Chapel Hill United Church of Christ

Wednesday Sermon

Forming Christ-likeness

E. “Colorblind Compassion”

March 5, 2008

Mark 7:24-30

Then he said to her, “For saying that, you may go—the demon has left your daughter.”

By

Rev. Galen E. Russell III

Pastor

Prayer: Holy God, may we learn from Jesus’ words and his experiences. May the traits exhibited by Jesus become fused into us. Amen.

Tonight, I have scheduled something a little different. We have a special guest speaker coming in, although, I notice that he’s not here yet. He’s a friend of mine whom I have asked to be here to assist with my sermon tonight. But, since he’s not here yet, I think I will just wing it for a few moments.

Let me first start with a brief re-cap of where we have been on this Lenten journey. We started out with the basic idea that once you come to accept Christ into your life as your Savior, then you become aware of a marvelous spiritual change happening within you. That change is Christ’s spirit living, growing within you. Christ’s Spirit is none other than God’s Holy Spirit which is regenerated in you. As that Holy Spirit grows in you and in me, our actions start to change, too. If we let it, some of the traits exhibited by Jesus might just show up in the way we live. These traits I have called “Traits of Christian Living.” One of those traits is supposed to be discussed by our special guest speaker tonight… Hopefully, he arrives soon.

Well, anyway… the first trait of Jesus that can show up in us is that Jesus was a prayerful worshiper. In the midst of all his demands, he took time to pray and worship. We can, too.

A second trait of Jesus was that he was a message bearer. He had God’s message to share, what God loves, how God’s light is in our lives. We watched how he shared that message with others. We can exhibit that trait, too, as we share what God is about with others.

Last Wednesday evening, we observed a trait found in Jesus on accepting and giving forgiveness. Lord knows, Jesus had to teach people how to do that… even today, that trait needs to be learned and shown in just about every aspect and every circumstance of our lives.

Well, tonight… I had hoped that the next trait would be described and discussed by our guest speaker… who is not here… wait… I just saw some movement out in the Narthex… there’s someone out there. I bet that’s him. Let me go out and get him and invite him in… His name is Phoenix Syrio. [Exit, take off robe, put on coat and hat… come back into the sanctuary as Phoenix Syrio]

Hello, everyone! [shake hands with a few people on the edge.] Geez, I’m sorry I’m late. I couldn’t get here due to a number of delays that just happened to me. I won’t mention the fact that the directions your pastor, my good friend Galen gave me didn’t have the right hand turn off the Harvey Taylor Bridge! Oy! What a guy! I could just smack him!

Anyway… oh! I was going to come here and talk to you about the traits of Christian living… But before I get to that… you want to know the real reason I was late getting here tonight? It’s all my wife Chloe’s fault. Now, I’m a follower of Christ, but she is not, although she might be one now after I tell you what happened. Well, she came home about an hour and a half ago bouncing off the walls! She was happy; she was excited, she was trembling… She could hardly speak!

I said, “What is going on with you?” She blurted out, “Phoenix, where’s Maddie? Where’s Maddie?!?” Maddie is our nine year old sick daughter. She has some bad ailment going on—doctors can’t figure out what is wrong. Well, I said, “She’s upstairs where she always is.” “Let’s go see her! Come on!” So, upstairs we went. And there was Maddie… playing with her doll, something she hasn’t done in months! Well, Chloe darn near fainted! So did I, honestly. But when we recovered, we hugged Maddie. Oh! We were so joyful. Then Chloe sat down and told me what happened.

She said to me, “You’re not going to believe this, Phe. I saw your Savior Jesus, today.” She said she was loading groceries into the car in the Giant parking lot, and when she looked up, well there he was he was! She said he was loading groceries into his car, too. Apparently she recognized him right away, went right up to him and asked if he could heal Maddie. Chloe said he looked a little surprised…He kind of gave her the once-over, I guess because Chloe doesn’t look like your typical, average American Christian. I’m not sure what a typical, average American Christian looks like, but Chloe is not it. She is of Arabic descent. She has very Semitic markings, so I guess Jesus knew she wasn’t a Christian. But, of all the people I know, she has a profound faith in God.

Anyway, when Chloe asked Jesus if he would heal Maddie, I guess Jesus thought it over for a minute. Then he said that he has come for those who believe in him. Those are the people who are to benefit. Then he said, “I’m sorry… I can’t throw away the children’s food to the dogs.”

Now, you don't’ know my wife, but she is quick… ooh wee…! I’ve had live with that quick wit for all my adult life! Anyway, she said straight up to Jesus, “I understand, but even the dogs hang around the children just to get the scraps off the table!”

I said to her, “You didn’t say that, did you?” “Oh yes I did!” she said. “Right to his face!” Apparently, Jesus was impressed because he said to her, “Your daughter has been made well.” And, that’s when she came running home, and we both found Maddie doing very well!

That’s what we were dealing with the last hour or so… We were praising God! We were celebrating! And, that’s why I’m late arriving here to be with you. Truth is, I almost forgot this speaking engagement.

Now I was supposed to talk to you about the traits of Jesus. Well, you know what? Chloe and Maddie’s story shows exactly that. A special trait of Jesus was that he is able to see who we are. He is able to recognize us without descriptive trappings. Jesus showed colorblindness with Chloe once he saw her faith, once he knew her heart. Once she recognized Jesus as a person who could say the word and our daughter would be healed, she approached him. Once he saw her sincere faith, her sincere hope she placed in him, Jesus grew compassionate, too. He had colorblind compassion. He said the word, and Maddie was well again.

Colorblind compassion is a trait that Jesus had. He showed it with strangers, he showed it under weird circumstances. He is the role model for all of us to follow. I encourage each of us to exhibit the same trait.

Well, Galen told me to be brief… where is he, anyway? Hmm. I don’t know. But, I need to go back. So, let me say good-bye to you for now, and I will go find your pastor. Thank you for having speak here tonight. [exit, put on robe, come back into sanctuary].

Where’s Phoenix? I didn’t see him out there. I looked around the whole building? Did I miss him? Amen.