FIRST LENT

March 01, 2009

the Rev. Ken Kroohs

(Genesis 9:8-17; Psalm 25:1-0; I Peter 3:18-22; Mark 1:9-15)

THE 1 + 1 CHOICE

St. Christopher’s, High Point, NC

MAY THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH ... AND THE MEDITATIONS OF ALL OUR HEARTS ... BE ALWAYS ACCEPTABLE TO YOU ___ OUR STRENGTH AND OUR REDEEMER AMEN

First a Bible trivia comment. In the apostles creed, we say “He (Jesus) descended to the dead.” Frequently I am asked where that comes from. This passage from First Peter is the one from which that comment is drawn.

Our gospel may be one of the most debated passages in all of scripture. Not debated as much in what it says as to the “why”? You can almost understand the need for Jesus to die on a cross, but why would Jesus need to be baptized?

Even if you assume it was a Jewish baptism rather than a Christian baptism — the Jewish understanding was closer to our confession ... an act which was about acknowledging our sins and being cleansed of them ... even if we take that understanding, why would sinless Jesus need to be cleansed?

And even if we assume some rationale for the baptism, a rationale we cannot understand but we assume exists, why drive Jesus into the wilderness afterwards? Wouldn’t it be more sensible for Jesus to be in the wilderness and then baptized?

See what I mean about this being a heavily debated passage?

The virgin birth and death on a cross I can have some understanding about — but this? .... Today many preachers will be explaining this passage as an extended metaphor. That we are being told that even after we are baptized and accept Jesus as our Lord and savior .... even after that we will face challenges and temptations. But, they will preach, we can be confident that while we face those challenges and temptations we will be in the company of angels.

Maybe. The point is a good one I just am not sure that is the intention of this passage.

In fact, I suspect the central teaching has little to do with the baptism ... it just sets the stage for Jesus to begin preaching. I suspect the central teaching is in Jesus proclamation: The kingdom of God has come near: repent and believe in the good news.

First notice the word used to describe Jesus’ action ... He is proclaiming ... not teaching or even preaching or arguing but announcing a fact. The fact that the kingdom of God is now available to us. Not in a permanent sense as in the next life but in this life as a goal we can achieve ... at least partially.

Jesus goes on to say that the kingdom of God is near and we are going in the wrong direction! “Repent” means to turn around, go in a new direction. So the first thing Jesus proclaims is that the kingdom of God is available to us – then that we are heading in the wrong direction.

Repent, and believe in the good news. I suspect that it means we “repent” – we turn around by believing in the good news. That makes some sense. The way we turn around is believing that the kingdom of God has come near. If we don’t believe that there is no reason to change direction.

I know it is difficult to believe ... to deep in our hearts believe we need to change direction. It has been said that complacency is the devil’s greatest weapon. And we tend to be pretty complacent. I believe that when Jesus later preaches “blessed are the poor in spirit” it was because the poor in spirit are not complacent ... they know the need for change. ..... We don’t.

They know their life can be better. We cannot really imagine a better life.

So if I am correct and most of us in this room are not convinced we need to make any radical changes in our lives ... oh, a little sure but nothing radical. If I am correct and most of us are complacent — what can we do?

We can change directions in small steps rather than dramatic ones. That’s why I am suggesting and encouraging the 1 + 1 program for Lent. I am suggesting and encouraging us all to adopt the 1 + 1 program.

The idea is that we spend one more hour a week ... just one more hour per week on ourselves. Specifically on our spiritual lives. It may be a prayer time, either alone or in a group. It may be Bible study. It may be in one of the small groups we have going through the church. It could be taking the copy of the Great Litany home and reflecting it piece by piece. Whatever! And it could change during Lent. You could try something and later decide something else is more important. Just one hour.

The second part is to spend one hour a week for other people. First an hour for us and then an hour for other people. It could be working here at the church. It could be at Open Door or West End ministry. It could be visiting shut-ins. Whatever you feel interested in doing. Your choice. Ask me and I can help with suggestions.

Take the purple sheet from your bulletins and put it somewhere where it will not get lost. Later write down your 1 + 1 goals. Write questions if you don’t have immediate plans and contact me. And then put that purple sheet somewhere where you can see it often.

In many traditions Lent is about giving up something — fasting for the 40 days by giving up something we like. More importantly is filling that hole with something – which is what the 1 + 1 program is all about. I recognize that few of us have 2 hours just vacant during the week so this requires us to choose — to give up a TV show, an hour of sleep, an hour of a hobby – an hour of goofing off, giving up a bit of something so we can do the 1 + 1.

Although it does mean making a choice, I promise we will be happy with the choice!

If you are willing to share your plans and your efforts with others, tell me about them and I will put them in the newsletter.

Whatever method you choose, and please let me know how I can help, In the words from our Prayer Book — I invite you in the name of the church, to the observance of a Holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting and self-denial; and by the reading and mediating on God’s Holy Word.

AMEN

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CLICK HERE TO RESPOND: I would enjoy reading your comments about this sermon. Please feel free to discuss content or presentation. (If you wish to use another email system send your comments to: ken@st-christopher.com)