St. Margaret's Sermon Archive
Pentecost 14 - Rev. Susan N. Blue - 9/2/07
"Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: Graft in our hearts the love of your Name; increase in us true religion; nourish us with all goodness; and bring forth in us the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever". AMEN
(Collect for Pentecost 14, BCP)
There's a story that appeared on the internet group Illustrations about the priest's parking space. Seems it was clearly marked "Reserved for Rector" but people persisted in parking there. The priest decided to become more intimidating and put up a sign that said "Thou shalt not park here!" Again, it was ignored. Finally he hit on a solution. The new sign read: "The one who parks here preaches the sermon on Sunday morning!" (Copied)
This is one Sunday that I wish someone had parked in my space! The Gospel is far too close for comfort! Luke tells of Jesus dining in the home of a Pharisee. As you know, Jewish dietary and entertaining laws were so rigid at that time only the wealthy and idle could follow them. In this case we are hearing about seating arrangements…for people were grouped in threes with the most important person in the center. Often an important dignitary arrived late which caused a kind of musical chairs to ensue. Jesus used this setting as a metaphor for the Heavenly Banquet or the Kingdom of God. He is saying that we are not to assume that we are very important, for too often our sense of self-importance is grounded in that which is ephemeral – wealth, intelligence, power and social standing. As Oemig says: "…The danger of self-assertion occurs when the craving to 'be somebody' derives from comparing oneself to others: I am because you are not; I am somebody because I hold a place of honor at the table and you do not." (Synthesis, 9/2007, H. King Oemig, p. 4) He further asserts that, by doing so, we worship that which is not God, and concludes with "What if God isn't keeping score?" In other words, God wants every single one of God's children at the table, not just the select few!
Will Willimon, Dean of the Cathedral at Duke University, tells the story of inviting an Episcopal Priest to his Worship 101 class "…to demonstrate how he conducted a high Eucharistic service at his church." He said: "I wanted the students to know the "right" way to preside in the liturgy. Episcopalians tend to think of themselves as experts in these matters. So the priest walked them through the preparation for the service, demonstrating the proper use of vestments and silver communion appointments…He assigned parts in the service and the service began. And when we got to the reading of the gospel assigned for that week, what was it? It was that verse from Luke where Jesus warns about those who love to put on long sleeved, fancy academic robes, and march in processions and sit at the best seats in the assembly. And that priest just bent double laughing and so did all the rest of us. Once again, we had made the mistake of inviting Jesus to our table, that's when the trouble started." (Pulpit Resource, 8/29/2004, p. 3) Even the church is not exempt from people jockeying for position and asserting that their way is the right way.
It is easy to believe in any setting that we who are rich in all the earthly things deserve what we have, that we have earned it, that we have made and done what others cannot do. This precisely what Jesus is speaking against. After his "Emily Post/Miss Manners" metaphor, he continues by saying that God does not want us to surround ourselves with others who "have" as we do, as comfortable as that is, but to reach out to those in any kind of need, to share what we have, to embrace the concept of "enough." Hebrews assures us by saying: "Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, 'I will never leave you or forsake you.' Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever…Through him, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." (Hebrews 13:5, 15-16)
It is clear throughout the Bible that the poor and the outcast are the ones we are called to care for. This is particularly true in the gospels and especially in Luke. We do so not to earn points in heaven, for we have already been saved by the sacrifice of Christ, but to be as "Jesus' heart" for the world. (Copied) We are presented daily with examples of those we are to serve – and they are not only the poor in goods, but often they are the poor in courage, in love and in hope. This Labor Day we remember all those who labor to make our lives more comfortable. Many in this nation in the workforce are the working poor, those who struggle daily simply to have food and shelter for their families. In this great nation it is a scandal that so many are denied adequate healthcare, food, clothing and shelter. The number grows daily and has become such a part of our every day world, that we may find it easy to ignore those who are suffering.
Don Armentrout has said: "In Africa there is a Xhosa language proverb: Umntu ngumntu ngabantu, 'A person is a person because of other people.' We receive dignity and worth from other people. There are people in every block of our communities who feel lonely and left out, rejected by the successful and "respectable" people. They hunger for acceptance from others. They need the loving touch of a great and merciful God. That touch comes through our invitation to the banquet."(Synthesis 8/30/98; p. 2, Donald Armentrout.)
These readings challenge the church, this parish and every one of us to go beyond the kind smile and the claim to love all people. We are challenged by Jesus to become grossly uncomfortable with the world in which we live and our role in it. We have been given a world of beauty and abundance, one that can easily support each and every person that God created with love and hope. Let us together be leaven in this bread of life…to attempt to meet the needs of others both those that are immediate and those that can only be met through systematic change. Let us not rest till all people are seated at the table. AMEN
(Collect for Pentecost 14, BCP)
There's a story that appeared on the internet group Illustrations about the priest's parking space. Seems it was clearly marked "Reserved for Rector" but people persisted in parking there. The priest decided to become more intimidating and put up a sign that said "Thou shalt not park here!" Again, it was ignored. Finally he hit on a solution. The new sign read: "The one who parks here preaches the sermon on Sunday morning!" (Copied)
This is one Sunday that I wish someone had parked in my space! The Gospel is far too close for comfort! Luke tells of Jesus dining in the home of a Pharisee. As you know, Jewish dietary and entertaining laws were so rigid at that time only the wealthy and idle could follow them. In this case we are hearing about seating arrangements…for people were grouped in threes with the most important person in the center. Often an important dignitary arrived late which caused a kind of musical chairs to ensue. Jesus used this setting as a metaphor for the Heavenly Banquet or the Kingdom of God. He is saying that we are not to assume that we are very important, for too often our sense of self-importance is grounded in that which is ephemeral – wealth, intelligence, power and social standing. As Oemig says: "…The danger of self-assertion occurs when the craving to 'be somebody' derives from comparing oneself to others: I am because you are not; I am somebody because I hold a place of honor at the table and you do not." (Synthesis, 9/2007, H. King Oemig, p. 4) He further asserts that, by doing so, we worship that which is not God, and concludes with "What if God isn't keeping score?" In other words, God wants every single one of God's children at the table, not just the select few!
Will Willimon, Dean of the Cathedral at Duke University, tells the story of inviting an Episcopal Priest to his Worship 101 class "…to demonstrate how he conducted a high Eucharistic service at his church." He said: "I wanted the students to know the "right" way to preside in the liturgy. Episcopalians tend to think of themselves as experts in these matters. So the priest walked them through the preparation for the service, demonstrating the proper use of vestments and silver communion appointments…He assigned parts in the service and the service began. And when we got to the reading of the gospel assigned for that week, what was it? It was that verse from Luke where Jesus warns about those who love to put on long sleeved, fancy academic robes, and march in processions and sit at the best seats in the assembly. And that priest just bent double laughing and so did all the rest of us. Once again, we had made the mistake of inviting Jesus to our table, that's when the trouble started." (Pulpit Resource, 8/29/2004, p. 3) Even the church is not exempt from people jockeying for position and asserting that their way is the right way.
It is easy to believe in any setting that we who are rich in all the earthly things deserve what we have, that we have earned it, that we have made and done what others cannot do. This precisely what Jesus is speaking against. After his "Emily Post/Miss Manners" metaphor, he continues by saying that God does not want us to surround ourselves with others who "have" as we do, as comfortable as that is, but to reach out to those in any kind of need, to share what we have, to embrace the concept of "enough." Hebrews assures us by saying: "Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, 'I will never leave you or forsake you.' Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever…Through him, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." (Hebrews 13:5, 15-16)
It is clear throughout the Bible that the poor and the outcast are the ones we are called to care for. This is particularly true in the gospels and especially in Luke. We do so not to earn points in heaven, for we have already been saved by the sacrifice of Christ, but to be as "Jesus' heart" for the world. (Copied) We are presented daily with examples of those we are to serve – and they are not only the poor in goods, but often they are the poor in courage, in love and in hope. This Labor Day we remember all those who labor to make our lives more comfortable. Many in this nation in the workforce are the working poor, those who struggle daily simply to have food and shelter for their families. In this great nation it is a scandal that so many are denied adequate healthcare, food, clothing and shelter. The number grows daily and has become such a part of our every day world, that we may find it easy to ignore those who are suffering.
Don Armentrout has said: "In Africa there is a Xhosa language proverb: Umntu ngumntu ngabantu, 'A person is a person because of other people.' We receive dignity and worth from other people. There are people in every block of our communities who feel lonely and left out, rejected by the successful and "respectable" people. They hunger for acceptance from others. They need the loving touch of a great and merciful God. That touch comes through our invitation to the banquet."(Synthesis 8/30/98; p. 2, Donald Armentrout.)
These readings challenge the church, this parish and every one of us to go beyond the kind smile and the claim to love all people. We are challenged by Jesus to become grossly uncomfortable with the world in which we live and our role in it. We have been given a world of beauty and abundance, one that can easily support each and every person that God created with love and hope. Let us together be leaven in this bread of life…to attempt to meet the needs of others both those that are immediate and those that can only be met through systematic change. Let us not rest till all people are seated at the table. AMEN