Easter VII +
May 28, 2006 + St. Paul’s, Lake James, N.C.
+ In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit.
A major theme for
today’s liturgy is found in the first reading, an account of how the early
Church understood the importance of leadership.
During his earthly ministry, Jesus had attracted many followers,
some who were completely devoted to him and his teachings, but also others who
were less so. He had selected a kind of inner circle, twelve men (the Apostles)
who, as such, were not only honored by the other followers, but were considered
by them to have positions of authority. The problem we heard about in the
reading from the Book of Acts just a few moments ago was that, with the
treachery and death of Judas, the circle of 12 was broken and it was felt that
something had to be done to restore their full number. In our reading, St. Luke
describes just what the Apostles decided to do about that, and even more, how
they did it. Under the leadership of St. Peter, a two-step process was designed
and followed. First, there was a nomination procedure which resulted in two
names being presented: Joseph Justus (whose nickname was Barsabbas), and
Matthias. The second step had two parts and was the actual selection. The first
part was prayer, and the second the drawing of lots. Matthias was chosen and
joined the eleven Apostles, bringing their number back to twelve.
Well, so what? What meaning, (if any) does that long-ago
selection have for us here in St. Paul’s Church almost 2000 years later? Aside
from being an interesting episode in the history of the Church, what’s it got to
do with you or me?
First, there is
value, great value, in knowing about one’s roots, the history of the
groups with which we identify, the groups of which we are part, such as our
families, our town, our country, and our religion. One way
we do that in Church, is by hearing the Judeo-Christian story told and re-told
in the Bible readings which are such an important part of our worship. But, for
us as Anglican Christians, there is more to it than just knowing
something about the Church’s past, because Christianity is not just
a reminder of the earthly life and ministry of Jesus so long ago. The
Christian religion is a living faith which centers in the now. Jesus not only
was, He is! He not only did, He does!
By God’s
design, a major way God connects with humanity is though the Church, that
mystical body of which Jesus is the head and you and I, along with millions upon
millions of others, are members. With that understanding, let’s consider
the last sentence in today’s Gospel. Jesus said: “As
you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them.”
Who, do you
suppose, are the “them” today?
During Holy Week
and Easter Day, the attention of our Bible readings was on Jesus, his suffering,
death, and resurrection. But then, the stories began to shift so that the
experiences of the Apostles and the holy women who so faithfully followed Jesus
became the focus to teach us that the Church is God’s way of continuing Christ’s
ministry on earth through the centuries and to the end of time.
The One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church is a visible
reality, an institution which is definable and describable. It is a supernatural
body which Jesus promised would be guided by the Holy Spirit into all
truth. And that is so.
BUT, if we are honest, we also know that the Church, as we
experience it, not only can, but does mess up royally! The Church can
bless things it should repudiate and curse things which should be blessed! The
Church is a body within which can be found the most sublime holiness and love,
but it can also be filled with selfishness, blindness, and even just plain evil!
That should be no surprise when we stop to remember that “The Church” isn’t
really an “it” or even “them.” The Church
is us!
Let me share a wonderful old story with you about an artist who
was commissioned to paint a picture of The Last Supper. He went about his town
looking for suitable models and quickly found a big, burly farmer who would be
good as St. Peter, and then an ascetic young man who seemed just right to be
Doubting Thomas. A salesman became St. Andrew and a brilliant student at the
local college was chosen to be Jesus. Within a short time, the artist had found
models for all the figures – except for Judas. Try as he might, he just couldn’t
seem to find anyone who would be right for that role, so the painting could not
be completed. Although the artist put the canvas aside, he never gave up his
search. Wherever he went, he was on the lookout for someone who could represent
the man who had betrayed his Lord. Years passed and then, unexpectedly, he found
his Judas! Slouched at a table in a cheap bar sat a sullen, drunken man whose
appearance and expression almost seemed to shout out a brutish cynicism. The
artist’s intuition told him the man could almost be Judas in the flesh! He
approached the man, explained the project, but got no response at all until he
mentioned that he would pay for the modeling. The drunken man muttered that he
would do it. The canvas was brought out of storage and the painting resumed.
Finally, during the last sitting, just as the artist was applying a few
finishing touches, to his astonishment, the model burst into uncontrollable sobs
and then blurted out: “You don’t remember me at all, do you?” “No” the
painter answered, “I’m afraid I don’t. Have we met before?” Then came the
agonized reply: “I’m the man who once sat as the model for your Christ!”
The fact is that most all of us not only can, but
do model Jesus one day and Judas the next. So, since “the Church” is us,
it follows that “The Church can, and does reflect the holy one minute and the
profane the next. It can be glorious and it can be disgraceful. I suspect
that, if you or I were designing a way to continue the ministry of Jesus through
the centuries of time, we might try to come up with something better, something
purer, something more dependable than “The Church.” We might produce an
automated instrument which would hardly need any human participation at all!
But God didn’t do it that way! Addressing his heavenly Father, Jesus
said “As you sent me into the world, so I sent
them.”
Once again, let me ask: who, do you suppose is the
“them” in our day?
In the Collect for
today, we prayed that God the Father would not leave us comfortless, but,
instead, would send the Holy Spirit – to strengthen us. To strengthen us?
For what? The point is that, as God the Father sent Jesus into the world, so
Jesus sends us, everyone of us. Even you, and even
me. Are you willing to be sent? In the words of one of the dismissals often used
at the end of the liturgy, will you go out from this parish church not only to
love, but to serve the Lord?
Will you do
that? How will you do that?
+ In the Name of
the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
The Reverend
Alfred T. K. Zadig, Sr.
