Well, I have already preached at one service and the 'borrowed' sermon just didn't feel right. And it was long for me - and the choir is singing for the first time and singing three(!) pieces.
So I went back to the computer and here is a new sermon. It's all me - so I can post it. And no stories, even, just talking about the text. Now the question is can I deliver it without notes on such short notice?
I'm getting closer to the sense that this is a difficult text because it should speak right to us - all of us comfortable tourist Christians. As least we might have to consider that tax collectors and prostitutes are our fellow worshipers. And that we aren't any better than they are. I'm pretty sure that most of the folks at the church I'm preaching at think they are better than prostitutes.
Open our eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus. Do we really? He's pretty tough most of the time.
THE GOD OF SECOND CHANCES. – Matthew 21:23-32
We hear today about mixed messages. You know about mixed messages don’t you – it’s when your spouse says “Yes, dear” in THAT tone of voice that makes it really clear that YES is really a NO. It’s when someone says ‘let’s get together’, but never can find the time. It’s when the politicians say . . . whatever they say – but it never turns out the best!
Mixed messages – that’s what those two sons in Jesus’ story are guilty of. The words and the deeds don’t match up. One says Yes – I’ll do it, but he does not. The other say’s No way, Jose – but thinks better of it, and he goes and does his father’s work.
And Jesus isn’t shy about applying this story to the situation at hand. Those religious leaders who don’t want to admit to the truth of John’s baptism of repentance were the same ones who were conniving to discredit Jesus, and for pretty much the same reason.
Repentance really wasn’t something they were interested in. The idea that someone could repent and return to the Good Favor of God – especially if this repentance was not marked by sacrifices and membership in the pharisiatic party – this idea was not on their 10 ten list of ways to organize the better sort of people The better sort of people didn’t have anything to repent of, really. And the other sort of people – well, it worked out well if they knew their place, which was to continually pay others to pray and sacrifice for them.
So Jesus delivers the punch line of his story – and it is a punch line. In this way the tax collectors and the prostitutes will be in heaven before you. It’s really not very nice. Those people, the so-called sinners – may have said no once to God’s invitation – but now – in this time, they are saying yes – yes to the word of repentance preached by John, and yes to the hope they find in Jesus.
And you Pharisees, so righteous in your keeping of the laws, so ready to judge others – are like the son who says yes, but doesn’t follow through. You are the one who will be judged for you are so sure of yourself, and not open to the word of God – which is the call to repentance.
No longer a mixed message from Jesus, but a strong warning – recognize the sign – (the U-turn signs) – the ministry of John called people to repent, the ministry of Jesus promised the kingdom of God to those who loved God with their hearts and minds
and souls.
Those were the signs of the Second Chances. The second chance for tax collectors and prostitutes, and fisherman and housewives. The second chance for shepherds and merchants and even for pagan mothers and Roman soldiers to find the one, true, loving God of grace and healing. Without going through the temple, without having to keep an impossibly long list of laws – God’s Grace was offered to all those who needed a second chance.
The authority of John and the authority of Jesus doesn’t come from arguments about who has given more to the temple, or who has kept more of the law perfectly. The authority doesn’t come from family lineage or massive scholarship.
Jesus’ authority comes from knowing the heart of the Father God. The authority comes from being at one with the heart of the Father God. And that is the authority that should make all of us sit up and take notice.
This little story cuts to the heart – our heart – because we have to ask ourselves where we stand. Which son are we?
It is not faithfulness just to have the right words on our lips and judgment of others in our hearts. It doesn’t mean to look good when others can see, and act in ways that are not loving, fair and good when away from our church family.
On the contrary – Jesus invites us to walk with the tax collectors and prostitutes on the path of repentance. Maybe not quite the company we’d thought we keep, but there it is.
To be on the kingdom road means to recognize we always have a second chance – a chance to return, to cancel our NO, with the Yes that is our faithful service, our true worship of heart, mind and soul.
To be on the kingdom road is to be a work in progress, always realizing that we can be changed by God’s Holy Spirit to be more transparent to his Will, to go deeper into his Call, to recognize His hand in our lives.
To be on the kingdom road is to know that discouragement is never final, that suffering is not all that we are, that even grief and despair are shadows that can be dispelled.
The message Jesus sends is this: whatever we have been – we can come home. Where ever we have traveled to, no matter how long we’ve been away, we are always welcome in our father’s house.
That’s what is at stake when we recognize Jesus’ authority. Our second chance, our way home. Believe it.
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