From the Pulpit:

    Ann Brotherton, Assistant Rector

Adopted as Children

Are you aware that each of us, in addition to being ordained to ministry at our baptism, was also adopted into the family of God as brothers and sisters of Jesus?  The reading from Hebrews tells us so.  Though the Pauline authorship of Hebrews is doubtful, in Galatians 4 and Romans 8 Paul clearly speaks of our adoption.  It’s a difficult concept to grasp, but we are going to work towards ‘getting it’ today.  When we look closely at each of our readings we notice that they all focus on primary human relationships.

Jesus and the disciples are on the road to Jerusalem.  Jesus has already predicted the events of his passion twice, and we are well aware that the Pharisees are scheming to destroy Jesus.  Since Herod had already executed John the Baptist for his proclamations on divorce, it’s easy to see why the Pharisees thought they might trap Jesus with a question on the same topic.  Like a political candidate in an election year (or a candidate for Bishop in this church) being asked their position on abortion or medical benefits for same sex partnerships, Jesus is asked for his view on divorce.  Characteristically and appropriately, Jesus does not shoot from the hip, but situates himself and his questioners in relation to an existing Jewish text, the law.  He does not contradict the law as it is, but recognizes it as a compromise of God’s earlier covenant with humankind because of human frailty and sin.  Knowing and abiding by law is important, but the law is only a human guide that responds to particular contexts and circumstances.  The Pharisees’ question of Jesus assumes the practice of divorce in those days.  Changing views of marriage throughout history have led to changing views on divorce. 

For Jesus, the kingdom of God was unfolding, and this meant that everything was changing.  Evidently, this was a far more important issue to Jesus than laws about divorce.   God’s covenantal relationship with humanity began with God’s creation, and God’s care continues throughout history.  It follows that God expects our caring relationships, of all kinds, to have a similar character.  Jesus was far more concerned that all of humanity knew how to become a part of this kingdom, so he cleverly changes the subject.  People were bringing children to Jesus, and the disciples were turning them away.  Jesus rebukes them and uses the children and the situation to illustrate an important point about the kingdom.  We know that at this point in history women and children were not even included in a census count, or in the head count for the feeding of the five thousand, for that matter.  Jesus was clearly saying something radical about children.  “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.  Truly I tell you whoever does not receive the kingdom of god as a little child will never enter it.  And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.” 

It’s amazing the stories your grown children tell you about their childhood – stories I’m sure they were afraid to tell us then – with good reason!  Our daughters were born 2 ½ years apart.  They were, and still are, as different as night and day.  We actually consider that a blessing.  They were their own individual little selves in personality, behavior and appearance.  The love of family binds them together, but they are still very different persons in interests, parenting styles, personality and needs. Recently we discovered that for a period of years our younger daughter actually believed she was adopted.  Why?  Because her big sister told her so!  Secretly (of course) she reportedly stood her in front of the mirror and said “Just take a look.  Mom, Dad and I all have brown hair and eyes.  Look at you with blue eyes and blonde hair.  It’s proof that you were adopted.”  She was right about hair and eyes, but that was not true.  I know because I was personally present when both were born.

This incident illustrates an understandable, but childish view of adoption that involves a great deal of normal sibling rivalry.  We all want to belong and perhaps to be the favored child.   Though each of our girls knows they are loved beyond measure, they still have a tendency to bait one another with statements like “Mom took me shopping for three hours” or “Mom and Dad took us out to dinner when we were there last week-end.”  We are careful to be sure to have the same number of gifts for each at Christmas, because I have a sneaking suspicion they still keep count.  I sense a similar and very human jealous and selfish streak among the disciples, when I remember this was the same group who walked along the road discussing who would be greatest in the coming kingdom or who would sit at the right hand of Jesus.  It all leads me to believe that there is a huge difference between being “childish” and being “child like.”

Strange things are done and said about the Christian faith by those who love it and strive to be the church.  Some use this instruction as a refuge from serious study and hard doubts.  Some use this statement to rationalize a faith that is simple and silent, after all aren’t children supposed to be “seen and not heard.”  Some repress doubts and questions because they feel they should just trust with the faith of a child.  “Like a child” has become a slogan for a faith that is content with a warm fuzzy feeling, a few simple facts about Jesus, and blind obedience.  I don’t begin to think that is what Jesus was saying to his disciples at all.  Jesus teaches disciples to be, not childish, but child like.  So what is there in a child that opens the door of God’s kingdom?

Elie Wiesel, the great Jewish scholar and Holocaust survivor quotes from the rabbinic tradition in Souls on Fire, “Listen, I cannot teach you the ten cardinal rules governing the conduct of men wishing to serve the Creator.  However, there are three things you can learn from a child….From an infant learn how to cry, how to laugh, and how to keep constantly busy.”

The kingdom of God is for those who have learned how to cry.  “Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted.”  To learn to cry is to learn how to trust and love.  To learn how to love is to learn how to be dependent, to acknowledge the incompleteness of ones own life and ask another for help.  A child knows it needs help, indeed demands and insistently requests it.  A small child knows there is much in life it cannot do by itself; it has to swallow its pride early and cry for help.  A child cries when hungry, hurt or angry.  Some children, especially male children, are taught not to cry, but the kingdom of God is for those who know how to cry and are willing to ask for help – the help they need from God and from each other. 

Children have a natural ability to suspend time, to play make believe, to accept that there are worlds beyond what we know.  It is normal for a child to laugh, to play, to tell jokes, to enjoy games, and to play with imaginary friends.  A child can create a fun place in an all-too-serious world.  Children can step back and forth into lots of different times and kingdoms.  Entering into the world of a child helps us be present to this very moment.  Somehow when that magic occurs for adults who so often fixate on the past or the future, the world of play suddenly becomes a world of eternity.  In joyful play one steps from time into heaven, where death has no reality and joy and happiness abide….a true place of ‘happily ever after’.

Laughter is so important because it is often the one thing that keeps us from taking everything far too seriously, especially ourselves.  Laughter is a great defense against arrogance and self-righteousness.  It is a reminder that we are not nearly so powerful or just or loving as we would like to believe.  Play and games remind us that most of our blessings are given to us when we are not expecting that we will earn them.  How often we are ‘surprised by grace’.  The kingdom of God is for those who laugh and play.  Who else is ready to believe that love is strong enough to overcome death?  Who else is ready to appreciate the great surprise that the kingdom is given to those who do good without expecting to be rewarded.  Even when we don’t do well, grace abounds and that alone is cause for great joy.

If you live with one, or have been around one recently you know that small children have abundant energy – they stay busy - constantly.  My friends, if we could bottle and sell that energy we would be a very wealthy congregation!  Children are full of curiosity, questions, possibilities, enthusiasm.  There is a world of mystery to be explored and experienced, a puzzle to be figured out, new horizons to be explored.  Jesus invites us to be lifetime workers, to explore the possibilities for this kingdom that is already and not yet, to try out new behaviors, test limits, ask questions.  Curiosity is ultimately the expression of our hope that there is meaning and order beneath and behind the chaos and confusion that often appears before us.

Yes, the kingdom of God is for those who receive it like a little child – a little child who keeps busy, knows how to laugh at the surprises of grace, cry and be there for others when they cry. Isn’t this the kingdom living and beautifully child-like relationships we have found in this family of faith here at St. Alban’s?   As I say all these things, I am well aware that for everyone the words family – father – son may not have positive connotations.  We are also a people who know that we are not perfect, like any family we have our moments of dysfunction, disagreement and challenge.  We are a people in process – the process of growing up in this family into which we have been adopted, into the likeness of Christ.  This afternoon as we participate in the St. Francis Day Blessing of the Animals let’s remember that, like our pets, we too have been adopted by a God who wants only to love and care for us and a big brother, Jesus, who walks with us to show us the way to live like children.  Let’s go joyfully into the world to share this incredibly good news and invite others to join us on the journey!                       

Amen

02/13/2010