02/25/2024 ~ Second Sunday in Lent ~ Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16; Psalm 22:23-31; Romans 4:13-25; Mark 8:31-38 or Mark 9:2-9 ~ VIDEO OF FULL SERVICE: https://vimeo.com/showcase/7960701/video/917164464

An Invitation to Change

“No longer shall your name be Avram or the exalted ancestor, but your name shall be Avraham or Hamon Goyyim. [And that is the Hebrew for the progenitor of a multitude of Nations.]” — Genesis 17:5a.

People often take the word myth to mean a widely held but false belief or idea. That is one of the dictionary definitions but not the first one.

The first definition: a myth is ‘a traditional story, especially one concerning the early history of a people or which explains some natural or social phenomenon.’ So, a myth is a story which uncovers deep truth, a reality which supersedes mere fact.

To elaborate, myths give people a vision of their place in the world, a way to help make sense of their existence. Myths offer a narrative which helps people understand their lives. That type of myth is called a functional or establishing narrative which influences people to see the world in a certain way.

Establishing narratives are not an outdated idea. For example, Americans see the Revolutionary War as a part of our establishing myth, see that conflict as being about freedom, as well we should. However, we also need to be aware of the realities behind the myth, some of them at least.

John Hancock, famous in part because of a very large signature on the Declaration of Independence, happened to be one of most wealthy people in America at that time. A guy named George Washington owned more land than anyone else, wealth in terms of land ownership. And of course wealth in the South relied on enslavement.

But British bankers constantly cut off the credit lines of people in the colonies, credit being the life blood of wealth. So in part at least, the Revolution was about the economy— wealth and credit and debt and control of assets.

Hence, in order to really understand our own American establishing myth, one should also understand and acknowledge the realities involved. The facts do not diminish that the establishing myth of America is about freedom. But to ignore the underlying realities as if they do not exist is less than healthy.

I need to say one thing on a more individual level. Each of us maintains our own, personal, establishing myth, an establishing story, whether or not we know we do that.

To reiterate what I said last week, my story address my youth in the Roman Catholic tradition and my early childhood in a tough section of Brooklyn— in the vernacular a ghetto. That is the reality, fact. But my establishing myth, my deep truth, says I did not become trapped by my history, my circumstances.

You see, both fact and myth need to work together. Therefore, the reality, the facts of my story informs my establishing myth, informs a deeper truth found therein. My establishing myth brings new light and truth to that reality, enables me to see the underlying facts of where I have been in a helpful way.

I believe fully understanding my myth empowers me to think about where I might go next, who I might become. And who might I become? I am convinced God is not yet finished shaping and reshaping me. I believe God beckons me to walk in new ways, in new light, in new hope. (Slight pause.)

These words are the words we find in the work known as Genesis: “No longer shall your name be Avram or the exalted ancestor, but your name shall be Avraham or Hamon Goyyim. [And that is the Hebrew for the progenitor of a multitude of Nations.]” (Slight pause.)

Last week I talked about stories, my story, your story. This is part two. It’s about the larger story. All the stories in Genesis are founding stories, establishing myths of the people of Israel. And again, myth does not mean false.

Myths convey deep truth, visceral truth, truth about the reality of feelings. The Genesis stories convey truth about the reality of relationship with God.

That brings us to the story of Avram, who becomes known as Avraham or Hamon Goyyim. This Genesis story directly addresses covenant.

It is clearly an establishing myth for the Israelites since God promises make Avram (quote:) “…exceedingly, exceedingly many.” But it is also an establishing myth for a relationship with God. And I think it is the relationship with God which may give us moderns reason to pause.

Why? This is clear: we like to be in charge of relationships but God, the Prime Mover, is in charge of this relationship. (Quote:) “I am God, Almighty.”

God then says (quote:) “Be blameless.” Avram is here called to be perfect, complete. But this is not moral purity. This is about unqualified devotion to God.

Also (quote:) “As for me, here— my covenant is with you:…”— God, the Prime Mover, takes a unilateral action. Next, there is an obvious and in some ways a key point. God unilaterally changes the names of Avram and Sari to Avraham and Sarah.

For me, this name change poses the pertinent question. To what does God call us? (Slight pause.)

I want to suggest God calls us to change. And the change to which God calls us is to see the world the way God sees the world. How might God see the world?

I think God sees the world as a place where the possibilities God names astound us in a profound way. Avraham says (quote:) “I am a hundred years old. How can children be born to me? Can Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?”

Is this about bearing children at a late age? No. I think the claim, the establishing myth, is that God sees the world as a place where the impossible possibility of the realm of God is possible.

And the realm of God is possible not just among the Israelites but among all people. Hence, not Avram but Avraham is a (quote:) “progenitor of a multitude of Nations.

Avraham will be a progenitor of all people, all nations, not just the Israelites. And therefore the story is both an establishing myth for Israel but also an establishing myth for humanity in its relationship with God. (Slight pause.)

Earlier I spoke about establishing myths for nations and individuals. In fact, most groups have establishing myths. (Slight pause.)

Question: what is the establishing myth of this congregation, this church. Or put another way, if someone asked you what is the reputation of your church, this church in this community, what would you say? What would your claim be?

While I have not been here a long time I would suggest at least a part of your reputation is this church honors its history. This church was founded in the 1700s and is now named for a pastor in the 1800s. Also this church is known for its community outreach. This church is known for its music. So my take is, at least in part, the establishing myths here are threefold: history, mission and music.

My hope is if you name your establishing myths it might bring new light to the reality of who and what this church is. It might enable members to see the underlying facts of both where you have been and where you might be going. To be clear, when I name the myths of this congregation it means nothing.

You, the members of the congregation, need to name those myths. And at least in part, that is what the transition process we are now experiencing is about.

You need to name who this church is. The very naming will inform this congregation where it is going. And yes, that is easier said than done.

Why do I think this naming is important? I am convinced God is not yet finished shaping and reshaping. I am convinced God beckons you, the people of God, to walk in new ways, in new light, in new hope.

I also believe, just as God called Avram and Sari to change, God calls you, this congregation, to change. Now, you might ask ‘change to what?’ I don’t know.

But God knows. And this congregation, each and every person, needs to be aware of that, the fact that God knows and to work with that and, perhaps most important, to let God lead. Amen.

02/25/2024
Elijah Kellogg Church, Harpswell, Maine

ENDPIECE: It is the practice of the Pastor to speak after the Closing Hymn, but before the Choral Response and Benediction. This is an précis of what was said: “An overarching theme of the Bible is covenant. And covenant is explained in the stories of establishing myths because covenant is the theology of Genesis. But we, humans, are often not quite comfortable with covenant because covenant starts with God. God leads. So, are we comfortable enough with the leadership God provides to let that happen?

BENEDICTION: Do not be ashamed to question all that denies God’s reign. The promises of God are for all. Let us trust in the promises of God. Let us understand, believe in and hold to God’s covenant. Let us depart in confidence and joy knowing that God is with us and let us carry Christ in our hearts. Amen.