Jesus said: ‘take up your cross and follow me’.
SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT 2021 - Preacher: Rev’d Trudy Payne
Context: Genesis 17: 1 - 7, 15-16
That’s never going to be a popular topic, is it? But it’s not my intention to set us off on a guilt trip nor to tell you how you should take up Jesus’ challenge. That’s an individual matter, not a competitive one. And bear in mind that Jesus doesn’t ask anything of us that he hasn’t done himself: he did take up his cross, literally, for us.
Instead, I want to look at the background of Jesus’ words and explore the readings which all deal with the same concept, even if not always in the same words. And that concept is ‘covenant’. It means a deal, an agreement, a contract, usually written, usually legal and sometimes financial. It involves obligations and recompense for both parties
So back in time now to Abraham, as the shadowy and rather mysterious period of the first few chapters of Genesis give way to something which looks more like history, more like what we know of ancient societies. This isn’t the first time God has met Abram, though. In chapter 12, God said ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you’. This is Abram’s part of the deal; God spells out his side of the bargain in chapter 15: Abram’s descendants will be as numerous as the stars of the sky. And now in today’s reading, the word ‘covenant’ is used, and the terms are spelt out. Abram will follow God’s leading and God will fulfill his promise, both in the short term (when Abram and Sarai, the childless older couple, have a son) and in the long term (when the descendants of Abram will become the nation of Israel). The covenant is sealed by a new name ‘Abraham’ which means ancestor of many descendants. Abraham steps out in faith and the covenant is established.
Psalm 22 echoes the ideas of the covenant: that through Abraham’s family and nation ‘all the ends of the earth… shall turn to the Lord’. The covenant was the foundation of the faith of Israel before ever the law was given. The covenant is echoed or referenced.
Fast forward to Paul’s letter to the Romans. This chapter (Romans 4: 13-end) shows Paul trying to reconcile his Jewish identity with his new, Christian one, and the relationship between the law and faith. And it’s understandably about the covenant. Paul quotes the words ‘I have made you (Abraham) the father of many nations’. Paul is certain that, however complicated it might be, he and his Christian readers share the faith of Abraham because he is the father of us all. That sentence alone should demonstrate that anti-Semitism is wrong: the great monotheistic religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, are called ‘Abrahamic’ – and for good reason: they share a common heritage of faith. Paul of course was writing from a different perspective from the others, after the death and resurrection of Jesus. But the initial covenant still stands. And with Paul, as he steps out in faith, a faith which will not be the faith of his fathers, the covenant is recalled and restated.
But now we need to see how the covenant might have changed with Jesus. Well, it has changed of course, but it hasn’t been replaced, just renewed. The clearest statement of that is probably the words of the Eucharistic prayer which you will hear shortly. ‘Drink this, for this is my blood of the new covenant’.
The terms of the disciples’ agreement with God are, as for Abraham, and indeed for us, both short term (God’s presence and guidance) and long term (eternal life). This is what has changed – our walk with God does not end with death. Our part is to take up our cross and follow him. And as we step out in faith, the covenant is renewed.
So how do we do it? Our individual practice is between us and God, of course, though it may affect other people. Giving up or giving away? In other words, do we give something up or do something positive for others? Either way, we shouldn’t shout about it. Giving up something we enjoy is a way of concentrating our minds and thinking about what’s important, whether it’s chocolate, alcohol, TV, whatever. And if it’s something expensive, why not give the money we save to a good cause? Which is giving up and giving away. Some people have found that they’ve actually saved money during lockdown. Lent might be a good time to use some of that money to do some good, especially at a time when physically volunteering to help other is problematic for a lot of us. But it’s over to you now…
I’ve used the word ‘covenant’ a lot. We all used it on New Year’s Eve, along with many other Christians throughout the world, when we renewed our commitment to follow Christ, who took up the cross for us. So, I’ll end with some words from that covenant which show us something about taking up our cross: ‘I am no longer my own, but yours…I offer all that I have and am to serve you, as and where you choose.’ Amen.