Four years ago, standing in this pulpit with a first opportunity to preach I believe I began with a story. I’d like to go close my ministry here the same way. Let’s begin with prayer…
God of all creation, on this Father’s Day we celebrate not only fathers, but you as the great guide and parent of us all. On this final day of my ministry at First Church Santa Monica I simply want to say thank you to you for the opportunity to serve among such wonderful saints. I think of Ralph Hedges, Marilyn Adkins, Libbie Ranslem and so many others who are now living and abiding with you. I thank you for those saints gathered in this sanctuary and the many who shared that they would be unable to be here this morning. Guide all of us in this time of worship and may the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts both gathered and scattered be acceptable in thy sight for you are our strength, our hope, our future and our redeemer. Amen.
And so the story…It was a beautiful morning, a morning that simply took your breath away. The early morning mist was dissipating and, as it was coming up over the coastal mountains, the sun glinted off the water as though reflecting off of millions of small diamonds. The chill of the early morning hours was slowly giving way to the warmth that everyone knew would come. It was truly the Sea of Galilee in all of its glory.
Now, if you looked carefully on the far shore you could just catch the glimpse of a figure standing on a small knoll. His arms were crossed as though he were in control of the universe. He was looking out over the water when his attention was drawn to the line of people coming around the end of lake.
(Story of the Little Girl and Jesus)
He held her close, rocking her back and forth, back and forth, back and forth and finally in a quiet whisper that all could here he said, “if any would enter the kingdom of heaven, they would be like this child here…” And she fell asleep in his arms.
So I ask you this morning, where do you see yourself in this story? The gospel lesson read by Noel gives us a little help; some monikers that help us identify certain groups in the stories told by Matthew. Matthew divides a similar group, a very similar gathering gathered around the one they sought to follow into two and then three somewhat distinctive groups. Matthew first mentions the crowd, then the disciples and finally identifies twelve as apostles.
Those in the crowd are those individuals and families gathered just to see the show, listen to the new rabbi and go home somewhat unchanged, maybe even unchallenged. They are interested but they are not followers. They are the largest group identified in both stories. Matthew calls them sheep without a shepherd; those in need of compassion, and the potential harvest; and according to Matthew, cities and towns are filled with them. Then there are those that follow Jesus, sit at his feet in a much more intimate way, whose lives may be changed, who have given up their old life for a new one, but who may or may not take it any further than the listening phase. Those, according to Matthew, are disciples. We know there were at least one hundred and twenty identified. Yet there is another group identified in the gospel read this morning. To identify them we need to go back to Jesus and take a few minutes to look at what he did – as a laborer in the potential harvest.
In the story I shared, Jesus goes to the little girl. He leaves the comfort of the circle. Found her where she was and then dealt with her by crouching, listening, wiping away her tears, and hearing her concerns. He then took a secondary action and lifted her out of that place and placed her in the safety of his arms. He confronted that which kept her where she didn’t need to be. She found pure comfort and acceptance in her new place and relaxed to the point of absolute peace – shalom – a peace that passes understanding. In the purest sense of the word - Jesus became in both stories what others were to become. By going to her, finding her where she was, Jesus became a model as the one sent for all of those like the little girl.
The two key words in what Noel read were “Jesus sent...” It was and is the “sending” and the response of going that turns a disciple into the third identified group: that of becoming an apostle. It is the sending that puts the teaching to practice and actions to the words. It’s the sending that sets some apart. But there is a challenge. I believe we’ve so elevated the word that it has lost its meaning. An apostle is simply one who is sent and goes to do the work – like the twelve, like Paul, and potentially like us. So, which are you? Are you the crowd? Are you a sheep without a shepherd? Are you a disciple? Or are you an apostle? Maybe more importantly than what you are is what do you intend to be? What are you striving to become? I think at times in our lives we are one or more of the characters in the story I told. But what sets us apart is the intentional decision to allow ourselves to be sent and then to go.
I’ve spent four years seeking to move you into deeper levels of faith, asked questions of you, even pushed you sometimes too hard to explore the call of God in your lives. Again this morning we covenanted to surround Campbell and Cooper, Bill and Lauren with our love and our faith. My prayer is that we don’t shirk that responsibility but go to them, seek them out, support them and love them as they enter into this new chapter in their lives – now with two boys. Michael has covenanted to be a part of this community and I will tell you, he takes it very seriously. I ask that you support him and nurture him as he has now entered into a deeper level of commitment – of supporting this church with his prayers, his presence, his gifts and his service. And you recommitted to do the same. And I want to encourage you to move from being the crowd, beyond being disciples and challenge you this last Sunday to be apostles.
In just a few minutes you will be sending me forth, sending my family to do the work of Jesus Christ in a new place for us – Auburn, Washington. But we know that God is already there working and preparing for the work that will be done. God is here working and preparing you, and Robert, and Camille; working and preparing for Camp CAST, Vacation Bible School, a youth mission trip back to New Orleans, an adult trip in October. You have groups like the Partnership with God group, and Shareringers, Family Connection, the Book Studies, United Methodist Women, and the Men’s Breakfast – and every other group that works in discipleship in this church. Each of those groups exist for one purpose – to prepare and equip you for the work of Christ beyond these doors. And friends, if you are taking on being sent forth in ministry by those groups or others like them, if you are taking up the challenge of the work of Christ in the world – you too are apostles. Now I challenge you to take it up. Take it on. Be what you are. And what do I mean by that? Let me tell you one more time…
I mean that you love God with everything in your being; every thought, every action, every word; where everything you do becomes an accurate reflection of the love you have for God and an outgrowth of the love God has for you. That brings us to part two. You love God first so that you can love others as God loves you. In other words, you can’t help but love your neighbor – every little girl stuck in the mud, every person who does not feel welcome in a church, everyone who is lost or lonely or voiceless, every person you see on the street, every person you see who is hungry or hopeless, everyone of them becomes your neighbor and literally takes priority in your life because of the love you have for God and God’s creation. That’s what I mean. You become Jesus for each of them. We become Jesus for all of them – and all means all. And the power that grows from that dual commitment, the actions of apostles of Jesus Christ will – it will – change the world. Not “can” but “will.” And that friends is where we take our stand – and as Archimedes stated, “give me a place to stand and a lever long enough and I will move the earth.” Stand on Christ – and there you will find a lever long enough…
I close this Father’s Day with the same quote I utilized four years ago. It is one you’ve heard many times over but cannot hear enough. It is from the 1994 inaugural address given by Nelson Mandela. He states, “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
So disciples and apostles of Jesus Christ, go and be the light, be the hope, be the change agent, find the small voices in need of your loving arms. Go seek out the lost, the lonely and the hopeless. Be sent forth apostles of Jesus Christ and make disciples for Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. It is within you to very literally change the world. Do you believe it? It has been a privilege to work among you. Go in peace, disciples and apostles of Jesus. Amen.
© Brad Beeman, 2008. Permission is given for brief quotation with attribution.
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"A Place to Stand"