WHEN PRIVILEGE BOWS TO BURDEN

A meditation by the Rev. Dr. James G. Kirk

Harundale Presbyterian Church

Glen Burnie, Maryland

November 3, 2002

Text: “They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear.” (Matthew 23:4)

First Reading: Joshua 3:7-17

Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13

Being raised on the San Francisco Bay, I learned at an early age the rules of navigation. All of you who have a boat know that “burden always has to bow to privilege.” What that means is a twenty foot cigarette boat has to give the right of way to a sailboat. The cigarette boat in that case is the burden and the sailboat has the privilege. The concept has to do with what is the most manageable and the theory is, that because of its speed and its size the cigarette boat would have the advantage and, according to the rules of navigation, has to cede that advantage to the less maneuverable sailboat.

Sailing from the San Francisco bay to the Sacramento River encountered another set of dynamics. Barges used the river a lot to bring produce and commodities from the Sacramento valley to the city. Sailing on the river the rules changed in so far as the barges always had the right of way. The theory again was that a barge under tow could in no way alter its course quickly and all other boats, even sailboats, were more navigable that the barge. So, in that case privilege would bow to burden.

Now, this morning, Jesus would rather have us on the Sacramento River than on the San Francisco Bay, that is, privilege bowing to burden rather than burden bowing to privilege. He points out, for example, how the Pharisees love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to have people call them rabbi, all the trappings of privilege. Yet, he then goes on to point out how these very same people, who like all the trappings of privilege, don’t hesitate to tie up heavy burdens, and lay them on the shoulders of others, when they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them.

On Tuesday, we’re going to vote for our choices to represent us in elected office. We could make the same judgment of them as Jesus makes of the Pharisees, they love to have the place of honor at banquets, get the best seats to sporting events, be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have people call them by their titles. Those are the entitlements of privilege. Yet, none of the elected officials I know treat that privilege as one of entitlement. Rather they consider very seriously the trust that has been given them by the public and seek to serve their constituencies very conscientiously.

Jesus would say, with privilege comes responsibility and not just status. Jesus wants us back on the Sacramento River rather than the San Francisco Bay. He wants us where the privileged sailboat has to recognize the burden on the unmaneuverable barge and bow to the burdens others have to carry.

Next month we’re going to have the Winter Shelter. That’s privilege bowing to burden. Sure, we have the privilege of a roof over our heads. We have warm and comfortable homes that keep us secure. We could treat that privilege as entitlement and not bother with the homeless. Yet, as long as it’s a burden they carry we have to bow to that burden and provide them with the same security we enjoy all the year at least one week of the year.

Within a few weeks the Deacons will be distributing their holiday baskets. That’s privilege bowing to burden. This year they’ll give out 25 baskets. Those are 25 families who might otherwise not have food or sufficient funds to enjoy the holiday. We could treat the sumptuous dinners that we enjoy, the family who gathers about our tables and all the food laden thereon as entitlement. But remember, those who feel entitled “tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them.”

You’ve already received your letter from the stewardship committee. They’re asking all of us to consider it a privilege to bow to the burden of being Christ’s church in this particular place. The projected budget for next year is a 5% increase over this year. And where’s it going? It’s going into Christian Education. It’s going into Missions. It’s going into Outreach. It’s going into putting a new roof on the Fellowship Hall. In each case it’s assuming a burden that will help us all to align ourselves more completely with Christ’s will for his church.

It was always fun sailing on San Francisco Bay. It was more challenging to sail on the Sacramento River. In both cases the rules of navigation were there to keep you on course. That’s what Jesus wants from us. He wants us to stay the course and use our privileged status to bow to the burdens of others. As long as we do so we’ll heed his call, “All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Thanks be to God,

Amen