A Lament for ___________
Sermon Text || Year C: Second Sunday in Lent
I’ve seen a post floating around over the last few years that wonders aloud what kind of letter Paul would send the churches in the United States. I’ve got one for you that hits a little harder. If Jesus was standing over our city, country, church, etc. what words of lament would he cry out over us as he faced our inevitable rejection of his Way?
A Lament for ___________
Jesus’s Lament
The Pharisees tried to debate Jesus. but that didn’t work. They tried to threaten Jesus, but that didn’t work. They tried to claim that Jesus’s miracles were done in the name of the king of demons, but that didn’t work. In Luke 13:31, they tried a different strategy:
At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” Luke 13:31
Jesus was unfazed.
He said to them, “Go and tell that fox for me, ‘Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.’ Luke 13:32–33
“It is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.” This must have been hard for Jesus to say. As much as he wanted the people to listen to his call for peace, they were not willing. He knew that his name would be added to the long list of prophets rejected by the leaders of Israel.
Then Jesus cried out,
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! Luke 13:34
It is not God who needs to be reconciled to us, it is us who need to be reconciled to God. There is no distance we can run from God that God is not hot on our trail, ready to embrace us at a moment’s notice.
As we learn later from Paul, even after this “final straw,” God hadn’t given up on Israel. It’s as if God is saying through the cross, “This is how much I love you! I won’t stop until I see you reconciled to myself. I desire to gather you under my wings.”
In prophetic literature, there are often two Jerusalems in the mind of the writer: the Jerusalem below and the Jerusalem above. This is a common theme in Isaiah, Galatians, Hebrews, and Revelation—to name a few.
In Philippians, Paul issued a challenge to his audience to aspire to be that Jerusalem above.
Paul’s Challenge
Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. Their end is destruction, their god is the belly, and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things.
But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved. Philippians 3:17–4:1
Who are we going to be? Are we going to set our mind on things below, on earthly things? Or are we going to set our minds on things above? (Colossians 3:1).
Just to clarify here… Paul is not saying that we should pay no attention to the world around us. He isn’t advocating against recycling or taking care of animals. Paul is simply saying we should align ourselves with the will of God.
What city do we belong to? We may not consider ourselves to be among those who reject the prophets but neither did Jerusalem.
If Jesus were to stand over our congregation, over our city, over our country, or over the universal church, what lament would he offer?
What Kind of Lament Would We Hear?
Often the prophets would exaggerate for the purpose of stressing the importance of what most people consider to be minor offenses. In the following exercises, take it seriously, but be creative and even have a little fun.
You can substitute the name of your congregation, city, or country throughout this exercise.
Fill in the blank:
Oh ____________, ____________, you who _________________ and _________________! How often I __________________________________, but you were not willing.
Then offer a few short words of encouragement.
I want to see you _______________________ and _______________________.
Or
Let’s put more emphasis on _______________________ .
Or
We need to _______________________ .
Oh North Broad, North Broad
Write a lament for your local congregation or faith community you are most aligned with. If this isn’t a traditional church, it might be a podcast group, an online community, or a small Bible study over breakfast. You may be doing pretty well, like the church at Philippi, but there were people within that congregation who needed some gentle correction.
What is holding your congregation back from being who Jesus has called her to be?
What might Jesus say about your benevolence, your worship, your discipleship, or your other various ministries and activities?
How would your congregation receive such a lament?
Oh Albertville, Albertville
Now consider your town, village, city, or county, whichever best fits your situation. What physical and spiritual needs are there in your community? Who needs help that isn’t getting help? Who is trying to help but could use more support? What group of people is most overlooked?
If we are being honest with ourselves, what could we do as the church to help out in these areas?
Oh America, America
In this one, you can ether consider your country, or you might think about the most popular expression of Christianity within your country. Depending on where you live this might be Catholicism or Evangelicalism.
If you’re thinking about your country, what is it doing that hinders the work of God? What is it doing that assists in it? Who is being overlooked? And what should the church do in light of these various successes and failures?
If you’re thinking about your denomination, what has your denomination done right and what has it done wrong? What fruit is being produced in its churches and fellowships and colleges? In what direction is it headed? What lament can you offer to hopefully help correct this direction?
Oh Christians, Christians
Now think about the universal church. Don’t worry about denominational differences or divisions within your fellowship. What should Christians in general be doing that they aren’t doing? What should we not be doing? How can we move forward?
My Lament
Oh Christians, Christians, you who put your faith in governments and love money more than God. How often I would have changed the world through the gospel with which I entrusted you, but you were not willing.
Let’s trust in God to bring real healing to the nations through us and stop trying to outsource the work of the church.
Here’s an article I did on outsourcing the work of the church:
Lectionary Reading: March 16, 2025 - Second Sunday of Lent
Old Testament: Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
Psalm: Psalm 27
New Testament: Philippians 3:17-4:1
Gospel: Luke 13:31-35