"It's the Little Things" - Pentecost 17C

Saint Luke 17:5-10

The story is told about famed Hotelier Conrad Hilton who, “while appearing as a guest on "The Tonight Show" one evening was asked by his host (Johnny Carson) whether he had a "message" for the American people.

With great gravity, Hilton paused momentarily before turning to the camera. "Please," he pleaded, "put the shower curtain inside the tub!"1

That was the introduction to the commencement address one of my intellectual heros, Washington Post columnist Dr. George F.  Will, gave on May 15, 1998 at Washington University in Saint Louis that 21 years after watching it on C-Span I remember to this day.

When I finally found the text on the internet I was surprised at how much of that speech I had committed to memory.  Speaking about the little things that matter Will rhapsodized:

"I grew up in Champaign, Illinois, midway between Chicago and St. Louis. At an age too tender for life-shaping decisions, I made one. While all my friends were becoming Cardinals fans, I became a Cub fan. My friends, happily rooting for Stan Musial, Red Schoendienst and other great Redbirds, grew up cheerfully convinced that the world is a benign place, so of course, they became liberals. Rooting for the Cubs in the late 1940s and early 1950s, I became gloomy, pessimistic, morose, dyspeptic and conservative.”2

Will’s point was that the simple act of becoming a Cubs fan shaped his entire outlook on life and made him the dour conservative that he is today.  Little things can effect our lives more than just leaving behind thousands of wet bathroom floors leading to equally as many leaking ceilings one floor down.

And Jesus is telling his disciples that in the life of faith it will be the little things that matter most.

In Luke’s gospel the disciples struggle with the same issues we struggle with in trying to follow Jesus.  

They are challenged by him and are too often confused by his values and tenets.  Their demand for Jesus to increase their faith is an appeal for what they know they need but lack, even in the very presence of Jesus.3

How much more true is that for us who are tying to follow him long after he physically walked the earth. 

When we are confronted with a crisis we too cry out, “Lord, increase our faith.”  When we are touched by tragedy we cry out, “Lord, increase our faith.” When an opportunity comes our way that looks like it might be too much to handle, even then, looking at the challenge, we might cry out “Lord, increase our faith.”

Rather than teach Jesus encourages.  What he is actually saying here to us is,  “C’mon people you’ve got this.  You do have enough faith.”

This is not the “you can if you think you can” of the possibility thinking preachers where the “belief that material wealth is a sign of God’s favor” and “those who lack material wealth are somehow thought to be deficient in faith.”4

You and I know that we could stare at a mountain or a mulberry tree “till Kingdom come” and it wouldn’t move as much as a quarter-of-an-inch.  There are some days where we can’t even get our spouses or partners to do what we want them to do.  If getting them to move is difficult moving inanimate objects is impossible.

But Dr.  Fred Craddock tells us that the word to pay attention to is not the “if” but the “have”.  He says it could be better translated: “‘If you had faith (and you do).’ Jesus response is not a reprimand for an absence of faith but an affirmation of the faith they have and an invitation to live out the full possibilities of that faith.”5

That is what we are called to do in our service.

The Revised Standard Version translation of scripture that we have before us today  leads us into troubled waters because it has Jesus asking: “Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in...”6  and we would stop him mid-sentence.

“With all due respect, Lord,” all of us in this room would say - Democrat or Republican; Liberal or Conservative - “Lord, none of us would even think of owning a slave.  The idea of owning another human being is so repugnant to us that it makes us shiver.  Lord, we don’t even own our pets!  We refer to them as our ‘fur-babies’ and ourselves as ‘pet-parents.’  We can’t relate to slavery at any time - biblical or our own.”

This may be why most modern translations use the word “servant” rather than “slave.”  And even having a servant makes some of us feel uncomfortable.

But let me call your attention to the television and now movie phenomenon “Downton Abbey.”

Did you ever wonder who in that household was really running the show?  Was it Lord Gratham or was it really Carson, the butler?  Was it his wife, Lady Edith,   or was it Mrs.  Hughes? 

It was the servants who went ‘round to wake the Crawley’s every morning.  And they dutifully got out of bed to start another day.

It was the servants who rang the bell to tell them it was time to get ready for dinner.  And so they all obediently changed from their daytime to evening wear. 

It was the servants who ran the show!  And there was a pride in service down to the most menial of tasks.

I remember early on Carson was walking around each formal table setting with a ruler making sure that each utensil was in it perfectly situated  down to the last millimeter.

Somewhere at home I have downloaded a “how to” chart for the place settings at a formal dinner.  I’m sure it would be of great help if I ever had a formal dinner but since I never have and probably never will all I could do is give Carson credit for the care he took in making sure everything was in its proper place.

For him being a servant was a high honor.  For us it is too because we are just doing what Jesus asks us to do.

Dr.  William H.  Willimon puts it this way:

Some times I think that we feign humility, complaining about all the virtues we lack because to believe that we have all that we need would require us to step up and make good on our faith.  And Jesus replies, “I have given you all that you need to follow me. Now get on with it.7 

 It is the continual making of the little decisions in our life that have made all the difference.

The ultimate worth of any servant is to have done his or her duty.

Duty may be an old-fashioned word but most of us still do our duty “out of a heartfelt desire, from a passionate, earnest determination to contribute.

Most of us contribute money or talents to the work of the church in an attempt to do our part.  When someone is in need [we] reach out to them ... because we are followers of Christ and we believe that is expected of us.

Jesus tells us we have what it takes to do our duty and be his servants.   While we may not be able to make a sycamore tree bend to our will the least we can do is put the shower curtain inside the tub.

 Don’t you think?

____________

1.   Chris Higgins, “Conrad Hilton's Advice to the American People.” Mental Floss, October 22, 2009. http://mentalfloss.com/article/23076/conrad-hiltons-advice-american-people.

2.  George F.  Will, “It’s the Little Things.” Commencement address given at Washington University in St.  Louis, May 15, 1998.  https://www.baseball-almanac.com/quotes/george_will_quotes.shtml

3.  Nancy Lynne Westfield, Connections: A Lectionary Commentary for Preaching and Worship. Vol. 3.  (Louisville, KY: Westminster/John Knox, 2019.), p.  372.

4.  ibid., p.  373.

5. Fred B. Craddock, Luke: A Biblical Commentary for Teaching and Preaching. (Louisville, KY: Westminster/John Knox, 1990.)  p.  200.

6.  St.  Luke 17:7.  (NRSV) [NRSV=The New Revised Standard Version]

7.  William H. Willimon, “Faithful Enough to Be Faithful.” Pulpit Resource.  vol. 38, no. 4 (2010): p. 5–8.

"He Had A Name After All" - Pentecost 16C

Saint Luke 16:19-31
 

When the rich man, the very rich man, was asked about the plight of the homeless he seemed to turn the problem on its head.  Here is what the really, really rich man said and I’m not making a single word of it up:

“We have people living in our … best highways, our best streets, our best entrances to buildings  . . .  where people in those buildings pay tremendous taxes, where they went to those locations because of the prestige. In many cases, they came from other countries and they moved to Los Angeles or they moved to San Francisco because of the prestige of the city, and all of a sudden they have tents. Hundreds and hundreds of tents and people living at the entrance to their office building. And they want to leave.”The modern rich man paints an incredibly sad picture of wealthy homeowners holed up in their penthouses and high-powered business types cowering in their corner offices in fear of those who are just outside the well-guarded entrances of their high-rise towers that perhaps even bear their name.

It’s like they are prisoners who fear for their lives every time they even think about going outside.

“Do you know what that does?” asks Chicago Tribune columnist Rex Huppke.  “That leads these people (who pay tremendous taxes) to leave, which, when you think of it, is a form of homelessness, except they still own multiple homes.”1

Huppke then goes on to point to several examples from the teachings of Jesus whom the rich man in question claims to follow.  One of those examples is today’s gospel.

While he may not be surrounded by hundreds and hundreds of tents our rich man is being held hostage by a poor man, a very poor man, who has apparently been dumped in front of his house.  There is a bum on his doorstep who Jesus tells us was placed there by his friends perhaps in the hopes that the person who lived just beyond the golden gate would help him.

Jesus tells us plainly that to the rich guy he was a nuisance who had to be stepped over every morning on the way down the cobble stone drive to pick up the latest copy of The Jerusalem Post.  Because he was their special care had to be used when the Bentley was backed down the driveway lest he is run over and scratches a bumper or flatten a tire.  

It is even possible that since the beggar was dumped at the front door the rich man’s friends had to use the back entrance to avoid being bothered.  It was enough to make them all want to leave.
I have always wondered whether this parable wasn’t the inspiration for or, at least, running around in the back of Charles Dicken’s mind when he wrote A Christmas Carol.

You remember the exchange between Ebenezer Scrooge and the men who approach him for a donation for the poor and destitute at Christmas.

“Are there no prisons?” asked Scrooge
 “And the Union workhouses?” demanded Scrooge, “Are they still in operation?”
 “They are.  Still,” returned the gentleman, “I wish I could say they were not.”
 “The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigor, then?” said Scrooge.
 “Both very busy, sir.  What shall I put you down for?”
 “Nothing!” Scrooge replied.  “I don’t make merry myself at Christmas and I can’t afford to make idle people merry.”

 The men protest that without his help people might die.

 “If they would rather die, they had better do it,  and decrease the surplus population.”2

Jesus never names the rich man in today’s parable but we would be well within our rights to call him Scrooge.

There is, however, one huge difference between Scrooge and the antagonist in Jesus’ story.  Scrooge repents!

When the ghost of Christmas present shows him exactly how difficult life was for his nephew Bob Cratchit and his family and when Scrooge begins to see them as real people things begin to change. 

Scrooge is especially  touched by the plight of little Tiny Tim and, for the first time in his life, shows genuine concern for another human being.  He watches as after Christmas dinner is over and Cratchit tenderly grasps his young son’s hand.  

“‘Spirit,’ said Scrooge, with an interest he had never felt before. “Tell me if Tiny Tim will live.’  ‘I see an empty seat,’ replied the ghost, ‘and a crutch without an owner carefully preserved. If these shadows don’t change in the future, the child will die.’”

Scrooge cried out.  “‘Oh no, kind Spirit! Say he will be spared!’”

The Spirit throws Scrooge’s earlier words right back at him.  “‘If he be like to die, he better do it, and decrease the surplus population.’ Scrooge hung his head to hear his own words quoted by the Spirit, and was overcome with penitence and grief.”3

The rich man Jesus is telling us about shows no such contrition.  Even when he finds himself in Hades and sees Lazarus resting near Father Abraham he still treats this child of God with contempt. 

Up until now when Lazarus was just a heap of humanity ruining his prestigious neighborhood he never acknowledged him but now he needs his help.  He needs a favor.

Still not speaking to Lazarus directly he implores Father Abraham to send him on an errand.  “‘Father Abraham, mercy! Have mercy! Send Lazarus to dip his finger in water to cool my tongue. I’m in agony in this fire.’”4

Here is something really important.

Scrooge only began to treat the Cratchit’s like living, breathing, human beings when he learned their names.  Tiny Tim, Bob, Martha.

Up until now we think that the rich man in Jesus’ story never even bothered finding out who the poor man was.  For all he knew, for all he cared, the fellow out front was just a speed bump on the highway of life.  It is only when the fires of hell are lapping at his lips do we discover that the rich guy  knew Lazarus’ name all along.  The vagrant had a name and the rich guy knew it!

At every turn of the story he could have called to him, helped him.

That wasn’t some anonymous down-and-outer in front of the house his name was Lazarus and the rich guy knew it!  He knew it but never used it until he needed something.

When Lazarus was dependent on him he never bothered to speak his name but now that he is dependent on Lazarus he is dropping the name frequently but only as an errand boy.

The arrogance is astounding as the rich guy continued to think that the only thing Lazarus was put on this earth to do was to serve him.  He demands that Lazarus be commanded to bring him water and when he is told that this will not be possible he then asks that he be sent on yet another errand to go and warn his brothers.

Unlike Scrooge our rich man is so unrepentant that in trying to get Lazarus to do his dirty work for him that he goes so far as trying to order Father Abraham around.

Lazarus is still a nonperson to him.  He is still treating him like a slave who is  expected to do his bidding at a moment’s notice.

The man who, in his earthly life,  never took the time to pass a morsel of food through a front fence to Lazarus  now expects the poor guy who has experienced so much torment on earth to pass through the fires of hell to bring him a bit of relief in the next. 

You have probably been sitting there waiting for me to drop the money card on you. You’ve been waiting for me to warn you about the dangers of the misuse of wealth and to tell you that you should be more generous but you know that.  This parable probably runs through your mind every time you pass by a beggar on the street. 

If you’ve ever visited within the city limits of Chicago your conscious would be bothered by this little story almost every time you stop at a stop light or reach the bottom of an expressway ramp and read the signs held by the downtrodden.  “Homeless!  Hungry!  Help Me!”

If, like me, you are bothered every time you speed past one of those poor souls that is good.  If that is the case, at least for us,  Jesus’ words have achieved their goal!  Jesus has made us more aware of the plight of those who have less than we do. 

However, this parable is not just about money it is about indifference.   Jesus’ rich man was indifferent to the plight of the man at his garden gate. 

The man  from our age who complained that we have “people living in our … best highways, our best streets, our best entrances to buildings” isn’t even interested in figuring out why or what he can do to help.  He is totally indifferent to the plight of the poor and only sees them as a bother.

This story may be about money but it is also about our indifference to the needs of others.  Not just monetary needs but emotional needs and spiritual needs and the need that all of us have to feel loved and cared for.

Jesus is not asking the impossible of us.  Just as it would not have been impossible for the rich man to share a crust of bread not only with the guy on his front stoop but, if he was that rich, he could have used his spare pocket money to open up a soup-kitchen for all the homeless in his neighborhood.

That is, if he could endure the wrath of his wealthy friends for encouraging more of the Lazarus types to move in and take up camp.

If our modern day rich man was as rich as he would like the rest of us to believe he could easily help countless poor with the cost of only a single tank of jet fuel from his Boeing 767. But he hasn’t and probably never will.

The good news is the Scrooge didn’t stay a scrooge.  After seeing the past, the present and the future all in one night he wakes up a changed man. 

You know how his story ends!

He orders the biggest turkey at the meat market for the Cratchit’s Christmas day dinner. When Bob comes in late he doesn’t fire him but gives him a raise.  And when he comes across the men he had unceremoniously thrown out his office the day before for begging on behalf of the poor he gives them a donation that is so large it causes one of them to exclaim, ““My dear Mr. Scrooge, are you serious?”

“If you please,” said Scrooge. “Not a farthing less. A great many back-payments are included in it, I assure you.”

  He started to care about more than himself and his balance sheet.  And Dicken’s writes of him:

Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a second father. He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world.6

Of the three men before us today one of them changed; the other was toast; and the jury is still out on the guy who was more worried about shabby looking tents than the people who lived in them.

All Jesus is asking us to do is to take care of each other.  To  reach across life’s chasms and help each other in ways that might not even be expensive but will be meaningful beyond measure.  The only cost may be a little time and a little ingenuity.

A great friend of mine the Rev’d Shawn Fiedler recently moved back to his hometown of Boston to be with his partner who got a job in the development office of Harvard University.  Shawn is the only person I know who has a job title even more cumbersome than mine.  He is Acting Associate Minister at Old South Church in Boston.  (Not to be confused with Old North Church in Boston of the “one if by land, two if by sea” fame.)

 Shawn shared this story with me this week in an e-mail:

I was assisting at our 9am service, big loud, family based. We allow children to assist in serving. They clamor to come forward to serve. I had two children (maybe 6) serving gluten free wafers and cup. I was standing behind them and letting them lead. At one point the boy serving the cup turned to the girl with the wafers and said "I hope we don't run out. I'm gluten free and I need one." Well, if you wouldn't believe it--she picked up a wafer and stuffed it in her hoodie pocket so he would have one. At the end I took the elements to serve them and she pulled it out to give to him. Holy food, indeed.7

 I think that is what Jesus was talking about!  That little gesture didn’t cost the young girl anything.  She only saw that her friend had a need and did her best to meet it.

Jesus’ rich man never did that so there was a great gulf between him and the rest of humankind.  Scrooge bridged that chasm by turning from his old ways and reaching into a new life by taking care of the Cratchit family and allowing them to become a part of his world.

Jesus finishes this parable on the pages of your life and mine for it is only when we overcome our indifference and begin seeing each other not as  liabilities but  those who are loved by God that, in the words of Tiny Tim Cratchit, “God” will “bless us everyone.”

Thanks for listening.

____________

1.  Huppke, Rex. “Shining Light on California's Homeless.” The Chicago Tribune, September 19, 2019, sec. 1.  p.  3.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/columns/rex-huppke/ct-trump-california-homeless-border-fundraiser-huppke-20190918-y3jfh5lnm5avzcqwkg7vlthv4m-story.html

2   Dickens, Charles. A Christmas Carol. London: William Heinemann, 1906.  p.  8-9.

3.  op.cit., p.  69-70.

4.  St.  Luke 16:22-24.  (MSG) [Eugene Peterson, The Message.  (Colorado Springs: Navpress Publishing Group, 2013.)]

5. Dickens, op.  cit., p.  112.

6. Dickens, op.  cit., p.  117.