FALL 2022 PREACHING SERIES 6: Disciples Are Witnesses

Today we continue our Fall preaching series on DISCIPLESHIP, the sixth part entitled: DISCIPLES are witnesses.

Disciples tell their story about what God has done for them. Disciples also tell each other the truth about their lives … about their uncertainties, their joys, their doubts, their fears, sorrows and successes. To witness means to have knowledge about a person or an event from personal observation or experience.

What does it mean then, given our faith in Jesus, to be a Christian witness? How and where and when do we talk about knowing Jesus? About loving Jesus? About following Jesus … without sounding like a phony or some kind of a freak?

The Book of Acts explains that the saving message of Jesus was first trusted to an intimate group and then began to spread, as per his instructions. He said to them:

You will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).

Today, we are his witnesses! But, how does this happen when so many of us never, ever even mention his name, except, perhaps in an expletive!?

I know that many of us Catholics struggle to be authentic witnesses to the work of Christ in our lives. And when we struggle and become uncomfortable, sometimes I think we reverse “witnessing” from telling others about our relationship with Christ, to focusing and correcting the shortcomings and sins of others. We become self-appointed judges, or kind of the Catholic police – but that’s not witnessing … it’s not even close!

It’s fascinating to me that evangelical Churches “train” their members how to be witnesses. They coach their congregants on how to tell the story of Christ in their everyday life. Perhaps it’s time for us in the Catholic Church to do the same? Interestingly, one group outlines EIGHT ESSENTIALS FOR INTRODUCING OTHERS TO JESUS CHRIST. Here they are:

1. You must know Christ personally.

2. You must have no unconfessed sin in your life.

3. You must be filled with the Holy Spirit.

4. You must be prepared to witness.

5. You must pray.

6. You must go to those who need Christ.

7. You must talk about Jesus Christ.

8. You must expect results.

None of those seem to be so foreign to our beliefs and teachings. I might add to the list, that:

· You celebrate the sacraments regularly.

· And you remember and pray to his Mother Mary.

Do you witness?

How do you witness to Christ?

What are the struggles you have in witnessing to Christ and our faith?

Where do we turn for help when we struggle with witnessing?

The Old Testament reading today from Exodus may help. First, let’s be sure we know what’s happening:

We read about a battle. The Amalekites were a fierce desert tribe, unhappy about strangers coming into their territory. They became one of Israel’s enemies in the early periods of their history.

Shortly after the Exodus, the Amalekites attacked Israel, but Israel succeeded in repulsing the attack. The battle took place at Rephidim – the last stopping-place of the Israelites on the Exodus from Egypt before they reached Mount Sinai. The enmity between the Israelites and Amalekites became so deep that it lasted for generations. Listen again:

The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with staff of God in my hands”.

So, Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.

When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up – one on one side, one on the other – so that his hands remained steady till sunset. So, Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.

The Staff of God was a symbol of Moses’ leadership and evidence of God’s authority for his actions. With the staff of God, Moses had performed wonders in Egypt and even instructed Aaron to use his staff for similar purposes. The staff of God represents the power and presence of God with God’s people in their time of need.

Interestingly, unlike all the other instances of its use, the outstretched staff in the hand of Moses is not immediately fully effective during the battle. When he holds up his arms and the staff, the Israelites prevail, whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites seized the initiative.

When someone holds up your arms or supports you -- when someone says they will fight for you, or defend you – surely, you never forget it and you deeply appreciate it ... their support empowers you … encourages you … We all need people like that in our life. And we all can be people like that for others too!

That’s part of the Christian witnessing we are called to participate in … holding up those who are down, supporting those who are without, defending and speaking out for the vulnerable, the voiceless, the little ones in society … all in the name of Jesus … that’s part of our Christian witness.

Today’s Gospel is from the 17th chapter of Luke where we find Jesus speaking of the nature of God’s realm. As he often does, to help us better understand this, Jesus tells us a story – a parable – that speaks to this question. In the parable of the unjust judge we encounter a person who doesn’t fear God. That is, this judge, this leader of the community, has no sense of God’s majesty. He is his own god. He makes his own rules and administers them in ways that suits his own welfare.

He’s pragmatic in his realization that he won’t get any peace until he gives this woman who comes to him continuously seeking justice what she desires. She’s not easily deterred. She keeps knocking. She keeps holding vigil. In other words, she’s made herself a pest. And so, he gives her what she asks for, simply to get rid of her. The unjust judge gives way to the woman because of her persistence – just to get her off his back.

Jesus invites us to be persistent in our prayers too – not because God is disinclined to answer us unless we make a lot of noise – but because this is his definition of faithfulness. If God is faithful, then shouldn’t we also be faithful?

Part of being faithful is also about telling our story … our personal story of faith … how God has touched our live and given us grace, hope and healing. If this were a Pentecostal Church, I would invite right now someone to come forward and give testimony … to tell their story, but I’m afraid if I did that some of you would faint … others would walk out … some may even be angry … so I won’t … but that doesn’t let anyone off the hook. I know that its not easy to talk about Jesus. And there are barriers …

Some have suggested that there are three “sound barriers” to witnessing. These are much like the sound barrier through which an airplane passes. There is much stress and nervousness.

The first “sound barrier” is just starting to mention to a person the name of Jesus Christ and the value of knowing Him. Once we get the conversation around from girls, guys, food, politics, etc., to spiritual things, we have broken the first barrier. It is hard to do, and it never becomes easy. Try it!

The second “sound barrier” is to ask the person what they know about Christ. That nervous feeling returns once again. We must blast through this one also. Remember, many people, when they are invited are only too happy to share who Jesus Christ is and what He has done for them.

The last barrier is the most difficult. If the person has no religion or gets a bit anxious, invite him/her to join you … first to listen to your faith story … and to encourage them to look to and trust Christ for their own life. Maybe even invite them to pray with you … or come here with you.

This is our work, our challenge this week … to become better witnesses to our faith … to become more and more comfortable with telling our story and to be supportive of one another to do the same.

Disciples know Jesus. Disciples know the Bible. Disciples know the Christian faith. Disciples make faith a way of life. Disciples worship God. Disciples are witnesses … so let’s get to it!

RSM

FALL 2022 PREACHING SERIES 5: Disciples Worship God

October 9, 2022 – 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Today we continue our Fall preaching series on DISCIPLESHIP, the fifth part entitled: DISCIPLES worship God.

Disciples who worship God are people whose hearts are filled with love for the source of life – for the God by whom we were created and on whom we depend. Disciples worship God through different types of prayer, by thanking God for God’s blessings, and also by petitioning God for our own needs and those of others.

How do you worship God? Are you a pray-er? A thank-er? A Petition-er? Or a bit of all of them and perhaps even some more?

Recently I was working in another parish with some Confirmation candidates, and I asked them if they were in charge of the Church, what would they change? … one student, in fact, the first student, said, I would make Church a lot shorter.

While some of you may agree with him, I have to say, I left that day a bit sad, feeling that we have done a really bad job with our young people and perhaps even with our “not so young” people … I mean, if the best insight is that worshipping God together, once a week on Sunday, for less than one hour, is too long … we’ve really missed the boat!

I mean, when we put the timer on and see that:

1. A football game is more than an hour long and people even come early …

2. A Broadway show is usually at least about 90 minutes … and people reserve sometimes months ahead …

3. And religious services in other denominations can have sermons that alone can last more than 25 minutes … and then the social and fellowship follow!

What’s happened to us? Have we become too busy to worship our God? What’s the rush? Where are we all going? And why do some people regularly come late and insist on leaving mass early, even before I do? What’s the deal?

In the Old Testament reading today from the Book of Kings we hear the story of the healing of Naaman. He was the general in charge of Syria’s army. He was important and powerful. He also had a disease.

Because Naaman was important and powerful, he had servants. One of them was a captured Israelite girl who told Naaman’s wife about a prophet in her home country who could cure Naaman.

Because Naaman was important and powerful, he had resources. Because he had resources, he was able to set out for Israel to visit Elisha, the prophet the servant was talking about. He took a lot of money and other valuables with him in case the prophet’s services required steep payment. In the end, they were not necessary.

Ultimately, God healed Naaman, and God worked through the servant and through Elisha to create the opportunity for healing. The servant and the prophet were both God’s people, and as God’s people they contributed to Naaman’s healing.

Note that Elisha did not accept any of Naaman’s gifts but said that it was God who had healed him. Naaman returned to his home in Syria, happy and thankful. Naaman’s gratitude was expressed in his promising to serve and worship only the one true God, the God of Israel.

Today’s Gospel is also about healing. It takes up a couple of Luke’s favorite themes: Jesus’ attitude to people who were excluded from society; and those considered to be foreigners … and he uses them, the outsiders, to give the example.

In the time of Jesus - and for centuries after - leprosy was a dreaded disease. It caused horrible disfigurement and there was no known remedy. Still worse was the suspicion that leprosy was a divine punishment. The only solution at the time was to forbid sufferers from coming into contact with other human beings - as Luke describes the scene - the lepers stand some way off. Jesus tells them to go and show themselves to the priests - for it is they who can decide whether the person is really cured and so able to rejoin the community.

As they do as Jesus told them, they all find that they have been cured. For most of them, the only aim is to go to the priests and back to their families - and so they continue on their way.

But one cannot simply go to the priests to be allowed back - he is a Samaritan and would only meet with contempt from any Jewish priest. Unable to take the route laid before the others, he returns to the One who healed him and praises God for the great thing that has been done for him.

Jesus contrasts his behavior with that of the others. Those who should have recognized the hand of God in their healing were continuing on their way. They would go to the Temple to give thanks to God in the prescribed ways - making sacrifices and so on. With no Temple building to go to, the Samaritan, in fact, finds his way to the Living Temple, that is Jesus. He finds the presence of God in the person of Jesus - and he gives thanks.

The Samaritan encountered the healing love of God in the person of Jesus Christ and here he, and we too, are being reminded not to take that great healing love for granted. It is a love that is great enough to embrace the whole world - and is not bound by human boundaries. It is a love that is freely given and our response can often only be a wondering gratitude and meaningful worship.

· What is the end goal of worshiping God?

· What is the true purpose of our worship?

· Is it just to check off an item on our Christian to-do list?

· Is it to keep from feeling guilty?

· Is it done out of habit or ritual?

It is none of these. The purpose of our worship is to know God more deeply. Whether we have been worshiping Him for one year or one hundred years, the purpose is the same. We worship God so that we can know Him more.

The more we know Him, the more we will want to worship Him. And the more we worship Him, the more deeply we will know Him. This cycle will continue throughout eternity.

Disciples know Jesus. Disciples know the Bible. Disciples know the Christian faith. Disciples make faith a way of life. Disciples worship God … regularly and without a time limit. Let’s work harder to worship our God … in the spirit of Naaman, the Samaritan and all saints who give us good example.

RSM

FALL 2022 PREACHING SERIES 4: Disciples make faith a way of life

Today we continue our Fall preaching series on DISCIPLESHIP, the fourth part entitled: DISCIPLES make faith a way of life.

Discipleship is the knowledge of faith becoming a way of life. It is not enough to know the content of the Scriptures or to simply understand the richness of Christian beliefs. Disciples need to actively participate in faith as a way of life – living into faith that is simultaneously centered in God yet genuinely our own, balancing tradition and experience, as well as text and context, embracing both our dreams and our current realities. A living faith happens today, and every day, facing whatever joys or sorrows are now on our daily agenda ...

Making faith a way of life begs the more basic question, what is your/my way of life? Perhaps a better way to ask it may be: What is our current life philosophy? While there are many different answers to this question, here are a few … does any of them sound like you?

1. Nihilism

The most well-known form of nihilism is focused on the assertion that life has no inherent purpose, goal, or intrinsic value. Simplified, it’s the belief that life is utterly pointless.

2. Hedonism

Hedonism is centered around the belief that pleasure is the only thing that has intrinsic value. Basically, a hedonist makes pleasure the ultimate goal of any and all of his/her actions and choices in life.

3. Stoicism

Stoicism is a philosophy that focuses on training yourself to improve through training and conditioning.

And there are many, many more…

When we think about making the Christian faith into a way of life it can seem almost impossible, not only because there will be so many different models and variations, but more so because we are surrounded by so many who espouse these and other philosophies that seem to run contrary to our belief system as Christians.

But what would the life of a disciple look like who was working to make Christianity a way of life? While it’s surely not an easy answer, nor is there a specific checklist that captures all the aspects, the Bible teaches that the Christian life is one of constant growth. Baptism welcomes us into God’s family as the first step. By that sacrament, we underline that it is God’s purpose that we will grow into full stature and become mature in Christ. That growth implies steady development, constant enlargement, and increasing wisdom, but it doesn’t happen automatically … we have to take the lead …

Billy Graham, the famous evangelist included these as his hallmarks of one who was striving to make Christianity a way of life. One who:

1. Reads the Bible daily and hides the Word of God in one’s heart because all we need is there.

2. Learns the secret of prayer because prayer is communicating.

3. Relies constantly on the Holy Spirit.

4. Attends church regularly, not out of obligation but because the visible church is Christ’s organization upon earth. And more so because Christians need one another, to gather together to worship God.

5. Is a witnessing Christian, by life and by word – and the two should go hand in hand.

6. Lets love be the ruling principle of one’s life. The greatest demonstration of the fact that we are Christians is that we love one another.

7. Is obedient, letting Christ have first place in all the choices of our life.

8. Learns how to meet temptation. Temptation is not sin. It is yielding that is sin. He says that we should let Christ through the Holy Spirit do the fighting for us.

9. Is a wholesome Christian. Our lives and appearance should commend the Gospel and make it attractive to others.

10.Lives above our circumstances. Graham says we should learn to live graciously within them, realizing the Lord Himself is always with us.

The Old Testament passage today is from the book of Habakkuk. Habakkuk is one of the most poignant and painful books in the Bible.

Judah has evidently been faced first with corruption and then with invasion, and for each the prophet goes to God in prayer, searching for help or explanations for the crimes.

For Habakkuk, the issue is theodicy, how can we justify the goodness of God and the powerfulness of God, with the presence of evil. The heart of the book consists of a prayer dialogue between Habakkuk (about whom we know nothing) and God (Yahweh), concerning the theological meaning behind the atrocities that have befallen his country. It seems that he wrote when Babylonian armies were ravaging Judah, before the fall of Jerusalem in 587 BC, but the problem is really universal.

One could easily envision someone from Ukraine today making the same cries, or any one of a number of other countries that are going through political or economic or military ravages. For that matter, anyone we know whose body is being ravaged by MS or MD or cancer or Leukemia or any grindingly debilitating terminal disease, can identify with the tears of Habakkuk when he saw the end coming and looked to God for an explanation. His pain is a universal, physical, emotional, and “theodical” pain that many of us can surely identify with.

Perhaps many have hesitated to make Christianity a way of life because in light of all the suffering in the world and even in some hearts, we share the penetrating question:

“Aren’t you God? Why do you allow this misery to happen to your people? And then we ask one another, “Does God really care?”

The Gospel may give us some consolation because throughout Luke’s Gospel, we hear that even the closest followers of Jesus had a “mixed” level of faith. On one hand, they have left homes and jobs and families in order to follow Jesus, but it has not been easy. They encountered hostility from many who opposed Jesus but still they stuck around, even for this final journey toward Jerusalem, and even when they have received a warning of what is to come.

At the same time, in our own world’s days of turmoil and fear, we can empathize with the disciples when faith wavers. When the wind roars and the waves batter their boat as they cross the Sea of Galilee, even as Jesus sleeps beside them, they are overwhelmed by terror. “Where is your faith?” Jesus asks, after calming the storm. Later, he chides their limited trust in God. “If God clothes the grass … how much more will [God] clothe you — you of little faith!.

It’s a bit of a consolation to me to know that proximity to Jesus does not guarantee unwavering faith. Faith is not defined primarily by cognitive certainty, nor acceptance of proper theological constructs, nor even necessarily by people who consider themselves to be closest to Jesus. Living faith manifests itself in many ways, by a variety of people.

· Living faith is persistence in reaching out to Jesus and trusting in Jesus’ power and authority;

· Living faith is responding with love to forgiveness received, and not letting fear get the upper hand;

· Living faith is being willing to take risks that challenge the status quo;

· Living faith is giving praise to God and having confidence in God’s desire for justice.

· Living faith is being willing to ask Jesus for what we need.

Disciples know Jesus. Disciples know the Bible. Disciples know the Christian faith. Disciples try, despite all the challenges to make faith a way of life, living faithfully each day while we are being transformed by it. As we try, let’s be patient without ourselves, because it’s the work of a lifetime!

RSM