Proper 28, Yr B (2024) The Rev. Karen C. Barfield
Proper 28, Yr B (2024) The Rev. Karen C. Barfield
1 Samuel 1:4-20 St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church
1 Samuel 2:1-10
Mark 13:1-8
In the name of the one, holy, and living God:
in whom we live, and move, and have our being. Amen.
“As Jesus came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him,
‘Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!’
Jesus, not known for beating around the bush, responds in short:
“All will be thrown down.”
All will be thrown down.
That’s not very encouraging news:
then…
or now…
It often seems that in whatever time in history people live,
they think it is the worst it has ever been.
Some years ago,
for a period of time,
I simply stopped reading, watching, or listening to the news.
It was just too much: too much pain and destruction.
These days I feel the need to try to limit myself,
acknowledging that I need to know what is happening in the world
but not wanting to be overwhelmed by all the “bad” news.
All will be thrown down, Jesus says.
Is there any good news in that?
The disciples are, of course, enamored with all the glitz and glory of the massive stones
and the golden decorations in the Temple.
What an example of strength and prosperity!
When Jesus’ disciple says,
‘Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!’
Jesus responds, “Do you see these great buildings?
Not one stone will be left here upon another;
all will be thrown down.” (Mark 13:1-2)
Even this grand Temple which looks so solid and strong,
even this will turn to rubble.
Again and again we hear Jesus say that everything material,
everything earthly,
is temporary…
our wealth, our power, our stores of stuff, our buildings,
and even our own bodies.
The physically imposing will fall,
kingdoms and political powers will fail,
unjust persecutors will be destroyed.
All will be thrown down.
Today’s story in Mark takes place in Jerusalem in the week of Jesus’ passion.
This is the week that Jesus’ earthly life will come to an end.
So, he keeps trying to get the disciples to see beyond appearances
and to trust God’s providence…
to see beyond earthly shows of strength
and to trust God’s undergirding wisdom, love, power, and glory.
The disciples haven’t yet caught on,
but we have Hannah from today’s Old Testament reading,
who serves as an example of one who learns to lean into God’s mercy and providence.
Hannah was barren,
and she was relentlessly ridiculed
by the woman who bore Hannah’s own husband many children.
Barrenness, by itself, had already cursed her,
and then she endured daily torment by another woman
for a condition over which she had no control… it was unbearable.
Now… her husband, Elkanah, loved her very much.
Each day he sacrificed he gave Hannah a double portion because he loved her so much.
Yet no matter how much her husband adored her,
she still felt alone.
Alone
and cursed.
Finally, in desperation she finds herself at the temple,
pouring out her soul before the Lord,
tears streaming down her face,
choking her words so that only her lips moved.
Eli, the priest, presumes her drunk,
and she finds herself the object of more ridicule –
in the very place she sought comfort.
But, when she tells Eli of her great anxiety and distress,
he sends her away with a blessing:
“Go in peace;
the God of Israel grant the petition you have made to him.”
Having received the priest’s blessing, she returns home;
she is no longer sad.
She and her husband lie together,
and she becomes pregnant with Samuel.
Hannah, having found herself weeping in anguish
and pouring out her soul before the mercy of God,
received her comfort.
Every day as we see the news from around the world,
we, too, see images of people weeping…
pouring out their hearts in grief….
The images of these faces may be local or from a distant country…
they may be in the city streets,
or standing in front of a familiar place ravaged by storms or war.
Perhaps these images bear witness to the mourning in our own hearts…
as we feel the pain, too, but are unsure what to do.
It may be easier to turn off the news,
but perhaps we would be better served by grieving with our neighbors,
whether near or far.
Hannah made her way to the temple and poured out her soul to God
because she knew that she was known and loved by God.
She knew that in God’s love she could rest
and find hope and strength for her journey.
She was empowered by her intimate connection with God
to speak her sorrow
and her need.
She knew that God’s love was full of grace and compassion
and bold enough to make fertile what was barren.
And so she poured out her soul before God.
Hannah’s joyful response to God’s goodness was,
“My hearts exults in the Lord;
my strength is exalted in my God….
there is no Rock like our God. (I Samuel 2: 1-2)
Teresa of Avila prayed:
“Let nothing disturb you.
Let nothing frighten you.
Those who cling to God lack nothing.
Let nothing disturb you.
Let nothing frighten you.
God alone is enough.”
God alone is enough.
Hannah sought the love and grace of God
as she bore her soul
and named her need.
This is why we gather here, too…
because we know we are known and loved and cared for by God.
And because we are known and loved and cared for by God,
we are able to know
and love
and care for each other
and the world around us!
Our needs are always met!
God alone is enough.
We hear this story over and over and over in our Scriptures.
God makes a way out of no way.
God razes the mountains and lifts up the valleys.
God makes the rough places smooth
and makes springs in the desert.
If we are truly present in our listening,
then God’s blessing can flow through us.
And all the other “stuff” of the world is secondary at best.
So…
let us with confidence approach the throne of God,
knowing that we are known and loved by God,
pouring out our souls with trust in God’s Grace…
that we may become vessels of God’s love to one another and the world.
Amen.
