Title: “The Implanted Word”
9/03/06 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time Yr. B
James 1:17-27
Rev. Joy R. Haertig
Last week was “Ask the Pastor” Sunday, those of you that were here may remember that I suggested that it might be fun to have an “ask the congregation” Sunday this week. So I am going to do that by posing one question to you to ponder and then share briefly if you are so moved. But first some background -
One author I read this week on the book of James admitted that it was one of his least favorite books in the Bible because it was just a collection of pithy sayings that we should all know anyway.
I found this an interesting evaluation, “sometimes I need to be reminded of the obvious”, I thought to myself. That in fact, I often need to be reminded of the obvious and not with too much fancy language either, just give me the heart of the matter, wake me up and give it to me straight.
But because James is a collection of “pithy sayings” I could easily preach a dozen sermons on just the passage we read today. But I will focus on only a couple. The first one is, “welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.”
This expression - “the implanted word” is a way of claiming that the divine is implanted within each of us. It is not something we go looking for out-there somewhere, it is something we learn to listen to, uncover and bring to blossom. (Often times with help from “out there”, but it certainly does not begin there.) This implanted word is what writer Matthew Fox calls “Original Blessing” rather than the idea of “Original Sin”.
Stoic philosophers believed that “reason was an indwelling, material power that linked each person to the universe.” Perhaps the writer of James is borrowing from their way of thinking but adding a God-twist to it. What the Stoic's might call “reason” and a “connection to the universe”, is what a Christian might call “the implanted word” that connects us to God.
James takes this image further by saying that the implanted word is not ultimately about talk but about listening and doing. Author Mary Jean Irion wrote: “Faith is not making religious-sounding noises in the daytime. It is asking your inmost self, questions at night - and then getting up and going to work.” Like Staci talked to the children about in her message this morning - it is one thing to wear t-shirts that proclaim “peace” or “save the trees”, it is quite another to actually do something about it.
Most of the people I know that have learned how to listen to their inner “implanted word” have discovered that Spirit did not lead them to do something they did not like to do or had no ability to do. Our heart-felt passions and gifts are the first sign of where we should direct our actions. We may not be perfect at it when we first begin, but we do find that we are able to give in a way that is meaningful and adds to the common good of God's precious world. The important part is stepping forward and trying.
So my question to you this morning is “how has the implanted word that is within you lead you to action or actions?” It might be an example of something you did or are currently doing, or it may be a more general manner in which you live each day.
There are no right or wrong answers. I am inviting you to speak from your heart about how your faith impacts your ACTIONS. I encourage you to not be embarrassed like you are tooting your own horn - (not that there is anything wrong with that) - you are witnessing to how God is moving through you.
Time of silence.
Sharing among the congregation. (About 20 people spoke)
Closing - Thank you.
Some thoughts: I remember something my dad said about his experience of working with Tent City in Woodinville, that just because you are “doing good” does not mean that people will support you or like you. The good you do may actually disgruntle others.
No matter where we are in our life may we search and discover meaningful ways to live our faith in actions. Not because we SHOULD or because it will make us popular, but because we recognize that the implanted word within our hearts and minds motivates us to give to the world around us regardless of what others think or even if we do not live long enough to see the positive results of our efforts.
Let us pray…