Rev. Roland J. Wells, Jr. - Pastor

The Nineteenth Sunday After Pentecost - October 14, 2001

Lessons: 2 Kings 5:1-3, :7-15; 2 Tim. 2:8-15; Luke 17:11-19

"The Response of Faithfulness"

Introduction:

Let's take a moment. Let's not think theologically for a minute. I just want to think in human, non-spiritual terms for a bit.

-What was the greatest gift, an item, a thing, you were ever given by a human?

-What was the kindest act anyone ever did for you?

Did something come to mind?

How did that make you feel at the moment? How does it make you feel now?

What sort of response does it create in your heart?

I) Our Gospel Lesson

Our Gospel Lesson is a story about gratitude. Ten lepers came to Jesus. Lepers have a disease called leprosy. In the Bible days, anyone who got that disease was forced out of their home and family, and were forced to live outside the town, scavenging what they could from the dump and handouts. They were the living dead- living so close to their families, but forced out as Biblical homeless people. It took them many years to die, with their hands and feet gradually turning into raw stumps and falling off.

Then Jesus came, ten were healed. It's interesting what they called out: "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!"

You might recognize a different version of these words- 'Iesus, Kyrie eleison' These words have been sung or said in worship in liturgical churches for 2,000 years. Why? 'Eleison' can be translated 'mercy' or 'pity'-- or 'remember your covenant love.' 'Eleison' is also the word used here. It's the Greek translation of our old friend, the Hebrew word, 'Chesed.' This one word ties the entire Bible together. This morning I want to review that, then talk about our response.

We talk about our response, because ten were healed; one came back to give thanks.

II) The Response Curve of the Bible

Our Gospel Lesson today picks up a central theme in the Bible. It's the central theme of our relationship to God. Somewhat important!

Throughout the Bible, God has proclaimed his love for us, and people have tried to describe that relationship.

Picture one of McDonald's arches, turned upside down, like a big 'U.'

At the top is God. At the bottom is us. The left side is the flow of God's love and grace to us. The right side is our response of gratitude, love and faithfulness towards God. That is the Bible's picture of all of humankind's relationship with God. The OT uses one Hebrew word to describe both sides of this relationship- 'Chesed'-

It's hard to translate- for God's side of the action, we translate it 'steadfast love' or 'lovingkindness' some would say it should be translated 'covenant love.' It describes God's love for us, our response of love to God, and even our love and faithfulness towards each other!

Another hard part is that our English translations don't translate it consistently! When the OT was translated from Hebrew to Greek, about 200 years before Jesus, they used the word in our Gospel today, which is often translated 'mercy,' which catches only a tiny part of its meaning.

The Greek word 'mercy' didn't capture the idea very well, so the New Testament writers used different words to describe this relationship.

Paul speaks of this relationship, usually uses the word 'grace' when describing God's action towards us. To describe our response, he uses the word 'faith' Paul occasionally uses a special word, 'agape' to describe this love as well, but usually 'Agape' is a human response to other humans.

John, on the other hand, only uses 'grace' in his first chapter, it seems as a transition to his writing from Paul's, which his readers would know already. John uses 'love', a special kind of love, that he also uses the word 'agape' to describe. He speaks of God's action towards us in terms of love. Then, our response is described by 'love' in return, or 'faith,' which means 'trust.'

And our band of lepers understand this relationship to God very well. When Jesus comes by, they call on his 'Chesed;' they recognized who he was, and called out in terms only appropriate to the God of Israel. He remembered his covenant, they were healed. But only one responded. Only one was truly changed and truly healed.

III) And Our Response

The Gospel message of our story is that a relationship with the living God is a relationship of response. It always has been; it's always been that 'U' shaped response to the covenant love, the steadfast love, the faithfulness of God. Many hear of God's love; many experience God's love; only some respond.

What makes the difference? Maybe some stop to think. We all receive so many blessings; only a few stop to ponder their meaning, and turn in response.

The Gospel message comes and burrows into us and creates a change. Like a virus, only good, the Gospel breaks right into the center of what makes us us. As that Gospel Word comes to us, it begins to turn us outward, away from ourselves and out to God and neighbor. It calls us away from trusting in ourselves and to trusting in Christ.

At a time of crisis, maybe we ponder a bit more how truly powerless we are. When we are scared, we all want a savior; but few want a Lord. We fear submitting our little wills, even to one who loves us so.

One leper stopped, turned back, and praised God. The rest went back to life as usual, hurrying back to their families, their jobs and their status in the community. One, the Samaritan, the one considered least likely, fell at Jesus' feet.

How do we apply this text? Easy.

How will we respond to this Jesus? [: How do we respond with our whole being, our lives, our priorities, our hopes, our dreams, our possessions, our time, our plans, our attitudes, our jobs, our education?:] All that we have, all that we are, all that we hope to be- what are the next words?

We give to you, we give to you.

That's stewardship. That's discipleship. That's a leper falling at Jesus' feet.

At the beginning of the sermon, I asked you to remember a gift or an act of kindness. If, a memory of a small kindness, many years ago has made such an impression on you, what would it mean that the God of the universe came and died in your place, to give you eternal life?

What will you do?

Amen.

The Nineteenth Sunday After Pentecost- October 14, 2001

2 Kings 5:1-3; 7-15

Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy.

[2] Now bands from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman's wife. [3] She said to her mistress, "If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy."

As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, "Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me!"

[8] When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent him this message: "Why have you torn your robes? Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel." [9] So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha's house. [10] Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, "Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed."

[11] But Naaman went away angry and said, "I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. [12] Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than any of the waters of Israel? Couldn't I wash in them and be cleansed?" So he turned and went off in a rage.

[13] Naaman's servants went to him and said, "My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, 'Wash and be cleansed'!" [14] So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.

[15] Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, "Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. Please accept now a gift from your servant."

2 Tim. 2:8-15

Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, [9] for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God's word is not chained. [10] Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

[11] Here is a trustworthy saying:

If we died with him, we will also live with him;

[12] if we endure, we will also reign with him.

If we disown him, he will also disown us;

[13] if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.

[14] Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. [15] Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

Luke 17:11-19

Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. [12] As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance [13] and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!"

[14] When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed.

[15] One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. [16] He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him--and he was a Samaritan.

[17] Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? [18] Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" [19] Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well."