7 PENTECOST, YEAR A

SERMON PREACHED AT CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, NORWAY, MAINE

THE REV. ANNE G. STANLEY

29 JUNE 2008

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Genesis 22:1-14; Romans 6:12-23; Matthew 10:40-42

“…present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life…”

                                                            (Romans 6)

Isaac means “one who laughs” or “laughing boy.” Sarah and Abraham named their only son Isaac because he brought “laughter” to them in their old age.

But there was no laughing on the day Abraham got up early, awaked Isaac, collected his servants, his donkey and some wood and set out to the place where he was to kill his son as a sacrifice to God, as he thought God had directed him to do.

Can you imagine the procession, in the gloom of that new day---Abraham, the donkey, the two servants, the kindling wood, and Isaac the laughing boy? What do you suppose Sarah thought, as she watched them go? We can only guess; but we will never again hear her speak to Abraham, in scripture.

            This story is known as “The Sacrifice of Isaac.” It is one of the choices listed to be read at the Great Vigil of Easter because it’s come to be a principle story of our faith tradition. I’ve always avoided it and picked other Vigil readings because this one is so hard to hear.

This story is often used as an example of the great faith of Abraham. Father Abraham, who obeyed what he thought God wanted, even if it meant sacrificing his beloved son.

In the end, of course, life wins out. The angel of God interrupts the sacrifice, just as Abraham is about to plunge the knife into his son. In the end, a ram appears and Abraham sacrifices the ram instead. In the end, life wins (at least the human life). But this story is so utterly gripping that every time I hear it, it’s as if I’ve never heard it before; and I listen with my heart in my mouth, wondering what will happen. Will Abraham dare to do the deed he believes God has asked him to do? Will the ram be there? Will Isaac figure things out and squirm away? And run to tell his mother?

In the end, God’s desire survives. God desires life not death. God always desires life.

Just as Abraham’s other little son, Ishmael, born of the slave-girl, Hagar, survives certain death in the desert, so, too, young Isaac is spared. And his descendants became as numerous as the stars, just as God had promised.

Life.  Life and laughter.

In his Letter to the Romans, Paul also talks about life, life under the law and life under grace.  For Paul, the law, even religious law, is often a necessary part of our human life together; but he views the law as temporary, a sort of baby-sitter.  What really matters is the life of grace, God’s free gift of life, the right, righteous relationship with God, which is life-giving.  God’s gift of life, even eternal life.

The Bible is full of stories which tell us over and over again of God’s grace, of God’s desire for us, and our human skill at finding ways of rejecting it.

In my opinion, the very recent Supreme Court ruling on handguns reflects our continuing human skill at rejecting God’s desire. The ruling which for the first time in our country’s history makes it official: individual Americans have the constitutional right to keep loaded hand-guns at home for self defense.  The ruling which overturns decades-old precedent. The ruling which will make it harder than ever for localities to create and enforce their own gun-control laws. The ruling which pays more attention to the rights of the individual than to the common good. The ruling which, while it advocates for the individual rights of hand-gun owners, at the same time interferes with my individual right, and yours, to feel safe in public places, and in some places of employment.  Some may even feel less than safe now at home. The ruling which will almost certainly mean more innocent dying and maiming and, as studies and experience show, spousal abuse, than already exists in this country, which much of the world looks to as nuts over guns. As Saturday’s  Sun-Journal reminds us, in an otherwise non-committal editorial: “Americans love guns.” 

On the other hand, having said that, here’s something very different. The work and mission of La Maison de Naissance in Haiti is predicated on giving life. Because of rampant poverty, the death of babies and mothers in Haiti is the highest in the western hemisphere. This birthing home provides a safe place for women to give birth and for them to receive medical care for themselves and their children. But more than giving life to the individual women and children it serves, La Maison de Naissance gives life back to the entire nation. Hope for the whole people. La maison de Naissance works for the common good.

We, the people of Christ Church, contribute through our outreach to the mission and energy of this life-giving birthing center. We are, thank God, a part of its mission.

All is not totally lost with the gun issue, either.  And because the Supreme Court’s decision was very nuanced and leaves openings for localities to make their own laws within what the Supreme Court says the Constitution means, we the people can use our prayer, our churches, our influence, our letters and our voices to help shape local regulations determining the use of weapons where we live and work. This issue is not easy or simple. We need a vocal national dialogue, hearing all voices. However: Our aim (no pun intended) must always be to try to live under the grace of God, reflecting God’s desire and breathing God’s gift of life into everything we do and say. And into our laws.

We live under the grace of God. God’s gift of life trumps all human law, no matter how good or useful or brilliant or sensible or correct we may think our laws to be in any moment of time. Laws of state. Religious law. God’s grace trumps our laws every time.

The question is, given that we need laws to govern our common life: How do we make our laws reflect God’s desire for life? Not merely for each little individual but for the common good?  How do we help God’s life-giving grace trump everything else?

“I have come that all may have life and have it abundantly,” said Jesus.  What can we do, what will we do, to help Jesus do what he came to do?