6.2.24 "Small Change" - Westminster Presbyterian Church, Pasadena, CA

 1 Samuel 3.1-10; Mark 2.23-28

James Pennyworth found a nickel on the sidewalk one day, when he was but 5 years old. He pocketed the nickel, and with a chuckle in his heart, decided to be a searcher for small change.

And he did just that for much of his life - lost coins, small change - a dime here, a quarter there, even a $5 bill ... and when his life was done, he had a jar on a shelf, with $62.17 in small change. 

When Mr. Pennyworth's family came to make the final arrangements and dispose of his belongings, beside the jar of small change, they found a note - it reads as such: 

Here is my jar of small change. I had some fun and adventure with it all, but now I realize what I've missed - how many sunrises, glorious and bright ... storm clouds gathering and lightening flashing, sunsets in all their glory ... the smiles of strangers along the way, cups of coffee with my friends, a squirrel gamboling in the park, a hawk wheeling across the morning sky. 

Don't let the years narrow your vision; don't fret about that piece of lint on your sleeve, the weed in the sidewalk, yesterday's mistakes, the hole in your sock. 

All of that's important, but in a very small way. A small-change kind of way. 

In the end, all that's left is jar of small change. 

I love you very much, so this I say to you: look up, look out, reach far and wide ... don't collect small change ... collect friends, love, laughter, joy, big ideas ... if you find a nickel on the sidewalk, spend it ... buy an ice cream cone for a friend. Give it to charity, or throw it into a fountain and make a wish. 

Sincerely, James Pennyworth.

Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote about success, and put it this way:

“To laugh often and much;

To win the respect of intelligent

people and the affection of children;

To earn the appreciation of honest

critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; 

To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; 

To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; 

To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.

This is to have succeeded.”

We don’t have to do large things in order to be large-minded … 

In our daily work, at school, making a pot of tea or washing the car - the ideas we hold, the values we live, the virtues we practice … 

There’s always going to be a Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the Pettus Bridge, or the scientist who makes a breakthrough study on cancer at Johns Hopkins … 

But for most of us, no headlines, just the daily tasks of loving Christ, and loving one another … and that’s no small change!

Jesus and the disciples, out and about for a Sabbath-day stroll … pathways often went through grain fields … there was no question about property, or trespassing, and there were clear rules for allowing those in need to have something to eat … 

When the harvest is made, leave some unharvested grain in the corners of the field … when you harvest the olives, don’t take every last one … when you harvest the grapes, leave a few.

In the spring time, heads of wheat have not yet ripened - they’re still green, plump, and rich with protein and sugar - the only time wheat can be eaten raw.

On their stroll through the fields, the disciples strip off the grain, rub it together in their hands, to remove the husks, and then eat the grain … 

Some of the group raised the question about “working” on the Sabbath …  

The Sabbath Commandment to rest from one’s labor is taken seriously … a little hedge here, a little hedge there, and before you know it, the Sabbath is no longer being kept.

Sort of like watching one’s waistline - it’s easy to eat that second piece of pecan pie with ice cream … and the next day, as well … and before you know it, the pie is gone, and so is the ice cream, and we know where it went … the belt needs to be loosened by a notch or two.

Such rules are not to laughed at … virtues of any kind need to be carefully monitored, worked at, guarded, and practiced …

So, the question is raised:

“How hungry are the disciples? Can they wait a few more hours until the Sabbath Day is ended, at sunset?”

The Sabbath Day begins at sundown on Friday and ends at sundown on Saturday.

The disciples are not desperately hungry … they’re snacking … Can’t they wait?

It’s a serious question, and Jesus answers it seriously … but the answer itself stretches the truth … not for purposes of malice, but to open wider the mind and the heart.

Jesus tells the story of David and his companions in a rough moment of life … it’s a bit complicated, but David and his companions need bread … they stop by a shrine and ask the priest for five loaves - the only bread available is bread dedicated to the LORD, and only the priests can eat it … there’s a need, so the priest gives the bread to David … the priest breaks one law to fulfill the law of love.

Hunger takes precedence over the rules … and we might add, pleasure, the pleasure of a Sabbath Day stroll, fresh spring wheat, the sun above and the earth beneath.

Jesus makes a point … there are things in life that are important, very important, but sometimes other things are more important.

Jesus offers one of the world’s most important ideas: The Sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the Sabbath.

At the center of it all … the common good … not just the few, but the many … not for some, but for all.

What the world needs now 

Is love, sweet love 

It's the only thing that there's just too little of 

What the world needs now 

Is love, sweet love 

No, not just for some, but for everyone

James Pennyworth spent a life time collecting small change … and in the end, what he had was a jar of small change, on a dusty shelf, $62.17 …

Part of what do we here is keep ourselves open to the large realities of life … lots of things are important, and some things are more important than others …

We’re all tempted to collect small change.

Jesus calls us to the large world of faith, hope, and love … 

Owe no one anything, except to love one another.

The deep appreciation of another human being.

The admiration we have to see another’s courage.

The wonder we feel when we feel the heartbeat of a child snuggled in our arms.

The glory of a sunrise when we’re up early enough to see it.

The pleasure of the wind ruffling our hair.

The joy of being together … moments of relief and release.

When love flows easy, and hope is strong, and faith is boundless.

Jesus calls us to the great adventures of life …

Faith, hope, and love.

In the end, the jar of our life will be huge … full of the good we’ve done … a jar - full of faith, hope, and love.

And that, my friends - is no small change!

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!