Hands up if you’ve had a good week.
Keep them up if you’ve done something good this week.
And still up if you’ve had something good done FOR you this week.
Excellent! There’s good in the world. Thanks be to God!
But.
Let’s NOT raise our hands here, but think about this…
Think about the people for whom this was NOT a good week.
Think about the people who were not able to DO anything good this week.
And think about the poor folks for whom Nothing Good was done.
Eek; those are less positive realities.
Because for those folks, they may be questioning… or even already be convinced… that there is no good in the world.
Lord, have mercy.
So this is where the two lines of questionings can start to overlap a bit.
Because as long as there are folks who have not had a good week, there are opportunities for others to do some good.
As long as there are those who have struggled to do any good – either for themselves or for others – there are opportunities for us to share in the spread of goodness.
And as long as there are folks who have not received any sense of goodness this week: well, that means that we have collectively missed out on a week’s worth of chances to live the Good News of God.
And for that, we repent: and we ask God’s help in opening our eyes and minds and hearts to be healed, so that we can face the coming week with a willingness to see where Goodness is needed, and to respond with loving kindness.
Let’s be inspired to turn our faith into real, present, open actions that show the world that there IS good news. Letting our faith in God’s Good News inspire and influence who we are and what we do in the world.
So let's think for a moment about what we do: our works. Because what we do matters.
Proverbs reminds us of the priority of reputation over riches, of generosity over greed, of humble hospitality over hubris.
James speaks to a community (any community, even ours!) about their works; reminding them/us that drawing lines between people is divisive and unfair. He challenges us to examine our own judgements, our own acts of favouritism, and our own acts of mercy. Wouldn't it be grand if we were all called to action with the truth from this epistle that "mercy triumphs over judgement."
And Jesus speaks – in two distinct sessions – of the need for healing of the people. Not merely the folks with physical ailments, but the folks who are speaking on their behalf; working through faith to overcome a dis-ease and discomfort.
The woman, who speaks for her daughter, comes despite all adversity. She declares her dis-ease, her daughter's disease, and she is adamant in what she wants. And Jesus, despite really needing that day off, gives both physical health to the daughter and spiritual healing to this bold woman. Bless!
Then a deaf and mute man also has others speak on his behalf. And Jesus, gives to the man (privately) his physical restoration, and to his friends the spiritual healing of re-affirmed faith. Bless!
So today's gospel is not just about the immediate miraculous cure of physical ailments, but also of the spiritual benefits when people are willing to ask God for help for someone else. It’s a triumph of good works, as an active reality of the of Good News of God.
And this is what should astound and delight us all: the good works of God are not just for individuals, they’re not just for a select elect; they are for communities, they are for folks who are used to good and those who can’t imagine it.
The healing of God is not just for those in earthly need, but for those whose faith might be renewed, re-strengthened, re-affirmed.
So I invite us to consider, for our own lives. What is our dis-ease? What healing might we benefit from?
And, once we move towards that spiritual healing and wholeness, what are we going to do about it? What are we going to do WITH it? What works will we engage in, in order to continue the goodness that God wants for the world?
For I believe that we have, in our faith, the strength to overcome the challenges of the world. We have strength enough to overcome our dis-ease. Strength enough to come to Jesus in honest, humble weakness. Strength enough to live in faith - and strength enough to put that faith into action.
And action: good works that grow from our strong faith: this action is what we are reminded of this morning, as we come to hear the Good News, as we desire to be filled with the inspiration of the Spirit, as we pray to be stirred up into faith-filled action for the love of God and for the goodness of the world.
Stir up our hearts, God, that we may respond to all the world with compassion and love and grace; may our hearts lead us to not to reject "one of THOSE people" but rather to embrace everyone as a beloved child of God.
Stir up our souls, O God, that we may respond to all the world with joy and peace and faithfulness; may our souls lead us not to judge those whose hardships we have not known, but rather to journey alongside a hurting soul, with patience.
Stir up our minds, O God, that we may respond to all the world with reason and kindness and patience; may our minds not be used to create excuses, but rather be used to inquire and discern news ways to promote life for all God's children.
Stir up our strength, O God, that we may respond to all the world with courage and righteousness and prayer; may our hands not be used to build barriers, but rather to openly receive the gifts that come from living out our faith completely.
Stir us up, O God, that we may take the good week that we have had, and the Good News that you give us, and go proclaiming – with word and action! – the good that is possible when we seek healing from you. Amen.
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