First, what a great day to be a sports fan in Georgia!
Before I came to serve here, I knew very little about St. Augustines. As a teenager, my mom worked here for Fr. Wooley and it’s where she met my now stepdad.
And then a few years later, I met John when he headed my discernment committee for both my diaconal and then priestly journey. And then the amazing Lynn Anderson became my spiritual mentor. I while I was beginning to learn about St. A’s, I did not know much about her and her people nor their passion for outreach.
And the next time I heard the name St. Augustines was for a meeting in your, and now, Our parish hall to attend the diocese’s Church Development Institute (CDI).
There, early Saturday morning, I met this fast moving, quick talking priest who had graciously provided the parish hall for us to meet in. He did have shorter hair back then… but today has that same vibrant personality that makes a room vibrate. And Thomas Barron whom I had attended Sewanee with, was in this CDI group too… and who found HIS way here. Little did I know that God was moving the circumstances of my life… directing my path.
On the second meeting of our CDI class, we were asked to go to St. A’s sanctuary and report back what we learned about the church and her parishioners …by just looking at the space.
Walking into this beautiful space, I knew immediately that this church is Christ-centered. Hard to miss that!
I also noted the bags of coloring books and crayons ready for the young children who were welcomed to attend big boy and girl church, the name tags hanging by the door so that everyone would know everyone by name, making newcomers feel comfortable. I noted that the space was filled with the light and positive energy of a lively and loving congregation.
And then I walked outside and read the banner that was up then at the front of the church for everyone who drove by to see: Love God. Love your neighbor. Change the world. And I thought, I could so flourish here. They are my kind of folk!
And now, here I am. Can you believe that I have been here a year, tomorrow! Which reminds me, Fr. Thomas did not Fr. Hobgood teach in CDI that every milestone should be marked with cake?! Always cake! Just a bit of a hint there, Fr. Jim. BTW I love butter frosting!
But back to the sign. Love God. Love your neighbor. Change the world. Such a powerful message. And it is the message that all of readings today are giving us.
The last few Sundays, we have seen time and time again when Jesus’ authority has been challenged by the scribes and Pharisees. So, today’s story comes as a bit of a surprise! A scribe who overhears the disputes between Jesus and some religious leaders recognizes that Jesus’ answers are good, asks Jesus a tricky question. Which is the first of all? We assume because of his position that he is trying to trick Jesus, but we find that he is an exception to the hostile questioner, since he proves able to acknowledge and repeat the truth in what Jesus says. Wow! Approval from the other side of the isle!
And just as surprising is Jesus’ response to him. He declares, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” Of course, he is standing right next to Jesus! In reality he IS near the Kingdom! But I can imagine the shock and awe of those overhearing this conversation that someone of the establishment, someone whose focus is so directed at following the letter of the law as established in the OT, can agree with Jesus that love overrides all: Love for God AND neighbor, even if the neighbor is a part of the opposition.
This is really big stuff!
This exchange between Jesus and the scribe becomes itself an illustration of the Great Commandment that Jesus shares and of the shift from the OT law to the NT focus. Even though the exchange occurs in the middle of a dispute, this running argument between Jesus and the representatives of the parties and leaders of the religious establishment, Jesus and the scribe are able to transcend the party strife and cross the dividing line of hostility to confess a common faith. Because they join together in the conviction that there is no commandment greater than love of God and neighbor, they are able to treat each other as neighbors.
Both the scribe and Jesus have stepped away from the “us” versus “them” categories.
Their mutual affirmation is an island of reconciliation in a sea of hostility. The scribe recognizes Jesus as the great Teacher; Jesus recognizes the scribe as a pilgrim moving toward the kingdom. There lived out common devotion to God and neighbor silences the debate. (The New Interpreter’s Bible).
Loving the other is a common theme throughout scripture in what we are called to do and be in our faith. I have preached on it several times right here. And coincidentally, just this morning in our Adult Forum on the study of Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s latest book, Love IS the Way, we had a discussion on this very topic. I have to add, If you are not participating in this study, you are really missing out on some deep and honest discussions.
Fr. Thomas led this discussion on the following questions: I am told to love my neighbor, but who IS my neighbor? Where do I find my neighbor? What does loving one’s neighbor look like, practically speaking?
And an easy transition from these questions were the following: I know that I am to love all people, but am I doing all that I can? Does this idea, then, reveal me to be a hypocrite? And, well, aren’t we all hypocrites at one time or another? And will God forgive me for not doing better?
But let’s take a bit of a different direction that Curry reminds us to do…. Love God. Love your neighbor. And how about taking time to love yourself. Not in a narcissistic way, but in a way that when you are able to love self, you will find it easier to love others with no need or inclination to get something in return.
I have a good friend who about four years ago, had back surgery. It was a tough procedure. The surgeon was trying to strengthen a back that was beginning to crumble from degeneration and arthritis. From the time she first awoke after surgery, she complained of surgical pain. I am not sure if her tolerance was low, but I do know that people who are in constant pain develop a fear of it. A fear that they will not be able to get above it and get any kind of relief.
For the next year, she lived on her couch, unable to return to work nor to her life, partly from pain, partly from feeling sorry for herself. She came close to losing her home while waiting for her disability to kick in. Family and friends were her only lifeline to the outside and to keeping her lights on. She was terribly depressed. Beating herself up for not being healthy, for not taking better care of herself, for not having taken care of her finances before the surgery.
I visited her weekly, trying to help her clean, shop and cook. And I kept telling her, you’ve got to find something that is bigger than you to focus on. This is one of the rules of AA, get off your pity pot and do something for someone else. And you know, she did. She found animal rescue. She rescues dogs and cats but ironically, they have really rescued her.
Her self-focus turned outward towards something that was in need of help. This activity got her off the couch and into life, and helped her back into being a productive member of society. And then led to her finally being able to love herself as who she was, and in the position she had now found herself in. She gave herself permission to grieve the loss of her old self, and then to love who she is today.
Loving ourselves with our bumps and cracks allows us then to be strong enough to reach out to love others. We do not need to worry about buying nice things to cover up our weaknesses. We do not have to condemn ourselves for our shortcomings. We can then put our energies into spending our time being fed by the spirit and having lots left over to share with others. And not just ourselves. We are able to forgive ourselves and trust that God has a hand in all things, opening the door to love others more freely without judgement for the situation they have found themselves in, without judgement for their nationality or race, without judgement PERIOD. If we love, there is no room for judgement. For that is what Jesus taught. It is what God commanded. Love me. Love others. Change the world.
I am going to end by quoting again our wonderful Presiding Bishop Michael Curry. He writes, “When love is the way, poverty will become history. When love is the way, the Earth will be a sanctuary. When love is the way, we will lay our swords and shields down by the riverside to study war no more. When love is the way, there’s plenty of room for ALL of God’s children.
Imagine our homes and families when love is the way. Imagine neighborhoods and communities when love is the way. Imagine our governments and nations when love is the way. Imagine business and commerce when love is the way. Imagine this tired old world when love is the way. If it’s not about love, then it’s not about God.”
I know. This is so easy to say but it can be difficult and complicated to actually do. To love those who are all those things that we don’t like. But what if, what if, this was the driving force of the world! What would that world be like? How would our politics change? How then would that work for the common good? I don’t know about you, but I sure would like to find out.
Amen.
Sources
The New Interpreter’s Bible
Curry, Michael and Grace, Sara. 2020. Love is the Way: Holding on to Hope in Troubling Times. Penguin Random House LLC
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