St. Thomas Evangelical Lutheran Church
3800 East Third Street
Bloomington, Indiana 47401
(812) 332-5252
Sermon for The Tenth Sunday After Pentecost (August 13, 2006)
Liturgical Color: Green
Reverend Kelli J. Skram
"It Is Enough"
It has been more than 12 years since I last worshiped here at St. Thomas on a regular basis. It has also been a little over 12 years since I was a student at IU, and I am quickly coming to realize that college life has evolved a great deal since then. During this last month, I've been busy observing the nuances of contemporary student culture. I have been getting acquainted with the virtual online forum known as Facebook, which I am told is a critical mode of communication on campus these days. I have also learned that Cornhole is a popular community building activity amongst today's young adults. And although the start of fall semester is still two weeks away, I have already noticed an abundance of iPods, cellphones, laptops, and Bluetooth on campus. Yes, a few things have changed...and so I immerse myself in this subculture in the hopes that it will better equip me for ministry on the campus. For understanding the context is an essential component of any ministry we undertake.
Likewise, knowing about the context is helpful in understanding the snippet of a story we heard from the Old Testament this morning. So here it is—a bit of context in a nutshell: (see 1 Kings 18-19)
She was inciting a revolution. Queen Jezebel, the wife of Israel's king Ahab, wanted nothing to do with the God of Israel. Her heart was devoted to her native Phoenician religion; she was a loyal follower of the Ba'al (the lord) of her homeland.
And, in her efforts to uplift her own god, the Queen sought to annihilate the God of Israel. Jezebel tore down the altars of Israel's God. She ordered the execution of every Israelite prophet. In short, she made it her mission to eliminate every shred of evidence that pointed to the God of Israel.
Well, Elijah had had enough of the idol worshiping queen and her influence. And so Elijah arranged a contest of the gods on top of the mountain, hoping the people of Israel would see they were worshiping a false god. The power of God proved Elijah's point, engulfing a pile of water-drenched wood in flames. But that was not enough for Elijah. After the people bowed down before the one true God, Elijah sent them away to seize the prophets of Ba'al. Then Elijah killed every last one of them. Modern day pacifists will no doubt question his m.o., but Elijah was simply trying to restore order. He was determined to bring the one true God back to the center of Israel's life and worship.
As you may have guessed, Queen Jezebel was less than thrilled to hear of the slaying of her beloved prophets. Upon hearing the news, the queen sent word to Elijah that she had plans to hunt him down and kill him, too. Apparently, Elijah took the threat seriously. For this prophet, who himself had somehow managed to kill 450 other prophets, was frightened enough by the Queen's words to flee into the wilderness to escape death. And that is where we encounter Elijah in this morning's reading.
It is out of the wilderness that Elijah makes the bold request we hear in today's text. Elijah cries out, "It is enough...now, O Lord, take away my life." We even hear a hint of remorse fall from Elijah's lips as he utters, "I am no better than my ancestors before me..." (v. 4)
After getting all that off his chest, an exhausted Elijah falls asleep under a broom tree. Suddenly awakened by a touch, Elijah discovers near his head 'a cake baked on hot stones', presumably some sort of bread...and 'a jar of water...' Then, an angel, a messenger of the Lord, urges him to eat. And so, Elijah eats and drinks. When he readies himself again for rest, this messenger again encourages Elijah to eat. And so, again, he eats and he drinks. And then he rises and continues the journey.
It wasn't much, but it was enough. That simple spread of bread and water was enough so that Elijah could rise and continue the long journey ahead. It was such a simple gesture, and yet, so gracious. God provides a guilt-ridden prophet with food and drink. God gives him nourishment and strength to go on. In fact, God does exactly the opposite of what Elijah asks. Rather than taking Elijah's life, God gives him sustenance. With a bit of bread and water, God encourages Elijah — God fills him with the courage he needs — to continue the journey. It wasn't much, but it was enough...
You and I have our moments, too. We have those moments in our daily lives when we cannot deny that we are in over our heads. Whether or not we have ever longed for death, we have all had our moments when, like Elijah, we can do nothing else but cry out, "It is enough O Lord..."
For the person exhausted from overwork, struggling to make ends meet, there is no such thing as the 'end of the day' or a 'weekend'. Juggling multiple jobs, still barely able to pay the rent, he wants to cry out, "It is enough O Lord..."
The addict — on days when she must summon every ounce of inner strength just to stay sober — she sometimes thinks, "It is enough O Lord..."
For the person who, like Elijah, dwells in the aftermath of actions that cannot be undone, the weight of guilt "is enough."
For the mother from India who toils in the fields from sunup to sundown day after day and has nothing more to feed her infant son but a few sips of tea..."It is enough..."
In those moments, when we stand beside our sisters and brothers who suffer...In those moments when we are overcome by anger and helplessness, frustration and guilt...In those moments we want to cry out..."It is enough O Lord..."
Well friends, today the good news is that God hears the cries of all God's children. Today God reaches out to those who have had enough of injustice. Today God touches those of us who have had enough struggle and strife.
For this morning, we are awakened by the Word that reminds us that we are not alone on this journey. You see, at this table, God gives us the true bread of life.
Here in this place, we taste the loaf that nourishes and nurtures.
Here we eat, at one with the community whose Spirit enlivens and inspires.
Here we savor the meal that fills us with courage and moves us out into the world to take part in God's revolution.
I was struck this week by a quote I saw on a bumper sticker — perhaps you've heard it too. "Peace begins when everyone is fed" (—Anonymous). This quote speaks not only to the feeding of those whose basic needs have gone unmet, but I believe it also speaks to what happens in this place. I say that not to spiritualize the matter of poverty or minimize the importance of addressing the very real problem of hunger, but rather because I believe this is where it all begins...
This is where we receive the sustenance that only God can give. At this table we find strength. Here we are fed with the hope that moves us to eliminate every last trace of poverty and violence and turmoil and despair in this world.
Today God gives you what you need to continue the journey.
Today God grants you strength and nourishment to go on.
Today God hands you hope and courage and vision to tend to whatever is broken in this world.
Sisters and brothers in Christ, if you have had enough of all that is death-dealing in this world, then this morning I invite you to come...
Come to the table.
Come and be filled.
Taste and see the love of God.
Eat and drink the grace that our Lord has to offer,
and you too will know that it is enough.
