|
|
SERMON for OCTOBER 4, 2020
|
BEFORE AND AFTER
Text: Philippians 3: 4b-14; Matthew 21: 33-46
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“…but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2: 3-4
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paul gives an overview of his “before and after” life in today’s reading, an account of his personal transformation. After Paul’s encounter with the Risen Lord on the way to Damascus, Paul’s life changed dramatically and radically. In this letter we hear a summary of how the Risen Lord has changed Paul’s life, from what it was - to how it is - and to how it will be.
When people hit rock bottom, there is nowhere to go but up. Stories of such personal discovery and change are often told in 12-step recovery programs. Paul’s story is strikingly different. From the world’s perspective, he was not at the bottom. Paul was at the top: born into the tribe of Benjamin as one of God’s chosen people, well educated and esteemed as a Pharisee, righteous in the eyes of others. Paul profited from his privilege and power. By the standards of his religious community and for his times, Paul had it made. He was in the elite class - in a place that was out-of-reach for the ordinary person – for upward mobility was not a first-century phenomenon.
After Paul’s conversion and commitment to Christ Jesus, through the lens of faith, Paul reviews what he used to value before and what he had deemed of the utmost importance. He now regards such things as rubbish, garbage, trash. Paul moves from pride in his own achievements to gratitude for what Christ Jesus has done for him. The Lord has given Paul a new lease on life: the old life is gone – a new life has begun. Paul’s perspective on his life thus far – on who he was - and on who he is - and on who he is becoming – is dramatically different – completely transformed. Before Paul’s conversion, when he was actively persecuting Christians and trying to stop this new spiritual movement, if anyone had predicted that one day he would be in prison facing trial and execution for proclaiming the Gospel, writing letters to encourage Christians in their faith, and inviting others to “rejoice in the Lord always!” – Paul, and others who knew him, would have considered such a prophecy ridiculous. Paul’s life has come full circle.
Paul recognizes that what Christ offers is a gift – a free gift – not something that he has received as a reward for anything that he has accomplished in his life. Paul never suggests that he deserves the free gift of salvation. Paul understands clearly that there was nothing that he did or could do to merit this gift that Christ Jesus offers him. Paul does not deserve it, no more and no less than any one of us deserves it. Through His life, death, and resurrection, Christ Jesus offers us amazing grace, ceaseless mercy, and saving love – His way of radical transformation from death to life unto eternal life. This is not anything that we can achieve on our own; it is a gift of God.
Paul writes: “Christ Jesus has made me His own.” Likewise, Christ Jesus has made us His own, not on the basis of our achievements, ancestry, privilege, possessions, or station in life. So much of what we treasure in this life means nothing in the eyes of the Lord. After Christ Jesus makes us His own, we, like the Apostle Paul, are called to strain forward, to strive for what lies ahead - even as what lies ahead has already started in this life.
By the power of the Holy Spirit, Christ Jesus recreates us – in His image – for the glory of God. Disciples of the Risen Lord continue the new creation that started in His life, death, and resurrection. Christ Jesus invites us to journey with Him. When we draw near to Him, He draws near to us. Christ Jesus comes alongside us: encouraging, guiding, healing, leading, and transforming our steps – as we heed God’s call to a future that has already begun in our world two thousand years ago. The old life has gone; a new life has begun, for in Jesus Christ, we are forgiven – and redeemed – and transformed. Truly, Christ Jesus has made us His very own – for God so loved the world!
Feast today, with joy, on this sacred meal that the Lord has prepared for the world – and for us – yes - even for us. Thanks be to God. Amen.
Text: Philippians 3: 4b-14; Matthew 21: 33-46
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“…but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2: 3-4
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paul gives an overview of his “before and after” life in today’s reading, an account of his personal transformation. After Paul’s encounter with the Risen Lord on the way to Damascus, Paul’s life changed dramatically and radically. In this letter we hear a summary of how the Risen Lord has changed Paul’s life, from what it was - to how it is - and to how it will be.
When people hit rock bottom, there is nowhere to go but up. Stories of such personal discovery and change are often told in 12-step recovery programs. Paul’s story is strikingly different. From the world’s perspective, he was not at the bottom. Paul was at the top: born into the tribe of Benjamin as one of God’s chosen people, well educated and esteemed as a Pharisee, righteous in the eyes of others. Paul profited from his privilege and power. By the standards of his religious community and for his times, Paul had it made. He was in the elite class - in a place that was out-of-reach for the ordinary person – for upward mobility was not a first-century phenomenon.
After Paul’s conversion and commitment to Christ Jesus, through the lens of faith, Paul reviews what he used to value before and what he had deemed of the utmost importance. He now regards such things as rubbish, garbage, trash. Paul moves from pride in his own achievements to gratitude for what Christ Jesus has done for him. The Lord has given Paul a new lease on life: the old life is gone – a new life has begun. Paul’s perspective on his life thus far – on who he was - and on who he is - and on who he is becoming – is dramatically different – completely transformed. Before Paul’s conversion, when he was actively persecuting Christians and trying to stop this new spiritual movement, if anyone had predicted that one day he would be in prison facing trial and execution for proclaiming the Gospel, writing letters to encourage Christians in their faith, and inviting others to “rejoice in the Lord always!” – Paul, and others who knew him, would have considered such a prophecy ridiculous. Paul’s life has come full circle.
Paul recognizes that what Christ offers is a gift – a free gift – not something that he has received as a reward for anything that he has accomplished in his life. Paul never suggests that he deserves the free gift of salvation. Paul understands clearly that there was nothing that he did or could do to merit this gift that Christ Jesus offers him. Paul does not deserve it, no more and no less than any one of us deserves it. Through His life, death, and resurrection, Christ Jesus offers us amazing grace, ceaseless mercy, and saving love – His way of radical transformation from death to life unto eternal life. This is not anything that we can achieve on our own; it is a gift of God.
Paul writes: “Christ Jesus has made me His own.” Likewise, Christ Jesus has made us His own, not on the basis of our achievements, ancestry, privilege, possessions, or station in life. So much of what we treasure in this life means nothing in the eyes of the Lord. After Christ Jesus makes us His own, we, like the Apostle Paul, are called to strain forward, to strive for what lies ahead - even as what lies ahead has already started in this life.
By the power of the Holy Spirit, Christ Jesus recreates us – in His image – for the glory of God. Disciples of the Risen Lord continue the new creation that started in His life, death, and resurrection. Christ Jesus invites us to journey with Him. When we draw near to Him, He draws near to us. Christ Jesus comes alongside us: encouraging, guiding, healing, leading, and transforming our steps – as we heed God’s call to a future that has already begun in our world two thousand years ago. The old life has gone; a new life has begun, for in Jesus Christ, we are forgiven – and redeemed – and transformed. Truly, Christ Jesus has made us His very own – for God so loved the world!
Feast today, with joy, on this sacred meal that the Lord has prepared for the world – and for us – yes - even for us. Thanks be to God. Amen.