Life Abundant

Some persons get angry with God because of things that have happened, an untimely death, a disappointment in love, a miscarriage, a family feud, an unfair job dismissal, or whatever.

If there is a good God, why did this or that happen to me, or to us? etc. etc.

If there is a good God, why is there suffering, especially my suffering?

Of what does “abundant life” consist?

That is our question.

“Abundant life” is not a guarantee of perpetual good health or constant comfort.

We know a man who has lost both legs to disease.

Life is often awkward and uncomfortable for him, but still this person has been able to do things like joke about misplacing his shoes,

and spend considerable time offering the gift of encouragement to others who are beginning to deal with the problems that he has been handling for years already.

“Abundant life” is not having the largest pile of possessions.

We know people who think like George Bernard Shaw, the playwright, who said: “I am a millionaire. That is my religion.”

Jesus' response is in his story of the rich man who built bigger barns.

“You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God. [Luke 12:20-22]

Just imagine if comfort and possessions were the aim of Jesus' life, how his story would have been different:

--he would have entered the world in a birthing suite instead of a manger.

--instead of equal parts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, he would have insisted on all gold and no myrrh.

--the episode of casting out the moneychangers would have been a polite academic debate about fund-raising techniques.

--his prayer in the garden would have been a demand that the Father develop a way around that painful and messy crucifixion business.

But “abundant life” is on the other side of cross and resurrection for Jesus,

so that “abundant life” can begin for us on this side of living!

For Jesus came into the world to repair what we have in our freedom messed up and cannot fix on our own.

“Abundant life” is life lived in communication, community, communion, in common with God.

It is life lived in constant thanks-giving.

Thanksgiving

--that first time a parent holds a newborn.

--when a person gasping for breath is able to have some relief with an oxygen tube.

--when an argument is brought to a close with truth and understanding.

--when an opening flower is regarded as God's laughter and joy as well as a means of reproduction.

--when a person of whatever age genuinely wrestles with scripture, liturgy, catechism, hymns together with other budding believers and the “light-bulb” of insight come on.

--when one of our beloved has completed his work here and moved to the heavenly side of the community.

Jesus lived in “abundant life” when he

--rebuked evil, ministered to those in pain, made bread in the desert, fed his people, and pointed to the Father.

We live in “abundant life” when we follow that same path, reminding people of their worth before God.

Years back, scientists said that the chemicals which make up our bodies are worth 80 cents; though with inflation it is somewhat more now.

But there is no way to put a price on “Abundant life”.

All we can do is join the apostle Paul in saying: Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! [2 Cor.9:15]

One who lives “abundant life” may be responsible for many possessions or few;

and one who lives a meager life may be responsible for many things or few.

One of the things that shocked me as a youth was the rich kid from town who was bored with his bicycle and threw it off a cliff in order to force his parents to get him a new one.

He had many things, but a meager life.

There is an story about two elderly men: Carl who owned an impressive estate and Hans, one of his tenant farmers.

Carl was riding around the estate and came upon Hans sitting quietly under a tree, saying grace as he prepared to eat his lunch which consisted of a dry bread sandwich and a little water.

“I don't think I'd be praying thanks if that is all I had to eat,” sniffed Carl.

“Oh, it will be fine,” replied Hans.

“It is strange that you should come along just now, for I had a dream last night in which I heard a voice say, 'The richest man in the valley will die tonight.'”

“Dreams!” huffed Carl, and he turned and rode away.

But it did bother Carl and so he demanded an appointment with his doctor that afternoon, who pronounced him fit.

Still, he fretted and tossed and turned all night.

The next morning a message arrived at Carl's manor house, letting him know that a person on the estate did die in the night.

It was Hans, the tenant farmer, who had died peacefully in his sleep.

He was truly the richest man, not with many possessions, but the one with abundant life.

They found him with just a wisp of a smile on his face.

I came that you may have life, and have it abundantly.

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.