Unlikely

In order to think about this some more, we're going to listen to a monologue of a person in the shadows of an Old Testament story, the time that Samuel was sent by God to Bethlehem to choose a person who would become king in place of Saul.

Let's imagine together this scene with the unnamed mother of David from Bethlehem.

I'm a mother. I know this things, right? Of course, right.

Men get themselves so tied up in who is the strongest, or most powerful, or wealthiest, but mothers see the heart, like God.

When the old prophet Samuel comes to our place in Bethlehem, at first the menfolk are scared spitless.

Jesse, my husband keeps asking, “So what does this Samuel want with us?” Over and over. “So what does this Samuel want with us?” He gets the boys all excited. They wonder if maybe God is mad at them. Is Samuel coming to pronounce judgment?

But old Samuel just limps down the road, leading a heifer and talking about making a sacrifice to God. He wants to hold a big prayer meeting. Fine. I get all of the women of the village together and tell them, “Start cooking. When those men stop praying, they'll start eating.” I wonder, is praying only an excuse to eat? Around here, our religion is in our stomach.

It doesn't take me long to figure that old Samuel has something up his sleeve besides a sacrifice to God. The men kill Samuel's heifer on the altar and sprinkle the blood as prescribed. They say all of the right words and sing all the right songs and do all the right things. And when they're finished, they're famished.

So us women bring out the food. We don't get to do the praying and we don't get to do the eating, but we do get to do the work.

But old Samuel won't let them eat. “Not yet,” he says. “Let me see your boys first.” “What for?” Jesse wants to know.

Samuel gives him a dirty look. “That's not for you to know. Just bring your boys here, and let me look at then, one at a time.”

So Jesse tells Eliab to step up. He stands there for the longest time while Samuel looks him over – up one side and down the other. Then I'm thinking, “Is Samuel looking for a new priest or prophet, or what?”

Eliab and Jesse are thinking too. They think maybe Samuel is raising an army. So what do they know! Eliab starts flexing his muscles and Jesse starts bragging about how tough Eliab is, and Samuel says, “So shut up already.” Samuel waves Eliab off, and Jesse tells Abinadab to stand up.

Same routine. Abinadab is preening himself, trying to look handsome and tough.

“Cut it out, Abinadab,” I think to myself. 'I don't know what old Samuel is looking for, but I know it is not muscles.”

But of course I can't say that. A woman's job is to cook, not to think. Right? Of course, right.

Jesse shows Samuel the seven oldest boys. They all do the same thing – acting tough, showing their muscles. Samuel is looking more and more ticked off. So what is this man looking for?

Then he talks. “God has not chosen any of these men – fine and handsome though they are. God looks to the heart.”

Listen. There are times when a mama's instinct just clicks in. She understands. She acts. I'm wondering why Samuel is poking around here looking in Bethlehem looking for – whatever he's looking for. This is hardly even a town, it's so small. Jesse's tribe is the smallest of all the tribes. So what does this prophet want with us?

Right then I know. Samuel is not looking for muscles. Samuel wants a real mensch. He wants quality, real passion, someone who is head and shoulders above the others. Samuel wants somebody with heart. Chutzpah! And brains to go with it. So I blurt it out before Jesse can stop me. “There's one more son, David. The youngest.”

Samuel sits up real straight. “Bring that youngest son to me. We won't sit down to eat until I have met your youngest son.”

You see, Jesse doesn't like David. “He's such a mama's boy. He sings songs and twangs on that harp, and dreams dreams – he's so pretty.”

It was true. My David has beautiful eyes. You should see his skin – so bright and clear and ruddy. His older brothers tease him and call him “sissy” and mama's pretty baby.” But I can see things in David that they don't see. God has plans for my boy. Mothers know these things, right? of course, right.

It didn't take them long to find David. He was in the wadi, just behind that hill. They brought him in, running, sweating, in his work clothes.

Old Samuel takes one look, then closes his eyes. I knew he was praying. Then slowly, his mouth whispering ancient and holy words, Samuel takes a horn and pours oil on David's head.

David never blinks. He was expecting this, maybe? He falls to his knees as the oil runs down his cheeks. His eyes meet the eyes of Samuel and an holy fire passes between them.

Then Samuel just turns on his heel and walks away. David doesn't say anything either, not even to his mama. Off in the other direction, Back to the sheep.

Jesse is sitting there scratching his head. The older brothers start into the wine and the food. They have no idea. No idea!

I get back to my cooking pots. But I know. I know. God had seen the heart of my David, and called him to a fearful, holy destiny.

No one tells me these things. I am a mother. I know, right? of course, right!

And I am afraid. Tonight, in the middle of the night, I will wake up and I will cry. And then I will pray, “God, be careful with my child.”

[by Ralph Milton, 1997]

The seed will grow in some fashion, the life will be lived, somehow.

But the ways in which this will happen... that we do not know.

We have elected a Council to lead God's work in this congregation.

Many of them are first-timers.

How will all of this turn out? I don't know. We'll see what God has in mind.

We have several significant retirements now in process.

Jane Larson has asked to be relieved of leadership responsibilities in Stephen Ministry after 11 years.

Bob Schultz has asked to step down as the head of the adult catechumenate [The Way] after 10 years of service.

I get the role of Samuel here.

I've been looking and praying, and shortly I will be asking two persons to step into those roles.

Maybe we'll skip the part about pouring oil, but there will be some public announcing of the calling and responding, some recognition that it is not just the call of the pastor, but if it is a true call, it is the call of God to service.

There will be the usual protests about not knowing enough, or not being suited to the task, and the cost in time and emotion and worry and uncertainties.

But that is the way it is. As Christians we are all called to life and service; we have only to pay attention when that call is activated in particular situations, and answer.

We celebrate the Communion meal today, one of those times when you receive the good gifts of God.

Recognize that this heavenly/earthly food is not just to comfort us, but to strengthen us and send us out to grow and to bear fruit.

“Go,...make disciples...” is the commission that comes right along with the food.

At VBS this week we not only had our own children and grandchildren, but also friends and neighbors to join us in small steps of growth as disciples.

But there are so many, many more people right here as well as around the world to be reached!

Invite, encourage, nurture!

And then there are all sorts of supporting things to be done also.

Included with your bulletin today are unavoidably colorful ½ sheets.

You'll have a quiet moment during the Meal to look at them.

--On the yellowish sheet are some calls to very practical actions around this property.

--The unbelievably pink sheet is a survey of what topics might interest you for learning possibilities in October.

--We'll have sign-up applications at the narthex after the service for work at the Habitat house on July 18 and/or August 8.

--There are school kit bags waiting in the narthex to be picked up and filled.

And on and on it goes. All the time yet more possibilities for sharing Good News in the midst of helping one another.

Remember this before becoming all worried and fretful:

Since you have been planted in the kingdom of God in Holy Baptism, that means that God himself has taken responsibility for the outcome-- and it will be a good result.

It is so unlikely, we think.

Yet if it is God's call, it is a sure thing.

This is life lived in the wake of Jesus' resurrection; because he lives, so do we.

Because he lives, we live and grow toward harvest; not just final harvest, but also little harvests all along the way.

Let all lay aside our fears, and sing with the whole church, Hallelujah!.

Amen.

Please note: The preceding sermon is provided as a resource for the thought, prayer, and meditation of the members and friends of St. Mark's. It is the residue of a verbal event, and thus it does not have academic footnotes and other details that would be expected in a written document. The writer gladly acknowledges the prior thought and work of many Christians before him.