c21Pentecost 18 ~ September 30, 2007 ~ A sermon preached by The Rev’d Erl G. Purnell at Old St. Andrew’s Church, Bloomfield, CT
Amos 6.1-7; Psalm 146; 1st Timothy 6.11-19; Luke 16.19-31
Are the lessons clear enough? Does anybody have any questions about them? I hesitate to add anything because I’m not sure what more to say.
“I will praise the Lord as long as I live…” the psalmist sings.
“As for those who in this present age are rich…do good, be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share,” Paul writes to his friend Timothy.
“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen,” Luke begins.
Every three years these lessons come up in the lectionary. They typically anticipate the annual appeal in churches throughout Christendom. They are bald and bold.
It’s a funny thing, how the Universe works. By that I mean that as I was composing the last paragraph on Thursday morning, my financial counselor called. He wanted to talk with me about realigning my IRA investments. But, first, he asked how I was. I said, “Fine.” So, then he said, “Do you have a minute?” I answered, “Sure. I’m writing my sermon.” Then, for some unknown reason, I added, “What do you think I should say?”
Now Bob is a real straight shooter. That’s why we use him for our investments. Ask him what he thinks, and he’ll tell you. Usually he’s right-on, too. So, when I said, “What do you think I should say?” Bob piped up, “It’s easy. There’re only two things. Face everything and live life.” I wish I had had a tape recorder.
Bob’s not a church-goer, although later we did talk about the Episcopal Church’s woes. He’s the kind of guy who experiences the Spirit in life but who bristles at organized religion’s proscribed beliefs and behaviors, its requirements and focus on the afterlife. And, unlike many of you and certainly me, he’s not big on ritual. I could have argued the reasons why I think a religion is important, but I didn’t. I let Bob talk.
So, Bob suggests I say something about face everything and live life. I asked for a bit more detail and tucked the phone against my shoulder so I could quietly type a few of his words of wisdom.
About face everything? Basically Bob said most people don’t face what’s out there, right in front of them. They only look at what they want to see or think they can handle.
For the most part, I think Bob’s right. We get afraid to face the tough issues before us, don’t you think? The racism I spoke about last week is a good example. But global warming is another. The list could go on. Suffice it to say, we don’t much want to face issues that make us uncomfortable or challenge us to change, do we? Or, is it that we don’t want to face things we’re hopeless to change? Bob’s point, however, is that what’s in front of us still matters and we’re better off looking at it openly and honestly than being blissful and blithe, ignoring it completely
Inertia is very strong stuff. Remember from 7th grade science class, “a body at rest will remain at rest unless acted upon by another body”? Well, that’s most of us and that’s what Bob seems to be saying. Bob is kind of echoing Confucius’ famous words: Unless we change directions, we’ll get to where we’re headed. Face everything is short-hand for take a look at the reality before you.
This is my segue into inviting you to begin thinking about your 2008 pledge with fresh eyes. Face everything includes looking at how your church is doing and what your responsibility is for keeping it going. Never mind the specifics of the budget this morning. No matter what, we need your generous pledge. May I suggest that you take a look at your pledge for this year and imagine increasing your gift for next year by 5%. If each one of us faced the reality of OSA’s financial needs, we would gladly make sacrificial pledges. As a reminder, the average diocesan pledge is about $2,200. Our own average is $1,840. If OSA had an average pledge of $2,200 our pledge income would be $231,000 and the budget would be balanced. Think about it!
My friend Bob also said, live life. Well, isn’t that a good idea? What he means is to live life fully. The way he said it was, “Puck, you’ve got to be in your own movie. Too many people just sit around, watching and waiting.” You know, when he said that, I knew exactly what he meant. For example, if you hear about global warming but think you either have nothing to do with it or you couldn’t possibly help, you’re living life asleep.
At OSA, when we woke up to issues about global warming, we took action—to change our light bulbs, to swap our energy-eating kitchen appliances for more efficient ones, to replace the heat-leaking doors downstairs, and to take a hard look at our furnace situation.
In the time of our lives, we get to choose who we will be, what matters, how we can be all God has created us to be. “Live life,” Bob says. The Collect for this morning puts it this way: “Grant us the fullness of your grace, that we, running to obtain your promises, may become partakers of your heavenly treasure.”
How 21st century to say “running to obtain your promises” because, don’t we all feel like we’re running all the time? I sure do. When I was younger and there were twenty-four hours in each day, life was so much easier than now, when it seems I get only twelve hours in a day. Be-that-as-it-may, as Christian people we are called to live life fully and in its abundance. Anything less is not enough. And, don’t you know, a vital part of that admonition is about expressing our gratitude through our generosity.
I’m glad Bob called when he did. He certainly reminded me of my own abundance and good fortune. But, he also gave me these pearls, things to think about and, in a few weeks at pledge time, to act upon.
In the coming weeks, as you celebrate this wonderful fellowship we know as Old St. Andrew’s—people like you and I have been worshipping in this building for 200 years!—won’t you please make plans to pledge for 2008 in a way you have never done before. Isn’t this parish worth it!
Amen.
Copyright © 2007. Erl G. Purnell
All rights reserved.
