SERMON FOR 13 PENTECOST EXODUS 3:1-15; ROMANS 12:9-21 GOSPEL OF MATTHEW 16:21-28 SEPTEMBER 3, 2017 BY: REV. KAREN KENNEDY PRAYER OF PROTECTION BY: JAMES DILLET FREEMAN THE LIGHT OF GOD SURRONDS ME, THE LOVE OF GOD ENFOLDS ME, THE POWER OF GOD PROTECTS ME, THE PRESENCE OF GOD WATCHES OVER ME. WHEREVER I AM, GOD IS. AMEN. This Prayer for Protection, is one of two poems by James Dillet Freeman that were carried to the moon by Apollo astronauts. In 1969, Edwin Buzz Aldrin carried a copy with him on the first manned moon landing. In 1971, a microfilm copy of Freeman's poem, I am There, was left on the moon by Apollo XV astronaut James B. Irwin. 1 Throughout history as people face challenges, unknown journeys, calls to discipleship, they carry with them prayers asking for God's protection. Whether written in words, or carried within their hearts, they trust that they are not alone, that God is with them. This same message flows through our Scripture readings for today. In our reading from Exodus, Moses' life is about to change dramatically. 1 Unity Ministries, www.appleseeds.org
2. While Moses is tending to the flock of his father-in-law, he comes to Horeb, the mountain of God. Moses attention is drawn to a burning bush. Even though the bush is on fire, it is not consumed by the fire. An angel of the Lord illuminates out of the burning bush. God calls out to Moses and Moses answers, Here I Am. Moses is instructed to remove his sandals, a sign that he is about to enter holy ground, a thin place. It is in this thin place that Moses encounters God and his life is forever changed. God has heard and seen the suffering of the Israelites and instructs Moses to go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt into a land flowing with milk and honey. Imagine Moses in that moment. You want me to go to Pharaoh and do what? He must have been like a deer caught in the headlights! How could he even begin to imagine himself taking on something so incredible? Like so many prophets, Moses felt hesitant, unworthy, and unequipped to take on this enormous request from God. It was not any different for the disciples of Jesus when they were asked to pick up the cross and follow him. Moses is concerned that if the Israelites were to ask him what God's name is, he would not know how to answer. God answers Moses, I AM WHO I AM, and instructs Moses to tell the Israelites, I AM has sent me to you. This is my name forever, for all generations. Moses is still hesitant and probably a bit fearful, but God reassures Moses, I will be with you. God reveals God's identity to Moses and then sends him out. God calls Moses into action and Moses answers God's calling. Moses accepts this call to action, opening his heart to God's will instead of his own. Even with all of his doubts and fears, he trusts in the assurance that he is not alone, God promises to be with him. Once Moses leads his people out of Egypt, he guides them on how to live a faithful life by following the commandments, the law according to God. His people have strict guidelines on how to behave in order to be in good standing with God.
3. Paul's letter to the Romans describes a different way of living a Christian life, no longer bound by the laws of Moses, but instead a holy life guided under the grace of God. Paul instructs his faithful community in Rome on how to live a holy life. The first and most important thing Paul writes is: Let Love Be Genuine!!! Remember, Jesus' most important commandment of all was to love. We are not to just speak of love, but we are to actually live our lives out of that very word. Love one another, show honor, serve the Lord, rejoice, hope, be patient, pray, show hospitality, do not retaliate, live in harmony. Paul is describing, Love in Action. Paul is describing a life grounded in following Jesus. A most perfect example of love in action, would be Jesus. Live in peace with one another. Do not repay evil with evil. Do not respond to hate with hate. When Jesus was faced with such evil, he responded with love and forgiveness. There are so many examples throughout history and even today, of love in action. People who choose to respond to hate with acts of love. I found a wonderful article on the Episcopal Cafe website, written by Leah Wise. It is entitled, The Night the Neo Nazis Surrounded My Church. Leah describes a recent Friday night service at her church, St. Paul's Memorial Episcopal Church, in Charlottesville. Leah writes that on a normal Sunday, St. Paul's is not quite full. There are a few students, families, older people, all mostly white. But that Friday night was different. That night the neo Nazis gathered outside her church, was standing room only. Her Charlottesville neighbors and some people from out of town; black, white, brown, young, old, Muslim, Christian, Unitarian, Jewish stood side by side. Leah explains that the song leader told them to sing loud enough for the neo- Nazis outside to hear them. Her church which was normally quiet, more reserved, was transformed into a loud celebration. Singing spirituals and marching songs together with joy, all ages, races and faiths as one. Leah states, that in that moment, they were unified, choosing joy in the face of an unknowable fear. To me, her story is an amazing example of love in action. In the last several days, we have seen great tragedy in the destruction of Hurricane Harvey. In the face of this great tragedy, we have seen many, many stories of love in action, and that offers us all a much needed ray of hope. In our Gospel reading this morning, we find that right after Peter reveals the truth of who he thinks Jesus is, Jesus changes the focus of his teachings to the cross.
4. Jesus begins to prepare his disciples for the events that would eventually take place, his arrest, suffering, death and resurrection. This revelation must have shocked all of the disciples, but it is Peter who responds to Jesus. He reacts in a very human way, he wants to control the outcome. Peter has his own idea of what his life would be like as a disciple of Jesus and this vision of suffering and death must have been a shock. If these things could happen to Jesus, the Messiah, what would eventually happen to them? Maybe he was not only fearful for Jesus, but also fearful for himself. How can Jesus save them if he is to suffer and die? It would take time for the disciples to understand the true ministry of Jesus and the hope that would come in his resurrection. Jesus responds to Peter a bit harshly. Jesus has given himself up completely to God's will, not his own. He is completely committed to his ministry and cannot be distracted by earthly things. Jesus knows that in order for his disciples to pick up their cross and follow him, they cannot be distracted, but must let go of their old way of thinking, giving themselves completely to the way of the cross. Jesus has revealed himself to his disciples and sends them out. Picking up their cross and following Jesus, is a call to action. Just as God promised to be with Moses, Jesus makes the same promise to his disciples and to all generations to come, even us. When we are called into action, we have to let go of ourselves. Let go of fear, self preservation, obstacles that would get in the way of what we are called to do. We have to get out of the way of ourselves and open our heart to God's will, letting go of our own. It is not easy to let go of earthly things, to pick up the cross and follow Jesus, but as Christians, it is what we are called to do. We are called into action, love in action. Moses went from tending his father-in-law's flock, to leading the Israelites out of Egypt. Peter learned to let go of his own will, to pick up the cross continuing the ministry of Jesus. When we open our hearts to God's will, and stop imposing our own will, we open ourselves to a new way of life, a life grounded in following Jesus. Our world is in crisis. Leaders of nations argue over who has the most powerful military, the biggest bombs, and most precise nuclear missles. They challenge one another as to who can cause the most destruction.
5. Our country is also in crisis. During the recent events in Charlottesville, the leader of our country displayed complacency in the face of hate. White supremist groups felt entitled to promote actions of hate, violence and fear. The cross has been laid before us. We are being called into action, love in action. We cannot be complacent in the face of hate, we must speak out to the things that matter. It is up to us to let our voices of love speak louder than the voices of hate. Like the song leader in Leah Wise's church instructed them on that Friday night, we can also stand together united choosing joy in the face of unknowable fear, letting our voices be loud enough to be heard. The images we see coming out of Texas, people working together, helping others, even at their own risk, giving so much. For the moment, many are united, caring about one another, a community of love in action. Maybe this could be the beginning of healing the division that has grown so wide within our country. The way of the cross is not easy, but we must be confident in the assurance that we are not alone. God is with us, Always. I would like to read the second poem the astronauts carried to the moon by James Dillet Freeman: I Am There Do you need me? I am there. You cannot see Me, yet I am the light you see by. You cannot hear Me, yet I speak through your voice. You cannot feel Me, yet I am the power at work in your hands. I am at work, though you do not understand My ways. I am at work, though you do not understand My works. I am not strange visions. I am not mysteries. Only in absolute stillness, beyond self, can you know Me as I AM, and then but as a feeling and a faith. Yet I am here. Yet I hear. Yet I answer. When you need ME, I am there. Even if you deny Me, I am there. Even when you feel most alone, I am there. Even in your fears, I am there. Even in your pain, I am there. I am there when you pray and when you do not pray. I am in you, and you are in Me. Only in your mind can you feel separate from Me, for only in your mind are the mists of yours and mine. Yet only with your mind can you know Me and experience Me.
6. Empty your heart of empty fears. When you get yourself out of the way, I am there. You can of yourself do nothing, but I can do all. And I AM in all. Though you may not see the good, good is there, for I am there. I am there because I have to be, because I AM. Only in Me does the world have meaning; only out of Me does the world take form; only because of ME does the world go forward. I am the law on which the movement of the stars and the growth of living cells are founded. I am the love that is the law's fulfilling. I am assurance. I am peace. I am oneness. I am the law that you can live by. I am the love that you can cling to. I am your assurance. I am your peace, I am ONE with you. I am. Though you fail to find ME, I do not fail you. Though your faith in Me is unsure, My faith in you never wavers, because I know you, because I love you. Beloved I AM there. By: James Dillet Freeman References: 1. The Jewish Study Bible: Tanakh Translation; Oxford University Press; Adele Berlin and Marc Zvi Brettler Editors. 2. Feasting on the Word: Year A, Volume 4, David L. Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor, Editors 3. The New Oxford Annotated Bible 4. Unity Ministries, www.appleseed.org 5. Wikipedia 6. Episcopal Cafe 7. Leah Wise, Episcopal Cafe, August 19, 2017 (The Night the Neo Nazis Surrounded My Church)