“Dancing in the Shadows” (Matthew 10:40-42)

Sometimes Jesus can be a real burr in our saddles.  Kathleen Norris, in her book Dakota, tells the story that supposedly originated in a Russian Orthodox monastery, of an older monk telling a younger one: “I have finally learned to accept people as they are. Whatever they are in the world, a prostitute, a prime minister, it is all the same to me. But sometimes I see a stranger coming up the road and I say, ‘Oh, Jesus Christ, is it you again?’”

Jesus tends to create such a reaction in our lives.  Considering the news and events taking place in the past week, it is difficult not to acknowledge that Jesus is strolling down the street . . . heading right for us . . . asking us (once again) to consider our faith in the light of what is happening in our nation and world.

This past week I read an article from a news source about four Black women in Colorado considered to be scholars and activists.  In each of the interviews they were asked to give their views on the recent events happening across the nation and world dealing with racism.  One of those interviewed, Janiece Mackey, a co-found and director of a youth engagement organization, had this to say: “There’s been a lot of romanticizing of race and racism and folks feel like they’ve done their work by simply naming that. And it’s like, that’s the easy part . . .” 

When pressed to answer whether anything had changed in relation to what was happening, she responded: “Is this moment different? My heart and my soul, unfortunately, tells me ‘No.’ As a Black woman who’s married to a Black man, who has Black kiddos, I think that the ways in which we’re being exposed to the root -- which is white supremacy and institutionalized violence manifesting through that -- it’s unfortunately not different. The ways in which others may be digesting is different.”

There it is . . . Jesus knocking on the door!

For the past couple of weeks, we have been listening to Jesus tell his disciples that they were now gifted with the same message and abilities as he has.  They have been told that now they were his representatives and that they were to go out into the world to do as he had done.  And, he has also been warning them that they are to do this at great risk to themselves.  He wants them to know that it will not be easy walking in his footsteps sharing his words and performing his ministries.  It is going to be hard and dangerous work changing the world to God’s Kingdom.  Then this morning, he tells them that they are to do this for the “little ones”. 

Who are these “little ones”?

Apparently the “little ones” are those who are the least powerful within the community . . . those who are not at the table . . . those who are ignored or disdained by those in control . . . those who are the least among them . . . those who are standing in the shadows of the outer circle.  Those in the shadowlands.

Few of us venture into the shadowlands.  The shadowlands represent those places of mystery of things we do not understand or that we fear.  It is a place where we shove that stuff and people that we do not want to deal with.  The shadowlands are a place of being lost, suffering, and death.  The shadowlands are a place we are more than happy to keep far on the outskirts of the light as we can in our lives.  We know that they are there, but for the most part we try hard to ignore them.  There in the shadows we find the “little ones”.

So, who would we equate these “little ones” as being?  Well, who is not at the table?  Who does not have full standing within the family of God?  Apparently, our nation’s battle over racism points to the fact that those who are of color fit into that group.  I would throw into that mix others . . . the issue of those of different sexes and genders . . . those who have disabilities would say they have no place at the table . . . those who are poor . . . those of cultures that are different than the prevalent culture . . . those who struggle with mental health issues . . . the elderly and the young.  These are those who lurk in the shadows . . . those we attempt to hide behind the curtains . . . to exclude and leave out.

To these Jesus tells his disciples and us to go forth and share the “good news” of God . . . to establish God’s Kingdom.

The idea of racism or any “ism” for that matter has become an issue that is difficult to ignore considering everything that we are witnessing on the evening news or reading in our newspapers.  The idea of those “little ones” hanging out in the shadows of the world we live in is being revealed whether we like it or not.  We cannot deny that the “out of sight, out of mind” is not working.  And, surprisingly, more and more are coming to accept the fact that this is a real issue in our nation and world.  The shadowlands and its inhabitants have been acknowledged . . . but acknowledgement is not enough.  Remember what Ms. Mackey said earlier: “There’s been a lot of romanticizing of race and racism and folks feel like they’ve done their work by simply naming that. And it’s like, that’s the easy part . . .”

Jesus warned his disciples and us that it would not be easy and that there would be danger in pursuing his call in the world which we live.  Which makes us uncomfortable as the followers of Jesus . . . uncomfortable as we watch the protests springing up to change this discrepancy between those at the table and those longing to be included.  Yet, this is where Jesus calls for his followers to come and dance . . . to dance in the shadows . . . to spread the light . . . to fill the table and explode God’s Kingdom to include all of God’s children no matter who they are.

How do we respond to this uncomfortableness of ministering for and with those who are the “little people”?  Do we rise in protest?  Do we “riot”? Do we write letters to the editor . . . put up snippy statements on social media?  Or do we just admit that there is a problem and hope that someone else comes along and solves it.  I imagine we are scatter across the spectrum in to how we respond.  But I ask you to consider something simpler and quite do-able.

I ask you to consider love . . . to love as God has loved us . . . to love as Jesus demonstrated . . . to love as we would want to be loved.  Acts of love.  It is interesting that in our reading this morning the only example of ministry that Jesus gives is the act of giving another a “cup of cold water”.  To offer to quench another’s thirst and then to do it.  A simple act of love, hospitality, and welcoming.

Acknowledgement is a good first step, but we cannot stop there.  Where we see someone who is thirsty, we offer a cold drink.  Where we see someone naked, we clothe them.  Where we see violence, we offer a better way . . . we love.  Where we see someone outside and excluded, we invite them in.  Where we see injustice, we speak up.  We begin to care in order to make a change . . . and, we begin where we are.

Jesus chose to love . . . to love the “little ones” . . . to love us.

Jesus chose to open the table and to include everyone.

Here comes Jesus . . . coming up the road . . . do we follow?  The choice is ours to make.  What will we do?  Amen.

The “F” Word (Matthew 10:24-39)

As a kid I loved to climb.  I would climb ladders, trees, and rocks.  I had no problem going up.  It did not matter how high; I had no problem climbing up.  My problem was coming down . . . especially when it came to rocks.  Whenever my parents took us kids to the mountains one thing was for sure . . . I would find some huge rock, climb it, and then get stuck.  Stuck because I was too scared to climb back down.  This would really make my father mad as he attempted to coax me down while I sat frozen on the precipice of the rock.  Typically, I was paralyzed with fear . . . couldn’t move a muscle.

What made my father angry about the situation wasn’t the fact that I was stuck up on a rock too scared to get down . . . it was his logic.  He figured that if I could get myself up the rock, surely, I could get myself down the rock.  You know, go down the way you came up.  Problem was . . . I usually couldn’t remember how I got up there in the first place!  As much as he would plead, his frustration only grew as I sat there scared to death to move thinking I was going to end up as a great big splat on the ground below me.

Now, I did not and still do not have a fear of heights.  I do not mind going up . . . it is the going down that scares me.  It is that possibility that I might fall and hurt myself or even die.  That scares me.  Though apparently it never happened . . . I am here this morning as proof that I always made it down.  No broken arms or legs . . . no splat on the ground.  All I can tell you is that I always made it down somehow and that I never did learn my lesson as this seemed to be a problem throughout my childhood.

Fear is a natural reaction or response to whatever is perceived to be a physical or emotional threat.  It is the “fight or flight” that kept our ancestors alive and allowed for us to be here today.  The definition of fear is “an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.”  It is a primitive emotion that is  still alive and well today. 

We all experience fear.  We all have our own fears.  Some are quite real, others are imagined . . . but, whatever the case, we all have and experience fear. 

We are living in what some have described to be “fearful times”.  There are a lot of things producing fear.  This unknown virus and the pandemic it has spawned has created fear as over 120,000 people in the United States have died from it . . . we cannot see it as it lurks around us and threatens us all . . . and, we are months—maybe even years from a vaccine to protect ourselves.  There is fear over the chaos it has created.  It has created mayhem in the economic reality . . . millions have lost jobs, income streams have been disrupted and lost, businesses have been lost . . . we are in a recession.   The issue of prejudice in our nation has raised its ugly head and is spewing out all sorts of reactions . . . people are justly protesting racism and all the –isms calling for changes . . . violence has broken out as differing opinions and views clash . . . lines are being drawn in the sand . . . these are scary times.  We are in the full swing of another election year and the mudslinging is in full session . . . and fear is a great part of the whole election process as politicians use fear to sway votes and create divisiveness.  Politicians know the power of fear.

So, yeah . . . these are fearful times that we are living in.  Scary times.

That is the “f” word I want to talk about this morning . . . fear.  That is what Jesus is dealing with in our scripture reading this morning . . . fear.  Jesus recognizes the power of fear and its ability to be the cause of failure for the disciples as he sends them out into the world.  Because of this he wants to take it head on because what Jesus is asking them to do is scary business.  He is asking them to go out into the world . . . a world that is not like the one Jesus preaches, teaches, and lives—no, it is quite the opposite . . . knowing that they will encounter strong reactions to what they are saying and doing.  Jesus is setting them on a collision course with the powers of the world.  Jesus wants to acknowledge the reality of the situation . . . wants to name the fear . . . and, wants to give the reason why they should not let this fear keep them from fulfilling the charge he has given them.

Throughout this passage the dominant phrase that the disciples and we hear is . . . “do not be afraid.”  Yet, at the same time, Jesus wants to be realistic about it all.  He explains that whatever fate awaits the master or teacher also awaits the disciples.  The disciples have witnessed the reaction of the powerful against Jesus . . . witnessed how they have treated him . . . and, in the end, they have even seen him put to death.  Jesus wants them to know that it won’t be no different for them.  Remember, the acorn doesn’t fall far from the tree. 

Naming aloud the fears is the first step in freeing one’s self from their grip . . . and, Jesus does that.  There is the threat of violence, even death.  There is the threat of arrest and imprisonment.  There is the threat of losing one’s family . . . one’s way of life . . . home and business.  There is the threat of being ostracized and having the community turn against them.  All real threats to be feared as they attempt to live their lives in the footsteps of Jesus.  Naming the fears allows one to grasp the emotion in order to understand them . . . where they are coming from . . . what drives them . . . what the motive is behind them.  By naming them, control over them can be found.

Jesus lets them know that these fears are real.  At the same time, as he reminds them to “not be afraid” of them, he tells them that they are not alone.  God is with them.  He assures them of God’s presence throughout it all.  He tells them: “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?  Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.  And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

“Fight or flight” is the typical reaction to fear.  Jesus is calling for his disciples and us to “fight”.  But fighting is scary too . . . we could get hurt when fighting our fears.  Running away from them solves nothing either . . . the fears are still there.  Or we could just ignore them, which is basically a “flight” mode of dealing with fear.  To do nothing.  That is why fear is such a powerful tool in the hands of people in power . . . they are banking that most people will choose to do nothing when confronted with fear . . . or that it will stir up divisiveness and division.  Fear is a powerful tool when used by those seeking control and power. 

Jesus wants his disciples and us to face up to our fears.  He wants his followers to stick up to their commitment of his teaching, preaching, and witness.  He wants all of us to confront our fears and not allow them to cripple us to the point that we do nothing or we run in the other direction.  For such a task he reminds us of our higher calling . . . to follow God to do God’s will as demonstrated by him through life and death.  Also, he reminds us that we are never alone in the task and life set before us . . . we always have the presence of God with us.

So . . . who wants to go rock climbing?  As we hear these words of Jesus, we are called to confront the fears that separate us from God and from one another and others.  We are to name them, study them, learn about them, and understand them so that they can no longer have any power over our lives or the way that we live our lives.  We are to remember that God is with us no matter what . . . no matter how real our fears are.  We are to remember that nothing can separate God from us . . . not even our fears . . . unless we allow it to happen.  We must remember that we have risen to the challenge of living our lives in such a way that we move beyond our fears to love in such a way we move towards the Kingdom of God and not away.

“Do not be afraid.”

I never did say how I got down off most of those rocks I got stuck on as a kid.  Most of the time it was me jumping and my father catching me.  He always caught me . . . never dropped me.  What gave me the courage to jump was knowing that my father’s strong arms would catch me, and that he would never let anything hurt me.  So, it is with us and our journeys of following in the footsteps of Jesus . . . God is with us, God will catch us.  In the end we cannot allow the “f” word to keep us from living and loving our way through life.  It is the only way that we will ever realize God’s kingdom, and to rid the world of fear.  Let us go forth and love fearlessly.  Amen.