The Third Sunday in Lent – March 19, 2006
Psalm 129
 
            What do you admire about Jesus? I realize that most followers of Jesus see his sacrifice on the cross as central to faith. That is true. But, I am asking a different question: What do you admire about Jesus?
 
            Perhaps you admire his gift as a story teller? The parables of our Lord are certainly amazing stories; they are considered to be model literature.
 
            Perhaps you admire Jesus for his teaching? Today the gospel lesson contains a scene where his teaching turns to overturning tables in opposition to the authorities that will eventually take his life.
 
            If not his story telling or his teaching, perhaps you admire Jesus for being a person of prayer. Again and again in the gospels we hear of Jesus praying to the Father. He certainly was faithful in prayer.
 
            When I answer my question for myself, what do I admire about Jesus, I have to say that I admire his perseverance. I recall the words of Luke 9:51…” When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.” It may sound like an odd verse of scripture, but it tells you of the singular focus of Jesus, to continue on his path, even as it leads to the cross. Jesus did not turn back. Jesus was steady, clear, and ever faithful in his journey. He is the very definition of perseverance. So much so, that he will find his path ending at the cross.
 
            Jesus persevering in the face of opposition comes to mind because I know that we are not as consistent or faithful. In fact, his perseverance may be a bit intimidating for us. We are easily led astray. Fads come and go and we manage to get caught up in them.
 
            Do you remember in childhood undertaking something and then giving it up as quickly as you embraced it? Maybe it was collecting baseball cards or stamps or figurines or deciding that one rock group was the best ever, only to change your mind the next week. We easily change our minds, being a bit fickle when it comes to much of life. We think that embracing some gimmick will give meaning and purpose to our lives. We deceive ourselves. When we admit the truth we know that gimmicks come and go, and there is something missing from our lives, a center, a core, a focus.
 
            Israel had the same up-and-down faith experience. Israel had known oppression by others and frequently turned to gimmick gods or even war to resolve their oppression. Today the Psalmist in Psalm 129 acknowledges the oppression of the people. They are allowed to complain to God about their difficult times.
 
            The image that is used by the Psalmist is that the oppressors of Israel are plowing up Israel’s back with a plow pulled by oxen. The image is vivid and right in your face: people of evil tearing up the flesh of Israel as the evil plowmen guide the oxen to plow the back of Israel itself.
 
            But, God is steadfast and faithful, persevering in the love for Israel. Thus God vindicates Israel by cutting the cords which the plowmen use to guide the oxen. God makes the oxen helpless and renders the plowing harmless, so that Israel can flourish. The reins of evil are cut by God. That is the truth of Psalm 129. God is good and cuts the reins of those who would oppress Israel and oppress you.
 
            You know this is true because Jesus himself sets his face toward Jerusalem. He knows that he will have the flesh of his back torn and plowed by the scourging that precedes his crucifixion. You know it is true that Jesus himself steps in to receive the worst death can give on the cross and Jesus comes away the victor. The reins of death are cut by God in Jesus; that is the story of the cross. As the cords, the reins of death are cut you are given forgiveness and life. You are given all you need for purpose and meaning in life.
 
            Meaning and purpose come through the gift you are given by the cutting of the reins of death on the cross. The gift you are given is the gift of perseverance. Through the cross God gives you a whole new purpose and perspective: you are free of the oppressors, free to faithfully respond to God; free to faithfully love Jesus as your Lord.
 
            Yet, like the teeth of a saw, we know the ‘ups-and-downs’ of our faithfulness. As the saw teeth go up and down we know we will fall short.
 
            We fall short when we fail to tell the story of God’s love for us in Jesus so that others may meet Jesus as their Lord. We fall short when we fail to teach with passion and authority so that we turn over the tables of the complacent and self-assured. We fall short when we fail to pray as Jesus teaches us to pray, by his example and his words. Our faith-lives are like the teeth of a saw, up-and-down.
 
            That God is steadfast, persevering in love for us, is the great and good news of Psalm 129. So deep is God’s love for you that God continues to bless you, no matter what ups and downs may come so that you may persevere in faith. How blessed we are by God. Amen.