Lent 2B – George Yandell
Paul writes in Romans about the passage from Genesis: the covenant with Abraham is evidence of Abe’s exemplary faith. The covenant depended on ‘the righteousness of faith’ rather than obedience to rules, since God’s promises rely upon grace. “Hoping against hope (vs. 4:18), Abraham became the father of many nations, despite his advanced age and Sarah’s barrenness. Abraham is therefore the father of all who come to trust in God. So sure was he of the fulfillment of God’s promises that he did not waver, but “grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God. (vs. 20). This same righteousness is also granted to the followers of Jesus, who believe in God as the one who raised Jesus from the dead.”
What is most important here is not the faith of Abraham himself, but God’s faithfulness. What truly matters is what God has done in Christ Jesus. He suffered death for our sins and was “raised for our justification.” (vs. 25) This is the ultimate example for the mysterious and faithful ways God’s promises are kept. [Adapted from Synthesis, March 4, 2012]
In the gospel passage Jesus calls his disciples to radical faith as he prepares them for his passion and death. What an extraordinary example Jesus gives as he accepts obediently the cross to which his father sends him. In the gospel Jesus teaches that he must undergo great sufferings and be killed. And to make sure we understand, Jesus next tells Peter and us, “If you wish to be my follower deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me.” Thegreatest act offaith we can make is to say to God, “I don’t know the reason for the cross you sent me, but I will pick it up and carry it anyway, simply because of your Son, my Lord Jesus.” [Adapted from Robert Boudewyns at sermons.logos.com]
Jesus tells his followers he is destined for an execution rather than a coronation. His friends are not following a conquering hero, but are called to prepare to participate in his suffering.
Some of us might remember the comedian Yakov Smirnoff. When he first came to the U.S. from Russia, he was not prepared for the variety of instant products in American grocery stores. He says, “On my first shopping trip, I saw powdered milk- you just add water and you get milk. Then I saw powdered orange juice-just add water and you get orange juice. And then I saw baby powder, and I thought, “What a country!”
Smirnoff was joking but we make these same assumptions about Christian Transformation- that people change instantly at salvation. Some traditions call it repentance and renewal. Some call it Sanctification of the believer. Whatever you call it, most traditions expect some quick fix to sin. According to this belief, when someone gives his or her life to Christ, there is immediate, substantive, in-depth, miraculous change in habits, attitudes and character. We go to Church as if we are going to the grocery store- Powdered Christian. Just add water and disciples are born not made.
Unfortunately there is no such powder and disciples of Jesus are not instantly born. They are slowly raised through many trials, suffering and temptations. A study found a decade ago that only 11 percent of churchgoing teenagers have well-developed faith, rising to only 32% for churchgoing adults. Why? Because true-life change only begins at salvation, it takes more than just time. It’s about training, trying, suffering and even dying. [Adapted from James Emery White, Rethinking the Church, Baker, 1997, pp 55-57]
Jesus took Peter aside and rebuked him. Why? Peter believes the Kingdom of God can be obtained instantly by force. Peter views the Kingdom in a worldly way and Jesus is speaking about a heavenly kingdom. The disciples were obviously not ready to hear Jesus’ prophecy. Yet it was for our very lives that he pressed this point: Those who value life in this world above all else lose the life of eternity. Those who would give up the life of this world for the sake of Jesus’ message would find eternal life. This is a choice that can only be made by true believers who give no thought to being shamed by that same world. [Adapted from King Oehmig in Synthesis, March 2012 issue.]
Joan Chittister tells this story. Once upon a time, as their Spiritual Master lay dying, his disciples begged him, for their sakes, not to go. The master replied, “But if I do not go, how will you ever see?” His disciples replied, “But what are we not seeing now that we will see when you are gone?”
And the spiritual master said, “All I ever did was sit on the river bank handling out river water. After I’m gone, I trust you will notice the river.”
And thus it is after Jesus’ death- the cross remains. It is forever a sign of what he has accomplished for us, and our own calling to follow in his Way. [King Oehmig as above.]