Good works.

Proper 17, Year C

The Collect for the Day is recited at the start of every Communion service.  Collects are prayers. Prayers composed to focus our attention on themes  in the Bible readings. In today’s collect, we are asking God to foster our  faith so we can do good works. Proper 17 The Apostle Paul told the  Christians in Ephesus, 

…we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus so we can do  good works, the works God prepared (sic) us to do. Ephesians 2:10  

In today’s reading from Hebrews, Paul said  

…let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit  of lips that confess his name. Do not neglect to do good and to  share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.  Hebrews 12:15-16 

The Apostle James was more insistent, more forceful about good works.  He claims faith without works is dead.  

What good is it (sic.) if someone claims to have faith but has no  deeds? Can that sort of faith save them or others? Suppose a  brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food and one of you  says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does  nothing about their physical needs, what good are your words? In  the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is  dead. Some confess, “Jesus is Lord.” I say to them, show me your  faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.  James 2:14-18 

Good works are essential. They allow us to partner with God, to help  others, and save ourselves. If you wonder why there is so much injustice  and suffering in the world it is because people are failing or refusing to do  good works. Good works demonstrate that we believe in God and show  what we believe about God. In the Gospel lessons last week and this,  

Jesus is criticized for his good works. Last week, religious leaders were  angry with Jesus because he healed a women on the sabbath. His critics  were more concerned about religious practice than coming to the aid of a  woman who had suffered for 18 years. In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus is  dining at the home of a religious leader on the sabbath. His host and the  guests watch Jesus closely. With all eyes on him and everyone listening,  Jesus taught about good works. He said, 

When you host a meal, do not invite your friends or your colleagues  or your relatives or rich neighbors; they are likely to invite you in  return, and you will be repaid. When you host, invite the poor, the  crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because  they cannot repay you, you will be repaid by God who sees your  good works. Luke 14:12-14 

When I grew up in the church, the priests and lay leaders did not  distinguish between faith and good work. I remember being urged to  attend church and pursue ministries as if there were indistinguishable.  Thankfully, mentors who guided me to and through the ordination process  clarified things. From them I learned that private prayer, Scripture reading  and worship established, maintained and nurtured faith and that good  works demonstrate faith. 

This distinction is important. The prophet Jeremiah rails against his  people in the first read today. They had failed to understand and live  according to this distinction. Their failure eventually lead them to worship  other gods. The people of Israel had slid down a slippery slope. First they  assumed acts of devotion (worship, study, private prayer, observance of  religious rules) where more important than the good works that aligning  their daily activities with who God is and what God does. God was slow to  anger, abounding in mercy, full of kindness and insisted upon justice, and forgave 70 times 7. Untethered from faith, their daily actions soon hitched  to other values. Some of those values were decent enough of. They  worked hard to make enough money for food, shelter and to donate  money to the synagogue and temple. They organized the government to  keep them safe from foreign enemies. But, before they knew it, they were  working to earn money to secure life styles they admired in others and  creating laws that allowed foreigners to do jobs they found undesirable  while controlling them so they could not become rivals. They failed to  treat foreigners in the manner God had treated them when they were  enslaved in Egypt or wandering in the wilderness. They no longer  performed their work tending herds, harvesting produce, or making  garments and shelter as stewardship; stewards caring for and using the  gifts God gave them. Their slipping and sliding shifted their focus to the  gods of money, success, and security. The God who created heaven and  earth, the God who liberated them from slavery, the God who guided them  through the wilderness to lands flowing with milk and honey was a name  they called, but no longer the God whose actions were reflected in their  daily lives. James said faith, of this sort, was dead because it lacked good  works. Jeremiah told his people their slide us down a slipper slope  resulted in idolatry. Jesus issued warnings. He declared, 

No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love  the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve both the God of heaven and earth and serve the gods of money, success and security (sic). Matthew 6:24 

When I visit members they describe how the good works of Christ Church  people drew them closer to God. They point to the delicious food and  warm welcome they experienced during fellowship hour. They regale me  with stories about the pageants and activities offered for their children.  They report being made to feel at home when they attended book  readings, concerts, rehearsals or recovery group meetings in the Carter  Room, Parish Hall or Sanctuary. They talk about the joy and delight you  showed to families bringing babies for baptism regardless of whether the  parents joined the church, were white or black, straight or gay. Hospitality  is, and has been, among the signature good works of Christ Church. 

This weekend Christ Church hosted comedians from the Harlem Comedy  Club and worshippers from St. David’s AME Zion Church. This summer  Christ Church hosted the Bay Street day camp, Sag Harbor Historical  Museum speakers, and 5 recovery groups. Next week a local author will  will read from his self-published book, The Ram in the Thicket. Like  Abraham and Sarah, who fed and sheltered strangers, you are entertaining  angels. Just as God blessed Abraham and Sarah for their good work, God  is blessing you. On Sunday, September 14 there will be a luncheon and  presentation to describe the ways in which God is both calling and  equipping us to do good works. Please look and listen for opportunities to  share Christ Church buildings with our neighbors. Look and listen for  every and any opportunity to “do good and to share what you have, for  such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” Hebrews 12:16