Let us pray: O God, you call us to be people of hospitality, people of acceptance, people of openness. May these words help us to know better how we may do so as reflections of your love for humanity. Amen.

Eugene Peterson has done something that I think many others have tried to do without the same kind of success. At least that's the way I see it. I remember when I was a teenager, and my parents – being pretty typical church-going parents, and wanting me to be an atypical church-going teenager – came upon the Living Bible – not a translation, but a paraphrase of the bible texts, complete with photos that showed kids my age involved in all kinds of fun activities. The idea was that if we had a version of the bible that was more accessible, that had appealing graphics and down-to-earth language, we would be more attracted not only to the words of the bible, but also to the community of people that had those words as holy scripture. I was a pretty voracious reader at the time and I can remember receiving my avocado green copy of The Living Bible with some anticipation. I got the point, and I was ready for a version of the sometimes obtuse, obscure and frankly boring Bible that spoke more readily to me. Unfortunately the enthusiasm didn't last. Yes, I would read from it every now and then, but it soon became just as much a dust collector on the bookshelf as my other bibles – the leather bound zippered King James bible that I received as a graduation gift from Sunday School.

That all changed to a great deal when I took the turn in my journey that led to ordained ministry. The introductory Bible courses were a real eye-opener for me, turning my somewhat non-committal attitude about our holy book into a deep love and respect for our scripture. This was not a change that resulted in more reverence for the holiness of our so-called Holy Bible, but rather an earthy respect for the stories it told about the up and down relationship that people had with their Maker and the struggling and lurching nature of that relationship as people tried to live their lives more fully and more in keeping with the way they understood God calling them to be.

My new appreciation of the bible came not from elevating it to a certain holiness, but rather from bringing it down from a lofty, respected, but ultimately unread place, to a position where it contained not clear, precise and unquestionable tenets of faithful living, but rather the story of people of faith who continually fell in and out of favour with God – or at least in the impression of the prophets and writers and who struggled as communities of faith in how to live more faithfully and more fully – trying always to maintain a balance between being open to the wonder, beauty and joy of life and keeping true to whatever was considered to be the right way to faithfulness.

Is it because of this new respect for the bible that I was so attracted to a version of it that came out a few years ago, or is it that the translator/paraphaser has done such a remarkable job? I probably can never know the answer to that question because they are irretrievably mixed together in ways that we can never unravel. What I do know is that I am very attracted to the style and level of text that Peterson employs in his paraphrase called “The Message”. I wonder if I'd heard the bible read using his words and translations when I was younger if I would have had the same attraction and interest. It's a question I'll never be able to adequately answer, but I do commend “The Message” to you as a tremendous piece of work – just imagine the task – translating the biblical texts into language that is both exciting and attractive and accessible for people. I love the earthiness of Peterson's words using what is almost a colloquial style of writing that often gets right at the heart of what the story is about.

Of course I would never use it as a soul source for something as important as biblical study for there are much more accurate and precise versions of the ancient texts translated into English, but for pure interest and a certain level of understanding Eugene Peterson has done a wonderful thing.

That is all by way of introduction to a particular phrase that struck me in Peterson's version of the reading from Jeremiah today. Jeremiah the prophet is compelled to bring a message to the Hebrew people about the ways they've strayed from the path God would have them follow. How does Jeremiah say this in Peterson's words? Let me quote: 'God's Message: "What did your ancestors find fault with in me that they drifted so far from me, Took up with Sir Windbag and turned into windbags themselves?”' Sometimes a phrase is just so descriptive, so to the point, so insightful that it needs nothing more by explanation. That's how that phrase struck me when I read I first read it last week in preparation for this morning's worship service. I love it! And when we read it can't we just picture how it happens. Have we met “Sir Windbags” in our lives? I think so, without ever having to know exactly what it means. Have we met people who've leaned on the word of “Sir Windbag” with the result that they too have ended up blowing a lot of hot air? I think so.

That particular phrase was so graphic and memorable that it held my interest as I continued to read the other lections assigned to this day in the church year. In a sense my question became “Does Sir Windbag and his hearty, breathy band of followers show up in the other readings for today?”

Well, let's take a look and see what we can learn about what it means to be God's people. The message from Jeremiah seems to be pretty clear. Stop and get a grip people – you've put your eggs in the wrong basket – you've forgotten who you are, you've ignored your story and fallen into questionable ways. You've become more concerned about yourself and not enough concerned about how you got here, who made you and where your blessings come from.

The writer of the letter to the Hebrews rather than a diatribe against past actions is an invitation to participate in actions in the future that promote healthy relationships and mutual respect. Count your blessings. When you have acted that way in the past you may well have entertained angels unawares. What a wonderful image that is, don't you think. That kind acts, acts of respect and inclusion and sharing of resources have actually been shared with angels – God's messengers. In other words, there is not much in this passage from the letter to the Hebrews about those others – the windbags, the ones who puff themselves up at the expense of others. Instead it is a compelling, affirming message to the readers to be authentic people valuing relationship, mutual respect, and hospitality over the haughtiness of self-importance.

That theme is apparent in the reading from Luke's gospel today as well. Once again Eugene Peterson's version is compelling and earthily understandable. People are hanging on Jesus' every word as he talks about the protocol of dinner invitations which of course is more than just about who sits where at the dinner table – it's really about the way we should relate with each other in all situations. In effect, the whole conversation, and the story Jesus tells to make things clear, is summed up with this phrase, again from Peterson's The Message: What I'm saying is, If you walk around with your nose in the air, you're going to end up flat on your face. But if you're content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself." In other words, Sir Windbag and all who follow his pattern of self-puffery will be shown up for what they are – self-important nothings. But if you come into a situation with humility and seeking what you can learn from others, you will gain more respect from those around you. Jesus went on to explain to those who would be hosts to use the same mind-set – don't be a windbag by making a guest list that just shows how important you are – make a guest list that demonstrates the way God sees us – equal and included – with a variety of people invited, and in so doing you will be a blessing AND you will experience a blessing.

In other words, so long Sir Windbag, we've had enough of you. Amen.