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21st Sunday in Ordinary Time One Sunday, Dan and I were enjoying worship in a congregation close to where I was attending seminary. The pastor invited all of the young people to come to the front of the sanctuary for the time for children. You know the loud sound of running feet dashing to get up to the front of church…it’s the time set aside specifically for children in worship and they know it! So everyone gets set up and comfortable in the front pew and the pastor asks the question, “If you could sit next to anyone in the world, who would it be?” Silence. A dead silence hits the kids as they look at one another and all around the church wondering what is the right answer…and not wanting to be the first one to utter something. “Who would you want to spend your time with? Anyone famous that you can think of that you would love to have some time with?!” The pastor continued hoping for an answer. “Obi Wan Kenobi!” shouted out a bold fifth grader. Some laughter came from the congregation. Dan and I turned to one another and I whispered to him, “Someone say Jesus…say Jesus!” Then other voices could be heard: “Dora!” “Batman!” And then the inevitable answer that comes in many churches, “Jesus!” The time for children continued as the pastor went on to ask why they would want to spend time with those that they named. The common thread between all of the names given was that the children looked up to them. They were leaders or people who could be companions; people that they could learn from. Have you ever noticed that we look into crowds for leaders? We think that it might always be someone else that has the right answer…and when they do, we uphold them as the models for how we are to live or who we are to follow. Whether they are Dora the Explorer, Batman, or a competitor in the Olympics, we look to others to do things that we think are awesome and maybe even impossible. Dare I say that we put these people on a pedestal and expect them live up to impossible standards that we devise only to criticize them when they aren’t met? Our narrative this morning isn’t too different. Picture it: Jesus moves from a question that is a bit easier to answer due to all of the talk about his actions to one more specific, “Who do you say that I am?” After a time of avoiding direct eye contact with Jesus (that tactic that we all have so that we aren’t called on by the teacher) that Peter guy shouts out an answer…do you remember Peter? Peter was that guy who confidently stepped out of the boat only to sink after a few steps onto the water and called out to Jesus for help. From that response, Jesus accused him of having little faith. This same Peter will soon be called Satan by Jesus and deny that he even knows his teacher at all during his crucifixion. THIS Peter answers THIS question. And you all heard what follows next. Peter has this deep connection with a power that he does not even recognize without Jesus’ instruction, “Yes, that is the right answer but you didn’t get there on your own. God gave that answer to you…inspired you to utter those words.” Immediately, Jesus turns it right back onto Peter and shares all of the amazing things that are possible when the connections between heaven and earth, God’s desires and our own understandings and actions, are created. Peter got the right answer this time but the responsibility and actions stemming from this answer call him to something more…something greater than he probably imagined when he first opened his mouth. His name means Rock, and on this piece of rock, meaning the knowledge that he uttered through a power not his own (Bread from Heaven), the Church will be built…and amazing things will happen! The keys of the kingdom are given to him…more knowledge about God’s work in the world. Therefore, whatever is taught on earth will be bound in heaven and whatever is let go of here will be loosed in heaven too! Peter’s answer reveals more than just who Jesus is; it calls him to participate in the new order that is being created. The answer of who Christ is and what he is all about continues to call us to do the same today. Last week we talked about the significance of what comes from our hearts and out into the world. It is what we bring to the world that can defile us, not the regulations based on ritual cleanliness from Jesus’ time. Peter illustrates that we are all called to be participants in the Church that Christ builds. He acts on impulsive thoughts and gut reactions. He jumps out of the boat, takes a few steps, sinks and calls out for help. He gets scared at the thought of losing his leader and rejects it in despair. He is frightened at the thought of losing his own life and denies his beloved teacher. He is a passionate risk-taker who acts on his faith from the depths of his heart. Yes, it is reassuring to hear that someone like Peter becomes a rock on which the Church will be built because he isn’t infallible; in fact, he is probably the complete opposite! He’s made mistakes and misspoken and yet he is still one who is called by Jesus to play a significant role as a disciple. But our inspiration this morning just begins here. His actions illustrate that we, too, are called by Christ to be who we are as passionate risk-takers making attempts at getting the answers right and continuing along the journey even if we don’t. The time to wait for a leader to step forward with the right answers keeps us from seeing the main point of the reading this morning…that sometimes other people are leaders, but other times, the answer that we are looking for can be right where we didn’t even think to look, right within ourselves. Look around at this sanctuary. I mean really take a moment to look at the beauty around us. Look at the colorful glass. Hear the bold sound of the piano and organ leading us in songs proclaiming our faith. Touch the cushions in the solid, carved wood of the pew in which you sit. Smell the sweetness of coffee hour and the time it brings people together. Taste the bread and juice in which we remember the last meal that Jesus had with his closest followers and friends. A life of faith doesn’t mean that we build on the firm foundation that Christ gives us in hard wood and colorful glass...in the tangible things of this world. Yes, this is the place where we come together to learn more about God’s work in our lives and the world. Yes, this is a sacred sanctuary in which we can welcome the abundant presence of God. Yes, this is a safe space where we can risk just like Peter and grow as people of faith. I don’t take away from the feelings that this place creates for me and you. We must remember that even these walls can become protection from the outside world instead of just one place that we experience God. Ultimately we must face these doors and go out into the world in recognition that we are the Church. We go out with the measure of faith that we have and take risks. And the redemption of this daunting task is that sometimes we can fail and sometimes we can succeed…in the end, it’s all about the journey that brings it all together AND the work that we, you and I and all of us, do together as the complete body of the Church.
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