Over the past few weeks I've been
preaching on fear. In short, the life, death, and resurrection of
Jesus destroyed not only death, but it showed us how to live a live
completely focused on the will of God without fear. It showed us how
to live fearlessly in a world driven by fear.
The readings today – Acts,
Revelation, John – are not specifically focused on fear; but they
do, in a way, touch on the results of living fearlessly. In Acts, we
are reminded that we are not to fear death because the power of
Christ is greater than death. In Revelation we are reminded yet
again that even though the world will kill those faithful to the
Lord, death does not have the last word. In the age to come, life
and love will have the last word and God will wipe away every tear.
And in John, Jesus assures his followers that he is the great
shepherd of the sheep and those whom he protects will never perish.
All this doesn't mean we will not face
trials and tribulations. It doesn't mean we won't die a physical
death. It goes deeper than that. It means we need to no longer
worry or live in fear in this mortal life. We will not perish.
Christians were martyred, but did not
perish. Churches have been bombed, but have not perished. Faithful
people in all times and in all places have faced all kinds of trouble
and tribulation, but the faith did not perish.
All of this is beautifully summed up
and attested to in the 23rd Psalm.
The psalm opens up with a metaphor
about who God is: The Lord is my shepherd. Obviously God is NOT a
shepherd. But the metaphor invites us to see God with different
eyes. A shepherd cares for his sheep. A shepherd protects his
flock. A shepherd leads his flock. These are but some of what God
does, and it allows us to draw closer to God with an image we can
understand.
I shall not want . . . I shall not be
in want . . . I shall not lack. The psalmist is looking back to
Israel's time in the wilderness. Despite all their grumbling, all
their misgivings, all their times of faithlessness, and all their
fears, they lacked nothing. They had bread, meat, and water. They
had protection. If we look at our lives, our times of wandering in
wilderness, we can probably also see that we lacked nothing, or were
not in want.
He revives my soul is a statement on
the restoration of life. Abraham and Sarah, old and childless,
finally begat Isaac. In a family line likely to die out, God
restored life. The Israelites escaped slavery, moved to freedom, and
life was restored. The widow's son, Lazarus, the little girl, and
Tabitha/Dorcas in today's reading had life restored. The reviving of
our soul is more than just a feeling of goodness, it is a restoration
of life.
Though I walk through the valley of the
shadow of death, I shall fear no evil. I've thought about this line
for a long time and wondered what it might pertain to. What,
exactly, is the valley of the shadow of death?
In Isaiah 40, the prophet writes that
every valley shall be lifted up and every mountain made low. Luke
references this passage when he describes the mission of John the
Baptist. In other words, it's a theme in a variety of places in
scripture – these valleys and mountains.
Think back to fairy tales, time in the
woods, or a child going to bed. When the sun goes down the shadows
lengthen and bad things happen. It's when your mind becomes agitated
and monsters come out. Metaphorically speaking, the light of God is
being blocked, creating shadows and fear, causing us to walk through
the valley of the shadow of death.
This line is challenging us to face our
fears, to know that darkness cannot overcome the light, and to be not
afraid. What do we fear? Are we willing to look for ways to let
God's light shine? And, when we find ourselves walking through the
valley of the shadow of death, walking through hell, can we be
courageous, fear no evil, and remember to keep walking instead of
stopping and being overcome by the darkness?
You spread a table before me in the
presence of those who trouble me. Again, this could have a variety
of meaning. For us today, though, we need to look back at John and
Revelation. Revelation gives us a vision of the end of the age where
angels, archangels, prophets, apostles, and martyrs are gathered
around the throne of God. Jesus talks about giving his followers
eternal life. These images are reinforced and represented in the
psalm with a table that provides life.
Those who trouble me is a wide-open
category. In our wider vision, this could be anyone who is actively
opposed to the gospel, or who is apathetic to the gospel, or any
other situation. But in all of this, we must remember that we draw
strength from this community and these sacraments, especially the
sacrament of Holy Communion. A table is spread in the midst of those
who trouble me. It's here where we are gathered, and it is here at
this table, where we are comforted and strengthened, pardoned and
renewed.
Your goodness and mercy shall follow
me; I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
This final verse is the result of all
of the above. We are those who see God as the one who cares for and
leads us. We recognize that, despite the problems we face –
wanderings, doubts, struggles – we shall not want, we shall not
lack. We have faith that through Christ our souls will be revived.
We are learning to walk without fear through the valleys and shadows
this world casts upon us. And we remember and draw strength from
this table that feeds us.
This psalm and these readings are more
than comforting words in times of trial and tribulation. They are a
challenge to live fearlessly in the presence of God.
May we leave here in the hope and power
of the resurrection, living fearlessly for the Lord, knowing that, no
matter what the world says, we are beloved members of the community
of God.
Amen.
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