Living Love in the Moment - Matthew 18 - Proper 18A

Living love in the moment

Tony E Dillon Hansen

Sermon based upon Matthew18:15-20, Psalm 119:33-40, Romans 13:8-14

Opening prayer

The last few texts from Matthew have told us how to live out our faith in the community ; to share with and to protect the vulnerable.

Today’s lesson is about tension, stress and conflicts because we all know how that shows up in our lives. How do we respond? How do we recognize Jesus in those moments as much the happy times? For verse 20 says that where two or more gather in my name, there is Jesus.

Yet the lectionary does us no favor by passing up some good stories in chapter 17 and verses earlier in 18. For we, especially leaders, are to be like children before God. Recognize that we stumble and do dumb things ourselves. For anyone that seeks to wear Jesus only in words but without action, is just spouting words. 

We are to find the lost and bring them into the community — we know who they are, the neglected, the excluded, the forgotten, the “I don’t have time for your issues” people. They too have a place in the kingdom and community. 

That brings us back to this text with more clarity. How do we go from tension and conflict to steadfast love and grace?

Psalm 119 reminds us to turn to God for those answers. “Teach me , oh Lord…”

How do you love your neighbor as yourself and how do you put on Jesus every day? “…Love is the fulfilling of the law.”

Understanding that and living that can help us understand the moments of tension and conflict because God is there too. If we look for the love and we actually believe in the love that is Jesus before we say or do things, we might just end up saying and doing the correct things.

For you know full well that I can put my foot in my mouth.  I know that I do that. Yet, if I take a piece of what I just mentioned here, maybe I don’t. Maybe I stop putting my foot in my mouth and do and be the face of Jesus in the moment where Jesus is needed the most.

It is not that we avoid conflict entirely (because we cannot) but that when tension rises, what becomes our motivation and who is before us. How do you let Jesus take the reins and be direction we take? 

You simply do. You let Jesus be and let God do good work rather than our egos. Those with little faith will call that hogwash, and that is why they fail.

Faith and love are more than just the good times but also at the last minute time.  Faith and love are needed when nothing else makes sense. Faith and love are needed when we have questions or are struggling. In fact, that is when we need them the most. That is When we need to let God take the reins. That is when we let our faith work and when we let love be what it is meant to be.  

That is what God wants for us and why Jesus is present in the moments of good and in moments of tension.  It is therefore a question for us to recognize that and give space for Jesus to work with us. 

That beloved is why we are here: to recognize God at work not just on Sunday but in daily life beyond the pews and doors of the sanctuary. Find god in the classroom, the corn field, the office, the grocery store, and yes dinner time. For what good are the words we read and hear if they are not present in our daily life and actions. 

That is a central theme of Matthew, one that exposes and denounces hypocrisy and sets for us a correct path. This path is one that that asks us to be humble, contrite, and to walk with God before us.  This path is one that lets God be God to let our faith in God work.

Beloved, So much more will be gained when we “lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.” That is why we should let God be present when we disagree or have tension. Turn your heart to God, away from selfish gain. Turn away from vanities. Turn away from disgrace and dread. Understand the Lord is with you and teaching you.

That is why God is present in this moment now and for us to recognize that awesome presence.

That Beloved is…

Thanks Be to God