Sermon - 2019-06-22
Today within our Gospel, we hear of a man. A man who was running around naked and living among the tombs. We hear only briefly of his past in that the people who did not know how to handle him. The way that they put him in chains in order to control. However, we do not know what has really happened to him, why is it he is this way. We hear of a man who seems different, who is outside of society norms and even lives outside of society. Now the people were doing what they thought was best but it was not really what was needed to help and cure the man. This man, this outcast, becomes the center of our focus today. However, for many they would prefer to look at someone who would make them better and look at the success, not the one who in their eyes has been the failure. Then perhaps we should get to know the greater story.
Perhaps it is when we actually experience this within our life, that we should really be thinking about how this applies. When I was young and at church, there was a woman who would only make it a few pews into the church. Each week should would make sure that she brought her grandchildren with her. However, she was different. She was someone who had scars on the right side of her face, she walked with a limp and could not use her right hand. As I was leaving worship one Sunday, I asked my mom, what’s wrong with that lady? “What’s wrong with that lady?” my young self could not figure out a better way of asking the question. My mom shared with me the story. This woman and her husband had their son, his wife and her two grandchildren living with them. One night there was a fire within the home and it started within the room of the son and his wife. The house filled with smoke and soon the smoke detectors went off. Her husband went to break out the window and when he turned around, his wife was not with him. He went out the window. She had gone into the room where her grandchildren were sleeping and now crying for help. Her husband had realized this and broke the window from the outside. She handed out the grandchildren through the window. After passing out the second grandchild, a beam from the roof broke through the ceiling and hit her on her right side. Breaking her arm and leg and with heat of the fire, burned her with scars that would mark her for the rest of her life. Her son and his wife died within the fire. Everyday she bore of the scars of her love for her grandchildren but when they looked upon their grandma, they saw someone who loved them so much that she would be there with them no matter what. As others spoke about her and would stare, they would love her and be glad that they were able to share time together.
We often need to stop and hear the full meaning so that we can understand and appreciate all that we have within our life. Jesus is that outside person who helps us understand and reexamine our life. So we do not continue to harm others. So we stop and actually care for them, call them, and make them sisters and brothers within our own life. Now please understand, I am not talking about the fighting, the arguing, or the sibling rivalry that we may remember with sisters and brothers. The fact is that we should care for a person regardless of what they have done. That is grace, That is mercy. That truly is forgiveness. Is not that what we are given from God.
We experience these words and concepts within our life everyday. So then how when you encounter someone, will you ask what has been happening in their life? What storms have they weathered and are still enduring? Before you past judgement against them, find out their story of how you may help. Now this is where we also find the most difficult challenge to us. How shall we react to someone when they do change their ways? When the storm is no longer affecting them? Will we leave someone in the judgement that we have given to them or allow them to grow and receive forgiveness and new life that we are called to give them because that is what Christ Himself does for you. Not holding the sins of your past against but looking upon you as a child of God.
Within our own life, we may feel like we are an outcast some day. We may encounter someone who feels that way. When we need that reminder of God, may we look to the cross. May we see the wounds of the nails and recall the forgiveness that Jesus Christ has given to you. Setting you free to share the love, grace and mercy that is poured out upon you. Amen.
Perhaps it is when we actually experience this within our life, that we should really be thinking about how this applies. When I was young and at church, there was a woman who would only make it a few pews into the church. Each week should would make sure that she brought her grandchildren with her. However, she was different. She was someone who had scars on the right side of her face, she walked with a limp and could not use her right hand. As I was leaving worship one Sunday, I asked my mom, what’s wrong with that lady? “What’s wrong with that lady?” my young self could not figure out a better way of asking the question. My mom shared with me the story. This woman and her husband had their son, his wife and her two grandchildren living with them. One night there was a fire within the home and it started within the room of the son and his wife. The house filled with smoke and soon the smoke detectors went off. Her husband went to break out the window and when he turned around, his wife was not with him. He went out the window. She had gone into the room where her grandchildren were sleeping and now crying for help. Her husband had realized this and broke the window from the outside. She handed out the grandchildren through the window. After passing out the second grandchild, a beam from the roof broke through the ceiling and hit her on her right side. Breaking her arm and leg and with heat of the fire, burned her with scars that would mark her for the rest of her life. Her son and his wife died within the fire. Everyday she bore of the scars of her love for her grandchildren but when they looked upon their grandma, they saw someone who loved them so much that she would be there with them no matter what. As others spoke about her and would stare, they would love her and be glad that they were able to share time together.
We often need to stop and hear the full meaning so that we can understand and appreciate all that we have within our life. Jesus is that outside person who helps us understand and reexamine our life. So we do not continue to harm others. So we stop and actually care for them, call them, and make them sisters and brothers within our own life. Now please understand, I am not talking about the fighting, the arguing, or the sibling rivalry that we may remember with sisters and brothers. The fact is that we should care for a person regardless of what they have done. That is grace, That is mercy. That truly is forgiveness. Is not that what we are given from God.
We experience these words and concepts within our life everyday. So then how when you encounter someone, will you ask what has been happening in their life? What storms have they weathered and are still enduring? Before you past judgement against them, find out their story of how you may help. Now this is where we also find the most difficult challenge to us. How shall we react to someone when they do change their ways? When the storm is no longer affecting them? Will we leave someone in the judgement that we have given to them or allow them to grow and receive forgiveness and new life that we are called to give them because that is what Christ Himself does for you. Not holding the sins of your past against but looking upon you as a child of God.
Within our own life, we may feel like we are an outcast some day. We may encounter someone who feels that way. When we need that reminder of God, may we look to the cross. May we see the wounds of the nails and recall the forgiveness that Jesus Christ has given to you. Setting you free to share the love, grace and mercy that is poured out upon you. Amen.
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