Sermon: Humility and Humanity.
On the cover of the latest issue of Costco Connection there is an image of delicious fresh baked bread and the words: “Recipe for Success. Costco Supplier Dave’s Killer bread is committed to making a difference.”
In the magazine the beautiful story about Dave’s Killer bread and brand is told.
Dave’s Killer Bread has become a brand and an extremely popular choice enticing health consciousness in consumers and promoting a greater cause. Behind the brand and the bread success is a philosophy to create a quality product to feed the bodies and even more to promote second chance employment.
One of the 3 employees has a criminal history and background – and got a second chance to hold employment and be embraced by a humble humanity.
The Co-founder Dave Dahl, who is on every package of bread with his recognizable beard and guitar, - helped create its ethos with his own second change story.
A true story of humanity and humility.
After spending 15 years in prison for multiple offenses, including drugs, burglary, armed robbery and assault, Dave was invited back into his family’s bakery business. The first seed of the Dave’s Killer Bread story was planted in 1955, when two Brothers Jim and Wanene Dahl purchased a Bakery in Portland. They became known for organic nutritious options ahead of their time. Dave was on the four children of Jim Dahl, and they all helped in the bakery. But Dave began getting into trouble as a young man, dropping out of high school and eventually finding himself behind bars for over a decade. He was released in 2004. And was given a second chance when his older brother offered him a job, an opportunity and a redemption.
Dave is credited with inventing a special organic nutty bread that became an instant success at the Portland Farmers Market. People described is as a “killer” bread – and the rest is history… and now you may buy it at Costco.
This is indeed an inspirational story about family, forgiveness, second chances and bread. About humility and humanity.
Tonight, we are invited to share bread as well. Not Dave’s Killer Bread, but Christ Life giving Bread.
For a moment think about the two words: Humility and Humanity.
Humility: to be humble, to serve others instead of demanding to be served; to be humble towards the blessings and success in life and to be humble towards others burdens to bear. To be humble is to love.
Humanity: to acknowledge and celebrate that we are all part of one humanity. Not just my tribe, my nation, my church, my family, my language – but all of humanity. To be able honestly and humbly to say: Human first then Christian, the Muslim, Jew, Hindu, Atheist, Democrat, Republican, Danish, American, Black, white, brown, female, male, old, young. Human first, that is where we can meet.
Humility and humanity are intertwined and deeply connected in the roots of the words of “humus” earth, but even more connected in the humble and humane heart.
Tonight, humanity and humility are displayed in the heart, mind, mission and faith of Jesus Christ himself. He was a humble human. He embodied full humanity and deep humanity is his very being, in his approach to people he met, to his friends at the table and even to the ones who would betray him.
Humility and humanity are at the Table night. Back then when Jesus sat with the 12 friends at the last supper table, which was to become the meal remembered and repeated.
Humility and humanity are manifested in the story when Jesus knelt and washed the feet of the disciples. The dusty dirty disciple feet, worn, tired and tried from following Jesus on his path.
Clean feet, good bread and second chances were present at the table when Jesus ate with his friends. Sharing the meal, sharing the peace and sharing forgiveness. Sharing Humanity and Humility as the fundamental of human life and Christian faith.
Not only did Judas need forgiveness, but all the disciples also needed to have their feet washed and their sins forgiven as we all do. The hotheaded righteous Peter with all the right answers and the burning passion, he also deserted Jesus, betrayed him and hid behind closed doors with the other disciples of fear and shame.
The first thing the world knew about Christians had to do with food. The first Christians were known as the one who ate together. That is what we are known for is not it: The Danish Church always eat together! The stale wafers and the soothing port at the altar rail here in church is every Sunday is a promise of a delicious meal to follow. We are indeed good at being Christians at a table!
But are we also good at second chances, forgiveness, humility and humanity, when we leave the comfort of the tables? Filled and full.
Robert E. Webber described a sacrament like this: “God works through life, through people, and through physical, tangible, and material reality to communicate his healing presence in our lives. – God does not meet us outside of life in an esoteric manner. Rather, he meets us through life incidents, and particularly through the sacraments of the church. Sacrament, then, is a way of encountering the mystery. “
This is indeed the purpose of the sacrament; our repeated acts at the baptismal font and at the altar rail; to help us see, to point to the bread and wine, to the water, and say: pay attention, this matters; these things are holy.
The word sacrament is derived from a Latin phrase that means “to make holy.”
We make this symbol of a meal, through bread and wine, we make this symbol of love and salvation through water holy when we share and remember that God so loved the world that he sends his son to enter our lives, our humanity, with humility, grace, and love.
At its best, we as a church, we as Christians, administer the sacraments by feeding, healing, forgiving, comforting and welcoming everyone in our midst and our tables.
At its worst, we as a church, as Christians, withholds the sacraments to keep God in a theology, a dogma or a list of rules, or in a building.
But our God is in the business of bread and wine to manifest humanity and humility among us and to transform ordinary things into extraordinary things, holy things so we do not need to be afraid. As there is always enough: just open, just share, just taste and see.
So tonight let us meet at the table of enough.
The table of the living bread.
The table of remembrance and hope.
The table of humanity and humility.
It is easier to remember together. Just think about your family tables where all the forgotten and funny stories are remembered repeatedly. Shared with laughter and love.
“You are loved,” someone said. Take that and eat it.” Mary Karr
On the cover of the latest issue of Costco Connection there was delicious fresh baked bread and the words: “Recipe for Success. “Costco Supplier Dave’s Killer bread is committed to making a difference.”
On the cover of our celebration of Maundy Thursday there is fresh baked bread, roasted lamb, lemon chicken, salads and greens – a shared meal to remind us that The Last Supper serves us Christ as the Living Bread of live and it does make a difference.
Let us meet at the table of Humility and Humanity.
Amen.