August 17: The Tenth Sunday after Pentecost

James Howell is a Methodist minister and writer in North Carolina. For over a decade he served a parish right next to Davidson College. And just before school started one fall, a dad of an incoming student called him. As Howell remembers the story, the dad began the call by telling him who he was and then added, “My kid is coming to Davidson College this fall.” Howell replied that he hoped to get to know him. The dad then responded that he hoped Howell would make sure the kid went to church. “Well,” Howell told him, “I hope to meet him and that he’ll come.”

To which the dad said, “No, you’re not listening to me. I want you to be sure my kid is in church.”

A bit frustrated, Howell said, “We’re not very good at ensuring church attendance- not even with our own people, much less college students.” Howell could tell that the dad was now also annoyed, so he asked the dad, “Why do you so much want for your son to be in church?”

“Because I want my kid to behave.”

“Well, I hate to tell you,” Howell responded, “but we’re not very good at behavior control either.”

Now angry, the dad hollered, “You’re not good at ensuring church attendance; you’re not good at behavior control- what are you good at?”

At this point, Howell was thoroughly in a mood and let his tongue loose. “Well, sir, we’re not good at ensuring attendance or behavior control, but what we are good at is setting imaginations on fire.” The dad, unimpressed, hung up the phone.

What is the Church for? What is Scripture for? What is our belief in Jesus for?

We get a rather tough lesson from Jesus this morning. Jesus continues to teach his disciples and the crowds, and like a preacher on too much coffee, we can feel his energy rising. Unafraid and unhindered, he moves away from teaching in vague parables and story and unveils the grand undercurrent of all his work. “I came to bring fire to the earth,” Jesus tells them, “and how I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress am I under until it is completed! Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division!”

So, I wonder again, what is the Church for? What is Scripture for? What is our belief in Jesus for?

Is it to make sure we fill pews every weekend? While that’d be nice, I’m not sure that should be our main goal. Is it to make sure we all behave? Again, that’d be nice, but we say the confession every week for a reason.

If we dig deep down, and ask ourselves why we come here, why we have fallen in love with this man named Jesus, why we listen to him and try to follow in his footsteps, is it not because there is a burning within us?

Is it not because something has been kindled in our hearts, maybe strangely warmed like John Wesley, or maybe just slightly simmering, or maybe burning with a passionate flame?

Is it not because there was something ignited within us, and like Moses at the burning bush, we cannot do anything else besides stop and wonder about this mysterious flame?

God has given us the Church, Scripture, and Faith not to ensure perfect Sunday attendance, not to ensure perfect behavior, but to fan the flames of the divine imagination that burns in our souls.

And this is dangerous stuff.

In our first reading from Hebrews, we are reminded of the Israelites who had passed through the dry Red Sea, fleeing the Egyptians. And that they found their freedom because fire first sparked Moses’ imagination, and a pillar of it led the people in safety. And then we hear of Rahab the prostitute, who risked her life to help the spies at Jericho. We are then reminded of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephtha, of David and Samuel and of the Prophets, who conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and won strength out of weakness. The writer continues, raising up those others who were tortured, mocked, imprisoned, and worse because of their belief in a God who wants better for this world. These are the great cloud of witnesses, the writer tells us. They are our forefathers and mothers who have shown us the way, not by behaving, but by causing, at times, some good mischief.

Who said “no” to those who oppressed their people, and to those who failed to feed the hungry and take care of the poor. And who said “yes” to the flame of love burning within them.

Jesus said, “I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!”

Scripture speaks of God as a one who shows up like a flame, unable to be grasped or contained. A fire that protects, defends, and upends.

John the Baptist said that Jesus was coming with a baptism of water and fire.

And the church was born on that famous day when flames rested upon the disciples, filling them with the Holy Spirit. Fire, a great symbol, of our God who inspires, delivers, purifies, enlivens, and ignites within this world a holy imagination. Fire, a dangerous symbol, because we all know that anything touched by it is forever changed.

Bishop Curry, quoting the famous Billy Graham, preached a few years ago, “Heaven help the devil if the Episcopal Church ever wakes up.” “Heaven help the devil if the Episcopal Church ever wakes

up.”¹

¹ https://episcopalnewsservice.org/2017/05/15/presiding-bishop-urges-the-church-to-wake-up/

Bishop Curry knows that in this thing we call Episcopalianism, there is a fire. There is a fire that has been kindled by Jesus and his great cloud of witnesses, that when let loose, can only change and ignite all those it touches with a transforming love. Jesus has started a fire, and our job is to follow where it burns.

Today is Welcome Back Sunday at St. Mary’s. Today, we celebrate this community which has begun to come back together more frequently after the summer holidays. In a few weeks, we will transition back to our normal Sunday service schedule and begin our fall programming but today marks a turning point.

We’re rested, or maybe exhausted and thankful for school to start, and are excited about the possibilities of another year together. And after this service, we are all invited to learn about the ministries of this parish. At these ministry tables, you will find folks from the altar guild, who so prayerfully set up our wonderful Eucharistic feast for us. You’ll have a chance to meet folks who cook meals, offering pastoral care and love through food and fellowship. You’ll find people dedicated to supporting and raising up our younger members in this parish, making sure that all know they are loved by this place and its people, and by our God.

You will find people who have felt the spark of Christ in their lives and have said, yes, energized by the fire within. I encourage you to go talk with them and hear their stories.

And I encourage you to notice the flame that resides in you. Whether it is flickering or raging this morning, know that it is the spark of God’s love for you that will never stop burning.

May it offer you comfort and warmth in seasons of winter. May it spur you on to seek the wellbeing of your neighbor. And may it guide your way, illuminating all of your next steps in the way of peace. Amen.

The Rev. Daniel Reeves