A Sermon for the Second Sunday in Lent
Randy Welsand
Genesis 22:1-14
Psalm 16
Romans 8:31-39
Mark 8:31-38
"Take up your cross and follow me." What do you think Jesus was saying to his disciples? What is he saying to us? I'd like to take a few minutes to tell you what I believe he said to me.
I was born in Duluth, Minnesota and lived most of my life there. I was a life long member of Holy Apostles Episcopal Church in Duluth until we moved in 1991. Holy Apostles was a small church and like most small churches, we were struggling to survive. We were a small but dedicated group of people who were committed to stay together and keep it going. There was no way we could ever afford a full time Priest so we had a supply priest in once a month for Holy Communion and held morning prayer services the other Sundays. We kept it going and we paid the bills! I was Senior warden, Junior warden, a lay reader, chalice bearer, Lay Eucharist Minister, Sunday school teacher, youth group leader and janitor. I think I did everything that needed to be done at least once. We all did. Why? Because that's what it took to go on. We stepped up to the plate when our names were called. I can see that it's no different here at St. Stephen's. We do what needs to be done. But we continued to get smaller and smaller and some times we didn't have communion or see a Priest for 2 months. We were dying a little bit at a time and it seemed almost impossible to stop it.
In 1987 we had our annual visit from Bishop Hampton. We were filled with a sense of excitement and hope as we listened to Sandy talk about the possibilities of team ministry. This was a real chance for survival. I began to see the tremendous possibilities for us at Holy Apostles. From that point on I was committed to do whatever was necessary to make it happen for us. As I went through the gifts discovery program, I learned many things about myself that I never knew. When my name was put forth by the congregation as a candidate for ordination as a Canon 9 Priest, I was overwhelmed and afraid. I was willing to do whatever I had to do, but this? Not me! Let someone else do it. After many days of uncertainty and hours of prayer, I was still not sure if this was the right thing to do. Surely God would tell me if this was the right thing to do if I prayed enough about it. I had never had a feeling that I was supposed to be a priest as had the other three candidates. I started to think that my uncertainty was a sign not to go forward. As I continued to struggle with the decision and pray, some amazing things began to happen. I began to lose some of the uncertainty. I started to feel more calm and assured than I had been in the past. One day I picked up the Bible, opened it up at random and started to read a passage from one of Paul's epistles asking the people to answer the call. I woke up in the middle of the night out of a dead sleep, sat bolt upright in bed and said Yes, I will! Scared the daylights out of my wife.
About a year and a half into the process I was offered a significant promotion but it meant moving to Ishpeming Mi., in the UP. Do I stay or do I go? After a lot of soul searching and prayer, I took the transfer. Was this the right choice? The UP was the heart of Mutual Ministry. They were leaders in the process. This may be okay. The church we went to was not involved in team ministry. They had a full time seminary trained priest. A wonderful man who as my spiritual guide directed me towards seminary. So the process began again. After a long discernment process and a visit to Seabury Western Seminary in Evanston Ill. It was discerned that I should go back through the Total Ministry track. Before I could start that process, I was once again transferred to a new job in St. Cloud. We went to a large Church there called St. Johns and started the process yet a third time. Believe me, there were times I thought that it would not happen. Well I thought, that would be okay too, I was still very active in lay ministry and if it was my path, it would happen in God's time not mine. Well here I am again. A member of the Spirit of the Heartland Ministry team. And in spite of all the ups and downs, I have come home. This is what I've been called to do.
In today's Gospel, Jesus is telling his disciples about his upcoming death and resurrection. They still don't understand. They really haven't understood anything Jesus has told them. Peter didn't get it at all . He even takes issue with Jesus over it and is severely rebuked. Jesus goes on to explain what it means to take up the cross and follow him. Who ever wants to save life must lose it. Whoever loses his life for me will save his soul. Whoever is ashamed of me I will be ashamed of when he stands before God. Gain the world, lose the Kingdom. This is clearly a call to choose. Do I pick up that cross and follow or not. To follow Jesus did have a cost. Jesus was headed to a horrible death on that cross. What would become of those who followed? Why do you think Jesus called these special twelve people. They weren't educated or smart or brave. They continually fought and quarreled amongst themselves about who was the greatest. Who would sit at Jesus' right hand? They denied and left him alone at the end. Why would Jesus choose these men? Do you think that it could be because in spite of their faults, when Jesus said "follow me" they did? This makes me feel hopeful because sometimes I don't get it either. I said yes when Jesus said "follow me" but just like Peter, I sometimes question what I do, what I need to do, what I didn't do. I hesitate sometimes to say what in my heart I know needs to be said. Sometimes I don't take the time to help someone who needs help. I get busy and forget my daily prayers. I am full of imperfections at times.
In 1987 I said yes I will when I was asked to take up my cross and follow Him . If you haven't made that commitment to follow Him, do so. This doesn't mean you have to join a ministry team, or go to seminary or be something you aren't. It just means that you will do everything you can do. Maybe read a lesson at church, Maybe teach Sunday school, serve on the vestry, mow the lawn, clean the bldg. Maybe it's nothing more than loving someone who needs love. Helping where you can. A kind word, a smile. I work in a foundry. It's a rough place to work. There are people there who truly don't know God or care to find him. I can take the chance to tell them or walk away. I have choices. We are all alike. We all have choices. We can pick up that cross and be transformed into something greater than ourselves or we can lay it down. The choice is yours.