[Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Lent 3A

[Joe Parrish]

Forwarded: 



-----Original Message-----
From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org>
To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org>
Sent: Sat, Mar 18, 2017 5:19 pm
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Lent 3A



Dear Friends,
 
This Sunday’s sermon is entitled “Three Strikes andYou’re Out!” or “Damaged Goods*” and deals with the Gospel (John 4:5-27, 39-42).  Here it is: 
 
Do you see this can of soup?  It looks really good, doesn’t it- that is ifyou like tomato soup.  But what if weplayed a game of catch with it and dropped it? Or what if it got bumped and banged on the way from the factory to thestore, or from the store to my cupboard? We’d consider it damaged goods, wouldn’t we?  The supermarket would display cans like thison a special, separate table- perhaps even labeled “damaged goods.”  In fact, when we get cans like this as wecollect food to feed the hungry, the health department frowns upon us usingthem to serve our feeding ministry guests. They are really considered damaged goods.  Why am I telling you about dented cans?  Because we heard in our gospel this morningabout another kind of damaged item- a damaged human being- the Samaritanwoman.  We heard the episode of how Jesustalked with her, got a drink of water from her, and told her that he was theMessiah.
 
As you recall, Jesus and thedisciples were traveling through Samariaon their way to Galilee.  They stopped at Jacob’s well; then thedisciples went into town to buy some food while Jesus rested at the well.  Here it was- noon, the hottest time of the day, and a Samaritan womancame to draw water.  We heard Jesus askher for a drink of water and strike up a conversation with her.  (Actually, this reminds me of my husband- hecan strike up a conversation with ANYONE!) What was unusual about this?  Inthe eyes of a Jewish male, this woman was damaged goods big-time- much moreunacceptable than a dented can of soup or a box of cereal with a bumpedcorner.  First of all, she was aSamaritan.  Jews considered Samaritansthat awful word- “half-breed!”- STRIKE ONE! Second, she was a woman.  Jewishmales, especially rabbis, did not speak to women in public- not even theirwives, sisters, or daughters.  SomePharisees even closed their eyes in mixed company rather than look at awoman.  (They were called the “bruisedand bleeding Pharisees”- what happens when you walk around with your eyesclosed and bump into things.)  Remember,one of the first prayers every Jewish boy learned at his mother’s knee was tothank God that he wasn’t born a gentile (i.e. Samaritan) or a woman- STRIKETWO!  Not only was she a Samaritan and awoman, she was a “bad woman.”  Jews allowedthree divorces, but only men were allowed to divorce a spouse.  She had been divorced five times and wasliving with a man not her husband- unthinkable in those times.  Coming to draw water under the noonday sunwas unusual.  Perhaps she came then to avoidthe stares of the other women who would have considered her a social outcast-STRIKE THREE!  It’s bad enough to have adamaged can of food, but damaged goods in the form of a precious human being, achild of God, is unthinkable!
 
How did Jesus treat her?
1)      With respect: he carried ona serious conversation with her- so much so that the disciples were amazed whenthey returned and saw them.
2)      With accountability: hedidn’t let her con him.  He told herabout her unacceptable past.
3)      With forgiveness: he didn’tallow her past to interfere with acceptance in the present.
4)      As an equal- human-to-human:he let her serve him water and drank from the same dipper from which she drank.
5)      With friendship: theirculture taught that giving or receiving a drink of water bound people asfriends for one year.
6)      With appreciation for herunique intelligence and talents: she was the first person Jesus told that hewas the Messiah.
 
How did she respond?  She blossomed- like a plant that has hadwater withheld and then the spring rains come (or the person remembers to waterit!)  She left her dipper at the well andtold the entire town about Jesus, so many were brought to him.
 
What’s it to us?  There are probably two categories of people:
1)      THOSE TEMPTED TO CONSIDERTHEMSELVES “DAMAGED GOODS”: perhaps you are someone who’s made some mistakes inyour life.  Perhaps you are the “uglyduckling” in your family.  Perhaps youconsider yourself to be “damaged goods.” NO WAY!  God doesn’t make junk!  Don’t put down your creator.  Love your neighbor as much as you loveYOURSELF, so start loving yourself.  Thisdoesn’t mean we all don’t have things we need to improve.  Work on yourself, but also love yourself andthank your Creator for creating you beautiful. While we’re at it- don’t wait until you’re perfect to come tochurch.  Come every Sunday and fellowshipwith your heavenly Father.  Earthlyparents love their children through their imperfections.  So does our heavenly Father.
2)      THOSE TEMPTED TO CONSIDEROTHERS AS “DAMAGED GOODS”: perhaps we look around and see people who could dobetter, in our opinion.  Remember- theworst sin is to judge your neighbor- that’s what the Pharisees did, which madethem so unacceptable to Jesus.  Everyperson we see is a child of God.  Iftheir behavior is wrecking their lives, pray for them.  Invite them to church.  Encourage them.  Be there for them.  Maybe tough love is necessary, but remember-tough love is still love.
 
I’m going to close with astory.  This story applies to all of us,regardless of whether the world considers us “damaged goods” or whether we’retempted to consider others “damaged goods.” There was a good, Christian, church-going man who died and stood beforeSt. Peter at the pearly gates.  Petertells the man that he needs 100 points to get in. The man starts in with – “Iwas on the vestry; I taught Sunday school; I went to church most Sundays.”Peter says – “That's one point.” The man begins to sweat – “I was faithful tomy wife; I supported my family; I was successful in my business, but did notcheat anyone.” Peter says – “That's one more.” Now the man is really gettingstressed – “I tithed; I worked at the food bank; I gave money to scholarshipfunds.”  Peter says – “That's one more.”  Finally in desperation the person says –“Yikes - it is only by the grace of God that I am going to get in!”  “Did you say ‘the grace of God?’” St. Peterasked.  “Wonderful!  You’ve got it- the grace of God- those arethe other 97 points.  1 + 1 + 1 + 97 =100 points!  Welcome home!”
 
“All of us have sinned and fallenshort of God's glory.  But God treats usmuch better than we deserve, and because of Christ Jesus, he freely accepts usand sets us free from our sins.” (Romans 3:23-24)  “God loved the people of this world so muchthat he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will haveeternal life and never really die.  Goddid not send his Son into the world to condemn its people. He sent him to savethem!” (John 3: 16-17)  
 
(*The second title and manyof the ideas from this sermon are from a sermon published by the Rev. BassMitchell.)
 
For anyone who isinterested, this sermon and updated African-American wisdom statements areposted on our parish’s web site under “Sermons & Stuff”. The address is: http://www.stpaulsepisag.org .
 
Blessed preaching,
Judy Boli
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Saginaw, Michigan

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