2 Epiphany (A) + Words matter + 1.15.17

(John the Baptist, by Titian)

M. Campbell-Langdell
All Saints, Oxnard

(Isaiah 49:1–7; Ps. 40:1–11; 1 Cor. 1:1–9; John 1:29–42)

He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God; *
many shall see, and stand in awe,
and put their trust in the Lord. (Ps. 40:3)

Words matter. We see this clearly in today’s scripture passages, a theme running like a stream through all of them. Words matter to Isaiah, called from the time he was in the womb to speak for God. Words matter to the psalmist, who will not hold back praise. And here, words matter to John the Baptist, who points to Jesus and says, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!”

In all of the classic paintings you may remember, there he is, John the Baptist in a hair shirt, looking a bit haggard and hairy himself, wiry from the diet of locusts and honey and desert rock scrambling. From a parched way of life. And this impressive figure points not to himself. But in the paintings he is always pointing to Christ: “Look here is the Lamb of God!”
And because words matter, we are to use our every word in a sense to point to Christ, too.

And for that task, I believe that kindness matters.

“What?” You may say to me. “What does John the Baptist have to do with kindness?” Surely he is remembered for so many other things-for bold witness, for calls to repent, for bravely being the first to announce the coming Kingdom of God that Jesus was ushering in. For calling us a brood of vipers. But saying John the Baptist brings to mind kindness sounds a bit like forgetting a lion is not a rabbit.

But I think it relates. Our words matter. They point to Christ, or they point elsewhere. They point to God, or they do not. Let me share a story.

When I saw the Parade magazine the other day in the paper, with its featured story focused on kindness, I will admit that the cynic in me wondered. What, they couldn’t find a celebrity to interview? Surely this is a fluff piece, meant to make us feel better. But then I read a story that surprised me- perhaps some of you saw it, too. It read:

“Daniel Lubetzky… not only understands the amazing ripple effect of kindness- it’s why he’s alive. His grandfather was on the brink of execution during the Nazi occupation of Lithuania when the janitor in his apartment building intervened. ‘I let you live because you would talk to me like a decent person,’ the janitor told him.”[1]

His grandfather’s life was saved because he talked to the janitor in his building like a decent person. Words matter tremendously. How we act and speak in the world either points to God, or it does not.

Now, you may be thinking right around now that this is a very Ayn Rand sort of sermon. That if the only reason words matter is to save our skins, then what kind of Christians are we? But I would posit that it is about saving ourselves, yes, but not about our individual salvation. If my skin is saved yet we are all perishing in the eternal sense, what kind of victory is that? Christ shows us a way to all be saved. But it really does take all of us.

I think this is something especially important to remember in today’s political climate, where because of division we hear many people valuing certain gifts over others, not glorying in the diversity we see all around us.

So here, I would like to remind us that Paul’s words matter:

“I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind-- just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you-- so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 1:4-7).”

Paul’s words here affirm that all the gifts are needed, all words and actions – all types of knowledge are needed in the building up of Christ’s kingdom.[2] Because if you remember, the folks in Corinth to whom Paul was writing were squabbling over the gifts that God had given them. Some thought speaking in tongues was the primo gift. Others leaned towards the interpretation end of things. And Paul said, “You dummies!” What good is being able to speak in tongues or to speak prophetically, if there is no one with the ability to understand? Or with the wisdom to interpret these gifts for the use of the community?” Because God never gives us gifts so that we can hoard them. Gifts are never given so that we can point to ourselves, or save our own skins.
Like John the Baptist, gifted with prophecy, we point to Christ.

And in the topsy-turvy logic of God’s Kingdom, in pointing to Christ, we more fully embody who God wants us to be. We live more fully into all of our gifts. This is a helpful reminder for us as we enter a season wherein we will lift up new lay leaders in the church. As you think and pray on those who are stepping forward as well as if you are called into a ministry yourself, don’t just think about the gifts you already know God has given you. But think about what the community needs—what the church needs, and what the world needs right now- and the Spirit may guide you to discover gifts you never knew you had.

As you discern these gifts, let us also lift up the gifts of others. By using words that affirm and that point to Christ. Let us not give up hope when the world seems bleak, because we know that God is faithful. God is faithful, and I trust, that if everyone lives into his or her unique gifts, and remembers that words matter, we can all work to save this world, to redeem its cruelties and to heal the earth, all with God’s help. Amen.

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[1] Paula Spencer Scott, “Resolution: Kindness: Let’s Make 2017 the Year of Being Kind,” Parade Magazine, January 1, 2017.

[2] Rolf Jacobson, Karoline Lewis and Matt Skinner, “Sermon Brainwave Podcast #520 – Second Sunday after Epiphany,” https://www.workingpreacher.org/brainwave.aspx?podcast_id=833 (Posted January 7, 2017).