1 Cor 2:1-12, Matthew 5:13-20
The Rev. David Hall
Anyone who has ever come to Church, listened to the scriptures, and received Communion – has likely asked themselves at some point, HOW DOES faith work?
We proclaim that WE BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty. But then we read in the Gospels – that no one has seen the Father except the Son – BUT we haven’t seen the Son with our eyes or heard His voice with our ears – and so we are told to have faith. If we ask in faith we will receive, but if we don’t get what we think we want does that mean we didn’t ask the right way. How much faith is ENOUGH? As a father prayed in the Gospel of Mark, “Lord I believe, help my unbelief!”
This morning, we hear part of the Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of Matthew. Jesus is teaching the crowds on a hillside by the Sea of Galilee, and they are asking pretty much the same questions we ask today. Does God really love us? How often must I forgive? How does Faith work?
These folks were used to trying to follow 613 commandments. You could not plant 2 different kinds of seeds in the same field. You could wear wool or linen but not at the same time. If a burglar broke into your house, you could hit him with a club or stab him with your sword – but only if it was dark outside. And on the sabbath – all the rules changed. It was not easy to be a good Jew.
So imagine when Jesus comes telling the crowds that God blesses you when you show mercy and those who are peaceful are likewise blessed. Jesus tells the people that he has come to fulfill the law and to show us the Way AND that WAY is to love God and love your neighbor. Do this and you will fulfill all 613 commandments.
Could it be any easier?
So why do we make it so hard?
Paul found the same problem in Corinth. In our reading from 1 Corinthians, Paul tells the people that neither LOFTY WORDS nor HUMAN WISDOM are needed when it comes to faith in God. He tells these early Christians,
“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the human heart conceived,
what God has prepared for those who love him”—
This is the same thing Jesus told the crowds gathered on the hillside in Galilee. When we love one another in Christ’s name – we are the salt of the earth, the light of the world, and great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
When we show mercy, when we love one another, and when we help someone in need – then the Grace of God fills our lives to overflowing and we want to share the Peace that passes all understanding. There is that unmistakable feeling that seems to glow in our hearts and it is almost indescribable – but we know beyond a shadow of doubt that God is here – all around us – and we can proclaim that FAITH WORKS!
It’s like the feeling I get at Camp McDowell. We have been there for the past 3 days for Diocesan Convention and every time I go I just know beyond all understanding that I believe in God and God loves me. It’s why we say that Camp McDowell is the way the world should be!
And it is that same feeling I get when I come here to Ascension. HERE I understand what we mean when we say that WE BELIEVE. Come, sit in the Church, listen with your heart to the voices of the SAINTS who have worshipped here for generations and know that God is here and WE CAN BELIEVE.
Watch our children come down the aisle on Sunday for Children’s Church. You will see that they are all smiling – BIG SMILES – you will too – and you will know that God is here and WE CAN BELIEVE.
You will find God at every outreach project – at Wednesday night tutoring – in the Vineyard Bookstore – and every time you hear the choir sing!
In my heart – not just my head – but in my heart it is at this time – in this place – and with all of you – that I know what it means to call myself a Christian and to proclaim that GOD is HERE and WE CAN BELIEVE. FAITH WORKS.
Jesus said to the crowd gathered that day on the side of the mountain that we are the SALT of the EARTH. We are the PEOPLE of GOD. PERHAPS there are times when we come and experience God’s presence here and proclaim that WE BELIEVE – but then less than 24 hours later it’s Monday morning and we find ourselves wondering, “WHAT HAPPENED?”
How do I carry this Peace that I find at Ascension with me Monday through Saturday? How do I keep my ASCENSION SUNDAY SALTINESS? Jesus answers the question in the very next verse, “DON’T HIDE THE LIGHT UNDER A BUSHEL BASKET!” Take what you find right here at Ascension with you all through the week and every day. Don’t hide that light within you. Live Ascension every day!
How do I do that? PRAY! You know how! You do it every Sunday right here. Use the prayer in the bulletin that we say every Sunday, ALMIGHTY GOD UNTO YOU ALL HEARTS ARE OPEN. It works for everything. Hum a hymn! Or simply sit quietly – think about worship here – and know that you are in the presence of God.
Next, LOVE! Go out there and love someone – anyone. Be nice to people. Smile. Send someone a card, call them on the phone, start your own personal prayer list. If you have put someone on the Church prayer list then I expect you to be praying for them every day as well.
And then, GIVE THANKS! If you do you will soon know that God is with you on Tuesday as well as Sunday. You will experience the Peace that passes all understanding and the very Grace of our Savior at home and work and Walmart just like you do at Ascension or Camp McDowell. You will feel SALTY and Your LIGHT will SHINE Monday through Saturday AND ON Sunday. Live Ascension! GOD IS HERE! and WE CAN BELIEVE.
Amen.