SERMON
at
Christ Church, Watertown, Connecticut
Pentecost XVII
September 27, 2009
by
The Rev. Stanley C. Kemmerer, AHC

“But anyone who is an obstacle to bring down one of these little ones who have faith, would be better thrown into the sea with a great millstone around his neck. And if your hand should cause you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life crippled, than to have two hands and go to hell, into the fire that cannot be put out. And if your foot should cause you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life lame, than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye should cause you to sin, tear it out; it is better for you to enter into the Kingdom of God with one eye, than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell…”

At the very least, this Gospel tells us our responsibilities as disciples extend well beyond managing our own behaviors; they include responsibility for how those behaviors affect the discipleship of others.

Especially the discipleship of “these little ones who have faith,” which I take to have meant, in those days, particularly, the catechumens, those new to the faith, taking their first baby steps of discipleship.

Obviously, the Gospel writer feels strongly about the matter because the punishment is severe: to be thrown into hell “into the fire that cannot be put out.”

This phenomenon---the impact the behavior of an individual or a group has on others, those new to association with it, or considering association with it, is particularly worth examination in a community at the stage of its life ours is, entering a new chapter of our common life.

We’ve been working hard. In less than two years we’ve come from a handful of survivors held together mostly by hope and cherished space, with fond memories, to a growing number attracted by our pluck, our warmth, our energy who, faced with the need to vacate the original space, discovered we had created a new, emerging community that gave us the courage to enter a new situation pretty much whole.

We’ve given of our time, our energy, and our resources to address the challenge of supporting ourselves as we move from the support of the larger church. We’re discovering new things about who we are and what we may become, perhaps at once scary and exciting. We’ve attracted notice, which has inspired a generous donation of seed money to bring us through the fourth quarter.
Christ Church, Watertown, Connecticut
Pentecost XVII (B), Proper 16, 2009
Page Two

We need to use that time well, to get a clearer vision of ourselves, who we are, what our long suits are and what our limitations are, what we have to offer prospective members, what constituencies we’re best suited to serve, and how to make them aware of what we have to offer. Finally, we need to make the offer, seek its acceptance, and integrate these newcomers into our fellowship.

We enter a new phase now, one that moves from marketing to sales, in which follow up becomes important, outside the comfort zone of most of us. A friend who’d spent many years in sales, then in sales management, told me, “I’ve spent my entire career talking to people who didn’t really want to talk to me.”

It may be some of those we approach will want to talk to us. But when the conversation starts to reflect expectation, commitment, a bit less so. It risks losing prospects. But it also may attract the kind of prospect that responds to calls for commitment.

You gardeners know what I mean. For a garden to grow and flourish, pruning is required. Those of you treating illnesses know what I mean. All medications, each designed to heal in its own way, have contraindications, entail risks. Pick up a prescription, read the list, and, with trembling hands, reach for the bottle. Press a physician and you’ll be told, “I wouldn’t have prescribed it if the risks weren’t outweighed by the benefits to you.”

The Gospel talks about a hand, a foot, or an eye causing one to sin. I must admit I came up empty handed with examples of the hand. Though perhaps not so hard. Many of us, perhaps, who are social drinkers and have been at an event where alcohol is available but are with someone with a drinking problem have probably considered whether, in this situation, perhaps we should abstain. Or perhaps considering a dessert when dining with a person who has diabetes.

It’s easy enough to imagine the eye leading to lust or greed, envy or even gluttony. Oh yeah: most of us can associate the eye and the cheesecake all right!

But, for me, as I thought of this sermon, the foot came most to mind and in a particular way---in its association with a body part the Gospel doesn’t mention: the mouth. As in, “open mouth, insert foot!”





Christ Church, Watertown, Connecticut
Pentecost XVII (B), Proper 16, 2009
Page Three

You and I have been treated over these last several weeks to graphic and brutal examples of how the mouth can be used “to bring down…these little ones who have faith.” In the debates over healthcare reform. The incivility. The threats. The verbal terrorism. Dialogue has been difficult to come by. Participants are too busy shouting their viewpoints to be able to hear or even consider an opposing viewpoint or formulate questions that would draw the opposing speaker out, produce at least understanding of the assumptions supporting the position. What we tell ourselves reality is, whether it is correct or incorrect, produces our behavior.

In the healthcare reform legislation debates a significant universe of “little ones” are senior citizens, people on fixed incomes. But similar failures at dialogue can be found in any discussions in which people have strong feelings.

When they happen in churches they drive prospects and members away.

We have said there would be less divorce if the partners to marriages had the attitude, “We’re not going anywhere; let’s find a way to make this work,” rather than, “I can always get a divorce.” Churches would do better were they to embrace the “We’re not going anywhere; let’s find a way to make this work” attitude too. And they’d grow faster.

We will not always agree. That’s normal. Dissent is to be expected. And treasured. It should inspire, however, a particular kind of conversation:

One of the parties states the situation from their perspective. The other listens carefully, not to respond but to understand, then states what they understand the other person to be saying. Assuming they have understood, they now offer their view while the other person listens, to understand. Once both understand the other---And misunderstandings are so common there was a comic strip which featured a series of “He said/She heard”s.---they can think through how they can proceed from there.

Difference is important. It is not to be feared; it is to be embraced. It’s how we grow. It’s how we learn. When someone “loses” and leaves an important balance is lost. We need difference to keep one another honest.

It can be a word, a sentence. I lived many years in the greater Boston area, as many of you know. When I had mentioned an interest in the Boston Symphony concerts, a friend with some familiarity with Symphony Hall where they’re held, commented, “Oh, I’d never go there. Those awful seats!” So I didn’t.

Christ Church, Watertown, Connecticut
Pentecost XVII (B), Proper 21
Page Four

Finally, I did, only a few years before I moved here. I didn’t find those seats awful at all! Symphony Hall is one of the three most acoustically perfect concert halls in the world and the Boston Symphony one of its greatest orchestras. Because of one comment, I’d lost 10 years of pleasure that could have been mine!

We need to think twice as we comment about the internal life of a community of faith, not only with prospects, but with one another. Hope is a fragile thing. So is faith in the future. A phrase I heard often in my childhood, perhaps you heard it in yours, was “Don’t cry before you’re hurt.” It’s wise advice.

How many people when there’s a change in management, a merger, or acquisition, will say, “Uh oh. I’m outta here!” reflecting their belief the result of the change will be worse working conditions, layoffs, you name it. How often do we consider it could be just the reverse. It could be better working conditions, more enlightened management, hiring, raises. Those things won’t go to those who left, who “cried before they were hurt,” rather than once they’d seen it was going to be worse.

I’m inclined to think the Gospel’s reference to hell being the penalty is not to the graphically depicted hell of Hieronymus Bosch paintings or hellfire and damnation preachers. But to lost opportunities, the pain of “what might have been,” not achieved. So, as we conduct ourselves in these very important months of this next chapter in our common life, I hope we’ll keep this Gospel’s message in mind, prepared to prune judiciously when indicated, change when indicated, and careful to remember what may seem little and individual actions to us may cause a “little one” to fall.