Epiphany 7C + Biscuits + 2.20.22

 

M. Campbell-Langdell

All Santos, Oxnard

(Genesis 45:3–11, 15; Psalm 37:1–11, 39–40; 1 Corinthians 15:35–38, 42–50; St Luke 6:27–38)

 

“Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back."

These words of wisdom from Jesus make me think of a popular adult TV character and show, “Ted Lasso.”  In the first episode we are introduced to a man who has coached American Football and has mysteriously been hired by Rebecca, the divorcee owner of a British Football club, to coach her soccer team in the outskirts of London. Little does he know but he is sent in to fail. But he comes in with an engaging personality and a sign that says “Believe”. The jaded Brits wonder if he is for real. He brings biscuits or shortbread cookies to his boss and initiates a morning sharing time. Though at first she is resistant, over time she and the players respond well to his approach. He knows very little about British football, and his assistant coach’s knowledge of soccer as well as that of the ball boy he promotes to coach, Nathan, is what helps give him success. But the tenor he sets amongst his players is that of belief, positivity and being a goldfish. In this case, being a goldfish means forgetting the past and moving forward.

I see so much of this in today’s passages. In Genesis, we see a moving scene. Joseph, the man who was abandoned by his own brothers to slavery as a child and left for dead, is now in the position of power over them. He could let them die of hunger. He could arrest them for some petty crime. He even threatens this in his canny ploy to get them to bring Benjamin, the youngest brother, to see him. But he doesn’t want that. He wants reconnection with his family, and peace. And so, tearfully, he forgives them. Not forgetting the past but putting it behind him enough to re-connect.

In the same way, in today’s passage from Luke, Jesus exhorts us to love our enemies. To forgive. This does not mean to be a doormat. Even Coach Lasso in all his unflappability gets mad when he learns others were trying to set him up to fail. But he does not respond vindictively. He shows understanding and empathy. In the same way Jesus asks us to relate to others in a compassionate way. The world he was in was full of violence and a need to rely on others for credit and lending. But note how Jesus asks folks to react. If stricken, we are to offer the other cheek. That may seem like a pushover move. But in fact it is an act of resistance. Walter Wink has said that in the ancient culture to turn the other cheek forced someone either to do a dishonorable backhanded gesture or to use the unclean left hand.
In the same way as Ted is often defying others’ expectations of him, we are called to be cunningly kind to those around us. I don’t always do the best at this. This week, meeting with a parishioner, I was asked for change. I don’t generally just give out money. But in the moment, I forgot that I often try to ask if I can get someone a drink or something to eat rather than just saying “no.” I will try for better next time. To surprise someone with kindness. It’s contagious.

Do unto others as you wish to be treated: this part always gets me. Have you ever noticed that those who treat others ill often seem to have an unbalanced relationship with themselves? I think in our culture we need to go back to the beginning and remember to care for and nurture ourselves as best we can. Then we will know how to do that for others. In “Ted Lasso,” Ted goes through a powerful therapy journey to learn how to do that.

All this credit and lending language can be confusing as we have a modern banking system. But we all know the drill. Many parts of human life can become transactional if we are not careful. How can we give more freely? And notice when we are giving not to empower but in order to control? God has given us so many gifts. The more we separate ourselves from expectations around what others will do for us- whether it be to do with material goods or emotional support, the happier we get. Because our joy is not dependent on others. That is what is meant by being children of the Most High. True children of God are less tied to what others can do for them, as they receive their life’s meaning from being a child of God. Yes we must survive, but we must remember to also live, and remember our value does not reside in our possessions.

As a silly comic said this week, imagining if yogis were bus drivers, “There is nothing uptown that you do not already have.” (Bizarro 2/13/22). Of course, that is silly, but if we lay aside judgment and expectation, if we remove our need to condemn others as if we were judges and not fellow children of God, we open ourselves up to happiness.

All this is said with a note of caution. Loving our enemies isn’t always physically or emotionally safe. But we are not required by God to put ourselves in places of hazard. Sometimes we love up close, and sometimes at a distance. Sometimes we risk a small hurt for a big breakthrough, but no one should remain in a place of abuse. God wants us to thrive! God wants us to be joyful!
So let us learn a bit from Lasso. But please know the show is just for adults. And bring others joy, belief in themselves, and sometimes biscuits. Maybe we will receive some joy in so doing!

Amen.