Making of our Lives through sowing and reaping. 5th Sunday after Easter DAY.

Making of Sermons Rogation Sunday, 5th S. after Easter

I had the privilege of talking with a gentleman in California when I was there who used to discuss things with me in the retirement home where my Dad was living. I found out later I could never win an argument /discussion as he always seemed to have an answer. I found out later he was the retired head of the Rhetoric dept and debate at Stanford Univ. No wonder. After several visits out there to see Dad we became friends and still discussed but I was more prepared knowing who he was . He wrote a book recently on " The Rhetoric of the Pulpit" by Dr. Jon Ericson, and dedicated it to me along with several others who had read his mss and assisted in that way. One of the things he says in his book which I rather like is " There are numerous wrong ideas about preaching...point 1-the pastor needs to come up with a great sermon every Sunday." Instead he says, " rather present your sermon. You are a particular person addressing a particular group of listeners on a particular text....So make your sermon."

Is not the making of sermons really what this Sunday of Rogation or the 5th S. after Easter about? Rogation comes from the Latin word, rogare which means to ask, and the churches had outdoor blessings asking God to bless the crops this Sunday. Some churches still do this. But in a larger sense this Sunday is about asking , " What does God want from us?" " What should we be doing?" The making of sermons is the act of asking that very question. So as we look at today's text we are asking what God says to us.

Also as I said in Friday noon Morning Prayer service another book on preaching by a famous Anglican Bishop in the US who wrote " O Little Town of Bethlehem" Phillips Brooks defines preaching as the " communication of truth thru personality" Yes the preacher's personality but also the personality of those whom the priest is preaching to. If you were to hear sermons that were so difficult to understand then they would be a waste mostly of time. I was once in a church where the speaker was speaking six levels above every one there.

1. Today the Gospel again talks about peace. " These things I have spoken to you that in me ye might have peace." Jn 16 " quietness, rest..."Probably from a primary verb eiro (to join); peace (literally or figuratively); by implication, prosperity -- one, peace, quietness, rest, + set at one again." in Strong's. To set at one again gets to the root doesn't it? The idea of concord, perhaps inner concord is another way of saying it.

It is true that people today spend a lot of money trying to find peace. Nations do it. They prepare for peace through strength is said. People go to counselors and sometimes take medicine to find inner peace. These things are well and good. Finding quiet is a good way to know peace. I employ the mute button very often in seeing TV. Knowing boundaries with others that may be troublesome people is sometimes also necessary.

Acceptance of God's will if we would submit to it is also an item of personal peace in this world. The practice of loving forgiveness toward others especially in a community such as ours is also important. I have seen that. Some have not practiced but I see growth which is a positive direction.

2. Peace is possible. Jesus said in this text, " IN ME, ye might have peace." Well there is the rub. In ME , not in our money, our job, our success or lack thereof, or our family relationships. IN ME , Jesus says ye might have peace. This needed emphasis does it not?

We know Romans 5:1 we have peace with God through faith in Jesus Christ, but what does Jesus mean here? I do not think he is talking about just salvation which is guaranteed by God and sealed by our faith and the Holy Spirit of God.

3. Lastly the subjunctive is used in the " might have peace",not talking about our salvation as in Romans but this is conditional. Based on what? Just as our faith can vary in situations and our trust, so can our peace. Peace is conditioned on faith and trust in God. It is not automatic.

We have all been thru times when our faith was tested in some way. We could not see the final outcome. But we were hoping and trusting that by our faith, that is given in God to us by the Holy Spirit we would have peace even though our boats were being rocked and tossed in the difficult times of our lives. It is true we do not often feel peaceful, yet we are called to this feeling because as Jesus said, " In this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

What is God calling us to have peace about even though we are going through deep waters and trials? Jesus said he gives His peace , not as the world gives. Let not your hearts be troubled or afraid. We should on this " Asking Sunday" be asking Him for this in our situations and lives.