“If
You Will, You Can”
Mark
1:40-45
First
Presbyterian Church
The
Reverend Donald E. Ray
February
15, 2009
One of my favorite stories as a child, was and I
guess still is, the book I shared with the children, “The
Little Engine That Could.” I was
the “baby” of the family, younger than my sister, to be kind to her I
won’t tell by how much; younger by five and six years than my brothers. I was,
of course” always smaller, not as strong or coordinated, so less capable of
doing the things I watched them do. “I think I can…I think I can” was an
oft repeated refrain that for the most part bore little fruit. No, I couldn’t
really.
But once in a while, “I think I can…I think I
can…I think I can” kept me tenaciously trying…this way and that way and
another way, until indeed I could, and I did. I say I guess it is still a
favorite story because I am now not one to skirt the difficult challenge, not
one to give up easily if one way, another attempt fails. I think I have moved
beyond childish stubbornness, am a bit more realistic, wiser in recognizing
impossibilities; but hopefully imagination and commitment; willingness to
consider and devote effort have not waned.
This sermon might well be sub-titled, “I think I
can, I think I can, I think I can.” To think, “I can’t” is to isolate
and defeat one’s self in a victim modality. The disclaimer to this sermon
title of course is that no matter how much I will to do some things, I can’t.
Circumstances, events that have occurred, limitations of my strengths make some
things impossible. That I know from careful appraisal, often involving trial and
failure. Accepting that is by surrender of the foolish persistence that would
keep me running into the same wall again.
But, in the face of challenges, opportunities,
situations to just say, “I can’t” may work for a while as a child, may
engender pity through the years, but it misses the mark of what could be and
leaves one stuck. People in abusive situations or self-abusive from addiction
will say, “I can’t change.” Not to minimize the magnitude of their
condition, it is surrendering to it that makes the possibility of change out of
reach. But if they will take the necessary steps, change can come.
In the time of trial which Mark’s Gospel
addresses, in the time of trials we face these days; the leper’s quest must be
voiced at every juncture of opportunity for good. I, as likely you do as well,
receive calls from charitable organizations with a plea for a donation. We have
a loosely framed plan for what and to whom we give that these solicitors don’t
always fit into. I find myself tempted to use the excuse that “I am retired
and on a fixed income so I can’t give. Then I realize that isn’t altogether
honest. Truth be, the organization in question is not presently one I select for
an avenue of giving. It’s not that I simply can’t, it is that I choose not.
Being honest that I will not contribute rather than that I can’t may not
distract the caller; in fact they often try harder to persuade me. But I can
feel more confident in standing on my decision when I choose the honest,
responsible line.
An “I can’t” syndrome is infectious. At the
time of last Fall’s stewardship program, I found myself caught in the pattern
of thinking that with rising costs over which I had no control, we couldn’t
increase our pledge to First Presbyterian Church. With Karen’s help, I
rethought that and realized “can’t” was not a way I wanted to think. “I
think I can, I think I can” gratefully is too ingrained. So we looked at our
decision realizing, “if we will, we can” and we did increase not by very
much; not by enough to resolve the church’s challenges, but enough to take us
out of the victim mode and in the way of God’s kingdom. The world cannot
afford that people of faith fall into a victim mode. If you will, you can.
That Jesus said to the leper, “I will; be
clean” cannot be dismissed as just a simple, everyday event for a miracle
worker. Jesus was on a mission to proclaim the presence of the
Jesus’ willingness to afford cleansing for this
leper derailed his kingdom campaign but it gave us this story in the Gospels
that restores our perception of God. Leprosy was not only physically
debilitating and disfiguring; it was a social disease. Any illness was
considered punishment for falling into God’s disfavor. The repulsive
appearance of leprosy gave rise to horrible misunderstanding. Not unlike and HIV
positive diagnosis today, leper’s were banned from family and community life
to colonies where they existed on the pity of a few who might bring them food
and rags.
Healing is not the leper’s request. He says,
“If you will, you can make me clean.” If you will, you can rend that
artificial barrier that would keep the grace of God from my life. If you will,
you can restore me to those I love and who love me. If you will, you can restore
me to the community of faith. If you will, you can and Jesus says, “I will, be
clean.” And for one man, the
And the man couldn’t contain himself. I knew two
weeks ago that Balm in Gilead was an
anthem choice for today. Its message is certainly appropriate to this story of
the leper. During the past week of preparation, Cindy shared that she hadn’t
firmed the selection of the second anthem but was thinking of, With a Voice of Singing. I have to confess, in my line of thought at
that time, I couldn’t see how it fit. But I have learned to trust enough in
the Spirit, what Tom has identified as our “unseen Partner,” in the process
and collaboration of preparation for worship to agree with Cindy’s
inspiration. Thursday evening as we became reacquainted with the anthem in
rehearsal I realized, how appropriate to the exuberance of the cleansed leper.
President’s Day weekend, we remember
We know there are people horribly oppressed by
dictatorial, murderous war lords who live the faith that the Christ will, and
they stand clean. And they give us that Zulu tune that gets inside us:
See
yah ham buh kook ah nigh nee kwen kohs
See
yah ham buh kook ah nigh nee kwen kohs.
We are confronted with the mountain that can seem
to present insurmountable needs and trials. But we are faith people. We are the
community of love and care that bear the seeds of God’s kingdom. As we come
infected with “I can’t” and “victim” germs we say to the Christ, if
you will, you can. And the Christ message is, “I will; be clean.” Can we not
break forth in the song of exuberance that our world needs for its courage and
strength.
Amen.
©
Copyright 2009 First Presbyterian Church