Loading...Sermon – September 13, 2015
The Rev. Rebecca S. Myers, LSW
The Church of the Nativity and St. Stephen, Newport, PA
Pentecost XVI Proper 19, Track 2
He asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Mark 8:29
Please be seated.
The readings and Gospel this week have so much to talk about. However, as I read them, I was immediately drawn to the Gospel. Because, you see, Caesarea Philippi is one of THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACES I’ve ever seen.
I was so fortunate to study in the Holy Land in 2012. One of the places we visited was Caesarea Philippi. It’s not far from the Sea of Galilee, another beautiful place. Caesarea Philippi was built as a Roman city with grottos to the Roman Gods, especially Pan. Nearby are the Banias springs. When I was there, they were flowing freely and quite loudly! These springs meet others and form the Jordan River. The water is cool and clear.
And it was here midst these grottoes to the Roman Gods, midst the cool rushing springs that form the Jordan River, that Jesus confronted his disciples, “Who do You say that I am?” My teacher on my trip said Jesus was asking the disciples whether they wanted to continue to follow him or whether they wanted to return to the old ways and the old gods. This was a place of decision. Would the disciples turn away or would they follow and walk with Jesus to Jerusalem and to Calvary.
This morning, Jesus asks us, “Who do you say that I am?” I’m sure many of us can spout off about what others have said about Jesus, but we’re asked directly about our own understanding. When I think about this, I’m more comfortable with the meek and mild Jesus lying in a manger on Christmas morn in the warmth of the animals, the adoration of the shepherds, and the singing of the angels. I love thinking about the first time Jesus smiled or rolled over or laughed.
But the thing is, Jesus grew up. He was a teenager who troubled his parents, I’m sure, by preaching in the temple and telling them they shouldn’t have worried about him. He grew up to be an adult, who I’m sure frustrated his mother when she asked him to help out at the wedding where the wine ran out and he told her it wasn’t his time. He grew up and demanded people leave their families and follow him. He grew up and threatened the very ways life was structured at that time. He grew up and said that loving others and being in relationship with others was the most important thing. He grew up knowing that the life he was showing people how to live brought abundant life, but so angered the authorities of the time so that he would consequently face a brutal death.
This following Jesus is not easy. I think a big reason is that we must give up our illusion of control. Because it truly is an illusion. Jesus is asking us to let go. He doesn’t say it will be easy. He says it will feel like we are dying. He says we will have a heavy cross to carry and our lives won’t always be pleasant. However, we will have life when we follow what he teaches.
We’ll have life because we’ll be in relationship with each other. We’ll have a community. We’ll have people who will pray for us and will think of us and will care for us.
We’ll have life because we’ll have compassion and understanding for each other. We’ll know we are not perfect, so we won’t expect others to be perfect either. We’ll know that together God helps us be more than we could ever be on our own.
We’ll have life, because we’ll have more peace in our lives. That doesn’t mean things will always be peaceful, but we’ll have a confidence about life and a strength that carries us through the difficult times.
We’ll have life, because we’ll work for communities and a world where every person is valued and seen as deserving of what it takes to live a good life…what it takes to be the creation God intended.
We’ll understand that it does not profit us to have the whole world if we lose our soul.
So, today, who do you say Jesus is? Will you follow Jesus and choose life or will you lose your soul?
Amen
