St. Paul today, mentions grace three times.
He says, “By grace we are saved, “that in the age to come we will see the immeasurable richness of God’s grace,” and “that by grace we have been saved through faith.”
Grace is defined on page 858 of the BCP as “God’s favor toward us, unearned and undeserved; by grace, God forgives our sins, enlightens our minds, stirs our hearts, and strengthens our wills.” God freely offers grace, all we have to do is in faith accept it from him. Accept that our sins can be forgiven, that our minds can be enlightened and changed for the better, that we are not always right, that our hearts can be stirred to take on things we don’t think we can handle, that God can strengthen our wills, so that we will for good, for love, and for him.
Can you accept that?
Can you through faith accept that God’s love can change you?
Can you believe that God’s grace is so incomprehensible, that he gives his only son, so that all who accept him, who turn to him, who reach out for him, who believe in him, are consumed into everlasting life?
Can you?
There are times that I have a hard time believing that God’s grace is active in my life. In the Gospel today, John relays to us that “the light has come into the world” and that those who do what is true come to that light. We are a people who at times choose to walk in darkness. Walking in darkness is living for yourself. Doing good for adulation, doing evil out of selfish wants and needs, doing nothing out of fear. Choosing to fight instead of reconciling.
When we do this, we are taking the easy way.
My father always taught me to do everything the hard way, because if you did something and it was easy, you were doing it wrong. Reconciliation, love, hope, helping others, those are all harder than holding a grudge, hate, fear, and doing nothing. That’s how we know they are the right thing to do because they are hard.
I have a very personal story for you all, that is recent and involves my son Michael and me. I have asked his permission to share this with you, and he said yes. I thank him for that. It isn’t easy being a priest’s kid. You are bound to end up in a sermon.
A few months ago, Michael was going through a rough patch as all 5-year-old children do. He was having difficulty dealing with some of his emotions and getting mad very quickly. He was frustrated with his younger sister, and was often misbehaving. Kate and I were at our wit’s end, and every parent here knows how this feels because all of you have been in this predicament.
One day Michael misbehaved, and I corrected him by yelling loudly and punishing him. I made him sit in his room by himself which was my go-to form of dealing with him. Michael attempted to escalate the situation because he knew if he did, I would take the easy way, and return his anger with my own. He slammed his door and yelled back at me. Usually I would then yell louder, and every time I did that, I was not taking the time to stop and listen to why he was sad, or angry, and he wasn’t listening to my corrections.
As I began to get angry at Michael, I remembered preaching to all of you just days before from Ephesians, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” I was convicted. That scripture was tangible evidence of God’s grace entering into me and controlling me. The discipline and instruction of the Lord is me as Michael’s father, showing him my love and waiting for him to accept it. So, after he slammed the door, I opened it. He expected me to yell at him, I’m sure, but instead, I looked at him and said: “Michael, I love you.” He continued to yell at me/ Again I said, “Michael, I love you.” He yelled louder, and said, “Go away daddy! I hate you!”
I got on my knees and said: “Michael, I love you no matter what.” With that, I walked away.
He was quiet, and in a few minutes, he came out of his room, walked over to me. I extended my arms out to him, and he embraced me and said, “I love you Daddy.” I apologized to my son for reacting to his bad behavior with my bad behavior. I explained to him that no matter what he did ever in his life I would always love him unconditionally and would always be there for him. I also told him that his bad behavior had consequences, and from now on, if he misbehaves, I will have to correct him, and even punish him, but when I did, I promised to assure him that I loved him no matter what.
Our actions towards each other have consequences. When we react to others in ways that are impulsive and reactionary, we are taking the easy path, but that path is the path to sadness and brokenness for all who are involved. That is the darkness that resides in every one of us.
Unfortunately, we all at times take that path, and for the most part, we feel like we can’t help it. But when our actions are thoughtful, when we are slow to anger, when we are quick to forgive, when we punish in love, our actions are Christ like, and when our actions are a reaction to the love of Jesus, we walk in the light.
My challenge to Redeemer today is this: try doing things the hard way.
When someone does something you don’t like instead of holding a grudge, talk to them, reconcile with them.
If there is someone you are currently holding a grudge against, you now are hating, forgive them, even if they don’t deserve it.
If you have any unconfessed sins, confess them, and reconcile yourself to God.
If you see someone acting in hate, meet that hate with the love of Jesus.
When you are afraid life is too much to deal with, don’t stay in that fear, but walk towards hope, and if you can’t do it on your own, ask for help. When you see someone in need, help them. That is how we all walk in the light of Jesus, and when we walk in the light, the darkness in our lives won’t stand a chance. We all need to remember, Jesus already knows all of our dark places, and he knows his light will heal them all. It is us who are too afraid to allow him to, who are too afraid to believe we are redeemable, too afraid to believe that God so loved the world he gave his only Son so that ALL who believe will not perish but have eternal life. Jesus knows all of that about each of us and yet, he still loves us ~ no matter what.
Sermon preached by the Rev. Christian M. Wood
Church of the Redeemer
Sarasota Florida
4th Sunday of Lent
11 March 2018