1st
Sunday in Lent 2015
Rev. Stephen E. Stults
St. Paul’s Anglican Church
F eb. 22, 2015
From the Epistle selection for
the day from the Holy Communion lectionary, we read in 2
Corinthians 6:1: “We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also
that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.”
With this
scripture in mind, what is grace? It is
something all of us speak of, maybe without grasping the whole meaning of it,
if that is possible. In my own case, the term came up one year at the family
dinner table, as my parents debated its meaning. At the time, being young and somewhat rebellious,
I thought it complete nonsense. That is,
why should anyone spend valuable time discussing such a nebulous thing? Grace?
What is grace?
Well, looking
back on that conversation, now many, many years in the past, I am struck by my
foolishness and what’s more, my sheer spiritual deadness at the time. In simple
terms, I just didn’t “get it.” In fact,
my obstinacy really had the savor of death about it, rather than the
sweet-smelling savor of Christ. As I
look back on it, I have to say that there are some benefits of age. One of them
is to marvel how foolish one was when young.
What then, is grace? One source
gives us these definitions:
- Divine love and protection bestowed freely on people.
- The state of being protected or sanctified by the favor of God.
- An excellence or power granted by God.[1]
Another source says that “Grace in this (Christian) context is something that is God-given,
made possible only by Jesus Christ and none other. It is God's gift of
salvation granted to sinners for their salvation”. Also: “The Christian teaching is that grace is
unmerited mercy that God gave to us by sending his son to die on a cross, to
give us eternal salvation.”[2]
Grace is certainly all of
these things. It seems that St. Paul has
a particular concern that this excellence, this power, and this favor granted
by God is not received in vain, or said
another way, wasted. To emphasize his
point, the apostle Paul paraphrases a line from the 48th chapter of
Isaiah when he says,” I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I
succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the
day of salvation.”
The concept
of grace is clear in this passage, as he speaks about the help, succor, and
salvation of God extended to His people. Thus, we learn from this that God helps us, loves us and cares deeply for us.
How should we respond?
Let’s
look at two examples of our response to grace from the Holy Scriptures. First, in the Epistle selection appointed for
this Sunday, St. Paul speaks of his positive response to grace. This can be summarized in his toleration of
sufferings, stripes, imprisonments, tumults, and labors. In a less violent way, he has fasted, been
pure, taken knowledge by the Holy Ghost, expressed genuine love, and has spoken
the word of truth. Also, he has known
the power of God, has taken up the armor of righteousness, has had both honor
and dishonor given to him, and has even been accused of being a deceiver. Finally, although chastened, he still lives
and though he experiences sorrow, he can always rejoice. He is poor, yet he dispenses riches to
many. He has nothing, yet he possesses
all things.
If this
is not a complete response to grace, then what is? He has seen and felt the worst the world has put
upon him, yet he is joyful. Paul has allowed grace to fill him completely, even
to the point that he withstands all of these things.
On the other
hand, we also have a negative example of the response to grace given us from
the First Lesson from Isaiah appointed for Ash Wednesday. Here, we may see the concern of St. Paul
coming to light. Isaiah 58 clearly shows
us how the favored people of God have responded to grace. Here we have the
Chosen People of God, who are the very ones who received the Law and Prophets,
acting in a way that does not bring them favor in the eyes of God. Isaiah speaks of a people who act as if they
truly delight in knowing God and following his laws. The people act as if they
want to approach God and be his people.
Evidently, they work very hard at it by fasting, worshipping and
sacrificing. Yet they wonder why God
seems to take no notice of all their religiosity. All of their effort in looking holy seems to
be for nothing.
Indeed.
The prophet tells us the whole affair is a sham. They fast, not to heard by God or be
acknowledged by Him, but for contention and strife. Fasting actually gives them pleasure because
they can feel holy and self-righteous while doing it. All of their religion is to look good before
God, while they do what they want to do. The New American Standard translation
makes this very clear as it says: “Behold,
on the day of your fast you find your desire, and drive hard all your
workers.” They are tough, demanding employers who ask too much of their
employees. Also, keep in mind that many Israelites also prayed to pagan gods
and goddesses while they were performing Temple worship.
To top
it off, this is not the fast God had in mind.
Outward manifestations of holiness and self-imposed physical afflictions
are not what God wanted from his people.
Instead, he wanted a fast from unrighteousness and from wickedness. He wanted his people to be truly righteous,
fair, and just to all. They should not oppress those who work for them, and
they should not deceive those with whom they do business. They should be true and generous to those who
need help and should freely give to those in need. If they do these things, the Israelites would
be the people in whom God delights.
On this
first Sunday in Lent, we can take a lesson from both these passages. They can help shape our Lenten experience and
help us determine our own response to grace. Will we have the positive response to grace
like St. Paul’s? Will our response to God’s call be one of joy unfeigned and of
the knowledge of God’s ever-present help?
Will we take this Lent to use God’s grace in a constructive and edifying
manner? That is, will we be better for
it after this Lenten season? Or, will we
in some way emulate the ancient Jews, by engaging in outward worship while
resisting real, inward change? God
forbid.
God
forbid that this Lent be anything else but a time of somber spiritual
refreshment. Let our souls and beings be
flooded with our positive response to grace, so much so that we are the better
people for having gone through it. Unlike the sinners of old, let us use our
worship time together to build each other up, while experiencing great
spiritual refreshment ourselves. There
is no better time, and there certainly is no better place to do this.
In
Christ, we are the new, chosen people of God.
Let our response to His grace be always praiseworthy to Him, and
edifying to us in this blessed and holy season of Lent.
2 Corinthians 6:1-2: “We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also
that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in
the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted
time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)”
Glory be to God the Father, and to God
the Son and to God the Holy Ghost, now and forever. AMEN
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