Loading...Sermon October 15, 2017
The Rev. Rebecca S. Myers, LSW
The Church of the Nativity and St. Stephen, Newport, PA
Nineteenth Sunday After Pentecost, Track 1 Year A Proper 23
//lectionarypage.net/YearA_RCL/Pentecost/AProp23_RCL.html
I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Philippians 4:2
Please be seated.
Once upon a time, there was a church that was built on a mountain overlooking a town. It was a beautiful church that had been built with great care by the villagers who lived nearby. But there was one thing that the church didn’t have. It didn’t have any lights.
Every Sunday evening the people who lived in the town below the tiny church saw something magic happen. The church bell would ring and worshippers would wend their way up the mountainside towards the church. They would enter the church and then all of a sudden the church would light up brightly. You see, the people had to bring light with them – so they brought lanterns.
When they arrived at church they would light their lanterns and hang them around the church on pegs set in the walls, so the light would spread all around. If only a few people came to church, the light would be very dim, because there would only be a few lanterns. But when lots of people came to church there would be plenty of light.
After the service, the villagers would take their lanterns home. At this time, to those who watched from a distance, it was as if a stream of light poured out of the church and over the mountainside. For many it was a sign that all was well. God’s light was with them and in them. The only time the little church lit up was when people were there. That’s when it truly became a church. That’s when the light shone most brightly.
Adapted from //www.frtommylane.com/stories/light/city_hilltop.htm
In our reading today from Philippians, Paul is nearing the end of his letter to the Christian community there. The community has been in some turmoil. Euodia and Syntyche have a disagreement. I imagine the people in the community are taking sides.
Paul stresses that the harmony of the community is extremely important and that Euodia and Syntyche should do whatever is possible to restore the community. This does not mean everyone will agree on everything; only that the good and welfare of the community needs to come first. A saying from 12-step programs says, “Do you want to be right or happy?” We can agree to disagree. We can have differences within our community. Yet, we still come together and be with each other. We work to respect our differences and find ways to accommodate them.
Each person…each of you…is important to this community. Each of you has experiences and understanding of following Jesus that helps all of us. Just like in the church with no lights, each of you brings a light and a spirit into our community. Each time you are here on a Sunday or pray for us when you can’t be here, the community is different. Your light is with us. Your wisdom and gifts are here for the community.
As Paul encourages Euodia and Syntyche to work through their differences, because he knows they are valuable not only to the Christian community at Philippi, but also to the spreading of the Good News of Jesus Christ throughout the world, Paul also encourages us to be committed to our Christian community. He encourages us to hold our gathering together and to work together with reverence and care.
There is definitely a balance between individualism and community. I don’t know about you, but I think in my upbringing, individualism and individual freedom were often exalted over care for the community. I think of people who say, “I can do whatever I want.” We often hear about rugged individualism, as if we never need to rely upon anyone else…as if community is a nuisance.
Yet, the truth is, we need each other. We need contact with each other. Christian community is a mix of our own understandings and individual beauty created by God and our love for each other’s beauty and each other’s gifts from God.
When community is important, we are challenged to think about the welfare of the group. We are challenged to think about what it means when our light is missing from the community…what it means when our gifts are not available to the community.
We may not always be thrilled to be here together every Sunday. Yet, each of us together makes for a beautiful worship to God. Our synergy allows us to do lots of work in loving our neighbors. Our synergy helps us grow in Christian faith and helps us grow into what it means to be a disciple and follower of Jesus Christ.
When we bring our individual lights into our community, we have the opportunity to be of one mind. We have the opportunity to be Christ to the world.
Amen
