My sisters and brothers, let us rededicate ourselves to Christ and his church.
In our first reading we heard about God establishing the covenant with Abram and Sarai. They are childless and advanced in years; they have no heir. So this covenant is a bit outlandish.
A covenant is between two parties, each of whom have benefits and obligations; they enter into it mutually, and either party can terminate it. God’s covenant with Abram is different:
- God makes and establishes it
- most of the obligations are God’s and benefit Abram (making him “the ancestor of a multitude of nations”
- Abram has one obligation: to walk before God and be blameless
Abram’s change of name is significant: the gift of a new name signifies a new relationship, a new status, a new stage in life. It was believed that such a change altered one’s personality and fate. Sarai shares in God’s blessing, as shown by her change in name. She will be blessed with fertility; together they will produce nations.
In our second reading, Paul uses Abraham as and illustration of his point. Righteousness for Abraham was grounded in his “faith” not in any adherence to the Law. In Chapters 2 and 3, Paul has argued that through the gospel, it is faith that brings humans into harmony with God. Now he considers Abraham as an example. At the time, some rabbis argued that God’s blessings came to Abraham because he kept Mosaic Law (which, they said, he knew in advance – before Moses received the tablets on Mount Sinai.) Paul argues against this rabbinic lore: Abraham was blessed because he believed and had faith.
In today’s gospel story, Peter challenges Jesus about his predictions the spiritual leaders would reject him, he would suffer, be killed and then rise. Jesus makes the point that only those who will use themselves up for the gospel are worthy of life. It is one of the great ironies of our faith. Before this conversation, Jesus has asked his disciples: “... who do you say that I am?” Peter was the only one courageous/insightful enough to give the definitive answer: “You are the Messiah.” This sets up the story for Jesus to predict his Passion for the first time.
Jesus then describes true discipleship: first, a disciple must renounce self-centeredness and follow him. Those who are prepared to give even their lives (“take up their cross”) for his sake and for the sake of spreading the gospel will have eternal life. Again the irony, to get it you must be willing to lose it.
Dedication to God is important. Without it we can be blown on any wind of spiritualism that blows in our direction. It can sometimes require serious effort on our part. Abraham and Sarah are the Jewish archetypes of commitment and loyalty to God - Even in the face of being promised the absurd. They did not walk away. For the second generation of Christians, experience of being required to put faith in what was absurd. That Jesus died (as did most of the prophets before him) was a painful thought. Further more, to believe that he had risen from the dead was beyond reason. Yet, that is how Jesus’ closest followers experienced him and what they testified to as they spread the good news.
Its no secret that we as a Church, nationally and internationally, did find the past three years difficult. The discussions and at times strident debates over sexuality have not been easy on any of us. Some have chosen to keep the conversation going, to not let differences become hatful divisions. Others have chosen the path of spite and some have even run off. We at St. Stephen’s and the vast majority of our diocese have chosen to let Christ be in charge of our church, not issues. We work on sticking together for the sake of being a church and faith community committed to Christ. If we are committed enough to go along for the ride, the Holy Spirit will lead us through any and all challenges.
Today, let us use the Nicene Creed and Holy Communion we will share in a few moments to rededicate our selves to Christ.
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