“Stumbling Blocks and Stepping Stones”
Katelyn
B. Macrae
Christ Lutheran Church, Washington, DC
September
30, 2012
Prayer: All
Powerful God, even though we may ask you for a deal, you give us grace at full
face value. Thank you for never giving us a discount on your love. As we
recover from Day 1 of the Yard Sale and think about the people lining up
outside – help us quiet our minds and refresh our souls while we tarry awhile
here in worship of you. May the words of my mouth and meditations of all our
hearts be acceptable to you, O Holy One. Amen.
Sermon:
I’ve
been thinking about my Aunt Kathy a lot lately.
She
had a stroke recently, and so she’s been on my mind, especially when I cook
things.
She
loves yard sales and estate sales.
I
bet she would enjoy the sale here at Christ Church because she enjoys taking
old, used up items and turning them into something new and beautiful.
Her
specialty is refinishing kitchen things.
She
bought a Dremmel tool just so she could sand and refinish pots and pans!
Aunt
Kathy has stocked my kitchen, and the kitchens of all of my cousins.
She
has a gift to see the potential in things others might overlook.
Whoever
started the yard sale back in 1981 at Christ Lutheran also saw the potential in
stuff that others might overlook.
They
imagined that used furniture, clothing, and kitchen items could be sold as a
fundraiser.
But
in your yard sale this “trash” becomes “treasure” not to one, but at least two
people.
1) There’s
the treasure for the people who buy it,
2) Treasure
for the people who are positively impacted by the charities who receive the
yard sale proceeds
3) Treasure
for the charities that glean leftover items
4) (And as
someone pointed out after worship – treasure for people who donate items and get
the stuff out of their house!)
What
I find most amazing is that it’s all volunteer labor.
You
spend all year getting ready for the sale.
And
then you turn around and freely give away the proceeds!
Since
1981, funding has been disbursed to 247 organizations.
Total
funding raised by the Yard Sale since then is more than $650,000.
And
I hear reports that this year is better than ever!
As
we turn to our story from Mark, let us hold these positive images in mind.
Last
week in the Gospel of Mark the disciples were in Capernaum arguing who is the
greatest among them.
Jesus
flips their argument on its head by placing a child in the center of the circle
and saying, “Whoever wants to be greatest of all must be servant of all. Whoever
welcomes one such child in my name, welcomes me.”
The
story we read from this morning picks up right after that.
Despite
Jesus’ visual parable about humility and radical reversal, it doesn’t seem to
stick with the disciples. Not even one verse later they’re having a hard time
seeing beyond the immediate situation.
The
story begins with John talking to Jesus.
John
says, “Teacher we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to
stop him, because he was not following us.”
Now
we should give John a little credit here.If
we consider the cultural context, this was a legitimate concern to the
disciples for others to be healing in Christ’s name.
In
those days, lots of people were healing. It was common practice to invoke a
revered name while healing.
The
disciples were a small group and whose movement was just beginning to gain
traction.
They
were concerned that others healing in God’s name, but who weren’t part of their
group, might undermine their credibility.
But
Jesus, ever the teacher, invites them to see the potential and possibility
beyond their obvious concern. He says, "Do not stop him (from healing),
for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to
speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for us.”
Whereas
the disciples’ emphasize drawing boundaries around who can do God’s work, Jesus
emphasizes the expansiveness of God’s love.
And
isn’t it true?
We
don’t know the impact that our actions will have and how they might help
someone to have a positive experience of God.
We
don’t know the impact of the Yard Sale and how it may transform someone’s life.
It
would be much easier for all of us if the passage ended there – but it doesn’t.
Just
as we don’t know how our actions might positively impact others, the reverse is
also true.
Jesus’
uses some graphic imagery to caution the disciples against erecting stumbling
blocks that keep people, especially children, from having a positive experience
of God. When he talks about chopping off
hands, cutting off feet, and tearing out eyes, He’s using hyperbole –
exaggeration. And as challenging as these images, they also serve a purpose in
getting our attention.
Biblical
scholars suggest that Jesus was addressing the issue of child sexual abuse and
other sexual transgressions in his community.
As
twenty-first century followers of the way of Jesus, we too have a
responsibility to take care of the most vulnerable members of our community -
both here within these walls – and out beyond them.
We
are called to care for children, orphans, widows, people living on the margins,
in poverty and situations of abuse.
We
are called to care for the hungry, the hurting, and the aching.
We
are called to be Christ to one another.
As
the song we will soon sing says, “Won’t you let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you.”
But
in order to be Christ to one another, in order to work for transformation in
the world, we also need to be open to God’s transformation in us.
Sometimes
we might feel like rusty pots and pans overlooked at the church yard sale.
The
Good News is that God sees the possibilities for transformation in us, even
when we cannot.
Over
the past few months I’ve struggled to find work.
I
ended up working at the YMCA in Alexandria, at the front desk greeting members
and checking them in early in the morning.
At
first I was ashamed of my work. I wanted people to see me for more than the
girl behind the front desk. I have a Master’s of Divinity degree and I wanted
to use it!
Sometime
in early September I realized that my pride was getting in the way of my
ability to just receive the grace and joy of being with really lovely people.
I
was spinning my wheels in frustration until, through talking to one of my
co-workers, I realized that I was my own problem! With
this awareness, I found myself more open to having deep conversations with Y
Members about their families and the concerns of their lives. I
realized I didn’t need the title of “Minister’ to be doing ministry.
In
hindsight I see how God has been working in my life to turn my stumbling block
of pride into a stepping stone. I had to get over my pride in order to
experience the grace of the space I was in and begin to move forward again.
What
about you?
Are
there any rusty pots in your life pantry that you’re overlooking?
Where
has God helped turn your individual and collective stumbling blocks into
stepping stones?
And
what helped you move forward? Or, what might be keeping you back?
I
don’t have any easy answers.
But
I do know this – There is deep power to be found in the power of prayer.
There
is deep power to be found in a community such as this one where God’s love is
freely given and received.
There
is grace in this space if we will be
open to it.
For
God is ready and waiting to sand off the rust and shine us up.
God
wants to help turn our stumbling blocks into stepping stones.
And
God is calling us to use all of our hands and feet,
our eyes and our ears,
our
hearts and our minds
to help
clear the path for others,
especially the most vulnerable,
So
that we may all walk together as travelers on the road.
I
pray it may be so. Amen.
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