Pentecost 15 – 2018
Mark 7:1-8, 14-23
Marian Free
In the name of God who sees us as we really are. Amen.
There is a fairy story that goes something like this.
Once upon a time there was a widow who had two daughters. The elder was very like her mother and was doted on to the point that she became proud, sullen and disagreeable. Though she was much put upon by her mother and elder sister, the younger daughter was sweet and obliging no matter what was asked of her. One of her daily tasks was to go to the well at the edge of the woods to draw water for the family. One day, while she was at the well, she met a poor, old woman who asked for a drink. ‘Of course,’ said the girl, ‘is there anything else that you need?’ ‘Nothing,’ replied the woman as she went on her way, ‘but your kindness and generosity will be rewarded.’
When the girl returned home her mother scolded her for taking so long. As she began to explain what had kept her, there came from the girl’s mouth flowers and precious stones. Astonished, and not a little put out, the mother demanded to know exactly how this had come about. Again the girl shared what had happened at the well, only this time she remembered that the woman had promised to reward her. All the while flowers and jewels fell from her mouth as she spoke.
Anxious that her favorite should be equally enriched, the next day the mother kept the younger daughter at home and sent the elder to fetch the water – having first given her instructions as to how to respond when she saw a poor old woman at the well. The spoilt and selfish spoilt daughter hurried to the well keen to receive the riches that were her sister’s. To her surprise she was met, not by a poor old woman but by a richly dressed princess who also asked for water. ‘Surely she has servants who can do this for her,’ the girl thought, as she ungraciously drew some water and gave it to the princess to drink. (Not for one moment did she think to ask if there was anything else that she could do to help.)
When the princess had departed, the girl waited to see if the old woman would return. After some time, she returned home, As she began to explain what had happened to her it was not flowers and precious stones, but toads and snakes that issued forth from her mouth. Just as the younger daughter’s real nature was exposed by her response to the old woman, so the elder daughter’s disposition could not be disguised when she responded to the Princess. Instead of riches and beauty, she produced the horrors born of her avarice and self-centredness.
As today’s gospel reminds us, no amount of window dressing can disguise what lies beneath. Wallpaper may cover cracks in the surface, it it does not fix them. No amount of washing the exterior of something can make the interior clean. Ultimately, superficial change is no change at all. The reality is that our real natures do not remain hidden no matter how much we try to change the surface. No matter what image we try to present to the world, the world will ultimately see through our deception. Figuratively, if we do not take the time to clean up and repair what is below the surface, we will produce toads and snakes when we hope to present flowers and precious stones. If the world is not fooled by our outward behavior, we can be sure that God will not be fooled. We will damage ourselves and others and most importantly we will damage our relationship with God.
Far better that we take the time and trouble to to identify and clean up those things that sully and damage our hearts and our souls.
If we are unfaithful to true self,
we will extract a price from others.
We will make promises we cannot keep,
build houses from flimsy stuff,
conjure dreams that devolve into nightmare,
and other people will suffer …
— Parker J. Palmer
Swallowsrest 