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MINI-SERMONS
HOW WE HIDE
We hide.
From one another.
From ourselves.
From God.
Oh, not usually on purpose.
Or, with forethought or any type of malice.
We simply hide.
Some of us hide from others in order to protect ourselves from harm. Physical. Emotional. - Occasioanlly, it is with valid reasons. - Most times, we are simply willing to forego the pleasures of comeradery or intimacy, in order to stay in control. To ward off the normal barbs and problems which come with even the best of relationships.
We hide from God.
Or, rather we think that we can.
We try to hide in the shadows of life. - We try to avoid having to make moral decisions.
We almost physically look around us, as if we can locate a spot where God canot see us.
We hope that God is too busy with 'big matters', to notice our 'little indescretions'.
We hope that by omitting our 'large' sins during prayer, and asking for forgiveness for the 'little transgressions', that God will not know what we have been truly up to.
Yet, all of that hiding is in vain.
Even as God saw the negative actions of our Biblical heroes, so does He know what we have done.
By creating us in His image, He has also created in (most of) us, a conscience.
It is through accepting our actions. Through making those difficult moral choices when they arise. Through true repentence. - Through all these, that we gain God's nod, if you will.
For God is forgiving, when there is true repentence. He knows what we have done and why. And, He knows that we are not perfect.
Yet, He still loves us.
Perhaps, this fact, alone, should be sufficient for us to not hide from our own, often irrational, fears of self-acceptance and intimacy.
That old saying does ring true:
You can run, but youcannot hide.
So, stop. Catch your breath. Repent. Accept yourself, while always striving to become a better person.
Risk relationships.
And, seek God. He is always there for you. If you, but call. If you, but pray.
Amen.
THANKING GOD
How often? And, how? And, when, do we thank God?
Sure, we offer prayers of thanks during the High Holy Days, during Shabbat services, and, hopefully, during holiday celebrations, at home.
But, do we thank God, daily?
He blesses us, daily. Even in the midst of great adversity or trials, God blesses us with life, opportunities, choices, hope, and faith.
Giving thanks involves more than mere words. It involves actions. As Jews, we know the importance of a kind word or act, especially one done without an expectation of thanks. - We know that kind acts are a beautiful way to thank someone for their actions.
God deserves no less from us. - By living a good life. By treating our family well. Showing them love. - By volunteering in our community. By giving tzedakah. By participating in our local and even our global politics and social issues. - By studying. Both Torah and secular subject matter. - By maintaining the health of our body, which is a gift from God. - By trying to master our hostile impulses. - By remembering our place in the universe.
All these and more are ways that we can show God our thanks for all that He has done for us, our people, and our fellow brethern.
Acts of thanks should become automatic, frequent, and without thoughts of recognition.
May we all, daily, thank the Lord for His many blessings, past, present, and future.
Amen
HOW SOON WE FORGET
Quick to judgement. Quick to ask for favors. Yet, even quicker to forget.
Daily, we ask God for His intervention in our lives or the lives of our loved ones.
We ask, plead, even try bartering with God for His taking an active part in making life better. - We say that we will attend services more often. We will observe the Sabbath. We will treat others more kindly. We will pray, daily. We will celebrate the 'small' holidays. - In other words, we will live our life as the Jew whom we should be.
We know to whom to turn when our life is in turmoil or when we wish for that 'something special' to come our way.
Yet, if things work out as planned, how often do we, personally, take the credit for it? Or, shower someone else withpraise?
The fact is that we tend to forget to praise and thank God for His actions on our behalf. - Suddenly, it was not that our prayers were heard. It was that we did something great.
Is this a result of self-doubt, discarded? Of realizing our true potential? Or, of someone else's strength and will acted out on our behalf?
Why did we forget? Why is God no longer part of the process? - Are we afraid to admit that God does care for us? That He is all powerful and loving? - Is it that we are afraid to admit that He hears our prayers? Because, if He hears them, but does not answer them all as we would like or need, then we must not be worthy of His divine love?
Do we feel that we must have sinned greatly for God to not answer some really important prayers? - Do we pray to God strictly out of habit? As if saying, 'Excuse me' or 'How are you, today?' - Has prayer become rote? Meaningless? Are we simply ungrateful?
Think of the Jews saved from their life of slavery and misery by God, who after exiting Egypt thanks to God's miracles, built a golden calf to worship. - Are we also, so ungrateful? So like a spoiled child? Does God's love frighten us? - Does it mean that we are lovable? That God is our Father, our Shepard? - And, if so, what are the implications of this? Must we always live up to the ideals of Judaism? How inconvenient would that be? What sacrifices would that entail?
The answer lies within each one of us. Each of us must examine our true beliefs of Judaism. Of ourself. Of our world. Of God.
I was taught by my wife and loving parents (that as a Jew), I should forgive and not forget. - The 'not forget' part was so that we could be eternally grateful for our blessings which allowed us to continue on, despite the hardship or crisis. - It was also so that we could try to ensure that the problem would not occur again, taking more 'victims'. - It was also so that we knew, always remembered, the fragility of life, balanced with God's love for us.
Let us pray that we do not soon, or ever, forget God's answers to our prayers and His many blessings bestowed upon us.
Amen.
THE STRENGTH IN NUMBERS
Jews believe that we have a one-on-one relationship with God. And, we do.
Yet, as Jews, we also enjoy a special relationship with God, when we are united, together.
Throughout our history, Jews have found strength in numbers, whether during the exodus from Egypt, the 40 years in the desert, before reaching the Promised Land, the celebrations in the Temple, or...
During times of persecution, when we were confined to ghettos, we found both spiritual and physical strength from being with our brethern. - During the Holocaust, those in the concentration camps found a sense of comfort, even of a peace, being with one another. - In Israel, Jews congregate to celebrate and to show their beligerant neighbors that they stand united. - In small pockets, scattered throughout Eastern Europe, South America, and Africa, Jews garner both a sense of their rich cultural, historic, and
religious identity and a sense of belonging.
In America, Jews appear to live in easily identified pockets of the nation, yet, there are many who are scattered thoughout the Bible Belt, the South, and even the inner cities of the East and West Coasts.
The sacttered ones, who seldom see a Rabbi, or whose tiny congregation shares one on a rotating basis with others, still know that they are part of a much larger 'picture'. A mosaic, if you will, comprised of Jews of all colors and nationalities. All who share basic beliefs. All who one can turn to, in times of physical, cultural, or spiritual threats. A mosaic, governed by the common glue of our faith... watched over by God's loving eye and touch.
As Jews, we we know that our relationship with God is a personal one. Yet, also, a communal one.
And, that our brethern are always there for us, if we but seek them out, as we do, the Almighty.
In these trying times, worldwide, may all Jews reach out to one another and unite in and share the beauteous strength that is ours to tap into.
May God continue to bless our people, our world, and each one of us, individually.
Amen.
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