Sermon Illustrations for Proper 18 | OT 23 (2018)
Illustration
Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23
One of the basic assumptions of ancient cultures is that those who were rich and powerful were favored by God in this life and the next. The Egyptians went to great lengths to embalm their Pharaohs and other important leaders, preparing them, they believed, for a great journey to honor and glory in the afterlife. Ordinary people were not embalmed.
In Virgil’s epic poem “The Aeneid,” we learn the story of Aeneas, who fled from the ruins of a conquered Troy and sailed to Italy where he would found the city of Rome. At one point Aeneas descends into the Underworld, where most of the dead live a grey and shadowy existence -- except for the rich, the powerful, the heroes, who are honored in the sunlit Elysian Fields.
By contrast these three sets of Proverbs establish the fact that God created the poor as well as the rich, and goes so far as to favor the poor. This is an astoundingly radical turnabout from the viewpoint of ancient faiths.
Frank R.
* * *
Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23 and Psalm 125
I found this story and thought it might illustrate and illuminate: A barber in a small town was busy cutting hair one day when the local cop walked in to get a haircut. The barber was feeling a bit generous that day, so he said to the officer, "Since you do such a good job protecting us and watching over us... today’s haircut is free." The cop said he appreciated that, and the next day when the barber showed up at his shop, there were a dozen donuts waiting for him.
Next, the local florist walks in. The barber tells him how much he appreciates all the work that he has done around town, planting bushes and flowers and making the town look real nice, so he gives him a free haircut. The next day, the barber shows up at his shop and there are a dozen flowers waiting for him.
Later, one of the local preachers walks in. The barber tells him how he is feeling generous that day, and how much he appreciates all his hard work with the children and taking care of the needs of the people, so the preacher gets a free haircut. The next day the barber shows up at his shop, and there are a dozen preachers waiting there for him.
Having a good name, being generous and being known for doing good. These are the things that ought to be seen in those who follow Jesus. So, in the humorous story, which one are we?
Bill T.
* * *
Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23 and Psalm 125
Oliver Wendell Holmes is considered one of the greatest United States Supreme Court justices our country ever had. He served as an Associate Justice from 1902 to 1932. During the Civil War he was wounded three times. After his third wound and unable to return to active duty, he decided to become a lawyer. Having made that decision, he opened the door to his father’s study to inform his father, who was a physician, of his intentions. His father looked up from his desk and simply replied, “What’s the use of that, Wendell? A lawyer can’t be a great man.” Holmes did become a great man and is one of the most widely quoted United States Supreme Court justices in history, particularly for concise and pithy sayings.
Application: Our lectionary readings inform us of the importance of justice.
Ron L.
* * *
James 2:-10 (11-13),14-17
With all the talk of our booming economy, the latest federal statistics released in late 2017 (based on 2016 data) indicate that 40.6 million Americans (1.7% of us) are still in poverty. That the Trump boom is not lowering these numbers too much is evidenced by a Bankrate 2018 study which revealed that 39% of Americans could not handle a $1000 unplanned expense. And so a lot of us remain on the fringes of poverty.
Poverty is a horrible reality to endure. In his Lives of the Congnoscenti, Eli Khamarov wrote: “Poverty is like punishment for a crime you didn’t commit.” Societies like ours contribute to making the poor be poor by our economic policies and by the greed of the rich and powerful. This was Charles Darwin’s view:
If the misery of the poor be caused not by the laws of nature, but by our institutions, great is our sin.
In accord with this lesson’s message that alleviating poverty is the business of Christians, the great preacher of the Church’s first century, John Chrysostom, offers a nice formula for just societies:
For in proof we do sow sparingly, let us inquire if it seems good, which are more numerous in the city, poor or rich; and which they, who are neither poor nor rich, but have a middle place. As, for instance, a tenth part is of rich, and a tenth of the poor that have nothing at all, and the rest of the middle sort.
Let us distribute then amongst the poor the whole multitude of the city...(Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Vol.1:10, p.407)
In this spirit Martin Luther reminds us Christians that, “If you are called to renounce money, possessions, honor, and men’s favor, remember you have a treasure more precious than all the honors and possessions of the world.” (Complete Sermons, Vol.4/1, p.293)
Mark E.
* * *
James 2:1-10, (11-13), 14-17
A westerner who comes into a chuch in Nepal will most likely get special attention. Partly because we usually give a lot more in the offering. We may also be given special attention because we are strangers and we are usuallly offered seats on the side benches rather then suggesting seats on the floor mats where all the regular members sit. I got special attention no matter what church I entered.
Even the doctor whose apartment we stayed in made sure we got special attention.
Yes, newcomers in my churches in the states always got a spcial welcome. It was because the ushers hoped they would come back and join us one day. We never showed anyone special attention just because of the way they were dressed or because they looked wealthy.
I always got special attention when I was wearing my clerical color. That can make us feel proud, even though no one should expect generous offerings from us.
Even sometimes in our country, but most often in Nepal, the parents of a girl ready for marriage look for a wealthy husband.
When I was a sales clerk in a camera shop, I was told which customers were the ones I should pay special attention to. They could afford to buy the most expensive items.
Church is not the only place that can show favoritism. But it is one place where we should not show it just because of a person’s obvious wealth.
When I pass a poor fellow with junky clothes and crummy shoes on the street, I must remember that my Lord loves him as much as he loves me. That can humble me.
My Lord loves those of both political paraties. He also loves those in countries that we may not like, like North Korea. He loves them and hopes they will come to him some day.
I have a missionary friend from Africa whose daughter married a Muslim and became Muslim. They were deeply hurt, but let her know that they still loved her. They were even friendly to her husband, though they both knew how great their differences were. They even invited him to their church and he came and was welcomed in hopes he might be influenced by their friendliness. He even allowed his wife to attend.
The daughter said she still believed in Jesus, but did not menion it to those who took her in.
We should welcome everyone into our fellowship, but for the right reason.
Bob O.
* * *
Mark 7: 24-37
Nowadays athletes from the United States are celebrities who are known around the world. That means NBA stars are recognized in China. But there was a time during the Cold War when there was virtually no communication between the US and China.
In the days of the Cold War, however, John McKay, the legendary football coach of USC from 1960-1975, is reported to have once said, following at 51-0 loss to Notre Dame in 1966: “I told my team it doesn't matter. There are 750 million people in China who don't even know this game was played. The next day, a guy called me from China and asked, ‘What happened, Coach?’”
When Jesus entered the region of Tyre he was escaping from a largely Jewish territory where he had become more of a celebrity than he was comfortable with at that point. But we see that even there he was recognized by a woman of Syrophoenecian background. She shouldn’t have known Jesus from Adam. She probably shouldn’t have even known who Adam was!
Frank R.
* * *
Mark 7:24-37
A young boy, on an errand for his mother, had just bought a dozen eggs. Walking out of the store, he tripped and dropped the sack. All the eggs broke, and the sidewalk was a mess. The boy tried not to cry. A few people gathered to see if he was all right and to tell him how sorry they were. In the middle of the chaos and words of pity from all who’d gathered, one man handed the boy a quarter. Then he turned to the group and said, “;I care 25 cents worth. How much do the rest of you care?”
“How much do you care?” It’s a good question. It’s one that’s asked of Jesus. A Gentile woman of Syrophoenician origin and some friends of a deaf man want to know. The woman even has a possibly humorous and pointed discussion with Jesus about who he came for and even what the dogs get. The bottom line: both the deaf man and the woman’s daughter were healed. These stories remind of the words of an old hymn; “Does Jesus care when my heart is pained too deeply for mirth or song; as the burdens press, the cares distress, and the way grows weary and long? O yes, he cares. I know he cares. His heart is touched with my grief.”
Bill T.
* * *
Mark 7:24-37
Phillip Brooks, who was born in 1853, was a bishop in the Episcopal Church. He is best known for writing the hymn O Little Town of Bethlehem. Robert Ingersoll. who was born in 1833, was a lawyer, politician, orator and noted for his broad range of culture and his defense of agnosticism. He was nicknamed “The Great Agnostic.” When Brooks was recovering from a very serious illness, he requested that no visitors be allowed to visit him, not even his closet friends. When Ingersoll came, Brooks allowed him to come into his room. Ingersoll was aware of the privilege that was just granted to him, and asked why he alone was allowed to call on the bishop. To which Brooks replied, “I feel confident of seeing my friends in the next world, but this may be my last chance of seeing you.”
Application: Our lectionary reading instructs us to continually offer our testimony for the Lord.
Ron L.
One of the basic assumptions of ancient cultures is that those who were rich and powerful were favored by God in this life and the next. The Egyptians went to great lengths to embalm their Pharaohs and other important leaders, preparing them, they believed, for a great journey to honor and glory in the afterlife. Ordinary people were not embalmed.
In Virgil’s epic poem “The Aeneid,” we learn the story of Aeneas, who fled from the ruins of a conquered Troy and sailed to Italy where he would found the city of Rome. At one point Aeneas descends into the Underworld, where most of the dead live a grey and shadowy existence -- except for the rich, the powerful, the heroes, who are honored in the sunlit Elysian Fields.
By contrast these three sets of Proverbs establish the fact that God created the poor as well as the rich, and goes so far as to favor the poor. This is an astoundingly radical turnabout from the viewpoint of ancient faiths.
Frank R.
* * *
Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23 and Psalm 125
I found this story and thought it might illustrate and illuminate: A barber in a small town was busy cutting hair one day when the local cop walked in to get a haircut. The barber was feeling a bit generous that day, so he said to the officer, "Since you do such a good job protecting us and watching over us... today’s haircut is free." The cop said he appreciated that, and the next day when the barber showed up at his shop, there were a dozen donuts waiting for him.
Next, the local florist walks in. The barber tells him how much he appreciates all the work that he has done around town, planting bushes and flowers and making the town look real nice, so he gives him a free haircut. The next day, the barber shows up at his shop and there are a dozen flowers waiting for him.
Later, one of the local preachers walks in. The barber tells him how he is feeling generous that day, and how much he appreciates all his hard work with the children and taking care of the needs of the people, so the preacher gets a free haircut. The next day the barber shows up at his shop, and there are a dozen preachers waiting there for him.
Having a good name, being generous and being known for doing good. These are the things that ought to be seen in those who follow Jesus. So, in the humorous story, which one are we?
Bill T.
* * *
Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23 and Psalm 125
Oliver Wendell Holmes is considered one of the greatest United States Supreme Court justices our country ever had. He served as an Associate Justice from 1902 to 1932. During the Civil War he was wounded three times. After his third wound and unable to return to active duty, he decided to become a lawyer. Having made that decision, he opened the door to his father’s study to inform his father, who was a physician, of his intentions. His father looked up from his desk and simply replied, “What’s the use of that, Wendell? A lawyer can’t be a great man.” Holmes did become a great man and is one of the most widely quoted United States Supreme Court justices in history, particularly for concise and pithy sayings.
Application: Our lectionary readings inform us of the importance of justice.
Ron L.
* * *
James 2:-10 (11-13),14-17
With all the talk of our booming economy, the latest federal statistics released in late 2017 (based on 2016 data) indicate that 40.6 million Americans (1.7% of us) are still in poverty. That the Trump boom is not lowering these numbers too much is evidenced by a Bankrate 2018 study which revealed that 39% of Americans could not handle a $1000 unplanned expense. And so a lot of us remain on the fringes of poverty.
Poverty is a horrible reality to endure. In his Lives of the Congnoscenti, Eli Khamarov wrote: “Poverty is like punishment for a crime you didn’t commit.” Societies like ours contribute to making the poor be poor by our economic policies and by the greed of the rich and powerful. This was Charles Darwin’s view:
If the misery of the poor be caused not by the laws of nature, but by our institutions, great is our sin.
In accord with this lesson’s message that alleviating poverty is the business of Christians, the great preacher of the Church’s first century, John Chrysostom, offers a nice formula for just societies:
For in proof we do sow sparingly, let us inquire if it seems good, which are more numerous in the city, poor or rich; and which they, who are neither poor nor rich, but have a middle place. As, for instance, a tenth part is of rich, and a tenth of the poor that have nothing at all, and the rest of the middle sort.
Let us distribute then amongst the poor the whole multitude of the city...(Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Vol.1:10, p.407)
In this spirit Martin Luther reminds us Christians that, “If you are called to renounce money, possessions, honor, and men’s favor, remember you have a treasure more precious than all the honors and possessions of the world.” (Complete Sermons, Vol.4/1, p.293)
Mark E.
* * *
James 2:1-10, (11-13), 14-17
A westerner who comes into a chuch in Nepal will most likely get special attention. Partly because we usually give a lot more in the offering. We may also be given special attention because we are strangers and we are usuallly offered seats on the side benches rather then suggesting seats on the floor mats where all the regular members sit. I got special attention no matter what church I entered.
Even the doctor whose apartment we stayed in made sure we got special attention.
Yes, newcomers in my churches in the states always got a spcial welcome. It was because the ushers hoped they would come back and join us one day. We never showed anyone special attention just because of the way they were dressed or because they looked wealthy.
I always got special attention when I was wearing my clerical color. That can make us feel proud, even though no one should expect generous offerings from us.
Even sometimes in our country, but most often in Nepal, the parents of a girl ready for marriage look for a wealthy husband.
When I was a sales clerk in a camera shop, I was told which customers were the ones I should pay special attention to. They could afford to buy the most expensive items.
Church is not the only place that can show favoritism. But it is one place where we should not show it just because of a person’s obvious wealth.
When I pass a poor fellow with junky clothes and crummy shoes on the street, I must remember that my Lord loves him as much as he loves me. That can humble me.
My Lord loves those of both political paraties. He also loves those in countries that we may not like, like North Korea. He loves them and hopes they will come to him some day.
I have a missionary friend from Africa whose daughter married a Muslim and became Muslim. They were deeply hurt, but let her know that they still loved her. They were even friendly to her husband, though they both knew how great their differences were. They even invited him to their church and he came and was welcomed in hopes he might be influenced by their friendliness. He even allowed his wife to attend.
The daughter said she still believed in Jesus, but did not menion it to those who took her in.
We should welcome everyone into our fellowship, but for the right reason.
Bob O.
* * *
Mark 7: 24-37
Nowadays athletes from the United States are celebrities who are known around the world. That means NBA stars are recognized in China. But there was a time during the Cold War when there was virtually no communication between the US and China.
In the days of the Cold War, however, John McKay, the legendary football coach of USC from 1960-1975, is reported to have once said, following at 51-0 loss to Notre Dame in 1966: “I told my team it doesn't matter. There are 750 million people in China who don't even know this game was played. The next day, a guy called me from China and asked, ‘What happened, Coach?’”
When Jesus entered the region of Tyre he was escaping from a largely Jewish territory where he had become more of a celebrity than he was comfortable with at that point. But we see that even there he was recognized by a woman of Syrophoenecian background. She shouldn’t have known Jesus from Adam. She probably shouldn’t have even known who Adam was!
Frank R.
* * *
Mark 7:24-37
A young boy, on an errand for his mother, had just bought a dozen eggs. Walking out of the store, he tripped and dropped the sack. All the eggs broke, and the sidewalk was a mess. The boy tried not to cry. A few people gathered to see if he was all right and to tell him how sorry they were. In the middle of the chaos and words of pity from all who’d gathered, one man handed the boy a quarter. Then he turned to the group and said, “;I care 25 cents worth. How much do the rest of you care?”
“How much do you care?” It’s a good question. It’s one that’s asked of Jesus. A Gentile woman of Syrophoenician origin and some friends of a deaf man want to know. The woman even has a possibly humorous and pointed discussion with Jesus about who he came for and even what the dogs get. The bottom line: both the deaf man and the woman’s daughter were healed. These stories remind of the words of an old hymn; “Does Jesus care when my heart is pained too deeply for mirth or song; as the burdens press, the cares distress, and the way grows weary and long? O yes, he cares. I know he cares. His heart is touched with my grief.”
Bill T.
* * *
Mark 7:24-37
Phillip Brooks, who was born in 1853, was a bishop in the Episcopal Church. He is best known for writing the hymn O Little Town of Bethlehem. Robert Ingersoll. who was born in 1833, was a lawyer, politician, orator and noted for his broad range of culture and his defense of agnosticism. He was nicknamed “The Great Agnostic.” When Brooks was recovering from a very serious illness, he requested that no visitors be allowed to visit him, not even his closet friends. When Ingersoll came, Brooks allowed him to come into his room. Ingersoll was aware of the privilege that was just granted to him, and asked why he alone was allowed to call on the bishop. To which Brooks replied, “I feel confident of seeing my friends in the next world, but this may be my last chance of seeing you.”
Application: Our lectionary reading instructs us to continually offer our testimony for the Lord.
Ron L.
