August 29, 2004
Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
"Radiate Love"
(Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16)
Rev. Billy D. Strayhorn
I love old Science Fiction movies. When you look back at all the faulty science and scientific assumptions plus the early 50's and 60's concepts of computers. It's really a hoot. With the development of Atomic Power in the 40's, Sci Fi writers and film makers started letting their imaginations run wild. We didn't know that much about Radiation and the effects of radiation, so everything was fair game. The movie industry started churning out such classics as "Them" in which the monster was giant ants. "The Amazing Colossal Man" who kept growing and growing until he was 50 feet tall. "The Giant Behemoth" an underwater lizard effected by Atomic testing. And "The Beginning of the End" where giant grasshoppers reek havoc on the local citizens and threaten to move on to Chicago.
All the of the monsters in these films were as a result of exposure to large doses of radiation. That radiation is what changed them. So beware of your microwave.
We laugh at the movies but we do know that there is some danger in radiation exposure. But it has also been harnessed for good, such as the radiation treatments which help cancer patients, or the radiation used in taking X-rays.
As Christians, we're not called to expose ourselves to Atomic radiation, but we are called to Radiate Love. In a sense, others should be able to bask in the glow of our love. If not our love for them, then our love for God through Christ.
The author of Hebrews talks about how we do that in a list of do's and don'ts for life. Let's look at that passage. Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16 (NRSV)
[1] Let mutual love continue.
[2] Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.
[3] Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured.
[4] Let marriage be held in honor by all, and let the marriage bed be kept undefiled; for God will judge fornicators and adulterers.
[5] Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, "I will never leave you or forsake you."
[6] So we can say with confidence,
"The Lord is my helper;
I will not be afraid.
What can anyone do to me?"
[7] Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.
[8] Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
[15] Through him, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.
[16] Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
I noticed something about this passage as I was reading it, it starts small and expands in an ever widening circle. And that's what I want to look at today because the author challenges us to Radiate Love in every circumstance and with everyone. I've even created a new symbol for that type of Radiation. So, let's look at how we can Radiate God's Love.
A. The author writes "Let mutual love continue." This is simply what some would call Brotherhood or Sisterhood. This is the idea expressed in the Greek word "philadelphia." Of course, most of us know that the city of Philadelphia is known as the City of Brotherly Love. That's exactly where it's name came from. And that comes from the Greek root word "philos" which describes affection and kindness for friends and family.
Now we know that it all begins first with God's love for us as expressed in Christ. When the love of God lives in our hearts, we can in turn love God like Christ. That's where it all starts, in that loving relationship with God made possible through the death and resurrection of Christ.
But then that love has to expand, blossom, grow and radiate to others or else it will wither and die like a potted plant which gets root bound. So, the next logical step of that "Expansion" or Radiation is to others within the family of God. We treat them with the same love and respect and honor with which God treats us. That's "philidelphia" brotherly and sisterly love. A love that looks beyond our shortcomings.
B. Dale Galloway told a great story years ago in his book, Dream a New Dream. It is about a shy little boy by the name of Chad.
One day Chad came home and said, "You know what, Mom? Valentines' Day is coming and I want to make a valentine for everyone in my class."
Mom's heart sank and she thought, "Oh, how I wish he would not do that." Because every afternoon she watched all the kids coming home from school, and they would be laughing and hanging onto each other, books under their arms, all except for Chad. He always walked behind the rest of the kids.
But Mom was a good Mom, so she went along with Chad's idea. So glue, paper and crayons were purchased. For three weeks Chad painstakingly made thirty five valentines.
When the day came to deliver the valentines, he was so excited! This was his day. He stacked those valentines under his arm and he ran out the door. His mother thought, "You know, this is going to be a tough day for Chad. I'm going to bake some cookies and give him some milk when he comes home from school and maybe that will ease the pain. He probably won't be getting very many valentines."
That afternoon she had warm cookies and a glass of milk sitting on the table. She went over to the window to watch as the kids came home. Sure enough, here came the big gang of kids, laughing, valentines under their arms. They had really done well.
And there was Chad, coming up behind. He was walking faster than usual and Mom thought, "Bless his heart, he is ready to burst into tears. His arms are empty."
As Chad came into the house, and Mom said, "Mom has some warm cookies and milk for you."
But Chad's face was all aglow. He just marched right by her and all he could say was, "I didn't forget a one, not a single one!" (1)
That's the spirit of "philos," that's the spirit of mutual love. We may not be able to get everyone to love us in return, but that should never keep us from giving our love. Because love is the key to life and faith. The author reminds us that the measure of our new life in Christ is our ability to love. Radiate Love. "Let mutual love continue."
A. Then there is the call to "Hospitality." The call to love the stranger. It's easy to love people who are look like us and talk like us and think like us. It's difficult for a lot of us to love someone who is different. But oh, what a difference it can make, in our lives and in theirs.
You see, we never know when that "strangers" might actually be an angel of God.
I remember a story about Charlie Chaplain. He once read that there was to be a Charlie Chaplain look-alike contest. He thought it would be fun to enter anonymously, which he did. He came in sixth! He was right in front of them, but they didn't know him. Angels can bring us the word of God through human beings who appear to be anything but angelic. Our task is to be open, and offer hospitality to those who come seeking. They may have a message for us. And we might change their lives.
B. There's on old movie, 1940, starring Edward G. Robinson, Humfrey Bogard and Ann Southern. Brother Orchid is about Little Johnny Sarto, a big time racketeer who grows tired of the gangland activities. He tries to quit and pursue his quest for real class and refinement. After a not so successful trip to Europe Johnny finds his old haunts and colleagues not so welcoming.
Johnny finds himself a marked man and narrowly escapes being murdered after the Humphrey Bogard character Jack and his boys take him out into the woods to finish him off. Johnny escapes, wounded, and finds his way to a secluded Monastery where he is taken in by the kindly monks and brought back to health. Along the way Johnny learns a few things about life. And what he regarded as initially an ideal hideout until he could plot his revenge against Jack, turns into a life changing experience and the one time hood becomes the placid, life appreciating "Brother Orchid."
Despite the chance of reclaiming his turf, Johnny returns to the monastery where he at last finds the real "class" in life, not in possessions or money but in the company of decent, honest men who have their own class simply by who and what they are, not what they can get.
It's not a great movie but it's got great ending. And points to the whole concept of "Hospitality" and how Christian love and care can effect those who receive it. Radiate Love. "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers."
A. There's Filial Love, there's Hospitality but the circle grows even wider. The author tells us to "Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them."
The people called Methodist have had a long standing tradition of being involved in Prison Ministry. Some of us can't understand that. We look at those folks who have committed crimes and immediately we see the stereotypical thug. We don't see most prisoners as even human. We classify them as not worth our time. That's partly a defense mechanism. And partly just plain old prejudice because we have no point of reference.
That's why the author says: "Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them." That's the only way we can understand by empathizing and trying to put ourselves in their place. And then treat them like we want to be treated. That's why Kairos and Epiphany and other prison ministries are so important.
B. And it's not just those in prison. We're called to move out beyond ourselves. We're called to realize, that even though we have a beautiful building and a great congregation, this isn't all that the church is. We are about reaching out. We're about taking the message of salvation to the people who need and taking it to them, not waiting for them to come to us.
During World War II one of the most prized possessions in the German prison camps was a deck of playing cards. Under the Geneva Convention a prisoner was entitled to receive "recreational devices" and playing cards fell into that category.
However, it wasn't just the possibility of whiling away the time that made these cards so popular. It was the possibility of escape. You see, the U.S. Playing Card Company, under the direction of the secret unit MIS-X, sandwiched a map of Nazi Germany between the front and back of the cards. When soaked in water, the outer layers peeled off and revealed routes to freedom on a detailed map of Germany. What appeared to be a simple diversion to some, was to others directions to freedom. (2)
Reaching out beyond ourselves, the community and world around is us is not just a diversion. It's not just a way the while away the time. It's Kingdom work because we have the ma and the key and the author of true freedom, freedom from sin.
Radiate Love: "Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them."
There's a whole lot more here about marriage, leadership and money but it all boils down to the same thing. The one ruling aspect of our lives ought to be the love of Christ. Both His love for us and our love for Him. We should Radiate Love in everything we do.
St. Francis of Assisi agreed and years ago wrote a prayer that I want to close with. You know it. Or at least have heard it.
Lord, make us instruments of your peace.
Where there is hatred let us sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is discord, union;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
Grant that we may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen
You and I are called to Sow Love, or to Radiate Love wherever we go. We're called to a life of "Mutual Love that reaches out to both the Stranger and those outside our doors."
Radiate the Love of Christ in all you do.
1. Dale E. Galloway, Dream a New Dream (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. 1975).
2. Parables, Etc. (Saratoga Press, P.O. Box 8, Platteville, CO, 80651; 970-785-2990), October 1997
3.
4.
www.SermonWriter.com (Copyright, Richard Niell Donovan, 2000)
www.SermonMall.com
www.deaconsil.com
www.rockies.net/~spirit/sermon.html (Richard Fairchild Lectionary Resources)
Homiletics, (Communications Resources, Inc., Canton, OH)
Lectionary Homiletics, (Lectionary Homiletics, Inc. Midlothian, VA)
Dynamic Preaching, (Seven Worlds Publishing, Knoxville, TN)
The Clergy Journal, (Logos Productions, Inc., Inver Grove Heights, MN)
Preaching Magazine (Preaching Resources, Jackson, TN)
Circuit Rider, (The United Methodist Publishing House, Nashville, TN)
The Interpreter's Bible, (Abingdon Press, Nashville, 1953)
The New Interpreter's Bible, (Abingdon Press, Nashville, 1995)
Lectionary Preaching Workbook, Cycle A, (CSS Publishing, Lima, OH, 2002) SermonPrep Version.
Preaching the Miracles, (CSS Publishing, Lima, OH, 1998) SermonPrep Version.
Preaching the Parables, Cycle A, (CSS Publishing, Lima, OH, 1997) SermonPrep Version.