Proper 18 (A) + The debt of love + 9.10.17

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(From Diana Glyer's Clay in the Potter's Hands)
M. Campbell-Langdell
All Santos, Oxnard
(Exodus 12:1–14; Ps. 149; Romans 13:8–14; Matthew 18:15–20)

What do you owe others? Or what do you think others think that you owe?
Walking out of the church on Thursday, a lady approached me, asking for help. I told her that I was headed to the home of a parishioner to take him Holy Communion but that she could return the next day and we could see if we could at least help with a portion of her need. This month, thanks to some extra assistance which is almost finished, we have helped more than seven families with different needs when we can. A large portion of my work in the office has to do with helping the less fortunate. And what a blessing it is to help as I can, not only with money from the church when we have it, but also connecting people with other resources.
But in all of this I have come to realize that many people have high expectations of the church, even or especially when they do not regularly attend worship. They think that the church owes them. Not all, but many, they have expectations of my time and think that the church funds to help the poor are unlimited, which they are not.
And it’s a little shocking when a church is not generous, as it was the example in the news last week - that the large church of Joel Osteen would not open its doors. On social media recently people had a lot of complaints about Joel Osteen. And it was not a good thing that he refused to help. But that experience also tells us a lot about the expectations of the churches in our general culture. And for good reason, but I will get there.
People living in Rome during the first century after Christ had a culture of owing debts to different people. As one commentator describes it, " To the emperor they ‘owed’ honor and allegiance; to their benefactor (if they had one, and many likely did), they owed also money, possessions, honor; slaves owed service and their very lives; wives owed submission, and so on.” [1]  This was the culture then. So, what does Paul mean here, that they must owe nothing but love? I interpret this as his counsel to as much as possible not participate in this culture of owing all sorts of debts to all sorts of people because it complicates life. And can distract you from what really matters — loving one another as God loves us. This is interesting to reflect on as a reason to continue to work to pay off debts- but that is another story.
So in many ways the whole epistle to the Romans had to do with how the Romans who were followers of Jesus could live faithfully within their context. How they could live with integrity. They didn't want to have many debts because they had a much larger debt on which to focus - that of love.  I think this idea of public witness of faith is just as relevant today.
As the scripture says, “Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law (Romans 13:10).”
Unfortunately, we did not see this this week in the decision put an end to DACA, or the deferred action for childhood arrivals. Looking at Facebook, I saw young people bawling, not for themselves, but for younger cousins and siblings who might have even fewer choices. I think of our dear friends, young adults in this community who may be facing this uncertainty. Perhaps you also read in the stories in the newspaper almost  every day this week - more stories of young adults in fear. We have done wrong to neighbors, or wrong has been done on our behalf. This is not showing love.
But our congress has an opportunity to share love. And we hope they will. And those of us who can, we can raise our voices by supporting our local members of Congress in supporting the dreamers.
Because our congress owes us a debt of love. And we owe a debt of love to others. Because Jesus did not give us his t-shirt. Or even his left  foot. But he gave his life for us, a sacrifice of love. And that is why all of us who believe in him must love. How can we share the love? He says that we share this love with one another.
Sometimes sharing love means staying in one relationship with each other. The passage from the Gospel of Matthew today encourages us to stay in relationship as much as possible with someone with whom we disagree. It shows us how to protect our community and yet to act in integrity. If someone misbehaves, talk to them. If they don’t listen, talk with them with another person, and if that doesn’t work, include the entire community. But we must  be careful to keep the conversation open and not break the connection if possible. Some people think that Jesus says here that if we do not agree, we should just kick someone out of the community. And from time to time, to be honest, if someone does harm to others, that is the only option. But it isn’t that easy most of the time. Look - Jesus tells us that we must treat the transgressor as a tax collector! So, what did Jesus do with them? He invited them to dinner! So, as far as it is possible, we maintain connections and relationships. Because we learn fro each other, even from difficult people.
Why is this important? It is important because what we bind here is bound in heaven, i.e., our decisions have spiritual and emotional consequences that endure. So we must remember our debt of love and act accordingly. And we hope and demand that our leaders will act as they should as well. For the good of all.
Because "Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law."
And we know that if we keep this, we follow Christ. And if we follow Christ, we are not to fear, because God is in control. Stronger than Pharaoh. Stronger than any leader of this world, God will guide us and save us by God’s strong hands. Because God loves us, who are God’s servants in love.


[1] Kyle Fever, "Commentary on Romans 13:8-14," https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=3401, My translation.


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