Pentecost 2

Pentecost 2 BELIEFS AND BEHAVIOR 5/26&29/05

Jesus, in this week’s Gospel lesson, delivers a parable involving two builders. Luke contrasts the quality of workmanship involved in the building of the two houses, whereas Matthew---in the text before us---contrasts the wise and foolish choices of the builders. Luke focuses upon workmanship, Matthew upon wisdom.

In this parable, when Jesus speaks of a “house,” He is referring to human life, human existence, and the foundation upon which we build our daily decisions and directions. Jesus is not teaching about constructing a house, but about building a life. The foolish man, in Matthew’s account, incredibly builds in what is known as a “wadi,” a dry riverbed that will flood during the inevitable spring rains. The site seems appropriate enough in the “short run,” but proves a disastrous decision in the long run. What looked “good” at the time, proved “dangerous” and “destructive” as time went by. This foolish choice is likened to a person being either ignorant of God’s Word or hearing God’s Word, but choosing to not put it into practice. As the “storms” of life blow, this foundation soon fails and all one value is destroyed and washed away!!

Wise choices, on the other hand, are best made when we hear the Word of God and put this Word into practice. This belief-bound-behavior is likened to a “wise man who built his house…his life…on the rock.” This decision does not exempt the man from “troubles” and “challenges” in his daily living. This decision does, though, provide the believer with a foundation in life that holds strong when the winds blow and the storms rage, keeping him secure throughout the “test.”

The “rock” Jesus refers to in this parable “echoes” Psalm 18:2: “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge” and Psalm 62:1-2/ “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.” Jesus, as recorded in Matthew 16:18, tells His disciple Simon: “Blessed are you Simon son of Jonah…I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it.” This truth is beautifully conveyed through the hymns of the Church, like: “Built on a rock the Church shall stand, even when steeples are falling” and “The Church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ, her Lord.”

The final words of Jesus’ longest recorded sermon comprise a strong warning to disciples, like ourselves, regarding the potential distractions and detours we allow to prevent our faithful discipleship. We travel a “narrow road.” Our entering the kingdom of God is likened to a camel attempting to pass through the eye of a needle. Jesus makes it clear that our loyalty requires serious, daily diligence in doing the will of God.

To show us just how much is actually at stake, Jesus invites us all to imagine ourselves at the inevitable scene of the final judgment. This sort of “end times” or apocalyptic view enables us to see our present way of living in light of the future that belongs to Christ as Lord and Judge of all time, all people, and all history! Through this imagery Jesus compels us to determine “who” we are in this judgment scene. As individuals gathered corporately together for worship, we are most certainly among those who say to Jesus, “Lord, Lord.” But, we are poignantly admonished that a few religious words from time to time “doth not a disciple make!” The author of The Living Bible, a paraphrase, presents Matthew 7:21 quite plainly: “Not all who sound religious are really godly people. They may refer to me as ‘Lord,’ but still won’t get to heaven.”

So, we might be immediate to ask, “If the religious sounding people don’t necessarily enter God’s heaven, who does?” I’m quick to say that our Gospel lesson does not discount the value of our talking-the-talk. What Jesus does reveal is that what we preach with our lives is even more convincing than what we preach with our lips! Saying all the “right things” is not the “trump” card that gets us into the kingdom and neither is doing all the “right things.” “What?” “What? You mean to say that neither our words nor actions get us into heaven?” That’s exactly what I mean, but more importantly, that’s exactly what Jesus means and we do well to listen up! Of primary importance, of priceless worth is our personal relationship with Jesus Christ and the way this relationship guides our words and deeds. Who will Jesus send away from the doors to His heavenly kingdom? Those He never “knew”…all who go through life apart from that close walk with Jesus. Jesus calls us to be more than His friends. He claims us as His family. Jesus calls for us to do more than talk about Him. He calls us to live with and for Him. If you die this day, will Jesus say He knows you? Uncomfortable question? Yes! Demanding our answer? Yes, indeed! Amen.