ULC Sermon: Take A Knee, September 27, 2020

Take a Knee Sermon for Sunday, September 27, 2020 Pastor Susan Schneider University Lutheran Church, Seattle © 2020 A seminary classmate of mine who was a recovering alcoholic once told me that every night he threw his car keys under his bed. That way he had to literally get on his knees before he left home. He said it helped him to begin each day with a reminder that he was not in control. Kneeling reminded him to acknowledge God’s authority, without whom he could do nothing right or good. Kneeling is powerful—both to do and to witness. Martin Luther suggested kneeling for prayer because he said the posture of our bodies informed the posture of our souls. Kneelers are seldom included in church architecture these days, but I whenever I enter a worship space that has them, I always use them. Many of you have expressed a longing to kneel for communion as we used to do in our building. We value that physical reminder that we are supplicants coming with open, empty hands to God who always provides. Even if we ourselves are not kneeling, it is profoundly powerful to see others kneel. When protestors kneel in a moment of silence in memory or honor of those who have died, when athletes kneel as a sign of respectful dissent during the national anthem, when anyone kneels, it communicates being overcome by deep feeling. Kneeling evokes strong feelings in those who witness it—whether those are feelings of outrage or inspiration. That is, unless kneeling is required, rather than voluntary. In the recent HBO series “Game of Thrones” all the major characters vied for power over the seven kingdoms. Whenever one group conquered another, the losers were required to “take a knee” in front of the winners. In those instances, kneeling is changed from an act of humility to an act of humiliation. It’s a fine line. In today’s Gospel lesson from Matthew, Jesus is confronted by religious leaders who are very concerned about who’s got power and how much and where it comes from—an ecclesiastical “Game of Thrones,” if you will. But Jesus isn’t interested in playing that game. He uses his power not to humiliate others, but to lift up those who feel crushed, like tax collectors and prostitutes. Jesus tells a story about two people who are asked to complete a task: one wants to look good but won’t put in the work, and the other doesn’t care how he is perceived, but ultimately chooses to do what is right. The one who verbally resists initially but eventually takes action is the one Jesus praises. Actions have more impact than words when it comes to discipleship. Elsewhere in the Bible Jesus makes this point by saying of his followers, “by their fruits you shall know them.” St. Francis of Assisi, who we remember today once famously put the idea this way: “Preach the Gospel at all times. When necessary, use words.” So here’s a question: what sermon is your life preaching? If someone who didn’t know you observed how you spend your time, your money, your influence, your power, and your emotional energy, what would they learn about God and your relationship with God? To what or to whom would they see you kneeling? Whatever makes us take a knee, whatever we revere not only in theory, but in practice, THAT is what we worship. What kind of life preaches about our faith in Jesus of Nazareth? In today’s portion from the letter to the Philippians it is described in these lyrics of an ancient hymn: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross.” … TEXT CONTINUED IN THE VIDEO COMMENTS BELOW…