10th Sunday after Pentecost Proper 13 August 5 Lectionary 18 Sermon

10th Sunday after Pentecost

Proper 13

August 5

Lectionary 18

Luke 12:13-21

Ecclesiastes 1:2,12-14 2:18-23

"Contentment?"



"Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity." Ecclesiastes 1:2, RSV.

"I the Preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. And I applied my mind to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven; it is an unhappy business that God has given to the sons of men to be busy with. I have seen everything that is done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind." Ecclesiastes 1:12-14, RSV.

"I hated all my toil in which I had toiled under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who will come after me; and who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity. So I turned about and gave my heart up to despair over all the toil of my labors under the sun, because sometimes a man who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave all to be enjoyed by a man who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil. What has a man from all the toil and strain with which he toils beneath the sun? For all his days are full of pain, and his work is a vexation; even in the night his mind does not rest. This also is vanity." Ecclesiastes 2:18-23, RSV.

"One of the multitude said to him, "Teacher, bid my brother divide the inheritance with me." But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or divider over you?" And he said to them, "Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' And he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.' But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."" Luke 12:13-21, RSV.

Grace and peace to your from our Lord and Saviour, Jesus the Christ. Amen

When I told my wife that I was going to start off this sermon this morning with some song lyrics by the Beatles, she said you can tell you just turn 60.

Yes, I would like to share some lyrics from the Beatles' song Can't buy me love

Listen:

The Beatles - Can't Buy Me Love Lyrics print version

Can't buy me love, love
Can't buy me love

I'll buy you a diamond ring my friend if it makes you feel alright
I'll get you anything my friend if it makes you feel alright
'Cause I don't care too much for money, money can't buy me love

I'll give you all I got to give if you say you love me too
I may not have a lot to give but what I got I'll give to you
I don't care too much for money, money can't buy me love

Can't buy me love, everybody tells me so
Can't buy me love, no no no, no

Say you don't need no diamond ring and I'll be satisfied
Tell me that you want the kind of thing that money just can't buy
I don't care too much for money, money can't buy me love

Now listen to an Aseop fable

"When a dog which had stolen a piece of meat out of a butcher's shop, was crossing a river on its way home, he saw his own shadow reflected in the stream below. Thinking that it was another dog with another piece of meat, he decided to make himself master of that also; but in snapping at the supposed treasure, he dropped the meat he was carrying, and so went away empty handed."

The rich farmer said to his soul, "Soul you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink be merry."

"Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities!! All is vanity"

"Jesus says, "Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions; "

As you can tell by now as you listened to the song lyrics, fable and the quotes from our lessons this morning, our topic for today concerns a subject that is difficult to preach about, even more difficult for you to listen to, that subject is money, or possessions, or wealth, or whatever you would like to call it. It is a subject that many people have accused the church of talking about every Sunday or it is a subject that is only talked about when the church needs money. It is a subject that can raise the tempers of a lot of people, it can cause guilt feelings in others or it can cause apathy in still others.

This morning I would like to talk about money, but in a way that I hope will not make you feel guilty, or become angry, but in a way that will speak about contentment, or living a life that is not always thinking about how much I have or would like to have.

Our first lesson from Ecclesiastes the preacher says, " Vanity of vanities, vanity of vanities!! All is vanity." or futility of futility's, futility of futility's!! All is futile, or Emptiness of emptiness, emptiness of emptiness!! All is emptiness. As you can see the word vanity as it is used in the Bible has to do with things or life being empty, futile, or insubstantial, or as the Hebrew word is literally translated, "a breath".

What the preacher is saying in Ecclesiastes is that all of life is empty, all of life is futile, all of life is like a breath here one minute, gone the next. Our text goes on to say that a man can toil all the day in field, but then when he dies and another takes over and he might not appreciate your efforts and might not take as good of care of the land.

In one sense, the preacher is saying, that things of this life in and of themselves mean very little. The preacher is saying that the toil for things, the toil of work in and of itself is really worthless, empty of no value.

But he says in the last paragraph, when you see your toil as from God, when you see that your toil is in praise and service to God, then it is not in vain, then one can eat and drink and find enjoyment in one's toil. The preacher says, in verse 25 "for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment?"

The preacher is saying that if your toil and effort are for God, then it has meaning and purpose. For if toil is seen in connection with God, then we will have our priorities right. Our work, our toil will be shared with God and it will not be the whole consuming effort in our lives.

The preaching is talking about contentment. Are you content with your life? Or do you always strive for more.

Are you like the business man in the following:

One day a fisherman was lying on a beautiful beach, with his fishing pole propped up in the sand and his solitary line cast out into the sparkling blue surf. He was enjoying the warmth of the afternoon sun and the prospect of catching a fish.

About that time, a businessman came walking down the beach, trying to relieve some of the stress of his workday. He noticed the fisherman sitting on the beach and decided to find out why this fisherman was fishing instead of working harder to make a living for himself and his family.

"You aren't going to catch many fish that way," said the businessman to the fisherman, "you should be working rather than lying on the beach!"

The fisherman looked up at the businessman, smiled and replied, "And what will my reward be?" "Well, you can get bigger nets and catch more fish!" was the businessman's answer.

"And then what will my reward be?" asked the fisherman, still smiling.

The businessman replied, "You will make money and you'll be able to buy a boat, which will then result in larger catches of fish!"

"And then what will my reward be?" asked the fisherman again. The businessman was beginning to get a little irritated with the fisherman's questions. "You can buy a bigger boat, and hire some people to work for you!" he said.

"And then what will my reward be?" repeated the fisherman. The businessman was getting angry. "Don't you understand? You can build up a fleet of fishing boats, sail all over the world, and let all your employees catch fish for you!"

Once again the fisherman asked, "And then what will my reward be?"

The businessman was red with rage and shouted at the fisherman, "Don't you understand that you can become so rich that you will never have to work for your living again! You can spend all the rest of your days sitting on this beach, looking at the sunset. You won't have a care in the world!"

The fisherman, still smiling, looked up and said, "And what do you think I'm doing right now?"

Contentment is a difficult attitude to learn, but so important. It's easy to get caught in the world's trap of working harder and harder to earn more and more, when we may well already have what can provide us with the greatest possible happiness. (1)

I am not saying that we shouldn't strive to do the best possible work we can, but what we are trying to point out is that the toil, the work, the stuff that the work buys is in and of itself is not that important. What really matters is my relationship to God and my relationship to the people around me. Because as the preacher says in Ecclesiastes apart from God everything is vanity.

Martin Luther talks about vocation as a God given gift, that what we do is a gift from God so our doing is important. But it is the priority we place on our work we are talking about this morning.What we are talking about tis morning is a balance between how much I have or want to have and contentment.

The rich farmer said to his soul,

19* And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.'

20* But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?'

21* So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

The rich farmer was more concerned about his wealth than anything else. There needs to be a balance in life. On the one hand we need to work to take care of our families. But on the other, our families need more than a pay check. We need something more than a pay check. We need to develop sound relationships. The first relationship is with God, then our family.

It is only through God that my toil, my work, my enjoyment of life can have meaning and purpose. It is in that relationship with God then, that I can be free to work, free to use the fruits of my labor to serve God and the people around me. It is in that relationship with God that I can be free to love, free to care, free from the bonds of greed to enjoy life, to discover the beauty of relationships, the joy of a person who truly cares for me as I am, and the thrill of knowing that when this life is ended, I will be given a mansion for eternity.

It is through my relationship with God that I can be content with what I have. Content with my family, content with my lifestyle, content with how much money I have.

Bill, an accomplished professor at a major university, understood what the preacher was trying to say in this text from Ecclesiastes. He took neither himself nor his job as seriously as he took his family and his fishing pole. The things, others took seriously--- church organizational charts and denominational hand books, money and fame Bill winked at. He was too busy visiting with the widow lady who planted tulips the same day he did last week.

Bill knew that we can take life so seriously that we think each step we take is vitally important to the future of the human race. But Bill knew we must be only semi serious about this life. Understanding the semi seriousness of life does not lead to despair, but to a free and playful spirit that gives us time to enjoy life and time to love.

In I Timothy 6: 6-8 it says: "There is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world and we cannot take anything out of the world; but if we have food and clothing with these we shall be content."

Is there a certain contentment about your life? A contentment that says I don't have to work and toil for an over abundance of things, but I can be content with a good living. Then spend some quality time in relationships, one, my relationship with God and then my relationship with my family and my friends. Am I content in knowing that my God given skills are being used to further his kingdom through my service and through my giving? Am I content in knowing that I don't take life so seriously, that I don't have time to smell the roses, so to speak?

"A 45 year old man sat crying in a pastor's office. For the last 20 years he had grabbed and strained and fought for success. Through the corporate maze he ran, never asking why, never observing how he hurt his wife or kids, never realizing he didn't know them, never admitting that he was destroying his own body with the stress and constant work.

Now he is in the pastor's office crying his eyes out. His wife has left him. The kids are grown and have nothing to do with him because they don't know him. Suddenly his financial assets and career mean nothing. He is alone in the world. Nothing means anything. He is alone, cut off from his loved ones, living in a hollowness of life apart from meaningful attachments to family or God."

You could apply this story to countless other people, not just corporate executives but farmers, lawyers, business people, doctors, and yes even pastors. All of us can get so caught up in being driven by the addiction for financial success, or fame, or importance, that we can loose sight of those relationships that truly give meaning and purpose to life. It is in relationships, being with people, being with God that gives life meaning and purpose.

Vanity or vanities, like a breath of wind, what we have is here one day gone the next.

The preacher says, in verse 25 "for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment?"

"There is great gain in godliness with contentment, "

Am I content ?

amen

Written by Pastor Tim Zingale July 30, 2007

(1) from
Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

8th Sunday after Pentecost July 22 Proper 11 C Lectionary 16 Sermon

8th Sunday after Pentecost

July 22

Proper 11 C

Lectionary 16

Luke 10:38-42

"Sisters"



Luke 10:

38* Now as they went on their way, he entered a village; and a woman named Martha received him into her house.
39* And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching.
40* But Martha was distracted with much serving; and she went to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.”
41* But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things;
42* one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her.”


Grace and Peace to you from our Lord and Saviour, Jesus who is the Christ. Amen

I would like you to imagine that you can hear the conversation which is going on in the heads of the two sisters in our gospel lesson this morning. The sisters are Martha and Mary.

First Martha:

I just glanced out into the other room and what did I see, I saw Mary sitting at Jesus' feet listening to him. Here I am stuck in the hot kitchen making the meal, why can she come and help me.

Hey, maybe if I ask Jesus to send her out here she would have to come.

So Martha goes into the other room and says to Jesus, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.”

I told him now what? The Lord is answering me he says: Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; one thing is needful.

She goes back into the kitchen and sits down and thinks: What does he mean one thing is needful? He is talking about faith? I have faith. Wasn't I the one that ran up to Jesus when Lazarus died and said, "If you had been here my brother would not of died?" That statement told Jesus that I believed in Him, I trusted him to do the right thing. I have faith!

What is this right thing? What is this right thing right now? Isn't it fixing the food for all the guests. Maybe I did go over board some in my such a big meal. But I like to cook. That is my gift, cooking.

I just wanted Mary to come out here and help a little. But maybe, just maybe Mary had the right thing. Maybe cooking is not the right thing now. We don't know how much longer we will have Jesus with us. Maybe I should stop this cooking and go out and listen to Jesus.

Now Mary:

Why does Martha keep poking her head out of the door trying to get my attention. Doesn't she know that I need to be here listening to the Master. I don't have that strong faith as she does. I need to be here listening, wondering about this man Jesus.

Now what is she doing. She just asked Jesus to tell me to go into the kitchen and help. The nerve of that woman! But what is Jesus saying to her? He says that Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her.”

He didn't tell me to go out into the kitchen, but I can stay here at his feet and continue to listen. Jesus is not like those scribes and Pharisee who think that a woman cannot learn or understand these religious thing. Jesus lets us women learn right along side of the men. As I think about Jesus' ministry, he has broken down a lot of barriers. He allows sinners to eat with him. He teaches women. He isn't as concern about the law as the scribes and Pharisees are. As a matter of face he only told us two laws that are important, loving God and loving our neighbor.

Hey look. Martha is coming out of the kitchen to listen for awhile, good for her.

Now to the present moment. Both sisters thought they were doing the right thing. Martha thought that service was important now and Mary thought worship or listening to Jesus was important.

And I think both sisters were correct. Service is important as well as worship, learning about Jesus.

Let us look at service first.

Service means to help another. Caring another person's burden.

I read this poem in an e-mail listen:

A poem entitled "Sermons We See," part of which goes like this:

I'd rather see a sermon
than hear one any day;
I'd rather one should walk with me
than merely tell the way.

And the best of all the preachers
are the men who live their creeds,
For to see good put in action
is what everybody needs. 1

Do you understand what is meant by that line, "I'd rather see a sermon than hear one any day". It means that our words while fine need to be turned into action. Martha turned the words of Jesus into action, cooking for him. She had that service thing down cold.

And sometimes service is the right thing to do.

A kind smile, a helping hand is part of Christian service.

A pastor had gathered a selected group of workers to train them to witness for Jesus. A young worker was complaining to a veteran caller about one of the people he had visited. "I' tried to tell him about Jesus, I tried to tell him about the love Jesus had for Him. I tried to tell him that Jesus was interested in helping him to live a life of grace, to help him with the burdens he was caring.

But the man replied in this manner, " I am a poor old man and must stagger under this load of firewood that I had so much trouble in cutting. I can feel nothing of the love of God. I can feel nothing of God caring for my burdens. I can feel nothing of his grace for me. "

The visitor turned to the young; depressed visitor and said, " My son, if you would have offered to carry his load of 'wood for him. He would have believed in your words because he would have not only have heard about 'the love of God for him, but he would have seen an illustration of it in you.''

And that bring us to worship, telling others about Christ. We need to tell others about Christ as well as show them Christ's love in our actions.

Mary knew at that moment worship, being with Jesus was the most important thing. We need t lead people to church, to worship Christ, to hear of His great love for us through the word and sacraments.

G. Campbell Morgan says this about worship:

"The word "worship" runs through the Bible, and the thought of worship is to be found from beginning to end. The thought of worship is the recognition of divine sufficiency, the recognition of our absolute dependence on the divine sufficiency, the confession that all we need in our lives we find in God. And the spoken answer to that conviction is worship. 2

It is here in worship that we find God through Jesus Christ. Here is where we need to be on Sunday mornings to find the Christ in our lives. We start every service with the invocation, In the name of the Father,Son and Holy Spirit. We say that phrase because we remember Jesus' promise where two or three are gathered I will be in the midst of them.

Consider briefly the significance of worship:

It is obedience to a divine command.

It is a means of nourishing the spirit.

It assists in achieving spiritual growth.

It encourages others in their spiritual development.

It shows the world where my priorities are.

It is one means of expressing my love for God.

It is an avenue God has provided by which I can praise His name.

It is the offering of spiritual sacrifices.

It is a way of showing my thanksgiving to God for all He has done for me.

It is a period of communion with God with the world shut out entirely.

It is an experience that should make the heart of every Christian glad!

Will you join your fellow Christians this Lord's day as they assemble to honor His name?

Your Father will be looking for you.

Mary and Martha were both right, worship and service are both parts of the life of a follower of Jesus.

Amen

1 from Sermons4Kids.com

2 from PEARLS e-mail yahoo group

7th Sunday after Pentecost July 15 Proper 10 Lectionary 15 The Ditch and the Samaritan

7th Sunday after Pentecost

July 15

Proper 10

Lectionary 15

Luke 10:25-37

The Ditch and the Samaritan



25 ¶ And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and made trial of him, saying, Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

26 And he said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.

28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbor?

30 Jesus made answer and said, A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho; and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

31 And by chance a certain priest was going down that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

32 And in like manner a Levite also, when he came to the place, and saw him, passed by on the other side.

33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he was moved with compassion,

34 and came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on them oil and wine; and he set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

35 And on the morrow he took out two shillings, and gave them to the host, and said, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, I, when I come back again, will repay thee.

36 Which of these three, thinkest thou, proved neighbor unto him that fell among the robbers?

37 And he said, He that showed mercy on him. And Jesus said unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.RSV

Grace and Peace to you from our Lord, Jesus who is the Christ. Amen

'No don't take my money, please don't hit me again. Stop I beg you stop. Here take what you want, take my wallet, take my money, but please leave me alone.

Hey, were am I?? Oh, I remember, the robbers, I see they are gone. Let's see if I can get up and get out of here. Oh, Oh, I think I have a few broken ribs and a twisted ankle. I cannot climb out of this ditch. Maybe someone will come along. I can't get out of here by myself.

I think I hear someone, yes it is. Hey down here, help help. That's right I am down here. What are you doing. Don't leave. What was that he said? 'He didn't want to get involved. He was afraid of making a mistake. He assured me someone who knew how to help me would come along.'

Oh, yea he said something else. Said he was late for meeting at his church. Some church member he is. Oh I am sore.

Hey I hear some more noise. Help, help, help me I am hurt. He did the some thing. He looked, said something and left. I barely heard him. I think he said I should have been more careful and a man in his position shouldn't get involved in such matters. Someone else surely will come along.

He looked familiar. Yes he is involved in politics holds some important office. He doesn't think much of the down and ousters. Figures everyone wants a free handout. Boy do I hurt.'

I hear another noise. Help, help me I am hurt. He is coming down here. He doesn't smell too good. I know him, he's the town drunk. Imagine that, he's picking me up. Now he is putting in the back seat of his car. Where are we going? to the hospital. Well, can you beat that, the town drunk is helping me when those other two men couldn't get involved. Imagine that .,...."

I am sure all of you guessed that was a modern parable of the good Samaritan. The good Samaritan can be the most unexpected person who is willing to give of himself/herself in a situation which calls for action. A person who is willing to give with out thinking of the cost, the cost of the involvement, is what a good Samaritan is all about.

The other two men weighted their response and found that giving of themselves was too great a price to pay.

When they might give, it would be so they could feel good. Giving of self can be a very selfish act as we weigh what kinds of rewards we can achieve. However in this parable, Jesus is speaking about giving without counting, or measuring the rewards. Jesus says we are to give from a caring, unselfish, loving heart. Giving because you enjoy and want to give of yourself freely.

This is one level of looking at this parable. This morning I would also like to look at this parable in another level.

The first question the lawyer asked Jesus was "Teacher what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" He is looking for the good life, the meaningful life, the satisfying life, the life which God intended for him to have. The life that is in a right relationship with God and all of his creation.

He is asking," how can I get out of the ditches of brokenness, separation, hatred and self righteousness. How can I pull myself up from this kind of life to a life which is not separated from God and others".

Jesus answers him by asking what does the law say and the lawyer repeats the law. Jesus tells him to do it, but he still doesn't understand so he asks another question about the identity of his neighbor.

And in this parable, Jesus speaks to the obvious question of neighbor and the implied question how shall I save my life? How do I get myself out of the brokenness of this world?

In Jesus' answer he tells the lawyer that he cannot get himself out of the brokenness of this world, he cannot save himself, he cannot pull himself up by his bootstraps, he must wait for the good Samaritan, he must wait for the Messiah, he must wait for Jesus.

Can you see this very subtle point Jesus makes as we see this parable from the point of view of salvation. His question stated, "Teacher what shall I do," notice the I. He wanted to know how he could have the good life and in a subtle way Jesus told him that by himself he cannot achieve the good life, but only through the savior. And then the savior would show him what was meant by the good life. It is a life of service, sacrifice, and giving of one's self. Jesus showed him two truths in one parable. Jesus saw him missing the point, missing the only way for salvation.

It wasn't what he could do, but what Christ can do for him. After he felt the love, the service, the caring of Christ, then in the parable Jesus commands him to do likewise to love his neighbor in the same kind of way that Christ loved him. Salvation doesn't depend on a person's actions, but on the love of Christ. Jesus saw that the lawyer didn't understand at all why Jesus come to earth. He was so wrapped up in himself so he couldn't see Christ as the savior and the Messiah and he couldn't love his neighbor either.

Jesus was saying that the lawyer didn't understand what Jesus mission was all about. Jesus came to take the "I" out of salvation picture. Jesus came as Luther said, "as God's Good Samaritan." Jesus came because we cannot pull ourselves out of the brokenness the bondage of sin which engulfs us each day. We cannot save ourselves no matter how much we try.

"What shall I do to inherit eternal life" What shall I do to live the good life, what shall I do to live in contentment and harmony with God and us

Jesus says nothing. You cannot save yourself, that his job. Then after salvation is secured then Jesus says that life is lived in service to my neighbor. Service to my neighbor without counting the cost or expecting a reward.



Service is not done for the reward we expect. The reward, eternal life, is given to all as a free gift, no string attached. Our service, our response, our sacrifice comes from a loving heart which has been loved so much by Christ that it cannot help but to love in return. The Samaritan received no reward for his service, he loved period.

You and I are to love period because salvation has been given as a free gift, that is already taken care of for us by Jesus. He has removed us from the ditches of life. He has pulled us out of our particular ditches.

Pastor Richard Hoefler says in his book "And He told them a Story" "we are all in one way or another ditch dwellers. And the tragedy is that we so often desperately try to save ourselves trying to avoid the embarrassment of admitting our helplessness. Sometime we think the answer is a ladder that will enable us to climb out--a ladder such as technology or science and education. Some think the answer is moral fortitude--becoming so good we will sprout wings and fly out like haloed angels. Many have just given up and applied first aid to our wounds with drugs and drink. But eventually you and I will come to the realization the ditch is just too deep and we must get help from outside ourselves."

And that is just the point Jesus is subtly making to the lawyer and to all those who think they can by their own efforts pull themselves out of the ditches of brokenness and bondage to sin. We are wounded by our sin, we are broken by the pain of life and we must admit to ourselves that we need a good Samaritan to come and carry us out of our ditch. Then Christ will come take us upon his back, the back which shouldered the cross, and carry us out of our ditch into the light, the brightness, the glory of living for him and with him.

Then Jesus us will point out to us all the others who are living in their ditches and asks us to do likewise. We cannot carry them out and give them salvation, however, Jesus asks us to carry those out who are feeling the brokenness of this world, those who have been mugged, robbed, beaten, broken, battered by the forces of this world in which we have no control.

These we are to carry out. These we are to minister to, these are the ones in which we can become like that good Samaritan.

A closing story sums it up best:

"They knew that they had a serious problem before they even pulled over to the side of the highway to check it out. The car shrieked and shuttered. Something was dragging on the pavement- and whatever it was, it sounded expensive.

They got out of the car to survey the damage and sure enough it was going to cost them a bundle. The man looked under the car and then back at the young woman he had a worried look on his face. She asked him what the problem was and he told her that it was the universal joint. She knew better than to ask him more.

He raised the hood and tied a cloth to the door handle and they waited, waited for someone to stop and help. They waited for someone to call the police or a tow truck.

The young woman sat on the grass by the roadside ditch and fanned herself with the map. She was tired and hot and she prayed that God would send an Amoco tow truck because it was the only credit card in her purse. Where would they stay? What would they do? They were in Elkhart Indiana, miles from his home and hers. They had so little money. She doubted that anyone would even stop to help them: they'd been traveling for days and they both looked pretty scruffy. The man's beard was down to his chest and his tee shirt was soaked in his sweat and he was now covered with grease and dirt. She didn't look so great herself her long hair was dirty and windblown and she'd been in the same wrinkled outfit for the past three days . They'd been cooking over a small propane stove to save money and camping by the roadside.

The woman scanned the horizon and saw the lights flashing in the distance a tow truck. She couldn't believe her eyes, it was an Amoco truck. And little did she know, but driving it was the Good Samaritan!

The driver jumped down from his truck and hitched up their broken car to his tow line. They hopped up in the cab with him and within just a few minutes they were driving back to town "Bill", the Amoco tow truck operator, listened to their story and said you're gonna stay with me and my wife while we get you fixed up.

He pulled over to the side of the road to use the pay phone and they heard him say : honey, we've got ourselves some guests for dinner.

But it wasn't just dinner. Bill and Mary were cordial hosts with big hearts and they opened their home and their hearts to the young couple. They insisted that the young couple take their bedroom- and Bill and Mary slept in the living room on the hide-a -bed. Bill and Mary gave them all their meals and let them do their laundry. They insisted that the couple use their phone to call worried relatives.

Bill drove the young man to all the nearby wrecking yards and helped him to scavenge for the used parts that they would need to put the car back together. The young couple stayed with them for three days and the night before they left- Bill and Mary took them out for a pizza party to celebrate and picked up the check.

They sent the couple off with cold drinks and sandwiches for the road. When it came to settling money- the entire bill was $35.00- the cost of a used universal joint. "

The lawyer asks Jesus "What must I do to get the good life?" Jesus answers,"The good life is a gift from God, and when you get it you will be like the Samaritan who helped even his hated enemy, the Jew."

Are you a good neighbor?

Amen

Written by Pastor Tim Zingale July 9, 2007

You may freely use this as is or in parts. Please somehow give credit if possible, thanks! Not for commercial use.

6th Sunday after Pentecost July 8th Proper 9 C Lectionary 14 "Reach out your hand to another"

6th Sunday after Pentecost

July 8th

Proper 9 C

Lectionary 14

Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

"Reach out your hand to another"

"After this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to come. And he said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and salute no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace be to this house!' And if a son of peace is there, your peace shall rest upon him; but if not, it shall return to you. And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages; do not go from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you; heal the sick in it and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.' But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, 'Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off against you; nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.'" Luke 10:1-11, RSV.

""He who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects him who sent me." The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!" And he said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."" Luke 10:16-20, RSV.

Grace and peace to you from our Lord and Saviour, Jesus who is the Christ. Amen

I know this is something we don't do in Lutheran churches very easily, but I would like you to right now, shake the hand of the person sitting next to you. You don't have to share the peace, just shake their hand.

Good, now look that person in the eyes and answer this question, Am I my brother's keeper?

What do you think? Are you the keeper, the helper of that person sitting right next to you?

In the 4th chapter of Genesis Cain asks God, verse 10, "Am I my brother's keeper?" as God asked Cain where Abel was.

God's answer to that specific question was answered loud and clear through Jesus with a resounding Yes.

I am my brother's keeper or guardian or protector. We are to be concerned about others because God was concerned about us through Christ and loved us so much that his Son died on a cross.

Through Christ, God looks at us with love. Through Christ God looks past our sins and sees you and I as His creation, his people, his children. He loves us with an over powering love. A love that never ends. A love which keeps on loving just as a mother's love keeps on loving her children no matter what.

An example of this kind of love is seen in the following. God's love is like this for us and in turn out love should be like this for our neighbor.

"A poor sharecropping family in Georgia had a little money left over after the harvest so they got of an old Sears catalog and tried to pick out something everyone in the family would like and enjoy. After much discussion, they decided to get a mirror.

The mirror arrived and each took a turn looking in it. The father frowned, mother smile, and the baby giggled.

Young Willie was the last to look in the mirror. As he looked he was taken back by what he saw. It was the first time he had really seen himself. He didn't know whether to frown or cry. Willie had been kicked by a mule when he was a tiny baby; his face was distorted, scarred and deformed. "Mom", Willie finally asked in a shaky voice," did you know all the time that I looked like this?"

The mother answered, "Yes Willie I knew."

"And you still loved me?" he replied.

"Yes Willie," I still loved you," his mother said, "The face didn't make no difference. I love you because you're mine."

Willie's mom loved him no matter what. We are to love, take care of, protect others with that same kind of love. A selfless Christ kind of love.

God's love is the same; he loves us because we are his no matter how we are. In the same way we are to love our neighbor as a brother or sister in Christ. Through God we are all related. All of us are brothers and sisters in Christ. The bond of love which holds us to God as His children should also hold us to one another as brothers and sisters in Christ.

But in reality it doesn't. We have a very difficult time answering yes to Cain' s question "Am I my brothers, keeper, guardian and protector? Do I reach out in love to others? These are the questions we are going to wrestle with this morning.

As you shook your neighbors hand, what did you think? Are you his/her guardian, keeper and protector? These are the questions our gospel lesson and second lesson from Paul's to the letter to the Galatians speak about how a person in Christ should conduct himself or he herself.

The ways we are to look to yourself. Let each one test his own work then boast in himself and not in his neighbor. Use Christ as the standard for your conduct, not your neighbor. Paul is saying that you and I are responsible for our own actions and conduct. If we are doing well, feel good in yourself and don't lord it over your neighbor. Your conduct is not the judge of your neighbor's conduct. Christ is the only guide, the only standard. How do you measure up to Christ should be the question we ask ourselves. Christ is the measuring stick we use when judging our conduct. In Christ's actions we see the kind of lives he has called us to live.

The kind of life is a life that says yes, I am my brother's keeper. Yes, I am to reach out with a hand of love. I am to reach out with the gospel of love to those around me.

But sadly, many don't. They are like the share cropper in the following story:

There was an old farmer, ragged and barefooted, who sat on the steps of his tumble-down shack, chewing on a stem of Timothy grass. He was approached by a passing stranger who was searching for a cool drink of water. Wishing to start a conversation and get acquainted with this farmer, the stranger asked, " How is your cotton coming in this weather?"

"Ain't got none", replied the farmer.

"Didn't you plant any?" asked the frowning stranger.

"Nope," said the farmer, "fraid of weevils."

"Well," asked the newcomer, "how is your corn?"

"Didn't plant none," replied the man, "fraid there warn 't goin to be no rain."

"Really, what did you plant?' asked the puzzled man.

"Nothing," said the farmer. "I jest played it safe!!!"

I jest played it safe! Is that how we reach other to other, just playig it safe. We let others do it or we reach out to those who we like, but not the person down the street who we don't know.

I would like to share with you this morning a very simple but effect tool for you to think about when you think about evangelism. Listen:

I Cannot Pray the Lord’s Prayer

I cannot pray “OUR,” if my faith has no room for others and their need.

I cannot pray “FATHER,” if I do not demonstrate this relationship to God in my daily living.

I cannot pray “WHO ART IN HEAVEN,” if all of my interests and pursuits are in earthly things.

I cannot pray “HALLOWED BE THY NAME,” if I am not striving for God’s help to be holy.

I cannot pray “THY KINGDOM COME,” if I am unwilling to accept God’s rule in my life.

I cannot pray “THY WILL BE DONE,” if I am unwilling or resentful of having it in my life.

I cannot pray “IN EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN,” unless I am truly ready to give myself to God’s service here and now.

I cannot pray “GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD,” without expending honest effort for it or if I would withhold from my neighbor the bread I receive.

I cannot pray “FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US,” if I continue to harbor a grudge against anyone.

I cannot pray “LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION,” if I deliberately choose to remain in a situation where I am likely to be tempted.

I cannot pray “DELIVER US FROM EVIL,” if I am not prepared to fight with my life and my prayer.

I cannot pray “THINE IS THE KINGDOM,” if I am unwilling to obey the King.

I cannot pray “THINE IS THE POWER AND THE GLORY,” if I am seeking power for myself and my own glory first.

I cannot pray ‘FOREVER AND EVER,” if I am too anxious about each day’s affairs.

I cannot pray “AMEN,” unless I honestly say “Not MY will, but THY will be done, so let it be. 1

Think about the different parts of the Lord's Prayer the next time you have an opportunity to speak about the church, your faith, Jesus Christ, God or salvation to someone.

Because you do know there will be a time for you to speak, but you just have to find the right words.

Jesus sent out the seventy to preach about him and the gospel and he sends us out from here to do the same, speak about him and the gospel.

Notice in our gospel lesson, that Jesus sends out 70 people to heal, to preach by saying, "the kingdom of God has come near to you". Jesus sent out these 70 because he knew that everyone in the kingdom of God has the responsibility to witness to him. He knew he would be leaving this earth and the only way people would know and hear about his love for them, his sacrifice for them, his grace for them would be for his disciples to tell others. So he sent them out to practice, to get a feeling for what they would he doing when He was gone.

And notice too that Jesus doesn't say it is going to be easy witnessing for him. He tells the disciples that they are like lambs in the midst of the wolves. He tells them what to say when people accept them, and he also tells them what to say and do when people reject them for he knew not everyone was going to accept the good news of the kingdom. But the important point is he wanted the disciples, the 70 to try, to go out among the people and tell them about Jesus.
And if we don't speak about Jesus and his salvation, then the following story might just turn out to be true.

When a church member was asked by St. Peter as he approached the Pearly gates how many seeds of faith, how many seeds of the gospel did he plant while on earth, he replied, "none, I jest played it safe. I was afraid that some would think I was trying to show them I was better than they were. Others knew I wasn't, I didn't want to be called a hypocrite. Besides, St. Peter, I really didn't know all that I should of about faith, Jesus, and salvation to be telling others about it. And come to think of it, isn't that what we pay the Pastor, to do, go out and plant those seeds of faith, to go out and win souls for Christ. But tell me St. Peter, why, as I look beyond the gates here, I see so few people moving about.

St. Peter relied, "Oh, that is easy, there were so few laborers, so few seeds were sown, that the harvest was never taken in."

Will heaven be empty or full it is up to you.

Amen

Written by Pastor Tim Zingale Written July 2, 2007
You may freely use this but please give credit. Not for commercial use.




1from “If God Talked Out Loud...” by Clyde Lee Herring, 1977 Broadman Press, Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 76-27479.