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Sermon Preacher at the Church of the Good Shepherd, Granite Springs by the the Reverend Matthew Mead
October 11, 2009
The Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Proper 23, Year B (RCL): Amos 5:6-7, 10-15; Psalm 90:12-17; Hebrews 4:12-16; Mark 10:17-31


On Thursday night I had my first vestry meeting as rector. Every Vestry meeting has an agenda which is drawn up by the rector. The agenda is the basic guideline for the meeting. When everything on the agenda, rector’s report, warden’s report, building and grounds, stewardship, and on down the list until everything has been covered, then the meeting is over and we go home. Working with an agenda reminded me about anagram of the word Bible that I heard a few years ago: BIBLE – Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth. There are many Christians – and to be perfectly honest, many people who used to be Christians, but who have lost their faith – who view the Bible as an agenda. Its simple: you follow the rules as you move through life and when you die, if you have a check next to every rule, then you go to heaven. If you skip a few rules or don’t cover them adequately then you go to hell.

Its certainly possible to read today’s Gospel as a proof of that viewpoint. A man asks Jesus a question that we have all probably asked at some point in our lives: what do I have to do to inherit eternal life. Jesus answer is the Ten Commandments. Beyond that, the man is called by Jesus to go even further and sell everything he has, give it to the poor, and follow Jesus.

If you look at the Bible as an instruction book, then right there is agenda. Step one: Never break the Ten Commandments; step 2: give everything you have to the poor; step 3: follow Jesus; follow steps 1, 2 and 3 and you have earned your way to heaven. Easy to understand… but easy to live out? Not so much.

Recall the reaction to Jesus word’s that his own disciples have: “Then who can be saved?” They aren’t worried about the rich man who went away grieving because he had many possessions, they are worried about themselves. If Jesus’ own disciples are worried, I think it kind of presents a problem to the view that the Bible as an easy to follow list of rules.

Being a Christian doesn’t mean following some heavenly checklist because, as Saint Paul reminds us so often, the love of God can’t be earned. The love of God is a gift, freely given, to all. That is why Jesus looks at the man, even as he asks him to do the impossible, and loves him. That is why Jesus reminds his disciples that even though we cannot save ourselves, nothing is impossible for God.

What do I have to do to inherit eternal life? I believe that the answer is you simply have to accept the gift that God has already given to all of us.

Great, but what does that means for you and I who have gathered together at the church of the good shepherd this morning?

First, none of us is perfect and that’s ok. I have two sons. I love them both very much, but I am not perfect. I get mad, when I shouldn’t; I loose my patience too quickly; and sometimes I find myself hoping and praying that my flaws can be washed away. All of us make mistakes, all of us are sinners who experience guilt and shame and fear and find ourselves like the man in today’s Gospel kneeling in front of Jesus trying to highlight the good things each of us has done. Jesus still looks at us, just like the man in the Gospel and he loves us, even though we aren’t perfect. God loves you and has given you eternal life and don’t let anyone every tell you otherwise. Love is the only item on God’s agenda.

Second, God’s love is for all of us, and not everyone knows that. Sometimes it takes someone tapping you on the shoulder saying: “Hey! Listen up, your not paying attention!” As disciples who are called to follow Jesus we have been given the privilege and honor of being able to speak about God’s gift of love to others. Its news that needs to be spread because even some Christians don’t quite understand that God’s love is free and for all of us. Tell someone what you know: that no matter what, Jesus loves each of us.

Note for all sermons: The text published here and what was actually preached from the pulpit may vary considerably. Think of this version as the published draft.