Sermon
St. Paul’s Episcopal
Church
Sunday, October 19, 2014
Exodus 33:12-23; I
Thessalonians 1:1-10; Matthew 22: 15-22
These days it’s not uncommon to
overhear or participate in conversations that include comments such as “I
really don’t know what is happening in the world today – ISIS and the Mideast
situation, Ebola, all these hurricanes, tornados and earthquakes – it’s really
frightening. Maybe the world really is coming to an end.”
Another common theme that literally
screams out at us, not only in face to face conversations but in Facebook
posts, Twitter tweets, and other media sources is the apparent decline of
Christianity. Ethnic cleansing of
Christians in many areas of the world, strife at General and other theological
Seminaries, and blogs that state boldly “Even your new pastor won’t be able to
save the church” all underscore a deep and real concern about the state of
Christianity, especially in America.
And, right here in our own
backyard – right here in Delray Beach – we are faced daily with the grim issues
of poverty, hunger, homelessness, and a sea of people lost and searching,
victims of abuse and addiction.
Without a doubt, after a quick
glance at the daily newspaper, or listening to a few CNN or Fox News talking
heads discuss the latest spin on who’s who and what’s what, there is a great
deal of anxiety and uncertainty to shoulder through as we head out into our
individual worlds of work and responsibility.
Yes, indeed – at times it
really does seem pretty grim. What to do – who to turn to in these challenging
times.
In fact, after reading today’s
passage in Exodus, I wonder if we aren’t all feeling a bit like Moses did way
back in the “good old days” when he stood on the mountain shaking in his
sandals after having been instructed by God to lead a rebellious group of
people into the unknown, barren and certainly dangerous wilderness, through the
Red Sea and into the land of Canaan.
However scared Moses might have
been though, he was not afraid to speak up about it. He was not afraid to
challenge God. His message to God was crystal clear. Standing there on the mountain top, he said, “Look if
you want me to carry on with this task of leading your people out of the mess
that they are in I need your help and I need you here – right here, by my side.
Without your presence it just is not going to be possible.”
God listened to Moses, and God
responded. God said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest…I
will do the very thing that you have asked; for you have found favor in my
sight, and I know you by name.”
Moses spoke directly to God.
God listened to Moses. God responded. And Moses carried on. He led his people
through the wilderness, all the way – right up to the plains of Mount Nebo,
where he died.
The very last passage of
Deuteronomy eulogizes Moses, proclaiming, “Never since has there arisen a
prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face. He was unequaled
for all the signs and wonders that the Lord sent him to perform in the land of
Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his servants and his entire land, and for all
the mighty deeds and all the terrifying displays of power that Moses performed
in the sight of all Israel.” (Deut. 34:10-12)
Moses spoke to God. God
listened. God responded. Moses acted and performed displays of power in full
sight of all Israel.
By the time Paul comes around, many
years later, God, through the presence of his Son, and the gift of the Holy
Spirit, has been made manifest, not to all, but to many. The exclusivity of God speaking only to Moses
has been radically altered. No more mountaintops. Jesus has been with and among
the people. God, through the gift of his Son made man, Jesus, has come down from
the mountaintop to walk alongside us as we journey through troubled waters and
the challenges of life.
Jesus through his teaching,
healing, death, resurrection and gift of the Holy Spirit has proclaimed the
good news message that God is there for us – all we have to do is open our
hearts to his presence. If we acknowledge God as our Creator, the one who loves
us, and if we speak directly to Him for guidance and support, God will listen;
and, God will respond.
In his Letter to the
Thessalonians, Paul’s encouragement and support to the struggling new believers
in Thessaloniki, remains a relevant message for us even today. Paul says, “For we know, brothers and sisters
beloved by God, he has chosen you, because our message of the gospel came to
you not in word only, but also in the power of the Holy Spirit and with full
conviction…in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by
the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example for all…For the word of the Lord
has sounded forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place
your faith in God has become known.”
Paul praises the Thessalonians
for their receptivity both to the gospel and to the gift of the Holy Spirit – a
receptivity that Paul’s characterizes as having “full conviction.” He commends
the converts’ commitment to their difficult and oftentimes dangerous existence as
they model the love, compassion, peace and glory of God’s Kingdom through both
their words and actions.
Paul reminds these new
believers that in receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit they have chosen,
despite threats of persecution, to be led by the Spirit as they carry out their
Christian mission. They have become a model for others, so that “the Church throughout
the world may persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of God’s name.”
The Thessalonians led by the
Spirit modeled the courage and faith needed to weather the persecution of the
early Church. As they weathered these grim challenges, they, like Moses among
the Israelites, were seen and heard by thousands of Roman citizens, and Christianity
as we know it today emerged.
Jesus is, of course, the
ultimate model for us. We encounter him in today’s gospel reading, standing face
to face with the Pharisees. Pharisees who are yet again plotting to catch him
in words and actions that will be seen as treasonous by the Roman authorities.
“Is it lawful to pay taxes to
the emperor, or not?” they question him.
Jesus does not mince words – “Give
to the emperor what is the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s,” he
replies, knowing full well that everything we have belongs to God – whatever
small pittance of money is due the emperor has no relation to the commitment we
have to God. It is to God whom we turn. It is to God that we listen. It is from
God that we seek a response that will carry us forward in facing the challenges
of life. It is from God that we will receive our salvation.
“When the Pharisees heard this,
they were amazed; and they left him and went away.”
Amazed at what? Jesus’ courage?
Jesus’ passion? Jesus’ defiance?
I would imagine that the
Pharisees were amazed by it all – the courage, the passion, the defiance, and
the authority of Jesus as he perseveres in his mission to re-establish God’s
Kingdom in Jerusalem and beyond.
Jesus’ courage in leading God’s
people out of a wilderness of power and money established by the Roman Empire,
the priests, the Sadducees and the Pharisees.
Jesus’ passion as he barrels
forward at a breathless non-stop pace to spread the gospel – the good news of
God – the Kingdom of God that has come near.
Jesus’ defiance as he flies in
the face of authority – an authority that desecrates God’s Kingdom here on
earth.
Jesus’ authority that leaves people
amazed.
Moses stood alone on a
mountaintop and confronted God, asking for his presence as protection and help.
Paul encourages us to speak directly to God asking for his presence in our
lives and his protection as we fight the perils that face us. Jesus demanded
that we acknowledge the sovereignty and authority of God’s Kingdom in the here
and now, and forever and ever.
Moses on the mountain. The Thessalonians
in Macedonia. Jesus in the Temple. All in direct communication with God. God
listening to them all. God responding with the gift of his Son and the Holy
Spirit. God with us and in us – always.
All this tells me there should
be no “shaking in our sandals” as we face the challenges of today’s world.
There is, indeed, reason for deep concern. There is, without a doubt, a
pressing need for us as Christians to actively seek God’s response as we pray
for guidance from the Spirit. There is a legitimate need for us to ask God to
be at our side as we journey through a wilderness of terrorism, ethnic
cleansing, and ravaging illnesses.
However, there is also an
urgent need for us to be models – examples – to all believers throughout the
world. There is an urgent need for us, through our words and deeds, to preserve
the works of God’s mercy, that the Church throughout the world may persevere
with steadfast faith in the confession of his Name. Perhaps this is the
greatest need of all.
