Year A Proper 17 Matthew 16:21-28

If someone were to ask “What do you hold most dear?” each of us would probably have an immediate answer. At the top of the list would most likely be family, children, spouse, good health, the ability to be independent. Some people cling to things of much less importance - objects, possessions, wealth. But then we might be asked, “What would you die for?” Answers do not come as quickly. The top of the list would probably be the same, family, children, spouse – but then it gets complicated.

What guides us as we choose our favourite things or those for which we would give up our lives? The bedrock on which we base our choice is always the same – we choose what we love the most.

Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; he led his flock beyond the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed. Then Moses said, “I must turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why the bush is not burned up.”

We know this scene, from Sunday School colouring books, to paintings by great masters, to the ever improving special effects of movies – we’ve seen the burning bush. It makes it a little difficult to put ourselves in Moses sandals and to grasp his first response to what he sees. It’s obvious that Moses does not know that this is an appearance by God. He’s simply doing his daily work, out with the sheep, when he spots a bush that seems to burn – yet, there is no sound of wood cracking and the leaves are not curling up and becoming first brown and then ash.

In his place, I’m not sure if we would be so casual about just stepping aside to take a look, but it is clear Moses isn’t afraid, just curious. And then God speaks! One minute things are interesting, and then this voice booms from nowhere and identifies itself as the Voice of God. In a matter of seconds Moses must have gone from curiosity to terror. This is the moment when God calls Moses to become a prophet and somehow, Moses manages to respond. And he said, “Here I am.”

Then two things happen – first God tells Moses what is wanted – that he, Moses shall go to Pharaoh and bring God’s people out of Egypt. Moses’ first thoughts turn to himself, and he puts this question to God. “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt? God could have offered a long and convoluted answer.

We all know Moses’ story. He has called himself "an alien residing in a foreign land" or, as we may be more accustomed to hearing it, a “stranger in a strange land”. But he is a man who has never really been at home anywhere. Raised by his Hebrew mother, he was adopted by Pharaoh's daughter and given an Egyptian name. Although he tries to intervene to help his kinfolk, the Hebrews, he ends up murdering an Egyptian and being rejected by his own. He flees Egypt and the mess he had created there, only to be identified as an Egyptian by the women he meets at the well in Midian. At the moment in today’s reading, when God calls him, Moses has gone from the adopted son of royalty, to shepherding flocks (a less than prestigious job!), working for his father-in-law.

In response to Moses’ question, “Who am I?”, God recounts none of this. Instead, He reassures Moses of His continued Presence and support. Moses’ past is not the point. God has chosen this moment in Moses’ life to call him. After asking his first question of God, “Who am I?” – Moses turns to a second one. Who are You? If I come to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?

In response, God gives Moses a gift, the sort of gift one would only give to a beloved person. God gives Moses His Name. To repeat something I’ve said before, in the Bible, it is clear that the ancient Hebrews believed that to know someone’s name was to have power with that individual, which is why it is so amazing when Moses asks God “who shall I say sent me?” – God actually answers him. “Say that, ‘I am’ has sent me.” You just don’t give that sort of power to anyone. You give that power to someone you trust, someone who means as much to you as you do to yourself, someone you love.

This is the best thing that any one person can offer to another – their trust, their complete trust, and their love, laying their life on the line. But for the recipient, with such a gift comes responsibility. For such a gift brings with it the desire and responsibility to be worthy of it, no matter what the cost.

Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.

Once again, God has given people His name, it is “Jesus”, and not only that, He has come to dwell among people, working with them, suffering with them, rejoicing with them. The disciples love Jesus, their leader, their friend. The worst thing that can happen to someone we love is their death, and a death by execution – what could be worse?

“God forbid it, Lord!” says Peter, “This must never happen to you.”

These words from today’s reading are Peter’s impulsive response to the devastating news that Jesus – his friend, healer and teacher, beloved and more than beloved, his divine Lord and Savior – would suffer. Must suffer, be killed and be raised. Peter, like most of us, reacts to the idea of suffering and death with fear and denial.

It is interesting that just before this conversation in today’s’ Gospel, Jesus has asked His disciples, “Who do people say that I Am?” And it has been Peter who has correctly identified Jesus, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” But now, as the reality of what comes next dawns – Peter is the first to want to deny it. We would surely feel the same. No one wants someone they love so much, they revere so much, to die – and certainly not to be arrested, tortured, and executed.

Jesus reply is intense and startling: “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”

“Not on divine things but on human things.” And here we are today in terribly troubled times – times when we want people to be safe, and life to calm down, for demonstrations, peaceful and otherwise, to cease, for illness to be conquered and cured – and instead the One who has given us His Name asks us to be trustworthy and faithful. For those of us who follow Jesus, who call Him Lord, this is what love is about, not returning to the “old normal”, not filling our minds with human worries and fears, but, sensitive to the needs and fears of others, doing His work in the present moment.

Though it may not have seemed like it at the time, like Moses, at our baptism we stepped away from the normal flow of things to be embraced by the fiery Holy Spirit. That ceremony is filled with happiness – but the promises made are deep and mysterious, that we will live for God and love Him and His Son, and that we can be trusted to do so no matter the cost. God calls us to bear the problems, the trials, even the suffering that come with doing His work and His will – and to not falter. At our baptism this is what we agreed to do.

What do you treasure most - for what would you lay down your life? Certainly God has shown us that He loves us, so much so that He was willing to die for us. Does He ask the same of us? The early Christians martyrs knew without question that they might be called to die for their faith, and did so. And, yes, God expects the same willingness from us. Fortunately, in these modern times, He doesn’t often ask us to die for Him, but He does expect us to live for Him.

What do you hold most dear? To what have you dedicated your life? Have you chosen to value most the things of this world or the things of God? You can answer that question by simply paying attention to your actions and seeing how much love, and how much prayer, you put into everything you do – not just for family and friends, but for everyone.

Certainly, in these difficult times, it isn’t always easy to faithfully fulfill our baptismal promises, to love unconditionally, to do the hard work, the painful work, the work we promised God we’d do. But this is our calling. One minute our lives may be merely interesting, but in the next moment, the moment God chooses, He will have something He wants us to do, something that may not be easy.

Jesus tells us, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.”

And though our lives may be made more difficult or more complicated or less comfortable because we are trustworthy and faithful, Jesus promises us, “For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done.”

Let us pray:

O Lord, give us wise, self-controlled, patient, understanding, devout, faithful, and courageous hearts. Fill our souls with devotion to your service, and strength against all temptations; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.