Sermon: "It's a Puck." (Mark 1:14-20), Jan 24th, 2021

Scripture:  Mark 1:14-20

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.’

As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake—for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you fish for people.’ And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.

Reflection: “It’s a Puck.”

It has been three months since my younger son Jah-Bi, now 10 years old, has not been on the ice rink to play hockey with his team, due to lockdown. Like many kids of his age, hockey is his most favourite activity. How many times has he eagerly told me he “wants to skate right now!” That led us to skating on the frozen Duck Pond in St. Vital Park. But I wanted to do more for him. Hoping that it may be comforting, for a bedtime story, we picked “Hockey Crazy!” and opened the page 90. Gear Talk. “Hockey is a straightforward game, but you do need some basic equipment to play.” After reading this sentence, I suggested to Jah-bi, “Let’s make this a quiz! What are they?” Jah-bi listed the items he used to put on in the change room every weekend: Shin pads, socks, yellow pants, and “something on chest”. “What else?” “Hmm… Yeah! Neck guard! Mouth guard!” “And…?” “Skates!” “And…?” “A stick!” “And…?” I continued to the second sentence. “Skates, a stick and a **** will get you started, …” He couldn’t figure out what else he might need to play a hockey game, after saying, “a stick.” So Jah-bi mentioned everything he said earlier one more time, and added “Yeah! Jersey!” “Do you want a hint? Hundreds of years ago - or longer - hockey-like games were played out on frozen lakes, with apples, slices of tree stumps or even chunks of frozen cow dung used as a ****.” He thought and thought trying to figure out what **** was.  Then he said, “I need to go to the washroom.” I began to worry, what if he cannot figure this out? He might be sorry. I didn't need to worry, though. Soon, he came back, smiling, and said so naturally and confidently, “It’s a puck.”  

My son is a great fan of Vancouver Canucks. We live in Winnipeg. 

There are things in life which are so important and integral for our relationships and work, but if we do not pay special attention to them, we might miss acknowledging what crucial roles they play. Especially if they are outside of our immediate social circle and physical boundary (such as a puck on the ice, compared to other hockey gear on the child’s body).

Today’s reading is one of the passages I thought I knew pretty well. It’s one of the most told and famous “calling” stories from the Gospel: The fishers will catch people who will follow Jesus into a new future. In today’s story, Jesus calls his disciples, Simon, Andrew, James and John, who were in the boat mending the nets. Jesus says, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” And Immediately the four men left their nets and followed him (V. 18). Until reading this verse again, which I preached on probably at least once in every three years, I hadn’t thought about one important “Puck Fact.” 

Simon, Andrew, James and John were fishermen. Fishing nets were their essential livelihood tools to do their job and get the food necessary for daily living. They sold the fish to the market, not to mention having something to put on their own kitchen tables to eat for their evening family meal. Most likely, they were the major bread winner in their multigenerational family. I paused to think a little further. 

“And Immediately they left their nets and followed Jesus.” 

Now, Simon, Andrew, James and John and eight more disciples started a group  of 12: Simon, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, another James, another Simon, two Judas. These 12, plus Jesus, embarked on the Kingdom of God journey. They became occupied with ministry and helping people who demanded healing each and every day. 

Now, here’s the Puck Fact: Who fed them? 

Since they left their nets and no longer went to the lake to catch fish, how were they able to sustain their life together? How could they focus on their ministry of healing and proclamation? Who fed this community? Who cooked? How did they get the food of daily living? Who clothed these brethren? Who gave beds to this wandering study group on which to sleep? It couldn’t be that there was always a dinner party in town, or a wedding feast or some kind of gathering every night, where the disciples were invited as guests and asked to join in the meal. Outside of the immediate circle of 12 there must have been other disciples and people, including many women, who continued to offer them steady support. I would like to call them “puck” people.  They may not have been considered as equipment gear on the body, but they were mobile.  They moved around the countryside and shared stories about Jesus, his words and the miracles he preformed to neighbours and towns. I would wonder If these puck people like Peter’s mother-in-law, Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus, and Mary Magdalene, were also those who cooked, fed and, sheltered the twelve.

In Buddhism, when Buddha started a community following his great enlightenment, he taught his disciples (Sangha) the teaching of non-possession, which started a tradition in which the Buddhist monks may go out to the town and “ask” people for food. I imagine those who ask can learn in a very humbling way how to be interdependent and open to receive. 

As I started to wonder who these puck people could have been in the life of Jesus and the disciples, those who offered food, clothing, money and a roof and sustained the disciples and Jesus’ ministry, more individuals and groups came to mind, especially the women who stayed with Jesus on the cross until his death. The women in Jerusalem wailed on the streets, on the path of Jesus’s passion. Among them, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome visited the gravesite at the dawn of the Easter morning. Also, the Samaritan woman who immediately ran to her town after having a conversation with Jesus and proclaimed that he was the Messiah everyone was waiting for. She played a role of an equipped apostle. The Evangelist who wrote the fourth Gospel, the Gospel of John, mentioned the “beloved disciple”  many times. The beloved disciple might be referring to himself, but we can put “puck” disciples, women apostles, unnamed, unrecorded followers and supporters who were indeed beloved, essential and crucial in their roles in sustaining the group in the proclamation of the good news. 

On another note, this also touches the issue of “representation.” Among so many of the puck people, puck disciples, the name of one disciple/apostle/beloved disciple was recorded and survived. It tells how integral a role she played in the Jesus movement: Mary Magdalene. She represents many women who experienced transformation, received teaching, and supported Jesus and his ministry with resources. This reminds me of Kamala Harris, the new Vice President of the United States (Show the picture of her single representation of being a woman and one of colour, being placed after the past 42 vice presidents who were all White and male) singly representing the existence, hope and contributions of women of colour everywhere, of the present and of the past. We also admired and congratulated the outstanding presentation of the youth inaugural poet Amanda Gordon who said, “We, the successors of a country and a time where a skinny black girl descended from slaves and raised by a single mother can dream of becoming president, only to find herself reciting for one.” 

Finding the “puck” disciples - who they were and their roles as apostles in the life of Jesus and among his disciples - is also a matter of representation in our faith story that would potentially transform the understanding of church leadership. 

The historical inauguration day in America may be comparable to the “Passion Sunday” moment. Jesus was welcomed and celebrated just before he entered the gates of Jerusalem. Just like palm leaves were thrown, the beautiful carpet was rolled out, the vice president and the first lady Dr. Biden, Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton wore suffragette purple, Jennifer Lopez spoke the vision in Spanish, the Pledge of Allegiance was recited in ASL at the same time; President Biden called for the defeat of white supremacy. These sights cast a vision to be balm to our hurt soul. It was truly a New Year’s Day for America, finally, especially after witnessing the storm riot into the Capitol two weeks before. We send our congratulations to our American neighbours — and yet, I would truly celebrate when we see the significant changes in the approach of the American foreign policy to the countries which are strategically important to keep their military power in the world. As Amana Gorman recited, “Quiet isn’t always peace.” I truly pray that this positive momentum of calling for justice and democracy moves beyond just the recovery of Pax Americana, until every child under the vines and fig tree is safe. 

Jesus’s calling us to the healing ministry of Kingdom of God has been “unfinished.” I still think about the puck community, the puck disciples, who fed Jesus and his immediate circle. With many unrecorded Beloved Disciples generation after generation, the body of Christ grew and comforted and transformed the lives of countless people in sorrow and hope. 

When church members bring a pot of roasted chicken to a family in grief after the death of the husband’s father… Feeding changes the world. 

The puck disciples of our time, as in the past, still throw nets and catch fish and feed the hungry, sharing the Kingdom of God moment. Like a puck, lay leaders, you are on the move, messaging miracles wherever you go, everywhere, here and now. Jesus still plays a great game of the Kingdom of God with you, with us, with all beloved disciples and all beloved communities, for the healing ministry, for justice and peace. 

Sermon: Super Mario and the Kingdom of God (John 1:43-51), Jan 17th, 2021

Scripture:  John 1:43-51

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.” Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see.” When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, "Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael asked him, "Where did you get to know me?" Jesus answered, "I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.” Nathanael replied, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered, "Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.” And he said to him, "Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."

Reflection: Super Mario and the Kingdom of God

Today, I am going to talk about a common ‘first love’ - Super Mario. (show the picture) I know that it’s not the first video game people might have played; Pong, Pac-Man and Tetris all came to the world before Super Mario Brothers (1985) appeared. Mario’s adventures captured the heart of many children in the 80’s, on the original Nintendo Entertainment system. I first played Mario on a small hand-held Gameboy, then shortly after, on TV screen with a game stick. My younger brother was really into video games; me, not so much. I enjoyed playing Super Mario, but I never got past the first two levels of the game. 

I’ve been thinking about why children loved and still love Super Mario. The conversation between Jesus and Nathaniel in today’s Gospel reading led me to recall my memory of playing Super Mario. In the Bible story, Nathaniel is not interested in upgrading his expectations of what could be possible and different in the world around him when his old friend, Philip, calls him and invites him to meet someone from Nazareth. Philip says to Nathaniel, “We have found the one whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.” In response, Nathaniel expresses little interest retorting, ”Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” His sentiment of doubt, long-term disappointment and disillusionment hinders him from opening to new possibilities. His main interest is in protecting himself from dismay or despair; he’s not impressed by the low brand-name power of the small-town Nazareth. Philip still insists. “Come and See.”

Today I want to talk with you about the role of positive thinking in our lives, what it actually means and its relevance to following the way of Jesus. This is where my fond memory of playing Super Mario kicks in. (Show the YouTube that demonstrates a few scenes from the game.) I think the fun this video game offered, and the way it kept kids’ interest, was in the action in which the little hero, Super Mario, smaller than a mushroom, jumps from below to get on to the blocks above to get rewards or avoid obstacles. Kids love to jump and leap around. Sometimes Super Mario leaps from lower blocks which are moving to higher blocks, which are also moving, while he tries to get away from the turtles and ducks and not fall. One more big thrill is this: On the way to the castle to release the world from the turtle’s curses, Super Mario needs to find and hit Question Blocks with his head. These blocks release good things when hit; they help Super Mario add strength by dropping coins or releasing super mushrooms and fire flowers. Players learn quickly that it is good and important to locate and hit as many Question Blocks as possible, including those which are hidden, invisible to them on the surface. Ultimately, players learn that all Questions Blocks in the Super Mario game are good, easing their defences and enabling them to trust and explore. I remember thinking to myself, “How wonderful it would be if Question Blocks were everywhere in the real world too; I will go and see!” 

In today’s Gospel story, Philip calls his friend Nathaniel and says, “Hey, I just found the Greatest Question Block which I believe Moses talked about and the prophets wrote about in the Books… He is Jesus, son of Joseph from Nazareth, and he’s here in Galilee! Will you come and see? First, you must jump from the blocks under the fig tree and get here. This moving block will take you to find out what I mean!” 

Events in our lives, especially those we are enduring during the Covid pandemic, can put us into a downward spiral of negativity, just like Nathaniel. For example, last week, a sudden realization came to me - I was becoming more immersed in anxiety-based thinking and I was transmitting that energy when I talked to my kids and to myself. I realized that, more and more each day, I was framing my words and interactions based on “What should happen, or What shouldn't happen? What if it happens, or What if it doesn’t happen?”- type questions. They were embedded in my language and actions, as my subconscious mind was busy calculating all of the possible outcomes for every possible action. As our spatial and physical confinement is prolonged, lingering on through the winter, these bodily restrictions affect the mind as well. When I caught myself in this spiral of negativity, I decided to stop it. I told myself, “How beautiful my children are, and how resilient we are. We should move upward from tiredness and worry. I will not let my thinking be like a nail in the wall!” I vowed to move on from the influence of negativity to focus my language, perspective and actions on seeking new Blocks of positive Questions! Trust blocks. So, one morning I reframed the words I was going to say to Jah-bi who was still in bed at 7:40 am. If he does not get hurry, he might skip his breakfast again! I wanted to wake him up to go to school using positive, powerful words… I didn’t have any real expectations about significant change until I said them. Rather than beginning my sentence with “If you don’t wake up now” I changed it to “I always love to see you have a good breakfast and enjoy your school without feeling hungry.” A miracle happened. In a millisecond, Jah-bi got up, put on his long-sleeve shirt and pants and socks and went downstairs for Cheerios and milk. I was more surprised than when Super Mario jumps and accidentally finds the Fire Flower in the hidden Question Block!

Jesus is the true great master of positive thinking. Jesus invites his followers to come and see that the Kingdom of God is here. The Kingdom of God is present, living, moving, alive and active in the present time and moment for people who seek it, who are open and eager to hit it with our whole self (not just our head!). Positive thinking is not the same as avoiding the truth in order to avoid suffering. Christians are called to “partner” with those who suffer. Positive thinkers tell the truth about the wrongs and hurts in the world without distorting or minimizing them. Positive thinkers can still be in pain, experience sorrow and exhaustion. However, in faith, positive thinkers endure everything in love, face evil in integrity and hold on to hope, because we are not just individuals, and our goals are not just individualistic - we find power in participating in the work of the Wholly Mystery, Wholly Love, like millions and millions of stars shining singly and together. We trust in the positivity we find when we can be mindful in the present moment, and sing, “A light is gleaming, spreading its arms throughout the night, living in the light. Come share its gladness, God's radiant love is burning bright, living in the light.” (VU 82 A Light Is Gleaming)

I hope this week we may experience the relaxation, courage and hope that can come from positive thinking, sensing the Kingdom of God that Jesus taught us to find is growing in the present, among us. The Kingdom is not just a destination; it’s a journey, full of challenges, Question boxes and unexpected gifts. Reflect on what works well now, what brings well-being to us. Gently discover what is good and kind in our lives. Feel the soft power in those moments and events that show us the green light of Kingdom-of-God-Positivity. The Great Designer/Gardener, God, has already scattered the Question Boxes of grace lavishly. If life can be compared to a video game, let us nurture and preserve the spaces and moments where we find ourselves jumping up to a higher level, finding unexpected gifts, filling ourselves with what is generous, possible, kind and abundant, rather than limiting our vision to worry-inspired words and actions.

In today’s story, Philip still invites us, “Come and see.” 

Let us move forward with true hearts and an exploring, compassionate spirit. Like Super Mario, visit your Kingdom of God power, the superpower of care and love for yourself and for your loved ones today. 

(Ending the sermon with humming Super Mario music)

A Christmas Card for Crystal Hope (Dec 24th, 2020)

Message:

A Christmas Card for Crystal Hope  

 

Dear Immanuel, God-With-Us, 

Endless Love, 

Radiant Dawn, 

 

I write this letter to you, as if, as Korean Christians often say, I shoot an arrow-prayer to you in Heaven. 

 

I would like to draw the bowstring with a story a wise member among us shared with me when we met for a meeting on Zoom. It was early April, this year. The pandemic had just hit us; we hadn’t gone deep into its alienating reality yet. We were scared, anxious and frightened yet also curious. Not tired, not yet. 

 

On a cold early morning, in the same month, my wise friend was walking along the river. She was alone. There was only the river and herself, no companion, no one else walking on the path. She was fully absorbed in her thoughts, contemplative. In that moment, she seemed to hear a sound. It was fresh, small and ignorable - she only heard it because she was completely alone in the quiet world of the early morning. “What - what was that?” 

 

She turned back. She walked back to where she thought the sound came from. Initially, she wondered if it was a bird or a small animal. Soon, when she went close and opened her eyes wide and observed attentively, she became aware of the sound’s origin. 

Can you guess what she heard, Immanuel?

It was the sound the river’s thin surface created, in the instant when the flowing water was crystallized to a form of ice stars when it reached freezing temperature. The  day was getting cold again after a few warmer, springlike days which Winnipeg had anticipated all winter. In April, the spring was near, but not enough to incarnate fully on the earth. The crystal sound of the fresh ice on the running river flashed a new joy in my friend’s heart. 

All of a sudden, her self-absorbed mind opened to the Creator’s gift of wonder, lighting up just like the ice shines gold when it reflects the light of the rising Sun.  

(Show the picture of ice crystal photos in gold light colour) 

Dear Immanuel, God-With-Us, Radiant Dawn, Endless Love, 

it warms my heart when I reflect that Christmas, Christ’s birth, is like the instant when the ice is crystalized in beauty and in its perfect motion, especially after our long awaiting, after four weeks of Advent, after the lingering pandemic's procrastination at our doorstep. 

 

The birth of a Child, Jesus being born in us, reveals the mystery of transformation: 

Everything is possible, and the formation, Christ’s Incarnation, is always a wonder. Just like no snowflake, no ice crystal, has an identical shape and structure, each Incarnation, each year, in each one’s heart, is unique, evolving, changing, creating something delicate, dynamic and diverse. 

Immanuel, God-With-Us, Radiant Dawn, Endless Love, who takes on flesh and dwells among us, 

 

This year, 2020, we have learned what waiting is like: Waiting with all our heart and mind and strength for the end of something hurtful and wrong that refuses to end just yet. 

 

(Show Ann’s photos of Easter decorations at Immanuel in the past years.) 

We have also learned that, just as the ending of  Advent does not mean we go back to November 28^th, moving forward from the pandemic does not mean we go back to the pre-Covid world’s capitalistic rules and priorities. Truly waiting, anticipating in hope, means that we prepare ourselves for the new beginning of God’s future which a Child brings, fresh like the formation of new ice on the thin surface of a flowing stream. 

  

God, Our Mother, before this pandemic, I thought Resurrection and Incarnation were two different, distinct events. One at the end of Jesus’ death, and the other on the day of his birth. However, through walking the journey of Advent towards Christmas, in this pandemic, with my, our, Immanuel congregation, I gained a new perspective, a new discovery! 

I looked at the frozen river of Covid, just like our member looked at the spot where the sound of fresh ice came from, 

and watched Mary laying Jesus in the manger, peacefully.  

Then, I realized that Advent is the Lenten season for Christmas; Christmas becomes the Easter for Advent. 

 

Immanuel, God-With-Us, Endless Love, Radiant Dawn, 

Call us to shine like the crystal star. 

Call us to shine with your Infinite-quality light. 

Call us to rise again with your love, with your beauty, with your steadfastness, 

like the yellow tulips showing their smiling faces 

above the pile of broken and discarded concrete blocks. 

 

This night, Jesus is born in us again. Christ incarnates and becomes the new formation of crystal hope in the heart of our love. Love twinkles in the reflection of the guiding star in Heaven.

 

Shooting this prayer arrow, with Immanuel United Church, to you, 

From your child, Ha Na