It was almost midnight one July night between high school and college, when I came to one of the most formative revelations in my life with someone who would continue in this role in years to come. We debated back and forth. We uncovered the truth that all occupations and vocations in some way serve and care for someone else. That is to say: Every job in the world is a way of being a caregiver. From teacher to garbage collector, parent to spouse, engineer to mail clerk, librarian to manufacturer, farmer to prison guard. Think about it for a moment. Every vocation and occupation serves and cares for others in some way. Light conversation for a first date with Steve, my husband. That should have been one of my first hints! God created us to caregivers for one another.
This week, we conclude our series on I am: vocation and calling, who is God and who am I? We have talked about God as creator, who has fearfully and wonderfully made us. God who is redeemed, who has found us; God who is Sustainer, who disciples us. Our Trinitarian God calls us to be useful. We widen out perspective remembering that we are one of many as we celebrated last Sunday, World Communion Sunday. Today, we take all of this into our understanding that God, Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer, has given each of us a vocation to be a caregiver.
A biblical vocation to be a caregiver – for all of us. Those caring for aged parents and children up in the middle of the night. Those of us caring for friends in need of support and those who no longer find friends simple to make. A biblical call to a caregiver. We often imagine that the Bible captures only the incredible stories – miracles and resurrection, heroes and revelation. And perhaps, there is some truth to that. This passage from Jeremiah is one of my favorite reminders that God calls us to not only live in the life changing moments of miracles and redeemed tragedy. God calls us to live sacred ordinary lives. Jeremiah writes to the exiles as they are in Babylon. The Jewish people have been beaten badly and will be submitting to those who have mistreated them. They do not find themselves as winners and champions, but as those who are seeking God’s word, even in the midst of trial and challenge. Does it sound familiar?
There will be plenty for them to do as they begin to understand their experience and process their loss. There will be plenty for them to get their heads around as life is so different for them. However, what the prophet Jeremiah calls them first to is ordinary sacred lives of caregiving. He calls them to build houses and live in them, plant gardens and live off their produce. He calls them to connect with people through marriage and friendship, children and relationships. Jeremiah calls them to care for the welfare of the city – be caregivers of one another.
The prophet Jeremiah calling out our families specifically reminds us that caring for our families is some of the most important work we do. Whether we are caring well for a relationship with a spouse, child, sibling, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, parent, we are called to care for those whom are nearest to us. I would also like to give voice to the fact that sometimes these are the hardest ones to care for. We all know someone near to us who needs to follow the direction of medical professionals better than they do. We all know someone near to us who live has been hijacked by addiction or illness. We all know someone who has pushed us away even as we have sought to care for them. Caregiving in this atmosphere is what God calls us to.
To recognize that God created us to be caregivers is to acknowledge that we and others need care. To recognize we need care is to come to grips with the reality that there is brokenness and need. We all need care. God calls all of us to give care. We are called to care for families – spouses, children, siblings, extended families. We are called to care for friends – those we know so well that we hardly have to ask how to care for them as well as those we are not sure how to care for them because we are still getting to know them. We are called to care for neighbors – the kind who live nearby and the kind who live around the world.
In the gospel lesson, we read about the presence of lepers on the road between Samaria and Galilee. This road is a place folks didn’t travel freely or lightly. It is like the certain section of town that your parents always advised you to take the highway instead of when you were coming home late. Jesus was traveling in that place, walking among all of God’s people, not just the ones who appeared put together. It was there that the lepers verbalized their need for care and healing. It was there that they called out that they needed Jesus. It was ten lepers who called out, even though only 1 gave praise to God. Ten lepers stuck in the netherworld between Samaria and Galilee who needed care and were healed.
But that is not the only place where people need care. People need care in West Grove and Oxford, Kennett Square and Newark, Elkton and Rising Sun. People need love and care at the High School and Jenner’s Pond; at work and at the YMCA; driving on Route 1 and on the golf course.
I want to give thanks to God for each of you who embrace this vocation each day. Each one of you who wear the role as parent and child, sibling and spouse, friend and neighbor as a commitment to caring for others, even when they do not care for you. Do you know in our congregation, many caring for aging parents- assisting with bills and worrying about the next phone call they receive? Did you know in our congregation, many are caring for spouses whose physical and mental health challenges them and changes them from who they might want to be? Did you know, many are caring for children as they grow and develop touching base with fears and anxieties, new technologies and diagnoses, social learnings and peer sharings? Did you know, many are caring for aunts and uncles, cousins and siblings, those most in need of care? Did you know, many are caring for friends who need a friend to look out for them as health challenges them or circumstance changes their world?
We are not only a congregation of caregivers; we are a world of caregivers. God has called us to this vocation. It can seem overwhelming and expansive. It can feel unachievable and never-ending. It can be draining and exhausting. And yet, it is some of the most important work we do. It is essential and eternal work to give value and care to those we love and those we are not sure how we still love.
So, often we find ourselves looking for a particular revelation, a particular movement of God in our own lives. What is it that God wants me to do? What is my vocation in life? Perhaps, we have missed the revelation and word of God which is to all of God’s people: Live in communities and care for one another. Offer gratitude to God.
Does this sounds familiar? These are the words of Jesus reworked when he was asked by an expert in the law, what was the greatest commandment: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength and love your neighbor as yourself.
This is our vocation. This is our one great calling. You and I are called to live out the great commandment. So, how are you living out your vocation? You, who are called to care well for those around, how are you living out your vocation? I know for myself, I need to pause again and listen to the call to love when it is hard, to offer grace when I would rather offer correctives, and let my heart break again for the needs of our world. But this is me. Where is God speaking to you this morning as you prepare to pick up your children from Children’s worship or go visit your mom or call your sister this afternoon?
May you know joy in answering the call to care well for others.
This is the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, thanks be to God, Amen.
Old Testament Lessons: Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7
These are the words of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the remaining elders among the exiles, and to the priests, the prophets, and all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.
Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.
Gospel Lessons: Luke 17:11-19
On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus’[c] feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.”
Meditations For Your Week
Sunday, October 9~ Saturday, October 15
Sunday: “As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!’” Luke 17: 12. Jesus is the answer to the questions that we have been asking. Will you call out to Jesus? He will heal you!
Monday: “Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice.” Luke 17: 15. When we call on the name of Jesus, Jesus is faithful. Give thanks to God.
Tuesday: “Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?’” Luke 17: 18. So quickly does the world rush by. So quickly have we forgotten how God has saved us. Pause today to give thanks to God.
Wednesday: “Then he said to him, ‘Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.’” Luke 17:19. When God heals us, we are healed to heal others. We are blessed to be a blessing. Ask God where you are being called to heal and bless others.
Thursday: “Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they produce.” Jeremiah 29:5. Caring for others involves caring for our world. How is God calling you to care for the world around you?
Friday: “Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease.” Jeremiah 29: 6. Prayerfully ask God how to care for your family.
Saturday: “But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” Jeremiah 29:7. City defines a larger group of people. Prayer that God will show you how you are a part of caring for the city.