Welcoming the Vulnerable Ones Preached on September 23rd, 2018 At Wollaston Congregational Church Scripture: Mark 9:30-37 In this week’s passage from the gospel of Mark, Jesus gives the disciples the second prediction of his suffering and death. The first time he revealed this news, he said "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” They have not really taken the message in, though, and so for a second time, as they are traveling through Galilee, he tells them again: “The son of man is being handed over into human hands, and they will kill him, and having been killed after three days he will be raised.” And again, we are told, they do not understand but they are afraid to say so. Imagine the scene. You could cut the tension in the air with a knife. The last few nights they’d been talking about how the crowds have fallen away. Ever since Jesus started this talk about his suffering and death. Why doesn’t he conjure up another sign of greatness, like those awesome miracles: the feeding of thousands, the dramatic healings and exorcisms? These are the kinds of things that draw the people in. Peter has already challenged Jesus on this downward turn of the message. A separation is building between Jesus and the group. With a few pushes and shoves, the 12 drop back. Jesus continues his resolute and solitary way out of earshot. Peter pulls a hacky sack out of his robes and they begin to kick it around. Matthew jumps onto James’ back and they tumbled down to the ground scuffle that turns into a scrum of disciples. Soon they are arguing back and forth, “I’m the greatest!” declares Peter, “No,” says John, the beloved disciple, “it’s obviously me!” They know that this posturing goes against all Jesus is saying. And yet, it seems that they can’t help themselves. Perhaps they needed a little good-natured sparring, to break the tension in this emotional journey. Later when Jesus asks them what they were talking about along the road, there is an awkward silence. They know their conversation topic was inappropriate. They heard his words from just a few days ago: “for those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake and for the sake of the gospel will save it.” Jesus goes on as though they had filled him in on the whole thing. As they enter a home in Capernaum to stay the night, he calls them around him for yet another teaching. He tells them "Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all." Then he scoops up a small child onto his lap. Perhaps she is carrying a serving dish back to the kitchen, or fetching a pitcher of water from the well. She enjoys the rest and laps up the attention she gets in Jesus’ arms. The other servants continue to scurry around preparing a meal for the guests. Usually she is at their beck and call: a servant of the all. And he says: “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me." This is nothing less than mind-blowing for the 12. Embracing a scruffy urchin, a kitchen help, means embracing Jesus? Not only that, lifting up this snotty nosed child, barely noticeable as the food is served, means lifting up the great Holy One of Israel. Really? They sit there in stunned silence, wondering what is coming next. Now, let’s put the story on pause for a moment, because this may not be the way we have heard it before. Perhaps it plays back a little differently in your memory, colored by Sunday School or years of reading this text a different way. When my children were small we used to play the “Wee Sing Bible” tape in the car. “Jesus loves the little children all the children of the world … they are precious in his sight.” We’d sing along. And in my own childhood Sunday School a firm favorite was “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to him belong, they are weak but he is strong.” Oh, how we can hope that every child in the world might hear this message: that they are precious in Jesus’ sight. It’s not wrong. It conjures for me fond childhood memories. A little child all scrubbed up in her bathrobe is ready to be tucked into bed. Then she’s allowed a few moments with the honored guest at her parents’ dinner party. This is the domesticated version that plays in my mind. It is a message for children, but not grownups. The grownup message includes the full truth of Jesus’ suffering and death. It is the message of the cross. The little ones are weak, but Jesus is not showing any signs of strength. For their sake Jesus is becoming weak as well. To comprehend this, it is helpful to remember the status of children in Jesus’ time. For even the most loving parent, a child in the ancient world was a liability: economically and emotionally. Parents could barely afford the emotional toil of becoming attached to every infant before weaning, when mortality rates were the highest. And then, the surviving children needed food and clothing. They were expected to contribute. The economy did not allow for a carefree childhood. As soon a child could fetch and carry they were put to work. Children were on the lowest rung of the social ladder. The children of Jesus’ time were extremely vulnerable: vulnerable to childhood disease and infant mortality. And they were vulnerable because of their status in society: they had no personhood, they were simply the property of their fathers. They could be sold into slavery without any recourse: sent to work in the fields, or in the steamy hot kitchens … or worse. Jesus knows the suffering and abuse of these vulnerable ones, and he is planning to take it all on himself. He is approaching the authorities in Jerusalem, preparing to absorb all of their abuse of power. Soaking up, for the sake of the vulnerable ones, all the cruelty that humanity has to offer. The disciples are too busy tuning out this message that they do not hear Jesus say that in three days the son of man will rise again. That the suffering of the vulnerable ones will be transformed into new life, by his crucifixion and resurrection. How are we going to hear this story? Are we going to tune it out too like our fellow disciples? Will we retreat to our childhood imagery, the saccharine scene cute little cherubs at Jesus’ feet? Or are we going to take seriously his identification with the vulnerable. And, if we are able to handle this as grownups, who in our culture are the ones Jesus asks us to receive in his name? It’s shocking to think that children of Jesus’ day were considered to be non-persons. And yet, there are many children in our world and our nation today who suffer from non-personhood. All Hands In, is a non-profit organization in Massachusetts, dedicated to raising awareness about local human trafficking. They report that girls as young as 5 are known to have been trafficked and sold into prostitution. Between 14,500 and 17,500 victims are trafficked in the United States each year. [1] Traffickers frequently prey on runaway children, who are already experiencing some kind of trauma in their lives. The Polaris Project reports that “Youth without safe shelter and social supports are at higher risk of trafficking and exploitation.” 40% of homeless youth in the United States identify as LGBTQ. Traffickers exploit their needs and vulnerabilities. LGBTQ youth may be trafficked by intimate partners, family members, friends, or strangers.” [2] Recently, organizers from “All Hands In” have approached our church looking for space for one of their ministries. This ministry is a sewing studio for formerly trafficked women. The women will learn new skills and build their confidence as they create products for fundraising. All Hands In is working toward offering a two-year residency program to get victims of trafficking back on their feet. Wollaston Congregational Church has the opportunity to become a partner in this ministry. It is an exciting opportunity to embrace and tell the stories of women who were treated as non-persons when they were at their most vulnerable. Besides human trafficking, there is another troubling aspect of child abuse. In recent months more stories of abuse in the Catholic Church have been revealed. We Protestants may be tempted to point and say they we are not like that. But the truth is, child abuse has taken place in every type of religious institution from mega-churches to local mainline churches, as well as Jewish temples and Islamic mosques. I suspect that this is one reason parents are wary of bringing their children to church and Sunday School in these times. Jesus’ example of lifting up the vulnerable child is a reminder that we, the church, are always called to be on their side. We are called to listen to what they have to say and believe them, when they report abuse. We are called to remember that adults in positions of power are capable of just about anything. Children and youth must never be made feel afraid to tell their stories. The disciples distracted one another with talk of “greatness.” Jesus turns their sights back to the meaning of his coming suffering. He identifies with the weakness and lowly status of the child, so that the child may be lifted up. The end result, the good news, is that transformation is possible. Jesus will be raised, and those who have been abused and enslaved may be lifted up too. Our church has an opportunity to stand with Jesus on the side of children and others who are vulnerable to abuse. It is an opportunity to become the servant of all servants. First, we can create an open and affirming message of welcome for all children and youth, particularly LGBTQ youth who are so vulnerable. We can be clear about safe church practices, keeping children within sight of their parents, or with at least two CORI-checked unrelated adults. We can let the community know that this is our priority. And we can partner with All Hands In, to create a safe space for survivors of human trafficking: a space in which their lives may be transformed. Jesus loves the little children … they are precious in his sight. But, more than that, when we welcome vulnerable ones in his name, we welcome him. May all God’s children say, Amen. [1]http://www.allhandsinma.org/#whoweare [2]https://polarisproject.org/resources/sex-trafficking-and-lgbtq-youth
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