Sermon: "The Lens of Covenant Theology"
The Right Reverend Charles G. vonRosenberg
Third Bishop of East Tennessee

[This sermon by Bishop vonRosenberg was delivered using the following notes.]

The people of St. Thomas have certainly been kind to me and to my family since our arrival in Knoxville nearly six years ago. As some of you know, we lived in your rectory until we could find a place of our own. We certainly remember those times well and appreciate what you did for us. And, once again this morning, I am grateful for your warm welcome of Annie and of me.

In addition, I am grateful for your ministries exercised in this place and beyond. Surely, the people of St. Thomas have been active in recent weeks and months! Indeed, I give thanks that you live your lives according to the Baptismal Covenant that we have with God.

That Baptismal Covenant we will renew in a few minutes, along with our candidates for baptism, confirmation and reception. In the Baptismal Covenant, we state the faith that we share, and we affirm our intention to live Christian lives, following the example of our Lord.

In the midst of church challenges of our day, we can be tempted to divert our attention and energy away from what is basic to our faith. For that reason, as I travel about the diocese this year, I will uphold aspects of our ministry that focus on our mission as the Diocese of East Tennessee. That is, I intend to call special attention to those areas of mission and ministry that are consistent with our living the Baptismal Covenant that we have with God Almighty.

During the year to come, we will emphasize several diocesan ministries in particular. First, the Grace Point Camp and Retreat Center provides a wonderful resource for Christian nurture and for spiritual formation, for all Episcopalians in East Tennessee. Many of you from St. Thomas know of that resource and have taken advantage of it. Secondly, the development of lay ministries focuses our attention precisely on living lives consistent with the call of our Baptismal Covenant. Finally, outreach ministries with the people of Appalachia and with the native Americans in South Dakota give us practical ways to respond to Christ's call to love our neighbors - as well as to "seek and serve Christ in all persons," to "strive for justice and peace among all people" and to "respect the dignity of every human being."

The past year may have been one of trial, of sadness and of challenge for many Episcopalians - although not for all of us in East Tennessee. However, this year - with a concentration on the ministries I am suggesting - perhaps we can refocus our attention on the Baptismal Covenant. Let me suggest something else, too. If you take the first letters of those ministries - Grace Point, lay ministry development, Appalachia, and the Dakotas - then you may see that I am proposing a "glad" year for us in East Tennessee! On the one hand, I think we all need it. And, on the other hand, this will bring us in line with our Lord's call, as we live into the Baptismal Covenant. Therefore, may this indeed be a glad year for us!

On a broader scale, I want to suggest to you today that the lens of covenant theology offers a helpful and significant view of the Bible and of our faith. This morning we have considered the importance of the Baptismal Covenant in terms of our mission and ministry in the Diocese of East Tennessee. Further, I have suggested that our Baptismal Covenant with God provides us all with an important motivation and direction in leading Christian lives.

Also, the lens of covenant theology helps us as we consider the Gospel reading this morning. That is, in Jesus' parable, remember that a master and his slave have a certain covenant - or agreement, or understanding - with one another. That basis for the relationship is crucial in understanding Jesus' point in the parable.

Jesus presents an everyday kind of situation from his day, as he often does in his stories. That is, if a slave has been working outside, plowing or tending sheep, the master still expects that slave to prepare supper and serve him at the appropriate time. In giving that example, is Jesus advocating for slavery? No, that is not the point. Rather, Jesus is referring to the covenant - the understanding, the agreement - between master and slave … as well as to the significance of that covenant for the people involved.

The punch line in the parable applies the message to the listeners, the readers and therefore, to us: "So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say 'We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!' "

And thus, we come full circle, back to our agreement with God - our Baptismal Covenant. Please pay attention to the understanding we have with God, our Master, by virtue of our baptism. Please recognize the agreement, the covenant, to which we have obligated ourselves, as followers of Jesus Christ.

In just a few minutes, we will renew our Baptismal Covenant with God, in solidarity with those to be baptized, confirmed and received. We will express our faith in God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. And then we will affirm our intention to live into our covenant with God by means of our actions in this life … how we will live our Christian lives.

Then, when we accomplish these intentions - when we actually do live into our Baptismal Covenant - then we should remember the lesson of today's Gospel. Like the servant in today's parable, we have no reason to boast, or to claim special recognition, or to feel entitled to particular treatment. Rather, recognizing the obligations of our Christian lives, we simply affirm, "We have done only what we ought to have done!"

We are truly blessed by the Baptismal Covenant we have with God. May we live our lives in faithful witness to the Covenant we are blessed to share. Amen.

Copyright © 2004 The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee