Sermon preached by the Reverend John E. Kitagawa at the Celebration of the Holy Eucharist on 27 September 2009 (Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost, and Pledge Kick-off Sunday) at St. Philip’s In The Hills Parish, Tucson, Arizona

GOD’S LOVE PROVIDES THE GRACE AND POWER WE SEEK[1]

Numbers 11: 4-6, 10-16, 24-29; James 5: 13-20; Mark 9: 38-50

Today’s passage from the Book of Numbers does not show the Israelites in the best light possible. In fact, they are as cranky as they can be. They have been freed from Egypt and enslavement to Pharaoh. God had interceded, protected them, and provided for their journey to the Promised Land. No doubt, the journey was arduous and long. I imagine there were frequent whiny choruses of “Moses, are we there yet?”, and “How much longer?” In the first part of today’s passage, the people complain about the food—about the lack of meat and vegetables they had enjoyed in Egypt; and, about the manna God had provided to stave off hunger. Complain, complain, complain. Whine, whine, whine. No wonder Moses was pretty cranky himself, and did his share of complaining to God.

I ask you to hold this story and its images in your minds as you listen to this next story.

North Korea commandeered the American naval vessel USS Pueblo on January 23, 1968. During their eleven-month captivity, the 82 surviving crew members were subjected to torture.

During one period, thirteen men were in a room and forced to sit around a table without moving for hours on end. Suddenly, the door burst open and a North Korean soldier stepped in and began to beat the man in the first chair with the butt of his rifle. On the second and the third day the same sequence of events was repeated, the same sailor receiving a savage beating.

On the fourth day, a young shipmate, realizing the man would not live through another beating, sat in the first chair in his place. The door swung open and the guard came in and beat this new victim until he almost lost consciousness.

For the next few weeks, the men in that room would volunteer to take that first chair, knowing full well that they would endure hardship for the others. Finally, the guards stopped their beatings. They were powerless against that kind of sacrificial love[2].

Which group exhibited a sense of hope in the face of unfavorable conditions? Was it the Israelites in the particular moment in the wilderness, or was it the sailors of the USS Pueblo? In which story do you see evidence of actions grounded in a sense of community and of covenant? In which group do you think acted out a belief in the future?

The sailors’ decisions and actions provide a clear and powerful metaphor not only for talking about sacrificial love, but also for reflecting on what made their actions possible under such harsh conditions. The sailors’ training probably instilled a sense of unit cohesion, of community. Life after captivity must have been a powerful motivator. One can imagine less heroic scenarios developing—ones in which a “survival of the fittest,” and “everyone for himself” mentality dominate; or, ones in which complaining, whining and thoughts of times past would dictate behavior. Instead, a compassionate and self-sacrificial covenant blossomed in the moment—a covenant that would give all the shipmates a chance to live with hope and with dignity. That covenant required each sailor to believe in the future, to take his turn sitting in the first chair, and to absorb a terrible beating.

Some of you may recognize the following quotation[3].

Hope is not the same as optimism. Optimism is based on indications that things are going well; optimism assumes that the trajectory will continue and bring positive results. Hope does not arise from a perceived pattern of success. Hope can come into being amid the worst kind of gloom, the kind fit only for a thoroughgoing pessimist. Hope arises not from the situation itself but from something outside the situation. It is a dim light gleaming through the darkness. Hope is not based on what I can do but on what another is doing[4].

Is it not ironic that in the complaining and whining verses, the Israelites do not exhibit a sense of hope? Think about it. God had intervened and freed them from slavery in Egypt. God protected them from Pharaoh’s pursuing army. God provided them manna to survive the journey. And, yet, at this point in their journey, their attitude is “what have you done for me lately?”, and they are demanding: “we want meat, NOW.” They do not see or appreciate “what another is doing” in their lives. Without a sense of hope, no wonder they have no confidence in the future, no wonder they are cranky, and driving Moses to distraction with their complaints and whining.

Today is the kick-off for our Covenant 2010! Pledge Campaign. Almost half-way through this sermon, I have yet to say a word about pledges or money. The reason is simple. We are not asking you to pay annual club dues, or to make a charitable contribution. We have seen the Israelites’ apparent blindness to, or lack of appreciation for the ways God was active in their lives. The resultant behaviors were rather disturbing. As difficult as current economic and financial conditions are, I ask you to begin your stewardship decisions focused on a sense of awe and wonder about God’s gifts of creation, life and love, on a sense of joy and celebration for the ways God is active in our lives, and on a sense of thanksgiving for faith born in the knowledge of God’s redeeming love in Jesus Christ. Moving to the desert awakened my appreciation of God’s creation. Maybe having a few grey hairs has led me to a deeper appreciation of life and the preciousness of human relationships and my relationship with the divine. I am often moved by the ways parishioners’ faith sees them through crises, and gives them hope for a new day.

As you make your stewardship decisions, remember the self-sacrificing love the violent North Korean guards could not overcome. Ground your decisions in a sense of community, of interdependence, and of a mutual commitment to the ministries that touch and transform the lives of parishioners, friends, the Tucson Community, “snow birds”, and complete strangers. Consider Anne, who has shared how much she depended on this community to survive and to raise her children after her husband’s death; or John who recently wrote about prayers and support that helped him and his family through a period of life-threatening illnesses; or the teenager who had the instinct to call the parish for support when his mother was taken to the Emergency Room; or, the woman who returned to St. Philip’s with a small plant in thanksgiving for bags of food that sustained her family in a time of need; or, Betty who thanked the Vestry and Buildings and Grounds Committee for improvements that make facilities more accessible, and participation more possible. Multiply these examples hundreds of times, and you will begin to have a sense of the lives touched, transformed and blessed through our ministries. You can learn more about St. Philip’s many ministries by reading Sunday bulletins, and the Loaves and Fishes publication. Go to our website and click on January’s Annual Reports. Then reflect on this information and realize how your financial pledge coupled with your participation touches and transforms lives in very real ways. To meditate on our holy covenant with God, use the words of the hymns chosen by Garmon, and those of the Prayers of the People.

I believe Christian stewardship decisions are related to the place the Gospel of Jesus Christ holds in our lives. One writer asks penetrating questions that lead to a conclusion.

Is our faith little more than what novelist Flannery O’Connor called an “electric blanket”—or does it occupy the center of our lives? Is our discipleship a commitment for which we are ready to suffer or die?

Jesus wants his disciples to audit themselves, and whatever gets in the way of this necessary faith orientation must go. It’s as simple—and as life-changing—as that[5].

In this context, I want you to know that I asked members of the Vestry to make their 2010 financial commitments early. I can report 100% participation. We have pledged over $60,000.00, an increase over 2009, and includes a pledge from the Youth Representative. These pledges reflect both the impact of the recession and sacrificial commitment. I have also received three pledges from staff members, all up from 2009. One more is promised, and I anticipate more. To put these leadership pledges into perspective, they exceed the average 2009 St. Philip’s pledge of $1,681.00, the average 2009 diocesan pledge of $1,790.00, the average 2009 Provincial pledge of $2,000.00, and the average 2009 National pledge of $2,200.00. I believe your leaders’ pledges are outward and visible signs of their inward and spiritual commitment to our mission and ministry.

The sailors’ story exemplifies the truly powerful and amazing things that happen when people live in a covenanted community of faith and hope. Their story underscores the importance of each sailor’s contribution, and lifts up the fruits of their interdependent living for all to honor. Today, I make a special appeal to those who have not pledged in the past, especially those who participate in parish activities. I know a few of you give regularly and generously. Pledges help parish leadership to make more informed decisions. What I would hate the most is for the Vestry to make financial decisions with deeply negative impacts, only to end the year with more than anticipated income. Over the years, our pledge base has shrunk, while increases in the average pledge have helped us to manage with assistance from now shrinking reserves. We must encourage more new pledges, while being thankful for the continued support and generosity of faithful givers. Together, let us all work toward celebrating our support for ministry on Covenant Sunday, on 15 November 2009.

Please pick up your pledge packets in the Fish Pond Garden after the service. Then, meditate and pray on your decision so that your pledge will be an outward and visible sign of your inward and spiritual commitment to God’s work in the world.

AMEN.