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No Credit Mark 1:21 – 28; Psalm 111 Thomas A. Dorsey, born in Atlanta, Georgia, was the son of a Baptist preacher. His mother was the church organist. At age 11, Dorsey left school to take a job at a local vaudeville theater. At 17 he traveled north to Chicago, and, there, he became known as the ‘whispering piano player’ — called to perform at parties where the pianist had to play softly enough not to draw police attention. “Georgia Tom” as he was called seemed torn in his early life between the sacred and the secular. He knew he had the gift of music and could use it for performance, but he constantly wrestled with his faith and the expression of that faith. In 1932 Dorsey was a guest soloist in a revival here in St. Louis when he received a call that his wife had died in childbirth. Rushing back to Chicago he greeted his newborn son with a mix of joy and grief. Tragically, that evening his baby boy also died. In the midst of that immense tragedy, which was only one of many in his life, he experienced the touch of God…the presence of Jesus Christ. The creative gifts he had been given were used for the inspiration of us all and the glory of God. Dorsey is credited as the father of gospel music. He wed secular blues to sacred text – the music of his heritage and the words of his experience. In his most famous composition, “Precious Lord, Take My Hand,” his absolute reliance on God to carry him through the devastating crises of life is clear. As gifted as he was, he took no credit for his compositions. He believed he was a channel, serving so that God could work through him. “I’m only human and these things are the makings of God," he would say. “Everything I do – that’s good, at least – is a reflection of God’s hand.” (2003. This Far By Faith: Thomas Dorsey. PBS – The Faith Project) Jesus had a similar issue about taking credit for his work. This little miracle story we have in scripture this morning is another of Mark’s quick vignettes of Jesus’ ministry. A leper came to Jesus – begging for healing. In the healing there are 3 striking issues. Leprosy was – and is a horrid disease. The Jewish communities of 2000 years ago treated lepers as outcasts. They were forced to distance themselves from homes and employment — any community life — and they had to make sure that folks always knew of their presence and proximity. They had to holler out “unclean, unclean” as a warning if anyone would be getting close to them. So, for the leper to approach Jesus was unlawful (according to Judaic cleanliness laws) and uncommon. It was a major breach. The leper knew Jesus’ power. He did not ask Jesus if he would try to heal him. He didn’t ask Jesus if he could heal him. The leper said (according to Mark): ‘if you choose’ — if you choose. Jesus stretched out his hand and touched the leper. Anyone watching would have been aghast that the leper had come within talking distance of Jesus. But for Jesus to reach out and touch this diseased man was absolutely unthinkable…blasphemous…incredulous. Jesus Christ has no fear. Jesus Christ always chooses to be wherever there is need. Jesus Christ’s hands are always outstretched to touch, to heal, and to be present. Many like to believe (and have always believed) that where the Messiah is, there will be no misery. Jesus spent his ministry helping us to know that where there is misery, he will be present. (1984. F. Craddock, J. Hayes, C. Holloday. Preaching the New Common Lectionary. Nashville: Abingdon Press. P.160.) Everyone alive has a place – a part – an aspect of life that needs healing; that needs the touch of God. After the healing, though, Jesus admonished the man as he did so many of those he taught and healed. He gave him instruction about keeping the religious rules and asked him to tell no one that he (Jesus) had been involved in the healing. Jesus was not trying to set up a new faith. Jesus was not trying to revolutionize Judaism. Jesus was not trying to focus people’s attention on himself. He was doing what he had been called to do. He was being used as a vessel for God’s work. He was using the power of God to bring healing in this world. Once upon a time, some disciples begged their old and ailing master not to die. “But if I do not go, how will you ever see?” the master said to them. “But what is it we can possibly see when you are gone?” With a twinkle in his eye, they say, the Master answered, “All I ever did in my entire life was to sit on the riverbank handing out river water. After I’m gone, I trust you will notice the river.” (2004. Chittister, J. In the Heart of the Temple. New York: Blue Bridge. P. 53.) Jesus wanted and Jesus the Christ wants us to see God, and not to dwell on the miracles of healing that are possible but to dwell on the presence of God that allows us to live through any and all misery of this world. The faith, which we hold dear, is precisely that assurance. The ministry we share with the world is precisely that assurance. Our work through this faith community into this world is certainly not to bring any credit to ourselves but to know that we are being used by a powerful God who wants to be present in every corner of life on this planet. Our mission to this neighborhood – to this city – to this nation – and to God’s world is to be used as channels of God’s love…God’s peace…God’s wisdom…God’s dream for the wholeness of life. Sometimes – many times – there are no answers — no good answers — for the tragedies, the conundrums, the hard moments. Other times, there are no reasons for the highs, the joys, and the exultations of any particular day. But through them all, there is the assurance of the presence of God. Within them all, the healing power of that presence brings miracles to otherwise ordinary life. In his last speech before he was murdered, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., encouraged the people in Memphis to take the same tactic. As he was rallying folks of that city to speak out to businesses and industries who were being unfair, Dr. King continued to be devoted to non-violence. He told his followers they did not need to use bricks and bottles or Molotov cocktails. Instead they needed to go to the stores and industries and say: “God sent us by here – to say to you – that you are not treating God’s children right.” Dr. King did not want the adulation. He didn’t want people to believe he had any great power. He did not want glory. Rather, he wanted those who would listen to know they had the power of God working through them. He wanted those who would listen to use that power and to give credit where credit was due. His life was threatened and he knew it, but he was neither afraid to touch the continuing anguish of oppression or to speak of the promise and healing that brought hope. “We’ve got some difficult days ahead,” he said. “But it really doesn’t matter with me, because I’ve been to the mountaintop. And I don’t mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life – longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And he’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. I’ve looked over and I’ve seen the Promised Land.” (Memphis speech – Martin Luther King, Jr.) Jesus Christ takes our hand, leads us on, and lets us stand. Jesus Christ meets us wherever we are and touches every moment of life with redeeming love — not for himself, not for his own glory, not, frankly, even for our own healing but so that we, too, may be vessels of that power of God which the world needs. We are being called. We are chosen – to be healed – and to be co-healers with God in this precious world. May we get a glimpse from the mountaintop – so we can serve today. SW |
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