11-8-2009
Sermon for 11-8-09
For my sermon, let me bring your attention to one theme in the Old Testament reading and the gospel and then share with you some stories.
Both of these readings feature widows. Widows, as in, a favorite Pizza Shop of mine back in Connecticut had an all meat pizza, called “the widow-maker”; because the husbands just die for that pizza pie.
For all of my growing up years, my grandma Bartlett was a widow.
For 26 years, Alia’s grandmother Lewis, was a widow.
I brought this tea pot over from our kitchen this morning because it has a story behind it, about what it’s worth.
Alia’s grandmother gave this teapot to her, many happy years ago. We’ve used it off and on, but this story is about what it’s worth.
So what do you think it’s worth?
A thousand dollars? A hundred thousand? All the tea in China?
What if I were to say, its broken, missing parts?
Its little lid, which is now missing, was some time ago chipped, and it lost its holding hook with some glaze and it lost its ability to keep the lid on while you’re pouring, so that you have to hold it with both hands to pour.
And here I was, ready to toss it in the trash just for that, can you believe me?
But this was before I found out what its worth.
Let’s see, It’s made in …Japan… hmm not China- During world travels, I have studied and shopped for and bought tea kettles in both China and Japan- and even though Japan is totally more expensive, what about this tea pot?
When the poor widow came and put two small copper coins down, our gospel says that in that culture they are worth- a penny. But then Jesus says the worth of those coins cannot be measured by money value.
So what’s the tea kettle worth? Ill tell you frankly, as a bargain shopper, it’s simply not worth much that money can measure.
In this case, it’s the thoughts that count, the remembered words between Grandmother and daughter, the love which is valued forever.
The thoughts, the sentimental value, the humble exchange of hugs and the clinking of mugs.
But, It’s just a brown, a bit ugly, tea kettle; in one opinion of course…
But of course, communion bread is just little crumbly pieces of not a whole lot, but the worth of the ordinary things in life, are invaluable when they also carry with them the remembrance of love and hope and faith from generation to generation, the presence of love between God’s people.
… to remember the the worth of life, of family, of God’s many gracious gifts– is nothing less than priceless.
And now I want to share with you, one more story, about receiving and remembering gifts that aren’t about money, but about values, about valuing all of God’s creation with care, concern, and comfort.
This story comes from Christ Lutheran Church in Downey…
