Proper 13 Year B

2 Samuel 11:26-12:13a, Psalm 51:1-13, Ephesians 4:1-16, John 6:24-35

There are many great topics that we could discuss from today’s readings, but for today let us discuss the second reading which is from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. To remind you, Paul is writing to urge the people to live out their calling from God no matter what that calling is because they are the Body of Christ in the world.

Paul’s message from today’s epistle is as true for us as it was for the Ephesians. We are each called to do something with our lives for we are the Body of Christ in the world. We are sometimes called to things we do not understand or feel uncomfortable with.  

When I started college I felt like I was being called to be a teacher. With this in mind I began to pursue a teaching degree and helped at church as a Sunday School teacher. During my sophomore year I started to feel like my call was changing from the education of children to the education of all in the church, but I was not sure if it was something I could really do. Over the next three years I tried to take more of a leadership role in the church to see if I did have the gifts from God that help one to be a priest. 

The more I became involved the more I and others began to see these gifts in me. Upon graduating with my bachelors’ degree I could have been starting my career as an educator but instead I am chose to follow my true calling and continue my education by going to seminary. 

We are called not to be successful, but simply to be faithful. 

Being faithful means following what God pulls you towards.  For me this meant attending more school while my peers and fellow graduates began new careers. For some in this congregation this may be within their professional field. For example, a teacher helping as a Sunday School teacher or an accountant helping with the financial workings of the church. For others it may be something outside their realm of comfort such as working with the youth group when they do not have any children of their own, or leading a group that they have previously just been a member of. 

When we follow what God calls us to, that is when we can make the most difference.

This reminds me of a story that is very close to my heart. 

One day, a man was walking along the shore; he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was a little girl, and that she was not dancing but was reaching down, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean. As he came closer he called out "Good morning young lady! May I ask what you’re doing?" The little girl paused, looked up, and replied "I’m throwing these starfish into the ocean." "Why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?" asked the man. The little girl replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die."

The man thought about the girl’s foolish sense of optimism and said, "Young lady, there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish covering every mile. You can't possibly make a difference!" Just then, the little girl looked at the man, bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it hit the water, she looked at him in the eyes and said, "I made a difference for that one."

In this story the little girl sees a need in the world and recognizes in herself how to fill that need. 

Even though she will not be able to throw all of the starfish back into the ocean she is determined to try help as many as she can. Today’s reading challenges us to see the gifts we have that can build up the body of Christ and help as many as we can.  Just like the little girl trying to save the starfish helps the greatness of the ocean, so to do our individual gifts help the body of Christ.

Building up the body of Christ does not mean you have to do or be something extraordinary. 

Simple acts like taking a cup of soup to someone who needs it, making a phone call, picking up trash around the church grounds, or listening to the needs of a friend all help the body of Christ to grow and work properly.

Our small individual acts come together with the acts of other Christians to build up the body of Christ. Just as God is active in every nook and cranny of creation so to does God use people to make sure people are fed, clothed, comforted, educated, protected, etc. God’s call to each and every one of us should not be pared down to a job or occupation because this would mean wide stretches of our human experience would be outside of God's providence.  Instead we can and should look at God’s call for us not only as a call to work but also to friendship, family life, and citizenship.

Today’s reading points out that we all have different gifts that help “to equip the saints for their work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.”  For many of us, our gift may be to live a compassionate and generous life.  One of the simplest things God asks us to do is to go out into the world and extend God’s love to those around us.  We can influence those around us and often do this without knowing the extent of our influence.  There is a saying that is attributes to Saint Francis of Assisi, “You may be the only Gospel your neighbor will ever read.” In high school a friend chose to invite me to church, and because of his willingness to share God’s love, I am here today. 

So what does all of this mean for you and for All Saints’? It means that you can build up the body of Christ by being involved and by being a friend. By using your gifts to help with a group or by figuring out what your gifts might be by trying something new. All of our programs start back up in September and I encourage you to take advantage of these opportunities to extend your relationships and discover or build up the gifts God has blessed you with.