A sermon by Fr. Davenport ©
Church of the Ascension and S. Agnes, Washington, D.C.
28 April 2002
Acts 17:1-15
1 Peter 2:1-10
John 14:1-14
+ In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
The Egnatian Way ran eastward from the Adriatic coast across northern Greece to the Bosphorus. The road was an essential part of the link between Rome and Byzantium, probably the two most important cities of the ancient world. Near its midway point was the city of Thessalonica, and it was the main street of Thessalonica. S. Paul understood that if he could establish the Church in Thessalonica, then the gospel could spread east and west along the road, and since Thessalonica was an active, prosperous port city, the gospel could spread from there throughout the Aegean. Paul began to evangelize in Thessalonica by visiting the synagogue, and not only to worship and to pray, but to proclaim Christ to those attending the services. His preaching focused on the meaning of scripture because the local Jews would accept the authority of scripture. In other words, Paul's evangelism began by using points of commonality, areas of agreement for both Jews and Christians.
Yet Paul had the extremely difficult problem of convincing Jews that the Messiah, the Christ, was not a mighty, worldly king, but rather that the Christ had to suffer and to die, and then that he rose from the dead. There is not much specific evidence in the Old Testament to make that case, perhaps a few verses from the Psalms and Isaiah. Incredibly, Paul's preaching was effective, and his efforts led to the conversion of some Jews and many Gentiles, most of whom were proselytes, that is those who adhered to the Jewish Law, who were monotheists, who were attached to the synagogue, but who did not want to be circumcised. Paul's successful evangelism roused the jealousy and ire of the Jews, who while they were not strongly missionary about their faith, they still did not appreciate having their numbers diminished. At the very least, it would make them a weaker political and social power. Paul threatened their position and stability, just as Jesus had threatened the position and stability of the ruling classes in Jerusalem. The Jews responded by trying to frame Paul as a rioter, as a civil liability. They charged that Paul and other Christian missionaries had caused troubles everywhere, and now they were bringing unrest to Thessalonica. The Jews also accused Paul and his followers of seeking to undermine Caesar because Christians proclaimed Jesus to be their true king. Just as Caiaphas and the Jewish authorities in Jerusalem had framed Jesus as a traitor to Caesar, the Jews in Thessalonica argued that the Christian claim that Jesus is Lord and king was an attack against Caesar.
Paul's life was in grave danger. He found it expedient to leave town with dispatch. Even though Paul had a narrow escape, he is undeterred. Again and again, he barely slips out of the noose, but his fervor for the gospel does not cool. Quite to the contrary, his difficulties strengthen his resolve. In today's lesson, as soon as Paul gets to the next town, he begins to preach the gospel, and again his preaching offends people. The cycle repeats itself. The Acts of the Apostles records that Paul repeatedly endured hardships and dangers. Paul's fierceness and intensity and cantankerousness may put us off, but we can not help but admire his fortitude and courage and determination. We should pray for his zeal and energy in carrying on the mission of Christ.
In every age, the Church endures a multitude of wounds and burdens, both self-inflicted and imposed, both for her sins and for her good deeds. She prevails over these wounds and burdens through evangelism, through bringing new people into her body. Today, as much as ever, the Church needs to renew her missionary commitment, and that includes this parish. The Church - and sometimes this parish - is too self-obsessed, more concerned with mere self-preservation and maintenance, than with bringing good news to people whose lives are flat and colorless and despairing. Growth happens when we look outside and beyond ourselves and try to satisfy the real needs of people, needs that are both material (food, clothing, shelter) and spiritual (a purpose in life, a relationship with God). Instead the Church too often simply argues about what the faith is, rather than being faithful. Faith is not primarily believing the right things; it is not primarily behaving morally; it is not primarily practicing the proper ritual. At its most fundamental, faith is trusting Jesus. When we trust God, we are strengthened, and we enjoy the texture and color and possibilities of life. If we want our faith to grow, then we have to share it with others. The Holy Father says, "Faith is strengthened when it is given to others!" (1) Faith is strengthened when it is given to others. But when we share the faith, we are not the primary beneficiary. Sharing the faith, proclaiming Christ in our words and deeds, bringing people to the Church, is the greatest service that we can render to another person, to all of humanity, and it is our supreme duty.
Our Lord told his disciples, "No one comes to the Father, but by me." The only way to God is Christ. He alone is the way, the truth, and the life. In him, God made himself known to human beings in the fullest possible way. In him, God definitively revealed to us who he is. In him is our only hope for meaning and eternal life. Other religions, such as Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism, are often noble and offer much to humanity, and we reject nothing in them that is true and holy. We have a high regard for many of their teachings and practices. I believe that their followers will be invited into the Kingdom of God, but they will given eternal life through Christ. Eternal life comes only from Christ. This is a hard saying for our culture, which increasingly holds up religious pluralism as the ideal. We tolerate strong differing opinions about who won the 2000 Presidential election, about Sharon and Arafat, about global warming and the estate tax, but strong views about the unique and sole power of the Lord are not welcome, or even much tolerated. We should be more certain that Christ is the way, the truth, and the life than about anything else in life. And if Christ is God, then all people, irreligious people as well as people of other religions, all people should join the Church. It is our duty to bring all people to Christ.
That said, we must proclaim Christ and bear witness to him in a way that respects other people. The Church, and her people, must be bold in presenting Christ, and yet at the same time humble, sensitive, gentle, and open-minded, without sanctimony, smugness, and guile - wise as serpents, harmless as doves. We should have no illusions whatsoever of superiority. The members of the Church are not more clever, or more morally upright, or more virtuous than anyone else. We are just lucky. In becoming part of the body of Christ, we have been undeservedly blessed. We are fortunate to be part of the Church, and we must share our good fortune.
The best way for us to work for the Kingdom is direct, personal contact with other people. Every one of us should have at least one person for whom we are doing everything we can to bring him or her to Christ. Few of us are as bold or courageous as Paul, and we do not have to evangelize in the same way he did. Our evangelism may be subtle, inoffensive, discreet, but it should be sincere and fervent. We must act. It requires from us prayer and hospitality, a quiet suggestion, an invitation.
If we do this, then we are not likely to forget the less direct and more diffused witness which is also the responsibility of Christians. Every day we have countless opportunities to make it clear that our Christian belief is important to us, and that it makes an important difference in the manner of our life [- that God has changed our lives]. Even the very way in which we do our daily work may be such an opportunity. (2)
Our Lord asks every one of us to build up his Kingdom. He invites us to join him in his work because he loves us. He knows that the surest way for us to move toward eternal life is to give of ourselves so that others may also have eternal life.
+In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
1. John Paul II, Redemptoris Missio, Encyclical Letter, 7 December 1990, no. 2.
2. Stephen F. Bayne, Christian Living, The Church's Teaching, Vol. V, Seabury Press (1957), p. 210.
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