady<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\nit almost seems like God’s good gifts enable us to do the work God
\nasks of us, and it isn’t all arduous. \u00a0It sounds as if I’ve been
\noften been making things harder than they need to be.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/64.media.tumblr.com\/4961d0abf184c87b29a6e9719464270a\/448e11cef0a6cd63-50\/s540x810\/ec3bb5f539276a40e494ad63146cb3975d211b4f.gif\")
<\/figure>\n
\nis the rock on which the church is built, and the church has made it
\n2000 years or so. \u00a0The gifts he had, with God’s help, were sufficient
\nfor the task. \u00a0Friends, the gifts we have are too \u2013 and they don’t
\nalways have to be forced. \u00a0We are already loved for who we are. \u00a0The
\nquestion is not what we have to do not what we should do. \u00a0The
\nquestions are what we can do and want to do! \u00a0That’s how we too can
\nbe rocks for the kindom.<\/p>\n
\nbe to God. \u00a0 Amen<\/p>\n
\ndo you most tend to try to prove your worth?<\/p>\n
\nmost effectively reminds you that you are already beloved of God, as
\nyou?<\/p>\n
\nparts of kindom building bring you joy?<\/p>\n
\ndoes it feel to be reminded that Peter was imperfect and still of
\nvalue?<\/p>\n
\nwould it look like in your life to allow yourself a bit more grace to
\nlove LESS arduously?\u00a0<\/p>\n