The Gospel reading appointed for today seems most appropriate in light of what happened in Orlando a week ago. I haven’t heard anyone refer to the man who did the unspeakably evil massacre of 49 people in the nightclub in Orlando as being possessed by demons, but whether or not he was possessed by demons, and that definitely is a possibility, he was possessed. The kind of possession I’m talking about doesn’t just arise full-blown. It starts small, and is nurtured, and finally begins to take control of the person. Somewhere down the line he began to respond to life in a very self-centered and violent way. He associated with others who encouraged him in this way of looking at life, and eventually it was more in control of him than he was of it. It’s what the prayerbook calls “the spiritual forces of wickedness that rebel against God, and the evil powers of this world which corrupt and destroy the creatures of God.” He was corrupted and destroyed and it led him on an unbelievable path of destruction.
What is the Christian response to this reality? First, belief matters. What a person believes is not only important; it is of the greatest importance. There is a sentimental notion among modern Americans that it doesn’t really matter what a person believes, as long as the person is sincere. Muslim terrorists are sincere, sincere enough to go to their deaths because of their belief, and their families are often standing right behind them, encouraging them in their belief. Hitler was sincere.
Belief matters. Christianity has always taught that believe matters, that there is such a thing as objective truth, and that that truth ultimately is found in Jesus Christ himself. Any search for truth that does not ultimately end in Christ ends in a lie and is destructive.
Today is Father’s Day. Perhaps the greatest gift a father can give to his children is a living faith, both through a father telling his children what he believes and why, and showing how that belief results in faithfulness in corporate worship, personal prayer, and in works of mercy. I once saw a newspaper account of a thirteen year old boy who saved his brother’s life by driving him to a hospital, never having driven before. His explanation was: “I just did what I saw my father do.” Fathers, give your children a living faith.
Second, acts springing from hatred will not ultimately succeed. What is truly lasting is love. The terrorist did not succeed in his objective. He tragically killed many people, but he was not victorious. There has been a tremendous outpouring of love toward the victims and their families in this tragedy. Lines of people stretching out onto the sidewalk at blood centers with people donating their blood for the wounded, prayer vigils being held all around the world for the victims and their families, and many other tangible expressions of love and concern show the power of love over evil. Whether we realize it or not as a people, the source of that love is God himself, most fully revealed in his Son, Jesus Christ.
Third, we believe that God has given us life and that what God has given, human beings must not take away. Whenever a human being dies, something in each of us dies. John Donne said it best: “No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friends or of thine own were; any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.”
Killing is wrong, and yet there are times when not to kill is even more wrong. The Muslim terrorist had to be stopped or more innocent people would have been killed. Deadly force is never good, and it should always be a last resort, but sometimes we don’t have a choice between something that is good and something that is evil. Sometimes our choice is between two evils, one being less evil than the other. We Christians need always to remember that the final aim for us is always the peace of Christ.
Finally, our faith teaches us that our loving God wants all people to be reconciled to him through our Lord Jesus Christ. One of our collects puts it so well: “Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hardwood of the cross, that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace.” We have convinced ourselves, in our enlightened 21st-century minds, that it is wrong to talk about Christ to others. “Different strokes for different folks,” we think. Yet the Gospel imperative is clear, we are to preach the Gospel to all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” What does it take for us to realize that the world needs Jesus Christ? We need to take our Lord Jesus Christ to the world. We need to do it smartly and compassionately, lovingly and with respect for the beliefs and backgrounds of others, but we need to do it. That collect continues in this way: “So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you, for the honor of your Name.”
Continue to pray for the victims and their families; pray for those who are possessed by the demons of terrorism; that their hearts may be turned to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Remember that belief matters, that hatred doesn’t ultimately succeed, that it is God who gives life, and that we are all called to proclaim the Gospel, that all may come to know the grace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Sermon preached by the Very Rev. Fredrick A. Robinson
The Church of the Redeemer
Sarasota Florida
5th Sunday of Pentecost
19 June 2016