MATTHEW 15:10-20

10 And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand:

11 it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”

12 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”

13 He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up.

14 Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”

15 But Peter said to him, “Explain the parable to us.”

16 And he said, “Are you also still without understanding?

17 Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled?

18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.

19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.

20 These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”

So, what did you do to celebrate the holiday this past week?  Wait.  Don’t tell me you missed it. You didn’t celebrate National Sneak Some Zucchini On To Your Neighbor’s Porch Night?  It’s celebrated every year on August 8.  I’ll tell you what. When you get home you can circle it on your calendar so you don’t miss it next year. While you’re at it, if you want, you can also circle February 4^th.  That’s National Stuffed Mushroom Day and April 2^nd.  That’s National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day.  There’s also National Bikini Day.  That’s celebrated each year on July 5^th which is only two days before one of my favorite days. Did you know that July 7^th is National Chocolate Day?  Oh and while you’re doing your Christmas shopping don’t forget December 10^th.  That’s National Dewey Decimal System Day.

It’s amazing how you can take something that isn’t a big deal in the grand scheme of things and make it into something important.   The Pharisees did that when it came to washing their hands. They made an elaborate ritual out of it and according to the Pharisees if you wanted to be a good person you had to follow the ritual exactly.  That mean that you had to pour water over right hand and followed by your left hand and then you said a blessing.  The ritual didn’t stop there though.  You had to do it again.  Only this time your started by pouring water over your left hand followed by your right hand and then you said the blessing again. Then just to make sure you had to do it again only the third time you did it the way you did it the first time. Right hand, left hand blessing.  

The Pharisees were convinced that this ritual was something that you HAD to do if you wanted to be a good person.    Jesus, however, didn’t see it that way at all.  Jesus told his disciples that it’s not what you see on the outside that makes a person good.  It’s what’s on the inside that makes a person good.  It’s the love in your heart that important. That’s why Jesus said to them, “it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person…to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”  

So, what you have here is another theological dispute between Jesus and the Pharisees.  If you’re wondering what this dispute has to say to us to day the answer is plenty.

The Pharisees were judging people on the basis of something that wasn’t really important.  People today are judged on the basis of things that really aren’t important.  For example, suppose you’re at a dinner party and someone says, “I went to the Red Sox game last night and I sat right behind the first base dugout.”  Another person says, “I went to the Red Sox game last night and I sat in the bleachers.”  Which one impresses people more?  Here’s another one.  The first person says, “I went to Harvard.”  The second person says, “I went to Bunker Hill Community College.”  Which one impresses people more?  Suppose the first person says “I make $200,000 a year” and the second person says, “I make $40,000 a year.” Which one impresses people more.

Today people are judged on the basis of things that really aren’t all that important like where you live; what you do for work and what kind of car you drive.  I saw that the other day while I was sitting in my car.  I watched as three teenagers got out of a brand new SUV that was parked next to me.  Suddenly, I remembered the first car I ever owned.  Do you remember the first car you ever owned?  Mine was an old beat up ’65 Mustang that my father sold to me for $300.  He didn’t give it to me.  He sold it to me. It had more rust on it than paint.  My guess is that a lot of teenagers today wouldn’t drive a car like that and parents wouldn’t want them to drive a car like that. It might be too embarrassing.

Like the Pharisees people today make a big deal out of things that really aren’t all that important. It’s like the rich man who was determined to show everyone that you can take it with you. One night the rich man had a dream.  In the dream he died and went to heaven.  St. Peter was surprised when the rich man walked up to the Pearly Gates with a suitcase in his hand. St. Peter was even more surprised when he opened the suitcase and found 36 gold bricks inside. “I don’t believe it,” St. Peter said. “You brought your own pavement???”

Wall Street wants you to believe that the car you drive and the clothes you wear and the things that you own are important.  They want you to believe that because it increases their profit margin and it’s good for them.  Jesus wants you to remember that the most important thing of all is the love that’s in your heart.  He wants you to remember that because it’s good for you. Madison Avenue wants you to believe that “Image is everything!”  Jesus wants you to remember that love is everything.

There’s a poem that puts it all into perspective.  Some of you may have heard the poem before.  It’s called “The Dash” and it goes like this:

“I read of a reverend who spoke for awhile  at the funeral of a dear friend,

And mentioned the dates that were etched on the stone, both the beginning and the end.

The date of her birth and the date of her death brought forth a couple of tears.

But what mattered most the reverend said was the dash between those two years.

For it stood for all she said and did upon this planet earth.

And now only those who loved her, he sighed,  knew how much that dash was worth.

For it matters not, how much you own; the cars, the house and the cash.

What matters most is how much you love and how you spend your dash.

So think about this long and hard, are there things you need to change?

For you never know how much time is left when your dash is already mid-range.

Slow down a little and remember well; the things that are true and real,

And always try to understand how others think and feel.

Be slow to anger and say thank you more,

Loving friend and foe and those you don’t know like you’ve never loved them before

Treat high and low with utmost respect, and more often wear a smile,

Because this dash that is your life will only last you a while.

Do this now while you’re still alive, and when your deeds are rehashed,

You’ll be pleased with the things that they think and they say about the way you spent  

    your dash.”

What’s really important?  If you want the answer to that question don’t ask the Pharisees.  Don’t ask the salesman who wants to sell you that new car.  Don’t ask the coworker who’s always bragging about his accomplishments and awards. Ask Jesus. He’ll help you figure out what’s really important and if you’re lucky he’ll help you figure it out sooner rather than later.

Rachel Beckwith figured it out very early in life. She probably learned what’s really important while attending the Eastlake Community Church in Bothell, Washington. This year for her 9^th birthday she told everyone she didn’t want any presents.  Instead she asked people to make a donation in her name to Charity Water.  That’s an organization that works to bring clean drinking water to villages in Africa.  Rachel’s goal was to raise $300 to dig a well for a village.  So, she opened a webpage and wrote, "I found out that millions of people don't live to see their 5th birthday. And why? Because they didn't have access to clean, safe water so I'm celebrating my birthday like never before. I'm asking from everyone I know to donate to my campaign instead of gifts for my birthday…”    Have you heard about this story?  It was in the news a couple of weeks ago.  If you have heard about it then you know that shortly after she celebrated her birthday Rachel Beckwith was killed in an automobile accident.  At the time of her death she’d only raised $220.  When people heard about her story though they flooded her webpage with donations.   As of this morning Rachel has raised $1,067,499!  In response to the outpouring of love her mother Samantha posted these words on the webpage.  She wrote,  “I am in awe of the overwhelming love to take my daughter’s dream and make it a reality. In the face of unexplainable pain you have provided undeniable hope. Thank you for your generosity!  I know Rachel is smiling!”

Somewhere out there Jesus is smiling too.  So, while you’re washing your hands this week think about the love in your heart.  That’s what’s really important.  Jesus wants everyone to figure it out sooner rather than later and if you’ve already figured it out he wants you to help others figure it out too.  You can do that with the love in your heart and your deeds of loving kindness.  Amen.

Rev. Dr. Richard A. Hughes

August 14, 2011