Sermon for 14th Pentecost, “B”
Where Your Heart Leads
By The Rev. Eric Christopher Shafer -
You may remember this old story. I like it:
A young Mother was hosting her extended family for Thanksgiving dinner and decided to bake a ham. As her daughter watched, the young Mom took out the ham, put it in the roasting pan, cut off the end and put it aside. Her daughter looked puzzled. “Mommy,” she said, “Why did you cut off the end of the ham?” “You know,” said the Mom, “I really don’t know. My Mom always did it that way.”
The next day, the extended family gathered for their Thanksgiving feast. Taking the opportunity during their delicious dinner, the little girl asked her Grandma, “Grandma, Mommy tells me she cuts off the end of the ham because that’s what you do. Why do you do that?” The Grandma responded, “You know, I do not know why I do that. My Mom always cut off the end of the ham, too!”
Well, it was Thanksgiving, so Great-Grandma was there also. The three women turned to Great-Grandma and asked her the same question, why did she cut of the end of a ham before baking it? “That’s easy,” said Great Grandma, “my pan was too small.”
And that is how some family traditions begin!
Cute story. I thought of it as I read today’s Gospel lesson from St. Mark. This lesson got me thinking about traditions in families and faith. Or, in the case of today’s Gospel lesson, a bit of both.
Today’s text lands us right in the middle of an argument so routine it feels peculiar to read about it in the Bible. I am pretty sure I have not only overheard this argument before, but actually participated in it. About washing your hands before dinner, that is.
Now, especially in these COVID-10 times, we ALL know how important handwashing is for sanitary reasons. Over the psat nearly two years it has been drilled into us: Stay home, wear a mask, and WASH YOUR HANDS. A lot.
So, this year especially we do not need another reminder of the importance of handwashing in our day just as it was in Jesus’ day.
But that cannot surely be all that is going on in this passage, can it, an argument about washing hands before eating that has probably been repeated in each and every one of our homes?
Well, yes and no. Yes, it really is about the practice of washing hands. No, as is often true in such arguments, there is often more going on beneath the surface than initially meets the eye.
Those of you who are parents know that children just sometimes forget to wash their hands. Or maybe they decide that even though their parents think this hand washing-thing is important, they do not, and, while they are at it, maybe they are tired of all the rules their parents are making. So maybe not washing their hands, in this case, is less about forgetfulness and more about testing their parents’ authority.
The same thing is happening in today’s Gospel text. It’s not just about washing hands, it’s about the tradition and authority behind that practice. Which is the point the Pharisees press: “Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders?” they ask, somewhat aghast at the implications of Jesus and his disciples running rough shod over tradition. What is at stake, then, is not just a specific practice but the larger question of authority. In short, the Pharisees want to know, just who does Jesus think he is to flout the tradition of the elders?
Today’s gospel text skips around in Mark 7. So, it might be helpful to look at verses the lectionary omits. Those verses suggest it is not simply about authority, but authority linked to behavior - our everyday, ordinary, decisions about how we treat each other. And that is why Jesus throws the “tradition of the elders” thing back in the Pharisees’ faces.
In the verses not included around today’s Gospel, Mark 7: 9 – 13, Jesus challenges the Pharisee’s “traditions” directly and says, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition!” Jesus accuses the Pharisees of finding a religious loop-hole to keep from supporting their parents, despite the commandment to honor one’s parents.
In other words, Jesus is challenging them as to how their traditions contribute to them fulfilling their mission in this world.
Well, what does this means for us, those of us worshipping online this weekend with Mt. Olive Lutheran Church?
Jesus’ question is one we also need to ask ourselves, in our congregation’s life and in our individual and family lives – how do our traditions and our everyday actions, contribute to fulfilling God’s mission for us in this world?
How do we, you and I, fulfill God’s mission for us in this world? Through our congregation and in our everyday lives?
In today’s text, Jesus gives us a direction – follow your heart. Jesus tells us to do what our hearts lead us to do. Jesus would say, “Do not let evil in this world come out of you, come out of your heart, let your heart lead you to goodness, not wickedness.”
Okay, I am with you, Jesus, but I need a bit more guidance. How do I lead with my heart? What do I actually do?
Well, that is where we get some guidance from our second lesson today, a text from the letter of James, the brother of Jesus.
Now, some of you may know that the Bible book of James was not one of Martin Luther’s favorites. Far from it. Luther thought the Bible books of both James and Revelations should not even be in the Bible!
Luther’s problem with James was that he believed James promoted, or could easily be interpreted as, works righteousness, earning one’s salvation. That, of course, was a major no-no for Luther with his emphasis on our salvation as a free gift of God, something we cannot earn, but only can accept.
However, a more sympathetic view of the book of James would suggest that James gives some helpful direction to what a Christian should do after he or she realizes God’s love and salvation for him or her. What’s next?
In today’s text, James suggests that what is next, what is worth breaking tradition for, is to care for the poor and marginalized in our world, “orphans and widows in distress” is James’ example. For James, our faith is worthless if it does not result in some positive action for those less fortunate than ourselves.
So, there it is – simply lead with your heart, reach out to those on the margins, show the love of God in all you do, not only at worship, but in all you do every day of your lives.
From Jesus and James to you and me: Remember and care for those on the margins – the immigrant, the poor, the homeless, the incarcerated. Lead with your heart. Show the love of God in all that you do.
Amen.
(With thanks to the Rev. Dr. David Lose).
The Rev. Eric Christopher Shafer
Senior Pastor - Mt. Olive Lutheran Church
Santa Monica, California
Sermon for:
August 29th, 2021
