SERMON
November 13, 2016
St. Simon’s on the Sound
Luke 21:5-19
Several years ago, I was lucky
enough to be included in a two-week pilgrimage to Greece and Turkey. The theme
of the pilgrimage was the Apostle Paul and his journey through these two countries.
A journey that was, at least in my mind, the epitome of evangelism. A journey
on which Paul, in the face of every hardship imaginable, over the course of 15
years and four major journeys brought the good news of Jesus Christ to
communities throughout Arabia, Damascus, Syria, Lebanon, Malta, Greece, Italy
and modern-day Turkey.
Amazingly, in those 15 years Paul
traveled a total of approximately 9,150 miles by foot, by ship, and on the backs
of donkeys to bring the good news to all nations. During this time, he was
beaten, stoned, imprisoned and suffered from several long-term and disabling
illnesses. Seemingly, nothing stopped him. He just kept on going.
Our little pilgrim band of 25
Episcopalians from various churches throughout the US began our journey in
Athens, Greece. From there we traveled through Corinth and up into the very
northern parts of Greece, ending up in Thessaloniki in Central Macedonia. After
an astounding experience in Thyatira where Paul met and converted Lydia, we
crossed by ferry into Turkey. Our first stop was Troy – Wow that horse was big…
Then on through Turkey until we reached Ephesus.
It was in Ephesus, as I stood at
the top of the long marble-paved boulevard that stretches almost as far as the
eye could see, and ends at the incredibly beautiful Celsus Library, that I
finally realized the enormity of Paul’s missionary work.
Little Paul, with his various and
frequently disabling afflictions – passionate Paul who has been described as "A
man of small stature, with a bald head and crooked legs,” – walked into this
bustling community of perhaps 56,000 Roman citizens determined to spread the
gospel of Jesus. Imperial Roman Centurions were policing the streets at every
turn; Jews eager to run Paul out of town stoned and then imprisoned him. Yet,
Paul stood firm in the face of all these challenges.
Paul’s courage, determination and
faith prevailed. He remained in Ephesus for three years. It was here that he
preached frequently at the open marketplace, established a church, wrote his
First Letter to the Corinthians, and was imprisoned for several months.
I cannot tell you how physically
present Paul was for me that afternoon in Ephesus. I was both electrified and
deeply humbled by my new understanding of the incredible courage and
determination that drove Paul’s good news journey. It was there on that
marble-paved boulevard surrounded by the amazing history and architecture of
Ephesus, that being a missionary for Jesus – being an evangelist committed to
spreading the good news and the light and love of Jesus Christ became very real
for me.
Earlier this summer Luke’s gospel
informed us that “When the days drew near for Jesus to be taken up, he set his
face to go to Jerusalem.” In this passage, we learned that Jesus sent messengers
ahead of him and encouraged others to join him on his journey to God’s temple
where he would confront those who were using the temple for the benefit of the
Roman Empire – where he would attempt to reclaim the Temple as God’s House, a
sacred place – a place of worship to the God of the Jews.
As Jesus set his face for
Jerusalem, he encouraged the villagers to become members of his entourage. Some
expressed interest, but most indicated that they could not leave quite yet – Jesus
would have to wait - they had family and other business to take care of. They
had things to do before taking up their cross and following Jesus. Jesus
replied to these would-be disciples, “No
one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Tough rules to play by – but, that’s
what Jesus was asking of those who claimed that they wanted to join his
followers. They are the rules that Jesus set if one wanted to be part of the
Jesus Movement. You’re either in, or you’re not.
In today’s gospel reading, many
weeks have passed since that determined journey to Jerusalem began. Many
encounters along the road traveled provided Jesus and his disciples with the
opportunity to proclaim the gospel. With each teaching that same mandate was
conveyed – God expects us to commit to him totally and with complete faith. The
difficult challenges that will most certainly face us as we travel our life’s
journey must be met with courage and steadfastness. We’re either in, or we’re
not.
Now, Jesus has arrived in
Jerusalem He has been teaching in one of the temple courtyards for several
days. Each day crowds surge into his small space, the din of their voices
making it difficult to hear this much talked about teacher who has finally
arrived.
Intense and, at times,
overpowering smells from the ongoing slaughter and burning sacrifice of animals
fill the air. On the sidelines and in corners, bitter and sour-faced Pharisees
and Sadducees who want to see Jesus “gone” loiter, grumble, and plot. Menacing
Roman Centurions patrol the temple parapets, eager to bring punishment to any
who cause a disruption.
It is in this context that we
hear today’s gospel reading.
We hear Jesus’s “what comes next”
message and it is not so pretty. In fact, it is downright grim and scary. Jesus
warns of wars and revolutions; earthquakes, famines and plagues; dreadful
portents and great signs from heaven; persecution and being handed over to
synagogues and prisons where trials before highly placed judges will end in
grim sentences; and, finally Jesus forewarns of the destruction of the Temple
itself – the destruction of God’s house.
After naming these daunting events,
Jesus once again tells his followers that he expects them to meet all challenges
“head on” and to be “all in.” He says, “They
will arrest you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and
prisons. This will give you an opportunity to testify…. You will be betrayed
even by your parents and brothers, by relatives and friends…. You will be hated
by all because of my name. But not a hair on your head will perish. By your
endurance you will gain your souls.”
I don’t know about you, but at
that point I might have decided to go home to the comfort of the known, the
safe “same old, same old.” I might have completely failed the “either you’re
in, or you’re not” test. I might have turned right around and rushed home to
Galilee, or Jericho, or wherever home had been before I met up with Jesus.
But, Paul didn’t. And, so many
others who have come after Paul have not. They have not turned and run back to
the comfort of home. They have faced challenges head on, taking every
opportunity to testify – to evangelize – to spread the gospel of Jesus – to be
“all in.”
What does this message of courage
and endurance, of total commitment to Jesus mean for us today – here at St.
Simon’s, throughout our diocese and in the world in general? What is Jesus
calling us to do – how are we being called to “follow Jesus;” to be part of the
Jesus Movement in today’s troubled, confusing, complex and at times frightening
world?
Indeed, do we even have the eyes
of our hearts open to hearing Jesus. Are we like that eager temple crowd that
strained to hear Jesus as he proclaimed the good news, or have the noise and
distractions of the world left us dazed, numb, closed off? Are we ready to be
“All in?” Or, are we “All out?”
When I feel that my mind and my
heart are getting to that numb, closed off place, I think of Jesus facing
Pilate, unwavering in the face of certain death. Jesus, certain in his
relationship with God. And then, I think of Paul, and his seemingly endless
journeys in the face of every hardship imaginable. Paul, certain in his
relationship with Jesus; with God.
And then, I remember how
electrified I felt as I stood on the marble-paved boulevard in Ephesus, my
heart filled with the joy of knowing, in my mind, my body and my soul, the
power of evangelism – the power of proclaiming the good news of Jesus. The
power of bringing God’s love to the world. The power of going into the world
loving and through that love liberating and giving life to those who are in
darkness.
The power of being certain in my
relationship with Jesus; with God.
How do we stay in that place of
certainty – certain of our relationship with Jesus; with God? Dietrich
Bonhoeffer, in a letter written while he was imprisoned in Nazi Germany during
the 2nd World War wrote. “This
is what I mean by worldliness – taking one’s life in stride, with all its
duties and problems…It is such a life that we throw ourselves utterly into the
arms of God and participate in his sufferings in the world.”
What a powerful image... “…We throw ourselves into the arms of God
and participate – participate – in his sufferings in the world.” Perhaps
this is what Jesus meant in today’s gospel reading when he said, “This will give you an opportunity to
testify…. You will be betrayed…. You will be hated by all because of my name.
But not a hair on your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your
souls.”
Can we as members of St. Simon’s “throw
ourselves into the arms of God?” Can we be the voice, the hands and the feet of
Jesus? Can we seize the opportunity to
testify? Can we participate in God’s sufferings in the world? Can we be the
Light of Christ in our community and wherever else we may go – the light that
sheds love and liberation? I know that
we can. I know that we can be “all in.” AMEN
