Who is worthy today?

I ask this question because it shapes our lives together.  Who is worthy of God's love and forgiveness today, Monday, June 13th?  Who is worthy to take their place in our society without oppression? without harrassment?  without fear?  Even when we disagree with them, who is worthy to take their place as a brother or sister in our shared humanity?

We need to wrestle with this question.  Do we count some folks as 'less than' us?  Although we might not go out and oppress these individuals, are we silent when others do?  Is there a place in our hearts where we really aren't terribly surprised or upset that these people get the wrong end of the stick?  Do we tsk-tsk over violent acts that rob them of health, peace and sometimes their own lives?

When we look askance on another class of individuals - a group formed by their actions or beliefs or gender or race or religion - we are convincing ourselves that We are right. We are more worthy.

Sometimes we think we are more worthy because we have worked hard for our position and so obviously they have not.

Sometimes we think we are more worthy because they are strange, follow strange rituals, and make us feel uncomfortable.  Our comfort is the norm we follow.

Sometimes we think we are more worthy because 'they' could always act differently and keep themselves out of harm's way.  They need to make a greater effort to keep themselves safe.

Safe from us.  The ones who are more worthy.  We are more worthy because we have more money, the greater power, the right gender, the right skin color, the right Holy Days.

On a day like today, when 50 people were gunned down because they were different......because they were counted as 'not worthy'........because too many 'regular' folk will remain silent at their slaughter........our silence is deafening.

The story of the Pharisee and the woman who anoints Jesus cautions us about determining in our own hearts who is worthy of God's love and grace and life-giving forgiveness.  It embarrasses us with our cultural assumptions.  It cautions us about counting ourselves as more worthy than another. Luke 7.36ff.

And, please note:  it cautions us about holding these thoughts in our hearts even when we never speak them aloud.  Jesus knows.    

Today is a good day to wrestle with our hearts, our neighbors, and Jesus' call to love.  When we treat folks as if they have no value, we give permission for society to oppress them.  Our society.  Us.

Perhaps today is the day for our silence to end.  For who among us is truly worthy?

It's either ALL or its NONE.

Only say the word and I shall be healed...........

Welcome back to the Roman soldier who can't make up his mind.  First he is worthy of Jesus' attention, then he balks at Jesus even entering his house to do the very thing he wanted at the beginning of the story. (Luke 7)

Luke's version of the Roman centurion seeking a healing for a 'valuable slave' has embedded meaning that differs from Matthew's version of the same story.  It begins with a 'valuable slave' whom the Roman wishes healed.  Then moves to the Jewish leaders trying to persuade Jesus to fulfill the Roman's request because the Roman is worthy of Jesus' attention.  When Jesus moves to enter the soldier's house, suddenly he cries out  "I am not worthy for you to come under my roof....only speak the word and my servant will be healed."  Worthy...unworthy....make up your mind!

I wonder what happened that the soldier suddenly doesn't want Jesus in the house.  I doubt that it had anything to do with his housekeeping skills.  Further, if he had the chutzpah to ask Jesus for a healing.....for a slave.....I doubt that he suddenly lost his nerve.  Roman soldiers were hard and showed great courage in battle.  So, why the sudden "I am not worthy...?"

Could it be that this soldier began to realize that anyone who could accomplish the kind of healing that rumor had it Jesus could was to be respected?  Could it be that by agreeing to come (in response to the soldier's request) that Jesus called his bluff - confident that he could, in fact, heal the slave and so perhaps he was more powerful than a lot of people gave him credit? Could it be that the Roman soldier suddenly realized that he would be face to face with a powerful member of a race he ruled over, and not ever kindly?  Could he be ashamed of his own life story?

Could it be that the closer Jesus came to him, the greater he became aware of the presence of God in this itinerant preacher?  Was it possible that what was originally a wild request of uncertain results had morphed into a moment of divine intervention in his world?

Because, if that is what was going on in the soldier's head, no wonder he cried out, "I am not worthy..." for none of us is worthy.  The chasm between the God who creates and the ones who are created is beyond us.  The chasm between what we ought to do and what we actually do is bottomless.  The chasm between God's great desire for all creation and the mess we live in and help sustain daily is embarrassing. We are not worthy for Jesus to enter our house.  Worthy/ not worthy: this Jesus breaks down all that we think we know and understand.

The Roman Catholic liturgy of the mass, in its older version, included the believers' response to the lifting up of the Eucharist.  "I am not worthy to receive you, only say the word and I shall be healed." a paraphrase of this very story from Luke.  It captures this moment of  realization that the Divine One, the source of life and life again, is about to enter into our space and make contact with us, and unworthy is the least of our responses to that possibility.

For we are not worthy, but then it has never been about worth.
It has always been about love.

 It is love that can heal us for eternity, the love that has already stepped into our space in this creation and now lifts us up to healing in the Divine Wholeness of God.  It was about this divine love now made human flesh and dwelling among us....to heal us; to make us whole.

About to receive the body and blood of our Lord Jesus poured out for each of us, we cry out "I am not worthy to receive......"  and we give thanks that God came to us and loved us anyhow.

You are worthy

You are worthy.  You do not have to chase after anything.  You do not have to purchase anything or attain some level of success.  You do not have to have a special degree or important title.

You already have the only title you need:  child of God. 

This is Jesus' message to each and every person in the world.  You are worthy. 
Now you are set free to live, to love, to give, to praise and to give thanks.

If this doesn't sound particularly radical to you consider what the world's message is: buy this flat screen TV to prove you are 'up to date.'  Wear these $200 sneakers or the world will think you are 'out of it.'  Sign your children up for every class or team available so they will 'measure up.'  Drive this brand new, over your budget car so everyone thinks you are 'successful.'

God's truth in Jesus is this:  you are loved.  Now. Always. Forever.  AMEN