Dr. Caroline Carson 4
Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Year A
09.03.2017
Jeremiah 15:15-21
Psalm 26:1-8
Romans 12:9-21
Matthew 16:21-28
Good morning! I bring you a sermon crafted upon our holy mountain, exactly four days before my very first class on the Foundations of Preaching…
Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Year A
09.03.2017
Jeremiah 15:15-21
Psalm 26:1-8
Romans 12:9-21
Matthew 16:21-28
Good morning! I bring you a sermon crafted upon our holy mountain, exactly four days before my very first class on the Foundations of Preaching…
Through the written word, and the spoken word, may we know your Living Word: Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen
Today’s passage in the gospel of Matthew follows Peter’s statement that Christ is the Messiah; Jesus calling him the “rock” upon which he will build his church, and his giving him the keys to the kingdom of God. How’s Peter feeling right about now? Secure? With a stamp of approval? In control? The most memorable lines from today’s gospel passage are: “Get behind me Satan!” and “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.” It seemed rather harsh to me, going from a foundation rock to a stumbling block with “Get behind me Satan!” In the Greek however, the phrase is ambiguous and can mean “get out of my way” or “a cause to stray from whom he ought to trust” or maybe “keep following my leadership”. Calling Peter Satan basically calls him out at being adversarial to Jesus’ messianic role – he’s trying to pull Jesus away from death. This doesn’t go over well. Humanity needs Jesus on the cross. Peter has indeed just taken Jesus aside and spoken to him, almost as if he were in charge and not a disciple. Peter’s disappointment with what Jesus has just told them is evident. He enthusiastically loves Jesus. He has given up his family and possessions to follow him. He has made a grand and obvious commitment - so why not react strongly to Jesus’ informing the disciples that he will soon suffer - and even die? Peter is distracted and focused on himself and his relationship with Jesus, his being “all-in”. Maybe Peter is acting instinctively out of love for his friend…acting first, thinking later. I sure can personally identify with this trait. This is not always a bad thing though…acting quickly to save a life, acting instinctively for our own survival, acting out of love for another. We recognize his humanity and over time, we get used to Peter acting in earnest innocence and discovering that he has indeed moved or spoken too quickly.
God’s call, however, is more than rapid response performed with sincerity. Unfortunately though, we happen to be drawn to quick fixes… Who isn’t? God’s calling is much more than a quick fix of say…going to church, even regularly. More than praying every day or night. More than tithing. More even than any one sacrament except….except for living out our Baptismal covenant, long term. It is a calling that we ourselves, like John the Baptist says in the Gospel of John, must decrease - and Christ increase. It is more than “making room for Christ in our hearts”, the implication of which is that we are already so full that we must shove aside, not even rid ourselves of what we have collected, but shove aside and pack the spirit in - to squeeze God into our lives. We may even live a godly life and be infused with the spirit of Christ and his goodness, but, and really ask yourself: how much have we decreased inside ourselves and increased in the image of Christ? Just how do we go about denying ourselves and taking up our cross?
It is a call, in a sense, to be forgotten…a call to be forgotten. This is in the worldly sense, where we harbor any reservation whatsoever when asked to follow Christ and instead, we put ourselves first. Putting self-interest away, inviting the difficult, the different, the unknown – essentially inviting the uninvited into our lives. Not shunning challenges to our ways of interacting with people who are different from us or our loyalties… is the giving up of self for the greater good, for the sake of community. What about being willing to suffer or even die? It is a costly process. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the WWII era Lutheran minister who battled Nazi ideology in Germany, wrote in his book The Cost of Discipleship: “Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, and absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate. Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. “
How many of us are really super eager…or even mildly eager, to take up our crosses? Our crosses are not likely to be physical persecution for our faith. How do we even know what and how multi-faceted our crosses are? Is it even right to equate and legitimize our own suffering with that of Christ’s? In the 21st century, the cross symbol itself has become a fashion statement as we don’t use crucifixion and are certainly removed from the Game of Thrones-like gruesome practice. Maybe you have taken up a cross…was it your own? Remember Simon of Cyrene set down Christ’s cross because it wasn’t his responsibility to the very end. So, Peter’s asking Jesus not to bear suffering and death was Jesus’s stumbling block. What are yours? Societal additions to material things, money, being right, winning? Physical or mental ailments? Loneliness? Depression? Fear of solitude? Fear of groups?
Some of my crosses were shaken and stirred during this summer’s clinical pastoral education course in NYC where I participated in a hundred hours of therapy-like examination, group discussion, and self-awareness training - basically moments of public emotional vomit - in addition to 300 hours as an NYU chaplain at a level I trauma center. Some of my many stumbling blocks are: anxiety, the need for approval, and super enthusiasm (that’s a positive and a negative for me). One you and I may share is the need to not be forgotten. Zing! That is an arrow right through that call to be forgotten, isn’t it? I do experience a certain freedom in seminary life that seems to show me that this vocation is authentic. But, I am deeply aware that self-denial is much broader and deeper than this. I’ve got my work cut out for me. Luckily, I know why I go to church. One of the many reasons is that here, “there is always room for one more” (Robertson). This church, this community of Christ-followers is the heart of opportunity to deny self. Following implies that there will be someone ahead to whom we reach out.
To you whose young ones will be baptized this morning: Your name may eventually become: “Walker’s Dad”, “Ella Grace’s parental units”, “Mary Margaret’s Momma”, “Madison’s progenitors”, or perhaps “Ellie’s antecedents”. You are here and part of this community. You are taking up your crosses and that of your infant kin. “The baptismal call for parents who baptize their infants is to take up their own crosses, because you are making promises this morning for yourselves as much as for your children. It’s also a call to bear the cross that parenting can be for a time, to carry it with and for your children until they are mature enough to take it up for themselves. Yet, the good news in all the bearing is” how much more have your souls increased because of these gifts.” (Courtney)
You are not alone. They will not be alone. As we accept your sons and daughters as new members of the body of Christ, as we all renew our Baptismal vows, the unison cry of “we will with God’s help” holds us equally in each other’s spirits. As the liturgy turns from darkness into light, we will not be alone. As we move from death in Christ into life into the same, we unite, UNITE, in the risk, in the discomfort of taking up the crosses of the spiritual forces of wickedness, sinful desires, our distrust, and we turn to Christ…..and he walks before and with us as we deny ourselves and follow him. As the old hymn says “In Christ there is no East or West, in Him no South or North, but one great fellowship of God, throughout the whole wide Earth”. Will you be called to be forgotten? For as you fade and decrease, it is God himself who will remember you.
“Lord Jesus Christ, fill us with your Holy Spirit, that we may be less of what we used to be, and that we may become more of what you want us to be. Amen”
Cost of Discipleship (Bonhoeffer)
Why Go to Church (Robertson)
BCP
Thayer’s Greek Lexicon / Strong’s NT
Today’s passage in the gospel of Matthew follows Peter’s statement that Christ is the Messiah; Jesus calling him the “rock” upon which he will build his church, and his giving him the keys to the kingdom of God. How’s Peter feeling right about now? Secure? With a stamp of approval? In control? The most memorable lines from today’s gospel passage are: “Get behind me Satan!” and “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.” It seemed rather harsh to me, going from a foundation rock to a stumbling block with “Get behind me Satan!” In the Greek however, the phrase is ambiguous and can mean “get out of my way” or “a cause to stray from whom he ought to trust” or maybe “keep following my leadership”. Calling Peter Satan basically calls him out at being adversarial to Jesus’ messianic role – he’s trying to pull Jesus away from death. This doesn’t go over well. Humanity needs Jesus on the cross. Peter has indeed just taken Jesus aside and spoken to him, almost as if he were in charge and not a disciple. Peter’s disappointment with what Jesus has just told them is evident. He enthusiastically loves Jesus. He has given up his family and possessions to follow him. He has made a grand and obvious commitment - so why not react strongly to Jesus’ informing the disciples that he will soon suffer - and even die? Peter is distracted and focused on himself and his relationship with Jesus, his being “all-in”. Maybe Peter is acting instinctively out of love for his friend…acting first, thinking later. I sure can personally identify with this trait. This is not always a bad thing though…acting quickly to save a life, acting instinctively for our own survival, acting out of love for another. We recognize his humanity and over time, we get used to Peter acting in earnest innocence and discovering that he has indeed moved or spoken too quickly.
God’s call, however, is more than rapid response performed with sincerity. Unfortunately though, we happen to be drawn to quick fixes… Who isn’t? God’s calling is much more than a quick fix of say…going to church, even regularly. More than praying every day or night. More than tithing. More even than any one sacrament except….except for living out our Baptismal covenant, long term. It is a calling that we ourselves, like John the Baptist says in the Gospel of John, must decrease - and Christ increase. It is more than “making room for Christ in our hearts”, the implication of which is that we are already so full that we must shove aside, not even rid ourselves of what we have collected, but shove aside and pack the spirit in - to squeeze God into our lives. We may even live a godly life and be infused with the spirit of Christ and his goodness, but, and really ask yourself: how much have we decreased inside ourselves and increased in the image of Christ? Just how do we go about denying ourselves and taking up our cross?
It is a call, in a sense, to be forgotten…a call to be forgotten. This is in the worldly sense, where we harbor any reservation whatsoever when asked to follow Christ and instead, we put ourselves first. Putting self-interest away, inviting the difficult, the different, the unknown – essentially inviting the uninvited into our lives. Not shunning challenges to our ways of interacting with people who are different from us or our loyalties… is the giving up of self for the greater good, for the sake of community. What about being willing to suffer or even die? It is a costly process. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the WWII era Lutheran minister who battled Nazi ideology in Germany, wrote in his book The Cost of Discipleship: “Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, and absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate. Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. “
How many of us are really super eager…or even mildly eager, to take up our crosses? Our crosses are not likely to be physical persecution for our faith. How do we even know what and how multi-faceted our crosses are? Is it even right to equate and legitimize our own suffering with that of Christ’s? In the 21st century, the cross symbol itself has become a fashion statement as we don’t use crucifixion and are certainly removed from the Game of Thrones-like gruesome practice. Maybe you have taken up a cross…was it your own? Remember Simon of Cyrene set down Christ’s cross because it wasn’t his responsibility to the very end. So, Peter’s asking Jesus not to bear suffering and death was Jesus’s stumbling block. What are yours? Societal additions to material things, money, being right, winning? Physical or mental ailments? Loneliness? Depression? Fear of solitude? Fear of groups?
Some of my crosses were shaken and stirred during this summer’s clinical pastoral education course in NYC where I participated in a hundred hours of therapy-like examination, group discussion, and self-awareness training - basically moments of public emotional vomit - in addition to 300 hours as an NYU chaplain at a level I trauma center. Some of my many stumbling blocks are: anxiety, the need for approval, and super enthusiasm (that’s a positive and a negative for me). One you and I may share is the need to not be forgotten. Zing! That is an arrow right through that call to be forgotten, isn’t it? I do experience a certain freedom in seminary life that seems to show me that this vocation is authentic. But, I am deeply aware that self-denial is much broader and deeper than this. I’ve got my work cut out for me. Luckily, I know why I go to church. One of the many reasons is that here, “there is always room for one more” (Robertson). This church, this community of Christ-followers is the heart of opportunity to deny self. Following implies that there will be someone ahead to whom we reach out.
To you whose young ones will be baptized this morning: Your name may eventually become: “Walker’s Dad”, “Ella Grace’s parental units”, “Mary Margaret’s Momma”, “Madison’s progenitors”, or perhaps “Ellie’s antecedents”. You are here and part of this community. You are taking up your crosses and that of your infant kin. “The baptismal call for parents who baptize their infants is to take up their own crosses, because you are making promises this morning for yourselves as much as for your children. It’s also a call to bear the cross that parenting can be for a time, to carry it with and for your children until they are mature enough to take it up for themselves. Yet, the good news in all the bearing is” how much more have your souls increased because of these gifts.” (Courtney)
You are not alone. They will not be alone. As we accept your sons and daughters as new members of the body of Christ, as we all renew our Baptismal vows, the unison cry of “we will with God’s help” holds us equally in each other’s spirits. As the liturgy turns from darkness into light, we will not be alone. As we move from death in Christ into life into the same, we unite, UNITE, in the risk, in the discomfort of taking up the crosses of the spiritual forces of wickedness, sinful desires, our distrust, and we turn to Christ…..and he walks before and with us as we deny ourselves and follow him. As the old hymn says “In Christ there is no East or West, in Him no South or North, but one great fellowship of God, throughout the whole wide Earth”. Will you be called to be forgotten? For as you fade and decrease, it is God himself who will remember you.
“Lord Jesus Christ, fill us with your Holy Spirit, that we may be less of what we used to be, and that we may become more of what you want us to be. Amen”
Cost of Discipleship (Bonhoeffer)
Why Go to Church (Robertson)
BCP
Thayer’s Greek Lexicon / Strong’s NT
Thank you for reading!
