1 Samuel 15:34-16:13

2 Corinthians 5:6-10, 14-17

Mark 4:26-34

NUCC

Pentecost 2

Father’s Day

June 18, 2006

            How many of you have made one of these?  At Vacation Bible School?  Church camp?  Girl Scouts?  All you needed to do was cross two sticks and weave some brightly colored yarn around them to create an “Eye of God.”  Indians of Mexico and Boliva are credited with first making them.  In Spanish I believe they call it “Ojo de Dios.”  When we make such a design we are reminded that God looks with love on people everywhere, and especially at the young, poor, and outcast. 

            When I look at this “Eye of God” on this baptism day for Parker and Paige Voigt I recall an “eye” passage in the Bible from Psalm 139.

“You knit me together in my mother’s womb.

Your eyes beheld my unformed substance.”

I also cannot help but recall the words that beloved Gospel song:

“God’s eye is on the sparrow,

And I know God watches me.”

            Today on this Father’s Day we have read scriptures about a wise father-like God who is different from most of us fathers.  Unlike us unfeeling oafs who are often clueless about what goes on in our families, our scriptures today depict a God who sees beyond the ordinary and picks out what the world misses.

• We have read about how God chooses the eighth son of an insignificant farmer to be the next king of Israel.  Some of us have been blessed to receive the name of that king --- David.

• We have read how God takes the tiniest of seeds and from it produces a big, strong tree.

• We have read how God used a flawed man like Paul to encourage some flawed people at a city named Corinth because, as Paul writes, “if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation.”

After looking at this “God’s Eye” and listening to “God’s word” this morning what can we say about this “God’s Eye” view of the world?

1.         First we recognize that God does not settle for appearances.  God passed by the tall, strong oldest sons of Jesse and sought out young David.  God might do the same with us.  John Hope Franklin, one of our greatest American historians, has just written an autobiography entitled Mirror to America.  Franklin was born some 91 years ago in Oklahoma to the descendents of slaves.  He rose to become the pre-eminent historian of African American history.  Back in 1968 when I was taking a course at Kent State University in what was called “Negro History” our text book was written by John Hope Franklin.

            Recently Franklin was interviewed by Gwen Ifill for the evening news.  He recounted how one white professor at his undergraduate college had seen something in him and encouraged him to apply for a fellowship to Harvard.  This man was the only white person at that time who did not treat him in a patronizing manner.

            Many years later, in 1995, Franklin was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.  On the eve of this grand event Franklin wanted to celebrate and invited friends to his Washington, D.C. club.  When one didn’t show up he walked down the stairs to see if his friend had lost his way.  On the steps he encountered a white woman who handed him her coat check stub.  She assumed that this elderly black man was an employee, not a member of the club.  Franklin instructed her to find a person in uniform and walked away.

            Seeing with God’s eyes.  Letting go of our old prejudices and seeing the new reality.  Letting the scales of prejudice and assumption fall from our eyes so that we may see the true value of each person.  Even in 1995 it was difficult for at least one person in Washington, DC.

            The challenge God has for each of us is to see beyond appearance and to recognize the God-given spirit within each human being around us.  I suspect the Stuckis were able to see beyond appearance as they worked at the old Winnebago Indian School.  That is why Mr. Ben was made an honorary member of the Hochunk Nation.  I suspect many a Sunday School teacher here at Neillsville UCC has been able to see beyond the squirming youngster seated in front of her and use some of that untamed spirit for God’s high and holy purposes.

2.         Likewise, the God who does not settle for appearances is able to look deep into the heart.   God’s eyes can see small, even the tiny mustard seed and envision the greatness which can emerge from small beginnings.  Today we celebrate with the Voigts and imagine what sort of future these two (not-so-little) twins have before them.  Who knows where they will go and what they will do.  Perhaps one of us will have the opportunity to be their Sunday School teacher or youth leader.  Perhaps one of us will be able to look into their little hearts and help them grow into big hearted members of the Christian community.

            Last fall each member of the Unwrapping Our Gifts group received a mustard seed.  We were asked to feel the mustard seed in our hand and then imagine God speaking to us through that mustard seed.  Then we shared our reactions.  In turn each of us attempted to encourage and nurture other members of the group so that we could see the importance each one of us has in God’s eyes.  Some of us were surprised by how important we were when we taught Sunday School or brought supper to a family, or sent a note of sympathy.  Through our series of 8 sessions I could see people growing and sprouting and gaining strength.  Some even were willing to accept the title “Rev.”

            We did this because of God’s eyes.

• God’s eyes which were like superman’s eyes and could see through, not settling for appearance.

• God’s eyes which looked deep into our hearts and helped the seeds of faith grow.

This is my prayer for each of us as we enjoy this hot, growing season in Wisconsin.  May we allow God’s eyes to see in us and through us.  And then may we allow our eyes to become as God’s eyes, seeing in others what God can do.  It is no secret.  Amen.