WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
July 8th 2007
Rev. Mark R. Bradshaw-Miller
“Go Outside”
Genesis 18:1-5
From our perspective the future does not look good. Despite having heard the vision of a community busting at the seams and a vision of decedents too numerous to count and even a promise of being a blessing to the world, it simply does not add up. Hasn’t anyone noticed that they are too old to have kids? It is time to face facts. The promises and visions are well and good but simple reality says you cannot take that stuff to the bank. Abraham and Sarah are too old to be parents it is just not going to happen. At least that is the view from where we stand.
Yet, right in the midst of our very realistic perspective the promise comes anyway: Follow me to a land you do not know. You will have more descendants that the stars. You will be the mother and father to many generations. You will bless all nations. As the promise is spoken deep down we want to join with Sarah who laughs at the ridiculous claims. But like it or not, we find ourselves right in the midst of God’s ridiculous promises. Abraham and Sarah are on a journey which does not seem to make any logical sense.
Abraham is sitting, in the heat of the day at the base of a tree. All of a sudden three people appear in the distance. Without a moments hesitation Abraham runs to meet them. It is a scene which, given what surrounds the passage, could be dismissed as merely a transition to more important passages. However, we should not move forward to quickly or we will miss this rich message.
If anyone ever asks you to explain biblical hospitality this passage could serve as the Cliff’s Notes version. (Ok, I know that would never come up in conversation but it if does you will be prepared.) Abraham is resting comfortably under the trees during the heat of the day. When the three visitors appear in the distance he springs to action. While we know that these three are from God, Abraham is not completely sure. But despite this he begs them: Let me bring you water to wash your feet. Rest here for a while, and let me bring you bread. Once they accept his hospitality, Abraham brings in his whole household; and his prize resources to care for these people he does not even know. He goes well beyond the basics of hospitality asking nothing in return. Abraham does not ask about their politics, or how they feel about Egypt or even if they worship the same God. It is a short course in biblical hospitality.
One of the amazing truths about this passage is that Abraham would have never heard about the promised birth if he did not offer hospitality. In the story we see how the very presence of God is connected with the practice of hospitality. God would not have been present if Abraham had not offered hospitality. This passage is one of many which points to the central place which hospitality must have in the lives of the faithful.
There is an ancient rabbinical saying which goes: “Hospitality to wayfarers is greater than welcoming the divine presence.” It is a powerful commentary which shows that welcoming others is at the heart of our faith. However in a time where hospitality is a multi-billion dollar industry we should be more specific when we talk about it. Esther de Wall in Seeking God: The Way of St. Benedict does a masterful job of getting to the heart of biblical hospitality. She writes:
There is a knock at the door and I have to respond; as I lay four extra places for supper I know that soon four people will be sitting round the table sharing the meal. If I am actually afraid and defensive (or aggressive, which is much the same), anxious and insecure about the impression that I shall be making, I may offer a glass of sherry or a bowl of soup but any real hospitality of the heart will be lacking; I shall merely have fulfilled the social expectation. I cannot become a good host until I am at home in my own house, so rooted in my centre… that I no longer need to impose my terms on others but can instead afford to offer them a welcome that gives them the chance to be completely themselves.
Hospitality begins with being secure in ourselves as children God welcomed by the promise and then extending that welcome with all.
If we are to take any cues from this passage in our life together I believe it is found in the issue of location. You might be wondering what location has to do with hospitality. Well, consider this; what would have happened if Abraham had remained inside his tent? The visitors would have passed by and Abraham and Sarah would have never heard the outrageous news. If he had not moved outside the tent what would have become of the promise. Ok, maybe that is stretching the text but it is worth considering. As we prepare to update our building we must not become so enamored with our insides that we forget that God is at work outside our building.
In fact, I believe that our vitality and our future lie in moving beyond our beautiful building and looking for places to extend hospitality to those outside. This week as I sought to point to some grand program I was reminded that it does not have to be complicated. In fact, it really can be as simple as spending some time outside this building talking to strangers. God’s messengers may just be passing outside our door while we wait for them to come inside.
This week Mary Ann Shaw shared a story about the time she spends making sure the outside looks so beautiful. Almost every time she works in the gardens people stop and talk with her. Now it may seem rather simple but what a witness it is to extend a smile and a word of welcome in our world so hungry for both. I believe we all ought to spend more time in our gardens doing the same thing. Now, I know that each one of us may not be up for digging in the dirt. But in reality, there are plenty of opportunities for each one of us to extend hospitality and share the welcome that Westminster has to offer in Jesus name. We only have to get out, maybe even sit under a tree and open our eyes for the messengers God is sending our way. Amen.
July 8th 2007
Rev. Mark R. Bradshaw-Miller
“Go Outside”
Genesis 18:1-5
From our perspective the future does not look good. Despite having heard the vision of a community busting at the seams and a vision of decedents too numerous to count and even a promise of being a blessing to the world, it simply does not add up. Hasn’t anyone noticed that they are too old to have kids? It is time to face facts. The promises and visions are well and good but simple reality says you cannot take that stuff to the bank. Abraham and Sarah are too old to be parents it is just not going to happen. At least that is the view from where we stand.
Yet, right in the midst of our very realistic perspective the promise comes anyway: Follow me to a land you do not know. You will have more descendants that the stars. You will be the mother and father to many generations. You will bless all nations. As the promise is spoken deep down we want to join with Sarah who laughs at the ridiculous claims. But like it or not, we find ourselves right in the midst of God’s ridiculous promises. Abraham and Sarah are on a journey which does not seem to make any logical sense.
Abraham is sitting, in the heat of the day at the base of a tree. All of a sudden three people appear in the distance. Without a moments hesitation Abraham runs to meet them. It is a scene which, given what surrounds the passage, could be dismissed as merely a transition to more important passages. However, we should not move forward to quickly or we will miss this rich message.
If anyone ever asks you to explain biblical hospitality this passage could serve as the Cliff’s Notes version. (Ok, I know that would never come up in conversation but it if does you will be prepared.) Abraham is resting comfortably under the trees during the heat of the day. When the three visitors appear in the distance he springs to action. While we know that these three are from God, Abraham is not completely sure. But despite this he begs them: Let me bring you water to wash your feet. Rest here for a while, and let me bring you bread. Once they accept his hospitality, Abraham brings in his whole household; and his prize resources to care for these people he does not even know. He goes well beyond the basics of hospitality asking nothing in return. Abraham does not ask about their politics, or how they feel about Egypt or even if they worship the same God. It is a short course in biblical hospitality.
One of the amazing truths about this passage is that Abraham would have never heard about the promised birth if he did not offer hospitality. In the story we see how the very presence of God is connected with the practice of hospitality. God would not have been present if Abraham had not offered hospitality. This passage is one of many which points to the central place which hospitality must have in the lives of the faithful.
There is an ancient rabbinical saying which goes: “Hospitality to wayfarers is greater than welcoming the divine presence.” It is a powerful commentary which shows that welcoming others is at the heart of our faith. However in a time where hospitality is a multi-billion dollar industry we should be more specific when we talk about it. Esther de Wall in Seeking God: The Way of St. Benedict does a masterful job of getting to the heart of biblical hospitality. She writes:
There is a knock at the door and I have to respond; as I lay four extra places for supper I know that soon four people will be sitting round the table sharing the meal. If I am actually afraid and defensive (or aggressive, which is much the same), anxious and insecure about the impression that I shall be making, I may offer a glass of sherry or a bowl of soup but any real hospitality of the heart will be lacking; I shall merely have fulfilled the social expectation. I cannot become a good host until I am at home in my own house, so rooted in my centre… that I no longer need to impose my terms on others but can instead afford to offer them a welcome that gives them the chance to be completely themselves.
Hospitality begins with being secure in ourselves as children God welcomed by the promise and then extending that welcome with all.
If we are to take any cues from this passage in our life together I believe it is found in the issue of location. You might be wondering what location has to do with hospitality. Well, consider this; what would have happened if Abraham had remained inside his tent? The visitors would have passed by and Abraham and Sarah would have never heard the outrageous news. If he had not moved outside the tent what would have become of the promise. Ok, maybe that is stretching the text but it is worth considering. As we prepare to update our building we must not become so enamored with our insides that we forget that God is at work outside our building.
In fact, I believe that our vitality and our future lie in moving beyond our beautiful building and looking for places to extend hospitality to those outside. This week as I sought to point to some grand program I was reminded that it does not have to be complicated. In fact, it really can be as simple as spending some time outside this building talking to strangers. God’s messengers may just be passing outside our door while we wait for them to come inside.
This week Mary Ann Shaw shared a story about the time she spends making sure the outside looks so beautiful. Almost every time she works in the gardens people stop and talk with her. Now it may seem rather simple but what a witness it is to extend a smile and a word of welcome in our world so hungry for both. I believe we all ought to spend more time in our gardens doing the same thing. Now, I know that each one of us may not be up for digging in the dirt. But in reality, there are plenty of opportunities for each one of us to extend hospitality and share the welcome that Westminster has to offer in Jesus name. We only have to get out, maybe even sit under a tree and open our eyes for the messengers God is sending our way. Amen.
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