Church of the Good Shepherd
3700 Rutherford Street
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17111-1997
The Reverend Kester T. Sobers, III, Pastor
Saint Bartholomew,
Apostle
2003
2003
We've all been through it. You inquire about a plan, or contemplate a major purchase and you sit through a detailed presentation of your options, the benefits, and most importantly the cost to you, either up front in in installments. Eventually the time comes to decide. My lease having run out necessitating my purchase of a new car was a recent example. The latest virus scare has caused a flood of advertisements for upgrades for "firewalls" and "filters" for the computer. I usually get about a third of the way through the explanations and the so-called "agreement" and decide to take my chances with the virus!
We have just been through five weeks of Jesus' essential discourse from the Gospel of John that interrupted our Year of Mark, and then, given the readings for this day, we are called to make difficult decisions: Joshua commanded the people, after presenting all the options: "Choose this day whom you will serve." Paul asks for the prayers of the people that he may proclaim a mysterious gospel with boldness, a gospel that makes him an "ambassador in chains" as he is literally constrained to preach. And, to return to John, literally the most difficult to swallow, the words of Jesus, "Those who eat may flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them."
"When many of the disciples heard it, they said, 'This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?'Jesus asked, 'Does this offend you?'" Jesus knew full well that what he was saying was indeed offensive for all the reasons we have been talking about for the last four weeks! The text even tells us that he knew who would betray him! But, he also outlines for us what I am sure you remember from your Catechism: "I cannot be my own reason or strength cannot believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to him." Jesus said, "No one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father."
And Simon Peter answered, "Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life," That kind of question and answer pattern that are a kind of biblical catechism are far different from the pros and cons of a particular car or its financing plan, or the "agreements" we enter into when we protect our computers from a virus or our homes from termites or radon. We are asking and answering ultimate questions, life and death questions. Whom will you ultimately serve? How will you live your life? And whose life do you want to dwell within you? Literally what and whom will you eat so that you may have eternal life?
We celebrate both a saint and a martyr today. His choice was life in Christ, but a painful and cruel death was the doorway to that life. Bartholomew, quite possibly, even probably Nathanael, is the subject of a touching call to discipleship. He was himself skeptical that anything good could come out of Jesus' hometown, but his encounter with Jesus is a tender welcome and he becomes faithful even to death!
Bartholomew is such an example of ordinary people and ordinary faith. He is like us, often prejudiced, opinionated, closed minded, but transformed by the love of Jesus, the tough love of Jesus, where even when the demands are heavy, the words about himself difficult to accept, let alone believe, but by and through even us, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, amazing and wonderful things are accomplished.
As we reach the end of this important and essential discourse, I am reminded of the time and patience that it takes to make bread. From the checking of the date on a package of yeast to make sure that its living nature is viable, or the even greater antiquity of a sourdough that can indeed be centuries old. To the "blooming" of the yeast in water of just the right temperature, to the "proofing" and the "kneading," and just the right amount of baking time until the hard crust yields just the perfect hollow note when tapped. So too is the essential understanding of a gift that we are given with o strings attached, but yet carries with it an obligation to grow within, around, in, and through it for a lifetime of faithfulness that leads not always to pleasure but often to pain, not to promises of wealth, but even poverty and degradation for the sake of it. Remember Paul? "Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel."
If we want the joy and satisfaction of freshly baked bread from the oven, we are willing to go through the process. Peter's response to Jesus' question is one that admits the difficulty of discipleship, even faithfulness to someone from Nazareth, a fact that our saint of the day would question, even faithfulness to one who proclaims, "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" or one who says, "Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself" or one who would say, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me." Or one who would say, "Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven." Or finally one who would require that we eat his flesh and drink his blood.
"Do you also want to go away?" Imagine Jesus as he stands before you today asking each and every one of us that highly personal intimate question. According to a recent Gallup poll, a whopping 72% have answered that question in the affirmation.
It's up to us simple Bartholomews, Nathanaels, the faithful remnant 35% of us not only to speak the words, but live the words as a potent witness, "As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." AMEN
--K.T.S.
August 24, 2003
August 24, 2003
First Reading: Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18
Psalm 34:15-22
Second Reading: Ephesians 6:10-20
Gospel: John 6:56-69
Spiritual Growth & Resources