October 12, 2003 - Proper 23BSermon preached by Father Armand John Kreft

Associate Rector for Family Ministy
Church of St Paul in the Desert, Palm Springs, California

October 12, 2003 Proper 23B

"Teacher, all these I have observed from my youth." And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said to him, "You lack one thing; go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." Our translation doesn't say you have to give everything to poor, but it does command us to charity and give to those less fortunate than ourselves. In other words, our charitable gifts and pledges need not cause us a financial burden, but they should be generous enough to make a difference in our lives. Like most people I have a mortgage. I also have bills and I pledge to the church. I usually pay these at the first of the month. I'm fortunate to have enough money to cover it. Usually I would pay the mortgage, my bills and write my pledge check. But you know, I got my priorities wrong. It's just a little thing, but I had to look at what I thought was most important in my life in the order I paid my obligations. Now the first check I write is my pledge check, then my mortgage and bills. It is a ritual of reprioritizing my life.

But that's not really the concern of the seeker in the story. He wants eternal life, the assurance not just the promise. He wants to know if he's going to get it. This person hoped that following the rules was enough. Well, it's easy to follow rules. It's pretty black and white. You do know if you're right or wrong. And more often than not, if you know you're right, then you can make others wrong. In this country, if you break the rules, the laws, and you get caught, you pay the consequences...sometimes that means jail, or a fine or probation.

It's good to follow some rules...safety rules while driving a car especially now that the season has started, rules of civility to one another. Yes, it's good to follow some rules for the greater good of the community.

But blindly following the rules means you don't take responsibility for yourself. After all, you were only following what you were told to do so you can abrogate yourself of any blame. So if it doesn't work out we can just say "it's not my fault." The old passing the buck syndrome that began with Adam when he said, "She made me eat the apple" and Eve said, "the serpent made me eat the apple." And the serpent said, "it wasn't my fault, I was just hanging around." No one wanted to take responsibility for their actions. Yet, they were told the rules...don't eat of the tree in the middle of the garden. But they did eat from it and then wouldn't take the responsibility and accountability for it and we know the consequences.

Jesus is saying that there's more to finding God than following rules. Jesus is asking this person to make a personal commitment to him, the Son of God. He's asking this man to put everything aside and follow him. Jesus is asking for a personal relationship with us, not just giving us a set of rules, that if you play them right, bang...you get the prize...eternal life. No, Jesus is asking this rich man, and us, to risk everything. Sell what you've got, give some to the poor.

Following the rules means you play it safe and never take any risks. You know, in my early 20s I sold everything and moved to England. In my mid-30s I went back to college, in my late 30s I went to seminary, in my early 40s I was ordained. Now, in my 50s something changed, and I'm a bit more cautious about certain things.

Stop and think of all the risks you've taken in your life. Try to imagine what your life would be like if you never took any of those risks? Changing jobs, entering into a relationship ... all these can be risks. Attending church...yes, this can be a risk, A risk to have your faith tried, challenged, a risk of entering into community of believers, a risk of hearing the Gospel that says it's not enough just to attend, to stand or sit, kneel or whatever. No, if you want to follow Jesus, you must take risks that may make you uncomfortable, that may challenge your way of life and of letting other people into your life.

When I was getting ready to move to the desert I set about selling off some things, china and silver, some art work and antiques. The family things I gave to my nephews, but for the most part I just sold these items to strangers. It was, in fact, very freeing. When I moved to England in the 70s I did the same thing. So I know I can do it, if required of me. Whatever is holding you back from following Jesus Christ is what needs to be "sold", to free yourself to accept Christ as your Savior and Redeemer of the world.

Give to the poor. Well, that's part of my job. I have special charities that I personally support with donations. I give Michael, who stands out by Trader Joe's, some money and clothes. I also give him my time. When I ride by on my bicycle, I stop and talk with him because I believe that Jesus is saying not to just write out a check, but to give of yourself to the poor...to do charitable work, not just give money. To give of yourself, your most precious treasure ... your time. To be honest every time I think I want to go work in a feeding program, I can think of innumerable excuses not to. You can seek areas of interest out for yourself...because we are surrounded by the poor...and not just the hungry and homeless. There are those whose poverty is not so visible...like the nursing homes and assisted living facilities, where people are shut away from society, people who long to have a conversation, a touch, just the presence of someone who cares for them. Our Pastoral Care Team is seeking out people for whom this ministry is needed.

By not taking risks in life means that you seek the spirituality of comfort rather than the virtues of hope and joy. The rich man had everything to make his life comfortable....as long as he followed the rules he could remain comfortable. But to risk it all to follow Jesus, to find a life filled with hope and joy, was too frightening for him. So often we have the opportunity for a fulfilling life, but it would require that we change...change our outlook, stretch our faith, leave our secure and comfortable homes.

"What must I do," he asked Jesus, "for my life to be like yours? What commandments shall I keep?" To read it like that it's as though it was all right to pick and choose which commandments were more important. Perhaps this seeker thought Jesus would wave a magic wand or place his hands on the man's head and the man would have eternal life. Or more likely, the man wanted Jesus to say everything was just fine the way it was.

Interestingly, and rather surprisingly, Jesus ignored the first five commandments, the four about God, and the one about keeping the Sabbath, and went straight into the five social commandments, the ones about community life. Don't kill, don't be unfaithful in your relationships, don't steal, honor your parents and love your neighbor.

And for the first time, the seeker was made to face what his priorities really were. For the first time he realized his wealth and comfort were actually the most important things to him. And he wasn't prepared to face the pain of relinquishing that, the pain of personal growth, even to gain vibrant and exciting and eternal life. So he went away.

Jesus let him go. Jesus made no attempt to persuade him or to force him for a commitment or even engage him in a discussion. For the decision is always ours. The decision will always be a personal one, freely taken and embraced by God.

In our beliefs, the seeker was still granted eternal life, so that's really not the issue. I believe the issue is to hear the Creator of the Universe, the all powerful-all seeing, all loving God say: "Well done, good and faithful servant." And that cannot be said until we have taken the risks.