[Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 21A

[Joe Parrish]

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-----Original Message-----
From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org>
To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org>
Sent: Fri, Sep 23, 2011 8:56 pm
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 21A


Dear Friends,

Tomorrow’s sermon is entitled “Two Sons” or “It’s Not Enough to Talk
the Talk; We’ve Got to Walk the Walk” and deals with the Gospel
(Matthew 21: 23- 32). Here it is:

Did you hear the story of the rich young man who had been taken to the
hospital, critically ill. His condition worsened, and he was confined
there for quite a few weeks. His doctor even had told him that he
wasn’t sure if he’d recover, but that they would continue to do all
they could. The man was obviously scared to death, and said to the
doctor, “Please, doctor, do everything you can! I don’t want to die! I
have so much to do yet in life, and if you can help me get better,
I’ll even donate $100,000 to the fund for the new hospital.” Would you
believe- right after that, he began to recover.  Several months later,
while he was out in the town, he saw the doctor on the street, and the
doctor asked him how he felt. The young man said, “Doc, I haven’t felt
better any time in my life.” The doctor said, “That’s great, because I
wanted to ask you about the money you said you intended to donate to
the new hospital fund. You remember you said if you got well, you’d
like to donate $100,000, and we could really use that now.” The young
man said, “Man, if I said that, I must have been really
sick!” (Anonymous)

That young man sounds a lot like the son in the parable Jesus told.
As you recall, a father asked his two sons to work in the field.  The
first son did exactly what the rich young man in the story did to the
doctor.  The son told his father he’d be glad, delighted even, to work
in the field.  However, as soon as the father turned his back, that
son was out of there!  The second son said he would not work in the
field, but then felt sorry for what he had said and actually did the
work.  Jesus asked, “Who really loved the father more?”  The obvious
answer- “The son who helped his father.”  That’s the message for us.
We can’t simply talk the talk.  If we really love God, we’ve got to
walk the walk.

Our Bible lessons suggest two times we need to be especially careful
to walk the walk.  Did you notice how quickly the Israelites were
ready to blame God and kill Moses when they were suffering with
thirst?  Times of suffering are serious times of temptation.  It’s so
very easy to ask, “God, how could you!” instead of “God, what do you
want me to do?”

Our epistle suggests another situation when we need to be especially
careful to walk the walk.  Paul reminded his church at Philippi
(Philippians 2:2b-4a) “Live in harmony by showing love for each other.
Be united in what you think, as if you were only one person.  Don't be
jealous or proud, but be humble and consider others more important
than yourselves.  Care about them as much as you care about
yourselves.”  I don’t have to tell you- that’s hard to do; and you
know where it’s hardest?  At home with those we love.  When we’re with
strangers or acquaintances, we do our best to be polite; but with our
families- if we’re not careful, we simply “let it all hang out.”  We
can trick our friends and acquaintances, but our families know the
real person- who we really are.  Yet, if we really love God, we’ll do
what he says and love our neighbors (even our families) as much as we
love ourselves.

I’m going to close with a poem you’ve heard a number of times that
speaks to walking the walk- not just once in a while, but daily.  It’s
called “If Jesus Came to Your House,” by By Blanchard Eades

“Would you hide your worldly music and put some hymn books out?
Could you let Jesus walk right in, or would you rush about?
And I wonder, if the Savior spent a day or two with you,
Would you go right on doing the things you always do?
Would you go right on saying the things you always say?
Would life for you continue as it does from day to day?

Would your family conversation keep up its usual pace?
And would you find it hard each meal to say a table grace?
Would you sing the songs you always sing, and read the books you read?
And let him know the things on which your mind and spirit feed?
Would you take Jesus with you everywhere you'd planned to go?
Or would you, maybe, change your plans for just a day or so?

If Jesus came to your house to spend a day or two,
If He came unexpectedly, I wonder what you'd do.
Oh, I know you'd give your nicest room to such an honored guest,
And all the foods you'd serve to him would be the very best.
And you would keep assuring Him you're glad to have Him there;
That serving Him in your own home is joy beyond compare.

But, when you saw Him coming, would you meet Him at the door
With arms outstretched in welcome to your heavenly Visitor?
Or would you have to change your clothes before you let Him in?
Or hide some magazines, and put the Bible where they'd been?
Would you turn off the radio, and hope He hadn't heard?
And wish you hadn't uttered that last, loud, hasty word?

Would you be glad to have Him meet your very closest friends?
Or would you hope they'd stay away until His visit ends?
Would you be glad to have Him stay forever on and on?
Or would you sigh with great relief when He at last was gone?
It might be interesting to know the things that you would do
If Jesus Christ in person came to spend some time with you.”

May God bless us as we endeavor to walk the walk as well as talk the
talk.

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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