Socks and Sympathy

Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem?

I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” - Luke 13:1-5

This past weekend Missy’s family gathered all together at Fort Boonesborough State Park in Winchester, Kentucky. This is something they have done for years during the Labor Day weekend - and boy, is camping “labor!”

I (Steve) drove back to North Carolina on Saturday for worship on Sunday. Sunday, I turned right around and drove back to a wet and muddy Kentucky.

Along the way I drove through far Eastern Kentucky and parts of the Appalachian Mountains. The drive took me through Wolfe, Lee, Breathitt, Perry and Letcher counties. These were a few of the counties utterly devastated by recent flooding.

One of the horrific images which shall be forever lodged in my mind as I was driving by Lost Creek on Ky 15 - just a few miles outside of Jackson - was the sight of bedding and clothing…15-25 ft in the air clinging to the branches of trees.

The creek, which has subsided, was gently rolling along next to the road - all while sheets, blankets, shirts and even socks were hanging from the branches directly above.

Homes, which had been removed from their foundations, were wrapped around trees, some even upside down; cars were littered across the creek. Still mourning and homeless families were standing silently or picking through rubbish trying to salvage anything from a life which no longer exists for them.

It left you feeling helpless. It made you ask, “God, where were you when this happened?”

In our scripture today we see where Jesus brings up two horrific and unfortunate events. Some had apparently been blaming the victims for what happened to them. Sound familiar?

Yet, the truth is this: things just sometimes happen. Life happens.

There is no explaining it. There is no comfort. There is only brokenness.

It is at this point that a lot of Christians - including those who serve as ministers or are in leadership positions - give only pat answers like, “I am praying for you.” Or, even worse - in the case of those impacted by the floods - “Well, they shouldn’t live by a creek…”

At best, we know that people say these things only because they don’t know what else to say. They are at a loss for words. At worst, they actually think that way and consider themselves better people than others.

Jesus, who we are called to follow, gives us a couple of questions to consider before we begin pronouncing judgment on people who are or have experienced a horrible life moment:“Do you think that these…were worse sinners? Do you think they were more guilty than all the others?”

Of course, in our feeble and self-preserving ways, we are constantly comparing ourselves with others - you know, trying to place ourselves in a better light. What better way to do that than to think others are “worse” than us.

Perhaps no one truly understood this better than Saul/Paul of Tarsus. I Timothy 1:15 has him openly declaring, “I am the chief of sinners.” The NET version pounds it home: “I am the worst of them!”

If each of us viewed ourselves from this lens there would be no need to judge another. No need to blame someone else. No necessity laid upon us to compare ourselves with anyone.

Perhaps the next time we witness something terrible befall someone the first response we should have is one of empathy. Of understanding. Of a broken heart that immediately goes to God in prayer for that person and that situation.

British statesman and financier Cecil Rhodes, whose fortune was used to endow the world-famous Rhodes Scholarships, was a stickler for correct dress--but apparently not at the expense of someone else's feelings.

A young man invited to dine with Rhodes arrived by train and had to go directly to Rhodes's home in his travel-stained clothes. Once there he was appalled to find the other guests already assembled, wearing full evening dress.

After what seemed a long time Rhodes appeared, in a shabby old blue suit. Later the young man learned that his host had been dressed in evening clothes, but put on the old suit when he heard of his young guest's dilemma.

What about you? Is there anyone you know who needs your empathy? Your sympathy? Your understanding? Your compassion?

After all, isn’t that what Jesus gave us when “While we were still sinning Christ died for us”?