The Purpose Driven Life It s never too late to change our lives.

Transcription

1 Today is Christ the King Sunday, which marks the end of the season of Pentecost, or Ordinary Time. If you remember, at Pentecost the Holy Spirit descended on the people with a mighty rush of wind. The Disciples suddenly spoke in various tongues, or languages, and the wind filled with the Holy Spirit all those who were present. It was an incredible experience that the Apostle Paul stated would be a continual outpouring that would be available to all believers from that point on. It forever changed the lives of all those who were present. What about us? Has the season of Pentecost changed our lives? During Pentecost we ve proceeded through weeks of readings and lessons about the miracles of Jesus and his parables. We have had the opportunity to literally grow in faith through the Scripture we have heard or read each week. So what does it look like if we have truly learned from the stories about Christ during this season of Pentecost? What does it really mean to be a sheep or a goat, as the people were called in our Gospel lesson today? In ancient Israel the shepherd was a respected position. They carried much responsibility for tending their flocks, which were often a mixed flock of both sheep and goats. At night the shepherd separated the flock in order to shelter the goats from the cold. You see, goats have fur so they cannot withstand the cold like their cousins the sheep, which have wool and prefer to be outside. Sheep can be cantankerous with each other and have no common sense. In fact, sheep are rather stupid and get themselves into dangerous places. But aren t they are beautiful and lovable as lambs? Goats tend to be much the same stubborn, mischievous, and unable to tolerate bad weather, but goats, in contrast, are smart. The flock is a fair analogy for a community a mixed bag of good and bad. Sounds like the typical congregation to me! 1

2 The shepherd, Jesus, tends both animals in his flock equally, even though they both can be somewhat difficult to deal with. So what IS the difference in the two? According to the Danish philosopher and theologian, Søren Kierkegaard, it s the difference between being an admirer, and a follower. The admirer never makes any true sacrifices. He always plays it safe. Though in words, phrases, songs, he is inexhaustible about how highly he prizes Christ, he renounces nothing, gives up nothing, will not reconstruct his life, will not be what he admires, and will not let his life express what it is he supposedly admires. As indicated in Matthew, the difference lies in their behavior, in their actions. In the passage from Matthew, the sheep are at Christ s right hand. They have taken on the mantle of Christ by feeding the hungry, caring for others, sheltering the homeless. They have seen these tasks as their responsibility in life, without the expectation of receiving something in return. Many times they go bravely into the world to serve, even though there is reason to fear. In other words, they have become the hands, the feet, and the heart of Christ in a hurting world, doing exactly what Jesus would have done. They are followers. The goats on the other hand, at the left hand, have been quite different. It s not that they are bad people, or hold malice for the sick and the suffering. They just don t see it as their problem, turning away from the suffering to gather more wealth, and to protect their own existence, like a squirrel hiding nuts away for a long winter. They are admirers. It s also a basic difference in the way they think and feel about the world. One sees the world s problems as their own problems, and feels a true sense of responsibility for helping in some way. 2

3 The other sees the world s problems as someone else s problems, and stays away from the marginalized for fear of losing what they have gained on earth. There are countless sheep roaming our world people working for the Kingdom of God every day. We ve heard a lot lately about doctors and nurses who literally risk their own lives by caring for Ebola patients both at home and in Africa. They put the welfare and health of the patients before their own health and well-being every single day. They are a perfect example of being self-forgetful by focusing on others and not themselves. The Apostle Paul said, Forget your selves long enough to lend a helping hand. This is what it means to "lose your life"- forgetting yourself in service to others. When we stop focusing on our own needs, we become aware of the needs of those around us. Christ is certainly present in their ministry! In our own city there are throngs of people we could classify as sheep working to help the homeless, the disadvantaged, the hungry, the sick, the elderly I could also list numerous organizations involved in ministry in our city, such as South Plains Food Bank, Tent City and Link Ministries, St. Benedict s Chapel, Meals on Wheels, and the list goes on. But there are also quiet, unassuming people who take on the mantle of Christ by visiting a shut-in, by holding the hand of someone suffering from grief and pain, by offering time and talent to further the work of Christ in the world. Christ is also present in their ministry! Christ identified himself with all who are the least of these, who are members of my family (Mt 25:40), so to exercise compassion on behalf of these needy ones is to have compassion for Christ himself. 1 It s not through church-going, or liturgical observance, or even believing or confessing the creeds that the King, our great shepherd, would recognize you. It s the showing of love to others, living out of our faith, literally love in action that makes one stand out as a sheep. 3

4 St. Teresa of Avila, who lived in the 1500 s in Spain, cut to the chase about living one s faith. She said, Let everyone understand that real love of God does not consist in tear-shedding, nor in that sweetness and tenderness for which usually we long, just because they console us, but in serving God in justice, fortitude of the soul and humility. 2 In the words of one Lutheran pastor, to use one s resources for the well-being of one s extended family is a mitzvah, or an act of charity. Such acts are not done out of a feeling of benevolence, but from a sense of responsibility and duty. To be a follower of Jesus carries with it the responsibility to live as Jesus lived. It is not an act that will get us into the kingdom; it is the act of one who is kingdom bound. 3 On the other hand, the goats, or those who turn away from the problems of the world, are often as recognizable as the sheep. They squander their money on themselves, buying more and more meaningless items to fill the void in their lives, amassing their wealth in accounts and investments, and earthly treasures that cannot be taken with them. Perhaps they are afraid to venture out beyond their own little world, or perhaps they haven t experienced the warm feeling of satisfaction one derives from helping others. Perhaps they ve never been shown how to help others. Or perhaps they ve simply never experienced the love of Christ in their lives. Whatever their reason, they have turned away from the love of Christ to worship a different god. What a mission field there is in a flock of goats! So, what place is there in God s kingdom for those who will not provide for the needy, the helpless, the offensive, or the guilty out of their own resources? For those who have found security in the resources with which they have been blessed the judgment is unequivocal. They are accursed, consigned to eternal fire and eternal punishment. 4 Rick 4

5 Warren, the author of The Purpose Driven Life stated, The Bible is very clear on this: God uses money to test our faithfulness as a servant. That s why Jesus talked more about money than he did about either heaven or hell. He said if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? How you manage your wealth affects how much God can bless your life. 5 Of course, what we ve talked about thus far has been a black or white look at service to God. But we all know that rarely is a concept black or white, good or bad. I suspect this issue of service is the same. In fact, logic would tell us that there s a speck of goat in all of us. As much as we want to be faithful servants of Christ we must also grapple with human nature, which tempts us into turning our backs to those in need. We pass up the Salvation Army bucket at Christmas we walk away from those on the street who need our help we forget to call the lonely neighbor to see how they re doing. On the flip side, the one who guards their money and spends it unwisely will often write a check to contribute rather than roll up their sleeves to serve. At least they gave something. It s a start. After reading Fr. Jim s sermon from last week we must acknowledge that part of the problem of giving and serving may simply be fear. Fear of the unknown. Fear that our efforts will be for naught. Fear of failure. Fear of not making the difference we so long to make. Whatever the reason, for those who turn away from a life fully in Christ, there is hope. In a science fiction/western from 2011, Cowboys and Aliens, a simple country preacher put this hope very succinctly. As he lay dying he told the main character, a man with checkered past, God don t care who you were, son only who you are. If we have indeed grown in our faith during Pentecost, and take away anything from these past months of Scriptural readings it should be this -- It s never too late to change our lives. We don t have to live in 5

6 fear. No one has thrown away their last chance. The goats of the world can change, they can come back, they can claim mercy. Our salvation lies with the Lamb of God, who died to take away our sins. 2 Chronicles 7:14 states, If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. An article I read this week said something that really resonated with me. It stated, On this Christ the King Sunday we celebrate the ways in which Jesus throughout his life identified himself with all the suffering and affliction of the human race. We can do no less. 6 Come unto the only One who can heal, and you will find peace. Come share in the meal our King has prepared for us at His table, and take on the mantle of Christ. Live out your faith fully, without fear, with love and compassion as the hands and heart of Christ. In other words, strive to be a sheep! In the name of Jesus Christ, our Good Shepherd and our King. Amen. References 1. Synthesis, November 2014, Year A, Nov. 23, Part I 2. Parade of Faith, p. 294 (web address listed below) &dq=real+love+consists+in+serving+god+in+justice,+of+soul,+and+humilit y&source=bl&ots=xvfkhmyo1q&sig=09hgygiaeikwjjtxxn- 76OEGU_g&hl=en&sa=X&ei=0QNxVKfuK8KWNpiYg_gN&ved=0CCIQ6AEwAQ# v=onepage&q=real%20love%20consists%20in%20serving%20god%20in%20jus tice%2c%20of%20soul%2c%20and%20humility&f=false 6

7 Warren_PurposeDrivenLife.aspx?mobile=false 6. Synthesis, November 2014, Year A, Nov. 23, Part III 7