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CLEARING THE PATHWAY

Rev. Sandra Herrmann, Pastor & Author, writes:

Holy Jesus, so tender and mild, humble and meek - who would not bruise a reed - a lover of children - we thought you were tender-hearted.

How do you find yourself here, tearing down curtains, turning over tables, driving out men and animals?

What is so important -

Important enough to frighten people?

Important enough to shout about?

Important enough to challenge authorities?

Could it be that I ought to be angry from time to time?

In this season of Lent, we have considered our various lenten journeys, our mountains, our goals for improving our spiritual life-styles.

We‘ve looked at some of the struggles that await us and hopefully grabbed on to some helpful images that may help us see to the “diligent completion of our appointed rounds.“

Last Sunday we noted the various promises we make and receive that can PULL us along the way.

Today we make note of the energy we will need for this journey to overcome some specific road-blocks we may confront to help us “clear the pathway“ that leads to spiritual sanctuary we ultimately seek..

The Scripture lesson for today conveys one of the most surprising and powerful stories of Jesus' ministry.

Some of the most engaging stories in the scriptures are those which depict real human emotion:

Jesus weeping over Jerusalem.

Jesus struggling in the Garden of Gethsemane.

This one is no different.  Jesus, traveling to Jerusalem for the Jewish Passover, is attempting to make his way into the Temple and is overwhelmed by all the commercialism and price-gouging going on along the entrance way.

Jesus gets angry and over-turns the tables and sets the sacrificial animals free.

On our way to worship, to a sense of spiritual sanctuary, there are many things that can get in our way.  There are two questions here:

What are the blocks that curb our passion for even wanting the path cleared?

What are the tables in our lives that might just need to be overturned?

What are the blocks that curb our passion?

From our opening words we find some clues:

We may often try to avoid frightening or upsetting others.

Raising our voices or our intensity is to possibly lose control.

To challenge others, especially those in authority, is often to risk more than losing our temper!

If we are passionate, we may question its appropriateness or “rightness“.

Aristotle writes:

“Anybody can become angry; that is easy. But to be angry with the right person and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose, and in the right way—that is not within everybody's power and is not easy.”

We may cringe, but tolerate public obscenity, the horror of televised violence or tragedy - we can keep our cool most admirably and adroitly.

And then we really show what matters most to us by getting angry and uptight at zoning violations, misbehaving children or bad drivers.

Agape type, appropriate Passionate living is a constant challenge.  Anger and flying off the handle can be a sin - Yet the lack of anger and indifference can also be a sin.

Which leads to our second question:  What exactly ARE the tables in our lives that might just need to be overturned?

There are hurtful things going on in our world today, including right here in our own country that will leave untold hardships in their wakes.

More personally, we might want to take some time on our journeys to give consideration to those tables that Jesus would overturn in our lives.

We could call that confession.  It IS good for the soul - like cleaning out the “junk room“ or “junk drawer“ where we just toss things rather than take the time to deal with them.

What are the strategies we might use to clear our spiritual pathways, to let that passion flow and fold up and toss out those harmful tables.

First of all - Make sure the pathway is the right pathway - sometimes there‘s a need to take another road through the wilderness.

Jack Kornfield, writer of books on spiritual disciplines writes:

“Look at every path closely and deliberately.  Try

it as many times as you think necessary.  Then ask yourself and yourself alone, one question.  Does this path have a heart?  If it does, the path is good.  If it doesn‘t, it is of no use.”

Secondly, and equally obvious, yet often glossed over: EXPECT troubles along the way.  To think that the spiritual journey is all fun and terribly enlightening and always well received is naive and sets us up for guaranteed disappointments along the way.

Then, once we‘re sure we‘re on the path with heart and we‘re ready to be open to the dilemmas facing us, then we need to face those obstacles, those “tables“ that get in our way.

Try to get a clear picture of the trouble.

Take a third person view.

Name the “demons“ or the “tables“ that need over-turning.

Get a second opinion.

Ask for help whenever needed.

Then, start moving tables!

Finally, we need to remember that being on a spiritual quest, moving obstacles out of the way, is not always a popular approach.

The plotting to trap Jesus begins in earnest after this altercation - even in our day, we can understand the reaction to causing trouble in the midst of financially lucrative operations.

As we begin clearing our pathways, over-throwing those tables that block our way, we can be sure of meeting up with some resistance - within and without, especially if we‘re being effective.

Peace marches, Political protests

Letting go of Fear that holds us back

Eating the healthy food

If we do raise some emotions in ourselves or in others, we‘re probably on the right path - or at least a path that has some substance to it.  Though we would do well to listen, just in case those other voices are the voices of wisdom.

As we clear our spiritual pathways, we might also become aware of those who are encouraged by our efforts, may offer to help or give us a thank you for helping them see their own clearing needs.

We must begin by seeing the mark up ahead, the spiritual sanctuary for which our souls yearn, feel the passion that pulls us onward, and carefully and prayerfully do what we need to do to clear the path.

So we consider:

Where and when are the times about which we may need to become more passionate?

What are those “tables“ in our own lives that Jesus might just like to upset?

What can we do to help others overturn the obstacles  or increase their passion along their spiritual journey?

Our spiritual temples beckon us to do some spring cleaning.

Rev. Herrmann concludes:

Could it be there are things today important enough to be angry about?  But I want to be like Jesus - who loved enough to die for me - who loved enough to be humiliated for me, who loved enough . . . to get angry?

Could it be that the only alternative is cold, complicit indifference?

Could it be that only those who love much must often become that passionate?

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FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT

March 30, 2025 10:00 AM

GATHERING FOR WORSHIP

As the bell sounds, may we quiet ourselves and allow the music of the  prelude to lead us into a worshipful place in our hearts and minds.

* Those who are able, please stand.

Prelude Praise to the Lord, the Almighty

William J. Kirkpatrick, arr. Victor Labenske

Welcome and Announcements

Choral Introit

Call to Worship (1 Corinthians 1:18-25)

Leader: The message about the cross is foolishness to those who are  perishing,

People: but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God!  Leader: We proclaim Christ crucified. To those who are called, People: Christ offers the power of God and the wisdom of God;  Leader: For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom,  People: and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.

*Opening Hymn Lift Up Your Heads, O Mighty Gates

Unison Prayer of Invocation

O God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, come to us, and move among us.  Come as the wind and lift us up. Come as the fire and cleanse us. Come  as the dew and refresh us. Convict, convert, and consecrate our hearts  and lives to our greater good and your great glory. Amen.

SHARING GOD’S WORD

Scripture Reading John 2:13-22 Pew Bible Page 863 Leader: This is the Word of the Lord.

People: Thanks be to God.

Musical Interlude

THE COMMUNITY AT PRAYER

Sharing of Joys and Concerns

Call to Prayer (#593) Lead Me, Lord

Lead me, Lord, lead me in thy righteousness, make thy way plain before  my face. For it is thou, Lord, thou, Lord, only, that makest me dwell in safety.

Pastoral Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive  our debtors. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

*Hymn of Preparation Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart

SERMON CLEARING THE PATHWAY Rev. Ritts

THE SERVICE OF OFFERING

Collection and Offertory

*The Doxology (#46)

*Unison Prayer of Dedication

Heavenly Father, you have given us riches beyond measure. We can  return only a fraction of what we owe you; but we ask, Lord, that you  will bless our offerings and help us to use them wisely in your service  and for your glory. Amen.

WE GO FORTH TO SERVE

*Hymn of Parting Holy Spirit, Truth Divine

*Benediction (Ephesians 3:20-21)

Now to him who, by the power at work within us, is able to accomplish  abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the  church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.

All: And now, may we bear fruit as we go forth in peace to love and  serve the Lord, In the name of Christ. Amen.

Congregational Response Go Now in Peace

Go now in peace. Never be afraid, God will go with you each hour of every  day. Go now in faith, steadfast, strong and true. Know He will guide you in  all you do. Go now in love, and show you believe. Reach out to others so all

the world can see. God will be there, watching from above. Go now in  peace, in faith, and in love.

Postlude Just a Closer Walk with Thee

Anonymous, arr. Virginia Halberg