Voices

22^nd Sunday after Pentecost, Yr. B, October 28, 2012

Jeremiah 31:7-9; Psalm 126; Hebrews 7:23-28; Mark 10:46-52

Sermon preached at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church

            This story of the blind man, or men, is in each of the synoptic gospels.  In Matthew it’s two blind men.  In Luke the disciples and Jesus are coming to Jericho, and in the other two gospels they are leaving.  Only Mark names the blind man.  In the other two gospels the blind are nameless. 

These differences are interesting, but the similarities between the stories are more striking.  In all three stories, the blind are beggars on the side of the road as Jesus and the disciples walk in or out of Jericho.  In all three, the disciples try to quiet the pleas of the blind.  In all three, Jesus calls, or in Luke orders, the blind to come to him.  In all three, Jesus heals the blindness, and once healed the newly sighted men become followers of Jesus. 

            This story isn’t a parable.  It’s not a wisdom story told by Jesus to make us think.  It’s not a puzzle we’re meant to ruminate on in order to discover the meaning.  It’s not a song or poem passed down through the tradition intended to bring to the present age past glories or success.  This is a slice of life in first century Palestine.  

It’s a story just like the one you might tell around the dinner table when you’re sharing about your day.  I can imagine someone in that context telling a friend, “Guess what I saw today”, and then talking it through to try to understand the meaning of the event.  It’s not history exactly, but it’s the gospel writer’s remembrance of an important event. 

What does it tell us?  First, beggars never made it inside the city gates.  They hung out on the road and called out to people who were walking by.  They were generally ignored, and nameless.  So to be heard by anyone of consequence I bet you had to yell pretty loud, and make a big raucous, or you’d get shouted down.   The little guy was definitely NOT important to those with rank or power.

So what does Jesus do?  First, Jesus hears them in all three stories, and he surely must have heard the disciples trying to shut them up too.  Second, when he hears the blind men he calls to them.   In each case they respond.  Jesus doesn’t assume he knows what the blind men want.  He asks them.  He treats them with dignity and respect.  He acknowledges them as people deserving of his attention.  Then, he heals them, and they become followers.  An act of faith, yields a response of faith, that is trust.

            Today we are kicking off our annual pledge campaign.  We’re at an interesting chapter in the story of our church.  In the last year we lost two longtime members of our congregation.  Both long time pledgers to our life and work here.  Their fellowship and their financial contributions will be missed, and in fact, are being missed already.  You can see it in the chart we’ve published in the Herald these last few times.  We are turning the corner into a new century.  We’re at a place where we’re just beginning to get a look around the bend. 

Clearly, the Church, with a capital “c”, in our world is changing.  How it is changing is not clear, but those of us in the church are already experiencing it.  I think what we become will have something to do with the voices we allow ourselves to hear, and the voices we try to shout down … both the voices within us, and the voices around us.  This is a time to hold fast to our faith and listen … both to our own fears and to our own hopes and dreams ... to the needs of our neighbors and to our own needs. 

Without faith, it is all too easy to be swept up in despair.  Without faith we will not be transformed into the people God is constantly calling us to be … a people that listens and hears the needs of those on the roadside in love, a people that acts in compassion, a people that trusts in the unprecedented power of healing and restoration that comes from God and proclaims it.  Each and every one of you is important to our life in community. 

At the last vestry meeting I asked those gathered three questions.  First, how do you go about deciding how much you will pledge to St. Stephen’s every year?  Second, where did that process come from?  And finally, what would you recommend to others about how to decide their pledge?  Most found these questions difficult to answer. They’re questions that I think we all need to think about because they are not simply practical questions, they are spiritual questions. 

So … I’d like you to find a partner.  Someone you’re not related to if possible, and talk about these questions.  I’ll give you just ten minutes, time really only to start the discussion … but enough to get you all thinking before you leave today.  And then we’ll gather back together for a few final words.  I’ll signal our end time with the bell.

As an adult, when I was first deciding about my own pledge, the voices that I heard most often were words of fear and scarcity and responsibility and obligation. I was afraid to give too much.  I was afraid of not having enough for myself, of not having enough for what I needed or wanted.  It took an act of faith for me to give more than those voices recommended.  What I discovered is that there was another voice within me trying to be heard, a voice of joy, a voice of abundance, a voice of gratitude, a voice of compassion.  Until I was willing to “give a little more” I couldn’t hear them, because what I discovered is that those voices of scarcity were like the voices of the disciples trying to quiet the blind men.  They prevented me from hearing and doing what would give me great joy.  I really didn’t need as much as I thought I did.  When I allowed myself to be generous I found that learned to live with less, and that less was actually better!  Sure there were tight times, but I got through them. 

Today, you’re being asked to consider an act of faith.  Not because we can guarantee you what will come in the future, or because it will bring you financial riches in return, … but because we can choose to stand together in whatever comes.  That will be our blessing … the community we’ve shared.  When I first came here, that’s the very reason most people gave for why they had stayed at St. Stephen’s, because of the people.  I would add to that, also for the good that comes from being that community. 

We are a resurrection people that believes in a God who tends toward unpredictable acts of grace.  A God who brings life out of death, and hope out of despair.  I hope that you will take your pledge information home today and read the letter from our church leaders.  Pray about your pledge.  Consider again the questions we talked about today.  Listen for voices that may be calling from the roadside of your heart, and give generously in faith.   

Amen.