Mtr Mary Trainor

It has been said, One Solitary life changed the world.
I say, God turned our whole world upside-
own when he broke into human history
And changed the course of time.*

Dear friend,

I first encountered a “great reversal” in elementary school. I’m not certain if schools still use the alphabetical method for moving groups of children. But we did then. Those whose last name started with A, B, or C, well, whatever it was we were doing, they got to do it first. Those with surnames near the end of the alphabet, like Trainor, well, we got the tail end of any activity.

Except. Every once in a while, a teacher would roll out the great reversal, and then it was the ABCs who brought up the end of the line.

[Jesus,] you left your Glory in Heaven,
To live as a Pauper and die like a thief,
Slain on the tree to save us when we were in our sins,
Living lives antithetical to everything you are.

Today’s Office Gospel follows on the heels of Luke’s “blessings and woes,” a section that reveals God’s organizational plan for the kingdom in which all who suffer here in any way will see not only an end of suffering, but also embrace a life filled with good things--blessing, food, laughter, abundance in many forms.

That’s the “blessings” part. The “woes” section is a cautionary tale for those living the good life now, unaware of or uncaring about the hungry, the hurting, the diseased, the lonely, the aged, the addict; any and all who often are reviled for the condition of their lives.

In our reading today, Luke continues along these same lines, with some instruction on how to live this other way: Love your enemy, bless the ones who curse you, pray for those who abuse you, give to beggars, lend without thought of return, if someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other toward them.

It’s not new to most of us, but actually living that way is extremely difficult. It would have been hard enough in Jesus’ time and place, perhaps a simpler culture. But today? And here?

In a world where the first in line
Is the first to gain access to their destination,
Jesus said, "In my kingdom, the first will be last
And the Last will be first."

When I worked in the special schools, certain operational aspects were assigned to me. Maintenance/janitorial was one of those. I hired a man named George. Short in stature, mild of manner, humble and gracious. His job brought him to school after student hours, because he could work more freely. Even so, everybody, including the kids, knew George, liked George; and George liked them.

If there was a collection for a birthday cake, a going-away gift, a get-well card, George always pulled out his wallet and slipped a few bills into the plate. Most of the time, he didn’t personally know the one being honored. One time I said to him (the lowest paid staff we had), “You know, George, it would be okay if you didn’t put something in.” He looked surprised, maybe even a little offended: “I work here, don’t I. You all are my people.”

We hired his son James for some temporary projects. Sullen and slouching, he grumbled his way through the day. He arrived late, and left early. His work was inferior. I had to fire him.

He was angry and defiant: “Well, I’m not like my old man, mopping floors, cleaning up God knows what. I’m gonna be a big man, I’m gonna be somebody.”

But his “old man” knew what being “somebody” really meant. He led a small congregation in worship every Sunday, and tended to its pastoral needs at all times of the night and day.
Over the years, he had simply come to embody the teachings of his savior.

Mtr Mary

*Excerpts from Andrea Graham’s The Great Reversal