Letting Go of Privilege - Matthew 21

Letting Go of Privilege

Tony E Dillon-Hansen

6 October 2017 13:01

A sermon based upon Exodus 20:1-20 • Psalm 19 • Philippians 3:4b-14 • Matthew 21: 33-46

Will you pray with me?  Let God guide our senses, our hearts and our ears to receive the lesson given to us.  May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight O Lord, our Rock, Our Redeemer.  Amen.

When people talk about the word privilege, there may be some ideas in mind.  Privilege evokes an honor, a gift or a permission.

You hear phrases like:

It was a privilege to meet you!

It was a privilege to stand next to you at your wedding!

It was privilege to write that check!

Privilege becomes a badge of honor, pride or status.

These raise some questions.

How do you get that privilege?

Did you earn it?

Did you achieve or win a victory? Dinner in your honor with many praises!

How about, were you born into it?

I wonder how many people would say it is a privilege to be born poor

or to have broken bones. People generally don’t say these.

Then, I wonder if the fellow at Las Vegas thought it was privilege to own so many guns. I doubt many of the victims would consider that experience to be a privilege.

The thing about privilege is that it says little about the person. One can have wealth, rights and status and use them with compassion. If you use your privilege to mock someone, to deny fair chances or to murder, what does that say about privilege or the person.

Having a flare for the dramatic, our scripture starts with the apostle kind of chest-beating, almost bragging. I come from the great tribe of Benjamin; I was a Pharisee; I was a lawyer. There is a lawyer joke in there.  You can almost see a man flaunting robes like someone smearing us with all the great places they have been. You read this part and kind of think so does that make me chopped liver? Could he be any more of a jerk?

Then, the lesson sharply pivots. That next line could be summed up in the word, “Excrement!” as coined by Dead Poets’ Society, Professor Keating, (played by Robin Williams).

For all these marks of honor, prestige and “privilege”, none of that compares to knowing Christ and working Christ’s mission. One’s righteousness is based in “faith in Christ.”  Nothing else matters.

Faith in Christ provides a real sense of direction. You can hear the sweet anticipation of “I am so close and I can almost touch it.”

This is a reminder that the achievement, honor and privilege is not a finale. There is work yet to be done because the goal is not yet achieved. The epistle practically yells, “press on toward the goal the heavenly call of God.”

The first part of the lesson is really that guy standing in the front touting one’s privilege for a host of reasons and some not–so-good reasons. We like to show case the gifts we have been given ever since childhood when you were asked to “show and tell.” People like to brandish the life we lead, gifts given to us, the laws we follow (maybe part of the time), the flags we raise, the neighbors we call friends, the circumstance we are born, and even the persecutions we have delivered.

Yes, we can be proud of good achievements and put the plaque on the wall. Yet, we cannot forget the people around us or what God has asked of us – to let go of that privilege and let love.

Why? If you achieved, congratulations are in order! Enjoy the banquet and your award!

Yet, when the dinner and celebration are done, remember the people cleaning up the room.

If you hold onto privilege, that privilege may devolve us into taunting superiority. (I did something you didn’t!) Privilege can be easy because it does not need faith, and without faith, we separate ourselves from Christ. Without faith, we cannot live the life taught to us by Christ.

Privilege quickly takes us into realms of idolatry, uncaring and intolerance-- away from what Jesus would do.

If you recently “won” an argument with your spouse, the temptation is ripe to boast your new-found victory and “supposed privilege.” That could be a simple argument over which direction the car is going or a more serious argument. Do you proceed to add insult to injury? Do you smash everything your partner hoped could have been?

Is that what Jesus would do?

Or Do you lift them up and say thank you for making me a better person?

You warn your child about looking both ways before you cross the road. If the child decides to dart, and you hopefully grab them before a car almost hits them, what do you do? You have all the privilege in the world to be angry and tell them how horrible their action was, or you can use the moment to remind them how much you love them. Is that what Jesus would do?

When your child comes to you licking their wounds, do you gloat your position and remind them “I told you so.”

Is that what Jesus would do?

Or do you become the parent that welcomes the prodigal child with love?

If a person protests racial or gender privilege, do you label them a “cry baby” and tell them to go back into obscurity?

Again, is that what Jesus would do?

Or, would you listen and try to understand how you can learn from these experiences and share compassion?

The gospel lesson, Matthew 21, says something similar.  The parable of the wicked tenants take for granted that which has been given to them.  The tenants were given charge and privilege to care for a vineyard.  They decided they could do whatever they wanted and ignored the covenant with the landowner. You can see the landlord vs tenant tension, but the underlying issue is privilege.

Those who have been given the awesome responsibility to care, to guide and to tend the community have instead used their position to line their pockets, inflict discrimination, and ignore God’s call to love one another. We cannot hide behind privilege to do wrong or to ignore injustice. God notices this stuff. Matthew 21 tells us, as people, that we must tend our own vineyard, and that we are called to do the good work of God.

One might suggest that how we use privilege is important. Yet, if you value your privilege more than your love of God and neighbor, how important is your privilege? Our lesson tells us to simply let go.

So let go of privilege, let go of poor attitudes that separate us and let faith be your guide.  Let Christ be your mentor.  Appreciate your gifts you have and value your experiences.  Remember those less fortunate. Those that cry need your compassion and maybe you can help show them what Jesus would do.

Let go, and Let Jesus shine through you!

Thanks Be to God!

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That Was Not Heston - Exodus 14

That Was Not Heston

Tony E Dillon Hansen

Last updated: 9/17/17 3:57 PM

Sermon based upon scripture: Exodus 14:19-31

May the Words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in thy sight. You are our Rock and Our Redeemer.

When many people think of the great story of Moses

and Israel crossing the Red Sea, they likely see the face of the actor,

 Heston, playing Moses from that age-old movie, Ten Commandments

 (or maybe the movie, "Exodus: Gods and Kings" from 2014 with Christian Bale playing the lead role.). 

This story is rich with symbolism --enough to film it like a Tolkien epic with giant waves splitting apart leaving a valley for people to cross.

Then, we observe those giant waves crashing and destroying the Egyptian army.

There is a strong implication given the contrasts of natural forces versus the mechanisms of war.

This story is about being chased by a powerful army

that represents a past struggle that hopes to re-enslave or wipe out our people.  

Suddenly, there is God providing waves of change.

There is a point after the waves have settled that a realization takes place.  

At this point in the story,

we are at a new point in life.

– some call this a crossroads, a transition, or an awakening.

We must consider what happens when you have reached a point in life,

when things have changed,

especially after a long struggle (like our people in the story).

Yet, this is not just an epic of escaping cataclysmic disaster.  

We face these crossroad-type assessments and transitions today.

Something has ended and something begins:

You just got a promotion or considering job change, survive cancer, veteran or refugee from war, face retirement, or graduate school. 

One theologian likens Exodus to birth.

The types of transition we have are endless.

What do you when faced with decisions? 

Are we content with what we have achieved and just stop, 

or is there more to do on our journey?

Do you look for God?

It could have been easy for Israel at this point to say,

“well we have achieved freedom,”

and try to settle right there on the shore.  

Some people are tired by just walking across a room,

but Israel made a mad dash across the Red Sea to escape the terror behind them.

They likely are exhausted.  

God keeps going and instantly reminds us in many ways,

that there is something more to be done.

This is just a transition point,

and thus, it may seem like another daunting challenge

when that someone says,

 “there's still work left...”

even though you are so tired of trying.

You are on the other side of a change, trauma, storm or loss.

Maybe, like the people in the lesson,

 the tumult that was your path to this point has dramatically changed.

People in storm-ravaged areas might be asking these same questions.  

You find yourself staring at the next chapter of life,

questioning “now what?”

People don’t like change.

We know, sometimes,

those waves of change that God sends look like more struggles on the horizon.

 Yet, in the words of a favorite band of mine, Dream Theater,

“This is the life we belong to; our gift divine.”

To this point in life,

maybe you have been worrying about some darkness in your past (perhaps wondering if they might win the day.)

When you think about it, you may recall how God helped you to find a way to make necessary change in your life.

The direct result is looking at the wreckage and carnage of the past struggle.

Addicts might understand this as a moment of clarity.

Even in the moment, the transition,

the “what comes next” seems foreign and scary.

Further, the connection to waves and waters is not lost to our baptism here;

that God guides us and renews our faith

 through the waters of baptism and baptismal renewals.

Thus, we have transitioned through baptismal covenant,

and we have been better for it.

Still, in this point, the options are clear.

You simply cannot go back;

you cannot be someone that you once were.

You can look at your options,

and then use your intuition, your experiences,

or your gut to do what feels right.

A Promised Land is somewhere over there still,

and we can walk with faith

– one step at a time to get there.

Whatever way you choose,

you only go forward from this spot and this time.

Our Scripture tells us that we do not need to walk alone.

With faith, we can walk knowing that God’s steadfast love is right there working and nudging us to keep following that good path.

God provides us with those guideposts of love and hope

to get to the Promised Land that awaits.

A curious thing about these moments of clarity is

that despite negativity from the struggle,

we might have managed to establish a reliable illusion by holding onto that pain.

The struggle gave us a sense of consistency and reliability,

 like you could set your clock to it.  

You may not have liked it,

but you knew the pattern and you adapted -- not always healthy ways.

Now, that has changed; now what?

Buddhists refer to this idea as part of the Four Noble Truths. That when we end our attachment to suffering, we can learn to mindfully walk the Path (with prayer and meditation) to a “Promised Land” or what Buddhist would say enlightenment. The realization of the suffering (and our attachment to it) is a powerful first step. This is a continuing effort. When we follow the path, learn to adjust life and let go of what we are afraid to lose, we may be able to find the Promised Land.

In Christian terms, we might hear God speaking.

We also realize that we don’t have to walk alone. 

That struggle may have seemed easier to keep than taking these next steps.

I am not immune to this as I have decisions today that feel like this.

When I have been holding onto fear and anxiety,

I have observed God magically changing that (washing it away).

We are left standing there looking at the path to a Promised Land with altered vision because old threats may be gone,

but new challenges await. 

We also know the transition, victory, and realization ultimately raise new questions.

In this moment when you recognize that change has happened,

you examine what happened,

assess your goals, decide what to do next,

and then take the next step.

Take stock in the gifts God has already given you.

You woke up today and you are breathing.

you have food, a roof over your head,

Transportation and beautiful community around you.

It can be good to be thankful for these gifts.

They will be your foundation for going forward.

Do you just stop? Do you continue un-healthy ways?

How long will the next part of the path take?

Will there be more struggle and how well will I adjust?

The answer is yes; you keep moving and you will struggle.

With this awakening, we have the freedom to choose.

Yes, there will be new pains and new loves, but the past does not need to dictate today or tomorrow. You can be free.

We may have to learn a new way to live or do something we have not had to do.

That is part of the mystery of God where the path is presented with the potential of grace, promise and of course, more messiness towards your Promised Land.

We have realized something happened,

and it is up to us to decide to take the next steps.

 Then, we may find love within ourselves, with our neighbors and with God.

We can work together against the machines of war, slavery and injustice.

We may truly see the Promised Land laid out for us.

We can take that next step --and then another.

You don’t need Heston, acting like Moses, to help you because you have someone much bigger and much more forgiving. You have God; you have Jesus.

We can walk with faith and God’s love instead of holding onto the struggles of the past.  

We can remind each other how we are all shining examples of God’s love

and how we are all called as God’s children.

We know there will be more challenges.

Yet, with God still speaking and guiding us, that Promised Land is waiting for us. 

Take the next step you always envisioned you could, and look for God’s hand.

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Thanks Be to God.