Sermon for September 1

Deuteronomy 15:1-2, 7-11; Luke 15:11-32

Deuteronomy 15:1 Every seventh year you shall grant a remission of debts. 2 And this is the manner of the remission: every creditor shall remit the claim that is held against a neighbor, not exacting it of a neighbor who is a member of the community, because the Lord's remission has been proclaimed.

7 If there is among you anyone in need, a member of your community in any of your towns within the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tight-fisted toward your needy neighbor. 8 You should rather open your hand, willingly lending enough to meet the need, whatever it may be. 9 Be careful that you do not entertain a mean thought, thinking, "The seventh year, the year of remission, is near," and therefore view your needy neighbor with hostility and give nothing; your neighbor might cry to the Lord against you, and you would incur guilt. 10 Give liberally and be ungrudging when you do so, for on this account the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. 11 Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, "Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land."

The message

(I read our second reading in the middle)

This morning, we complete our Summer with our last readings on the Sabbath / Rest. Today does not focus on refraining from work on the Holy Day, it does not invite spiritual reflection, it invites real, scary actions. This part of the law focuses on something most of us pray everyday but don’t think a lot about, one of the petitions in the Lord’s Pray, forgive us our sins or debts as we forgive our debtors, those who sin against us (we do not use debt / debtors much but the original Greek word does have an economic tone). Without a sabbath, we struggle to realize we are loved by God and that it matters, without a sabbath, we struggle to realize just how bad life is for many people

Our reading from Deuteronomy presents a radical world view in a simple command (one that we are not sure was ever practiced), every 7^th year you shall grant a remission of debt.  It is work to be poor, it is work to be homeless, It is work to be part of a persecuted, discriminated against group, lots of stuff to think about and worry about. There is supposed to be a sabbath from that.  This is one of the verses that many people who focus on just a verse or two of scripture avoid. Inequality was not part of God’s creation and Sabbath is returning to God’s creation.  Poverty was not part of God’s creation and Sabbath is returning to God’s creation, Sabbath is not just for us to rest, it means understanding the consequences of our work and life in terms of relationship with God and understanding its impact on others, calling us to allow others to rest. We hear a lot about the impact of our life styles on others, environmental, world poverty, warfare, the use of others resources, slavery, the cost of cheap prices, distribution, a serious accounting of our impact on the world can only be done if we stop and notice.  

To forgive debts is not fair.  Nothing in this commandment for the forgiveness of debts has anything to do with deserving or fairness. We are called to be something better than fair. Our second reading is one of the most well known parables in the bible and world, it is not fair  

Luke 15:11 ( I added some comments in the parenthesis) Then Jesus said, "There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me. (what, that’s a terrible thing to ask, that is like saying dad, act like your dead so I can party) ' So the father divided his property between them (what are you nuts, a friend should have dragged you to court for a judge to decide you were not of sane mind and couldn’t do this). 13 A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. (this guy is a grade A piece of crap) 14 When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. (sure now that hes abandoned and devested his family, he might as well turn his back on his faith, violate the laws that have organized his faith for centuries and take care of unclean pigs) 16 He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. 17 But when he came to himself he said, 'How many of my father's hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands."' (I think that’s the best way back in, let me practice it)  So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion (not anger, not practical thoughts,) ; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. 21 Then the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' 22 (this is an act of grace, the son’s well thought out line does not matter) But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly,(restore him to his status as my son)  bring out a robe -- the best one -- and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 And get the fatted calf and kill it, an let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!' And they began to celebrate. 25 Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. 27 He replied, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.' 28 Then he became angry (realizing that this kid who stole and devastated his father, who wasted so much of what was theirs was home and not in prison or killed or settling into slave quarters or punished at all)  and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. 29 But he answered his father, 'Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!' 31 Then the father said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 T. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.'"

This parable comes about because the religious authorities see Jesus with the people, healing, teaching (while they are by and large ignored, a observation that enrages them).  They start to whisper, “he eats and tax collectors and sinners”.   This was not fair, if Jesus was the savior, the messiah, a healer, a prophet, a great teacher, the son of God, why wouldn’t he spend all his time with the deserving, the law keepers, the generous givers, reward the good people. 

Sinners had broken the law, Tax collectors were Jewish people who worked for the Roman Empire, collecting the “so the empire does not kill you all” payments from the people (and earning wages by overcharging)  The Pharisees would ever eat with these people,  why soil their image, there would be no social, economic or political gain.  When challenged about who he stays with Jesus responds with several stories Jesus responds by talking about a lost sheep (the shepherd leaves 99 to find the one) and a lost coin (the owner scours all over for it despite having so many others).   In the case of the coin and sheep, the ones left are less protected, watched or cared for. It is not fair.   The final outcome in the story of the prodigal son is not fair to the elder child,  The dad knows it is not right, everyone knows it is not fair.  It is better than fair, it is mercy, love and compassion, that is the way to joy.

A quote I share from St Issac the Syrian, a teacher and mystic in the early church (5^th century) Never say that God is just. If He were just you would be in hell. Rely only on His injustice which is mercy, love, and forgiveness.