Over the past several thousand years there have been people called prophets who speak for justice and mercy at various times in various ways. Some were respected in their communities and some had to run for their lives. The first deacon, Stephen, in his inaugural sermon, spoke passionately with a prophetic voice. This disturbed some in the synagogue so much that despite all the wonders and signs he had done among the people, he was taken to the town square and stoned to death. Speaking up against social injustice and holding society accountable for the poverty and isolation of some members of the human race, makes the life of a prophet uncomfortable if not downright dangerous. But we need prophets in our midst, to keep us from growing comfortable in our lives and to shake up our complacency and send us out to work in the world for those who have no power to speak for themselves. Such a prophet is a deacon friend of mine, someone who I went to school with. She holds a Ph.D. in political science and was a naval officer. She speaks with a prophetic voice that is hard to hear sometimes, because she calls us out to care about places and situations far away from our daily lives. Recently she wrote a short note in the Deacons’ yahoo group messages about the privatization of water in the countries of Bolivia and Peru by large companies such as coca cola – making access to something as basic to life as water a political and economic issue. I find myself resisting the reality of the challenge in her words. The resistance is the key – because it will cost me something to care about this problem. I might have to take action, make a choice, care enough to do something. It’s hard to listen to the call to justice in the middle of a busy life. But that’s what Christians are called to do. We are called at the very least to be aware and pray and care.
We are so blessed in our lives, to have Bishops who speak fearlessly about the times in which we live. They are also prophets. They speak out despite the division their visions of Life in the Kingdom bring. On July 25th, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori attended a Eucharist at St. Paul's Cathedral in London. She challenged those present to be "ready, willing and able" to speak out and take action against the world's injustices and indignities. She said, "Prophetic work is about more abundant life for the whole world, and it is about a home everywhere, a home for all," she said during her sermon. "Prophetic work is about challenging human systems that ignore or deny the innate dignity of all of God's creation … We lose our dignity when we tolerate indignity for some … The work of the cross is the most life-giving journey we know. Are you ready, willing and able?"
One of the ongoing controversies of our time is the right of gay and lesbian people to marry. As you are aware this was denied by proposition 8, voted in by the people of California last year. Last week a judge reversed this proposition, saying that denying the right to marry on the basis of sexual orientation was unconstitutional. Our own Bishop Marc, a true prophet, addressed the people who gathered at City Hall in San Francisco after the ruling and he said:"So, today Jesus says to you, 'Congratulations, you who have been mourning! You are being comforted! Congratulations all of you who have been hungering and thirsting for righteousness! Aren't you feeling filled and nourished now?' . . . All these congratulations and blessings are so that we can keep on moving, to extend congratulations to LGBT people in places where persecution is still intense, to use our great energies to help children get food and education, to give strength and support to women everywhere, to fight world-class diseases like HIV/AIDS, to heal the wounded planet. We rejoice today, and tomorrow we continue the fight, lending our strength, the blessing of God, to those who need it." This is what prophets do – speak out about the injustices of the times and hold the people accountable for changing the source of the injustice: and they do so at their own risk. I know that just by reading these quotes I may have caused division and anger in this very room. It is not comfortable to be a Christian and Jesus says that’s what he intends for his disciples. He didn’t come to make us happy or create a life of self-righteous ease. He came to bring fire and cause division! In our gospel reading today Jesus speaks with this prophetic voice to the disciples. They are continuing on the road to Jerusalem and in parable after parable Jesus explains that they must stay awake for what is coming. They must prepare for his death and to take his place in the world as prophets themselves, speaking truth to power and paying the price for speaking truth to power. In the chapters before today’s reading Jesus talks about being dressed and ready for action, having the lamps lit and the food ready for the master. He talks about the thief coming at an unexpected hour just as the Son of Man will come, like a thief in the night, when you are unarmed and unprepared. Jesus tells them the story of the unfaithful servant who, when put in charge, beats the other slaves and proceeds to get drunk – but then the master arrives at an unexpected hour and finds the servant unprepared and having abused his master’s trust. This was a warning to the disciples and also is a warning to us – to give up our complacency and work for the cause of the Kingdom. Jesus says, “From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much as been entrusted, even more will be demanded.” And then he demands, “do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth?” Well, yes, that is what we thought. What about Jesus’ birth and all the songs about “Peace on Earth good will to men”, and the angel going around telling everyone not to be afraid? What about Jesus’ mother Mary declaring that in Jesus’ very existence on earth the powerful had been brought down and the lowly lifted up, the hungry filled with good things and the rich sent away empty? What about the Kingdom where the lion will lie down with the lamb? Why did Jesus come here to earth, then? To make more trouble in an already troubled time, to cause division and bring fire to the earth? Yes, he says. He knows that he is going to his “baptism” of fire in Jerusalem and he feels stressed out that the disciples don’t understand that he will soon be gone and all hell will break loose for his followers. Those who take up the cross that they will bear for the sake of the love of Jesus will suffer greatly and live with division, even in their own families. Because they live a life outside the norm – not going along or giving in to the pressures of society and industry, but protesting and speaking out for the sake of the marginalized and suffering poor of the world. In our reading from the letter of Paul to the Hebrews, Paul recites an extensive list of the sufferings of the prophets and then says, “ 12Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.” The sin that Paul refers to as clinging closely to us is that which separates us from God – the unwillingness to take a chance and step out in favor of those who have no voice or support or the rights that all human beings deserve. This is what I meant when I said I find myself resisting the reality of the challenge. In order to be ready for the Master I need to give up my own resistance to change – the sin that separates me from God and open my ears to the prophetic word. As Theologian Walter Bruggemann says, it is “crunch” time. Crunch time is the time to make a decision for or against the Holy Reign of God. The prophets and martyrs of old made their choices with joy. Jesus, Paul says, made his choice with joy, and Bp. Katherine says . "We're invited to join the band of prophets, share the meal and drink the cup. It can be dangerous work, but most prophets I know are also filled with joy."
This, I know, is a lot to take in. We are not all called to be prophets or speak with a prophetic voice. But we are all called as Christians to listen, respond and be present to the difficult choices life presents us. And to take be aware of the suffering near to us and across the world and take action to help those in need. Because we have been blessed. This is a daily choice we make – to live like Christ and share his vision. May God give us the insight and strength to hear the prophet’s voice. Amen.
