Homily Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Trinity

St. Paul, the great theologian of the New Testament is often associated with outlining the great doctrines of faith of the Christian church, such as justification by faith, the significance of Christ’s resurrection, baptism, election and so on. Yet, one could argue, he was the great theologian of thanksgiving.  We see this in the first portion of his teaching after he concludes the heading of each Epistle - the declaration of his authorship and his mention of common workers etc.  He begins with thanksgiving in his Epistles to the Romans, I Corinthians, Philippians, I Thessalonians,  II Thessalonians, Philemon and here in Colossians as well.    Even when the Epistle is directed at correction for major dysfunctions in the Church, it begins with thanksgiving.   He begins by thanking God for his work.  God is active; He is always accomplishing his purposes through his church.

Thanksgiving leads to prayer, particularly intercession. It is as constant as breathing.  St. Paul is always doing it.  This constancy of prayer reminds me of a book written by one of my seminary professors, titled “Pray with your eyes open.”  As you go through daily life, let your constant awareness of God move you to prayer.   St. Paul has been prayerfully thanking God for the Colossians as he considers their faith.  St. Paul didn’t plant the church in Colossae. Yet, he heard through Epaphras of the faith of the Colossians in Jesus Christ.  What is this faith that caused such thanksgiving for St. Paul?  Faith, pistos in the Greek, means a trust, assurance, firmest conviction. St. Paul heard of their trust in Jesus Christ that was in the process of transforming them.   Moreover, St. Paul had heard of the love of God that abided among them.  The love of God expressed in tangible kindness, concern for all the saints.  The Colossians had an active faith that produced acts of love for all God’s people.  

Indeed, St. Paul was thankful for the hope that characterized these saints in Colossae.  Hope looks forward with conviction to what good things God had planned for his people.  The hope of heaven is laid up for them - that is, the best part is yet to come.  They believe this because they took seriously the word of truth - the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  This good news of the eternal reign of the Son of God; the announcement of his absolute power - even over sin and death, is attained by God’s grace.  Inclusion among God’s people, those with access to the heavenly inheritance, is not earned through good works; it is not taken by the force of the human will and effort. Rather, it is given by faith because of unmerited favor, unearned opportunity given by God himself.  This is true of the Colossians and true of all God’s people “throughout all the world.” In essence, in all times and all places. 

St. Paul then speaks to the fruitfulness of God’s people when they learn of God’s grace through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  When we submit to Jesus as our ruler, as we come to grips with his unmerited favor, we will bear fruit.   For God’s word does not return to him void. Ultimately, it will bring about the outcome that God desires.  St. Paul proclaimed the Gospel; we read his fellow worker, Ephras, did the same to the strengthening of the Church.  He encouraged St. Paul by relaying the growth of Christians in Colossae.  

Now after noting the foundation of faith, love, hope, the receiving of the Gospel by grace, St. Paul reminds them, yet again of his constant prayers for them, and that they may grow in the practice of the faith.  They had received it and now he calls them to live as becomes it.  He prays that they will be full of all spiritual knowledge and wisdom.  He wants them to have substantive knowledge of the things of God and the Spirit given capacity to apply that knowledge to their circumstances; this is the essence of wisdom.  

One who knows the truth of God and is committed to applying it, will in the words of St. Paul, walk worthy of the Lord.  A person’s walk is the habit of their life, their character;  therefore, the general characteristics of their life and attitudes is directed toward pleasing the Lord.   St. Paul then gives three characteristics of those walking worthy.  First, they will be men and women of active Christian love - known through good works.  As branches drawing their nourishment from the true vine of Christ, their lives will be full of evidence of God’s work among them.  Moreover, they will be growing in spiritual knowledge by serving others.  The Apostle prays that they will come to know God even through the activity of being obedient to him.  This brings together both the life of the mind and heart  for ‘Knowing God is itself an activity; obeying him is a form of devotion.”  

He concludes by praying for their strengthening  with all might by God with glorious, unmatched power.  Throughout the Old Testament - the Lord is portrayed as the God of all power - who subdued the Egyptians and conquered all His people’s enemies.   This power must be bestowed on his people because the world will reject them and persecute them because of their love of Jesus.   It will take the power of the Holy Spirit for them to have patience and endurance in their affliction and to convert their suffering into joyfulness.  St. Paul believes patience and endurance are the weapons the Christian needs to overcome a world overwhelmed by crises and panics.  Indeed, patience and endurance result from an unshakable conviction that the Lord is King, the Lord is in complete control over all things.  His power is known in making everything serve his purposes in his own time and in his own way.   Growth in knowledge and holiness is an uphill struggle that truly requires strength and power that can only come from God himself..

Then, says St. Paul, they will be united in their thanksgiving.  Because of the Father’s love for lost humanity, he sent his Son into the world to redeem us from sin and death.  To deliver us from the evil of this present age, to give us an inheritance with all his saints that no one or nothing can touch.   When we consider what we have received eternally, by grace, by mercy, according to God’s faithfulness, God’s goodness, we will be sustained, we will flourish even as the world loses its mind.  Let us hear the words of St. Paul.  Let us turn our attention toward  living out the Gospel.  Maybe we should encourage one another to be people of constant thanksgiving.  We have the public holiday on the horizon but I can think of nothing more revolutionary in our conversations, in the parish and in the world outside, than words of thanksgiving for so many good things that God has given us.   

Let our words of thanksgiving be wed to lives whose holiness, priorities reflect thanksgiving for our redemption or hope or peace.  Most of you will be familiar with the General Thanksgiving at Morning and Evening Prayer; there is a connection between “unfeigned thanks”for God’s mercies and a life of obedience.  We pray “ that we show forth God’s praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to his service, and by walking before Him in holiness and righteousness all our days;”  Today, let us come to the Holy Eucharist - the Great Thanksgiving of our redemption.  Let us truly be thankful and manifest our thanksgiving through obedience to His commands, day by day.  Amen.