Sermon preached by Lee Barstow on August 21, 2005

South Congregational Church

Amherst, Massachusetts

First Reading: Romans 12:1-8
I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ⁷ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.

Second Reading: Matthew 16:13-20

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.’ Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

The two passages we have just heard are the ones prescribed by the Common Lectionary for today. They are being read across the world in Protestant churches: in our own tradition and in Lutheran, Unitarian, Methodist churches, etc. The gospel reading is being read in Catholic and Episcopal churches as well.

This is one of those things in life that I usually don't notice. But when I thought about it as I was preparing for this service, I thought, "Wow. Millions and millions of people today are chewing on these same teachings. All trying to increase our awareness, get closer to God, improve ourselves – however one might put it – with the same material at the same time!"

As broken and dark as this world is today, I hate to think what it would be like if we all weren't doing this.

We are part of a worldwide movement seeking truth. Together, we are imagining a better world. We are partners in a spiritual mission.

I think all this occurred to me because I think this is what today's readings are all about. They get to the very core of our human predicament and our life's opportunity:

Paul tells us that each of us has a purpose in the mission of furthering God's will, and every one of us can know what that is. Each of us makes the biggest difference just by being ourselves, by doing what we're called to do.

And Paul speaks to our community, saying that we can rely on each other, because we are really each a part of one another. We are "one body in Christ," which is to say that "we are members one of another."

Finally, Peter and Jesus teach us that we are children of a living God. The power of God's spirit flows through us. When we are in need, we are not alone. God is with us. In our grief or shame or despair of any kind -- even in our arrogance and pride – He is ready to help if we will but turn to him.

Let's take a closer look at these passages to see what else we might glean from them.

Paul tells us that our lives have a sacred purpose. It is our job, he says, to "…present [our] bodies as a living sacrifice."

Fulfilling our own individual purpose is, Paul says, the secret to a fulfilled life. In his words, it is what makes us "holy and acceptable to God…" It is our "spiritual worship" to use our talents in service to our fellows and the world.

In some cases, it's not so tough to know our purpose, right? When we have children, we know one of our purposes is to raise them as well as we can. (Note that it's often easier to know our purpose than to fulfill it!). Likewise, if we have an older parent, we know our purpose is partly to help them. Some of us make a difference by serving on church committees, or town committees. Some of us make music, or paint, or write. Some of us knit hats for newborns.

But what do we do when our purpose is harder to discern? When we're filled with conflicting emotions, or fear?

I wonder what it was like for Cindy Sheehan to decide whether or not she should camp out on President Bush's doorstep. I imagine she desperately wanted to do the right thing, and that she worked hard to discern what it was.

Paul tells us there is a way to discern God's will for us in such moments. He calls it being "transformed by the renewing of our minds."

That's a big word – "transformed." It doesn't mean being a little more this way or a little less that way. It means turning into something else. As wood turns into fire and smoke when it's lit. As a seed turns into green growth when it's watered.

Paul doesn't have any trouble suggesting a "transformation of our mind" can happen. After all, he has experienced it. He had once been Saul, persecutor of Christians, until he was transformed.

But not all transformations are as dramatic as Paul's. Most often, they are part of everyday life. Like getting into a test of wills with someone else. A spouse. A co-worker. A small child. If these are going to work out well, somebody's mind has to transform, no?

When my 23-year-old son, Taylor, was about four, I was painfully familiar with tests of will that didn't work out too well. Then I happened upon a method that advocated looking for a third way – a solution that was different from either person's position, but that each person agreed was okay. The book said it could take some time to work it, but that it was worth it.

I had my first opportunity to try it when I took Taylor and his cousin Adrian on an errand. Adrian got the front seat on the way there, which Taylor was none too happy about, but he didn't make a fuss. The problem was, Adrian was a year older, just enough to remember at the end of the errand that the front seat was in play for the ride back. He took off like a shot and got into the seat just ahead of Taylor, who had been chasing him and who by now was howling.

"Okay guys," I said, "We're not leaving here until we come up with a solution that's okay with everybody. Who's got an idea?"

"I've got an idea," said Adrian. "I sit in the front seat and Taylor sits in the back seat." The howls spiked in the back seat.

"That's not okay with Taylor, Adrian," I say. "Who's got another idea?"

"Adrian sits in the back seat, and I sit in front," cries Taylor. I'll let you guess whether that was okay with Adrian.

"I've got an idea," I say. "Both of you sit in the front seat."

"No!!" says Taylor, expressing his wounded sense of justice that Adrian had to pay for snookering the seat from him in the first place.

This goes on for at least another five minutes, straining not only my patience, but my creativity. I mean there are just so many possibilities here.

Then Taylor pipes up, "Hey, I've got an idea! How about if we both sit in the front seat!"

I'm happy to say I knew better than to mention that this was the same idea he had nixed an eternity ago.

"Is that okay with you, Adrian?" I ask, holding my breath. "Yeahhh!," says Adrian.

And that was it. Taylor climbed into the front seat happy as could be, we all strapped in, and we had a lovely ride home.

A transformation had happened. It felt like a little miracle. How had this been possible?

I certainly hadn't made it happen. But I had participated. Two things were necessary, I think: First, I allowed the possibility that something other than my own will was the answer, and second, I was willing to submit to it. To go the distance.

I hope you will not think I am trivializing the power of God if I submit to you that this story is about me somehow following Paul's advice to "discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect."

What I think really happened is that I was given the grace to get out of the way and allow God's will to manifest. It did, and transformation was the result.

Sounds easy, doesn't it? But it's not, is it? Simple perhaps, but definitely not easy. Because to participate in transformation, we have to come to believe two things: our minds do not contain the final answer, and there is something bigger than us that does.

How can we come to believe these things? Practice. This is one of those places where religion and science intersect. If we apply the right method, the desired result will occur. If we work at looking beyond our own minds, we will find a better way. If we pray for help, we will receive it. If we have a hard time praying, we can pray for the willingness to pray, and we will become more willing. I like the advice, "Pray as if your life depends upon it, because it does." And if your mind tells you prayer is unscientific? Fake it till you make it.

As we apply the right method, the desired result occurs. And after experiencing a good result, we become more willing to try again. Confidence grows. This is called faith. It is knowledge of what Peter calls "The living God."

Jesus asked the disciples, "'But who do you say that I am?' Simon Peter answered, 'You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.' And Jesus answered him, 'Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven.'"

That's quite a response from Jesus. He is so enthusiastic! It's as if Peter has found the key. What is it that makes Jesus so excited? I think it is that finally there has been a breakthrough with these disciples. For nearly three years, Jesus has been repeating the truth in parable after parable, healing after healing, lesson after lesson. Despite the disciples' devotion to him, they don't really get it. They ask dumb questions, like "which is the first among us?" They worry and kvetch and continue to doubt, despite the miracles.

But finally, one of them understands. "You are the Messiah." This translates as "anointed one." Peter is saying that Jesus truly speaks God's truth.

And then, "You are the son of the living God." God is not just an abstract puppeteer, but is alive -- within Jesus and by extension, within all of us, within everything. Peter gets it that God is the living, streaming Spirit that creates all and sustains all. He is in all of us and in everything.

It took all of Peter's experience to come to that understanding. All the healings and all the miracles he witnessed. His fear in the boat during the storm, and his amazement when Jesus walked on the water and quieted the wind. The experience of walking on water himself and then, when he looked at his feet and got scared, the experience of dropping into the water.

In that light, we see that Peter's understanding is a gift. Jesus gives praise for what Peter has said, but he knows better than to give Peter full credit. "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven." He is saying that Peter has been blessed by God's grace.

Still, Jesus is so impressed by Peter's answer that he proclaims it as the rock – the foundation -- of the future of his ministry in the world – his church: "And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it."

I think Jesus is talking here about Peter as a metaphor for every human who gets to this truth? The rock is not this man called Peter, but the awareness that Spirit is the substance of life.

After all, Peter is only human. One day he is a rock foundation, the next day he's more like a rock sinking in quicksand.

Consider that it's not long after this passage that Peter abandons Jesus in the garden. Then he denies he ever knew Jesus, not once but three times before the cock crows. Peter is undone by this and weeps in his shame and self-hatred.

And so it goes for all of us… from Wisdom to Ignorance. From Joy to Despair. From the Mountaintop to Death Valley. The human process.

And yet grace continues to bless Peter. He could have succumbed to his shame and guilt, but he was given the awareness that as big as his failures might be, God is still bigger. Judas didn't have this knowledge, and in his despair he hung himself.

Not Peter. On Easter morning, when he hears the women's story of the empty tomb and the angel, he responds. Others dismiss the story as ridiculous, but not Peter. He runs to the grave and experiences the miracle because he has remained open to the unfathomable possibilities of the living God.

Later, he experiences the presence of Jesus three times. He goes on to become the most devoted of the disciples in his teaching and healing. And at the end, he demonstrates miraculous courage and humility. Facing his own crucifixion, he says he is unworthy to be placed in the same position as Jesus. He asks to be hung upside down, and his executioners oblige.

And so Peter really does become the rock on which the infant church is built.

All thanks to God's grace in a simple faith. The desire to serve and grow. The willingness to stay open to the possibility of transformation. The willingness to believe that something can happen which we can't imagine. The grace to let go and let God.

May it be so for each and every one of us.

Amen.