Dear Friends in Christ, grace and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.

The notion of greatness can be pretty daunting.  Few of us would ever describe ourselves as great.  Especially, if we are shy and stoic Scandinavians.  Even the lovable and scruffy cartoon character Hagar the Horrible had problems with greatness.  In one old coming strip,  Hagar can be seen following his son Hamlet as he marches off to school,  “If people ask,” he says to Hamlet,  “tell them you’re a Viking.” The son looks back and adds, “And a Norwegian?” Hagar replies “No, you don’t have to tell them that…  it might sound like ‘bragging’.” Dreaming and speaking of greatness, however, doesn’t have to be something to be embarrassed about, nor is it even something to shy away from. As Jesus taught his disciples, it all depends on whether you are pursuing the right form of greatness.

In this morning’s gospel, the disciples are overheard debating and boasting about who was greatest.  Some might argue that the disciples had an exaggerated sense of self-worth, while others might suggest that they simply thought too little of others. Surprisingly, Jesus did not walk away from them, nor did he leave them to their own thoughts.  Nowhere does Jesus criticize a person for pursuing greatness, nor does he condemn the quest for significance. No, it is my belief that God has created us to be great —and that he desires this of his church on earth as well. Yes, God longs for you to come to the end of your life and to feel that your time was well spent. But in order for that to happen, you may need to redirect your focus and energy.

Throughout the ages, Christian men and women have struggled with their sense of greatness and how they should treat others.  Truthfully, in begins with a simple question: How do you look upon yourself as a child of God, and how do you look at your neighbors.  Last week I began this sermon series on the Ordinary Discipleship, and  I emphasized James’ message that as children of God, we are called be “Doers of the word.” Today I would like to share James’ plea to avoid favoritism in the world- especially in the church.

For the first 300 years of the Christian era, until Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity and allowed churches to move into their own buildings, Christians met in private homes.  In most places, the apostles were dependent upon the patronage and hospitality of wealthy members to host the church gatherings. This was certainly James.

The ancient capital city of Jerusalem where James, the brother of Jesus lived, was quite unlike the rural Galilean hamlet of Nazareth of his youth.  Of course, there was the Temple, the palace of Herod and the residence of the Governor and the Roman army, which distinguished it from other major cities along the Mediterranean Sea.  It was also the home of a small wealthy upper class which included the aristocratic families of the Herods, the high priests, and the rich nobility who owned most of the land.  The middle class, in comparison to today’s standard, was equally  small. It was made up shopkeepers, fishermen and tradesmen who often lived in homes above their shops, as well as the Pharisees and Scribes. James, the son of a carpenter, would have belonged to this class.

The vast majority of the people in Palestine belonged to the peasant class. These were the tenant farmers and day laborers to whom Jesus referred in his parables.  Their homes were small with few amenities. And below the peasants,  was an even lower class, known as the poor. All sorts of people belonged to this class, such as orphans and widows, the blind, the handicapped and the mentally ill. Having no other means of livelihood, people with physical and mental handicaps became beggars. They were always dependent upon the generosity and kindness of others.  They were also dependent upon the members of the church to open their doors to them- both literally and figurately.

Although, some theologians argue that James’ epistle was intended as a reprimand to the to the wealthy for treating the own class with favoritism over against  the needs of the poor and disenfranchised, which  may well be true, I believe that James’ letter was actually pastoral plea for the wealthy to consider  to the daily challenges facing the early church.  James wanted the church to be great and grow, so that it could become a positive force in the world.  “To those whom God has given much, he expects much.”  It was the lesson that my Confirmation pastor in Austin, Carl Borgwardt underscored in my 10^th grade confirmation interview.  I had been able to check off the Lord’s Prayer, the Apostles’ Creed and the Ten Commandments, as well as Luther’ Explanation, and I was beginning to eye the door for my escape.  Then he asked, “Arden, what are you going to do with your life?”  My answer was pretty lame, but I remember his response, “Arden, remember, to those whom God had given much, he expects much.”

That was James’ message in his epistle. Unfortunately, benign favoritism was undermining the divine call of the church. Instead of following the example of Christ, the wealthy were merely following the patterns of society. James witnessed this first hand in Jerusalem, and he knew that it was a pattern practiced in every Jewish community across the Roman Empire, and frankly, in every church and congregation since them.  In the pursuit of greatness, the glorious Lord Jesus Christ who makes all things new and all things possible, was forgotten.  So in his letter, James was challenging the early church leaders, just as Jesus had confronted his own disciples to consider their call.  Yes, pursue greatness for the good of the church, and the good of the world, and make sure your actions match your words.  “For faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.”

Churches often wonder where they should search to find a guide for living out their faith.  In his Epistle, James reminds his readers that if there was any law or standard by which they should measure themselves, it was the royal law  that Jesus himself quoted as the greatest commandment. “You shall the love Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” Such a love transforms lives and communities. Its demands is actually quite simple, but so contrary to the ways of world.  When a stranger enters your home for worship, he said, do not judge them as rich and poor, noble or peasant. Instead, show the stranger hospitality.  Yes, you should welcome them just as you yourself would want to be welcomed in a stranger’s home. That is the heart of St. James’ wisdom for ordinary discipleship, but he also challenges us to remember that any Christian who longs to be great must do more than simply offer nice sentiments and empty words. Faith must be embodied in real actions. No task is too menial or insignificant. Ordinary discipleship means putting aside the need for self-recognition.  Instead, the attention and credit can easily flow to others. You work to be last so that others can be first. As Jesus taught his disciples, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”

As Jesus was teaching his disciples to pursue greatness, he took a child and placed him in the circle, and said, “Whoever welcomes a child into their midst, welcomes me.”  To God, children are always a major concern.  God’s loving heart reaches out to touch and bless his little children. But as poignant as this lesson may be- “Welcoming children” isn’t simply about the proper care of your children, of your sons and daughters. Jesus was illustrating that the disciples must take responsibility for the weak, the unimportant and disenfranchised – including the nameless children around the world.

Now why is “Welcoming the Children” true greatness?  Simply said, there is no political payback in serving children: they can’t vote. They don’t give speeches or write op-ed pieces about how great you are. They don’t make a big deal out of the fact that you pour your life out for them. In fact they pretty much take you for granted and that you will take care of them. And so, children prove more clearly than any other people, whether you are truly great or not–whether you live to serve or live to be praised.  Yes, silently they know whether you walk the walk or whether it is just talking the talk. They know that faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. Children, especially your own, have an amazing ability to make you feel like the greatest parent in the world, or frustratingly, the least competent.

In his work Twelfth Night, playwright, William Shakespeare tells us not to fear greatness: “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.”  It is an interesting thought.  One doesn’t accidentally fall into greatness. Greatness is purposeful. If you become great, it’s because you put in hours and hours of hard work for a purpose.  One sacrifices their own desires for what needs to be done.  One never achieves greatness by doing less than their very best. To have greatness thrust upon you doesn’t mean you accidentally became great; it means that you were put into a situation that required something from you, some quality that you may not have known that you possess. You may not have ever intentionally decided to become great- you simply decided not to give in to lesser purposes and goals.  Remember what Jesus taught, “To whom God has given much, he expect much.”

My friends, do not be afraid of greatness.  If you were born to greatness. Use the gifts wisely that God has given and do not squander them.  If you have worked hard and studied hard, and achieved greatness, use those gifts in the service of others. Do not forget why you began that journey. And If greatness is thrust upon you, don’t panic. God will equip you. Greatness can be daunting.  But to dare to be great means that you must make a bold decision in spite of fear. So dare. Believe in yourself, and believe in God who has called you to this undertaking.  He knows you and your potential better that you do.  For he has  created you to be great.  Amen.

May the peace of God which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.