Sermon - 2020 - 07 - 05

 

John came neither eating nor drinking and they said that he had a demon.  Jesus came into the world and they declared that he was eating and drinking with sinners.  That he was a glutton and drunkard.  People seem to often not be happy.  They are willing to place labels that are negative.  They will find something that they do not like and they will latch on to it and not seem to let it go.  I want you to think back in your life.  Has there been a time that others have judged you and you were labeled?  You were declared to be in this group of people, or worse yet, you were not part of any group at all. 

More often than not, this is done within the high school.  For the first time in our life, we are surrounded by people who are like us and there is a large enough group that we are segmented off from others.  However, in this separation, we also forget and lose the fullness that a community of diversity can offer to us.  When we enter into that diversity, our hearts and minds are opened to more possibilities while realizing that every single person is unique and different in their own way.  

Once we leave school and the familiarity of the groups that we have formed.  We often find ourselves in the world, set adrift.  We are in the midst of an ocean while before we are on the lake.  We begin to question, who we are, what we are doing and we are discovering truly why God has placed us here in the world.  This is often another time when we struggle with fear, doubt, identity but also long for community.  

It is also during this time that we as God’s People are being called to care and reach out to those who are feeling this way.  That when they ask who they are.  We are able to help them discover that God has created them for a reason and purpose in this world.  When we ask, what are we doing?  We may invite them into the ministry and life that is found in this community to be part of God’s People and working in the Kingdom of God.  While the last one, discovering why God has placed us here in the world, that this is something that takes our whole life to unfold before us and starts with our Baptism and is complete when we are standing in God’s Presence.  

However, we are people and we struggle to accept help and reach out to others who are in need.  Yes, people will often declare how hard things are in this world, but that is often the case when we are not allowing God to carry the heavy burdens and we are trying to do it all ourselves.  Worse yet is when we doubt the calling by God to be in community together.  To be able to contribute and offer our skills, time, talents, and unique self that we are to the greater community, this is when we are able to do so much in the world.  This is when we enter into the community that God has placed us in and we are able to work together and truly raise up the gentle and loving arms that God is calling us to share with one another.  This is when we realize that God is the one who has helped us through so much and will, at long last, help you find rest for your soul.  

Yes, the calling of Jesus that we are talking about is a lifelong journey.  It is one though that does not always have a clear starting point, one that can have many twists and turns because it is your own journey.  However, it is not a journey that we face alone. So this message is for the individuals, to hear and know the love, grace, and mercy that Jesus is sharing with YOU today.  That YOU matter, YOU are loved, and YOU belong.  And this message is the community, instead of waiting for someone, invite them into the conversation, bring them along to the ministry and let them know that they can be part of it. Allow people to grow and shape you in ways that are going to help you grow closer together and closer to God within the world.  Amen.