SERMON PREACHED BY THE REVEREND DR. HAROLD T. LEWIS, RECTOR
CALVARY EPISCOPAL CHURCH, PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA
ON THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
10 JANUARY 2010
“Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove” (Luke 3:21)
This morning, with your indulgence, I would like to begin this sermon with a grammar lesson --- specifically, I would like to reflect on the role and function of the subordinate clause. Now for older parishioners, this will bring back memories of the ancient art of parsing a sentence, as well as the fun we used to have hunting down subjects and predicates. For the younger generation, for whom texting has replaced prose as a primary means of communication, relegating the pen and even the computer to the dung heap, and in which abbreviations like OMG and LOL now suffice as complete sentences, the subordinate clause may be about as relevant as Sanskrit or hieroglyphics. But I press on nevertheless.
The subordinate clause, also known as a dependent clause, begins with a subordinate conjunction or relative pronoun and contains both a subject and a verb. The combination of words, however, does not form a complete sentence. It depends upon the rest of the sentence, known as the main clause, which has additional information, to finish the thought. The subordinate clause sets the stage for the action contained in the main clause. Examples: “Although Mr. Smith had a net worth of millions of dollars, he lived in a one-room hovel on the wrong side of the tracks.” “Even though the broccoli was covered in cheddar cheese, Suzie refused to eat it.” “When he had successfully passed the bar exam, Jonathan applied to several law firms.” The subordinate clause, it can be said, creates a question in the mind of the reader or listener, who asks, “What happens next?”
What has this to do with the Gospel? More than you may think. Today is the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus, and Luke tells us what happened on that very important day on the banks of the River Jordan. One would expect that the news of Jesus’ Baptism would be “front and center,” a declarative statement, but no! This important event is relegated to a subordinate clause (or, more specifically, its Greek counterpart known as a genitive absolute). Listen: “Now when (relative pronoun) all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying” --- all subordinate clause ---- then comes the important information: “the heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved, with you I am well pleased.’”
So the most important thing here is not the role of John the Baptist, or the fact that the penitent multitudes came to be baptized, or even that Jesus was baptized. The important thing is that God acted, appearing in the form of a dove, and speaking from a cloud. I think there is an important lesson here. It gives us a vital clue about our religion. Unfortunately, we somehow believe that Christianity is a cause that we must support, and if it does not prosper, we become anxious about it. Our current situation, and what I have dubbed our “recent unpleasantness,” have taught this to us only too well. If we are not careful, we allow ourselves to believe that the Gospel is dependent upon what we are called, which bishop we recognize, and what property belongs to whom. Or at another level, who can be members of the church, who can be ordained, and whose relationships can be blessed. All you have to do is go to a General Convention (which I recommend only for those fully grounded in their faith). Both on the legislative floor and in the exhibition hall, people are obsessed with causes, be it more “expansive” language in the church’s liturgy, which local hero may be included in the church’s calendar, or how the church can lead the charge against global warming.
But if we read Scripture carefully, we see that Christianity is not about causes, it is about the mighty acts of God, culminating in Jesus Christ. Our job is not to peddle our respective wares, advocating this cause or that, but to respond to God’s mighty acts in faith and obedience. Or in the words of today’s collect, “Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior.”
Unfortunately, “boldly” and “Christian” don’t usually appear in the same sentence. We often regard people who boldly discuss or exhibit or talk about their faith as insensitive, offensive, rude or even deranged. I said in my homily on the Feast of the Epiphany that Constantine, the Roman emperor who converted to Christianity, thereby making it respectable, may not have done us a favor. When it became socially acceptable to be a Christian, and it was no longer a capital offense, did we become more timid than bold? As Evangeline, Alexander and Elizabeth are baptized this morning, it might be a propitious moment to reflect on how boldly we might act. And if this advice sounds familiar, it is because it is adapted from the promises that the baptismal candidates will make in a few moments.
Proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ. It was Francis of Assisi who said, “Preach the Gospel always. When necessary, use words.” Our deeds and examples often reveal much about our commitment. I have said it before, but I think it bears repeating: Sometimes people apologize for missing church because they had to entertain out-of-town relatives. If going to church is something you do on Sunday, should that be sacrificed for the sake of relatives who don’t go to church? Wouldn’t it be a bolder manifestation of your faith to invite them to church, or even to go to church and have them fend for themselves for breakfast? Just a thought.
Seek and serve Christ in all persons. Another St. Francis story. It is said that he was on a pilgrimage to Rome, walking along, singing and praying, when he saw a leper approaching him. Then the voice of Jesus instructed Francis to embrace that leper and kiss him. Francis refused, offering to do any number of things ---- fasting, rolling on spikes, self-flagellation. But Jesus was insistent. Francis approached the leper, closed his eyes, embraced him and kissed him, and as he did so, the scales and the sores fell from the leper’s face, and it was revealed to be the Christ. The challenge for the bold Christian is to see the beauty, the “Christ-likeness” in those whom we might just as soon shun.
Lastly, strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being. One of Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s favorite tales, which he used to illustrate the evils of apartheid and its potential remedy, is that of the elephant, and the mouse. A mouse is scurrying about the jungle, when all of a sudden an elephant sits on his tail, immobilizing him. The mouse was terrified. He saw a chance of escape when a lion passed by. “Please, Mr. Lion,” he pleaded, “as you can see, this big elephant is sitting on my tail, and I can’t move. If you would be kind enough to let out a roar, it will startle the elephant and he will jump up, and I can get away.” The King of the Jungle responded, “I appreciate your plight, Mr. Mouse, but your problem is strictly between you and Mr. Elephant.” “With all due respects, said the mouse boldly, “Have your own way, Sir, but from where I sit, you are either part of the problem or part of the solution.”
Keeping our promise to boldly confess Christ may be easier than we think.
Let us pray:
Save us from weak resignation to the evils we deplore;
Let the gift of thy salvation be our glory evermore.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, serving thee whom we adore;
Serving thee whom we adore. [Hymnal 1982, 594]
AMEN.