Leap before You Look! Trusting Jesus
Reflecting on this Gospel, author Marilyn McEntyre writes, “The disciples want to know who Jesus is. The people from his hometown do not.”1 That statement really struck home with me.
Thinking about the hometown crowd, of course they don’t want to know who Jesus is. First of all – they think that they know him. This is Jesus, son of Mary… and… well… Joseph raised him and claimed him. Wasn’t there some kind of issue about whose son he really is? But really… a prophet? Our kids went to school with him. I changed his diapers. Sure, he was a good student of the Torah – but he’s a carpenter, just like Joseph. If he really is a miracle worker… let’s see some miracles!
But Jesus wasn’t about to prove who he is by doing miracles on demand or to win friends or influence people. And, not only does the hometown crowd not believe that he can do the works that others have said that he can, but, as McEntyre points out, “To acknowledge who he [Jesus] is they would have to give things up: the comfort of familiarity, tribal loyalties, the claims they’ve had on him as childhood companions or family friends.”1 And so… instead of welcoming him, they turned against him and “took offense at him.”
Getting to know who Jesus is would mean being open to change of everything – or at least a lot -- of what they have “always known” – or always “thought” that they knew. It’s like taking away the safety net of society, of the way we have always done things, the way things “are.” That’s scary.
W.H. Auden writes a poem in which he turns the proverb, “Look before you leap” on its head and instead writes, “Look if you like, but you will have to leap… Laugh if you can, but you will have to leap…Our dream of safety has to disappear.”
Like the townspeople, we tend to like safety, to doing the things that we have always done, in the way that we have always done them. But sometimes… God calls us to “leap before we look,” to take a leap of faith and to trust God – not tradition or our image of “safety” to catch us.
This is what Jesus called the disciples to do. They were of the same culture as the townspeople, and yet instead of assuming that they knew who Jesus is, the disciples leaned in – to find out more. They were open to hearing what Jesus had to say and so they were even willing to be sent out to unknown towns and places. This might have been a scary thing to do, especially because, at the time, there were other people going door to door proclaiming the end of the world and enriching themselves off of the fear that they created.
But fear mongering is not what Jesus calls the disciples to do. Instead, Jesus gives them authority over unclean spirits and then sends them out to serve. They are to preach repentance (interestingly not conversion or salvation), cast out demons and heal people. And if people don’t want to hear – they are to “shake it off” and go on to the next town.
The other thing that Jesus calls the disciples to do is to receive hospitality. He gives rather specific instructions about eating what was put before them – a big deal for people who keep kosher -- and not moving even if there was a better cook or richer food in the house down the street. In other words, Jesus calls them to be good guests. And that is not always easy.
A couple of weeks ago I went to my brother-in-law Paul’s church for his last worship service in that place. He has – or rather had - a three-point parish so he did a farewell service three times – once at each of the churches and then the following Sunday they were gathering all together for a community celebration. In some ways, it seemed a little redundant to do the same service three times, but he knew that it was important for each congregation to be in their own church building, to be the host – and not a guest. I went to one of the three services – the last one.
While we were waiting for the church service to begin, I chatted with the woman in the pew behind me. When she found out that I was a pastor, she asked me, with a note of desperation in her voice, “what are we going to do? There aren’t many pastors available. And we are told that no one wants to serve a little church like ours every Sunday.”
It was a tiny church building – and on this Sunday in which they were amazed that “everyone” came, there were about 20 people… maybe. So I said, “I don’t know … what do you think that you should do?
“Well…” she said with a sigh of resignation, “I suppose we will have to join up with other churches. My sister’s church had to do that. They have a pastor who does a service at two churches – and they alternate weeks. The pastor also does a service at the nursing home.” Another sigh. And then, she confided, “my sister never goes when the worship is at ‘the other church.’”
“Why not?” I asked innocently. “Wouldn’t that be nice if she could support the other church with her presence?”
I understand that this woman was grieving the loss of her pastor and the “way it had always been.” She was not looking forward to a future that would be, in her mind, “less than” it had been before. And yet, I wanted to help her see that her sister and soon, maybe she - was putting artificial barriers on her worship life. Her sisters refusal to attend ‘the other church’ on their week – was actually contributing to the experience being “less than.” For the “other” church was also less likely to come to “her” church if she did not go to “theirs.” Also – the pronouns bother me. Whose church is it anyway?
I could tell she didn’t like my original question – and she really wouldn’t have liked my last question. But, luckily for her, the organ began the prelude and she didn’t have to answer.
I don’t mean to pick on this lady -- because she is not alone. I’ve noticed this trend at Wildfire events too. When there is a Wildfire event, the “host” congregation always has the most volunteers and the most participants. It seems as if we all enjoy giving hospitality more than we like receiving it.
The one big exception to this trend is the Everymeal fundraiser. I’ve noticed that several churches have volunteers who are actively involved in that event. What makes this event different? Is it because it is run by a committee of leaders from several congregations? Is it because it is an act of service for someone else – a fundraiser to feed the children and families in our neighborhood?
This leads me to another question: What is Jesus calling you and me – and this congregation -- into?
In Scripture, Jesus calls us to baptize, teach and share the good news. Jesus also teaches us to pray – and to listen. And, Jesus instructs us, as he instructs the disciples, to show hospitality and to welcome and graciously receive the hospitality of others.
Brothers and sisters, friends in Christ, let us trust Jesus to lead us – even when the path ahead, the future, is not clear. After all, the future is never really clear, is it? So, like the disciples, let us listen to Jesus’ words, share the Good news with others, and follow where Jesus leads. Sometimes it is surprising. But we are called to do this – even if it means we have to leap before we look, trusting in the long strong arms of Jesus to catch us. The Good News is that we can trust that He surely will. Thanks be to God. Amen.
Faith-Lilac Way Lutheran Church + July 7, 2024 + Pastor Pam Stalheim Lane