RECOGNIZING GOD

A Sermon by Leslie Clay

January 7, 2007

I would like to share a story from The Different Drum by Scott Peck.

The story concerns a monastery that had fallen upon hard times. It was once a great order, but because of persecution, all its branch houses were lost and there were only five monks left in the decaying house: the abbot and four others, all over seventy in age. Clearly it was a dying order.

In the deep woods surrounding the monastery there was a little hut that a rabbi occasionally used for a hermitage. The old monks had become a bit psychic, so they could always sense when the rabbi was in his hermitage. "The rabbi is in the woods, the rabbi is in the woods" they would whisper. It occurred to the abbot that a visit to the rabbi might result in some advice to save his monastery.

The rabbi welcomed the abbot to his hut. But when the abbot explained his visit, the rabbi could say, "I know how it is. The spirit has gone out of the people. It is the same in my town. Almost no one comes to the synagogue anymore." So the old abbot and the old rabbi wept together. Then they read parts of the Torah and spoke of deep things. When the abbot had to leave, they embraced each other. "It has been wonderful that we should meet after all these years," the abbot said, "but I have failed in my purpose for coming here. Is there nothing you can tell me that would help me save my dying order?"

"No, I am sorry," the rabbi responded. "I have no advice to give. But, I can tell you that the Messiah is one of you."

When the abbot returned to the monastery his fellow monks gathered around him to ask, "Well what did the rabbi say?"

“The rabbi said something very mysterious, it was something cryptic. He said that the Messiah is one of us. I don't know what he meant?"

In the time that followed, the old monks wondered whether the significance to the rabbi's words. The Messiah is one of us? Could he possibly have meant one of us monks? If so, which one?

Do you suppose he meant the abbot? Yes, if he meant anyone, he probably meant Father Abbot. He has been our leader for more than a generation. On the other hand, he might have meant Brother Thomas. Certainly Brother Thomas is a holy man. Everyone knows that Thomas is a man of light. Certainly he could not have meant Brother Elred! Elred gets crotchety at times. But come to think of it, even though he is a thorn in people's sides, when you look back on it, Elred is virtually always right. Often very right. Maybe the rabbi did mean Brother Elred. But surely not Brother Phillip. Phillip is so passive, a real nobody. But then, almost mysteriously, he has a gift for always being there when you need him. He just magically appears. Maybe Phillip is the Messiah.

Of course the rabbi didn't mean me. He couldn't possibly have meant me. I'm just an ordinary person. Yet supposing he did? Suppose I am the Messiah? O God, not me. I couldn't be that much for You, could I?

As they contemplated, the old monks began to treat each other with extraordinary respect on the chance that one among them might be the Messiah. And they began to treat themselves with extraordinary respect.

People still occasionally came to visit the monastery in its beautiful forest to picnic on its tiny lawn, to wander along some of its paths, even to meditate in the dilapidated chapel. As they did so, they sensed the aura of extraordinary respect that began to surround the five old monks and seemed to radiate out from them and permeate the atmosphere of the place. There was something strangely compelling, about it. Hardly knowing why, they began to come back to the monastery to picnic, to play, to pray. They brought their friends to this special place. And their friends brought their friends.

Then some of the younger men who came to visit the monastery started to talk more and more with the old monks. After a while one asked if he could join them. Then another, and another. So within a few years the monastery had once again become a thriving order and, thanks to the rabbi's gift, a vibrant center of light and spirituality in the realm.

This morning’s scripture lesson reminds us of the importance of recognizing the face of God in the “least of these.” Who is Jesus referring to when he says the least of these?”  He is referring to the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, those without clothes, the sick and those in prison. He is pretty clear by using the pronoun “I” six times to the selfless “you” in speaking to the righteous.

         “I was hungry and you gave me something to eat”.

“I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink”.

“I was a stranger and you invited me in”.

“I needed clothes and you clothed me”.

“I was sick and you looked after me”.

“I was in prison and you came to visit me”.

These are clear instructions on the kind of things Jesus is encouraging us to do. They are very practical things, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, looking after the sick, visiting the prisoners and other things that care for the needs of others. Our Church does many things like this to meet the practical needs of others. Our deacons are leaders in our church who make Jesus’ mission tangible by visiting the sick, those in prison and the homebound. Our deacons are at the forefront of this kind of stewardship. They are putting Jesus’ words into practice in our community. We also have a food pantry in which we provide food to those who are hungry. Each Christmas many people in our congregation head up projects such as Adopt A Family in which clothes and toys are provided to those who might not otherwise have presents to open and for Oakwood Terrace, many people made it possible for families to have clothes and food and gifts over Christmas. It really radiated the Spirit of Christ in our community. Among us, hundreds of gifts were wrapped and closets were cleared of boxes of shoes to give those in need. This is the heart of the Gospel. And we can be proud to be a part of a Church that takes very seriously service as part of their mission.

Jesus reminds us in this morning’s lesson that our actions count for something. The smallest kindness, even if it is ignored by society is recognized and appreciated by God. God has special concern for the powerless and the vulnerable and how they are treated. God seeks justice and values kindness and compassion.  We serve God when we recognize God among the sick, the hungry, the desperate, “the least of these.” There may be a time in our own life that we too are “the least of these: and we need the kindness of others, when we are sick or grieving a loss, so this Scripture refers to all of us as being the “least of these.” We are all broken in our lives at different times. Brokenness is a universal experience of all human beings. That is what connects us with each other and helps us develop the capacity for deep empathy, being what Henri Nouwen calls a “Wounded Healer.”

I remember a couple of years ago I met a homeless man who lived in Davis Park. Many know him by the name of Aqualung. Actually that was a name given to him by others, not a particularly kind name. His real name is Bill. When I met him, he radiated a strong spiritual presence and I was reminded of this passage. It seemed so blatantly clear that he was one of the “least of these” and by engaging him, I would be engaging Jesus. We spoke briefly each time I saw him. It was clear that he had been harmed by the world and he didn’t particularly trust me. After some time we began spending more time together. One day I noticed he needed a new grocery cart so I went to Krogers and Walmart and a few other places and no one would give me a cart for Bill. Until one day I was on the elevator at this Church and Behold, I saw a grocery cart. I was stunned, it felt like divine intervention because I was having no luck & beginning to feel discouraged. I asked the man if I could have it for my friend and he said sure. Wonderful things happen in this Church. Bill was very pleased to have a new cart. He was still living outside in Davis Park and we talked about finding him a room from time to time. One day we were having coffee and the employee of the coffee shop came up to him and asked him to leave because she was concerned his odor might be disturbing those who were trying to eat their lunch. I looked around and we didn’t seem to be offending anyone, so I said he is with me and we are having coffee together. I said, “it is very cold outside and it is Christmas time,” which was my way of reminding her the message of Christmas. She said, “I will have to ask my manager.” A few minutes later she came back and she said, “I am sorry, I realize he could be Jesus but we have rules we have to follow here and there are no exceptions.” She seemed uncomfortable with saying this. She reminded me she was not the owner and this was the owner’s wishes. I was kind of shocked and saddened by her words. She named for me, that we may be encountering Jesus in many different setting and asking him to leave.

“I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat.”

“I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink.”

“I was a stranger and you did not invite me in.”

“I needed clothes and you did not clothe me.”

“I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.”

Whenever we are courageous enough to recognize the Spirit of Christ in another and bring it forward we are radiating God’s love, peace and comfort in the world. Look around you; the Spirit of Jesus Christ is all around you. It is in your compassionate connection with one another. It is in your loving kindness toward strangers. We are called to Seek God’s face in EVERYONE.  I want to end with a story.

There one was a little boy who wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with Twinkies and a six-pack of root beer and he started his journey.

When he had gone about three blocks, he met an old woman. She was sitting in the park just staring at some pigeons. The boy sat down next to her and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the old lady looked hungry, so he offered her a Twinkie. She gratefully accepted it and smiled at him. Her smile was so pretty that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered her a root beer. Once again she smiled at him. The boy was delighted!

They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word.

As it grew dark, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to leave, but before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the old woman and gave her a hug. She gave him her biggest smile ever.

When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face.

She asked him, “What did you do today that made you so happy?”

He replied, “I had lunch with God.” But before his mother could respond, he added, “You know what? She’s got the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen!”

Meanwhile, the old woman, also radiant with joy, returned to her home.

Her son was stunned by the look of peace on her face and he asked, “Mother, what did you do today that made you so happy?”

She replied, “I ate Twinkies in the park with God.” But before her son responded, she added, “You know, he’s much younger than I expected.”

Please pray with me:

 Gracious Loving God Help us to open our hearts and eyes to recognize you in all of your creation and in all people, those in our community and in the world. Help us to treat one another and ourselves with extraordinary respect. In the Strong Name of Jesus, We Pray