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Isaiah 28:14-22, Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-29, Luke 13:22-30
St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, West Valley City, UT
The Rev'd W. Lee Shaw
Jesus is continuing his trek across Israel, teaching and healing in
one town and village after another on his way to Jerusalem.
On the way he is raising questions about his teachings, his life,
his message. One such question comes up rather abruptly today:
Lord, will only a few be saved?
Stated another way it could
be, if I’m in then who is out? Ever since Jesus
walked the earth, folks have wanted to know, who is in, and who is
out, of the kingdom of God. Generally, it is stated in terms of,
I’m in, right? So who is not in?
It seems very important
for the human psyche to have boundaries of who is in and who is out.
Remember back on your own days in high school, and who were the
in folks, and who were not.
I am reminded of the saying attributed to Woody Allen, that I would not want to be a member of any club that would have me as a member. Our self-definition is often wrapped up in our chosen peer group.
This question of who is in and who is out, who is right and who is not right, has continued to our own day. Just a few weeks ago our brothers in the Vatican released a statement assuring the world that the Roman Catholic church was the only real church and the rest of us were basically traveling coach. In our own neighborhoods we get the assurance that we live amongst the restored true church of Jesus Christ of the latter days. There are numerous other denominations that claim the whole truth and validity of the Gospel of Christ rests solely with them.
One of the things I have always valued about the Anglican/Episcopal approach to being saved, or being in (or being out), is our non- exclusivity. We have never claimed to be the one true church with all the right answers to all the hard questions and all the right liturgical niceties that no one else has.
At ordinations (and receptions) in the Episcopal Church, the
bishop says to the candidate: Will you be loyal to the doctrine,
discipline, and worship of Christ as this Church as received
them?
Bishops make a similar confession. We acknowledge that
we share in the traditions and teachings of the church catholic.
We fully acknowledge that we do not have the fullness of God’s Kingdom on earth. No one does. We readily acknowledge that we have borrowed from Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Reformed traditions in addition to creating prayers, liturgies and rites unique to our experience of the Holy Spirit. In this respect the Episcopal Church/Anglican Communion are truly catholic or universal. In one sense, we have no shame, we see the Holy Spirit moving in many other faith communities and borrow from and adapt them at will.
But still the question lies heavily on many hearts, who is in and who is out of the Kingdom of God. Jesus is clear throughout the New Testament that he is the way, the truth, and the life. He is the door. He identifies himself as the way into the reign of God. In our reading today, Jesus uses strong hyperbole, again, to stress the need for repentance (metanoia), a turning around. This was a warning to the people of his day and to us, we cannot put off turning our lives around. But this is not to earn our way into the reign of God, rather to recognize it in our lives today, to see the face of Christ in those around us, to see Christ in our midst today.
This past week I watch part of a video from Trinity Church, Wall
Street of a sermon by Archbishop Desmond Tutu. He used the text
from John 12:31-32, Now is the judgment of this world; now the
ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted
up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.
Here Bishop Tutu, in his wonderful style opened up his arms and
repeated all--all--all--all: black and white, rich and poor,
male and female, gay and straight, all will be drawn together in
the cross of Christ. Here is the mystery of the cross, drawing all
people to Christ. Some ancient Biblical texts say all
things
making it even more universal and inclusive.
The message of Jesus is clear, on our own we cannot enter into the kingdom or reign of God. It is not what we do. It is not who we are. It is not about us. It is about the cross of Christ drawing all people – all things – to Christ. Those of you who were at WOW this week heard Mary June Nestler describe the icon of Jesus’ descent into hell. Jesus goes there in triumph and the gates of hell are broken and then sealed in the form of a cross, preventing any one from descending into hell again.
The cross of Christ will draw all of us into the reign of God.
People will come from east and west, from north and south,
and will eat in the kingdom of God.
It won’t necessarily
look like what we expected for some are last who will be first,
and some are first who will be last.
The kingdom of God is not
based on our expectations or our understanding of who is in and
who is out. The kingdom of God is centered on the cross of Christ
and the unmitigated love and grace of God towards all of creation.
Thanks be to God.