Sermon for July 9, 2023
The Rev. Jenn Geddes
Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
The Leader of the Pack
In November 1964, a song about a girl named Betty who was dating a guy named Jimmy was released to the world. The song was, in part, about how Betty's parents were none too happy about Betty dating Jimmy. It might have been love at first sight, but Jimmy was the kind of guy parent's warned their children about. To her parents he was from the wrong side of town and the tough, rebellious, leader of the local motorcycle gang. But to Betty, Jimmy was sensitive and thoughtful. He even started to show some emotion as he drove away from her when Betty told him it was over. And that's when tragedy struck. In heart ache, Jimmy drove that motorcycle, just a little too fast and a little too furious in the rain. It's tough being a teenager in love. “I met him at the candy store/ He turned and smiled at me/ You get the picture/ “Yes, see”/ That's when I fell for, the leader of the pack (vroom vroom)”. Not all love stories end that way, sometimes,
the parents come around and realize the person dating their child is pretty great. But sometimes you fall for 'those people' that your parents warn you about. It is likely why,
Leader of the Pack by the Shangri-las hit number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 that year and is listed as number 315 on Rolling Stone's 500 greatest songs of all time!
It strikes me that often societies warn against certain aspects regarding the upcoming generation. Parents want the best for the children, and sometimes they worry about the friend group. You know, essentially the book of Deuteronomy is a series of warnings given by Moses about the types of people the Israelites will encounter once they cross the Jordan river and take possession of the land inhabited by the Canaanites.
There is also a rather harsh commandment in Deuteronomy 21:18-21 that basically states that if a son is stubborn and rebellious, is a glutton and a drunkard, that he should be stoned to death. But often these warnings, including that in the Leader of the Pack and Deuteronomy have more to do with fearing what one does not understand then overall concern for someone's wellbeing. Fear does that, fear distorts and twists reality.
Fear creates a bias. Fear produces misunderstanding.
People feared Jesus. Jesus was a leader of a pack that most people did not understand. Jesus challenged authority in ways that made the more “traditional” generation uncomfortable. Jesus encouraged his followers to eat and drink with people whom others feared. Jesus was rebellious in his behaviour and teachings. As a result people accused him of being a partier, a rebellious son, a leader of a pack that was leading them astray and they were worried it would end in tragedy.
But in the passage we heard this morning what seems to be frustrating to Jesus is the fact that John, who led a life of self-denial, was also feared. People claimed that because John didn't participate in parties that he must have been possessed by a demon, meanwhile Jesus, who is indiscriminate with whom he eats, is at risk of being stoned to death. The point being that it has nothing to do with how either man lived but that they challenged the life other people were leading. John challenged them to repent. Jesus challenges them by showing God's love breaking into the world in a new way. Both men shook things up, and neither were well received. This is what Jesus is addressing in the first part of our reading this morning.
The lectionary, the appointed readings for this Sunday, skips over what happens next, ironically because it makes people feel uncomfortable. While we didn't read them, I do want to give you the “Cole's notes.” Verses 20-24 are warnings. Jesus warns neighbouring communities about their behaviour and tells them that on the day of judgment it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom than for them. It's complicated, another reason why the lectionary skips over this passage. However, it is not a passage to be feared. And like any other time when Jesus refers to Sodom, he is talking about poor hospitality. What's going on is that the people want a revolution- but not the kind that Jesus brings, one that shows the unforced rhythms of God's grace- they want a violent one. They want to wage war. Scholar N.T. Wright explains, they want a “holy war against unholy warriors”, their occupiers. But Jesus is stating that violence is not the answer. Wright interprets Jesus' warning like this, “Better be in Sodom, with fire and brimstone raining from heaven, than fighting battles with the devil's weapons.” It may seem a bit cryptic to us but Jesus is telling them that violence is not the answer, love is.
Which is what leads us to the second part of our passage which is much kinder, and likely more familiar than the first half of the conversation. Jesus first turns to prayer, thanking God for his ability to understand things that others seem not to comprehend. I'm often challenged by the idea that there are things hidden from us, and perhaps only a few people “know the truth”. I don't buy into that. But I heard a omparison that helps me to understand what Jesus was saying. Imagine having an incredible talent, like being an accomplished singer or painter or mechanic. Yes, some of that talent comes from training but it often also involves a particular gift, with which people are simply born. Through their sharing of that gift these people give us a window into their talent. It's not that they have a secret, but rather their talent gives them a fuller understanding of that gift. Jesus was born with a special gift. Jesus serves as a window into the living God.
Part of that gift is that he is the leader of a pack of people who live differently, who live leading with love. Last week Ryan talked about being adopted into the family of God and what a gift it is. The Gospel passage this morning contains another gift for us. Jesus says, “Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” This is a comforting promise- meant for all people- when our burdens seem impossible to bear, when we are struggling to cope, when we feel close to collapse, we have hope in Jesus! But you know when the original audience heard this passage it
meant something different. The Hebrew people were living under Roman occupationthat is why these surrounding towns were planning a revolt- and it failed. It failed in part because they wanted to go it alone, they didn't need God to overturn the occupation, they could do it themselves. And this is Jesus' response to that failure.
Barbara Brown Taylor says, “Plenty of us labour under the illusion that our yokes are single ones, that we have got to go it alone, that the only way to please God is to load ourselves down with heavy requirements...while all the time Jesus (the leader of the pack) is standing right there in front of us.” Ready to share our yoke. We here in the Comox Valley are doing on the ground, what all three of our national denominations are doing as the United Church of Canada, the Anglican of Canada and the Presbyterian Church in Canada plan on moving their national offices together into one building. In part to share the load. Sometimes we fear asking for help. Sometimes people see vulnerability as a weakness. But Jesus is saying- there is another way, let me help you.
Jesus is revealing the God of love in this story of fear and warnings. Jesus says that God has revealed these things to infants or children, calling upon another passage that says we should have faith like a child. For me that does not mean we blindly follow, but like a child we ask questions. And a child doesn't come to know a parent by studying books about them, a child comes to know the parent by being in their presence, by listening to their voice, by turning to them for help, by learning through observation. For the religious elite, a group that thrived on study and secrets, this concept was frightening. I mean, even for my presbyterian blood, that views education as important, this makes me uneasy. But the point is, to get to know God, one does not need to have a degree.
We know that the leader of this pack is loving and welcoming. Instead of responding in fear, particularly fear towards people whom we do not understand or who live differently, we should turn to them and share their yoke, share in the rest and refreshment that Jesus has offered us. Share in the pleasure and joy of knowing God in community. Share in the immense relief that comes when our burdens are lifted. Share in worship together, despite our different traditions and rituals. Share in our ministries together.- Because we've all fallen for Jesus, the Leader of our Pack. Vroom Vroom.
Amen