History Hangs In The Balance
Sermon
Sermons on the Gospel Readings
Series II, Cycle C
One would be hard pressed to find a historical event with so many ramifications equal to these words from Saint Luke's Gospel. In fact, for the devout Christian there is no other! It is a moment when the universe seems to come to a standstill and the angels watch in troubled awe.
You and I observe from afar, indeed, a great distance. Unless we figuratively or literally read the passage on our knees, we are not apt to catch this sublime, serious moment. Yes, and our appreciation may very well remain at surface level, more or less. It is not a moment of timidity but one of pure gratitude.
Historians and theologians record these events today. It is nearly impossible to do so without commentary that shows biases and that is not all bad! Our faith is based upon a few historical happenings that bring earth and heaven together. Explanations simply beg to be given.
While the gospels do not give identical accounts, we cannot miss the similarities. Our Lukan passage is straightforward and would appear not to sugarcoat anything. For that alone, our thanksgivings should be heard throughout the universe.
His innocence is emphasized but guilt prevails. Pilate kept saying over and over that there was not enough evidence to crucify him. The Roman prefect of Judea was the second-longest holder of the office, apparently for ten years or so. In a time of virtually omnipresent intrigue, he was a survivor. It was manifest that he wanted to do the right thing. There just was not enough evidence to convict Jesus for major crimes and have him put to death. Would or could Jesus be considered innocent until proven guilty? The mob would see to it that that would not happen. Innocence of serious charges was not relevant!
Perhaps some of us perceive a goodness and fairness in Pilate that is not allowed to carry the day. It certainly seems he is guided by a sense of justice and fairness. We are close to admiration and begin to wonder if he is an innocent party himself, caught in a web of power politics with a strong, religious overtone. Well, he does disappoint us and yields to the political realities at hand. A man in his position cannot allow substantial unrest in the area assigned to him by Caesar. When it comes to preserving number one and a place of power, we know who and what almost always wins.
The power structure among the Jews insists Jesus is guilty. It seeks no other verdict. It is time to be rid of this pesky fellow who stirs up the people and irritates the ruling Romans. This is not to maintain Jews were generally guilty then ... or now. We must be careful -- even astute -- in handling such a delicate matter. To do otherwise is not only to ask for criticism but to open ourselves to outright dishonesty and even flagrant anti-semitism. If we have stretched our ecumenical and interreligious wings, we know that Jewish people cannot only be friendly they can be friends and even comrades. That is cause for "hallelujahs"!
The hallmark of the situation shows the forces of sinful men colliding with one another and the mysteries of God working themselves out. Do the people responsible for our Lord's crucifixion desire to fight it out with God? Do they believe the will of God does not eventually prevail? Are they deliberately selecting and insisting upon an avenue of action opposed to their Creator? Maybe our answers to such inquiries are summed up in "of course not." The ferocious frenzy to declare him guilty, so crucifixion can take place, may be experienced by you and me as totally irrational and motivated solely by prejudice. But have we forgotten what mobs can do to the innocent? If we have, our memories should be jogged by the lynchings of thousands recorded in our nation.
His followers and friends objected but they are to be pitied. We know his disciples, as well as others, were not at all in agreement with this maddening spectacle. While mostly unrecorded, those who could and did follow him must have said their piece. Since they, at that time, appeared to come mostly from those without significant place and power, what chance did they have in turning back the juggernaut? Let's be honest. The sobering answer is "very little -- if any." Their objections fell on the deaf ears of those who controlled the situation. Who can blame them for their lack of bravery and courage? Are you and I ready to cast stones?
Isn't it amazing the success stories, especially all the healings recorded in Saint Luke's Gospel, have so quickly and unceremoniously gone down the tubes? The meteoric character of his career was there for many to witness. What went wrong? For 2,000 years we have probed this matter. We seem to keep trying to make the story turn out differently. Let's be honest and admit that we are stumped and so much doesn't make sense in the way we want! It isn't enough that our salvation is the outcome. We are tempted to keep on telling the story in a way which communicates that we think it should have happened some other way. In fact, just maybe we could have improved it.
Pity enters at the juncture of visualizing the faithful making little or no difference in the drama unfolding. Why are they so helpless? We suspect there is much cowardice at work. If there is, we would rather not observe it. After all, weren't the earliest of disciples the best and most determined to follow him of all? Shame on you people who objected so meekly and inconsequentially! He told you to be prepared to lay down your lives for your friends and he was the best friend you ever had. Our pity can lead almost instantaneously to a top-heavy judgmental attitude. In short, we accuse people of doing the very things we do.
For some, his unwillingness to save himself must have really irked them. Common sense said there was no good reason for this tragic event to occur. If you are who you say you are, why hesitate in throwing the cross in their faces and walk away victoriously? That's all it would take and the Romans would back down to keep the peace. The Jews, who opposed him, would be discredited and the Master could finish years of essential ministry. As usual with them, plus you and me, salvation history is being made and we refuse to recognize it. How true of our spiritual pilgrimages today! The blessed Lord works in us and through us but we find fault with what is transpiring. Original sins just never seem to go away.
His detractors and enemies jeered but he called for forgiveness. Not only did they shout "crucify him," they sought to hurt and embarrass him at every opportunity. Just to take him out and kill him was not nearly enough. The Master had to undergo punishment after punishment. Most of us do not have the imaginations to get close to the reality of all of this. It was truly hell on earth for a man -- believe it or not -- who pleaded for them to be forgiven. Perhaps the closest we get to the sordid scene is the experience of some prisoners of war. Your captors want you to suffer in great pain before they kill you. The longer death can be put off, the better!
Sprinkled throughout church history are saints who enacted the Lord's call to forgive enemies. Those who hurt them the most were those they begged God to forgive. Can we speak a word about ourselves here? If the answer is in the affirmative, are we prepared to be guided by pristine honesty? We are mostly fair-weather Christians, aren't we? We relish being known for our regular worship attendance and tithing. Those disciplines alone put us above the average and we are self-satisfied. If everyone just did as much as we do, what a wonderful world it would be and how strong the churches would become! We may be tempted to think enough of that and walk on with heads held high, proclaiming our exemplary conduct.
Sometimes we hear serious-minded people saying they don't like God. Well, how can you like an eternal being who tells you to forgive those who harm, humiliate, and hate you in ways totally nonsensical? So, now we come into the area of the nature of God. If Jesus Christ is God in the flesh, then what he says must not only be true, but followed. That helps, doesn't it? We may not want to accept it. We may even find it repugnant. Nevertheless, to be true to our Savior and Lord, we have received our orders. Here we come to terms with what human nature prods us to do and what our Master summons us to do. It is an ongoing tension and with merely human feelings, a terrifying truth.
How can people want to destroy someone as well-meaning and pure as the Man of Galilee? What good or contribution is there in him being crucified? Here we enter the "unreasonable reasonableness" dimension of our salvation. An enigma is presented. A contradiction seemingly irreconcilable makes its way into our minds. Wouldn't it be better just to ignore or evade the guy? We are now getting someplace. Christ was so strong in person and message that people who were around him were pushed to be for or against him. His opposition had mounted. They absolutely refused to change, plus there were those who always wanted to please the power brokers. It is the same story told today across our planet.
His death brought supernatural happenings but the spectacle prevailed. The Lord's demise has brought us to the door of discovery. The criminal has been promised paradise and darkness has covered the land for three awful hours. Then, Jesus cries out to his Father, commending his Spirit to God. They were left with very mixed feelings and thoughts. Whom do we mean by "they"? The answers are many and it is not unlikely there was even something close to unanimity among his own followers. To be sure, the Lord's hardcore enemies must have been ecstatic and yet with the darkness, in particular, must have sensed a fear they had not experienced before. At the other extreme those who loved him deeply must have felt the best part of their lives was over.
The centurion perhaps said the only words that made sense. He praised God and called Jesus innocent or -- better still -- righteous. There was the crystal-clear recognition that this man, so maligned, was someone very special and God was much in the brutal and inhumane scene. It is as though the Roman officer perceived he had just witnessed an event never to be forgotten with God entering history in a supernatural way. We may take it to mean God has allowed the death of a righteous man for a purpose so meaningful and unforgettable that we have only seen the beginning of its import for generations to come. The everlasting and living God gives his gift.
To say the least, it was a spectacle at the moment no one could understand. However, there must be a sense -- even with the prevailing spectacle -- there was more of something to come. Did anyone know what that something was? Who can know for sure but the answer appears almost 100 percent to be completely in the negative. Have we been there before in a much smaller and insignificant way? Perhaps it was during the time of a major tragedy or triumph. We knew, didn't we, that we had not heard the last of it? What we did not know was what was coming, but to be sure, something more was on the horizon. What did the Lord have in store for us? Time would tell.
Yes, as they walked home beating their breasts, and the Master's followers watched at a distance, a new day was at hand. Oh, it was not yet consummated but just wait and see! We believe Luke narrates the story well and reliably. Those present did not know whether or not the worst had come and gone. There were those who remembered. He said that death and resurrection were a part of the fabric of his mission. It would be the culmination of his ministry and all of humankind would be impacted. So much now was hanging in the balance. It was the "not yet" time in salvation history. We were not there but our blessed Lord through his Holy Spirit takes us there, and we are greatly humbled but inspired beyond words to exclaim the gift at hand.
With brilliant directors and actors, Hollywood could hardly produce the colossal event presented to us. It defies human ingenuity and creativity. We are witnesses, as Christians and non-Christians alike, to the unfolding drama prepared by the Father for his Son from the beginning. Man is in a fallen state and must be rescued. It is so bad only the Son by sacrificing himself can bring about a right relationship with the Father. Everyone and everything becomes a part of the supreme revelation to precious people, who are otherwise lost in their sins. It is a no-holds-barred moment in history and failure means eternal gloom and doom.
There is something about such a defining instant -- brief in anyone's measurement -- that penetrates our eternal souls. It is so personal we gasp for breath and hope in painful pangs, bordering on panic. The message is to you and me, isn't it? There is no need to look around and see to whom it applies. Brothers and sisters, we are the ones crying out for a salvation that conquers death, even the worst kind. He had to die for you and me to live. He had to suffer in unconscionable agony for you and me. The ultimate price had been paid and the way was cleared for a victorious resurrection assuring others, including you and me, that there was hope only Jesus Christ could give.
You and I observe from afar, indeed, a great distance. Unless we figuratively or literally read the passage on our knees, we are not apt to catch this sublime, serious moment. Yes, and our appreciation may very well remain at surface level, more or less. It is not a moment of timidity but one of pure gratitude.
Historians and theologians record these events today. It is nearly impossible to do so without commentary that shows biases and that is not all bad! Our faith is based upon a few historical happenings that bring earth and heaven together. Explanations simply beg to be given.
While the gospels do not give identical accounts, we cannot miss the similarities. Our Lukan passage is straightforward and would appear not to sugarcoat anything. For that alone, our thanksgivings should be heard throughout the universe.
His innocence is emphasized but guilt prevails. Pilate kept saying over and over that there was not enough evidence to crucify him. The Roman prefect of Judea was the second-longest holder of the office, apparently for ten years or so. In a time of virtually omnipresent intrigue, he was a survivor. It was manifest that he wanted to do the right thing. There just was not enough evidence to convict Jesus for major crimes and have him put to death. Would or could Jesus be considered innocent until proven guilty? The mob would see to it that that would not happen. Innocence of serious charges was not relevant!
Perhaps some of us perceive a goodness and fairness in Pilate that is not allowed to carry the day. It certainly seems he is guided by a sense of justice and fairness. We are close to admiration and begin to wonder if he is an innocent party himself, caught in a web of power politics with a strong, religious overtone. Well, he does disappoint us and yields to the political realities at hand. A man in his position cannot allow substantial unrest in the area assigned to him by Caesar. When it comes to preserving number one and a place of power, we know who and what almost always wins.
The power structure among the Jews insists Jesus is guilty. It seeks no other verdict. It is time to be rid of this pesky fellow who stirs up the people and irritates the ruling Romans. This is not to maintain Jews were generally guilty then ... or now. We must be careful -- even astute -- in handling such a delicate matter. To do otherwise is not only to ask for criticism but to open ourselves to outright dishonesty and even flagrant anti-semitism. If we have stretched our ecumenical and interreligious wings, we know that Jewish people cannot only be friendly they can be friends and even comrades. That is cause for "hallelujahs"!
The hallmark of the situation shows the forces of sinful men colliding with one another and the mysteries of God working themselves out. Do the people responsible for our Lord's crucifixion desire to fight it out with God? Do they believe the will of God does not eventually prevail? Are they deliberately selecting and insisting upon an avenue of action opposed to their Creator? Maybe our answers to such inquiries are summed up in "of course not." The ferocious frenzy to declare him guilty, so crucifixion can take place, may be experienced by you and me as totally irrational and motivated solely by prejudice. But have we forgotten what mobs can do to the innocent? If we have, our memories should be jogged by the lynchings of thousands recorded in our nation.
His followers and friends objected but they are to be pitied. We know his disciples, as well as others, were not at all in agreement with this maddening spectacle. While mostly unrecorded, those who could and did follow him must have said their piece. Since they, at that time, appeared to come mostly from those without significant place and power, what chance did they have in turning back the juggernaut? Let's be honest. The sobering answer is "very little -- if any." Their objections fell on the deaf ears of those who controlled the situation. Who can blame them for their lack of bravery and courage? Are you and I ready to cast stones?
Isn't it amazing the success stories, especially all the healings recorded in Saint Luke's Gospel, have so quickly and unceremoniously gone down the tubes? The meteoric character of his career was there for many to witness. What went wrong? For 2,000 years we have probed this matter. We seem to keep trying to make the story turn out differently. Let's be honest and admit that we are stumped and so much doesn't make sense in the way we want! It isn't enough that our salvation is the outcome. We are tempted to keep on telling the story in a way which communicates that we think it should have happened some other way. In fact, just maybe we could have improved it.
Pity enters at the juncture of visualizing the faithful making little or no difference in the drama unfolding. Why are they so helpless? We suspect there is much cowardice at work. If there is, we would rather not observe it. After all, weren't the earliest of disciples the best and most determined to follow him of all? Shame on you people who objected so meekly and inconsequentially! He told you to be prepared to lay down your lives for your friends and he was the best friend you ever had. Our pity can lead almost instantaneously to a top-heavy judgmental attitude. In short, we accuse people of doing the very things we do.
For some, his unwillingness to save himself must have really irked them. Common sense said there was no good reason for this tragic event to occur. If you are who you say you are, why hesitate in throwing the cross in their faces and walk away victoriously? That's all it would take and the Romans would back down to keep the peace. The Jews, who opposed him, would be discredited and the Master could finish years of essential ministry. As usual with them, plus you and me, salvation history is being made and we refuse to recognize it. How true of our spiritual pilgrimages today! The blessed Lord works in us and through us but we find fault with what is transpiring. Original sins just never seem to go away.
His detractors and enemies jeered but he called for forgiveness. Not only did they shout "crucify him," they sought to hurt and embarrass him at every opportunity. Just to take him out and kill him was not nearly enough. The Master had to undergo punishment after punishment. Most of us do not have the imaginations to get close to the reality of all of this. It was truly hell on earth for a man -- believe it or not -- who pleaded for them to be forgiven. Perhaps the closest we get to the sordid scene is the experience of some prisoners of war. Your captors want you to suffer in great pain before they kill you. The longer death can be put off, the better!
Sprinkled throughout church history are saints who enacted the Lord's call to forgive enemies. Those who hurt them the most were those they begged God to forgive. Can we speak a word about ourselves here? If the answer is in the affirmative, are we prepared to be guided by pristine honesty? We are mostly fair-weather Christians, aren't we? We relish being known for our regular worship attendance and tithing. Those disciplines alone put us above the average and we are self-satisfied. If everyone just did as much as we do, what a wonderful world it would be and how strong the churches would become! We may be tempted to think enough of that and walk on with heads held high, proclaiming our exemplary conduct.
Sometimes we hear serious-minded people saying they don't like God. Well, how can you like an eternal being who tells you to forgive those who harm, humiliate, and hate you in ways totally nonsensical? So, now we come into the area of the nature of God. If Jesus Christ is God in the flesh, then what he says must not only be true, but followed. That helps, doesn't it? We may not want to accept it. We may even find it repugnant. Nevertheless, to be true to our Savior and Lord, we have received our orders. Here we come to terms with what human nature prods us to do and what our Master summons us to do. It is an ongoing tension and with merely human feelings, a terrifying truth.
How can people want to destroy someone as well-meaning and pure as the Man of Galilee? What good or contribution is there in him being crucified? Here we enter the "unreasonable reasonableness" dimension of our salvation. An enigma is presented. A contradiction seemingly irreconcilable makes its way into our minds. Wouldn't it be better just to ignore or evade the guy? We are now getting someplace. Christ was so strong in person and message that people who were around him were pushed to be for or against him. His opposition had mounted. They absolutely refused to change, plus there were those who always wanted to please the power brokers. It is the same story told today across our planet.
His death brought supernatural happenings but the spectacle prevailed. The Lord's demise has brought us to the door of discovery. The criminal has been promised paradise and darkness has covered the land for three awful hours. Then, Jesus cries out to his Father, commending his Spirit to God. They were left with very mixed feelings and thoughts. Whom do we mean by "they"? The answers are many and it is not unlikely there was even something close to unanimity among his own followers. To be sure, the Lord's hardcore enemies must have been ecstatic and yet with the darkness, in particular, must have sensed a fear they had not experienced before. At the other extreme those who loved him deeply must have felt the best part of their lives was over.
The centurion perhaps said the only words that made sense. He praised God and called Jesus innocent or -- better still -- righteous. There was the crystal-clear recognition that this man, so maligned, was someone very special and God was much in the brutal and inhumane scene. It is as though the Roman officer perceived he had just witnessed an event never to be forgotten with God entering history in a supernatural way. We may take it to mean God has allowed the death of a righteous man for a purpose so meaningful and unforgettable that we have only seen the beginning of its import for generations to come. The everlasting and living God gives his gift.
To say the least, it was a spectacle at the moment no one could understand. However, there must be a sense -- even with the prevailing spectacle -- there was more of something to come. Did anyone know what that something was? Who can know for sure but the answer appears almost 100 percent to be completely in the negative. Have we been there before in a much smaller and insignificant way? Perhaps it was during the time of a major tragedy or triumph. We knew, didn't we, that we had not heard the last of it? What we did not know was what was coming, but to be sure, something more was on the horizon. What did the Lord have in store for us? Time would tell.
Yes, as they walked home beating their breasts, and the Master's followers watched at a distance, a new day was at hand. Oh, it was not yet consummated but just wait and see! We believe Luke narrates the story well and reliably. Those present did not know whether or not the worst had come and gone. There were those who remembered. He said that death and resurrection were a part of the fabric of his mission. It would be the culmination of his ministry and all of humankind would be impacted. So much now was hanging in the balance. It was the "not yet" time in salvation history. We were not there but our blessed Lord through his Holy Spirit takes us there, and we are greatly humbled but inspired beyond words to exclaim the gift at hand.
With brilliant directors and actors, Hollywood could hardly produce the colossal event presented to us. It defies human ingenuity and creativity. We are witnesses, as Christians and non-Christians alike, to the unfolding drama prepared by the Father for his Son from the beginning. Man is in a fallen state and must be rescued. It is so bad only the Son by sacrificing himself can bring about a right relationship with the Father. Everyone and everything becomes a part of the supreme revelation to precious people, who are otherwise lost in their sins. It is a no-holds-barred moment in history and failure means eternal gloom and doom.
There is something about such a defining instant -- brief in anyone's measurement -- that penetrates our eternal souls. It is so personal we gasp for breath and hope in painful pangs, bordering on panic. The message is to you and me, isn't it? There is no need to look around and see to whom it applies. Brothers and sisters, we are the ones crying out for a salvation that conquers death, even the worst kind. He had to die for you and me to live. He had to suffer in unconscionable agony for you and me. The ultimate price had been paid and the way was cleared for a victorious resurrection assuring others, including you and me, that there was hope only Jesus Christ could give.
