Journey into the Heart of God

October 4, 2015 Genesis 12:1-5

St. Paul's, Smithfield, NC 

Jim Melnyk: “Journeying into the heart of God”

 Because of the special event we will be celebrating later this afternoon, and because we are in the midst of our Every Member Canvass, I am exercising what some call “Preacher’s prerogative” this morning and lifting my text from the Book of Genesis, beginning with chapter 12 verse one.  “Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’

           

So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. Abram took his wife Sarai and his brother’s son Lot, and all the possessions that they had gathered, and the persons whom they had acquired in Haran; and they set forth to go to the land of Canaan” (Gen. 12:1-5b).

           

So Abram went, as the Lord had told him.  Abram went.  Going is the only requirement made of Abram by God.  And by his going, Abram shows a willingness to trust in God’s promise – even with absolutely no evidence upon which to base that trust.   I submit to you, sisters and brothers in Christ, that our faith takes on new meaning – our faith takes on new purpose – our faith most closely resembles what God is calling us to do – when we go – when we take that first step – when we decide that we are willing to become pilgrims – when we consciously decide to journey into the heart of God.

           

It’s not easy stuff, journeying into the heart of God.  It’s challenging.  There are twists and turns along the way.  Abram’s journey took him to places he never expected to see, and placed him in challenging circumstances he never expected to experience. 

It’s only a few chapters later in Genesis, in the midst of Abram’s journeying – before God changes Abram’s name to Abraham – that the author tells us how Abram believed what God told him, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.  And as we’ve said before: belief in God as we understand it in the Bible isn’t about acknowledging a set of doctrines or precepts – rather, belief is about setting one’s heart on God.  

           

We are called to be people of the journey – people who hear the Word of God and then act – even if we’re not sure what our actions will accomplish.  Think about it.  The first great covenant promises are bound together in the travels of Abram and Sarai – as they leave all that they know behind and journey to a place God promises to disclose to them along the way.  Later Joseph, Jacob’s beloved son, will journey to Egypt, sold into slavery by his jealous brothers – and then those brothers, their families, and their father will find their way to Egypt as well, finding themselves saved from famine by the brother they abused.  Israel becomes a sojourner in the land of Egypt, where several generations later they become slaves.

           

And then Israel cries out to God in their misery.  In response God raises up a great prophet to lead them out of bondage.  Moses, faithful to God, leads Israel on a great journey through the wilderness – with its many twists and turns – until finally Israel finds its home in Canaan.  Journeys.  Journeys always meant to find a home in the heart of God.

Generations later when Israel fails to live faithfully in covenant with God and with one another they journey together into exile, and when they have paid the price – when they seek God with their whole hearts and promise to again honor God’s covenant – they journey back to Jerusalem and rebuild her walls and rebuild God’s temple – once again seeking that home in the center of the heart of God.

           

And Jesus journeys as well.  Carried in his mother’s womb he makes the journey from Galilee to Bethlehem.  As a toddler, with his parents he flees Herod’s wrath, becoming political and religious refugees in Egypt – something we should remember in an age of refugees today.  And Jesus spends his entire ministry journeying – moving between the many towns and villages of Galilee as well as journeying to Jerusalem – always proclaiming the kingdom of God – always seeking the hearts of those who were hungry for God – always seeking to unite the people of God with the One who gave and gives them life.  Journeys.  Journeys always meant to find a home in the heart of God.

           

We are meant to be a journeying people as well.  We are pilgrims along a pathway with the ultimate goal of finding our hearts at home in the heart of God.  And later this afternoon we will dedicate and bless a wonderful symbol of what it means to journey into the heart of God – the St. Paul’s Labyrinth and Meditation Garden given in honor and memory of Beverly Jordan. 

           

Labyrinths have long been visual metaphors for journeying—and walking the labyrinth has long been understood as an acted metaphor for the journey of faith.  In medieval times, people of faith would walk the labyrinth as a way of spiritually participating in a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.  It was a way those too poor to undertake an actual pilgrimage to the Holy Land could experience the journey spiritually.  It was also much safer than dealing with the violence of the Crusades.

In a way, it is a great gift to us that we dedicate the Labyrinth as we begin our Stewardship campaign for 2016 – exploring how we will use our many gifts to help further the ministry of St. Paul’s in the coming year – exploring where we are in the midst of our own personal journeys of faith.

How and where do we find ourselves journeying with the people of God who have gone before us?  Do we find ourselves journeying with Abram – stepping out in trust even when the evidence to trust is not always visible?  Do we find ourselves with Joseph, journeying unwillingly into some form of bondage that burdens our hearts and souls?  Do we find ourselves with Moses – traveling out of slavery but not sure if we can trust in God’s presence along the way?  Do we find ourselves with Jesus, journeying along the dusty streets and pathways throughout Galilee – astonished at his wisdom, mercy, and love?  Do we find ourselves journeying with so many who are in pain these days across our nation – looking for ways to end the madness of a society mired in violence?

As we walk the labyrinth at St. Paul’s, we open ourselves to the journeys of so many who have gone before us even as we open ourselves to the presence of God in our lives. 

We are invited to journey into the center of the labyrinth, letting go of whatever it is that binds our hearts or gets in the way of God’s call to us.  For those of us who gathered to hear Canon Rhonda Lee just a few nights back, we remember what it was like to consider that which we have and cherish, and the challenges that face us when asked to open ourselves to sharing those special gifts. 

If we are willing to spend some time walking the labyrinth – either physically or with our mind’s eye – we can envision ourselves journeying into the heart of God.  Along the path, we expectantly seek God’s presence and gifts of wisdom and life.  We acknowledge how all that we are and all that we have are gifts from God.  We recognize that we are stewards of God’s incredible bounty.  We realize “We are not possessors of anything, but rather stewards of everything. And because we are stewards we cherish things all the more” (Brother Curtis Almquist, Society of St. John the Evangelist, Brother, Give us a Word).

And then, embracing all that God has to offer, we journey out of the labyrinth with a resolve to live faithfully as followers of Christ – always with the knowledge that we are forever held closely in the heart of God.