Community Church Sermons
June
8, 2008
Pentecost 4
Matthew
9:9-13, 18-26
If you are of a certain age, then the title to
today’s sermon makes perfect sense, if you are not then you may have no clue
what any of these things have to do with the other. Fortunately, most of us are
of a certain age, so we are familiar with the great crossover musical hit of
Campbell entitled Try A Little Kindness.
A tune in which we are encouraged to look for those we can help, to extend
mercy to those in trouble, even if the trouble is of their own making, and to
let our actions expand the vision of those social critics who would rather
criticize, condemn, pontificate, or ignore people, than help them with their
problems. In a world divided politically and ideologically to the point that
one recent author has said we would rather segregate ourselves in homogeneous
communities than listen to each other’s opinion, we need to try a little
kindness. Fortunately, long before Glen Campbell sang about kindness, Jesus was
talking about kindness.
This is the essence of the three scenes in
today’s reading from Matthew’s gospel. In each encounter, Jesus is committed to
kindness, even when the recipients of such, are thought unworthy of kindness,
by those in the larger society. In each encounter, Jesus demonstrates
compassion while those in the larger society opt for contempt, or at least
disinterest. In each encounter, Jesus seeks to open the goodness of the
kingdom, while those in the larger society want to guard the gates of the
kingdom, against such incorrigible riff-raff.
It is likely no surprise that in these scenes
Jesus is again at odds with the religious establishment of his day, or that the
recipients of some of his most healing work are among those who can do almost
nothing for Jesus in return. (I guess Matthew could arrange some tax relief,
and the centurion some physical protection, but the woman and the child could
do nothing.)Beyond the table fellowship and the healing acts of restoration
described in these stories is the underlying kindness of Jesus that connects
the three. You’ve got to try a little
kindness to eat with those no one else will eat with. You’ve got to show a little
kindness to someone who sneaks up on you to take what they need to make their
life better. You’ve got to shine a bright light in the darkness when others
doubt the power of life over death.
Jesus went into each of these situations
determined to act in kindness, a kindness that showed him to be a person of
care and not a keeper of the gate. What does our level of kindness say about
us? Do we care enough to let the church look like an emergency room filled with
those in need? Do we care enough to be the church, as well as go to church?
We’ve got to try a little kindness!
Jesus went into each of these situations
determined to act in kindness, a kindness which spoke of how much he valued
people, even those no one else saw any value in. What does our level of
kindness say about us? Do we value the protection of our public reputation or
do we value the risks of investing in relationships that others would never
consider? We’ve got to try a little kindness!
Jesus went into each of these situations
determined to act in kindness, a kindness which demonstrated how far he would
go to live out God’s love. What does our level of kindness say about us? Will
we go only as far as we are comfortable in living out God’s love? Will we go
only as far as we feel the requirements of the situation warrants? Will we go
as far as possible with utter abandon? We’ve got to try a little kindness!
So, try a little kindness, show a little kindness, shine your light for all to see. Let kindness be in you, as it was in Jesus. May God give us the grace to live in kindness toward each other, every moment we shall live! AMEN!