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Pastor Jeremy Schultz
October 3, 2010
Since 1921, Boy's Town in Omaha, NE has been caring for children and families. And if you ever visit there you will see a sculpture of a little guy carrying a tyke on his back who's nearly as big as he is. The caption underneath reads, "He's not heavy; he's my brother." You see the little boy is not even aware that his burden is great. He doesn't mind carrying the other boy on his back. If you were to ask him, he would not even consider it a problem. It's just what he does. "He's not heavy; he's my brother." And there's something about this sculpture and that sentiment that I tell you is beautiful!
Jesus begins His teaching in Luke 17 today by giving us something like a shopping list. In fact the New International Version of the Bible has a subtitle to this chapter called, "Sin, Faith and Duty." Sort of like - don't forget the eggs, milk and cheese.
In this list, Jesus tells His followers to preach in such a way that none of the children or those that are weaker in the faith should be caused to sin. Jesus cares so much about the faith of such people that He declares if such were to happen, it would be better if the one leading them to sin were given a cement neck tie and in true mafia style be tossed into the river! Next Jesus declares that forgiveness is to be as daily of an occurrence as daily bread. If your brother sins against you seven times and he repents seven times, then you are to forgive Him. There is to be no limit to the act of forgiving because forgiving a person releases them from the death of their sins to the life that Jesus gives by the power of His own resurrection. And finally, Christians are called to serve their Master. Even if they're running from the fields to the kitchen. Even if they don't have a chance between tasks to hardly catch their breath! And when they have done as they ought, they are not to trot on by like some dancing dog looking for a pat on the head, but they are simply to say, "I am an unworthy servant. I've only done my duty!"
Duty can be such a beautiful thing. I know a man in the congregation, who because of duty to country, will head to Afghanistan in March for six months. And I know several young couple because of their duty to each other and to their children do all they can to take care of each other and the kids and keep the household going. And do you know what? That's beautiful! Duty to God, to country, to spouse to family and friends IS very beautiful. But duty can also be ugly. In fact, duty for mere duty sake IS ugly. For example, going to the funeral home because you feel compelled to out of a sense of duty can be so hollow and shallow that it's actually hurtful. Similarly, going to church with Mom and Dad, but dragging your feet and not participating can leave them wondering if this faith will ever be yours. So it is that duty can be exercised beautifully and duty can also be ugly.
But when Jesus talks with His disciples about their duty to forgive, they just don't think they have it in them! "Increase our faith!" they say. And you know what? As we think about the duty we have to forgive or the duty we have just in any area of our lives, we just might not think we've got it to give in us! Maybe we don't feel like we can forgive our mother in law who reminds us for the umpteenth time that we're not good enough for her daughter. Maybe we don't feel like we could help out our sibling on the playground. Maybe we don't feel like we even have the strength to get up one more time in the middle of the night to get the baby a bottle or to make supper after a long day's work or do the laundry and spot the clothes again. Increase our faith, we say! But to this, Jesus replies, "Why? You already have enough faith!" Don't whine at me about a lack of faith. You have plenty enough to do whatever is your duty! Jesus says you think that forgiveness stuff is really spectacular? If you realized that you had the kind of faith already that you do, then you could uproot a mulberry tree and plant it in the sea. But that's not really so spectacular! You already have the faith that you need!
You see the really great news is that though we fail in doing our duty - and though rarely if ever does what we do appear truly beautiful, Jesus does not! He doesn't fail. He never does. Jesus is the master who had many servants. But on the night He was betrayed, Jesus took the role of the servant and washed the feet of His disciples. Jesus' actions in the upper room on that night were symbolic of everything that He had come to accomplish, especially His work on the cross. Jesus was a servant who submitted to the will of His Father. "Not my will, but thy will be done." Jesus went to the cross, and He died for all of His brothers. And it was beautiful! What made it so was His love! The Bible says that "Jesus knew that His time to depart was drawing near and having loved those that were in the world, He loved them to the end." Jesus did His duty with a heart full of love and it was beautiful!
Phillips Brooks, the early American clergyman, said, "Duty makes us do things well, but love makes us do them beautifully." That's what the love of Jesus does for us. The love of Jesus empowers us to exercise our duty with faith and love...in a truly beautiful fashion!
Such is the parent who gets up at 2:00 a.m. and then at 3:00 a.m. and then at 3:30 a.m. to answer the cry of a sick baby. Such is the man who after rent and groceries has just pennies to spare, but will go without lunch for three weeks to buy his sweetheart a birthday present. After reading this parable, an elderly gentleman entered his pastor's office and announced, "Well, here I am, reporting for duty." Somewhat surprised, the pastor asked what it was all about. The man said: "A few months back I told you that I thought I had put in my years of service in the church...that it was time to let the younger ones do the work. Now I know that I have a calling, not a union contract. There is only one way to retire and you're not going to preach my funeral for a long time. Besides all that, I miss it! So here I am, reporting for duty!"
Are any of these people looking for a medal? No. They're only doing their duty. But they're doing it beautifully!
Friends, be assured of this. What you do for others out of love for Jesus is beautiful! Thus the woman who anointed Him in preparation for His burial did what she could. Tabitha, who made quilts like our LWML, used her gift to serve. Jesus receives your gifts of faith and love. Others receive the forgiveness and the service you render. It's your duty ...and it's beautiful. Amen.
© St. Paul Lutheran Church 2010