Proclaiming Jesus Christ
Sermon
Sermons on the Second Readings
Series II, Cycle B
It is not easy to promote someone else. Human nature rises up against it. If we believe in our self-worth and capabilities, why should we try to sell someone else? Yes, and why should we seek to gain acceptance of a religious leader, who will eventually cause us trouble. For example, Jesus for some was not only an irritant; he was an anathema as well.
As usual, Saint Paul is not much interested in whether you like or accept him as a person. His driving mission is to proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord. He and his colleagues were slaves for the sake of Jesus. Some would call him very brave and courageous. Others would see him as a man who was ignorant -- even stupid.
Unbelievers are blinded by the machinations and subtleties of this world. The light of the gospel is hidden. Paul is called to a most difficult task. He must be an agent for light to shine out of darkness. In doing so, one and only one person is to stand out. His name is Jesus Christ. Probably no one envied his assignment!
There was total commitment. If death came, so be it. For him it would be approaching a welcome exit to spend eternity with the Father's Son. Are such people around and visible today? The answer to that is up to you.
Focus
Our real mission is to make known the Christ.
Body
1. We are to rise above personal egotism for Christ's sake.
Church history tells many opportunities for conversion have been lost because a religious leader refused to enable Christ to become the center of things. He/she tragically could not give up the need to be number one. It is as though they refuse to get out from under the spotlight because that would dim their role as the one solely responsible for converting others. For those who are natural-born achievers, who crave recognition, the casualty may be quite high. Nevertheless we are not intelligent enough to know why God calls some specifically to win others, who really would rather not have the job!
Actually, whether we are low-key or quite the reverse our mission is the same. Light must shine out of darkness and we are the agents to make this happen. Our salesmanship only becomes truly successful as we sell someone other than ourselves. The whole precious program is out of line for those determined to make a name for themselves apart from the Master. Some days, even those who have accepted the slave status of servanthood discover themselves to be in revolt. It is so against our natural inclinations the best disciples struggle to be at peace with their real mission. Where you and I find ourselves is crucial to our continuing in the faith and being fruitful in spreading the light to others.
The temptation is not to tell the old, old story of Jesus and his love but to tell our story in an effort to secure status. Recall our Lord's temptations in the desert. Pastors -- in particular -- are vulnerable. A human personality, rich in goodness, has a natural attraction. It is a little like the layperson who talks about wanting to go and hear so and so preach. That sounds so innocent and complimentary, until we note the preacher seems to be in first place and worshiping God in second place or lower. Christ is intended to be proclaimed, not the best and most likable preacher in a nearby city. Is that a bit of a stretch? My experience says popular preachers are to be on guard. The proclamation of our Savior and Lord is the one and only top priority.
The really big battles pastors face are almost always internal. The wars are sometimes fierce, as we labor to keep ourselves out of the limelight. The shrewdness of Satan, let's face it, outwits us and there we are with our names in bold letters, just above "Proclaiming the Christ!" It's funny and yet it isn't because so much is at stake. Pastors cannot -- strictly speaking -- win others to themselves, establishing a following, and expect to do the will of God. We are instruments and means. We are not the ends of much of anything because of a simple fact: we are mortal, being created and not the creator. To be sure, for those of us who have been in ministry this is common ground. Yet, how quickly we can yield to the temptation of placing ourselves first. We are called to be on guard.
2. We are to take slave status that provides a clear image of the Christ.
How can cherished human beings in the sight of God see, unless we are obedient and work to remove dangerous and even deadly cataracts? Spiritual eyesight, when it is faulty, gives birth to distortions that lead others in wrong directions. Not only do they arrive at dead ends, they take others with them. Correctives are amazing in some cases. Why? Because Christians are willing to walk the second mile in helping others see better, hopefully a spiritual 20/20! As we cooperate with the Holy Spirit, we recognize the strength given to us by the one who has all the strength there ever was, is, and shall be. Our full cooperation can give truly amazing results.
Slavery can take on a purely negative connotation. That must never happen under the lordship of our Savior and Lord! It is noteworthy some thinkers have insisted we will be a slave of someone or something. Frequently it is our self-will and righteousness. For others it may be full commitment to a political, economic, or social ideology. Some intellectuals throughout recorded history have led countless people in directions far from the salvation of God's Son. Witness the catastrophic effects of communism that often espoused atheism. Some started off in the right direction, only to depart and relegate the Christian religion to a miscellaneous place in life. Obviously, the kingdom of God they proclaimed was not at all like that of our Christ. Praise God, you and I have a blessed slavery.
In a profound sense, we are also slaves for others. Just like our Good Shepherd, we are to lay down our lives for lost sheep. Perhaps we have not seen that much at work in our lifetimes. It is far more connected with the ancient church and those martyred witnesses that have been in all ages, including the present. In the foreign mission fields there are true stories that are heartbreaking. Even an elementary understanding of human rights is cast aside. The killing and prior suffering are almost beyond comprehension. How can this happen in a world that is supposed to be civilized? Our answer is not difficult. Whenever we get totally serious about Jesus Christ in some cultures all hell breaks loose!
Saint Paul was such a strange fellow. He found full meaning to his life and death in the blessedness of Christlike slavery! His mission, painfully human as it was, never seemed to deviate from making Christ known. While there are others in the gallery of the saints who may have a more prominent place, we may want to look carefully. Some might even compare him to a good terrorist ready, willing, and able to be blown up in order to remove barriers that get in the way of receiving Christ. Perhaps that moves beyond our best sensitivities, but think about it a while. To be sure it is suicidal, but martyrdom has always been seen in some people's eyes as unneeded and a way to die bravely because the person did not want to go on living. Problematic? Yes, but it may be an avenue of opening dialogue with radical Muslims.
3. We are to lose ourselves in Christ for his cause.
When we begin to lose ourselves in anything, we tend to fight back. That's true eventually even in the jobs we love or the movement we are convinced is right, true, and just. Regardless of the great love our Savior bestows upon us, there is fear and apprehension of losing ourselves. The scriptures tell us that to lose ourselves for the purpose of finding ourselves is imperative. Still, our tendency is to revolt and I suspect -- if the truth were known -- that is exactly what happens in most cases. Of course, the saints in their words and actions make abundantly clear that the most completely powerful way to proclaim Christ is by being absorbed by his love that knows no bounds.
When we examine our lives with full honesty, we probably make a discovery that brings a sense of failure. We want Christ as Savior and Lord with all our hearts, minds, and souls but are unable or mostly unwilling to move beyond that. The way things are is just fine. Others note our exemplary lives and we feel fulfilled. When we are making an obvious contribution on behalf of Christ and the church, why grow anymore? Some even say that if it isn't broke, why fix it? Common sense and pride say to leave well enough alone. So, our proclamation rates above the average in our biased inspections. When I already have all of this, why should I want more? The apostle says it isn't enough, until our proclamation is fully unfettered.
Are we moving along lines that are not all that important? No. Why? Because the purpose is to proclaim Jesus Christ and that is only supremely done by losing ourselves in him. Is there room for compromise? Of course and there always is. You and I may very well choose that broad pathway like countless others. If we do, let's admit to ourselves what we have done and not claim the opportunity was never presented. Full commitment and spiritual success go hand-in-hand. Being lost in Christ is full commitment. In college we used to joke about being a "B" or "C" student and not to take the trouble of striving for an "A." Who needs the increased dedication and hard work? Employers are not looking for intellectuals who have no practical judgment, so let's play it safe. Just who are we attempting to fool?
The Christian is to be in a growth pattern all of his/her life. Our real mission of making Christ known can be perfected, until the day the death angel greets us. While we know this is true, there is invariably the temptation to avoid and evade by methods both subtle and not so subtle. The aim is never a better place in heaven. However, some of us who strive to be fully in Christ are accused of that very thing. We can even be described as holier-than-thou disciples who want to outdo others and wear a more expensive crown! They are annoyed by us and sometimes will deliberately stay away from us. This happens not only among laity but among the ordained clergy as well. Sometimes the negative politics of the clergy can be demonic, as pastors are pushed into patterns which do not proclaim Jesus Christ.
4. We are to give thanks for the part we can play.
Thanksgiving is built into Saint Paul's writings, perhaps like no other's in Holy Scripture. Is there ever a place in our lives with Christ that giving thanks is unneeded or perhaps out of order? For me that answer is a firm, "No." To live in Christ, proclaiming him with every facet of our being, means if everything has not turned out right, it ultimately will. The saints have maintained and lived by this, regardless of the situations in which they found themselves. Greatness glistens before our eyes, as Christ is proclaimed, in ways that are frequently miraculous and beyond human understanding. Sorry to say, in our often partially dedicated lives, we are thankful when most things are going right for us!
The corpus of Pauline writing shows a man so thankful that some probably inquired about his sanity. How can anyone go through what he did and continually give thanks just to be a vessel for promoting someone else? The normal attitude is to insist that if we are going to do the hard work and suffering, then we are going to get the credit. After all, isn't that the only really fair way to handle one's life? Well, it does certainly sound equitable for all concerned, that is, until we seriously come to terms with our Savior and Lord. He wants all of us -- today, tomorrow, and forever! He calls us to come and die to ourselves that the Lord may be fully proclaimed through our lives. It is asking a lot and only a little because to be held in his embrace is the apex of happiness.
For the Christian, every minute of every day ought to be filled with thanksgiving. The chief reason is the promise God will never leave us or forsake us. International figures with military power and so much money they can't count it find themselves excluded from such security. There is a value system here that confounds the world and always has. Indeed, how can anyone lose himself and find himself? The only sense it makes to the world is the failure to actualize oneself into his/her own authority figure that gains the respect of secular society. If one gets lost and loses control of life, what is left but a series of failed attempts to be somebody -- as defined by worldly values? No wonder we people who totally commit ourselves to Christ appear to be a bunch of idiots!
Nothing quite paves and prepares the way for accepting Christ as an unbridled attitude of gratitude. Aren't the people in your church, who really inspire and motivate you, filled with gratitude? To be one of spiritual depth and ungrateful is a contradiction. Of the thousands of parishioners I have known over many years -- to my mind -- there are no exceptions. Disciples of Christ are naturally and spontaneously thankful. Take another look at your church and tell me what you find. Okay, take a careful not a cursory look! All days are for thanksgiving, especially in the life of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church. The knowledge of the glory of God in the face of our redeemer is also our glory as our faces shine like stars in a troubled universe. Brothers and sisters we have a privileged place!
Summary And Conclusion
Every person in life has a mission, spoken or unspoken. It is doubtful some even recognize it, until their later years. Nevertheless, there it is and for a few more than one mission makes up their lives, depending on their age and conditions. As disciples of Jesus Christ we know where we stand. The questions are all answered about this matter. Day in and day out we proclaim him. It is part of the air we breathe. In joys and sorrows, failures and successes, thanksgivings prevail as we shout or whisper his name. It becomes our chief reason for being and communicates to others how we see our lives and deaths. Our driving duty is to let light shine out of darkness.
Praises be to God who comes to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, doubts are settled and we are grateful for the challenge we have accepted. Friends, if you have delayed in accepting the only mission that ultimately counts, please reconsider. If need be, retrace your steps and try to discover where you refused to accept this awesome adventure. Review, as long as you need to, your life. Then come to terms with the invitation that is still being given. My experience is the dear Lord comes to us with a holy pressure, uncomfortable though it be which is always for our benefit. So, as all prophets and evangelists have persistently declared: today is the day of salvation. Indeed, today is just right -- if you have not done so -- to promise the Father all the rest of your days will be spent proclaiming Jesus Christ, as Savior and Lord. We Christians are so fortunate. In the long run we are never losers!
As usual, Saint Paul is not much interested in whether you like or accept him as a person. His driving mission is to proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord. He and his colleagues were slaves for the sake of Jesus. Some would call him very brave and courageous. Others would see him as a man who was ignorant -- even stupid.
Unbelievers are blinded by the machinations and subtleties of this world. The light of the gospel is hidden. Paul is called to a most difficult task. He must be an agent for light to shine out of darkness. In doing so, one and only one person is to stand out. His name is Jesus Christ. Probably no one envied his assignment!
There was total commitment. If death came, so be it. For him it would be approaching a welcome exit to spend eternity with the Father's Son. Are such people around and visible today? The answer to that is up to you.
Focus
Our real mission is to make known the Christ.
Body
1. We are to rise above personal egotism for Christ's sake.
Church history tells many opportunities for conversion have been lost because a religious leader refused to enable Christ to become the center of things. He/she tragically could not give up the need to be number one. It is as though they refuse to get out from under the spotlight because that would dim their role as the one solely responsible for converting others. For those who are natural-born achievers, who crave recognition, the casualty may be quite high. Nevertheless we are not intelligent enough to know why God calls some specifically to win others, who really would rather not have the job!
Actually, whether we are low-key or quite the reverse our mission is the same. Light must shine out of darkness and we are the agents to make this happen. Our salesmanship only becomes truly successful as we sell someone other than ourselves. The whole precious program is out of line for those determined to make a name for themselves apart from the Master. Some days, even those who have accepted the slave status of servanthood discover themselves to be in revolt. It is so against our natural inclinations the best disciples struggle to be at peace with their real mission. Where you and I find ourselves is crucial to our continuing in the faith and being fruitful in spreading the light to others.
The temptation is not to tell the old, old story of Jesus and his love but to tell our story in an effort to secure status. Recall our Lord's temptations in the desert. Pastors -- in particular -- are vulnerable. A human personality, rich in goodness, has a natural attraction. It is a little like the layperson who talks about wanting to go and hear so and so preach. That sounds so innocent and complimentary, until we note the preacher seems to be in first place and worshiping God in second place or lower. Christ is intended to be proclaimed, not the best and most likable preacher in a nearby city. Is that a bit of a stretch? My experience says popular preachers are to be on guard. The proclamation of our Savior and Lord is the one and only top priority.
The really big battles pastors face are almost always internal. The wars are sometimes fierce, as we labor to keep ourselves out of the limelight. The shrewdness of Satan, let's face it, outwits us and there we are with our names in bold letters, just above "Proclaiming the Christ!" It's funny and yet it isn't because so much is at stake. Pastors cannot -- strictly speaking -- win others to themselves, establishing a following, and expect to do the will of God. We are instruments and means. We are not the ends of much of anything because of a simple fact: we are mortal, being created and not the creator. To be sure, for those of us who have been in ministry this is common ground. Yet, how quickly we can yield to the temptation of placing ourselves first. We are called to be on guard.
2. We are to take slave status that provides a clear image of the Christ.
How can cherished human beings in the sight of God see, unless we are obedient and work to remove dangerous and even deadly cataracts? Spiritual eyesight, when it is faulty, gives birth to distortions that lead others in wrong directions. Not only do they arrive at dead ends, they take others with them. Correctives are amazing in some cases. Why? Because Christians are willing to walk the second mile in helping others see better, hopefully a spiritual 20/20! As we cooperate with the Holy Spirit, we recognize the strength given to us by the one who has all the strength there ever was, is, and shall be. Our full cooperation can give truly amazing results.
Slavery can take on a purely negative connotation. That must never happen under the lordship of our Savior and Lord! It is noteworthy some thinkers have insisted we will be a slave of someone or something. Frequently it is our self-will and righteousness. For others it may be full commitment to a political, economic, or social ideology. Some intellectuals throughout recorded history have led countless people in directions far from the salvation of God's Son. Witness the catastrophic effects of communism that often espoused atheism. Some started off in the right direction, only to depart and relegate the Christian religion to a miscellaneous place in life. Obviously, the kingdom of God they proclaimed was not at all like that of our Christ. Praise God, you and I have a blessed slavery.
In a profound sense, we are also slaves for others. Just like our Good Shepherd, we are to lay down our lives for lost sheep. Perhaps we have not seen that much at work in our lifetimes. It is far more connected with the ancient church and those martyred witnesses that have been in all ages, including the present. In the foreign mission fields there are true stories that are heartbreaking. Even an elementary understanding of human rights is cast aside. The killing and prior suffering are almost beyond comprehension. How can this happen in a world that is supposed to be civilized? Our answer is not difficult. Whenever we get totally serious about Jesus Christ in some cultures all hell breaks loose!
Saint Paul was such a strange fellow. He found full meaning to his life and death in the blessedness of Christlike slavery! His mission, painfully human as it was, never seemed to deviate from making Christ known. While there are others in the gallery of the saints who may have a more prominent place, we may want to look carefully. Some might even compare him to a good terrorist ready, willing, and able to be blown up in order to remove barriers that get in the way of receiving Christ. Perhaps that moves beyond our best sensitivities, but think about it a while. To be sure it is suicidal, but martyrdom has always been seen in some people's eyes as unneeded and a way to die bravely because the person did not want to go on living. Problematic? Yes, but it may be an avenue of opening dialogue with radical Muslims.
3. We are to lose ourselves in Christ for his cause.
When we begin to lose ourselves in anything, we tend to fight back. That's true eventually even in the jobs we love or the movement we are convinced is right, true, and just. Regardless of the great love our Savior bestows upon us, there is fear and apprehension of losing ourselves. The scriptures tell us that to lose ourselves for the purpose of finding ourselves is imperative. Still, our tendency is to revolt and I suspect -- if the truth were known -- that is exactly what happens in most cases. Of course, the saints in their words and actions make abundantly clear that the most completely powerful way to proclaim Christ is by being absorbed by his love that knows no bounds.
When we examine our lives with full honesty, we probably make a discovery that brings a sense of failure. We want Christ as Savior and Lord with all our hearts, minds, and souls but are unable or mostly unwilling to move beyond that. The way things are is just fine. Others note our exemplary lives and we feel fulfilled. When we are making an obvious contribution on behalf of Christ and the church, why grow anymore? Some even say that if it isn't broke, why fix it? Common sense and pride say to leave well enough alone. So, our proclamation rates above the average in our biased inspections. When I already have all of this, why should I want more? The apostle says it isn't enough, until our proclamation is fully unfettered.
Are we moving along lines that are not all that important? No. Why? Because the purpose is to proclaim Jesus Christ and that is only supremely done by losing ourselves in him. Is there room for compromise? Of course and there always is. You and I may very well choose that broad pathway like countless others. If we do, let's admit to ourselves what we have done and not claim the opportunity was never presented. Full commitment and spiritual success go hand-in-hand. Being lost in Christ is full commitment. In college we used to joke about being a "B" or "C" student and not to take the trouble of striving for an "A." Who needs the increased dedication and hard work? Employers are not looking for intellectuals who have no practical judgment, so let's play it safe. Just who are we attempting to fool?
The Christian is to be in a growth pattern all of his/her life. Our real mission of making Christ known can be perfected, until the day the death angel greets us. While we know this is true, there is invariably the temptation to avoid and evade by methods both subtle and not so subtle. The aim is never a better place in heaven. However, some of us who strive to be fully in Christ are accused of that very thing. We can even be described as holier-than-thou disciples who want to outdo others and wear a more expensive crown! They are annoyed by us and sometimes will deliberately stay away from us. This happens not only among laity but among the ordained clergy as well. Sometimes the negative politics of the clergy can be demonic, as pastors are pushed into patterns which do not proclaim Jesus Christ.
4. We are to give thanks for the part we can play.
Thanksgiving is built into Saint Paul's writings, perhaps like no other's in Holy Scripture. Is there ever a place in our lives with Christ that giving thanks is unneeded or perhaps out of order? For me that answer is a firm, "No." To live in Christ, proclaiming him with every facet of our being, means if everything has not turned out right, it ultimately will. The saints have maintained and lived by this, regardless of the situations in which they found themselves. Greatness glistens before our eyes, as Christ is proclaimed, in ways that are frequently miraculous and beyond human understanding. Sorry to say, in our often partially dedicated lives, we are thankful when most things are going right for us!
The corpus of Pauline writing shows a man so thankful that some probably inquired about his sanity. How can anyone go through what he did and continually give thanks just to be a vessel for promoting someone else? The normal attitude is to insist that if we are going to do the hard work and suffering, then we are going to get the credit. After all, isn't that the only really fair way to handle one's life? Well, it does certainly sound equitable for all concerned, that is, until we seriously come to terms with our Savior and Lord. He wants all of us -- today, tomorrow, and forever! He calls us to come and die to ourselves that the Lord may be fully proclaimed through our lives. It is asking a lot and only a little because to be held in his embrace is the apex of happiness.
For the Christian, every minute of every day ought to be filled with thanksgiving. The chief reason is the promise God will never leave us or forsake us. International figures with military power and so much money they can't count it find themselves excluded from such security. There is a value system here that confounds the world and always has. Indeed, how can anyone lose himself and find himself? The only sense it makes to the world is the failure to actualize oneself into his/her own authority figure that gains the respect of secular society. If one gets lost and loses control of life, what is left but a series of failed attempts to be somebody -- as defined by worldly values? No wonder we people who totally commit ourselves to Christ appear to be a bunch of idiots!
Nothing quite paves and prepares the way for accepting Christ as an unbridled attitude of gratitude. Aren't the people in your church, who really inspire and motivate you, filled with gratitude? To be one of spiritual depth and ungrateful is a contradiction. Of the thousands of parishioners I have known over many years -- to my mind -- there are no exceptions. Disciples of Christ are naturally and spontaneously thankful. Take another look at your church and tell me what you find. Okay, take a careful not a cursory look! All days are for thanksgiving, especially in the life of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church. The knowledge of the glory of God in the face of our redeemer is also our glory as our faces shine like stars in a troubled universe. Brothers and sisters we have a privileged place!
Summary And Conclusion
Every person in life has a mission, spoken or unspoken. It is doubtful some even recognize it, until their later years. Nevertheless, there it is and for a few more than one mission makes up their lives, depending on their age and conditions. As disciples of Jesus Christ we know where we stand. The questions are all answered about this matter. Day in and day out we proclaim him. It is part of the air we breathe. In joys and sorrows, failures and successes, thanksgivings prevail as we shout or whisper his name. It becomes our chief reason for being and communicates to others how we see our lives and deaths. Our driving duty is to let light shine out of darkness.
Praises be to God who comes to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, doubts are settled and we are grateful for the challenge we have accepted. Friends, if you have delayed in accepting the only mission that ultimately counts, please reconsider. If need be, retrace your steps and try to discover where you refused to accept this awesome adventure. Review, as long as you need to, your life. Then come to terms with the invitation that is still being given. My experience is the dear Lord comes to us with a holy pressure, uncomfortable though it be which is always for our benefit. So, as all prophets and evangelists have persistently declared: today is the day of salvation. Indeed, today is just right -- if you have not done so -- to promise the Father all the rest of your days will be spent proclaiming Jesus Christ, as Savior and Lord. We Christians are so fortunate. In the long run we are never losers!
