The text for this sermon is below the video recording. Reading through today’s lections and, this morning, hearing them read aloud in worship, the sense of the wonder of God’s mercy made such an impact on my soul that I began to write a sermon and here it is. Surely we know how crucial it is for the Lord to have mercy on us, our church and our nation?
Sermon Preached from St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Goldsboro, North Carolina. Sunday November 15 2020. The Reverend Alan Neale
There is a story of a beautiful woman who had her portrait painted by a well-renowned artist. When the artist showed her the finished portrait, she looked at it with utter dismay. “That painting certainly doesn’t do me justice!” she cried. To this, the artist retorted, “Lady, you don’t need justice. You need mercy.”
Now, I had first heard that story as originating with Sir Winston Churchill; but then if you don’t know where to ascribe a quotation… Sir Winston is there with open arms!
“You need mercy!”
As I learned to say in South Dakota, “You betcha!”.
“I need mercy” – it is no mere coincidence, no haphazard intrusion of an irrelevant statement… that our confession begins, “O merciful God, we confess that we have sinned…”
“I need mercy” – it is no wonder, no random chaotic whim that has made the Kyrie so crucial to our life as church and Christian. “Lord, have mercy; Christ have mercy; Lord, have mercy.” In fact, I believe it can be argued that the phrase “Lord, have mercy” sums up our Christian journey and our Christian discipleship… but that’s for another time.]
Psalm 123 speaks much of mercy.
Its source, its reception its impact.
Its source… the source, the fount, the origin of mercy we believe is settled deeply in the heart and intentions of God. Though God be “enthroned in the heavens”, though God be as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the heart of this God pulsates with mercy and her/his intentions are shaped by mercy.
The Hebrew word for “mercy” is a gloriously packed and stacked pantechnicon of meanings.
It can mean bestowing favors where none are deserved, it can mean deliverance from enemies, evils, sins. And its root suggests “to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior”.
Its reception… the Psalmist declares the God’s desire to bestow mercy is unlimited, boundless, unstoppable but… to receive that mercy we are called 1. To lift our eyes upwards and forgo dwelling in places with people of gloom and doom, 2. as we receive mercy so we are called to obedience of the Lord who charges us to be people of mercy, sharing mercy, struggling to establish mercy, and 3. We must persist in this quest “looking to God ever until mercy is bestowed” and praying again and again “have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy.”
And its impact… as we become reservoirs of mercy, being filled and yet always flowing, so we will be set free from contempt and set free from derision. And where does this begin… it begins with me, with me and the church, with me and my neighbors and, with me and my nation. We will neither engage in contempt and derision of others and neither will we allow ourselves to be beaten down by contempt and derision… no matter whence its origin.
The Gospel for today (Matthew 25: 14-30) presents us with the knotty challenge of the seemingly harsh treatment of the one who hid his talent and presented nothing more (but also nothing less) to his master. This parable is a challenge to any reader for it urges us to identify and utilize our talents (time, treasure and talent/skill) to the fullest; but also to take note of the consequences of irresponsible and idle living.
For me, though, the crux of this parable remains in Matthew 25:24 when the “one-talent servant” says, “Master, I knew you were a harsh man…”
Dear friend, you, I, are constantly being called to see God not as harsh but rather as merciful. Anything, anyone that tries to steal or impugn that authentic vision is devilish and harmful to our souls.
Lord, we need mercy and we long to share that mercy with others… in the Name of Jesus, and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
AMEN