PENTECOST IX: August 5, 2001

PENTECOST IX: August 5, 2001

Sometimes - before a Sermon -
A warning or a special notice is in order - like:

"Listener discretion is advised for the those who might have sensitive ears.'

So today's Sermon may contain some items that may be
difficult or unpleasant to hear.

But first to set the scene:

Story of the Watermelon Seeds:

One of the most crucial prayers a Christian can ever make is:

"Lord help me to spend my life on those things that really count for You -
and not just on those things that seem important to me.

*******

Our Old Testament Lesson today is from Ecclesiastes -

In Hebrew - the word Ecclesiastes is Kohelth -
Meaning the Preacher or the Teacher.

Kohelth - the Preacher -

evidently had become disillusioned with life -
and his writings at times seem quite sour.

True he had worked hard and had labored hard to
accumulate wealth and possessions -
and the thought of actually having no power
over who would ultimately inherit all this -

The thought of leaving all he had worked for
to some unknown person - who didn't toil for it.....

Well it just was more that Old Koheleth,
the Preacher could stomach.
The injustice and the unfairness of it all -
just dealt him fits.

However - to Kohelth - we might say:

You know - there are no such guarantees -

Even when we think we have it all planned out
So make peace with this and devote your life
To some other worthwhile issue.

Worry about that - about which you can do something.

There was a time -that I too thought how great it would be -

How great it would be -
if I could leave my kids as much as I possibly could.

Thank God - Thank God -

That's one worry that doesn't plague me anymore.
We've told our children - that mostly -
all you will get from us is some insurance -
that is if there is any left.

For we have other priorities - that to us are much more crucial.

If you could read between the lines -
of what Old Koheleth was saying
more than likely -

What the Old Preacher was so upset about - was
Not only - that there could never be an absolute guarantee
Of who would get his wealth and
his possession and what they would do with it -

But probably more than likely -

what really bothered Old Koheleth - what really was eating at him
was-
that he just couldn't take it with him.

Story: The Three men at a Funeral

The Old Testament Lesson, The Psalm and the Gospel today -
All three emphasize how important it is -
Not to make the accumulation of money and things
your main priority and the center of your life

Yes - how wonderful it is to have enough -
to have enough of this world goods -

But to make it the center of our life -
Is to miss out on the true riches of life -
That we so many times overlook.

Why?-Why?

Because there are other riches
That are of a more lasting and eternal value.

In the Lord's Prayer - there can always be a reference -

A reference or a teaching for most anything -
with which we struggle in our Christian Life.

Jesus - teaches us to pray for our Daily Bread -

that is we pray for - enough - enough for each day -
He also says - not to labor and to spend our lives
Getting as much as we possibly could -

For Jesus also says:-
"Labor for that bread - that food -
which does not perish - but gives eternal life."

A very well known entrepreneur, Armand Hammer -

worth billions - once publicly stated:

"Money is my first, my last and my only love."

One can only imagine how this man -

will face his last few days on this earth -

For 1 doubt very seriously - during his last few days -
if he would want to hold and to finger his collection of gold coins -

I doubt very seriously if he would say to his chauffeur -
"Jeeves - would you please drive the Rolls around front -
so I can look at it again through the upstairs window -
one more time."

More than likely - a person of this sort -
Would feel unbelievable - intense loneliness -

For can there be any more sorrow and pain than to die alone -
Estranged from your relatives and those significant people -
In your life that you have ignored because of your driving ambition -
to accumulate as much as you possibly could?

More than likely - a person of this sort would be overcome -
He would be overcome with regret and grief -
Regret that relationships were not ^ more important in his life -

Regrets that his love for money crowed out and
completely eclipsed
his love and his relationship with God.

The Lessons today are a warning to prepare -

a warning to prepare for that time -
for that time when we have nothing -
when we have no possessions whatsoever -
To claim before God -

When we have nothing to hold up before him - to impress Him -
For at that time - we will all stand before God -
as we came into this world -
Naked - hungry and empty handed.

Then - the only thing we can claim and hold on to -
Is our relationship with the Savior.

At that point - that old Evangelical Hymn comes to my mind:

"Nothing in my hands I bring - simply to Thy Cross I cling."

For at that point - that is all that matters.

For it is then - that we realize that the only thing that lasts and
That is Eternal - is not our possessions -
But it is our Relationship with God
And His Eternal Love.

Jesus in the Gospel Lesson today warns us -
To store up treasures with God -

where moth and rust does not corrupt -
where thieves do not break through and steal -

But Jesus warns us to lay up for ourselves -
treasures in Heaven -

That no one can ever take from us -

Then we will be rich towards God.

That is the kind of wealth -
With which nothing else can compare.

It has taken me a while - more years that I would like to admit

to finally - at least in my mind and heart -
to focus on those things in life -
and in the Church -

That is - those things - those issues -
those really important and crucial things -
for which I will give my life -
and for which I will devote my life.

For there is not enough time -1 don't have enough energy -
I just don 't have the wherewithal to fret over every dot and title -

To engage in every argument -
to be involved in every disagreement -
that too often occupies not only our family life -

but also and especially - too often occupies our Church Life.
*******
Brethren - God help us to focus on the main things in our Church Life !!!

Our Love and our Obedience to God -
And -Our Love for One Another -

Let us give thanks and celebrate our Unity -
Let us accept one another and
Let us make room for one another
And respect one another - with all of our differences -

Thanking God -
that each of us is Unique.

Just as it is true - that in our lives - we can focus too much -
on the accumulation of wealth and possessions
to the exclusion of Family & God -

It is also true - it is unfortunately true -
that in the Church -
we can focus too much on our differences.
*******

What is one of the main blessings of-
The Worldwide Anglican Communion

of which we are a part -
and to which we belong?

To be sure - it is not that we all believe and practice
every dot and title of
The Faith exactly the same.-

For the truth is - that we do not -
and it is not expected that we do.

But the joy, the uniqueness ands the great blessing of Anglicanism

Is not our doctrine - but Anglicanism instead is a Spirit -

A Spirit of Unity -

A Spirit of Unity - in spite of our Diversity -
A Spirit of Inclusiveness-

That we can be together - we can worship together -
we can work together in the same Church -
even though - in our struggle -

Each of us may think differently and we may see things differently

St. Paul reminds us in his famous passage on Love -
in the 13^th Chapter of I Corinthians -

That in the matters of Faith & Practice - "
"We see through a glass darkly" -

In other words - we don't have it all perfectly worked out yet -
at least not in this life.

For we are all still learning - The Eternal Truths of the Gospel
Are something with which we will struggle
to understand all the days of our life.

St. Paul reminds us that the only thing we know for sure is:

Jesus Christ - and Him Crucified - Risen and
Ascended to the Right Hand of God.

For St. Paul - and for each of us -

This Affirmation - is the only constant -
It is the only unequivocal belief
on which we will stand and
from which we will never depart -

So help me God!!!

All else - as the Early Church Fathers use to say is "Adiophora" -

That is Secondary - and to be sure -
Those things are not worth fighting over or dividing over.

Surely - surely - surely - let us once and for all -
Get all that all behind us !!!

Let us acknowledge and celebrate the fact that -

In our differences - In our differences -

yes -even as important as our differences are to us -

Yet we are still called to be One in Christ.

This above all was the foremost desire in our Lords' Heart of Hearts
when He prayed in the Garden ofGethsemane
His High Priestly Prayer:

"Father - that they all may be One even as You and I are One."

Brethren -1 implore you in the Name of Jesus Christ -
To make room for any One-

Any One -

who professes Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior -
For all else fades into secondary and minor importance.

If I had Solomon's Sword -1 could cut things right down the middle -
Thus making sure that all concerned would get exactly the -
same amount of everything they wanted and that was coming to them -
In terms of Church Life, Worship and Music.

However - I am not Solomon - and I do not have Solomon's Sword

So just rest and be assured that we will all try to do all
that is in our corporate and united power and wisdom -

With the Grace of God
To be as Even - and to be as Fair -
as is Humanly possible !

(amen ?)
So - now during this Interim Period -
At least for the next several months -
we will continue our Combined Services

Until we reach that point -
That we can no longer squeeze another person in
Even with a shoe horn.-

And I might add - knowing St. Matthew's Church
and the Way things have been going -
That is entirely within the realm of possibility.
Instead of focusing on those personal druthers in our Church Life -

I would strongly suggest and recommend that-

We look outward for a change -
Which I would admit is a difficult thing to do during an Interim Period.

My insights as your Interim Rector -
Is not to disparage or to sell yourselves short.
For even during this Interim Period -
Your true grit and your commitment is obvious.

And I hereby renew my Commitment to stay with you until -
Until the torch is passed to a New Rector of God's own choosing.
For God will continue to uphold and Bless us mightily -
Yes - even during this Interim Period.

For yet - How proud and how gratified
The People of St. Matthew's Church should be -
Of the part you have played -

In the founding and the formation of at least three Missions -
Christ Church - Cedar Park - St. Phillips and St. Barnabas.
In doing so - you have been fulfilling our Lord's Great Commission to:

"Go into all the world and make Disciples......"

This is at the heart of the Christ Gospel S
This is the kind of work that our Lord -
Must take great joy and great delight in.

This is the kind of work that our Lord Blesses and empowers
With the mighty power of His Holy Spirit.
This is the kind of work that not only reaches out -

But it also reaches in -
And it is that kind of work that -
to be sure - makes St. Matthew's Church grow -
That makes St. Matthew's Church to grow -
Both Spiritually and in Numbers.

Our Bishop - has suggested that St. Matthew's Church -
be instrumental in starting a new Mission in Manor -
A place we're told - that is in store for some
real growth and development.

This is an exciting endeavor !!!
To be in on the ground floor and
The foundation of starting new work -

We look outward for a change -
Which I would admit is a difficult thing to do during an Interim Period.

My insights as your Interim Rector -
Is not to disparage or to sell yourselves short.
For even during this Interim Period -
Your true grit and your commitment is obvious.

And I hereby renew my Commitment to stay with you until -
Until the torch is passed to a New Rector of God's own choosing.
For God will continue to uphold and Bless us mightily -
Yes - even during this Interim Period.

For yet - How proud and how gratified
The People of St. Matthew's Church should be -
Of the part you have played -

In the founding and the formation of at least three Missions -
Christ Church - Cedar Park - St. Phillips and St. Barnabas.
In doing so - you have been fulfilling our Lord's Great Commission to:

"Go into all the world and make Disciples......"

This is at the heart of the Christ Gospel S
This is the kind of work that our Lord -
Must take great joy and great delight in.

This is the kind of work that our Lord Blesses and empowers
With the mighty power of His Holy Spirit.
This is the kind of work that not only reaches out -

But it also reaches in -
And it is that kind of work that -
to be sure - makes St. Matthew's Church grow -
That makes St. Matthew's Church to grow -
Both Spiritually and in Numbers.

Our Bishop - has suggested that St. Matthew's Church -
be instrumental in starting a new Mission in Manor -
A place we're told - that is in store for some
real growth and development.

This is an exciting endeavor !!!
To be in on the ground floor and
The foundation of starting new work -

This is extremely hard for me to understand.

Sometimes - there are other priorities than those things
that seem so special and dear to us..
* * *****

Another man at a Church Meeting -
objected to the Offertory -
Taking up money in the Church -
To him it seemed so crass - so mercenary -

What an interruption it was to him -
In the middle of the Service to be concerned with money -
He said it seemed to him to be so out of place.

To which another man answered: "Yeah - You wish!"

+ + +

Bishop Payne's Story:

The Young Man and The Bible

+ + +

It is true that we can focus on the wrong things -
Letting our personal concerns over ride our relationships
And those things that clearly have the greater priority.

The Scriptures today warn us -
Not to look for those greatest Blessings in life -
In all the wrong places -

For it just maybe - it just may be that -
Those Blessings are right here under our nose -
As we experience our Corporate Life together -

As the Body of Christ - The Church
Made up of all sorts and conditions of men and women -
The Company of all Faithful People.

Well - now that we've got - all that behind us -

Let continue - Let us continue with that -
which we do best here at St. Matthew's Church -

and that for which we were made and created -
The Worship of God -
In a way that shows love and respect for one another !!!

Amen & A m e n !!!

And all the People Say: AMEN!!!

Copyright© 2001 St. Matthew's Episcopal Church