Sixth Sunday of Easter (A) 2017

+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.

Text: Acts 17:22-33
Theme: Mute Idols And the Speaking God




Dear friends in Christ Jesus,

During his missionary ventures, St Paul visited Athens, Greece. It was still one of the world's intellectual centres at the time. Not coincidentally, he secured an audience with those who gathered at the Areopagus. It was the venue for philosophical discussion. The city, like most of the world in that era, was not short on religious devotees. Paul likely visited the Parthenon where the goddess Athena was worshipped, in addition to the temple of Rome and Augustus. Many at the time believed their fate was in the hands of the pagan gods, whom they needed to appease to gain their favour. The gods were perceived to be short-tempered, unpredictable, and often contradictory in their demands.

So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: "Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, 'To the unknown god.' What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.”1 Paul's reference to the altar dedicated to an unknown god was his opening to introduce the identity of the true God: The Christ who came in flesh and blood. Paul was preaching to them about Jesus and the resurrection. To the Athenians, these were strange new teachings. It was certainly an affront to their idols.

Every age has its idols. Ours is no exception. Some idols are perennial favourites. Money is always near the top of the list. Greed is still a common vice. The Scripture says, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.”2 Jesus Himself said, "Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."3

Devotion to sports often gets top billing today. Good competition is healthy, and athletic pursuits of achievement are honourable. But think of the hope invested in victory and the anguish of defeat experienced by so many! Some struggle to find meaning and purpose in life if sporting heroes or dreams fail them. Responsibilities to family and society are pushed aside and God certainly doesn’t get a look in. Many other examples such as work, pleasure, or reputation, could be added to the list.

We won’t find public altars built to unknown idols among us today. But the idolatry enthroned within the heart is no different. The word of God speaks to us with the same message. Paul continued saying, “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent, because He has fixed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom He has appointed; and of this He has given assurance to all by raising Him from the dead.”4 There is a reason the First Commandment has primacy. When it’s disregarded both the internal and external ordering of life breaks down. Civility can still hold sway, but only while people still find meaning in life. Otherwise, restraint is necessary. It’s little wonder so many in our society are caught in cycles of addiction, depression, and despair? It’s not just a matter of lack of self-control. A deeper crisis is evident. Missing hope for the future, needing inspiration for the present, lacking meaning for daily living, people turn to destructive behaviors that get them through the moment. The cost is high.

One of the great challenges of pagan idolatry was that you could seldom be certain where you stood with the gods. There was always a price to secure their favour. But the true God is not a selfish and heartless idol. We know where we stand with Him. God's grace in Christ comes with no strings attached. There are no prerequisites to qualify us for His mercy. The Father finds nothing desirable in us, but He finds His Son faithful. He is not drawn to our goodness, but He is accepting of Christ's righteousness. He's not impressed with our obedience, but He's glorified in Christ's sacrifice. He supplies all that we lack.

The love of God does not fade, it does not tire, it does not get bored. God's passion for us never loses its vibrancy. When we go astray He searches for us with the diligence of a shepherd looking for lost sheep. When spiritual sickness attacks our souls, He tends to us like a physician treating a dying patient. When we are under duress from Satan's temptations, He protects us like a soldier defending a helpless child. The pagan idols were believed to have done none of these things. Christ says, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”5

Dear friends, the precious blood of Christ was spilled for you. The crown was fitted. The nails were driven. The cross was lifted…for YOU! He stayed only a Sabbath’s rest in the grave that you might have life in heaven for eternity. You don’t need to rely on any of your own holiness because His is more than enough. We are saved by grace, through faith. You are His baptized and you are fed with His heavenly mana. The apostle says, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”6

Thursday marks the day of Christ’s bodily ascension to the Father’s right hand. Jesus said to His nervous disciples, "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”7 What magnificent assurance! He speaks that to you in your time of need, your time of darkness, your time of doubt. You will not be orphaned. Tuck that away in your heart. Etch it on your mind. The problem with getting too comfortable with only our favourite verses of Scripture is that we can become complacent. But, you will inevitably find more fabulous expressions of God’s promises. Don’t jettison the old ones, just add more.

Take God at His word. He is trustworthy. Jesus is “the founder and perfecter of our faith.”8 Faith is not an inanimate object. Faith cannot exist without the operative power of the Holy Spirit. The believing person is the person within whom the Spirit is living. Christ lived among sinners and the Holy Spirit lives within them. He lives within believers as the bearer of truth. Christians do not have the Spirit as some generic "lifeforce". He makes known the Son so that we might know the Father as well. These are mind-blowing facts. The same Spirit who hovered over the waters at the first creation and gave you new life in the waters of baptism dwells in you now. The same Jesus who received Stephen at his stoning and the thief on the cross in his dying hour receives you. He will welcome you when mortality has run its course because He has already received you. He will raise you bodily from the grave, not as a new miracle, but as a continuation of His victory over death. The apostle’s good news for the people of Athens is good news for us too. Amen.

+ In nomine Jesu +

Sixth Sunday of Easter
21 May 2017
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt

1 Acts 17:22-23
2 1 Timothy 6:10
3 Luke 12:15
4 Acts 17:30-31
5 Matthew 10:29-31
6 Romans 8:38-39
7 John 14:18
8 Hebrews 12:2