Scripture Lesson: Romans 12: 9-18, followed by Luke 10:25-37 read intermittently with “Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child”
For those of us who were raised in the church, this text will be well known, especially the parable – the story of four men traveling from a city like Albany, Annapolis or Washington, DC to a city like Baltimore.
One of them was traveling down that road, was assaulted, stripped of all he had, and left for dead.
The second was some sort of minister of Word and sacraments, traveling along the same road. He saw the dying man and carefully drove right passed him.
The third man was some sort of ruling elder or deacon who, having come close to the dying man, also carefully drove past.
The fourth man was a strange man.
Based on how he looked and the sound of his accent (or was it a whole other language), one could presume he was not a Presbyterian. What we do know is that he saw the dying man, was moved to compassion, healed his wounds, transported him to safety, and paid every expense for his restoration to wellbeing.
The real story, however, is about a series of questions asked to Jesus by a teacher of the law. The first question begs its own sermon. It is interesting that Jesus responds to that question with another question: a dialogical ploy I was raised to understand as lacking decorum. I also think us Reformed folk may have a very different answer to that first question.
The second question, “Who Is My Neighbor?”, shifts the whole engagement between Jesus and the teacher of the law. We know from Luke that what the teacher of the law intended was to test Jesus’ theological soundness (ortodoxia). What Jesus does is shift the engagement from a dialogue about theological and legal cannons to a conversation about daily life and witness. That second question was posited expecting a simple and quick answer. However, Jesus makes that one the main question, and puts it right back in the court of the teacher of the law with a story with an all too familiar context and an all too familiar set of characters.
For the next few days we will be gathering around the challenge to consider a movement beyond Institution. The theme makes me wonder what is the question for which we are seeking an answer for – as individual disciples of Jesus, but also collectively as an expression of the Church of Christ. “Who is my neighbor?” is a very good question to ask. Answering the question of who my neighbor does not begin with theological constructs or constitutional mandates. To answer the question of who my neighbor I must decide that (1) I will allow myself to be led and guided by the power of grace that I have received undeservedly, and (2) to tap into the most fundamental desire of humanity - to be in relationship with others. To find the answer to the question of who my neighbor is, I have to allow myself to be a neighbor first.
The teacher of the law came to Jesus for a Book of Order mandate to his question. What he found was a response that challenged him beyond institution and tradition. What he found was a response that placed him and everyone in that audience squarely in the middle of what Jesus is all about:
Community - Comunidad
Relationships - Cercanía
Engagement - Relación
Vulnerability - Vulnerabilidad
Redemption - Redención
What is the question you are bringing to this gathering? Do you have a question that stems out of a feeling frustration or loss? Do you have a question that is growing out of a sense of anger? Do you have a question that has been sitting in your heart and causes you pain? Do you have a question for which you would really want a quick and easy answer?
The good news tonight is that Jesus is here. And Jesus might not have the style of answer that you want. But I know that Jesus will sit with us tonight, throughout this gathering, and in our days of discernment and service to come and will give us the answer that we need to be faithful witnesses.
I know a savior that when asked if he would heal and clean a person, the response was, “I do want to. Be cleaned!”
I know a savior that when called upon in the middle of the storm, stands up, orders the wind and the waves to calm, and increases our faith.
I know a savior that if we were to ask if he wants water, he responds by giving living water and by restoring the dignity and health of a whole community.
I know a savior who on the cross of Calvary, while sharing the agony of the liminal space between life and death, was asked (imploró) no to forget others who are also suffering agony when his kingdom comes, to which Jesus responds, “today, you will be with me in Paradise.”
I know that Jesus is here today, for God has gathered us from throughout the Church to engage us in conversation in order to answer our questions.
Bring Jesus your questions. But be ready to engage Jesus in conversation. No quick answers here, and perhaps the response is not what you expect. And the first answer to our question will most likely be another question: “would you be a neighbor?
En en el nombre del Creador
Del Redentor
Y del Consolador,
Amen.
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