One week ago was thanksgiving day, which is celebrated almost universally in America by over-eating. I do not intend this sermon to concentrate on eating, but I do want us to remember, if we can, what it is like to be hungry and thirsty. Even though most of us have little experience with acute hunger and thirst, we do know something about what it feels like to be hungry or thirsty. It is this feeling that is important for us to remember as we think of Jesus words: "happy (blessed) are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled."
Once again, Matthew opts for the spiritual interpretation - Hungering and thirsting for righteousness - while Luke sticks with the literal - "blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled." This is one time when I think Matthew got it right. The reason? Being literally hungry - though it is an affliction which characterizes far too many of God's children even today - is a condition that is now within our power to correct. We can eat if we are hungry, and we have the means to insure that every person in the world has adequate food. The fact that there are people who are starving is something that should not be, does not have to be, and will not always be. Physical hunger in our world is a symbol of sinfulness - not the sinfulness of those who are hungry, but the sinfulness of those of us who allow that hunger to continue. We have the means to end it; we lack the will. But one day, not long from now, we will end the scourge of hunger. And then, hopefully, the whole world will know what we turkey-stuffed people already know: hunger is not satisfied by bread alone. As Jesus said to the tempter, quoting scripture - "One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." (Matthew 4:4, Deuteronomy 8:3)
We are people of endless appetite. We are always hungry for something - even those of us who have more than enough food are apparently always hungry for more of something. What is it we want? In the words of the prophet Isaiah - words that Jesus may well have had in mind when he spoke to his disciples: "Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me, listen, so that you may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David." (Isaiah 55:1-3) As the prophet understood, food here is a metaphor for the things that nurture and satisfy us. And it is an indictment that we spend so much of our energy pursuing things that do not satisfy us.
What are we really hungering for? Matthew says - righteousness. And Isaiah implies the same thing, by linking his words about food with a promise of the covenant that God makes with his people for the sake of King David. Hungering for righteousness - for things to be right in the world, for right relationships between people, and between God and God's creatures. This hoped-for righteousness is symbolized by the yearning for a new king David, who will rule in righteousness and peace. It is based on the ideal memories of the original King David, under whom Israel enjoyed a golden age. The new king David, the messiah, will restore and perfect this kingdom of righteousness for which so many of us hunger.
This is the last chapel service at Dartmouth before Christmas. This Sunday starts the season of Advent - the season of expectation, of waiting for the Messiah. It is a season of hope and penitence. What are we waiting for? Who are we waiting for? What do we want? We await and hope for and yearn for the one who will bring in the kingdom of God, who will restore and perfect the throne of David.
No wonder ancient Jews looked for a political messiah. They wanted and expected someone who would rule. As do we. But we learned from Jesus that no earthly ruler will ever be able to rule in righteousness.
I saw a bumper sticker the other day which said: "Evil men rule the world. Haven't you noticed?" Yes, I have. I do not want to say that every politician is evil. I am sure there are some who are motivated - truly motivated - by ideals of servant hood. But even in a democracy, the temptations of power and influence and culture are too great to withstand. They succumb to the attitudes of the world and to its trappings. For example, every American politician who expects to win a race must say (and believe) some version of the following: "If our enemies threaten us, we'll kill them, by God." It's not exactly the gospel, is it? But a politician who ran on the "Love your enemies platform" would stand no chance at all of election. We have a system, of course, of voting politicians out of office if they displease us. But have you ever known a member of Congress - even an indicted one - to go unemployed for long? Lucrative consulting and lobbying contracts make electoral defeat often a golden parachute.
Sometimes people criticize me for my interest in politics. The criticism is both justified and not justified. It is not justified because we are led to hope and believe that God cares about how we live; God cares about justice and righteousness, and has implanted in us, God's creatures, a hunger for those things. But the criticism is justified if I ever give the impression that any political party or person is ever going to establish a kingdom of righteousness. We can hope for something better. Politics do matter. But political leaders are not the Messiah - ever.
We are hungry for a better world. We are hungry for righteousness. We can be thankful because our hunger is satisfied, in part, by every act of justice and fairness and compassion that we see. But just as we are hungry again the day after thanksgiving, our hunger for righteousness is always renewed. We wait for the one who can satisfy that hunger forever. Amen.
copyright © 2006
Richard R. Crocker
