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Did you know that there are some 18,000 plus species of butterflies
stretched across the globe? This juicy
little bit of trivia came out of the Holy Spirit placing that image in my first
church, the heart, of a butterfly, to be in association with the growing and
transforming human spirit. The time of the butterflies’ maturity begins in the
chrysalis or “safe place” cocoon before the mature adult breaks through as a
completely changed creature. Remembering our faithful calling to live into our
Baptism, has that same effect. Here is probably one of the greatest used
metaphors for the call of disciples to strive, be “obedient” or accountable to nurture
or better said reap, that New Nature, Christ has given us through Grace.
Doing the “Do’s” of the Gospel is both the Christian
journey, as well as encompasses, the cost of discipleship… Our mile long reading from Romans this
morning is a key text that can’t just be nibbled on but you must hear the full
“monty” of the theology behind St. Paul’s treatise to the Romans to change/
transform, with the Gospel, or die. This
sounds extreme, but he is talking about spiritual formation, transforming your
life to God’s will and purposes for you…
And truth be told, the cost of being a disciple of Jesus, there will be
some of that unpopular word, we all must face in some form or fashion—“suffering.”
I was surprised to see that Psalm 69 is one of the Psalm
choices for this Sunday especially since it truly is a continual rant of
suffering from the Psalmist to God, a plea in some senses, expressing a true
hope in action and redemption from God. Any
of you who gets an email from me see at the very bottom of my email, that there
is a quote from Psalm 69. It is only
verse 32, but it truly expresses that fearlessness and hope that Jesus is
trying to teach His disciples in this week’s “discipleship school lecture.” “Let the oppressed see it and be glad; you
who seek God, let your hearts revive.”
How do we hear this? I would take
this verse and place it right next to the very last two verses from today’s
Gospel, where Jesus says: “38…whoever does not take up the
cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39Those who find their life
will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.”
Now
let’s hear the Psalmist’s verse with the Gospel: “32Let the
oppressed see it and be glad; you who seek God, let your hearts revive.” “38…whoever does not take up the
cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39Those who find their life
will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.” There’s
several things being taught here, however the greatest message to hear, is that
Christ’s call to us, has given us a purpose to not only change ourselves for
the better but to change the world towards the Kingdom of God! Sounds pretty prophetic, doesn’t it? Prophecy and the postmodern world sounds a
lot like oil and water, however, if you ask me. More often than not, the power
and efficacy of being “prophetic” has been distorted and diminished by
politics. Who’s to say, however, that
our lives witness to the Gospel and its mission couldn’t be or become truly
prophetic? Remember the world is much
greater, past the east side of Vegas!
St.
Paul, in efforts once again to assist the Romans in coming to understand
incorporating, living into Grace through faith has to remind them about our
daily battle against sin. Probably the
most prophetic verse in this whole passage from Romans is verse 23: “23For
the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ
Jesus our Lord.” This pinpoints our daily battle between willfulness and
willingness. When we are willful, the
world of the self and it’s “unholy trinity” of I, Me, Mine are fully
engaged. The world of the self and its
agendas, we must remember, really don’t see the relevance of God intervening
yet alone the purpose and calling to love and serve the needs of our
neighbors. If we are truly a “welcoming”
church; are we welcoming most importantly, to God to work in our hearts, in our
lives—CHANGING us for the better?
Today’s
overarching message is a very spiritual one.
It is one that we can’t and shouldn’t ignore… Sometimes, however and truly said, it takes
looking into your soul and your past like that butterfly breaking free and
leaving that chrysalis behind. Earlier
this week I traveled back to Chicago for a brief time with family and working
out some remaining details of church business.
Driving down those same streets, the flood of memories, times, places
etcetera blurred together to paint a wonderful new image coming from the Holy
Spirit to encourage my heart to know God’s will for my life! This would be
serving you as your pastor! I began to
see these same, familiar places, faces, etcetera, as those Chrysalis shells of
each and every moment of my past, growing towards serving God and neighbor.
Seeing
the past as a transformation into New Life is realizing the amazing Grace of
God actively shaping your heart towards a real freedom, a genuine faith. In order to, truly live into this amazing
freedom, develop this amazing faith, we have to come to terms with leaving that
chrysalis, the past, behind. The other Psalm assigned for today is Psalm 91,
which last Sunday’s prelude musically reflected—“On Eagles’ Wings.” This Psalm
in contrast to Psalm 69, focuses on God as our spiritual refuge and strength in
all of our challenges and choices. Would
it be fair to say that our seemingly back and forth struggle with where we were
and who we are now, as a people of God, is “suffering” for a greater, gracious
gain? St. Paul said it earlier in Romans
chapter 5: “… suffering produces endurance, 4and endurance produces
character, and character produces hope, 5and hope does not
disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the
Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
Yes,
being hope-filled and encouraged in seeing God’s work active in your life,
incorporated into your heart as a true mission and purpose for your life… Is
that butterfly of your New Nature taking flight! You can’t change the past but
are challenged by the Gospel, to grow from it.
If we are to be a progressive, prophetic voice for the Gospel in this
one solitary earthly life… We need to realize, that “progress,” first, within
our very selves, our very hearts! That’s
why Jesus’ words seem so strong and hard for us to hear in the right way… For what life are we really saving, if Jesus
isn’t at the center of it all? Realizing
Christ at the center of your transforming heart is a character-building
journey. Further realizing our role as
the children of Grace and promise spiritually aligns our sense of commitment to
naturally being accountable to the Grace of God—This is our freedom from the
power and lure of sin, death and evil.
In
my own life’s witness to the Gospel’s hard work upon me, 40 plus years living
into the life of an artist, evolved through conversion and a willingness to
grow, had my art transform into a lifestyle that realized God’s grace utilizing
my whole self for His will and purposes, for the better, now as ministry.
Beginning to know and live into the true purposes of God’s calling to each and
every one of us, is the glorious and joyful New Natured fruit of being, fully
living as a disciple of Christ! This is the real “meat-n-potatoes” of progress,
in a hurting and broken world.
Perhaps
this very familiar Irish blessing poem has something to teach us about the
“art” of life and being fearlessly hope-filled with the Gospel:
May
the road rise to meet you, may the wind be always at your back.
May
the sun shine warm upon your face, the rains fall soft upon your fields.
And
until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand.
May
God be with you and bless you: May you see your children's children.
May
you be poor in misfortune, rich in blessings.
May
you know nothing but happiness
From
this day forward.
May
the road rise up to meet you
May
the wind be always at your back
May
the warm rays of sun fall upon your home
And
may the hand of a friend always be near.
May green
be the grass you walk on, may blue be the skies above you,
May
pure be the joys that surround you, may true be the hearts that love you. AMEN
Let
us Pray,
Gracious
God,
Continue
to help us realize that New and Gracious being within us
Help
our lives to take flight with the Gospel for Your sake and to love and serve
our neighbors
May
we aspire to be, become bold witnesses in this one, solitary life
To
change, not only ourselves, but the world for the better.
May
we never not be grateful for all You have given us
We
pray this in Your most precious Name—AMEN.
June 25th,
2017; Third Sunday After Pentecost; Year A
Sermon by:
Reverend Nicole A.M. Collins
Psalm 91:1-16;
Psalm 69:7, 10-18; Jeremiah 20:7-13; Romans 6:1-23; Matthew 10:5a, 21-39
The link below is to this sermon's delivery at First Congregational Church, 9:30am:
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