I came across an old comic strip the other day “Frank and Ernest.” It was simply a drawing of Noah’s ark with the animals lined up getting on board two by two. Noah says to Ms. Noah, “Two each of everything, except we’ll take as many scapegoats as we can get!”

In life, we like scapegoats, don’t we? When things go wrong, we like to have something or someone else to blame. “It’s not my fault!,” we like to say. 

All the way back to Adam and Eve, when God asked Adam why he ate the forbidden fruit, what did he do? He blamed it on Eve, of course. Eve, in turn, blamed it on the serpent!

We are human. We’re flesh and blood. From time to time we all make mistakes. We all fall short. But don’t we grow more as human beings when we face up to our mistakes and failures and when we accept the consequences and learn from them?

Let us pray: Loving God, we thank you that you know us, inside and out. You know our challenges, our shortcomings, our failures, and yet, you love us still. Help us to look at our own lives with gentle honesty – and yet much love. Where we fall short, give us grace, give us compassion for ourselves, remind us of the need for forgiveness, but then O God, give us the courage and strength we need to seek solutions – not blame. We ask in the name of the One whose love for us never dies. Amen.

Over the past couple of days, we’ve reflected on a passage in the Gospel of John (12:1-8) where Mary anoints Jesus’ feet with oil.

I remember a couple of years ago, near the very end of the day, I was just about to head out to go home, and a woman walked in the church. She looks down and out… And as she peeks her head in, she asks if she can sit in the sanctuary and pray.  It was the end of the day, and I was feeling kind of anxious and ready to go, but I said, “Sure go ahead.” And I thought: Well I’ll knock out a few more things.  So I went back in the study.  

But she’s in there a long time, and I’m starting to wonder, should I go in there and check on her? Should I see if she needs any help? Should I just let her be? 

I was feeling kind of anxious because that morning, on my way into church, I got a phone call from one of my daughters. I don’t even remember what it was now, but there was clearly distress on the other end.  You probably know that kind of phone call… when there is not much you can do but listen… And worry! 

So, it’s kind of a bad day. And now I’m feeling anxious, ready to go.

But just a few moments later, she comes out, and I ask if I can help her with anything. She said, “Yeah. Can you help me with some groceries or some food?” I handed her a grocery gift gift card, and I asked if I could pray for her.  

When I finished the prayer, she looked at me and said, “Thank you, Pastor. Can I pray for you?” I was a little caught off guard, but I said sure.  She put her hand on my shoulder, and it was the most beautiful heartfelt prayer…I could feel this sense of peace coming over me as she prayed. Then she said, “Pastor, you look tired. Get some rest.” And then she left…

Do you know that feeling when someone has seen you – and cared?  It feels pretty good. Even still, I don’t know about you, but I find it much easier to be the one who takes care of others. For some of us – it’s easier to be on the giving side than the receiving side. Sometimes it’s hard to allow other people to care for us, or – even harder to ask for help when we need it. 

I think again about this passage. Jesus, the One who saves us, Jesus, the One who heals us, Jesus, the One who goes to the cross for us – allows his friend to love and care for him.  I’m reminded: He wants to love and care for us. And sometimes he is going to use other people to do it.  We just have to be willing to let him.

Let us pray: Gracious God, give us eyes to see the need of the person right in front of us. But also help us to be the kind of people who are not too proud to ask for help… and who allow others to care for us. And as we do, may we experience your deeper love – the love of Christ himself.  Amen.

There is this story in the Gospel of John (12:1-8) where Jesus was with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, this family who he clearly loved, when Mary brings in a bottle of very costly perfume. You can just imagine the scene where she is pouring it on Jesus’ feet, and the house is filled with this magnificent fragrance.

But just as this is happening, Judas interrupts: Well! Why didn’t we sell this perfume and give the money to the poor?  In this context, this is a fair question. Jesus has been all about caring for the poor. But he says, “Leave her alone. She kept it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”

We have to be careful here because some people have assumed Jesus was saying that we don’t really have to care about the poor and the vulnerable, because it’s just ordained that they are always here. But he was actually quoting the book of Deuteronomy where God says to Moses, “Moses, you will always have the poor with you in your land, do not neglect them! Do not fail to open your hands to your brother in need.” (15:3)

In fact, what Judas misses is that right in front of him, at that moment, was a human being in need. Here was Mary, who was clearly struggling – her friend, was going to be put to death. She had a need to give, a need to show her love. And then right in front of Mary, is Jesus… who knew he was facing the cross. 

Jesus was not saying we can neglect the larger need. But he is saying: Don’t overlook the needy one right in front of you.

So often, we get overwhelmed by all the need in the world around us, or we get so caught up in our day-to-day lives, that we miss the people right in front of us who are hurting.

A friend told me about a sign she saw in an ICU room in a hospital. It said, “Please look at me.”  It was a reminder that even patients who may not even be able to respond, need that human eye contact… and they often need that human touch.  My daughters who work in restaurants tell me that there are people who come in who basically just grunt at them, or bark (Four waters!) – and hardly even look at them. Which makes me think about clerks in the grocery store and others who serve us all the time.

The truth is, the need around us is immense. And while there is a lot of good we can do on a larger scale, often the greatest impact we can make is with the person right at hand.

Let us pray: Gracious God, give us eyes to see the needs of the person right in front of us – perhaps even as close as our own kitchen table. May we care as you care; in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Some time ago, I read a touching story. Three times a month, Jermaine Washington and Michelle Stevens get together for what they call a “gratitude lunch.” They do this for a very good reason! Washington donated one of his kidneys to Stevens. 

Originally, they met at work and often ate lunch together. One day Michelle broke down and cried as she spoke about waiting on a kidney donor list for 11 months. She was being sustained by kidney dialysis but suffered chronic fatigue and blackouts. On top of all that, she was plagued by joint pain. Because Washington couldn’t stand the thought of watching his friend suffer, he gave her one of his kidneys. 

It is a beautiful story. And I love their response. I love the idea of a “gratitude lunch.” What a great way to remember and celebrate!

In just a few weeks, we will be celebrating our own “gratitude lunch – or dinner.” But this story made me think about how our lives could be so much richer if we spread a little Thanksgiving celebration all throughout the year.  

I wonder what you have excuses you might come up with to set up a few “gratitude lunches” of your own.

Let us pray: We have so much to be grateful for, O God. May we never fail to notice and celebrate all your blessings; and to give as we have received; through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Today’s message was written by my friend, Rev. Amy Camp.

Laughter, Silliness, Play, Delight, Joy. These are just a few words to describe my feelings as I hear preschoolers playing every day at church.

Jesus says (in Matt 19:14) “Let the little children come to me and do not stop them for to such as these belongs the kingdom of God.” 

Not long ago, a 5-year-old came up to me after chapel saying, “Pastor Amy, I’m going to sing you a song.” Before I could accept or decline, she had already started singing. Not once but twice I politely tried to stop her while she was singing her song. You see, she needed to go back to her classroom with her classmates. And it was time for me to get back to work. And then-boom-I got it. 

Here it is… the kingdom of God- right here, right now, right in front of me…and I almost missed it! God spoke to me through that little girl- through her words, her sweet smile, and her beautiful innocent eyes. God was reaching out to me with love, and I almost did not receive the gift.

Jesus valued children. They know how to be fully present in each moment. They embody wonder, delight, and joy. They trust.

Let us pray: Dear God, thank you for little children and the love, light, and joy that they bring to the world. Make us more like them. Help us to trust as they trust. Help us to believe that you will take care of us-no matter what happens, and you have good things planned for us – a hope and a future! Amen.