Sermon - Oct. 3, 2021

October 3, 2021
19th Sunday after Pentecost
Genesis 2:18-24
Psalm 8
Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12
Mark 10:2-16

Please pray with me,

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all of our hearts be acceptable and suitable in your sight, O God, our rock, our strength and our redeemer.  Amen. 

Well friends, here we are with another challenging gospel reading today.  Let me tell you, it’s a text I’ve heard many times before…and will probably hear many times again…and truth be told, it hits me differently every time. 

And part of me doesn’t even want to touch upon the topic of divorce, because really, all these times when the Pharisees ask Jesus a question, especially in public…it’s usually a trap!  Usually there is no right answer…and they pose a question to trick him into one answer or another. 

But, this passage is in our reading for today, so it is good for us to think about how it may impact each of us…individually and communally.   

When I first heard this this text as a pastor, I was serving a congregation in Indiana…and while I was the one freshly divorced, it was something we lived in and through together. 

The congregation loved me through that hard time.  The most overwhelming feeling I felt from the congregation was one of love and support, nurture, care and healing. 

Although, alongside that care or subtly placed underneath it were the comments of disappointment and the words, “Back in my day, you didn’t get divorced, you worked through it.”

That Sunday, in Indiana, we had visitors in worship…a couple new to our area.  As I talked about divorce and my experience with it, especially as a pastor, I couldn’t help but wonder what might be going through their minds. 

They introduced themselves on the way out and as they came back and we got to know each other better, they – both divorced themselves – knew they were in the right place because it was a hard topic that was being talked about in church. 

Between then and now, I’ve had the opportunity to engage in two faith building parts of ministry: confirmation and weddings. 

They’re connected, trust me. 

As part of the many weddings I’ve been honored to be the officiant at, I am thankful for the pre-marital counseling with the couple. 

It’s time for the three of us to be together and dig deeper into God’s relationship with us, their relationship with one another and how that relationship will change when they are married. 

I also love the part of the wedding ceremony itself after the couple share their intent to be married, when I get to invite everyone in attendance to be part of the ceremony, too. 

The wedding guests are asked, Will all of you, by God’s grace, uphold and care for _______ and _______ in their life together?  And those gathered say, WE DO!

I know that the vows of the marriage are made only by the couple, but those gathered to celebrate the day with them, they too, are part of the community that will uphold and care for them in their life together. 

I wonder if people would respond differently to wedding invitations, knowing the responsibility they individually held in the life of the married couple…?  Just curious, but I digress. 

Because it’s a serious commitment, right?  This community of faith, when we are part of a wedding celebration are tasked to uphold and care for this newly married couple not just on their wedding day – when they’ve shared a lavish feast and fun dance party.  We promise to love them through thick and thin into their future together. 

Good stuff.  God stuff.  Yet not always easy stuff. 

But it’s something we know that we must do, because we ourselves have been taught this.  That God loves each and every one of us and calls us to be in relationship with God and with one another. 

That’s why when it comes to confirmation and talking about the 6^th commandment – thou shall not commit adultery…we talk about it in all aspect of our relationships….and even more so…we frame that commandment in the words to ‘live faithfully’. 

Live faithfully…in your family, in your friendships, in your places of work, and in your dating, romantic relationships and in marriage. 

We are all called to live faithfully with one another. 

Lifting one another up.

Nurturing one another.

Caring for one another in sickness and in health.

Protecting one another.

Building a relationship and community that promotes honest conversations, treating one another with respect, not harming one another with violent words or actions, and supporting others in their relationships as well. 

That’s not new.  We know this is God’s call for each and every one of us. 

So, when we hear about Jesus being asked about divorce….no doubt our individual – or perhaps communal – hearts and minds think about someone we know, either in our own family units, or in this community of faith or our greater community – whose lives have been impacted by divorce. 

So, we all know the repercussions of divorce on some level.  Which is why it’s so important that we, especially as a community of faith, are faithful in our love and care of one another and the relationships we are all in. 

Yes, it means celebrating weddings (I’ll see you on the dance floor.)

It may mean sending anniversary cards. 

It may mean more in person interactions…like helping with child or pet care, or bringing meals when someone in the couple is sick, or getting together with other couples and families to build relationships so that when tough times happen (which they will) there is a safety net, and a reminder that couples/families are not alone when it comes to tough times. 

You all know how you nurture one another and care for each other’s families.  It’s holy and it’s God’s work and you’re doing it. 

But it may mean other things, too…like how we are also called to step up and step in when things are not right.   

We are called to be an additional set of eyes and ears to help guide hard conversations. 

If we see that something is, you know, off….with a couple, we should check in.  We should, because we promised to be there for them, remember? 

It’s hard to enter into the tough stuff…not knowing what the outcome will be, but we are called to help one another to live faithfully, and if others are struggling we are called to help them. To listen, to love, to help find additional resources to help with counseling, finances, or addictions.  To not judge, gossip or question…but to be present, to listen and to offer support in ways that are most needed. 

You all, are amazing people who are committed to loving and caring for one another…what would it look like for this community of faith to live that out as we care for those in our community who are struggling in their relationships. 

What if folks knew this was a place that wouldn’t judge, but would listen and love and care? 

Holy stuff, right? 

I think that’s what Jesus is trying to get back to at the end of our reading today.  After this talk of adultery and divorce, Jesus picks up a child – or many of the ones coming to him to be blessed…for it is such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. 

Here’s Jesus AGAIN, redirecting his disciples AND us to the most vulnerable, the least among us, the ones that need all the love and support. 

Jesus continually redirects us…from ourselves…and what we think is right or wrong, especially today when it comes to divorce, and turns us to see the kingdom of God here and now. 

You, my dear siblings in Christ, are part of an amazing community in this place and together we do hard and holy work. 

And so, I ask you, Will all of you, by God’s grace, uphold and care for the couples and families here - in their life together?  If so, say we do! 

And now may the peace, which surpasses all understanding, keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, and let all God’s people say, amen.