Untitled Sermon (2)

Now don’t be too jealous of my super exciting summer, but I’ve been reviewing my Systematic Theology notes from this past semester. Yep, I know, you all wish you were me right now. Well, this review has really reinforced in me that the good I do and the good that you do comes from the liberating movement of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

For me this is a huge relief. Because while I generally think that I’m a fairly good person, more often than I’d like to admit I’ve said or done something hurtful. And I know a lot of really people who are really good, but who’ve said or done hurtful things too. At times, knowing this has led me to wander why good people, and in particular Christians can do or say hurtful things. The simple answer is that we’re humans. We aren’t perfect. And if we try to be good out of our own power, or will, we will fail.

I can feel the prideful part of me saying, “Wait just a minute, I put a lot of work into planning that youth event or helping that family, I deserve a little credit here.” But when I sit back and really think about it, who inspired me to it? When I was so tired I didn’t think that I could go on and wanted to throw the towel in, where did I get the strength to keep going? The simple and truthful answer? God. FULL STOP.

In our Gospel message for this morning Jesus tells us The Parable of Weeds Among the Wheat. I’ve often wandered why the farmer didn’t just have the farmhands pull up the thistle weeds as soon as they began to sprout. After all, wouldn’t that allow the wheat to grow stronger and more plentiful? Maybe so if this was only a lesson on how to farm wheat successfully. But when we think about this in terms of how we live as Christians, who after all are imperfect people, living in an imperfect and often sin filled world this parable makes a little more sense. Those thistles are representative of our “old do-it-yourself [lives]” that tempt us to say, “Wait just a minute here, I deserve the credit for doing this or that.” Those thistles represent the things and people in this world that seek to separate us from God, that seek to be more important to us than God. Those thistles represent the hard times Paul spoke of in our reading from Romans this morning.

Now you may be sitting there thinking to yourself, “Well gee thanks Vicar, it sure is nice of you to tell us all of the ‘thistles’ we’re surrounded by. But what I really want to know is how I keep growing in newness of life in Christ.” Don’t worry, I’ve got that covered!

When God is at the center of our lives we continue to thrive in the newness of life found in Christ. And this is done in many ways.

Some of the more pronounced ways this is done is in our worship service together each week. At the beginning of our service we acknowledge our sins, our limitations and acknowledge the action of God in our lives, requesting God’s help to live and serve in the newness of life we have in Christ Jesus. We give God thanks for this newness of life in Christ as we remember our baptisms and when we celebrate the Eucharist. We learn and grow in Christian community as we sing, read Scripture, and as we hear God’s message.

God is at the center of our lives is when we pray, read Scripture, or participate in devotions together with our families or friends.

God is at the center of our lives when we give God thanks, when we offer prayers for those we care about, when we show kindness to someone.

God is at the center of our lives when we actively participate in our Christian community.

All of these things we do have one thing in common, they are inspired by God and we are strengthened by God to do them. Because if I’m being honest, getting up early enough to lead worship at 9:00 am on a Sunday morning would not be my first choice, I’m just not an early bird. But God has called me to this work, has called me to serve you, and I can say that I honestly look forward to being here each week.

God is in and with us, guiding and strengthening us even in hard times. And we can choose to turn away from God. But when we don’t, God is at the center of our lives and will lead us.

I want to end this morning by re-reading the first passage we read today from the Wisdom of Solomon

13For neither is there any god besides you, whose care is for all people, to whom you should prove that you have not judged unjustly 16For your strength is the source of righteousness, and your sovereignty over all causes you to spare all. 17For you show your strength when people doubt the completeness of your power, and you rebuke any insolence among those who know it. 18Although you are sovereign in strength, you judge with mildness, and with great forbearance you govern us; for you have power to act whenever you choose. 19Through such works you have taught your people that the righteous must be kind, and you have filled your children with good hope, because you give repentance for sins.

AMEN.