1 00:00:00,625 --> 00:00:01,725 Yesterday was St. 2 00:00:01,725 --> 00:00:03,725 Michael's and all Angels day. 3 00:00:05,225 --> 00:00:07,725 It was a day about those great 4 00:00:08,125 --> 00:00:13,725 ministers of the Heavenly realm. Servants of fought Divine fire, who 5 00:00:13,725 --> 00:00:19,425 rush out to do their Lords bidding. Spiritual powers and authorities. 6 00:00:19,425 --> 00:00:24,525 Myriad's upon, myriad's cherubim, and seraphim Angels and Archangels. 7 00:00:26,425 --> 00:00:27,625 Today is different. 8 00:00:28,325 --> 00:00:29,925 Today is not about Angels. 9 00:00:31,025 --> 00:00:35,125 Today is about something much more down-to-earth. 10 00:00:36,525 --> 00:00:39,725 About he who was made a little lower than the angels. 11 00:00:40,925 --> 00:00:43,625 Today is about mankind. 12 00:00:44,925 --> 00:00:45,725 It's about us. 13 00:00:47,725 --> 00:00:50,925 In the passage, we heard this morning, the author of the Hebrews 14 00:00:50,925 --> 00:00:53,425 places at the center of his argument. 15 00:00:53,825 --> 00:01:00,825 Some lines from Psalm 8, and this Psalm is in turn, a meditation on 16 00:01:00,825 --> 00:01:04,125 the first chapters of Genesis and the creation of humankind. 17 00:01:05,525 --> 00:01:06,525 O, Yahweh 18 00:01:06,525 --> 00:01:07,325 our Lord. 19 00:01:07,325 --> 00:01:10,025 How Majestic is your name in all the earth? 20 00:01:10,325 --> 00:01:14,825 When I look at your heavens and the work of your fingers, the moon and 21 00:01:14,825 --> 00:01:16,725 the stars, which you have set in place. 22 00:01:17,625 --> 00:01:19,825 What is, man that you are mindful of him? 23 00:01:20,525 --> 00:01:22,625 And the son of man that you care for him? 24 00:01:23,925 --> 00:01:24,225 Yet 25 00:01:24,225 --> 00:01:28,725 you have made him a little lower than the angels and crowned him with 26 00:01:28,725 --> 00:01:33,925 glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the work of your 27 00:01:33,925 --> 00:01:34,325 hands 28 00:01:34,325 --> 00:01:38,425 and you have put all things under his feet. All sheep and oxen and 29 00:01:38,425 --> 00:01:41,325 also the beasts of the field and the birds of the heavens and the fish 30 00:01:41,325 --> 00:01:45,325 of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the sea. 31 00:01:47,725 --> 00:01:54,825 It's a beautiful Psalm, a Psalm of wonder and awe looking at the 32 00:01:54,825 --> 00:01:56,925 vastness of God's creation. 33 00:01:57,125 --> 00:02:04,625 We are to marvel that God has invested such a dignity and destiny in 34 00:02:04,625 --> 00:02:05,125 man. 35 00:02:06,725 --> 00:02:10,325 We are not the mighty empyrion powers. 36 00:02:10,525 --> 00:02:15,225 The celestial spirits that people God's divine Heavenly Council. 37 00:02:15,525 --> 00:02:21,025 We're just made from the dust from the earth like all other beasts and 38 00:02:21,025 --> 00:02:23,225 livestock and creeping things. 39 00:02:24,425 --> 00:02:28,725 And yet though we share in the same biological stuff of the animals. 40 00:02:28,725 --> 00:02:35,425 God has raised us up to a place, a little lower than the angels as his 41 00:02:35,425 --> 00:02:40,825 regents and representatives divine Images and reflections. 42 00:02:41,325 --> 00:02:43,825 We have been entrusted with dominion 43 00:02:45,225 --> 00:02:54,325 to be a Lord and Master among all his works. To subdue its wildness. To 44 00:02:54,325 --> 00:02:56,225 domesticate its frenzied 45 00:02:56,225 --> 00:03:04,825 fecundity. To cultivate to improve, to polish to perfect. As the author 46 00:03:04,825 --> 00:03:08,325 of the Hebrews reflects in putting everything in subjection to him 47 00:03:08,325 --> 00:03:11,125 he left nothing outside his control. 48 00:03:12,725 --> 00:03:16,425 What a profound gift to receive 49 00:03:16,425 --> 00:03:19,025 God's riotous bountiful world. 50 00:03:20,125 --> 00:03:22,925 And fashion from it a home. 51 00:03:26,225 --> 00:03:27,325 Something's happened. 52 00:03:30,025 --> 00:03:32,925 We don't seem to feel at home. 53 00:03:34,725 --> 00:03:38,025 Though, we arose from and return to this earth. 54 00:03:38,025 --> 00:03:41,225 We seem deeply unsettled here. 55 00:03:42,425 --> 00:03:48,525 We isolate and we insulate ourselves, we encroach upon nature even as 56 00:03:48,525 --> 00:03:50,725 we feel it intrudes upon us. 57 00:03:51,525 --> 00:03:57,225 We act like we're in an alien foreign country unaware of its cultural 58 00:03:57,225 --> 00:04:01,825 mores and terrified that will make a blunder or break something. 59 00:04:02,525 --> 00:04:03,725 Which in fact we do. 60 00:04:05,025 --> 00:04:07,625 If you think about it, it's ridiculous. 61 00:04:07,825 --> 00:04:08,025 Here 62 00:04:08,025 --> 00:04:11,225 we are in the only home we've ever known. 63 00:04:12,325 --> 00:04:16,425 Walking on eggshells ruining the lovely furniture, which God foolishly 64 00:04:16,425 --> 00:04:18,125 did, not wrap in clear plastic. 65 00:04:20,725 --> 00:04:23,325 We don't seem to fit. 66 00:04:25,625 --> 00:04:30,025 Our place in this creation has become distorted the dominion, we 67 00:04:30,025 --> 00:04:38,325 exercise, too often becomes domination, and we don't find it easy to 68 00:04:38,325 --> 00:04:42,025 incorporate our works into the creator's composition. 69 00:04:43,525 --> 00:04:46,825 We become an invasive species. 70 00:04:48,425 --> 00:04:49,125 This last week 71 00:04:49,125 --> 00:04:54,125 I read that the US fish and wildlife service took 23 species of birds 72 00:04:54,125 --> 00:04:58,525 and fish off the endangered species list, which sounded promising at 73 00:04:58,525 --> 00:05:00,825 first until upon reading further. 74 00:05:00,825 --> 00:05:03,625 It was because all 23 were now extinct. 75 00:05:05,525 --> 00:05:07,725 Goodbye, ivory-billed woodpecker. 76 00:05:10,525 --> 00:05:17,025 Even the moon and stars which God set in the heavens have been invaded 77 00:05:17,025 --> 00:05:23,825 by are ambivalent inventions. These days, the Swift satellites are more 78 00:05:23,825 --> 00:05:26,225 easily spotted than Orion's Belt. 79 00:05:27,925 --> 00:05:31,825 Now some of them may offer some true enhancements to the human 80 00:05:31,825 --> 00:05:37,125 experience, allowing me to use my phone from anywhere to call my 81 00:05:37,125 --> 00:05:37,625 family, 82 00:05:37,625 --> 00:05:38,525 for example. 83 00:05:39,325 --> 00:05:45,325 Or to teach an online class or to be my guide to my destination with GPS. 84 00:05:46,725 --> 00:05:47,225 Others 85 00:05:47,225 --> 00:05:53,925 however, infiltrate our space and are nothing less than spying eyes. 86 00:05:54,825 --> 00:05:58,925 Emissaries of destruction, messengers of mischief. 87 00:06:01,325 --> 00:06:03,225 And now we're coming closer to it. 88 00:06:04,625 --> 00:06:08,225 The more we ponder about this life. 89 00:06:09,225 --> 00:06:14,325 The more it is clear that we are deeply estranged from our first 90 00:06:14,325 --> 00:06:19,725 calling and God who spoke to us at the first 91 00:06:21,125 --> 00:06:24,425 is silent and hidden from us in this world. 92 00:06:26,425 --> 00:06:31,025 We may think we see something of God in the beauty of nature. 93 00:06:32,625 --> 00:06:39,025 Yet the golden sunset as splendid as it is, demands nothing from me. 94 00:06:39,925 --> 00:06:41,125 No responsibility. 95 00:06:42,025 --> 00:06:44,025 No, change of heart or life. 96 00:06:45,525 --> 00:06:47,425 The crashing waves on glittering 97 00:06:47,425 --> 00:06:48,825 beaches offers 98 00:06:48,825 --> 00:06:53,825 no sense of purpose. There's no indication of whether my life is headed in 99 00:06:53,825 --> 00:06:54,925 the right direction 100 00:06:55,225 --> 00:06:57,925 or it's just a pointless, waste of oxygen and carbon. 101 00:07:00,525 --> 00:07:05,625 And so in an effort to try to regain what we've lost, humanity has 102 00:07:05,625 --> 00:07:06,925 turned to power. 103 00:07:08,225 --> 00:07:13,025 In order to try to control what appears to be an abandoned and chaotic 104 00:07:13,225 --> 00:07:18,625 creation by force, man will exert his authority. 105 00:07:19,025 --> 00:07:20,325 He will take back 106 00:07:20,325 --> 00:07:21,225 what is his. 107 00:07:21,225 --> 00:07:25,725 He will make a name for himself and he will carve out his new destiny 108 00:07:26,125 --> 00:07:28,825 and whatever stands in the way of his birthright 109 00:07:28,825 --> 00:07:34,625 he will level to the ground, putting all things underneath his feet. 110 00:07:37,425 --> 00:07:38,725 And where does that leave us? 111 00:07:40,525 --> 00:07:46,225 Well, it's left us with a very broken world and a very fractured 112 00:07:46,225 --> 00:07:47,025 society. 113 00:07:48,725 --> 00:07:55,625 Our advances only increase our alienation and estrangement and we 114 00:07:55,625 --> 00:07:59,825 witness evil and violence and tragedy and torment. 115 00:08:00,025 --> 00:08:03,725 And in desperation we rage against God or we rage against our 116 00:08:03,725 --> 00:08:04,325 neighbor. 117 00:08:05,125 --> 00:08:09,525 How is it possible that mankind can so profoundly ruin the human 118 00:08:09,525 --> 00:08:11,725 experience and defile the world. 119 00:08:13,025 --> 00:08:14,725 And how can God permit it? 120 00:08:15,725 --> 00:08:22,125 How can such destruction and suffering fit into his world? 121 00:08:23,625 --> 00:08:26,425 Actually, I don't want that question answered. 122 00:08:26,425 --> 00:08:33,425 I don't want this to fit in this world that the Haitian earthquake and 123 00:08:33,425 --> 00:08:37,525 the oppression of women at the hands of the Taliban and racism and 124 00:08:37,525 --> 00:08:40,125 unchecked greed and drone strikes 125 00:08:40,125 --> 00:08:41,625 and childhood cancer. 126 00:08:41,925 --> 00:08:47,025 I don't want any of this to fit with God's creation. 127 00:08:47,525 --> 00:08:53,125 If any of this fits within it, if it is part of his plan, 128 00:08:53,325 --> 00:08:55,725 that to achieve his end 129 00:08:55,725 --> 00:08:58,125 such pain and agony is necessary 130 00:08:58,125 --> 00:08:59,725 well, if that is the case. 131 00:09:01,025 --> 00:09:03,425 Then like Yvonne from the brothers Karamazov 132 00:09:04,325 --> 00:09:07,825 I most respectfully return my ticket. 133 00:09:09,625 --> 00:09:11,325 I don't fit here. 134 00:09:12,225 --> 00:09:13,925 I don't want to fit here. 135 00:09:15,725 --> 00:09:17,925 The author of the Hebrews puts it, right. 136 00:09:19,325 --> 00:09:24,025 Though God, put everything under man's feet at present 137 00:09:24,425 --> 00:09:25,325 we do not yet 138 00:09:25,325 --> 00:09:31,225 see everything in subjection to him, but he continues. 139 00:09:32,625 --> 00:09:33,225 But, 140 00:09:34,825 --> 00:09:37,825 we do see Jesus. 141 00:09:40,625 --> 00:09:44,325 You see in many in various ways, God spoke to who is people of old by 142 00:09:44,325 --> 00:09:45,125 the prophets. 143 00:09:46,025 --> 00:09:51,725 But now in these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son and he is 144 00:09:51,725 --> 00:09:56,225 the true Lord of creation, the one through whom all the world was 145 00:09:56,225 --> 00:09:56,925 made. 146 00:09:57,125 --> 00:10:00,025 He is the true image of God. 147 00:10:00,125 --> 00:10:04,525 The radiance of his glory and he upholds the whole creation by the 148 00:10:04,525 --> 00:10:05,625 word of his power. 149 00:10:07,125 --> 00:10:09,425 And yet, we see this Jesus 150 00:10:10,925 --> 00:10:14,825 made for a little while lower than the angels. 151 00:10:16,125 --> 00:10:22,925 In order to be near to us to enter into our flesh and blood and into 152 00:10:22,925 --> 00:10:24,925 the whole of our misery. 153 00:10:26,025 --> 00:10:31,025 Or as Luther, once put it into the muck and work, that makes his skin 154 00:10:31,025 --> 00:10:31,925 smoke. 155 00:10:34,625 --> 00:10:39,125 Now, one may wonder if this is something like the show Undercover 156 00:10:39,125 --> 00:10:39,825 Boss. 157 00:10:42,225 --> 00:10:47,125 Where you have those high-level exes surreptitiously slip into the 158 00:10:47,125 --> 00:10:47,925 rank-and-file 159 00:10:47,925 --> 00:10:52,925 work force to understand their company better, and perhaps experience, 160 00:10:52,925 --> 00:10:54,925 some personal hardships. 161 00:10:56,425 --> 00:11:00,425 Of course, the boss only remains with the blue collar 162 00:11:00,425 --> 00:11:05,225 riffraff for a short time, maybe only even a week. And he returns to 163 00:11:05,225 --> 00:11:10,025 his power and wealth after learning a few lessons and then doling out 164 00:11:10,025 --> 00:11:11,825 a few rewards and charities. 165 00:11:13,525 --> 00:11:15,125 So isn't Jesus like this. 166 00:11:16,425 --> 00:11:20,925 After all, in the face of all of the hardship, couldn't he have simply 167 00:11:20,925 --> 00:11:27,625 snapped his fingers and low twelve Legions of angels, rushed to his 168 00:11:27,625 --> 00:11:28,325 aid. 169 00:11:30,825 --> 00:11:34,525 But that is precisely what he did not do. 170 00:11:36,025 --> 00:11:44,725 After all, he was tempted with power and authority to carry out his 171 00:11:44,725 --> 00:11:49,025 work and to make this world, right. 172 00:11:49,125 --> 00:11:54,625 Can you imagine what he could have done with all of the kingdoms of 173 00:11:54,625 --> 00:11:57,925 the world, flying his banner over their cities? 174 00:11:59,425 --> 00:12:05,525 With the religion religious reigns under his power and control. 175 00:12:05,525 --> 00:12:09,325 So he could make out of them, the piety that he wishes. 176 00:12:10,625 --> 00:12:11,725 Can you imagine? 177 00:12:12,825 --> 00:12:14,225 What he could have done. 178 00:12:15,525 --> 00:12:16,725 If he won the lottery. 179 00:12:17,825 --> 00:12:19,425 Had the Golden Goose. 180 00:12:20,425 --> 00:12:22,725 Transformed stones into bread. 181 00:12:23,025 --> 00:12:25,025 You could feed the whole world. 182 00:12:27,025 --> 00:12:31,025 But Jesus rejects power and authority 183 00:12:32,525 --> 00:12:35,225 and instead perfects his calling through suffering. 184 00:12:37,325 --> 00:12:42,325 He entered so fully into our life that he suffered the temptations and 185 00:12:42,325 --> 00:12:44,525 trials that we all suffer. 186 00:12:44,925 --> 00:12:47,425 He allows himself to be tempted, as we are tempted. 187 00:12:47,425 --> 00:12:48,725 He endures our hunger 188 00:12:48,925 --> 00:12:52,625 our thirst our illness our alienation. Indeed 189 00:12:52,625 --> 00:12:57,225 he did this, so completely that he tasted death itself. 190 00:12:57,925 --> 00:13:00,525 He tasted death for everyone. 191 00:13:02,125 --> 00:13:09,825 And in that death, he bore our guilt and our sin and being now crowned 192 00:13:09,825 --> 00:13:10,825 with Glory and Honor 193 00:13:10,825 --> 00:13:13,625 he destroyed the power of death over us. 194 00:13:15,825 --> 00:13:17,425 Here in Christ Jesus 195 00:13:17,425 --> 00:13:22,025 we have what we were created to be. One 196 00:13:22,025 --> 00:13:26,625 who serves one who, pours himself out in sacrificial, love one who 197 00:13:26,625 --> 00:13:29,425 does not live for himself, but for the world, 198 00:13:30,925 --> 00:13:32,825 And he has redeemed our calling. 199 00:13:34,025 --> 00:13:36,625 He has restored our purpose. 200 00:13:36,625 --> 00:13:44,225 He has set forth our destiny, a new to follow him, to be conformed to 201 00:13:44,225 --> 00:13:45,325 his image 202 00:13:46,325 --> 00:13:49,525 and to live in his sacrificial love. 203 00:13:51,525 --> 00:13:58,325 Only through such love, will the world be healed and evil, be 204 00:13:58,325 --> 00:13:59,125 overcome. 205 00:14:00,225 --> 00:14:01,725 Only through such love 206 00:14:02,925 --> 00:14:06,325 do we fit and find our home. 207 00:14:07,225 --> 00:14:09,425 God, grant it for Jesus sake. 208 00:14:10,125 --> 00:14:10,625 Amen.