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

[Joe Parrish]

Forwarded:



-----Original Message-----
From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org>
To: propertalk.topic <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org>
Sent: Sat, Sep 27, 2014 5:38 pm
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 21A



Dear Friends,
 
This Sunday’s sermon isentitled “Two Sons” or “It’s Not Enough to Talk the Talk; We’ve Got to Walk theWalk” and deals with the gospel (Matthew 21: 23-32).  Here it is:
 
Did you hear the storyof the rich young man who had been taken to the hospital, critically ill. Hiscondition worsened, and he was confined there for quite a few weeks. His doctoreven had told him that he wasn’t sure if he’d recover, but that they would continueto do all they could. The man was obviously scared to death, and said to thedoctor, “Please, doctor, do everything you can! I don’t want to die! I have somuch to do yet in life, and if you can help me get better, I’ll even donate $100,000to the fund for the new hospital.” Would you believe- right after that, hebegan to recover.  Several months later,while he was out in the town, he saw the doctor on the street, and the doctorasked him how he felt. The young man said, “Doc, I haven’t felt better any timein my life.” The doctor said, “That’s great, because I wanted to ask you aboutthe money you said you intended to donate to the new hospital fund. Youremember you said if you got well, you’d like to donate $100,000, and we couldreally use that now.” The young man said, “Man, if I said that, I must havebeen really sick!” (Anonymous)
 
That young man sounds alot 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 youngman in the story did to the doctor.  Theson 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 secondson said he would not work in the field, but then felt sorry for what he hadsaid and actually did the work.  Jesusasked, “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 thewalk.
 
Our Bible lessonssuggest two times we need to be especially careful to walk the walk.  Did you notice how quickly the Israeliteswere ready to blame God and kill Moses when they were suffering with thirst?  Times of suffering are serious times oftemptation.  It’s so very easy to ask,“God, how could you!” instead of “God, what do you want me to do?” 
 
Our epistle suggestsanother 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. Beunited in what you think, as if you were only one person.  Don't be jealous or proud, but be humble andconsider 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 homewith those we love.  When we’re withstrangers 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 hesays and love our neighbors (even our families) as much as we love ourselves.
 
I’m going to close witha poem you’ve heard a number of times that speaks to walking the walk- not justonce in a while, but daily.  It’s called “IfJesus Came to Your House,” by By Blanchard Eades
 
“Would you hide yourworldly music and put some hymn books out?
Could you let Jesuswalk right in, or would you rush about?
And I wonder, if theSavior spent a day or two with you,
Would you go right ondoing the things you always do?
Would you go right onsaying the things you always say?
Would life for youcontinue as it does from day to day?
 
Would your familyconversation keep up its usual pace?
And would you find ithard each meal to say a table grace?
Would you sing thesongs you always sing, and read the books you read?
And let him know the thingson which your mind and spirit feed?
Would you take Jesuswith you everywhere you'd planned to go?
Or would you, maybe,change your plans for just a day or so?
 
If Jesus came to yourhouse to spend a day or two,
If He cameunexpectedly, I wonder what you'd do.
Oh, I know you'd giveyour nicest room to such an honored guest,
And all the foods you'dserve to him would be the very best.
And you would keepassuring Him you're glad to have Him there;
That serving Him inyour own home is joy beyond compare.
 
But, when you saw Himcoming, would you meet Him at the door
With arms outstretchedin welcome to your heavenly Visitor?
Or would you have tochange your clothes before you let Him in?
Or hide some magazines,and put the Bible where they'd been?
Would you turn off theradio, and hope He hadn't heard?
And wish you hadn'tuttered that last, loud, hasty word?
 
Would you be glad tohave Him meet your very closest friends?
Or would you hopethey'd stay away until His visit ends?
Would you be glad tohave Him stay forever on and on?
Or would you sigh withgreat relief when He at last was gone?
It might be interestingto know the things that you would do
If Jesus Christ inperson came to spend some time with you.”
 
May God bless us as weendeavor to walk the walk as well as talk the talk.
 
Foranyone who is interested, this sermon and updated African-American wisdom statementsare posted on our parish’s NEW WEB SITE under “Sermons & Stuff”. Theaddress is: http://www.stpaulsepisag.org.
 
Blessed preaching,
Judy Boli
St. Paul's EpiscopalChurch
Saginaw, Michigan

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