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The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany, January 31, 2010

Jeremiah 1:4-10, I Corinthians 13:1-13, Luke 4:21-30
St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, West Valley City, UT

The Reverend W. Lee Shaw

In our Gospel reading today, one of the reasons the good folks of Nazareth got so angry at Jesus is that he showed them another way to hear and understand familiar scripture. It made them uncomfortable and you heard what they tried to do to him. Not a promising start for a young preacher.

Many times we just read familiar Scripture or recite familiar pieces of the liturgy without really thinking about them. For example, have you ever really listened to yourself say the Lord’s Prayer, the Our Father? Let’s take a look at that as just one example.

Lee
Our Father, who art in heaven….
God
Yes, what is it?
Lee
Uh, please. I’m praying.
God
Oh.
Lee
Our Father, who art in heaven…
God
Hello, I’m here.
Lee
Could you wait till I’m done?
God
You called me.
Lee
I did?
God
Yes. You said “Our Father, who art in heaven…”
Lee
Oh, I was just saying the Lord’s Prayer for these people.
God
And I was answering.
Lee
Ah…but you sound like a woman’s voice and I prayed, “Our Father.”
God
Lee, after all these years as a priest you don’t remember that “I am who I am.” I will speak to you in the voice that you will hear me. You want some flaming shrubbery? I can do that too.
Lee
No, that’s OK.
God
Go ahead. I’m listening.
Lee
Uh...right. OK. Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name…
God
You really think so?
Lee
Think what?
God
That my name is hallowed.
Lee
Hallowed?
God
Yes…you know, holy. Do you respect my name?
Lee
Well, yes. I guess I do.
God
How about yesterday on I-15…when you got behind that slow car from Idaho.
Lee
Oh, that. Hey, I didn’t mean what I said then.
God
How would you like it if everybody went around shouting “Oh Lee!” every time they hit their thumb with a hammer or got held up in traffic?
Lee
Sorry.
God
I forgive you.
Lee
Look, this is going to take forever if you keep interrupting.
God
Would that be so bad?
Lee
What?
God
Talking with me forever.
Lee
I don’t know. I never thought about it.
God
Well do. It might happen.
Lee
Oh.
God
Go ahead. Keep going.
Lee
Alright. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done. On earth as it is in heaven…
God
Whoa! You sure you want all that?
Lee
All what?
God
My Kingdom coming and my will being done?
Lee
Actually, I kind of like the “on earth as in heaven” part. We could use a little more heaven around here.
God
So what are you doing about it?
Lee
Me?
God
You want my will done. Who did you expect to do it?
Lee
Well, I thought since it was your kingdom, that…uh…
God
You can’t have a kingdom without people.
Lee
No, I guess not.
God
Hey, it’s not that hard. All you really have to do is love me with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself…
Lee
Oh brother.
God
Him too!
Lee
Look, can we get on with this?
God
Sure. Don’t let me stop you.
Lee
Right. Uh…I forgot where I was.
God
Give us this day…
Lee
Oh yea…I got it. Give us this day our daily bread…
God
You could use a little less bread actually.
Lee
Ah, come on…
God
No, really. You know half my people eat less meat in a year than you had for dinner last night.
Lee
Picky, picky, picky.
God
You want me to do what is best for you, don’t you?
Lee
All I asked for was a little bread.
God
And today, the bread I’m giving you is a half-hour of Bible study, a free evening spent with your son, and a $50 deduction from your checking account for Episcopal Relief and Development.
Lee
All that…just for me.
God
Just for you.
Lee
You really shouldn’t have.
God
Hey, I like to give you good things.
Lee
Thanks a lot.
God
Come on. On to the rest of the prayer.
Lee
Hey look, this is kind of dragging on. Why don’t we just take a break here.
God
There’s not that much more Lee.
Lee
I’d really rather stop.
God
Lee!
Lee
OK. OK. (Spoken rapidly:) Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us…
God
What about Ralph?
Lee
I knew you were going to say that!
God
Well?
Lee
Look, after all the things he’s done to me, you expect me to just forgive him?
God
I don’t know…how do you want your forgiveness?
Lee
Aw, come on, you know he’s not the least bit sorry. And he treats me like that all the time. I mean, enough’s enough!
God
Whatever you say.
Lee
What do you mean, whatever I say?
God
Well, it’s up to you. Right now I’ll forgive you for everything as long as you forgive as well.
Lee
What?
God
As you forgive, so you are forgiven. You said it.
Lee
Oh.
God
What do you think?
Lee
I don’t know. I can try to forgive him, but what if I can’t pull it off?
God
I’ll tell you what. You do your best, and I’ll do mine.
Lee
OK
God
And don’t worry. My best is pretty good.
Lee
Yea!
God
Now, just a little bit more.
Lee
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil….Hey, wait a minute! Isn’t that kind of a strange thing to pray? I mean, you’re not going to lead me into sin are you?
God
I don’t know. You spend half your time asking me to.
Lee
What?
God
You love being tempted. You’re always hoping I’ll arrange things so you’ll be “Helpless in the face of Passions-Beyond-Your-Control.”
Lee
Well, maybe once in a while, I wouldn’t mind a little innocent excitement, but……
God
Lee. If you honestly ask me not to lead you into temptation, maybe that means you’re halfway resolved to avoid it yourself.
Lee
Alright. You got me again. It seems like every time I open my mouth, there’s something else you want me to change.
God
Sometimes you expect a little more out of your immediate family. Come on, time for the big finish.
Lee
For Thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory, forever and ever…
God
Lee. Lee, do you know what would really give me glory?
Lee
I’m afraid to ask.
God
Just keep talking with me. OK?
Lee
Yeah. Yeah, I guess I can manage that.
God
Amen?
Lee
Amen.

Note: Taking the role of God was Dorothy Alley.