Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost – 22 October 2006

St. Paul Lutheran Church, ABQ NM – The Rev. P. L. Holman

Isaiah 53:4-12; Hebrews 5:1-10; Mark 10:35-45

Stewardship: the way of JOY

There was a couple who both turned 60 about the same time they celebrated their 25^th wedding anniversary, so they decided to throw a party.  During the festivities suddenly a genie appeared and said that since they’d been such a loving couple for so many years he would grant them each whatever they asked.  The woman said without hesitation, “I want to travel the world.”  Voila! She had the tickets in her hand.  The man paused for a moment then somewhat reluctantly admitted, “Well, I’d like to be married to a woman 30 years younger than me.”  Voila!  The man was suddenly 90 years old.

Conventional wisdom reminds us: be careful what you ask for, you just might get it…

Jesus was having a problem with the disciples.  Time and again Mark, tells, us in his gospel that they simply didn’t get the gist of Jesus message.  Jesus has just told them he is headed to Jerusalem and the cross.  James and John have the lead roles in this chapter of the Jesus’ saga – we could call it “Never a Dull Moment with These Followers of Mine” – asking for seats of power along side Jesus when he staffs his glorious new administration.  After all, they reason, we gave up a lot to follow you, Jesus.  A little touch of patron wouldn’t hurt, would it?  

Now, you’ve probably been in a situation like this.  Maybe you were the one asking, maybe you were the one being asked.  But here it is Jesus being asked for a favor when he has just reminded them he’s headed to his death.  I’d think Jesus would be, well, irked to say the least.  Yet by the grace of God he isn’t – Jesus is patient with these buffoons, Jesus responds with the sort of love and compassion that can only come from God, with the sort of understanding born of experience: Are you up to it? “Yes sir, Jesus!” they reply.  Indeed, Jesus knows, as they carry out his mission they will suffer and struggle, but the final result is up to God.  This is not your conventional image of a kingdom and power, but then Jesus wasn’t sent to be conventional.  God sent the son to set us free from the shackles of convention, from the power of sin and the death of living only for self or our self-centered agendas -- to help us see with new eyes the power of life in community with God.  Maybe James and John aren’t so far off the mark after all – Jesus shows compassion for these guys even though they seem clueless, almost as though Christ can work with folks who are willing to live the questions…  Maybe it is apathy, or complacency, that creates the greater barrier to living faithfully.

Most of the time we who live this side of the empty tomb, with benefit of centuries of witness to the transforming power of God’s love for the world in Jesus Christ – most of the time we don’t get it either.  Jesus is still having problems with his followers.  In these days when “lording it over” seems the path to prominence in elections, and in international as well as personal relations, the challenge to follow the Jesus way is huge.  Yet as stewards of God’s love our call is clear: we are to be the person God wants us to be not what WE want to be; we are called to be open to the possibilities that each day gives to serve God not by putting down others but by serving them.

Like so many others in my five years here, Esther Larson’s memorial service yesterday made visible the power and the joy that comes in serving others.  During the worship service, as family members shared their gifts of word and music, as friends joined in laughter and song, in Holy Communion and prayer, and afterward as the stories flowed … you could just tell by the din of conversation and laughter, by the flow of talk and tissues that Esther and Helmer Larson’s faith walk was woven with so many others in this place and made a lasting impression on the lives of those their lives touched. 

I heard the same sort of weavings in conversations this past week:

• at the Congregational Council meeting, when the youth to be confirmed shared their faith statements and council members shared their witness of how through committee work and community service and worship leadership their faith has grown;
• as leaders shared stories from last week’s talking circles, in particular how one person struggled with stewardship as a negative concept “because it is always about money,” and another responded that writing a check was easy – “it’s giving my time that’s a real challenge!” – our laughter confirmed we all could relate to the challenge and joy of living into the words of that old offertory hymn We give thee but thine own, whate’er the gift may be. All that we have is thine alone a trust, O Lord, from thee;
• at the budget meeting, where rather than focus on trying to pare down an already honed expense side the leaders talked about the abundance of the mission God is calling us to be about and the enthusiasm they have for the present and future of St. Paul church;
• at the Stephen Minister supervision meeting where volunteer care givers shared with compassion and deep concern about the needs and concerns  they are opening their hearts to, and resourced one another generating hope and joy for this important work in Jesus name.

The love of God weaves lives together in amazing ways, if only we open ourselves to the Weaver.  These stories are not without struggle or suffering – as one theologian has said if you’re doing the mission the suffering will come.  Yet suffering and struggle are not the last word – not for Jesus, not for us.  There is always life and joy in abundance greater than we could imagine asking!

Some years ago a friend shared with me a helpful way to look at faithful stewardship.  He said it is all about joy – Jesus, Others, Yourself.  Baptized into Christ we are gifted abundantly and called to lives of faithful stewardship to make a difference in this world.  Through baptism we are set on the path Jesus opened for us, the very path that time and again we leave this place to follow.  It is the path of JOY – the path of life in relationship with Jesus, for Others, opening Yourself to being changed.

The life of Christian discipleship is a life of learning and growing in grace.  We cannot do that alone.  The community which is God’s gift to us through the cross of Jesus provides nurturing space for that learning and growing, for us and for those who have not yet heard the invitation to come and see.  Even the pattern of our weekly worship lives that out: we gather, are fed by the word and by the presence of Christ, and then sent to serve in response to God’s self-giving love.  Faithful stewardship is about servant love in grateful response to the Servant’s love: about investing our time and our money to keep the Christ light shining here at St. Paul and through the mission of St. Paul to our community and our world – person to person, story by story, hope against hope.

The “cup” each is called to drink, and the “baptism” each is called to live, will differ.  The way we shine with the Christ light will vary by personal and community challenge: material abundance or simplicity, as leaders or followers, through seeming failure and success.  By the grace of God that success is measured not in vote tallies or wealth or even popularity, but always in terms of those who are comforted, healed, reconciled, and loved -- always in terms of joy.