Please
pray with me: May words from my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be
acceptable to you, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer: AMEN!
I never thought I would be asking
this question but yet the Holy Spirit compels me to ask: Have you ever seen the
movie ‘Talledega Nights?” It is a movie about this man whose father was a race
car driver. He was also a drunk as well as many other things. His son, Ricky
Bobby, adored him and held onto his every word (Disclaimer: it is not a movie
for young children). When his father left him, he uttered this phrase,
“Remember son, if you’re not first, your last!” Ricky Bobby held onto that
statement. HE grew up to drive race cars and he was good! He won a lot of
races.
I think this movie illustrates,
rather well, what is going on in our Gospel reading this morning. Jesus and the
disciples are on the road, again, and Jesus keeps talking about his death and
resurrection. The disciples are afraid to ask what it means. They are not
understanding that Jesus is the Son of Man. They are still not getting exactly
who this Jesus is and why he keeps saying this. What are they so afraid of? It
is something they just don’t want to hear? It could be because of their relationship
with Jesus. IS it too depressing? Could be. Is it that they are afraid of
asking what might be perceived as the “stupid question?” Could it be that they
are afraid of the knowledge that they might gain? It could be all of these.
Whatever the answer is, they are
afraid and that is clear. Their fear doesn’t allow them to go down that path.
Their fear prevents them from boldly questioning Jesus about what it means, how
would it happen, who would do this, and why it might be necessary. They just
seem to block it out and start a whole other discussion to change the subject.
As they are walking, they are
arguing about themselves. They are arguing about who is the greater; which one
is the better disciple! I can imagine them trying to “one-up” each other; “I
delivered the baskets when we fed five thousand! Oh yeah, I collected more left
over fish! And the arguing goes on and on. They are now focused on themselves
and what they did as opposed to what Jesus is going to have to go through.
Does it sound familiar? It doesn’t
sound too much different than where we are in our society today. In this movie,
Talledega Nights, Ricky Bobby goes through this accident on the race track; he
was not injured but thinks he is. The life that he had of always being first is
turned upside down because he goes through this and, now has to face the
possibility he won’t be first. He has to face his fear of being second or
third…or last.
This is what we see in this Gospel
reading. Fear is taking over and controlling what the disciples are doing; how
they act, what they say, and where they are focused. They are being stretched
to something beyond their comprehension. Fear has control over them; it is
preventing them from asking questions, from seeking guidance. Their fear is so powerful
that it is not allowing them to even approach the subject of faith! That is how
much fear has control.
Does that sound familiar? Just like
the disciples we can get too caught up in fear. Our world holds that same Ricky
Bobby mentality “If you’re not first, your last!” we hear it all the time.
Society expects everyone to be the best or strive for that thing on the really
high pedestal called “perfection!” We set goals that are so high for ourselves
and others that we see that goal as the more important thing to attain in our
lives; its because of the fear that if I don’t get this then I must be a
failure, if I don’t get that job, I have failed, if I can’t afford this then I
must not have made it (whatever that means)!
This fear that the disciples felt in
asking can be our fear. When we think of it from the church perspective, how
many times do we talk about a changing world but are afraid to try something
new? I am not a big fan of change and when the church went from the LBW to the
ELW, I was not a happy camper. It was a fear of that change that made me really
question what was going on in the church. How many times do we not try something because of
being afraid that it won’t work?
I believe the concern is that it may
change my faith and this is where the Good News comes in. Sometimes fear can be
healthy. It can help us make decisions that otherwise could be dangerous to
ourselves or others. It can help us refrain from doing something that may have
a lasting impact on the world. It can also be unhealthy. It can prevent us from
fully experiencing our faith in Jesus Christ. It can prevent us from asking the
question of “God, what are you calling us to do? Who are you calling us to be?
It can prevent us from reaching out to our neighbors to recognize and celebrate
the different gifts that we all have been blessed with. It can prevent us from
gaining a greater understanding of who God is and who Jesus is in our lives and
experiences.
God calls us to a life of releasing
our fears. We don’t have to be afraid of whether we are first or last in this
world; It is not our pride or fear that makes us who we are. It is the claiming
of God through the waters of Baptism, it is the promise of God to accept us
just as we are, and it is the sacrifice of God’s only son on the cross that
claims, reminds us, and heals us to make us whole, to make us precious in God’s
sight, and that makes us whole as the body of Christ.
Today, Olivia Grace Yingling will be
claimed by God and God’s promise will be made to her. Her parent’s and
Godparents will promise, and we will promise to walk with her and help her.
When she has fears, family will be there to support her. We will be here to
support her, walk with her and be God’s feet and hands in showing God’s love
for her; so that fear will not contain her faith, but the promise of God and
the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross will strengthen her faith, so that she can
step out in the confidence of a loving God who loves her just as she is. And,
it is the resurrection of Jesus Christ on that Easter morning that heals us of
fear and/or pride and promises eternal life: AMEN!
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