From volume 5, People in Purple: Sermons Sermon to homeless people (at a church of homeless people) The followings are brief sermons I delivered at the homeless church. They are rather simple and not in depth because we need to preach a short sermon due to time constraint before our dinner for the homeless. However, in the process of preparing my sermon, at times it ended up using difficult terms that some may not understand exact meaning. In that case, I used to break it down in easier language and made them simpler. But here I present my original scripts as they have been prepared in the first place. Those who want to use them for the same population may do the same as I did. I just tried to communicate some core ideas on each Scripture text and theme. Although they are relating to the homeless situation, they can also be preached for the public with some modification. I dare hope that these brief sermons might become some reference to those who serve homeless people, need to preach to them as well as to the public. 1. Advent Sermon Scripture text comes from Luke 3:4-8. Anyone would like to read it? The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; 6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” 7 ‘You brood of vipers! 8Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Sermon theme: “Let us repair the road.” We are in Advent season which started last Sunday and will last until Christmas. Advent means “waiting.” It is the period of preparing to welcome Jesus. Today’s Bible verses tell us about an announcement of Jesus’ coming. During the 400 years before Jesus’ birth, Israel didn’t have prophets. The people longed to have them because they were the conscience of old days for Israel’s religious and social ills. Here John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness and announced Jesus’ coming saying, Jesus was much greater than John himself. John is presenting ideas how to welcome Jesus. First, John is asking people to prepare Jesus’ way by making every valley filled, and every mountain and hill made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth. This is exactly what people did – repaired the road condition when King came so that King didn’t have to travel up and down the hill and mountain on a rough road. How can we relate the road condition – valley, hill, mountain, crook, and rough in the text to our life today? Can we say that many of you have been in deep valley of despair in losing jobs, homes and health. The stress and struggle to survive in your homeless life has been as high as hills and mountains. Your thinking and mind became bent and crooked from the rage and hostility in your painful homeless life. And the whole homeless life journey has been rough and tough for you. John is urging us to repair the road to welcome the King. John’s idea of fixing the rough crooked road condition is our repentance. Repentance means complete turnaround from where we are. That also means change our old wicked ways and experience forgiveness. It is just like when I expected very important guests from Korea last August, I cleaned the whole house, changed sheets, got new towels and got ready with all necessary things including food. How we can relate this message to our heart by saying, we must smooth out our deep valley of our life, rough road we have been walking physically, emotionally and spiritually. What will be your valley, rough ways and crooked side of life that call for “repentance.” I wish there is a simple way of washing all of the negative things out of body and mind using detergent and disinfectant. John calls this cleansing activity “repentance.” In order to prepare to receive Jesus, we have to experience some change in our life. To change we have to know what to change and how to change. Anybody would like to share your way of doing it? Yes, some of you might change some of your old bad habits of drinking by getting some help because it will be hard to do it alone. That way we can clean the room in our hearts. Let us repair our road condition by changing our old way of thinking negatively so that Jesus can come into our lives. Let us pray. 2. Christmas sermon: Scripture Text: Luke 2:1-11 Sermon theme: Christmas: Meeting homeless baby Jesus As we know Christmas is so commercialized and a family event that it is a very difficult time for many of you, because few people will give you Christmas gifts and very few of you have your family ties that you can join them at this family season. As our theme this year (2011) is "Let us meet Jesus," today's particular theme is meeting homeless baby Jesus. It might be a depressing theme in this joyful season. But I think you will like this Jesus I am introducing to you today. This baby Jesus is different from other babies: Firstly, he was born homeless: Let us read the Bible story together from Luke 2:1-7: In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3All went to their own towns to be registered. 4Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. To summarize the story, Mary was in full pregnancy. The Roman Emperor ordered people to go to their ancestor's town to register. Joseph had to travel to Bethlehem with Mary which was Joseph's ancestor's town. While they were there, the time came for Mary to deliver her child. But there was no place she could deliver the baby. Finally baby was born in an animal barn and was laid in a manger, an animal feeding box, because there was no room for them in the inn. Perhaps there were too many people who came to register and the town was crowded. But Joseph and Mary were poor and couldn't afford any better housing either. Joseph was carpenter and a day-laborer just as some of you are. He didn't make much. When rich people brought offerings of lambs and goats for the church, Mary could bring only a little dove. This means she was poor. So baby Jesus was born in a manger, born homeless. This means that he started his life poor and homeless from the day one. What does this mean to all of us? Very few of us are born outdoor in this day and age. But some of you might have been born in poor and broken homes. Some of you might have been born with no father’s presence. Some of you might have been taken away as soon as you were born to be adopted out. Some of you might have lost mother as soon as you came to this world because she left you. Many of you also can relate to that situation: You lost your own room. When you call many shelters there was no room and you call churches and there was no answer, how devastating it is! That’s exactly what happened to Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus. Those of you who experienced all these can identify with homeless baby Jesus. Do you like this Jesus now because he was in your shoes, and knows your situation? Let me share my experience: I was born in a broken home. In those days, my father ran off with another woman. My mother was sad. The baby, me, must have been sad too. Before I was born, I might have pounded her womb crying out "why are you bearing another woman when you yourself are abused?" From day one, my life has been very tough. Therefore, personally, I feel that Jesus knows my troubles and pains. This truth has comforted me. For this reason, Jesus loves me and I love Jesus. This is the reason I love you, the poor and homeless because I have been there too. This motivates me to introduce this special Jesus to you who knows your situation from day one. This Bible story helps us to identify with Jesus' troubled infancy. This story helps people who experienced early trauma to find hope in him. Early trauma affected all of us and many of us are damaged by it. Our early trauma has driven some of us to substance abuse and others to mental illness. I am not saying that our early trauma must dwell on us but to understand where we came from so that we can understand the little child in us. Without knowing who we are and where we come from, we can't be healed. It’s like no Doctor can treat their patients without knowing the cause of troubles. Secondly, baby Jesus was born among poor friends and for the poor: Let us read the Bible stories in Luke 2: 8-11 and Luke 1: 52-53 together; 2: 8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 1: 52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. But Angels who brought big news didn't announce it to the emperor or governor through King 5 TV station or in the New York Times. They told this news to shepherds in the field. In those days, shepherds were poor, marginalized, and despised lower-class outsiders. So Jesus' best friends from his first day on were the poor and marginalized. In Luke 1:52 and 53, Jesus’ mother, Mary is talking. She knew what kind of man this baby would grow up to be. She perceived him to be a person for the poor, who would bring down the rich and powerful from their thrones and send them away empty, but lift up the poor lowly and fill the hungry with good physical, emotional, social and spiritual food. She was envisioning a fair world where the rich wouldn’t exploit the poor and throw them into poverty and homelessness. Not only has Jesus been in our shoes, he understands us. He suffers with us and in us because he resides with us and in us. When we cry he cries. When our hearts ache his heart aches. Thirdly, this baby was born as a savior: Let us read the bible verses together: Luke 2: 11: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. He came to save us; to bring us salvation. What is the meaning of salvation? Many people will relate salvation only to spiritual sphere of life or something we will experience after death. But according to theologian, Marcus Borg, the word “salvation” comes from the same root as “salve,” a healing ointment. Salvation thus has to do with healing the wounds of existence. Wounds of existence are many and deep. Some of these wounds are inflicted on us, some are the result of our own doing, and some we inflict on others. Liberation from bondage is thus one of the central meanings of salvation. Liberation from physical, political, economic, emotional, social and spiritual poverty, homelessness, illness, afflictions, bondage and sins can be called salvation. I call this holistic salvation. Bible says, the purpose of Jesus birth was to bring us such salvation. So his birth is very different and unique. This homeless baby was born with a big purpose. How is Jesus going to do this? I will do this by coming into our midst to live with us. His birth meant that God came down, took residence in our midst, to live with us and to save all people including you and me. Fourthly, this baby Jesus was born as good news to us: Let us read the bible verses together; Luke 2: 10: 10 But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all people: Liberation from all forms of bondage to sin, poverty and homelessness is surely good news. I wrote in my Christmas card about the Christmas as follows: This is the time we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ who came to reside in our midst as the light in a dark world, as compassion in an apathetic world, as justice in an unfair world, to empty his entire self for the greedy world, to love the world that is full of hatred, to be a hope to the hopeless, to heal the sick, and to save sin-sick souls in exchange of his own life. These are good news to us all. This is the meaning of Christmas and the very reason why we celebrate the birth of Jesus today. 3. Meeting refugee baby Jesus Scripture Text: Matt. 2: 13-15 Last week we met homeless baby Jesus who was born in a manger because there was no room in the inn. Today we are going to meet a refugee Jesus, who fled to a foreign country because his own king was seeking to kill him. Let us read the Bible verses together: Matt. 2:13-15: An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.’ 14Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, 15and remained there until the death of Herod. Anybody remember why the King Herod was going to kill Jesus? Yes, because the King Herod heard that this little Jesus was born to be the King of the Jews. In those days, Herod was a vassal king under the Roman occupation. He was known to be a tyrant, a madman and a murderer who had killed several of his wives, his own children, other relatives including many teachers and religious leaders when he felt suspicious of their threatening his power. When he couldn't find the baby Jesus in the little manger, he decided to kill all of the children in and around Bethlehem under age 2. These children didn't even have a chance to flee. They were all killed before they could escape.. So the land was filled with mother’s laments. God’s angle let Joseph and Mary know what was going on and urged them to flee with baby Jesus. So they fled to Egypt, which means they became refugees in a foreign country. Any of you came to this country as a refugee? Refugees are those who fled their country escaping wars or some kind of life-threatening persecution. There are many people in this country who do not have legal refugee status. Refugees get some help but illegal immigrants get no help. When you are illegal immigrants, homeless and sick, you might feel like you are at the end of the rope. Here, we don't ask about your legal status. We welcome and love everyone as Jesus would. Today, there are many Herods in our world. Any leader, any political party, any system, and any policy that causes a displacement of people can be the Herod. Many people in the world experience displacement in man-made wars, natural disasters and poverty. Many of you were born in the U.S., and not as refugees. But when you are evicted from your parental home or rented apartment into the cold streets, you become refugees in your own city. When you are evicted from jobs and have no money for rent or food it could have been like a refugee life. People pitch tents, police come and destroy them, you are displaced again and suddenly you become like a refugee. When people are locked up in mental hospitals or prisons for a long time, you are displaced. I want to call these displaced life circumstances "a refugee life." It is very sad that many people become refugees in their own cities and don't get the same housing privilege as legal refugees receive. In 1946, at age 11, before many of you weren’t even born, I became a refugee with my family from North to South Korea fleeing from the threat of the Communist regime. In 1950, we were again refugees in an unfamiliar city and town during the Korean War fleeing from the bombing and killing war zone. We lost everything we owned except the clothes on our back and a few bags just like some of you are carrying. We experienced hunger and homelessness. This is the reason why I understand people in a refugee situation so well. That is the reason why many other Koreans have joined me in helping the poor in this country. We had been in your shoes. It was bad enough for Jesus to be born homeless, and this time in his infancy he was forced to be displaced in a refugee life in a foreign land. For Mary, Joseph and Baby, seeking asylum in Egypt was a nightmare as well as a hope. It was bad news to be a refugee for Jesus but God provided him a refuge in Egypt. This was a hope from the displacement. God was involved in every aspect of their life. God was with them and in them. Therefore, Jesus has compassion toward all those who lost their homes and were displaced into a refugee life. Do you like this Jesus who had been in your shoes? Does this story help you to find hope in Jesus? I have been talking with some of you individually over our meal listening to your past sad stories. I get to know you whole lot better and am building amazing relationship with you. I learned that some of you come from early trauma and later messed up your life with substance abuse. The best news I have been hearing is that some of you are trying to get up and walk by enrolling in colleges to start anew or finish up unfinished courses. Yes, that's wonderful! Let us try to overcome our early traumas. Your parents might have messed you up. But when you grow up to be adults, you have to do recovery job for yourself. This year, you cannot stay where you were last year. You have to move forward. The refugee Jesus will walk with you, and we will walk with you. When refugee Jesus understands you and accepts you as a wonderful person, can you feel better about yourself? Can you help Jesus lift you out of the dumps you have been in? Several volunteers of the Nest Mission also came from past traumas, came to this country with empty hands and we have made it. My conclusion is that we have a hope. As Jesus was provided for an asylum even in the midst of violent nightmare, God will do the same for you. We hope the Nest Mission and Maplewood Church can be your refuge. Although we can't offer physical refuge, we want to offer you spiritual and emotional refuge by being your friends and supporters. Jesus is in us and with us. He is walking with us in every step we are moving because he loves us. I hope you meet this refugee Jesus today and welcome him into your life that you may experience much different and better life this year. We will work together for that hope. Amen. 4. Meeting Galilean Jesus Scripture Text: Matthew 2: 19-23; My scriptural text comes from Matthew 2:19-23 and my sermon theme is meeting Galilean Jesus. Let us read the Bible verses together from Matthew: 19 When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, 20‘Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child’s life are dead.’ 21Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel.22But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. 23There he made his home in a town called Nazareth. Let us make a few points: Firstly, we remember that the infant Jesus and his family became refugees in Egypt. Angel appeared again to bring a good news that Jesus' family can go back home now. But Joseph was afraid to go back to the land of Judea because Archelaus, the son of tyrant Herod was ruling. Archelaus apparently inherited his father’s violent tendencies. He began his rule with the slaughter of three thousand people. So Mary and Joseph went to Galilee instead and settled in a small town called Nazareth in Galilee region. Although Galilee was also ruled by Herod Antipas, a son of Herod, the circumstance there was relatively less threatening. So Joseph and Mary settled with Jesus in Nazareth. So, Jesus grew up in Nazareth. This is why Jesus was called "Nazarene." Can you imagine that they had to come back to the region that was ruled by the same tyrant Herod family from whom they ran to Egpty? What an unsafe and frightening circumstance! Secondly, why was Galilee so important in Jesus' life? What Galilee could have meant for him? Nazareth was a little town in Galilee District just as Edmonds is a little city of Snohomish County. Galilee region had a diverse population who were racially mixed people, called "Gentiles." Galileans felt contempt from the Jews as Jewish people despised any non-Jew as unclean and ungodly people. Most Galileans were peasants and poor. Farming in Galilee was rapidly becoming commercialized just like our Marysville is rapidly turned from farms into a city. So, in Galilee, small farms were being replaced by large estates. Many people were dislocated just like gentrification in our time. Galileans were underprivileged and lacked the opportunity for education and many other things. Jesus too was a peasant in Galilee. He was also a day laborer. He was a tekton (carpenter) and perhaps he was employed in the construction work just as some of you have been. He owned no land of his own. Peasant and day laborer describe his social class. This means that he was at the bottom of society. Therefore, when God came to the world in Jesus Christ, God came to the poor, most despised and lowest place. Does this help you feel better by identifying with this Jesus? Thirdly, God had a purpose in placing Jesus in Galilee. Jesus came to Galilee as a Galilean to identify with the poor and marginalized and to live in their midst and share their suffering to save them. Thus other Galileans can identify with Jesus and find hope in him. In a way, where you are is in Galilee. Your displaced, poor, unemployed and homeless life can be called Galilee. Therefore, you have been Galileans. I had been in Galilee too. Here is a story of a homeless man whom I met in Seattle downtown: He used to make a 5 digit salary. He injured his back on the job. He was taking prescription drugs for his pain. He got addicted to that drug. His addiction made him lose all of his savings, possessions including his house and his job. He ended up eating out of trash bin and sleeping on the streets. He went down all the way to the bottom pit of his life. He was a Galilean in Galilee. He confessed that one day God told him that he can't stay down there any longer. He too wanted to get out of this Galilee. He came to transitional housing of the First Presbyterian Church. While he was a resident there, he stopped taking drugs and became a shelter leader. When I met him, he was going to college. Nest Mission helped him with tuition one time. In the evening he works for another shelter as staff member. Not only did he get out of Galilee, he is now using his Galilean experience to serve the most needy. My last concluding question for you is: Do you want to meet this Galilean Jesus today? Does he identify with your Galilean experience? Do you identify with HIS Galilean experience? Do you find HOPE in him? Are you ready to get out of your Galilee? How are you going to USE your Galilean experience? Like Jesus and the homeless man you might want to go back to Galilee later to serve the most needy friends there. May God bless you and walk with you. Amen. 5. Meeting Jesus, the street minister Scripture text: Matthew 4:12, 15-17, 23-24 Theme: The street minister Does anyone remember what kind of Jesus we met the last few weeks? Yes, we talked about Homeless Baby Jesus, Refugee Jesus and Galilean Jesus. Today we will talk about a different Jesus. I want you to figure out what kind of Jesus this is while we read the bible verses. Please look at the screen and read out loud together: Matthew 4:12, 15-17, 23-24 Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee…. Galilee of the Gentiles— 16 the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.’ … 23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people. 24So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought to him all the sick, those who were afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and he cured them. Firstly, where were Galilee people sitting? They sat in darkness and in a shadow of death. What could that mean? Anyone has any idea? Yes, it could mean poverty, unemployment, eviction, homeless life, sickness, etc. It could also mean addiction to substances or mental illness, prostitution and many other things. Has anyone been sitting in darkness and a shadow of death but being cured? Is there anyone who would like to share such an experience? Secondly, when Jesus came to the world as the God's son, he didn't come to a Governor's or presidential mansion. He came to sick, poor, despised, and underprivileged outsiders. He came to homeless people first. What was happening to them on the street while Jesus was with them? Anyone remembers? Yes, that's right. People were cured from all kinds of sickness, pains, diseases, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics. What do you call this man who did that? Street evangelist. Street healer. Street preacher. Yes, I call him the street minister and street Doctor. He didn’t have any office to practice his profession. He did all that on the streets where the homeless people were. Thirdly, what was happening to people when they were cured? Anyone can guess? Would you think that the cured people were finding joy, hope and high self-esteem? Because finally someone cared about them, respected and treated them like human beings. Yes, some change must have taken place too. What kind of change would you expect? When we are cured physically, what do you experience emotionally? We feel better and feel good. Spiritually, what could happen to you? We will come closer to God. What does that means for you? When you come close to God what happens to you? Yes, you get to tell God who you are, about your past life, etc. We can call it “repentance”. Jesus said, "I am here and you repent!" Repentance means complete turn-around from our old life style. It could mean change in our thinking, feeling and behavior. Could it also mean sobriety from alcohol and clean from drugs? Yes. Lastly, my question for you today is "What must happen here in our gathering"? What is your hope and wish ? What must the Nest Mission do? What you can do? How can we work together to bring your hope and wish to reality? My suggestion is that we meet this Jesus TODAY, who is already in our midst. Do you want to meet this Jesus, the street minister who deeply cares about us? We can work with him to get us out of all of our afflictions and bondages. So I want you to be part of this mission and not mere dinner guests. Jesus needs you to help yourself. Nest Mission needs your help to help you. None of us can do it alone. We are a team that must work together to bring healing and restoration to our lives. We can call it "Salvation." Now turn to the person sitting next to you. Ask what is his/her prayer concern. Pray for that friend's concern or problem. Do it for each other. And I will end with my prayer. Thank you. 6. Meeting Jesus who is the Good News Scripture Text: Luke 4: 18-19 Theme: Jesus, the good News We have been talking about Jesus the past few weeks. This evening, we are going to meet Jesus again. When you read the Bible verses try to name this Jesus. OK? Now, Let us read out loud Luke 4:18-19 on the screen: Luke 48-19: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’ How would you name this Jesus? I named him "Jesus, the Good News. This passage is known to be Jesus' inauguration speech or his first sermon. When a President gives his inauguration speech, everyone's eyes are glued to the TV and they listen carefully. Why? Because it is his first and the foremost important speech that will give us some idea who he is, what he is up to, what his political agenda is and how he is going to lead the country, etc. In the same way, in this passage, Jesus tells us what he is up to and who he is. He introduces himself as the anointed one, which means he is God's Messiah. He doesn't say literally in this text but implies that "He himself is the Good News." Most of us believe that he came to save the world, which is good news for the world. He visited Nazareth in Galilee region where he grew up. He spoke in a worship service at the temple just like I am preaching here right now. There His major message was that he was sent to bring good news to the poor, to the captives, to the blind and to the oppressed. Why was what he said good news to the poor? Because 90% Galilean citizens were poor because they were exploited under the Romans. Many were enslaved by poverty. Their debts were mounting because they kept borrowing money to pay taxes to Roman government and to their own government. Many lost their farm land when they couldn't keep up with tax and debts. Many fell into day labor just as many of you lost jobs these days and fell into day labor. Many ended up begging on the streets just as some homeless persons today stand on the street with a sign saying, "I need help, I need a job." Many were sold into slavery for their debts. Most of them couldn't see any hope or future and lived like the blind. When they protested against such oppression, they were crucified or imprisoned. I bet many of you can relate to such life circumstances, right? Release of the oppressed, recovery of sight to the blind, and freedom to the captives were certainly good news to poor Galileans who were sitting in the shadow of death. Why is it good news to the poor? Jesus was referring to the year of the Lord, which is Jubilee year. All Galileans knew exactly what that meant. Jubilee meant that every 50th year, the overused and exploited land took a rest for a year; peasants forced to sell their land for debts would get it back; those sold into slavery because of debts could now come home. All of their past debts were cancelled. The spirit of jubilee comes from their slavery experience in Egyptian bondage. Exodus 23:9 says, “You shall not oppress a stranger; you know the heart of a stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” What if the U.S. government ever announced jubilee law so that the housing and the job you lost came back to you? You wouldn’t need to sleep in your car, on the streets or in the park. Your credit card debts would be cancelled. All your traffic tickets and many other kinds of citations would all be cancelled, and police officers would not be on your back any longer. You wouldn’t need to go to free dinner any more. When you hear such announcement wouldn’t that be good news to you. You might shout for joy on top of your lungs, and dance and have a party. So can you understand Jesus’ announcement as good news to the poor? What will be good news for you today? When I say to you, “I am taking you out to dinner,” isn’t that a small good news for you? When I announce that we will offer Christmas gift of motel rooms