Ash Wednesday Sermon

We received the following story by email this past week.  I thought there was some practical application for Ash Wednesday.

While walking down the street one day a corrupt Senator (that might be redundant) was tragically hit by a car and died.

His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

"Welcome to heaven," says St.. Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you."

"No problem, just let me in," says the Senator.

"Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from the higher ups. What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity."

"Really? I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven," says the Senator.

"I'm sorry, but we have our rules."

And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.

The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course.

In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.

Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people.

They played a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and the finest champagne.

Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who is having a good time dancing and telling jokes.

They are all having such a good time that before the Senator realizes it, it is time to go.

Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises.

The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens in heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him. "Now it's time to visit heaven."

So, 24 hours passed with the Senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.

"Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity."

The Senator reflects for a minute, then he answers: "Well, I would never have said it before; I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell."

So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.

Now the doors of the elevator open, and he's in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage.

He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls to the ground.

The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulders.

"I don't understand," stammers the Senator. "Yesterday I was here, and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage, and my friends look miserable. What happened?"

The devil smiles at him and says: "Yesterday we were campaigning; today, you voted."

I couldn’t help but chuckle at this joke. Particularly since I don’t hold most politicians in high esteem, but there is a rather serious thing that this joke does point out about humankind.

Most of us know if we were given a choice to choose between heaven and hell we should choose heaven.
We know that’s the right answer. We know heaven is where God is and where we are meant to be eternally. Cognitively, our brains know this beyond a shadow of a doubt.

Just as cognitively, our brains know we are supposed to choose right over wrong. We know there are things we should do and things we should not do. As Christians, that which is right has been given to us through God’s law. We read it on most pages of the Bible. Beginning with the 10 Commandments, God has given us the instructions on how we should live with Him and with one another. We know this. They are there on the pages in black and white. We know we should choose them, but most of the time we don’t.

You see, Satan comes along and dresses the wrong up so that it looks nice and neat. He makes it look so inviting, so pleasing both to mind and body. We look at those things that are wrong and believe they will satisfy us, give us pleasure, and make us happy. We know we should choose otherwise, but it is our nature to turn from God and give into sin–to choose poorly.

You might want to argue with me. You might want to say that surely this is not the case. You might want to say, "I’m a pretty good person." To this I reply, "By whose standards? Your own or God’s?" For if we wish to be judged by God’s standards, we must pass His test. And let’s take a look at a portion of that test right now.

__ I always love God with all my heart, mind, and soul. (Matthew 22:37

__ I always love my neighbor as much as I love myself. (Matthew 22:39)

__ I have given up everything I have to follow Jesus. (Matthew 19:21)

__ I never get angry with my neighbor or call him a good-for-nothing. (Matthew 5:22)

__ I never look at a person of the opposite sex with thoughts about having sexual intercourse. (Matthew
5:28)

__ I never swear. (Matthew 5:34)

__ I always do good to others when they do things to hurt me. (Matthew 5:38)

__ I love my enemies and pray that God will bless them. (Matthew 5:43)

__ I never judge others, but always put the best construction on their behavior. (Matthew 7:1)

__ Whenever I do something good for someone else, I keep it a secret and do not let others know about it. (Matthew 6:2)

__ I am happy when someone makes fun of my being a Christian. (Matthew 5:10)

__ I always forgive others when they do me wrong. (Matthew 6:2)

__ I never worry about food or clothing. (Matthew 6:31)

__ I love God more than my family, my friends or myself. (Matthew 10:37)

__ Whenever I see someone in need, I always help them. (Matthew 10:42)

__ I regularly feed the poor, visit prisoners, put strangers up for the night, give clothes to the needy and visit
those who are sick. (Matthew 25:35-36)

How well did you do on this list? How well do you do in attempting to live life in this manner? Are you even attempting to put these things into practice day after day after day?

The God-honest truth of the matter is, most of us don’t. Most of us don’t even come close. I know that I don’t. I’m a pastor, someone who leads a portion of Christ’s church, and I don’t even come close to living my life in this manner. And so, I stand before you this evening as someone who doesn’t measure up. Who can’t measure up. I am not worthy to carry the name of Christian, and I am certainly not worthy to be called a pastor.

Hence, in the spirit of Ash Wednesday; in the spirit of self-reflection; in the spirit of truth telling and repentance, as I once did during a Sunday morning service, I offer to resign my position of pastor. I cannot measure up to the reality of the life I am called to live, and sometimes I confess I don’t even try. I get caught up in my anger; my frustration; my stubbornness, and my unwillingness to change. I become too prideful and too arrogant for my own good. Such a man should not be a pastor of a church.

Congregation responds: We agree you do not measure up to the life you are called to lead, but we reject your resignation. For we have something to confess to you as well. We do not measure up either. We fall far short. There are too many times when we do not follow the teachings of the Head of the Church, Jesus Christ. There are too many times when we do things which are not worthy of the Body of Christ. We do not welcome all who need to be welcomed. We do not always love our brothers and sisters in Christ. We only extend forgiveness when it is convenient. And this is only the start. In reality, we are not worthy to be called a church.

Pastor: But God forgives you.

Congregation: And God forgives you.

All: This is good news. Even in our fallenness, God has chosen to work through us. And so we recommit ourselves to work together in mission and ministry as Pastor and Congregation–to forgive one another and work together for God’s Kingdom. Amen.