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"Not Found Worthy" - Sermon: 10/15/2017

Sunday, October 15, 2017

Sermon Text: Matthew 22: 1-14

We all want to found worthy. At recess in elementary school, I was not the one to be invited to play on a team for Red Rover or any other similar game.  I was a tall, skinny girl and not athletically inclined whatsoever. I kind of find it ironic that in my later years, I am interested in going to the gym, taking ballroom dance classes and competing which is both art and sport, and watching football. All the pastors I know including myself worry that our sermons will be found worthy---both by Him (who inspires them) and by the congregation. I’m certain all of us are anxious about being good spouses and good parents, worthy of their love.

In our Exodus 32 reading, we see the Israelites have “gotten their pants in a wad” again. Moses had followed God’s command and led them out of Egypt and slavery, led them through the desert, pled with God to provide them with food and water, but now that he has been up on the mountain for what to them was “too long” of a time, they are ready to give their allegiance to something else. “Aaron, your brother has been gone too long. Maybe he’s not coming back. We have to do something. If God and Moses aren’t available to go before us, then make us gods who will.” Evidently, God and Moses were not found worthy to wait upon no matter how long it took.

So Aaron took their gold and formed it into the image of a calf. The people said: “Yes, here are your gods, O Israel.” He built an altar before it and they essentially had a worship party.

Now, God knew quite well what was going on and informed Moses of their perverseness. He was ready to let His wrath loose upon them because he found his chosen people unworthy and was ready to transfer upon Moses the covenant made with Abraham. Moses implored God to “cool” His wrath: Moses reminded God of God’s covenant with Abraham as well as he gave God the picture of what the Egyptians would say if God destroyed the Israelites (why bring them out of slavery if only to kill them?) So God changed his mind about bringing upon them the disaster he had planned.

In a translation of Psalm 106 (which in verses 19-23 we see a recount of this passage from Exodus): “Therefore God said he would destroy them---had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach before him, to turn away his wrath from destroying them.”  Moses STOOD IN THE BREACH—he put himself on the line before God on their behalf! We see that in the work of our military, our police and firemen, our first responders, and others. They run toward danger as others flee it.

In Matthew 22, we encounter the parable of a king who gives a wedding banquet for his son. He has already sent out one invitation. Now he’s sending out the second---the one that says “Come on---the party’s started!” Evidently, the invitee’s found the invitation (and by proxy, the king and the son) not worthy of bothering to attend. The invitees first said they would not come. Then they made light of it---going to work and some even harassed and killed the king’s servant/messengers. So the king found these invitees not worthy. He sends out his servants again to go round up attendees for the party---didn’t matter who they were—good or bad---just give them wedding garments and bring ‘em in.

The king noticed one of these new invitees was not wearing the wedding garment provided—he must have stuck out “like a sore thumb”. He was not found worthy to stay and was “bounced” out the door. “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Psalm 106: 1-2: “Praise the Lord! O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever. Who can utter the mighty doings of the Lord, or declare all his praise?”  WE CAN and WE SHALL. Why? Because the law—the Ten Commandments---were too much for us to keep perfectly. Why—look at us---a few days of no sign of Moses or God and the people make an idol for themselves. We do the same---we think we are not heard by God because what we want isn’t happening---and so we try to handle it ourselves.

God knew we needed someone not only to show us the way---as Jesus did in his birth, life, ministry and death. But we also needed someone to STAND IN THE BREACH BEFORE GOD! We were not worthy to be found in his presence. Many are called to God’s banquet in the kingdom of heaven---given for His Son, Jesus Christ---who stands in the breach before God for us. It is through his work on the cross and God’s raising him from the dead---and our belief and acceptance of his invitation to trust in Him---that makes us found worthy to stand before God.

We have the invitation (many are called) but some chose not to accept it (few are chosen). Theologian Fred Craddock has written: “God’s invitation is most gracious, all are invited, both bad and good. But just because all are invited does not mean there are no standards, no expectations of the guests. A wedding garment (kingdom talk for new life, righteous conduct) is expected.”

Author Susan Blain writes: “we know all are invited, but not all may stay! Only those who let themselves be transformed here---those willing to become new people---to “put on Christ” and become a “new creation”. Textured with struggle and joy, colored with passion and compassion, laced with faith, hope and love---wedding guests in living garments fully engaged in God’s feast of life.”

Psalm 106:3 gives one clue on how to be transformed, how to be engaged in God’s feast of life: “Happy are those who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times.”

We can also find many clues in our other reading: Philippians 4:1-9:
• Rejoice in the Lord always!
• Let your gentleness be known to everyone.
• Do not worry about anything.
• With thanksgiving, by prayer and supplication, let your requests be known to God.
• Think about these things: whatever is true and honorable, just and pure, pleasing and commendable, excellent and worthy of praise.

Charles Singer wrote a poem named “Change”:
Wait for me, Lord, I’m coming!
Wait for me, Lord: I’m getting dressed!
I am clothing my eyes with goodness to look at everyone in friendship.
I am clothing my hands with peace to forgive without keeping track.
I am clothing my lips with a smile to offer joy all day long.
I am clothing my body and my heart with prayer to turn towards you, Lord, whom I love.
Now I am ready!
It’s me! Do you recognize me? I have put on my best clothing!

Are we ready for the wedding? Have we accepted the invitation? Do we know from whence comes our righteousness---who stands in the breach for us as Moses did for the Israelites? Are we “found worthy”?

As Paul writes to the Philippians: “Keep on doing these things that you have learned and received and heard and seen, and the God of peace will be with you—the peace of God---that peace which passes all understanding, may it guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus!