Pentecost 11C Lectionary 21
August 21, 2022
Good Shepherd, Wells, MN
Hebrews 12.18-29
A few months back, someone asked me why we were using the Nicene Creed in worship instead of the Apostles’ Creed. I explained that there are certain seasons of the church year where one or the other is suggested and I tend to follow that practice. (By the way, did you know there is a third creed, the Athanasian Creed? It was generally reserved for Holy Trinity Sunday and was in the old green hymnal, the LBW. If you can find a copy and read it and you’ll see why it’s not used much anymore.) As you know, the Nicene Creed is longer than the Apostles’ Creed as it develops in more detail each of the three articles. Since the question I’ve been meditating on the Nicene Creed, especially the First Article, “We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen.”
In addition to stressing that God has created everything, I’m struck by the inclusion of “unseen” in the. No doubt the creedal authors wanted to emphasize otherworldly things, such as angels and other heavenly beings, but I think there is more to it than that. (Could they have foreseen atoms, molecules and black holes?) In any case, the unseen things is something the writer of Hebrews would be comfortable with as we see in our lesson today. There’s a lot going on in the reading that looks confusing, so let’s step back a minute and parse it out. As a review, this is the last in a three-part mini-sermon on Hebrews (I should have stopped at two), the un-letter written by not-Paul. Hebrews is most likely a sermon or series of sermons written by a second generation apostle to a people going through hard times.
Because members are falling away due to stress, the difficulties are threatening the health of the community. So, the preacher goes through an extended explanation of how Jesus is the Christ and why this makes a difference in their lives, both individually and collectively. In the previous two weeks, the author digs deeply into the nature of faith, telling us that what we do follows from what we believe. The preacher then offers up examples of great faith from the Old Testament to encourage the listeners. This “great cloud of witnesses,” as the writer calls them, cheers them on as they run their own races. Therefore, the community of faith is urged to endure with perseverance as it follows Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.
In today’s text, the author shifts from exhorting the community to endurance and perseverance to exhorting the community to holiness and worship. The preacher does so by comparing Israel’s experience at Mt. Sinai with what he calls Mt. Zion, God’s living city. In the former, God’s people didn’t listen to God’s voice, partly because it was so terrifying, but also because they were tempted to chase after gods of their own making. But, Hebrews says, the situation has changed now, that something they can’t see is more real and important. Whereas what was before could be seen and shaken, what is offered now is unseen but is also unshakable. So, the author inspires the community of faith to give thanks, encouraging them to worship with reverence and awe.
A parishioner stopped by the pastor’s house to tell the pastor that he wouldn’t see him in worship any more. The pastor invited the parishioner to sit down in front of the fire in the fireplace and just listened as the parishioner gave him the usual litany of complaints. When the parishioner was finished, the pastor didn’t say anything but instead got up and with the fireplace tongs, removed one of the glowing embers from the rest, setting it to the side, and then sat down again, watching the newly removed ember. Slowly, the ember turned from hot and glowing to cold and dark. Presently, the parishioner said, “I understand, I’ll be in church Sunday” and left. The pastor returned the ember to the fire where it began to burn brightly once more.
I love seeing the “glowing embers” of Good Shepherd who gather both for worship and after worship on Sundays and Wednesdays. Whether you know it or not, you are catching heat from each other, building community. This is not easy in today’s world and if you are worshiping with us online, please know that I’m not criticizing you for not being here in person. This has been difficult post-pandemic, but it is so important as Hebrews reminds us. We need to figure out creative ways to continue to keep connected. One way we strengthen that connection is through the sacrament of Holy Communion, where Jesus shows up in, with, and under the bread and wine, and where we come to the table by faith, for faith. For God is maker of all that is, seen and unseen and for that we give thanks with reverence and awe. Amen.
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