Sermon, Pentecost +8 (B)

 Have you ever had a celebrity crush?

It’s not uncommon – we see and hear about people who are in the spotlight, and we imagine what it would be like to be near them – living in a utopian reality, feeling rather elevated just by being next to this person.

We’ve all been there. It’s normal.

And usually we think about celebrity crushes being a puppy-love kind of thing for teens and children; living in the “wouldn’t it be grand” fantasy, the imagined palaces and riches and grand livelihoods of being partnered with a movie star or sports celebrity or famous author.

But we know that adults continue in this attraction to the popular – attraction to celebrity. All you need to do is consider crowds outside of concert halls, or autograph-seekers outside a theater.

…and this is when the collective mentality seems to override logic. Our primitive lizard brains take over, and we see a crowd of people all racing after a person, so we join in. And inadvertently, our joining in the crowd makes other people join in as well.

And this is why celebrity, in our culture, includes security details barriers, etc.

…and… this isn’t a new thing. It’s not just modern society gone wild. Celebrity has always had a magnetic attraction for people – for crowds. We seem to have built in to us a fear of missing out, so we join the crowd… and we have a desire to be near the excitement – so we crowd in on celebrity.

Which is exactly what is happening in our scriptures today.

In the first reading, we have Nathan (whose name means “God has given”) being given the word of God, to approach David. David – that Rockstar of a king! He’s popular, he’s celebrated in the community, he’s revered by the crowds. And so, folks are less inclined to go near him and suggest that he change his ways.

But David is also faithful – knowing that he is there to serve the peoples – so he is able to her the message of God that Nathan gives.

He recognises that while he sleeps peacefully in a solid house, the ark of the covenant is in a casual tent. While he enjoys the security of being an established community, there are people of God who remain exiled. While he eats with abundance, there are people who go hungry.

And of his faithfulness, he is wise enough to listen to his advisors, and do the right thing: to shift away from a mentality of celebrity to a position of service and praise.

And because of this, the community celebrates him even more – because his actions are of God, and for the people of God. He uses his celebrity to do his ministry to the best of his ability, and so he is remembered throughout history not for his ruddy good looks and gentle eyes, but for his leadership as a child of God. Just re-read the psalm to see how that covenant is held up as prayer. David uses his celebrity to highlight the majesty of our God.

And the Gospel passage also takes us into the realm of celebrity crushes. Jesus and his disciples are attracting people left right and centre. We hear that “many were coming and going, and the disciples had no leisure even to eat.”

Eek. Now, that’s a problem – we all know what happens when we get overhungry. We don’t make the best decisions, our tempers are shorter, we don’t engage in the world in the best version of ourselves. And to eat in the ancient world was not a quick thing – these were not the days of microwaved leftovers and granola bars to go; meals were ideally times of sharing food and conversation; a space for repose and restoration of body and soul. A meal was full nourishment.

And the disciples had no leisure even to eat.

They’re tired. They just want a break. And for them, Jesus isn’t a celebrity, he’s their teacher – their companion – their friend.

And yet, the crowds don’t see it that way - the crowds keep coming for them – it’s no wonder they wanted to go away for a while.

They had become celebrities. People were crushing on them. Metaphorically, and physically.

So off they went, destined for a deserted place where they could just be themselves;

And the crowd is already gathered when they arrive. People desperate for Jesus.

They celebrity of Jesus was bigger than they had expected.

And: what a response. The compassion of Jesus was greater than the need for rest. For food. For restoration.

But again – this is where Jesus shows us what Jesus can do, that we cannot. Because Jesus recognises how hard they’ve been working, and takes over. He lets them rest, and eat, and be away from the crowds for a time – while he embraces the crowds full on.

He allows the celebrity thing to happen, because he knows that people are not just wanting a brush with fame; this is rooted more deeply in a desperation for the divine.

People are so desperate for God that they are crowding around to be near Jesus. His mere presence is enough for them: it brings healing.

Healing to their hearts and minds, to their souls and bodies.

The disciples rest, and the power of God continues.

The disciples are also recipients of the healing of God – not in the way that we hear of the miraculous healings of the folks in Gennesarat – but with the same level of enthusiasm and desire to be in the presence of God.

So it makes me wonder.

When was the last time that we felt magnetically drawn into the presence of God?

What has happened in our lives that makes us desire God more than anything else?

When have we been merely caught up in the crowd, and as a result discovered something miraculous and majestic is happening?

And we can extend this as we continue our prayerful discernment about where we focus our own energies, be they on celebrity or on God.

We acknowledge that we – most of us – live in a world of comfort and abundance – not unlike the realm over which David ruled. We don’t forage our own food, we don’t beg for scraps of clothing. We have enough – we have abundance.

And so these passages today remind us that whether we have great need, or great resources, we still come to God: for God provides the fullness of life – eternal life – that we cannot get from this world – regardless of how popular something is.

And we are reminded that wherever God is present – be it in the ark of the Samuel passage, or of Jesus stepping off a boat into the midst of folks experiencing need – the presence of God does not go unnoticed. And the desires of the people to be the community of the faithful does not go unanswered.

So we have that encouragement, to delight in the presence of God today: in our lives, in our faith journeys. To be honest with ourselves that we not only need a relationship with God, but that we WANT a relationship with Jesus. We want the health that only Jesus offers. We want the companionship that only comes through the power of the Spirit. We want the community that God created us to be in.

And we bask in the joy of that desire: an authentic wish to be closer to God. A genuine desire to love and serve God as we love and serve our neighbours. A profound attraction to the source of all love and all life – not as celebrity, but as divinity.

In doing this, we can draw others into this celebration of meeting Jesus: in a life of service and praise. Celebrating that Jesus is known: loved, followed, appreciated. And that Jesus is always greeting us – where we are, as we are, renewing our health and well-being.