Sermon (March 7, 2010)

“Delight in Rich Food and Steadfast Love” Isaiah 55:1-9; Psalm 63; Luke 13:6-9

The young people of this congregation are very wise.

We discussed joy in confirmation class a few weeks ago, and they said that the shortest spurts of happiness come from material gifts, while the longest living joy comes from relationships. They understood, as well, that happiness is fleeting, but joy comes from within.

When I prepare funerals, I ask families to tell me what the person loved. Almost always the first answer is relational – spouse, children, family, friends, all of the above.... And then come the answers that are active: gardening, sports, some club, travel, cooking, etc. (Often sports affiliations also arise. Loving or hating the Yankees is, after all, identity forming – and very active!) Rarely, however, are more things listed than relationships and activities.

I've been wondering how my family, or friends, would answer for me. What would they say I love? I'm sure just about anyone could say people and skiing and Sky Lake, but beyond that its not fully clear. Our concept of what we love may be different than what others see of us. What we love is visible by what we DO, not just what we think about doing.

Hopefully what we DO, what we spend our time on and show our love for, are the bread and wine that truly feed us. That is, we seek to live so that the places we put our love may be the ones that feed our inner spring of joy. The book of Isaiah almost outdoes itself with the questions of 55:2: “Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.” Why DO we spend our time on activities that don't feed our souls? Why DO we spend money on things that won't feed any part of us?

Why would we do that, especially when God is prodding us toward the good choices, offering us the bread of life and the actions of wholeness. In fact, in this passage, food and wine and milk are free for the asking. What is needed is provided. God makes sure that life continues.

At first, the gospel might seem like a different story. Rather than free food, we see a fruit-tree that isn't giving fruit. And, may we remember, that nurturing a tree in the desert of Israel takes serious resources. Water is scarce, but the tree needs water! Fertile soil takes effort. The gardener doesn't want to give up on the tree that has been wasting resources though. Instead, the gardner wants to GIVE MORE to that tree – to bury it in manure and give it every chance it might have to bear fruit. Rather than blame the tree, the gardner seems to take blame on himself, for not giving it all it needs.

Really the nurture of the tree becomes the same as the abundant life-giving food of Isaiah. God desires good living for us - body and soul. This is familiar information. The 23rd Psalm makes it just as clear – that God is like the shepherd guiding sheep to still, drinkable water, and full, nurturing fields of green. Today's Psalm 63 says the same, but more clearly pointing out the feeding is not only physical, “My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast, and my mouth praises you with joyful lips.”

We have already been fed at the communion table: God has given us the food and the drink to feed our bodies and souls. May the continual prodding of God keep you making decisions to stay full. May the love you have guide your relationships and actions. May you notice what fills you, and keep coming back for more. And, when things dry up and there is no fruit, may you be patient enough to let God the gardener try harder to care for you.

May you receive the gifts of rich food and steadfast love.

Amen