Labor Day weekend signals the end of summer and the beginning of a new season. It feels very much like a transitional time. And today I’m thinking of people I know and love going through transitions. A new baby in the house for my daughter’s family. New jobs starting for several others. I’m thinking of some of our young people here at Grace of God staring college. I’m thinking of my grandson starting preschool. I’m sure you have people you are thinking about who are in very similar transitional points in life right about now. Maybe YOU are at such a point.
When something ends and something new begins it can be a very exciting time. It can also be kind of a scary time. The tone of Jesus’ words in our Gospel for today reflect a very realistic perspective about life and what it means to take steps forward. He understands the diffulties and the challenges and the risks involved. Jesus does not offer upbeat motivational platitudes. He’s actually very somber and honest. Some probably even thought he was kind of a downer.
But we need what Jesus has to say to us today. For those who are starting something new – who desire to follow him down a new path Jesus has some serious questions: Do you know what you’re getting into? Do you know what could happen to you? Have you figured out what all this is going to cost you? Are you going to be able to finish what you started?
He uses a parable about a man building a tower to describe the foolishness of starting something without first figuring out how to finish it! Everyone will ridicule such a man, Jesus says. They will say, “This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.” You don’t want to be THAT guy. And if his followers think life with Jesus is some fun little adventure with nothing to lose Jesus frames it as a battle you don’t go into without plenty of reinforcements! That sounds daunting. It sounds like something we don’t want to do or maybe shouldn’t even attempt! Which is exactly how we feel when we approach transitions in our own life!
Jesus’ words today were not spoken to a well groomed congregation in a Palestinian synagogue sitting attentively in comfortable chairs in neat rows at a comfortable 70 degrees with friends waiting for a doughnut and coffee after the service. The first words of our Gospel tell us about the original audience – they were traveling with Jesus. His words today were spoken to disciples who were on the road – on a journey – heading who knows where. They were dirty, smelly, exhausted – out or breath – out of steam – wondering what was happening to them – more confused than inspired by Jesus.
They did not know where they were going –
they did not know what was hiding in the shadows up ahead –
they did not where they were going to end up.
And had they known, they probably would have turned around.
This was not a fun, exciting, comfortable place to be. It was awkward and scary. It required more than they could give. Jesus acknowledges this several times in our Gospel when he acknowledges the struggle by saying: “you cannot” “you are not able” and “it is not possible.” And perhaps that is closer to the reality of where many of us are today if we are honest about it. We have a lot in common with those traveling disciples. We don’t know what is coming our way in spite of best laid plans. We can’t know how our conveniences will be threatened or how we might be required to put our lives and resources on the line. We struggle to continue with commitments we’ve made or to stay on a path that has become scornfully familiar. And sometimes we don’t even know where or how to begin.
We need to hear from Jesus today. We need to know his love today. Because his words draw us to him and his love supports us. And whether we are beginning something, at the end of something or just continuing in the routine, we need him. We need him more than we know or acknowledge. Jesus knows that by ourselves we cannot finish what we’ve started. And yet with faith we begin – with courage we take on commitments – under his direction we follow him on the path where he leads.
I’d like to draw your attention to words from the Prayer of the Day appointed for today – that little prayer we often use at the beginning of worship that changes from Sunday to Sunday. These prayers have lifted up the church for centuries; this particular prayer has been in hymnals for generations and was even found in George Washington’s personal prayerbook. Let me read it for you again:
Direct us, O Lord God, in all our doings with your continual help, that in all our works, begun, continued, and ended in you, we may glorify your holy name; and finally, by your mercy, bring us to everlasting life, through Jesus Christ
That sounds like a prayer for transitional times – for the beginning of a new school year – for first day on the job — for the start of each new day. All our works – all our doings – all our life: BEGUN in Christ, CONTINUED in Christ and ENDED in Christ.
It all begins in the love of Christ. In our baptismal beginning – the old nature in us is drowned and a new person – Christ himself – is born in us. That’s where the journey begins – that’s where life with Jesus begins.
In Christ’s love we continue – he provides us with all we need along the way – he gives us to drink of living water and feeds us with continual mercy at this table. This is why we gather here weekly – this is our pattern – because we cannot continue without his forgiving and loving presence in our lives.
All our works ended in the love of Christ – which means that they bring HIM glory, not ourselves. All of our efforts do not amount to a distinguished record worthy of recognition. They do not build us a tower for ourselves; nor do we wage our own wars of which we may or may not be declared the victors. All we do ends at the cross – it is offered in love to Christ. It bears his name and his mark.
It is Christ alone who counted the cost and paid the price. His life began by emptying himself of heaven’s glory. He knew what lay ahead in the shadows down the road and continued with focus and direction. When he got to the cross, he cried out “IT IS FINISHED.” And by his death he won the battle and completed a mighty fortress tower for us. He is the one we need for every beginning – every continuing – every ending.
So in him and in his we find our courage to take steps forward. In Jesus’ name we journey on. Every project we undertake, every decision we make, every song we sing, every gift we give, and with every breath we take – it all begins and continues and ends in Christ.
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