Trinity Episcopal Church

In the south we are known for our hospitality.  But as a southerner I know that our hospitality runs only skin deep.   To get to know someone on a deeper level requires that you have some sort of connection to them, some common ground.  The question that is implicit in every introductory conversation is “Who are you people”  If this question fails to produce a local ancestor or two then the next questions will be focused on “well if you are not related to me at least by marriage then what do we have in common from which we can build a relationship.  These conversations generate a lot of good humor but they are in fact quite serious and worthwhile efforts. 

When we meet someone and begin to get to know them, we find out their name, their job or daily routine, we might get to know their favorite foods, what languages they might speak, where they live, what kind of vehicle they use to get from point a to point b.  As we get to know them on a deeper level we begin to discover more intimate details – such as whether they are talkative or shy, whether they are a person of high moral values, how they treat other people – especially those who are different or marginalized – IN other words we begin to know what KIND of person they are – what their hopes and fears and dreams might be.   But at some level we can never know another person fully.  Even if we have known the person all of our life we will never know the inner thoughts that are not shared or discerned.  Getting to know someone intimately is a fascinating journey of discovery with nuance and amazement every step of the way.

In our gospel reading from Mark, Jesus and the disciples are walking along the road.  Immediately preceding our lesson to day Mark tells another version of the feeding of the multitude, the Pharisees come and test Jesus, and there is a healing miracle.  In the midst of this there is this telling encounter with the disciples in which Jesus becomes absolutely exasperated with the disciples because once again they do not understand the depth of God’s love or God’s justice – they just don’t get it.  They just cannot put their very human perceptions aside and understand the extent Grace or the abundance of life that they receive through their faith in God.  For many months they have traveled with Jesus – they have seen him do miracles, they have heard him tell stories, they have seen how God has provided for them and yet they do not fully understand either the man Jesus, his relationship with God or God’s love for them. 

So Jesus, knowing that people are talking about him turns to the disciples and asks, “Who do people say that I am?”  Pretty simple question and one that we might expect any new pastor or rabbi to ask.   Perhaps he wants to know the things that others would not say to his face.  Perhaps he wants to know if he has made himself clear.  The disciples have varying answers, but then Jesus gets serious and he asks the disciples – those to whom he has tried to reveal himself the most – “Who do YOU say that I am?”.   They have various answers, but then there is this exchange with Peter.  Peter looks at Jesus and says “You are the Messiah”    Jesus seems ok with that title and moves on to tell them what it will mean for him to be the Messiah the anointed one.  Jesus tells them that he is to suffer and die and after three days rise again.  Impetuous Peter seems to miss that last part and pulls his teacher off to the side to tell him to stop the talk about suffering and death.  For sure such talk will not help his cause at all.  Peter’s perception of the role of Messiah had absolutely nothing to do with suffering and death.  Peter’s Messiah would come riding in - guns a blazing and take control.  But Jesus turns on Peter and publically tells him that he has missed the whole point.  Peter did not know Jesus fully.  He had an inkling of what hat he wore, but he had no idea what wearing that hat might entail.    Clearly there is a disconnect here.

This whole encounter with Jesus raises the hairs on the back of the neck.  It is bad enough that when Peter responds with a heartfelt answer - Jesus upends his response, but then he throws a pall over the whole afternoon by declaring that the only path to salvation for the disciples - and for us - is to follow him by rejecting all that we value and trying on a new way of living – a way of self-denial and sacrifice – the way of giving up even our very lives and when push comes to shove and following Jesus all the way to our own cross.

Our relationship with Jesus is also subject to the same disconnect as Peter.  We come with our human perceptions and values that are honed from our reading of scripture and from living in Christian community.   Oftentimes our notion of Jesus is very far from the “spiritual things” that Jesus suggests Peter should attend to.  We see Jesus as one who will support our vision, our desires.  We pray for our very human needs and sometimes lose sight of who Jesus calls us to be and instead we focus on who we want to become.  Sure we want to be followers of Jesus, but it is much easier to be the follower of Jesus who walks on water and cures the sick and rises from the grave than it is to be the follower of Jesus who bends his head and suffers the agony of torture and death.   I don’t know about you but Easter sounds much more comfortable to me than Good Friday. 

There is no doubt that this teaching of Jesus can be seen as a call to sacrificial living, to a life of service – but I think that Mark intends us to consider that what Jesus is really saying is that God calls us to a life of faith in which we are ready and willing to journey with Jesus in the unfamiliar territory of God’s Kingdom where Micah’s words “do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God” become a mantra for our everyday lives.  For the disciples the end result of following Jesus was going to be a very literal sacrifice of their lives.  No sugar coating there.  For us here in Massachusetts this idea of giving up life for the sake of standing with Jesus seems remote and far-fetched.  But for many in this world of ours it is a very real possibility.  I wonder how many people would be sitting here if the Haverhill police came knocking on the door with AK47s and fired randomly into this congregation and yet that is exactly what is happening in the Sudan, in Iraq, in Afghanistan, in Zimbabwe.  What is it that keeps them in the faith.  Why would a person who lives in a country that is openly hostile to a particular faith community seek and continue to be a part of that faith community?   

I don’t think it is because of some theological treatise that they have read or some great sermon that they have heard preached or even the regular and habitual gift of the sacrament.  I think it is because at its very core - scripture, the story of God’s relationship with us and our relationship with God and with each other is a love story.  And when you love someone everything you do and say is directed toward building up that person who is the object of your love.   God’s Love for us as we know it - lived out in the life, death and resurrection of Christ calls us to return that love by humbly seeking God first and by standing together in faith.

Jesus is revealing himself to us here not only in name, but as the means through which God’s love for us - God’s will for us and for the world is revealed.  But we will not be able to see clearly if we limit ourselves to our own human perspective.    Only by opening ourselves up to try on God’s ways, by letting go of our human values and perspectives and trying on a sacrificial life of serving, giving, and forgiving that emulates Jesus’ life for us - can we hope to grasp what it means to be so much in love with God that we are willing to stand in faith with our brothers and sisters and with Jesus against all odds.  Only then will be really be able to know what it means to respond to the question.  Who do you say that I am?  You are the one who suffers so that others will not, who serves so that others may live, you are the Messiah.  Amen