1 Kings 17:8-16 (17-24) Psalm 146 Galatians 1:11-24 Luke 7:11-17
One year ago I preached my first sermon as your vicar. One year ago I was frightened. Excited, but frightened. I was as green as they come – and yes, terrified. Over the next several weeks and then months, I grew more and more comfortable planning and leading worship – and even writing sermons each week. Most of my classmates went to churches where they have served as associates, being given the opportunity to grow more slowly into their new roles as priests. Here in Arkansas all four new seminary graduates stepped into churches as the deacon, then priest-in-charge. I was fortunate to have 2 priests here, Dennis and Anne, supporting and encouraging me, but after the first month they both left at the same time leaving me to sink or swim on my own – or so I thought.
What I learned very quickly was that I was not alone. Not only was the same God that called me to ministry with me – you were with me as well. In preparing for today’s Adult Forum, I was reminded in my reading that the word liturgy means “the public works of the people.” Our worship together has never been up to me alone. From day one you have carried me in your prayers, as we have worshiped together and throughout the week.
A long, long time ago, I learned an important lesson about leadership. It is simply; don’t get in the way of success. Too often we attempt to control our fate and interfere with what God intends. Now I’m not saying a good leader sits on the sidelines and does nothing. On the contrary, a good leader needs to work alongside those entrusted to him or her. What I am saying is that a good leader listens to people and to God. A good leader may have a vision for the future, but it is important to continuously evaluate the source of that vision – is it for the good of the community, the world, or is it good for the leader? Vision that is good for the community AND the world is the vision that helps to bring about the kingdom of God. God sometimes calls on us to make sacrifices, so a vision based on our faith in God is not always the vision that benefits individually or that benefits a solitary group.
When our vestry met for its retreat to work on its vision and goals for St. Andrew’s, one member said of growth – if we grow in faith, the rest will come. At that time we were talking about pledges, attendance, and membership. By the end of our retreat we had developed goals that were, I believe, grounded in faith. The Holy Spirit helped us to remember that only a church grounded in the love of Christ can attract and keep new members.
Doing what is right is to grow in the knowledge and love of God and of his son Jesus Christ our Savior. That knowledge and love may lead us to make personal sacrifices, but we do them willingly when our vision is set on the kingdom. It is what Jesus did when he cured the sick, healed the lame, dined with sinners and – as we read in today’s lesson from Luke, had compassion on a widow who lost her only son. Remember that in the ancient times family was equivalent to a person’s social security. Children cared for their parents; there were no nursing facilities, there was no Medicaid, no Medicare, no food stamps, no social security – so the loss of her son might have meant she would live out her days in poverty.
In today’s reading from Kings, we also have the story of how a poor widow shared what little she had with a stranger. She told him she had only enough food left to feed her and her son one more time – than after she prepared what little she had left she and her son would die of starvation. Elijah asked her to prepare bread for him anyway – and she did. And, as Elijah had said, the meal in the jar lasted and the jug of oil remained good until the drought ended. The miracle kept the widow and her son from starving, but her son died from an illness. It was not until after Elijah called upon God and God raised the child from the dead that the widow said, “Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is truth.” Don’t you think she would have already known that after the miracle of the never ending jar of meal and jug of oil? Her words suggest that she acted out of obedience to her faith when she first met Elijah. God had sent Elijah to her, but she had been too caught up with her day to day responsibilities to see it at first. Then, when the world came crashing in around her, God intervened again and Elijah raised her son from the dead, and this time she understood that Elijah had truly been sent to her by God.
In both stories – the one from Luke and the one from Kings, God has mercy on the widows. In both, the unexpected, the extraordinary occurs in their darkest hours. I don’t personally know anyone who has had one of these experiences, but many of us have had that experience of realizing that God is present with us in what appears to be our darkest hour. Whether it is in the midst of grief, after the loss of job, or sitting with a family member who is on the verge of death, many of us have experienced a sense of calm that overcomes our profound sense of loneliness. Some might call it accepting the inevitable, but I would suggest it is an experience of the divine.
When, in Luke, it says that Jesus had compassion, the significance of this statement should not be overlooked. Before Christ, the people’s understanding of God was often one of a stoic, unfeeling God. Yes, God did get angry and yes, God did show mercy – but to attribute the feeling of compassion is to make God vulnerable. Think about it, whenever we have compassion for another, it causes us to behave differently. We might stop on our way out the door and sit and listen, we might fix them a meal, or we might give up our Saturday morning to help with the Angel Food Ministry distribution. Whatever we do when we have compassion, it means that we care enough about the other person to give of ourselves. Jesus had compassion and he raised the widow’s son from the dead.
This story as told in Luke when it was first written, said a great deal about God’s relationship with humanity. It said we matter enough to God, that Christ will stop what he is doing, and listen to our prayers. God created us, and we have value – each and every one of us.
One year ago, I was frightened – and you had compassion. You have gone out of your way to make Cathy and I feel welcome. You have affirmed us and you have shared the love of Christ with us. For this, I thank you.
In this worship service today, we are continuing the work of Christ. We are all participating in the liturgy – our work, and we are giving thanks to God, that Christ went out of his way to help us find life in the midst of death. Christ had compassion; God had compassion, and Christ allowed himself to be sacrificed that we might have life in him – today!
Let us pray.
Almighty and ever living God, you had compassion on us and sent your only Son to live and die as one of us that we might have life in him. I give thanks to you for this gathering of your people. I give thanks that through them, Christ’s love and compassion has been reflected to me and to my family. I pray that you continue the good works you have begun in them that they might shine forth your love into our community and lead others to you. We pray to you in the name of your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
