Offending the Afflicted and Comfortable

August 22, 2021 The Rev. Mark Pendleton Christ Church, Exeter Offending the Afflicted and Comfortable John 6:56-69 56Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. 57Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. 58This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever." 59He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum. 60When many of his disciples heard it, they said, "This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?" 61But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, "Does this offend you? 62Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64But among you there are some who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. 65And he said, "For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father." 66Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. 67So Jesus asked the twelve, "Do you also wish to go away?" 68Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God." Many preachers over the years have quoted a misquoted old newspaper article. One of the first members of the clergy to do so was Frederick W. Burnham (1871-1960). What he said was this: "The business of the ministry is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable." Two camps: the afflicted and the comfortable. Which group do you find yourself in this morning? What does it mean to be afflicted? We may be suffering through an illness that is slow to heal, pain that will not relent, a grudge that has not been forgotten, a corporate downsizing that has left us without a job or under-employed. We could be distressed by being overwhelmed with debt, deeply grieving the loss of a loved one, and just weary from the constant drumbeat of news. In other parts of the world this morning, people in Haiti are waking up to another day afflicted by heat, grinding poverty and pollical uncertainty. Students are heading back to school with a lot of question marks and local school board meetings are becoming arenas of conflict. We might be afflicted with a heaviness and a weariness. To the afflicted: may we hear a message of comfort, pardon, and relief. Matthew 11:28-29 comes to mind: Jesus said: "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." I return in these well-worn words of comfort often. And the comfortable? Who are they and where are they? Comfortable financially, set in our ways, confident of our positions, secure in status, born to rule and be in charge, deferred to often for our opinion and wisdom, and feeling reassured of our salvation by a loving God. The comfortable are likely more at home in the majority than the minority -- removed and semi-isolated by the chaos sweeping the globe. I think of those described in the prayer attributed to explorer Sir Francis Drake when he asks of God: Disturb us, Lord, when We are too well pleased with ourselves, When our dreams have come true Because we have dreamed too little, When we arrived safely Because we sailed too close to the shore. If the work of the church is to afflict - cause pain and disruption - to the comfortable, how much tolerance or patience will they have for this approach. How long will they sit in our hard wooden pews? What is the tolerance to be measured, called out and challenged? "I will give you rest" is easier to both deliver and hear than what Jesus said to the rich young man, "If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." Matthew 19:21 How afflicted do people really want to be when they come to worship and pray? Do we speak of justice and peace and/or soothe the suffering with healing balm? Does it have to be either/or? Can't we stay in the safe middle? We are the Episcopal Church after all: the Via Media between the Catholic and Protestant worlds. We are not a church that preaches hell and judgement or traffics in shame. We preach openness and welcome. In today's gospel, we see the impact of a direct invitation that Jesus made to those who were following and listening to his words. Jesus stands in their midst as says: I am. I am the Bread of Life. The one who eats this bread and drinks this blood will live forever. He was preaching the spirit and some of those who were listening were holding onto traditional teaching and the known material world. Jesus was afflicting and challenging those who had gathered around him with a bigger vision of who God is and what God most desires of us. Deep relationship and love that never ends. v. 61 "Does this offend you?" he asks the comfortable. v. 64 But among you there are some who do not believe." For some, they had heard enough. v. 66Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. Part of me would love to have been in that crowd that day in Capernaum, having the chance to see and hear the back and forth. And then to see some of those who had been with him say, in effect, thanks but no thanks. I'm good. To watch them turn back and walk away... To his core remaining group, Jesus asks: v. 67, "Do you also wish to go away?" And it is Peter, always Peter who speaks our truth: v. 68Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. What I hear is this: You are our best hope. People then and now have not always bought what the gospel is selling, so to speak: the life and light that it speaks of and the hope we are called to. There are always those who look for truth and meaning and values elsewhere, or don't bother looking much at all. The prayer of Sir Francis Drake evokes words that afflict: Disturb us, Lord, when With the abundance of things we possess We have lost our thirst For the waters of life; Having fallen in love with life, We have ceased to dream of eternity We may have never turned back and walked away from faith. More often, we can make ourselves a bit scarce to the challenges and demands of the Gospel and the responsibility that comes with community. Christians do not go far or deep when we walk alone for too long. We are invited and called back to a table where bread is blessed, broken, and shared. Where we can feed on what gives us life. To the afflicted and comfortable: may we draw strength from God and from the support of one another through these days of promise and uncertainty. May we not turn back from the road that has been walked by the saints and our ancestors. v. 68 "Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life." 2