June 5, 2005
The Third Sunday after Pentecost
Proper 5A
Genesis 12:1-9
Psalm 50:7-15
Romans 4:13-25
Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26
A Sermon Preached by the Reverend Canon Carolynne G. Williams
Jesus saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow Me”. And he got up and followed him. This person, Matthew, a tax collector, followed Jesus.
We can assume that Matthew was very successful in his work from a financial standpoint. He lived in Capernaum . The major employment in Capernaum Center on the Lake of Gennesaret was connected to the fishing Industry. The Romans established a Custom house in which Matthew worked as a tax collector.
Matthew was a publican.
The publicans who were wealthy hired others to collect their taxes. They were called portitors.
The portitors collected the taxes.
Matthew made his money by overcharging those who had to pay taxes and keeping the difference for himself.
So, while he was not the darling of the community, he was certainly recognized.
He was recognized, well known and despised.
He was easy to recognize because he sat in a public place to carry out his work. As people would pass through customs exporting and importing their goods, he was present.
Matthew was despised because people feared him. He was feared due to having the authority to collect, to take money from those who knew what power and wealth represented.
He was connected with power because his work, his profession was centered in money and those who possessed it. When Jesus saw Matthew and said to him ‘Follow me” and Matthew did…what did Matthew sense?
What did Matthew see to lead him to leave all that he had? What was the attraction that caused him to leave his life’s work and follow a man who he probably had nothing in common with? It was the commanding presence of Jesus. It was the authority with which Jesus spoke.
It was a commanding presence because Jesus had been speaking with authority prior to calling Matthew. His reputation preceded him. He had healed the paralytic. He had calmed the raging waters where Peter doubted him and was afraid. He had healed two men who were possessed by demons and cast the demons into swine that were nearby. So his presence was strong and well known. It was not a secret as to the current happenings in and around Capernaum. People were discussing among themselves the news. What was there about the person of Jesus that encouraged Matthew to follow him?
Jesus had been performing miracles. People knew that he was one who could get things accomplished in a manner in which they were not accustomed.
And what Jesus was accomplishing seemed to be filling a need that nothing else could accomplish. People were being drawn from their routine ways of doing things to ways that they were not accustomed to following.
They were beginning to lean not to their own understanding, but were watching, listening and some were praying. Why were they doing this? Because they were seeing results through no efforts of their own. Lives were being transformed. People were changing.
The woman who had hemorrhaged for 12 years had lost all hope. She had spent all of her money going from doctor to doctor and had not been healed. She had heard about this person who had been healing people. Whether she decided to trust Jesus as a last resort for healing, we do not know.
What we do know is her faith was present to the one who could heal her. She increased in her faith. She believed that this man could help her. Her only hope was centered in our Lord.
Her faith had increased to the point that she believed that if she touched the hem of his garment…. if she could just get close enough to touch him…. If her relationship with him were somehow strengthened, she would be healed.
Her faith was greater. Her faith was greater because she had reached beyond everything that she possessed. She allowed herself to move in a direction that she had not gone before.
Matthew allowed this compelling nature to move him. He felt drawn to follow the one who had called him.
What does it take for you and for me to follow the voice of God? Is God calling us to go beyond ourselves? We, the body of Christ, as we grow in faith learn to live in a place that is unfamiliar to us.
As we respond to the call of God we find ourselves in places that are not always known to us. But while in those places we recognize that it is through the love and grace of God that we are able to give of ourselves. And in giving we share our gifts and talents.
And as others who have responded to the call, as Matthew did, share the message, there is a connectedness that is discovered. This connectedness is made of the fiber of forgiveness. This connectedness is made of the fiber of love. This connectedness is woven together with the fiber of reconciliation.
In order to move with a compulsion as Matthew did in responding to the call, we must move within our faith.
Faith is what we incorporate when we don’t know quite where we are going. Faith is what we dress ourselves in when we have done all that we can do in a given situation, and then we have to wait. We wait with anticipation. We anticipate with prayer and hope. We hold onto hope when there is nothing else. The compulsion that moves us to follow Christ and believe in Christ is the hope that we carry in our heart.
Having strong faith takes us outside of ourselves and puts us into the spirit of Grace.Grace is that place where we linger. Grace is that place where we have been and we are not quite sure how we got through that difficult period in our lives or in our daughters lives. Or in our son's life or at our husband's side, or at our wife's bedside. Grace is that place where Matthew went when he followed Jesus and took nothing with him. Grace is that place where the woman who was at the edge of her mind through her faith, decided, I am going to trust. If I can just feel his presence, I know that all will be well. I know that I will be healed.
I know that if I can have a conversation by means of praying with God that sometimes consists of no words, this burden will be lifted and I will be at peace. Faith is invited in when all has been done that one can do. Faith and trust are called upon when one does not see the solution through their own eyes.
We pray in faith when others are hurting. We pray in faith for the parents of those who have children in Iraq. We pray in faith for the mom and dad who have a child not returning from a place of fun and celebration with her high school class. We ask for God’s mercy and grace. We pray understanding that the outcome may not be what we desire. But we move forward in faith.
Have you ever been inspired by God? When we are inspired by God, we are capable of being concealed in a place of grace. This place is referred to as being at peace. Regardless of the circumstances that are prevailing, we are at peace. We may not have the details of the blueprint, but inside of ourselves, we are calm and not afraid.
This is the kind of posture that allows you to sleep at night. This is the calmness that carries you through a circumstance of life that to others looks like total chaos. The righteousness of faith is what Abraham was seeking. The goodness of God is what Matthew heard when he responded to the call of Jesus. The guiding of each of us today is done by the faith that we carry with us and in us lean into to and rely upon.
Faith not in ourselves but faith through our Lord. Faith, trust and love. We are loved in such a manner that we have to believe that God knows each of us by name. This is a difficult way to live sometimes. That is actually believing that we are loved unconditionally. But it is true. We are loved so strongly and thoroughly and completely that When we are called we are compelled to follow the one that leads us. If you are not following the one that leads you, the one that loves you, examine yourself. What or who do you love more than the one who lives and reigns?
Matthew answered the call. He became a disciple and served others. Who are you responding to as you grow in faith? Who am I serving? Am I serving myself or God?
The compelling answer lies in where we place our trust and faith. God says trust me and I will never leave you or forsake you. Matthew heard this and followed him. The woman who felt God’s presence and was healed knew this and increased in faith. God is asking us to follow without hesitation. The reward is great and the love is unconditional. Please try this path today and see what happens. You won’t regret it. God says. And that is a promise.
Amen.
Comments? Contact The Rev. Carolynne Williams: cwilliams@stphilipscathedral.org