Mark 8:27-38
Proverbs 1:20-33
The Rev. Michelle Freeman
September 17, 2006

Today’s texts are filled with words of warning – we do not see miracles performed or read of Jesus welcoming the little children or hear of the trials and tribulations of the Israelites. No, today in our lectionary the texts bring us dire and uncomfortable words. I have to admit, the temptation was great to choose different texts – to shy away from these passages that seem to struggle to find good news to tell. However, I have always believed that we must embrace more than just the feel-good stories of the Bible told to us in our childhood – I believe that God has molded and shaped us to be able to listen, and even be convicted by God’s Word, which is not, and should not, always be easy to hear. For it is in those uncomfortable, seat squirming, agitated passages that we are called from our discomfort to seek that which God calls us to from the text. We are called to listen – and listen well, and to live a life into our calling – one in which we are willing to let go – to release, our focus on material, human comfort needs, and instead focus on the Divine.

Wisdom, Chokmah in Hebrew, Sophia in Greek is shown in the Bible many different times, but particularly in Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. In biblical scholarship, these books of the Bible are referred to as wisdom literature. Wisdom personifies the feminine Divine, that is, She is the voice of God in these passages. Wisdom in the Bible can also refer to a quality of life and of a people, that is, as "a state of the human mind and spirit characterized by deep understanding and profound insight." Elizabeth Schüssler Fiorenza, a noted biblical scholar, in her book Wisdom Ways, describes Wisdom like this, "Her voice is a public, radical democratic voice…found where the economic… [and] public life of the city takes place." Wisdom speaks many different times, particularly in the book of Proverbs, calling upon God’s people to listen – to remember what they have been taught, to return to the way of living God has prescribed for them.

When I was a little girl, I was a bit, shall we say, independent. Perhaps you could insert the words headstrong or single-minded, or just plain disobedient. Many a time I would decide that there was something I needed to do. Something, of course, that I had been told NOT to do. Inevitably my mother would find me and tell me to stop. I would hear her, and say, "ok," and promptly keep on exactly whatever illicit activity I was doing. My mother would call out to me again, and again I would hear her and answer… and again I would keep it up. Finally at her wits end, my mother would call my name…my WHOLE name: "Michelle Ruth Freeman, if you don’t stop what you are doing right now…" fill in the blank. Finally, particularly in hearing the rarely used middle name, "Ruth," I would listen to what my mother was saying – and generally pay the consequences for not doing what she had said before. As John told us about his son, Michael, last week in his sermon: I had a listening problem, not a hearing problem, and I’m sure I’m not the only one in this sanctuary who suffered from this malady, as well!!

In many ways, Peter had indeed listened to Jesus – knew, without hesitation and with conviction and belief "You are the Messiah." But I’m not sure that he understood what that amazing truth actually meant. That Jesus was going to place himself in many uncomfortable, even painful and dangerous situations. Peter was focused not on Jesus’ teachings about himself and what was to come – but on protecting Jesus and the disciples. And Jesus lets Peter know in a big way that there is much more to following the Messiah than Peter had thought he heard. Following Jesus is not an easy think to do – it can place US in uncomfortable and sometimes painful situations in our lives, and Jesus tells us that we must indeed be prepared to let go – to loose ourselves – from the life we have known for HIS sake, indeed for the sake of living out the gospel. Don’t just hear these words, these teachings, but LISTEN. Take these words and make them known through every fiber of your being – in every aspect of your life. LISTEN, for there is still much injustice in this broken world. Wisdom is crying out in the streets. She is raising Her voice for Divine justice: What is she calling out for in your life? What does she cry out for this congregation, for this church to continue living into its calling? Many times we have answered that question, but She is still calling to us. How will we make Her words known?

This is usually the point – whether I’m teaching or preaching – that I offer helpful examples of what it is each of us might be hearing. But, in this case, we need to open ourselves to listen to Wisdom’s cry and to hear Christ’s call. And so I would ask that we take a few moments together, here in this sacred space, to listen in silence – in a prayerful and meditative spirit – for God’s call to you and to this congregation. You may want to sit in a comfortable position, close your eyes or leave them open, and perhaps even place your palms in your lap facing upward – ready to receive what God has to give. Let us be in silence so that we might listen. LISTEN.

-A time of silence and discernment-

This is the Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.