St. Ansgar's Lutheran Church

Sermon for Sunday, February 9, 2003

Fifth Sunday After Epiphany




What a Smile!

Prayer:

 

A wife invited some people to dinner. At the table, she turned to their six-year-old daughter and said, "Would you like to say the blessing?" "I wouldn't know what to say," the girl replied. "Just say what you hear Mommy say," the wife answered. The daughter bowed her head and said, "Lord, why on earth did I invite all these people to dinner."

 

 

I would like to do something different this morning and that is I will share with you some personal stories on Smiles. This is a true: I am a mother of three

(ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently completed my college degree. The last class I had to take was Sociology. The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every human being had been graced with. Her last project of the term was called "Smile."

The class was asked to go out and smile at three people and document their reactions. I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone and say hello anyway, so, I thought this would be a piece of cake, literally.

          Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and I went out to McDonald's one cold March morning. It was just our way of sharing special play time with our son. We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden everyone around us began to back away, and then even my husband did.

I did not move an inch ..... an overwhelming feeling of panic welled up inside of me as I turned to see why they had moved. As I turned around I smelled a horrible "dirty body" smell, and there standing behind me were two poor homeless men. As I looked down at the short gentleman, close to me, he was "smiling." His beautiful sky blue eyes were full of God's Light as he searched for acceptance.

He said, "Good day" as he counted the few coins he had in his hand. The second man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his friend. I realized the second man was mentally challenged and the blue eyed gentleman was his salvation. I held my tears as I stood there with them. The young lady at the counter asked him what they wanted. He said, "Coffee is all Miss" because that was! all they could afford. (If they wanted to sit in the restaurant and warm up, they had to buy something. He just wanted to be warm).

          Then I really felt it -- the compulsion was so great I almost reached out and embraced the little man with the blue eyes. That is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set on me, judging my every action. I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray.

I then walked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot. I put the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue eyed gentleman's cold hand. He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said, "Thank you". I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said, "I did not do this for you.

God is here working through me to give you hope." I started to cry as I walked away to join my husband and son. When I sat down my husband smiled at me and said, "That is why God gave you to me, Honey,! To give me hope." We held hands for a moment and at that time we knew that only because of the Grace that we had been given were we able to give.

That day showed me the pure Light of God's sweet love. I returned to college, on the last evening of class, with this story in hand. I handed in "my project" and the instructor read it. Then she looked up at me and said, "Can I share this?" I slowly nodded as she got the attention of the class.

She began to read and that is when I knew that we as human beings and being part of God, share this need to heal people and to be healed. In my own way I had touched the people at McDonald's, my husband, son, instructor, and every soul that shared the classroom on the last night I spent as a college student. I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn: UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE.

But Fears is that psychological component that at times keeps us from each other and God. Luke 8:37, this gospel gives us a unique insight into what fear does to relationships. “Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So He got into the boat and left.”

Jesus did many miracles when he lived on earth. One of those miracles involved the deliverance of a demon-possessed man. The people of the community witnessed this awesome demonstration of God's power when Jesus commanded the demon spirit to come out of the man and go into the herd of nearby pigs. The man was healed and sat at Jesus' feet to be ministered to.

You would expect the people who witnessed this great miracle would have embraced Jesus as one performing good deeds and to honor him. The opposite was true. Instead, they were overcome with fear and asked him to leave before he does further damage to their community.

Why? Many of us respond the same way to Jesus when he does an out-of-the-ordinary act among his people. We are fearful because we have never personally experienced this before. So, we draw wrong judgments. The result is that Jesus removes himself from us, thus lessened our relationship with God.

The Lord is able to do far exceeding above what we think. Jesus does not remain in the places where there is fear of his goodness. It is often subconscious fears that prevent us from going to a deeper level with him or in any human relations.

The people in Gerasenes could not benefit from Jesus' presence because of their fears. Have we feared Jesus because of what he might require of us? Have we feared that he might ask of us something we are not prepared to give?  Have we feared Jesus because he might ask us to commit our whole to him? We should not let our fears drive him from our presence and any human relations.

God’s motive is always love for us. And we can trust him for that. Some one said that: “Fear is the dark room where we develop our negatives.” And it is so true. It is difficult to love some one you are afraid of. As a result we see racial, religious, and ethnic tensions around the glob. Fear is the dark room where we develop our negatives.

When we step out into the church of everyday life, we must take God with us. And be willing to let God’s light shine through us. Today, tomorrow, whenever you are out….on the street, big town, small town…take the time to actually look at people’s faces. It is quite interesting what you might see.

In the fall of 1977 I was invited to speak to a group of Christians in a free church in Herning, Denmark. I have just started my sermon when I noticed a middle aged coupled walked into the service and took their seat in the rear of the church.

There was nothing extraordinary about my sermon, I thought, but this couple noticed something unique that they later shared with me. They said my smile! What about my smile I inquired? They felt, I spoke with confidence of my faith in Jesus Christ, which showed in my smile. They left that evening encouraged in their own faith journey.                                                          

In my travels to different countries, I have noticed that one can actually observe amazing and interesting things by people’s facial expressions. It is the unreserved, smiling person that one is immediately attracted to, then we look in the eyes. It is through the eyes that one can see God’s light.

It actually shines through and it is authentic, it is said that the “eye is the window to the soul.” A smile without the sincerity of the eyes is just a smile, another part of a mask we may wear. But a smile from the heart penetrates the very being of a person who does actually preach Jesus. That person can’t help it. When such a smile comes your way, you know it is God himself who is smiling at you and saying, you are special.

The awareness of God’s grace in our hearts that emanates as a glorious light for people around to see. Every day we have the opportunity to change someone’s day. Just with a sincere smile. Think about it! And just keep smiling you will never know who you might touch. Love and compassion is what God require of us that we Love People And Use Things - Not Love Things And Use People.

 

An Angel wrote: Many people will walk in and out of your life,

but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.

To handle yourself, use your head.

To handle others, use your heart.

Kindness is difficult to give away, because it keeps coming back.

 

Lord, let your light so shine from us that the world will know you.

Let this light dispell darkness that surrounds our every day.”

Amen

Rev. Samuel King-Kabu

February 9, 2003


Prepared by Roger Kenner
St. Ansgar's Lutheran Church - Montreal
February, 2003