There was a show on public radio a few years ago “What d’ya know?” The answer was, of course, “not much.” As human beings we are in a constant process of discovering what we don’t know. Over the millennia we’ve learned that the world is not flat, that the earth is not the center of the universe and that chocolate is actually very good for you. (I made that last one up.) And the pace of things we have to unlearn is increasing. It turns out we should not have taken a drink straight from the hose, that helmets are necessary to ride a bicycle and that the five second rule for food falling on the floor is a myth. “Everybody knows that” might be true in commercials but not in life. A ball of confusion, that’s what the world is today, heh, heh. Is there anything we can say we do know for sure? For all of you of a certain generation, the Temptations sang “I know you’re gonna leave me” and the Exciters “I know something about love.” For you poetry lovers W.H. Auden says, “I know nothing, except what everyone knows – if there when Grace dances, I should dance.” And you movie buffs know where the bodies are buried. So we can know some things for certain.
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus tells us that what we think we know about God needs rethinking as well. God is deeper and wider than we suppose. God’s wisdom is mysterious and hidden according to St. Paul. Jesus takes the things we think we know about the ways of God – don’t kill, don’t commit adultery, don’t lie – and teaches us what we should really know about those commandments. Our Lord wants us to understand that the wisdom of God is not about doing the least you can get away with but doing as much as you can. When we say, “I know I have to keep the commandments” we imagine some list of things we can go down and check off. Did this. Didn’t do that. Oh, shouldn’t have done that. The problem with this way of thinking as Jesus describes in the gospel, is that it doesn’t take into account the boundless nature of divine love. What a mighty God we serve. Think of it this way: do we treat God like the IRS or like our Valentine? You know how to treat the IRS: you figure out how little you can get away with in paying your taxes. Nothing extra. But if God is more like your sweetheart on Valentine’s Day, you don’t trying to give the least – is a card enough? Or maybe some candy? Roses? Rather, you do all that you can to make the day special. Jesus’ teaching about God requires that we give not the least of ourselves but the most.
Look how that works in the concrete. Jesus says don’t rest content that you didn’t kill someone – although on certain days when you’re on your last nerve, that is quite an accomplishment. Rather, treat everyone with kindness and respect. Everyone should know that you view them as precious, made in God’s image, and worthy of a kind word and a warm heart. Again, Jesus says don’t be content merely that you didn’t commit adultery. Rather, don’t even think of anyone as an object. People aren’t there for your gratification but meant to be given the respect that is due them. Every individual has an eternal destiny, after all. And don’t imagine that you have surpassing righteousness when you do not tell a lie – although in the days of fake news and alternative facts that is an accomplishment in itself. No, Jesus says, our language must be simple and straightforward. Say what you mean and mean what you say since that is how God deals with us.
What we know, Jesus wants us to understand, is how good God is. God’s goodness then shapes our actions. We can throw out the window the “wisdom of this age,” conventional wisdom telling us to look out for number one. Jesus teaches us to look beyond our selves and see what the wisdom of God requires. Think what that looks like.
You have heard it said, select quote can get you the right kind of life insurance. But I say to you, the Bible can get you eternal life insurance. Instead of worrying about how you will spend you declining years you’d better be concerned about what you need to do to get into heaven.
You have heard it said, “There’s no such thing as a free lunch.” But I say to you, with God there is a free lunch. God blesses us because God is good, not because we are good. God’s gifts of grace are there for the asking – we don’t need to earn or even deserve it.
You have heard it said, “Chevy trucks are like a rock.” But I say to you, it is faith that is like a rock. Jesus re-named Simon to be Peter, the rock, on which our faith rests secure. Yes, the Church has done things it shouldn’t have done and not done thing it should. But because of the rock foundation of faith we are able to grow in wisdom, age and grace.
You have heard it said, “American First.” But I say to you, God first. God is also last and God is always. All that we are comes from God and goes toward God. We must make every decision because it reflects the will of God in the world. If we are doing anything which does not reflect God’s merciful love to a hurting world we need to re-think it. Our one desire and choice should always be that which comes from God.
You have heard it said, “Coke is the real thing.” But I say to you, Jesus is the real thing. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. Jesus brings us healing when we are hurting. Jesus extends forgiveness when we need it. Jesus helps us carry our cross when things are too much for us. Jesus is the best, the most faithful, the most loving friend we could ever hope for. Jesus is the fountain of joy. When you know Jesus you know all that you need to know for happiness.
