“We Need Each Other”

Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

September 10, 2023

Romans 13:8-14

Matthew 18:15-20

Children’s Message:

Let’s imagine that this balloon is a person. And let’s imagine that every breath I blow into this balloon is a negative comment or action. And if that person doesn’t let any of that hurt out, what will happen? It will pop!

Have you ever received negative comments or actions from someone? Maybe someone was mad at you or didn’t like something you did. What did you do next? Who did you talk to about that? Mom. Dad. A friend. Did you ever tell that person who was negative how that made you feel? Were able to be friends with that person?

Sometimes, hurtful words and actions can destroy friendships. Like a popped balloon. But Jesus tells us there’s a better way. That we need to talk to that person—even if it’s hard to do. We need to tell them how we feel, and give them a chance to apologize or at least explain. When we go to our other friends and talk ABOUT that person, it’s just a lot of noise. (squeak the balloon). But when we tell that person directly, it’s like letting the air out of the hurt.

That doesn’t mean we try to be hurtful, too. Right? We’re trying to help. Maybe we need to bring someone with us. Maybe we need to work this out with a group of people. But it’s usually better than popping the balloon.

Let’s pray. Dear God, Thank you for Jesus, who teaches us how to stay and work together so we can better share your love and healing with others. Amen.

Message:

This passage comes on the heals of the parable of the lost sheep in which Jesus talks about a shepherd who leaves the 99 to save the one who strayed. And what follows our passage is Peter’s question of how many times he should forgive someone who offended him, in particular. Our passage is sort of a segue from general to specific.

It’s also a culmination of stories about ‘little ones’. The chapter begins with Jesus telling the disciples that true greatness is found in the trust of children, and that anyone who welcomes such a child welcomes him. He is with the one who opens arms to humility and faith.

But, he goes on, anyone who causes a little one to stumble should be tossed into the sea. Though there are plenty of ways to stumble, we should not be the cause of such things. That’s when he goes on to tell the parable of the sheep and the one who strays or is left behind. All of this to emphasize our need for each other—and our responsibility to create a safe place to be us.

That’s when we come to today’s passage—instructions in how to keep these 100 sheep together. If we read the text in that context, perhaps it would sound a little different:

“If you see a sheep astray, go and speak with them on their own. If they cannot or will not hear you, bring a couple more to bear witness. If they still continue, surround them in the prayers of the whole flock. If they still refuse, they are like those who are not from this flock—the Gentiles and tax collectors. But remember, Jesus ministered to the Gentiles and tax collectors, invited them along on the mission, and shared the message of salvation to and through them.

We need each other. We need each other in order to see the face of Christ in another.

This does NOT mean that we maintain those relationships that are harmful. Sometimes, we simply cannot live with certain people in our lives. Not if we are to survive. Some people, we must choose to let go—not necessarily out of hate, but out of love. Paul tells us that we are to love our neighbors as ourselves. Love takes on many forms. Love for another may look like a helping hand; or it may look like letting them fall into the consequences of their own actions. Love may look like acceptance of who they are; or it may look like challenging the actions that bring harm. Love may look like reconciliation; or it may look like release.

Then we come to the last two verses. “If two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.” It sounds like a magical formula for getting what you want through prayer. Instead, it goes back to bringing two or three as witnesses to the discussion. Based on that discussion, they are to discern together what is to be done next. It comes back to protecting the little ones, creating safe space, revealing the face of Christ. For where two or three are gathered IN MY NAME—actively seeking the heart and mind of Christ—Christ is active in that discussion.

And to do any of this, we need each other.

The beauty of Jesus’ teaching is that it is always expansive rather than restrictive. His message goes out to gatherings of people made up of Jews and Gentiles, men and women, slaves and slave-owners. In these diverse gatherings, the people are challenged to recognize the vulnerable and how their actions put certain people at risk. It’s less about morality and more about creating a place for everyone to gather without fear. He is bridging differences that would otherwise be seen as far too large to navigate—creating a third way.

Journalist Jad Abumrad tells about recognizing the beauty of this third way through the presence and music of Dolly Parton. In his TED talk, “How Dolly Parton Let Me to an Epiphany,” he shares about his years as podcaster and creator of RadioLab. He facilitated over 600 episodes of how science led to wonder before he began to question whether that’s the only story he could tell.

He made a shift to sharing how different Truths can collide and the energy and contentiousness behind that. But he continued to question how to end such a story. And that’s when he stumbled upon Dolly Parton. He was working on a series called Dolly Parton’s America when he discovered what a force of nature she is. She refused to be put into a box—not victim, not savior, not pious or sinful, not special or just another singer. She is simply Dolly. And through her music and her life story, Jad discovered a uniqueness that he and many others connect with.

He saw among her fans such a variety of people gathered together—rednecks and transgender people, black and white and brown people, liberal and conservative people. They all connected with her stories and music—stories of migration, history, and roots. And he realized that in this gathering, there is a new creation.

When two people gather despite their difference—or maybe even because of them—a new entity is revealed. A holy third way is revealed. A way for both to be together in the same space, for a shared reason. We Christians would call that third way Christ. Christ is particularly present in the face of another. We need each other.

There is a poem with that same name: “We Need Each Other.”

Each time we grasp the hand of another,

God is there, in the flesh entangled.

Queer lovers stroll together, one hand squeezes the other,

“we got each other” as passing eyebrows furrow.

At the hospital, one hand, soft with skin that is

loose and free

rests gently in the firm, calloused hand of a son.

I’m sorry. Thank you. I love you.

In his palm, a whole life is held.

When it’s little, itty-bitty fingers that

can only almost wrap around an adult pinky finger

that counts too.

The most gentle squeeze

that knows not its own power.

Melting hearts with such an effortless reaching out

like that’s an easy thing to do.

A long string of people with hands clenched tightly

screaming with the most courageous kind of fear.

Traffic is shut down.

Cries for justice just loud enough

to mostly drown out those screaming from their cars.

The police will be here soon.

Heart rates pulse.

Can’t tell if it’s yours or mine or ours.

Hands holding hands.

A prayer too rare.

A site of the holy.

Where the reaching out and the receiving,

the grasping and being grasped,

the need to be held and the needing to hold,

all get perfectly mixed up.

A returning

to that which is always true

but so rarely spoken to

in the language of flesh.

We need each other.

We need each other.

We need each other.

Pastor Tobi White

Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church

Lincoln, NE