October 25, 2009 Sermon
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Proper 25 - B 2009
October 25, 2009 Emmanuel, San Angelo
Last week's chilly weather was a reminder that the season is changing. Just like with the West Texas weather at this time of year, it can be chilly and cold in the morning, but sunny and hot by midday. Yesterday morning I sat on my back patio in a sweatshirt. Today it will be about 85 degrees. Likewise, from our scripture lessons we learn that change is always in the wind.
You will remember how in the story of Jeremiah, God called the reluctant youth to be God's voice to a failing nation. The economy was in the pits, the government was inept, wars and violence threatened to undo them. The house of Jacob, as it was called, was under attack. Yet from the mouth of the Prophet came the voice of hope:
"Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, and raise shouts for the chief of the nations. Give praise (Heb: "Halleluiah") and say, 'Save O Lord your people (Heb: "Hosanna')...'"
God's promise was that his faithful would be brought together, the old and the young...The halt and the lame...The women who carried in their womb the promise that life would go on.
"I will lead them back," says Yahweh, "I will let them walk by brooks of water in a straight path in which they shall not stumble, for I am Father to Israel..."
Jeremiah himself would never have guessed that centuries later, the Good Shepherd who would lead them would be Jesus of Nazareth, but not so the sight-impaired Bartimaeus of today’s Gospel. Something told him that this was the One.
St. Augustine once said that humanity was created with an inner longing to be in union with the Creator. Bartimaeus is symbolic of anyone who is eager to make contact with that "life-force" that exists in and beyond us. Bartimaeus is anyone who is searching for answers to the big questions of life. Bartimaeus is anyone who decides that they can no longer be silenced by voice of the status quo. Bartimaeus is you and me.
Mark lays out a four-fold progression in this story:
First, the man calls out to Jesus: "Have mercy on me!" (GK: "eleison")
Second, Jesus calls to the man: "Come to me..." he says.
Third, the man brings his petition: "My teacher let me receive my sight."
And his request is answered. Sight is given to him.
This is a story of an active faith. Who knows how long Bartimaeus had been sitting there? Who knows what he actually knew about Jesus? But he did not let the crowd deter him. He shouted out to the Lord. Whoever we are, and wherever we encouraged, indeed commanded to call out to the Lord.
"Proclaim the greatness of the Lord; let us exalt his name together." (Ps. 34:3)
And Christ answers our prayers. Of course there is a caveat: Once our eyes are opened we see more clearly the needs those around us. We also begin to see that all we have and all we are is a gift from God. That has been the message of this year’s where Stewardship Campaign. Your Pledge to Emmanuel, your support of Time, Talent, and Treasure frees God’s Spirit to work here. All that we have has been given to us as a Gift. As we enter our next 125 years we want to continue to have this Gift in San Angelo, and to pass this Gift on to our children, and to their children.
Remember when you were little making a church with your hands?
"Here is the church and here is the steeple...
Open the doors and see all the people."
Who are the people? Who is not here? Who needs to be here but remains uninvited? Who is sick or shut-in and needs our help and our care? Come to this Church and this Steeple and you will leave with a call to serve all God’s people!
Just like with the West Texas weather at this time of year, it can be chilly and cold in the morning, but sunny and hot by midday; from our scripture lessons we learn that change is always in the wind. None of us lasts for ever, and we don't take anything with us when we die. Part of the process of growing up is to realize that all we have and all we are is a gift from God. Our things are less important than our mission in life. And our mission is to serve and glorify God and God's people.
I will end this sermon with a prayer for the Mission of the Church, found on page 816 of the Prayer Book. Let's say it together:
"Everliving God, whose will it is that all should come to you through your Son Jesus Christ: Inspire our witness to him, that all may know the power of his forgiveness and the hope of his resurrection; who lives and reigns with you and Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen."
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Revised: 11/17/09