12/1/63

Scripture: Read Luke 7: 18-23 (Suggests Fairhaven)

The hymn, "We would see Jesus," which we have just sung is one which I hope we can make part of our worship for the first four Sundays of December. It sounds like a Christmas hymn, especially as one reads the words of the first stanza. Then, as we read or sing further, we understand that more is involved than just celebrating the advent or birth of Jesus. For in the second stanza we think of his childhood and youth, and in the third stanza we turn our inquiry to Jesus as a grown teacher. Then, in the fourth stanza we think of his healing ministry to those who are sick in body, mind, or spirit. The hymn concludes with a fifth stanza in which we are aware of the appeal of the Master, the call to follow him, to dedicate our spirit and purpose and effort to his ways. And so it is apparent that this hymn is not to be thought of as a "Nativity" hymn, although Jesus’ birth is celebrated in the first stanza. But his whole span of life is surveyed before we finish singing the entire hymn.

Possibly the hymn was inspired by the reference in the book of John [John 12: 21] to Greeks who came to Philip. They may have known that Philip was from Bethsaida in Galilee and hence may have known Jesus. At any rate they said to Philip, "We would see Jesus." That is to say: "We would like to see Jesus; to hear him speak; to learn what he has to teach us." Philip and Andrew went and told Jesus about these men from Greece who wanted to see him. Later on, it was Philip who said to Jesus: "Lord, show us the Father, and we shall be satisfied."

At any rate the mood of this hymn, which bears the title, "We Would See Jesus," is that of desire to understand Jesus as he was and is. It is a beautiful summary of his whole earthly life, and it comes, in the final stanza, to an impressive mood of dedication of our lives to him and to his work. If we genuinely arrive at this mood of dedication, it is a result of the vision we have seen of his life and work.

The words of the hymn were written by the Rev. John Edgar Park, a Presbyterian minister who, in his mature ministry, served Congregational churches as well. The tune was composed by the Rev. Herbert B. Turner, a professor at Hampton Institute. He said of it, "I got the tune singing in my head so that I could go nowhere without it, and then gradually one verse after another began singing itself to the tune."

There are hymns which begin with the desire to see Jesus that are subjective in character. Anna Warner’s hymn, "We would see Jesus, for the shadows lengthen," was one such hymn. But Dr. Park’s hymn is objective, historical, practical. It was written about 1913, only 50 years ago -- which is comparatively recent as hymns go. This, then, is a little bit about the hymn which we shall be singing in the four Sundays of Advent. Today’s theme is from the fourth stanza: "We would see Jesus in his work of healing."

A great deal of healing lies in sincere concern for health and well being. Here is a ten-year-old boy whose body appears to be intact and functioning fairly well, but is sick in spirit. The only emotion he has ever experienced is hate --- and he knows a lot about that! When he was a baby, his mother deserted the family. So he never knew a mother’s love or concern. His father was a chronic alcoholic and had beaten him frequently. He was finally taken to a church home for boys and he hated that. When the case worker tried to help him, he shouted, "I hate you. I hate God!"

The case worker did not tell the boy that hate is a sin; nor did he say to the boy, then, that God feels a Father’s love for him. Instead, the case worker began a long series of interviews with the boy; he accepted Peter’s anger and absorbed some of his hostility. And, by means of this patient effort to be friendly and understanding; to be intelligent in his loving guidance, he gradually helped the lad toward release from bondage to hatred. And Peter became a normal boy.

A man whom we will call Mr. Matthews was really almost too old to live alone. He did not have the strength to carry on some of the tasks of caring for his little house and preparing his meals. But he did not want to go east to live with his son’s family. He loved his independence; the chance to work in his garden, and to visit with long-time friends. He did not want, either, to go to a home for old folks. He enjoyed taking part in the life of his church, where he and Mrs. Matthews had been members for nearly 50 years. Now that she was gone, the church was the center of his life. Well, here was a case in which the body was not very strong, but the mind had to be kept healthy. There was a Social Service Committee in the church whose members arranged for volunteers to take a hot meal to Mr. Matthews once each day and to take turns visiting him in the evenings. When he died in his sleep one night, the visitor who found his body was shocked to think that he had been alone when death came. But other members of the Congregation knew that he had been able to live the last years of his life as he wished -- in his own home, among the friends of a lifetime, and as an active member of their church.

Our own church has joined in the supportive effort to make the facilities of Fairhaven available to some folk who are getting along in years and who do want to make their home in such an environment as Fairhaven offers. Those who become residents there may anticipate a fair amount of independence, the comfort of a well-planned room or apartment, opportunities for social life among congenial people, a chance for activity in a craft shop, care in an infirmary when ill, and so on.

Now why were members of a church glad to help Mr. Matthews spend the last year of his life at his own home? Why do some church homes employ people of special skill and training to help a boy like Peter? Why do we help to build, and encourage the maintenance of a Fairhaven retirement home? Not all churches do show such a concern. Some church members are able to close their eyes to the needs of neighbors and to keep all that they have and are to themselves. But the follower of Jesus, who has "seen" him at his ministry of help and healing, does care and does find ways to help. For the ministry of help and healing is part of the Christian way of living. Throughout human history, there has been a close relationship between religion and healing. The medicine man of primitive tribes was also a religious leader. Ancient Egyptian medical practitioners were priests of their religion. And the Christian church has ministered to the sick throughout its history.

There has sometimes been a rift, in modern medicine, between the physician and the pastor. But medicine does not usually stay completely secularized. And, fortunately, doctors and ministers, medicine and religion, are coming to a better understanding of each other. The cooperation that is worked out results in better healing for the sick and suffering. Churches unite in service to the physically ill. Here is a brief listing of some types of healing agencies related to Protestant Christian denominations in Canada and the United States:

The American Baptist Convention - 7 hospitals.

Anglican Church of Canada - 7 hospitals, 2 convalescent homes, and 2 mission ships whose 2-way radio telephones enable them to hear distress calls and to treat the sick and injured in isolated homes or transport them to the nearest hospital.

Church of the Brethren - 1 hospital in Chicago and 6 hospitals in Puerto Rico.

Evangelical United Brethren - 3 hospitals.

The Lutheran Churches - 125 general hospitals, 2 tuberculosis sanitaria, and 10 institutions for serving the physically or mentally handicapped.

Methodist Church - 83 hospitals.

Protestant Episcopal Church - 58 hospitals and 12 convalescent homes.

United Church of Canada - 17 hospitals.

United Church of Christ - 11 hospitals and 4 convalescent or nursing homes.

United Presbyterian Church in the USA - 23 hospitals, 9 nursing homes, and 17 out-patient clinics.

This is only a part of the picture of Christian Church concern for health. But it is significant that Protestant church folk do have a hand in this much of it.

Today is marked on some church calendars as Health and Welfare Sunday. It is so noted on the desk calendar of the United Church of Christ. It seems particularly appropriate that this should be the Sunday on which the Riverview Hospital campaign is recalled to our attention through the churches of this area. The whole ministry of healing by doctors, nurses, technicians, chaplains, and many aides, is greatly aided by the facilities available for the care of patients. When I came to this city, Riverview Hospital was in the process of expansion. Not only doctors, but all thoughtful citizens of this neighborhood rejoiced at the completion of the new wing which made the hospital seem adequate for a long time. But much happens during a quarter of a century! The building that was new is not new any more. The need for facilities has grown with the passing of time and with population growth. New techniques for diagnosis and treatment have been discovered. And the doctors of our community must have opportunity to use these techniques for the benefit of patients. We are overdue for a good, new hospital here.

By the time one can be built, it will be a full 25 years since the last expansion. We who have benefited by treatment in the hospital in the preceding years and whose families have found healing here, must search our consciences, survey our ability, and pledge our support of this splendid community enterprise. Healing is a virtue to the Christian. And the tools, or means, of healing are a Christian concern. Even more important than the tools is the skill of the one who may use the tools -- the concern and understanding of the doctor, the nurse, the case worker, the technician, the chaplain, the Christian neighbor.

Our concern for good health is not only for others who need it. Our concern extends to ourselves. Mahatma Gandhi, even though he appeared slight and frail, had a wholesome attitude toward his own health. He could lose weight by fasting or gain weight by eating a bit more food, almost at will.

A great Christian church leader of Japan, Dr. Kagawa, had a body which suffered from various ills -- trachoma in his eyes; a dumpy figure that had been probably tubercular. But his attitude was always one of confidence that he did have enough health to do his work, and he was a tireless worker! He regarded himself as having been miraculously cured from the tuberculosis which he contracted in the great city slums where he worked and lived so long.

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The Bible is full of reference to health and healing. The prophet, Isaiah, characterizes his commission to serve in words like these: "The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good tidings to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captive; the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit, that they may be called Oaks-of-Righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified." [Isaiah 61: 1-3].

When we turn to the New Testament, we find that one of the gospels was written by a doctor, Luke. He is attentive to the attitude of health and the evidence of healing. You recall that John the Baptist was in prison when he wanted earnestly, before he should die, to know whether or not Jesus was the promised Messiah, or whether the people must look for another. So he sent his messengers directly to Jesus with a question: "Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?" When the messengers came to Jesus, they asked him, as John had requested, "Are you he who is to come? Or shall we look for another? John the Baptist has sent us to ask this of you." [Luke 7: 18-23].

It is interesting that Jesus gave an indirect answer. He had been busy in that hour helping and healing all sorts of people. And so he said to the messengers: "Go and tell John what you have seen." Jesus was thinking of his mission in terms of Isaiah’s vision: "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing." [Isaiah 35: 5-6]. Jesus has rejected altogether the idea of a Messiah who would lead in a war for national deliverance and world rule. And he pronounces blessing on those who are not offended by this rejection. But blessed is he who rejoices because "the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, -- the poor have good news preached to them."

Here is an authentic test of Christian enterprise. It is not a question, alone, of buildings and endowments. It is Christian concern for the welfare of people. It is preaching good news to the poor. It is ministering to the sick and the handicapped. It is combating ideas and policies that make for want in the midst of potential plenty. It is standing for a faith and outlook that enables people to stand in strength and well-being; in triumph over despair.

Jesus spoke well of a foreigner who bound up a wounded man’s injuries and took him to an inn. He made it clear that it should not be considered unlawful to heal on the Sabbath day. He cured many of their infirmities and he sent out his disciples to cure more. He could tell a cripple to rise out of his bed and walk.

He can be the strength of your life, and of mine.

Amen.

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Delivered in Wisconsin Rapids, December 1, 1963.