Trusting the Catcher

SERMON

July 8, 2001

Matthew 6:25-34

One of the primary recurring themes in the scriptures is about the creative power of God beginning with the very first verses of the OT…In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

And I think that for many of us this is one of the easiest teachings in the scriptures for us to believe.

Jeri and I spent the 4th of July up in Vermont and New Hampshire visiting my daughter and her family.

We drove through the green mountains, saw so many beautiful rushing streams, took walks in the woods and listened to the birds sing.

Sooner or later when I find myself in that kind of setting, I can’t help but reflect upon the magnificent power of God. And I think many of us are this way.

I don’t think its that hard for us to believe in God’s creative power. Nature and the universe constantly remind us about it.

I think there’s another scriptural teaching which if harder for us to believe.

This is the teaching about the presence of God.

Do you remember a few Sundays ago I gave to you a short ancient Celtic prayer that went like this:

GOD BEFORE ME

GOD BEHIND ME

GOD ON MY RIGHT HAND 

GOD ON MY LEFT HAND

GOD ABOVE ME

GOD BENEATH ME

GOD WITHIN ME. 

Now I believe that we can deal with this scriptural truth intellectually, but I think it’s very hard to make it our own in a practical 24/7 way.

To believe that God is with us not only as we pray, and do acts of charity or stand in awe before nature… God is also completely with us as we ride the subway and as we work in our work places…God is completely with us in our sexuality, as we struggle and battle with each other, as we wrestle with our demons. 

I think that for many of us it is very difficult to  believe in the presence of God with us intimately at all times and in all places.

But I think that it’s even harder to believe this.

It’s to believe in a very deep way that the omnipotent, omnipresent God can and will take care of us…that God can and will take care or moi. 

That God loves us this much and 

we can trust God this much.

To believe that our lives are literally in God’s hands.

To believe that no matter what our situation is,

financially, relationally, vocationally, healthwise,

we are absolutely safe in the hands of God.

It’s to believe that nothing in life or death can separate us from God’s love and God’s care.

Some of you might remember this story which I have read to you before. I told Jim I would read it today since it is one of his and Jeffry’s favorites.

The story comes from Henri Nouwen, the well known priest and writer. He made an enormous impact of the Christian Church and beyond while he lived. Nouwen’s story goes like this.

(read the story about trusting the catcher) 

Let us pray…….AMEN.