The Different Person Canon Graeme Winterton at Holy Trinity Kew - Epiphany 3 - 22nd. January 2017
Gospel: Matthew 4:21-40 & Mark 1:40-45 1 PEOPLE WHO ARE DIFFERENT.
I was confronted by a disturbed man at the Eastland shopping centre. He was unshaven, with unkempt long hair and ragged, dirty clothing. He was angry, loud, abusive and gesticulated wildly. People moved around and away from him. He disturbed everyone, and I admit to being disturbed too. A sense of collective relief was tangible when security oficers arrived on the scene to control the situation. 2. AN ENCOUNTER WITH THE 'DIFFERENT PERSON' IS MORE FREQUENT THAN WE REALISE
Most of us learn through experience to cope with varying degrees of what we may consider 'out of the ordinary factors" which occur in people we meet. • For example, someone whom we may regard as extreme – too loud - too quiet too religious - weird in dress, attitude or habit. • The disabled, or to use a politically corrrect term, 'mentally challenged persons' on a group outing with carers. • A meeting face to face with the terminally ill and the bereaved. • Differences in race and culture, and skin colour. By and large most of us accept differences and seek to treat others with dignity and respect and recognise that what one may consider "different"may well be thought of as 'normal' by another.) 3.
HOWEVER, THE 'DIFFERENT PERSON' WHO TAKES US OUTSIDE OUR 'COMFORT ZONE' USUALLY AROUSES TENSION WITHIN US.
Our responses are usually spontaneous for the different person touches our emotions, memories and feelings: Fear often dominates because fear of of the unknown arouses the possibility of violence and of being hurt. The arrival of a Bikie gang at the place where we were staying on holiday conjured up the same concern - Unspoken fears surfaced. How will they behave? Will something happen? Will it affect me? •
Page 1
Memories may be triggered by the different person too. The disturbance and emotions of a past trauma may reappear and it can be particularly disturbing if one has battled to deal with a difficult past. The unexpected arrival of the 'different person' is most often a great inconvenience particularly when our time and priiorities are affected. A sense of inadequacy is not uncommon for when we feel unable to cope and don’t know what to do our self esteem suffers. 4. THE PRESENCE OF PEOPLE WHO ARE DIFFERENT DRAW A RESPONSE
Psychologists suggest that most of us, when confronted with the unexpected, usually react with a response of: FRIGHT - FIGHT - OR FLIGHT ´How do you react when unexpectedly confronted by a ‘different’ person?’ • Perhaps with Fright - with tensing muscles and a tight feeling in the pit of the stomach. Perhaps you freeze and don't know how to respond? ( What will I do? ) • Some may instinctively Fight - Grit their teeth and push through and ‘speak out or even become physical?- ( ‘get out of my way.’ ) • Flight in its various forms is probably the most common reaction expressed by looking away, pretending not to see or, by crossing the road? (‘Let me out of here!’) It’s worth noting that these reactions are typical when we are more concerned about ourselves than the other person. Jesus related the story of the Good Samaritan to illustrate this very point. (The lawyer and priest crossed the road and kept on going.) 5. JESUS SHOWED US HOW TO RESPOND WHEN WE MEET PEOPLE WHO ARE DIFFERENT. The Gospels relate many such events: The writers are so taken with the compassion concern and involvement of Jesus with people who are different that they make a point of relating such encounters in detail.
Some of the people Jesus befriended and helped were very different indeed! Physically and mentally affected
• • • • •
• • • • •
Paralytic Epileptic Deaf and dumb Blind Leprosy
Samaritan woman Greeks Noblemen & Rulers Radicals & agitators Prostitutes
• Stroke affected • Mentally disturbed • Demon possessed • Terminally ill
Socially different • • • • •
Tax collectors Politicians Lawyers Theologians Sinners
Without exception, Jesus treated people with respect, courtesy & infinite patience
No matter their station in life or their particular condition or concern Fright Fight or Flight never describes Jesus’ dealing with others! Jesus identified with their concerns — not his own. The Different Person
Page 2
6. THE GOSPEL
MATTHEW 4: 21 -40 & MARK 1: 40-45
St. Mark’s account of the leper cleansed by Jesus in the very early days of his ministry reveals much. Lepers were social outcasts. Outcasts at a number of levels: Physically contagious, religiously and ceremonially unclean socially ostracised for people believed leprosy was caused by sinning. People wouldn’t have anything to do with them! But Jesus did! Look more closely at how he handled the situation: • • • •
•
Jesus waited for him. He obviously saw him coming ( calling ‘unclean’– people around drawing back) - he approached and Jesus didn’t avoid him. Jesus listened to the man’s concern. He listened with his heart, not merely his ears. Jesus was moved with compassion ( or indignation against the suffering - the Greek permits the alternative interpretation as in the case of the raising of Lazarus) Jesus touched the man - Jewish regulation did not permit a person to touch lepers to do so would be to become ritually unclean Despite the consequences for himself, Jesus put the man’s needs first. Jesus acted to meet the need.
7. IT’S A CHALLENGE ISN’T IT?
We are called to love and serve others as Jesus did. God's love includes the the suffering and disenfranchised, the misunderstood and the 'different person' as well as those whom we like and favour. Society fosters a “Me first mentality” We are pressured daily to conform to the attitudes around us. None of us can escape being swamped by invasive advertising messages like “Indulge yourself - You’re worth it.” Media and public figures popularise attitudes and opinions. Political policy is generally directed towards influencing the individual. Pork barrelling is especially noticeable at election time. Modern marketing has even infilrated the churches. Note the words of many contemporary gospel songs; most are about subjective personal experience, very few are God directed. (One of our bishops recently described them as “I, me and mine songs.” ) At best when we look to family and friends for advise on issues of personal direction or decision the response will usually run along the lines of : “Well, I don’t know what to think, but make sure you do what is best for you.” Societal pressure of this nature is so intense that the world view it engenders shuts out alternative ways of thinking or living and runs contrary to the way of Christ and the Gospel. Whatever happened to the Christian mindset which has long been the basis of our way of life? Where is the demonstration of the servant principle expressed from a heart that follows Jesus and sees as others see, walks in their shoes, feels their pain, gives without asking, and rejoices in their victory and freedom. The Christian mindset was once upon a time practiced and taught in our homes and in the class rooms of our schools, and perhaps best of all inculcated at Sunday School when we learned: “Jesus first, myself last, and others in between” 8. IT IS A CHALLENGE
Jesus set the bench mark for us. He marked it clearly by his life and by his teaching, his dealings with the people like the leper, in the relationships of his own family circle and amongst his disciples and friends and supremely, in his passion of suffering and execution. The Different Person
Page 3
The benchmark of the servant mindset was also taught and commanded by Jesus. He who would be greatest among you - let him be the servant of all. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. By this shall everyone know that you are my disciples, by the love you have one towards another. • This of course is the service Jesus requires of his people. The servant ministry that washes the feet of the soiled and weary. The discipleship that walks the extra mile, The commitment that welcomes the stranger and bears the burden of the day when the road is hard, long and dreary. A word of caution - The fact that Jesus was able to confront extreme circumstances and deal with people in dire need doesn’t mean that he expects us to rush out and become the answer to the world’s need and involve ourselves in the affairs of everyone we meet. Not one of us possess the whole range of training and skill required. Physician, psychiatrist, social worker, philanthropist, and divine healer. However we all have been given the ability to love and to care. To empathise and respond. To offer support when indicated . In short — “ to love my neighbour as myself.” We have also each been granted special gifts and abilities. (yours may well be that of the professional carer ) but whatever we do best and well is meant to be used for the good of others - not merely for my own personal gratification or enrichment. Do you find yourself falling short of the benchmark? Perhaps you are swayed by today’s very questionable attitudes and expectations? Perhaps even developed a gimme mentality fotered by an all too prevalent "Nanny State syndrome" which expects everything for nothing – the mindset of one who demands to be served rather than that of one who serves? Resolve to do something about it. Thankfully God has provided resources which equip us for the task! Jesus promised to change and restore our inner nature, to send his Spirit to indwell us and illumine our minds, to lead and direct us and to use us to touch the lives of others. The different person really matters to Our Lord. The different person is given as a great gift. Depending upon the nature of their personal difference, many shame us with their selfless love and care. Others who are difficult provide us with the opportunity to discover the grace of God to change our attitudes and commitment to love and care for them in ways beyond our own natural ability to cope and act. It really is a matter of talking to the Lord and telling him of your desire to be his servant and to ask for the power and assistance he has promised. It’s personal, it’s within the heart, it’s between God and yourself. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself looking at others from a different point of view and with different eyes.
The Different Person
Page 4