Sermons

Let Your Life Speak

The Rev. Beth Parab
Associate Rector, St. Matthew's Episcopal Church

It never fails to amuse me, when we come around to this time of year, and elections approach, the way we are bombarded with slogans and sound bytes attempting to win our affections and loyalties for one candidate or another. Each commercial or poster claiming all virtues for one and vices for another in the race toward power. I say that I am amused, not because I relish the general lack of synaptic activity that the composers of these slogans obviously assumes of me and you but amused by the assumption that the voters will ignore evidence of action in favor of a catchy jingle. Either political marketing has only one trick up its sleeve, or else-- and I fear this may in fact be the case-- it actually does work.

Is it all that hard for us to conjure up just one interaction with someone who we were quite certain was feeding us a line? In fact, it is one of the great idiosyncrasies of our society that we pay so much lip service to honesty and yet readily acknowledge (at least as a necessary evil) the ability to lie. And weaving a good "fish tale" is not the worst. All too often, we testify to one principle and then fail to live it out. Sometimes, this is just because we were really trying, and fell short. But other times, it is about our lives giving evidence against us. It's what I like to call "rubber meets the road faith" which all too often resembles road rash.

We recently observed the Feast of St. Francis, which is the first Sunday in October. Many of us look forward to it each year because of the blessing of the animals. Francis loved all of God's creation and sought to live in harmony with it. But one of the greatest lessons he ever taught had to do with living authentically. He said, "Preach the Gospel at all times. When necessary, use words." Fundamentally, he understood that one's life will speak far more effectively than one's words ever can. It is all well and good to quote scripture at length and to admonish, teach and proclaim one's faith, but if in the end your actions testify to something else then your words lose all their power.

Even the Gospel itself would be gathering dust in some ancient pots right now, if Jesus had spoken powerfully of forgiveness, grace, compassion and selflessness and then had avoided touching lepers, and eating with sinners, and had engineered an escape from the cross. The power of the Christian faith is in the life Jesus lived and calls us to live. The words He spoke are meaningful because they underscore his actions. The same is true for us now.

Today, Laurel Halfman will receive the sacrament of baptism in our midst. That doesn’t mean that God begins to love her or protect her today. It means that we are publicly acknowledging the grace of God that has been with her from the beginning, and asking God’s blessing to stay with her always. She is also becoming, through this sacrament, a member of the Christian family. The whole congregation will be making a vow to support her as she grows to know and love Christ. That vow should not be made lightly. Laurel is a child of God. She is going to need all the prayers and love of this community as she grows. But the strongest support we can give her, and every member of our family, and the world around us, is the testimony of our actions. When we make the tough choice to act for justice, mercy, peace and love, we are not only doing what Jesus has asked of us as modern day disciples, but we are also showing others a better way. When it would be easier to return violence for violence, hatred for hatred, And choose instead compassion and respect, we strengthen one another. It is all the silent ways we demonstrate God’s ways to the world that speak the loudest. If you want to know the measure of a man or woman, close your ears to their words, and watch what they do.

You are a beloved child of God. How would your life change if you really embraced that reality? I was reminded this week by Chaplain Stacy of a quote from the author Marianne Williamson, whose words were used by Nelson Mandela in his inaugural speech in 1994.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us, it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Live in such a way that even if you had no voice, it would be clear to everyone for whom and what you stand. Live in such a way that will proclaim God’s love for you, and for Laurel, and for all people.

Amen

Sermons

Let Your Life Speak

The Rev. Beth Parab Associate Rector, St. Matthew's Episcopal Church

The Rev. Beth Parab
Associate Rector, St. Matthew's Episcopal Church