The Courage To Carry On
Sermon
The Courage to Carry On
Sermons for Lent and Easter During Cycle B
Object:
The courage to be, to do, to act, to care, and to be responsible lies at the heart of our existence. It is a challenge that occurs more than once during a lifetime. There are moments when we are tempted to give up and say, "What's the use?" Yet, there is usually something within us that encourages us -- leads us, in fact -- to carry on.
The apostles were at such a crossroads in our first lesson for today. We celebrate the Sunday after the Ascension Of Our Lord or the Seventh Sunday Of Easter. The apostles were living in the "in between" times. Most were probably still grieving, struggling to carry on after their tremendous loss. One could imagine how easy it would have been for any one of them to say, "I can't go on. I'm tired of being on an emotional string. I've had enough. I'm going back to a life that is safe and predictable." We can understand how that reaction would have been possible.
We also understand how life, for the most part, is not lived by clear-cut choices and objectives, as we might prefer, but by circumstances and courageous, unclear choices. John Lennon once said something to the effect that, life is what happens to us while we are making other plans.
Christians tend to see it a little differently. We usually understand our journey in context with grace and faith; in terms of a blessing at Baptism that initiates a guiding influence and a presence. We eventually come to an understanding of our life's journey in terms of being chosen by God and empowered by God's love to carry on, of living expectantly and anticipating God's activity at most any juncture.
Our disciples certainly understood these principles of faith, courage, and purpose. In our lesson, Luke explains how the twelve (eleven, as it were) served as a vital link between the ascended Christ and the church. Amidst their grief they continued to carry on. Scripture was fulfilled with respect to the fate of Judas. Secondly, the twelve were reconstituted with the choice of his successor.
I think there are two very important lessons for us in our story today. First of all, the courage to carry on is often a gift of faith and usually is in context with a mission and purpose in life.
I'm familiar with the layers of discouragement that can happen to us and the bombardment of unfortunate events that can sap our energy and deplete every ounce of motivation. We've been there, done that. But I'm not talking about the sad times. I'm talking about purpose in life, our choices, our perspective, and our opportunities. It's a much bigger picture.
Perhaps to understand it most clearly is to understand the fact that God gives each one of us some opportunity to give and work toward something that matters greatly. The apostles understood what was on the line. They understood the opportunity and the mission.
In our experiences of courage to carry on, we must relearn the truth: Genuine motivation in life comes from choosing to give. That's tough for a culture that has learned how to be on the receiving end very comfortably most of time. But receiving never satisfies like giving.
Best-selling author and sports writer, Mitch Albom, in a recent article in Northwest Airline's World Traveler magazine described the unique relationship he had with Morrie Schwartz, a former professor. One time, Albom confronted Professor Schwartz for always helping others with their problems. "You have bigger problems than they do," said Albom. To which Morrie replied, "Why would I take from people ... taking makes me feel like I'm dying. Giving makes me feel like I'm living."
"That sentence has never left me," said Albom.1
Courage, being truly alive and being enthused with life is always connected in some way to giving ... always!
Will Willimon once related to a group of Duke students at worship that Christian discipleship is never trivial, unimportant, or easy. Willimon said it is, in fact, always energy producing. He then went on to tell a story about a recruiter from Teach America who addressed a crowd at Duke a few years ago. In case you are unfamiliar with Teach America, it is an organization that recruits the nation's best college and university students to go and teach in the most impossible teaching situations in the nation.2
This recruiter from Teach America scanned the crowd of Duke students. She began by saying: "I don't really know why I am here tonight. I can tell just by looking at you that you are probably uninterested in what I have to say. This is one of the best universities in America. You are all successful. That is why you are here, to become an even greater success on Madison Avenue or Wall Street or in law school. And here I stand, trying to recruit some people for the most difficult job you will ever have in your life. I'm out looking for people who want to go into a burned-out classroom in Watts and teach biology. I'm looking for somebody to go into a little one-room schoolhouse in West Virginia and teach kids from six years to thirteen yours old how to read. We had three teachers killed last year in their classrooms! And I can tell, just by looking at you, that none of you want to throw away your lives on anything like that. One the other hand, if by chance there is somebody here who may be interested, I've got these brochures and I am going to leave them down here and will be glad to speak to anybody who is interested. The meeting is over."3
Willimon said all the students jumped up, rushed to the aisles, and ran down to the front, scrambling for pamphlets and applications to Teach America.
Would you agree that most people are eager to give their lives to something more important than themselves? Can you get a glimpse of why the apostles were so committed and encouraged to get on with their mission?
Where might you be along your life's journey? Do you look forward to each day? Are you engaged in something that requires you to give, not take all the time? Is there a zest for life and a perspective of purpose and partnership with God to share with you?
The second lesson of the text is very simple but extremely important. When the apostles chose a process to determine Judas' replacement, they decided to cast lots.
When you call a pastor would you consider lining up a few candidates and drawing straws? You probably would not. We have a much more sophisticated process these days. But think about it as a matter of trusting God to choose and reveal. Is that stupid or is it an expression of confidence, faith, and complete trust in God?
We can learn from the story. Intimate relationships with Christ leads to confidence, strong faith, and yes, complete trust that everything is in the Lord's good keeping.
That's a good way to live, is it not? It's probably the only way to live as Christian disciples.
____________
1. Jane Ammeson, "Do the Right Thing," NWA World Traveler, August/September 2007, p. 52.
2. www.chapel.duke.edu/worship/Sunday/viewsermon.aspx?id=11, p. 4.
3. Ibid, pp. 4-5.
The apostles were at such a crossroads in our first lesson for today. We celebrate the Sunday after the Ascension Of Our Lord or the Seventh Sunday Of Easter. The apostles were living in the "in between" times. Most were probably still grieving, struggling to carry on after their tremendous loss. One could imagine how easy it would have been for any one of them to say, "I can't go on. I'm tired of being on an emotional string. I've had enough. I'm going back to a life that is safe and predictable." We can understand how that reaction would have been possible.
We also understand how life, for the most part, is not lived by clear-cut choices and objectives, as we might prefer, but by circumstances and courageous, unclear choices. John Lennon once said something to the effect that, life is what happens to us while we are making other plans.
Christians tend to see it a little differently. We usually understand our journey in context with grace and faith; in terms of a blessing at Baptism that initiates a guiding influence and a presence. We eventually come to an understanding of our life's journey in terms of being chosen by God and empowered by God's love to carry on, of living expectantly and anticipating God's activity at most any juncture.
Our disciples certainly understood these principles of faith, courage, and purpose. In our lesson, Luke explains how the twelve (eleven, as it were) served as a vital link between the ascended Christ and the church. Amidst their grief they continued to carry on. Scripture was fulfilled with respect to the fate of Judas. Secondly, the twelve were reconstituted with the choice of his successor.
I think there are two very important lessons for us in our story today. First of all, the courage to carry on is often a gift of faith and usually is in context with a mission and purpose in life.
I'm familiar with the layers of discouragement that can happen to us and the bombardment of unfortunate events that can sap our energy and deplete every ounce of motivation. We've been there, done that. But I'm not talking about the sad times. I'm talking about purpose in life, our choices, our perspective, and our opportunities. It's a much bigger picture.
Perhaps to understand it most clearly is to understand the fact that God gives each one of us some opportunity to give and work toward something that matters greatly. The apostles understood what was on the line. They understood the opportunity and the mission.
In our experiences of courage to carry on, we must relearn the truth: Genuine motivation in life comes from choosing to give. That's tough for a culture that has learned how to be on the receiving end very comfortably most of time. But receiving never satisfies like giving.
Best-selling author and sports writer, Mitch Albom, in a recent article in Northwest Airline's World Traveler magazine described the unique relationship he had with Morrie Schwartz, a former professor. One time, Albom confronted Professor Schwartz for always helping others with their problems. "You have bigger problems than they do," said Albom. To which Morrie replied, "Why would I take from people ... taking makes me feel like I'm dying. Giving makes me feel like I'm living."
"That sentence has never left me," said Albom.1
Courage, being truly alive and being enthused with life is always connected in some way to giving ... always!
Will Willimon once related to a group of Duke students at worship that Christian discipleship is never trivial, unimportant, or easy. Willimon said it is, in fact, always energy producing. He then went on to tell a story about a recruiter from Teach America who addressed a crowd at Duke a few years ago. In case you are unfamiliar with Teach America, it is an organization that recruits the nation's best college and university students to go and teach in the most impossible teaching situations in the nation.2
This recruiter from Teach America scanned the crowd of Duke students. She began by saying: "I don't really know why I am here tonight. I can tell just by looking at you that you are probably uninterested in what I have to say. This is one of the best universities in America. You are all successful. That is why you are here, to become an even greater success on Madison Avenue or Wall Street or in law school. And here I stand, trying to recruit some people for the most difficult job you will ever have in your life. I'm out looking for people who want to go into a burned-out classroom in Watts and teach biology. I'm looking for somebody to go into a little one-room schoolhouse in West Virginia and teach kids from six years to thirteen yours old how to read. We had three teachers killed last year in their classrooms! And I can tell, just by looking at you, that none of you want to throw away your lives on anything like that. One the other hand, if by chance there is somebody here who may be interested, I've got these brochures and I am going to leave them down here and will be glad to speak to anybody who is interested. The meeting is over."3
Willimon said all the students jumped up, rushed to the aisles, and ran down to the front, scrambling for pamphlets and applications to Teach America.
Would you agree that most people are eager to give their lives to something more important than themselves? Can you get a glimpse of why the apostles were so committed and encouraged to get on with their mission?
Where might you be along your life's journey? Do you look forward to each day? Are you engaged in something that requires you to give, not take all the time? Is there a zest for life and a perspective of purpose and partnership with God to share with you?
The second lesson of the text is very simple but extremely important. When the apostles chose a process to determine Judas' replacement, they decided to cast lots.
When you call a pastor would you consider lining up a few candidates and drawing straws? You probably would not. We have a much more sophisticated process these days. But think about it as a matter of trusting God to choose and reveal. Is that stupid or is it an expression of confidence, faith, and complete trust in God?
We can learn from the story. Intimate relationships with Christ leads to confidence, strong faith, and yes, complete trust that everything is in the Lord's good keeping.
That's a good way to live, is it not? It's probably the only way to live as Christian disciples.
____________
1. Jane Ammeson, "Do the Right Thing," NWA World Traveler, August/September 2007, p. 52.
2. www.chapel.duke.edu/worship/Sunday/viewsermon.aspx?id=11, p. 4.
3. Ibid, pp. 4-5.
