| Calvary Episcopal Church, Rockdale |
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| THE 16TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST 4 September, 2005 The Rev. Robert C. Granfeldt |
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Some will, I know, be delighted to hear that this will be, probably, the shortest Sunday
sermon you are likely to hear from me. On a day like today, you see, there is either much
too much to say, or not enough.
Last week I bade you pray for all those who were in the path of hurricane Katrina, and
who stood to lose so much when she finally arrived – their homes, their belongings,
their loved ones, their lives.
It was a rather non-specific prayer, since nothing, yet, had happened, and we couldn’t
know, precisely, for what or for whom we needed to pray.
Now it has happened. Not only one of the worst natural disasters in this country’s
history, but possibly the worst disaster of any kind – worse, even, then the events of
9/11 by virtually every measure.
Yet we still don’t know, precisely, for what or for whom to pray! It will be months before
we have any real understanding of the extent of the damage; and at least as long before
we know how many have died – if we ever really know – or how many have been
maimed. And it may be years before we can know with any precision the economic
damage!
Yet pray we must!
And more!
Today might be a good day to remember what we’re really doing here, what all this is
about – the faith; our faith.
A good time to remember that what we’re really called to do is not to worry about what’s
going to happen after we die; not to be concerned about hell (if there is any such thing,
apart from places like today’s New Orleans) or heaven (whatever that term may mean)!
A time to remember what our Lord told us to be concerned about. A time to remember
what the greatest of those called apostles – even though he never met Jesus of
Nazareth in the flesh – preached and wrote to those who would follow, as in our Lesson
this morning!
A time to remember that Christian life – our life – is supposed to be about discovering
“genuine love;” about hating what is evil; about holding fast to what is good.
A time to remember as Paul tells us that the good we are called to hold fast to is to
contribute to the needs of God’s people, rejoicing with those who rejoice and weeping
with those who weep! Not being haughty, but associating with the lowly and living
peaceably with all.
And, most of all, remembering that our call, as always, is to feed the hungry, heal the
sick, cloth the naked, house the homeless, comfort the bereaved, and visit those who
are imprisoned!
Before Katrina, I had been thinking and planning, for some weeks, to preach on this
weekend a real Labor Day sermon – a sermon, not only about the dignity and importance
of “labor,” but about the undeniable bias that shows in all of scripture, and quite
explicitly in the Gospel, of God for what we call, today, the common people; the poor; the
laborers!
But it all works out the same, anyway. Because those who have suffered the most –
along the whole of the hurricane area, but especially in Louisiana – are those same
people. Those who have suffered the most are the people who have the least
resources to meet the suffering and to survive it. Those who have suffered the most
are God’s most beloved!
And, as always, it is our call to do all we can to help them – to cloth, feed, house,
comfort, heal and visit them; all In Jesus Christ’s Name!
sermon you are likely to hear from me. On a day like today, you see, there is either much
too much to say, or not enough.
Last week I bade you pray for all those who were in the path of hurricane Katrina, and
who stood to lose so much when she finally arrived – their homes, their belongings,
their loved ones, their lives.
It was a rather non-specific prayer, since nothing, yet, had happened, and we couldn’t
know, precisely, for what or for whom we needed to pray.
Now it has happened. Not only one of the worst natural disasters in this country’s
history, but possibly the worst disaster of any kind – worse, even, then the events of
9/11 by virtually every measure.
Yet we still don’t know, precisely, for what or for whom to pray! It will be months before
we have any real understanding of the extent of the damage; and at least as long before
we know how many have died – if we ever really know – or how many have been
maimed. And it may be years before we can know with any precision the economic
damage!
Yet pray we must!
And more!
Today might be a good day to remember what we’re really doing here, what all this is
about – the faith; our faith.
A good time to remember that what we’re really called to do is not to worry about what’s
going to happen after we die; not to be concerned about hell (if there is any such thing,
apart from places like today’s New Orleans) or heaven (whatever that term may mean)!
A time to remember what our Lord told us to be concerned about. A time to remember
what the greatest of those called apostles – even though he never met Jesus of
Nazareth in the flesh – preached and wrote to those who would follow, as in our Lesson
this morning!
A time to remember that Christian life – our life – is supposed to be about discovering
“genuine love;” about hating what is evil; about holding fast to what is good.
A time to remember as Paul tells us that the good we are called to hold fast to is to
contribute to the needs of God’s people, rejoicing with those who rejoice and weeping
with those who weep! Not being haughty, but associating with the lowly and living
peaceably with all.
And, most of all, remembering that our call, as always, is to feed the hungry, heal the
sick, cloth the naked, house the homeless, comfort the bereaved, and visit those who
are imprisoned!
Before Katrina, I had been thinking and planning, for some weeks, to preach on this
weekend a real Labor Day sermon – a sermon, not only about the dignity and importance
of “labor,” but about the undeniable bias that shows in all of scripture, and quite
explicitly in the Gospel, of God for what we call, today, the common people; the poor; the
laborers!
But it all works out the same, anyway. Because those who have suffered the most –
along the whole of the hurricane area, but especially in Louisiana – are those same
people. Those who have suffered the most are the people who have the least
resources to meet the suffering and to survive it. Those who have suffered the most
are God’s most beloved!
And, as always, it is our call to do all we can to help them – to cloth, feed, house,
comfort, heal and visit them; all In Jesus Christ’s Name!
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