Sermon: "True Humility"
The Right Reverend Charles G. vonRosenberg
Third Bishop of East Tennessee

[This sermon by Bishop vonRosenberg was delivered using the following notes.]

Spending a lot of effort and energy worrying about what other people are doing is apparently not a new pass time. In fact, our readings this morning offer us several examples from centuries ago … examples that seem strangely current, in many ways. In a couple of the readings - Numbers and Mark - a similar dynamic takes place. That is, an individual or two is doing something out of the ordinary … not wrong, just unusual. Another person observes this action and runs to report it to an authority figure. In each case, though, the authority figure speaks a word of correction and clarity - not to the individuals who acted in the first place but to the ones who reported on them.

In that wonderful episode from the Book of Numbers, you remember that seventy elders were gathered with Moses outside the camp … at the tent of meeting. While those folks were getting their instructions, though, two others - with the unlikely names of "Eldad" and "Medad" - were back in the camp. And those two began prophesying, even though they were not at the tent of meeting with the others.

We read next that a young man went and told Moses about the situation … and when Joshua heard about it, he said, "My lord Moses, stop them"(11:28). Now, it is not clear why Joshua was so upset, but something about this absence of order clearly bothered him. Moses' response to Joshua was classic: "Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit on them!"(11:29). Thus, the one who perhaps had some reason to be upset - Moses - clearly was not.

This episode, then, puts the question squarely before us today. Why do we spend so much time worrying about what other people are doing?

The Second Reading is a bit different from the other two. That is, it represents part of an exhortation from the Letter of James. However, the message surely is appropriate in addressing the same question today. The author of the Letter of James can certainly speak for himself, and he might as well be addressing us directly. "Do not speak evil against one another, brothers and sisters. Whoever speaks evil against another or judges another, speaks evil against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save and to destroy. So who, then, are you to judge your neighbor?" (4:11-12). In other words, "Why do we spend so much time worrying about other people's behavior?"

Then, our Lord provides another appropriate example in the Gospel reading. Apparently there were some healers in the area of Capernaum, on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. These healers were not associated with Jesus or his disciples, but they were using Jesus' name anyway. And, apparently, they were effective in their ministries. Now the disciple John, in words reminiscent of Joshua in the First Reading, told Jesus that he and others had tried to stop this unauthorized healing. However, Jesus encouraged a different course of action. Calmly and clearly, Jesus offered this direction: "Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for us" (Mk 9: 39-40).

I have a confession to make this morning. There are all kinds of reports about activities in the church these days … some of them claiming to be done in the name of Jesus … many of them divisive and damaging to church order. And I hear about those things … at least, some of them. My confession is this. In those circumstances, I can relate much easier to Joshua and John than I can to Moses and Jesus. That is, I am more prone to exclaim, "My lord, stop them!" than to observe, "Whoever is not against us is for us."

Not long ago, in fact, this very Gospel passage occurred to me as I was saying my prayers and considering, in particular, someone who was leaving the Episcopal Church. I was sad, and I was upset. I was Joshua. I was John. However, in the midst of my prayers, this passage came quite clearly to mind: "Whoever is not against us is for us." And, I realized that the "us" there does not refer to the bishop of East Tennessee but, rather, to Jesus Christ. I cannot say that the people who have left the Episcopal Church are against Jesus. And that is an important recognition for me to have … indeed, an essential one. I may argue with what these folks have done. I may object strongly to the disorder they have caused to the church I love. I may question some of their motives - and, even more so, the motives of those with whom they are associated. But I cannot say that such folks are against Jesus. Therefore, with the true sense of humility that comes from confession, I recall the words of our Lord: "Whoever is not against us is for us." I encourage a similar humility among all of us gathered here today. That humility may harm our ability to be self-righteous … but it will enrich our souls.

Before concluding this sermon, I cannot leave these passages without making another point … a point somewhat related to what I have said already, but not quite the same thing. Remember how I described the interchanges in our readings from Numbers and Mark? I said that one or two people were doing something out of the ordinary. Another person observed the action and then reported it to an authority figure. So, in this scenario, we have the actor, the observer, and the authority figure. And I suggest to you that this scenario depicts a classic triangle within relationships.

Each of us - at least, each adult present - has played each of those parts. From time to time, we have been the actor, the observer, and the authority figure. The scenario is familiar - all too familiar - and when it is played out, the consequences are destructive of community. Again, the question needs to be this - "Why spend so much time worrying about other people's behavior?"

It would be so much better if we could follow the examples of Moses and Jesus - but, unfortunately, that seldom happens. Notice that neither Moses nor Jesus agrees to get caught in the triangle. "Are you jealous for my sake?", Moses asks. "Whoever is not against us is for us", Jesus says. In effect, both Moses and Jesus are saying to the ones reporting to them, "If you are worried about this, then you go and confront the one who has acted. The matter is between the two of you." That is surely the best way to deal with a developing triangle of relationships. And, I commend that way to you this morning. Not everything is about us. We do not have to fix every problem that is presented to us, and, further, we need to take matters of conflict directly to the person involved. Recognizing the appropriate - and limited - parts for us to play in such relationships also requires the exercise of humility.

The Bible's wisdom in our readings this morning points us toward actions of true humility, and we are encouraged in the exercise of such humility - both for our own sake and for the sake of community. May we take that encouragement seriously, and may we choose the way of humility in our relationships, for such is the way of our Lord. Amen.

Copyright © 2006 The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee