Synod Sermon August 30 Gospel: Matthew 16:21-28 21From That Time

Synod Sermon August 30

Gospel: Matthew 16:21-28 21From that time on, [after Peter confessed that Jesus was the Messiah,] Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.” 23But he turned and said to Peter, “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.” 24Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. 26For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life? 27“For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. 28Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

Building Block or Stumbling Block? and How Can You Tell the Difference???

Last week’s gospel had this wonderful statement by Peter: You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God” – and Jesus responded by announcing that it was on the bedrock of that statement of faith that Christ would build his church. And the Catholic Church took that to mean that Peter himself was the building block, the first leader of the church, the first pope, and ever since the pope has been said to be walking in “The Shoes of the Fisherman,” i.e., Peter!

Then comes this, in the very next passage: Jesus says As the Messiah, it will be my lot to suffer and be killed and Peter took it upon himself to take charge of Jesus and “rebuke” him – scold him, tell him he’s wrong. To which Jesus calls him Satan and says he’s now no longer a building block, but a stumbling block.

Peter’s problem was that he presumed he knew what Jesus was up to… and he actually didn’t have the faintest idea of what Jesus was up to. • What Peter thought was the role of the Messiah was the restorer of Israel, the next King David (Remember the crowd hailing him as “Hosanna to the Son of David!” as he did enter Jerusalem?). So of course Jesus was messing up his Messiah role by getting himself killed. Peter figured he knew what the Messiah was all about, and how it was to work out. So when Jesus headed the wrong direction, Peter figured he’d better set him right. • But what Jesus had in mind, as we 2,000 years later now know, was a whole different cut at what the Messiah was ushering in. Not another military coup.. Not a return to power. Not overcoming one empire ruler with another empire ruler. Not overcoming worldly power with greater worldly power. Rather, Jesus was ushering in a whole different path to life abundant – a path of humility, forgiveness, returning hate with love. It had nothing to do with worldly power, and everything to do with a transformation of the spirit, the person… and the whole community of persons.

Peter couldn’t see it. He had gotten the first part right – Jesus was in fact the revelation of God being present among us. But Peter was absolutely clueless when it came to knowing what that meant – where it led, and how it might put this life we live in a whole different light.

His recognition of Jesus had been called the building block for Jesus’ followers, the church. But his lack of understanding of where God was leading was in the next breath called a stumbling block. Peter hadn’t yet figured out the difference. He needed to shift gears, and he had no idea of how the transmission worked!!

That’s not just Peter’s problem. It’s part of the human condition. It’s our problem too. The question lingers over us as well – we who gather in our churches are quick to the statement of faith “Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.” We get that part right. We often get the next part all wrong. Not just us – all through history: • In the centuries following Jesus, the Holy Roman Empire came into being – “Since we now have the power, You’d all better be Christians, or else!” • Crusades – Muslims dominated the holy land, so Western European Christians mounted the crusades, that spread blood and devastation across Europe and the Middle East thinking they were doing God’s will to militarily take Jerusalem back. • Inquisition – the horror of putting “heretics” to death in the time leading up to the Reformation. • A whole string of wars between Catholics and protestants • Even today, around us – we don’t take up arms, maybe, but we still seek to take our faith claims and exercise dominance over others. Being on “God’s side” gives some people the right to steamroll others. But isn’t that why Jesus called Peter a stumbling block? Power and dominance is not the path to the abundant life Jesus holds out. It’s something entirely different. It’s weaving yourself into the fabric of other people’s lives, putting the welfare of others before your own, becoming a part of something larger than just your own self. “Deny yourself, pick up your cross and follow me,” Jesus taught; “the one who wants to save his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit him if he gains the whole world but forfeits his life?” (Matthew 16:25-26)

That is so contrary to the natural way of thinking about things that we still don’t fully latch on to it. So we go the way of seeking status and well-being for ourselves, for our tribe, our country, our niche in the world however we see it, with ourselves at the center.

And that’s a stumbling block to the full life Jesus holds out for us.

Now we enter the political season, and we’ll be snowed with messages and promises for what each candidate will do for us. And if we understand that us to be mostly me, then that’s a stumbling block. Jesus sees our well-being entirely wrapped around the well being of all, especially those with the greatest needs.

Peter got the “building block” part right. He recognized Jesus as the one he wanted to follow. But he didn’t see the path at all, he was thinking about dominance and advantage, and power. And Jesus invited him – and invites us – to recognize instead that following Jesus means setting that aside, loving God and loving the neighbor.

The way the world looks at power and success is not the way Jesus’ people look at it – we see a path of love and compassion and service to others leading to a life that we will be able to look back on and say, along with others, that was a life well lived. Wealth and power and dominance aren’t the stuff that make that path – they’re stumbling blocks on the way to that path. Following Jesus in that kind of life.. that’s what leads us to the life Jesus promised: “I am come that they might have life, and have it abundantly.

Amen.

May the Peace of God that passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

Peter Rogness

First Reading: Jeremiah 15:15-21 Jeremiah’s delight in the word of the LORD is contradicted by the heaviness of God’s hand upon him and God’s seeming unfaithfulness. God’s tough love to Jeremiah says that if he repents, he will be allowed to continue in his strenuous ministry. Jeremiah is strengthened by the simple words, “I am with you.”

15O LORD, you know; remember me and visit me, and bring down retribution for me on my persecutors. In your forbearance do not take me away; know that on your account I suffer insult. 16Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts. 17I did not sit in the company of merrymakers, nor did I rejoice; under the weight of your hand I sat alone, for you had filled me with indignation. 18Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Truly, you are to me like a deceitful brook, like waters that fail.

19Therefore thus says the LORD: If you turn back, I will take you back, and you shall stand before me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall serve as my mouth. It is they who will turn to you, not you who will turn to them. 20And I will make you to this people a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you, but they shall not prevail over you, for I am with you to save you and deliver you, says the LORD. 21I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked, and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless. Psalm: Psalm 26:1-8 Your love is before my eyes; I have walked faithfully with you. (Ps. 26:3)

Second Reading: Romans 12:9-21 Paul presents benchmarks for faithful relationships with Christians and non-Christians. Love is the unflagging standard of our behavior. When we encounter evil, we do not resort to its tactics but seek to overcome it with good. While Christians cannot control the actions and attitudes of others, we seek to live at peace with all people. 9Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; 10love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. 11Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. 13Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. 14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. 17Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. 18If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.