The Eighth Sunday After Pentecost - The Rev. Aimee Baxter

 

Many of you may already know this, but just in case you don’t, I am a huge fan of the Apple TV series, Ted Lasso. I’ve tried to convince all my friends to watch it so much so that one of them accused me of being in a Ted Lasso cult. I have binge watched it four times now so I can see where they are coming from! Side note: It is a great show, but not one for kids. Keep that in mind if you decide to watch it.

So, what is it about this show that appeals to me and a lot of other people? The storyline is actually kind of silly. It’s about an American football coach that goes to England to coach soccer. He doesn’t know anything about soccer and it’s obvious to everyone including him. It makes for some real comedic gaffs.

All that aside though, the show is really about the journey of the main character, Ted. Throughout the series, the audience becomes more and more endeared to him through his ability to show the best of humanity.

He’s honest without being mean.

Optimistic, but not naïve.

Truly kind without any pretense.

You seriously watch the show and aspire to his goodness and wit. He’s endearing because he is authentic and sees the world in its authenticity. He has this uncanny ability to truly get to know people and at the same time allow them to get to know him.

One of my favorite scenes involves Ted once again surprising someone who thought they had him figured out. I won’t tell you the full story in case you want to watch the show. (The new season comes out next week, FYI.)

In this moment, Ted quotes Walt Whitman saying, “Be curious. Not judgmental.” He goes on to say, “When you’re curious about someone, you ask questions.” In other words, you seek to understand them. You get to know the stories of their lives.

It is one of the greatest moments of truth I’ve ever seen on television because, well, he’s right.

There is power in curiosity about others that leads to a knowing that God has and wants for all of us. All of our Scriptures for today strike at the heart of being known and cared for, both in the best ways and the worst.

Our collect puts it this way: “Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know our necessities before we ask and our ignorance in asking.”

The Psalm reminds us of the gift of being known and cared for like a shepherd. There is safety in being known that way.

The reading from Jeremiah gives a candid warning from God about abusing that same gift of knowing and role as a shepherd. Woe to the one who scatters the people and does not care for them. Woe to the one who lacks curiosity and concern for the other.

Then, our Gospel shares the story of Jesus and his disciples after a full season of their ministry and their attempt to get away for some rest only to have the crowds find them.

I’m gonna be honest. When I read this story, I can feel it deep in my bones and spirit the very human response that I know I would have felt in that moment…

“Really, folks. You found us even when we tried to hide?! I am just so tired.”

You all know this feeling.

 It’s the one that happens as soon as your head hits the pillow, and the child cries out from the other room. Or the dog needs to go outside. Or maybe you are one of those who has the ability to suddenly think of all the things you didn’t get done and in your fatigue have to find a way to dig deep and make it happen.

That feeling when someone calls you while you are on vacation with a pressing need.

Or you think you have everything you need to make dinner after a long day and then realize you’re missing the key ingredient.

When we feel these things, I’d venture to say one of the first places we go is to judgment by either blaming the person who is interrupting or ourselves for forgetting the thing we needed.

But, as Ted Lasso reminds us and Jesus shows us, there is a gift in curiosity and learning the needs of the people.

Jesus shows empathy for the crowds despite him wanting to pull away. He paid attention and noticed they were a people in deep need of some care.

Interestingly, our lectionary chooses to leave out a big piece of the story here. What we don’t read about today, but actually happens in the midst of our reading, is the feeding of the 5,000 followed by Jesus walking on water to the boat where the disciples were.

The disciples in their judgment wanted to send the people into town to find something to eat.

Jesus is in his curiosity that leads to knowing tells the disciples to feed them.

The disciples in their humanity sat on the boat confused and miffed about the feeding of the 5,000, and then fearful of the wind pushing against the boat.

Jesus in his divinity honors their humanity by calming the wind and being present with them.

What we see at the end of our gospel reading is Jesus and the disciples arriving to the other side of the water to another group of people who desperately needed Jesus.

Reading between the lines a bit, it seems that the disciples are more curious when they see the crowds of people this time around than judgmental. They see the needs of the people and a shepherd that knows them and they choose to participate in the knowing.

To know and be known by someone, to be seen and understood, is quite possibly the greatest gift we can be given and give to others in return.

Be curious. Not judgmental. Ask questions. Assume the best in others.

Thanks be to God for the gift of Jesus who offers us more curiosity than judgement, more grace than we deserve and more love than we can fathom. Amen.