“Walking the Way II”   (Return to Sermon Page)

April 13, 2008

1Peter 1: 3-9; 13-15                                                              

I Peter 2: 1-5; 9-10

          You are: a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people.

These are heady words.  It might be easy to take these words to heart, and live as though we have a special mandate from God that exempts us from the consequences, and requirements that others must meet.

          Let’s think again: who was this addressed to? 

Not to Jews--- who were a chosen race;

Not to the Pharisees--- who were a priesthood,

not to the king or his court--- that is, royalty,

not to people of privilege, in any century, who by the color of their skin,

or the accident of birth are born into status and power.

          No, this statement was made to new Christians

who had been turned out from synagogue and even family,

converted slaves, peasants,

traders or merchants who belonged to no one, to no where. 

This was said to a group of nobodies without status, power or wealth.

And perhaps who were being persecuted or at least belittled by former owners, family and community.

          One might say, this doesn’t sound like us: 

a church in a small town where 3, 4, 5 generations are in worship together;

where everybody knows everybody;

where there is a great tolerance for differences, at least on the surface.

          But I believe that this passage is very much about us:

It is about God’s blessing for every one of us.

It is about the inclusion of every one of us: the newcomer and the stranger

          The person with brown skin and those of us with paler skins

          The person with disabilities that show and those that don’t show.

Hear these words: you are God’s people. 

You may have belonged to different groupings in the past, but

this is now what defines you: we are the people of Jesus Christ.

          Has your family rejected you or disappointed you or do they live far away? 

This is your new family.

Do the other kids at school think you are pretty weird?

These are your new friends.

          Are you a former city mover and shaker?  Here is where you belong.

          Are you a field worker or a gardener or a retiree or on welfare?

                             You are an equal here.

You whose hearts are torn up, whose bodies have let you down,

who have lost jobs, respect, or hope, 

here you will find mercy.

This is what St. Peter has said to us; this is God’s reassurance, God’s mercy.

Now---we have to buckle down and do it; live it;

          Not just say it, or believe it, but make it a reality.  St. Peter says,

“prepare your minds for action, discipline yourselves, set all your hope on Christ.”

Because in our society----not just Woodland, but Woodland is not exempt,

We once were a cohesive community; where everyone knew everyone.

We are no more.  Now people don’t know whose they are or where they belong.

          I grant you that if you have lived in Woodland for generations it might not seem like that, or be our reality, but it is the reality of many, even here.

          Ask the young people who they belong to.

          Ask anybody single, with children or without.

          Ask the widow whose whole life has changed with her husband’s death.

                   Whose is she now?

Once again, we must take a new look at the nitty-gritty

of extending mercy, equality and acceptance—

both inside our doors and beyond them.

It is God’s reality, this vision of the church, this notion that we are God’s people, being built together into a spiritual house, a place of hospitality and haven. 

We have been brought together to proclaim the mighty acts of God.

That almighty purpose is expressed both through our life together and

by our actions in the world. 

We have been called out of darkness into light

that the light might be seen by more and more people.