Lenten Sermon for Luke 6:37

 

Luke 6:37:

³⁷“Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven;

 

We continue this week, exploring the values that we hold as followers of Jesus Christ.  One of the most striking values that Jesus lived out in his own life was his acceptance of others.  “Accepting Relationships” is a value that we hold high because Jesus himself held it high. 

One day, while Jesus was passing through Samaria, he met a Samaritan woman at a well.  While at that well, Jesus and the Samaritan woman engage in a discussion about life and God. 

This simple act of sitting and discussing such things with a Samaritan would be enough to cock the head of an ancient Jew sideways.  But, on top of it, Jesus was having a theological debate with a woman who was not his wife.  That just did not happen.  And, even still more amazing, we find out that the woman’s life situation is murky at best.  She has had five husbands, and she is now with a man who is not her husband.  We do not know the circumstances behind all of this, but suffice it to say that it is would be enough to elicit conversation behind her back or maybe even reproach to her face. 

Yet, none of this bothers Jesus.  To Jesus, she is a child of God who needs some living water, and he is more than willing to provide.  This is what “accepting relationships” is all about.

On another day, Jesus stepped out of a boat and was immediately confronted by a man with an unclean spirit.  Mark 5:3-5 tells it the best.  The man “lived among the tombs; and no one could restrain him any more, even with a chain; for he had often been restrained with shackles and chains, but the chains he wrenched apart, and the shackles he broke in pieces; and no one had the strength to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always howling and bruising himself with stones.” 

This man sounds terrifying.  He is troubled.  He is misunderstood.  He is not someone with whom you could relate.  He is a man who is outside of all expectations of normalcy and civility.  And yet, he is accepted by Jesus. 

Jesus does not fear the man.  Quite to the contrary, Jesus approaches the man.  Jesus engages the troubled man in a relationship.  And, Jesus heals the man.  This is what “accepting relationships” is all about.

Then there is that thief, dying next to Jesus on the cross who admits openly that he deserves all the punishment that he is getting, and who has nothing left in life except to plead for mercy.  “Jesus remember me, when you come into your kingdom,” the man pleads.  And using healing words of forgiveness, Jesus replies, “Today you will be with me in paradise.”  This forgiveness is what accepting relationships is all about.

And, then there is you.  You, just as you are.  You, just as weird, or normal, or exciting, or boring, or frail, or strong, or sinful, or wonderful, or loving, or guilty as you are.  Jesus looks at you and welcomes you too. 

It is not only Jesus who welcomes you, but also others who Jesus also sends to you.  If you really think about it, at some point in your life, Jesus sent someone into your life who loved you for you.  Who loved you despite your weirdness and despite your guilt and shame?  Jesus sent someone to accept you, and develop a relationship with you.  This is what “accepting relationships” is all about.

We are a people of God who have been accepted by Jesus.  Because of that love, we too strive to create “accepting relationships.”  We strive to engage in “accepting relationships” that do not judge, that do not condemn, and are full of God’s forgiveness.