Sunday, January 29, 2012 -- Health and Human Service Sunday

A WEEK WITHOUT FOOTBALL?

Matthew 16:13-20

   For many Americans the world changed dramatically in 1980. That was the year that ESPN began to broadcast sports 24 hours a day, seven days a week. What had until then been an occasional enjoyment—watching a sporting contest on television—soon became an expected, all-the-time occurrence.

   Of all sports, the one that increased in popularity and exposure most of all as a result of ESPN as well as other networks vying to broadcast every game—was football, and specifically the National Football League. In this current season they’ve had a month of exhibition games and 17 weeks of regular season games. Then, during the last three weeks the NFL had what they call the “Playoffs”—ten games over three weekends, and timed in their broadcasts so that viewers could watch every one of those games.

   This of course has now led to the exciting situation of having only two teams remaining—and they will play a game that they guarantee will be so great it can only be called “Super!” The problem, though, is that to give this “super” game a proper build-up, there is not a playoff game or even a regular season NFL game on television today. And across our great land I am sure there are literally millions of people asking, “What am I going to do with myself?”

   “What am I going to do with myself? What is important enough to get my attention when the usual diversions are suddenly missing? And—can anything be so important as to get and then hold my attention from then on?”

   This is largely what Jesus is asking His disciples in this morning’s Scripture lesson. As we follow the Gospel of Matthew to this point, Jesus has called His disciples and they have now been with Him for some time. To say the least they have heard and seen some rather remarkable things. Much of what Jesus has done and taught has had the effect of drawing large crowds, and the disciples have often found themselves in the midst of these crowds.

   At the time of this morning’s passage, Jesus has taken His disciples away to where He can talk just with them. He has decided it’s time for them to have a “heart to heart talk.” “Who do people say that I am?” He asks. The disciples may not be sure what Jesus is hoping to learn here, but they answer His question. “Some people say you are John the Baptist, and some say you are Elijah or Jeremiah or one of the other prophets,” they tell Him.

   Then Jesus changes the question—and the tone of this conversation. “But who do you say that I am?” He asks. Without hesitation, Simon Peter blurts out his response. “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus praises Peter for this response as He has praised no one else to this point. “Blessed are you,” Jesus declares, “for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.”

   What others have been saying about Jesus—that He is John the Baptist or Elijah or Jeremiah or another prophet—is most likely what these disciples also have been thinking—that Jesus may actually be one of the forerunners for the Messiah. That is who all the people named here were believed to have been—ones who would predict or pave the way for the Messiah. Then the Messiah would come to their world some day.

   To be that close to someone who was that close to such greatness—this was as much as most people, including these disciples, could imagine. Perhaps it was as much as they wanted and no more. But to be actually in the presence of the Messiah and a disciple of the one who was important enough to demand all their attention and not allow them simply to drift to their usual diversions—that would be the greatest challenge there could be.

    Now Peter has dared to say it—and Jesus knows that only God could have led Peter to make such a life-changing declaration.

   Here we are on the first Sunday without a regular season or playoff NFL game in more than five months—a rather shocking occurrence for many people.   I’ve heard stories about how addicted to televised football some people become. I don’t know if all these stories are true on not—but here is one that I know is true.

   I often sit with couples who try to tell me what it was that had caused them to realize they were drifting apart—to have to face that their commitment to each another did not have the priority it needed to have. One such conversation I have had involved the woman going into labor with their first child at the time that a football game was starting on television. Her contractions were now at the frequency that the doctor had told them meant they should get to the hospital!

   “But the game just started!” he appealed to her. “You can stall—you can wait a couple hours—can’t you?” “I don’t believe it,” she had cried out in response, “especially since what you are watching is an exhibition game!” “Yes, okay, so it’s an exhibition game,” he agreed, “but it’s the Dallas Cowboys!” Now, as they got to this part of the story, he turned to me for support. “She knows how I feel about the Dallas Cowboys!” he exclaimed, waiting for me to agree that in this case this was understandable and it would have been the proper thing for her to find a way to stall for at least an hour or two.

   I want to assure anyone in this room right now who has ever gone into labor and wanted to get to the hospital on time that I did not support him in this! Of course, I am not a Cowboys fan and I do have to wonder if I would have been as strong in my ruling if he had told me he was watching the Detroit Lions—my team—at the time!

   Here we are—on this day without football—and I find myself wondering about the challenges that many people must be facing. Suddenly there is time available! What should we do? Should we actually talk? Should we—maybe—spend time together?

   Three and a half weeks ago, Harold Summers, a devout and loving and much loved man, died after a brief illness. As I talked with his family we decided that the best time to hold his memorial service would be in the later afternoon of Saturday, January 7.

   Soon after we made that decision and began making plans for the service, I realized that the time we had chosen would be during the first NFL playoff game—and that this particular game would even involve an Ohio team, the Cincinnati Bengals. I have to confess to you that I found myself wondering—“Will people come to church to remember Harold’s life and to worship God—at that time?”

   Did Jesus also wonder? Did He wonder whether His disciples would ever recognize Him and make a true and lasting commitment? One thing is certain. Jesus was filled with joy as Peter made the statement he did. And another thing is certain. I was filled with joy as people not only chose to worship God in thanksgiving for Harold’s life on that day—but there were far more people in attendance than I had thought there might be even before I realized the timing of the football game. And nearly everyone who attended stayed afterward as well for the meal and further support of Harold’s family. People made the right choice.

   Jesus goes on to tell Peter that he is the rock on which Jesus will build His church, and that He will give Peter the keys to the kingdom of heaven. The Catholic Church says that in saying this Jesus was naming Peter the first Pope of the church. I do not believe that this was what Jesus was saying here, although I agree that He was most certainly saying that this was a very memorable moment.

   In this moment Peter knows and declares what is most important of all. In this moment Peter makes the right choice.

   What Jesus’ church—and even more importantly God’s kingdom—would be build upon are people who recognize and profess who He is—the Messiah, the Son of the Living God—and in their recognition then make the right choices in their daily living about what is most important. There are many times when people must make choices between attending worship and taking part in or watching a sports contest. We all know about youth sports teams on Sunday mornings and, yes, I find this to be a serious concern. I am talking, however, about so much more than only this. I am talking about doing what is right even when all the voices around us are saying something else. I am talking about not only saying we are followers of Jesus, but daring to live out those priorities. This is the commitment on which Jesus’ kingdom is based.

   Our Gospel story ends in a way that certainly seems strange. Having been so pleased that Peter made the declaration he did, Jesus now asks His disciples not to tell anyone about it. Why is this? Wouldn’t Jesus want them to spread the word and tell everyone?

Jesus knows that each person—every individual who may encounter Him—must have this realization and make this statement and commitment for him or herself.

   What is important enough for me not only to give my attention—but my commitment?

   This is the question Jesus asks His disciples and the question He asks every one of us. Each of us must make that determination and commitment for ourselves—not only of what we will say, but of all we then will do.

Rev. Harold Steindam
Westerville Community United Church of Christ
January 29, 2012
Health and Human Service Sunday

back to top

Posted on Sun, January 29, 2012 by Harold Steindam