The Reverend J. Howard Cepelak
Trinity Church
†

Waltham, Massachusetts

Epiphany V – 5 February 2012
The Sacrament of Holy Communion

Annual Meeting

Isaiah 40:21-31, Psalm 147:1-11, I Corinthians 9:16-23, Mark 1:29-39

From the Book of the Prophet, Isaiah:
The LORD… gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might, he increases strength… they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

From St. Paul’s 1st Epistle to the Church at Corinth:
The apostle wrote, Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel.

From the Gospel According to St. Mark:
After healing Simon – Peter’s mother-in-law, the whole city was gathered about the door. And he healed many of them who were sick with many diseases and cast out many demons, and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.

Let us pray.
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in thy sight, O God, our Rock and our Redeemer, our Strength and our Salvation.
Amen. †

As I look back over 40 years of ordained ministry in the Church of Jesus Christ, I am convinced that most Christians – most church people – neither know nor understand how important they are to God. I know that most people come to the Lord in search of something -in search of some kind of healing, be it for a specific illness or disease or for something less clearly identifiable – something more akin to the malaise and low-level and ongoing depression that comes with living life without Jesus Christ alive in that life. They come seeking a cure for the crippling existential anxiety that dominates their living because they’re not yet alive in Christ.

In this morning’s gospel lesson St. Mark tells us that the whole city gathered around the door of Simon-Peter’s mother-in-law’s house because they had heard that Jesus had healed her. So they came seeking healing for themselves or for a loved one. They came in droves; and He healed many- but not all. St. Mark gives us no explanation as to why Jesus healed many but not all. I can give no explanation – neither can any scholar or theologian that I have ever read. We simply have to trust that in sickness and in health, God continues to work out His purpose. And we also know that His purpose is always salvation.

Jesus also cast out demons – a kind of healing – in fact, the kind of healing that most of us need more than any other kind and yet few of us will ever even admit to even having the affliction. Being possessed by demons sounds much too medieval, superstitious, un-enlightened or ignorant. Yet demons do take possession and those upon whom they have the greatest hold are probably the ones least likely to admit it. Remember, the serpent is subtle. Evil always comes disguised – always!

Maybe we’re reluctant to acknowledge the existence of demons because we have a cartoon like image of them – as little devils with pitchforks that fly around making life miserable for as many as they can afflict. The fact is that demons are spiritual forces, powers, influences, attitudes, falsehoods, deceptions, and all those things that work on behalf of misery, despair, cruelty, violence, evil and death that can take hold of a person and destroy his life. They’re personal because they work in and through persons as well as have lives of their own.

To name a few – hatred, malice, pride, prejudice, greed, lust, envy, covetousness, inordinate anger, anxiety, fear, vengeance – well, complete your own list. The spiritual powers behind all of the above are the demons.

For further understanding, let me contrast demons with their opposites, angels. If you have ever become overcome with rage, you’ve been possessed – for a short time – by demonic anger. But on the other hand, if you have been filled with righteous indignation at some great injustice, then an angel has touched you in an effort to motivate you to correct what’s wrong. You can see the difference. (Both angels and demons motivate behavior.)

As Jesus cast out demons, we read that he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. We know that at this point in His ministry, Jesus did not want to be known as the Messiah or even as a great healer. His time had not yet come. He went about teaching, calling for repentance for the sake of the Kingdom of God, and doing good things healing many, but He wanted to keep his identity quiet until the right time.

Hence, He did not permit the demons to speak -because they knew Him. He did not want to be identified as the Savoir – not yet.

I always find it fascinating that so many good people have so many doubts, questions and concerns about the true nature of Jesus Christ and His Messiah ship. Doubt and fear, the enemies of faith -and only defeated by the power of faith – come from those spiritual forces who oppose the Christ. Being overwhelmed by doubt and fear is a sign of demonic activity and in the extreme, actual possession.

Even for those who deeply believe, demonic attack can and does happen. In fact, because of one’s faith and the quality of one’s Christian life, well that can serve as almost a magnet for the demons – they cannot stand to see a good soul who lives – and laughs – and loves – and works – and prays – and experiences the joy of life. Such a person can become a target. Faith prevents the attack from becoming a possession. Faith empowers the soul and defeats the enemy.

We also need to remember that whenever any of us is about to do something that’s good and right and true – to do anything that is holy – the demons will appear. It always happens.

Jesus Christ, the only Savior of all mankind – is demon enemy #1.

Just as I know that most Christians do not realize how important they are to God and to His work in this world, so I am also convinced that most church people seek to avoid that part of discipleship that involves being soldiers of Christ. Preferring the peace of God that passes understanding to spiritual warfare -forgetting that both of these realities are equally valid, important and part of life until He comes again – well, we all too often fail to report for duty when the battle ensues. Even when called, many go AWOL.

The unholy war against Christianity continues today as it has throughout the ages because the bad guys have no doubt about the enemy – they know him and seek to destroy Him so as to take possession of His followers.

Right now, all over the world and even here at home, the war against Christianity and against Christians is escalating. Last week, the American Roman Catholic bishops issued a letter to be read in every parish church exposing the effort to force Catholic hospitals, schools and other related institutions to provide birth control. Roman Catholic hospitals will be forced to administer abortions. If they refuse – and by the grace of God WILL REFUSE – the government will fine them – huge amounts – which the institutions cannot pay. The government will put them out of business and, as has happened before in corrupt human history, confiscate the property.

Never before in our history has anything like this happened. It’s all part of the ongoing spiritual war. Being forced by corrupt law to violate The One True Faith is in and of itself demonic – as well as unconstitutional in the United States of America.

All of this is happening as another religion, living under another law, a demonic law, glorifies killing those who oppose their religion. As the powers that be demand that we tolerate all religions and spiritualities, no one demands that the religion that seeks to destroy us be tolerant of us. They call this unholy war a holy war. But that’s the way the bad guy works. Deception is his favorite weapons.

St. Paul faced the same issues that we face today. He knew the importance of every believer to faithfully bear witness to the Christ. It was so important that he said to the church at Corinth – a place in which the spiritual war was raging in the ancient world – he said, Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel. Not all of us are called to be preachers, but all of are called to tell the story. For better or for worse, God has decided do His work in this world in and through us. If we fail, Woe to all of us!

This is one of the reasons why this church should not close – not so long as the Lord has provided us with an opportunity to carry on. Another church closing in Waltham causes rejoicing in the hearts and minds of those who favor demons over angels – in those deceived and working consciously or unconsciously for the wrong side and for those who, for whatever reason, hate all that’s good and right and true.

We can feel overwhelmed. We can feel as if we’re too weak to fight the good fight. But, if we take the Lord’s side, He will show us the way. He will sustain us in this and in every battle. He has always sustained His people when they faithfully served Him. Hence, His prophet, Isaiah could proclaim,
He gives power to the faint
and to him who has no might,
he increases strength…
those who wait upon the Lord
shall renew their strength,
they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary
they shall walk and not faint.
This can happen here.

Many of us are tired. Many of us are weary. But all of us can be empowered to work for God’s kingdom and serve is His army if we simply follow Him. He will cast out our demons of discouragement and despair. He will lift us up with wings like eagles. He will nurture and sustain us. He will grant to us the strength, the power and the allies necessary to bear a faithful witness to Him in this city.

Always remember – we’re so important to God that He took on our human nature to transform it. Jesus Christ, lifted up on the cross to fight the demonic forces of sin and death lifts us up. He fought. He won. We win through Him.

He gave Himself for us so that we can give ourselves to Him – and win. In this Sacrament of Christian Nurture, He strengthens us for the battle. If we feed on Him He will give us the victory. So feed on Him in thy hearts, by faith and with thanksgiving – and win.

Let us pray.
Heavenly Father, deliver us from the temptation to give up to the forces that work against you and that seek to destroy us. Empower us to fight the good fight and, by faith, come to your victory won on the cross for the sake of our salvation in this world and in the world yet to come. Keep us faithful, good Lord, surround us with your angles and bring us at last to your heavenly kingdom,
in and through your Son
our only Savior,
Jesus Christ the Lord.
Amen. †