Sermon: "Gateways of Faith"
The Right Reverend Charles G. vonRosenberg
Third Bishop of East Tennessee

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

Stories open the gates of membership in any group. They are like passwords for access. Before you become a full-fledged member of a group, you must know the stories … stories about how the group was formed, about significant events in the group's history, and about special people along the way. Stories provide the core of group identity. And, therefore, stories are necessary means of access into any group - like a gateway … a way to get in.

Part of the preparation for confirmation and reception involves learning the stories of Faith. Candidates presented today - or, sponsors of those candidates - know some of the stories about St. Columba's and about the Episcopal Church … at least enough to know that they want to proceed. To be a member of a group, therefore, we must know the group's stories - and that goes for the church, too.

I am certain that each of us has tales to tell about being a newcomer in some group. My personal favorite involves a time that I received directions in a place new to me. Obviously, knowing where to go and how to get there represents a problem for any newcomer. Soon after one of my family's moves, someone gave us directions in words like these: "You get on Augusta Road, heading north. Then, you turn right at the building that used to be a Howard Johnson's Motel."

Immediately, I perceived the disadvantage of being a newcomer and a stranger. Not only was I ignorant of the group stories - and of the place that the group was to gather - but also, I could not even understand the directions about getting there! In fact, there was no way for me to have the knowledge necessary to overcome my shortcomings. "You turn right at the building that used to be a Howard Johnson's motel."

Of course, shortcomings and realities like this one put a newcomer at a great disadvantage. Lack of knowledge can be overcome - to a certain extent and gradually. But it takes patience on the part of the newcomer and acceptance on the part of group members to cooperate in expanding membership and in conveying a sense of belonging. By means of such patience and acceptance, the stories can be conveyed and the circle of belonging can be expanded.

The community of the Christian Faith possesses stories, too. And it is important for us to know those stories, for they serve as gateways of membership into the community. Further, to the extent that the stories become personal to us, then our involvement in the community of Faith takes on a greater reality. The community's stories become our own, and we gain a sense of belonging.

We find two extremely significant stories for our Faith in the readings today. These are foundation stories … stories that tell of events and people that are fundamental to our community.

First is the story of the formation of the people of God - their enslavement in Egypt, their breaking free from Pharaoh in the Exodus, and their triumphant entry into the Promised Land. The words which tell this story are some of the very oldest in the Bible … an early, early, story indeed: "A wandering Aramean was my ancestor; he went down into Egypt and lived there as a alien, few in number, and there he became a great nation, mighty and populous. When the Egyptians treated us harshly and afflicted us, by imposing hard labor on us, we cried to the Lord, the God of our ancestors; the Lord heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression. The Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with a terrifying display of power, and with signs and wonders; and he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey…"

Those words are so very significant that I had to memorize them in seminary … memorize them, that is, in Hebrew. And the point of that requirement was clear. The story had to become my story, even knowing it in its original language. Thus, "A wandering Aramean was my ancestor." The story becomes my story, and a gateway opens for me into the community of Faith.

The Gospel reading today provides us with another foundation story of the Faith … a foundation story that invites our participation … a gateway with easy access. And this is the important story of the temptation of Jesus.

The temptation story does indeed offer us a gateway into the Faith - and, especially, into the human life of Jesus. Our involvement is defined in the Letter to the Hebrews: "We have a great high priest … Jesus, the Son of God … We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin"(4:14-15).

Now, about temptations in general, we must recognize this important point: the power of any temptation involves its association with a worthy cause or idea. The more worthy a cause, the greater the potential for temptation. A good and worthwhile cause makes an associated temptation more powerful. It was T.S. Eliot who wrote,

"The last temptation is the greatest treason: To do the right deed for the wrong reason" ("Murder in the Cathedral").

Temptation torments us with its deviousness. The height of temptation's power focuses on the opportunity for the greatest good.

So it is with the story of the temptation of Christ. The devil tempted Jesus to do three very worthwhile things: to turn stones into bread for the hungry, to claim his kingship on earth, and to provide an occasion for God to indicate His concern and love. Thus, again, the height of temptation's power focuses on the opportunity for the greatest good.

This temptation story provides us a gateway into the life of Christ … and into the Faith. That is, we are tempted, too. The greatest temptations for us involve worthwhile causes … or, at least, causes that we can justify as worthwhile - "the right deed for the wrong reason." Jesus Christ understands our experience of life, for he has walked this way, too. He knows the power of temptation - especially when the cause is worthy. The temptation story surely provides one of those gateways for us into the life of Christ and into our Faith.

May we enter that gateway and walk with Christ this Lent, for he has indeed "been tempted as we are, yet without sin." And in our walk with Christ, may we find him - as the Collect today says - "mighty to save."

Praise God for our stories of Faith - and especially today for the stories of the Exodus and of Christ's temptations. By means of these stories, gateways open for us into the community of Faith. May these stories, therefore, become our stories as well. And may our faith become more personal, and may our living be more vital as a result. Amen.

Copyright © 2004 The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee