Greetings

Some might call it laziness, but I'm going to call it recycling. I'm playing in the sunshine and reading books (and cleaning bathrooms so no one mistakes our house for a truck stop). 

Here's yesterday's sermon, but not the one where I wore the chicken outfit. You had to be there at 6:30 am for that. 

The things I do for Jesus.

Text: Matthew 28:1-10

Title: Rejoice

Date: April 16, 2017

There are very few things I miss about living outside Alaska, but I do miss Waffle Houses. I’m not talking about the waffles in Auke Bay, but a true yellow and brown Waffle House. They are scattered all over, especially in the South. There are many things I love about Waffle Houses. I love the hash browns that you can get scattered, smothered and covered. I love that the juke box has a Waffle House original song about falling in love with the waitress and her polyester slacks. I love that when you walk into a Waffle House, all the workers turn around and greet you with a “Morning” or other appropriate greeting. No matter how alone you feel, walking into a Waffle House makes the world a little less lonely.

Greetings matter. The matter especially in Matthew’s Gospel and especially in the resurrection story today. On the back of your bulletin are some Bible verses from Matthew.  

Chairo - Rejoice, be glad

Mat 2:10

When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.

Mat 5:12

Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Mat 18:13

And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off.

 Mat 26:49

Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.

Mat 27:29

and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said.

Mat 28:9

Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.

The Greek word is the same for overjoyed, rejoice, happier, greetings, hail and then the risen Jesus’ greetings. So let me jog your memories about where all these stories happen or you can guess. 

First one, when they saw the star. What’s that story? When the foreign magicians find the baby Jesus, they greeted him with joy. 

The next one is in the beatitudes when Jesus reminds the disciples that when they are persecuted by society they are closest to God’s joy.  The shepherd who finds the lost sheep. Judas’ betrayal with a kiss. Mockery by the guards before crucifixion. 

The same word for greeting with joy is used when the foreigners are included, for those who are persecuted, lost, those who betray and humiliate. That word of joyful greeting stands out in all those stories of brokenness and alienation. And then it gets its climax on the lips of our risen savior. 

After the horror of betrayal, torture, death, and then the shock of the empty tomb, Jesus greets them in their fear and joy with the greeting “rejoice.” In all their doubts, failures, and fears, “rejoice”. 

This is a new beginning. Your worst failure will not define you forever, there is a chance to be made new, tap into the eternal life and love of God. 

Here is what God is doing in the world; God is greeting us with joy. 

Death, division, and hatred are not the final farewell; love, life and forgiveness come greeting us with joy.

Sometimes I think the church should be a bit more like a Waffle House greeting people in their darkness, doubt, and fear. The waitresses are probably better pastors than I will ever be. Waffle House was the only place open on Thanksgiving and Christmas so it was standard practice for my friends and I to meet there after family get togethers. I love my family dearly, but there are lots of us, we don’t always experience the world in the same way, and there are things we just don’t talk about. My friends were much the same so Waffle House was our evening of comfortable fried food and an endless cup of coffee where we could be ourselves and break our silences to talk about everything. It felt like a place you could be broken, instead of pretending everyone was fine. More than once, a waitress became part of our conversation with a sympathetic ear and another cup of coffee. They didn’t have the ego to think they could fix our messes, but many had the hearts to hear them and offer what they could in comfort.

Sometimes the church should be a bit more like a Waffle House, greeting people with joy and inviting them into abundant life. My favorite memory of a Waffle House was in Florida with my folks and family. After a long day at Legoland, ready to escape the crowds and theme parks, we landed in a deserted Waffle House, exhausted and starving. Sophie was probably around 8 or 9 and going through a Taylor Swift stage so she put her quarters in the juke box and played some pop song by her over and over. She and my dad danced around the Waffle House and the crew working that slow night laughed and clapped right along with us. It’s one of those beautiful memories of love and grace breaking into unexpected places. One of those moments where we are greeted with joy and life when we only expected quick, cheap food.

One of my favorite songs is by Carrie Newcomer about the ministry of a diner waitress and the grace of those all-night places when we get greeted as we are with joy and love.

Here we are all in one place

The wants and wounds of the human race

Despair and hope sit face to face

When you come in from the cold

Let her fill your cup with something kind

Eggs and toast like bread and wine

She's heard it all so she don't mind

The good news of this day is not that everything is okay and we can all keep on like we’ve been doing. God’s main goal in this world isn’t necessarily your comfort. The good news is God’s heard it all and still fills our cup. The good news of this day, this place, is that we gather with our wants and wounds, our fear and doubts and God interrupts with a shout of joy. God greets us where we are and invites us to dance into a new creation, out of our tombs and into life.