Sermon by The Very Rev Chris Yaw, 7/21/2024
Centering Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, may your will be done, through me.
It's summer vacation - and Jesus clearly did not get the memo!
This morning, in our Gospel lesson, we meet the Lord of the universe - who set the stars in place, the planets in orbit, yet somehow, some way, could not find an Airbnb in a gated community...
This morning we hear of Jesus disciples coming to him saying, 'We're tired!'
Jesus says - 'Ya me too!'
His disciples say, 'We're so busy we skipped lunch!'
Jesus says - 'What's lunch?'
So he tries to take them to a deserted place - even gets in a boat to escape the crowds -
But, no luck - no dice - no chance -
The crowds are just too big -
The need is just too great!
Who is this guy drawing these crowds: It's either Jesus Christ or Taylor Swift!
But not so much giddy teens as gritty people!
All ages, shapes, and sizes - dropping everything and coming in swarms for that divine touch!
In this story, you and I are confronted with the relentlessness of human suffering and need - that causes desperate people to search for solutions - to hunt down Jesus night and day!
And we witness God's attitude toward this:
A God who is as determined to address our pain, fears, and problems - as we are destined to experience them.
We meet a Lord who did *not say 'Go away! I'm too tired!'
We meet a Lord who freely, generously, and openly welcomed all to come to him for refreshment, encouragement, healing, and inspiration!
Today's sermon is about the urgency and the energy of following Jesus' example - not getting caught up in the distractions, diversions, and detours of this present age - but to stay ardent, energized, and laser-focused on the job before us - just as Jesus did.
This is of particular significance in light of the political developments of this past week - which exemplify the fragility and frailty of our time - and our need *not to get caught up in the worries and fears of this age - but to stay rooted in Jesus - to remember our true lives are in Christ.
You and I come into church *not untarnished by a confused, anxious world that's trying its darnedest to bring you and me on board - And we come face to face with the Prince of Peace who calms every storm - takes each one of us chicks under his wing as a mother hen - and invites us to go in a different direction - his direction -one we are going to follow - if I can get an Amen?
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We begin with that brazen, and, literally, long-shot assassination attempt on Candidate Donald Trump's life. The shooter's motives seem to be less political than they were typical:
Another deranged young white male with access to an assault rifle.
Don't worry, I'm not going to preach about gun safety - around here we let the chop saws do it for us –
Because I want to point out that this assassination attempt happened in the days before the Republican National Convention - when everything that's happening is observed through a political lens - you heard the rhetoric and characterizations...
Next, we saw a vice-presidential pick - chosen for his youth and his willingness to follow President Trump's example of, among other things, brashness, aggression, and outspokenness.
Then we heard the Candidate himself lay out his plans for another run for the White House - in a speech touted as unifying - you can be the judge of its efficacy - but it certainly catalyzed his followers - but did not keep from sending fear and trembling through the ranks of many of his opponents - amping up the hopes of those who see another Trump presidency as America's salvation - And striking terror and dread in the hearts of many of his detractors who see a repeat Trump reign as the end of democracy as we know it.
We cannot deny the reality of this fear - divisiveness and anxiety - of the real worry many people are either feeling, observing, or both.
What we are asked to do - what Jesus asks us to do - is to respond to this in light of the Gospel - embracing Christ's message of peace in the storm - an oasis in the desert - using grace, faith, and love as our rudders - let me explain.
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This week I got a text from a friend who was attending the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
He sent me a link to a satire on 'wokeness' - a skit making fun of liberal democrats - of which he is not.
And I think I can get an 'Amen' from some of you who know that we can often find 'harm' in 'harmless humor' - in other words - racism, intolerance, and the 'othering' - that often attempts to be innocently cloaked in humor - so that the purveyor can respond with, 'C'mon, don't be so sensitive, it's only a joke!'
But we all know the seeds of racism, Fascism, even Nazism, began with making fun of others?
I have no doubts that this same type of satirical skit exists on the other side of the aisle as well, should one go looking for liberals taking shots at conservatives.
My point is this - don't enable it.
This week you may have an opportunity to post, share, or respond to a meme, message, or joke that is off-putting and off-color.
Watch how you do so.
You are a Christian first. Root yourself in kindness, thoughtfulness, and grace. Don't take the bait and give tit for tat - Don't take the Evil One's advice - Nip that weed in the bud - How many of us know that we're changing nobody's mind with these memes and arguments - and that our best chance is for the Holy Spirit to do it through the love of God that comes when we treat those around us as we want to be treated - especially those with whom we disagree.
We have been born again - born from 'above - we do not behave like we are born from 'below' - we now better!
We have better angels to which we can appeal. Leave the darker angels to fend for themselves.
Treat others with grace! Don't denigrate and disparage - but encourage, uplift, be the light that casts out darkness!
"But Fr. Chris," you may ask, "How do we handle the crazies?"
I grew up in a place and time where we had what you might call a 'domestic' in our home. An African-American woman who changed our diapers, made our meals, and drove us to school and back. She had very little formal education - but a whole lot of wisdom.
Once, at school, facing detractors - older kids who mocked and bullied - on the car ride home - I asked her for advice that I still remember more than 50 years later - when she told me: 'Don't pay them no mind.'
You don't have time for their poison - it will only hurt you - slough it off - take the high road - spread a little grace - Of course it's hard - and just like the countless numbers of people who came seeking Jesus' - we have opportunities at every corner to worry, be anxious, respond to aggression with aggression, fear with fear, craziness with craziness - but saints, you know better - take that simple advice:
'Don't pay them no mind.'
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Of course, Jesus was paying mind to a lot of people in our Gospel story this morning - as he was hounded by the sick, weary, and infirmed - both in Jewish territory, and when he took a boat to the Decapolis, or 10 cities - which was Gentile territory. And when people lined up there was no suggestion that Jesus or his disciples were very choosy about who came before them, seeking healing.
Did you notice that Jesus did not ask a hurting person's race, color, or political party before healing them? Are you a Jew? An illegal immigrant? Pro-choice? Non-binary? Jesus freely gave to them their healing - and, in doing so - gave to us an example - of how we, too, are to mimic his ministry of relentless attention to the healing and encouragement of ALL.
God's love for others knows no borders - leaves nobody out - strands no one - nor should ours.
Mother Teresa famously said that the problem with the world is that we draw the family circle too small - that we are more than just the handful of people who surrounded us in our youth - and that we need to bond with and care for more than just those who share the same surname - but those who live in our neighborhood, county, state, country, and ultimately, world. That's the faith Jesus preached - that God so loved the 'world' that God gave us Jesus! So that Jew and Gentile, as our story reads, would be diligently cared for - And just as Jesus did this, so are we to do.
It is generosity and compassion that must influence our immigration policy - not a fearful 'circle the wagons' mentality - Now please don't take this the wrong way and assume I am advocating an 'open border' policy for the United States or preaching politics - sermons are not to be political in the same way campaign speeches are to be - sermons are to use the Scriptures to shape our values and attitudes that we are to take to the politics of our lives - and today's text, like many others in the Gospel - challenge us to have a wider understanding of who our neighbors really are! And to soak in the Bible's notion of abundance versus scarcity.
Saints, be aware of the nationalism that afflicts every country on this planet - that tries to not only give those under a particular flag a reason for selfish pride - but for special preference! Yes, we have a flag in this sanctuary - but it hangs a lot lower than this cross - which is our true identity!
Remember that identity! It has marked you and called you out as a person of power and possibility to rise above the nagging noise of our culture and to live into your calling and ministry as a peacemaker and reconciler who does not get bogged down by discouraging rhetoric but built up by that indwelling and most holy presence that comforts, inspires, and leads you!
Also, be aware of the myriad of dark forces that are trying to entice you - to get you to go low and go dark.
Be on the lookout for the ways those who crave money, power, and prestige, who manipulate religion for selfish gain!
One of the hackneyed, worn out, and lazy criticisms of faith is that religion is the cause of all major wars in history. Anyone ever heard that before?
In actually, the causes of conflict, as author Karen Armstrong likes to point out - are greed, envy, and ambition.
But in an effort to sanitize self-serving emotions, these are often cloaked in religious rhetoric.
We find this true in the justification of not just of war - but of politics - And we need to watch out for this.
Disputes that are secular in origin - like the Arab-Israeli conflict or the immigration debate - have been allowed to fester and become 'holy' - and once they are sacralized, positions tend to harden and become resistant to pragmatic solutions that can close out the creativity of the Holy Spirt - and erect walls instead of bridges.
You and I need to go back to the Golden Rule - treat others as you would like to be treated.
Saints, it has become imperative to apply the Golden Rule to our politics - treating those who do not talk, look like, or believe the same way we do - with kindness, generosity, and grace.
Don't let the fear and anxiety of this age push us onto the 'low' road - the road of aggression, vengeance, rudeness, and unkindness - when we are called to take the 'high' road of unity, forgiveness, and love.
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One of the most diverse places of connection in our society is a hospital waiting room. It's where black, white, rich, poor, young, old, Jew, Gentile, and many others - all mix together - and if interaction were somehow possible or promoted - could serve as a good place of what social scientists call 'Bridging social capital.'
Think not just of hospital waiting rooms - but of Elks clubs, neighborhood associations, bowling leagues, cribbage clubs, bird-watching groups, and of course religious congregations.
The problem is that all of these kinds of 'bridging social capital' groups are on the decline as Americans have morphed from a society of joiners - think 1950's - to a society of loners - where we go it all by ourselves - that is, with our digital gadgets in one had - as loneliness and its health affects are playing an alarmingly big role in life expectancy and enjoyment.
What we see in our Gospel this morning, as Jesus goes from town to town - from one hospital waiting room to another - is this work of 'bridging social capital' - of uniting those of varying backgrounds - to come together and create social ties that benefit themselves - and us all. It is a foretaste of heaven and a realization of God's dream of a people united in love and service to one another.
And it invites you and me to do likewise - to build bridges - to make peace - to reconcile and heal with energetic relentlessness.
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One of my more vivid memories of being a younger father - was when my children were infants.
I would spend my days working in one form or another - and when it was time for bed - I have never had a problem sleeping - I would hit the hay and sleep straight through the night.
But in those days, around 1 or 2 AM you would hear that little infant stirring - that tiny, innocent, defenseless baby in desperate need of help - it was time for milk and a little bit of rocking them back to sleep.
While I did not always have the energy for this - I did it anyway - turned over, got out of bed, went down and got the milk - And in doing so, this produced some of my fondest parental memories - of gently rocking and singing to my little one until they went back to sleep.
This is what Jesus does when he hears the needy crowds interrupting his vacation - and it's what we are asked to do - to hear the compassionate cry of those in need - the helpless and needy - it will nearly always be inconvenient, uncomfortable, perhaps unsafe and unpopular - but this is compassion - and you are all good at it!
So, this morning, what does that look like for you?
How is God calling you to hear the cries of the needy - and to get up and out- with the work of relentless healing you have been tasked with?
Be encouraged saints, the same God who calls you and me to deeper levels of compassion will give us the strength and courage to meet the need.
Amen.