“Too Comfortable”

February 27-28, 2010

Philippians 3:17-4:1; Luke 13:34-35

Pr. Tom Schoenherr

       In our readings for this day we have two images; the god of the belly and the hen who seeks to protect her chicks under her wings. Each of those images speaks to us in today’s world where we may be too comfortable.

      The god of the belly is the god of the empty void that needs to be filled. We had a book that we read to our children. It was titled, “The Hungry Thing”, and the main character always wanted more. It could never be satisfied. In the Buddhist tradition they have “the hungry ghost .” These ghosts have large bellies but their mouths and necks are very small. They are always consuming and are never satisfied because they can never get enough. The god of the belly, Jesus says, like the hungry ghost, has everything focus on them and on their desire for more.  It is what feeds our creature comforts without the realization that the end is destruction.

      We as human beings are always tempted to be in a belly dance with the latest technology, good looks, justice, power and prestige, seeking to be entertained, getting what we want at whatever the price, or whatever keeps our minds and hearts focused on the treasure of earthly things and that draw us away from God;  things that keep us comfortable. We can even become so comfortable, that we think God wants us to have whatever makes us comfortable.

      Finally the diagnosis from God, who calls us to die to ourselves and take up the cross and follow Christ, is that being too comfortable is to be enemies of the cross of Christ and that end is destruction and death.

      The other image is the hen whom Jesus says would gladly have gathered her chicks under her wings but they were not willing. I picture Jesus spreading his arms to gather all of his brothers and sisters, all the children of God, under his wings, but what keeps us from going there? Is it our pride, our desire to worship the god of the belly, our desire to be comfortable?

      Jesus uses this image in relation to Jerusalem. He says, “ Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it, how often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing.” Jerusalem is possibly too comfortable with itself spiritually. Jerusalem may be worshiping the god of the belly and have turned away from the God who loves them and who comes to die for them. God calls them to be a blessing to many others. The hen leaves the response  to the people. Jesus continues to invite but they were unwilling.

      Could it be that they and we desired to serve the god of the belly, and Jesus desires to keep us from the end of that worship which is destruction and death, but we were not willing? Are we too comfortable and don’t want to be saved?

      In the face of danger from destruction, the hen works fast to gather the chicks under her wings, to protect them. She will fight to the death whatever that face of destruction is, even sin and death itself. Jesus, like the hen, spreads her wings on the cross to save us from destruction and death so that the chicks, you and me, can go free. This is God’s work of grace and love in our lives. Our end is not destruction but new life.

      Each of us has at times empty spaces in our bellies, in the center or core of our being. These can come from the death of a loved one or the loss of a job or a relationship that is no more. We look for something or someone to fill those empty places in our lives, and Jesus Christ is one who fills our loneliness and our empty places with his promise and his abiding love for us. In Christ we are under his wings and gathered with others in the family of God. We have the same mind, the same love and we act in the interest of others. We are comforted in Christ’s healing promise.

      Prophets always keep us a little on edge and a little uncomfortable because they call us to have our sights set on following Christ and finding our home under his wings. Trusting Christ may lead us to be comfortable in his promise, but also uncomfortable in that we follow Christ by taking up the cross for the sake of our neighbor who needs to be loved and let know that Jesus knows who we are, and we have a place under his wings forever. Paul invites us to imitate him as he imitates Christ. We are coming alive in the Christ-like life. We get to strive with, struggle with, rejoice with, and share with one another, even give away our lives for the sake of our brothers and sisters as Christ gathers us together under his wings. He keeps opening doors of opportunity for us with the needs of the Haitians, and now the people of Chile after the earthquake there, and people in our own communities who are facing many of life’s struggles.

      We are sent as prophets to share the good news of the image of God who is like a hen who gathers her chicks under her wings that can give hope to many people. We are not enemies but friends of the cross of Christ through faith in Jesus, and we stand firm in the Lord who loves us and gives us a place with him forever. In Jesus’ name, Amen.