At the Right Time

Maybe you feel like the disciples who seem to be in a fog most of the time, tagging along after Jesus, but not understanding too much of what is happening.

--Perhaps you are content with that;

--perhaps you are frustrated by it.

Then there are the tax collectors,

ones who are beyond polite society because of their unacceptable behavior.

They were regularly accused of being extortionists and collaborators with the enemy, the Roman overlords.

Perhaps you feel that you are on the outside sometimes, and not always fairly.

Perhaps you shrug your shoulders and ignore it, or perhaps you resent the accusations.

And then there are the Pharisees, the ones who are the good, upstanding people who are trying sooooo hard to do things correctly.

Yes, we had better admit that we wear their superior attitude quite often, too!

Are we among the well,...or the sick?

Do we think that we are righteous... or sinners?

The Good News is that no matter with which character we identify today,

no matter how we have missed the mark,

no matter in which way we are caught in the web of weaknesses exhibited by each of the characters in the story,

the Lord Jesus is ready to re-direct us

whenever we are ready to listen.

...and the time that we are ready to listen may be different for each one of us.

John Chrysostom was bishop of Constantinople in the late 300's AD.

He wrote:

Why did Jesus not call Matthew at the same time he called Peter and John and all the rest?

He came to each one at a particular time when he knew they would respond.

He called Paul at a different time, after the resurrection, when he knew that he could be reached,

something like a hunter going after his quarry at the right time of day.

For he who knows our inmost hearts, and knows the secrets of our minds

also knows when each of us is ready to respond fully.

Christ knew when Matthew had been prepared for responsiveness.

As Christ passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax office, and he said to him “Follow me,” and he rose and followed him.

Another day, a different situation may not have been the right moment.

There is no explanation – just action.

It reminds us of Genesis 12, where Abraham hears God's call and scripture does not explain, but only reports: And Abraham went, as the Lord had commanded him.

It was the right time; Abraham was able to hear and to respond.

His father had just died, it was the end of an era, it was time for a fresh start, and Abraham went.

Notice that Jesus does not call the Pharisees at this time.

They are too puffed up with themselves, their own knowledge, their self-importance.

He gives them homework,

to go and research the scriptures, and to be prepared to be changed in the course of that study.

As they do that, they will be challenged:

they can turn toward the truth as Jesus points it out, or they can continue along their own way.

It is not so much different for us, is it?

The Lord Jesus keeps looking for the right moment to reach us – not just once, but over and over again.

When he has put his mark on us in Holy Baptism, that is not the end of the process but rather the beginning!

He will continue with his intention to transform us – and can do it a bit at a time,

as we are ready to receive it.

Consecration Sunday is a month away now, that day when we have opportunity to present our Estimate of Giving cards for the next year.

It is an opportunity for us to be transformed a bit at a time in how we use all of the resources which God has entrusted to us for a time.

Fortunately for us, Jesus has much more patience than we would,

and he keeps coming back to us again and again, urging us to take another step in our use of those resources.

How will each of us answer the stewardship questions:

How will I use the money I earn?

How will I use the time I am granted?

How will I live in such a way that the Good News shines through my words and actions?

-- How can I be of encouragement to my brothers and sisters in the faith here in this congregation?

--How can I consider something, say something, do something that will help Good News to be spoken and acted out far from this room?

I often think of my dear grandmother, a hard-working farm wife most of her life.

Physically, her world was not very large; she seldom traveled more than 10 miles from home, in order to get groceries, etc.

But her interests and commitments were wide-ranging.

We got the women's missionary magazine each month, and read about their work all over the world.

We remembered them in prayer, and she gave offerings regularly to assist them.

When there were projects at church to make for assistance, she was there to help.

In each of those ways, the Lord Jesus was busy shaping and re-making her, a bit at a time; and of course that was having an effect on those around her also.

Please don't think that it doesn't matter what each of us thinks and says and does.

The Lord Jesus intends to change us, and then to change others through us.

And we cannot know in advance how all of this will turn out.

Twelve persons have begun the adventure of studying Divine Drama together this fall.

We'll grow in intellectual understanding, of course, but also in other ways.

What does Jesus have in mind for us to be doing because of this study?

We'll find out in due course.

Seven persons and seven mentors are now beginning the adult catechumenate process for the year that we call The Way.

It is a wonderful adventure in thought, reflection, learning, companionship in the Gospel, worship, and service.

What will happen because we're in this process?

God knows; and he will let us in on it a bit at a time.

Bob Schultz works very hard get the group organized, to get sponsors and match them with candidates..

Of course there are some who say “Not now” to the opportunity, but God's Holy Spirit has nudged along the lives of almost 90 persons over the past 10 years that we have been working at the process.

This evening we begin work with three new youth catechumens., to add to our group of 5 continuing from last year, and also with mentors, adults not from their families.

What will God make of them, together?

It has been a wonderful thing that these adults have been willing to give of their time for two years

to work with and encourage a young member of the congregation.

May God do another bit of transforming through those generous relationships!

And the opportunities for thought, word, and action keep coming.

--In two weeks it will be Blanket Sunday.

and also the Life Chain hour of prayer.

--In three weeks it will be the CROP Walk in which each of us could be a sponsor if not a walker.

--In three weeks it will be the Harvest Home offering in procession.

--Each Sunday there are spaces at the table in each of our adult Sunday School classes, as well as some open spots on the teaching schedule for the youth classes. later in the year.

--Each Sunday, each of us drives past neighbors who have not yet responded to God's invitation.

The invitation needs to be given again and again until it is the right moment for each of them, as it is for us.

--And sometimes the invitation is given in a broad way that we cannot guess whom it will touch.

An example is the little video clips that we are making.

Some folks have seen the first batch, and we have a second group of clips coming on line in several weeks, and we are about to film some more.

We don't know whom they may touch, who will be spurred on to investigate this Gospel more deeply, to “come and see Jesus” as the disciples urged, here in St. Mark's or in another gathering of God's church.

In how many ways,

on how many days

is the Lord Jesus inviting us to follow in word and sacrament, in study, and in service?

Of all the characters in the Gospel lesson today, may we identify most closely with the outsider, the tax-collector Matthew,

who, when Jesus said directly to him

“Follow me,”

got up and followed Christ. Amen.

Please note: The preceding sermon is provided as a resource for the thought, prayer, and meditation of the members and friends of St. Mark's. It is the residue of a verbal event, and thus it does not have academic footnotes and other details that would be expected in a written document. The writer gladly acknowledges the prior thought and work of many Christians before him.