Gates Presbyterian Church

The Rev. Ralph S. English, Pastor

Matthew 10:40 – 11:6

Hymn – “O Master, Le Me Walk With Thee”

John the Baptist had seen better days! The heyday of the crowds flocking to the Jordan River to hear him preach and to be baptized in the river were gone. His preaching had become personal – and when he attacked the personal integrity of the Jewish Queen Herodias, … well …. Even though King Herod feared or perhaps admired John, Herod had no choice but to accede to his wife’s wishes and throw John in jail.

John did know he would die – that Herodias would conspire to have him beheaded, but John’s situation was not exactly very promising. After all, in history – how many times have political prisoners – those put behind bars not for crimes but for their beliefs – how many times have these people seen the light of freedom much less the light of day?

Dietrich Bonheoffer certainly didn’t – although the sounds of US Army tanks could be heard just over the hills on the day the Nazis executed him. On the other hand, Nelson Mandela saw freedom after years of imprisonment for his opposition to apartheid – and become a leader of the South African Nation. Which makes the unfolding story of Robert Mugabe so sad! Imprisoned in 1964 for his opposition to white rule in Rhodesia, Mr. Mugabe became president of Zimbabwe – and was, like Mandela, a force for true justice and peace – the building of schools and hospitals until … well, until power went to his head – and now we have a tyranny by Mugabe that is closer to that of Herod and Herodias.

The question for today is how to keep the faith if not proclaim the good news in troubling times. We have The Rev. Bonheoffer’s letters from prison that attest to his faith while a captive of the Third Reich. We have the writing of Mr. Mandela who kept the faith – and who, unlike Mugabe, never lost sight of what was most important – justice and equality for all of God’s children.

And today we have John the Baptist. He was in prison. His cousin, Jesus had started a new and exciting ministry that was attracting many of the same people as had followed John. A less stellar character that John might even have been jealous that there he was “rotting in jail” while the crowds were, as fickle people can be, going after the new and rising star! John knew his ministry was at an end. He was never going to be allowed to preach again – no matter how much the people loved him – and so there he was, in prison – and he sends word by his disciples to find out if Jesus was “the One.” Jesus, Master of “answering while not really answering,” said:

Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.

In other words, “What do you think?”

In our troubling times – which is to never suggest that our times are more troubling than that experienced by others – in our troubling times, what are people to think? Has the Messiah come?

Well – that will be answered when we proclaim the good news in every situation and at all times.

That will be answered when we unfalteringly do the work of mission and ministry that God has set before us.

That will be answered when we take the resources for ministry that we have inherited from generations past and feel empowered to do ministry in the here and now and in years to come.

That will be answered when we realize that many people are imprisoned in ways beyond that experienced by John the Baptist, Dietrich Bonheoffer, Nelson Mandela or Robert Mugabe – that some people are imprisoned by the vices of their lives – or by the abuse and control of others – or by circumstances brought on by prejudice born of division by race, ethnic background, gender, religion (love that one!) or lifestyle choices.

Whether or not the message and ministry of the Messiah is fulfilled is answered by whether we have the courage to stand up to the powers and principalities that would undo the grace and peace that would be ours of God!

People will come and go, God knows, clergy come and go, but the ministry of compassion to which we are called, the mission of grace and peace and justice about which we are so determined to be a part – goes on – no matter the circumstances, no matter the changes in the road, no matter what comes our way.

The message hasn’t changed. Grounded in our faith, we proclaim Good News! Grace! Redemption! Empowerment! Love! Hope! Faith!

May God bless us in our pursuit of God’s ways – no matter the times!

Amen!