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April 11th, 2010

I was sitting at dinner this weekend with a friend who is also a pastor in town and our husbands.  We got to talking about church, like we always do, and what we were working on for Sunday.  I asked what she would say in a charge to confirmands, and before she could answer, both our husbands piped up with “CHARGE!” 

 We shook our heads at their antics, and then she said, “Tell them to stay on the journey.” 

In hindsight, I think both my friend and our husbands had it right.  And that’s what I want to say to you this morning, some mixture of “stay on the journey” and “CHARGE!” 

Your confirmation is meant to be your affirmation of what your parents chose for you as babies-- or for one of you, the commitment you’re making in being baptized today. 

It’s saying “yes” to God and to this community, to walking and loving and serving together. 

It’s choosing to live into the beautiful creation of God that you are. 

It’s walking with Jesus.  It’s opening yourself to the creative and re-creative power of the Spirit. 

So, to do all this you need to stay on the journey.  And, it’s going to take some umph, some boldness and excitement, and some commitment from you.  So, “CHARGE!”   

I’m convinced you’re up for the challenge you’re undertaking in choosing to be confirmed because of the time I’ve had with you over these past few months.  I’ve come to know you as smart, thoughtful, compassionate, and gifted individuals.  But, I’m further convinced by the passages from God’s word that you have chosen as your Ten Essentials, especially the ones that frame the service today. 

From those, I’ll draw four pieces of wisdom I hope will help you both stay on the journey and charge forth in God’s love for the world.     

The first comes from the Jesus’ teaching on where to build your house.  So word of wisdom #1… CHOOSE WHERE YOU LIVE (AND KEEP CHOOSING TO LIVE THERE). 

For me, this passage is about where and in whom you choose to build your foundation.  In Matthew’s gospel, it follows a long series of teachings by Jesus on living well and generously, forgiving others, being transparent before God and others, choosing what brings life and health, serving God instead of wealth, learning not to worry and to trust God, learning not to judge, giving your best to those in need, and living simply and well before God and with others.  All this is the rock, the foundation upon which we should build our houses- this is where we should live and keep choosing to live even when we slide off our foundation from time to time.
   
The second comes from the story of Jesus’ baptism.  Word of wisdom #2… KNOW YOURSELVES AS GOD’S BELOVED.

In this story, when Jesus takes the next step of faith (like with Confirmation), the Spirit descends, God shares God’s excitement and pleasure in this step, and God claims Jesus as beloved.  Know that that’s what God is doing here today too.  God’s Spirit is with you, and God is excited and pleased with you in this moment.  God is claiming you as beloved and valued and unique and gifted for what lies ahead for you on your journey.
   
The third word of wisdom comes from the Beatitudes.   It’s this... BE GOD’S MESSAGE OF LOVE FOR THE WORLD.

The Beatitudes come after Jesus has become famous for teaching and proclaiming the good news, for healing, and curing the afflicted.  Great crowds are following him everywhere, so he goes up to a mountain, and his disciples find him there.  Here, in a much more intimate setting, surrounded by the beauty of God’s creation, Jesus teaches those who are closest to him about the true, radical nature of his message, his Good News.  It is to be the message of those who have chosen to follow, those who choose to walk the path of Jesus, to love as he did, and to leave behind the distractions of the larger world, the false truths that do not bring real, abundant life. 

And here’s his message - Have hope.  Love is coming.  God’s kingdom is on its way in you if you choose to live and act and be in ways that bring God’s life to yourself and to others.  What you see now before you is not what is real or true or to be valued.  Find in yourself and in others what is really real and good and merciful and righteous.  Take care of yourself and others.  Open yourself to God and live in just ways.  Make peace.  Stand up for what is right and know that ultimately only God’s opinion of you matters.  And that opinion is that you are beautiful and good and talented and precious.

“Stay on the journey,” he’s saying.  And, “Charge forth in love.”  And you know what follows the beatitudes?  Here’s my interpretation: “You are the salt of the earth- you are the light of the world.  Don’t hide your flavor, the light you have to share with the world.  The world needs your unique spice, the illumination you bring.” 

Go and be God’s message of love for the world, Elliot, Kirsten, Phillip, Adam, and Austin.     

The final word of wisdom comes from Psalm 150.  It’s literally the final word of the Psalms, the end of the book.  And it’s a word of gratitude - praising God for God’s immense goodness.  Thirteen times it tells us to praise God.  And not just with our mouths, with LOUD clashing cymbals, and the whole of our lives.  It’s says, “Let everything that breathes praise God.”  Friends, that’s you.  Here’s your word of wisdom from the Psalms… LET YOUR LIVES PRAISE GOD. 

And do it with energy and excitement.  And do it loud and in the way that speaks to you and brings you life.  Live your love out loud, the good news you have discovered, the truth and beauty that comes from within, because this is God’s Spirit that lives in you.  Let it break forth with the whole of your life.
  
Elliot and Kirsten and Phillip and Adam and Austin… choose where you live and keep choosing it, know yourselves as God’s beloved, be God’s message of love for the world, and let your lives praise God. 

Stay on the journey, and… charge!
 
And you will do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with God, as the prophet Micah says to you and us all this morning. 

May this be the beauty, the joy, and the story of your lives.  Amen.