|
First
Reading
|
Psalm |
Epistle |
Gospel |
| 1 Kings 19:1–4,8–15a |
Psalm 42 |
Galatians 3:23–29 |
Luke 8:26–39 |
All three lessons today have a common theme that inform us about baptism, for they all, in some way, remind us that discipleship and being a member of a Christian community are sometimes difficult work.
The prophet Elijah had won some significant victories against the corrupting influences of Jezebel, the Queen of Israel. As a result Jezebel was so infuriated that she vowed to hunt down and kill Elijah. Elijah went out to the wilderness to rest and then retired to a cave. He sensed the presence of God and began to pour out his frustration with all the fury of the wind and power of an earthquake. God listened, but was quiet. Then Elijah perceived both strength and wisdom in the still voice of silence. Elijah understood that his role as a prophet was not over; there would be difficult times ahead, and that he was being prepared and nourished to go back into the heart of danger. The rhythm of discipleship is often like this. There are times of respite, but there is no permanent escape or abdication of our baptismal promises. Discipleship has no spectators in the stands, only team players on the field.
Paul is talking about the radical breaking down of barriers. Paul does not deny our differences and acknowledges that differences can present us with real challenges. Such challenges are not to be ignored or minimized. However our differences offer us a holy opportunity to feed each other. As Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury reminds us, “A well functioning Christian community is one in which everybody is working to release the gifts of others.”.1 Yes, it is a hard task, but working in seeking to feed one another, growing together to enhance each other’s gifts, and actively giving and receiving, are distinctive characteristics of the faith community and go far beyond mere tolerance or accommodation.
Lastly, in the Gospel lesson, we have the example of Jesus who stepped out of our customary comfort zones, and went among the hopelessly dead. Jesus released a poor individual from demons no one could control. Yet in doing so, Jesus provoked great fear. It is so easy to write someone off as mentally deranged, but much harder when the person is healed and begins to make sense. That is why the people who knew this fellow begged Jesus to leave their neighborhood after the deranged man was healed. Real new life scared the wits out of them. It upset all their ways of using sickness and otherness to protect themselves, to isolate themselves from what they did not want to deal with, and to keep on their own secure path. I remember that a guest preacher once came to the parish where I was a curate and preached on this passage, remarking that if we really want to see the results of demonic possession, don’t look at the man who lived among the tombs and was healed, but look at the crowd that witnessed the healing, and then begged Jesus to leave them. That was really demonic possession.2
There is an old story which I have no idea its source, but its inspiration could have well been C. S. Lewis. Three apprentice devils were suggesting to Satan how to populate hell. One suggested, “Let’s tell them there is no God.” “No,” said Satan, “we’ve tried that and it only works for a few.” “Tell them there is no hell,” suggested a second. “No,” said Satan, “they seem to eventually catch on to that, too.” Then a third apprentice suggested, “Tell them to seek contentment by avoiding anything which might trouble them and taking the easy path.” And Satan smiled. Jesus warns us, “Do not think I have come to provide that kind of contentment among you.”
We will baptize Clarissa and Teresa this morning. We do so with full knowledge that growing into faith is not the easiest path and that people of faith today are being sent into a world of stress like Elijah. We expect that they will be living across barriers both old and new, recognizing and sharing gifts like the early churches guided by St. Paul. Lastly, if they choose to affirm their baptismal promises they are likely at some point to be called by the living Lord out of their own comfort levels and confronting the demons the world never wishes to name.
1In God’s Company, by Rowan Williams in Christian Century, June 12, 2007
2Robert Terwilliger who at the time was head of Trinity Institute
And
I offer this to you in the name of the Living God, Amen.
