BINDING

A sermon preached by the Rev. Aaron Billard St. Johns United Church, Moncton, NB June 3, 2012

When I was driving to Cape Breton a few weeks ago, I did what every good Canadian citizen does when driving on a highway: I got a Tim Hortons coffee and I tuned into to the CBC. I listened to a program called, God Im Angry. (To hear it, just Google the name of the program and CBC.) It explored righteous indignation in our faith. Its the connection between fury and belief. I want to share with you parts of this program as think about the scriptures today. Julie Exline shared the results of a study that said anger at God is common and they wanted to share the results with people who have been scolded or shamed for feeling it. In his memoir, Down and Out in Paris and London, George Orwell recalls meeting a homeless man in Trafalgar Square. He discovers that at one time, the man had been a pastor. Orwell asks him if he still believes in God. The man replies, I dont know if God exists, but if He does, I dont think I like him very much. The study presented in the documentary suggested that if you are angry at God, youre not alone. And we should be talking about that more, especially in church. But, the pointed out, some Christians think that being angry at God is bad for you and they give various reasons why. The study revealed that the audience that was particularly receptive to the notions of God and anger were Jewish people. The Jewish faith seems to have a better understanding of lament, of complaining sometimes and still loving God. Lament and complaint are staples in Jewish life and humour. Rabbi Marion Margles, of Toronto, tells the story of an 18th century Rabbi who was a Hassidic Master in which he puts God on trial for the persecution of the Jews of his day. So the story goes that one Yom Kippur, the Rabbi, trembling, stands at the front of the community, pleading, God, if an ordinary person had a

treasure, and dropped it, they would pick it up instantly. But you, God, have called us your treasures, and you let us drop. For two thousand years we have been in the dust, persecuted and hated, victims of violence, and you havent picked us up. Now God, be as least as good, act as least as an ordinary person would, and pick up your treasure. Rabbi Margles reminds us of Psalm 22, which begins with an open, full-throated wail - My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? You are so far from delivering me! I cry and you dont answer. The Psalmist is speaking directly to God. Its a confrontation with God about Gods failure to be God. To respond as God is supposed to. And so the Psalm is full of ache and disappointment and waiting and anger. (Which also describes the emotions in the line up at Tim Hortons usually...) Its taking God to task. Where is your God? She says that there is a sudden shift and the Psalmist comes through anger to feeling answered. The anger is really important in the Psalm, because for the Psalmist to feel answered, it is directly related to the fullness with which he pours out his anger and fear. If it doesnt cry from the depths, it cant answer to the depth; itll be superficial. So deep calls to deep - if we can only show our anger and our fear honestly. Virginia Satir said, "Strive to seek a blessing from that which threatens to do you in." Theres a stretch of road in Cape Breton between Orangedale and Inverness somewhere near Mull River called The Devils Elbow. Its a winding piece of road, and then you come to a very sharp bend in the road in which you really do have to slow down. I was pulled over by the RCMP near there once, and when the RCMP officer asked me where I was going in such a hurry, I told him Church and he said, Now Ive heard them all. Being a minister, I often find myself with people in the crunch of their lives, in the Devils Elbow as it were. Theres been a sharp bend in the road. And theres no way around it, only through it. Once in a while during hospital visits, I get to visit with people
2

who for some reason or another, left church. Sometimes its a matter of just having stopped going, and other times there are very good reasons people stop attending church, whether or not its about the brokenness of community, or something theological. The conversation between them and God just... stopped happening... they are at an impasse. Grudges are these things that sometimes occupy a strange place in our souls. They dont feel right, but they also add comfort to a bitter wound. This ministry we all share together in this congregation is often about going where angels fear to tread, and yet sometimes we are strange angels, arent we? Into medicine, we bring mystery. Into chaos, we bring stillness. Into pain, we bring presence. Into fear, we come alongside. This past week, I met a strange angel. Because of the side effects of my mothers illness - she suffers from those very human things that we all do from time to time, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea theyre part of being very human, and they are as every bit as important to our humanly existence as smiles and sunsets. In many ways, they speak to the disease and dis-ease within us. Because she was taken to hospital quickly, she didnt have many clothes, so she asked me to go and buy her some underwear. Now, as a son, Ive done a lot of things for my Mom over the years, but thats never been one of them. So off I go to The Bay, and I have this image of me standing in the lingerie section, and what might my congregation think to see me in such a place? Would it be awkward for me to try and explain if you saw me there? Or would we pretend not to see each other, like two Baptists in a liquor store? So I went straight to the counter, to ask one of the customer service people for help, and I opened my mouth, and nothing came out. I did one of those ugly cries where I just stood there for about five seconds crying in front of this poor soul who had no idea that the minister from St. Johns United Church in Moncton was standing in front of her crying for the first time since everything started to happen! Anyway, after I composed myself, she and another worker
3

came alongside me and took me to show me what it was that I needed. And they gave me a discount! Linda Lockhart wrote to me and said, Who knew that your guardian angel works at The Bay?? We are all, each one of us, surrounded by the mystery of God, even in the womens section at the Bay. As Christians, we are people who are drawn to the mystery of God in a world that is all too often cold, hard facts. And then we hear the word Trinity. Last year I listened to a Lutheran professor by the name of David Lose speak. He said, Here's my rule-of-thumb regarding the Trinity: People who say they understand it aren't to be trusted. I mean, well, the Trinity is, quite frankly, more than just a little beyond our comprehension and understanding. Which is why we lean on metaphors and analogies, from the Desert Fathers comparing the members of the Trinity to the Father (the source of light), the Son (which is the light itself that illumines), and the Spirit, which is the warmth when you feel the light. A friend of mine, a minister in Clarkson, Ontario wrote of the strength and peace and courage that our God brings to us. She said, The army of archangels gathers. Hear the beat of their wings and the fury in their veins. They come for you. Sometimes your angel works at the Bay. Sometimes they sit beside you. Other times, they are met in the deepest parts of your soul. Theres a Gaelic poem called, St. Patricks Lorica, or Breastplate. A lorica was a mystical garment that was supposed to protect the wearer from danger and illness, and guarantee entry into Heaven. I bind unto myself today the strong Name of the Trinity, by invocation of the same, the Three in One, and One in Three. Let us leave this place with that mystery. And trust that God will know what to do with the rest.