A Level Playing Field

Sermon Luke 6:17-26 February 17, 2019 Ordinary Time

A Level Playing Field

Every Sunday we are presented with four Scripture verses as part of what is called the lectionary. An Old Testament passage, a psalm, an epistle lesson, and a gospel lesson. Ministers have a choice of which one to choose to preach on. This Sunday every one of the Scriptures has something negative to say. Each one is about woes, or judgment, each one is about the challenge of faith. The words of blessings and woes from Luke are important for us. They are important as we, children of God, are learning our part and place in the realm of God.

We all want to find a place where we can fit in.

We all want a chance at life to feel as though we’ve made it.

We all want to belong to something worthwhile.

We all want a sense of confidence, a sense of purpose, a glimpse of joy and happiness.

Jesus came down with them and stood on a level place.

He stood beside them on equal footing.

They came to hear him,

to touch him,

to be healed and

cured by him.

They came because they knew power flowed from him in such a manner that it healed all those around him.

Jesus came down with them and stood on a level place…his disciples, a great crowd of them, and a great multitude of other folk from all over the country.

He came down to level the playing field. He came down to provide an opportunity for everyone to have a fair and equal chance of succeeding.

So, according to Luke,

Jesus teaches his great crowd of disciples

in the midst of the great multitude.

Jesus is talking to the disciples and teaching them in front of a giant group of other people. It was the way Jesus did things-a lot. He was always finding situations to be ‘teachable moments’.

I’m sure the disciples would have preferred Jesus pulling them aside and having a few more private lessons than these public moments.

You know the kind when you were a kid standing in a mall with a group of your middle school buddies and your P.E. teachers looks around and decides that this is the moment in front of everyone else at the mall who came to shop and she proceeds to give you a life lesson for all to hear…well, that’s how Jesus is speaking here.

He is speaking to the group of followers that have committed to be with him through all things. So, far they’ve been faithful to all his teachings and have been in awe of his power to save and to heal.

Some of them are perhaps thinking they’ve lucked into a sweet deal following him…it could boost their future and their success if they keep close to him…he’s becoming a really popular guy.

It really was amazing how Jesus was so filled with love that the compassion flowing from him was powerful enough to heal.

Jesus knew though that a life of following him required an understanding of what faithful living was all about.

Faithful living is full of blessings and full of woes.

Faithful living is a level sacrifice.

Faithful living is a call to action.

Faithful living is a life of responsibility within the community of faith and in the world.

Jesus was being ‘on the level’ with the disciples about how to live a life that gives them and ALL people an opportunity to have a fair and equal chance of succeeding.

Jesus points out from the first words of blessing that the poor have a special place in the realm of God. And this realm of God is not heaven talk but here on earth talk.

Remember God sent Jesus into the world as Emmanuel-God with us-in other words God brought heaven to earth in the presence of Jesus. With Jesus we are carrying not only the power of his resurrection within us-the power to be lifted from the grave of tumult and despair-but we have the joy of heaven-the wonder of creation-the kingdom of God carried around to shine for the world. Pretty cool stuff.

According to Luke the poor, the hungry, those who weep, and those who are hated, are not metaphors for spiritual conditions but they are the plain truth of human conditions and Jesus has an affinity to place them on the level plain alongside him.

Hearing these words are still our challenge today as disciples of Jesus.

We have to ask ourselves what we value as part of our faithful living.

Are we among those who value the poor,

the hungry,

those living with loss,

those who are despised?

Or are we afraid of them not knowing how our relationship with them might impact our way of living and being church?

There were days when churches had dress codes and dues to pay in order to belong. There were times when people were turned away from churches because they weren’t good enough. There were days when people were told where they were allowed to sit in church. Some were told to sit in the balcony or in the back of the church. There were days when people were told who was allowed to speak in church. There were days when all the rules applied and grace took second place in the church.

And so with hearts of gratitude we come to days like today when we are reminded of the words of Jesus according to Luke.

Words that challenge us.

Words that make us uncomfortable.

Words of woe that put us back on the level of faithful living.

Words that stir us up

to provide level playing fields in all areas of living.

Words that cause us to rise up and walk into to controversial zones.

Here are words from a wise preacher from 2015…(Don Broad)
We oppose oppression when the Russians do it. Or the Chinese, or the Cubans. And certainly Isis. Suppose it's the giant corporations? Or the drive to make greater and greater profits? Are the Hispanics in our midst getting their fair share? What about Haitians? Do you really think someone can raise a family on the minimum wage? If you ask yourself questions like this, and you should, and you find your temper starting to rise, or if you find you are trying to justify your own special privilege or advantage, it's a pretty good sign that the demons are still around. So go back to square one and start all over again. Take no short cut. Be honest with yourself, ruthless if need be. Love is a serious business. The love that Jesus lived does not come easy. You have to work at it. But it's worth the effort. It drives out the demons.

Let me share this story of the ‘dangerous coat’.

During the womens’ suffrage movement, coats with pockets were considered dangerous. So there was a rule that women were not allowed to have coats with pockets.

Today we never have heard such a thing that a coat with a pocket could be a dangerous thing-

but then,

then,

it was very scary to the ones who made the laws.

Listen to this poem:

Someone clever once said,

women were not allowed to have pockets,

in case they carried leaflets to spread sedition

which means unrest to you and me.

A grandiose word for commonsense,

fairness,

kindness,

equality,

so ladies, start sewing dangerous coats

made of packets and sedition.

We need these words from Jesus as a church and a community of faith to get to the heart of the truth of the gospel message, the realm of the kingdom of God.

 We need these words to set us out in mission.

To put us back in discernment.

To reflect again on how we as a church, a community of faith use our wealth of resources and gift and talents.

How do we act together for the sake of the needs of all people?

Are we working with the other communities of faith to draw all to Christ and to share in the common love that Jesus offers.

Or are we out to be the most popular and to make sure everyone likes us.

Jesus says woe to those who seek popularity.

The Message put it this way-“popularity contests are not truth contests-look how many scoundrel preachers were approved by your ancestors. Your task is to be true, not popular.”

We are disciples of Jesus. He loves us. We are the church. Jesus loves us. We have work to do and these are our marching orders.

We all want to find a place where we can fit in.

We all want a chance at life to feel as though we’ve made it.

We all want to belong to something worthwhile.

We all want a sense of confidence, a sense of purpose, a glimpse of joy and happiness.

Jesus comes down with us and stands on a level place. Let us trust his presence. Amen.