Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 21)
Mark 9:38-50; James 5:13-20; Esther 7:1-6, 9-10, 9:20-22
It is a list that you easily recognize. Coca-cola, Microsoft, IBM, GE, Intel, Nokia, Disney, McDonald’s. They are the top 100 Brands in the world today according to a number of business sources. Their value is not only in the products they offer but in the trust placed and associated with their name. Other products are often sold by comparing and contrasting themselves to a product or service from one of these well known companies. Name brand recognition is at the center of American, and increasingly global, consumerism.
And the success of these name brands also invites various attempts to create what are known as knock-off brands. Recent news reports included stories about attempts to stop the distribution of Sonia audio equipment packaged to look just like Sony products; a toy store was stopped from selling games for the Playstation system marketed under the name PolyStation; a shoe store had to halt sales of Daiads running shoes perhaps because they had so poorly misspelled the word Adidas. It is also pretty certain that no one was fooled by the big round green sign offering morning over priced coffee by the name Sunbucks Coffee. Our modern world takes name recognition pretty seriously so it is probably no surprise to witness the turn of events described in our Gospel lesson for today.
For most Sundays weeks this summer we have been having readings from the Gospel of Mark and one of the common characteristics of these readings is how often the disciples come across as clueless, missing the point again and again of what Jesus was teaching. Today’s lesson is no exception. Last Sunday we heard Jesus bring an end to a debate about who of the disciples would be greatest in God’s kingdom. The words of Jesus in the verse immediately preceding our reading for this morning formed the basis for Vicar Eric’s sermon last Sunday. They also provide an important key to understanding our reading for today. Jesus said, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.” Vicar Eric unpacked the many levels of meaning to the references to children by Jesus.
This morning we also need to consider what this verse says about the way Jesus and his disciples viewed the world.
From our lesson it would appear that the disciples were inclined toward an “Us vs. Them” kind of thinking with the “us” being those who are followers, like the disciples, of Jesus. But Jesus does not use such a distinction or division. Jesus uses the word, “Whoever” as in, well, whoever. But the disciples apparently did not hear what Jesus said. They did not hear Jesus say just, “Whoever”. Instead, they seem to have thought Jesus said, “Whoever of you;” or, “Whoever of those who have been rigorously trained, supervised, certified and ordained,” or “Whoever you happen to approve of.” Jesus is clearly drawing a much larger circle then the disciples ever considered and maybe one that is even a bit uncomfortable to our modern temperament. Jesus draws the circle wide. His circle is defined by the simple words “Whoever…in my name” This is not intended to be some simple formulaic expression like “In the name of Jesus” tacked on to everything that is said or done. This is no magical incantation nor is it intended to be a name brand marker. Used in this way “In my name” means aligned with/loyal to/bonded with Jesus’ honor/status/mission and thereby also with the honor/status/mission of the One who sent him.
Our lesson today is part of the disciple’s continued encounter with Jesus’ “whoevers”. The disciples, who just a few verses earlier had difficulty performing a miracle of healing, now come to Jesus expressing concern about the a man they witnessed performing miracles in Jesus’ name. The disciple John assures Jesus that they would countenance no product name or branding infringement. They had stopped the man, but Jesus does not thank or praise their efforts on his behalf. In fact, he tells them just the opposite and he throws in a couple “whoevers” just to make it clear. “Whoever is not against us is for us.” That’s pretty all inclusive. And then Mark’s gospel has Jesus add, “For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.”
The “whoevers” of Jesus’ world view do not always make us feel the most comfortable. The world needs a lot of help and healing. To be sure, I want an end to hunger in the world and I expect our Lutheran hunger programs to work with every resource it can to end the hunger of others. But I will admit that I become uncomfortable when I read of the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan bringing food relief to starving farmers. This is good, but…Maybe that is why Jesus does not say that we are to endorse or work with all the “whoevers” of the world. I think what Jesus is saying is that such work that is in agreement with our good work should not be dismissed as evil if it serves God’s purposes. Jesus further goes on to identify the true mark or branding name of meaningful and good work as that which is done in his name. To do what you do in the name of Jesus. This also can make us a little uncomfortable. We know too well the history of our faith. While the history of creative and healing deeds carried out in Jesus name and to the glory of God can fill volumes, there is also a darker side to the use of Christ’s name that has provided comfort and shelter to some of the most violent and terrible deeds of world history. The crusades, the inquisition, the pograms of genocide and racial oppression and slavery are but the extreme examples of Christ’s name misused. But the “whoevers” of the world are not given a blank check by Jesus to write their way into God’s good graces by doing enough good deeds in Christ’s name to somehow justify their wrongs. Jesus doesn’t stop with his open ended affirmation of the inclusiveness of our faith. He also includes a word of judgment and accountability.
Jesus opens the door this morning to whoever wants to become part of the mission and ministry that has been proclaimed. Jesus recognizes that the world is salted with people striving to use their gifts, talents, abilities to serve a higher calling. But Jesus also recognized that the world is a dangerous place filled with temptations and forces that can cause us to stumble. Our media is regularly filled with the latest political scandals which provides a fitting metaphor for our understanding of Jesus’ words. Jesus cautions against becoming a stumbling block to those new to the faith, those striving to do what God wants them to do. Jesus’ words suggest that the greatest scandal of the faith comes from thinking that we are capable of identifying who is in and who is out, who is chosen and who is judged unacceptable by God.
The priority Jesus set forth is the work of the kingdom. He does not say that every good deed is equal to all other good deeds. And he does not suggest that the good that is done is achieving any special place in the Kingdom of God other than to be doing that which God has set forth as hastening the fulfillment of the promised kingdom. In our everyday world we know that the feeding of those who hunger, the healing, the wholeness, the providing of shelter, education, justice may not always be in the name of Jesus, more likely it is in the name of some political or service entity. Brought to you by the Red Cross, the Red Crescent, the United States of America, the Chinese government. But Jesus says that’s all right. “Whoever is not against us is for us.” That doesn’t mean they are one with us. This does not mean that they even share our same understanding of the meaning of the good that is done. Still they are not to be criticized as an enemy or told to stop their good work. At the same time, Jesus is quick to remind us that that which is done in his name is not just another good work. The name brand is still his name. There is deeper meaning and spiritual presence to be found in the naming of the one who we follow.
Condel Hospital in Libertyville recently became part of the Advocate Healthcare System.Advocate Healthcare System is owned and operated by the Evangelical Lutheran Church and the United Church of Christ. About a week ago I was invited to Condel for the ribbon cutting opening their new Level One Trauma Center, the first in Lake County. I talked with a number of staff and volunteers who each separately had to tell me that the most important change they had noticed since the church took over the hospital is that every morning at 8 a.m. one of the chaplains comes on the hospital speaker system broadcast to every part of the hospital, offering a prayer that each day’s work, surgeries, activities and practices will be offered in the name of Jesus. This is not to say that the hospital is better now that whoever is serving or being served does so in the name of Jesus. But there is clearly a difference. I think Jesus would say it is the kind of difference a little salt can make to a meal. The salt is not the meal, but its absence is noticed.
The people of God make a difference. They season the world around them. They bring eyes that see the world differently, hands that serve as Christ served, feet that follow and lead to paths that are not always smooth or easy, but are the way of the cross. From my experience I truly believe the world is filled with many good and well-intentioned people. But I also know that there is much in the world that causes even the best among us to stumble. As a community of faith the church exists to help connect the name of Jesus to whatever the whoever’s of the world are doing. This is the place where we learn to see God’s presence in the world, to discern the Spirit’s presence leading us into moments of true grace.
This past Friday night we had the confirmation class lock in here at Holy Spirit. At midnight Friday night, after an evening of fun and fellowship centered on the parables of Jesus, the 17 7th and 8th graders gathered in the narthex around the fireplace. A candle burned, Pastor Chris shared scripture and then a story of grace after which she asked the young people to each in turn offer a prayer petition as we went around the room. These young people ages 12 to 14 revealed in that moment of prayer that they have already begun to find the eyes of faith to see the places where Christ’s name needs to connect to our world. Their prayers were not for themselves or their pets or some abstract ideal, but instead each of them, one after another, named a very real need for healing, comfort or direction of a relative, a friend’s family member, a classmate. There were specific requests for healing from cancer, alienation, fears.
It is a list you can easily recognize. A list of the “whoevers” of the world doing good. Relief agencies helping around the world with no religious affiliation. Neighbors who have not yet found a church home but who volunteer to help and serve. Those who do not know how to name the name of Jesus in their lives but who have been led by other’s examples and God’s Spirit to be and do that which we know is of Christ. So we are then the ones who can name the name. We are the ones who can invite others to share in that name, whoever they may be.
The Christian is not selling a product but the name we name brands us, marks us and the world around us with the cross of Christ.
This morning Jesus has one more “whoever”. It comes from scripture we heard read earlier this summer. It reminds us that we are the bearers of great gifts to those around us. Gifts that can change the world just as Christ’s name changes our lives for He provides the greatest gift of all. A gift offered once more this morning at this table of grace. Here is where the “whoevers” of the world meet to find their true name, their true identity, their true place in the world. Here is where we hear Jesus say once more, “Whoever eats of this bread will live forever, and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
Amen