Rector's Sermon
28 August 2011

First Reading	Psalm	Epistle	Gospel
Exodus 3:1–15	Psalm 105:1–6, 23–26, 45c	Romans 12:9–21	Matthew 16:21–28

       I recall that a number of years ago, someone observed that the snooze alarm is a great symbol of the contemporary world. Nowadays it is hardly a technological marvel, but it is still in one way or another used by the device of our choice when we wish to postpone waking up.  The alarm goes off, using any sound that we could imagine, breaking into our obliviousness, announcing a new day, and we press the button, silencing the alarm for another ten minutes and return to sleep. Sometimes I think we dread to hear the morning news, for it’s often that bad.  But the snooze alarm never gives us more time. Indeed it does quite the opposite. When it wakes us again, there is even less time to shower or eat breakfast and prepare for the day. Nor does it change any situation that may have happened during the night. We may become rattled and feel pretty rushed, but it is not the snooze alarm at fault. I wonder if what is facing us in much of our life today, be it our haphazard care for the earth, our perennially distressing social problems, the crumbling infrastructure of our roads, bridges and parks, or the financial crises of debt and deficits is a result of snooze alarm mentality over several decades that tempts us to put hard choices off for as long as possible.

       When Moses asked God, “What is your name?” God said, "I am who I am." God was telling Moses, I am part of this world, and I am offering to be a part of your life, your struggle, your suffering, and your deliverance.  Moses knew he stood on Holy Ground and he found that there was no snooze alarm button on the burning bush.  He tried to put off what God was asking him. He came up with one excuse after another of why it would be better for God to put the mission to free the tribes of Israel on hold for a while and find someone else. It didn’t work. Moses was called to respond then and there.

       When Jesus inquires of Peter, "Who do people say I am?" Peter in his great moment, gets it right! "You are the Messiah." Perhaps thinking of the words of God to Moses at the burning bush, perhaps as much out of fright as perception, Peter in effect proclaims,  "Jesus, you are who you claim to be. You are not another prophet or another great rabbi. You are the anointed one of God who has been sent into the world to proclaim the reality of God’s ways and deliverance from the pernicious chains of the world.” In saying, "You are the Christ," Peter was also affirming, "Jesus you are affecting my life now, you are altering my behavior now; my opinions are being re-shaped and my perspective is being re-focused as we speak. All who follow you will never be the same again.”

       However, a little later, Peter says, “Whoa, I don't know about this, slow down, and let me think about the implications of all this for me and the rest of the disciples. My own personal agenda doesn't seem so bad after all. Let me back up and tell you Jesus about what I had in mind for my future.” Peter begins to think that maybe he doesn't need to commit himself that much; that maybe he could negotiate out of this one. Jesus says sharply, virtually yells at him, "Get behind me Satan." Peter, who was just called the rock because of his steady firmness and resolve to follow Jesus, now threatens to become Peter the boulder who tempts to trip up and obstruct those following Jesus on the way.  Indeed, anything that allows us to keep God's presence in the future, anything that blocks God's offer of a new existence and a resurrected life today, is an obstacle to genuine conversion. 

       Most of us are under pressure, juggling all sorts of demands on our time, and trying to sort out how being a person of faith relates to being a teacher or student, a parent or caregiver for a neighbor, serving on the vestry or PTA. Someone once asked a reputed wise spiritual guide, "What am I going to do when I run out of time, when I have no further answers, and when my arms can hold no more?"  The guide replied, "Do not be like a child who refuses to eat today because he does not know what will be served tomorrow. You're starving. You're starving, eat your daily bread." That is why in the Lord’s Prayer, there is wisdom when we pray, “Give us this day, our daily bread.”

       God knows that we are starving. "I am who I am," Jesus reminds us. “I will live with you today, will suffer with you today, and will help you juggle those heavy loads and prickly burdens today. Don't let the powers of evil deceive you into running faster. Don’t let the boulders of life block your way of discipleship. The snooze alarm is not a fix; it’s just a technical gimmick no matter how it’s packaged. It will never nourish you; it will never be an instrument of healing; it will never give you a true rest. You are exhausted now.  Don't push me off, but come to my table and I will feed you today with real food.” That is why even the rebuke of Peter after his big moment, is nevertheless, good news.

       And I offer this to you in the name of the Living God, Amen.