Father’s Day
“My door is always open.” That statement sounds like good news to most of us. If an employer, teacher, or elected official speaks those words to us with a welcoming smile, it means we enjoy access to that person — that this worthy personage will make time for us, no matter what else may be going on.
That is the policy many pastors operate under. A few publish office hours, but most of us are prepared to make time if the need is urgent. Figuratively speaking, our study doors are always open. A big part of ministry is offering people access to ourselves.
Access is a precious commodity in our world. In Washington, D.C., lobbyists pay big money in the form of campaign contributions to buy access to elected officials.
Whenever a former senator or member of the president’s cabinet signs on with one of those lobbying agencies a few blocks from the Capitol, ethical alarms go off. Such a move causes consternation along the banks of the Potomac River. These former officials have recently had extraordinary access to the highest levels of government. It now appears they are trying to sell that access to the highest bidder.
Access is an issue for members of racial-ethnic minorities trying to move into certain neighborhoods — just as it is for businesswomen seeking access to male-dominated social clubs where so many business deals are cut over power lunches.
Now imagine, just for fun, how great it would feel to find ourselves on an elevator with our favorite movie star or recording artist — to have exclusive access to that person, if only for a few moments.
After the late Queen Elizabeth’s death, a story again made the rounds of the time, back in 1982, when the Queen had an unexpected nighttime visitor in her bedchamber. It happened in Buckingham Palace. Her Majesty awoke to see a strange man standing at the foot of her bed. She engaged him in conversation for a minute or two, then managed to surreptitiously summon a guard. It turned out the man was mentally disturbed, but harmless. All he wanted was a little access to the Queen.
In today’s New Testament reading, Paul speaks about access — access to grace. “We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” he rejoices, “through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand.” The most important access of all — access to the grace of God, through Jesus Christ — is absolutely free. It cost Jesus a trip to the cross — but it costs us nothing.
A preacher, having given a sermon on grace in a small mining town, was approached at the church door by one of the miners. The man was looking distraught. He told the preacher he would give anything if only he could believe that God really forgives sins.
“I can’t believe he’ll forgive me if I just turn to him,” the miner admitted. “It’s too cheap.”
“You were working in the mine yesterday, weren’t you?” the preacher asked.
“Yes, of course,” said the miner.
“And how did you get out of the pit?”
“The way I usually do; I got into the cage and was pulled to the top.”
“How much did you pay to come out of the pit?”
“Why, nothing,” the miner admitted.
“You were not afraid to trust yourself to the cage? Was it not too cheap?”
“Oh, no,” said the miner. “It was cheap for me, but it cost the company a lot of money to sink that shaft.”
As soon as he said it, a change came over the miner’s face. He saw the preacher’s meaning. Forgiveness is free for us — but it was purchased at a terrible price, a price paid by Jesus on the cross.
The essential task of the Christian — the one spiritual discipline from which all else flows — is to accept that truth. That is what Paul means by “justification by faith.” We do not deserve access to this amazing grace. We have not earned it. Yet, Christ offers it freely. We have only to accept the gift.
The Polish astronomer Copernicus was one of the great scientists in history. But Copernicus was also a man of faith. He had these words inscribed on his tombstone:
“O God, the faith that you gave to St. Paul I cannot ask, and the mercy you did show to St. Peter I dare not ask; but, Lord, the grace you did show to the dying thief on the cross — that, Lord, show to me.”
That grace is all any of us can claim. The thief crucified beside Jesus turns to him before he dies and says, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answers, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
Access to grace. It is a wonder we have it because we certainly do not deserve it, but we have access to grace all the same. The word of Jesus to us is that the door is always open. We can stay away if we wish, and we can engage in all manner of sinful lifestyles and activities, but when the time comes that we really need grace, when the day dawns that we are ready to make a change, the door is open.
The Greek word Paul uses for “access” literally means “having an introduction.” It is as though we were travelers to a foreign land, carrying with us letters of introduction to the court of the king.
There is a second meaning to this Greek word for “access.” The Bible scholar William Barclay points out that it also has the sense of a harbor or haven. Sailors always want to know where the nearest harbor is so they can beat a straight course to safety in case a storm blows up.
God is not some distant, remote, uncaring being. In Jesus Christ, God comes to us personally. Christ is our letter of introduction, the lighthouse beacon that guides us into the safe harbor.
Anyone who accepts Christ as Lord has access to grace. That is the good news. The door is always open. He will not force you in; you have to go through it on your own free will. Yet, with this good news also comes responsibility.
We, as Christians, have a responsibility to help others discover the same “access to grace” granted to us.
What it really comes down to is whether we are willing to offer access to our very selves. We have received access to grace, through Jesus Christ; the response to this good news is to open ourselves up, to make ourselves accessible to others as people.
Lesslie Newbigin, a missionary bishop of the Church of South India, once said, “The knowledge of God comes to any person never through the skylight but always through the door.” It is by the witness of others that we most easily learn about Jesus Christ — not by reading gospel tracts, not by hearing Scripture quoted at us by radio preachers, but by honest sharing with other Christians, people who care enough to let us into their lives, in small ways or large. It happens over a cup of coffee at a reception. It happens through a handshake or fist bump during the greeting time in the worship service. It happens in a casual conversation in the workplace, or while waiting in line at the bank. Many and marvelous are the opportunities to subtly and honestly offer ourselves to others so that, when they get to know us as people, they may also discover the faith within us.
As Christians, we are called to live as people of the open door — receiving grace, holding the door open for others, and holding ourselves open for others.
Grace, says the Christian ethicist Lew Smedes, is “an amazing power to look earthy reality full in the face, see its sad and tragic edges, feel its cruel cuts … and yet feel in your deepest being that it is good and right for you to be alive on God’s good earth. Grace is power … to see life very clearly, admit it is sometimes all wrong, and still know that, somehow, in the center of your life, ‘It’s all right.’”
May we all come to learn, day by day, to rely on God’s grace alone. Trusting in God’s promises, may we know ever more fully God’s grace as we have seen it in Jesus Christ. May you realize, in the deepest part of us, that our Lord truly offers access to grace!
Let us pray.
In today’s Gospel Jesus tells us the harvest is rich, but the laborers are few. We pray for recognition among all God’s people that we ourselves are called to be laborers for Christ. We pray to the Lord.
We pray for all those in our church, men, and women, ordained and lay, who have been called to the role of shepherd, that they may follow closely the example of Christ and bear witness to His truth and goodness. We pray to the Lord.
We pray for all those who have committed their lives to the care of the poor, the homeless and the hungry. We pray to the Lord.
As we experience the rapid increase in the number of homeless in our society, we pray that those responsible for housing in our country act promptly to help those who need shelter. We pray to the Lord.
For the courage to put our gifts at the service of others: that God will free us from fear and timidity so that we may use our gifts and live as women and men for others. We pray to the Lord.
Today, Father’s Day, we pray for all fathers, living and deceased. For grandfathers, stepfathers, godfathers, and all men who devote energy and strength toward the direction, care, and welfare of others, that they may be good providers for those who depend on them and that they be rewarded for their efforts with the love and respect of their families. We pray to the Lord.
As we approach a day called, “Juneteenth,” may we be reminded that we are made us God’s own image. May we do away with the arrogance and hatred that infect our hearts; Break down the walls that separate us; Unite us in bonds of love; and, through our struggle and confusion, Work to accomplish your purposes on earth; So that, in your good time, we learn to live as brothers and sisters, to serve and love in harmony. We pray to the Lord.
We pray for benefactors who are able to help our tiny parish during its need. The leaking sewage and the ever-enlarging sink hole, our ever-increasing balances of various everyday expenses. We pray to the Lord.
For those on our parish prayer list, that they may receive swift answers to their needs and that they may find consolation through Christ’s healing presence. We pray to the Lord.
We bow our heads and remember in silence our own personal intentions and the intentions of those who have asked for our prayers (pause). We pray to the Lord.
Lord, you assure us that whoever seeks you will find you, and we remember the many times we have sought to know you better, to the comfort of our souls. Now we call to mind those who are far from you and who yet seek you — maybe in ways we do not understand, and not along the paths we expect. Maybe they are hindered by mistakes that dull their vision or by bad influences.
Father God, help our members here present, to make themselves accessible to those who could use a word about you. Many a people have left your churches behind and give little thought of you. Many, because they expect a “perfect” church, however, if church were perfect, none of us would be worthy to enter and our buildings would be empty. Others still because they claim the church is filled with sinners and hypocrites. Should we, if sick, avoid the hospital too, because, after all, the hospital is filled with the sick? As Christ said, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.” May they see us as accessible, flawed, though we may be as all people are, but open to your grace.
We ask you, Lord, to have mercy on them. Remove those hindrances from their lives and open their eyes to the signs you have placed along their way. May our congregation be a lighthouse on the shore for those who seek you, and may we be privileged to guide seekers to the peaceful harbor of your grace. To the glory of your Son, in whose name we pray. Amen.
God Love You +++
The Most Rev. Robert Winzens
Pastor – St. Francis Chapel
San Diego, CA.
As a small parish, we come to you all as beggars! All non-profits compete for your support, and many serve the community’s great needs, and we do not ask you to stop giving to them. But maybe one week or month, we ask that you consider a small donation to our humble parish. Your generous support also allows us to continue these important projects that fuel the movement of progressive Christianity. God will look on your donation grant you his grace in abundance! Thank you and God bless you! +++
https://paypal.me/Stfrancischapel?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US
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