Into our contentious world comes one of the most often cited of the teachings of Jesus: “Do not judge.” How does that impact the way we build community? Studies show that attitudes toward perpetrators of various ill deeds vary greatly depending on whether they are “in my group” or “not in my group”. Imagine you are driving down the street and are cut off by the person in another vehicle. You initially respond angrily, but then notice that the offending car carries a bumper sticker of your favorite sports team. Time and again, drivers in this situation soften their response to the other driver. They are “like us”, and therefore, easier to forgive. We “see” them differently.
In his book, The Great Divorce, C.S. Lewis described “hell” as a vast, grey city, a city inhabited only at its outer edges, with rows and rows of empty houses in the middle. These houses are empty because everyone who once lived in them has feuded with neighbors and moved. Then they quarreled the new neighbors and moved again, leaving empty streets full of empty houses behind them. That, says Lewis, is how hell got so large—empty at the center and inhabited only on the fringes—because everyone in it choose to leave instead of turning towards one another in truth and love. The call of Jesus is to return to the center of our community.
In Matthew 7, we read Jesus say, in the context of judging others, “Why do you look at the speck that is in the eyes of your kindred, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” In his reflection on this passage, Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “Judging others makes us blind, whereas love is illuminating. By judging others we blind ourselves to our own evil and to the grace which others are just as entitled to as we are.” Loving faith helps us see the world, ourselves, and others as God would have us see.
Let’s talk about this in worship at St. Mark’s this Sunday. The sermon is titled, “The Opening of Eyes and the Grace of the Beloved Community.” The sermon arises from texts in the sermon on the mount, namely, Matthew 6:22-23; 7:1-7, to be read by Chuck Foster. Lisa Hamilton will read Psalm 19. We will be led musically by the Chancel Choir, under the direction of Gerry Sousa and accompanied by Ilze Akerbergs. There will be a moment for children, prayers, and we will sing together.
If you have been part of the St. Mark’s community for a long time, a short time, or will be joining us for the first time, we look forward to connecting with those of you here in-person or joining on the livestream.