The Rev. Dan Rondeau
St. Margaret's Episcopal Church & School
Isaiah 43:16-21 | Psalm 126 | Philippians 3:8-14 | Luke 20:9-19
Love so amazing, so divine demands my soul, my life, my all _Hymn 474
I want to know Christ. —Paul, Philippians 3:10
The readings from Isaiah and from Luke move our Lenten story forward. Jesus takes another step toward Jerusalem, betrayal, and death; God continues to work toward a new thing that will bring forth our praise. But today I want to look at Paul's words to the Philippians, or I should say I want to look at Paul's words to us. I wonder if he knew his letter would end up here on March 28, 2004?
This portion of his letter is important to us because we have decided to make it our mission, our goal, "To know Christ, and to make Christ known." In this portion of his letter Paul joyfully sets forth his discovery that he counts "everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord." As is clear, he rejoices in knowing Christ. He calls forth our understanding that there is a huge difference between knowing about Christ and knowing Christ. Let's begin there.
You can know that Christ had a healing ministry while he lived and ministered among us some 2000 years ago. But it is so much more life giving to know Christ the One who heals—even today, even here. You can know that Christ wept at the tomb of his friend Lazarus, but it is so much more poignant and life changing to know the Christ who stands and weeps and watches with those who mourn—even you, even today, even here. You can know that Christ often spoke forgiveness to those who had sinned. But if you know the voice and touch of Christ who forgives sins, who forgives your sins, you seek that touch you will want to hear that voice and feel that touch again—even today, even here.
You can know that Christ embraced and blessed the little children, but when you, little child that you are in God's eyes, know the embrace of Christ, know the peace of Christ's blessing, know that inner joy and light in response to Christ's blessing—you will want to bring others to that embrace and to that blessing—even today, even here.
When Saul of Tarsus was blinded on the road to Damascus, when Saul was patiently instructed by those who knew Christ, when Saul the Persecutor of Christians became Paul the Apostle of Christ, it was because he had met and come to know Christ for himself. He didn't know about Christ, he KNEW Christ; Paul felt his touch, heard his words, felt forgiven, embraced, and blessed, Paul knew the love of God in Christ Jesus, and his joy at receiving this gift knew no bounds.
All that he had done up to that point to be right with God, all that he wanted others to do to be right with God, all the time, energy, and passion spent in learning and keeping the Law, were all considered rubbish, garbage, dung (according to the King James Version) by Paul as he came to KNOW Christ.
Paul is quite clear here (he isn't always so clear). It is no big leap to understand what Paul is saying. In fact, it's so easy to understand what he is saying that we may give in to the tendency to say, "I know that" and move on to the next task on our agenda. But this text from Philippians is fundamentally important to us who want to know Christ and make Christ known, that I ask you to spend time with his words and wisdom this week. Where have you met Christ before? How have you come to know his voice, his touch, and his love? Do you continue to grow in this relationship? Have you begun to approach Paul's enthusiasm and Paul's take on this that everything else is worthless compared to the "surpassing value of knowing Christ?" It is vitally important to remind ourselves of Paul's insights because as a parish, as a people working together, we have set ourselves the goal of knowing Christ and making Christ known.
The Apostle's teaching here is to seek intimate knowledge of Christ. His assurance is that once experienced nothing will be as important to you. Intimate knowledge of another begins with an encounter, a meeting. You know full well where to meet Christ. Throughout his writings, in the letters and lives of saints since his day, in the lives of our families, friends, and neighbors, we understand where we can encounter Christ, where we can meet Jesus in order to know him.
I stand before you today as one who knows the touch of Jesus—the Healer, Jesus—the one who forgives, Jesus—the one who weeps, Jesus—the one who can love me even (or especially) when I feel unlovable. My story is not nearly so dramatic as Paul's, but it is as real.
I know Christ because of numerous small encounters of him in the stories of the Bible, in the sermons I've heard, in books and articles read and from the teachers who have shared with me. I know Christ as I encounter Christ one prayer at a time, one meditation at a time. I know Christ with each glimpse of God's hand at work in the world around me: in the beauty of sea and sky and land—as I open myself to wonder. Knowing Christ has come one little experience at a time over many years. I have encountered Jesus—who heals, Jesus who forgives, who grieves, who is faithful, Jesus who blesses, and who embraces me—in the words and touch of others; in you who listen to me today. I have been humbled to hear words of thanksgiving from others who have felt the touch of Christ, the forgiveness of Christ, the sorrow of Christ, the comfort of Christ, the blessing and the embrace of Christ through me.
It is such a wonderful mystery: Christ alive in you who minister to me, Christ alive in me who ministers to you.
And then, all of you who are involved in taking the love of Christ into the broader community—who feed the hungry, visit the prisoner, comfort the sick and the dying, or teach a child to read, or who speak up for those who are likely to be ignored—know well the Christ who chooses to be with the least and the marginalized. You know Christ in the people you serve. You have encountered Christ there. Likewise, you have made Christ known there, by your presence, your words, your actions, your love.
Isn't this what we are about here: To know Christ in our very selves and in our very selves to make Christ known to others? So, glory be to God and thanks be to God, it is happening. Here is a place, we are a people, who do know Christ and who strive to make Christ known—with God's help. It is a wonder; it is a joy!
After setting out the joy of knowing Christ, and leaving no doubt that he wants others to know Christ in the same way, Paul lets his guard down. He admits that he is human. He wants to know Christ in both suffering and resurrection. He wants to know Christ in the difficult moments and the joyful moments. He strives to know Christ perfectly so that he can make him known perfectly. And then he admits he isn't finished yet:
Paul writes, "Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus."
Here is our model. Here is encouragement from the great Apostle himself. Never give up he says. Even if imperfect, press on, go forward, and strive for the goal. Knowing we won't be perfect we will nonetheless strain forward to what lies ahead, desire, with all your heart, to meet Christ in study, in prayer and worship, in ministry—alone and with others. Desire to know Christ as Paul did. Until we receive that heavenly call, work to know Christ and to make Christ known, imperfections and all. There is no greater joy.
Let me finish with a note from a fellow parishioner. It speaks of encounter; it speaks with emotion, not just intellectual data. It points up the difference between knowing about Christ, and knowing Christ.
Elizabeth, our parishioner and note writer, had the heavy burden of burying her 17-year-old daughter earlier this month. She wrote this note from Louisiana where she had gone to grieve with and comfort her 84-year-old mother.
"At times like these," she writes, "we really only have God to walk with us and sustain us through our "valley." This "valley" has taken me to San Diego to be w/ my family - we are attending grief counseling. At this point, I go moment to moment praying that God will continue to be w/ our family and help us get through this."
"I am currently in Louisiana visiting w/ my 84-year old mother, to be with her and give her lots of hugs as she has lost her only daughter's daughter. Before I close, I want to share an event that happened to me a couple of days ago."
As she shares her experience let me remind you that it happened only days ago and in the midst of her grieving. As I read her words I was powerfully reminded of the Apostle's joy in knowing Christ. Through the medium of her email I came into the presence of Christ once again in a most unexpected place and way, as did she. I do know the Christ who grieves and mourns and comforts and heals and who was by her side in Shreveport, LA. As you listen, I believe you, too, will recognize the Christ who was with her, who grieves and mourns and comforts and heals—even today, even here.
"I was in Shreveport, Louisiana (near my mom's home). I had met my sister in law - and we were planning on going to Applebee's for a glass a wine (to calm my nerves) and to "have church"...that was what I told her. So off we went w/ my Bible, Virginia and I. While sitting in the booth, our server came, took our order. He came back and asked if I was a Christian. I said, "Yes, I am." He then said something very interesting...he said, "Something inside my heart made me come over to ask you if there is anything I can do to help." I told him of [my daughter's] death and our family's struggle and heartbreak with this. He asked me if it was all right if we said a prayer to God. So he dropped to his knees, and began to pray aloud. When he began to pray, everyone in Applebee's (the restaurant was very crowded and noisy) slowly became silent - also bowing their heads and praying with us. The manager came over, also joined our hands and prayed. He was an assistant youth minister at the First Baptist Church in Shreveport, and said that prayers would be made on our family's behalf at that church as well.
Of course, not a dry eye was in Applebee's that afternoon. So you see, God is all around (in so many hearts) helping, praying, supporting each other. Of course, I am not telling you anything you do not already know…"1
Variations of this story have been played out hundreds of times in your lives. Make time this week to remember. Neither Paul the Apostle, nor Elizabeth the grieving mother, nor do I tell you anything you don't already know. You know Christ. Trust your knowledge, keep it fresh, and keep it vibrant. Believe that Christ will make himself known to you in study, prayer, ministry, and reflection. You will encounter Christ in the most unlikely places and the most unlikely people!
And, trust Christ to lead you to those people and places where you can make him known to others. Believe that like Paul, like Elizabeth, like that unnamed waiter in Shreveport, our Lord desires that you make him known to others. Believe that Christ will make himself known through you; it is his way now. Finally, I'm with Paul here: there is nothing in all the world that compares to that joy of knowing Christ and making Christ known. Amen.
1 From a personal email sent 03/27/04 by Elizabeth C.