(This sermon was written to be delivered before a particular congregation; however, with changes to only one paragraph, it could have been delivered to any congregation.)
News from around the world is becoming more disturbing every day. The arguing, the fighting, the shooting and bombing, the wholesale killing and murder going on, not only in other places, but right here in our own country. Fanatical groups taking every opportunity to spread fear and hatred of any and all peoples who do not think and act and believe exactly as they do. The world bowing down to these individuals and insignificant groups as though they were in the majority. Religious groups equally taking pot shots at one another because they fail to even try to understand one another. It’s a wonder that street-corner prophets and Seers aren’t once again waving their banners and calling for people to prepare for the end of the world.
Not really the words that one would like to hear at the start of sermon, are they? But they are words spoken about true events.
In Matthew 24, we read that Jesus is sitting up on the Mount of Olives when his disciples come to him and pose a question: “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” You see, Jesus had been preaching in the temple, and as he left, his disciples pointed out to him the buildings of the temple, and he had responded with, “You see all these , do you not? Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here upon another, all will be thrown down.” These words puzzled the disciples, and thus they when back to him for an answer. Jesus responded to them this way: “Beware that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, “I am the Messiah!' and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet.”
I tell you today, I do not believe that all the news we hear about the world today is any sign or signal of the end of the world. But I do believe that all that we are hearing and seeing and fearing, are a warning to turn back to God. God created us; God has power over us, even if we think we are in control. The real problem in the world today is just that: that we believe that we humans are in control. And maybe, just maybe, God is allowing us to think we are in control so we will learn who really is in control
Today’s Gospel reading is about two distinct miracles: the feeding of the five thousand with just five loaves of bread and two fish, and Jesus walking on the water. Yet hidden in the two miracles is the very essence of the warning which Jesus issued in those words from Matthew.
You see, after Jesus had fed the five thousand, the people began to believe that Jesus would be their new leader, their new king. Yes, Jesus would be their leader, their king, but not the earthly kind of king they were anticipating the Messiah to be. The need to be Numero Uno, Number One, so that the rest of the world would look up to them was what drove the people in their urgent search for a Warrior Messiah.
We still seek after the physical human leader to rule the world. We still want that feeling of being all-powerful and in control. But what has that search produced for us? Have we found peace? Have we found happiness? Have we found freedom from fear? Have we eliminated hatred in all of these attempts? Indeed, we have not!
I believe that the biggest problem facing the church today is lack of faith. What is the first question someone will ask when a necessary expense is brought up here at the church: “Where’s the money coming from?” But that’s the wrong question. The only question we should ask is: Is this God’s will for our church? We may not realize it, but we are rich in terms of both financial strength and talent. We only scratch the surface in our giving of either. What we lack is faith.
We could feed the world’s hungry. Not by ourselves, of course, but with the help of other caring people. Remember, there are two billion Christians on this earth. We could heal conflicts between the nations of the world. We could give comfort to the lonely, freedom to the captive, hope to the desperate. We have the resources. All we lack is faith.
What is it that Christ said? “…if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20-21) The problem, my friends, is not our lack of resources, but our lack of faith.
Faith is not some mysterious emotion. Faith is a trusting belief in the Goodness of God. Jesus demonstrated the power of faith in the miracles he performed, in the parables he told, in the challenges he put out before the people, be they Pharisees or Sadducees or Scribes, or be they the common people. Jesus dared to live by the faith he had in the goodness of God. And when the common people would venture to make him something else, Jesus would withdraw to be alone.
There is a fine difference between being wholly dependent upon God, and being wholly self-reliant. That difference is faith. Though it isn’t something which will change the world overnight, If we began to have a little of it, it will begin to make big changes in our lives. If we will begin to trust in God, to have faith in God’s goodness, to begin to live our lives so that our faith is visible in what we do, and not in just what we say, we will begin to see the miracles of God made possible through us.
This church, this very community, has displayed examples of this kind of faith from time to time. A family challenged by a tragic accident was given the support to see them through that event and into a new day of hope and joy; this community has suffered the devastating ravages of three floods in less than two years, yet you have sprung back and continue to exist as a community. All God asks and expects of us is to have the same faith in him to be able to accomplish even greater things. Perhaps then we will have more than enough. Perhaps then we will do something positive to work toward changing the terrible news headlines to celebrations of joy. Perhaps, we will strengthen our faith to whole trust in God.
You see, this is the challenge for the church, a challenge to be different, to be God-like, caring, loving, helping, guiding others as Jesus has taught us.
Amen.