Reluctant Beginnings
St. Paul’s United Methodist Church
January 21, 2018 – Sue McNicol
Our current sermon series is all about beginnings. The past couple weeks we’ve explored New Beginnings (Pastor Patti discussed how redemption can bring us new beginnings of a positive nature) and Risky Beginnings (Dominic talked about how various Biblical characters reacted when they were faced with the unknown). Today we will be centering on Reluctant Beginnings and explore how God might enter in when we’re unwilling, hesitant or disinclined to begin again. Our scripture reading for today comes from:
John 5:1-9 NRSV - Jesus Heals on the Sabbath
51After this there was a festival of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.2Now in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate there is a pool, called in HebrewBeth-zatha,which has five porticoes.3In these lay many invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed.5One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years.6When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”7The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; and while I am making my way, someone else steps down ahead of me.”8Jesus said to him, “Stand up, take your mat and walk.”9At once the man was made well, and he took up his mat and began to walk.
Let’s dive right in and see what mysteries this scripture reading might reveal for us today. At this point in his ministry, Jesus had been in Jerusalem for some time now and had made himself know with actions quite out of the ordinary – (converting Samaritans, turning water into wine, feeding of the 5000). He’s arrived at The Pool of Bethesda –a place described as having healing powers. Let’s stop here for a moment – the what and how of the water’s healing powers all depends on which version of the Bible one reads. Some versions in the middle ages describe a legend of the pool’s healing powers and designate the “angel of the Lord” stirring the waters, with the belief that the first to enter after the stirring of the water would be made well. However, if you’re reading along in the pew bible you will discover verse 4 is no longer included in John’s Gospel. Scholars believe it’s wording in Greek is unlike the rest of the Gospel of John and probably was not originally part of this Gospel. Let’s keep one thing in mind for a moment, even if an angel of the Lord is unconfirmed as having stirred the waters (verse 4), I believe it’s significant to note that “a stirring” remains part of this scripture reading (verse 7), and God’s stirring in our life is noteworthy.
Back to the scripture…we learn the man has been ill for a LONG time – thirty-eight years. But Jesus doesn’t seem to ask the man any details about how and why he’s in this condition. Instead he asks a key question, “Do you want to be made well?” This one line in the scripture sends shivers up my spine because it immediately challenges me to think about times I’m reluctant to change. The man replies with a simple “I can’t do it alone statement,” by saying I have no one to help me and others always get to the healing waters ahead of me. So Jesus heals him… not in the pool of water, but simply says, “stand, take your mat and walk.” The man does just that, and without even knowing it’s Jesus who has healed him, he leaves. His healing is an act of love shared by another (a complete stranger) …his healing is God’s love made real through Jesus.
So how is it that God’s healing is made real in our lives today through Jesus? My personal image of Jesus looks nothing like what you see if biblical stories or depictions. My Jesus doesn’t wear a robe or sport a beard or even a have a strictly Caucasian complexion. My Jesus looks like all of you. Let me explain:
I want to tell you a little background as to how it is I came to work for St. Paul’s. I started here in September 2011 after receiving a call from my friend Debbie, the Parish Administrator at the time. She was needing someone to work part-time at the front desk and asked if I might be interested. You see… Debbie and Lois (also on staff at that time) were members of an art group I belonged to, and for that reason they knew a bit about the circumstances of my life seven years ago. I had been unemployed since 2006, having left a 13-year professional position in Helena due to disability – a was battling clinical depression – it’s something I have lived with since my early 20’s. Debbie told me the job was fairly simple, had lots of flexibility and was a safe place to explore getting back into the work world. What she could not have fully understood was I had extreme memory loss from medical treatments I had received. I was terrified I would not be able to perform even the simplest of functions without embarrassment. St. Paul’s former pastor Marianne was well aware of my journey, having been a friend and mentor since the mid 90’s. It was only because of the gentle nature of individuals involved and the minimal job stressors that I accepted their offer. The waters were stirred, and with a little assistance, I entered the pool– metaphorically speaking!
After three years of repetitive tasks, consistent workload and interactions with supportive members of this congregation, my health had improved to the point I was ready to take on additional challenges. I progressed to full-time work here at St. Paul’s and took over responsibilities related to Finances and Facilities. The following year, my role morphed into more responsibilities with Adult Ministry and Communications. Looking back now, I can hardly recall the anxiety and self-doubt I felt those first few years here. My healing continues… and I attribute much of my healing to faith, community, trying new things, listening, re-examining priorities and saying yes to the question, “Do you want to be made well?” From the depths of my heart… I thank all of you for being instruments of healing. You are God’s healing made real today.
Reluctant beginnings may be all about how and when we say “yes”. Like the individuals in our scripture reading we are often blind, lame and paralyzed. Blind to new opportunities or unhealthy situations in our lives;lame from overextending ourselves, or perhaps suffering abuse, or living with rejection; and paralyzed by fear, financial burden or even illness. Whatever the circumstance may be, we are the unnamed man in the scripture reading…he represents all of us. So how is it he was able to say “yes” to Jesus. I’d like to believe he was a “glass half full sort of guy” and that’s the reason he persevered for thirty-eight years.
I’ve often been the type of person who sees the glass as half empty when faced with a challenge or new frontier. My inner thoughts quickly shift to lots of “what if” statements. Someone once told me, if you see the glass as half empty, perhaps you should take what’s in that glass and transfer it to a smaller glass. Then get about the business of “doing” and not just “analyzing.” That exciting (and agonizing) moment of saying “yes” can feel daunting…as if there’s no going back. But staying in the same place year after year also means there’s no growing forward. When was the last time you did something for the first time? I clearly remember the “first time” I helped host a fundraiser dinner here at St. Paul’s. I was overwhelmed…completely out of my element. And yet, what I still remember most about that day, some five years later, is how MUCH help I had from others…and I didn’t even reach out asking for helpers.
I’m always in awe at what this faith community accomplishes when the year is over, and we glance back at our missional work. The breadth of ministry stretches from giving of time and talent here in Helena, to connectional giving across our state and country, to projects abroad. However, we if sat down as a faith community at the beginning of each year and assessed how much time and financial resource will be required for us to reach our missional goals, I think we’d all be a bit overwhelmed and frozen in our seats. What we accomplish is no small task and it would be overwhelming to think about it in one fell swoop. Instead, we take it one bite at a time. We come together one Sunday with can openers and canned donations in hand, and one evening with a small donation around a Wednesday Night Dinner fundraiser. We purchase fair trade coffee and we gather with other faith traditions to celebrate the Longest Night. We provide a temporary home in support of those beginning again through the Family Promise program. We reach out to state and national leaders declaring the importance of equality and justice. We share our time with youth or visit someone in need. We pray together, work together, march together and mourn together. In doing so, we build courage and momentum to go forward and to make a difference. We say “yes” dozens of time and with each “yes” we make a difference.
Reluctant beginnings may also unfold when we’re willing to take an honest inventory of what’s not working and step out on a new path. I came across a story in the sports section of the paper a couple weeks ago which illustrates this in a comedic way. This story is for all you football fans. The headline reads: Cleveland Brown Fans Facing Bitter Cold for 0-16 Season Parade. The weather conditions will be suitably brutal. Like the Cleveland Browns’ season. Thousands of fans are expected to attend the parade on Saturday to commemorate – and protest – the historically inept 0 (win) -16 (loss) season.
The Perfect Season Parade will include buses, RV’s an ambulance and hearse – to symbolically bury the season. Fans will make a counter-clockwise “no victory” lap around the stadium to form a zero to match the team’s win total.
I love this story – when all is lost…rally together and begin again. This past Saturday, at the Women’s March at our state Capitol, a dear friend leaned over and whispered in my ear, “I’ve been doing this since 1960 and it doesn’t feel like much has changed.” Well, let me tell you sister…IT HAS. Thank You! Like Jesus said, “Take up your mat and walk.” As we journey together this year, let’s say “yes” when we can, let’s be patient with those reluctant to step into unchartered territory, let’s ask for help and be givers of a helping hand and most of all let’s give thanks to our God for the promise of new beginnings.
Benediction: from Sounds of the Eternal, by John Philip Newell
Like an infant’s open-eyed wonder
And the insights of a wise grandmother,
Like a young man’s vision for justice
And the vitality that shines in a girl’s face,
Like tears that flow in a friend bereaved
And laughter in a lover’s eye,
You have given us ways of seeing, O God,
You have endowed us with sight like your own.
Let these be alive in us this day,
Let these be alive in us.
Amen
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