The Third Sunday after Epiphany – January 23, 2005

I Corinthians 1:10-18

             Are there divisions among us? That is a very significant question.

             If you ask about petty matters I am sure that we could find divisions among us. We could find divisions about whether or not New England or Pittsburgh will be in the Super Bowl. Or maybe you are a Philadelphia fan or you don’t care at all about football? The point is, we could find divisions among us easily.

             When St. Paul writes to the people of Corinth about their difficulties he notes there are divisions. What seems to be causing the division is “who belongs to whom.” Some say they belong to Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas or someone else. Paul makes a theological point: we all belong to Jesus Christ through our baptism.

             Unfortunately, often we do not remember this central fact of our faith. Too often we are more concerned about the petty details than we are about the truth of the gospel. Too often we worry more about pot luck dinners than we do about belonging to Christ and what it is he calls us to do.

             To remain focused, centered in Christ, means to keep his cross before us always. As we begin worship each week the cross leads us in and then at the conclusion of worship leads us out into the world.

             This is not a parade. We have the cross lead us as it is carried by the Crucifer so that we never forget that all we do is done in the shadow of the cross. If we forget the cross, we are in danger of losing the power of God in our midst and then we become nothing more than a club or nice association of people.

             Remember what St. Paul says so clearly today: “For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” Ah, foolishness and power. That is the cross.

             Think about the foolishness. The cross appears foolish to so many because they think they can by their own wits and effort save themselves from their sin. So, you find yourself or another working really hard to fix what ails you or them. You know, the self-help books are full of such wisdom: “straighten out your finances and all of your life will be good.” Perhaps, perhaps not…

             The foolishness of the cross is that God loves us so very much that Jesus dies on the cross forgiving us all our sin. Imagine, God so merciful and loving as to die for me and for you. Imagine, in the cross God is saving the likes of you and me through a love so powerful it gives itself even in death. Here is the mercy and love of God saving us from the pettiness we would indulge ourselves in rather than focus on the cross.

             What is truly amazing is that the cross calls us out of our pettiness to a new life, where we are part of the community of believers that have one mind. It is the cross that transforms us so that we can see clearly that we are to be of one mind, one purpose.

             Now, if I suggest to you that rooting for Pittsburgh against New England is the thing to do today, you may think I’m crazy. You are free to come to that conclusion. However, being of one mind in Christ Jesus is not crazy or something we control. We are called by God to one purpose, to be of one mind, not about the Pittsburgh Steelers, but about our life of faith.

             That calling, that purpose, is to proclaim the message of the cross to a perishing world. Paul is not suggesting this morning that we agree on anything and everything. We are not to be of one mind whether we think a program like “Desperate Housewives” is worth watching on TV or not. Some may think so, others may not. Who cares? That is a petty and unimportant matter.

             What is critical for Paul, what is central, what we need to be of one mind about is the truth of scripture that the cross is for a perishing world and we are part of the perishing people. We need to hear the power, mercy, love and forgiveness of the cross. We need to share that cross truth with others.

             Thanks be to God that in our baptisms each of us is created new by God so that we are able to know the wisdom of the cross and know we are to proclaim it to others.

             Last week I told you of three important words from St. Paul: God is faithful. Let me remind you of the three important words that come from Jesus himself: “Come and see.” That is how we are to invite. Say to another, “Come and see.” Lay before them the invitation to worship, to come and share in the power of the cross.

             It does not require a special degree from some college or university. You do not have to take classes. You do not have to be brilliant and entertaining. You don’t even have to sing on key. Simply offer the invitation: “Come and see.”

             The merciful power of the cross will do the rest. Amen.

• Pastor Robert F. Holley