Eight centuries before Jesus walked into the house of the Pharisee on the Sabbath, God had already made God’s expectations of those who profess to be faithful people abundantly clear: As the prophet Micah declared, “He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
“Walk humbly with your God.” Avram was confused. All the Pharisees in his region looked up to him. He was learned in the ways of the law, and he and his household observed all the law’s demands scrupulously. Even so, he was eager to meet this Galilean rabbi whose miraculous healings and startling teachings were arousing the countryside. When Avram went out to meet him at the gate, Jesus took Avram’s hands in his own. As if he knew that Avram wanted to follow him, Jesus looked into Avram’s eyes and greeted him warmly. Avram’s heart stirred. However, once inside the house, the mood shifted. Jesus’ face darkened as he watched the other men jockeying for position, showing off their fine clothes, and shouting at the servants. Going against all norms of etiquette, Jesus clanked a knife against a cup. Quoting some verses from Scripture – Proverbs as it turned out – he warned the status-seekers to remember who they were in God’s eyes: specks of dust, blades of grass blown away by a gust of wind. Was he trying for a little humor when he said, “Those who walk around with their noses in the air will fall flat on their faces?” Perhaps, but his message was clear. In God’s eyes none of us is any better than anyone else: we are all needy and dependent on God’s mercy. As Jesus was speaking, Avram began to wonder, “What do I do? Do I see myself as better than others? Richer, better educated, more influential? Do I myself head for the best seat in the synagogue or at dinner tables?”
Before Avram could answer these questions, Jesus spun around and addressed him. “Why did you invite only your friends, Avram? God has gifted you with a large and wealthy household, plenty of time, and a good heart. Where are the people who really need your help – and I’m not talking just about your checkbook? When are you going to embrace God’s other children, the ones who look, and smell, and talk differently from you? Do you think you’re better than they are? If you’re truly humble, you know that you’re no different from them, and that you and they are all God’s beloved children. You think you want to follow me? See who my friends are and make them your friends too!” Avram was stunned. Then he looked at Jesus’ face. He saw such love in Jesus’ eyes that, before he could lose his nerve, he whispered, “O.K., Jesus, I’m in.”
“Love kindness.” Fast forward twenty centuries. For thirty years, nine women in west Tennessee kept a deep, dark secret.1 Four of them women were sisters raised by generous grandparents and the other five were friends of the family. The nine women often played bridge together. Thirty-five years ago, they decided it was time to put their faith into action and begin helping those in need. Although they wished they’d had $1 million, they managed to scrape together $400 by washing their husbands’ shirts themselves. Then they hatched a plan: without anyone knowing who they were or what they were doing, in their own kitchens, they began baking cakes and other sweet treats for those in need. Then they began to eavesdrop – with good intentions -- at the beauty shop or the grocery store. If they heard about a widow or a single mom who needed a little help, they’d step in and anonymously pay a utility bill or buy some new clothes for the children.
They called themselves the Nine Nanas. The more people they helped, the bolder they became. “We gave new meaning to the term drive-by,” one said delightedly. “We’d drive through low-income neighborhoods and look for homes that had fans in the window. That told us that the people who lived there didn’t have air-conditioning. Or we’d see that there were no lights on at night, which meant there was a good chance their utilities had been turned off. Then we’d return before the sun came up, like cat burglars, and drop off a little care package.” And anonymously pay the utility bill.
The Nanas kept their secret for thirty years, until one of the husbands decided to take a closer look at bank statements and odometers. They fessed up. “They were amazed that we were doing this, “another said, “and even more amazed that they never knew. We can keep a good secret! All but three of the husbands are retired now, so sometimes they come with us on our drive-bys. In our area, all you need is an address to pay someone’s utility bill, so we keep the men busy jotting down numbers.” Then the grown children got involved, urging the Nanas to sell their sweet treats on line to support their charitable work. The orders began pouring in. When the orders reached 100 a day, a restaurant allowed them use its kitchen in the early morning hours, and they hired a full-time coordinator – whose identity is secret so that she can continue eavesdropping. Their online success now allows the Nanas to take on even bigger projects. Recently they donated more than $5,000 worth of pillows, linens and toiletries to a shelter for survivors of domestic violence. The million dollars they once wished for? They’re almost there. In the last 35 years, the Nanas have contributed nearly $900,000 to their local community.
“Do justice.” Tomorrow is Labor Day in the U.S. Many in this community struggle because they are unemployed. But Labor Day Sunday is also a day to recognize that some of the people who come to Loaves and Fishes, the Lutheran Social Services Mobile Food Pantry, or the Outreach Center, or who access government services, have a job but cannot earn enough to support a family. Perhaps their wages are too low. More than a quarter of all jobs pay such low wages that even someone working full time cannot support a family. More than likely, they don’t get enough hours anyway. More than a third of all Walmart employees, for example, work fewer than 28 hours a week and therefore do not qualify for benefits. Over 80% of low-wage workers have no sick leave and lose wages every time they or a family member is sick. Over a quarter of low-wage workers have no health insurance, either through their job or a family member – not to mention dental or vision care insurance. And many low-wage workers have unpredictable work schedules, making it difficult to take a second job, go to school, or find child care. To make matters worse, more than likely they have fallen into debt because of loans taken – at high interest rates – for car repairs or medical expenses. We do a great job of meeting people’s immediate needs for food, but what else can we do to help others escape poverty?
What is our role as a church to help those in need come to the point where our handouts are no longer necessary? This weekend workers at McDonald’s and other fast-food restaurants in many cities are onstrike, demanding livable wages. Addressing one such gathering in Atlanta, Congressman John Lewis alluded to the March on Washington fifty years ago this week. Then he offered his support to those gathered in Atlanta saying, "We're still marching for jobs. We need more than a minimum wage, we need a livable wage. I don't understand how people survive when they are being paid starvation wages. In a country like ours, we could do much better."2 Echoing Lewis in their Labor Day statement, Roman Catholic bishops reminded the faithful that, “The pain of the poor and those becoming poor in the rising economic inequality of our society is mounting. Therefore, on this Labor Day 2013, let us renew our commitment to promote the dignity of the human person through work that is honorable, pays just wages, and recognizes the God-given dignity of the working person.” What can we do? We can support policies that begin to decrease the gap between rich and poor in this country. We can pray for the wisdom to create a system where all who work are also able to support themselves and their families. We can press our elected representatives to think about extreme poverty and economic justice when they craft federal or state budgets. We can educate ourselves through books like Barbara Ehrenreich’s Nickel and Dimed or Jim Wallis’s On God’s Side. Jesus showed us that God’s Reign includes all of God’s children, and that God has a special preference for the poor. Have we invited the poor to the table?
“He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” God grant us the will and wisdom to follow Jesus in living up to God’s requirements.
1. The following is based on http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/20/it-aint-over-the-business-secret_n_1607385.html , accessed 8-29-13.
2. http://clatl.com/freshloaf/archives/2013/08/30/video-us-rep-john-lewis-calls-for-livable-wages-five-points-fast-food-workers-strike accessed 8-31-13.
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