Psalms 112: 1-10 Hebrews 13: 1-8, 15-16
Luke 14: 7-147
When Jesus noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: 8 “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. 9 If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 10 But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. 11 For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
12 Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
I always wonder, as a pastor, how and if I should speak to events in our world directly. Should I bring up the latest tragedy or should I just move on with the lectionary. Often I find I can do both.
Here we are with another school shooting, just as our own children head back to school. How do we bear it? For the sake of our spiritual and mental health, I have decided that to ignore the events around us only makes them simmer and become harder to bear. God made us a community because he knew we must encourage one another and speak truth.
And of course while the incident taking place in the midst of a church service does not make the tragedy any more horrific, it does, as we sit here in church, seem even more hauntingly real.
What do we do? Too often as I watch world events I become so overwhelmed I want to just quit. I want to pull the covers over my head and pretend it will all go away. Does any one else find yourself sucked into this quick sand of despair and hopelessness and inactivity?
I would like to share a story with you that I read years ago that left a lasting impression on me. It may not seem to immediately speak to my opening statements but please bear with me. I pray the Spirit will speak if I can’t.
There were three travelers that had set out to cross the desert together. It was hot. They were thirsty and weary. They saw just ahead of them an oasis. It was an absolutely beautiful sight! With the promise of rest and water in front of them they traveled on with a little more gusto.
When the first traveler arrived the caretaker of the oasis came out to greet him and offer him a drink of cool water. The traveler readily agreed to it but as the caretaker held out the ladle of water the traveler noticed leprosy on the caretaker’s hand. He immediately pushed the ladle away in disgust and left in a huff.
The second traveler also arrived at the oasis, and as he gladly reached out for the ladle the caretaker offered, he too became appalled and left without drinking.
The third traveler came to the oasis thirsty and tired. Once again the caretaker came out to serve the weary traveler. He dipped the ladle into the cool water from the well and offered it to the traveler. The traveler’s eyes settled on the caretaker’s hand and arm. The leprosy was apparent. But out of need, the traveler took the ladle to drink. As the traveler reached out for the ladle, his eyes fell upon his own flesh and he saw his own leprosy. Still, he was able to drink, rest, and be revived.
Our third traveler set once again on the journey. As he walked, he came upon the other two travelers lying in the sand. Their canteens still carried water. Truly, it was not thirst that had killed them but….well you guess.
Ultimately, the story finishes, we are all but lepers offering another leper a cool cup of water. Or receiving one.
It struck me that Jesus came to bring wholeness to our world. But even with all they he did, too often we refuse what he offers. Still, knowing the heart of humanity did not stop Jesus from doing what he was sent to do. And so, in the name of Jesus we keep on doing all that we are able. All that we are called to do. And in fact, today’s scripture readings give us a wonderful road map of what that looks like.
We read:
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers. They might be angels.
Remember those in prison, those being tortured as if it were you in their place. Do what you can. Pray, minister and speak up. Just as you would hope someone would if it was you.
Live lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have. That’s how we begin to save the environment.
Do good. Share what you have.
Throw a party for those who cannot repay you. For those in need.
Keep your hearts humble. Don’t be too quick to judge.
Will these things stop mass shootings? Probably not. But you never know. That stranger you showed Christ’s love to may just have been on the brink of breaking. They say we are all just one step away from our own breaking points. The prisoner you visited or wrote a note to may find that there is more than anger and judgement in this world. And the money you offer the beggar may keep him from mugging another out of desperation. We just can’t know how it will all work out. Perhaps that one traveler went on to change the world!
In humility the caretaker of the oasis accepted his own leprosy, his own humanity, and was thus able to care for others who were also lepers, also very human. How can one truly condemn another, turn away from another, when one’s own sins are acknowledged. True and honest humility (not self deprecation) will not disable but rather empower.
Will this change the world? I don’t know. I like to think of the ripples a single stone thrown in the middle of a pond can make. Reaching ever outward. Wider and wider.
And the psalmist says that person who is generous and just will be happy and blessed. The one who delights in the words of the Lord.
I guess what I am saying is that there is so much in our world that breaks our hearts. It can make us not want to know. Not want to have hope and believe in the goodness of God’s creation. It can leave us in despair.
But in fact, what God has called us to do is all that needs to be done. It is what Jesus did. It is how, we as the body of Christ together, can change first our corner of the world and then onward. It seems too simple.
Stay focused on God’s call. Hear the Spirit’s prompting. Let go of pride and greed and fear. “when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” Or as Micah so succinctly put it:
God has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
Although many may refuse what we offer, God’s love for this world, we can still have the opportunity to bring hope to one leper at a time. And you may one day be that leper in need of a cup of water. I pray another will be there for you.
Thanks be to God.
Would you pause now with me for a moment of silence to hear what the Spirit may be speaking to our hearts?
Hallelujah! Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in his commands.
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