Our small acts and Christ's resurrection

Read: Acts 9:36-43

 

Fourth Sunday of Easter - April 21, 2013

The Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin

 

Everything should stay in its regular, accustomed, known place.

There is too much else in the world these days that is in turmoil; we want something just to be nailed down, fixed, secure, without questions or problems.

The dead stay dead; dead as a doornail, whatever that means.

 

But there are several kinds of death, aren't there?

There is the non-breathing kind, and we have seen terrifying examples of this kind in the past few days brought on by madmen in Boston and accidents in Texas.

We pray that the Lord hold close those who were killed and raise up comforters for those who are injured in body or spirit.

 

And there is another kind of death, the death of hope.

On Wednesday afternoon I sat in for the Shepherd of the Streets as he  began a few days of vacation.

There was a problem, however; the treasury is bare … I mean empty.

Time after time the conversation with the receptionist went like this:

“Hello. May I help you?”

“I'm really short right now and I was wondering if the Shepherd could help me get this prescription?”

“Well the Shepherd's assistant would be glad to talk with you, but there is no money  for prescriptions available right now.”

“But all I need is $10.”

“Let me say it again: there is no money at all in the account.”

“Oh. Well, thank you anyway.”

 

Now we can rewind that conversation and replay it again and again all afternoon with variations.

Of course there are some who abuse the system.

But how many times does a truly needy person need to hear that before there is a death of hope?

The ones who have given up looking for work.

The ones who see no meaning to life.

The ones who are ripe for falling into anarchy, or violence, or ennui.

Will these dead stay dead?

 

My sheep hear my voice.

I know them and they follow me, and I give them eternal life, Jesus says.

Something very different is breaking into the world through Jesus, isn't it.?

Here is a hope in spite of all of those things that point to death, all of the disappointments, all of the the setbacks, all of the pains and anguish that are encountered along the way.

It may be easier for us to say, we who are still comparably comfortable.

It will not be so easy for those patrons of the Shepherd's office who went away empty-handed on Wednesday, or for those such as the Coptic Christians of Egypt.

They are a 9 million member minority there under constant harassment and pressure which they have always had, but which is increasing dramatically right now. 

The problems are both economic and matters of faith; it must feel overwhelming to them.

 

So many things leading toward death.

And they were preparing the body for burial.

Tabitha had done many good things.

She is the only woman in the New Testament who is addressed with the female form of the word “disciple”.

We would probably term her specialty part of “social ministry”, clothing the widows and distressed, and we will guess that telling the Good News of Jesus accompanied the clothing.

She was so well-respected for her work that there were many grieving her death by the time Peter arrived and bid them all stand aside.

“Tabitha anastathi” is Peter's command in Greek; but he likely spoke in Aramaic so it would be “Tabitha kum”.

Now that sounds very familiar, doesn't it?

We've heard that little phrase before, in the story of Jesus restoring Jarius' daughter.

“Talitha kum,” Jesus said to her, “little girl, arise.”

It's only a few letters different from “Tabitha kum” which Peter says.

“Tabitha, get up; there is more for you to do.”

“Tabitha, you're still needed here.”

I'm guessing that Luke meant for us to notice the similarities in the two stories., one from the Gospel, and one from Acts.

The things that begin in the ministry of Jesus continue in the work of the disciples, and then continue in some fashion in our work as well!

What are we saying and doing that will help others hear the Shepherd's voice and follow?

What are we saying and doing that will point to hope where the world sees only hopelessness and death?

What are we saying and doing that cares for physical needs as did Tabitha, so that people have the energy and the will to hear Good News?

 

Those are three big questions that may seem too large to even tackle.

If it is just up to us, we will flounder and fail as we struggle with them.

But it is not up to us.

Jesus shapes us through the Holy Communion to work on these things.

 

Our very lives take on the shape of the resurrection meal, as we remember that Jesus took and blessed and broke and shared the bread with the disciples.

Jesus takes what we bring to him, our bread, wine...and a number of other things as well such as our weakness, our hunger, our thirst, our weakness, our strengths, our work and leisure...whatever we are and do.

Jesus takes us, all of ourselves, leaving nothing to waste.

 

Next Jesus blesses and gives thanks for what we bring and who we are in our bringing.

Everything and everyone offered is a reason for thanks.

Jesus does not disparage a small offering nor give greater honor to a large one, but takes us where we are and blesses it and looks to move on to the next level.

 

And Jesus breaks what we bring to him.

We come, sometimes trying to look all polished and poised, all self-sufficient and controlled.

But Jesus is after what is inside of us, and he may expose our inadequacies and all the rest of the covered-over problems.

But remember the verse from Psalm 51: A broken and contrite heart you will not despise, O Lord.

This mess that we have made of things and of ourselves is still OK; it is now the raw material from which Jesus will fashion something new.

 

Then Jesus shares his body and blood and what we have brought to the table, who we are. 

But it is no longer the same; it is changed into what God wants it to be for the future.

 

How can that Coptic Church in Egypt survive persecution century after century?

Sometimes it is greater, sometimes less; right now it is rising to a fever pitch and is very dangerous for the people indeed.

It can only be because of the brokenness they know that they bring to the Table which is given back to them in the the strength of the body of Christ to endure whatever hardship is in front of them that day.

 

How do shocked and grieving families here or anywhere manage?

One choice would be to try to withdraw from everything and everyone.

It is not effective, but it is often attempted anyway.

Would not the best thing rather be to offer our lives in all of their brokenness, and see what Jesus intends to make of them in another day?

No one shall snatch them out of my hand, says Jesus.

At any mealtime we could say:

“Come, Lord Jesus, be our host; give us what we need the most.”

It is sort of extending our Sunday Communion experience into our everyday life, isn't it?

It is expanding, taking over the rest of life; oh...that's what it is supposed to do isn't it?

Where Jesus is around, things don't stay the same old way.

Watch out!  It is not just “Talitha kum” or “Tabitha kum”, it is “St. Mark's kum”.

Because Christ is risen.  He is risen indeed.  Amen.