Sermon by Stephen Ricketts
Damascus United Methodist Church
Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16; Psalm 22:23-31; Romans 4:13-25; Mark 8:31-38
Second Sunday in Lent - March 8, 2009
Our story today begins several millennia ago in the small corner of the world that today we call Israel with an old married couple. For Abram and Sarai the reality was very stark and very sobering. They were both very old - Abram was ninety-nine years old and Sarai was not far behind. They had no children and had long since passed the age when children were even possible. What few years they had left to them seemed destined to be spent in loneliness and decline. It was in the midst of this depressing reality that Abram received a revelation from God. Exactly how it happened is not completely clear - what is clear is that God had a new name for Abram - instead of being called Abram or “exalted father” he was to be called Abraham or “father of a multitude” and Sarai was to be called Sarah or “princess.” Even more amazing, these new names were a sign of God’s unbelievable promise to the old couple - God promised that together they would have a child and through this child they would be the parents of a great multitude. What’s more, through this multitude God would work to bring about the salvation and reconciliation of the world.
Now, I am sure that anyone who heard Abraham’s silly story just shook their head and smiled gently at the old couple. Clearly time was catching up with the old man and he was becoming senile. Anyone with any sense or any understanding of the way the world works knows that couples do not have babies when they are pushing one hundred years old - that is simply crazy talk. We have only two choices when we hear Abraham’s crazy story: we can reject it as the absurd ravings of a man too old to think straight or we can choose to accept God’s word and to live in the reality of God’s impossible promise.
Our scene now shifts forward several thousand years to roughly the same area. Instead of two old people hoping for a child and a future, we now focus on a young Jewish teacher and his followers as they make their way toward Jerusalem. As they walk along, Jesus begins to comment on the reality of their situation. Over the past weeks and months, Jesus has been challenging the religious and political authorities. He has been pushing them to recognize God’s presence in their midst - he has been challenging them to open themselves to God’s healing power - he has been calling on them to put God’s interests and God’s agenda ahead of their own narrow concerns about simple survival. In the process, it is clear that Jesus has made more than a few enemies among the elite and powerful - it is clear that the elders and chief priests see Jesus as a threat to their way of life - it is clear that something explosive is going to happen when they reach Jerusalem.
Jesus’ careful analysis of the political and religious situation in first century Israel is not really news. The disciples were clearly aware of the mounting tension between Jesus and the authorities - they had seen and heard the sharp exchanges between the Jesus and the elders. They were probably not even shocked when Jesus said that the authorities were set on his destruction and death. Any astute observer of the social scene could have reached the same conclusion. It was not his analysis that shocked the disciples - some of them were probably secretly waiting for just such a spark to set off the expected revolt. What really shocked them was what Jesus said next - they were shocked by his claim that that he was prepared to accept death and that after three days he would rise again. To the disciples this was just crazy talk - sane people do not calmly accept death - dead people do not rise again - especially people who had been dead for three days never came back to life. I am not sure what words Peter used to rebuke Jesus - I suspect he was dismayed at the prospect of Jesus’ death and bewildered at the prediction of his resurrection - I suspect his words were a mixture of advise to flee from Jerusalem and admonishment to keep this resurrection talk quiet. We have only two choices when we hear Jesus’ crazy claims: we can dismiss them as the rants of some “would be messiah” too full of his own importance to handle the situation in a rational manner or we can choose to accept his words and live in the reality of God’s impossible promise.
Again the scene shifts forward a couple thousand years to where we are today. As I write these words, I am bombarded with bad economic news. The government has passed a 700 billion dollar stimulus package to prop up the economy, insurance giant AIG lost 62 billion dollars in the last quarter, General Motors lost over 30 billion dollars last year, the stock market is below 7,000 for the first time in over twelve years, and unemployment is approaching double digits in some areas. To say the economy is a mess is clearly an understatement. So, in the midst of this very depressing economic news, the theme we chose for this Lenten season is “Abundant Living For All.” Christians of every generation have faced times of hardship and persecution, but none were faced with more challenges than the first Christians. Most of the first Christians were from the margins of society and so, in addition to persecution for their faith, they also faced economic disaster on a daily basis. Yet, instead of surrendering to the forces of the darkness, they banded together in small communities and there they devoted themselves to studying the apostles’ teachings, to fellowship, to celebration of the Lord’s Supper and to prayer - they chose to live abundantly in defiance to the princes of this world.
Through our Lenten journey, we are choosing to follow the lead of the first Christians - we are choosing Life over death - we are choosing Joy over despair - we are choosing to Live Abundantly instead of giving in to the gloom that surrounds us. Some people may believe we have lost our collective minds by selecting a theme so at odds with current reality. But I choose to see our theme as a claim on Jesus’ promise: “I came that you may have life, and have it abundantly.” We have two choices as Christ calls us to Live Abundantly: we can see it as unfounded optimism in the face of economic meltdown or we can choose to claim God’s abundance and live in the reality of God’s impossible promise.
When given God’s impossible promise of a child in their old age, Abraham and Sarah made a faithful response - they chose to follow God and they became the parents of all the faithful. When given God’s impossible promise of resurrection and life eternal, Jesus made a faithful response - he chose to take up his cross and brought salvation to all people. When given God’s impossible promise of Abundant Life, we must make a faithful response - we must chose to follow Christ and begin the transformation of our world into the Kingdom of God.
Kingdom People, make the faithful response!
Believe the One who has given us the promise of Abundant Life!
Seek out those who have lost their job and surround them with the warmth of Christian fellowship and prayer. Seek out those who are hungry and invite them to gather at table with us. Seek out those in need and share with them from our abundance.
Today I come proclaiming the Good News: God is fully able to do all that God has promised. God is able to bring new life out of the ashes of our life. God is able to triumph over the grave and give us eternal life. God is able to give abundant life even in times of hardship and despair.
Today I come calling you to Live the Good News!
Claim God’s impossible promise for yourself!
Live Abundantly in the reality of the Kingdom of God!
Amen.
