Rector's Sermon - Sunday, June 9, 2002

First Reading	Psalm	Epistle	Gospel
Genesis 12:1-9	33:1-2	Romans 4:13-18	Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26

      The tax collector whom Jesus invites to be a disciple, the daughter whose father thinks is dead, and the woman with a long suffering illness all have something significantly in common. They all are high risk people. Any ministry to them would be highly likely to end in failure or result in criticism or derision of anyone who tried. An attempt to demonstrate that they were within the circle of God's grace would be playing against high odds.

      Tax collectors were not simply civil servants. They were more like enforcers and collectors for mobsters, the mobsters in this case being the Roman rulers. Even a "former" tax collector would carry an unsavory reputation as having been a hired goon and collaborator for the foreign oppressor. Yet Jesus saw something in this man named Matthew. Jesus took a chance and invited him into his inner circle. Sometimes the Gospel stories play themselves over in vivid ways. Over the past few months a major issue among members of the Ithaca School board was the continued hiring of a person who had a past criminal record. While his behavior as an employee of the school system, at least as publicly reported by colleagues, was satisfactory if not exemplary, the matter of his past record before he was ever hired, was brought up. It was presented as a cause for questioning the judgment of those who recommended his reappointment. While the employee's reappointment was eventually approved, I suspect a fear over his past and a stereotype associated with it, still lingers with many.

      The daughter of the synagogue leader was considered already dead and beyond hope. While no doubt greatly loved by her family, she was not an important person in the larger community. Why would Jesus stake his reputation on what seemed to be utterly futile? Why would Jesus risk it on such a person? If Jesus were going to attempt such a dramatic sign, would it not have been better to risk it on someone the whole nation would notice? Yet, in our world too, signs of God seem to appear among hopeless, unremarkable and everyday situations and they often severe as an inspiration far beyond their immediate context.

      The woman with the hemorrhage would have been considered as contaminating all that she touched. Unlike the little girl who had a prominent father, she had no forceful advocate on her behalf. She had no voice to express her frustration and pain. The common assumption would have been that if Jesus attempted to heal her, he would lose his power, and she would remain the same. Yet Jesus was not afraid that he would lose power or be contaminated by her touch nor was he afraid of being interrupted by the difficult challenge of going to the bedside of the dead daughter. Jesus was right in the midst of ministering to someone else and it would have been an easy out to say, "Wait until I am finished with this miracle. Can't you see that I am trying to work a great sign?" If Jesus had made an excuse to defer or deny recognizing this woman who came from behind, everyone around him would have understood. Instead, Jesus made everyone notice her as he said "Take heart,! You too, are a daughter, just as the daughter of the synagogue leader. You too can approach God without fear of contaminating the source of grace."

      Sometimes the Gospel stories seem so long ago and remote from life in Ithaca. Then there are days when the stories seem to jump off the page and fit into what is printed on the front page of the newspaper. I suspect that is a larger lesson from today's Gospel passage. I would not characterize Jesus as foolhardy or reckless, but he consistently played against society's high odds. I'd be worried to take Jesus to Las Vegas, not because of venial temptations, but because I'd be worried that Jesus would not be afraid to bet against society's house and would put big money on what I would consider a long shot. The Gospel passage today is not about reckless behavior, but it is about courage. It is saying that we as the church are called to understand the connection between Jesus' example of courage and the world's tendency to always play on the side of favorable odds. We all can think of people whose backgrounds would cause a stir if we hired them as members of the parish staff. We all know the fear of failure and annoyance of being interrupted and the easy excuses to justify avoiding either. Nonetheless, where Jesus' example of courage intersects with the world, is where we are invited to be.

      And I offer this to you in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen