Meditation: The Ultimate Reward From: The Rev. Nathanael Saint-Pierre Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday April 13, 2014 We invite you to worship with us during our 10:30 AM Service of Holy Eucharist to hear the full sermon. The Ultimate Reward The ultimate reward for someone who tries to translate ideals into reality is apt to be frustration and defeat. It is not always the case, but it happened like that for Jesus and for many important figures of our society, a few exceptions aside. The child who was born in humility but with glory, acclaimed by kings and shepherds, proclaimed Messiah by the Prophets, the man who healed the sick, comforted the needy, met Moses and Elijah on the top of a mountain, who was transfigured and resurrected Lazarus, came to the end of his days a broken and defeated lonely man. Is that the way we should treat our people? Is that the way we should treat those who are willing to give themselves up for the sake of others? The Pharisees, the Sadducees and the Zealots were not ready to go on an unknown adventure with Jesus. Therefore, they tried to kill the idea of change he incarnates. But an idea cannot be killed; one can fight an idea with a better idea. Unfortunately when we dont have a better idea to offer, our tendency is to reduce the idea bearer to nothing or to chase him out so we can maintain the status quo, doing things the way we know best. Palm Sunday is a great time for us to think about our prejudices, our betrayals, our desires for control, and give them up to take up our cross. Palm Sunday is one of the times to think about the ridicule Jesus was subjected to and realize that we did that to God. It is one of the times that we should realize that we have to change our ways... Because we have not. We change the way we keep doing the same things but we dont change the wrong things we do. We dont stone people anymore but we bully people, we dont crucify people anymore but we gun down people, we mock people, we betray people, we backstab people, we deny people, we disown people, we repudiate people, we abnegate people, we steal from people, we exploit people, we lie to people, we lie about people, we abuse people, we spread rumors about people, we put people down, we judge people, we condemn people. All of that to portray ourselves as the better ones, ignoring that make up is make up, fake is fake, plastic surgery alters ones face but does not change the person underneath; sooner or later our true colors will show. The tiger cannot change its stripes. Nothing can be kept hidden from God and it is foolish to think otherwise. Maybe today, we should apply this notion introduced by Michael Curry, Bishop of North Carolina, that we should thrive to share the love of God and not Gods tyranny. To you, the people God has called and brought here for his word, listen: 1. The group of people you see cheering you will be the same to cry “Crucify!”; theyll cheer you as long as they believe you are an idiot, theyll cheer you as long as you allow them to do what they want, theyll cheer you as long as you accept their wrongdoing as if it is right, theyll cheer you as long as you say yes to any request. Theyll crucify you the first time you say no and every time after that. Theyll crucify you for redistributing the gifts of God and extend it for the benefit of those really in need. But we have a choice between being popular and having integrity, being corrupted or standing for accountability. Being a king or queen with a crown or a defeated man or woman with a cross. 2. Stand by your good ideas and trust your God. God is not calling you to be where you are in vain. What did you do to be where you are? Have you called up the departed to orchestrate a coup? Have you been a politician thirsty for revenge, blood and power? If your ideas conform to your faith and conform to the letter and spirit of God, be ready to die for them. A life lost in Christ and for Christ is an eternal life won in Christ 3. There is no resurrection without death, no Easter without Good Friday. No (triumph) crown without a cross. + + + + + + + St Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church 286-290 Henry Street New York NY 10002
Posted on: Fri, 11 Apr 2014 16:47:36 +0000
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