On the Fringes
Pentecost 2A
June 11, 2023
Christ, Preston, MN
Matthew 9.9-13, 18-26
I listened to a podcast a few weeks ago on something called the “Imposter Syndrome.” Have you ever heard of that? According to the magazine, Psychology Today, “People who struggle with imposter syndrome believe that they are undeserving of their achievements and the high esteem in which they are, in fact, generally held. They feel that they aren’t as competent or intelligent as others might think—and that soon enough, people will discover the truth about them. Those with imposter syndrome are often well accomplished; they may hold high office or have numerous academic degrees.” The podcast I heard listed such accomplished actors as Viola Davis and Tom Hanks as dealing with Imposter Syndrome.
I think many of us struggle with Imposter Syndrome in one form or another. We have self-doubts, wondering if we belong. I know that I’ve been part of groups where people were far more accomplished than I, leaving me wondering if I belong. I suspect that some of you here today have similar feelings, that you wonder if you really belong, especially here in this church. You look around and see others who have their faith-act together and think you are a fraud compared to them. Well, if you are one of those, this sermon is for you and me. For the others who don’t have this problem, please sit quietly until we’re done.
We have an interesting cast of characters in our Gospel reading from Matthew 9 today and I wonder if they had doubts about belonging, whether they were worthy of Jesus’ attention. Matthew, the reported namesake of this Gospel, was himself a tax collector. He is joined by other tax collectors, “sinners,” a woman with hemorrhages, and a dead girl, along with her father (synagogue leader), Pharisees, disciples, and Jesus of course. Then these odd characters are found in odd situations. Jesus calls Matthew, who immediately follows, eats with the disciples, tax collectors, and sinners, all under the curious eye of the Pharisees. Jesus himself follows without hesitation the synagogue leader to attend to his daughter and, while on the way, encounters the woman with the hemorrhages.
It’s helpful to remember that many of these people were on the fringes of Jewish society. Tax collectors because they collaborated with the Romans, handled unclean money, and took advantage of people by overcharging them. “Sinners” was a catch-all phrase for those who didn’t observe Jewish laws. Women with flows of blood were ritually unclean as were dead people; observant Jewish men wouldn’t touch them because they would become unclean. Not only does Jesus consort with these people who are on the margins, but he also eats with them, unthinkable in that day and age.
In case we miss the point, Jesus declares that mercy is a core value of God’s kingdom and furthermore, he didn’t come to call those who have it all together, but rather those who are on the outs. Frankly, the worst thing that happened to Christianity is when the Roman Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity in the early 4th c. and Christianity became the “official” religion of the empire, suddenly becoming mainstream. True, Christianity spread quickly because of this, but it quickly forgot who it came for and why. As an aside, the leaders of the church also became obsessed with the power this brought them, forgetting that they came to serve the people rather than the other way around.
So, if you’re one of those who have it all together, you can leave anytime and don’t need to come back because this place isn’t for you. But, if you don’t have it all together, feel like you’re not good enough, a fraud, then this is where you belong. The good news for you today is that you don’t have to pretend anymore because Jesus came for you. The issue isn’t whether you deserve God’s love or not, what others think, or what you do or don’t do. The issue is that Jesus invites you to follow him in order to love and bless our broken world, especially you. Amen.
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