Sermon Tone Analysis

Title

Preserving the Ability of Choice

Outline

Out there in the church one hears all sorts of things in a confessional

One hears, “Forgive me Father for he has sinned (or she)” - the real fault is someone else

One hears, “Forgive me Father, but it was a very small sin”

And one hears something like, “Forgive me Father for I cannot stop sinning”

I am using examples from a book on confession, but I can certainly testify to the fact that the author was not imagining his examples

The problem is that while many persons want to be thought a good person, they do not want to be like Jesus

Sirach tells us that sin is an act of will

God “never commands anyone to sin,” but instead has set a choice before us.

And he knows that we have the power to choose, even though we may deny it.

Paul tells us that the way to self-control or rather God-control is to agree with God

“We [Paul and his companions] do speak a wisdom to those who are mature, . . .

we speak God’s wisdom, mysterious, hidden, which God predetermined before the ages for our glory.”

With respect to our topic we realize that there is always a way out, that God allowed whatever he allowed for our good, to bring us to glory, not for our evil, and that God’s wisdom will start with refuting the world’s lies and then following God’s counter-intuitive wisdom, which we can find in the examples of the saints.

So what wisdom does Jesus teach us?

First, forget the idea that “that was so Old Testament” or “so medieval” - it is all important, even the smallest part

Second, ask for insight and understanding about the inner meaning of a teaching or command, so that your “righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees” - we need to know the letter, but then get beyond the letter to the heart

Third, tolerating small sins or denying them leads to big sins - or the toleration of them

Accepting the insult or the character assassination can lead to murder

Accepting desire - sexual or material - can lead to adultery or theft

Accepting a little dishonesty, a little non-straightforward speech, can lead to major violations, for even the little twist partakes of Satan rather than God

Fourth, we are all too good at using verses for justification of things that God rejects period.

The Pharisees used Deut 25 to discuss when divorce was appropriate, but Jesus takes the purpose of the text and the wider teaching on the topic and says, “whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”

Now, Sisters, we need to use such teaching wisely

We can get scrupulous like a college woman I knew who felt she failed at thanks if she did not thank God for each bite she ate.

Since God is behind the cleanup in our lives, we can and should ask him to show us what he wants us to work on now.

It is not that we do not confess or simply accept other moral issues, but we realize that we must focus on one or two things and that those others are sad, but are God’s project for later.

Notice I said “God’s project,” not ours choice.

Think on and meditate on these things and what God uses them to bring us in one’s mind; we are totally dedicated to God, but we should also be committed to his pace of grace as he works out his cleanup project in us.

Readings

FIRST READING

Sirach 15:15–20

15 If you choose, you can keep the commandments;

loyalty is doing the will of God.

16 Set before you are fire and water;

to whatever you choose, stretch out your hand.

17 Before everyone are life and death,

whichever they choose will be given them.

18 Immense is the wisdom of the LORD;

mighty in power, he sees all things.

19 The eyes of God behold his works,

and he understands every human deed.

20 He never commands anyone to sin,

nor shows leniency toward deceivers.

RESPONSE

Psalm 119:1b

1 Blessed those whose way is blameless,

who walk by the law of the LORD.

PSALM

Psalm 119:1–2, 4–5, 17–18, 33–34

1 Blessed those whose way is blameless,

who walk by the law of the LORD.

2 Blessed those who keep his testimonies,

who seek him with all their heart.

4 You have given them the command

to observe your precepts with care.

5 May my ways be firm

in the observance of your statutes!

17 Be kind to your servant that I may live,

that I may keep your word.

18 Open my eyes to see clearly

the wonders of your law.

33 LORD, teach me the way of your statutes;

I shall keep them with care.

34 Give me understanding to keep your law,

to observe it with all my heart.

SECOND READING

1 Corinthians 2:6–10

6 Yet we do speak a wisdom to those who are mature, but not a wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age who are passing away.

7 Rather, we speak God’s wisdom, mysterious, hidden, which God predetermined before the ages for our glory, 8 and which none of the rulers of this age knew; for, if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

9 But as it is written:

“What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard,

and what has not entered the human heart,

what God has prepared for those who love him,”

10 this God has revealed to us through the Spirit.

For the Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Matthew 11:25

25 At that time Jesus said in reply, “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.

GOSPEL

Option A

Matthew 5:17–37

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.

I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.

18 Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place.

19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.

But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

20 I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

21 “You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, ‘You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.’

22 But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raqa,’ will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna.

23 Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, 24 leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

25 Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court with him.

Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison.

26 Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’

28 But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away.

It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna.