A member of our parish gave me a tremendous gift a few weeks ago. The parishioner is a doctor and she told me that after she operated on my vocal chords I would have to be silent for two weeks. She discovered that I had a polyp on my vocal chords. In fact, she called it a hemorrhoidal polyp. I didn’t know one could have hemorrhoids on one’s vocal chords!
At any rate, she told me that I had to remain silent for two weeks. That was one of the most difficult things I have ever tried to do in my life. The first day wasn’t that bad, but after that it was more and more difficult. And then, coming to church and sitting silently while everyone else was able to pray aloud and sing the hymns was the most difficult of all. But in the end, I saw it as a gift that I had been given, and especially during the masses on Sunday when everyone else was participating fully, and I had to do it all in my head.
Can you imagine what it’s like to come to a service and not be able to say one word? No amens, no hellos to the people near you, no word of peace at the Peace, no joining in the hymns. I wasn’t allowed to whisper. I asked my doctor if I could whistle, like Harpo Marx. She said no, and that I wasn’t allowed even to clear my throat. That, by the way, was the most difficult of all!
So here I was, on two Sunday mornings, at each of the three masses, completely mute. One lesson I learned was a whole new compassion for those people who are unable to talk. It’s an isolation that is worse in some ways than if you are really alone. I had a white board with me wherever I went, so I could write my thoughts, but that’s just not the same as being able to talk.
So, in the Sunday services I was here, but I was also a kind of observer. I said the prayers to myself, and sang the hymns to myself, but it was still a very detached feeling. And so I became a spectator in a way-watching, thinking, reflecting. It became a deeply meditative experience. I’m not one to meditate much, but I did a tremendous amount of it during my two weeks of silence, and especially at the Sunday masses. It was a mountaintop experience.
At times I felt very deeply God’s presence, and at other times a profound sense of gratitude for people and worship that I all too often take for granted. I thought about each of you as I looked out at the congregation and how fortunate I am to be here and a part of this parish family. I thought about the many joys and sorrows we have shared over the years, and how much I love all of you. The time I felt closest to God, not surprisingly, was when I was administering the Host at communion, and I had to have someone else say the words, “The Body of Christ, the bread of heaven.” That always is a very meaningful time, but it was especially so the two Sundays when someone else had to say the words.
Thus, in not allowing me to talk, my doctor gave me a tremendous gift. Like the woman at the well, I experienced the presence of Christ anew and he did give to me living water.
Now that I am able to talk, I know you want to know what I want to tell you. Since we are beginning a pledge campaign I can sum up what I want to tell you in just one word: Tithe. I realize when I say that word some of you would prefer that I remain silent! It’s not a popular aspect of biblical truth, but it is nevertheless a very important aspect of biblical teaching, the giving of ten per cent of our income to God through his Church.
Our theme for this year’s pledge drive is “Sow bountifully-Reap Bountifully.” St. Paul, in his Second Letter to the Corinthians, admonishes the people of the Church at Corinth to give generously to the Church. He tells them, “He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
God’s grace is available to everyone, no matter what he or she gives in return. His love and forgiveness are there for the taking, no matter whether we tithe or give nothing. But that doesn’t mean we’re going to benefit as fully as possible no matter how we respond. What we do with God’s grace, how we respond in giving back to God our time, talent, and treasure, helps to determine the benefit we receive from that grace. “He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly; he who sows bountifully, reaps bountifully.” You put a little in, you get a little out; you put a lot in, you get a lot out. That’s the way it works in most things in this life, and St. Paul tells us that’s the way it works with our religion as well.
Do you know there are many Episcopalians who have never made an offering of money to God? You see, the first tenth of our income that we give to the Church is a tithe. That tithe is simply what is required by God that we give, then after the tithe we can make an offering that is additional and optional. Most Episcopalians never make it to the minimum tenth, so they never get to the point of being able to make an offering of money.
This is a wonderful time of year to think about what we give to God through his Church. In fact, whether or not we do a pledge drive during Lent, we all should think about our pledge during this holy season, as well as what we give to God of our time and talent. Lent is a time when we should try to do a little more than usual, for Lent is a time when we are brought face to face with how much God has given us.
I am thankful for the gift my doctor gave me in requiring me to be silent for two weeks, because it made me realize how thankful I am for my voice, for all of you, and for this wonderful parish. But most of all, I am thankful that God has shown his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.
Sermon preached by the Rev. Fredrick A. Robinson Church of the Redeemer, Sarasota, Florida Lent III 2008