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Luke 15:1-10 Our nation experienced a devastating tragedy this week. The terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, DC left behind a wake of destruction and death that is hard for us to fathom. At this very hour, rescue workers continue to sift through the rubble at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, desperately hoping for survivors. Although the attacks took place nearly 2,500 miles away from Tucson, we have also been affected. Some of us lost friends or loved ones in the buildings or on the planes. All of us have felt shaken by such an aggressive strike against our nation. Now we look with uncertainty to the skies when we hear an aircraft overhead. We feel fear about loved ones who are traveling. Somehow, we feel more vulnerable, less secure than we did when we gathered together last week. I don't know how you've reacted to this week's events. Let me tell you what I've experienced. I've cried on several occasions, moved by the loss we've experienced. I've felt anger toward the cowards who committed such an unspeakable crime. I've felt fear about the possibility of additional attacks. I've been concerned about how we might retaliate. Most of all, I've felt shock. The kind of numbing sensation that makes it hard to concentrate on the things around us. Today, I feel comforted to be here with you and to experience the strength of fellow believers. In the midst of all the tragedy, we watch the tireless efforts of the rescue workers at the site of the collapsed buildings. The searchers risk their own safety in an effort to rescue those who are trapped in the rubble. I'd like to share the story of one of those workers with you. His name was Father Michael Judge, a Franciscan priest and the chaplain of the New York Fire Department_ [VIDEOTAPE] Father Michael was a beloved priest and volunteer firefighter because of his passion to be there to help others. As we heard on the videotape, he was tireless in his efforts to rescue those in danger. Have you ever experienced that kind of energy? We all know at least one story about the kind of superhuman strength that can occur when someone is in danger. There are stories about people who lift cars from people who've been trapped. People have been able to hold their breath for extended periods to save a drowning person. Or, maybe it's a mother who is able to go for weeks without much sleep to be at the bedside of a sick child. When we lose something that's precious to us, or we're about to lose it, we can summon extraordinary strength. That's what today's scripture passage is about. It's about the strength that comes when we understand our role in sharing the good news of God's love. It says a great deal about how we react to the godless in our world. And it also teaches us how to find strength to search for that which is lost. First, the scripture tells us about:
The religious leaders of his day, the scribes and the Pharisees criticized Jesus, for spending time with the lowest people in society. Keep in mind that the scribes and the Pharisees were experts at observing the rules. In their eyes, they were the holiest people because they knew all the rules and they were very strict about observing them. These strict rule-enforcers sharply criticized Jesus because he spent time with sinners and Publicans. The Pharisees considered anyone who was careless about keeping the religious rules to be a sinner. The Publicans were especially despised because they had sold themselves to collect Roman taxes from their oppressed citizens. It wasn't bad enough, in the Pharisee's eyes, that Jesus spent time with these godless people. He also ate meals with them. That meant that he chose them as friends. Our word "companion" is derived from the origin com-panis - "with bread." In our day, try to imagine Jesus leaving our church to go have Sunday lunch with a heroine addict downtown. Or to go for burgers with some gang bangers. Or, even to share a meal with those plotting some deadly attack. No wonder the Pharisees were angered at the actions of Jesus. Why would he become a friend with those who were against God? Why would he identify with the very people that religious people hated and despised? The answer, of course, is because they were lost. They were lost and they needed to know God's love. Jesus didn't condone their lifestyles, but neither was he judgmental. He simply let them know about the love of God and invited them to accept that love. Today we face the question about what to do with our own anger and hatred in the wake of terrorism. Our political leaders are weighing the military options. President Bush has described the situation as one of war. And we are promising, as a nation, to retaliate against the godless, evil perpetrators of this week's events. Our political leaders are expected to take steps to protect us and our national interests. At the same time, what is our response to those who have perpetrated these terrible crimes? Jesus, in very clear words, taught us to love our enemies and to bless those who persecute us. Those are tough things to do when our lives are wracked with uncertainty and fear. But Jesus showed the way with a life that was dedicated to finding security in God. I believe that the lesson for us is to react to our attackers with the same spirit of Jesus. Not to think of them with disgust and hatred. Instead, to think of them as human beings in desperate need of God's healing touch. Rather than to pray for their torture and destruction, to pray for their transformation and forgiveness. The scripture also teaches us that:
Have you ever spent time around sheep? If you have, you know that they have limited attention spans. A farmer once said that they just nibble themselves lost. They keep their heads down, wandering from one green tuft to another. When they come to a hole in the fence they go through to the next tuft of green grass. And then they never find the hole in the fence to come back. If you think about, we're not that much different than sheep. As human beings, we often rush through life with our heads down, grazing at the nearest clump of inviting turf. We are lured to this clump of inviting money, then to this tuft of national security, then to this clump of comfortable living. Before we know it, we've wandered through a hole in the fence and we're lost. As a young boy, I went shopping with my parents at a large discount store. Before long, I saw an interesting toy on the shelf. I moved in closer to take a look. Then I saw an even better toy a few feet away. I became so mesmerized with the toys that I didn't realize that I'd moved away from Mom and Dad. All at once, I looked up with a startle and realized that I was lost. There are all kinds of toys that we can get distracted with, and it's easy to lose our way. It's interesting that Jesus uses the word lost in this parable. He doesn't refer to people as being "sinners" or "damned." In this parable, he describes the precarious position of the stray sheep and the tender love of the shepherd. Here we also read about the pursuing love of God. As humans, we like to think that we search for God. But, the truth is that God is ever present in a search for us. God's love is so strong for us that no effort will be spared to find us. Mom and Dad came looking for me that night that I got lost at the store. It turned out that I hadn't wandered that far, and they found me easily. They were happy to see me and Mom held tightly to my hand. In the same way, God rejoices when we're found and return to God's loving care. The scripture also teaches us that:
On Wednesday I watched on TV as a firefighter led a rescued man from the rubble of the World Trade Center. There was rejoicing as the lost man was found alive. There was happiness that he had been returned with minor injuries to his family. The scripture describes the same kind of joy and rejoicing when one person finds God's love. Jesus said that when the woman found her silver coin, she went to tell all the women at the well so that they could celebrate with her. God and the angels are like that woman and her neighbors. When we are awestruck by the sense of God when we gaze into a child's face; when we turn toward God in prayer, a wave of gladness sweeps through heaven. One soul coming home to God brings joy in earth and heaven. A better joy than when "the morning stars sang together and all the children of God shouted for joy." During this time of tragedy and uncertainty, God's love is steadfast and sure. Will you accept God's love and rest in God as your sense of security during this time? Are you ready to take up the rescue gear and join the search for others who need help? Over the past few days a number of people have asked me why this terrible thing has happened to our country. I don't have the answer to that question. But I can say with certainty that God is with us during this time. God's love and security is all that we really need. As we search for answers and meaning in our lives, our search begins - and ends - with God. Amen. |