Sermon
Sermon
October 27-28, 2007
Psalm 84:1-6; Luke 18:9-14
Hillary T. West
Encouragers
Here’s a question that always calls me to attention. How’s your prayer life? I use it myself with folks. But, I know that when I’m asked it, I have to stop and think, “how is my prayer life?”
Well, thank God for Jesus and his ability to tell great stories that catch us up short and help us give some serious thought to our prayer life.
Today, we meet Jesus on his way to Jerusalem. Jerusalem, for the gospel writer, is that very place where we come to know the saving grace of Jesus in our lives. We come to know the kingdom life that God intends for us. Along the way Jesus teaches and preaches about this kingdom life that is present among us and with us now. A kingdom life that bursts open with God’s presence, God’s love for us, even when we least expect it. A kingdom life that calls us to look into one another’s eyes and see Jesus; to reach out and trust that in Jesus, we can forgive, and we can move to serve as helpers and encouragers for one another.
The kingdom life often has a different life style to it. It’s radical and even disruptive. Jesus demonstrates that in his journey to Jerusalem. He surrounds himself with all kinds of people who shouldn’t be hanging around a great king, a great leader.
How can losers, and cheaters, and those rejected, those who are crippled with insecurity, and those too confident, and too arrogant and too prideful all be in the midst of one another and all in close proximity to Jesus? This is what Jesus does. He brings us all into the kingdom and he mixes us all up with one another and calls upon us to live this kingdom life. In his teaching today, Jesus once again teaches in parables. He pulls a reversal as he compares a tax collector to a Pharisee revealing to us that it is the one most rejected who is raised up.
You’ve heard us talk about tax collectors before. Earlier in Luke the gospel writer links tax collectors into the same category with sinners (Luke 15:1) and Jesus is happy to have them in his midst. In fact, Jesus calls a tax collector, Levi, to serve as one of the twelve disciples.
The tax collector Jesus tells us about today, who has come to the Temple to pray, is probably a toll collector. He has paid the Roman officials for the right to collect tariffs and fees to transport goods from one district to another. Toll collectors, are usually foreigners. They are unknown and not trusted by locals as they tend to abuse their role. Toll collectors are known to demand payment as high as 25% of the worth of the items being transported. Very unpopular and poorly regarded, toll collectors are viewed by the locals as oppressors, along with the hated Roman officials. And yet, Jesus chooses to use this despised being as one who serves as a stellar example for prayer.
The other pray-er is the Pharisee. These are the people we like to hear about. People we like to hang around. They’re leaders and influential pillars in the community. They have dedicated their lives to living in obedience to God. Pharisees are experts in studying, teaching and observing the Law God has passed down through Moses. They’re especially concerned with the rituals of worship, observing the Sabbath, and certain rules of purity. In their efforts to live as they believe God calls them to live, they intentionally keep themselves separate from society. Because of their knowledge and dedication, Pharisees are often seen as figures of authority and power. They are highly respected and well regarded in society, and of course in the Church. So, naturally, this Pharisee serves as an excellent model for prayer. He comes to the temple, and in an effort to maintain his purity, he stands by himself. He offers up thanksgivings. “I thank you that I am not like other people…” Of course he’s not like other people. He’s definitely a step above. He follows all the rules.
In obedience to Judaic Law, fasting is required among the faithful on the Day of Atonement. Some, in an effort to emphasize their piety, fast on Mondays and Thursdays also. So, this Pharisee, is thankful that his fasting is over the top, in that he fasts twice a week. And, he doesn’t just strive to tithe. This guy is a Stewardship Campaign dream come true. He actually tithe’s all that he has! And, he’s sure to remind God of his sacrifice, if in fact, it is. Because we know from Jesus, earlier in Luke, that Pharisees love money (Luke 16:14). Of course this Pharisee is not like other people, as he states. He’s not dishonest. He’s not a swindler or an extortioner. He’s not an adulterer. This Pharisee looks across the worship space, and sees the toll collector, and gives thanks that he is not like him; that he is not a sinner. What a prayer this Pharisee articulates so eloquently and so succinctly. He ticks off all his accomplishments and his merits. Clearly, he’s a man worthy of his position. God must be very proud. Certainly the Pharisee is. It seems that he needs nothing from God as he does it all right. Forget humility and want. His piety has earned him greatness.
Then, Jesus presents to us the toll collector. Is he even worthy enough to be in the Temple? The man is not so certain. He stands at a distance, too broken and ashamed to even look to heaven’s gate. Pounding on his chest as a sign of his deepest desire to turn to God, to repent, to change his ways, he cries out in anguish, “forgive me; have mercy on me, a sinner.” He begs for God to save him.
What courage it must have taken for the toll collector to come to the Temple. And, when he does, he’s reminded all too profoundly of his lowly place by one so very righteous. What faith he must have to take those steps into this holy place to find renewal and strength. How did he know he would leave right with God, walking in God’s grace?
In our baptismal covenant, words we will recite again next week as we celebrate All Saints and 6 baptisms, we will respond to our promise to: “love our neighbor as ourselves, and strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being”. We agree to honor this covenant for the newly baptized and for ourselves. We make this promise knowing full well, that we’re incapable of doing so without God’s help.
So, we look to one another to be those people who will build us up, give us strength and courage to live as God intends for us to be. We’re God’s encouragers.
In our DOCC class on Sunday nights, weekly we invite people in their small groups to share their spiritual autobiography. Groups are sharing with one another pivotal events in their lives and exploring how God has been present in those events. Sometimes, and often surprisingly, God’s very presence is recognized through the people in our lives. We call those people, God bearers. Who are your God bearers, those who have encouraged, and boosted and served as support and comfort throughout your life?
God bearers serve as encouragers by naming truths and acting with love and kindness.
Recently, I somehow lost, or threw away my decals for the plates on my car. The police have stopped me twice to warn me of my error. Kindly, they did not ticket. But, they did advise me that I need to go to DMV to have my decals reissued. In my relief of not being ticketed, I’ve completely ignored their wisdom. The other day, I got nailed with a $100.00 ticket. Clearly, that was a sign that I needed to resolve my missing decal issue. Off to DMV I went. It was not a good day. I had not planned on this trip. Our week old grandbabies were back in D.C. awaiting my return and I was broken hearted to have to leave them. Carrying a load a trash from my car, gathered in an effort to find my registration card, I went to the trash can to unload my bundle. The wind caught the trash and it blew all over the parking lot. Frustrated and discouraged, I futilely ran around the lot trying to gather up my trash. Suddenly, a strange woman appeared in my wake.
She advised me, “Honey, I know you’re trying not to litter…but sometimes you just have to let things go. Sometimes, you just can’t do all that we’re supposed to do. And that’s ok. Let me tell you, I can promise you that I’ve had a worse day today than you’ve had. But, I’m looking for the good. Today I lost 1 pound! Alleluia!”
Then, as quickly as she appeared, she disappeared. For that moment, she was my God bearer, offering up words of comfort and encouragement, a smile and brief laugh. And you know what, the day got better. My wait at DMV wasn’t anywhere near as brutal as I expected. Later, as I stood in line at the grocery store, and ran into folks who learned of the birth of our twin grandchildren. They congratulated me and reminded me that they have been praying for our family. What a joy. Encouragers seemed to be popping out all over.
In Jesus’ parable we’re looking at today, we’re reminded of who’s in and who’s out. Who gets to be in a right relationship with God and who is left.
Well, we’re all created in God’s image, and promised God’s grace through our baptism, free and unearned. God’s gift is for all of us to be in a right relationship with God and with one another. No one is left. So we honor God’s gift. We do so with loving acts of kindness. Kindness is the virtue of mercy. Mercy is God’s desire for us to treat others with compassion and to offer hope – to give encouragement. God desires for us to live with courage.
You see, courage is not something we necessarily attribute to ourselves. Courage is actually given to us by encouragers. Brother Curtis, spoke to us at clergy conference the other week. He reminded us that courage is in the eye of the beholder, not in the eye of the doer. Those who see courage in others hold respect, see value and recognize beauty and honor. We were also reminded us that unless people are encouraged, their hearts will be hardened. They will fail to recognize the glory of God in their lives. But, broken hearts, even hardened hearts, can be healed and enlarged by the soothing words of the encourager. The encourager is that God bearer who reminds us that we are God’s chosen. We’re not an accident. We are never meant to be an unintended. Words of encouragement promise to push away our fears to make room for boldness, for actions that depend on our strength in God. We’re encouragers for one another; probably when we least recognize our role. We provide comfort, and consolation. We invite, request and urge. And in our so doing, we give others courage to take action. Taking action, means we step out and trust; trust in one another and most especially, trust in God.
During the month of November we’re serving as encouragers of a sort for one another. Each of us is urged to join in prayer every day. During this prayer time, we’re requesting that our prayers be centered around how God is calling the community of Christ Church to imagine its future. It seems that God is calling us to build and to build a structure that will provide opportunities for others to become equipped to be God bearers in the world.
There is much excitement around providing space for youth ministers to be formed by providing a Youth Ministry Institute for the Episcopal Church. There is energy around how Christ Church will serve as a haven for folks to learn English, and perhaps more importantly, to learn how to be American in a land that is foreign to many. These are just some visions that have blossomed because folks have been encouraged to imagine what God intends.
So, each day in November, beginning this Thursday, November 1, we are encouraged to join in prayer. Prayer services will be offered every day, here in the worship space. Every Monday and Tuesday Morning Prayer will be offered at 8:30 a.m. Every Wednesday at 7:45 a.m. Holy Eucharist is offered. And every Thursday and Friday, Evening Prayer will be led at 5:30 p.m. These worship times are intentionally short so that you will have time to get about your day, or return to your homes. And, as always, we encourage and invite you to offer up prayers during worship on Saturdays at 5:30 p.m. and Sundays at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. services of Holy Eucharist.
Jesus has offered up for us today a story about two who offer up prayers. Jesus tells us that prayer is more about asking, what is your will, God, what do you want me to do? What a glorious God we have who dwells among us and in us, beckoning us to seek and to ask, even in our meekness and our weakness. A God who shows such mercy, such love. This God, who, in Jesus Christ, calls us to be exalted in him, to be raised up, emboldened and encouraged. This is a grace filled kingdom in which we are living; with room for us all, especially us sinners, who are called to love and serve one another and God. What a holy gift we’ve been given. What grace. What mercy. Thanks be to God! Amen.
