12 Pentecost/Lectionary 19 August 11, 2013
Luther Memorial Lutheran Church Seattle, WA
The Rev. Julie Guengerich Hutson
Genesis 15: 1-6 + Hebrews 11: 1-3, 8-16 + Luke 12: 32-40
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our rock and our redeemer. Amen.
When I was a little girl I thought that the very best thing in the world was to play with my grandmother’s old purses. They were wondrous things, those handbags….some were practical, with lots of places to tuck handkerchiefs and lifesaver candies. Others were beautiful – with jewels and fancy clutches. Whenever my grandmother had a handbag that she knew she would never use again, she gave it to me, to keep for my very own. Although it might have worn out in her eyes, to me it was a treasure beyond compare.
This was the memory that came to mind when I read the Gospel text for this day. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven… But these are not words to or about a grandmother’s hand me down handbags. Jesus is traveling with his disciples and followers and he is headed to Jerusalem. Along the way he is teaching them about how following him will affect their lives….how they will be changed because they believe in him and have faith in him and desire to share the good news with others. And finally, what it will mean for them to watch him die.
The assigned Gospel reading today is rich with preaching possibilities – but throughout the week I was drawn again and again to what it would mean to have a purse that did not wear out and to this sobering observation from Jesus – where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
We can certainly understand this verse about treasure as being about literal treasure – about our money and about our possessions. What we do with what we have says a great deal about us. In fact, what we do with what we have is, at it’s core, stewardship. And in this case, Jesus is talking about two aspects of treasure – what we possess and our very lives.
One day recently Taylor and I were in the car and we had stopped at an intersection where there is always someone with a sign asking for money. We wondered together what it would be like to be completely dependent on the charitable giving of others for one’s livelihood and I realized that, in many respects, my own income IS completely dependent on the charitable giving of others. Now this teeters on the verge of complete discomfort for me….but it’s important to acknowledge, because I want to remind you of what your giving does. And to do that, I must acknowledge that one of the things it does is pay me to administer the Sacraments – to preside at Holy Communion and baptism. To preach the word. To visit the sick. To visit the shut in. To marry, bury, and carry the load. But it also allows me to oversee the very important work that Luther Memorial Church does as we live out our mission statement: Actively Sharing Christ’s Love in Community. What we do, as a congregation, with what we have, clearly reflects our response to the Gospel. So, your gifts of treasure feed the hungry poor in our neighborhood. Not just the homeless. Employees from next door come regularly for lunch. Teenagers out of school come for lunch. Our neighbors, waiting on their next check or voucher come for lunch. Your treasure makes a place for homeless women and their children to sleep and do homework. Your treasure provides a community garden for people to plant and grow and dig their hands in rich soil. Your treasure gives to the Food Bank and to Camp Lutherwood. And your treasure goes throughout the world, to places where famine, disaster, and poverty are overwhelming. So, your treasure, your monetary gifts, are what allow us to do ministry. It’s that simple. And Jesus’ words to us in the Gospel today remind us that it’s important to remember and acknowledge this.
And when we make a budget in this place and when we do so as individuals, it’s important that we view that budget through the lens of what we believe. The budget is not our master. It is our vehicle for doing what we SAY we are to be about….it is HOW we will actively Share Christ’s love in Community.
But what of other treasure? What of the treasure that is the community of faith that gathers here? What of the treasure that is our children….and the responsibility we have to them to pass on the stories and tenants of our faith?
Yesterday we gathered here and witnessed the marriage ceremony of our Office Administrator, Katy, and her now husband, Mike. We rejoiced with them as they began this new chapter in their lives together. It was a gift to stand in this space and hear Scripture read. I always think of the many who have done so before and those who will do so in the years to come.
And this afternoon we will gather again in this space to celebrate the life of Eunice, one of the communion of saints. Eunice carried with her the kind of faith that we read about in Hebrews this morning….the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. There is a phrase in the reading from Hebrews, in verse 14, that reads “for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.” Eunice spoke in this way….any conversation with Eunice revealed very clearly and very quickly her deep and abiding faith. We knew when she was well and when she was sick and when she was dying that she was seeking a homeland. That as much as she loved her life, loved her life! Oh the laughter and the mischief and the stories! But she knew that as much as she loved her life, the best was still ahead of her.
And beginning this evening we will welcome young adults who are counselors at Camp Lutherwood into this space where all week they will lead kids in Day Camp. And we’ll welcome kids who receive the stories of faith with more energy and more acceptance than we can quite contain in one room!
And this is just in the span of a few days…..and all of these folks….Katy and Mike, Eunice, the camp counselors, our volunteers, and the children….they too, are treasures. And what brings them into this space….a marriage, a memorial, and day camp….those things share this in common: love. Love for one another and love for the One who created them and called them by name.
And in a way of circular completion….your support of our ministries here with both your treasure of resource and your treasure of time and your treasure of participation and your treasure of prayer and your treasure of involvement….it says something about where your heart is.
In the reading from Genesis and in the Gospel reading this morning, we hear the same admonition: Do not be afraid. God says to Abram in Genesis “ Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” And in the Gospel reading Jesus says “Do not be afraid little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
Living fearfully is a natural human condition, but it is not one given to us by God. 2 Timothy 1:7 reminds us that God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and a sound mind. But sometimes life is scary. Bad things happen. People leave us. We are disappointed. Yet over and over again, we step forward in faith….just as Abraham did when he embarked on a journey, not knowing where he was going. Just as Sarah did when she gave birth at an old age. Just as Jesus tells the disciples they must do – in order to be ready for his return. Just as Mike and Katy did when they were joined in marriage. Just as Eunice did in life and in death. Just as those camp counselors will do when they come to share the story of Jesus. Just as our children will do when they come to hear it. Just as Donna and Colleen and Vicki and all of the other volunteers will do this week at Day Camp. We step forward in faith, knowing that where our treasure is, there our hearts will be also.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
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