It Doesn't Make Any Sense!

My sermon is based on two of the parables about things that are lost:  the lost sheep and the lost coin, found in Luke 15:1-10.  In the live version I also inver-wove a few experiences from the New England Synod Youth Gathering at Hammonasset which I left early from in order to make it to worship, but I'm not just tired and not willing to go back through my sermon and make those edits for you, but let's just say Hammo was awesome and I'll write more about it later in the week.


But I do not want to leave you feeling completely inferior to those in the sanctuary this morning.  There is a special treat for you!

Today was one of those Sundays that I really wish that I had the ability to play some video during my sermon.  But via the power of the internet, you all get to have links to the moments that I reference at the beginning of my sermon.  And great moments they are.  Aren't you just dying with anticipation to find out what they are?


Well without further ado, the sermon.  Enjoy!

Have you ever answered a question before you actually thought about what the question was? Or about what your answer should be?

There are some famous examples of this:  (VIDEO)
Miss South Carolina, Lauren Upton, in the Miss Teen USA 2007 competition was made famous by her wonderfully thought out answer to the question: “Recent polls have shown that a fifth of Americans can’t locate the US on a world map. Why do you think this is?”
Her answer was and I quote:
“I personally believe, that U.S. Americans,
are unable to do so,
because uh,
some, people out there, in our nation don’t have maps.
and uh…
I believe that our education like such as in South Africa,
and the Iraq,
everywhere like such as…
and, I believe they should uh,
our education over here,
in the U.S. should help the U.S.
or should help South Africa,
and should help the Iraq and Asian countries so we will be able to build up our future,
for us.”

Another more recent example would be Arizona Governor Jan Brewer having a deer in headlights, brain freeze moment during a debate last week with the other gubernatorial candidates. (VIDEO)

And there are some not so famous examples of answering a question before thinking about what the person was actually asking. How many of you ended up volunteering for something that you never intended to volunteer for because someone caught you off guard when they asked you? And which of us, in a job interview, have not given an insanely stupid response to a question because we were too eager to please and didn’t want to ask the interviewer to explain their question.

And afterwards what did you do? Beat yourself up a little? Go over that question and answer over and over again in your head? Think about how things should have gone. Maybe grumble about how you are now stuck doing something that you really don’t want to do.

I kind of wonder if there was anyone in the crowd with Jesus the day he told two parables that are part of our gospel today, who answered Jesus’ questions before first thinking about the questions. See normally when Jesus asks a question in his parables the answer is almost a “no duh.” In last week’s gospel we heard Jesus ask “which among you when building a tower does not first sit down and estimate whether he has enough to complete it?” Well no duh, everyone does that. We estimate how much the house will be to build or remodel, we estimate if we make enough to make that monthly car payment or mortgage payment (or at least we should and a lot of people who are in financial trouble now are wishing that they did). And last week Jesus also asked “which king when waging war against another king does not first sit down to determine if he with 10,000 will be able to oppose the one who is coming with 20,000?” Again no duh! You would hope the leaders of a country would sit down and determine if the war is winnable, or if it would just be a waste of lives and resources.

So most of the time when Jesus asks a question, you want to go: yeah! Of course! me to! You want to immediately agree with him and say of course I do that, doesn’t everyone? Shouldn’t everyone do that?

But today’s gospel you have to listen to Jesus’ questions. “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it?” Ohh me! I’ll do that! Of course Jesus!

Ummmmmm…… Wait you have a large flock of sheep, and one gets lost, well first off kudos to you for noticing that one is lost. But you are going to leave the 99 that are in your care safe and sound to go after the one lost one? And by leaving the 99, you are going to leave them alone in the wilderness where they can be attacked by wolves, fall into chasms and well lets face it, they are sheep, drown in a puddle. So by going off to possibly find the one, for there is no guarantee that you will find the one, much less that the one will be safe, you are putting the 99 in harms way.

And the other question: “What woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?” Well of course I would. I mean who wouldn’t. I have searched the house for my keys, a water bottle, an earring; a coin is no different.

But the second part of Jesus’ parable is not a normal response. “When she found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying “Rejoice with me for I have found the coin that I had lost.”” Now I have celebrated with many people for quite a few reasons: birthday, weddings, anniversaries, national holidays, new babies, graduations, ordinations, confirmations, but never have I hosted or been to a party because someone found a coin. I mean I guess if I won the lottery I would have a party to celebrate, but not because I lost a coin and found it. Especially when the food for the celebration would cost me more than the coin is worth.

See no one would actually do these things, they don’t make sense. We want to agree with Jesus but when we think about these situations, they just don’t make any sense. Why would someone leave 99 sheep to go after one? Why would someone throw a party because they found a lost coin and spend more than the coin is worth?

But faith doesn’t always make sense. It is in the surprise, the abnormality, the absurdity, the foolishness, the extravagantness, the silliness, the irrationality that we find God.
It doesn’t make any sense that God would send Jesus Christ, God’s only son, to die on the cross for us mere mortals.
It doesn’t make any sense that God would choose a group of people, the Israelites, who keep going against God’s wishes, as God’s chosen people.
It doesn’t make any sense that God’s grace is constantly being poured out upon us.
It doesn’t make any sense that through the waters of baptism we have been claimed as God’s sons and daughters.
It doesn’t make any sense that our sins have been forgiven through Jesus’ death on the cross.
It doesn’t make any sense that through a simple meal of bread and wine we are able to participate in a meal with Christians of all times and places.
It doesn’t make any sense that the Holy Spirit is working in us.
It doesn’t make any sense that God is more abundant in the shadow of the cross, in death and despair than in glory and victory.
It doesn’t make any sense.

But isn’t it comforting to know that when the world doesn’t make sense God is with us.
That when the answers do not match the questions, God is with us.
That when we stumble over what to say, God is with us.
That when we make stupid decisions, God is with.
That we don’t have the answers, God is with.
Isn’t it comforting to know that when the world doesn’t make any sense God is with us for the world does not always make sense.