The Responsibility Of Belief
Sermon
We Walk By Faith
Gospel Sermons For Sundays After Pentecost (Middle Third)
The time was the reconstruction period following the great American Civil War. The place was a small southern town. To that setting John Sommersby returned home, at least it seemed to be him. Everyone thought that Sommersby had died in the great war between the Union and the Confederacy; all the other soldiers had returned home quite some time ago. He appeared to be different, but then people said that such a war changed a person in more than mind and spirit. He recognized his friends, however, and they recognized him; the whole town celebrated.
Still, despite the celebration there was some doubt as to who this man was who had returned. The family dog did not recognize him, and pets never forget the scent of their masters. When Sommersby went to have a new pair of shoes made for himself, the cobbler noticed that the pattern of his foot, made before the war, no longer fit. It would be Mrs. Sommersby, however, who would be the critical judge. Was this rather gentle and kind man the same person who had gone to war six years earlier, a man who had many times been harsh and cruel to her?
The town to which Sommersby returned had been devastated by the war and the Union Army's plunder of the region. Economic ruin was a real possibility. A leader was necessary, one who could come forward, take charge, and bring the town to greatness once again. That person would be John Sommersby.
Sommersby had a plan to grow tobacco, an economically profitable commodity, but capital was necessary for the initial investment of buying the precious and expensive tobacco seed. Confederate money was no longer good, thus the people brought what valuables the Yankees had not taken -- rings, bracelets, a silver tea service -- and offered that they be sold. The people placed their trust in John Sommersby and were ready to take the responsibility that such trust would entail. Sommersby gathered the valuables and went to buy the seed. Although it took longer than expected, he returned with his precious cargo. The people planted the tobacco seed and nurtured it with great care to maturity. The yield was great and the price per unit of measure was even greater than Sommersby himself thought possible. The town and its people would survive.
John Sommersby would not be able to taste the sweetness of victory. Accused of wrongdoing during the war, he was tried and convicted. His punishment was to be hanged until dead. But was this man John Sommersby or someone who looked a great deal like him? The world would never know. The people in Sommersby's town had placed their trust in him, taken responsibility, and tasted victory. John Sommersby, or whoever this man was, would in turn be loyal to the end to those who trusted in him.
"Who do you say that I am?" The motion picture Sommersby provides a romantic response to this central question of today's Gospel passage. A pragmatic answer, however, is found in this pericope. Jesus poses the initial question, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" The response comes from the disciples, "Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." Jesus is not satisfied with this response and thus he probes deeper. "But who do you say that I am?" (Matthew 16:13b, 15a). Peter steps forward to answer. Peter is the one whom the Synoptic Gospels many times portray as the apostle who never quite gets it, who does not fully understand. Peter is the one who will later deny the Lord three times on the night before he died. But this is Peter's hour of glory, for he says, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God" (16:16).
Jesus is pleased with Peter's response. Peter will be the rock upon which the Church will be built. He will be given a privileged position. But with the position comes responsibility. Peter will be given the keys of the Kingdom. For Peter and for all those who have followed him in professing Jesus as Lord, the responsibility of pasturing the sheep, the people of God, is great. It is a responsibility which can never be taken lightly; we can never shirk our duty to be present to God's people.
Jesus' question hits us, as they say, "right between the eyes": "Who do you say that I am?" If Jesus was not important, if his message had no relevance for us, then we would have no responsibility; we would have no privileges either. If the mystical body, the community of faith which is the Church, had no significance for us, then again we would have no responsibility to one another or to God. But the fact is that there is not one person who bears the name Christian in this category, for whether it was many years ago or just yesterday we have all declared that Jesus is Lord. Our profession of faith requires us to be responsible people. The people in John Sommersby's town placed their trust in him and took their responsibility. Peter professed faith in Jesus and led the Church through those very difficult early years after the Lord's ascension. What about all of us?
Young people, what is your responsibility if you profess Jesus as Lord? Youth need to bring Jesus to the situation in which they find themselves. Bring Christ to the classroom; bring him to the athletic field. Bring Christ to your relationships with family and friends. Refuse to give in to the ideas of society which promote violence and other forms of behavior that lead away from Christ. Do your best to promote the message of Jesus -- one of peace, justice, and compassion.
Working people and parents, what is your responsibility? They say that the workplace is a jungle, and it probably is. The jungle promotes an un-Christian work ethic. Refuse to give in to such pressure, but rather find alternate ways of doing the job, methods that are in line with the teachings of Jesus. Moms and dads -- you have the most difficult task in the world. Do not take the responsibility of being Christian parents lightly. Be parents as Christ would have you be. Jesus gathered the children around him; he asked us to have the attitude of children.
People whose children are grown, those who are retired -- what is your responsibility? Possibly the greatest contribution you can make is to use wisely the extra time that you might have. Retired people can use their time, expertise, and resources for the betterment of all, as a means of exercising their Christian responsibility.
Jesus' question continues to stand before us, "Who do you say that I am?" We have been baptized in the waters of salvation and have feasted at the Table of the Lord. In other words, we have all professed that Jesus is Lord. That profession of faith gives us the privilege of being children of God; it also asks something of us. Let us never be sidetracked from this most important of all responsibilities. Let us also remember that we do not walk the Christian road alone. We have the one person we need, for as Jesus says at the end of Saint Matthew's Gospel, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to carry out everything I have commanded you. And know that I am with you always until the end of the world!" (28:19-20).
Still, despite the celebration there was some doubt as to who this man was who had returned. The family dog did not recognize him, and pets never forget the scent of their masters. When Sommersby went to have a new pair of shoes made for himself, the cobbler noticed that the pattern of his foot, made before the war, no longer fit. It would be Mrs. Sommersby, however, who would be the critical judge. Was this rather gentle and kind man the same person who had gone to war six years earlier, a man who had many times been harsh and cruel to her?
The town to which Sommersby returned had been devastated by the war and the Union Army's plunder of the region. Economic ruin was a real possibility. A leader was necessary, one who could come forward, take charge, and bring the town to greatness once again. That person would be John Sommersby.
Sommersby had a plan to grow tobacco, an economically profitable commodity, but capital was necessary for the initial investment of buying the precious and expensive tobacco seed. Confederate money was no longer good, thus the people brought what valuables the Yankees had not taken -- rings, bracelets, a silver tea service -- and offered that they be sold. The people placed their trust in John Sommersby and were ready to take the responsibility that such trust would entail. Sommersby gathered the valuables and went to buy the seed. Although it took longer than expected, he returned with his precious cargo. The people planted the tobacco seed and nurtured it with great care to maturity. The yield was great and the price per unit of measure was even greater than Sommersby himself thought possible. The town and its people would survive.
John Sommersby would not be able to taste the sweetness of victory. Accused of wrongdoing during the war, he was tried and convicted. His punishment was to be hanged until dead. But was this man John Sommersby or someone who looked a great deal like him? The world would never know. The people in Sommersby's town had placed their trust in him, taken responsibility, and tasted victory. John Sommersby, or whoever this man was, would in turn be loyal to the end to those who trusted in him.
"Who do you say that I am?" The motion picture Sommersby provides a romantic response to this central question of today's Gospel passage. A pragmatic answer, however, is found in this pericope. Jesus poses the initial question, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" The response comes from the disciples, "Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." Jesus is not satisfied with this response and thus he probes deeper. "But who do you say that I am?" (Matthew 16:13b, 15a). Peter steps forward to answer. Peter is the one whom the Synoptic Gospels many times portray as the apostle who never quite gets it, who does not fully understand. Peter is the one who will later deny the Lord three times on the night before he died. But this is Peter's hour of glory, for he says, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God" (16:16).
Jesus is pleased with Peter's response. Peter will be the rock upon which the Church will be built. He will be given a privileged position. But with the position comes responsibility. Peter will be given the keys of the Kingdom. For Peter and for all those who have followed him in professing Jesus as Lord, the responsibility of pasturing the sheep, the people of God, is great. It is a responsibility which can never be taken lightly; we can never shirk our duty to be present to God's people.
Jesus' question hits us, as they say, "right between the eyes": "Who do you say that I am?" If Jesus was not important, if his message had no relevance for us, then we would have no responsibility; we would have no privileges either. If the mystical body, the community of faith which is the Church, had no significance for us, then again we would have no responsibility to one another or to God. But the fact is that there is not one person who bears the name Christian in this category, for whether it was many years ago or just yesterday we have all declared that Jesus is Lord. Our profession of faith requires us to be responsible people. The people in John Sommersby's town placed their trust in him and took their responsibility. Peter professed faith in Jesus and led the Church through those very difficult early years after the Lord's ascension. What about all of us?
Young people, what is your responsibility if you profess Jesus as Lord? Youth need to bring Jesus to the situation in which they find themselves. Bring Christ to the classroom; bring him to the athletic field. Bring Christ to your relationships with family and friends. Refuse to give in to the ideas of society which promote violence and other forms of behavior that lead away from Christ. Do your best to promote the message of Jesus -- one of peace, justice, and compassion.
Working people and parents, what is your responsibility? They say that the workplace is a jungle, and it probably is. The jungle promotes an un-Christian work ethic. Refuse to give in to such pressure, but rather find alternate ways of doing the job, methods that are in line with the teachings of Jesus. Moms and dads -- you have the most difficult task in the world. Do not take the responsibility of being Christian parents lightly. Be parents as Christ would have you be. Jesus gathered the children around him; he asked us to have the attitude of children.
People whose children are grown, those who are retired -- what is your responsibility? Possibly the greatest contribution you can make is to use wisely the extra time that you might have. Retired people can use their time, expertise, and resources for the betterment of all, as a means of exercising their Christian responsibility.
Jesus' question continues to stand before us, "Who do you say that I am?" We have been baptized in the waters of salvation and have feasted at the Table of the Lord. In other words, we have all professed that Jesus is Lord. That profession of faith gives us the privilege of being children of God; it also asks something of us. Let us never be sidetracked from this most important of all responsibilities. Let us also remember that we do not walk the Christian road alone. We have the one person we need, for as Jesus says at the end of Saint Matthew's Gospel, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to carry out everything I have commanded you. And know that I am with you always until the end of the world!" (28:19-20).
