If you have come here
today, then I imagine that for just a moment you are seeking some sort of
respite. A word of peace that pierces the awfully violent, loud, and
overwhelming balloon of a world that spins and circles around the sun these
days. Even at this moment something might be screaming out for your attention:
the chores at home, the work still to do, the impending doom of an election,
the bills to pay, and even really good things like time with family, social gatherings,
or a favorite book or TV show. St. Mary’s Chapel at St. John’s Church in
Decatur does only a minimal job of shielding us from the outside noises of a
world that screams for our attention, but even if the traffic is silent the
inner rumblings of our thoughts, feelings, and emotions may prevent us from
experiencing true peace. You have come here though and probably not to hear a
great sermon, but to commune with God.
In this violent, loud,
and overwhelming world you might believe that God does not speak, or maybe you
are here wondering if in this peace God might speak. The silence of God might
seem like the case. How could it not be with the state of things? I believe
that God never ceases speaking. God never stops talking with us. God speaks
overwhelming love that still creates, restores, and sustains all things, but if
we never stop to listen how will we hear God’s voice?
Philip, a deacon and
an evangelist, could not help but hear God talking with him. So, in this moment
of rest listen to the story of Philip. One of seven honest men appointed by the
apostles to distribute the common funds and resources of the nascent Church,
Philip stationed himself at first in Jerusalem. When a group of murderous men
stoned Stephen to death Philip traveled to Samaria to preach the gospel there.
Amazingly while Philip traveled he listened for God’s voice. Even more
amazingly he heard it.
A messenger from God
spoke to Philip telling him to travel south to Gaza. This appears strange
enough to us that an angel made his travel arrangements, but then the Spirit of
God sometimes asks us to do peculiar things. This was even more the case when
Philip felt God calling him to approach a treasurer from the queen of the
Ethiopians. This Ethiopian eunuch had traveled to Jerusalem to worship. On his
way home he struggled in his chariot to understand a beautiful passage from
Isaiah about the suffering servant. So upon God’s calling Philip (out of
nowhere) ran up to the chariot to ask, “Do you understand what you are
reading?” This was a bold call by the ever bold Spirit!
To put it into a
modern analogy, I believe this would be like someone running down the aisle of
an airplane to grab an open seat (on a Southwest flight obviously) next to
someone who seemed to be struggling reading the Bible on their Kindle. Although
we may find this type of behavior crazy, I think the Spirit is starting to call
us into this type of absurd behavior. As our Presiding Bishop says we are the
Episcopal branch of the Jesus Movement and we are called to be Crazy
Christians. To do this though, we need to be like Philip.
Philip did not just
run up to the Ethiopian man and say you need to believe in God or else. No,
Philip saw this man struggling with the Word of God, so he approached, he
asked, and then once the invitation to share had been extended Philip shared
the good news of Christ Jesus. We do not think that we like evangelism in the
Episcopal Church, but the truth is that once we actually try it we are pretty
good at it. I know you are skeptical, but let’s slow this down using Philip as
our example.
Philip was called by
others. He was given a servant’s position. He listened to God and used common
sense that he must move after Stephen’s death. He heard God’s voice calling him
elsewhere. He approached a person in need with humility. After an invitation to
converse Philip shared God’s Good News. Once he did this the man even wanted to
be baptized! This is the model of discipleship.
We have been deputized
at our re-birth in Baptism to be just like Philip: To listen and be fed by the
Holy Spirit; to seek out with humility those who are in need; to share the Good
News (not scary news or bad news) of Christ Jesus as we have received it, and
even, in emergency situations, to baptize those who want to be part of this
movement with us. You have come here to be fed, to experience a bit of respite,
but you will be sent out to serve others and to share the Good News. This Good
News is that God has shown us a path of Salvation through Christ Jesus. Let us
be so wise as to listen when God calls us, like God called Philip, even if it
seems a bit crazy what God may tell us to do next!
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