Sunday, October 25, 2015

Taste and See: A Journey with Jesus

St. Paul’s Church in Bergen, Jersey City NJ
October 25, 2015

Year B, Proper 25: The Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost
Job 42:1-6, 10-17
Psalm 34:1-8, 19-22
Hebrews 7:23-28
Mark 10:46-52

Taste and See: A Journey with Jesus
            Today, in a little while, during communion, we’re going to sing my favorite hymn, “Taste and See.”
            Not coincidentally, the words of the hymn are based on today’s psalm, Psalm 34:
            Taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are they who trust in him.
            Taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are they who trust in him.
            Amen.
            We are on a journey with Jesus.
            For the past few Sundays we’ve been making our way through the Gospel of Mark. We’ve been hearing the story of Jesus and his disciples journeying from their home in Galilee to the capital city of Jerusalem.
            Along the way, Jesus has been predicting what will happen to him in Jerusalem, preparing his disciples, his friends, for his arrest, his death, and his rising again on the third day.
            For the most part, the disciples are so self-absorbed, so wrapped up in their own stuff that they don’t seem to get it – or don’t want to get it.
            The disciples are so self-absorbed, so wrapped up in their own stuff, that they try to stand in Jesus’ way – try to tempt Jesus to abandon his mission, to avoid his fate.
            The disciples are so self-absorbed, so wrapped up in their own stuff, that they  prefer to argue about who among them is the greatest and even, as we heard last week, who will get the best seats in the next life.
            And now we’re approaching the end of the journey from Galilee to Jerusalem, we’re approaching the end of the journey that began with Jesus restoring sight to a blind man.
            We’re approaching the end of the journey and now once again Jesus encounters a blind man.
            Poor Bartimaeus. A nobody.
            He’s so poor, so unimportant, he doesn’t even seem to have his own name. Bartimaeus simply means “Son of Bartimaeus.”
            Imagine him there, poor blind Bartimaeus, day after day on the side of the road with his hands outstretched, maybe holding a small bowl, hoping somebody, anybody, will notice him and share a small coin with him.
            But, we don’t have to stretch our imagination too far, do we?
            We see people like that all the time, on Bergen Avenue, at Journal Square, huddled in doorways or crouched on the steps.
            Bartimaeus’ eyes don’t work but his ears do. And, actually, you know maybe this poor blind man sees more than others with perfect sight.
            He’s heard of Jesus of Nazareth and his miraculous healings.
            He knows the Son of David is on his way to his capital city.
            And so when Jesus draws near he seizes the moment and shouts, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
            The crowd tries to shut him up, but Bartimaeus cries out even louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
            And, when he gets his moment with Jesus he knows what he wants.
            “My teacher, let me see again.”
             Once his sight is restored, Bartimaeus becomes a disciple. He follows Jesus on the way, on the way to Jerusalem, on the way to the cross and the empty tomb.
            And, I’m pretty sure that unlike the other disciples, Bartimaeus won’t be self-absorbed, won’t be wrapped up in his own stuff. He has tasted and seen that the Lord is good. Happy are they who trust in him.
            For the past month or so, I’ve definitely been more like the disciples, self-absorbed and wrapped up in my own stuff, rather than Bartimaeus who is able to taste and see that the Lord is good.
            I haven’t been jockeying for position like they were but I’ve been kind of in the dumps since my ill-fated and brief return to classroom teaching.
            I’m comfortable that I made the right decision. It’s just that it’s been hard to move forward because I keep running into people who don’t know, so they ask me how the teaching is going, what’s it like to be back at Prep, …
            Over and over, I’ve had to re-tell the story, each time reopening the wound.
            So, as I thought about and prayed about today’s sermon, I thought, I’m on a journey with Jesus - we’re on a journey with Jesus - and it’s time for me to get over myself and to be less like the self-absorbed disciples, worried about how things look and what people will think, and be more like Bartimaeus, who, even in his blindness and poverty, is able to taste and see that the Lord is good.
            Taste and see that the Lord is good.
            Last Saturday, most of the vestry along with some members of the Finance Committee, sacrificed most of their Saturday to have a little retreat out in Chatham where we reflected on stewardship, focused on the many gifts that God has already given us here at St. Paul’s and the gifts that are yet to be discovered.
            Taste and see that the Lord is good.
            Last Sunday, we had at least three parishioners taking on new ministries. Cirila did a great job reading the lessons and leading the prayers. Koren offered a beautiful solo for the offertory. And, Chanel bore the Blood of Christ with great reverence and dignity. Plus, Chris, our new acolyte, was put to work for the fourth or fifth Sunday in a row.
            Taste and see that the Lord is good.
            Last weekend, Trish directed Nica, Dennis, Gail, and others in a performance of “The Devil and Tom Walker” and other works right here in Carr Hall. It was moving to see people work so hard, to be so committed to their craft, and to offer so much pleasure and enrichment to others.
            Taste and see that the Lord is good.
            Last Sunday, Susan Den Herder stood up at the 10:00 service and spoke bravely and openly about her own financial challenges but also her firm commitment to support the ministry of the church - our church - that she loves so much. And, pledge cards poured in – new parishioners pledging for the first time – many people sacrificing to increase their pledge – and not a single reduction.
            Taste and see that the Lord is good.
            Last Tuesday evening, I was standing outside when three twenty-somethings came along and asked me if I “manage” this church. Well, …
            It turns out that they are NYU film students and they want to shoot their movie right here in our driveway and on the grounds. They were dazzled by the historic beauty of this place – a beauty that I know but often take for granted or even forget when I get wrapped up in my own stuff.
            That same night I met with a community activist who wants to you use our space to offer a meal to homeless people on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. We had never met in person (she reached out through Facebook, of course) so I was a little startled – and really happy - when she said that we were her first choice because, and I quote, “this is a real community church. Everybody in the neighborhood knows it.”
            Taste and see that the Lord is good.
            That was all in one week. And, there’s more I could tell you. The crying woman I met outside a couple of weeks ago who returned to talk about family problems.
            Taste and see.
            The neighborhood people who one after the other are volunteering to be our chef at Stone Soup.
            Taste and see.
            The fact that last week, thanks to our faithful band of worship leaders, we had five weekday services, one a day, Monday through Friday.
            Taste and see.
            The man who rang the rectory doorbell yesterday and told me that 40 years ago he stole from our poor box and he’s carried that guilt all these years and now he wanted to make amends so he handed me a $50 bill for the church.
            Taste and see. Taste and see that the Lord is good.
            And, now here we are.
            We are on a journey with Jesus.
            And we have a choice to make.
            Are we like the disciples, so self-absorbed and wrapped up in our own stuff, that we can’t taste and see that Jesus is right here?
            Or, are we like blind Bartimaeus, who hears Jesus, who, despite his troubles, somehow sees Jesus, cries out to him to be healed, and follows him on the way?
            Taste and see that the Lord is good.
            Happy are they who trust in him.
            Amen.