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Wendy Witt

“Somebody Should Do Something”
Rev. Wendy Witt

How many times when we are confronted with a troubling situation or hear about a great need in our community, country or world, do we find ourselves, or hear others, saying: Somebody should do something about that? We hear or see the need, we feel a pang of consciousness, and we know that something should be done, something needs to be done, so we start looking around to see if we can find somebody — anybody — who can do something.

Jesus had withdrawn for some quiet time of prayer and reflection following the death of John the Baptist. He needed some time to mourn and grieve in private. He needed some time alone to reflect on what this all meant for him and his ministry. The crowds would have none of it and followed him so great was their need. Even in his time of mourning, Jesus saw the hurting crowds waiting for him, in the heat of the day, and he had compassion on them. And even though he longed for some time alone, he acted. He healed and comforted them.

Disciples saw that the hour had grown late and the crowd was hungry and they looked at each other and said, “Somebody should do something.” So they did what they always did — they turned to Jesus. They wanted Jesus to send the crowds away, but Jesus said to them, “You are right somebody should do something; bring me what you have.” Then Jesus took the bread, gave thanks to God, broke the bread, and then said to the disciples, “You are the somebodies who are going to do it; go feed the crowd.”

I am proud to be part of a church that looks out and sees the needs and instead of saying, “gee somebody should do something,” they get busy and start responding to the need . . . feeding the hungry, giving shelter to the homeless, visiting and caring for the sick, responding in concrete ways to the needs all around us, providing safe sanctuary and a place of peaceful respite in the middle of the hustle and bustle of life in the loop.

Last week, we witnessed a sacred moment. For months, Rev. King has been lifting up the plight of Rocky Clark, an incredible young man who was tragically injured in a football game while in high school. He was paralyzed from the neck down. For 10 years, the insurance company covered all his expenses.

Then suddenly, with no warning, Rocky and his mother Annette received a letter informing them that their benefits had capped out and they were no longer covered. They were on their own — or so they thought — and the need was great. But they hadn’t counted on the church.

Pastor Claude heard of his story through his wife. He told the church. And the church sprung into action collecting medical supplies and other necessities and helping with financial support.

Every day we pass by those who are homeless and hungry and struggling to make it through another day. Our hearts hurt and we want to respond but the need is so great. Again, the church did not just insist that somebody should do something but began a ministry to the homeless providing pastoral care, meals, clothing, health care screening, bible study and devotions — seeking to respond to not only the physical but also the spiritual and emotional needs of those who come.

We all know that not all schools are the same, and what neighborhood they happen to be located in goes a long way to determining the quality of education those students receive. Responding to this injustice and trying to equalize the playing field for at least some of our children, under the direction and leadership of Rev. Magrini, the Temple began a tutoring program in conjunction with the Ruben Salazar Bilingual Education Center, a Chicago public school, to help raise reading levels. One step in assuring that all children are given the opportunities they need to succeed.

Several years ago, the Temple underwent a major renovation project of the sanctuary. Not just for cosmetics, but as a justice issue to make our space more accessible for all who come so that all can fully participate in worship.

Full inclusion of all people in the life of this church in particular and in the life of the wider church in general and in our communities is one of the driving values that we hold in high regard here at the Temple — but it is not, cannot be, something that we simply talk about. It has to be something that we are actively committed to working to make happen. Equality and inclusion are at the very heart of what it means to a disciple of the living Christ who welcomes all to his table and into his new community of love and justice. No one is denied. No one is turned away. No one is regarded as less than or not worthy. All are welcome; all are accepted; all are included.

I am proud to be part of a congregation that doesn’t look to others to do what we are called, commissioned, and challenged to do as the body of Christ, the Church.

Now, there is definitely a role for the government in ensuring that the needs of all are met and that the most vulnerable among us, our children, elderly and sick are cared for and protected; that the rights of all to access to resources and opportunities and legal protection are guaranteed and safeguarded — but we need to be very careful that we don’t slip into the misguided belief that the government will, or even can, do it all on their own. We, as the body of Christ, have an ethical responsibility to put our faith into action and to live out our beliefs and work to create the kind of world that is at the heart of the Jesus-vision — we cannot assume that somebody else will do the work we are uniquely called and commissioned to do.

As I talk to people about what they would like to see us at the Temple do that we are not currently doing, I consistently hear that they want us to do not less but more to respond to the needs around us. They want us to not only have eyes to see and ears to hear, but hearts to care and the will to do something about what we see.

And we have been doing that. Just this week Rev. Blackwell participated in a press conference to oppose the expansion of gambling in Illinois and then presented a packet of information to a representative from the Governor’s office and is making it known that there is widespread opposition to this movement that preys upon some of the most vulnerable, and we will not be silent.

In the months ahead I will be talking to many people trying to identify common issues and concerns; hopes and dreams. And then, together, we will explore ways that we can take significant shaping action on those issues. If you would like to be part of those discussions please let me know so we can arrange a time to talk.

Again, it would be so very easy to shake our heads, mutter that somebody should do something about all these things. To look to our elected officials and religious leaders to do something, just like the disciples looked to Jesus to do something or just make it all go away.

But here at the Temple, we don’t say that. We say what can we do? How can we respond to the needs of the crowds we see every day? What can we do to create a society and community and congregation that truly does care for the least, the last, and the forgotten among us?

What can we do to help shape the world around us so that the cries of all are heard and the needs of all are addressed? What can we do to guarantee that all have equal rights and protection under the law where all have equal access to education, employment, health care, housing, food, safe neighborhoods, and to have their dignity honored and preserved?

The disciples looked at the waiting crowds. They saw the need, the pain, the hope. It was more than they thought they could handle so they asked Jesus to send the people away. Jesus would have none of it. He said to his disciples, “Bring me what you have.” Then he asked God to bless the loaves and the fish. Then he said to the disciples, “This will be sufficient — go and feed God’s people.” And scripture tells us that it was more than enough! In God’s hands, what we have is always more than enough!

Today God is calling to us to rise up out of our complacency and become the people God needs us to be … people who are committed to not only seeing the need but who are determined to be part of the solution. Who will take whatever we have, as little as it may seem to us, give it to God to bless and use it to serve God’s people.

As I was reminded by one of our members on Wednesday: While it is true that we can’t do everything, it is also equally true, that each of us can do something.

The voice of God is calling each one of this morning. How will we answer?

The voice of God is calling its summons in our day;

Isaiah heard in Zion, and we now hear God say:

“Whom shall I send to succor my people in their need?

Whom shall I send to loosen the bonds of shame and greed?” The Voice of God is Calling, Hymn #436