"From Disgrace to Grace"
The sermon has three points. The third point needs help. Maybe you could help me with it.
I was struck with the comparison between Herodius, the wife of Herod, and Hester in Nathaniel Hawthorne's Scarlet Letter. Herodius was angry at John the Baptist because of his criticism of the sordid affair between Herod and Herodius when Herodius was married to Herod's brother. Herodius had John killed because of his criticism.
There seem to me to be three stages of response to those times when we are humiliated or disgraced:
1. We want to retaliate; to get even. We want to hurt the people who have hurt us or to let them know that they have done harm to us. Sometimes it is important to retaliate. Sometimes to say nothing or do nothing is worse than the affront itself.
2. We can evolve into a posture of reconciliation. We can come to terms with things that happen and realize continued negative feeling will only continue the pain for us. The initial problem is made worse by the hostility and anger that builds up in us. Sometimes the best we can do is let it go and get on with our lives.
3. The third stage is the most difficult. How do we move from disgrace to grace? How do we take the times of humiliation and embarrassment to the level where we use it to define us in positive ways? There could come to us, as in Hawthorne's Hester Prynne the realization that we can take the worst we have been given and transform it. Hester's Scarlet Letter became a symbol of compassion and caring. She, who had made a mistake in her life, became a source for others who were struggling with difficult things in their lives.
If we can move from retaliation, to reconciliation, to the realization that we can transform the worst thing in our life into something good, then we have moved from disgrace to grace.
Does this make sense? Do you know people who have done this?
Write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your thoughts click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Friday, July 10, 2009
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Wednesday's thoughts
From The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
"Be there was a more real life for Hester Prynne, here, in New England, than in that unknown region where Pearl had found a home. Here had been her sin; her sorrow; and here was yet to be her penitence. She returned, therefore, and resumed, --of her own free will, for not the sternest magistrate of that iron period would have imposed it, --resumed the symbol of which we have related so dark a tale. Never afterwards did it quit her bosom. But in the lapse of the toilsome, thoughtful, and self-devoted years that made up Hester's life, the scarlet letter ceased to be a stigma which attracted the world's scorn and bitterness, and became a type of something to be sorrowed over, and looked upon with awe, yet with reverence too. And, as Hester Prynne had no selfish ends, nor lived in any measure for her own profit and enjoyment, people brought all their sorrows and perplexities, and besought her counsel, as one who had herself gone through a mighty trouble. Women, more especially, -- in the continually recurring trials of wounded, wasted, wronged, misplaced, or erring and sinful passion, -- or with the dreary burden of a heart unyielding, because unvalued and unsought, came to Hester's cottage, demanding why they were so wretched, and what the remedy! Hester comforted and counselled them, as best she might. She assured them, too, of her firm belief, that, at some brighter period, when the world should have grown ripe for it, in Heaven's own time, a new truth would be revealed, in order to establish the whole relation between man and woman on a surer ground of mutual happiness. Earlier in life, Hester had vainly imagined that she herself might be the destined prophetess, but had long since recognized the impossibility that any mission of divine and mysterious truth should be confided to a woman stained with sin, bowed down with shame, and even burdened with a life-long sorrow. The angel and the apostle of the coming revelation must be a woman, indeed, but lofty and pure, and beautiful; and wise, moreover, not through dusky grief, but the ethereal medium of joy; and showing how sacred love should make us happy, but the truest test of a life successful to such an end."
Hawthorne has given us a wonderful story and an example of how one takes the disgrace of a life time and finds the grace to use it for others.
Hester had an adulterous relationship. The result was a child named Pearl. She is branded with the letter "A" which stands for adultery. The community shuns her but she remains and ,eventually, she wins the trust of the people. She turns her curse into a blessing. Her scarlet letter "A" becomes a symbol for "angel" not "adultery". She moves from disgrace to grace.
It's a powerful story of love and forgiveness and is to be contrasted with the retaliatory reaction of Herod who became angry at John the Baptist for his criticism of Herod for marrying his brother's wife, Herodias. Herod has John the Baptist beheaded and puts his head on a platter.
The contrast between Herodias and Hester could make for a good sermon. I hope so.
What do you think?
If you have ideas on this subject write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your ideas click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles
"Be there was a more real life for Hester Prynne, here, in New England, than in that unknown region where Pearl had found a home. Here had been her sin; her sorrow; and here was yet to be her penitence. She returned, therefore, and resumed, --of her own free will, for not the sternest magistrate of that iron period would have imposed it, --resumed the symbol of which we have related so dark a tale. Never afterwards did it quit her bosom. But in the lapse of the toilsome, thoughtful, and self-devoted years that made up Hester's life, the scarlet letter ceased to be a stigma which attracted the world's scorn and bitterness, and became a type of something to be sorrowed over, and looked upon with awe, yet with reverence too. And, as Hester Prynne had no selfish ends, nor lived in any measure for her own profit and enjoyment, people brought all their sorrows and perplexities, and besought her counsel, as one who had herself gone through a mighty trouble. Women, more especially, -- in the continually recurring trials of wounded, wasted, wronged, misplaced, or erring and sinful passion, -- or with the dreary burden of a heart unyielding, because unvalued and unsought, came to Hester's cottage, demanding why they were so wretched, and what the remedy! Hester comforted and counselled them, as best she might. She assured them, too, of her firm belief, that, at some brighter period, when the world should have grown ripe for it, in Heaven's own time, a new truth would be revealed, in order to establish the whole relation between man and woman on a surer ground of mutual happiness. Earlier in life, Hester had vainly imagined that she herself might be the destined prophetess, but had long since recognized the impossibility that any mission of divine and mysterious truth should be confided to a woman stained with sin, bowed down with shame, and even burdened with a life-long sorrow. The angel and the apostle of the coming revelation must be a woman, indeed, but lofty and pure, and beautiful; and wise, moreover, not through dusky grief, but the ethereal medium of joy; and showing how sacred love should make us happy, but the truest test of a life successful to such an end."
Hawthorne has given us a wonderful story and an example of how one takes the disgrace of a life time and finds the grace to use it for others.
Hester had an adulterous relationship. The result was a child named Pearl. She is branded with the letter "A" which stands for adultery. The community shuns her but she remains and ,eventually, she wins the trust of the people. She turns her curse into a blessing. Her scarlet letter "A" becomes a symbol for "angel" not "adultery". She moves from disgrace to grace.
It's a powerful story of love and forgiveness and is to be contrasted with the retaliatory reaction of Herod who became angry at John the Baptist for his criticism of Herod for marrying his brother's wife, Herodias. Herod has John the Baptist beheaded and puts his head on a platter.
The contrast between Herodias and Hester could make for a good sermon. I hope so.
What do you think?
If you have ideas on this subject write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your ideas click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Monday's thoughts
"The Scarlet Letter"
Nathaniel Hawthorne has written a classic in his book about Hester and Dimsdale and Chillingworth and it's a book that has some interesting application as we think about the scandal of the Governor of South Carolina.
Basically, the scarlet letter is the letter "A". It is a symbol for adultery. As is often the case the woman involved is the one who has to carry the worst of the moral indignation of the community.
But Hawthorne has given us a scorned and rejected woman whose mark of disgrace was transformed into a mark of distinction. She, who was shunned, is the only one in the community who is able to have access to the hurting people in the community. Her curse becomes her blessing.
Rather than focus on the morality of a small town or the issue of adultery, this sermon will probably take a look at the way in which the worst we have to take can become the best we have to offer.
How much humiliation do we have to take before we turn our darkest hour into a part of our lives that makes us what we are? How many people are able to grow from their past to the point that the worst that happens to them has become the best?
In issues of morality there is a very thin place for reconciliation. In issues of faith the path toward reconciliation is broad. Being open to the future and to use the lessons of the past can lead us to a future that redeems the past and makes us proud of what we have become.
Christianity is all about being and becoming. It isn't about static states of being that do not change.
What are your experiences in regard to this? Have you read Hawthorne's book?
If you have thoughts on this subject write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your thoughts click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Nathaniel Hawthorne has written a classic in his book about Hester and Dimsdale and Chillingworth and it's a book that has some interesting application as we think about the scandal of the Governor of South Carolina.
Basically, the scarlet letter is the letter "A". It is a symbol for adultery. As is often the case the woman involved is the one who has to carry the worst of the moral indignation of the community.
But Hawthorne has given us a scorned and rejected woman whose mark of disgrace was transformed into a mark of distinction. She, who was shunned, is the only one in the community who is able to have access to the hurting people in the community. Her curse becomes her blessing.
Rather than focus on the morality of a small town or the issue of adultery, this sermon will probably take a look at the way in which the worst we have to take can become the best we have to offer.
How much humiliation do we have to take before we turn our darkest hour into a part of our lives that makes us what we are? How many people are able to grow from their past to the point that the worst that happens to them has become the best?
In issues of morality there is a very thin place for reconciliation. In issues of faith the path toward reconciliation is broad. Being open to the future and to use the lessons of the past can lead us to a future that redeems the past and makes us proud of what we have become.
Christianity is all about being and becoming. It isn't about static states of being that do not change.
What are your experiences in regard to this? Have you read Hawthorne's book?
If you have thoughts on this subject write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your thoughts click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Friday, July 3, 2009
Friday's Thoughts
There is something about our belief system that pushes us to self-deprecation. As people of faith, concerned about being too proud, aware of the concept of original sin, we tend to speak and think less highly of ourselves than we should.
Aware of our imperfections we become consumed with our inadequacies. Cognizant of our short comings we dwell on them.
There is something about patriotism that, sometimes, pushes us to exhibit a dangerous chauvinism. We come to think so well of our country and we are so proud of affluence and freedom that is ours we tend to overlook the flaws of the country and develop an attitude toward the current prophets that suggests, with regard to the nation, "love it or leave it."
This year the fourth of July happens on Saturday. The fifth of July is Sunday. Sunday is the first Sunday of the month and that is the Sunday we celebrate communion.
I think communion has an important corrective. It causes us to reflect on our "soul-searching" and encourages us to look at our faults and work toward compensating for them so that our weakness becomes our strength.
Communion also enables us to consider our patriotic "flag-waving" and to understand that you can love our country and be compelled to face up to its shortcomings.
Coming to the table and taking the bread and the cup has an interesting and important short-term influence. It puts soul-searching and flag-waving into a perspective so that self-image and patriotism are given a healthy posture. We can realize the importance of ordinary people who are able to accomplish extraordinary things to the point that what happened to Anne Frank and her family and friends will never happen again.
What do you think about this?
What is the importance of communion?
Why does it give us this balance in life?
If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to allow others to read your thoughts click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Aware of our imperfections we become consumed with our inadequacies. Cognizant of our short comings we dwell on them.
There is something about patriotism that, sometimes, pushes us to exhibit a dangerous chauvinism. We come to think so well of our country and we are so proud of affluence and freedom that is ours we tend to overlook the flaws of the country and develop an attitude toward the current prophets that suggests, with regard to the nation, "love it or leave it."
This year the fourth of July happens on Saturday. The fifth of July is Sunday. Sunday is the first Sunday of the month and that is the Sunday we celebrate communion.
I think communion has an important corrective. It causes us to reflect on our "soul-searching" and encourages us to look at our faults and work toward compensating for them so that our weakness becomes our strength.
Communion also enables us to consider our patriotic "flag-waving" and to understand that you can love our country and be compelled to face up to its shortcomings.
Coming to the table and taking the bread and the cup has an interesting and important short-term influence. It puts soul-searching and flag-waving into a perspective so that self-image and patriotism are given a healthy posture. We can realize the importance of ordinary people who are able to accomplish extraordinary things to the point that what happened to Anne Frank and her family and friends will never happen again.
What do you think about this?
What is the importance of communion?
Why does it give us this balance in life?
If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to allow others to read your thoughts click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Wednesday's thoughts
These sermons never go where I'd like them to go. They take off in directions I would never have imagined. That's true of a number of the sermons including this one.
I thought it would be interesting to explore the nature of freedom and the importance of freedom. I was struck with the nobility of character and the strength of purpose witnessed in Miep Gies who sheltered Anne Frank and her family and who preserved the "diary" Anne wrote for posterity.
The sermon has led me into looking at the way in which ordinary people are able to do extraordinary things. It has prompted me to think about our ordinariness and how we learn to cope with it. It has pushed me to look at the ways in which we compensate for our ordinariness. I have come to the conclusion that most of the great things that have been done in the world were accomplished by ordinary people who found a way to compensate for the inadequacies they discovered.
I think of George Washington who thought he was not worthy of the task he was given. The greatness of Washington was his recognition of his inadequacy and moving forward in spite of it.
I think of Anne Frank who took the limitation of being imprisoned in a secret room behind a bookcase and who never lost her sense of hope and joy of life.
I think of Paul, the Apostle, who wrote in 2 Corinthians 12 of the "thorn in his flesh" and how he was weak and through his weakness he was strong.
I wonder about all of us and they way in which we are in touch with our imperfections and the struggle to compensate to the point that our weaknesses make us strong.
How does that work for you?
If you have thoughts on this subject write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your thoughts click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles
I thought it would be interesting to explore the nature of freedom and the importance of freedom. I was struck with the nobility of character and the strength of purpose witnessed in Miep Gies who sheltered Anne Frank and her family and who preserved the "diary" Anne wrote for posterity.
The sermon has led me into looking at the way in which ordinary people are able to do extraordinary things. It has prompted me to think about our ordinariness and how we learn to cope with it. It has pushed me to look at the ways in which we compensate for our ordinariness. I have come to the conclusion that most of the great things that have been done in the world were accomplished by ordinary people who found a way to compensate for the inadequacies they discovered.
I think of George Washington who thought he was not worthy of the task he was given. The greatness of Washington was his recognition of his inadequacy and moving forward in spite of it.
I think of Anne Frank who took the limitation of being imprisoned in a secret room behind a bookcase and who never lost her sense of hope and joy of life.
I think of Paul, the Apostle, who wrote in 2 Corinthians 12 of the "thorn in his flesh" and how he was weak and through his weakness he was strong.
I wonder about all of us and they way in which we are in touch with our imperfections and the struggle to compensate to the point that our weaknesses make us strong.
How does that work for you?
If you have thoughts on this subject write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your thoughts click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Monday's thoughts
"Ann Frank Remembered"
On the Sunday after the fourth of July we want to think about our freedom and we want to be sure we don't take it for granted. Miep Gies is the woman who did Ann Frank and her family from the Nazis shortly after the Frank family escaped to Denmark. Miep is the one who preserved the diary that has become a famous archive of the atrocity of the persecution of the Jews and the rising above that persecution of the spirit of love as found in the words of a child.
In the introduction of the book Miep writes, "In some instances many of the details of events recorded in this book are half-forgotten. I have reconstituted conversations and events as closely as possible to the way I remember them. It is not easy to recall these memories in such detail. Even with the passing of time, it does not get easier.
My story is a story of very ordinary people during extraordinarily terrible times. Times the like of which I hope with all my heart will never, never come again. It is for all of us ordinary people all over the world to see to it that they do not."
How do we see to it that freedom is preserved? How do we protect the freedom we have and work to maintain it?
On the Sunday after the 4Th of July we remember the founding of our nation in spirit of freedom that declared an independence over all attempts to subjugate us to the arbitrary will of a foreign government.
As I work through the week I am going to be thinking about freedom and how to preserve it. I'm going to think about personal freedom and corporate freedom. I'm going to think about how we are free to express ourselves in this country and how we are called upon to allow all people to express that freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and freedom of thought.
Where do you experience a lack of freedom? How should we, in our day, battle to keep the freedom we have? to insure the freedom for others?
If you have thoughts on this subject write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your thoughts click on the box below.
In the words of Miep Gies, "My story is a story of very ordinary people during extraordinarily terrible times. Times the like of which I hope with all my heart will never, never come again. It is for all of us ordinary people all over the world to see to it that they do not."
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles
On the Sunday after the fourth of July we want to think about our freedom and we want to be sure we don't take it for granted. Miep Gies is the woman who did Ann Frank and her family from the Nazis shortly after the Frank family escaped to Denmark. Miep is the one who preserved the diary that has become a famous archive of the atrocity of the persecution of the Jews and the rising above that persecution of the spirit of love as found in the words of a child.
In the introduction of the book Miep writes, "In some instances many of the details of events recorded in this book are half-forgotten. I have reconstituted conversations and events as closely as possible to the way I remember them. It is not easy to recall these memories in such detail. Even with the passing of time, it does not get easier.
My story is a story of very ordinary people during extraordinarily terrible times. Times the like of which I hope with all my heart will never, never come again. It is for all of us ordinary people all over the world to see to it that they do not."
How do we see to it that freedom is preserved? How do we protect the freedom we have and work to maintain it?
On the Sunday after the 4Th of July we remember the founding of our nation in spirit of freedom that declared an independence over all attempts to subjugate us to the arbitrary will of a foreign government.
As I work through the week I am going to be thinking about freedom and how to preserve it. I'm going to think about personal freedom and corporate freedom. I'm going to think about how we are free to express ourselves in this country and how we are called upon to allow all people to express that freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and freedom of thought.
Where do you experience a lack of freedom? How should we, in our day, battle to keep the freedom we have? to insure the freedom for others?
If you have thoughts on this subject write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your thoughts click on the box below.
In the words of Miep Gies, "My story is a story of very ordinary people during extraordinarily terrible times. Times the like of which I hope with all my heart will never, never come again. It is for all of us ordinary people all over the world to see to it that they do not."
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles
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