Way back in cold old February, fourth grader Patrick Timoney came face-to-face with what “zero degrees” really mean. Not “zero degrees” Fahrenheit, but “zero degrees” of tolerance.
It seems Patrick had taken some of his favorite Lego toys to school to show off to his buddies. Any parent of young children can tell you those little, tiny Lego guys are natural born killers.
They hide in the couch to poke you when you sit down.
They stab you in the foot as you cross the floor.
They can single-handedly destroy expensive vacuum cleaners, dishwashers, and washing machines.
Patrick’s favorite Lego toy was an inch-and-a-half tall policeman figure. The Lego policeman came armed with his own teeny-tiny gun. That minuscule piece of plastic succeeded in getting Patrick kicked out of school. It seems the “zero tolerance” policy about bringing “weapons” on school grounds extended to include that Lego ornament, that toothpick-sized armament.
Sorry, but sometimes “zero tolerance” makes “zero sense.” At least zero common sense.
A “zero tolerance” policy is what the synagogue leader was advocating in today’s gospel lesson. Charged with keeping the reading and reflection of the Torah on the straight and narrow, this officious official couldn’t see beyond the letter of the law, beyond the jot and tittle of his title. No “work” on the Sabbath meant strict adherence to every stated restriction. No “work” on the Sabbath meant avoiding every rabbinically-vetoed activity.
In other words, the synagogue official had come to see the Sabbath as one great big “thou shalt not.” Instead of being a celebration of the divine presence, Shabbat became a cell to quarantine human activities and confine the Spirit. He had lost sight of what the Sabbath was FOR. In his effort to keep the Sabbath wholly separate, he had lost sight of what made the Sabbath truly holy.
Jesus wasn’t concerned with “keeping” the Sabbath. Jesus was concerned with incarnating the Sabbath — making Sabbath joy, Sabbath peace, Sabbath freedom, Sabbath compassion, a living, vital experience in the lives of his followers.
Jesus came to declare the in-breaking of the kingdom of God, and the kingdom of God doesn’t take a “day off.” God’s presence doesn’t pull back from people every seventh day. The Sabbath was established to enable men and women a time to intentionally seek out and encounter the divine in everyday life.
By healing the crooked back of the crippled woman on the Sabbath, Jesus restored the essence of “Sabbath shalom” — a peaceful Sabbath — to her twisted, tormented body and spirit. Healing this woman was not a special exception to Sabbath laws. Healing this woman was the incarnation of the true Sabbath, brining the living kingdom of God into the kingdoms of this world.
Jesus’ first public appearance in his ministry was in the synagogue on the Sabbath. There he defined his mission and his message, using the words of Isaiah (61:1; 58:6; 61:2) which were redolent of the Magnificat of his poet Mother Mary, a song he had heard sung many times no doubt, starting in the womb:
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,
To proclaim the year of the Lord’s Favor. (Luke 4:18-19)
This good news doesn’t wait for Monday.
Releasing captives doesn’t wait for Monday.
New sight doesn’t wait for Monday.
The gift of freedom doesn’t wait for Monday.
Saving from sin doesn’t wait for Monday.
On 09 August 2010, in a USA Today article, Oliver Thomas offered his thoughts on “Why do we need religion?” Thomas’ conclusion was that, at its best, religion gave people “a reason to live,” it made us more moral, and that good religion is always “life affirming.”
The problem with Thomas’ article, and his conclusions, is that he ends up equating “religion” with morality. He argues that “religion makes it easier to be decent. The positive core values, mutual accountability and constant striving for self-improvement help one to be a better person.”
Mr. Thomas needs an crash course in Christianity 101. Christianity is not a morality. Christianity is not about getting people to follow a code of right conduct, or to follow certain rules. Christianity isn’t concerned with bringing some sort of moral balance to the universe. Christianity is about entering into a relationship with a redeeming, rising and reigning Lord and making Jesus the Christ Lord of your life.
“Religions” have rules. Christianity has a Redeemer. Religions have faith in moral systems. Christianity has faith in Christ. Faith in forgiveness. Faith in God’s grace. Faith in the power of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.
Jesus knows no “zero tolerance” policy. There is no “zero tolerance” policy in Christianity because Christ came to bring us all a “second chance.” Christians are “second chance” people. We are given a second chance, and a third chance, and a fourth chance, and a lifetime of chances to choose salvation and not ruination.
Our infractions against God’s righteousness are not the size of some little plastic Lego toy gun. Each one of us is packing far more deadly, soul scarring weaponry than is found in any manufactured arsenal.
It is fitting that in the game of golf, a game often played in defiance of the Sabbath, a truly bad shot, a whack into the water, a slice into an impenetrable bramble bush, a ball that simply disappears into thin air, can be erased by a “mulligan.”
I love “mulligans.” A “mulligan” is a gift of grace, a “second chance,” a “do-over” that is neither earned nor expected. A “mulligan” makes it possible for a player to stay in the game despite having made a terrible mistake.
Christians are all “mulliganeers” — men and women of faith who have been granted the ultimate in second chances through the grace in-our-place of Jesus Christ.
We “mulliganeers,” those of us who have been given a bunch of second chances, know that we must pass the “mulligan” along. We must offer the compassion of a “second chance” to everyone we meet.
Just as Jesus did with the woman in this morning’s text.
A lot of composers have written “God of Second Chances” songs. There are all sorts of lyrics for the theme of Life’s “Second Chances.” But my very favorite “Second Chances” song is from Veggie Tales. That’s right. It’s a Veggie Tale song. I’m not embarrassed to admit it. It’s a great song. It needs to be the theme song of all Mulliganeers.
Listen the lyrics, Mulliganeers (or you could end by having them listen to the song instead of reading it to them; if you have them listen to the song, you might want to also throw the words up on the screen so they can enjoy the music and not strain to catch the words).
Singer 1: You're feelin' pretty blue
You didn't do what God requested!
Singer 2: Yeah, I'd be mopin' too, if I was gonna be digested!
Singer 3: This ain't a pretty picture, no
I said, it ain't a pretty sight, no.
Singer 2: You ran from God this morning and you're ...
All: Whale chow tonight!
But hold up!
Hang on!
Singer 2: Not so fast! Your life ain't over yet!
Singer 3: See, we're here to tell you all about ...
Singer 2: the forgiveness that...
All: you... can... get!
Singer 1: You see God's a god of mercy,
Singer 2: God's a god of love.
All: And right now, He's gonna lend a helping hand from up above!
Choir: Praise the Lord!
He's the God of second chances!
You'll be floored how His love your life enhances!
You can be restored from your darkest circumstances!
Our God is a God of second chances!
Singer 1: Ain't it good to know a God who gives a second chance.
Singer 2: Why, that's enough to get a smile from Mr. Grumpy‑Pants!
Singer 1: So, if you say you're sorry for all the stuff you do
Singer 2: We know that He'll be ready with a second chance for you!
Choir: Praise the Lord!
He's the God of second chances!
You'll be floored how His love your life enhances!
You can be restored from your darkest circumstances!
Our God is a God of second chances!
Choir: Our God is a god ...
If you believe
God's love is true
Then you should know
What you should do!
If you believe
God's love is true
Then you should know
What you should do!
If you believe
God's love is true
Then you should know
What you should do!
If you believe
God's love is true
Then you should know
What you should do!
God gives a second chance!
Second chances!
Second chances!
Praise the Lord!
He's the God of second chances!
You'll be floored when you're restored from your darkest circumstances.
Our God is a God of second chances!
Second chances!
Second chances!
Praise the Lord!
He is the God of second chances!
You'll be floored when you're restored from your darkest circumstances.
Our God is a God of second chances!
If you believe
God's love is true
Then you should know
What you should do!
If you believe
God's love is true
Then you should know
What you should do!
If you believe
God's love is true
Then you should know
What you should do!
Second chances!
Second chances!
Praise the Lord!
He's the God of second chances!
You'll be floored when you're restored from your darkest circumstances.
Our God is a god of second chances!
Close with this if you play the song:
Mulliganeers, you know what you should do! Now go do it! Amen.