Fatherly love

Here is Intern Lori's sermon for June 21.

L

Matthew 10:24-39 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

“A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master; it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household!

 “So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.[a] Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.  And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows. “Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; 33 but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven.

Not Peace, but a Sword “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father,

and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.

and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household.

7 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.

What a shock that must have been for Jesus’s disciples  (and us) to hear Jesus say, “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household. What you mean Jesus did not come to bring peace but sword?!This is some unusual scene. What did it mean for the disciples and us? 

Let us explore this scene a little more together. We know it is not easy following Jesus in today’s world. It is challenging and can lead to uncomfortable moments. We can lose friendships, our family, endure hardships and heartaches, etc. Same for the disciples and for us when we follow Jesus. It did when Jesus was here on earth during his ministry. But never less, Jesus continues by telling us the cost of following him. Jesus further says, “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” It is clear, we are to pick Jesus and His ways every time. Of course, that does not mean we cannot love our parents or children. It simply means we need to love Jesus MORE. We cannot control how people react when we choose Jesus. 

Thankfully, it does not end there. We read further in the text, “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. “When we choose Jesus, and the relationship changed because of that. What can we do next? Notice when Jesus says, “whoever loves father or mother…and whoever loves son or daughter.” We are still to love them. We love them and love Jesus MORE. We are to make a loving witness to them while they are angry with us. We are to show love when people are upset, and when things are awkward and tense because of this division. We show that person that Jesus has love not only for us, but for them as well. Another thing we can do is pray for them. We cannot make hearts change but Jesus through the work of holy spirit can. We pray for patience as we wait, and we ask for God’s peace and comfort as we do. We are to love Jesus more than these incredible relationships that we have in our lives.

Now I want to take a moment to talk about something else. Fathers. Today is Father’s Day. This is a day to celebrate fathers in our lives. Like I did for Mother’s Day, I am going to give a little background on how Father’s Day started in America. Father’s Day was founded by Sonora Smart Dodd in 1910. The reason for this was to honor her father, who was a Civil War Veteran William Jackson Smart. He was a single parent who raised his six children because his wife passed during childbirth. The family attends church regularly and were active. This all started when Sonora Smart Dodd heard a sermon at her church about Anna Jarvi’s promotion of Mother’s Day. Sonora told her pastor that fathers should have similar holiday honoring them. Unfortunately, there was some resistance from Americans during a few decades as it did not want to make this about commercialism as it did for Mother’s Day.

I am in awe of this man, William Jackson Smart. He was a single parent who raised six children. In the early 1900’s that could not have been easy.  What is even more amazing is a “man” who chooses Jesus MORE than their relationships with their loved ones.  That includes not only biological fathers but any man role models including step fathers, teachers, mentors, even brothers. The possibilities are endless. 

Now it’s been a while since we last met in person but picture this as Sophia from Golden Girls would say, “In Sicily 1910 …just kidding….But seriously think the last time you were in St. Matthew’s Church. Who tends to sit here, who tends to sit there? Now there are many men in this amazing community that chooses Jesus first. Who prays for others, who shows love as Jesus would, my kids not only have an amazing father, Curt but also other men at St. Matthew’s who shine with their love for Riley and Eve. When we have someone such as John Corneilson who sometimes sits behind us in the pews, teasing, laughing and stirring up trouble perhaps while my children laugh their heart out of joy. Or run down the aisle of church to run into the arms of John Baker. How many more Johns are there in our church? Haha! But seriously, many incredible brothers of our church who give high gives to the girls when they see them on Sundays.  That my friend shows what it looks like when you put Jesus first. 

Just like people before us did including William Jackson Smart, and even those in the bible such as Joseph, Jacob, Abraham, and so on. 

So today, we celebrate our earthly fathers, but we love our heavenly one more.

Amen.