True Religion: Heart Transformation Over Rituals
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1. "Jesus' heart is filled with deep compassion for ordinary people with real needs, real human needs. And in this story today, he is angry at religious leaders who favor form over substance. And of course, there's a great irony in today's Gospel story because the Pharisees do not see that in rejecting Jesus, they are rejecting God. They are rejecting the very purpose of their tradition, of their study, and their prayer. Messiah is right there, blessing them, showing them the way. It's all about the heart, and the Pharisees storm out, rather than hear Jesus' invitation to change their heart." [26:38] (56 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "If you know your Jesus, he's not against tradition. In fact, he says he's not come to take away, if you go for the St. James version, a tit or a tittle from tradition, iota. But Jesus is saying, the real purpose of tradition is that it gives us an invitation, a way to remember. It's purpose in tradition. So he would say, for example, an example would be, tradition is pointing to the light or to the moon, but it is not the light or the moon itself. Tradition is a way of handing down a path, a way to life. And the purpose of that path is transformation, spiritual transformation." [28:32] (56 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Instead, Jesus invites us into God's revolution. To live from the inside out, rather than the outside in. And he says that the heart of true religion, real religion, is the quality of our heart. There's nothing outside a person that by going in can defile. But the things that come out are what defile. The way you see the world, your reality, is determined by the things that are determined by the quality of your heart. When a pickpocket goes into a crowd, the only thing the pickpocket sees is pockets. When we realize that we are God's beloved, that the Holy Spirit has made her temple in you, we see a different world." [34:13] (72 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "So the actions in our life, they are the indicator, not the cause. The actions. And sometimes I, as I listen to the words I say and the actions I do, sometimes I go, thank you, God, you've done a pretty good job with this rough diamond. And other times I'm appalled that I go, oh, and there's still so much work to do. Because if you want to know the quality of your heart, listen to the things you say and watch the things you do. And even more so under pressure. It's like when you squeeze an orange, orange juice comes out. So if you want to really know your spiritual condition, and sometimes I don't do too well under this test, see what comes out when you get stressed or put under pressure. That will give you a barometer of where you are on the path." [34:57] (66 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "But we give thanks for the work that God has already accomplished in us. And for all the growth that has come as we've followed the path. And the inspiration to keep on going, to persevere until, this is what the Bible says our destiny is, until you are mature, complete. That means full like Jesus, lacking in nothing. And I think I am, we've been so blessed with Denise and her presence and we're going to have a big party and celebrate that next Sunday. I think her departure is going to put our community under pressure, under stress. And it will reveal quite a bit of who are we and where are we as a community as we respond to that pressure and challenge. I'm an optimist, so I expect much good." [36:44] (58 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "So religion is not first and foremost about rules and rituals. It is the way to let our hearts open like a flower to the honey bee, and allow the fragrance of love sought and love found to permeate and transform the world as we realize that you are God's beloved child, and you are God's beloved child, and you are God's beloved child, and Christ delights in this world and all of us." [39:36] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "One of my favorite books of the Bible is the Song of Solomon, the first reading from today. I wish we had more of Song of Solomon in the lectionary cycle. Song of Solomon is God's invitation to you to a wild, passionate love affair, to just fall head over heels, just all in with God, and be taken away. I quote from the reading, My beloved speaks and says, Arise, arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. For now the winter is past, the rain is over and gone, the flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the vines are in blossom, they give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my fair one, come away. Amen." [40:35] (74 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "May the Christ who serves with wounded hands, walk with you on the road. Stretch out your hands, stretch out your hands to serve. May the Christ who loves with a wounded heart, open your hearts to love. And may you see the face of Christ in everyone you meet. And may everyone you meet see the face of Christ in you. And the blessing of God, almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit be among you and remain with you always. Followers of Jesus, inspired by the Holy Spirit, serve the world God loves. Thanks be to God." [01:24:32] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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2. "If you know your Jesus, he's not against tradition. In fact, he says he's not come to take away, if you go for the St. James version, a tit or a tittle from tradition, iota. But Jesus is saying, the real purpose of tradition is that it gives us an invitation, a way to remember. It's purpose in tradition. So he would say, for example, an example would be, tradition is pointing to the light or to the moon, but it is not the light or the moon itself. Tradition is a way of handing down a path, a way to life. And the purpose of that path is transformation, spiritual transformation." [28:32] (56 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Instead, Jesus invites us into God's revolution. To live from the inside out, rather than the outside in. And he says that the heart of true religion, real religion, is the quality of our heart. There's nothing outside a person that by going in can defile. But the things that come out are what defile. The way you see the world, your reality, is determined by the things that are determined by the quality of your heart. When a pickpocket goes into a crowd, the only thing the pickpocket sees is pockets. When we realize that we are God's beloved, that the Holy Spirit has made her temple in you, we see a different world." [34:13] (72 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "So the actions in our life, they are the indicator, not the cause. The actions. And sometimes I, as I listen to the words I say and the actions I do, sometimes I go, thank you, God, you've done a pretty good job with this rough diamond. And other times I'm appalled that I go, oh, and there's still so much work to do. Because if you want to know the quality of your heart, listen to the things you say and watch the things you do. And even more so under pressure. It's like when you squeeze an orange, orange juice comes out. So if you want to really know your spiritual condition, and sometimes I don't do too well under this test, see what comes out when you get stressed or put under pressure. That will give you a barometer of where you are on the path." [34:57] (66 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "But we give thanks for the work that God has already accomplished in us. And for all the growth that has come as we've followed the path. And the inspiration to keep on going, to persevere until, this is what the Bible says our destiny is, until you are mature, complete. That means full like Jesus, lacking in nothing. And I think I am, we've been so blessed with Denise and her presence and we're going to have a big party and celebrate that next Sunday. I think her departure is going to put our community under pressure, under stress. And it will reveal quite a bit of who are we and where are we as a community as we respond to that pressure and challenge. I'm an optimist, so I expect much good." [36:44] (58 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "So religion is not first and foremost about rules and rituals. It is the way to let our hearts open like a flower to the honey bee, and allow the fragrance of love sought and love found to permeate and transform the world as we realize that you are God's beloved child, and you are God's beloved child, and you are God's beloved child, and Christ delights in this world and all of us." [39:36] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "One of my favorite books of the Bible is the Song of Solomon, the first reading from today. I wish we had more of Song of Solomon in the lectionary cycle. Song of Solomon is God's invitation to you to a wild, passionate love affair, to just fall head over heels, just all in with God, and be taken away. I quote from the reading, My beloved speaks and says, Arise, arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. For now the winter is past, the rain is over and gone, the flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the vines are in blossom, they give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my fair one, come away. Amen." [40:35] (74 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "May the Christ who serves with wounded hands, walk with you on the road. Stretch out your hands, stretch out your hands to serve. May the Christ who loves with a wounded heart, open your hearts to love. And may you see the face of Christ in everyone you meet. And may everyone you meet see the face of Christ in you. And the blessing of God, almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit be among you and remain with you always. Followers of Jesus, inspired by the Holy Spirit, serve the world God loves. Thanks be to God." [01:24:32] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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