Sermon Ash Wednesday Text: 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 – Be reconciled NOW

 Sermon Ash Wednesday

Text: 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 – Be reconciled NOW

 

It was just before Ash Wednesday last year when a fresh lockdown began and we had to cancel this service.

One of the things that we had hope Covid and lockdowns would have provided for us would be a reevaluation of life and what is truly important. Maybe not being able to see friends and family who lived outside of the 5km radius would make us hunger for visiting them when restrictions were lifted. Maybe if there had been some previous hostilities it would be a time to be reconciled when restrictions lifted.

 

We had really hoped that with churches being shut and Holy Communion being so scarce that it would have created an eager hunger to worship back at church.We had hoped that it would have revived that sentiment in Paul’s writing today - now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation – because none of us knew when the next time would be that we would be able to share the sacrament together – when we would be able to worship together, and once we did resume, when the next lockdown would begin.

 

And so as we returned – and still with clouds hanging over our head till the 2nd lockdown, then 3rd, 4th, 5th – every moment we gathered together was special – was sacred – that NOW is the time to celebrate our time together. And still now as many people are unable to have freedom of seeing loved ones in certain surroundings, the relationships we have with each other should be so special that we can even overlook grievances that kept us apart – to be reconciled with one another just as Paul urges us to be reconciled to God. But, alas, our memories are fleeting as life gets back to some sort of normality our old ways return. I’m too busy for church. I’m too busy to catch up.

 

It seems that it’s only when we cannot do things that we actually value them the most and even fight for them. I mean, all those people that were fighting and arguing that churches should be open – where are they? Sadly as normality returns so does our busyness that puts God on the backburner until we need him or can’t have him. It was a constant problem for Israel. They would worship other gods and then God would punish them by allowing enemies to oppress them – they would cry out to God – he would send a leader to bring them liberty – then they would start worshipping other gods again and the cycle continued over and over again.

 

The reality is, however, that we need God always – in good times and in times of difficulty. In times of plenty and in times of need. That’s why Paul says – NOW is the day of salvation. That’s why Paul urges us - on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. Not just when you need him – but always. But, the reality is – we need God always – it’s just when there are good times that we feel we don’t need him.

 

In this 40 day journey through Lent we are encouraged to focus on our relationship with God. So much of our lives are consumed with focusing on ourselves. As damaging as the restrictions through Covid were on us they did allow us to reflect on what was important in our lives when they were taken away from us. Now that things have sort of returned to normal it is easy to slot back into our regular way of life. So in these 40 days we are invited to journey with Jesus to the cross and examine our relationship with God. To examine what it is that inhibits our reconciliation with God. Because may, whatever is inhibiting our reconciliation with God is preventing us from being reconciled with one another.

 

This is the background for what Jesus says in our gospel reading where the focus of each of the people was on themselves rather than God. So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you – don’t let the focus be on YOU. "And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. The focus was on them rather than God. "And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, so that the focus is on you. Let the focus remain on God. Store up riches in heaven not on earth.

 

As we journey from Covid and still through Covid our Gospel reminds us that our riches on earth are fleeting. We have seen firsthand how earthly things can be whisked away from us in an instant and without any control by ourselves. But our treasures in Heaven cannot be touched. Our treasures in heaven are where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal.

When our focus is away from ourselves and what God provides we discover that our lives are filled to the brim and in fact overflowing. As Psalm 23 says - You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. As much as the world can try to take away our riches God always overcomes. As Paul points our: We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see-- we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything. But when our focus is on ourselves – praying to be seen by others – giving so that others see and praise us – fasting and looking somber so people have pity on us – Jesus says you have received your reward and it is a reward that can rust, decay and be stolen from you. But not God’s treasures that he has stored in your heart.

 

So as we journey these 40 days with Jesus may we reflect on our heavenly treasures so we are not overcome by the burdens of our everyday lives because the one who had no sin became our sin so that we could become his righteousness – and there is no greater treasure than being right with God. So let us be reconciled to God now because today is the day of our salvation in Jesus Christ our Lord.