3-29-2020
“The Smallest Act”
(Matt 10:40-42)
Maridene Akin, who leads the Wednesday Spirituality Group, forwarded an email to me the other day. It was from one of our sister Methodist Churches in Schaumburg, and the pastor talked about different kinds of fasting that we are asked to practice this Lent – No handshaking, no hugging, no social gathering … Are stopping these actions more difficult than cutting chocolate or cheese in your Lenten fasting?
I heard some of you started cleaning the dusty corners and shelves in your house that have been buried in things. From a three people household to now a full house with five people, my prime spiritual discipline has been ‘radical hospitality.’ My usual working place at home has been taken by kids, and I am stuck in the basement to do my job. As many of you expressed in our e-communication, we are going ‘stir-crazy’ at moments with this unwanted quarantine.
According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, “‘Quarantine’ refers to separating and restricting the movements of healthy individuals who may have been exposed to an illness to determine whether they are sick (and would require ‘isolation’). ‘Isolation’ has roots in the Latin word for ‘island,’ and ‘quarantine’ has origins in the French for ‘forty’ or ‘a forty-day period.’”
Huh, what an interesting overlap with our Lenten journey this year!
We are not only invited to enter the wilderness – the deserted and isolated place – figuratively and spiritually, but we are also asked to distance ourselves physically to protect each other right now. Some of us are not even allowed to visit our loved ones at the hospital and stay next to them. Weddings, graduations, and other celebrations will be different this spring until it will be safe for us to congregate again in the uncertain future.
In our continued worship series, this week’s focus is on “Compassion.”
Mary Jo Meadows defines compassion as “the quivering of the heart in response to another’s suffering” and indicates that “compassionate beings … cannot bear to see suffering and remain unengaged.” (The Cup of Our Lives, p., 96)
Our Lent guide Joyce Rupp understands compassion as the “quality of being able to get inside the skin of another in order to respond with loving concern and care.” (p., 96) I love another description from Jack Kornfield that said it’s “the truly loving person breathing in the pain of the world and breathing out compassion.” (p., 96)
We are called to be a caring presence for one another as Christians and provide the ministry of presence as a church. But, when we are told to stay away and keep distancing, how can we still be compassionate as followers of Christ?
In our scripture lesson today, Jesus’ words echo louder for me.
The passage is a part of Jesus’ commissioning of the twelve disciples. As he sent them out, he gave instructions on what they need to take with them for the mission trip and what kind of attitude they need to maintain. Instead of packing extra stuff in their luggage, he asked them to travel light and rely on the hospitality of people on the road.
Jesus also warned them of the inevitable hardship to live as his followers. They will meet persecution. They will be rejected. They will conflict with their family and friends to stay in the way of Jesus. Like the disciples, we will be required to take our own cross and follow Jesus, too.
The last part of Matthew Chapter 10 hits the core of discipleship. Eugene Peterson translated verses 41 and 42 like this:
“This is a large work I’ve called you into, but don’t be overwhelmed by it. It’s best to start small. Give a cool cup of water to someone who is thirsty, for instance. The smallest act of giving or receiving makes you a true apprentice. You won’t lose out on a thing.”
We admire people like Martin Luther King Jr., Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Mother Teresa, and Archbishop Oscar Romero – the faithful and courageous disciples who sacrificed themselves and fought for human dignity, rights, and freedom. They embodied the love of Christ through their own lives. But what Jesus is trying to make as a point in our text today is that more often being a disciple starts from small things like giving a cup of water to those who are thirsty.
As David Lose says, our everyday discipleship happens when we try “to care for the little corner of the world in which we have been placed. Even a cup of cold water can make a huge and unexpected difference to those to whom we give it and, according to Jesus, such acts have eternal and cosmic consequences.” (Working Preachers, Commentary, https://www.workingpreacher.org/craft.aspx?post=3265)
Two weeks ago before the “stay-at-home” order was issued, I had a conversation with Gary Grabunau, our Lay Leader. Wonder what we talked about? Here we go:
(the video of Gary & Mi-Sook)
In a time like this when we have to adapt ourselves to new patterns and rhythms, we really need to be compassionate toward ourselves. It is not self-pity but self-compassion. We have to learn to take care of ourselves first so that we can make ourselves available when others really need us.
And as Joyce Rupp says, “Life is an endless cycle of giving and receiving. Gifts are not only meant to be given but also to be received.” Do not be hesitant to ask for help- especially our elderly members, those who live alone or feel weak. Call the church and call your family and friends. There are more good people in this world than you think. As Mr. Rogers said, “Look for the helpers. You’ll always find someone who is compassionate and willing to help you.”
As I shared with Gary, in this season of a pandemic, we can follow Wesley’s three simple rules.
First, “doing no harm” by continuing to stay in the course of social distancing and simple acts of covering our mouths when we sneeze and wash our hands thoroughly.
Second, there are lots of ways that we can “do good” – the small acts that matter and make a difference.
Sherry, our church family shared with me what happened two weeks ago. When many events and services were being cancelled, she was thankful that the garbage disposal service still ran. So, she left a thank you note to the waste collector. As the guy picked up her can and emptied it, he told her that her little note made him tearful. They were just simple words, but they had great power to encourage someone.
It was nice to see many faces through the Zoom video meeting for the Wednesday morning group. Janet told us how her neighbors are coping and even spreading a happy virus under the weather. They are displaying teddy bears at their widows, and the children can do a scavenger hunt around the neighborhood. She also said there were many encouraging and hopeful messages written on the sideways with chalks.
Our Nurturing Team and small group leaders have been making many phone calls, emails, and cards to check on our church family. And I often hear heartwarming stories of how their neighbors are picking up their mails and dropping food and supplies. I also heard one of the knitters, Thelma, is making fabric masks and another person is making surprise Easter gifts for our seniors.
Third, but not lastly, through our kind and faithful being, doing, and receiving, we indeed can stay in the love with God even through the most challenging time such as now.
Friends,
What kind of small act of giving and receiving can you practice today?
How can you be served as a cup of compassion for someone?