Sermon based on Mark 6: 1-13
Preached on July 5, 2009 at South Haven United Church of Chirst - Bedford, OH
___________________________________
Well, what are we to make about today’s Gospel reading? Fresh from the simple tasks of healing both a hemorrhaging woman and a little girl who had died; casting demons out of a man; oh, and (not to mention) calming a raging sea, we find Jesus and his followers returning to his hometown – Nazareth. Jesus had been away for a while – unfortunately, his hybrid Prius was in the shop so – other than the occasional boat ride – he and his followers walked from place to place as Jesus preached, taught, and healed. Word was spreading fast about this man from Nazareth. Crowds began surrounding him whenever he entered a new place. People saw, and believed, the power that he had been bestowed with. We should expect then, if strangers understood the enormity of this person named Jesus, then of course the people of Nazareth understood it as well. Surely, his journey back to Nazareth would prompt a celebration – a parade down Main St. – in honor of his return.
That, however, was not the case. There were no balloons, no marching bands, there were no people lining up for miles to get a glimpse of this hometown hero. Jesus did get a reaction from the people of Nazareth, though just not the kind of reaction we would expect. Mark tells us that on the Sabbath Jesus began to teach in the synagogue – much to the astonishment and offense of those gathered. They were astonished and offended that a simple carpenter, the son of Mary (which, if you didn’t pick up on it, was a way to put him down by not identifying him as his father’s son) - they were astonished and offended that he had the audacity to say and do the things he was doing. Mark explains that Jesus was amazed at their unbelief.
How could he not be? For quite some time people who didn’t even know him trusted and believed in him. He had a group of people who left their homes, their jobs, and their families to follow him all over Galilee for goodness sake. Not even Lebron James has that kind of following. I can just picture the scene – Jesus sitting on a rock with his head in his hand, shaking it back and forth – trying to understand how even his friends and family didn’t have faith in him. The situation would be enough to discourage anyone – wouldn’t it? But, it didn’t discourage Jesus. On the contrary - he continued to travel around the villages teaching and then decided it was time to send the twelve disciples out, two by two. He granted them authority to cast out demons, and we see by their activity that they also healed and preached repentance. The disciples were given strict instructions about what they were, and were not to do, once they arrived where they were going.
Many people, when faced with today’s lectionary Gospel reading, decide to preach on either the first or the second half of the reading. I can understand why – as we have seen it is easily divided into two very preach-able stories: the rejection of Jesus by his own community or the sending out of the twelve. I have to say I was tempted to do the same. But, I think simply selecting one story over the other diminishes the power of the two combined. By keeping the focus on the entire lectionary passage we are blessed with a fuller understanding of the message the evangelist was trying to convey. By keeping the focus on the entire lectionary passage we can travel down the road of all that was said and all that was left unsaid.
What must it have been like for the disciples – this band of misfit twelve – when Jesus called them to gather around and proceeded to inform them that he was sending them off, in pairs, to further the mission? “Are you kidding me? Jesus, no offense intended, but we just saw how your own hometown turned away from you and you think we can further the mission? Do you really think people will listen to us?” What must they have felt when they learned that not only did they not even have to pack a suitcase to bring with them, they had to leave their wallets and ATM cards behind and they had to depend on the hospitality of strangers? “What do you mean we have to stay at the first home that welcomes us? Seriously? What if we find better accommodations after we have been there for a while? Come on, we have an image to uphold!” And, can you imagine their surprise when Jesus told each pair which towns they were going to? Oh, wait . . . .
That’s right, Jesus sent them off – two by two, with nothing but a staff and the clothes on their backs – without giving them the most important direction of all. “Where are we supposed to go?” Can you imagine the pit they must have felt in the bottom of their stomachs? Can you imagine how alone they must have felt?
That feeling isn’t foreign, is it? Haven’t there been times that each one of us has felt like we were on a long and winding road – not really sure where we were headed? Haven’t there been times that each one of us has felt that pit in the bottom of our stomachs? I know I have felt it. That road comes in many forms. For some it is the loss of a loved one. For some it is the uncertainty of whether a job will be waiting for them tomorrow. For some it is the pains of addiction. For some it is wondering where the next meal, or warm shower, or bed will be. For some it is a loss of faith. For some it is the decision to leave familiar lands – leaving friends and family behind – in search of new adventures. For some it is the decision to answer a call to ministry, healthcare, or teaching later in life. The list could go on and on. The roads are vast. Some are bumpy, some are smooth. There are peaks and there are valleys. There are twists and turns. But, are we on these roads alone? It can feel that way sometimes, can’t it?
Let us turn our eyes back to the text for a moment – back to the disciples as they were receiving Jesus’ directions. Yes, we can imagine that the disciples would have felt alone as they prepared to travel on that uncertain path. But let us not forget how Jesus sent the disciples out – two by two. He sent them out knowing that, although not everyone would welcome them, they would, ultimately, find hospitality. He sent them out as a community, into community, which resulted in creating a bigger and stronger community. We are benefactors of this mission. Through Christ’s mission we are inherently immersed in community. But, let us not forget that through the Church we are both called to participate in and create community. We are called to spread the message of God’s radically inclusive love. We are called to walk alongside our brothers and sisters ensuring that they are never alone. We are called to carry each other during times of struggle and to laugh with one another during times of joy. We are called to be a listening ear and a welcoming embrace.
Although I only officially started at South Haven this past week I have already been witness to some of the many ways this community is walking the long and winding road with others. From the Hunger Center that is housed in the basement of the church and the Meals on Wheels that are sent out from the kitchen and fellowship hall; to the youth mission trip; to the listening ears and warm embraces I witnessed on the Sunday I had the privilege to attend worship here – South Haven is actively living into Christ’s mission. South Haven, United Church of Christ – is walking the long and winding road with those inside these walls as well as those outside.
When I read today’s selection from Mark’s gospel earlier this week a song immediately began ringing in my head. Can you guess what it was? I’ll give you three guesses. (If you need a hint – just look at the sermon title.) Although the song is most definitely speaking of another issue, that fact didn’t stop me from being haunted by the lyrics.
The long and winding road
That, however, was not the case. There were no balloons, no marching bands, there were no people lining up for miles to get a glimpse of this hometown hero. Jesus did get a reaction from the people of Nazareth, though just not the kind of reaction we would expect. Mark tells us that on the Sabbath Jesus began to teach in the synagogue – much to the astonishment and offense of those gathered. They were astonished and offended that a simple carpenter, the son of Mary (which, if you didn’t pick up on it, was a way to put him down by not identifying him as his father’s son) - they were astonished and offended that he had the audacity to say and do the things he was doing. Mark explains that Jesus was amazed at their unbelief.
How could he not be? For quite some time people who didn’t even know him trusted and believed in him. He had a group of people who left their homes, their jobs, and their families to follow him all over Galilee for goodness sake. Not even Lebron James has that kind of following. I can just picture the scene – Jesus sitting on a rock with his head in his hand, shaking it back and forth – trying to understand how even his friends and family didn’t have faith in him. The situation would be enough to discourage anyone – wouldn’t it? But, it didn’t discourage Jesus. On the contrary - he continued to travel around the villages teaching and then decided it was time to send the twelve disciples out, two by two. He granted them authority to cast out demons, and we see by their activity that they also healed and preached repentance. The disciples were given strict instructions about what they were, and were not to do, once they arrived where they were going.
Many people, when faced with today’s lectionary Gospel reading, decide to preach on either the first or the second half of the reading. I can understand why – as we have seen it is easily divided into two very preach-able stories: the rejection of Jesus by his own community or the sending out of the twelve. I have to say I was tempted to do the same. But, I think simply selecting one story over the other diminishes the power of the two combined. By keeping the focus on the entire lectionary passage we are blessed with a fuller understanding of the message the evangelist was trying to convey. By keeping the focus on the entire lectionary passage we can travel down the road of all that was said and all that was left unsaid.
What must it have been like for the disciples – this band of misfit twelve – when Jesus called them to gather around and proceeded to inform them that he was sending them off, in pairs, to further the mission? “Are you kidding me? Jesus, no offense intended, but we just saw how your own hometown turned away from you and you think we can further the mission? Do you really think people will listen to us?” What must they have felt when they learned that not only did they not even have to pack a suitcase to bring with them, they had to leave their wallets and ATM cards behind and they had to depend on the hospitality of strangers? “What do you mean we have to stay at the first home that welcomes us? Seriously? What if we find better accommodations after we have been there for a while? Come on, we have an image to uphold!” And, can you imagine their surprise when Jesus told each pair which towns they were going to? Oh, wait . . . .
That’s right, Jesus sent them off – two by two, with nothing but a staff and the clothes on their backs – without giving them the most important direction of all. “Where are we supposed to go?” Can you imagine the pit they must have felt in the bottom of their stomachs? Can you imagine how alone they must have felt?
That feeling isn’t foreign, is it? Haven’t there been times that each one of us has felt like we were on a long and winding road – not really sure where we were headed? Haven’t there been times that each one of us has felt that pit in the bottom of our stomachs? I know I have felt it. That road comes in many forms. For some it is the loss of a loved one. For some it is the uncertainty of whether a job will be waiting for them tomorrow. For some it is the pains of addiction. For some it is wondering where the next meal, or warm shower, or bed will be. For some it is a loss of faith. For some it is the decision to leave familiar lands – leaving friends and family behind – in search of new adventures. For some it is the decision to answer a call to ministry, healthcare, or teaching later in life. The list could go on and on. The roads are vast. Some are bumpy, some are smooth. There are peaks and there are valleys. There are twists and turns. But, are we on these roads alone? It can feel that way sometimes, can’t it?
Let us turn our eyes back to the text for a moment – back to the disciples as they were receiving Jesus’ directions. Yes, we can imagine that the disciples would have felt alone as they prepared to travel on that uncertain path. But let us not forget how Jesus sent the disciples out – two by two. He sent them out knowing that, although not everyone would welcome them, they would, ultimately, find hospitality. He sent them out as a community, into community, which resulted in creating a bigger and stronger community. We are benefactors of this mission. Through Christ’s mission we are inherently immersed in community. But, let us not forget that through the Church we are both called to participate in and create community. We are called to spread the message of God’s radically inclusive love. We are called to walk alongside our brothers and sisters ensuring that they are never alone. We are called to carry each other during times of struggle and to laugh with one another during times of joy. We are called to be a listening ear and a welcoming embrace.
Although I only officially started at South Haven this past week I have already been witness to some of the many ways this community is walking the long and winding road with others. From the Hunger Center that is housed in the basement of the church and the Meals on Wheels that are sent out from the kitchen and fellowship hall; to the youth mission trip; to the listening ears and warm embraces I witnessed on the Sunday I had the privilege to attend worship here – South Haven is actively living into Christ’s mission. South Haven, United Church of Christ – is walking the long and winding road with those inside these walls as well as those outside.
When I read today’s selection from Mark’s gospel earlier this week a song immediately began ringing in my head. Can you guess what it was? I’ll give you three guesses. (If you need a hint – just look at the sermon title.) Although the song is most definitely speaking of another issue, that fact didn’t stop me from being haunted by the lyrics.
The long and winding road
That leads to your door
Will never disappear
I've seen that road before
It always leads me here
Lead me to your door.
Many times I've been alone
Many times I've been alone
And many times I've cried,
Anyway you've always known
The many ways I've tried.
And still they lead me back
To the long, winding road
You left me standing here
A long, long time ago
Don't leave me standing here
Lead me to your door.
Where is your long and winding road leading you? Look around. We are all walking with you. We will carry you when you need it. We will be the listening ear, the warm embrace, or the place to simply laugh or cry. We are community. And, that community is not contained by walls. Let us not leave anyone standing there – let us continue walk with them showing them the door of God’s love.
Where is your long and winding road leading you? Look around. We are all walking with you. We will carry you when you need it. We will be the listening ear, the warm embrace, or the place to simply laugh or cry. We are community. And, that community is not contained by walls. Let us not leave anyone standing there – let us continue walk with them showing them the door of God’s love.
Amen!
No comments:
Post a Comment