August 11, 2013, "Ultimate Things"

Zechariah 1.1-6; Luke 10.38-42

Charley, newly retired, had a new job - a greeter at WalMart.

He did fine, but could never get to work on time - 5, 10, 15 minutes late. He was a good worker, neat and tidy in appearance, sharp-minded and a real credit to the company, demonstrating the very best of company policy - “Older Person Friendly.”

One day the manager called him into the office a chat … “Charley, I have to tell you, I like your work ethic, you do a bang-up  job when you finally get here; but your being late so often is quite bothersome."

"Yes, I know boss, and I am working on it."

"Well good, you are a team player. That's what I like to hear. 

“Yes sir, I understand your concern and I will try harder.”

The manager, slightly puzzled, went on to comment, “I know you're  retired from the Armed Forces. What did they say to you there if you showed up in the morning late so often?"

The old man looked down at the floor, smiled, chuckled and then said with a grin:  "They usually saluted and said, Good morning, Admiral, can I get your coffee, sir?”

Things change for us all the time … time moves on … what we were, we are no longer; what we shall be remains to be seen … and in the flow of time:

Moments …

Opportunities …

When kitchen-duty needs to be set aside and we need to sit at the feet of Jesus.

Martha was irritated by Mary’s behavior … 

Martha, a good person, but she failed to recognize the sacred moment … Martha choose the normal pattern - what she always did, and what she was good at - she could prepare a fine meal, and do it quickly, and everyone was satisfied.

Martha ran a clean ship, a good operation - if you’re hungry, go to Martha’s house - she’ll take care of ya … and Mary, her sister, is right there - the two of ‘em set a fine table - their home is open to friend and stranger alike.

And today, Jesus came a-calling … 

Martha defaulted … she did what she always did … she went to the kitchen to prepare a meal for Jesus and those traveling with him … 5 people, 10 people? 

It was a house full, no doubt, and when Martha went to the kitchen, she expected her sister, Mary, to be right there … “Mary, where are you? I need some help.”

Martha relied on Mary … if help was needed, Mary was there … the two of ‘em worked together; they made their house into a home … Martha knew what she was doing in the kitchen, and Mary was always there, ready and able.

But today was different!

Mary didn’t follow Martha into the kitchen … she stayed near to Jesus, and “sat at the LORD’s feet.”

That of itself was slightly unusual, if not controversial … to sit at the feet of Jesus is to declare her status as a disciple, and for Jesus to allow it was unusual, too ... it was very rare for a rabbi to welcome a female disciple, and rarer still for a woman to boldly go where only men are welcome.

Martha steps outta the kitchen and scolds Jesus for letting Mary get away with it, especially when Martha is working so hard.

“I need help in the kitchen - a lot of hungry mouths to feed, and I need Mary to help me. I can always count on her; I need her in the kitchen with me right now.”

“Martha, Martha,” says Jesus … saying her name twice, to get her attention … “you fuss and fret about many things, but today, here and now, there’s only thing that counts, and Mary has made the right choice; it won’t be taken from her.”

Many a sermon has been preached on the different talents we have - some work in the kitchen, others sit and study … true enough, but that’s not what this story is all about. It’s not about talents and ability.

It’s recognizing the sacred moment … something important comes our way … it demands that we step out of the usual pattern, get outta of the kitchen, put aside what we do best, let it go for a few moments … take advantage of the sacred moment … 

History makes these moments clear, in retrospect … the challenge is to see them when they’re happening; not when they’ve passed us by.

I think of Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation … that was the moment to decide - who’s a citizen of this fair land? - just some, or everyone? … a lot of folks told to Lincoln to let it pass by; “Now’s not the time,” they said … but Lincoln saw the sacred moment.

I think of Republican Senator Everett Dirksen, after whom the Senate Building is named … when it came time for Civil Rights Legislation - he walked across the aisle, much to the consternation of his colleagues, and made common cause, as he said, “for an idea whose time had come” … he saw the sacred moment.

What are the sacred moments that stand before this great nation today?

For me, the sacred moment has to do with doors … doors open, not closed … the Emma Lazarus Poem on the Statue of Liberty:

"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

As the hymn says, “Once to every man and nation comes the moment to decide …”

For Mary and Martha, the moment came when Jesus paid them a visit … yes, they’re all hungry, but now’s the time to sit at the feet of Jesus.

The sacred moment - a time to learn and a time grow … to look up and not down … to look outward, to see what’s happening … break the pattern, do the unusual … don’t be afraid … be brave, take a chance … 

Drive to work another way and pay attention to a world you haven’t seen …

If you’re in the kitchen, try a new recipe, and if it’s not very good, who cares? … but give it a try anyway.

Stretch your wings … fly as high as you can … dream, and dream big … aim for the stars.

The sacred moment ...

When it’s time to sit at the feet of Jesus. Amen and Amen!

July 18 2010 - "An Uppity Woman"

Luke 10:38-41

Did ya’ hear about the economy?

The economy is so bad, I got a pre-declined credit card in the mail.

The economy is so bad, Motel Six won’t leave the light on anymore.

The economy is so bad, Exxon-Mobile laid off 25 Senators and House members.

The economy is so bad, CEOs are playing miniature golf.

Nothing like a good chuckle now and then to lift the spirit and put a smile on our face.

When folks heard about Mary and Martha, there were a lot of chuckles, and some frowns as well …

Some folks would’ve said, “Well done Mary.”

Others would have observed, “An uppity woman.”

Whatever it was that day, Mary stepped out of her box … or out of the kitchen, so to speak.

Mary violated a boundary … a boundary of place and  behavior.

Cooking belonged to women …

Women belonged in the kitchen …

Archeology tells us a lot … ancient homes had food prep areas removed from living areas – food was a woman’s thing, done outta sight.

Sound familiar?

American homes after WW2 - kitchens walled off from the eating areas … think of Thanksgiving … turkey and mashed potatoes prepared by (?) … women … served by (?) women, and after dinner, the woman cleaned up … and the men? … the men kicked back in their recliners and feel asleep … oh well.

But have ya’ noticed how homes are designed these days?

Kitchen and eating melded together … people gather in the kitchen, pitch in with dicing and chopping as they socialize … no walls between kitchen and dining, and what with the Food Channel, men are cooking as much as women are!

Not so in Mary’s time.

Boundaries were set … when Mary stepped out of the kitchen to “sit at the feet of Jesus,” she violated the boundaries …

The picture on the front of our bulletin says it well.

Sitting at the feet of Jesus is code language for being a disciple.

It’s not a physical location … it’s a commitment to learn from someone.

If we’re in school, we might say, “I’m sitting under Professor’s so-and-so’s teaching.”

Mary sat at the feet of Jesus.

Why?

To become a rabbi herself!

This is what disciples did?

They sat at the feet of a rabbi, to become rabbis.

And if they did well, one day, the rabbi would say to them, Go now. Go into all the world and make disciples. Spread the word. Teach what I’ve taught. And I’m with you always.

Mary said: I want to be a rabbi, too.

Is there room for me?

Can I do it?

Mary, get back into the kitchen where you belong!

That’s what Martha said!

Get back where you belong!

Let’s be honest.

This is not a pretty picture.

Mary sits at the feet of Jesus to learn.

Martha fumes.

Don’t you care LORD?

Care about what?

Boundaries?

Social world?

Matha’s agenda?

No Martha, I don’t care about those things.

And you shouldn’t either.

Martha, Martha (the double use of her name – pay attention Martha; listen up), you are worried and distracted about many things, but Mary has chosen the better part!

End of discussion!

So, where do we go from here?

Several things.

Boundaries are helpful.

Physical boundaries, that is.

When the light turns red, stop!

When it’s green, go!

Stay in your lane; don’t cross the yellow line.

Stay behind the fence.

Don’t walk on the grass.

Wash your vegetables.

Cook chicken thoroughly.

Bag your doggy’s stuff.

Boundaries all over the place, and mostly helpful.

But not all boundaries are helpful.

Like social boundaries.

Social boundaries can be downright nasty!

I remember family travels to Florida in the 50s …

Signage on buildings, “Colored entrance only” …

Remember when country clubs wouldn’t allow Jews?

Civic clubs wouldn’t allow women?

Social boundaries.

You can’t live here … you can’t come in … you don’t belong here … go to the back of the bus!

One day in December,1955, a tired lady by the name of Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat for a white passenger … she was too tired to get up and move to the back of the bus – tired of being a second class citizen in the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Her courage created the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

And the walls came tumbling down.

Joshua fit the battle of Jericho.

And the walls came tumbling down.

Joshua is the Hebrew name for Jesus.

Jesus is named after the man who brought the walls down.

Jesus fit the battle his Jericho …

Jesus crossed boundaries, to come our way, and be our savior.

Tore down walls …

The dividing walls of hostility, Paul the Apostle would write years later …

Our nation right now is debating all kind of walls and boundaries:

Marital boundaries.

Who’s married and who isn’t?

Is marriage ONLY between a man and a woman, or can marriage include any two adults who love one another, and want to care for one another, and create a home together?

Who’s an American?

Does that mean one has to speak English ONLY?

And how well should one speak?

What about our governor’s accent?

Children born of undocumented families – are those children automatically citizens?

Who’s in and who’s out?

Christians have spend enormous amount of time on who’s a Christian and who isn’t.

In the 5th Century – the Donatist controversy.

Bishop Donatus said: If ya’ caved in under Roman persecution, you’re not fit for the kingdom of God. Go away. We don’t want you.

The good bishop believed the church should be full of saints, and not sinners …

The good bishop spent a lot of time figuring out who was in and who was out.

The good bishop would be right at home in many a fundamentalist church today, right here in America …

The good bishop would have his own TV program, spreading his message of judgment and exclusion.

He’d be the head of a publishing empire and live in Colorado Springs, or Orange County.

His wife would wear fluffy little dresses with her hair perfectly teased.

All around the world, Christians still fuss and frett like Martha about things that don’t count right now … fuss and frett about boundaries, and who’s in and who’s out … who’s a member and who isn’t …

Our Roman Catholic sisters and brothers really struggle with boundaries, don’t they?

Who can receive communion?

Is the priesthood only for men?

And what about a priest who abuses children? Is that man still a priest?

Protestants, too, have their boundaries.

Go to a conservative church, and you’re likely to be questioned on all sorts of things.

Go to a liberal church, and you’ll be questioned about the same things …

Some of that is important, but not now.

Not in the world in which we live.

Not with so much sorrow and so much grief.

We don’t need to be spending time in the kitchen … but a lot more time at the feet of Jesus.

In our story today, a principle:

Boundaries that keep people out are never helpful.

Jesus breaks those kinds of boundaries boundaries.

He touches the dead.

He welcomes women.

He hangs around with sinners.

He doesn’t bow and scrap before the powerful.

He disregards dietary rules and violates Sabbath regulations.

He goes where he shouldn’t.

He does what is forbidden.

Now, something interesting happens.

Folks either get really angry at Jesus …

Or … folks get brave around him.

Fishermen leave their nets and families.

Matthew steps outta the tax booth.

Peter gets outta the boat.

Mary steps outta the kitchen.

In the presence of Jesus, they got brave!

On a more personal basis, what about our own boundaries.

Have we ever said to ourselves, “I can’t do it?”

That’s a boundary, isn’t it?

Self-imposed.

No one said it to us.

No one told us we couldn’t do it.

Or maybe they did.

Sometimes we inherit hideous boundaries from our families:

You’ll never amount to anything.

Why can’t you do what your older brother does?

Keep quiet.

Put away those brushes and get back to your homework.

Real men don’t cry, they play football.

Real women are always pretty, and never good at math.

A young mother bought a ham for dinner, and cut off the ends before baking.

Her daughter asked her, Why do you cut the ends off?”

The mother replied, I don’t know. That’s the way my mother did it?

I think I’ll ask her.

So she asked her mom, Why do you cut off the ends of the ham?

Her mother replied, Well, that’s the way MY mother did it, and she was a good cook.

Now great grandmother was still living, so they decided to ask her.

And great gramma said, I never had a pan big enough for a whole ham, so I cut off the ends so it would fit.

Today is a good day to look at our boundaries … social boundaries, emotional boundaries - boundaries that keep us down and keep us out.

It’s never too late to get outta the kitchen.

Never too late to cross a boundary.

Never too late to sit at the feet of the rabbi.

Mary chose the better part.

Mary, an uppity woman!

And to God be the glory!

Amen and Amen!