[Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Lent 2B: “What (or Who) Is Your Cross?” or “Lent- the Chance of a Lifetime”

[Joe Parrish]

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From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org>
To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org>
Sent: Sat, Feb 24, 2018 3:50 pm
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Lent 2B: “What (or Who) Is Your Cross?” or “Lent- the Chance of a Lifetime”



Dear Friends,
 
This Sunday’s sermon is entitled “What (or Who) IsYour Cross?” or “Lent- the Chance of a Lifetime” and deals with the gospel (Mark8: 31-38).  Here it is: 
 
Last Sunday, we thought through the whole problem of temptation- howour human nature predisposes us to yield to temptation, because we wantanything we’re told we can’t have (as did Adam and Eve with that fruit); howthe problem was not lack of education, but choice; and how not yielding totemptation is really a mind game- because where our mind goes, our mouths andactions are almost sure to follow.  Thismorning, I’d like us to look at a very unpopular subject- crosses- our cross,Abraham’s cross, and Jesus’ cross.  Weheard Jesus tell his disciples to take up their cross and follow him, and weknow- as much as we’d like to not think about it, Jesus is talking to usalso.  
 
It is really important to understand about taking up our cross, becausenot understanding can lead us into trouble. First of all- just to clear up a common misconception- your cross is notsomething that just happens to you, like arthritis or cancer or heart diseaseor some kind of handicapping condition, however difficult it is.  That’s an affliction.  Your cross is something you choose to carry,a chosen sacrifice that is chosen specifically because you love Jesus.  Second- carrying our cross is not somethingwe can do or not do if we accept Jesus as our Lord as well as our Savior.  Jesus doesn’t say, “Take up your cross andfollow me if you feel like it, or if it’s not too inconvenient, or if itdoesn’t expose you to unpleasantness.” He says, “Take up your cross and follow me”- period- no choice, anorder.  So where are you about crosses,and what (or who) is your cross?
 
Abraham is a good example of someone who willingly took up his cross,accepted the possibility of a huge sacrifice, and did what God neededdone.  We heard about it today in thestory of his willing offering of his only son, Isaac.  If we don’t understand the culture of histime, we miss something very important in this episode.  What Abraham thought God was asking him to dowas not unusual.  The people of almostall the cultures of that historical period practiced child sacrifice.  Anytime something really catastrophic wasthreatening (drought, war, disease), the common assumption was that the chiefgod was angry and needed to be appeased- and the blood of the oldest male childwould do it.  Did you notice back in verse5 when Abraham told his servants: “WEwill come back?”  Even though he was aproduct of his culture, Abraham somehow knew that God would not really allowthe sacrifice of his beloved child- that God would somehow provide, yet Abrahamfollowed through as he understood until the angel intervened.  Why in the world did God suggest such aterrible thing?  Probably because God wassick, sick, sick of innocent children being offered on the altar of sacrificeto appease him, because that’s not at all what he wanted.  It was probably to make exactly that point,because- except for times of huge apostasy, this was the very last child offeredas a sacrifice by the Israelites in the name of God.  In other words- Abraham’s willingness tosacrifice finally allowed God to make the point: children are to be loved,nurtured, cared for, yes- sacrificed for. That’s a good message for us today. We talk a lot about how much we love our children, but do we sacrificefor them as did earlier generations?  Ifit’s a choice between our clothes or their teeth, our habit (alcohol, tobacco,etc.) or their clothes, our fun or their sleep, our entertainment and the mediawe allow in our house or their moral development- which do we choose?  Or perhaps we make huge sacrifices for them,but the focus is not on the individual child- it’s on ourselves.  It’s so easy to see our children asextensions of ourselves, so we expect them to succeed specifically in areas inwhich we did not.  I can’t tell you inthe course of forty years of teaching and almost forty years of priesting howmany times I have heard parents talk about high expectations for their childrenwhen they needed right at that time to get some education themselves so theirchildren would have a better life.  “Takeup your cross and follow me,” says Jesus. Are you listening?
 
What if your children are not your cross?  What is your cross?  Do you inconvenience yourself for anyonebesides someone in your own family?  Doyou inconvenience yourself for God? Let’s look at what a cross really is? A cross was a means of torture and execution.  If Jesus were sacrificed for our sins today,he probably would have died in an electric chair or by lethal injection.  This would mean that we who wanted to remindourselves of our commitment to our Lord would be wearing an electric chair or agurney with restraining straps and an IV bag on a chain around our necks!  A cross was a means of insuring ridicule andhumiliation.  You know how people eventoday in our reality-type TV programs seem to love to watch people under embarrassing,frightening situations?  Have you noticedhow that TV camera is pushed right up to the face of the grieving widow after atornado or the microphone in the face of the mother after her child has beenmurdered?  I hate to think of thepossibilities if TV cameras were allowed in execution chambers!  Times haven’t changed.  As the person carrying the cross struggledunder its weight to the place of execution, people seemed to love beingentertained by their torture; and they jeered, laughed, poked, prodded, andotherwise embarrassed the victim.  So yousee- a cross (as Jesus intended) is a pain- often exceedingly difficult, embarrassing,unfashionable, time and energy consuming, and we’re frequently not appreciatedfor making the sacrifice.  A fellowpastor told of a man in his congregation who stopped every day after work tohelp a disabled neighbor- washed him, shaved him, shopped for him, ran errandsfor him.  When asked, he said that- yes,it was extremely inconvenient- but God had laid on his heart that this was tobe his cross.  “The amazing thing,” hesaid, “is that- as much as I give, I receive much more.”  That’s probably what Jesus meant when he saidthat the person who sacrifices for God and others will gain his life.  The Rev. Richard Donovan is entitling hissermon for today, “Jesus Calls Us to a Life of Giving that We Might Have a LifeWorth Living.”  Not bad!
 
So, I ask you again- what’s your cross? Have you ever donated money to someone who was not a family member orfriend when you needed it yourself?  Whatdo you do to help the stranger, the person not as privileged as you are?  Are you only thinking of you and yours, or doyou reach out in Jesus name?  More to thepoint, if you take Jesus seriously- this Lent is the perfect time to make somechanges if the Holy Spirit is convicting you right now.
 
One more thought about crosses before we give our thoughts about thisto Jesus.  Are you aware that one of thelatest fashion accessories these days is a cross- a huge, gaudy piece of junkjewelry.  That’s one more thing a crossis NOT intended to be- in fact it’s as close to a put-down of Jesus’ sacrificeas we might find, but look around- you know what I mean.  Does this mean that you should not wear a crossaround your neck?  Of course not, butit’s important, if you choose to wear one, to do so for the right reason.  I wear a cross almost every day.  Why do I wear a cross?  I wear one to remind myself I am a child ofthe King, that I’m never alone- because God is with me (as in the Romans lessontoday).  Sometimes, especially if I’mfrightened or anxious or under pressure, I’ll quietly slip my cross inside myblouse so I can feel it right next to my skin. It reminds me that the Jesus of my last Holy Communion is even nearer tome than that cross.  Is there a time youshould never wear a cross? Absolutely!  Are you about to cusssomeone out?  Are you about to bosssomeone or treat someone unfairly? Never, I hope, with a cross showing! You know the verse that says, “I don’t want to be like Judas in myheart; I just want to be like Jesus.” Wearing a cross while being a person of injustice or of violence in wordor deed makes us a traitor to almighty God.
 
In closing, check yourself out with this Lenten thought: “Too manypeople are waiting for God to do things for them rather than with them.”  Don’t be like that.  Be a loyal disciple.  Take up your cross and follow Jesus!
 
For anyone who isinterested, this sermon and updated African-American wisdom statements areposted on our parish’s web site under “Sermons & Stuff”. The address is: http://www.stpaulsepisag.org .
 
Blessed preaching,
Judy Boli
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Saginaw, Michigan

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