The Most Important thing
The Most Important Thing
Psalm 103: 1-8; Luke 13: 10-17
So -- what was the most important thing that Jesus did for this woman?
In order for you to understand why I’m starting off today asking that question, I need to tell you about a person I knew -- sort of peripherally-- when I was growing up. We all know that children can be cruel in what nicknames that they give to someone who is a little bit different. Well, this person fit into that category. I don’t remember his name... his real name, I mean. But I vividly remember his face -- and his “nickname.” “Sleepy” we called him. “Sleepy Townsend.” Everyone knew who he was, but no one was his friend. Sleepy Townsend was always alone, and if you wanted a glimpse of him, you could usually catch him wandering around -- milling through the streets of town during his spare time. I don’t’ know how old he was... a little older than I. I never saw him around school. Although I assume he was there- somewhere. Where I did see him was downtown... And it was about all I could do to keep from staring at him when he passed me on the street. ... Why? Because when “Sleepy” Townsend walked he always had his nose up in the air like this (show them). It was as if he had on invisible trifocals and needed to see through the bottom section only. Sometimes I do that when I’m talking with people up close and I can’t see clearly. But “Sleepy” didn’t wear glasses. He just held his nose up in the air like that because his eyelids were almost totally closed. He walked like that ALL the time... and as kids often do– we all just HAD to make fun of him. I have often wondered about Sleepy... Did it bother him that he was the brunt of so many jokes? Was there some deep, secret place inside where he winced every time someone called him what we thought was an innocent nickname? I don’t know. And now, I probably cannot know. Because, as someone from home told me recently, he was wounded and died in Vietnam several years ago. Still I wonder; “Did it bother him?
Does it matter what we call someone? I ask this question because I was wondering, what was the most important thing that Jesus did for this woman that he encountered as he taught in the synagogue. Some who comment on this story call her the “Stooped Woman” or the “Crippled Woman” or the “Woman who was bent.” In identifying her that way, they acknowledge that her physical condition was the 1st thing people thought about when they saw her. Her physical condition defined who she was.
And so, if we identify her this way – by her physical condition - we might want to say, the most important thing that Jesus did for her was to heal her of this infirmity, this physical ailment that so profoundly affected her life. Today we would probably call her condition scoliosis, a congenital curving of the spine that becomes more pronounced in adulthood and leaves the person bent or stooped. My Aunt, “Tay” we called her, had a severe case of it. In our own time, at least in parts of the world where there’s adequate medical care, the condition is usually diagnosed at an early age, treated by wearing a brace or in some cases by a surgical procedure. My girls were tested for it repeatedly.
This woman, of course, didn’t have such an advantage, and simply got progressively worse. How old was she, I wonder, when the symptoms were 1st noticed? How did it limit her mobility, her ability to carry things, like water from a well? Did it cause her pain? Could she sleep comfortably at night? Did she marry, have a family? How did her condition affect their lives?
Life wasn’t easy for the young and the strong in Jesus’ time, much less for the woman whose spine was curved. What was the most important thing that Jesus did for this woman? He healed her. He straightened her, enabled her to stand up, unbent, unbowed. Which is pretty significant. You know that if you’ve ever been “down in your back!”
But notice please that Luke doesn’t seem just to be telling this simply as a healing story. This woman’s healing provokes a controversy – and that controversy leads us to be the real point to which Luke is trying to point. Jesus heals this woman on the Sabbath and the president of the synagogue objects. Now to put that in perspective, that would be like me doing something on Sunday and Dennis, the Pres of First church publicly chastising me for it...) The law of Moses is clear, he says. It’s one of the 10 commandments: Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. You have six days to labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is a Sabbath of the Lord your God, that day you must not do any work. The woman could have come on any of those days and be healed. But she didn’t... And that’s the point. The ruler of the synagogue objects to the healing because he believes it’s work and therefore violates the Sabbath law. So this particular healing sets the stage for the BIG controversy -- what is permissible on the Sabbath and what is not...Of course, Jesus denounces the ruler of the synagogue, pointing out that people take care of their animals on the Sabbath, implying people as at least as important.
Now, I don’t often hear heated discussions about what we ought to do and what we should not do on Sunday, the Sabbath anymore. But I have at different times and places in my life.
· As a child, my Jewish grandmother wouldn’t drive or even ride in a car on Saturday – her Sabbath... She WALKED to Shul ( that’s what they called the Jewish worship center near them.)
· And a number of years ago in a church I served in Cincinnati, there was a person who was really worried over whether or not it was OK to mow his grass on Sunday... It worried me that he was so worried over such a thing. I think I eventually persuaded him not to be too concerned over it, that God would want him to care for his yard, if it was the only time he had. I suggested to him that maybe instead of stewing over what is and what is not acceptable to do on the Sabbath that the better thing would be to consider doing something good for someone – besides ourselves -- on that day. And that seemed to work. After all, it se3emsto be Jesus’ opinion on the matter.
But there is a larger principle at work here. It’s a fundamental question of how we practice our faith.
Now -- Let me preface what I am about to say by noting that I do not often use a pulpit to critique or condemn the doctrines or practices of other communities of faith. No church, no Christian tradition is perfect. We do not believe that we, in the UCC- nor do you in the Presbyterian Church believe we are THE ONE TRUE CHURCH – you know, the only Christians who live out the faith in the way that God intends it to be lived. Not at all. We do not make a practice of trying to build ourselves up by criticizing others. But I think that we must be able, in the Body of Christ to be open and honest when we believe that some of our brothers and sisters have missed the point.
I say this to point out that a Sabbath healing kind of controversy can still make the news. A few years ago I remember reading about a young girl in NJ who could not receive communion in her church because she was allergic to wheat. Apparently her church believed that the communion wafer, for some reason unbeknownst to me, had to contain some wheat. That was the doctrine of the church. Because of that her church would not permit her to take communion that was made only from rice flour. And so this girl could not come to the table and be a part of her own community of faith. I.E. Because of her medical condition, her physical condition, she was excluded. Frankly, I think that her church missed the point -- the point which is made by Luke’s story today about this stooped woman whom Jesus healed on the Sabbath. And the point is this: Any time the church puts it purity of its doctrine over compassion for a human being, it commits the greatest heresy.
But that’s a digression. Let me ask you one more time about this woman whom Jesus healed on the Sabbath: What was the most important thing that Jesus did for this woman? I cannot argue if you want to say the most important thing that he did was heal her body, cure her physical condition that bent her down, stooped her over, and diminished her life. – especially this week after I’ve had back problems myself...
But Jesus did something else for her in the midst of that sharp and acrimonious conversation with the ruler of the synagogue. He called her something new, something different. Did you hear it? He called her the daughter of Abraham. --Abraham, who along with his wife Sarah were the first ancestors, the first to receive the promise of God, the first to hear God say: “Your offspring will be my people, my servant people, a light of the nations.” Jesus said: this woman is a daughter of Abraham. Not a bent woman. Not a stooped woman. A daughter of Abraham. She was a treasured and valued member of the family... person of importance and worth... a person who belonged. Jesus not only straightened her spine. He gave the woman her dignity. He said: “You are included.” Which was , I think, the most important thing that Jesus did for this woman.
Fred Craddock tells this story – I’ve used it before and probably will again. I want to tell it now as Fred does -- speaking in the 1st son.
“Nettie (wife) and I “Fred says: “had returned from Oklahoma to one of our favorite vacation spots, The Great Smoky Mountains. We were at dinner in a restaurant out from Gatlinburg near the small community of Cosby. We were in a rather new restaurant called the Black Bear Inn. It was very attractive and had an excellent view of the mountains.
Early in the meal an elderly man approached our table and said “Good evening.” I said, “Good evening.” He said, “Are you on vacation?” I said, “Yes,” but under my breath I was saying, “It’s really none of your business.”
“Where are you from?” he asked. “We’re from Oklahoma.” “What do you do in Oklahoma?” Under my breath, but almost audible, I was saying, “Leave us alone. We’re on vacation and we don’t know who you are.” I said, “I am a Christian minister.” He said, “What church?” I said, “The Christian Church.”
He paused a moment and said, “I owe a great deal to a minister of the Christian Church,” and he pulled out a chair and sat down. I said, “Yes, have a seat.” I tried to make it seem like I sincerely meant it, but I didn’t. Who is this person?
He then went on to say, “I grew up in these mountains. My mother was not married, and the whole community knew it. I was what was called an illegitimate child. In those days, that was a shame, and I was ashamed. The reproach that fell on her, of course, fell also on me. When I went into town with her, I could see people staring at me, making guesses as to who was my father. At school the children said ugly things to me, and so I stayed to myself during recess, and I ate my lunch alone.”
“In my early teens I began to attend a little church back in the mountains called Laurel Springs Christian Church. It had a minister who was both attractive and frightening. He had a chiseled face and a heavy beard and a deep voice. I went to hear him preach. I don’t know exactly why, but it did something for me. However, I was afraid that I was not welcome since I was, as they put it, a bastard. So I would go just in time for the sermon, and when it was over I would move out because I was afraid that someone would say, “What’s a boy like you doing in a church?”
One Sunday, some people queued up in the aisle before I could get out, and I was stopped. Before I could make my way through the group, I felt a hand on my shoulder, a heavy hand. It was that minister. I cut my eyes around and caught a glimpse of his beard and his chin, and I knew who it was. I trembled in fear. He turned his face around so he could see mine and he seemed to be staring for a while. I knew what he was doing. He was going to make a guess as to who my father was. A moment later he said, ‘Well boy, you’re a child of...’ and he paused there. And I knew it was coming. I knew I was going to have my feelings hurt. I knew I would not go back again. He said, ‘Boy, you’re a child of God. I see a striking resemblance, boy.” Then he swatted me on the bottom and said, ‘Now you go claim your inheritance.’ I left the building a different person. In fact, that was really the beginning of my life.”
Fred says, “I was so moved by the story I had to ask him, ‘What is your name?’ He said, ‘Ben Hooper.’ Then I recalled, though vaguely, my own father talking when I was just a child about how the people of Tennessee had twice elected as governor a bastard, Ben Hooper.
“A daughter of Abraham. A child of God.” What is the most important thing that Jesus did for this woman?
What’s the most important thing that Jesus can do for you?
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING"
Theme God's Choices More Rewarding Than Ours
Object Zippers
Source: based on an offering by King Duncan in "Dynamic Preaching -
Children's Sermons" 1995 (adapted by Richard Fairchild, 2001)
Good morning …. How many of you have clothes with zippers in them?
A lot of us do. Have you ever wondered who invented the zipper?
The zipper was invented in 1891 by a man named Whitcomb L. Judson. Whitcomb L. Judson was an important man. He was working on a big project for the city of Chicago, helping to create a transportation system for the city.
One of Whitcomb's friends, though, had a father with severe arthritis. Arthritis can make your fingers curl up and hurt badly. Now back before there were zippers, clothes and shoes had lots of little tiny hooks for holding them on. This man with arthritis could not work with all the little tiny hooks on his shoes, because his fingers hurt too badly. So this man's son asked Whitcomb to invent a shoe fastener that was easier to use than the little tiny hooks.
Even though Whitcomb was really busy with his great, big transportation project, he wanted to help his friend's father. So Whitcomb looked for a way to make shoes easier to keep on. And that's how Whitcomb invented the zipper.
At the time, nobody cared much about the zipper, and it didn't sell well. When Whitcomb L. Judson died, he never knew that someday the zipper would be very important and many people all over the world would use it. Whitcomb didn't invent the zipper to get famous or to make a lot of money; he invented the zipper because an old man with hurting fingers needed some better way to keep his shoes on.
I wonder which of Whitcomb L. Judson's inventions is more impressive to God: the great big system of transportation in the city of Chicago, or the little zipper? I would guess that God likes the zipper more, because it was made out of love and caring.
Jesus once said that the first shall be last and the last first. We don't know exactly what Jesus meant, but we know Jesus likes it when one of his followers shares even a cup of water with someone who is thirsty. Let's remember that sometimes little things we do for others can be very big things in God's eyes - the most important thing of all.
PRAYER: Dear Lord God - help us to do the little
things - the things that make a difference in our
homes - our schools and our neighborhood. We ask it in Jesus' name. AMEN.
OR
Thank you, God, for giving us bodies to
praise you and words to thank you. In Jesus’ name we pray. AMEN.
(From ‘Gathering’, United Church of Canada, 2007.)
PRAYER
Gracious God, we give you our thanks and praise, with reverence and awe, for before we were formed in the womb, you knew us; before we were born, you consecrated us. You are our rock and haven, to whom we can always turn.
At the perfect time and moment, You sent your son, Jesus Christ, to whom every day is a sacred new day of freedom. You have appointed him as the mediator of a new covenant, in which we are brought to the city of the living God with the angels and saints and the faithful of every age to rejoice together at the wonderful things you are doing. Through him, your living word, you reach out to us unbidden, and touch us and set us free. We glorify your most holy name. Lord, in Your love … [Hear our prayer] ...
O God, You are like a good Father and Mother to us all: We pray for those who are part of our human family and part of the community in which we live. We pray for the little ones - for those who are seen as unimportant - for those who are lost - for those who grieve as ones with no hope - for those who hunger for the Bread of Heaven and thirst for the Wine of Forgiveness. Grant, we pray, that they may receive the vision that they need from your hands and the encouragement that they long for... Lord, in Your love … [Hear our prayer] ...
Today, Divine Healer, we pray for all the fearful and sick people who live around us in this community and wider world:
For the young woman who is ill with Leukemia - for the Father whose mind is assaulted by depression, and for all those whom we know who require a blessing - be it physical, emotional, financial, or Spiritual ... Lord, in Your love … [Hear our prayer] ...
We pray for the mentally unstable who each day must struggle against wild fears and cruel voices.
For traffic accident victims or war casualties who must endure months of pain and hard therapy.
For the diseased or the grief stricken for whom each day is now a struggle for light and relief and peace ... Lord, in Your love … [Hear our prayer] ...
We commend to you as well, O Lord, those individuals and situations rest now upon our hearts ... Lord, in Your love … [Hear our prayer] ...
God of Christ Jesus, and our God: Be today with every kind of person in every kind of misfortune, that in their critical need they may know Your embracing Spirit.
Touch, O God all those who are bent over and oppressed by crippling spirits - and set free all those who are afflicted by attitudes and opinions and viewpoints that cause them and others to become bowed down and to suffer needlessly. Create in them the joy that is meant to be part of the Sabbath day - the day in which we have rest from our labors and celebrate the wholeness that comes from you. In the name of Jesus, we pray this and all things as One: Our Fathere who art in heaven... AMEN.
PASTORAL PRAYER
Rock of Ages: when we are afraid and can only whisper our fear, you bend over to listen to us.
When everyone acts as if they can't remember our name, you know us as your Beloved.
When we cannot seem to tell others all that you have done for us, you put the Word into our mouths. And we tremble with praise.
Word of the Lord: when others would weigh us down with shame and guilt, you set us free with your joy. when we are bent over by our doubts and questions, you reach out to touch us with your hope and grace. And we tremble with praise.
Refuge of Wisdom: when we wander from one crippling spirit to the next, yet once more, you lead us into hope. When our fears shake us to the core, yet once more, you touch us with your serenity. When we cannot stand up and see our way, yet once more, you take us by the hand to lead us home. And we tremble with praise.
God in Community, Holy in One, we tremble with praise and joy as we pray as Jesus has taught us, Our Father . . .
Our loving and gracious God, the source of life, we come to you this morning in the name of Jesus, our Lord. We come, not as strangers or foreigners, but as your children. You are our parent. We celebrate this morning that we’ve been born again as your children and made part of your family.
We thank you today for your presence in our lives, dear God. We know that your presence is most precious than any other reward that you can give us. When others weigh us down with shame and guilt, you set us free with your joy. When we are bent over by our doubts and questions, you reach out to touch us with your hope and grace. When we wander from one crippling spirit to the next, yet once more, you lead us into hope. When our fears shake us to the core, when we cannot stand up and see our way, you take us by the hand to lead us home. In all our troubles and sufferings -- when the road seems long, dear God, you’ve are always with us and help us get through. And we tremble with praise.
Oh, Lord, we want to follow the footsteps that Jesus showed us, however, we aren’t always sure that we’re following your will, even when we’re trying to do so. But we believe that the desire to follow your will in this world does in fact please you, so we want to do our best because your will will be done through us. Make us your faithful servants. Lead us in your way.
Gracious One, we pray for the needs of our people this morning. Some people are in the hospital looking for your healing. Some people are in living in the midst of troubles looking for your help. Some people are suffering from loss of their loved ones and they need your comforts. Some people are suffering from struggles and burdens that nobody knows. But we know you know all about them, and you are already reaching out to them. Oh, Lord, touch us by your Spirit and make us stay in your presence no matter what we do and no matter where we are.
We pray also for those who are oppressed and for those who are suffering from violence in this world. Oh, Lord, give them the strength to overcome the violence. Please, set them free from any sources of oppression.
We pray for peace in our hearts, in our homes, in our nation, in our world; the peace of your will, the peace of our need. And we pray as One, in the name of Jesus, our Lord, who taught us to pray: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name...Amen.
Old Testament Lesson: Psalm 103:1-8
New Testament Lesson: Luke 13:10-17
INVITTION TO THE OFFERING
Let us continue to praise God for the gift of life in all the
ways we know to do so, including this way: through the offering
of our gifts in worship.
SERMON TITLE: “ The Most Important Thing”
CALL TO WORSHIP:
L: Before we got up this morning
and decided to come to church,
P: God was waiting for us,
to welcome us with grace.
L: When we are unsure of what to do,
when we falter before the next step,
P: we come to listen to God's voice,
to learn from the One who teaches us
all we ever need to know.
L: When we are surrounded by cruelty and injustice,
when our fears cripple our souls,
P: God delivers us with steadfast love;
we are set free to be God's sons and daughters, living as God intended.
UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Yet once more, we come to you with our prayers, Holy God. Our crippling spirits keep us from following you. Our grudges weigh us down until we cannot walk straight in your way. Our anger becomes a fire which scorches our friends and loved ones. Our fears blind us to the goodness in those we believe to be different. Forgive us, God our Rock, and set us free from our wrong-doings and failures. From the day of our birth, we have known your love, grace, and hope. So may we offer you our joyful thanks, as Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior reaches out to touch us with your healing forgiveness.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
Leader: God chooses not to turn a deaf ear to us, but to listen to our prayers. God chooses not to shame us, but to save us. Hear the Good News for us! We are set free to drink deeply from the waters of life.
People: Thanks be to God! Amen.
OFFERING PRAYER:
Gracious God, You breathe your life and love into us through the gift of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit. This empowers us to loosen our resistance to love others. In gratitude, Lord, we offer these gifts to You as a sign of our pledge and our commitment to You and the work of Your Realm. Accept us, Lord, to be your true servants. May all that we do and say be done to your praise & glory. In Jesus’ Name we pray. AMEN.
DEDICATION PRAYER #2
Gracious God, you have freed us to be people of generosity. Accept these gifts you generously entrusted to us and bless them to become living generosity in the lives of those who are in need. Amen.
DEDICATION PRAYER #3
Gracious God, only say the word, and we shall be healed.
Only say the word, and we shall become instruments tuned for
praise. Only say the word, and these gifts shall become a holy
offering to your glory, and for the life of the world. Amen.
BENEDICTION:
Go in peace, care for one another in the name of Christ Jesus, and may the love of God surround you and protect, the word of God dwell within you and guide you, and the touch of God make you whole, both now and forevermore. Amen
BENEDICTION #2
This is the day we call Sabbath, the day on which God sets
God’s people free. Go forth to live as Sabbath people, freedom
people; go forth to live as those who have been raised up to
life in Jesus’ name. Amen.
