Advent Lutheran Church

"Broomstick, Golden Fleece and Holy Grail: Impossible Tasks"

                With the possible exception of Vicar Anteneh and his family, I’ll bet there isn’t a person in this room who doesn’t know the story of the Wizard of Oz.  Most of us grew up watching it on television, and it doesn’t hurt that the hero in the story is a little girl from Kansas!  We follow her and her friends who go to the wizard of Oz to ask for his help in getting a brain, a heart, the nerve, and a home, but the wizard tells Dorothy that she must first accomplish an impossible task:  she must bring him the broomstick of the Wicked Witch of the West.  Well, of course, little Dorothy does, indeed, complete that task, and she finds herself in the company of other greats of history and literature:  Jason and the Golden Fleece, Rocky Balboa, the knights who quest for the Holy Grail and many, many more.  We love the quest for the impossible, and we especially love the stories that end with our heroes doing the impossible.  And how is this accomplished?  Well, most often, it is something they have done for love – love of home, or a woman, or even love of God.

                Today’s gospel story from Mark has a main character who could, perhaps, have joined the list of heroes.  He appears in three gospels:  Matthew, Mark and Luke, and is often described as the “rich, young ruler.”  But in Mark’s telling he is not young, nor a ruler.  He is simply, “A Man.”  On this day, he is excited to meet Jesus, and runs up to him, then throws himself at Jesus’ feet.  It is clear this man honors and respects our rabbi.  Then he asks a question:   “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” and the way he asks tells us something about him.  For you see, he uses the word, “inherit” which assumes an entitlement – it is a word that is used by a member of the family.  This guy is expecting eternal life, and perhaps is simply checking to make sure he understands the arrangement correctly.  Jesus, however, frames the conversation by asking about his adherence to the Commandments.  Did you notice Jesus starts with number 4?  He completely skips the first three, the ones about our relationship with God, and moves right to what is known as the “second table,” that is, the laws that deal with relationships.  And did you notice that Jesus throws in a new commandment, “Do not defraud?”  Now I don’t remember learning that one in Confirmation.  Maybe it was “6a,” but I don’t think it was one that I memorized out of the Small Catechism.

                For this man, the source of his wealth is assumed.  In a “limited goods society” if someone has a lot of wealth over here, then the poor guy over there has nothing.  In other words, “I have” equals “You don’t have” so Jesus was just checking to make sure this man’s wealth was rightly earned.  He cautions him to make sure his human relationships are solid, and that he has done the right thing by his fellows.  “But I have!” (says the man) “All my life…!  I am what everyone wants to be – the Envy of all who know me!”  “OK,” Jesus says, “Then, HERE’S THE IMPOSSIBLE TASK:   

                                                #1.  Sell everything you have

                                                #2.  Give it to the poor – (your treasure will be in heaven...)

                                                #3.  Then, come and follow me.”

                Wait a minute, wait a minute, hold on right there!  If I am sitting in Mark’s audience hearing this story, with the disciples, I’m thinking, “Well, then, who CAN be saved?”  I mean, really.  This guy is the ultimate Jew!  He’s wealthy (which to us means he is blessed by God.)  He’s righteous (he has kept the commandments since his youth.)  He’s faithful (just asking the rabbi, “what next?”)   But he/they/we are encountering Jesus, the radical truth-teller, on this day.  Jesus, who looks beyond the façade and speaks the truth even when it is hard, who heals what needs healing, whether the symptom is presented or not, this is the man who stood before them.  Unfortunately, the task was too great, IMPOSSIBLE, and so the man was shocked, and he went away grieving.

                We have so much in common with this man, don’t you think?  I mean, can’t you just see Jesus, shaking his head, and saying, “Man, it is hard to save these rich, young ones.  I know that when things are good, you don’t need God, but don’t you realize that someday you will?  Someday you will NOT be able to handle life on your own!” But Jesus understands that when things are good, we don’t need God, and that we will still ask, “If not the rich, beautiful, and powerful, then who?”  And the answer will still be simply, “Those who follow…”  For it is love that calls out the very best in us.  Jesus looked at him and loved him and said:  “OK.  You’ve kept all the rules.  But I don’t want your head, I want your heart.  Go, put God above the rules.”

                We’ve all been there.  We are wealthier than any other nation in history.  We are faithful in our worship and prayer and Bible reading.  And we are “pretty good” at the rules, as well.  We know what God desires:  feed the hungry, clothe the naked, release the captives and lift up the lowly.  But what can we do in the face of world hunger?  How can we stop global warming, or eradicate crushing poverty, or bring an end to the terrible violence that tears at our world?  What can we do in the face of this IMPOSSIBLE TASK?

                And what is it, do you think, that makes the difference?  What gets you past just seeing these overwhelming situations as  “impossible” and deciding that you can do just “a little bit” about it?  Well, I know what I’ve seen in your lives that changes you: 

                                     After one visit, you built a church in Atongo

                                     After one contact, you cleaned up a neighborhood in New Orleans,

                                     After one member went to seminary, you helped form nine pastors for the ELCA

                                     After one story or another, you have filled hundreds of shoeboxes, grocery carts and backpacks;                                                                    provided Christmas gifts, and farm animals and clean water and on and on and on…

                The difference is that somewhere you made a connection and began a relationship, and your heart was touched with love.   LOVE, that comes from God and draws us into those relationships, love that calls out the very best in us, love, that helps us remember, “with God, nothing is IMPOSSIBLE!”  Amen.