belonging

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October 16, 2022
Rev. Patricia Wagner
Belonging

Scripture:
Luke 18: 9-14

​9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other, for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.”
 
I officiated a wedding yesterday.
   and sensed their joy and relief
         in their profound sense of belonging, one to the other.
 
We all belong from the beginning,
         We take shape inside the body of another human being.
                          we are flesh of our mother’s  flesh,
                                bone of her bone
 
Once we are born
         we hope that that sense of belonging continues
                  for it forms our sense of self,
                           our trust in the world, and in a loving creator.
 
We grow,  seek autonomy, identity
                  our own sense of belonging,
                           to our own people,
                                    our own person.
                                     
and we find
         and connection and disconnection
                  and love and loneliness
         and we wonder if we belong anywhere,
                  if we are just here,
                           or if we really belong to God. 
 
I got a text on Tuesday.
            Hi Mike, how about lunch. 
I text back, sorry not Mike.
            I’m so sorry,  
Its alright, I’ve got lunch plans anyway. Enjoy!
 
She says, you are kind,
I’m MIdoro from Japan,
         I sell exercise equipment and clothing,
what do you do. 
         I’m a pastor from Ohio
                  and then brace for the quite get away.
Oh, dear pastor, she texts. 
            I have been told I am one of the sealed.
                        Here’s my Whats App number, let’s talk.
                 
Midoro means she is one of the 144,000 we hear about in
         a vision found in the
              7th Chapter of the Book of Revelations:
                  Angels place a seal of protection
                           around 144,000 servants of God
Jehovah’s witnesses interpret this to mean that
         just 144,000 of all those who have lived since Jesus’ death,
                  will be resurrected as immortal spirit,
                                    to spend eternity with God and Christ.
 
The ultimate in belonging,  to God and Christ. 
      And I say,  Good for her! 
         she has been told this good news,
                  and she accepts that she is fully accepted by God
                           and so lives with a profound sense
                                    of belonging now and forever.
 
But the dilemma for Midoro, as Jesus sees it,
         is when such an awareness, sense of belonging to God,
                  can breed a sense of self-righteousness,
                        and contempt for others’ relative lowliness. 
                          
                           a contempt which we logically assume
                                    God somehow shares.
 
Thank you, God, that I am not like this other person,
             says the Pharisee.
 
Jesus may be talking about the elite religious class,
         but don’t we all say that
                  or a version of that?
                           I do.
 
When we see someone who, is obviously
         going the wrong way.
                  someone whom we most vehemently disagree
                           on matters most important.      
         and we mutter, in so many words
                        Thank you, God, that I am not that person.
 
We think this politically,
         with the dictators and flawed leaders
                   and their followers, past and present.
         And is there a convinced Republican or Democrat
                  who does not utter this prayer
                  Thank you, God, that I am not like those
                                    on the other side. 
 
Our denomination is in the process of splintering,
      in a month, we will have a special session
                  of conference to vote on allowing
                           as many as 85 churches and pastors
                                    to leave the denomination
                                        with their property. 
         Either side of may be
                  tempted in to repeat the words
                           of the pharisee,
                           thank God I am not like them
 
And yet, if we believe,
         as scripture clearly tells us,
that everything that is
         comes from God’s own being. 
             that creation, all creation, all that is
                  every life, as well as every rock and scrap of metal,
                           every bee, flower, cloud, star,
                                    as well as you and the person
                                               you are glad you are not,
          are born out of God’ own being,
                           created from divine love
                                    and live in that love. 
And that God who is love
         is not standing outside of creation
            Where would that be=?
                  and if God is love, then surely this universe
                           is the material manifestation of love,
                                    is the body of love, of God
                                             in whom we, all of us,
                                                 everything,  dwells. 
          
If we allow ourselves to believe that,  as Jesus tells us
         as Paul tells us in his letter to the Romans,
                  that nothing is separated from the God
                                perhaps we would be less inclined
                                    to see others outside the fold.
 
Neither the Pharisee
         who is grateful for who he is
                  nor the tax collector
                           who is penitent for who he is not. 
 
They both belong, says Jesus
         one needs to know it,
                  the other needs the humility to see it in others.
 
Which is what church is about.
 
I was in youth group growing up,
         and even though I wasn’t among the pretty or athletic
                  or smart or popular ones in school,
                           I belonged, everyone did. 
                  That’s what made youth group special,
                            we belonged to youth group,   
                                             and we belonged to each other.
 
And when I moved just before my Junior year of High school
         and went to another church
                   in another denomination,
                           and joined another youth group
                                    Almost immediately,
                                             I belonged there, too.
 
Everyone who comes belongs, 
                  isn’t that the most important rule
                           of youth group?
Doesn’t everything else flow from that?: 
         respect,  cooperation, community? 
 
and isn’t that the most important rule for church
         as a whole,  
               this group of people
                  called out to be the body of Christ
                           in this life
                                    and, for us,
                           on this corner, 
                                    a community that we allow ourselves
                                             to belong to,
                                                      and be shaped by.  
 
You have chosen this body, this church, for a variety of reasons.
         Some of you grew up here.
                  Some found your way decades ago,
                           and some have just arrived.
                                    and you all sense a belonging.
                                             or a yearning to belong.
 
There is a sense of reliability, here,
             a financial grounding due to faithful
                  stewardship across generations, 
         and a maturity of spirit,  
                  a willingness to stay and love one another
                           across our differences
                                    even when it’s hard. 
 
Which means we believe what Jesus is saying in this story
         that we all belong,
                  we belong to God
                           we are truly all part of the body of Christ.
 
an d when we walk out under the night sky,
         and gaze upon the stars
              or look upon the trees in their firely colors,
                   or upon stranger or friend,
          there is no need to feel estranged
                  for the love that formed each and all
                           abides and each and all,
                                    knowingly or unknowingly
                                             abide in God.
 
From the beginning you have belonged,
         you, me, Midoro, and her 144,000,
                  and the Pharisee, and the tax collector,
                           and that belonging never ends. 
 
What good news. 
 
Amen.