Matthew 7:21-29"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts upon them is like a wise man who built his house on rock."
Well friends. . . here we are. It seems like a normal blasé day for many reasons. . . We're having typical weather for the beginning of March. It's Wednesday, the middle of the week. We're probably in the midst of our weekly routines. Blasé. I'm writing something. You're reading something. No big deal, right?
But something else could be said, so I think I'll say it: As part of our weekly lectionary these days, we've been reading, hearing, and hopefully, wrestling with Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. As we've experienced it, we’ve been challenged. Really challenged. Challenged to the core. And now we have a chance to reflect on the passage that closes this sermon.
Like the disciples who climbed up that mountain with Jesus, we’ve sat down too and listened to some of Jesus’ most powerful words. And it’s not just that we’ve been challenged to live differently, though that is true. We’ve been invited to live fully. There’s a life fuller and richer and deeper than any of our blasé designations. And it’s right before us! – breaking in, right in front of us all the time.
All through the sermon, Jesus has been putting options before us. And among those options, he points in the direction he intends for us, which is full of the abundant life he has created us to experience. Far from blasé if we will but follow. Options before us. . .
Live as the salt and light you are in this world!
. . .or forget your identity and experience a half-life without flavor or illumination. . .
Live fully in the Kingdom that is breaking into this world!
. . .or plunge your experience into Gehenna, that reeking, ever-burning, destruction-filled garbage heap on the edge of Jerusalem. . .
Live by loving your enemies – overcoming their hatred with a love that transforms you both!
. . .or boil-over in wrath-filled vengeance and destroy your own peace. . .
Live in witness, pointing to the One who knows you, redeems you, and invites you to fullness!
. . .or wear a mask of religious superiority, pointing to yourself and missing the
opportunity to lean in the direction that this One brings for you and for the world. . .
Live with the knowledge that your Loving-God knows your needs before you ask!
. . .or writhe with fear and gut-wrenched anxiety that you are not even worth your needs. .
Live in self-examination, aware of what clogs your vision and trips up your steps!
. . .or put all your energy into the microscope you build for others, analyzing and judging their every move, their every step. . .
Live as one who finds the gift of the narrow way – the life-filled path that calls for growth!
. . .or walk the wide and broad road, the one that leads to ease, which is no growth at all. .
We have options here. And the invitation is right before us. The Sermon on the Mount is about Life – Real Life. In fact, we could say it’s about life and non-life – Life and Death. Oh, maybe not in the same way that some fire and brimstone preachers would say it's about life and death. . .about some God who is hell-bent on destroying you until you shape up. . . No, not that. . .But it is precisely about life and death because our God is a loving God and wills us to experience the fullness that life brings. When it comes to us, God wants all our ways of death to die. And for that reason, we need to hear what life is and what non-life is. And in the last few weeks, we’ve been honest with ourselves: We often find ourselves caught right in the middle them both.
And so. . .here we are. Though it may feel like it, this day isn’t blasé at all! It’s a grace filled opportunity to see once again that God calls us and this world to Life.
Jesus has some more words for us – some more invitations at the end of the Sermon on the Mount: “Everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell – and great was its fall.”
We’ve heard Jesus’ words to us in this Sermon. The question is: Will we act on them? Will we put them into practice? Will we build upon the foundation of love, worth, justice, and peace that Christ calls us to live toward? What will it look like as we build upon God’s dreams for our very lives? We’ve been given words of wisdom. Now we have the opportunity to act upon them. That in itself is an opportunity of grace. I wonder what we can build together as we truly live in this community?
But something else could be said, so I think I'll say it: As part of our weekly lectionary these days, we've been reading, hearing, and hopefully, wrestling with Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. As we've experienced it, we’ve been challenged. Really challenged. Challenged to the core. And now we have a chance to reflect on the passage that closes this sermon.
Like the disciples who climbed up that mountain with Jesus, we’ve sat down too and listened to some of Jesus’ most powerful words. And it’s not just that we’ve been challenged to live differently, though that is true. We’ve been invited to live fully. There’s a life fuller and richer and deeper than any of our blasé designations. And it’s right before us! – breaking in, right in front of us all the time.
All through the sermon, Jesus has been putting options before us. And among those options, he points in the direction he intends for us, which is full of the abundant life he has created us to experience. Far from blasé if we will but follow. Options before us. . .
Live as the salt and light you are in this world!
. . .or forget your identity and experience a half-life without flavor or illumination. . .
Live fully in the Kingdom that is breaking into this world!
. . .or plunge your experience into Gehenna, that reeking, ever-burning, destruction-filled garbage heap on the edge of Jerusalem. . .
Live by loving your enemies – overcoming their hatred with a love that transforms you both!
. . .or boil-over in wrath-filled vengeance and destroy your own peace. . .
Live in witness, pointing to the One who knows you, redeems you, and invites you to fullness!
. . .or wear a mask of religious superiority, pointing to yourself and missing the
opportunity to lean in the direction that this One brings for you and for the world. . .
Live with the knowledge that your Loving-God knows your needs before you ask!
. . .or writhe with fear and gut-wrenched anxiety that you are not even worth your needs. .
Live in self-examination, aware of what clogs your vision and trips up your steps!
. . .or put all your energy into the microscope you build for others, analyzing and judging their every move, their every step. . .
Live as one who finds the gift of the narrow way – the life-filled path that calls for growth!
. . .or walk the wide and broad road, the one that leads to ease, which is no growth at all. .
We have options here. And the invitation is right before us. The Sermon on the Mount is about Life – Real Life. In fact, we could say it’s about life and non-life – Life and Death. Oh, maybe not in the same way that some fire and brimstone preachers would say it's about life and death. . .about some God who is hell-bent on destroying you until you shape up. . . No, not that. . .But it is precisely about life and death because our God is a loving God and wills us to experience the fullness that life brings. When it comes to us, God wants all our ways of death to die. And for that reason, we need to hear what life is and what non-life is. And in the last few weeks, we’ve been honest with ourselves: We often find ourselves caught right in the middle them both.
And so. . .here we are. Though it may feel like it, this day isn’t blasé at all! It’s a grace filled opportunity to see once again that God calls us and this world to Life.
Jesus has some more words for us – some more invitations at the end of the Sermon on the Mount: “Everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell – and great was its fall.”
We’ve heard Jesus’ words to us in this Sermon. The question is: Will we act on them? Will we put them into practice? Will we build upon the foundation of love, worth, justice, and peace that Christ calls us to live toward? What will it look like as we build upon God’s dreams for our very lives? We’ve been given words of wisdom. Now we have the opportunity to act upon them. That in itself is an opportunity of grace. I wonder what we can build together as we truly live in this community?
We’re often caught between Life and Non-Life. One moment, we act on Jesus’ words and build upon a foundation of rock. Moments later, we neglect – and at times purposefully act against – Jesus’ words, building on sand. Thank God that he takes our humble bits of rock and sand and builds us up continuously. And he builds us together with others. And that makes him the true and lasting foundation upon which all our lives are built.
And our Builder – Our Foundation – again invites us to true living - today! And so I ask us some questions as we close the Sermon on the Mount: What is it these days that is holding you back from living the full life God has intended for you? And what can you do to change your direction yet again, and be led by the loving hand of Christ who wills fullness for you? He invites you to Life Abundant. What are you waiting for! What is each of us waiting for? Renee Roederer, what-are-you-waiting-for? What are you waiting for?
What’s holding you back? Fear? Anger? Anxiety? Un-truth? What is it that keeps you away from fullness? Greed? Broken relationships? Laziness? What is it? How can you let go of those hindrances? How can you let go of them, letting them wash back out with the tide as you begin to build and be built upon rock? What do you need to do? What do you need to act upon?
We’re entering the season of Lent when we reflect upon hopes and expectations – when we think about ultimate meaning – What are you waiting for? How is Christ entering into your brokenness these days? How will Christ resurrect you? How is Christ calling you to plunge into life right now?
-Renée Roederer
And our Builder – Our Foundation – again invites us to true living - today! And so I ask us some questions as we close the Sermon on the Mount: What is it these days that is holding you back from living the full life God has intended for you? And what can you do to change your direction yet again, and be led by the loving hand of Christ who wills fullness for you? He invites you to Life Abundant. What are you waiting for! What is each of us waiting for? Renee Roederer, what-are-you-waiting-for? What are you waiting for?
What’s holding you back? Fear? Anger? Anxiety? Un-truth? What is it that keeps you away from fullness? Greed? Broken relationships? Laziness? What is it? How can you let go of those hindrances? How can you let go of them, letting them wash back out with the tide as you begin to build and be built upon rock? What do you need to do? What do you need to act upon?
We’re entering the season of Lent when we reflect upon hopes and expectations – when we think about ultimate meaning – What are you waiting for? How is Christ entering into your brokenness these days? How will Christ resurrect you? How is Christ calling you to plunge into life right now?
-Renée Roederer
Director of Young Adult Ministries
PPC L.I.F.T.
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