Carl Holladay says that “one of the main tasks the preacher faces in dealing with this all too familiar text is to make it concrete. Preaching on I Corinthians 13 can all too easily become an exercise of the poetic soaring rather than an occasion for addressing pressing problems in the church. Though the preacher will find it all too tempting to ascend into the clouds, it will be far better – and harder – to keep one’s feet firmly on the ground of congregational realities and human needs. For it was here – on the ground – where God’s love finally became manifest and where it has to be translated into human form in the ongoing, daily existence of church life and practice.” (Preaching Through the Christian Year, Year C, page 92)
And so today it is my intent not to soar into the clouds with poetic utterings of love, but rather, today, I must speak honestly and concretely to the issue of love. I am so inclined to define love in terms of mercy and justice and grace. I am so tempted to tell a story of love in action with a tale of hosting our Room in the Inn guests – watching some of our newest members, along with some of our visitors who have been visiting so long that we just call them regulars now, talk and talk and talk and listen and listen and listen to homeless men and women who want to tell their story. True enough, most of our guests keep to themselves, but some do talk. One older guy was bearded with long hair and not so clean looking. His face was weathered, I think beyond his years. And there stood one of our regulars, talking to him as if they were colleagues and peers. I am tempted to preach on love with stories like that.
I am so pulled to relay the story of love in action by telling of two of our members who befriended an old recluse of a woman from last year’s Mission Sunday. She trusted almost no one, yet two of our own gained her trust and simply became her friend – even throwing her a birthday party and inviting our family. Virginia Reese died recently, and I conducted her funeral. Of the twelve people in this woman’s life, three of them were from our church. I am pulled to preach on love with stories like that.
I am compelled to highlight stories of love in action with people who come into our midst simply looking for a place to worship and in a flash of a moment they are befriended and accommodated. People jump right in to offer rides and work systems and respond to emails and make small talk. And then before anyone even realizes it, a simple place in which to worship has become Church in the very best sense of that word. I am compelled to preach on love with stories like that.
Yes, I am tempted and pulled and compelled to interpret Paul’s words about love to the Corinthians in light of issues of justice and peace. I am tempted and pulled and compelled to interpret these words to push us beyond ourselves to embody the love of God to a community and a world where much is unlovely and war-torn and battered and cold and hungry. I do believe that that interpretation is our calling – it is always what I am tempted and pulled and compelled to preach.
In my studying this week I wondered aloud, “Am I single-minded or is Scripture single-minded? How is it that every passage that is the basis for any sermon almost always says the same the thing to me?” When I took out any marital association with this passage and simply read I Corinthians 13 anew, all I could think of was the “least of these” and the outcast and the poor and the weak and the oppressed. All I could think of was love of enemies and praying for those who persecute us.
But today, I am obliged to say a word not about loving the “least of these,” but rather to keep it in Paul’s context as a word for the Church. It is so good to be preaching this text at a time when our church is not discontent or in disarray. It is so good to be preaching this text at a time when our church is harmonious and energized and feeling good about who we are and where we are going. This text is not just meant for a church filled with people who do not get along. This text is also meant for a church that is happy and experiencing joy. For you see, all churches – no matter how loving and healthy – are full of people. And all people have to be reminded sometimes of the seemingly simplest of things. But simple things aren’t always easy.
We sit on the brink of a brand new year. We hold in our hands a new mission statement and a new vision. A Building Committee and a Capital Campaign Committee have begun their tasks. A Missions Coordinator is beginning to wade into uncharted waters. This morning we voted to call Anne Hunter Eidson as our Minister of Music – completing and rounding out our ministerial staff. There couldn’t be a better time in the life of our church to hear a word from I Corinthians 13. We are beginning to talk about real issues of our current facilities and future building needs, while at the same time figuring out if we can pay for them, and, if so, how much can we afford. And we are going to be getting involved with some ministries and missions that are new to us. And if you think this won’t be the cause for much consternation and disagreement – then you’ve never been in a church before.
I can’t think of a better time to hear a word for the church from I Corinthians 13. How many square feet and how will it be divided? Should we build a new building at all and if so, will it include a gym or not? Which Sunday School classes will get the new space and which outside agencies and ministries will we allow on our campus? Will it cost 5 million dollars or 1 million or somewhere in between? Will we be able to find significant donors to make initial contributions, and will we be able to get folks to give sacrificially over the long haul?
“If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal . . .Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; love keeps no record of wrongs, but rejoices in the truth.”
And all of a sudden this passage has nothing to do with the romantic love within the context of marriage, but it has everything to do with how we will treat one another in this place. One commentator said, “Love is never held alone in one’s self; love always involves another; love always links one’s self to another. (New Interpreter’s, Vol X, page 953)
The only real, tangible way that I know anything about who God is – is in the way we treat one another. The only real, tangible way that I know anything about the love of God is the way we love each other. I believe that one of the best ways that we embody the love of God in this place is with our Care Team ministry. It involves about 24 of our members and you don’t hear much about it because we commit to confidentiality. But one partner, Mary Edwards, lifted that confidentiality ban herself in worship not too long ago. That team, along with Mary, had a Christmas party at our house. You want to talk about love – maybe love’s best example is in a potluck. We had so much food and so much laughter around the tables. A few children and a couple of youth and adults of every age gathered at our house. That night made Christmas for me. We piled in our den to play that fun game of stealing one another’s gifts. It was Beth Jackson that opened it first – a gorgeous purple scarf knitted by Karen Godwin. When my number came up – I lovingly stole it from Beth. When her husband’s number came up – David did what any good husband should do and stole it from me. But when my husband’s number came up, he did what he knew he had to do and stole it from David. But then with all sweetness and pure innocence, Lydia Marik stole that thing from Russ. And then Mary McGowan promptly snatched it right out of the hands of one of our young, impressionable youth! And the room erupted with laughter, including Mary Edwards – bound in her wheelchair. A few weeks later a scarf was delivered to me – only this one looked better with my winter coat than the purple one would have. And then a week later, Beth Jackson was told to stop by the office to pick up her scarf. And a week later Lydia Marik was telling me how her scarf was prettier than mine.
That is the best, most earthly and concrete example of the love of God that I can give you. A Care Team comprised of church members that did not know each other well, if at all, combined their lives for one among us who needed care. And in the hustle bustle of all of their lives they’ve grown to love one another. How we love each other will be what defines who we become.
The other Care Team was for Doris Moore who recently died. That team worked hard to grant Doris her only wish – which was staying in her own home. That went against our best judgment, yet once we were involved, we could not abandon her. You want to talk about kindness and patience – take a look at this team’s work. Of all the many things with which those people on that Care Team are involved, it is my opinion that this was the best and most important – even on the weeks when it was just plain aggravating.
That is the best, most earthly and concrete example of the love of God that I can give you. How we love each other will be what defines who we become. If we are Becoming Disciples Through Worship and Service then we must know that the greatest thing is love.
The word to the prophet Jeremiah speaks of the love of God – before you even existed, I loved you. And God’s hand was placed on Jeremiah’s mouth – to speak a prophetic word. I think still today – God’s hand has placed on our mouths a prophetic word. And a prophetic word is always rooted in love. The last time I preached, I whispered to you the words from a baptismal stirring of waters – You are my Beloved. The last time I preached, I shouted to you the words from a baptismal stirring of waters – With you I am well pleased. And I said that God does still speak those words today – through us.
How will we love one another? With patience and kindness. How will we love one another? By not insisting on our own way. How will we love one another? By not being irritable or resentful. How will we love one another? By not keeping a record of wrongs and always rejoicing in the truth.
So if you hold a grudge against someone in this place, I suggest that you find a way toward reconciliation. If you find yourself condemning and judging someone in this place, I suggest that you remember that Paul warned the church in Rome that the one who judges will be judged. If you don’t know the people in this place, I suggest you find ways to get to know them instead of waiting to be known. The people in the place are so lovely. Have you not heard? God has called you Beloved and God has said that with you, God is well pleased. So get to know each other. How we love each other will be what defines who we become.
The end of the 13th chapter of I Corinthians says that now we only see dimly as if through a mirror – but then, then we shall see clearly. “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Perhaps the then is really now.
“Miss Velma Westbury used to say, `If you just love the folks what’s easy to love, that really ain’t no love at all.` She said, `If you love one, you have to love ‘em all.` That is the radical message of Easter. That is the glad tidings of Christmas. Of course, some folks said Miss Velma was crazy.” (Soul Among Lions, Will D. Campbell, page 48) May it be so.
O God whose name is best known as Love – teach us your Way. Let us so love one another that others will be drawn to our community simply because of their desire to be loved and share love. You give us simple commands that are never easy. So fill us with your goodness that we cannot help but speak your truth and live your Way. Your Way will take much practice and we will not always get it right.
But help us to never give up.