The mechanics of community

Our journey this morning: will in part have us looking at every churches favourite and least favourite subject money.

In his autobiography Billy Graham: tells a story of asking each member of his team to pray and ask God what would be the biggest hinderance to a successful ministry. Without missing a beat, all of them came out of separate rooms and said “money”

Now, I know that story is intense way of beginning a sermon; But I think it’s powerful illustration of the influence money on our thinking.

As we open the Gospel for today: it would be very easy to fall the trap of looking at the story and saying “She gives everything, what a wonderful example, we should too! We know the story” But do we?

Once again, as Jesus so often does, we are being called to look beyond the surface to the mechanics of community, both how it is and how it could be.

So, if we stop our journey at celebrating the act of the unnamed woman – something is missing. There are other elements we need to look at in order to understand the mechanics of this community. One of the first being Whether those in authority play their part in building a just, fair oppression free community: well, if we go by the portrait of the Gospel, and how Jesus reacts to some of these people the answer is no.

Which leads us to the question if those with the power and influence had done their job and cared for the widow and those like her – would she have needed to give in such a dramatic way – I suspect not.

We need to remember, in those days, the were no social services. The synagogue and religious community were a one stop shop; where the most vulnerable in the community were meant to get support to live.

The issue that Jesus has is that the group with the power and responsibility to care, seem to be missing the mark. I’m sure like me you have sat through many sermons on corruption in religion, yes? I’m sure your aware of the corruption inside religion, yes?

Perhaps we could go down a slightly different path and look at the god of status. Status on is own isn’t bad is it? No, we all want a place to be, to belong and a place in which we can understand how to relate to this human journey: in fact, I would bet that’s why many if not all of you are here and keep coming back here, here you have a lens to look at the world through.

Nothing wrong with that.

Issues arise however when we fail to see that there are multiple lenses to look at the world through. This idea can be applied to religious and other beliefs When values that we hold become points of separation rather than invitations connect with our fellow travellers. I don’t know about you but I’m seeing quite A bit of that around at moment, particularly with the world’s hot topic Covid.

Everywhere you look people are passionately expressing opinions about it.

In some ways we are being united through it and in other ways we are being divided by it: you know, I’m vaccinated you’re not, I’m right, you’re wrong. My life, my rights. And on it goes.

I find it interesting, especially when look at the Christian perspective. Christ gave his life to and for all of us: I think we are called to mediate on we rather me.

We are being called to do what is best for all. Particularly the most vulnerable: like the widow in the Gospel Gospels like this one and issues like Covid, can put the thinking person and the feeling person into what might be called a sense of ethical overdrive.

Do you know what I mean by that?

• I should be doing more
• I should be giving more
• Another way of putting it might be feeling guilty because you’re in a better place than those around you.
• Or it could as I know it is for some, seem so overwhelming that you might say what’s the point?

That’s ok: Our role as Christians is to play our part in the creation of a just, fair oppression free community: Part of that is to ensure that we are engaging in contemplation on who we are and why we are here. This an important tool in insuring that our motives match our values and that our actions match our values.

In today’s world, with all the intense distractions we are facing, it might be tempting to think in terms of daily survival rather than the mechanics of community. Here’s the good news! We have the life of Jesus as both a sanctuary and example.

• We are called being to listen
• We are being to remember that whatever our status or wherever we are seated, our role is serve whoever we meet.
• We are being called to see the world through the eyes of Jesus and of others
• We are being called to ensure this community is a place of grace and exploration, rather than dogma and expectations.

As we follow the call of Christ and take up our cross, we do it realizing that we are part of a bigger life than just us and that we are playing our part along with many other people: and with our Heavenly Father.