The Rev. Virginia W. Nagel
Episcopal Diocese of Central NY (Retired)
Last Sunday, the church gave us readings that are especially chosen to help
us make the Easter glory and message a real part of our everyday lives. This
week, Mother Church continues, like a good mother, to teach us these basic
lessons. You might not think it's necessary...after all, we're all good people,
aren't we? But all of us need an annual refresher course, and it comes during
Eastertide each year. This is because the miracle and glory of Easter is not
just something to hear about or see once and tuck away in our memory books. It
is something that is supposed to guide and empower every minute and every aspect
of our lives.
I am sure that most of us, when we were youngsters, occasionally (or maybe
often) got ourselves into some situation which earned a scolding from our
parents. And, very often, that scolding included something like this: You
know that we don't behave that way, not in this family. I don't care what
your friends do or what you see on TV, but in OUR family we would never do such
a thing!
Well, that's basically the total effect of today's readings.
We are part of God's family. This is true because we are baptized
into Christ's death, and one of the wonderful blessings that come with baptism
is that our sins are left behind in the grave where Jesus was buried. He rose
again; our sins, which he took upon us, and was punished for in our place, are
left to fade away into nothingness, through his death and resurrection. What
this adds up to is that we get adopted by God into his family, since God the Son
willingly died in our place. .. because death is the punishment for sin. He,
himself, being God, had no sin...only our sins that he was willing to be killed
for.
And now we come to the way God's family members are expected to live:
basically, we are expected to be righteous and holy.
To live righteously means to avoid sin, avoid the things God has
forbidden or warned us about. It means to follow God's commands to care for
those in need and help those who need help.
To live in holiness means to follow Jesus' example of how to live:
honest, truthful, putting others' good ahead of our own (as he did when he died
for our sins). Like him, we are to be compassionate and loving to all people,
since all people are precious to God who made them. It means to live as if we
are every minute in God's presence, because we are. It means to give glory to
God...we'll get to that in a minute...by our lives and our words.
That is what it means to live as a member of God's family. And the point is
NOT to live in ways that our friends or neighbors might find agreeable. The
point is to live in such a way that God (not the Joneses) will be pleased. That
is what is expected of the members of God's family.
What's more, that gives glory to God. You probably remember, when your dad or
mom gave you that scolding we talked about a few minutes ago, they went on:
If you behave that way, and do things like that, what will people think of
your family? They'll think that we didn't give you any upbringing at all, never
taught you how to behave! In other words, if you don't do
the things that no member of your family is supposed to ever do, you are giving
glory to your family. But if you do the naughty things that no member of your
family should even think about doing, you bring shame to your family. So...if
you live as a member of God's family is expected to live, and keep close to God,
talking with him and remembering that he is always with you, you give glory to
God. You glorify his name. You make him...and the whole church...glad
you are a Christian, a member of God's family and household.
It really is that simple.
What God thinks of your lifestyle and your behavior matters. What your team,
your club or your best friend think of your behavior and lifestyle doesn't
matter. And, you know, that can get us into situations sometimes that are kind
of difficult, especially if you care about the people you work with or hang out
with. You are going to be called a sissy or a wimp. You are going to be told
that you're afraid to do this or that. You're going to be sneered at and maybe
beat up. You might even lose your job or get kicked out of your club. But it
doesn't matter, because you are giving glory to God and he...and you...know
that, and that is all that counts. Amen.
