[Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 22A

[Joe Parrish]

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-----Original Message-----
From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org>
To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org>
Sent: Sat, Oct 1, 2011 12:21 am
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 22A


Dear Friends,

Tomorrow’s sermon is entitled “The Ten Commandments” or “Don’t Talk
Like a Christian and Live Like an Atheist!” and deals with the Old
Testament Lesson (Exodus 20: 1-4, 12-20) and the Gospel (Matthew 21:
33- 43). Here it is:

We just heard the very serious parable Jesus told about the renters
who tried to take over the vineyard from the owner.  They killed the
slaves who came- even killed the owner’s son (i.e. Jesus), and thought
they were home free.  They acted as if the owner did not exist- as if
he would never intervene.  Then Jesus asked a frightening question-
“What do you suppose the owner (i.e. God) will do to those evil
renters?”  The answer- terrible things!  In other words, don’t play
with God!  We’ve got to be careful we’re not acting like those
renters- we act as if God does not exist and really will never
intervene.  If we’re not careful, it’s just too easy to talk like a
Christian, but live like an atheist.  Just like the renters started
acting as if the vineyard was their own, we start acting as if our
lives are our own, not God’s.  Did you hear the story of President
Clinton’s visit with the pope?  The meeting that was supposed to be
short lasted for two days. Finally, a weary President Clinton emerged
to face the waiting news media.  The former president was smiling and
announced the summit was a resounding success. He said he and the pope
agreed on 80% of the matters they discussed. Then Mr. Clinton declared
he was going home to be with his family.  A few minutes later, the
pope came out to make his statement.  He looked tired and discouraged
and was practically in tears.  Sadly he announced his meeting with the
President was a failure.  Incredulous, one reporter asked, “But your
Holiness, President Clinton just announced the summit was a great
success and the two of you agreed on 80% of the items discussed.”
Exasperated, the pope answered, “Yes, but we were talking about the
Ten Commandments!” My friends, the Ten Commandments are not called the
Ten Suggestions!  They are not open to negotiation!  You know the song
that Frank Sinatra used to sing- “I Did It My Way.”  I’m not supposed
to live my life my way; I’m supposed to live my life God’s way.

Why?  Why would God give us orders?  For the same reason parents give
rules to their children?  To keep them safe so they can have a happy
life.  The Rev. Bass Mitchell told a story illustrating why we need
the commandments.  He wrote,   “Once a people lived on an island.
They were a happy and content people.  But something started to go
wrong.  Some of them began to disappear.  They discovered to their
horror that all around them were dangerous, deep pits that you could
not see until it was too late.  When one of their children strayed too
far away one day and never returned, the people gathered at the hut of
one of their holy elders, pleading with him to do something.  He went
into the shrine and prayed for guidance.  Days passed by and he did
not come out.  Then one day the people were summoned to the shrine.
The elder told them that God had granted their prayers.  The elder
held up before them a sketch of their island, and a large X mark
identified each dangerous pit for them.  They rejoiced!  They put the
elder on their shoulders and carried him in a parade.  They made
copies of the sketch and committed it to memory.  They gave thanks to
God for such a great gift.   That’s what the commandments are for us-
a life-map showing the basic potential pitfalls.  So you see, the
commandments are not intended to stifle our spirits, but to allow us
to have happy lives and avoid tragedy.

Let’s look at them (Exodus 20).  You’ll notice they fall into two
categories: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and
mind and strength” and “Love your neighbor as much as you love
yourself.”  The first four commandments describe the greatest possible
pitfalls we face in terms of loving God.
	Do not worship any god except me (vs. 3).
	Do not make idols that look like anything in the sky or on earth or
in the ocean under the earth (vs. 4).
	Do not misuse my name. I am the LORD your God, and I will punish
anyone who misuses my name (vs. 7).
	Remember that the Sabbath Day belongs to me (vs. 8).
The last six commandments deal with loving our neighbor- they describe
how God intends us to interact with our neighbors.
	Respect your father and your mother, and you will live a long time
in the land I am giving you (vs. 12).
	Do not murder (vs. 13).
	Be faithful in marriage (vs. 14).
	Do not steal (vs. 15).
	Do not tell lies about others (vs. 16).
	Do not want anything that belongs to someone else (vs. 17).

Friends, our intentions are good- we Christians really do want to obey
the commandments, yet we frequently fail.  What goes wrong?  When are
we most at danger of breaking one of the commandments?  Did you hear
the story of the Sunday school teacher who was discussing the Ten
Commandments with her class of five and six-year-olds? After
explaining the commandment to honor thy father and thy mother, she
asked, “Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our
brothers and sisters?”  Without missing a beat, one little boy
answered, “Thou shall not kill.”  This story gives insight into how
the devil tempts us into breaking the last six commandments
(describing our duty toward our neighbors).  Have you heard the wisdom
statement that says, “He who angers you, controls you”- True!  Strong
emotions make us vulnerable, so we do what we want at the moment
rather than what we know is right and best in the long run.  Like the
child in the story- anger or jealousy tempt us to threaten or hurt or
kill or lie about someone.  Strong sexual urges make us choose to
disrespect someone’s partner and family.  Seeing something we want
makes us choose to steal.  So watch out when those strong feelings
hit.  Take a breath, count to ten (or 1,000 or say The Lord’s Prayer),
get away from the situation for a while, and talk it out/ walk it out/
think it out/ pray it out.

What about the commandments that deal with our duty toward God (the
first four commandments)?  We are most vulnerable to breaking those
commandments when we decide that we are Lord of our own lives.  We’ll
do it our way, thank-you.  We talk like a Christian, but live like an
atheist.  Did you notice the thought for the week- “Most people want
to serve God, but only in an advisory position” (Anonymous).  God
doesn’t need our advice, we need God’s roadmap.  May God bless us as
we struggle to live what we believe.

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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