Saying Yes
A Sermon for the Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
August 14, 2022
The Rev. Robin Teasley
By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted to do so they were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had received the spies in peace.
And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets-- who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned to death, they were sawn in two, they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented-- of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.
Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made perfect.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 11:29-12:2
As a young mother of 3 small children, I was active in church – in the sense that I attended on Sundays, went to Bible study, and made sure my children were involved in choir, Sunday School and Vacation Bible school. When I was asked if I would consider serving on Vestry I immediately said no thank you. I had excuses!
My first excuse was that I had three small children who couldn’t be left alone when my husband was away on business travel. I was asked a few more times, and always had a reason to say no – I have had to return to work part time, no thank you, not yet. Then I began to work full time, so again, no thank you. When my children became old enough and I ran out of excuses, I finally said yes to Vestry, which was only the beginning of my saying yes to lots of things God put before me! Looking back, I wish I had said yes sooner and more often.
Years later, I was standing in the fellowship hall with my friends – the ones I met in church and have been with so long, the ones who have raised each other’s children and can finish each other’s sentences, the ones who pick me up when I fall down. I pray you all have these friends and if you don’t yet have them, church is a wonderful place to find them!
As we stood there during coffee hour that day, we who had been together as nursery volunteers, Sunday school teachers, acolyte robe washers, and youth group chaperones; as we stood there, we were all noticing something, and we were all noticing it at the same time. There before us were mothers and fathers with babies and toddlers and older children, all doing what we once did. They were making sure the faith was being handed down to their children.
And it was as if we were surrounded by holiness, the fellowship hall was shimmering around the edges, and then the moment ended. One of us said out loud what we were all thinking, “Look! We are not the young people anymore,” and she was right! We recognized the next generation were now doing the planning for Sunday School and Vacation Bible School and Youth Mission Trips.” We all acknowledged that it was their time to say yes, and it was also our time to say yes, we have been here and now it is time for you to be here.
It was a bittersweet awareness; there was some sadness because it was a loss, and with loss comes grief, but also there was anticipation for what would come next. We also knew that in letting go of our way of doing things, in stepping aside so that others could say yes to what they were being called to do, that they might do things differently. There was freedom in letting go, in saying yes to change, and to the new way of being disciples that God now had waiting for us.
In the Letter to the Hebrews we have a continuation of last week’s call to a life of faith and Abraham’s yes to God. This week we hear more examples of faithful servants, others in our biblical ancestry who said yes to God. “By faith the people passed through the Red Sea, by faith the walls of Jericho fell, by faith Rahab, the prostitute, didn’t perish.” We hear a long list of faithful men and women. Through faith they conquered kingdoms, shut the mouths of lions, quenched raging fires, escaped the edge of the sword, and put foreign armies to flight. So far, faith is sounding pretty good!
But then we hear that some of the faithful were tortured, some mocked, imprisoned, stoned to death, sawn in two, persecuted, tormented. So we shouldn’t be so surprised when Jesus warns his disciples about fire and division as a result of faithful proclamation of the Gospel. Anybody ready to sign up after hearing all that? Ready to say yes to God?
Not all of these faithful ones received God’s promise during their lifetime here on earth, because God’s work did not end in them but continued on after them. In today's Letter to the Hebrews, after this honor roll of the faithful, the next word in the text is therefore. Whenever you see therefore it’s a good idea to pay attention to what follows. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith…”
(Amos, Nahum, Ezekiel, Daniel, Elijah, Moses, Joshua, Jeremiah, Jonah, Isaiah, Habakkuk)
Richard Rohr, Franciscan priest and theologian says, “The great wisdom teachers and mystics say in various ways that you cannot truly see or understand anything if you begin with a no. You have to start with a yes of basic acceptance. We see what we are ready to see, expect to see, and even desire to see. If you start with no, you usually get some form of no in return. If you start with yes, you are much more likely to get a yes back.”
But we are not all mystics, and we say no with some frequency. It’s easier to say no and keep things the way they are, isn’t it? Because if we say yes, we know we will have to change, let go, try a new way of doing things. If we say yes, we will have to make a commitment and take on some responsibility. If we say yes, there will likely be uncertainty and fear, and sometimes failure. But all of these experiences, even the painful parts that may cause fire and division among us, are part of the process, part of what God is doing in and through us, to bring about the fullness of God’s kingdom.
As the faithful of Immanuel, we are being invited to say yes. Some of you have been here long and are those who hold the stories and the history of this place. Others are newer to this community, and still others grew up here and are now raising their own families at Immanuel. The church is one of the few remaining places where all generations gather in community. Many generations at Immanuel have persevered through the changes and chances of this life, even when there have been some disagreements and disappointments.
Some of you hope for more families, more children’s activities. Some of you would appreciate a focus on pastoral care and adult formation. Still others would like to see more hands-on outreach opportunities. You shouldn’t be surprised when I warn you that your next Rector will not be able to make all these things magically appear. That would be wishful thinking! But each of you saying yes to God in some way will strengthen this community in every way. In this time of transition, I pray you are listening for God’s voice and that when you sense a holy nudge, that you will respond with a yes.
Saying yes to God opens us up to God’s holy, shimmering presence. It gives us new opportunities to be in relationship with God and our fellow human beings. It makes room for the Spirit to move within us and within this church in new and life-giving ways.
By saying yes, Immanuel will persevere for those who come after us, to continue the work of God’s kingdom and the spread of the Gospel. By faith, God will provide the next opportunity that will lead us into new life. So let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.
When you come up for communion this morning, I wonder if, as you receive the bread, you might say either silently or aloud yes as you receive the gift of the presence of God. Then in the season ahead, listen for the ways you are being called to participate in the Divine Presence along with that amazing cloud of witnesses by saying yes!
Title Image: Fresco in the Padua Baptistery, Giusto de Menabuoi
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