November 18, 2007 Sermon
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Proper 28 - C
November 18, 2007 Allan Conkling
Every year at this time we the read passages from the Bible of the kind that make Episcopalians just a bit nervous. If you have been coming to Emmanuel for a while then you know that we are getting close to the end of the church year. In just two weeks we will begin again with the season of Advent. Readings like these about the "end times" which are the staple diet all year round of so many religions, in our church are always saved for the last two weeks of the season of Pentecost. "End times" readings for the end of the church year.
These are the hellfire and brimstone passages that you hear when you are flipping through the TV channels late at night, or that you hear when you are driving from here to Amarillo.
From Malachi:
"See, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble; the day that comes shall burn them up, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch."
And from Luke:
"Nation will rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom...famine, plagues, earthquakes...dreadful portents and great signs from heaven."
By the way, did you happen to see the young man this last week, dressed in black walking by HEB carrying the big handwritten sign that said, "THE END IS NEAR?" It reminded me of the old Woody Allen line:
"I once thought that I had 'Seen the Light at the end of the tunnel...' But then I realized it was just New Jersey."
It is sad that Bible passages like these have been so misused by preachers and evangelists: Jesus himself says not to be led astray by false prophets. In their day, these readings were heard not as threats or of doom, but words of hope: They were Good News, not bad news. Apocalyptic writings (as they are called) were reminders that human beings are finite. They were reminders that God is in control; and lest one ever think that a nation, a culture, or an "organized religion" is invincible: There will come a time when "no stone will be left on stone." This age, like all others before it, will pass away.
On one hand this sounds fatalistic, but the point is this: What we have and what we are given is today...this moment in history...to live to its fullest. The past is gone and the future is not in our hands. We live life in the "meanwhile". In Thessalonians Paul sounds like a parent when he tells us to keep busy during this "meanwhile" time: "Don't be idle...don't be a busybody...do your own work quietly...earn your own living...do what is right." Again, the point is we are given this one life, this moment as a gift from God. What we do with it is up to us. This being Thanksgiving week is a great opportunity to re-focus, re-dedicate, and remember who gives us so many blessings. From where does our hope come?
There is more. These "end times" readings are always a challenge to those who have the idea that Christianity is just about feeling good. We see in Luke that discipleship requires endurance, patience, and at times suffering. Rather than snatching one up to heaven on a cloud, Jesus warns that coming trials will require we stay the course with perseverance, expecting difficulty and trials. This is something to think about today. Strife, enmity, wars, famines, plagues...the news is full of them. At times our church seems full of them. On a personal level we battle with the demons of addiction, despair, loneliness and frustration. Illnesses take their toll as does the constant worry about our jobs, our future, the environment, and what will happen to our children. The crosses that we have to bear are many.
But listen again to Malachi:
"But for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings."
"Risen with healing in his wings, light and life to all He brings...Hail the son of righteousness, hail the heaven born prince of peace..."
We will hear those words again soon!
As Christians, we need not be frightened, apprehensive or confused about our lives--but hopeful. Life is costly. It is demanding. But Thank God we have a God who loves us and cares for us and sustains us when the going gets tough. God gives us the promise that any suffering in this life will be balanced by the certainty of God's protection. Emmanuel is not just the name of our church--it is the assurance of God’s abiding presence with us in Jesus Christ: Not a "has been," or a "shall be," but God with us, now.
Think about the words of the hymn we just sang before the Gospel:
"Let not the world's deceitful cares the rising plant destroy, But let it yield a hundred fold the fruits of peace and joy." (#589, v.3)
Here we find our footing in Christ, the one who gave himself to all he met. Christ empowers us...embraces us even as he plants us firmly in the world: "By your endurance you will gain your souls."
God draws us, and what good news that is...To that place where God will finally and truly draw the whole world unto himself. Indeed our Lord does marvelous things!
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Revised: 11/27/07