Rollins Chapel, Dartmouth College
November 29, 2006
Richard Crocker. Ph.D., College Chaplain
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
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