Simon Peter: The Listening-Rock

On Monday I had the passing thought that typically arises when I think of the life of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., as well as someone like Helen Keller or Abraham Lincoln. This idea coalesces around my belief that I am not much like these giants of history. Yes, we breathe the same air, occupy the same earth, and are of the same species, but it is hard for me to believe that the comparisons go too much further. However, the life of Simon the son of John, brother of Andrew, and follower of Jesus gives me some hope.

Simon whom Jesus gave the name Peter often gets a bad rap. He has become somewhat of a punching bag, at least within the church world. Throughout his life he would proverbially take two steps forward, then run and hide behind a rock somewhere. This is somewhat ironic given that his nickname Peter means the Rock. He was to be the one on whom God built up the Church, but quite often he appeared anything but stable. If one takes a closer look several examples of Simon-Peter’s hot-and-cold nature emerge from within Holy Scripture and Tradition.

In today’s Gospel lesson from Matthew we hear that Simon-Peter confessed Jesus was the Christ. In fact, this confession is the occasion we celebrate today. In Mark’s telling of this same story right after Simon-Peter made this affirmation Jesus explained what it meant to be the Messiah. Instead of listening to, agreeing with, and supporting Jesus Simon-Peter took his teacher aside to say that he could never undergo suffering. Jesus responded with the infamous words, “Get behind me Satan” (Mark 8:33). Simon-Peter did not only vacillate here, but throughout the New Testament.

Soon after making his confession that Jesus was the Christ Simon-Peter, James, and John were swept away to the top of a mountain to witness the Transfiguration of Jesus. In that holiest of moments, Simon-Peter could not let God be God. Instead, Simon-Peter tried his best to box in God into some small booths. Simon-Peter wanted to hold onto the moment and also God.

Perhaps the piece de resistance came when Simon-Peter boldly claimed that he would never cross his Lord. Jesus understanding his follower better than Simon-Peter knew himself told the follower that he would deny him three times before the cock crowed. We all know that Jesus was right in this instance. John’s Gospel account paints the beautiful picture of Jesus restoring Simon-Peter as the disciple affirmed his love of Jesus three times on a beach one morning after the Resurrection. And yet, even after this beloved moment Simon-Peter still ebbed and waned in his following of Jesus.

Peter boldly risked his life after Pentecost to share the Gospel to those in Rome. Although at first he believed Gentiles ought not to be part of the Church later he realized his mistake and baptized Cornelius the Roman Centurion. Al-so, he was so convinced that purity laws around meat should be followed until one day he had a vision from God that he ought to eat following Gentile ways when with them. Finally, when Emperor Nero persecuted Christians Peter at first fled from Rome, but encountered a vision of Jesus walking back to the city. When Simon-Peter asked where his Lord was going Jesus replied, “I am coming to be crucified again” (Holy Women, Holy Men, 174). At this Peter re-turned to the city and was crucified upside-down unwilling to die in the same manner as Jesus.

In this inconsistent manner Simon-Peter gives us an example of what true discipleship looks like. The legendary figures of ancient and recent past come off too often as untouchable stalwarts with whom we cannot relate. Simon-Peter’s double name makes perfect sense. Of course, we know that Peter means rock, which appeared almost laughable at times. Simon though means “listen”. When Simon-Peter actually listened to God he actually lived into his calling as the Rock of the Church! He could not make himself a crag or a foundation, in-stead he had to rely upon Jesus.

We can all learn from Simon-Peter. We can grow to listen to God. We can dis-cover that even when we make mistakes God still has a calling for us. We can ascertain that even when we deny God the love of Christ will still be strong enough to restore us. We can find out that even when we run away Jesus will show up to walk with us back to where we are called. We are all called to listen like Simon, so that God can make us strong like Peter.

Saint Philip: If the Spirit Leads

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!

“Where’s Your Burning Bush?”

Burning bush or not... God wants you and is calling you!

You are walking along minding your own business when all of a sudden you notice a burning bush. Except, wait a minute, this is not your average burning bush that you have happened across countless other times, no this is scorching shrubbery that is not going down. This bush is burning, but not consumed. So, you think, “Okay, I should stop and see what is happening over here, right?” Then all of a sudden a voice says your name.

The story of Moses and the burning bush has always been a favorite Bible story, precisely because it is so outlandish, so absurd, and somehow hits so close to home. Still I wonder questions like, “Am I supposed to believe this?” “Is there science that backs up the possibility of the bush staying on fire?” “Was Moses on something at the time?” Then, I realize that I am asking the wrong types of questions of this ancient text. This story resonates so much not because everyone will experience something like this, but because fantastic presentation or not God is speaking to each and every one in this world.

The Creator of all things might not be hiding behind flaming flora on your way to work, but God wants to talk with you! God has a purpose for your life. The Almighty wants you! The trouble with today’s frantic pace, artificial connectedness, and shallow way of existing is that we are often so distracted that we do not make the time to actually stop when we do happen upon our burning bush. So, I invite you to stop. Breath. Look around. Pay attention. God is speaking. Are you listening?