Dunbar United Church of Christ - August 16, 2009

I’ve been thinking about these readings all week. In Ephesians Paul says to speak the truth, put away anger, wrangling and slander, malice....be kind, tenderhearted, forgiving -- share with the needy. And then Jesus whose whole life was an offering -- like food given to a hungry person so they can live. He gave away everything he had.
I’ve juxtaposed these readings with one of the major news stories of August, the Health Care town hall debates. There’s Ephesians and the example of Jesus Christ, and then we have angry people yelling at meetings. The Bible says a lot about anger -- not the righteous anger of the Prophets or Jesus when they saw the poor oppressed by the rich. But the anger that leads to violence, like Cain against his brother Abel. Jesus was against this kind of anger.
He taught the way of kindness and love -- even of enemies. He taught the way of sharing, not possessiveness. It hurts me to see the selfishness and rage at these Health Care Debates across the country. Maybe some of these people are Christian, but if they are they’re not showing it.
Where are the people concerned for their brothers and sisters who don’t have insurance? Where are the people standing up and saying, “I have health care. But many aren’t covered -- and I’m willing to make sacrifices so they are. We’re a great country -- so let’s act like it.”
That’s the bread of Jesus Christ -- that’s the food he gave us: love your neighbor, take care of your neighbor, share with your neighbor. These are the basic Christian values. Listen to Paul again: “Let no evil talk come out of your mouths -- bitterness, anger, malice -- but only what is useful in building up -- so your words may give grace to those who hear.” Our spiritual work is to be a presence of grace to others -- kind, not mean. Paul said we should work, so we have something to share with the needy. Those who have share with those who don’t -- that’s the bread of Jesus Christ -- that’s the food we eat that keeps our souls alive.