Christ Church Riverdale

4 Epiphany February 1, 2004 Jeremiah 1:4-10; Psalm 71:1-17; 1Corinthians 14:12b-20; Luke 4: 21-32

Like Jesus, like Jeremiah, and like us, St. Paul lived in a volatile world, a world of clashing religions and warring nations and hostile people. The Romans were the empire, and the conquered nations were in constant unrest, seeking ways to unseat their occupiers. Israel was one of them.

During the time of Jeremiah, the Assyrian empire was breaking up, to be followed by the Babylonians. Four kings reigned in Judah during his time of prophesying. Since he proclaimed judgment, few wanted to hear him speak. Those who would listen heard a message of God’s sovereignty, a strong message in a time of trouble.

Like Jeremiah, Jesus was inconvenient to the authorities. Jesus was crucified because the Romans saw him as a troublemaker. Even when he saw death as the outcome, Jesus spoke out against corruption and the false use of religion.

When St. Paul came on the scene, Jesus was dead, and the movement called “the way” had already begun. The early Christians were a challenge to the established order of the faith in Jerusalem and the surrounding area. As a representative of the ruling religion, Paul persecuted these followers of Jesus, trying to find them and bring them back to be killed. Paul was a passionate man, and we first find him breathing hate and fearing the consequence of the Christian movement.

January 25 is the Feast of St. Paul each year, when his conversion to Christ is remembered. On the way to Damascus, he is blinded on the road, and he hears a voice from heaven, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” he cries. “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,” the voice replies.

When he finally arrives at Damascus, Paul is healed of his blindness. He comes to believe that what had happened to him was the love of God at work, and he becomes a follower of this love.

He founds churches in Corinth, Rome, Thessalonica, Galatia, Ephesus. He keeps in touch with the congregations, writing whenever his wisdom is needed. These letters form the earliest Christian theology, and are the crux of New Testament doctrine.

In Corinth, there is division and strife. People belong to interest groups. Some believe that they are more gifted than others. When they gather for a meal and bring food, the rich often sit together and neglect to share what they have with those less fortunate. And it grieves Paul. So he writes a letter to them, pleading with them to live up to their calling as followers of Jesus.

Paul was familiar with a charismatic church. He says that he, himself, speaks in tongues better than anyone. But ecstatic utterance which no one can understand has no place in worship unless someone can interpret it, he writes. In worship, ecstatic utterance focuses on the one doing it, not on worship of God.

S, he teaches, strive to excel in building up the church. Each gift, whether prophetic, or musical, or educational, or administrative, is judged by love. If it is ministered in love, it is pleasing to God, and builds up the church.

This is important for a number of reasons. First, because love mirrors God. Treating one another with respect shows God’s presence. Secondly, when we work together in harmony, we’re energized. Think of how much energy can be expended in argument, energy which could be used to reach out to others. In our marriage service, marriage is for the mutual joy of the couple first, and then for the creation of children. Only within a harmonious environment will the energy required for reaching out in love to others – children and the community – be possible. The same is true in a congregation.

Paul is right. When we live together in harmony and unity, God will work through us to accomplish his mission. One in the Spirit, One in the Lord. And, as the song goes, “They’ll know we are Christians by our Love.”

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