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FINDING A SANCTUARY
(A sermon preached October 25, 2009 at University United Methodist Church,
East Lansing MI by John Ross Thompson)
Psalm 34:1-8, 19-22
34:1 I will bless the LORD at all times; God’s praise shall continually be in my
mouth.
34:2 My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad.
34:3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt God’s name together.
34:4 I sought the LORD, and God answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.
34:5 Look to him, and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed.
34:6 This poor soul cried, and was heard by the LORD, and was saved from every
trouble.
34:7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear God, and delivers them.
34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good; happy are those who take refuge in
God.
34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD rescues them from
them all.
34:20 God keeps all their bones; not one of them will be broken.
34:21 Evil brings death to the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be
condemned.
34:22 The LORD redeems the life of God’s servants; none of those who take refuge
in God will be condemned.
Mark 10:46-52
10:46 They came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples and a large crowd were
leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the
roadside.
10:47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and
say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"
10:48 Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly,
"Son of David, have mercy on me!"
10:49 Jesus stood still and said, "Call him here." And they called the blind
man, saying to him, "Take heart; get up, he is calling you."
10:50 So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus.
10:51 Then Jesus said to him, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man
said to him, "My teacher, let me see again."
10:52 Jesus said to him, "Go; your faith has made you well." Immediately he
regained his sight and followed him on the way.
The question for today is “Where is your
sanctuary?”
A clue is in Psalm 34:4 – “I sought the LORD, and God answered me, and
delivered me from all my fears.”
The story of Bartimaeus, the blind man healed by Jesus, is one place where
Jesus asks another person "What do you want me to do
for you?"
The other place is about James and John in Mark 10
- "'Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.' And Jesus said to
them, 'What is it you want me to do for you?'"
This is the same question that I believe Jesus asks
all of us.
What do people want most? In countless surveys,
the number one need of people is peace, both peace in the world and peace of
mind.
Max Lucado wrote “No one has to remind us of the high cost of anxiety. Worry
divides the mind. The biblical word for ‘worry’ is a compound of two Greek
words (‘merizo’ – to divide) … and (‘nous’ – the mind). Anxiety splits our
energy between today’s priorities and tomorrow’s problems. Part of our mind is
on the now … while the rest is on the not yet. The result is half-minded
living.”
Worry is not a disease, but it often causes diseases. Worry has often been
connected to high blood pressure, heart disease, chronic headaches and a host of
stomach disorders. Worry is an expensive habit. It might be worth the cost if
it worked, but it doesn’t. Fretting is futile. Worry has never brightened a
day, solved a problem, or cured a disease.
The word that keeps coming to me as we consider this is “sanctuary.”
A sanctuary is where we go to connect with God and to find ourselves.
Because I announced a week ago my sermon topic, others are starting to share
ideas with me before I preach. I’m enjoying this.
Nancy Edminster shared with me the following, which has been attributed to
song writer Ken Medema and to others:
“If this is not a place where tears are understood,
Where do I go to cry?
If this is not a place where my spirits can take wing,
Where do I go to fly?
If this is not a place where my questions can be asked,
Where do I go to seek?
If this is not a place where my feelings can be heard,
Where do I go to speak?
If this is not a place where you’ll accept me as I am,
Where can I go to be?
If this is not a place where I can try to learn and grow,
Where can I be just me?”
Sanctuary can be:
1. A place – church sanctuary or chapel, backyard, a room in our homes,
cottage, or perhaps our national parks. Linda Efaw reminded me this week of the
Ken Burns PBS specials about national parks in our country being set aside years
ago as a sanctuary for future generations to enjoy. This weekend, Ellen and I
were up north, traveling through the golden canopy of trees north of Harbor
Springs. We felt like we were in a vast sanctuary.
2. A time – We all need a Sabbath time during the week, perhaps including
morning or evening times each day that become a respite from our busyness.
3. A people – Those who give to you, rather than take from you, are a blessed
sanctuary, a gift from God.
4. A state of mind and soul – Our attitude, focus, and priorities can make
life a sanctuary in the midst of life’s deserts.
A place and time set apart.
A people who restore us.
A state of mind that refreshes us.
It’s what Jesus wants us to find to help him give us what we really want.
From Mitch Albom’s Have A Little Faith, page 100, the story of his
encounters with his elderly rabbi in preparation for Mitch delivering the eulogy
at the rabbi’s future funeral.
“The Reb never popped a pill for his peace of mind. He loved to smile. He
avoided anger. He was never haunted by “Why am I here?” He knew why he was
here, he said, to give to others, to celebrate God, and to enjoy and honor the
world he was put in. His morning prayers began with, “Thank you, Lord, for
returning my soul to me.” When you start that way, the rest of the day is a
bonus.”
Have you found a sanctuary? Whether it’s a place, a time, other people, or
your state of mind, don’t live without it!
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