A few months back I taught my first sermon – well, first to be longer than five minutes. I was very eager to teach my congregation. I have always found story an exciting format to tell the tail of grand adventures. With this being my first sermon that wasn’t for a compition or a class – yes I have been a part of competive preaching – I wanted to tell a great story, well at least my love for story.
When I was learning how to read I had a real hard time of it putting letters and sounds together; I have this genius mother, she bought me comic books and lots of them. I read more comic book volumes than my friends had read actual books. These pictures of dark shadows, superpowers, and the ability to imagine anything as possibility pushed my interest in learning. Because of this I began to have a very intriguing imagination.
In my back yard I could imagine shooting light beams out of my wrist cuffs that I would make from cardboard and I would fly by jumping supper high on my trampoline. My superhero alter ego’s name was unoriginal; but it was mine – the white knight (yes all the same characteristics of batman, the dark knight, with a nicer attitude and added powers) – boom, I was a hero.
Putting together thoughts together with the lectionary reading for that Sunday I remembered a book I had just purchased, “Practicing Resurrection” by Eugene Peter. I took an idea from this book and applied with the context of our scripture passage (1 Peter 1.3-9).
The idea that when we remember, and live in the fullness of forgiveness we take part in something bigger than us.
We take part in becoming a family of grace and peace.
We people who remember the stories of a carpenter king.
We remember the stories of a death that was not just, and of the sacrifice given.
We remember the challenges he sent to his people; Feed the Hungry, Clothe the naked, bring drink to the thirsty, protect the orphan and the widow.
The title became “The Importance of Story and Practicing Resurrection.”
This was the thought, the catalyst, behind my teaching.
I want to now, these months later, to challenge you dear reader to take a moment and remember.
Remember the stories of old. Remember their significance. Remember their weight. and Remember your story.
Grace and Peace be yours.
