10-8-2023 “Sacred Serendipity” (Matthew 21:33-46) ~ Pentecost XIX

Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor

Serendipity. It means accidental discovery, or when something desirable occurs accidentally. Maybe this sermon title is wrong then because what I am about to share is not something that is accidental. I think God’s hand was involved.

It began Wednesday night. I was watching a brief documentary on Roger Waters. Waters was one of the founders of the legendary British band Pink Floyd — one of my all-time favorite bands. Waters, who left Pink Floyd in the mid-’80s, was their principal lyricist and wrote the music to most of their songs as well. The documentary, entitled The Dark Side of Roger Waters, is a play on the classic Pink Floyd album The Dark Side of the Moon, one of the highest-grossing albums in music history, the documentary is quite gripping. I am a huge fan of Waters and Pink Floyd. I am well aware of the accusations associated with Roger Waters, but this documentary, which features some of the people who worked closely with him, makes a convincing claim. In his staunch advocacy for the Palestinians, particularly the BDS movement (BDS stands for boycott, divestment, and sanctions against Israel), Waters’ unwavering support for Palestine has raised the suspicions of many. It’s hard not to see him as anti-Semitic after watching this film. It’s one thing to support Palestine publically. It is another thing to use anti-Semitic epithets in private. Waters has done both.

Footnote Number One: my prayers remain with both the Israelis and the Palestinians over this conflict, which erupted yesterday with another horrific bombing in Israel by the terrorist group Hamas killing over 600 innocent people. That is the definition of terrorism! That said, I do not think that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is as black-and-white an issue as some claim, including Waters as well as our former denomination the United Church of Christ. (You’ll remember that this is one of the issues that led us to leave the UCC.) Even though my support leans far more toward Israel, I think a two-state solution is the only way to stop the bloodshed.

But that is not my point. I watched this documentary and, realized how much of my money has gone towards purchasing Waters’ music, not to mention how much of it has gone towards purchasing concert tickets over the years (I do not even want to tell you how many times I have seen Waters in concert) — realizing all of this, I found myself in an awkward, uncomfortable moment. I cannot support anyone who supports hate.

Fast forward twenty-four hours. We held our first Alternative Service in the chapel Thursday night. Traffic was horrible that night. It took me what seemed to be forever to get here that evening. It wasn’t just the traffic on Route 1 and Route 93. It was the traffic in Canton! What is going on? It took me twenty minutes to travel from the 128 exit to 1541 Washington Street, which usually takes a few minutes. All night it seemed as if a line of traffic was stalled right in front of our church. Suffice it to say, it was a bit discouraging to see that there were only five of us in attendance for that inaugural service, including me. However, it was one of the most powerful services I have ever led or attended.

One person came who is not a member of our church and has never been here before. As she told me, she is Jewish, but she believes in Jesus. She came with a heart filled with pain and grief. She had recently lost her adult son and was mired in a cloud of deep sadness. Mind you, I know that there are many people in this church who have lost children (an inordinate amount if you compare us to other congregations), so, maybe, that is why God led her here. I believe it is. With claims of antisemitism ringing in my heart regarding one of my musical heroes, this Jewish woman came to us for comfort. Not only that, but every word, every prayer, and every song we lifted up that night just seemed to fit the moment. I realized during the ride home, that we (at least I) needed that woman to come that night as much as she needed to be here. I cannot put it into words, but the feeling was palpable.

By the way, when I arrived here Thursday night, well before the service started, I found a gift waiting for me on my desk from Rev. Dee and Patty Doyle. It was a present for Pastor Appreciation Month. (I didn’t know we had a whole month! I have to tell my wife this: a whole month in which she needs to appreciate me!) This is the gift — part of the Willow Creek series. It is a shepherd.

I was moved to tears. Yes, that is what I do — or at least try to do. I am a shepherd: the person who has been called to lead this flock. Sometimes I knock it out of the park. Sometimes I drop the ball completely. But just the same, I love this church wholeheartedly, and I know that I am loved by you. I know both things at the core of my being.

It was as if God was saying, in the course of 24 hours, “You are a shepherd and this is your flock. But your flock is bigger than you think. People come here because they need to. They need to experience the love, the grace, and the fellowship that is found here. Keep going.” The Jewish woman that came that night said something similar. She knew she needed to find a place that night where she could pray and be with others who held her while she mourned. She confessed, “I was apprehensive at first because I do not know anything about this church. I did not know if I would be welcome or if people would think I was strange. But I saw your ad in the paper,” she said, “and I knew I had to come.” She also said, “This place is so friendly.” Footnote Number Two: she sat next to Donna Kendall. How could she not feel welcome!

God does work in mysterious ways, as the old adage claims. God sends messages to us all the time. It is just a matter of whether or not we are listening.

This entire sermon topic is a bit strange given that the reading from the Gospel today has the line, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is amazing in our eyes.” This is a line that often comes under attack by Jews because it seems as if Jesus is saying that the builders are the Jewish leaders. They have rejected Jesus, yet he has become the cornerstone of our faith. (Footnote Number Three: Jesus, who was Jewish, was not speaking out against Jews, but, rather, the Jewish religious leaders of his day, who put more emphasis on strict adherence to the Jewish Law as opposed to the lived faith, a faith based on mercy. He was critical of them as leaders, not as Jews. That is an important distinction.)

Here am I — a shepherd who is very sensitive to anti-Semitic rhetoric being reminded of who he is and what he is to do, being in the right place at the right time, discouraged by the low turnout at our first Alternative Service, but, quickly, held fast to the words of Jesus in Matthew 18:20, “where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” We had more than two or three. We had five, and I have absolutely no doubt whatsoever that Jesus was in our midst.

Serendipity: an accidental discovery, or when something desirable occurs accidentally. Keep your eyes open, my friends. God shows up all the time — and all the time God is good.

Amen.