Where Do You Sit?

Pentecost 21, Proper 24B

Mark 10:35-45

October 21, 2018

St. Matthias

Where do you like to sit?  In Church, I’m going to the left side, midway toward the front, on the side aisle.  At the movies, I head for the center seat in the center row, but I want the front row when we go to see plays.   Give me the window seat on the airplane, the center of the restaurant facing the door, and in the very back at Diocesan Convention.  Our niece and nephew always want to sit next to their Aunt Phyllis at the dinner table and our granddaughter, Lydia, wants Phyllis next to her no matter where she sits. 

I’ve never thought about where I’d want to sit in Heaven.  I wonder if there is a back row – or since its Heaven is every seat on the back row.  In our Gospel lesson this morning, James and John not only want to be up front, they come to Jesus asking if they can sit at his right and left hand as disciples in the new Kingdom.  They’d heard Jesus’s teaching and thought he was going to Jerusalem to declare himself King of the Jews.  James and John expected the Messiah would march into the temple - sit on the throne - and rule just like King David.  If everything worked out right, then these 2 brothers would sit in the places of honor.  BUT Jesus knew what was going to happen in Jerusalem.  There would be no throne but instead a cross.  The only crown would be made of thorns.  And he would not be King of the Jews, but rather Savior of the whole world.  Jesus and the disciples were traveling to Jerusalem and the disciples had no idea they were going to witness the resurrection.

Did you know that we all pretty much sit in the same spot every Sunday?  I can tell in one glance who is here and who is not because of which pews are empty.  But we don’t come here just sit in our spot.  We are Christians and we sit, stand, and kneel as we worship God. 

In a few minutes we will gather at this altar rail and through the mystery of faith - simple bread and wine will become to us the Body and Blood of Christ – spiritual food for our spiritual journey.  We know who we are and even what it means to say that we believe, but what to do with that?  Too often I have to be careful that my Christianity does not begin and end between the start and finish of the Sunday morning Eucharist.  Remember the Parable of the rich man in the temple from the Gospel of Luke.  He prayed, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.”  I would imagine he too thought he should on Jesus’s left or right hand in glory.  But it was the tax collector who Jesus lifted up for he came to the temple to pray for God’s forgiveness and left to serve others. 

I love the story of Albert Einstein on a train.  He was traveling to speak at a university in another city.  But, when the train conductor came around to collect everyone’s ticket, Dr. Einstein could not find his.  He searched all his pockets, his briefcase, and even under the seat. NO TICKET.  The train conductor said, Dr. Einstein, it’s ok – I know who you are and I’m sure you bought a ticket.  Don’t worry about it.  The conductor moved on down the aisle checking tickets.  He looked back over his shoulder and saw Albert Einstein once more on his hands and knees looking under the seat.  He said, Dr. Einstein, it’s ok you don’t need a ticket.  Dr. Einstein looked up and sheepishly said, I know that young man and I appreciate your kindness.  Now all I need is to know is WHERE I am going?

All around us are places to go on our Christian journey.  From this place, we can travel to the person in need and share the love of God we have found at St. Matthias.  We can pack beans and rice and feed the hungry.  And when we let the light of Christ shine through us, then we cannot help but share the love of God for we will feel it in our hearts to the point of overflowing.  We are not asked to do any more than love in the name of a Savior who first loved you and me.  And all of us no matter who we are can love someone else.

The key to the journey of faith is knowing that where we go, God is with us.    Sit in your pew, close your eyes, and see if you can feel God all around you.  Now move to another pew and feel God there.  Then try it on Monday.  In the store, feel God’s presence.  When you sit at your desk, or in the doctor’s office, or in your car – feel God’s presence.  When you can stand in line and feel God’s presence, then you will begin to know the Joy of the Spiritual journey.  You will come to Church, sit, in your pew, and know where you are going next in the Kingdom of Heaven.  And when you serve the person on your left – know that the throne of Jesus is just to your right.  When you love the person of your right – you will do so at the left hand of the Savior in glory.  And I guarantee you will scratch your head and wonder about all the marvelous ways God can work through you and me no matter where we sit.  AMEN.