SERMON ON SUN 16TH MARCH 2025 (LENT 2). PREACHED AT ST. BARNABAS CATHEDRAL, 8.00 AM SERVICE
By: FR. NIGEL. F. KELAEPA
Texts:
Genesis 15: 1-12, 17-18 ; Psalm 27 , Philippians 3: 17-End, 4:1; Luke 13: 31-35
Theme: “Our role as Christians today is to continue Christ’s Mission to establish God’s Kingdom (and rule) here on Earth”.
Brothers and Sisters in Christ, our special intentions for this week as highlighted in our common lectionary are two-fold. Firstly, we are asked to give thanks to God for “Jesus’ sacrificial life and death, and the role of Christians to continue his mission”, and secondly, to pray for “Our repentance so that we can serve faithfully, in order to establish God’s Kingdom here on Earth”.
Our theme or overarching idea for this morning’s message is drawn from putting these two special intentions together, and it reads as follows:
“Our role as Christians today is to continue Christ’s Mission to establish God’s Kingdom (and rule) on Earth”.
This week, we enter into the second week or second Sunday of the church’s season of Lent. Lent provides us with the time, and opportunity, for self-examination, repentance, and renewal as we look toward the death of Christ upon the Cross on Good Friday and ultimately to the resurrection of Christ from the dead at Easter. It is also a time to remember that Christ’s mission did not end with His death and resurrection, nor does it end with his return to Heaven at his ascension, but rather that, this mission continues — right up to this very day and it involves us, you and I, today! And so friends, as we continue our Christian journey into this season of Lent, may I invite us all to spend ample time to ponder upon and deeply reflect, on our task and mission as followers of Christ, and our call to a higher life above in God’s heavenly domain.
The readings for today — from Genesis, Philippians, and Luke — all point us toward a singular call: that is the call to continue the mission of establishing God’s Kingdom here on Earth.
In the Old Testament, we hear the promises of God to Abraham, a covenant that reaches beyond Abraham’s lifetime and the History of Israel, beyond the History of the Early Church and throughout Christianity/Christendom, and onwards to our lifetime and church today as children of this same Abrahamic covenant, sealed by virtue of our faith in God in His son Jesus Christ, and not because we are related to the Jewish people by blood.
In the Epistle to the Philippians this morning, Paul exhorts the Church to live as citizens of heaven, pressing forward unerringly toward God’s call to attaining a higher life above in God’s heavenly domain, and not be distracted by ungodly passions and desires of the flesh such as immorality, pride and the things/possessions of this world. And in the Gospel of Luke, we see Jesus speaking of His mission to Jerusalem, determined to fulfill God’s will and purpose for the salvation of all humanity despite great opposition from his enemies which are many, and despite even from the threat of losing his own life.
Our task today, bros & sis, just as it was for the early Church, is to continue Christ’s mission of establishing God’s Kingdom in the world. But how do we do that? The Scriptures today reveal three crucial elements that are necessary for fulfilling Christ’s mission in the world: sacrifice, repentance, and faith.
To assist us in fleshing out and understanding our theme further, let us consider the following points.
In Genesis 15:1-6, we hear of how God promised to reward Abraham and to protect him from all dangers, to which Abraham responded: “Lord, what good will this reward do me since you have given me no children and one of my slaves, Eliezer, will inherit my property”. It takes a lot out of a person to place his trust in something that hasn’t happened yet and is even more, an impossibility in human biological terms. For Abraham, it is a sacrifice stemming from the risk of having no descendants to his name if he were to discard his plan for his servant Eliezer to be his heir, as advised by the Lord, considering his wife Sarah was way past child-bearing age; but it is also a sacrifice made in absolute faith and unwavering trust in the Lord to fulfill his will and purpose for Abraham’s life, and for that matter and by extension, for our own lives.
Again from Gen. 15: 5 and 8ff, God makes a covenant with Abraham, promising him descendants as numerous as the stars and a land to call their own. This promise marks the beginning of God’s Kingdom plan on Earth. But as we read in the passage, Abraham asks, “Sovereign Lord, how can I know that these will be mine?” How am I to know that I shall possess it? God responds by initiating a covenantal ritual — a sacrifice, where animals were cut in two and placed in two rows and at sunset, a smoking fire pot and flaming torch appeared and moved between the two rows of cut pieces thereby sealing this covenantal agreement. This sacrifice represents the seriousness of the promise, and it foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice God would make to fulfill His covenant through Jesus Christ for all time to come.
Christ’s mission to establish God’s Kingdom on Earth required the ultimate sacrifice — His own life. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross is the focal point of God’s Kingdom. It follows therefore friends, that to enable us to continue Christ’s mission to establish God’s Kingdom and reign in the world today, we too must be willing to sacrifice all our faculties, gifts and God-given resources to this all too important task and calling. Following Christ isn’t about comfort friends, No! It is about taking up our cross daily and following Him, even when it requires hardship.
Jesus Himself says in Luke 9:23, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” To establish God’s Kingdom, we must be willing to lay down our own agendas, desires, and comfort for the sake of others and for the sake of God’s rule on Earth. This will look different for each of us, but it always involves sacrifice. Whether that means serving the marginalized, sharing the Gospel despite opposition, or simply putting others before ourselves, sacrifice is essential to carrying out the mission.
Repentance is Key to Fulfilling Christ’s Mission to the World (Luke 13:31-35)
In the Gospel of Luke 13:31-35, Jesus is warned by the Pharisees that Herod wants to kill Him. Jesus responds that He will continue His mission, moving toward Jerusalem, where He will ultimately be rejected. He laments over Jerusalem, saying, “How often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and yet you were not willing.”
Here, Jesus’ lament is not just about the physical city of Jerusalem; it represents the hardened hearts of the people who refuse to repent and embrace God’s Kingdom. Jesus’ mission is about calling people to repentance — to turn away from sin and toward the rule of God.
Repentance is central to the Kingdom of God because it is through repentance that we make room for God’s reign in our lives. Without repentance, we cannot fully participate in the mission of God. As Christians, we are called not only to preach the message of repentance but to live it out ourselves. Lent, as a season of repentance, invites us to examine our hearts; to turn away from anything that hinders God’s rule in our lives, and, to seek His forgiveness and renewal.
Unerring and Steadfast Faith is Crucial to Carrying Out this Mission of the Kingdom (Philippians 3:17-End, 4:1)
In Philippians 3:17-4:1, Paul speaks of pressing on toward the goal of the upward call of God in Jesus Christ to a higher life. He urges the Philippians to follow his example of steadfastness in the faith and to reject the distractions that would lead them away from the Kingdom. Paul reminds us that our citizenship is in heaven, and from there, we await our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our bodies to be like His glorious body.
Paul’s message is clear: fulfilling the mission of God requires an unerring, steadfast faith. Just as Christ was unwavering in His commitment to establish God’s Kingdom, so too must we be as unwavering in our commitment to follow suit. We must and cannot allow the challenges, the temptations, or the distractions of this world to pull us away from this mission. Faith in Christ is not a passive belief, no; it is an active, driving force that compels us to move forward, to engage in the mission of bringing God’s Kingdom to bear upon this Earth.
The faith that Paul speaks of is one that looks to Christ as the ultimate example — a faith that is rooted in the hope of eternal life, the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, and the assurance that God’s Kingdom will be fully realized. This steadfast faith is crucial because it fuels our commitment to continue the work of Christ in a world that often rejects His Kingdom.
So, what does this mean for us today? How do we continue Christ’s mission in the world?
- Sacrifice: Are we willing to make sacrifices for the sake of God’s Kingdom? This might involve giving up our time, resources, or comfort to serve others, share the Gospel, or work for justice. Reflect on where God is calling you to give of yourself for His Kingdom.
- Repentance: Is there something in our lives that hinders us from fully participating in the mission of God? Lent is a time for repentance, a time to turn away from anything that holds us back from fully embracing God’s Kingdom. Let us reflect on our lives and seek God’s forgiveness for anything that keeps us from fulfilling His purpose.
- Faith: Are we unwavering in our faith? The road ahead may be difficult, but we are called to press on, knowing that God is with us. Let us renew our commitment to the mission of God, holding fast to the faith that enables us to continue Christ’s work in the world.
As we continue our Lenten journey, let us remember that we are not simply waiting for God’s Kingdom to come; we are called to actively participate in establishing it. This mission requires sacrifice, repentance, and steadfast faith. Christ has already begun the work of God’s Kingdom through His life, death, and resurrection. Many others through countless generations in the history of the Christendom have preceded us and played their part in this crucially important task and mission of Christ’s; and it goes without saying, our own pioneers and missionaries of the Melanesian Mission and Anglican Church of Melanesia in the last almost two centuries have added their own building blocks to the foundation of this mission in no small way in this part of our world.
And in our own time bros and sis, just three days ago on Thursday this past week, we laid to rest one of the brightest sons of this nation and the church, the late Rt. Rev. Sir David Vunagi, former Archbishop of Melanesia and Governor General of Solomon Islands, a towering pillar and example of humble strength, of sacrificial service and unwavering steadfast faith in the Lord and His Mission to establish God’s Kingdom and rule in our nation of Solomon Islands, in Melanesia and the Pacific region, in the nations of the Commonwealth, and in the World beyond, as far as the Lord sent him. For him, and all other faithful saints of God gone before us, is echoed the Lord’s refrain in Mathew’s Gospel 25:21, 23: Well done you good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in small as well as in large matters. You have been unremittingly faithful in your work for the Lord. Come and enjoy your reward and joy in my eternal happiness. (A moment of Silence in respect and memoriam. You have done well indeed Sir David. Rest in Peace and in God’s Eternal Glory Sir David).
And now, today the ball is in our court. Today, it is our turn to be fully involved and engaged in continuing this work and mission of the Kingdom. Jesus calls out to you and I, wherever we are, whatever the time and day, to step up to the task.
Let us be faithful to that call, remembering that no matter the opposition, no matter the cost, God’s Kingdom will come. And by His grace, we are privileged to be a part of it. May we be sacrificial in our service, repentant in our hearts, and steadfast in our faith, as we continue Christ’s mission to establish God’s Kingdom and reign on this Earth, to the glory of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen