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Sermon July 17, 2022
The Rev. Canon Robert Schiesler
The Church of the Nativity and St. Stephen’s
Sixth Sunday after Pentecost
http://www.lectionarypage.net/YearC_RCL/Pentecost/CProp11_RCL.html
Audio: /documents/Eucharist__July_17__2022
Video: https://youtu.be/Xq6acVhQehc
PENT 6C, (Lk 10, Martha & Mary) 7/17/22
Many of us this week continued to watch the proceedings of the January 6th Congressional Hearings and heard much regarding the extremist groups that banded together to create the insurrection that erupted on that day. There were certainly descriptive, telling remarks made at the hearing but this unfolding drama did not compare to what occurred after the gavel sounded adjournment. The microphones were turned off; the camera feeds to the networks ended; folks were milling about. And then there is Stephen Ayres, one of the witnesses and a former member of the Oath Keepers. A self described blue color worker in a cabinet factory, he had testified of responding to the call of the former President to defend democracy and "Save America" and caught in the fervor of the moment, joining in the storming of the capital. He has since been found guilty of disruptive behavior, lost his home and his job. He had placed absolute trust in a person who would disrupt and derail his life and was now paying the cost of such.
After his testimony, however, with the adjournment, he walked over to the officers who defended the capital on that fateful day, several now on disability and unable to pursue their chosen profession. To each one, he said, "I'm really sorry." He came to Officer Harry Dunn, a 13 year veteran of the Capital force who had already publicly testified of his being accosted physically but more so, assaulted in his soul, as he spoke of the racial slurs from those who had surrounded him. The N word astounded and dismayed him, a word that should have us gagging, mired in shame, in any who even should think such of any person of color. As Stephen said those words of contrition, "I'm really sorry," he bent over, placed his hand on his shoulder and speaks softly to Officer Dunn. A picture worth far more than a thousand words.
Lest there be any confusion, Mr Ayres is no hero and no automatic forgiveness need come from Mr. Dunn. We do not know what further words were exchanged; we do know that the apology was genuine and sincere, Stephen taking responsibility for his actions that day.
This day we hear the unique story in Luke's Gospel of Martha and Mary. Each is about important business in response to Jesus' visit. One tends to the house and prepares nourishment while the other sits at the feet of Jesus as he teaches. Jesus seems to favor the attentive one having chosen the once necessary thing" which is to stay focused, put away distraction, be attentive to the moment. Ultimately, all of this indicates his admonition to put away our anxiety, walk away from craziness and not be consumed nor obsessive about the present nor future. Jesus is actually complimenting both women as both chose a distinct way to stay focused, attentive, caring and loving. Both are attending to hearing the word of God to love without reservation, each in their own manner. And so, we too are called into a similar spiritual discipline as we arise each day and move through the day with a discipline that requires and receives love, that requires and receives those words simply, "I'm really sorry."
Hospitality was an important social feature of life in the Near East and it really is no different today there or in any part of the world. Martha is doing what any woman of her time would do in preparing to offer that hospitality, that kindness, to her guests. Mary is also offering that gift as she focuses on Jesus' teaching, being attentive to a different task of hospitality. That very word refers to a "welcoming, caring relationship" to another. The Latin word "hospes" refers to both the host and guest. Certainly both are doing just that, responding in a hospitable manner to their guest. Notice that this incident follows that lawyer's question to Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?" and Jesus responds with the story of the Good Shepherd. And the story ends with the neighbor who shows mercy and empathy and Jesus saying: "Go and do likewise." Discipleship is thus both listening intently to the word with curiosity and acting with focus and intentionality. Doing without listening becomes purposeless and listening without acting becomes like the sounding gong that signifies nothing, as Paul would remind us in his letter. Mary and Martha are both listening and acting in their own way to affirm the love of neighbor and ministry to the other, with patient attention to God's word and action that feeds the hungry, that feeds the spirit.
The 16th Century Carmelite mystic, Brother Lawrence, reflected on Martha and Mary in conversation which would later be recorded in the spiritual writing, The Practice of the Presence of God. "The time of business does not differ with me from the time of prayer; and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were on my knees.' Brother Lawrence purposefully went about the work of Martha in that busy, bustling, monastery kitchen all the while having the heart of Mary. He would go on to say, "Think often on God, by day, by night, in your business and even in your diversions. God is always near you and with you."
My friends, turn the mundane into the holy. Seek to critically hear the Holy Word. Act with the Holy One walking near you. Walk away from every distraction and worry and choose the better part in all things, in all ways.
