We Cannot Take Salvation for Granted

In his homily for this Fourth Sunday after Pentecost, Fr James Graham reflects on the strong faith of the Centurion who asked Jesus to heal his servant just by His word–no need to come to the house, because he was “not worthy” to have Jesus enter under his roof.  We can ask ourselves how we can develope that kind of faith.

Join us for the celebration of the Divine Liturgy at 9:30 on Sunday morning, and stay for lunch and lively conversation afterward.  This Sunday, Fr James and Deacon Tim will serve the liturgy; Fr Christopher is on vacation.  It is also the secular holiday of Father’s Day, so we will remember and pray for all of our fathers in fact and in faith.  May God remember them all in his Kingdom!

WE CAN’T TAKE SALVATION FOR GRANTED

Homily for the Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

Romans 6:18-23…………….Matthew 8:5-13

     At the end of today’s Gospel story, Jesus tells the Centurion, “As you have believed, let it be done for you.”  This reminds us of the many times when Jesus says, “Your faith has saved you.”  And it is a powerful lesson for us about the importance of faith.

     Quite often we don’t seem willing to live in faith.  We want proof and we want guarantees.  We read the Bible, and if we decide that something can’t be proved as a fact, we begin to doubt the truth of the whole Bible.  We pray, and if we don’t get what we ask for, we decide that God doesn’t really listen to our prayers and doesn’t really care about us.  We are asked to support our church, and we ask, “How can we be sure that the church will be here in 10, 25, 50 years so we’ll get what we paid for?”

     What kind of faith is reflected in such questions?  Certainly not the kind of faith the Centurion shows when he tells Jesus, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should come into my house.  Just say the word and my servant will be healed.”

     This is faith:  to believe that what the Lord says will be accomplished.

     The only guarantee we have for this belief is that God has promised it.  But the belief of our ancestors in faith for hundreds of generations teaches us and encourages us.  Do we think that they were confused or deceived or stupid?  Do we think that our modern age of science and technology has taught us better or made us smarter?

     In fact, science and technology should convince us more than ever of the need for faith.  The farther human knowledge goes, the more we are reminded of how much we don’t know—and can’t know.  But God has given us brains and curiosity and creativity, so we continue to explore and investigate and experiment.

     Ultimately, we must believe in something beyond human ability.  And that something is God, who gives us all of our abilities; who created the world by speaking his Word; who loved the world so much that He sent his Son to become human and to sacrifice his life to take away our sins; who promises eternal life to everyone who believes in Him.

     Jesus told the Centurion that no one in Israel—none of the Chosen People—had faith like his.  Apparently they thought they didn’t need faith because they were the Chosen People.  The prophets brought them the Law and taught them the Law.  But many of them simply followed the Law to the letter instead of understanding the spirit of the Law as the way to relationship with God.  So they would be driven out from the Lord’s banquet in the kingdom of heaven.

     The same thing can happen to us if we take salvation for granted—if we don’t work to develop and strengthen our relationship with God in faith.

     So we need to learn as much about our faith as we can—and we need to pass it on to our children.  The first and most important way to do this is to come to church regularly, to pay attention to the prayers and the songs, the readings and the preaching, and to receive the Holy Body and Blood of the Lord.  Second, read the Bible and try to understand it, both in its historical context and in its application to contemporary life, with the help of priests and others who have studied it.  Third, pray by yourself and with your family, asking God’s mercy for the world.  Fourth, like the Centurion, live a life of faith in humility, not making a fuss about your belief, but showing that you trust God’s Word.

     Finally, for all things and at all times, give thanks and praise and glory to the Father, the Son, and the All-Holy, Good, and Life-giving Spirit, one God, now and ever and unto ages of ages.  Amen.