“Straining forward to what lies ahead”
~ Philippians 3:13
a sermon by Pastor Sonja Dalglish, M.Div. for Weslaco FPC
October 2, 2011
World Communion Sunday

Exodus 20:1-4,7-9.12-20; Psalm 19:1-14; Philippians 3:4b-14; Matthew 21:33-46

Introduction
Today is World Communion Sunday, when we celebrate the church of Jesus Christ, a new people formed by water and the word throughout the earth. As we come to the table, we remember that people all over the world, in many denominations are also communing. As we give our tithes and offerings, we do so as Christians around the world are giving in Thanksgiving for what God has given us. Today, and for the next two Sundays, we will receive the Peace Offering, one of the four denominational offerings we receive each year. There will be inserts in your bulletin for three Sundays explaining how this offering is used.

As I read Paul’s words about ‘straining forward to what lies ahead,’ I thought of this congregation as it leans into the future with its Pastor Nominating Committee searching for the next pastor. I also thought of those who are beginning new school years, new schools, new jobs, new marriages or beginning new families. There comes a time in each of our lives when we need to let go of what is behind us and strain forward to what lies ahead, leaning into the future.

We all know people who have not been able to let go of the past, and so cannot embrace the future. Sometimes, people cannot let go of their single life enough to fully commit to a marriage. Sometimes, people love school so much, it is hard for them to move on into a new job. Or, perhaps they really wanted a different job – they had wanted to be a fireman, but failed the physical tests, and instead became something else – perhaps a teacher or a postman, two good positions. A person sometimes needs to let go of past dreams to embrace a good future. Paul tells us that nothing in his present or past that compares to the joy of knowing Jesus Christ and following him. Paul was a good Jew and followed the law. We have the basis for that law in scripture today, the decalog – or the Ten Commandments which we read today.

About the Commandments
For the Jewish community, the commandments refer to the 631 laws found in Exodus and Leviticus. Many of these have not been used since the temple was destroyed by the Romans in about 70 CE. because they deal with temple law and sacrifices. We, in the Christian church, begin with the Ten Commandments.

The laws begin here as they are given to Moses on the mountain. Remember the Israelites have been freed from slavery in Egypt and now are wandering in the dessert. They have been hungry and thirsty. Their needs were met in ways that they had not anticipated, by dew which dried and became manna that they could gather and eat, by quails which appeared in the dessert and then on their dinner plates, and by water which flowed from a rock. Now, their needs for knowing how to live are being satisfied by these laws.

One way that I was taught to remember the ten commandments was to think of the laws as one tablet telling us how we should act over and against God. The second tablet tells us how to act over and against our fellow humans. I know that many of you know these commandments by heart. That is a good thing because if you learn them and remember them, they can guide your behavior for life. An ethical society begins with ethical people.

Some people chafe at the commandments and hate the fact that so many say ‘Do not.’ In recent years, there has been a general wisdom that guidance should be put in positive terms. Some pastors try to put all these in positive terms as well. But sometimes, the ‘DO NOTS’ are very appropriate. For actions that can hurt you – such as ‘Do not touch a hot burner’ or for strong reassurances, ‘Do not be afraid,’ ‘do nots’ are brief and powerful, as are these guidelines. Another way of understanding is encapsulated in this Hasidic saying: “Be the master of your will and the slave of your conscience.” The commandments and the remainder of the scriptures inform your conscience.

Imagine two cities, one on either side of a wide river. In one, the people steal and kill, have no worship of God. There is a great need for law enforcement, if only there were laws. If someone wanted your house and could force you to move out, they could have it. If you went to a ball game and had good seats, you knew that if a local bigwig came with his body guards or even a gang of teens and wanted your seat, you had to fight or give up your place, even if you were the one who paid for the ticket.

In the other town, everyone lived by the Ten Commandments. Like the Apostle Paul, they could say that they did the right thing, never lying, never stealing, never killing. It is up to you to choose where you want to live – in the town where all are free to do whatever they want, or in the town where you had to live by these laws like the rest of the town. Where would you choose? I’m sure all of us would choose to be safe.

The Ten Commandments do not cover everything but do help me to stay spiritually healthy as well as in good standing with the local authorities. Calvin talked of three uses of the law – to instruct us in the way to live, to show us God’s righteousness, and as a code to order our society.

Paul’s letter to the Philippians
Paul says that knowing Jesus and following him is even better than living a blameless and safe life. We do not need to be frightened into abiding by the Ten Commandments as Moses felt his people needed to be, but instead we follow them, knowing they are given for our own benefit. Perhaps the hardest commandment these days, for our society, seems to be, “Remember the Sabbath Day and keep it holy.” Or perhaps, the hardest is ‘do not covet’ because we have a whole advertising industry that has grown up to encourage us to covet and it seems to lust. Even when he can control himself and have a good life, Paul says that he can let go of all the good in his life so that he can strain forward to the future looking for the gain that is Jesus Christ. That is what I want as well – a future knowing Christ more and serving him more.

Modern People
There are people today that I have met and perhaps you have met some, too, who say they do not believe there is a god. Some people are troubled by some of the talk and hate speech that comes out of people who call themselves Christians. There are people who pull back and say they cannot believe in a god so spiteful and mean as to send cancer and tornadoes and floods, terrorists to bomb buildings and horrible diseases to kill people who do not measure up by some imaginary standard. Or conversely, a god who steals away to heaven those who are ‘good.’

The next seven weeks, beginning this Wednesday night, we are talking about what is necessary for our Christian faith and what is unnecessary. We need Jesus Christ, who lived and died and rose for us. It is not necessary to believe in a lot of the seemingly pious statements that you sometimes hear proclaimed. Come and talk with us. I will also be preaching on some of these topics and how they talk to our lectionary texts each week. This is a wonderful time for you to invite your friends and families and neighbors who may have become disappointed with close minded rhetoric. Come and learn. Books will be available in the Fellowship Hall. And more can be ordered.

The first half of our course will be about elements of religion that are toxic or hurtful. Some of you have heard the song, ‘Give me that Old Time Religion.” Sometimes, there are problems with that Old Time Religion. You know that Jesus reprimanded the very religious people of his day. Today, perhaps we can say – “Don’t Give Me that Old Time Religion” the religion that said slavery was acceptable and women were less than men. Paul reminds us that as we yearn for the future that we turn to Christ, learning from his teachings. The second half of the course will be on those elements of faith that we hold dear and must have as we strive to follow Christ, loving God and loving our neighbors.

Sunday Mornings
Another class you may want to take advantage of will be the Bible from Scratch on Sunday mornings for seven weeks – from nine to ten a.m. in Room 15. Do you worry that so many people know the Bible better than you do? Come and learn this fall about the Old Testament. There will be a seven week course on the New Testament in the spring. Learn and Grow!

Conclusion
I believe in taking faith seriously, using my mind in service of God, as I understand from St. Anselm’s example as he spoke of faith seeking understanding. One thing that I treasure as a Presbyterian is that we affirm that “God alone is Lord of our Conscience.” We take scripture and Bible study seriously. As we commit the commandments to memory that is so deep that it informs our choices, it creates in us a conscience guided by scripture.

As this congregation moves forward, strains forward, leaning eagerly into the future, let us invite those we know to come and explore an examined faith, a faith that acknowledges Christ as Lord, God as creator, and relies upon the Spirit to inspire and sustain us. We can study together, worship together, and serve God together as we serve others. As you leave today, be sure you go out the front doors and see the historical marker awarded to this community of faith by the state of Texas, marking this congregation as a servant to this community. We thank Glenn Housley for his work with the historical society and Eddie Seils for setting it into the ground for us. We will have a dedication and celebration at a time set by our session. We’ll let you know when.

This congregation has a wonderful past and has more work to come as we strain forward to what lies ahead. Let us this day remember all who follow Christ throughout the world as we come to the communion table.
Amen
Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday, October 2, 2011,
the Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)
First Reading Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20
1Then God spoke all these words: 2I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; 3you shall have no other gods before me.
4You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
7You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.
8Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. 9Six days you shall labor and do all your work.
12Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.
13You shall not murder.
14You shall not commit adultery.
15You shall not steal.
16You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
17You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.
18When all the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking, they were afraid and trembled and stood at a distance, 19and said to Moses, “;You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, or we will die.” 20Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid; for God has come only to test you and to put the fear of him upon you so that you do not sin.”

Psalm Psalm 19:1-14
1 The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. 2 Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge. 3 There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard; 4 yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.
In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun, 5 which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy, and like a strong man runs its course with joy. 6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them; and nothing is hidden from its heat.
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of the LORD are sure, making wise the simple; 8 the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is clear, enlightening the eyes; 9 the fear of the LORD is pure, enduring for ever; the ordinances of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. 12 But who can detect their errors? Clear me from hidden faults. 13 Keep back your servant also from the insolent; do not let them have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

Second Reading Philippians 3:4b-14
4bIf anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more: 5circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.
7Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. 8More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith. 10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, 11if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
12Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.
Gospel Matthew 21:33-46
33“Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. 34When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. 35But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. 36Again he sent other slaves, more than the first; and they treated them in the same way. 37Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 38But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.’ 39So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. 40Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” 41They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time.”
42Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the scriptures: ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is amazing in our eyes’? 43Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom. 44The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls.”
45When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them. 46They wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowds, because they regarded him as a prophet.