The Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee



Proper 14, Year A, August 7, 2011, The Church of the Holy Spirit Nashville

“How are they to hear without someone to proclaim him?” (Rom. 10:14).

The Apostle Paul asks a “trick question” today in our second reading: a question that we think we know the answer to, but which in fact turns out to have a different answer. Paul is talking about the way in which people come to call on the name of the Lord, for as he reminds the Christians in Rome, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom. 10:13). Here Paul is quoting from the Prophet Joel (Joel 2:32), and his point is that in order for people to call upon the name of the Lord and be saved, they must first have faith: “But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed?”. And in order for them to have faith they will need to hear about Jesus: “And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard?”. And in order for them to hear someone will have to speak: “How are they to hear without someone to proclaim him?”. And then Paul asks, “How are they to proclaim him unless they are sent?” (Rom. 10:14-15). As Paul says, “Faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:17).

Paul is talking about the mission of the Church, how all nations (Jews and Gentiles alike), all the peoples of the earth, are called by God. The Church’s mission means that people must be sent, that the Gospel must be proclaimed, that the message must be heard and believed, so that people may call upon the name of the Lord. The Gospel is the Good News of Jesus’ death and resurrection, which means new life for us who trust in his power to save us from sin and death.

We talk about mission in the Diocese of Tennessee in terms of four words that I want to share with you today. These are words that describe our Diocese and also describe the mission of the Church of the Holy Spirit, which is an important part of our Diocese, helping to lead us into the future. The first word is “open”: in the diocese of Tennessee we are open to the power of God. When we gather we are expecting that God will show up and do mighty things in our midst. The second word is “obedient”: in our Diocese we are obedient to Jesus’ commandment to go and make disciples of all nations. We know what St Paul knew, that those who proclaim Jesus must first be sent. The third word is “responsive”: in this Diocese we seek to respond to the needs of the world around us, the world that God created and for which Jesus gave his life. The fourth word is “committed”: in the Diocese of Tennessee we are committed to our life together as a community of faith, committed to supporting each other in the work that God has called us to.

“Open”, “Obedient”, “Responsive”, and “Committed”: words that are rooted in the Gospel and which describe our mission. I see these words reflected in the life of this Church, with its great commitment to mission and ministry. God has sent you at the Church of the Holy Spirit to proclaim the Gospel so that others may hear and believe and call upon the name of the Lord.

But what about the “trick question” that started this sermon? Where is the surprising answer? Remember how St Paul asked his readers, “How are they to hear without someone to proclaim him?” We didn’t hear the end of the chapter in our reading today, and that is the place where Paul answers his own question. “But I ask”, he says, “have they not heard? Indeed they have, for ‘Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the end of the world’” (Rom. 10:18). Again, Paul is quoting, this time from Psalm 19. “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament tells his handiwork” (Ps. 19:1). Even if no preacher were sent the glory of God would be proclaimed by the very heavens themselves, because their voice goes out even when we are silent. Remember what Jesus says to the Pharisees on Palm Sunday when they tell him to stop his disciples from praising him, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would shout out” (Lk. 19:40).

So, people of the Church of the Holy Spirit, don’t stop praising the Lord, don’t stop sending and proclaiming, don’t stop believing and calling upon the name of the Lord. You are open, obedient, responsive, and committed. Look at all the new disciples who are being sent today to do God’s work, through confirmation with the laying on of hands and prayer. It’s a great day for the Church of the Holy Spirit and for the Diocese of Tennessee. But God’s work does not depend upon our feeble efforts. He continues to raise up those whom he needs, people who can praise him and those who will be sent. The Good News of the Gospel will sound forth and be heard.

-The Rt. Rev’d John Bauerschmidt, Bishop of Tennessee

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