Dunbar United Church of Christ - September 13, 2009

I. Last January, Oprah Winfrey had Suzanne Somers on her show to share her secrets to staying young. Somers is 62 and each morning rubs estrogen cream on one arm and progesterone on the other. Then she injects herself with more hormones and vitamins so her hormone levels are what they were when she was 30. She takes 40 vitamins in the morning and 20 at night. She wants to live to be 110 and will do everything she can to get there.

II. I don’t know Suzanne Somers’ religion, but she’s probably not interested in what Jesus is selling: poverty, no nutritional supplements except his body and blood, and a cross. Jesus promised a good life to his followers, but not a long one.

III. When he told his disciples how he would die, Peter said, “No! You won’t die -- you’re going to be the king of Israel! We’ll live in a palace like king David and people will serve us for a change!”

IV. But Jesus said his mission in this life -- and of those following him -- is to serve others. That’s what the cross means -- it means suffering for others.

That’s not a popular idea in our culture. The health care debate shows that people tend to be selfish. They don’t want to help someone if it takes something away from them. I’m still so sad about the way we treat our foreign neighbors who are in this country without citizenship. Obama had to make it clear that Health Care Reform won’t cover non-citizens. What’s happened to our hearts when someone needs help and we refuse because of who they are?

V. Last Sunday I needed treatment at the Emergency Room at Midstate Hospital. As I was admitted, there was a woman next to me who didn’t speak English well and looked “foreign.” Her baby was screaming as she tried to tell the clerk that the baby couldn’t swallow -- something was causing him pain. I asked the woman doing my intake what happened to people who had no insurance. She said they were treated and written off as a loss, though some pay, little by little.

VI. If we’re following Jesus, then we know that we are our brother’s and sister’s keeper no matter who they are or where they’re from. That’s our cross -- to serve others, and even suffer for them.

Living till we’re 110 isn’t so important -- it’s what we do for others while we’re here -- that’s what matters.