Dear Friends, As I pondered the Gospel reading for today, it occurred to me that a sermon might easily be framed by a couple of stories. And so, as I sit down here on the step with the child/ren, consider this the start of the sermon. 1. We just heard Jesus say, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” I’ve got a little treasure box with me. And, look, a heart. We’re going to leave those here for the moment while I tell you the story of The Rich Man and the Shoemaker (by Jean La Fontaine). An illustrator by the name of Brian Wildsmith created the pictures I have brought today. Tell the story. (Click on the link to watch the story) In English we have an expression when someone isn’t working with enthusiasm or excitement. We say, “Their heart isn’t in it.” or we might say, “that’s a half-hearted effort”. As soon as the shoemaker was given a heap of gold, his heart was no longer in his work, in appreciating each new day, in being grateful for having health and responsibilities, in the gift of song, in the visits of his friends – no, indeed, he lost all joy. His heart was consumed by worry about his wealth and its safety. It’s like putting this felt heart inside the treasure chest and shutting the lid. Boom. The heart is locked in darkness. It’s all closed up and closed in. All it can see and think about is what’s in the chest – and the treasure in there doesn’t see the light of day, either. Its glitter and sparkle doesn’t light up the world. And the possibility of what it could pay for or accomplish isn’t utilised. Oh no! It’s just held in here so that one person can claim to be rich. Jesus wants to set our hearts free. When the shoemaker realised his unhappiness, he put his heart back into life. I want to venture to say that he joined his heart back to God – because God is the giver of life. God is at the heart of it all. God gives each of us – you and me – the gift of life. In essence we are called to enjoy the gift we’ve been given, i.e. to live out our lives as a reciprocation of joy to God. And that’s what the shoemaker had always done – and what he found his way back to doing: • Each morning put a song on his lips as he rejoiced in living another day, at the beauty of the world around him, and that he had all he needed to live • Each day he celebrated the fact that he was a skilled cobbler/shoemaker and that he had tasks to attend to • Each day, he looked forward to sharing with his friends The cobbler was CONTENT, his heart was joined to God, the Heart of all. That’s more precious than gold or silver, and more lasting. Adults, I don’t think that the intention of our reading is to deny earning our keep and preparing for old age. Surely that’s responsible living – and, indeed, the shoemaker in our story did that, too. However, Jesus begins our Gospel with the words, “Don’t be afraid”, implying that concerns about social tensions, increasing wars, financial uncertainty, inherent dangers of AI and other technologies, or our fragile health ought not to consume us. Rather, shelter your heart in God, is what Jesus is saying. Know that the kingdom is yours – and it’s yours to build. 2. So, let’s turn to our second story. You’ll see that there is a common thread, for this story is called Martin the Cobbler (by Leo Tolstoy). I wonder what similarities you might notice across the two tales. Tell the story. (Click the link to watch the story – my own version is by a different illustrator, though) Well, what do you think is similar between the two stories? Ø Live from the heart Ø Live in the here and now, enjoy the moment Ø Live with an outward focus (people, creation, etc.) – but Martin also an ‘upward’ and inward focus: FAITH And so I want us to think about the word WAITING, which Jesus speaks about in our text – “be like those waiting for their master to return”. It struck me that we can imagine a whole range of different attitudes when talking about waiting. There’s a difference between… • “I’m just waiting, you know, biding the time, twiddling thumbs…” • “I’m waiting for someone to come, something to happen… not much I can do about that” And • “Sorry I can’t look at you right now because I’m waiting for the water to reach just the right temperature, you see, and I don’t want to miss the moment.” • “I’m waiting a moment … taking a deep breath, counting to 10, …there may be an explanation for all this…” à pausing rather than rushing in • “I’m waiting and watching developments…” And then there is: “I’m waiting on God”, i.e. reliant on God, trusting God’s promises, expectant on God’s involvement, attentive to God’s still, small voice.” That’s FAITH, the faith that the writer of the Letter to the Hebrews is referring to when recalling Abraham’s story who was called to that journey into the unknown. So, too, Martin the Cobbler is not waiting by twiddling his thumbs or sticking his head in the sand so as not to see the needs around him. He is “dressed for action” (parallel to Exodus story) – wearing his shoemaker’s apron, tools in hand. And he is attentive to the people around him. Martin the Cobbler is not just going through the motions to bide time or observing religious rituals for tradition’s sake as Isaiah spoke against in our earlier reading, and which is echoed in today’s Psalm. Instead, Martin is attentive – in his reading and reflection of Scripture and in his observations of his surroundings and his fellow human beings. And he gives away his possessions freely, as he has them to give – warmth and shelter, tea, a coat, soup, kind words, advice, mediation, payment… “Don’t be afraid, little flock, … give alms.” Do good. Be charitable. Charis =grace >> Be gracious. Jesus is calling us to offer what we have to build God’s Kingdom of justice and peace, of mutual care and concern, of love. We bring our talents, our personality, our gifts, our material means. And just like the mustard seed, or that small piece of leaven in his parables, so Jesus reminds us, the “little flock” that any effort/offering, no matter how small will make a difference. Just like the one person, Martin the Cobbler made an impact on the lives of many. Which brings me to one more observation about waiting, and that is WAITING ON, as in serving, like a waiter/waitress. For it is not for nothing that the hero in both our stories is a cobbler, a shoemaker. There are some strong parallels, are there not, to Jesus washing feet? Cobblers’ work is dealing with footwear – not a clean affair if they have been used. It might be considered lowly work. Then, did you notice – maybe difficult for those of you sitting in pews farther at the back – but Martin the Cobbler’s dwelling is, in fact, below street level – a basement apartment. His window looks out onto the level of the pavers. His engagement is well and truly down to earth. Friends, amid this green and growing season of the Church year, you and I are called to be awake, alert, attentive and waiting for God, for Christ to meet us in this ordinary time, in our day-to-day responsibilities and circles of influence. We are called to shelter our heart in the Love of God, the Heart of All, and with that love as our wellspring, be instrumental in the here and now, as we contribute to shaping the Kingdom – whatever that might look like: • Being a voice for the voiceless and marginalised • Visiting the sick, the lonely, the prisoner, the forgotten, • Comforting the bereaved and troubled • Clothing, feeding, sheltering the poor • Working for peace – in our homes, in our neighbourhoods, in our country, in the world • Caring for the environment • Putting our brains to work to find solutions of sustainability and justice and more • Offering a haven of quiet respite in a hectic world of busy-ness When we do, just like Martin, Divine Love will enter our homes and hearts, waiting on us with all its grace and riches. And so, I want to finish with a little song. I wonder whether you will indulge me to sing along with me – a bit like the merry shoemaker in our first story. It’s a song from New Zealand, and it goes like this: ‘Aroha’ means ‘love’, (click link to hear song sung – move forward to 0:58) and if you give it away, give it away, give it away, ‘Aroha’ means ‘love’, and if you give it away, it will come right back to you. It’s just like a magic penny, Hold on tight, and you won’t get any, Lend it, spend it, give it away, And it will come right back to you. (You can create lots of extra verses, e.g. A smile is just a smile but if you give it away… A wave is just a wave…) Amen. The Reverend Kathrin Koning College Chaplain Matthew Flinders Anglican College
