Sermon 10/10&11/2020: Bishop Yehiel Curry
Bishop Yehiel Curry’s sermon from October 10/11, 2020
About three years ago, I had a nagging cough that would stay for long periods; ongoing for about three years. I went to have it checked out and the x-rays found that I had allergies. I was introduced to Flonase and Pepcid for my allergies, which really helped, but there was something else. My x-rays revealed that I also had hepatic steatosis, otherwise known as Fatty Liver. It happens when fat builds up in the liver. Having small amounts of fat in your liver is normal, but too much can become a health problem. I was ok with the diagnosis since there was only a small amount of fat, but the doctor began to speak about a sacred area of my life...COFFEE! The doctor asked: “Do you like coffee?” To which I replied YES! He goes on: “How many cups do you drink?” “Well, three or more...before noon,” I replied. I did not hear anything else he had to say. I was immediately angry. Noticing the tension, he said, “relax you can drink coffee.” However, I was instructed to eliminate the sugar and dairy though. No cream, no sugar. Sugar is the best part of the coffee! I was reluctant, but I made a promise. After a couple of months, when I would get tempted, I would say, “Do not be angry, change your habits, keep your promise.” It wasn’t even a year before I started adding substitute sugars to my coffee. I tried the blue packets, the pink packets and the yellow packets. It did not matter how many packets I used; IT WAS NOT THE SAME! I learned that substitutes can be satisfying ...but it ain’t the real thing. Building and maintaining communities on zoom is a suitable substitute and we have to do it this way to remain safe...but it ain’t the real thing. In today’s Exodus text, the community is in search of a substitute. For 40 days, Moses has been absent from the community. Moses is having a mountain top experience with God on a mountain, but the people are anxious for his return. Relationships can be extremely complicated; a continuous series of mountain experiences and valley dwellings. When distance or silence is introduced to an already complicated relationship, issues can be magnified. Our text puts a spotlight on some unique relationships: • God and Moses (God and you) • Moses and the community (You and the community at HT) • Moses and his associate pastor Aaron (Associates and Senior Pastor) • Aaron and the community (the associates and the community at HT) God tells Moses to leave the mountain and get back to the valley. The people have turned against God. So, God is about to turn against the people. While Moses was building a relationship with God on the mountain, the people grew weary of waiting in the valley. So, the community demanded that Aaron create a god they could touch and see. They created a Golden Calf to act as a substitute for the God within. In your time of waiting – in this pandemic...what items have become idols or substitutes? Before departing the Mountain, Moses intervenes and stands in the gap for the people. Moses defends the people’s behavior to God by presenting the word of God. Moses ask God to: • Turn from anger • Change your mind • Remember your promises Based on Moses plea, the Lord relented. I don’t know about you, but I was initially bothered by the tone of the conversation between Moses and God. One of my go to books when I’m feeling distant from God and others is Rev. Dr. Renita Weems’ book Listening for God. Weems gives the reader permission to see journaling as a spiritual practice. We are encouraged to have a conversation with God in writing so that we can say things with our pen that we would never say with our mouths. Weems reminds us / me that: • We are in relationship with Christ Jesus • God can handle our tough questions • It’s ok to Stalk a thought (write it down over and over again) Our relationship with Christ is like a marriage or a banquet feast – it is a long-time commitment. When you feel the distance is getting in the way, remember: • You are called • You are chosen • You are a child of God • We are church together • The ministries you do matter • We will get through this Turn from Anger! Change your mind! Remember your promises!
