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“Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love.“ Then Jesus said to her: “Your sins are forgiven.” But those who were at table with Him, began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” And Jesus said to the woman, “Your Faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Edith & Archie Bunker:
“The Canned Peaches Story”
“Do Something Rotten.”
* * * * *
In spite of Archie Bunker’s red-neck ways - and his unbelievable narrow minded, off the wall attitudes toward others who were different - old Archie had one observation that, as bad as I hate to admit it, pretty well described the human condition -
That each and everyone one of us is flawed and imperfect – that we are less than what we could be – and that we are less than what God intended us to be. Indeed, no one is left out….old Archie had that concept pretty well nailed down.
* * * * *
Deep, deep down - we know that each of us is flawed - however, we try to allude that concept by saying – well, I may be imperfect – but I a’int as bad as old so and so.
We have just got to put ourselves into another category - so as not lump ourselves with the rest of the Hoi Polloi - those common folk. For we are somehow different - yes, we are not perfect, however we are not bank robbers or ax murderers .
Yes, to be sure, which is quite true we say, however, yet the scriptures insist that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. – that each one of us still needs a savior. Jesus said that there is still a great gulf fixed between us and God -which we cannot span or traverse alone by ourselves -
But we may only cross to the other side – not by our efforts – but only by Jesus, our great High Priest who intercedes for us - and who only is our Pontifex Maximux - meaning the only great bridge over which we can cross over and come to God.
Isn’t it strange, how we somehow don’t want those others to be included with us as God’s select and chosen children.- why just look at all those horrible things those other people have done. However, Jesus tries to help us to see our own misdeeds - our own shortcomings.
Jesus says: “Remove the log from your own eye - before you can see clearly enough to see the speck of dust in your brother’s eye,” - meaning that - somehow - we are blinded by our own sinfulness to be able to see clearly - any one else’s short comings at all.
Jesus in His life and Ministry - expanded the boundaries - Jesus broke the rules and the social customs of His day - by consorting with people society considered to be unsavory. Jesus broke the boundaries by eating and mixing with the wrong kind of people.
However, we are more circumspect - we are quite particular as to whom we might extend an invitation - lest some undesirable sneak in and be included in our select group.
“Dad, can I invite my new boyfriend to dinner with us? Our ears pick up and we begin to wonder - who is this stranger - what is he like - will he fit in - is he one of us?
Jesus was for ever expanding the social boundaries – social boundaries that social customs of His day had rigidly constructed – and if you stop and think about it – the boundaries of Jesus’ day were not so much of a social - or of an economic nature –
but the distinction that divided people was between - those people who considered themselves good - as opposed to those they considered to be bad - the righteous people as opposed to the unrighteous people – the ethical and the moral – as opposed to those who were considered to be unethical and immoral.
What made that distinction so unacceptable to Jesus was that it just did not end there with a kind of class distinction – for also - for also – the so called good people considered the bad people to be detestable, inferior and outside of God’s love and concern – so one just did not consort with those kinds of people.
Learning to live together – learning to understand each other’s differences – regarding one another as equals – seeing ourselves no better than others – having patience with other’s failings, mistakes, blunders and struggles –
To be sure – are lessons – these are Lessons –
crucial and valuable Lessons -
the Human Race has not yet mastered.
Last Sunday we celebrated the Mystery of Trinity Sunday – we spoke of a God who has revealed Himself to us in the person of Jesus – however, we also recognized that we could never understand the inner nature of the three-fold mystery of God – that we could only celebrate it and give thanks for it.
However – the Mystery of Life is such – that we don’t have to trek off the Tibet to check with the Dala Lama for an answer. The answer to the Mystery of Life is certainly discernible - at least for Christian People. For Jesus Himself has shown us – by His own life
Jesus has revealed to us the Meaning & the Mystery of Life – why we are here – and what our main purpose in life is. We can say it in many ways –
“This is my commandment that you love one another,” –
That we care for one another – that we share our lives with one another – that we forgive one another. In other words – in short – God has made us not only for Himself - but He has also made us for one another –
God has made us to be responsible to one another - and He has made us to be responsible for one another. God has so made us – that we are inextricably related and interdependent.
Jesus has expanded the boundaries of the traditional Family to include others – others to whom we have the opportunity to help and to care for – and not just our own nuclear family.
“Jesus: Your Mother and your brothers and your sisters
are outside - asking for you.”
Jesus replies: “Who is my Mother, who is my brother and my sister?”
Whoever does the will of my Father in Heaven – is my Mother, my brother and my sister.”
We are not responsible to take one another to raise so to speak – however, St. John in his first Epistle reminds us: “But if anyone has this world’s goods - and sees his brother in need - yet closes his heart against him – how does God’s love abide in him?”
In our Gospel today – we have the story of one of the despised outcasts of Jesus’ day –
Yet Jesus’ heart went out to this troubled soul – while the others had nothing but contempt for her.
”If this man is a Rabbi –
he ought to know what kind of a person who is touching him.”
Let us beware – let us beware - for Jesus tells us - that with the same kind of judgment that we judge others - will be the same kind of judgment - by which we ourselves are judged.
Both the Old Testament lesson of the serious failings King David – and the Gospel Story of the Woman of ill repute - have one thing in common – and it is this:
That God still – somehow in His love and mercy and forgiveness – God still has compassion for those of us – yes – each and every one of us - that falls and messes up – that even messes up badly – that messes up even big-time .
That God’s love is bigger and greater than our sins - and that He is not willing to give up on us – and even though others may wash their hands of us – God has bound Himself to us – forever.
Pilate washed his hands of Jesus – and refused to stand by him – leaving Him to the devices of the blood-thirsty mob. Pilate certainly didn’t want to put himself out - or to be bothered with the likes of Jesus.
What an example Jesus has set for us – for if Jesus so stands by each of us – no matter how others may consider us – then we too can stand by one another – because – as sons and daughters of Adam – we are all fallen creatures –
And although we are all cut from the same bolt of cloth – of sinful humanity – we nevertheless give thanks that God has not abandoned us to our own misdeeds – but God – not grudgingly – but joyfully offers us – through His Grace and Mercy – a New, Abundant Life and a new beginning.
I vividly remember some years ago - Beverly - who joyfully told me - that before she found sobriety in A.A. – it was as if she had lived her entire life – face down in the mud.
And then – she said – when she found sobriety - it was as if –
some one with a spatula - had turned her over –
and now she was sunny-side up -
Looking out on a beautiful world - she had been unable to see before.
* * * * *
I certainly would like for St. Matthew’s Church to be know as a place - a Community that lifted up and held high - the values and standards of the Christian Faith. However – what I would cherish even more than that –
Is that St. Matthew’s Church would be a place – a Community that was known where all of God’s Children – all sort and conditions of God’s People - were accepted with open arms - and loved -
That where, when the Word got out – and when the Word got out – people from all around - would flock to get in – to be a part of such a loving Community.
Possibly one of the most difficult lessons to learn – maybe especially for sincere Christian People – is that God can still love us – in spite of our foul-ups – for God is just strange and weird that way –
His mercy is next to impossible for us to fathom or to understand – so we just accept his mercy and – we show that same measure of mercy to others – others to whom it may be very difficult and hard to show mercy.
* * * * *
There is no doubt whatsoever – that the Best Father’s Day Gift for our Heavenly Father is the same – that His Children get along and live in peace with one another-
For God has everything – but the Gift that would please Him - more than anything else in the World - is that His Children love another.
Fathers – today is the day our Children and our Families remember us – give us gifts and express their love for us. However – there is another very important side to Fathers’ Day – that we should never forget – and that is - the many opportunities we have as Fathers - to teach our Children about God and about loving one another.
On Father’s Day – it is always good for us to remember St. Joseph – Jesus’ Father – who because of his teaching – who because his example as a man of Faith – working together in the Carpenter Shop as a loving Father to his Son Jesus –
In doing this and because of his life as a father to Jesus -
Joseph in effect - laid the ground work and planted the seed – whereby Jesus in the prayer that He has taught us – could now in truth say – when you speak to God – say Father. To be sure –
It was because of the kind of loving Father Joseph was – that Jesus could now teach us to call God Father – which was such a new idea - and in reality - a revolutionary concept for the people of His day.
Yes – to be sure – God’s heart is warmed – God’s heart is warmed and thrilled every time we show love and respect and care for one another – just as our hearts are warmed and thrilled when someone shows great kindness to one of ours.
The Story of Shay:
As we leave this House today – God’s House of Prayer for all people – let us remember – let us never forget – let us have it emblazoned on our hearts and minds – that even in spite of our misdeeds and sinful nature –
God still sees something very much worthwhile – something very valuable and worthwhile in each and every one of us - God sees one of His own children that He still loves –
One whom He has made and created – and one to whom He has bound Himself – and one by whom – by whom God has promised to stand by -
Forever and forever !!!
And if God does this for us – then
As His Children – we can do no less !!!
For the true measure of the Christian – that is one who follows Christ - and who is Christ like - is not how he or she love and cares for those who are easy to love –
- but –
How one loves cares for those who have fallen – those who are despised and rejected by their own brothers and sisters of the Family of God.
What did Jesus say:
“Who is my Mother – Who is my Sister and my Brother.....?”:
A M E N & A M EN !!!
jdp+
