About Calvary

Education

Events

Fellowship

Links 

Music

People

Sermons

Service

Worship

Home

The Rev. Christopher Brdlik
June 27, 2010 --- The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

Once or twice a week I like to leave the TV on after the late news and weather to watch a few minutes of the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Sometimes Jay does a funny thing called “Jay-walking,” where he walks out on the street with a microphone and camera and asks passersby simple questions, easy ones, really. But often people cannot answer them, or at least they pretend they can’t. On one occasion about this time of year he asked about our nation’s birthday: What holiday is coming up?  One woman answered, “The Fourth of July.” What does it celebrate?  “July fourth,” she said. But why, what does that mean? “Oh,” she answered, “Independence.”  Independence from whom?  A long pause. Then she said, “America?” A man about 30 was asked what famous general was in charge of the army. He answered, “Churchill.” A woman identified herself as an instructor at a college in business and general education. Jay asked her the year of independence. She said, “1922.” He corrected her to 1776.  After that she wouldn’t tell him what college she taught in. It’s a good thing he didn’t ask any of them to sing the National Anthem. 

Simple questions have easy answers, but that doesn’t mean they’ll always be answered correctly. Much more is that the case for difficult questions. Our scripture lessons this morning present us with the theme of questions, both easy and difficult. The reading from Hebrew scripture, the story of Elijah and Elisha, raises the matter of a transition of leadership from one to another, which is an easy question to answer (I believe). But first, today’s gospel (Luke 9:51-62) relates how Jesus once found himself in a series of difficult questions and circumstances whose answers were not always what people wanted to hear; and he has to do a lot of rebuking in it. 

A perceived insult to Jesus and his followers prompted James and John to volunteer to rain down fire upon the perpetrators, the Samaritans. How useful a talent it would be if we could call fire to rain down on those who oppose us!  But that was not Jesus’ way. Again and again the gospels record that he tried to teach the disciples the Christian path was peace and reconciliation, not revenge and retaliation.  Moreover, in this story, Jesus was determined to make his way to Jerusalem. He had set his face to go there, the capital of jealous political and religious power, where his life itself would become a demonstration of what he taught, by offering himself for the Cross and Resurrection. Along the way, a man volunteered, rather insincerely, to follow Jesus wherever he went. Jesus detected his lack of commitment and declared to the man that true discipleship has few concrete benefits.  Following Jesus would not lead to material wealth or a promotion of honor in a new kingdom. Even foxes and birds have more domestic security than the determined disciple. A Christian is granted spiritual security, knowing that his or her existential relationship with God is on firm footing, which is its own reward. Then finally a memorable exchange with a man who said he wanted to follow, but first he had to bury his father. This potential disciple was rebuked not because he had immediate family responsibilities he wanted to honor.  By saying he had to bury his father he meant he intended to wait out his father’s life, and get his inheritance before he would follow Jesus.  The man’s answer does not mean he wanted to comfort a loved one with a terminal illness, in the last days of life. Obviously Jesus would have honored a sincere commitment to compassion.  Instead, the man wanted to postpone his discipleship with Jesus, maybe for a long time, until he inherited the family estate. For that man Jesus had a hard answer: “Let the dead bury their own dead.” And to another in similar circumstances, he said, “Don’t look back with regret after putting your hand to the plow.” 

The question of true discipleship is a difficult one. And difficult questions get hard answers. They aren’t always what we’d like to hear about the circumstances of daily life. But answering them faithfully does lead to eternal life. Today’s gospel reading is all about the determination of Jesus to stick to God’s plan and encourage us to follow. But it’s clear from the responses he got, not always was everyone ready, willing, or able to follow Christ in the Way of the Cross. Even so, he never wavered from maintaining that eternal life begins now.  There is no better time than right now to become a determined disciple. 

The young Hebrew Holy Man, Elisha, had been prepared by determination and commitment to become a disciple of Israel’s greatest prophet, Elijah, then to succeed Elijah, becoming the prophetic leader in his place, when the time had come for change. Keep this story in mind, for it is one of those times when the Bible has something to teach us about transitions, about changes in leadership. 

Now here is a simple question that most people think does not have an answer they like: Do you like change? No one likes change much, right? Whether it’s our school, or business, or our community, or our nation, what you hear, what you encounter, is that people tend to resist change. Especially this seems to be true about change in the Church. But a wise commentator on church affairs has found that it is possible for people in the Church to love change, if they perceive change as a blessing. “People don’t come to Church because they want to be changed, they want to be blessed.”

A blessing is a change in which the outcome is more valuable than the starting place, plus the cost of getting there. If you can’t see that a change will be valuable, then it is natural -- it is, perhaps, wise -- to resist the change. 

We clergy (and other professionals) are frequently told that we are called to be effective agents of change. After 33 years of ministry, I know that to be true.  How often have I had to shepherd a vestry or a congregation through difficult decisions.  If we did not grow or adapt or evolve or change, the Church would rapidly become irrelevant.  But perhaps a broader view of our calling would be to get the Church out of the change management business, and get back in the blessing business. I believe young Elisha is an example of this truth in today’s first reading (2 Kings 1:1-2, 6-14).When faced with change – the departure of his mentor and leader, Elijah – what did Elisha do?  Two things: He pledged his faithfulness, and he asked for a blessing. 

As Calvary Church now faces a time of transition and change, what should your reaction be? And what should the parish do? Here’s what I think: Understand the nature of blessings, and how this parish may be a place of multiple blessing.  Involve and engage the people of the parish in a process of discovering what is truly valuable and how it may be increased, so that this becomes a transition of blessing that all can welcome and celebrate, not just a change to be resisted.  Answer the easy questions in the same way that Elijah and Elisha did, and Jesus, and General Washington, too, for that matter – by pledging your faithfulness and loyalty as a disciple. The example of true discipleship is the willingness to pick up and follow, without excuses, conditions, or reservations.  True discipleship requires determination and commitment, and allows for no excuses or postponements. When the mantle is passed, the true disciple accepts it. When that happens among the people of Calvary Church, the parish will become a blessing. And the transition becomes a flowering of new ministry.  

To me, the matter of transition is this simple, but that doesn’t mean we will get it right. Simple questions have easy answers, but that doesn’t mean they’ll always be answered correctly. I believe it is up to every member to answer correctly now that they will be faithful disciples, determined to follow and support, and looking expectantly for the blessings to come. For, when Christian people can’t even get the easy answers right (like the Jaywalkers), how will we answer the difficult questions?

© copyright 2010, Christopher Brdlik

Back to Sermons