My friends, the writer of Ecclesiastes, Qoheleth, in today’s first reading seems to be stating what many of us are feeling or have felt in times of sadness, grief and loss: “Everything is futile.”  And our enjoiner might be, “Why try then?” Here is why.

   First, we must remember that we are spiritual beings, here, having a human experience.  I dare say, for many of us, perhaps most, we are grateful for this experience, this opportunity—for life, for love, for the chance to experience much that life has to offer.

   But is it all bliss? No, it is not! We all have been hurt in life, disappointed in others that we have called, “friend,” or respected elder. If we live out our human experience “on the margins,” of society; we know how disappointing and hurtful life can be at times—as a dark-skinned person, as a woman of any color, as a child tied to parents who want to continue their human experience through their children regardless of the wishes of those children. 

   This past week we viewed again Ken Burns series on Country Music and one of the individuals highlighted was the very gifted, singer-songwriter, Kris Kristofferson.  His early years were very scripted; he did what his parents expected of him—higher education, the military, and eventually, a corporate job, marriage, and family.  Now to some, his parents included, he had arrived, but deep within, he had another calling.  You see, he was a poet and had a great ability to join words together in profound ways and add them to the music on his guitar, and to many in the music industry, he was the most talented songwriter in the country.  It is thought that over 450 artists besides himself, recorded his songs, including Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash. 

   Unfortunately, his new choice in life was not appreciated by his parents who, in the words of his mother, told him not to come home again as he was no longer considered their son!  I have to believe this rejection played a big part in his slip into alcohol and other drugs later in his life.  All may be “futile” as Qoheleth says, but most of us really need little more than to be appreciated and accepted for who we are in life. 

   The other readings for today speak to a path, if taken, can and do lead to happiness.  Each of us come into our human experience complete with a free will which as we grow and mature can become a wonderful gift for ourselves and others if we learn to balance its power in our lives in just, merciful, and loving ways. 

   A book that has been part of my reading of late is one by Shannen Dee Williams, entitled, Subversive Habits: Black Catholic Nuns in the Long African American Freedom Struggle.  This is a story that I was completely unaware of, and as it is unfolded in the book, I would guess that all the white Sisters’ orders refusing to accept black and brown women’s vocations simply because of their skin color, (and this was quite universal until the middle of the 20^th Century) would be something they didn’t want made public.

   One could say, “Well, this was the culture of the time.”  Even so, I would expect those in ministry, supposedly following in the footsteps of our brother, Jesus, to have a higher bar—to stand for a bit more. And this was the case for most male priests at this time too.  In some white Sisters’ orders, black women were admitted, but once within the convent walls, they were often bullied until they eventually left, or given the most menial tasks.  Now in justice, I have to hope that I might have been among the few priests and sisters who could see Jesus in these “outcasts” and give them a helping hand. 

   Some colored women called to ministry got around this by joining complete black orders, of which there were a few, but then these sisters would face all kinds of impediments with rejection of them to white colleges for training and if they managed to get trained, then white parents didn’t want black sisters teaching their white children!

   It is interesting to me that the Catholic church which during these years claimed to be the only true church, would be so racist.  But friends, just like the issue of Native children being stolen from their parents to be assimilated and summarily, abused, we must all look at these issues and reflect on what our response may have been as well.

   And we all know the issue of women in our world and Church that I keep you all abreast of and will do more of at our Mary of Magdala celebration. 

   My friends, by nature of our baptisms, I believe our loving God is always calling us to be our best, but will not interfere with our freedom to choose, “that which is best.”  But I do believe,  in the modern words of the 23^rd psalm translation in The Message that God will keep “chasing after us, all the days of our lives,” setting people and messages in our paths to “show us the way.”  The psalmist confirms this idea in today’s response: “If today you hear God’s voice, harden not your hearts.” 

   Sometimes, as with Kris Kristofferson, it will be through failure that we find the way.  Others of us, “swinging” too far on the continuum of “need to greed,” find the balance, to be happy in our human experience. 

   I have always loved the story in Luke’s gospel today and have smiled over the farmer’s answer to his great harvest— “I know, I’ll build bigger barns!” –instead of being satisfied with “enough” and sharing the surplus.  Luke tells us to “be rich in God.”

   And finally, Paul, in his letter to the Colossians has this to say.  “Set your heart on what pertains to higher realms.”  Simply put, work at being your best for yourself, but also for others.  Amen? Amen!

   My friends, as we move through Ordinary Time, we continue to see how this time in the Church calendar is anything, but “ordinary!”  In fact, our lives as Christians should always, or at least often, stand above the fray. What do I mean by that?

   Human nature tends many times toward, “not making waves,” so to speak, because it is usually, much easier, “following the crowd” than it is, “to stand alone or apart” and call the crowd to be, “better than this.”  Our brother, Jesus, called all who would follow him not only to be, “better than this,” but to the “best that we can be!”  So therefore, we cannot say that “we are Christian,” and strive to be anything, but the best that we can be—most of the time. 

   Our nation, in the last several weeks has, literally, received this call, “that we are better than this,” from the Select Committee attempting to uncover the truth about the January 6, 2021, insurrection at our Capitol in Washington, D.C.  One has to applaud and be very proud of two courageous Republicans on that committee, Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger who are standing on character and conscience to speak the truth, for all of us, regardless of whether it loses them political favor among their peers or from the voters. 

   Our brother Jesus asks no less from us!  Remember, as someone wisely said, “We are spiritual people, here, having a human experience, just as Jesus did.  And because we all come from the same, “spiritual dust,” we must, simply must, be true to his legacy, especially if we want to claim to be his followers.

   The Scripture selections for this Sunday take us on an interesting journey showing us just who our God is through the lives of Abraham, Jesus, and Paul.  The story relayed from Genesis in the first reading seems almost impossible to believe.  One gets the impression that Abraham thinks God looks at the world as he and other humans do.  Humans, being finite, often deal with the world, lacking mercy, justice, and goodness, and then, likewise, think God will respond to failings in the same way, as we see Abraham continuing to implore God to save the city, for fewer and fewer people.   

   Now, in order to better understand Abraham’s questions of God, we must remember that he doesn’t have the benefit of Jesus, who told us over and over of his Abba’s unending and inclusive love for all of creation through the stories of the Prodigal, the woman and man caught in adultery, and the Good Shepherd and its feminine counterpart, the woman who lost a coin and turned the house upside down to find it.  We, coming off all these stories know, instinctively, that God would spare the city if only one person would be found who had repented. 

   Jesus, in the selection from Luke today, speaks the truth about who God is, “If you know how to give your children good things, how much more will your loving God give the Spirit to those who ask.”  Jesus continues, “ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened.”  Our response today from Psalm 138 says the same: “O God, on the day I called for help, you answered me.” 

   Paul, in his letter to the Colossians, speaks his truth out of the knowledge he too has of God.  Paul never knew Jesus, in the flesh—his knowledge of God came from his relationship with Jesus, the Christ.  The Christological Jesus, theologians and Scripture scholars tell us, “is big enough” for all believers in God and from all different starting points.   

   It is for this reason that Paul could preach to the Gentiles, of his God who was indeed, “big enough” to include them all. Simply put, for Paul, following Jesus, the Christ brought all good, because it was his view that Jesus, in his lifetime had shown us, “the way, the truth and the life,” and we only need to follow…

   As we look at our world friends, there is much, in my view, that needs a closer following of the ways of our brother Jesus.  You all know our present-day issues: Legislation that purports to speak for life at its beginnings is only worth taking seriously if life is considered along the entire continuum and protected and cared for at each point.  To do less, rings hollow.  Having basically, no limits on firearms in this country is insane because we all know, that the issue is not about, the individual’s “right to bear arms,” but in fact, “the industry’s “want to sell weapons,” at the expense, lately, of the lives of our children! When our beautiful earth, in different areas is either burning up or being flooded by more and more powerful storms, to not do everything in our power to attempt to halt climate change is irresponsible in the very least and life-threatening at the other end of the continuum. 

   My friends, many times we think that all these issues: the well-fare of our democracy in this country, rights, and privileges for all, and the care of our planet among other things have swung too far to be helped; but we do have strength to make a difference and for many of us, it comes down to the ballot box.  As a pastor, I cannot responsibly advocate for one candidate over another in a public way. But what I can do is follow our brother Jesus’ lead and advocate for candidates on the merit of “the fruits,” I see in their lives. 

   Jesus, in his life faced such questions about how to know the good, the truth of a person, and he simply said— “see what they produce.”  None of us who claim to be Christian should be voting for individuals who do not take seriously their oath of office to serve all the people, especially the least among us.

   Unfortunately, too many in positions of power today, in our country are more concerned about their popularity and getting re-elected than they are about serving the needs of the people, all the people, and such individuals should not have a second chance.  Unfortunately, this is true of many in Church leadership too!  “Check the fruits!” Amen?  Amen!

   Friends, our readings for this weekend address three themes: first, that of “traveling” and each of us as “travelers” through our lives, second, “hospitality” as a way to be in our “traveling” and its counterpart—that of “gratitude” for the gifts given in life, and finally, the stance of being a good “listener” as we “travel” through our lives.  Let’s take a deeper look.

   The story from the Old Testament book of Genesis is one we have all heard.  Abraham and Sarah, an elderly couple, give “hospitality” to three strangers traveling over land who happen to come by with “good news” for the couple.

   The first thing we need to understand to truly appreciate this story, is that the Israelite people lived out of a deep conviction of “serving”—giving “hospitality” to the stranger and they went so far as to put themselves in the position of giving that hospitality to every “traveler” who might stop by, even if that person was someone, they considered to be an “enemy.” 

    The Israelite people were nomads—they were travelers, and one could find themselves stranded in the desert, of which much of the land was, and so were dependent on the generosity of others.  So, it is out of this mindset that Abraham greeted the three strangers who came to his door.

   Another aspect that is important to understand and one that a male priest would most likely not lift up, is the fact that it was the men who would offer the hospitality, but the women would be the ones who would get it ready. Now this is important to take note of as it will make a fine bridge to the gospel story today.  We will get to that in a bit. 

   The other thing that you more than likely noticed, was when the travelers arrived, the “steer” was still walking about.  I think this indicates the lengths that people would go to give hospitality to “the stranger.”  Also, these travelers who brought “good news” must have had time on their hands to be able to save the “good news” until the physical hospitality was done.  And again, keep this idea in mind when we discuss Jesus’ apparent reprimand of Martha in today’s gospel. 

   The gospel from Luke tells a familiar story too of another traveler and apparent close friend, our brother Jesus, who stops by his friends’ home for a bit of respite—the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus.

   In the tradition and culture of the time that Jesus lived, it would have been customary and expected by most, that physical hospitality, that of food and drink, would be offered—enter Martha.  But, as we know, Jesus was always one to turn things “on their heads”—he was about doing something new.  Trouble erupts then between the two sisters because Mary apparently isn’t helping to get the meal ready.

   Now probably as long as this gospel passage has been used, there has ensued the question, whose “hospitality,” that of Martha, who did the physical work of preparing the meal, or the “hospitality,” that of Mary who simply sat and listened to Jesus’ words, and no doubt offered emotional comfort that good friends do for each other.  So, most of us have heard the issue of “work”—that of Martha and that of Mary addressed through the years, wondering whose work is most important. 

   Now, if we read this gospel literally, which, by the way, we should never do, it does appear that Jesus is downplaying the physical work of his friend, Martha. And, as one woman to another, I get that!  I think Martha did too!  All the women here know the feeling of preparing for guests, getting food ready, cleaning, and all that is needed to show, “hospitality” to the “traveler.”

   The hurt that Martha feels, and expresses to Jesus is real and true, and women hearing this story are her allies—but again, Jesus is always about, saying and “doing something new!” 

   Granted, and I take issue with him too, for not having been more sensitive and saying it better.  Here we see Jesus’ humanity getting in the way for him as it does for each of us at times.  This is the trouble with taking “bits” of Scripture to make a point without also including the whole story. What I know of Jesus in all my study of him over the years, telling of his goodness, kindness, and mercy toward us all, tells me that there was more to the discussion when he realized that his words truly hurt the giver of the hospitality he was enjoying. 

   His purpose, again turning things on their head, was to encourage and call Martha to the other piece of hospitality –sitting quietly and listening to what a guest may need or want to talk about.  Those in this world who may want to compare the “active” life with that of the “contemplative,” often site this story.  I don’t think this was Jesus’ aim though, but more so, to find a “balance” between our busy, active lives and the slower, more peace-filled times that allow us space for reflection. Both are needed as Jesus indicated so well in his own earthly life.  The Scriptures tell us of the times he left the crowds to be alone.

   Let’s go back then, to the first reading from Genesis, and all the physical preparation in giving hospitality to the strangers.  Think of how much sooner Abraham and Sarah would have known the very good news that their long-awaited baby would indeed be a reality, if they had balanced physical (active) giving with the more contemplative piece of hospitality—that of listening.  This is a lesson for all of us. 

   Regarding Jesus and of how he most likely ministered to Martha, because comparing the work of the two sisters, was clearly not the way to go; he probably sat them both down, asked them to work together on the physical meal, so then both could enjoy the “spiritual” meal of their friendship with each other. 

   So friends, we have discussed the themes of being a “traveler,” which we all are in life—that of giving “hospitality,” physical, emotional, and spiritual to each other, which includes, “listening,” and a slower pace so as to really achieve all of the above. 

   And the piece, which Paul speaks of so well to the Colossians is that of “gratitude,” a virtue that really makes all of the above complete. Paul is always grateful to Christ for the ways his life has been changed through his relationship with our all-inclusive God, and for Paul, that was Christ.

   We too friends, have the same call as Abraham and Sarah, Mary, Martha, Lazarus, and Paul—each of us are “travelers” here, having a human experience and asked to give “hospitality” in all, conceivable ways, and to always respond with deep gratitude for all the gifts received from our loving God. Amen? Amen!