Seeing God’s Glory

Exodus 33:12-23, Psalm 99, Matthew 22:15-22, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Twenty Second Sunday after Pentecost, Worldwide Day Celebrating Congregational Singing

Heritage Congregational Church, Madison, WI

What is faith? How does it move us, body mind and spirit, to come together in worship? Where does it come from and what difference does it make in our lives? What is it about faith that inspires us? Just what is faith? What words can be used to describe it?

Faith is the main topic in today’s readings. In Exodus, Matthew and 1 Thessalonians we see faith from differing perspectives, perspectives that allow us to catch a glimpse of the enormity of what faith does to us, as individuals and as a community.

In Exodus, we find Moses once again going to bat for the Hebrew people. By his hand they have escaped slavery in Egypt, been fed and watered in the wilderness and escaped God’s wrath. Today we find Moses interceding for them once again. Again, Moses goes to God on the peoples’ behalf. Moses loves God. Moses also loves God’s people. He wants what is right for God and what is best for the people. And so, the man of few words (remember how he didn’t want to follow God’s call because he was not a good speaker?) speaks up once more, going to God to accomplish what is best for the Hebrew people in wilderness.

Moses does this out of faith. He has faith enough to lead when he does not feel like a leader. He has faith enough to go to God in all things—the good and bad, the easy and difficult. And he has faith enough to follow through with whatever God tells him to do. Moses’ faith is not just faith in God, however. He also has faith in the people. He believes in their faith, and so he argues for them with the God he loves.

Moses asks for two things—to see God’s ways and to see God’s glory. Moses wants to experience what faith is about first hand, so he may be a better leader, and so the people may increase in faith and faithfulness. He longs to make all the relationships in this triangle right, and so he asks God to interact once more. Show what you want and who you are, Moses asks. It is because of faith and for the sake of faith that Moses does what he does in this passage. Because he is filled with faith and motivated by faith, Moses wants to see God’s will and see God’s being.

In Matthew’s gospel, we find Jesus being questioned in His final week. As they plot against Him, Jesus sees the malice in the hearts of the Pharisees and presses them on the issue of faith. To whom does this money belong, Jesus asks. Give it to the proper party. By implication we are all then asked to whom we belong. Give yourself, then, to the object of your faith. Do not mix the things of God with the things of government, society or culture. You know which belongs to which. Act accordingly. Let your faith lead you. Ask yourself where your ultimate allegiance lies and take it from there. You are made in God’s image, so show it with your lives.

In Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians, we find the entire first chapter, all ten verses devoted to thanksgiving. Now, it is not unusual for Paul to begin a letter with verses of thanksgiving, but never this many. This is unusual, extreme, out of the ordinary. It is important to note that this letter was written about 51 AD, and is commonly considered to be the earliest Christian writing to have been found thus far. Paul writes to this church first. He has not been gone long from their sight, but he has things he needs to say.

Paul wants to give thanks for what he experienced while in their midst, for the feelings he encountered there seem to still be with him. What he felt in their presence was faith. Their work is motivated by faith, they love and hope because of faith. In spite of suffering, they are filled with joy from the faith they have been given. Once a people with no faith, these Gentiles are now filled with a faith that is all-encompassing, a faith that defines their way of life. New Testament scholar Beverly Gaventa says that the way the people of Thessolonica have received the gospel message is a proclamation in itself. They respond to the gift of faith by proclaiming faith.

From these three passages we have seen faith portrayed in a variety of ways. The faith of Moses begs to see more of God and lead the people to a greater faith. In the gospel lesson we are challenged to let our faith show that we belong to God. And in this early letter of the Christian Church, we find an abundance of thanksgiving given because of the gift of faith. Together, what do these passages teach us about faith?

Clearly, faith is a gift from God. That is where it comes from. Somehow, God puts faith inside of us and it moves us to do works of faith, inspires us to love, and gives us the hope we need to endure suffering. Faith is able to do this because of the joy we feel when we are attuned to God’s presence within us. Still, I find it hard to define in a succinct way exactly what faith is. I had an experience this week that began to help me understand.

Most of you know that my father bought a horse for my niece, Kay Lynn, for her tenth birthday in September. She wanted a horse more than anything, and so Grandpa got her one. His name is Stryx and he is a beautiful bay Arabian gelding, and just the right size for a little girl. Of course, Aunt Cindy has the honor of teaching Kay Lynn about riding, and so several times a week we go together to see Stryx. We bring him in from the pasture and groom him. After he is saddled up, we lunge him and then Kay Lynn rides. Each week she learns more and more, and is getting quite confident in riding.

However, Stryx is not always well-behaved. Sometimes he is lazy and Kay Lynn has to work very hard to get him to trot or canter. Other times he just doesn’t want to do what she asks and he throws his head in protest. But always, no matter what his behavior has been, no matter how the ride has gone, at the end of it all there are lots of treats for Stryx. Carrots and apples, horsey treats, hugs and kisses, rubbing off any little drop of sweat that might have developed, brushing him until he shines--all of that--whether he has been good or not so good.

Last Tuesday, after Kay Lynn had ridden Stryx, I took her home. She was smiling from ear to ear, as she always is just after riding. When we got to her house, she kissed me goodbye and got out of the car and walked in. She turned and waved to me, and all I could see was her joy. She was filled with it. And then I saw it. She was happy just to be in the presence of her beloved Stryx. It didn’t matter if everything was perfect or better than the last time, or if anything new was accomplished. She was joyful just to be with him.

That moment it hit me--this is what faith is like, being filled with joy. Faith is when we are happy just to be in God’s presence, just to feel God with us. To Paul it was cause for abundant thanksgiving. To Jesus, it was a challenge to show our joy. To Moses, it was the yearning to know more and share it. What is faith to us?

We are given the gospel message and the moment we feel the joy of it, the moment our hearts and minds are awakened, is the moment that faith is born. Faith is something that affects us on the inside, but shows on the outside. Faith is the way God works in us that we may believe and see divine glory. Faith is the thing that inspires us to see ourselves as made in God’s image and motivates us to be a faithful representation of that image. Faith is what binds us together in good times and in bad, proclaiming the gospel message because it has filled us with such pure joy we cannot do otherwise. Amen.