One of the
persistent threads running through the tapestry of our Scriptures is
God’s concern for the outsider. Whether the poorer, the minority, the
unprotected by social structures, the stranger, the person outside the
mainstream is our concern as faithful followers of God. It is more than
mere, passing, “concern,” for in many places scholars have called it
God’s preferential option for the outsider. Many of the Hebrew laws
protect and give a hand up to the least of our neighbors. The poor are
given religious legal protections and special provisions for their
survival, like the right of gleaning fields. Time and again Israel is
reminded to take care of the fatherless and the orphan and the widow, a
really big deal in patriarchal society. Jesus continues that prophetic
strain that those who are in good conditions are obligated to help and
protect those in difficult circumstances. Similarly, Jesus points to
the faith of non-Jews who come to him, like in this week’s Gospel tale.
Jesus was in many ways himself an outsider— not really having a fixed
home, a refugee child in infancy, on the outskirts of the religious
establishment, working class, hanging around with the rougher corners of
society.
This week seems to me filled with tales of
the outsiders. Religious minorities are fleeing genocide from ISIS.
Persons of color are reacting to systemic racism from police and
government and media who tend to see matters from the top instead of
from the middle of the problem or from the ground level. Employees of
major corporations are outsiders peering in at the highly paid managers
who give them little mind. Rural communities find their needs and
funding missing in the broader political conversation.
And the death this week of Robin Williams has resurfaced the perspective
and pain of those living with mental illness and brain disorders and
emotional problems. I am saddened by the death of someone whose
performances and comedy meant so much to me. I am somewhat reassured
that much of the reaction to Williams’ death has been a humane and
thoughtful discussion of the hard work involved in coping with
depression (and other conditions). I am, of course, troubled by the
heartless, stupid, hurtful, uncaring, misguided, and damaging things
written and posted and said.
Even some things meant
as supportive are unhelpful and hurtful. Way too many are said by
good-hearted religious people who don’t necessarily have a clue or treat
depression and suicidality (in William’s case) as merely spiritual or
volitional or evidence of less faith. Well-meaning people trying to
reassure others that God “forgives” people who die of suicide actually
miss the mental health point by mislabeling it as sin, even if
“forgiven.” Makes me sad, actually.
Those living
with any of the complex mental health conditions and those living with
them generally feel like outsiders and outcasts. The secondary stigma
is often worse than the psychological or physical problems, and it is
that which leads people to feel like outsiders. If not actually being
marginalized by too many of us who are uncomfortable with what they live
with.
Reading so much in the last week about the
shooting in Ferguson, the Ebola outbreak in Liberia, the violence in
Syria and Iraq, the civil war in Ukraine is painful. The posts
supporting those dealing with mental illness are both heart-breaking and
heart-warming, for the online world can provide a safe place for those
who feel outside to be supported and included.
Mercifully, our theology gives us a way to work our way back from
platitudes to being true neighbors and helpers. The familiar UCC
concept of “welcome” is an antidote to treating others as outsiders. It
is how we can bring someone in from outside (not just from outdoors but
from spiritual and psychological and social exile) inside, into the
“us” which is Christ’s church. It takes work, certainly, for us to
learn how to recognize people who feel they are outsiders, and it take
work learning the right words and gentle approach to extend a welcoming
(non-threatening) hand, and it takes work to be patient enough to hold
that hand outstretched for the sometimes long time needed to develop
trust, and it takes work to learn enough about our selves and our
neighbors. Yet it is worth doing for the sake of our sisters and
brothers (and because some of those who feel themselves outsiders are,
in truth, our sisters and brothers and parents and children and
relatives and neighbors and coworkers and friend and dear ones).
We are called to be the friends and advocates of the outsiders, the
victims of gun violence, of racism casual or systemic, the addicted, the
abused, the abuser, the persons in conflicts within their own minds,
the different, the outsider. We are called to treat everyone like Jesus
loved everyone. It’s as easy and as hard as that.
Please, O loving savior, grant that we will walk out from our
comfortable places to stand with the outsider long and kindly enough
that they will feel safe coming inside to live in your love.
In Christ,
David
Texts for Sunday
From the Hebrew Bible Genesis 45:1-15
From the Epistles Romans 11:1-2, 29-32
From the Gospels Matthew 15:10-28
What a balanced presentation to what it means/offers/requires of each of us to be "welcoming" as followers of Jesus as our example . . . as always in reading the "Weekly Word" I feel spiritually fed and challenged and especially appreciate it as my physical illness prevents me from being able to attend church and hear sermons. Also, this one in particular is healing to me as a person who is mentally ill. Thank you.
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