The Sunday Sermon: Judgment

by Correne Murphy

Good morning, St. John's! You never know what  you are going to find when you come to church on Sunday  mornings, do you?  

​I just have to say to you this morning how good it is to see  you! It is so good to see you every Sunday morning.  

​So here we are. This morning we will spend a few  moments looking at what Scripture has to teach us this  18th day of September, 2022.  

In the reading from Jeremiah he asks, “Is there no balm in  Gilead?” Is there no healing in Gilead? Gilead is an area  east of the Jordan River. Today we ask, “Is there no  healing in Florida? In Arizona? In Wisconsin? Where do we  look? In St. Louis? We pray in Psalm 79, “Remember 
not our past sins; let your compassion be swift to meet us;  for we have been brought very low.”  

Timothy brings us back to the center: “There is one God;  there is also one mediator between God and humankind,  Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself as a  ransom for all.”  

Frequently throughout the Gospels, Jesus reminds us that  he and the Father are one. Where do we fit in this  picture? Are we, and Jesus, and the Father one? A lofty  aspiration and a worthy goal. It is not “You and me against  the world.” It is you and me with the world along with God  as our constant companion.

So far, so good. We can relate to the Psalmist, imploring  God’s mercy on our misunderstandings, our misdeeds, our 
human weaknesses. It is comforting when Timothy brings  us back to our center. And then the Gospel throws us a  fast ball, right down the center. The rich man commends  the dishonest manager for his misdeeds. What is the  correct response? Do we let it pass for strike three? Do  we swing with all our might for a homer out of the stands?  

​Putting the analogy aside for a moment, how do we  respond to the actions of the manager? How do we  respond to the actions of the rich man? Without inserting  any “what ifs”, “maybes”, or “unsubstantiated guesses,”  how do we react?

​On the part of the manager, do we judge? He has  apparently mishandled his responsibility of managing the  property put under his charge. Was he incapable? Was  he purposefully trying to undercut his master? 

​ In your life and in mine, we react to this story on its face  value. Would we, you and I, without question, commend  the actions of the steward? Or of the rich man? 

The big question, the elephant in the room, can we look at  this story without passing judgment? 

That is the thought with which we will spend some time  this morning: judgment.

​Some of us feel we grew up surrounded by judgment.  Society has not always been understanding. In the home.  In the classroom. In church. “What did I do now?” Did  you ever utter that as a child? Even as an adult? 

After all, we do have to answer to others: children to  parents, employees to employers, individuals to society.  And let us not forget, we must answer to ourselves.  

And, children, adults must answer to you, also. Adults are  responsible for your care. Parents and big brothers and sisters share their love and wisdom to guide you to a life  well lived.  

Everyone: does our responsibility end with the family?  As you surely know, no, it does not. Your nextdoor neighbor; the elderly couple across the street; the children  in your neighborhood who need a playground. And then  those in your community whose health is your - our - concern.  

Yes, this can all be overwhelming. Why are things as they are? Is there weakness? Ignorance? Indifference? Incapability? Probably all of those things. 

So, back to an earlier question. Judgment. Judgment  is not a bad thing. We make a judgment not to stand in  the middle of I-270 during rush hour, or at any time for that  matter. We make a judgment not to eat spoiled food.  We make a judgment to wear a safety jacket when  boating on a large lake. Judgments are good when  based on fact. We make a judgment to forgive, and to act  mercifully, when a situation calls for it. When we can “justify” it. We count on God and society to act mercifully toward us when passing judgment. And therein, society  finds healing, finds “a balm in Gilead.”  

One learns to forgo judgment when we find ourselves in  a situation of our own making, or not of our own making, 
but nevertheless affecting us. We then see with an open  mind “the poor among us” as Jesus said we would. And  then what?  

​Jesus said the rich man not only failed to condemn his  manager for mismanagement, but commended him for his  shrewdness.  

In trying to make some sense out of this parable, I asked  some friends in the Community of Hope how they  understood Jesus’ teaching. The response was  immediate: “God forgives unconditionally.” That should  take a load off our shoulders.  

The Parable of the Unjust Steward Marinus van Reymerswaele, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Scholars have written pages on this parable. Herzog cites references to times contemporary to the lives of the  disciples, including the scribes and pharisees, Roman oversight, and local laws. And then there is the Final  Judgement.  

​Another commentary by R. Alan Cullpepper leaves one  with the concept that it pays to be shrewd: shrewd in the  practice of spreading God’s mercy and love, shrewd in  managing the riches of a life of incomparable blessings. 

Easier said than done? To be sure. Foregoing judgment  takes the fear out of taking chances with our own  aspirations. Walk with God. Go for it. What is your gift?  Follow your heart (with a touch of common sense on the  side... or maybe not.)  

Some of you are familiar with Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings  and, in particular, with The Hobbit. In The Hobbit, Bilbo  celebrates his birthday by throwing a big party and giving  his guests wondrous presents. Last Sunday, September  11, I celebrated my 86th birthday.  

​Part of my celebration was with the homeless downtown.  We shared cupcakes, sodas and chips. It was great fun.  

Today I would like to share with you some prayer cards I  have put together. They may set the tone for the day, or bring together a moment of peace after a long day. They  are on the table in the back of the church. There are  enough for everyone, including the children.  

And so I say, "God bless us, everyone!" Amen.

Correne Murphy is a member of St. John's, and serves on the Vestry as Junior Warden.