Pentecost 5B
Mark 6.1-13
July 5, 2009
Virtually every year since I have been ordained I have chosen to attend the Festival of Homiletics for my continuing education. I have very high expectations when I attend. The line up of preachers for the event is always impressive. The folks who present lectures and sermons are experts in the field of Biblical Studies and are among the most talented preachers ever.
We all have those sorts of expectations when we travel to various and assorted educational events. When the ladies attend the Women of Faith event every year, they have high expectations that the speakers will be enlightening and the musicians inspiring. When our youth gather for conference, synod or national gathering, or even for a week at camp, they expect to come back charged up.
But one doesn’t have to travel far to face one’s expectations. We have specific expectations of folks closer to home, don’t we? If we want something decorated beautifully, Robin Bourque is the go to person. If we need something fixed, we’re going to pick up the phone and call Gary. If we’re looking for help with the computer, Brian is just the guy. If you’re looking for a custom made bracelet for the girl in your life, the women from Erna’s Hope have a beautiful selection. Maybe Royal can take a box of beads and make them into a work of art and maybe Kathleen could have rigged up a siphoning system to get the water out of the church basement this week; but all in all, had you suggested that to me on Wednesday, I would have laughed at you. Certain folks have the know how and the skills to fulfill certain tasks. Others do not. We base our expectations of others on the training they’ve had, their expertise and experience with certain matters.
So, when Jesus stood up to speak in the synagogue, I’m sure everyone was polite and thought it was nice that the poor illegitimate son of Mary got a chance to do some reading. I’m sure they were tolerant out of respect for the family. I’m sure they listened politely, because that’s what good church people do. But when wisdom flew out of his mouth and he actually taught them, well, it would be as if one of the Hoffman twins or Stephen Painting stood in front of the adult class and explained the depth of the symbolism of our icons and the hermeneutical application of the theology of the cross to our ecclesiology and missiology. We would be aghast. Aren’t they in preschool? Isn’t he the kid that does back tumbles and giggles during the children’s sermon? Aren’t they the children of ordinary parents? Where did they learn words like that? They should stick to building Lego’s and playing with dolls instead of talking over our heads like that. And we would go home shaking our heads.
We don’t expect anything too terribly spectacular to come from ourselves, do we?
It’s a pretty sad state of affairs, if you ask me.
Jesus couldn’t do miracles I his own hometown and he was amazed at how the hometown folks couldn’t see beyond their own scope of reality, their own little world. I personally think Jesus couldn’t do any miracles because no one asked him to. I don’t think they were hard hearted, I think they just had no expectations. No crowd followed Jesus, they all just went home. So Jesus and the disciples moved on; took their show on the road.
And then Jesus sent his disciples out; the same disciples who were just called to follow a few short chapters ago. The same disciples that we found sitting at his feet as Jesus taught them in parables. These are the same disciples who observed as Jesus stilled a storm, exorcised a demon, healed a bleeding woman and raised a dead little girl. They were the disciples who witnessed the hard heartedness of the disbelievers in Nazareth. These same disciples, after a minimum of class work are sent out for some on the job training.
They were sent out two by two. With nothing. Unlike the Cynics of Jesus day who were completely self sufficient, the disciples were completely dependent on the hospitality of those whom they visited. They didn’t have a handy-dandy little kit filled with essentials like healing oils, communion wafers or a bottle of communion wine. They didn’t have prayer books. Jesus just sent them out two by two, empty handed with the instructions to take no clean underwear, find your own place to stay. Just take a walking stick, it will come in handy for poking people who fall asleep while you’re preaching!! Oh yes, and when you get to those places where no one welcomes you, and there WILL be places where you are NOT welcomed, don’t buy any souvenirs, just move on.
I don’t know about you, but I like to be adequately packed to go away. And I always have a ready communion kit and prayer book in my car. I like to be prepared for whatever is thrown my way. So I guess this is a good reminder that even if I were to make a visit without my basket of communion supplies, I have everything I need to offer a word of life to those who are visited. We, as a Christian community have everything we need to offer a word of life in this place.
Robin has whatever sewing machines and tools that she needs to create beautiful banners and works of art. Royal has whatever tools are needed to get rid of the water in the basement. When it comes to ministry, WE are the tools. WE are the essentials. WE are the equipment. WE have what it takes within ourselves, because in our baptism we were commissioned, anointed and empowered with gifts for ministry. And there are expectations on us. Expectations that we will support one another. That we will offer hospitality to friend and stranger alike. There is an expectation that we will care for young and old alike; and that we will accompany each other along whatever path God leads us. There is nothing outside the scope of possibility for us as we seek to proclaim the Gospel, heal the sick, and cast out demons. These are the expectations we should have of the people sitting beside you, in front of you, behind you—heck, that’s the expectation that we should have of ourselves! Friends, we aren’t just sitting here to sing songs and sip some wine. We are here to glean what we need for our journey this week. We are fed and taught and prayed for and have connected to a community who ministers in Christ’s name together.
Too often we think we don’t have what it takes. We don’t have the proper theological degree. We don’t have the courage. We don’t have the time. We don’t have the money.
“I can’t possibly teach Sunday School without a background in education.”
“I can’t possibly serve with RAIHN without some understanding of social work.”
“I can’t possibly do youth work because children today are so technologically advanced and I don’t know an iPod from a Wii.”
“I couldn’t do evangelism because I don’t know my Bible well enough.”
For heaven’s sake, knock it off already. Excuses are for the hard of heart—for the people from Jesus’ home town—those who wouldn’t accept Jesus because even he didn’t have the right credentials and education.
You have the right credentials—it’s that little cross marked on your forehead. You have the right equipment—arms, legs, hearts, minds, a desire to serve God and God’s people.
What a line-up we have to offer the world. We have amazing theologians in our midst, ________, _______________, ____________. There is a world out there hungry for healing and wholeness; eager to hear the story of Jesus as only you can tell it. You are bearers of the grace the world needs. Expect amazing things from yourself. Amen
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