Unexpected Role Models

The Rev. Tommy Thompson

St. Andrew's Episcopal Church 

Ludwig's Corner, PA

Proper 19C

18 September 2016

In the Name of God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Last week Jesus had some challenging words for the crowds that followed him as he headed towards Jerusalem.  He warned the crowd that following him is costly.  Discipleship is costly.  If you will follow behind Jesus, your loyalty must be unwavering, you must take up your cross and be ready to bear it daily, and you must have a loose grip on all your possessions, as this journey to Jerusalem is about forsaking all else for the sake of the mission that lies ahead of Jesus which is nothing less than the giving his life for the salvation of all. 

The lectionary for last week didn’t include the last couple of verses in Luke 14 that comes just before the start of Luke 15 – today’s Gospel lesson.  But in those last couple of verses, Jesus concluded his call to the crowds with these words:

‘Let anyone with ears to hear listen!’

Most of the time, the parables in Luke 15 are proclaimed on their own, but Luke 15 follows Luke 14 for a reason. As a matter of fact, one of the most important things you can do when you’re interpreting Scripture is to be aware of what we might call the co-text…what comes immediately before and after the passage you’re studying.  The author or editor put these two back to back for a reason.  Another thing to be aware of is repetition of words and phrases. 

Last week’s story ended with ‘Let anyone with ears to hear listen!’  Today’s Gospel begins with “all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to “listen” to Jesus.

Who might we expect to respond positively to Jesus’ call to discipleship? 

You might expect that the next line would say that as a response to Jesus’ challenging words, “His disciples were coming near to him to listen to him…” or maybe “the Pharisees, scribes and elders were coming near to listen him…the religious elite!  But no, the ones who were coming near to listen are those despised by the religious elite – the outcasts of society – those who have been relegated to the margins.

This is a common theme in Luke’s gospel.  Jesus is turning the world upside down – no – back right-side up. The mighty are being cast down from their thrones, and the lowly are being raised up.  We all have our idea of who the model disciple might be…when we imagine who they might be, we likely have people in mind that look a lot like we do.  That’s likely what the Pharisees and even Jesus’ disciples might have had in mind…

What we find in Luke’s Gospel is that those who are revealed to be model disciples are usually the least likely – those who are marginalized.  They have been stereotyped as bad people…I can’t help but to be reminded of the parable of the Good Samaritan.  No one in Jesus’ context would have expected a despised Samaritan to be the model neighbor who demonstrates what a life that has inherited eternal life looks like in this world.

These kinds of stereotypes are easily created.  A few people start calling all Muslims terrorists, and even the women and children refugees begin to be despised and rejected.  Fear is the catalyst for many actions contrary to the ethos of God’s kingdom; and exclusion in the form of racism, sexism, classism, and so many other isms are right at the top of the list.  I imagine that in our own day, it might be Syrians, or those who live in Iraq, Palestine, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, or Afghanistan who might be understood the way ‘tax collectors and sinners’ were understood in Luke’s day.  Those who have been stereotyped to be bad people…people who we couldn’t possibly imagine to be model disciples who reveal the life of God through their own faithful lives. 

But you know, it is those who know they have deep needs…who recognize they need God’s mercy – those are the ones who become model disciples.  It is not who gives the most, who does the most good, who attends worship the most, who has met the most bishops, who serves on the most committees or diocesan councils, or even those who pray the most (all of these are great things and can and usually are a response to God’s grace in our lives), but true discipleship is first and foremost about dependence upon the forgiveness and mercy God offers…true discipleship comes from an acknowledgement that I am the least…I have failed…I am a sinner and my only hope comes from God’s gracious and merciful activity on my behalf. 

The Epistle lesson for today hits the nail on the head.  Of all people, it would be safe to say most all of us would think of St. Paul if asked who comes to mind when you think of holy men and women.  But listen to how Paul describes himself in relation to God and others:

The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners-- of whom I am the foremost. But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience, making me an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life.  

This is what true discipleship is all about.  Those who still come near and listen to Jesus after such a difficult call to discipleship are those who realize their need.  Now, the truth is that every human being on earth stands in need of God’s grace.  Every second, every moment…there is not a moment in our lives when God’s grace is not needed.

That’s why God became our human brother in and through Jesus of Nazareth…He came to tell the world – most especially those stereotyped, despised, and marginalized, that God welcomes you, God’s grace is abundant, and God wants to welcome you into fellowship in his abundant, triune life of love!  That’s the point of the parables that follow.  After all the tax collectors and sinners drew near to listen to Jesus, the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled and said, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them!"

Them – That’s a word that is hardly a kingdom of God word!  Jesus came to abolish the us vs. them and reinstate the us – the people of God that includes all people of all nations, ethnicities, and genders.  None are left out of the scope of God’s redeeming grace! 

In direct response to the “Us vs. Them” created by the religious and social elite Pharisees and Scribes, Jesus shares two parables whose intention is to reveal the heart of God – God’s attitude – towards sinners – those who realize their lives are broken, who know they stand in need of God’s saving grace.

And both stories are stories of something being lost, something being found, and then a great party to celebrate that that which was lost is now found.  The point of both of these stories is that God’s primary concern in the world is to find those who are missing – for whatever reason…maybe because of their own shame due to their sin. Maybe because they’ve been stereotyped and marginalized…it doesn’t matter what they’ve done or why they’re missing, but God knows that his precious children are missing from his fellowship.  And God will not rest until they all are found…until fellowship with God and God’s people is restored!  And when they are found, they are welcomed, reinstated, and joyous festivity is the only possible response. 

`Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' … `Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.' Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

Searching out, finding, welcoming and celebrating those who are not currently at the Holy Table.  That is the mission of every disciple of Jesus Christ.  Never ever do we hear a parable of God’s desire to marginalize, to exclude, to create dichotomy’s.  God has come to seek out, find, and restore. God doesn’t build walls. God tears down the walls that divide and calls a people unified in and through Jesus Christ.  It’s as simple as that. IF our lives are not doing the same, then we are not faithfully living out the call to discipleship. 

The good news is that God’s mercy abounds! Today, may we mimic St. Paul, recognizing, not the sinfulness of others, but the sinfulness of our own lives.  When we realize how much we utterly depend upon God’s grace for salvation – for everything good in life, then we cease to stereotype and marginalize.  No one could be any worse off than myself.  I was lost and I am found.  If I can be found by God’s grace, then anyone can be found by God’s grace…and when they are, whoever they are, my I respond faithfully to the invitation to celebrate and party … because a precious child of God has been restored to fellowship. 

Thanks be to God. Amen.