“Why Being Complete Escapes
Us” Sermon
Delivered By Rev. Dick Stetler – February 14, 2021
Centenary United Methodist Church 1st
Corinthians 13:1-13; Matthew 17:1-9 This morning we are going to explore why it is so
difficult for many people to accept and deepen their spiritual
awareness. We enter our
world and we quickly adapt to our surroundings.
We are dependent on our parents to take care of us. Soon we reach
the age when we are responsible for our own attitudes, goals, and
willingness to create something of value. Something happens during the
transition period from dependency to independence. When we realize that we are alone with who we are,
fears and doubts can enter. We quickly learn that there is no one but us
in dealing with the loss of a child to a brain tumor, with the loss of
our job, or with uncertainty about our future.
This is the transition period when an undeveloped inner-world can
be filled with fear. A classic example is found in our Scripture lesson
this morning. Jesus, Peter,
James, and John were taking a hike that took them to the top of a
mountain. As they were relaxing, Jesus began to change in his
appearance. The three
disciples just stared at what was happening. They had never witnessed
anything like it. They got
goose bumps as two apparitions appeared who were reported to be Elijah
and Moses. What the
disciples were experiencing was their introduction to a level of life
that they had never encountered.
They were motionless in their frightened state and
they could not speak. A fog
descended on them.
Suddenly, a voice came from inside the fog and spoke to the three
disciples, "This is my son. Listen to what he is teaching you."
The terrified disciples threw themselves on the ground. Just as
Jesus calmed their fears when they encountered a fierce storm while
fishing, he walked over to them and said, "There is nothing happening
here that should make you afraid." Why was Jesus not as frightened as his disciples at
what was happening? Jesus had a
depth of understanding that was not part of the lives of his three
disciples. Earlier, Jesus had a conversion experience at his
baptism. He had over a
month to be alone in a wilderness to sort out what he had just
experienced. One would think that having an ice-breaking
experience like what the disciples encountered would deeply influence
their lives. As we learn
from the Gospels, the experience on that mountain had little or no
influence on them. The disciples had been made aware of a different
level of awareness, but they were alone in making that experience
relevant to their future responses to their lives. (Luke 9:46) There was
a time when fear took over Peter's life to the point that he denied
knowing Jesus. (Luke
22:54f) There was another time when the disciples refused to believe the
women who came to them with the news that Jesus had risen from the
grave. (Luke 24:11) The powerful energies coming from the material
world can often influence us with such authority, that our
fragile understanding of our spiritual awareness is very slow in
awakening. (John 16:32f) A number of years ago one of my church members gave
me a video to watch. It was
an interview by William Buckley, Jr. with Malcolm Muggeridge.
Malcolm was a devoted Christian and a recognized scholar.
He wrote a book entitled Jesus Rediscovered.
Seeking Malcolm’s response to a gathering of an elite group of
experts in their fields, Buckley set the stage in the following
manner: Suppose there was a dinner in a large spacious
home. Sitting around that
table was an engaging visionary who understood where the future of
microchip technology was headed.
Next to him sat another person who was an expert in medical
technology. She understood
the cutting edges of genetic research and knew what was in the
pipeline of protocols and products being created by various
companies. Next to her was
an expert in developing a new source of clean, safe nuclear power
derived from fusion technology. Next to him was a specialist that was
perfecting a nearly indestructible composite material that would protect
the occupants in cars and aircraft in the future. Buckley went on to suggest that after this
remarkable evening of stimulating conversation, the last guest to speak
said: A friend of mine is dying of cancer and he became
consumed with anger and grief.
He found a Bible that was in the drawer of the table next to his
hospital bed. After reading
the Gospel of John one evening, God’s presence became so overwhelming
that his friend was instantly healed from his self-punishing responses.
He developed a quiet spirit that allowed him to accept his coming death
with peace. This happened because his inner-world had been awakened. Buckley then asked, "After hearing this, might
there be dead silence around the table?
Further, might there be someone there who whispered to a fellow
scientist, "Who in the world invited this guy to our dinner?"
Without hesitation Malcolm said, "Oh yes, that could easily
happen." Buckley asked,
"Why?" Muggeridge
responded: Many experts in their respective fields tend to see
the world through the eyes of their specialty.
Because spiritual claims are unique to an individual's
experience, people who are trained in their area of expertise are
problem-solving in matters of the material world. This inner-world
that Jesus taught can easily remain undiscovered in the lives of most
people. (Matthew 7:13f)
Jesus was training people how to control their inner world through the
same loving energy that created the universe. The prophets of the advertising industry
continue to remind us of the value of remaining young and attractive for
as long as we can. We are bombarded with claims that will give us
confidence as we age. They teach us why it is important to have white
teeth, a head that still has hair, a wrinkle free face and neck, a body
that still turns heads, and with the aid of life-enhancing products
keeps us happy every day. Do we ever accept ourselves just as we are
and approach the aging process with gratitude and peace? In last Sunday's message, a teenager was mentioned
who was plagued with the idea that she was never enough, that no one
loved her, and that she felt empty, needy, and alone to the extent that
she attempted several times to end her life.
Several weeks ago, a high school senior succeeded
in ending his life. He was
handsome, a straight-A student, a star-athlete in most sports, and was
displaying no obvious sign of depression.
COVID-19 was blamed because his school had not yet opened.
He found himself spiritually starving to death and no one
recognized it.
He was interpreting the present as a signal that his life's ambitions
would never be realized. Those who surrounded him were focused on fixing the
material world by getting schools to reopen.
No one helped him to distance
himself from his fears and doubts that his future was being compromised.
It wasn't.
He had everything that could easily be on the wish lists of most
teenagers, but he could not find the strength within himself to overcome
his fears and doubts. Jesus summarized his teaching of life's
value-lessons in just two words, Follow me. Somehow, the Church
and its leadership have not found a way of teaching that. They are too
caught up with social justice issues and political correctness to bother
with teaching people how to become the leaven for the loaf. Even a cursory knowledge of church history reveals
how theology has been molded and shaped by the energies found in the
world. Historically, the Church was been the initial teacher of
silencing free speech. Church tribunals destroyed the lives of countless
people by labeling them as heretics. Christians often chose
violence over love when dealing with those who had a different message.
(John 18:10) The power of spiritual understanding that
Jesus possessed would never have motivated people to engage in the
social atrocities that Christian-history reveals.
Spiritual awareness is very fragile in its early development. We live in a day when our religious beliefs and
heritage are losing their power and appeal for the same reason why the
table of elite scientists became silent.
Spiritual awareness is an individual experience that cannot
be given to someone else. The Church has institutionalized that
awareness and, in the process, has nearly destroyed its importance.
However, ignorance is not bliss.
The unrecognized power of an untrained
spirit can become like a
bull in a china shop.
People so easily forsake
the substance for the shadow.
Elvis Presley, along with his stories of substance
abuse left us at the age of 42.
Whitney Houston died in her hotel room in Beverly Hills,
California at the age of 48 after decades of substance abuse.
Michael Jackson died at the age of 50 from a reaction of drugs
given to him by his personal physician. We can ask, "What is wrong with
these people? They had
everything going for them!" Did they? Who do we believe the prophets of the
advertising industry, the alure of prizes the world promises but has no
way of delivering, or Jesus who had both understanding and the
experience of his completeness when loving energy guided his path?
Do we practice life's greatest lesson, or do we wait for
Valentine's Day to remind us what we are capable of giving to the
world? (1st Corinthians 13:13)
Every day, this is our choice. (Matthew 7:13-14)
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Merciful and loving
God, the more we become aware of the power of being an angel in the
flesh, the more we escape the presence of fear. As we learn about
the powers we have, we discover how easy it becomes to remain peaceful,
kind, and generous. Yet there are times when we become discouraged and
frustrated with what is happening as we age. It has become easy to deny
that many unpleasant experiences have resulted from our unloving
thoughts. When these
moments come, inspire us to recognize that often our pain is an
invitation to stretch in our faith and trust in you for the outcome of
all things. Amen.
PASTORAL
PRAYER
In the
quiet of these moments, O God, we allow ourselves to depart from our
unresolved conflicts, the dramas within our relationships, the routines
of our jobs, and the uncertainty that is part of each week. We have
discovered that during worship, we can change the ways that we think. We
have learned that when we practice the skills associated with
forgiveness and kindness, we grow in spirit. When we understand that
anger is merely the response from the undeveloped skill of patience, how
quickly we grow in the wisdom Jesus taught his followers.
As we leave our worship experience, we
realize that we take very little with us if we cannot give hands and
feet to patience, if we cannot authentically care for those who exhibit
few life-skills, and if we easily allow others to hurt us with their
opinions. Give us vision, O God, to see others as students who are at
different levels in their spiritual education. Open our minds to
understand that our destiny has more to do with strengthening our inner
world than with finding the perfect job, the right partner, or financial
security. Inspire us to see ourselves more as sowers of seeds, than as
gatherers of crops.
Help us, O God, with the tensions that
exist within us. We live in the world where "an eye for an eye" is still
the rule. We also live in a world where love and peace offer us more
than our understanding of justice. Continue to lead us to those still
waters that nourish the deep roots of our spirits so that where we are,
you may be abundantly visible as well. We pray these thoughts through
the spirit of Jesus, the Christ, who taught us to say when we pray . . . |