Sermon at The Church of the Holy Apostles, New York City
August 12, 2007
The Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
The Reverend Andrew G. Kadel
Genesis 15:1-6
Psalm 33
Hebrews 11:1-16
Luke 12:32-40

 

     Do not be afraid little flock…sell your  possessions and give alms.

     Don’t be afraid…  Whenever I hear that, something in me says ‘uh oh… here comes something to be afraid of …’  There are a lot of things that we fear, and a lot of things that we should fear—but this is not a case where Jesus says “Duck!” or “Watch out!”.  Immediate physical danger is real, but we do something to respond and it’s over.  But “Don’t be afraid” –that brings discomfort and apprehension that lasts much longer.  In today’s Gospel, Jesus continues his instructions to the disciples in which he told them that they would be dragged before the authorities and rulers. At the end Jesus says ‘don’t be afraid, sell your possessions, give alms.’  For most people who actually listen, this raises a little anxiety—Jesus wants me to do what? Give up my apartment? my computer? My clothes?  --and what would life be like then?

     Human beings are usually afraid any time that a major change is likely, or even possible in their lives.  This is even more the case when we expect to lose something significant.   Ultimately, it’s not knowing what the results will be that causes the most discomfort.    So Jesus says, “Don’t be afraid” -- and we say “Yeah, right."

     There are things that we don’t know how they will come out in the next week, the next month, the coming year.  Sometimes the changes are public and have to do with institutions and communities, such as the various ups and downs of the Anglican Communion—what will the results be of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s conversations with the House of Bishops this fall?  Sometimes changes are personal, perhaps even private—what happens with a job, or home or a relationship?  In many cases, the change may turn out to be very positive, even welcome.  Yet its approach is fearful, producing anxiety and often, grumpiness.

     Fear is normal, it’s ordinary in human life … and often it paralyses, and stops the very change and growth that is necessary to move beyond fear.

     Jesus says: “Do not be afraid for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”  The Kingdom is something new, a new way of living, without fear, privation or hate.  In our experience it is truly exotic.  But don’t think it’s a relic from an earlier, more naďve, less complex and less violent time—the violent and oppressive Roman occupation kept in check much of the chaos in the world of the ancient middle east.  The Kingdom of God, as Jesus presented it was as dissonant to his own time as it is to ours.  Jesus doesn’t say ‘Don’t be afraid because it’s silly to be afraid.’  He says, ‘Don’t be afraid because you’re coming with me to someplace new.’   We live in hope for a kingdom that cannot be shaken by the actions of people or powers or principalities.  And all these things that you hold on to because you’re afraid to let go—sell them and contribute where it will do the most good.

     In July we were on vacation and we were in Idaho away from any city.  About midnight we went out on the little terrace of our room—and the sky was so full, I didn’t remember that the sky filled with stars could be so full—the Milky Way stretched from one side of the sky to the other.  Overwhelming and humbling.  Abram feared that his ultimate future was lost—God told him to look up at the night sky— more stars than any of us have seen -- and Abram’s legacy more numerous still.  We often don’t have the imagination to envision the Kingdom or to let go of fear.  But Jesus encourages us to prepare for the coming of the Kingdom or at least the vision:

     Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; like those who are waiting for those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them.

     The image is not as ordinary as it seems.  Although it starts with something we expect--the owner of the house has gone out to a wedding banquet, a great feast with all sorts of symbolic and community meanings, while the servants, aka slaves, are left at home.  The best slaves would wait up, expecting the master’s return, ready to let him in.  Nothing is so unusual in this set up.

     What is unusual is that Jesus says that the master will have those slaves sit down and eat, with the master serving them.  There has never been a time in the history of the world when that was normal behavior except for Jesus.  In the Kingdom, some unusual things happen.  The master serves his servants, gives himself as food, and gives his life for them.  The fearful are called to be generous and the generous, courageous.  The most doubtful and the most skeptical become the exemplars of faith.  God is faithful and remains faithful, even when we lose everything we cling to—finally, after all, we may have to lose our fears, our selfishness and our doubts.

     Grant us, Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things, but to love things heavenly; and even now, while we are placed among things that are passing away, to hold fast to those that shall endure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

     Amen.