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

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

I have had experiences at summer camp - as a camper, as a counselor, and as a director of sessions. However, I remember this morning a particular experience at camp, in a different role - as a parent.

I believe that our younger son was four years old, when I was the chaplain at a particular camp session, years ago. One morning I was walking around, checking out what was going on with the campers. And on that walk, as I passed by the ropes course, I heard a call from the tree tops: "Hey, Dad!" My four year old son was up there, miles above the ground, calling out and waving. And all I could do was wave back, and say, "Hi, John." After all, the counselors were there, and campers were serving as supportive team members. And so, I turned away, sweating, and walked off.

At lunch, the counselor in charge of the ropes course could not wait to speak with me. He said, "You know, when campers finish the ropes' course, we have to talk them into coming down … because they have to jump. We have a rope attached to them, and they are very safe. But, still, they have to jump. Well, I'm glad we were ready when we began to speak with John about coming down. All I got to say was, 'OK, John, when you're ready …' And he jumped! I'm glad we were ready for him!" … And I'm glad I did not see that!

Imagine the scene, though. A child in the treetops, on the brink of a leap; counselors and campers ready to support him; a jump about to happen. I want you to understand that scene as a picture of anticipation … of being ready.

In our Gospel today, Mary, too, finds herself at the brink. Gabriel, God's messenger, confronts Mary with an announcement of choice which will transform her life. Depending on her decision, she will continue on her planned life's journey, or else she will take a significant detour on that journey. Either she will live her life as previously anticipated - as Joseph's wife, living a quiet, respectable, normal life in Nazareth; or else, she will become the mother of the Lord of the world. Either she will stand on the limb of the treetop - gazing, wondering, hesitating; or else, she will jump, filled with excitement, eagerness, and fear. And Mary jumps! "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word."

Mary's pregnancy will continue to possess her with signs of anticipation - excitement, eagerness, and fear, among other reactions. Her life will never again be the same. Never again will Mary be the one who stands on the limb at the treetop. Rather, from the time of her decision, she becomes the one who jumps.

We, too, stand at a brink, on another limb, in another treetop. For, you see, today is the Fourth - and last - Sunday of Advent. All the candles of the Advent wreath are lighted, except the middle one. The time of waiting, of watching, of anticipating is almost over. The moment of decision is at hand. But a jump is required, a leap without support.

Like a parent, God has provided for us, nurtured us, and protected us all our lives. And, through the centuries, God has promised a Savior, one in whom we may trust, one who will make all the difference in the world to us. Thus, like a camp counselor, God stands on the ground below, with arms outstretched - encouraging, assuring, waiting.

But the leap is only ours to make. God will not jump for us.

And the leap is this. Is the one whose birth we celebrate on Christmas truly the son of God? Will we take that leap of faith? Will we jump, without the support of science or reason or logic or prior example?

My friends, this decision makes just as much difference to us as Mary's decision made to her. If we believe that the one whose birth we celebrate on Christmas truly is God's son, then our world has changed.

You see, Gabriel's announcement, Mary's decision, and our acceptance make the world a different place. If Jesus truly is God's son, then that is the basic miracle on which the world rests. Questions of walking on water or feeding five thousand or rising from death all fall easily into place if Jesus is indeed God's son. If we have made the big leap of faith - the leap of Christmas - then everything else is like jumping rope.

In addition, if we believe that Jesus is God's son, then our priorities become transformed, our place in creation is assured, and our relationships with everything and everyone around us are enriched. If Jesus is truly God's son, love from God has come into the world in a person - and that love is personally available to us - and we must share that love just as surely as we must breathe!

Is Jesus the son of God? Is Christmas what it claims to be?

We stand on a limb in the treetop. Our faces mirror the turmoil of anticipation - excitement, eagerness, and fear. This final Sunday of Advent confronts us with the time of decision. And the decision is a demanding one indeed - a time to take stock of emotion, of inner turmoil, of danger, of trust, and, yes, of life itself.

A picture of anticipation, of near fulfillment, this is: we on the tree limb, God on the ground below, and the jump about to happen. Will we jump? Will we leap in faith? The time of decision has come!

Copyright © 2008 The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee