“It made me think of a Gary Larson cartoon I once saw. Two women are standing behind their locked door peeking out the window at a monster standing on their doorstep. One of the ladies is saying, “Calm down, Edna. Yes, it is a giant hideous insect, but it may be a giant hideous insect in need of help.” (Pema Chodron. When Things Fall Apart (Shambhala Classics) (p. 36). Shambhala. Kindle Edition.)

“A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” ³ Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. ⁴ Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” Matthew 8:2-4

How do you respond when you see someone standing by the exit of a mall or grocery store, holding a sign that says “Homeless, need food or work – anything will help”? Do you look the other way? Do you hand them a dollar? Do you stop and pray for them? Too often, when people encounter someone who is asking for help, they look at them like the creature on the women’s doorstep in the “Far Side” cartoon: like they are “A Giant Hideous Insect.”

As a pastor, I have heard many, many stories about the difficulties of life. I have had people stop at my church telling me their parents threw them out of the house; their car has run out of gas and they need to get to the next state; they have no job, three kids and no money for food; even they just got out of the hospital and have no place to stay. That is just a few of the stories I have heard – and it has taught me an important lesson — everyone has a story.

You and I are just one tragedy away from needing to share our story with an organization or a pastor or some social program. And when we do, do we want them to look at us with compassion? Or, do we want them to look at us like we are “A Giant Hideous Insect”?

Maybe we need to rethink how we view that person who is asking us for a handout…and ask the question “What would Jesus do?” As far as I can determine, Jesus never turned away from someone in need – so why should we? I have often said: We must serve the greedy if we are to serve the needy.

Pastor Dave

“If a man is convinced that he is safe only as long as he uses his power to give others a sense of insecurity, then the measure of their security is in his hands. If security or insecurity is at the mercy of a single individual or group, then control of behavior becomes routine.” (Howard Thurman. Jesus and the Disinherited (p. 25). Beacon Press. Kindle Edition.)

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven,” Matthew 5:11

“They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. ³⁶ As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. ³⁷ When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: ³⁸ “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” ³⁹ Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” ⁴⁰ “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” ”” Luke 19:35-40

Jesus was immersed in and understood his society – he came from a poor family, and he lived with the poor. His ministry was particularly focused on these people, but not just to the marginalized. Jesus also interacted and ministered to the rich, the nobility, and to the Romans. So when we watch Jesus enter Jerusalem, on the back of a donkey, with his disciples shouting that the “Son of David” had arrived, we begin to understand how this single act was so controversial. Caesar was king – Caesar was the “Lord” – this is not going to sit well with the ruling authorities.

“It is never to be forgotten that one of the ways by which men measure their own significance is to be found in the amount of power and energy other men must use in order to crush them or hold them back. This is at least one explanation of the fact that even a weak and apparently inconsequential movement becomes formidable under the pressure of great persecution.” (Howard Thurman. Jesus and the Disinherited (p. 27). Beacon Press. Kindle Edition.)

Jesus was one small part of a movement that was heavily persecuted, but not forgotten by G-d. He did not ride into Jerusalem on a war horse, he rode in on a donkey – but this simple gesture set the whole city of Jerusalem into a scene of chaos. His few followers were there initially to cheer him on, but in the end they will all abandon him as he is led to his cross. These same followers, though deserters before the crucifixion, become a force to be reckoned with within 300 years. The power and energy used to defeat and crush the Christian movement over 2000 years has only been met by more and more determination led and supported by the Holy Spirit. As Christians, we need to remember our humble roots, but also the power of the spirit to change the world. Jesus’ ministry in the New Testament was a counter-cultural ministry – disrupting the authorities, but changing so many lives — without discrimination, and without condition. As such, we can follow his example in ministry and share his love, one person at a time.

Pastor Dave