A Sermon By: The Rt. Rev. Drew Smith for the 8th Sunday after Pentecost
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8TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST JULY 30, 2017
TRINITY AT SAINT MONICA’S HARTFORD
Good morning! I bring you greetings from the Rev. Don Hamer, Rector of Trinity, who at this moment is on summer vacation time, and cannot be with us. And for me, what a joy to be back in Saint Monica’s, to see so many people wth whom I’ve shared so many times.
Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52
Jesus said, ‘Every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.’
Please hold on to that: We’ll get back to that Scripture in a few minutes.
Have you ever thought recently about the unbelievable, beyond imagination, over-the-top special joy nd privilege that you and I have been touched by and called in to?
It’s nothing less than the new order for the world brought by Jesus Christ, the new creation, the kingdom of heaven.
Which is like a tiny mustard seed, the smallest of all seeds, planted by God in God’s creation, planted somehow — each in our own history — in each of us, which can sprout and grow so large that other can find shelter in our branches.
Which is so powerful that it can be mixed into the creation, and, like yeast in dough, can change for good the whole substance, direction, the very being of the created order.
which is like coming across a treasure buried in a field or a finding that perfect gem in a display, discovering something so precious that nothing else matters.
Yes, we each have been touched and caught up into the privilege of knowing God through Jesus, tumbled together even here this morning like so many different fish caught up in a net.
Page Break
Here’s the Tweet: You and I, the kingdom of heaven, the realm of God, the power and love of Jesus Christ. And at the end of the Tweet, we say: Unbelievable!
And it’s true. Hallelujah.
In that beautiful, strength-giving and so-familiar passage from the eighth chapter of Romans that was appointed for us this morning, Saint Paul drives the point home.
We are Velcroed to God, Saint Paul would say if he had known what Velcro is. We are tight, stuck together with the strongest Velcro the world has ever known:
If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else?
And, Who or what will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Of course, we’re not just hanging on to God for the ride, we’re not puppets or robots without sense or purpose or sin. We have responsibility in this divine relationship.
And one of those responsibilities, and privileges, as people of God, is prayer, Solomon prayed. Jesus prayed. That’s a big part of what we’re doing here together this morning, isn’t it: the Eucharist, prayer, deep conversation with no-one other than God who has drawn us in today and put us together. Together with Scripture, and our companionship, and seeking Jesus around us, it’s what keeps us hooked into the divine. Prayer is our privilege and responsibility.
We all know at least some things about prayer — for one, that it’s one mark of the people who know the privilege of seeking to live in the kingdom of heaven even now on this earth.
We know about thanksgiving and adoration, the marks of appreciation, loving God knowing how much God loves this world; and we know about confession, although it’s easy to be generally vague and not too specific when we come to confession prayer; we certainly know Intercession prayer for others — for here our lists pour out to God can get very very very long.
Then there is Petition. That’s when we pray for ourselves. For me. In the “me” world of Lotto and sweepstakes (my uncle always dressed in a coat and tie in expectation on the day of the Publishers’ Clearing House Sweepstakes), my McDonald’s, my Verizon, my rights, my property, my aches and pains (fodder for pharmaceutical drugs’ advertising), the retirement community that advertises it is there for me, the politics of me first — the “Me-ness” can swallow up petitionary prayer,
Here, let’s take a closer look at the example of Solomon. At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, ‘Ask what I should give you.’ “Go ahead, Make your petition.” “Ask me for yourself.”
Solomon, in his asking, said: O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am weak, only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for the sake of this your great people.’
It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. God said to him, ‘Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you wisdom, a wise and discerning mind.
Solomon asked God for something new — specifically to help him become a better leader for God.
It is all right to ask on our own behalf those earthly things that truly we lack, and need, for ourselves. I also think it’s all right to ask for things we want — at least then we hold them up consciously to be seen in the light of the Lord.
But here is the example of Solomon, asking not for himself, but for the grace to be a blessing for others. Not long life. Not riches. But the gift of wisdom — divine grace to apply knowledge with others.
What if in our regular prayers we were to pray as Solomon did? If we asked for some grace, divine gift, maybe brand new for us, that we might better serve God, and our spiritual sisters and brothers — the Church — and the neighbors around us and also people far away? Maybe to become a better listener? A clearer speaker? More patient? More wise? Generosity? Readiness to be open to others, new ideas? Giving up a pattern or habit that stands between you and God? More willing to risk, to give? Taking on leadership in social reform, community justice? Yes, to show more hospitality in the way that has brought Saint Monica’s and Trinity together this morning
If we prayed like Solomon, then maybe the net we cast for Jesus could be made larger, thrown farther, gather more people in; then the mustard bush would grow a little taller, a little fuller, with room for more to find sanctuary, rest. The world would have more yeast to mix into its to make it something new. Others could find the treasure we have found, and buy into it with all they have, purchase the pearl of more value than anything else.
As Solomon did: pray for new graces, new divine gifts, for yourself — t ouse for the building up of the Body of Christ and for the healing of the world. “Make me a blessing, make me a blessing for someone today.”
Then it will be true, as Jesus said: we will be like scribes who have been trained for the kingdom of heaven, like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is old (Blessings already and long received) and what is new (new divine gifts for ministry that might surprise us).’
Rejoice always in the creation of God, and in the new creation in Jesus Christ which we have become. Remember that God sticks close to us, always. Even as we do not know how to pray as we ought, et the Spirit help us in our weakness; the very Spirit who intercedes with sighs too deep for words. Remember too that it is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. God, who hears the prayers and searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Then, ministers of the gospel, may we be like Solomon: to bring out our divine treasure, what is older, and what God gives that is new, and put it to work in the Church and the world, for the glory of the One who has so blessed us beyond anything we can comprehend. To whom be our praise and glory, this day and forever!