Sixth Sunday After Epiphany (C) 2019

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

Text: Luke 6:20-26
Theme: Perseverance And Reward

Dear friends in Christ Jesus,

How well do you handle rejection? Can you easily cope with being ostracized? Today Jesus, the One who faced the ultimate rejection, greets us with these words, “Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.”1 The sentiments expressed here are not particularly comforting regarding the opposition Christians may face for holding to their faith. However, also implied here is the ultimate reassurance that when we have the blessing of Christ, we have all we need and more. The reward of faith is not commensurate with what the world values.

It goes without saying that in our current secular climate these pithy truths of Jesus are patently counter-cultural and even downright unappealing. Nor do they fit well with the mantra of the prosperity gospel preachers: “If only you believe strongly enough God will shower you with prosperity and material blessings.” We shouldn’t too quickly claim that we understand the full import of these words either. Rejection, exclusion, and isolation because of our faith is something we may understand better in theory than from actual experience. God may have a lot more persecution on His agenda in order to purify the faith of His people. Our Master never says faith guarantees a care-free existence. Gold is purified either by heat or submersion in hydrochloric acid, not by running it under tap water or soaking it in a lovely bath of Epsom salts. So too, our faith. The Scripture says, “Now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith- of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may be proved genuine…”2

The heart of Jesus’ message is perseverance and the promise of reward. Many of the great feats of the world were not accomplished by cleverness or good fortune, but by perseverance and sacrifice. The Panama Canal officially opened in 1914, after 32 years of construction. The 51-mile canal, an engineering and construction marvel, connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. It revolutionized world shipping patterns. It removed the need for ships to travel the long and dangerous route around Cape Horn, at the southern tip of South America. The canal saves about 7,800 miles on a sea trip from New York to San Francisco. More than 75,000 men and women worked on the canal in total. At the height of construction, there were 40,000 workers working there at one time. An estimated 28,000 workers died during construction- a staggering figure. That’s an enormous sacrifice, but the reward is still reaped by many. It’s well documented that Abraham Lincoln was a failure at many endeavors in business and in politics. But he persevered until the time God used him for great accomplishments.

Dear friends, we never have to search out opportunities to prove the steadfastness of our faith. The world brings them to us as a matter of course. In some contexts, and for certain issues the intensity is much greater though. For example, how many are bold enough to say they support the sacredness of heterosexual marriage on the basis of God’s authority alone? Or do we retreat to silence or even capitulate? How many would defend the sanctity of life when confronted? Are we brave enough to call out the hypocritical double-standard that labels an unborn child as nonhuman but- perhaps only a few hours later when it comes out of the womb- name it a person with full protection under the law? Are we gallant enough to identify this as pure evil? Do we not see it as a symptom of a deeper disorder?

Can we recognize how deeply the disease of sin permeates all of our lives? Is our repentance authentic? Is our faith nothing more than a fashionable virtue that becomes too much of a liability when times are tough? Rest assured, God will render judgment. We should invoke Him with repentant prayers that we may be spared from it. The Scripture says, “It is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?”3

We must remember these things don’t depend on our strength and ability anyway. Faith is a gift of the Spirit. Our trust never rests on human authority. And consider the promise our Lord makes, “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven.”4
Yet, why does the promise of the heavenly reward seem to be insufficient for so many? Why is it so lightly cherished? Perhaps people believe they’re simply entitled to it? Perhaps we think the privilege of God’s acceptance is a birthright. But God does not suffer egotism lightly. No one is entitled to a free pass into heaven. The forgiveness you have is not a trivial gift. It is more valuable than all you own or will ever possess.

What glorious confidence our second reading gives us today. If you have never read First Corinthians chapter 15 challenge yourself to go home and do it this week. Read the whole chapter. Make yourself accountable by reading it out loud. “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those who have fallen asleep are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. ”5 There you have it! Emphatic! Categorical! Resolute! Our hope is shattered, empty, in vain, if Christ remains in the grave. Trust in the idea that His short time on earth inspires and impels us forward to love humanity and that we should be be satisfied with that for the goal of our mortal existence is a pernicious lie and utter tragedy. The prophets compare it to enduring pregnancy but then never giving birth. “We were with child, we writhed in pain, but we gave birth to wind.”6 What’s the point of enduring persecution, of investing our time and resources in the kingdom, of making sacrifices for the well-being of others if this life is an end in itself?

No, dear friends, God does not fail to make good on His promises. He is the victor over death. The Lord says, “Do I bring to the moment of birth and not give delivery?”7 Hope is not lost. “Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”8 In baptism you are vested with the power of Christ’s resurrection. In the sacrament of Holy Communion you are nourished with His life.

The triune God will not forsake His people. The greater your trial, the more His compassion. The deeper your darkness, the more brilliant His light. The heavier your burden, the broader His shoulders. The more vexatious your challenge, the more sensitive His solution. He doesn’t promise to preempt our suffering. He cares too much for us to do that. He wants our faith to be as hard as steel but as pliable as a spider’s web. “Consider it pure joy…- the Scripture says- whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.”9 Again, it says, “Stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.”10 What confidence do we have when facing the challenges of living our faith? The Lord over life and death says to us, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for Your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.”11 Amen.


+ In nomine Jesu +

Sixth Sunday After Epiphany
17 February 2019
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Luke 6:22
2 1 Peter 1:6-7
3 1 Peter 4:17
4 Luke 6:23
5 1 Corinthians 15:17-19
6 Isaiah 26:18
7 Isaiah 66:9
8 1 Corinthians 15:20
9 James 1:2-3
10 1 Corinthians 15:58
11 Luke 12:32