Lent II
Sermon for Hope Episcopal Church, Houston, TX
By The Rev. Martha Frances+
Year C Lent II
4 March 2007
Text: Luke 13: 31-35, Other Readings: Genesis 15: 1-12, 17-18; Psalm 27; Philippians 3:17-4:1
God came to Abram in a vision, we’re told in our first reading today, & it’s clearly early in the story since God hasn’t changed his name to Abraham yet. What does God say to Abram? “Do not be afraid.” Why is it that God or God’s angels have to say first, when they appear to humans, “Don’t be afraid.” Being approached by God or an angel is a pretty awesome affair. Some might say “awe-ful”—full of awe! God tells Abram, “I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” Does Abram respond in gratitude & appreciation? No. Abram complains about what God HASN’T done. Abram reminds God that he still doesn’t have an heir. What does God do? God takes Abram outside, focuses his attention on the heavens, & tells him to count the stars. Now right here we know that Abram was a country boy because he couldn’t even SEE stars if he lived most places in Houston. God tells Abram that he will have as many descendants as the stars. At this point, the amazing thing is that Abram believes God. Abram, who has no children at all, believes God, & God says that Abram’s belief shows his righteousness. Abram doesn’t have to DO anything to be considered righteous; just believe.
Then God gives the 2nd part of the promise to Abram. God gives Abram the land for his settlement. Abram responds this time by challenging God. It’s as if he says, “Yeah? Show me!” To me, it’s comforting to know that even someone whom God has just declared righteous because of his belief can still show doubt. At times, I’m afraid that I tell God, “Show me!” God does just that for Abram, in the form of a peculiar ritual with animals, birds, a smoking pot & a flaming torch—& it didn’t even end in a bar-b-q! I’m glad contracts & covenants are settled differently today. But God is much more generous than we can ever imagine. The land which God grants to Abram & his descendants encompasses all the territory of King David’s greatest conquests. God’s promise isn’t to the individual Abram but to the father of nations. God’s promise is to the covenant people. God provides all Abram needs to establish that covenant people—descendants & the land for them to develop. But Abram is called to respond—he has to embark on the journey to which God calls him.
As those who have read the pew bulletin cover already know, we’re focusing on Dietrich Bonhoeffer as spiritual guide on our Lenten journey this week. As Hitler gathered forces in Germany, Bonhoeffer was one of the few who saw the dangers of National Socialism & spoke out against it. His family had not been church-goers, disapproving of a Christian community opposed to change & with no concern for issues of social justice. Not until his visit to Rome in 1924 did he experience the reality of a true worshipping community & then, during his post-graduate year abroad studying at Union Theological Seminary in NYC, he worshipped often at the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem where he encountered the African-American Spirituals & the enthusiasm & reliance upon God with which those who sang them lived their lives. Because Bonhoeffer knew he could not just accept that reliance upon God & not respond with his life, he returned to Germany & eventually to imprisonment & death.
In his little book, The Cost of Discipleship, Bonhoeffer described Christians who accepted “cheap grace,” as he termed it: “Let the Christian rest content with his worldliness & with this renunciation of any higher standard than the world. He is living for the sake of the world rather than for the sake of grace. . . . Instead of following Christ, let the Christian enjoy the consolation of his grace. . . .’cheap grace’: the grace which amounts to the justification of sin without the justification of the repentant sinner who departs from sin & from whom sins depart. . . . Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves; . . . the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. . . Cheap grace is grace without discipleship. . . without the cross. . .without Jesus Christ, living & incarnate.”
“Costly grace,” he continues, “is the treasure hidden in the field,. . . the pearl of great price. . . the gospel which must be sought again & again, the gift that must be asked for, the door at which we [sic. A man] must knock. Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, & it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs us [sic a man] his life, & it is grace because it gives us [sic. a man] the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, & grace because it justifies the sinner. . . . Costly grace is the Incarnation of God.”
Bonhoeffer lived in a time & place where his death was the natural consequence of his boldly speaking out against hatred & intolerance. Our speaking our mind is probably not life-threatening, yet we accept cheap grace if we bury our heads in the sand & do not take seriously our baptismal promises, focusing today on the ones to “seek & serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbor as ourselves” & to “strive for justice & peace among all people, respecting the dignity of every human being.” (BCP 304-5) Our world is in crisis, & regardless of how difficult we feel it is to make ends meet, on a world scale, we are all privileged. Our beloved Church is undergoing a crisis, & we are being asked to continue the discussion concerning our identity as American Episcopalians & within the Anglican Communion. How do we seek & learn & continue the discussion? Another baptismal covenant to which we respond “I will, with God’s help,” states, “Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching & fellowship, in the breaking of bread, & in the prayers?” (BCP 304) This is a basic description of a Christian community.
It probably won’t surprise you that my admonition is that we explore what it is to be a Christian in our society today in community. We here at Hope have brought together an exciting community of diversity & have spent nearly 2 years learning to live together. This Lent, we are presenting some opportunities to grow deeper in our faith through worship, prayer, spiritual disciplines, & food & fellowship together & to grow out into the community by taking & studying & embracing our Millennium Development Goals, actively joining the ONE campaign, & becoming familiar with ways we can help to heal the disparities in the world.
Thus far, response to our Lenten offerings has been limited, to put it mildly. I went home last Wednesday evening feeling like a complete failure as your pastor & shepherd after only 18 of us heard the excellent speaker from Lord of the Streets following worship & soup supper. How can we grow in community if the majority of the community doesn’t show, even during Lent. Briefly, it was about my ego & a little embarrassment after asking a friend to speak to such a small group.
However, I don’t want a large crowd to appear in order for the priest to feel better. I pray for there to be so much desire for us to be a force for good in this community that we would pack the parish house on Wednesdays, crowd into the nave for Stations on Fridays & for Eucharist on Sundays because that’s one way we become a more effective community & reach out to others. I understand there were a dozen or so at the Black Middle School support group yesterday. Hallelujah! (Oops, I’m not supposed to say that during Lent, am I?) Where else might our Lenten observances prepare us to be the inclusive community spreading God’s transforming love to all people as our Hope Mission Statement states? Yes, there is lots of other evidence that we are transforming lives—our own & hopefully others—in our little corner of the world.
As Jesus lamented over Jerusalem, he, too, must have felt disappointed that his 3 years of teaching & preaching & healing had had only mediocre success with even his own disciples. Their hearts resisted change, seeing the Messiah in a new way, & believing that Jesus had to set his face toward Jerusalem & withstand the passion which we focus on at this time of the liturgical year.
Author Frederick Buechner wrote in Listening to Your Life, “If the world is sane, then Jesus is mad as a hatter & the Last Supper is the Mad Tea Party. The world says, Mind your own business, & Jesus says, There is no such thing as your own business. The world says, Follow the wisest course & be a success, & Jesus says, Follow me & be crucified. The world says, Drive carefully—the life you save may be your own—& Jesus says, Whoever would save his life will lose it & whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. The world says, Law & order, & Jesus says, Love. The world says, Get & Jesus says, Give. In terms of the world’s sanity, Jesus is crazy as a coot, & anybody who thinks he can follow him without being a little crazy too is laboring less under a cross than under a delusion.”
Who are we, people of Hope, this Lent 2007? Who is Jesus Christ calling us to be? Sisters & brothers, how are we to be that inclusive community spreading God’s transforming love to all people? We have made an amazing beginning in the last two years. We are growing up. We are blessed. We are graced. Much will be required of us. Who will we be?
By The Rev. Martha Frances+
Year C Lent II
4 March 2007
Text: Luke 13: 31-35, Other Readings: Genesis 15: 1-12, 17-18; Psalm 27; Philippians 3:17-4:1
God came to Abram in a vision, we’re told in our first reading today, & it’s clearly early in the story since God hasn’t changed his name to Abraham yet. What does God say to Abram? “Do not be afraid.” Why is it that God or God’s angels have to say first, when they appear to humans, “Don’t be afraid.” Being approached by God or an angel is a pretty awesome affair. Some might say “awe-ful”—full of awe! God tells Abram, “I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” Does Abram respond in gratitude & appreciation? No. Abram complains about what God HASN’T done. Abram reminds God that he still doesn’t have an heir. What does God do? God takes Abram outside, focuses his attention on the heavens, & tells him to count the stars. Now right here we know that Abram was a country boy because he couldn’t even SEE stars if he lived most places in Houston. God tells Abram that he will have as many descendants as the stars. At this point, the amazing thing is that Abram believes God. Abram, who has no children at all, believes God, & God says that Abram’s belief shows his righteousness. Abram doesn’t have to DO anything to be considered righteous; just believe.
Then God gives the 2nd part of the promise to Abram. God gives Abram the land for his settlement. Abram responds this time by challenging God. It’s as if he says, “Yeah? Show me!” To me, it’s comforting to know that even someone whom God has just declared righteous because of his belief can still show doubt. At times, I’m afraid that I tell God, “Show me!” God does just that for Abram, in the form of a peculiar ritual with animals, birds, a smoking pot & a flaming torch—& it didn’t even end in a bar-b-q! I’m glad contracts & covenants are settled differently today. But God is much more generous than we can ever imagine. The land which God grants to Abram & his descendants encompasses all the territory of King David’s greatest conquests. God’s promise isn’t to the individual Abram but to the father of nations. God’s promise is to the covenant people. God provides all Abram needs to establish that covenant people—descendants & the land for them to develop. But Abram is called to respond—he has to embark on the journey to which God calls him.
As those who have read the pew bulletin cover already know, we’re focusing on Dietrich Bonhoeffer as spiritual guide on our Lenten journey this week. As Hitler gathered forces in Germany, Bonhoeffer was one of the few who saw the dangers of National Socialism & spoke out against it. His family had not been church-goers, disapproving of a Christian community opposed to change & with no concern for issues of social justice. Not until his visit to Rome in 1924 did he experience the reality of a true worshipping community & then, during his post-graduate year abroad studying at Union Theological Seminary in NYC, he worshipped often at the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem where he encountered the African-American Spirituals & the enthusiasm & reliance upon God with which those who sang them lived their lives. Because Bonhoeffer knew he could not just accept that reliance upon God & not respond with his life, he returned to Germany & eventually to imprisonment & death.
In his little book, The Cost of Discipleship, Bonhoeffer described Christians who accepted “cheap grace,” as he termed it: “Let the Christian rest content with his worldliness & with this renunciation of any higher standard than the world. He is living for the sake of the world rather than for the sake of grace. . . . Instead of following Christ, let the Christian enjoy the consolation of his grace. . . .’cheap grace’: the grace which amounts to the justification of sin without the justification of the repentant sinner who departs from sin & from whom sins depart. . . . Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves; . . . the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. . . Cheap grace is grace without discipleship. . . without the cross. . .without Jesus Christ, living & incarnate.”
“Costly grace,” he continues, “is the treasure hidden in the field,. . . the pearl of great price. . . the gospel which must be sought again & again, the gift that must be asked for, the door at which we [sic. A man] must knock. Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, & it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs us [sic a man] his life, & it is grace because it gives us [sic. a man] the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, & grace because it justifies the sinner. . . . Costly grace is the Incarnation of God.”
Bonhoeffer lived in a time & place where his death was the natural consequence of his boldly speaking out against hatred & intolerance. Our speaking our mind is probably not life-threatening, yet we accept cheap grace if we bury our heads in the sand & do not take seriously our baptismal promises, focusing today on the ones to “seek & serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbor as ourselves” & to “strive for justice & peace among all people, respecting the dignity of every human being.” (BCP 304-5) Our world is in crisis, & regardless of how difficult we feel it is to make ends meet, on a world scale, we are all privileged. Our beloved Church is undergoing a crisis, & we are being asked to continue the discussion concerning our identity as American Episcopalians & within the Anglican Communion. How do we seek & learn & continue the discussion? Another baptismal covenant to which we respond “I will, with God’s help,” states, “Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching & fellowship, in the breaking of bread, & in the prayers?” (BCP 304) This is a basic description of a Christian community.
It probably won’t surprise you that my admonition is that we explore what it is to be a Christian in our society today in community. We here at Hope have brought together an exciting community of diversity & have spent nearly 2 years learning to live together. This Lent, we are presenting some opportunities to grow deeper in our faith through worship, prayer, spiritual disciplines, & food & fellowship together & to grow out into the community by taking & studying & embracing our Millennium Development Goals, actively joining the ONE campaign, & becoming familiar with ways we can help to heal the disparities in the world.
Thus far, response to our Lenten offerings has been limited, to put it mildly. I went home last Wednesday evening feeling like a complete failure as your pastor & shepherd after only 18 of us heard the excellent speaker from Lord of the Streets following worship & soup supper. How can we grow in community if the majority of the community doesn’t show, even during Lent. Briefly, it was about my ego & a little embarrassment after asking a friend to speak to such a small group.
However, I don’t want a large crowd to appear in order for the priest to feel better. I pray for there to be so much desire for us to be a force for good in this community that we would pack the parish house on Wednesdays, crowd into the nave for Stations on Fridays & for Eucharist on Sundays because that’s one way we become a more effective community & reach out to others. I understand there were a dozen or so at the Black Middle School support group yesterday. Hallelujah! (Oops, I’m not supposed to say that during Lent, am I?) Where else might our Lenten observances prepare us to be the inclusive community spreading God’s transforming love to all people as our Hope Mission Statement states? Yes, there is lots of other evidence that we are transforming lives—our own & hopefully others—in our little corner of the world.
As Jesus lamented over Jerusalem, he, too, must have felt disappointed that his 3 years of teaching & preaching & healing had had only mediocre success with even his own disciples. Their hearts resisted change, seeing the Messiah in a new way, & believing that Jesus had to set his face toward Jerusalem & withstand the passion which we focus on at this time of the liturgical year.
Author Frederick Buechner wrote in Listening to Your Life, “If the world is sane, then Jesus is mad as a hatter & the Last Supper is the Mad Tea Party. The world says, Mind your own business, & Jesus says, There is no such thing as your own business. The world says, Follow the wisest course & be a success, & Jesus says, Follow me & be crucified. The world says, Drive carefully—the life you save may be your own—& Jesus says, Whoever would save his life will lose it & whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. The world says, Law & order, & Jesus says, Love. The world says, Get & Jesus says, Give. In terms of the world’s sanity, Jesus is crazy as a coot, & anybody who thinks he can follow him without being a little crazy too is laboring less under a cross than under a delusion.”
Who are we, people of Hope, this Lent 2007? Who is Jesus Christ calling us to be? Sisters & brothers, how are we to be that inclusive community spreading God’s transforming love to all people? We have made an amazing beginning in the last two years. We are growing up. We are blessed. We are graced. Much will be required of us. Who will we be?
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