7th SUNDAY after PENTECOST PROPER 8

June 29, 2008

(Jeremiah 28:5-9; Ps: 89:1-4 & 15-18; Romans 6:12-23; Matthew 10:40-42)

BODY, MIND, & SPIRIT

The Rev. Ken Kroohs

St. Christopher’s, High Point, NC

                                                    

MAY THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH ... AND THE MEDITATIONS OF ALL OUR HEARTS ... BE ALWAYS ACCEPTABLE TO YOU --- OUR STRENGTH AND OUR REDEEMER   AMEN

 

   Not only was this, as far as I could determine, the shortest Gospel in the entire three year series, it is a great Gospel after a Vacation Bible Camp with a mission theme!

 

   In this passage Jesus is comforting His disciples, and giving a bit of back handed instruction to other people.  Jesus tells the disciples that people should welcome them so they can be comforted by that expectation.  In so doing, Jesus warns the people they SHOULD welcome the disciples.

 

   Clearly this passage can be applied to the original disciples and possibly to modern missionaries.  But if we go a bit deeper I believe we see how the lesson means much more.  I believe we need to read this within the context of Jesus’ many teachings about “the whole world” and “all people” – Jesus saying that His mission was to the entire world and to every person. Jesus later expands it when He talks about how if the “least of these” are fed, clothed, visited, it was actually done to Him.

 

   I believe we can summarize these teachings fairly easily with a short phrase: “welcome the stranger”.  Unfortunately that phrase includes two words we don’t immediately understand: “welcome” and “stranger”!  We don’t immediately get the full depth of the meaning because we don’t have the same cultural context as the original audience.

 

   In many rural cultures — not just the mid-east but that is the culture this is written within ---- in many rural cultures the concept of family is very strong, and very extended.  It’s not only southerners who know about their 4th cousin twice removed!  If a person walked into the homestead or village and looked like them and spoke the same language, chances are they were related.  And even if not technically relatives they were welcomed as family - they were not a stranger. 

 

   This was particularly important because people left outside without protection faced danger and very possibly death.

 

   We tend to think of the “stranger” as simply someone whose name we do not know.  The person who sits next to us at Rotary – we don’t know their name so we consider them a stranger.  But in this context that is too small a definition.  That person who sits next to us at Rotary, or church, probably has a great deal in common with us.

 

   The “stranger” in this context is someone with very little in common with us.  The stranger probably does not look like us, does not work in the same kind of job, does not live in our area, may not even smell like us!  The stranger is someone whose life we simply cannot imagine much less understand.

 

   The term “stranger” certainly includes the person who will become our good friend, but it extends way, way beyond that.

 

   The other term is “welcome”.  Again, we might understand that as saying: “hi!  Glad you’re here.” and little more.  But the original readers of this gospel would understand it to mean much more.  It would mean providing whatever the person needs.  Jesus uses the example of a cup of cold water as a minimum — but He clearly did not mean it to stop there!

 

   Try this image ... imagine a family member ... not the one you would rather never see again!  But a family member who you care about deeply.  Now imagine what you would do for that person. ..... Those actions are what scripture means by: “welcoming a stranger” !

 

   So how do we apply that in our lives?  Certainly this congregation has demonstrated that in many ways.  Cooking and serving at the Open Door shelter for the homeless.  Opening up to people who come to Vacation Bible Camp including meals and gifts.  Preparing to minister through Interfaith Hospitality network for homeless families.  Gifts to people in the hospital for cancer treatment or who are waiting anxiously for their loved ones to finish surgery.  Support for those going to West Virginia to rehabilitate a home or other facility.  The angel tree at Christmas - the food pantry - the shoe collection.

 

   During Vacation Bible Camp, adults learning about efforts in Bosnia, Honduras, the West End of High Point, and the world wide Millennium Development Goals. .... Learning is important.  We cannot truly “welcome” until we know what is needed.

 

   Lots has been done!  And many of those actions are clear examples of “welcoming a stranger”.

 

   So where do we go from here? ... Fortunately this week was so busy I was forced to hide out and begin the sermon early!  I knew the Bible Camp plus Bonnie on vacation would fill up the hours.  (This week you can honestly blame me for any errors in the bulletin!)

 

   Because I started the sermon early I was able to ask the question: “Where do we go from here?”  There are two obvious answers: either we could stop and congratulate ourselves on jobs well done, or we could challenge ourselves to do even more.

 

   But it struck me that the more important question than “Where do we go from here?” is “Why do we do what we do?” .... Sure the obvious answer is that God told us to.  Absolutely true but I believe incomplete.

 

   Another obvious answer is that we are trying to earn credit with God.  Doesn’t work that way.

 

   So why do it?  I believe that ultimately every person wants to have a close relationship with God.  And all the philosophical systems I am familiar with suggest that a relationship has three parts.  A common description is body, mind and spirit.  So if we are to have a close relationship with God it will require all three components.

 

   I know this is a bit simplistic, but let’s assign our mission work to the “body” category.  There is more including caring for ourselves but for today we will say that all those activities I listed are part of the “body” component of our relationship with God.

 

   Many people focus their energy on the “spirit” component.  That could be week long silent retreats or rock band music with people shouting “alleluia” — the style is not important.  What is important is that the person is seeking a more emotional connection.

 

   Many Episcopalians find that troublesome – the idea that emotions are part of religion.  They may say emotion has no part but just dare to change their music!!  We all have the emotional component in any of our relationships but particularly in our relationship with God.  We just may not be excited to admit, or explore it.

 

   Finally there is the “mind” component.  Many times the Episcopal church is characterized as a “head church” ... a place where the intellect is most important.  The poster in some churches which says: “Jesus came to take away your sins and not your mind” seems to emphasize that bias.

 

   Of course it is fascinating to hear the same people who say the Episcopal church focuses on the intellect also say Episcopalians could not FIND a Bible!

 

   I suspect we are characterized in that manner because our style is not obviously emotional and we seldom get credit for our mission activity.  Still, there may be some credence in the accusation.

  

   Where we go from here is to examine our own body - mind - spirit tripod and see which legs are given lots of attention and which ones are given very little.

 

   The small groups mentioned in the bulletin are designed to help us make that evaluation and then correct our weaknesses.

  

   Please know I am generalizing here:  Many atheists and agnostics work at Open Door and Habitat.  They have the “body” component but miss the others. 

 

   Many atheists and agnostics know the Bible better than many of us!  They have the “mind” component but are missing the “spirit”. 

 

   Many charismatics have the “spirit” component and sometimes the “mind” component but miss the “body” part.

 

   I have my suspicion if we could take a survey which of three components most people would be weak on - but it is only a private suspicion and will be left that way!

 

   So yes, we need to continue and even expand the “body” ministries ... or “mind” or “spirit” whichever is our personal focus.  But we also need to strengthen our weaknesses.

 

   Let us pray: Dear God we sincerely want to grow ever closer to you.  Guide us to understand our weaknesses, continue to expand our strengths, and help us reach out for others on our journey.

 

             AMEN

 

We have previous sermons on our website.  To read an earlier recent sermon just enter: www.st-christopher.org/sermon.html.

 

CLICK HERE TO RESPOND: I would enjoy reading your comments about this sermon. Please feel free to discuss content or presentation.  (If you wish to use another email system send your comments to:  ken@st-christopher.com)