"Flipping the Switch;" Sermon for Sunday January 22nd, 2017 by: Rev. Nicole A.M. Collins

I don’t know if you have mischievous children or pets who once you’ve flipped the light switch on to see what’s going on, they scurry and hide?  This is the lightest way to begin thinking about something profoundly dark—FEAR.  And Fear can be pretty dark—it is basically, the “mood lighting” to the landscape of that graceless wilderness.  This is the one humanity chooses to do battle in, either for what is truly righteous, or more often, to wallow in for what is best for the self.  We’re not listening to the hope and challenge the Psalmist’s prayer is illumining for us, hear!  He says: “¹The Lord is my light and my salvation; WHOM shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”

Well brothers and sisters, what are we really afraid of? Discipleship isn’t easy stuff and it IS ‘beyond’ us—but in a good way! Remember the world doesn’t revolve around us, neither does the Son!  We, are called by Christ Jesus, to go out into the world—into its ebb and flow, with our ego shredded and left as fertilizer, for that New Natured humility to be reaped and to reign over our hearts—guiding the fruits of our hands and feet! Taking on the “office” of ministry is the varied role within the priesthood of all believers.  It isn’t a 9 to 5 “job” either—it is a life-time’s journey, one, where the suffering will be great, but the Joy and Grace of its promise—are revealing, and glorious to God.

I remembered an ironic cartoon parody of mission and accountability, in of all things, a “Family Guy” Christmas episode.  Basically Stewie and Brian go off to find the North Pole to have it out with Santa….  When they get there, they find the North Pole in shambles, Santa at death’s door, mutant-overworked elves and killer reindeer. The overall message behind the sarcasm and clever quips is that here was a person who gave everything they could to accomplish their goals but just couldn’t make it.  They weren’t making it because of the selfishness and indifference of those they were seeking to serve. Whom he was seeking to serve essentially chose not to step up to task and assist.  They just wanted, what they wanted, when they wanted it—there was no reasoning or call to unity to work together for a greater purpose at all.

The ending of the episode, of course, had a happy ending where everyone around the world agreed to ask for only one Christmas gift…  Pure fantasy and wishful thinking, but when you think about where the world has been these days—there, is a message of hope through compromise, through a heart seeking the light—the light of peace and encouragement.  There will be many moments on the road to discipleship, where out of fear and darkness; we choose to go to war.  This can be a war of words, or a physical altercation that does not bear any New Nature fruits whatsoever—only destruction.  It bears the fruits of hate under the guise of “resistance” and condemnation under the guise of “justice.”  All of what I’ve just said is coming from a global and a national point of view.  What about on an individual level—a spiritual level?

The Holy Spirit works in mysterious ways to reveal how the Word needs to be incorporated and shared in preaching…  For all week long, my heart has been seeing and feeling the fear fed by the polarizing perspectives of one group versus the other and so on and so forth.  People setting cars on fire, breaking windows, looting, shooting and trampling upon one another—utterly divided by a dark passion—FEAR.  Fear being fueled by the evil one to not sit down, come to the table in peace and work for the common good of all!  Jesus starts His ministry in this week’s Gospel text by not only offering—come and follow me but declaring: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

The reality of the Kingdom of God, as Jesus preaches it here, is in essence to mean: It is already and not yet a complete reality…  It is a combination of Hope and challenges upon the human spirit—meaning something we are to gear up our hearts to work for, to willingly and selflessly strive for—transformation.  The yoke of oppression we placed upon ourselves comes from the “gospel of the self”—our fear of losing control and power over others.  The substructure to this fear is a complete lack of trust—not necessarily coming from a humble place, but a place that has not seen the light of love and the beauty of what poor St. Paul was trying to teach the wayward Corinthians to see and become. He reaches out to them saying:  “¹⁰Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose.”

He continues to say those powerfully beautiful and profound Words—“¹⁸For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the very power of God.” FEAR as we have been witnessing in the world and in this country as I speak—is the burden, oppressive yoke of lacking faith, period! Perhaps to those who can’t understand or want to live beyond the self—faith, like the Cross of Christ is folly and idealism that doesn’t work within their perception or perspective of “real” life.  The problem is though, that tolerance is not an acceptable Band-Aid to acceptance. Resistance does not incorporate humility and certainly does not seek to reach out and come to the table of peace in conversation and compromise. Compromise is not an “either or” reality it is finding a middle road, a starting point of bearing hope—LIGHT together! Again, let us hear that faithful plea: Be United in the same mind and purpose.  This same mind and purpose is lived faithfully, beyond the self, for and through, the Love of God and neighbor. This IS the reality of ministry for the disciple of Jesus, period.

One commentary I read this past week said that an ideal is never yours until it comes out of your being—mouth, hands and feet. This is taking on the task of discipleship—living faith as a prayerful action centered in peace—the light of Christ.  It is never a self-righteous action neither is it a works righteous movement as an individual or within the Body for a goal, purpose. In many ways it is like flipping on the switch to turn towards the real and true light of living a life grounded and entrusted to Christ.  It is hearing the voice of God calling you to not only come and see but to follow the mission of the Gospel—to bring all people from all nations under the light of peace—a reconciling Hope towards the Kingdom to come.

Coming from the “day in the life” of discipleship, sometimes I wonder if we give ourselves enough time with God?  That one on one time with God is critically important and this goes beyond prayer and meditation.  It is even more important to humanity to come and see, come to join together in worship or service as the Body.  This past week had a wonderful blessing as a part of my Visiting Angels service of spiritual care; I was afforded the pleasure to bring an elderly man to his daily mass at a monastery and nursing home called: Little Sisters of the Poor. 

As a “Protestant,” sitting in a Roman Catholic service can make you feel perhaps like you have a giant bullseye around you—in essence labeling you subconsciously as an outsider.  I fought those feelings especially when the nuns began to sing and the peace of Christ did truly flow in the air.  By the end of the week, I saw those services or masses as a kind of spiritual formation vitamin that not only this man needed, but that I needed as well and it was hope-filled in a universal way. The moment when I started to lay my fears aside and began to trust in a greater purpose… is when that light switch got flipped for me and I knew unity, I knew peace.  God IS with us and I no longer fear…  My heart did say come and seek His face.  Teach me O Lord Your way!

Yes, Teach me O Lord Your ways.  Lead me with that glorious light to break down fear.  Help me to turn those moments of darkness into fertilizer for Your New Nature treatise upon our hearts to transform to.  There is a vast sea out there of many minds and bodies, the task and the cost of being Your disciple is great upon me, but I must always remember how You saved me and gave my life, New Purpose!  Your Gospel is the thread to my New life in You for Your sake and glory and for the love of neighbor.  If we truly aspire to come near to the Kingdom, it cannot be found or realized in the darkness.  We cannot create “real” progress making any nation great again through war, dissent, violence and self-righteous hatred.

Let us pray,

Gracious and Loving God

We often place ourselves in times of trial

We do this when the darkness of Fear implanted by the temptation of the Evil One

Rules over our frail humanity

Peace, then, only is born through violence

This is our broken promise to You

To live as faithful disciples guided by Your light—trusting in Your light

We need to reconcile, turn on that switch

And live as the unified children of grace and promise

Our purpose is to live towards the Kingdom to come.

AMEN

January 22nd, 2017; Third Sunday after the Epiphany; Year A; SOLA Lectionary

Sermon By: Reverend Nicole A.M. Collins

Psalm 27:1-14; Isaiah 9:1- 4; 1 Corinthians 1:10-18; Matthew 4:12-25

The link below is to this sermon's delivery at the Grace Hub's 8am service:
https://youtu.be/Z-RWCx8va5Y