July 2, 2000
As we begin our Scripture readings this morning, we hear this phrase, "Remember who you are." I used to hear that phrase quite often as a lad. Whenever my three brothers, sister, and I were about to go out, my mother always said, "Remember who you are." These words were spoken many thousands of years earlier by God to the children of Israel in the Book of Deuteronomy, "Remember who you are, a group of slaves brought out from Egypt, sustained through two generations in the desert, given land that was inhabited by others. Remember who you are when other wanderers and strangers come into your midst."
The psalmist's hymn that we sang picks up the refrain. Jesus' words to his disciples in this passage from Matthew make a similar point; and the writer of the Letter to the Hebrews also says the same thing, "Remember who you are." On this Independence Day, we set aside some time to remember who we are.
When my mother said that to us, there were a couple of things she meant. One was that you are a Certain. You have a name to uphold in your community. Remember who you are. She also meant that of all the people in our little suburban town outside Savannah, Georgia, there were exactly three redheads — all of them being me and two of my siblings. Whatever happened out there, for good or for ill, she would know about it. It sort of put a damper on a lot of partying we had in mind.
We also are told by God to remember that the Hebrew people were strangers in Egypt, wanderers in the land, a people without a home. So, "When I take you to the place I have set apart for your home, remember always how you were treated by others and treat those who sojourn among you, strangers in your land, as you would prefer to have been treated by the people of Egypt. Be kind and thoughtful and welcome the stranger into the shelter of your own homes."
The psalmist tells us that you are a person who has received kindness from God. If you have received kindness from God, you have received it to overflow your cup. You have plenty of kindness to share with those who come into your midst, no matter from where they have come.
Jesus tells us you are a child of God. You are a child of God along with all others whom he has created, and so, welcome all others as brothers and sisters of God. The letter to the Hebrews reminds us to remember that you are people who have come as a result of promises fulfilled by God, and so dream of more promises as they dreamed of promises too.
Remember who you are. As we gather here this morning, we are disciples of Christ and United States citizens. We also have Canadian citizens and citizens of three or four other countries who worship with us during the winter months. Remember who you are. Whenever you go out from here, you are a Christian and a citizen. Represent them both well. Bring honor to your Lord and to your country.
Remember who you are as you go out from here — people whose ancestors were strangers on this continent because human life did not begin here in North America. It began in Asia, Africa and Europe. The first Asian people who came across what then was a land-link to what is now Russia and migrated south, were the first humans to populate this country. Then later, Europeans, Africans, other Asians and South Americans from around the world have come to this place as strangers at one time or another in our history.
We were strangers in the homes of our ancestors and we came here as strangers to become the great melting pot where we could all be brothers and sisters in freedom. So, when strangers are among us, treat them with grace. The strangers among us are not just new immigrants, sometimes they are people who have lived through the tragedy of divorce; sometimes through the death of a child or a parent; sometimes a gay man or woman who is part of this Christian fellowship; sometimes someone with a handicapping condition; sometimes a next door neighbor who won't trim their hedges. There are all kinds of strangers who meet in this place to find themselves known and loved by others of God's children, who seek fellowship and grace. Whoever God brings to the doors of this church, remember that God has brought them here because we have something to offer them; and God has brought them here because they have something to offer us. We are bidden by scripture to open the arms of hospitality and to welcome all into our midst.
Remember that we are recipients of the goodness of God and so we are to share God's goodness with any who are in need, whether it is a shoulder to cry on, a leg up, or a moment of tough love. There are lots of people in our community, lots of people in our church, who are in need one way or another. We have something to share, some way to fill that need. Remember that you are a child of God and you have pledged to God in baptism and confirmation to seek and serve Christ in all persons, for all persons are children of God and brothers and sisters of ours.
Remember on this day, and this week especially, that you are a citizen of this nation because of the dreams of our ancestors and founders. There is a note that has been sent to me twice in the last week through the internet (a note that some of you may have received) about what happened to the signers of the Declaration of Independence. It goes through that long list and ends this way:
The signers of the Declaration of Independence were not wild-eyed, rabble rousing ruffians. They were soft-spoken men of means and education. They had security, but they valued liberty more. Standing tall, strong and unwavering, they pledged "for the support of this declaration with firm reliance on the protection of the Divine Providence, we pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor."
They gave you and me a free and independent America.
The history books no longer tell us a lot about what happened in the Revolutionary War. We didn't just fight Britain. We were British subjects and we fought our own government. Some of us take these liberties so much for granted, but we should not. Take a few minutes while enjoying your Fourth of July holiday and silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid. Remember, freedom is never free.
There are many of us who have fought in our nation's wars since the 1940's. Some of us in more than one war. Another letter speaks of a war thirty years ago. A young lieutenant who was transitioning into a new aircraft to fly to southeast Asia wrote to the woman he desired to marry:
There are so many things I want to talk to you about — my job, Air Force life in general, and my views about our wonderful country, the importance of a strong Christian faith, my hopes, my fears and my aspirations. As for the job I am doing in the next few months, there is a sign in our classroom which reads as follows: `War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. A man who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing he cares about more than his own personal safety is a miserable creature who has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertion of better men than himself.' I am not telling you this to frighten you, but simply to prepare you for the worst possible event — there is a chance I may never return from this war.
I did return. I did marry that woman. Why she kept this letter for thirty years, and how she knew exactly where she had stashed it, is beyond me. We went to see "The Patriot" on Friday, a very intense movie, but one which shows the concept about how ugly war is, and how necessary it is sometimes when you want to find freedom.
Since the American War of Independence, we have fought in a lot of wars, mostly for the freedom of other people — the World Wars in Europe and Asia, the smaller wars in Korea, Vietnam and southeast Asia, and in smaller skirmishes throughout the world. Almost thirty years ago, I had the privilege of flying with people who were dedicated to find freedom. As I periodically do, I dedicate my sermons and my life to the memory of Don Rissi, Bobby Thomas and Walter Ferguson — three men I flew with who did not come home.
All of us know somebody who gave their life in the cause of freedom. I bid you on this Independence Day weekend to remember these men and women in a moment of prayer while we celebrate this great holiday. And then, commit yourself to dreaming even greater dreams than they dreamed so all those who follow us will be able to see their fulfillment. Let us pray again the collect with which we began this service:
Almighty and everlasting God, in whose name the founders of this country won liberty for themselves and for us, and lit the torch of freedom for nations then unborn. Grant that we and all the people of this land may have grace to maintain our liberty in righteousness and peace, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.
May God bless you and may God bless America.
The Rev. Dr. Robert Certain
rgcertain@stmargarets.org
02 July 2000