“When my cats aren’t happy, I’m not happy. Not because I care about their mood but because I know they’re just sitting there thinking up ways to get even.” Percy Bysshe Shelley

On the first day of the week, when we met to break bread, Paul was holding a discussion with them; since he intended to leave the next day, he continued speaking until midnight. ⁸ There were many lamps in the room upstairs where we were meeting. ⁹ A young man named Eutychus, who was sitting in the window, began to sink off into a deep sleep while Paul talked still longer. Overcome by sleep, he fell to the ground three floors below and was picked up dead. ¹⁰ But Paul went down, and bending over him took him in his arms, and said, “Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.” ¹¹ Then Paul went upstairs, and after he had broken bread and eaten, he continued to converse with them until dawn; then he left. ¹² Meanwhile they had taken the boy away alive and were not a little comforted.” Acts 20:7-12

What do my cats do most of the day? They sleep. What do they do most of the night? They run around the house – and pause once in a while to wake me up to tell me it might soon be time to feed them, or pet them, or pay attention to their needs. And what is going on in the mind of a cat is truly a mystery. Sometimes I am certain they are just waiting – plotting – seeking a way to do me in so they can take control – of the house – of the food distribution. We have one cat who will climb on your chest in the middle of the night and put her face within two inches of yours. She then will take her paw and place it on your face if you do not immediately respond by petting her. If that does not get your immediate attention, she will lick your nose. If you pet her, you better be prepared to continue, or the process begins all over again. Sleeping is not an option if she wants your attention.

Eutychus fell asleep while listening to one of Paul’s long sermons. He did not pick the best place to sit down – here it was in the window sill – and as such he fell to his death. Paul came down immediately and raised the young man back to life. And then, Paul began preaching again. Some might think his actions were not completely compassionate – going back to his sermon and all. But, at least Paul stopped long enough to bring the man back to life.

I attended a wedding a few months ago – I was not performing the wedding, I was simply attending as the pastor in residence. During the wedding one of the bridesmaids passed out. The pastor officiating the wedding stopped for about thirty seconds, just enough time to make sure the girl had not died – and then he returned to his preaching. He was not administering the vows, or the ring ceremony – not even the blessing. He was preaching a homily on why those in the congregation who did not have a personal relationship with Jesus had better get right with G-d. I was embarrassed and appalled that the pastor in charge did not at least pause for a few minutes to make sure the girl was really ok – but I was angry that he went right back to brow-beating the congregation.

Look, I agree that many of us have a sleepy faith. Just like my cats, we would rather sleep instead of getting up Sunday morning – we would rather nap than get out to help serve a meal, volunteer at the food bank, or stay up late to serve on a committee. It is hard to stay up late and read our bibles. But if we sleep through our faith lives, our regular lives may be that much more difficult – making our falls harder, and our journeys more difficult.

Pastor Dave

“There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats.” Albert Schweitzer

“Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students.  And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father—the one in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah.  The greatest among you will be your servant. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.” Matthew 23:1-12

“The greatest among you will be your servant.” My cats believe this scripture completely. I am there servant – and they are greater than me. They beckon me day and night to feed them, to pet them, to leave them alone. If you want a pet that will truly keep you in your place, then you need to get a cat.

We have a cat who likes to sit on a table, or up on a lamp stand, or any surface that has some height, and some objects, and she will ceremoniously begin to knock them off onto the floor. It could be a mug – it could be a box of muffins – she does not care. Anything is fair game for her to push off – to push around.

We hear in the text above how Jesus felt about Scribes and the Pharisees: “They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them.” This is a fairly harsh criticism Jesus is placing upon these religious leaders. After all, if the Scribes and the Pharisees were the teachers of the law, and the most learned, then shouldn’t they know best – and have earned the right to instruct others to do the things they were too busy and too important to do?

Jesus was hated by the scribes and other religious leaders because he was trying to teach a new message – not one of earning the right to be respected, but respecting the rights of all people, and treating all people equally. Jesus goes on to teach “…you (are not) to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah.” And “The greatest among you will be your servant”, as well as “All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.”

I have no hope that I will be able to convince my cats to humble themselves. But I know that Jesus teaches me to love my neighbor and serve them – and Martin Luther reminds us that we are to do everything we can to speak of our neighbor in the best light possible. Humility is part of the Christian experience – but it has place in the lives of my cats.

Pastor Dave