Episcopal Church of Our Savior

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The Rev. Ellen Francis Lent 5, Year C, Sunday March 25, 2007 Isaiah 43:16-21; Psalm 126; Phil 3:8-14; Luke 20:9-19 (BCP) Quote: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone (Luke 20:17b) I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection (Phil 3:10) Point: the “new thing” of salvation is a mystery that we can know through the experience of the risen Christ Illus: St. Paul in Corinth God spoke to the people of Israel through the prophet Isaiah and said, “Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing” (Isaiah 43:18-19a). For the ancient Hebrews, the “new thing” meant a new land and a new peace and prosperity for their people. It was new, but it was also limited to a certain people, in a certain place, and for certain gifts. The desires of the people were limited to what they knew and assumed to be the best that God could give them. Wealth and prosperity, rich crops and large herds of livestock, big families, good health, and national prominence and power --- these were all the things that they thought God would provide to his faithful people. * * * * * The Gospel of Jesus provided “good news” of a very different “new thing” that God would do. Jesus gave us a very different perspective on the material blessings of this life. “Good fortune” was no longer the definitive sign of God’s blessing. Jesus taught that it was the poor and outcast who were the most blessed by God, not the wealthy and prosperous and powerful. St. Paul writes that he wanted to give up everything for Christ, and that he has “suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ…” (Phil 3:8). He acknowledges this by saying that he wants to share in Christ’s suffering and “become like him in death” (Phil 3:10b). St. Paul’s calling is to martyrdom, and fortunately that’s not the case for most of us. But we are all called to Christ and to relationship with God through the “new thing” of Christ’s death on the cross and resurrection. So, as we approach Palm Sunday, Holy Week, and Easter, and as we hear the story of Christ’s passion, we may wonder – how can we understand this “new thing”? What can it mean for us today? * * * * * We hear in the Bible that Jesus was the perfect son of God, that he was sent by God, and that he accepted death on the cross for our salvation. To be honest, this is difficult to understand. Even St. Paul acknowledged that to some, the cross was foolishness. The earliest Christians struggled to understand, and over centuries, Christians have continued to struggle with the mystery of salvation through Christ. At first, in the early years, many Christians understood Jesus’ death as a “sacrifice” that was required by God for forgiveness of sin. St. Paul wrote that Christians are saved through the grace of God and through Christ’s sacrifice in death on the cross. For one of the earliest Christian theologians, Origen, the death of Christ was a ransom paid to Satan. In the Middle Ages, St. Anselm argued that this was not an acceptable view of God, who is all loving and all compassionate. Instead, he wrote that an infinitely good being, that is to say God Himself, was the only one who could be offered as a “satisfaction” for sin. Another medieval theologian, Abelard, explained the death of Christ in terms of love. Christ’s voluntary death, Abelard wrote, was a supreme gift of love to humankind, and was intended to draw out of us a response of love. * * * * * A Sunday School student once asked me, “Why did Jesus have to die?” As we approach Palm Sunday, Holy Week, and Easter, this question is still with us. One way to approach this question is to learn of the experience of the risen Christ, which led the first Christians into new hope, new faith, new ministry, and a new way of being with each other and with God. * * * * * Some years ago, I went on a tour of Greece that followed in “the footsteps of Paul” on his journeys. We went to Corinth and we saw the ancient ruins where there are still the remains of the central marketplace and public square. As we walked through the ruins we saw the walls of small shops that are pressed close together in what must have once been a thriving shopping area. There were also government buildings and houses of worship. The archaeologists have identified the Jewish synagogue from an inscription over the door. It is a small building, much smaller than this church. We can image that Paul went there to talk to the congregation about Jesus. It would have been a relatively small, intimate group, and we can imagine that he was hopeful that this little group – of his own people – would accept Jesus. From his letters, we know that Paul preached there but was rejected by the congregation, and so he left that small, enclosed building to go out into the open, public area. Today you can walk the short distance from the synagogue to the center of the public square. There is a raised platform, called a “bema”, in the midst of the ruins. Today you can still stand high above the marketplace, and we can imagine that in ancient times someone standing there would have been able to draw attention of the crowds. So Paul left the relative privacy of the little synagogue, an easy and comfortable place for him to be, to go out into the open, public space to speak to the people of Corinth and to bring to them the Word of God. The experience of the risen Christ propelled him and so many others to speak out about the “good news” and of the “new thing” that God had done for them and that God offers to all people. The small, disheartened band of followers were transformed into missionaries for Christ, who risked everything – their possessions, their status, their lives. Those who heard them truly did hear something new and life-changing. They saw how the Christians lived together in love, sharing their wealth and taking care of the needy. They heard a message of love and saw a community of peace – and they came to believe. * * * * * To know Christ is to know a new thing that God does in sending his beloved son. The beloved son of God is rejected in his earthly life and yet he has become the cornerstone for all who believe in him. Today the experience of the risen Christ in our community and in the world still draws those who believe closer to God and closer to grace that is beyond explanation. The gift of grace is a gift beyond measure and a gift that we cannot possibly repay. Paul said,“I press on to make [the goal] my own because Christ Jesus has made me his own” (Phil 3:12b). We also are Christ’s own, sealed in our baptism, to be his forever. (I wish you a very blessed Holy Week and Easter.

The Rev. Ellen Francis

Lent 5, Year C, Sunday March 25, 2007
Isaiah 43:16-21; Psalm 126; Phil 3:8-14; Luke 20:9-19 (BCP)

Quote: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone (Luke 20:17b)
I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection (Phil 3:10)

Point: the “new thing” of salvation is a mystery that we can know through the experience of the risen Christ

Illus: St. Paul in Corinth

God spoke to the people of Israel through the prophet Isaiah and said, “Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing” (Isaiah 43:18-19a).

For the ancient Hebrews, the “new thing” meant a new land and a new peace and prosperity for their people.
It was new, but it was also limited to a certain people, in a certain place, and for certain gifts.
The desires of the people were limited to what they knew and assumed to be the best that God could give them.
Wealth and prosperity, rich crops and large herds of livestock, big families, good health, and national prominence and power --- these were all the things that they thought God would provide to his faithful people.
* * * * *
The Gospel of Jesus provided “good news” of a very different “new thing” that God would do.
Jesus gave us a very different perspective on the material blessings of this life.
“Good fortune” was no longer the definitive sign of God’s blessing.
Jesus taught that it was the poor and outcast who were the most blessed by God, not the wealthy and prosperous and powerful.
St. Paul writes that he wanted to give up everything for Christ, and that he has “suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ…” (Phil 3:8).
He acknowledges this by saying that he wants to share in Christ’s suffering and “become like him in death” (Phil 3:10b).
St. Paul’s calling is to martyrdom, and fortunately that’s not the case for most of us.
But we are all called to Christ and to relationship with God through the “new thing” of Christ’s death on the cross and resurrection.
So, as we approach Palm Sunday, Holy Week, and Easter, and as we hear the story of Christ’s passion, we may wonder – how can we understand this “new thing”?
What can it mean for us today?
* * * * *
We hear in the Bible that Jesus was the perfect son of God, that he was sent by God, and that he accepted death on the cross for our salvation.
To be honest, this is difficult to understand.
Even St. Paul acknowledged that to some, the cross was foolishness.
The earliest Christians struggled to understand, and over centuries, Christians have continued to struggle with the mystery of salvation through Christ.
At first, in the early years, many Christians understood Jesus’ death as a “sacrifice” that was required by God for forgiveness of sin.
St. Paul wrote that Christians are saved through the grace of God and through Christ’s sacrifice in death on the cross.
For one of the earliest Christian theologians, Origen, the death of Christ was a ransom paid to Satan.
In the Middle Ages, St. Anselm argued that this was not an acceptable view of God, who is all loving and all compassionate.
Instead, he wrote that an infinitely good being, that is to say God Himself, was the only one who could be offered as a “satisfaction” for sin.
Another medieval theologian, Abelard, explained the death of Christ in terms of love.
Christ’s voluntary death, Abelard wrote, was a supreme gift of love to humankind, and was intended to draw out of us a response of love.
* * * * *
A Sunday School student once asked me, “Why did Jesus have to die?”
As we approach Palm Sunday, Holy Week, and Easter, this question is still with us.
One way to approach this question is to learn of the experience of the risen Christ, which led the first Christians into new hope, new faith, new ministry, and a new way of being with each other and with God.
* * * * *
Some years ago, I went on a tour of Greece that followed in “the footsteps of Paul” on his journeys.
We went to Corinth and we saw the ancient ruins where there are still the remains of the central marketplace and public square.
As we walked through the ruins we saw the walls of small shops that are pressed close together in what must have once been a thriving shopping area.
There were also government buildings and houses of worship.
The archaeologists have identified the Jewish synagogue from an inscription over the door.
It is a small building, much smaller than this church.
We can image that Paul went there to talk to the congregation about Jesus.
It would have been a relatively small, intimate group, and we can imagine that he was hopeful that this little group – of his own people – would accept Jesus.
From his letters, we know that Paul preached there but was rejected by the congregation, and so he left that small, enclosed building to go out into the open, public area.
Today you can walk the short distance from the synagogue to the center of the public square.
There is a raised platform, called a “bema”, in the midst of the ruins.
Today you can still stand high above the marketplace, and we can imagine that in ancient times someone standing there would have been able to draw attention of the crowds.
So Paul left the relative privacy of the little synagogue, an easy and comfortable place for him to be, to go out into the open, public space to speak to the people of Corinth and to bring to them the Word of God.
The experience of the risen Christ propelled him and so many others to speak out about the “good news” and of the “new thing” that God had done for them and that God offers to all people.
The small, disheartened band of followers were transformed into missionaries for Christ, who risked everything – their possessions, their status, their lives.
Those who heard them truly did hear something new and life-changing.
They saw how the Christians lived together in love, sharing their wealth and taking care of the needy.
They heard a message of love and saw a community of peace – and they came to believe.
* * * * *
To know Christ is to know a new thing that God does in sending his beloved son.
The beloved son of God is rejected in his earthly life and yet he has become the cornerstone for all who believe in him.
Today the experience of the risen Christ in our community and in the world still draws those who believe closer to God and closer to grace that is beyond explanation.
The gift of grace is a gift beyond measure and a gift that we cannot possibly repay.
Paul said,“I press on to make [the goal] my own because Christ Jesus has made me his own” (Phil 3:12b).
We also are Christ’s own, sealed in our baptism, to be his forever.

(I wish you a very blessed Holy Week and Easter.