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SERMON for JUNE , 21, 2020
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FINDING LIFE
Text: Romans 6: 1b - 11; Matthew 10: 24 - 39
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The Gospel lesson for this Sunday seems a huge mismatch as we hear these words on Father’s Day:
“For I have come to set a man against his father…and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household.” Matthew 10:
“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me…” Matthew 10: 35-36, 37
It is a coincidence that this lesson is the one for this Sunday in the lectionary, the three-year cycle of readings for each Sunday of the church year. I considered skipping this lesson, yet it is important not to pick and choose the scriptures that we want to hear. Perhaps you are among those who wonder if Jesus really said these things – and if He did – how did they ever get in the Bible?!
When we hear such hard and harsh words of Jesus, we tend to gloss over them because they seem inconsistent with the One who tells us that the two most important commandments are: love God and love one another. How can we reconcile the words of the Lord in today’s gospel lesson: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword,” with words of the one and the same Jesus of Nazareth who teaches in the Beatitudes: “blessed are the peacemakers.” Does Jesus contradict Himself? What can we make of today’s lesson? Taken out of context, we could jump to conclusions that would have significant, negative consequences if “the letter of the law” were followed literally.
On the surface, it seems that Jesus is setting the stage for family conflicts over matters of faith. In predicting these outcomes, Jesus is preparing and equipping His disciples, including us, and all future disciples, for bearing the cost of discipleship. Taking up the cross of discipleship and following Jesus requires sacrifice – sometimes the sacrifice of some of the most cherished values and beliefs that people hold. His first disciples, like those in generations to come, will wrestle with the personal cost of following Jesus – and whether or not it is worth it. It might mean turning away from family and friends – or their turning away from you. It could cost you your life.
From the days of Jesus to our times, discipleship has divided families, communities, and nations. The cost of discipleship was and still is quite high. In a pluralistic country like ours, we tolerate a wide variety of religious beliefs, so matters of faith do not necessarily divide families or bring great personal risk; however, let us not forget that there are Christians in our world today who are ostracized by family and friends, persecuted by neighbors, and even killed for following the Lord. This particular Gospel lesson may not resonate deeply with us, but let us never those who are persecuted and martyred for the sake of the Gospel.
“Fear not!” Jesus teaches. Fear not those who can kill the body, for they cannot kill the soul. Death is not the final chapter for those who believe in the Lord. Eternal salvation comes for the faithful.
We find life by losing our lives for Jesus’ sake. We find life – a life that is truly worth living – when following the light of the Lord is our guiding star, when the path of discipleship is the choice we make when there is a fork in the road, when pursuing life in Christ takes priority over all the other options that lie before us.
Headline news is filled daily we too many examples of what happens to people who look for life in all the wrong places – in ways that can kill the soul and lead to death. You do not have to be a disciple of Jesus Christ to recognize paths that lead to self-destruction. Since I am preaching to the choir, so to speak, I will not highlight obvious examples That being said, even in our times, in our churches, and in our families, there are many things that can divide us – one from the other.
As disciples of the Risen Lord, self-examination and repentance are vital and on-going spiritual disciplines. To ask questions like: what would Jesus do – or what did Jesus teach about such matters? Or – what does the Church say about these things? – are very important questions to hold. On a personal level, when we are faced with a significant challenge to our faith, where and to whom do you seek wisdom, truth, and confirmation of the Spirit? Ask yourself: have I taken it to the Lord in prayer first – and then waited patiently for guidance? Have I discerned the guidance and leading of the Holy Spirit with respect to this matter, or have I struck out on my own path – self-confident in the conclusions that I have reached? Have I sought wisdom from other disciples? Where do we discover – life in Christ – life that leads to life?
Finding life – in the Lord – during this pandemic – brings blessings and holy comfort as we press on in faith in the face of a very ugly reality. Despite our best efforts to live full and productive lives in the 21st century, a virus, a microscopic organism, has completely disrupted our ordinary ways of living and being. Early in January, there were voices of public health officials who gave dire warnings about what was to come, yet most people did not believe them - or did not want to believe them – and here we are.
Some people have turned to faith and returned to their faith during these times. Some churches report that on-line worship services have resulted in increased weekly worship attendance. Some people are connecting with family and friends more that ever before, reaching out to people who had been distant before the pandemic. Yes – I look for silver linings. Despite the death defining dynamics of COVID-19, this pandemic has brought new life to many people by compelling them to reflect on what really matters in this life: peace – or - a sword; unity – or – division; justice – or – injustice; mercy – or – condemnation; humility – or – arrogance; wisdom – or – ignorance.
When Jesus said, “whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me,” (v. 38) what do these words mean for our lives? Jesus knew that a cross was before Him – a cross on which He bore the sins of the world for the sake of our salvation unto eternal life. The Apostle Paul pondered these matters of faith and gave us definitive guidance:
“We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” Romans 6: 9-11
On this side of heaven’s gates, when we choose the path of discipleship, we are forever finding life – resurrection life in Jesus Christ: “Anyone who is in Christ is a new creation: the old life has gone; a new life has begun!” [2 Corinthians 5: 17] God is transforming us from death to life - helping us die to sin daily – so that we might truly live. God is forever blessing us with new life in Christ Jesus – even here and now – this day. As Jesus taught: “Those who lose their life for my sake will find it.” We are on a great journey together as brothers and sisters in Christ, a family united by the love of God for us, children of God who are helping to build God’s kingdom on earth as in heaven above – despite our sin, social divisions, and family conflicts.
The good Lord is not finished with us yet – thanks be to God. For wisdom, strength, and patience, let us pray to the Lord as we pray: “thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven.” Amen.
Text: Romans 6: 1b - 11; Matthew 10: 24 - 39
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Gospel lesson for this Sunday seems a huge mismatch as we hear these words on Father’s Day:
“For I have come to set a man against his father…and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household.” Matthew 10:
“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me…” Matthew 10: 35-36, 37
It is a coincidence that this lesson is the one for this Sunday in the lectionary, the three-year cycle of readings for each Sunday of the church year. I considered skipping this lesson, yet it is important not to pick and choose the scriptures that we want to hear. Perhaps you are among those who wonder if Jesus really said these things – and if He did – how did they ever get in the Bible?!
When we hear such hard and harsh words of Jesus, we tend to gloss over them because they seem inconsistent with the One who tells us that the two most important commandments are: love God and love one another. How can we reconcile the words of the Lord in today’s gospel lesson: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword,” with words of the one and the same Jesus of Nazareth who teaches in the Beatitudes: “blessed are the peacemakers.” Does Jesus contradict Himself? What can we make of today’s lesson? Taken out of context, we could jump to conclusions that would have significant, negative consequences if “the letter of the law” were followed literally.
On the surface, it seems that Jesus is setting the stage for family conflicts over matters of faith. In predicting these outcomes, Jesus is preparing and equipping His disciples, including us, and all future disciples, for bearing the cost of discipleship. Taking up the cross of discipleship and following Jesus requires sacrifice – sometimes the sacrifice of some of the most cherished values and beliefs that people hold. His first disciples, like those in generations to come, will wrestle with the personal cost of following Jesus – and whether or not it is worth it. It might mean turning away from family and friends – or their turning away from you. It could cost you your life.
From the days of Jesus to our times, discipleship has divided families, communities, and nations. The cost of discipleship was and still is quite high. In a pluralistic country like ours, we tolerate a wide variety of religious beliefs, so matters of faith do not necessarily divide families or bring great personal risk; however, let us not forget that there are Christians in our world today who are ostracized by family and friends, persecuted by neighbors, and even killed for following the Lord. This particular Gospel lesson may not resonate deeply with us, but let us never those who are persecuted and martyred for the sake of the Gospel.
“Fear not!” Jesus teaches. Fear not those who can kill the body, for they cannot kill the soul. Death is not the final chapter for those who believe in the Lord. Eternal salvation comes for the faithful.
We find life by losing our lives for Jesus’ sake. We find life – a life that is truly worth living – when following the light of the Lord is our guiding star, when the path of discipleship is the choice we make when there is a fork in the road, when pursuing life in Christ takes priority over all the other options that lie before us.
Headline news is filled daily we too many examples of what happens to people who look for life in all the wrong places – in ways that can kill the soul and lead to death. You do not have to be a disciple of Jesus Christ to recognize paths that lead to self-destruction. Since I am preaching to the choir, so to speak, I will not highlight obvious examples That being said, even in our times, in our churches, and in our families, there are many things that can divide us – one from the other.
As disciples of the Risen Lord, self-examination and repentance are vital and on-going spiritual disciplines. To ask questions like: what would Jesus do – or what did Jesus teach about such matters? Or – what does the Church say about these things? – are very important questions to hold. On a personal level, when we are faced with a significant challenge to our faith, where and to whom do you seek wisdom, truth, and confirmation of the Spirit? Ask yourself: have I taken it to the Lord in prayer first – and then waited patiently for guidance? Have I discerned the guidance and leading of the Holy Spirit with respect to this matter, or have I struck out on my own path – self-confident in the conclusions that I have reached? Have I sought wisdom from other disciples? Where do we discover – life in Christ – life that leads to life?
Finding life – in the Lord – during this pandemic – brings blessings and holy comfort as we press on in faith in the face of a very ugly reality. Despite our best efforts to live full and productive lives in the 21st century, a virus, a microscopic organism, has completely disrupted our ordinary ways of living and being. Early in January, there were voices of public health officials who gave dire warnings about what was to come, yet most people did not believe them - or did not want to believe them – and here we are.
Some people have turned to faith and returned to their faith during these times. Some churches report that on-line worship services have resulted in increased weekly worship attendance. Some people are connecting with family and friends more that ever before, reaching out to people who had been distant before the pandemic. Yes – I look for silver linings. Despite the death defining dynamics of COVID-19, this pandemic has brought new life to many people by compelling them to reflect on what really matters in this life: peace – or - a sword; unity – or – division; justice – or – injustice; mercy – or – condemnation; humility – or – arrogance; wisdom – or – ignorance.
When Jesus said, “whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me,” (v. 38) what do these words mean for our lives? Jesus knew that a cross was before Him – a cross on which He bore the sins of the world for the sake of our salvation unto eternal life. The Apostle Paul pondered these matters of faith and gave us definitive guidance:
“We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” Romans 6: 9-11
On this side of heaven’s gates, when we choose the path of discipleship, we are forever finding life – resurrection life in Jesus Christ: “Anyone who is in Christ is a new creation: the old life has gone; a new life has begun!” [2 Corinthians 5: 17] God is transforming us from death to life - helping us die to sin daily – so that we might truly live. God is forever blessing us with new life in Christ Jesus – even here and now – this day. As Jesus taught: “Those who lose their life for my sake will find it.” We are on a great journey together as brothers and sisters in Christ, a family united by the love of God for us, children of God who are helping to build God’s kingdom on earth as in heaven above – despite our sin, social divisions, and family conflicts.
The good Lord is not finished with us yet – thanks be to God. For wisdom, strength, and patience, let us pray to the Lord as we pray: “thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven.” Amen.