Sunday Homily, July 17, 2016, 16th Sunday Ordinary Time
Readings: (A couple of good readings today)
Genesis 18, 1-10, I will return next year and Sarah will have a son. She laughs.
Psalm 15, He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
Colossians 1, 24-28, I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake.
Luke 10, 38-42, The story of Martha & Mary.
Old buddies, John & Leo, say, "Welcome in, Everybody."
Genesis observations:
What : This is the first book in the whole bible, a good read. It begins with the 2 versions of creation, Adam & Eve, the apple, Cain & Abel, the Ark and the flood with Noah (see the picture of the huge ark somebody has built?), Abraham & the almost sacrifice of his son, and others.
When put together: Babylonian Captivity, ca. 555 before Christ.
Kevin, too, says, "Come on in, Folks."
Today’s story: An amusing little story, though you don't know it because the editor snipped off the end. Abraham is hospitable to three travelers. This results in the men, messengers from Yahweh, saying that a year from now Sarah will have a son. Sarah is 99 years old and never had a child. She is behind a tent flap, hears the promise, and she laughs. Amusingly Yahweh hears her laugh, asks her why, and she lies, saying she did not laugh.
Offertory with Tom & Teresa & Sandra, and, of course, Leo.
Martha & Mary, who is better?
This morning I would like to talk about who is better, Martha or Mary? Before I even begin I must acknowledge that Rosemary has a strong opinion on this subject. You can guess it. She thinks that Martha is getting a bad deal.
It must be also admitted that Rosemary has a bit of the Martha complex. She tells me often how she feels like Martha because she is so over worked.
Want to see one happy kid today?
So, being a good husband and trying to lessen the load, I will tell you what I do. This is also my way of finding meaning to this either/or story. Maybe it is not either/or?
It happens on Tuesday evenings when the sun is going down and I am in the shade that I mow our lawn. I not only mow, but I edge, trim the bushes, use the weed eater, and blow it all. Just mowing the grass takes me 90 minutes. I enjoy doing it. It is like an art form. I am imitating Rosemary, the artist. Plus, it is good exercise.
The Wedding, Lisa Anderlick and Mark Cheek, Saturday evening, Suncreek United Methodist, Allen.
When I am mowing I get into a pretty swift rhythm. I can push the lawn mower faster than the mower ordinarily goes. My little 88 year old neighbor lady who lives across the street, Joyce, says I look like I am running behind the lawn mower.
One evening recently when I was zooming back & forth across our front yard, a neighbor couple, Barbra & Bud, and their white sort of poodle dog, all came walking by. This happens occasionally in front of our house and in front of their house when we are walking Aviana. The dogs have a relationship that consists of all of about a two minute mutual check out. I love these people and they are the couple who introduced me to the “J,” the Jewish Community Center.
"I take you, Lisa, in Marriage. I promise to be true to you in good times & bad, in sickness and in health. I will love and cherish you all the days of my life."
So I see Bud & Barbra & Patty. I wave but do not lessen my rhythm. I keep chasing that lawn mower. And then….I feel guilty.
I have just again chosen Project over People, one of my most favorite activities. I think to myself, ‘What if I just stopped and chatted for 5 minutes?’ ‘Would it make the slightest difference in when I finish?’
I have known Lisa Anderlick since the time she was a little girl. Now she has not only grown up beautifully, but she is an MD. In fact, she and two of her brides maids all became MD's together.
5 minutes later here they come back the other way toward their house. So, what do you think I did? Yep, I kept right on chasing that lawn mower. And they passed me by and went home. I still cannot believe I did it. I have yet to apologize to them. As Rosemary is happy to observe, I get OCD about projects & work. Obsessive, compulsive, that is.
Sound familiar? You got a similar obsession? Maybe you don’t. If so you are blessed.
The first steps on the road to a New Life.
Maybe in our Martha-Mary story Martha gets obsessive, compulsive and needs to be more like Mary? At least I do. Mary, who knows? Maybe she needs to be more sensitive to the job to be done?
For me, the story is a challenge to be both, focused on the work, and focused on the person. In fact, I believe the person always takes priority despite my behavior.
How do you balance the Martha-Mary dynamic in your life?
Long time and dear friends, Lisa's parents, Karen & John Anderlick.