Sermon - Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? (24th Sunday after Pentecost - Year C)

24^th Sunday after Pentecost – Year C                                               October 30. 2016

Luke 19:1-10                                                              St. Paul UMC, Spartanburg, SC

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?

So be honest… how many of you are humming the Zacchaeus song in your heads right now? I admit it took a while for me to get it out of my head when I was preparing for the sermon today. Zacchaeus is one our favorite characters from the New Testament because it feels like a story of the little guy getting a big win…  most often we have heard sermons that go something like this: Zacchaeus, a notorious sinner has turned his life around, made amends with those he has wronged, and is getting right with God so he can be a part of Jesus’s crowd. So if we turn our lives around and do the same, we can get right with God, too.

But is that what the story is all about?

The main problem with that interpretation is that Jesus and Zacchaeus never talk about repentance… Zacchaeus’ willingness to turn his life around is not a prerequisite for spending time with Jesus – who never got an invitation but came just the same. In fact, it seems that the bible translators may have contributed to our confusion. In the Common English Bible translation, it reads like this:

⁷ Everyone who saw this grumbled, saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”  ⁸ Zacchaeus stopped and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my possessions to the poor. And if I have cheated anyone, I repay them four times as much.” (CEB)

So with this new insight, we have to believe that Zacchaeus is already living the kind of life that Jesus has been teaching about, despite the crowd’s willingness to believe the worst about him because of his profession. And it doesn’t help them respect Jesus either, because the Scribes and Pharisees are complaining again about the fact that Jesus doesn’t hang out with the right kind of people.

So if this isn’t a story about forgiveness and repentance, what is it about? If we have to adjust to this new interpretation, what is it that we are supposed to learn? 

I think the key is all in the tree… the one that Zacchaeus climbs in order to see Jesus better. I think this is a story about sight – about someone who believes that just being able to see Jesus better will change his life. And in the process, Jesus sees him – I mean, he really sees him, past the assumptions that people make about Zacchaeus and into his heart. Salvation has come, in spite of whether or not those around him approve.

Our gospel writer, Luke, has a history of being sensitive to issues of money. Previously, he has told Jesus’ story in such a way to bring what we think we know about wealth into question. In the biblical era, it was common to think that money and power were signs of God’s blessing. But Jesus turns that idea on its head, in fact saying that it is very difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God (Luke 18:25).

In this story, Jesus seems to contradict himself, declaring that Zacchaeus, a wealthy chief tax collector already despised by his neighbors, is also a child of God and recipient of God’s salvation. So when we read the stories about how Jesus talks about wealth, we have to make sure that we understand that wealth in and of itself has neutral value. It’s what we do with our wealth that Jesus cares about, and Zacchaeus does good things, paying back in excess those from whom he has taken more than he should have.

In addition, Jesus cares about those who live on the fringes. He encounters those who society has declared unfit and ignored and he sees them, recognizes them, seeks them out, spends time with them, and in all these ways honors and blesses them.” All of this drives the Jewish religious community crazy. The Pharisees and their followers continually throw the rules in Jesus’ face… often saying to him, “You can’t do that – it’s not fair!”

We all have our ideas about what a messiah – a savior - should do. We read the Old Testament and we remember the standards that were set forward for the Israelites – who incidentally were terribly stubborn and had really short attention spans.

When Jesus contradicts our expectations, we want to ask him, “Hey, God, if you’re not going to stick to the rules, punishing sinners and reward the righteous, then what can we count on?”  We get stuck in our Old Testament narrative, forgetting that Jesus came to fulfill the law, not to enforce it. The God we encounter in Jesus doesn’t care about fulfilling our sense of justice or fairness, or in any of the other ways that we choose to make order in our world. All God cares about it seeing and seeking out the lost and bringing them home again. God’s love trumps our understanding of justice and God’s compassion overrides all of our beliefs about fairness. In God’s world, all are welcome just because of who they are.

And more often than not, this is upsetting to us, because we have been trying to play by the rules and want to make sure that our efforts are rewarded… until we are the ones that are down and out. Then we are happy the Jesus welcomes us just the way we are, and invites us to come and join the party.

In Germany, the congregation where I worship celebrated Reformation Sunday. The year 2016 marks the 499^th anniversary of Martin Luther’s act of rebellion against a Roman Catholic Church that has exploited their authority to become more powerful and richer than most of the countries in the realm. Luther never intended to start a new religious tradition. He just wanted the one he was part of to live according to the gospel principles we had experienced today.  In his study and translation of scripture, Luther realized that righteousness isn’t the standard God sets for us, but is instead the gift that God gives us, because we just aren’t able to be righteous all on our own. [Lose]

Maybe the question we have to ask is this: Have we been worshiping the wrong God? Is our faith based in fear of God and what might happen to us if we don’t measure up, or is it based in receiving the love that God has for us, and in turn, extending that to all those around us so in need of that grace?

Many of you know that I came back to the US to help my mom move into her new apartment. It was always the plan to downsize, and she is settling in very well. But I must admit that I was not excited to come back in the 3 ½ weeks before the US election. At least in Germany, I can only understand about 50% of what the German TV and radio report about our election process. And our German friends wonder about how we can endure a season that goes on for so long without there being damage done to the society... and I don't know what to tell them.

I am saddened by the level of dis-grace I hear surrounding the elections, on every level. I think this passage has reminded me that no matter what differences I might have with those who have different opinions than mine, all of us are children of a loving God. We are all Zacchaeus. We are all sinners, some taller, some shorter, some richer, some poorer, inhabiting all regions on the political spectrum. We might feel better about ourselves by believing differently, but this scripture reminds us that we don’t make the rules.

When we host a dinner, we expect to have total control over the way that the evening progresses. We choose the food and the guests, the theme and the decorations. We start the evening with the illusion that its success or failure is a reflection of something inside of us, but often focused on the most unimportant things. This summer my husband turned 50, and in great Rundgebertstag German tradition we invited both local and American friends to celebrate the day. The planning was meticulous… would we have enough to eat and drink? What would we do if it rained?  Would the evening meet our expectations and those of our guests?

Here’s what we learned: 14 pound of baby back ribs and 10 pounds of wings was not enough…. Germans friends are prepared for every possible need, including a tent that will seat 40 guests in the rain…. And we had the wrong expectations if we thought that any of those things would matter to our friends. It was such an amazing night, mainly because all of these people came together to celebrate a person they love and admire, and in turn, assumed the best about one another. New friendships were born that night, and old friendships renewed. And what is better than friends who stay well past midnight to help clean everything up because they know that you have to get up and preach early the next morning?

Jesus doesn’t come as a tourist to check out the fall leaves or see the sights along his way. He doesn’t come as a spectator to the human condition – he comes as the one who saves us from our sinful conditions and from ourselves. He knows us by name and loved us forever. And he looks past all of our faults and what we and everyone else thinks about us to invite himself into our hearts. [Sellery]

The next few weeks may be stressful for us, but if we remember to see others as fellow sojourners, to look for the best in them, even if they think or worship or speak differently than we do, we will be that much better… We will be living in the way that Christ has called us to live and love.

I’m going to end today by quoting one of the most leveled headed theologians of our day, even though we usually think of him that way. From Dan Rather:

Please do not forget to breathe. 

I understand that these final days of this unprecedented election season are sending many of us into a frenzy…The stakes are so high - the uncertainty so untenable. We wonder and we worry. We refresh our social media feeds and favorite news sources by the minute looking for affirmation of our hopes or amplification of our fears. There is always more information - always more spin. And the latest news cycle and ricocheting polls only exacerbate the anxiety… 

I have a deep belief that most of my fellow countrymen and women are good, decent, hardworking people - that they go to bed each night with similar prayers for their family, even if they pray in different faiths (or no faith), even if their words are in English or one of the countless languages spoken in American homes. I believe that we as a nation will make the right decisions in our long and imperfect march towards justice. But I believe it is a journey that requires work and sacrifice, from all of us. (Dan Rather on Facebook)

I chose our closing hymn because for me it summarizes completely the Church and world in which we are called to live. Believe the good news! Come with Joy!

I come with joy, a child of God, forgiven, loved, and free,
the life of Jesus to recall, in love laid down for me.

I come with Christians far and near to find, as all are fed,
the new community of love in Christ's communion bread.

As Christ breaks bread and bids us share, each proud division ends.
The love that made us makes us one, and strangers now are friends.

The spirit of the risen Christ, unseen, but ever near,
is in such friendship better known: alive and among us here.

Together met, together bound, by all that God has done,
we'll go with joy, to give the world, the love that makes us one. (Brian Wren, 1971)

Peace, Deb

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This sermon was heavily influenced by this blog post by David Lose – In the Meantime http://www.davidlose.net/2016/10/pen-24-c-reformation-the-unexpected-god/

And the work of David Sellery - This Week's Focus - "The Most Gracious Guest"   http://us6.campaign-archive2.com/?u=dbffd2070718c7bb6a1b9b7e0&id=0a005cf45d

Brian Wren – “I Come With Joy” Hope Publishing Co., 1971

Sermon - Use It or Lose it (18th Sunday after Pentecost - Year C)

October 2, 2016
Luke 17:5-10                                                                 Panzer Liturgical Service

You get to a point in the lectionary season when it feels like you’re preaching or listening to the same sermon over and over. The closer we get to the crucifixion, the more Jesus seems pretty single-minded in his focus. Faith is not about living within a strict set of rules and regulations. Last week we talked about how getting to heaven is not the goal of faithful living. It’s about serving God by serving others.

This week, we see the apostles responding to Jesus’ teaching having realized that perhaps their faith is not up to the task at hand. So they ask him to increase their faith. Now I don’t think that they want him to do it magically. But I do think that they are at a loss for how to go about the business at hand. The rules and checkboxes are all they know. Their plea to Jesus is something like this: If you want us to live differently, then tell us how to do it.

Let’s look at the four verses that preface today’s lesson – four verses that stand between last week’s gospel reading and today’s…

Jesus said to his disciples, “Occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe to anyone by whom they come! 2It would be better for you if a millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea than for you to cause one of these little ones to stumble. 3Be on your guard! If another disciple sins, you must rebuke the offender, and if there is repentance, you must forgive. 4And if the same person sins against you seven times a day, and turns back to you seven times and says, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive.” (Luke 17:1-4)

In these four verses, Jesus is teaching the disciples about accountability.  Basically, he teaches that it is important that we continue to be involved in one another’s lives.  If someone sins, then we are to call them to responsibility for their actions (something we’re happy today with abandon - if you ever look at comments on internet posts, you know what I’m talking about…).  But at the same time, if they repent of their sin, we are to forgive them, over and over again, for, in the process of repentance and forgiveness, God is working miracles in our lives… this we’re not so good at doing.

Now the disciples surely knew how hard this would be.  So they asked the Lord, “Make our faith greater [for we know that we cannot do this on our own.]  And Jesus’ reply was something unexpected.  He answered with a parable which asked the following question.  “Does a servant expect the master to serve him at the end of a long day?”  No, the servant expects that the master will still be served, and the servant will always be in service.

In other words: Do your duty.  Use the faith you have.  You don’t necessarily need more faith, but you do need to exercise what you have.

I know you know this, but here is a reminder: God loved us before we ever even knew who God is – we call that prevenient grace.  Salvation and faith are gifts that flow from this love. Many people believe that they must be good or do good in order to be saved.  Or they believe that their current or prior behaviors make it impossible for them to be saved.  Yet there is nothing you can do to earn salvation.  And nothing you ever did will keep salvation from coming. Christ's life, death, and resurrection have already saved us.  Nothing we can do, no amount of faith we can generate, makes God love us more or makes us more saved.  Being saved is already a done deal, an accomplished fact, a free gift, no strings attached. All we have to do is accept it.

Our responsibility is to respond to God's action in and through Jesus Christ.  We are called to a life of faith, in response to God's loving action toward us.  We are called to have faith, not to get God to love us or heal us or to get Christ to save us.  But we are called to have faith because God loves and heals us.  We are called to have faith because Jesus Christ has already saved us.

One of the ways that we acknowledge this grace is through the sacrament of baptism. Now it’s important to remember that sacraments are like signposts that point to God’s character and action. They are rituals that we use to act out what we believe about who God is – not just to us – but in the grand scheme of life. Most of us come from traditions that baptize infants. We do this entirely because we believe that our ability to understand the gift of salvation is not a pre-requirement of being a part of the Kingdom or family of God. And while Charlie and Madeleine are not able to take vows for themselves, their parents and family come to make promises about how they will help these children grow in their faith, preparing them to make promises for themselves at the time of their confirmation or baptismal reaffirmation.

I hope that you will pay close attention to the promises that Chris and Abigail are making today, and to your responses throughout the baptismal liturgy. As in the communion liturgy, we are asked to recommit our lives to Christ and the life he calls us to live.

Our faith does not need to impress God or anyone else.  Our faith simply needs to respond to what God has given us.  So the next time you are concerned about whether you have enough faith, stop and get in touch with God's love for you. Remember that Christ's life, death, and resurrection already has made eternal life available to you.  Become aware of all the gifts God has given you.  And know that you are infinitely loved.  Respond to God's love with thankfulness and love in return.  That is your faith.  And that faith, even if it were as small as the tiniest mustard seed, is faith that can transform you and me and the whole world.

I remember when this terrible thing happened 10 years ago - An Amish schoolhouse in Nickel Mine, Pennsylvania was the site of a gruesome school shooting, resulting in the deaths of five girls and the injury of five more. Before community members and police could get into the building, the gunman killed himself, leaving so many questions unanswered. The gunman's parents immediately started thinking they would be unable to stay in the community - no one wants a mass murderer's family living next door. But Terri Robert's fears were unfounded; in fact, her Amish neighbors exhibited a trait she never expected - forgiveness.

Within hours, a member of the Amish community came to their door with the following message: The families did not see the couple as an enemy. Rather, they saw them as parents who were grieving the loss of their child, too. He put his hand on the shoulder of Terri Roberts’s husband and called him a friend. A few days later, 30 Amish neighbors came to act as human shields between the Roberts family and press at their son's funeral, afterward offering prayers and messages of condolences.

These Amish Christians continued to invite the Roberts family to community events, and the Roberts family reciprocated, inviting the mothers to her house for tea. They helped to care for Terri Roberts when she came home from the hospital after cancer treatment. They arrived at her house to sing Christmas carols "There is forgiveness," she said, "Of that I have no doubt."

For most of us, the path to forgiveness comes at the end of a long emotional process. But the Amish forgive first and then work through the emotional aftermath. This "decisional forgiveness" is a different kind of witness and is exactly what Jesus is talking about.

Most of us cannot imagine being on either side of this amazing relationship. But maybe it's because we have been thinking about living out our faith in the wrong order.

And the disciples asked Jesus, “Make our faith greater.” And Jesus replied, “You don’t need more faith… you need to use what you’ve got.  Even a small amount of faith can move heaven and earth, but faith that is not used will die."

Or in other words, You need to use it or you’ll lose it.

Amen and amen.