PENTECOST 6                YEAR A JEREMIAH 20:7-13 ROMANS 6:1b-11 MATTHEW 10:24-39 JUNE 21, 22, 2008   I visited with a woman in a nursing care facility the other day. As we visited she told me about having to live there and that she did not like it very much. The woman told me that her mind was very good and that she was better off than most of the people around her. She told me that the reason she needed to be in a care center was because her body was failing around her. She showed me her hands curled up with arthritis. She talked about her legs that would not let her walk because they were not strong enough. The woman told me that she could not take care of herself at home and that is why she needed to live at the care center. The woman was not ready to give up though. She told me how she enjoyed playing bingo. When I asked her if she wins she said that she does sometimes but the prizes are usually chips, cookies and candy. She told me she can’t eat what she wins. She then turned to talking about her church and the faith of those that come to minister to her. As she talked her eyes got moist. I could see in her eyes that the most important part of her life is the church. This woman happens to be a member of a congregation that has recently merged with another and this is troubling to her but that is secondary to those that minister to her and continue to bring the gospel as they come to visit her. While some in her situation wonder what they have to live for, this lady knows what there is to live for. She lives for the Lord.   Matthew 10:26-28       So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.   What is life? Is life merely the presence a heart beat? Are we living if we are breathing and able to take nourishment? This is perhaps one of the questions implied in our reading from Matthew 10.  Some might say that the woman at the care center is not really living. Looking at her you might think she does not have much reason to live. Talking with her you know she has every reason to live. Our Lord begins this part of the teaching with a teaching about fear. He tells his disciples to have no fear. Jesus tells us disciples to have no fear of things or people that can destroy the body but cannot touch your soul. This teaching is part of our Lord’s instructions about going out to proclaim that the kingdom is coming near. It is part of his teaching for their proclamation of the gospel. You might remember last week that we talked about healing, casting out demons and proclaiming the good news. Jesus taught his disciples about being bold as they go about their work. They are to be bold and not timid. They are to shout the message and not whisper it.   Do not be afraid. What do they have to be afraid of? What do you have to be afraid of as you are sent out? Jesus says that you are being sent out as lambs among the wolves. Do not be afraid. You will be persecuted and some will try to stone you because you belong to me. Do not be afraid. They will call you names and seek to discredit you because you are proclaiming a gospel that some may not want to hear or receive. Jesus says that they should not be afraid because even though they might hurt your body they can never hurt your soul.   We are seeing this among the people cleaning up after the floods. Some are hurting in their bodies because of the painful and smelling task of recovering from the floods. Even though flood waters have injured the physical and they are hurting in their bodies, their souls are very much in tact. The body might be injured but life continues. There is much to live for.   Fear stops us from doing all kinds of things. In Matthew 14:5 Herod did not execute John the Baptist because he was afraid of the crowds. Herod eventually had John executed because he feared those gathered for his birthday party. In Matthew 21:26 Jesus asked the Chief priests and elders about the authority of John the Baptist. They give no response about John's authority because they fear the crowds. Later in Matthew’s gospel the Chief priests and Pharisees want to arrest Jesus, but they fear the crowds. Fear changes the way we do all kinds of things. Fear stifles many important ministry opportunities in the church. We are afraid to act because it might be wrong or it might not be popular.   Jesus does not want us to be afraid to proclaim the Good News. He does not want us to keep it quiet but to share it and tell it in a way most people will hear it. We are to shout the word of God from the roof tops and reveal what is whispered in the darkness in God’s brilliant light. What do we keep secret? What are some of the things we lie about? When do we choose to keep things quiet? Our children learn how to lie and hide things. They often learn to lie or hide the truth from their parents. I believe that children are not born with the knowledge to lie. Kids like Jeremiah will always tell you what they need and what they want. They are so honest that sometimes they embarrass their parents. They most likely do not try to hide things. When kids get older they learn how to lie and deceive. Some get pretty good at it. Others just think they are good at it but they actually are not.   We tend to keep things secret when we are doing things that we know are wrong. If we can’t tell someone else, especially someone in authority, what we are doing, there is the likelihood that it is flawed and it is wrong. It is done in secret but is usually revealed later because it usually fails. Some of us lie in order to get what we want. If you are a kid you lie to your parents for a variety of reasons. You almost always get caught. Adults also lie. Their lies often have greater consequences than the lies our kids tell. In the church we must be honest. If I cannot tell you what I am working on or about plans I have for the church I am probably trying to deceive you. The church must always be honest. Church Councils and leaders of the church must never lie, deceive or mislead the congregations. If we cannot tell you what we are doing you can likely assume that something shady is under way.   What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops.   Jesus also says that we proclaim our message from the roof tops. People love telling what they know about and they tend to keep quiet about things they know little about. There is always the exception to this rule. There are some that want us to believe they are experts about all things. Many of us do not share the gospel of Jesus Christ because we know little about it. The Lord taught us what to say but we are afraid to shout it out because we are not sure. Other times we keep quiet because others do not want to hear it. You and I are the people of God. We sit at the feet of Jesus and we hear his teaching. If we have been in the church for any length of time we know the Lord’s teaching. You and I may not climb to the roof tops but we have many ways of making our voices heard. There are many ways for us to share the message of salvation with those that have not heard or have chosen to not hear.   Most of us claim to be Christian people. We would never deny knowing the Lord yet we also have a difficult time shouting the message out. We want to be able to tell our friends and family about the Lord. We want to have an open and honest relationship with the Lord but we are afraid. Jesus assures us of his presence. He will walk with us through the storms of ministry. When people seek to harm you because of the gospel our Lord strengthens your witness. Do not be afraid of the things or people that can harm your body but not your soul. You are a valuable part of God’s creation. There are so many thoughts in this reading today but it is important to remember the Lord’s faithful presence in your life. God knows what you are going through when you witness for the gospel. God cares for you and will protect your life.   You have a God that loves you and a Savior that died for you. Now, you can walk in his ways and live your life for him. AMEN