Sermon for the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

July 1, 2007

1 Kings 19:15–16, 19–21
Psalm 16
Galatians 5:1, 13–25
Luke 9:51-62
Lectionary 13
Proper 8
Year C
I.N.I. (In the name of Jesus)

There are a few quirky pastors out there, and I know I’m one of them. But a few quirky pastors, who were ready and willing to chat through an email list serve I once subscribed to, signed off on their mail messages in this quirky way: Gripped by Grace.

These were Lutheran pastors who knew that one of the slogans of the Reformation was sola gratia—grace alone! These were Lutheran pastors who knew that being justified by grace through faith in Christ was, as one of my former teachers claimed with dramatic flourish was the doctrine by which the church stands or falls.

So here’s my question: if as my pastor father ably taught me grace is a free gift from God, and free means free, how is it that these quirky pastors signed their missives not simply and humbly By Grace but Gripped by Grace?

I don’t know about you, but I’m somewhat reticent about being gripped by anything. It sounds/feels confining, a bit strong for my pacifist inclinations…too grabby, not free enough.

After all, Paul, that is St. Paul, who besides Jesus Lutherans get the most mileage out of, St. Paul says For freedom Christ has set us free. Simple enough. Cozy enough to be alongside our own New Hampshire motto Live Free or Die and this week’s Independence Day.

Except Paul, that is St. Paul, throws in a caveat. Hear it out, all you grace-filled wannabees: For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. Huh? So much for Live Free or Die, and wanton libertarianism.

Some days I think being a pastor is more difficult than people imagine: meeting deadlines for newsletters and bulletins, caring people in various kinds of need, being held accountable more than most for high moral standards, tackling a weekly sermon, expected to know stuff about God and the Bible, recently committing to five days away with teenagers at confirmation camp, planning, planning, and more planning, counseling, and listening. And then I do something, like go to camp, and I get caught up with the youth and adults who are with me that there is something greater than all of us combined or any of us individually that is really and truly calling us to follow and it becomes clearer that Christ is in us and through us and I think I can safely say with Betty Mulrey and seven youth from CtK I am gripped by grace.

Sometimes I think that being a parent is the most difficult thing ever. Getting food for hungry children, taking them to appointments, making sure that they take some responsibility for their behavior, responding to their frequent cries for help, navigating in my kids’ case looming adolescence, preparing for college, seeing that they get enough sleep, then using a prybar to get them out of bed, mediating any number of conflicts, planning, planning, and more planning, counseling, and listening. And then I do something, like agree to pull out my old marching band trumpet and play a trio with them and I get caught up with my children and spouse realizing that there is something greater than all of us combined or any of us individually that is really and truly calling us to follow and it becomes clearer that Christ is in us and through us and I think I can safely say that with the rest of the Keyls I am gripped by grace.

So Jesus so simply says follow me. The invitation is extended. So Jesus sets his face to go to Jerusalem. The direction and the way is so focused and intentional.

Three would-be followers who may like us have coveted or even heard or seen something that resembled freedom. They were willing to go along with Jesus, but issued their own caveats. They were willing to go along with Jesus, but did not realize the cost. They were willing to go along with Jesus, but only on their own terms.

So Jesus so simply says follow me. The invitation is extended to us would-be followers. What’s your excuse? What’s your complaint? What’s holding you back?

I know in my heart of hearts that I cannot and do not measure up. I second-guess myself all the time about what I do and why I do what I do.

The only place that seems to make sense is to listen for the call and act on it. Sometimes listening is the place to be. Sometimes acting on it is the place to be. Sometimes the way to get out of a funk or weariness is to move from listening to acting, or acting to listening.

Each week, we are together, you and I in this journey of discipleship. It’s good to have company. It’s good to recognize how grace grips us, as we listen for Christ’s call and as we act on that call. It’s good to realize that Jesus who himself freely gave himself for others and the world has stepped out on ahead with that focused face and open invitation.

There are a few quirky Christians out there, and I think I’m one of them, and maybe you are, too. We live and die by the grace of God that takes hold of us, and together as we share bread and wine, as we hear the story of God and then live in that story, we find life, and a taste of what Jesus describes on his journey to Jerusalem as the kingdom of God.

I.N.I.

The Rev. Timothy J. Keyl, Pastor
Christ the King Lutheran Church
| CtK Home | Back to Pastor's Page |

Christ the King Lutheran Church, 3 Lutheran Drive, Nashua, NH 03063 (603) 882-6142
If you have problems with this web page contact: webmaster@ctknashua.org