Houghton Hears a Who

1 Corinthians 1:18-25

Horton Hears a Who

As a child in church, my attention was "loose." While the pastor preached sermons, I read Dr. Seuss... Perhaps this is why I should feel so at ease Rhyming when speaking of text such as these.

You might think that rhyming a sermon’s not cool.

But for the sake of the gospel, I’ll be seen as a fool.

So, to summarize Seuss: Horton heard something small.

It couldn’t be seen by the eye, not at all.

And when he insisted that, “yes it existed”

He was mocked, he was teased, ne’er the less, he persisted.

Despite all the doubts of the sour kangaroo,

Despite all the monkeys and eagles that flew,

Despite tactics of power and intimidation

Horton stood firm to defend the Who-Nation.

The lesson to learn from this tale is important:

Horton heard Whos, but who hears the Hortons?

Who hears the ones who give voice to the little?

And who are the ones who don’t heed them one bit-le?

We live in a world that views power and might

As grounds for deciding who’s wrong and who’s right.

We use volume to shout what we think loud and clear.

But all of this volume makes truth hard to hear.

And so when the things we believe are at odds

We shout our opinions without listening for God’s.

Amidst noise of our bickering chatter and chitter

It would seem that this poem gives us much to consider.

There are many who seek to give voice to the small,

In fact, it reminds me and makes me recall

The words of the letter to Corinth by Paul.

In response to the Gospel, the Gentiles and Jews

Are “Humphing” about like those sour kangaroos.

“A crucified savior? A God who must die?”

“This gospel you preach is a big, foolish lie!”

They hear it as foolish, the story we cherish,

But we are the ones being saved while they perish.

God will destroy what the world thinks is wise—

Precisely the things the Corinthians prize.[1]

They’re stuck in the wisdom of power and rules;

Hence, they are the ones who are acting like fools.

And if, in your mind you are shouting out, “Bingo!”

Here’s a fair word of warning on “us and them” lingo.

Paul did not write with the aim to divide:

Us and them, wrong and right, in or out, pick a side.

No, in fact, he would rather we swallow our pride—

The pride that might cause us to get in a fight,

Yes, just set that aside that we all might unite.

All the “us versus them” stuff is just an illusion

Concocted by powers of fear and delusion.

We become they when we pridefully boast

That they are the ones who need saving the most.

And they become us when they listen and hear

And turn down the volume of hatred and fear.

Them or we, us or they, can you say who is who?

“We are one in the spirit,” that’ll just have to do.

There are some who can’t fathom the call of the Lord:

“Give voice to the voiceless that all might be heard!”

You may not be wise, you may not command power,

And you may not compel those around you to cower.

But God chose to accomplish God's plan through the cross:

Showing power through weakness, saving life through its loss.

God chose the path that was feared by the most

In order that none, in God's presence, might boast.

All who are feeble, and humble, and broken,

Are given, thought Jesus, a most precious token.

All, through the cross, through the love which God gifted,

Are bound up, and healed up, empowered, and lifted.

So you who are small, do not count yourselves out:

Yours is the voice that God wants to hear shout.

There’s something quite "small" in this gospel we preach

But this is the thing that God wants us to teach.

There are many who seek to give voice to the small,

But Jesus, to me, rises up above all.

“The way that you treat all the ones you think wee,

Like it or not, is the way you treat me.”

So lift up your voice, and ignore those who tease,

And go forth to serve all of the world’s “least of these.”

Do not be embarrassed should the world call you odd.

Show compassion for “small ones,” that’s how you serve God.

Your kids might not sit at your front in a pouch,

They might sit on a bench, or a pew, or a couch;

But if you were to teach them the Gospel you knew:

“God cares for the small ones,” would they answer, “Me too?”

This seems, for a start, like a good thing to do.

Words of Institution:

...And to the disciples who heard what he said,

Jesus offered his body in breaking of bread.

“Take this and eat this, do this and recall:

Remember the love that God shares is for ALL.”

Then, in the same way, he took, also, a cup.

And he filled it with wine, filled it all the way up,

And he gave thanks to God as he said to his friends,

“Drink this and remember: God’s love never ends.”

Charge and Blessing:

So lift up your voice, and ignore those who tease,

And go forth to serve all of the world’s “least of these.”

Do not be embarrassed should the world call you odd.

Go and love one another; that’s how you love God.

[1] Hays, Richard B. “First Corinthians” from Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching