July 17, 2022: Distracted, Again

DISTRACTED, AGAIN

Psalm 52; Colossians 1:15-28; Luke 10:38-42

Rev. Tiare L. Mathison, Pastor & Soul-Tender

Let me ask you, What’s on your worry list this morning? Are you willing to speak them out loud? If not, We are going to take a few minutes to write them down and then gather them up. Let’s just say we are re-ordering worship a bit - this will become our prayers of the people list:)

Thank you.

We live in an age of too many words: Twitter, Slack, Sub-stack, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and a zillion others require, dare I say demand? our attention, every day. Our world is full of words - Fox News, MNBC, NPR, talk radio, podcasts. Words, words, words. We are plugged in, for good and for ill. Technology has given us great opportunities to offer our continuous partial attention (Linda Stone, a technologist).

Distracted, Again.

I am a witness - I live on Stoneway and the # of parents with babies in carriages with earphones plugged in astounds me. How will you hear your baby’s chatter? Reactions to the garbage trucks, the buses, the birds, the dogs? And I am guilty. What is the first thing I do when I come in the door after work? Turn on NPR, talk radio, that runs for 2 hours or so. Or crank it up in the car when I am running errands. It is a hard habit to break!

Distracted, Again.

I said to the session on Tuesday night, “before we get started on the business of the church, I want to remind us of our purpose: the ministry of Jesus Christ in this place. Even at session meetings we can get caught by words and decisions and plans and policies to the point that we forget the reason for our very existence! To witness to the glory of God.

Now, don’t get me wrong. We have to take care of things, of course. Yet I think it is important to take a measure of our focus. The Greek word is perispamai and refers to drawing away or diverting something. We say, Distracted, Again.

In Martha’s case, prepare dinner for her Lord and upwards of 70 disciples, is polle diakonia, many tasks, that need to be done. She follows the ritual practice of the Hebrew Tradition, that begins in Genesis 18 with Abraham instructing Sarah and their slaves to prepare food for their 3 guests. Hospitality is a fundamental function of the Jewish Tradition, which was carried over into the life of Jesus and therefore, into our lives as Christians. She expects Mary to help, of course, it was a lot of people, with a lot of prep! And Lazarus could step into the kitchen too, right?

What she loses sight of is her gifts of hospitality are part and parcel of her discipleship to Jesus. There is no small thing about service in the kitchen or to teach SS or to visit the homebound, or fix the roof. These acts are as significant; no hierarchy of value in our Christian practices. All are necessary to build up the body of Christ. What we have to guard against is how easy it is to be distracted from our devotion to Jesus, even in our service.

Let’s stop for a moment and go back to your worry list.

Is it possible for you to imagine sitting in a chair beside Jesus, maybe on your porch or deck, favorite tea or glass of wine on the table between you and simply talk through the list with Him? You might call it ‘continuous attention’ to the One who is at the center of your being. (Pause)

Let’s be clear here: Jesus does not condemn Martha for being busy, in fact, He doesn’t condemn at all. He simply suggests she got diverted from her service to some sort of implied measurement of perfection that would not allow her to relax INTO her hospitality. As an act of love for her Savior. You know His look - its filled with love and compassion and mercy and forgiveness. That glance? An embrace!!!

Put your name in Martha’s spot for a minute: Jesus is speaking to you.

(Pause)

What strikes me today is the fleshing personhood of Jesus that Martha and Mary encounter, is the focal point of Paul’s structured personhood. I want to toggle a bit between this flesh and The Word.

This Jesus who walks about, teaches, preaches, prays, laughs, cries, eats dinner with 70 of his closest friends, is this first born of creation; everything created through Him, the fullness of God is pleased to dwell. The fullness of God is pleased to dwell. Everything we need to know about God is shown in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. His blood on the cross makes for peace. All dominions, thrones, powers, rulers, all of the fallen world - everything - is under his command.

Right. And what about our worry lists? (Pause)

The heart of Paul’s writing is this Christological hymn found in verses 15-20: The image of God, firstborn, all things created, all things hold together. Head of the body, the church, our church! First place in everything and then this: In Him the fullness of God is pleased to dwell. His blood on the cross is enough to repair it all. You know Jesus? You know God. The purpose of the church? To proclaim Christ. Not for maintenance, not for fellowship, not for growth, not for getting your needs met, the centering point of our faith is to proclaim Christ. This is why I remind myself and the session and you all that the reason for our being is our witness to Christ.

But what fascinates and delights me, is to go back to the Martha story. This One we proclaim in our daily lives, by what we say and what we do, is the same One she complained to! ‘Jesus, I need help here. How come she just gets to sit on the floor?’ Distracted, Again.

The top of Martha’s worry list in the moment: getting everything done. Right? She loses sight of her dear friend, her Beloved Savior and Lord. And we know how easy this is. Martha is us, let’s be honest. And we get rewarded in a culture that is driven to distraction. I am so busy, I cannot even see straight! Frantic is good. It’s really hard for us to hear, ‘slow down, pay attention, listen carefully.’ Words so powerful and yet so silenced in our lives.

Jesus calls for our utmost devotion. It takes time, energy and focus. But it can be done in a way that offers us the rest we need to be able to hear - to clean out our ears, minds and hearts of distractions. Our faith in Him as Savior and Lord is this gift of grace to savor, enjoy and celebrate.

Yesterday at Bob’s service, I borrowed the phrase from J. S. Bach, composer extraordinaire, ‘To the Glory to God’.he always signed off on his compositions with this. I invite you to adopt this practice. Every time you wake up, leave the house, start a conversation with your spouse or your kids or your co-workers or your pastor, whisper, ‘to the glory of God’. For this is what Martha forgot in the heat of the moment. Her life was dedicated to her Lord. She just got caught. Center your life on Jesus. See what happens. Report back if you would. Distracted No More. Amen

July 10, 2022: The Enemy's Kindness

The Enemy’s Kindness

Rev. Tiare L. Mathison, Pastor & Soul-Tender

Ps. 82; Col. 1:1-14; Luke 10:25-37

“But wanting to justify himself, the lawyer asked, ‘who is my neighbor?’”

Jesus replies, “A woman goes to an Abortion Clinic…” (Pause)

Her name is Pam. She needs an abortion. Earlier, Pam had spoken with a good friend who was very casual and nonchalant about abortions. “Do whatever you think is best, Pam.”

She makes the appointment.

She drives her car to the clinic, parks, gets out and is immediately accosted by men, screaming at the top of their lungs, ‘baby killer, baby killer. God is going to send u to hell. You’re going to burn in hell.’ She is shaken.

As she gets to the door of the clinic, a woman opens it with a warm smile and says, “Hi, my name is June. I’m a volunteer here. I will accompany you through the procedure.”

June is a faithful Christian, against abortions except for rare situations. Yet, Her compassion takes her to the clinic every week. She recognizes herself among these women - it could have been me, she thinks. I don’t have all the answers…

(Pause) who is Pam’s neighbor?

My colleague and friend Jami says, “…the gospel of Jesus Christ clobbers us…”

(Pause)

In our congregation we have women who have had abortions or may need one in the future. We have doctors who know the need for abortions for the health of their patients. We have people who believe abortion should be outlawed. We have women who use birth control. We have gay couples, we have inter-racial marriages. Just within our 60 or so people, we have it all. All that is threatened by the direction of the Supreme Court and the right-wing conservatives, done in the name of God. And the gospel of Jesus Christ clobbers us.

For it is The Enemy’s Kindness that is celebrated in this story.

First the lawyer questions the authority of this Galilean - He’s not even trained in the rabbinic schools! Then there is the long-standing historical hatred represented, Samaritan and Jew. Quote: “They claim to worship the same God of the ancient Hebrews, but they each have their own Scripture, their own temples and their own religious practices,” Biblical Scholar, Matthew Skinner says.

In a shocking scene that electrifies the crowd, the 2 who should help don’t : what’s this about? Jewish ethics require helping one in distress. How could they simply walk by? Purification codes are set aside when someone is in trouble. Even the lawyer at the very end is not able to name his enemy as neighbor - he cannot say the word, Samaritan! He says, “The one who showed mercy.”

His goal in this encounter is to set a limit for himself, I only have to love certain people, my kind of people, the ones who think, act and agree with my religion and my politics.

Oh not so quick. Jesus places the focus ‘neighbor’ on the one who has been beaten. ‘Who is his neighbor?’ The Enemy. Go and do likewise.

There is a demand for a practice of love, to cross the boundary of animosity. It forces us to sit in the ditch, to reflect on these questions: Is there anyone from whom I would rather die than receive care? Is there anyone for whom I would not offer care?

And a most painful question:

Is there a group that would let me die in the ditch rather than offer care? (Pause)

This is the experience of life today. This is the level of threat, existential threat, that folk live. Older Asian Americans afraid to go out of their homes. People of color, especially young black men, sure when they get pulled over by the police, it is all over. Women who need medical and health services, including access to abortion, for a wide variety of reasons. Gay Couples afraid their deep and abiding love for each other, recognized in their marriage vows, will be stripped away. Not everyone will be a Good Samaritan, let’s face it.

Some will escape with busyness. Some with a capacity to not see the need. Some won’t be bothered by such a nuisance. Some will sink into despair, sure there is nothing they can do. Some will let their self-righteous faith keep them from the truth of the gospel:

It is The Enemy’s Kindness that Jesus holds up as the excellent example. ‘Go and do likewise.’

The domesticated version of this story says, ah just be nice to your neighbors. No big deal. But you and I know, Jesus’ stories are never that easy. Never! So let’s sit in the ditch awhile longer and figure out how we are going to live. (Pause)

Compassion is more important than being right.

Honor and respect the woman’s agency, Whether you understand or agree.

Recognize the vulnerability of the other person. As your own

This is what I believe the gospel of Jesus Christ calls us to understand in relationship with one another. The starting point is not our attitudes or our belief systems of right & wrong, rather it is this: we who have received mercy, must go out and act with mercy. The cross of Christ is the power of redemption, lifted up to this new day.

Eternal life has already come to the enemy, the Samaritan, he acts it out! He cleanses wounds, he lifts up the beaten one, he offers shelter, food, care, for as long as it is necessary. He sets aside his own plans, his own belief systems, his own practices, to help the one in need. He knows he is breaking the code - a Samaritan never helps a Jew and a Jew never helps a Samaritan - but that doesn’t stop him. Once you have received mercy, once you know its beauty and grace, you are compelled to share it. For it withers otherwise.

The Enemy’s Kindness

It is a dangerous road from the high country of Jerusalem down to Jericho. The territory is filled up with scammers, folk who demand your allegiance, expect your loyalty, define truth for you. It is easy to get lost out here. If you don’t obey, they’ll beat you up and leave you for dead. They really don’t care about your life. They care about maintaining power. It is their way or the highway.

Our obedience is not to a way of thinking, rather it is faith in the person of Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior. Born to love us and bring us eternal life, He who gives up His very life on behalf of the world. Thereby He opens a pathway of abundant life, filled with the possibility of renewal, joy, hope, peace. And once we get all this, He says, ‘okay, now it’s time to take a stand for justice. You might have to give up your life, or at least be inconvenienced for a time. This too is part of My gospel.’

Justice demands we pay attention to the most vulnerable. It demands we be quiet, those of us with power and privilege, so we can listen carefully to the others, whose voices have been long silenced. It requires humility, a certain softness of attitude, that suggests we don’t have all the answers. We simply know The One who will embrace us and our questions. Our stand for justice is rooted in the mercy of Jesus Christ, given as our great gift.

The Enemy’s Kindness is now ours. Go and do likewise. Amen