Quinquagesima
Text: Luke 18:31-43 & 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
+INJ+
Difficult people. You cannot live without them, nor can you avoid them.
Difficult people are those individuals who disagree with you; they interrupt you, and they know how to do things better. They are those individuals you find to be as stubborn as an ox, unagreeable, selfish, combative, and manipulative. They truly are, as St. Paul said in the epistle today, “A noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.” (1 Corinthians 13:1)
But what truly makes one a difficult person? I mean, what is at the heart of why someone is difficult? Is it that they have challenges? Are they sick or filled with persistent grief? Do they have disabilities? Or are they frightened at the thought of losing power and control? Or is the difficult person just seen as one who gets in the way? (Or maybe you see your pastor as a difficult person!)
It’s really hard to love a difficult person, isn’t it?
The blind beggar in today’s Gospel appears to be one of these difficult people. He’s near the roadside, and the commotion he’s making as he calls out, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” is making him not only annoying but also in the way.
Just as Jesus’ disciples rebuked those bringing children to Jesus to receive His blessing earlier in this chapter of Luke, now the disciples are rebuking this man who is blind, telling him to be silent.
It certainly doesn’t appear that these disciples had the message of today’s epistle, Paul’s message of love, in their hearts.
But I’m going to tell you a little secret: you are these disciples; you are actually the difficult people. I mean, how often do you see the people in your lives as those blocking the road you are on? You hear voices and pleas for help you’d wish would go away.
Yet, did you notice how Jesus approached the situation? The Gospel said,
Jesus stopped and commanded [the blind beggar] to be brought to him. And when he came near, he asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me recover my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Recover your sight; your faith has made you well.”
Jesus didn’t walk away from the man; he didn’t avoid him. He sought the man out. And then Jesus healed the blind man.
Now, some of those following Jesus may have heard the beggar's plea, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” to be a cry for money, as was the custom of the time. These individuals along the roadsides and city gates often sought financial assistance. But when Jesus said, “Recover your sight; your faith has made you well.” He cared for the person; He had compassion upon the man.
Compassion is a challenge, is it not?
Compassion requires us to grow in love for our neighbor. So, hear these words of Paul again,
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never ends. (1 Corinthians 13)
Is this an image of you? Does your love never end with those closest to you? Your spouse or children? Your family or friends? Those within the church?
Or, what hinders your love? In what ways have you made it difficult to love?
I wonder if our trouble with loving others is due to a genuine lack of faith. And I don’t mean just any old faith; I mean faith and trust in Jesus Christ.
Again, for this reason, we are the disciples as they heard Jesus’s prediction in the Gospel today as He said to them,
See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. For [I] will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. And after flogging him, they will kill [me], and on the third day, [I] will rise.
The disciples knew the story, the prophecies, and where this road would lead, yet their faith was weak.
As we will soon begin another journey to the cross this Lenten season, we know the story and where this road will lead. It is not hidden from us. Yet, this road will cause us to encounter and engage difficult people throughout these coming weeks – us.
But, as we use this time to focus on our Lord and Savior, learn how He does not avoid you, but how He comes to you and reveals Himself to you in His Word and here in the Sacrament of the Altar.
So we should use this time to join the blind beggar in praying the Kyrie, “Lord, have mercy upon me.”
Because these words express faith and trust in Christ Jesus, they acknowledge we cannot save ourselves or anyone else, only Jesus can perform this wonderful work of salvation, which was accomplished for us upon the cross of Calvary.
And this is truly something because it is upon the cross that we see love’s fulfillment.
Now, near the end of today’s Gospel, there is yet one more little sermon. Having recovered his sight and been healed, the blind beggar immediately follows Jesus, glorifying Him. And then all the people who were following Jesus and rebuking the beggar in the beginning also joined in giving praise to God.
This is now your life, too. Having come here today, faithfully crying out with your brothers and sisters in Christ, “Lord, have mercy!” You can depart knowing He has heard your pleas, granted you healing and forgiveness, and now calls you to follow Him.
Yet, this path is not as you imagine or even wish. It’s a way full of crosses that you, too, must bear. Crosses and difficulties that not only teach you to call out and rely all the more upon Christ Jesus but the way that now teaches you to love others as Christ has loved you, the Church, from His place upon the cross.
So, as you enter this coming season of Lent, let us learn again to follow Jesus. Let us learn again to have compassion and love for one another, for as St. Paul wrote: "Love is patient and kind…. Love bears all things … [love] endures all things…Love never ends.” +INJ+
The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Rev. Noah J. Rogness
***I picked up the theme of difficult people from another pastor over the years, but I cannot remember who or where.***
