Don’t hit the Snooze Button when the Alarm Rings
“You know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake up from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers.” (Romans 13)
God’s Word in general, and the Gospel in particular, always come to us as a wake-up call. Just like when you are still tired and warm and comfortable in bed, it’s easy to just hit the snooze button when the alarm goes off. My new phone’s alarm allows you to hit the snooze button up to three times! I guess after the third time it won’t bug you anymore. The alarm program gives up and you can just go back to sleep.
God knows we need our sleep, but there’s a time to wake up too. God has a plan to save the world and those who believe in God have a major part to play. The first “locus” of God’s action in the world is the local gathering of believers- the church. The work of God’s salvation, bringing heaven to earth, would be much easier if the church were more “awake” to what God is trying to accomplish.
Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. (Romans 13:14)
Why would Paul feel the need to communicate this message to the community of believers in Rome? Probably because they were “sleepy” and imitating those around them instead of living their faith and loving one another. They were playing the game of “I’ll change my ways if you change your ways first.” Individual desires (epithymia) were being put ahead of the community and living a life in the Spirit (pneuma). A study of the Greek word epithymia (epi=over, thymos=wrath, violent movement of air, water, ground boiling up in smoke, eruption) can make us think of the hurricane we are watching wreak destruction where ever it goes. As a dangerous storm develops in natural creation, it can also develop in the Christian community and impede the Holy Spirit’s ability to bring peace and salvation to the world.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus points out that every person in the community must take responsibility for themselves. Usually, we blame others for what’s wrong (skandalon= something small that trips us up) in the community. Where we don’t find love, we refuse to put love. Instead, each person must own their part in what is lacking, realize their own sinfulness, and put love into the community. St. Augustine said about this, “Where you find no love, put love, and you will find love.” In the Old Covenant, under the Law, a person had to demonstrate repentance before they would receive forgiveness, but in the New Covenant of Jesus, unconditional love and forgiveness is given beforerepentance. The reason for this is that unconditional love and forgiveness makes the possibility of true repentance real.
This is a tremendous sea-change. For Jesus, and his followers, things are different. Jesus was aware that many of his followers would persist in living under the Old Covenant Law, but he taught that where he was acknowledged and even two or three gathered in his name, he would be in their midst. Jesus’ presence brings about a “holy communion” where every follower takes responsibility to love their brothers and sisters unconditionally. In the Jesus community, when something is lacking in the community, no member can claim to be blameless and be a victim or scapegoat. A person of faith is not scandalized by any kind of rivalry, envy, jealousy, resentment, or hatred that shows its ugly head in the community, rather it is to be expected. Satan is working to destroy or neutralize community, but fortunately, each person has received the Holy Spirit and can deal with the weakness and sinfulness of each person in the community with unconditional love and forgiveness. This is the way of the “Jesus people” as our Presiding Bishop Michael Curry likes to call us.
Alleluia, Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us! Christ is the Passover Lamb of the New Covenant. We celebrate this Passover, not just once a year, but every Sunday. The need for change from a sacrificial culture oriented to death, to a culture of unconditional love is crucial for bringing about God’s will “on earth as it is in heaven.” It begins with us and every community gathered in Jesus’ name. It’s time to wake up! Let us keep the feast. Alleluia!
Amen!
John+
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| St. Alban |
Saint Alban Episcopal Mission (English, Anglican Communion) meets for mass every Sunday at 10:00 A.M. (see welcome letter at sidebar) at Casa Convento Concepcion, 4a Calle Oriente No. 41, Antigua, Guatemala.
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| The Reverend John Smith, Vicar 5235-6674 cell telephone (502 country code) |
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