07/16/2023 ~ Seventh Sunday after Pentecost ~ Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Proper 10 ~ Genesis 25:19-34; Psalm 119:105-112; Isaiah 55:10-13; Psalm 65:(1-8), 9-13; Romans 8:1-11; Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 ~ NOTE: Used Exodus 3:1-16.

VIDEO OF FULL SERVICE: https://vimeo.com/showcase/7960701/video/846310842

NOTE: below is the reading used for this sermon. The sermon follows. This sermon was a tri-logue (a dialogue for three people). Ken Chutchian and Eric Wohltjen, members of the Kellogg Church, participated in this presentation.

INTRODUCTION TO SCRIPTURE

In part because we read these words I am about to offer in translation, certainly one of the things we miss is that God names God’s own self by using a form of the verb “to be.” But perhaps of equal interest is that God uses three different forms in stating that name. Think about that later— three different forms in stating that name. Hear now this reading as it is found in the work known as Exodus in the Third Chapter.

A READING FROM A READING FROM THE TANAKH IN THE SECTION KNOWN AS THE TORAH — Exodus 3:1-16 [ILV]

[1] Moses was tending the flock of Jethro, who was the father-in-law of Moses and was the priest of Midian. Leading the flock beyond the beaten path, deep into the wilderness, Moses came to Horeb, the mountain of God.

[2] There a messenger of God appeared in a flame of fire from the midst of a thornbush. Moses saw this— a bush ablaze with fire and yet not consumed— [3] and Moses said, “Let me go closer and look at this remarkable sight and see why the bush does not burn up.”

[4] God saw Moses coming closer and called out from the midst of the bush: “Moses, Moses!”

Moses answered, “I am here.”

[5] God said, “Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you stand is holy ground!”

[6] Then God said, “I am the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham and Sarah, the God of Rebecca and Isaac, the God of Leah and Jacob and Rachel.”

Moses looked away, afraid to look at the Holy One.

[7] Then God said, I have seen the affliction of my people in Egypt; I have heard their cries as they suffer because of those who oppress them. I have, indeed, felt their sufferings. [8] Now I have come to deliver them, to rescue them from the hand of Egypt out of their place of their suffering and to bring them to a place out of that land, a place that is wild and fertile, a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey— the country of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. [9] The cry of the children of Israel has reached me; I have also seen how the Egyptians oppress them. [10] Now Go! I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”

[11] But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and lead the children of Israel out of Egypt?”

[12] God answered, “I will be with you; and this shall be the sign by which you shall know that it is I who sent you: after you bring my people out of Egypt, you will all worship at this very mountain.”

[13] “But” Moses said, “when I go to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ of they ask, ‘What is the name of God?’ what shall I say to them?”

[14] God replied, “I AM WHO I AM.” God also said, I AM AS I AM. Then God further said, “This is what you shall tell the Israelites, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

[15] God spoke further to Moses, “Tell the children of Israel, ‘Yahweh, the I AM of your ancestors, the God of Abraham and Sarah, the God of Rebecca and Isaac, the God of Leah and Jacob and Rachel, has sent me to you’:

This is my name forever;
This is the name
you are to remember
for all generations.

[16] Now go and gather the elders of Israelites and tell them, ‘I AM, the God of your ancestors, ancestors the God of Abraham and Sarah, the God of Rebecca and Isaac, the God of Leah and Jacob and Rachel, has appeared to me and sent me to you. Say to them I have heard you, I have heard your cries and I have seen the way you are being treated in Egypt.

Here ends this reading from Scripture.

Baseball, the Bible and Trinitarianism:
A Tri-logue
(A Dialogue for Three People)

JOE: Greetings to all— I am not here to offer the usual sermon today. I am here to offer a serious academic lecture about the connection between sports and the Bible. I see some doubting looks out there. But I do need everyone to know that there is a definite connection between athletics and the Bible. In fact, did you know that strange as it may seem, the Bible is about Baseball.

ERIC: (At the start of this Eric is sitting near the front of the congregation.) Wait! Wait! Wait just a cotton picking minute. Hold on! Hold your horses! Baseball? How can the Bible be about Baseball? You probably know this. I am a really, really big Baseball fan. And if I know anything, I know Baseball was invented by Abner Doubleday. Legend has it Abner invented Baseball in Cooperstown, New York where the Baseball Hall of Fame is today. Now, on the other hand, Abraham, for instance, is in the Bible and lived in the part of the world we today call the Middle East. But Abraham probably lived about four thousand years ago. Moses is also in the Bible. And Moses probably lived in the part of the world we call the Middle East. But Moses lived about three thousand years ago. And Jesus is in the Bible. (You knew that, right?) And Jesus lived about two thousand years ago. But Jesus lived in the part of the world we today call the Middle East. So, they all lived in what we today call the Middle East. The Middle East— that’s thousands and thousands and thousands of miles away from Cooperstown. Even by jet, that would take better than a half a day to get from the Middle East all the way to Cooperstown, New York. I know that because I’ve been in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. And if there is anything I know, it’s that Doubleday invented Baseball in Cooperstown, New York. Baseball has nothing to do with the Middle East. Also, Baseball was invented in 1839 not thousands of years ago. 1839 is only about (Eric counts on his fingers)… 184 years ago, not 4,000 years ago, not 3,000 years ago, not 2,000 years ago.

KEN: (KEN has been sitting near the front of the congregation also and now jumps up.) Eric— I am sorry to say you’re wrong. Joe is right. Baseball is in the Bible. After all, don’t the first words in Genesis say: “In the Big Inning…”

ERIC: Oh, yeah?

JOE: Yeah. So you see? There is a connection between Baseball and the Bible— it’s real.

ERIC: Yeah? Well… well… well… who’s on First?

KEN: What do you mean, who’s on First?

ERIC: I just want to know the name of the player in the field, the position we call First Base. Who’s on First? I want to know the name of the player who plays First Base. It might even be a strange name.

KEN: That may well be right. Or at least you’ll think it’s a strange name.

ERIC: Well, yes! There are a lot of Baseball players have funny or strange names. I mean, in the past Baseball players have had names like Dizzy Dean who played for the Saint Louis team. Or Mookie Wilson who played for the Mets. Or Moose Skowron— he played for the Yankees. Moose— you’d think a guy named Moose would be from Maine and would play for the Red Sox. But no. He played for the Yankees. And there even was a pitcher named Joba— Joba— that name doesn’t even sound like the name of a Baseball player. That sounds like a character out of Star Wars. And there was this guy named Casey Stengel. Casey— he should have been managing a locomotive, not a Baseball team. But Casey said you can’t have a Baseball team without a catcher— but what would Casey know— he managed the Yankees and the Mets— not the Red Sox. So let’s forget about who the catcher is and start on First Base. I’ll say it again. If the Bible is about Baseball, who’s… on… First?

KEN: I still don’t know what you mean by who’s on First? And what happened to the catcher.

ERIC: Never mind about the catcher. Here’s what I want to know: if the Bible is about Baseball, what’s the name of the player who plays First Base in the Bible?

JOE: What is not the name of the one who plays First Base on the Bible Baseball team.

ERIC: I know that! Who’s on First?

KEN: Who is not the name of the one who plays First Base on the Bible Baseball team.

ERIC: Look. Do either of you know the name of the one playing First Base on the Bible Baseball team?

JOE: I think we both know the name.

ERIC: Great. So can either one of you please tell me the name of the one playing the position of First Base on this Bible Baseball team?

KEN: I AM.

ERIC: You play First Base?

KEN: No.

ERIC: I didn’t think you were playing First Base. So, the name of the one playing First is…?

KEN : I AM.

ERIC: Look, you just said you are not the one playing First on the Bible Baseball team. And then I ask you the name of the one playing First on the Bible Baseball team and what do you say? You say, “I AM.” No you are not. You said you are not. (Turns to Joe.) O.K. You, you— maybe you know Mr. know it all about the Bible and Baseball can tell me. What is the name of the one playing First on the Bible Baseball team.

JOE: What is not the name of the one who plays First.

ERIC: I think we’ve already established that. So, let’s try this again: the name of the one playing First on the Bible Baseball team is…?

JOE: I AM.

ERIC: You play First Base? (Points to KEN.) First he said he’s playing First. Then you say you’re playing First.

JOE: No. I am not a good enough player to play First and who is not playing First, either.

ERIC: O.K. We got that straight now. (Points to Joe.) You’re not the one playing First. (Points to KEN.) And you’re not playing First. So, who is playing First?

KEN AND JOE (TOGETHER): I AM.

ERIC: No. Wait! You can’t both be playing First!

JOE: No. We’re not.

ERIC: So, who… is… playing… First?

KEN AND JOE (TOGETHER): I AM.

ERIC: All right. That’s settled. You’ve got two people playing First Base.

KEN: No, no, no. You don’t understand. When Moses asked God to tell Moses what the name of God is so Moses could tell the people of Israel that name, the word God used to identify God’s own self was the Hebrew word Yahweh.

JOE: And the Hebrew word Yahweh is, in Hebrew, a form of the verb to be. Hence, God’s name is…

KEN AND JOE (TOGETHER): I AM.

ERIC: No. That can’t possibly be right. Baseball players can have strange names but no one can possibly be named ‘I AM.’ It’s just… just too strange even for Baseball players.

JOE: Hey! If someone can be named Dizzy or Moose or Joba, how can you say ‘I AM’ is a strange name?

ERIC: Well, I guess you have a point. But I’ve heard people call God by lots of names. I’ve heard God called Creator. I’ve heard God called the Light. I’ve heard God called Rock— now that name sounds like a Baseball player— Rock. I’ve even heard God called Father.

KEN: Yes. God is called by a lot of names in the Bible. But of all those names you mentioned, Father is the one you will never find in the Bible.

ERIC: What do you mean Father is not in the Bible? Didn’t Jesus teach the disciples to start a basic prayer to God with the words “Our Father…”?

KEN: No.

ERIC: What do you mean no? We say a prayer that starts with the words “Our Father…” at nearly every service on a Sunday. And I know Jesus taught that prayer to the disciples.

KEN: No. The prayer Jesus taught the disciples was more personal and more intimate than that. Jesus told the disciples to pray saying “Our Daddy…”

ERIC: But this is God we’re talking about! That sounds way too…too… too… informal— “Our Daddy…”

KEN: That’s what it really says in Scripture when we read it in the original language— “Our Daddy.”

ERIC: All right, so where did we get Father?

JOE: We got it from the Romans. They called their chief God ‘Father.’ So you see, the term ‘Father’ is not in the Bible. It just started being used because the Romans were using it for their god.

ERIC: But the Romans worshiped a lot of gods; the Romans were… were… pagans.

JOE: I think you’ve made my point. They were pagans. And every time we call God ‘Father’ that’s a reference to a pagan God.

KEN: And since God is not called Father in the Bible, maybe we should just stick with the name Yahweh— “I AM.”

JOE: And you know what we just said: who’s on First? I AM is on First.

ERIC: I AM is on First?

JOE: I AM is on First.

ERIC: O.K. Who’s on second? Bet I got you with that one. Who plays Second Base on this Bible team? It ain’t ‘I AM’ is it?

KEN: No. It ain’t I AM.

JOE: Jesus is on second.

KEN: You see, one of the basic Christian beliefs is the one many people label as Trinity. And in Trinity Jesus is known as the Second Person— Jesus, the Second Person of the Trinity— Jesus is on second.

ERIC: Oh, yeah? Think you’re smart with that one, do you? (Mocking.) Jesus is known as the Second Person of the Trinity. So, Jesus is on Second. Well, I know my theology too. And Jesus had two natures. Jesus is fully human and Jesus is fully divine. You can’t pin Jesus down that easily. So, maybe Jesus is not just on second. Nah, nah, na, na, na!

JOE: Shortstop.

ERIC: What?

JOE: Shortstop.

ERIC: Jesus plays shortstop?

JOE: You are right on that one, O grand inquisitor of all things Baseball and Bible. Our Christian claim is that Jesus is fully human and fully divine. So, Jesus gets to play second.

KEN: And Jesus gets to play shortstop too. Fully human and fully divine.

ERIC: Who’s on second?

JOE: Jesus.

ERIC: Who plays short?

KEN: Jesus.

ERIC: But how can someone play two positions?

KEN: Eric… Jesus.

ERIC: (Resigned.) Yeah…. right… fully human; fully divine.

KEN: Right.

ERIC: O.K. Explain that. Explain how someone can play two positions.

JOE: ERIC… it’s simple. We’re talking about Jesus.

ERIC: (Resigned again.) Right. O.K. It’s Jesus. But you still have the hot corner! You haven’t got to the hot corner covered yet!

KEN: The hot corner?

ERIC: Third Base! Where you have to be ready for someone dropping down a bunt. Where you have to be ready when the batters hit wicked shots down the line and you’ve got to dive for the ball and make a backhanded catch! And you don’t have third covered on the Bible Baseball team, do you?! Wham! Crack! And there goes a line drive over the bag…

JOE: ERIC. ERIC. ERIC. ERIC. Slow down. You know who covers the hot corner.

ERIC: I do?

JOE: You do.

ERIC: (Long pause. Quietly:) Third Base… the Spirit of God?

JOE: See? You do know your theology. The Spirit of God is sometimes called the Holy Spirit. And, speaking of many funny names, the Holy Spirit is sometimes called the Paraclete…

ERIC: Hold it! Hold it! Hold it! Nothing you’ve said so far proves the Bible is about Baseball until now! That the Holy Spirit is called the Paraclete really proves the Bible is about Baseball!

JOE: That the Holy Spirit is called the Paraclete really proves the Bible is about Baseball?

ERIC: Of course it does! The Holy Spirit must be wearing a pair of cleats.

JOE: Ahhh, right, right, right, right. Well, the Holy Spirit is sometimes called the Paraclete, sometimes called the Spirit which is present to us, sometimes called the Spirit in our midst… the point is the Holy Spirit is here with us. The Holy Spirit can handle all our situations, anything anyone hits to us… all those bunts which might catch us unaware and all the hot shots down the line. The Holy Spirit helps us with everything.

KEN: Yes, the Spirit of God is always with us. The gifts of the Spirit, sometimes called the fruits of the Spirit, these are gifts that God gives us and they are many: wisdom, knowledge, healing, prophecy, discernment, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, joy, peace and love. The Spirit of God is at work in our lives. And we can rely on the Spirit to guide us through life.

JOE: And when we consider our experience of God which takes in the faithfulness of the one called I AM, the example of Jesus and the guidance of the Spirit— that is the real reason we say Baseball is mirrored in the Bible.

ERIC: Why do you say that? What do you mean?

JOE: Eric, what’s the object of the game of Baseball?

ERIC: To score runs?

KEN: Close!

ERIC: Oh, I know! The object of the game is to avoid three strikes and you’re out!

JOE: Not quite right, either, although I think part of the point is to stay at bat until you realize that you can walk with God.

KEN: So yes, besides a walk with God, the real object of the game is to be safe at home.

JOE: And if we pay attention to the fact that God, the Great I AM, is on First…

KEN: And Jesus plays both second and short…

JOE: And the Spirit covers third…

KEN: And that God, Jesus and the Spirit is what Christians through the centuries have called Trinity and that God, Jesus and the Spirit are Trinity…

JOE: When we pay attention to all that…

ERIC: I know. I know. We will be safe at home with God.

JOE: Safe at home…

KEN: Safe at home…

ALL 3: Safe… at… home…

JOE: And you know, there are only two places people sing together in public any more. One is in Church. And one is in the ballpark for the seventh inning stretch. It would not be church and it would not be a Baseball game if there was not community singing. So, let’s all sing the song in the bulletin. It’s called Send Us Out; it’s right there in the bulletin. Elizabeth! Hit it!

LYRIC: Send us out, God, in Your Name
God be there in the crowd!
By You we live and we play and run.
We are a part of Your Three in One!
And it’s root, root, root, for the One God—
Maker, Redeemer and Flame!
And it’s one, two, three ways to know:
God’s beyond all Names!

KEN: Baseball and the Bible!

JOE: That’s a real Home Run!

ERIC: Amen, and again, Amen!

ALL 3: Amen, and again, Amen!

ENDPIECE: It is the practice of the Pastor to speak after the Closing Hymn, but before the Choral Response and Benediction. This is a précis of what was said: “And I hope that was at one and the same time that was both silly enough and serious enough for everyone. And I want to give Ken and Eric another ‘Thank You.’ And just for fun here are a couple more Baseball quotes. “A winner is somebody who goes out there every day and exhausts himself trying to get something accomplished.” — Joe Torre; “You may not think you’re going to make it. And you may want to quit. But if you keep your eye on the ball, you can accomplish anything.” — Hank Aaron; “Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday’s success or put its failures behind and start over again. That’s the way life is, with a new game every day, and that’s the way baseball is.” — Bob Feller; “To succeed in baseball, as in life, you must make adjustments.” — Ken Griffey Jr.

BENEDICTION: This is a prayer from the Melanesian Islands: Oh Jesus, be the canoe that holds me up in this sea of life; be the rudder that keeps me moving on a straight line; be the outrigger that supports me in times of trial; let Your Spirit be the sail that carries me through each day; keep me resolute and steadfast so that I can paddle steadfastly on the voyage called life. Amen.