Readings for the Day:
Sermon:
Go to iTunes or SoundCloud for Audio Podcast
Original Manuscript:
On a long car ride, I typically to listen to the news on the radio, generally on NPR. On Sundays in particular, the news is replaced by other interesting programs and opportunities for learning.
A couple of weeks ago, I heard a story on one of these programs about a couple who had twin boys, one who was severely autistic. Their house was one of constant chaos, and as he grew older, it became harder and harder for them to help him control his behavior and meet his needs. Sometimes the situation could get violent. (I don't say this lightly because I don't want to add to the stigma we often have of a often overlooked part of the population who very much need our love and support; I say it so you will understand the seriousness of this particular situation.)
So the situation got the point where his parents had to make a difficult choice and listen to the suggestion of doctors and others around them and send their son to a place that could take care of him and meet his needs. They struggled with this decision because they did not want to give up on their son, but they also no longer take care of him on their own. After all, he had the mentality of a small child in a teenager's body.
At the beginning of this segment, this couple went through the things people say to them that they hate the most. The main one was that God never gives us more than we can handle.
One could argue that very phrase is exactly what Paul says this morning in 1 Corinthians. What he says though is this: "God is faithful, and He will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing He will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it." That is, when we can't do it, God will be there to provide us help. That, I believe, is what this couple received. When they could not help their son, God provided them with people who could.
The point is that no matter our trial, God is there. We see this in the story of Moses. Even though God's people had been in slavery for generations, God was still there with them, and in the story of the burning bush, God reveals the plan to relieve their suffering. God's plan is to use Moses to do it.
Moses, however, is unsure. He's not sure he is worthy enough for this task. He's not sure he's capable enough to do it.
God, however, keeps working to reassure Moses. When Moses wants a name, God gives him one. (God is the One who is who God is, was who God was, will be what God will be. God is also the One who was what God is and what God will be, God is what God was and will be, and God will be both what God is and what God was. This name is as time inclusive as possible, and is impossible to full reflect in English. The Holy Name is beyond even gender as well, something that is difficult to reflect in our own language.)
Moses' unsureness, however, does not end with our reading today. He needs a sign to show others, so God gives him a staff that can turn into a snake. Even then, Moses is unsure because he has a stutter. God, even in frustration, provides Moses with the gift of Moses' own brother who will speak on behalf of Moses, just as Moses speaks on behalf of God.
This is the other point. Not only is God with us, but God makes sure that we are never alone. As the saying goes, "it takes a village to raise a child." We are meant to do things together. We are meant to be in harmony as community.
Just like Moses, and just like the couple of the autistic child, we are never meant to do things alone. We are meant to have help, both from God and from our neighbor.
If you look at the catechism in our prayer book in the section on ministry, we are all called to represent Christ Jesus in the world, and that includes each and every one of you here. We are all called upon to use our gifts to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ in word and deed to all we meet.
We all have times in our lives where we can't do it alone, whether it is saving an entire people from slavery or raising a child with needs very much beyond our skills and abilities. That's why we have the church, and that is why each of us are called on to help each other because when we help one another, not only are we representing Jesus Christ, but we remind the other that it is in fact Christ Jesus who is there with each and everyone of us no matter what it is we undergo.