July 19, 2009 Sermon
This page is offered for those unable to attend the service or who would like more time to study the message.
Proper 11 - B
July 19, 2009 Allan Conkling
At what seems to be the height of his ministry Jesus took his disciples and encouraged them to "come away to a deserted place and rest a while." Life had become complicated. His vision for the coming kingdom was not being fulfilled. Instead storms arose and they were blown off course. Crowds on the shore were needy and demanding. The disciples were harried, and "they had no leisure even to eat." Certainly for Jesus there would be no rest. People from towns and villages flocked to him and seemed to be as helpless as sheep without a shepherd. If our Lord was put out; if he felt irritated and wanted to say, "All I want is a couple of days off" he didn't say it. He did not say "get out of here" or "leave me alone." Rather he recognized that the situation had changed; he got busy and called the others to do the same.
Over the years I have found that God often operates best, or at least I experience God best, in times when life is most troubled. When I am forced to admit that I do not have all the answers or that plans have changed, in times of conflict I find that that if I will but listen, God speaks loudest for a new direction. As problems escalate at home and abroad, at a time when we are worried about the Middle East, rising energy costs, a flat economy. In those moments of greatest challenge to our health, family; through illness, loss, separation we are promised that if we will but listen, God is present. We are never left comfortless.
The Old Testament reading is about King David, the leader of the tribes of Israel, a man mighty in battle and wise beyond his years. David had a plan to design and build a house for God. It would be an elaborate place, adorned with splendor and riches. Best of all, David would get the credit. His name would be on the plaque on the front door. But God had other plans. The temple would indeed be built, but David's heir would build it. The "Star of David" would shine, but only after his death. Over a thousand years later for Christians it was an ancestor of King David, Jesus of Nazareth who was the true shining light. God doesn't work according to our plans.
This past week a small mission team from Emmanuel--Leif, Mary Claire, Charlotte, Rebecca, Cindy, Susanna, and I--went to Galveston to help with the Episcopal Disaster Relief. We took clothes to go to church. We took bathing suits to go to Schlitterbahn. We took work gloves and grubby clothes expecting to paint or maybe hang sheetrock. I don't think any of us had a clue that we would be working so hard for the next three days! We stayed in Spartan accommodations on air mattresses on the floor of the campus ministry chapel. We took showers in a FEMA trailer; sharing the space with a noisy and somewhat messy group from an Episcopal church in Nacogdoches.
On Monday morning we met Andrew, our site intern. Our job was to lay tile on the bottom floor of a house damaged by the hurricane. No air conditioning, 95+degrees, 80%+ humidity. We came away with a new found appreciation of God’s sense of humor, but also that we had actually made a difference in someone's life. Once again, in those moments of greatest challenge God is present.
St. Paul reminds us that we are citizens of a greater community, members of a larger household...
"built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord..."
What Good News that is for us today. When you take these readings, our music, our prayers, our fellowship, our Communion service, everything we do here this morning...take them and put them together, then a beautiful mosaic begins to emerge. This God our God gathers us in, raises us up, shepherds us leads us. Christ sees our suffering, has compassion, heals us, gives us strength to meet the challenges of this life...and he does so for everyone.
In a very simple way last week's laying of tile is a metaphor of God's holy building. Life is not about us, or what we think we deserve. Christian life is not about convenience. It is about service to others in the name of the One who has called us and set us apart to minister to others. From youngest to oldest, we each have a job to do. When Jesus saw the people, and their searching and hearing their cries, he gazed upon their afflictions and infirmities he was moved with compassion. How can we do anything less? Our Lord did not say, "this isn’t what I want...let someone else do it." Rather he recognized what needed to be done; he got busy and called the others to do the same.
No the world is not perfect, and there is always work to be done before we live in glory. Yet rest assured that in moments of need, in times of transition and change Christ is present with us. When we come to that providential awareness, it is then that real miracles will begin to take place.
Copyright © 2003 Emmanuel Episcopal Church. All rights reserved.
Revised: 08/03/09