October 4, 2020
/Proper 22
Isaiah 5:1-7; Psalm 80: 7-14; Philippians 3: 4b-14; Matthew 21: 33 - 46
The Rev. James M. L. Grace
Let nothing disturb you
Let nothing upset you
Everything changes
God alone is unchanging
With patience all things are possible
Whoever has God lacks nothing
God alone is enough.
In the Name of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. AMEN.
Over a decade ago, I attended a week-long vocational retreat called CREDO with about thirty other Episcopal clergy form around the country. We were tasked with creating a plan in which we anticipated our future careers in the church. It took some time to do this, and once completed, we shared them with each other. I still have that plan from years ago, and the reason I still hold onto it has nothing to do with its quality.
I hold onto my CREDO plan from all those years ago because of how laughable and ridiculous what I wrote down is. My plan charted an ambitious ascent to bigger and bigger churches, culminating in a future election at which point I would become a bishop. So yes – ridiculous, embarrassing, and cringe-worthy, are all appropriate adjectives to describe that plan. I view that plan now not as something to aspire to, but something to avoid.
I avoid that plan because it is all about chasing and romanticizing external things. That plan I wrote out was all about climbing not a corporate ladder, but an ecclesial one – to try and grab the golden crown at the top. I keep the plan today for two reasons: (1) it always generates a good laugh, and (2) as an important reminder about the things that are not important.
The apostle Paul, writing in the letter to the Philippians, arrives at the same point when he lists in today’s reading all that he has accomplished in his life, his pedigree. He was born into the best tribe, baptized on the right day, blameless before the law. If Paul went to that same retreat, that might be what his plan would look like. Upward mobility, accomplishment, power.
But Paul has wisdom and courage to say, “I regard all of it as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” In other words, Paul says of all his accomplishments, all the power, the respect he has received – he calls it “loss” or more accurately translated – he calls it garbage, trash. Meaning – none of it matters.
What wisdom there is here for all of us. The humility Paul demonstrates in labeling as garbage the things he once held so dear is so freeing for all of us. That CREDO plan I wrote out? It would go great as birdcage liner. What that plan represented to me was once very dear and important to me. It no longer is, because – because of God. I thought I needed that plan, I thought I needed accomplishment to earn God’s love. Turns out – we do not. God loves each of us no matter what is written on our plan.
Thank God for open eyes. Thank God for eyes to see how much of what we hold so dear is really garbage, because those things hinder our relationship with God. Take out the garbage. Get rid of what you hold so dear – make room instead for God. AMEN.