Celebrate

Reverend Philip Stringer

Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16

Luke 12:32-40

LET US PRAY: We ask, O Lord, that the words which we hear this morning, and the worship which we offer, may bear fruit in our hearts, and be acceptable in your sight, our strength and our redeemer. AMEN

Do you know what it’s like to prepare for company to come -- or a family member you haven’t seen in a while? Our daughter, Rachel lives about an hour away in Hillsborough. She’s coming to visit later in the week and will probably stay the night — but we’re already ready for her to come. The anticipation is beginning to creep into our other thoughts:

Doing the dishes

Cleaning the house

Making plans -- what will we do while she’s here?

Even talking to people -- they’ll say, “How are you?” I’ll say, “Fine.

Rachel is coming home in about a week!”

When you’re excited about something, you start celebrating it, even before it happens.

Today, our gospel reading is all about celebrating right now. “Have no fear, little flock, for it is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom of God.” That is cause for celebration, because it’s a statement about what is coming -- but it is also a statement about right now.

Our gospel reading last week began a section of teaching by Jesus about truth and honesty in living. There were two brothers arguing over the family inheritance, and Jesus told a parable about a rich man who was a fool. He was a fool because he didn’t remember that the greatest gift in life isn’t anything material. The greatest gift is that we receive life as a gift of God’s love -- a gift given and filled with gifts so that we may have a way of expressing love to each other and to God.

“But watch out,” Jesus said. “Greed will still the joy of life from you.”

Today’s gospel reading is a continuation of the same section, where Jesus is speaking to his disciples within a large crowd of people.

Greed is only one manifestation of sin. But all sin is rooted in a desire to control one’s life and destiny. Control and fear go together. Control is an illusion, although you can believe it for a while . . .

Fear is the same way. It will not last -- it can’t prevail -- although you can believe it for a while . . .

Last week I spoke about the journey of discovery that we are on throughout our lives. Every day we continue to discover more about ourselves, and more about God. Perhaps what is at stake in that journey is what causes people the most fear -- the answer to the question: “Do I matter? Am I good? Do I deserve to be loved?”

It was Mother Theresa who noted, “One of the greatest diseases is to be nobody to anyone.” And in this world of sin, that is a message that we hear repeatedly. We all know what it is like -- Children fear being the last one picked.

Young adults fear not living up to their parents’ expectations. Then they fear choosing the wrong career. We know what it is like to live under the scrutinizing eyes of neighbors -- colleagues.

The elderly fear that nobody will be interested to know them -- and nobody will care when they are ill or need help.

All anyone has to do is look at advertising to know what we are afraid of. We are afraid of not being pretty enough or thin enough or rich enough or smart enough to matter in this world.

Perhaps ultimately it is the fear -- the notion -- that God thinks this way, too. And perhaps we are nobody to God, either. In such a world of fear, if we are to survive, we must somehow convince God that we ARE somebody; that we ARE lovable.

But Jesus tells his disciples something new about God: “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” He speaks of a God who’s loving desire is to fulfill all your needs and dispense with any cause for fear. He tells of a God who has no interest in measuring us in degrees of value according to how “successful” we are in one thing or another. Instead, he speaks of a God who is filled to overflowing with love -- who looks at you and sees only his beautiful children for whom he will do anything and give everything. “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

Here is the good news for you and me: The Good News is that God is NOT in control. That may sound like heresy to our ears that are so accustomed to living in a world where those who take control run the show. But it is the truth. God is not in control. God does, most certainly have all authority in heaven and earth. But rather than use that power to control us, God loves us -- and by the authority of God’s love, we are made members of the family of God.

By the power of God’s love, God continues to create and to bless and to shape this world for good. Your loving Father in heaven chooses you. We have a home “where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.” A home that will never be taken from us. The power of God’s love for us overcomes all forces that would try to control us and our future -- even in this present time.

“Happy,” says Jesus, “are those who believe this, and put their heart’s desire in it -- for they will not be disappointed.”

Once there was a beggar living in an alley -- covered with newspapers for warmth at night -- looking in and around trash cans for food in the day. Then one day, as she sat near the entry of her alley, a passerby stopped and stared -- first with scrutiny, and then with wide-eyed amazement. The Passerby asked her name. “Good heavens!” he exclaimed. “I can’t believe I’ve found you! We’ve been looking for you for years! Didn’t you know — you’ve inherited a great fortune! -- MILLIONS upon MILLIONS of dollars! You’re rich. You’re a millionaire!”

Now that beggar has two options at this point -- to dismiss the messenger and go on living the life of a beggar, even though she is truly a millionaire — or she can step out of her alley, and into a new world. Either way, she’s still a millionaire.

When I remember that Rachel is coming home soon, it changes the way I act and feel. A beggar who has received a multimillion dollar inheritance is going to live differently.

And you -- you are not fighting for survival or value or acceptance. You do not need to win God’s love. The kingdom of God is given to you already, and you who try to have faith in it are a part of its coming in the world today.

How are you celebrating that fact in the way you work? . . . think? . . . Plan for the future? Are there places in your life that need to be more of a celebration of the gospel?

Such a gift is not the sort of thing to be placed into our bag of goodies as one more possession to take with us as we move along down the alley of life.

We often say that Jesus calls us to a new life. That is true, but in the light of today’s gospel, I think that can be easily misunderstood -- as if Jesus’ call is a suggestion that we decide to change and therefore live.

But isn’t that exactly what we’ve been saying the gospel is NOT about? If we choose Jesus so that we may live, isn’t that simply another way of saying that if we choose Jesus, God will accept us?

In the light of today’s gospel, perhaps it would be better if we said that Jesus unveils a truth that is already in place. He tells us something that we don’t know but need to know. He tells us that we are already safe. That we are already loved. And we need to hear that information, because without it, we’ll spend our lives in fear, grabbing at straws of control and value — like a beggar digging through trash cans for food . . .

It is as if Jesus is telling us, “Stop wasting time. It’s time to celebrate!”

Is that a message you need to hear?

How are you celebrating?

The author of Hebrews is echoing Jesus’ words in our second reading today, when he implores us to not slip back into a way of living and viewing this world that is shaped by fears and the desire to control our present and our future.

Believe that you live within the power and authority of God’s perfect love. A power and authority that the world can never shake and certainly won’t outlast.

Let the love of God shape your life into joy and celebration.

Celebrate.

AMEN