Sermon
St. Simon’s on the Sound -
July 2, 2017
Matthew 10:40-42
How did I not see this before, I
said to myself as I sat in the Atlanta airport waiting for a flight that we all
prayed would be on time? How did I miss something so obvious? How did I not
fully understand the intent of Jesus’ words when he proclaimed, “Go into all
the world and preach the Gospel to the whole creation?” (MK
16:15) How did I not fully grasp the
intent of our baptismal vow to proclaim by word and example the Good News of
God in Christ?
Sitting there in the Atlanta
airport, attempting to block out the commotion of noisy travelers and confusing
PA announcements, and praying continually that my flight would arrive on time, and
then take off without delay, I had what I believe we would call an epiphany. Or,
perhaps since I really have no words to describe the experience, only a burning
in my mind and in my heart, I had what might better be described and a “mystic
moment.”
I experienced in a fleeting
moment an insight into the meaning of being in the world that touched my heart,
my mind and my soul. In this fleeting moment, I experienced so clearly the significance
of “giving a cup of cold water to these little ones”. I understood what being
in the world, our mission – the charge given us by Jesus – I understood what our
being in the world means through very, very, new lenses. Lenses that have
affected my way of seeing and being ever since.
The event that precipitated this
“mystic moment” was a conference on Global Mission that I attended a couple of
weeks ago in the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta. The conference agenda was
focused on the concept of the church’s identity being formed in the world, as
opposed to the church’s identity being established within the four walls of any
given building.
The Rt. Rev. Rob Wright, bishop
of the Diocese of Atlanta, was the main presenter. In his words, “If we
continue doing church in the way we have been doing it, we will remain
perfectly prepared for the 1950s. We must bring an end to doing church inside
out four walls and begin being church – being church in the world.”
“Being in the world” is, of
course, our mission. The mission given us by Jesus when he said, “… “Go into the world and proclaim the good
news to the whole creation.” (Luke
10:15)
Of course, intellectually, I was
very familiar with this concept of being church in the world. We, in various
clergy groups and congregational training programs, have been discussing emerging
from the isolation of our four walls and moving into our community and beyond to
spread the good news for more than several years. But, it was the Atlanta
conference that provided me with the spiritual awakening to precisely what it is
that we promise when we vow in our baptismal covenant to go into the World as
disciples of Jesus - to go and proclaim
by word and example the Good News of God in Christ.
How did I miss grasping the
reality that being in the world is not about going forth out of the pews and
through the church doors with the goal of “doing good,” and then returning to the
church parish hall with its various meetings and coffee hours to report on our
efforts?
How did I miss grasping the
reality that ultimately being in the world – domestic or global –is, ultimately,
not about individual trips abroad, or various ministry efforts here at home?
How did I miss the fact that being
in the world has little to do with our identity as members of this or that
congregation, or carrying out tasks associated with this or that outreach
initiative?
How did I not previously grasp
the obvious – that being in the world is a going out into the world with no
agenda except that of looking and listening. Looking and listening for those in
darkness. Looking and listening and then discovering - discovering and being with the wounded.
Being in the world is the work of
discovering, being with and working together to heal those who are in some way wounded.
Being in the world is traveling our life’s journey with the specific goal of fulfilling
our baptismal vow to seek and serve Christ in all persons.
This new way of understanding being
in the world points, at least for me, to the obvious - our church is not a building – these four
walls. Rather, our church is the world. And, our congregational life is not a
permanent home; rather, it is simply our spiritual oasis, a stopping place along
the way to rest and to be refreshed.
The four walls that we enter each
week are no more than a place to gather and to renew ourselves through prayer
and the breaking of bread. A place where we have our “cup of cold water.”
Our congregational life is an
oasis, a sanctuary in which we come together with Christ each week. A place
where we can feast on the bread of life that will sustain us as we leave and go
on our way back into the world. It is a place where we fulfill our baptismal
vow of continuing in the apostle’s teaching and fellowship and the breaking of
the bread.
Looking, listening, discovering, being
with and healing – all ways in which we as followers and disciples of Jesus are
far more likely to meet our incredibly challenging baptismal charge of striving
for justice and peace among all people, and respecting the human dignity of
every human being.
The week following the conference
my emotions were running high. I was struggling with what to do with my new way
of seeing our life as God’s missionaries in the world. Disturbing questions
filled my thoughts. Questions such as, “Is my work in the church really
fulfilling my baptismal covenant, or am I just another cog in a wheel that goes
around and around within the church’s four walls, never actually rolling out
into the world?”
In other words, I had an
uncomfortable coming face to face with God and my tendency – just like all of
us – to see my attempts to “do good” through my own rose-colored lenses. I
remembered a quote by Thomas Merton, “Humility
sets us free to do what is really good, by showing us our illusions and
withdrawing our will from what was only an apparent good.” And, I prayed
fiercely.
And then, miraculously, last
weekend a stunning example of being in the world occurred right before our eyes
– and it was powerful, so very powerful.
The hard work, courage and
persistence of St. Simon’s congregation members in collaboration with a planning
team of over 25 individuals from all walks of life, all religions, and all
ethnicities came to fruition in the Feed the Need event last Saturday morning.
Approximately 800 volunteers worked joyfully and in unity to pack food for
those who are experiencing food insecurity.
In other words, they were giving
“a cup of old water to these little ones.” Through their work at the food
packing, they were bringing God into the world of those who are suffering.
Jesus’ message to us over the
past few weeks has been so very clear. As he went about proclaiming the good
news and healing the sick, he saw that the “harvest was plentiful, but the
laborers were few;” so, he summoned his twelve disciples and gave them
authority to cast out demons and to cure every disease and every sickness. He
advised them that they would be like sheep among wolves. He warned them that
they would experience hardship and persecution. He commanded them to persevere.
Their goal was to remain clear – bring God into the world of those who are
living in darkness.
In today’s gospel Jesus continues
his sending message to the disciples. He reminds them that whoever welcomes
them will be welcoming Jesus, and in welcoming Jesus they will be welcoming the
one who sent him – they will be welcoming God. In welcoming the disciples and accepting
their offered cup of cold water, they accept God into their lives.
The recent gospel readings from
Matthew are so very relevant to our congregational journey as we emerge from habitual
ways of doing church to new and exciting ways of being church. In this
post-food packing week, I have heard comments from so many people that reflect
their excitement in being church in the community.
Excitement in experiencing the
spiritual fulfillment of bringing a cup of water to those in need, and through
the power of the offered cup – in this instance the food packing - sensing
God’s presence among us in a new and thrilling way.
We are a people sent by Jesus,
and at times it does feel as if we are sheep among wolves – emissaries of God
in great peril. But, we have vowed to proclaim by word and deed the Good News
of God in Christ. And each week after our Eucharistic meal we pray, “…Send us now into the world in peace, and
grant us strength and courage to love and serve you with gladness and
singleness of heart…” We pray for the strength and the courage to proclaim
by word and deed the Good News of God in Christ. And then, we go forth, out of
the church, into the world – being church in the world.
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