Sermon Library
 

Father Andrew Lang
 

Making Choices

© 1999 Alcress Communications

Just recently, I went out with a group of men for a counter meal. It was an excellent place, with a large extensive menu, with many fine dishes to choose from. I found myself sitting with another fellow in his late 30's whom I had started to get to know over the period since we had first met a year prior. What are you going to have? I asked as I pondered the menu. A look of terror came over his face. "I can't choose", he said, "I can never make a decision as far as menus are concerned - you choose something for me". Then his terror came to me - I am hardly game to choose something for my wife let alone someone I barely knew. Eventually, we settled on fish and chips.

Making a decision is what the first reading is all about. It is a story from the very beginnings of the nation of Israel. They had left Egypt with many signs and wonders and after wandering through the wilderness with Moses as their leader, they had crossed the Jordan after Moses' death with Joshua at the helm. Under the guidance of Joshua and the providence of God, they had taken over the land which we now know as Israel and now were preparing to settle down.

Joshua assembled them before him and in his valedictory address to them put before them the challenge:

Now therefore revere the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. Now if you are unwilling to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."

This was to be a day of decision. In the same way that the Australian people were given the choice yesterday to vote Yes or No, so were the people given the choice - to say yes to God or to reject him.

Perhaps it was easy for them. God had been visible amongst them. He had driven out their enemies, he had provided them with miraculous food, and they had crossed the river on dry land. A very active and present God in the lives of these people is it any wonder that they responded: "Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods; for it is the LORD our God who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight. He protected us along all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed; and the LORD drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God."

But this is more than just a nice story to tell the children. It is a story that has a point. It is almost the essence of the Christian Message - Choice is fundamental - We do not drift into Christianity or inherit it. Our Christianity is our choice of God (and his son Jesus) to the exclusion of all else. It matters not what our parents were - what our partners do - or even where we are. Christianity is an individual choice. Unlike the story that we have heard today - it is the choice not made on one day, but on each individual day of our lives. It is if this morning I got up and said today I will serve the Lord.

So what has this got to do with baptism? Casey is perhaps a little to young to make any choice at all. So how is it that his parents can do so. His parents, as an act of love, have enlisted the help of a few friends to make a choice on behalf of Casey that he might one day fulfil. They are choosing for him the side of God and this is a wonderful thing. Perhaps it is the greatest gift.

But all that we do today could be meaningless. That is unless Casey is able to make this choice for himself. Casey will not be able to claim the inheritance of this activity to this day until he reaffirms this in the act of confirmation.

Parents and Godparents have the task now to prepare him to make this choice at some stage in his life. Although the church will make every effort to help, yours is the primary responsibility.

This is not an easy task, and you will be tempted to push him towards faith - through Sunday school or a youth group what ever. But there is a better way. Let me tell you a short story to illustrate…

A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year-old grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered. The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth. The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. "We must do something about Grandfather," said the son. "I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor."

So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl. When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food. The four-year-old watched it all in silence.

One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. he asked the child sweetly, "What are you making?" Just as sweetly, the boy responded, "Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up." The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.

The words so struck the parents that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done.

That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.

Children are remarkably perceptive. Their eyes ever observe, their ears ever listen, and their minds ever process the messages they absorb. If they see us patiently provide a happy home atmosphere for family members, they will imitate that attitude for the rest of their lives. The wise parent realises that every day the building blocks are being laid for the child's future. Let's be wise builders.

Parents and Godparents, to fulfil the promises you make today, it is not only important that you point Casey in the direction of faith, that you demonstrate this in your own lives. Indeed each parent here has that responsibility - to live in the way that will show our children the choice we make.

So although it is a day of choice for Casey, for in Baptism the path to follow God, is chosen for the child but for each person here, we must choose this day who we will serve.

Let us pray that we have the courage to choose God, and the strength to live out the consequences of this choice.

AMEN.

  Making Choices
Ordinary Sunday 32(A)
Preached at Cressy, Bracknell November 7, 1999
Author: Father Andrew Lang.
© 1999 Alcress Communications
The act of writing a sermon is a complex process which involves both the inspiration of God and the drawing together of the ideas and thoughts of God's people. Whereas every attempt is made to identify the sources of ideas, often the good ones remain fixed for years and while knowledge of the source fades, the image or idea lingers. I apologise for those ideas of others presented here with out acknowledgement and will rectify the same if advised on the email address below. Similarly, I do not feel a proprietry right to this material and I am happy for it to be passed on to others should it help them on their faith journey. I only ask for acknowledgement of the source.
 
Year A | Year B | Year C | Saints and Holy Days
Scripture Index | Subject Index | Home | Contact

This site is maintained by:

Last updated on
November 14, 1999.