Sermon Texts

September 7, 2008

You've probably heard of the "Via Dolorosa" - "The Way of Sorrows" - in Jerusalem. During Holy Week news reports will often show pilgrims following this path through Jerusalem in commemoration of the events of Good Friday. The "Via Dolorosa" follows the path that Jesus is thought to have followed from Pilate's sentencing him to crucifixion to the place where he was crucified and buried. The path follows what Catholics know as the "stations of the cross." Every Friday a group of Franciscan monks leads pilgrims and tourists along this route past the stations of the cross, and one Friday last July I joined them along with about 100 others. During this walk I noticed a man walking near the head of the procession and wearing a red fez, a Middle Eastern kind of round hat with a tassel. I know that Knights of Columbus wear special uniforms, so I thought this might be a Catholic lay person of a special group for accompanying this pilgrimage. Someone else thought the man was a representative of the Jerusalem mayor's office, making sure that the walk was orderly. Later I found out that the man was indeed Middle Eastern, a member of the Muslim family that is the keeper of the keys of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the site of the last five of the stations of the cross.

Why is a Muslim family the keeper of the keys of this holy Christian shrine? The Church of the Holy Sepulchre has been divided among six different Christian groups - Roman Catholic, Armenian and Greek and Syrian Orthodox, and Egyptian and Ethiopian Coptic - and there have been frequent disputes, even physical fights, among them over their "turf" in this church. Since none of the Christian groups can be trusted to supervise access to the shrine without pursuing their advantage at the expense of the other groups, the key was given to a neutral Muslim family. We might find the story somewhat amusing, but it's also a sad commentary on how Christians don't live by the love of Christ.

Not that Christians today are all that different. We are fortunate to participate in a Covenant of Churches here in Riverside and North Riverside where we have pledged to cooperate and respect each other, but even here there are different levels of commitment to ecumenical cooperation. In our political arena all the talk about faith and values can't hide some of the deep divisions among Americans over what faith and values imply for political positions and strategies.

Nor are we Christians today all that different on a congregational level. Even within the smallest congregation there can be fights and feuds among members that may lead to people leaving the congregation. I like to think that we are a relatively healthy congregation where we treat each other with love and respect and work out differences openly and caringly. But that doesn't mean that we are immune from potentially divisive disputes. Perhaps the point is that this side of heaven the realities of human nature mean that any group will have differences, that within any group, no matter how pious, members will give or take offence.

Therefore today's Gospel remains crucial for Christian community. Jesus tells his disciples, "If another member of the community sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone." This advice from Jesus seems so simple, so obvious - and so frequently ignored. It is true that we hate confrontation and prefer to avoid dealing with conflict. We'd much rather gossip about another person or complain about a situation than go to the person involved and work out the problem. Understandably we fear the difficulty of confrontation and the threat that it may be ugly or nasty or make us vulnerable to criticism in return. But the truth is that loving community can be restored only when some fault or challenge to that community is faced head on in a loving spirit that seeks reconciliation.

How often I've seen it! Someone's been hurt or offended; I as pastor encourage them to talk it out with the other person; the conversation, even if difficult, helps the people to understand each other; apologies and forgiveness are exchanged; and the relationship is restored - maybe even deepened and strengthened.

Human nature being what it is, the formula doesn't always work. Jesus tells his disciples that if the one-on-one encounter doesn't work, to involve one or two others and then the whole congregation. If that still doesn't bring reconciliation, then, Jesus says, "let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector." These words from Jesus may be confusing because they sound somewhat harsh, but I think we may understand them in two different but compatible ways. First, Jesus is saying that there are boundaries around the Christian community. These boundaries are porous - that is, our doors are open wide to invite new people in. Yet the Christian community is to be a place that lives in a spirit of love and forgiveness. If someone refuses to live in that spirit, then they place themselves outside that boundary. Secondly, being placed outside that boundary does not remove someone from the concern of the community. Jesus often associated with tax collectors; the message of Jesus implies that God's love is unconditional and extends to people we might not expect to be included. Considering someone as a Gentile and tax collector also means that they are people we seek to restore to Christian community.

"Owe no one nothing except to love one another," says Paul today. That may make the Christian life seem easy. Don't worry about all the Ten Commandments; just love one another. Isn't Christianity great? Yes and no.

Yes, there is a sense that Christianity frees us from worrying about all the fine points of obeying God's laws. We've been freed from the 613 laws that Jews count in the Old Testament. Love, says Paul, fulfills the Law with all its various expectations.

But no, it is not so easy. This love Paul talks about is not just some nice feeling for other people. This love involves attitudes and actions that show that we care deeply for the welfare of others, even if it means sacrifice on our part. In the context of today's Gospel, this love means caring for another so much that we are willing to face conflict and confrontation, even if it be uncomfortable or unpleasant, because we care about the person who has offended us and we seek to restore a loving relationship with that person within our Christian community.

We are not alone, however. When two or three of us gather, Jesus promises to be with us. Especially in those moments when two or three of us gather to seek reconciliation, Jesus is with us to encourage and support us in what might be a difficult moment. Or as Paul puts it, "put on the Lord Jesus Christ." By faith we are wrapped up in the love of Christ. As we seek to express the love and forgiveness of Christ, we are surrounded and supported by Christ's love and forgiveness for us.

"Owe nothing but love" - it may be difficult, but Jesus didn't flinch from the "Via Dolorosa," the difficult path to the cross, and he doesn't forsake us as we follow that path of self-giving love. Amen.