Pentecost XVII                                          The Rev'd David C. Cobb+

Ephesians 6:10-20                                     September 3, 2006

Sermons grow out of the events and the observations of the week- and last week if you were in this neighborhood what you saw was endless processions of people with rolling suitcases, families-usually with a young person walking about three steps ahead - all carrying various luggage and packages; and an oddly constant flow of pole lights-  

In other neighborhoods there would have been children with new pencil cases or teenagers with new north face back packs-Living in proximity to colleges or universities, watching children start kindergarten or seniors start a last year-there is a sense of expectation-and the need to marshal supplies and essentials.   I remember lists of supplies and furious hunt through the office supply aisles for the right collection of colored pencils.   Families leaving freshmen at a college dorm door leave with a penultimate comment-do you have everything you need?     

On a grimmer note-we have watched the anniversary of last year's storms and looked once more at the question of whether governments and institutions have what's necessary to meet a disaster.  While daily news reports growing violence and chaos in Iraq -the frustrating and haunting questions remain of whether our troops-if they had to be there- were given what was necessary to accomplish the task we asked of them.  Are we prepared-to do what extreme emergencies may ask of us-  are leaders ready to face up to the realities of the decisions they take?   

Do you have what you need?  A parent leaving a child, an advisor looking at a student's transcript, a charity taking on some major project, an army caught in intricate and escalating enmities and violence--  and, with these readings-Christians trying to live what we pray and act on what we believe?    

Paul ends the epistle to the Ephesians  a definite exhortation-Be strong, and see that you have all that is necessary.  We're uneasy from the beginning.  Aren't people, strong in their faith and convictions dangerous? Doesn't strong in the Lord lead to religious oppression and violence?  Isn't it better to claim some humility and welcome doubt?  I'd rather my neighbor question his faith than have authority to grill me on mine.  Paul writes from a position of danger-, his pulpit for the moment is a prison cell, chained an under watch seems an odd place from which to counsel strength and battle ready armor.    This is not language we like-there's enough Christian history and then current events that make us want faith far distant from things like swords and shields, weapons and strength.  Really-don't you expect that church should make you nicer rather than stronger?  Paul has other ideas.  His message lays out a list of resources, of supplies-honestly-weapons-that he insists you need.   

Paul begins with truth-and if Jesus holds out the hope that truth will set us free-Paul sees it as a belt-that holds together all the pieces o our life-fantasy-and deliberate self-distortion will begin to let things drift-any attempt to place some false and dishonest presence between me and the world-begins to break apart and separate things-one is reminded of C S Lewis' description of hell as a suburb were people are steadily moving farther and farther away from each other-truth is a belt and holds us in place and Paul begins there.  Truth will not let me make a caricature or scape goat out of someone.  Truth will not let me turn away from reality-and so it does constrain and hold in place what might drift into delusion and falsehood.   

Righteousness follows- and Paul wants that held close to our hearts-its not a brittle righteousness that is nervous about little rules and fearful of mis-steping- it is the habits and the actions that we can take which point to our own-and to the world's true purpose-it is justice in how things are distributed, it is kindness in the way to each other-it is steadfastness in our loves and attention to those around us.  Today's Gospel gives significant insight into the righteousness that Christians need and the false righteousness that we don't need.     

Then he places a defensive weapon in our hands - a shield against flaming arrows-faith that can absorb attack and shield us - not from truth, we've dealt with that already; and not from strenuous effort- we are putting on armor after all.  Faith protects us from the attacks that would annoy and undermine and distract us-not doubt - that makes us question and probe-but doubt that would make us not care.  Faith protects us from fear-not because we are detached or isolated, but because we know that beyond the terrors of any moment-God's ultimate purposes are not going to be thwarted.   The shield protects us so we do not have to lash out in panic at the harmless or unsuspecting, faith protects us from anxiety that will make enemies out of Gods' other children.   

And then, if one hand holds the defensive shield, the apostle wants an offensive weapon in the other-the sword of the Spirit, that is the word of God.  Some of us grew up watching preachers wave a floppy bible around like a sword-and more than a few of us can toss words and quotes around like little daggers when we want; and I suspect that more than a few of us have had scripture quotes thrown at us like darts.  The word of God is not a treasury from which we can pluck eloquent put-downs or effective conversation stoppers.   Start with the fact that "word of God" is not a simplistic thing-its not the floppy bible, its not the academic brilliance of someone's interpretation.  It is God's desire to be known and to speak-it is the whole history of how prophets and apostles have heard and testified to the God who speaks-the Word that we are to take up is Jesus- and every honest, faithful effort to hear and respond that the Church has mustered. It is enough-if we can honestly set forth what God is saying-that is all the offense we need to make against the forces of danger and hate, of sloth and despair-against the forces that we must oppose.  Only that one sword-what God is actually saying.   

So what do you need?  Truth that holds things together, righteousness held close to the center of your being, feet ready for the journey, faith that will protect and God's own Word to oppose the darkness.    Take up the whole armour of God and stand in this strength;  Paul's words apparently came when he was in prison.  Surely his words must have sounded dangerous and subversive if the men around him wearing a different sort of armour had bothered to read them.   Or maybe they would have merely laughed at the ravings of a prisoner talking about strength, shields and swords?  A threat or an absurdity?  NO matter- the point is not how his guards read his letter-but how we read them and what effort we make to take up what is necessary.  

So, do you have what you need?  We can only carry so much at a time-and what we carry needs to be carefully appraised with what demands we face.  The metaphor begins to break down-as all do finally.  It is not weapons or chainmail armor we'll talking about.  You are called to follow Christ and to make an offering of your life that carries forward God's purposes.  And you will need strength and courage to do it-you will need to take stock and know what virtues are yours, what mental and spiritual resources you have at hand-and where you need to pray and think, to practice and to seek-to find the strength you don't yet have, but that God can supply.   

So do you have what you need?  Starting a new academic year or continuing a long held path,  beginning a new adventure or looking at things coming to an end-who know what any one of us might face in the week ahead?  Do you have what you need?   Let this end with two suggestions.  First, prayer, as Paul closes this passage- is essential.  The God who speaks, whose word is the one weapon you need-waits to engage you.  And prayer is the words you love and know by heart-and it is the anguish and the shame, the hope and the surprise that you pour out  and only understand when you've said it in God's presence.  Pray always Paul says-keep alert and persevere.  Second, take up the habits of holiness-  gentle truth, confident kindness, open handed generosity, you know what holiness looks like.  Do it-speak it, act it-and you will be strong-strong in a way that is good and life giving, that honors God and blesses those around you.