Jesus is even in the conflicts: Sept 10, 2023

Year A, Pentecost 15                                         Matthew 18:15-20

                The first time I looked at the Gospel reading for Sunday, I thought…great…it’s my last Sunday and the Gospel reading is about church discipline. Maybe the epistle reading is better. I mean it starts well, “love one another.”  Then it devolves into exhortations on what to avoid: adultery, murder, drunkenness, debauchery and licentiousness.  Fantastic.  The Old Testament reading wasn’t much better. Of course, they all have some redeeming qualities, but I was hoping for something a little easier for my last Sunday.  But…as I have mentioned several times in sermons, Christianity isn’t supposed to be easy. 

                To really get a good understanding of this reading from Matthew, you need to read the whole chapter, because as is so often case, context is everything.  When we read just these 5 verses, we see the accusatory part.  It doesn’t sound much like Jesus.  Aren’t we supposed to forgive 7 times 70 times. Yet here it seems he’s telling the community that they can cast out members who refuse to cooperate.  And the language…Jesus says you should treat them as you do a Gentile or tax collector.  That’s not good.  The people he was talking to didn’t like Gentiles or tax collectors. They wouldn’t eat with them, and they definitely wouldn’t worship with them.  Yet we see Jesus eat with those outcasts.  We see him defend them and even name one (Matthew) a disciple.  Why would Jesus change course and tell people there is a limit to forgiveness and that Gentiles and tax collectors should be maligned?

                Again, it all comes back to context.  The chapter begins with Jesus telling people that they must welcome little children.  Now, in our day and age, this would seem like a no brainer.  Of course Jesus would love the little children.  We have a song about it.  Back then, children weren’t valued as they are today.  Most people treated them as they would treat an outcast.  Then right before our reading for today, Jesus tells the story of the shepherd who has 100 sheep and loses one.  What does the shepherd do?  He goes after the straggler…the one who wandered away. Jesus has and will always care for those who are typically left behind.  He also cares for the sinners, which is all of us.  Jesus would not have wanted someone cast out of the church.  Jesus would want people to stay in relationship…not just with their God, but with one another. 

                The last line is a very well known line.  We used it a lot during COVID, when we recorded the service with only a few people in this sanctuary.  “For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am among them.”  We quote that line when we need a reminder that God is in the midst of us…always.  But it’s interesting—that this line would come right after talking about people in a church not listening to one another.  Jesus wanted to remind us, sure he’s here for a lovely service like this one.  But he’s also here when we are arguing with one another, when we are in conflict, when we are in transition.  Those are the times when we need him the most, but also the times when we tend to ignore him the most.

                And I don’t like to brag….but I already knew that.  Because we have had a few conflicts in my time here.  There have been a few arguments.  That’s normal.  One of the many things I have admired about this church is that people almost always stay polite.  Now some might say, well that’s just keeping up appearances.  I don’t think so. A little kindness goes along way.   Maintaining the lines of communication is what allows us to stay in relationship.  I haven’t always been able to do it, but most of the time, I have--- because people have been willing and that means everything.

                That is what Jesus is talking about here.  It’s about people remaining in relationship even when they disagree.  It’s not just the pastor remaining in relationship with everyone, it’s about you all remaining in relationship with one another.  And that is going to be even more important in this transition period.  There are going to be some things you don’t agree on.  That’s ok.  Whatever you do-- don’t avoid one another.  Have the hard conversations because I can tell you from experience that you all are more than capable of that.  I know that southern hospitality makes that tricky sometimes, but you can do it. You have to do it.  Not because I am telling you, but because that is what Jesus is saying in this text.  Jesus is the messiah who cares for the outcasts and the marginalized.  Jesus is the shepherd who goes after that one sheep who wanders away.  And do you know why he can leave the 99…because there are 99 of them, and they can take care of one another.  If you notice someone is missing, don’t wait for the pastor to do something about it.  Absolutely, tell the pastor. But then call them.  I asked Patrick to print some extra directories.  They are in the parish hall.  Call that person. 

                Yesterday we had a funeral for Kevin Eley, who died too soon.  His obituary said that he had no regrets or deeds left undone.  What an amazing thing.  Most of us do not live a life without regrets.  Thankfully we are Christian, which means we always have opportunities for redemption.  This Gospel reading isn’t about discipline. It’s about how we seek redemption, with one another and with God. It’s about how we find a way to love one another, even when we don’t vote for the same people or have the same opinions about a confederate monument.

                While it’s true that we have been through our share of conflict, much of the time has been joyful.  Do you remember that first Easter when we could worship in person? Or the first fellowship event we could have? Or the many baptisms and weddings. I have seen you all show up for one another (and for me) again and again.  I know some of you are anxious about what is to come.   That’s normal.  Change is always scary. This church has been through 3 wars…wars that directly affected this building, hurricanes, flooding, a lightning strike and 47 rectors.  Some of you are new to the church and some of you sit in a pew where your great grandparents worshipped.  Some of you are Republicans and some are Democrats.  Some of you have lived here all your life and some have just moved here. You are a magnificent quilt made of many different patterns.  The back of the quilt shows something that looks discordant and a little messy.  The front is a wonder to see. This building is historic and precious, but the people in this building are so much more.  You are children of God, beloved by your creator and me your 47^th rector.

Picture of my last Sunday by Bob Harper

Homily for Kevin Eley: Sept 9th 2023

Mark 4:35-41  & II Tim 4:6-8

            “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” I hate it when Jesus asks questions like this…especially when there is a good reason for people to be afraid.  It’s not like it was a light drizzle and they were anxious about getting wet.   The Gospel says that the boat was already being swamped and Jesus was asleep.  The disciples had to wake him up.  Their question was understandable: “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”  We know that Jesus cared.  He calmed the storm.  No one drowned.  But why did he have to wait until the boat was swamped?  What person in their right mind wouldn’t have woken Jesus up and asked a few questions?

            I have a lot of questions I would like to ask Jesus when I meet him.  And one of them will be, “Why do good, kind, loving people die decades before they should?”  There will be people who tell you that there is a reason for everything that happens.  And if that helps you, I am not going to argue with you.  But I think that often hurts our relationship with God, when we assume that God has this master plan that includes good people dying long before they should. I am sorry, but that’s a lousy master plan.  I believe that sometimes horrible, awful things happen and if we try to figure out the reason, we may just torture ourselves.  There is no good reason for Kevin dying when he did.  I don’t think if Jesus were here now he would try to provide a reason.  He would just hold your hand while you cry.  Jesus can’t always provide the answer, but he can help us grieve, help us learn not from the death, but the life that Kevin lived.

            A few people have mentioned that Kevin’s legacy will be Youth Sailing.  No doubt that was a great passion and an amazing accomplishment that will affect many lives for years to come.  But I think another legacy he leaves is what was so beautifully said in his obituary, “Kevin lived life to the fullest with no regrets or deeds undone.”  How many of us can say that same thing?  It’s the deeds undone part that really struck me.  The reason many people fear death is because of the knowledge of everything they have not yet accomplished.  It’s the people they have hurt and the people to whom they didn’t say the things they needed to.  Kevin was kind and loving.  He wasn’t perfect because no one is, but he was good.  As our reading from Timothy says, he fought the good fight and he finished the race.

            There is no good reason for his death, but I hope that at some point, you can learn from his life—a life that left nothing undone and held no regrets.  What is that thing you have been meaning to do? Do that thing.  What is the passion that you have not yet harnessed?  Follow that passion.  What is the regret that nags at you that you can’t quite face?  Face your regrets and seek redemption.  Don’t let Kevin’s example fade.  Embody that example.

            One of my favorite parts of this reading from Mark is: “And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them, just as he was.”  I love that image of Jesus being just as he was.  I wonder if like Kevin, he found peace on the water.  I wonder if the reason he snapped at this disciples was because they couldn’t let him be at peace when the storm raged around them.  Jesus knew what all of us struggle to remember, that all storms pass eventually and even when your boat is sinking, God is in the boat with you.