Pledging

Sermon: Proper 24, Year 1, Evensong, 2007

I think that both readings tonight are have fairly obvious points. First, we are called to help those who are in need of help and mercy. Second, we are called, like all of Jesus disciples to spread the Gospel to new people.

With those greater theme’s in mind, I was struck by a particular passage in tonight’s Gospel. It was related to a passage in Paul that we read in the Bible Study that I am leading on Saint Paul throughout this Fall. In the 9th chapter of first Corinthians Paul writes: The Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel. But I have made no use of any of these rights.

Though Paul does not quote a saying of Jesus, I think its likely that he is referring to something like what we hear in today’s Gospel reading from St. Luke. Jesus says to the disciples that he is sending out: Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals…. And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages.

Though he admits that he could expect to be supported by the Church community, Paul uses his self-sufficiency as one example of how going one step further than what he was called to do can make a huge difference in spreading the Gospel. Though I’m not sure his situation is the same as mine, I can tell you, as a priest who is supported by this congregation, that Paul’s boast is quite impressive.

We are called to help those who are in need and to spread the Gospel to new people. After reflecting both on tonight’s Gospel passage and Paul’s attempt to live out his calling as an apostle, I think Paul’s example can serve us today.

Going one step further, even if it’s a small step, can make a huge difference. Its not always easy to see how this can be true, but I think I can give an example in my life that might illustrate this point. I was asked yesterday by my Grandmother what I thought amounted to a “good” pledge. I told her the amount wasn’t the point, it was making the pledge in the first place. The hardest pledge I ever made was the first one I made. It was one dollar a week. It wasn’t much, but it changed my life in a big way. I knew that I was doing something to support the work of the Church and its mission to spread the Gospel and help those in need. As the years went by, I increased my pledge a little bit until I got to where I am today – 10%. Baby steps got me there.

Going one step further, even if it’s a small step, can make a huge difference. If you noticed the back of the bulletin, there is a stewardship blurb that discusses the financial situation Saint Mary’s is in. The board has come up with a plan to solve the problems that we have through baby steps, taken by everyone who cares about Saint Mary’s.

I invite you to join me in pledging to financially support Saint Mary’s if you don’t already do that, and I invite you to increase your pledge like my wife and I try to do every year. It doesn’t have to be much, but I think taking that first step is the biggest challenge. I can tell you that it does make a huge difference.