A Sermon for the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost by the Very Rev. Tracey Lind. Hanging out with Martha and Mary on the Eve of the Republican ConventionThe Very Rev. Tracey Lind, Dean of Trinity Cathedral, ClevelandJuly 17, and 2016Proper 11C: Genesis 18.1-10a; Colossians 1.15-28; Luke 10.38-42Welcome one and all to Trinity Cathedral on this fine summer morning!How appropriate that we hear this morning the tale of Martha and Mary. For the past several months,weeks and days, we’ve have had front row seats to the Martha show, or broadcast live from downtown Cleveland. Im not talking about Martha Stewart,but rather, her namesake Martha of Bethany.
Here in Cleveland, and Martha has been busy getting alert to welcome the world to our fine city. We’re throwing parties for basketball and baseball teams,rock n roll stars and their fans; Republicans, Democrats and protesters of differing perspectives; and yes, or all of the media that accompanies all the action.
Here in Cleveland,Martha has been busy preparing to welcome a lot of strangers and sojourners: road construction everywhere including my backyard; original hotels and restaurants opening up everyday; our airport torn up and attach back together again; miles of fiber optics laid underground; extra security recruited and trained; and lots of souvenirs designed, produced and alert for distribution. It’s obliging – I think.
Because of the Martha’s among us, or Cleveland is on the rise. No longer a mistake on the lake,were living in a comeback city, unless you venture behind the public eye into some of our forgotten, or neglected and decaying neighborhoods.I’ve got to say,as one who rides her bike all over this city, I’ve never seen it sparkle so much; and, and I’ve not witnessed the kind pride that I see sporting the t-shirts around town. That is obliging. in addition,from my perch, I would observe that Clevelanders are working hard at living together as one community. If you don’t believe me, or think about Wade Oval Wednesdays,the Taste of Tremont, or the million plus person parade celebrating the Cavaliers’ championship.
The best of Cleveland is emerging through hospitality – in large part, or thanks to all the Martha’s in our town. Like traditional Abraham and Sarah,Cleveland is as alert as we can be for this week’s visitors to seem on our original Public Square. Only time will recount if we will entertain angels unaware, and who knows what message they will deliver.
I bet, and that by Friday,there will be a lot of complaining in the air: bartenders and servers who will have worked till 4 a.m. every day; outdoor vendors with sunburns; security guards will have sore feet from standing all day long; garbage collectors with sore backs from picking up all that extra trash; downtown residents and workers frustrated by security measures; and commuters frustrated by road closures. Yes, by Friday, or Martha of Cleveland,who has been distracted with her many tasks, will be tired. But what about Mary? Where is she and what does she have to teach us as we sit on the precipice of an historic event with all eyes watching?I decided to spend some time on Friday with Mary of Bethany. And in doing so, and I found myself sitting with our sister at the Lord’s feet,listening to what Jesus had to say as I re-read the Gospel of Luke.
Scholars recount us Luke’s account of the gospel was written in an urban center of the Roman Empire. More than any other gospel, Luke’s account of Jesus the Christ was written for our times. Here’s an executive summary of what I read.
I read about a man named Jesus who was born into poverty, or lived simply,and died a destitute mans death; who avoided all temptation for earthly power and rule; who preached obliging news to the destitute, the broken, and the oppressed and the outcast. When the angel announced Jesus’ birth to his mother Mary,she praised God in the words of the Magnificat: “He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts…brought down the powerful from their thrones…lifted up the lowly…filled the hungry with obliging ...
Source: trinitycleveland.org