[Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 15A

[Joe Parrish]

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-----Original Message-----
From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org>
To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org>
Sent: Sat, Aug 13, 2011 8:04 pm
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 15A


Dear Friends,

Tomorrow’s sermon is entitled “Watch your Mouth!” and deals with the
Gospel (Matthew 15:10-28). Here it is:

	Parents, do you ever have to yell, scream, beg your children to wash
their hands before they eat?  This morning, I’d like us to think
through the implications of Jesus’ statement to the Pharisees about
what makes a person unclean.  In the part of the Bible immediately
before our Gospel begins, the Pharisees had just criticized Jesus for
allowing his disciples to eat without washing their hands.  Jesus
responded with the statement we heard in the gospel- it’s not what you
put into your mouth that makes you unclean.  It’s what comes out of
your mouth that makes you unclean.  Why?  Because what comes out of
your mouth shows what’s in your heart.  The symptom of a nasty, sinful
heart is a nasty, sinful mouth.  So---what comes out of your mouth?
	Do you have a bad habit of using God’s name in vain?  It is so very
easy to pick up this habit- saying “Oh, Lord!” or such phrases.  What
does the commandment say?  “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord
thy God in vain.”  You wouldn’t use your mother’s name that way.  In
fact, I still remember from my teaching days how many fights either
started or almost started because of the way someone was talking about
someone else’s mother.  So- watch your mouth.  The ancient Israelites
didn’t even speak the name of God- they considered it too holy.  We
can learn from them.  If you’ve got a bad habit in this regard, break
it.  Only use God’s name with the highest reverence, respect, and
honor.
What about other kinds of swearing that do not use God’s name in
vain?  Are they sinful?  That depends.  If the words are used to
describe another person or as a weapon against that person, then they
are very sinful.  If, however, they are simply part of your vocabulary
or used to express anger at someTHING (not someONE)- they may not
project the image you want, but they’re probably not sinful.
Most times when someone continually uses God’s name in vain or swears
casually, it usually signifies a bad habit, not a sinful, poisonous
heart; however there’s other poisonous nasty verbiage that comes out
of our mouths far too often.  Gossip; put-downs; lies; swearing AT
people; labeling people as bad, stupid, ugly, etc.- these seriously
show a heart problem, not coronary artery disease but poisoned spirit
disease.  These kinds of remarks have heart-roots of jealousy, anger,
hatred, poor self-esteem, desire to look better than others, and other
negative emotions.  Molefi Asante reminds us, “There are two things
over which you have complete dominion, authority, and control- your
mind and your mouth.”  He’s right, and you get control of your mouth
by getting control of your mind.  Don’t think evil thoughts.  Don’t
dwell on negatives.  Remember the old Cherokee who was telling his
grandson about a fight that constantly goes on inside himself. It’s a
fight between two wolves.  One is evil: full of anger, envy, regret,
guilt, false pride, resentment, inferiority, superiority, etc.  The
other is good: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). The
grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather
“Grand-daddy, which wolf wins?”  The old Cherokee thought for a minute
and then replied simply, “The one that I feed.”  Don’t feed the
negatives.  When you find yourself dwelling on such thoughts, take
charge.  Go for a walk.  Wash the dishes.  Listen to some music.  Read
your Bible.  Say your prayers.  Call a friend on the phone.  Change
the content of your thoughts from negatives to positives.  That’s
exactly what St. Paul meant when he taught the Philippians (4:8)
“Finally, my friends- keep your minds on whatever is true, pure,
right, holy, friendly, and proper. Don't ever stop thinking about what
is truly worthwhile and worthy of praise.”
Why bother to watch your mouth?  Because when evil words come out,
they can never be recalled.  They can be explained, forgiven, maybe if
you’re lucky forgotten- but when they’re out, they’re out.  I want to
close with a story I’ve told before, but it explains so very well why
we’ve simply got to think before we speak and keep Jesus in control of
our lips.  There was a little boy with a bad temper.  His father gave
him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, to
hammer a nail in the back fence. The first day the boy drove 37 nails
into the fence. Gradually the number of nails he was pounding into the
fence dwindled down.  He discovered it was easier to hold his temper
than to drive those nails into the fence. Finally the day came when
the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father about it,
and the father suggested that now the boy should pull out one nail for
each day that he was able to hold his temper.  The days passed and the
young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were
gone.  The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence.
He said, “You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the
fence.  The fence will never be the same. When you say things in
anger, they leave a scar just like this one.  You can put a knife in a
person and draw it out.  It won't matter how many times you say “I'm
sorry,” the wound is still there.  A verbal wound is as bad as a
physical one.”  And while we’re thinking of such things, you know who
gets the worst of our poison?  Those we especially love- our family
and dear friends.  How we act at home and with those we love is the
true test of what’s in our hearts.  So remember Jesus’ warning, it’s
not what you put into your mouth that makes you unclean, but what
comes out of your mouth- because it shows the state of your heart.
May God bless us as we clean up our hearts and watch our mouths.

For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updated African-American
wisdom statements are posted on our parish web site. The address is:
http://www.stpaulsepisag.com .

Blessed preaching.
Judy Boli
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Saginaw, Michigan

 
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