Resurrection Faith: Our Source For Accomplishment
Sermon
Sermons On The First Readings
Series I, Cycle B
Joshua and the Children, by Joseph Girzone, the second in a multi-volume series that describes the life and ministry of a messianic figure named Joshua, tells a tale of the creation of peace in the midst of a sea of hatred and long-standing rivalry. Joshua appeared unceremoniously one day in a small town, typical for the area. The town was host to four different churches, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Wesleyan, but these Christian communions were divided, with the Protestants and the Catholics not seeing eye-to-eye with each other, a condition which had been the lived experience of the people for many generations. Joshua had a plan to break the cycle of hatred and the violence which often accompanied it; he began to work with children and show them that peace and harmony between peoples was possible.
Each day Joshua, whose origin was uncertain and whose carefree attitude toward life, organized religion, and politics was quite unique, met with the children in the town square. He played games with the children, showed them some wonderful magic, and even played music (although rather poorly) with them. But most importantly, Joshua taught the children that division between peoples because of religion need not be the reality; there was no reason why Catholics and Protestants could not work together, be friends, and live in peace. Joshua had great faith; he spoke to his Father frequently and gained strength for his mission from these numerous conversations. This was a strange concept, even to the children, who from the day of their birth had been taught to be wary of and even hate those who were not like them. Joshua organized the children in a march to the neighboring city, a march for peace and unity. He organized a soccer game, not between the two groups, but between two teams whose members belonged to both groups. The parents were impressed, but they began to wonder who this person was and to question his motive. For the adults, what Joshua had accomplished was too good to be true and, thus, they continued to be wary.
Joshua's unusual personality and what he was doing attracted lots of attention. Everyone in town knew him. He was a frequent guest to the houses of many, and he appreciated the invitations because he had no house of his own. Joshua worshiped at all four churches at different times. He often told people who questioned his movement between congregations that his Father was present with all people. No one group had a monopoly on the favor of God. Joshua also attracted lots of attention in other places. The Catholic and the Anglican bishops came to meet him and were so impressed that they issued a joint statement endorsing his good work with the children with the hope that it would be fostered and continued. A local paper came and interviewed him and his children disciples, making him a celebrity.
The forces of evil, those who did not want the status quo of hatred and violence to be disturbed, raised their ugly head. A plot was hatched against Joshua by people from both sides. They could not stand the fact that one man's faith and initiative had accomplished so much in a relatively short amount of time. They came to the village square where Joshua was instructing the children as he did most every day. Shots rang out. Joshua was hit, so too was a little girl, to the horror of the marksman who through his scope saw he had shot his own daughter. But with his last ounces of strength Joshua reached out and touched the girl, and she was instantly made whole once again. Joshua died that day, but the next day when people looked into the coffin prepared for his burial they found nothing. What had happened to this man of peace who taught the people what was possible with faith? No one would ever know for sure.
Joshua was a man who possessed total faith amidst a sea of people, in the town and nation, who purposely chose to have none. He was able to accomplish the impossible, to bring peace to the hearts and minds of people through his work with children while others continued to spread hatred and violence. Joshua, the man of faith, the Christ who came to that small town, won the day, challenging others to follow his lead.
Saint Peter, as he is depicted in the Acts of the Apostles, possessed great faith in the Lord, but as we can recall, he did not begin that way. In the Gospel, Peter is portrayed as one who does not understand Jesus' plan. As soon as the Lord tells Peter he is the rock, he then reveals that suffering and death are in the future. This is something Peter cannot imagine: "God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you." Jesus must reprimand one of his chosen twelve, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things" (Matthew 16:22-23). Peter, as we also recall, was the one, who, when Jesus needed him the most, denied the Lord three times.
The resurrection obviously made a great difference in Peter's life. Somehow he was transformed into a new person, one filled with hope. As today's lesson tells us, he is filled with the Holy Spirit. Now Peter can speak out boldly and courageously; he can act with total confidence in the name of Jesus. The resurrection has filled him with so much faith that he is able to do what is humanly impossible. Peter acts in the place of Christ; he does good deeds and heals because his newfound faith, generated by the resurrection, is centered in the one who can do all things for all people at all times.
The ruling Jewish religious officials were concerned about the source of the disciples' teaching. They were worried that emphasis on the resurrection could lead to a major insurrection that might bring serious political repercussions. But Peter was not concerned about what his actions would cost the Jewish leaders. He needed to demonstrate that his renewed faith in Jesus was the source of the good he had accomplished. Peter wanted others to know that his example was not unique; others who possessed great faith in the resurrection of Jesus could do incredible things as well. Peter's actions imply that since salvation comes through only one name, that all must make a commitment to that name -- Jesus of Nazareth.
Faith must be the true source of all that we do, but, unfortunately, there are people who feel that the source of their accomplishment is their own initiative and work. No right-thinking person would deny that hard work is absolutely necessary for the accomplishment of tasks and the achievement of goals. Personal initiative is equally important. If we cannot find the strength, motivation, and initiative daily to do what God asks of us, nothing will ever be accomplished. God gives us much talent, many opportunities, plus the purpose and initiative for our endeavors; we have all the tools necessary. Thus, we must acknowledge and fully own the reality that God is the ultimate source of what we do. If we think that we have done it alone, that God was not involved from the very outset, then our thinking is skewed, limited, and even foolish. Unfortunately, too many people in our world think this way, and their limited vision and scope directly curtail and possibly produce adverse effects on what they do and how much they accomplish.
Some people do not possess the requisite faith and thus limit their effectiveness and ability to accomplish things that seem beyond their reason, time, or talent. Many Americans these days have lost faith in the government process. They see partisan politics and gridlock rampant in the national Congress, as well as state and local governments. This lack of faith is manifest most noticeably through the great apathy that people today take toward voting, their general lack of interest in the electoral process, and their disinterest in what happens in our state and national capitals. Many people have lost faith in institutions. When the school, company, or fraternal organization does not do things "our way," following a method or path which we know is clearly wrong, we become upset and lose faith.
People today have lost faith in systems and policies as well. We have difficulty understanding and, thus, accepting why "the system" or the policy of some group necessitates so much "red tape." We become frustrated, grow impatient, and at times even angry. Our feelings oftentimes translate into a lack of faith in the system and policies that are used. We refuse to participate; we opt out. People today often lose faith in the judicial system. The system of juris prudence used in the United States is probably the best available, but it is highly imperfect. How many times have we seen people who are clearly (at least in our minds) guilty set free on some legal technicality or superficial error by the police or an attorney? How many times have well-trained lawyers been able to manipulate the system toward a verdict that in the minds of many is clearly in error? There are times as well when innocent people are unjustly convicted and serve long sentences before the error is discovered and rectified.
Possibly our most notable loss of faith is when we can no longer trust people. How many times have family members, trusted friends, or associates let us down or disappointed us? Sometimes people don't come through; they fail to meet their commitments. When we need people the most, they fail to be present. Such occurrences create a loss of faith in us.
Unquestionably the ultimate source of faith we need is in Christ and the power of his resurrection. Jesus tells us in the Gospels, "If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to the mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you" (Luke 17:6). On one level this seems like a small amount of faith, only a mustard seed of faith is necessary for such a monumental, superhuman task, but Jesus is referring to true, unquestioning, and unconditional faith in him and the message his Father gave to the world. The apostles, after the resurrection, possessed this true and uncompromising faith, allowing them to go forward -- to preach, to heal, and to witness so powerfully in the midst of a hostile world, one that was not open to their new way nor the message their Master, Jesus Christ, had given to the world. To most, as today's lesson tells us, Jesus was the stone rejected by the builders, but to those who believe, those who were transformed by the resurrection, he became the cornerstone of their lives. Without Jesus we can accomplish some things. We can operate and complete the limited and finite tasks of our world, but with Jesus and, most importantly, true, unconditional faith in his resurrection, we can do what seems to be impossible. We can say to the mulberry tree, "Be uprooted and planted in the sea," and it will happen.
Today's active, busy, and increasingly complex world throws us many "curve balls," people, events, circumstances, and situations that we might label as trials of faith. We are asked to negotiate these obstacles and hurdles, but the accomplishment of these endeavors, the ability to get to the other side of our trials of faith and accomplish the many tasks that come our way, can only happen when we possess absolute faith in the resurrected Christ. The Easter event must, therefore, be transformative in our lives as it was in the lives of those first followers of Jesus. The reason to celebrate the Easter season is to demonstrate its efficacy in our lives. Jesus' rising from the dead 2,000 years ago must be the source of ultimate hope for our world. If we truly believe that the Lord conquered the grave and destroyed the death of sin forever, then our attitude and our faith can be translated into actions of great accomplishment. Without our faith in the power of the resurrection, however, what we accomplish will be limited, for it will be only what is humanly possible.
Great faith in the resurrection is the solution to the loss of faith which our world so deeply experiences today. Faith in Jesus' ability to conquer death will allow us to negotiate through the trials of life -- sickness and death, unemployment, disappointments, loss, and failure. Our uncompromising belief in the resurrection will bring new hope so we can regain confidence in government, institutions, systems and policies, the judicial system, and, most importantly, people. With faith we can accomplish the different tasks that today seem impossible, at least at the outset. If we trust sufficiently in the power of the resurrection to transform our lives, as it did Peter and the other apostles, then we truly will accomplish great things.
In Joseph Girzone's book Joshua and the Children, a messianic figure with absolute and uncompromising faith in his Father organizes a grass roots program to bring people together in order to end years of violence and hatred. People felt the situation was hopeless and, thus, they had given up. Even good church-going folks believed the situation was beyond change. But Joshua showed what could be accomplished through great faith. In a similar way Peter, transformed by the power of the resurrection into a man of unconditional faith in Christ, was able to accomplish wonderful things. We can do the same!
As we celebrate the Easter season, let us seek the faith that Jesus possessed in his Father. Let us be transformed by the power of the resurrection. May we accomplish great things through faith, moving day-by-day closer to Jesus, salvation, and eternal life with God.
Each day Joshua, whose origin was uncertain and whose carefree attitude toward life, organized religion, and politics was quite unique, met with the children in the town square. He played games with the children, showed them some wonderful magic, and even played music (although rather poorly) with them. But most importantly, Joshua taught the children that division between peoples because of religion need not be the reality; there was no reason why Catholics and Protestants could not work together, be friends, and live in peace. Joshua had great faith; he spoke to his Father frequently and gained strength for his mission from these numerous conversations. This was a strange concept, even to the children, who from the day of their birth had been taught to be wary of and even hate those who were not like them. Joshua organized the children in a march to the neighboring city, a march for peace and unity. He organized a soccer game, not between the two groups, but between two teams whose members belonged to both groups. The parents were impressed, but they began to wonder who this person was and to question his motive. For the adults, what Joshua had accomplished was too good to be true and, thus, they continued to be wary.
Joshua's unusual personality and what he was doing attracted lots of attention. Everyone in town knew him. He was a frequent guest to the houses of many, and he appreciated the invitations because he had no house of his own. Joshua worshiped at all four churches at different times. He often told people who questioned his movement between congregations that his Father was present with all people. No one group had a monopoly on the favor of God. Joshua also attracted lots of attention in other places. The Catholic and the Anglican bishops came to meet him and were so impressed that they issued a joint statement endorsing his good work with the children with the hope that it would be fostered and continued. A local paper came and interviewed him and his children disciples, making him a celebrity.
The forces of evil, those who did not want the status quo of hatred and violence to be disturbed, raised their ugly head. A plot was hatched against Joshua by people from both sides. They could not stand the fact that one man's faith and initiative had accomplished so much in a relatively short amount of time. They came to the village square where Joshua was instructing the children as he did most every day. Shots rang out. Joshua was hit, so too was a little girl, to the horror of the marksman who through his scope saw he had shot his own daughter. But with his last ounces of strength Joshua reached out and touched the girl, and she was instantly made whole once again. Joshua died that day, but the next day when people looked into the coffin prepared for his burial they found nothing. What had happened to this man of peace who taught the people what was possible with faith? No one would ever know for sure.
Joshua was a man who possessed total faith amidst a sea of people, in the town and nation, who purposely chose to have none. He was able to accomplish the impossible, to bring peace to the hearts and minds of people through his work with children while others continued to spread hatred and violence. Joshua, the man of faith, the Christ who came to that small town, won the day, challenging others to follow his lead.
Saint Peter, as he is depicted in the Acts of the Apostles, possessed great faith in the Lord, but as we can recall, he did not begin that way. In the Gospel, Peter is portrayed as one who does not understand Jesus' plan. As soon as the Lord tells Peter he is the rock, he then reveals that suffering and death are in the future. This is something Peter cannot imagine: "God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you." Jesus must reprimand one of his chosen twelve, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things" (Matthew 16:22-23). Peter, as we also recall, was the one, who, when Jesus needed him the most, denied the Lord three times.
The resurrection obviously made a great difference in Peter's life. Somehow he was transformed into a new person, one filled with hope. As today's lesson tells us, he is filled with the Holy Spirit. Now Peter can speak out boldly and courageously; he can act with total confidence in the name of Jesus. The resurrection has filled him with so much faith that he is able to do what is humanly impossible. Peter acts in the place of Christ; he does good deeds and heals because his newfound faith, generated by the resurrection, is centered in the one who can do all things for all people at all times.
The ruling Jewish religious officials were concerned about the source of the disciples' teaching. They were worried that emphasis on the resurrection could lead to a major insurrection that might bring serious political repercussions. But Peter was not concerned about what his actions would cost the Jewish leaders. He needed to demonstrate that his renewed faith in Jesus was the source of the good he had accomplished. Peter wanted others to know that his example was not unique; others who possessed great faith in the resurrection of Jesus could do incredible things as well. Peter's actions imply that since salvation comes through only one name, that all must make a commitment to that name -- Jesus of Nazareth.
Faith must be the true source of all that we do, but, unfortunately, there are people who feel that the source of their accomplishment is their own initiative and work. No right-thinking person would deny that hard work is absolutely necessary for the accomplishment of tasks and the achievement of goals. Personal initiative is equally important. If we cannot find the strength, motivation, and initiative daily to do what God asks of us, nothing will ever be accomplished. God gives us much talent, many opportunities, plus the purpose and initiative for our endeavors; we have all the tools necessary. Thus, we must acknowledge and fully own the reality that God is the ultimate source of what we do. If we think that we have done it alone, that God was not involved from the very outset, then our thinking is skewed, limited, and even foolish. Unfortunately, too many people in our world think this way, and their limited vision and scope directly curtail and possibly produce adverse effects on what they do and how much they accomplish.
Some people do not possess the requisite faith and thus limit their effectiveness and ability to accomplish things that seem beyond their reason, time, or talent. Many Americans these days have lost faith in the government process. They see partisan politics and gridlock rampant in the national Congress, as well as state and local governments. This lack of faith is manifest most noticeably through the great apathy that people today take toward voting, their general lack of interest in the electoral process, and their disinterest in what happens in our state and national capitals. Many people have lost faith in institutions. When the school, company, or fraternal organization does not do things "our way," following a method or path which we know is clearly wrong, we become upset and lose faith.
People today have lost faith in systems and policies as well. We have difficulty understanding and, thus, accepting why "the system" or the policy of some group necessitates so much "red tape." We become frustrated, grow impatient, and at times even angry. Our feelings oftentimes translate into a lack of faith in the system and policies that are used. We refuse to participate; we opt out. People today often lose faith in the judicial system. The system of juris prudence used in the United States is probably the best available, but it is highly imperfect. How many times have we seen people who are clearly (at least in our minds) guilty set free on some legal technicality or superficial error by the police or an attorney? How many times have well-trained lawyers been able to manipulate the system toward a verdict that in the minds of many is clearly in error? There are times as well when innocent people are unjustly convicted and serve long sentences before the error is discovered and rectified.
Possibly our most notable loss of faith is when we can no longer trust people. How many times have family members, trusted friends, or associates let us down or disappointed us? Sometimes people don't come through; they fail to meet their commitments. When we need people the most, they fail to be present. Such occurrences create a loss of faith in us.
Unquestionably the ultimate source of faith we need is in Christ and the power of his resurrection. Jesus tells us in the Gospels, "If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to the mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you" (Luke 17:6). On one level this seems like a small amount of faith, only a mustard seed of faith is necessary for such a monumental, superhuman task, but Jesus is referring to true, unquestioning, and unconditional faith in him and the message his Father gave to the world. The apostles, after the resurrection, possessed this true and uncompromising faith, allowing them to go forward -- to preach, to heal, and to witness so powerfully in the midst of a hostile world, one that was not open to their new way nor the message their Master, Jesus Christ, had given to the world. To most, as today's lesson tells us, Jesus was the stone rejected by the builders, but to those who believe, those who were transformed by the resurrection, he became the cornerstone of their lives. Without Jesus we can accomplish some things. We can operate and complete the limited and finite tasks of our world, but with Jesus and, most importantly, true, unconditional faith in his resurrection, we can do what seems to be impossible. We can say to the mulberry tree, "Be uprooted and planted in the sea," and it will happen.
Today's active, busy, and increasingly complex world throws us many "curve balls," people, events, circumstances, and situations that we might label as trials of faith. We are asked to negotiate these obstacles and hurdles, but the accomplishment of these endeavors, the ability to get to the other side of our trials of faith and accomplish the many tasks that come our way, can only happen when we possess absolute faith in the resurrected Christ. The Easter event must, therefore, be transformative in our lives as it was in the lives of those first followers of Jesus. The reason to celebrate the Easter season is to demonstrate its efficacy in our lives. Jesus' rising from the dead 2,000 years ago must be the source of ultimate hope for our world. If we truly believe that the Lord conquered the grave and destroyed the death of sin forever, then our attitude and our faith can be translated into actions of great accomplishment. Without our faith in the power of the resurrection, however, what we accomplish will be limited, for it will be only what is humanly possible.
Great faith in the resurrection is the solution to the loss of faith which our world so deeply experiences today. Faith in Jesus' ability to conquer death will allow us to negotiate through the trials of life -- sickness and death, unemployment, disappointments, loss, and failure. Our uncompromising belief in the resurrection will bring new hope so we can regain confidence in government, institutions, systems and policies, the judicial system, and, most importantly, people. With faith we can accomplish the different tasks that today seem impossible, at least at the outset. If we trust sufficiently in the power of the resurrection to transform our lives, as it did Peter and the other apostles, then we truly will accomplish great things.
In Joseph Girzone's book Joshua and the Children, a messianic figure with absolute and uncompromising faith in his Father organizes a grass roots program to bring people together in order to end years of violence and hatred. People felt the situation was hopeless and, thus, they had given up. Even good church-going folks believed the situation was beyond change. But Joshua showed what could be accomplished through great faith. In a similar way Peter, transformed by the power of the resurrection into a man of unconditional faith in Christ, was able to accomplish wonderful things. We can do the same!
As we celebrate the Easter season, let us seek the faith that Jesus possessed in his Father. Let us be transformed by the power of the resurrection. May we accomplish great things through faith, moving day-by-day closer to Jesus, salvation, and eternal life with God.
