Virtue: Showing Honor 

November 6, 2022 

We’re almost to the election. It’s in just two more days. The claws are out! The politicians are tearing down their opponents. I will be glad when the election is over! I hope that politicians will be kinder and gentler. We’re all in this together, right? 

Today we are talking about honor. I’m going to use the word “respect” and the word “honor” as different things. Respect is something you earn. Like, “I really respect my coach. He’s tough but he brings out the best in us.” Or “My coach is really good at challenging me. I respect my coach.” Honor is what you give, even when someone hasn’t earned it yet. 

Who does not get enough respect? A substitute teacher. Some kids try to get away with as much as they can with the substitute. They might tell the substitute: “Our teacher lets us go home and get our homework when we forget it. I’ll be back in half an hour.” Or “our teacher was going to let us set off fireworks in the parking lot today.” Students might not have respect for a substitute. What does honor look like? It’s like if the kids who have a new substitute teacher, they sit down and listen and tell the substitute, “Our teacher has us write a two-page paper every day for homework. Do you want us to?” The kids who show honor, they don’t know this substitute, the substitute hasn’t earned their respect. They know they could get away with a lot, but they aren’t going to treat a teacher that way. They show honor. Respect is what you give someone who has earned it. Honor is what you show to a stranger or anyone who hasn’t earned your esteem. 

Today we celebrate Veterans Day. Honor is important in the military. The Marine corps has three values: Honor, courage and commitment. To Marines the value of honor means Never lie, never cheat or steal; abide by an uncompromising code of integrity; respect human dignity and respect others. Honor compels Marines to act responsibly, to fulfill our obligations and to hold ourselves and others accountable for every action. Everybody counts on everyone else doing their job, being respectful and doing the right thing in the Marines. Lives are at stake. You show honor. 

Let’s honor substitute teachers! Let’s honor Veterans! They honor us. Our Christian faith teaches us to honor. In Romans 12:10, the apostle Paul says to the Christians in the church in Rome, “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” 

Today we’re in Mark’s gospel chapter 6 to see what it’s like when there is no honor. Then we’ll look at what it means to show honor. 

In Mark 6, Jesus had just worked two miracles! He healed a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years. Then there was a little girl who was sick. When Jesus came to see her, they told him she was dead. But Jesus said, “She’s not dead. She is sleeping.” And he healed her! 

After performing these miracles, Jesus goes to his hometown. This is not the place where he was born, that was Bethlehem. But Nazareth is Jesus’ hometown where he grew up. Mark 6:1 says, “Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. When the Sabbath came, (Sabbath is the holy day) Jesus began teaching in the synagogue and many who heard Him were amazed. ‘Where did this man get these things?’ they asked. ‘What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing?’” Then they scoffed. He’s just a carpenter. We know his mother, Mary! We know his brothers and sisters. He can’t be special! And they took offense at Jesus. They refused to believe in him. They didn’t respect him. They decided they knew who he was, just a common person. They knew what family he came from: a family that was ordinary. And they decided Jesus was not special to them. In verse 4, Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” When people see you as just an ordinary schmuck, a common person, so often they don’t honor you!  

But the people of Nazareth lost out because of their attitude and their lack of honor for Jesus. Verse 5 says, “Jesus could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them.” There were times when Jesus healed many people. Here in Nazareth, he could only heal a random few, because the attitude that Jesus is nothing special was contagious. Most people wouldn’t give him the time of day. Verse 6 says, “And Jesus was amazed at their lack of faith.”  This story encourages us to show honor, rather than treat someone as nothing special. I don’t want to miss out on seeing a miracle. I bet you don’t want to either. When you show honor, you give space to see God work miracles. 

I would like to think that I look at people and see the hidden extraordinary in them. But I admit I have a cynical, skeptical side. Many years ago, I worked in a downtown homeless shelter in Seattle, Washington. There was one client (we didn’t call them homeless) named Herman. And he was a friendly guy. Oddly, he wore a nice suit. None of the other clients wore a suit.  

One day he saw me, and he said, “Where are you going?” I said, “I’m going over here to give a job talk. It’s about places you can find a job. You’re welcome to come!” 

Herman said, “Oh, I don’t need a job. I already have one.” And I thought to myself, yes, sure, you have a job. And I’m the Queen of England! 

But it turns out, Herman had come to Seattle for a job. There was an outstanding warrant for him there. He was arrested when he got off the plane. He was in jail a short amount of time. He got out, but he had no money left. Herman didn’t want to ask his family for money. So, he slept at the shelter until his job started. He was a chef at a nice restaurant! I was amazed! He really did have a job! He even gave me his recipe for French onion soup, but I lost it. Herman was more than just a homeless man! 

I was skeptical about him having a job. But at least I didn’t say that to him out loud. And I got to see the miracle of a homeless guy in a suit who was a chef! When you show honor, you give space to see God work miracles. 

Hebrews 13:2 says, “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.” That verse tells us that strangers can be more amazing than we think. They could turn out to be angels, so honor them! 

I think this goes for people who are not strangers as well. Our family members, particularly children, need us to believe they are amazing, especially when they are struggling. I try to say to my kids regularly, “I can’t want to see what you will do!” Cheerleaders exist for a real reason: we all need to hear some enthusiasm that we are great and can do great things. I believe cheerleading is an important part of a parent’s job description. Let’s all practice that, turn to someone and say, “I can’t wait to see what you will do!” When you show honor, you give space to see God work miracles. 

My challenge for you this week is to honor someone before they earn it. Believe in them when you’re not sure what they can do. 

The apostle Paul said, “Honor one another above yourselves.” Honor is part of our faith. We honor God. And we honor other people, even strangers. Because it doesn’t matter what we believe is the limit of someone’s capabilities. God is working in the world. And by the power of God, people can surprise us and surprise themselves. God works miracles. So, show honor to others and give space to see God work miracles through them. Amen.