Matthew 21:23-32
Philippians 2:1-13
“Make My Joy Complete”
Preached Sunday, October 1, 2023
Have you ever not wanted to do something you should do, something that would be good, for you, for the world, for God…you just didn’t want to do it, but then you did it anyway?
In movies and books we call this the reluctant hero trope. Frodo Baggins who wanted a quiet life in the Shire but instead gave up everything to bring the ring to Mordor, ultimately defeating evil, and saving the world. Spiderman didn't want to be a hero but as his dying Uncle Ben told him, “With great power comes great responsibility.” Shrek, who just wanted to protect his swamp, and ended up protecting all fairy tale creatures.
But this isn’t just in movies - our world is full of people who have changed the shape of our world for the better - but it was not something they would have chosen for themselves. Malala Yousafzai (YOU-saf- za) just wanted to go to school and for other girls to be able to go to school, instead she got shot by the Taliban, thrust into the spotlight, and became an advocate for girls’ and womens’ education everywhere. Oskar Schindler of the famous movie “Schindler’s List” but also a real life person, was originally motivated by profit, hoping to make some money during WWII, and instead ended up saving thousands of lives and spending his entire fortune on bribes to be able to protect and save the lives of Jewish people. John Wesley, founder of the Methodist movement, reluctantly went to a Bible study on Aldersgate Street - he didn’t want to be there! But while there he felt God strangely warming his heart, convicting him that God loved him - yes, even him! And the world was never the same after that - and we are here today as United Methodists because he reluctantly went to Bible study.
And of course, the Bible is full of reluctant disciples. Moses said, anyone but me! But he went and led people out of Egypt anyway. Jonah said, heck no - and ran in the opposite direction, but he brought God’s message to Nineveh anyway. Esther didn’t want to bring the case of the Hebrew people before the king, but she did anyway - saving her people. Peter denied Jesus three times - and yet he faithfully built God’s church and became a martyr anyway. Even Jesus said, “take this cup from me” but he went to the cross anyway.
I’ll ask again: Have you ever not wanted to do something you should do, something that would be good, for you, for the world, for God…you just didn’t want to do it, but then you did it anyway?
This is the theme of the parable of the two sons that Jesus tells in today’s Gospel lesson. Both sons were asked by their father to go and work. One said, “Yes, I will go!” but then didn’t make good on his word. The other said, “No, I will not go.” but then changed his mind and went. Jesus asks his listeners, “Which of the two sons did what their dad wanted them to do?” The answer, of course, was the son who said no but went anyway.
This short parable helps illustrate that, while God cares about our words and intentions - Jesus cared an awful lot about our actions, what we do. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus doesn’t tell people to “Go and be” or “Go and believe.” He tells them “Go and do.”
In the passage immediately before our reading today, Jesus curses a fig tree that has not borne fruit. One of those passages that can leave us scratching our heads. Like, were you hungry, Jesus? Is this one of those Snickers commercials? You’re not yourself when you’re hungry - eat a Snickers. No, the fig tree is acting as a metaphor for Jesus and his disciples. Jesus is frustrated with those who say they know him but they don’t act on it, they don’t bear fruit. It harkens back to an earlier conversation Jesus had in Matthew 7: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.”
And so, it wasn’t the son who said yes and then didn’t do his father’s will, but the son who said no and then did - he is the one who did the will of his father - even if he didn’t say what his father wanted him to say.
So now let’s bring in the Good News today, the encouragement that I want to draw from this passage and share with you: Even if you don’t want to do what God is asking you to do… Even if you don’t want to share your faith with others; even if you don’t want to step out of your comfort zone and serve the marginalized; even if you don’t want to change your routines, your opinions, your mind to make room for better love of God and neighbor; even if you don’t want your church to adapt to a changing world to reach new people with the Gospel…even if you say “no - I don’t want to” but then you do anyway - YOU are doing the will of God. Even if you say “no - I don’t want to” but then you do anyway - God will work through you, honestly, God will work DESPITE you - to make God’s self known to the world AND to you. And then, if you say “no, I don’t want to” and then do anyway - then the attitude and the joy of doing God’s will, will follow.
Here are some examples from my own life: I didn’t want to go to the weekend pop-up homeless shelter and eat dinner with our siblings experiencing homelessness - but I did. And in them, I saw Christ and was humbled. I didn’t want to sit down and have a conversation with a parishioner who disagreed with me on inclusion of lgbtq individuals in the life of the church, but I did, and we both came out of that conversation with a greater understanding of and love for each other. I didn’t want to submit to the vow of itinerancy, pack up my home, and move my family - but I did and I’m discovering how deeply God is calling me to serve the people of Boardman UMC.
There are so many more examples, I’m sure. Perhaps you are thinking of times in your own life where you didn’t want to, but did, and then got to experience the joy of seeing God at work through you and yes, even despite you.
In our reading from Philippians today, it quotes part of what we have come to call the Kenosis hymn, possibly a hymn of the early church that describes how Jesus, who was God, humbled himself, left all his privileges behind, emptied himself, and became human, became one of us. We too are called to humble ourselves and empty ourselves - empty ourselves of our reluctance, our unwillingness, our fears - whatever it is that holds us back from being doers of God’s will, whatever holds us back from bearing fruit. We are called to empty ourselves so that in emptying ourselves of that which holds us back, we would create room, opening ourselves up to God. By going, by doing - we are opening ourselves up to seeing Christ in those we serve, those who serve alongside us, in all of our neighbors. By emptying ourselves of what holds us back, we are opening ourselves up to joy. When we go and do - even if we don’t want to or are unsure - and actually especially if we go and do, go and serve, outside of our comfort zone - we open ourselves up to God and the joy that comes from experiencing Christ at work in this world. And that joy that is born out of stepping out and doing, even if we do it reluctantly, that joy is multiplied within and around us - so that, the next time we are called to go and do - we won’t have that reluctance, or we won’t have as much reluctance.
When we go and do the will of God - with reluctance or with eager joy - God will shape us in love, and use us for love, over and over, until in Christ, our joy is made wholly complete.
And so, I will ask you one more time:
Have you ever not wanted to do something you should do, something that would be good, for you, for the world, for God…you just didn’t want to do it, but then you did it anyway? And in doing so, have you experienced the joy of seeing Christ at work in our world? May we all experience that joy.
Amen.
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