[Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 8B: “Share What You Have” or “Reach Out and Touch”

[Joe Parrish]

Forwarded: 



-----Original Message-----
From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org>
To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org>
Sent: Sat, Jun 30, 2018 4:39 pm
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 8B: “Share What You Have” or “Reach Out and Touch”



DearFriends,
 
ThisSunday’s sermon is entitled “Share What You Have” or “Reach Out and Touch” anddeals with all the lessons.  Here it is:  
 
Good morning.  Once again we have really thought-provokingBible lessons, but this time they meddle, because each of them is talking abouta subject we’d really like to say is our personal business- i.e. nobody’sbusiness but our own.  Paul sums up whatthese lessons are about in the epistle when he says: “It is only fair for youto share with others when you have so much and they have so little” (2ndCorinthians 8:13b-14).  That’s theChristianity-rubber-hits-the-road topic: sharing.  Our Bible lessons teach about five importantaspects of sharing for us to use as we walk with our Lord through life.  Then a thought for the week we havefrequently used tells one important reason why we share: “We make a living bywhat we get, but we make a life by what we give” (Norman MacFinan).  
 
Let’s look at the OldTestament lesson from Exodus (15:7-11). As you can see, the topic is loans, but its basic teaching is aboutlending a helping hand.  Moses, speakingfor God, tells his people that they are to help those in need whenever theycan, even if it is at their own disadvantage. Their society had a wonderful custom given to them by God.  That’s where Jubilee comes from.  Every Sabbath year of Sabbath years (7X7years plus 1- due to how they counted), all property reverted to its originalowner, all slaves were freed, every family had a second chance.  What we heard Moses warning the Israelitesabout was to forget about which year it was if someone was in need.  Just help them.  If it is year one of fifty years, you have 49years to get your stuff back; if it is year 49 of fifty years- you only haveone year to get it back.  Don’t thinkabout yourself- think about the person in need and help them, even if youyourself end up getting shortchanged.  Howmany friendships have been wrecked, how many relationships have been destroyed,how much violence has been done because someone couldn’t (not wouldn’t-couldn’t) pay back a debt.  That’s hardteaching, because the message to us is “Forget about yourself and concentrateon the needy person and help him or her.” If you get your stuff back-fine.  If not- forgive.
 
The Psalm reminds us that what goes around comes around- good as wellas bad.  Do you want blessings?  Well then- be a blessing to others.  Did you hear the story of the little girl whowent to the doctor’s office with her mother? She was usually absolutely awful in the waiting room, but this time shewas wonderful- even when she had to be left alone while her mother went in tosee the doctor.  The receptionist was soimpressed that she offered the child some candy from her candy jar, but thelittle girl dropped her eyes and looked shy, so the receptionist just took ahandful and gave it to her.  As soon asthey were outside, her mother couldn’t stand it any longer- since she knew herdaughter was NOT shy.  “Why didn’t youget your own candy?” she asked.  “Oh,that’s easy,” said her daughter.  “Thereceptionist has bigger hands!”   Thatreceptionist’s hands may be big and therefore able to hold more goodies, butGod’s hands are infinitely bigger and they can hold an amazing amount ofblessings.  We don’t give to be blessed,but when we give- blessings just seem to find us.
 
In today’s epistle, wehear Paul trying to get his church in Corinth to share.  What you need to know is that the Jerusalemchurch was in serious difficulty because there was a famine in that part of theworld.  People were starving.  Paul did his best to get the other churchesto send money to the Jerusalem church to relieve their desperate foodneeds.  The problem was- most of theChristians in the Jerusalem church were Jews, and many of the Christians in Paul’schurches were gentiles.  You already knowthat Jews discriminated against gentiles, so you can only imagine what peoplesaid when Paul told them to send some of their hard-earned cash to help thoseJews, but Paul didn’t back down.  The lesson for us: don’t worry about if youlike the person in need; don’t even worry about if they are your enemy- inJesus’ name, help them.
 
Today’s gospel showsJesus in the act of sharing- reaching out to those in need, not with money- butwith himself.  First he starts to Jairus’house to heal his daughter.  Part waythere, he feels a woman touch him- and you know the rest of the story.  He stops and has a rather lengthy discussionwith her to be sure she is healed and whole, then goes on to Jairus’house.  The lesson for us- thosedistractions; don’t we hate them!  Wejust start one task when the phone rings or someone calls our name.  We stop to help them and while we are stilldoing it- someone rings the doorbell.  What did Jesus do?  He went with the flow.  He handled the interruptions as they came,without anger- but with compassion. Easy?  NO, but who ever saidfollowing Jesus would be easy?  It seemsI remember something about a cross.
 
Listening to theselessons, it sounds like we should help everyone who comes to us, but that’s notwhat the Bible teaches.  Paul faced aproblem in his Thessalonian church that speaks to this.  Members in this church were sure that Jesuswas coming back soon, like maybe today or tomorrow, so some of them didn’t seeany need to work.  They quit their jobsand just sponged food from their hard-working Christian sisters and brotherswho had maintained their jobs.  When Paulfound out about it, he wrote that under circumstances like these when someonewas just being lazy and not using the gifts God had given them, he gave themthis rule: “If you don't work, you don't eat” (2nd Thessalonians3:10).  The lesson for us- don’t let people misuse your goodness, or you willjust enable and weaken them.  Help thosewho need it, but use good judgment. (Some people would call it “Tough Love.”) and don’t let people con you.
 
In closing, I’m goingto tell you a personal story, something that really happened to me, so you canlearn from my mistake.  It’s a warningabout how important it is to reach out, share of yourself, even if we’retalking about a huge interruption. Shortly after I was ordained, I was doing a hospital call at St.Mary’s.  Along with the person I wasseeing from St. Paul’s, there was also an out-of-town woman who had asked tosee an Episcopal priest.  I was stillteaching full time then, and I was really tired when I finished seeing the St.Paul’s person, so I went to the nursing station to see how the out-of-townwoman was doing.  (These were the olddays when I could find out.)  The nursesaid she was doing fine and would probably be going home in a day or two, so Idecided I would just drag my tired self home to my recliner and family- I couldgo back the next day.  Well, the next dayI went up to the floor, but couldn’t find the lady.  When I asked at the desk, the nurse said,“Oh, she died last night.”  Lesson forme?  You bet- it changed mypriesthood.  Never again!  I’ve learned to listen to those Holy Spiritwhispers.
 
May God bless you asyou share from your abundance with those in need.  Amen.
 
For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updatedAfrican-American wisdom statements are posted on our parish’s web site under“Sermons & Stuff”. The address is: http://www.stpaulsepisag.org.
 
Blessedpreaching,
JudyBoli
St.Paul's Episcopal Church
Saginaw,Michigan

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