At the Right Time

when we are caught in the web of weaknesses of any of the characters in this story, the Lord Jesus is ready to rescue whenever we are ready to listen.

And that time when we are ready to listen is different for each one of us.

John Chrysostom was bishop in Constantinople in the late 300s AD. He wrote:

Why did Jesus not call Matthew at the same time as he called Peter and John and the rest?

He came to each one at a particular time when he knew that they would respond.

He called Paul at a different time, after the resurrection, when he knew that he could be reached, something like a hunter going after his quarry.

For he knows our inmost hearts, and knows the secrets of our minds, and he also knows when each of us is ready to respond fully.

Christ knew when Matthew had been prepared for responsiveness.

“As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax office, and he said to him 'Follow me,' and he rose and followed him.”

Another day, a different situation might not have been the right moment.

There is no explanation – just action.

It reminds us of Genesis 12, where Abraham hears God's call and scripture does not explain, but only reports: “And Abraham went as the Lord had commanded him.”

It was the right time.

Abraham was able to hear and to respond.

His father had just died, the end of an era;

it was time for a fresh start, ...and Abraham went.

Notice that at this time Jesus does not call the Pharisees.

They are too puffed up with self-importance and their own knowledge.

He gives them homework, to go and research the scriptures and become prepared to changed in the process of that study.

As they do that, they will be challenged.

--they can turn toward the truth, or continue along their own way.

It is not so much different for us, is it?

The Lord Jesus keeps looking for the right moment to reach us.

He does this not just once, but again and again.

When he has put his mark on us in Holy Baptism, that is not the end of the matter, but rather the beginning!

He will continue with his intention to transform us – and can do it a bit at a time as we are ready to receive it.

Four weeks from now we will have an opportunity to present our Estimate of Giving cards for next year on Consecration Sunday.

For some, that estimate will represent a real sacrifice.

For some, it will hardly represent a tip.

Many of us are reluctant to say that our estimates represent something close to a tithe.

Some will come up with the most amazing reasons for not writing an estimate at all.

Fortunately, Jesus who is the Lord of all of life, has much more patience than we ever deserve.

He will keep coming back to us again and again, offering his blessings and announcing his expectations, looking for us to take adult-sized steps instead of baby-steps in faith and life.

It is not only about money.

Similar things happen in our stewardship of other parts of life as well.

The invitation keeps being made;

(1)when will it be the right time for each adult to be involved in Christian education in some way, as a leader, a class member, a Bible School helper, a participant in the Wednesday afternoons in October, or the men at 6:31 on Thursday mornings, or....help us invent something new.

(2)This Thursday we had a meeting of those who are hearing the call to service in Stephen Ministry, and we're beginning a new training group shortly.

That invitation has been offered for several years, but now, at this time which is become the right time, it is happening.

(3)In two weeks there will be a Blanket Sunday offering to help pay for the shipping of the quilts our group has made over the past year.

(4)That day will also be the Harvest Home gathering of food for the local food pantry. Who will answer that call?

(5)That same day is the time of prayer for the unborn, in the Life-Chain on the Golden Strip.

Is it the right time for some here to offer an hour in prayer with me on that afternoon?

(6)In three weeks it is time for the CROP walk

In how many ways, on how many days

is the Lord Jesus inviting us to follow?

Some of the ways are to involve all of us,

some others may be just specifically for one or a few of us.

Through scripture, in the sacraments, as we study, in those conversations we call the mutual consolation of the brethren, Jesus calls us as he called Matthew.

May we identify with that outsider, the tax collector Matthew, who when Jesus said directly to him “Follow me,” rose and followed him. Amen.

Please note: The preceding sermon is provided as a resource for the thought, prayer, and meditation of the members and friends of St. Mark's. It is the residue of a verbal event, and thus it does not have academic footnotes and other details that would be expected in a written document. The writer gladly acknowledges the prior thought and work of many Christians before him.