Sermon - 2016-06-19
Today, we are confronted with two texts of Scripture that bring us an understanding of our faith and perhaps even the world around us. In Paul’s letter to the Galatians, we hear of Paul declaring that the Law is a disciplinarian. One that we have turned to over and over again BUT now that Christ has come. We are no longer in need of the LAW. The Law guided us and bound us to what it was we were suppose to do through “Thou shalt…” It was the means by which we were called to show others that we were disciplined in doing what God calls us to do. However, now that Christ, the Son of God, has now come before us. The law is no longer what we are striving for but it is faith in Jesus Christ. The law was the prison that kept us disciplined but Christ set us free. Yet there is another aspect that we must look at. The Law, also kept us safe. It drew a line in the sand and we could easily see by the actions of people if they were following the Law. We could see if a person was saved or not saved by where they stood.
When Christ came, the law was done. Now we live by faith in Jesus Christ. It is our actions and the way in which we share the love of Jesus to the world that we make known to the community, nation, and world that we are indeed Christians. But there is a reality here that we must also name and I think confronts us within the church. To be inside, we find ourselves feeling safe. Nothing can get at us, nothing can harm us, and nothing can lead us astray as long as we are in the law, in the prison, or in the church. Yet remember, Christ set us free. In that freedom, we may get harmed. We may experience people, places and even fear. This may cause us to want to stay in the church or in the law, however, we are called out to go forth and be disciples, to be proclaimers and to be beacons of light in the dark world.
So what does all of this look like? I think that the gospel lessons highlights this wonderfully. Jesus goes with his disciples into the lands of the Gerasenes. These are not Jewish people, they do not live out the law. They raise pigs, which are forbidden to be eaten within Jewish tradition. To even enter a house of the people here would mean that Jesus and the disciples would be unclean and in need to be cleaned once returning. However, Jesus goes there to the people and particularly one man, as soon as they arrive wonders what Jesus is going to be doing there. The demon within the man immediately knows Jesus but Jesus does not know who is the demon. The demon is worried that his torment will begin even though the demon has been tormenting the man. The demon begs to go into the swine that are nearby but once the demons entered into the animals, the demons drowned them.
Now look closely, no one wants Jesus there. The disciples did not want to be there. The demon did not want Jesus there. The swine herders did not want Jesus there; for he killed their whole herd. However, let us take note. Jesus is the one who enacting change and bringing healing where it needs to happen. Not only that but that man became an agent change in the lives of others who he encountered. THIS is what it means to be a disciple and follower of Christ: to bring healing and love to a people, to restore them to wholeness in the community and to enter into their community. This is what we are called to do, be that agent of change within the community, nation, and world to bring healing and love to the whole people starting with the ones who are outside of it all.
When Christ came, the law was done. Now we live by faith in Jesus Christ. It is our actions and the way in which we share the love of Jesus to the world that we make known to the community, nation, and world that we are indeed Christians. But there is a reality here that we must also name and I think confronts us within the church. To be inside, we find ourselves feeling safe. Nothing can get at us, nothing can harm us, and nothing can lead us astray as long as we are in the law, in the prison, or in the church. Yet remember, Christ set us free. In that freedom, we may get harmed. We may experience people, places and even fear. This may cause us to want to stay in the church or in the law, however, we are called out to go forth and be disciples, to be proclaimers and to be beacons of light in the dark world.
So what does all of this look like? I think that the gospel lessons highlights this wonderfully. Jesus goes with his disciples into the lands of the Gerasenes. These are not Jewish people, they do not live out the law. They raise pigs, which are forbidden to be eaten within Jewish tradition. To even enter a house of the people here would mean that Jesus and the disciples would be unclean and in need to be cleaned once returning. However, Jesus goes there to the people and particularly one man, as soon as they arrive wonders what Jesus is going to be doing there. The demon within the man immediately knows Jesus but Jesus does not know who is the demon. The demon is worried that his torment will begin even though the demon has been tormenting the man. The demon begs to go into the swine that are nearby but once the demons entered into the animals, the demons drowned them.
Now look closely, no one wants Jesus there. The disciples did not want to be there. The demon did not want Jesus there. The swine herders did not want Jesus there; for he killed their whole herd. However, let us take note. Jesus is the one who enacting change and bringing healing where it needs to happen. Not only that but that man became an agent change in the lives of others who he encountered. THIS is what it means to be a disciple and follower of Christ: to bring healing and love to a people, to restore them to wholeness in the community and to enter into their community. This is what we are called to do, be that agent of change within the community, nation, and world to bring healing and love to the whole people starting with the ones who are outside of it all.
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