Reflections on "who You Gonna Call?" Luke 11: 5-14; Psalm 121

I sort of liked the sermon, but it may have come across as a bit disjointed.  It was a fairly short sermon given that we were celebrating the Lord's Supper and having a baptism.  

I really enjoyed digging through the textual issues surrounding the translation of "persistence" and "shamelessness."  In the sermon, I chose "shamelessness" in reference to the neighbor who did not want to get out of bed (following Scott in Hear Then the Parable), but I could also better see that as "persistence," if I think about the "shameless knocking" in reference to the man looking for food.  I am struck by the fact that the context could support either translation.

“Who You Gonna Call” June 17, 2012; FPC, Troy, Luke 11: 5-14; Psalm 121

Introduction: On the top shelf in the freezer in my mother's garage sits a plastic Tupperware dish that has contained a couple of dozen cheese balls for probably two decades. Not the same cheese balls (they get replaced), but there are always frozen cheese balls that can be heated in the microwave on a moment's notice so that any unexpected guest arriving at the Culp household will have a cheese ball waiting.

Move 1: In the story Jesus tells the man does not have the luxury of a freezer with cheese balls waiting when guests arrive unexpectedly late at night.

a. No freezer, no microwave, no gas oven to quickly heat some food; in fact, on that day, he apparently has no leftovers from dinner earlier in the day.

b. But, he still has the high expectation to extend hospitality to his guest. Hospitality played an important role in their society.

100. Who should he call at that hour to help?
     1. His neighbor, of course.
     2. The same high standards of hospitality that dictate eh should feed his guest also apply to his neighbor, who should help him out in his time of need.
     3. So he goes and knocks on the door.
     4. Inside, the neighbor does not want to help. He's already in bed, the kids are asleep, it's not really his problem. “go away,” he says, “I'm not helping.”

500. Now the story gets a little bit confusing because of a translation issue.

1. Either the neighbor agrees to get up because of the his “shamelessness”; it is unclear whether that refers to the “shamelessness” of the man knocking on the door, which gets translated as “persistence” by the NRSV; or the man gets up because of his “shamelessness.” that is the neighbor knows that if he does not help the next day everyone in the village will know that he did not live out his obligation to extend hospitality in his neighbors time of need.

2. I think that the “shamelessness” of the neighbor sleeping is the more accurate translation, so let's go with that for the moment.

3. Jesus makes the point – if the neighbor will extend hospitality because of obligation, how much more will God give to us: the people God created; the people God called into relationship; the people God pledged to never forsake; the people God loves.

Move 2:  when I was on internship in S. Texas, we planned a mission trip to the border towns of Laredo and Nuevo Laredo. It was about a six hour drive. As we were loading up the old van to hit the road, one of the father's took me aside. He was not just a father, but someone who had been in the church his whole life. He knew all the kids going on the trip and their families. He hands me a slip of paper with his phone number on it (plus phone numbers to reach him throughout the day -- this was before cell phones), looks me in the eyes and says, “if you have any trouble, day or night, you call me, and I will be on the road in 5 minutes.” He was serious.

That's how much he cared about his daughter and the other kids on the trip.

Imagine how much God loves you.

Move 3: Father's Day: celebrate Father's; more than a Hallmark holiday; I suspect many people will take today to reflect on how much their father's love them and what their father's have done for them through the years.

Think about what the imperfect love of our human fathers allows them to do for their children, and imagine what God, who loves perfectly, will do for you.

Move 4: In1984, the highest grossing comedy at the box offices was “Ghostbgusters,” starring Bill Murray, Dan Akroyd and Harold Ramis.

And perhaps even more pervasive than the movie was the title song, “Ghostbusters” that had many people asking the question: “Who you gonna call?” and getting the answers “Ghostbusters” or whatever funny variation they could make to parody that song.

Do not take my mention of this movie as a recommendation to run out and rent it. I don't recall liking the movie that much. But, that's an interesting question: if ghosts takes over your house in NYC, who are you going to call? Ghostbusters?

Better yet, if you are in crisis and need some help, who are you gonna call? The Psalmist who wrote Psalm 121 knows the answer is God. “From where will my help come?” “My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth.”

The same God about whom Jesus tell his story.

Move 5: Put it in the context of our worship today.

a. As Riordan grows up, who should he call when he needs help or is in trouble? God, the one who claims him in the waters of baptism/

b. When you are in trouble and need help. Who you gonna call? Come to the Lord's Table and meet the one who has already answered that question by dying on the cross and being raised from the dead.

Conclusion: "Ghostbusters” finishes with a dramatic scene in which the three heroes band together against the evil paranormal and destroy the giant Marshmallow Man in a single explosion. Evil has been defeated. As hundreds of New Yorkers wipe the melted marshmallow goo from their brows, the Ghostbusters are applauded by the city's population.

In much less dramatic fashion, we just come to the baptismal font and come to our Lord's Table. No marshmallow goo and no clapping; just the God who always answers when you call.