Sunday, August 23 - Reach for Renewal

This sermon was preached for St. Andrew's/St. Michael's online worship on Sunday, August 23. The texts for this sermon are: Exodus 1:8-2:10, Psalm 124, Romans 12:1-8, and Matthew 16:13-20.

The first lesson of our confirmation curriculum, we had all the eighth-graders write down what they’d been taught to believe in big markers on a flip-chart sheet. We ended up with lots of things like “getting into a good college is everything” and “skinny = pretty” but also “money doesn’t buy happiness” and “God loves me.” After all this had been scribbled down and read through, I told the kids to rip up the paper. They stood and blinked for a second, doubting that they heard correctly, and then dove right into ripping and tearing and giggling and making a right old mess of things.

We then read this passage, from Paul’s letter to the Romans: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God – what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

And I told them this is your journey of confirmation class this year. It's about figuring out what YOU believe in. Maybe you’ll reject some of it, maybe you’ll sign on to all of it. This year what discovering what you believe. And even if you don’t land on certainty about one thing or another, this year is about discovering how to discover what you believe. A successful confirmation journey is not swallowing the creed whole hog. Success in confirmation class – and in the journey of faith – is about taking discernment seriously.

Jesus asks his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” And the disciples are right to list a whole bunch of things. Because there was a lot of disagreement about the identity of the Messiah then. And there still is a lot of disagreement about who Jesus is, and what he represents, even now.

But then Jesus asks them, “But who you do say that I am?” Who do YOU say that I am?

The journey of faith centers on this question. Each of us for ourselves figuring out how to answer back to Jesus, Who do I say Jesus is? What do his commandments mean to me as a navigate this world? What does my relationship to Christ add to my life? The beauty is that every single one of us will have a different answer, a different journey to him, a different relationship. The beauty is that Jesus wants us to answer this question for ourselves.

We live in a time when the best way to live is more unclear and uncharted than ever. So many of us are making really difficult, agonizing decisions right now. We can’t rely on what we’ve done before, or what everyone else is doing. And it’s all important! Things like attending school and hugging grandparents - it’s life and death, it’s community and isolation, it’s survival and life worth living. It’s hard not to look over the shoulder of other parents, other churches, other school systems, companies, and families, hard to fight the urge to compare and doubt – or judge.

Here is the challenge of faith. Each of us must find in ourselves what God’s will is for us, who Jesus is to us. Our story, our relationship to Christ will follow all different twists and turns. Paul writes “We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us.” Don’t conform to the rest of the world, or what everyone else is doing – chances are it’s wrong for you, your gifts and your situation. Look to the practices and people and prayers that renew your mind. Reach for whatever helps you discern the will of God in your life.

What in your life has helped you renew your mind? I know for me, it’s been returning to engaging in scripture each day through morning prayer. I’ve heard how many of you have thrown yourself into the refreshing joy of gardening. Other have talked about reading books and watching documentaries on controversial topics that have challenged your worldviews. The creativity I’ve seen in reengaging with what matters most – has been transformative to me. You’re sending puzzles across the country to grandchildren, you’re writing special liturgies and singing hymns in the backyard as you say goodbye to your beloved pets. When we choose transformation, renewal over conforming and comparison – that’s when each of our gifts come alive. That’s when we can finally answer Jesus, here’s who I say that you are, in my life.

So here’s my plug for diving into what renews your minds and souls. Seek out what helps you discern the will of God in your life. Maybe that’s tuning into daily prayer, making room for reading scripture. This might be the moment for you to commit to Margaret’s adult confirmation class this September, or guide a teen through their confirmation journey as a mentor. Pray, pray, pray. Look for transformation, not conformity. Renewal of gifts.

Amen.