Hosea 5:15-6:6; Psalm 50 7-15; Romans 4:13-25; Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26
Mr. Chris Paul, Seminarian
You may not think of sunsets when we talk about faith, but for me, they go hand in hand. Several years ago, I became aware of how God would use sunsets to strengthen my faith. I remember being at work one day when I noticed that I had several missed calls and messages from my sister. My father had been in the hospital for a couple of days, and When I finally got a hold of her, I discovered things had deteriorated, and the doctors were not very hopeful about his prognosis. So, I began making several phone calls trying to arrange flights, pack clothes, let my boss know I would not be in to work that week, and try to make it to the hospital to see him which was several states away. I made the flights in time, but with the layovers, it was still going to be several hours before I would get to see him, so whenever the flight attendants told us we could use our phones, I would check for any updates, but there weren’t any, so I figured no news was good. When we landed at the airport of our final destination, I was anxious to get off the plane and get to the hospital, and at that moment, I looked out the window of the plane and noticed the most beautiful sunset I had ever seen. At that moment, an overwhelming sense of calm and peace came over me. I knew he had died, but I also remembered that this same feeling of peace and calm had come over me once before. It was when my grandmother died years before, and there was another beautiful sunset that evening.
I felt as if those sunsets, at those very instances in time, were messages to me from God, assuring me that he was taking care of them and all would be well. God’s promises can only be fulfilled through faith. And We heard faith mentioned a couple of times throughout our readings today, from Paul talking to the Romans about the faith of Abraham to Matthew when Jesus says to the woman that her faith has already healed her. Sometimes, we may fall short of faith, but God steps in because God remains faithful to us even if our faith diminishes. In dark times, when everything seems to be working against us, and the winds seem to be pushing us away, that is when our faith can help us push back against those winds that are driving us away from God. Through prayer, community time together, worship, and communion, we grow and nourish our faith so that we have a strong foundation to lean on during tough times.
Our faith can help build communities and bring people together. Take a moment and think about a time in your life, career, or anything when you had to rely on your faith and stand up for something or someone you believed in, even if the consequences of that stance may have undesirable outcomes. Now, I want to think about that time and wonder if you would react similarly if you knew your faith could result in death. Would you still respond the same way?
You may have never heard of The Martyrs of Uganda; many people have yet to. In 1886, 32 men in Uganda willingly walked to their death for their refusal to renounce Christianity and their belief and faith in God. At that time, Christianity was not widely preached in Uganda and was only in small isolated circles. The King did not like Christianity because people were worshiping God instead of the King, so the king wanted to wipe out Christianity from the land. These 32 men, standing firm in their belief in the word of God and having faith that they were doing the right thing, showed what Christianity is all about as they walked to their deaths, singing hymns and praying for their enemies. They kept their faith and prayed for their enemies, even knowing their fate. This sounds familiar to what Jesus did as he knowingly gave his life for us and prayed for those who condemned him to death. The people of the land who witnessed this event were so moved that they wanted to learn more about who this God was and about Christianity. So, In trying to stamp out Christianity and the love of the one true God, the king caused it to flourish, spreading throughout Uganda and beyond. It is important for us to learn about these martyrs because they stand as an example of those before us who stood fast in their faith, answered the call to follow Jesus Christ, even to death, and helped spread Christianity with their actions.
As Christians, our faith calls us to follow, building our relationship with God and others while standing up for what we know is right and fighting against injustices. Every day we make decisions about our call to follow God. Some decisions are unconscious or automatic, while others require little thought, but the choice to follow Christ and live a life of love is ours. We are called to love our God and neighbor, and how better can we do that than through our actions? These martyrs showed their faith in God by willfully following and, by doing so, giving their lives because they were unwilling to give up their belief in God. No, I am not asking you to go out and walk into a fire pit, but maybe pay more attention to your actions. Because it is Through faith and our actions that we can begin to knit and bind together a nation built in love and trust, seeking Christ in each person we meet. Part of these actions are listening for that call from Jesus to get up and follow him. That takes a lot of courage, and the path may be bumpy. And this call from Jesus to follow me is not a question. It is more of a command. He doesn’t ask Matthew, “Do you want to follow me?”. No, he says, “Follow me,” to which Matthew also asks no questions, drops what he is doing, and follows—giving up the life that he had. Matthew is a disciple now, but he was a tax collector who was Despised and hated, known to be corrupt and committed to the imperial system. And just as Jesus chose Matthew along with all of his disciples. He also freely chooses us as well. Jesus calls society’s outsiders to be insiders by sitting with them and touching them. Look at who Jesus routinely had fellowship with. The tax collector and sinners. Those who were on the margins and even hated by society. Jesus sits at the table with the marginalized, the hated, and the outcasts, which is a direct indictment against the status quo of the time and demonstrates that no one is beyond God’s steadfast love and mercy. Jesus risks being marginalized by society for resurrection. Jesus risked his reputation by his actions. Like a doctor who would not refuse to help someone in medical need, Jesus’s ministry is marked by a compassionate heart for all. No matter your circumstance, the healing Jesus provides and the acceptance Jesus offers are available to all in society. When we welcome others to join us, those outside our norms, we celebrate new gifts, new knowledge, and new faithfulness that each person brings. We begin to grow into the beloved community. And it is in this Beloved Community that we begin to see change, and what falls away is judgment, allowing us to open our hearts and minds to see how God is working in their lives and wonder anew about how God might be working in our own life. I know my faith was challenged during the “Great Pause,” but I still found comfort, peace, and even strength in sunsets during that time. Little reminders that God is still with me, working on my behalf.
I pray you all notice those little signs from God that help strengthen your faith and continue your call to Follow.