“Making Impressions” – Sermon on Nov 11, 2012
November 11, 2012
Scripture:
Mark 12:28 – 13:2
As he taught, he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”
He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”
As he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!”2Then Jesus asked him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.”
Sermon: Making Impressions
by Rev. Doreen Oughton
It always goes the same way – first the video clips of her dressed in terribly ill-fitting or frumpy or trampy clothes, then the interview with the family and friends who nominated her (always a her), and then… the ambush – as Stacy and Clinton swoop down upon her and say “we’re from TLC’s ‘What Not to Wear.’” How many of you have seen it? I watch it religiously and just love it. Transformation by wardrobe and hair makeover. I am struck by how often the experience truly seems to be transformative, and not just in appearance. Almost always there is initial resistance to the makeover. As people cling to their drab, or wacky or overly youthful or provocative clothing, they express their fears. They don’t want to be seen as old, as fake, as materialistic, as boring, as predictable, and on and on. At the same time that they seem so concerned about the impression they don’t want to make, they seem completely unaware of the impression that they do make. Stacy and Clinton always emphasize that their mission is to help the person make an impression that communicates truly and effectively who that person is – in personality, ability – in spirit so to speak. And in many cases, they seem to succeed. The person being made over becomes more of who they feel themselves to be, freer to grow and pursue dreams and goals, so much more clear about who they are and who they can become rather than being caught in the trap of trying to prove who they are not.
Isn’t that the ideal of what “making an impression” should do? Shouldn’t it reveal briefly on the surface what lies within, or at least of something that’s in the process of forming? But sometimes, attempts to make an impression are done for a different reason. Sometimes people want not to reveal what lies within, but to hide or distract from what lies within. I remember when I was working in addictions treatment and a client of mine was hospitalized for a severe medical problem that resulted from her drinking. She was talking about how she needed to have someone bring up her pretty robe and a nice blanket to cover up these drab hospital linens and I lost it with her. “How can you be focused on the appearance when you are dying here! Don’t you get it?” Or think of the con artists who present themselves as incredibly trustworthy, or even vulnerable, but they are actually trying to exploit you. In some cases we are trying to distract ourselves from what lies within, and sometimes we are trying to distract others.
I suspect the Scribes that Jesus refers to in this morning’s passage may be doing a little of both. They walk around in long robes and make long prayers – that’s what people see. What impression would people get from that? Perhaps that they are important, that they are holy, pious, favored by God? Jesus, perhaps seeing into their hearts, or maybe just making some assumptions from his experiences of them, says that they like to be greeted in the market place and get the best seats in the synagogue, and sit in places of honor at banquets. They want to be treated as important, more important than others. Hmm. Here I am in my long robe, saying long prayers, sitting in an awesome seat in the church. And I love to be greeted in the marketplace. Is a wish for recognition being condemned by Jesus? Perhaps, perhaps. But I think the far greater condemnation comes not in the wish for recognition, but for the devouring of widows’ houses. It’s not just that these scribes want to show their piety, make their prayers. Sometimes those things can be a service in ministry. They can inspire people. Long prayers can sometimes nurture piety or faith. But here, these Scribes are playing up their piety, putting on an act, while acting with great impiety – actually harming vulnerable widows. Perhaps they hope no one will question their actions given their great reputations. Perhaps it is how they justify the exploitation, convincing even themselves that whatever they do is righteous.
In contrast to these Scribes, Jesus points out to his disciples the widow who puts her two coins into the treasury. Until she was pointed out, this woman likely made no impression at all. No air of importance surrounded her. I imagine she approached the treasury humbly, perhaps hoping she and her comparatively small offering would not be noticed. Perhaps she was even embarassed by her offering after seeing the great amounts others were putting in. But she made an impression on Jesus.
Now if my preaching has made a great impression on you, you may recall that three years ago I preached on this text, and suggested that Jesus was not pointing her out as a role model for what anyone should do – put your only means of survival into the temple treasury, let alone a poor and vulnerable person. I believe he was pointing her out as an example of someone who was being exploited by the scribes and other temple leaders. But I think he was also pointing out the contrast between her and the scribes in terms of effort to make an impression, and whether the impression revealed or hid the truth about a person. Look at her! She comes here humbly, wanting to worship God, wanting to give everything over as an expression of her love, her gratitude, her trust, her desire to live faithfully. And look at the temple leaders, who approach with a show, with an air of self-importance, wanting to be worshipped instead of offering worship, who take and take and take. They don’t even notice this woman. They don’t see her need. They don’t offer her care or compassion. They probably take note of the big givers, they probably notice their desires and seek to satisfy them. They likely offer friendship, comfort, attention, prayers. They know where their bread is buttered, and it’s not by the poor widow. They are not so concerned about impressing her, and are not impressed by her.
The last few verses of the reading were not in the lectionary assignment, but I included them because they go so well with what I see as an important theme in this reading. We hear that the disciples are very impressed with the Temple building itself. If you imagine Jesus saying, not with admiration but with distress, “look at this poor widow, giving her last 2 coins, everything she has, to this, to these self-important hypocrites, to this place that colludes with Rome to take from the poor to benefit the rich. “But look,” reply the disciples, “look at these magnificent buildings, these wonderful stones!” Maybe hinting – isn’t this all worth it, shouldn’t we all give to the care and preservation of these buildings? Jesus lets him know that no, it is not worth it. These buildings that are so impressive to people of the world mean nothing in the realm of the Divine. Indeed, they will be destroyed, and so what. What lasts, what is important, is the humble expression of love of God. What is important is self-giving, sacrificial love.
It occurs to me that we can never make an impression, positive or negative, on God. Because an impression is just a glimpse, but God always sees us wholly and fully. God knows the mixed motives of our hearts, knows our struggle for recognition and our wish to humbly worship God, our yearning to give over everything in trust, and the fear that causes us to grasp, even take more than we should, even collude with exploitation. God sees past any fleeting impression, any attempts to distract ourselves or others from who we are inside. And God sees it all, and sees it with love. Even for the scribes, but most certainly for the poor, for the vulnerable.
Even though I don’t think Jesus is lifting up the woman as a good model for giving, I know he is not criticizing her either. His angst, his heartbreak is at least in part that what she is giving to is not worthy of her sacrifice. As I was developing this sermon I couldn’t help but think of the veterans and the men and women currently serving in our military, willing to give everything, willing to make such incredible sacrifice. Sometimes I feel torn, as Jesus does over the widow. I wonder if the recipients of this great sacrifice are worthy of it. Is it true that the soldiers are giving all to defend freedom, to protect the vulnerable, or is their sacrifice taken for the sake of lower oil prices, or to increase the wealth of a few, or to keep the war machine going? I know that war is not of God, I believe not for any purpose. And so while I am incredibly impressed with people who volunteer to serve in any branch of the military, even those who devote a lifetime to it for principles that they cherish, I’m not sure their sacrifice, their humble expression of their values, is truly seen, is honored. Are their needs noticed? Are the efforts to offer them care, comfort, training, employment, quality treatment for physical, psychological or substance abuse problems given the high priority they deserve? Or are we content to offer them a thank you when we see them, a prayer on Veteran’s Day, and then focus on impressing people with more financial and political clout? I don’t know, and like with most things, there is probably some combination of things going on – genuine regard and good intention as well as self-interest, neglect and forgetfulness; some very generous motives, and some selfish motives; some scribe and some widow.
Closer to home, if you haven’t been here since last Sunday, you might notice some additions and changes to the space. We have a room full of beautiful knitted goods, we have shiny paper on the tables next door, some special treats for coffee hour. For the fair yesterday, and for Christmas coming up, the church gets a bit of a makeover. We have lots of people coming through the door, and we want to make a certain impression, don’t we? We also want to make an impression on people who come to worship faithfully. It pleases me to no end that these surface changes actually reveal a great truth about this church. It is a place that values beauty, yes, but also good stewardhip – taking good care of the resources entrusted to us. We care about how the building looks, but we care more about the needs of the people here and outside these walls. We care about their spiritual needs and understand how beautiful music, a stunning Sanctuary (with heat); and a trained, professional staff can contribute to the nurturing of a soul, can help deepen one’s relationship with and inspire worship of God. We care about physical needs and give so generously of our time and resources, sending gift cards, flowers, grocery cards, blankets, food. Yes, people here love this building, but they know that is not what makes us a special church. They know that we exist to make a difference in the lives of the people here and in this community, and don’t make the mistake that the community and the people are here to keep the church going. We exist to meet a need, not to create one. So may all the exterior, more surface beauty of this place allow us only to be more fully who we are called to be, who we are meant to be, who we exist to be – humble servants of God. Amen.
