March 18, 2007 Sermon
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Lent 4 – C
March 18, 2007 Emmanuel, San Angelo
We are now half-way through Lent. Back when people followed a strict rule, this day, the ½ way point, was marked with festivities and was called Refreshment Sunday. In Medieval times the faithful would make a pilgrimage on this day to visit family, returning to visit parents carrying with them a present typically in the form of a “mothering cake”—and so this day was also used known as Mothering Sunday.
At the start of Lent we were invited to examine our lives and keep a Lenten discipline. Lent reminds us of our continual need for repentance and amendment of life. But today we change the focus from us and our acts of repentance…to the events which took place “for us and for our salvation.” More and more will we see that it is not our actions or works which ultimately “count”, rather it is by God’s grace and favor that we are in right relationship with God. In the Old Testament Joshua and his followers had been led out of slavery and disgrace in Egypt by the hand of God. They were sustained in the wilderness by the divine Manna from heaven. They ate the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and grain from the Land given to them by Yahweh. The story is not about what they did but what God did to provide for them.
A thousand years later Paul wrote to the early Christians in Corinth (the 2nd lesson) to remind people there that,
“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ…that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself.”
Far from being “saved” by their own actions; instead they are sustained and nurtured by a Creator who loved them and cares for them. In short, the story is not about what they did but what God did to provide for them.
The full effect of “Refreshment” on this Refreshment Sunday comes in our Gospel reading, where we hear that wonderful story of the Prodigal Son. God is, like the forgiving father, always ready to accept us home. God always loves more than we can ever imagine or deserve. This story is called the Prodigal Son, but really it is about the Father. The word “prodigal” is one of those churchy words not used much. From the Latin prodigus, “Prodigal” means recklessly wasteful or excessive. The Prodigal Son wasted his inheritance. But in a way all of the characters are “Prodigal.” The prodigal brother wasted his life in unforgiveness and hate. The Father, too who was a “Prodigal,” for in the end it was the Father who lavished, even wasted his love upon both of his wayward children. Neither was deserving.
The image of God’s exceeding and reckless love is one which Jesus called upon his hearers then and now to consider and take to heart. How is it that God can love us, excessively, wastefully, and lavish his love upon us, even when we are the most undeserving? As St. Paul says,
“…in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.”
How does God do that? That incredible love is always the hardest thing for Christians to understand. We seem to be the worst for always feeling that we must do something to earn God’s favor. Sadly, throughout its history the Church has often tried to make God’s love conditional. It has set up barriers, built walls, closed doors, written Creeds, and enforced its Doctrine to make people do things—to be worthy of God’s love. It judges harshly those who do not meet the conditions. Even today in our Episcopal Church, some would say that if they were God they would do things differently, and deal with those who don’t follow the rules.
But Refreshment Sunday reminds us that, thank God, God has different standards. God never works within our limits of propriety. God never withholds love, or considers anyone unworthy. God never establishes criteria or judges according to human standards. Lord knows if he can love us, he can love anyone!
This is a day to reflect on God’s unmerited favor, free and undeserved, given to us; and through us to those whom we are called to love, serve and welcome in Christ’s name. I will close with a reflection by the English pastor, Leslie Weathered, written early in the last century. The author writes in first person, but it is appropriate for us all – individually and as a church:
“Let me now accept Thy forgiveness…Let me no longer cling to the picture of myself as unclean, when Thou has made me clean. Help me not endlessly to condemn and deprecate and despise…but to understand…and move on to spiritual maturity. Let me slip off my shoulders the old filthy rags, and wear as did the Prodigal, the new, shining raiment of a son. No atonement of mine, no expiation or propitiation is possible. Thou dost not ask me to atone, but accept FREEDOM…so that the past becomes an asset in a dedicated future…Help me from today to move forward.” (Weathered, Private House of Prayer, pg. 175-6)
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Revised: 03/26/07